bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Behavioral Phenotyping for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Mice
Authors: Chang Yu‐Chi , Cole Toby B. , Costa Lucio G. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by alterations in three behavioral symptom domains: Social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. Increasing prevalence of ASD in recent years suggests that exposure to environmental toxicants may be critical in modulating etiology of this disease. As clinical diagnosis of autism still relies on behavioral evaluation, it is important to be able to assess similar behavioral traits in animal models, to provide biological plausibility of associations between environmental exposures and ASD. Rodents naturally exhibit a large number of behaviors that can be linked to similar behaviors in human. In this unit, behavioral tests are described that are relevant to the domains affected in ASD. For the repetitive domain, the T‐maze spontaneous alternation test and marble burying test are described. For the communication domain, neonatal ultrasonic vocalization and olfactory habituation test toward social and non‐social odor are described. Finally, for the sociability domain, the three‐chambered social preference test and the reciprocal interaction test are presented. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Micropatterned Co‐Cultures of Human Hepatocytes and Stromal Cells for the Assessment of Drug Clearance and Drug‐Drug Interactions
Authors: Lin Christine , Khetani Salman R 
Published: May 2017

AbstractDrug clearance rates from the body can determine drug exposure that can affect efficacy or toxicity. Thus, accurate prediction of drug clearance during preclinical development can help guide dose selection in humans, but animal testing is not always predictive of human outcomes. Because hepatic drug metabolism is a rate‐limiting step in the overall clearance of many drugs, primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) in suspension cultures or monolayers are used for drug clearance predictions. Yet, the precipitous decline in drug metabolism capacity can lead to significant underestimation of clearance rates, particularly for low turnover compounds that have desirable one‐pill‐a‐day dosing regimens. In contrast, micropatterned co‐cultures (MPCCs) of PHHs and fibroblasts display phenotypic stability for several weeks and can help mitigate the limitations of conventional cultures. Here, we describe protocols to create and use MPCCs for drug clearance predictions, and for modeling clinically‐relevant drug‐drug interactions that can affect drug clearance. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New Insights into the Reactivity of Biomass with Butenes for the Synthesis of Butyl Levulinates
Authors: Démolis Alexandre , Eternot Marion , Essayem Nadine , Rataboul Franck 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis article reports a detailed study on the reactivity of levulinic acid and cellulose with 1‐butene and iso‐butene for the catalytic formation of sec‐ and tert‐butyl levulinates. The influence of catalyst type and various solvent conditions have been investigated to assess the potential of a sustainable transformation. A very simple and efficient procedure was discovered by using reusable Amberlyst‐15 in the absence of solvent to form, from levulinic acid and iso‐butene, tert‐butyl levulinate (70 % yield), a compound very difficult to prepare by other means. sec‐Butyl levulinate (66 % yield) was obtained by using Amberlyst‐15 in γ‐butyrolactone as a biosourced solvent. The original procedure was also extended notably by directly using cellulose as a reactant. In the presence of a catalytic amount of H2SO4, it was possible to form sec‐butyl levulinate (19 % yield) from 1‐butene in a more efficient way than by using the alcohol as an esterifying agent.
Ultrathin Alginate Coatings as Selective Layers for Nanofiltration Membranes with High Performance
Authors: Du Yong , Zhang Chao , Zhong Qi‐Zhi , Yang Xi , Wu Jian , Xu Zhi‐Kang 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIt is highly desirable to develop environmentally friendly processes for fabricating thin‐film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membranes (NFMs) from natural materials. However, the nanofiltration performance of such TFC NFMs is not satisfactory for practical applications owing to the lack of efficient methods for constructing ultrathin, uniform, stable coatings as selective layers. In this study, a contra‐diffusion strategy is used to fabricate TFC NFMs with ultrathin cross‐linked alginate coatings as selective layers without the use of any organic solvents. The as‐prepared NFMs show a water permeation flux that is nearly one order of magnitude higher than that of other alginate‐based TFC NFMs with similar salt rejection, and represents the best performance among all TFC NFMs from natural materials. These NFMs also demonstrate excellent mono‐/divalent ion selectivity, as well as good long‐term operation stability and antifouling properties. Furthermore, this strategy maximizes the reactant usage rate, minimizes the waste discharge and provides new insight into environmentally friendly fabrication of TFC NFMs.
Polyimidazolium Salts: Robust Catalysts for the Cycloaddition of Carbon Dioxide into Carbonates in Solvent‐Free Conditions
Authors: Zhong Wei , Bobbink Felix D. , Fei Zhaofu , Dyson Paul J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThere is a growing interest in sustainable heterogeneous catalysts based on organic polymers. Here, we describe a series of polyimidazolium salt catalysts, prepared from the direct reaction of arene‐bridged bis‐ and tris‐alkyl halides with trimethylsilylimidazole. The polyimidazolium salts were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques and it was found that their morphology and porosity could be controlled by adjusting the steric parameters of the spacer in the alkyl‐halide starting materials. Moreover, the polymers are excellent heterogeneous organocatalysts for the cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides to afford cyclic carbonates at atmospheric pressure under solvent‐free conditions. The polymer catalysts exhibit long‐term stability and may be recycled and reused at least 10 times.
Cell density modulates intracellular mass transport in neural networks
Authors: Cintora Patricia , Arikkath Jyothi , Kandel Mikhail , Popescu Gabriel , Best‐Popescu Catherine 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn order to fully understand brain connectivity and elucidate the mechanisms involved in central nervous system disease, the field of neuroscience depends on quantitative studies of neuronal structure and function. Cell morphology and neurite (axonal and dendritic) arborization are typically studied by immunohistochemical and fluorescence techniques. However, dry mass content and intracellular mass transport rates have largely been under‐investigated given the inherent difficulties in their measurement. Here, spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) and dispersion‐relation phase spectroscopy (DPS) were used to measure pathlength fluctuations that report on the dry mass and transport within cultured primary neurons across low, medium, and high cell density conditions. It was found that cell density (confluence) affects significantly both the growth rate and mass transport. The analysis method is label‐free and does not require neuronal tracing, particle tracking, or neuron reconstruction. Since SLIM can upgrade any existing phase contrast microscope and the imaging and analysis are high‐throughput, we anticipate that this approach will be embraced by neuroscientists for broad scale studies. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Coupling biogeochemical tracers with fish growth reveals physiological and environmental controls on otolith chemistry
Authors: Grammer Gretchen L. , Morrongiello John R. , Izzo Christopher , Hawthorne Peter J. , Middleton John F. , Gillanders Bronwyn M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBiogeochemical tracers found in the hard parts of organisms are frequently used to answer key ecological questions by linking the organism with the environment. However, the biogeochemical relationship between the environment and the biogenic structure becomes less predictable in higher organisms as physiological processes become more complex. Here, we use the simultaneous combination of biogeochemical tracers and fish growth analyzed with a novel modeling framework to describe physiological and environmental controls on otolith chemistry in an upwelling zone. First, we develop increasingly complex univariate mixed models to describe and partition intrinsic (age effects) and extrinsic (environmental parameters) factors influencing fish growth and otolith element concentrations through time. Second, we use a multivariate mixed model to investigate the directionality and strength between element‐to‐element and growth relationships and test hypotheses regarding physiological and environmental controls on element assimilation in otoliths. We apply these models to continuous element (Na, Sr, Mg, Ba, Li) and growth increment profiles (monthly resolution over 17 yr) derived from otoliths of reef ocean perch (Helicolenus percoides), a wild‐caught, site‐attached, fully marine fish. With a conceptual model, we hypothesize that otolith traits (elements and growth) driven by environmental conditions will correlate both within an otolith, reflecting the time dependency of growth and element assimilation, and among individuals that experience a similar set of external conditions. We found some elements (Sr:Ca and Na:Ca) are mainly controlled by physiological processes, while other elements (Ba:Ca and Li:Ca) are more environmentally influenced. Within an individual fish, the strength and direction of correlation varies among otolith traits, particularly those under environmental control. Correlations among physiologically regulated elements tend to be stronger than those primarily controlled by environmental drivers. Surprisingly, only Ba:Ca and growth are significantly correlated among individuals. Failure to appropriately account for intrinsic effects (e.g., age) led to inflated estimates of among individual correlations and a depression of within individual correlations. Together, the lack of among‐individual correlations of otolith traits in properly formulated models and the biases that can be introduced by not including appropriate intrinsic covariates suggest that caution is needed when assuming multi‐elemental signatures are reflective solely of shared environments.
Morpho‐physiological response of Retama monosperma to extreme salinity levels
Authors: Zunzunegui María , Esquivias Mari Paz , Fernández‐González Pablo , Valera‐Burgos Javier , Díaz Barradas Mari Cruz , Gallego‐Fernández Juan B. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractRetama monosperma (L.) Boiss is a coastal shrub growing on sandy soils in the SW of the Iberian Peninsula and in the NW of Morocco. Although a native species, it has been considered to show an invasive behaviour. Tolerance of R. monosperma to salinity—one of the most limiting factors of coastal systems—was assessed as an eventual explanation to its invasive character.A glasshouse experiment, where young plants were irrigated with different NaCl concentrations (5 to 600 mM), was designed. R. monosperma physiological performance was examined by measuring gas exchange, quantum yield, and water potential, at 7, 30, and 60 days after reaching the assigned NaCl concentration. At the end of the experiment, after measuring free proline content in cladodes, plants were harvested, separated in stems, roots, and root nodules, and weighted and Na + content was measured in roots and cladodes.Although plants survived to high NaCl concentrations, increasing levels of salinity resulted in a progressive reduction in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and water potential, and also in a progressive increase in proline and Na + content. Roots accumulated more Na+ than cladodes in all situations. Biomass allocation pattern was modified by the NaCl levels.The high tolerance of R. monosperma to a continued exposure to salinity could be one of the factors explaining its high expansion rate in coastal areas.
Terrestrial vertebrate predators drive the structure and functioning of aquatic food webs
Authors: Breviglieri Crasso Paulo Bosco , Romero Gustavo Quevedo 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPredators that forage at boundaries between ecosystems can affect prey from adjacent ecosystems, thereby triggering consumptive and non‐consumptive cascading effects, which may affect diversity and food web structure across ecosystems. In the present study, we manipulated the access of insectivorous birds, lizards, and anurans to tank bromeliads in scrub vegetation in southern Brazil. We measured cascading effects on the community structure of aquatic invertebrates inhabiting bromeliad leaves and on the ecosystem processes of decomposition rate and bromeliad growth. The exclusion of terrestrial vertebrate predators increased the biomass of Odonate and Tabanid apex predators, which shifted the body size structure of the assemblage and generated inverted biomass pyramids that were top‐heavy. Within bromeliads with larger aquatic predators, the species composition and abundance of other aquatic invertebrates also changed, resulting in higher abundance of mesopredators and scrapers, and lower abundance of shredders. Under those conditions, the detritus decomposition rate decreased, and bromeliads produced more leaves, perhaps because of the higher deposition of nitrogenous waste by mesopredators. Our results highlight that the effects of terrestrial vertebrate predators can propagate across aquatic ecosystems, altering species composition, body size structure, food web organization, and ecosystem function.
Effect of ivabradine in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the EDIFY randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Komajda Michel , Isnard Richard , Cohen‐Solal Alain , Metra Marco , Pieske Burkert , Ponikowski Piotr , Voors Adriaan A. , Dominjon Fabienne , Henon‐Goburdhun Cécile , Pannaux Matthieu , Böhm Michael ,   on behalf of the prEserveD left ventricular ejectIon fraction chronic heart Failure with ivabradine studY (EDIFY) Investigators
Published: May 2017

AimsThis randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial assessed whether heart rate (HR) reduction with ivabradine improves cardiac function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).Methods and resultsThe prEserveD left ventricular ejectIon fraction chronic heart Failure with ivabradine studY (EDIFY) included 179 patients in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II and III, in sinus rhythm, with HR of ≥70 b.p.m., NT‐proBNP of ≥220 pg/mL (BNP ≥80 pg/mL) and left ventricular ejection fraction of ≥45%. Ivabradine (or placebo) was titrated to 7.5 mg b.i.d. Patients were followed for 8 months on the change and assessed for three co‐primary endpoints: echo‐Doppler E/e′ ratio, distance on the 6‐min walking test (6MWT), and plasma NT‐proBNP concentration. At baseline, median E/e′ was 12.8 [interquartile range (IQR): 9.9–16.3], median distance on the 6MWT was 320 m (IQR: 247–375 m), and median NT‐proBNP was 375 pg/mL (IQR: 253–701 pg/mL). Baseline median HR was 75 b.p.m. (IQR: 70–107 b.p.m.). A total of 171 patients (87 in the ivabradine group, 84 in the placebo group) were evaluated for treatment efficacy. After 8 months of treatment, findings showed a median change in HR of −13.0 b.p.m. (IQR: −18.0 to −6.0 b.p.m.) in the ivabradine group and −3.5 b.p.m. (IQR: −11.5 to 3.0 b.p.m.) in the placebo group [estimated between‐group difference: 7.7 b.p.m.; 90% confidence interval (CI) −10 to −5.4; P < 0.0001]. No evidence of improvement was found in any of the three co‐primary endpoints. There was almost no change in median E/e′ in either of the two groups [median change: +1.0 (IQR: −0.8 to 2.9) in the ivabradine group; −0.6 (IQR: −2.2 to 1.4) in the placebo group; estimated between‐group difference: 1.4, 90% CI 0.3–2.5; P = 0.135]. There were no meaningful changes in the other co‐primary endpoints and no apparent trends. There was no significant safety concern.ConclusionsIn patients with HFpEF, HR reduction with ivabradine did not improve outcomes. These findings do not support the use of ivabradine in HFpEF.
Clinical relevance of circulating anti‐ENA and anti‐dsDNA secreting cells from SLE patients and their dependence on STAT‐3 activation
Authors: de la Varga Martínez Raquel , Rodríguez‐Bayona Beatriz , Añez Gustavo A. , Medina Varo Fermín , Pérez Venegas José J. , Brieva José A. , Rodríguez Carmen 
Published: May 2017

Disturbances of plasma cell homeostasis and auto‐antibody production are hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of this study was to explore the presence of circulating anti‐ENA and anti‐dsDNA antibody‐secreting cells, to determine their dependence on plasma cell‐niche cytokines and to analyze their clinical value.The study was performed in SLE patients with serum anti‐ENA and/or anti‐dsDNA antibodies (n = 57). Enriched B‐cell fractions and sorted antibody‐secreting cells (CD19lowCD38high) were obtained from blood. dsDNA‐ and ENA‐specific antibody‐secreting cells were identified as cells capable of active auto‐antibody production in culture.The addition of a combination of IL‐6, IL‐21, BAFF, APRIL, and CXCL12 to the cultures significantly augmented auto‐antibody production and antibody‐secreting cell proliferation, whereas it diminished apoptosis. The effect on auto‐antibody production was dependent on STAT‐3 activation as it was abrogated in the presence of the JAK/STAT‐3 pathway inhibitors ruxolitinib and stattic. Among patients with serum anti‐dsDNA antibodies, the detection of circulating anti‐dsDNA‐antibody‐secreting cells was associated with higher disease activity markers.In conclusion, auto‐antibody production in response to plasma cell‐niche cytokines that are usually at high levels in SLE patients is dependent on JAK/STAT‐3 activation. Thus, patients with circulating anti‐dsDNA antibody‐secreting cells and active disease could potentially benefit from therapies targeting the JAK/STAT3 pathway.
Curcumin and its two analogues improve oxidative stability of fish oil under long‐term storage
Authors: Huang Qiaoxian , Chen Jian , Liu Chunjiang , Wang Cheng , Shen Chenghui , Chen Yiyi , Li Qingyong 
Published: May 2017

Adding antioxidant is one of the most effective ways to prevent oil systems from oxidation. Curcumin (Cur) and its derivatives have a significant antioxidant activity as potential antioxidants. In this work, the oxidative stability of fish oil treated with three different concentrations (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg/g) of Cur, its two synthetic analogues (compounds 14 and 25) and α‐tocopherol (positive control) are determined after 70 days at 4 and 25 °C. The antioxidants are evaluated by acid (AV), peroxide (PV), conjugated diene (CD) values, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) as well as polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in fish oil. Results show that Cur and α‐tocopherol could protect fish oil from oxidation more effectively than compound 14 and 25 at 4 °C, whereas compound 14 and 25 could protect fish oil from oxidation more effectively than Cur and α‐tocopherol at 25 °C. Temperature is an important factor on lipid oxidation in the process of fish oil storage resulted from antioxidant activity of compounds determined by temperature. Curcumin shows the decreased ability to protect fish oil from oxidation with increasing temperature. Compounds 14 and 25 show increasing ability to protect fish oil from oxidation with increasing temperature.Practical applications: Compounds 14 and 25 are potential antioxidants to extend expiration date of the fish oil product.Temperature is a key variable for fish oil storage. Compounds 14 and 25 show higher biological stability than that of Curcumin. In long‐term storage at 25 °C, compounds 14 and 25 perform better antioxidant activity in fish oil than Curcumin, and tocopherol.
Rocking damage‐free steel column base with friction devices: design procedure and numerical evaluation
Authors: Freddi Fabio , Dimopoulos Christoforos A. , Karavasilis Theodore L. 
Published: May 2017

SummaryEarthquake‐resilient steel frames, such as self‐centering frames or frames with passive energy dissipation devices, have been extensively studied during the past decade, but little attention has been paid to their column bases. The paper presents a rocking damage‐free steel column base, which uses post‐tensioned high‐strength steel bars to control rocking behavior and friction devices to dissipate seismic energy. Contrary to conventional steel column bases, the rocking column base exhibits monotonic and cyclic moment–rotation behaviors that are easily described using simple analytical equations. Analytical equations are provided for different cases including structural limit states that involve yielding or loss of post‐tensioning in the post‐tensioned bars. A step‐by‐step design procedure is presented, which ensures damage‐free behavior, self‐centering capability, and adequate energy dissipation capacity for a predefined target rotation. A 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) model of the column base is developed in abaqus. The results of the FE simulations validate the accuracy of the moment–rotation analytical equations and demonstrate the efficiency of the design procedure. Moreover, a simplified model for the column base is developed in OpenSees. Comparisons among the OpenSees and abaqus models demonstrate the efficiency of the former and its adequacy to be used in nonlinear dynamic analysis. A prototype steel building is designed as a self‐centering moment‐resisting frame with conventional or rocking column bases. Nonlinear dynamic analyses show that the rocking column base fully protects the first story columns from yielding and eliminates the first story residual drift without any detrimental effect on peak interstory drifts. The study focuses on the 2D rocking motion and, thus, ignores 3D rocking effects such as biaxial bending deformations in the friction devices. The FE models, the analytical equations, and the design procedure will be updated and validated to cover 3D rocking motion effects after forthcoming experimental tests on the column base. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Multimodal Dialog System for Language Assessment: Current State and Future Directions
Authors: Suendermann‐Oeft David , Ramanarayanan Vikram , Yu Zhou , Qian Yao , Evanini Keelan , Lange Patrick , Wang Xinhao , Zechner Klaus 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe present work in progress on a multimodal dialog system for English language assessment using a modular cloud‐based architecture adhering to open industry standards. Among the modules being developed for the system, multiple modules heavily exploit machine learning techniques, including speech recognition, spoken language proficiency rating, speaker recognition, and the scoring of behaviors in multimodal data streams.