bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic characteristics and seismic behavior of prefabricated steel stairs in a full‐scale five‐story building shake table test program
Authors: Wang Xiang , Astroza Rodrigo , Hutchinson Tara C. , Conte Joel P. , Restrepo José I. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThis paper investigates the dynamic characteristics and seismic behavior of prefabricated steel stairs in a full‐scale five‐story building shake table test program. The test building was subjected to a suite of earthquake input motions and low‐amplitude white noise base excitations first, while the building was isolated at its base, and subsequently while it was fixed to the shake table platen. This paper presents the modal characteristics of the stairs identified using the data recorded from white noise base excitation tests as well as the physical and measured responses of the stairs from the earthquake tests. The observed damage to the stairs is categorized into three distinct damage states and is correlated with the interstory drift demands of the building. These shake table tests highlight the seismic vulnerability of modern designed stair systems and in particular identifies as a key research need the importance of improving the deformability of flight‐to‐building connections. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A meshless method for numerical simulation of depth‐averaged turbulence flows using ak‐ϵmodel
Authors: Alhuri Yasser , Benkhaldoun Fayssal , Ouazar Driss , Seaid Mohammed , Taik Ahmed 
Published: June 2015

SummaryWe investigate the performance of a meshless method for the numerical simulation of depth‐averaged turbulence flows. The governing equations are shallow water equations obtained by depth averaging of the full Reynolds equations including bed frictions, eddy viscosity, wind shear stresses, and Coriolis forces. As a double‐phase closure turbulence model, we consider the depth‐averagedk‐ϵmodel. A truly meshless numerical method based on radial basis functions is employed to obtain an accurate approximation to the solution of the model. We validate the algorithm on a linear shallow water problem where analytical solutions are available. Numerical results are also compared with experimental data for a backward‐facing flow problem. Furthermore, we test the method on a practical problem by simulating tidal flows in the Strait of Gibraltar. The main focus is to examine the performance of the meshless method for complex geometries with irregular bathymetry. The obtained results demonstrate its ability to capture the main flow features. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peripheral basophil reactivity, CD203c expression by Cryj1 stimulation, is useful for diagnosing seasonal allergic rhinitis by Japanese cedar pollen
Authors: Imoto Yoshimasa , Takabayashi Tetsuji , Sakashita Masafumi , Tokunaga Takahiro , Ninomiya Takahiro , Ito Yumi , Narita Norihiko , Yamada Takechiyo , Fujieda Shigeharu 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMeasuring specific IgE can yield direct, accurate, and objective data. Nevertheless, clinical symptoms of allergy are often inconsistent with these data. Recently, the expression of CD203c, a surface marker of basophils, has been reported as capable of distinguishing allergic patients. This study compared specific IgE in serum and skin tests against antigen to assess CD203c as a biomarker correlated with allergic rhinitis (AR). We asked 3,453 subjects whether they experienced any AR related symptom. All subjects were assessed for six specific IgEs for common aeroallergens. Skin tests were also conducted for six aeroallergens. We observed the reactivity of peripheral basophil by measuring the levels of CD203c by Cryj1 stimulation using flow cytometry. Of the 3,453 participants, 1,987 (57.5%) possessed Japanese cedar pollen (JCP) specific IgE in their serum. Among those 1,987 JCP specific IgE positive participants, 552 (27.8%) had not experienced any allergic symptom during the JCP season. The levels of CD203c in the peripheral basophil by Cryj1 stimulation were significantly higher in SAR‐JCP subjects than in non‐SAR‐JCP subjects (Cryj1 0.5 ng/ml: 2.25 ± 0.90% vs. 60.2 ± 27.4%, p < 0.01, Cryj1 50 ng/ml: 1.89 ± 0.90% vs. 68.0 ± 21.2%, p < 0.01). Our results indicate that the levels of CD203c in peripheral basophils by Cryj1 stimulation is a more objective and reliable marker that better reflects the allergic reaction by SAR‐JCP in vivo than measuring specific IgE in serum or skin tests.
Nanoparticle uptake by macrophages in vulnerable plaques for atherosclerosis diagnosis
Authors: Melzer Susanne , Ankri Rinat , Fixler Dror , Tarnok Attila 
Published: June 2015

The composition of atherosclerotic (AS) plaques is crucial concerning rupture, thrombosis and clinical events. Two plaque types are distinguished: stable and vulnerable plaques. Vulnerable plaques are rich in inflammatory cells, mostly only M1 macrophages, and are highly susceptible to rupture. These plaques represent a high risk particularly with the standard invasive diagnosis by coronary angiography. So far there are no non‐invasive low‐risk clinical approaches available to detect and distinguish AS plaque types in vivo.
The perspective review introduces a whole work‐flow for a novel approach for non‐invasive detection and classification of AS plaques using the diffusion reflection method with gold nanoparticle loaded macrophages in combination with flow and image cytometric analysis for quality assurance. Classical biophotonic methods for AS diagnosis are summarized. Phenotyping of monocytes and macrophages are discussed for specific subset labelling by nanomaterials, as well as existing studies and first experimental proofs of concept for the novel approach are shown.
In vitro and in vivo detection of NP loaded macrophages (MΦ). Different ways of MΦ labelling include (1) in vitro labelling in suspension (whole blood or buffy coat) or (2) labelling of short‐term MΦ cultures with re‐injection of MΦ‐NP into the animal to detect migration of the cells in the plaques and (3) in vivo injection of NP into the organism.magnified imageIn vitro and in vivo detection of NP loaded macrophages (MΦ). Different ways of MΦ labelling include (1) in vitro labelling in suspension (whole blood or buffy coat) or (2) labelling of short‐term MΦ cultures with re‐injection of MΦ‐NP into the animal to detect migration of the cells in the plaques and (3) in vivo injection of NP into the organism.
Improved detectability of microcirculatory dynamics by laser speckle flowmetry
Authors: Postnov Dmitry D. , Sosnovtseva Olga , Tuchin Valery V. 
Published: June 2015

Mechanisms of renal autoregulation generate oscillations in arterial blood flow at several characteristic frequencies. Full‐field laser speckle flowmetry provides a real‐time imaging of superficial blood microcirculation. The possibility to detect changes in oscillatory dynamics is an important issue in biomedical applications. In this paper we show how laser power density affects quality of the recorded signal and improves detectability of temporal changes in microvascular perfusion.
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Amelioration of Osteoporosis and Hypovitaminosis D by Sunlight Exposure in Hospitalized Elderly Women With Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sato Yoshihiro , Iwamoto Jun , Kanoko Tomohiro , Satoh Kei 
Published: June 2015

The JBMR editors express a note of concern that a substantial amount of the text of Sato et al., Amelioration of Osteoporosis and Hypovitaminosis D by Sunlight Exposure in Hospitalized Elderly Women With Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Miner Res. 2005;20(8): 1327–1333 (DOI: 10.1359/JBMR.050402) is duplicated in Sato et al., Amelioration of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D by sunlight exposure in Parkinson's disease (Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2011;17(1):22-26 (DOI:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2010.10.008).
The JBMR editors are reviewing this matter and will inform readers as soon as the review is completed.
Performance evaluation of magnetic anion exchange resin removing fluoride
Authors: Li Qiang , Wang Baijun , Li Wentao , Wang Cheng , Zhou Qing , Shuang Chendong , Li Aimin 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDFluoride above a permissible level in drinking water has serious health effects on human beings. In this study, magnetic anion exchange resin, NDMP, was used to remove fluoride under different conditions and its defluoridation performance was compared with that of commercial D201 resin.RESULTSNDMP had favourable adsorption capacity for fluoride at pH 5.0 to 9.0. Coexisting anions generated competition adsorption towards fluoride and the different competition influence ordering followed the sequence SO42− > Cl− > NO3− > HCO3−. The existence of HA did not have a negative effect on fluoride adsorption under 40 mg L−1 of HA solution. The pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model fitted better for fluoride adsorption by both resins. The adsorption process was fitted better by the Langmuir model with a maximum fluoride adsorption capacity (13.5 mg g−1), indicating that the interaction between fluoride and NDMP resin was a homogeneous process. The negative values of ΔG° and ΔH° revealed that the adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic reaction. Regenerated NDMP recovers adsorption performance without any loss.CONCLUSIONSHigh adsorption and regeneration performance suggest that NDMP can be used as an effective and reusable defluoridation adsorbent. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of egg freshness on texture and baking characteristics of batter systems formulated using egg, flour and sugar
Authors: Xing Liting , Niu Fuge , Su Yujie , Yang Yanjun 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of egg freshness on baking properties and final qualities in batter systems. Batters were made with eggs of different freshness, and the properties of batter systems were studied through rheological analysis, rapid viscosity analysis (RVA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), batter density and expansion rate during the baking and cooling processes. Moreover, the qualities of final baked systems were investigated, including specific volume and texture profile analysis (TPA).RESULTSThe flow behavior of batters showed that the consistency index (K) decreased as the Haugh unit (HU) value decreased, while the flow behavior index (n) increased. Both the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) determined by mechanical spectra at 20 °C decreased with decreasing HU. RVA and DSC determinations revealed that lower‐HU samples had a lower viscosity in the baking process and a shorter time for starch gelatinization and egg protein denaturation. Observation of the batter density revealed an increasing change, which was reflected by a decrease in the specific volume of final models. TPA showed significant differences in hardness and chewiness, but no significant differences in springiness and cohesiveness were found.CONCLUSIONThe egg freshness affected the properties of batter systems. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparison of different drying methods on the physical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of raspberry powders
Authors: Si Xu , Chen Qinqin , Bi Jinfeng , Wu Xinye , Yi Jianyong , Zhou Linyan , Li Zhaolu 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDDehydration has been considered as one of the traditional but most effective techniques for perishable fruits. Raspberry powders obtained after dehydration can be added as ingredients into food formulations such as bakery and dairy products. In this study, raspberry powders obtained by hot air drying (HAD), infrared radiation drying (IRD), hot air and explosion puffing drying (HA‐EPD), infrared radiation and microwave vacuum drying (IR‐MVD) and freeze drying (FD) were compared on physical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.RESULTSDrying techniques affected the physical properties, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of raspberry powders greatly. FD led to significantly higher (P < 0.05) values of water solubility (45.26%), soluble solid (63.46%), hygroscopicity (18.06%), color parameters and anthocyanin retention (60.70%) of raspberry powder compared with other drying methods. However, thermal drying techniques, especially combined drying methods, were superior to FD in final total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. The combined drying methods, especially IR‐MVD, showed the highest total polyphenol content (123.22 g GAE kg−1 dw) and total flavonoid content (0.30 g CAE kg−1 dw). Additionally, IR‐MVD performed better in antioxidant activity retention.CONCLUSIONOverall, combined drying methods, especially IR‐MVD, were found to result in better quality of raspberry powders among the thermal drying techniques. IR‐MVD could be recommended for use in the drying industry because of its advantages in time saving and nutrient retention. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Modified Importance–Performance Analysis for Evaluating Tourism Businesses Strategies: Comparison of Slovenia and Serbia
Authors: Dwyer Larry , Armenski Tanja , Cvelbar Ljubica Knežević , Dragićević Vanja , Mihalic Tanja 
Published: June 2015

AbstractA modified nine‐quadrant importance–performance analysis is employed to assess the importance which Slovenian and Serbian tourism industry stakeholders attach to 48 nominated strategic activities to promote business and destination competitiveness. An important finding is that respondents in each country allocated the bulk of activities to the ‘keep up the good work’ strategy. In both destinations, this strategy was dominated by activities related to product development and innovation. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the identified priority activities require close examination to determine their ‘enabling conditions’ and the implications of an action based on them. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐transmission dielectric metasurface with 2π phase control at visible wavelengths
Authors: Yu Ye Feng , Zhu Alexander Y. , Paniagua‐Domínguez Ramón , Fu Yuan Hsing , Luk'yanchuk Boris , Kuznetsov Arseniy I. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractRecently, metasurfaces have received increasing attention due to their ability to locally manipulate the amplitude, phase and polarization of light with high spatial resolution. Transmissive metasurfaces based on high‐index dielectric materials are particularly interesting due to the low intrinsic losses and compatibility with standard industrial processes. Here, it is demonstrated numerically and experimentally that a uniform array of silicon nanodisks can exhibit close‐to‐unity transmission at resonance in the visible spectrum. A single‐layer gradient metasurface utilizing this concept is shown to achieve around 45% transmission into the desired order. These values represent an improvement over existing state‐of‐the‐art, and are the result of simultaneous excitation and mutual interference of magnetic and electric‐dipole resonances in the nanodisks, which enables directional forward scattering with a broad bandwidth. Due to CMOS compatibility and the relative ease of fabrication, this approach is promising for creation of novel flat optical devices.
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Condensed Low‐Volatile Alcohol Droplet‐Directed Uniform Pore Formation on Polystyrene Films
Authors: Wang Zheng‐Hui , Cheng Wei , Liu Cai‐Hong , Ma Jun , Li Ji 
Published: June 2015

In this work, various polystyrene (PS) films with uniform pores (0.18–1.26 μm in size) are prepared through spin‐casting polymer solutions consisting of PS, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), and different low‐volatile alcohols (propylene glycol, diglycol, triglycol, polyethylene glycol‐200, ‐400, and ‐600). It is proposed that the formation of these uniform pores is directed by the condensed low‐volatile alcohol droplets formed during the solvent evaporation; relevant evidences are provided. Five different indexes are defined to help reveal the mechanisms of the effects of PS content and alcohol property on the aggregation tendency of the alcohol molecules and on the growth of the alcohol droplets, and thus on the pore size.
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AMPKα2 reduces renal epithelial transdifferentiation and inflammation after injury through interaction with CK2β
Authors: Qiu Shulan , Xiao Zhicheng , Piao Chunmei , Zhang Jing , Dong Yanjun , Cui Wei , Liu Xin , Zhang Youyi , Du Jie 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTGFβ1/Smad, Wnt/β‐catenin and snail1 are preferentially activated in renal tubular epithelia after injury, leading to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The stress response is coupled to EMT and kidney injury; however, the underlying mechanism of the stress response in EMT remains elusive. AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling is responsive to stress and regulates cell energy balance and differentiation. We found that knockdown of AMPKα, especially AMPKα2, enhanced EMT by up‐regulating β‐catenin and Smad3 in vitro. AMPKα2 deficiency enhanced EMT and fibrosis in a murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. AMPKα2 deficiency also increased the expression of chemokines KC and MCP‐1, along with enhanced infiltration of inflammatory cells into the kidney after UUO. CK2β interacted physically with AMPKα and enhanced AMPKα Thr172 phosphorylation and its catalytic activity. Thus, activated AMPKα signalling suppresses EMT and secretion of chemokines in renal tubular epithelia through interaction with CK2β to attenuate renal injury. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The lifestyle of prokaryotic organisms influences the repertoire of promiscuous enzymes
Authors: Martínez‐Núñez Mario Alberto , Rodríguez‐Vázquez Katya , Pérez‐Rueda Ernesto 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThe metabolism of microbial organisms and its diversity are partly the result of an adaptation process to the characteristics of the environments that they inhabit. In this work, we analyze the influence of lifestyle on the content of promiscuous enzymes in 761 nonredundant bacterial and archaeal genomes. Promiscuous enzymes were defined as those proteins whose catalytic activities are defined by two or more different Enzyme Commission (E.C.) numbers. The genomes analyzed were categorized into four lifestyles for their exhaustive comparisons: free‐living, extremophiles, pathogens, and intracellular. From these analyses we found that free‐living organisms have larger genomes and an enrichment of promiscuous enzymes. In contrast, intracellular organisms showed smaller genomes and the lesser proportion of promiscuous enzymes. On the basis of our data, we show that the proportion of promiscuous enzymes in an organism is mainly influenced by the lifestyle, where fluctuating environments promote its emergence. Finally, we evidenced that duplication processes occur preferentially in metabolism of free‐living and extremophiles species. Proteins 2015; 83:1625–1631. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A review of the fate of micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants
Authors: Margot Jonas , Rossi Luca , Barry David A. , Holliger Christof 
Published: June 2015

Municipal wastewaters are contaminated by a wide range of chemicals, from surfactants to heavy metals, including pharmaceutical residues, personal care products, various household chemicals, and biocides/pesticides. Their release into the environment, where they may generate adverse effects on aquatic organisms, depends on their fate in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The sources, the typical concentrations and the fate of more than 160 micropollutants of various classes in conventional WWTPs, were investigated in order to estimate surface water contamination, risks for aquatic organisms, and to propose means to reduce their release into the environment. Relatively hydrophobic pollutants such as heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), brominated flame retardants, and several personal care products (PCPs), as well as easily biodegradable pollutants such as surfactants, plastic additives, hormones, several PCPs, some pharmaceuticals, and household chemicals, are usually well removed (>70%) in WWTPs, either by sorption onto sewage sludge or by biodegradation. Good removal efficiencies, however, do not mean that the effluent concentrations will not potentially affect aquatic life, as some of these compounds are toxic at very low concentrations. More hydrophilic and poorly‐to‐moderately biodegradable pollutants such as several pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and household chemicals (corrosion inhibitors, sweeteners, chelating agents, phosphorus flame retardants) are only poorly removed during treatments. To decrease their discharge into surface waters, source control combined to advanced treatments such as ozonation and adsorption onto activated carbon are necessary.This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water
Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation
Science of Water > Water Quality
From Occupied Voids to Nanoprecipitates: Synthesis of Skutterudite Nanocomposites in situ
Authors: Eilertsen James , Surace Yuri , Balog Sandor , Sagarna Leyre , Rogl Gerda , Horky Jelena , Trottmann Matthias , Rogl Peter , Subramanian M. A. , Weidenkaff Anke 
Published: June 2015

AbstractNanocomposite thermoelectrics can exhibit both reduced thermal conductivity and enhanced electrical conductivity beyond single‐phase materials; accordingly, they have become the new material paradigm to achieve viable thermoelectric efficiencies. New synthesis techniques are needed to further enhance their properties. A novel technique, designed to synthesize nanoprecipitates within a well‐sintered single‐phase polycrystalline matrix, is reported. The technique, attrition‐enhanced nanocomposite synthesis (AENS), comprises three stages: (1) Synthesis of cage‐like crystal structures with metastable interstitials, followed by (2) severe plastic deformation (SPD), and finally (3) rapid sintering with concomitant interstitial precipitation. The efficacy of this technique is demonstrated in this work. Filled cage‐like skutterudite In0.2Co4Sb12 samples are synthesized and spark‐plasma sintered. They are subjected to severe plastic deformation via high‐pressure torsion, and finally sintered again via spark‐plasma sintering in order to precipitate the metastable interstitials. X‐ray diffraction, scanning‐electron microscopy, and small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) of In0.2Co4Sb12 samples subjected to this procedure demonstrate that indium precipitates rapidly, and forms nano‐sized In‐based inclusions. In addition, the amount of precipitated indium, and the size and distribution of the nanoprecipitates are strongly influenced by the extent of plastic deformation. This technique can be employed to synthesize efficient thermoelectrics as well as materials with a number of applications requiring rapid synthesis of nano‐sized precipitates.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Cephalophagus Conjoined Twins by Ultrasonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Kapoor Ravi , Bansal Ashutosh , Aggarwal Abhinav , Aggarwal Aakriti Kapoor , Taneja Radhika Batra 
Published: June 2015

AbstractCephalopagus is the rarest type of conjoined twins. Early antenatal diagnosis is important in view of extremely poor prognosis as surgical separation is not possible in such cases. Fetal MRI is an excellent complementary tool to prenatal sonography in assessment of complex fetal anomalies.