bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Korean and Korean American Adolescents' Responses to Literature
Authors: Kim Eunhyun
Published: April 2014

How might Korean/Korean American youth cope with everyday life as a minority or a model minority if they had early and consistent exposure to literature depicting the mirrored experiences of Korean/Korean Americans? This study employed qualitative methods and an interpretive approach which enhance understanding of the life experiences, literary experiences, interpersonal interactions, and complex socio‐cultural contexts of Korean/Korean American adolescents. Data was collected through interviews, participant‐observations, and response journals. The findings revealed that the participants' exposure to the literature provided opportunities to reflect on their own experiences related to the stories, expand their worldviews, increase critical awareness of social issues, enhance understanding of issues and struggles of Korean/Korean Americans, and experience personal transformation. The interpretive community created spaces to deepen literary understanding by providing chances to share their viewpoints, grapple with alternative points of view, and add layers of meaning.
Joy and the “Smart Kids”
Authors: Majors Yolanda J.
Published: April 2014

Through a sharing of personal experience, this article aims to draw attention to the language of schooling— a language, both simple and sophisticated, that many schools, as institutions, devise to communicate with insiders and outsiders. The author argues that there is a mismatch between assumed best practices embedded in this language and the challenging demands of cultural, community‐based pedagogies.  Institutional discourses, while appearing neutral, simultaneously cling to explicit and implicit colorblind discourses. Such discourses allow the institution of schooling, and the individual teacher, to evade critical examination, thereby sustaining a complex landscape in which consumers (students, parents, and stakeholders) engage producers (teachers, administrators) in stances relative to the expectations that each has of the other.
Polyethlyene glycol microgels to deliver bioactive nerve growth factor
Authors: Stukel Jessica , Thompson Susan , Simon Laurent , Willits Rebecca
Published: April 2014

Delivery of bioactive molecules is a critical step in fabricating materials for regenerative medicine, yet, this step is particularly challenging in hydrated scaffolds such as hydrogels. Although bulk photocrosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels have been used for a variety of tissue engineering applications, their capability as drug delivery scaffolds has been limited due to undesirable release profiles and reduction in bioactivity of molecules. To solve these problems, this article presents the fabrication of degradable PEG microgels, which are micron‐sized spherical hydrogels, to deliver bioactive nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF release and activity was measured after encapsulation in microgels formed from either 3 kDa or 6 kDa PEG to determine the role of hydrogel mesh size on release. Microgels formed from 6 kDa PEG were statistically larger and had a higher swelling ratio than 3 kDa PEG. The 6 kDa PEG microgels provided a Fickian release with a reduced burst effect and 3 kDa microgels provided anomalous release over ≥20 days. Regardless of molecular weight of PEG, NGF bioactivity was not significantly reduced compared to unprocessed NGF. These results demonstrate that microgels provide easy mechanisms to control the release while retaining the activity of growth factors. As this microgel‐based delivery system can be injected at the site of nerve injury to promote nerve repair, the potential to deliver active growth factors in a controlled manner may reduce healing time for neural tissue engineering applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 604–613, 2015.
Altered Bone Material Properties in HLA-B27 Rats Include Reduced Mineral to Matrix Ratio and Altered Collagen Cross-Links
Authors: Gamsjaeger Sonja , Srivastava Apurva K , Wergedal Jon E , Zwerina Jochen , Klaushofer Klaus , Paschalis Eleftherios P , Tatakis Dimitris N
Published: April 2014

Spondyloarthropathy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are often associated with severe osteopenia/osteoporosis in both children and adults. HLA-B27 transgenic rats present a phenotype that includes severe colitis and severely accelerated alveolar bone loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long bone density status, systemic bone metabolic markers, and intrinsic bone material properties in HLA-B27 transgenic (TG) rats, and compare them with those of age- and sex-matched wild-type (WT) animals. The results indicate that in the HLA-B27 rat, an animal susceptible to both alveolar bone loss (ABL) and long bone osteopenia, there is a statistically significant negative correlation between ABL and long bone bone mineral density (BMD), as well as mineral/matrix ratio at active bone-forming trabecular surfaces. The TG animals had a lower mineral/matrix ratio and higher relative proteoglycan and advanced glycation end product (ϵ-N-Carboxymethyl-L-lysine) content and pyridinoline/divalent collagen cross-link ratio compared with WT. These results may provide better understanding of the interrelationship between osteoporosis and oral bone loss, the underlying causes of the inferior bone strength in the HLA-B27 transgenic animals, and could prove to be a useful model in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of spondyloarthropathy and IBD-associated osteopenia/osteoporosis and in the evaluation of pharmacological intervention(s) against such conditions. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Rescue stem cell mobilization with plerixafor economizes leukapheresis in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Hundemer Michael , Engelhardt Melanie , Bruckner Thomas , Kraeker Sandra , Schmitt Anita , Sauer Sandra , Neben Kai , Witzens‐Harig Mathias , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Ho Anthony D. , Wuchter Patrick
Published: April 2014

While extensive data demonstrated that plerixafor improves stem cell harvest in difficult‐to‐mobilize patients, economic concerns limit a broader application. We retrospectively assessed the effect of an early plerixafor rescue regimen for mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma. Patients were intended for high‐dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ABSCT) and therefore received cyclophosphamide‐based mobilization chemotherapy and consecutive stimulation with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF). Fifteen patients with poor stem cell harvest in the first leukapheresis session received plerixafor. Data were compared with a matched historic control group of 45 patients who also had a poor stem cell yield in the first apheresis session, but continued mobilization with G‐CSF alone. Patients in the plerixafor group collected significantly more CD34+ cells in total (median 4.9 vs. 3.7 [range 1.6–14.1 vs. 1.1–8.0] × 106 CD34+ cells /kg bw; P < 0.05), and also more CD34+ cells per leukapheresis procedure (P < 0.001). Consequently, they required a significantly lower number of leukapheresis procedures to achieve the collection goal (median 2.0 vs. 4.0 [range 2–3 vs. 2–9] procedures; P < 0.001). The efficiency of the collected stem cells in terms of hematologic engraftment after ABSCT was found to be equal in both groups. These data demonstrate that rescue mobilization with plerixafor triggered by a low stem cell yield in the first leukapheresis session is effective. Although the actual economic benefit may vary depending on the local leukapheresis costs, the median saving of two leukapheresis procedures offsets most of the expenses for the substance in this setting. An exemplary cost calculation is provided to illustrate this effect. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:299–304 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interaction of aromatic units of amino acids with guanidinium cation: The interplay of π···π, XH···π, and M+···π contacts
Authors: Campo‐Cacharrón Alba , Cabaleiro‐Lago Enrique M. , Carrazana‐García Jorge A. , Rodríguez‐Otero Jesús
Published: April 2014

Complexes formed by guanidinium cation and a pair of aromatic molecules among benzene, phenol, or indole have been computationally studied to determine the characteristics of the cation···π interaction in ternary systems modeling amino acid side chains. Guanidinium coordinates to the aromatic units preferentially in the following order: indole, phenol, and benzene. Complexes containing two different aromatic units show an intermediate behavior between that observed for complexes with only one kind of aromatic unit. Most stable structures correspond to doubly‐T shaped arrangements with the two aromatic units coordinating guanidinium by its NH2 groups. Other structures with only one aromatic unit coordinated to guanidinium, such as T‐shaped or parallel‐stacked ones, are less favorable but still showing significant stabilization. In indole and phenol complexes, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the aromatic molecules introduces extra stabilization in T‐shaped structures. Three body effects are small and repulsive in doubly T‐shaped minima. Only when hydrogen bonds involving the aromatic molecules are formed in T‐shaped structures a cooperative effect can be observed. In most complexes the interaction is controlled by electrostatics, with induction and dispersion also contributing significantly depending on the nature and orientation of the aromatic species forming the complex. Although the stability in these systems is mainly controlled by the intensity of the interaction between guanidinium and the aromatic molecules coordinated to it, interactions between aromatic molecules can modulate the characteristics of the complex, especially when hydrogen bonds are formed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of parallel miniature bubble column bioreactors for fermentation process
Authors: Kheradmandnia Soheila , Hashemi‐Najafabadi Sameereh , Shojaosadati Seyed Abbas , Mousavi Seyyed Mohammad , Malek Khosravi Khosro
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

In recent years, bioprocess development has been used scaled down bioreactors, parallel operation and on‐line monitoring. In this study novel miniature bubble column bioreactors (MBCRs) have been developed. Reproducibility of the bioreactors, the effect of operational parameters and scale up to a conventional STR were studied.

RESULTS

Fermentations in the parallel MBCRs were reproducible under the same conditions. Increasing the aeration rate had an insufficient effect on the specific growth rate (μ) of E. coli, but it led to an increase in the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLa) and evaporation rate. The oxygen uptake rate (OUR) remained constant at different aeration rates as well as μ. Increasing the temperature resulted in a significant increase in μ, KLa, evaporation rate and OUR. Control of the pH had a slight but sufficient effect on KLa. Scale up results with an equal KLa demonstrated good agreement between the MBCR and a conventional STR. According to the Damköhler number, the biochemical reaction was rate‐limited.

CONCLUSION

High achievable KLa in the MBCRs and successful scale‐up suggested the present system was an efficient alternative to the stirred or shaken devices for high throughput cultivations. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
The Crystal Structure and Synthesis Mechanism of 3,6‐Bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine (BDT): A Key Precursor of S‐tetrazine
Authors: Zhang Jian‐Guo , Wu Jin‐Ting , Sun Mou , Feng Jin‐Ling , Zhang Tong‐Lai , Zhou Zun‐Ning
Published: April 2014

The single crystal structure of 1,1′‐bis (3,5‐dimethyl‐pyrazole) methenehydrazine (BDM) was determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction for the first time. The obtained experimental results indicated that BDM was the intermediate of 3,6‐bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine (BDT), which was the key precursor of s‐tetrazine. By this evidence, the preparation mechanism of BDT was proved: At 318.15 K, triaminoguanidine and pentanedione reacted to achieve the intermediate (BDM) by molecular nucleophilic addition and intramolecular nucleophilic substitution; when heated to 363.15 K, BDT was then generated by two molecules of BDM with nucleophilic substitution reaction. Furthermore, the thermal decomposition properties and also the non‐isothermal kinetic parameters have been investigated in the present work.
Decay Dynamics of 3‐methyl‐3‐pentene‐2‐one from the light absorbing S2(ππ*) state ‐ Resonance Raman Spectroscopy and CASSCF Study
Authors: Xu Zhu‐Bing , Pan Sheng , Yang Yi , Xue Jia‐Dan , Zheng Xuming , Xie Bin‐Bin , Fang Wei‐Hai
Published: April 2014

The photophysics of 3‐methyl‐3‐pentene‐2‐one (3M3P2O) after excitation to the S2(ππ*) electronic state were studied using the resonance Raman spectroscopy and complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) method calculations. The A‐band resonance Raman spectra were obtained in cyclohexane, acetonitrile, and methanol with excitation wavelengths in resonance with the first intense absorption band to probe the structural dynamics of 3M3P2O. The B3LYP‐TD/6‐31++G(d, p) computation was carried out to determine the relative A‐band resonance Raman intensities of the fundamental modes, and the result was used to reproduce the corresponding fundamental band intensities of the 223.1 nm resonance Raman spectrum and thus to examine whether the vibronic‐coupling existed in Franck‐Condon region or not. CASSCF calculations were carried out to determine the minimal singlet excitation energies of S1, FC, S1,min (nπ*), S2, FC, S2,min (ππ*), the transition energies of the conical intersection points Sn/Sπ, Sn/S0, and the optimized excited state geometries as well as the geometry structures of the conical intersection points. The A‐band short‐time structural dynamics and the corresponding decay dynamics of 3M3P2O were obtained by the analysis of the resonance Raman intensity pattern and CASSCF computations. It was revealed that the initial structural dynamics of 3M3P2O was towards the simultaneous C3=C4 and C2=O7 bond elongation, with the C3=C4 bond length lengthening greater at the very beginning, whereas the C2=O7 bond length changing greater at the later evolution time before reaching the CI(S2/S1) conical intersection point. The decay dynamics from S2(ππ*) to S1(nπ*) via S2(ππ*)/S1(nπ*) in singlet realm and from S1(nπ*) to T1(nπ*) via ISC[S1(nπ*)/T2(ππ*)/T1(nπ*)] in triplet realm are proposed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman and structural comparison between the new gemstone pezzottaite Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18 and Cs‐beryl
Authors: Lambruschi Erica , Gatta G. Diego , Adamo Ilaria , Bersani Danilo , Salvioli‐Mariani Emma , Lottici Pier Paolo
Published: April 2014

The Raman spectrum over the extended region 100–3800 cm−1 of the new gemstone pezzottaite [ideal composition Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18] from the type locality in Ambatovita (central Madagascar) is reported and compared with that of Cs‐beryl from the Elba Island (San Piero in Campo). The extended Raman spectrum of pezzottaite has never been so far reported, and its vibrational features are described here in detail for the first time. The Raman spectrum of pezzottaite is characterized by two intense peaks at 111 and 1100 cm−1, not present in the beryl spectrum, which allows a rapid identification of the stone. Moreover, in pezzottaite, two weak bands ascribable to the fundamental H2O stretching vibrations (i.e. 3591 and 3545 cm−1) are observed, despite that the mineral is nominally anhydrous, whereas beryl exhibits a single intense band at 3604 cm−1. In order to complete the spectroscopic study, electron microprobe analysis in wavelength dispersive mode, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction characterization were performed on the two samples. The major and trace elements confirmed the higher amount of alkali in pezzottaite. Furthermore, pezzottaite exhibits a trigonal symmetry (Rc) caused by an ordered Li/Be distribution at the tetrahedral sites, while Cs‐beryl has a hexagonal symmetry (P6/mcc) with a disordered Li/Be distribution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of dietary polysaccharides from the submerged fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput‐medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. on fat deposition in broilers
Authors: Shang Hong Mei , Song Hui , Shen Si Jie , Yao Xu , Wu Bo , Wang Li Na , Jiang Yun Yao , Ding Guo Dong
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

The present study was conducted to investigate the lipid‐lowering effect of polysaccharides from the submerged fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput‐medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. (HFCP) in broilers. A total of 480 female Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four dietary treatments, each consisting of six pens as replicates, and fed diets containing 0 (control), 1, 3 or 5 g kg−1 HFCP.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the average daily gain of broilers increased (linear (L), P < 0.01; quadratic (Q), P < 0.01) when the HFCP levels increased. The serum cholesterol, triglyceride and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased (Q, P < 0.05) while the high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased (Q, P < 0.05) when the HFCP levels increased. The caecum Escherichia coli count and pH decreased (Q, P < 0.01) while the lactobacilli count and bifidobacteria count increased (L, P < 0.05; Q, P < 0.05) when the HFCP levels increased. The propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations increased (L, P < 0.001; Q, P < 0.001) while the abdominal fat rate and liver fat content decreased (L, P < 0.01; Q, P < 0.05) when the HFCP levels increased.

CONCLUSION

Dietary supplementation with HFCP may lead to the development of low abdominal fat of broilers as demanded by health‐conscious consumers. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
pH shift protein recovery with organic acids on texture and color of cooked gels
Authors: Paker Ilgin , Beamer Sarah , Jaczynski Jacek , Matak Kristen E
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

Isoelectric solubilization and precipitation (ISP) processing uses pH shifts to separate protein from fish frames, which may increase commercial interest for silver carp. Texture and color properties of gels made from silver carp protein recovered at different pH strategies and organic acid types were compared. ISP was applied to headed gutted silver carp using 10 mol L−1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and either glacial acetic acid (AA) or a (1:1) formic and lactic acid combination (F&L). Protein gels were made with recovered protein and standard functional additives.

RESULTS

Texture profile analysis and the Kramer shear test showed that protein gels made from protein solubilized at basic pH values were firmer, harder, more cohesive, gummier and chewier (P < 0.05) than proteins solubilized under acidic conditions. Acidic solubilization led to whiter (P < 0.05) gels, and using F&L during ISP yielded whiter gels under all treatments (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Gels made from ISP‐recovered silver carp protein using organic acids show potential for use as a functional ingredient in restructured foods. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of processing sorghum and millets on their phenolic phytochemicals and the implications of this to the health‐enhancing properties of sorghum and millet food and beverage products
Authors: Taylor John RN , Duodu Kwaku G
Published: April 2014

Sorghum and millet grains are generally rich in phytochemicals, particularly various types of phenolics. However, the types and amounts vary greatly between and within species. The food‐processing operations applied to these grains, i.e. dehulling and decortication, malting, fermentation and thermal processing, dramatically affect the quantity of phenolics present, most generally reducing them. Thus the levels of phytochemicals in sorghum and millet foods and beverages are usually considerably lower than in the grains. Notwithstanding this, there is considerable evidence that sorghum and millet foods and beverages have important functional and health‐promoting effects, specifically antidiabetic, cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention, due to the actions of these phytochemicals. Also their lactic acid bacteria‐fermented products may have probiotic effects related to their unique microflora. However, direct proof of these health‐enhancing effects is lacking as most studies have been carried out on the grains or grain extracts and not the food and beverage products themselves, and also most research work has been in vitro or ex vivo and not in vivo. To provide the required evidence, better designed studies are needed. The sorghum and millet products should be fully characterised, especially their phytochemical composition. Most importantly, well‐controlled human clinical studies and intervention trials are required. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Urinary metabolomic study of non‐small cell lung carcinoma based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Wu Qian , Wang Yan , Gu Xue , Zhou Junyi , Zhang Huiping , Lv Wang , Chen Zhe , Yan Chao
Published: April 2014

Metabolic profiles from human urine reveal the significant difference of carnitine and acylcarnitines levels between non‐small cell lung carcinoma patients and healthy controls. Urine samples from cancer patients and healthy individuals were assayed in this metabolomic study using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The data were normalized by the sum of all intensities and creatinine calibration, respectively, before orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Twenty differential metabolites were identified based on standard compounds or tandem mass spectrometry fragments. Among them, some medium‐/long‐chain acylcarnitines, for example, cis‐3,4‐methylene heptanoylcarnitine, were found to be downregulated while carnitine was upregulated in urine samples from the cancer group compared to the control group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the two groups showed that the area under curve for the combination of carnitine and 11 selected acylcarnitines was 0.958. This study suggests that the developed carnitine and acylcarnitines profiling method has the potential to be used for screening non‐small cell lung carcinoma.
Experimental and Computational Study of the Thermal Decomposition of 3‐Methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol in m‐Xylene Solution
Authors: QUIJANO JAIRO , RUIZ PABLO , NOTARIO RAFAEL , ZAPATA EDILMA , GAVIRIA JAÍR
Published: April 2014

An experimental study of the thermal decomposition of a β‐hydroxy alkene, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution, has been carried out at five different temperatures in the range of 513.15–563.15 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants for the decomposition of this compound in the corresponding Arrhenius equation is given by ln k (s−1) = (25.65 ± 1.52) − (17,944 ± 814) (kJ·mol−1)·T−1. A computational study has been carried out at the M05–2X/6–31+G(d,p) level of theory to calculate the rate constants and the activation parameters by the classical transition state theory. There is a good agreement between the experimental and calculated rate constants and activation Gibbs energies. The bonding characteristics of reactant, transition state, and products have been investigated by the natural bond orbital analysis, which provides the natural atomic charges and the Wiberg bond indices. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state, being a concerted and slightly asynchronous process. The results have been compared with those obtained previously by us (Struct Chem 2013, 24, 1811–1816) for the thermal decomposition of 3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution. We can conclude that in the compound studied in this work, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, the effect of substitution at position 3 by a weakly activating CH3 group is the stabilization of the transition state formed in the reaction and therefore a small increase in the rate of thermal decomposition.
Redox‐Responsive Nanoparticles with Aggregation‐Induced Emission (AIE) Characteristic for Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Cheng Weiren , Wang Guan , Pan Xiaoyong , Zhang Yong , Tang Ben Zhong , Liu Ye
Published: April 2014

The redox environment between intracellular compartments and extracellular matrix is significantly different, and the cellular redox homeostasis determines many physiological functions. Here, redox‐responsive nanoparticles with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristic for fluorescence imaging are developed by encapsulation of fluorophore with redox “turn‐on” AIE characteristic, TPE‐MI, into the micelles of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐ and cholesterol (CE)‐conjugated disulfide containing poly(amido amine)s. The redox‐responsive fluorescence profiles of the nanoparticles are investigated after reaction with glutathione (GSH). The encapsulation of TPE‐MI in micelles leads to a higher efficiency and red shift in emission, and the fluorescence intensity of the nanoparticles increases with the concentration of GSH. Confocal microscopy imaging shows that the nanoparticles can provide obvious contrast between the intracellular compartments and the extracellular matrix in MCF‐7 and HepG2 cells. So the nanoparticles with PEG shells and low cytotoxicity are promising to provide fluorescence bioimaging with a high contrast and for differentiation of cellular redox environment.
Diep flap sentinel skin paddle positioning algorithm
Authors: Laporta Rosaria , Longo Benedetto , Sorotos Michail , Pagnoni Marco , Santanelli Di Pompeo Fabio
Published: April 2014

Although clinical examination alone or in combination with other techniques is the only ubiquitous method for flap monitoring, it becomes problematic with buried free‐tissue transfer. We present a DIEP flap sentinel skin paddle (SSP) positioning algorithm and its reliability is also investigated using a standardized monitoring protocol. All DIEP flaps were monitored with hand‐held Doppler examination and clinical observation beginning immediately after surgery in recovery room and continued postoperatively at the ward. Skin paddle (SP) position was preoperatively drawn following mastectomy type incisions; in skin‐sparing mastectomies types I–III a small SP (sSP) replaces nipple–areola complex; in skin‐sparing mastectomy type IV, SSP is positioned between wise‐pattern branches while in type V between medial/lateral branches. In case of nipple‐sparing mastectomy SSP is positioned at inframammary fold or in lateral/medial branches of omega/inverted omega incision if used. Three hundred forty‐seven DIEP flap breast reconstructions were reviewed and stratified according to SP type into group A including 216 flaps with large SP and group B including 131 flaps with SSP and sSP. Sixteen flaps (4.6%) were taken back for pedicle compromise, 13 of which were salvaged (81.25%), 11 among 13 from group A and 2 among 3 from group B. There was no statistical difference between the groups concerning microvascular complication rate (P = 0.108), and time until take‐back (P = 0.521) and flap salvage rate (P = 0.473) resulted independent of SP type. Our results suggest that early detection of perfusion impairment and successful flaps salvage could be achieved using SSP for buried DIEP flap monitoring, without adjunctive expensive monitoring tests. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:91–100, 2015.
Decision‐making, sensitivity to reward and attrition in weight management
Authors: Koritzky Gilly , Dieterle Camille , Rice Chantelle , Jordan Katie , Bechara Antoine
Published: April 2014

Objective

Attrition is a common problem in weight management. Understanding the risk factors for attrition should enhance professionals' ability to increase completion rates and improve health outcomes for more individuals. A model that draws upon neuropsychological knowledge on reward‐sensitivity in obesity and overeating to predict attrition is proposed.

Methods

A total of 52 participants in a weight‐management program completed a complex decision‐making task. Decision‐making characteristics—including sensitivity to reward—were further estimated using a quantitative model. Impulsivity and risk‐taking measures were also administered.

Results

Consistent with the hypothesis that sensitivity to reward predicted attrition, program dropouts had higher sensitivity to reward than completers (P < 0.03). No differences were observed between completers and dropouts in initial BMI, age, employment status, or the number of prior weight‐loss attempts (P ≥ 0.07). Completers had a slightly higher education level than dropouts, but its inclusion in the model did not increase predictive power. Impulsivity, delay of gratification, and risk taking did not predict attrition, either.

Conclusions

Findings link attrition in weight management to the neural mechanisms associated with reward‐seeking and related influences on decision‐making. Individual differences in the magnitude of response elicited by rewards may account for the relative difficulty experienced by dieters in adhering to treatment.
Interactions of serum proteins and alkaline phosphatase with poly(styrene/α‐tert‐butoxy‐ω‐vinylbenzyl‐polyglycidol) microspheres with various surface concentrations of polyglycidol
Authors: Gosecka Monika , Slomkowski Stanislaw , Basinska Teresa
Published: April 2014

Interactions of human serum albumin, gamma globulins and alkaline phosphatase with surface of hydrophilic microspheres are described. Relation between the composition of particles surface layer and adsorption/covalent immobilization and activity of proteins is elucidated. The set of poly(styrene/α‐tert‐butoxy‐ω‐vinylbenzyl‐polyglycidol) microspheres (poly(S/PGly)) was synthesized via emulsion copolymerization of styrene and α‐tert‐butoxy‐ω‐vinylbenzyl‐polyglycidol (PGL) macromonomer (Mn = 3000, Mw/Mn = 1.08). The way of addition of PGL macromonomer was different in particular subsets of syntheses; however, the total concentration of all compounds added to the polymerization mixture was kept constant. Namely, PGL was continuously injected beginning injection at various stages of styrene conversion or it was added together with styrene at the beginning of the polymerization. The syntheses yielded microspheres with a number average diameter measured by SEM in a range from 300 to 564.7 nm, and dispersities (Dw/Dn) lower than 1.004, depending on the method of addition of PGL to the polymerization mixture. Studies of proteins' adsorption allowed for determination of relation between the surface concentration of adsorbed protein and chemical composition of the particles interfacial layer. Activation of hydroxyl groups in polyglycidol by 1,3,5‐trichlorotriazine allowed for the controlled covalent immobilization of proteins onto particles. The accompanying physical adsorption was low. Studies of the activity of alkaline phosphatase covalently bonded to the surface of the poly(S/PGly) particles with the fraction of PGL in the particles' interfacial layer (fPGL = 20.6 mol% revealed that the activity of the covalently immobilized enzyme was 4.6 times higher than activity of the enzyme adsorbed on the surface of the polystyrene microspheres. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Healable dual organic–inorganic crosslinked sol–gel based polymers: Crosslinking density and tetrasulfide content effect
Authors: AbdolahZadeh Mina , C. Esteves A. Catarina , van der Zwaag Sybrand , Garcia Santiago J.
Published: April 2014

In this article, the first generation of healable sol–gel based polymers is reported. A dual organic–inorganic crosslinked network is developed containing non‐reversible crosslinks and reversible (tetrasulfide) groups. The designed polymer architecture allows thermally induced mesoscale flow leading to damage closure followed by interfacial strength restoration due to reformation of the reversible groups. While the reversible bonds are responsible for the flow and the interface restoration, the irreversible crosslinks control the required mechanical integrity during the healing process. The temperature dependent gap closure kinetics is strongly affected by the crosslinking density and tetrasulfide content. Raman spectroscopy is used to explain the gap closure kinetics in air and dry nitrogen. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1953–1961
Intramolecular donor–acceptor copolymers containing side‐chain‐tethered perylenebis(dicarboximide) moieties for panchromatic solar cells
Authors: Wang Tzong‐Liu , Chuang Yao‐Yuan , Shieh Yeong‐Tarng , Yang Chien‐Hsin , Chen Chin‐Hsiang , Ho Tsung‐Han
Published: April 2014

A series of side‐chain‐tethered copolymers containing the N‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐N′‐(thiophene‐3‐yl)‐3,4:9,10‐perylenebis(dicarboximide) (thiophene‐PDI) moieties and 4,4‐diethylhexyl‐cyclopenta[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene unit were synthesized via Grignard metathesis polymerizations. With the incorporation of pendent perylenebis(dicarboximide) (PDI) moieties as acceptor side chains and thiophene as the donor backbone, the copolymers exhibited the intramolecular donor–acceptor characteristic and displayed a panchromatic absorption ranging from 290 to 1100 nm and ideal bandgaps of 1.49 to 1.52 eV. Due to the coplanarity of PDI moieties, the charge separation and transfer process were more effective and enhanced after photoexcitation. When increased the weight ratio of PC61BM:polymer to 3, the Jsc could be raised significantly. The value of bandgap decreased slightly, and both Voc and Jsc showed an upward trend with the increase of molar ratio of thiophene‐PDI unit from 50% (the copolymer P11) to 75% (the copolymer P13). The polymer/PC61BM devices have shown a significant improvement from 0.45 to 1.66% with a judicious modulation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1978–1988
The effect of film thickness on the depth‐wise chain orientation of rod‐shaped polyimide
Authors: Jo Byoung Wook , Ahn Kyung Hyun
Published: April 2014

Controlling the chain orientation of polyimide is important because it affects the physical and electrical properties of the film. When a polyimide film is thick, the chain orientation has an inhomogeneous distribution along the thickness direction. In this study, poly(amic acids), the precursor of polyimide, with different coating thicknesses are dried, and the distribution of chain orientation in the thickness direction is investigated by measuring the residual solvent content with Raman spectroscopy. The effect of film thickness on the imidization rate is also studied by measuring the depth‐wise degree of imidization at the curing step. With the final cured polyimide film, the depth‐wise chain orientation is quantified by introducing the Fraser distribution function using polarized Raman spectroscopy. The thicker film has a lower degree of in‐plane orientation of polyimide chains, particularly near the substrate. This distribution of polyimide chain orientation in the thickness direction is similar to that of poly(amic acid) after drying. Fast imidization with higher solvent content for thick polyimide retards the formation of a well‐ordered structure with a high degree of in‐plane orientation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 848–857
A novel approach: Beauveria bassiana granules applied to nursery soil for management of rice water weevils in paddy fields
Authors: Kim Jae Su , Lee Se Jin , Skinner Margaret , Parker Bruce L
Published: April 2014

BACKGROUND

Spraying of entomopathogenic fungi formulated as wettable powders and suspension concentrates based on oils or water has been used for the management of crop pests. However, the use of fungal granules to control paddy field pests has not been fully explored. Herein, several Beauveria bassiana isolates (ERL1170, ERL1578 and ERL836) were produced as granules using a millet‐based solid culture. The granules were applied to the rice nursery 3 days before transplanting, and their control efficacy against rice water weevils was determined in paddy fields.

RESULTS

The solid cultures produced ∼1 × 108 conidia g−1 of millet grains 10 days after the inoculation. The granules were applied to the soil in the rice nursery 3 days before the rice seedlings were transplanted in the paddy fields. Rice in plots with granules of ERL1578 had 17.3% leaf damage (74% control efficacy) 14 days post‐application, whereas rice plants in the untreated control had 66.5% damage. Rice plants treated in the nursery with ERL1170 and ERL836 had 52–54% damage. In the rice plots previously treated with ERL1578, the smallest numbers of larvae and adults were observed 38 days post‐application. In laboratory conditions, ERL1578‐treated larvae turned pink and were covered with mycelial mass.

CONCLUSION

Applications of millet‐based B. bassiana granules on rice nursery soil can be an effective and efficient biological control strategy for the management of rice water weevils. This method can be relatively inexpensive and requires less labor than practices involving the spraying of fungi directly on rice in paddy fields. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Ornithokinin (avian bradykinin) from the skin of the Chinese bamboo odorous frog, Odorrana versabilis
Authors: Lyu Peng , Ge Lilin , Wang Lei , Guo Xiaoxiao , Zhang Huiling , Li Yihan , Zhou Yu , Zhou Mei , Chen Tianbao , Shaw Chris
Published: April 2014

One of the most widespread and abundant families of pharmacologically active peptides in amphibian defensive skin secretions is the bradykinins and related peptides. Despite retaining certain primary structural attributes that assign them to this peptide family, bradykinins and related peptides are unique among amphibian skin peptides in that they exhibit a wide range of primary structural variations, post‐translational modifications and/or N‐terminal or C‐terminal extensions. Initially it was believed that their high degree of primary structural heterogeneity was reflective of random gene mutations within species, but latterly, there is an increasing body of evidence that the spectrum of structural modifications found within this peptide family is reflective of the vertebrate predator spectrum of individual species. Here we report the discovery of ornithokinin (avian bradykinin – Thr6, Leu8‐bradykinin) in the skin secretion of the Chinese bamboo odorous frog, Odorrana versabilis. Molecular cloning of its biosynthetic precursor‐encoding cDNA from a skin secretion‐derived cDNA library revealed a deduced open‐reading frame of 86 amino acid residues, encoding a single copy of ornithokinin towards its C‐terminus. The domain architecture of this ornithokinin precursor protein was consistent with that of a typical amphibian skin peptide and quite different to that of the ornithokininogen from chicken plasma. Ornithokinin was reported to induce hypotension in the chicken and to contract the chicken oviduct but to have no obvious effect on the rat uterus. However, in this study, synthetic ornithokinin was found to contract the rat ileum (EC50 = 539 nM) and to increase contraction frequency in the rat uterus (EC50 = 1.87 μM). Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Porous silicon based on multilayer dielectric‐grating optical sensors with enhanced biosensing
Authors: Mo Jiaqing , Liu Yajun , Liu Chunliang , Jia Zhenhong
Published: April 2014

This paper reports on the use of a novel all‐porous‐silicon configuration consisting of a surface grating and a high‐reflectivity quarter‐wave stack, arranged as both an all‐porous‐silicon grating diffractive device, and a highly sensitive and inexpensive biosensor. The diffraction efficiency of the top surface grating in this structure can be considerably improved for biosensing. Moreover, a porous‐silicon high‐reflectivity multilayer can not only prevent the signal energy from radiating to the substrate, but also increase the internal surface area of the sensing platform for detecting more probing molecules. When 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was employed as a probing molecule, the sensitivity of the proposed structure increased up to 1 order higher than the porous‐silicon diffraction‐grating biosensors without a high‐reflectivity quarter‐wave stack. It has been shown by experimentation that before and after the APTES, −3‐order diffraction efficiency changes from 1.30 × 10−3 to 1.25 × 10−4. Excellent agreement is achieved between the experimental results and simulations based on the rigorous coupled‐wave analysis.
Is “strain glass” a nanodomain frozen transition?
Authors: Liu Jiayi , Jin Xuejun
Published: April 2014

Controversies on the “strain glass” concept are discussed in the present paper. Both ferroic glassy theory and traditional anelasticity theory can explain the “strain glassy behavior”. However, due to the limited frequency range of internal friction measurements, it is difficult to distinguish whether “strain glass” is a nanodomain frozen transition or thermally activated process.
Gradient‐driven molecule construction: An inverse approach applied to the design of small‐molecule fixating catalysts
Authors: Weymuth Thomas , Reiher Markus
Published: April 2014

Rational design of molecules and materials usually requires extensive screening of molecular structures for the desired property. The inverse approach to deduce a structure for a predefined property would be highly desirable, but is, unfortunately, not well defined. However, feasible strategies for such an inverse design process may be successfully developed for specific purposes. We discuss options for calculating “jacket” potentials that fulfill a predefined target requirement—a concept that we recently introduced (Weymuth and Reiher, MRS Proceedings 2013, 1524, DOI:10.1557/opl.2012.1764). We consider the case of small‐molecule activating transition metal catalysts. As a target requirement we choose the vanishing geometry gradients on all atoms of a subsystem consisting of a metal center binding the small molecule to be activated. The jacket potential can be represented within a full quantum model or by a sequence of approximations of which a field of electrostatic point charges is the simplest. In a second step, the jacket potential needs to be replaced by a chemically viable chelate‐ligand structure for which the geometry gradients on all of its atoms are also required to vanish. To analyze the feasibility of this approach, we dissect a known dinitrogen‐fixating catalyst to study possible design strategies that must eventually produce the known catalyst. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inverse quantum chemistry: Concepts and strategies for rational compound design
Authors: Weymuth Thomas , Reiher Markus
Published: April 2014

The rational design of molecules and materials is becoming more and more important. With the advent of powerful computer systems and sophisticated algorithms, quantum chemistry plays a decisive role in the design process. While traditional quantum chemical approaches predict the properties of a predefined molecular structure, the goal of inverse quantum chemistry is to find a structure featuring one or more desired properties. Herein, we review inverse quantum chemical approaches proposed so far and discuss their advantages as well as their weaknesses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Industry Evolution and Entrepreneurship:StevenKlepper's Contributions to Industrial Organization, Strategy, Technological Change, and Entrepreneurship
Authors: Agarwal Rajshree , Braguinsky Serguey
Published: April 2014

In this review ofStevenKlepper's contributions in industry evolution, employee entrepreneurship, and geographical clusters, we trace the evolution of his scholarly career. Combining insights from an in‐depth interview, our own experiences with him, and our retrospective review, we also note some salient characteristics of the process thatKlepper employed while undertaking his research projects, an approach we believe was integral to the fundamental insights evidenced in the content of his scholarly work. Copyright © 2014 Strategic Management Society.
Theoretical study of plasmon losses from Li 1s level in core‐level photoemission spectra
Authors: Niki K. , Yamamura N. , Ohori Y. , Kazama M. , Fujikawa T. , Kövér L.
Published: April 2014

We have studied the surface and bulk plasmon losses associated with Li 1s photoemission. Here, full multiple scatterings of photoelectrons are taken into account before and after the plasmon losses within the quantum Landau formula that can describe overall features of the photoemission bands. We compared the depth profiles of the Li 1s single‐loss spectra with full multiple scatterings and without elastic scatterings. They are strongly influenced by the elastic scatterings. The model accounting for the full multiple scatterings gives a rapidly decaying function of the depth because of the defocusing effects. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring longitudinal risk‐return relationships
Authors: Andersen Torben J. , Bettis Richard A.
Published: April 2014

We study a longitudinal fit model of adaptation and its association with the longitudinal risk‐return relationship. The model allows the firm to adjust its position in response to partial learning about a changing environment characterized by two path‐dependent processes—a random walk and a stochastic trend. Computational simulations at low levels of learning in both environmental contexts are consistent with empirical data. However, the results are also consistent when firm behavior appears to be mindless in the form of a random walk. Hence, both imperfect learning and a mindless random walk can lead to the inverse longitudinal risk‐return relationships observed empirically. We discuss this apparent paradox and the possible resolution between mindless and conscious behavior as plausible causes of the longitudinal Bowman Paradox. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Support vector machines in engineering: an overview
Authors: Salcedo‐Sanz S. , Rojo‐Álvarez J. L. , Martínez‐Ramón M. , Camps‐Valls G.
Published: April 2014

This paper provides an overview of the support vector machine (SVM) methodology and its applicability to real‐world engineering problems. Specifically, the aim of this study is to review the current state of the SVM technique, and to show some of its latest successful results in real‐world problems present in different engineering fields. The paper starts by reviewing the main basic concepts of SVMs and kernel methods. Kernel theory, SVMs, support vector regression (SVR), and SVM in signal processing and hybridization of SVMs with meta‐heuristics are fully described in the first part of this paper. The adoption of SVMs in engineering is nowadays a fact. As we illustrate in this paper, SVMs can handle high‐dimensional, heterogeneous and scarcely labeled datasets very efficiently, and it can be also successfully tailored to particular applications. The second part of this review is devoted to different case studies in engineering problems, where the application of the SVM methodology has led to excellent results. First, we discuss the application of SVR algorithms in two renewable energy problems: the wind speed prediction from measurements in neighbor stations and the wind speed reconstruction using synoptic‐pressure data. The application of SVMs in noninvasive cardiac indices estimation is described next, and results obtained there are presented. The application of SVMs in problems of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data processing is further discussed in the paper: brain decoding and mental disorder characterization. The following application deals with antenna array processing, namely SVMs for spatial nonlinear beamforming, and the SVM application in a problem of arrival angle detection. Finally, the application of SVMs to remote sensing image classification and target detection problems closes this review. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2014, 4:234–267. doi: 10.1002/widm.1125

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Technologies > Computational Intelligence

Technologies > Machine Learning