bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Queries of MALDI‐imaging global datasets identifying ion mass signatures associated with tissue compartments
Authors: Fehniger Thomas E. , Suits Frank , Végvári Ákos , Horvatovich Peter , Foster Martyn , Marko‐Varga György
Published: January 2014

Scanning MS by MALDI MS imaging (MALDI‐MSI) creates large volumetric global datasets that describe the location and identity of ions registered at each sampling location. While thousands of ion peaks are recorded in a typical whole‐tissue analysis, only a fraction of these measured molecules are purposefully scrutinized within a given experimental design. To address this need, we recently reported new methods to query the full volume of MALDI‐MSI data that correlate all ion masses to one another. As an example of this utility, we demonstrate that specific ion peak m/z signatures can be used to localize similar histological structures within tissue samples. In this study, we use the example of ion peak masses that are associated with tissue spaces occupied by airway bronchioles in rat lung samples. The volume of raw data was preprocessed into structures of 0.1 mass unit bins containing metadata collected at each sampling position. Interactive visualization in ParaView identified ion peaks that especially showed strong association with airway bronchioles but not vascular or parenchymal tissue compartments. Further iterative statistical correlation queries provided ranked indices of all m/z values in the global dataset regarding coincident distributions at any given X, Y position in the histological spaces occupied by bronchioles The study further provides methods for extracting important information contained in global datasets that previously was unseen or inaccessible.
Chemically triggered C–ON bond homolysis in alkoxyamines. Part 7. Remote polar effect
Authors: Audran Gérard , Ibanou Matisse Bim Batsiandzy , Brémond Paul , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Obame Germain , Roubaud Valérie , Siri Didier
Published: January 2014

In a recent work (Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 358–361), we showed that the activation by benzylation of alkoxyamine 1 (diethyl (1‐(tert‐butyl(1‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethoxy)amino)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl)phosphonate) afforded a surprisingly large C–ON bond homolysis rate constant kd. Taking advantage of the easy preparation of para‐X‐benzyl‐activated alkoxyamines 2 and of the presence of a shielding methylene group between the two aromatic moieties, we investigated the long range (10 bonds between the X group and the C–ON bond) polar effect for X = H, F, OMe, CN, NO2, NMe2, +NHMe2,Br−. It was observed that the effect was weak (4‐fold) and mainly due to the zwiterionic mesomeric forms generated by the presence of group X on the para position, i.e. kd increased for CN and NO2 and decreased for OMe, NMe2 and +NMe2H,Br−. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) level were performed to determine orbital interactions (natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis), Mulliken and NBO charges which support the reactivity described. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ability of DFT to evaluate the torsional barriers in neutral and CO* protonated aromatic carbonyl compounds
Authors: Haloui Abir , Haloui Ezzeddine
Published: January 2014

Before the recent development of new functionals, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) was considered as a failing quantum chemical method in accurately computing the rotational barrier height of the gaseous benzaldehyde. Since the 2004 polemical Speakman's paper about the accuracy of microwave value of this quantity [L. D. Speakman, B. N. Papas, H. L. Woodcock, H. F. Schaefer, J. Chem. Phys. 2004, 120, 4247], the question is still relevant. This paper aims to display the ability of the DFT to evaluate the torsional barriers of a series of para‐substituted benzaldehydes in solution. The method is also tested in computing barriers of other solvated aromatic carbonyl compounds (in both neutral and carbonyl protonated forms) for which accurate experimental data are available. Computations have been carried out at two DFT methods using the popular hybrid generalized‐gradient‐approximation (GGA) density functional B3LYP and the global hybrid meta‐GGA Minnesota functional M06‐2X with a 6‐311++g (2d,2p) basis set. Solvent effects investigations were undertaken within the framework of the polarisable continuum model solvation approach. It has been concluded that the used computational methods are very satisfactory in predicting barriers of para‐substituted benzaldehydes in the liquid phase and less satisfactory for their CO*‐protonated forms. M06‐2X functional particularly leads to full agreement. For para‐substituted acetophenones, good agreement with experiment is observed only with M06‐2X applied to the CO*‐protonated forms. The present investigations have allowed to demonstrate that the Density Functional Theory does not constantly fail in accurately computing the rotational barrier heights of aromatic carbonyl compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Banning of methyl bromide for seed treatment: could Ditylenchus dipsaci again become a major threat to alfalfa production in Europe?
Authors: Mouttet Raphaëlle , Escobar‐Gutiérrez Abraham , Esquibet Magali , Gentzbittel Laurent , Mugniéry Didier , Reignault Philippe , Sarniguet Corinne , Castagnone‐Sereno Philippe
Published: January 2014

In Europe, the stem and bulb nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci has been listed as a quarantine pest by EPPO: without any control, it may cause complete failure of alfalfa crops. Movement of nematodes associated with seeds is considered to be the highest‐risk pathway for the spread of this pest. Since the 2010 official withdrawal of methyl bromide in Europe, and in the absence of any alternative chemical, fumigation of contaminated seed batches is no longer possible, which makes the production of nematode‐free alfalfa seeds difficult to achieve and leads to unmarketable seed batches. Thermotherapy is being considered as a realistic alternative strategy, but its efficiency still remains to be validated. The combination of the currently available methods (i.e. use of resistant cultivars, seed production according to a certification scheme, mechanical sieving, seed batch inspection) could significantly reduce the likelihood of seed contamination. However, it does not guarantee a total eradication of the nematode. Although it is already widely distributed all over Europe, reclassification of D. dipsaci as a regulated non‐quarantine pest to reduce the possibility of further introductions and the rate of spread of this pest appears to be a risky strategy because of the lack of up‐to‐date documented data to evaluate damage thresholds and determine acceptable tolerance levels. [[ArtCopyrightmsg]]
Influence of precursor sulfur content on film formation and the properties of sulfurized Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films for solar cells
Authors: Son Dae‐Ho , Kim Dae‐Hwan , Yang Kee‐Jeong , Nam Dahyun , Gansukh Mungunshagai , Cheong Hyeonsik , Kang Jin‐Kyu
Published: January 2014

This is the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) films were fabricated on glass substrates by sputtering using compound material targets. The fabrication method combines the deposition of metallic precursors and the sulfurization annealing process using S vapor. The optimal precursor sequence for CZTS growth was Cu/SnS/ZnS/Mo. To optimize the composition and the thickness of CZTS, the thickness of Cu layer and precursor was varied. The best cell had an area of 0.185 cm2, Cu/(Zn + Sn) = 0.89, Zn/Sn = 1.04, and S/(metal) = 1.13 and showed an open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.66 V, a short‐circuit current (JSC) of 13.60 mA cm−2, a fill factor of 43.14% and a conversion efficiency of 3.84%.
Filiform corrosion of aluminium alloys after a phosphate treatment
Authors: Thomé T. , Martinez S. , Czechowski C. , Thomé L. , Debove J. P. , Benchabane S.
Published: January 2014

The role on filiform corrosion (FFC), after an automotive painting process with a phosphate treatment, of the near surface deformed layer (NSDL) formed during mechanical processing on AA8006 aluminium alloys is investigated. Samples subjected to specific surface pretreatments are examined before and after different steps of the phosphating process in order to identify the characteristics of the NSDL that are responsible for the susceptibility to FFC. The thickness, the structure and the composition of this NSDL are determined by SEM, RBS, XPS and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of a 200‐nm thick NSDL which is not completely eliminated during the degreasing step of the phosphating process increases dramatically the FFC susceptibility of AA8006 aluminium alloys compared with beforehand etched samples. The influence of Pb and Mg segregation on top of the surface is found to be negligible whereas the specific microstructure of the NSDL characterised by nanograins with boundaries decorated by nano‐sized oxide intermetallic particles seems to play a major role on FFC. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A note on the kappa statistic for clustered dichotomous data
Authors: Zhou Ming , Yang Zhao
Published: February 2014

The kappa statistic is widely used to assess the agreement between two raters. Motivated by a simulation‐based cluster bootstrap method to calculate the variance of the kappa statistic for clustered physician–patients dichotomous data, we investigate its special correlation structure and develop a new simple and efficient data generation algorithm. For the clustered physician–patients dichotomous data, based on the delta method and its special covariance structure, we propose a semi‐parametric variance estimator for the kappa statistic. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation study is performed to evaluate the performance of the new proposal and five existing methods with respect to the empirical coverage probability, root‐mean‐square error, and average width of the 95% confidence interval for the kappa statistic. The variance estimator ignoring the dependence within a cluster is generally inappropriate, and the variance estimators from the new proposal, bootstrap‐based methods, and the sampling‐based delta method perform reasonably well for at least a moderately large number of clusters (e.g., the number of clusters ). The new proposal and sampling‐based delta method provide convenient tools for efficient computations and non‐simulation‐based alternatives to the existing bootstrap‐based methods. Moreover, the new proposal has acceptable performance even when the number of clusters is as small as K = 25. To illustrate the practical application of all the methods, one psychiatric research data and two simulated clustered physician–patients dichotomous data are analyzed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Osmocapsules for Direct Measurement of Osmotic Strength
Authors: Kim Shin‐Hyun , Lee Tae Yong , Lee Sang Seok
Published: January 2014

Monodisperse microcapsules with ultra‐thin membranes are microfluidically designed to be highly sensitive to osmotic pressure, thereby providing a tool for the direct measurement of the osmotic strength. To make such osmocapsules, water‐in‐oil‐in‐water double‐emulsion drops with ultra‐thin shells are prepared as templates through emulsification of core–sheath biphasic flow in a capillary microfluidic device. When photocurable monomers are used as the oil phase, the osmocapsules are prepared by in‐situ photopolymerization of the monomers, resulting in semipermeable membranes with a relatively large ratio of membrane thickness to capsule radius, approximately 0.02. These osmocapsules are buckled by the outward flux of water when they are subjected to a positive osmotic pressure difference above 125 kPa. By contrast, evaporation‐induced consolidation of middle‐phase containing polymers enables the production of osmocapsules with a small ratio of membrane thickness to capsule radius of approximately 0.002. Such an ultra‐thin membrane with semi‐permeability makes the osmocapsules highly sensitive to osmotic pressure; a positive pressure as small as 12.5 kPa induces buckling of the capsules. By employing a set of distinct osmocapsules confining aqueous solutions with different osmotic strengths, the osmotic strength of unknown solutions can be estimated through observation of the capsules that are selectively buckled. This approach provides the efficient measurement of the osmotic strength using only a very small volume of liquid, thereby providing a useful alternative to other measurement methods which use complex setups. In addition, in‐vivo measurement of the osmotic strength can be potentially accomplished by implanting these biocompatible osmocapsules into tissue, which is difficult to achieve using conventional methods.
Testosterone and the struggle for higher social status
Authors: Kirby Roger
Published: January 2014

Roger Kirby discusses the role of testosterone in human social behaviour. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons
Erectile dysfunction increases cardiovascular risk: time to reduce it
Authors: Jackson Graham , Kirby Mike
Published: January 2014

As erectile dysfunction is an independent marker of increased cardiovascular disease, a cardiac assessment and aggressive risk reduction therapy are essential for all men with erectile dysfunction, even if they have no cardiac symptoms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons
Hocheffiziente RF‐Impedanzanpassnetzwerke
Authors: Beckmann Rudolf , Rack Andreas , Gesche Roland , Scherer Joachim
Published: February 2014

Induktiv gekoppelte Plasmen (ICP) bieten im Gegensatz zu kapazitiv gekoppelten Plasmen (CCP) eine höhere Plasmadichte und ermöglichen daher höhere Beschichtungs‐ bzw. Ätzraten und damit eine hohe Wirtschaftlichkeit bei industriellen Niederdruck‐ Plasmaverfahren.

Wir werden im Folgenden ein neuartiges Impedanzanpassnetzwerk vorstellen, das für die hohe Anforderung zum Betrieb von induktiven Plasmen und speziell für den Betrieb in einer industriellen Anwendung entwickelt wurde.

Für die Anwendung in Produktionsanlagen sind genaue Kenntnisse der Plasmaeigenschaften, wie der Homogenität und der Ionenenergieverteilung erforderlich. Plasmadiagnostische Untersuchungen und Berechnungen der Plasmadichteverteilung werden hierzu dargestellt. Abschließend wird die Anwendungen in einer Produktionsanlage vorgestellt, die auf einer kompakten Stellfläche von nur 19 m2 1200 Substrate der Größe 156 mm × 156 mm vollautomatisiert pro Stunde beschichten kann.
Soil–structure reliability of offshore wind turbine monopile foundations
Authors: Carswell Wystan , Arwade Sanjay Raja , DeGroot Don J. , Lackner Matthew A.
Published: January 2014

An overview of offshore wind turbine (OWT) foundations is presented, focusing primarily on the monopile foundation. The uncertainty in offshore soil conditions as well as random wind and wave loading is currently treated with a deterministic design procedure, though some standards allow engineers to use a probability‐based approach. Laterally loaded monopile foundations are typically designed using the American Petroleum Institute p‐y method, which is problematic for large OWT pile diameters. Probabilistic methods are used to examine the reliability of OWT pile foundations under serviceability limit states using Euler–Bernoulli beam elements in a two‐dimensional pile–spring model, non‐linear with respect to the soil springs. The effects of soil property variation, pile design parameters, loading and large diameters on OWT pile reliability are presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zinc(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes Based on Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Luminescent and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Qin Xiaoting , Ji Yufei , Gao Yanfei , Yan Lei , Ding Shuai , Wang Yanqin , Liu Zhiliang
Published: February 2014

Three new phenolate oxygen bridged transition metal complexes [Zn3(HL1)3(μ3‐CH3O)]·(ClO4)2(H2O)3 (1), [Ni2(HL1)2(μ1,1‐N3)(o‐vanillin)]·H2O (2), [Ni3(HL2)2(PhCOO)2(PhCOOH)2(EtOH)2] (3) have been synthesized by metal ions and potentially multidentate Schiff base ligands (H2L1 = 2‐((1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropan‐2‐ylimino) methyl)‐6‐methoxyphenol; H3L2 = (E)‐1‐((2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐benzylidene)amino)ethane‐1,2‐diol). All the three complexes 1, 2, and 3 have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. Crystal structures reveal that complex 1 is a trinuclear incomplete cubane‐like zinc cluster whereas complex 2 is a dinuclear nickel complex bridged by azide, and compound 3 is a trinuclear nickel complex. The luminescent property for complex 1 and magnetic behaviors for complexes 2 and 3 have been investigated.
Role of Ki‐67 Proliferation Index in the Assessment of Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasias Regarding the Stage of Disease
Authors: Miller H. C. , Drymousis P. , Flora R. , Goldin R. , Spalding D. , Frilling A.
Published: February 2014

Background

Neuroendocrine neoplasias (NEN) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) system frequently present with metastatic deposits. The proliferation marker Ki‐67 is used for diagnosis and to assess the prognosis of disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of Ki‐67 % in the assessment of NEN patients with regard to their disease stage in clinical practice. Additionally, a comparative analysis of Ki‐67 levels among different sites of disease was performed.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with GEP NEN referred to our center from 2010 to 2012. The NEN diagnosis was confirmed by standard histopathology. Ki‐67 immunohistochemistry was done on paraffin‐embedded sections using an automated Leica immunohistochemistry machine. NEN grading was carried out according to European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society recommendations (low grade [G1] to intermediate grade [G2], well to moderately differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms; high‐grade [G3], moderately to poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms). Results of tumor staging and grading were correlated. In a subgroup of cases, comparative analysis of Ki‐67 levels in different sites of disease was carried out.

Results

One hundred sixty‐one GEP NEN patients were included in the study. Metastatic disease was seen in 46.1 % (53/115) of G1 tumors, 77.8 % (28/36) of G2 tumors, and 100 % of (10/10) G3 tumors (p = 0.0002). When stratified according to primary tumor site, metastatic disease was documented in 42.9 % (36/84) of patients with pancreatic NEN and in 91.9 % (34/37) of those with small intestinal primary. Stage IV metastatic disease was present in 27.8 % (32/115) and 72.2 % (26/36) of the G1 and G2 tumors, respectively, and in 90 % (9/10) of the G3 tumors. Assessment of the Ki‐67 index for a subset of cases at metastatic sites as well as the primary tumor site showed discrepancies in 35.3 % cases. In 7/9 (77.8 %) patients with liver metastases, Ki‐67 % was higher in the liver lesions than in the primary tumor.

Conclusions

Patients with GEP NEN exhibiting a high Ki‐67 proliferation index present with metastatic disease in the vast majority of cases. Depending upon the primary tumor site, metastases are to be expected also in tumors with low Ki‐67 %, although they are considered less aggressive. Different disease sites may express heterogeneous Ki‐67 levels.
Natural course of Fabry disease and the effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rombach Saskia M. , Smid Bouwien E. , Linthorst Gabor E. , Dijkgraaf Marcel G. W. , Hollak Carla E. M.
Published: February 2014

Objective

Current available evidence on long‐term effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for Fabry disease is limited. More insight is needed whether ERT effectiveness differs in patients with and without baseline end‐organ damage.

Design

Through a systematic review, untreated and ERT treated males and females with Fabry disease were compared for main clinical outcomes: renal function, left ventricular mass (LVmass), cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) and end‐organ complications. Through a meta‐analysis ERT effectiveness was estimated in different disease stages.

Data extraction

Two reviewers assessed quality of the included studies according to guidelines for prognosis research. Data were synthesized using a random effects meta‐analysis.

Results

Thirty‐one studies were systematically reviewed while six studies were included in the meta‐analysis. In patients with a GFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, decline of renal function was similar for treated and untreated patients. Only ERT treated males with a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 had a slower rate of decline in renal function, possibly attributable to anti‐proteinuric therapy. Regardless of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) at baseline, LVmass remained stable or increased in males despite ERT, however at a slower rate compared to untreated male patients. In ERT treated females with LVH LVmass decreased, and remained stable in females without LVH. WMLs can not be prevented by ERT. Stroke, cardiac and end‐stage renal complications develop, though the incidence of new complications seems to be reduced during ERT.

Conclusion

ERT is effective in reducing LVH, but has a limited effect on renal function. Improved treatment options are needed for Fabry disease.
Interfacial and Demulsifying Behavior of Novel Fluorinated Hyperbranched Polymers
Authors: Li Yifei , Wang Xi , Zhang Huimin , Wang Yan , Yan Yucai , Zhang Yin , Zhao Yongxiang
Published: February 2014

In our previous study, a series of novel hyperbranched fluoropolymers with polyglycerol as the core and poly(hexafluorobutyl acrylate) as hydrophobic arms were synthesized. As potential demulsifier for lubricants, the demulsification behavior, dynamic interfacial tension, and dilational rheological properties of the fluorinated polymers were investigated in this paper. The influence of polymer concentration and molecular structure on the interfacial properties was analyzed. We conclude that the diffusion rate of the polymers and the viscoelastic properties of the water–oil interface are critical factors in determining the demulsification performance. The longer hydrophobic chains of the fluorinated polymers leads to a faster and more effective interfacial adsorption, which is favorable to improve demulsification efficiency. In contrast, the longer hydrophobic chain also enhances the elastic property of interface due to its entangled structure, which is unfavorable to demulsification. As a result, the polymer with medium hydrophobic chain length show the best demulsification performance.
Marriage Duration and Divorce: The Seven-Year Itch or a Lifelong Itch?
Authors: Kulu Hill
Published: February 2014

Previous studies have shown that the risk of divorce is low during the first months of marriage; it then increases, reaches a maximum, and thereafter begins to decline. Some researchers consider this pattern consistent with the notion of a “seven-year itch,” while others argue that the rising-falling pattern of divorce risk is a consequence of misspecification of longitudinal models because of omitted covariates or unobserved heterogeneity. The aim of this study is to investigate the causes of the rising-falling pattern of divorce risk. Using register data from Finland and applying multilevel hazard models, the analysis supports the rising-falling pattern of divorce by marriage duration: the risk of marital dissolution increases, reaches its peak, and then gradually declines. This pattern persists when I control for the sociodemographic characteristics of women and their partners. The inclusion of unobserved heterogeneity in the model leads to some changes in the shape of the baseline risk; however, the rising-falling pattern of the divorce risk persists.
Distinct permeation profiles of the connexin 30 and 43 hemichannels
Authors: Hansen Daniel Bloch , Braunstein Thomas Hartig , Nielsen Morten Schak , MacAulay Nanna
Published: February 2014

Connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels may form open channels in the plasma membrane when exposed to specific stimuli, e.g. reduced extracellular concentration of divalent cations, and allow passage of fluorescent molecules and presumably a range of smaller physiologically relevant molecules. However, the permeability profile of Cx43 hemichannels remains unresolved. Exposure of Cx43‐expressing Xenopus laevis oocytes to divalent cation free solution induced a gadolinium‐sensitive uptake of the fluorescent dye ethidium. In spite thereof, a range of biological molecules smaller than ethidium, such as glutamate, lactate, and glucose, did not permeate the pore whereas ATP did. In contrast, permeability of glutamate, glucose and ATP was observed in oocytes expressing Cx30. Exposure to divalent cation free solutions induced a robust membrane conductance in Cx30‐expressing oocytes but none in Cx43‐expressing oocytes. C‐terminally truncated Cx43 (M257) displayed increased dye uptake and, unlike wild type Cx43 channels, conducted current. Neither Cx30 nor Cx43 acted as water channels in their hemichannel configuration. Our results demonstrate that connexin hemichannels have isoform‐specific permeability profiles and that dye uptake cannot be equaled to permeability of smaller physiologically relevant molecules in given settings.
Digestible indispensable amino acid score and digestible amino acids in eight cereal grains
Authors: Cervantes-Pahm Sarah K. , Liu Yanhong , Stein Hans H.
Published: January 2014

To determine values for the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS), it is recommended that ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility values obtained in growing pigs are used to characterise protein quality in different foods. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to determine the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in eight cereal grains (yellow dent maize, Nutridense maize, dehulled barley, dehulled oats, polished white rice, rye, sorghum and wheat) fed to pigs, where SID values in pigs can be used to calculate approximate DIAAS values in humans. In the present experiment, twenty-four barrows with a T-cannula inserted in the distal ileum were allotted to eight diets and fed for three periods to give a total of nine replicate pigs per diet. Each period lasted 14 d, and ileal digesta samples were collected on days 13 and 14. Among the SID values obtained for all cereal grains, values for total indispensable AA were greatest (P< 0·05) in rice and lowest (P< 0·05) in rye and sorghum. The concentrations of SID indispensable AA in rice were less (P< 0·05) than in dehulled oats, but greater (P< 0·05) than in the other cereal grains, and the concentrations of SID indispensable AA in Nutridense maize were greater (P< 0·05) than in yellow dent maize and sorghum, but less (P< 0·05) than in the other cereal grains, except rye. In conclusion, results indicate that to meet dietary requirements for AA in humans, diets based on yellow dent maize or sorghum require more AA supplementation than diets based on other cereal grains.
Supplementation of the diet with Salecan attenuates the symptoms of colitis induced by dextran sulphate sodium in mice
Authors: Zhou Mengyi , Wang Zhongqiu , Chen Jinping , Zhan Yibei , Wang Tao , Xia Lin , Wang Shiming , Hua Zichun , Zhang Jianfa
Published: January 2014

As a water-soluble extracellular β-glucan produced by Agrobacterium sp. ZX09, Salecan has an excellent toxicological profile and exerts multiple physiological effects. The aims of the present study were to investigate the protective effects of a Salecan diet in the well-defined dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) model of experimental murine colitis and to elucidate the mechanism involved in its effects with special attention being paid to its effect on the production of TNF-α, a primary mediator involved in the inflammatory response. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a diet supplemented with either 4 or 8 % Salecan for 26 d and DSS was administered to induce acute colitis during the last 5 d of the experimental period. Several clinical and inflammatory parameters as well as mRNA expression of TNF-α and Dectin-1 were evaluated. The results indicated that the dietary incorporation of Salecan attenuated the severity of DSS colitis as evidenced by the decreased disease activity index, reduced severity of anaemia, attenuated changes in colon architecture and reduced colonic myeloperoxidase activity. This protection was associated with the down-regulation of TNF-α mRNA levels, which might derive from its ability to increase Dectin-1 mRNA levels. In conclusion, the present study suggests that Salecan contributes to the reduction of colonic damage and inflammation in mice with DSS-induced colitis and holds promise as a new, effective nutritional supplement in the management of inflammatory bowel disease.
Computed tomography features of luetic osteitis (otosyphilis) of the temporal bone
Authors: Ogungbemi A , Dudau C , Morley S , Beale T
Published: January 2014

Objective:

We report a missed case of otosyphilis presenting as otic capsule lucencies on temporal bone computed tomography.

Methods:

A 58-year-old woman presented with a 15-year history of bilateral, mixed hearing loss together with otic capsule lucencies, subsequently confirmed as otosyphilis. A literature review of otosyphilis was undertaken based on a PubMed search of studies published between 1988 and 2012, using the key words ‘otosyphilis’, ‘otodystrophy’, ‘otic capsule lucencies’ and ‘luetic osteitis’.

Results and conclusion:

Although rare, otosyphilis is important to recognise as it is one of the few treatable causes of deafness when diagnosed early. The differentiating computed tomography features of luetic osteitis (otosyphilis) of the temporal bone have only rarely been described. We emphasise how these imaging features can be used to distinguish the rare but treatable condition of luetic osteitis from other, more common conditions with similar imaging findings.
Clinicoradiological characteristics of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and renal metastasis: case series with follow up
Authors: Kand P , Basu S
Published: January 2014

Background:

Renal metastasis is relatively unusual in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Methods:

The clinicoradiological parameters of a series of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and renal metastasis were assessed, together with follow-up data.

Results and conclusion:

The series comprised 4 male patients over the age of 45 years with extensive disease at the primary site. Retro-sternal extension of a large goitre was observed in three patients. The primary tumour was 4 cm or larger in all patients (range, 4–14 cm), and three patients had associated lymph node metastasis. None had any genito-urinary symptoms at presentation. Two patients had isolated renal metastases with no other distant metastases, while the others had extensive multi-organ involvement. The bilateral occurrence of lesions was a hallmark, being observed in all cases. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology and 131I scintigraphy were pivotal in confirming the diagnosis. Evidence of ‘flip-flop’ between 131I study and fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography was noted in one patient, while the other three demonstrated concordant lesions in both modalities. At a minimum follow-up period of four years after diagnosis, three patients demonstrated stable disease with radioiodine therapy, and one had expired due to a poorly differentiated lung carcinoma which developed subsequently.
The exact multiplicity of positive solutions for a class of two-point boundary-value problems with the one-dimensional p-Laplacian
Authors: Sim Inbo , Tanaka Satoshi
Published: January 2014

Employing the Kolodner–Coffman method, we show the exact multiplicity of positive solutions for the one-dimensional p-Laplacian that is subject to a Dirichlet boundary condition with a positive convex nonlinearity and an indefinite weight function.
Suspension splittings and James–Hopf invariants
Authors: Grbić Jelena , Theriault Stephen , Wu Jie
Published: January 2014

James constructed a functorial homotopy decomposition for path-connected, p ointed CW-complexes X. We generalize this to a p-local functorial decomposition of ΣA, where A is any functorial retract of a looped co-H-space. This is used to construct Hopf invariants in a more general context. In addition, when A = ΩY is the loops space of a co-H-space, we show that the wedge summands of ΣΩY further functorially decompose by using an action of an appropriate symmetric group. As a valuable example, we give an application to the theory of quasi-symmetric functions.
Sharp boundary trace inequalities
Authors: Auchmuty Giles
Published: January 2014

This paper describes sharp inequalities for the trace of Sobolev functions on the boundary of a bounded region Ω ⊂ ℝN. The inequalities bound (semi-)norms of the boundary trace by certain norms of the function, its gradient on the region and by two specific constants κρ and κΩ associated with the domain and a weight function, respectively. These inequalities are sharp in that there exist functions for which equality holds. Explicit inequalities in some special cases when the region is a ball, or the region between two balls, are evaluated.
Positive solutions to Sturm–Liouville problems with non-local boundary conditions
Authors: Jankowski T.
Published: January 2014

In this paper, the existence of at least three non-negative solutions to non-local boundary-value problems for second-order differential equations with deviating arguments α and ϛ is investigated. Sufficient conditions, which guarantee the existence of positive solutions, are obtained using the Avery–Peterson theorem. We discuss our problem for both advanced and delayed arguments. An example is added to illustrate the results.
The bond-based peridynamic system with Dirichlet-type volume constraint
Authors: Mengesha Tadele , Du Qiang
Published: January 2014

In this paper, the bond-based peridynamic system is analysed as a non-local boundary-value problem with volume constraint. The study extends earlier works in the literature on non-local diffusion and non-local peridynamic models, to include non-positive definite kernels. We prove the well-posedness of both linear and nonlinear variational problems with volume constraints. The analysis is based on some non-local Poincaré-type inequalities and the compactness of the associated non-local operators. It also offers careful characterizations of the associated solution spaces, such as compact embedding, separability and completeness. In the limit of vanishing non-locality, the convergence of the peridynamic system to the classical Navier equations of elasticity with Poisson ratio ¼ is demonstrated.
Transient left ventricular wall thickening in a 14-year-old girl with influenza A myocarditis
Authors: Wittlieb-Weber Carol A. , Harris Matthew A. , Rossano Joseph W.
Published: January 2014

We describe a case of influenza A myocarditis and transient left ventricular wall thickening in a 14-year-old girl presenting with acute heart failure. Admission echocardiogram revealed significant left ventricular hypertrophy with depressed left ventricular systolic function. The aetiology of the ventricular thickening was demonstrated to be myocardial oedema using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The natural course of this unusual clinical presentation of acute myocarditis and the importance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in this challenging clinical setting are discussed.
Shaping the ‘China Problem’ of Colonial Southeast Asia
Authors: Yamamoto Nobuto
Published: February 2014

In the early 1920s Southeast Asia, before communism compelled the creation of inter-colonial intelligence networks in the late period of the decade, a situation that can be called the ‘China problem’ emerged as an issue for the colonial powers in the region. This problem refers to the political activities by local Chinese populations in response to events that were taking place in China. The colonial powers, however, could not find a common solution to this issue, but instead dealt with it individually. An explanation to this lies in the fact that, unlike in Northeast Asia where the ‘Washington System’ shaped international politics in the 1920s, in Southeast Asia no such official framework had been established to deal with regional issues. This article sets out to demonstrate that under Britain's ‘informal empire’ in Southeast Asia, the colonial powers informally started to exchange information on domestic Chinese politics in their colonies as well as the political development in China. The ‘China problem’ was thus a catalyst that brought to the region ‘international’ politics and in particular the politics of immigration control.
A simple and effective method for picking training samples in neural networks
Authors: Kong Fanbiao , Chen Guoqing , Zhu Chun , Li Run , Hu Yangjun , Zhang Yong , Zhu Zhuowei
Published: January 2014

A simple and effective method for picking training samples in neural networks.
Spontaneous assembly of iridium nanochain-like structures: surface enhanced Raman scattering activity using visible light
Authors: Chakrapani Kalapu , Sampath S.
Published: January 2014

A facile, environmentally friendly approach to synthesize branched Ir nanochain-like structures under mild conditions results in nanostructures that serve as active substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering studies .
2-D lanthanide–organic complexes constructed from 6,7-dihydropyrido(2,3-d)pyridazine-5,8-dione: synthesis, characterization and photoluminescence for sensing small molecules
Authors: Ahmad Waqar , Zhang Lijuan , Zhou Yunshan
Published: February 2014

The 2-D lanthanide–organic complex [(EuHPDH)(ox)(H2O)]n, synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, shows high potential for sensing small molecules by its luminescence properties in different emulsions.
Experimental and computational studies on the formation of cyanate from early metal terminal nitrido ligands and carbon monoxide
Authors: Cozzolino Anthony F. , Silvia Jared S. , Lopez Nazario , Cummins Christopher C.
Published: February 2014

DFT and experimental studies are used to elucidate key aspects in the design of a transition metal complex that mediates the reduction of dinitrogen by carbon monoxide and an electron source through a terminal metal nitride complex.
A DFT study of the interaction between olefins and Cu2+ on silica and MCM-41 model surfaces
Authors: Gao Yunlong , Kispert Lowell D.
Published: February 2014

The conjugation length of an olefin and the environment of Cu2+ affect the Cu2+–olefin interaction significantly.
Doubly TEMPO-coordinated gadolinium(iii), lanthanum(iii), and yttrium(iii) complexes. Strong superexchange coupling across rare earth ions
Authors: Murakami Rina , Nakamura Takeshi , Ishida Takayuki
Published: January 2014

The X-ray crystal structure of TEMPO-coordinated lanthanide compounds was determined for the first time. The magnetic study clarified that [Gd(hfac)3(TEMPO)2] behaved as a ground Stotal = 7/2 species. The La and Y analogues showed the superexchange interactions across the diamagnetic ions.
Estimating hydroxyl radical photochemical formation rates in natural waters during long-term laboratory irradiation experiments
Authors: Sun Luni , Chen Hongmei , Abdulla Hussain A. , Mopper Kenneth
Published: January 2014

This study showed that hydroxyl radical (˙OH) production during long-term irradiation experiments is most accurately measured using instantaneous rates.
Understanding pretreatment efficacy of four cholinium and imidazolium ionic liquids by chemistry and computation
Authors: Sun Ning , Parthasarathi Ramakrishnan , Socha Aaron M. , Shi Jian , Zhang Sonny , Stavila Vitalie , Sale Kenneth L. , Simmons Blake A. , Singh Seema
Published: January 2014

Understanding specific combinations of cations and anions of ionic liquids for biomass pretreatment.
What are grain boundary structures in graphene?
Authors: Li Zheng-Lu , Li Zhi-Ming , Cao Hai-Yuan , Yang Ji-Hui , Shu Qiang , Zhang Yue-Yu , Xiang H. J. , Gong X. G.
Published: February 2014

We have developed a new global optimization method for the determination of the interface structure based on the differential evolution algorithm.
Volatilization interference in thermal analysis and kinetics of low-melting organic nitro compounds
Authors: Liu Rui , Zhang Tonglai , Zhou Zunning , Yang Li
Published: January 2014

DNTF is the most sensitive to heat while DNAN has the best thermal stability.
Ethynyl thiophene-appended unsymmetrical zinc porphyrin sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Reeta P. Silviya , Giribabu L. , Senthilarasu S. , Hsu Min-Hung , Kumar D. Kishore , Upadhyaya Hari M. , Robertson Neil , Hewat Tracy
Published: January 2014

Zn porphyrin sensitizers with ethynyl thiophene linker, pyrene/fluorene donors and cyanoacrylic or malonic acid anchoring group were synthesized for DSSC applications. Conversion efficiency up to 3.14% was exhibited.
Multifunctional hybrid graphene oxide for label-free detection of malignant melanoma from infected blood
Authors: Kanchanapally Rajashekhar , Fan Zhen , Singh Anant Kumar , Sinha Sudarson Sekhar , Ray Paresh Chandra
Published: January 2014

The development of multifunctional graphene oxide for label-free detection of malignant melanoma from infected blood is reported.
BN-decorated graphene nanoflakes with tunable opto-electronic and charge transport properties
Authors: Sanyal Somananda , Manna Arun K. , Pati Swapan K.
Published: January 2014

The electronic structures, optical and charge transport properties of various boron–nitrogen (BN) substituted hexagonal graphene nanoflakes (h-GNFs) are investigated with the aim of tailoring the intrinsic properties of pristine h-GNFs using first-principles density functional theory.
Thermal degradation of the green-emitting SrSi2O2N2:Eu2+ phosphor for solid state lighting
Authors: Wang Chun-Yun , Xie Rong-Jun , Li Fangzhi , Xu Xin
Published: January 2014

The thermal degradation mechanism of the SrSi2O2N2:Eu2+ phosphor is attributed to (i) oxidation of Eu2+ to Eu3+ and (ii) the formation of the SrSiO3 phase on the phosphor particle surface.
Metal organic framework (MOF) micro/nanopillars
Authors: Kojtari Arben , Carroll Patrick J. , Ji Hai-Feng
Published: January 2014

In this work, we report the realization of MOF-based micro/nanopillars, a new generation of MOF structures, prepared from surface-assisted self-assembly processes at room temperature.
Method to improve convergence performance of iterative learning control systems over wireless networks in presence of channel noise
Authors: Huang Li‐xun , Fang Yong , Wang Tao
Published: February 2014

The accumulated effect of channel noise, including sensor‐to‐controller (SC) noise and controller‐to‐actuator (CA) noise, has a significant impact on the convergence performance of iterative learning control (ILC) systems over wireless networks. In this study, the relation between input error, channel noise and learning gain is derived, which reveals the fact that the contribution of the SC noise and the CA noise to the input error are all influenced by the learning gain. Based on this discovery, a method is proposed to improve the convergence performance of the ILC system when the SC noise and CA noise are independent and Gaussian distributed. Specifically, this method adaptively selects the learning gain through minimising the trace of input error covariance matrix. With the adaptively selected learning gain, the convergence performance of the ILC system is improved significantly. Moreover, the effect of channel noise variance on the convergence speed of the ILC system with the proposed method is analysed theoretically. Finally, numerical experiments are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and corroborate the theoretical analysis, respectively.
Measured forward‐scatter sea clutter at near‐zero grazing angle: analysis of spectral and statistical properties
Authors: Gashinova Marina , Kabakchiev Kalin , Daniel Liam , Hoare Edward , Sizov Vladimir , Cherniakov Mikhail
Published: February 2014

To develop forward‐scatter radar (FSR) systems for use in maritime applications, a fundamental understanding of the operating environment is required. Currently, there is a lack of published experimental FSR sea clutter data at very low (near‐zero) grazing angle over the sea. This data is necessary for the development of FSR systems for maritime applications. Therefore to facilitate further investigation, clutter data for such a system has been recorded at frequencies of 7.5 and 24 GHz with static, medium gain antennas for low sea states 1–3 on the Douglas scale. Analysis of forward scatter propagation phenomena is presented, and spectral and statistical analysis of forward‐scatter clutter is performed.
Interpretability and variability of metamodel validation statistics in engineering system design optimization: a practical study
Authors: Hamad Husam , Al-Zaben Awad , Owies Rami
Published: February 2014

Prediction accuracy of a metamodel of an engineering system in comparison to the simulation model it approximates is one fundamental criterion that is used in metamodel validation. Many statistics are used to quantify prediction accuracy of metamodels in deterministic simulations. The most frequently used ones include the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and the R-square metric derived from it, and to a lesser degree the average absolute error (AAE) and its derivates such as the relative average absolute error (RAAE). In this paper, we compare two aspects of these statistics: interpretability of results returned by these statistics and their sample-to-sample variations, putting more emphasis on the latter. We use the difference-mode to common-mode ratio (DMCMR) as a measure of sample-to-sample variations for these statistics. Preliminary results are obtained and discussed via a number of analytic and electronic engineering examples.
A novel idea of pseudo-code generator in quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA)
Authors: Ahmad Firdous , Mustafa M. , Wani Nisar Ahmad , Mir Feroz A
Published: February 2014

In present work, we have implemented the pseudo-code (PN-code) generator using quantum-dot cellular (QCA) technology. Simulation results are obtained from QCA designer software. The PN-code generation is of paramount importance for any secure communication system. The complex code generated is used to scramble incoming plain text. At the receiving end, the same code is generated and successfully used to decrypt the transmitted data. The algorithm for generating noise signal is quite simple. The simplicity of the circuit along with the complexity of the code generated makes the circuit attractive for secure message communication.
Integration and structural analysis of strain relaxed bi-epitaxial zinc oxide(0001) thin film with silicon(100) using titanium nitride buffer layer
Authors: Gupta Pranav , Narayan Jagdish
Published: January 2014

Epitaxial growth of c-plane ZnO(0001) has been demonstrated on the Si(001) by using TiN as an intermediate buffer layer. Because of different out of plane symmetry of the substrate (Si/TiN) and the film (ZnO), two orientations of ZnO domains were obtained and the ZnO film growth is of bi-epitaxial nature. The ZnO thin film was observed to be nearly strain relaxed from X-ray and Raman measurements. The interface between the ZnO and TiN was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, and atomic arrangement has been modeled to understand the crystallographic orientation and structure of the domain/grain boundaries. Reaction at ZnO/TiN interface at higher growth temperature causing zinc titanate formation was observed. The grain boundary structure between the observed domains investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy, revealed the ZnO(0001) planes to be contiguous across the grain boundary which is significant from the perspective of conduction electron scattering. In this configuration, the TiN (being electrically conductive) can be effectively used as an electrode for novel vertically integrated device applications (like light emitting diodes) directly on Si(100) substrate.