bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Functionalized Cyclic Lactide Monomer for Synthesis of Water‐Soluble Poly(Lactic Acid) and Amphiphilic Diblock Poly(Lactic Acid)
Authors: Zhang Xiaojin , Dai Yu 
Published: November 2016

Biodegradable and bioabsorbable poly(lactic acid)s are one of the most important biomedical materials. However, it is difficult to introduce the functional groups into poly(lactic acid)s in order to improve their hydrophilicity and degradation rate. Here the authors describe the synthesis of functionalized cyclic lactide monomer 3,6‐bis(benzyloxymethyl)‐1,4‐dioxane‐2,5‐dione (BnLA) using an advanced synthetic route. Water‐soluble hydroxyl‐functionalized homopoly(lactic acid) (P(OH)LA) is synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of BnLA, followed by a hydrogenolytic deprotection reaction. Amphiphilic diblock poly(lactic acid) (P(OH)LA‐PLA) is synthesized via ROP of DL‐lactide using PBnLA as an initiator, followed by a hydrogenolytic deprotection reaction. P(OH)LA‐PLA is able to form polymeric micelles with the diameter of sub‐100 nm.
image
Biostimulation and microbial community profiling reveal insights on RDX transformation in groundwater
Authors: Wang Dongping , Boukhalfa Hakim , Marina Oana , Ware Doug S. , Goering Tim J. , Sun Fengjie , Daligault Hajnalka E. , Lo Chien‐Chi , Vuyisich Momchilo , Starkenburg Shawn R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX) is a high explosive released to the environment as a result of weapons manufacturing and testing worldwide. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Technical Area (TA) 16 260 Outfall discharged high‐explosives‐bearing water from a high‐explosives‐machining facility to Cañon de Valle during 1951 through 1996. These discharges served as a primary source of high‐explosives and inorganic‐element contamination in the area. Data indicate that springs, surface water, alluvial groundwater, and perched‐intermediate groundwater contain explosive compounds, including RDX (hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine); HMX (octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine); and TNT (2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene). RDX has been detected in the regional aquifer in several wells, and a corrective measures evaluation is planned to identify remedial alternatives to protect the regional aquifer. Perched‐intermediate groundwater at Technical Area 16 is present at depths from 650 ft to 1200 ft bgs. In this study, we examined the microbial diversity in a monitoring well completed in perched‐intermediate groundwater contaminated by RDX, and examined the response of the microbial population to biostimulation under varying geochemical conditions. Results show that the groundwater microbiome was dominated by Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. A total of 1,605 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in 96 bacterial genera were identified. Rhodococcus was the most abundant genus (30.6%) and a total of 46 OTUs were annotated as Rhodococcus. One OTU comprising 25.2% of total sequences was closely related to a RDX ‐degrading strain R. erythropolis HS4. A less abundant OTU from the Pseudomonas family closely related to RDX‐degrading strain P. putida II‐B was also present. Biostimulation significantly enriched Proteobacteria but decreased/eliminated the population of Actinobacteria. Consistent with RDX degradation, the OTU closely related to the RDX‐degrading P. putida strain II‐B was specifically enriched in the RDX‐degrading samples. Analysis of the accumulation of RDX‐degradation products reveals that during active RDX degradation, there is a transient increase in the concentration of the degradation products MNX, DNX, TNX, and NDAB. The accumulation of these degradation products suggests that RDX is degraded via sequential reduction of the nitro functional groups followed by abiotic ring‐cleavage. The results suggest that strict anaerobic conditions are needed to stimulate RDX degradation under the TA‐16 site‐specific conditions.
Current controversies in prenatal diagnosis 1: in utero therapy for spina bifida is ready for endoscopic repair
Authors: Belfort Michael , Deprest Jan , Hecher Kurt 
Published: November 2016

What's already known about this topic?

There is level 1 (RCT) evidence for improved neurological outcomes after open fetal surgery for spina bifida versus postnatal surgery.
There is a lack of standardization of techniques and comparative outcome data in clinical trials for endoscopic fetal surgery for spina bifida.
What does this study add?

Different techniques, their strengths, limitations and clinical implications of endoscopic versus open fetal surgery for spina bifida are discussed.
Open fetal surgery anticipates postnatal surgery, whereas novel and less invasive endoscopic approaches aim to simplify the technique.
More data on long‐term follow‐up of intrauterine closure of spina bifida are needed, and open surgery is one step ahead of fetoscopic approaches.
Elliptic‐curve cryptography for wireless sensor network nodes without hardware multiplier support
Authors: Gulen Utku , Baktir Selcuk 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWith its relatively small key size, elliptic‐curve cryptography (ECC) is considered as the public‐key cryptographic algorithm of choice for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In this work, we implemented ECC in the frequency domain, that is, by using the number theoretic transform, and without using hardware multiplier support, on the constrained MSP430 microcontroller widely used in WSNs. Our 169‐bit ECC implementation uses Edwards curves and performs scalar point multiplication in only 1.97 and 0.98 s for multiplication of random and fixed points, respectively. Unlike many implementations in literature, our implementation does not use hardware multiplier support, which makes it desirable for low‐power applications on constrained WSN platforms. To our knowledge, this study presents the first ever software implementation of ECC in the frequency domain on a constrained low‐power microcontroller without hardware multiplier support. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient identity‐based leveled fully homomorphic encryption from RLWE
Authors: Sun Xiaoqiang , Yu Jianping , Wang Ting , Sun Zhiwei , Zhang Peng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBased on the learning with errors over rings (RLWE) assumption, a leveled fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) by the approximate eigenvector method under the same public key is proposed, which security can be reduced to the shortest vector problem on ideal lattices in the worst case. And the leveled FHE under different public keys is realized by the secret key switching without dimension reduction. Combine the public key of leveled FHE with the identity, we bring forward an efficient identity‐based leveled FHE scheme from the RLWE assumption. The security analysis shows that our identity‐based leveled FHE scheme is selective‐ID secure against chosen‐plaintext attacks in the random oracle model. And the efficiency analysis and simulation results show that the proposed identity‐based leveled FHE scheme is much more efficient than Gentry's and Wang's identity‐based cryptosystems based on the learning with errors assumption. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Abdominal Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Giljaca Vanja , Nadarevic Tin , Poropat Goran , Nadarevic Vesna Stefanac , Stimac Davor 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundTo determine the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA), in terms of sensitivity, specificity and post‐test probabilities for positive and negative result.MethodsA systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane library and Science Citation Index Expanded from January 1994 to October 2014 was performed. Two authors independently evaluated studies for inclusion, extracted data and performed analyses. The reference standard for evaluation of final diagnosis was pathohistological report on tissue obtained at appendectomy. Summary sensitivity, specificity and post‐test probability of AA after positive and negative result of US with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.ResultsOut of 3306 references identified through electronic searches, 17 reports met the inclusion criteria, with 2841 included participants. The summary sensitivity and specificity of US for diagnosis of AA were 69% (95% CI 59–78%) and 81% (95% CI 73–88%), respectively. At the median pretest probability of AA of 76.4%, the post‐test probability for a positive and negative result of US was 92% (95% CI 88–95%) and 55% (95% CI 46–63%), respectively.ConclusionsAbdominal ultrasound does not seem to have a role in the diagnostic pathway for diagnosis of AA in suspected patients. The summary sensitivity and specificity of US do not exceed that of physical examination. Patients that require additional diagnostic workup should be referred to more sensitive and specific diagnostic procedures, such as computed tomography.
Improvement in Compensation for Chronic Poststroke Homonymous Hemianopsia After Initiation of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: A Case Report
Authors: Abramoff Benjamin A. , Milton S. Byron , Belagaje Samir R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractHomonymous hemianopsia (HH) is a common adverse outcome after stroke. Spontaneous improvement more than 6 months poststroke is thought to be unlikely, and traditional visual rehabilitation techniques lack clear evidence of efficacy. The case presented is of a 22‐year‐old woman who demonstrated improved compensation of her stroke‐induced HH after the initiation of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). There is evidence supporting the use of SSRIs to improve poststroke cognitive impairment, motor impairment, and depression. This is the first case, however, demonstrating the potential novel use SSRIs to improve HH compensation after stroke, to our knowledge.Level of EvidenceV
Prevalence and Etiology of Hypogonadism in Young Men With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross‐Sectional Analysis From Two University‐Based Rehabilitation Centers
Authors: Sullivan Shannon D. , Nash Mark S. , Tefera Eshetu , Tinsley Emily , Blackman Marc R. , Groah Suzanne 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) triggers an “accelerated aging” process that may include development of hypogonadism, even among younger men with SCI; however, few studies have investigated the prevalence or etiology of hypogonadism in men with SCI. Young men with SCI also are at increased risk for developing metabolic dysfunction after injury, which may be exacerbated by concomitant testosterone (T) deficiency, thus identifying the prevalence and risk factors for T deficiency in men with SCI is important for their long‐term health.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and etiology of T deficiency (hypogonadism) in otherwise‐healthy men with chronic, motor complete SCI.DesignSecondary cross‐sectional analysis.SettingRehabilitation research centers in Washington, DC, and Miami, Florida.ParticipantsMen (n = 58) aged 18‐45 years with chronic (≥1 year), motor complete SCI without comorbidities or use of testosterone therapy.MethodsPlasma concentrations of hormones were measured with standardized assays. Body composition was assessed with dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry scan.Main Outcome MeasurementsSerum total T and calculated free T.ResultsT deficiency was more common in men after SCI than in a matched cohort of similarly‐aged men without SCI (25%, SCI versus 6.7%, non‐SCI, P < .001). The risk of hypogonadism appeared to be increased in men with more extensive injury and with higher percent body fat. The majority of men with SCI with low T had low serum LH levels, suggesting that central suppression of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis may be the most common etiology of hypogonadism after SCI.ConclusionsHypogonadism is more common in young men with SCI than in similarly aged men without SCI, suggesting that SCI should be identified as a risk factor for T deficiency and that routine screening for hypogonadism should be performed in the SCI population.Level of EvidenceII
Neoproterozoic metavolcanosedimentary rocks of the Bozdak Group in southern Ulutau (Central Kazakhstan): isotope-geochemical and geochronological data
Authors: Dmitrieva N.V. , Letnikova E.F. , Shkol’nik S.I. , Vishnevskaya I.A. , Kanygina N.A. , Nikolaeva M.S. , Sharf I.V. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
We consider geochemistry of Neoproterozoic metavolcanosedimentary rocks of the Bozdak Group in southern Ulutau (Central Kazakhstan) and present the first results of U–Pb LA–ICP-MS dating of clastic zircons and Sm–Nd isotope data. Isotope-geochemical and geochronological studies have shown that the Bozdak Group rocks resulted from the destruction of igneous and metamorphic complexes mostly of Neoproterozoic age with the participation of Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks. The lower boundary of sedimentation is dated at 800 Ma. The obtained isotope-geochemical data on the Bozdak Group basaltoids suggest their formation on thick continental crust with the participation of subduction fluid.
The road to Winwæd? Penda's wars against Oswiu of Bernicia, c. 642 to c. 655
Authors: Dunshea Philip 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBede's Historia ecclesiastica allows the historian to reconstruct a sporadic narrative of relations between Penda of Mercia and Oswiu of Bernicia in the years leading up to the battle of the Winwæd. This article re-evaluates Bede's presentation of these interactions, with a focus on narrative structure and various geographical and chronological points of interest, and also taking account of Welsh and Irish sources. In light of this discussion, an alternative reconstruction of events before and after the battle of Winwæd is proposed; this derives primarily from a suggested re-reading of a passage in Historia ecclesiastica iii. 24, where Bede addresses Oswiu's post-war settlement.
Typen elterlicher Hausaufgabenhilfe und ihr Zusammenhang mit der familialen Sozialisation
Authors: Moroni Sandra , Dumont Hanna , Trautwein Ulrich 
Published: November 2016

Zusammenfassung. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht mittels Latenter Profilanalyse, (1) ob sich hinsichtlich ihrer Hausaufgabenhilfe verschiedene Typen von Familien ermitteln lassen, (2) wie stark sich diese hinsichtlich familialer Bedingungen unterscheiden und (3) ob diese Lern- und Leistungsergebnisse des Kindes vorhersagen. Als Datenbasis dienten Fragebogenangaben von 2668 Kindern der fünften und sechsten Klasse, die im Rahmen einer Längsschnittstudie zur Leistungsentwicklung von Lernenden an Haupt- und Realschulen in Baden-Württemberg sowie Mittelschulen in Sachsen erhoben wurden. Es konnten drei Typen elterlicher Hausaufgabenhilfe ermittelt werden, die durch unterschiedliche Ausprägungen in den Dimensionen emotionale Anteilnahme, Strukturgebung sowie Einmischung/Kontrolle gekennzeichnet waren. Die drei Typen unterschieden sich bezüglich verschiedener Merkmale familialer Bedingungen sowie bezüglich der Vorhersage von Lern- und Leistungsergebnissen des Kindes. Durch die an die Erziehungsstilforschung angelehnte Anwendung eines typologischen Ansatzes ergänzt diese Studie die Forschung zu elterlicher Hausaufgabenhilfe, die sich bisher auf die Analyse der Bedeutung einzelner Dimensionen elterlichen Verhaltens konzentrierte.
Linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex coordinates late thymic T-cell differentiation and regulatory T-cell homeostasis
Authors: Teh Charis E. , Lalaoui Najoua , Jain Reema , Policheni Antonia N. , Heinlein Melanie , Alvarez-Diaz Silvia , Sheridan Julie M. , Rieser Eva , Deuser Stefanie , Darding Maurice , Koay Hui-Fern , Hu Yifang , Kupresanin Fiona , O’Reilly Lorraine A. , Godfrey Dale I. , Smyth Gordon K. , Bouillet Philippe , Strasser Andreas , Walczak Henning , Silke John , Gray Daniel H. D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) is essential for innate immunity in mice and humans, yet its role in adaptive immunity is unclear. Here we show that the LUBAC components HOIP, HOIL-1 and SHARPIN have essential roles in late thymocyte differentiation, FOXP3+regulatory T (Treg)-cell development and Treg cell homeostasis. LUBAC activity is not required to prevent TNF-induced apoptosis or necroptosis but is necessary for the transcriptional programme of the penultimate stage of thymocyte differentiation. Treg cell-specific ablation of HOIP causes severe Treg cell deficiency and lethal immune pathology, revealing an ongoing requirement of LUBAC activity for Treg cell homeostasis. These data reveal stage-specific requirements for LUBAC in coordinating the signals required for T-cell differentiation.
An archaeal ADP-dependent serine kinase involved in cysteine biosynthesis and serine metabolism
Authors: Makino Yuki , Sato Takaaki , Kawamura Hiroki , Hachisuka Shin-ichi , Takeno Ryo , Imanaka Tadayuki , Atomi Haruyuki 
Published: November 2016

AbstractRoutes for cysteine biosynthesis are still unknown in many archaea. Here we find that the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis generates cysteine from serine via O-phosphoserine, in addition to the classical route from 3-phosphoglycerate. The protein responsible for serine phosphorylation is encoded by TK0378, annotated as a chromosome partitioning protein ParB. The TK0378 protein utilizes ADP as the phosphate donor, but in contrast to previously reported ADP-dependent kinases, recognizes a non-sugar substrate. Activity is specific towards free serine, and not observed with threonine, homoserine and serine residues within a peptide. Genetic analyses suggest that TK0378 is involved in serine assimilation and clearly responsible for cysteine biosynthesis from serine. TK0378 homologs, present in Thermococcales and Desulfurococcales, are most likely not ParB proteins and constitute a group of kinases involved in serine utilization.
An elastic element in the protocadherin-15 tip link of the inner ear
Authors: Araya-Secchi Raul , Neel Brandon L. , Sotomayor Marcos 
Published: November 2016

AbstractTip link filaments convey force and gate inner-ear hair-cell transduction channels to mediate perception of sound and head movements. Cadherin-23 and protocadherin-15 form tip links through a calcium-dependent interaction of their extracellular domains made of multiple extracellular cadherin (EC) repeats. These repeats are structurally similar, but not identical in sequence, often featuring linkers with conserved calcium-binding sites that confer mechanical strength to them. Here we present the X-ray crystal structures of human protocadherin-15 EC8–EC10 and mouse EC9–EC10, which show an EC8–9 canonical-like calcium-binding linker, and an EC9–10 calcium-free linker that alters the linear arrangement of EC repeats. Molecular dynamics simulations and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments support this non-linear conformation. Simulations also suggest that unbending of EC9–10 confers some elasticity to otherwise rigid tip links. The new structure provides a first view of protocadherin-15’s non-canonical EC linkers and suggests how they may function in inner-ear mechanotransduction, with implications for other cadherins.
Asynchronous fate decisions by single cells collectively ensure consistent lineage composition in the mouse blastocyst
Authors: Saiz Néstor , Williams Kiah M. , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Hadjantonakis Anna-Katerina 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIntercellular communication is essential to coordinate the behaviour of individual cells during organismal development. The preimplantation mammalian embryo is a paradigm of tissue self-organization and regulative development; however, the cellular basis of these regulative abilities has not been established. Here we use a quantitative image analysis pipeline to undertake a high-resolution, single-cell level analysis of lineage specification in the inner cell mass (ICM) of the mouse blastocyst. We show that a consistent ratio of epiblast and primitive endoderm lineages is achieved through incremental allocation of cells from a common progenitor pool, and that the lineage composition of the ICM is conserved regardless of its size. Furthermore, timed modulation of the FGF-MAPK pathway shows that individual progenitors commit to either fate asynchronously during blastocyst development. These data indicate that such incremental lineage allocation provides the basis for a tissue size control mechanism that ensures the generation of lineages of appropriate size.
Self-assembly of diphenylalanine peptide with controlled polarization for power generation
Authors: Nguyen Vu , Zhu Ren , Jenkins Kory , Yang Rusen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractPeptides have attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility, functional molecular recognition and unique biological and electronic properties. The strong piezoelectricity in diphenylalanine peptide expands its technological potential as a smart material. However, its random and unswitchable polarization has been the roadblock to fulfilling its potential and hence the demonstration of a piezoelectric device remains lacking. Here we show the control of polarization with an electric field applied during the peptide self-assembly process. Uniform polarization is obtained in two opposite directions with an effective piezoelectric constant d33 reaching 17.9 pm V−1. We demonstrate the power generation with a peptide-based power generator that produces an open-circuit voltage of 1.4 V and a power density of 3.3 nW cm−2. Devices enabled by peptides with controlled piezoelectricity provide a renewable and biocompatible energy source for biomedical applications and open up a portal to the next generation of multi-functional electronics compatible with human tissue.
Selectively tunable optical Stark effect of anisotropic excitons in atomically thin ReS2
Authors: Sim Sangwan , Lee Doeon , Noh Minji , Cha Soonyoung , Soh Chan Ho , Sung Ji Ho , Jo Moon-Ho , Choi Hyunyong 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe optical Stark effect is a coherent light–matter interaction describing the modification of quantum states by non-resonant light illumination in atoms, solids and nanostructures. Researchers have strived to utilize this effect to control exciton states, aiming to realize ultra-high-speed optical switches and modulators. However, most studies have focused on the optical Stark effect of only the lowest exciton state due to lack of energy selectivity, resulting in low degree-of-freedom devices. Here, by applying a linearly polarized laser pulse to few-layer ReS2, where reduced symmetry leads to strong in-plane anisotropy of excitons, we control the optical Stark shift of two energetically separated exciton states. Especially, we selectively tune the Stark effect of an individual state with varying light polarization. This is possible because each state has a completely distinct dependence on light polarization due to different excitonic transition dipole moments. Our finding provides a methodology for energy-selective control of exciton states.