bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of different rapid maxillary expansion appliances on facial soft tissues using three-dimensional imaging
Authors: Altındiş Sedat , Toy Ebubekir , Başçiftçi Faruk Ayhan 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT

Objective:
To determine three-dimensional (3D) effects of three different rapid maxillary expansion (RME) appliances on facial soft tissues.

Materials and Methods:
Forty-two children (18 boys, 24 girls) who required RME treatment were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided into three equal groups: banded RME, acrylic splint RME, and modified acrylic splint RME. For each patient, 3D images were obtained before treatment (T1) and at the end of the 3-month retention (T2) with the 3dMD system.

Results:
When three RME appliances were compared in terms of the effects on the facial soft tissues, there were no significant differences among them. The mouth and nasal width showed a significant increase in all groups. Although the effect of the acrylic splint RME appliances on total face height was less than that of the banded RME, there was no significant difference between the appliances. The effect of the modified acrylic splint appliance on the upper lip was significant according to the volumetric measurements (P &lt; .01).

Conclusions:
There were no significant differences among three RME appliances on the facial soft tissues. The modified acrylic splint RME produced a more protrusive effect on the upper lip.
Therapeutic temperature modulation in severe or moderate traumatic brain injury: a propensity score analysis of data from the Nationwide Japan Neurotrauma Data Bank
Authors: Miyata Kei , Ohnishi Hirofumi , Maekawa Kunihiko , Mikami Takeshi , Akiyama Yukinori , Iihoshi Satoshi , Wanibuchi Masahiko , Mikuni Nobuhiro , Uemura Shuji , Tanno Katsutoshi , Narimatsu Eichi , Asai Yasufumi 
Published: September 2015

OBJECT
In patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), a randomized controlled trial revealed that outcomes did not significantly improve after therapeutic hypothermia (TH) or normothermia (TN). However, avoiding pyrexia, which is often associated with intracranial disorders, might improve clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare neurological outcomes among patients with moderate and severe TBI after therapeutic temperature modulation (TTM) in the absence of other interventions.

METHODS
Data from 1091 patients were obtained from the Japan Neurotrauma Data Bank Project 2009, a cohort observational study. Patients with cardiac arrest, those with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 and dilated fixed pupils, and those whose cause of death was injury to another area of the body were excluded, leaving 687 patients aged 16 years or older in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the TTM group underwent TN (213 patients) or TH (82 patients), and the control group (392 patients) did not receive TTM. The primary end point for this study was the rate of poor outcome at hospital discharge, and the secondary end point was in-hospital death. Out of the 208 total items in the database, 29 variables that could potentially affect outcome were matched using the propensity score (PS) method in order to reduce selection bias and balance the baseline characteristics.

RESULTS
From each group, 141 patients were extracted using the PS-matching process. Among the patients in the TTM group, 29 had undergone TH and 112 had undergone TN. In a log-rank test using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, no significant differences in patient outcome or death were observed between the 2 groups (poor outcome, p = 0.83; death, p = 0.18). A Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis established the HR for poor outcome and mortality at 1.03 (95% CI 0.78–1.36, p = 0.83) and 1.34 (95% CI 0.87–2.07, p = 0.18), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
There was no clear improvement in neurological outcomes after TTM in patients with moderate or severe TBI. To elucidate the role of TTM in patients with these injuries, a prospective study is needed with long-term follow-up using specific target temperatures.
Microembolism after endovascular coiling of unruptured cerebral aneurysms: incidence and risk factors
Authors: Park Jung Cheol , Lee Deok Hee , Kim Jae Kyun , Ahn Jae Sung , Kwun Byung Duk , Kim Dae Yoon , Choi Choong Gon 
Published: September 2015

OBJECT
The incidence and risk factors of microembolic lesions on MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were analyzed after the endovascular coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

METHODS
Data obtained from 271 consecutive patients (70 men and 201 women; median age 57 years; range 23–79 years) who presented with UIA for coil embolization between July 2011 and June 2013 were analyzed. Two independent reviewers examined the DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient maps obtained the following day for the presence of restrictive diffusion spots and counted the number of spots. Multivariate analysis was then performed to identify independent risk factors for developing microembolism following the coiling of an aneurysm.

RESULTS
Microembolic lesions were noted in 101 of 271 patients (37.3%). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that the following factors significantly influenced the risk for microembolism: age, diabetes, previous history of ischemic stroke, high-signal FLAIR lesions in the white matter, multiple aneurysms, and the insertion of an Enterprise stent (all ORs > 1.0 and all p values < 0.05). Previously known risk factors such as prolonged procedure duration, aneurysm size, and decreased antiplatelet function did not show any significant influence.

CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of microembolism after endovascular coiling of UIA was not low. Lesions occurred more frequently in patients with vascular status associated with old age, diabetes, and previous stroke. Aneurysm multiplicity and the type of stent used for treatment also influenced lesion occurrence.
Biomechanical analysis of an expandable lateral cage and a static transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion cage with posterior instrumentation in an in vitro spondylolisthesis model
Authors: Mantell Matthew , Cyriac Mathew , Haines Colin M. , Gudipally Manasa , O’Brien Joseph R. 
Published: September 2015

OBJECT
Insufficient biomechanical data exist from comparisons of the stability of expandable lateral cages with that of static transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) cages. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to compare the relative rigidity of L4–5 expandable lateral interbody constructs with or without additive pedicle screw fixation with that of L4–5 static TLIF cages in a novel cadaveric spondylolisthesis model.

METHODS
Eight human cadaver spines were used in this study. A spondylolisthesis model was created at the L4–5 level by creating 2 injuries. First, in each cadaver, a nucleotomy from 2 channels through the anterior side was created. Second, the cartilage of the facet joint was burred down to create a gap of 4 mm. Light-emitting-diode tracking markers were placed at L-3, L-4, L-5, and S-1. Specimens were tested in the following scenarios: intact model, bilateral pedicle screws, expandable lateral 18-mm-wide cage (alone, with unilateral pedicle screws [UPSs], and with bilateral pedicle screws [BPSs]), expandable lateral 22-mm-wide cage (alone, with UPSs, and with BPSs), and TLIF (alone, with UPSs, and with BPSs). Four of the spines were tested with the expandable lateral cages (18-mm cage followed by the 22-mm cage), and 4 of the spines were tested with the TLIF construct. All these constructs were tested in flexion-extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending.

RESULTS
The TLIF-alone construct was significantly less stable than the 18- and 22-mm-wide lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) constructs and the TLIF constructs with either UPSs or BPSs. The LLIF constructs alone were significantly less stable than the TLIF construct with BPSs. However, there was no significant difference between the 18-mm LLIF construct with UPSs and the TLIF construct with BPSs in any of the loading modes.

CONCLUSIONS
Expandable lateral cages with UPSs provide stability equivalent to that of a TLIF construct with BPSs in a degenerative spondylolisthesis model.
Media innovations: success and paradox. (Editorial Introduction)
Authors: Ess Charles Melvin 
Published: September 2015

I review the four main articles constituting this issue, highlighting successes as well as tensions and conflicts uncovered across the articles in various efforts at innovation. I conclude by noting how both individual articles and articles taken together reinforce, expand, and/or call into question larger patterns of media innovations as these have been articulated in previous issues of The Journal of Media Innovations.
Levels and Potential Sources of Heavy Metals in Major Irrigated Rice Areas of the Philippines
Authors: Magahud Jehru C. , Badayos Rodrigo B. , Sanchez Pearl B. , Sta. Cruz Pompe C. 
Published: September 2015

Industrialization, urbanization and intensive use of farm inputs can pollute agricultural areas. The study was then conducted to assess the levels of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in the country’s major rice areas. The study also determined the contributions of soil properties, land uses, irrigation water, and farm inputs to the metal levels. Strategic collections of soil, plant and water samples in the country’s major soil series planted to rice, analyses of samples using x-ray fluorescence or atomic absorption spectroscopy, and farmer interviews were done. Metal levels were very high in Zambales and Negros Occidental soils due to deposition or use of metal-enriched mine tailings and irrigation water. Soil metal concentrations in Zambales far exceeded the intervention values of 180 mg/kg for Cr and 100 mg/kg for Ni. Soil metal levels in Negros Occidental exceeded the intervention value of 190 mg/kg for Cu and Mo. Rice plants in Negros Occidental exceeded the toxic levels of 30 mg/kg for Cu and 10-50 mg/kg for Mo due to the very high soil Cu and Mo concentrations in the area. Molybdenum concentrations of rice plants in Sultan Kudarat and Camarines Sur exceeded the toxic level due to the high amounts of foliar chemicals applied at >66 sprayer loads per year. The study implies that rice areas deposited with mine wastes have high heavy metal levels, and foliar chemicals can increase metal levels in rice. Keywords - Environmental toxicology, heavy metals, heavy metal sources, rice soils, Philippines
Growth and Yield Responses of NSIC Rc11 and Inipot-Ibon to Different Nitrogen Rates under Upland Condition
Authors: Quimbo Michelle C. , Mamaril Cezar P. 
Published: September 2015

Two consecutive upland rice wet season croppings (2012-2013) were conducted in Lipa clay loam soil at Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. This was done to determine which among NSIC Rc11 (modern variety) and Inipot-Ibon (traditional variety) applied with six fertilizer rates [kg/ha of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)] with increasing N levels: control (zero fertilizer), 0-0-30, 20-30-30, 40-30-30, 60-30-30, and 80-30-30, will improve plant growth, yield, and profit. NSIC Rc11 was more productive with comparative average grain yields of 2.42-4.70 t/ha compared to Inipot-Ibon with only 1.40-2.20 t/ha during the two cropping seasons. This was due to the higher harvest index, tiller, panicle production, and return on investment (ROI) of NSIC Rc11 compared to Inipot-Ibon. Application of 20-80 kg/ha N plus 30 kg of both P and K significantly increased the grain and straw yields of NSIC Rc11 but not Inipot-Ibon having no significant response to fertilizer application. Highest ROI, though, was observed from the application of 60-30-30 kg/ha NPK to NSIC Rc11. The economic benefit from producing upland rice was very low due to the high cost of production from land preparation and maintenance costs (i.e. herbicides and pesticides application, contract labor for manual weeding). Keywords - itrogen rate, upland rice, yield performance, return on investment, experimental design, Philippines
Energy Management: Optimization Strategy
Authors: Zhu Frank Xin X. 
Published: September 2015

The goal of energy management is to control energy usage in the most efficient manner in order to make chemical processes more economic and efficient and less polluting. To achieve these goals, energy use must be optimized with the same rigor as production yields and safety issues are managed.
The article offers theory and tested and proven methods to use energy efficiently in process plants, while meeting all production goals under process and equipment constraints, which are expected to lead to significant returns on capital. The article provides guidelines on choosing and implementing approaches to address specific process conditions and production needs of process plants.
Observations of the ionospheric impact of M‐class solar flares on local and hemispheric scales
Authors: Helmboldt J. F. , Kassim N. E. , Teare S. W. 
Published: September 2015

The ionospheric impact of a series of M‐class solar flares that occurred on 12 March 2015 is described. A combination of data sets from GPS receivers and two different colocated radio telescopes, the very large array (VLA) and the long wavelength array (LWA), was used to detect and characterize flare‐induced irregularities. The data demonstrate that each flare causes a rapid step‐like increase in total electron content (TEC) of about 0.2 total electron content units (TECU), 1 TECU = 1016 el m−2. The rise times of these steps are on the order of 1–3 min. The GPS data show signs of traveling ionospheric disturbances likely associated with gravity waves whose magnitudes were temporarily enhanced by the impact of two of the flares. Increased activity within the horizontal TEC gradients observed with the VLA was apparent for several minutes following the flare X‐ray peak. The properties of these VLA‐detected disturbances are strongly indicative of field‐aligned irregularities within the plasmasphere. They initially form at two altitudes, approximately 2600 and 5600 km. Those that form higher quickly disappear, whereas those that form lower appear to descend over a period of ∼7 min to an altitude of roughly 1450 km before disappearing. LWA observations of ionospheric reflections of the HF radio station WWV show a significant and brief (∼few minutes) Doppler frequency disturbance near the onset of TEC enhancement, followed by a ∼5 min drop in received power, indicating increased ionization in the D region.
Screening and Engineering the Synthetic Potential of Carboxylating Reductases from Central Metabolism and Polyketide Biosynthesis
Authors: Peter Dominik M. , Schada von Borzyskowski Lennart , Kiefer Patrick , Christen Philipp , Vorholt Julia A. , Erb Tobias J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCarboxylating enoyl‐thioester reductases (ECRs) are a recently discovered class of enzymes. They catalyze the highly efficient addition of CO2 to the double bond of α,β‐unsaturated CoA‐thioesters and serve two biological functions. In primary metabolism of many bacteria they produce ethylmalonyl‐CoA during assimilation of the central metabolite acetyl‐CoA. In secondary metabolism they provide distinct α‐carboxyl‐acyl‐thioesters to vary the backbone of numerous polyketide natural products. Different ECRs were systematically assessed with a diverse library of potential substrates. We identified three active site residues that distinguish ECRs restricted to C4 and C5‐enoyl‐CoAs from highly promiscuous ECRs and successfully engineered a selected ECR as proof‐of‐principle. This study defines the molecular basis of ECR reactivity, allowing for predicting and manipulating a key reaction in natural product diversification.
Epoxidized natural rubber toughened poly(lactic acid)/halloysite nanocomposites with high activation energy of water diffusion
Authors: Tham Wei Ling , Poh Beng Teik , Mohd Ishak Zainal Arifin , Chow Wen Shyang 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTPoly(lactic acid)/halloysite nanotube (PLA/HNT) nanocomposites were prepared using melt compounding followed by compression molding. Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was used to toughen the PLA nanocomposites. The properties of PLA/HNT nanocomposites were characterized by impact tests, thermal analysis (DSC), morphological analysis (FESEM, TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Water absorption tests were performed at three immersion temperature (30, 40, 50°C). The maximum water absorption (Mm), diffusion coefficient (D), and the activation energy of water diffusion (Ea) were determined. The impact strength of PLA/HNT6 nanocomposites was increased significantly to ∼296% by the addition of 15 wt % ENR. The incorporation of HNT and ENR increase its nucleation effect and assist in the crystallization process of PLA. The HNT has good affinity with PLA and ENR, which was revealed by TEM and FTIR. The Mm of PLA was increased in the presence of HNT and ENR. Nevertheless, the D value and the Ea of the PLA nanocomposites were found to be affected by the HNT and ENR contents. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42850.
Conversion of expanded polystyrene waste to nanoparticles via nanoprecipitation
Authors: Rajeev Ashna , Erapalapati Venkataramana , Madhavan Nandita , Basavaraj Madivala G. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTThe conversion of polymeric waste into useful, value added material is considered as an efficient method for polymeric waste management because of the environmental issues caused by such materials. This work proposes a simple, cost‐effective strategy for the conversion of expanded polystyrene waste into polystyrene nanoparticles via nanoprecipitation. In this method, expanded polystyrene is dissolved in a suitable solvent for example, tetrahydrofuran and added to a nonsolvent, such as water, to precipitate polystyrene nanoparticles of diameter less than 500 nm. The study also investigates the influence of various process parameters such as, initial concentration of expanded polystyrene, the speed of stirring, the solvent to water volume ratio and the solvent type used for nanoprecipitation, on the size and polydispersity of the precipitated PS nanoparticles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42904.
Multi‐Fluorinated Azido Coumarins for Rapid and Selective Detection of Biological H2S in Living Cells
Authors: Zhu Zhentao , Li Yanyan , Wei Chao , Wen Xin , Xi Zhen , Yi Long 
Published: September 2015

AbstractHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule with multiple biological functions. In order to visualize the endogenous in situ production of H2S in living cells in real time, here we developed multi‐fluorinated azido coumarins as fluorescent probes for the rapid and selective detection of biological H2S. Kinetic studies indicated that an increase in fluorine substitution leads to an increased rate of H2S‐mediated reduction reaction, which is also supported by our theoretical calculations. To our delight, tetra‐fluorinated coumarin 1 could react with H2S fast (t1/2≈1 min) and selectively, which could be further used for continuous enzymatic assays and for visualization of intracellular H2S. Bioimaging results obtained with 1 revealed that d‐Cys could induce a higher level of endogenous H2S production than l‐Cys in a time‐dependent manner in living cell.
Transglycosidase‐like activity of Mucor hiemalis endoglycosidase mutants enabling the synthesis of glycoconjugates using a natural glycan donor
Authors: Sakaguchi Kouta , Katoh Toshihiko , Yamamoto Kenji 
Published: September 2015

AbstractGlycan conversion of glycoprotein via the transglycosylation activity of endo‐β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase is a promising chemoenzymatic technology for the production of glycoproteins including bio‐medicines with a homogeneous glycoform. Although Endo‐M is a key enzyme in this process, its product undergoes rehydrolysis, which leads to a lower yield, and limits the practical application of this enzyme. We developed several Endo‐M mutant enzymes including N175Q with glycosynthase‐like activity and/or transglycosidase‐like activity. We found that the Endo‐M N175H mutant showed glycosynthase‐like activity comparable to N175Q as well as transglycosidase‐like activity superior to N175Q. Using a natural sialylglycopeptide as a donor substrate, N175H readily transferred the sialo‐glycan onto an N‐acetylglucosamine residue attached to bovine ribonuclease B (RNase B), yielding a nonnative sialoglycosylated RNase B. These results demonstrate that use of Endo‐M N175H is an alternative glycoengineering technique, which provides a relatively high yield of transglycosylation product and avoids the laborious synthesis of a sugar oxazoline as a donor substrate.
Meta‐analytic Investigations of the Relation Between Intuition and Analysis
Authors: Wang Yi , Highhouse Scott , Lake Christopher J. , Petersen Nicole L. , Rada Thaddeus B. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractOver 50 years of research on cognitive style has converged on the importance of individual differences in use of intuition and analysis. This program of research is characterized, however, by two incompatible perspectives about the relation between intuition and analysis. The distinction concerns whether intuition and analysis are opposite poles of a single dimension or whether they are orthogonal constructs. Two studies report meta‐analytic investigations of the relation between intuition and analysis. A meta‐analysis of the existing research base (k = 80;n = 27 501) showed that intuition and analysis are uncorrelated. A second meta‐analysis of combinations of subscales from different cognitive style measures (n = 511) supported the results of the first meta‐analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the existence of two uncorrelated constructs. Overall, the findings support the view that intuition and analysis are independent constructs, rather than opposite ends of a bipolar continuum. In addition, the findings suggest measures of analysis or rationality are not interchangeable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultra sensitive firefly luciferase‐based protein‐protein interaction assay (FlimPIA) attained by hinge region engineering and optimized reaction conditions
Authors: Kurihara Makoto , Ohmuro‐Matsuyama Yuki , Ayabe Keiichi , Yamashita Takahiro , Yamaji Hideki , Ueda Hiroshi 
Published: September 2015

AbstractDetecting and assaying protein‐protein interactions are significant research procedures in biology and biotechnology. We recently reported a novel assay to detect protein‐protein interaction, i.e. firefly luminescent intermediate‐based protein‐protein interaction assay (FlimPIA) using two mutant firefly luciferases (Flucs), which complement each other's deficient half reaction. This assay detects neighboring of two mutant Flucs, namely, a ”Donor“ that catalyzes the adenylation of firefly luciferin to produce a luciferyl‐adenylate intermediate, and an ”Acceptor“ that catalyzes the subsequent light emitting reaction. However, its rather high background signal, derived from the remaining adenylation activity of the Acceptor, has limited its usefulness. To reduce this background signal, we introduced a mutation (R437K) into the hinge region of the Acceptor, while maintaining the oxidative activity. Interestingly, the signal/background (S/B) ratio of the assay was markedly improved by the addition of coenzyme A and reduction of the ATP concentration, probably due to reduced inhibition by dehydroluciferyl‐adenylate formed during the catalysis and an increased ATP‐based Km value of the Acceptor, respectively. As a result, a significantly improved maximal S/B ratio from 2.5 to ∼40 was attained, which promises wider use of the assay in in vitro diagnostics, drug discovery, and expanding our knowledge of various biological phenomena.