bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SERS detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbons on a β‐cyclodextrin containing polymer brush
Authors: Zengin Adem , Tamer Ugur , Caykara Tuncer 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe have designed a new surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor composed of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) containing poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) brush coated silicon substrate and per‐6‐deoxy‐(6‐thio)‐β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD‐SH) modified gold nanoparticles for detection of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; pyrene and anthracene). The β‐CD containing PGMA brushes were synthesized by the interface‐mediated Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and followed an epoxide ring‐opening reaction to attach β‐CD molecules. Some PAHs, such as pyrene and anthracene, can be introduced into the hydrophobic space of β‐CD, which allows them to detect the SERS of PAHs. After separating pyrene or anthracene from the solution by the β‐CD containing PGMA brush coated silicon substrate, they were sandwiched with the SERS substrate consisting of per‐6‐deoxy‐(6‐thio)‐β‐cyclodextrin and rhodamine 6G (Raman reporter) on gold nanoparticles. The correlation between PAH concentrations and SERS signal was found to be linear in the range of 2.5 to 10 nM for anthracene and 10 and 25 nM for anthracene. The limit of detection values for pyrene and anthracene are 0.8 and 2.4 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the SERS sensor was also evaluated for the investigation of pyrene or anthracene specificity on different organic molecules and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
Study of chemical shift in Ll and Lƞ X‐ray emission lines in different chemical forms of 48Cd and 50Sn compounds using WDXRF technique
Authors: Kainth Harpreet Singh , Singh Ranjit , Shahi J.S. , Singh Tejbir 
Published: November 2017

Chemical shift in Ll and Lƞ X‐ray emission lines of 48Cd and 50Sn elements in various chemical compounds was determined with high resolution wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer. The positive and negative shifts were measured in 48Cd compounds viz, CdS, CdB4O7, CdCl2, Cd3(PO4)2, CdCO3, CdI2 and CdO with reference to pure Cd foil and 50Sn compounds viz, Sn(CrO4)2, SnO, SnO2, SnCl2, SnF2, SnF4 with reference to pure Sn foil. The measured energy shifts in Ll X‐ray emission lines range from −0.47 to 1.82 eV and Lƞ emission lines range from −2.67 to 1 eV for both compounds. The effective charges (q, q/, q//, and q///) were calculated from four models (Pauling method, Suchet method, Levine method and Batsonav method) and found to be linear dependence with chemical shift. The measured chemical shifts were correlated with effective charge, number of ligands and electronegativity of the central metal atom in the given compounds.
Grammatical category influences lateralized imagery for sentences
Authors: STROUSTRUP SOFIA , WALLENTIN MIKKEL 
Published: November 2017

abstractNatural language syntax has previously been thought to reflect abstract processing rules independent of meaning construction. However, grammatical categories may serve a functional role by allocating attention towards recurrent topics in discourse. Here, we show that listeners incorporate grammatical category into imagery when producing stick figure drawings from heard sentences, supporting the latter view. Participants listened to sentences with transitive verbs that independently varied whether a male or a female character (1) was mentioned first, (2) was the agent or recipient of an action, and (3) was the grammatical subject or object of the sentence. Replicating previous findings, we show that the first named character as well as the agent of the sentence tends to be drawn to the left in the image, probably reflecting left-to-right reading direction. But we also find that the grammatical subject of the sentence has a propensity to be drawn to the left of the object. We interpret this to suggest that grammatical category carries discursive meaning as an attention allocator. Our findings also highlight how language influences processes hitherto thought to be non-linguistic.
Low-fat yogurt consumption reduces biomarkers of chronic inflammation and inhibits markers of endotoxin exposure in healthy premenopausal women: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Pei Ruisong , DiMarco Diana M. , Putt Kelley K. , Martin Derek A. , Gu Qinlei , Chitchumroonchokchai Chureeporn , White Heather M. , Scarlett Cameron O. , Bruno Richard S. , Bolling Bradley W. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe anti-inflammatory mechanisms of low-fat dairy product consumption are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether low-fat yogurt reduces biomarkers of chronic inflammation and endotoxin exposure in women. Premenopausal women (BMI 18·5–27 and 30–40 kg/m2) were randomised to consume 339 g of low-fat yogurt (yogurt non-obese (YN); yogurt obese (YO)) or 324 g of soya pudding (control non-obese; control obese (CO)) daily for 9 weeks (n 30/group). Fasting blood samples were analysed for IL-6, TNF-α/soluble TNF II (sTNF-RII), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, anandamide, monocyte gene expression, soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS binding protein (LBP), IgM endotoxin-core antibody (IgM EndoCAb), and zonulin. BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure were also determined. After 9-week yogurt consumption, YO and YN had decreased TNF-α/sTNFR-RII. Yogurt consumption increased plasma IgM EndoCAb regardless of obesity status. sCD14 was not affected by diet, but LBP/sCD14 was lowered by yogurt consumption in both YN and YO. Yogurt intervention increased plasma 2-arachidonoylglycerol in YO but not YN. YO peripheral blood mononuclear cells expression of NF-κB inhibitor α and transforming growth factor β1 increased relative to CO at 9 weeks. Other biomarkers were unchanged by diet. CO and YO gained approximately 0·9 kg in body weight. YO had 3·6 % lower diastolic blood pressure at week 3. Low-fat yogurt for 9 weeks reduced biomarkers of chronic inflammation and endotoxin exposure in premenopausal women compared with a non-dairy control food. This trial was registered as NCT01686204.
X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT): an emerging opportunity in parasite imaging
Authors: O'Sullivan James D. B. , Behnsen Julia , Starborg Tobias , MacDonald Andrew S. , Phythian-Adams Alexander T. , Else Kathryn J. , Cruickshank Sheena M. , Withers Philip J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractX-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is a technique which can obtain three-dimensional images of a sample, including its internal structure, without the need for destructive sectioning. Here, we review the capability of the technique and examine its potential to provide novel insights into the lifestyles of parasites embedded within host tissue. The current capabilities and limitations of the technology in producing contrast in soft tissues are discussed, as well as the potential solutions for parasitologists looking to apply this technique. We present example images of the mouse whipworm Trichuris muris and discuss the application of μCT to provide unique insights into parasite behaviour and pathology, which are inaccessible to other imaging modalities.
Board on the job: public-pension governance in the United States (US) states
Authors: Brooks John 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAlthough elected officials have the final say over pensions, boards of trustees also influence plan governance. Not a great deal is known about boards or how they shape policies. Boards are composed of politically and nonpolitically appointed members, as well as active and retired employees. Plan active-employee size turns out to be the best predictor of membership, suggesting that employee voice expands as plans cover more workers. Using both fixed effects and instrumental variables approaches, I show how boards shape plans’ policies and funded levels. Active and retired members shape discount rates, whereas active membership is positively associated with funded ratios. Interestingly, gridlock is also associated with higher discount rates. However, I find that plans’ actual investment returns are poor predictors of expected returns, irrespective of board composition. Although boards offer a venue through which states can manage funds, they are not suited to solving pensions’ governance challenges alone.
Shrinking targets in parametrised families
Authors: ASPENBERG MAGNUS , PERSSON TOMAS 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe consider certain parametrised families of piecewise expanding maps on the interval, and estimate and sometimes calculate the Hausdorff dimension of the set of parameters for which the orbit of a fixed point has a certain shrinking target property. This generalises several similar results for β-transformations to more general non-linear families. The proofs are based on a result by Schnellmann on typicality in parametrised families.
The Problem of Evil & Sceptical Theism
Authors: McBrayer Justin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the existence of a perfect God with the existence of horrible things in the world. Many take this problem as a convincing reason to be an atheist. But others think that the problem can be solved. One prominent solution is called ‘sceptical theism’. A sceptical theist is someone who believes in God but thinks that the problem of evil is not a real problem since humans are unable to see whether the horrible things in our world are truly pointless or else serve some greater purpose.
Sceptical Theism, the Butterfly Effect and Bracketing the Unknown
Authors: Pruss Alexander R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSceptical theism claims that we have vast ignorance about the realm of value and the connections, causal and modal, between goods and bads. This ignorance makes it reasonable for a theist to say that God has reasons beyond our ken for allowing the horrendous evils we observe. But if so, then does this not lead to moral paralysis when we need to prevent evils ourselves? For, for aught that we know, there are reasons beyond our ken for us to allow the evils, and so we should not prevent them. This paralysis argument, however, shall be argued to rest on a confusion between probabilities and expected utilities. A connection between this paralysis argument and Lenman's1 discussion of the butterfly effect and chaos will be drawn, and the solution offered will apply in both cases.
Skeptical theism and Skepticism About the External World and Past
Authors: Law Stephen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSkeptical theism is a popular - if not universally theistically endorsed - response to the evidential problem of evil. Skeptical theists question how we can be in a position to know God lacks God-justifying reason to allow the evils we observe. In this paper I examine a criticism of skeptical theism: that the skeptical theists skepticism re divine reasons entails that, similarly, we cannot know God lacks God-justifying reason to deceive us about the external world and the past. This in turn seems to supply us with a defeater for all our beliefs regarding the external world and past? Critics argue that either the skeptical theist abandon their skeptical theism, thereby resurrecting the evidential argument from evil, or else they must embrace seemingly absurd skeptical consequences, including skepticism about the external world and past. I look at various skeptical theist responses to this critique and find them all wanting.
Dosimetric verification and quality assurance for intensity-modulated radiation therapy using Gafchromic® EBT3 film
Authors: Iqbal Khalid , Mazhar Iqbal Muhammad , Akram Muhammad , Altaf Saima , Ahmad Buzdar Saeed 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to examine the dosimetric properties of Gafchromic® EBT3 film and intensity-modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (IMRT QA).Materials and methodsBeams characteristics dosimetric properties and 20 IMRT plans were created and irradiated on Varian dual-energy DHX-S Linac for 6 and 15 MV energies. EBT3 films were analysed using ‘film Pro QA 2014’ software.ResultsThe dosimetric comparison of EBT3 film (for red channel dosimetry) and ionisation ion chamber measurement showed that average deviations of symmetry, flatness, central axis, penumbra (left) and penumbra (right) of dose profile were 0·18, 1·34, 0·49%, 3·68 and 3·61 mm for 6 MV and 0·10, 1·3, 0·45, 2·65 and 2·71 mm for 15 MV, respectively. The blue and green channels dosimetry showed greater dose deviation as compared with red channel. IMRT QA verification plan complied about 95% at all different criteria. Reproducibility, stability and face orientation of film were within 1·4% for red channel.ConclusionsThe results advocate that the film can be used not only for dosimetric assessment but also as a reliable IMRT QA tool.
Unpaid wages: the experiences of Irish Magdalene Laundries and Indigenous Australians
Authors: Gallen James , Gleeson Kate 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis paper will evaluate the obstacles faced by victim-survivors of historical abuse, particularly victim-survivors of forced labour in Magdalene Laundries in Ireland and the stolen wages of Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, in a post-colonial transitional justice framework. First, the paper identifies challenges in contextualising comparative interdisciplinary historical research in terms of transitional justice. Second, the paper considers the economic contribution of unpaid labour in the Australian and Irish contexts and, third, goes on to examine the historical denial of rights and redress in both settings. The paper then evaluates the different challenges in responding to legacies of historical abuse, especially unpaid wages in both states. A final section concludes with the argument that redress provided in both instances represents a form of paternalism perpetuating the colonial approach to governance, rather than the provision of the legal rights of citizens, and that this paternalism has specific implications for women who continue to be marginalised by contemporary regimes.
Alu-dependent RNA editing of GLI1 promotes malignant regeneration in multiple myeloma
Authors: Lazzari Elisa , Mondala Phoebe K. , Santos Nathaniel Delos , Miller Amber C. , Pineda Gabriel , Jiang Qingfei , Leu Heather , Ali Shawn A. , Ganesan Anusha-Preethi , Wu Christina N. , Costello Caitlin , Minden Mark , Chiaramonte Raffaella , Stewart A.  Keith , Crews Leslie A. , Jamieson Catriona H. M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDespite novel therapies, relapse of multiple myeloma (MM) is virtually inevitable. Amplification of chromosome 1q, which harbors the inflammation-responsive RNA editase adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR)1 gene, occurs in 30–50% of MM patients and portends a poor prognosis. Since adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing has recently emerged as a driver of cancer progression, genomic amplification combined with inflammatory cytokine activation of ADAR1 could stimulate MM progression and therapeutic resistance. Here, we report that high ADAR1 RNA expression correlates with reduced patient survival rates in the MMRF CoMMpass data set. Expression of wild-type, but not mutant, ADAR1 enhances Alu-dependent editing and transcriptional activity of GLI1, a Hedgehog (Hh) pathway transcriptional activator and self-renewal agonist, and promotes immunomodulatory drug resistance in vitro. Finally, ADAR1 knockdown reduces regeneration of high-risk MM in serially transplantable patient-derived xenografts. These data demonstrate that ADAR1 promotes malignant regeneration of MM and if selectively inhibited may obviate progression and relapse.
Plasma channel undulator excited by high-order laser modes
Authors: Wang J. W. , Schroeder C. B. , Li R. , Zepf M. , Rykovanov S. G. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe possibility of utilizing plasma undulators and plasma accelerators to produce compact ultraviolet and X-ray sources, has attracted considerable interest for a few decades. This interest has been driven by the great potential to decrease the threshold for accessing such sources, which are mainly provided by a few dedicated large-scale synchrotron or free-electron laser (FEL) facilities. However, the broad radiation bandwidth of such plasma devices limits the source brightness and makes it difficult for the FEL instability to develop. Here, using multi-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, we demonstrate that a plasma undulator generated by the beating of a mixture of high-order laser modes propagating inside a plasma channel, leads to a few percent radiation bandwidth. The strength of the undulator can reach unity, the period can be less than a millimeter, and the number of undulator periods can be significantly increased by a phase locking technique based on the longitudinal tapering. Polarization control of such an undulator can be achieved by appropriately choosing the phase of the modes. According to our results, in the fully beam loaded regime, the electron current in the plasma undulator can reach 0.3 kA level, making such an undulator a potential candidate towards a table-top FEL.
Prevalence of malaria in two highly endemic Community Health Centers in the Bastar district, Chhattisgarh showing mixed infections with Plasmodium species
Authors: Krishna Sri , Yadav Ajay , Bhandari Sneha , Vishwakarma Anup K. , Bharti Praveen K. , Mandavi Prem L. , Bahgel Pradeep , Basak Sanjay , Sharma Ravendra K. , Singh Neeru 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMalaria is a major public health problem in India and in the Chhattisgarh state. The diagnosis of malaria presents a major challenge in remote areas The prevalence of malaria in Darbha and Kilepal Community Health Centers (CHCs) of the Jagdalpur district, Chhattisgarh affected by conflict was determined using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the year 2015, 29.4% and 21.5% cases were found to be positive for malaria at the Darbha and Kilepal CHCs, respectively, by microscopy, and 7.4% and 1.6% of cases had mixed infections, respectively. Among the suspected cases of mixed infections and doubtful diagnoses, 21% had mixed infections with two or more species at the Darbha CHC, and 17% from the Kilepal CHC, as determined by PCR. Both the P. vivax subspecies Pv210 (56%) and Pv247 (44%) and the P. ovale curtisi subspecies were found in this area. The high proportion of mixed malaria parasitic infections detected in this study indicate the need to adequately train health staff involved in diagnosing malaria. This study showed that there is a need for site-specific data to understand the epidemiological picture and to develop appropriate intervention strategies and management guidelines for controlling and eliminating malaria in India.
microRNA Expression in Ethnic Specific Early Stage Breast Cancer: an Integration and Comparative Analysis
Authors: Nassar Farah J. , Talhouk Rabih , Zgheib Nathalie K. , Tfayli Arafat , El Sabban Maya , El Saghir Nagi S. , Boulos Fouad , Jabbour Mark N. , Chalala Claude , Boustany Rose-Mary , Kadara Humam , Zhang Zhou , Zheng Yinan , Joyce Brian , Hou Lifang , Bazarbachi Ali , Calin George , Nasr Rihab 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) has a higher incidence in young Lebanese woman as compared to the West. We assessed the microRNA (miRNA) microarray profile of tissues derived from Lebanese patients with early BC and performed mRNA-miRNA integration analysis. 173 miRNAs were significantly dysregulated in 45 BC versus 17 normal adjacent breast tissues, including 74 with a fold change more than two of which 17 were never reported before in cancer. Integration analysis of mRNA-miRNA microarray data revealed a potential role of 51 dysregulated miRNA regulating 719 tumor suppressive or oncogenic mRNA associated with increased proliferation and decreased migration and invasion. We then performed a comparative miRNA microarray profile analysis of BC tissue between these 45 Lebanese and 197 matched American BC patients. Notably, Lebanese BC patients had 21 exclusively dysregulated miRNA (e.g. miR-31, 362-3p, and 663) and 4 miRNA with different expression manner compared to American patients (e.g. miR-1288-star and 324-3p). Some of these differences could reflect variation in patient age at diagnosis or ethnic variation affecting miRNA epigenetic regulation or sequence of miRNA precursors. Our data provide a basis for genetic/epigenetic investigations to explore the role of miRNA in early stage BC in young women, including ethnic specific differences.
Key site residues of pheromone-binding protein 1 involved in interacting with sex pheromone components of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Dong Kun , Duan Hong-Xia , Liu Jing-Tao , Sun Liang , Gu Shao-Hua , Yang Ruo-Nan , Dhiloo Khalid Hussain , Gao Xi-Wu , Zhang Yong-Jun , Guo Yu-Yuan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are widely distributed in insect antennae, and play important roles in the perception of sex pheromones. However, the detail mechanism of interaction between PBPs and odorants remains in a black box. Here, a predicted 3D structure of PBP1 of the serious agricultural pest, Helicoverpa armigera (HarmPBP1) was constructed, and the key residues that contribute to binding with the major sex pheromone components of this pest, (Z)-11- hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald) and (Z)-9- hexadecenal (Z9-16:Ald), were predicted by molecular docking. The results of molecular simulation suggest that hydrophobic interactions are the main linkage between HarmPBP1 and the two aldehydes, and four residues in the binding pocket (Phe12, Phe36, Trp37, and Phe119) may participate in binding with these two ligands. Then site-directed mutagenesis and fluorescence binding assays were performed, and significant decrease of the binding ability to both Z11-16:Ald and Z9-16:Ald was observed in three mutants of HarmPBP1 (F12A, W37A, and F119A). These results revealed that Phe12, Trp37, and Phe119 are the key residues of HarmPBP1 in binding with the Z11-16:Ald and Z9-16:Ald. This study provides new insights into the interactions between pheromone and PBP, and may serve as a foundation for better understanding of the pheromone recognition in moths.
Sero-catalytic and Antibody Acquisition Models to Estimate Differing Malaria Transmission Intensities in Western Kenya
Authors: Weber Grace E. , White Michael T. , Babakhanyan Anna , Sumba Peter Odada , Vulule John , Ely Dylan , John Chandy , Angov Evelina , Lanar David , Dutta Sheetij , Narum David L. , Horii Toshihiro , Cowman Alan , Beeson James , Smith Joseph , Kazura James W. , Dent Arlene E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe sought to identify a subset of Plasmodium falciparum antibody targets that would inform monitoring efforts needed to eliminate malaria in high transmission settings. IgG antibodies to 28 recombinant Pf antigens were measured in residents of two communities in western Kenya examined in 2003 and 2013, when the respective prevalence of asymptomatic parasitemia among children was 81 and 15 percent by microscopy. Annual seroconversion rates based on a sero-catalytic model that dichotomised antibody values to negative versus positive showed that rates were higher in 2003 than 2013 for 1 pre-erythrocytic and 7 blood-stage antigens. Antibody acquisition models that considered antibody levels as continuous variables showed that age-related antibody levels to Circumsporozoite Protein and 10 merozoite proteins increased at different rates with age in 2003 versus 2013. Both models found that antibodies to 5 proteins of the Merozoite Surface Protein 1 complex were differentially acquired between the cohorts, and that changes in antibody levels to Apical Membrane Antigen 1 suggested a decrease in transmission that occurred ~10 years before 2013. Further studies evaluating antibodies to this subset of Pf antigens as biomarkers of malaria exposure and naturally acquired immunity are warranted in endemic settings where transmission has been reduced but persists.