bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microstructure and mechanical behavior of metallic glass fiber-reinforced Al alloy matrix composites
Authors: Wang Z. , Georgarakis K. , Nakayama K. S. , Li Y. , Tsarkov A. A. , Xie G. , Dudina D. , Louzguine-Luzgin D. V. , Yavari A. R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractMetallic glass-reinforced metal matrix composites are an emerging class of composite materials. The metallic nature and the high mechanical strength of the reinforcing phase offers unique possibilities for improving the engineering performance of composites. Understanding the structure at the amorphous/crystalline interfaces and the deformation behavior of these composites is of vital importance for their further development and potential application. In the present work, Zr-based metallic glass fibers have been introduced in Al7075 alloy (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) matrices using spark plasma sintering (SPS) producing composites with low porosity. The addition of metallic glass reinforcements in the Al-based matrix significantly improves the mechanical behavior of the composites in compression. High-resolution TEM observations at the interface reveal the formation of a thin interdiffusion layer able to provide good bonding between the reinforcing phase and the Al-based matrix. The deformation behavior of the composites was studied, indicating that local plastic deformation occurred in the matrix near the glassy reinforcements followed by the initiation and propagation of cracks mainly through the matrix. The reinforcing phase is seen to inhibit the plastic deformation and retard the crack propagation. The findings offer new insights into the mechanical behavior of metal matrix composites reinforced with metallic glasses.
Training sensory signal-to-noise resolution in children with ADHD in a global mental health setting
Authors: Mishra J , Sagar R , Joseph A A , Gazzaley A , Merzenich M M 
Published: April 2016

AbstractChildren with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have impaired focus on goal-relevant signals and fail to suppress goal-irrelevant distractions. To address both these issues, we developed a novel neuroplasticity-based training program that adaptively trains the resolution of challenging sensory signals and the suppression of progressively more challenging distractions. We evaluated this sensory signal-to-noise resolution training in a small sample, global mental health study in Indian children with ADHD. The children trained for 30 h over 6 months in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Training completers showed steady and significant improvements in ADHD-associated behaviors from baseline to post training relative to controls, and benefits sustained in a 6-month follow-up. Post-training cognitive assessments showed significant positive results for response inhibition and Stroop interference tests in training completers vs controls, while measures of sustained attention and short-term memory showed nonsignificant improvement trends. Further, training-driven improvements in distractor suppression correlated with the improved ADHD symptoms. This initial study suggests utility of signal-to-noise resolution training for children with ADHD; it emphasizes the need for further research on this intervention and substantially informs the design of a larger trial.
Serum BDNF levels before and after the development of mood disorders: a case–control study in a population cohort
Authors: Ihara K , Yoshida H , Jones P B , Hashizume M , Suzuki Y , Ishijima H , Kim H K , Suzuki T , Hachisu M 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSerum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are low in major depressive disorder (MDD), and were recently shown to decrease in chronic depression, but whether this is a trait or state marker of MDD remains unclear. We investigated whether serum BDNF levels decrease before or after the developments of MDD and other mood disorders through a case–control study nested in a cohort of 1276 women aged 75–84 years in 2008. Psychiatrists using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV identified incident cases of mood disorders at follow-up surveys in 2010 and 2012: 28 of MDDs, 39 of minor depressive disorders (minDDs) and 8 of minor depressive episodes with a history of major depressive episodes (minDEs with MDE history). A total of 106 representative non-depressed controls were also identified in the 2012 follow-up. We assayed BDNF levels in preserved sera of cases and controls at baseline and at follow-up. Serum BDNF levels at baseline in cases of MDD, minDD or minDE with MDE history were no lower than those in controls. The decrease in the serum BDNF level from baseline to follow-up was greater in cases of MDD or minDE with MDE history than in controls or cases of minDD. These results show that serum BDNF levels are not a trait marker of MDD in old women but appeared to be a state marker. The different changes in BDNF levels among diagnostic groups suggest that MDD has a pathophysiologic relation to minDE with MDE history, rather than to minDD.
Reproductive trade-offs in extant hunter-gatherers suggest adaptive mechanism for the Neolithic expansion
Authors: Page Abigail E. , Viguier Sylvain , Dyble Mark , Smith Daniel , Chaudhary Nikhil , Salali Gul Deniz , Thompson James , Vinicius Lucio , Mace Ruth , Migliano Andrea Bamberg 
Published: April 2016

SignificanceThe rise of agriculture during the Neolithic period has paradoxically been associated with worldwide population growth despite increases in disease and mortality. We examine the effects of sedentarization and cultivation on disease load, mortality, and fertility among Agta foragers. We report increased disease and mortality rates associated with sedentarization alongside an even larger increase in fertility associated with both participation in cultivation and sedentarization. Thus, mothers who transition to agriculture have higher reproductive fitness. We provide the first empirical evidence, to our knowledge, of an adaptive mechanism behind the expansion of agriculture, explaining how we can reconcile the Neolithic increase in morbidity and mortality with the observed demographic expansion.
Prestimulus influences on auditory perception from sensory representations and decision processes
Authors: Kayser Stephanie J. , McNair Steven W. , Kayser Christoph 
Published: April 2016

Significance
The likelihood of perceiving a faint stimulus depends not only on the stimulus itself but also on the state of rhythmic brain activity preceding the stimulus. Previous neuroimaging results did not confirm this state dependency as arising from early sensory representations or later decision-related computations. We show that state affects perception via two mechanisms: one where the amplitude of slow-wave activity influences the scaling of early sensory evidence, and another where the time profile of the activity influences sensory decisions in areas governing cognitive processes. These findings reconcile the plethora of previous findings and delineate two relevant mechanisms.
Soluble guanylate cyclase as an alternative target for bronchodilator therapy in asthma
Authors: Ghosh Arnab , Koziol-White Cynthia J. , Asosingh Kewal , Cheng Georgina , Ruple Lisa , Groneberg Dieter , Friebe Andreas , Comhair Suzy A. A. , Stasch Johannes-Peter , Panettieri Reynold A. , Aronica Mark A. , Erzurum Serpil C. , Stuehr Dennis J. 
Published: April 2016

Significance
Asthmatics depend on β-agonist bronchodilator drugs, but a majority develop resistance to these drugs in their lifetime, and new ways to bronchodilate are needed. We show that brochodilation can be triggered in normal human and asthmatic mouse airways through an alternative signaling pathway, using new pharmacologic agents that directly activate the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) enzyme. Because an sGC-based drug was recently approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, our findings imply that such drugs could become new bronchodilators in asthma. Our work also provides insight on how the sGC signaling enzyme becomes desensitized toward NO in inflammatory asthma, and thus helps to explain why NO is an ineffective bronchodilator in this disease.
Induction of autoimmune disease by deletion of CTLA-4 in mice in adulthood
Authors: Klocke Katrin , Sakaguchi Shimon , Holmdahl Rikard , Wing Kajsa 
Published: April 2016

SignificanceCytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), up-regulated by activated conventional T cells and constitutively expressed by Foxp3+regulatory T cells, is essential for immunological self-tolerance. Because of early fatality in germ-line CTLA-4–deficient mice, the role in adulthood remains unclear. We abrogated CTLA-4 expression in adult mice and compared their phenotype with congenitally CTLA-4–deleted mice. We found that the two modes of CTLA-4 deficiency differed in resulting autoimmune disease phenotype and severity. Additionally, although CTLA-4–deficient mice had more severe collagen-induced arthritis, they were protected against peptide-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, onset of protein-induced EAE was only delayed. These results taken together indicate that CTLA-4 deficiency affects both central and peripheral tolerance and Treg cell-mediated suppression.
Nucleotide excision repair by dual incisions in plants
Authors: Canturk Fazile , Karaman Muhammet , Selby Christopher P. , Kemp Michael G. , Kulaksiz-Erkmen Gulnihal , Hu Jinchuan , Li Wentao , Lindsey-Boltz Laura A. , Sancar Aziz 
Published: April 2016

Significance
UV wavelengths of sunlight cause damage to genomic DNA in all organisms, including plants. Although UV photoproducts are known to be removed from DNA through the process of nucleotide excision repair in a wide variety of organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans, the mechanism of this repair process in plants has never been examined. Here, using a highly sensitive DNA repair assay that we developed to monitor UV photoproduct repair in vivo, we found that plants remove UV photoproducts from their genomic DNA through a dual-incision mechanism that is nearly identical to that of humans and other eukaryotes.
Final report of APMP.QM-S6: clenbuterol in porcine meat
Authors: Sin D W -M , Ho C , Yip Y -C 
Published: April 2016

At the CCQM Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG) Meeting held in April 2012 and the APMP TCQM Meeting held in November 2012, an APMP supplementary comparison (APMP.QM-S6) on the determination of clenbuterol in porcine meat was supported by the OAWG and APMP TCQM. This comparison was organized by the Government Laboratory, Hong Kong. In order to accommodate a wider participation, a pilot study (APMP.QM-P22) was run in parallel to APMP.QM-S6.
This study provided the means for assessing the measurement capabilities for determination of low-polarity measurands in a procedure that requires extraction, clean-up, analytical separation, and selective detection in a food matrix. A total of 7 institutes registered for the supplementary comparison and 6 of them submitted their results. 4 results were included for SCRV calculation. All participating laboratories applied Isotope Dilution Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ID-LCMS/MS) technique with clenbuterol-d9 as internal standard spiked for quantitation in this programme.
KEY WORDS FOR SEARCH
APMP.QM-S6 and Clenbuterol

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.
The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
ProtPOS: a python package for the prediction of protein preferred orientation on a surface
Authors: Ngai Jimmy C. F. , Mak Pui-In , Siu Shirley W. I. 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Summary: Atomistic molecular dynamics simulation is a promising technique to investigate the energetics and dynamics in the protein–surface adsorption process which is of high relevance to modern biotechnological applications. To increase the chance of success in simulating the adsorption process, favorable orientations of the protein at the surface must be determined. Here, we present ProtPOS which is a lightweight and easy-to-use python package that can predict low-energy protein orientations on a surface of interest. It combines a fast conformational sampling algorithm with the energy calculation of GROMACS. The advantage of ProtPOS is it allows users to select any force fields suitable for the system at hand and provide structural output readily available for further simulation studies.
Availability and Implementation: ProtPOS is freely available for academic and non-profit uses at http://cbbio.cis.umac.mo/software/protpos
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Contact: shirleysiu@umac.mo
A design of experiments approach to validation sampling for logistic regression modeling with error-prone medical records
Authors: Ouyang Liwen , Apley Daniel W , Mehrotra Sanjay 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Background and Objective Electronic medical record (EMR) databases offer significant potential for developing clinical hypotheses and identifying disease risk associations by fitting statistical models that capture the relationship between a binary response variable and a set of predictor variables that represent clinical, phenotypical, and demographic data for the patient. However, EMR response data may be error prone for a variety of reasons. Performing a manual chart review to validate data accuracy is time consuming, which limits the number of chart reviews in a large database. The authors’ objective is to develop a new design-of-experiments–based systematic chart validation and review (DSCVR) approach that is more powerful than the random validation sampling used in existing approaches.
Methods The DSCVR approach judiciously and efficiently selects the cases to validate (i.e., validate whether the response values are correct for those cases) for maximum information content, based only on their predictor variable values. The final predictive model will be fit using only the validation sample, ignoring the remainder of the unvalidated and unreliable error-prone data. A Fisher information based D-optimality criterion is used, and an algorithm for optimizing it is developed.
Results The authors’ method is tested in a simulation comparison that is based on a sudden cardiac arrest case study with 23 041 patients’ records. This DSCVR approach, using the Fisher information based D-optimality criterion, results in a fitted model with much better predictive performance, as measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve and the accuracy in predicting whether a patient will experience the event, than a model fitted using a random validation sample.
Conclusions The simulation comparisons demonstrate that this DSCVR approach can produce predictive models that are significantly better than those produced from random validation sampling, especially when the event rate is low.
Wet soils affect habitat selection of a solitary subterranean rodent (Ctenomys minutus) in a Neotropical region
Authors: Galiano Daniel , Kubiak Bruno B. , Menezes Luciana S. , Overbeck Gerhard E. , de Freitas Thales Renato O. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSubterranean rodents are characterized by limited individual mobility and patchy distribution of local populations. Habitat patches where the species is absent may either be unoccupied, but suitable patches, or in fact unsuitable as habitat due to specific habitat features. In the coastal plain of southern Brazil, Ctenomys minutus (Ctenomyidae) inhabits sandy grasslands and dunes. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between the distribution of this subterranean rodent and its environment. We considered vegetation and soil features. Our results showed that habitat occupancy patterns of C. minutus are determined by soil moisture and vegetation (food supply), but there might be other habitat features that regulate the habitat choice of this mammal. Habitat discontinuities in the coastal plain of southern Brazil, with numerous barriers to dispersal, are responsible for restricting individuals to their natal areas. This might result in increased intraspecific competition within each population and, consequently, in inbreeding.Os roedores subterrâneos são caracterizados pela baixa mobilidade dos indivíduos e por apresentarem populações distribuídas em manchas de habitat. As manchas em que os indivíduos estão ausentes podem ser locais desocupados, porém que apresentam condições adequadas para a ocupação, ou de fato serem locais inadequados devido a algumas características ambientais específicas. Na planície costeira do sul do Brasil, a espécie Ctenomys minutus (Ctenomyidae) habita regiões de campos arenosos e dunas costeiras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre a distribuição deste roedor subterrâneo e o ambiente em que ele habita. Para tal, consideramos características da vegetação e do solo. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o padrão de ocupação de C. minutus é determinado pela umidade do solo e vegetação (recurso alimentar), mas podem existir outras características que regulam a escolha do habitat deste mamífero. As descontinuidades de habitat na planície costeira do sul do Brasil, com inúmeras barreiras para a dispersão da espécie, são responsáveis por restringir os indivíduos as suas áreas natais. Isso pode resultar no aumento da competição intra-específica dentro das populações e, consequentemente, na endogamia.
Effect of corrosion degree on different steel ductility parameters, based on “Equivalent Steel” criterion
Authors: Moreno Esther , Cobo Alfonso , Gonzalez Maria Nieves 
Published: April 2016

Purpose
One of the meaningful effects of concrete reinforcement steel corrosion on concrete structures is the decrease of mechanical properties, specifically the ductility of steel. The term ductility of steel refers to a group of properties which determine the reinforced concrete structures and it is necessary to take this property into account for the recalculation of structures that have been already corroded until the point to condition in many occasions the analysis methodology.

Design/methodology/approach
This research studies the variation on ductility of concrete embedded steels bars after going through an accelerated corrosion process. Tensile strength of high ductility reinforcements with different corrosion levels has been tested. Ductility was studied in terms of ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, ultimate strain, energy density of deformation and “equivalent steel” criterion. It also makes some considerations about what is the best methodology of structural analysis according to the obtained results.

Findings
Based on the obtained results, conclusions are established that determine whether the corroded steel satisfy the requirements of different codes in order to identify them as “steels with special characteristics of ductility” assessing in each case the possibility of reallocating solicitations in structures which might need to be repaired.

Originality/value
The analysis of existing RC structures should address moment redistribution to be able to compare ultimate strength values, rather than to a single value obtained with elastic linear models to a range of values centred on the elastic and linear values obtained and defining an interval equal to double the value of the maximum redistribution capacity. This greatly enhances the possibility of “saving” a standing structure. In ductile structures the effect of actions can be distributed. The ascertainment of corroded reinforcement ductility variation is of key importance in structural re‐engineering and recalculation of structures. The research developed in this article is motivated by the need to contribute to knowledge of the behavior of reinforced concrete structures with reinforcement damaged.
The performance triangle: a model for corporate agility
Authors: Nold Herbert , Michel Lukas 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to synthesize ten years of case studies and data analysis from which emerged an organizational design that facilitates adaptability, agility, and resilience. The resulting triangular model of culture, leadership, and systems is proposed.Design/methodology/approach– Analysis of over 100 case studies over ten years along with statistical analysis of survey data from 50 of those companies resulted in the emergence the triangular model and provides quantitative support for validity.Findings– People drive a complex and dynamic system with culture, leadership, and systems as key factors driving organizational success in a rapidly changing environment. The critical factor in adapting to change is designing organizations to maximize the vast tacit knowledge base within organizations. Diagnostic tools are necessary to identify underlying strengths and weaknesses to initiate targeted discussions and provide a baseline for measurement.Research limitations/implications– All of the organizations were from Europe, Africa, or the Middle East.Practical implications– The emergent people-centric triangular model with culture, leadership, and systems at the points along with the development of a diagnostic tool offers a methodology for executives to gain valuable insight into critical elements of their organizations from which to initiate constructive dialogue leading to effective action.Originality/value– Many authors have offered theories on developing agile organizations. The emergent people-centric performance triangle and evolving diagnostic instrument add to the body of existing literature and lays the groundwork for practical tools and methods to yield practical results.
Textile Dreamweavers
Authors: Aneja Arun Pal 
Published: April 2016

Speculating about the future of textiles is an endeavor as old as the past. It is pursued by “experts” and laymen alike to one degree or another. The process consists of speculation, prediction, analysis, extrapolation and imagination resulting in only a marginal degree of success. Any vision of the future, no matter how carefully considered it may be, is seen – to quote the Apostle Paul – through a mirror, darkly.
Who were the textile dreamweavers through the ages that transformed our industry?
This article seeks to explore the common thread and textile-related scientific views that have changed our lives through the ages. In addition, we explore how we can use the teachings of sthese lessons to build novel platforms for innovations in textiles for the new century.