bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From perceptual to lexico‐semantic analysis—cortical plasticity enabling new levels of processing
Authors: Schlaffke Lara , Rüther Naima N. , Heba Stefanie , Haag Lauren M. , Schultz Thomas , Rosengarth Katharina , Tegenthoff Martin , Bellebaum Christian , Schmidt‐Wilcke Tobias 
Published: August 2015

AbstractCertain kinds of stimuli can be processed on multiple levels. While the neural correlates of different levels of processing (LOPs) have been investigated to some extent, most of the studies involve skills and/or knowledge already present when performing the task. In this study we specifically sought to identify neural correlates of an evolving skill that allows the transition from perceptual to a lexico‐semantic stimulus analysis. Eighteen participants were trained to decode 12 letters of Morse code that were presented acoustically inside and outside of the scanner environment. Morse code was presented in trains of three letters while brain activity was assessed with fMRI. Participants either attended to the stimulus length (perceptual analysis), or evaluated its meaning distinguishing words from nonwords (lexico‐semantic analysis). Perceptual and lexico‐semantic analyses shared a mutual network comprising the left premotor cortex, the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). Perceptual analysis was associated with a strong brain activation in the SMA and the superior temporal gyrus bilaterally (STG), which remained unaltered from pre and post training. In the lexico‐semantic analysis post learning, study participants showed additional activation in the left inferior frontal cortex (IFC) and in the left occipitotemporal cortex (OTC), regions known to be critically involved in lexical processing. Our data provide evidence for cortical plasticity evolving with a learning process enabling the transition from perceptual to lexico‐semantic stimulus analysis. Importantly, the activation pattern remains task‐related LOP and is thus the result of a decision process as to which LOP to engage in. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4512–4528, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published byWiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of the Mo Structure on CIGS Solar Cells Fabricated on Stainless Steel Substrates
Authors: Kim Deok‐In , Kim Kyoung‐Bo , Kim Moojin , Jeon Chan‐Wook 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study examined the effects of the bilayer structure of a Mo back contact and its total thickness on the diffusion behavior of substrate impurities, as well as the performance of CdS/Cu(In,Ga)Se2/Mo/stainless steel solar cells. The thick Mo, with a total thickness of 1.0 μm and a low density region of 0.2 μm, resulted in poorer photoconversion efficiency than the thin Mo with a total thickness of 0.5 μm and a low density region of 0.1 μm. The efficiency loss was attributed to deterioration of the quantum efficiency and diffusion length due to increased Fe contamination. This suggests that the saturation of Cr near the interface between the high density region and the low density region in the Mo bilayers, which was favored in the 0.5 μm thick Mo layer with thinner low density region, provided a self‐diffusion barrier against the further diffusion of Fe.
Energetic, Hydraulic and Economic Efficiency of Axial Flow and Centrifugal Pumps for Surface Water Irrigation in Bangladesh
Authors: Krupnik Timothy J. , Valle Santiago Santos , Islam Shirazul , Hossain Ayub , Gathala Mahesh K. , Qureshi Asad Sarwar 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWith conventional centrifugal (CEN) pumps, less than 50% of southern Bangladesh's farmers invest in irrigation, partly due to high diesel energy costs. New policies are prioritizing sustainable crop intensification in Bangladesh's delta. This objective is unlikely to be achieved without fundamental changes in the energetics and economics of irrigation. Where surface water is available, axial flow pumps (AFPs) may comprise part of the solution to this problem. Comparing the hydraulic, energetic and economic performance of prototype AFPs and CEN pumps, the latter produced less yet consistent rates of discharge than AFPs at all heads. AFP discharge was conversely larger than CEN pumps, but inversely related to increasing head. Discharge per unit of fuel was highest for AFPs (+51 and +21% at 1‐ and 2‐m lifts), but declined with rising head until convergence with CEN pumps at 2.8 m. High AFP discharge reduced irrigation time requirements. On average, AFPs can save between US$70 and 38 ha–1 season–1 for boro rice at 1‐ and 3‐m heads, respectively, and between US$15 and 8, and 26 and 14 ha–1 season–1 for wheat and maize. Fuel efficiency reductions above 2.8 m highlight the importance of improved prototyping and technology targeting to ensure AFP deployment in environments where the greatest efficiency gains are achievable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Myostatin: Expanding horizons
Authors: Sharma Mridula , McFarlane Craig , Kambadur Ravi , Kukreti Himani , Bonala Sabeera , Srinivasan Shruti 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMyostatin is a secreted growth and differentiation factor that belongs to the TGF‐β superfamily. Myostatin is predominantly synthesized and expressed in skeletal muscle and thus exerts a huge impact on muscle growth and function. In keeping with its negative role in myogenesis, myostatin expression is tightly regulated at several levels including epigenetic, transcriptional, post‐transcriptional, and post‐translational. New revelations regarding myostatin regulation also offer mechanisms that could be exploited for developing myostatin antagonists. Increasingly, it is becoming clearer that besides its conventional role in muscle, myostatin plays a critical role in metabolism. Hence, molecular mechanisms by which myostatin regulates several key metabolic processes need to be further explored. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(8):589–600, 2015
Curcumin attenuates ethanol‐induced hepatic steatosis through modulating Nrf2/FXR signaling in hepatocytes
Authors: Lu Chunfeng , Zhang Feng , Xu Wenxuan , Wu Xiafei , Lian Naqi , Jin Huanhuan , Chen Qin , Chen Lianyun , Shao Jiangjuan , Wu Li , Lu Yin , Zheng Shizhong 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAlcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a common health problem worldwide, characterized by aberrant accumulation of lipid in hepatocytes. Inhibition of lipid accumulation has been well recognized as a promising strategy for ALD. Previous studies showed that curcumin has potential effect on ALD by regulating oxidative stress and ethanol metabolism. However, the effects of curcumin on lipid accumulation and its mechanism remain unclear. Recent researches have indicated that farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (Nrf2) have excellent effects on reducing lipid deposition. This study demonstrated that curcumin alleviated ethanol‐induced liver injury by ameliorating activities of serum marker enzymes and inflammation. Moreover, curcumin alleviated the symptom of hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis via modulating the expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c, fatty acid synthase, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐alpha as well as the activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1. Additionally, curcumin induced the expression of Nrf2 and FXR in liver, strongly implying close relationship between inhibitory effect of curcumin on hepatic steatosis and the above two genes. The following in vitro experiments further verified the protective effects of curcumin against hepatotoxicity and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes induced by ethanol. Gain‐ or loss‐of‐function analyses revealed Nrf2 and FXR mediated the effect of curcumin on lipid deposition in hepatocytes, and curcumin modulated the expression of FXR mediated by Nrf2. Collectively, we drew a conclusion that curcumin attenuated ALD by modulating lipid deposition in hepatocytes via a Nrf2/FXR activation‐dependent mechanism. The findings make curcumin a potential agent for ALD and broaden the horizon of the molecular mechanism involved. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(8):645–658, 2015
Constructing Minimal Blocking Sets Using Field Reduction
Authors: Van de Voorde Geertrui 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe present a construction for minimal blocking sets with respect to ‐spaces in , the ‐dimensional projective space over the finite field of order . The construction relies on the use of blocking cones in the field reduced representation of , extending the well‐known construction of linear blocking sets. This construction is inspired by the construction for minimal blocking sets with respect to the hyperplanes by Mazzocca, Polverino, and Storme (the MPS‐construction); we show that for a suitable choice of the blocking cone over a planar blocking set, we obtain larger blocking sets than the ones obtained from planar blocking sets in F. Mazzocca and O. Polverino, J Algebraic Combin 24(1) (2006), 61–81. Furthermore, we show that every minimal blocking set with respect to the hyperplanes in can be obtained by applying field reduction to a minimal blocking set with respect to ‐spaces in . We end by relating these constructions to the linearity conjecture for small minimal blocking sets. We show that if a small minimal blocking set is constructed from the MPS‐constructionthen it is of Rédei‐type, whereas a small minimal blocking set arises from our cone construction if and only if it is linear.
Selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2‐propanediol over highly active copper–magnesia catalysts: reaction parameter, catalyst stability and mechanism study
Authors: Pudi Satyanarayana Murty , Biswas Prakash , Kumar Shashi 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe surplus amount of glycerol (>1 million tons per year) from the biodiesel industry has received much attention in recent years for the production of alternative chemicals. The performance of x%Cu/MgO (x=5–50%) catalysts was investigated for selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2‐propanediol (1,2‐PDO). The primary emphasis was given to the optimization of reaction parameters, reaction mechanism and catalyst stability.RESULTSThe 35%Cu/MgO catalyst exhibited the maximum glycerol conversion of 96.6% with 92.6% selectivity to 1,2‐PDO at 210°C and 4.5 MPa H2 pressure. The high catalytic activity was attributed to the presence of bifunctional acidic–basic sites, and the synergetic interaction between copper nanoparticles and MgO support. To understand the reaction mechanism, the role of intermediates (1,2‐PDO, acetol, ethylene glycol) was investigated. Catalytic stability and reusability experiments were performed by repeating the reaction three times. The results of characterization of fresh and used catalysts demonstrated negligible deactivation of 35%Cu/MgO catalyst after successive reuse.CONCLUSIONCu/MgO catalyst played a significant role in enhancing the hydrogenolysis activity. The results demonstrated that glycerol conversion was rapidly increased with increasing reaction temperature, pressure and copper metal loading. The conversion of glycerol to 1,2‐PDO followed the dehydration–hydrogenation pathway and hydrogenolysis of C–C bonds was almost negligible. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantitative characterization of carbon/carbon composites matrix texture based on image analysis using polarized light microscope
Authors: Li Yixian , Qi Lehua , Song Yongshan , Hou Xianghui , Li Hejun 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTA quantitative characteristic method was proposed for characterizing the matrix texture of carbon/carbon(C/C) composites, which determined the mechanical and physical properties of C/C composites. Based on the cloud theory that was commonly used for uncertain reasoning and the transformation between quantitative and qualitative characterization, so the relationship between the extinction angle and texture types was built by the cloud models for describing the texture of microstructure, moreover, linguistic controllers were established to analyze the matrix texture in accordance with the features of the polarized light microscope (PLM) image. On this basis, the extinction angle could be calculated from the PLM image of the C/C composites. In contrast to the results of measurement, the errors between calculative values and measured values were maintained 1–2° in basically. Meanwhile, the PLM image of C/C composites was segmented by the component, in particular, the matrix with mixed textures was further segmented by the difference of texture. It means that the quantitative characterization of C/C composites matrix based on single PLM image has been realized. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:908–917, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of dynamic cantilever behavior in tapping mode atomic force microscopy
Authors: Deng Wenqi , Zhang Guang‐Ming , Murphy Mark F. , Lilley Francis , Harvey David M. , Burton David R. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTTapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) provides phase images in addition to height and amplitude images. Although the behavior of tapping mode AFM has been investigated using mathematical modeling, comprehensive understanding of the behavior of tapping mode AFM still poses a significant challenge to the AFM community, involving issues such as the correct interpretation of the phase images. In this paper, the cantilever's dynamic behavior in tapping mode AFM is studied through a three dimensional finite element method. The cantilever's dynamic displacement responses are firstly obtained via simulation under different tip‐sample separations, and for different tip‐sample interaction forces, such as elastic force, adhesion force, viscosity force, and the van der Waals force, which correspond to the cantilever's action upon various different representative computer‐generated test samples. Simulated results show that the dynamic cantilever displacement response can be divided into three zones: a free vibration zone, a transition zone, and a contact vibration zone. Phase trajectory, phase shift, transition time, pseudo stable amplitude, and frequency changes are then analyzed from the dynamic displacement responses that are obtained. Finally, experiments are carried out on a real AFM system to support the findings of the simulations. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:935–946, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detecting changes in arthritic fibroblast‐like synoviocytes using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Lee Jee‐Wook , Ok Myoung‐Ryul , Lee Sangmook , Lim Jin Ik 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThe morphological and quantitative differences between arthritic fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) and normal FLS were determined as an effective diagnostic tool for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and confirmed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Collagen‐induced arthritic (CIA) mice and normal mice were prepared and FLS were isolated by enzymatic digestion from the synovial tissue of sacrificed mice at 5‐week and 8‐week pathogenesis periods. Analysis of cell morphology using AFM revealed that the surface roughness around the nucleus and around the branched cytoplasm was significantly higher in CIA FLS (P < 0.05) than that in normal FLS. In addition, the roughness of two different sites on the arthritic FLS increased with an increase in the duration of pathogenesis. These results strongly suggest that AFM can be widely used as a diagnostic tool in cytopathology to detect the early signs of RA and various others diseases at the intercellular level. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:982–988, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Immobilization and stretching of 5′‐pyrene‐terminated DNA on carbon film deposited on electron microscope grid
Authors: Loukanov Alexandre , Filipov Chavdar , Lecheva Marta , Saim Emin  
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTThe immobilization and stretching of randomly coiled DNA molecules on hydrophobic carbon film is a challenging microscopic technique, which possess various applications, especially for genome sequencing. In this report the pyrenyl nucleus is used as an anchor moiety to acquire higher affinity of double stranded DNA to the graphite surface. DNA and pyrene are joined through a linker composed of four aliphatic methylene groups. For the preparation of pyrene‐terminated DNA a multifunctional phosphoramidite monomer compound was designed. It contains pyrenylbutoxy group as an anchor moiety for π‐stacking attachment to the carbon film, 2‐cyanoethyloxy, and diisopropylamino as coupling groups for conjugation to activated oligonucleotide chain or DNA molecule. This monomer derivative was suitable for incorporation into automated solid‐phase DNA synthesis and was attached to the 5′ terminus of the DNA chain through a phosphodiester linkage. The successful immobilization and stretching of pyrene‐terminated DNA was demonstrated by conventional 100 kV transmission electron microscope. The microscopic analysis confirmed the stretched shape of the negatively charged nucleic acid pieces on the hydrophobic carbon film. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:994–1000, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of arterial input function selection on the accuracy of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI quantitative analysis for the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer
Authors: Azahaf Mustapha , Haberley Marc , Betrouni Nacim , Ernst Olivier , Behal Hélène , Duhamel Alain , Ouzzane Adil , Puech Philippe 
Published: August 2015

PurposeUsing a limited temporal resolution dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset to assess the impact of the arterial input function (AIF) choice on the transfer constant (Ktrans) to distinguish prostate carcinoma (PCa) from benign tissue.Materials and MethodsThirty‐eight patients with clinically important peripheral PCa (≥0.5 cc) were retrospectively studied. These patients underwent 1.5T multiparametric prostate MR with PCa and benign regions of interest (ROIs) selected using a visual registration with morphometric reconstruction obtained from radical prostatectomy. Using three pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis software programs, the mean Ktrans of ROIs was computed using three AIFs: an individual AIF (Ind‐AIF) and two literature population average AIFs of Weinmann (W‐AIF) and of Fritz‐Hansen (FH‐AIF). A pairwise comparison of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCC) obtained with different AIFs was performed.ResultsAUROCCs obtained with W‐AIF (ranging from 0.801 to 0.843) were significantly higher than FH‐AIF (ranging from 0.698 to 0.780, 0.002 ≤ P ≤ 0.045) and similar to or higher than Ind‐AIF (ranging from 0.591 to 0.839, 0.014 ≤ P ≤ 0.9). Ind‐AIF and FH‐AIF provided similar AUROCC (0.34 ≤ P ≤ 0.81). The pairwise correlation of Ktrans values was moderate to very strong when comparing W‐AIF with FH‐AIF (the Spearman's correlation coefficients [SCCs] ranged from 0.55 to 0.93) and very weak to moderate when comparing W‐AIF with Ind‐AIF (the SCCs ranged from 0.018 to 0.59) or FH‐AIF with Ind‐AIF (the SCCs ranged from 0.30 to 0.51).ConclusionW‐AIF yielded a higher performance than FH‐AIF and a similar or higher performance than Ind‐AIF in distinguishing PCa from benign tissue. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2016;43:737–749.
Pancreatic cancer patients with lymph node involvement by direct tumor extension have similar survival to those with node‐negative disease
Authors: Williams Jennifer L. , Nguyen Andrew H. , Rochefort Matthew , Muthusamy V. Raman , Wainberg Zev A. , Dawson David W. , Tomlinson James S. , Hines O. Joe , Reber Howard A. , Donahue Timothy R. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundLymph node (LN) involvement is a well‐known poor prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, there have been conflicting results on the significance of the mechanism of LN involvement, “direct” tumor invasion versus “metastatic,” disease on patient survival.MethodsClinicopathologic records from all patients who underwent resection for PDAC from 1990 to 2014 at a single‐institution were reviewed.ResultsOf the 385 total patients, there was tumor invasion outside of the pancreas in 289 (75.1%) patients. Overall, 239 (62.1%) had node‐positive disease: 220 (92.0%) by “metastatic” involvement, 14 (5.9%) by “direct” tumor extension, and five (2.1%) by a mix of “metastatic” and “direct”. There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic factors associated with PDAC survival between “metastatic” and “direct” LN patients. The median overall survival for the whole cohort was 31.1 months. Compared to overall survival in patients with LN‐negative disease (median 40.7 months), those with LNs involved by “metastatic” spread was significantly shorter (median 25.7 months, P < 0.001), yet “direct” LN extension was similar (median 48.1 months, P = 0.719).ConclusionsThe mechanism of LN involvement affects PDAC prognosis. Patients with LNs involved by direct extension have similar survival to those with node‐negative disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:396–402. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polarization enhanced wide‐field imaging for evaluating dermal changes caused by non‐ablative fractional laser treatment
Authors: Feng Xin , Doherty Sean , Yaroslavsky Ilya , Altshuler Gregory , Yaroslavsky Anna N. 
Published: August 2015

Background and ObjectiveLaser non‐ablative fractional treatment (NAFT) is an important part of armamentarium of modern dermatology. Recently, such treatments have become available in at‐home setting due to advent of self‐application NAFT devices. Safety and clinical efficacy of NAFT are well established in multiple studies. Less information is available on morphological and functional changes in tissue occurring as a result of NAFT. Polarization‐enhanced multispectral wide‐field imaging device allows for in vivo real time visualization of dermal structures. The objective of this study is to use this imaging modality to monitor early effects of the home‐use NAFT on collagen networks.Materials and MethodsEight subjects (skin types I–III) used a commercially available NAFT device (wavelength 1410 nm, energy per pulse up to 15 mJ) to treat peri‐orbital wrinkles in standard recommended mode, that is daily, for a period of two weeks. In each session, subjects applied a pre‐treatment gel to the peri‐orbital areas and then used the device, delivering 8–10 applications to each side of the face without overlap. Subjects were asked to use the highest device setting. Cross‐polarized 440 nm wide‐field images were acquired from peri‐orbital areas before and two weeks after the onset of the treatment regimen. Wide‐field images were normalized and thresholded to a level of 40% brightness to emphasize collagen structure. Collagen content was quantitatively determined from thresholded collagen images. Improvement in collagen content at two weeks of daily treatments was assessed.ResultsEight subjects (age 24–53 years) completed the study. Cross‐polarized 440 nm wide‐field images clearly delineated collagen networks. Quantitative assessment of collagen images revealed statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement of collagen content at a time point of two weeks. Seven out of eight subjects showed varying degree of improvement. The increase of collagen content in responders ranged from 1–26%, with the mean improvement of 11%. Subjects in their early 40s showed the best improvement in comparison to younger and older age groups.ConclusionsPolarization‐enhanced multispectral wide‐field reflectance imaging method is a suitable technique for noninvasive in vivo assessment of dermal structures. Post‐treatment images, taken three days after the last treatment session, demonstrate that non‐ablative fractional treatment resulted in increased dermal collagen content as measured by the polarization‐enhanced technique as early as two weeks post onset of the treatments. However, further studies with a larger number of subjects and longer treatment period are required to determine the optimal regimen and how long the results will last. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:150–156, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.