bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling the impact of agroforestry on hydrology of Mara River Basin in East Africa
Authors: Mwangi Hosea M. , Julich Stefan , Patil Sopan D. , McDonald Morag A. , Feger Karl‐Heinz 
Published: March 2016

AbstractLand‐use change is one of the main drivers of watershed hydrology change. The effect of forestry related land‐use changes (e.g. afforestation, deforestation, agroforestry) on water fluxes depends on climate, watershed characteristics and spatial scale. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated, validated and used to simulate the impact of agroforestry on the water balance in the Mara River Basin (MRB) in East Africa. Model performance was assessed by Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE). The NSE (and KGE) values for calibration and validation were: 0.77 (0.88) and 0.74 (0.85) for the Nyangores sub‐watershed, and 0.78 (0.89) and 0.79 (0.63) for the entire MRB. It was found that agroforestry in the watershed would generally reduce surface runoff, mainly because of enhanced infiltration. However, it would also increase evapotranspiration and consequently reduce baseflow and overall water yield, which was attributed to increased water use by trees. Spatial scale was found to have a significant effect on water balance; the impact of agroforestry was higher at the smaller headwater catchment (Nyangores) than for the larger watershed (entire MRB). However, the rate of change in water yield with an increase in area under agroforestry was different for the two and could be attributed to the spatial variability of climate within the MRB. Our results suggest that direct extrapolation of the findings from a small sub‐catchment to a larger watershed may not always be accurate. These findings could guide watershed managers on the level of trade‐offs that might occur between reduced water yields and other benefits (e.g. soil erosion control, improved soil productivity) offered by agroforestry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RP‐CARS reveals molecular spatial order anomalies in myelin of an animal model of Krabbe disease
Authors: de Vito Giuseppe , Cappello Valentina , Tonazzini Ilaria , Cecchini Marco , Piazza Vincenzo 
Published: March 2016

Krabbe disease (KD) is a rare demyelinating sphingolipidosis, often fatal in the first years of life. It is caused by the inactivation of the galactocerebrosidase (GALC) enzyme that causes an increase in the cellular levels of psychosine considered to be at the origin of the tissue‐level effects. GALC is inactivated also in the Twitcher (TWI) mouse: a genetic model of KD that is providing important insights into the understating of the pathogenetic process and the development of possible treatments. In this article an innovative optical technique, RP‐CARS, is proposed as a tool to study the degree of order of the CH2 bonds inside the myelin sheaths of TWI‐mice sciatic‐nerve fibres. RP‐CARS, a recently developed variation of CARS microscopy, is able to combine the intrinsic chemical selectivity of CARS microscopy with molecular‐bond‐spatial‐orientation sensibility. This is the first time RP‐CARS is applied to the study of a genetic model of a pathology, leading to the demonstration of a post‐onset progressive spatial disorganization of the myelin CH2 bonds. The presented result could be of great interest for a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the human KD and, moreover, it is an additional proof of the experimental validity of this microscopy technique.
RP‐CARS image (2850 cm–1, CH2 bonds) of a sciatic‐nerve optical longitudinal section from a Twitcher P23 (symptomatic) mouse. Scale bar: 10 microns. The image was constructed by colour‐mapping the degree of molecular order of the CH2 bonds inside the myelin walls, as displayed in the colour bar on the right.magnified imageRP‐CARS image (2850 cm–1, CH2 bonds) of a sciatic‐nerve optical longitudinal section from a Twitcher P23 (symptomatic) mouse. Scale bar: 10 microns. The image was constructed by colour‐mapping the degree of molecular order of the CH2 bonds inside the myelin walls, as displayed in the colour bar on the right.
Extracellular matrix components supporting human islet function in alginate‐based immunoprotective microcapsules for treatment of diabetes
Authors: Llacua Alberto , de Haan Bart J. , Smink Sandra A. , de Vos Paul 
Published: March 2016

AbstractIn the pancreas, extracellular matrix (ECM) components play an import role in providing mechanical and physiological support, and also contribute to the function of islets. These ECM‐connections are damaged during islet‐isolation from the pancreas and are not fully recovered after encapsulation and transplantation. To promote the functional survival of human pancreatic islets, we tested different ECMs molecules in alginate‐encapsulated human islets. These were laminin derived recognition sequences, IKVAV, RGD, LRE, PDSGR, collagen I sequence DGEA (0.01 − 1.0 mM), and collagen IV (50 − 200 µg/mL). Interaction with RGD and PDSGR promoted islet viability and glucose induced insulin secretion (GIIS) when it was applied at concentrations ranging from 0.01 − 1.0 mM (p < 0.05). Also the laminin sequence LRE contributed to enhanced GIIS but only at higher concentrations of 1 mM (p < 0.05). Collagen IV also had beneficial effects but only at 50 µg/ml and no further improvement was observed at higher concentrations. IKVAV and DGEA had no effects on human islets. Synergistic effects were observed by adding Collagen(IV)‐RGD, Collagen(IV)‐LRE, and Collagen(IV)‐PDSGR to encapsulated human islets. Our results demonstrate the potential of specific ECM components in support of functional survival of human encapsulated and free islet grafts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1788–1796, 2016.
Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells in three‐dimensional culture promote neuronal regeneration by neurotrophic protection and immunomodulation
Authors: Han Sufang , Wang Bin , Li Xing , Xiao Zhifeng , Han Jin , Zhao Yannan , Fang Yongxiang , Yin Yanyun , Chen Bing , Dai Jianwu 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAccumulating evidence has revealed three‐dimensional (3D) culture could better mimic the stem cell niche in vivo in comparison with conventional two‐dimensional (2D) culture. In this study, we found that bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cultured in 3D collagen scaffold (3D BMSCs) exhibited distinctive features including significantly enhancing neurotrophic factor secretions and reducing macrophage activations challenged by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. To further evaluate 3D BMSCs' potential benefits to the regeneration of spinal cord injury (SCI), the 3D and 2D BMSCs were respectively implanted in rat hemisected SCI. Compared with 2D cohort, 3D BMSCs transplantation significantly reduced the expressions of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 at 5 days after transplantation, markedly enhanced axonal regeneration, and promoted motor functional recovery during 8 weeks of observation. When Nocodazole was used to depolymerize the cytoskeleton of 3D BMSCs, the changed expressions of neurotrophic factors and inflammatory cytokines were blunted, at least partially. Thus synergistic effects of neuronal protection and immunomodulation of 3D BMSCs may lead to a better functional recovery of SCI and the underlying mechanism may involve the alteration of their cellular morphology because of 3D culture. This study contributes to a better understanding of the cellular characteristics of 3D BMSCs and provides a novel strategy to promote the repair of the injured spinal cord. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1759–1769, 2016.
Repair of rat critical size calvarial defect using osteoblast‐like and umbilical vein endothelial cells seeded in gelatin/hydroxyapatite scaffolds
Authors: Johari Behrooz , Ahmadzadehzarajabad Maryam , Azami Mahmoud , Kazemi Mansure , Soleimani Mansooreh , Kargozar Saied , Hajighasemlou Saieh , Farajollahi Mohammad M , Samadikuchaksaraei Ali 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe present study used a previously developed three‐dimensional Gelatin/Hydroxyapatite (Gel/HA) homogeneous nanocomposite scaffold with porosity of 82% and interconnecting pores ranging from 300 to 500 μm. Cell‐seeded scaffolds were used to evaluate bone regeneration of rat critical‐size calvarial defect. Totally, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups, including blank defect (defects without any graft), blank scaffold (defects filled with Gel/HA scaffold without cells), and two groups of cell‐seeded scaffolds (defects filled with either Gel/HA scaffold seeded with osteoblast‐like and endothelial cells or osteoblast‐like cell‐seeded constructs). After 1, 4, and 12 weeks of scaffold implantation, rats were sacrificed and the calvaria were harvested for histological, immunohistochemical and histomorphometric analysis. In vitro tests showed that scaffolds were nontoxic to cells and promoted ideal cellular attachment. In vivo investigation on scaffold revealed that blank calvarial defects indicated incomplete tissue coverage and little evidence of bone healing. However, blank scaffold and cell‐seeded scaffolds significantly promoted osteoconduction and ostegogenesis. Taken together, pre‐seeded Gel/HA nanocomposite scaffold with osteoblasts and endothelial cells presented an effective combination to improve osteogenesis in the engineered bone implant. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1770–1778, 2016.
Mechanical Vibration Mitigates the Decrease of Bone Quantity and Bone Quality of Leptin Receptor-Deficient Db/Db Mice by Promoting Bone Formation and Inhibiting Bone Resorption
Authors: Jing Da , Luo Erping , Cai Jing , Tong Shichao , Zhai Mingming , Shen Guanghao , Wang Xin , Luo Zhuojing 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Leptin, a major hormonal product of adipocytes, is involved in regulating appetite and energy metabolism. Substantial studies have revealed the anabolic actions of leptin on skeletons and bone cells both in vivo and in vitro. Growing evidence has substantiated that leptin receptor-deficient db/db mice exhibit decreased bone mass and impaired bone microstructure despite several conflicting results previously reported. We herein systematically investigated bone microarchitecture, mechanical strength, bone turnover and its potential molecular mechanisms in db/db mice. More importantly, we also explored an effective approach for increasing bone mass in leptin receptor-deficient animals in an easy and noninvasive manner. Our results show that deterioration of trabecular and cortical bone microarchitecture and decreases of skeletal mechanical strength―including maximum load, yield load, stiffness, energy, tissue-level modulus and hardness―in db/db mice were significantly ameliorated by 12-week, whole-body vibration (WBV) with 0.5 g, 45 Hz via micro–computed tomography (μCT), three-point bending, and nanoindentation examinations. Serum biochemical analysis shows that WBV significantly decreased serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b) and CTx-1 levels and also mitigated the reduction of serum osteocalcin (OCN) in db/db mice. Bone histomorphometric analysis confirmed that decreased bone formation―lower mineral apposition rate, bone formation rate, and osteoblast numbers in cancellous bone―in db/db mice were suppressed by WBV. Real-time PCR assays show that WBV mitigated the reductions of tibial alkaline phosphatase (ALP), OCN, Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), type I collagen (COL1), BMP2, Wnt3a, Lrp6, and β-catenin mRNA expression, and prevented the increases of tibial sclerostin (SOST), RANK, RANKL, RANL/osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene levels in db/db mice. Our results show that WBV promoted bone quantity and quality in db/db mice with obvious anabolic and anticatabolic effects. This study not only enriches our basic knowledge about bone quality and bone turnover mechanisms in leptin receptor-deficient animals, but also advances our understanding of the skeletal sensitivity of leptin-resistant db/db mice in response to external mechanical stimulation. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Building Community Capacity and Fostering Disaster Resilience
Authors: Gil‐Rivas Virginia , Kilmer Ryan P. 
Published: March 2016

ObjectiveTo describe, within an ecologically grounded framework, key principles, and recommendations for community‐level intervention to build community capacity and promote disaster resilience.MethodUsing an ecological framework, this article describes community resilience and related constructs and key principles for community‐level disaster preparedness and response.ResultsCurrent research suggests the importance of focusing on bolstering resources that promote wellness and facilitate individual and community resilience in the face of disaster.ConclusionWe advocate for using an ecological framework grounded in such values as collaboration, social justice, empowerment, and an appreciation of diversity to guide disaster work with communities. We highlight the need to: (a) focus on building community‐specific capacity for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; (b) emphasize increasing the capacity and supportive potential of community members’ natural settings to promote wellness; (c) address power and resource inequities; and (d) enhance capacity to ensure contextually and culturally appropriate structures, methods, and interventions.
Recycling of inorganic waste in monolithic and cellular glass‐based materials for structural and functional applications
Authors: Rincón Acacio , Marangoni Mauro , Cetin Suna , Bernardo Enrico 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe stabilization of inorganic waste of various nature and origin, in glasses, has been a key strategy for environmental protection for the last decades. When properly formulated, glasses may retain many inorganic contaminants permanently, but it must be acknowledged that some criticism remains, mainly concerning costs and energy use. As a consequence, the sustainability of vitrification largely relies on the conversion of waste glasses into new, usable and marketable glass‐based materials, in the form of monolithic and cellular glass‐ceramics. The effective conversion in turn depends on the simultaneous control of both starting materials and manufacturing processes. While silica‐rich waste favours the obtainment of glass, iron‐rich wastes affect the functionalities, influencing the porosity in cellular glass‐based materials as well as catalytic, magnetic, optical and electrical properties. Engineered formulations may lead to important reductions of processing times and temperatures, in the transformation of waste‐derived glasses into glass‐ceramics, or even bring interesting shortcuts. Direct sintering of wastes, combined with recycled glasses, as an example, has been proven as a valid low‐cost alternative for glass‐ceramic manufacturing, for wastes with limited hazardousness. The present paper is aimed at providing an up‐to‐date overview of the correlation between formulations, manufacturing technologies and properties of most recent waste‐derived, glass‐based materials. © 2016 The Authors.Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnologypublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Prenatal diagnosis of periventricular nodular heterotopia in borderline ventriculomegaly using sonography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Sahinoglu Zeki , Yapicier Ozlem , Ozcan Nahit 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTPeriventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is usually missed on prenatal sonographic examinations, even on targeted scans. Irregular ventricular walls on axial view and irregular square‐shaped lateral ventricles on coronal view are suggestive of PNH in the early third trimester. To achieve an early prenatal diagnosis, it is important to keep in mind the possible coexistence of PNH with brain malformations such as ventriculomegaly, posterior fossa anomalies, or agenesis of corpus callosum. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:510–513, 2016
Structure and outcomes of interdisciplinary rounds in hospitalized medicine patients: A systematic review and suggested taxonomy
Authors: Bhamidipati V. Surekha , Elliott Daniel J. , Justice Ellen M. , Belleh Ene , Sonnad Seema S. , Robinson Edmondo J. 
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUNDInterdisciplinary rounds (IDR) have been described to improve outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of optimal IDR design.PURPOSETo systematically review published reports of IDR to catalog types of IDR and outcomes, and assess the influence of IDR design on outcomes.DATA SOURCESOvid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations, Journals Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (EBSCOhost), and PubMed from 1990 through December 2014, and hand searching of article bibliographies.STUDY SELECTIONExperimental, quasiexperimental, and observation studies in English‐language literature where physicians rounded with another healthcare professional in inpatient medicine units.DATA EXTRACTIONStudies were abstracted for study setting and characteristics, and design and outcomes of IDR.DATA SYNTHESISTwenty‐two studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Many were of low to medium quality with few high‐quality studies. There is no clear definition of IDR in the literature. There was wide variation in IDR design and team composition across studies. We found three different models of IDR: pharmacist focused, bedside rounding, and interdisciplinary team rounding. There are reasonable data to support an association with length of stay and staff satisfaction but little data on patient safety or satisfaction. Positive outcomes may be related to particular components of IDR design, but the relationship between design and outcomes remains unclear.CONCLUSIONSFuture studies should be more deliberately designed and fully reported with careful attention to team composition and features of IDR and their impact on selected outcomes. We present a proposed IDR definition and taxonomy for future studies. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:513–523. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
Aid for Gender Equality and Development: Lessons and Challenges
Authors: Grown Caren , Addison Tony , Tarp Finn 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThis UNU‐WIDER special issue of the Journal of International Development comprises a set of papers on the theme of aid and gender equality. While the topic of aid effectiveness has been examined in this journal and elsewhere, the focus on how well development assistance to countries and non‐governmental organizations promotes gender equality and empowers women is relatively new. This special issue is the first to marshal quantitative evidence and case studies on several themes: (1) macroanalyses of aid effectiveness and gender equality; (2) the determinants of aid for gender equality and women's empowerment; and (3) gender issues related to aid for education, health, land administration, fragile states and climate finance. © 2016 UNU‐WIDER. Journal of International Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parallel FETI‐DP algorithm for efficient simulation of large‐scale EM problems
Authors: Zhang Kedi , Jin Jian‐Ming 
Published: March 2016

SummaryAn efficient parallelization of the dual‐primal finite‐element tearing and interconnecting (FETI‐DP) algorithm is presented for large‐scale electromagnetic simulations. As a nonoverlapping domain decomposition method, the FETI‐DP algorithm formulates a global interface problem, whose iterative solution is accelerated with a solution of a global corner problem. To achieve a good load balance for parallel computation, the original computational domain is decomposed into subdomains with similar sizes and shapes. The subdomains are then distributed to processors based on their close proximity to minimize inter‐processor communication. The parallel generalized minimal residual method, enhanced with the iterative classical Gram‐Schmidt orthogonalization scheme to reduce global communication, is adopted to solve the global interface problem with a fast convergence rate. The global corner‐related coarse problem is solved iteratively with a parallel communication‐avoiding biconjugate gradient stabilized method to minimize global communication, and its convergence is accelerated by a diagonal preconditioner constructed from the coarse system matrix. To alleviate neighboring communication overhead, the non‐blocking communication approach is employed in both generalized minimal residual and communication‐avoiding biconjugate gradient stabilized iterative solutions. Three numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy, scalability, and capability of the proposed parallel FETI‐DP algorithm for electromagnetic modeling of general objects and antenna arrays. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling and control of six‐phase induction motor servo‐driven continuously variable transmission system using blend modified recurrent Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomial neural network control system and amended artificial bee colony optimization
Authors: Lin Chih‐Hong 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBecause the nonlinear and time‐varying characteristics of the continuously variable transmission system operated using a six‐phase copper rotor induction motor are unknown, improving the control performance of the linear control design is time‐consuming. To capture the nonlinear and dynamic behaviour of the six‐phase copper rotor induction motor servo‐driven continuously variable transmission system, a blend modified recurrent Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomial neural network (NN) control system, which has the online learning capability to return to the nonlinear time‐varying system, was developed. The blend modified recurrent Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomial NN control system can perform overseer control, modified recurrent Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomial NN control, and recompensed control. Moreover, the adaptation law of online parameters in the modified recurrent Gegenbauer orthogonal polynomial NN is based on the Lyapunov stability theorem. The use of amended artificial bee colony optimization yielded two optimal learning rates for the parameters, which helped improve convergence. Finally, comparison of the experimental results of the present study with those of previous studies demonstrated the high control performance of the proposed control scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.