bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extraction of ammonia from solutions with D2EHPA in three diluents: extraction equilibria and modeling
Authors: Zhu Xinyan , Chai Wenshuai , Liu Wei , Zhang Weidong , Zhou Zhiyong , Ren Zhongqi
Published: March 2016

Background

The extraction equilibria of ammonia was investigated with sodium salt of di‐(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as extractant and kerosene, n‐heptane and toluene as diluents at 298 ± 0.5 K. In addition, n‐decanol was used as a modifier.

Results

The distribution coefficient increases gradually with increasing Na–D2EHPA concentration in the organic phase. The equilibrium model for the extraction of ammonia with D2EHPA was established by utilizing the mass action law to determine model parameters and apparent extraction equilibrium constants (K1 and K2). The combination of ion‐pair species of the type NH4R(HR)4 and NH4R is confirmed to exist in the organic phase at equilibrium. The calculated loadings of D2EHPA agree well with the experimental data. The distribution coefficient of ammonia decreases with increasing initial ammonium concentration in the aqueous solution. The effect of temperature on extraction equilibria was studied and the enthalpy change, free energy change and entropy change of the extraction process with D2EHPA in kerosene were obtained.

Conclusions

Saponification of the extractant is necessary and benefits the extraction process. The model established in this work is valid in representing the equilibrium behavior of ammonia with D2EHPA in the three diluents. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Validation of the delirium observation screening scale in a hospitalized older population
Authors: Gavinski Katherine , Carnahan Ryan , Weckmann Michelle
Published: March 2016

Delirium is challenging to diagnose in older populations. It is often reversible, and when detected, treatment can improve patient outcomes. Delirium detection currently relies on trained staff to conduct neurocognitive interviews. The Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOS) is a screen designed to allow faster, easier identification of delirium. In this validation study, conducted at an academic tertiary care center, we attempted to determine the accuracy of the DOS as a delirium screening tool in hospitalized patients over 64 years old. We compared DOS results to a validated delirium diagnostic tool, the Delirium Rating Scale‐Revised‐98. We also assess the user‐friendliness of the DOS by nurses via electronic survey. In 101 assessments of 54 patients, the DOS had sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91% for delirium. The DOS is an accurate and easy way to screen for delirium in older inpatients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:494–497. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
The comparative gastrointestinal morphology of Jaculus jaculus (Rodentia) and Paraechinus aethiopicus (Erinaceomorpha)
Authors: Pereira Daniella L. , Walters Jacklynn , Bennett Nigel C. , Alagaili Abdulaziz N. , Mohammed Osama B. , Kotzé Sanet H.
Published: March 2016

Jaculus jaculus (Lesser Egyptian jerboa) and Paraechinus aethiopicus (Desert hedgehog) are small mammals which thrive in desert conditions and are found, among others, in the Arabian Peninsula. Jaculus jaculus is omnivorous while P. aethiopicus is described as being insectivorous. The study aims to describe the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) morphology of these animals which differ in diet and phylogeny. The GITs of J. jaculus (n = 8) and P. aethiopicus (n = 7) were weighed, photographed, and the length, basal surface areas, and luminal surface areas of each of the anatomically distinct gastrointestinal segments were determined. The internal aspects of each area were examined and photographed while representative histological sections of each area were processed to wax and stained using haematoxylin and eosin. Both species had a simple unilocular stomach which was confirmed as wholly glandular on histology sections. Paraechinus aethiopicus had a relatively simple GIT which lacked a caecum. The caecum of J. jaculus was elongated, terminating in a narrow cecal appendix which contained lymphoid tissue on histological examination. The internal aspect of the proximal colon of J. jaculus revealed distinct V‐shaped folds. Stomach content analysis of J. jaculus revealed mostly plant and seed material and some insects, whereas P. aethiopicus samples showed plant material in addition to insects, indicating omnivorous feeding tendencies in areas where insects may be scarce. J. Morphol. 277:671–679, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward a simple risk assessment screening tool for HCV infection in Egypt
Authors: El‐Ghitany Engy M. , Farghaly Azza G. , Abdel Wahab Moataza M. , Farag Shehata , Abd El‐Wahab Ekram W.
Published: March 2016

Asymptomatic patients with HCV infection identified through screening program could benefit not only from treatment but also from other interventions such as counseling to maintain health and avoid risk behaviors. This might prevent the spread of infection and result in significant public health benefits. However, mass screening would quickly deplete resources. This work aims to develop a brief HCV risk assessment questionnaire that inquires initially about a wide range of risk factors found to be potentially associated with HCV infection in order to identify the few most significant questions that could be quickly used to facilitate cost‐effective HCV case‐finding in the general population in Egypt. An exhaustive literature search was done to include all reported HCV risk factors that were pooled in a 65 item questionnaire. After an initial pilot study, a case‐control study was performed that included 1,024 cases and 1,046 controls. In a multivariable model, a list of independent risk factors were found to be significant predictors for being HCV seropositive among two age strata (<45 and >45 years) for each gender. A simplified model that assigned values of the odds ratio as a weight for each factor present predicted HCV infection with high diagnostic accuracy. Attaining the defined cut‐off value of the total risk score enhances the effectiveness of screening. HCV risk factors in the Egyptian population vary by age and gender. An accurate prediction screening tool can be used to identify those at high risk who may benefit most from HCV serologic testing. These results are to be further validated in a large scale cross‐sectional study to assess the wider use of this tool. J. Med. Virol. 88:1767–1775, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contribution of micro‐motion to backside wear in a fixed bearing total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Levine Rayna A.C. , Lewicki Kathleen A. , Currier John H. , Mayor Michael B. , Van Citters Douglas W.
Published: March 2016

This study seeks to identify important factors related to backside wear of tibial inserts in vivo and determine an appropriate wear model for backside wear. An IRB approved database was queried for tibial inserts of a single design from one manufacturer that exhibited evidence of rotatory motion on the backside of the polyethylene. These devices were measured for volumetric wear using a previously established protocol. Features including the change in locking lip width and measurement of micro‐motion marks were used to describe the motion pattern. Volumetric wear and implant characteristics were compared using linear regressions by modeling wear theories suggested by Archard and Wang to determine the most appropriate model for backside wear. The Wang model showed that duration, adjusted sliding distance, and cross‐shear index accounted for approximately 58% of the volumetric wear variation while adjusted sliding distance and duration in vivo accounted for approximately 35% of the volumetric wear variation in the Archard model. Patient weight (p = 0.750), patient BMI (p = 0.680), and backside area (p = 0.784) of the tibial insert were all found to be non‐significant in the Wang model. Similarly, patient weight (p = 0.233), patient BMI (p = 0.162), and backside area (p = 0.796) were found to be non‐significant in the Archard model. Multidirectional micro‐motion appears to contribute significantly to the wear of these components, supporting the Wang theory of cross‐shear for polyethylene wear. Cross‐shear of polymers on an unpolished titanium tray can lead to an increase in wear debris in the body. Care should be taken when designing locking mechanisms and tray designs. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1933–1940, 2016.
Effect of simvastatin on rat supraspinatus tendon mechanical and histological properties in a diet‐induced hypercholesterolemia model
Authors: Tucker Jennica J. , Soslowsky Louis J.
Published: March 2016

Hypercholesterolemia is a common condition and is a risk factor for tendon rupture, specifically in the supraspinatus tendon. In the clinic, statins are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, but little information is available examining the effect of statin treatment on the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the biomechanical and histological effects of statin treatment in a diet‐induced hypercholesterolemia model. We hypothesized that hypercholesterolemic rats treated with statins would have improved tendon biomechanical and histological properties compared to hypercholesterolemic rats not receiving daily statin treatment. Thirty adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats ate either high‐cholesterol (HC) diet (n = 20) or normal chow (CTL, n = 10). After 6 months, a subset of HC rats began daily oral simvastatin dosing (HC+S) at 20 mg/kg. All rats were sacrificed after a total of 9 months (3 months of statin treatment) and evaluated for histology and mechanics. For mechanics, at the insertion region, HC+S group had increased tendon cross‐sectional area decreased and modulus. No differences were noted in mechanical properties at the midsubstance. For histology, no differences were noted in the insertion region. In the midsubstance region, HC+S group had more spindle shaped cells. Our results suggest that 3 months of simvastatin treatment in a diet‐induced hypercholesterolemia rat model alters some tendon mechanical and histological properties, although a strong conclusion in support of improved parameters cannot be drawn. Therefore, we conclude that simvastatin treatment does not negatively affect tendon properties. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:2009–2015, 2016.
Zonal variation in primary cilia elongation correlates with localized biomechanical degradation in stress deprived tendon
Authors: Rowson Daniel , Knight Martin M. , Screen Hazel R.C.
Published: March 2016

Tenocytes express primary cilia, which elongate when tendon is maintained in the absence of biomechanical load. Previous work indicates differences in the morphology and metabolism of the tenocytes in the tendon fascicular matrix (FM) and the inter‐fascicular matrix (IFM). This study tests the hypothesis that primary cilia in these two regions respond differently to stress deprivation and that this is associated with differences in the biomechanical degradation of the extracellular matrix. Rat tail tendon fascicles were examined over a 7‐day period of either stress deprivation or static load. Seven days of stress deprivation induced cilia elongation in both regions. However, elongation was greater in the IFM compared to the FM. Stress deprivation also induced a loss of biomechanical integrity, primarily in the IFM. Static loading reduced both the biomechanical degradation and cilia elongation. The different responses to stress deprivation in the two tendon regions are likely to be important for the aetiology of tendinopathy. Furthermore, these data suggest that primary cilia elongate in response to biomechanical degradation rather than simply the removal of load. This response to degradation is likely to have important consequences for cilia signalling in tendon and as well as in other connective tissues. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. J Orthop Res 34:2146–2153, 2016.
Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli strains from a dairy cattle farm and its surroundings
Authors: Navajas‐Benito Enrique Víctor , Alonso Carla Andrea , Sanz Susana , Olarte Carmen , Martínez‐Olarte Roberto , Hidalgo‐Sanz Sara , Somalo Sergio , Torres Carmen
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

This study describes the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 78 genetically different Escherichia coli recovered from air and exudate samples of a dairy cattle farm and its surroundings in Spain, in order to gain insight into the flow of antimicrobial resistance through the environment and food supply.

RESULTS

Antimicrobial resistance was detected in 21.8% of the 78 E. coli isolates analyzed (resistance for at least one of the 14 agents tested). The highest resistance rates were recorded for ampicillin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline. The resistance genes detected were as follows (antibiotic (number of resistant strains), gene (number of strains)): ampicillin (9), blaTEM‐1 (6); tetracycline (15), tet(A) (7), tet(B) (4), tet(A) + tet(B) (1); chloramphenicol (5), cmlA (2), floR (2); trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (10), sul2 (4), sul1 (3), sul3 (2), sul1 + sul2 (1); gentamicin‐tobramycin (1), ant(2″) (1). About 14% of strains showed a multidrug‐resistant phenotype and, of them, seven strains carried class 1 integrons containing predominantly the dfrA1‐aadA1 array. One multidrug‐resistant strain was found in both inside and outside air, suggesting that the airborne spread of multidrug‐resistant bacteria from the animal housing facilities to the surroundings is feasible.

CONCLUSIONS

This study gives a genetic background of the antimicrobial resistance problem in a dairy cattle farm and shows that air can act as a source for dissemination of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Embolization of portosystemic shunts for treatment of medically refractory hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Lynn Amanda M. , Singh Siddharth , Congly Stephen E. , Khemani Disha , Johnson David H. , Wiesner Russell H. , Kamath Patrick S. , Andrews James C. , Leise Michael D.
Published: March 2016

Treatment options for refractory hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are limited. Patients who fail medical management may harbor large portosystemic shunts (PSSs) which are possible therapeutic targets. This study aims to describe patient selection, effectiveness, and safety of percutaneous PSS embolization in those with medically refractory HE. A retrospective evaluation of consecutive adult patients with medically refractory HE referred for PSS embolization at a tertiary center was performed (2003‐2015). Patient data collected included the type of HE, medications, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, shunt type, embolization approach, and materials used. Outcomes of interest were immediate (7 days), intermediate (1‐4 months), and longer‐term (6‐12 months) effectiveness and periprocedural safety. Effectiveness was determined based on changes in hospitalization frequency, HE medications, and symptoms. Twenty‐five patients with large PSS were evaluated for shunt embolization. Five were excluded due to high MELD scores (n = 1), comorbid conditions (n = 1), or technical considerations (n = 3). Of 20 patients who underwent embolization, 13 had persistent and 7 had recurrent HE; 100% (20/20) achieved immediate improvement. Durable benefit was achieved in 100% (18/18) and 92% (11/12) at 1‐4 and 6‐12 months, respectively. The majority (67%; 8/12) were free from HE‐related hospitalizations over 1 year; 10% developed procedural complications, and all resolved. Six developed new or worsening ascites. In conclusion, PSS embolization is a safe and effective treatment strategy that should be considered for select patients with medically refractory HE. Liver Transplantation 22 723–731 2016 AASLD.
Boundedness in chemotaxis systems with rotational flux terms
Authors: Zhang Qingshan
Published: March 2016

We consider the chemotaxis system with rotation
urn:x-wiley:0025584X:media:mana201500325:mana201500325-math-0001under no‐flux boundary conditions in the bounded domain , . Here the matrix‐valued function fulfills () for all with some nondecreasing function S0 and is a nonnegative function with for all . Moreover, f satisfies for all with nondecreasing function f0. It is shown that for the nonnegative initial data and with , if at least one of the following assumptions holds:

,

, and ,

,

then the corresponding initial‐boundary value problem possesses a unique global classical solution that is uniformly bounded.
The molecular complexity of fertilization: Introducing the concept of a fertilization synapse
Authors: Krauchunas Amber R. , Marcello Matthew R. , Singson Andrew
Published: March 2016

The details of sperm–egg interactions remain a relative mystery despite many decades of research. As new molecular complexities are being discovered, we need to revise the framework in which we think about fertilization. As such, we propose that fertilization involves the formation of a synapse between the sperm and egg. A cellular synapse is a structure that mediates cell adhesion, signaling, and secretion through specialized zones of interaction and polarity. In this review, we draw parallels between the immune synapse and fertilization, and argue that we should consider sperm–egg recognition, binding, and fusion in the context of a “fertilization synapse.” Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 376–386, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dual‐Pathway sequences for MR thermometry: When and where to use them
Authors: Ciris Pelin Aksit , Cheng Cheng‐Chieh , Mei Chang‐Sheng , Panych Lawrence P. , Madore Bruno
Published: March 2016

Purpose

Dual‐pathway sequences have been proposed to help improve the temperature‐to‐noise ratio (TNR) in MR thermometry. The present work establishes how much of an improvement these so‐called “PSIF‐FISP” sequences may bring in various organs and tissues.

Methods

Simulations and TNR calculations were validated against analytical equations, phantom, abdomen, and brain scans. Relative TNRs for PSIF‐FISP, as compared to a dual‐FISP reference standard, were calculated for flip angle (FA) = 1 to 85 º and repetition time (TR) = 6 to 60 ms, for gray matter, white matter, cervix, endometrium, myometrium, prostate, kidney medulla and cortex, bone marrow, pancreas, spleen, muscle, and liver tissues.

Results

PSIF‐FISP was TNR superior in the kidney, pelvis, spleen, or gray matter at most tested TR and FA settings, and benefits increased at shorter TRs. PSIF‐FISP was TNR superior in other tissues, e.g., liver, muscle, pancreas, for only short TR settings (20 ms or less). The TNR benefits of PSIF‐FISP increased slightly with FA, and strongly with decreasing TR. Up to two‐ to three‐fold reductions in TR with 20% TNR gains were achievable. In any given tissue, TNR performance is expected to further improve with heating, due to changes in relaxation rates.

Conclusion

Dual‐pathway PSIF‐FISP can improve TNR and acquisition speed over standard gradient‐recalled echo sequences, but optimal acquisition parameters are tissue dependent. Magn Reson Med 77:1193–1200, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Makromolekulare Chemie
Authors: Seiffert Sebastian
Published: March 2016

Nachwuchsgruppen haben in der makromolekularen Chemie in Deutschland eine tragende Rolle eingenommen. Der Trendbericht bietet hierzu einen Einblick und bildet ausgewählte letztjährige Arbeiten von drei Emmy‐Noether‐Gruppen, vier BMBF‐Nachwuchsgruppen, sechs ERC‐geförderten Gruppen, elf Gruppen auf Basis temporärer Mittelbaustellen sowie sieben Nachwuchsprofessuren ab.
Anorganische Molekülchemie
Authors: Böttcher Tobias , Kretschmer Robert
Published: March 2016

Hauptgruppenelemente: Carbonylverbindungen eines p‐Blockelements, ein Lewispaar, in dem Phosphor gleich doppelt frustriert ist, die erste Kristallstruktur eines Edelgasdikations. Koordinationschemie: Isolierung des ersten stabilen Dimetalloxycarbens, warum [Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2] so instabil ist, niedervalente Mono‐ und Dikationen von Pb(II). Bioanorganik: Trimetallische Verbindungen wirken antibakteriell, poröse Fe‐ und Co‐Verbindungen speichern Methan bei moderatem Druck, ein molekularer magnetischer Schalter.
Lebensmittelchemie
Authors: Meckelmann Sven , Schebb Nils‐Helge
Published: March 2016

Viele Lebensmittelinhaltsstoffe wirken auf die menschliche Gesundheit. Um den molekularen Mechanismus dieser Wirkung zu untersuchen, werden in der Lebensmittelchemie zunehmend Metabolomics‐Techniken eingesetzt. Targeted Metabolomics erfasst dabei quantitativ die Stoffflüsse innerhalb eines biologischen Systems, während Non‐targeted Metabolomics Stoffwechselintermediate zu detektieren versucht, etwa Lipide (Lipodomics).
Vom Reagenzglas in die Zelle
Authors: Gnutt David , Ebbinghaus Simon , Heyden Matthias
Published: March 2016

Die molekularen Prozesse des Lebens in Zellen finden auf engstem Raum statt, unter Bedingungen, die im Reagenzglas kaum nachgestellt werden können. In‐Zell‐Experimente und Simulationen entschlüsseln Funktion und Struktur von Proteinen. Eine neue spektroskopische Methode auf Basis hochauflösender Rotationsspektroskopie unterscheidet Enantiomere in der Gasphase. Sie ist auf Moleküle mit mehreren stereogenen Zentren anwendbar wie auf chirale Mischungen, und zwar ohne Aufbereitung. Neuentwicklungen in der ultraschnellen Spektroskopie verbinden zeitliche mit räumlicher Information. Dies eröffnet Möglichkeiten, photoinduzierte Prozesse in Funktionsmaterialien, etwa Polymerhalbleitern, aufzuklären. Isolierte Moleküle können mit Hilfe starker elektrischer Felder gezielt nach Größe, Form, Struktur und sogar nach ihrem Quantenzustand sortiert und dann im Raum orientiert werden.
Machine‐Learning‐Potenziale
Authors: Behler Jörg
Published: March 2016

Machine‐Learning‐Potenziale bieten oft einen Ausweg, wenn Elektronenstrukturrechnungen zu aufwendig sind und alternative Potenziale mit ausreichender Genauigkeit fehlen. In der Röntgenspektroskopie treiben neue Experimente die theoretische Methodenentwicklung an. Theoretische Untersuchungen tragen zudem zum grundsätzlichen Verständnis des Ladungs‐ und Energietransports in organischen Materialien bei.
Festkörperchemie
Authors: Wuttke Stefan , Eigler Siegfried , Hoch Constantin
Published: March 2016

Minutiös untersuchte Mechanismen, Strukturen und Eigenschaften sowie Materialoptimierungen.
Organische Chemie
Authors: Itzen Aymelt , Schaschke Norbert , Beifuss Uwe , Lehmann Matthias , Krueger Anke , Beuerle Florian , Senge Mathias O. , Breinbauer Rolf , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Müller Thomas J. J. , Denißen Melanie , Lindel Thomas , Pietruszka Jörg , Worgull Dennis , Gulder Tobias , Paradies Jan , Muñiz Kilian , Bach Thorsten , Ditrich Klaus , Winter Christian , Kordes Markus , von Deyn Wolfgang , Pfau Roland , Muhle‐Goll Claudia , Luy Burkhard , Werz Daniel B. , Arenz Christoph , Hüttel Wolfgang , Andexer Jennifer N. , Straub Bernd F.
Published: March 2016

Siliciumrhodaminderivate weisen Formaldehyd nach – neues Nanomaterial: Graphitphasen polymeren Kohlenstoffnitrids – molekulare Drähte – homogene Cof‐Dünnschichten bei Raumtemperatur – Biosyntheserekord: 1,8 MDa großes kolGen – [3,3]‐sigmatrope Umlagerung führt zu quartären Stereozentren.
Wachsende Chemie
Authors: Margraf Natalie
Published: March 2016

Die chemische Industrie macht dieses Jahr mehr Umsatz, vor allem die Spezialchemie.
Photochemie und solare Brennstoffe
Authors: Bloh Jonathan Z.
Published: March 2016

Photochemie, solare Brennstoffe und mikrobielle Elektrosynthesen sind die Schwerpunkte dieses Trendberichts zur technischen Chemie.
Regionaltreffen der FCI‐Stipendiaten in Braunschweig
Authors: Teschmit Nicole , Wulff Bastian R.
Published: March 2016

Anfang Dezember 2015 präsentierten die FCI‐Stipendiaten aus Braunschweig, Hamburg, Kiel und Leipzig ihre Forschung an der TU Braunschweig. Das Treffen organisierte Daniel B. Werz, Professor für organische Chemie.
Ernst‐Haage‐Symposium im MPI Mülheim
Authors: Ernst Christin
Published: March 2016

Das Mülheimer Max‐Planck‐Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion (MPI CEC) richtete Anfang Dezember 2015 ein international besetztes Symposium zu Energieforschung aus. Zehn Wissenschaftler präsentierten ihre aktuellen Ergebnisse und diskutierten mit den Teilnehmern. Den Abschluss des dreitägigen Symposiums bildete die Verleihung des Ernst‐Haage‐Preises, den MPI CEC und Ernst‐Haage‐Stiftung jährlich vergeben.
Vorstandssitzung
Authors: Koch Wolfram
Published: March 2016

Zur letzten Sitzung seiner vierjährigen Amtsperiode traf sich der Vorstand der Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker am 15. Dezember 2015 auf Einladung von ALTANA, Wesel. Als besonderen Gast begrüßte der Präsident, Dr. Thomas Geelhaar, den Vorsitzenden der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft – Fachgruppe in der GDCh, Prof. Torsten C. Schmidt, Universität Duisburg‐Essen. Vor Eintritt in die Tagesordnung gab der GDCh‐Schatzmeister und Chief Technology Officer von ALTANA, Dr. Georg F. L. Wießmeier, einen Überblick über das Unternehmen und seine Aktivitäten.
Sustainability and the world's leading ocean cruising companies
Authors: Jones Peter , Comfort Daphne , Hillier David
Published: March 2016

The aim of this research note paper is to offer an exploratory review of the extent to which the leading ocean cruise companies are publicly addressing and reporting on their sustainability strategies and achievements and to offer some reflections on sustainability within the cruise industry. The paper begins with an outline of cruising and the cruising industry and a short commentary on the sustainability challenges the industry faces. The information on which the paper is based is drawn from the leading cruise companies' corporate web sites. The findings of the paper reveal a marked variation in the extent to which the leading cruise companies publicly report on their sustainability strategies and achievements. While the two leading cruise companies, namely the Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises, published extensive sustainability reports which covered a number of environmental social and economic issues, the other leading cruise companies published very limited information on sustainability. More critically the authors argued that the cruise companies' commitments to sustainability are driven by the search for efficiency gains and are couched within existing business models centred on continuing growth than on maintaining the viability of natural ecosystems and communities. As such the leading UK retailers are, at best, currently pursuing a ‘weak’ rather than a ‘strong’ model of sustainability. The paper provides an accessible exploratory review of sustainability reporting in the cruise industry, and it will interest professional working in the cruise industry and more generally in the hospitality industry as well as academics and students interested in public relations, business studies and hospitality management. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cationic antimicrobial copolymer poly (methylmethacrylate‐co‐PHMG) decontaminates water
Authors: Aviv Oren , Ratner Stanislav , Amir Nir , Laout Natalia , Basu Arijit , Shadmon Hodaya , Beyth Nurit , Domb Abraham J.
Published: March 2016

Vinyl terminated poly hexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were copolymerized and tested for surface antimicrobial activity. PHMG chains of molecular weight ~2000 were functionalized with vinyl end groups (PHMG–C = C) by reacting the PHMG amino end groups with 1,2‐epoxy‐9‐decene, or glycidyl methacrylate. PHMG–C = C was copolymerized with MMA at 10% w/w ratio to form water insoluble poly(MMA‐co‐PHMG). Films of these copolymers demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity for 3 months against Escherichia coli and heterotrophic plate count bacteria. The synthesized PHMG–MMA copolymers may be used for self‐sterilizing coatings and water decontamination. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extending the Spectrum of Radiological Findings in Patients With Severe Osteopetrosis and Different Genetic Backgrounds
Authors: Simanovsky Natalia , Rozovsky Katya , Hiller Nurith , Weintraub Michael , Stepensky Polina
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To evaluate radiological findings in a cohort of 22 patients with infantile malignant osteopetrosis in order to establish the correlation between radiological findings and different genetic backgrounds.

Materials and Methods

Clinical files, genetic analysis results, and radiological examinations of children treated for osteopetrosis with bone marrow transplantation in a referral center in the last 5 years were retrospectively evaluated. The study received institutional review board (IRB) approval.

Results

Twenty‐two patients were included in the study: 18 males, four females, ages 1 month–9 years 10 months, and the median age was 11 months (mean 23 months). There were 12 patients with different mutations in the TCIRG1 gene, five with mutations in the SNX10 gene, four children harbored RANK mutations, and one patient had a CLCN7 mutation. We noted more severe radiological findings in patients with TCIRG1 and RANK mutations, including fractures, osteopetrorickets, hydrocephalus, and hepatomegaly. Varus deformity of the femoral neck was seen exclusively in patients with a TCIRG1 mutation.

Conclusions

The variable genetic spectrum of osteopetrosis is associated with a variable radiological presentation. These correlations may be helpful for priorities in genetic analysis.
Synthesis and characterization of inorganic–organic polymer microgels for catalytic reduction of 4‐nitroaniline in aqueous medium
Authors: Farooqi Zahoor Hussain , Ijaz Aysha , Begum Robina , Naseem Khalida , Usman Muhammad , Ajmal Muhammad , Saeed Usman
Published: March 2016

Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) [p(NiPA‐co‐AAc)] microgel particles were synthesized by free radical precipitation polymerization in aqueous medium. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were fabricated inside the microgels by in situ reduction method. UV–visible, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering techniques were used for characterization of pure microgels. The Ag‐p(NiPA‐co‐AAc) hybrid microgels were characterized by UV–visible, FTIR, X‐ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The hybrid microgel system was used as a catalyst for reduction of 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA) in aqueous medium. The kinetics of the catalytic reduction of 4‐NA under various conditions of concentration of hybrid microgels, sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and 4‐NA was monitored by UV–visible spectrophotometry. It was found that the value of apparent rate constant (kapp) increases with increase of concentration of NaBH4 and catalyst dosage while it remains constant at various concentrations of 4‐NA. The kinetic data were used to elaborate the conversion of 4‐NA into p‐phenylenediamine on the basis of electron relaying effect of Ag NPs present inside the microgels. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:645–653, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Toward design and measurement of electrical conductivity and thermal properties of silver nanoparticle embedded poly(o‐anisidine) molybdophosphate nanocomposite and its application as microbiosensor
Authors: Khan Anish , Khan Aftab Aslam Parwaz , Asiri Abdullah M.
Published: March 2016

An advanced silver‐doped poly(o‐anisidine) molybdophosphate (POA‐MoP/Ag) nanocomposite was synthesized by chemical sol–gel method. The study on the thermal effect of conductivity was also done on POA‐MoP/Ag after acid treatment. The dc conductivity was found within the range of 8.12 × 10−3 S cm−1 for HCl doped, measured by four‐in‐line–probe dc electrical conductivity measuring technique. Isothermal conductivity is stable with all temperatures showing excellent stability of POA‐MoP/Ag material. An electrochemical sensor based on the electrocatalytic activity of composite for sensitive detection of paracetamol (PCM) was studies. The electrochemical behaviors of PCM on POA‐MoP/Ag modified carbon fiber electrodes (CFE) was investigated by DC potential amperometry. A redox process of PCM at the modified electrode was obtained. Such electrocatalytic behavior of POA‐MoP/Ag is attributed to its unique physical and chemical properties, e.g., subtle electronic characteristics, attractive π–π interaction, and strong adsorptive capability. This electrochemical sensor shows an excellent performance for detecting PCM with a detection limit of 8 µM, a response time of 20 s, and a satisfied recovery. We have investigated the composite properties of the self‐assembled electrodes for biological compounds analysis and show that the POA‐MoP/Ag composite biosensor can achieve great sensitivity without significant biomaterial. The sensor shows promise for simple, sensitive, and quantitative detection and screening of PCM. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:E237–E245, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Repercussion of manufacturing techniques on mechanical and wear peculiarity of zno particulate‐filled polyester composites
Authors: Singh Akant Kumar , Siddhartha  , Yadav Sanjay , Singh Prashant Kumar
Published: March 2016

This article presents the comparison of mechanical and dry sliding wear peculiarity of zinc oxide (ZnO)‐filled polyester composites, fabricated by two different techniques. These two techniques are simple mechanical stirring and vertical centrifugal casting. ZnO filled polyester based homogeneous composites are fabricated by simple mechanical stirring technique whereas composites fabricated by vertical centrifugal casting technique are functionally graded materials (FGMs). Dry sliding wear tests are performed over a range of sliding velocity (1.57–3.66 m/s), normal load (10–30 N), filler content (0–20 wt%), and sliding distance (1,000–3,000 m) using a pin‐on‐disc apparatus. This study establishes that the FGMs exhibit superior mechanical properties (except tensile strength) and wear resistance as compared with homogeneous composites. Among all the fabricated composites, FGMs filled with 20 wt% ZnO filler has maximum hardness and flexural strength, i.e., 70 HRL and 39 MPa, respectively. Compressive and impact strength is maximum for 10 wt% ZnO filled FGMs with 36 MPa and 1.3 J, respectively. The tensile strength of homogeneous composites is 21.7% higher as compared with FGMs for 10 wt% of ZnO filler loading. FGM filled with 20 wt% of ZnO filler has minimum specific wear rate of 0.33 × 10−5 mm3/Nm and neat polyester has a maximum of 0.97 × 10−5 mm3/Nm. The morphology of worn surfaces is examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:654–667, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Synthesis of medium‐bandgap π‐Conjugated polymers based on isomers of 5‐Alkylphenanthridin‐6(5H)‐one and 6‐Alkoxylphenanthridine
Authors: Huang Yunping , Xu Wenzhan , Zhou Cheng , Zhong Wenkai , Xie Ruihao , Gong Xiong , Ying Lei , Huang Fei , Cao Yong
Published: March 2016

Two novel dibromo monomers consisting of the isomers of 5‐alkylphenanthridin‐6(5H)‐one (PN) and 6‐alkoxylphenanthridine (PO) were synthesized through alkylation of the precursor 3,8‐dibromophenanthrindi‐6(5H)‐one, where the molecular structures were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. The medium bandgap conjugated polymers PDBTPN and PDBTPO were constructed by utilizing such two isomers PN and PO as the electron‐donating units and dithiophenebenzo[2,1,3]diathiazole as the electron‐accepting unit. The resulting polymers exhibited analogous absorption profiles with optical bandgap of 1.90 eV, while PDBTPO showed slightly higher absorption coefficiency. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that these polymers had relatively deep highest occupied molecular orbital levels of about −5.70 eV. Polymer solar cells based on such two polymers showed relatively high open‐circuit voltage of about 0.90 V. All devices exhibited moderate performances with the best power conversion efficiency of 3.77% achieved based on PDBTPO. Devices based on PDBTPO showed slightly higher power conversion efficiency than those based on PDBTPN, which can be ascribed to higher hole mobility and more favorable film morphology of the former. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2119–2127
A new class of vacillations of the stratospheric polar vortex
Authors: Scott R. K.
Published: March 2016

A new class of persistent vacillations of the winter polar vortex, under the action of topographic wave forcing and radiative cooling, is identified in numerical integrations of the rotating shallow‐water equations. The vacillations are obtained provided only that care is taken to prevent the unconstrained growth of tropical easterlies that otherwise develop as the result of persistent angular momentum deposition at low latitudes. The vacillation cycle involves purely barotropic dynamics and is characterized by a dynamically controlled rapid splitting and rapid reformation of the vortex, followed by a more gradual period of vortex intensification under the influence of radiative relaxation. The onset of the splitting occurs when the frequency of the free mode of the vortex approaches that of the forcing and resembles a resonant excitation. Experiments with an alternative basic state suggest that the vacillations are a robust feature of the topographically forced and radiatively relaxed vortex. In contrast to the behaviour found in models with vertical structure, the period of the vacillation cycles here increases with increasing forcing amplitude. A wide range of forcing amplitudes exists over which the vortex exhibits distinct regime transitions between a strong, vacillating state and a state in which the vortex is weak and the zonal mean polar flow nearly zero. Comparison with observational reanalysis suggests that the vacillation cycles obtained here may be relevant to the dynamics of some sudden warming events and that the onset of a radiatively dominated regime may usefully be linked to the loss of vortex area following such an event.
Reliability Estimation for Products Subjected to Two‐Stage Degradation Tests Based on a Gamma Convolution
Authors: Rodríguez‐Picón Luis Alberto , Méndez‐González Luis Carlos , Borbón Manuel Iván Rodríguez , Valle Arturo Del
Published: March 2016

Degradation models have received much attention in the area of reliability estimation, mostly because it is possible to obtain robust information about the lifetime of highly reliable products and systems. However, in the last years, multivariate models have received more attention. This is because the quality of many products is a function of various environmental conditions, and the effect of these conditions over a performance characteristic can cause a failure of the product, either marginally or jointly. A gamma process is considered in this study to marginally model the degradation of a performance characteristic through two degradation test phases performed sequentially. The degradation increments obtained during the first test and the second test are modeled jointly considering the convolution of two marginal gamma processes. In this way, it is possible to obtain a robust model to get reliability estimates considering the effect of two serial degradation test, which can consider multiple covariates. This modeling is illustrated with crack propagation data and important results are presented. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Context and Implications Document for: Systematic reviews of research in education: aims, myths and multiple methods
Authors: Gough David , Thomas James
Published: March 2016

This guide accompanies the following article: David Gough and James Thomas, Systematic reviews of research in education: aims, myths and multiple methods, Review of Education, DOI:10.1002/rev3.3068
Improved exponential observer design for one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems
Authors: Zhang Wei , Su Housheng , Zhu Fanglai , Bhattacharyya Shankar P.
Published: March 2016

This paper investigates the exponential observer design problem for one‐sided Lipschitz nonlinear systems. A unified framework for designing both full‐order and reduced‐order exponential state observers is proposed. The developed design approach requires neither scaling of the one‐sided Lipschitz constant nor the additional quadratically inner‐bounded condition. It is shown that the synthesis conditions established include some known existing results as special cases and can reduce the intrinsic conservatism. For design purposes, we also formulate the observer synthesis conditions in a tractable LMI form or a Riccati‐type inequality with equality constraints. Simulation results on a numerical example are given to illustrate the advantages and effectiveness of the proposed design scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Large‐margin classification with multiple decision rules
Authors: Kimes Patrick K. , Hayes David Neil , Marron J. S. , Liu Yufeng ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2016

Binary classification is a common statistical learning problem in which a model is estimated on a set of covariates for some outcome, indicating the membership of one of two classes. In the literature, there exists a distinction between hard and soft classification. In soft classification, the conditional class probability is modeled as a function of the covariates. In contrast, hard classification methods only target the optimal prediction boundary. While hard and soft classification methods have been studied extensively, not much work has been performed to compare the actual tasks of hard and soft classification. In this paper, we propose a spectrum of statistical learning problems that span the hard and soft classification tasks based on fitting multiple decision rules to the data. By doing so, we reveal a novel collection of learning tasks of increasing complexity. We study the problems using the framework of large‐margin classifiers and a class of piecewise linear convex surrogates, for which we derive statistical properties and a corresponding sub‐gradient descent algorithm. We conclude by applying our approach to simulation settings and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study.
Quantitative threat situation assessment based on alert verification
Authors: Xi Rong‐rong , Yun Xiao‐chun , Hao Zhi‐yu , Zhang Yong‐zheng
Published: March 2016

Traditional network threat situational assessment is based on raw alerts, not combined with contextual information, which influences the accuracy of assessment. In this paper, we propose a method to quantitatively assess network threat situation based on not only alerts but also contextual information. It firstly verifies alerts by matching alerts with contextual information to determine the successful probability of attacks, then analyzes the impact caused by attacks according to the severity and the corresponding asset value of them, and finally quantitatively assesses network threat situation based on the successful probability and the impact of attacks. Case studies show that the method can assess network threat situations more reasonably. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In situ photoelectron spectroscopic characterization of reactively sputtered, doped vanadium oxide thin films
Authors: Krammer A. , Gremaud A. , Bouvard O. , Sanjines R. , Schüler A.
Published: March 2016

Thin films of pure vanadium oxide (VOx) and Ge doped vanadium oxide (VOx:Ge) have been deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on Si (100) substrates. These films were characterized by means of in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy to address the doping induced changes in the core‐level and valence‐band spectra of the material. Doped films exhibit a decrease in the density of states at the Fermi level, indicating the insulating character of said films compared with the undoped ones. Doped vanadium dioxide is a promising candidate for switchable absorber coatings for solar thermal collectors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oleanolic and ursolic acid in dammar and mastic resin: isomer discrimination by using ToF‐SIMS and multivariate statistics
Authors: Tortora L. , Biocca P. , Sotgiu G. , de Notaristefani F. , Urbini M. , Ioele M.
Published: March 2016

Triterpenoid resins, such as dammar resin and mastic resin, are natural products used as protective varnishes on paintings. Dammar resin consists of a large amount of triterpenoid molecules including two triterpenic acids: oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Similarly, mastic resin is a complex blend of terpenoids but containing oleanolic acid. In this paper, high‐mass‐resolution time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) has been used to characterize the fragmentation patterns of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. The hypothesized fragmentation pathways for these triterpenic acids have also been discussed. In order to distinguish between these two structural isomers, principal component analysis (PCA) has been adopted. This multivariate statistical analysis technique permits to identify the characteristic fragments and discriminates between very similar mass spectra. In addition, dammar resin and mastic resin have been characterized. A selection of characteristic peaks from ursolic and oleanolic acids mass spectra has been used to build a dataset for a multivariate analysis to compare triterpenoid resins and triterpenic acids. The results of PCA have revealed that mastic resin is strictly related to oleanolic acid, whereas dammar resin is differentiated by ursolic acid fragments. This study confirms that, in the cultural heritage field, the time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry technique combined with PCA can be a powerful tool to investigate the chemical composition of organic compounds with very complex composition. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Air Stable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Carbodiimide (“NHC‐CDI”) Adducts: Zwitterionic Type Bulky Amidinates
Authors: Baishya Ashim , Kumar Lokesh , Barman Milan Kr. , Peddarao Thota , Nembenna Sharanappa
Published: March 2016

Herein we report a library of N‐heterocyclic carbene‐carbodiimide (“NHC‐CDI”) adducts i. e., zwitterionic type amidinates from the reaction between N,N’ ‐diaryl substituted symmetrical or unsymmetrical carbodiimide and N‐heterocyclic carbene at room temperature conditions. Generally, normal amidinates are air and moisture sensitive; that can be achieved by the treatment of amidines with base under air and moisture free conditions. In contrast, these new zwitterionic type bulky amidinate compounds are neutral and air stable. All new 31 examples of “NHC‐CDI” adducts were characterized by 1H, 13C{1H} and HRMS analyses. Further, six compounds were confirmed by single crystal X‐ray structural analysis.
Oxidation of thiols to sulphonic acids with Oxone®/NaHCO3 and KBrO3
Authors: Parida Keshaba Nanda , Chandra Ajeet , Moorthy Jarugu Narasimha
Published: March 2016

The reagent system Oxone®/NaHCO3 is shown to be very convenient for direct conversion of thiols to sulfonic acids. The simple procedure that involves stirring of thiol, Oxone®/NaHCO3 in CH3CN‐H2O (3:2, v/v) mixture at 20±5 °C allows access to a variety of aliphatic as well as electron rich and deficient aromatic sulfonic acids. The oxidation is also shown to occur with KBrO3, albeit over longer durations. The mechanism of thiol‐to‐sulfonic acid oxidation with Oxone® is proposed to proceed via electron transfer steps, which is supported by the formation of disufide at low conversions.