bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accurate mobile remote sensing of XCO2 and XCH4 latitudinal transects from aboard a research vessel
Authors: Klappenbach F. , Bertleff M. , Kostinek J. , Hase F. , Blumenstock T. , Agusti-Panareda A. , Razinger M. , Butz A.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. A portable Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS), model EM27/SUN, is deployed onboard the research vessel Polarstern to measure the column-average dry air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO2) and methane (XCH4) by means of direct sunlight absorption spectrometry. We report on technical developments as well as data calibration and reduction measures required to achieve the targeted accuracy of fractions of a percent in retrieved XCO2 and XCH4 while operating the instrument under field conditions onboard the moving platform during a six week cruise through the Atlantic from Cape Town (South Africa, 34° S, 18° E) to Bremerhaven (Germany, 54° N, 19° E). We demonstrate that our solar tracker typically achieves a tracking precision of better than 0.05° toward the center of the sun throughout the ship cruise which facilitates accurate XCO2 and XCH4 retrievals even under harsh ambient wind conditions. We define several quality filters that screen spectra e.g. when the field-of-view is partially obstructed by ship structures or when the lines-of-sight cross the ship exhaust plume. The measurements in clean oceanic air, can be used to characterize a spurious airmass dependency. After the campaign, deployment of the spectrometer side-by-side the TCCON (Total Carbon Column Observing Network) instrument at Karlsruhe, Germany, allows for determining a calibration factor that makes the entire campaign record traceable to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards. Comparisons to observations of the GOSAT satellite and concentration fields modeled by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) within the project Monitoring of Atmospheric Composition and Climate – Interim Implementation (MACC-II) demonstrate that the observational setup is well suited to provide validation opportunities above the ocean and along interhemispheric transects.
Sensitivity of water stress in a two-layered sandy grassland soil to variations in groundwater depth and soil hydraulic parameters
Authors: Rezaei M. , Seuntjens P. , Joris I. , Boënne W. , Van Hoey S. , Campling P. , Cornelis W. M.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Monitoring and modeling tools may improve irrigation strategies in precision agriculture. We used non-invasive soil moisture monitoring, a crop growth and a soil hydrological model to predict soil-water content fluctuations and crop yield in a heterogeneous sandy grassland soil under supplementary irrigation. The sensitivity of the model to hydraulic parameters, water stress, crop yield and lower boundary conditions was assessed. Free drainage and incremental constant head conditions was implemented in a lower boundary sensitivity analysis. A time-dependent sensitivity analysis showed that changes in soil water content are mainly affected by the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks and the Mualem-van Genuchten retention curve shape parameters n and α. Results further showed that different parameter optimization strategies (two-, three-, four- or six-parameter optimizations) did not affect the calculated water stress and water content as significantly as does the bottom boundary. For this case, a two-parameter scenario, where Ks was optimized for each layer under the condition of a constant groundwater depth at 135–140 cm, performed best. A larger yield reduction, and a larger number and longer duration of stress conditions occurred in the free drainage condition as compared to constant boundary conditions. Numerical results showed that optimal irrigation scheduling using the aforementioned water stress calculations can save up to 12–22 % irrigation water as compared to the current irrigation regime. This resulted in a yield increase of 4.5–6.5 %, simulated by crop growth model.
Incidence Trend and Epidemiology of Common Cancers in the Center of Iran
Authors: Rafiemanesh Hosein , Rajaei-Behbahani Narjes , Khani Yousef , Hosseini Sayedehafagh , Pournamdar Zahra , Mohammadian- Hafshejani Abdollah , Soltani Shahin , Hosseini Seyedeh Akram , Khazaei Salman , Salehiniya Hamid
Published: July 2015

INTRODUCTION: Cancer is a major public health problem in Iran and many other parts of the world. The cancer incidence is different in various countries and in country provinces. Geographical differences in the cancer incidence lead to be important to conduct an epidemiological study of the disease. This study aimed to investigate cancer epidemiology and trend in the province of Qom, located in center of Iran.

METHOD: This is an analytical cross-sectional study carried out based on re-analysis cancer registry report and the disease management center of health ministry from 2004 to 2008 in the province of Qom. To describe incidence time trends, we carried out join point regression analysis using the software Join point Regression Program, Version 4.1.1.1.

RESULTS: There were 3,029 registered cases of cancer during 5 years studied. Sex ratio was 1.32 (male to female). Considering the frequency and mean standardized incidence, the most common cancer in women were breast, skin, colorectal, stomach, and esophagus, respectively while in men the most common cancers included skin, stomach, colorectal, bladder, and prostate, respectively. There was an increasing and significant trend, according to the annual percentage change (APC) equal to 8.08% (CI: 5.1-11.1) for all site cancer in women.

CONCLUSION: The incidence trend of all cancers was increasing in this area. Hence, planning for identifying risk factors and performing programs for dealing with the disease are essential.
Decomposing Cost Efficiency in Regional Long-term Care Provision in Japan
Authors: Yamauchi Yasuhiro
Published: July 2015

Many developed countries face a growing need for long-term care provision because of population ageing. Japan is one such example, given its population’s longevity and low birth rate. In this study, we examine the efficiency of Japan’s regional long-term care system in FY2010 by performing a data envelopment analysis, a non-parametric frontier approach, on prefectural data and separating cost efficiency into technical, allocative, and price efficiencies under different average unit costs across regions. In doing so, we elucidate the structure of cost inefficiency by incorporating a method for restricting weight flexibility to avoid unrealistic concerns arising from zero optimal weight. The results indicate that technical inefficiency accounts for the highest share of losses, followed by price inefficiency and allocation inefficiency. Moreover, the majority of technical inefficiency losses stem from labor costs, particularly those for professional caregivers providing institutional services. We show that the largest share of allocative inefficiency losses can also be traced to labor costs for professional caregivers providing institutional services, while the labor provision of in-home care services shows an efficiency gain. However, although none of the prefectures gains efficiency by increasing the number of professional caregivers for institutional services, quite a few prefectures would gain allocative efficiency by increasing capital inputs for institutional services. These results indicate that preferred policies for promoting efficiency might vary from region to region, and thus, policy implications should be drawn with care.
Modelling and Control of a Spherical Inverted Pendulum on a Five-Bar Mechanism
Authors: Soto Israel , Campa Ricardo
Published: July 2015

This paper describes the kinematics and dynamics modelling of a mechanical system consisting of a spherical inverted pendulum whose base is mounted on a parallel planar mechanism, better known as a five-bar mechanism. The whole mechanism has four degrees of freedom, but it has only two actuators and so it is an under-actuated system. The nonlinear dynamics model of the complete system is first obtained using a non-minimal set of generalized coordinates, and then a reduced equivalent model is computed. To validate this approach, the reduced model is linearized and simulations are carried out, showing the stabilization of the system with a simple LQR controller. Experimental results on an academic prototype are also presented.
PrEP implementation: moving from trials to policy and practice
Authors: Cáceres Carlos F , O'Reilly Kevin R , Mayer Kenneth H , Baggaley Rachel
Published: July 2015

Introduction

It is increasingly clear that the HIV response will not be sustainable if the number of infections is not significantly reduced.

Discussion

For two decades, research has been ongoing to identify new behavioural and biomedical strategies to prevent HIV infection. In the past few years, the efficacy of several new strategies has been demonstrated, including oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP; i.e. daily use of tenofovir/emtricitabine). Because several social, political and logistic barriers remain, however, optimal PrEP implementation will require a better dissemination of new evidence in a number of areas and additional implementation research from various disciplinary perspectives (i.e. social science, policy and ethics; health systems; and economics, including cost‐effectiveness studies). Discussion of new evidence on those topics, as well as case studies of potential PrEP implementation in diverse environments, can improve the understanding of the role that PrEP may play in addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

In light of these needs, the Network for Multidisciplinary Studies in ARV‐based HIV Prevention (NEMUS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) were honoured to co‐organize a special issue of JIAS aimed at contributing to a scholarly discussion of current conditions surrounding PrEP implementation, potential impact and efficiency, social science concerns and the study of PrEP implementation in specific country cases. The papers included in this monograph identify and cover many of the main aspects of the complex yet promising discussions around PrEP implementation today.

Conclusions

This is a collection of timely contributions from global leaders in HIV research and policy that addresses geographic diversity, uses a trans‐disciplinary approach and covers a variety of the complex issues raised by PrEP. As this publication will become accessible to all, we hope that it will remain a valuable resource for policy makers, programme managers, researchers and activists around the world at a moment of a paradigm shift of the global response to HIV.
Modification of the Hall physics in magnetic reconnection due to cold ions at the Earth's magnetopause
Authors: Toledo‐Redondo S. , Vaivads A. , André M. , Khotyaintsev Yu. V.
Published: July 2015

Magnetic reconnection is a process permitting mass and energy exchange across plasma boundaries and converting magnetic energy into particle kinetic energy. Strong electric fields and currents due to the Hall effect are set up in narrow regions where ions are demagnetized but electrons remain magnetized. It has been recently shown that cold (few eV) ions are abundant or even dominate the Earth's magnetosphere, but most of the previous reconnection studies do not account for this population. These cold ions remain magnetized down to smaller length scales than the hot ions, introducing a new scale into the system. In addition, the Hall currents are partially canceled by magnetized cold ions. We use observations by the Cluster spacecraft at the Earth's magnetopause to verify that when a mixture of ions of very different temperatures is present in reconnecting plasmas, the microphysics related to the Hall effect is significantly modified.
Spatial and temporal trends in freshwater appropriation for natural gas development in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale Play
Authors: Barth‐Naftilan Erica , Aloysius Noel , Saiers James E.
Published: July 2015

We characterize the appropriation of surface water for the extraction of natural gas from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale, and we examine the influences of these diversions on stream flows at 300 sites. Our analysis reveals that permitted withdrawals range from 50 m3/d to more than 18,000 m3/d and that water is taken from streams of all sizes, from headwater streams to eighth‐order rivers. Flow alteration varies inversely with watershed area and, for larger streams, is compounded by upstream withdrawals. The ratio of daily permitted withdrawal to median stream flow ranges from 0.0001 to unity, although low flows in most, but not all, smaller streams are protected by pass‐by flow requirements. Temporal changes in surface water withdrawals track gas well completion activity, rather than changes in operational strategies, and while reuse of wastewater has increased since 2009, freshwater accounted for 75% of water used in hydraulic fracturing through the peak in gas well completion activity.
Machine‐Assisted Organic Synthesis
Authors: Ley Steven V. , Fitzpatrick Daniel E. , Myers Rebecca M. , Battilocchio Claudio , Ingham Richard. J.
Published: July 2015

In this Review we describe how the advent of machines is impacting on organic synthesis programs, with particular emphasis on the practical issues associated with the design of chemical reactors. In the rapidly changing, multivariant environment of the research laboratory, equipment needs to be modular to accommodate high and low temperatures and pressures, enzymes, multiphase systems, slurries, gases, and organometallic compounds. Additional technologies have been developed to facilitate more specialized reaction techniques such as electrochemical and photochemical methods. All of these areas create both opportunities and challenges during adoption as enabling technologies.
Construction of new synthetic biology tools for the control of gene expression in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002
Authors: Zess Erin K. , Begemann Matthew B. , Pfleger Brian F.
Published: July 2015

Predictive control of gene expression is an essential tool for developing synthetic biological systems. The current toolbox for controlling gene expression in cyanobacteria is a barrier to more in‐depth genetic analysis and manipulation. Towards relieving this bottleneck, this work describes the use of synthetic biology to construct an anhydrotetracycline‐based induction system and adapt a trans‐acting small RNA (sRNA) system for use in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. An anhydrotetracycline‐inducible promoter was developed to maximize intrinsic strength and dynamic range. The resulting construct, PEZtet, exhibited tight repression and a maximum 32‐fold induction upon addition of anhydrotetracycline. Additionally, a sRNA system based on the Escherichia coli IS10 RNA‐IN/OUT regulator was adapted for use in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. This system exhibited 70% attenuation of target gene expression, providing a demonstration of the use of sRNAs for differential gene expression in cyanobacteria. These systems were combined to produce an inducible sRNA system, which demonstrated 59% attenuation of target gene expression. Lastly, the role of Hfq, a critical component of sRNA systems in E. coli, was investigated. Genetic studies showed that the Hfq homolog in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 did not impact repression by the engineered sRNA system. In summary, this work describes new synthetic biology tools that can be applied to physiological studies, metabolic engineering, or sRNA platforms in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 424–432. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and Anti‐Retroviral Activity of Novel 5′‐Deoxy‐5′,5′‐difluoro‐threosyl Nucleoside Phosphonic Acid Analogs
Authors: Kim Seyeon , Jee Jun‐Pil , Hong Joon Hee
Published: July 2015

Novel 5′‐deoxy‐5′,5′‐difluoro‐threose purine phosphonic acid analogs were designed and synthesized from 2‐propanone‐1,3‐diacetate. Direct displacement of the triflate intermediate 12 with diethyl (lithiodifluoromethyl)phosphonate provided the corresponding (α,α‐difluoroalkyl) phosphonate 13. Condensation successfully proceeded from a glycosyl donor 14 under Vorbrüggen conditions to provide the nucleoside phosphonate analogs 15α, 15β, 18α, and 18β, respectively. Ammonolysis and hydrolysis of the phosphonates 15β and 18β yielded the nucleoside phosphonic acid analogs 16, 17, 19b, and 20. Also, synthesis of prodrugs of adenine derivative was performed to increase cellular uptake. The synthesized nucleoside analogs were subjected to antiviral screening against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐1. Bis(SATE) prodrug 22 of the adenine analog exhibited significant in vitro activity against HIV‐1.
CF Activation in Perfluorinated Arenes with Isonitriles under UV‐Light Irradiation
Authors: Dewanji Abhishek , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Bergander Klaus , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Studer Armido
Published: July 2015

Due to the great value of fluorinated arenes in agrochemistry, medicinal chemistry and materials science, development of methods for preparation of fluorinated arenes is of high importance. They can be either accessed by arene fluorination or by partial arene defluorination. However, the carbonfluorine bond belongs to the strongest σ‐bonds, which renders CF activation highly challenging. Here it is shown that aryl and alkyl isonitriles efficiently activate the strong CF bond in perfluoroarenes by simple UV irradiation under mild conditions. Reactions proceed by formal direct insertion of the isonitrile into the CF bond without any transition metal. Activation occurs at arene CF bonds whereas aliphatic CF bonds remain unreacted. For selected perfluoroarenes CF activation occurs with high regioselectivity and resulting imidoyl fluorides are transformed into other valuable compounds. Theoretical studies give insights into the reaction mechanism.
Thyroid cancer patient perceptions of radioactive iodine treatment choice: Follow‐up from a decision‐aid randomized trial
Authors: Sawka Anna M. , Straus Sharon , Rodin Gary , Heus Lineke , Brierley James D. , Tsang Richard W. , Rotstein Lorne , Ezzat Shereen , Segal Phillip , Gafni Amiram , Thorpe Kevin E. , Goldstein David P.
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND

Patient decision aids (P‐DAs) inform medical decision making, but longer term effects are unknown. This article describes extended follow‐up from a thyroid cancer treatment P‐DA trial.

METHODS

In this single‐center, parallel‐design randomized controlled trial conducted at a Canadian tertiary/quaternary care center, early‐stage thyroid cancer patients from a P‐DA trial were contacted 15 to 23 months after randomization/radioactive iodine (RAI) decision making to evaluate longer term outcomes. It was previously reported that the use of the computerized P‐DA in thyroid cancer patients considering postsurgical RAI treatment significantly improved medical knowledge in comparison with usual care alone. The P‐DA and control groups were compared for the following outcomes: feeling informed about the RAI treatment choice, decision satisfaction, decision regret, cancer‐related worry, and physician trust. In a subgroup of 20 participants, in‐depth interviews were conducted for a qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Ninety‐five percent (70 of 74) of the original population enrolled in follow‐up at a mean of 17.1 months after randomization. P‐DA users perceived themselves to be significantly more 1) informed about the treatment choice (P = .008), 2) aware of options (P = .009), 3) knowledgeable about treatment benefits (P = .020), and 4) knowledgeable about treatment risks/side effects (P = .001) in comparison with controls. There were no significant group differences in decision satisfaction (P = .142), decision regret (P = .199), cancer‐related worry (P = .645), mood (P = .211), or physician trust (P = .764). In the qualitative analysis, the P‐DA was perceived to have increased patient knowledge and confidence in decision making.

CONCLUSIONS

The P‐DA improved cancer survivors’ actual and long‐term perceived medical knowledge with no adverse effects. More research on the long‐term outcomes of P‐DA use is needed. Cancer 2015;121:3717–3726. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Integrating genomics into therapy
Authors: Tasian Sarah K. , Loh Mignon L. , Hunger Stephen P.
Published: July 2015

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common malignancy of childhood, is a genetically complex entity that remains a major cause of childhood cancer‐related mortality. Major advances in genomic and epigenomic profiling during the past decade have appreciably enhanced knowledge of the biology of de novo and relapsed ALL and have facilitated more precise risk stratification of patients. These achievements have also provided critical insights regarding potentially targetable lesions for the development of new therapeutic approaches in the era of precision medicine. In this review, the authors delineate the current genetic landscape of childhood ALL, emphasizing patient outcomes with contemporary treatment regimens as well as therapeutic implications of newly identified genomic alterations in specific subsets of ALL. Cancer 2015;121:3577–3590. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of Brain Temperature Distribution in Mathematical and Solid Models of Head Thermal Characteristics
Authors: Takagi Yutaka , Honma Satoru , Wakamatsu Hidetoshi , Ito Minami
Published: July 2015

Accurate temperature control of brain tissue during hypothermia treatment is necessary in order to prevent secondary brain damage and to avoid various side effects. Thus, the visualization of the intracerebral temperature distribution in hypothermia treatment was studied at the fundamental level. For this purpose a virtual reality technology was used to create a mathematical model that reflects metabolic heat production and Fourier heat conduction in a brain with the necessary parameters based on various clinical models. In the present study, an experimental system was developed to examine a mathematical simulation of the blood flow in a human head by using a solid brain model constructed using silicon rubber in the shape of a brain based on MRI data, taking into account the metabolic heat given off by three film heaters and including six sensors for the measurement of regional brain temperature. The mathematical simulation describes the internal temperature distribution in a brain with a similar structure to the brain solid model. The results of mathematical simulations and experiments using the brain solid model were quite consistent in the steady state, including control of regional temperature. This allows for the performance of heat conduction experiments under conditions similar to those of a living body, in which the internal temperature is clinically difficult to observe. Thus, the mathematical simulation is confirmed to be useful together with experiments using the solid model for the study of future brain hypothermia treatment.
Variation and Influencing Factors of Leakage Current Waveform Depending on Position of Grounding Capacitors
Authors: Ayano Hideki , Sato Yuki , Matsui Yoshihiro
Published: July 2015

This paper deals with the leakage current in an inverter system with a common‐mode choke and grounding capacitors. In the conventional common‐mode equivalent circuit, the leakage current does not depend on the position of the grounding capacitors. However, the characteristics of the leakage current when connecting the grounding capacitors between the common‐mode choke and the rectifier are significantly different from when connecting the grounding capacitors at the DC link stage. This paper clarifies the reason that the leakage current when connecting the grounding capacitors at the DC link stage flows only during the conduction period of the diode rectifier. A new equivalent circuit that reflects this phenomenon is proposed. Moreover, this paper shows the relationship between the positions of the grounding capacitors and the reduction effect on the leakage current based on a technique that we have proposed for an inverter system. The new circuit can also simulate the leakage current in a system using the proposed method.
Power Consumption Smoothing for Water Distribution System Based on Water Supply Management and Demand Adjustment
Authors: Takahashi Shinsuke , Adachi Shingo , Fujii Kenji
Published: July 2015

Two power consumption smoothing methods for a water transmission and distribution system based on water supply management and demand adjustment are proposed and evaluated by simulations. One is a power smoothing method with the achievable power target calculation. The other is a power smoothing method with demand adjustment that can achieve flat demand by effectively using the storage capacity of receiving tanks of heavy consumers. Simulation tests show that the former method is effective in attaining flat power consumption during a time zone with high water demand and that the latter method can achieve almost flat power consumption throughout the day.
Optimization of ion‐pair formation between glycopyrronium bromide and different ion‐pair agents using ACE
Authors: Darwish Kinda A. , Mrestani Yahya , Neubert Reinhard H. H.
Published: July 2015

Glycopyrronium bromide (GLB) is an anticholinergic drug. Its highly polar quaternary ammonium group could limit the skin permeation of the topical hydrophilic drug. The ion pair formation with suitable anionic molecules was suggested to play a role in enhancing the cationic drug transport to the target site. The interactions between GLB and different ion‐pair agents (IPAs) were investigated using ACE. The changes in the effective mobility of 0.05 mM GLB were correlated with the increasing concentrations of IPAs in 20 mM BGE of pH 6.2, and successfully fitted into a nonlinear binding isotherm equation assuming 1:1 stoichiometric interaction. The formation constants (Kf) were 74.33, 28.5, 18.17, 8.2, 7.6, 5.69, 4.76, and 3.96 M−1 for sodium salts of dodecyl sulfate, taurodeoxycholate, taurocholate, glycodeoxycholate, glycocholate, salicylate, quinolone sulfonate, and p‐toluene sulfonate; respectively. Surfactant's and bile salts’ concentrations were below CMCs. The partition coefficient of GLB between buffer phase and n‐octanol was determined successfully in the absence and presence of different IPAs. The study confirmed the linear correlation (R2 = 0.907) between the affinity strength of ion pair and the partition behavior of GLB in the presence of anionic molecules at 1:1 molar ratio.
Irradiance adjustment system developed for various types of solar cells and illumination conditions
Authors: Nishikawa Yoshihiro , Imai Kiyoshi , Miyao Keiji , Uchida Satoshi , Aoki Daisuke , Saito Hidenori , Magaino Shinichi , Takagi Katsuhiko
Published: July 2015

A new irradiance adjustment system for the light source named “Programmable Reference cell system for Irradiance adjustment by Spectral Measurement (PRISM)” has been developed for photovoltaics evaluation. It can be applied for various kinds of solar cells and illumination conditions without the preparation of conventional reference cells. This system consists of a device for absolute spectral responsivity measurements, that is, the spectral responsivity unit, and a device for irradiance adjustment of the light source, that is, the spectral reference cell. First, the short circuit current of the target solar cell (Iref) is calculated by convolution of the absolute spectral responsivity with the spectral irradiance under STC (AM1.5 G, 1 kW/m2, 25°C) as defined in IEC 60904‐3. The spectral irradiance of the light source is then adjusted for I–V measurements so that the short‐circuit current of the spectral reference cell (Ical), calculated by convolution of the absolute spectral responsivity with the spectral irradiance of the light source, agrees with Iref. The difference between Iref and the short circuit current, as determined at an internationally recognized test center under STC, was within ±2% for crystalline silicon solar cells and ±3% for organic solar cells. The difference between Ical and the short‐circuit current measured under a solar simulator or LED in which the irradiance was adjusted by this system was within ±4% when the irradiance was higher than 4 W/m2.
Improvement of the two‐way decode‐and‐forward scheme by energy harvesting and digital network coding relay
Authors: Son Pham Ngoc , Kong Hyung Yun
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we propose a two‐way decode‐and‐forward scheme with an energy‐harvesting relay in which the relay harvests energy from radio‐frequency signals of source nodes by applying a power‐splitting receiver and broadcasts coded signals using digital network coding (NCTW protocol). The system performance of the proposed NCTW protocol is compared with that of a conventional two‐way decode‐and‐forward scheme without digital network coding (CTW protocol) and a two‐way amplify‐and‐forward scheme with analogue network coding (TWAF protocol). Exact outage probability expressions are obtained to the NCTW and CTW protocols, whereas a lower bound expression is used to evaluate the TWAF protocol. The theoretical analyses are verified by Monte Carlo simulations. Evaluations show that (1) the proposed NCTW protocol outperforms the CTW and TWAF protocols; (2) the NCTW, CTW and TWAF protocols achieve the best performance when the power‐splitting ratios converge to optimal values; (3) at the midpoint of two source nodes, the sum system performance of the NCTW and CTW protocols is the best, whereas that of the TWAF protocol is the worst; and finally, (4) the theoretical analyses of the NCTW and CTW protocols match well with the Monte Carlo simulation results, and the lower bound expression of the TWAF protocol converges to the exact results at the high signal‐to‐noise ratio. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Production of freeze‐dried yeast culture for the brewing of traditional sorghum beer, tchapalo
Authors: N'Guessan Florent K. , Coulibaly Hermann W. , Alloue‐Boraud Mireille W. A. , Cot Marlène , Djè Koffi Marcellin
Published: July 2015

Freeze‐drying is a well‐known dehydration method widely used to preserve microorganisms. In order to produce freeze‐dried yeast starter culture for the brewing purpose of African sorghum beer, we tested protective agents (sucrose, glucose, glycerol) in combination with support materials (millet, maize, sorghum, and cassava flours) at 1:1 ratio (v/v). The yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae F12–7 and Candida tropicalis C0–7 previously isolated from sorghum beer were used in a mixed culture at a ratio of 2:1 (C. tropicalis/S. cerevisiae). After the freeze‐drying, the residual water contents were between 0.78 –2.27%, 0.55 –4.09%, and 0.40–2.61%, respectively, with sucrose, glucose and glycerol. The dried yeasts viabilities were between 4.0% and 10.6%. Among the protective agents used, sucrose was found to be the best protectant giving cell viabilities of 8.4–10.6%. Considering the support materials, millet flour was the best support after drying. When the freeze‐dried yeast powders were stored at 4°C and room temperature (25–28°C) for up to 3 months, the survival rates were the highest with cassava flour as the support material.
Comment: “On Approximating Deep in‐the‐money Asian Options Under Exponential Lévy Processes”
Authors: Sun Xianming , Haesen Dorien , Vanmaele Michèle
Published: July 2015

The approximation in Tchuindjo (2012) for the value of the in‐the‐money arithmetic Asian options in the exponential Lévy setting is shown to be an upper bound, which cannot be smaller than the optimal upper bound derived in Albrecher et al. (2005). Consequently, some of the results in Table VIII of Tchuindjo (2012) are inaccurate. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 35:1220–1221, 2015
Neuroticism and conscientiousness respectively constrain and facilitate short‐term plasticity within the working memory neural network
Authors: Dima Danai , Friston Karl J. , Stephan Klaas E. , Frangou Sophia
Published: July 2015

Individual differences in cognitive efficiency, particularly in relation to working memory (WM), have been associated both with personality dimensions that reflect enduring regularities in brain configuration, and with short‐term neural plasticity, that reflects task‐related changes in brain connectivity. To elucidate the relationship of these two divergent mechanisms, we tested the hypothesis that personality dimensions, which reflect enduring aspects of brain configuration, inform about the neurobiological framework within which short‐term, task‐related plasticity, as measured by effective connectivity, can be facilitated or constrained. As WM consistently engages the dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC), parietal (PAR), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), we specified a WM network model with bidirectional, ipsilateral, and contralateral connections between these regions from a functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset obtained from 40 healthy adults while performing the 3‐back WM task. Task‐related effective connectivity changes within this network were estimated using Dynamic Causal Modelling. Personality was evaluated along the major dimensions of Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Only two dimensions were relevant to task‐dependent effective connectivity. Neuroticism and Conscientiousness respectively constrained and facilitated neuroplastic responses within the WM network. These results suggest individual differences in cognitive efficiency arise from the interplay between enduring and short‐term plasticity in brain configuration. Hum Brain Mapp 36:4158–4163, 2015. © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification and structural characterization of novel O‐ and N‐glycoforms in the urine of a Schindler disease patient by Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Authors: Sarbu Mirela , Munteanu Cristian V. A. , Dehelean Liana , Petrescu Andrei J. , Peter‐Katalinic Jasna , Zamfir Alina D.
Published: July 2015

Schindler disease is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by the deficient activity of α‐N‐acetylgalactosaminidase enzyme. An accurate diagnosis requires, besides clinical examination, complex and costly biochemical and molecular genetic tests.

In the last years, mass spectrometry (MS) based on nanofluidics and high‐resolution instruments has become a successful alternative for disease diagnosis based on the investigation of O‐glycopeptides in patient urine.

A complex mixture of glycoforms extracted from the urine of a 3‐year‐old patient was investigated by Orbitrap MS equipped with Nanospray Flex Ion Source in the negative ion mode. For structural characterization of several molecular species, collision‐induced dissociation MS2–MS3 was carried out using collision energy values within 20–60 eV range. By our approach, 39 novel species associated to this condition were identified, among which O‐glycopeptides, free O‐glycans and one structure corresponding to an N‐glycan never characterized in the context of Schindler disease.

The experiments conducted at a resolution of 60 000 allowed the discrimination and identification of a total number of 69 different species with an average mass accuracy of 9.87 ppm, an in‐run reproducibility of almost 100%, an experiment‐to‐experiment and day‐to‐day reproducibility of about 95%. This study brings contributions in the diagnosis of Schindler disease through the elucidation of potential biomarker species in urine.

Our multistage MS results completed with 39 new glycoforms the inventory of potential biomarker structures associated to Schindler disease. For the first time, an N‐glycan was identified and structurally characterized in Schindler patient urine, which opens new research directions in the field. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mixing ratio as indicator of climate variations at a local scale: trends in an industrial area of the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Mavrakis Anastasios , Salvati Luca , Flocas Helena
Published: July 2015

The present study investigates long‐term climate variations of mixing ratio in an industrial basin of the Eastern Mediterranean region (Thriasio Plain, Greece), considering the serious environmental and socioeconomic impacts of a projected drier future climate in the Mediterranean. For this purpose, monthly average temperature, precipitation, dew point and atmospheric pressure were used for the period between 1958 and 2011. It was found that mixing ratio can be considered as a proxy for climate aridity in the area. Although air temperature was substantially stable during the investigated period, mixing ratio showed a marked reduction on both annual and monthly basis.
Sleep Quality and Reexperiencing Symptoms of PTSD Are Associated With Current Pain in U.S. OEF/OIF/OND Veterans With and Without mTBIs
Authors: Powell Margaret A. , Corbo Vincent , Fonda Jennifer R. , Otis John D. , Milberg William P. , McGlinchey Regina E.
Published: July 2015

Pain, a debilitating condition, is frequently reported by U.S. veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. This study investigated how commonly reported clinical factors were associated with pain and whether these associations differed for individuals with a history of chronic pain. From the Boston metropolitan area, 171 veterans enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence were assessed for current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, current mood and anxiety diagnoses, lifetime traumatic brain injury, combat experiences, sleep quality, and alcohol use. Hierarchical regression models were used to determine the association of these conditions with current pain. Average pain for the previous 30 days, assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire, was 30.07 out of 100 (SD = 25.43). Sleep quality, PTSD symptom severity, and alcohol use were significantly associated with pain (R2 = .24), as were reexperiencing symptoms of PTSD (R2 = .25). For participants with a history of chronic pain (n = 65), only PTSD symptoms were associated with pain (R2 = .19). Current pain severity was associated with increased PTSD severity (notably, reexperiencing symptoms), poor sleep quality, and increased alcohol use. These data support the hypothesis that PTSD symptoms influence pain, but suggest that problems with sleep and alcohol use may exacerbate the relationship.
Transient liquid phase bonding of AA 6082 aluminium alloy
Authors: Schällibaum J. , Burbach T. , Münch C. , Weiler W. , Wahlen A.
Published: July 2015

Transient liquid phase bonding (TLP) on AA 6082 samples were performed under ambient non‐vacuum conditions, which was possible by a suitable pre‐treatment. This treatment involves a zincate treatment followed by copper plating, which is a common industrial process and can be performed in large batches. This treatment allows to remove the natural aluminium oxide layer and to protect the aluminium surface from excessive oxidation.

Different bonding conditions were investigated and showed the feasibility of the transient liquid phase bonding process for AA 6082.

Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) investigations showed that the isothermal solidification is already terminated after 5 min. The microstructure of the bonding zone showed no metallurgical discontinuity such as eutectic microstructure or intermetallic Al–Cu phases. However the microstructure shows numerous voids with a size of approximately 30 µm in the bonding zone. It is assumed that these voids were formed during the bonding process due to solidification shrinkage and the presence of interfacial oxide layers.

The transient liquid phase bonded samples that were mechanically tested under tensile load showed an average strength of approximately 270 MPa, the minimum yield strength required for the base material according to EN 754‐2 is 255 MPa. Due to the notch effect of the voids, the tensile sample failed under forced fracture and showed no plastic deformation.
Improvement of temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio of GRAPPA accelerated echo planar imaging using a FLASH based calibration scan
Authors: Talagala S. Lalith , Sarlls Joelle E. , Liu Siyuan , Inati Souheil J.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To demonstrate that the temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) accelerated echo planar imaging (EPI) can be enhanced and made more spatially uniform by using a fast low angle shot (FLASH) based calibration scan.

Methods

EPI of a phantom and human brains were acquired at 3 Tesla without and with GRAPPA acceleration factor of 2. The GRAPPA accelerated data were reconstructed using calibration scans acquired with EPI and FLASH acquisition schemes. The increase in temporal signal fluctuation due to GRAPPA reconstruction was quantified and compared. Simulated g‐factor maps were also created for different calibration scans.

Results

GRAPPA accelerated phantom data exhibited areas with high g values when using the EPI based calibration for reconstruction. The g‐factor maps were uniform when using the FLASH calibration scan. g was greater than 1.1 in 74% of pixels in 64 × 64 data reconstructed with the EPI calibration compared with only 15% when using the FLASH calibration scan. Human data also showed abnormally high g regions when using the EPI calibration but not when using the FLASH calibration scan. Use of the FLASH calibration scan increased the whole brain temporal SNR by ∼12% without affecting the image quality. Experimental observations were confirmed by simulations.

Conclusion

A calibration scan based on a FLASH acquisition scheme can be used to improve the temporal SNR of GRAPPA accelerated EPI time series. Magn Reson Med 75:2362–2371, 2016. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Exploring multifractal‐based features for mild Alzheimer's disease classification
Authors: Ni Huangjing , Zhou Luping , Ning Xinbao , Wang Lei ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Multifractal applications to resting state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) time series for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still limited. We aim to address two issues: (I) if and what multifractal features are sufficiently discriminative to detect AD from the healthy; (II) if AD classification could be further improved by combining multifractal features with traditional features in this field.

Methods

Rs‐fMRI data of 25 AD patients and 38 normal controls were analyzed. A set of multifractal features were systematically investigated. Traditional features in monofractal, linear, and network‐based categories were also extracted for comparison and combination. Both support vector machines and multiple kernel learning (MKL) were used to perform classification with individual and combined features.

Results

We identified a multifractal feature,
, which has the strongest discriminative power among all the features in our study. Moreover, we found that the classification accuracy could be significantly improved from 69% (by
only) to up to 76%, when nonsparse MKL is used to combine
with the monofractal feature, Hurst. Finally, we showed that incorporating other multifractal features,
,
and
, could also improve traditional‐feature‐based AD classification.

Conclusion

Our work demonstrated the potential usefulness of multifractal analysis for AD research, especially when combining with the traditional rs‐fMRI features. It contributes to distinguishing AD from NC subjects. Magn Reson Med 76:259–269, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spectroscopic and Microscopic Investigations of Degradation Processes in Polymer Surface‐Near Regions During the Deposition of SiOx Films
Authors: Mitschker Felix , Dietrich Jan , Ozkaya Berkem , de los Arcos Teresa , Giner Ignacio , Awakowicz Peter , Grundmeier Guido
Published: July 2015

Atomic oxygen densities and fluences in a microwave plasma are determined by means of optical emission spectroscopy for different oxygen to hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) ratios during deposition of SiOx and SiOxCyHz like coatings on molecularly defined organic surfaces. The plasma coatings are deposited on octadecanethiol self‐assembled monolayers that serve as a sensor layer. They are used for tracing the interfacial changes induced during plasma deposition as a function of the O2 to HMDSO ratio and absolutely quantified atomic oxygen fluence. The interfacial chemical changes are monitored by means of polarization modulation IR reflection‐absorption spectroscopy. The data reveal that significant oxidative degradation of the sensor layer is reached for exposure to an atomic oxygen fluence of 1.0 · 1022 m−2.
Pediatric pulmonology year in review 2014: Part 2
Authors: Noah Terry L. , Auten Richard , Schwarze Jurgen , Davis Stephanie
Published: July 2015

To better meet the needs of our readership for updated perspectives on the rapidly expanding knowledge in our field, we here summarize the past year's publications in our major topic areas, as well as selected publications in these areas from the core clinical journal literature outside our own pages. This is Part 2 of a series and covers articles on neonatal lung disease, pulmonary physiology, and respiratory infection. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:1140–1146. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transition from identity to bioactivity‐guided proteomics for biomarker discovery with focus on the PF2D platform
Authors: Ménoret Antoine , Crocker Stephen J. , Rodriguez Annabelle , Rathinam Vijay A. , Clark Robert B. , Vella Anthony T.
Published: July 2015

Proteomic strategies provide a valuable tool kit to identify proteins involved in diseases. With recent progress in MS technology, high throughput proteomics has accelerated protein identification for potential biomarkers. Numerous biomarker candidates have been identified in several diseases, and many are common among pathologies. An overall strategy that could complement and strengthen the search for biomarkers is combining protein identity with biological outcomes. This review describes an emerging framework of bridging bioactivity to protein identity, exploring the possibility that some biomarkers will have a mechanistic role in the disease process. A review of pulmonary, cardiovascular, and CNS biomarkers will be discussed to demonstrate the utility of combining bioactivity with identification as a means to not only find meaningful biomarkers, but also to uncover functional mediators of disease.
Closed tachyon solitons in type II string theory
Authors: García‐Etxebarria Iñaki , Montero Miguel , Uranga Angel M.
Published: July 2015

Type II theories can be described as the endpoint of closed string tachyon condensation in certain orbifolds of supercritical type 0 theories. In this paper, we study solitons of this closed string tachyon and analyze the nature of the resulting defects in critical type II theories. The solitons are classified by the real K‐theory groups KO of bundles associated to pairs of supercritical dimensions. For real codimension 4 and 8, corresponding to and , the defects correspond to a gravitational instanton and a fundamental string, respectively. We apply these ideas to reinterpret the worldsheet GLSM, regarded as a supercritical theory on the ambient toric space with closed tachyon condensation onto the CY hypersurface, and use it to describe charged solitons under discrete isometries. We also suggest the possible applications of supercritical strings to the physical interpretation of the matrix factorization description of F‐theory on singular spaces.
Magnetic and dielectric properties of chain cuprate Li
Authors: Apostolova I. N. , Apostolov A. T. , Wesselinowa J. M. , Trimper S.
Published: July 2015

Abstractauthoren We propose a microscopic model in order to study the multiferroic properties of LiZrCuO at low temperatures taking into account the competing nearest and next‐nearest magnetic interactions, frustration, and a linear magnetoelectric coupling. To understand the experimental observation an anti‐ferroelectric interaction between the CuO chains is included. The magnetization exhibits a peak at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature , whereas the dielectric function offers no anomaly at that temperature, however can be governed by an external magnetic field . It decreases with increasing magnetic field . Our analysis provides no indication about a glass‐like order of Li(1) discussed controversially.