bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Challenges in Lampung Language Instruction: A Study on Teaching Methods and Educational Technology Integration
Authors: Rachman M Ridho , Zulfatussoraya Eka Putri
Published: August 2024

The Lampung language, a regional language rich in cultural and historical significance, has seen a significant decline in usage among younger generations, primarily due to the influences of globalization and the increasing dominance of national and international languages. This study aims to thoroughly identify and analyze the challenges faced in teaching the Lampung language at the elementary school level, focusing on SDN 1 Tanjungsari in South Lampung. Employing a qualitative approach with a case study method, this research investigates both internal factors, such as curriculum design and teaching methodologies, and external factors, including parental and community support. The findings reveal several key challenges: the limited availability of engaging teaching materials, inadequate teacher training, and low student interest in learning the Lampung language. To address these issues, the study suggests developing interactive digital teaching resources and enhancing teacher training programs to improve pedagogical competencies. Furthermore, integrating technology and incorporating local cultural elements into the teaching process can potentially boost student interest and engagement. This approach not only aligns with modern educational practices but also promotes a deeper appreciation of local heritage. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the preservation efforts of the Lampung language, ensuring its continued relevance and vitality as an integral part of Indonesia's rich cultural tapestry. Through strategic educational interventions, the study hopes to inspire greater interest and participation among the younger generation, thereby safeguarding the linguistic and cultural legacy of the Lampung people.
Increased Expression of BCL6 in Women with Implantation Failure
Authors: Alonso Veronica Alejandra , Guerra Fernando , Ester Rocher Adriana , Romina Monsalvo Valeria , Alberto Palaoro Luis , Zeitler Elena , Ruth Mendeluk Gabriela
Published: August 2024

Objectives: Progesterone (P4) expression failure and increased B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) levels have been demonstrated in the endometrium of women with endometriosis and unexplained infertility In the present work, we studied BCL6 (P4 inhibitor) expression in relation to different hormonal exposures of the endometrium during the implantation window, as a predictor of poor reproductive results in “in vitro fertilization” procedures. BCL6 was investigated in endometrial biopsies from four infertile patients from the Reproductive Medicine Unit, Clinicas University Hospital “Jose de San Martín”, Buenos Aires, Argentina, using immunohistochemical techniques Materials and Methods: BCL6 was investigated in endometrial biopsies from four infertile patients from the Reproductive Medicine Unit, Clinicas University Hospital “Jose de San Martín”, Buenos Aires, Argentina, using immunohistochemical techniques Results: Four patients without suspicion of endometriosis but recurrent implantation failure were included in the analysis. They were all evaluated during the window of implantation. Two of them were under an artificial supplemented cycle with estradiol and progesterone for a frozen thawed embryo transfer, one was under high concentrations of endogenous oestrogen and progesterone due to a controlled ovarian stimulation regimen for an assisted reproductive technique, and one had a natural menstrual cycle. All patients exceeded the threshold level of the HSCORE for BCL6 (1.4). Conclusions: Abnormal endometrial expression of BCL6 participates in the development of P4 resistance in the endometrium. The BCL6 assay, performed prior to embryo transfer, could benefit women with suspected endometrial receptivity defects.
Navigating Between On-Screen Activities and Discussion
Authors: Salomaa Elina , Kohonen-Aho Laura , Martikainen Silja
Published: August 2024

This study examines multiactivity in video-mediated business-to-business sales encounters. By drawing on multimodal conversation analysis, the paper examines how representatives of a legal service company navigate between talk-in-interaction with prospective clients and operating with a presentation on a shared screen where the sold service is demonstrated. The findings show how the technological affordances of MS Teams and PowerPoint are used to coordinate the presentation-orientation and prospect-orientation in a complex digital-social environment in order to display engagement in multiple technological and social actions simultaneously. The paper contributes, firstly, to the field of B2B sales interaction by showing how technology transforms the meetings into arenas of multiactivity, where the presenter has to navigate between their on-screen actions and their remote co-participants. Secondly, the paper contributes to the field of video-mediated interaction by illustrating how technological affordances are used to maintain both the progressivity and interactivity of the video-mediated meeting.
Inhibition of ULK1/2 and KRASG12C controls tumor growth in preclinical models of lung cancer
Authors: Ghazi Phaedra C , O’Toole Kayla T , Srinivas Boggaram Sanjana , Scherzer Michael T , Silvis Mark R , Zhang Yun , Bogdan Madhumita , Smith Bryan D , Lozano Guillermina , Flynn Daniel L , Snyder Eric L , Kinsey Conan G , McMahon Martin
Published: August 2024

Mutational activation of
KRAS
occurs commonly in lung carcinogenesis and, with the recent FDA approval of covalent inhibitors of KRAS
G12C
such as sotorasib or adagrasib, KRAS oncoproteins are important pharmacological targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, not all KRAS
G12C
-driven NSCLCs respond to these inhibitors, and the emergence of drug resistance in those patients that do respond can be rapid and pleiotropic. Hence, based on a backbone of covalent inhibition of KRAS
G12C
, efforts are underway to develop effective combination therapies. Here we report that inhibition of KRAS
G12C
signaling increases autophagy in KRAS
G12C
expressing lung cancer cells. Moreover, the combination of DCC-3116, a selective ULK1/2 inhibitor, plus sotorasib displays cooperative/synergistic suppression of human KRAS
G12C
-driven lung cancer cell proliferation
in vitro
and superior tumor control
in vivo
. Additionally, in genetically engineered mouse models of KRAS
G12C
-driven NSCLC, inhibition of either KRAS
G12C
or ULK1/2 decreases tumor burden and increases mouse survival. Consequently, these data suggest that ULK1/2-mediated autophagy is a pharmacologically actionable cytoprotective stress response to inhibition of KRAS
G12C
in lung cancer.
A novel approach to secure communication in mega events through Arabic text steganography utilizing invisible Unicode characters
Authors: Khan Esam Ali
Published: August 2024

Mega events attract mega crowds, and many data exchange transactions are involved among organizers, stakeholders, and individuals, which increase the risk of covert eavesdropping. Data hiding is essential for safeguarding the security, confidentiality, and integrity of information during mega events. It plays a vital role in reducing cyber risks and ensuring the seamless execution of these extensive gatherings. In this paper, a steganographic approach suitable for mega events communication is proposed. The proposed method utilizes the characteristics of Arabic letters and invisible Unicode characters to hide secret data, where each Arabic letter can hide two secret bits. The secret messages hidden using the proposed technique can be exchanged via emails, text messages, and social media, as these are the main communication channels in mega events. The proposed technique demonstrated notable performance with a high-capacity ratio averaging 178% and a perfect imperceptibility ratio of 100%, outperforming most of the previous work. In addition, it proves a performance of security comparable to previous approaches, with an average ratio of 72%. Furthermore, it is better in robustness than all related work, with a robustness against 70% of the possible attacks.
Ligand‐Directed Profiling of Organelles with Internalizing Phage Libraries
Authors: Dobroff Andrey S. , Rangel Roberto , Guzman‐Roja Liliana , Salmeron Carolina C. , Gelovani Juri G. , Sidman Richard L. , Bologa Cristian G. , Oprea Tudor I. , Brinker C. Jeffrey , Pasqualini Renata , Arap Wadih
Published: February 2015

Phage display is a resourceful tool to, in an unbiased manner, discover and characterize functional protein‐protein interactions, create vaccines, and engineer peptides, antibodies, and other proteins as targeted diagnostic and/or therapeutic agents. Recently, our group has developed a new class of internalizing phage (iPhage) for ligand‐directed targeting of organelles and to identify molecular pathways within live cells. This unique technology is suitable for applications ranging from fundamental cell biology to drug development. This unit describes the methods for generating and screening the iPhage display system, and explains how to select and validate candidate internalizing homing peptide. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Swarm's absolute magnetometer experimental vector mode, an innovative capability for space magnetometry
Authors: Hulot Gauthier , Vigneron Pierre , Léger Jean‐Michel , Fratter Isabelle , Olsen Nils , Jager Thomas , Bertrand François , Brocco Laura , Sirol Olivier , Lalanne Xavier , Boness Axel , Cattin Viviane
Published: February 2015

European Space Agency's Swarm satellites carry a new generation of 4He absolute magnetometers (ASM), designed by CEA‐Léti and developed in partnership with Centre National d'Études Spatiales. These instruments are the first ever spaceborne magnetometers to use a common sensor to simultaneously deliver 1 Hz independent absolute scalar and vector readings of the magnetic field. Since launch, these ASMs provided very high‐accuracy scalar field data, as nominally required for the mission, together with experimental vector field data. Here we compare geomagnetic field models built from such ASM‐only data with models built from the mission's nominal 1 Hz data, combining ASM scalar data with independent fluxgate magnetometer vector data. The high level of agreement between these models demonstrates the potential of the ASM's vector mode for data quality control and as a stand‐alone magnetometer and illustrates the way the evolution of key field features can easily be monitored from space with such absolute vector magnetometers.
Van Allen Probes show that the inner radiation zone contains no MeV electrons: ECT/MagEIS data
Authors: Fennell J. F. , Claudepierre S. G. , Blake J. B. , O'Brien T. P. , Clemmons J. H. , Baker D. N. , Spence H. E. , Reeves G. D.
Published: February 2015

We present Van Allen Probe observations of electrons in the inner radiation zone. The measurements were made by the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma/Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) sensors that were designed to measure electrons with the ability to remove unwanted signals from penetrating protons, providing clean measurements. No electrons >900 keV were observed with equatorial fluxes above background (i.e., >0.1 el/(cm2 s sr keV)) in the inner zone. The observed fluxes are compared to the AE9 model and CRRES observations. Electron fluxes <200 keV exceeded the AE9 model 50% fluxes and were lower than the higher‐energy model fluxes. Phase space density radial profiles for 1.3 ≤ L* < 2.5 had mostly positive gradients except near L*~2.1, where the profiles for μ = 20–30 MeV/G were flat or slightly peaked. The major result is that MagEIS data do not show the presence of significant fluxes of MeV electrons in the inner zone while current radiation belt models and previous publications do.
Investigation of the transport processes controlling the geographic distribution of carbon monoxide at the tropical tropopause
Authors: Jensen E. J. , Pfister L. , Ueyama R. , Bergman J. W. , Kinnison D.
Published: February 2015

Convectively influenced trajectory calculations are used to investigate the impact of different Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL) transport pathways for establishing the distribution of carbon monoxide (CO) at 100 hPa as observed by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on board the Aura satellite. Carbon monoxide is a useful tracer for investigating TTL transport and convective influence because the CO lifetime (≃1–2 months) is comparable to the time required for slow ascent through the TTL. MERRA horizontal winds are used for the diabatic trajectories, and off‐line calculations of TTL radiative heating are used to determine the vertical motion field. The locations and times of convective influence events along the trajectories are determined from 3‐hourly, geostationary satellite measurements of convective clouds. The trajectory model reproduces most of the prominent features in the 100 hPa CO geographic distribution indicated by the MLS observations for the winter and summer 2007 periods simulated. CO concentrations and tendencies simulated with the Whole Atmosphere Climate Chemistry Model (WACCM) are used to specify boundary‐layer concentrations for convective influence and CO loss rates resulting from reaction with OH. The broad maximum in CO concentration over the Pacific during Boreal winter is primarily a result of the strong radiative heating (corresponding to upward vertical motion) associated with the abundant TTL cirrus in this region. Convection over the Pacific brings clean maritime air to the tropopause region and actually decreases the 100 hPa CO. The relative abundance of CO over the continental convective regions during wintertime is sensitive to small variations in convective cloud‐top height. Both the simulated and the observed summertime 100 hPa CO distributions are dominated by the maximum co‐located with the upper level anticyclone forced by the Asian monsoon convection. Sensitivity tests indicate that the summertime Asian monsoon anticyclone 100 hPa CO maximum is dominated by extreme convective systems with detrainment of polluted air above about 360–365 K potential temperature. This result stems directly from the fact that the heating rates are negative (downward motion) below 360–365 K during summertime through most of the tropics; therefore, air detrained from convection at lower levels will generally just sink back down into the middle troposphere. We find that most of the CO feeding into the Asian monsoon anticyclone comes from convection over the Tibetan Plateau and India, with relatively minor contributions from southeast Asia and eastern China.
Lifetimes and emissions of SO2 from point sources estimated from OMI
Authors: Fioletov V. E. , McLinden C. A. , Krotkov N. , Li C.
Published: February 2015

A new method to estimate sulfur dioxide (SO2) lifetimes and emissions from point sources using satellite measurements is described. The method is based on fitting satellite SO2 vertical column density to a three‐dimensional parameterization as a function of the coordinates and wind speed. An effective lifetime (or, more accurately, decay time) and emission rate are then determined from the parameters of the fit. The method was applied to measurements from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) processed with the new principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm in the vicinity of approximately 50 large U.S. near‐point sources. The obtained results were then compared with available emission inventories. The correlation between estimated and reported emissions was about 0.91 with the estimated lifetimes between 4 and 12 h. It is demonstrated that individual sources with annual SO2 emissions as low as 30 kt yr−1 can produce a statistically significant signal in OMI data.
Generation of Highly Enriched Populations of Optic Vesicle−Like Retinal Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Ohlemacher Sarah K. , Iglesias Clara L. , Sridhar Akshayalakshmi , Gamm David M. , Meyer Jason S.
Published: February 2015

The protocol outlined below is used to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into retinal cell types through a process that faithfully recapitulates the stepwise progression observed in vivo. From pluripotency, cells are differentiated to a primitive anterior neural fate, followed by progression into two distinct populations of retinal progenitors and forebrain progenitors, each of which can be manually separated and purified. The hPSC‐derived retinal progenitors are found to self‐organize into three‐dimensional optic vesicle−like structures, with each aggregate possessing the ability to differentiate into all major retinal cell types. The ability to faithfully recapitulate the stepwise in vivo development in a three‐dimensional cell culture system allows for the study of mechanisms underlying human retinogenesis. Furthermore, this methodology allows for the study of retinal dysfunction and disease modeling using patient‐derived cells, as well as high‐throughput pharmacological screening and eventually patient‐specific therapies. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Teratoma Formation: A Tool for Monitoring Pluripotency in Stem Cell Research
Authors: Nelakanti Raman V. , Kooreman Nigel G. , Wu Joseph C.
Published: February 2015

This unit describes protocols for evaluating the pluripotency of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells using a teratoma formation assay. Cells are prepared for injection and transplanted into immunodeficient mice at the gastrocnemius muscle, a site well suited for teratoma growth and surgical access. Teratomas that form from the cell transplants are explanted, fixed in paraformaldehyde, and embedded in paraffin. These preserved samples are sectioned, stained, and analyzed. Pluripotency of a cell line is confirmed by whether the teratoma contains tissues derived from each of the embryonic germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. Alternatively, explanted and fixed teratomas can be cryopreserved for immunohistochemistry, which allows for more detailed identification of specific tissue types present in the samples. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Attitude control of reusable launch vehicle in reentry phase with input constraint via robust adaptive backstepping control
Authors: Wang Fang , Hua Changchun , Zong Qun
Published: February 2015

The paper presents an attitude control problem of reusable launch vehicles in reentry phase. The controller is designed based on synthesizing robust adaptive control into backstepping control procedure in the presence of input constraint, model uncertainty, and external disturbance. In view of the coupling between the states of translational motion and the states of attitude motion, the control‐oriented model is developed, where the uncertainties do not satisfy linear parameterization assumption. The time derivative of the virtual control input is viewed as a part of uncertain term to facilitate the analytic computations and avoid the ‘explosion of terms’ problem. The robust adaptive backstepping control scheme is first proposed to overcome the uncertainty and external disturbance. The robust adaptive law is employed to estimate the unknown bound of the uncertain term. Furthermore, the attitude control problem subjects to input constraint is studied, and the constrained robust adaptive backstepping control strategy is proposed. Within the Lyapunov theory framework, the stability analysis of the closed‐loop system is carried out, and the tracking error converges to a random neighborhood around origin. Six‐degree‐of‐freedom reusable launch vehicle simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of a Novel Amphiphilic and Cationic Chitosan‐Based Flocculant for Efficient Treatment of Oily Wastewater
Authors: Lü Ting , Zhao Hongting , Qi Dongming , Chen Ying
Published: February 2015

This study reported the successful synthesis of a new amphiphilic and cationic flocculant (denoted as CS‐g‐PDBC) by grafting a cationic monomer, dimethyl acryloyloxyethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DBC), onto chitosan (CS) initiated by ceric ammonium nitrate. The molecular structure and surface morphology of the newly synthesized graft copolymer CS‐g‐PDBC were characterized in detail by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis , and elemental analysis. Moreover, its flocculation efficiency for treating simulated emulsified oil wastewaters was evaluated and the results indicated that CS‐g‐PDBC was more efficient than those of CS and two other commonly used flocculants, i.e., cationic polyacrylamide and polyaluminum chloride. It was found that, as compared with CS, the successful introduction of cationic and hydrophobic groups into the CS backbone resulted in a significantly broadened flocculation window and a greatly enhanced flocculation efficiency for the prepared CS‐g‐PDBC in the treatment of oily wastewater, suggesting that this newly synthesized CS‐g‐PDBC would be a promising green agent for oily wastewater treatment.
Simple control structure for a compression purification process in an oxy‐combustion power plant
Authors: Luyben William L.
Published: February 2015

The composition of the stack gas from an oxy‐combustion power plant is about 75 mol % carbon dioxide. The stream must be purified to about 95 mol % by removing light inerts such as nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. The product stream must be compressed to 110 bar for sequestration. This article presents a simple control structure for the double‐flash compression and purification process to achieve these objectives. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1581–1588, 2015
Bioactive Cardinane Sesquiterpenes from the Stems of Alangium salviifolium
Authors: Pailee Phanruethai , Prachyawarakorn Vilailak , Ruchirawat Somsak , Mahidol Chulabhorn
Published: February 2015

A dichloromethane extract of the stems of Alangium salviifolium afforded twelve cardinane sesquiterpenes, seven of which are new alangenes A‐G (1–7) and five known compounds (8–12). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques including UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry. Most of the tested compounds exhibited very potent aromatase inhibition properties, especially in the case of the cardinane sesquiterpenes 1, 5–8, and 10 (IC50 values of 0.09, 0.13, 0.30, 0.06, 2.05, and 1.19 μM, respectively), which are significantly better than that of the positive control (ketoconazole, IC50 of 2.4 μM). Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited selective cytotoxicity against the MOLT‐3 cancer cell line with IC50 values of 7.9 and 2.1 μg mL−1, respectively.
Intramolecular CN Bond Formation under Metal‐free Conditions: Synthesis of Indolizines
Authors: Wu Junliang , Leng Wei Lin , Liao Hongze , Mai Hoang Kim Le , Liu Xue‐Wei
Published: February 2015

Polysubstituted indolizine derivatives are constructed via intramolecular CN bond formation/CH bond cleavage under metal‐free conditions. These methods offer straightforward pathways to transform pyridyl chalcones into a variety of indolizines.
Systematic review of surgical treatment of subclinical Cushing's syndrome
Authors: Iacobone M , Citton M , Scarpa M , Viel G , Boscaro M , Nitti D
Published: February 2015

Background

Subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS) is a condition of biochemical cortisol excess without the classical clinical features of overt hypercortisolism; it may be associated with some consequences of metabolic syndrome. The most appropriate treatment remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of adrenalectomy for SCS.

Methods

A systematic review was performed. MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Databases (1980–2013) were searched for studies reporting the outcomes of unilateral adrenalectomy with respect to hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity and osteoporosis in patients with SCS. Studies with a questionable diagnosis of SCS, bilateral adrenal involvement and insufficient data were excluded.

Results

Of the 105 papers screened, seven were selected; there were six retrospective studies and one randomized clinical trial, including 230 patients. Data analysis was limited by heterogeneity in definition of SCS and endpoints. Hypercortisolism was cured in all operated patients. Laparoscopy was the preferred approach, with a morbidity rate of 0·8 per cent. A beneficial effect of surgery on blood pressure, glucometabolic control and obesity was evident in all studies, with cure or improvement in 72, 46 and 39 per cent of patients respectively, compared with conservative management. The results for lipid metabolism were equivocal, because of a decrease in triglyceridaemia but discordant effects on cholesterol metabolism among the different studies. No beneficial effects on osteoporosis were found.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy seems to be beneficial in reversing several metabolic effects of hypercortisolism, with a low morbidity rate. However, the heterogeneity and low quality of the available studies preclude definitive recommendations.
Quantification of polygalasaponin F in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetics application
Authors: Zhou Wenli , Zhang Jiantao , Xu Wei , Sun Jinghui
Published: February 2015

A rapid and highly selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (LC‐MS/MS) method for determination of polygalasaponin F (PF) in rat plasma was developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a reverse‐phase Zorbax SB‐C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), using 2 mm ammonium acetate (pH adjusted to 6.0 with acetic acid) and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) as a mobile phase at 30 °C. MS/MS detection was performed using an electrospray ionization operating in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the ion transitions from m/z 1091.5 → 471.2 (PF) and m/z 700.4 → 235.4 (internal standard), respectively. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the concentration range 0.0544–13.6 µg/mL, with a limit of quantification of 0.0544 µg/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were <9.7% in rat plasma. The method was validated as per US Food and Drug Administration guidelines and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of PF in rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Informed Consent at Gunpoint: When Psychiatry Affects Gun Ownership
Authors: Candilis Philip J. , Khurana Gagandeep , Leong Gregory B. , Weinstock Robert
Published: February 2015

As states take more steps to connect patients’ gun ownership to their mental health, psychiatrists are being asked to provide mental health information after clinical interviews as well as after confiscation. This move into the patient–physician relationship raises new questions about how psychiatrists should obtain informed consent when interviews may result in reports to legal authorities. Consent warnings are already practiced more in the breach than in the observance and informed consent is imperfect at its best. In communities torn by controversies surrounding gun control, vehement political views will further influence these established themes to result in unprecedented pressures on patient confidentiality. This analysis draws on new movements in ethical theory and behavioral medicine that go beyond balancing principles to question the use of psychiatry in firearm reporting, and support a vigorous practice of informed consent to protect both individuals and the communities they live in. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The B subunit of Escherichia coli enterotoxin helps control the in vivo growth of solid tumors expressing the Epstein–Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A
Authors: Ondondo Beatrice , Faulkner Lee , Williams Neil A. , Morgan Andrew J. , Morgan David J.
Published: February 2015

Latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) is expressed on almost all Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐associated tumors and is a potential target for immunotherapeutic intervention and vaccination. However, LMP2A is not efficiently processed and presented on major histocompatibility antigens class I molecules to generate potent cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTL) responses capable of killing these tumors. The B subunit of Escherichia coli enterotoxin (EtxB), causes rapid internalization and processing of membrane‐bound LMP2A on EBV‐infected B cells, and facilitates loading of processed‐LMP2A peptides onto MHC class I. This re‐directed trafficking/delivery of LMP2A to the MHC class I machinery enhances recognition and killing by LMP2A‐specific CTL in vitro. To test the potential of EtxB to enhance immune targeting of LMP2A expressed in solid tumors, we generated a murine tumor model (Renca‐LMP2A), in which LMP2A is expressed as a transgenic neoantigen on a renal carcinoma (Renca) cell line and forms solid tumors when injected subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. The data show that in BALB/c mice which have only low levels of peripheral Kd‐LMP2A‐specific CD8+ T cells, merely a transient inhibition of tumor growth is achieved compared with naïve mice; suggesting that there is suboptimal LMP2A‐specifc CTL recognition and poorly targeted tumor killing. However, importantly, treatment of these mice with EtxB led to a significant delay in the onset of tumor growth and significantly lower tumor volumes compared with similar mice that did not receive EtxB. Moreover, this remarkable effect of EtxB was achieved despite progressive reduction in tumor expression of LMP2A and MHC class I molecules. These data clearly demonstrate the potential efficacy of EtxB as a novel therapeutic agent that could render EBV‐associated tumors susceptible to immune control.
Extending FABRIK with model constraints
Authors: Aristidou Andreas , Chrysanthou Yiorgos , Lasenby Joan
Published: February 2015

Forward and Backward Reaching Inverse Kinematics (FABRIK) is a recent iterative inverse kinematics solver that became very popular because of its simplicity, convergence speed and control performance, especially in models with multiple end effectors. In this paper, we extend and/or adjust FABRIK to be used in problems with leaf joints and closed‐loop chains and to control a fixed inter‐joint distance in a kinetic chain with unsteady data. In addition, we provide optimisation solutions when the target is unreachable and a proof of convergence when a solution is available. We also present various techniques for constraining anthropometric and robotic joint models using FABRIK and provide clarifications and solutions to many questions raised since the first publication of FABRIK. Finally, a human‐like model that has been structured hierarchically and sequentially using FABRIK is presented, utilising most of the suggested joint models; it can efficiently trace targets in real time, without oscillations or discontinuities, verifying the effectiveness of FABRIK. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful treatment of immediate allogeneic myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a HLA‐mismatched sibling donor for active systemic epstein–barr virus‐positive T‐cell lymphoproliferative disease of childhood following primary acute epstein–barr virus infection
Authors: Kakinoki Yasutaka , Matsuoka Satomi , Hashiguchi Junichi , Chiba Koji , Miyake Takayoshi
Published: February 2015

Key Clinical Message

A 22‐year‐old female was admitted for sustained high fever and diagnosed with systemic Epstein–Barr virus‐positive T‐cell lymphoproliferative disease. As her clinical course was so aggressive, she immediately underwent allogeneic myeloablative bone marrow transplantation from an HLA‐mismatched sibling donor on hospital day 46. The patient has remained in complete remission for 3 years.
Mapping Live Cell Viscosity with an Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorogen by Means of Two‐Photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
Authors: Chen Sijie , Hong Yuning , Zeng Yan , Sun Qiqi , Liu Yang , Zhao Engui , Bai Gongxun , Qu Jianan , Hao Jianhua , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: February 2015

Intracellular viscosity is a crucial parameter that indicates the functioning of cells. In this work, we demonstrate the utility of TPE‐Cy, a cell‐permeable dye with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property, in mapping the viscosity inside live cells. Owing to the AIE characteristics, both the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of this dye are increased along with an increase in viscosity. Fluorescence lifetime imaging of live cells stained with TPE‐Cy reveals that the lifetime in lipid droplets is much shorter than that from the general cytoplasmic region. The loose packing of the lipids in a lipid droplet results in low viscosity and thus shorter lifetime of TPE‐Cy in this region. It demonstrates that the AIE dye could provide good resolution in intracellular viscosity sensing. This is also the first work in which AIE molecules are applied in fluorescence lifetime imaging and intracellular viscosity sensing.
A Terminal, Fluxional η4‐Benzene Complex with a Thermally Accessible Triplet State is the Primary Photoproduct in the Intercyclobutadiene Haptotropism of (CpCo)phenylenes
Authors: Albright Thomas A. , Drissi Rima , Gandon Vincent , Oldenhof Sander , Oloba‐Whenu Oluwakemi A. , Padilla Robin , Shen Hao , Vollhardt K. Peter C. , Vreeken Vincent
Published: February 2015

Low‐temperature irradiation of linear [3]‐ and [4]phenylene cyclopentadienylcobalt complexes generates labile, fluxional η4‐arene complexes, in which the metal resides on the terminal ring. Warming induces a haptotropic shift to the neighboring cyclobutadiene rings, followed by the previously reported intercyclobutadiene migration. NMR scrutiny of the primary photoproduct reveals a thermally accessible 16‐electron cobalt η2‐triplet species, which, according to DFT computations, is responsible for the rapid symmetrization of the molecules along their long axes. Calculations indicate that the entire haptotropic manifold along the phenylene frame is governed by dual‐state reactivity of alternating 18‐electron singlets and 16‐electron triplets.
CFD‐Untersuchung der Fluiddynamik und des Wärmeübergangs bei einphasiger Strömung im welligen Spalt zwischen Thermoblechen
Authors: Piper Mark , Tran Julian M. , Kenig Eugeny Y.
Published: February 2015

Thermoblech‐Wärmeübertrager (TBWÜ) stellen eine vielversprechende Alternative zu konventionellen Wärmeübertragern dar, insb. in Kondensation und Verdampfung. Allerdings sind bislang keine fundierten Dimensionierungsgrundlagen für TBWÜ in der Literatur verfügbar. Hier wird die einphasige vollständig ausgebildete turbulente Strömung im Spalt zwischen zwei Thermoblechen mittels computational fluid dynamics (CFD) untersucht. Außerdem wird erläutert, wie die Korrelation für die turbulente Strömung in glatten Rohren für die Auslegung des Thermoblechkanals verwendet werden kann, und gezeigt, wie eine Steigerung der thermohydraulischen Leistung ermöglicht wird.
Simulation and evaluation of the performance and feasibility of two‐stage industrial hydrocyclones for CaSO4 removal in potassium chloride production
Authors: Xu Yanxia , Song Xingfu , Sun Ze , Lu Guimin , Li Ping , Yu Jianguo
Published: February 2015

The hydrocyclone separator system, a solid/liquid separation method, has been widely used in chemical, mineral, environmental, and power processing. In this study, two‐stage industrial hydrocyclones were used to separate CaSO4 impurity from the crude carnallite in KCl production by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The CFD technique was a useful tool to evaluate the performance and feasibility of the two‐stage industrial hydrocyclones with diameters larger than 400 mm. The simulated results were validated by industrial‐scale experiments. The CFD results showed that 38.2 wt. % CaSO4 could be removed by the two‐stage industrial hydrocyclone. The feasibility and effectiveness of the hydrocyclone separation system were finally evaluated by the simulation.
Echocardiographic and Biohumoral Characteristics in Patients With AL and TTR Amyloidosis at Diagnosis
Authors: Cappelli Francesco , Baldasseroni Samuele , Bergesio Franco , Perlini Stefano , Salinaro Francesco , Padeletti Luigi , Attanà Paola , Paoletti Perini Alessandro , Moggi Pignone Alberto , Grifoni Elisa , Fabbri Alessia , Marchionni Niccolò , Gensini Gian Franco , Perfetto Federico
Published: February 2015

Background

Few studies have analyzed the clinical and echocardiographic differences between light‐chain (AL) and transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis.

Hypothesis

The aim of the present research was to compare, in a real‐world setting, the clinical and echocardiographic profiles of these kinds of amyloidosis, at the time of diagnosis, using new‐generation echocardiography.

Methods

Seventy‐nine patients with AL and 48 patients with TTR amyloidosis were studied.

Results

According to the criterion of mean left ventricular (LV) thickness >12 mm, 45 AL (C‐AL) and all TTR patients had cardiac amyloidotic involvement, whereas 34 AL patients did not. TTR patients had increased right ventricular (RV) and LV chambers with increased RV and LV wall thickness and reduced LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Furthermore, TTR patients showed lower N‐terminal pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide concentrations and New York Heart Association functional class when compared with C‐AL.

Conclusions

Our data show that at time of first diagnosis, TTR patients have a more advanced amyloidotic involvement of the heart, despite less severe symptoms and biohumoral signs of heart failure. We can hypothesize that we observed different diseases at different stages. In fact, AL amyloidosis is a multiorgan disease with quick progression rate, that becomes rapidly symptomatic, whereas TTR amyloidosis might have a slow progression rate and might remain poorly symptomatic for a greater amount of time.
Influence of Size and Shape on the Photocatalytic Properties of SnO2 Nanocrystals
Authors: Kar Arik , Sain Sumanta , Kundu Simanta , Bhattacharyya Arka , Kumar Pradhan Swapan , Patra Amitava
Published: February 2015

Tuning the functional properties of nanocrystals is an important issue in nanoscience. Here, we are able to tune the photocatalytic properties of SnO2 nanocrystals by controlling their size and shape. A structural analysis was carried out by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD)/Rietveld and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results reveal that the number of oxygen‐related defects varies upon changing the size and shape of the nanocrystals, which eventually influences their photocatalytic properties. Time‐resolved spectroscopic studies of the carrier relaxation dynamics of the SnO2 nanocrystals further confirm that the electron–hole recombination process is controlled by oxygen/defect states, which can be tuned by changing the shape and size of the materials. The degradation of dyes (90 %) in the presence of SnO2 nanoparticles under UV light is comparable to that (88 %) in the presence of standard TiO2 Degussa P‐25 (P25) powders. The photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles is significantly higher than those of nanorods and nanospheres because the effective charge separation in the SnO2 nanoparticles is controlled by defect states leading to enhanced photocatalytic properties. The size‐ and shape‐dependent photocatalytic properties of SnO2 nanocrystals make these materials interesting candidates for photocatalytic applications.
Reactivity of Dinitrogen Bound to Mid‐ and Late‐Transition‐Metal Centers
Authors: Khoenkhoen Nitesh , de Bruin Bas , Reek Joost N. H. , Dzik Wojciech I.
Published: February 2015

Invited for the cover of this issue is Wojciech Dzik from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The cover image shows the reaction of dinitrogen with hydrogen atoms to form ammonia. The fact that dinitrogen can be activated under mild ambient conditions when it is coordinated to metals is emphasized by the liquid nitrogen in the background, which represents the very mild “cool” conditions under which the systems described in this Microreview operate, in contrast to the harsh conditions that are used in industrial processes for nitrogen fixation.
Sensitivity and Response Time of Polyethyleneimine Modified Impedimetric Transducer for Bacteria Detection
Authors: Brosel‐Oliu Sergi , Abramova Natalia , Bratov Andrey , Vigués Núria , Mas Jordi , Muñoz Francesc‐Xavier
Published: February 2015

An impedimetric transducer based on an interdigitated electrode array (IDEA) modified with polyethyleneimine was used to study interactions with bacteria present in a sample solution. Bacteria immobilization on the sensor surface affects the surface charge and produces changes in the superficial impedance. The sensor surface was chemically modified by layer‐by‐layer (LbL) method with oppositely charged polyelectrolyte layers by alternating polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS). Escherichia coli gram‐negative bacteria were employed as a model for sensitivity and response time evaluation. Bacteria were immobilized on IDEA with PEI‐PSS‐PEI multilayer taking into account the ability of PEI to react chemically with outer membrane compounds of gram‐negative bacteria and thus improve purely electrostatic interactions. Detection limit of the sensor was found to be as low as 101 cfu/mL in E. coli cultures with response time around 20 minutes. In order to introduce a biorecognition element by bacterial detection, the lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) was deposited on IDEA surface through PEI‐ConA interaction, achieving a detection limit of 104 cfu/mL. The strategies developed show the possibility to achieve highly sensitive and rapid detection of bacteria using IDEA transducers.
Predictable Return Distributions
Authors: Pedersen Thomas Q.
Published: February 2015

Using quantile regression this paper explores the predictability of the stock and bond return distributions as a function of economic state variables. The use of quantile regression allows us to examine specific parts of the return distribution such as the tails and the center, and for a sufficiently fine grid of quantiles we can trace out the entire distribution. A univariate quantile regression model is used to examine the marginal stock and bond return distributions, while a multivariate model is used to capture their joint distribution. An empirical analysis on US data shows that economic state variables predict the stock and bond return distributions in quite different ways in terms of, for example, location shifts, volatility and skewness. Comparing the different economic state variables in terms of their out‐of‐sample forecasting performance, the empirical analysis also shows that the relative accuracy of the state variables varies across the return distribution. Density forecasts based on an assumed normal distribution with forecasted mean and variance is compared to forecasts based on quantile estimates and, in general, the latter yields the best performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The state of collaborative work with nurses in Israel: a mixed method study
Authors: Warshawski Sigalit
Published: February 2015

Effective collaboration among health professionals is associated with patient safety, quality of care and professionals' satisfaction. Nurse–physician collaboration has been a topic of substantial research worldwide. In Israel, few studies have examined this subject, but none has explored health professionals' collaborative practice with nurses, although nursing in Israel is experiencing significant professional changes.

The aim of this study was to explore health professionals' attitudes toward collaboration with nurses and how these attitudes relate to their perceptions of role overlap, role clarity and feeling of threat.

Research data were collected employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. A structured questionnaire was fulfilled by 262 participants, following which 12 personal interviews and 12 observations were conducted in hospital wards.

Participants' attitudes toward collaboration with nurses were found statistically related to their perception of role overlap, role clarity and feeling of professional threat. Interviews and observations indicated immediate mutual assistance among professionals instead of collaborative practice. Interactions were brief and purposeful. The results highlight the absence of an organized procedure for collaborative practice with nurses. Therefore, it is necessary to act at the organization and departments, to assimilate nurses' role and the importance of collaborative practice. Nurse leaders and nurse educators must consider pragmatic and effective means to promote and articulate nurses' role in inter‐professional clinical settings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intra‐event intermittency of rainfall: an analysis of the metrics of rain and no‐rain periods
Authors: Dunkerley David
Published: February 2015

The metric or ‘observable’ properties of intra‐event rainfall intermittency (IERI) are quantified using a 10‐year record from arid Fowlers Gap, Australia. Rainfall events were delineated using the minimum inter‐event time (MIT) criterion, using eight values in the range of 1 h – 24 h. Within events, no‐rain periods were defined as corresponding to rainfall rates R < 0.1 mm/h or R < 0.2 mm/h (both less than typical wet‐canopy evaporation rates during rainfall). In this way, rainfall events were subdivided into rain and no‐rain periods. Intermittency was characterised using two measures: the fraction of rainless time within an event, and the duration of the longest rainless period. Events identified using a minimum inter‐event time (MIT) of 24 h included on average 9.4 h of contiguous no‐rain time (47.5% of the mean event duration), and only 6.8 h of contiguous rain. Total IERI averaged 51.1% for these events. Events defined with MIT = 6 h (a value commonly adopted in the literature) exhibited a mean of 1.53 h of no‐rain and 9.04 h of contiguous rain. Total IERI averaged 13.9% for these events for R < 0.1 mm/h, but reached 39.2% if no‐rain periods were taken as those of <0.2 mm/h. The maximum contiguous no‐rain period for events defined using MIT = 6 h was 10.9 h from an event of 12.6 h duration, and this represents 86.5% of the event duration. Results demonstrate that smaller, shorter, and less intense rainfall events tend to exhibit higher IERI than larger, longer, and more intense events. IERI is relevant to the understanding of land surface processes. Information on the metric properties of IERI in different rainfall types (convective and stratiform) and rainfall climates (arid, maritime, and wet tropical) may prove to have significance for diverse studies in land surface hydrology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Leiden Infant Simulator Sensitivity Assessment (LISSA): Parenting an Infant Simulator as Your Own Baby
Authors: Bakermans‐Kranenburg Marian J. , R.A. Alink Lenneke , Biro Szilvia , Voorthuis Alexandra , van IJzendoorn Marinus H.
Published: February 2015

Observation of parental sensitivity in a standard procedure, in which caregivers are faced with the same level of infant demand, enables the comparison of sensitivity between caregivers. We developed an ecologically valid standardized setting using an infant simulator with interactive features, the Leiden Infant Simulator Sensitivity Assessment (LISSA). The infant simulator resembles a real infant in appearance and crying sounds. In a previous study, we documented the LISSA's reliability and validity in a sample of 181 female undergraduate students (Voorthuis et al., ). In the current study, we tested the convergent validity in a sample of 34 mothers who were observed during free play with their own child as well as with the LISSA. Sensitive parenting behaviour was rated independently with the Ainsworth Sensitivity Scale (Ainsworth et al., ). Sensitivity with the LISSA was strongly correlated to sensitivity to the mother's own child, r = 0.53, p = 0.001. Mother‐reported infant temperament was not associated with sensitivity to the mother's own child, and the mother's own infant's temperament did not moderate the correlation between sensitivity with the LISSA and sensitivity to the mother's own child. We discuss the potential of the infant simulator for research on sensitive parenting in parents and non‐parents, for (prenatal) preventive interventions, and for clinical practices. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.