bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional interventions in sarcopenia: a critical review
Authors: Hickson Mary
Published: April 2015

The aim of the present paper is to critically review the details of the published nutrition intervention trials, with and without exercise, targeting sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass, strength and/or performance with age. Since amino acids and energy are required for muscle synthesis it is possible that nutritional intake influences sarcopenia. Nutritional studies are challenging to carry out because of the complexity of modulating dietary intake. It is very difficult to change one nutrient without influencing many others, which means that many of the published studies are problematic to interpret. The studies included evaluate whole protein, essential amino acids and β-hydroxyl β-methylbutyrate (HMB). Whole-protein supplementation failed to show a consistent effect on muscle mass, strength or function. This can be explained by the variations in study design, composition of the protein supplement and the failure to monitor voluntary food intake, adherence and baseline nutritional status. Essential amino-acid supplements showed an inconsistent effect but there are only two trials that have significant differences in methodology and the supplement used. The HMB studies are suggestive of a beneficial effect on older adults, but larger well-controlled studies are required that measure outcomes relevant to sarcopenia, ideally in sarcopenic populations. The issues of timing and distribution of protein intake, and increased splanchnic amino-acid sequestration are discussed, and recommendations for future trials are made.
Analysis of the synchronization error measurement via non-collinear cross-correlation
Authors: Mu J. , Wang X. , Jing F. , Zhu Q.H. , Su J.Q. , Zhang J.W.
Published: April 2015

The method for measuring synchronization error of ultra-short pulses was introduced based on the principle of non-collinear cross-correlation. The analytical expression for the measurement was deduced according to the cross-correlation signal. The influences of angular error on the measurement were analyzed by simulated experiments. The incident angle and the angular error tolerance were both required to be considered and determined for the synchronization error measurement of ultra-short pulses. The results provide a theoretical basis for the measurement and control of the synchronization error in the coherent beam combination, plasma parameter diagnosis, etc.
Geometric design of planar mechanisms based on virtual guides for manipulation
Authors: Robson Nina , Ghosh Shramana
Published: April 2015

This paper presents recent results and applications of our planar kinematic synthesis of serial and parallel linkages to guide a rigid body, such that it does not violate normal direction and curvature constraints imposed by contact with objects in the environment. The paper briefly reviews the recently developed theory on transforming contact direction and curvature constraints into conditions on velocity and acceleration of certain points in the moving body to obtain synthesis equations which can, subsequently be solved to find the dimensions of a mechanical linkage. The main contribution of the paper is in demonstrating the applicability of the proposed theory to the kinematic synthesis of both open and closed-loop kinematic linkages. We provide preliminary results on the synthesis of kinematic chains based on novel task specifications that incorporate curvature constraints with a variety of applications, such as passive suspensions for small rovers, assistive technologies, as well as grasping.
The epidemiology, microbiology and clinical impact of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coliin England, 2009–2012
Authors: BYRNE L. , JENKINS C. , LAUNDERS N. , ELSON R. , ADAK G. K.
Published: April 2015

Between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012 in England, a total of 3717 cases were reported with evidence of Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) infection, and the crude incidence of STEC infection was 1·80/100 000 person-years. Incidence was highest in children aged 1–4 years (7·63/100 000 person-years). Females had a higher incidence of STEC than males [rate ratio (RR) 1·24,P< 0·001], and white ethnic groups had a higher incidence than non-white ethnic groups (RR 1·43,P< 0·001). Progression to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) was more frequent in females and children. Non-O157 STEC strains were associated with higher hospitalization and HUS rates than O157 STEC strains. In STEC O157 cases, phage type (PT) 21/28, predominantly indigenously acquired, was also associated with more severe disease than other PTs, as were strains encodingstx2genes. Incidence of STEC was over four times higher in people residing in rural areas than urban areas (RR 4·39,P< 0·001). Exposure to livestock and/or their faeces was reported twice as often in cases living in rural areas than urban areas (P< 0·001). Environmental/animal contact remains an important risk factor for STEC transmission and is a significant driver in the burden of sporadic STEC infection. The most commonly detected STEC serogroup in England was O157. However, a bias in testing methods results in an unquantifiable under-ascertainment of non-O157 STEC infections. Implementation of PCR-based diagnostic methods designed to detect all STEC, to address this diagnostic deficit, is therefore important.
Hospital readmissions in frail older people
Authors: Craven Emily , Conroy Simon
Published: April 2015

The majority of hospital in-patients are older people, and many of these are at increased risk of readmission, which can be an adverse outcome for the patient. Currently there is poor understanding as to how best to reduce the risk of readmission. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane library for high quality review articles about readmissions. Each review was quality assessed by two reviewers. Grouped data and evidence from original papers is cited with 95% confidence intervals when possible. Nine review studies of sufficient quality were included. Two addressed risk factors for readmission, which included: age, poor functional status prior to admission, length of stay during the index admission, depression, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, social support and social networks/support. The seven other reviews addressed interventions to reduce readmission, which included: discharge planning, post-discharge support, post-discharge case management, and nutritional supplementation. It is possible to identify older people at risk of readmission using well-established risk factors; discharge planning, post-discharge support and nutritional interventions appear to be effective in reducing readmission. Combined interventions appear to be more effective than isolated interventions.
Ageing, exercise and the chemistry of inflammation
Authors: Allen SC
Published: April 2015

Exercise has a complex influence on the biochemical markers of inflammation that includes suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The magnitude of this effect is large for prolonged activity at high work rates. People who are able to perform regular mild–moderate exercise have lower baseline pro-inflammatory cytokine levels that appear to be associated with a number of health benefits, including reduced all-cause mortality. These effects extend into old age. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic myokine released by active muscle cells, appears to play a central role in these observed phenomena, though the mechanisms of action are intricate and incompletely understood. The minimum threshold of the exercise–cytokine dose–response, if any, has not been clearly characterized. Therefore, the potential to influence cytokine activity and reduce age-associated inflammation in very aged or frail people able to perform only very low levels of physical activity is unknown.
Urban chronicle writing in late medieval Flanders: the case of Bruges during the Flemish Revolt of 1482–1490 – CORRIGENDUM
Authors: DEMETS LISA , DUMOLYN JAN
Published: April 2015

The authors regret that the following acknowledgment was omitted from the first footnote:

This article was written in the context of the project ‘El poder de la comunidad? Lenguaje y practicas politicas populares a fines de la Edad Media’ (HAR 2011–30035), funded by the Spanish Government, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.
Expression and functional activity of neurotransmitter system components in sea urchins’ early development
Authors: Nikishin Denis A. , Milošević Ivan , Gojković Milorad , Rakić Ljubisav , Bezuglov Vladimir V. , Shmukler Yuri B.
Published: April 2015

Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) investigation of the expression of the components supposedly taking part in serotonin regulation of the early development ofParacentrotus lividushas shown the presence of transcripts of five receptors, one of which has conservative amino acid residues characteristic of monoaminergic receptors. At the early stages of embryogenesis the expressions of serotonin transporter (SERT) and noradrenaline transporter (NET) were also recognized. The activities of the enzymes of serotonin synthesis and serotonin transporter were shown using immunohistochemistry and incubation with para-chlorophenylalanine (PСРА) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (HTP). Pharmacological experiments have shown a preferential cytostatic activity of ligands characterized as mammalian 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1-antagonists. On the basis of the sum of the data from molecular biology and embryo physiological experiments, it is suggested that metabotropic serotonin receptors and membrane transporters take part in the regulatory processes of early sea urchin embryogenesis.
Gastro-Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Dynamics in Liver Microvasculature
Authors: Goswamee Priyodarshan , Arunachalam Sasi , Mehta Saurabh , Nasim Riaz , Gunning William T. , Giovannucci David R.
Published: April 2015

For many cancers, liver metastasis is common and usually indicates poor prognosis. Gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) of the midgut are a heterogeneous group of cancers that typically remain asymptomatic until they metastasize to the liver. However, the mechanisms by which these usually indolent cancers establish distal metastasis remain unclear.

To begin to elucidate this process, we performed standard in vitro assays to assess cell motility, transendothelial migration, and invasion using BON cells, a widely used model GEPNET cell line. In addition, transmission electron microscopy was used in combination with a novel ex vivo organ slice xenograft model to reveal ultrastructural details of the initial events of BON cell extravasation and re-distribution within the liver. The ultrastructural resolution of the extravasation process revealed the route, sequence, and time course by which tumor cells migrated from the sinusoidal lumen into the hepatic parenchyma in this organ slice model. Both standard in vitro assays and our organ slice model indicated that tumor cells migrated through the discontinuous sinusoidal endothelium to invade the liver parenchyma.
Structural Plasticity of Remote Cortical Brain Regions is Determined by Connectivity to the Primary Lesion in Subcortical Stroke
Authors: Cheng Bastian , Schulz Robert , Bönstrup Marlene , Hummel Friedhelm C , Sedlacik Jan , Fiehler Jens , Gerloff Christian , Thomalla Götz
Published: April 2015

Cortical atrophy as demonstrated by measurement of cortical thickness (CT) is a hallmark of various neurodegenerative diseases. In the wake of an acute ischemic stroke, brain architecture undergoes dynamic changes that can be tracked by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies as soon as 3 months after stroke. In this study, we measured changes of CT in cortical areas connected to subcortical stroke lesions in 12 patients with upper extremity paresis combining white-matter tractography and semi-automatic measurement of CT using the Freesurfer software. Three months after stroke, a significant decrease in CT of −2.6% (median, upper/lower boundary of 95% confidence interval − 4.1%/- 1.1%) was detected in areas connected to ischemic lesions, whereas CT in unconnected cortical areas remained largely unchanged. A cluster of significant cortical thinning was detected in the superior frontal gyrus of the stroke hemisphere using a surface-based general linear model correcting for multiple comparisons. There was no significant correlation of changes in CT with clinical outcome parameters. Our results show a specific impact of subcortical lesions on distant, yet connected cortical areas explainable by secondary neuro-axonal degeneration of distant areas.
Is L-Lactate a Novel Signaling Molecule in the Brain?
Authors: Mosienko Valentina , Teschemacher Anja G , Kasparov Sergey
Published: April 2015

In the brain, L-lactate is produced by both neurons and astrocytes. There is no doubt that neurons use L-lactate as a supplementary fuel although the importance of this energy source is disputed. Irrespective of its caloric value, L-lactate might also have a signaling role in the brain. Here, we review several current hypotheses of L-lactate mediated signaling. Some proposed mechanisms require L-lactate entry into the neurons leading to a shift in ATP/ADP ratio or redox state. Others postulate interaction with either known receptor HCA1 (GPR81) or a novel, yet unidentified receptor. We argue that the sensitivity of any such mechanism has to match the concentration range of extracellular L-lactate, which is less than ~ 1.5 mmol/L under physiologic conditions. From that point of view, some of the proposed mechanisms require supraphysiologic levels of L-lactate and could be engaged during ischemia or seizures when L-lactate concentration rises dramatically. Currently, we do not know whether L-lactate production in the brain occurs in microdomains, which might create higher than average local concentrations. Nevertheless, it is clear that in the brain, as in the peripheral tissues, L-lactate is not only used as a source of energy but also acts as a signaling molecule.
Successful Serial Imaging of the Mouse Cerebral Arteries Using Conventional 3-T Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Makino Hiroshi , Hokamura Kazuya , Natsume Takahiro , Kimura Tetsuro , Kamio Yoshinobu , Magata Yasuhiro , Namba Hiroki , Katoh Takasumi , Sato Shigehito , Hashimoto Tomoki , Umemura Kazuo
Published: April 2015

Serial imaging studies can be useful in characterizing the pathologic and physiologic remodeling of cerebral arteries in various mouse models. We tested the feasibility of using a readily available, conventional 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to serially image cerebrovascular remodeling in mice. We utilized a mouse model of intracranial aneurysm as a mouse model of the dynamic, pathologic remodeling of cerebral arteries. Aneurysms were induced by hypertension and a single elastase injection into the cerebrospinal fluid. For the mouse cerebrovascular imaging, we used a conventional 3-T MRI system and a 40-mm saddle coil. We used non-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to detect intracranial aneurysm formation and T2-weighted imaging to detect aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. A serial MRI was conducted every 2 to 3 days. MRI detection of aneurysm formation and subarachnoid hemorrhage was compared against the postmortem inspection of the brain that was perfused with dye. The imaging times for the MRA and T2-weighted imaging were 3.7 ± 0.5 minutes and 4.8 ± 0.0 minutes, respectively. All aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhages were correctly identified by two masked observers on MRI. This MRI-based serial imaging technique was useful in detecting intracranial aneurysm formation and subarachnoid hemorrhage in mice.
APOE ɛ2 is associated with white matter hyperintensity volume in CADASIL
Authors: Gesierich Benno , Opherk Christian , Rosand Jonathan , Gonik Mariya , Malik Rainer , Jouvent Eric , Hervé Dominique , Adib-Samii Poneh , Bevan Steve , Pianese Luigi , Silvestri Serena , Dotti Maria T , De Stefano Nicola , van der Grond Jeroen , Boon Elles M J , Pescini Francesca , Rost Natalia , Pantoni Leonardo , Lesnik Oberstein Saskia A , Federico Antonio , Ragno Michele , Markus Hugh S , Tournier-Lasserve Elisabeth , Chabriat Hugues , Dichgans Martin , Duering Marco , Ewers Michael
Published: April 2015

Apolipoprotein E ( APOE) increases the risk for Alzheimer’s disease ( ɛ4 allele) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy ( ɛ2 and ɛ4), but its role in small vessel disease (SVD) is debated. Here we studied the effects of APOE on white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) in CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy), a nonamyloidogenic angiopathy and inherited early-onset form of pure SVD. Four hundred and eighty-eight subjects were recruited through a multicenter consortium. Compared with APOE ɛ3/ ɛ3, WMHV was increased in APOE ɛ2 ( P = 0.02) but not APOE ɛ4. The results remained significant when controlled for genome-wide genetic background variation. Our findings suggest a modifying influence of APOE ɛ2 on WMHV caused by pure SVD.
Id1 suppresses anti-tumour immune responses and promotes tumour progression by impairing myeloid cell maturation
Authors: Papaspyridonos Marianna , Matei Irina , Huang Yujie , do Rosario Andre Maria , Brazier-Mitouart Helene , Waite Janelle C. , Chan April S. , Kalter Julie , Ramos Ilyssa , Wu Qi , Williams Caitlin , Wolchok Jedd D. , Chapman Paul B. , Peinado Hector , Anandasabapathy Niroshana , Ocean Allyson J. , Kaplan Rosandra N. , Greenfield Jeffrey P. , Bromberg Jacqueline , Skokos Dimitris , Lyden David
Published: April 2015

A central mechanism of tumour progression and metastasis involves the generation of an immunosuppressive ‘macroenvironment’ mediated in part through tumour-secreted factors. Here we demonstrate that upregulation of the Inhibitor of Differentiation 1 (Id1), in response to tumour-derived factors, such as TGFβ, is responsible for the switch from dendritic cell (DC) differentiation to myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion during tumour progression. Genetic inactivation of Id1 largely corrects the myeloid imbalance, whereas Id1 overexpression in the absence of tumour-derived factors re-creates it. Id1 overexpression leads to systemic immunosuppression by downregulation of key molecules involved in DC differentiation and suppression of CD8 T-cell proliferation, thus promoting primary tumour growth and metastatic progression. Furthermore, advanced melanoma patients have increased plasma TGFβ levels and express higher levels of ID1 in myeloid peripheral blood cells. This study reveals a critical role for Id1 in suppressing the anti-tumour immune response during tumour progression and metastasis.
Si-rich SiNx based Kerr switch enables optical data conversion up to 12 Gbit/s
Authors: Lin Gong-Ru , Su Sheng-Pin , Wu Chung-Lun , Lin Yung-Hsiang , Huang Bo-Ji , Wang Huai-Yung , Tsai Cheng-Ting , Wu Chih-I , Chi Yu-Chieh
Published: April 2015

Silicon photonic interconnection on chip is the emerging issue for next-generation integrated circuits. With the Si-rich SiNx micro-ring based optical Kerr switch, we demonstrate for the first time the wavelength and format conversion of optical on-off-keying data with a bit-rate of 12 Gbit/s. The field-resonant nonlinear Kerr effect enhances the transient refractive index change when coupling the optical data-stream into the micro-ring through the bus waveguide. This effectively red-shifts the notched dip wavelength to cause the format preserved or inversed conversion of data carried by the on-resonant or off-resonant probe, respectively. The Si quantum dots doped Si-rich SiNx strengthens its nonlinear Kerr coefficient by two-orders of magnitude higher than that of bulk Si or Si3N4. The wavelength-converted and cross-amplitude-modulated probe data-stream at up to 12-Gbit/s through the Si-rich SiNx micro-ring with penalty of −7 dB on transmission has shown very promising applicability to all-optical communication networks.
Discerning mechanistically rewired biological pathways by cumulative interaction heterogeneity statistics
Authors: Cotton Travis B. , Nguyen Hien H. , Said Joseph I. , Ouyang Zhengyu , Zhang Jinfa , Song Mingzhou
Published: April 2015

Changes in response of a biological pathway could be a consequence of either pathway rewiring, changed input, or a combination of both. Most pathway analysis methods are not designed for mechanistic rewiring such as regulatory element variations. This limits our understanding of biological pathway evolution. Here we present a Q-method to discern whether changed pathway response is caused by mechanistic rewiring of pathways due to evolution. The main innovation is a cumulative pathway interaction heterogeneity statistic accounting for rewiring-specific effects on the rate of change of each molecular variable across conditions. The Q-method remarkably outperformed differential-correlation based approaches on data from diverse biological processes. Strikingly, it also worked well in differentiating rewired chaotic systems, whose dynamics are notoriously difficult to predict. Applying the Q-method on transcriptome data of four yeasts, we show that pathway interaction heterogeneity for known metabolic and signaling pathways is indeed a predictor of interspecies genetic rewiring due to unbalanced TATA box-containing genes among the yeasts. The demonstrated effectiveness of the Q-method paves the way to understanding network evolution at the resolution of functional biological pathways.
Influenza A virus-dependent remodeling of pulmonary clock function in a mouse model of COPD
Authors: Sundar Isaac K. , Ahmad Tanveer , Yao Hongwei , Hwang Jae-woong , Gerloff Janice , Lawrence B. Paige , Sellix Michael T. , Rahman Irfan
Published: April 2015

Daily oscillations of pulmonary function depend on the rhythmic activity of the circadian timing system. Environmental tobacco/cigarette smoke (CS) disrupts circadian clock leading to enhanced inflammatory responses. Infection with influenza A virus (IAV) increases hospitalization rates and death in susceptible individuals, including patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We hypothesized that molecular clock disruption is enhanced by IAV infection, altering cellular and lung function, leading to severity in airway disease phenotypes. C57BL/6J mice exposed to chronic CS, BMAL1 knockout (KO) mice and wild-type littermates were infected with IAV. Following infection, we measured diurnal rhythms of clock gene expression in the lung, locomotor activity, pulmonary function, inflammatory, pro-fibrotic and emphysematous responses. Chronic CS exposure combined with IAV infection altered the timing of clock gene expression and reduced locomotor activity in parallel with increased lung inflammation, disrupted rhythms of pulmonary function, and emphysema. BMAL1 KO mice infected with IAV showed pronounced detriments in behavior and survival, and increased lung inflammatory and pro-fibrotic responses. This suggests that remodeling of lung clock function following IAV infection alters clock-dependent gene expression and normal rhythms of lung function, enhanced emphysematous and injurious responses. This may have implications for the pathobiology of respiratory virus-induced airway disease severity and exacerbations.
Towards an understanding of the nucleation of alpha-para amino benzoic acid from ethanolic solutions: a multi-scale approach
Authors: Toroz D. , Rosbottom I. , Turner T. D. , Corzo D. M. C. , Hammond R. B. , Lai X. , Roberts K. J.
Published: April 2015

The molecular assembly and subsequent nucleation of para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) from ethanolic solutions is probed using a multi-scale and multi-technique approach. This is applied by examining and interrelating information regarding the molecular, solution-state, cluster, solid-state and surface structures to understand why the alpha form of PABA is crystallised in preference to its low temperature beta form. Calculations suggest that conformational changes within the solute molecule play little or no role in directing the nucleation of either the alpha or beta crystal forms. Combined ab initio and molecular dynamics calculations of the stability of small clusters in solution suggests that the hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid dimers, present in the alpha structure, are the most stable in solution and play a major role in the self-assembly and polymorphic expression of the alpha form in ethanol in preference to the beta form. These calculations are in good agreement with X-ray small-angle scattering analysis which reveals the presence of PABA clusters in ethanol which are consistent with the size and shape of a carboxylic acid dimer. SAXS studies also reveal the presence of larger cluster structures in a size range 10–40 nm which appear to grow, perhaps reflecting a change in the balance between monomers and dimers within the solution during the nucleation process. The results of crystallisation-kinetics experiments indicate an instantaneous nucleation mechanism where the number of instantaneously nucleated crystallites is calculated to be 1360–660 nuclei per ml and the subsequent growth is found to be only rate limited by diffusion of the growth unit to the crystallite surface. A linear dependence of growth rate with respect to supersaturation is observed for the (0 1 −1) capping face, which is associated with strong π–π stacking interactions. This is consistent with a solid-on-solid mechanism associated with surface roughened growth and concomitant poor lattice-perfection. Conversely, the side (1 0 −1) surface has a growth mechanism consistent with a 2D nucleation birth and spread mechanism. Hence, these mechanisms result in very fast growth along the b-axis and the needle-like morphology that is observed for alpha-PABA.
Lignin repolymerisation in spruce autohydrolysis pretreatment increases cellulase deactivation
Authors: Pielhop Thomas , Larrazábal Gastón O. , Studer Michael H. , Brethauer Simone , Seidel Christoph-M. , Rudolf von Rohr Philipp
Published: April 2015

An autohydrolysis pretreatment that suppresses lignin repolymerisation helps overcoming the recalcitrance of softwood for enzymatic hydrolysis of its cellulose.
Monitoring VEGF levels with low-volume sampling in major vision-threatening diseases: age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Hsu Min-Yen , Chen Shih-Jen , Chen Kuan-Hung , Hung Yu-Chien , Tsai Hin-Yeung , Cheng Chao-Min
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the capacity of paper-based ELISA (P-ELISA) to monitor VEGF in patients requiring treatment for vision-threatening diseases.
Photodegradation and antibacterial studies of ZnS enwrapped fly ash nanocomposite for multipurpose industrial applications
Authors: Kalpana Kalyanaraman , Selvaraj Vaithilingam
Published: April 2015

Schematic illustration for the development of the ZnS/A-FA nanocomposite towards the photodegradation of MB dye. Its characteristic colour change at different time intervals can be seen from the optical images.
Multiplexed single-cell in situ RNA analysis by reiterative hybridization
Authors: Xiao Lu , Guo Jia
Published: April 2015

A novel method to quantify the identities, positions, and copy numbers of a large number of different RNA species in single cells has been developed by reiterative cycles of target hybridization, fluorescence imaging and photobleaching.
Monolayer protected gold nanoparticles with metal-ion binding sites: functional systems for chemosensing applications
Authors: Pezzato C. , Maiti S. , Chen J. L.-Y. , Cazzolaro A. , Gobbo C. , Prins L. J.
Published: April 2015

Au NPs containing binding sites for metal ions in the monolayer are attractive components of sensing assays.
A coumarin dimer probe of mechanochemical scission efficiency in the sonochemical activation of chain-centered mechanophore polymers
Authors: Kean Zachary S. , Gossweiler Gregory R. , Kouznetsova Tatiana B. , Hewage Gihan B. , Craig Stephen L.
Published: April 2015

A coumarin dimer mechanophore is used to probe the effect of polymer size and polydispersity on mechanochemical activation.
Chloride transport activities of trans- and cis-amide-linked bisureas
Authors: Park Eun Bit , Jeong Kyu-Sung
Published: April 2015

A stimuli-responsive synthetic chloride transporter has been devised based on the different transport abilities of bisurea compounds linked by cis- and trans-amides.
Synthesis of a g-C3N4-sensitized and NaNbO3-substrated II-type heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity
Authors: Chengjie Song , Mingshan Fan , Bo Hu , Tianjun Chen , Liping Wang , Weidong Shi
Published: April 2015

A g-C3N4-sensitized and NaNbO3-substrated II-type heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity was synthesized.
Synthesis of secondary and tertiary amine-containing MOFs: C–N bond cleavage during MOF synthesis
Authors: Hahm Hyungwoo , Ha Hyeonbin , Kim Seongmin , Jung Byunghyuck , Park Myung Hwan , Kim Youngjo , Heo Jungseok , Kim Min
Published: April 2015

The secondary and tertiary amine-containing MOFs have been synthesized, and interesting C–N bond cleavage of amine was revealed during MOF synthesis.
Multiphotochromic molecular systems
Authors: Fihey Arnaud , Perrier Aurélie , Browne Wesley R. , Jacquemin Denis
Published: April 2015

We review molecular compounds encompassing several photochromic units with a focus on their functionalities.
Controllable synthesis of various kinds of copper sulfides (CuS, Cu7S4, Cu9S5) for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Ying , Liu Fuyang , Ji Ying , Yang Min , Liu Wei , Wang Wei , Sun Qiushi , Zhang Ziqing , Zhao Xudong , Liu Xiaoyang
Published: April 2015

The whole shape evolutionary process of snowflake-like Cu7S4 microstructures could be controlled by adjusting the concentration of ethylenediamine.
Generation of stable orthogonal gradients of chemical concentration and substrate stiffness in a microfluidic device
Authors: García S. , Sunyer R. , Olivares A. , Noailly J. , Atencia J. , Trepat X.
Published: April 2015

A microfluidic device that generates a stable, linear and diffusive chemical gradient over a biocompatible hydrogel with a stiffness gradient.
A ready-to-use, versatile, multiplex-able three-dimensional scaffold-based immunoassay chip for high throughput hepatotoxicity evaluation
Authors: Yan Xiaojun , Wang Jingyu , Zhu Lu , Lowrey Jonathan Joseph , Zhang Yuanyuan , Hou Wei , Dong Jiahong , Du Yanan
Published: April 2015

A ready-to-use 3D scaffold-based immunoChip combined with a 3D cell culture chip for high throughput drug hepatotoxicity evaluation.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of nitric oxide-releasing hybrids from gemcitabine and phenylsulfonyl furoxans as anti-tumor agents
Authors: Li Xianghua , Wang Xuemin , Xu Chenjun , Huang Junkai , Wang Chengniu , Wang Xinyang , He Liqin , Ling Yong
Published: April 2015

Novel furoxan/gemcitabine hybrids displayed significant antitumor activities, in particular 10e, which could be independent of the nucleoside transporter, release high levels of NO, and induce cell apoptosis by regulating apoptotic related proteins in tumor cells in vitro.
Generating active and non-selective oxidizing species by previous treatment of niobium-doped mesoporous silica with hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Coelho Jakeline V. , Guedes Marina , Mayrink Giovana , Souza Patterson P. , Pereira Marcio C. , Oliveira Luiz C. A.
Published: April 2015

Active catalysts for oxidation of non-selective organic compounds were produced by doping silica with niobium followed by treatment with hydrogen peroxide.
Titanium carbenoid-mediated cyclopropanation of allylic alcohols: selectivity and mechanism
Authors: Durán-Peña M. J. , Botubol-Ares J. M. , Hanson J. R. , Hernández-Galán R. , Collado I. G.
Published: April 2015

A new method for the chemo- and stereoselective conversion of allylic alcohols into the corresponding cyclopropane derivatives has been developed using a titanium carbenoid. The scope, limitations and mechanism are discussed.
Fucofullerenes as tight ligands of RSL and LecB, two bacterial lectins
Authors: Buffet Kevin , Gillon Emilie , Holler Michel , Nierengarten Jean-François , Imberty Anne , Vincent Stéphane P.
Published: April 2015

A series of water-soluble glycofullerenes containing up to 24 fucose residues were tested against the two bacterial lectins LecB and RSL, and C60(E)12 bearing 24 fucose residues appeared to be the best known inhibitor of both lectins to date.
Diaminodiacid-based solid-phase synthesis of all-hydrocarbon stapled α-helical peptides
Authors: Wang Feng-Liang , Guo Ye , Li Si-Jian , Guo Qing-Xiang , Shi Jing , Li Yi-Ming
Published: April 2015

An alternative stapling strategy is described herein using Fmoc-solid phase peptide synthesis (SPSS) that employed pre-prepared diaminodiacid building blocks to introduce all-hydrocarbon staples into peptides by on-resin cyclization.
Synthesis and self-assembly of a fluorine-containing amphiphilic graft copolymer bearing a perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether-based backbone and poly(acrylic acid) side chains
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhang Sen , Feng Chun , Li Yongjun , Lu Guolin , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: April 2015

Fluorine-containing amphiphilic graft copolymers made of a semi-fluorinated PMBTFVB backbone and hydrophilic PAA side chains were synthesized by the combination of thermal cycloaddition polymerization and ATRP.
Real time quantification of the chemical cross-link density of a hydrogel by in situ UV-vis spectroscopy
Authors: Kang Xiaomin , Yu You , Bao Yu , Cai Wanhao , Cui Shuxun
Published: April 2015

A UV-vis spectroscopy-based method has been proposed to determine the cross-link density of the samples.
Mechanistic studies on C–C reductive coupling of five-coordinate Rh(iii) complexes
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Su Yan , Han Keli , Li Xingwei
Published: April 2015

C–C reductive coupling of rare five-coordinate rhodium(iii) complexes has been studied in detail.
Palladium catalyzed amide-oxazoline directed C–H acetoxylation of arenes
Authors: Liu Bin , Huang Xuhu , Wang Xin , Ge Zemei , Li Runtao
Published: April 2015

A palladium catalyzedortho-acetoxylation of arenes is shown, using an amide-oxazoline as the directing group. The reactions are compatible with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl amides in moderate to good yields.
Comparison between dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and ultrasound-assisted nanoparticles-dispersive solid-phase microextraction combined with microvolume spectrophotometry method for the determination of Auramine-O in water samples
Authors: Asfaram Arash , Ghaedi Mehrorang , Goudarzi Alireza , Soylak Mustafa
Published: April 2015

Novel dispersive solid phase micro-extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid micro-extraction determination of Auramine-O content in various real samples.
Design of a graphene oxide-SnO2 nanocomposite with superior catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enaminoesters
Authors: Kumar Aniket , Rout Lipeeka , Dhaka Rajendra S. , Samal Saroj L. , Dash Priyabrat
Published: April 2015

A graphene–SnO2 nanocomposite has been synthesized by a solvothermal method, which is a more effective and less time-consuming catalyst for the synthesis of β-enaminones and β-enaminoesters.
Tamarix gallica leaf extract mediated novel route for green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles and their application for N-arylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles under ligand-free conditions
Authors: Nasrollahzadeh Mahmoud , Sajadi S. Mohammad , Maham Mehdi
Published: April 2015

We report the green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Tamarix gallica leaf extract and their catalytic activity for N-arylation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with aryl halides under ligand-free conditions.
In situ chemical oxidative graft polymerization of aniline from phenylamine end-caped poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Massoumi Bakhshali , Badr-Valizad Vahideh , Jaymand Mehdi
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study is the in situ chemical oxidative graft polymerization of aniline from phenylamine end-caped poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Modelling the rheology of anisotropic particles adsorbed on a two-dimensional fluid interface
Authors: Luo Alan M. , Sagis Leonard M. C. , Öttinger Hans Christian , De Michele Cristiano , Ilg Patrick
Published: April 2015

We link the structure of a particle-stabilised fluid–fluid interface with rheological behaviour. Here we show the response of the interface to oscillatory dilatational flow.
Heteroatom-doped hierarchical porous carbons as high-performance metal-free oxygen reduction electrocatalysts
Authors: Zhu Yun-Pei , Liu Youlin , Liu Yu-Ping , Ren Tie-Zhen , Du Gao-Hui , Chen Tiehong , Yuan Zhong-Yong
Published: April 2015

Heteroatom-doped porous carbons synthesized through a universal polymerization–carbonization protocol exhibit considerable high activity and stability towards electrochemical oxygen reduction.
Microwave absorbers designed from PVDF/SAN blends containing multiwall carbon nanotubes anchored cobalt ferrite via a pyrene derivative
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Kar Goutam Prasanna , Bose Suryasarathi
Published: April 2015

Lightweight and flexible electromagnetic shielding materials were designed by selectively localizing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) anchored magnetic nanoparticles in melt mixed co-continuous blends of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN).
A pH-responsive natural cyclopeptide RA-V drug formulation for improved breast cancer therapy
Authors: Qiao Zeng-Ying , Zhang Di , Hou Chun-Yuan , Zhao Si-Meng , Liu Ya , Gao Yu-Juan , Tan Ning-Hua , Wang Hao
Published: April 2015

The co-encapsulation of RA-V cyclopeptide and SQ molecules in pH-sensitive PAE micelles for efficient tumor therapy and imaging in vitro and in vivo.
2,2′-Dipyridylamino-based ligands with substituted alkyl chain groups and their mononuclear-M(ii) spin crossover complexes
Authors: Scott Hayley S. , Moubaraki Boujemaa , Paradis Nicolas , Chastanet Guillaume , Létard Jean-François , Batten Stuart R. , Murray Keith S.
Published: April 2015

Fundamental structural, magnetic and photomagnetic properties of Fe(ii) and Co(ii) complexes of alkyl-chain substituted ligands are described.
White OLEDs based on a novel EuIII-tetrakis-β-diketonate doped into 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazolebiphenyl as emitting material
Authors: Biju Silvanose , Xu Liang-Jin , Sun Cheng-Zhe , Chen Zhong-Ning
Published: April 2015

White OLEDs with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2.8%, maximum brightness (L) of 1547 cd m−2, current efficiency (ηc) of 5.14 cd A−1 and power efficiency (ηp) of 2.53 lm W−1 were fabricated using a newly developed EuIII-tetrakis-β-diketonate compound.
High performance electrochemical capacitors based on MnO2/activated-carbon-paper
Authors: Cheng Zhiyu , Tan Guiping , Qiu Yongfu , Guo Bing , Cheng Faliang , Fan Hongbo
Published: April 2015

The composite MnO2/activated-carbon-paper has been reported for the first time and it shows high specific capacitance and remarkable rate capability as an electrochemical capacitor.
Supporting Oral Feeding Skills Through Bottle Selection
Authors: Ross Erin , Fuhrman Lauren
Published: April 2015

Infants who have feeding difficulties often struggle with coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing, and have difficulty eating sufficient quantities for adequate growth. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) need advanced expertise across a number of areas (e.g., development, medical, swallowing) to work effectively with these young infants, and they use a variety of strategies when treating this population. Therapists working with infants who have feeding difficulties use bottles as a primary therapy tool; how the infant tolerates the flow rate from the bottle/nipple is a major consideration. Caregivers must understand the influence of bottle/nipple flow rates on eating skills, so they can support the emerging oral skill development for these fragile infants, and help parents decide what bottle system to use in their home. Both infant and equipment factors influence bottle/nipple flow rates. This article discusses the influencing factors that need to be considered when determining the optimal flow rate for an individual infant.
Swallow Stronger and Safer: Past, Present, and Future of the SwallowSTRONG Device
Authors: Robbins JoAnne , Hind Jackie
Published: April 2015

This article discusses oropharyngeal strengthening for swallowing rehabilitation in adults. Reduced oropharyngeal strength is common in older adults and adults with age-related medical conditions resulting in less effective bolus transit and increased risk of aspiration. Specific information is presented regarding scientific and theoretical basis (past), development of devices to facilitate and evidence supporting oropharyngeal strengthening (present), and areas requiring further study (future).
Impact of interleavers on performance of block Markov superposition transmission
Authors: Zeng Huicong , Liang Chulong , Ma Xiao
Published: April 2015

The impact of different kinds of interleavers on the performance of block Markov superposition transmission (BMST) systems is investigated. Simulation results show that the performance of a BMST system is insensitive to the types of interleavers, provided that multiple interleavers (if required) differ from each other. As a byproduct, a new interleaver called the binary linear interleaver is proposed, which can be easily implemented in hardware.
Efficient phase‐only linear array synthesis including coupling effect by GA‐FFT based on least‐square active element pattern expansion method
Authors: You Pengfei , Liu Yanhui , Huang Xin , Zhang Liang , Liu Qing H.
Published: April 2015

A new least‐square active element pattern expansion (LS‐AEPE) method is presented. With the help of this method, the array's pattern including the element mutual coupling and platform effect can be efficiently calculated by the fast Fourier transform (FFT). These techniques are then combined with the genetic algorithm (GA) to optimise the excitation phases for a 64‐element linear array mounted on a trapezoid metal plate.
Tunable bandpass filters based on π‐shifted mechanical long‐period fibre gratings in two‐mode fibres
Authors: Sakata H. , Komori K. , Ono Y.
Published: April 2015

A phase‐shifted tunable long‐period fibre grating in which a passband can be tuned over a wide spectral range is presented. This device is operated with an electromagnet in combination with a coil spring that includes a shift ring inserted in the middle. The passband wavelength is changed between 1520 and 1630 nm by actuating the coil spring. The minimum transmittance of the rejection band is controlled down to −15 dB by turning on the electromagnet.
Multi‐user massive MIMO for next‐generation WLAN systems
Authors: Kim Kyung Jun , Choi Kyung Jun , Lee Seong Ro , Kim Kwang Soon
Published: April 2015

An efficient multi‐user multiple‐input–multiple‐output (MIMO) protocol is proposed and verified to be significantly advantageous over the conventional IEEE 802.11ac protocol for next‐generation wireless local area network systems employing massive MIMO and orthogonal frequency division multiple access.
Adaptive strategy‐proof double auction mechanism for heterogeneous spectrum allocation
Authors: Mazoochi Mojtaba , Pourmina Mohammad Ali , Bakhshi Hamidreza
Published: April 2015

Spectrum auctions are one of the best‐known solutions to improve the efficiency of spectrum use. However, there can be many challenges in the design of a practical spectrum auction. Heterogeneity is one of the most major challenges. Unfortunately, most of the existing auction designs either do not take into account the various aspects of heterogeneity or assume only the scenario where each seller supplies one distinct channel and each buyer wishes to buy merely one channel. The authors propose a spectrum auction mechanism which considers the various aspects of heterogeneity as well as multi‐channel purchasing. They prove that the auction design preserves three important economic aspects including truthfulness, budget balance and individual‐rationality. Moreover, most of the existing works only provide the bidders a simple demand format. Their auction mechanism enables bidders to use diverse demand formats. Furthermore, they propose some novel adaptive grouping algorithms to improve the auction's performance. The simulation results demonstrate good performance of the proposed algorithms on various auction metrics.
State feedback ℋ∞ control design of continuous‐time switched affine systems
Authors: Deaecto Grace S. , Santos Guilherme C.
Published: April 2015

This study deals with state feedback ℋ∞ control design of continuous‐time switched affine systems. The main purpose is to design a set of state feedback gains together with a switching function assuring global asymptotic stability of a desired equilibrium point. The equilibrium point belongs to a set of attainable ones to be determined. Moreover, the control design must take into account a pre‐specified upper bound to the ℒ2 gain from the external input to the controlled output. Two different switching functions are proposed and discussed. The first one depends only on the state and the other depends also on the external input. The results are compared with recent ones available in the literature to date, as for instance, those based on a max‐type Lyapunov function and those commonly used to assure practical stability. Numerical examples illustrate the theoretical results and are used for comparisons.
Natural frequency‐based protection scheme for voltage source converter‐based high‐voltage direct current transmission lines
Authors: He Zheng‐you , Liao Kai
Published: April 2015

On the basis of the relation among natural frequency of travelling wave, fault distance and reflect coefficient at the terminal of transmission line, a novel transmission line protection scheme is proposed in this study. The multiple signal classification method is employed to extract the dominant natural frequency through the spectrum analysis of fault travelling wave. Performance of the proposed transmission line protection algorithm is studied through detailed simulations carried out using the electromagnetic transient simulation software PSCAD/EMTDC. The method proposed in this study does not need identifying the surge arrival time. Therefore it is more robust compared with the traditional travelling‐wave‐based protection scheme. The effect of fault resistance on the proposed protection scheme is also discussed in this study. The simulation results have shown the proposed method is valid and can distinguish internal faults from external faults correctly.
Power quality improvement using a dual unified power quality conditioner/uninterruptible power supply in three‐phase four‐wire systems
Authors: Modesto Rodrigo Augusto , Oliveira da Silva Sérgio Augusto , de Oliveira Júnior Azauri Albano
Published: April 2015

Using a dual compensation strategy, this study proposes the analysis and implementation of active power quality conditioners (PQCs), which are applied for power quality improvement in three‐phase four‐wire (3P4W) systems. By means of similar control strategy use, the topology employed to implement the PQCs can operate as unified PQC (UPQC), or, through some circuit modifications, as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. Considering 3P4W systems, the use of the dual compensation strategy into the PQCs comprised of two four‐leg (4‐Leg) converters is the main contribution of this study. Different from the conventional strategies, in the dual compensation strategy, the 4‐Leg converter connected in parallel with the load is controlled to operate as a sinusoidal voltage source, whereas the 4‐Leg converter connected in series between the grid and the load is controlled to operate as a sinusoidal current source. Both the voltage and current controllers are implemented into the synchronous rotating reference frame, and the converters use the three‐dimensional space vector modulation technique. Experimental tests, based on a digital signal processor, are performed in order to validate the theoretical development and to verify both static and dynamic performance of the PQC operating as UPQC, as well as UPS system.