bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High throughput toxicity screening and intracellular detection of nanomaterials
Authors: Collins Andrew R. , Annangi Balasubramanyam , Rubio Laura , Marcos Ricard , Dorn Marco , Merker Carolin , Estrela‐Lopis Irina , Cimpan Mihaela Roxana , Ibrahim Mohamed , Cimpan Emil , Ostermann Melanie , Sauter Alexander , Yamani Naouale El , Shaposhnikov Sergey , Chevillard Sylvie , Paget Vincent , Grall Romain , Delic Jozo , de‐Cerio Felipe Goñi‐ , Suarez‐Merino Blanca , Fessard Valérie , Hogeveen Kevin N. , Fjellsbø Lise Maria , Pran Elise Runden , Brzicova Tana , Topinka Jan , Silva Maria João , Leite P. E. , Ribeiro A. R. , Granjeiro J. M. , Grafström Roland , Prina‐Mello Adriele , Dusinska Maria 
Published: June 2016

With the growing numbers of nanomaterials (NMs), there is a great demand for rapid and reliable ways of testingNMsafety—preferably usingin vitroapproaches, to avoid the ethical dilemmas associated with animal research. Data are needed for developing intelligent testing strategies for risk assessment ofNMs, based on grouping and read‐across approaches. The adoption of high throughput screening (HTS) and high content analysis (HCA) forNMtoxicity testing allows the testing of numerous materials at different concentrations and on different types of cells, reduces the effect of inter‐experimental variation, and makes substantial savings in time and cost.HTS/HCAapproaches facilitate the classification of key biological indicators ofNM‐cell interactions. Validation ofin vitroHTStests is required, taking account of relevance toin vivoresults.HTS/HCAapproaches are needed to assess dose‐ and time‐dependent toxicity, allowing prediction ofin vivoadverse effects. SeveralHTS/HCAmethods are being validated and applied forNMtesting in theFP7projectNANoREG, including Label‐free cellular screening ofNMuptake, HCA, High throughput flow cytometry, Impedance‐based monitoring, Multiplex analysis of secreted products, and genotoxicity methods—namely High throughput comet assay, High throughputin vitromicronucleus assay, andγH2AXassay. There are several technical challenges withHTS/HCAforNMtesting, as toxicity screening needs to be coupled with characterization ofNMsin exposure medium prior to the test; possible interference ofNMswithHTS/HCAtechniques is another concern. Advantages and challenges ofHTS/HCAapproaches inNMsafety are discussed.WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2017, 9:e1413. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1413This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging TechnologiesToxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Regulatory and Policy Issues in NanomedicineToxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials
An experimental evaluation of the direct and indirect effects of endemic seaweeds, barnacles, and invertebrate predators on the abundance of the introduced rocky intertidal barnacle Balanus glandula
Authors: Rashidul Alam A. K. M. , Noda Takashi 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe barnacle, Balanus glandula has recently invaded along the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido, Japan. To evaluate the direct and indirect effects of endemic seaweeds, barnacles, and invertebrate predators on the abundance of B. glandula on the rocky intertidal coast of eastern Hokkaido, we conducted a field experiment from June 2011 to October 2012 in which we manipulated the presence or absence of these factors. Seaweeds showed no significant effect on the abundance of B. glandula. The endemic barnacle Chthamalus dalli and the invertebrate predator Nucella lima reduced the abundance of B. glandula. However, the simultaneous influence of N. lima and C. dalli was compensative rather than additive, probably due to keystone predation. These findings suggest that competition by the endemic barnacle C. dalli and predation by the invertebrate predator N. lima decreased the abundance of B. glandula, but that N. lima predation on C. dalli weakened the negative influence of C. dalli on B. glandula. The implications of these findings are twofold: the endemic competitor and invertebrate predator may have played important roles in decreasing the abundance of B. glandula in natural habitats, and conservation of endemic invertebrate predators may be crucial to impede the establishment and survival of introduced barnacles in rocky intertidal habitats.
Customers' perceptions on the dispute resolution clauses in Islamic finance contracts in Malaysia
Authors: Oseni Umar A. , Adewale Abideen , Mohd Zain Nor Razinah Binti 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis empirical legal study examines the perceptions of retail customers on the dispute resolution clauses contained in the governing law and jurisdiction clauses in Islamic finance contracts in Malaysia. Since Islamic financial institutions and their customers are more likely to opt for litigation in the event of a dispute, this study explores ways of providing for unambiguous dispute resolution clauses that are well understood by the parties. Such clauses are expected to incorporate effective dispute resolution processes such as mediation and arbitration through a multi‐tiered mechanism. Primary data collected through survey questionnaire administered on 160 Islamic bank customers is analysed using both factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The empirical legal study reveals that there is a statistically significant direct effect of dispute resolution clauses in Islamic finance contracts on the legal awareness and understanding of the customers and indirect effect on the customers' dispute resolution channels. It therefore follows that there is a need to provide for more effective clauses that allow for mediation and arbitration in the governing law and jurisdiction clauses of Islamic finance contracts in Malaysia. Such alternative dispute resolution processes can be structured in a multi‐tiered manner that will only allow for litigation as a last resort. This will allow Islamic financial institutions and their customers to make informed decisions about the best option for effective dispute management.
Rotorcraft downwash impact on ship airwake: statistics, modelling, and simulation
Authors: Schau K. A. , Gaonkar G. , Polsky S. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTHelicopter downwash impact on ship airwake is addressed from a three-pronged approach: (1) Analysis of one-point statistics of autospectrum and two-point statistics of cross-spectrum and coherence from a Computational Fluid Dynamics database of flow velocities effected by helicopter downwash and shipboard airwake; (2) Development of a mathematical framework for extracting interpretive turbulence models in closed form from these autospectral statistics; and (3) Simulation through white-noise-driven filters for the extracted models. The framework begins with an earlier-exercised perturbation-type series expansion of the autocorrelation for all three velocity components, where the first term of the series has a form of the von Karman longitudinal or lateral correlation function. After transformation into equivalent series of autospectrum, the coefficients in the series are evaluated by satisfying theoretical constraints and fitting a curve on a set of selected autospectral data points generated from the database. The framework represents a sensible combination of series expansion, exploitation of a database, and theoretical constraints to provide a foothold on airwake-downwash phenomenon for engineering analysis. It ensures that the extracted model and the autospectral data points have the same time scale, mean square value, and asymptotic decay according to the Kolmogorov –5/3 Law. The framework's strengths and weaknesses, and its major advancement over the earlier series-expansion schemes are also addressed. Finally it is shown that downwash increases airwake energy (mean square value) by one order of magnitude, and almost all of this airwake-downwash energy is concentrated within the bandwidth (0.16 <f(Hz) < 1.6) that affects flight mechanics.
Distributed actuation concepts for a morphing aileron device
Authors: Amendola G. , Dimino I. , Magnifico M. , Pecora R. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTThe actuation mechanism is a crucial aspect in the design of morphing structures due to the very stringent requirements involving actuation torque, consumed power, and allowable size and weight.In the framework of the CRIAQ MD0-505 project, novel design strategies are investigated to enable morphing of aeronautical structures. This paper deals with the design of a morphing aileron with the main focus on the actuation technology. The morphing aileron consists of segmented 'finger-like' ribs capable of changing the aerofoil camber in order to match target aerodynamic shapes. In this work, lightweight and compact actuation kinematics driven by electromechanical actuators are investigated to actuate the morphing device. An unshafted distributed servo-electromechanical actuation arrangement is employed to realise the transition from the baseline configuration to a set of target aerodynamic shapes by also withstanding the aerodynamics loads. Numerical investigations are detailed to identify the optimal actuation architecture matching as well as the system integratability and structural compactness.
Research Methods in Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship—Quasi-Experimental Designs
Authors: Schweizer Marin L. , Braun Barbara I. , Milstone Aaron M. 
Published: June 2016

Quasi-experimental studies evaluate the association between an intervention and an outcome using experiments in which the intervention is not randomly assigned. Quasi-experimental studies are often used to evaluate rapid responses to outbreaks or other patient safety problems requiring prompt, nonrandomized interventions. Quasi-experimental studies can be categorized into 3 major types: interrupted time-series designs, designs with control groups, and designs without control groups. This methods paper highlights key considerations for quasi-experimental studies in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship, including study design and analytic approaches to avoid selection bias and other common pitfalls of quasi-experimental studies.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1–6
Cortical thickness and surface area correlates with cognitive dysfunction among first-episode psychosis patients
Authors: Haring L. , Müürsepp A. , Mõttus R. , Ilves P. , Koch K. , Uppin K. , Tarnovskaja J. , Maron E. , Zharkovsky A. , Vasar E. , Vasar V. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundIn studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), some have reported specific brain structure–function relationships among first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients, but findings are inconsistent. We aimed to localize the brain regions where cortical thickness (CTh) and surface area (cortical area; CA) relate to neurocognition, by performing an MRI on participants and measuring their neurocognitive performance using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), in order to investigate any significant differences between FEP patients and control subjects (CS).MethodExploration of potential correlations between specific cognitive functions and brain structure was performed using CANTAB computer-based neurocognitive testing and a vertex-by-vertex whole-brain MRI analysis of 63 FEP patients and 30 CS.ResultsSignificant correlations were found between cortical parameters in the frontal, temporal, cingular and occipital brain regions and performance in set-shifting, working memory manipulation, strategy usage and sustained attention tests. These correlations were significantly dissimilar between FEP patients and CS.ConclusionsSignificant correlations between CTh and CA with neurocognitive performance were localized in brain areas known to be involved in cognition. The results also suggested a disrupted structure–function relationship in FEP patients compared with CS.
Symptoms, functioning and coping strategies in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who do not take antipsychotic medication: a comparative interview study
Authors: Jung E. , Wiesjahn M. , Wendt H. , Bock T. , Rief W. , Lincoln T. M. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundA considerable proportion of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders do not take antipsychotic medication but seem to be functioning well. However, little is known about this group. To test the assumption that absence of medication is compensated for by more effective coping and increased social support, this study compared symptoms, functioning, coping strategies and social support in non-medicated and medicated individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.MethodIn all, 48 participants with a DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorder who were taking (n= 25) or not taking antipsychotic medication (n= 23) were included. Assessment consisted of self-ratings of symptoms, symptom-related distress and social support combined with a semi-structured interview that assessed general and social functioning, subjective evaluation of symptoms and coping strategies.ResultsSymptom severity and distress did not differ between the groups. However, the non-medicated participants had significantly higher levels of general functioning than medicated participants and a longer duration of being non-medicated was significantly associated with a higher level of general functioning. In contrast to the hypotheses, not taking medication was not associated with more effective coping strategies or with higher levels of social support. Medicated participants more frequently reported the use of professional help as a coping strategy.ConclusionsOur results corroborate previous studies finding improved functioning in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who do not take medication compared with those who take medication, but do not support the notion that this difference is explicable by better coping or higher levels of social support. Alternative explanations and avenues for research are discussed.
Multi-informant perspective on psychological distress among Ghanaian orphans and vulnerable children within the context of HIV/AIDS
Authors: Doku P. N. , Minnis H. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundThere is little knowledge about the psychosocial distress of children affected by human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Ghana, to aid the planning of services. This study investigated mental health problems among children affected by HIV/AIDS, compared with control groups of children orphaned by other causes, and non-orphans.MethodThe study employed a cross-sectional survey that interviewed 291 children and their caregivers. Both children and caregivers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire that measured children's psychosocial wellbeing. Verbal autopsy was used to identify whether children lost one or both parents from AIDS.ResultsThe results indicated that controlling for relevant sociodemographic factors, both children's self-reports and caregivers’ reports indicate that both children living with HIV/AIDS-infected caregivers and children orphaned by AIDS were at heightened risk for mental health problems than both children orphaned by other causes and non-orphans. The findings further indicated that a significant proportion of orphaned and vulnerable children exhibited symptoms for depression and other psychiatric disorders (approximately 63%) compared with 7% among the non-orphaned group. Caregivers gave higher ratings for children on externalizing problems and lower on internalizing problems, and vice versa when the children's self-reports were analysed.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that both children and their informants have diverse yet complementary perspectives on psychological outcomes. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and urgently calls for necessary intervention programmes that target all children affected by HIV/AIDS to effectively alleviate psychological distress and enhance the mental health of these children.
Depressive and anxiety disorders and short leukocyte telomere length: mediating effects of metabolic stress and lifestyle factors
Authors: Révész D. , Verhoeven J. E. , Milaneschi Y. , Penninx B. W. J. H. 
Published: June 2016

BackgroundDepressive and anxiety disorders are associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), an indicator of cellular aging. It is, however, unknown which pathways underlie this association. This study examined the extent to which lifestyle factors and physiological changes such as inflammatory or metabolic alterations mediate the relationship.MethodWe applied mediation analysis techniques to data from 2750 participants of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. LTL was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Independent variables were current depressive (30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptoms – Self Report) and anxiety (21-item Beck's Anxiety Inventory) symptoms and presence of a depressive or anxiety disorder diagnosis based on DSM-IV; mediator variables included physiological stress systems, metabolic syndrome components and lifestyle factors.ResultsShort LTL was associated with higher symptom severity (B = −2.4, p = 0.002) and current psychiatric diagnosis (B = −63.3, p = 0.024). C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cigarette smoking were significant mediators in the relationship between psychopathology and LTL. When all significant mediators were included in one model, the effect sizes of the relationships between LTL and symptom severity and current diagnosis were reduced by 36.7 and 32.7%, respectively, and the remaining direct effects were no longer significant.ConclusionsPro-inflammatory cytokines, metabolic alterations and cigarette smoking are important mediators of the association between depressive and anxiety disorders and LTL. This calls for future research on intervention programs that take into account lifestyle changes in mental health care settings.
Quantified degree of poultry exposure differs for human cases of avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9
Authors: BETHMONT A. , BUI C. M. , GARDNER L. , SARKAR S. , CHUGHTAI A. A. , MACINTYRE C. R. 
Published: June 2016

SUMMARYPreliminary evidence suggests that direct poultry contact may play a lesser role in transmission of avian influenza A(H7N9) than A(H5N1) to humans. To better understand differences in risk factors, we quantified the degree of poultry contact reported by H5N1 and H7N9 World Health Organization-confirmed cases. We used publicly available data to classify cases by their degree of poultry contact, including direct and indirect. To account for potential data limitations, we used two methods: (1) case population method in which all cases were classified using a range of sources; and (2) case subset method in which only cases with detailed contact information from published research literature were classified. In the case population, detailed exposure information was unavailable for a large proportion of cases (H5N1, 54%; H7N9, 86%). In the case subset, direct contact proportions were higher in H5N1 cases (70·3%) than H7N9 cases (40·0%) (χ2 = 18·5, P < 0·001), and indirect contact proportions were higher in H7N9 cases (44·6%) than H5N1 cases (19·4%) (χ2 = 15·5, P < 0·001). Together with emerging evidence, our descriptive analysis suggests direct poultry contact is a clearer risk factor for H5N1 than for H7N9, and that other risk factors should also be considered for H7N9.
Mixing, Communication Complexity and Conjectures of Gowers and Viola
Authors: SHALEV ANER 
Published: June 2016

We study the distribution of products of conjugacy classes in finite simple groups, obtaining effective two-step mixing results, which give rise to an approximation to a conjecture of Thompson.Our results, combined with work of Gowers and Viola, also lead to the solution of recent conjectures they posed on interleaved products and related complexity lower bounds, extending their work on the groups SL(2,q) to all (non-abelian) finite simple groups.In particular it follows that, ifGis a finite simple group, andA,B⊆Gtfort⩾ 2 are subsets of fixed positive densities, then, asa= (a1, . . .,at) ∈Aandb= (b1, . . .,bt) ∈Bare chosen uniformly, the interleaved producta•b:=a1b1. . .atbtis almost uniform onG(with quantitative estimates) with respect to the ℓ∞-norm.It also follows that the communication complexity of an old decision problem related to interleaved products ofa,b∈Gtis at least Ω(tlog |G|) whenGis a finite simple group of Lie type of bounded rank, and at least Ω(tlog log |G|) whenGis any finite simple group. Both these bounds are best possible.
Serum and erythrocyte folate status of New Zealand women of childbearing age following a countrywide voluntary programme by the baking industry to fortify bread with folic acid
Authors: Bradbury Kathryn E , Williams Sheila M , Mann Jim I , Oey Indrawati , Aitchison Cindy , Parnell Winsome , Fleming Liz , Brown Rachel C , Skeaff C Murray 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the folate status of New Zealand women of childbearing age following the introduction, in 2010, of a new voluntary folic acid fortification of bread programme.DesignThe 2011 Folate and Women’s Health Survey was a cross-sectional survey of women aged 18–44 years carried out in 2011. The survey used a stratified random sampling technique with the Electoral Roll as the sampling frame. Women were asked about consumption of folic-acid-fortified breads and breakfast cereals in a telephone interview. During a clinic visit, blood was collected for serum and erythrocyte folate measurement by microbiological assay.SettingA North Island (Wellington) and South Island (Dunedin) city centre in New Zealand.SubjectsTwo hundred and eighty-eight women, of whom 278 completed a clinic visit.ResultsGeometric mean serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations were 30 nmol/l and 996 nmol/l, respectively. Folate status was 30–40 % higher compared with women of childbearing age sampled as part of a national survey in 2008/09, prior to the introduction of the voluntary folic acid bread fortification programme. In the 2011 Folate and Women’s Health Survey, reported consumption of fortified bread and fortified breakfast cereal in the past week was associated with 25 % (P=0·01) and 15 % (P=0·04) higher serum folate concentrations, respectively.ConclusionsSerum and erythrocyte folate concentrations have increased in New Zealand women of childbearing age since the number of folic-acid-fortified breads was increased voluntarily in 2010. Consumption of fortified breads and breakfast cereals was associated with a higher folate status.
Th2 and eosinophil responses suppress inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Chen Zhu , Andreev Darja , Oeser Katharina , Krljanac Branislav , Hueber Axel , Kleyer Arnd , Voehringer David , Schett Georg , Bozec Aline 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTh2–eosinophil immune responses are well known for mediating host defence against helminths. Herein we describe a function of Th2–eosinophil responses in counteracting the development of arthritis. In two independent models of arthritis, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection leads to Th2 and eosinophil accumulation in the joints associated with robust inhibition of arthritis and protection from bone loss. Mechanistically, this protective effect is dependent on IL-4/IL-13-induced STAT6 pathway. Furthermore, we show that eosinophils play a central role in the modulation of arthritis probably through the increase of anti-inflammatory macrophages into arthritic joints. The presence of these pathways in human disease is confirmed by detection of GATA3-positive cells and eosinophils in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Taken together, these results demonstrate that eosinophils and helminth-induced activation of the Th2 pathway axis effectively mitigate the course of inflammatory arthritis.