bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extraction and identification of antioxidants from the spice Aframomum danielli
Authors: Adegoke G. O. , Gopala Krishna A. G. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSuccessive extractions with diethyl ether and methanol of the whole seeds of the spice Aframomum danielli yielded diethyl ether extract (ADEE), 13.9%, and methanol extract (ADM), 3.4%, respectively. Similarly, reextraction of the defatted seeds of A. danielli successively with diethyl ether and methanol yielded extracts DFADEE (7.9%) and DFADM (6.7%), respectively. When these extracts were added to refined peanut oil (PNO) at 200 ppm, they showed good antioxidative effects. The percentage antioxidant effectiveness (AE) values were as follows: DFADM (87.3) > ADM (85.3) > ADEE (83.4)=tert‐butyl hydroquinone (83.4) on day 20 of storage in an oven maintained at 65±1°C. Generally, antioxidant extracts prepared from A. danielli were also more effective than butylated hydroxytoluene and α‐tocopherol in stabilizing refined PNO. Antioxidant components of A. danielli were tentatively identified as phenolic compounds of the trihydroxy type with reducing properties. All extracts prepared from A. danielli showed strong ultraviolet‐absorbing characteristics, and methanol was a good extracting solvent.
Impact of competition on process of care and resource investments
Authors: Wani Deepa , Malhotra Manoj , Venkataraman Sriram 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAlthough competition is generally believed to improve quality, its impact on the Process of Care (PoC)—which measures the timeliness and effectiveness of care—is less clear. Moreover, hospital executives in more competitive hospital markets are faced with several competing priorities. Our study seeks to examine two factors within this context: (1) how competition directly impacts PoC, and (2) in a financially constrained environment, how competition affects investments in resources such as nurses and technology that can potentially improve PoC. We collect longitudinal data from all acute care hospitals in California over a 7‐year period from 2007 to 2013, along with data from several other sources. Analysis using a mixed‐methods approach reveals that both PoC and investments in nurses and technology are lower in more competitive markets. Because future reimbursements under the pay‐for‐performance system will depend on the value of care provided, our results suggest that hospitals should reconsider their short‐term actions that seek to increase market share and instead adopt a long‐term view in which investments are made to fundamentally improve the underlying processes and PoC. The findings presented here thus have major implications for managing hospitals in competitive environments.
Forced synchronization of periodic and aperiodic thermoacoustic oscillations: lock-in, bifurcations and open-loop control
Authors: Kashinath Karthik , Li Larry K. B. , Juniper Matthew P. 
Published: January 2018

Synchronization is a universal concept in nonlinear science but has received little attention in thermoacoustics. In this numerical study, we take a dynamical systems approach to investigating the influence of harmonic acoustic forcing on three different types of self-excited thermoacoustic oscillations: periodic, quasi-periodic and chaotic. When the periodic system is forced, we find that: (i) at low forcing amplitudes, it responds at both the forcing frequency and the natural (self-excited) frequency, as well as at their linear combinations, indicating quasi-periodicity; (ii) above a critical forcing amplitude, the system locks in to the forcing; (iii) the bifurcations leading up to lock-in and the critical forcing amplitude required for lock-in depend on the proximity of the forcing frequency to the natural frequency; (iv) the response amplitude at lock-in may be larger or smaller than that of the unforced system and the system can exhibit hysteresis and the jump phenomenon owing to a cusp catastrophe; and (v) at forcing amplitudes above lock-in, the oscillations can become unstable and transition to chaos, or switch between different stable attractors depending on the forcing amplitude. When the quasi-periodic system is forced at a frequency equal to one of the two characteristic frequencies of the torus attractor, we find that lock-in occurs via a saddle-node bifurcation with frequency pulling. When the chaotic system is forced at a frequency close to the dominant frequency of its strange attractor, we find that it is possible to destroy chaos and establish stable periodic oscillations. These results show that the open-loop application of harmonic acoustic forcing can be an effective strategy for controlling periodic or aperiodic thermoacoustic oscillations. In some cases, we find that such forcing can reduce the response amplitude by up to 90 %, making it a viable way to weaken thermoacoustic oscillations.
Impaired cognitive plasticity and goal-directed control in adolescent obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Gottwald Julia , de Wit Sanne , Apergis-Schoute Annemieke M. , Morein-Zamir Sharon , Kaser Muzaffer , Cormack Francesca , Sule Akeem , Limmer Winifred , Morris Anna Conway , Robbins Trevor W. , Sahakian Barbara J. 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundYouths with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) experience severe distress and impaired functioning at school and at home. Critical cognitive domains for daily functioning and academic success are learning, memory, cognitive flexibility and goal-directed behavioural control. Performance in these important domains among teenagers with OCD was therefore investigated in this study.MethodsA total of 36 youths with OCD and 36 healthy comparison subjects completed two memory tasks: Pattern Recognition Memory (PRM) and Paired Associates Learning (PAL); as well as the Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) task to quantitatively gauge learning as well as cognitive flexibility. A subset of 30 participants of each group also completed a Differential-Outcome Effect (DOE) task followed by a Slips-of-Action Task, designed to assess the balance of goal-directed and habitual behavioural control.ResultsAdolescent OCD patients showed a significant learning and memory impairment. Compared with healthy comparison subjects, they made more errors on PRM and PAL and in the first stages of IED involving discrimination and reversal learning. Patients were also slower to learn about contingencies in the DOE task and were less sensitive to outcome devaluation, suggesting an impairment in goal-directed control.ConclusionsThis study advances the characterization of juvenile OCD. Patients demonstrated impairments in all learning and memory tasks. We also provide the first experimental evidence of impaired goal-directed control and lack of cognitive plasticity early in the development of OCD. The extent to which the impairments in these cognitive domains impact academic performance and symptom development warrants further investigation.
The sociocultural functions of episodic memory
Authors: Fivush Robyn 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe functional use of episodic memories to claim epistemic truth must be placed within sociocultural contexts in which certain truths are privileged. Episodic memories are shared, evaluated, and understood within sociocultural interactions, creating both individual and group identities. These negotiated identities provide the foundation from which epistemic claims to truth can be made.
What should health insurance cover? A comparison of Israeli and US approaches to benefit design under national health reform
Authors: Nissanholtz Gannot Rachel , Chinitz David P. , Rosenbaum Sara 
Published: January 2018

AbstractWhat health insurance should cover and pay for represents one of the most complex questions in national health policy. Israel shares with the US reliance on a regulated insurance market and we compare the approaches of the two countries regarding determining health benefits. Based on review and analysis of literature, laws and policy in the United States and Israel. The Israeli experience consists of selection of a starting point for defining coverage; calculating the expected cost of covered benefits; and creating a mechanism for updating covered benefits within a defined budget. In implementing the Affordable Care Act, the US rejected a comprehensive and detailed approach to essential health benefits. Instead, federal regulators established broadly worded minimum standards that can be supplemented through more stringent state laws and insurer discretion. Notwithstanding differences between the two systems, the elements of the Israeli approach to coverage, which has stood the test of time, may provide a basis for the United States as it renews its health reform debate and considers delegating decisions about coverage to the states. Israel can learn to emulate the more forceful regulation of supplemental and private insurance that characterizes health policy in the United States.
Electronic Structure and Band Gap Engineering of Two-Dimensional Octagon-Nitrogene
Authors: Lin Wanxing , Li Jiesen , Wang Weiliang , Liang Shi-Dong , Yao Dao-Xin 
Published: January 2018

AbstractA new phase of nitrogen with octagon structure has been predicted in our previous study, which we referred to as octagon-nitrogene (ON). In this work, we make further investigations of its stability and electronic structures. The phonon dispersion has no imaginary phonon modes, which indicates that ON is dynamically stable. Using ab initio molecular dynamic simulations, this structure is found to be stable up to room temperature and possibly higher, and ripples that are similar to that of graphene are formed on the ON sheet. Based on the density functional theory calculation, we find that single layer ON is a two-dimension wide gap semiconductor with an indirect band gap of 4.7 eV. This gap can be decreased by stacking due to the interlayer interactions. Biaxial tensile strain and perpendicular electric field can greatly influence the band structure of ON, in which the gap decreases and eventually closes as the biaxial tensile strain or the perpendicular electric field increases. In other words, both biaxial tensile strain and a perpendicular electric field can drive the insulator-to-metal transition, and thus can be used to engineer the band gap of ON. From our results, we see that ON has potential applications in many fields, including electronics, semiconductors, optics and spintronics.
Downy mildew symptoms on grapevines can be reduced by volatile organic compounds of resistant genotypes
Authors: Lazazzara Valentina , Bueschl Christoph , Parich Alexandra , Pertot Ilaria , Schuhmacher Rainer , Perazzolli Michele 
Published: January 2018

AbstractVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a crucial role in the communication of plants with other organisms and are possible mediators of plant defence against phytopathogens. Although the role of non-volatile secondary metabolites has been largely characterised in resistant genotypes, the contribution of VOCs to grapevine defence mechanisms against downy mildew (caused by Plasmopara viticola) has not yet been investigated. In this study, more than 50 VOCs from grapevine leaves were annotated/identified by headspace-solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Following P. viticola inoculation, the abundance of most of these VOCs was higher in resistant (BC4, Kober 5BB, SO4 and Solaris) than in susceptible (Pinot noir) genotypes. The post-inoculation mechanism included the accumulation of 2-ethylfuran, 2-phenylethanol, β-caryophyllene, β-cyclocitral, β-selinene and trans-2-pentenal, which all demonstrated inhibitory activities against downy mildew infections in water suspensions. Moreover, the development of downy mildew symptoms was reduced on leaf disks of susceptible grapevines exposed to air treated with 2-ethylfuran, 2-phenylethanol, β-cyclocitral or trans-2-pentenal, indicating the efficacy of these VOCs against P. viticola in receiver plant tissues. Our data suggest that VOCs contribute to the defence mechanisms of resistant grapevines and that they may inhibit the development of downy mildew symptoms on both emitting and receiving tissues.
Phylogenomic reclassification of the world’s most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution
Authors: Hedin Marshal , Derkarabetian Shahan , Ramírez Martín J. , Vink Cor , Bond Jason E. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractHere we show that the most venomous spiders in the world are phylogenetically misplaced. Australian atracine spiders (family Hexathelidae), including the notorious Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus, produce venom peptides that can kill people. Intriguingly, eastern Australian mouse spiders (family Actinopodidae) are also medically dangerous, possessing venom peptides strikingly similar to Atrax hexatoxins. Based on the standing morphology-based classification, mouse spiders are hypothesized distant relatives of atracines, having diverged over 200 million years ago. Using sequence-capture phylogenomics, we instead show convincingly that hexathelids are non-monophyletic, and that atracines are sister to actinopodids. Three new mygalomorph lineages are elevated to the family level, and a revised circumscription of Hexathelidae is presented. Re-writing this phylogenetic story has major implications for how we study venom evolution in these spiders, and potentially genuine consequences for antivenom development and bite treatment research. More generally, our research provides a textbook example of the applied importance of modern phylogenomic research.
Measuring dynamic social contacts in a rehabilitation hospital: effect of wards, patient and staff characteristics
Authors: Duval Audrey , Obadia Thomas , Martinet Lucie , Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Fleury Eric , Guillemot Didier , Opatowski Lulla , Temime Laura ,   I-Bird study group, Alvarez Anne Sophie , Baraffe Audrey , Beiró Mariano , Bertucci Inga , Cyncynatus Camille , Dannet Florence , Delaby Marie Laure , Denys Pierre , de Cellès Matthieu Domenech , Fraboulet Antoine , Gaillard Jean-Louis , Herrmann Jean-Louis , Labrador Boris , Lasley Jennifer , Lawrence Christine , Legrand Judith , Le Minor Odile , Ligier Caroline , Mignon Karine , Sacleux Catherine , Salomon Jérôme , Perard Marie , Petit Laure , Remy Laeticia , Thiebaut Anne , Thomas Damien , Tronchet Philippe , Villain Isabelle 
Published: January 2018

AbstractUnderstanding transmission routes of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) is key to improve their control. In this context, describing and analyzing dynamic inter-individual contact patterns in hospitals is essential. In this study, we used wearable sensors to detect Close Proximity Interactions (CPIs) among patients and hospital staff in a 200-bed long-term care facility over 4 months. First, the dynamic CPI data was described in terms of contact frequency and duration per individual status or activity and per ward. Second, we investigated the individual factors associated with high contact frequency or duration using generalized linear mixed-effect models to account for inter-ward heterogeneity. Hospital porters and physicians had the highest daily number of distinct contacts, making them more likely to disseminate HAI among individuals. Conversely, contact duration was highest between patients, with potential implications in terms of HAI acquisition risk. Contact patterns differed among hospital wards, reflecting varying care patterns depending on reason for hospitalization, with more frequent contacts in neurologic wards and fewer, longer contacts in geriatric wards. This study is the first to report proximity-sensing data informing on inter-individual contacts in long-term care settings. Our results should help better understand HAI spread, parameterize future mathematical models, and propose efficient control strategies.
The acute effects on duodenal gene expression in healthy men following consumption of a low-fat meal enriched with theobromine or fat
Authors: Smolders Lotte , Mensink Ronald P. , Boekschoten Mark V. , de Ridder Rogier J. J. , Plat Jogchum 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIncreasing apoA-I synthesis may improve HDL functionality and lower CVD risk. As theobromine and fat increase fasting apoA-I concentrations, and the intestine is involved in apoA-I production, the acute effects of both were studied on duodenal gene transcription to better understand underlying mechanisms. In this crossover study, 8 healthy men received once a low fat (LF) meal, a LF meal plus theobromine (850 mg), or a high fat (HF) meal. Five hours after meal intake duodenal biopsies were taken for microarray analysis. Theobromine and HF consumption did not change duodenal apoA-I expression. Theobromine did not change gene expression related to lipid and cholesterol metabolism, whereas those related to glycogen/glucose breakdown were downregulated. HF consumption increased gene expression related to lipid and cholesterol uptake and transport, and to glucose storage, while it decreased those related to glucose uptake. Furthermore, genes related to inflammation were upregulated, but inflammation markers in plasma were not changed. In healthy men, acute theobromine and fat consumption did not change duodenal apoA-I mRNA, but inhibited expression of genes related to glucose metabolism. Furthermore, HF intake activated in the duodenum expression of genes related to lipid and cholesterol metabolism and to inflammation.
The effect of environmental factors and migration dynamics on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in estuary environments
Authors: Na Guangshui , Lu Zihao , Gao Hui , Zhang Linxiao , Li Qianwei , Li Ruijing , Yang Fan , Huo Chuanlin , Yao Ziwei 
Published: January 2018

AbstractUnderstanding the antibiotic resistance transmission mechanisms and migration dynamics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the natural environment is critical given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to examine the fate of sulfonamide-resistant fecal bacteria (E. coli) in an estuary ecosystem and to explore the role and contribution of environmental factors in this process. The prevalence of sulfonamide-resistance status of E. coli was analyzed over different seasons in two estuary systems. Environmental factors and disturbance indices of anthropogenic activities were evaluated by detecting antibiotic concentrations, heavy metal abundance and other physicochemical parameters. The abundances of antibiotic-resistant E. coli were significantly attenuated during land-sea migration suggesting that estuary environments play a natural mitigation role in the contamination of freshwaters by antibiotic-resistant E. coli. Additionally, environmental factors and disturbance indices of anthropogenic activities significantly correlated with the distribution and migration of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the estuaries. Lastly, simulation experiments suggested differential adaptability between antibiotic-resistant and non-resistant E. coli towards environmental changes in estuary environments. Meanwhile, our results indicate that low concentrations of antibiotics will not increase the competitive advantage of resistant E. coli in estuaries.
Targeted and Untargeted Metabolic Profiling of Wild Grassland Plants identifies Antibiotic and Anthelmintic Compounds Targeting Pathogen Physiology, Metabolism and Reproduction
Authors: French Katherine E. , Harvey Joe , McCullagh James S. O. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPlants traditionally used by farmers to manage livestock ailments could reduce reliance on synthetic antibiotics and anthelmintics but in many cases their chemical composition is unknown. As a case study, we analyzed the metabolite profiles of 17 plant species and 45 biomass samples from agricultural grasslands in England using targeted and untargeted metabolite profiling by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry. We identified a range of plant secondary metabolites, including 32 compounds with known antimicrobial/anthelmintic properties which varied considerably across the different plant samples. These compounds have been shown previously to target multiple aspects of pathogen physiology and metabolism in vitro and in vivo, including inhibition of quorum sensing in bacteria and egg viability in nematodes. The most abundant bioactive compounds were benzoic acid, myricetin, p-coumaric acid, rhamnetin, and rosmarinic acid. Four wild plants (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim., Prunella vulgaris L., Centuarea nigra L., and Rhinanthus minor L.) and two forage legumes (Medicago sativa L., Trifolium hybridium L.) contained high levels of these compounds. Forage samples from native high-diversity grasslands had a greater abundance of medicinal compounds than samples from agriculturally improved grasslands. Incorporating plants with antibiotic/anthelmintic compounds into livestock feeds may reduce global drug-resistance and preserve the efficacy of last-resort drugs.
Role of fluorine in two-dimensional dichalcogenide of SnSe
2
Authors: Kim Jin Tae , Hyeon Da Seul , Hanzawa Kota , Kanai Ayaka , Kim Se Yun , Lee Yong Jei , Hosono Hideo , Bang Joonho , Lee Kimoon 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAuthors report an effect of F substitution on layered SnSe2 through the successful synthesis of polycrystalline SnSe2−δF
x
(0.000 ≤ x ≤ 0.010) by solid-state reaction. Accompanied with density functional theory calculations, the blue shift of A1g peak in Raman spectra reveal that F− ions are substituted at Se vacancy sites as decreasing the reduced mass of vibrational mode associated with Sn–Se bonding. From the measurements of electrical parameters, conductivity as well as carrier concentration are governed by thermally activated behavior, while such behavior is suppressed in Hall mobility, which occurs as F ratio increases. Based on Arrhenius relation, it is found that the potential barrier height at the grain boundary is suppressed with increasing F amount, suggesting that the F− ion is a promising candidate for the grain boundary passivation in the two-dimensional dichalcogenide system.
Tunable THz perfect absorber with two absorption peaks based on graphene microribbons
Authors: Gu Mingyue , Xiao Binggang , Xiao Sanshui 
Published: January 2018

Perfect absorption is characterised by the complete suppression of incident and reflected electromagnetic wave, and complete dissipation of the incident energy. A tunable perfect terahertz (THz) absorber with two absorption peaks based on graphene is presented. The proposed structure consists of graphene microribbons sandwiched between aluminium oxide strips and polymethyl methacrylate slab on a silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer which is covered by periodic gold (Au) ribbons, and the SiO2 layer is supported by the Au substrate. The influence of the structural parameters on the absorption performance was analysed too. Especially, graphene can be used to design tunable THz devices due to its tunability of sheet conductivity which could be controlled by applying a bias voltage or chemical doping. A single‐band perfect absorption can be achieved when the chemical potential is set to 0.1 eV. Interestingly, when the chemical potential changed to 0.6 eV, a dual‐band absorption spectrum is obtained with absorption efficiency of the two peaks more than 90%. These results imply that the characteristics of graphene‐based surface plasmon could be used to design novel THz devices in future.