bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disposable collection kit for rapid and reliable collection of saliva
Authors: Yamaguchi Masaki , Tezuka Yuki , Takeda Kazunori , Shetty Vivek 
Published: March 2015

ObjectivesTo describe and evaluate disposable saliva collection kit for rapid, reliable, and reproducible collection of saliva samples.MethodsThe saliva collection kit comprised of a saliva absorbent swab and an extractor unit was used to retrieve whole saliva samples from 10 subjects. The accuracy and precision of the extracted volumes (3, 10, and 30 μl) were compared to similar volumes drawn from control samples obtained by passive drool. Additionally, the impact of kit collection method on subsequent immunoassay results was verified by assessing salivary cortisol levels in the samples and comparing them to controls.ResultsThe recovered volumes for the whole saliva samples were 3.85 ± 0.28, 10.79 ± 0.95, and 31.18 ± 1.72 μl, respectively (CV = 8.76%) and 2.91 ± 0.19, 9.75 ± 0.43, and 29.64 ± 0.91 μl, respectively, (CV = 6.36%) for the controls. There was a close correspondence between the salivary cortisol levels from the saliva samples obtained by the collection kit and the controls (R2 > 0.96).ConclusionsThe disposable saliva collection kit allows accurate and repeatable collection of fixed amounts of whole saliva and does not interfere with subsequent measurements of salivary cortisol. The simple collection process, lack of elaborate specimen recovery steps, and the short turnaround time (<3 min) should render the kit attractive to test subjects and researchers alike. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:720–723, 2015. © 2015 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Physical strength and dance attractiveness: Further evidence for an association in men, but not in women
Authors: Weege Bettina , Pham Michael N. , Shackelford Todd K. , Fink Bernhard 
Published: March 2015

ObjectivesPhysical strength provides information about male quality and can be assessed from facial and body morphology. Research on perception of dance movements indicates that body movement also provides information about male physical strength. These relationships have not been investigated for women.MethodsWe investigated relationships of handgrip strength (HGS) and dance attractiveness perception in 75 men and 84 women.ResultsWe identified positive relationships between HGS and opposite‐sex assessments of dance attractiveness for men but not women.ConclusionsThe replication of previous research investigating relationships between dance attractiveness and physical strength in men corroborates the hypothesis that dance movements provide information about male quality. We argue that these relationships are interpretable in contexts of inter‐ and intra‐sexual selection. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:728–730, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Time trends in BMI, body fatness, and adiposity rebound among boys from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010
Authors: Kowal MaŁgorzata , Kryst Łukasz , Woronkowicz Agnieszka , Brudecki Janusz , Sobiecki Jan 
Published: March 2015

ObjectivesThe prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing during the last decades in many countries, but less is known about secular trends in growth curves covering the whole childhood span. The main purpose of this study was to explore changes in body weight, height, BMI, percent body fat (%BF), adiposity rebound (AR), and pubertal timing in boys from Kraków between 1983 and 2010.MethodsTotally, 4,986 boys (3–18 years) were measured during cross‐sectional studies. Using the results of height, weight, and skinfold measurements, BMI and %BF were calculated. The LMS method was used to construct BMI and %BF percentiles. Three cut‐off points were distinguished in individual age groups of the subjects—below the 15th percentile, 50th percentile, and above the 85th percentile. The mean age at pubarche was calculated by the probit method.ResultsThe boys from 2010 were taller and heavier than the boys from 1983. Before the time of AR, boys from 2010 had lower BMI, but after AR had higher BMI than boys from 1983. An earlier AR appeared in all BMI 2010 percentile curves as compared to 1983. The boys from 2010 also showed an acceleration of sexual maturation and earlier Tanner Stage II, equaling 11.80 years.ConclusionsIn boys from 2010, AR occurs earlier than in boys from 1983. Changes in timing of AR cannot be explained only by changes in degree of body adiposity. Early AR could be a marker of the acceleration of development. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:646–653, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Short interpregnancy interval and low birth weight: A role of parity
Authors: Merklinger‐Gruchala Anna , Jasienska Grazyna , Kapiszewska Maria 
Published: March 2015

ObjectivesShort interpregnancy intervals (IPI) and high parity may be synergistically associated with the risk of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. This study tests if the effect of short IPI on the odds ratio for low birth weight (LBW, <2,500 g) differs across parity status.MethodsThe study was carried out on the birth registry sample of almost 40,000 singleton, live‐born infants who were delivered between the years 1995 and 2009 to multiparous mothers whose residence at the time of infant's birth was the city of Krakow. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used for testing the effect of IPI on the odds ratio (OR) for LBW, after controlling for employment, educational and marital status, parity, sex of the child, maternal and gestational age. Stratified analyses (according to parity) and tests for interaction were performed.ResultsVery short IPI (0–5 months) was associated with an increased OR for LBW, but only among high parity mothers with three or more births (OR = 2.64; 95% CI 1.45–4.80). The test for interaction between very short IPI and parity on the OR for LBW was statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons (P = 0.04). Among low parity mothers (two births) no statistically significant associations were found between IPI and LBW after standardization.ConclusionParity may modify the association between short birth spacing and LBW. Women with very short IPI and high parity may have a higher risk of having LBW infants than those with very short IPI but low parity. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:660–666, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional morphology of the primate head and neck
Authors: Nalley Thierra K. , Grider‐Potter Neysa 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTThe vertebral column plays a key role in maintaining posture, locomotion, and transmitting loads between body components. Cervical vertebrae act as a bridge between the torso and head and play a crucial role in the maintenance of head position and the visual field. Despite its importance in positional behaviors, the functional morphology of the cervical region remains poorly understood, particularly in comparison to the thoracic and lumbar sections of the spinal column. This study tests whether morphological variation in the primate cervical vertebrae correlates with differences in postural behavior. Phylogenetic generalized least‐squares analyses were performed on a taxonomically broad sample of 26 extant primate taxa to test the link between vertebral morphology and posture. Kinematic data on primate head and neck postures were used instead of behavioral categories in an effort to provide a more direct analysis of our functional hypothesis. Results provide evidence for a function‐form link between cervical vertebral shape and postural behaviors. Specifically, taxa with more pronograde heads and necks and less kyphotic orbits exhibit cervical vertebrae with longer spinous processes, indicating increased mechanical advantage for deep nuchal musculature, and craniocaudally longer vertebral bodies and more coronally oriented zygapophyseal articular facets, suggesting an emphasis on curve formation and maintenance within the cervical lordosis, coupled with a greater resistance to translation and ventral displacement. These results not only document support for functional relationships in cervical vertebrae features across a wide range of primate taxa, but highlight the utility of quantitative behavioral data in functional investigations. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:531–542, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does the correlation between schmorl's nodes and vertebral morphology extend into the lumbar spine?
Authors: Plomp Kimberly , Roberts Charlotte , Strand Vidarsdottir Una 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTSchmorl's nodes are depressions on vertebrae due to herniation of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc into the vertebral body. This study provides an extension of our previous study which analyzed the shape of the lower thoracic spine and found that vertebral morphology was associated with the presence of Schmorl's nodes. Ninety adult individuals from the late Medieval site of Fishergate House, York, and the Post‐Medieval site of Coach Lane, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, were analysed using 2D geometric morphometrics to identify possible relationships between vertebral morphology and Schmorl's nodes at the thoraco‐lumbar junction and in the lumbar spine. A significant correlation was found between vertebral shape and the presence of Schmorl's nodes in the twelfth thoracic vertebrae and the first to third lumbar vertebrae. The findings corroborate previous studies and suggest that vertebral shape may be an important factor in spinal health. It is hypothesized that the pedicle shape of affected vertebrae may not provide adequate structural support for the vertebral bodies, resulting in vertical disc herniation. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:526–534, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Orangutans (Pongo spp.) have deeper, more efficient sleep than baboons (Papio papio) in captivity
Authors: Samson David R. , Shumaker Robert W. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTThe nightly construction of arboreal sleeping platforms or “nests” has been observed among every great ape population studied to date. However, this behavior has never been reported in any other nonhuman primate and comparisons between ape and monkey sleep illuminate the link between sleeping substrates, positional behavior, and sleep efficiency. Here, we compare sleep depth and efficiency and night‐time positional behavior between a large‐bodied cercopithecoid (Papio papio) and a large‐bodied hominoid (Pongospp.) at the Indianapolis Zoo. We used infrared videography to assess nightly sleep and awake behavioral states, gross body movements, and postures in baboons (N = 45 nights) and orangutans (N = 128 nights). We calculated thetotal waking time,total sleep time,sleep fragmentation(the number of brief awakenings ≥2 min/h),sleep motor activity(number of motor activity bouts per hour),sleep efficiency(sleep duration/time in bed), and percentage of time spent in each posture. By every measure, orangutans experienced overall deeper, more efficient sleep. Baboons were more likely to sleep in guarded, upright positions (weight bearing on their ischial callosities) and never opted to use additional materials to augment sleep environments, whereas orangutans slept in insouciant, relaxed positions on constructed sleeping materials. Our results suggest that relaxed sleeping postures may have been enabled by sleeping platforms as abehavioral facilitatorto sleep, which could have allowed for greater sleep depth and next‐day cognitive capacities in both great apes and hominins. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:421–427, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Selective pressures in the human bony pelvis: Decoupling sexual dimorphism in the anterior and posterior spaces
Authors: Brown Kirsten M. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTObjectivesSexual dimorphism in the human bony pelvis is commonly assumed to be related to the intensity of obstetrical selective pressures. With intense obstetrical selective pressures, there should be greater shape dimorphism; with minimal obstetrical selective pressures, there should be reduced shape dimorphism. This pattern is seen in the nondimorphic anterior spaces and highly dimorphic posterior spaces. Decoupling sexual dimorphism in these spaces may in turn be related to the differential influence of other selective pressures, such as biomechanical ones.Materials and MethodsThe relationship between sexual dimorphism and selective pressures in the human pelvis was examined using five skeletal samples (total female n = 101; male n = 103). Pelvic shape was quantified by collecting landmark coordinate data on articulated pelves. Euclidean distance matrix analysis was used to extract the distances that defined the anterior and posterior pelvic spaces. Sex and body mass were used as proxies for obstetrical and biomechanical selective pressures, respectively.ResultsMANCOVA analyses demonstrate significant effects of sex and body mass on distances in both the anterior and the posterior spaces. A comparison of the relative contribution of shape variance attributed to each of these factors suggests that the posterior space is more influenced by sex, and obstetrics by proxy, whereas the anterior space is more influenced by body mass, and biomechanics by proxy.ConclusionsAlthough the overall shape of the pelvis has been influenced by obstetrical and biomechanical selective pressures, there is a differential response within the pelvis to these factors. These results provide new insight into the ongoing debate on the obstetrical dilemma hypothesis. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:428–440, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Micron‐sized membrane reactors: Multicompartment semipermeable polymer particles containing palladium nanoparticles
Authors: Robello Douglas R. , Mis Mark R. , Nair Mridula 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTMulticompartment polymer microparticles are prepared encapsulating palladium nanoparticles within closed‐shell compartments, using a double‐emulsion (W1/O/W2), evaporative limited coalescence process. The encapsulation efficiency in some cases is as high as 99%, and very little Pd leaches from the particles. The Pd nanoparticles dispersed in an aqueous environment within the closed‐shell compartments of the microparticles catalyze hydrogenation reactions of low molar mass substrates in water at substantial rates. The microparticle walls serve as semipermeable membranes, permitting diffusion of small molecules into the compartments while retaining the larger metal nanoparticles. The microparticles can be reused after simple filtration. The catalytic activity increases on recycling, possibly because of plasticization of polymer walls by the reactant and products, resulting in increased diffusion. In a second demonstration of catalytic activity, the microparticles efficiently decompose hydrogen peroxide. These nanoparticle‐containing microparticles serve as convenient, reusable catalyst carriers, and prevent inadvertent human and environmental contact with nanoparticles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42021.
On the use of ball milling to develop PHBV–graphene nanocomposites (I)—Morphology, thermal properties, and thermal stability
Authors: Ambrosio‐Martín Jesús , Gorrasi Giuliana , Lopez‐Rubio Amparo , Fabra María José , Mas Luís Cabedo , López‐Manchado Miguel Angel , Lagaron Jose María 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTIn the first part of this work, novel nanocomposites based on poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and functionalized graphene nanosheets (FGS) were prepared through ball milling. As revealed by morphological characterization, this blending methodology was able to allow proper nanofiller dispersion and distribution into the matrix. Thermal properties were studied under non‐isothermal and isothermal conditions and the addition of FGS into PHBV matrix, although no changes in crystallization mechanism were observed, it modified the crystallization kinetics leading to increased crystallinity. Thermal stability analysis revealed that FGS affected the mechanism of oxidative thermal degradation and had no effect on thermal degradation by pyrolysis. Furthermore, an analysis of isothermal degradation kinetics showed that FGS speeded up the degradation rate. The Sestak‐Berggren model was used as a model to explain the isothermal degradation behavior of the obtained materials in good agreement with the experimental data. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42101.
Synthesis and characterization of the polyols by air oxidation of soybean oil and its effect on the morphology and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) blends
Authors: Ourique Pedro A. , Gril Jérôme M. L. , Guillaume Gaëlle W. , Wanke Cesar H. , Echeverrigaray Sergio G. , Bianchi Otávio 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTThe use of natural additives, with low toxicity and good compatibility, for PVC is becoming increasingly attractive. In this study, soybean oil additives were prepared by air oxidation reactions and blending with PVC. The oxidation reaction produced a significant increase in the number of hydroxyl groups in soybean oil; however, this kind of reaction results in the formation of a heterogeneous structure due to free radical reactions in the medium. The oxidized soybean oil improved the compatibility with PVC due to an increase in the number of polar groups, such as hydroxyls, and thus a reduction in the amount of atactic polymer was observed. Furthermore, an increase in the molecular weight of the oxidized oil, as well as large amounts of polar groups contributes to reducing the migration of oil in the PVC. Regarding the crystallinity of PVC, the use of pure and oxidized soybean oil causes small changes in the crystalline phase of the polymer. Oxidized soybean oil has great potential for usage as a secondary plasticizer for PVC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2015,132, 42102.
Phase morphology and interfacial characteristics of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐styrene blends compatibilized by styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers
Authors: Li Shengming , Tang Rong , Jing Bo , Dai Wenli , Zou Xiaoxuan 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTBlends of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile‐ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐styrene (AES) were reactive compatibilized by styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers (SMA). The changes in phase morphology and interfacial characteristics of the blends as a function of maleic anhydride content of SMA and the concentration of compatibilizer have been systematic studied. The occurrence of reaction between the terminal hydroxyl groups of PC and the maleic anhydride (MA) of compatibilizer was confirmed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A glass transition temperature (Tg) with an intermediate value between Tg(AES) and Tg(PC) was found on differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) curves of PC/AES blends compatibilized with SMA contains high levels of MA. Furthermore, at lower compatibilizer content, increase of the compatibilizer level in blends result in decreasing gap between two Tgs corresponding to the constituent polymers. Small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) test results indicated that compatibilizer concentration for the minimum of blend interface layer's thickness was exactly the same as it was when compatibilized PC/AES blend exhibited optimal compatibility in DSC test. The observed morphological changes were consistent well with the DSC and SAXS test results. A new mechanism of interfacial structural development was proposed to explain unusual phenomena of SMA compatibilized PC/AES blends. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42103.
Antioxidative properties of irradiated chitosan/vitamin C complex and their use as food additive for lipid storage
Authors: Elbarbary Ahmed M. , El‐Sawy Naeem M. , Hegazy El‐Sayed A. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTImproving the antioxidant activity of chitosan was achieved by decreasing their molecular weight by γ rays followed by incorporation with vitamin C to prepare chitosan/vitamin C (CSVC) complex in the range of nanoparticles. Transmittance electron microscopy of CSVC complex showed mean diameters ranged from 23.2 to 82 nm. The antioxidant activities of CSVC complexes were examined using scavenging effect on DPPH radicals and reducing power measurements. CSVC complexes have a synergistic effect on increasing the antioxidant properties rather than their individual effects. The effect of CSVC complexes on lipid peroxidation of meat during 21 days of refrigerated storage was investigated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay. Treatment of meat with CSVC complex reduced lipid peroxidation about 75% after 7 days of storage as a result the decrease in TBARS values. The results demonstrate promising use of CSVC complex as antioxidants for lipid storage. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42105.
Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) microgel‐based etalons for determining the concentration of ethanol in gasoline
Authors: Huang Hui , Serpe Michael J. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTA device composed of a poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based microgel layer sandwiched between two thin gold layers was used as a platform for determining the amount of ethanol in gasoline (octane number of 87). This device, also known as an etalon, has unique optical properties, which depend on the diameter of the microgels that make up the device. We show that the optical properties of the device depend on the concentration of the ethanol in gasoline samples. Specifically, as the reflectance peaks shift to higher wavelength, the visual color of the device changes from green to red up to 12% (v/v) ethanol. We show that the response was consistent from sample to sample and that the devices are reusable at least three times. We went on to show that the response did not depend on the source of the gasoline, and that the etalon's response is specific to ethanol compared to other common solvents found in gasoline. The performance of these devices make them potentially useful for detecting ethanol in gasoline at the time of gasoline purchase, to determine if the gas being purchased has been adulterated. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42106.
A switch from parallel to antiparallel strand orientation in a coiled‐coil X‐ray structure via two core hydrophobic mutations
Authors: Malashkevich Vladimir N. , Higgins Chelsea D. , Almo Steven C. , Lai Jonathan R. 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTThe coiled‐coil is one of the most ubiquitous and well studied protein structural motifs. Significant effort has been devoted to dissecting subtle variations of the typical heptad repeat sequence pattern that can designate larger topological features such as relative α‐helical orientation and oligomer size. Here we report the X‐ray structure of a model coiled‐coil peptide, HA2‐Del‐L2seM, which forms an unanticipated core antiparallel dimer with potential sites for discrete higher‐order multimerization (trimer or tetramer). In the X‐ray structure, a third, partially‐ordered α‐helix is weakly associated with the antiparallel dimer and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments indicate the peptide forms a well‐defined tetramer in solution. The HA2‐Del‐L2seM sequence is closely related to a parent model peptide, HA2‐Del, which we previously reported adopts a parallel trimer; HA2‐Del‐L2seM differs by only hydrophobic leucine to selenomethione mutations and thus this subtle difference is sufficient to switch both relative α‐helical topology and number of α‐helices participating in the coiled‐coil. Comparison of the X‐ray structures of HA2‐Del‐L2seM (reported here) with the HA2‐Del parent (reported previously) reveals novel interactions involving the selenomethionine residues that promote antiparallel coiled‐coil configuration and preclude parallel trimer formation. These novel atomic insights are instructive for understanding subtle features that can affect coiled‐coil topology and provide additional information for design of antiparallel coiled‐coils. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 104: 178–185, 2015.