bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crosslinking and post‐crosslinking of ethylene vinyl acetate in photovoltaic modules
Authors: Oreski G. , Rauschenbach A. , Hirschl C. , Kraft M. , Eder G.C. , Pinter G. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTEthylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is the dominating material for the encapsulation of solar cells. A better understanding of the crosslinking reaction progress during PV module lamination could lead to promising approaches for shortening of PV module lamination times but also for optimization of the EVA formulation. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the crosslinking behavior of EVA but also for optimization potentials of the EVA formulation. Currently, a degree of crosslinking higher than 70% obtained from Soxhlet extraction, is used as quality control standard in PV industry. Thermomechanical properties of the investigated EVA films demonstrate a sufficient state of crosslinking already after 5 min, which corresponds to a Soxhlet value of around 50%. Nevertheless, the effect of the remaining, still reactive peroxide crosslinker under service relevant conditions cannot be neglected. Therefore, the behavior of mini‐modules manufactured at different lamination times and stored under various aging conditions is investigated. EVA not fully cured during lamination are undergoing postlamination crosslinking. At the same time, remaining active crosslinker causes discoloration at soldering ribbons after accelerated aging. The crosslinking time in the lamination process may be reduced to ≥6 min, compromising between high throughput in production and the need of avoiding degradation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44912.
Basement Membrane Type IV Collagen and Laminin: An Overview of Their Biology and Value as Fibrosis Biomarkers of Liver Disease
Authors: Mak Ki M. , Mei Rena 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTBasement membranes provide structural support to epithelium, endothelium, muscles, fat cells, Schwann cells, and axons. Basement membranes are multifunctional: they modulate cellular behavior, regulate organogenesis, promote tissue repair, form a barrier to filtration and tumor metastasis, bind growth factors, and mediate angiogenesis. All basement membranes contain type IV collagen (Col IV), laminin, nidogen, and perlecan. Col IV and laminin self‐assemble into two independent supramolecular networks that are linked to nidogen and perlecan to form a morphological discernable basement membrane/basal lamina. The triple helical region, 7S domain and NCI domain of Col IV, laminin and laminin fragment P1 have been evaluated as noninvasive fibrosis biomarkers of alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Elevated serum Col IV and laminin are related to degrees of fibrosis and severity of hepatitis, and may reflect hepatic basement membrane metabolism. But the serum assays have not been linked to disclosing the anatomical sites and lobular distribution of perisinusoidal basement membrane formation in the liver. Hepatic sinusoids normally lack a basement membrane, although Col IV is a normal matrix component of the space of Disse. In liver disease, laminin deposits in the space of Disse and codistributes with Col IV, forming a perisinusoidal basement membrane. Concomitantly, the sinusoidal endothelium loses its fenestrae and is transformed into vascular type endothelium. These changes lead to capillarization of hepatic sinusoids, a significant pathology that impairs hepatic function. Accordingly, codistribution of Col IV and laminin serves as histochemical marker of perisinusoidal basement membrane formation in liver disease. Anat Rec, 300:1371–1390, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Active Disturbance Rejection in Affine Nonlinear Systems Based on Equivalent‐Input‐Disturbance Approach
Authors: Gao Fang , Wu Min , She Jinhua , Cao Weihua 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a disturbance rejection method for an affine nonlinear system. The control system is constructed based on the equivalent‐input‐disturbance (EID) approach. An affine nonlinear state observer is used to reconstruct the state of the affine nonlinear system and to estimate an EID. The well‐known differential mean value theorem enables us to describe the closed‐loop system in the state space as a linear‐parameter‐varying system. This makes it easy to derive sufficient conditions of global uniform ultimate boundedness in term of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) by using a Lyapunov function and convexity theory. Controllers are designed based on the LMIs. A numerical example is used to illustrate the design of the control system. And a comparison between the EID‐based control and the sliding‐mode control demonstrates the effectiveness and advantages of the EID‐based control method.
Equilibrium response to carbon dioxide and aerosol forcing changes in a 1D air–sea interactive model
Authors: Wang Xiaocong , Feng Juan 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA 1D air–sea interactive model that couples an atmospheric column model with a slab ocean model was introduced. The model simulated an exact balance between radiative cooling and convective heating in the free troposphere. Within the planet boundary layer, the turbulent mixing produces cooling in the upper part and warming in the lower part, which is compensated by radiative and convective heating together. The model was then used to explore the equilibrium response of sea surface temperature (SST) and precipitation to carbon dioxide (CO2) and aerosol forcing changes. Results show a warming or cooling signal owning to increased CO2 or aerosols can be well captured by the ocean, leading to an increasing or decreasing of the SST, and hence the precipitation. Cutting off the interactions between atmosphere and ocean however renders different results. By applying the relaxed weak temperature gradient (WTG) approximation, the local response to aerosol forcing perturbations was investigated, which was shown to be largely different from the global response in spite of the same forcing. To understand the nonlinear interactions among different forcings, the equilibrium responses to multiple combinations of CO2 and aerosol forcings are analyzed.
“The legacy of thalidomide” ‐ A multidisciplinary meeting held at the University of York, United Kingdom, on September 30, 2016
Authors: Newbronner Elizabeth , Vargesson Neil , Atkin Karl 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundBetween 1957 and 1962 thalidomide was used as a nonaddictive, nonbarbiturate sedative that also was successful in relieving the symptoms of morning sickness in early pregnancy. Infamously, thousands of babies were subsequently born with severe birth defects. The drug is used again, today, to successfully treat leprosy, and tragically, there is a new generation of thalidomide damaged children in Brazil. While the outward damage in babies has been documented, the effects of the damage upon the survivors as they grow up, the lifestyle changes and adaptations required to be made, as well as studies into ageing in survivors, has received little attention and remains understudied.MethodsA unique multidisciplinary meeting was organized at the University of York bringing together thalidomide survivors, clinicians, scientists, historians, and social scientists to discuss the past, the current and the future implications of thalidomide.ResultsThere is still much to learn from thalidomide, from its complex history and ongoing impact on peoples' lives today, to understanding its mechanism/s to aid future drug safety, to help identify new drugs retaining clinical benefit without the risk of causing embryopathy.ConclusionFor thalidomide survivors, the original impairments caused by the drug are compounded by the consequences of a lifetime of living with a rare disability, and early onset age‐related health problems. This has profound implications for their quality of life and need for health and social care services. It is vital that these issues are addressed in research, and in clinical practice if thalidomide survivors are to “age well”. Birth Defects Research 109:296–299, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sol–gel synthesis and luminescence property of Sr4Al2O7:Re3+,R+ (Re = Eu and Dy; R = Li, Na and K) phosphors for white LEDs
Authors: Zhang Wentao , Yu Meng , Dai Siyi , Chen Xianfei , Long Jianping 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSr4Al2O7:Eu3+ and Sr4Al2O7:Dy3+ phosphors with alkali metal substitution were prepared using a sol–gel method. The effects of a charge compensator R on the structure and luminescence of Sr4Al2O7:Re3+,R+ (Re = Eu and Dy; R = Li, Na and K) phosphors were investigated in detail. Upon heating to 1400°C, the structure of the prepared samples was that of the standard phase of Sr4Al2O7. Under ultraviolet excitation, all Sr4Al2O7:Eu3+,R+ samples exhibited several narrow emission peaks ranging from 550 to 700 nm due to the 4f → 4f transition of Eu3+ ions. All Sr4Al2O7:Dy3+,R+ phosphors showed two emission peaks at 492 and 582 nm, due to the 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 and 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transitions of Dy3+ ions, respectively. The luminescence intensity of Sr4Al2O7:Re3+,R+ (Re = Eu and Dy; R = Li, Na and K) phosphors improved markedly upon the addition of charge compensators, promoting their application in white light‐emitting diodes with a near‐ultraviolet chip.
Bone morphogenetic protein‐7 (BMP‐7) augments insulin sensitivity in mice with type II diabetes mellitus by potentiating PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Chattopadhyay Tandrika , Singh Rajiv Ranjan , Gupta Sarika , Surolia Avadhesha 
Published: February 2017

AbstractA direct link between development of insulin resistance and the presence of chronic inflammation, in case of obesity exists, with cytokines playing an important role in glucose metabolism. Members of TGF‐β superfamily, including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), have been shown to be involved in islet morphogenesis, establishment of β‐cell mass and adipose cell fate determination. Here, we demonstrate a novel and direct role of BMP‐4 and ‐7 in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. An age‐dependent increase in serum BMP‐4 and decrease in serum BMP‐7 levels was observed in animal models of type II diabetes. In this study, BMP‐7 and ‐4 have been demonstrated to have antagonistic effects on insulin signaling and thereby on glucose homeostasis. BMP‐7 augmented glucose uptake in the insulin sensitive tissues such as the adipose and muscle by increasing Glut4 translocation to the plasma membrane through phosphorylation and activation of PDK1 and Akt, and phosphorylation and translocation of FoxO1 to the cytoplasm in liver/HepG2 cells. Restoration of BMP‐7 levels in serum of diabetic animals resulted in decreased blood glucose levels in contrast to age matched untreated control groups, opening up a new therapeutic avenue for diabetes. On the contrary, BMP‐4 inhibited insulin signaling through activation of PKC‐θ isoform, and resulted in insulin resistance through the attenuation of insulin signaling. BMP‐7 therefore is an attractive candidate for tackling a multifaceted disease such as diabetes, since it not only reduces body fat, but also strengthens insulin signaling, causing improved glucose uptake and ameliorating peripheral insulin resistance. © 2017 BioFactors, 43(2):195–209, 2017
Chronic transgenerational vitamin B12 deficiency of severe and moderate magnitudes modulates adiposity—probable underlying mechanisms
Authors: Ghosh Shampa , Sinha Jitendra Kumar , Muralikrishna Bojanapalli , Putcha Uday Kumar , Raghunath Manchala 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe have demonstrated previously that severe but not moderate vitamin B12 deficiency altered body composition and induced adiposity in female C57BL/6 mice. This study aims to elucidate the effects of chronic transgenerational dietary vitamin B12 restriction on body composition and various biochemical parameters in the F1 generation offspring of our mouse models of severe and moderate vitamin B12 deficiency established earlier. Female weanling C57BL/6 mice received, ad libitum, for 4 weeks a (i) control diet, (ii) vitamin B12‐restricted diet with pectin as dietary fiber (severely deficient diet), or (iii) vitamin B12‐restricted diet with cellulose as dietary fiber (moderately deficient diet) and then mated with control males. The offspring of control and severely deficient dams continued on the respective diets of their mothers. Few moderately deficient dams were rehabilitated to control diet from parturition and their pups were weaned to control diet. Also, some offspring born to moderately B12 deficient dams were weaned to control diet, while others continued on the same diet as their mothers. Various parameters were determined in the F1 offspring after 12 and 36 weeks of feeding. The results indicate that both severe and moderate maternal vitamin B12 restrictions were associated with accelerated catch‐up growth, increased body fat percentage, visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, fasting hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in the F1 offspring. Inflammation, increased glucocorticoid and oxidative stress and poor antioxidant defence probably underlie these adverse effects. Rehabilitation from parturition but not weaning was beneficial in delaying the onset of the adverse outcomes in the offspring. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(3):400–414, 2017
Plasmid‐encoded biosynthetic genes alleviate metabolic disadvantages while increasing glucose conversion to shikimate in an engineered Escherichia coli strain
Authors: Rodriguez Alberto , Martínez Juan A. , Millard Pierre , Gosset Guillermo , Portais Jean‐Charles , Létisse Fabien , Bolivar Francisco 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTMetabolic engineering strategies applied over the last two decades to produce shikimate (SA) in Escherichia coli have resulted in a battery of strains bearing many expression systems. However, the effects that these systems have on the host physiology and how they impact the production of SA are still not well understood. In this work we utilized an engineered E. coli strain to determine the consequences of carrying a vector that promotes SA production from glucose with a high‐yield but that is also expected to impose a significant cellular burden. Kinetic comparisons in fermentors showed that instead of exerting a negative effect, the sole presence of the plasmid increased glucose consumption without diminishing the growth rate. By constitutively expressing a biosynthetic operon from this vector, the more active glycolytic metabolism was exploited to redirect intermediates toward the production of SA, which further increased the glucose consumption rate and avoided excess acetate production. Fluxomics and metabolomics experiments revealed a global remodeling of the carbon and energy metabolism in the production strain, where the increased SA production reduced the carbon available for oxidative and fermentative pathways. Moreover, the results showed that the production of SA relies on a specific setup of the pentose phosphate pathway, where both its oxidative and non‐oxidative branches are strongly activated to supply erythrose‐4‐phosphate and balance the NADPH requirements. This work improves our understanding of the metabolic reorganization observed in E. coli in response to the plasmid‐based expression of the SA biosynthetic pathway. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1319–1330. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A novel Bxb1 integrase RMCE system for high fidelity site‐specific integration of mAb expression cassette in CHO Cells
Authors: Inniss Mara C. , Bandara Kalpanie , Jusiak Barbara , Lu Timothy K. , Weiss Ron , Wroblewska Liliana , Zhang Lin 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTAs CHO cell line development for biotherapeutic production becomes more sophisticated through the availability of the CHO genome sequence, the ability to accurately and reproducibly engineer the host cell genome has become increasingly important. Multiple well characterized systems for site‐specific integration will enable more complex cell line engineering to generate cell lines with desirable attributes. We built and characterized a novel recombinase mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) system using Bxb1 integrase and compared it to the commonly used Flp/FRT RMCE system. We first integrated a DNA construct flanked by either Bxb1 attachment sites or FRT sequences (referred to as a landing pad) into the Fer1L4 genomic locus of CHO‐S cells using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated homologous recombination. We characterized the resulting clones harboring either the Bxb1 or Flp/FRT landing pad using whole genome resequencing to compare their genomes with the parental host cell line. We determined that each landing pad was specifically integrated into the Fer1L4 locus in the selected clones and observed no major structural changes in the genome or variations in copy number as a result of CRISPR/Cas9 modification. We subsequently tested the ability of the Bxb1 and Flp/FRT landing pad clones to perform proper RMCE with donor vectors containing identical mAb expression cassettes flanked by either Bxb1 attachment sites or FRT sites. We demonstrated that both RMCE systems were able to generate stable pools in a similar time frame with comparable mAb expression. Through genetic characterization of up to 24 clones derived from either system, we determined that the BxB1 RMCE system yielded higher fidelity RMCE events than the Flp/FRT system as evidenced by a higher percentage of clones with expected integration of the mAb cassette into the landing pad in the respective cell lines. We conclude that Bxb1 RMCE is an excellent alternative to Flp/FRT RMCE and valuable addition to our toolbox enabling the engineering of more sophisticated cell lines for biotherapeutic production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1837–1846. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development and validation of a high‐throughput online solid‐phase extraction–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the detection of gonyautoxins 1&4 and gonyautoxins 2&3 in human urine
Authors: Coleman Rebecca , Lemire Sharon W. , Bragg William , Garrett Alaine , Ojeda‐Torres Geovannie , Wharton Rebekah , Hamelin Elizabeth , Thomas Jerry , Johnson Rudolph C. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractParalytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), including gonyautoxins and saxitoxins, are produced by multiple species of microalgae and dinoflagellates, and are bioaccumulated by shellfish and other animals. Human exposure to PSTs typically occurs through ingestion of recreationally harvested contaminated shellfish and results in nonspecific symptomology. Confirmation of exposure to PSTs has often relied on the measurement of saxitoxin, the most toxic congener; however, gonyautoxins (GTXs), the sulfated carbamate derivatives of saxitoxin, may be present in shellfish at higher concentrations. To improve identification of PST exposures, our group has developed an online solid phase extraction hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography method to identify GTX1–4 in human urine with tandem mass spectrometry. The reportable range varied for each analyte, with all falling within 0.899 and 250 ng/mL in urine with precision <15% and >85% accuracy as determined for all quality control samples. This new online method quantitates GTX1–4 following exposures to PSTs, supporting the work of public health authorities.
An easy to use open source authoring tool to create effective and reusable learning objects
Authors: Gordillo Aldo , Barra Enrique , Quemada Juan 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTAuthoring tools play a crucial role in the development of learning content facilitating the creation of Learning Objects. However, not much work has been done in order to determine if educators actually can use these tools to create effective and reusable Learning Objects in an easy way. This paper address this issue by presenting and evaluating an open source authoring tool called ViSH Editor. Three factors were evaluated: the usability and user acceptance of the authoring tool, the quality and learning effectiveness of the created Learning Objects, and the reusability of these resources. Usability was evaluated through a lab test and the user acceptance with a survey among 180 users. Quality evaluation was conducted using LORI (Learning Object Review Instrument). The learning effectiveness was evaluated through learner surveys and test scores. Finally, reusability was evaluated by using the LORI instrument, by measuring metadata quality using a set of metrics, and by a quantitative analysis of reuse. Results show that ViSH Editor is an authoring tool capable of allowing educators to create effective and reusable Learning Objects in an easy way. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 25:188–199, 2017; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21789
Xanthomonas citri pv. citri Pathotypes: LPS Structure and Function as Microbe‐Associated Molecular Patterns
Authors: Di Lorenzo Flaviana , Silipo Alba , Andersen Gersby Lotte Bettina , Palmigiano Angelo , Lanzetta Rosa , Garozzo Domenico , Boyer Claudine , Pruvost Olivier , Newman Mari‐Anne , Molinaro Antonio 
Published: February 2017

AbstractXanthomonas citri pv. citri is the pathogen responsible for Asiatic citrus canker, one of the most serious citrus diseases worldwide. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule has been demonstrated to be involved in X. citri pv. citri virulence. Despite enormous progress in investigations of the molecular mechanisms for bacterial pathogenicity, determination of the detailed LPS structure–activity relationship is limited, as the current knowledge is mainly based on structural determination of one X. citri pv. citri strain. As X. citri pv. citri strains are distinguished into three main pathogenicity groups, we characterized the full structure of the LPS from two pathotypes that differ in their host‐range specificity. This revealed an intriguing difference in LPS O‐chain structure. We also tested the LPSs and isolated lipid A moieties for their ability to act as microbe‐associated molecular patterns in Arabidopsis thaliana. Both LPS/lipid As induced ROS accumulation, but no difference was observed between the two pathotypes.
A Novel Class of Natural FXR Modulators with a Unique Mode of Selective Co‐regulator Assembly
Authors: Zheng Weili , Lu Yi , Lin Shengchen , Wang Rui , Qiu Lin , Zhu Yanlin , Yao Benqiang , Guo Fusheng , Jin Shikai , Jin Lihua , Li Yong 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is an important target for drug discovery. Small molecules induce a conformational change in FXR that modulates its binding to co‐regulators, thus resulting in distinct FXR functional profiles. However, the mechanisms for selectively recruiting co‐regulators by FXR remain elusive, partly because of the lack of FXR‐selective modulators. We report the identification of two natural terpenoids, tschimgine and feroline, as novel FXR modulators. Remarkably, their crystal structures uncovered a secondary binding pocket important for ligand binding. Further, tschimgine or feroline induced dynamic conformational changes in the activation function 2 (AF‐2) surface, thus leading to differential co‐regulator recruiting profiles, modulated by both hydrophobic and selective hydrogen‐bond interactions unique to specific co‐regulators. Our findings thus provide a novel structure template for optimization for FXR‐selective modulators of clinical value.