bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Portugal
Authors: Gosner Linda 
Published: December 2015

Abstract

Portugal is located in southwest Europe and together with Spain makes up the Iberian peninsula, which divides the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea. The country has an ecologically diverse landscape ranging from a mountainous, wet, cool environment in the north to rolling plains and a Mediterranean climate in the south. It is rich in metals, agricultural land, and marine resources, which were all exploited in antiquity. During the Bronze Age, stockbreeding, agriculture, mining, and interregional connections increased. The Iron Age is characterized by increased contact with Phoenician and Punic colonizers as well as the proliferation of the Tartessian culture in the south and the development of large, fortified
castro
settlements in the north. Over the course of the final two centuries
bce
, Portugal came under Roman control. It became part of Roman Hispania and was governed as the province of Lusitania from the capital, Augusta Emerita (Mérida).
Religion in contact, Iberian peninsula
Authors: Marco Francisco 
Published: December 2015

Abstract

In the Iberian peninsula there were two major linguistic zones: one inhabited by peoples who did not speak Indo‐European languages, known as “Iberians,” along the coast from lower Andalusia to Languedoc (with earlier Mediterranean influences), and the interior inhabited by the Hispano‐Celts. While the Orientalizing period is defined by the “princely graves,” from the fourth century
bce
onward there is a shift to the sanctuaries, where a new collective image of society is expressed through bronze figurines, stone sculpture, or pottery vessels. With the selective adoption of Italo‐Hellenistic conventions, a process of monumentalization is attested in the second and first centuries
bce
, and the names of local deities or rituals emerge in the epigraphy of the Celtic interior.
Sicily, Phoenician
Authors: Urquhart Lela M. 
Published: December 2015

Abstract

Phoenician presence in Sicily dates back to the eighth century and is documented for Motya, Panormus, and Soloeis. The majority of evidence is archaeological, dating to between the eighth and fourth century
bce
, and relates to different aspects of Phoenician culture, including funerary customs, religion, craftwork, and commerce.
Struggle of the Orders
Authors: Forsythe Gary 
Published: December 2015

AbstractModern scholars use this term to characterize a common theme in ancient accounts of early Roman history that describe affairs as driven by a struggle between the two orders or classes: patricians and plebeians. Hereby ancient writers explain virtually all innovations in the Roman state during the Early Republic (sixth to third century). The narrative of the Struggle of the Orders was clearly influenced by the history of the Late Republic, involving clashes between populist aristocratic leaders and other aristocrats heading more conservative followings. But modern scholars differ concerning to what extent ancient historiographers have falsified Early Republican history through Late Republican anachronisms.
Digit ratio (2D:4D): Is it possible to use it for sex determination in the study of human skeletal remains?
Authors: Bakholdina Varvara Yu. , Movsesian Alla A. , Sineva Irina M. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivesSexual dimorphism in the relative length of the second‐to‐fourth digits (the digit ratio, or 2D:4D) in humans has been reported in many studies. The aim of our study was to ascertain possibility of using the 2D:4D ratio as an additional marker for sex determination in the study of human skeletal remains.MethodsWe have studied 2D:4D ratios obtained from measurements of finger phalanges and metacarpal bones in Russian (45 adult males and 26 adult females) and German (58 adult males and 29 adult females) skeletal series.ResultsThe difference in 2D:4D ratio between the male and female subsamples in both skeletal series was not statistically significant. Analysis of variance revealed that the 2D:4D ratios in our sample varied more by ethnicity than by the sexual identity of the skeletal material.ConclusionOur results suggest that the 2D:4D ratio cannot be used as an appropriate trait for the sex determination of human skeletal remains. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:591–593, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vitamin D heritability and effect of pregnancy status in Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) under conditions of modest and high dietary supplementation
Authors: Chittoor Geetha , Pajewski Nicholas M. , Voruganti V. Saroja , Comuzzie Anthony G. , Clarkson Thomas B. , Nudy Matthew , Schnatz Peter F. , Kaplan Jay R. , Jorgensen Matthew J. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe two objectives of the current study were to: 1) investigate the genetic contributions to variations in serum vitamin D concentrations under two dietary conditions (a standard monkey biscuit diet vs. a diet designed to model typical American consumption); and 2) explore the interaction of vitamin D with pregnancy status using a cohort of pedigreed female vervet/African green monkeys.MethodsThis study includes 185 female (≥3.5 years) vervet/African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) from a multi‐generational, pedigreed breeding colony. The 25(OH)D3 concentrations were first measured seven to eight weeks after consuming a “typical American” diet (TAD), deriving 37, 18, and 45% of calories from fat, protein sources, and carbohydrates, and supplemented with vitamin D to a human equivalent of 1,000 IU/day. Vitamin D concentrations were assessed again when animals were switched to a low‐fat, standard biscuit diet (LabDiet 5038) for 8 months, which provided a human equivalent of approximately 4,000 IU/day of vitamin D. All statistical analyses were implemented in SOLAR.ResultsPregnancy was associated with reduced 25(OH)D3 concentrations. Heritability analyses indicated a significant genetic contribution to 25(OH)D3 concentrations in the same monkeys consuming the biscuit diet (h2=0.66, P=0.0004) and TAD (h2=0.67, P=0.0078) diets, with higher 25(OH)D3 concentrations in animals consuming the biscuit diet. Additionally, there was a significant genotype‐by‐pregnancy status interaction on 25(OH)D3 concentrations (P<0.05) only among animals consuming the TAD diet.DiscussionThese results support the existence of a genetic contribution to differences in serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations by pregnancy status and emphasize the role of diet (including vitamin D supplementation) in modifying genetic signals as well as vitamin D concentrations. Am J Phys Anthropol 159:639–645, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and determinants of periodic limb movements in the general population
Authors: Haba‐Rubio José , Marti‐Soler Helena , Marques‐Vidal Pedro , Tobback Nadia , Andries Daniela , Preisig Martin , Waeber Gérard , Vollenweider Peter , Kutalik Zoltán , Tafti Mehdi , Heinzer Raphaël 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivePeriodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS) are sleep phenomena characterized by periodic episodes of repetitive stereotyped limb movements. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and determinants of PLMS in a middle to older aged general population.MethodsData from 2,162 subjects (51.2% women, mean age = 58.4 ± 11.1 years) participating in a population‐based study (HypnoLaus, Lausanne, Switzerland) were collected. Assessments included laboratory tests, sociodemographic data, personal and treatment history, and full polysomnography at home. PLMS index (PLMSI) was determined, and PLMSI > 15/h was considered as significant.ResultsPrevalence of PLMSI > 15/h was 28.6% (31.3% in men, 26% in women). Compared to subjects with PLMSI ≤ 15/h, subjects with PLMSI > 15/h were older (p < 0.001), were predominantly males (p = 0.007), had a higher proportion of restless legs syndrome (RLS; p < 0.001), had a higher body mass index (p = 0.001), and had a lower mean glomerular filtration rate (p < 0.001). Subjects with PLMSI > 15/h also had a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and beta‐blocker or hypnotic treatments. The prevalence of antidepressant use was higher, but not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within BTBD9 (rs3923809), TOX3 (rs3104788), and MEIS1 (rs2300478) genes were significantly associated with PLSMI > 15/h. Conversely, mean hemoglobin and ferritin levels were similar in both groups. In the multivariate analysis, age, male gender, antidepressant intake, RLS, and rs3923809, rs3104788, and rs2300478 SNPs were independently associated with PLMSI > 15/h.InterpretationPLMS are highly prevalent in our middle‐aged European population. Age, male gender, RLS, antidepressant treatment, and specific BTBD9, TOX3, and MEIS1 SNP distribution are independent predictors of PLMSI > 15/h. ANN NEUROL 2016;79:464–474
Compound heterozygous FXN mutations and clinical outcome in friedreich ataxia
Authors: Galea Charles A. , Huq Aamira , Lockhart Paul J. , Tai Geneieve , Corben Louise A. , Yiu Eppie M. , Gurrin Lyle C. , Lynch David R. , Gelbard Sarah , Durr Alexandra , Pousset Francoise , Parkinson Michael , Labrum Robyn , Giunti Paola , Perlman Susan L. , Delatycki Martin B. , Evans‐Galea Marguerite V. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectiveFriedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by ataxia and cardiomyopathy. Homozygous GAA trinucleotide repeat expansions in the first intron of FXN occur in 96% of affected individuals and reduce frataxin expression. Remaining individuals are compound heterozygous for a GAA expansion and a FXN point/insertion/deletion mutation. We examined disease‐causing mutations and the impact on frataxin structure/function and clinical outcome in FRDA.MethodsWe compared clinical information from 111 compound heterozygotes and 131 individuals with homozygous expansions. Frataxin mutations were examined using structural modeling, stability analyses and systematic literature review, and categorized into four groups: (1) homozygous expansions, and three compound heterozygote groups; (2) null (no frataxin produced); (3) moderate/strong impact; and (4) minimal impact. Mean age of onset and the presence of cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus were compared using regression analyses.ResultsMutations in the hydrophobic core of frataxin affected stability whereas surface residue mutations affected interactions with iron sulfur cluster assembly and heme biosynthetic proteins. The null group of compound heterozygotes had significantly earlier age of onset and increased diabetes mellitus, compared to the homozygous expansion group. There were no significant differences in mean age of onset between homozygotes and the minimal and moderate/strong impact groups.InterpretationIn compound heterozygotes, expression of partially functional mutant frataxin delays age of onset and reduces diabetes mellitus, compared to those with no frataxin expression from the non‐expanded allele. This integrated analysis of categorized frataxin mutations and their correlation with clinical outcome provide a definitive resource for investigating disease pathogenesis in FRDA. Ann Neurol 2016;79:485–495
Influence of thermal history on crystalline morphologies of isotactic polypropylene in its miscible blends with polybutene‐1
Authors: Chen Wei , Wu Lihui , Chen Liang , Qi Zeming , Li Liangbin 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTThe miscibility behaviors in blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and polybutene‐1 (PB) have been studied using in‐situ FTIR imaging. The heterogeneous melt of 3/7 iPP/PB blends were formed at 250, 220, and 180°C and then quenched to the same crystallization temperature of iPP at 125°C, respectively. Evolution processes of composition distribution during crystallization were monitored according to their characteristic peaks, and the results suggest a trend from local concentration to uniform dispersion of PB fraction. Further studies of the PB fraction as the distance from the growth front of iPP spherulite indicate an irreversible phase behavior with the progress of thermal history. The cyclic melting and crystallization favor the mixing of iPP/PB blend. Meanwhile, the nonlinear growth rate of iPP spherulite is mainly responsible for compatible promotion of iPP/PB blend, which hinders the transportation of iPP chains to its growth front. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43282.
Strong and ductile poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) biocomposites fabricated by oscillation shear injection molding
Authors: Li Xu‐Juan , Chen Jing‐Bin , Xu Huan , Xie Lan , Zhong Gan Ji , Ran Rong , Ji Xu , Li Zhong‐Ming 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTPoor interfacial properties and uncontrollable phase morphology encountered during the fabrication of poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT)/thermal plastic starch (TPS) biocomposites, result unfortunately in low mechanical performances and thus limit its applications. Here an approach in terms of phase morphology controlling, i.e., extrusion compounding followed by oscillation shear injection molding (OSIM), is proposed to construct in situ TPS fiber and skin‐core structure consisting of TPS fiber and droplet in skin layer, and spherical TPS in core layer, which tremendously benefits the mechanical properties. Specifically, the tensile strength, modulus and ductility for the biocomposites with various loadings of TPS, even when TPS loading as high as 55 wt %, outperform pure PBAT sample fabricated by conventional injection molding (CIM) with the increment of 51%, 308% in strength and modulus, respectively. Meanwhile, the elongation at breakage can maintain at 196%. The unprecedented establishment of high‐performance PBAT/TPS biocomposites is in great need for potential applications, such as green packaging. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43312.
Properties of treated calcium copper titanate filled epoxy thin film composites for electronic applications
Authors: Satia Mohd Saidina Dandan , Jaafar Mariatti 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIn this study, calcium copper titanate (CCTO) fillers were treated with 1%, 5%, and 10% of silane‐based coupling agent 3‐glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). The CCTO treated with 10% GPTMS filled epoxy thin film composite exhibits a remarkable improvement (60%) of dielectric constant than untreated CCTO/epoxy thin film composite. Besides that, results treated CCTO/epoxy thin film composite produced using various epoxy resins showed that OP 392 epoxy thin film composite exhibited the highest glass transition temperature and degradation temperature, moderate dielectric constant, slightly lower coefficient of thermal expansion and lowest dielectric loss compared with D.E.R. 332 and Epolam 2015 epoxy thin film composites. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43313.
Preparation of pseudocapacitor electrodes via electrodeposition of polyaniline on nonwoven carbon fiber fabrics
Authors: Leary Jennifer D , Hamouda Farah , Mazé Benoît , Pourdeyhimi Behnam 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTAniline has been polymerized via electrodeposition onto various nonwoven carbon fiber fabric (CFF) substrates for use as a pseudocapacitive electrochemical capacitor. Four types of CFF were initially tested for double layer capacitance before polyaniline deposition, and again for specific capacitance after deposition. A binder‐free CFF was selected for further analysis due to its high capacitance change following PANI deposition (three orders of magnitude). The aniline monomer concentration, deposition potential, and deposition time were varied and resulting materials were characterized using chrono‐potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The deposition potential range yielding highest capacitance was found to be between 0.744 and 0.777 V. A solution concentration of 0.5M aniline at a 20 min deposition time resulted in the highest specific capacitance (>80 F/g based on total electrode mass and >300 F/g based on PANI mass) within this study. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43315.
Enhancement of dielectric constants of epoxy thermosets via a fine dispersion of barium titanate nanoparticles
Authors: Li Lei , Zheng Sixun 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIn this study, we examined a facile approach for achieving a fine dispersion of barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles (NPs) in epoxy thermosets. First, the surfaces of BT NPs were modified with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) via a surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization approach. We found that the PCL‐grafted BT NPs were easily dispersed in epoxy thermosets. The fine dispersion of the PCL‐grafted BT NPs in the epoxy thermosets was evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. We found that the organic–inorganic nanocomposites displayed significantly enhanced dielectric constants and low dielectric loss compared to the control epoxy. The nanocomposites containing 14.1 wt % BT NPs possessed dielectric constants as high as at a frequency of 103 Hz. The dielectric loss was measured to be 0.002 at a frequency of 103 Hz. The improved dielectric properties are accounted for the fine dispersion of the BT NPs in the epoxy thermosets. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43322.
Construction of polyketide overproducing Escherichia coli strains via synthetic antisense RNAs based on in silico fluxome analysis and comparative transcriptome analysis
Authors: Meng Hai‐Lin , Xiong Zhi‐Qiang , Song Shu‐Jie , Wang Jianfeng , Wang Yong 
Published: December 2015

AbstractRapid assessment and optimization of the incompatible metabolic modules remain a challenge. Here, we developed a systematic approach to characterize the module interactions and improve the problematic modules during the 6‐deoxyerythronolide B (6dEB) biosynthesis in E. coli. Tremendous differences in the overall trends of flux changes of various metabolic modules were firstly uncovered based on in silico fluxome analysis and comparative transcriptome analysis. Potential targets for improving 6dEB biosynthesis were identified through analyzing these discrepancies. All 25 predicted targets at modules of PP pathway and nucleotide metabolism were firstly tested for improving the 6dEB production in E. coli via synthetic antisense RNAs. Down‐regulation of 18 targets genes leads to more than 20% increase in 6dEB yield. Combinatorial repression of targets with greater than 60% increase in 6dEB titer, e.g., anti‐guaB/anti‐zwf led to a 296.2% increase in 6dEB production (210.4 mg/L in flask) compared to the control (53.1 mg/L). This is the highest yield yet reported for polyketide heterologous biosynthesis in E. coli. This study demonstrates a strategy to enhance the yield of heterologous products in the chassis cell and indicates the effectiveness of antisense RNA for use in metabolic engineering.
Exosomal transfer of functional small RNAs mediates cancer‐stroma communication in human endometrium
Authors: Maida Yoshiko , Takakura Masahiro , Nishiuchi Takumi , Yoshimoto Tanihiro , Kyo Satoru 
Published: December 2015

AbstractExosomes are small membrane vesicles secreted from a variety of cell types. Recent evidence indicates that human cells communicate with each other by exchanging exosomes. Cancer cells closely interact with neighboring stromal cells, and together they cooperatively promote disease via bidirectional communication. Here, we investigated whether exosomes can play roles in intercellular communication between cancer cells and neighboring fibroblasts. Endometrial fibroblasts were isolated from normal endometrial tissues and from endometrial cancer tissues, and cell‐to‐cell transfer of endometrial cancer cell line Ishikawa‐derived exosomes was examined. The isolated fibroblasts were cultured in conditioned media from CD63‐GFP‐expressing Ishikawa cells, and we found that GFP‐positive exosomes were transferred from Ishikawa cells to the fibroblasts. Next, we introduced a shRNA for a luciferase gene into Ishikawa cells. This shRNA was encapsulated into exosomes, was transferred to the fibroblasts, and then downregulated luciferase expression in the fibroblasts. The mature microRNAs naturally expressed in Ishikawa‐derived exosomes were also transported into the endometrial fibroblasts, and they altered the microRNA expression profiles of the fibroblasts. These results indicated that endometrial cancer cells could transmit small regulatory RNAs to endometrial fibroblasts via exosomes. Our findings document a previously unknown mode of intercellular communication between cancer cells and related fibroblasts in human endometrium.
Natural Mechanism of Origination and Conservation of Monochirality of Amino Acids
Authors: Kadyshevich Elena A. , Ostrovskii Victor E. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe proteins belonging to different organisms as well as the natural amino acids as incorporated into proteins occurring free in tissues and lymphatic fluids are, as a rule, levorotatory. This article contains a simple explanation of this structural discrimination and of the extremely slow racemization of natural organic substances. Chirality 28:153–157, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The pathological and biochemical identification of possible seed‐lesions of transmitted transthyretin amyloidosis after domino liver transplantation
Authors: Yoshinaga Tsuneaki , Yazaki Masahide , Sekijima Yoshiki , Kametani Fuyuki , Miyashita Kana , Hachiya Naomi , Tanaka Tomohiro , Kokudo Norihiro , Higuchi Keiichi , Ikeda Shu‐ichi 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe most serious issue in domino liver transplantation (DLT) using liver grafts from patients with transthyretin (TTR)‐related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is the development of iatrogenic transmitted amyloidosis (de novo amyloidosis) in DLT‐recipients. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms of the initial stage of amyloid formation in these recipients. We detected initial lesions (possible seed‐lesions) of this iatrogenic amyloidosis in two recipients following liver grafting from FAP patients. Patient 1 underwent DLT at age 65 from an FAP patient with a Val30Met TTR variant and patient 2 received DLT from an FAP patient with a Val30Leu TTR variant at age 32. Patient 2 was started on diflunisal administration from 4 years after DLT. While neither patient had symptoms of FAP, small amyloid deposits were detected on the gastroduodenal mucosae 14 months and 12 years after DLT in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. The amyloid was analyzed using a laser microdissection system and tandem mass spectrometry. Biochemical analysis indicated that the amyloid was composed mostly of variant TTR produced from the transplanted liver in both patients. In patient 1, wild‐type TTR amyloid was detectable in the duodenal mucosa obtained 2 years after DLT. This is the first study to successfully capture the pathological and biochemical features of initial‐stage amyloid lesions in DLT recipients. The findings clearly indicate that amyloid deposition can start by deposition of variant TTR followed by deposition of wild‐type TTR, and blocking of amyloid seed formation from variant TTR may be a key to prevent or delay the development of DLT‐associated amyloidosis.