bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth differentiation factor 15 in heart failure with preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Chan Michelle M.Y. , Santhanakrishnan Rajalakshmi , Chong Jenny P.C. , Chen Zhaojin , Tai Bee Choo , Liew Oi Wah , Ng Tze Pin , Ling Lieng H. , Sim David , Leong Kui Toh G. , Yeo Poh Shuan Daniel , Ong Hean‐Yee , Jaufeerally Fazlur , Wong Raymond Ching‐Chiew , Chai Ping , Low Adrian F. , Richards Arthur M. , Lam Carolyn S.P. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimGrowth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a cytokine highly expressed in states of inflammatory stress. We aimed to study the clinical correlates and prognostic significance of plasma GDF15 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) vs. reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF), compared with N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), an indicator of haemodynamic wall stress.MethodsPlasma GDF15 and NT‐proBNP were prospectively measured in 916 consecutive patients with HFrEF (EF <50%; n = 730) and HFpEF (EF ≥50%; n = 186), and measured again at 6 months in 488 patients. Patients were followed up for a composite outcome of death or first HF rehospitalization.ResultsMedian GDF15baseline values were similarly elevated in HFpEF [2862 (1812 represent the 25th percentile and 4176 represent the 75th percentile) ng/L] and HFrEF [2517 (1555, 4030) ng/L] (P = 0.184), whereas NT‐proBNP was significantly lower in HFpEF than HFrEF (1119 ng/L vs. 2335 ng/L, P < 0.001). Independent correlates of GDF15baseline were age, systolic blood pressure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, sodium, haemoglobin, creatinine, diuretic therapy, high sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) and NT‐proBNP (all P < 0.05). During a median follow‐up of 23 months, there were 379 events (307 HFrEF, 72 HFpEF). GDF15 remained a significant independent predictor for composite outcome even after adjusting for important clinical predictors including hsTnT and NT‐proBNP (adjusted hazard ratio 1.76 per 1 Ln U, 95% confidence interval 1.39–2.21; P < 0.001), regardless of HF group (Pinteraction = 0.275). GDF15baseline provided incremental prognostic value when added to clinical predictors, hsTnT and NT‐proBNP (area under receiver operating characteristic curve increased from 0.720 to 0.740, P < 0.019), with a net reclassification improvement of 0.183 (P = 0.004). Patients with ≥20% GDF156months increase had higher risk for composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.15–2.45; P = 0.007) compared with those with GDF156months within ± 20% of baseline.ConclusionsThe similarly elevated levels and independent prognostic utility of GDF15 in HFrEF and HFpEF suggest that beyond haemodynamic stress (NT‐proBNP), inflammatory injury (GDF15) may play an important role in both HF syndromes.
Mixed‐Valent {Mn14} Single‐Molecule Magnet Based on Pyridine‐2‐amidoxime
Authors: Jiang Xiang , An Guang‐Yu , Liu Cai‐Ming , Kou Hui‐Zhong 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA new mixed‐valent {Mn14} cluster based on pyridine‐2‐amidoxime (H2pyaox), [MnIV2MnIII10MnII2(μ3‐O)8(Hpyaox)14(pyaox)2(N3)2](ClO4)4(OH)2·2MeOH·23H2O (1), has been synthesized and characterized. Magnetic susceptibility studies show that complex 1 displays an S = 6 spin ground state and slow magnetic relaxation.
Antimicrobial activity of essential oil ofArtemisia judaicaL. from Algeria against multi‐drug resistant bacteria from clinical origin
Authors: Benmansour N. , Benmansour A. , El Hanbali F. , González‐Mas M. C. , Blázquez M. A. , El Hakmaoui A. , Akssira M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractArtemisia judaicaL. essential oil was studied for antibacterial activity against various clinical isolates of bacteria resistant to a number of antibiotics. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against 20 multidrug resistant (MDR) of clinical origin compared to standard ATCC strains. The strains that showed resistance against the maximum number of antibiotics tested were selected for an antibacterial assay by three methods: Disc diffusion method, microatmosphere and dilution method. The obtained results demonstrated that theA. judaicaessential oil possessed an excellent inhibitory effect against all of the tested strains. The most potent results were obtained against MRSA (Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus aureus),Staphylococcus aureusandBacillus subtilis(their MIC was 8.75 µg/ml). MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) values for essential oil against all tested strains were equal. According to GC‐MS analysis forty‐one constituents were identified, which represented 84.66 % of the total essential oil, being piperitone (73.4 %) the main compound. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward better understanding of postharvest deterioration: biochemical changes in stored cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots:
Authors: Uarrota Virgílio Gavicho , Nunes Eduardo da Costa , Peruch Luiz Augusto Martins , Neubert Enilto de Oliveira , Coelho Bianca , Moresco Rodolfo , Domínguez Moralba Garcia , Sánchez Teresa , Meléndez Jorge Luis Luna , Dufour Dominique , Ceballos Hernan , Becerra Lopez‐Lavalle Luis Augusto , Hershey Clair , Rocha Miguel , Maraschin Marcelo 
Published: October 2015

AbstractFood losses can occur during production, postharvest, and processing stages in the supply chain. With the onset of worldwide food shortages, interest in reducing postharvest losses in cassava has been increasing. In this research, the main goal was to evaluate biochemical changes and identify the metabolites involved in the deterioration of cassava roots. We found that high levels of ascorbic acid (AsA), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), dry matter, and proteins are correlated with overall lower rates of deterioration. On the other hand, soluble sugars such as glucose and fructose, as well as organic acids, mainly, succinic acid, seem to be upregulated during storage and may play a role in the deterioration of cassava roots. Cultivar Branco (BRA) was most resilient to postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD), while Oriental (ORI) was the most susceptible. Our findings suggest that PPO, AsA, and proteins may play a distinct role in PPD delay.
The medial prefrontal cortex—lateral entorhinal cortex circuit is essential for episodic‐like memory and associative object‐recognition
Authors: Chao Owen Y. , Huston Joseph P. , Li Jay‐Shake , Wang An‐Li , de Souza Silva Maria A. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTThe prefrontal cortex directly projects to the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC), an important substrate for engaging item‐associated information and relaying the information to the hippocampus. Here we ask to what extent the communication between the prefrontal cortex and LEC is critically involved in the processing of episodic‐like memory. We applied a disconnection procedure to test whether the interaction between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and LEC is essential for the expression of recognition memory. It was found that male rats that received unilateral NMDA lesions of the mPFC and LEC in the same hemisphere, exhibited intact episodic‐like (what‐where‐when) and object‐recognition memories. When these lesions were placed in the opposite hemispheres (disconnection), episodic‐like and associative memories for object identity, location and context were impaired. However, the disconnection did not impair the components of episodic memory, namely memory for novel object (what), object place (where) and temporal order (when), per se. Thus, the present findings suggest that the mPFC and LEC are a critical part of a neural circuit that underlies episodic‐like and associative object‐recognition memory. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wide‐area estimates of evapotranspiration by red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and associated vegetation in the Murray–Darling River Basin, Australia
Authors: Nagler Pamela L. , Doody Tanya M. , Glenn Edward P. , Jarchow Christopher J. , Barreto‐Muñoz Armando , Didan Kamel 
Published: October 2015

AbstractFloodplain red gum forests (Eucalyptus camaldulensis plus associated grasses, reeds and sedges) are sites of high biodiversity in otherwise arid regions of southeastern Australia. They depend on periodic floods from rivers, but dams and diversions have reduced flood frequencies and volumes, leading to deterioration of trees and associated biota. There is a need to determine their water requirements so environmental flows can be administered to maintain or restore the forests. Their water requirements include the frequency and extent of overbank flooding, which recharges the floodplain soils with water, as well as the actual amount of water consumed in evapotranspiration (ET). We estimated the flooding requirements and ET for a 38 134 ha area of red gum forest fed by the Murrumbidgee River in Yanga National Park, New South Wales. ET was estimated by three methods: sap flux sensors placed in individual trees; a remote sensing method based on the Enhanced Vegetation Index from MODIS satellite imagery and a water balance method based on differences between river flows into and out of the forest. The methods gave comparable estimates yet covered different spatial and temporal scales. We estimated flood frequency and volume requirements by comparing Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values from Landsat images with flood history from 1995 to 2014, which included both wet periods and dry periods. ET during wet years is about 50% of potential ET but is much less in dry years because of the trees' ability to control stomatal conductance. Based on our analyses plus other studies, red gum trees at this location require environmental flows of 2000 GL yr−1 every other year, with peak flows of 20 000 ML d−1, to produce flooding sufficient to keep them in good condition. However, only about 120–200 GL yr−1 of river water is consumed in ET, with the remainder flowing out of the forest where it enters the Murray River system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Novel β‐Lactam Derivatives Bearing Quinoline Moiety via [2 + 2] Cycloaddition
Authors: Lin Hui , Yang Peng , Fei Tinghong , Liu Fangming 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA series of new β‐lactam derivatives 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i, 4j, 4k, 4l were synthesized from [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of imines containing quinoline moiety 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f with ketene generated in situ from chloroacetyl chloride in dry Et3N. The structures of the prepared compounds were characterized by IR, MS, 1H NMR, and elemental analysis. In addition, the structure of (4i) was determined by single crystal X‐ray crystallography.
Test‐retest reproducibility of neurochemical profiles with short‐echo, single‐voxel MR spectroscopy at 3T and 7T
Authors: Terpstra Melissa , Cheong Ian , Lyu Tianmeng , Deelchand Dinesh K. , Emir Uzay E. , Bednařík Petr , Eberly Lynn E. , Öz Gülin 
Published: October 2015

PurposeTo determine the test‐retest reproducibility of neurochemical concentrations obtained with a highly optimized, short‐echo, single‐voxel proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) pulse sequence at 3T and 7T using state‐of‐the‐art hardware.MethodsA semi‐LASER sequence (echo time = 26–28 ms) was used to acquire spectra from the posterior cingulate and cerebellum at 3T and 7T from six healthy volunteers who were scanned four times weekly on both scanners. Spectra were quantified with LCModel.ResultsMore neurochemicals were quantified with mean Cramér‐Rao lower bounds (CRLBs) ≤20% at 7T than at 3T despite comparable frequency‐domain signal‐to‐noise ratio. Whereas CRLBs were lower at 7T (P < 0.05), between‐session coefficients of variance (CVs) were comparable at the two fields with 64 transients. Five metabolites were quantified with between‐session CVs ≤5% at both fields. Analysis of subspectra showed that a minimum achievable CV was reached with a lower number of transients at 7T for multiple metabolites and that between‐session CVs were lower at 7T than at 3T with fewer than 64 transients.ConclusionState‐of‐the‐art MRS methodology allows excellent reproducibility for many metabolites with 5‐min data averaging on clinical 3T hardware. Sensitivity and resolution advantages at 7T are important for weakly represented metabolites, short acquisitions, and small volumes of interest. Magn Reson Med 76:1083–1091, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A robust sensor covering and communication problem
Authors: Romich Andrew , Lan Guanghui , Smith J. Cole 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe consider the problem of placing sensors across some area of interest. The sensors must be placed so that they cover a fixed set of targets in the region, and should be deployed in a manner that allows sensors to communicate with one another. In particular, there exists a measure of communication effectiveness for each sensor pair, which is determined by a concave function of distance between the sensors. Complicating the sensor location problem are uncertainties related to sensor placement, for example, as caused by drifting due to air or water currents to which the sensors may be subjected. Our problem thus seeks to maximize a metric regarding intrasensor communication effectiveness, subject to the condition that all targets must be covered by some sensor, where sensor drift occurs according to a robust (worst‐case) mechanism. We formulate an approximation approach and develop a cutting‐plane algorithm to solve this problem, comparing the effectiveness of two different classes of inequalities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 582–594, 2015
The geometric mean of two matrices from a computational viewpoint
Authors: Iannazzo Bruno 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThe geometric mean of two matrices is considered from a computational viewpoint. Several numerical algorithms based on different properties and representations of the geometric mean are discussed and analyzed. It is shown that most of the algorithms can be classified in terms of the rational approximations of the inverse square root function. A review of relevant applications is given. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isocaloric fructose restriction and metabolic improvement in children with obesity and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Lustig Robert H. , Mulligan Kathleen , Noworolski Susan M. , Tai Viva W. , Wen Michael J. , Erkin‐Cakmak Ayca , Gugliucci Alejandro , Schwarz Jean‐Marc 
Published: October 2015

ObjectiveDietary fructose is implicated in metabolic syndrome, but intervention studies are confounded by positive caloric balance, changes in adiposity, or artifactually high amounts. This study determined whether isocaloric substitution of starch for sugar would improve metabolic parameters in Latino (n = 27) and African‐American (n = 16) children with obesity and metabolic syndrome.MethodsParticipants consumed a diet for 9 days to deliver comparable percentages of protein, fat, and carbohydrate as their self‐reported diet; however, dietary sugar was reduced from 28% to 10% and substituted with starch. Participants recorded daily weights, with calories adjusted for weight maintenance. Participants underwent dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and oral glucose tolerance testing on Days 0 and 10. Biochemical analyses were controlled for weight change by repeated measures ANCOVA.ResultsReductions in diastolic blood pressure (−5 mmHg;P = 0.002), lactate (−0.3 mmol/L;P < 0.001), triglyceride, and LDL‐cholesterol (−46% and −0.3 mmol/L;P < 0.001) were noted. Glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia improved (P < 0.001). Weight reduced by 0.9 ± 0.2 kg (P < 0.001) and fat‐free mass by 0.6 kg (P = 0.04).Post hocsensitivity analysis demonstrates that results in the subcohort that did not lose weight (n = 10) were directionally consistent.ConclusionsIsocaloric fructose restriction improved surrogate metabolic parameters in children with obesity and metabolic syndrome irrespective of weight change.
PDLIM2 suppression efficiently reduces tumor growth and invasiveness of human castration‐resistant prostate cancer‐like cells
Authors: Kang Minyong , Lee Kyoung‐Hwa , Lee Hye Sun , Park Yong Hyun , Jeong Chang Wook , Ku Ja Hyeon , Kim Hyeon Hoe , Kwak Cheol 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundAlthough PDLIM2 gene may have a context‐dependent role in various human malignancies and can be a potential therapeutic target, only a limited number of in vitro studies addressed the molecular functions of PDLIM2 in prostate cancer. Here, we aimed to explore the role of PDLIM2 and the effect of the PDLIM2 gene suppression on oncogenic phenotypes of human castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)‐like cells.MethodsWe used human CRPC‐like cell lines (PC3, DU145, and C4‐2B) for our experiments. Transcription levels of PDLIM2 and relevant genes were measured by real time‐PCR and protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Cell viability, proliferation, clonogenic growth, and tumor sphere formation were examined after a specific inhibition of PDLIM2 using RNA interference. Flow cytometry was used to examine apoptotic cell death and cell cycle disturbances. Wound healing and transwell migration assays were performed to investigate the invasion capabilities of CRPC‐like cells. Additionally, key oncogenic signaling pathways were examined using western blot. Lastly, we evaluated the in vivo efficacy of PDLIM2 suppression on tumor growth of human CRPC xenografts in mice.ResultsWe observed a significant enhancement of PDLIM2 expression in human CRPC‐like cell lines, while a specific inhibition of PDLIM2 reduced cell viability and proliferation due to apoptotic cell death. Conversely, PDLIM2 overexpression significantly reduced cell proliferation compared to the negative control in androgen‐sensitive LNCaP cells. Moreover, PDLIM2 suppression led to a decrease of clonogenic growth and tumor sphere formation in three‐dimensional cultures with the G2/M cell cycle arrest in human CRPC‐like cells. PDLIM2 inhibition also attenuated cellular migration and invasion capabilities of human CRPC‐like cells, and reduced the expression of mesenchymal marker. Among several oncogenic signaling pathways, only the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade was decreased by PDLIM2 inhibition and reciprocally, ERK inhibition down‐regulated PDLIM2 expression. Importantly, PDLIM2 inhibition remarkably compromised tumor growth in a human CRPC xenograft model.ConclusionIn summary, the suppression of PDLIM2 significantly reduced such oncogenic phenotypes as proliferation, clonogenicity, invasiveness, and tumor cell growth in human CRPC‐like cells both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that PDLIM2 may be considered a novel therapeutic target gene for treating human CRPC. Prostate 76:273–285, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electronic structure and transport properties of filled skutterudites by first principles
Authors: Hammerschmidt Lukas , Paulus Beate 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe skutterudite is a promising thermoelectric material with favorable electronic transport properties. Filling of the voids of skutterudites bears the possibility to reduce the thermal conductivity often without deteriorating much the good electronic transport properties. In this work, we present a systematic comparison of with Y = Ga, In, Tl by first principles. We perform this analysis by computing the lattice structure, the electronic structure and the electronic transport properties and by comparing to experimental values. Our results indicate that while In and Tl occupy the vacant 2a Wyckoff positions, Ga tends to substitute Sb atoms. We show that the gradual filling leads to a gradual n‐type doping as well as a gradual change in the shape of the electronic band structure. Most of the change in the electronic structure is due to the increasing lattice parameter. However, for filling fractions that exceed the rigid band structure model becomes increasingly inaccurate. This indicates an additional interaction of the rings with the filling elements. The latter is reflected in the atom projected band structure computations.
Visible range plasmonic effect produced by aluminium nanoparticles embedded in amorphous silicon
Authors: Fantoni Alessandro , Fernandes Miguel , Vygranenko Yury , Louro Paula , Vieira Manuela 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe present results, obtained by means of an analytic study and a numerical simulation, about the resonant condition necessary to produce a Localized Surface Plasmonic Resonance (LSPR) effect at the surface of metal nanospheres embedded in an amorphous silicon matrix. The study is based on a Lorentz dispersive model for a‐Si:H permittivity and a Drude model for the metals. Considering the absorption spectra of a‐Si:H, the best choice for the metal nanoparticles appears to be aluminium, indium or magnesium. No difference has been observed when considering a‐SiC:H. Finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulation of an Al nanosphere embedded into an amorphous silicon matrix shows an increased scattering radius and the presence of LSPR induced by the metal/semiconductor interaction under green light (560 nm) illumination.Further results include the effect of the nanoparticles shape (nano‐ellipsoids) in controlling the wavelength suitable to produce LSPR. It has been shown that is possible to produce LSPR in the red part of the visible spectrum (the most critical for a‐Si:H solar cells applications in terms of light absorption enhancement) with aluminium nano‐ellipsoids. As an additional results we may conclude that the double Lorentz‐Lorenz model for the optical functions of a‐Si:H is numerically stable in 3D simulations and can be used safely in the FDTD algorithm. A further simulation study is directed to determine an optimal spatial distribution of Al nanoparticles, with variable shapes, capable to enhance light absorption in the red part of the visible spectrum, exploiting light trapping and plasmonic effects. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Static response and stiction analysis of MEMS micromembranes for optical applications
Authors: Pustan Marius , Dudescu Cristian , Birleanu Corina 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe scope of this paper is to investigate the designing, manufacturing and testing of MEMS micromembranes with high mobility. The implementation field of micromembranes is in the optical applications. The mobility of MEMS membranes is provided by the geometry of hinges and their reliability depends on geometrical dimensions and the material behavior. Deformation in different planes of a micromembrane gives the rise to the occurrence of complex efforts that can reduce the operation time especially if one takes into account that, in optical applications, an additional stress state is also given by the thermal effects. Experimental investigations to determine the response of the micromembranes fabricated from gold and with different geometric dimensions are performed by atomic force microscope and nanoindentation. The study of the micromembranes behavior under a mechanical force and different thermal gradients are performed. The temperature is increases from 20 °C to 100 °C. The thermal effect on bending stiffness is observed. Tribological investigations are orientated to adhesion force measurement when the micromembrane is directly deflected to substrate. The results in terms of stiffness agreed with numerical simulation. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)