bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalysis at room temperature: perspectives for future green chemical processes
Authors: Lam Frank Leung‐Yuk , Li Michael C.L. , Chau Rock S.L. , Arancon Rick A.D. , Hu Xijun , Luque Rafael
Published: September 2014

Catalytic processes have been one of the main pillars of the chemical industry in recent years. Protocols that make use of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts have been extensively implemented for the production of fine chemicals, fuels, materials, and relevant products. Importantly, the need for benign by design processes and technologies became recently a major driver in both research and industry for a more sustainable future. This contribution has been aimed to discuss and highlight key examples on room temperature catalytic processes as one of the most relevant research avenues for future developments in catalysis. WIREs Energy Environ 2015, 4:316–338. doi: 10.1002/wene.141

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Systems and Infrastructure

Energy Efficiency > Science and Materials

Energy Research & Innovation > Science and Materials
Effect of Antiplatelet Therapy on Patients Undergoing Gastroenterological Surgery: Thromboembolic Risks Versus Bleeding Risks During Its Perioperative Withdrawal
Authors: Fujikawa Takahisa , Tanaka Akira , Abe Toshihiro , Yoshimoto Yasunori , Tada Seiichiro , Maekawa Hisatsugu
Published: September 2014

Background

Antiplatelet agents given to prevent thromboembolic disease are frequently withdrawn prior to surgical procedures to reduce bleeding complications. This action may expose patients to increased thromboembolic morbidity and mortality.

Methods

A series of 2012 patients who had undergone gastroenterologic surgery between January 2005 and June 2010 at our institution were reviewed. Among this cohort, antiplatelet therapy (APT) was used in 519 patients (25.8 %). The perioperative management included interruption of APT 1 week before surgery and early postoperative reinstitution in patients at low thromboembolic risk, although APT was maintained until surgery in those at high thromboembolic risk. Bleeding and thromboembolic complications, as well as other outcome variables, were assessed in patients with and without APT.

Results

Among 519 patients with APT, 99 (19.1 %) underwent multidrug APT. Among them, 124 (23.9 %) required preoperative continuation of APT. None suffered from excessive bleeding intraoperatively. There were 19 thromboembolic events (0.9 %) in the whole cohort. Postoperative bleeding complications occurred in 37 patients (1.8 %). Multivariate analysis showed that increased postoperative bleeding complications were independently associated with multidrug APT [hazard ratio (HR) 4.3, p = 0.014], high‐risk surgical procedures (HR 3.5, p = 0.003), and perioperative heparin bridging (HR 2.8, p = 0.029). High‐risk surgery (HR 8.3, p < 0.001) and poor performance status (HR 4.9, p = 0.005)—but neither APT nor anticoagulation use—were significant prognostic factors for thromboembolic complications.

Conclusions

Satisfactory outcomes were obtained during gastroenterologic surgery under rigorous perioperative management, including single‐agent APT continuation in patients at high thromboembolic risk. Patients treated with multidrug APT still represent a challenging group, however, and need to be carefully managed to prevent perioperative complications.
Reporting of Adverse Events in Surgical Trials: Critical Appraisal of Current Practice
Authors: Rosenthal Rachel , Hoffmann Henry , Dwan Kerry , Clavien Pierre‐Alain , Bucher Heiner C.
Published: September 2014

Background

Reporting of surgical outcomes is important for healthcare decision making and includes the reporting of complications. Several classifications have been proposed and validated for postoperative, but not intraoperative, complications. The aim of the present study is to assess the current practice of complication reporting in surgical trials.

Methods

We evaluated the reporting of intra‐ and postoperative complications in all registered randomized controlled trials that included investigate surgery or invasive interventions in at least one study arm and were published in 2010 in the Annals of Surgery, JAMA Surgery, and the British Journal of Surgery.

Results

A total of 46 trials were identified; intra‐ and postoperative complications were reported separately in 42 % and pooled in 15 %. In 37 % intraoperative, in 2 % postoperative, and in 4 % both intra‐ and postoperative, complications were not reported at all. Exact definitions were provided in 13 % for intraoperative and in 50 % for postoperative complications. A classification was used in 9 % for intra‐ and in 54 % for postoperative complications, most frequently according to severity. The type of intervention (surgical vs. other) or whether the primary outcome was the assessment of complications had no significant impact on reporting definitions of adverse events.

Conclusions

Intraoperative complications are frequently pooled with postoperative complications, ill‐defined, or not reported at all, hampering informed decision making. As further research, we propose to develop and validate a classification of intraoperative complications. This will facilitate the evaluation of safety and the continuous quality control of surgical interventions with the ultimate goal to contribute to patient safety.
Robotic Spleen Preserving Distal Pancreatectomy: How I Do It (with Video)
Authors: Ntourakis Dimitrios , Marescaux Jacques , Pessaux Patrick
Published: September 2014

Laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery, although technically demanding, gains popularity due to the patient benefits of a mini‐invasive approach. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is a technically feasible and reproducible operation that doesn’t require complex digestive reconstruction. It requires advanced laparoscopic skill for vascular dissection and control. Due to the absence of trials proving its oncological results it is mainly indicated for benign or borderline tumours of the pancreatic body and tail. Since for these tumours there is no indication for a lymph node dissection, there are benefits for the patient if the spleen is preserved. There is some evidence that robotic assistance facilitates the procedure and makes it accessible to surgeons diminishing the necessity of advanced laparoscopic skills. In this technical multimedia article, we present our method for a robotic mini‐invasive spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the splenic vessels. The technique is presented in a stepwise approach with an accompanying video. We believe that the use of the Da Vinci robotic platform facilitates this demanding procedure.
Decomposition frameworks for cooperative manipulation of a planar rigid body with multiple unilateral thrusters
Authors: Li Wei , Spong Mark W.
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we consider cooperative manipulation of a planar rigid body using multiple actuator agents—unilateralthrusters, each attached to the body and each able to apply an unilateral force to the body. Generally, the dynamics of the body manipulated with uncoordinated forces of thrusters is nonlinear. The problem we consider ishow to design the unilateral forceeach agent applies to ensure the decoupling and linearity of the linear and angular (i.e., translational and rotational) accelerations of the body and thus allow a controller to be designed in a simpler manner, instead of developing sophisticated nonlinear control techniques. Here consider two types of unilateral thrusters with (i) all fixed directions, and (ii) all non-fixed directions, respectively. To address the problem, we design two decomposition frameworks, each with its advantages, on the structure of the forces and control policy such that (i) the linear and angular accelerations of the body are decoupled and controlled independently, and (ii) the control that ensures the forces to be unilateral (only for thrusters with non-fixed directions) is independent from the linear and angular accelerations. As a result, the closed-loop dynamics of the body is linear with respect to both the linear and angular accelerations; thus the control of the body becomes trivial, which may provide a convenient and alternative methodology for design of a physical system with a quick estimation and reference of the manipulated forces required.
Dispersing Carbon Nanotubes in Aqueous Solutions of Trisiloxane‐Based Surfactants Modified by Ethoxy and Propoxy Groups
Authors: Xin Xia , Pang Jinyu , Li Wenzhe , Wang Yitong , Yuan Jing , Xu Guiying
Published: September 2014

Silicone surfactants favor spreading at interfaces and siloxane has strong interaction with carbon nanotubes (CNT), thus silicone surfactant may be a good dispersant of CNT. Here, four silicone surfactants (named S1E19, S2E38, S2E16 and S1E16P8) were used to disperse CNT in aqueous solutions. The effects of surfactant structure and concentration on the ability at dispersing CNT were considered. All of the four silicone surfactants can disperse CNT in aqueous solution and the sample with 1,000 mg L−1 S1E16P8 was the best one. The hydrophilic group polyoxyethylene (PEO) and the hydrophobic groups siloxane and polypropylene (PPO) are crucial factors in the ability of dispersing CNT. S2E38 with more ethylene oxide (EO) groups has a stronger ability to disperse CNT than S2E16. The dispersion system provided by S1E19 which contains fewer siloxane and EO groups is relatively unstable and disperses less CNT. These experimental results are explained by molecular dynamics simulation. S2E38 compared with S1E19 and S2E16 has stronger interactions with CNT. The interaction energy of CNT with S1E16P8 which has a PPO moiety but fewer siloxane groups is close to that of S2E16. Furthermore, it can be concluded that these four surfactants are adsorbed on CNT mainly by van der Waals forces and the Si–O–Si chain of silicon surfactant was flexible due to the long Si–C bond and it could easily wrap onto the surface of CNT through hydrophobic and other intermolecular interactions. The hydrophilic part of PEO helped the CNT dispersed in the aqueous solution and prevented CNT from aggregating in water through steric stabilization.
Cultural Scenes and Voting Patterns in Canada
Authors: Silver Daniel , Miller Diana
Published: September 2014

Extending recent social science work using the concept of “scene” into politics, this paper investigates connections between cultural variation and political variation across Canadian localities. First, we introduce the notion of “scene.” Then, using a national database of local amenities (with some 1800 categories and 1.6 million data points), we show that key dimensions of cultural meaning account for significant differences in voting patterns in recent Canadian elections. In particular, electoral districts with scenes that suggest themes of self-expression are associated with support for left-leaning parties, while scenes that support locality and corporateness are associated with the right. We conclude with suggestions for pursuing hypotheses about potential mechanisms driving these associations.
Gut microbiota, the pharmabiotics they produce and host health
Authors: Patterson Elaine , Cryan John F. , Fitzgerald Gerald F. , Ross R. Paul , Dinan Timothy G. , Stanton Catherine
Published: September 2014

A healthy gut microbiota plays many crucial functions in the host, being involved in the correct development and functioning of the immune system, assisting in the digestion of certain foods and in the production of health-beneficial bioactive metabolites or ‘pharmabiotics’. These include bioactive lipids (including SCFA and conjugated linoleic acid) antimicrobials and exopolysaccharides in addition to nutrients, including vitamins B and K. Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota and reductions in microbial diversity are highlighted in many disease states, possibly rendering the host susceptible to infection and consequently negatively affecting innate immune function. Evidence is also emerging of microbially produced molecules with neuroactive functions that can have influences across the brain–gut axis. For example, γ-aminobutyric acid, serotonin, catecholamines and acetylcholine may modulate neural signalling within the enteric nervous system, when released in the intestinal lumen and consequently signal brain function and behaviour. Dietary supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics are the most widely used dietary adjuncts to modulate the gut microbiota. Furthermore, evidence is emerging of the interactions between administered microbes and dietary substrates, leading to the production of pharmabiotics, which may directly or indirectly positively influence human health.
A PARAMETRIC BOOTSTRAP FOR HEAVY-TAILED DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Cornea-Madeira Adriana , Davidson Russell
Published: September 2014

It is known that Efron’s bootstrap of the mean of a distribution in the domain of attraction of the stable laws with infinite variance is not consistent, in the sense that the limiting distribution of the bootstrap mean is not the same as the limiting distribution of the mean from the real sample. Moreover, the limiting bootstrap distribution is random and unknown. The conventional remedy for this problem, at least asymptotically, is either themout ofnbootstrap or subsampling. However, we show that both these procedures can be unreliable in other than very large samples. We introduce a parametric bootstrap that overcomes the failure of Efron’s bootstrap and performs better than themout ofnbootstrap and subsampling. The quality of inference based on the parametric bootstrap is examined in a simulation study, and is found to be satisfactory with heavy-tailed distributions unless the tail index is close to 1 and the distribution is heavily skewed.
ADAPTIVE NONPARAMETRIC REGRESSION WITH CONDITIONAL HETEROSKEDASTICITY
Authors: Jin Sainan , Su Liangjun , Xiao Zhijie
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we study adaptive nonparametric regression estimation in the presence of conditional heteroskedastic error terms. We demonstrate that both the conditional mean and conditional variance functions in a nonparametric regression model can be estimated adaptively based on the local profile likelihood principle. Both the one-step Newton–Raphson estimator and the local profile likelihood estimator are investigated. We show that the proposed estimators are asymptotically equivalent to the infeasible local likelihood estimators [e.g., Aerts and Claeskens (1997) Journal of the American Statistical Association 92, 1536–1545], which require knowledge of the error distribution. Simulation evidence suggests that when the distribution of the error term is different from Gaussian, the adaptive estimators of both conditional mean and variance can often achieve significant efficiency over the conventional local polynomial estimators.
Genetic moderation of effects of maternal sensitivity on girl's age of menarche: Replication of the Manuck et al. study
Authors: Hartman Sarah , Widaman Keith F. , Belsky Jay
Published: September 2014

Manuck, Craig, Flory, Halder, and Ferrell (2011) reported that a theoretically anticipated effect of family rearing on girls' menarcheal age was genetically moderated by two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the estrogen receptor-α gene. We sought to replicate and extend these findings, studying 210 White females followed from birth. The replication was general because a different measure of the rearing environment was used in this inquiry (i.e., maternal sensitivity) than in the prior one (i.e., family cohesion). Extensions of the work included prospective rather than retrospective measurements of the rearing environment, reports of first menstruation within a year of its occurrence rather than decades later, accounting for some heritability of menarcheal age by controlling for maternal age of menarche, and using a new model-fitting approach to competitively compare diathesis–stress versus differential-susceptibility models of Gene × Environment interaction. The replication/extension effort proved successful in the case of both estrogen receptor-α SNPs, with the Gene × Environment interactions principally reflecting diathesis–stress: lower levels of maternal sensitivity predicted earlier age of menarche for girls homozygous for the minor alleles of either SNP but not for girls carrying other genotypes. Results are discussed in light of the new analytic methods adopted.
Asymptotics of Symmetric Compound Poisson Population Models
Authors: HUILLET THIERRY , MÖHLE MARTIN
Published: September 2014

Compound Poisson population models are particular conditional branching process models. A formula for the transition probabilities of the backward process for general compound Poisson models is verified. Symmetric compound Poisson models are defined in terms of a parameter θ ∈ (0, ∞) and a power series φ with positive radiusrof convergence. It is shown that the asymptotic behaviour of symmetric compound Poisson models is mainly determined by the characteristic value θrφ′(r−). If θrφ′(r−)≥1, then the model is in the domain of attraction of the Kingman coalescent. If θrφ′(r−) < 1, then under mild regularity conditions a condensation phenomenon occurs which forces the model to be in the domain of attraction of a discrete-time Dirac coalescent. The proofs are partly based on the analytic saddle point method. They draw heavily from local limit theorems and from results of S. Janson on simply generated trees, conditioned Galton-Watson trees, random allocations and condensation. Several examples of compound Poisson models are provided and analysed.
Plasmonic biocompatible silver–gold alloyed nanoparticles
Authors: Sotiriou Georgios A. , Etterlin Gion Diego , Spyrogianni Anastasia , Krumeich Frank , Leroux Jean-Christophe , Pratsinis Sotiris E.
Published: September 2014

Nanoalloying Ag with Au minimizes nanoparticle surface oxidation and subsequent toxic Ag+ ion release rendering such nanoparticles safer for theranostic applications.
Production of few-layer phosphorene by liquid exfoliation of black phosphorus
Authors: Brent Jack R. , Savjani Nicky , Lewis Edward A. , Haigh Sarah J. , Lewis David J. , O'Brien Paul
Published: September 2014

We report the liquid exfoliation of black phosphorus to form few-layer phosphorene nanosheets.
Electrochemically driven drug metabolism via a CYP1A2–UGT1A10 bienzyme confined in a graphene nano-cage
Authors: Lu Jusheng , Zhang Yuanjian , Li Henan , Yu Jiachao , Liu Songqin
Published: September 2014

A novel graphene nano-cage containing a CYP1A2–UGT1A10 bienzyme was successfully fabricated for studying drug sequential metabolism using an electrochemically driven method.
Volatile organic compounds in Arctic snow: concentrations and implications for atmospheric processes
Authors: Kos Gregor , Kanthasami Visahini , Adechina Nafissa , Ariya Parisa A.
Published: September 2014

Concurrent measurements of aromatic, oxygenated and halogenated VOC in the High-Arctic snow pack and air with solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography.
Behavior of nanoceria in biologically-relevant environments
Authors: Kumar Amit , Das Soumen , Munusamy Prabhakaran , Self William , Baer Donald R. , Sayle Dean C. , Seal Sudipta
Published: September 2014

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) have gained considerable attention in biological research due to their anti-oxidant like behaviour and regenerative nature.
Triboelectric nanogenerators as new energy technology and self-powered sensors – Principles, problems and perspectives
Authors: Wang Zhong Lin
Published: September 2014

Triboelectrification is one of the most common effects in our daily life, but it is usually taken as a negative effect with very limited positive applications. Here, we invented a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on organic materials that is used to convert mechanical energy into electricity. The TENG is based on the conjunction of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction, and it utilizes the most common materials available in our daily life, such as papers, fabrics, PTFE, PDMS, Al, PVCetc.In this short review, we first introduce the four most fundamental modes of TENG, based on which a range of applications have been demonstrated. The area power density reaches 1200 W m−2, volume density reaches 490 kW m−3, and an energy conversion efficiency of ∼50–85% has been demonstrated. The TENG can be applied to harvest all kinds of mechanical energy that is available in our daily life, such as human motion, walking, vibration, mechanical triggering, rotation energy, wind, a moving automobile, flowing water, rain drops, tide and ocean waves. Therefore, it is a new paradigm for energy harvesting. Furthermore, TENG can be a sensor that directly converts a mechanical triggering into a self-generated electric signal for detection of motion, vibration, mechanical stimuli, physical touching, and biological movement. After a summary of TENG for micro-scale energy harvesting, mega-scale energy harvesting, and self-powered systems, we will present a set of questions that need to be discussed and explored for applications of the TENG. Lastly, since the energy conversion efficiencies for each mode can be different although the materials are the same, depending on the triggering conditions and design geometry. But one common factor that determines the performance of all the TENGs is the charge density on the two surfaces, the saturation value of which may independent of the triggering configurations of the TENG. Therefore, the triboelectric charge density or the relative charge density in reference to a standard material (such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) can be taken as a measuring matrix for characterizing the performance of the material for the TENG.
Effects of salt on the expansion of starchy snacks: a multiscale analysis
Authors: van der Sman R. G. M. , Broeze J.
Published: September 2014

We investigate the effect of salt on the expansion of starchy snacks during frying by means of a multiscale simulation model.
Chestnut flowers as functionalizing agents to enhance the antioxidant properties of highly appreciated traditional pastry
Authors: Carocho Márcio , Barreira João C. M. , Bento Albino , Morales Patricia , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R.
Published: September 2014

This paper reports the antioxidant capacity of traditional cakes supplemented with chestnut flowers and decoctions of these flowers, during 0, 15 and 30 days of storage.
Bioactivity and phenolic composition from natural fermented table olives
Authors: Malheiro Ricardo , Mendes Patrícia , Fernandes Fátima , Rodrigues Nuno , Bento Albino , Pereira José Alberto
Published: September 2014

Natural fermented table olives as a source of phytochemicals with bioactive properties.
Probing the origin of opposite ion-pair binding behavior for two new calix[4]pyrrole bis-phosphonate receptors
Authors: Wang Teng , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Dongsheng , Sun Hongwei
Published: September 2014

The origin of opposite ion-pair binding behavior for two new calix[4]pyrrole bis-phosphonate receptors has been explored.
Cerium(iii)-catalyzed regioselective coupling of 2-hydroxychalcones and polyphenols: an efficient domino approach towards synthesis of novel dibenzo-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes
Authors: Chand Ganguly Nemai , Roy Sushmita , Mondal Pallab
Published: September 2014

Efficient cerium(iii)-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of functionalized dibenzannulated mono- and novel bisbicyclic-O,O-ketals is described by coupling of 2-hydroxychalcone and resorcinol/phloroglucinol via Michael addition–bicyclization cascade.
Carbon dioxide bio-fixation and wastewater treatment via algae photochemical synthesis for biofuels production
Authors: Shen Yafei
Published: September 2014

Utilizing the energy, nutrients and CO2held within residual waste materials to provide all necessary inputs except for sunlight, the cultivation of algae becomes a closed-loop engineered ecosystem. Developing this green biotechnology is a tangible step towards a waste-free sustainable society.
Successive in situ synthesis of Ag/PA6 nanocomposites
Authors: Duan Jianping , Zhao Dajiang , Zhao Xingke , Xia Housheng , Li Peng , liu Yan , Yang Guisheng
Published: September 2014

Schematic diagram of successive in situ synthesis of Ag/PA6 nanocomposite.
Study of glycine nitrate precursor method for the synthesis of gadolinium doped ceria (Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.90) as an electrolyte for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Kulkarni Shrikant , Duttagupta Siddhartha , Phatak Girish
Published: September 2014

This is a detailed study of the synthesis parameters and their effects on the physical properties and ionic conductivity of gadolinium-doped ceria prepared using a glycine nitrate precursor combustion method.
Metal-free syntheses of oxindole derivatives via a benzoylation/substitution/desulfonylation/cyclization cascade
Authors: Niu Ben , Xie Ping , Zhao Wannian , Zhou Yang , Bian Zhaogang , Pittman Charles U. , Zhou Aihua
Published: September 2014

A benzoylation/substitution/desulfonylation/cyclization cascade reaction giving oxindole derivatives was reported.
Novel Burgess reagent mediated C-to-N aryl migration reaction in nitrones
Authors: Sajitha T. S. , Prathapan S. , Unnikrishnan P. A.
Published: September 2014

Nitrones undergo useful transformations with Burgess reagent, ostensibly involving a [3 + 2] annulation across a σ-bond followed by rearrangement involving C-to-N aryl migration.
Controlled formation of nanoparticle clusters mediated by electrostatic interaction
Authors: Shen Xiaoshuang , Mei Chao , Zhou Yuxue , Xia Weiwei , Zhou Min , Zeng Xianghua
Published: September 2014

A general strategy for high yield fabrication of homo- and hetero-nanoparticle clusters with controlled configuration and inter-particle gap through a self-assembly process mediated by electrostatic interaction was reported.
Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imines in water/methanol co-solvent system and mechanistic investigation by DFT study
Authors: Shende Vaishali S. , Shingote Savita K. , Deshpande Sudhindra H. , Kuriakose Nishamol , Vanka Kumar , Kelkar Ashutosh A.
Published: September 2014

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of various cyclic imines proceeded efficiently with H2O/MeOH (1 : 1, v/v) co-solvent media in 20 min with excellent yields and enantioselectivities by using Rh–TsDPEN catalyst and HCOONa as a hydrogen donor.
Ultrafast synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots via neutralization heat for bioimaging and sensing applications
Authors: Wei Xiao-Mi , Xu Yang , Li Yu-Hao , Yin Xue-Bo , He Xi-Wen
Published: September 2014

Ultrafast synthesis (within 2 min) of nitrogen-doped carbon dots was achieved using neutralization heat with glucose as a precursor. The hydroxyl groups on the dots' surface make them easy to conjugate with boronic acid. The dots were used for zebrafish embryo imaging and ovalbumin sensing.
Tailored design of palladium species grafted on an amino functionalized organozinc coordination polymer as a highly pertinent heterogeneous catalyst
Authors: Choudhary H. , Nishimura S. , Ebitani K.
Published: September 2014

Designed organic–inorganic hybrid material, named as Pd/AZC, demonstrated stable and viable catalysis for important organic transformations.
Dimensionally integrated nanoarchitectonics for a novel composite from 0D, 1D, and 2D nanomaterials: RGO/CNT/CeO2ternary nanocomposites with electrochemical performance
Authors: Rajendran Raja , Shrestha Lok Kumar , Minami Kosuke , Subramanian Munisamy , Jayavel Ramasamy , Ariga Katsuhiko
Published: September 2014

Dimensionally mixed ternary nanocomposite RGO/CNT/CeO2develops novel functions displaying enhanced electrochemical performance.
High-efficiency solid-state polymer electrolyte dye-sensitized solar cells with a bi-functional porous layer
Authors: Cho Woohyung , Kim Young Rae , Song Donghoon , Choi Hyung Woo , Kang Yong Soo
Published: September 2014

A simple and effective method to increase the energy conversion efficiency is proposed and demonstrated by increasing the ion flux with a reduction in the thickness of solid polymer electrolyte layers and the mass transport distance of I−/I3− redox couples.
Bioactivated protein-based porous microcarriers for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Luo Baiwen , Loh Qiu Li , Chong Wong Marcus Thien , Tan Nguan Soon , Choong Cleo
Published: September 2014

Lipoaspirate-derived extracellular matrix enrichment was able to provide the necessary cell adhesion receptors and biological factors for improving cell–material interactions of porous OVA microcarriers.
Nanogel carrier design for targeted drug delivery
Authors: Eckmann D. M. , Composto R. J. , Tsourkas A. , Muzykantov V. R.
Published: September 2014

Polymer-based nanogel formulations offer features attractive for drug delivery, including ease of synthesis, controllable swelling and viscoelasticity as well as drug loading and release characteristics, passive and active targeting, and the ability to formulate nanogel carriers that can respond to biological stimuli.
Pure and intense orange upconversion luminescence of Eu3+from the sensitization of Yb3+–Mn2+dimer in NaY(Lu)F4nanocrystals
Authors: Wang Zhuo , Feng Jing , Song Shuyan , Sun Zhiqiang , Yao Shuang , Ge Xin , Pang Min , Zhang Hongjie
Published: September 2014

The pure and intense orange upconversion luminescence of Eu3+was efficiently achieved in NaY(Lu)F4nanocrystals through Yb3+–Mn2+dimer sensitization.
Running on time: the role of circadian clocks in the musculoskeletal system
Authors: Dudek Michal , Meng Qing-Jun
Published: September 2014

The night and day cycle governs the circadian (24 hourly) rhythm of activity and rest in animals and humans. This is reflected in daily changes of the global gene expression pattern and metabolism, but also in the local physiology of various tissues. A central clock in the brain co-ordinates the rhythmic locomotion behaviour, as well as synchronizing various local oscillators, such as those found in the musculoskeletal system. It has become increasingly recognized that the internal molecular clocks in cells allow a tissue to anticipate the rhythmic changes in their local environment and the specific demands of that tissue. Consequently, the majority of the rhythmic clock controlled genes and pathways are tissue specific. The concept of the tissue-specific function of circadian clocks is further supported by the diverse musculoskeletal phenotypes in mice with deletions or mutations of various core clock components, ranging from increased bone mass, dwarfism, arthropathy, reduced muscle strength and tendon calcification. The present review summarizes the current understanding of the circadian clocks in muscle, bone, cartilage and tendon tissues, with particular focus on the evidence of circadian rhythms in tissue physiology, their entrainment mechanisms and disease links, and the tissue-specific clock target genes/pathways. Research in this area holds strong potential to advance our understanding of how circadian rhythms control the health and disease of the musculoskeletal tissues, which has major implications in diseases associated with advancing age. It could also have potential implications in sports performance and sports medicine.
Lattice‐based memory polynomial predistorter for wideband radio frequency power amplifiers
Authors: Hassan Abdelhafiz Abubaker , Zerguine Azzedine , Hammi Oualid , Ghannouchi Fadhel M.
Published: September 2014

This study addresses the ill‐conditioning problem of the memory polynomial (MP) model with application to the predistortion of highly non‐linear power amplifiers with memory effects. A resource‐efficient lattice‐based MP structure built using the cascade of a MP generator and a lattice predictor is proposed to overcome the ill‐conditioning of the MP's data matrix. The proposed model performances are benchmarked against those of the MP model as well as the orthogonal MP model. The experimental results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed predistorter as it achieves similar performance in the time and the frequency domains compared to the MP counterpart while alleviating its ill‐conditioning problem.
Approximate symbol error rate of cooperative communication over generalised κ −μ and η −μ fading channels
Authors: Kumbhani Brijesh , Reddy Lomada Nerusupalli Baya , Kshetrimayum Rakhesh Singh
Published: September 2014

Closed form expressions for approximate symbol error rate are obtained using moment generating function for a two branch cooperative communication system over generalised κ −μ and η −μ i.i.d. fading channels for BPSK and QAM modulation schemes. Selective decode and forward protocol is used at the relay transmitter. At the destination maximal‐ratio combining is used. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to verify the analytical results.
Cities in the Roman World
Authors: Sears Gareth
Published: September 2014

The Roman Empire was an empire of cities. The city was the primary organizational building block of the empire; almost the whole empire was divided into city territories. Despite this, there are problems when defining a Roman city. In this article the “Roman city” is understood as an urban space within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Even on these terms, given that this definition encompasses over a thousand years of history and a space that stretched from Britain to Mesopotamia, the “Roman” city is a much-varied entity. Furthermore, many of these cities predated the Roman conquest, complicating analysis of what is “Roman” about them; it is perhaps better to think of them as cities that existed under Roman rule. It is also important to note that the Roman legal definition of the city did not just comprise the urban area but also the rural hinterland with its villages and small towns that were dependent on it. In any definition of the Roman city, there is also a question of whether we should include the vici (small towns) of these territories. Although not institutionally independent, some demonstrate aspects of urban life, for instance the erection of public buildings, while others contain more-industrial installations than many cities. If these settlements developed enough, they might petition for their freedom and become a city in their own right; Orcistus in Asia Minor famously managed to free itself from Nacolia by appealing to Constantine I (Corpus inscriptionum Latinarum III 352 = 7000). The city itself, as a special category of study, has come under attack on numerous fronts. Horden and Purcell 2000 (The Corrupting Sea: A Study of Mediterranean History, cited in the City and Economic Models), for instance, argues that the city was not ontologically different from other settlement types (although others have pointed to the importance of the density of specialists making such places qualitatively different), while the concentration on the “Roman” city at the expense of rural sites has sometimes been viewed as an expression of cultural colonialism. Because of the nature of the evolution of urban space, the examination of the Roman city has been inherently bound up in the study of Romanization and has benefited and suffered as a result. Examinations of the Roman city encompass a variety of approaches, from assessments of institutions and legal charters to demography, urban religion and Christianization, monumentalization, public writing, and the city as lived experience.
Ennius
Authors: La Barbera Sandro
Published: September 2014

Quintus Ennius was an author of Latin poetry and prose who lived and wrote between the second half of the 3rd century and the first half of the 2nd century bce (apparently 239–169 bce). He was born in the trilingual Messapian city of Rudiae, where Latin, Greek, and Oscan were spoken concurrently (as apparently did Ennius himself: cf. Gellius, Attic Nights 17.17). Tradition has Ennius follow Cato the Elder to Rome in 204 bce, after meeting him in Sardinia while serving in the army during the Second Punic War. In Rome, Ennius distinguished himself for his literary and scholarly production in Latin, in which he mastered a cultural and linguistic fusion between the Greek tradition and the fledgling Roman literature. All of Ennius’s works have been lost and only fragments of them have been preserved, all indirectly transmitted within the corpora of other authors’ works; we also have references by other authors to works of which we do not have any fragments at all. His first major achievements seem to have come with the public staging of his tragedies, mostly set in Greece and having original Greek tragedies as models (these were called fabulae cothurnatae). He also wrote praetextae, that is, tragedies of Roman setting and subject, but we have fewer fragments for these than we have for the cothurnatae, and only two titles—Ambracia and Sabinae. Even less is known about his comedies, which do not seem to have been held in high consideration (cf. Volcacius Sedigitus’s canon of comedy), and about whose titles and contents very little information has been preserved. Most of the information we still possess regards Ennius’s last and longest work, the Annals, an eighteen-book epic poem that covered the national history of Rome and its wars from the mythological founding of the city until the contemporary reality of the Punic Wars, with the title Annals (Lat. Annales) possibly alluding to the year-by-year approach of the ancient tradition of Roman annalists. Ennius was the first author to choose hexameter, the Greek meter of epic, to compose a Latin epic poem (the former traditional meter being Saturnian), and for this reason was considered the “father” of Latin epic poetry, thus influencing all following authors (Lucretius, Cicero, Virgil, etc.) by whom he was either praised and taken as a model, or more or less fiercely rejected for his “archaic” language and taste in favor of a more modern style. Apart from plays and epic, Ennius also cultivated many other genres in works that are traditionally referred to as Minor Works.
Angels
Authors: Angel Joseph , Walsh Matthew
Published: September 2014

Angels are supernatural beings who serve a variety of functions in biblical literature. The term most often used to denote angels in the Hebrew Bible, mal’ak, means “messenger.” The Septuagint frequently translates mal’ak with the Greek angelos, from which the English word “angel” derives. While angels are mentioned several times in the earlier writings of the Hebrew Bible, in the literature of the Second Temple period a veritable explosion of interest in them is found. Jewish writings of this era exhibit a sustained interest in identifying the various ranks and orders of the angels as well as in naming individual angels and delineating their specific functions. The extensive angelological speculation of this period deeply influenced later forms of Judaism and as well as constituting an important element of the Jewish heritage of early Christianity.
Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Authors: May Stephen , Dam Lincoln I.
Published: September 2014

This article presents a selection of the key literature on bilingualism and bilingual education and gives readers access to the international research on the multiplicity of topics that make up these fields. While the term “bilingualism” is consistently used throughout this article, it should also be taken as incorporating multilingualism. The question of what constitutes bilingualism has been the subject of much debate, with definitions ranging from minimal to maximal competency in more than one language. Similarly, the links between bilingualism and education have also been widely debated. Prior to the 1960s, for example, research on bilingual students in schools attributed bilingualism with detrimental effects on thinking. From this, early researchers often claimed that bilingual education had few, if any, benefits. In contrast, the consensus of research since the 1960s strongly suggests the opposite, highlighting the cognitive benefits of bilingualism and, relatedly, that bilingual education is an effective approach for language learning when it is designed and implemented appropriately. A comprehensive review of the literature on bilingual education also suggests that it is a highly political issue on many levels. For instance, some have noted that bilingual education policies are seldom actually assessed on the basis of educational research and theory alone, but are instead shaped and determined by external influences such as political ideology. Added to this are the challenges associated with assessment measures for students undertaking bilingual education. Not only is testing a political act, but bilingual institutions and programs are confronted with significant complexities. These include how best to examine student learning and capabilities in ways that take aspects of their bilingual and cultural backgrounds into consideration while simultaneously meeting the requirements of often-monolingual assessment schemes. The themes presented here are but a sample of the topics that are considered vital to the progression of research encompassing bilingualism and bilingual education.
Differential expression of lactic acid isomers, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, and matrix metalloproteinase‐8 in vaginal fluid from women with vaginal disorders
Authors: Beghini J , Linhares IM , Giraldo PC , Ledger WJ , Witkin SS
Published: September 2014

Objective

Do metabolites in vaginal samples vary between women with different vaginal disorders.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Campinas, Brazil.

Sample

Seventy‐seven women (39.9%) with no vaginal disorder, 52 women (26.9%) with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), 43 women (22.3%) with bacterial vaginosis (BV), and 21 women (10.9%) with cytolytic vaginosis (CTV).

Method

Concentrations of d‐ and l‐lactic acid, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), and matrix metalloproteinase‐8 (MMP‐8), and the influence of Candida albicans on EMMPRIN production by cultured vaginal epithelial cells, were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Associations were determined by the Mann–Whitney U‐test and by Spearman's rank correlation test.

Main outcome measures

Metabolite levels and their correlation with diagnoses.

Results

Vaginal concentrations of d‐ and l‐lactic acid were reduced from control levels in BV (P < 0.0001); l‐lactic acid levels were elevated in CTV (P = 0.0116). EMMPRIN and MMP‐8 concentrations were elevated in VVC (P < 0.0001). EMMPRIN and l‐lactic acid concentrations (P ≤ 0.008), but not EMMPRIN and d‐lactic acid, were correlated in all groups. EMMPRIN also increased in proportion with the ratio of l‐ to d‐lactic acid in controls and in women with BV (P ≤ 0.009). Concentrations of EMMPRIN and MMP‐8 were correlated in controls and women with VVC (P ≤ 0.0002). Candida albicans induced EMMPRIN release from vaginal epithelial cells.

Conclusions

Vaginal secretions from women with BV are deficient in d‐ and l‐lactic acid, women with VVC have elevated EMMPRIN and MMP‐8 levels, and women with CTV have elevated l‐lactic acid levels. These deviations may contribute to the clinical signs, symptoms, and sequelae that are characteristic of these disorders.
Human neutrophil peptide 1–3, a component of the neutrophil extracellular trap, as a potential biomarker of lupus nephritis
Authors: Cheng Fa‐Juan , Zhou Xu‐Jie , Zhao Yan‐Feng , Zhao Ming‐Hui , Zhang Hong
Published: September 2014

Objective

Human neutrophil peptides (HNP) were recently implicated in the neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) complex, the impaired degradation of which has been associated with lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods

Forty LN patients, 40 SLE patients without kidney injury, 63 immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) patients, 20 minimal change disease (MCD) patients and 33 healthy controls were included in the present study. LN, IgAN and MCD patients were diagnosed with renal biopsy. LN patients were followed for a median period of 5.5 years. Clinical and laboratory data at the time of renal biopsy and follow‐up were collected for each LN patient. Serum levels of HNP1–3 were measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Serum HNP1‐3 levels in LN patients were significantly higher than for SLE patients without kidney injury (P < 0.001), IgAN patients (P = 0.012), MCD patients (P = 0.010) and healthy controls (P = 0.022). Serum HNP1–3 levels were an independent indicator of LN (P = 0.006, OR = 7.5, 95% CI, 1.782–31.842), were statistically correlated with urinary protein excretion (P = 0.009) and activity index (P = 0.042) and were only marginally correlated with neutrophils (P = 0.054) and white blood cell counts (P = 0.051). Serum levels of HNP1–3 were a predictor of proteinuria remission after correction for multiple parameters (multivariate hazard 0.209; 95% CI 0.046–0.951; P = 0.043).

Conclusions

The data from this study indicated that HNP1–3, one component of the NET, is a potential biomarker for LN.
Sleep quality in patients with Behçet's disease
Authors: Yazmalar Levent , Batmaz İbrahim , Sarıyıldız Mustafa A. , Yıldız Mehmet , Uçmak Derya , Türkçü Fatih , Akdeniz Dicle , Sula Bilal , Çevik Remzi
Published: September 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep quality and the related variables in patients with Behçet's disease (BD).

Method

One hundred and twelve patients diagnosed with BD and 67 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used for the evaluation of sleep disturbance in all participants. The quality of life (QoL) of all patients were evaluated by Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), and anxiety and depression which were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results

The patients with BD had significantly higher scores in subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, functional disorder in the morning and total PSQI score compared to the healthy control group. According to Pearson's analysis, there was a significantly higher correlation between the anxiety, depression and all components of NHP scores and the total PSQI score. Logistic regression analyses indicated that genital ulcer and arthritis were predictors for poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

Sleep quality is disturbed in patients with BD. The lower quality of sleep is greatly associated with anxiety, depression, QoL, genital ulcers and arthritis.
Does Bosentan Protect Diabetic Brain Alterations in Rats? The Role of Endothelin‐1 in the Diabetic Brain
Authors: Demir Recep , Cadirci Elif , Akpinar Erol , Cayir Yasemin , Atmaca Hasan Tarik , Un Harun , Kunak Celalettin Semih , Yayla Muhammed , Bayraktutan Zafer , Demir Ilknur
Published: September 2014

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major problem all over the world, affecting more people in recent years. Individuals with diabetes are more prone to disease than non‐diabetics, especially vascular complications. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of the endothelin (ET)‐1 in brain damage formed in a streptozocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes model, and the effect of bosentan, which is the non‐specific ET1 receptor blocker in the prevention of the diabetes‐induced brain damage. To examine the effects of bosentan (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) in this study, the rats were given the drug for 3 months. The rats were divided into four groups: the sham group (n = 10), the diabetic control group (n = 10), the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 50 mg/kg (n = 10) and the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 100 mg/kg (n = 10). Diabetes was induced in the rats by STZ (60 mg/kg i.p.). On day 91, all rats were killed. Brain tissues of the rats were measured by molecular, biochemical and histopathological methods. Antioxidant levels in the therapy groups were observed as quite near to the values in the healthy group. In this study, while the brain eNOS levels in the diabetic groups decreased, the ET1 and iNOS levels were found to be increased. However, in the diabetes group, hippocampus and cerebellum, pericellular oedema and a number of neuronal cytoretraction were increased in neuropiles, whereas these results were decreased in the therapy group. Based on all of these results, ET1 will not be ignored in diabetes‐induced cerebral complications.