bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuromedin U: A Multifunctional Neuropeptide with Pleiotropic Roles
Authors: Martinez Vanesa G , O'Driscoll Lorraine 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDNeuromedin U (NmU) belongs to the neuromedin family, comprising a series of neuropeptides involved in the gut–brain axis and including neuromedins B and C (bombesin-like), K (neurokinin B), L (neurokinin A or neurotensin), N, S, and U.CONTENTAlthough initially isolated from porcine spinal cord on the basis of their ability to induce uterine smooth muscle contraction, these peptides have now been found to be expressed in several different tissues and have been ascribed numerous functions, from appetite regulation and energy balance control to muscle contraction and tumor progression. NmU has been detected in several species to date, particularly in mammals (pig, rat, rabbit, dog, guinea pig, human), but also in amphibian, avian, and fish species. The NmU sequence is highly conserved across different species, indicating that this peptide is ancient and plays an important biological role. Here, we summarize the main structural and functional characteristics of NmU and describe its many roles, highlighting the jack-of-all-trades nature of this neuropeptide.SUMMARYNmU involvement in key processes has outlined the possibility that this neuropeptide could be a novel target for the treatment of obesity and cancer, among other disorders. Although the potential for NmU as a therapeutic target is obvious, the multiple functions of this molecule should be taken into account when designing an approach to targeting NmU and/or its receptors.
Multiple Reaction Monitoring with Multistage Fragmentation (MRM3) Detection Enhances Selectivity for LC-MS/MS Analysis of Plasma Free Metanephrines
Authors: Wright Michael J , Thomas Rebecca L , Stanford Phoebe E , Horvath Andrea R 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND
LC-MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is a powerful tool for quantifying target analytes in complex matrices. However, the technique lacks selectivity when plasma free metanephrines are measured. We propose the use of multistage fragmentation (MRM3) to improve the analytical selectivity of plasma free metanephrine measurement.

METHODS
Metanephrines were extracted from plasma with weak cation exchange solid-phase extraction before separation by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. We quantified normetanephrine and metanephrine by either MRM or MRM3 transitions m/z 166→134→79 and m/z 180→149→121, respectively.

RESULTS
Over a 6-month period, approximately 1% (n = 21) of patient samples showed uncharacterized coeluting substances that interfered with the routine assay, resulting in an inability to report results. Quantification with MRM3 removed these interferences and enabled measurement of the target compounds. For patient samples unaffected by interferences, Deming regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between MRM3 and MRM methods of y = 1.00x − 0.00 nmol/L for normetanephrine and y = 0.99x + 0.03 nmol/L for metanephrine. Between the MRM3 method and the median of all LC-MS/MS laboratories enrolled in a quality assurance program, the correlations were y = 0.97x + 0.03 nmol/L for normetanephrine and y = 1.03x − 0.04 nmol/L for metanephrine. Imprecision for the MRM3 method was 6.2%–7.0% for normetanephrine and 6.1%–9.9% for metanephrine (n = 10). The lower limits of quantification for the MRM3 method were 0.20 nmol/L for normetanephrine and 0.16 nmol/L for metanephrine.

CONCLUSIONS
The use of MRM3 technology improves the analytical selectivity of plasma free metanephrine quantification by LC-MS/MS while demonstrating sufficient analytical sensitivity and imprecision.
Öffentliche Bibliothek als Belebungsort der lokalen Gesellschaft: am Beispiel der Erfahrungen der Woiwodschaftsbibliothek Opole
Authors: Chrobak Tadeusz 
Published: January 2015

Zusammenfassung:
Im vorliegenden Artikel werden die vielfältigen Aktivitäten der Öffentlichen Woiwodschaftsibliothek Opole im Bereich Öffentlichkeits- und Veranstaltungsarbeit dargestellt. Die verschiedenen Angebote sind auf unterschiedliche Zielgruppen wie z. B. Kinder, ältere Mitbürger und ihre Bedürfnisse zugeschnitten. Die Bibliothek arbeitet in diesem Bereich mit vielen Kooperationspartnern zusammen, um die Kultur- und Bildungsarbeit in der Region zu bereichern.
Tagungsbericht: „4. Tag der Bestandserhaltung“ in Berlin und Brandenburg am 6. Oktober 2014
Authors: Balihar Elisabeth , Jahn Kerstin 
Published: January 2015

Zusammenfassung:
Am 6. Oktober 2014 fand im Hotel „Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus“ in Berlin-Mitte der „4. Tag der Bestandserhaltung“ statt. Die Veranstaltung wurde vom Kompetenzzentrum Bestandserhaltung für Archive und Bibliotheken in Berlin und Brandenburg organisiert. In diesem Tagungsbericht wird ein kurzer Abriss über die gehaltenen Vorträge, Präsentationen und Führungen gegeben. Themen waren u. a. die von der Koordinierungsstelle für die Erhaltung schriftlichen Kulturguts (KEK) geförderten Modellprojekte 2013 aus der Region, das von „digis“ geförderte Projekt zur Digitalisierung der Glasplattensammlung des Landesarchivs Berlin, das Integrated Pest Management (IPM) zur Prävention von Schädlingsbefall, das Biozidprojekt der Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (SPK), verschiedene Massenentsäuerungsverfahren sowie die am Nachmittag durchgeführten Führungen in drei Einrichtungen.
Crystallographic and structural characterization of heterometallic platinum clusters. Part IX. Heterooligonuclear Pt clusters
Authors: Melník Milan , Mikuš Peter , Holloway Clive E. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
This review classifies and analyzes over thirty
heterooligonuclear platinum clusters with a wide variety
of metal frameworks, from twelve to forty-four. There are
thirteen heterometals (Ge, Sn, Hg, W, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd,
Os, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au) which are the partners of platinum.
The clusters mostly crystallize in monoclinic (36,4%)
and triclinic (30,3%) crystal classes. Their structures
are complex, with platinum most commonly preferring
interstitial sites, such as the centroids of icosahedrons.
There are examples of distortion isomerism. The most
common ligands are CO and PPh3, and it is interesting that
the mean Pt-CO and M-CO bond distances are identical
at 1.84 Å. In contrast, the mean Pt-μCO and M-μCO
are of values of 2.02 and 1.97 Å, respectively, while the
Pt-PPh3 and M-PPh3 bond distances are 2.30 and 2.28 Å,
respectively. The shortest Pt-Pt, Pt-M (non-transition) and
Pt-M (transition) bond distances are 2.559(2) Å, 2.412(2) Å
(M = Ge) and 2.510(2) Å (M = Ni).
Characteristic classes of symmetric products of complex quasi-projective varieties
Authors: Cappell Sylvain E. , Maxim Laurentiu , Schürmann Jörg , Shaneson Julius L. , Yokura Shoji 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We prove generating series formulae for suitable twisted characteristic classes of symmetric products of a singular complex quasi-projective variety. More concretely, we study homology Hirzebruch classes for motivic coefficients, as well as for complexes of mixed Hodge modules. As a special case, we obtain a generating series formula for the (intersection) homology Hirzebruch classes of symmetric products. In some cases, the latter yields a similar formula for twisted homology L-classes generalizing results of Hirzebruch–Zagier and Moonen. Our methods also apply to the study of Todd classes of (complexes of) coherent sheaves, as well as Chern classes of (complexes of) constructible sheaves, generalizing to arbitrary coefficients results of Moonen and respectively Ohmoto.
Biodegradable silk fibroin/chitosan blend microparticles prepared by emulsification-diffusion method
Authors: Cheerarot Onanong , Baimark Yodthong 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn this study, biodegradable microparticles of silk fibroin (SF)/chitosan (CS) blends with SF/CS blend ratios of 1:0, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 0:1 (w/w) were prepared using the water-in-oil emulsification-diffusion method without any surfactants. An aqueous SF/CS blend solution and ethyl acetate were used as the water and oil phases, respectively. The plain SF had an irregular shape, while the CS microparticles were spherical. The blend microparticles were spherical in shape with a rough surface. Average microparticle sizes were in the range of 73–80 μm. The microparticle matrices had a sponge-like morphology. Conformational changes in the SF component, from random coil to the β-sheet form, were observed in the FTIR data. The dissolution of the blend microparticles was lower than those of the plain SF and CS microparticles. Microparticle density steadily increased and porosity slightly decreased as the amount of CS in the blend increased.
Living radical polymerization of polyacrylamide with submicrometer size by dispersion polymerization
Authors: Wang Guo-Xiang , Lu Mang , Hou Zhao-Hui , Liu Li-Chao , Liang En-Xiang , Wu Hu 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAtom transfer radical dispersion polymerization of acrylamide was successfully performed in ethyl acetate/ethanol with 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile/FeCl2/succinic acid as the initiating system. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as the stabilizer. The “living” characteristics of the polymerization were studied. A linear relationship of ln([M]0/[M]) vs. polymerization time was obtained. Furthermore, the molecular weight increased with monomer conversion and agreed well with the theoretical values with a narrow molecular weight distribution (<1.5). Size-controlled submicrometer polyacrylamide (PAM) was obtained and characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The chemical structure of the obtained PAM was characterized by 1H NMR. The living characteristics were confirmed by chain extension experiment.
More Equal and Poorer, or Richer but More Unequal?
Authors: Greselin Francesca 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
After a hundred years of contributions, the debate about how to measure inequality is still open. We provide a brief review of the literature, showing that inequality has been assessed through a relative approach, from Gini's pioneering article [Atti del Reale Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti 73 (1914), no. 2, 1203–1248].
Analyzing historical census data for Flint and other American cities, we observe how mean values of income in population subgroups capture the shape of the distributions of income and their comparisons state the overall situation of inequality. Namely, we adopted the approach introduced in [Statistica & Applicazioni
5 (2007), no. 1, 3–27] to assess inequality.
Our first findings show that prosperity is distributed unevenly across America's metropolitan areas. More interestingly, unbalanced wealth can be related to other concomitant facts [The New Geography of Jobs, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, 2012], such as population growth, income growth, unemployment rates and women participation to the labor force. Gaps between more and less educated areas were modest 40 years ago, but they have become quite large nowadays [Cities and skills, technical report, National Bureau of
Economic Research, 1994].
Study on the preparation and characterization of high-dispersibility nanosilica
Authors: Guo Yu , Wang Yan-qing , Wang Zhong-ming , Shen Cheng-jin 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis article reports on experiments aimed at modifying nanosilica powder by adding a silane coupling agent, KH570, to achieve high dispersibility and strengthen the compatibility and interface bonding between it and the organic phases. Experiments were first done to prepare the common nanosilica powder, dried at 120°C for 4 h in a drying oven; second, an ethanol/water solution (volume ratio 11:1, total volume not more than two-thirds of the capacity of the flask) was blended in a three-necked flask with a reflux condenser and magnetic stirring; third, appropriate amount of dried nanosilica powder and appropriate mass fraction ratio of the silane coupling agent KH570 were added into the ethanol/water solution, and the pH of the mixture was adjusted to about 4–5 by adding acetic acid solution; fourth, the three-necked flask was placed in a water bath, and the modification reaction of the above mixing solution was sustained for an appropriate time in the appropriate temperature with magnetic stirring; fifth, the above mixing solution was separated by using a centrifuge (10,000 rpm) for 3 min, and the precipitate at the bottom of the flask was obtained after the supernatant was poured out; sixth, the precipitate was dried at 120°C for 48 h in a drying oven after it was washed with acetone several times, finally yielding the high-dispersibility nanosilica powder. The orthogonal test method was adopted to optimize three key test parameters: mass fraction ratio of the silane coupling agent KH570, modification reaction temperature, and modification reaction time. The dispersion effect of the high-dispersibility nanosilica powder was characterized by using infrared, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic analyses from different views. The results revealed that the best dispersibility effect was achieved when the mass fraction ratio of the silane coupling agent KH570 was 3%, the modification reaction temperature was 80°C, and the modification reaction time was 2 h. Furthermore, the modification reaction resulted in chemical bonding, but not simple physical adsorption, owing to the presence of organic bond groups in the nanosilica modified by the silane coupling agent. The crystal structure of the nanosilica powder remained amorphous after the modification reaction.
Solvent manipulation of N-methylacetamide inclusion compounds with a xanthenol host
Authors: Sayed Amina , Jacobs Ayesha , Taljaard Jana H. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Three crystal structures of N-methylacetamide (NMA) with the xanthenol host 9-(4-methoxyphenyl)-9H-xanthen-9-ol (H) are reported. The crystal structures were obtained by using different solvent compositions. The host compound was dissolved in equimolar mixtures of N-methylacetamide/N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylacetamide/1,4-dioxane and N-methylacetamide/aniline which yielded H·NMA, H·2NMA and 2H·2NMA, respectively; H·NMA and 2H·2NMA are polymorphs. Thus, compounds with 1:1 and 1:2 host:guest ratios were obtained. H·NMA solved in the monoclinic space group P21/n whereas both H·2NMA and 2H·2NMA were solved in the triclinic space group

P

1
¯

.

$P\bar 1.$

For all structures each host molecule is hydrogen bonded to one NMA molecule via (Host)-OH···O-(NMA) linkages. The NMA guests occupy channels and are connected via N–H···O hydrogen bonds forming chains. The thermal stabilities of the compounds were determined using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry which indicated that 2H·2NMA was the least stable with H·2NMA being the most stable.
Behavior of Reinforced Stone Dust Walls Under Strip Loading
Authors: Kandolkar Sumitra S. , Mandal J. N. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Stone dust, a by-product of metal aggregate quarries, is utilized successfully as an alternative material for sand in concrete, as road material, and in bearing-capacity problems. An attempt has been made in this study to utilize stone dust as backfill material. A series of tests were performed on laboratory models of reinforced stone dust walls under strip loading. Manually prepared grids of natural material bamboo and commercially available steel grids were used as reinforcement. Bamboo grids and steel grids were used as strips, concrete segmental blocks were used as facia, and the behavior of walls was studied under strip loading by varying lengths of reinforcement and vertical spacing between the reinforcement layers. Bamboo grids in strip form are good enough to resist high failure surcharge pressures, and the results are comparable with the steel grid–reinforced stone dust walls. Geofoam blocks having a density of 0.12 kN/m3and thicknesses of 5 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm were placed behind the segmental concrete facia blocks to study their effect on lateral displacement of facia and surcharge at failure. The results show a good trend in reducing the facia displacements and increasing the surcharge at failure as the thickness of the geofoam blocks placed behind each facia unit is increased. Finite-element simulation of the model tests was carried out using commercially available Plaxis 2D software. Stone dust was modeled as linear elastic perfectly plastic material with Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria, and bamboo and steel grids were modeled as elastic material. The finite-element simulation results for failure patterns, horizontal displacement of facia, and settlement of the backfill showed reasonable agreement with the experimental results.
Polyurethane Grouted Gravel Type Geomaterials—A Model Study on Relations Between Material Structure and Physical–Mechanical Properties
Authors: Scucka Jiri , Martinec Petr , Soucek Kamil 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
New specific composite materials are formed in the field of grouting technologies by pressure grouting of polyurethane resins into soils, disturbed rocks, or into damaged building structures. The structural and textural variability of these geomaterial–polymer composites complicates significantly the determination of their physical and mechanical properties. Determination of mechanical parameters is particularly difficult because it is often impossible to prepare standard test specimens for laboratory loading tests from the samples taken after grouting in situ. Analysis of structures and textures of composites originating from geotechnical practice represents a possible indirect way to evaluate their physical and mechanical properties. The structure of a composite material can be compared with structures of similar composites whose physical and mechanical properties are already known. In this paper, results of a model study are presented. The aim of this study is to define basic relations between structural parameters and physical–mechanical properties of the model composites with a polyurethane matrix and to evaluate whether and to what extent the knowledge of these relations can be used for the prediction of properties of composites in practice.
Index Properties of Coastal Plain Soils of Southeastern Virginia
Authors: Amir-Faryar Behzad , Suter Karl E. , Finnen Richard E. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
The Coastal Plain soils of Virginia generally comprise recent marine and fluvial deposits. It is widely accepted that grain size, plasticity, and water content of the soil are indices that can be used to geotechnically characterize fine-grained soils. The objective of this study was to determine whether the soils from a specific geologic formation have consistent or similar index properties. The data from a previously performed extensive field exploration in the Coastal Plain soils of Virginia were used in the study. The data were divided by local geology and subdivided into separate groups based on the soil fines content (FC) and density. Mean values for water content, Standard Penetration Test N-Value, Atterberg limits, FC, and pocket penetrometer tests were then determined for each geology. The statistical analysis of soil index properties was performed for soils in different formations. The results allow better identification of soils in different formations from index property testing.
Reducing Sample Size for Cold In-Place Recycling Design and Testing
Authors: Jackson Alex , Braham Andrew F. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Many current methods of designing and testing cold in-place recycled (CIR) asphalt are undesirable because they require large amounts of material and significant preparation. In an effort to lessen the cost and time of materials testing, this research utilizes several different methods of small scale testing of creep stiffness. These methods include using a discovery hybrid rheometer (DHR) and a three point bending test to find the creep stiffness of emulsion based CIR. The new testing methods used samples on the scale of up to a hundredth the size of what the traditional methods of testing require. The two smaller scale tests were compared to the traditional indirect tension test (IDT) testing. In order to fully evaluate the two reduced sample size test methods, this research observed the effect of gradation, temperature, emulsifier type, and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) content on creep stiffness. If successful, the use of these new test methods could significantly decrease the damage done to roads, and reduce the cost of material management incurred through the quality control testing methods for pavement. Results showed very good correlation between DHR and IDT testing with a proportional difference between the samples. The standard deviations between the DHR and IDT testing were 18.6 % and 19.2 % of the mean values, respectively, indicating similar accuracies of tests. The tests were also able to distinguish between types of material. The proportional difference between the IDT and DHR is expected and is due to the difference of sample and loading configuration. With the proper shift factor, it is suggested that the DHR can provide similar results with significantly less material versus the traditional IDT test.
Rolling Contact Fatigue Tests of Ceramics by Various Methods: Comparison of Suitability to the Evaluation of Silicon Nitrides
Authors: Kanematsu Wataru , Mandler William , Manier Charles-Alix , Woydt Mathias 
Published: January 2015

AbstractResults of rolling contact fatigue (RCF) tests by balls-on-rod (BOR) and two-roller methods have been compared to those by the balls-on-flat (BOF) method by using three different silicon nitride grades. Two were bearing grade (BG) and one was a general purpose (GP) grade. For a GP material, there was not much difference between the results of BOR and those of BOF, and the observations of a spalled region by BOR suggested similar spalling behavior to BOF. Meanwhile, for BG materials, most tests were terminated without spalling, but grooves, whose likely cause is inferred to be insufficient lubrication, were formed. As for the lifetime in BOR, however, the results for BG materials were much longer than those of the GP, demonstrating that the BOR result is qualitatively consistent with that of BOF, where instead most specimens failed in RCF by spalling or peeling. In the two-roller method, tests of a limited number of specimens were operated at high slip ratios of 10 % during longer cycles under low contact stress, and wear was predominant, suggesting the potential of providing the information on wear behavior rather than RCF. The results suggest that the two-roller method could differentiate the BG materials in terms of wear behavior. Considering these results, both the BOF and the BOR are applicable to distinguish BG and GP materials in terms of fatigue resistance. In particular, the BOF is judged to be more suitable for comparison of the RCF behavior of BG materials, which are commonly tested under higher contact stresses.