bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative assessment of 18F‐Mefway as a serotonin 5‐HT1A receptor PET imaging agent across species: Rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans
Authors: Mukherjee Jogeshwar , Bajwa Alisha K. , Wooten Dustin W. , Hillmer Ansel T. , Pan Min‐Liang , Pandey Suresh K. , Saigal Neil , Christian Bradley T.
Published: October 2015

We have developed 18F‐trans‐Mefway (18F‐Mefway) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies of serotonin 5‐HT1A receptors which are implicated in various brain functions. Translation of imaging the 5‐HT1A receptor in animal models to humans will facilitate an understanding of the role of the receptor in human brain disorders. We report comparative brain distribution of 18F‐Mefway in normal mice, rats, monkeys, and healthy human volunteers. Mefway was found to be very selective, with subnanomolar affinity for the 5‐HT1A receptor. Affinities of >55 nM were found for all other human‐cloned receptor subtypes tested. Mefway was found to be a poor substrate (>30 μM) for the multidrug resistance 1 protein, suggesting low likelihood of brain uptake being affected by P‐glycoprotein. Cerebellum was used as a reference region in all imaging studies across all species due to the low levels of 18F‐Mefway binding. Consistent binding of 18F‐Mefway in cortical regions, hippocampus, and raphe was observed across all species. 18F‐Mefway in the human brain regions correlated with the known postmortem distribution of 5‐HT1A receptors. Quantitation of raphe was affected by the resolution of the PET scanners in rodents, whereas monkeys and humans showed a raphe to cerebellum ratio of approximately 3. 18F‐Mefway appears to be an effective 5‐HT1A receptor imaging agent in all models, including humans. 18F‐Mefway therefore may be used to quantify 5‐HT1A receptor distribution in brain regions for the study of various CNS disorders. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:1457–1471, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biochemical, biophysical, and genetic changes of porcine trophoblast‐derived stem‐like cells during differentiation as evaluated using Raman microspectroscopy, Atomic force microscopy, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Li Qifei , Suasnavas Edison , Heywood Sierra , Xiao Lifu , Zhou Anhong , Isom S. Clay
Published: October 2015

Porcine trophoblast‐derived stem‐like cells grown into serum medium start to differentiate and become senescent within 30 days. However, trophoblast‐derived cells, cultured in vitro in a defined and non‐serum medium, have the regenerative properties, such as indefinite passage and foreign DNA receptivity, similar to stem cells. To evaluate the biochemical, biophysical, and genetic changes of the terminal differentiation of trophoblast derived cells, Raman microspectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and qPCR were applied. It was found that Raman spectral intensities of characteristic peaks, cell morphology, and Young's modulus can be used to distinguish differentiated and undifferentiated trophoblast cells. In addition, 17 cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix‐related genes were significantly impacted by medium type (non‐serum versus serum). Our findings suggest that Raman microspectroscopy and atomic force microscopy—both considered as label‐free, non‐invasive techniques—can be applied to distinguish differentiated trophoblast cells, and cellular biochemical information and biophysical properties can be indicative of cellular differences during cell differentiation. In addition, most of cytoskeleton‐related genes exhibit similar pattern to that of Young's modulus during trophoblast cell differentiation, indicating the potential connection between cytoskeleton‐related genes and cellular stiffness. genesis 53:749–761, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reaction of P4 with in situ Formed cyclo‐Triphosphatriazenium Cation [(DmpNP)3Cl2]+ (Dmp = 2,6‐Dimethylphenyl)
Authors: Holthausen Michael H. , Sala Chris , Weigand Jan J.
Published: October 2015

The controlled activation of white phosphorus, P4, provides a key entry point into many aspects of polyphosphorus chemistry. Herein, the reaction of cyclo‐diphosphadiazane derivative (DmpNPCl)2 (3a; Dmp = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl) and P4 in the presence of GaCl3 as Lewis acid for the targeted synthesis of mono‐ and dicationic phosphorus‐rich cage compounds [(DmpNP)2(P4)Cl][GaCl4] (8a[GaCl4]) and [(DmpNP)2(P4)2][Ga2Cl7]2 (9a[Ga2Cl7]2) is reported. Depending on the reaction conditions, formation of these types of cages, which are similar to those of the known cations [(DippNP)2(P4)Cl]+ (8b+) and [(DippNP)2(P4)2]2+ (9b2+; Dipp = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) is observed. However, due to the reduced steric requirements of the Dmp compared to the Dipp group, an interconversion process of the P2N2 framework of cyclo‐dichlorodiphosphadiazane 3a with the cyclo‐trichlorotriphosphatriazane 5a is observed, which leads also to the formation of mono‐ and dicationic derivatives [(DmpNP)3(P4)Cl2]+ (10a+) and [(DmpNP)3(P4)2Cl]2+ (11a2+) via cyclo‐triphosphatriazenium cation [(DmpNP)3Cl2]+ (4a+).
Caloric Effects in Bulk Lead‐Free Ferroelectric Ceramics for Solid‐State Refrigeration
Authors: Patel Satyanarayan , Chauhan Aditya , Vaish Rahul
Published: October 2015

The caloric behavior of bulk (Ba0.865Ca0.135Zr0.1078Ti0.8722Fe0.01Nb0.01)O3 (BCZTO‐FeNb) with respect to multiple physical inputs is investigated. Predictions were made by using modified Maxwell’s relations in conjunction with independent experimental data. BCZTO‐FeNb possesses significant potential for multiple caloric effects. A peak electrocaloric effect of 0.5 K (307 K) was predicted for electric fields of 0–3 kV mm−1, significantly higher than for other BCZTO‐based compositions. A maximum elastocaloric cooling of 1.17 K (298 K) was achieved for an applied stress of 0–200 MPa (3 kV mm−1). Finally, a new component of the electric‐field‐driven caloric effect is reported as the inverse piezocaloric effect, with a maximum temperature change of 0.4 K (298 K).
An improved KGF‐SPH with a novel discrete scheme of Laplacian operator for viscous incompressible fluid flows
Authors: Huang C. , Lei J. M. , Liu M. B. , Peng X. Y.
Published: October 2015

The kernel gradient free (KGF) smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is a modified finite particle method (FPM) which has higher order accuracy than the conventional SPH method. In KGF‐SPH, no kernel gradient is required in the whole computation, and this leads to good flexibility in the selection of smoothing functions and it is also associated with a symmetric corrective matrix. When modeling viscous incompressible flows with SPH, FPM or KGF‐SPH, it is usual to approximate the Laplacian term with nested approximation on velocity, and this may introduce numerical errors from the nested approximation, and also cause difficulties in dealing with boundary conditions. In this paper, an improved KGF‐SPH method is presented for modeling viscous, incompressible fluid flows with a novel discrete scheme of Laplacian operator. The improved KGF‐SPH method avoids nested approximation of first order derivatives, and keeps the good feature of ‘kernel gradient free’. The two‐dimensional incompressible fluid flow of shear cavity, both in Euler frame and Lagrangian frame, are simulated by SPH, FPM, the original KGF‐SPH and improved KGF‐SPH. The numerical results show that the improved KGF‐SPH with the novel discrete scheme of Laplacian operator are more accurate than SPH, and more stable than FPM and the original KGF‐SPH. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cost‐effectiveness of active‐passive prophylaxis and antiviral prophylaxis during pregnancy to prevent perinatal hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Fan Lin , Owusu‐Edusei Kwame , Schillie Sarah F. , Murphy Trudy V.
Published: October 2015

In an era of antiviral treatment, reexamination of the cost‐effectiveness of strategies to prevent perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission in the United States is needed. We used a decision tree and Markov model to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of the current U.S. strategy and two alternatives: (1) Universal hepatitis B vaccination (HepB) strategy: No pregnant women are screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). All infants receive HepB before hospital discharge; no infants receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). (2) Current strategy: All pregnant women are screened for HBsAg. Infants of HBsAg‐positive women receive HepB and HBIG ≤12 hours of birth. All other infants receive HepB before hospital discharge. (3) Antiviral prophylaxis strategy: All pregnant women are screened for HBsAg. HBsAg‐positive women have HBV‐DNA load measured. Antiviral prophylaxis is offered for 4 months starting in the third trimester to women with DNA load ≥106 copies/mL. HepB and HBIG are administered at birth to infants of HBsAg‐positive women, and HepB is administered before hospital discharge to infants of HBsAg‐negative women. Effects were measured in quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICER). Compared to the universal HepB strategy, the current strategy prevented 1,006 chronic HBV infections and saved 13,600 QALYs (ICER: $6,957/QALY saved). Antiviral prophylaxis dominated the current strategy, preventing an additional 489 chronic infections, and saving 800 QALYs and $2.8 million. The results remained robust over a wide range of assumptions. Conclusion: The current U.S. strategy for preventing perinatal HBV remains cost‐effective compared to the universal HepB strategy. An antiviral prophylaxis strategy was cost saving compared to the current strategy and should be considered to continue to decrease the burden of perinatal hepatitis B in the United States. (Hepatology 2016;63:1471‐1480)
Investigating the behaviour of a small Mediterranean catchment using three different hydrological models as hypotheses
Authors: Ruiz‐Pérez G. , Medici C. , Latron J. , Llorens P. , Gallart F. , Francés F.
Published: October 2015

Mediterranean catchments are characterized by strong nonlinearities in their hydrological behaviour. Properly simulating those nonlinearities still represents a great challenge and, at the same time, an important issue in order to improve our knowledge of their hydrological behaviour. The main aim of this work is find out diverse modelling approaches to reproduce the observed nonlinear hydrological behaviour in a small Mediterranean catchment, Can Vila (Vallcebre, NE Spain).

To this end, three hydrological models were considered: two lumped models called LU3 and LU4 of increasing complexity, and a distributed model called TETIS. The structures of these different models were used as hypotheses, which could explain and reproduce the observed nonlinear behaviour at the outlet. Four analyses were carried out: (i) goodness‐of‐fit criteria analysis, (ii) residual errors analysis, (iii) sensitivity analysis and (iv) multicriteria analysis based on the concept of Pareto Optimal. These analyses showed the higher capability and robustness of the distributed model to reproduce the observed complex hydrological behaviour in this catchment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OSLC‐KM: A knowledge management specification for OSLC‐based resources
Authors: Alvarez‐Rodríguez Jose María , Llorens Juan , Alejandres Manuela , Fuentes Jose Miguel
Published: October 2015

The use of different techniques and tools is a common practice to cover all stages in the development lifecycle generating a very good number of work products under different formats and protocols. This situation implies that a collaborative environment may have the potential of integrating all these data sources creating a real knowledge graph of the development lifecycle easing tasks such as traceability, V&V or quality management. In this light, the OSLC (Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration) initiative pursues the creation of specifications to unify under a common and shared data model (the Resource Description Framework‐RDF) all pieces of information and data involved in the development of a system. The present paper introduces the concept of knowledge management, outlines an OSLC‐based specification in the context of Systems Engineering and presents a case study exposing product scheme classifications.
Considerations for a Framework for Specification and Measurement of Reserve Capacity in Software‐Intensive Systems
Authors: O'Connor Trent , Cook Stephen
Published: October 2015

For some classes of software‐intensive systems, especially long life‐cycle embedded systems with evolving requirements, the customer needs some margin of reserve data processing capacity in the delivered system. This is typically needed to assure system responsiveness and stability under transient loading conditions and to provide for future software maintenance, capability growth and changes in usage without the need for processing hardware upgrades. The specification, management and verification of reserve data processing resources so as to achieve this are challenging and there is a lack of universally agreed or standardised approaches. It is proposed to create a framework for characterising run‐time resource utilisation in a data processing system, such that effective reserve capacity can be described and measured in ways that are well defined but not design‐specific. This paper outlines the need for and desirable attributes of such a framework.
An application of System Architecture in the Rail and Road Infrastructure
Authors: Schreinemakers Paul
Published: October 2015

This paper describes the application of an Architectural Framework and System Architecture in the Rail and Road infrastructure. This is illustrated by addressing the state of the art of Systems Engineering in this domain, how the need for system architecture became apparent and finally what architecture framework was chosen and how that was applied in a real life rail example. The paper concludes with a view on the next steps to be taken to further mature the Architecture Framework and resulting system architectures.

The main focus of this paper is on architecture for Rail Infrastructure systems, with some references to road infrastructure system.
Structuring Requirements in Standard Templates
Authors: Beasley Richard , Cardow Iain , Hartley Michael , Pickard Andrew
Published: October 2015

A survey of the contents of various Requirements and Definition Documents both within Rolls‐Royce and in the literature revealed a large variety of structures and contents. Many requirements documents do not distinguish in their structure between functional and the various non‐functional requirements but mix these up within the content of the requirements structure.

The authors have proposed a generic rationalized structure for capturing and recording requirements, and have illustrated this with gas turbine engine examples. The authors have also proposed a parallel structure for Definition Documents, where there is even more variation in content in the literature examples, and have illustrated this again with gas turbine engine examples.
Exploring the Role of Design in Systems Engineering
Authors: Shafaat Ali , Kenley C. Robert
Published: October 2015

The paper explores the role of design in systems engineering. It reviews the treatment of design in systems engineering in general and in the Systems Engineering Handbook in particular, and concludes that design is the missing dimension in systems engineering. It provides a review of salient viewpoints from research in design that can enhance the understanding of the design dimension in system engineering.
Creating an A3 Architecture Overview; a Case Study in SubSea Systems
Authors: Muller Gerrit , Wee Damien , Moberg Martin
Published: October 2015

The subsea oil and gas domain suffers from complex and partially incomplete information flows. As consequence, most employees in the involved organizations lack overview of the systems and operations. Using conceptual modeling and A3 architecture overviews, we have reconstructed the overview for the workover system and its operation. The result triggers interest from the suppliers in the oil and gas domain.
From Asking Forgiveness to Saying “You're Welcome!” – Introducing Requirements Engineering to Medical Device Development
Authors: Medina Casey , Fuerst Kristina
Published: October 2015

This paper describes a structured, requirements engineering process for individuals, corporate cultures, and industries that are not familiar with requirements engineering best practices. This process was implemented by the authors in the product development process of a medical device manufacturer. This paper presents an example of the implementation of the requirements engineering process using a sample project.
SysML Activity Models for Applying ISO 14971 Medical Device Risk and Safety Management Across the System Lifecycle
Authors: Malins Robert J. , Stein Jack , Thukral Ajay , Waterplas Christophe
Published: October 2015

The INCOSE Biomedical‐Healthcare Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Challenge Team has been exploring applications of MBSE techniques to medical device development. Because patient and user safety is paramount in medical devices, the team has focused on using MBSE techniques to address safety topics. This paper uses MBSE methods to address the processes of analyzing safety and incorporating risk control at each step of the development portion of the system life cycle in order to achieve “built in” safety. SysML activity models are presented that link the steps of ISO 14971 to the system development technical processes of ISO 15288. In addition, the models show how the analysis results of ISO 14971 can be used to develop a system safety assurance case. The activity models explicitly show the iterative and recursive approach to applying risk management at each stage of system development and address the ISO 13485 requirement for process integration.
The Virtual Instrumentation Diagram
Authors: Claghorn Ron
Published: October 2015

The INCOSE Vision for 2025 projects Model‐based Systems Engineering (MBSE) as the “norm” for systems engineering execution in the future. Implementing MBSE for the first time, however, requires a significant investment from the organization that decides to make the move. Further, the project's stakeholders may balk at joining in that investment without clear and certain evidence of significant benefits.

This paper proposes an incremental approach to MBSE for an organization in the chemical processing industry. The initial objective of this approach is the production of a virtual piping and instrument diagram (P&ID). The P&ID is a diagram that is familiar to engineering teams and stakeholders in process industries. The quality of the resulting model is evaluated using an established framework. To further enhance the effectiveness of the model, system behaviors are animated with software developed to extend the model into a working simulation.
Adaptive Knowledge Encoding for Agile Cybersecurity Operations
Authors: Willett Keith D. , Dove Rick , Blackburn Mark
Published: October 2015

An agile cybersecurity operation is the dynamic adaptability of security services and mechanisms including people, process, technology, and environment to ensure organizational efficacy. Two key roles in agile security operations are cybersecurity operators and cybersecurity analysts. Both are overwhelmed with data and information, but underwhelmed in knowledge and understanding. Adaptive knowledge encoding introduces cybersecurity decision patterns (CDPs) and a cybersecurity decision pattern language (CDPL) as formal knowledge representation and a formal knowledge repository to capture, codify, and share knowledge that supports cybersecurity operators and analysts ability to perform timely agile cybersecurity operations. The Knowledge Engineer applies CDPs and the CDPL to provide a cybersecurity cognitive schema that dynamically adapts by assimilating new CDPs in the CDPL structure and acclimating the CDPL structure to new knowledge. CDPs and the CDPL together with applied fundamentals of agile systems engineering help facilitate the design and sustainment of agile cybersecurity operations.
An Integral Approach to Systems Engineering
Authors: Devaney Kevin
Published: October 2015

Integral Theory is a school of philosophy that seeks to integrate all human knowledge disciplines into a single “content‐free” framework. Because of its general and comprehensive nature, Integral Theory has been successfully applied “in over 35 distinct academic and professional fields, such as art, healthcare, organizational management, ecology, congregational ministry, economics, psychotherapy, law and feminism.” (Esbjörn‐Hargens, 2009). Leaning on some pioneering work in the field of architecture, this paper looks at ways to apply Integral Theory to the discipline of systems engineering. A major benefit of Integral Theory is that it enables us to look at the world with a broader perspective. Using this perspective, we can develop improved methods in how we design systems, solve problems, improve engineering organizations and build stronger technical leaders.
Fundamentals of System Complexity Measures for Systems Design
Authors: Efatmaneshnik Mahmoud , Ryan Michael J.
Published: October 2015

Although there are numerous complexity measures, each tends to be context‐dependent and there have been few attempts to provide a generic structure that might provide a framework for such measures. This paper sets out guidelines and criteria for complexity measures. We show that a useful complexity measure has objective and subjective components. For systems design, the objective component must be graph theoretic and conform to a number of other criteria set out in the paper. The subjective component of the measure is a distance function expressing the topological distance from a reference model (structure) subjectively deemed as the simplest.
The “V” Model Reloaded
Authors: Medina Casey
Published: October 2015

Systems engineers can provide valuable input and support to product development efforts. In order to provide that support, the systems engineer must first convince his or her team that systems engineering methodologies are valuable. This paper presents a new view of the systems engineering “V” model that aims to make the model accessible and understandable to teams with little to no systems engineering experience. In doing so, it opens the door for broader adoption of systems engineering.
Integrating an Upgraded Constituent System in a System of Systems: A SysML Case Study
Authors: Ingram Claire , Fitzgerald John , Holt Jon , Plat Nico
Published: October 2015

A system of systems (SoS) relies on each constituent system contributing towards achieving some global emergent behavior. Integrating constituent systems can be particularly challenging for SoS engineering, partly because of the independence of the constituents and the difficulty of producing a realistic, scalable test environment before changes are deployed to the live environment. For this reason modeling and simulation can be important tools for regression testing within an integration scenario. We provide a worked example of an SoS integration scenario using a traffic management system as demonstrator, employing a structured, model‐based framework (the COMPASS Integration Framework) designed for integrating CSs in a variety of SoS integration scenarios. The Framework is designed to be used with architectural modelling views (we use SysML for our case study). Finally, we provide some pointers for future work and next steps.
Towards a Holistic Definition of Model‐Based System Engineering: Paradigm, Modeling and Requirements
Authors: Aboutaleb Hycham , Monsuez Bruno
Published: October 2015

Current systems complexity has reached a degree that requires addressing conception and design issues while taking into account all the necessary aspects. Therefore, one of the main challenges is the way complex system models are specified and designed. The exponential growing effort, cost, and time investment during the phase of modeling a complex systems emphasize the need for a paradigm, a framework, and an environment to handle the system model complexity. For that, it is necessary to understand the expectations of the human user of the model and his limits. This paper presents a generic framework for designing complex systems, highlights the requirements a system model needs to fulfill to meet human user expectations, and defines the refined functional as well as non‐functional requirements that modeling tools needs to meet to be useful in model‐based system engineering.
Product Line Engineering Comes to the Industrial Mainstream
Authors: Clements Paul C.
Published: October 2015

Product line engineering (PLE) is a systems engineering discipline to engineer a portfolio of related products in an efficient manner, taking full and ongoing advantage of the products’ similarities while respecting and managing their differences. Managing a portfolio as a single entity with variation, as opposed to a multitude of separate products, brings enormous efficiencies in production and maintenance. This paper shows that PLE has now matured into a repeatable, industrial‐strength engineering discipline. We define and explore the concepts central to modern product line engineering, and illustrate how it is becoming applied in two of the most challenging systems engineering domains of all: aerospace and defense, and automotive.
Towards innovative system development: A joint method of design thinking and systems thinking
Authors: Zhao Yang‐Yang
Published: October 2015

One of the key challenges to engineering organizations is how to develop systems with improved productivity and performance. The renewed discussions have been delineated regarding the innovative design, requirements engineering and systems practice. Researchers disclosed that the two powerful means of innovative system development – design thinking and systems thinking ‐‐ promote performance independently, however, their synergy effect is yet to be explored. This paper investigates whether and how their principles and tools could jointly influence the performance of innovative system development. A combined method of both is suggested based on the survey results in Norwegian high‐tech organizations.
Mechanical Stimulation and IGF‐1 Enhance mRNA Translation Rate in Osteoblasts Via Activation of the AKT‐mTOR Pathway
Authors: Bakker Astrid D. , Gakes Tom , Hogervorst Jolanda M.A. , de Wit Gerard M.J. , Klein‐Nulend Jenneke , Jaspers Richard T.
Published: October 2015

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is anabolic for muscle by enhancing the rate of mRNA translation via activation of AKT and subsequent activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTOR), thereby increasing cellular protein production. IGF‐1 is also anabolic for bone, but whether the mTOR pathway plays a role in the rate of bone matrix protein production by osteoblasts is unknown. We hypothesized that anabolic stimuli such as mechanical loading and IGF‐1 stimulate protein synthesis in osteoblasts via activation of the AKT‐mTOR pathway. MC3T3‐E1 osteoblasts were either or not subjected for 1 h to mechanical loading by pulsating fluid flow (PFF) or treated with or without human recombinant IGF‐1 (1–100 ng/ml) for 0.5–6 h, to determine phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K (downstream of mTOR) by Western blot. After 4 days of culture with or without the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, total protein, DNA, and gene expression were quantified. IGF‐1 (100 ng/ml) reduced IGF‐1 gene expression, although PFF enhanced IGF‐1 expression. IGF‐1 did not affect collagen‐I gene expression. IGF‐1 dose‐dependently enhanced AKT and p70S6K phosphorylation at 2 and 6 h. PFF enhanced phosphorylation of AKT and p70S6K already within 1 h. Both IGF‐1 and PFF enhanced total protein per cell by ∼30%, but not in the presence of rapamycin. Our results show that IGF‐1 and PFF activate mTOR, thereby stimulating the rate of mRNA translation in osteoblasts. The known anabolic effect of mechanical loading and IGF‐1 on bone may thus be partly explained by mTOR‐mediated enhanced protein synthesis in osteoblasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1283–1290, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integration of advanced oxidation processes and activated sludge for the treatment of high refractory industrial wastewater
Authors: Amaral‐Silva Nuno , Martins Rui C , Castro‐Silva Sérgio , Paiva Cláudia , Quinta‐Ferreira Rosa M
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

The aim of this research was centered on the development of a suitable strategy for the treatment of a wastewater from the production of automotive coating pipes.

RESULTS

Coagulation and Fenton treatments were ineffective and did not achieve the desired objectives, however, ozone based processes were shown to be an interesting technology. Several parameters affecting ozonation, such as pH, the addition of hydrogen peroxide as co‐oxidant and the contact time, were optimized. It was concluded that the best efficiency was attained with ozone (2 g h−1) using a multi‐stage pH procedure. After 1200 min reaction, this system achieved 98% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and the final effluent presented a BOD5/COD improvement from 0.11 to 0.30.

CONCLUSION

This study proposes an effective method to treat this specific wastewater. Fenton oxidation enabled an increase in effluent biodegradability, however, not sufficient to enable a posterior biological treatment. Using ozonation, the operating conditions can be adapted to provide an effluent able to be discharged into the hydro resources (COD < 150 mgO2 L−1), or to be sent to the municipal sewage plant (COD < 1000 mgO2 L−1) where it will be further refined in a biological system. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
A focused investigation of expedited, stack of three shocks versus chest compressions first followed by single shocks for monitored ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia cardiopulmonary arrest in an in‐hospital setting
Authors: Davis Daniel , Aguilar Steve A. , Sell Rebecca , Minokadeh Anush , Husa Ruchika
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

In cases of in‐hospital–witnessed ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) arrest, it is unclear whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to defibrillation attempt or expedited stacked defibrillation attempt is superior.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational study of all admitted patients with continuous cardiac monitoring who suffered VF/VT arrest between July 2005 and June 2013. In the stacked shock period (2005–2008), institutional protocols advocated early defibrillation with administration of 3 stacked shocks with brief pauses between each single defibrillation attempt to confirm sustained VF/VT. During the initial chest compression period (2008–2011), the protocol was modified to perform a 2‐minute period of chest compressions prior to each defibrillation, including the initial. In the modified stack shock period (2011–2013), for a monitored arrest, defibrillation attempts were expedited with up to 3 successive shocks administered for persistent VF/VT. In unmonitored arrest, chest compressions and ventilations were initiated prior to defibrillation. The primary outcome measure was survival to hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Six hundred sixty‐one cardiopulmonary arrests were recorded during the study period, with 106 patients (16%) representing primary VF/VT. The incidence of VF/VT arrest did not vary significantly between the study periods (P= 0.16) Survival to hospital discharge for all primary VF/VT arrest victims decreased, then increased significantly from the stacked shock period to initial chest compression period to modified stacked shock period (58%, 18%, 71%, respectively, P < 0.01). Specific group differences were significant between the initial chest compression versus the stacked and modified stacked shock groups (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Data suggest that monitored VF/VT should undergo expeditious defibrillation with use of stacked shocks. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:264–268. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Association of extreme precipitation over the Yangtze River Basin with global air–sea heat fluxes and moisture transport
Authors: Gao Tao , Xie Lian , Liu Bin
Published: October 2015

Although the effect of sea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans on precipitation over the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) is well known, the impact of air–sea sensible and latent heat fluxes (SHF and LHF) has not been well studied. Based on the statistical and diagnostic analyses of historical precipitation data over the YRB, SHF and LHF over the global ocean, as well as global atmospheric reanalysis data, the impacts of SHF and LHF in the selected ocean regions on YRB extreme precipitation were investigated. The spatial distributions of the correlation coefficients between the YRB extreme precipitation indices (YRB‐EPI) and SHF and LHF over the global ocean were analysed to identify critical air–sea interaction regions affecting YRB extreme precipitation. Results show that a significant positive correlation exists between YRB‐EPI and air–sea heat fluxes over the Northwest Indian Ocean, Southeast Indian Ocean, Southwest Indian Ocean and South China Sea regions. Negative correlations were found over Central Equatorial Pacific, while positive lagged correlations exist over East Pacific. Composite analyses of global wind, geo‐potential height and water vapour transport were also conducted for ten heaviest and ten lightest YRB precipitation years, respectively. In heavy YRB precipitation years, the atmospheric circulation pattern is generally characterized by a strengthened Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) extending northwestward, a strengthened lower tropospheric convergence zone over the YRB, three distinct moisture transport paths from adjacent oceans to the YRB and low‐level mid‐latitude northerly wind anomalies. Whereas, in light YRB precipitation years, it is dominated by the southwesterly summer monsoon over the YRB, with a convergence zone displaced to the north of the YRB, a weak WPSH, and only two main paths of moisture transport. These distinctions between the heavy and light YRB precipitation years provide a physical basis for establishing a statistical prediction model for YRB extreme precipitation.
Homogeneous temperature series for thermal characterization and detection of trends in the Province of Santa Elena, Ecuador
Authors: García‐Garizábal Iker , Romero Paola
Published: October 2015

The generation of quality climatic series is the first step in the analysis of climate characteristics and behaviour in any region of the world. This article approaches the construction of homogeneous average temperature series for the period 1982–2011, for the study of spatial distribution and temporal evolution in the Province of Santa Elena, in the most western point of continental Ecuador in South America. Despite the low variability registered in the temperatures of the Province, these were higher and more homogeneous in the inland region than on the coast and almost 3 °C higher in the trimesters of the rainy season December–January–February (DJF) and March–April–May (MAM) than in the trimesters of the dry season June–July–August (JJA) and September–October–November (SON). Trend analysis detected positive increasing rates for the temperature of the province, with values three times higher duringDJFandMAMin comparison withSONand annual average trend of 0.33 °C decade−1in the region. The construction of homogeneous average temperature series in the Province of Santa Elena has been an important step towards the spatial‐temporal characterization of this peculiar climatic zone. These series can also be employed as base scenarios for the development of climate change studies in the region.
Electric and magnetic fields in photoalignment of liquid crystals
Authors: Semina Olga , Dubtsov Alexander , Shmeliova Dina , Pasechnik Sergey , Chigrinov Vladimir
Published: October 2015

The results of investigation of slow surface dynamics (easy axis gliding), induced by secondary illumination of photoaligned substrates with linearly polarized UV or blue light in the presence of electric (magnetic) fields, are presented for the first time. The initial surface orientation of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) was provided, in accordance with the standard photoalignment technique, via preliminary UV treatment of the glass substrates coated by sulfonic azo‐dye SD1 film. The experiments fulfilled for the two geometries, A and B, corresponding to the normal (A) and parallel (B) orientation of fields relatively to liquid crystal (LC) layer, revealed different effects induced by electric (magnetic) fields. For geometry A, strong electric field applied, in combination with a linearly polarized blue light, to the planar layer in a sandwich‐like LC cell with two photoaligned substrates results in simultaneous reorientation of easy axis on both substrates. It demonstrates the possibility of an azimuthal rotation of monodomain planar samples of LCs. For geometry B, usage of “in‐plane” electric (magnetic) fields in the cell, composed of photoaligned and rubbed substrates, speeds up reorientation process of NLC easy axis respectively to pure light‐induced reorientation. It provides electric control of operating times in previously proposed optical rewritable technology.
Innervation of the cricothyroid muscle by extralaryngeal branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Authors: Miyauchi Akira , Masuoka Hiroo , Nakayama Ayako , Higashiyama Takuya
Published: October 2015

Objectives/Hypothesis

A major concern in thyroid surgery is possible changes in the patient's voice due to dysfunction of the laryngeal muscles. The classical understanding of the anatomy is that the cricothyroid muscle (CTM) is innervated solely by the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN), and the endolaryngeal muscles are covered only by the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Meticulous anatomical studies found communication between these nerves. Recent neurophysiological studies revealed cross‐innervations among these nerve–muscle sets. Here, we report innervation of the CTM by extralaryngeal branches of the RLN.

Study Design

Clinical observation during thyroid surgery at a hospital center for thyroid diseases.

Methods

During thyroid cancer surgeries, we encountered four adult Japanese patients who had an extralaryngeal branch of the RLN, the electrical stimulation of which showed contraction of the CTM. The EBSLN and RLN were electrically stimulated. Responses were evaluated by visual observation of contraction of the CTM and palpable laryngeal twitch of the endolaryngeal muscles. Electromyographic studies were also performed in two patients.

Results

Five of the seven RLNs examined showed contraction of the CTM on stimulation. Four of these five RLNs had an extralaryngeal branch that showed contraction of the CTM on stimulation. Stimulation of the RLN proximal to the branch yielded contraction of the CTM and laryngeal twitch, whereas stimulation of the RLN distal to the branch yielded only laryngeal twitch.

Conclusions

Extralaryngeal branches of the RLN innervated the CTM in four patients. This phenomenon might influence voice changes following thyroid surgery.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:1157–1162, 2016
On nonlinear perturbations of a periodic fractional Schrödinger equation with critical exponential growth
Authors: de Souza Manassés , Araújo Yane Lisley
Published: October 2015

In this paper we study the existence of solutions for fractional Schrödinger equations of the form

urn:x-wiley:0025584X:media:mana201500120:mana201500120-math-0001where V is a potential bounded and the nonlinear term has the critical exponential growth. We prove the existence of at least one weak solution by combining the mountain‐pass theorem with the Trudinger–Moser inequality and a version of a result due to Lions for critical growth in .
Coil compression in simultaneous multislice functional MRI with concentric ring slice‐GRAPPA and SENSE
Authors: Chu Alan , Noll Douglas C.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

Simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging is a useful way to accelerate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). As acceleration becomes more aggressive, an increasingly larger number of receive coils are required to separate the slices, which significantly increases the computational burden. We propose a coil compression method that works with concentric ring non‐Cartesian SMS imaging and should work with Cartesian SMS as well. We evaluate the method on fMRI scans of several subjects and compare it to standard coil compression methods.

Methods

The proposed method uses a slice‐separation k‐space kernel to simultaneously compress coil data into a set of virtual coils. Five subjects were scanned using both non‐SMS fMRI and SMS fMRI with three simultaneous slices. The SMS fMRI scans were processed using the proposed method, along with other conventional methods. Code is available at https://github.com/alcu/sms.

Results

The proposed method maintained functional activation with a fewer number of virtual coils than standard SMS coil compression methods. Compression of non‐SMS fMRI maintained activation with a slightly lower number of virtual coils than the proposed method, but does not have the acceleration advantages of SMS fMRI.

Conclusion

The proposed method is a practical way to compress and reconstruct concentric ring SMS data and improves the preservation of functional activation over standard coil compression methods in fMRI. Magn Reson Med 76:1196–1209, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recycling carbon fiber from composite waste and its reinforcing effect on polyvinylidene fluoride composite: Mechanical, morphology, and interface properties
Authors: Song Chenchen , Wang Fei , Liu Yuan , Wang Xinling , Yang Bin
Published: October 2015

Recycled carbon fiber (RCF) was reclaimed from thermoset composite waste and employed as reinforcement from 0 to 30 wt% to prepare polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/RCF composite. Commercial virgin carbon fiber (VCF) was used as comparison. The surface morphology, chemistry, and tensile properties of carbon fibers were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X‐Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and tensile test. Results showed that the roughness, O/C ratio and –COO content of RCF surface were significantly improved after recycling. In addition, the single fiber tensile strength and modulus of RCF was lower than that of VCF. The interfacial adhesion between RCF and PVDF was much stronger due to the high chemical activity and roughness over the RCF surface. Mechanical properties of composites were investigated by flexural test, impact test, and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). It is found that the PVDF/RCF composite showed higher flexural properties, storage modulus, and lower impact strength, which indicated the strong interfacial adhesion, played an important role in reinforcing. The morphology of fracture further demonstrated the strong interface in PVDF/RCF composite. The fiber length distribution and crystallinity of composites were also evaluated to characterize the composites. The work develops potential for recycling and reuse of carbon fiber, and also expands the application of PVDF based composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2544–2552, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Identification of lysosomal Npc1‐binding proteins: Cathepsin D activity is regulated by NPC1
Authors: Macías‐Vidal Judit , Guerrero‐Hernández Martina , Estanyol Josep Maria , Aguado Carmen , Knecht Erwin , Coll Maria Josep , Bachs Oriol
Published: October 2015

Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder, characterized by severe neurodegeneration. It is mostly produced by mutations in the NPC1 gene, encoding for a protein of the late endosomes/lysosomes membrane, involved in cholesterol metabolism. However, the specific role of this protein in NPC disease still remains unknown. We aimed to identify Npc1‐binding proteins in order to define new putative NPC1 lysosomal functions. By affinity chromatography using an Npc1 peptide (amino acids 1032–1066 of loop I), as bait, we fished 31 lysosomal proteins subsequently identified by LC‐MS/MS. Most of them were involved in proteolysis and lipid catabolism and included the protease cathepsin D. Cathepsin D and NPC1 interaction was validated by immunoprecipitation and the functional relevance of this interaction was studied. We found that fibroblasts from NPC patients with low levels of NPC1 protein have high amounts of procathepsin D but reduced quantities of the mature protein, thus showing a diminished cathepsin D activity. The increase of NPC1 protein levels in NPC cells by treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, induced an elevation of cathepsin D activity. All these results suggest a new lysosomal function of NPC1 as a regulator of cathepsin D processing and activity.
Redox proteomics: Methods for the identification and enrichment of redox‐modified proteins and their applications
Authors: Lennicke Claudia , Rahn Jette , Heimer Nadine , Lichtenfels Rudolf , Wessjohann Ludger A. , Seliger Barbara
Published: October 2015

PTMs are defined as covalent additions to functional groups of amino acid residues in proteins like phosphorylation, glycosylation, S‐nitrosylation, acetylation, methylation, lipidation, SUMOylation as well as oxidation. Oxidation of proteins has been characterized as a double‐edged sword. While oxidative modifications, in particular of cysteine residues, are widely involved in the regulation of cellular homeostasis, oxidative stress resulting in the oxidation of biomolecules along with the disruption of their biological functions can be associated with the development of diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases, respectively. This is also the case for advanced glycation end products, which result from chemical reactions of keto compounds such as oxidized sugars with proteins. The role of oxidative modifications under physiological and pathophysiological conditions remains largely unknown. Recently, novel technologies have been established that allow the enrichment, identification, and characterization of specific oxidative PTMs (oxPTMs). This is essential to develop strategies to prevent and treat diseases that are associated with oxidative stress. Therefore this review will focus on (i) the methods and technologies, which are currently applied for the detection, identification, and quantification of oxPTMs including the design of high throughput approaches and (ii) the analyses of oxPTMs related to physiological and pathological conditions.
Increased prevalence of airway reactivity in children with eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Krupp Nadia L. , Sehra Sarita , Slaven James E. , Kaplan Mark H. , Gupta Sandeep , Tepper Robert S.
Published: October 2015

Rationale

Asthma is prevalent in children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) estimated at 24–42% in prior studies versus 9% for the general population. However, pulmonary function and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in children with EoE have not been previously defined.

Methods

A cross‐sectional prospective study was conducted of children ages 7–18 years with EoE and healthy controls. Methacholine bronchial challenge and exhaled nitric oxide were assessed. As measures of atopy and immune activation, peripheral blood was analyzed for total IgE, specific IgE to selected aeroallergens, eosinophil count, and serum cytokines including eotaxin.

Results

EoE subjects (n = 33) and healthy controls (n = 37) demonstrated similar, normal baseline spirometry. AHR occurred in 33% of children with EoE and 11% of healthy controls (P = 0.04; 95% confidence intervals [19%, 52%] and [4%, 26%], respectively). The majority of EoE subjects with AHR had no prior diagnosis of asthma. Overall, 69.7% of EoE subjects had either asthma or AHR. For EoE subjects, total serum IgE was the only biomarker associated with a greater risk of AHR (OR = 9.643, 95%CI 1.633, 56.925). EoE subjects with and without asthma were similar to healthy controls in mean levels of serum cytokines (IL‐5, IL‐9, EGF, FGF‐2, eotaxin). In exploratory analyses, the subgroup with EoE and asthma without asthma controller therapy had higher mean FGF‐2 than EoE subjects without asthma (110 pg/ml vs. 65 pg/ml, P = 0.0426).

Conclusions

Asthma and AHR may be more prevalent than previous estimates in children with EoE. For subjects with EoE, elevation in serum IgE was associated with a greater risk of AHR. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:478–483. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.