bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elaboration and properties of renewable polyurethanes based on natural rubber and biodegradable poly(butylene succinate) soft segments
Authors: Panwiriyarat Wannarat , Tanrattanakul Varaporn , Pilard Jean‐François , Burel Fabrice , Kébir Nasreddine
Published: October 2015

Natural rubber (NR) is a renewable bio‐based polymer, while poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) belongs to the family of biodegradable renewable polymers. In this article, novel polyurethanes (PUs) were prepared using hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber (HTNR) and hydroxyl telechelic poly(butylene succinate) (HTPBS) as soft segments, and using toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) and 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) as hard segment. HTPBS oligomers of
 = 2000 and 3500 g mol−1 were synthesized by bulk polycondensation of succinic acid (SA) with BDO. The polyurethane materials were obtained by casting process after solvent evaporation. The influence of the hard segment content and the molecular weight of HTPBS on the materials’ thermo‐mechanical properties were investigated by means of tensile testing, DSC, TGA, and DMTA. The obtained polyurethanes were amorphous with phase separations between hard and soft segments as well as between HTNR and HTPBS segments, and they exhibited good physical properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42943.
Cross‐linked chitosan beads for phosphate removal from aqueous solution
Authors: Mahaninia Mohammad H. , Wilson Lee D.
Published: October 2015

Chitosan beads were cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) and epichlorohydrin (EP), respectively, at variable composition. The general features of the adsorptive and textural properties of the bead systems were characterized using p‐nitrophenolate (PNP) at pH 8.5. As well, a systematic adsorption study of phosphate dianion (phosphate (
) species was carried out in aqueous solution at pH 8.5 and 295 K. The Sips isotherm model yielded adsorption parameters for the chitosan bead systems: (i) monolayer adsorption capacity (Qm) for PNP ranged from 0.30 to 0.52 mmol g−1 and (ii) Qm values for the bead systems with
ranged from 22.4–52.1 mg g−1 for these conditions. GA cross‐linked beads reveal greater Qm values for PNP while EP cross‐linked beads showed greater Qm values for
, in accordance with the surface chemistry and the materials design described herein. The EP cross‐linked beads show favorable adsorption–desorption properties and represents a promising tunable adsorbent system for the effective removal of phosphate dianion species in aqueous solution. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42949.
Synthesis and Anti‐Hepatitis B Virus Evaluation of 7‐Methoxy‐3‐heterocyclic quinolin‐6‐ols
Authors: Liu Yajing , Feng Guobing , Ma Zonghui , Xu Chen , Guo Zhuang , Gong Ping , Xu Liying
Published: October 2015

A series of novel 7‐methoxy‐3‐heterocyclic quinolin‐6‐ol derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their anti‐hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities and cytotoxicities in the HepG2.2.15 cell line. Five compounds, 14a, 15c, 15e, 16b, and 16f, displayed excellent potency and selectivity toward the HBV, with IC50 values of less than 5.0 µM and selectivity index values of 11.0–71.5. Structure–activity relationship studies indicated that the 1,3,4‐thiadiazole and sulfinylmethyl derivatives showed the most potent activities against the HBV.
Influence of Surface Area Change of Spinel Cathode on High‐Temperature Storage Behavior of Lithium‐Ion Pouch Cell
Authors: Kim Daeun , Lee Ilbok , Kim Jaekwang , Ryu Ji Heon , Son Hyungbin , Ha Kyoung‐Su , Yoon Songhun
Published: October 2015

We investigate the effect of surface area of the lithium manganese spinel (LMO) cathode on the high‐temperature storage performance of lithium‐ion pouch cells. Using ~200 mAh design capacity, pouch cells were fabricated and their storage performance at high temperature was investigated according to changes in the LMO surface area. Cell performance and electrode analysis revealed that LMO with a large surface area exhibited a poor storage with a large decrease in capacitance and a more severe increase in resistance. This was mostly attributed to the change in surface morphology of anodes in each cell, indicative of the fast growth of a solid electrolyte interface film caused by high dissolution of Mn2+ ions in the high‐surface‐area LMO.
New All‐Fused Ring Spiro Blue Host and Dopant System: Application in Sky‐Blue Fluorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Materials
Authors: Cha Jae‐Ryung , Lee Chil‐Won , Gong Myoung‐Seon
Published: October 2015

Highly efficient sky‐blue organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) were fabricated using fused‐ring spiro host materials 1,10‐di(2‐naphthyl)spiro[benzo[ij]tetraphene‐7,9′‐fluorene] (
H1
) and 1‐[1‐(4‐biphenyl)]‐10‐phenylspiro[benzo[ij]tetraphene‐7,9′‐fluorene] (
H2
).
H1
and
H2
were doped with a fluorescent dopant based on 5,9‐di(di‐p‐tollylaminospiro[benzo[c]fluorene‐7,9′‐fluorene] (
D3
). Typical blue fluorescent OLEDs were fabricated with indium tin oxide (ITO)/N,N′‐diphenyl‐N,N′‐bis[4‐(phenyl‐m‐tolyl‐amino)phenyl]‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diamine (DNTPD)/N,N,N′,N′‐tetra(1‐biphenyl)‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diamine (TBB)/
SBTF
hosts:
D3
/9,10‐di(naphthalene‐2‐yl)anthracen‐2‐yl‐(4,1‐phenylene)(1‐phenyl‐1H
‐benzo[d]imidazole) (LG201)/LiF/Al configuration and were subsequently investigated. The
H1
: 5%
D3
device exhibited an electroluminescent emission at 472 nm, with efficiency 6.91 cd/A, external quantum efficiency 4.56% at 107.84 mA/cm2, and a sky‐blue color at Commission Internationale de l′Eclairage (CIE) (x,y) coordinates of (0.150, 0.217) at 7447 cd/m2.
Fuzzy knowledge‐based system for calculating course difficulty based on student perception
Authors: Novak Matija , Oreški Dijana
Published: October 2015

This research aims to develop a knowledge‐based system used for calculating course difficulty and producing appropriate learning strategies for students. The system is based on fuzzy reasoning and attempts to contribute to the personalization of the learning process. After the description of the data collection process and the search for regularities in the data, we present the service interface. The knowledge‐based system proposed in this paper can yield a number of benefits for both students and institutions: it motivates students to adopt a more practical and personalized approach towards learning and provides an independent learning procedure for both the student and the instructor. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 24:225–233, 2016; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21700
A Critical Review of Biological Processes and Technologies for Landfill Leachate Treatment
Authors: Bove Dario , Merello Sara , Frumento Davide , Arni Saleh Al , Aliakbarian Bahar , Converti Attilio
Published: October 2015

The most common method to deal with the huge production of municipal wastes is still the disposal in landfills which, however, generates a leachate with high contents of organic and nitrogen pollutants. Requirements must be fixed by law to control leachate release from such landfills, and effective treatment processes and technologies must be applied to reduce its impact on the environment. Biological processes for leachate treatment are discussed in this review, in the former part of which attention is paid to leachate formation and its qualitative and quantitative features, while the latter deals with the state‐of‐the‐art of the most effective biotechnological treatments presently employed. Processes, alternative methods, and technological improvements are compared, with special focus on novel technologies to remove nitrogen pollutants from leachate, highlighting advantages and drawbacks of each treatment.
From Dibismuthenes to Three‐ and Two‐Coordinated Bismuthinidenes by Fine Ligand Tuning: Evidence for Aromatic BiC3N Rings through a Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Vránová Iva , Alonso Mercedes , Lo Rabindranath , Sedlák Robert , Jambor Roman , Růžička Aleš , Proft Frank De , Hobza Pavel , Dostál Libor
Published: October 2015

The reduction of N,C,N‐chelated bismuth chlorides [C6H3‐2,6‐(CHNR)2]BiCl2[where R=tBu (1), 2′,6′‐Me2C6H3(2), or 4′‐Me2NC6H4(3)] or N,C‐chelated analogues [C6H2‐2‐(CHN‐2′,6′‐iPr2C6H3)‐4,6‐(tBu)2]BiCl2(4) and [C6H2‐2‐(CH2NEt2)‐4,6‐(tBu)2]BiCl2(5) is reported. Reduction of compounds1–3gave monomeric N,C,N‐chelated bismuthinidenes [C6H3‐2,6‐(CHNR)2]Bi [where R=tBu (6), 2′,6′‐Me2C6H3(7) or 4′‐Me2NC6H4(8)]. Similarly, the reduction of4led to the isolation of the compound [C6H2‐2‐(CHN‐2′,6′‐iPr2C6H3)‐4,6‐(tBu)2]Bi (9) as an unprecedented two‐coordinated bismuthinidene that has been structurally characterized. In contrast, the dibismuthene {[C6H2‐2‐(CH2NEt2)‐4,6‐(tBu)2]Bi}2(10) was obtained by the reduction of5. Compounds6–10were characterized by using1H and13C NMR spectroscopy and their structures, except for7, were determined with the help of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. It is clear that the structure of the reduced products (bismuthinidene versus dibismuthene) is ligand‐dependent and particularly influenced by the strength of the N→Bi intramolecular interaction(s). Therefore, a theoretical survey describing the bonding situation in the studied compounds and related bismuth(I) systems is included. Importantly, we found that the C3NBi chelating ring in the two‐coordinated bismuthinidene9exhibits significant aromatic character by delocalization of the bismuth lone pair.
A Closed‐Loop Recycling Technology for γ‐TiAl from Precision Cast Low Pressure Turbine Blades
Authors: Spiess Peter , Bartosinski Marek , Stoyanov Todor , Aguilar Julio , Friedrich Bernd
Published: October 2015

Due to the high generation of scrap in the process chain of γ‐TiAl semi‐finished goods and products, a suitable recycling process shows great potential to reduce production costs. Based on this circumstance, a closed loop recycling process for titanium‐aluminide scraps was developed. Resulting from this process, as a significant innovation for the titanium industry, it is possible to recycle titanium‐aluminide scraps and produce material with minimal oxygen content and almost no observable difference to primary alloys.
Electricity production and sulphide removal in two‐chambered microbial fuel cells
Authors: Izadi Paniz , Rahimnejad Mostafa , Ghoreyshi Ali
Published: October 2015

In this study, a dual‐chamber MFC was applied to simultaneously remove sulphide in wastewater and generate clean energy by using a mixed culture of microorganisms as active biocatalysts. The influences of three different concentrations of sulphide (0.1, 0.8, and 1.5 g/L1) on MFC performance and their removal were examined. Anode potential was controlled by the concentration of sulphide in the compartment. Moreover, the influence of algae as a biocathode on produced power and current of MFC was investigated. A significant increase in the maximum power and current density in MFC indicated the remarkable impact of using a biocathode. Biocatalyst activities and sulphide oxidation in anaerobic conditions were indicated via cyclic voltammetry curves to confirm the target of the research.
High‐loaded Fe‐supported catalyst for the thermochemical BtL‐FT process: Experimental results and modelling
Authors: Comazzi Alberto , Pirola Carlo , Bianchi Claudia L. , Galli Federico , Longhi Mariangela , Manenti Flavio
Published: October 2015

The biomass‐to‐liquid Fischer‐Tropsch (FT) process is an industrial process that converts bio‐syngas in hydrocarbons ranging from C1–C100. Bio‐syngas, a syngas mixture produced from biomass, is characterized by a H2/CO molar ratio in the range 1.0–1.5. An iron‐based catalyst supported on silica for CO hydrogenation with 30 g/g of metal was prepared, characterized by BET, SEM, TEM, TPR, XRD and tested at different temperatures and H2/CO ratios in a FT bench scale plant using a Packed Bed Reactor (PBR). The experimental results demonstrated that this catalyst is also suitable for low H2/CO ratios, since by increasing the inlet H2/CO ratio, the CO conversion increases, the product selectivity remains largely unchanged, and the catalyst shows a satisfactory stability as a function of time of stream (TOS). Based on the collected data, a rigorous multi‐scale simulation of reactor behaviour was developed in order to support the experimental tests and predict the reactor yield and conversion. The elaborated kinetic model is based on the hypothesis that both FT and Water Gas Shift (WGS) reactions are active on the catalyst, and the calculated results agree with the obtained experimental data.
Synthetic and Biological Studies of Sesquiterpene Polygodial: Activity of 9‐Epipolygodial against Drug‐Resistant Cancer Cells
Authors: Dasari Ramesh , De Carvalho Annelise , Medellin Derek C. , Middleton Kelsey N. , Hague Frédéric , Volmar Marie N. M. , Frolova Liliya V. , Rossato Mateus F. , De La Chapa Jorge J. , Dybdal‐Hargreaves Nicholas F. , Pillai Akshita , Mathieu Véronique , Rogelj Snezna , Gonzales Cara B. , Calixto João B. , Evidente Antonio , Gautier Mathieu , Munirathinam Gnanasekar , Glass Rainer , Burth Patricia , Pelly Stephen C. , van Otterlo Willem A. L. , Kiss Robert , Kornienko Alexander
Published: October 2015

Polygodial, a terpenoid dialdehyde isolated from Polygonum hydropiper L., is a known agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). In this investigation a series of polygodial analogues were prepared and investigated for TRPV1‐agonist and anticancer activities. These experiments led to the identification of 9‐epipolygodial, which has antiproliferative potency significantly exceeding that of polygodial. 9‐Epipolygodial was found to maintain potency against apoptosis‐resistant cancer cells as well as those displaying the multidrug‐resistant (MDR) phenotype. In addition, the chemical feasibility for the previously proposed mechanism of action of polygodial, involving the formation of a Paal–Knorr pyrrole with a lysine residue on the target protein, was demonstrated by the synthesis of a stable polygodial pyrrole derivative. These studies reveal rich chemical and biological properties associated with polygodial and its direct derivatives. These compounds should inspire further work in this area aimed at the development of new pharmacological agents, or the exploration of novel mechanisms of covalent modification of biological molecules with natural products.
Solar Thermochemical Energy Storage Through Carbonation Cycles of SrCO3/SrO Supported on SrZrO3
Authors: Rhodes Nathan R. , Barde Amey , Randhir Kelvin , Li Like , Hahn David W. , Mei Renwei , Klausner James F. , AuYeung Nick
Published: October 2015

Solar thermochemical energy storage has enormous potential for enabling cost‐effective concentrated solar power (CSP). A thermochemical storage system based on a SrO/SrCO3 carbonation cycle offers the ability to store and release high temperature (≈1200 °C) heat. The energy density of SrCO3/SrO systems supported by zirconia‐based sintering inhibitors was investigated for 15 cycles of exothermic carbonation at 1150 °C followed by decomposition at 1235 °C. A sample with 40 wt % of SrO supported by yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) shows good energy storage stability at 1450 MJ m−3 over fifteen cycles at the same cycling temperatures. After further testing over 45 cycles, a decrease in energy storage capacity to 1260 MJ m−3 is observed during the final cycle. The decrease is due to slowing carbonation kinetics, and the original value of energy density may be obtained by lengthening the carbonation steps.
Differential delay aware instantaneous recovery scheme with traffic splitting
Authors: Al Muktadir Abu Hena , Oki Eiji
Published: October 2015

This paper proposes a differential delay aware instantaneous recovery scheme with traffic splitting, in order to tackle multiple link failures, for networks with the coding capability. In the proposed scheme, traffic at the source is split intoKequal parts and sent throughKworking paths.Pprotection paths carry encoded traffic created from theKsplit parts at the source. In order to recover from anytfailure(s), where 1≤t≤P, the destination node has to buffer the remaining (K+P−t) parts, until the part experiencing the longest delay reaches the destination. The amount of memory buffers depends on the maximum allowable differential delay Δ, the highest difference of delays of any two among the (K+P) disjoint paths, supported at the destination. A large value of Δ increases the amount of required memory buffers, which negatively affects the achievable resource saving because of splitting. We thoroughly investigate how routing with splitting is influenced with respect to Δ, encoding/decoding costs, optical interface rates, buffering costs, the number of protection paths, the number of nodes in the network, and the minimum number of adjacent nodes. The path setup, encoding, synchronization, and merging (decoding) operations are discussed in order to support the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cathinones: Isotopic profiling as an aid to linking seizures
Authors: Collins Michael , Doddridge Alexandra , Salouros Helen
Published: October 2015

The number of cathinone derivatives available to the street market has increased steadily since 2008. Many of these compounds have proven to be potent psychostimulants and fatalities have occurred through their recreational use. The method of manufacture is essentially the same for each cathinone, i.e., (i) selection of the appropriate β‐ketoarylalkane, (ii) bromination alpha to the keto group, followed by (iii) amination using the desired amine. The cathinone derivatives are usually prepared at a very high purity and little information is available from an organic manufacturing by‐products profile because the product is so pure. To provide law enforcement agencies with a tool that would enable links to be identified between samples from the same production batch, the carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in a number of cathinones were investigated. The aim was to determine if sufficient diversity existed in the light element stable isotope ratios of cathinones to allow the isotopic ratios to be used to discriminate between different seizures and to assist in linking samples from the same seizure. Careful measurement of the δ13C, δ15N, and δ2H values in each sample revealed that the stable isotope ratios for a particular cathinone analogue vary from one seizure to another. In the seizures studied, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were found to vary from ‐32.8‰ to ‐26.1‰, ‐152‰ to +72‰, and ‐16.6‰ to ‐2.7‰, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zebrafish epiboly: Spreading thin over the yolk
Authors: Bruce Ashley E.E.
Published: October 2015

Tissue thinning and spreading, a morphogenetic movement termed epiboly, is used widely during animal development. In zebrafish, epiboly is a prominent cell movement during gastrulation, whereby a squamous epithelium (the enveloping layer), a multi‐layer of loosely packed cells (the deep cells), and a yolk nuclear syncytium (the yolk syncytial layer) undergo coordinated expansion to engulf the yolk and close the blastopore. Elucidating the mechanisms that underlie epiboly is important not only for understanding animal development in general, but also for providing insights into fundamental cell behaviors including cell intercalation, cell adhesion, cell signaling, and epithelial morphogenesis. Here, recent work is reviewed with a focus on findings that advance our understanding of (1) the role of actomyosin motors in the yolk cell to drive epiboly, (2) the mechanisms that underlie the spreading of the epithelial enveloping layer, and (3) the regulation of deep cell movements by E‐cadherin based adhesion. A discussion of how these new insights add to the current view of epiboly and future prospects is also presented. Overall, the study of zebrafish epiboly can provide general and broadly applicable insights into the genetic, molecular, and cellular control of morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 245:244–258, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Verbal Short‐Term Memory Deficits in Chinese Children with Dyslexia may not be a Problem with the Activation of Phonological Representations
Authors: Zhao Jing , Yang Yang , Song Yao‐Wu , Bi Hong‐Yan
Published: October 2015

This study explored the underlying mechanism of the verbal short‐term memory deficit in Chinese children with developmental dyslexia. Twenty‐four children with dyslexia and 28 age‐matched normal readers participated in the study. They were required to memorize a visually presented series of six Chinese characters and identify them from a list also including code‐specific distracters and non‐code‐specific distracters. Error rates were recorded and were higher for code‐specific distracters in all three conditions, revealing phonological, visual, and semantic similarity effects respectively. Group comparisons showed a stronger phonological similarity effect in dyslexic group, suggesting intact activation of phonological representations of target characters. Children with dyslexia also exhibited a greater semantic similarity effect, revealing stronger activation of semantic representations, while visual similarity effects were equivalent to controls. These results suggest that the verbal short‐term memory deficit in Chinese dyslexics might not stem from insufficient activation of phonological information. Based the semantic activation of target characters in dyslexics is greater than in controls, it is possible that the memory deficit of dyslexia is related with deficient inhibition of target semantic representations in short‐term memory. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential impact of upward and downward comparisons on diverse women's disordered eating behaviors and body image
Authors: Rancourt Diana , Schaefer Lauren M. , Bosson Jennifer K. , Thompson J. Kevin
Published: October 2015

Objective

Etiological models of disordered eating are limited in their consideration of racial/ethnic differences in risk factors. Appearance comparisons are consistent predictors of disordered eating outcomes, but research predominantly examines these associations among White women and overlooks the potential differential impact of upward (comparing to someone perceived as better off) versus downward comparisons (comparing to someone perceived as worse off). This study investigated race/ethnicity as a moderator of the associations between upward and downward appearance comparisons and disordered eating outcomes and body satisfaction of young adult women.

Method

Measures of upward and downward appearance comparisons, body satisfaction, and disordered eating were administered to 1,014 young adult women. A multiple group (by race/ethnicity) path analysis was estimated using maximum likelihood estimation for each disordered eating and body satisfaction outcome, controlling for age and BMI.

Results

Upward comparisons were associated with higher levels of disordered eating behaviors and lower body satisfaction for women of all racial/ethnic groups. Downward appearance comparisons emerged as detrimental for Hispanic/Latina women, but were protective for Asian and White women.

Discussion

Findings challenge the belief that appearance comparisons impact all women similarly and that downward comparisons are universally protective, a position often promulgated by clinical treatment approaches. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:519–523).
Niche divergence builds the case for ecological speciation in skinks of thePlestiodon skiltonianusspecies complex
Authors: Wogan Guinevere O. U. , Richmond Jonathan Q.
Published: October 2015

Adaptation to different thermal environments has the potential to cause evolutionary changes that are sufficient to drive ecological speciation. Here, we examine whether climate‐based niche divergence in lizards of thePlestiodon skiltonianusspecies complex is consistent with the outcomes of such a process. Previous work on this group shows that a mechanical sexual barrier has evolved between species that differ mainly in body size and that the barrier may be a by‐product of selection for increased body size in lineages that have invaded xeric environments; however, baseline information on niche divergence among members of the group is lacking. We quantified the climatic niche using mechanistic physiological and correlative niche models and then estimated niche differences among species using ordination techniques and tests of niche overlap and equivalency. Our results show that the thermal niches of size‐divergent, reproductively isolated morphospecies are significantly differentiated and that precipitation may have been as important as temperature in causing increased shifts in body size in xeric habitats. While these findings alone do not demonstrate thermal adaptation or identify the cause of speciation, their integration with earlier genetic and behavioral studies provides a useful test of phenotype–environment associations that further support the case for ecological speciation in these lizards.
Maternal response to environmental unpredictability
Authors: Barbosa Miguel , Lopes Isabel , Venâncio Catia , Janeiro Maria João , Morrisey Michael Blair , Soares Amadeu M.V.M.
Published: October 2015

Mothers are expected to use environmental cues to modify maternal investment to optimize their fitness. However, when the environment varies unpredictably, cues may not be an accurate proxy of future conditions. Under such circumstances, selection favors a diversifying maternal investment strategy. While there is evidence that the environment is becoming more uncertain, the extent to which mothers are able to respond to this unpredictability is generally unknown. In this study, we test the hypothesis that Daphnia magna increase the variance in maternal investment in response to unpredictable variation in temperature consistent with global change predictions. We detected significant variability across temperature treatments in brood size, neonate size at birth, and time between broods. The estimated variability within‐brood size was higher (albeit not statistically significant) in mothers reared in unpredictable temperature conditions. We also detected a cross‐generational effect with the temperature history of mothers modulating the phenotypic response of F1's. Notably, our results diverged from the prediction that increased variability poses a greater risk to organisms than changes in mean temperature. Increased unpredictability in temperature had negligible effects on fitness‐correlated traits. Mothers in the unpredictable treatment, survived as long, and produced as many F1's during lifetime as those produced in the most fecund treatment. Further, increased unpredictability in temperature did not affect the probability of survival of F1's. Collectively, we provide evidence that daphnia respond effectively to thermal unpredictability. But rather than increasing the variance in maternal investment, daphnia respond to uncertainty by being a jack of all temperatures, master of none. Importantly, our study highlights the essential need to examine changes in variances rather than merely on means, when investigating maternal responses.
Bioacoustics for species management: two case studies with a Hawaiian forest bird
Authors: Sebastián‐González Esther , Pang‐Ching Joshua , Barbosa Jomar M. , Hart Patrick
Published: October 2015

The management of animal endangered species requires detailed information on their distribution and abundance, which is often hard to obtain. When animals communicate using sounds, one option is to use automatic sound recorders to gather information on the species for long periods of time with low effort. One drawback of this method is that processing all the information manually requires large amounts of time and effort. Our objective was to create a relatively “user‐friendly” (i.e., that does not require big programming skills) automatic detection algorithm to improve our ability to get basic data from sound‐emitting animal species. We illustrate our algorithm by showing two possible applications with the Hawai'i ‘Amakihi, Hemignathus virens virens, a forest bird from the island of Hawai'i. We first characterized the ‘Amakihi song using recordings from areas where the species is present in high densities. We used this information to train a classification algorithm, the support vector machine (SVM), in order to identify ‘Amakihi songs from a series of potential songs. We then used our algorithm to detect the species in areas where its presence had not been previously confirmed. We also used the algorithm to compare the relative abundance of the species in different areas where management actions may be applied. The SVM had an accuracy of 86.5% in identifying ‘Amakihi. We confirmed the presence of the ‘Amakihi at the study area using the algorithm. We also found that the relative abundance of ‘Amakihi changes among study areas, and this information can be used to assess where management strategies for the species should be better implemented. Our automatic song detection algorithm is effective, “user‐friendly” and can be very useful for optimizing the management and conservation of those endangered animal species that communicate acoustically.
Vervet monkeys use paths consistent with context‐specific spatial movement heuristics
Authors: Teichroeb Julie A.
Published: October 2015

Animal foraging routes are analogous to the computationally demanding “traveling salesman problem” (TSP), where individuals must find the shortest path among several locations before returning to the start. Humans approximate solutions to TSPs using simple heuristics or “rules of thumb,” but our knowledge of how other animals solve multidestination routing problems is incomplete. Most nonhuman primate species have shown limited ability to route plan. However, captive vervets were shown to solve a TSP for six sites. These results were consistent with either planning three steps ahead or a risk‐avoidance strategy. I investigated how wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) solved a path problem with six, equally rewarding food sites; where site arrangement allowed assessment of whether vervets found the shortest route and/or used paths consistent with one of three simple heuristics to navigate. Single vervets took the shortest possible path in fewer than half of the trials, usually in ways consistent with the most efficient heuristic (the convex hull). When in competition, vervets' paths were consistent with different, more efficient heuristics dependent on their dominance rank (a cluster strategy for dominants and the nearest neighbor rule for subordinates). These results suggest that, like humans, vervets may solve multidestination routing problems by applying simple, adaptive, context‐specific “rules of thumb.” The heuristics that were consistent with vervet paths in this study are the same as some of those asserted to be used by humans. These spatial movement strategies may have common evolutionary roots and be part of a universal mental navigational toolkit. Alternatively, they may have emerged through convergent evolution as the optimal way to solve multidestination routing problems.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Hydrolytic Behavior of Diorganotin(IV) Coordination Polymers with Layered Structural Motifs
Authors: Shankar Ravi , Singla Nisha , Mendiratta Swati , Kociok‐Köhn Gabriele , Molloy Kieran C. , Shestakova Pavletta
Published: October 2015

The synthesis and structural characterization of the layered diorganotin coordination polymers nBu2Sn(HL)(OSO2Me) (1) and nBu2Sn(HL1)(OSO2Me) (2) derived from the silaalkylphosphonic acids RR12Si(CH2)3P(O)(OH)2 [R = Ph, R1 = Me (H2L); R = R1 = Et (H2L1)] are presented. The structure of H2L exhibits O–H···O hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions to form a unique three‐dimensional supramolecular assembly in the solid state. The asymmetric units of 1 and 2 are composed of centrosymmetric eight‐membered [–Sn–O–P–O–]2 cyclic rings with appended sulfonate groups, which provide layered connectivity to the structures. For 1, the presence of C–H···π interactions between the dangling phenyl rings of the silaalkyl chains favors a lamellar arrangement with an interlayer spacing of 16.9 Å. Upon exposure to humid conditions, these polymers undergo slow transformation to nBu2Sn[O3P(CH2)3SiRR12] with the elimination of methanesulfonic acid.
Comparative Study of Lactide Polymerization with Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, and Zinc Azo­naphthoxide Complexes
Authors: Gallegos Carlos , Tabernero Vanessa , Mosquera Marta E. G. , Cuenca Tomás , Cano Jesús
Published: October 2015

A series of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc azonaphthoxide complexes [M(κm‐{2‐O(C10H6)N=N(C6H4R)})]n (R = H, m = 2; M = Li 1, Na 2, K 3; R = OMe, m = 3; M = Li 4, Na 5, K 6) and [M(κm‐{2‐O(C10H6)N=N(C6H4R)})2]n (R = H, m = 2; M = Mg 7, Zn 8, Ca 9; R = OMe, m = 3; M = Mg 10, Zn 11, Ca 12) have been synthesized and fully characterized. The solid‐state molecular structures of the zinc complexes 8 and 11 and the magnesium derivative 10 have been determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. The alkali‐metal compounds 1–6 are extremely active catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L‐lactide. A catalytic‐activity study has been performed by varying the metal complex and the coordination sphere of the metal in the presence and absence of a coinitiator. Stoichiometric reactions involving the catalysts, BnOH and lactide have been performed to elucidate mechanistic aspects related to the polymerization of L‐lactide.
Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electromigration methods, 2013–2015
Authors: Poinsot Véréna , Ong‐Meang Varravaddheay , Gavard Pierre , Couderc François
Published: October 2015

We describe the most important research articles published on amino acid analysis using CE during the period from June 2013 to May 2015, and follows the format of the previous articles published in electrophoresis the new developments in amino acid analysis with CE are mainly describing improvements in detection means and injection methods. Enantiomeric separation developments are still important. Focusing the applications, we describe the neurochemical and clinical works, but also the metabolomic studies for which the publication number increase greatly. Finally, works focused on amino acids in food and agricultural applications are described.
Improving the sensitivity in chiral capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Sánchez‐López Elena , Marina María Luisa , Crego Antonio L.
Published: October 2015

CE is known for being one of the most powerful analytical techniques when performing enantioseparations due to its numerous advantages such as excellent separation efficiency and extremely low solvents and reagents consumption, all of them derived from the capillary small dimensions. Moreover, it is worth highlighting that unlike in chromatographic techniques, in CE the chiral selector is generally within the separation medium instead of being attached to the separation column which makes the method optimization a more versatile task. Despite its numerous advantages, when using UV‐Vis detection, CE lacks of sensitivity detection due to its short optical path length derived from the narrow separation capillary. This issue can be overcome by means of different approaches, either by sample treatment procedures or by in‐capillary preconcentration techniques or even by employing detection systems more sensitive than UV‐Vis, such as LIF or MS. The present review assembles the latest contributions regarding improvements of sensitivity in chiral CE published from June 2013 until May 2015, which follows the works included in a previous review reported by Sánchez‐Hernández et al. [Electrophoresis 2014, 35, 12–27].
Examining impacts of current-use pesticides in Southern Ontario using in situ exposures of the amphipod Hyalella azteca
Authors: Bartlett Adrienne J. , Struger John , Grapentine Lee C. , Palace Vince P.
Published: October 2015

In situ exposures with Hyalella azteca were used to assess impacts of current-use pesticides in Southern Ontario, Canada. Exposures were conducted over 2 growing seasons within areas of high pesticide use: 1 site on Prudhomme Creek and 3 sites on Twenty Mile Creek. Three sites on Spencer Creek, an area of low pesticide use, were added in the second season. Surface water samples were collected every 2 wk to 3 wk and analyzed for a suite of pesticides. Hyalella were exposed in situ for 1 wk every 4 wk to 6 wk, and survival and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were measured. Pesticides in surface waters reflected seasonal use patterns: lower concentrations in spring and fall and higher concentrations during summer months. Organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos, azinphos methyl, diazinon) and acid herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4-D], mecoprop) were routinely detected in Prudhomme Creek, whereas neutral herbicides (atrazine, metolachlor) dominated the pesticide signature of Twenty Mile Creek. Spencer Creek contained fewer pesticides, which were measured at lower concentrations. In situ effects also followed seasonal patterns: higher survival and AChE activity in spring and fall, and lower survival and AChE activity during summer months. The highest toxicity was observed at Prudhomme Creek and was primarily associated with organophosphates. The present study demonstrated that current-use pesticides in Southern Ontario were linked to in situ effects and identified sites of concern requiring further investigation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1224–1238. © 2015 Crown in the Right of Canada.
Analytical model for probabilistic network coding with delay fairness in multihop wireless network
Authors: Ahmed Shereen A. M. , Ariffin Sharifah H. S. , Fisal Norsheila
Published: October 2015

In this work, we present an analytical study of the average delay and network throughput for packet dissemination using network coding in multihop wireless network scenario, where the generation of the packets is a stochastic process. The main challenge for the relay when it receives a packet is whether to wait for a coding opportunity and therefore reduce the network congestion or to send the packet directly without coding and reduce the packet delay. So, we propose a probabilistic approach for the relay when it receives a packet, and then we develop an analytical framework to address the trade‐off between the throughput and the delay, we investigate the condition to maintain the stability of the system. We also provide the optimum transmission probability that achieves the minimum fair delay between the two sources and results in an optimum throughput.

In the symmetric case (e.g. two flows with the same rate), we show that the optimum fair delay can be achieved with probability of transmission 0.5. We also show that despite of the flow data rate, using this probability in symmetric flows will result in an almost 33 per cent improvement in the bandwidth consumption and in an equal hop delay for both flows that is 0.5/λ where λ is the average flow data rate. Moreover, for asymmetric rate flows, we provide the optimum transmission probability and its corresponding fair delay and throughput improvement. We carry out simulation to verify our analytical model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meta‐analysis of problem solving therapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder in older adults
Authors: Kirkham Julia G. , Choi Namkee , Seitz Dallas P.
Published: October 2015

Objective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects many older adults and is associated with poor medical and mental health outcomes. Problem Solving Therapy (PST) has emerged as a promising psychotherapy for MDD in older adults, although the efficacy of PST in this population has not been well described. We examined the effectiveness of PST for the treatment of MDD in older adults in a systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

We searched electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials comparing PST to a control condition or other treatment for MDD in adults with an average age of 60 years or older. We used meta‐analysis to arrive at pooled summary measures of the efficacy of PST when compared to control conditions on the change in depressive symptoms and other outcomes.

Results

Nine studies with a total of 569 participants (290 PST, 279 control) met inclusion criteria. Most studies administered PST in person and were between 6 and 12 weeks in duration. Meta‐analysis of six studies evaluating the effect of PST on depression using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression identified a significant reduction in depression associated with PST (pooled mean difference = −6.94, 95%CI −10.91 to −2.97, d = 1.15, P = 0.0006). PST was also effective in reducing disability in studies reporting this outcome.

Conclusions

Our review supports the existing research literature on PST suggesting that it is an effective treatment for older people with MDD. Further study is required to understand long‐term outcomes associated with PST and its efficacy when compared to other treatments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drinking behavior among older adults in a planned retirement community: results from The Villages survey
Authors: Fishleder Sarah , Schonfeld Lawrence , Corvin Jaime , Tyler Susan , VandeWeerd Carla
Published: October 2015

Objectives

Research indicates increasing trends among older adults toward heavy and abusive drinking, often associated with depressive symptoms. Possible exceptions are residents of planned retirement communities, whose drinking may be associated with social activities. To better understand these relationships, this study examined the relationship of depressive symptoms and drinking in a large retirement community.

Methods

The Villages, a retirement community in central Florida with a focus on healthy, active living, has almost 90 000 residents. In 2012, a population‐based needs assessment was conducted in partnership with University of South Florida Health. In the present study, 11 102 surveys were completed and returned. A structural equation model was utilized to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and alcohol use as measured by the three‐item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT‐C).

Results

Hazardous drinking was reported in 15.4% of respondents, somewhat higher than the general population of older adults (around 10%). Variables of depressive symptoms, physical activity, total health problems, and poor general health loaded significantly into the factor of depression indicators, which was shown to have a significant, negative correlation with risk of hazardous drinking (λ = 0.16, p < 0.000, R2 = 0.02).

Conclusions

Results suggest at‐risk drinking among respondents was not associated with depression, in contrast to studies of older adults living alone where alcohol abuse was often associated with depression. Implications for successful aging are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel population‐based study finding higher than reported hepatocellular carcinoma incidence suggests an updated approach is needed
Authors: Hong Thai P. , Gow Paul , Fink Michael , Dev Anouk , Roberts Stuart , Nicoll Amanda , Lubel John , Kronborg Ian , Arachchi Niranjan , Ryan Marno , Kemp William , Knight Virginia , Farrugia Helen , Thursfield Vicky , Desmond Paul , Thompson Alexander J. , Bell Sally
Published: October 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is rising rapidly in many developed countries. Primary epidemiological data have invariably been derived from cancer registries that are heterogeneous in data quality and registration methodology; many registries have not adopted current clinical diagnostic criteria for HCC and still rely on histology for classification. We performed the first population‐based study in Australia using current diagnostic criteria, hypothesizing that HCC incidence may be higher than reported. Incident cases of HCC (defined by American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases diagnostic criteria or histology) were prospectively identified over a 12‐month period (2012‐2013) from the population of Melbourne, Australia. Cases were captured from multiple sources: admissions to any of Melbourne's seven tertiary hospitals; attendances at outpatients; and radiology, pathology, and pharmacy services. Our cohort was compared to the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) cohort (mandatory notified cases) for the same population and period, and incidence rates were compared for both cohorts. There were 272 incident cases (79% male; median age: 65 years) identified. Cirrhosis was present in 83% of patients, with hepatitis C virus infection (41%), alcohol (39%), and hepatitis B virus infection (22%) the commonest etiologies present. Age‐standardized HCC incidence (per 100,000, Australian Standard Population) was 10.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.0‐11.7) for males and 2.3 (95% CI: 1.8 to 3.0) for females. The VCR reported significantly lower rates of HCC: 5.3 (95% CI: 4.4 to 6.4) and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.7 to 1.5) per 100,000 males and females respectively (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: HCC incidence in Melbourne is 2‐fold higher than reported by cancer registry data owing to under‐reporting of clinical diagnoses. Adoption of current diagnostic criteria and additional capture sources will improve registry completeness. Chronic viral hepatitis and alcohol remain leading causes of cirrhosis and HCC. (Hepatology 2016;63:1205–1212)
Design and analysis of field studies with bees: A critical review of the draft EFSA guidance
Authors: Bakker Frank
Published: October 2015

The specific protection goal, primary assessment endpoints, acceptable effect thresholds, and experimental design proposed in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) update of the bee guidance document are subjected to critical review. It is concluded that the negligible effect criteria were established without sufficient regulatory definition and without convincing scientific argumentation. For the assessment endpoints, effects on hive strength lack temporal definition and the reduction to numbers of bees is inappropriate to evaluate effects. Restricting mortality assessments to homing failure is not theoretically justified and specific criteria were incorrectly derived. The combination of acute effect estimates with models for chronic stressors is biased risk assessment and a temporal basis for the acceptability of effects is missing. Effects on overwintering success cannot be experimentally assessed using the proposed criteria. The experimental methodology proposed is inappropriate and the logistical consequences, in particular those related to replication and land use are such that field studies are no longer a feasible option for the risk assessment. It may be necessary to explore new lines of thought for the set-up of field studies and to clearly separate experimentation from monitoring. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:422–428. © 2015 SETAC

Key Points

The draft EFSA guidance for effects on honeybees lacks sufficient regulatory definition and scientific rigor. Restricting mortality assessments to homing failure is not theoretically justified and specific criteria were incorrectly derived. Combining acute effect estimates with models for chronic stressors creates bias. The experimental methodology proposed is inappropriate and has far reaching logistical consequences.