bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Small diameter tubular structure design using solvent‐free textile techniques
Authors: Chrzanowska Olga , Struszczyk Marcin Henryk , Krucinska Izabella 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTThe aim of research was to elaborate the non‐biodegradable (made of polypropylene (PP)) and resorbable (made of polylactide (PLA)) tubular fibrous structures for the reconstruction of the vascular vessels. For the mentioned structures design, nonconventional manufacturing techniques such as melt blown, melt electrospinning, and melt electroblowing were used. Three techniques were chosen as methods allowing on the fibrous structures manufacture containing fibers in nano‐ or submicro‐size diameter. Other advantages of free‐solvent technique use is the reduction in the clinical adverse events associated with solvent resided in the fibrous structure during the fabrication. The tubular fibrous structures of PP and PLA using above‐mentioned techniques were designed. In first stage, the analysis of the processing parameters influence on the nonbiodegradable and biodegradable tubular structures fiber diameter was performed. Subsequently, the validation step was the analysis of the influence of processing parameters on PP and PLA structural properties for each manufacturing techniques was investigated. The research results confirmed the ability of the tubular structures manufacture with various fiber diameter depending on the applied technique and processing parameters. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40147.
Miniemulsion polymerization of fluorinated siloxane‐acrylate latex and the application as waterborne textile finishing agent
Authors: Guo Longhai , Jiang Sijiu , Qiu Teng , Zhang Shengwen , He Lifan , Tan Jie , Li Xiaoyu 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTFluorinated siloxane–acrylate polymer latex was synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization, which was carried out by pseudo one‐step method. In the synthesis protocol, the monomers of octamethylclotetrasiloxane (D4), tetravinyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4v), methyl methylacrylate, butyl acrylate, N‐methylol acrylamide, and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) were first mixed and homogenized into a miniemulsion, which was stabilized by dedecybenzene sulfonic acid. The ring‐opening polymerization of cyclosiloxane was then steadily performed under miniemulsion conditions and followed by the postaddition of radical initiators to initiate the polymerization of acrylate and DFMA monomers. The influences on the emulsion properties by acrylic monomer with different addition protocol were investigated in this work. In addition, the synthesized latexes were characterized by using dynamic laser scattering, transmission electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These results indicated that the introduction of D4v in the latex can successfully suppress the phase separation between the thermodynamically incompatible components for the formation of uniform hybrid latex particles. The further application of the as‐synthesized latex was investigated as a new kind of waterborne textile finishing agent. Moreover, the influences of the content of D4v and DFMA on the finishing properties, especially for the softness, the water repellence, and the antimoisture properties, were systematically studied in this work. With a proper design on the content of the D4v and DFMA, stable textile finishing emulsion was prepared, which can endow the fabric both desirable softness and excellent water resistances. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40161.
Skin Progenitor Cells Contribute to Bleomycin‐Induced Skin Fibrosis
Authors: Liu Shangxi , Herault Yann , Pavlovic Guillaume , Leask Andrew 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveThe origin of the cells that contribute to skin fibrosis is unclear. We undertook the present study to assess the contribution of Sox2‐expressing skin progenitor cells to bleomycin‐induced scleroderma.MethodsScleroderma was induced, by bleomycin administration, in wild‐type mice and in mice in which CCN2 was deleted from Sox2‐expressing cells. Lineage tracing analysis was performed to assess whether cells expressing Sox2 are recruited to fibrotic lesions in response to bleomycin‐induced scleroderma.ResultsIn response to bleomycin, Sox2‐positive/α‐smooth muscle actin–positive cells were recruited to fibrotic tissue. CCN2–conditional knockout mice in which CCN2 was deleted from Sox2‐expressing cells exhibited resistance to bleomycin‐induced skin fibrosis. Collectively, these results indicate that CCN2 is required for the recruitment of progenitor cells and that CCN2‐expressing progenitor cells are essential for bleomycin‐induced skin fibrosis. Lineage tracing analysis using mice in which a tamoxifen‐dependent Cre recombinase was expressed under the control of the Sox2 promoter confirmed that progenitor cells were recruited to the fibrotic lesion in response to bleomycin, and that this did not occur in CCN2‐knockout mice. The ability of serum to induce α‐smooth muscle actin expression in skin progenitor cells required the presence of CCN2.ConclusionSox2‐positive skin progenitor cells are required in order for bleomycin‐induced skin fibrosis to occur, and CCN2 is required for the recruitment of these cells to the fibrotic lesion. Targeting stem cell recruitment or CCN2 may therefore represent a useful therapeutic approach in combating fibrotic skin disease.
Patient and hospital factors associated with induction mortality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Seif Alix E. , Fisher Brian T. , Li Yimei , Torp Kari , Rheam Douglas P. , Huang Yuan‐Shung V. , Harris Tracey , Shah Ami , Hall Matthew , Fieldston Evan S. , Kavcic Marko , Vujkovic Marijana , Bailey L. Charles , Kersun Leslie S. , Reilly Anne F. , Rheingold Susan R. , Walker Dana M. , Aplenc Richard 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundDeaths during induction chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) account for one‐tenth of ALL‐associated mortality and half of ALL treatment‐related mortality. We sought to ascertain patient‐ and hospital‐level factors associated with induction mortality.ProcedureWe performed a retrospective cohort analysis of 8,516 children ages 0 to <19 years with newly diagnosed ALL admitted to freestanding US children's hospitals from 1999 to 2009 using the Pediatric Health Information System database. Induction mortality risk was modeled accounting for demographics, intensive care unit‐level interventions, and socioeconomic status (SES) using Cox regression. The association of ALL induction mortality with hospital‐level factors including volume, hospital‐wide mortality and payer mix was analyzed with multiple linear regression.ResultsALL induction mortality was 1.12%. Race and patient‐level SES factors were not associated with induction mortality. Patients receiving both mechanical ventilation and vasoactive infusions experienced nearly 50% mortality (hazard ratio 122.30, 95% CI 66.56–224.80). Institutions in the highest induction mortality quartile contributed 27% of all patients but nearly half of all deaths (47 of 95). Hospital payer mix was associated with ALL induction mortality after adjustment for other hospital‐level factors (P = 0.046).ConclusionsThe overall risk of induction death is low but substantially increased in patients with cardio‐respiratory and other organ failures. Induction mortality varies up to three‐fold across hospitals and is correlated with hospital payer mix. Further work is needed to improve induction outcomes in hospitals with higher mortality. These data suggest an induction mortality rate of less than 1% may be an attainable national benchmark. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:846–852. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Animal attendance at M‐44 sodium cyanide ejector sites for coyotes
Authors: Shivik John A. , Mastro Lauren , Young Julie K. 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTSodium cyanide (NaCN) ejectors for coyotes (Canis latrans), known as M‐44s, are used in many parts of the United States for lethally removing coyotes to protect livestock or other resources. Quantifying selectivity of current devices in killing target and non‐target species is important to users and provides a baseline for future development of more effective and selective techniques. We used motion‐activated cameras to monitor M‐44 locations for coyote and other species visitations to the sites. Because camera presence potentially influences coyote behavior, we first compared activation of M‐44s at paired sites where cameras were and were not present. Coyotes activated M‐44s sites with cameras (n = 17) similarly to sites without cameras (n = 19). During 832 site‐days of observation, coyotes visited M‐44 sites 29 times, and 18 other species visited 1,597 times. The mean visitation ratio for non‐coyotes to coyotes was 2.8:1 at the M‐44 locations monitored (n = 22). Non‐coyotes were much less likely to touch the devices with their noses or mouths than were coyotes (0.24:1). No non‐canid activated an M‐44, suggesting very high selectivity toward killing canid species. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Trapping and handling squirrels: Trap modification and handling restraint to minimize injuries and stress
Authors: Mantor Margaret , Krause Sara , Hart Lynette A. 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTTrapping and handling is stressful for wild animals and may result in injuries. Minimizing stress and injuries is important not only for the welfare of the animals, but to assure integrity of research using trapped wild animals. By recording injury rates associated with trapping and handling, it is possible to assess the welfare performance of trapping and handling methods. Although the International Organization for Standardization published a standardized scale for the type and severity of injuries caused by trapping and handling (ISO 1999), it does not provide guidelines for acceptable standards of animal welfare; that is left to the researchers themselves to determine. The purpose of this paper is to measure the level of injury to wild squirrels caused by trapping and handling using minimally disruptive methods. We report our injury rates from several studies conducted in California, USA, that used various trapping and handling methods and the refined procedures we have adopted. Our data set on multiple Sciuridae species provides values for comparison with other studies. We found that using a canvas cover for traps minimized stress and injuries in captured squirrels. We also found that using a cone handling bag minimized handling time and stress associated with handling and eliminated the need for chemical immobilants. Further, we found that covering the animals' eyes during handling appeared to reduce visible signs of stress. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
Beyond the spectral standard model: emergence of Pati-Salam unification
Authors: Chamseddine Ali H. , Connes Alain , van Suijlekom Walter D. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe assumption that space-time is a noncommutative space formed as a product of a continuous four dimensional manifold times a finite space predicts, almost uniquely, the Standard Model with all its fermions, gauge fields, Higgs field and their representations. A strong restriction on the noncommutative space results from the first order condition which came from the requirement that the Dirac operator is a differential operator of order one. Without this restriction, invariance under inner automorphisms requires the inner fluctuations of the Dirac operator to contain a quadratic piece expressed in terms of the linear part. We apply the classification of product noncommutative spaces without the first ordercondition and show that this leads immediately to a Pati-Salam SU(2)R× SU(2)L× SU(4) type model which unifies leptons and quarks in four colors. Besides the gauge fields, there are 16 fermions in the (2, 2, 4) representation, fundamental Higgs fields in the (2, 2, 1), (2, 1, 4) and (1, 1, 1 + 15) representations. Depending on the precise form of the initial Dirac operator there are additional Higgs fields which are either composite depending on the fundamental Higgs fields listed above, or are fundamental themselves. These additional Higgs fields break spontaneously the Pati-Salam symmetries at high energies to those of the Standard Model.
Biogenic opal production changes during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition in the Bering Sea (IODP Expedition 323 Site U1343)
Authors: Kim Sunghan , Takahashi Kozo , Khim Boo-Keun , Kanematsu Yoshihiro , Asahi Hirofumi , Ravelo Ana Christina 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBiogenic opal content and mass accumulation rate (MAR) at IODP Expedition 323 Site U1343 were found to fluctuate consistently, generally being high under warm conditions and low under cold conditions during the last 2.4 Ma. Continuous wavelet transform analysis of the normalized biogenic opal content indicates that export production in the Bering Sea varied predominantly at 41-ka periodicity before 1.25 Ma, and shifted to 100-ka periodicity at the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT; 1.25–0.7 Ma). The 100-ka cycles dominated until the Holocene. Export production in the Bering Sea decreased markedly in the Bering Sea two times during the MPT: the first occurred at the beginning of the MPT (1.25 Ma) and the second in the middle of the MPT (0.9 Ma). These decreases coincided with both increases in the relative abundance of sea-ice diatoms and decreases in the warm-water diatom species Neodenticula seminae, indicating that reductions in export production in the Bering Sea during the MPT were associated with climate cooling. Decreases in export production in the Bering Sea during the MPT were most likely associated with the increased influence of polar/Arctic domains on the high-latitude North Pacific.
DHA suppressesPrevotella intermedialipopolysaccharide-induced production of proinflammatory mediators in murine macrophages
Authors: Choi Eun-Young , Jin Ji-Young , Choi Jeom-Il , Choi In Soon , Kim Sung-Jo 
Published: November 2013

Several reports have indicated that dietary intake of DHA is associated with lower prevalence of periodontitis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DHA on the production of proinflammatory mediators in murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated fromPrevotellaintermedia, a pathogen implicated in inflammatory periodontal disease, and its mechanisms of action. LPS was isolated from lyophilisedP.intermediaATCC 25 611 cells using the standard hot-phenol–water protocol. Culture supernatants were collected and assayed for NO, IL-1β and IL-6. Real-time PCR analysis was carried out to detect the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), IL-1β, IL-6 and haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA. Immunoblot analysis was carried out to quantify the expression of iNOS and HO-1 protein and concentrations of signalling proteins. DNA-binding activities of NF-κB subunits were determined using an ELISA-based assay kit. DHA significantly attenuated the production of NO, IL-1β and IL-6 at both gene transcription and translation levels inP.intermediaLPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. DHA induced the expression of HO-1 in cells treated withP.intermediaLPS. Selective inhibition of HO-1 activity by tin protoporphyrin IX significantly mitigated the inhibitory effects of DHA on LPS-induced NO production. DHA significantly attenuated the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase induced by LPS. In addition, DHA suppressed the transcriptional activity of NF-κB by regulating the nuclear translocation and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB p50 subunit and inhibited the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1. Furtherin vivostudies are needed to better evaluate the potential of DHA in humans as a therapeutic agent to treat periodontal disease.
Neurologic Recovery after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Lehmann Charles L. , Buchowski Jacob M. , Stoker Geoffrey E. , Riew K. Daniel 
Published: November 2013

Study Design Retrospective review. Objective The objective of this study is to describe the natural history of neurologic recovery after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Methods Patients between 18 and 80 years of age, diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy, who underwent single-level ACDF and were followed for a minimum of 2 years were identified from a single-center database. Sensory and motor deficits were documented and graded based on physical examination findings at preoperative and postoperative visits, and used to calculate deficit rates. Results One hundred eighteen patients were included in the study. Mean age was 46 ± 9.2 years and mean follow-up time was 3.8 ± 2.1 years. At the time of surgery, 66% had a sensory deficit. Recovery of sensory function was seen in 85% of patients within 1 year. At final follow-up, new sensory deficits had developed in 30% of patients, 60% of whom had adjacent-level sensory deficits. Patients with preoperative sensory deficits tended to be more likely to develop a new deficit postoperatively ( p = 0.05). At the time of surgery, 55% had a motor deficit. Recovery of motor function was seen in 95% of patients within 1 year, and 14% developed new postoperative motor deficits by final follow-up. Of those patients who developed a new motor deficit postoperatively, 76% did so at an adjacent level. Conclusions In our series, a high percentage of patients recovered neurologic function during the first year after ACDF. Adjacent-level and remote-level degeneration were large contributors to neurologic deficits that occurred in subsequent years.
Bacterial natural transformation by highly fragmented and damaged DNA
Authors: Overballe-Petersen Søren , Harms Klaus , Orlando Ludovic A. A. , Mayar J. Victor Moreno , Rasmussen Simon , Dahl Tais W. , Rosing Minik T. , Poole Anthony M. , Sicheritz-Ponten Thomas , Brunak Søren , Inselmann Sabrina , de Vries Johann , Wackernagel Wilfried , Pybus Oliver G. , Nielsen Rasmus , Johnsen Pål Jarle , Nielsen Kaare Magne , Willerslev Eske 
Published: November 2013

Significance
Short and damaged DNA is ubiquitous in most environments and can survive more than half a million years. We show that naturally competent environmental bacteria can take up such degraded DNA and incorporate it into their genomes, including DNA from a 43,000-y-old woolly mammoth bone. The process occurs as part of cellular DNA replication and may resemble the earliest forms of horizontal gene transfer. Our findings suggest that natural genetic exchange of DNA from dead and even extinct organisms to contemporary bacteria can take place over hundreds of thousands of years. Hence damaged and degraded DNA may be a previous unrecognized driver of bacterial evolution with implications for evolutionary theory.
Phylo SI: a new genome-wide approach for prokaryotic phylogeny
Authors: Shifman Anton , Ninyo Noga , Gophna Uri , Snir Sagi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe evolutionary history of all life forms is usually represented as a vertical tree-like process. In prokaryotes, however, the vertical signal is partly obscured by the massive influence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). The HGT creates widespread discordance between evolutionary histories of different genes as genomes become mosaics of gene histories. Thus, the Tree of Life (TOL) has been questioned as an appropriate representation of the evolution of prokaryotes. Nevertheless a common hypothesis is that prokaryotic evolution is primarily tree-like, and a routine effort is made to place new isolates in their appropriate location in the TOL. Moreover, it appears desirable to exploit non–tree-like evolutionary processes for the task of microbial classification. In this work, we present a novel technique that builds on the straightforward observation that gene order conservation (‘synteny’) decreases in time as a result of gene mobility. This is particularly true in prokaryotes, mainly due to HGT. Using a ‘synteny index’ (SI) that measures the average synteny between a pair of genomes, we developed the phylogenetic reconstruction tool ‘Phylo SI’. Phylo SI offers several attractive properties such as easy bootstrapping, high sensitivity in cases where phylogenetic signal is weak and computational efficiency. Phylo SI was tested both on simulated data and on two bacterial data sets and compared with two well-established phylogenetic methods. Phylo SI is particularly efficient on short evolutionary distances where synteny footprints remain detectable, whereas the nucleotide substitution signal is too weak for reliable sequence-based phylogenetic reconstruction. The method is publicly available at http://research.haifa.ac.il/ssagi/software/PhyloSI.zip.
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Authors: Crumpton Michael A. 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThis article aims to discuss the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in today's economic environment and why such activities should be part of leadership.Design/methodology/approachThe article references journals and conference activity that have demonstrated successful innovation activities.FindingsReferences and additional reading provide case studies and examples of successful innovative ideas. It is noted that more innovation and resulting entrepreneurial activities will be needed as libraries redefine themselves.Practical implicationsInnovation can work but needs the culture in which to operate.Social implicationsCollaboration with the broader community is not only beneficial but necessary in a global society.Originality/valueThe article references both an active journal and conference cycle for persons interested in more information.
“Cloud computing” in library automation: benefits and drawbacks
Authors: Lloret Romero Nuria 
Published: November 2013

PurposeIn recent years it has become common to hear about the virtues and benefits of the so‐called “cloud” for the use of corporate software. Although the use of the cloud in the business environment has already transformed the concept of data storage and resource management, its use in the field of libraries and information centers is somewhat less widespread. This article aims to outline its benefits and drawbacks.Design/methodology/approachThe article describes the features of cloud computing, how it can be used in a professional environment, and its benefits and drawbacks,FindingsCloud computing is a highly scalable platform promising quick access to hardware and software over the internet, in addition to easy management and access by non‐expert users. It relies on technologies such as virtualization, programming techniques such as multi‐tenancy and/or scalability, load balancing and optimal performance, to ensure that resources are offered quickly and easily.Practical implicationsIn the case of public clouds, the techniques generate economies of scale arising from the efficient use of hardware and human resources. These economies of scale, in turn, have an effect on the price the customer pays, which is of great interest to any institution in current times. There are several commercial suppliers already offering various adaptations of their products which make the use of the cloud possible to a lesser or greater extent. However, many of these are not really systems designed by and for cloud computing but rather adjustments of their commercial developments that enable them to continue selling their traditional products.Originality/valueThe article focuses on cloud computing and its use in a professional library environment.
Talk about change
Authors: Crumpton Michael A. 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of having conversations with staff regarding organizational change and financial futures.Design/methodology/approachThis article refers to several relevant works already published.FindingsThe book and articles discussed provide guidelines for preparing for and having staff discussions.Originality/valueThis point of view is based on the author's experiences and actions on related matters.