bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identifying separate impacts of climate and land use/cover change on hydrological processes in upper stream of Heihe River, Northwest China
Authors: Yang Linshan , Feng Qi , Yin Zhenliang , Wen Xiaohu , Si Jianhua , Li Changbin , Deo Ravinesh C. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractClimate change and land use/cover change (LUCC) are two factors that produce major impacts on hydrological processes. Understanding and quantifying their respective influence is of great importance for water resources management and socioeconomic activities as well as policy and planning for sustainable development. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was calibrated and validated in upper stream of the Heihe River in Northwest China. The reliability of the SWAT model was corroborated in terms of the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), the correlation coefficient (R), and the relative bias error (BIAS). The findings proposed a new method employing statistical separation procedures using a physically based modeling system for identifying the individual impacts of climate change and LUCC on hydrology processes, in particular on the aspects of runoff and evapotranspiration (ET).The results confirmed that SWAT was a powerful and accurate model for diagnosis of a key challenge facing the Heihe River Basin. The model assessment metrics, NSE, R, and BIAS, in the data were 0.91%, 0.95%, and 1.14%, respectively, for the calibration period and 0.90%, 0.96%, and −0.15%, respectively, for the validation period. An assessment of climate change possibility showed that precipitation, runoff, and air temperature exhibited upward trends with a rate of 15.7 mm, 6.1 mm, and 0.38 °C per decade for the 1980 to 2010 period, respectively. Evaluation of LUCC showed that the changes in growth of vegetation, including forestland, grassland, and the shrub area have increased gradually while the barren area has decreased. The integrated effects of LUCC and climate change increased runoff and ET values by 3.2% and 6.6% of the total runoff and ET, respectively. Climate change outweighed the impact of LUCC, thus showing respective increases in runoff and ET of about 107.3% and 81.2% of the total changes. The LUCC influence appeared to be modest by comparison and showed about −7.3% and 18.8% changes relative to the totals, respectively. The increase in runoff caused by climate change factors is more than the offsetting decreases resulting from LUCC. The outcomes of this study show that the climate factors accounted for the notable effects more significantly than LUCC on hydrological processes in the upper stream of the Heihe River.
Second generation slit‐based photoacoustic tomography system for vascular imaging in human
Authors: Wang Yuehang , Wang Depeng , Hubbell Ryan , Xia Jun 
Published: December 2016

Slit‐based photoacoustic tomography is a newly developed technique that improves the elevation numerical aperture of a linear array through acoustic diffraction. The slit, placed at the acoustic focus of a linear array, effectively forms an array of virtual detectors with high receiving angle, which subsequently improves the elevation resolution. However, due to the complex implementation, our original system could only image phantoms and sacrificed animals. In this report, the system has been significantly improved. In particular, we designed a slit holder that can be directly mounted to the transducer array for easy adjustment of slit width and simultaneous scanning of both the array and the slit. To enlarge the imaging field of view, we replaced the single circular optical fiber bundle with a bifurcated line fiber bundle which moved simultaneously with the array and the slit. The data acquisition system has also been updated to double the imaging speed. With these improvements, the new system can image a 3.8 × 4 cm2 region within 40 seconds and the object only needs to be coupled through ultrasound gel. We successfully used the system to image vasculatures in the palm and forearm of human volunteers.
3D palm vascular image of human palm.magnified image3D palm vascular image of human palm.
Tailoring the physicochemical and shape memory properties of the biodegradable polymer poly(glycerol dodecanoate) via curing conditions
Authors: Solorio Loran D. , Bocks Martin L. , Hollister Scott J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA major challenge in the repair and regeneration of soft tissue damage occurring as a result of aging, injury, or disease is recapitulating the biomechanical properties of the native tissue. Ideally, a candidate biomaterial for soft tissue engineering applications should be biocompatible, nonlinearly elastic to match soft tissue mechanical behavior, biodegradable to enable tissue remodeling, and tailorable to achieve a range of nonlinear elastic mechanical properties to match specific soft tissues. In addition, for cardiac and other applications, the biomaterial should have shape memory characteristics to facilitate minimally invasive and/or catheter‐based delivery. Poly(glycerol dodecanoate) (PGD) is a shape memory material that has nonlinear elastic properties at body temperature and elastic‐plastic behavior at room temperature. In this study, we investigated the effects of curing conditions on the nonlinear elastic, shape memory, and biocompatibility properties of PGD. Increased curing and crosslinking resulted in an increase in both the initial stiffness and the nonlinear strain stiffening behavior of PGD. After shape fixation at 60% strain, 100% shape recovery was achieved within 1 min at body temperature for all conditions tested. Polymer curing had no adverse effects on the cellular biocompatibility or non‐hemolytic characteristics of PGD, indicating the potential suitability of these formulations for blood‐contacting device applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1618–1623, 2017.
Evidence of Staphylococcus Aureus Deformation, Proliferation, and Migration in Canaliculi of Live Cortical Bone in Murine Models of Osteomyelitis
Authors: de Mesy Bentley Karen L , Trombetta Ryan , Nishitani Kohei , Bello-Irizarry Sheila N , Ninomiya Mark , Zhang Longze , Chung Hung Li , McGrath James L , Daiss John L , Awad Hani A , Kates Stephen L , Schwarz Edward M 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT

Although Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis is considered to be incurable, the major bacterial reservoir in live cortical bone has remained unknown. In addition to biofilm bacteria on necrotic tissue and implants, studies have implicated intracellular infection of osteoblasts and osteocytes as a mechanism of chronic osteomyelitis. Thus, we performed the first systematic transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies to formally define major reservoirs of S. aureus in chronically infected mouse (Balb/c J) long bone tissue. Although rare, evidence of colonized osteoblasts was found. In contrast, we readily observed S. aureus within canaliculi of live cortical bone, which existed as chains of individual cocci and submicron rod-shaped bacteria leading to biofilm formation in osteocyte lacunae. As these observations do not conform to the expectations of S. aureus as non-motile cocci 1.0 to 1.5 μm in diameter, we also performed immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) following in vivo BrdU labeling to assess the role of bacterial proliferation in canalicular invasion. The results suggest that the deformed bacteria: (1) enter canaliculi via asymmetric binary fission; and (2) migrate toward osteocyte lacunae via proliferation at the leading edge. Additional in vitro studies confirmed S. aureus migration through a 0.5-μm porous membrane. Collectively, these findings define a novel mechanism of bone infection, and provide possible new insight as to why S. aureus implant-related infections of bone tissue are so challenging to treat. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Research of bionic design on tools with rostrum of cyrtotrachelus bugueti guer (coleoptera: curculionidae)
Authors: Xu Shun , Li Longhai , Tong Jin , Li Mo 
Published: December 2016

AbstractTo improve the torsional resistance capability of multilayered composite pipes, a bionic design was presented based on the rostrum of Cyrtotrachelus Bugueti Guer. Morphology and mechanical properties of the weevil's rostrum were studied. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to observe the macro‐/microstructure and inner structure. Nanoindentation was carried out to measure the elastic modulus and the hardness of the biological materials. Based on the structure of rostrum, a mathematical model of multilayered biomimetic pipe was established with the statistical methods. Then, the 3D biomimetic cylinder was built and the torsional resistance capability was analyzed using the finite element analysis. From the SEM and nanoindentation, it was found that the rostrum is a cylindrical hollow multilayered structure composed by three materials. In the transverse section of rostrum, the materials' moduli are 3.07, 3.15, and 8.64 GPa, the hardness are 172.71, 125.32, and 278.99 MPa, respectively. In the longitudinal section, the moduli are 3.01, 4.35, and 7.66 GPa, the hardness are157.46, 149.15, and 253.51 MPa, respectively. The results of simulation showed that the distributional type of lamination has a significant effect on the torsional resistance capability of multilayered structure. The biomimetic structure, which imitates the lamination of rostrum, is superior in the aspect of torsional resistance compared with the nonlaminated or uniform laminated structure. Additionally, the bionic method is feasible and efficient.
The influence of a chronic L‐carnitine administration on the plasma metabolome of male Fischer 344 rats*
Authors: Weinert Christoph H. , Empl Michael T. , Krüger Ralf , Frommherz Lara , Egert Björn , Steinberg Pablo , Kulling Sabine E. 
Published: December 2016

ScopeL‐carnitine has been advertised as a fat‐lowering and performance‐enhancing supplement, although scientific evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The uptake of about 1–2 g of L‐carnitine per day may result in the formation of metabolites like trimethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO), which in turn may be converted to potential carcinogens or promote the development of cardiovascular diseases.Methods and resultsTo assess whether an L‐carnitine supplementation changes overall metabolism or causes the formation of previously unknown metabolites, we analyzed plasma samples from Fischer 344 rats originating from a previous study using a multi‐platform metabolomics approach comprising LC‐MS/MS and GC×GC‐MS methods. Despite an intake of up to 352 mg L‐carnitine/kg body weight/day for 1 year, plasma concentrations of only 29 out of 359 metabolites were significantly influenced, the induced concentration changes being often comparatively small. Nevertheless, a clear dose‐response relationship and a substantial concentration increase were observed for TMAO, i.e. a tenfold higher TMAO level was measured in the high‐dose group when compared to the control (2.5 versus 25.0 μM).ConclusionAlthough L‐carnitine supplementation did not cause large changes in the plasma metabolome, a higher risk for cardiovascular disease due to chronically elevated TMAO plasma concentrations cannot be excluded.
What explains high life satisfaction in men living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy? A preliminary study to inform psychological intervention
Authors: Graham Christopher D. , Rose Michael R. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionThere are increasing numbers of men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (mDMD). For those who struggle to live with the condition, psychological interventions may be helpful. However, it is unclear how these should be tailored for mDMD. To inform intervention, this study assessed whether 2 well‐validated psychological models (Leventhal's Self‐Regulatory Model; Psychological Flexibility Model) could explain variation in life satisfaction (LS).MethodsSixteen mDMD, aged 18–43 years, completed an online survey comprised of questionnaire measures of LS, mood, and both psychological models: Illness Perceptions (Leventhal's Self‐Regulatory Model); engagement in meaningful activity, and acceptance/awareness of difficult thoughts and feelings (Psychological Flexibility Model). A median split enabled comparison of high and low LS groups.ResultsThose with higher LS were characterized by the ability to undertake personally meaningful activity in acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings.ConclusionsResults supported the Psychological Flexibility Model. However, methodological limitations mean that these findings should be considered preliminary. Muscle Nerve 56: 163–166, 2017.
Hemodynamic function during finger force production tasks in healthy adults
Authors: Pollonini Luca , Younes Lena , Gorniak Stacey L. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionNear‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive technique used to measure muscle hemodynamics. The focus of this study was to evaluate changes in muscle oxygenation during sustained maximal force production in young, healthy control individuals to establish baseline function in an ideal population.MethodsNIRS was used to monitor reduced hemoglobin (HbR) and oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) in forearm muscles. Hemodynamic responses during force production tasks were monitored in real time.ResultsDuring handgrip exercises, maximal force production declined significantly. Increased HbR was found while HbO remained constant. The correlation between force production and HbO was positive (r = 0.18), while the correlation between force and HbR was negative (r = ‐0.48). The application of NIRS to monitor the correlation between force production and hemodynamic measures in the forearm was successful. These data set the foundation for future use of NIRS as a diagnostic tool for individuals with peripheral vascular disease: Muscle Nerve 56: 472–478, 2017
Neurite growth could be impaired by ETFDH mutation but restored by mitochondrial cofactors
Authors: Liang Wen‐Chen , Lin Yen‐Fong , Liu Ting‐Yuan , Chang Shin‐Cheng , Chen Bai‐Hsiun , Nishino Ichizo , Jong Yuh‐Jyh 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionc.250G>A (p.Ala84Thr) in ETFDH is the most common mutation that causes later‐onset multiple acyl‐coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) in the southern Chinese population. No functional study has targeted this mutation.MethodsUsing cells expressing ETFDH‐wild‐type (WT) or ETFDH‐mutant (p.Ala84Thr), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and neurite length were analyzed, followed by pathomechanism exploration and drug screening.ResultsIncreased ROS production and marked neurite shortening were observed in the cells expressing the ETFDH‐mutant, compared with WT. Further studies demonstrated that suberic acid, an accumulated intermediate metabolite in MADD, could significantly impair neurite outgrowth of NSC34 cells, but neurite shortening could be restored by supplementation with carnitine, riboflavin, or Coenzyme Q10.ConclusionsNeurite shortening caused by the c.250G>A mutation in ETFDH suggests that neural defects could be underdiagnosed in human patients with MADD. This impairment might be treatable with mitochondrial cofactor supplementation. Muscle Nerve 56: 479–485, 2017
Resilience Mediates Impact of Some Childhood Maltreatment on Post‐Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Conscripted Marines in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Heejung , Kim Sun Ah , Kong Seongsook 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAlthough it is known that post‐traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can result from military service, the variance in PTSS unexplained by military service warrants further investigation, and no researchers have investigated South Korean Marines’ vulnerability during their 2‐year conscripted service as the first line of national defense against threats from North Korea. This study was designed to examine whether resilience mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and PTSS in 169 Korean conscripts into the Marine Corps. In a cross‐sectional study design, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire—Short Form was used to measure childhood maltreatment, including abuse and neglect. The Impact of Event Scale—Revised and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale were used to measure PTSS and resilience. Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Half the conscripts reported at least one type of childhood maltreatment, and 22.3% had high PTSS, even in a short period of service. Childhood abuse was significantly associated with PTSS during military service, a relationship that was not mediated by resilience. However, resilience mediated the relationship between childhood neglect and PTSS during military service. Assessment of childhood maltreatment and resilience prior to military service is crucial for identifying conscripts at increased risk for PTSS during even brief military service. In addition to direct interventions for abuse effects among all Marines, interventions enhancing resilience may benefit conscripts who experienced childhood neglect. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A machine learning approach for ranking clusters of docked protein‐protein complexes by pairwise cluster comparison
Authors: Pfeiffenberger Erik , Chaleil Raphael A.G. , Moal Iain H. , Bates Paul A. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTReliable identification of near‐native poses of docked protein–protein complexes is still an unsolved problem. The intrinsic heterogeneity of protein–protein interactions is challenging for traditional biophysical or knowledge based potentials and the identification of many false positive binding sites is not unusual. Often, ranking protocols are based on initial clustering of docked poses followed by the application of an energy function to rank each cluster according to its lowest energy member. Here, we present an approach of cluster ranking based not only on one molecular descriptor (e.g., an energy function) but also employing a large number of descriptors that are integrated in a machine learning model, whereby, an extremely randomized tree classifier based on 109 molecular descriptors is trained. The protocol is based on first locally enriching clusters with additional poses, the clusters are then characterized using features describing the distribution of molecular descriptors within the cluster, which are combined into a pairwise cluster comparison model to discriminate near‐native from incorrect clusters. The results show that our approach is able to identify clusters containing near‐native protein–protein complexes. In addition, we present an analysis of the descriptors with respect to their power to discriminate near native from incorrect clusters and how data transformations and recursive feature elimination can improve the ranking performance. Proteins 2017; 85:528–543. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the use of scale‐dependent precision in Earth System modelling
Authors: Thornes Tobias , Düben Peter , Palmer Tim 
Published: December 2016

Increasing the resolution of numerical models has played a large part in improving the accuracy of weather and climate forecasts in recent years. Until now, this has required the use of ever more powerful computers, the energy costs of which are becoming increasingly problematic. It has therefore been proposed that forecasters switch to using more efficient ‘reduced precision’ hardware capable of sacrificing unnecessary numerical precision to save costs.Here, an extended form of the Lorenz ‘96 idealized model atmosphere is used to test whether more accurate forecasts could be produced by lowering numerical precision more at smaller spatial scales in order to increase the model resolution. Both a scale‐dependent mixture of single‐ and half‐precision – where numbers are represented with fewer bits of information on smaller spatial scales – and ‘stochastic processors’ – where random ‘bit‐flips’ are allowed for small‐scale variables – are emulated on conventional hardware. It is found that high‐resolution parametrized models with scale‐selective reduced precision yield better short‐term and climatological forecasts than lower resolution parametrized models with conventional precision for a relatively small increase in computational cost. This suggests that a similar approach in real‐world models could lead to more accurate and efficient weather and climate forecasts.
Triggering and evolution of a deep convective system in the Mediterranean Sea: modelling and observations at a very fine scale
Authors: Fiori E. , Ferraris L. , Molini L. , Siccardi F. , Kranzlmueller D. , Parodi A. 
Published: December 2016

Gaining a deeper physical understanding of the high‐impact weather events which repeatedly affected the Western Mediterranean Basin in recent years on the coastal areas of eastern Spain, southern France and northern Italy is strongly motivated by the social request to reduce the casualties and the economical impacts due to these highly localized and hardly predictable phenomena.In October 2014, an extreme event hit Genoa city centre, less than 3 years after a very similar event, which occurred in November 2011.Taking advantage of the availability of both observational data and modelling results at the micro‐α meteorological scale, this article provides insights about the triggering mechanism and the subsequent spatio‐temporal evolution of the Genoa 2014 back‐building Mesoscale Convective System. The major finding is the effect of a virtual mountain created over the Ligurian Sea by the convergence of a cold and dry jet outflowing from the Po valley and a warm and moist low‐level southeasterly jet within the planetary boundary layer.
On the applicability of time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and semiempirical methods to the computation of excited‐state potential energy surfaces of perylene‐based dye‐aggregates
Authors: Walter Christof , Krämer Veronika , Engels Bernd 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe excited states of perylene‐based dye aggregates were investigated with emphasis on the description of the potential energy surfaces for the intermolecular motion in a dimer, which are of importance for exciton trapping. The aim is to investigate the applicability of TDDFT and semiempirical methods. The longitudinal displacement of two π‐stacked molecules against each other is used as model and the methods are benchmarked against SCS‐CC2 and SCS‐ADC(2). Furthermore a simple character analysis is applied. In the case of the perylene dimer, CAM‐B3LYP and ωB97XD provide accurate results. However, while CAM‐B3LYP fails for the PBI (perylene bisimide) dimer the performance of ωB97XD is highly dependent on the used monomer geometry due to close‐lying diabatic states. A change in geometry changes the character of the excited states even qualitatively. The accuracy of several other long‐range corrected functionals (LC‐BLYP, LC‐ωPBE, ωB97X) and the effect of empirically tuning the range‐separation parameter of ωB97XD are also presented for this interesting case. Furthermore, it is shown that the semiempirical method OM2 fails to provide a correct description of the excited states when the orbital overlap plays a significant role. This is attributed to the too contracted basis set.