bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyaspartic acid enhances dentine remineralization bonded with a zinc‐doped Portland‐based resin cement
Authors: Osorio R. , Sauro S. , Watson T. F. , Toledano M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimTo ascertain whether biomimetic phosphoprotein analogues (polyaspartic acid (PAS) and sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP)) improve bonding efficacy and dentine remineralization ability of a novel zinc‐doped Portland‐based resinous sealing cement.MethodologyBonding procedures were performed on phosphoric acid‐etched dentine, and several groups were established regarding biomimetic analogue application: (1) no application, (2) PAS‐treated dentine and (3) dentine treated with a mixture of PAS and TMP. Raman spectroscopy and microtensile bond strength (MTBS) with fracture analysis by scanning electron microscopy were carried out. MTBS values were compared by anova, Student–Newman–Keuls and Student's t‐tests (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).ResultsTwenty‐four hour MTBS values were not affected by the different bonding procedures. After 6 months, MTBS decreased in those groups in which the phosphoproteins analogues were not applied (P < 0.05). When PAS was applied, MTBS was maintained after 6 months (P > 0.05). The novel material bonded without primer application induced bioactive crystal (calcium carbonate and Ettringite) precipitation onto the etched dentine and augmented the degree of crystallinity at the hybrid layer. Mineral‐to‐matrix ratio was increased at the hybrid layer of the PAS‐treated specimens; this primer was also able to catalyse dentine remineralization, without an increase in crystallinity.ConclusionsPAS application onto demineralized dentine produced an inhibition or delay of mineral phase crystallization, enhancing the remineralization potential of the Portland microfillers at the resin–dentine bonded interface.
Suboptimal push‐out bond strengths of calcium silicate‐based sealers
Authors: Oliveira D. S. , Cardoso M. L. , Queiroz T. F. , Silva E. J. N. L. , Souza E. M. , De‐Deus G. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimTo evaluate and compare the push‐out bond strength of MTA Fillapex (Angelus, Londrina, Brazil) and iRoot SP (Innovative BioCeramix Inc., Vancouver, Canada) to the dentine walls of root canals. AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstaz, Germany) and MTA (Angelus, Londrina, Brazil) were used as reference materials.MethodologySixty extracted human single‐rooted teeth were selected. After standardized canal preparation and irrigation, the canals were dried with paper points and filled with one of four sealers: AH Plus, iRoot SP, MTA and MTA Fillapex. Roots were sectioned, and push‐out tests were performed. The values of bond strength were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Mann–Whitney with Bonferroni correction was used to isolate the differences. The alpha‐type error was set at 0.05 for the analyses.ResultsAll specimens had measurable adhesion to root dentine and no premature failure occurred. There were significant differences amongst materials (P = 0.000). MTA‐filled specimens had higher push‐out bond strength values (P = 0.000). AH Plus had significantly higher bond strength than both Fillapex and iRoot SP (P = 0.000). Both Fillapex and iRoot SP had the lowest push‐out bond strength amongst all experimental groups (P = 0.000). No difference occurred between the two calcium silicate‐based root canal sealers (P = 0.265).ConclusionThe adhesion to root dentine associated with newer calcium silicate‐based sealers was compromised even when well‐monitored laboratory conditions were used.
Posterior Inference in Bayesian Quantile Regression with Asymmetric Laplace Likelihood
Authors: Yang Yunwen , Wang Huixia Judy , He Xuming 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe paper discusses the asymptotic validity of posterior inference of pseudo‐Bayesian quantile regression methods with complete or censored data when an asymmetric Laplace likelihood is used. The asymmetric Laplace likelihood has a special place in the Bayesian quantile regression framework because the usual quantile regression estimator can be derived as the maximum likelihood estimator under such a model, and this working likelihood enables highly efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms for posterior sampling. However, it seems to be under‐recognised that the stationary distribution for the resulting posterior does not provide valid posterior inference directly. We demonstrate that a simple adjustment to the covariance matrix of the posterior chain leads to asymptotically valid posterior inference. Our simulation results confirm that the posterior inference, when appropriately adjusted, is an attractive alternative to other asymptotic approximations in quantile regression, especially in the presence of censored data.
A Comparison of In Situ Analytical Methods for Trace Element Measurement in Gold Samples from Various South African Gold Deposits
Authors: Gauert Christoph , Schannor Mathias , Hecht Lutz , Radtke Martin , Reinholz Uwe 
Published: August 2015

Trace element concentrations in gold grains from various geological units in South Africa were measured in situ by field emission‐electron probe microanalysis (FE‐EPMA), laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) and synchrotron micro X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SR‐μ‐XRF). This study assesses the accuracy, precision and detection limits of these mostly non‐destructive analytical methods using certified reference materials and discusses their application in natural sample measurement. FE‐EPMA point analyses yielded reproducible and discernible concentrations for Au and trace concentrations of S, Cu, Ti, Hg, Fe and Ni, with detection limits well below the actual concentrations in the gold. LA‐ICP‐MS analyses required larger gold particles (> 60 μm) to avoid contamination during measurement. Elements that measured above detection limits included Ag, Cu, Ti, Fe, Pt, Pd, Mn, Cr, Ni, Sn, Hg, Pb, As and Te, which can be used for geochemical characterisation and gold fingerprinting. Although LA‐ICP‐MS measurements had lower detection limits, precision was lower than FE‐EPMA and SR‐μ‐XRF. The higher variability in absolute values measured by LA‐ICP‐MS, possibly due to micro‐inclusions, had to be critically assessed. Non‐destructive point analyses of gold alloys by SR‐μ‐XRF revealed Ag, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Ti, Sb, U, Cr, Co, As, Y and Zr in the various gold samples. Detection limits were mostly lower than those for elements measured by FE‐EPMA, but higher than those for elements measured by LA‐ICP‐MS.
Dual Doping: An Effective Method to Enhance the Electrochemical Properties of Li10GeP2S12‐Based Solid Electrolytes
Authors: Yang Kun , Dong Jianying , Zhang Long , Li Yueming , Wang Limin 
Published: August 2015

Multiple doping is widely used to improve the performance of a material, including its electrical transport, mechanical, and photovoltaic properties. In this paper, Sn–Se dual‐doped Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS, thio‐LISICON II analogue) electrolytes were synthesized via ball milling and sintering and compared with those Sn or Se single‐doped. Successful Sn and/or Se substitution expanded the unit cell and formed units, which were verified by X‐ray powder diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. In contrast to the limited benefits of Se single doping and the negative effects of Sn single doping, Sn–Se dual doping demonstrated up to 53% enhancement in ionic conductivity. More importantly, Sn–Se dual‐doped LGPS showed an extremely low activation energy of 16 kJ/mol, which is one of the lowest known values for lithium ion conductors; as well as one of the widest electrochemical windows of 8 V. Sn–Se dual‐doped LGPS is a promising electrolyte for advanced all‐solid‐state batteries.
Home nurses' turnover intentions: the impact of informal supervisory feedback and self‐efficacy
Authors: Van Waeyenberg Thomas , Decramer Adelien , Anseel Frederik 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimTo examine how home nurses' turnover intentions are affected by the quality and frequency of supervisory feedback and by their own self‐efficacy.BackgroundLittle is known about effective retention strategies for the growing home healthcare sector that struggles to retain an adequate workforce. While the work environment and supervisors have been found to play a key‐role in nurses' turnover intentions, home nurses mostly work autonomously and apart from their supervisors. These circumstances require a customized approach and need to be understood to ensure high‐quality home health care.DesignWe used a correlational, cross‐sectional survey design.MethodA convenience sample of 312 home nurses was selected from a division of a large home health care organization in Flanders, Belgium. Data were collected in 2013 using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics, structural equation modelling and relative weight analysis.ResultsThe quality of feedback was related to lower levels of turnover intentions. This relationship was fully mediated by home nurses' self‐efficacy. Frequent favourable feedback was directly related to lower turnover intentions while the relationship between frequent unfavourable feedback and turnover intentions was conditional on home nurses' level of self‐efficacy.ConclusionThis study contributes to our understanding of home nurses' turnover intentions and the role of informal supervisory feedback and home nurses' self‐efficacy.
Concentrated growth factor in the treatment of adjacent multiple gingival recessions: a split‐mouth randomized clinical trial
Authors: Bozkurt Doğan Şeyma , Öngöz Dede Figen , Ballı Umut , Atalay Elif N. , Durmuşlar Mustafa C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine the clinical effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) in combination with coronally advanced flap (CAF) compared to CAF alone for the treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recessions (GRs).Materials and MethodsTwenty patients with a total of 119 Miller Class I and II GRs in the maxilla were included to this study. Recessions were randomly treated according to a split‐mouth design by means of CAF + CGF (test; 60 defects) or CAF (control; 59 defects). Clinical outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after surgery.ResultsThe mean root coverage (MRC) was 82.06% and 86.67%, complete root coverage (CRC) was 45.8% (27/59) and 56.7% (34/60) for CAF and CAF + CGF, respectively at 6th month. Statistically no difference was demonstrated between the two groups in terms of recession depth (RD), MRC and CRC at 6th month. The increase in width of keratinized gingiva (KGW) and gingival thickness (GT) were statistically significant in the CAF + CGF group compared to the CAF group at 6th month.ConclusionsThe use of CGF in combination with CAF did not provide additional benefits in RD, CRC and MRC. This study suggests that use of CGF + CAF may increase the success of GRs because of a significant increase in KGW and GT.
Hemodynamic responses to active and passive coping tasks and the prediction of future blood pressure in Thai participants: A preliminary prospective cohort study
Authors: Yuenyongchaiwat Kornanong , Sheffield David , Baker Ian , Maratos Frances 
Published: August 2015

AbstractCardiovascular responses to mental stress tests have been related to future blood pressure (BP) levels. However, most studies have been completed in North America and Europe; only one study has been conducted in Asia. Therefore, the study explored whether cardiovascular responses to mental stress predict future resting BP in Thailand. Hemodynamic measures were obtained from 101 healthy adults before, during and after mental arithmetic, a speech task, and a cold pressor task. A follow‐up assessment of resting BP was undertaken 1 year later. Results showed that Thais responded to standardized mental stress tasks with large and significant cardiovascular reactivity. Regression analyses indicated that, after adjustment for baseline BP and traditional risk factors, heightened systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses to mental arithmetic were associated with increased future SBP (ΔR2 = .045). These findings suggest that BP reactivity predicts future BP and may play a role in the development of hypertension. In addition, Thais displayed large cardiovascular responses to standardized mental stress tasks, of a similar magnitude to previous studies of North Americans and Europeans.
The prevalence and characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes in China
Authors: Zhang Puhong , Zhang Rui , Zhao Fang , Heeley Emma , Chai‐Coetzer Ching L. , Liu Jing , Feng Bo , Han Ping , Li Qifu , Sun Liao , Li Yufeng , Dong Shengying , Jiang Xiaozhen , Zhang Chunhua , Lu Jinhui , Guo Xingduan , Guo Lixin , Mcevoy R. Doug , Ji Linong 
Published: August 2015

SummaryData on the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China is scarce. We conducted a multi‐centre, cross‐sectional study involving 12 hospitals from six regional cities to investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to explore the association between obstructive sleep apnea and related risk factors, diabetic complications and comorbidities in China. Each hospital recruited at least 70 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to the endocrinology ward. A total of 880 participants were enrolled and administered overnight sleep monitoring with a portable monitor (ApneaLink™, ResMed, San Diego, CA, USA); other information was collected from medical charts and a standardized questionnaire. In this study, 60.0% (95% confidence interval: 56.8%, 63.2%) of hospitalized patients in China with type 2 diabetes mellitus had comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 5). Only 1.5% (eight of 528) of the patients with both conditions had been diagnosed previously with obstructive sleep apnea. The prevalence of moderate–severe (apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 15) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 30) was estimated to be 25.6% (22.7, 28.5%) and 10.3% (8.3, 12.4%), respectively. Age, sex, body mass index, snoring, reported breath‐holding in sleep or gasping or choking arousal, sleepiness, diabetes duration, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular diseases history were correlated significantly with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. In China, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is high. Routine screening for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is an important, but often neglected, part of the management of diabetes.
New Estimation Methods of Young's Modulus and Rupture Strength of Snack Foods Based on Microstructure
Authors: Kadowaki Ren , Kimura Hitoshi , Inou Norio 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper describes quantitative methods for measuring substantial values of rupture strength and Young's modulus considering the inner, crispy snack food structure at the microscale. The samples used are crispy snack food. A conventional mechanical food test was conducted on a large sample size (>100 mm3), and only the apparent, macroscopic mechanical property of the food was measured without considering the microscopic structure. The proposed method integrates a small load compression test and finite element analysis for a test piece <10 mm3. Structural deformability of the test piece is calculated using finite element analysis. The estimated rupture strength of commercially available snack food ranged between 95 and 560 MPa. The calculated Young's moduli were in the range of 170–1,100 MPa. These values are 18–170 times larger than the apparent Young's moduli measured with the conventional method. This paper discusses the reasons for these findings.Practical ApplicationsFood texture of brittle foods is affected by their substantial material property and geometrical structure. In particular, material rupture strength and material Young's modulus are responsible factors. We developed a new estimation method for the substantial material properties of brittle food. Based on these estimated factors, it is possible to evaluate the food texture. This means that it is possible to elucidate how the material factor and the structural factor affect each food texture with our method. It is expected that the method also allows the control of the food texture by changing the material and structural properties in accordance with the demands of people. For example, processed food with good texture will be preferred by elderly people or patients with temporomandibular joint disorders for easy mastication. Pleasurable and hard‐textured food will provide good training to children who should train their chewing muscles.
The influence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection on tulathromycin pharmacokinetics and lung tissue disposition in pigs
Authors: Gajda A. , Bladek T. , Jablonski A. , Posyniak A. 
Published: August 2015

A tulathromycin concentration and pharmacokinetic parameters in plasma and lung tissue from healthy pigs and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App)‐infected pigs were compared. Tulathromycin was administered intramuscularly (i.m.) to all pigs at a single dose of 2.5 mg/kg. Blood and lung tissue samples were collected during 33 days postdrug application. Tulathromycin concentration in plasma and lung was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method. The mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) in healthy pigs was 586 ± 71 ng/mL, reached by 0.5 h, while the mean value for Cmax of tulathromycin in infected pigs was 386 ± 97 ng/mL after 0.5 h. The mean maximum tulathromycin concentration in lung of healthy group was calculated as 3412 ± 748 ng/g, detected at 12 h, while in pigs with App, the highest concentration in lung was 3337 ± 937 ng/g, determined at 48 h postdosing. The higher plasma and lung concentrations in pigs with no pulmonary inflammation were observed at the first time points sampling after tulathromycin administration, but slower elimination with elimination half‐life t1/2el = 126 h in plasma and t1/2el = 165 h in lung, as well as longer drug persistent in infected pigs, was found.
MinC/MinD copolymers are not required for Min function
Authors: Park Kyung‐Tae , Du Shishen , Lutkenhaus Joe 
Published: August 2015

SummaryIn Escherichia coli, precise placement of the cytokinetic Z ring at midcell requires the concerted action of the three Min proteins. MinD activates MinC, an inhibitor of FtsZ, at least in part, by recruiting it to the membrane and targeting it to the Z ring, while MinE stimulates the MinD ATPase inducing an oscillation that directs MinC/MinD activity away from midcell. Recently, MinC and MinD were shown to form copolymers of alternating dimers of MinC and MinD, and it was suggested that these copolymers are the active form of MinC/MinD. Here, we use MinD mutants defective in binding MinC to generate heterodimers with wild‐type MinD that are unable to form MinC/MinD copolymers. Similarly, MinC mutants defective in binding to MinD were used to generate heterodimers with wild‐type MinC that are unable to form copolymers. Such heterodimers are active and in the case of MinC were shown to mediate spatial regulation of the Z ring demonstrating that MinC/MinD copolymer formation is not required. Our results are consistent with a model in which a membrane anchored MinC/MinD complex is targeted to the Z ring through the conserved carboxy tail of FtsZ leading to breakage of FtsZ filaments.
Full engagement of liganded maltose‐binding protein stabilizes a semi‐open ATP‐binding cassette dimer in the maltose transporter
Authors: Alvarez Frances Joan D. , Orelle Cédric , Huang Yan , Bajaj Ruchika , Everly R. Michael , Klug Candice S. , Davidson Amy L. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryMalFGK2 is an ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter that mediates the uptake of maltose/maltodextrins into Escherichia coli. A periplasmic maltose‐binding protein (MBP) delivers maltose to the transmembrane subunits (MalFG) and stimulates the ATPase activity of the cytoplasmic nucleotide‐binding subunits (MalK dimer). This MBP‐stimulated ATPase activity is independent of maltose for purified transporter in detergent micelles. However, when the transporter is reconstituted in membrane bilayers, only the liganded form of MBP efficiently stimulates its activity. To investigate the mechanism of maltose stimulation, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to study the interactions between the transporter and MBP in nanodiscs and in detergent. We found that full engagement of both lobes of maltose‐bound MBP unto MalFGK2 is facilitated by nucleotides and stabilizes a semi‐open MalK dimer. Maltose‐bound MBP promotes the transition to the semi‐open state of MalK when the transporter is in the membrane, whereas such regulation does not require maltose in detergent. We suggest that stabilization of the semi‐open MalK2 conformation by maltose‐bound MBP is key to the coupling of maltose transport to ATP hydrolysis in vivo, because it facilitates the progression of the MalK dimer from the open to the semi‐open conformation, from which it can proceed to hydrolyze ATP.
The mycobacterial iron‐dependent regulator IdeR induces ferritin (bfrB) by alleviating Lsr2 repression
Authors: Kurthkoti Krishna , Tare Priyanka , Paitchowdhury Rakhi , Gowthami Vykuntham Naga , Garcia Maria J. , Colangeli Roberto , Chatterji Dipankar , Nagaraja Valakunja , Rodriguez G. Marcela 
Published: August 2015

SummaryEmerging evidence indicates that precise regulation of iron (Fe) metabolism and maintenance of Fe homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are essential for its survival and proliferation in the host. IdeR is a central transcriptional regulator of Mtb genes involved in Fe metabolism. While it is well understood how IdeR functions as a repressor, how it induces transcription of a subset of its targets is still unclear. We investigated the molecular mechanism of IdeR‐mediated positive regulation of bfrB, the gene encoding the major Fe‐storage protein of Mtb. We found that bfrB induction by Fe required direct interaction of IdeR with a DNA sequence containing four tandem IdeR‐binding boxes located upstream of the bfrB promoter. Results of in vivo and in vitro transcription assays identified a direct repressor of bfrB, the histone‐like protein Lsr2. IdeR counteracted Lsr2‐mediated repression in vitro, suggesting that IdeR induces bfrB transcription by antagonizing the repressor activity of Lsr2. Together, these results elucidate the main mechanism of bfrB positive regulation by IdeR and identify Lsr2 as a new factor contributing to Fe homeostasis in mycobacteria.
Some Conceptual Aspects of Temporality and the Ability to Possess Rights
Authors: Sreekumar Sandeep 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSince certain temporal aspects of the relation between duties, rights, and the interests that rights protect have not been fully theorized, a puzzle arises when we come to consider whether and how entities such as members of future generations, fetuses, deceased persons, and unconscious persons are able to possess rights. This paper evolves a unified structure for attributing the ability to possess rights to such entities. It demonstrates that while, under any cogent theory of rights‐attributions, rights and duties must be strictly contemporaneous, the interests that rights protect need not temporally coincide with those rights.