bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metamorphosis of Marine Organic Matter in the Jurassic Deposits from Sharab Area, Taiz Governorate of Southwestern Yemen: Thermal Effect of Tertiary Volcanic Rocks
Authors: Hakimi Mohammed Hail , Nasher Mukhtar A. , Saeed Shadi A. , Al-Hakame Hitham , Al-Moliki Tareq , Al-Sharabi Kholah Qaid 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT
The Tertiary volcanic rocks are widely exposed in the Sharab area of Taiz Governorate, southwestern Yemen. The Jurassic calcareous shale and black limestone deposits collected closely to the Tertiary volcanic rocks were investigated to provide information regarding the thermal effects of Tertiary volcanic rocks on organic materials. The bulk geochemical results indicate that the analysed Jurassic deposits are organically lean with present-day TOC values less than 0.95% and very low HI values (&lt; 50 mg HC/g TOC), with a predominantly Type IV kerogen (inert carbon). This is attributed to thermal effect on the original organic matter as indicated by high thermal maturity data, consistent with postmature to metagenesis stage. The present study also suggests that the high thermal maturity of the Jurassic marine deposits is due to the presence of the alkali basalts which have invaded the Jurassic rocks during late Oligocene to early Miocene (∼10 Ma). Thus, the heat flow caused by Tertiary basaltic rocks further increased the temperature level and led to metamorphosis of organic matter and converted it to graphitic materials (inert carbon).
Deep Earth Electrical Conductivity-Depth Profiles around African Geomagnetic Equator Using Solar Quiet Currents
Authors: Ugbor D. O. , Okeke F. N. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT
Electrical conductivity structure of the Earth’s deep interior has been successfully mapped out down to approximately 1500 km around the geomagnetic dip equatorial regions of Africa using solar quiet-day ionospheric currents. Spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) was employed in separating the internal and external field contributions to the solar quiet variations. Transfer function was used for each of the external and internal pairs to compute the conductivity-depth profile for the region. Calculated average electrical conductivity values were evidently higher than obtained in other parts of the world farther away from the geomagnetic equator. Sq current vortex foci are observed very close to the geomagnetic equator. Depth of penetration was greatly enhanced. Stations on latitudes less than 1° from the geomagnetic equator show higher electrical conductivity when compared with that situated more than 4° away from it at various corresponding depths. Evidence of discontinuities in the earth layers were also noted at some depths. Highly conductive layers were delineated around 400 km depth and beyond 1200 km.
Reservoir Characterization of Basal Sand Zone of Lower Goru Formation by Petrophysical Studies of Geophysical Logs
Authors: Hussain Mureed , Ahmed Nisar , Chun Wang Yan , Khalid Perveiz , Mahmood Azhar , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Rasool Umair 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT
The lower Indus basin is one of the largest hydrocarbon producing sedimentary basins in Pakistan. It is characterized by the presence of many hydrocarbon-bearing fields including clastic and carbonates proven reservoirs from the Cretaceous to the Eocene age. This study has been carried out in the Sanghar oil field to evaluate the hydrocarbon prospects of basal sand zone of lower Goru Formation of Cretaceous by using complete suite of geophysical logs of different wells. The analytical formation evaluation by using petrophysical studies and neutron-density crossplots unveils that litho-facies mainly comprising of sandstone. The hydrocarbons potentialities of the formation zone have been characterized through various isoparameteric maps such as gross reservoir and net pay thickness, net-to-gross ratio, total and effective porosity, shaliness, and water and hydrocarbons saturation. The evaluated petrophysical studies show that the reservoir has net pay zone of thickness range 5 to 10 m, net-to-gross ratio range of 0.17 to 0.75, effective porosity range of 07 to 12 %, shaliness range of 27 to 40 % and hydrocarbon saturation range of 12 to 31 %. However, in the net pay zone hydrocarbon saturation reaches up to 95%. The isoparametric charts of petrophysically derived parameters reveal the aerial distribution of hydrocarbons accumulation in basal sand unit of the lower Goru Formation which may be helpful for further exploration.
Driving restrictions in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators and pacemakers
Authors: Watanabe Eiichi , Abe Haruhiko , Watanabe Shigeyuki 
Published: March 2017

AbstractImplantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) improve the survival in patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. However, these patients have an ongoing risk of sudden incapacitation that may cause harm to individuals and others when driving. Considerable disagreement exists about whether and when these patients should be allowed to resume driving after ICD therapies. This information is critical for the management decisions to avoid future potentially lethal incidents and unnecessary restrictions for ICD patients. The cardiac implantable device committee of the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society reassessed the risk of driving for ICD patients based on the literature and domestic data. We reviewed the driving restrictions of ICD patients in various regions and here present updated Japanese driving restrictions.
Medication and Supplement Use in Disability Football World Championships
Authors: Broman Daniel , Ahmed Osman Hassan , Tscholl Philippe M. , Weiler Richard 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundIndividuals with an impairment comprise more than 15% of the world's population, many of whom can benefit greatly from participation in sport. The provision of medical services in disability sport is a challenging area with a lack of scientific evidence. Given the positive impact that sport can have on the people with an impairment, it is vital that measures are taken to better understand the medical issues posed by disability sport. It is well established that medications and supplements are overused in sport, particularly within professional football, but there is no current evidence on medication or supplement use in elite disability football.ObjectiveTo examine and describe the use of medication and supplements in disability football, before and during international tournaments, and to identify the profile of substances used by category.DesignProspective, descriptive, cohort study.SettingInternational Blind Sport Association Football World Cup 2015 and the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football World Cup 2015.ParticipantsTwo hundred forty‐two elite‐level disability footballers, classified with B1 visual impairment or cerebral palsy.MethodsTeam clinicians were asked to document all medication and supplements taken in the 48 hours before each match.ResultsThis study recorded the use of 1648 substances in 242 players, with more than one half (53.1%) classified as supplements. There was an overall rate of 1.26 substances used per player per match and a medication use rate of 0.59 medications per player per match. Seventy percent (170/242) of players reported using at least one substance per tournament, with 57.9% (140/242) using at least one prescribed medication (63.6% of players at International Blind Sports Association World Games and 57.7% of players at International Federation of Cerebral Palsy World Cup). The most commonly prescribed category of medications was nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, representing 39.3% of all reported medications.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential overuse of medication and supplements in disability football, particularly in the use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. These trends are comparable to previous research in Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup competitions.Level of EvidenceNot applicable.
From red cells to soft lubrication, an experimental study of lift generation inside a compressible porous layer
Authors: Gacka T. , Zhu Z. , Crawford R. , Nathan R. , Wu Q. 
Published: March 2017

It is a new concept for porous media flow that a hydrodynamic lifting force is generated inside a highly compressible porous layer as a planing surface glides over it. The concept originated from the observation of the pop-out phenomena of red blood cells over the endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL) lining the inner surface of our blood vessels (Feng & Weinbaum, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 422, 2000, pp. 282–317). In the current paper, we report an experimental study to examine this concept. A novel testing set-up was developed that consists of a running conveyer belt covered with a soft porous sheet, and a fully instrumented upper planar board, i.e. planing surface. The generation of pore pressure was observed and captured by pressure transducers when the planing surface glides over the porous sheet. Its distribution strongly depends on the relative velocity between the planing surface and the running belt, the mechanical and transport properties of the porous sheet as well as the compression ratios at the leading and trailing edges. The relative contribution of the transiently trapped air to the total lift was evaluated by comparing the pore pressure to the total lifting pressure measured by a load cell mounted between two adjacent pressure transducers. For a typical running condition with a polyester porous material ($k=h_{2}/h_{1}=5$, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}=h_{2}/h_{0}=1$, $U=3.8~\text{m}~\text{s}^{-1}$, where $h_{2}$, $h_{1}$, are the porous layer thickness at the leading and trailing edges, respectively; $h_{0}$ is the un-deformed porous layer thickness; and $U$ is the velocity of the running belt), over 68 % of the local lift is generated by the pore pressure. The results conclusively verified the validity of lift generation in a highly compressible porous layer as a planing surface glides over it. This study provides the foundation for the application of highly compressible porous media for soft lubrication with minimal frictional losses. It also sheds some light on the biophysics study of the EGL.
Laser-generated plasmas by graphene nanoplatelets embedded into polyethylene
Authors: Torrisi L. , Ceccio G. , Restuccia N. , Messina E. , Gucciardi P. G. , Cutroneo M. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractGraphene micrometric particles have been embedded into polyethylene at different concentrations by using chemical–physical processes. The synthesized material was characterized in terms of mechanical and optical properties, and Raman spectroscopy. Obtained targets were irradiated by using a Nd:YAG laser at intensities of the order of 1010 W/cm2 to generate non-equilibrium plasma expanding in vacuum. The laser–matter interaction produces charge separation effects with consequent acceleration of protons and carbon ions. Plasma was characterized using time-of-flight measurements of the accelerated ions. Applications of the produced targets in order to generate carbon and proton ion beams from laser-generated plasma are presented and discussed.
Engineered trivalent immunogen adjuvanted with a STING agonist confers protection against Trypanosoma cruzi infection
Authors: Sanchez Alberti Andrés , Bivona Augusto E. , Cerny Natacha , Schulze Kai , Weißmann Sebastian , Ebensen Thomas , Morales Celina , Padilla Angel M. , Cazorla Silvia I. , Tarleton Rick L. , Guzmán Carlos A. , Malchiodi Emilio L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe parasiteTrypanosoma cruziis the causative agent of Chagas disease, a potentially life-threatening infection that represents a major health problem in Latin America. Several characteristics of this protozoan contribute to the lack of an effective vaccine, among them: its silent invasion mechanism,T. cruziantigen redundancy and immunodominance without protection. Taking into account these issues, we engineered Traspain, a chimeric antigen tailored to present a multivalent display of domains from key parasitic molecules, combined with stimulation of the STING pathway by c-di-AMP as a novel prophylactic strategy. This formulation proved to be effective for the priming of functional humoral responses and pathogen-specific CD8+and CD4+T cells, compatible with a Th1/Th17 bias. Interestingly, vaccine effectiveness assessed across the course of infection, showed a reduction in parasite load and chronic inflammation in different proof of concept assays. In conclusion, this approach represents a promising tool against parasitic chronic infections.
Synthesis of Thermoplastic Xylan-Lactide Copolymer with Amidine-Mediated Organocatalyst in Ionic Liquid
Authors: Zhang Xueqin , Wang Huihui , Liu Chuanfu , Zhang Aiping , Ren Junli 
Published: March 2017

AbstractRing-opening graft polymerization (ROGP) ofl-Lactide (l-LA) is a practical method of altering the physical and chemical properties of lignocellulose. Previous studies have mainly investigated cellulose and tin-based catalysts, particularly of tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(oct)2), at high temperatures and reported low graft efficiencies. In the present study, ROGP ofl-LA was successfully achieved on xylan-type hemicelluloses in ionic liquid (IL) 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim]Cl) using 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as an effective organic catalyst. Mild reaction condition (50 °C) was used to limit transesterification, and thus enhance the graft efficiency. The hydroxyl groups on xylan acted as initiators in the polymerization, and DBU, enhanced the nucleophilicity of the initiator and the propagating chain. Xylan-graft-poly(l-Lactide) (xylan-g-PLA) copolymer with a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.58 and a degree of polymerization (DP) of 5.51 was obtained. In addition, the structures of the xylan-g-PLA copolymers were characterized by GPC, FT-IR and NMR, confirming the success of the ROGP reaction. Thermal analysis revealed that the copolymers exhibited a single glass-transition temperature (Tg), which decreased with increasing molar substitution (MS). Thus, modification resulted in the graft copolymers with thermoplastic behavior and tunableTg.
Activity and connectivity changes of central projection areas revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging in NaV1.8-deficient mice upon cold signaling
Authors: Heindl-Erdmann C. , Zimmermann K. , Reeh P. , Brune K. , Hess A. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe voltage-gated sodium channel subtype NaV1.8 is expressed in the peripheral nervous system in primary afferent nociceptive C-fibers and is essential for noxious cold signaling. We utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging on NaV1.8-deficient (NaV1.8−/−) compared with wildtype (WT) mice to identify brain structures decoding noxious cold and/or heat signals. In NaV1.8−/− mice functional activity patterns, activated volumes and BOLD signal amplitudes are significantly reduced upon noxious cold stimulation whereas differences of noxious heat processing are less pronounced. Graph-theoretical analysis of the functional connectivity also shows dramatic alterations in noxious cold sensation in NaV1.8−/− mice and clearly reduced interactions between certain brain structures. In contrast, upon heat stimulation qualitatively quite the same functional connectivity pattern and consequently less prominent connectivity differences were observed between NaV1.8−/− and WT mice. Thus, the fact that NaV1.8−/− mice do not perceive nociceptive aspects of strong cooling in contrast to their WT littermates seems not only to be a pure peripheral phenomenon with diminished peripheral transmission, but also consists of upstream effects leading to altered subsequent nociceptive processing in the central nervous system and consequently altered connectivity between pain-relevant brain structures.
EEG-Based Cognitive Control Behaviour Assessment: an Ecological study with Professional Air Traffic Controllers
Authors: Borghini Gianluca , Aricò Pietro , Di Flumeri Gianluca , Cartocci Giulia , Colosimo Alfredo , Bonelli Stefano , Golfetti Alessia , Imbert Jean Paul , Granger Géraud , Benhacene Railane , Pozzi Simone , Babiloni Fabio 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSeveral models defining different types of cognitive human behaviour are available. For this work, we have selected the Skill, Rule and Knowledge (SRK) model proposed by Rasmussen in 1983. This model is currently broadly used in safety critical domains, such as the aviation. Nowadays, there are no tools able to assess at which level of cognitive control the operator is dealing with the considered task, that is if he/she is performing the task as an automated routine (skill level), as procedures-based activity (rule level), or as a problem-solving process (knowledge level). Several studies tried to model the SRK behaviours from a Human Factor perspective. Despite such studies, there are no evidences in which such behaviours have been evaluated from a neurophysiological point of view, for example, by considering brain activity variations across the different SRK levels. Therefore, the proposed study aimed to investigate the use of neurophysiological signals to assess the cognitive control behaviours accordingly to the SRK taxonomy. The results of the study, performed on 37 professional Air Traffic Controllers, demonstrated that specific brain features could characterize and discriminate the different SRK levels, therefore enabling an objective assessment of the degree of cognitive control behaviours in realistic settings.
Optimizing phase to enhance optical trap stiffness
Authors: Taylor Michael A. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPhase optimization offers promising capabilities in optical tweezers, allowing huge increases in the applied forces, trap stiff-ness, or measurement sensitivity. One key obstacle to potential applications is the lack of an efficient algorithm to compute an optimized phase profile, with enhanced trapping experiments relying on slow programs that would take up to a week to converge. Here we introduce an algorithm that reduces the wait from days to minutes. We characterize the achievable in-crease in trap stiffness and its dependence on particle size, refractive index, and optical polarization. We further show that phase-only control can achieve almost all of the enhancement possible with full wavefront shaping; for instance phase control allows 62 times higher trap stiffness for 10 μm silica spheres in water, while amplitude control and non-trivial polarization further increase this by 1.26 and 1.01 respectively. This algorithm will facilitate future applications in optical trapping, and more generally in wavefront optimization.
Biodegradable Polymeric Nanocapsules Prevent Cardiotoxicity of Anti-Trypanosomal Lychnopholide
Authors: Branquinho Renata Tupinambá , Roy Jérôme , Farah Charlotte , Garcia Giani Martins , Aimond Franck , Le Guennec Jean-Yves , Saude-Guimarães Dênia Antunes , Grabe-Guimaraes Andrea , Mosqueira Vanessa Carla Furtado , de Lana Marta , Richard Sylvain 
Published: March 2017

AbstractChagas disease is a neglected parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. New antitrypanosomal options are desirable to prevent complications, including a high rate of cardiomyopathy. Recently, a natural substance, lychnopholide, has shown therapeutic potential, especially when encapsulated in biodegradable polymeric nanocapsules. However, little is known regarding possible adverse effects of lychnopholide. Here we show that repeated-dose intravenous administration of free lychnopholide (2.0 mg/kg/day) for 20 days caused cardiopathy and mortality in healthy C57BL/6 mice. Echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with preserved ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction and chamber dilatation at end-stage. Single cardiomyocytes presented altered contractility and Ca2+ handling, with spontaneous Ca2+ waves in diastole. Acute in vitro lychnopholide application on cardiomyocytes from healthy mice also induced Ca2+ handling alterations with abnormal RyR2-mediated diastolic Ca2+ release. Strikingly, the encapsulation of lychnopholide prevented the cardiac alterations induced in vivo by the free form repeated doses. Nanocapsules alone had no adverse cardiac effects. Altogether, our data establish lychnopholide presented in nanocapsule form more firmly as a promising new drug candidate to cure Chagas disease with minimal cardiotoxicity. Our study also highlights the potential of nanotechnology not only to improve the efficacy of a drug but also to protect against its adverse effects.
Efficient affinity maturation of antibody variable domains requires co-selection of compensatory mutations to maintain thermodynamic stability
Authors: Julian Mark C. , Li Lijuan , Garde Shekhar , Wilen Rebecca , Tessier Peter M. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe ability of antibodies to accumulate affinity-enhancing mutations in their complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) without compromising thermodynamic stability is critical to their natural function. However, it is unclear if affinity mutations in the hypervariable CDRs generally impact antibody stability and to what extent additional compensatory mutations are required to maintain stability during affinity maturation. Here we have experimentally and computationally evaluated the functional contributions of mutations acquired by a human variable (VH) domain that was evolved using strong selections for enhanced stability and affinity for the Alzheimer’s Aβ42 peptide. Interestingly, half of the key affinity mutations in the CDRs were destabilizing. Moreover, the destabilizing effects of these mutations were compensated for by a subset of the affinity mutations that were also stabilizing. Our findings demonstrate that the accumulation of both affinity and stability mutations is necessary to maintain thermodynamic stability during extensive mutagenesis and affinity maturation in vitro, which is similar to findings for natural antibodies that are subjected to somatic hypermutation in vivo. These findings for diverse antibodies and antibody fragments specific for unrelated antigens suggest that the formation of the antigen-binding site is generally a destabilizing process and that co-enrichment for compensatory mutations is critical for maintaining thermodynamic stability.
Phase-transfer induced room temperature ferromagnetic behavior in 1T@2H-MoSe2 nanosheets
Authors: Xia Baorui , Wang Tongtong , Xiao Wen , Zhang Rongfang , Liu Peitao , Ding Jun , Gao Daqiang , Xue Desheng 
Published: March 2017

AbstractManipulating electronic and magnetic properties of two-dimensional transitional-metal dichalcogenides has raised a lot of attention recently. Herein we report the synthesis and ferromagnetic properties of phase-transfer induced room temperature ferromagnetic behavior in 1 T@2H-MoSe2 nanosheets. Experimental results indicate the saturated magnetization of the 1 T@2H-MoSe2 compound increases first and then decreases as the increasing of 1 T-MoSe2 phase, where 65.58% 1 T-MoSe2 phase incorporation in 2H-MoSe2 could enhance the saturated magnetization from 0.32 memu/g to 8.36 memu/g. Besides, obvious magnetoresistance behaviors are observed in these samples, revealing their potential applications in future spintronics.