bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nanoliquid Crystals: A Study of Permeability and Optical Measurements in Nematic Phase
Authors: Vijayakumar V. N. , Jayaprakasam R. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryLiquid crystal (LC) materials refer to the fourth state of matter that posses dual property of crystals and liquids. Their anisotropic physical properties (characteristic of its crystalline nature) and the inherent surface alignment (to the substrate) tendency (characteristic of its fluidity) are extensively exploited to design LC based electro‐optic devices.In recent times, hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals [HBFLC] reported in literature, are designed and synthesized from materials selected on the basis of their molecular reorganization and self assembly capability. The applicational aspects and commercial viabilities made many research groups work on this hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals. A novel HBFLC has been synthesized. Hydrogen bond is formed between chiral non mesogen ingredient (S)‐1, 2‐chloro‐3‐(4‐hydroxy) phenylpropionic acid (CTy) and mesogenic p‐n‐decyloxybenzoic acid (10BAO). Small amount of multiwall carbon nanotubes is dispersed in the CTy +10BAO complex. Salient feature of the present work is observation of a field induced transitions in nematic phase pertaining to nano dispersed CTy +10BAO complex. This phenomenon has been confirmed by optical textures of polarizing optical microscopic (POM) studies for the first time through dielectric studies. In nematic phase of nano dispersed CTy + 10BAO, four threshold electrical field values are noticed which in turn contributed to four new phases (E1, E2, E3 and E4) induced by electric field and on further enhancement of the applied field it has been observed that the mesogen behaves like a optical modulator. This phenomenon may be used to design optical modulator, optical shutter and efficient optical memory devices.
Properties of Polysulfone/Halloysite Nanocomposite Membranes: Prepared by Phase Inversion Method
Authors: V.P. Swapna , E.P. Saranya , A.B. Nithya , Thomas Sabu , Stephen Ranimol 
Published: March 2016

SummaryOrganically modified halloysite nanotube (HNT) containing polysulfone (PSU) membranes were fabricated by the wet phase inversion method. Organic modification of HNT was carried out using telehelic polyetheramine inorder to overcome the poor dispersion of HNT in PSU matrix. Telehelic polyetheramine acts as a dispersing agent and a hydrophilic modifier. FTIR results revealed the hydrogen bond formation between –SO2 of PSU and –NH2 of modified HNT. Based on the obtained results of contact angle measurements, the wettability of membranes were found to increase with the weight percentage of HNT in the presence of polyetheramine. At higher loading of filler the water uptake was found to be increasing due to the aggregation of nanotubes. Porosity values substantiate the results obtained for contact angle and water uptake measurements. Thermogravimetric results showed that the thermal stability of polysulfone (PSU)/HNT nanocomposite membranes decreased when compared to neat PSU due to the presence of aliphatic chain of polyetheramine.
Practical selection methods for rat and mouse round spermatids without DNA staining by flow cytometric cell sorting
Authors: Hayama Tomonari , Yamaguchi Tomoyuki , Kato‐Itoh Megumi , Ishii Yumiko , Mizuno Naoaki , Umino Ayumi , Sato Hideyuki , Sanbo Makoto , Hamanaka Sanae , Masaki Hideki , Hirabayashi Masumi , Nakauchi Hiromitsu 
Published: March 2016

SUMMARYRound spermatid injection (ROSI) into unfertilized oocytes enables a male with a severe spermatogenesis disorder to have children. One limitation of the application of this technique in the clinic is the identification and isolation of round spermatids from testis tissue. Here we developed an efficient and simple method to isolate rodent haploid round spermatids using flow cytometric cell sorting, based on DNA content (stained with Hoechst 33342 or Dye Cycle Violet) or by cell diameter and granularity (forward and side scatter). ROSI was performed with round spermatids selected by flow cytometry, and we obtained healthy offspring from unstained cells. This non‐invasive method could therefore be an effective option for breeding domestic animals and human male infertility treatment. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 488–496, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficient estimation of eigenvalue counts in an interval
Authors: Di Napoli Edoardo , Polizzi Eric , Saad Yousef 
Published: March 2016

SummaryEstimating the number of eigenvalues located in a given interval of a large sparse Hermitian matrix is an important problem in certain applications, and it is a prerequisite of eigensolvers based on a divide‐and‐conquer paradigm. Often, an exact count is not necessary, and methods based on stochastic estimates can be utilized to yield rough approximations. This paper examines a number of techniques tailored to this specific task. It reviews standard approaches and explores new ones based on polynomial and rational approximation filtering combined with a stochastic procedure. We also discuss how the latter method is particularly well‐suited for the FEAST eigensolver. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Postmenopausal hormone therapy in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA‐Brasil): who still uses it?
Authors: Aquino Estela M. L. , Almeida Maria‐da‐Conceição C. , Menezes Greice M. S. , de Figueiredo Roberta Carvalho , Bensenor Isabela M. , Mengue Sotero Serrate , da Fonseca Maria de Jesus M. , Gabrielli Ligia 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPurposeWe aim to investigate the patterns of hormone therapy (HT) use and associated factors in women participating in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health.MethodsThis study included 3281 naturally menopausal women of 40 to 74 years of age at enrollment to the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health study, who answered questions regarding their use and discontinuation of HT. Prevalence rates of current and previous HT use were calculated, and a multinomial logistic regression model was constructed to simultaneously analyze the associated factors.ResultsThe prevalence of HT use increased from 1995 onwards, peaking at 55.7% in 1997. A sharp decline occurred in the decade beginning in 2000, reaching 11.1% at the study baseline interview (2008–2010). Current use was associated with being ≥60 years of age (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR): 1.81; 95%CI: 1.10–2.96), divorced (RRR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.14–2.60), or married (RRR: 2.09; 95%CI: 1.41–3.10); having a university education (RRR: 1.66; 95%CI: 1.14–2.40) or postgraduate degree (RRR: 2.45; 95%CI: 1.80–3.35); and having private health insurance (RRR: 2.86; 95%CI: 2.00–4.09). Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was inversely associated with HT use (RRR: 0.37; 95%CI: 0.26–0.53) as was the presence of at least one contraindication to HT use (RRR: 0.63; 95%CI: 0.44–0.89). Of the current users ≥60 years of age, 79.1% had been using HT for at least 5 years, and 73.6% had been menopausal for at least 10 years.ConclusionAlthough the use of HT has declined in Brazil, the women who continue using it are largely exceeding evidence‐based limits of age, time since menopause, and time of use. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of the structure of the cation of an ionic liquid on the rate of reaction at a phosphorus centre
Authors: Butler Bradley J. , Harper Jason B. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe effect of a series of bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide‐based ionic liquids containing different cations on the reaction of ethanol‐d6 with diethyl chlorophosphate was investigated. The addition of each of the salts increased the rate constant, with the extent of this increase being dependent on the mole fraction of the ionic liquid in the reaction mixture and, to a lesser extent, the nature of the cation; less bulky cations with ready access to the charged centres facilitated the greatest increases in the rate constant. Temperature‐dependent kinetic analyses demonstrated that the rate enhancements were due to a decrease in the activation enthalpy offsetting a decrease in the activation entropy; this basis of the rate enhancement was consistent for all of the ionic liquids used and suggests stabilisation of the transition state of the process along with associated ordering of the solvent. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High fluorescent ethyl acrylate modified PEDOT‐MeNH2 with enhanced electrochromic performance
Authors: Sun Hui , Zhang Youshan , Lu Baoyang , Dong Liqi , Zhu Xiaofei , Ming Shouli , Liu Hongtao , Xu Jingkun , Duan Xuemin 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTTwo poly(2'‐aminomethyl‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythienylene) (PEDOT‐MeNH2) derivatives were successfully synthesized by electrochemical polymerization of precursors, diethyl 3'‐(((2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐2‐yl) methyl)azanediyl)dipropanoate (monomer 1) and ethyl 3‐(((2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐2‐yl) methyl)amino)propanoate (monomer 2), respectively. Structure–property relationships of monomers and polymers, including electrochemical, optical properties, and morphology, were systematically explored. Significantly, the designed polymers exhibited red and orange emission signatures with high fluorescence quantum yields (ΦF) of 0.044 and 0.045 compared with those of monomers; they may be used as building blocks for rational design of fluorescent materials. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry studies demonstrated that poly(diethyl 3'‐(((2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐2‐yl)methyl)azanediyl) dipropanoate) (P1) and poly(ethyl 3‐(((2,3‐dihydrothieno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxin‐2‐yl)methyl)amino) propanoate) (P2) can be reversibly oxidized and reduced accompanied by obvious color changes from light purple to light blue for P1, and from purple to blue for P2. Furthermore, both P1 and P2 displayed higher optical contrasts (40–70%) in the visible region, favorable coloration efficiency (typically 50–230 cm2 C−1). From these results, the two polymers would be promising candidate materials for display applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2081–2091
Arctic amplification enhanced by latent energy transport of atmospheric planetary waves
Authors: Graversen Rune G. , Burtu Mattias 
Published: March 2016

The atmospheric northward energy transport plays a crucial role for the Arctic climate; this transport brings to the Arctic an amount of energy comparable to that provided directly by the sun. The transport is accomplished by atmospheric waves–for instance large‐scale planetary waves and meso‐scale cyclones–and the zonal‐mean circulation. These different components of the energy transport impact the Arctic climate differently.A split of the transport into stationary and transient waves constitutes a traditional way of decomposing the transport. However this procedure does not take into account the transport accomplished separately by the planetary and synoptic‐scale waves. Here a Fourier decomposition is applied, which decomposes the transport with respect to zonal wave numbers. Reanalysis and model data reveal that the planetary waves impact Arctic temperatures much more than do synoptic‐scale waves. In addition the latent transport by these waves affects the Arctic climate more than does the dry‐static part. Finally, the EC‐Earth model suggests that changes of the energy transport over the twentyfirst century will contribute to Arctic warming, despite the fact that in this model the total energy transport to the Arctic will decrease. This apparent contradictory result is due to the cooling induced by a decrease of the dry‐static transport by planetary waves being more than compensated for by a warming caused by the latent counterpart.
A Bernoulli mean estimate with known relative error distribution
Authors: Huber Mark 
Published: March 2016

AbstractSuppose that are independent identically distributed Bernoulli random variables with mean p, so and . Any estimate of p has relative error . This paper builds a new estimate of p with the remarkable property that the relative error of the estimate does not depend in any way on the value of p. This allows the easy construction of exact confidence intervals for p of any desired level without needing any sort of limit or approximation. In addition, is unbiased. For ∊ and δ in (0, 1), to obtain an estimate where , the new algorithm takes on average at most samples. It is also shown that any such algorithm that applies whenever requires at least samples on average. The same algorithm can also be applied to estimate the mean of any random variable that falls in . The used here employs randomness external to the sample, and has a small (but nonzero) chance of being above 1. It is shown that any nontrivial where the relative error is independent of p must also have these properties. Applications of this methodology include finding exact p‐values and randomized approximation algorithms for # P complete problems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 50, 173–182, 2017
Synthesis of Symmetrical and Non‐Symmetrical Bivalent Neurotransmitter Ligands
Authors: Stuhr‐Hansen Nicolai , Andersen Jacob , Thygesen Mikkel B. , Strømgaard Kristian 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA novel procedure for synthesis of bivalent neurotransmitter ligands was developed by reacting O‐benzyl protected N‐nosylated dopamine and serotonin with alkyl‐ or PEG‐linked diols under Fukuyama‐Mitsunobu conditions in the presence of DIAD/PPh3 generating three different bivalent neurotransmitter ligands in a one‐pot reaction. The methodology establishes a facile route towards bivalent neurotransmitter ligands, and libraries of in total 40 symmetrical and non‐symmetrical bivalent and monovalent dopamine and serotonin compounds linked through alkyl or PEG spacers of varying length were prepared. Interestingly, attempted synthesis of an O‐tert‐butyl analogue of the N‐nosylated serotonin precursor resulted in unexpected tert‐butylations at the 1‐, 2‐ and 6‐positions of the indole skeleton. We found that upscaling of selected bivalent serotonin ligands was most efficiently performed via N,O‐bis‐nosyl‐serotonin since global de‐nosylation was carried out as a final step after Fukuyama‐Mitsunobu dimerization.
Methamphetamine‐induced enhancement of hippocampal long‐term potentiation is modulated by NMDA and GABA receptors in the shell–accumbens
Authors: Heysieattalab Soomaayeh , Naghdi Nasser , Hosseinmardi Narges , Zarrindast Mohammad‐Reza , Haghparast Abbas , Khoshbouei Habibeh 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTAddictive drugs modulate synaptic transmission in the meso‐corticolimbic system by hijacking normal adaptive forms of experience‐dependent synaptic plasticity. Psychostimulants such as METH have been shown to affect hippocampal synaptic plasticity, albeit with a less understood synaptic mechanism. METH is one of the most addictive drugs that elicit long‐term alterations in the synaptic plasticity in brain areas involved in reinforcement learning and reward processing. Dopamine transporter (DAT) is one of the main targets of METH. As a substrate for DAT, METH decreases dopamine uptake and increases dopamine efflux via the transporter in the target brain regions such as nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus. Due to cross talk between NAc and hippocampus, stimulation of NAc has been shown to alter hippocampal plasticity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that manipulation of glutamatergic and GABA‐ergic systems in the shell‐NAc modulates METH‐induced enhancement of long term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Rats treated with METH (four injections of 5 mg/kg) exhibited enhanced LTP as compared to saline‐treated animals. Intra‐NAc infusion of muscimol (GABA receptor agonist) decreased METH‐induced enhancement of dentate gyrus (DG)‐LTP, while infusion of AP5 (NMDA receptor antagonist) prevented METH‐induced enhancement of LTP. These data support the interpretation that reducing NAc activity can ameliorate METH‐induced hippocampal LTP through a hippocampus‐NAc‐VTA circuit loop. Synapse 70:325–335, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Yohimbine hydrochloride ameliorates collagen type‐II‐induced arthritis targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in Wistar rats
Authors: Neha  , Ansari Md. Meraj , Khan Haider A. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common type of chronic inflammatory disease which is triggered by dysfunction in the immune system which in turn affects synovial joints. Current treatment of RA with NSAIDs and DMRDs is limited by their side effect. As a result, the interest in alternative, well tolerated anti‐inflammatory remedies has re‐emerged. Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities underlying the anti‐RA effect of Yohimbine hydrochloride (YCL) in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in Wistar rats. The YCL was administered at doses of 5 and 10 mg kg−1 body weight once daily for 28 days. The effects of treatment in the rats were assessed by biochemical parameter (articular elastase, LPO, GSH, catalase, SOD), hematological parameter (ESR, WBC, C‐reactive protein (CRP), immunohistochemical expression (COX2, TNF‐α, and NF‐κB), and histological changes in joints. YCL showed anti‐RA efficacy as it significantly reduced articular elastase, LPO and catalase level and ameliorates histological changes. This is in addition to its antioxidant efficacy as YCL shown a significant increase in GSH and SOD level. Also, YCL showed effective anti‐inflammatory activity as it significantly decreased the expression of COX‐2, TNF‐α, and NF‐ĸB. The therapeutic effect of YCL against RA was also evident from lower arthritis scoring and reduced hematological parameter (ESR, WBC, and C‐reactive protein level). The abilities to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines and modulation of antioxidant states that the protective effect of YCL on arthritis rats might be mediated via the modulation of the immune system. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 619–629, 2017.
Electronic Documentation of Central Venous Catheter—Days: Validation Is Essential
Authors: Tejedor Sheri Chernetsky , Garrett Gina , Jacob Jesse T. , Meyer Ellen , Reyes Mary Dent , Robichaux Chad , Steinberg James P. 
Published: March 2016

Background.Measurement of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates outside of intensive care units is challenged by the difficulty in reliably determining central venous catheter (CVC) use. The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) allows for use of electronic data for determination of CVC-days, but validation of electronic data has not been studied systematically.Objective.To design and validate a process to reliably measure CVC-days outside of the intensive care units that leverages electronic documentation.Methods.Thirty-four inpatient wards at 2 academic hospitals using a common electronic platform for nursing documentation were studied. Electronic queries were created to capture patient and CVC information, and tools and processes for tracking and reporting errors in documentation were developed. Strategies to validate electronic data included comparisons with manual CVC-day determinations and automated data validation using customized tools. Interventions included redesign of documentation interface, real-time audit with feedback of errors, and education. The primary outcome was patient-level total error rate in electronic CVC-day measurement compared with manually counted CVC-days.Results.At baseline, there were a mean (± standard deviation) of 0.32 ± 0.25 electronic CVC-day errors (omission and commission errors summed and counted equally) per manually counted CVC-day. After several process improvement cycles over 7 months, the error rate decreased to <0.05 errors per CVC-day and remained at or below this level for 2 years.Conclusions.Baseline electronic CVC-day counts had a high error rate. Stepwise interventions reduced errors to consistently low levels. Validation of electronic calculation of CVC-days is essential to ensure accuracy, particularly if these data will be used for interinstitutional comparison.
Activity of Commonly Used Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Regimens against Pathogens Causing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and Arthroplasty Surgical Site Infections in the United States, 2006–2009
Authors: Berríos-Torres Sandra I. , Yi Sarah H. , Bratzler Dale W. , Ma Allen , Mu Yi , Zhu Liping , Jernigan John A. 
Published: March 2016

Background.Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and primary arthroplasty surgical site infection (SSI) rates are declining slower than other healthcare-associated infection rates. We examined antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) regimens used for these operations and compared their spectrum of activity against reported SSI pathogens.Methods.Pathogen distributions of CABG and hip/knee arthroplasty complex SSIs (deep and organ/space) reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) from 2006 through 2009 and AMP regimens (same procedures and time period) reported to the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) were analyzed. Regimens were categorized as standard (cefazolin or cefuroxime),β-lactam allergy (vancomycin or clindamycin with or without an aminoglycoside), and extended spectrum (vancomycin and/or an aminoglycoside with cefazolin or cefuroxime). AMP activity of each regimen was predicted on the basis of pathogen susceptibility reports and published spectra of antimicrobial activity.Results.There were 6,263 CABG and arthroplasty complex SSIs reported (680,489 procedures; 880 NHSN hospitals). Among 6,574 pathogens reported, methicillin-sensitiveStaphylococcus aureus(23%), methicillin-resistantS. aureus(18%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (17%), andEnterococcusspecies (7%) were most common. AMP regimens for 2,435,703 CABG and arthroplasty procedures from 3,330 SCIP hospitals were analyzed. The proportion of pathogens predictably susceptible to standard (used in 75% of procedures),β-lactam (12%), and extended-spectrum (8%) regimens was 41%–45%, 47%–96%, and 81%—96%, respectively.Conclusion.Standard AMP, used in three-quarters of CABG and primary arthroplasty procedures, has inadequate activity against more than half of SSI pathogens reported. Alternative strategies may be needed to prevent SSIs caused by pathogens resistant to standard AMP regimens.
Fruit and vegetable intake of US adults estimated by two methods: What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2012
Authors: Hoy M Katherine , Goldman Joseph D , Sebastian Rhonda S 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObjectiveEstimates of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption vary depending on intake definition, which may be determined by research purpose. Researchers have used two methods to evaluate intake: epidemiological and behavioural. The present study describes FV intake by adults using epidemiologicalv. behavioural approaches.DesignOne-day dietary intake data from What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2012 were used. Sample weights were used to produce nationally representative estimates. FV intake (in cup-equivalents (CE)) was estimated using the Food Patterns Equivalents Database. The epidemiological method considered all FV after disaggregating foods and beverages. The behavioural method included foods that provided at least 0·2 CE FV per 100 g, and excluded sources high in fat, added sugar and Na.SettingNationally representative survey of the US population.SubjectsAdults (n10 563) aged ≥20 years.ResultsFor epidemiologicalv. behavioural, fruit intake was 1·1v. 1·0 CE for males and 1·0v. 0·9 CE for females. Vegetable intake was 1·8v. 1·1 CE for males and 1·5v. 1·0 CE for females.ConclusionsThe definition of FV intake affects estimates of consumption by the population and is an important consideration when planning and comparing research studies. The method used should align with research goals to assure accurate interpretation and validity of results.