bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Role of Donors in Addressing Water Problems in Central Asia
Authors: Dukhovny Victor A. , Sokolov Vadim I. , Ziganshina Dinara R. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis paper examines the role of donors in addressing a complex set of water‐related challenges in Central Asia and draws some lessons with a view to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of development assistance in the region.In the first years following independence, collaboration between the republics was strongly supported by development agencies under the leadership of the World Bank. This effort was marked by the establishment of the Interstate Fund of saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC) in Central Asia, preparation and signing of interstate agreements in 1993 and 1994, as well as development of a regional water strategy.Despite significant donor contribution, the last several years have also demonstrated weaknesses in donors' activities in the region, which is especially discouraging, given the increased tensions over competing uses of water for hydropower upstream and irrigation and ecosystem demands downstream. Among the main weaknesses are:

lack of sound coordination;
avoidable involvement of international experts and ignorance of local capacity;
cut in support of regional water‐related projects.
Given the above, donors should rethink their development assistance policies in the region in order to encourage more active interaction between the countries for the benefit of people and the environment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of Women in the Irrigated Agriculture Sector in the Fergana Valley: Findings of Field Surveys
Authors: Stulina Galina V. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractSince 2008 the Scientific‐Information Centre of the Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (SIC ICWC) has been actively attempting to draw greater attention to the role of women in water management and irrigated farming, taking into consideration the specificity of current demographic and ecological conditions in the rural areas. In the past and at present, women's labour is widely used in the irrigated agriculture sector, especially for cultivating crops on household plots where they perform heavy manual work, particularly during harvesting. At the same time the current stratification of the rural population and the significant migration of men outside Central Asian countries as temporary wage workers have additionally increased the burden on women's shoulders of having full responsibility for maintaining their families and for childcare.In the process of its researches related to gender mainstreaming, the SIC ICWC uses direct working with women associated with enhancing their awareness and aimed at their involvement in the Women's Movement Network and special training for women engaged in the water management sector or irrigated farming.This paper presents the findings of such researches conducted in the Fergana Valley in the framework of different pilot projects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differentiating Digital Writing Instruction
Authors: Martin Nicole M. , Lambert Claire 
Published: June 2015

AbstractU.S. adolescents’ prior technology experiences and exposure to digital genres vary, but they will often write digital texts as they enter college and adulthood. We explored middle school students’ digital writing instructional experience in the context of a university‐based summer digital writing camp. The sixth‐ through eighth‐grade adolescents fell into three profile groups: digital passengers, digital navigators, and digital drivers. Each group displayed distinct patterns of prior technology experiences and exposure to digital genres, digital writing processes, and instructional needs. Their digital writing instructional experience suggests that prior technology experiences and exposure to digital genres influence the ways adolescents envision and enact digital writing. In the middle school classroom, teachers may need to address a range of instructional needs during digital writing instruction.
Investigating Criteria That Seventh Graders Use to Evaluate the Quality of Online Information
Authors: Coiro Julie , Coscarelli Carla , Maykel Cheryl , Forzani Elena 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis article presents qualitative findings from a study that examined the types of criteria that middle school students use to evaluate the quality of online information and sources for a Web‐based research assignment. Open‐constructed responses from four critical evaluation items were compiled from diverse seventh graders in a representative, two‐state, stratified random sample (n = 773). Content analysis revealed that many students used a range of unacceptable or superficial criteria to determine the author of a website and whether that author is an expert, to state the author's point of view, and to provide reasoned evidence about the overall reliability of a website. Criteria and evidence patterns that students used for each of the critical evaluation tasks are shared, as well as implications for instruction.
Reducing Staphylococcus aureus growth on Ti alloy nanostructured surfaces through the addition of Sn
Authors: Verissimo Nathália C. , Geilich Benjamin M. , Oliveira Haroldo G. , Caram Rubens , Webster Thomas J. 
Published: June 2015

Abstractβ‐type Ti alloys containing Nb are exciting materials for numerous orthopedic and dental applications due to their exceptional mechanical properties. To improve their cytocompatibility properties (such as increasing bone growth and decreasing infection), the surfaces of such materials can be optimized by adding elements and/or nanotexturing through anodization. Because of the increasing prevalence of orthopedic implant infections, the objective of this in vitro study was to add Sn and create unique nanoscale surface features on β‐type Ti alloys. Nanotubes and nanofeatures on Ti‐35Nb and Ti‐35Nb‐4Sn alloys were created by anodization in a HF‐based electrolyte and then heat treated in a furnace to promote amorphous structures and phases such as anatase, a mixture of anatase‐rutile, and rutile. Samples were characterized by SEM, which indicated different morphologies dependent on the oxide content and method of modification. XPS experiments identified the oxide content which resulted in a phase transformation in the oxide layer formed onto Ti‐35Nb and Ti‐35Nb‐4Sn alloys. Most importantly, regardless of the resulting nanostructures (nanotubes or nanofeatures) and crystalline phase, this study showed for the first time that adding Sn to β‐type Ti alloys strongly decreased the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus; a bacteria which commonly infects orthopedic implants leading to their failure). Thus, this study demonstrated that β‐type Ti alloys with Nb and Sn have great promise to improve numerous orthopedic applications where infection may be a concern. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 3757–3763, 2015.
Dried blood spot analysis for therapeutic drug monitoring of pazopanib
Authors: de Wit Djoeke , den Hartigh Jan , Gelderblom Hans , Qian Yanwen , den Hollander Margret , Verheul Henk , Guchelaar Henk‐Jan , van Erp Nielka P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractDried blood spot (DBS) sampling is potentially a more patient‐friendly and flexible alternative to venous sampling of pazopanib. This study determined the agreement between pazopanib DBS and plasma concentrations to facilitate implementation of pazopanib DBS sampling into clinical practice. Paired DBS and plasma samples were collected in 12 patients. Pazopanib plasma concentrations were calculated from DBS concentrations using the formula: plasma concentration = DBSconcentration/(1 ‐ hematocrit). Passing‐Bablok and Bland‐Altman analyses were used to determine the agreement between calculated and measured plasma concentrations. We predefined a clinical acceptance limit of 25% for the Bland‐Altman analysis. Passing‐Bablok analysis showed a small constant (intercept estimate, −8.53 [95%CI, −12.22 to −4.41]) and slightly proportional (slope estimate, 1.15 [95%CI, 1.04–1.24]) bias between calculated and measured concentrations. This bias was clinically nonrelevant, as shown by Bland‐Altman analysis; the mean ratio of calculated to measured concentrations was 0.94 (95%CI, 0.65–1.23). The clinical acceptance limits were well within these 95% limits of agreement. More specifically, 92.6% of the data points were within the predefined acceptance limits. Pazopanib plasma concentrations can be accurately calculated from DBS concentrations. Although validation of DBS cards prepared by patients themselves is required, these results show that DBS sampling can be used to monitor pazopanib therapy in clinical practice.
A novel method of analytically extracting model parameters for stacked transformers
Authors: Wang Jie , Liu Jun , Sun Lingling , Zhou Mingzhu 
Published: June 2015

SummaryAn accurate compact model for stacked transformers is proposed. The parasitics between the primary metal coils and the substrate are taken into consideration. The model parameters can be analytically extracted from open‐loaded S‐parameters measured from two‐port test structures. The modeling methodology renders excellent agreement with the data from both simulation and measurement over the frequency range of 0.1–20 GHz for a monolithic stacked transformer manufactured in 0.18‐µm Radio frequency Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (RF CMOS) technology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physiological changes and sHSPs genes relative transcription in relation to the acquisition of seed germination during maturation of hybrid rice seed
Authors: Zhu Li‐Wei , Cao Dong‐Dong , Hu Qi‐Juan , Guan Ya‐Jing , Hu Wei‐Min , Nawaz Aamir , Hu Jin 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDDuring the production of early hybrid rice seed, the seeds dehydrated slowly and retained high moisture levels when rainy weather lasted for a couple of days, and the rice seeds easily occurred pre‐harvest sprouting (PHS) along with high temperature. Therefore it is necessary to harvest the seeds before the PHS occurred.RESULTSThe seeds of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica) cv. Qianyou No1 that harvests from 19 to 28 days after pollination (DAP) all had high seed vigour. The seed moisture content at 10 DAP was 36.1%, and declined to 28.6% at 19 DAP; the contents of soluble sugar and total starch increased significantly with the development of seeds. The soluble protein content, the level of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity continued to decrease from 10 DAP to 19 DAP. The seeds at 19 DAP had the highest peroxidase (POD) activity and lowest catalase (CAT) activity while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity had no significant difference among the different developing periods. The relative expressions of genes 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 transcripts increased significantly from 10 to 19 DAP, and then decreased. However, no significant change was recorded in soluble protein, sugar and GA3 after 16 DAP, and they all significantly correlated with seed viability and vigour during the process of seed maturity.CONCLUSIONThe seeds of hybrid rice Qianyou No1 had a higher viability and vigour when harvested from 19 DAP to 28 DAP, the transcription levels of 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 increased significantly from 10 DAP to 19 DAP and the highest value was recorded at 19 DAP. The seeds could be harvested as early as 19 DAP without negative influence on seed vigour and viability. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Formation of Hexagonally Packed Hollow Hoops and Morphology Transition in RAFT Ethanol Dispersion Polymerization
Authors: Zhang Wen‐Jian , Hong Chun‐Yan , Pan Cai‐Yuan 
Published: June 2015

Similar to the traditional self‐assembly strategy, polymerization induced self‐assembly and reorganization (PISR) can produce a myriad of polymeric morphologies through morphology transitions. Besides the chain length ratio (R) of the hydrophobic to the hydrophilic blocks, the chain mobility in the intermediate nano‐objects, which is a requisite for morphology transition, is a determining factor in the formation of the final morphology. Although various morphologies have been fabricated, hexagonally packed hollow hoops (HHHs) with highly ordered internal structure have not, to the best of our knowledge, been prepared by PISR. In this article, the fabrication of HHHs through morphology transition from large compound vesicles to HHHs is reported. HHHs with highly regular internal structure may have significance in theoretical research and practical applications of nanomaterials.
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Photoinduced Acrylate Polymerization: Unexpected Reduction in Chain Branching
Authors: Wenn Benjamin , Reekmans Gunter , Adriaensens Peter , Junkers Tanja 
Published: June 2015

The branching stemming from midchain radical formation in n‐butyl acrylate polymerization is investigated via melt‐state 13C NMR measurements. The dependence of the degree of branching (DB) on the monomer conversion of the system is examined for photoinduced polymerizations, revealing a steady increase in branching with conversion. For polymerization at moderate light intensities, an increase in branching from 0.03% to 0.37% is observed for polymerizations at 60 °C, which is fivefold below the level of branching observed in thermally initiated poly­merizations under otherwise identical reaction conditions. The reason for this overall reduction in branching remains momentarily unclear; yet, a strong dependence of branching on light intensity is observed. While polymerization under a 1 W LED lamp results at almost full monomer conversion in branching degrees of 0.22%, polymerization under a 400 W lamp yields 1.81% of chain branches.
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Recurrent DICER1 hotspot mutations in endometrial tumours and their impact on microRNA biogenesis
Authors: Chen Jiamin , Wang Yemin , McMonechy Melissa K , Anglesio Michael S , Yang Winnie , Senz Janine , Maines‐Bandiera Sarah , Rosner Jamie , Trigo‐Gonzalez Genny , Grace Cheng SW , Kim Jaeyeon , Matzuk Martin M , Morin Gregg B , Huntsman David G 
Published: June 2015

AbstractDICER1 plays a critical role in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. Recurrent somatic 'hotspot' mutations at the four metal‐binding sites within the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 were identified in ovarian sex cord‐stromal tumours and have since been described in other paediatric tumours. In this study, we screened the RNase IIIb domain of DICER1 in 290 endometrial tumours and identified six cases with hotspot mutations, including two cases affected by an atypical G1809R mutation directly adjacent to a metal‐binding site. Using Illumina and Sanger targeted resequencing, we observed and validated biallelic DICER1 mutations in several cases with hotspot mutations. Through in vitro DICER1 cleavage assays, small RNA deep sequencing and real‐time PCR, we demonstrated that mutations adding a positively charged side chain to residue 1809 have similar detrimental effects on 5p miRNA production to mutations at the metal‐binding sites. As expected, 5p miRNAs were globally reduced in tumours and cell lines with hotspot mutations. Pathway analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that genes de‐repressed due to loss of 5p miRNAs are strongly associated with pathways regulating the cell cycle. Using a Dicer1‐null mouse cell line model, we found that expression of DICER1 hotspot mutants promoted cell proliferation, whereas wild‐type (WT) DICER1 inhibited cell proliferation. Furthermore, targets of let‐7 family miRNAs are enriched among the up‐regulated genes, suggesting that loss of let‐7 may be impacting downstream pathways. Our results reveal that DICER1 hotspot mutations are implicated in common malignancies and may constitute a unique oncogenic pathway. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Severity of personality disorders and domains of general personality dysfunction related to attachment
Authors: Hengartner Michael P. , von Wyl Agnes , Tanis Thachell , Halmi Winter , Galynker Igor , Cohen Lisa J. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTThis is the first study to link attachment to both severity of total DSM‐IV personality disorder (PD) traits and domains of general personality dysfunction, using a sample of 72 inpatients from New York City. We assessed a measure of global PD severity and the core domains of personality functioning using the severity indices of personality problems (SIPP‐118). Attachment was measured with the experience in close relationships‐revised (ECR‐R) and the relationship style questionnaire (RSQ). Global PD severity correlated most strongly with attachment anxiety (r = 0.65). Regression of the SIPP‐118 domains on attachment produced models that accounted for a substantial proportion of variance in those scales (R2 ranging from 28.2 to 54.2%). SIPP‐118 relational capacities were the strongest predictor of ECR‐R avoidance (β = −0.88) and anxiety (β = −0.58), as well as RSQ secure (β = 0.53) and fearful (β = −0.65). In conclusion, insecure attachment strongly related to the severity of global PD traits and specifically to relational capacities, which are a higher‐order domain of general personality dysfunction. These findings provide further evidence that interpersonal problems are at the core of PDs and that attachment could constitute an important mediator of the social dysfunction in persons with personality pathology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electron‐capture dissociation and ion mobility mass spectrometry for characterization of the hemoglobin protein assembly
Authors: Cui Weidong , Zhang Hao , Blankenship Robert E. , Gross Michael L. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractNative spray has the potential to probe biophysical properties of protein assemblies. Here we report an investigation using both ECD top‐down sequencing with an FTICR mass spectrometer and ion mobility (IM) measurements on a Q‐TOF to investigate the collisionally induced unfolding of a native‐like heterogeneous tetrameric assembly, human hemoglobin (hHb), in the gas phase. To our knowledge, this is the first report combining ECD and ion‐mobility data on the same target protein assembly to delineate the effects of collisional activation on both assembly size and the extent and location of fragmentation. Although the collision‐induced unfolding of the hemoglobin assembly is clearly seen by both IMMS and ECD, the latter delineates the regions that increasingly unfold as the collision energy is increased. The results are consistent with previous outcomes for homogeneous protein assemblies and reinforce our interpretation that activation opens the structure of the protein assembly from the flexible regions to make available ECD fragmentation, without dissociating the component proteins.
EsxB, a secreted protein from Bacillus anthracis forms two distinct helical bundles
Authors: Fan Yao , Tan Kemin , Chhor Gekleng , Butler Emily K. , Jedrzejczak Robert P. , Missiakas Dominique , Joachimiak Andrzej 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe EsxB protein from Bacillus anthracis belongs to the WXG100 family, a group of proteins secreted by a specialized secretion system. We have determined the crystal structures of recombinant EsxB and discovered that the small protein (∼10 kDa), comprised of a helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) hairpin, is capable of associating into two different helical bundles. The two basic quaternary assemblies of EsxB are an antiparallel (AP) dimer and a rarely observed bisecting U (BU) dimer. This structural duality of EsxB is believed to originate from the heptad repeat sequence diversity of the first helix of its HLH hairpin, which allows for two alternative helix packing. The flexibility of EsxB and the ability to form alternative helical bundles underscore the possibility that this protein can serve as an adaptor in secretion and can form hetero‐oligomeric helix bundle(s) with other secreted members of the WXG100 family, such as EsxW. The highly conserved WXG motif is located within the loop of the HLH hairpin and is mostly buried within the helix bundle suggesting that its role is mainly structural. The exact functions of the motif, including a proposed role as a secretion signal, remain unknown.
Structural genomics for drug design against the pathogen Coxiella burnetii
Authors: Franklin Matthew C. , Cheung Jonah , Rudolph Michael J. , Burshteyn Fiana , Cassidy Michael , Gary Ebony , Hillerich Brandan , Yao Zhong‐Ke , Carlier Paul R. , Totrov Maxim , Love James D. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTCoxiella burnetii is a highly infectious bacterium and potential agent of bioterrorism. However, it has not been studied as extensively as other biological agents, and very few of its proteins have been structurally characterized. To address this situation, we undertook a study of critical metabolic enzymes in C. burnetii that have great potential as drug targets. We used high‐throughput techniques to produce novel crystal structures of 48 of these proteins. We selected one protein, C. burnetii dihydrofolate reductase (CbDHFR), for additional work to demonstrate the value of these structures for structure‐based drug design. This enzyme's structure reveals a feature in the substrate binding groove that is different between CbDHFR and human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR). We then identified a compound by in silico screening that exploits this binding groove difference, and demonstrated that this compound inhibits CbDHFR with at least 25‐fold greater potency than hDHFR. Since this binding groove feature is shared by many other prokaryotes, the compound identified could form the basis of a novel antibacterial agent effective against a broad spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. Proteins 2015; 83:2124–2136. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploring mechanisms of resistance to dimethachlone in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Firoz Md. Jahangir , Xiao Xiang , Zhu Fu‐Xing , Fu Yan‐Ping , Jiang Dao‐Hong , Schnabel Guido , Luo Chao‐Xi 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe dicarboximide fungicide dimethachlone has been widely used in China for more than 12 years to control the Sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum disease. First signs of resistance in the field are reported at low frequency. In this study, four resistant isolate/mutants were used to explore still unknown mechanisms leading to dimethachlone resistance.RESULTSThe resistant isolate/mutants had significantly higher EC50 values compared with the sensitive control isolates. Cross‐resistance was confirmed between dimethachlone and procymidone, iprodione and fludioxonil. The resistant isolate/mutants revealed a decreased mycelial growth rate, were less pathogenic on leaves of oilseed rape, were more sensitive to osmotic pressure and oxidative stress and released more electrolytes compared with the sensitive isolates. Only in one lab mutant did we find a point mutation (V238A) in the SsOs1 gene of the high‐osmolarity glycerol (HOG) signalling pathway. The expression of this gene was lost in the field resistant isolate HN456‐1‐JBJ and decreased in mycelium that was subjected to either high osmotic pressure or dimethachlone; however, another key gene in the HOG pathway, SsHog1, could be induced in the resistant isolate and mutants with NaCl treatment.CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that resistance to dicarboximide fungicide dimethachlone in S. sclerotiorum is emerging in China. Several fitness parameters, including mycelial growth rate, sclerotia formed in vitro, aggressiveness on leaves and osmotic and H2O2 sensitivity, indicate that the resistant strains may not effectively compete with sensitive isolates in the field in the absence of selection pressure. Lost expression or the V238A point mutation in the SsOs1 gene may confer resistance to dicarboximide fungicide dimethachlone in S. sclerotiorum, but this study illustrates that other, yet unknown mechanisms also exist. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry