bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MiR‐135b is a direct PAX6 target and specifies human neuroectoderm by inhibiting TGF‐β/BMP signaling
Authors: Bhinge Akshay , Poschmann Jeremie , Namboori Seema C , Tian Xianfeng , Jia Hui Loh Sharon , Traczyk Anna , Prabhakar Shyam , Stanton Lawrence W 
Published: May 2014

AbstractSeveral transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated in neuroectoderm (NE) development, and recently, the TF PAX6 was shown to be critical for human NE specification. However, microRNA networks regulating human NE development have been poorly documented. We hypothesized that microRNAs activated by PAX6 should promote NE development. Using a genomics approach, we identified PAX6 binding sites and active enhancers genome‐wide in an in vitro model of human NE development that was based on neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC). PAX6 binding to active enhancers was found in the proximity of several microRNAs, including hsa‐miR‐135b. MiR‐135b was activated during NE development, and ectopic expression of miR‐135b in hESC promoted differentiation toward NE. MiR‐135b promotes neural conversion by targeting components of the TGF‐β and BMP signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting differentiation into alternate developmental lineages. Our results demonstrate a novel TF‐miRNA module that is activated during human neuroectoderm development and promotes the irreversible fate specification of human pluripotent cells toward the neural lineage.
STAG3‐mediated stabilization of REC8 cohesin complexes promotes chromosome synapsis during meiosis
Authors: Fukuda Tomoyuki , Fukuda Nanaho , Agostinho Ana , Hernández‐Hernández Abrahan , Kouznetsova Anna , Höög Christer 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCohesion between sister chromatids in mitotic and meiotic cells is promoted by a ring‐shaped protein structure, the cohesin complex. The cohesin core complex is composed of four subunits, including two structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins, one α‐kleisin protein, and one SA protein. Meiotic cells express both mitotic and meiosis‐specific cohesin core subunits, generating cohesin complexes with different subunit composition and possibly separate meiotic functions. Here, we have analyzed the in vivo function of STAG3, a vertebrate meiosis‐specific SA protein. Mice with a hypomorphic allele of Stag3, which display a severely reduced level of STAG3, are viable but infertile. We show that meiocytes in homozygous mutant Stag3 mice display chromosome axis compaction, aberrant synapsis, impaired recombination and developmental arrest. We find that the three different α‐kleisins present in meiotic cells show different dosage‐dependent requirements for STAG3 and that STAG3‐REC8 cohesin complexes have a critical role in supporting meiotic chromosome structure and functions.
Parametric Simulation of Low‐Temperature Heat Recovery using a Rankine Cycle to Drive Multi‐effect Distillation
Authors: Xue Jianliang , Zhao Dongfeng , Chen Jianguang , Li Shi , Liu Wei , Shen Chanchan 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe Rankine cycle (RC) has been widely applied to the conversion of low‐grade heat. In this study, low‐temperature heat recovery based upon a Rankine system was proposed to drive multi‐effect distillation (MED) in a refinery. The thermal model was described, including the important parameters. The results indicated that a higher mass of steam could be produced by using a higher temperature of the low‐temperature heat source. The lower pinch‐point temperature difference could inevitably lead to higher evaporator costs. The inlet temperature of the working fluid and ambient temperature both influenced the thermodynamic efficiency of the system. The thermodynamic efficiency of the system increased markedly with increasing inlet temperature of the working fluid. As the ambient temperature increased, the thermodynamic efficiency of system was improved. The thermodynamic efficiency with ammonia/water as the working fluid was higher than that with water.
Is orthonasal olfaction an equilibrium driven process? Design and validation of a dynamic purge and trap system for the study of orthonasal wine aroma
Authors: Escudero Ana , San‐Juan Felipe , Franco‐Luesma Ernesto , Cacho Juan , Ferreira Vicente 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTSynthetic wine models containing aroma molecules at levels producing known orthonasal odour intensity scores were used to assess the representativity of the extracts obtained with a previously developed purge and trap Gas Chromatography‐Olfactometry (GC‐O) strategy. The study revealed that the GC‐O scores of polar odourants were very small or even null, even when these compounds were clearly perceived in the orthonasal evaluation of the synthetic wines. The different parts of the system were thoroughly evaluated and reoptimized, and although partial elution problems affecting polar odourants were detected and corrected, the underestimation of polar odourants persistently remained. A significant improvement was only achieved with a completely redesigned system in which a much larger flow of gas just flows out the sample vapours – instead of bubbling through the liquid – above the strictly non‐stirred liquid sample. The GC‐O scores obtained with this new design were much closer to the orthonasal odour intensity scores of the synthetic models and the underestimation of polar odourants was not observed. A final validation showed that the proposed system is able to provide significantly different GC‐O signals for solutions containing increasing amounts of polar odourants at perithreshold levels. All this suggests that the transfer of aroma molecules from the sample to the nose during orthonasal olfaction is mass transfer controlled rather than equilibrium driven, which has been experimentally verified using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization‐Mass Spectrometry (APCI‐MS). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A dual mortar approach for mesh tying within a variational multiscale method for incompressible flow
Authors: Ehrl A. , Popp A. , Gravemeier V. , Wall W.A. 
Published: May 2014

SUMMARYIn the present work, the coupling of computational subdomains with non‐conforming discretizations is addressed in the context of residual‐based variational multiscale finite element methods for incompressible fluid flow. A mortar method using dual Lagrange multipliers is introduced for handling the coupling conditions at arbitrary fluid–fluid interfaces. Recently, mortar methods have been successfully applied in the field of nonlinear solid mechanics, for example, to weakly impose interface constraints for finite deformation contact. The focus of this study is on both the integration of the dual mortar approach into an existing variational multiscale finite element framework and the investigation of the resulting interplay between variational multiscale and coupling terms. We analyze the effects of either constraining only velocity or both velocity and pressure degrees of freedom at the internal interfaces using dual Lagrange multipliers. In analogy to other problem classes, we exploit the fact that the dual mortar approach allows for an efficient condensation of the additional Lagrange multiplier degrees of freedom from the global system of equations. As a result, the typical but often undesirable saddle‐point structure of this system is completely removed. The proposed method is validated numerically for various three‐dimensional examples, including a complex patient‐specific aneurysm, and its accuracy and efficiency in comparison with standard conforming discretizations is demonstrated. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analysis of infiltration with moisture content distribution in a two‐dimensional discretized water content domain
Authors: Yu Han , Douglas Craig C. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractOn the basis of unsaturated Darcy's law, the Talbot–Ogden method provides a fast unconditional mass conservative algorithm to simulate groundwater infiltration in various unsaturated soil textures. Unlike advanced reservoir modelling methods that compute unsaturated flow in space, it only discretizes the moisture content domain into a suitable number of bins so that the vertical water movement is estimated piecewise in each bin. The dimensionality of the moisture content domain is extended from one dimensional to two dimensional in this study, which allows us to distinguish pore shapes within the same moisture content range. The vertical movement of water in the extended model imitates the infiltration phase in the Talbot–Ogden method. However, the difference in this extension is the directional redistribution, which represents the horizontal inter‐bin flow and causes the water content distribution to have an effect on infiltration. Using this extension, we mathematically analyse the general relationship between infiltration and the moisture content distribution associated with wetting front depths in different bins. We show that a more negatively skewed moisture content distribution can produce a longer ponding time, whereas a higher overall flux cannot be guaranteed in this situation. It is proven on the basis of the water content probability distribution independent of soil textures. To illustrate this analysis, we also present numerical examples for both fine and coarse soil textures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of adjuvant surgery in initially unresectable pancreatic cancer after long‐term chemotherapy or chemoradiation therapy: survival benefit?
Authors: Opendro Singh Sapam , Satoi Sohei , Yanagimoto Hiroaki , Yamamoto Tomohisa , Toyokawa Hideyoshi , Hirooka Satoshi , Yamaki So , Inoue Kentaro , Matsui Yoichi , Kwon A‐Hon 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of the present study was to analyze the survival benefit and safety of adjuvant surgery in patients with initially unresectable pancreatic cancer following chemo(radio)therapy.MethodsThe 130 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated during 2006 to 2013 were divided into a study group (15 patients) with planned adjuvant surgery, and a control group (115 patients with locally advanced disease) without adjuvant surgery.ResultsThe study group of 15 patients had shrunken tumor, decreased tumor marker, and maintained performance status after 9 months (range 5–18 months) of chemo(radio)therapy. Thirteen patients had curative resection and two patients were not resected. The remaining controls of 115 patients did not undergo surgical resection due to poor response to chemo(radio)therapy or performance status. The median survival time in the study group was better than in the control group (36 vs. 9 months, P < 0.001). The mortality and morbidity rates in the study group were 0% and 46% respectively, in spite of concomitant organ resections in 77%.ConclusionPatients who had adjuvant surgery had significant improvement of survival without increase in morbidity and mortality, relative to patients with locally advanced disease. Thus, adjuvant surgery may provide the promising results in this group who responded favorably to initial chemo(radio)therapy in unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Mix between Satisfaction and Attributes Destination Choice: A Segmentation Criterion to Understand the Ski Resorts Consumers
Authors: Miragaia Dina Alexandra Marques , Martins Marco Alexandre Batista 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis study examined the attributes prioritized by tourists when choosing a winter sports destination and their degree of satisfaction with the services provided by Portugal's only ski resort. Two hundred tourists completed a questionnaire with factor analysis then deployed to extract the data that served as the basis for cluster analysis. Our results report discrepancies between the attributes valued by tourists when choosing winter sports destinations and their degree of satisfaction with the ski resort's services. Moreover, the combination between attributes/motivations prevailing in destination selection and the subsequent satisfaction with the services provided may generate information of relevance to evaluating organizational competitiveness. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pretreatment with ablative fractional laser changes kinetics and biodistribution of topical 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL)
Authors: Haedersdal Merete , Sakamoto Fernanda H. , Farinelli William A. , Doukas Apostolos G. , Tam Joshua , Anderson R. Rox 
Published: May 2014

Background and Objectives5‐Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) are porphyrin precursors used topically for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Previous studies have established that ablative fractional laser (AFXL) increases topical drug uptake. We evaluated kinetics and biodistribution of ALA‐ and MAL‐induced porphyrins on intact and disrupted skin due to AFXL.Materials and MethodsTwo Yorkshire swine were exposed to CO2 AFXL (10.6 µm, 1,850 µm ablation depth) and subsequent topical application of ALA and MAL cream formulations (20%, weight/weight). Porphyrin fluorescence was quantified by digital fluorescence photography (30, 90, and 180 minutes) and fluorescence microscopy at specific skin depths (180 minutes).ResultsPorphyrins gradually formed over time, differently on intact and AFXL‐disrupted skin. On intact skin (no AFXL), fluorescence photography showed that MAL initially induced higher fluorescence than ALA (t = 30 minutes MAL 21.1 vs. ALA 7.7 au, t = 90 minutes MAL 39.0 vs. ALA 26.6 (P < 0.009)) but reached similar intensities for long‐term applications (t = 180 minutes MAL 56.6 vs. ALA 52 au, P = ns). AFXL considerably enhanced porphyrin fluorescence from both photosensitizers (P < 0.05). On AFXL‐exposed skin, MAL expressed higher fluorescence than ALA for short‐term application (t = 30 minutes, AFXL–MAL 26.4 vs. AFXL–ALA 14.1 au, P < 0.001), whereas ALA over time overcame MAL and induced the highest fluorescence intensities obtained (t = 180 minutes, AFXL–MAL 98.6 vs. AFXL–ALA 112.0 au, P < 0.001). In deep skin layers, fluorescence microscopy showed higher fluorescence in hair follicle epithelium for ALA than MAL (t = 180 minutes, 1.8 mm, AFXL–MAL 35.3 vs. AFXL–ALA 46.7 au, P < 0.05).ConclusionsAFXL changes kinetics and biodistribution of ALA and MAL. It appears that AFXL–ALA favors targeting deep structures. Lasers Surg. Med. 46:462–469, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of spatial resolution on the accuracy of quantitative myocardial perfusion in first pass stress perfusion CMR
Authors: Zarinabad Niloufar , Chiribiri Amedeo , Hautvast Gilion L. T. F. , Breeuwer Marcel , Nagel Eike 
Published: May 2014

PurposeHigh‐resolution myocardial perfusion analysis allows for preserving spatial information with excellent sensitivity for subendocardial ischemia detection. However, it suffers from low signal‐to‐noise ratio. Commonly, spatial averaging is used to increase signal‐to‐noise ratio. This bears the risk of losing information about the extent, localization and transmurality of ischemia. This study investigates spatial‐averaging effects on perfusion‐estimates accuracy.MethodsPerfusion data were obtained from patients and healthy volunteers. Spatial averaging was performed on voxel‐based data in transmural and angular direction to reduce resolution to 50, 20, and 10% of its original value. Fit quality assessment method is used to measure the fraction of modeled information and remaining unmodeled information in the residuals.ResultsFraction of modeled information decreased in patients as resolution reduced. This decrease was more evident for Fermi and exponential in transmural direction. Fermi and exponential showed significant difference at 50% resolution (Fermi P < 0.001, exponential P =0.0014). No significant differences were observed for autoregressive‐moving‐average model (P = 0.081). At full resolution, autoregressive‐moving‐average model has the lowest fraction of residual information (0.3). Differences were observed comparing ischemic regions perfusion‐estimates coefficient of variation at transmural and angular direction.ConclusionAngular averaging preserves more information compared to transmural averaging. Reducing resolution level below 50% at transmural and 20% at angular direction results in losing information about transmural perfusion differences. Maximum voxel size of 2 × 2 mm2 is necessary to avoid loss of physiological information due to spatial averaging. Magn Reson Med 73:1623–1631, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society of Medicine in Resonance.
Gestational age‐adjusted trends and reference intervals of the Modified Myocardial Performance Index (Mod‐MPI) and its components, with its interpretation in the context of established cardiac physiological principles
Authors: Bhorat Ismail , Bagratee Jayanthilall , Reddy Tarylee 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe objective of this study is to establish gestational age‐adjusted reference intervals and trends of the modified myocardial performance index (Mod‐MPI), isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT), and ejection time (ET) in pregnancyMethodsA cross‐sectional study using Doppler echocardiography to determine the Mod‐MPI was performed on 419 fetuses from 20 to 38 weeks of gestation. Doppler signals of the opening and closing of the mitral and aortic valves were used as landmarks to determine the ICT, IRT, and ET. The Mod‐MPI was modeled using fractional polynomials and the exponential‐normal model.ResultsThe Mod‐MPI was relatively constant from 20 to 26 weeks and thereafter steadily decreased with advancing gestational age. ICT and ET remained constant, whereas IRT decreased with advancing gestation similar to the Mod‐MPI.ConclusionReference intervals of the Mod‐MPI evaluating fetal cardiac function have been established. Maturational and developmental alterations in the myocardial performance in utero resulting in better ventricular compliance is most likely responsible for the decreasing trend of the Mod‐MPI noted with advancing gestation. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Formulation and Characterizations of Nanoenergetic Compositions with Improved Safety
Authors: Wuillaume Anne , Beaucamp Arnaud , David‐Quillot Frank , Eradès Charles 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIn order to improve the safety of energetic compositions, whether it has to be worked with less sensitive materials that are often less powerful or with high energetic materials crystals with improved purity and microstructure quality. A way to modify the crystal quality of an energetic material is to structure the matter on the nanoscale: the crystals size reduction should induce impurity modifications in the particles. That is one of the reasons why interest in nanoenergetic compositions that contain high energetic material (≥ 90 wt‐%) and an organic matrix (≤ 10 wt‐%) that takes part in constraining the explosive to organize itself on the nanoscale arose. The key point is to find or synthesize the matrix. In the course of this study, first ammonium perchlorate compositions structured on the nanoscale were synthesized (150 nm AP particles (80 wt‐%) dispersed in an organogel matrix (20 wt‐%)). The formulation process was based on the impregnation of porous organogels with a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium perchlorate followed by freeze drying. The overall composition had an oxygen balance equilibrated towards CO2. These AP nanocompositions show better safety behavior during combustion than there equivalent macrocompositions, while they burn more rapidly, with no degradation of their impact and thermal sensitivity properties. The formulation process of RDX nanocompositions is more complex as the solvent used is γ‐butyrolactone which can not be directly frozen dried. However, first RDX nanocompositions were formulated and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray powder diffraction, and drop weight impact. Lately compressions of these RDX compositions were performed, prior to gap‐test experiments.
U‐dual branes and mixed symmetry tensor fields
Authors: Chatzistavrakidis A. , Gautason F.F. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractWe review and explain the relation between U‐dual branes in string theory and mixed symmetry tensors of various degrees. In certain cases these mixed symmetry tensors can be related to diverse types of fluxes that play an important role in compactifications of string theory.
Twisted Chern‐Simons supergravity
Authors: Castellani L. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractWe present a noncommutative version of D = 5 Chern‐Simons supergravity, where noncommutativity is encoded in a *‐product associated to an abelian Drinfeld twist. The theory is invariant under diffeomorphisms, and under the *‐gauge supergroup SU(2,2|4), including Lorentz and N = 4 local supersymmetries.
Electronic structure and stability of low symmetry Ta2O5polymorphs
Authors: Kim Ja‐Yong , Magyari‐Köpe Blanka , Lee Kee‐Jeung , Kim Hyeong‐Soo , Lee Seok‐Hee , Nishi Yoshio 
Published: May 2014

Abstractmagnified imageThe structures and electronic properties of Ta2O5 polymorphs were calculated using density‐functional theory employing the generalized gradient approximation with on‐site Coulomb corrections. Using this approach, a pseudo‐hexagonal structure was found to be a stable polymorph of Ta2O5 over δ‐ and β‐Ta2O5 and metastable relative to other recently proposed structures. Its diffraction spectrum and bandgap energy are in good agreement with experimental data. Therefore, the pseudo‐hexagonal structure might form in polycrystalline films and affect the switching process of resistive memory devices. Moreover, a neutral oxygen vacancy is found to induce an occupied defect state at 2.5 eV above the top of the valence band, in agreement with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An algorithm for the robust exponential stabilization of a class of switched systems
Authors: Mancilla‐Aguilar J. L. , García R. A. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryIn this paper, we consider continuous‐time switched systems whose subsystems are linear, or, more generally, homogeneous of degree one. For that class of systems, we present a control algorithm that under certain conditions generates switching signals that globally exponentially stabilizes the switched system, even in the case in which there are model uncertainties and/or measurement errors, provided that the bounds of that uncertainties and errors depend linearly on the norm of the state of the system and are small enough in a suitable sense. We also show that in the case in which the measurement errors and the model uncertainties are bounded, the algorithm globally exponentially stabilizes the system in a practical sense, with a final error which depends linearly on the bounds of both the model uncertainties and the measurement errors. In other words, the closed‐loop system is exponentially input‐to‐state‐stable if one considers the perturbations and output measurements bounds as inputs. For switched linear systems, under mild observability conditions, we design an observer whose state‐estimation drives the control algorithm to exponentially stabilize the system in absence of perturbations and to stabilize it in an ultimately bounded way when the perturbations and the output measurement errors are bounded. Finally, we illustrate the behavior of the algorithm by means of simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.