bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electronic band-gap modified passive silicon optical modulator at telecommunications wavelengths
Authors: Zhang Rui , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin , Liu Xiangdong , Lu Qingming , Wang Jiyang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe silicon optical modulator is considered to be the workhorse of a revolution in communications. In recent years, the capabilities of externally driven active silicon optical modulators have dramatically improved. Self-driven passive modulators, especially passive silicon modulators, possess advantages in compactness, integration, low-cost, etc. Constrained by a large indirect band-gap and sensitivity-related loss, the passive silicon optical modulator is scarce and has been not advancing, especially at telecommunications wavelengths. Here, a passive silicon optical modulator is fabricated by introducing an impurity band in the electronic band-gap and its nonlinear optics and applications in the telecommunications-wavelength lasers are investigated. The saturable absorption properties at the wavelength of 1.55 μm was measured and indicates that the sample is quite sensitive to light intensity and has negligible absorption loss. With a passive silicon modulator, pulsed lasers were constructed at wavelengths at 1.34 and 1.42 μm. It is concluded that the sensitive self-driven passive silicon optical modulator is a viable candidate for photonics applications out to 2.5 μm.
Hydrogen peroxide-activatable antioxidant prodrug as a targeted therapeutic agent for ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Lee Dongwon , Park Seunggyu , Bae Soochan , Jeong Dahee , Park Minhyung , Kang Changsun , Yoo Wooyoung , Samad Mohammed A. , Ke Qingen , Khang Gilson , Kang Peter M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractOverproduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) causes oxidative stress and is the main culprit in the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Suppression of oxidative stress is therefore critical in the treatment of I/R injury. Here, we report H2O2-activatable antioxidant prodrug (BRAP) that is capable of specifically targeting the site of oxidative stress and exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. BRAP with a self-immolative boronic ester protecting group was designed to scavenge H2O2 and release HBA (p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. BRAP exerted potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and H2O2-stimulated cells by suppressing the generation of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In mouse models of hepatic I/R and cardiac I/R, BRAP exerted potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities due to the synergistic effects of H2O2-scavenging boronic esters and therapeutic HBA. In addition, administration of high doses of BRAP daily for 7 days showed no renal or hepatic function abnormalities. Therefore BRAP has tremendous therapeutic potential as H2O2-activatable antioxidant prodrug for the treatment of I/R injuries.
TAK1 Regulates Myocardial Response to Pathological Stress via NFAT, NFκB and Bnip3 Pathways
Authors: Li Lei , Chen Yi , Li Jing , Yin Haifeng , Guo Xiaoyun , Doan Jessica , Molkentin Jeffery D. , Liu Qinghang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTAK1 (TGFβ-activated kinase-1) signaling is essential in regulating a number of important biological functions, including innate immunity, inflammatory response, cell growth and differentiation and myocardial homeostasis. The precise role of TAK1 in the adult heart under pathological conditions remains largely unknown. Importantly, we observed that TAK1 is upregulated during compensatory hypertrophy but downregulated in end-stage heart failure. Here we generated transgenic mice with inducible expression of an active TAK1 mutant (TAK1ΔN) in the adult heart. TAK1ΔN transgenic mice developed greater cardiac hypertrophy compared with control mice after transverse aortic constriction (TAC), which was largely blocked by ablation of calcineurin Aβ. Expression of TAK1ΔN also promoted NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) transcriptional activity in luciferase reporter mice at baseline, which was further enhanced after TAC. Our results revealed that activation of TAK1 promoted adaptive cardiac hypertrophy through a cross-talk between calcineurin-NFAT and IKK-NFκB pathways. More significantly, adult-onset inducible expression of TAK1ΔN protected the myocardium from adverse remodeling and heart failure after myocardial infarction or long-term pressure overload, by preventing cardiac cell death and fibrosis. Mechanistically, TAK1 exerts its cardioprotective effect through activation of NFAT/NFκB, downregulation of Bnip3 and inhibition of cardiac cell death.
Combined free nitrous acid and hydrogen peroxide pre-treatment of waste activated sludge enhances methane production via organic molecule breakdown
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Wang Qilin , Ye Liu , Batstone Damien , Yuan Zhiguo 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThis study presents a novel pre-treatment strategy using combined free nitrous acid (FNA i.e. HNO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to enhance methane production from WAS, with the mechanisms investigated bio-molecularly. WAS from a full-scale plant was treated with FNA alone (1.54 mg N/L), H2O2 alone (10–80 mg/g TS) and their combinations followed by biochemical methane potential tests. Combined FNA and H2O2 pre-treatment substantially enhanced methane potential of WAS by 59–83%, compared to 13–23% and 56% with H2O2 pre-treatment alone and FNA pre-treatment alone respectively. Model-based analysis indicated the increased methane potential was mainly associated with up to 163% increase in rapidly biodegradable fraction with combined pre-treatment. The molecular weight distribution and chemical structure analyses revealed the breakdown of soluble macromolecules with the combined pre-treatment caused by the deamination and oxidation of the typical functional groups in proteins, polysaccharides and phosphodiesters. These changes likely improved the biodegradability of WAS.
Effectiveness of medical taping concept in primary dysmenorrhoea: a two-armed randomized trial
Authors: Tomás-Rodríguez María Isabel , Palazón-Bru Antonio , Martínez-St. John Damian Robert James , Toledo-Marhuenda José Vicente , Asensio-García María del Rosario , Gil-Guillén Vicente Francisco 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn 2014, we assessed the effectiveness of Medical Taping Concept (MTC) in Primary Dysmenorrhoea (PD) with a single-blind, two-armed clinical trial (NCT02114723, ClinicalTrials.gov) with a follow-up of 4 menstrual cycles (pre-intervention: 2 months; post-intervention: 2 months) in a sample formed by 129 Spanish women aged 18–30 years with PD. We had two groups: intervention group (75), MTC covering T-11 and T-12 dermatomes; control group (54), another taping in both greater trochanter areas. Our main outcome measures were: pre-intervention and post-intervention increase in pain difference measured 2 hours after commencement (2-h pain — 0-h pain); difference between the number of tablets ingested post-intervention and pre-intervention; and associated symptoms in post-intervention (fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and others). Pain was assessed in: abdomen, legs, head and lower back. We found significant differences (p < 0.05) for number of tablets, abdominal and leg pain. In conclusion, the intervention group had less abdominal and leg pain when pharmacological therapy was not started. Furthermore, the intervention resulted in a lower intake of tablets. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to corroborate our results and to analyze the MTC effectiveness if women do not take any tablets during the entire menstrual period.
An Optimal Set of Flesh Points on Tongue and Lips for Speech-Movement Classification
Authors: Wang Jun , Samal Ashok , Rong Panying , Green Jordan R. 
Published: November 2015

PurposeThe authors sought to determine an optimal set of flesh points on the tongue and lips for classifying speech movements.MethodThe authors used electromagnetic articulographs (Carstens AG500 and NDI Wave) to record tongue and lip movements from 13 healthy talkers who articulated 8 vowels, 11 consonants, a phonetically balanced set of words, and a set of short phrases during the recording. We used a machine-learning classifier (support-vector machine) to classify the speech stimuli on the basis of articulatory movements. We then compared classification accuracies of the flesh-point combinations to determine an optimal set of sensors.ResultsWhen data from the 4 sensors (T1: the vicinity between the tongue tip and tongue blade; T4: the tongue-body back; UL: the upper lip; and LL: the lower lip) were combined, phoneme and word classifications were most accurate and were comparable with the full set (including T2: the tongue-body front; and T3: the tongue-body front).ConclusionWe identified a 4-sensor set—that is, T1, T4, UL, LL—that yielded a classification accuracy (91%–95%) equivalent to that using all 6 sensors. These findings provide an empirical basis for selecting sensors and their locations for scientific and emerging clinical applications that incorporate articulatory movements.
Modelling and control of VIENNA rectifier a single phase approach
Authors: Thangavelu Thandapani , Shanmugam Paramasivam , Raj Karpagam 
Published: November 2015

Input harmonic and power factor (PF) regulations necessitate the use of front end active PF correction (APFC) circuit for power electronic converters. In recent times, the VIENNA rectifier has become a popular choice for three‐phase APFC applications. The converter is a fifth‐order system and results in a highly complex model. This calls for a complex control design procedure and involves enormous computation requiring the use of a high end digital signal processor (DSP). This can be simplified if the order of system is reduced. In this study, it is proposed to decouple and analyse the converter as three independent single phase units operating in parallel with current mode control, thereby reducing the order to two, simplifying the analysis and control design. The transfer function of the proposed small‐signal model is derived and its Bode plot is drawn. A high bandwidth inner average current controller and a low bandwidth outer voltage controller are designed to obtain a 60° phase margin. With the proposed design, a 10 kW prototype VIENNA rectifier is developed with a low cost analogue integrated circuit (IC) and validated. The results obtained prove the accuracy of the proposed model and effectiveness of the control. Single phase operation is also made feasible with the proposed technique.
Management of Intrauterine Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) in 14 Patients by Sonographically Guided Tisseel Application
Authors: Bandura Patrick , Rawnaq Tamina , Holzknecht Annette , Cetin Emine , Reemts Petra , Zoi Panagiota , Schwärzler Peter 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Purpose AVMs are rare tumorous vascular lesions derived from placental tissue that may present with massive post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) causing potentially life-threatening anemic shock. Current treatment options include the embolization of uterine arteries and emergency postpartum hysterectomy. We present a new form of minimally invasive, highly specific sonographically guided treatment in the form of the application of a human fibrin sealant leading to the instant cease of blood loss.
Materials and Methods A management protocol was established and a case series of 14 patients is presented. Diagnosis by endovaginal color Doppler sonography is followed by the sonographically guided application of biological glue (TISSEEL®), thus allowing for super-selective occlusion of the feeding vessels.
Results The procedure was technically successful in all 14 patients, 3 of whom (21 %) had a repeated procedure after 4 – 7 days. The mean age (yrs.) of the patients was 31 (25 – 40), the gravity was median 2 (1 – 5) and the parity was median 1 (0 – 4), the lowest Hb value was on average 9.35 ± 2.25 (5.2 – 14.2) g/dl, the lowest Ht was on average 30.82 ± 6.02 (18 – 41 %). Spectral Doppler analysis revealed an average of 80.71 ± 11.2 (66 – 115) cm/sec for the maximal detectable PSV. In the period of 4 – 55 months after treatment, 7 patients (50 %) had 8 successful pregnancies and 2 miscarriages.
Conclusion In PPH there is vital interest in timely diagnosis of the underlying cause, thus allowing fertility-sparing, minimally invasive and super-selective emergency treatment. In AVMs causing PPH, a positive impact on perinatal morbidity and mortality may be achieved by sonographically guided application of this biological glue.
Exploring the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) as a Possible Measure of Nicotine Dependence
Authors: Mercincavage Melissa , Smyth Joshua M. , Branstetter Steven A. , Catley Delwyn 
Published: November 2015

Background The time to first cigarette (TTFC) of the day is an emerging single-item indicator of nicotine dependence due to its robust associations with indices of physical dependence. However, it is unclear if this measure adequately captures other dimensions of dependence. The Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) is a brief questionnaire used to assess psychological aspects of dependence that has not yet been extensively applied to smoking research. Methods We examined associations between the SDS and TTFC among 255 smokers during the baseline session of a cessation trial. We also examined associations of the SDS and TTFC with biobehavioral dependence indices, quitting behaviors, and cognitive-affective variables and compared the relative contributions of both measures in predicting these variables. Results TTFC was unrelated to SDS total score, but was related to individual SDS items. TTFC, but not SDS, was correlated with indices of physical dependence (e.g., cigarettes per day [CPD], carbon monoxide [CO]). Both TTFC and SDS were associated with quitting behaviors, with opposite directionality of associations. TTFC and SDS were both associated with cognitive-affective variables, but SDS outperformed TTFC in strength and number of these relationships. Including both the SDS and TTFC as regression model predictors often increased the amount of variance explained. Conclusions Findings suggest that SDS and TTFC assess different constructs of nicotine dependence; among smokers, the SDS appears to tap into nonphysical components of dependence (e.g., loss of control) that relate to quitting motivation and affect. Assessing nicotine dependence using only the SDS may fail to capture physical dependence and, further, may not reflect the same domains of addiction the SDS assesses in other drugs of abuse. Nonetheless, using 3 SDS items in addition to TTFC may offer utility over using TTFC alone.
An Exploration of Alcohol use Severity and Route of Drug Administration among Persons that use Heroin and Cocaine
Authors: Scherer Michael , Harrell Paul T. , Trenz Rebecca C. , Canham Sarah , Latimer William W. 
Published: November 2015

Background Alcohol use is prevalent among populations of persons that use illicit drugs. Problematic alcohol use among persons that use heroin and cocaine has been associated with poor treatment adherence, abstinence maintenance, and mental health concerns. Fully exploring how alcohol use severity interacts with route of administration (ROA) may be of notable importance in development of treatment protocols for persons that use heroin and cocaine. Methods Data from a neurological and sociobehavioral assessment of risk factors among injection and noninjection drug users known as the NEURO-HIV Epidemiologic Study was used in the analyses. Participants ( N = 551) included those who reported their level of past-30-day alcohol use and past-6-month heroin and cocaine use. Results Multiple logistic regression analyses found that both problematic and moderate alcohol users were significantly less likely than abstainers to report injecting heroin and cocaine. Both problematic and moderate alcohol users were significantly more likely than abstainers to snort substances. Conclusions Alcohol use may play a role in promoting or impeding the use of substances through certain ROAs. Treatment protocols that transition persons that use injection heroin and cocaine to noninjection use of these substances may be used in conjunction with treatments that reduce alcohol consumption as a means to reduce noninjection drug use.
Policies Related to Opioid Agonist Therapy for Opioid use Disorders: The Evolution of State Policies from 2004 to 2013
Authors: Burns Rachel M. , Pacula Rosalie L. , Bauhoff Sebastian , Gordon Adam J. , Hendrikson Hollie , Leslie Douglas L. , Stein Bradley D. 
Published: November 2015

Background State Medicaid policies play an important role in Medicaid enrollees’ access to and use of opioid agonists, such as methadone and buprenorphine, in the treatment of opioid use disorders. Little information is available, however, regarding the evolution of state policies facilitating or hindering access to opioid agonists among Medicaid enrollees. Methods During 2013–2014, we surveyed state Medicaid officials and other designated state substance abuse treatment specialists about their state's recent history of Medicaid coverage and policies pertaining to methadone and buprenorphine. We describe the evolution of such coverage and policies and present an overview of the Medicaid policy environment with respect to opioid agonist therapy from 2004 to 2013. Results Among our sample of 45 states with information on buprenorphine and methadone coverage, we found a gradual trend toward adoption of coverage for opioid agonist therapies in state Medicaid agencies. In 2013, only 11% of states in our sample ( n = 5) had Medicaid policies that excluded coverage for methadone and buprenorphine, whereas 71% ( n = 32) had adopted or maintained policies to cover both buprenorphine and methadone among Medicaid enrollees. We also noted an increase in policies over the time period that may have hindered access to buprenorphine and/or methadone. Conclusions There appears to be a trend for states to enact policies increasing Medicaid coverage of opioid agonist therapies, while in recent years also enacting policies, such as prior authorization requirements, that potentially serve as barriers to opioid agonist therapy utilization. Greater empirical information about the potential benefits and potential unintended consequences of such policies can provide policymakers and others with a more informed understanding of their policy decisions.
Reference Values for Exercise Systolic Blood Pressure in 12- to 17-Year-Old
Adolescents
Authors: Hacke Claudia , Weisser Burkhard 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In adults, blood pressure (BP) during exercise has prognostic advantages compared to resting BP, whereas its relevance for children has not been revealed as clearly. Because exercise BP among young subjects might be of clinical importance, we sought to determine reference values in adolescents.

METHODS
BP recordings at rest and during a cycle ergometer test (1.5W/kg) were assessed in 492 teenagers (12–17 years) in the Kiel EX.PRESS. Study (EXercise and PRESSure). The resting systolic BP (SBP) values at the 90th and 95th percentile of the German reference population were applied on our resting SBP distribution. The resulting resting SBP percentiles were then used to propose exercise SBP limits.

RESULTS
Of our group, 12.4% exhibited a resting SBP ≥ 90th reference percentile, with 7.9% ≥ 95th percentile. The corresponding age group- and sex-specific percentiles were assigned to the exercise SBP distribution resulting in reference values for high normal and elevated SBP (upper limit, girls/boys, mm Hg): 172/172 for 12–13 years, 174.7/177.3 for 14–15 years, 178.5/201.3 for 16–17 years). Using these limits, exercise SBP values were elevated in 8.1%, 5.5% were within the high normal range. Normal resting SBP but at least high normal exercise SBP was found in 7.7%. In contrast, 7.4% were high normal or hypertensive at rest but normotensive during exercise.

CONCLUSIONS
Exercise BP is expected to be of additional use for the evaluation of BP in younger age groups. As long as prognostic data for exercise BP in adolescents are not available, the limits proposed might be considered in clinical practice.
Viral Shedding and Antibody Response in 37 Patients With Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection
Authors: Corman Victor M. , Albarrak Ali M. , Omrani Ali Senosi , Albarrak Mohammed M. , Farah Mohamed Elamin , Almasri Malak , Muth Doreen , Sieberg Andrea , Meyer Benjamin , Assiri Abdullah M. , Binger Tabea , Steinhagen Katja , Lattwein Erik , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar , Müller Marcel A. , Drosten Christian , Memish Ziad A. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Background.  The Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus causes isolated cases and outbreaks of severe respiratory disease. Essential features of the natural history of disease are poorly understood.
Methods.  We studied 37 adult patients infected with MERS coronavirus for viral load in the lower and upper respiratory tracts (LRT and URT, respectively), blood, stool, and urine. Antibodies and serum neutralizing activities were determined over the course of disease.
Results.  One hundred ninety-nine LRT samples collected during the 3 weeks following diagnosis yielded virus RNA in 93% of tests. Average (maximum) viral loads were 5 × 106 (6 × 1010) copies/mL. Viral loads (positive detection frequencies) in 84 URT samples were 1.9 × 104 copies/mL (47.6%). Thirty-three percent of all 108 serum samples tested yielded viral RNA. Only 14.6% of stool and 2.4% of urine samples yielded viral RNA. All seroconversions occurred during the first 2 weeks after diagnosis, which corresponds to the second and third week after symptom onset. Immunoglobulin M detection provided no advantage in sensitivity over immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection. All surviving patients, but only slightly more than half of all fatal cases, produced IgG and neutralizing antibodies. The levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies were weakly and inversely correlated with LRT viral loads. Presence of antibodies did not lead to the elimination of virus from LRT.
Conclusions.  The timing and intensity of respiratory viral shedding in patients with MERS closely matches that of those with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Blood viral RNA does not seem to be infectious. Extrapulmonary loci of virus replication seem possible. Neutralizing antibodies do not suffice to clear the infection.