bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of seepage on flow and bedforms dynamics
Authors: Patel Mahesh , Majumder Shantanaba , Kumar Bimlesh 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis study, using an experimental approach, focuses on the effect of downward seepage on a threshold alluvial channel morphology and corresponding turbulent flow characteristics. In all the experiments, we observed that the streamwise time‐averaged velocities and Reynolds shear stresses were increased under the influence of downward seepage. Scales of eddy length and eddy turnover time were significantly increased with the application of downward seepage, leading to sediment transport and initiation of bedforms along the channel length. As the amount of seepage discharge increased, eddy length and turnover time were further increased, causing the development of larger bedforms. It was revealed that the geometry of bedforms was linked with the size of eddies. In this work, statistics of bedform dynamics are presented in terms of multi‐scalar bedforms in the presence of seepage. These multi‐scalar ubiquitous bedforms cast a potential impact on flow turbulence as well as stream bed morphology in channels. We used wavelet to analyse temporally lagged spatial bed elevation profiles that were obtained from a set of laboratory experiments and synchronized the wavelet coefficients with bed elevation fluctuations at different length scales. A spatial cross‐correlation analysis, based on the wavelet coefficients, was performed on these bed elevation datasets to observe the effect of downward seepage on the dynamic behaviour of bedforms at different length scales. It was found that celerity of bedforms reduced with increase in seepage percentage. Bedform celerity was best approximated by a probability density function such as Rayleigh distribution under varying downward seepage. Further, statistical analysis of physical parameters of bedforms ascertained that the reduction in bedform celerity was a result of increased bedform size. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secure massive MIMO‐enabled full‐duplex 2‐tier heterogeneous networks by exploiting in‐band wireless backhauls
Authors: Xie Mangang , Jia Xiangdong , Zhou Meng , Yang Longxiang 
Published: February 2017

AbstractTo enhance the spectrum efficiency and secrecy performance, by using in‐band full‐duplex (FD) wireless backhaul technique, a secure massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO)–enabled heterogeneous cellular network (HCN) model is presented, where the macro base stations (MBSs) are equipped with massive MIMO antenna array, whereas the small cell base stations (SBSs) and user equipment have the single antenna. The ultradense small cells underlay the macro cells and offload traffic from macro cells. With FD mode, the massive MIMO MBSs and single‐antenna SBSs are responsible, respectively, for the access traffic of macro and small cells as well as the backhaul transmission between MBSs and SBSs over the same time‐frequency resource. The transmissions of macro and small cells are exposed to non‐colluding and passive eavesdroppers that attempt to decode the signals of legitimate users. For such HCN with in‐band wireless backhaul, by modeling the network elements as the independent Possion point processes and using the stochastic geometry, we first investigate the secrecy probabilities of the macro cell downlink and small cell uplink transmissions. At the same time, to achieve a comprehensive view, we also investigate the corresponding signal‐interference‐noise ratio (SINR) coverage performance. The presented numerical results show that when the intensity of user equipment is small relatively, exploiting the in‐band backhaul interference as jamming signals can enhance the secrecy probabilities of both the macro and small cell transmissions so that the in‐band FD backhaul mode outperforms the out‐band FD one. However, for the SINR coverage, the opposite results are achieved. That is to say, the in‐band backhaul transmission degrades the SINR coverage probabilities because of the existence of wireless backhaul interference. Besides of these, in numerical analysis, we also investigate the effect of the network parameters on the secrecy and coverage performance of both the macro and small cells. The derived results can be used for guiding the design of HCNs.
Dynamic scheduling algorithm for LTE uplink with smart‐metering traffic
Authors: Amarasekara Bhagya , Ranaweera Chathurika , Evans Rob , Nirmalathas Ampalavanapillai 
Published: February 2017

AbstractLong‐term evolution (LTE) is a promising last mile access candidate technology for the smart‐metering communication architecture. However, when the mobile LTE network is used to support smart meters (SMs), the quality‐of‐service (QoS) requirements of the smart‐metering traffic as well as all the other typical mobile network traffic need to be ensured. This becomes problematic when the network users generate diverse traffic types that have different QoS requirements. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a dynamic bandwidth scheduling algorithm to ensure the required QoS of various traffic types arising from both SMs and mobile users. Our proposed dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm integrates two schedulers that are designed for periodic and emergency SM traffic situations that have different SM traffic intensities and QoS requirements. Designing of two schedulers provides the advantages of leveraging the particular traffic characteristics of these two diverse operational situations and achieving the maximum use of resources to ensure QoS requirements. In addition, to alleviate potential problems created by simultaneous emergency SM traffic, we also propose a method that deploys a random delay for SM packet transmissions. We analyse the delay and packet drop ratio of diverse traffic types when both the LTE base station scheduler and the SMs deploy our proposed methods under either periodic or emergency SM traffic conditions in the smart grid. Our results show that our proposed mechanisms are capable of satisfying the QoS requirements of both mobile users and SMs under diverse traffic conditions.
A rapid and efficient DNA extraction protocol from fresh and frozen human blood samples
Authors: Guha Pokhraj , Das Avishek , Dutta Somit , Chaudhuri Tapas Kumar 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundDifferent methods available for extraction of human genomic DNA suffer from one or more drawbacks including low yield, compromised quality, cost, time consumption, use of toxic organic solvents, and many more. Herein, we aimed to develop a method to extract DNA from 500 μL of fresh or frozen human blood.MethodsFive hundred microliters of fresh and frozen human blood samples were used for standardization of the extraction procedure. Absorbance at 260 and 280 nm, respectively, (A260/A280) were estimated to check the quality and quantity of the extracted DNA sample. Qualitative assessment of the extracted DNA was checked by Polymerase Chain reaction and double digestion of the DNA sample.ResultsOur protocol resulted in average yield of 22±2.97 μg and 20.5±3.97 μg from 500 μL of fresh and frozen blood, respectively, which were comparable to many reference protocols and kits.ConclusionBesides yielding bulk amount of DNA, our protocol is rapid, economical, and avoids toxic organic solvents such as Phenol. Due to unaffected quality, the DNA is suitable for downstream applications. The protocol may also be useful for pursuing basic molecular researches in laboratories having limited funds.
The effect of aspirated barium sulfate, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on survival and lung injury in a lagomorph model
Authors: Siddiqui M. Tausif , Litts Juliana K. , Cheney Diane M. , Kuhn Maggie A. , Nativ‐Zeltzer Nogah , Belafsky Peter C. 
Published: February 2017

Objectives/HypothesisContrast agents are an integral component of the video fluoroscopic swallow study. Agents commonly used include barium sulfate (E‐Z Paque), iodixanol (Visipaque), and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Barium is water insoluble, whereas iodixanol and diatrizoic acid are water‐soluble iodine‐based agents. The detrimental effect of these agents on the lungs has not been systematically evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of aspirated barium, iodixanol, and diatrizoic acid on pulmonary injury in a lagomorph model.Study DesignAnimal model.MethodsTwenty adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into four groups (n = 5). Group 1 received 3 mL of barium sulfate injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 2 received 3 mL of iodixanol injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. Group 3 received 3 mL of diatrizoic acid injected into the trachea for 3 consecutive days. A control group received 3 mL of air injected into the trachea under an identical protocol. All animals were euthanized on day 4, and the lung and trachea were harvested for blinded histopathologic analysis. The primary outcome measure was survival. The secondary endpoint was a blinded, histologic grading system of lung injury.ResultsTwo animals in the barium group, one in the diatrizoic acid group, and 0 animals in the iodixanol and control groups died. The overall lung injury score for the barium (60.60 ± 6.34) and iodixanol groups (52.30 ± 3.11) were significantly higher (worse) than the diatrizoic acid (49.60 ± 7.64) and control groups (37.80 ± 3.56) (P < .05). Diatrizoic acid produced the least amount of lung injury.ConclusionsThe data suggest that 3 mL of aspirated barium sulfate (E‐Z Paque) over 3 consecutive days causes more severe lung injury in a lagomorph model than 3 mL of aspirated iodixanol (Visipaque) and diatrizoic acid (Gastrografin). Diatrizoic acid caused the least histologic evidence of lung injury.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 127:E148–E152, 2017
Reduction of energy intake using just‐in‐time feedback from a wearable sensor system
Authors: Farooq Muhammad , McCrory Megan A. , Sazonov Edward 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveThis work explored the potential use of a wearable sensor system for providing just‐in‐time (JIT) feedback on the progression of a meal and tested its ability to reduce the total food mass intake.MethodsEighteen participants consumed three meals each in a lab while monitored by a wearable sensor system capable of accurately tracking chew counts. The baseline visit was used to establish the self‐determined ingested mass and the associated chew counts. Real‐time feedback on chew counts was provided in the next two visits, during which the target chew count was either the same as that at baseline or the baseline chew count reduced by 25% (in randomized order). The target was concealed from the participant and from the experimenter. Nonparametric repeated‐measures ANOVAs were performed to compare mass of intake, meal duration, and ratings of hunger, appetite, and thirst across three meals.ResultsJIT feedback targeting a 25% reduction in chew counts resulted in a reduction in mass and energy intake without affecting perceived hunger or fullness.ConclusionsJIT feedback on chewing behavior may reduce intake within a meal. This system can be further used to help develop individualized strategies to provide JIT adaptive interventions for reducing energy intake.
Stable, High‐Molecular‐Weight Poly(phthalaldehyde)
Authors: Schwartz Jared M. , Phillips Oluwadamilola , Engler Anthony , Sutlief Alexandra , Lee Jihyun , Kohl Paul A. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTLow ceiling temperature, thermodynamically unstable polymers have been troublesome to synthesize and keep stable during storage. In this study, stable poly(phthalaldehyde) has been synthesized with BF3‐OEt2 catalyst. The role of BF3 in the polymerization is described. The interaction of BF3 with the monomer is described and used to maximize the yield and molecular weight of poly(phthalaldehyde). Various Lewis acids were used to investigate the effect of catalyst acidity on poly(phthalaldehyde) chain growth. In situ nuclear magnetic resonance was used to identify possible interactions formed between BF3 and phthalaldehyde monomer and polymer. The molecular weight of the polymer tracks with polymerization yield. The ambient temperature stability of poly(phthalaldehyde) was investigated and the storage life of the polymer has been improved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 55, 1166–1172
Silver – Copper Bimetallic Flexible Electrodes Prepared Using a Galvanic Replacement Reaction and Their Applications
Authors: Thota Raju , Sundari S. , Berchmans Sheela , Ganesh V. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this work we have demonstrated a simple method for the preparation of bimetallic silver – copper (Ag/Cu) coated strips using a flexible, transparent, light weight and non‐conductive polymer based overhead projector (OHP) sheet. This is carried out by using a simple two‐step process viz., (i) electroless deposition of copper onto chemically modified polyaniline (PANI) coated OHP strips (Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP) and (ii) galvanic replacement reaction of silver on Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP strip (Ag/Cu/PANI/APTMS/OHP). Structure, morphology, composition and chemical properties of these strips are analyzed by using spectroscopic, microscopic and electrochemical techniques. These bimetallic flexible strips exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at lower onset potential value when compared to pure Cu coated strips due to the strong synergetic effect of Ag/Cu bimetallic heterostructures. Further the antibacterial activity studies carried out using these flexible strips against Escherichia coli suggest that Ag/Cu bimetallic strip possesses a higher antibacterial activity in comparison to pure Cu strips.
Bonding of Aqueous Citrate with Zn2+ and ZnO Nanoclusters: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Sutton Catherine C. R. , da Silva Gabriel , Franks George V. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractTo gain insight into how citrate bonds to ZnO, we have studied how aqueous citrate bonds to zinc cations (Zn2+) as well as zinc oxide nanoclusters [(ZnO)n, n=8 to 12] through density functional theory modelling. The infrared (IR) spectra of each complex in water has been calculated at the M05‐2X/cc‐pVTZ level of theory with the SMD solvent model and is presented over the region of 1700 cm−1 to 1250 cm−1; this region corresponds to the stretching modes of the carboxylate group, which change when bonding occurs. Citrate forms bidentate chelating and monodentate bonds with Zn2+; bidentate bonds result in antisymmetric stretching modes of lower wavenumber, while monodentate bonds result in higher wavenumber modes. The most stable structures involve bonds between multiple carboxylate groups and the Zn2+ and sometimes involve the hydroxyl group. Carboxylate groups not involved in bonding generally do not exhibit shifts in their infrared spectra. Similar trends are also observed in complexes of (Zn)2‐citrate, (Zn)3‐citrate and (Zn)‐citrate2. Citrate bonds weakly with the nanoclusters, forming one or two monodentate bonds to different zinc atoms; the IR spectra are not as strongly affected as when bonding occurs with Zn2+.
Surface ‐Area Enhanced Dealuminated Layered Double Hydroxides for Adsorption of Organic Compounds
Authors: Hullukere  , Prakruthi R. , Bellundagere  , Chandrashekara M. , Bangalore  , Prakash S. Jai , Bhat Yajnavalkya S. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractRemoval of isomorphously substituted Al from the layer of Zn−Al LDHs by treating with organic acids like para‐toluenesulfonic acid, phenoldisulfonic acid followed by Ammonium hexafluro silicate under microwave irradiation result in increased surface area, generating materials which are highly mesoporous. The dealuminated Zn−Al LDHs were characterized by BET surface area, XRDand 27Al– NMR. Adsorption data of as‐synthesized and dealuminated Zn−Al LDHs for various polar and nonpolar organic compounds at different time intervals were evaluated. Adsorption data were fitted with the models such as fractional power, pseudo‐first order and Elovich models. The Elovich model provided high degree of correlation. Modified Zn‐Al LDH adsorbent showed increased adsorption of organic compounds compared to as‐synthesized Zn−Al LDH because of high surface area. Reusability of used adsorbent showed almost same adsorption capacity as the fresh adsorbent.
Heteroleptic Iminophosphonamide In(III) Complexes: Source of Mild Lewis Acid Indium Centers
Authors: Prashanth Billa , Bawari Deependra , Singh Sanjay 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNew In(III) complexes with iminophosphonamide ligand are reported for the first time. Reaction of the lithium iminophosphonamide, LLi⋅2OEt2 with InCl3 afforded the heterobimetallic compound, LInCl(μ‐Cl)2Li⋅2OEt2 (1) (L=(2,6‐iPr2C6H3N)P(Ph2)(NtBu)). To prevent the formation of LiCl adduct in 1, and to obtain the targeted LInCl2 molecule, potassium salt of the ligand LK was reacted with InCl3 that gave the adduct LInCl2(THF) (2). Formation of compounds 1 and 2 can be considered an outcome of the In(III) centers to exhibit Lewis acidity. Reaction of LK with InCl3 in non coordinating solvent toluene gave the dimer [LInCl(μ‐Cl)]2 (3) and its further treatment with Ph2P(=O)NHtBu afforded the adduct, LInCl2⋅(O=P(Ph2)NHtBu) (4). Formation of the dimer 3 or the adduct 4 are again the reminiscent of the Lewis acid tendency of In(III) centers. Complexes 1–4 have been characterized using multinuclear NMR and HRMS. The single crystal X‐ray structures of 1, 3 and 4 have also been elucidated.
Naplus: a software distributed shared memory for virtual clusters in the cloud
Authors: Zeng Lingfang , Wang Yang , Kent Kenneth B. , Xiao Ziliang 
Published: February 2017

SummaryVirtual clusters (VCs) have exhibited various advantages over traditional cluster computing platforms by virtue of their extensibility, reconfigurability, and maintainability. As such, they have become a major execution environment for cloud‐based cluster applications. However, compared with traditional clusters, their distributed‐memory programming paradigm still remains largely unchanged, which implies that cluster applications cannot be efficiently deployed in VCs, especially when virtual machines (VMs) are running in different physical hosts. Recently, some efforts have been made to improve inter‐VM communication, resulting in many studies on how cluster applications could take advantages of VCs. However, most of them mainly focus on the situation that the VMs are all coresident on the same physical machine where the message passing mechanism is usually optimized away by exploiting the host's shared memory. In this paper, we present a design and implementation of Naplus, a kernel‐based virtual machine approach to the inter‐VM communications that are across different physical hosts. Naplus is based on Nahanni, a mechanism for shared‐memory communication in virtual environments. As such, it not only inherits the major merits of Nahanni with respect to flexible data structures and efficient synchronization but also achieves a shared‐memory paradigm among VMs. With Naplus, we enable the size of shared space to be maximized as large as the sum of each machine's local memory to accommodate cluster applications with large memory footprints. We prototype Naplus in a dual‐host system where an empirical study is conducted to show the effectiveness of the Naplus approach in achieving distributed shared memory for VCs in data centers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcriptional Networks in Single Perivascular Cells Sorted from Human Adipose Tissue Reveal a Hierarchy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Hardy W. Reef , Moldovan Nicanor I. , Moldovan Leni , Livak Kenneth J. , Datta Krishna , Goswami Chirayu , Corselli Mirko , Traktuev Dmitry O. , Murray Iain R. , Péault Bruno , March Keith 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
Adipose tissue is a rich source of multipotent mesenchymal stem-like cells, located in the perivascular niche. Based on their surface markers, these have been assigned to two main categories: CD31−/CD45−/CD34+/CD146− cells (adventitial stromal/stem cells [ASCs]) and CD31−/CD45−/CD34−/CD146+ cells (pericytes [PCs]). These populations display heterogeneity of unknown significance. We hypothesized that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, a functional marker of primitivity, could help to better define ASC and PC subclasses. To this end, the stromal vascular fraction from a human lipoaspirate was simultaneously stained with fluorescent antibodies to CD31, CD45, CD34, and CD146 antigens and the ALDH substrate Aldefluor, then sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Individual ASCs (n = 67) and PCs (n = 73) selected from the extremities of the ALDH-staining spectrum were transcriptionally profiled by Fluidigm single-cell quantitative polymerase chain reaction for a predefined set (n = 429) of marker genes. To these single-cell data, we applied differential expression and principal component and clustering analysis, as well as an original gene coexpression network reconstruction algorithm. Despite the stochasticity at the single-cell level, covariation of gene expression analysis yielded multiple network connectivity parameters suggesting that these perivascular progenitor cell subclasses possess the following order of maturity: (a) ALDHbrASC (most primitive); (b) ALDHdimASC; (c) ALDHbrPC; (d) ALDHdimPC (least primitive). This order was independently supported by specific combinations of class-specific expressed genes and further confirmed by the analysis of associated signaling pathways. In conclusion, single-cell transcriptional analysis of four populations isolated from fat by surface markers and enzyme activity suggests a developmental hierarchy among perivascular mesenchymal stem cells supported by markers and coexpression networks.
Prostaglandin E2 Indicates Therapeutic Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kota Daniel J. , Prabhakara Karthik S. , Toledano-Furman Naama , Bhattarai Deepa , Chen Qingzheng , DiCarlo Bryan , Smith Philippa , Triolo Fabio , Wenzel Pamela L. , Cox Charles S. , Olson Scott D. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is soon predicted to become the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. After the primary injury, a complex set of secondary injuries develops hours and days later with prolonged neuroinflammation playing a key role. TBI and other inflammatory conditions are currently being treated in preclinical and clinical trials by a number of cellular therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are of great interest due to their widespread usage, safety, and relative ease to isolate and culture. However, there has been a wide range in efficacy reported using MSC clinically and in preclinical models, likely due to differences in cell preparations and a significant amount of donor variability. In this study, we seek to find a correlation between in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy. We designed assays to explore the responsiveness of MSC to immunological cues to address the immunomodulatory properties of MSC, one of their primary modes of therapeutic activity in TBI. Our results showed intrinsic differences in the immunomodulatory capacity of MSC preparations from different bone marrow and amniotic fluid donors. This difference mirrored the therapeutic capacity of the MSC in an experimental model of TBI, an effect confirmed using siRNA knockdown of COX2 followed by overexpressing COX2. Among the immunomodulatory factors assessed, the therapeutic benefit correlated with the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by MSC prior to treatment, suggesting that measurement of PGE2 could be a very useful potency marker to create an index of predicted efficacy for preparations of MSC to treat TBI.