bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utility of Semiquantitative Strain Elastography for Differentiation Between Benign and Malignant Solid Renal Masses
Authors: Onur Mehmet Ruhi , Poyraz Ahmet Kursad , Bozgeyik Zulkif , Onur Ahmet Rahmi , Orhan Irfan
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the role of semiquantitative strain elastography for differentiation of benign and malignant solid renal masses.

Methods

Seventy‐one patients with solid renal masses were prospectively examined with ultrasound elastography after grayscale sonography. Strain elastography was used to compare the stiffness of the renal masses and renal parenchyma. The ratio of strain in a renal mass and nearby renal parenchyma was defined as the strain index value. Mean strain index values for benign masses (n = 29; 24 angiomyolipomas and 5 oncocytomas) and malignant masses (n = 42; 34 renal cell carcinomas, 4 transitional cell carcinomas, 3 metastases, and 1 lymphoma) and mean strain index values for angiomyolipomas and renal cell carcinomas were compared.

Results

There were no significant differences in the mean age of the patients, mean diameter of the masses, and mean probe‐mass distance between benign and malignant groups. The mean strain index value ± SD for malignant masses (4.05 ± 2.17) was significantly higher than the value for benign masses (1.43 ± 0.94; P < .05). The mean strain index value for renal cell carcinomas (4.30 ± 2.27) was significantly higher than the value for angiomyolipomas (1.28 ± 1.01; P < .0001).

Conclusions

Strain elastography may be a useful imaging technique for differentiation between benign and malignant solid renal masses.
Relationship Between the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Kidney Shear Wave Speed Values Assessed by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography
Authors: Bob Flaviu , Bota Simona , Sporea Ioan , Sirli Roxana , Popescu Alina , Schiller Adalbert
Published: March 2015

Objectives

The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and kidney shear wave speed values assessed by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography.

Methods

Our study included 104 patients with or without chronic kidney disease in which the kidney shear wave speed was evaluated by ARFI elastography and correlated with the estimated GFR. Five ARFI measurements were performed in the parenchyma of each kidney. A median value expressed as meters per second was calculated.

Results

Five valid ARFI elastographic measurements were obtained in the right kidney in all patients and in the left kidney in 97.1% of patients. The mean kidney shear wave speed values ± SD in the right and left kidneys were similar: 2.17 ± 0.81 versus 2.06 ± 0.75 m/s (P = .30). The mean kidney shear wave speed decreased with the decrease in the estimated GFR. Statistically significant differences were obtained only when kidney shear wave speed values obtained in patients with an estimated GFR of greater than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 were compared to values in patients with stage 4 (estimated GFR, 15–29 mL/min/1.73 m2) and stage 5 (estimated GFR, <15 mL/min/1.73 m2) chronic kidney disease: 2.32 ± 0.83 versus 1.62 ± 0.75 m/s (P = .03) and 2.32 ± 0.83 versus 1.66 ± 0.72 m/s (P = .04), respectively. For a cutoff value of 2.26 m/s or lower, kidney shear wave speed had 86.7% sensitivity, 48.3% specificity, a 22.1% positive predictive value, and a 95.6% negative predictive value (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.692; P = .008) for predicting the presence of an estimated GFR of less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusions

Kidney shear wave speed values obtained by ARFI elastography decrease with the decrease in the estimated GFR.
Validation of Color Doppler Sonography for Evaluating Relative Displacement Between the Flexor Tendon and Subsynovial Connective Tissue
Authors: Tat Jimmy , Kociolek Aaron M. , Keir Peter J.
Published: March 2015

Objectives

A common pathologic finding in carpal tunnel syndrome is fibrosis and thickening of the subsynovial connective tissue. This finding suggests an etiology of excessive shear forces, with relative longitudinal displacement between the flexor tendon and adjacent subsynovial connective tissue. The purpose of this study was to validate color Doppler sonography for measurement of tendon displacement over time.

Methods

Eight unmatched fresh frozen cadaver arms were used to evaluate color Doppler sonography for measurement of tendon displacement. The middle flexor digitorum superficialis tendon was moved through a physiologic excursion of 20 mm at 3 different tendon velocities (50, 100, and 150 mm/s).

Results

We found that color Doppler sonography provided accurate measurement of tendon displacement, with absolute errors of −0.05 mm (50 mm/s), −1.24 mm (100 mm/s), and −2.36 mm (150 mm/s) on average throughout the tendon excursion range. Evaluating relative displacement between the tendon and subsynovial connective tissue during finger flexion‐extension movements also offered insight into the gliding mechanism of the subsynovial connective tissue. During flexion, we observed a curvilinear increase in relative displacement, with greater differential motion at the end range of displacement, likely due to the sequential stretch of the fibrils between successive layers of the subsynovial connective tissue. In extension, there was a linear return in relative displacement, suggesting a different unloading mechanism characterized by uniform relaxation of fibrils.

Conclusions

We demonstrated the validity of color Doppler displacement for use in the evaluation of relative motion. Color Doppler sonography is useful in our understanding of the behavior of the subsynovial connective tissue during tendon excursion, which may elucidate the role of finger motion in the etiology of shear injury.
Sonographic Appearance of Thyroid Cancer in Patients With Hashimoto Thyroiditis
Authors: Durfee Sara M. , Benson Carol B. , Arthaud Dylan M. , Alexander Erik K. , Frates Mary C.
Published: March 2015

Objectives

To determine whether the sonographic appearance of thyroid cancer differs in patients with and without Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Methods

Patients with histologically proven thyroid cancer who had thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies measured and sonography performed preoperatively were included. We evaluated each nodule for size, echogenicity, composition, margins, halo, and vascularity and evaluated the background heterogeneity of the gland.

Results

There were 162 thyroid cancers in 145 patients. Forty‐two patients (29.0%) had Hashimoto thyroiditis with positive TPO antibodies, and 103 patients (71.0%) had negative TPO antibodies. The background echogenicity was more often heterogeneous in TPO antibody–positive patients compared to those who had negative TPO antibodies (57.1% versus 26.2%; P= .0005). Comparing cancers in TPO antibody–positive to TPO antibody–negative patients, there was no significant difference in the size, echogenicity, composition, margins, halo presence, calcification presence and type, or vascularity of the cancerous nodule (P > .05). Among TPO antibody–positive patients, comparing thyroid cancerous nodules in patients with heterogeneous glands to those with homogeneous glands, there was no significant difference in any sonographic characteristic except the margin of the nodule, which was more often irregular or poorly defined in heterogeneous glands and more often smooth in homogeneous glands (P< .05).

Conclusions

Sonographic features of thyroid cancer are similar in patients with and without Hashimoto thyroiditis. Among patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and thyroid cancer, the sonographic appearance of the cancerous nodule is similar, except that cancerous nodule margins are more likely to be irregular or poorly defined when the gland is heterogeneous.
Pharmacogenomics of lamotrigine: a possible link to serious cutaneous adverse reactions
Authors: Campbell Rebecca , Beall Jennifer
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Lamotrigine's packaging contains a boxed warning for serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The purpose of this review is to summarize literature pertaining to HLA genetic polymorphisms that may increase susceptibility to serious skin reactions induced by lamotrigine.

Methods

A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Ovid IPA was conducted using the following search terms: lamotrigine, genetic polymorphism, pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, predictive genetic testing, anticonvulsants, hypersensitivity, and HLA-B.

Results

Three case-control studies were identified focusing on genetic polymorphisms that can cause direct susceptibility to serious skin reactions, such as HLA-B*1502. Other factors were also taken into consideration, such as age, concomitant medications, ethnicity, and smoking status. Most results were not statistically significant but rather hypothesis generating and were limited by small sample size and study design.

Discussion

Further studies are needed to better determine a relationship between genetic polymorphisms and lamotrigine-induced serious skin reactions. However, clinicians should exercise caution when prescribing lamotrigine to patients in whom relevant genetic polymorphisms, such as HLA-B*1502, may be present, such as those of Southeast Asian descent.
Resolution analysis of tomographic slug test head data: Two‐dimensional radial case
Authors: Paradis Daniel , Gloaguen Erwan , Lefebvre René , Giroux Bernard
Published: March 2015

Hydraulic tomography inverse problems, which are solved to estimate aquifer hydraulic properties between wells, are known to be ill‐conditioned and a priori information is often added to regularize numerical inversion of head data. Because both head data and a priori information have effects on the inversed solution, assessing the meaningful information contained in head data alone is required to ensure comprehensive interpretation of inverse solutions, whether they are regularized or not. This study thus aims to assess the amount of information contained in tomographic slug tests head data to resolve heterogeneity in Kh, Kv/Kh, and Ss. Therefore, a resolution analysis based on truncated singular value decomposition of the sensitivity matrix with a noise level representative of field measurements is applied using synthetic data reflecting a known littoral aquifer. As an approximation of the hydraulic behavior of a real aquifer system, synthetic tomographic experiments and associated sensitivity matrices are generated using a radial flow model accounting for wellbore storage to simulate slug tests in a plane encompassing a stressed well and an observation well. Although fine‐scale resolution of heterogeneities is limited by the diffusive nature of the groundwater flow equations, inversion of tomographic slug tests head data holds the potential to uniquely resolve coarse‐scale heterogeneity in Kh, Kv/Kh, and Ss, as inscribed in the resolution matrix. This implies that tomographic head data can provide key information on aquifer heterogeneity and anisotropy, but that fine‐scale information must be supplied by a priori information to obtain finer details.
Whales and waves: Humpback whale foraging response and the shoaling of internal waves at Stellwagen Bank
Authors: Pineda Jesús , Starczak Victoria , da Silva José C. B. , Helfrich Karl , Thompson Michael , Wiley David
Published: March 2015

We tested the hypothesis that humpback whales aggregate at the southern flank of Stellwagen Bank (SB) in response to internal waves (IWs) generated semidiurnally at Race Point (RP) channel because of the presence of their preferred prey, planktivorous fish, which in turn respond to zooplankton concentrated by the predictable IWs. Analysis of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images indicates that RP IWs approach the southern flank of SB frequently (∼62% of the images). Published reports of whale sighting data and archived SAR images point to a coarse spatial coincidence between whales and Race Point IWs at SB's southern flank. The responses of whales to IWs were evaluated via sightings and behavior of humpback whales, and IWs were observed in situ by acoustic backscatter and temperature measurements. Modeling of IWs complemented the observations, and results indicate a change of ∼0.4 m/s in current velocity, and ∼1.5 Pa in dynamic pressure near the bottom, which may be sufficient for bottom fish to detect the IWs. However, fish were rare in our acoustic observations, and fish response to the IWs could not be evaluated. RP IWs do not represent the leading edge of the internal tide, and they may have less mass‐transport potential than typical coastal IWs. There was large interannual variability in whale sightings at SB's southern flank, with decreases in both numbers of sightings and proportion of sightings where feeding was observed from 2008 to 2013. Coincidence of whales and IWs was inconsistent, and results do not support the hypothesis.
Isoprene emissions and impacts over an ecological transition region in the U.S. Upper Midwest inferred from tall tower measurements
Authors: Hu Lu , Millet Dylan B. , Baasandorj Munkhbayar , Griffis Timothy J. , Turner Peter , Helmig Detlev , Curtis Abigale J. , Hueber Jacques
Published: March 2015

We present 1 year of in situ proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR‐MS) measurements of isoprene and its oxidation products methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MACR) from a 244 m tall tower in the U.S. Upper Midwest, located at an ecological transition between isoprene‐emitting deciduous forest and predominantly non‐isoprene‐emitting agricultural landscapes. We find that anthropogenic interferences (or anthropogenic isoprene) contribute on average 22% of the PTR‐MS m/z 69 signal during summer daytime, whereas MVK + MACR interferences (m/z 71) are minor (7%). After removing these interferences, the observed isoprene and MVK + MACR abundances show pronounced seasonal cycles, reaching summertime maxima of >2500 pptv (1 h mean). The tall tower is impacted both by nearby and more distant regional isoprene sources, with daytime enhancements of isoprene (but little MVK + MACR) under southwest winds and enhancements of MVK + MACR (but little isoprene) at other times. We find that the GEOS‐Chem atmospheric model with the MEGANv2.1 (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature version 2.1) biogenic inventory can reproduce the isoprene observations to within model uncertainty given improved land cover and temperature estimates. However, a 60% low model bias in MVK + MACR cannot be resolved, even across diverse model assumptions for NOx emissions, chemistry, atmospheric mixing, dry deposition, land cover, and potential measurement interferences. This implies that, while isoprene emissions in the immediate vicinity of the tall tower are adequately captured, they are underestimated across the broader region. We show that this region experiences a strong seasonal shift between VOC‐limited chemistry during the spring and fall and NOx‐limited or transitional chemistry during the summer, driven by the spatiotemporal distribution of isoprene emissions. Isoprene's role in causing these chemical shifts is likely underestimated due to the underprediction of its regional emissions.
Numerical simulation of the environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing of tight/shale gas reservoirs on near‐surface groundwater: Background, base cases, shallow reservoirs, short‐term gas, and water transport
Authors: Reagan Matthew T. , Moridis George J. , Keen Noel D. , Johnson Jeffrey N.
Published: March 2015

Hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources and the use of reservoir stimulation techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing, has grown explosively over the last decade. However, concerns have arisen that reservoir stimulation creates significant environmental threats through the creation of permeable pathways connecting the stimulated reservoir with shallower freshwater aquifers, thus resulting in the contamination of potable groundwater by escaping hydrocarbons or other reservoir fluids. This study investigates, by numerical simulation, gas and water transport between a shallow tight‐gas reservoir and a shallower overlying freshwater aquifer following hydraulic fracturing operations, if such a connecting pathway has been created. We focus on two general failure scenarios: (1) communication between the reservoir and aquifer via a connecting fracture or fault and (2) communication via a deteriorated, preexisting nearby well. We conclude that the key factors driving short‐term transport of gas include high permeability for the connecting pathway and the overall volume of the connecting feature. Production from the reservoir is likely to mitigate release through reduction of available free gas and lowering of reservoir pressure, and not producing may increase the potential for release. We also find that hydrostatic tight‐gas reservoirs are unlikely to act as a continuing source of migrating gas, as gas contained within the newly formed hydraulic fracture is the primary source for potential contamination. Such incidents of gas escape are likely to be limited in duration and scope for hydrostatic reservoirs. Reliable field and laboratory data must be acquired to constrain the factors and determine the likelihood of these outcomes.
Fast magnetosonic waves driven by shell velocity distributions
Authors: Min Kyungguk , Liu Kaijun
Published: March 2015

Using linear dispersion theory and particle‐in‐cell simulations, we explore the ion Bernstein instability driven by the shell‐type ion velocity distribution which is related to the excitation of fast magnetosonic waves in the terrestrial magnetosphere. We first demonstrate a novel idea to construct the shell velocity distribution out of multiple Maxwellian ring‐beam velocity distributions. Applying this technique, we find that the convergence of the linear theory instability can be achieved with only a moderate number of ring‐beam components. In order to prove that such an approximation is legitimate and the linear theory instabilities evaluated are indeed valid, we use the exact shell distribution to carry out a number of one dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations corresponding to multiple wave propagation angles adjacent to the direction at which the most unstable waves are expected to grow. The agreement between the linear dispersion analysis and the simulation results is generally very good: enhanced waves are organized along the linear theory dispersion curves in the frequency‐wave number space, and relative wave amplitudes are ordered as the linear theory growth rates very well. However, the simulations show a few extra branches that are not expected from the linear dispersion analysis. A close examination of these extra branches suggests that they are not simulation artifacts and particularly related to the ring/shell‐type distributions with large ring/shell speed (v>∼1.5 vA, where vA is the Alfvén speed). In addition, our results show that substantial wave growth can occur at nonintegral harmonics of the proton cyclotron frequency at wave normal angles substantially far away from the perpendicular direction, which may provide an alternative explanation of the off‐harmonic peaks of some fast magnetosonic waves observed in space.
Sequential Processing for Organic Photovoltaics: Design Rules for Morphology Control by Tailored Semi‐Orthogonal Solvent Blends
Authors: Aguirre Jordan C. , Hawks Steven A. , Ferreira Amy S. , Yee Patrick , Subramaniyan Selvam , Jenekhe Samson A. , Tolbert Sarah H. , Schwartz Benjamin J.
Published: March 2015

Design rules are presented for significantly expanding sequential processing (SqP) into previously inaccessible polymer:fullerene systems by tailoring binary solvent blends for fullerene deposition. Starting with a base solvent that has high fullerene solubility, 2‐chlorophenol (2‐CP), ellipsometry‐based swelling experiments are used to investigate different co‐solvents for the fullerene‐casting solution. By tuning the Flory‐Huggins χ parameter of the 2‐CP/co‐solvent blend, it is possible to optimally swell the polymer of interest for fullerene interdiffusion without dissolution of the polymer underlayer. In this way solar cell power conversion efficiencies are obtained for the PTB7 (poly[(4,8‐bis[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl)(3‐fluoro‐2‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4‐b]thiophenediyl)]) and PC61BM (phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester) materials combination that match those of blend‐cast films. Both semicrystalline (e.g., P3HT (poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl)) and entirely amorphous (e.g., PSDTTT (poly[(4,8‐di(2‐butyloxy)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl)‐alt‐(2,5‐bis(4,4′‐bis(2‐octyl)dithieno[3,2‐b:2′3′‐d]silole‐2,6‐diyl)thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole)]) conjugated polymers can be processed into highly efficient photovoltaic devices using the solvent‐blend SqP design rules. Grazing‐incidence wide‐angle x‐ray diffraction experiments confirm that proper choice of the fullerene casting co‐solvent yields well‐ordered interdispersed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) morphologies without the need for subsequent thermal annealing or the use of trace solvent additives (e.g., diiodooctane). The results open SqP to polymer/fullerene systems that are currently incompatible with traditional methods of device fabrication, and make BHJ morphology control a more tractable problem.
Diagnosis of asthma: clinical assessment
Authors: Tarasidis George S. , Wilson Kevin F.
Published: March 2015

Background

Asthma is a common condition that presents with varied symptomatology and exam findings. The diagnosis of asthma is made through a combination of clinical assessment and diagnostic testing.

Methods

A literature review was conducted through PubMed, focusing on systematic reviews and practice parameters. The highest‐quality studies and those including the highest number of patients were included. References were reviewed for additional relevant articles.

Results

Patients with asthma present with the symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. The physical exam can demonstrate hyperinflation, wheezing, and increased work of breathing, but most patients will present with a normal pulmonary exam because they are between episodes. The symptoms and examination of patients with asthma varies greatly from patient to patient and within the same patient over time. The diagnosis of asthma in the pediatric population may be more difficult because the classic symptoms may not be present in many of those patients.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of asthma is made in the setting of clinical history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing. The astute physician will rely on all 3 of these factors when making the diagnosis.
Formulation of Ionic‐Liquid Electrolyte To Expand the Voltage Window of Supercapacitors
Authors: Van Aken Katherine L. , Beidaghi Majid , Gogotsi Yury
Published: March 2015

An effective method to expand the operating potential window (OPW) of electrochemical capacitors based on formulating the ionic‐liquid (IL) electrolytes is reported. Using model electrochemical cells based on two identical onion‐like carbon (OLC) electrodes and two different IL electrolytes and their mixtures, it was shown that the asymmetric behavior of the electrolyte cation and anion toward the two electrodes limits the OPW of the cell and therefore its energy density. Also, a general solution to this problem is proposed by formulating the IL electrolyte mixtures to balance the capacitance of electrodes in a symmetric supercapacitor.
Perceptions of justice or injustice as determinants of contributor defections from online communities
Authors: Jiang Ling , Wagner Christian
Published: March 2015

Much of the recent research on user contributions to electronic networks has focused on attracting and motivating participations. We, instead, investigate online community defections, their cause, and their impact through an empirical investigation of defections from Wikipedia. Our research uses justice theory to determine the effects of injustice perceptions on contributor defections and draws on fairness heuristic theory to distinguish the relative effects of distributive injustice and procedural injustice. The results show that perceptions of injustice concerning collaboration outcomes (“distributive injustice”) raise contributor dissatisfaction, which in turn leads to defection. Perceptions of injustice concerning the process (“procedural injustice”), by comparison, have a direct impact on defections and exert a stronger influence on dissatisfaction than distributive injustice. Justice emerges as a hygiene factor adding to the level of dissatisfaction among dissatisfied contributors but not among satisfied contributors. The findings contribute to our understanding of collaborative knowledge creation by drawing attention to contributors' post hoc passive emotions and behaviors instead of predominantly investigating their initial prosharing behaviors. The work also has practical implications for community governance because it suggests how to sustain communities in the long term.
Crowd science: It is not just a matter of time (or funding)
Authors: Vasileiadou Eleftheria
Published: March 2015

Citizen science, or crowd science, or volunteer science, has increased in the last 4–5 years, with an accompanying increase in the literature. The main argument in such literature is that citizen science has many advantages, not only for scientists and the science that is produced, but also for the participating citizens. As a result of this line of reasoning, the main issue becomes: How we can facilitate citizen science, and help it expand to more projects, and involve more (types of) participants? My aim in this opinion paper is to make 2 points: First, that most recent work on citizen science fails to elaborate on the new types of relationships, practices, and interactions that are facilitated by information and communication technologies, when compared to traditional volunteer science. The second point is that there are pronounced disciplinary differences among citizen science projects, something that, again, is generally being missed in much recent work. Missing these points can lead us to imagine that it's only a matter of time (and of course funding) before all sciences catch up with citizen science. Such a line of thought can result in investing resources (money, time, effort) in projects and infrastructures that are doomed to fail, because of their topic or field of research. I conclude by offering some thoughts on a research agenda.
Areas of Interest as a Signal Detection Problem in Behavioral Eye‐Tracking Research
Authors: Orquin Jacob L. , Ashby Nathaniel J. S. , Clarke Alasdair D. F.
Published: March 2015

Decision researchers frequently analyze attention to individual objects to test hypotheses about underlying cognitive processes. Generally, fixations are assigned to objects using a method known as area of interest (AOI). Ideally, an AOI includes all fixations belonging to an object while fixations to other objects are excluded. Unfortunately, due to measurement inaccuracy and insufficient distance between objects, the distributions of fixations to objects may overlap, resulting in a signal detection problem. If the AOI is to include all fixations to an object, it will also likely include fixations belonging to other objects (false positives). In a survey, we find that many researchers report testing multiple AOI sizes when performing analyses, presumably trying to balance the proportion of true and false positive fixations. To test whether AOI size influences the measurement of object attention and conclusions drawn about cognitive processes, we reanalyze four published studies and conduct a fifth tailored to our purpose. We find that in studies in which we expected overlapping fixation distributions, analyses benefited from smaller AOI sizes (0° visual angle margin). In studies where we expected no overlap, analyses benefited from larger AOI sizes (>.5° visual angle margins). We conclude with a guideline for the use of AOIs in behavioral eye‐tracking research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Goal‐Priming Approach to Cognitive Consistency: Applications to Judgment
Authors: Chaxel Anne‐Sophie , Russo J. Edward , Wiggins Catherine
Published: March 2015

A fundamental criterion of judgment is consistency among beliefs. To augment traditional methods for studying cognitive consistency, we treat it as a goal and present a priming method for increasing its activation. Three studies use three criteria to validate the method: an increase in the biased evaluation of incoming information, speed in a lexical decision task, and participants' direct reports of greater goal activation. The method is then used to verify the role of the consistency goal in three diverse judgment phenomena. Priming cognitive consistency increases the search for postdecisional supporting information (selective exposure to information), the agreement between preference and prediction (the desirability bias or wishful thinking), and the adjustment of a socially unacceptable implicit attitude to conform to the corresponding explicit attitude. One conclusion is that the cause of these phenomena is not only motivated reasoning (driven directionally by a desired outcome) but also the purely cognitive and nondirectional process of simply making beliefs more consistent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The baculovirus expression vector system: A commercial manufacturing platform for viral vaccines and gene therapy vectors
Authors: Felberbaum Rachael S.
Published: March 2015

The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) platform has become an established manufacturing platform for the production of viral vaccines and gene therapy vectors. Nine BEVS‐derived products have been approved – four for human use (Cervarix®, Provenge®, Glybera® and Flublok®) and five for veterinary use (Porcilis® Pesti, BAYOVAC CSF E2®, Circumvent® PCV, Ingelvac CircoFLEX® and Porcilis® PCV). The BEVS platform offers many advantages, including manufacturing speed, flexible product design, inherent safety and scalability. This combination of features and product approvals has previously attracted interest from academic researchers, and more recently from industry leaders, to utilize BEVS to develop next generation vaccines, vectors for gene therapy, and other biopharmaceutical complex proteins. In this review, we explore the BEVS platform, detailing how it works, platform features and limitations and important considerations for manufacturing and regulatory approval. To underscore the growth in opportunities for BEVS‐derived products, we discuss the latest product developments in the gene therapy and influenza vaccine fields that follow in the wake of the recent product approvals of Glybera® and Flublok®, respectively. We anticipate that the utility of the platform will expand even further as new BEVS‐derived products attain licensure. Finally, we touch on some of the areas where new BEVS‐derived products are likely to emerge.
Straightforward strategy to substitute amide bonds by 1,2,3‐triazoles in peptaibols analogs using Aibψ[Tz]‐Xaa dipeptides
Authors: Ben Haj Salah Khoubaib , Legrand Baptiste , Das Sanjit , Martinez Jean , Inguimbert Nicolas
Published: March 2015

Structured peptides gained more attention over a decade because of their biological properties, biocompatibility and ability to act as modulators of protein/protein interactions, antibiotics, analgesics, immunosuppressants or as imaging agents to cite a few relevant applications. However, their poor bioavalability due in part to the susceptibility of the peptide bond to proteolytic cleavages often impaired their development and considerably limited their therapeutic use. To circumvent these problems, many efforts are undertaken to discover stable amide bond mimics resistant to proteolytic degradation. Among them the 1,2,3‐triazole emerged as a highly stable analogue of the trans‐peptide bond to generate bioactive peptides. Here we report a convenient approach to readily substitute amide bonds by triazole rings in Aib‐containing peptides using Aibψ[Tz]‐Xaa dipeptide‐like units. We defined their application in solid phase synthesis and generated short model peptide sequences to study the impact of the triazole incorporation on their conformations in solution by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 104: 611–621, 2015.
Did a university violate a student's constitutional rights?
Authors: Gelpi Aileen
Published: March 2015

Jeffrey Decker was a former student at the University of Wisconsin ‐ Stevens Point who believed that segregated student fees charged by the university and its usage of those fees was illegal. He engaged in public protest activities relating to those issues, including the dissemination of written materials.
Cross‐species identification of a plasma microRNA signature for detection, therapeutic monitoring, and prognosis in osteosarcoma
Authors: Allen‐Rhoades Wendy , Kurenbekova Lyazat , Satterfield Laura , Parikh Neha , Fuja Daniel , Shuck Ryan L. , Rainusso Nino , Trucco Matteo , Barkauskas Donald A. , Jo Eunji , Ahern Charlotte , Hilsenbeck Susan , Donehower Lawrence A. , Yustein Jason T.
Published: March 2015

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the primary bone tumor in children and young adults. Currently, there are no reliable, noninvasive biologic markers to detect the presence or progression of disease, assess therapy response, or provide upfront prognostic insights. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved, stable, small noncoding RNA molecules that are key posttranscriptional regulators and are ideal candidates for circulating biomarker development due to their stability in plasma, ease of isolation, and the unique expressions associated with specific disease states. Using a qPCR‐based platform that analyzes more than 750 miRNAs, we analyzed control and diseased‐associated plasma from a genetically engineered mouse model of OS to identify a profile of four plasma miRNAs. Subsequent analysis of 40 human patient samples corroborated these results. We also identified disease‐specific endogenous reference plasma miRNAs for mouse and human studies. Specifically, we observed plasma miR‐205‐5p was decreased 2.68‐fold in mice with OS compared to control mice, whereas, miR‐214, and miR‐335‐5p were increased 2.37‐ and 2.69‐fold, respectively. In human samples, the same profile was seen with miR‐205‐5p decreased 1.75‐fold in patients with OS, whereas miR‐574‐3p, miR‐214, and miR‐335‐5p were increased 3.16‐, 8.31‐ and 2.52‐fold, respectively, compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, low plasma levels of miR‐214 in metastatic patients at time of diagnosis conveyed a significantly better overall survival. This is the first study to identify plasma miRNAs that could be used to prospectively identify disease, potentially monitor therapeutic efficacy and have prognostic implications for OS patients.
Two Subtle Amino Acid Changes in a Transaminase Substantially Enhance or Invert Enantiopreference in Cascade Syntheses
Authors: Skalden Lilly , Peters Christin , Dickerhoff Jonathan , Nobili Alberto , Joosten Henk‐Jan , Weisz Klaus , Höhne Matthias , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: March 2015

Amine transaminases (ATAs) are powerful enzymes for the stereospecific production of chiral amines. However, the synthesis of amines incorporating more than one stereocenter is still a challenge. We developed a cascade synthesis to access optically active 3‐alkyl‐substituted chiral amines by combining two asymmetric synthesis steps catalyzed by an enoate reductase and ATAs. The ATA wild type from Vibrio fluvialis showed only modest enantioselectivity (14 % de) in the amination of (S)‐3‐methylcyclohexanone, the product of the enoate‐reductase‐catalyzed reaction step. However, by protein engineering we created two variants with substantially improved diastereoselectivities: variant Leu56Val exhibited a higher R selectivity (66 % de) whereas the Leu56Ile substitution caused a switch in enantiopreference to furnish the S‐configured diastereomer (70 % de). Addition of 30 % DMSO further improved the selectivity and facilitated the synthesis of (1R,3S)‐1‐amino‐3‐methylcyclohexane with 89 % de at 87 % conversion.
Alkaline‐Earth Metal Cations as Structure Building Blocks for Molecular Cages with Entrapment and Controlled Release of Quintuple Ionic Aggregates
Authors: Wang Chi‐Tsang , Shiu Ler‐Chun , Shiu Kom‐Bei
Published: March 2015

Currently, main‐group metal cations are totally neglected as the structure‐building blocks for the self‐assembly of supramolecular coordination metallocages due to the lack of directional bonding. However, here we show that a common Arrhenius acid–base neutralization allows the alkaline‐earth metal cations to act as charged binders, easily connecting two or more highly directional anionic transition‐metal‐based metalloligands to coordination polymers. With a metal salt such as K+PF6− added during the neutralization, the main‐group metal‐connected skeleton can be templated by the largest yet reported ionic‐aggregate anion, K2(PF6)3−, formed from KPF6 in solution, into molecular metallocages, encapsulating the ion. Crystal‐structure details, DFT‐calculation results, and controlled‐release behavior support the presence of K2(PF6)3− as a guest in the cage. Upon removal of PF6− ions, the cage stays intact. Other ions like BF4− can be put back in.
In vivo imaging of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor with positron emission tomography
Authors: Hirvonen J
Published: March 2015

Positron emission tomography (PET) can visualize and quantify receptors and other targets in the living human brain, and recent progress in radioligand development has enabled measurement of cannabinoid type‐1 (CB1) receptors. Cannabinoid CB1 receptors have been implicated in multiple human diseases, such as obesity, mood disorders, and addiction. First in vivo human studies have shown distinctive spatial and temporal alterations in cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding in addictive disorders.
Cannabinoid abuse and addiction: Clinical and preclinical findings
Authors: Panlilio LV , Goldberg SR , Justinova Z
Published: March 2015

Cannabinoid abuse disorders represent a widespread public health issue, but there are no approved medications for their treatment. This review describes efforts to understand the mechanisms of cannabinoid abuse and its adverse effects, to identify molecular targets for pharmacotherapy, and to evaluate potential treatments in human volunteers and animal models of cannabinoid reward, withdrawal, and relapse.
Ternary Ag/MgO‐SiO2 Catalysts for the Conversion of Ethanol into Butadiene
Authors: Janssens Wout , Makshina Ekaterina V. , Vanelderen Pieter , De Clippel Filip , Houthoofd Kristof , Kerkhofs Stef , Martens Johan A. , Jacobs Pierre A. , Sels Bert F.
Published: March 2015

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Bert Sels at the KU Leuven. The image represents the eternal life cycle of a renewable feedstock into a recyclable product. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201402894.
Dynamic gene expression in the song system of zebra finches during the song learning period
Authors: Olson Christopher R. , Hodges Lisa K. , Mello Claudio V.
Published: March 2015

The brain circuitry that controls song learning and production undergoes marked changes in morphology and connectivity during the song learning period in juvenile zebra finches, in parallel to the acquisition, practice and refinement of song. Yet, the genetic programs and timing of regulatory change that establish the neuronal connectivity and plasticity during this critical learning period remain largely undetermined. To address this question, we used in situ hybridization to compare the expression patterns of a set of 30 known robust molecular markers of HVC and/or area X, major telencephalic song nuclei, between adult and juvenile male zebra finches at different ages during development (20, 35, 50 days post‐hatch, dph). We found that several of the genes examined undergo substantial changes in expression within HVC or its surrounds, and/or in other song nuclei. They fit into broad patterns of regulation, including those whose expression within HVC during this period increases (COL12A1, COL 21A1, MPZL1, PVALB, and CXCR7) or decreases (e.g., KCNT2, SAP30L), as well as some that show decreased expression in the surrounding tissue with little change within song nuclei (e.g. SV2B, TAC1). These results reveal a broad range of molecular changes that occur in the song system in concert with the song learning period. Some of the genes and pathways identified are potential modulators of the developmental changes associated with the emergence of the adult properties of the song control system, and/or the acquisition of learned vocalizations in songbirds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 1315–1338, 2015
A Method for Designing a High‐Power Contactless Power Transformer Considering Reactive Power
Authors: YAMAMOTO KOHEI , MARUYAMA TAKASHI , KONDO KEIICHIRO , KASHIWAGI TAKAYUKI
Published: March 2015

Problems in high‐power contactless power transmission systems using series and parallel resonance capacitors arise from the maximum voltage limit of the series capacitor due to high reactive power. In this study, the characteristics of the reactive power are analyzed using an equivalent circuit and a contactless power transfer system is designed with the reactive power characteristics taken into consideration. The self‐inductance and the frequency can be used to determine the distribution of reactive power on the primary side and the secondary side. In addition, the optimal winding number, size of the coil, and the appropriate frequency are investigated through electromagnetic field analysis.
Low Dielectric Behavior of a Robust, Guest‐Free Magnesium(II)–Organic Framework: A Potential Application of an Alkaline‐Earth Metal Compound
Authors: Mendiratta Shruti , Usman Muhammad , Tseng Tien‐Wen , Luo Tzuoo‐Tsair , Lee Shang‐Fan , Zhao Li , Wu Maw‐Kuen , Lee Mandy M. , Sun Shih‐Sheng , Lin Ying‐Chih , Lu Kuang‐Lieh
Published: March 2015

A robust and low dielectric 3D metal–organic framework [Mg(phen)(bdc)]n (1; phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline, bdc2– = 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate) was hydrothermally synthesized from magnesium acetate, H2bdc, and phen ligands. Compound 1 has a non‐interpenetrated network with an uncommon cds‐type topology. Chemical and dielectric investigations of this material indicate that it retains a high chemical stability and has a low dielectric constant of 3.33 ± 0.1 (at 100 kHz), which is the lowest value for Mg‐based MOFs reported to date. In addition, temperature‐dependent dielectric studies revealed that its low dielectric constant is retained over a wider temperature range. Mg‐based MOFs have the advantage of being a new class of dielectric materials because of their many intrinsic properties.
Synthesis, Crystal Structures, Molecular Docking, and Urease Inhibitory Activities of Transition‐Metal Complexes with a 1,2,4‐Triazolecarboxylic Acid Derived Ligand
Authors: Xu Yong‐Peng , Chen Yue‐Hu , Chen Zhi‐Jian , Qin Jie , Qian Shao‐Song , Zhu Hai‐Liang
Published: March 2015

Four novel complexes, [Cu(L)2(NH3)2(H2O)2] (1), {[Cu(L)2(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (2), {[Zn(L)2(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (3), and {[Fe(L)2(H2O)2]·2H2O}n (4) (HL = 2‐{[4‐amino‐3‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl]thio}acetic acid) were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 exhibited a mononuclear structure. Complexes 2, 3, and 4 featured 2D networks. The crystal structures were stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds to generate 3D supramolecular frameworks. The inhibitory activity was tested in vitro against jack bean urease. Among the four complexes, the two CuII complexes 1 and 2 exhibited better inhibitory activity than the positive reference acetohydroxamic acid, with IC50 values of 4.052 and 6.868 μM, respectively, whereas the ZnII and FeII complexes showed no activity. To explore the mechanism of inhibition of the enzyme, kinetics studies were carried out; the results indicated that both the activated complexes 1 and 2 operated through a mixed‐competitive inhibitory mechanism. Molecular docking was used to insert the most active complex 1 into the crystal structure of jack bean urease at the active site to determine the probable mode of binding.
Why are online games so self‐involving: A social identity analysis of massively multiplayer online role‐playing games
Authors: Guegan Jérôme , Moliner Pascal , Buisine Stéphanie
Published: March 2015

This article investigates the ways in which players of massively multiplayer online role‐playing games (MMORPGs) internalize being a player into their self‐concept. In accordance with the social identity framework, we assume that being a player and being a member of a guild within the game can both shape the social identity of members. In two studies, we survey players inside or outside the MMORPG. Players are interviewed either at an interguild comparison level or at the more inclusive level of MMORPG players. Study 1 (n = 84) reveals favoritism for the in‐group guild in a within‐game context, and Study 2 (n = 200) shows that valuation of and identification with the in‐group are moderated by the interview context and the level of category inclusion: Inside the game, the guild is more valued and identification is emphasized. In contrast, valuation of and identification with MMORPG players is not influenced by the interview context. Together, by examining both valuation and identification processes, this research reveals that playing online games may be self‐involving because being a player, but also being a member of a guild, directly contribute to the social identity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Salicylate Ion‐Selective Electrode Based on a Calix[4]arene as Ionophore
Authors: Nur Ayanoğlu Melek , Kormalı Ertürün H. Elif , Demirel Özel Ayça , Şahin Özlem , Yılmaz Mustafa , Kılıç Esma
Published: March 2015

A salicylate‐selective electrode based on calix[4]arene derivative was developed and its response characteristics were investigated. The optimum membrane composition was 1 % ionophore, 30 % PVC, 69 % DOS. The electrode exhibited a Nernstian slope of 58.8±0.5 mV/pSal in the range of 1.0×10−5–1.0×10−1 M with a detection limit of 4.3×10−6 M at pH 4.0, 20±1 °C. The potentiometric response of the electrode in the presence of different anions was investigated by the separate solution method. The lifetime was found at least 4 months, and its response time was 5–10 s. It was successfully used for the potentiometric determination of salicylate in pharmaceutical preparations.
A Nanostructure Based Electrochemical Sensor for Square Wave Voltammetric Determination of L‐Cysteine in the Presence of High Concentration of Folic Acid
Authors: Khalilzadeh Mohammad A. , Karimi‐Maleh Hassan , Gupta Vinod K.
Published: March 2015

This study describes the development, electrochemical characterization and utilization of 8,9‐dihydroxy‐7‐methyl‐12H‐benzothiazolo [2,3‐b]quinazolin‐12‐one (DMBQ)/ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO/Nps)‐carbon paste electrode (DMBQ/ZnO/NPs/CPE) as a modified sensor for the electrocatalytic determination of cysteine (Cys) in the presence of folic acid (FA). ZnO/NPs was synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) method. The prepared DMBQ/ZnO/NPs/CPE was developed as a highly sensitive voltammetric sensor for determination of Cys in the presence of FA in real samples. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) of Cys exhibited linear dynamic range with a detection limit (3σ) of 0.05 µmol/L.