bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of an Enzymatic Method for Total Cholesterol Analysis Using Whole Blood Spot
Authors: Corso Gaetano , Papagni Francesco , Gelzo Monica , Gallo Monica , Barone Rosalba , Graf Maria , Scarpato Nicola , Dello Russo Antonio 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundHigh serum cholesterol represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study aims to quantify total cholesterol in dried blood spot (DBS) by direct enzymatic method.MethodsThree hundred seventeen blood samples with serum cholesterol level ranging from 81 to 337 mg/dl were collected. DBS were manually prepared, cholesterol was extracted using methanol and analyzed by a manual enzymatic method. DBS cholesterol method was validated for imprecision and extraction efficacy. DBS cholesterol values were correlated (training test) with serum values measured by automated enzymatic method (reference method). The obtained correlation was used for predicting serum cholesterol from DBS analysis of a new sample group (validation test, n = 58).ResultsWithin‐day and between‐day coefficient of variation (CV%) were lower than 7.69 and 6.32, respectively. Residual cholesterol in DBS after extraction was 16%. DBS cholesterol and serum cholesterol showed a linear correlation (slope = 0.5217; r = 0.9139) and a bias of −28%. Furthermore, DBS cholesterol values of validation test (n = 58), converted using the training test correlation, were not statistically different compared to the corresponding plasma values (P = 0.9487), and the comparison by Passing and Bablok showed a linear regression with a slope of 1.068 (r = 0.611) and a bias of −0.22%.ConclusionsThe results show that this enzymatic method is suitable to analyze cholesterol in DBS and it could be automated and used for population screening of total blood cholesterol.
Real‐time in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy of melanin‐containing cells: A promising diagnostic intervention
Authors: Xiang Wenzhong , Song Xiuzu , Peng Jianzhong , Xu Aie , Bi Zhigang 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTThe use of noninvasive imaging techniques to evaluate different types of skin lesions is increasing popular. In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a new method for high resolution non‐invasive imaging of intact skin in situ and in vivo. Although many studies have investigated melanin‐containing cells in lesions by in vivo CLSM, few studies have systematically characterized melanin‐containing cells based on their morphology, size, arrangement, density, borders, and brightness. In this study, the characteristics of melanin‐containing cells were further investigated by in vivo CLSM. A total of 130 lesions, including common nevi, giant congenital pigmented nevi, vitiligo, melasma, melanoma, and chronic eczema, were imaged by in vivo CLSM. This research helps dermatologists understand the characteristics of melanin‐containing cells and facilitate the clinical application of melanin‐containing cells in the investigation of dermatological disease. In summary, melanin‐containing cells include keratinocytes, melanocytes, macrophages, and melanocytic skin tumor cells. Our study presents the CLSM characteristics of melanin‐containing cells to potentially facilitate in vivo diagnosis based on shape, size, arrangement, density, borders, and brightness. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:1121–1127, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High resolution sampling of methane transport in the Columbia River near‐field plume: Implications for sources and sinks in a river‐dominated estuary
Authors: Pfeiffer‐Herbert A. S. , Prahl F. G. , Hales B. , Lerczak J. A. , Pierce S. D. , Levine M. D. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractExamining fluxes of biogeochemical constituents at the mouth of an estuary is necessary for assessing the modification of terrigenous‐source materials in the estuary prior to reaching the ocean. In many rivers and estuaries, including the Columbia River estuary (CRE), methane is highly enriched with respect to oceanic concentrations and the equilibrium solubility of the atmospheric gas. We developed a methane budget for the CRE to examine the potential for significant modification of the estuarine methane budget by lateral exchange with peripheral tide flats. We accomplished the challenging task of constraining the net transfer through the estuary‐ocean interface using novel instrumentation: a rapid methane analyzer combined with a membrane‐contactor interfaced with a pumped‐sampling undulating towed vehicle. Transport of riverine methane into the CRE was essentially balanced by losses due to flux to the atmosphere (42%), microbial oxidation in the water column (21%), and transport to the ocean (32%), suggesting limited net effect of lateral tide flat processes on the CRE methane budget. Estimated uncertainty bounds constrained lateral sink/source terms within −30% to +20% of the primary river input. This result contrasts with a number of prior studies of methane cycling in estuaries that reported dominant contributions from lateral sources and relatively minor export to the coastal ocean. The magnitude of lateral supply of methane is a useful indicator of the hydrologic source potential of other related signals of organic matter remineralization from anoxic or suboxic settings in the estuary.
The Effects of Changing Test‐Based Policies for Reclassifying English Learners
Authors: Robinson‐Cimpian Joseph P. , Thompson Karen D. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWhen students labeled English Learners (ELs) are reclassified as Fluent English Proficient, changes often occur in services and settings (e.g., changes in teachers, peers, and ancillary services). Policymakers play an important role in the reclassification process because they establish test‐based criteria that an EL must attain in order to become reclassified. If the criteria established by policymakers are incongruent with the instructional changes that result from reclassification, then services and settings may be denied to students who would otherwise benefit from them. In response to teachers’ and administrators’ concerns that some ELs who were reclassified were not succeeding without additional supports, California policymakers in 2006 to 2007 changed the reclassification criteria. In this paper, we examine the effects of changing these criteria using data on Latino/a students from the Los Angeles Unified School District, the U.S. district serving the largest number of ELs. Using “difference‐in‐regression‐discontinuities” approaches, we find consistent evidence that this policy change, which increased the difficulty of attaining the test‐based criteria for EL reclassification eligibility, had significant effects on high‐school students’ subsequent English language arts achievement (0.18 SDs) and graduation outcomes (11 percentage points). Specifically, when the criteria for reclassification were lower, students experienced negative effects of reclassification; but when the criteria were raised, students no longer experienced these negative effects. Highlighting the complex interplay between assessments, instruction, and policy, these findings demonstrate the important role policymakers play in the academic success of ELs and speak to policymaker considerations when implementing assessment and accountability systems.
Features and outcome of fetal cardiac aneurysms and diverticula: a single center experience in China
Authors: Zeng Shi , Zhou Qichang , Zhang Ming , Zhou Jiawei , Peng Qianghai 
Published: October 2015

AbstractObjectivesWe aimed to describe the prenatal features and clinical outcome of fetal cardiac aneurysms (CA) and cardiac diverticula (CD).MethodsRetrospective single center study reporting on antenatal findings and interventions and clinical outcome of fetuses with CA or CD are assessed in a ten year's period.ResultsThirteen CA and 16 CD identified, mostly located at the cardiac apex. The average size of the CA was significantly larger than that of the CD (223.2 ± 84.4 vs 80.6 ± 57.9 mm2, respectively; p < 0.05). The bulge longitudinal strain, systolic strain rate, and diastolic strain rate in CA were significantly lower compared with CD (respectively, −12.9 ± 3.7 vs −20.0 ± 5.4% for strain and −1.3 ± 0.4 vs −2.0 ± 0.5 s−1 for the systolic strain rate, 1.2 ± 0.4 vs 1.9 ± 0.4 s−1 for the diastolic strain rate; all p < 0.05). CA coincided more frequently with arrhythmia and CD more frequently with pericardial effusion (p < 0.05). Adverse outcomes were more likely in children with CA [83.3% (5/6) vs 8.3% (1/12), respectively, p < 0.01].ConclusionFetal cardiac aneurysms and diverticula are two distinct entities with different morphology and outcome. An isolated fetal CA has a less favourable outcome than fetal CD. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Styrene–dimethacrylate copolymerization kinetic modeling
Authors: Aguiar Leandro G 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA model for the copolymerization of styrene with dimethacrylate including the post‐gelation period, diffusion effects and cyclization reactions was developed. The numerical fractionation method, balance of sequences and pseudo‐homopolymerization hypothesis were used for such a purpose. Diffusion effects were taken into account through an exponential correlation between the termination rate coefficient and the monomer conversion. Average rate coefficients of cyclization and crosslinking reactions were fitted. The model was validated through literature data for the copolymerizations of styrene with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and styrene with tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The predictions were satisfactory in the range 1–20% of dimethacrylate and temperature at 95 °C. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence ofMEOBiPAcontent on the properties of novel photoluminescent thermosensitive hydrogels
Authors: Lee Wen‐Fu , Liu Pei‐Ying 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn order to establish a dual functional hydrogel, a special monomer, methacryloyloxy‐ethylene‐oxy‐carbonyl bis[4‐(phenyl‐isopropyl)phenyl]amine (MEOBiPA), was prepared from bis[4‐(phenyl‐isopropyl)phenyl]‐4‐cyanophenyl amine and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Subsequently, a series of thermosensitive hydrogels was obtained through copolymerization ofN‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) withMEOBiPAbyUVirradiation (named theNMseries). The effect ofMEOBiPAcontent on the swelling behavior, mechanical properties and drug release behavior of the hydrogels was further investigated. Results showed that the swelling ratios of theNMcopolymeric hydrogels decreased from 4.73 to 1.74 g g−1when theMEOBiPAcontent in the hydrogel increased from 0.1 to 0.9 mol%. Both gel strength and crosslinking density of theNMhydrogels increased with increasingMEOBiPA. Conversely, the thermosensitive behavior ofNMhydrogels significantly decreased upon increase ofMEOBiPAcontent. Likewise, the caffeine release ratio also decreased from 70% to 25%. Notably, the intensity of photoluminescence increased with increasingMEOBiPAcontent in the hydrogels. Further, the corresponding copolymers of the hydrogels were prepared using free radical polymerization. TheUVabsorbance and photoluminescent behavior of theMEOBiPA,NIPAAm/MEOBiPAcopolymeric hydrogels and their corresponding copolymers in different polar solvents were also investigated. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Chemosensory proteins involved in host recognition in the stored‐food mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae
Authors: Qu Shao‐Xuan , Ma Lin , Li Hui‐Ping , Song Jin‐Di , Hong Xiao‐Yue 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDChemosensory proteins (CSPs) have been proposed to transport a range of aliphatic compounds, esters and other long‐chain compounds. A large number of CSPs from different gene subfamilies have been identified and annotated in arthropods; however, the CSP genes in mites remain unknown. Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank is an important stored‐product and house‐dust pest.RESULTSBy analysing the transcriptome, two putative CSPs were identified, namely TputCSP1 and TputCSP2 (14.9 kDa and 12.1 kDa respectively). The phylogenetic tree showed that the two TputCSPs shared most homology with CSPs in Ixodes scapularis and partially with Diptera, including Anopheles gambiae, Drosophila melanogaster, D. pseudoobscura, D. simulans, Delia antiqua and Culex quinquefasciatus. Additionally, they had similar secondary structure. The 3D models revealed that there are six α‐helices enclosing the hydrophobic ligand binding pocket. Based on a docking study, we found that three ligands, (−)‐alloaromadendrene, 2‐methylnaphthalene and cyclopentadecane, had high binding affinities for TputCSP1. Moreover, the TputCSP2 protein had a higher inhibition constant with different affinities to all test ligands from host volatile substances.CONCLUSIONThe two CSPs have distinct physiological functions. TputCSP1 may mediate host recognition. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Cryptanalysis of a robust key agreement based on public key authentication
Authors: Toorani Mohsen 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper considers security analysis of the YAK, a public key‐based authenticated key agreement protocol. The YAK protocol is a variant of the two‐pass HMQV protocol but uses zero‐knowledge proofs for proving knowledge of ephemeral values. In this paper, we show that the YAK protocol lacks joint key control and perfect forward secrecy attributes and is vulnerable to some attacks including unknown key‐share and key‐replication attacks. This invalidates the semantic security of the protocol in several security models. There are also other considerations regarding the impersonation and small subgroup attacks. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light‐weight group signatures with time‐bound membership
Authors: Malina Lukas , Hajny Jan , Zeman Vaclav 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis paper presents a novel privacy‐preserving cryptographic protocol for secure many‐to‐one communication systems, for example, data collection systems, data gathering systems, vehicular networks, smart‐grids, and so on. The proposed solution provides message authenticity, integrity, and non‐repudiation, while message senders are anonymous and untraceable. The protocol is based on group signatures with a time‐bound membership. The protocol is designed to achieve efficiency on the client side where restricted devices are usually employed. On the other hand, the verification of many messages is efficient as well. Common group signature schemes offer the verification phase that needs some pairing operations and employs a long revocation list. Generally, the revocation list grows until scheme parameters and keys are recomputed. However, the reinitialization of all keys and parameters is not practical in large‐scale communication systems. By applying the optimization techniques on the group signature scheme, the verification phase becomes more efficient, and the expiration of group member secret keys naturally reduces the length of a revocation list. In addition to the full cryptographic description, we implement the proposed protocol and outline the performance results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of Two 3D Main Group Coordination Polymers Based on 2‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐4,5‐imidazole‐dicarboxylic Acid: Structures and Luminescent Properties
Authors: Zeng Ronghua , Liang Jinhui , Lin Lujing , Chen Xiaodian , Wang Tingting , Zheng Sheng‐Run , He Daohang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractTwo main group coordination polymers based on 2‐(2‐pyridyl)‐4,5‐imidazole‐dicarboxylic acid (H3oPyIDC), namely [Ba(H2oPyIDC)2(H2O)]n (1) and [Pb2(HoPyIDC)2]n (2) are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. In compound 1, the Ba2+ cations and HoPyIDC2– anions are connected to a 1D chain, and the 1D chains are further interconnected by Ba–O bonds, forming a 3D 3‐connected framework. In compound 2, a 2D layer with (4,4) topology is formed by PbII ions and HoPyIDC2– anions. The 2D layer are pillared by HoPyIDC2–, yielding a 3D (3,4)‐connected framework. The thermogravimetric analyses and luminescence properties of compounds 1 and 2 are also investigated.
Characterisation of cannabinoid composition in a diverse Cannabis
sativa L. germplasm collection
Authors: Welling Matthew T. , Liu Lei , Shapter Tim , Raymond Carolyn A. , King Graham J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe ability to characterise cannabinoid chemical phenotype (chemotype) accurately is important for the development of Cannabissativa L. cultivars specific for pharmacological, hemp fibre, or seed end use. Although a number of chemotyping and genotyping methods have previously been developed to predict and characterise cannabinoid composition, only a subset of the gene pool has been examined. A representative survey from a wide range of geographically and genetically diverse C. sativa accessions using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) cannabinoid profiling together with dominant and co-dominant DNA marker assays was performed. Overall variability of chemotype across the gene pool was found to be three-fold greater within heterozygote genotypes than previously reported. Interestingly, an individual plant of East Asian origin was found to exhibit a rare propyl alkyl cannabinoid homologue and a chemotype inconsistent with the predicted genotype. We propose that in order to carry out comprehensive screening of genetic resource collections and to identify chemotypic variants specific for end-use pharmacological applications, a strategy which adopts both cannabinoid profiling and the co-dominant DNA marker assay is required. Further research with consideration of propyl-alkyl-cannabinoid homologues should explore the relationship between chemotype and genotype in greater detail.
Predicting outcomes of emergency cerclage in women with cervical insufficiency using inflammatory markers in maternal blood and amniotic fluid
Authors: Jung Eun Young , Park Kyo Hoon , Lee Sung Youn , Ryu Aeli , Joo Jung Kyung , Park Jeong Woo 
Published: October 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo identify inflammatory markers in maternal blood and amniotic fluid that can predict outcomes of emergency cerclage in women with cervical insufficiency.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients at 18–24 weeks of pregnancy who underwent amniocentesis before receiving emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency between August 2004 and August 2013 at a university teaching hospital in South Korea. Total and differential white blood cell counts were measured during amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid was cultured and analyzed for the presence of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8. The primary outcome measure was spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy following cerclage placement.ResultsOf 37 patients, 18 (49%) experienced SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy. These patients were found to have significantly more advanced cervical dilatation at presentation, as well as higher mean neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) and higher IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels in amniotic fluid in comparison with those who did not experience SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy. In a multivariable analysis, a high NLR and high amniotic fluid IL‐8 levels showed a significant correlation with the occurrence of SPTD at less than 32 weeks of pregnancy (P = 0.032).ConclusionPre‐operative NLR and amniotic fluid IL‐8 levels may be important markers for predicting emergency cerclage outcomes in women with cervical insufficiency.
El arbitraje por pares en las publicaciones en educación: ¿cribado, sadismo o control de calidad?
Authors: Sánchez-Mendiola Melchor 
Published: October 2015

Para el ocupado médico de hospital público o privado, cuya estabilidad económica y profesional depende primordialmente del salario u honorarios que le genera su actividad clínica, el publicar algún artículo en una revista científica puede parecer algo esotérico que cuesta demasiado tiempo, trabajo y esfuerzo, con una significativa posibilidad de que el manuscrito sea rechazado por el editor o por esa misteriosa y a veces temible red de académicos, denominados «árbitros», que además tienen la nebulosa categoría de «pares».
Power to the People? The Impacts and Outcomes of Energy Consultations in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia
Authors: Martens Linsay , McNutt Kathleen , Rayner Jeremy 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLike other policy subsectors, power generation has been affected by the governance changes of the last two decades, including a shift to more collaborative state-society relations. Collaborative governance implies new kinds of public engagement designed to provide both input legitimacy, through the involvement of a broader range of actors in policy design, and output legitimacy, through enhanced feedback and policy learning. This paper compares the impact of “governance-driven engagement” in the power generation subsectors in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, arguing that engagement increased the complexity of the policy mix in the subsector without succeeding in providing better feedback and learning. The paper notes a recent trend towards more expert-driven and less collaborative processes, as both provinces struggled to rationalize and simplify power generation policy goals and instruments.
The Limitation on Sovereign Regulatory Autonomy and Internationalization of Investment Protection by Treaty: An African Perspective
Authors: Dagbanja Dominic N 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis article contextualizes the debate about the implications of the investment treaty regime for regulatory autonomy. It points out that, to understand why the investment treaty regime limits sovereign powers and to be able to reconstruct a regime to make it responsive to the needs of both foreign investors and host countries, it is necessary to revisit the history of investment protection by treaty and assess the terms of investment treaties in relation to that history. The article argues that investment protection by treaty was primarily aimed at protecting the private business interests of investors from the developed world who invested abroad. This overarching historical objective influenced the terms of investment treaties. This is manifested in the terms of classical investment treaties which provide for absolute rights for foreign investors. The article calls for the reconstruction of investment treaties to make room for public interest regulation.
Fictions of Speculation: Introduction
Authors: CARROLL HAMILTON , McCLANAHAN ANNIE 
Published: October 2015

There are plenty of texts in which one might not be surprised to find an alien invasion on only the second page, but The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report (2010) – the seven-hundred-page document produced by the Congressional Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission – is hardly one of them. The Inquiry Report opens by invoking the dizzying difficulty of its own task: from “millions of pages of documents,” the Inquiry Report begins by noting, its authors have attempted to understand events compared, just in the Inquiry Report's first two pages, to “mass delusion,” “a hurricane,” a “perfect storm,” a “train wreck,” and, finally, an “alien event.” This proliferation of metaphors suggests an encounter with a set of historical conditions whose magnitude and complexity render them recalcitrant to representation. What overwhelms the authors of the Inquiry Report is not simply the complexity – the length and breadth – of the story to be told, but the question of what sort of story it should be: if the crisis was described even by those who should have been in the know as “dramatic and mystifying,” how could one render it legible while at the same time doing justice to its singularity?