bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is There Evidence for Potential Harm of Electronic Cigarette Use in Pregnancy?
Authors: Suter Melissa A. , Mastrobattista Joan , Sachs Maike , Aagaard Kjersti 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundUse of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) and other nicotine containing products is increasing among women of reproductive age. The short‐ and long‐term effects of these products on both mother and fetus are unknown.MethodsBecause e‐cigarettes are nicotine delivery systems, we sought to conduct a comprehensive review of the effects of nicotine on the fetus.ResultsIn utero nicotine exposure in animal models is associated with adverse effects for the offspring lung, cardiovascular system and brain. In the lung, this included reduced surface area, weight, and volume, as well as emphysema‐like lesions. In adulthood, exposed offspring demonstrate elevated blood pressure and increased perivascular adipose tissue. In the brain, exposure alters offspring serotonergic, dopaminergic, and norepinephrine networks, which in turn are associated with behavioral and cognitive impairments. We also review current data on the lack of efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy in pregnant women, and highlight different nicotine containing products such as snuff, snus, and hookah.ConclusionWe conclude that no amount of nicotine is known to be safe during pregnancy, and studies specifically addressing this risk are crucial and an imminent public health issue. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:186–195, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
XSOFT: A generic software teaching and learning model
Authors: Radhakrishnan P. , Kanmani S. , Nandhini M. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTThe attitude of software learning by students relies on transforming the Learning Model consistently into Software Development Model. The effort and time taken for development of different phases of software, has few issues, in particular, the principles and practices to be followed in academia. To address these issues, a generic software teaching and learning model called eXtreme Software Teaching (XSOFT) is proposed by integrating the essence of the Extreme Programming (XP) method with COSMIC FFP (Common Software Measurement Integration Consortium Full Function Point) Standards. The effectiveness of this proposed model was tested on real time projects assigned to students as a realistic study by selecting them with equal skill and knowledge on programming. They were divided into two groups, such as Pair Programmers and Solo Programmers. The performances of these groups are measured with respect to the trade in person‐days using XSOFT. The empirical results show that the assessment of person‐days are less on pair programming than solo programming and effective programming skill is found with pair programmers. In addition, the robustness of this model are confirmed by the results of another real time project as case study. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 23:432–442, 2015; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21613
One‐Pot Synthesis of Cobalt‐Incorporated Nitrogen‐Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide as an Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst in Alkaline Medium
Authors: Kottakkat Tintula , Bron Michael 
Published: November 2014

AbstractCobalt‐incorporated nitrogen‐doped reduced graphene oxide (Co/NrGO) as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction is prepared in a single step by thermal reduction of graphene oxide to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in the presence of a cobalt salt and 1,10‐phenanthroline as a nitrogen precursor. Cobalt is identified as cobalt oxide (CoO) in the hybrid. Both the cobalt and nitrogen contents in Co/NrGO are higher than those in cobalt‐ or nitrogen‐free samples; this indicates that cobalt and 1,10‐phenathroline mutually enhance incorporation into the material. An almost four‐electron transfer is observed as the average per oxygen molecule, and Co/NrGO demonstrates highly improved activity in comparison with NrGO and rGO. CoO and nitrogen‐doped moieties may be acting as active centers for oxygen reduction individually or synergistically. With a loading of less than 2 wt % cobalt in Co/NrGO, appreciable activity is already observed. Moreover, the high selectivity for oxygen reduction over methanol oxidation for Co/NrGO is demonstrated, making this hybrid a promising catalyst for direct methanol alkaline fuel cells.
Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of Intensively Blue Emissive 3‐Hydroxyisoquinolines by Sequential Ugi Four‐Component Reaction/Reductive Heck Cyclization
Authors: Moni Lisa , Denißen Melanie , Valentini Gianluca , Müller Thomas J. J. , Riva Renata 
Published: November 2014

AbstractA convergent approach to highly functionalized 3‐hydroxyisoquinolines is reported. The key steps are an Ugi multicomponent reaction and a subsequent intramolecular reductive Heck reaction; these can also be performed as a one‐pot procedure. The structures display very interesting properties as blue‐fluorescence emitters. Photophysical studies on the absorption and static fluorescence indicate that the substitution pattern on the pyridyl part influences the optical properties only to a minor extent, unless the amide substituent becomes sterically demanding and leads to significant nonradiative deactivation. The donor substitution on the benzo core considerably enhances the fluorescence quantum yields and trimethoxy substitution causes a pronounced redshift of the emission bands. Protonation of the isoquinolyl nitrogen atom causes efficient static quenching of the fluorescence.
Patterns of locoregional treatment for nonmetastatic breast cancer by patient and health system factors
Authors: Anderson Roger T. , Morris Cyllene R. , Kimmick Gretchen , Trentham‐Dietz Amy , Camacho Fabian , Wu Xiao‐Cheng , Sabatino Susan A. , Fleming Steven T. , Lipscomb Joseph 
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUNDThe purpose of this study was to examine local definitive therapy for nonmetastatic breast cancer with the Patterns of Care Breast and Prostate Cancer (POCBP) study of the National Program of Cancer Registries (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).METHODSPOCBP medical record data were re‐abstracted in 7 state/regional registry systems (Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California) to verify data quality and assess treatment patterns in the population. National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice treatment guidelines were aligned with American Joint Committee on Cancer staging at diagnosis to appraise care.RESULTSSix thousand five hundred five of 9142 patients with registry‐confirmed breast cancer were coded as having primary disease with stage 0 to IIIA tumors and were included in the study. Approximately 88% received guideline‐concordant locoregional treatment. However, this outcome varied by age group: 92% of women < age 50 versus 80% of women ≥ age 70 years old received guideline care (P < 0.01). Characteristics that best discriminated receipt (no/yes) of guideline‐concordant care in receiver operating curve analyses were the receipt of breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) versus mastectomy (C = 0.70), patient age (C = 0.62), a greater tumor stage (C = 0.60), public insurance (C = 0.58), and the presence of at least mild comorbidity (C = 0.55). Radiation therapy (RT) after BCS was the most omitted treatment component causing nonconcordance in the study population. In multivariate regression, the effects of the treatment facility, ductal carcinoma in situ, race, and comorbidity on nonconcordant care differed by age group.CONCLUSIONSPatterns of underuse of standard therapies for breast cancer vary by age group and BCS use, with which there is a risk of omission of RT. Cancer 2015;121:790–799. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Characterization of brain cell nuclei with decondensed chromatin
Authors: Yu Ping , McKinney Elizabeth C. , Kandasamy Muthugapatti M. , Albert Alexandria L. , Meagher Richard B. 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTAlthough multipotent cell types have enlarged nuclei with decondensed chromatin, this property has not been exploited to enhance the characterization of neural progenitor cell (NPC) populations in the brain. We found that mouse brain cell nuclei that expressed exceptionally high levels of the pan neuronal marker NeuN/FOX3 (NeuN‐High) had decondensed chromatin relative to most NeuN‐Low or NeuN‐Neg (negative) nuclei. Purified NeuN‐High nuclei expressed significantly higher levels of transcripts encoding markers of neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, and learning and memory (ARC, BDNF, ERG1, HOMER1, NFL/NEF1, SYT1), subunits of chromatin modifying machinery (SIRT1, HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC11, KAT2B, KAT3A, KAT3B, KAT5, DMNT1, DNMT3A, Gadd45a, Gadd45b) and markers of NPC and cell cycle activity (BRN2, FOXG1, KLF4, c‐MYC, OCT4, PCNA, SHH, SOX2) relative to neuronal NeuN‐Low or to mostly non‐neuronal NeuN‐Neg nuclei. NeuN‐High nuclei expressed higher levels of HDAC1, 2, 4, and 5 proteins. The cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, and nucleus accumbens contained high percentages of large decondensed NeuN‐High nuclei, while the cerebellum, and pons contained very few. NeuN‐High nuclei have the properties consistent with their being derived from extremely active neurons with elevated rates of chromatin modification and/or NPC‐like cells with multilineage developmental potential. The further analysis of decondensed neural cell nuclei should provide novel insights into neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 738–756, 2015
Development of Broadband Telecommunications System for Railways Using Laser Technology
Authors: Nakamura Kazuki , Nakagawa Shingo , Matsubara Hiroshi , Tatsui Daisuke , Seki Kiyotaka , Haruyama Shinichiro , Teraoka Fumio 
Published: November 2014

SUMMARYWe developed a high‐speed telecommunication system for use on railways to improve customer service and the efficiency of operator's telecommunications between ground facilities and trains under operation. We built a mobile telecommunication system, capable of achieving a transfer rate of 1 Gbps in theory, by utilizing laser beam communications technology. We carried out a field test using trains in active service, and obtained results in which a transfer rate of approximately 700 Mbps in the TCP layer was achieved between the ground and a train running at a speed of approximately 130 km/h .
Fundamental Evaluation of Power Supply and Rectifiers for Wireless Power Transfer Using Magnetic Resonant Coupling
Authors: Kusaka Keisuke , Itoh Jun‐ichi 
Published: November 2014

SUMMARYThis paper provides a fundamental analysis of a power supply and rectifiers for wireless power transfer using magnetic resonant coupling (MRC). MRC enables efficient wireless power transfer over middle‐range transfer distances. MRC for wireless power transfer should operate at a high frequency in the industry science medical band, such as 13.56 MHz, because the size of the transfer device decreases at higher transfer frequencies. Therefore, the output frequency of the power supply on the transmitting side should be 13.56 MHz. In addition, the rectifier on the receiving side is operated at a high frequency. This paper focuses on the reflected power in the power supply and rectifiers. Thus, the parametric design method is clarified for the power supply, including a low‐pass filter to match the output, the impedance of the power supply with the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. In addition, the effects on the rectifiers of silicon carbide and gallium nitride diodes are confirmed by performing an experiment and a loss analysis.
Effect of Moving Speed of Charged Metallic Spherical Electrode on Electrostatic Discharge
Authors: Tomita Hajime 
Published: November 2014

SUMMARYIn this investigation, the nature of the electrostatic discharge (ESD) that occurs when a charged object moves toward a stationary grounded object is experimentally clarified. The spark lengths, discharge currents, and induced voltages in a magnetic probe were measured when a charged metallic spherical electrode connected to a 422 pF capacitor approached a stationary grounded object, which was the current target, for different moving speeds of the charged metallic spherical electrode in a range of 1 mm/s to 100 mm/s. The charge voltages of the capacitor were +6.5 kV and +10 kV. Based on the results, the average gap length shortened with the speed of the spherical electrode. The average peak values of the discharge current and the induced voltage were likely to increase with the speed of the spherical electrode. The average rise times of the discharge current and the induced voltage were likely to drop with the speed of the spherical electrode. The relation between the spark length and the discharge current due to the ESD can be explained qualitatively by using an equation derived from the spark resistance formula proposed by Rompe and Weizel.
Sex‐dependent regulation of fibrosis and inflammation in human left ventricular remodelling under pressure overload
Authors: Kararigas Georgios , Dworatzek Elke , Petrov George , Summer Holger , Schulze Tabea Marie , Baczko Istvan , Knosalla Christoph , Golz Stefan , Hetzer Roland , Regitz‐Zagrosek Vera 
Published: November 2014

AimsWomen with aortic stenosis develop a more concentric form of LV hypertrophy than men. However, the molecular factors underlying sex differences in LV remodelling are incompletely understood. We took an unbiased approach to identify sex‐specific patterns in gene expression and pathway regulation, and confirmed the most prominent findings in human hearts.Methods and resultsEchocardiography was performed in 104 patients (53.8% women) with aortic stenosis before aortic valve replacement. LV mass, LV end‐diastolic diameter, and relative wall thickness were included in a factor analysis to generate an index classifying LV remodelling as adaptive or maladaptive. Maladaptive remodelling was present in 64.6% of male and in 32.7% of female patients (P < 0.01). Genome‐wide expression profiling of LV samples was performed in a representative subgroup of 19 patients (52.6% women) compared with samples from healthy controls (n = 18). Transcriptome characterization revealed that fibrosis‐related genes/pathways were induced in male overloaded ventricles, while extracellular matrix‐related and inflammatory genes/pathways were repressed in female overloaded ventricles (adjusted P < 0.05). We confirmed gene regulation by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analysis, and we further demonstrate the relevance of our findings by histological documentation of higher fibrosis in men than in women.ConclusionWe conclude that in pressure overload distinct molecular processes are regulated between men and women. Maladaptive LV remodelling occurs more frequently in men and is associated with greater activation of profibrotic and inflammatory markers. Collectively, sex‐specific regulation of these processes may contribute to sex differences in the progression to heart failure.
Impact of lowering pulmonary vascular resistance on right and left ventricular deformation in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Querejeta Roca Gabriela , Campbell Patricia , Claggett Brian , Vazir Ali , Quinn Debbie , Solomon Scott D. , Shah Amil M. 
Published: November 2014

AimsAs pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among patients with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, we aimed to determine the impact of therapy to reduce pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) on RV and LV deformation in PAH.Methods and resultsRight ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) and LV global circumferential strain (CS) were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks in 68 patients with advanced PAH randomized to imatinib or placebo in the Imatinib in Pulmonary arterial hypertension, a Randomized Efficacy Study (IMPRES) trial, and compared with 30 healthy controls. Compared with controls, PAH was associated with impaired RV FWLS (–15.9 ± 5.4 vs. –30.8 ± 4.3, respectively; P < 0.0001) and LV septal CS (–24.2 ± 8.2 vs. –31.4 ± 5.3, respectively, P < 0.0001), but not LV global CS. Improvement in PVR and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) over a 24‐week period was significantly associated with improvement in RV FWLS (r = 0.39, P = 0.02; 0.33, P = 0.04 respectively), LV global CS (r = 0.61, P = 0.0001; r = 0.60, P = 0.0001, respectively), and LV septal CS (r = 0.50, P = 0.005; r = 0.56, P = 0.002, respectively). These associations were most robust with LV global and septal CS. Imatinib therapy was associated with improvement in RV FWLS compared with placebo.ConclusionsPAH is associated with impaired biventricular deformation. Reduction in PVR is associated with improvements in both RV and LV deformation, coupled to improvements in MPAP and stroke volume index, with LV global and septal CS the strongest correlates of these changes. RV FWLS is sensitive to treatment effect, demonstrating greater improvement with imatinib compared with placebo.Trial registration: NCT00902174
Steel slit shear walls with double‐tapered links capable of condition assessment
Authors: Kurata Masahiro , He Liusheng , Nakashima Masayoshi 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe concept of using a hysteretic damper as a condition assessment device that functions immediately after a damaging earthquake is realized by making use of the residual out‐of‐plane deformation of links that are arranged in slit shear walls. According to the proposed inspection procedure, the maximum drift ratio experienced by the slit wall is estimated based on the number of torsionally deformed links whose dimensions are determined so that the links would exhibit notable torsional deformation at the target deformations. The adoption of a double‐tapered shape for the links enables us to significantly increase the amount of out‐of‐plane deformation. The relationship between the dimensions and the torsional deformation of the links is established using numerical simulations. The effectiveness of the proposed condition assessment scenario is verified by using a series of cyclic loading tests for individual links and groups of links. As a hysteretic damper, the strength and stiffness of the links predicted by design equations matched well with test results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Close‐range blast exposure is associated with altered functional connectivity in Veterans independent of concussion symptoms at time of exposure
Authors: Robinson Meghan E. , Lindemer Emily R. , Fonda Jennifer R. , Milberg William P. , McGlinchey Regina E. , Salat David H. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAlthough there is emerging data on the effects of blast‐related concussion (or mTBI) on cognition, the effects of blast exposure itself on the brain have only recently been explored. Toward this end, we examine functional connectivity to the posterior cingulate cortex, a primary region within the default mode network (DMN), in a cohort of 134 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans characterized for a range of common military‐associated comorbidities. Exposure to a blast at close range (<10 meters) was associated with decreased connectivity of bilateral primary somatosensory and motor cortices, and these changes were not different from those seen in participants with blast‐related mTBI. These results remained significant when clinical factors such as sleep quality, chronic pain, or post traumatic stress disorder were included in the statistical model. In contrast, differences in functional connectivity based on concussion history and blast exposures at greater distances were not apparent. Despite the limitations of a study of this nature (e.g., assessments long removed from injury, self‐reported blast history), these data demonstrate that blast exposure per se, which is prevalent among those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, may be an important consideration in Veterans' health. It further offers a clinical guideline for determining which blasts (namely, those within 10 meters) are likely to lead to long‐term health concerns and may be more accurate than using concussion symptoms alone. Hum Brain Mapp 36:911–922, 2015. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
fMRI identifies the right inferior frontal cortex as the brain region where time interval processing is altered by negative emotional arousal
Authors: Pfeuty Micha , Dilharreguy Bixente , Gerlier Loïc , Allard Michèle 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe reason why human beings are inclined to overestimate the duration of highly arousing negative events remains enigmatic. The issue about what neurocognitive mechanisms and neural structures support the connection between time perception and emotion was addressed here by an event‐related neuroimaging study involving a localizer task, followed by the main experiment. The localizer task, in which participants had to categorize either the duration or the average color of visual stimuli aimed at identifying the neural structures constitutive of a duration‐specific network. The aim of the main experiment, in which participants had to categorize the presentation time of either neutral or emotionally negative visual stimuli, was to unmask which parts of the previously identified duration‐specific network are sensitive to emotionally negative arousal. The duration‐specific network that we uncovered from the localizer task comprised the cerebellum bilaterally as well as the orbitofrontal, the anterior cingulate, the anterior insular, and the inferior frontal cortices in the right hemisphere. Strikingly, the imaging data from the main experiment underscored that the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) was the only region within the duration‐specific network whose activity was increased in the face of emotionally negative pictures compared to neutral ones. Remarkably too, the extent of neural activation induced by emotionally negative pictures (compared to neutral ones) in this region correlated with a behavioral index reflecting the extent to which emotionally negative pictures were overestimated compared to neutral ones. The results are discussed in relation to recent models and studies suggesting that the right anterior insular cortex/IFC is of central importance in time perception. Hum Brain Mapp 36:981–995, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.