bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sources, transformation, and health implications of PAHs and their nitrated, hydroxylated, and oxygenated derivatives in PM2.5 in Beijing
Authors: Lin Yan , Ma Yiqiu , Qiu Xinghua , Li Ran , Fang Yanhua , Wang Junxia , Zhu Yifang , Hu Di 
Published: July 2015

AbstractFine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant health issue in Chinese megacities. However, little information is available regarding the PM2.5‐bound toxic organics, especially their sources, atmospheric transformations, and health implications. In this study, we assessed the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their nitrated, hydroxylated, and oxygenated derivatives (i.e., NPAHs, OHPAHs, and OPAHs, respectively) in PM2.5 collected in Beijing over a 1 year period. The median concentration of 23 PAHs, 15 NPAHs, 16 OHPAHs, and 7 OPAHs in PM2.5 was 53.8, 1.14, 1.40, and 3.62 ng m−3, respectively. Much higher concentrations and mass percentages for all species were observed in the heating season, indicating a higher toxicity of PM2.5 during this period of time. Positive matrix factorization was applied to apportion the sources of PAHs and their derivatives. It was found that traffic emissions in the nonheating season, and coal combustion and biomass burning in the heating season, were the major primary sources of PAHs and their derivatives. Secondary formation, however, contributed significantly to the derivatives of PAHs (especially NPAHs and OPAHs) in the nonheating season, suggesting significant impacts of atmospheric transformation on the toxicity of PM2.5.
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of ZrB2–SiC/Cu/Ti/Ti6Al4V Brazing Joints
Authors: Yang Weiqi , He Peng , Xing Lili , Lin Tiesong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractA joint of ZrB2‐SiC ceramic to Ti6Al4V alloy was achieved successfully by contact reactive brazing with Ti/Cu lamination. The microstructure and chemical composition of joining interfaces were investigated by electron backscattered diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The results revealed that ZrB2 had much faster decomposing velocity than SiC in Ti–Cu liquid alloy. Two types of distribution of TiB whiskers were produced on ceramic surface due to different growing conditions. The microstructural evolution with different brazing temperatures was analyzed. The mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated by microhardness and shear tests. The maximum shear strength reached 90.7 MPa with brazing temperature at 920 °C for 10 min.
Phenolic foams toughened with crosslinked poly (n‐butyl acrylate)/silica core‐shell nanocomposite particles
Authors: Yuan Junjie , Zhang Yunbo , Wang Zhengzhou 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTA new type of crosslinked poly (n‐butyl acrylate) (PBA)/silica core‐shell nanocomposite particles was adopted as toughening agent to improve the mechanical properties of phenolic foams. The effects of the nanocomposite particles on the structures and properties of lightweight phenolic foams were investigated. SEM result showed that the addition of a small quantity of the nanocomposite particles can significantly enhance the structural homogeneity of phenolic foams. Thermalgravimetric analysis result suggested that the incorporation of the nanocomposite particles did not affect the thermal stability of the toughened phenolic foams. The flexural strength, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of the phenolic foams increased distinctively after the addition of the nanocomposite particles, the maximum values of which increased by 36.0%, 42.9%, and 32.3%, respectively. In this study, the optimum dosage of the nanocomposite particles is 0.03 phr in the modified phenolic foams. Moreover, the influence on the flammability of phenolic foams by toughening can almost be neglected. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42590.
PEGylated chitosan microspheres as mucoadhesive drug‐delivery carriers for puerarin
Authors: Hu Xiaofen , Zhang Yuyan , Zhou Huifen , Wan Haitong 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTPEGylated chitosans with different degrees of grafting were synthesized, and the application potential of microspheres based on PEGylated chitosan as mucoadhesive drug‐delivery carriers for puerarin was investigated. Compared with chitosan microspheres, PEGylated chitosan microspheres (PCMs) exhibited better physical stability and higher swelling capacity, and the amount of water uptake increased as the content of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether in the microspheres increased. PCMs showed obviously improved mucoadhesive behavior on a mucosa‐like surface. Puerarin was incorporated into the microspheres, and the release experiments in vitro showed that the PEGylation of chitosan accelerated puerarin release from the particles and decreased the retention of the drug. The abilities of all of the tested microspheres to open tight junctions and improve the permeability of puerarin were demonstrated with a Caco‐2 cell monolayer as an in vitro model. The amount of puerarin permeating across the Caco‐2 cell monolayer was significantly increased by the incorporation of puerarin into the PCMs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42623.
Tailoring the nonlinear conducting behavior of silicone composites by ZnO microvaristor fillers
Authors: Yang Xiao , He Jinliang , Hu Jun 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTSilicone composite filled with zinc oxide microvaristors possesses excellent nonlinear conducting behavior as ZnO varistor does. For better adjusting the composite's electrical behavior to satisfy the practical field‐grading requirement, this article studied the influence of ZnO filler's property on the nonlinearity of the composite. Several groups of ZnO‐silicone composite samples in different filler volume fraction and filler diameter were prepared, the measured J‐E characteristics show that the percolation threshold of ZnO‐silicone composite is around 35%, above which the composites present reliable nonlinear behavior. The switching voltage of the composite exhibits a considerable decrease as filler's diameter increases or filler's volume fraction increases, while the nonlinear coefficient remains stable. Moreover, filler's size also has a little influence on composite's percolation limit. The conclusion above fits very well with the theory of the conducting composites and percolation process. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42645.
Permeability and persistence of physical and social boundaries in the context of incarceration in nineteenth century Western Australia
Authors: Whitley Thomas G. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIdentifying the documentary and archaeological indications of torture, punishment, discipline and imprisonment are key factors in addressing the ways in which society exerts its control over the individual; particularly the non‐conformist, the criminal, the indentured and the enslaved. Expressions of forced labour control are quite common in the archaeological record, at places such as large institutions, plantations, mining towns and industrial sites. But there are distinct differences between criminal imprisonment and racial enslavement, which become evident when one examines the permeability and persistence of physical and social boundaries. The ways in which Euro‐Australian and Aboriginal prisoners were treated in nineteenth century Western Australia gave rise to a system in which physical boundaries were more or less permeable for one group, but not the other. Although it was outlawed by the British Parliament just a few years after the Swan River Colony was established, both formal and informal types of incipient slavery seem to have persisted in the guise of forced incarceration, indentured servitude and illicit abductions. This was, in a way, reminiscent of the enslavement of native North Americans in the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Several examples are provided to illustrate these ideas.
Supramolecular Assemblies Responsive to Biomolecules toward Biological Applications
Authors: Shigemitsu Hajime , Hamachi Itaru 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStimuli‐responsive supramolecular assemblies consisting of small molecules are attractive functional materials for biological applications such as drug delivery, medical diagnosis, enzyme immobilization, and tissue engineering. By use of their dynamic and reversible properties, many supramolecular assemblies responsive to a variety of biomolecules have been designed and synthesized. This review focuses on promising strategies for the construction of such dynamic supramolecular assemblies and their functions. While studies of biomolecule‐responsive supramolecular assemblies have mainly been performed in vitro, it has recently been demonstrated that some of them can work in live cells. Supramolecular assemblies now open up new avenues in chemical biology and biofunctional materials.
Modeling traffic crash rates of road segments through a lognormal hurdle framework with flexible scale parameter
Authors: Ma Lu , Yan Xuedong , Weng Jinxian 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThis study examines distributional characteristics of crash rates for road segments using observed accident data. The results indicate that the distribution of crash rates is mixed and right‐skewed, which motivates the consideration of non‐normal distributions. With the aid of Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests, kernel density plots, and Q–Q plots, the lognormal distribution is verified as an appropriate candidate for representing the positive domain of crash rates. Then, a lognormal hurdle model was developed and also compared with gamma and Weibull hurdle models. Further, the lognormal hurdle model was revised by allowing the scale parameter to vary with respect to explanatory variables. Such a modification enables the heterogeneous skewness of samples to be captured while enhancing the modeling flexibility. The proposed model was also compared with a Tobit model, an alternative approach that treats crash rates as censored data. Among all these models, the proposed lognormal hurdle model with flexible scale parameter presents the best modeling performance, and the analyses also reveal that several explanatory variables affect crash rates through not only the location parameter but also the scale parameter in the lognormal model. This study finally attempted to inspect crash rates through count models, and it discovered that the proposed hurdle model is superior because it is able to output the whole distribution form of crash rates, whereas the crash count model can only provide the expected value of crash rates, provided the exposure variable servers as an offset term in the link function of the mean parameter. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A streamlined Western blot exercise: An efficient and greener approach in the laboratory classroom
Authors: Ness Traci L. , Robinson Rebekah L. , Mojadedi Wais , Peavy Lydia , Weiland Mitch H. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSDS‐PAGE and western blotting are two commonly taught protein detection techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory classrooms. A pitfall associated with incorporating these techniques into the laboratory is the significant wait times that do not allow students to obtain timely results. The waiting associated with SDS‐PAGE comes from staining and destaining, whereas with western blotting it is the times required for antibody incubations and the numerous wash steps. This laboratory exercise incorporates 2,2,2‐trichloroethanol (TCE) into the SDS‐PAGE gel allowing for visualization of migrated proteins in a matter of minutes, saving both the time and chemical waste associated with traditional Coomassie staining. Additionally, TCE staining does not affect protein transfer eliminating the requirement for duplicated gels for total protein and western analyses. Protein transfer can be confirmed immediately without the use of Ponceau S staining. Lastly, this western blot procedure has been further shortened by using an HRP‐conjugated primary antibody, which eliminates the secondary antibody incubation and washes, and uses a colorimetric detection to allow for visualization by students without the need for specialized equipment. © 2015 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(5):358–365, 2015.
3D Simulation of the Filtration and Dust Retention Process of a Fuel Filter
Authors: Valiño Luis , Mustata Radu , Hierro Juan , Hernández Juan L. , Busack Martin , García Maria J. , Blasco Carlos 
Published: July 2015

AbstractA model for the description of the dust retention process inside a filter was developed and successfully applied to a detailed 3D numerical simulation of a Bosch automotive diesel filter. Specifically, the variation of the pressure drop due to the clogging process in the filter paper could be well predicted. For this approach, an Eulerian‐Eulerian two‐phase flow formulation was applied. For the dispersed phase, the Eulerian description was made by means of a probability density function transport equation. The simulations also provide complete spatial information about the flow both in the clean and dirty sides of the filter and the particle distribution, size, and velocity. The intention of the newly developed numerical tool is to help in the design of filtering devices.
Stereoselective Behavior of Nafion® Membranes towards (+)‐α‐Pinene and (−)‐α‐Pinene
Authors: Brožová Libuše , Žitka Jan , Sysel Petr , Hovorka Štěpán , Randová Alena , Storch Jan , Kačírková Marie , Izák Pavel 
Published: July 2015

Abstractα‐Pinene enantiomers were sorbed in Nafion® membranes. The membranes included a commercial extruded Nafion® 115 membrane as well as membranes prepared by casting a Nafion® solution, evaporating the solvent, and a thermal treatment at different temperatures. The microstructure of membranes was studied by small‐angle and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The change of membrane weight during the sorption process was determined with a sorption microbalance. Noticeable differences concerning the sorption behavior of the various membranes could be stated. The sorption of (+)‐α‐pinene and (−)‐α‐pinene in an extruded Nafion® membrane turned out to be rather low.
Effects of Restitution and Specularity Coefficients on Solid‐Liquid Fluidized Bed Hydrodynamics
Authors: Ehsani Mehran , Movahedirad Salman , Shahhosseini Shahrokh , Ashtiani Mahshid 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAn Eulerian‐Eulerian two‐fluid model in combination with the kinetic theory of granular flow was applied to simulate a solid‐liquid fluidized bed filled with stainless‐steel particles. The drag model of Gidaspow used in computational fluid dynamics simulations proved to be the appropriate model for predicting the bed hydrodynamics. The effect of the restitution coefficient of the particles on the bed hydrodynamics was investigated numerically. For the solid phase wall boundary condition according to Johnson and Jackson a specularity coefficient was introduced and evaluated. The change in specularity coefficient did not affect considerably the bed behavior at the middle part, but at the walls it significantly influenced the granular temperature. For specularity coefficients more than 0.5 the results do not change noticeably.
Flow Simulation and Performance Comparison of Rough‐Cut Cyclones with Different Structures in Dilute Phase
Authors: Liu Shuxian , Guo Yi , Sun Guogang , Weng Li 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe gas‐solid flow behavior and dust distribution in four rough‐cut cyclones was numerically simulated on the platform of FLUENT 6.2. The Reynolds stress model and stochastic particle tracking model were used to describe the gas flow and particle motion. The calculation results indicated that the particle distribution patterns of the four rough‐cut cyclones were similar. Adding solid particles into the gas phase weakened the gas swirling intensity inside the cyclones. Data of rough‐cut cyclone down‐flow ratios were gained by simulation for the first time. Rough‐cut cyclones with wider diplegs were found to have a massive gas down‐flow through the dipleg which might cause serious coke generation inside the disengager. The simulated cyclone structure with its vortex finder wider than the dipleg and a hopper installed behaved the best. The results may provide indications for industrial anti coke research and rough‐cut cyclone design.
Age‐ and sex‐related reference intervals of lymphocyte subsets in healthy ethnic Han Chinese children
Authors: Jia Liting , Li Jing , Zhang Yuchao , Shi Ying , Yuan Enwu , Liu Junjie , Wang Peng , Rong Shouhua , Xing Jinfang , Tian Yuan , Li Junfang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractImmunophenotyping of blood lymphocytes has become an important tool in the diagnosis of immunologic and hematologic disorders such as immunodeficiencies, lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases. Lymphocyte subsets include total T‐cells (CD3+), TH (T helper, CD3+CD4+), TC (cytotoxic T cells, CD3+CD8+), B‐cells (CD3− CD19+), and NK‐cells (CD3−CD16+CD56+). Specific lymphocyte subset reference intervals should be locally established for meaningful comparison and to obtain an accurate interpretation of the results. Reference intervals of lymphocyte subsets for Chinese children are scarce. We performed dual‐platform flow cytometry to determine the reference intervals of the percentages and absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets, including total T‐cells, TH cells, TC cells, B‐cells, and NK‐cells in 1,027 ethnic Han children aged 4 months to 7 years in Henan, China. The children were divided into seven age groups. The percentages and absolute counts differed significantly with age, with the percentages of TH cells and B cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio peaking during the first year, while the percentages of total T cells, TC cells, and NK cells were obviously increased with age; girls showed a trend toward having a higher percentage of TH cells and a higher CD4/CD8 ratio than boys. The absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets peaked during first year and then decreased steadily with age. The reference intervals of lymphocyte subsets among children from China differed from the reported values in Hong Kong, the United States, Cameroon, and Italy. The differences observed could be due to genetic and environmental factors, coupled with the methodology used. The reference intervals of lymphocyte subsets could be used as initial national reference ranges in guidelines for children aged 4 months to 7 years. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Deficits of olfactory interneurons in polysialyltransferase‐ and NCAM‐deficient mice
Authors: Röckle Iris , Hildebrandt Herbert 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThe neurogenic niche of the anterior subventricular zone (SVZ) persistently generates neuroblasts, which migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) into the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into granule and periglomerular cells. Loss of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM or its post‐translational modification polysialic acid (polySia) impairs migration causing accumulations of cells in the proximal RMS and decreased OB volume. Polysialylation of NCAM is implemented by two polysialyltransferases, ST8SIA2 and ST8SIA4, with overlapping functions. Here, we used mice with Ncam1 and polysialyltransferase deletions to analyze how partial or complete loss of polySia synthesis or a combined loss of polySia and NCAM affects the RMS and the interneuron composition in the OB. Numerous calretinin (CR)‐positive cells were detected dispersed around the RMS in Ncam1 knockout, St8sia2, St8sia4 double‐knockout, and St8sia2, St8sia4, Ncam1 triple‐knockout mice, as well as in St8sia2−/− but not in St8sia4−/− mice. These changes were not reflected by reductions of CR‐positive cells in the granule or glomerular layer of the OB. Instead, calbindin‐positive periglomerular interneurons were strongly reduced in all polySia‐NCAM negative mice and slightly attenuated in St8sia2−/− as well as in the St8sia4−/− mice, which were devoid of ectopic CR‐positive cells along the RMS. Consistent with the early developmental generation of calbindin‐ as compared with CR‐positive OB interneurons, this phenotype was fully developed at postnatal day 5. Together, these results demonstrate that the early development of calbindin‐positive periglomerular interneurons depends on the presentation of polySia on NCAM and requires the activity of both polysialyltransferases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 421–433, 2016
Discrimination of grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) diet and niche overlap using next‐generation sequencing of gut contents
Authors: McClenaghan Beverly , Gibson Joel F. , Shokralla Shadi , Hajibabaei Mehrdad 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSpecies of grasshopper have been divided into three diet classifications based on mandible morphology: forbivorous (specialist on forbs), graminivorous (specialist on grasses), and mixed feeding (broad‐scale generalists). For example, Melanoplus bivittatus and Dissosteira carolina are presumed to be broad‐scale generalists, Chortophaga viridifasciata is a specialist on grasses, and Melanoplus femurrubrum is a specialist on forbs. These classifications, however, have not been verified in the wild. Multiple specimens of these four species were collected, and diet analysis was performed using DNA metabarcoding of the gut contents. The rbcLa gene region was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Levins' measure and the Shannon–Wiener measure of niche breadth were calculated using family‐level identifications and Morisita's measure of niche overlap was calculated using operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Gut contents confirm both D. carolina and M. bivittatus as generalists and C. viridifasciata as a specialist on grasses. For M. femurrubrum, a high niche breadth was observed and species of grasses were identified in the gut as well as forbs. Niche overlap values did not follow predicted patterns, however, the low values suggest low competition between these species.
Single nucleotide polymorphism‐based dispersal estimates using noninvasive sampling
Authors: Norman Anita J. , Spong Göran 
Published: July 2015

AbstractQuantifying dispersal within wild populations is an important but challenging task. Here we present a method to estimate contemporary, individual‐based dispersal distance from noninvasively collected samples using a specialized panel of 96SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). One main issue in conducting dispersal studies is the requirement for a high sampling resolution at a geographic scale appropriate for capturing the majority of dispersal events. In this study, fecal samples of brown bear (Ursus arctos)were collected by volunteer citizens, resulting in a high sampling resolution spanning over 45,000 km2in Gävleborg and Dalarna counties in Sweden.SNPgenotypes were obtained for unique individuals sampled (n = 433) and subsequently used to reconstruct pedigrees. A Mantel test for isolation by distance suggests that the sampling scale was appropriate for females but not for males, which are known to disperse long distances. Euclidean distance was estimated between mother and offspring pairs identified through the reconstructed pedigrees. The mean dispersal distance was 12.9 km (SE3.2) and 33.8 km (SE6.8) for females and males, respectively. These results were significantly different (Wilcoxon's rank‐sum test:P‐value = 0.02) and are in agreement with the previously identified pattern of male‐biased dispersal. Our results illustrate the potential of using a combination of noninvasively collected samples at high resolution and specializedSNPs for pedigree‐based dispersal models.