bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Goal-oriented networks and capacity building for natural hazards – examples in the Dresden region
Authors: Hutter G.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Networks and networking are important for building social capacities for natural hazards. However, up to now, it has been an open question which types of networks contribute to capacity building under certain circumstances. The paper focuses on the type of a goal-oriented network. The distinction between goal orientation and goal directedness is used to show the following: goal directedness of networks to build capacities for natural hazards involves intensive and continuous processes of "sensemaking" (Weick, 1995) to specify the network goal. This process of specifying an initial goal statement is important in small and large networks at the regional level. The governance form of a lead organization network facilitates goal specification. The paper illustrates these findings through evidence from two case studies conducted in the Dresden region in Germany.
A decision-supporting methodology for assessing the sustainability of natural risk management strategies in urban areas
Authors: Edjossan-Sossou A. M. , Deck O. , Al Heib M. , Verdel T.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. This paper attempts to provide a decision support framework that can help risk managers in urban areas improve their decision-making processes related to sustainable management. Currently, risk management strategies should no longer be selected based primarily on economic and technical insight. Managers must address the sustainability of risk management by assessing the impacts of their decisions on the sustainable development of a given territory. These assessments require tools that allow ex ante comparisons of the effectiveness and the likely economic, social and ecological impacts of the alternative management strategies. Therefore, a methodological and operational framework was drafted and tested using a theoretical case study to illustrate its use, determine the most sustainable decision and identify its improvement trails.
Botulinum neurotoxin-A treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in multiple sclerosis
Authors: El Yazami Adli Oussama , Corcos Jacques
Published: January 2014

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system and a leading cause of disability in young adults. Symptoms related to vesicourethral dysfunction are very prevalent, but not specific to underlying urodynamic abnormalities. Detrusor overactivity and detrusor external sphincter dysynergia are the most frequent findings and are usually linked. Botulinum neurotoxin-A injection represents a significant advance in the management of voiding dysfunction among MS patients failing first-line therapy. It significantly improves patients’ urodynamic parameters and quality of life, with efficacy sustained by repeated injections and minimal risk of adverse events.
Prospective comparison of the impact of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy versus open radical prostatectomy on health-related quality of life and decision regret
Authors: Davison Barbara Joyce , Matthew Andrew , Gardner Abbie M.
Published: January 2014

Introduction: There is no conclusive evidence that the roboticassisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) is superior to conventional open radical prostatectomy (ORP) when it comes to recovery of urinary and sexual function, and that the former surgical option results in less decision regret.Methods: Patients scheduled for both surgical procedures were surveyed prior to surgery, and then again at 6 and 12 months following treatment using the sexual and urinary modules of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) measure. Decision regret was measured at 12 months. Propensity score regression adjustment was used to account for differences between treatment groups by summarizing all covariate information into a single probability and to simulate randomization.Results: At 12 months, urinary summary scores approached baseline levels, while urinary bother scores had returned to baseline. Sexual summary and bother mean scores decreased by about half of what they were at baseline for both treatment groups at 6 and 12 months. No significant differences in the groups’ sexual summary and bother domains were identified at either 6 or 12 months. Both groups’ scores for decision regret were low. Moderate correlations (r2 range -0.333 to -0.368) were between current levels of urinary and sexual function and decision regret at 12 months.Conclusion: The results of our study found no significant difference in health-related quality of life outcomes based on surgical procedure at 12 months. Moreover, patients in both groups reported low levels of decision regret at 12 months. Further multi-site prospective studies are required to address this study’s limitations.
Analyse des pratiques des acteurs scolaires travaillant en communauté de pratique (CP) à travers leurs métaphores
Authors: Bouchamma Yamina , Michaud Clémence
Published: January 2014

Cette recherche vise à comprendre les pratiques d’acteurs scolaires du Québec et du Nouveau-Brunswick (N = 23) au sein de communautés de pratique (CP) à travers les métaphores que ces personnes formulent sur leur travail dans le cadre de ces communautés. L’étude se base sur le concept de la métaphore et sur la théorie sociale de l’apprentissage dans les CP (Wenger, 1998). Les interviewés ont montré par la formulation de métaphores, d’une part, la synergie présente dans leurs CP et, d’autre part, les défis associés au pouvoir, à la communication et aux désaccords.
Pro-social behavior in rats is modulated by social experience
Authors: Ben-Ami Bartal Inbal , Rodgers David A , Bernardez Sarria Maria Sol , Decety Jean , Mason Peggy
Published: January 2014

In mammals, helping is preferentially provided to members of one’s own group. Yet, it remains unclear how social experience shapes pro-social motivation. We found that rats helped trapped strangers by releasing them from a restrainer, just as they did cagemates. However, rats did not help strangers of a different strain, unless previously housed with the trapped rat. Moreover, pair-housing with one rat of a different strain prompted rats to help strangers of that strain, evidence that rats expand pro-social motivation from one individual to phenotypically similar others. To test if genetic relatedness alone can motivate helping, rats were fostered from birth with another strain and were not exposed to their own strain. As adults, fostered rats helped strangers of the fostering strain but not rats of their own strain. Thus, strain familiarity, even to one’s own strain, is required for the expression of pro-social behavior.
Coordinated genomic control of ciliogenesis and cell movement by RFX2
Authors: Chung Mei-I , Kwon Taejoon , Tu Fan , Brooks Eric R , Gupta Rakhi , Meyer Matthew , Baker Julie C , Marcotte Edward M , Wallingford John B
Published: January 2014

The mechanisms linking systems-level programs of gene expression to discrete cell biological processes in vivo remain poorly understood. In this study, we have defined such a program for multi-ciliated epithelial cells (MCCs), a cell type critical for proper development and homeostasis of the airway, brain and reproductive tracts. Starting from genomic analysis of the cilia-associated transcription factor Rfx2, we used bioinformatics and in vivo cell biological approaches to gain insights into the molecular basis of cilia assembly and function. Moreover, we discovered a previously un-recognized role for an Rfx factor in cell movement, finding that Rfx2 cell-autonomously controls apical surface expansion in nascent MCCs. Thus, Rfx2 coordinates multiple, distinct gene expression programs in MCCs, regulating genes that control cell movement, ciliogenesis, and cilia function. As such, the work serves as a paradigm for understanding genomic control of cell biological processes that span from early cell morphogenetic events to terminally differentiated cellular functions.
Can videogames be used to develop the infant stage educational curriculum?
Authors: Marín Díaz Verónica , Martín-Párraga Javier
Published: January 2014

The utilization of videogames is not too common due to their consideration as an element that interferes with the educational and learning process. Thus, few teachers are ready to include videogames as didactic tools. Nevertheless, some educators who consider that they have a potential to become didactic tools are progressively adopting videogames as part of their teaching strategies. This paper presents the result of an academic experiment conducted with university students from the degree of Primary Education. The initial step in this experience consisted in determining whether videogames could be seen as another of the many tools employed to develop the infant stage educational curriculum. A survey was developed in order to achieve this goal. The interviewees answered this survey in two different stages, providing as a result that these future teachers would definitely be willing to incorporate videogames in their classrooms once they have been trained to do so.
Calculation and Visualization of Dynamic Price Elasticities
Authors: Tajima Hirokazu
Published: January 2014

Applying the Hierarchical Bayesian Regression model to weekly aggregated sales history data from 92 retail stores located around Tokyo, I calculated price elasticities by item, week, and store. These elasticities are more stable than figures calculated using the Hierarchical Regression or Bayesian Regression models. Furthermore, using Google Earth, I visualized the calculated price elasticities of these 92 stores over 67 weeks, providing a better understanding about heterogeneity of price elasticities across time and space. Keywords: Price Elasticity, Hierarchical Bayesian Regression Model, Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, Google Earth To cite this document: Hirokazu Tajima, "Calculation and Visualization of Dynamic Price Elasticities", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.9, No.4, pp.389-398, 2013. Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.11071
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Gains Momentum With New and Upcoming Measures
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: January 2014

Although the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which opened for signatures in 1996, still requires eight remaining “annex 2” countries—including the United States and China—to ratify it to enter into force, the treaty recently has gained some momentum.
Kevin E. Trenberth Receives 2013 Climate Communication Prize: Citation
Authors: Abraham John
Published: January 2014

We, Kevin's friends and colleagues, are pleased to have prepared his nomination package. Across the broad and expansive climate science community, there are very few people who have a history of sustained engagement like Kevin. Whereas many people have worked to convey the importance of climate change, Kevin has tirelessly done so for decades. In addition, the breadth of his activities is astonishing. It includes innumerable interviews on radio, on television, and in printed media over the past 30 years. He has also taken on many leadership communication roles within the scientific community, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to name just one.
John L. LaBrecque Receives 2013 Edward A. Flinn III Award: Citation
Authors: Minster Jean Bernard
Published: January 2014

Ted Flinn and John LaBrecque followed remarkably, perhaps eerily, similar career paths. Ted started as a seismologist, John as a tectonician and sea‐going geophysicist. Both decided to rededicate their efforts toward supporting the geophysical community, recognizing that it depends ever more critically on global, space‐based measurements and observations. Ted did that a decade after the 1968 Williamstown conference, and John did it a decade after the 1988 Coolfont conference. Both of these history‐making conferences focused on the geophysical uses of space assets to study the planet.
Iain Stewart Receives 2013 Athelstan Spilhaus Award: Citation
Authors: Wright Tim
Published: January 2014

It is a great pleasure and an honor to give the citation for the 2013 Athelstan Spilhaus awardee, Iain Stewart, professor of geoscience communication at the University of Plymouth, recognizing his truly exceptional work over the last decade in communicating geoscience to the general public. Iain has been making documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery for nearly a decade. These programs have huge international audiences and wide‐reaching impact.
Tamara Shapiro Ledley Receives 2013 Excellence in Geophysical Education Award: Citation
Authors: Reiff Patricia
Published: January 2014

It gives me great pleasure to cite Tamara Shapiro Ledley for the AGU Excellence in Geophysical Education Award “for her outstanding sustained leadership in Earth systems and climate change education.” Tamara has shown an ongoing commitment to bridging the scientific and educational communities to make geophysical science knowledge and data accessible and usable to teachers and students and by extension to all citizens. She works extensively with both the scientific and educational communities. She began her educational work in 1990 as the leader for weather and climate in my Teacher Research program at Rice University. She continued as the lead for atmospheric sciences in our projects Earth Today and Museums Teaching Planet Earth, which introduced her to the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP Federation). She has served many roles at ESIP, including creating the Standing Committee for Education and serving as vice president. ESIP recognized her many accomplishments with its President's Award in 2012. At TERC her education and outreach efforts have blossomed. She was the lead author of the “Earth as a System” investigation of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide. She was a member of the original Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) Data Access Working Group in 2001, where the idea for a cookbook‐like resource to facilitate the use of Earth science data by teachers and students resulted in her leading the development of the “Earth Exploration Toolbook” (EET), which allows teachers to easily access and use real scientific data in the classroom. Her efforts were recognized with the EET being awarded Science Magazine's Science Prize for Online Research in Education in 2011.
Tamara Shapiro Ledley Receives 2013 Excellence in Geophysical Education Award: Response
Authors: Ledley Tamara Shapiro
Published: January 2014

The meaning of “interdisciplinary” has evolved over my career. When I started my science research career, it meant bridging atmospheric and ocean science and embracing the science of the Earth system and its interacting components. Thus, I found a home at AGU submitting science abstracts to atmospheric science, oceanography, or hydrology sessions. In fact, my first research paper appeared in Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR)‐Atmospheres, and a letter to the editor and response appeared in JGR‐Oceans. It also meant getting scientists in these disciplines talking to each other. I organized a seminar series at Rice University under the umbrella of an Earth Systems Institute that included the Departments of Space Physics and Astronomy, Geology and Geophysics, Biology, and Hydrology. I also began working with Dr. Patricia Reiff, a space physicist with a passion for science education.
Solomon M. Hsiang Receives 2013 Science for Solutions Award: Response
Authors: Hsiang Solomon M.
Published: January 2014

I am honored to receive this award, created by Peter Schlosser, nominated by my postdoc advisor Michael Oppenheimer, and alongside my thesis advisor Mark Cane, recipient of this year's Maurice Ewing Medal—all role models and original pioneers in “the application and use of Earth and space sciences to solve societal problems.”
Three‐Dimensional Nanostructured Indium‐Tin‐Oxide Electrodes for Enhanced Performance of Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Kwon Hyunah , Ham Juyoung , Kim Dong Yeong , Oh Seung Jae , Lee Subin , Oh Sang Ho , Schubert E. Fred , Lim Kyung‐Geun , Lee Tae‐Woo , Kim Sungjun , Lee Jong‐Lam , Kim Jong Kyu
Published: January 2014

A three‐dimensional indium tin oxide (ITO) nanohelix (NH) array is presented as a multifunctional electrode for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells for simultaneously improving light absorption and charge transport from the active region to the anode. It is shown that the ITO NH array, which is easily fabricated using an oblique‐angle‐deposition technique, acts as an effective antireflection coating as well as a light‐scattering layer, resulting in much enhanced light harvesting. Furthermore, the larger interfacial area between the electrode and the active layer, together with the enhanced carrier mobility through highly conductive ITO NH facilitate transport and collection of charge carriers. The optical and electrical improvements enabled by the ITO NH electrode result in a 10% increase in short‐circuit current density and power‐conversion efficiency of the solar cells.
Oxides‐modified Raney copper as catalysts for selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol
Authors: Yue Chuan‐Jun , Zhang Qiu‐Yun , Gu Li‐Ping , Su Yang , Zhu Shao‐Ping
Published: January 2014

A series of Raney Cu‐based catalysts (Raney Cu modified by such oxides as ZrO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, MgO, SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO) were prepared by wet‐mixing method and used in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. Modified Raney copper as well as Raney Cu presented the catalytic performance for glycerol hydrogenolysis in different degree, and the yields of 1,2‐propanediol as the catalytic selective product were in the order of Cu/MgO > Cu/ZnO > Cu/SiO2 > Cu/TiO2 > Cu/ZrO2 > Cu/Al2O3 > Raney Cu. Obviously, Cu/MgO showed excellent activity and selectivity for glycerol hydrogenolysis by liquid‐phase reaction among those catalysts and was characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, hydrogen temperature programmed desorption, CO2 temperature programmed desorption, and thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the MgO was well dispersed within the pores of Raney Cu, resulting in the generation of new phase Cu–MgO after calcination. The catalytic conversion of glycerol hydrogenolysis using the Raney Cu/MgO catalyst reached 75 wt.%, with a selectivity of 85 wt.% for 1,2‐propanediol at 180 °C, 1.0 MPa of hydrogen, and 24 h. The study revealed that the Cu–MgO phase was responsible for high selectivity of 1,2‐propanediol in glycerol hydrogenolysis. © 2014 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Deciphering the spatio‐temporal regulation of entry and progression through mitosis
Authors: Gheghiani Lilia , Gavet Olivier
Published: January 2014

Mitosis has been studied since the early 1880s as a key event of the cell division cycle where remarkable changes in cellular architecture take place and ultimately lead to an equal segregation of duplicated chromosomes into two daughter cells. A detailed description of the complex and highly ordered cellular events taking place is now available. Many regulators involved in key steps including entry into mitosis, nuclear envelope breakdown, microtubule (MT) spindle formation, and chromosome attachment, as well as mitotic exit and cytokinesis, have also been identified. However, understanding the precise spatio‐temporal contribution of each regulator in the cell reorganization process has been technically challenging. This review will focus on a number of recent advances in our understanding of the spatial distribution of protein activities and the temporal regulation of their activation and inactivation during entry and progression through mitosis by the use of intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)‐based biosensors.
Angiogenic/osteogenic response of BMMSCs on bone‐derived scaffold: Effect of hypoxia and role of PI3K/Akt‐mediated VEGF‐VEGFR pathway
Authors: Zhou Yi , Guan Xiaoxu , Yu Mengfei , Wang Xinhua , Zhu Wenyuan , Wang Chaowei , Yu Mengliu , Wang Huiming
Published: January 2014

Bone tissue deficiency is a common clinical challenge. Tissue‐engineered bone constructs are an effective approach for the repair of orthopedic bone defects. Mimicking the essential components of the in vivo microenvironment is an efficient way to develop functional constructs. In this study, bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs) were seeded into bone‐derived scaffolds, a material with similar structure to natural bone. This was done under hypoxic conditions, an environment that imitates that experienced by BMMSCs in vivo. Our data indicate that hypoxia (5% O2) significantly increases the proliferation of BMMSCs seeded in scaffolds. As reflected by highly expressed osteogenesis‐ and angiogenesis‐associated biomarkers, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), RUNX2, bone morphogenetic protein‐2/4 and osteopontin, hypoxia also significantly increases the osteogenic and angiogenic responses of BMMSCs seeded into bone‐derived scaffold composites. PI3K/Akt‐mediated regulation of VEGF‐activated VEGFR1/2 signaling is important for hypoxia‐induced proliferative/osteogenic/angiogenic responses in BMMSC cellular scaffolds. The combination of bone‐derived scaffolds and hypoxia is conducive to the differentiation of BMMSCs into functional tissue‐engineered scaffold composites.
Cell fusion through a microslit between adhered cells and observation of their nuclear behavior
Authors: Wada Ken‐Ichi , Hosokawa Kazuo , Kondo Eitaro , Ito Yoshihiro , Maeda Mizuo
Published: January 2014

This paper describes a novel cell fusion method which induces cell fusion between adhered cells through a microslit for preventing nuclear mixing. For this purpose, a microfluidic device which had ∼100 cell pairing structures (CPSs) making cell pairs through microslits with 2.1 ± 0.3 µm width was fabricated. After trapping NIH3T3 cells with hydrodynamic forces at the CPSs, the cells were fused through the microslit by the Sendai virus envelope method. With following timelapse observation, we discovered that the spread cells were much less susceptible to nuclear migration passing through the microslit compared with round cells, and that cytoplasmic fraction containing mitochondria was transferred through the microslit without nuclear mixing. These findings will provide an effective method for cell fusion without nuclear mixing, and will lead to an efficient method for reprograming and transdifferentiation of target cells toward regenerative medicine. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1464–1468. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Fast, Visible‐Light‐Sensitive Azobenzene for Bioorthogonal Ligation
Authors: Poloni Claudia , Szymański Wiktor , Hou Lili , Browne Wesley R. , Feringa Ben L.
Published: January 2014

Azobenzenes have been used as photoresponsive units for the control of numerous biological processes. Primary prerequisites for such applications are site‐selective incorporation of photoswitchable units into biomolecules and the possibility of using non‐destructive and deep‐tissue‐penetrating visible light for the photoisomerization. Here we report a push–pull azobenzene that readily undergoes a Staudinger–Bertozzi ligation with azide groups, that can be addressed with visible light (>440 nm) and exhibits the solvato‐ and acidochromism typical for push–pull systems. The thermal relaxation in aqueous environment proceeds on the low‐millisecond timescale, thus enabling control over biological processes on similar timescales. The approach is demonstrated in the modification of a quartz surface and in the incorporation of an azobenzene unit into a functional peptide, the third zinc finger in the mammalian factor Sp1.
Intrinsic Peroxidase‐like Activity of Porous CuO Micro‐/nanostructures with Clean Surface
Authors: Liu Yuanjun , Zhu Guoxing , Bao Chunlin , Yuan Aihua , Shen Xiaoping
Published: January 2014

Porous CuO micro‐/nanostructures with clean surface, prepared through Cu2(OH)2CO3 precursor followed by calcination in air, were proven to be an effective peroxidase mimic. They can quickly catalyze oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, producing a blue color. The obtained porous CuO micro‐/nanostructure have potential application in wastewater treatment. The apparent steady‐state kinetic parameter was studied with TMB as the substrate. In addition, the potential application of the porous CuO in wastewater treatment was demonstrated with phenol‐containing water as an example. Such investigation not only confirms the intrinsic peroxidase‐like activity of micro‐/nanostructured CuO, but also suggests its potential application in wastewater treatment.
Synthesis of β‐Cyclodextrin‐[60]fullerene Conjugate and Its DNA Cleavage Performance
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Zhang Zhaoheng , Wu Wei , Jiang Xiqun
Published: January 2014

A water soluble β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) functionalized [60]fullerene (C60‐CD) was synthesized. The C60‐CD‐induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and DNA‐cleavage ability and cytotoxicity of C60‐CD were studied upon visible light irradiation, demonstrating that the compound is very promising in the applications of photodynamic therapy. The histological analyses demonstrate that C60‐CD has no acute or subacute toxicity to living body.
Mechanical Reinforcement of Molecular Hydrogel by Co‐assembly of Short Peptide‐based Gelators with Different Aromatic Capping Groups
Authors: Li Dongxia , Shi Yang , Wang Ling
Published: January 2014

We demonstrated in this study that mixing two short peptide‐based gelators with different aromatic capping groups would result in molecular hydrogels with enhanced mechanical property. We selected gelators of PTZ‐GFFY and Nap‐GFFY for the study. Both PTZ‐GFFY and Nap‐GFFY could independently form molecular hydrogel by a heating‐cooling process. However, the mechanical property of gels of PTZ‐GFFY and Nap‐GFFY was relatively weak with storage moduli (G′) of about 500 and 150 Pa, respectively. A two‐component gel of PTZ‐GFFY and Nap‐GFFY could also form by a heating‐cooling process. Surprisingly, the G′ value of the two‐component gel was about 5000 Pa , which was at least ten times bigger than that of each single‐component gel. This is a novel and simple strategy to improve the mechanical property of molecular hydrogels.
B 3Q MAS NMR Study on Glucose‐Responsive Micelles Self‐assembled from PEG‐b‐P(AA‐co‐AAPBA)
Authors: Ma Rujiang , Wang Beilei , Sun Pingchuan , Shi Linqi
Published: January 2014

Phenylboronic acid (PBA) based glucose‐responsive materials have attracted great interests in recent years for developing insulin delivery systems. It is desired to obtain PBA based materials that can response to glucose under physiological pH and understand the mechanism. By using 11B triple‐quantum magic‐angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (11B 3Q MAS NMR) measurements, the glucose‐responsive mechanism of micelles self‐assembled from poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐ploy(acrylic acid‐co‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid) PEG‐b‐P(AA‐co‐AAPBA) is deeply investigated. Different configurations of phenylboronic acid during various steps of glucose‐responsive behaviors are clearly analyzed in the 11B 3Q MAS NMR spectra and coordination between carboxyl and PBA is confirmed. By increasing the AA units in PEG‐b‐P(AA‐co‐AAPBA), the carboxyl can coordinate with PBA moieties and cause the glucose‐responsiveness of micelles even in the weak acid environment.
Selection of partial replication on two‐level orthogonal arrays
Authors: Tsai Shin‐Fu , Liao Chen‐Tuo
Published: January 2014

Due to the lack of a replication‐based estimate for the experimental error variance, unreplicated orthogonal main‐effect plans (OMEPs) usually appear to be unsatisfactory in screening active factors, when there are certain interactions likely to be non‐negligible. In this study, partially replicated designs constructed through two‐level orthogonal arrays are recommended to compensate for this deficiency. A compound criterion called the extended minimum aberration (EMA) is proposed for choosing the twice‐replicated fractions. According to the EMA criterion, sufficient conditions for constructing the minimal two‐level OMEPs with partial replication are proposed, and a series of EMA designs with practical run‐sizes is provided for practical applications. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 42: 168–183; 2014 © 2014 Statistical Society of Canada
Modelling the influence of endothelial heterogeneity on the progression of arterial disease: application to abdominal aortic aneurysm evolution
Authors: Aparício P. , Mandaltsi A. , Boamah J. , Chen H. , Selimovic A. , Bratby M. , Uberoi R. , Ventikos Y. , Watton P.N.
Published: January 2014

We sophisticate a fluid–solid growth computational framework for modelling aneurysm evolution. A realistic structural model of the arterial wall is integrated into a patient‐specific geometry of the vasculature. This enables physiologically representative distributions of haemodynamic stimuli, obtained from a rigid‐wall computational fluid dynamics analysis, to be linked to growth and remodelling algorithms. Additionally, a quasistatic structural analysis quantifies the cyclic deformation of the arterial wall so that collagen growth and remodelling can be explicitly linked to the cyclic deformation of vascular cells. To simulate aneurysm evolution, degradation of elastin is driven by reductions in wall shear stress (WSS) below homeostatic thresholds. Given that the endothelium exhibits spatial and temporal heterogeneity, we propose a novel approach to define the homeostatic WSS thresholds: We allow them to be spatially and temporally heterogeneous. We illustrate the application of this novel fluid–solid growth framework to model abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) evolution and to examine how the influence of the definition of the WSS homeostatic threshold influences AAA progression. We conclude that improved understanding and modelling of the endothelial heterogeneity is important for modelling aneurysm evolution and, more generally, other vascular diseases where haemodynamic stimuli play an important role. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resource preprocessing and optimal task scheduling in cloud computing environments
Authors: Liu Zhaobin , Qu Wenyu , Liu Weijiang , Li Zhiyang , Xu Yujie
Published: January 2014

Cloud computing came into being and is currently an essential infrastructure of many commerce facilities. To achieve the promising potentials of cloud computing, effective and efficient scheduling algorithms are fundamentally important. However, conventional scheduling methodology encounters a number of challenges. During the tasks scheduling in cloud systems, how to make full use of resources and how to effectively select resources are also important factors. At the same time, communication delay also plays an important role in cloud scheduling, which not only leads to waiting between tasks but also results in much idle interval time between processing units. In this paper, a fuzzy clustering method is used to effectively preprocess the cloud resources. Combining the list scheduling with the task duplication scheduling scheme, a new directed acyclic graph based scheduling algorithm called earliest finish time duplication algorithm for heterogeneous cloud systems is presented. Earliest finish time duplication attempts to insert suitable immediate parent nodes of the current selected node in order to reduce its waiting time on the processor. The case study and experimental results illustrate that the algorithm proposed in this paper is better than the popular heterogeneous earliest finish time algorithms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vasostatin‐1 antigenic epitope mapping for induction of cellular and humoral immune responses to chromogranin A autoantigen in NOD mice
Authors: Nikoopour Enayat , Cheung Rebecca , Bellemore Stacey , Krougly Olga , Lee‐Chan Edwin , Stridsberg Mats , Singh Bhagirath
Published: January 2014

The chromogranin A (ChgA) 29–42 sequence is the antigenic epitope for the BDC2.5 CD4+ T‐cell receptor in NOD mice (H‐2g7). We have now characterized the binding register of the ChgA 29–42 peptide for the I‐Ag7 molecule. Truncation of the peptide demonstrated that the KCVLEVISD sequence 34–42 is the binding register and extension of this sequence by flanking residues increased its binding affinity and antigenic capacity. We employed anti‐ChgA peptide antibodies generated against different fragments of ChgA for immunostaining of pancreatic islet sections from NOD mice. A strong immuno‐staining pattern was observed for the ChgA 17–38 peptide antibodies that overlap with the ChgA 29–42 sequence. Moreover, sera from diabetic NOD mice showed elevated titers of autoantibodies to the ChgA 29–42 peptide. These findings indicate that peptides from the N‐terminal region of ChgA are able to induce cellular and humoral immune responses in NOD mice.
Synthesis of α‐Amino‐γ‐lactams through Pd‐Catalzed Intramolecular Allylic Alkylation of Sarcosine Allyl Amides
Authors: Thies Sarah , Kazmaier Uli
Published: January 2014

N‐Protected amino acid allyl amides with an allylic leaving group can be used as substrates in palladium‐catalyzed allylic alkylation. Whereas intermolecular allylations proceed with excellent yields under standard conditions for enolate reactions, the intramolecular version is not a trivial issue. N‐Protected glycine amides preferentially form piperidinones through N‐allylation, but the corresponding sarcosine derivatives provide γ‐lactams in acceptable to good yields in dichloromethane, especially when the corresponding titanium enolates are formed.
Synthesis of (+)‐Lentiginosine and Its Pyrrolizidine Analogue Based on Intramolecular Cyclization of α‐Sulfinyl Carbanions
Authors: Du‐a‐man Sakkarin , Soorukram Darunee , Kuhakarn Chutima , Tuchinda Patoomratana , Reutrakul Vichai , Pohmakotr Manat
Published: January 2014

A synthesis of (+)‐lentiginosine and its pyrrolizidine analogue was accomplished in six steps, starting from L‐(+)‐tartaric acid. The key step of these syntheses involves the intramolecular cyclization of α‐sulfinyl carbanions for the construction of the indolizidine or pyrrolizidine ring.
Stereoselective Access to Trisubstituted Cyclopentanols from Chiral Unsaturated Oxo Esters by Ketyl Radical Cyclization
Authors: Feuillastre Sophie , Pelotier Béatrice , Piva Olivier
Published: January 2014

Substituted cyclopentanols with three contiguous stereocenters were prepared with impressive diastereocontrol through a samarium diiodide induced 5‐exo‐trig radical process. The chiral unsaturated oxo ester precursors were prepared with ee values up to 90 % from propionaldehyde through a two‐step organocatalyzed aldolization and Wittig–Horner olefination reaction sequence.
Relaxation method for pounding action between adjacent buildings at expansion joint
Authors: Takabatake Hideo , Yasui Masaaki , Nakagawa Yoshihisa , Kishida Akiko
Published: January 2014

Earthquake‐induced structural pounding frequently causes serious damage to buildings, particularly at the expansion joint (hereafter, EXPJ) between adjacent buildings. Because the EXPJ width in existing reinforced concrete buildings is usually very small, typically about 5 cm for school buildings in Japan, collision avoidance cannot be achieved by seismic retrofitting. This paper presents an experimental investigation into an effective method for reducing severe structural damage due to pounding at the EXPJ between narrowly separated buildings. The method involves inserting a shock‐absorbing material such as rubber into the EXPJ gap. The efficiency of the proposed method is evaluated by laboratory shaking tests using two model buildings. Furthermore, a lumped mass model is used to carry out a collision analysis in order to numerically investigate the influence of such a shock‐absorbing material. Both the numerical and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The validity of the proposed method is also demonstrated by numerical simulation of adjacent 10‐story steel buildings with an EXPJ width of 5 cm. The force, acceleration and velocity produced by earthquake‐induced structural pounding are found to be remarkably mitigated by inserting a soft shock‐absorbing material into the EXPJ gap. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An iterative method for the computation of the response of linearised Navier–Stokes equations to harmonic forcing and application to forced cylinder wakes
Authors: Lu Liang , Papadakis George
Published: January 2014

The central aim of this paper is the development and application of an efficient, iterative methodology for the computation of the perturbation fields induced by harmonic forcing of the linearised Navier–Stokes equations. The problem is formulated directly in the frequency domain, and the resulting system of equations is solved iteratively until convergence. The method is easily implemented to any implicit code that can solve iteratively the steady‐state Navier–Stokes equations. In this paper, it is applied to investigate the flow around a static cylinder with pulsating approaching flow and a cylinder undergoing forced stream‐wise oscillations. All terms of the perturbation kinetic energy equation are computed, and it is shown that perturbations grow by extracting energy from two sources: the underlying base flow field and the externally provided energy that maintains the imposed oscillation. The periodic drag force acting on the cylinder is also computed, and it is demonstrated that Morrison's equation is a simple model that can estimate with good accuracy the amplitude and phase of this force with respect to the approaching flow. The perturbation fields induced by periodic inlet flow (static cylinder) and forced stream‐wise cylinder oscillation are closely related: the velocity fields are identical in the appropriate reference frames, and a simple expression is derived, which links the pressures in the two flow cases. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychotic major depression in older people: a systematic review
Authors: Gournellis Rossetos , Oulis Panagiotis , Howard Robert
Published: January 2014

Objective

This study aimed to systematically review available evidence relevant to the following issues: (1) whether psychotic major depression (PMD) in older people differs in overall severity from non‐PMD, besides the presence of psychotic symptoms; (2) whether it constitutes a distinct clinical entity from non‐PMD; and (3) whether it differs from PMD in younger adults.

Design

A computerized MEDLINE, PsycINFO and the entire Cochrane Library search has been performed in June 2013 for prospective controlled studies investigating PMD features in older people.

Results

Thirty‐five relevant studies were identified. PMD in older people compared with non‐PMD has been shown to present with overall more severe depressive symptomatology, more psychomotor disturbance, more guilt feelings, more depressive episodes with psychosis, worse prognosis, more severe executive dysfunction associated with frontal lobe atrophy, and lower serum dopamine β‐hydroxylase activity. No differences in the efficacy of an antidepressant plus antipsychotic combination versus antidepressant monotherapy in the acute treatment as well as in the maintenance treatment were found. PMD in older patients is characterized by more somatic complaints and delusions of hypochondriacal and impending disaster content and by a lower comorbidity with anxiety disorders compared with PMD in younger adults.

Conclusions

Psychotic major depression in older people is associated with higher severity in most clinically important key features than in non‐PMD. However, available evidence is still insufficient for the conclusive elucidation of its nosological status. Finally, the differences between PMD in older and younger patients can be attributed to biological and psychosocial changes of old age. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of perceived functional ability in early‐stage dementia: self‐ratings, informant ratings and discrepancy scores
Authors: Martyr Anthony , Nelis Sharon M. , Clare Linda
Published: January 2014

Objective

Assessing functional ability is an important element in diagnosing and monitoring the progression of dementia, with research suggesting a link between functional ability and cognition. We investigated the predictors of total score and individual item functional ratings made by people with dementia (PwD), carers of PwD and the resulting discrepancy score.

Methods

People with early‐stage Alzheimer's disease, vascular or mixed dementia (n = 100) and their carers completed the Functional Activities Questionnaire. PwD also completed tests of memory, verbal executive function, language and cognitive screening, and provided ratings of mood. Carers provided a rating of stress.

Results

Immediate memory predicted self‐rated functioning, whereas carer stress predicted informant‐rated functioning. Letter fluency predicted the discrepancy between self‐rated and informant‐rated functioning. For self‐rated functioning, the direction and pattern of the individual item predictors suggested a degree of functional awareness. Informant ratings were dominated by carer stress and, to a lesser extent, everyday memory. The discrepancy scores were also predicted by carer stress and everyday memory, but also letter fluency.

Conclusions

Self‐rated functioning showed evidence of awareness based on the direction and pattern of significant individual item predictors. Informant ratings, however, were found to be significantly influenced by carer stress. The findings have implications for the use of perceived functional ratings in clinical and research settings. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrogen transformation and plant growth in response to different urea‐application methods and the addition of DMPP
Authors: Xu Li , Chen Huan , Xu JingJing , Yang JianBo , Li XueChao , Liu ManQiang , Jiao JiaGuo , Hu Feng , Li Huixin
Published: January 2014

The differences in soil inorganic‐nitrogen (N) concentration and distribution, plant biomass, and root growth in the presence or absence of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4‐dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) under different urea‐application methods (placement versus homogeneously applied) were explored in a short‐term microcosm experiment. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in a microcosm with six different treatments: no amendment (CK), DMPP homogeneously applied (DMPP‐hom), urea homogeneously applied (Urea‐hom), urea with DMPP homogeneously applied (Urea + DMPP‐hom), urea placement (Urea‐place), and urea with DMPP placement (Urea + DMPP‐place). After 28 d, plant biomass, soil inorganic nitrogen content, distribution of soil inorganic nitrogen and plant roots in the soil were analyzed. The soil inorganic N and plant roots tended to be distributed asymmetrically in the placement treatment but were distributed symmetrically in the homogeneous treatment. DMPP addition significantly increased the soil NH$ _4^+ $‐N content and decreased the NO$ _3^- $‐N content, especially near the fertilized zones in the placement treatment. Compared to the urea‐only treatments, DMPP application significantly increased the shoot biomass and root lengths of the wheat in the homogeneous treatment but decreased them in the placement treatment. Therefore, homogeneously applied urea and DMPP may produce a more uniform nutrient distribution, leading to greater nitrogen retention in the soil and thus accelerating wheat growth.
High mutation detection rates in cerebral cavernous malformation upon stringent inclusion criteria: one‐third of probands are minors
Authors: Spiegler Stefanie , Najm Juliane , Liu Jian , Gkalympoudis Stephanie , Schröder Winnie , Borck Guntram , Brockmann Knut , Elbracht Miriam , Fauth Christine , Ferbert Andreas , Freudenberg Leonie , Grasshoff Ute , Hellenbroich Yorck , Henn Wolfram , Hoffjan Sabine , Hüning Irina , Korenke G. Christoph , Kroisel Peter M. , Kunstmann Erdmute , Mair Martina , Munk‐Schulenburg Susanne , Nikoubashman Omid , Pauli Silke , Rudnik‐Schöneborn Sabine , Sudholt Irene , Sure Ulrich , Tinschert Sigrid , Wiednig Michaela , Zoll Barbara , Ginsberg Mark H. , Felbor Ute
Published: January 2014

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are prevalent vascular malformations occurring in familial autosomal dominantly inherited or isolated forms. Once CCM are diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, the indication for genetic testing requires either a positive family history of cavernous lesions or clinical symptoms such as chronic headaches, epilepsy, neurological deficits, and hemorrhagic stroke or the occurrence of multiple lesions in an isolated case. Following these inclusion criteria, the mutation detection rates in a consecutive series of 105 probands were 87% for familial and 57% for isolated cases. Thirty‐one novel mutations were identified with a slight shift towards proportionally more CCM3 mutations carriers than previously published (CCM1: 60%, CCM2: 18%, CCM3: 22%). In‐frame deletions and exonic missense variants requiring functional analyses to establish their pathogenicity were rare: An in‐frame deletion within the C‐terminal FERM domain of CCM1 resulted in decreased protein expression and impaired binding to the transmembrane protein heart of glass (HEG1). Notably, 20% of index cases carrying a CCM mutation were below age 10 and 33% below age 18 when referred for genetic testing. Since fulminant disease courses during the first years of life were observed in CCM1 and CCM3 mutation carriers, predictive testing of minor siblings became an issue.
1H NMR spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol and other 1,4‐diols: DFT calculation of shifts and coupling constants
Authors: Lomas John S.
Published: January 2014

The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol, pentane‐1,4‐diol, (S,S)‐hexane‐2,5‐diol, 2,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,5‐diol and cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols (cis and trans) in benzene and some other solvents have been analysed. The conformer distribution and the NMR shifts of these diols in benzene have been computed on the basis of the density functional theory, the solvent being included by means of the integral‐equation‐formalism polarizable continuum model implemented in Gaussian 09. Relative Gibbs energies of all conformers are calculated at the Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE)0/6‐311+G(d,p) level and NMR shifts by the gauge‐including atomic orbital method with the PBE0/6‐311+G(d,p) geometry and the cc‐pVTZ basis set. Vicinal three‐bond coupling constants for the acyclic diols are calculated from the relative conformer populations, the geometries and generalized Karplus equations developed by Altona's group; these correlate well with the experimental values. The solvent dependence of coupling constants for butane‐1,4‐diol is attributed to conformational change. Coupling constants for the rigid cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols do not change with solvent and are readily explained in terms of their geometries. The NMR shifts of hydrogen‐bonded protons in individual conformers of alkane‐1,n‐diols show a very rough correlation with the OH···OH distances. The computed overall NMR shifts for CH protons in 1,2‐diols, 1,3‐diols and 1,4‐diols are systematically high but correlate very well with the experimental values, with a gradient of 1.07 ± 0.01; those for OH protons correlate less well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Alkaline Earth Metal Terephthalates: M(C8H4O4)·nH2O (M = Ca, Sr, Ba)
Authors: Scholz Gudrun , Abdulkader Abdullah , Kemnitz Erhard
Published: January 2014

The mechanochemical synthesis offers an easy access to obtain alkaline earth metal terephthalates M(C8H4O4)·nH2O (M = Ca, Sr, Ba). In the presented study we describe for the first time the mechanochemical synthesis of powders of Ca(C8H4O4)·3H2O, Ca(C8H4O4), Sr(C8H4O4)·H2O, and Ba(C8H4O4), which so far were only synthesized as single crystals from aqueous solutions or by reactions in an autoclave. Furthermore, a new hydrate Ba(C8H4O4)·2(1.5)H2O, not described so far in the literature, was prepared. All compounds were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, FT‐IR, and MAS NMR spectroscopic measurements.