bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving thermal conductivity and shear strength of carbon nanotubes/epoxy composites via thiol‐ene click reaction
Authors: Bao Rui , Yan Shilin , Qin Ying , Lu Man
Published: November 2016

This study investigates the effect of the thiol‐ene click reaction on thermal conductivity and shear strength of the epoxy composites reinforced by various silane‐functionalized hybrids of sulfhydryl‐grafted multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (SH‐MWCNTs) and vinyl‐grafted MWCNTs (CC‐MWCNTs). The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that the sulfhydryl groups and vinyl groups are successfully grafted onto the surface of MWCNTs, after treatment of MWCNT with triethoxyvinylsilane and 3‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), HotDisk thermal constant analyzer (HotDisk), optical microscope, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are used to characterize the resultant composites. It is demonstrated that the hybrid of 75 wt % SH‐MWCNTs and 25 wt % CC‐MWCNTs has better dispersion and stability in epoxy matrix, and shows a stronger synergistic effect in improving the thermal conductivity of epoxy composite via the thiol‐ene click reaction with 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) as thermal initiator. Furthermore, the tensile shear strength results of MWCNT/epoxy composites and the optical microscopy photographs of shear failure section indicate that the composite with the hybrid MWCNTs has higher shear strength than that with raw MWCNTs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44579.
Fabrication of fluorescent poly(l‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone) fibers with quantum‐dot incorporation from emulsion electrospinning for chloramphenicol detection
Authors: Xiaoqiang Li , Chen Shi , Hua Qiu , Hong Sun , Kenji Ogino
Published: November 2016

The on‐site rapid detection of antibiotic residues deposited in food or beverage still remains a challenge in daily life. In this study, cadmium tellurium (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) were incorporated into poly(l‐lactide‐co‐caprolactone) (PLLACL) fibers with emulsion electrospinning. Water‐soluble CdTe QDs were used as fluorescence agents, and PLLACL was used as filament materials, respectively. A variety of experiments were performed to characterize the structure and properties of the fibrous composite. Ultraviolet–visible and photoluminescence spectra of the fibers showed similar characteristic absorption and emission properties to those of the CdTe QDs. The fibrous QD–PLLACL composite showed stable fluorescence over 30 days at room temperature and could be used to detect chloramphenicol through fluorescence quenching caused by resonance energy transfer. This approach provides a facile shortcut for fabricating fluorescent fibers that simultaneously inherit the mechanical behavior of PLLACL fibers and the fluorescence properties of CdTe QDs for the detection of antibiotics. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44584.
Evaluating a technology supported interactive response system during the laboratory section of a histology course
Authors: Rinaldi Vera D. , Lorr Nancy A. , Williams Kimberly
Published: November 2016

Monitoring of student learning through systematic formative assessment is important for adjusting pedagogical strategies. However, traditional formative assessments, such as quizzes and written assignments, may not be sufficiently timely for making adjustments to a learning process. Technology supported formative assessment tools assess student knowledge, allow for immediate feedback, facilitate classroom dialogues, and have the potential to modify student learning strategies. As an attempt to integrate technology supported formative assessment in the laboratory section of an upper‐level histology course, the interactive application Learning CatalyticsTM, a cloud‐based assessment system, was used. This study conducted during the 2015 Histology courses at Cornell University concluded that this application is helpful for identifying student misconceptions “on‐the‐go,” engaging otherwise marginalized students, and forming a new communication venue between students and instructors. There was no overall difference between grades from topics that used the application and grades from those that did not, and students reported that it only slightly helped improve their understanding of the topic (3.8 ± 0.99 on a five‐point Likert scale). However, they highly recommended using it (4.2 ± 0.71). The major limitation was regarding the image display and graphical resolution of this application. Even though students embrace the use of technology, 39% reported benefits of having the traditional light microscope available. This cohort of students led instructors to conclude that the newest tools are not always better, but rather can complement traditional instruction methods. Anat Sci Educ 10: 328–338. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.
Relationship between atmospheric blocking and cold day extremes in current and RCP8.5 future climate conditions over Japan and the surrounding area
Authors: Kitano Yoshikazu , Yamada Tomohito J.
Published: November 2016

Atmospheric blocking is one of the most impactful weather patterns in midlatitude regions, causing floods, droughts and unusually high or low temperatures. This study investigates the relationship between extremely cold days over Japan and its surroundings and North Pacific blocking in the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) re‐analysis (ERA‐40), phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for historical weather and the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) experiments based on nine climate model datasets in the boreal winter season. Under the climate change conditions based on the RCP8.5 future scenario, extreme cold days (i.e. the first percentile of cold days) over Japan and its surroundings will become weaker but occur more widely when blocking is generated over the northwestern Sea of Okhotsk and its surroundings, because the blocking frequency over this area will decrease and the intensity will weaken.
Ridge estimation of the VAR(1) model and its time series chain graph from multivariate time‐course omics data
Authors: Miok Viktorian , Wilting Saskia M. , van Wieringen Wessel N.
Published: November 2016

Omics experiments endowed with a time‐course design may enable us to uncover the dynamic interplay among genes of cellular processes. Multivariate techniques (like VAR(1) models describing the temporal and contemporaneous relations among variates) that may facilitate this goal are hampered by the high‐dimensionality of the resulting data. This is resolved by the presented ridge regularized maximum likelihood estimation procedure for the VAR(1) model. Information on the absence of temporal and contemporaneous relations may be incorporated in this procedure. Its computational efficient implemention is discussed. The estimation procedure is accompanied with an LOOCV scheme to determine the associated penalty parameters. Downstream exploitation of the estimated VAR(1) model is outlined: an empirical Bayes procedure to identify the interesting temporal and contemporaneous relationships, impulse response analysis, mutual information analysis, and covariance decomposition into the (graphical) relations among variates. In a simulation study the presented ridge estimation procedure outperformed a sparse competitor in terms of Frobenius loss of the estimates, while their selection properties are on par. The proposed machinery is illustrated in the reconstruction of the p53 signaling pathway during HPV‐induced cellular transformation. The methodology is implemented in theragt2ridgesR‐package available from CRAN.
Cytokine and adipokine are biofactors can act in blood and colostrum of obese mothers
Authors: Fujimori Mahmi , França Eduardo Luzia , Morais Tassiane Cristina , Fiorin Vanessa , de Abreu Luiz Carlos , Honório‐França Adenilda Cristina
Published: November 2016

Breast milk contains bioactive components that contribute to newborn development. However, colostrum may undergo biochemical and immunological changes as a function of maternal overweight and obesity. To investigate this hypothesis, this study determined the levels of hormones and immunological markers in the serum and colostrum of overweight and obese mothers. Colostrum and serum samples were collected from 15 normoweight, 15 overweight, and 15 obese women for determination of leptin, adiponectin, cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐10), and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Obese mothers exhibited higher levels of serum TNF‐α, IL‐6, and CRP, serum and colostrum leptin and colostrum adiponectin and lower levels of serum adiponectin. Leptin levels in maternal serum and colostrum were positively correlated, as was pre‐pregnancy BMI and serum TNF‐α, IL‐6, CRP, and leptin. Adiponectin levels in colostrum and serum were negatively correlated. The results suggest that obesity changes hormonal and immunological components of maternal serum and colostrum. The modifications can have short‐term and long‐term effects on newborn development. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(2):243–250, 2017
Anaerobic reduction of 2,6‐dinitrotoluene by Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1: Roles of Mtr respiratory pathway and NfnB
Authors: Liu Dong‐Feng , Min Di , Cheng Lei , Zhang Feng , Li Dao‐Bo , Xiao Xiang , Sheng Guo‐Ping , Yu Han‐Qing
Published: November 2016

Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is a widely present pollutant in aquatic environments, and its biodegradation is an economically attractive way to effectively removal. In aquatic environments, the presence of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) could contribute to the anaerobic bioreduction of DNT. However, the mechanism behind such a biodegradation process at gene level remains to be further elucidated. In this work, the anaerobic reduction of 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (2,6‐DNT) by Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, a typical EAB in aquatic environments, was investigated. S. oneidensis MR‐1 was found to be able to obtain energy for growth through the anaerobic respiration on 2,6‐DNT. Experimental results show that the Mtr respiratory pathway, a transmembrane electron transport chain, was involved in the 2,6‐DNT bioreduction. Knockout of cymA or nfnB resulted in a substantial loss of its 2,6‐DNT‐reducing ability, indicating that both CymA and NfnB were the key proteins in the microbial electron transfer chain. The genetic analysis further confirms that the Mtr respiratory pathway and NfnB are mainly responsible for the anaerobic reduction of 2,6‐DNT by S. oneidensis MR‐1. This work is useful to better understand the anaerobic bioreduction of nitroaromatic compounds in aquatic environments and remediate the environments contaminated by nitroaromatic compounds. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 761–768. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Segmented linear modeling of CHO fed‐batch culture and its application to large scale production
Authors: Ben Yahia Bassem , Gourevitch Boris , Malphettes Laetitia , Heinzle Elmar
Published: November 2016

We describe a systematic approach to model CHO metabolism during biopharmaceutical production across a wide range of cell culture conditions. To this end, we applied the metabolic steady state concept. We analyzed and modeled the production rates of metabolites as a function of the specific growth rate. First, the total number of metabolic steady state phases and the location of the breakpoints were determined by recursive partitioning. For this, the smoothed derivative of the metabolic rates with respect to the growth rate were used followed by hierarchical clustering of the obtained partition. We then applied a piecewise regression to the metabolic rates with the previously determined number of phases. This allowed identifying the growth rates at which the cells underwent a metabolic shift. The resulting model with piecewise linear relationships between metabolic rates and the growth rate did well describe cellular metabolism in the fed‐batch cultures. Using the model structure and parameter values from a small‐scale cell culture (2 L) training dataset, it was possible to predict metabolic rates of new fed‐batch cultures just using the experimental specific growth rates. Such prediction was successful both at the laboratory scale with 2 L bioreactors but also at the production scale of 2000 L. This type of modeling provides a flexible framework to set a solid foundation for metabolic flux analysis and mechanistic type of modeling. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 785–797. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Use of mushroom tyrosinase to introduce michaelis‐menten enzyme kinetics to biochemistry students
Authors: Flurkey William H. , Inlow Jennifer K.
Published: November 2016

An inexpensive enzyme kinetics laboratory exercise for undergraduate biochemistry students is described utilizing tyrosinase from white button mushrooms. The exercise can be completed in one or two three‐hour lab sessions. The optimal amounts of enzyme, substrate (catechol), and inhibitor (kojic acid) are first determined, and then kinetic data is collected in the absence and presence of the inhibitor. A Microsoft Excel template is used to plot the data and to fit the Michaelis‐Menten equation to the data to determine the kinetic parametersVmaxandKm. The exercise is designed to clarify and reinforce concepts covered in an accompanying biochemistry lecture course. It has been used with positive results in an upper‐level biochemistry laboratory course for junior/senior students majoring in chemistry or biology. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(3):270–276, 2017.
Cytochrome P450 reaction phenotyping and inhibition and induction studies of pinostrobin in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes
Authors: Tan Shengnan , Dong Zhimin , Zhang Jiashuo , Efferth Thomas , Fu Yujie , Hua Xin
Published: November 2016

Pinostrobin (PI, 5‐hydroxy‐7‐methoxyflavanone) is a natural flavonoid known for its rich pharmacological activities. The objective of this study was to identify the human liver cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of PI. A single hydoxylated metabolite was obtained from PI after an incubation with pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs). The relative contributions of different CYP450s were evaluated using CYP450‐selective inhibitors in HLMs and recombinant human CYP450 enzymes, and the results revealed the major involvement of CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP2E1 in PI metabolism. We also evaluated the ability of PI to inhibit and induce human cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro. High‐performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analytical techniques were used to estimate the enzymatic activities of seven drug‐metabolizing CYP450 isozymes in vitro. In HLMs, PI did not inhibit CYP 1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 (IC50 > 100 μm). In the induction studies, PI had minimal effects on CYP1A2, CYP2B6and CYP3A4 activity. Based on these results, PI would not be expected to cause clinically significant CYP450 inhibition or induction.
Simultaneous determination of tanshinol, protocatechuic aldehyde, protocatechuic acid, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS and its application
Authors: Li Tingyang , Chu Yang , Yan Kaijing , Li Shuming , Wang Xiangyang , Wang Ying , Li Wei , Ma Xiaohui , Yang Jin , Liu Changxiao
Published: November 2016

Dantonic pill, consisting of Salviae miltiorrhize, Panax notoginseng and Borneol, is a widely used compound Chinese medicine for preventing and treating ischemic cardiovascular diseases in China. In the present study, an original and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of tanshinol (i.e. danshensu), protocatechuic aldehyde, protocatechuic acid, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 in rat plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry operated in positive/negative ion switching mode was established and validated. The lower limits of quantification for tanshinol, protocatechuic aldehyde, protocatechuic acid, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 were 5, 0.5, 1, 0.5, 0.5 and 2 ng/mL, respectively. All of the calibration curves showed good linearity over the investigated concentration range (r > 0.99). Validation results demonstrated that the above compounds were accurately, precisely and robustly quantified in rat plasma. The method was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetic profiles of all six compounds in rats following a single oral administration of Dantonic pill.
Double pylorus: two sides to one story
Authors: Umar Shifa , Bilal Mohammad
Published: November 2016

Key Clinical Message

It is important to recognize that “congenital” double pylorus is a benign condition, so that extensive work‐up can be avoided. Also, endoscopists should be aware of the double pylorus and demonstrate extra caution during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Secondary Phosphine Oxides as Multitalented Preligands En Route to the Chemoselective Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols
Authors: Vasseur Alexandre , Membrat Romain , Gatineau David , Tenaglia Alphonse , Nuel Didier , Giordano Laurent
Published: November 2016

Secondary phosphine oxides O=PHR2 (SPOs) were identified as multitalented preligands for the chemoselective Pd‐catalyzed oxidation of alcohols by a hydrogen‐abstracting methodology. SPOs were found to promote the hydrogen‐abstraction step as well as hydrogen transfer to a Michael acceptor by generating a putative active H−Pd species. The catalytic system operates under neutral conditions and was proven to be compatible with various electrophilic and nucleophilic functionalities within the substrates as well as water‐ and air‐sensitive functional groups.
Catalyst@Metal Hybrids in a One‐Pot Multistep Opposing Oxidation and Reduction Reaction Sequence
Authors: Shapiro Leora , Avnir David
Published: November 2016

We report the feasibility of the catalysis of contrasting reactions, oxidation and reduction, in a multistep process that also involves a condensation reaction all performed with hybrids of catalytic organometallic complexes entrapped within metals ([complex]@metal). Two routes were explored for the multistep process. The first route used a combination of an oxidizing Ir complex entrapped in Ag ([Ir]@Ag) and a reducing Rh complex entrapped in Ag ([Rh]@Ag). The second route used a single composite material, namely, [Ir]@Pd, in which [Ir] acted as the oxidizing catalyst, and Pd was the reducing catalyst. Both routes were efficient for the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation and reduction reaction sequence. Towards the goal of a one‐pot multistep oxidation and reduction process, a detailed study of the catalytic alcohol oxidation properties of the heterogeneous [Ir]@Ag and [Ir]@Pd was performed. As the arsenal of available hydrogenation catalysts exceeds by far that of oxidations, this part of the study is, we believe, of general interest in itself, as a new alternative to heterogeneous oxidative catalysis.
Strongly Coupled 3D Nanohybrids with Ni2P/Carbon Nanosheets as pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalysts
Authors: Li Yan , Cai Pinwwei , Ci Suqin , Wen Zhenhai
Published: November 2016

A reliable strategy has been developed to prepare Ni2P nanofilms on carbon nanosheets (CNS) nanohybrids (Ni2P/CNS), which involves the preparation of three‐dimensional (3D) CNS followed by in situ growth of Ni2P nanofilms on the surface of CNS. The Ni2P/CNS nanohybrids possess a robust 3D hierarchical structure, in which the Ni2P films are solidly overlaid on the surface of the CNS. The Ni2P/CNS nanohybrid was characterized by a variety of techniques, including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), etc. A series of electrochemical tests demonstrate the Ni2P/CNS nanohybrid shows high catalytic activity and excellent stability towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in pH‐universal electrolyte, that is, in acidic, neutral, and basic media. The outstanding performance for Ni2P/CNS is correlated with the synergic effects between Ni2P and CNS associated with its unique and robust structure.
Template‐Assisted Synthesis of a One‐Dimensional Hierarchical Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 Microrod Cathode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Lan , Lu Chao , Xiang Mingwu , Zhang Yun , Liu Heng , Wu Hao
Published: November 2016

A lithium‐rich layered 1D hierarchical Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 microrod has been synthesized through a facile template‐assisted strategy through chemical lithiation of a rodlike MC2O4⋅2 H2O (M=Ni, Co, Mn) oxalate precursor that is obtained from a two‐step coprecipitation route without the use of any surfactants. The chemical composition, structure, and morphology of the as‐prepared lithium‐rich layered material are well characterized, and the resultant Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 material presents an ordered 1D microrod morphology and consists of interconnected nanosized subunits (≈200 nm) with a highly porous structure. Because of the hierarchically ordered 1D microrod structure, Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 as a cathode material exhibits superior reversible capacity, rate capability, and cycling performance compared with its bulk counterpart, which delivers high specific discharge capacities of 260 and 118 mA h g−1 at current rates of 0.1 and 5 C, respectively, and a high discharge capacity of 170 mA h g−1 can be also maintained even after 200 cycles at 2 C, corresponding to a capacity retention as high as 89.6 %. The remarkable electrochemical performances can be related to the unique 1D rodlike porous micro–nano hierarchical structure, which can facilitate the diffusion of Li+ ions and strengthen the structural stability of the lithium‐rich layered cathode materials.
Detection of Sodium Dehydroacetate by Tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Electrochemiluminescence
Authors: Hui Pan , Zhang Ling , Gao Wenyue , Zuo Hongjian , Qi Liming , Kitte Shimeles Addisu , Li Yunhui , Xu Guobao
Published: November 2016

Sodium dehydroacetate, a common food additive and preservative, is investigated as a co‐reactant in efficient electrochemiluminescence reactions of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ for the first time. A linear electrochemiluminescence response is observed over the range of 0.001–1.0 mm with a detection limit of 0.27 μm sodium dehydroacetate. The proposed method has been applied to detect sodium dehydroacetate in baking bread with satisfactory recoveries.
Palladium Nanoparticle Loaded Bifunctional Silica Hybrid Material: Preparation and Applications as Catalyst in Hydrogenation Reactions
Authors: Surmiak Sabrina K. , Doerenkamp Carsten , Selter Philipp , Peterlechner Martin , Schäfer Andreas H. , Eckert Hellmut , Studer Armido
Published: November 2016

Bifunctional mesoporous silica was prepared by co‐condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) with functionalized organosilanes containing azides or alkoxyamines. Orthogonal functional groups at the particles were selectively addressed in subsequent chemical modifications through “click”‐chemistry (“click to ligand” strategy) and radical nitroxide exchange. Palladation with PdCl2 delivered Pd nanoparticle‐loaded silica material bearing sulfoxides and additional aminoamides as stabilizing ligands by means of in situ reduction of the PdII‐salt. These functional particles were successfully applied to the hydrogenation of alkynes and alkenes. Aldehyde hydrodeoxygenation and benzyl ether cleavage were achieved with these hybrid catalysts under mild conditions. Particles were analyzed by IR, TEM/STEM, EDX, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Chemosensor for Selective Determination of an N‐Nitroso‐l‐proline Food Toxin
Authors: Lach Patrycja , Sharma Piyush Sindhu , Golebiewska Karolina , Cieplak Maciej , D'Souza Francis , Kutner Wlodzimierz
Published: November 2016

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)‐based chemosensor for the selective determination of a chosen toxin, N‐nitroso‐l‐proline (Pro‐NO), was devised and fabricated. By means of DFT, the structure of the pre‐polymerization (functional monomer)–template complex was modeled. This complex was then potentiodynamically electropolymerized in the presence of cross‐linking monomer to form a MIP–Pro‐NO thin film. Next, the Pro‐NO template was extracted from MIP–Pro‐NO with 0.1 m NaOH. Piezoelectric microgravimetry (PM) on an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and electrochemical (differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) techniques were used to transduce binding of Pro‐NO to molecular cavities of the MIP–Pro‐NO. With DPV and EIS chemosensing, the limits of detection (LODs) were about 80.9 and 36.9 nM Pro‐NO, respectively; and the selectivity coefficients for urea, glucose, creatinine, and adrenalin interferences were 6.6, 13.2, 2.1, and 2.0, respectively, with DPV as well as 2.3, 2.0, 3.3, and 2.5, respectively, with EIS. With PM under flow injection analysis conditions, the LOD was 10 μm Pro‐NO. The MIP–Pro‐NO chemosensor detectability and selectivity with respect to interferences were sufficiently high to determine Pro‐NO in protein‐providing food products.
Zeolite‐Based Organic Synthesis (ZeoBOS) of Acortatarin A: First Total Synthesis Based on Native and Metal‐Doped Zeolite‐Catalyzed Steps
Authors: Wimmer Eric , Borghèse Sophie , Blanc Aurélien , Bénéteau Valérie , Pale Patrick
Published: November 2016

Similarly to polymer‐supported assisted synthesis (PSAS), organic synthesis could be envisaged being performed by using zeolites, native or metal‐doped, as heterogeneous catalysts. To illustrate this unprecedented Zeolite‐Based Organic Synthesis (ZeoBOS), the total synthesis of acortatarin A was achieved through a novel strategy and using five out of eleven synthetic steps catalyzed by H‐ or metal‐doped zeolites as catalysts. Notably, the formation of an yne‐pyrrole intermediate with a copper‐doped zeolite and the spiroketalization of an alkyne diol with a silver‐doped zeolite have been developed as key steps of the synthesis.
Omitting lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer
Authors: Hurteau Jean A.
Published: November 2016

Lymphadenectomy can be omitted for patients with endometrial cancer.

See referenced original article and related editorial on pages 192‐6 and 263‐72.
Patients with endometrial cancer at risk for lymphatic metastasis should undergo pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy as part of their initial surgery
Authors: Miller David Scott
Published: November 2016

There is no advantage to ignoring occult lymphatic metastases in endometrial cancer. There are a variety of strategies available to the surgeon to help in identifying patients at higher risk for lymphatic metastasis who are more likely to benefit from lymphadenectomy.

See referenced original article and related editorial on pages 197‐9 and 263‐72.
A Sustainable Strategy for the Synthesis of Pyrochlore H4Nb2O7 Hollow Microspheres as Photocatalysts for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Zhou Chao , Shi Run , Shang Lu , Zhao Yufei , Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N. , Wu Li‐Zhu , Tung Chen‐Ho , Zhang Tierui
Published: November 2016

A facile and green process was developed for the synthesis of pyrochlore H4Nb2O7 hollow microspheres by using hydrothermal treatment of Sn2Nb2O7 hollow microspheres in aqueous 2 m HCl at 100–180 °C. The facile transformation of Sn2Nb2O7 into H4Nb2O7 is facilitated by the intrinsic ion‐exchange capability of Sn2Nb2O7. The resulting H4Nb2O7 hollow microspheres (diameter 1–2 μm, shell thickness 100–200 nm) displayed excellent photocatalytic performance for overall water splitting under UV irradiation, affording H2 and O2 evolution rates of 240 and 116 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively. Following decoration with 0.5 wt % Pt, the H4Nb2O7 hollow microspheres demonstrated remarkably high H2 and O2 evolution rates of 1240 and 600 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively. To our knowledge, this work is the first reported study examining the photocatalytic performance of H4Nb2O7 for water splitting. The hydrothermal synthesis method described here is also applicable to the synthesis of pyrochlore H4Ta2O7 from Sn2Ta2O7, highlighting the versatility of the approach.
Structure of proof of concept studies that precede a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis development program
Authors: Williams RN , Filozof C , Goldstein BJ , Cusi K
Published: November 2016

Surrogate endpoints for clinical proof of concept (POC) trials in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are based upon expert pathological review of liver biopsies. During early development, these long‐term POC studies (≥48 weeks) add cost and time to the “Go/No Go” decision process. However, it is possible to conduct short‐term noninvasive POC studies utilizing biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging. Here, we discuss the use of shorter noninvasive POC studies relative to biopsy‐driven studies for drug development in NASH.
Disruptive Potential of the Internet to Transform Illicit Drug Markets and Impact on Future Patterns of Drug Consumption
Authors: Griffiths P , Mounteney J
Published: November 2016

The internet facilitates rapid and covert communication, knowledge transfer, and has the potential to disrupt and transform drug market models and associated consumption patterns. Innovation and new trends diffuse rapidly through this medium and new operational models are emerging. Although the online drug markets currently only account for a small share of all drug transactions, the potential of the surface and deep web to provide a new platform for drug sale and exchanges is considerable.
Shape‐selective Valorization of Biomass‐derived Glycolaldehyde using Tin‐containing Zeolites
Authors: Tolborg Søren , Meier Sebastian , Saravanamurugan Shunmugavel , Fristrup Peter , Taarning Esben , Sádaba Irantzu
Published: November 2016

Invited for this month′s cover is a collaboration group between Haldor Topsøe A/S and the Technical University of Denmark. The image shows the catalytic upgrading of biomass‐derived glycolaldehyde for the formation of the rare tetrose sugars by exploiting the medium‐sized pores of zeotype Sn‐MFI. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201600757.
LNA characterization methodologies
Authors: Lehmeyer Bernhard , Ivrlač Michel T. , Nossek Josef A.
Published: November 2016

Joint characterization of low‐noise amplifiers regarding stochastic and deterministic parameters based on output power measurement for a set of known input termination impedances is considered. As an advantage of this method, both noise parameters and the input impedance can be obtained for narrow and broad band applications without special equipment. This method is mathematically developed and practically verified by simulations and measurements. With the knowledge of at least four real‐valued stochastic, and three real‐valued deterministic parameters, the amplifier is characterized, and the noise figure, gain, and input reflection can be calculated as function of the matching network.

Two different ways of processing measured data will be shown.

Advantages of the proposed method compared with established methods are as follows:

No special equipment (e.g., network analyzer, calibrated noise source, noise figure meter, slide screw tuner,…) is needed, just a tunable power meter with known noise bandwidth.

The four real‐valued noise parameters can be obtained with four terminating impedances only.

With three additional terminating impedances, the input impedance of the low‐noise amplifiers can be obtained.

With every additional terminating impedance, the accuracy of the measurement is improved.

Outliers are detected and eliminated.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low‐leakage sub‐threshold 9 T‐SRAM cell in 14‐nm FinFET technology
Authors: Zeinali Behzad , Madsen Jens Kargaard , Raghavan Praveen , Moradi Farshad
Published: November 2016

A novel sub‐threshold 9 T Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell designed and simulated in 14‐nm FinFET technology is proposed in this paper. The proposed 9 T‐SRAM cell offers an improved access time in comparison to the 8 T‐SRAM cell. Furthermore, an assist circuit is proposed by which the leakage current of the proposed SRAM cell is reduced by 20% when holding ‘0’ and an equal leakage current during hold ‘1’ in comparison to the 8 T‐SRAM cell. The proposed circuit improves the access time by 40% in comparison to the 8 T‐SRAM cell without any degradation in write and read noise margins, as well. The maximum operating frequency of the proposed SRAM cell is 1.53 MHz at VDD = 270 mV. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sometimes simpler is better: VLog, a general but easy‐to‐implement log‐like transform for cytometry
Authors: Bagwell C. Bruce , Hill Beth L. , Herbert Donald J. , Bray Chris M. , Hunsberger Benjamin C.
Published: November 2016

The fundamental purpose of log and log‐like transforms for cytometry is to make measured population variabilities as uniform as possible. The long‐standing success of the log transform was its ability to stabilize linearly increasing gain‐dependent uncertainties and the success of the log‐like transforms is that they extend this notion to include zero and negative measurement values. This study derives and examines a transform called VLog that stabilizes the three general sources of variability: (1) gain‐dependent variability, (2) photo‐electron counting error, and (3) signal‐independent sources of error. Somewhat surprisingly, this transform has a closed‐form solution and therefore is relatively simple to implement. By including some quantitation elements in its formulation, the shape‐dependent arguments,αandβ, usually do not require optimization for different datasets. The simplicity and generality of the transform may make it a useful tool for cytometry and possibly other technologies. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Optimal load balanced clustering in homogeneous wireless sensor networks
Authors: Souissi Manel , Meddeb Aref
Published: November 2016

Balancing the load among sensor nodes is a major challenge for the long run operation of wireless sensor networks. When a sensor node becomes overloaded, the likelihood of higher latency, energy loss, and congestion becomes high. In this paper, we propose an optimal load balanced clustering for hierarchical cluster‐based wireless sensor networks. We formulate the network design problem as mixed‐integer linear programming. Our contribution is 3‐fold: First, we propose an energy aware cluster head selection model for optimal cluster head selection. Then we propose a delay and energy‐aware routing model for optimal inter‐cluster communication. Finally, we propose an equal traffic for energy efficient clustering for optimal load balanced clustering. We consider the worst case scenario, where all nodes have the same capability and where there are no ways to use mobile sinks or add some powerful nodes as gateways. Thus, our models perform load balancing and maximize network lifetime with no need for special node capabilities such as mobility or heterogeneity or pre‐deployment, which would greatly simplify the problem. We show that the proposed models not only increase network lifetime but also minimize latency between sensor nodes. Numerical results show that energy consumption can be effectively balanced among sensor nodes, and stability period can be greatly extended using our models.
Intensified plant N and C pool with more available nitrogen under experimental warming in an alpine meadow ecosystem
Authors: Peng Fei , Xue Xian , You Quangang , Xu Manhou , Chen Xiang , Guo Jian , Wang Tao
Published: November 2016

Nitrogen (N) availability is projected to increase in a warming climate. But whether the more available N is immobilized by microbes (thus stimulates soil carbon (C) decomposition), or is absorbed by plants (thus intensifies C uptake) remains unknown in the alpine meadow ecosystem. Infrared heaters were used to simulate climate warming with a paired experimental design. Soil ammonification, nitrification, and net mineralization were obtained by in situ incubation in a permafrost region of the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP). Available N significantly increased due to the stimulation of net nitrification and mineralization in 0–30 cm soil layer. Microbes immobilized N in the end of growing season in both warming and control plots. The magnitude of immobilized N was lower in the warming plots. The root N concentration significantly reduced, but root N pool intensified due to the significant increase in root biomass in the warming treatment. Our results suggest that a warming‐induced increase in biomass is the major N sink and will continue to stimulate plant growth until plant N saturation, which could sustain the positive warming effect on ecosystem productivity.
The impacts of a changing climate on catchment water balance and forest management
Authors: Schüler Gebhard , Schobel Steffen , Wilkinson Kristina , Schultze Bernd , Karl Sabine , Scherzer Jörg
Published: November 2016

Climate change has serious impacts on forest services with regard to the spatial and temporal distribution of water within catchments. Hence, combined forest and catchment management in a changing climate is a crucial concern for people and society. To assess hydrological processes and water resources in two forested headwater catchments in south‐west Germany the physical based hydrological model ArcAPEX was calibrated to investigate climate change scenarios for the near (2021–2050) and far (2071–2100) future. Even though the trend in temperature is positive in most regional climate change scenarios for south‐west Germany, the precipitation trend is quite ambiguous. Different precipitation scenarios give access to the possible bandwidth between water stress and flood generation. Our results can be used to describe water resources and discharge characteristics under conditions of different land use change scenarios.

Management option for a sustainable forestry and flood mitigation will be to “spread the risk” by creating forests with a high biodiversity and a prioritization of forest services and functions. The principle is to find “no‐regret” decisions. In this sense, final decisions should not be taken too early, and several options should be kept open, such as dealing with increasingly frequent droughts on one hand and increased runoff generation on the other hand. Thus, it should remain possible for forest and catchment management authorities to react to possible developments in an uncertain future.
From cryptic herbivore to predator: stable isotopes reveal consistent variability in trophic levels in an ant population
Authors: Roeder Karl A. , Kaspari Michael
Published: November 2016

Populations may collectively exhibit a broad diet because individuals have large diet breadths and/or because subpopulations of specialists co‐occur. In social insect populations, the diet of the genetic individual, the colony, may similarly arise because workers are diet generalists or castes of specialists. We used elemental and isotopic methods to explore how the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, achieves its status as a trophic generalist. In one 0.5‐ha old field, 31 S. invicta colonies ranged from 1°‐consumer to 2°‐predator (δ15N's 0.35–7.38‰), a range comparable to that shown in sampled ant communities. Moreover, a colony's trophic rank was stable despite δ15N fluctuating 2.98‰ over the year. Colonies that fed at higher trophic levels were not larger, but consumed more C3‐based resources. Individual worker mass, however, did increase with δ15N (r2 = 0.29, P < 0.001). The ninefold variation in worker mass within a colony generated trophic variance approximately 15% of the population of colonies. Combined, we show how intraspecific trait variation contributes to the trophic breadth of S. invicta, and suggest mechanisms that further explain how their trophic signature varies across space, but remains stable over time.
Reactions of 3‐Acylchromones with Heterocyclic Ketene Aminals: One‐Pot Synthesis and Phosphatase Inhibitory Activity of Fused Pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Savych Iryna , Ejaz Syeda Abida , Shah Syed Jawad Ali , Iaroshenko Viktor O. , Villinger Alexander , Sosnovskikh Vyacheslav Ya. , Iqbal Jamshed , Abbasi Afshin , Langer Peter
Published: November 2016

Domino reactions of 3‐acylchromones, namely 3‐methoxalyl‐, 3‐aroyl‐ and 3‐cinnamoylchromones, with heterocyclic ketene aminals (HKAs) proceed by attack of the nucleophile on the C‐2 atom of the chromone moiety, pyrone ring‐opening and subsequent formal [3+3] cyclocondensation with formation of functionalized tetracyclic fused chromeno[2,3‐b]pyridines or 2H,3H‐imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines. The product distribution depends on the type of acyl group located at the 3‐position of the chromone and on the size of the heterocyclic moiety of the HKAs. The products show considerable activity as selective phosphatase inhibitors.
Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of a Series of Pyrazine‐Based Push–Pull Chromophores
Authors: Hoffert Kellyn , Durand Raphaël J. , Gauthier Sébastien , Robin‐le Guen Françoise , Achelle Sylvain
Published: November 2016

Eighteen push–pull pyrazine fluorophores are described. Methoxy, dimethylamino, and diphenylamino groups were used as electron‐donating groups (EDGs), and six π‐conjugated systems consisting of multiple bonds and 1,4‐phenylene moieties were used to connect the EDGs to the pyrazine core. The chromophores were obtained by Knoevenagel condensation and palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions starting from commercially available 2‐methyl‐ or 2‐chloropyrazine. The optical absorption and emission properties of these chromophores were studied in different solvents. Some proved to be highly emissive and exhibit strong emission solvatochromism, which suggests a highly polar emitting state, characteristic of compounds that undergo intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The influences of the various electron‐donating groups and π‐conjugated systems on the emission and ICT have been carefully studied.
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Sulfa‐Michael Addition of 2‐Aminothiophenols to Chalcones: First Enantioselective Access to 2,3,4,5‐Tetrahydro‐1,5‐benzothiazepines
Authors: Corti Vasco , Camarero Gonzalez Patricia , Febvay Julie , Caruana Lorenzo , Mazzanti Andrea , Fochi Mariafrancesca , Bernardi Luca
Published: November 2016

1,5‐Benzothiazepine frameworks are highly relevant in medicinal chemistry. Reported catalytic asymmetric approaches to these scaffolds have targeted 2,3‐dihydro‐1,5‐benzothiazepin‐4‐ones but leave the corresponding amines (i.e., 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,5‐benzothiazepines) out of reach. Herein, we present the first entry to these important compounds in enantioenriched form. Our approach is based on the catalytic asymmetric sulfa‐Michael addition of 2‐aminothiophenols to trans‐chalcones, followed by intramolecular reductive amination. Both reactions required careful study to solve several challenging issues. The resulting optimized two‐step protocol afforded a range of 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1,5‐benzothiazepines as single trans diastereomers in moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities.
Plateau reduction by drainage divide migration in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia defined by morphometry and 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides
Authors: Struth Lucía , Teixell Antonio , Owen Lewis A. , Babault Julien
Published: November 2016

Catchment‐wide erosion rates were defined using 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides for the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes to help determine the nature of drainage development and landscape evolution. The Eastern Cordillera, characterized by a smooth axial plateau bordered by steep flanks, has a mean erosion rate of 11 ± 1 mm/ka across the plateau and 70 ± 10 mm/ka on its flanks, with local high rates >400 mm/ka. The erosional contrast between the plateau and its flanks was produced by the increase in the orogen regional slope, derived from the progressive shortening and thickening of the Eastern Cordillera. The erosion rates together with digital topographic analysis show that the drainage network is dynamic and confirms the view that drainage divides in the Eastern Cordillera are migrating towards the interior of the mountain belt resulting in progressive drainage reorganization from longitudinal to transverse‐dominated rivers and areal reduction of the Sabana de Bogotá plateau. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Infiltration of fine sediment into a coarse mobile bed: a phenomenological study
Authors: Dudill Ashley , Frey Philippe , Church Michael
Published: November 2016

Experiments were undertaken to study the nature of granular interaction in running water by examining the influence of fine grain inputs to a coarser sediment bed with a mobile surface. Video recordings of grain sorting by both kinetic sieving and spontaneous percolation are used to diagnose the critical processes controlling the overall bed response. Kinetic sieving takes place in the mobile bed surface, with the finer sediment moving to the bottom of the bedload transport layer at the interface with the underlying quasi‐static coarse bed. We show that the behavior at this interface dictates how a channel responds to a fine sediment input. If, by spontaneous percolation, the fine sediment is able to infiltrate into the underlying quasi‐static bed, the total transport increases and the channel degrades. However, if the fine sediment input rate exceeds the transport capacity or is geometrically unable to infiltrate into the underlying bed, it forms a quasi‐static layer underneath the transport layer that inhibits entrainment from the underlying bed, resulting in aggradation and an increase in bed slope. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prospects for crowdsourced information on the geomorphic ‘engineering’ by the invasive Coypu (Myocastor coypus)
Authors: Sofia Giulia , Masin Roberta , Tarolli Paolo
Published: November 2016

Among the most invasive species, the Coypu (Myocastor coypus) best exemplifies the widespread effect of alien species on ecosystems. Among the impacts, the induced erosion in riverbanks has an increasing economic and social importance. Despite its significance, this type of erosion is rarely quantified, and the available information is limited to local knowledge, grey literature, and maintenance reports. This research shows the potential of freely and instantly available Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) photogrammetry to obtain crowdsourced information based on smartphone images. The results highlight how it is possible to provide a rough estimate of the damages with relatively low or null cost of application, and limited expert knowledge and expenditure of time, depending on the scale of analysis. The proposed technique provides a fresh approach to a known long‐standing issue, offering a new source of information for farmers, researchers, wildlife managers, as well as for land managers and planners. The potential applications of such a technique and its unprecedented ease of use and very low cost offer effective tools for management plans and scientific research, providing a basis to relate eroded volumes to the functioning of the drainage system and the connected agroecosystem. The method would also enable the opportunity of participatory and opportunistic crowdsourced sensing. Further scientific research on the crowd‐based data on erosion should encourage standardisation of data gathering and accessibility, together with a public involvement in information exchange, to generate a better understanding and awareness of erosion problems also for other fields of research. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.