bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cefiderocol, a Siderophore Cephalosporin for Gram‐Negative Bacterial Infections: Pharmacokinetics and Safety in Subjects With Renal Impairment
Authors: Katsube Takayuki , Echols Roger , Arjona Ferreira Juan Camilo , Krenz Heidi K. , Berg Jolene Kay , Galloway Christopher
Published: November 2016

Cefiderocol, a new injectable siderophore cephalosporin antibiotic, has promising in vitro and in vivo activity against Gram‐negative bacteria including multidrug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Cefiderocol is mainly renally eliminated. The pharmacokinetics and safety of cefiderocol in subjects with renal impairment were assessed following a single 1000‐mg intravenous 1‐hour infusion of cefiderocol. Subjects with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment and end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis were compared with demographically (age, body mass index, and sex) matched healthy subjects with normal renal function. The effect of hemodialysis on the clearance of cefiderocol was also assessed. Total drug clearance from plasma (CL) and terminal half‐life (t1/2) correlated with renal function. Ratios (90% confidence intervals) of area under the plasma concentration‐time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC) in mild, moderate, severe, and ESRD groups compared to those with normal renal function were 1.0 (0.8‐1.3), 1.5 (1.2‐1.9), 2.5 (2.0‐3.3), and 4.1 (3.3‐5.2), respectively. Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was similar between renal‐impairment groups and the normal‐renal‐function group. Approximately 60% of cefiderocol was removed by hemodialysis for 3 to 4 hours. The plasma‐protein‐unbound fraction was similar between various renal function groups. The incidence of adverse events did not appear to have any correlation with the degree of renal impairment. Single 1000‐mg intravenous doses of cefiderocol were generally well tolerated in subjects with impaired renal function except for 1 subject who discontinued due to urticaria. In conclusion, renal impairment impacted AUC, CL, and t1/2 without affecting Cmax. Cefiderocol was significantly removed by intermittent hemodialysis.
Kinetics of volatile marker compounds during ripening of cured loins inoculated with Staphylococcus carnosus
Authors: Bosse (née Danz) Ramona , Wirth Melanie , Gibis Monika , Schmidt Herbert , Weiss Jochen
Published: November 2016

BACKGROUND

The current study was designed to investigate the influence of ripening time (12 weeks, 15 °C) on the volatile compounds and sensory acceptance for North European cured loins inoculated with a proteolytic Staphylococcus carnosus starter culture.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the trend of volatile compounds, sensory acceptance and proteolytic activity increased during a ripening of 7 to 9 weeks. A further ripening led to a plateau phase for sensory attributes and aroma‐relevant volatile compounds such as benzaldehyde, nonanone and acetophenone. The inoculation of the proteolytic S. carnosus LTH 3838 significantly increased aroma‐relevant volatile compounds (3‐methylbutanal, benzaldehyde, acetophenone, 1‐octen‐3‐ol) and sensory acceptance up to a score 3.5 and 3.6 for the overall odour and taste by week 9. In addition, compounds such as nonanal, hexanal, 2‐pentanone and nonanone, which originate from lipid oxidation, were significantly limited by S. carnosus LTH 3838.

CONCLUSION

A ripening time of 7 to 9 weeks seems to be an optimal period for the production of aroma intensive smoked North European cured loins. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
High‐throughput ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method for the rapid analysis and characterization of multiple constituents of Radix Polygalae
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhang Aihua , Yan Guang‐li , Shi Hui , Sun Hui , Han Ying , Zhou Ying , Wang Xijun
Published: November 2016

Radix Polygalae, the dried roots of Polygala tenuifolia and P. sibirica, is one of the most well‐known traditional Chinese medicinal plants. It is an important medicinal plant that has been used as a sedative and to improve memory for a number of years in most of Asia. However, the in vivo constituents of the multiple constituents from Radix Polygalae remain unknown. In the current study, ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and the MarkerLynxTM software combined with multiple data processing approach were used to study the constituents in vitro and in vivo. A rapid and efficient method for the characterization of multiple constituents in the herbal medicine Radix Polygalae by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry is described. In total, 35 compounds in the Radix Polygalae and 13 compounds absorbed into blood were characterized. Of the 35 compounds in vitro, ten were reported for first time. In the 13 compounds in vivo, six were prototype components and seven were metabolites were also elucidated for first time. This work narrowed the range of screening the potentially bioactive components and provided a basis for the quality control and mechanism of action.
Simultaneous analysis of ten low‐molecular‐mass organic acids in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and photorespiration pathway in Thalassiosira pseudonana at different growth stages
Authors: Ye Mengwei , Zhang Lijing , Xu Panpan , Zhang Runtao , Xu Jilin , Wu Xiaokai , Chen Juanjuan , Zhou Chengxu , Yan Xiaojun
Published: November 2016

A method using high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the simultaneous determination of organic acids in microalgae. o‐Benzylhydroxylamine was used to derivatize the analytes, and stable isotope‐labeled compounds were used as internal standards for precise quantification. The proposed method was evaluated in terms of linearity, recovery, matrix effect, sensitivity, and precision. Linear calibration curves with correlation coefficients >0.99 were obtained over the concentration range of 0.4–40 ng/mL for glycolic acid, 0.1–10 ng/mL for malic acid and oxaloacetic acid, 0.02–2 ng/mL for succinic acid and glyoxylic acid, 4–400 ng/mL for fumaric acid, 20–2000 ng/mL for isocitric acid, 2–200 ng mL−1 for citric acid, 100–10000 ng mL−1 for cis‐aconitic acid, and 1–100 ng mL−1 for α‐ketoglutaric acid. Analyte recoveries were between 80.2 and 115.1%, and the matrix effect was minimal. Low limits of detection (0.003–1 ng/mL) and limits of quantification (0.01–5 ng/mL) were obtained except cis‐aconitic acid. Variations in reproducibility for standard solution at three different concentrations levels were <9%. This is the first report of the simultaneous analysis of ten organic acids in microalgae, which promotes better understanding of their growth state and provides reference value for high‐yield microalgae cultures.
Environmental controls on the growth, photosynthetic and calcification rates of a Southern Hemisphere strain of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi
Authors: Feng Yuanyuan , Roleda Michael Y. , Armstrong Evelyn , Boyd Philip W. , Hurd Catriona L.
Published: November 2016

We conducted a series of diagnostic fitness response experiments on the coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi, isolated from the Subtropical Convergence east of New Zealand. Dose response curves (i.e., physiological rate vs. environmental driver) were constructed for growth, photosynthetic, and calcification rates of E. huxleyi relative to each of five environmental drivers (nitrate concentration, phosphate concentration, irradiance, temperature, and pCO2). The relative importance of each environmental driver on E. huxleyi rate processes was then ranked using a semi‐quantitative approach by comparing the percentage change caused by each environmental driver on the measured physiological metrics under the projected conditions for the year 2100, relative to those for the present day, in the Subtropical Convergence. The results reveal that the projected future decrease in nitrate concentration (33%) played the most important role in controlling the growth, photosynthetic and calcification rates of E. huxleyi, whereas raising pCO2 to 75 Pa (750 ppm) decreased the calcification : photosynthesis ratios to the greatest degree. These findings reveal that other environmental drivers may be equally or more influential than CO2 in regulating the physiological responses of E. huxleyi, and provide new diagnostic information to better understand how this ecologically important species will respond to the projected future changes to multiple environmental drivers.
Superior color rendering with a phosphor‐converted blue‐cyan monolithic light‐emitting diode
Authors: Titkov Ilya E. , Yadav Amit , Karpov Sergey Yu. , Sakharov Alexei V. , Tsatsulnikov Andrey F. , Slight Thomas J. , Gorodetsky Andrei , Rafailov Edik U.
Published: November 2016

The future generation of modern illumination should not only be cheap and highly efficient, but also demonstrate high quality of light, light which allows better color differentiation and fidelity. Here we are presenting a novel approach to create a white solid‐state light source providing ultimate color rendition necessary for a number of applications. The proposed semi‐hybrid device combines a monolithic blue‐cyan light emitting diode (MBC LED) with a green‐red phosphor mixture. It has shown a superior color rendering index (CRI), 98.6, at correlated color temperature of around 3400 K. The MBC LED epi‐structure did not suffer from the efficiency reduction typical for monolithic multi‐color emitters and was implemented in the two most popular chip designs: “epi‐up” and “flip‐chip”. Redistribution of the blue and cyan band amplitudes in the white‐light emission spectrum, using the operating current, is found to be an effective tool for fine tuning the color characteristics.

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Electroless Deposition of Nickel on Photografted Polymeric Microscale Patterns
Authors: Carroll Gregory T. , Lancaster Jeffrey R. , Turro Nicholas J. , Koberstein Jeffrey T. , Mammana Angela
Published: November 2016

This report demonstrates the electroless deposition of Ni onto micropatterns of poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) photografted to phthalimide‐terminated self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). PAA is spin‐coated onto phthalimide SAMs and covered with a photomask. UV irradiation selectively binds PAA to exposed regions of the surface, allowing PAA on unexposed regions to be rinsed off. A Pd catalyst is then selectively adsorbed to regions of the surface where PAA is bound. The adsorbed catalyst selectively initiates Ni plating upon immersion of the substrate into a Ni(SO4) bath.

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Survivin inhibitor YM155 induces mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, DNA damage and apoptosis in Bcl‐xL silenced glioma cell lines
Authors: Jane Esther P. , Premkumar Daniel R. , Sutera Philip A. , Cavaleri Jonathon M. , Pollack Ian F.
Published: November 2016

Because the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl‐xL is overexpressed in glioma, one might expect that inhibiting or silencing this gene would promote tumor cell killing. However, our studies have shown that this approach has limited independent activity, but may tip the balance in favor of apoptosis induction in response to other therapeutic interventions. To address this issue, we performed a pharmacological screen using a panel of signaling inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents in Bcl‐xL silenced cells. Although limited apoptosis induction was observed with a series of inhibitors for receptor tyrosine kinases, PKC inhibitors, Src family members, JAK/STAT, histone deacetylase, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, MAP kinase, CDK, heat shock proteins, proteasomal processing, and various conventional chemotherapeutic agents, we observed a dramatic potentiation of apoptosis in Bcl‐xL silenced cells with the survivin inhibitor, YM155. Treatment with YM155 increased the release of cytochrome c, smac/DIABLO and apoptosis inducing‐factor, and promoted loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of Bax, recruitment of LC3‐II to the autophagosomes and apoptosis in Bcl‐xL silenced cells. We also found an additional mechanism for the augmentation of apoptosis due to abrogation of DNA double‐strand break repair mediated by Rad51 repression and enhanced accumulation of γH2AX. In summary, our observations may provide a new insight into the link between Bcl‐xL and survivin inhibition for the development of novel therapies for glioma. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rasch analysis of the carers quality of life questionnaire for parkinsonism
Authors: Pillas Marios , Selai Caroline , Schrag Anette
Published: November 2016

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the Carers Quality of Life Questionnaire for Parkinsonism using a Rasch modeling approach and determine the optimal cut‐off score.

Methods: We performed a Rasch analysis of the survey answers of 430 carers of patients with atypical parkinsonism.

Results: All of the scale items demonstrated acceptable goodness of fit to the Rasch model. The scale was unidimensional and no notable differential item functioning was detected in the items regarding age and disease type. Rating categories were functioning adequately in all scale items. The scale had high reliability (.95) and construct validity and a high degree of precision, distinguishing between 5 distinct groups of carers with different levels of quality of life. A cut‐off score of 62 was found to have the optimal screening accuracy based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale subscores.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the Carers Quality of Life Questionnaire for Parkinsonism is a useful scale to assess carers' quality of life and allows analyses requiring interval scaling of variables. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Resveratrol enhances brown adipocyte formation and function by activating AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) α1 in mice fed high‐fat diet
Authors: Wang Songbo , Liang Xingwei , Yang Qiyuan , Fu Xing , Zhu Meijun , Rodgers B. D. , Jiang Qingyan , Dodson Michael V. , Du Min
Published: November 2016

Scope

Enhancing the formation and function of brown adipose tissue (BAT) increases thermogenesis and hence reduces obesity. Thus, we investigate the effects of resveratrol (Resv) on brown adipocyte formation and function in mouse interscapular BAT (iBAT).

Methods and results

CD1 mice and stromal vascular cells (SVCs) isolated from iBAT were treated with Resv. Expression of brown adipogenic and thermogenic markers, and involvement of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 were assessed. In vivo, Resv‐enhanced expression of brown adipogenic markers, PR domain‐containing 16 (PRDM16) and thermogenic genes, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and cytochrome C in iBAT, along with smaller lipid droplets, elevated AMPKα activity and increased oxygen consumption. Meanwhile, Resv promoted expression of PRDM16, UCP1, PGC1α, cytochrome C and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in differentiated iBAT SVCs, suggesting that Resv enhanced brown adipocyte formation and function in vitro. In addition, Resv stimulated AMPKα and oxygen consumption in differentiated iBAT SVCs. However, the promotional effects of Resv were diminished by AMPK inhibition or AMPKα1 knockout, implying the involvement of AMPKα1 in this process.

Conclusion

Resv enhanced brown adipocyte formation and thermogenic function in mouse iBAT by promoting the expression of brown adipogenic markers via activating AMPKα1, which contributed to the anti‐obesity effects of Resv.
Polyacrylamide gel as a culture substrate improves in vitro oocyte growth from porcine early antral follicles
Authors: Munakata Yasuhisa , Kawahara‐Miki Ryouka , Shirasuna Koumei , Kuwayama Takehito , Iwata Hisataka
Published: November 2016

A major difference between in vivo and in vitro follicle culture is the stiffness of the substrate in which the follicles grow. In this study, we examined the effect of polyacrylamide gel (PAG), as a culture substrate, on the development of porcine oocytes derived from early antral follicles. Oocyte‐granulosa cell complexes (OGCs) were collected from the early antral follicles of gilts, and incubated individually for 14 days in a 96‐well culture plate without or with PAG. We then evaluated the number of granulosa cells present in OGCs as well as the abundance of ATP, lipid, and acetylated lysine in oocytes. OGCs cultured on PAG showed significantly greater antrum formation and granulosa cell proliferation than controls cultured on standard plastic. Oocytes grown on PAG also possessed significantly larger diameter, ATP and lipid content, and lysine acetylation, as well as competence to develop to the blastocyst stage. Transcriptome analysis of the granulosa cells revealed that genes involved in follicular development and mechanosensing are up‐regulated under PAG culturing conditions. Thus, in vitro culturing OGCs on PAG profoundly induced granulosa cell proliferation, resulting in improved developmental competence of the oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 44–54, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New interpolation error estimates and a posteriori error analysis for linear parabolic interface problems
Authors: Sen Gupta Jhuma , Sinha Rajen Kumar , Reddy G. Murali Mohan , Jain Jinank
Published: November 2016

We derive residual‐based a posteriori error estimates of finite element method for linear parabolic interface problems in a two‐dimensional convex polygonal domain. Both spatially discrete and fully discrete approximations are analyzed. While the space discretization uses finite element spaces that are allowed to change in time, the time discretization is based on the backward Euler approximation. The main ingredients used in deriving a posteriori estimates are new Clément type interpolation estimates and an appropriate adaptation of the elliptic reconstruction technique introduced by (Makridakis and Nochetto, SIAM J Numer Anal 4 (2003), 1585–1594). We use only an energy argument to establish a posteriori error estimates with optimal order convergence in the ‐norm and almost optimal order in the ‐norm. The interfaces are assumed to be of arbitrary shape but are smooth for our purpose. Numerical results are presented to validate our derived estimators. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 570–598, 2017
Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) is a marker of recurrence and promotes cell migration, invasion, and metastasis in early‐stage endometrioid endometrial cancer
Authors: Devis Laura , Moiola Cristian P , Masia Nuria , Martinez‐Garcia Elena , Santacana Maria , Stirbat Tomita Vasilica , Brochard‐Wyart Françoise , García Ángel , Alameda Francesc , Cabrera Silvia , Palacios Jose , Moreno‐Bueno Gema , Abal Miguel , Thomas William , Dufour Sylvie , Matias‐Guiu Xavier , Santamaria Anna , Reventos Jaume , Gil‐Moreno Antonio , Colas Eva
Published: November 2016

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in western countries, being the most common subtype of endometrioid tumours. Most patients are diagnosed at an early stage and present an excellent prognosis. However, a number of those continue to suffer recurrence, without means of identification by risk classification systems. Thus, finding a reliable marker to predict recurrence becomes an important unmet clinical issue. ALCAM is a cell–cell adhesion molecule and member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that has been associated with the genesis of many cancers. Here, we first determined the value of ALCAM as a marker of recurrence in endometrioid endometrial cancer by conducting a retrospective multicentre study of 174 primary tumours. In early‐stage patients (N = 134), recurrence‐free survival was poorer in patients with ALCAM‐positive compared to ALCAM‐negative tumours (HR 4.237; 95% CI 1.01–17.76). This difference was more significant in patients with early‐stage moderately–poorly differentiated tumours (HR 9.259; 95% CI 2.12–53.47). In multivariate analysis, ALCAM positivity was an independent prognostic factor in early‐stage disease (HR 6.027; 95% CI 1.41–25.74). Then we demonstrated in vitro a role for ALCAM in cell migration and invasion by using a loss‐of‐function model in two endometrial cancer cell lines. ALCAM depletion resulted in a reduced primary tumour size and reduced metastatic local spread in an orthotopic murine model. Gene expression analysis of ALCAM‐depleted cell lines pointed to motility, invasiveness, cellular assembly, and organization as the most deregulated functions. Finally, we assessed some of the downstream effector genes that are involved in ALCAM‐mediated cell migration; specifically FLNB, TXNRD1, and LAMC2 were validated at the mRNA and protein level. In conclusion, our results highlight the potential of ALCAM as a recurrent biomarker in early‐stage endometrioid endometrial cancer and point to ALCAM as an important molecule in endometrial cancer dissemination by regulating cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability of domain 4 of the anthrax toxin protective antigen and the effect of the VWA domain of CMG2 on stability
Authors: Mamillapalli Sireesha , Miyagi Masaru , Bann James G.
Published: November 2016

The major immunogenic component of the current anthrax vaccine, anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) is protective antigen (PA). We have shown recently that the thermodynamic stability of PA can be significantly improved by binding to the Von‐Willebrand factor A (VWA) domain of capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2), and improvements in thermodynamic stability may improve storage and long‐term stability of PA for use as a vaccine. In order to understand the origin of this increase in stability, we have isolated the receptor binding domain of PA, domain 4 (D4), and have studied the effect of the addition of CMG2 on thermodynamic stability. We are able to determine a binding affinity between D4 and CMG2 (∼300 nM), which is significantly weaker than that between full‐length PA and CMG2 (170–300 pM). Unlike full‐length PA, we observe very little change in stability of D4 on binding to CMG2, using either fluorescence or 19F‐NMR experiments. Because in previous experiments we could observe a stabilization of both domain 4 and domain 2, the mechanism of stabilization of PA by CMG2 is likely to involve a mutual stabilization of these two domains.
Structural, electrical, and optical properties of polycrystalline NbO2 thin films grown on glass substrates by solid phase crystallization
Authors: Nakao Shoichiro , Kamisaka Hideyuki , Hirose Yasushi , Hasegawa Tetsuya
Published: November 2016

We investigated the structural, electrical, and optical properties of polycrystalline NbO2 thin films on glass substrates. The NbO2 films were crystallized from amorphous precursor films grown by pulsed laser deposition at various oxygen partial pressures (PO2). The electrical and optical properties of the precursor films systematically changed with PO2, demonstrating that the oxygen content of the precursor films can be finely controlled with PO2. The precursors were crystallized into polycrystalline NbO2 films by annealing under vacuum at 600 °C. The NbO2 films possessed extremely flat surfaces with branching patterns. Even optimized films showed a low resistivity (ρ) of 2 × 102 Ω cm, which is much lower than the bulk value of 1 × 104 Ω cm, probably because of the inferior crystallinity of the films compared with that of a bulk NbO2 crystal. Both oxygen‐rich and ‐poor NbO2 films showed lower ρ than that of the stoichiometric film. The NbO2 film with the highest ρ showed an indirect bandgap of 0.7 eV.
Influence Plots for LASSO
Authors: Jang Dae‐Heung , Anderson‐Cook Christine M.
Published: November 2016

With many predictors in regression, fitting the full model can induce multicollinearity problems. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operation (LASSO) is useful when the effects of many explanatory variables are sparse in a high‐dimensional dataset. Influential points can have a disproportionate impact on the estimated values of model parameters. This paper describes a new influence plot that can be used to increase understanding of the contributions of individual observations and the robustness of results. This can serve as a complement to other regression diagnostics techniques in the LASSO regression setting. Using this influence plot, we can find influential points and their impact on shrinkage of model parameters and model selection. We illustrate the methods with two examples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Engaging Struggling Adolescent Readers to Improve Reading Skills
Authors: Kim James S. , Hemphill Lowry , Troyer Margaret , Thomson Jenny M. , Jones Stephanie M. , LaRusso Maria D. , Donovan Suzanne
Published: November 2016

This study examined the efficacy of a supplemental, multicomponent adolescent reading intervention for middle school students who scored below proficient on a state literacy assessment. Using a within‐school experimental design, the authors randomly assigned 483 students in grades 6–8 to a business‐as‐usual control condition or to the Strategic Adolescent Reading Intervention (STARI), a supplemental reading program involving instruction to support word‐reading skills, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and peer talk to promote reading engagement and comprehension. The authors assessed behavioral engagement by measuring how much of the STARI curricular activities students completed during an academic school year, and collected intervention teachers' ratings of their students' reading engagement. STARI students outperformed control students on measures of word recognition (Cohen's d = 0.20), efficiency of basic reading comprehension (Cohen's d = 0.21), and morphological awareness (Cohen's d = 0.18). Reading engagement in its behavioral form, as measured by students' participation and involvement in the STARI curriculum, mediated the treatment effects on each of these three posttest outcomes. Intervention teachers' ratings of their students' emotional and cognitive engagement explained unique variance on reading posttests. Findings from this study support the hypothesis that (a) behavioral engagement fosters struggling adolescents' reading growth, and (b) teachers' perceptions of their students' emotional and cognitive engagement further contribute to reading competence.
Shared Book Reading and English Learners’ Narrative Production and Comprehension
Authors: Gámez Perla B. , González Dahlia , Urbin LaNette M.
Published: November 2016

This study examined the relation between exposure to shared book reading and Spanish‐speaking English learners’ (ELs’; n = 102) narrative production and comprehension skills in kindergarten (mean age = 6.12 years). Audio‐ and videotaped book‐reading sessions in Spanish were coded in terms of teachers’ extratextual talk and gestures. Using a silent cartoon as a prompt, ELs’ fall and spring story retellings in Spanish were transcribed, coded, and compared on micro‐ (e.g., word tokens) and macrostructure skills (story structure); story comprehension was assessed using multiple‐choice questions. Results revealed that teachers’ extratextual talk predicted ELs’ narrative production (story structure) gains in the spring. Narrative comprehension gains were positively associated with teachers’ gestures. Findings suggest a nonuniform influence of shared book reading on ELs’ narrative skills, such that different features of the shared book‐reading experience target specific skills.
Sortase A‐Generated Highly Potent Anti‐CD20‐MMAE Conjugates for Efficient Elimination of B‐Lineage Lymphomas
Authors: Pan Liqiang , Zhao Wenbin , Lai Jun , Ding Ding , Zhang Qian , Yang Xiaoyue , Huang Minmin , Jin Shijie , Xu Yingchun , Zeng Su , Chou James J. , Chen Shuqing
Published: November 2016

Antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) targeting antigens expressed on the surface of tumor cells are an effective approach for delivering drugs into the cells via antigen‐mediated endocytosis. One of the well‐known tumor antigens, the CD20 of B‐lymphocyte, has long been suggested to be noninternalizing epitope, and is thus not considered a desirable target for ADCs. Here, sortase A (srtA)‐mediated transpeptidation is used to specifically conjugate triple glycine‐modified monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), a highly toxic antimitotic agent, to anti‐CD20 ofatumumab (OFA) equipped with a short C‐terminal LPETG (5 amino acids) tag at heavy chain (HL), which generates ADCs that show extremely strong potency in killing CD20 positive cancer cells. One of the srtA‐generated ADCs with a cleavable dipeptide linker (valine‐citrulline, vc), OFA‐HL‐vcMMAE, shows IC50 values ranging from 5 pg mL−1 to 4.1 ng mL−1 against CD20+ lymphoma cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirms that OFA‐HL‐vcMMAE internalization by Ramos cells is significantly improved compared to OFA alone, consistent with the high antitumor activity of the new ADC. OFA‐HL‐vcMMAE, at 5 mg kg−1 dose, is able to eliminate tumors with mean volume ≈400 mm3 while no obvious drug‐related toxicity is observed. The results show that srtA‐generated OFA‐MMAE conjugate system provides a viable strategy for targeting CD20+ B lineage lymphomas.
Synthesis of aminopyridinium‐grafted starch derivatives and evaluation of their antioxidant property
Authors: Tan Wenqiang , Guo Zhanyong , Chen Qiuhong , Dong Fang , Li Qing
Published: November 2016

In order to improve the bioactivity of starch, novel starch derivatives were developed including 2‐(2‐aminopyridinium)acetyl starch (2APASC), 2‐(3‐aminopyridinium)acetyl starch (3APASC), 2‐(4‐aminopyridinium)acetyl starch (4APASC), 2‐(2,3‐diaminopyridinium)acetyl starch (2,3DAPASC), 2‐(2,6‐diaminopyridinium)acetyl starch (2,6DAPASC), and 2‐(3,4‐diaminopyridinium)acetyl starch (3,4DAPASC). The in vitro antioxidant capacities against hydroxyl‐radical, DPPH‐radical, and superoxide‐radical for all synthesized starch derivatives were evaluated using free radicals scavenging assays. The results showed that the scavenging effect of starch derivatives bearing aminopyridinium groups was better than starch. Especially, 2,3DAPASC and 2,6DAPASC could scavenge hydroxyl‐radicals completely at 0.4 mg/mL. Moreover, the antioxidant property of synthesized starch derivatives was affected by the different positions and the number of amino groups on pyridinium rings. Because the aminopyridinium acetyl starch derivatives could be synthesized conveniently and also possessed significantly strong antioxidant activity, this synthetic strategy might provide an effective tool to broaden further utilization of starch.
A novel method for SLG fault location in power distribution system using time lag of travelling wave components
Authors: Chen Xu , Yin Xianggen , Deng Shanfei
Published: November 2016

This paper presents an approach to single line‐to‐ground fault location in a power distribution system based on the time lag of different modal components . It is a single‐ended method applicable to unsynchronized measurements. The fault location formulation is derived by analyzing the traveling wave propagation characteristic in a distributed parameter model. To tackle the key problem of ground‐mode velocity estimation, an iterative velocity method based on prior knowledge is first proposed. Since the practical measurements are not ideal because of sensor accuracy and nonequivalent transient response, fuzzy neural network is utilized to process traveling wave data acquired at multiple measurements to get an error‐tolerant effect. Furthermore, electromagnetic transient simulations for a 34‐bus test feeder system under various conditions of fault resistances, inception angles, and distributed generator access reveal the robust estimation of fault location. The performance of the proposed method is also validated by simulations with noisy and noise‐free measurements. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Membranbälge für die Vakuumindustrie in verschiedenen Sauberkeitsstufen
Authors: Wellner Marc
Published: November 2016

Die immer anspruchsvolleren Sauberkeitsspezifikationen der Vakuumindustrie, speziell der Halbleiterfertigung, sind eine grosse Herausforderung für die Herstell‐ und Reinigungsprozesse von Lieferanten in diesem Marksegment. Auch die COMVAT AG als Hersteller von geschweissten Membranbälgen, die in der Vakuumindustrie u.a. als flexible Dichtelemente eingesetzt werden, stellt sich den erhöhten Anforderungen seiner Kunden. Dazu wurde die gesamte Prozesskette vom Design des Produktes über die Herstellung und Endreinigung bis hin zur Inspektion und Verpackung in Reinräumen bis zur ISO‐Klasse 5 nach EN ISO 14644‐1 optimiert. Die Einrichtung von drei Sauberkeitsstufen „Standard”︁, „Advanced”︁ und „High‐Purity”︁ ermöglicht es den Kunden die jeweils für sie passende Reinheit zu liefern. Dabei wurden die Kundenspezifikation bzgl. der Kontaminationsklassen Organik, Anorganik (Metalle und Ionen) und Partikel beachtet. Die höchste Sauberkeitsstufe, der High‐Purity‐Level, wird durch eine hochwertige Ultraschall‐Nassreinigung erreicht, die eigens für das Reinigen von geschweissten Membranbälgen optimiert wurde.
Vakuummikro‐ und Vakuumnanoelektronik mit Feldemission
Authors: Knapp Wolfram
Published: November 2016

Eine weitere Miniaturisierung in der Vakuumelektronik wird nur möglich mit Feldemitter‐Kathoden. Jedoch dominiert in Abstandsbereichen < 10 μm die Elektronenfeldemission zunehmend das Spannungs‐Durchschlagsverhalten im Vakuum, was vom etablierten Paschen‐Gesetz abweicht. Zuerst kommt es zu einer deutlichen Absenkung der Durchschlagsspannung. Das große Oberflächen‐Volumen‐Verhältnis bei Abständen < 3 μm bewirkt im Zusammenhang mit Gasdesorption, Ausgasung und Gasionisierung bei Elektronenfeldemission die Zündung und Stabilisierung von Mikroplasmen (Glimmentladungen) oder/und Mikrolichtbögen, welche dann weitestgehend unabhängig vom umgebenden Vakuum‐, Atmosphären‐ oder Überdruck existieren. Für diesen Bereich ist das Paschen‐Gesetz nicht mehr anwendbar. Das ist ein interessanter Ansatz, der neue Möglichkeiten für die Grundlagenforschung, für die elektronenfeldemissions‐stabilisierten Mikroplasmen und für neuartige Feldemitter‐Anwendungen in der Vakuumelektronik und Plasmatechnik eröffnet.
Expansion of Germanato‐Polyoxovanadate Cluster Cores: Solvothermal Syntheses and Selected Properties of (trenH2)2[{M(tren)}4V15Ge6O48(H2O)] (M = Co and Zn)
Authors: Wendt Michael , Rasmussen Maren , Näther Christian , Bensch Wolfgang
Published: November 2016

Two germanato‐polyoxovanadates with the {V15Ge6O48} cluster core are extended by covalent bonds to four transition metal amine complexes [M(tren)]2+ (M = Co and Zn, tren = tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine). The complexes have bonds to terminal atoms of the Ge2O7 units and such expansion of a germanato‐polyxovanadate was never observed before. The characterization of these compounds revealed the presence of two protonated tren molecules charge balancing the negative charges of the [{M(tren)}4V15Ge6O48(H2O)]4– anion.
Home Return After Surgery in Patients Aged over 85 Years is Associated with Preoperative Albumin Levels, the Type of Surgery, and APACHE II Score
Authors: Lee Bora , Na Sungwon , Park Miran , Ham Sungyeon , Kim Jeongmin
Published: November 2016

Background

Owing to an aging society, both the number of operations for patients aged >85 years and the average age of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are rapidly increasing. However, mortality is not an appropriate outcome measurement in patients aged >85 years; a more important outcome is home return (HR), because quality of life is valuable to these patients. We identified predictors for HR of patients aged >85 years admitted to the ICU after surgery.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted at a university hospital. Patients aged > 85 years, admitted to the ICU after surgery from March 2006 to June 2015 (n = 187), were divided into a HR group (patients who returned home after discharge) and non‐HR group (deceased or transferred to nursing facilities). Perioperative data and outcome were assessed and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors.

Results

The average age of patients was 88 years. HR occurred in 61% of patients, and mortality was 9%. The HR group had higher preoperative albumin level than did the non‐HR group. More patients in the non‐HR group experienced hip surgery than in the HR group (51 vs. 12%, P < 0.001). APACHE II score was higher (P < 0.001) in the non‐HR group. In multivariate analysis, preoperative albumin, hip surgery, and APACHE II score were independent predictors of HR.

Conclusion

Predictors of HR of surgical critically ill elderly patients included preoperative albumin level, hip surgery, and APACHE II score on ICU admission.
Decreased proteinase A excretion by strengthening its vacuolar sorting and weakening its constitutive secretion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Chen Yefu , Song Lulu , Han Yueran , Liu Mingming , Gong Rui , Luo Weiwei , Guo Xuewu , Xiao Dongguang
Published: November 2016

Proteinase A (PrA), encoded by PEP4 gene, is detrimental to beer foam stability. There are two transport pathways for the new synthesized PrA in yeast, sorting to the vacuole normally, or excreting out of the cells under stress conditions. They were designated as the Golgi-to-vacuole pathway and the constitutive secretory pathway, respectively. To reduce PrA excretion in some new way instead of its coding gene deletion, which had a negative effect on cell metabolism and beer fermentation, we modified the PrA transport based on these above two pathways. In the Golgi-to-vacuole pathway, after the verification that Vps10p is the dominant sorting receptor for PrA Golgi-to-vacuolar transportation by VPS10 deletion, VPS10 was then overexpressed. Furthermore, SEC5, encoding exocyst complexes’ central subunit (Sec5p) in the constitutive secretory pathway, was deleted. The results show that PrA activity in the broth fermented with WGV10 (VPS10 overexpressing strain) and W∆SEC5 (SEC5 deletion strain) was lowered by 76.96 and 32.39%, compared with the parental strain W303-1A, at the end of main fermentation. There are negligible changes in fermentation performance between W∆SEC5 and W303-1A, whereas, surprisingly, WGV10 had a significantly improved fermentation performance compared with W303-1A. WGV10 has an increased growth rate, resulting in higher biomass and faster fermentation speed; finally, wort fermentation is performed thoroughly. The results show that the biomass production of WGV10 is always higher than that of W∆SEC5 and W303-1A at all stages of fermentation, and that ethanol production of WGV10 is 1.41-fold higher than that of W303-1A. Obviously, VPS10 overexpression is beneficial for yeast and is a more promising method for reduction of PrA excretion.
Growth and wax ester production of an Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 mutant deficient in exopolysaccharide capsule synthesis
Authors: Kannisto Matti , Efimova Elena , Karp Matti , Santala Ville
Published: November 2016

Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 naturally produces wax esters that could be used as a raw material in industrial applications. We attempted to improve wax ester yield of A. baylyi ADP1 by removing rmlA, a gene involved in exopolysaccharide production. Growth rate, biomass formation and wax ester yield on 4-hydroxybenzoate were not affected, but the rmlA− strain grew slower on acetate, while reaching similar biomass and wax ester yield. The rmlA− cells had malformed shape and large size and grew poorly on glucose without expression of the gene for pyruvate kinase (pykF) from Escherichia coli. The pykF-expressing rmlA− strain had similar growth rate, lowered biomass formation and improved wax ester production on glucose as compared to the wild-type strain expressing pykF. Cultivation of the pykF-expressing rmlA− strain on an elevated glucose concentration in a medium supplemented with amino acids resulted in doubled molar wax ester yield and acetate production.
Artificial intelligence: Neural network model as the multidisciplinary team member in clinical decision support to avoid medical mistakes
Authors: Buzaev Igor Vyacheslavovich , Plechev Vladimir Vyacheslavovich , Nikolaeva Irina Evgenievna , Galimova Rezida Maratovna
Published: November 2016

Objective

The continuous uninterrupted feedback system is the essential part of any well‐organized system. We propose aLYNX concept that is a possibility to use an artificial intelligence algorithm or a neural network model in decision‐making system so as to avoid possible mistakes and to remind the doctors to review tactics once more in selected cases.

Method

aLYNX system includes: registry with significant factors, decisions and results; machine learning process based on this registry data; the use of the machine learning results as the adviser. We show a possibility to build a computer adviser with a neural network model for making a choice between coronary aortic bypass surgery (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in order to achieve a higher 5‐year survival rate in patients with angina based on the experience of 5107 patients.

Results

The neural network was trained by 4679 patients who achieved 5‐year survival. Among them, 2390 patients underwent PCI and 2289 CABG. After training, the correlation coefficient (r) of the network was 0.74 for training, 0.67 for validation, 0.71 for test and 0.73 for total. Simulation of the neural network function has been performed after training in the two groups of patients with known 5‐year outcome. The disagreement rate was significantly higher in the dead patient group than that in the survivor group between neural network model and heart team [16.8% (787/4679) vs. 20.3% (87/428), P = 0.065)].

Conclusion

The study shows the possibility to build a computer adviser with a neural network model for making a choice between CABG and PCI in order to achieve a higher 5‐year survival rate in patients with angina.
Load Detection of Functionally Graded Material Based on Coherent Gradient Sensing Method
Authors: Zhang J. , Xu W. , Yao X. F.
Published: November 2016

Functionally graded material (FGM) has some particular characteristics due to the gradual variation of physical properties. The study on mechanical behavior of FGM is of great research value. In this work, a large scale FGM which filled with small glass spheres has been prepared by gravity assisted casting technique. The elastic material constants in static condition are measured. One optical experimental method, coherent gradient sensing (CGS), is introduced to study the mechanical behavior of FGM which has variation of material property in power-law. The governing equations of CGS which is used to represent the optics-mechanics relation of the singular field near the point of the outside force are derived based on the power-law asymptotic expansion. The experimental result shows this CGS method as a nondestructive methodology can be used to detect the damage in FGM with high accuracy.
Depauperate fusulinid faunas of the Tengchong Block in western Yunnan, China, and their paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental indications
Authors: Shi Yukun , Huang Hao , Jin Xiaochi
Published: November 2016

New samples of fusulinids collected in the Tengchong Block, western Yunnan, China, are systematically studied and presented here. The fusulinid fauna from the Xishancun section in the Shanmutang area is dominated byChusenellaandNankinella, whereas that from the Shuangheyan area is composed mainly ofChusenellaandSchwagerina. Both faunas are dated as Roadian–Capitanian (middle Permian). These new findings are integrated with fusulinid taxa reported earlier from the block to demonstrate the taxonomic features and paleogeographic significance of Permian fusulinids. The low generic diversity through early and middle Permian and the paucity of middle Permian neoschwagerinids and verbeekinids in the block confirm its Gondwana-affinity attributes. Moreover, the Permian fusulinids of the Tengchong Block are depauperate; i.e., consisting of a limited number of species with abundant individuals. This particular feature commonly suggests an inhospitable environment, and carbonates of varied facies containing these faunas in the Tengchong Block suggest a facies-independent factor as the reason, most likely the relatively low temperature of seawater.
Building Brand Reputation through Third-Party Endorsement: Fair Trade in British Chocolate
Authors: Lopes Teresa da Silva
Published: November 2016

This article looks at the evolution of the British chocolate industry from the 1860s to the 1960s, a period during which it was dominated by Quaker businesses: Cadbury, Rowntree, and their predecessor, Fry. It provides evidence of early forms of fair trade by these Quaker businesses, showing that, before the fair trade movement took off in the 1970s, they contributed to social change and to improvement in living standards and long-term sustainable economic growth in developing countries. This article argues that when the mechanisms for enforcing food standards were weak and certification bodies did not exist, the Religious Society of Friends acted as an indirect independent endorser, reinforcing the imagery and reputation of the Quaker-owned brands and associating them both with purity and quality and with honest and fair trading.
The Seller's Liability for the Non-Conformity of Goods in a Contract of Sale under the OHADA Uniform Act on General Commercial Law: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Djieufack Roland
Published: November 2016

This article assesses the seller's duty of conformity in a contract of sale under the OHADA Uniform Act on General Commercial Law. It posits that conformity is not an independent legal concept and so argues that a thorough assessment cannot be made without recognizing and taking into consideration a number of issues, irrespective of the contractual stipulations agreed by the contracting parties. Arguably, the notion of conformity falls within the meaning of the subjective understanding of a “defect”. This can raise confusion and uncertainty in determining the seller's liability for non-conforming goods. Thus, from a cursory reading of the Uniform Act, the question of the seller's duty regarding the conformity of goods can conveniently be addressed from a number of different angles: the nature of the defect; local and international standards; contract law; and the principles of caveat venditor and caveat emptor. Adopting an in-depth content analysis and critical evaluation of primary and secondary data, the article concludes that a balance should be struck between these variables and, where no guidance is given in article 255 of the Uniform Act, the prevailing norm in member states should form the basis for determining the concept of conformity of goods.
Nepal's Ongoing Political Transformation: A review of post-2006 literature on conflict, the state, identities, and environments
Authors: SHNEIDERMAN SARA , WAGNER LUKE , RINCK JACOB , JOHNSON AMY L. , LORD AUSTIN
Published: November 2016

This review article provides a reading guide to scholarly literature published in English about Nepal's political transformation since 2006, when Nepal's decade-long civil conflict between Maoist and state forces formally ended. The article is structured around four major themes: (1) the Maoist insurgency or ‘People's War’; (2) state formation and transformation; (3) identity politics; and (4) territorial and ecological consciousness. We also address the dynamics of migration and mobility in relation to all of these themes. Ultimately, we consider the Maoist movement as one element in a much broader process of transformation, which with the benefit of hindsight we can situate in relation to several other contemporaneous trajectories, including: democratization, identity-based mobilization, constitutional nationalism, international intervention, territorial restructuring, migration and the remittance economy, and the emergence of ecological and other new forms of consciousness. By looking across the disciplines at scholarship published on all of these themes, we aim to connect the dots between long-standing disciplinary traditions of scholarship on Nepal and more recent approaches to understanding the country's transformation.