bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography to Measure Lecithin/Sphingomyelin Ratio
Authors: Ng Heung‐Tat , Chen Cheng‐Yu , Wei Ru‐Dong 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography in 85 pregnant women of varying gestational ages to determine fetal lung maturity. Respiratory distress syndrome occurred in 14 of the 15 infants whose L/S ratio before birth was lower than 3.0. High‐performance liquid chromatography for measurement of the amniotic fluid L/S ratio provides a sensitive index of the functional development of the fetal lung and therefore of the risk of the neonate developing respiratory distress syndrome.
Identification of morphological and biochemical changes in keratin‐8/18 knock‐down cells using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Singh S. P. , Alam Hunain , Dmello Crismita , Mamgain Hitesh , Vaidya Milind M. , Dasari Ramachandra Rao , Krishna C. Murali 
Published: January 2017

Accurate understanding of cellular processes and responses to stimuli is of paramount importance in biomedical research and diagnosis. Raman spectroscopy (RS), a label‐free and nondestructive spectroscopic method has the potential to serve as a novel ’theranostics' tool. Both fiber‐optic and micro‐Raman studies have demonstrated efficacy in diagnostics and therapeutic response monitoring. In the present study, we have evaluated the potential of micro‐Raman spectroscopic maps in identifying changes induced by loss of K8/18 proteins in a tongue cancer cell line. Furthermore, we also evaluated the efficacy of less expensive and commercially available fiber probes to identify K8/18 wild and knock‐down cell pellets, in view of the utility of cell pellet‐based studies. The findings suggest that major differences in the cellular morphology and biochemical composition can be objectively identified and can be utilized for classification using both micro‐Raman and fiber‐probe‐based RS. These findings highlight the potential of fiber‐optic probe‐based RS in noninvasive cellular phenotyping for diagnosis and therapeutic response monitoring, especially in low‐resource settings.
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Fine‐tuning snowflake fractal antennas
Authors: Karaosmanoğlu Barışcan , Küçük Semih , Ergül Özgür 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe present a simple yet effective approach for fine‐tuning operating frequencies of snowflake fractal antennas. Given a basic design, a set of numerical simulations involving alternative corner angles are carried out to compute their isolated effects on frequency bands. Then, the effects of consecutive modifications are estimated and used to identify possible combinations for shifting the frequencies in the desired ranges. The effects of corner angles are almost independent of each other, leading to accurate estimations that allow for easy tuning of these antennas without time‐consuming optimizations.
A novel extended precise integration method based on Fourier series expansion for periodic Riccati differential equations
Authors: Tan Shu‐Jun , Zhou Wen‐Ya , Peng Hai‐Jun , Wu Zhi‐Gang 
Published: January 2017

SummaryA new, reliable algorithm for nonnegative, stabilizing solutions for the periodic Riccati differential equation (PRDE) is proposed based on Fourier series expansion and the precise integration method (PIM). Taking full advantages of periodicity, we expand coefficient matrices of the underlying linear time‐varying periodic Hamiltonian system associated with the PRDE in Fourier series, and a novel extended PIM for the transition matrix of linear time‐varying periodic systems is developed by combining the doubling algorithm with the increment‐storage technique. This method needs to compute the matrix exponential and its related integrals only once for all evenly divided subintervals, which greatly improves the computational efficiency. Further, by introducing the Riccati transformation, a fast recursive formula for the PRDE is derived based on the block form of the transition matrix computed by the extended PIM. Finally, two numerical examples are presented to verify the numerical accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm with compared results.
sTREM‐1 is elevated in cystic fibrosis and correlates with proteases
Authors: Forrester D.L. , Barr H.L. , Fogarty A. , Knox A. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryBackgroundsTREM‐1 (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells‐1) is a novel inflammatory marker that may be of clinical use in cystic fibrosis (CF). Dysregulation of the TREM pathway has been demonstrated in other inflammatory diseases and modulation in animal models has therapeutic benefit. We hypothesised that sTREM‐1 could act as a biomarker of disease in cystic fibrosis.MethodsPlasma from 17 patients with CF (stable and pre and post pulmonary exacerbation) and eight healthy volunteers was analyzed for sTREM‐1 and proteases (matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8), MMP‐9, and human neutrophil elastase HNE).ResultssTREM‐1 Levels were elevated in stable CF subjects compared to controls (148 pg/ml (130–160) [median(IQR)] vs. 87 (55–118) (P < 0.01)) but were not further increased during pulmonary exacerbation nor decreased after antibiotic treatment in CF. Protease levels were increased in CF plasma compared to controls: MMP–8 = 3.1 ng/ml (1.5–7.6) vs. 0.3 (0.18–0.53) (P < 0.01) (Wilcoxon); MMP–9 = 170 ng/ml (124–282) vs. 49 (39–90) (P <  0.01); HNE = 30.2 ng/ml (22.7–30.9) vs. 17.5 (11.2–22.2) (P < 0.05). sTREM‐1 correlated positively with protease levels lnMMP‐8 r2 = 0.55 (P = 0.08), lnMMP‐9 r2 =  0.61(P < 0.05), lnHNE r2 = 0.35 (P < 0.05).ConclusionssTREM‐1 is constitutively elevated in CF and positively correlates with protease levels. Modulation of this pathway may be of therapeutic benefit to patients with CF. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:467–471. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vivo and in vitro ivacaftor response in cystic fibrosis patients with residual CFTR function: N‐of‐1 studies
Authors: McGarry Meghan E. , Illek Beate , Ly Ngoc P. , Zlock Lorna , Olshansky Sabrina , Moreno Courtney , Finkbeiner Walter E. , Nielson Dennis W. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryRationaleIvacaftor, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator, decreases sweat chloride concentration, and improves pulmonary function in 6% of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with specific CFTR mutations. Ivacaftor increases chloride transport in many other CFTR mutations in non‐human cells, if CFTR is in the epithelium. Some CF patients have CFTR in the epithelium with residual CFTR function. The effect of ivacaftor in these patients is unknown.MethodsThis was a series of randomized, crossover N‐of‐1 trials of ivacaftor and placebo in CF patients ≥8 years old with potential residual CFTR function (intermediate sweat chloride concentration, pancreatic sufficient, or mild bronchiectasis on chest CT). Human nasal epithelium (HNE) was obtained via nasal brushing and cultured. Sweat chloride concentration change was the in vivo outcome. Chloride current change in HNE cultures with ivacaftor was the in vitro outcome.ResultsThree subjects had decreased sweat chloride concentration (−14.8 to −40.8 mmol/L, P < 0.01). Two subjects had unchanged sweat chloride concentration. Two subjects had increased sweat chloride concentration (+23.8 and +27.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001); both were heterozygous for A455E and pancreatic sufficient. Only subjects with decreased sweat chloride concentration had increased chloride current in HNE cultures.ConclusionsSome CF patients with residual CFTR function have decreased sweat chloride concentration with ivacaftor. Increased chloride current in HNE cultures among subjects with decreased sweat chloride concentrations may predict clinical response to ivacaftor. Ivacaftor can increase sweat chloride concentration in certain mutations with unclear clinical effect. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:472–479. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Numerical simulation of ozone concentration profile and flow characteristics in paddy bulks
Authors: Pandiselvam Ravi , Chandrasekar Veerapandian , Thirupathi Venkatachalam 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDOzone has shown the potential to control stored product insect pests. The high reactivity of ozone leads to special problems when it passes though an organic medium such as stored grains. Thus, there is a need for a simulation study to understand the concentration profile and flow characteristics of ozone in stored paddy bulks as a function of time.RESULTSSimulation of ozone concentration through the paddy grain bulks was explained by applying the principle of the law of conservation along with a continuity equation. A higher ozone concentration value was observed at regions near the ozone diffuser whereas a lower concentration value was observed at regions away from the ozone diffuser. The relative error between the experimental and predicted ozone concentration values for the entire bin geometry was less than 42.8%.CONCLUSIONThe simulation model described a non‐linear change of ozone concentration in stored paddy bulks. Results of this study provide a valuable source for estimating the parameters needed for effectively designing a storage bin for fumigation of paddy grains in a commercial scale continuous‐flow ozone fumigation system. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Histidine‐rich designer peptides of the LAH4 family promote cell delivery of a multitude of cargo
Authors: Moulay Gilles , Leborgne Christian , Mason A. James , Aisenbrey Christopher , Kichler Antoine , Bechinger Burkhard 
Published: January 2017

The histidine‐rich designer peptides of the LAH4 family exhibit potent antimicrobial, transfection, transduction and cell‐penetrating properties. They form non‐covalent complexes with their cargo, which often carry a negative overall charge at pH 7.4 and include a large range of molecules and structures such as oligonucleotides, including siRNA and DNA, peptides, proteins, nanodots and adeno‐associated viruses. These complexes are thought to enter the cells through an endosomal pathway where the acidification of the organelle is essential for efficient endosomal escape. Biophysical measurements indicate that, upon acidification, almost half the peptides are released from DNA cargo, leading to the suggestion of a self‐promoted uptake mechanism where the liberated peptides lyse the endosomal membranes. LAH4 derivatives also help in cellular transduction using lentiviruses. Here, we compare the DNA transfection activities of LAH4 derivatives, which vary in overall charge and/or the composition in the hydrophobic core region. In addition, LAH4 is shown to mediate the transport of functional β‐galactosidase, a large tetrameric protein of about 0.5 MDa, into the cell interior. Interestingly, the LAH1 peptide efficiently imports this protein, while it is inefficient during DNA transfection assays. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient extensible conditional privacy‐preserving authentication scheme supporting batch verification for VANETs
Authors: Wang Yimin , Zhong Hong , Xu Yan , Cui Jie , Guo Funchun 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBy using pseudo‐identity‐based signature, a conditional privacy‐preserving authentication scheme was proposed in this paper, called EECB, to solve the anonymous authentication issue in vehicular ad hoc networks. In this scheme, pseudo‐identities and the corresponding private keys are generated by the private key generator alone, which is credible and independent. So only Adding private key generators can satisfy the increasing pseudo‐identities demand. In other words, it has achieved the extensible of the scheme. However, the malicious vehicle can only be traced by trust authority. Furthermore, the protocol supports batch verification and the operation of a signature verification only needs two bilinear pairings and some point multiplication. The security of the signature scheme in EECB can be proved to be equivalent to the standard computational Diffie–Hellman problem in the random oracle. The experiment and the analysis indicated that, compared with the existing well‐known schemes, EECB has higher authentication efficiency and less communication cost. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An authenticated encryption based grouping proof protocol for RFID systems
Authors: Rostampour Samad , Bagheri Nasour , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi , Khademzadeh Ahmad 
Published: January 2017

AbstractRadio frequency identification grouping proof authentication protocol is an approach to identify a set of tagged objects simultaneously. Over the past decade, several protocols in this domain have been presented, but each was weak with flawed attributes. It is essential that a grouping proof protocol be both scalable and affordable, considering its use for applications with large quantities of tags and the high level of security. In this paper, we present a secure and scalable grouping proof protocol by utilizing an encryption method that is called authenticated encryption. This encryption method provides both confidentiality and message integrity simultaneously. In addition, it can satisfy the resource limitation of passive tags. The proposed protocol eliminates the dependency among the tags' responses and provides the scalability with minimum message broadcasting. We evaluate the proposed protocol based on formal and informal security methods, and the results prove that it is robust against radio frequency identification attacks and suitable for low‐power and low‐cost devices. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effects of Task Type on the Quality of Resolving Language‐Related Episodes and Vocabulary Learning
Authors: Kaivanpanah Shiva , Miri Mowla 
Published: January 2017

This study examined how task type can affect the ways in which learners resolve lexical language‐related episodes (LREs) and consequently how their vocabulary learning in the LREs is influenced. An intact class of Iranian learners (N = 24) of English as a foreign language were paired up to write a composition and complete a cloze task. The researchers recorded all collaborative dialogues and transcribed and analyzed them to detect lexical LREs. The LREs were divided into cognitive conflict episodes (CCEs) and non‐CCEs on the basis of how they were resolved and engaged the learners. The results indicate a higher number of CCEs, entailing elaborate engagement, in the collaborative dialogues over the composition. The results also reveal that vocabulary gains were greater in composition. The authors suggest that language teachers develop tasks inducing higher cognitive conflicts.
Cost vs. time in stochastic games and Markov automata
Authors: Hatefi Hassan , Wimmer Ralf , Braitling Bettina , Fioriti Luis María Ferrer , Becker Bernd , Hermanns Holger 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Costs and rewards are important tools for analysing quantitative aspects of models like energy consumption and costs of maintenance and repair. Under the assumption of transient costs, this paper considers the computation of expected cost-bounded rewards and cost-bounded reachability for Markov automata and Markov games. We provide a fixed point characterization of this class of properties under early schedulers. Additionally, we give a transformation to expected time-bounded rewards and time-bounded reachability, which can be computed by available algorithms. We prove the correctness of the transformation and show its effectiveness on a number of Markov automata case studies.
Enhanced xylose fermentation by engineered yeast expressing NADH oxidase through high cell density inoculums
Authors: Zhang Guo-Chang , Turner Timothy L , Jin Yong-Su 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Accumulation of reduced byproducts such as glycerol and xylitol during xylose fermentation by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae hampers the economic production of biofuels and chemicals from cellulosic hydrolysates. In particular, engineered S. cerevisiae expressing NADPH-linked xylose reductase (XR) and NAD+-linked xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) produces substantial amounts of the reduced byproducts under anaerobic conditions due to the cofactor difference of XR and XDH. While the additional expression of a water-forming NADH oxidase (NoxE) from Lactococcus lactis in engineered S. cerevisiae with the XR/XDH pathway led to reduced glycerol and xylitol production and increased ethanol yields from xylose, volumetric ethanol productivities by the engineered yeast decreased because of growth defects from the overexpression of noxE. In this study, we introduced noxE into an engineered yeast strain (SR8) exhibiting near-optimal xylose fermentation capacity. To overcome the growth defect caused by the overexpression of noxE, we used a high cell density inoculum for xylose fermentation by the SR8 expressing noxE. The resulting strain, SR8N, not only showed a higher ethanol yield and lower byproduct yields, but also exhibited a high ethanol productivity during xylose fermentation. As noxE overexpression elicits a negligible growth defect on glucose conditions, the beneficial effects of noxE overexpression were substantial when a mixture of glucose and xylose was used. Consumption of glucose led to rapid cell growth and therefore enhanced the subsequent xylose fermentation. As a result, the SR8N strain produced more ethanol and fewer byproducts from a mixture of glucose and xylose than the parental SR8 strain without noxE overexpression. Our results suggest that the growth defects from noxE overexpression can be overcome in the case of fermenting lignocellulose-derived sugars such as glucose and xylose.
Place and Child Health: The Interaction of Population Density and Sanitation in Developing Countries
Authors: Hathi Payal , Haque Sabrina , Pant Lovey , Coffey Diane , Spears Dean 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
A long literature in demography has debated the importance of place for health, especially children’s health. In this study, we assess whether the importance of dense settlement for infant mortality and child height is moderated by exposure to local sanitation behavior. Is open defecation (i.e., without a toilet or latrine) worse for infant mortality and child height where population density is greater? Is poor sanitation is an important mechanism by which population density influences child health outcomes? We present two complementary analyses using newly assembled data sets, which represent two points in a trade-off between external and internal validity. First, we concentrate on external validity by studying infant mortality and child height in a large, international child-level data set of 172 Demographic and Health Surveys, matched to census population density data for 1,800 subnational regions. Second, we concentrate on internal validity by studying child height in Bangladeshi districts, using a new data set constructed with GIS techniques that allows us to control for fixed effects at a high level of geographic resolution. We find a statistically robust and quantitatively comparable interaction between sanitation and population density with both approaches: open defecation externalities are more important for child health outcomes where people live more closely together.
Emergency Preparedness of Persons Over 50 Years Old: Further Results From the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Killian Timothy S. , Moon Zola K. , McNeill Charleen , Garrison Betsy , Moxley Shari 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectiveThis article conceptualized emergency preparedness as a complex, multidimensional construct and empirically examined an array of sociodemographic, motivation, and barrier variables as predictors of levels of emergency preparedness.MethodsThe authors used the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Study’s emergency preparedness module to focus on persons 50 years old and older in the United States by use of logistic regression models and reconsidered a previous analysis.ResultsThe models demonstrated 3 key findings: (1) a lack of preparedness is widespread across virtually all sociodemographic variables and regions of the country; (2) an authoritative voice, in the role of health care personnel, was a strong predictor of preparedness; and (3) previous experience in helping others in a disaster predisposes individuals to be better prepared. Analyses also suggest the need for caution in creating simple summative indexes and the need for further research into appropriate measures of preparedness.ConclusionThis population of older persons was generally not well prepared for emergencies, and this lack of preparedness was widespread across social, demographic, and economic groups in the United States. Findings with implications for policy and outreach include the importance of health care providers discussing preparedness and the use of experienced peers for outreach. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:80–89)
Sensationally Reading Ghana’sJoy-RideMagazine
Authors: de Bruijn Esther 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis article argues that the 1980s and nineties popular literary magazineJoy-Rideattracted an exceptionally wide and regular readership by transposing the sensational aesthetics of Ghanaian oral narrative performance into the printed text.Joy-Rideretained its circulation in a period of devastating economic and sociopolitical tumult that resulted from an accumulation of natural disasters combined with the forced austerity measures of J. J. Rawling’s military government. Offering a collage of modern media such as serialized comics and photonovels, the magazine created intertextual associations with popular cultural experiences like Concert Party theatre and Ananse storytelling. Comics scholarship and affect and embodiment studies come together to support my position that the rich integration of text and image inJoy-Rideworked mnemonically to produce a sense of cultural vibrancy in the magazine narratives. This vitalism functioned, I argue, to sustain a feeling of cultural continuity for the magazine’s readership.
Dissociation in patients with dissociative seizures: relationships with trauma and seizure symptoms
Authors: Pick S. , Mellers J. D. C. , Goldstein L. H. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundThis study aimed to extend the current understanding of dissociative symptoms experienced by patients with dissociative (psychogenic, non-epileptic) seizures (DS), including psychological and somatoform types of symptomatology. An additional aim was to assess possible relationships between dissociation, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic symptoms and seizure manifestations in this group.MethodA total of 40 patients with DS were compared with a healthy control group (n = 43), matched on relevant demographic characteristics. Participants completed several self-report questionnaires, including the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, Traumatic Experiences Checklist and the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale. Measures of seizure symptoms and current emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were also administered.ResultsThe clinical group reported significantly more psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, trauma, perceived impact of trauma, and post-traumatic symptoms than controls. Some dissociative symptoms (i.e. MDI disengagement, MDI depersonalization, MDI derealization, MDI memory disturbance, and somatoform dissociation scores) were elevated even after controlling for emotional distress; MDI depersonalization scores correlated positively with trauma scores while seizure symptoms correlated with MDI depersonalization, derealization and identity dissociation scores. Exploratory analyses indicated that somatoform dissociation specifically mediated the relationship between reported sexual abuse and DS diagnosis, along with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsA range of psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, traumatic experiences and post-traumatic symptoms are elevated in patients with DS relative to healthy controls, and seem related to seizure manifestations. Further studies are needed to explore peri-ictal dissociative experiences in more detail.