bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FTIR lubricant analysis: Concentration of dispersed sulphuric acid
Authors: A. Sautermeister Falko , Priest Martin , F. Fox Malcolm 
Published: June 2014

Purpose
– This paper aims to establish the acid concentration of finely dispersed droplets in hydrocarbon oils. Small quantities of aqueous sulphuric acid (H2SO4) were found to be trapped within hydrocarbon shells, making them inaccessible for concentration evaluation by titration.

Design/methodology/approach
– Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) used in the attenuated total reflection mode (ATR; FTIR-ATR) was applied to study the reaction products of squalane, C30H62, and an API Group I base oil with various concentrations of aqueous H2SO4.

Findings
– The absorbance comparison usually used for estimating acid concentrations was found to fail when small quantities of acid are trapped in the reaction product. It was found that the peak shift and changes in absorbance found for various pure aqueous acid concentrations were useful to establish the remaining concentration of the trapped H2SO4.

Originality/value
– This paper fulfils the identified need to study acid dissociation-dependent peak shifts of H2SO4 to find the acid concentration of finely dispersed droplets in hydrocarbon oils.
Preparation and tribological properties of complex nanoparticle styrene/calcium borate with core-shell structure
Authors: Ping Liu , Dongyun Wang , Yanbin Li , Yanqing Guo , Lifeng Hao 
Published: June 2014

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to develop a potential nanoparticles lubricant additive for solving the problem of the insolubility and stable dispersity; the complex nanoparticles with core-shell structures are less studied in the field. Therefore, this paper determines novel complex nanoparticles and their tribological properties.

Design/methodology/approach
– According to the conventional preparation method, the complex nanoparticle styrene/calcium borate (PS/O-CaB) was synthesized. The microstructures of the as-obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Tribological properties of PS/O-CaB used as lubricating oil additive were evaluated on four-ball tribometer. The worn surface of the steel ball was investigated by a three-dimensional non-contact surface profilometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Findings
– The results of the structure characteristic indicate two different crystalline forms, namely, Ca2B6O11 and Ca2B2O5, and the average size of calcium borate nanoparticles in PS/O-CaB is about 20-40 nm. Moreover, the good tribological properties are due to a wear resistance film containing both depositions and the tribochemical reaction products which comprise B2O3, FeB and Fe2O3.

Originality/value
– Novel complex nanoparticles with core-shell structure (PS/O-CaB) were successfully prepared. Moreover, the PS/O-CaB shows excellent tribological capacity such as load-carrying, friction-reducing and antiwear property.
Ecological generalism and behavioural innovation in birds: technical intelligence or the simple incorporation of new foods?
Authors: Ducatez Simon , Clavel Joanne , Lefebvre Louis 
Published: June 2014

SummaryGeneralist species are more successful than specialists in anthropogenically modified environments or in environments in which they have been introduced, but the nature of the link between generalism and establishment success is unclear.A higher feeding innovation rate has previously been reported in habitat generalist birds from North America. By allowing them to exploit new resources, this higher feeding innovation rate might explain the generalists' advantage. This result might be due to generalists being more likely to find new resources because they are exposed to more diverse environmental conditions. Alternatively, they might differ from specialists in other traits, in particular cognitive skills that might allow them to innovate more complex food searching and handling techniques.To test these hypotheses, we separated avian feeding innovations into a ‘technical’ (novel searching and handling behaviour) and a ‘food type’ (incorporation of a new food in a species' diet) category. Technical innovations, but not food type innovations, have previously been shown to correlate with avian brain size, suggesting they reflect cognitive ability. We used a world‐wide data base of 2339 feeding innovations recorded in the literature, covering a total of 765 avian species and assessed the correlations between brain size and feeding innovation rates on one side and habitat and diet generalism on the other.Habitat generalism was positively related with food type innovation rate, but not technical innovation rate or brain size. This suggests that habitat generalist species are more likely to incorporate new food types in their diet because of higher chances to find new food resources in their environment, or of a higher opportunism, but not enhanced cognitive skills. In contrast, diet generalist species had higher food type and technical innovation rates, as well as larger brains, suggesting that cognitive skills might help species expand their diet breadth or that an increase in diet breadth might favour the evolution of enhanced cognitive abilities.Our results provide new insights into the nature of the generalists' advantage in the face of environmental changes, and suggest that dietary and habitat generalism are different, but convergent, routes to feeding flexibility and adaptation to changed environments.
Protein kinase FgSch9 serves as a mediator of the target of rapamycin and high osmolarity glycerol pathways and regulates multiple stress responses and secondary metabolism in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Gu Qin , Zhang Chengqi , Yu Fangwei , Yin Yanni , Shim Won‐Bo , Ma Zhonghua 
Published: June 2014

SummarySaccharomyces cerevisiae protein kinase Sch9 is one of the downstream effectors of the target of rapamycin (TOR) complex 1 and plays multiple roles in stress resistance, longevity and nutrient sensing. However, the functions of Sch9 orthologs in filamentous fungi, particularly in pathogenic species, have not been characterized to date. Here, we investigated biological and genetic functions of FgSch9 in Fusarium graminearum. The FgSCH9 deletion mutant (ΔFgSch9) was defective in aerial hyphal growth, hyphal branching and conidial germination. The mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, cell wall‐damaging agents, and to rapamycin, while showing increased thermal tolerance. We identified FgMaf1 as one of the FgSch9‐interacting proteins that plays an important role in regulating mycotoxin biosynthesis and virulence of F. graminearum. Co‐immunoprecipitation and affinity capture‐mass spectrometry assays showed that FgSch9 also interacts with FgTor and FgHog1. More importantly, both ΔFgSch9 and FgHog1 null mutant (ΔFgHog1) exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses. This defect was more severe in the FgSch9/FgHog1 double mutant. Taken together, we propose that FgSch9 serves as a mediator of the TOR and high osmolarity glycerol pathways, and regulates vegetative differentiation, multiple stress responses and secondary metabolism in F. graminearum.
Saccharide breakdown and fermentation by the honey bee gut microbiome
Authors: Lee Fredrick J. , Rusch Douglas B. , Stewart Frank J. , Mattila Heather R. , Newton Irene L. G. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe honey bee, the world's most important agricultural pollinator, relies exclusively on plant‐derived foods for nutrition. Nectar and pollen collected by honey bees are processed and matured within the nest through the activities of honey bee‐derived microbes and enzymes. In order to better understand the contribution of the microbial community to food processing in the honey bee, we generated a metatranscriptome of the honey bee gut microbiome. The function of the microbial community in the honey bee, as revealed by metatranscriptome sequencing, resembles that of other animal guts and food‐processing environments. We identified three major bacterial classes that are active in the gut (γ‐Proteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria), all of which are predicted to participate in the breakdown of complex macromolecules (e.g. polysaccharides and polypeptides), the fermentation of component parts of these macromolecules, and the generation of various fermentation products, such as short‐chain fatty acids and alcohol. The ability of the microbial community to metabolize these carbon‐rich food sources was confirmed through the use of community‐level physiological profiling. Collectively, these findings suggest that the gut microflora of the honey bee harbours bacterial members with unique roles, which ultimately can contribute to the processing of plant‐derived food for colonies.
Impaired contextual fear extinction and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in adult rats induced by prenatal morphine exposure
Authors: Tan Ji‐Wei , Duan Ting‐Ting , Zhou Qi‐Xin , Ding Ze‐Yang , Jing Liang , Cao Jun , Wang Li‐Ping , Mao Rong‐Rong , Xu Lin 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPrenatal opiate exposure causes a series of neurobehavioral disturbances by affecting brain development. However, the question of whether prenatal opiate exposure increases vulnerability to memory‐related neuropsychiatric disorders in adult offspring remains largely unknown. Here, we found that rats prenatally exposed to morphine (PM) showed impaired acquisition but enhanced maintenance of contextual fear memory compared with control animals that were prenatally exposed to saline (PS). The impairment of acquisition was rescued by increasing the intensity of footshocks (1.2 mA rather than 0.8 mA). Meanwhile, we also found that PM rats exhibited impaired extinction of contextual fear, which is associated with enhanced maintenance of fear memory. The impaired extinction lasted for 1 week following extinction training. Furthermore, PM rats exhibited reduced anxiety‐like behavior in the elevated plus‐maze and light/dark box test without differences in locomotor activity. These alterations in PM rats were mirrored by abnormalities in synaptic plasticity in the Schaffer collateral‐CA1 synapses of the hippocampus in vivo. PS rats showed blocked long‐term potentiation and enabled long‐term depression in CA1 synapses following contextual fear conditioning, while prenatal morphine exposure restricted synaptic plasticity in CA1 synapses. The smaller long‐term potentiation in PM rats was not further blocked by contextual fear conditioning, and the long‐term depression enabled by contextual fear conditioning was abolished. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence suggesting that prenatal morphine exposure may increase vulnerability to fear memory‐related neuropsychiatric disorders in adulthood.
Amphibian richness patterns inAtlanticForest areas invaded byAmerican bullfrogs
Authors: Both Camila , Madalozzo Bruno , Lingnau Rodrigo , Grant Taran 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe relationship between invasion success and native biodiversity is central to biological invasion research. New theoretical and analytical approaches have revealed that spatial scale, land‐use factors and community assemblages are important predictors of the relationship between community diversity and invasibility and the negative effects of invasive species on community diversity. In this study we assess if the abundance ofLithobates catesbeianus, theAmerican bullfrog, negatively affects the richness of native amphibian species inAtlanticForest waterbodies inBrazil. Although this species has been invadingAtlanticForest areas since the 1930s, studies that estimate the invasion effects upon native species diversity are lacking. We developed a model to understand the impact of environmental, spatial and species composition gradients on the relationships between bullfrogs and native species richness. We found a weak positive relationship between bullfrog abundance and species richness in invaded areas. The path model revealed that this is an indirect relationship mediated by community composition gradients. Our results indicate that bullfrogs are more abundant in certain amphibian communities, which can be species‐rich. Local factors describing habitat heterogeneity were the main predictors of amphibian species richness and composition and bullfrog abundance. Our results reinforce the important role of habitats in determining both native species diversity and potential invasibility.
Monitoring the brain: processed electroencephalogram and peri‐operative outcomes
Authors: Escallier K. E. , Nadelson M. R. , Zhou D. , Avidan M. S. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryAlthough the brain is the target organ of general anaesthesia, the utility of intra‐operative brain monitoring remains controversial. Ideally, the incorporation of brain monitoring into routine practice would promote the maintenance of an optimal depth of anaesthesia, with an ultimate goal of avoiding the negative outcomes that have been associated with inadequate or excessive anaesthesia. A variety of processed electroencephalogram devices exist, of which the bispectral index is the most widely used, particularly in the research setting. Whether such devices prove to be useful will depend not only on their ability to influence anaesthetic management but also on whether the changes they promote can actually affect clinically important outcomes. This review highlights the evidence for the role of bispectral index monitoring, in particular, in guiding anaesthetic management and influencing clinical outcomes, specifically intra‐operative awareness, measures of early recovery, mortality and neurocognitive outcomes.
Parental involvement in homework: Relations with parent and student achievement‐related motivational beliefs and achievement
Authors: Gonida Eleftheria N. , Cortina Kai S. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundParental involvement in homework is a home‐based type of involvement in children's education. Research and theory suggest that it is beneficial for learning and achievement under certain conditions and for particular groups of individuals.AimsThe study examined whether different types of parents' involvement in homework (autonomy support, control, interference, cognitive engagement) (1) are predicted by their mastery and performance goals for their child and their beliefs of the child's academic efficacy, and (2) predict student achievement goal orientations, efficacy beliefs, and achievement. Grade‐level differences were also investigated.SampleThe sample consisted of 282 elementary school (5th grade) and junior high school students (8th grade) and one of their parents.MethodsSurveys were used for data collection. Structural equation modelling was applied for data analysis.Results(1) Autonomy support during homework was predicted by parent mastery goal, parents' control and interference by their performance goal and perceptions of child efficacy, and cognitive engagement as supplementary to homework by parent perceptions of child efficacy. (2) Parental autonomy support, control, and interference were differentially associated with student mastery and performance goal orientations, whereas parent cognitive engagement was associated with student efficacy beliefs. (3) The structural model was the same for elementary and junior high school students but the latent means for a number of variables were different.ConclusionDifferent types of parental involvement in homework were associated with different outcomes with parent autonomy support to be the most beneficial one.
Implicit theories of writing and their impact on students' response to a SRSD intervention
Authors: Limpo Teresa , Alves Rui A. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundIn the field of intelligence research, it has been shown that some people conceive intelligence as a fixed trait that cannot be changed (entity beliefs), whereas others conceive it as a malleable trait that can be developed (incremental beliefs). What about writing? Do people hold similar implicit theories about the nature of their writing ability? Furthermore, are these beliefs likely to influence students' response to a writing intervention?AimsWe aimed to develop a scale to measure students' implicit theories of writing (pilot study) and to test whether these beliefs influence strategy‐instruction effectiveness (intervention study).SampleIn the pilot and intervention studies participated, respectively, 128 and 192 students (Grades 5–6).MethodBased on existing instruments that measure self‐theories of intelligence, we developed the Implicit Theories of Writing (ITW) scale that was tested with the pilot sample. In the intervention study, 109 students received planning instruction based on the self‐regulated strategy development model, whereas 83 students received standard writing instruction. Students were evaluated before, in the middle, and after instruction.ResultsITW's validity was supported by piloting results and their successful cross‐validation in the intervention study. In this, intervention students wrote longer and better texts than control students. Moreover, latent growth curve modelling showed that the more the intervention students conceived writing as a malleable skill, the more the quality of their texts improved.ConclusionThis research is of educational relevance because it provides a measure to evaluate students' implicit theories of writing and shows their impact on response to intervention.
Adjuvant cisplatin‐based combined chemotherapy for lymph node (LN)‐positive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) after radical cystectomy (RC): a retrospective international study of >1500 patients
Authors: Lucca Ilaria , Rouprêt Morgan , Kluth Luis , Rink Michael , Tilki Derya , Fajkovic Harun , Kassouf Wassim , Hofbauer Sebastian L. , de Martino Michela , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Briganti Alberto , Trinh Quoc‐dien , Seitz Christian , Fritsche Hans‐Martin , Burger Maximilian , Lotan Yair , Kramer Gero , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Klatte Tobias 
Published: June 2014

ObjectiveTo compare outcomes of patients with lymph node (LN)‐positive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) treated with or without cisplatin‐based combined adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) after radical cystectomy (RC).Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively analysed 1523 patients with LN‐positive UCB, who underwent RC with bilateral pelvic LN dissection. All patients had no evidence of disease after RC. AC was administered within 3 months. Competing‐risks models were applied to compare UCB‐related mortality.ResultsOf the 1523 patients, 874 (57.4%) received AC. The cumulative 1‐, 2‐ and 5‐year UCB‐related mortality rates for all patients were 16%, 36% and 56%, respectively. Administration of AC was associated with an 18% relative reduction in the risk of UCB‐related death (subhazard ratio 0.82, P = 0.005). The absolute reduction in mortality was 3.5% at 5 years. The positive effect of AC was detectable in patients aged ≤70 years, in women, in pT3–4 disease, and in those with a higher LN density and lymphovascular invasion. This study is limited by its retrospective and non‐randomised design, selection bias, the absence of central pathological review and lack in standardisation of LN dissection and cisplatin‐based protocols.ConclusionAC seems to reduce UCB‐related mortality in patients with LN‐positive UCB after RC. Younger patients, women and those with high‐risk features such as pT3–4 disease, a higher LN density and lymphovascular invasion appear to benefit most. Appropriately powered prospective randomised trials are necessary to confirm these findings.
CFTR potentiators partially restore channel function to A561E‐CFTR, a cystic fibrosis mutant with a similar mechanism of dysfunction as F508del‐CFTR
Authors: Wang Yiting , Liu Jia , Loizidou Avgi , Bugeja Luc A , Warner Ross , Hawley Bethan R , Cai Zhiwei , Toye Ashley M , Sheppard David N , Li Hongyu 
Published: June 2014

Background and PurposeDysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channel causes the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). Towards the development of transformational drug therapies for CF, we investigated the channel function and action of CFTR potentiators on A561E, a CF mutation found frequently in Portugal. Like the most common CF mutation F508del, A561E causes a temperature‐sensitive folding defect that prevents CFTR delivery to the cell membrane and is associated with severe disease.Experimental ApproachUsing baby hamster kidney cells expressing recombinant CFTR, we investigated CFTR expression by cell surface biotinylation, and function and pharmacology with the iodide efflux and patch‐clamp techniques.Key ResultsLow temperature incubation delivered a small proportion of A561E‐CFTR protein to the cell surface. Like F508del‐CFTR, low temperature‐rescued A561E‐CFTR exhibited a severe gating defect characterized by brief channel openings separated by prolonged channel closures. A561E‐CFTR also exhibited thermoinstability, losing function more quickly than F508del‐CFTR in cell‐free membrane patches and intact cells. Using the iodide efflux assay, CFTR potentiators, including genistein and the clinically approved small‐molecule ivacaftor, partially restored function to A561E‐CFTR. Interestingly, ivacaftor restored wild‐type levels of channel activity (as measured by open probability) to single A561E‐ and F508del‐CFTR Cl− channels. However, it accentuated the thermoinstability of both mutants in cell‐free membrane patches.Conclusions and ImplicationsLike F508del‐CFTR, A561E‐CFTR perturbs protein processing, thermostability and channel gating. CFTR potentiators partially restore channel function to low temperature‐rescued A561E‐CFTR. Transformational drug therapy for A561E‐CFTR is likely to require CFTR correctors, CFTR potentiators and special attention to thermostability.
In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of nociceptin/orphanin FQ tetrabranched derivatives
Authors: Rizzi A , Malfacini D , Cerlesi M C , Ruzza C , Marzola E , Bird M F , Rowbotham D J , Salvadori S , Guerrini R , Lambert D G , Calo G 
Published: June 2014

Background and PurposeAn innovative chemical approach, named peptide welding technology (PWT), allows the synthesis of multibranched peptides with extraordinary high yield, purity and reproducibility. With this approach, three different tetrabranched derivatives of nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) have been synthesized and named PWT1‐N/OFQ, PWT2‐N/OFQ and PWT3‐N/OFQ. In the present study we investigated the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of PWT N/OFQ derivatives and compared their actions with those of the naturally occurring peptide.Experimental ApproachThe following in vitro assays were used: receptor and [35S]‐GTPγS binding, calcium mobilization in cells expressing the human N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor, or classical opioid receptors and chimeric G proteins, electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens bioassay. In vivo experiments were performed; locomotor activity was measured in normal mice and in animals with the NOP receptor gene knocked out [NOP(−/−)].Key ResultsIn vitro PWT derivatives of N/OFQ behaved as high affinity potent and rather selective full agonists at human recombinant and animal native NOP receptors. In vivo PWT derivatives mimicked the inhibitory effects exerted by the natural peptide on locomotor activity showing 40‐fold higher potency and extremely longer lasting action. The effects of PWT2‐N/OFQ were no longer evident in NOP(−/−) mice.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe results showed that the PWT can be successfully applied to the peptide sequence of N/OFQ to generate tetrabranched derivatives characterized by a pharmacological profile similar to the native peptide and associated with a higher potency and marked prolongation of action in vivo.