bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring long chain alkanes in diesel engine exhaust by thermal desorption PTR-MS
Authors: Erickson M. H. , Gueneron M. , Jobson B. T.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. A method using thermal desorption sampling and analysis by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) to measure long chain alkanes (C12–C18) and other larger organics associated with diesel engine exhaust emissions is described. Long chain alkanes undergo dissociative proton transfer reactions forming a series of fragment ions with formula CnH2n+1. The PTR-MS is insensitive to n-alkanes less than C8 but displays an increasing sensitivity for larger alkanes. Fragment ion distribution and sensitivity is a function of drift conditions. At 80 Td the most abundant ion fragments from C10 to C16 n-alkanes were m/z 57, 71 and 85. The mass spectrum of gasoline and diesel fuel at 80 Td displayed ion group patterns that can be related to known fuel constituents, such as alkanes, alkylbenzenes and cycloalkanes, and other compound groups that are inferred from molecular weight distributions such as dihydronapthalenes and naphthenic monoaromatics. It is shown that thermal desorption sampling of gasoline and diesel engine exhausts at 80 Td allows for discrimination against volatile organic compounds, allowing for quantification of long chain alkanes from the abundance of CnH2n+1 fragment ions. The total abundance of long chain alkanes in diesel engine exhaust was measured to be similar to the total abundance of C1–C4 alkylbenzene compounds. The abundance patterns of compounds determined by thermal desorption sampling may allow for emission profiles to be developed to better quantify the relative contributions of diesel and gasoline exhaust emissions on organic compounds concentrations in urban air.
An initial investigation of the long-term trends in the fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) calibration parameters on the four Cluster spacecraft
Authors: Alconcel L. N. S. , Fox P. , Brown P. , Oddy T. M. , Lucek E. L. , Carr C. M.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Over the course of more than ten years in operation, the calibration parameters of the outboard fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) sensors on the four Cluster spacecraft are shown to be remarkably stable. The parameters are refined on the ground during the rigorous FGM calibration process performed for the Cluster Active Archive (CAA). Fluctuations in some parameters show some correlation with trends in the sensor temperature (orbit position). The parameters, particularly the offsets, of the Spacecraft1 (C1) sensor have undergone more long-term drift than those of the other spacecraft (C2, C3 and C4) sensors. Some potentially anomalous calibration parameters have been identified and will require further investigation in future. However, the observed long-term stability demonstrated in this initial study gives confidence in the relative accuracy of the Cluster magnetic field data. For the most sensitive ranges of the FGM instrument, the offset drift is typically 0.2 nT yr−1 in each sensor on C1 and negligible on C2, C3 and C4.
Sea ice melt pond fraction estimation from dual-polarisation C-band SAR – Part 1: In situ observations
Authors: Scharien R. K. , Landy J. , Barber D. G.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. An understanding of the evolution of melt ponds on Arctic sea ice is important for climate model parameterizations, weather forecast models, and process studies involving mass, energy and biogeochemical exchanges across the ocean-sea ice–atmosphere interface. A field campaign was conducted on landfast first-year sea ice in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago during the summer of 2012, to examine the potential for estimating melt pond fraction from C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In this study, in situ dual-polarisation radar scatterometer observations of pond covered ice are combined with surface physical measurements to analyse the effects of radar and surface parameters on backscatter. LiDAR measurements of ice surface roughness and ultrasonic wind-wave height profiles of melt ponds are used to quantify the sea ice surface rms-height. Variables contributing to the roughness of wind-generated melt pond surface waves within the fetch-limited pond environment are evaluated, and we show that pond roughness and backscatter cannot be explained by wind speed alone. The utility of the VV / HH polarisation ratio (PR) for retrieving melt pond properties including pond fraction, due to the dielectric contrast between free surface water and sea ice, is demonstrated and explained using Bragg scattering theory. Finally, the PR approach is discussed in the context of retrievals from satellite C-, L-, and P-band dual-polarisation SAR.
Is Mandating “Smart Meters” Smart?
Authors: Leautier Thomas-Olivier
Published: January 2014

The advent of “smart meters” will make possible Real Time Pricing (RTP) of electricity: customers will face and react to wholesale spot prices, thus consumption of electric power will be aligned with its opportunity cost. This article determines the marginal value of a fraction of demand (or a consumer) switching to RTP, conditional on smart meters installation. First, it establishes sufficient conditions for the marginal value of RTP to be decreasing as the fraction of customers on RTP increases. Second, it derives this marginal value for a simple yet realistic specification of demand. Finally, using data from the French power market, it estimates that, for the vast majority of residential customers whose peak demand is lower than 6 kVA, the net surplus from switching to RTP is lower than 1 €/year for low demand elasticity, 4 €/year for high demand elasticity. This finding casts a doubt on the economic value of rolling out smart meters to all residential customers, for both policy makers and power suppliers.
Generalizing: The Core of Algebraic Thinking
Authors: Kinach Barbara M.
Published: January 2014

The meaningful use of symbols links context and generality.
Webcasting como jornalismo de internet: uma análise da pragmática da comunicação digital
Authors: Venancio Rafael Duarte Oliveira
Published: January 2014

O presente trabalho pretende analisar o webcasting como prática representante do chamado Jornalismo de Internet. Utilizando um arcabouço teórico da filosofia analítica da linguagem, com destaque para a pragmática de John R. Searle, o objetivo é mostrar como o webcasting ajuda o jornalismo encontrar uma linguagem e lógica próprias dentro do campo das mídias digitais. O foco metodológico é na aplicação da taxonomia das doze diferenças que compõe a força ilocucionária, resultando assim em uma separação, a nível pragmático, da ação lingüística do Jornalismo de Internet perante os demais.
2.86 µm room-temperature light emission of InGaAsN/GaAsSb type-II quantum well diodes grown on InP substrates
Authors: Kawamura Yuichi , Sahashi Toru
Published: January 2014

Room-temperature light emission at a wavelength of 2.86 µm was observed for In0.53Ga0.47As0.99N0.01/GaAs0.5Sb0.5 type-II quantum well (QW) diodes grown on InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), which is much longer than that (2.34 µm) for In0.53Ga0.47As/GaAs0.5Sb0.5 type-II QW diodes on InP substrates. The temperature dependence of the electroluminescence (EL) spectrum indicates that the EL peak energy difference between these two diodes is 100 meV at all temperatures.
Enhanced ionization of the Martian nightside ionosphere during solar energetic particle events
Authors: Němec F. , Morgan D. D. , Diéval C. , Gurnett D. A. , Futaana Y.
Published: January 2014

Electron densities in the Martian nightside ionosphere are more than 90% of time too low to be detected by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding radar sounder on board the Mars Express spacecraft. However, the relative number of ionograms with peak electron density high enough to be detected represents a good statistical proxy of the ionospheric density. We focus on solar energetic particle (SEP) events, and we analyze their effects on ionospheric formation. SEP time intervals were identified in situ using the background counts recorded by the ion sensor of the ASPERA‐3 instrument on board Mars Express. We show that peak electron densities during the SEP events are large enough to be detected in more than 30% of measurements, and, moreover, the reflections of the sounding signal from the ground almost entirely disappear. Nightside electron densities during SEP events are thus substantially increased as compared to normal nightside conditions.
Satellite‐based hybrid drought monitoring tool for prediction of vegetation condition in Eastern Africa: A case study for Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Tsegaye , Demisse Getachew Berhan , Zaitchik Ben , Dinku Tufa
Published: January 2014

An experimental drought monitoring tool has been developed that predicts the vegetation condition (Vegetation Outlook) using a regression‐tree technique at a monthly time step during the growing season in Eastern Africa. This prediction tool (VegOut‐Ethiopia) is demonstrated for Ethiopia as a case study. VegOut‐Ethiopia predicts the standardized values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) at multiple time steps (weeks to months into the future) based on analysis of “historical patterns” of satellite, climate, and oceanic data over historical records. The model underlying VegOut‐Ethiopia capitalizes on historical climate‐vegetation interactions and ocean‐climate teleconnections (such as El Niño and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO)) expressed over the 24 year data record and also considers several environmental characteristics (e.g., land cover and elevation) that influence vegetation's response to weather conditions to produce 8 km maps that depict future general vegetation conditions. VegOut‐Ethiopia could provide vegetation monitoring capabilities at local, national, and regional levels that can complement more traditional remote sensing‐based approaches that monitor “current” vegetation conditions. The preliminary results of this case study showed that the models were able to predict the vegetation stress (both spatial extent and severity) in drought years 1–3 months ahead during the growing season in Ethiopia. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and satellite‐observed vegetation condition range from 0.50 to 0.90. Based on the lessons learned from past research activities and emerging experimental forecast models, future studies are recommended that could help Eastern Africa in advancing knowledge of climate, remote sensing, hydrology, and water resources.
Coating Engineering of MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles with Superhigh T2 Relaxivity and Efficient Cellular Uptake for Highly Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Liu Xiao Li , Wang Yu Tong , Ng Cheng Teng , Wang Rong , Jing Guang Yin , Yi Jia Bao , Yang Jian , Bay Boon Huat , Yung Lin‐Yue Lanry , Fan Dai Di , Ding Jun , Fan Hai Ming
Published: January 2014

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles with superhigh T2 relaxivity and cellular uptake are strongly desired for ultrasensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Towards this end, highly monodispersed manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MNPs, 6 nm) with mPEG‐g‐PEI and PEG coatings as model system are employed in this study to investigate the coating engineering for simultaneously high T2 relaxivity and cellular uptake. The quantitative evaluations of the intracellular uptake indicate that mPEG‐g‐PEI modified MNPs possess highly efficient cellular uptake, 2.4‐fold larger than that with mPEG coating. More significantly, this coating simultaneously leads to a remarkably high T2 relaxivity up to 331.8 mm−1 s−1, which is 4 times larger than that of the mPEG control and the largest value reported for superparamagnetic iron oxides with similar size. Modeling analysis reveals that the superior relaxivity is mainly attributed to the largely reduced diffusivity of water molecules trapped in the mPEG‐g‐PEI net. Further MRI of MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells loaded MNPs with mPEG‐g‐PEI coating demonstrated the strong MR contrast in vitro effect with a T2 relaxivity as high as 92.6 mm−1 s−1, 2.5‐folds larger than reported 10 nm MNPs. This study provides a universal strategy of coating engineering of various magnetic nanoparticles for highly sensitive MRI.
The epidemiology of life‐threatening work‐related injury—A demonstration paper
Authors: Cryer Colin , Samaranayaka Ari , Langley John D. , Davie Gabrielle
Published: January 2014

Background

Workers' compensation (WC) data traditionally provides information to stakeholders on work‐related disabling injuries. It is important to complement this with information on serious threat to life (TTL) injury, which is the focus of this paper.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional descriptive epidemiological study, based on New Zealand's WC data linked to hospital discharge data, TTL was measured using the ICD10‐based Injury Severity Score (ICISS); ICISS ≤ 0.941 was used to define serious TTL injury.

Results

During 2002–2004, there was an average of 368 serious TTL work‐related injury cases annually. The distribution of these injuries was very different from those traditionally found using WC data to describe disabling injury. For example, for serious TTL injury the main injury types included traumatic brain injury, whereas for disabling injury it was sprains and dislocations.

Conclusions

The method presented provides the opportunity for government agencies to produce a national description of the epidemiology of serious TTL work‐related injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:425–437, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lack of consensus on tests and criteria for generalized joint hypermobility, Ehlers–Danlos syndrome: Hypermobile type and joint hypermobility syndrome
Authors: Remvig Lars , Flycht Lise , Christensen Karl B. , Juul‐Kristensen Birgit
Published: January 2014

The objectives of this study were to register clinicians performance and opinion of importance of clinical tests for generalized joint hypermobility (GJH), Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, hypermobility type (EDS‐HT) and joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS), and to reach a consensus among clinicians on criteria for diagnosing GJH, EDS‐HT and JHS. A panel of clinicians answered questions about how to perform and interpret clinical tests and rated test importance on an 11‐box scale. The questionnaire was developed on the basis of information from focus groups and the literature. Cronbach's α was used as a measure of internal consistency/consensus among the panelists. The results showed Cronbach's α on importance score of items for diagnosing GJH, EDS‐HT and JHS was 0.61, 0.79, and 0.44, respectively. Panelist‐group correlation for the three conditions varied substantially (−0.46 to 0.89, 0.03 to 0.68, and −0.07 to 0.68) indicating heterogeneity among the panelists. There was agreement on which tests to use, but performance of the tests (i.e., the specific maneuvers) varied considerably inclusive use of tests with unknown reliability. Furthermore, agreement on the diagnostic criteria varied. We conclude that the level of consensus for the importance of various items for diagnosing GJH, EDS‐HT and JHS, was below the required limit (Cronbach's α >0.90) for clinical decision‐making and diagnosing. Consensus on tests and criteria through a Delphi process could not be reached. Better descriptions of, and reliability studies on, test maneuvers and criteria sets for these conditions are needed. Subsequent intensive training and implementation of these tests and criteria, nationally as well as internationally should be established. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and characterization of novel phosphorous‐silicone‐nitrogen flame retardant and evaluation of its flame retardancy for epoxy thermosets
Authors: Li Zhi‐Sheng , Liu Jin‐Gang , Song Tao , Shen Deng‐Xiong , Yang Shi‐Yong
Published: January 2014

A novel phosphorous‐silicone‐nitrogen ternary flame retardant (FR), [(1,1,3,3‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐disilazanediyl)di‐2,1‐ethanediyl]bis(diphenylphosphine oxide) (PSiN) was synthesized with high yield via a one‐step procedure by the reaction of diphenylphosphine oxide and vinyl‐terminated silazane with triethylborane as the catalyst. The chemical structure of the target compound was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonances, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and Flourier transform infrared measurements. The developed PSiN FR was applied in the flame retardancy of o‐cresol novolac epoxy (CNE)/phenolic novolac (PN) hardener system. Effects of PSiN on the processability, thermal properties, especially the flame retardancy properties of the composites were investigated. Experimental results revealed that addition of PSiN improved the flowability of the CNE/PN systems, while the thermal stability of the epoxy thermosets was maintained. Meanwhile, the incorporation of PSiN was in favor of the formation of char during the thermal degradation process of the epoxy thermosets. The limited oxygen index of the epoxy system increased along with the PSiN content. An UL 94 V‐0 FR rating was achieved when the weight content of PSiN in the epoxy composites reached 20 wt %. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40412.
Effect of the preparation conditions on the morphology and performance of poly(imide) hollow fiber membranes
Authors: Alsalhy Qusay F. , Salih Haydar A. , Melkon Remonda H. , Mahdi Yusra M. , Abdul Karim Noora A.
Published: January 2014

Poly(imide) (PI) hollow fiber membranes were prepared by using classical phase inversion process. Effects of different external coagulation bath temperatures (ECBT) and various bore flow rates (BFR) on the morphology and separation performance of the membranes were studied. Cross‐section, inner and outer structures were characterized by using scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Mean pore size, pore size distribution, and mean roughness of the PI hollow fibers surfaces were estimated by AFM. It was found that the hollow fibers morphology composed of sponge‐like and finger‐like structures with different ECBT and BFR. A circular shape of the nodules with different sizes was observed in the outer surface of the PI hollow fibers. Mean pore size of the outer surface increases with increasing ECBT and BFR. The important result observed in this study is that the ECBT clearly has the largest effect on hollow fiber PI membrane roughness compared with the BFR. Pure water permeability of the PI hollow fibers was improved with increase of ECBT and BFR. The solute rejection (R%) was reduced when the ECBT and BFR was increased. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40428.
Solvent‐induced conformational flexibility of a bicyclic proline analogue: Octahydroindole‐2‐carboxylic acid
Authors: Torras Juan , Warren Javier G. , Revilla‐López Guillem , Jiménez Ana I. , Cativiela Carlos , Alemán Carlos
Published: January 2014

The conformational preferences of the N‐acetyl‐N′‐methylamide derivatives of the four octahydroindole‐2‐carboxylic acid (Oic) stereoisomers have been investigated in the gas‐phase and in aqueous solution using quantum mechanical calculations. In addition to the conformational effects provoked by the stereochemical diversity of Oic, which presents three chiral centers, results provide evidence of interesting and rather unusual features. The conformational preferences of the Oic stereoisomers in solution are only well described by applying a complete and systematic search process, results achieved by simple re‐optimization of the gas‐phase minima being very imprecise. This is because the conformational rigidity detected in the gas‐phase, which is imposed by the chemical restrictions of the fused bicyclic skeleton, disappears in aqueous solution, the four stereoisomers behaving as flexible molecules in this environment. Thus, in general, the γ‐turn is the only minimum energy conformation in the gas‐phase while in aqueous solution the helical, polyproline‐II and γ‐turn motifs are energetically favored. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the conformational flexibility predicted by quantum mechanical calculations for the four Oic stereoisomers in solution is satisfactorily reproduced by classical force‐fields. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 176–190, 2014.
An examination of regifting
Authors: Swilley Esther , Cowart Kelly O. , Flynn Leisa R.
Published: January 2014

This study develops an operational definition of the phenomenon of regifting. Gifting refers to the act of giving something to someone else without an expectation of compensation. Regifting is similar to gifting in that there is no expectation of compensation, but the gift itself differs in that it is one previously given to the giver. This study uses previous literature on established gift‐giving themes to explore regifting's meaning, importance, and implications to consumer research. In‐depth interviews and focus groups aid in the discovery of themes within regifting and regifting motivations, as well as those within relationships between the regifter and recipient. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution‐Processed 2D Niobium Diselenide Nanosheets as Efficient Hole‐Transport Layers in Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Gu Xing , Cui Wei , Song Tao , Liu Changhai , Shi Xiaoze , Wang Suidong , Sun Baoquan
Published: January 2014

Thin‐layer, two‐dimensional NbSe2 nanosheets with lower trap density have been obtained and act as an alternative hole‐transporting layer to replace MoO3 in organic solar cells. If poly({4,8‐bis[(2‐ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐2,6‐diyl}{3‐fluoro‐2‐[(2‐ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4‐b]thiophenediyl}):[6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester acts as an active layer, a power conversion efficiency of 8.10 % has been achieved without any further thermal treatment. The properties of this hole‐transporting layer were investigated and the improvements in the devices are discussed.
Effect of prenatal forced‐swim stress and morphine co‐administration on pentylentetrazol‐induced epileptic behaviors in infant and prepubertal rats
Authors: Ebrahimi Loghman , Saboory Ehsan , Roshan‐Milani Shiva , Hashemi Paria
Published: January 2014

Prenatal exposure to stress and morphine has complicated effects on epileptic seizure. Many reports have shown an interaction between morphine‐ and stress‐induced behavioral changes in adult rats. In the present study, effect of prenatal forced‐swim stress and morphine co‐administration on pentylentetrazole (PTZ)‐induced epileptic behaviors was investigated in rat offspring to address effect of the interaction between morphine and stress. Pregnant rats were divided to four groups of control‐saline, control‐morphine, stressed‐saline and stressed‐morphine. In the stressed group, the rats were placed in 25°C water on 17–19 days of pregnancy. In the morphine/saline group, the rats received morphine/saline on the same days. In the morphine/saline‐stressed group, they were exposed to stress and received morphine/saline simultaneously. On postnatal day 15 (P15), blood samples were collected to determine corticosterone (COS) level. On P15 and P25, PTZ was injected to the rest of pups to induce seizure. Then, epileptic behaviors of each rat were individually observed. Latency of tonic–colonic seizures decreased in control‐morphine and stressed‐saline groups while increasing in stressed‐morphine rats compared to control‐saline group on P15. Duration of tonic–colonic seizures significantly increased in control‐morphine and stressed‐saline rats compared to stressed‐morphine and control‐saline rats on P15, but not P25. COS levels increased in stressed‐saline group but decreased in control‐morphine group compared to control‐saline rats. Body weight was significantly higher in morphine groups than saline treated rats. Prenatal exposure to forced‐swim stress potentiated PTZ‐induced seizure in the offspring rats. Co‐administration of morphine attenuated effect of stress on body weight, COS levels, and epileptic behaviors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1179–1186, 2014.
Normative data for female adolescents with eating disorders on the multidimensional anxiety scale for children
Authors: Watson Hunna J. , Hoiles Kimberley J. , Egan Sarah J. , Limburg Karina
Published: January 2014

Objective

To provide normative data on the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) for female adolescents presenting for eating disorder (ED) treatment.

Method

This study is part of the Helping to Outline Paediatric Eating Disorders Project registry (N ∼ 1,000), a prospective ongoing registry study comprising consecutive pediatric tertiary ED referrals. Female adolescents (N = 278; 13–17 years) with EDs completed the MASC at intake.

Results

Summary data including percentiles are given for the MASC total and subscales. MASC scores were higher than community norms as expected and increased with age (p <.001) and an anorexic spectrum diagnosis (p < .001).

Discussion

The norms reported will aid clinicians in the understanding and interpretation of individual MASC scores among female adolescents with EDs and could assist future research to better understand the role of anxiety in the onset and maintenance of EDs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:471–474)
Spatial blockage of ionic current for electrophoretic translocation of DNA through a graphene nanopore
Authors: Lv Wenping , Liu Shengju , Li Xin , Wu Ren'an
Published: January 2014

Graphene nanopore has been promising the ultra‐high resolution for DNA sequencing due to the atomic thickness and excellent electronic properties of the graphene monolayer. The dynamical translocation phenomena and/or behaviors underneath the blocked ionic current, however, have not been well unveiled to date for the translocation of DNA electrophoretically through a graphene nanopore. In this report, the assessment on the sensitivity of ionic current to instantaneous statuses of DNA in a 2.4 nm graphene nanopore was carried out based on the all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations. By filtering out the thermal noise of ionic current, the instantaneous conformational variations of DNA in a graphene nanopore have been unveiled from the fluctuations of ionic current, because of the spatial blockage effect of DNA against ionic current. Interestingly, the neighborhood effect of DNA against ionic current was also observed within a distance of 1.5 nm nearby the graphene nanopore, suggesting the further precise control for DNA translocation through a graphene nanopore in gene sequencing. Moreover, the sensitivity of the blocked ionic current toward the instantaneous conformations of DNA in a graphene nanopore demonstrates the great potential of graphene nanopores in the dynamics analysis of single molecules.
A linear solver based on algebraic multigrid and defect correction for the solution of adjoint RANS equations
Authors: Förster Malte , Pal Anna
Published: January 2014

A new solution approach for discrete adjoint Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations is suggested. The approach is based on a combination of algebraic multigrid and defect correction. The efficient interplay of these two methods results in a fast and robust solution technique. Algebraic multigrid deals very well with unstructured grids, and defect correction completes it in such a way that a required second‐order accuracy of the solution is achieved. The performance of the suggested solution approach is demonstrated on a number of representative benchmarks.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Euro‐Sting Revisited: The Usefulness of Financial Indicators to Obtain Euro Area GDP Forecasts
Authors: Camacho Maximo , Garcia‐Serrador Agustin
Published: January 2014

This paper uses an extension of the Euro‐Sting single‐index dynamic factor model to construct short‐term forecasts of quarterly GDP growth for the euro area by accounting for financial variables as leading indicators. From a simulated real‐time exercise, the model is used to investigate the forecasting accuracy across the different phases of the business cycle. Our extension is also used to evaluate the relative forecasting ability of the two most reliable business cycle surveys for the euro area: the PMI and the ESI. We show that the latter produces more accurate GDP forecasts than the former. Finally, the proposed model is also characterized by its great ability to capture the European business cycle, as well as the probabilities of expansion and/or contraction periods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Natural Gas & Electricity Pricing: Outlook—Spark Spreads, Dark Spreads, and Bed Spreads Showing Cutthroat Competition
Authors: Bodell Tanya
Published: January 2014

This column takes a step back from discussing the impact of changing natural gas and electricity prices to revisit a few of the key measures of power‐plant profitability that rely on such prices.
Electric Regulation: Outlook—DOE Supporting Ventures to Use CO2 Emissions Profitably
Authors: Bowden Nicholas S.
Published: January 2014

I speculated about the relationship between the success of carbon capture and sequestration or storage and using CO2 emissions for other profitable enterprise at the end of a December 2013 column here.
Evaluation of ultrasound and glucose synergy effect on the optical clearing and light penetration for human colon tissue using SD‐OCT
Authors: Zhao Qingliang , Wei Huajiang , He Yonghong , Ren Qiushi , Zhou Chuanqing
Published: January 2014

Topical application optical clearing agents (OCAs) can effectively enhance the tissue optical clearing on the human colon tissue, which has been demonstrated in our previous studies. Nevertheless, the strong light scattering still limits the diffusion rate of OCAs and penetration depth of light into the tissue. In this study, in order to further increase the diffusion of the OCA of glucose into tissue, we employ a method to improve the glucose permeability and light penetration with ultrasound (sonophoretic delivery, SP) and glucose (G) synergy on human normal and cancerous colon tissues in vitro, which was measured and quantified with spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) technology. To evaluate the effect of ultrasound mediation, the percentages of OCT signal enhancement (PSE) and 1/e light‐penetration depth were calculated for G alone and ultrasound‐G treatments. The PSE was calculated at approximately 313 μm from the sample tissue surface. For normal and cancerous colon tissues the PSE were about 91.1 ± 10.6% and 65.3% ± 12.3% with 30% G/SP, but for the 30% G alone treatment it was about 78.6 ± 11.2% and 54.5% ± 9.3%, respectively. The max value of 1/e light‐penetration depth for normal colon tissue was 0.47 ± 0.02 mm with 30% G alone and 0.60 ± 0.05 mm (p < 0.05)with 30% G/SP synergy. However, for the cancerous colon tissue the max value was 0.45 ± 0.01 mm and 0.57 ± 0.03 mm (p < 0.05), respectively. The obtained permeability coefficients showed a significant enhancement with ultrasound mediation. The mean permeability coefficients of 30% G/SP in normal and cancerous colon tissues were (6.3 ± 0.16) × 10–6 cm/s and (12.1 ± 0.34) × 10–6 cm/s (p < 0.05), respectively. These preliminary experiments showed that ultrasound can effectively enhance the tissue optical clearing and glucose diffusion rate as well as increase the light‐penetration depth into biotissues. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The effect of the anti‐angiogenic drug sunitinib malate on the vascular architecture of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Bampi ViníCius Faccin , Gomes Carolina Ferreira , De Oliveira Laura Beatriz Oliveira , Da Silva Jefferson Luis Braga
Published: January 2014

The effects of anti‐angiogenic therapies in guiding tumor angioarchitecture prompted us to examine the modifications in the vascular network of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) produced by the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib malate. Twelve Syrian hamsters had their right buccal pouches submitted to tumor induction with dimethylbenzanthracene and carbamide peroxide for 55 days. The animals were then divided into two groups of six animals each; group I was treated with sunitinib malate and group II (control) was remained untreated. After 4 weeks, the hamsters had their vascular networks casted by Mercox® resin and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The qualitative study of the vascular network of the control tumor‐bearing pouches showed images of intussusception and sprouting angiogenesis, flattened blood vessels, abrupt variations in their diameter, and a tortuous course. The samples treated with sunitinib exhibited a qualitative reduction of the signs of vascular proliferation. In addition, these casts presented an attenuation of the morphological features observed in the untreated tumor‐bearing pouches. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that the pouches treated with sunitinib did not show a decrease (P > 0.05) in the vascular diameter and intervessel distances when compared with the control group. The results of the present study suggest that sunitinib may act on the vascular network of oral SCC, normalizing the blood vessels. However, further experiments should be performed in order to determine a judicious dose of this anti‐angiogenic therapy. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:250–256, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonadministration of thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients with HIV: A missed opportunity for prevention?
Authors: Newman Matthew J. , Kraus Peggy S. , Shermock Kenneth M. , Lau Brandyn D. , Haut Elliott R. , Hobson Deborah B. , Streiff Michael B.
Published: January 2014

BACKGROUND

Hospitalized patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appear to be at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Previous work at our institution has demonstrated that the proportion of doses administered varies between patients and locations.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the proportion of doses of thromboprophylaxis not administered between patients with and without HIV.

DESIGN

Using retrospective data, the proportion of nonadministered doses was determined in all hospitalized adults and stratified by HIV status.

SETTING

Large, urban, academic medical center in Baltimore, Maryland.

PATIENTS

Data were available for 4947 patient visits, 583 of which were by patients with HIV. Most visits by patients with HIV were to a designated HIV care unit.

MEASUREMENTS

Proportion of doses of thromboprophylaxis not administered, and documented reasons for dose nonadministration.

RESULTS

A total of 42,870 doses were prescribed. The proportion of doses not administered was greater for patients with HIV (23.5%) compared with patients without HIV (16.1%, odds ratio [OR]: 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49‐1.70, P < 0.001). Documented dose refusal accounted for a greater proportion of nonadministered doses in patients with HIV (15.9% vs 10.8%, OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.43‐1.70, P < 0.0001). On the HIV care unit, the proportion of doses not administered was greater for patients with HIV (26.4% vs 13.1%, OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.93‐2.96, P < 0.001). Within this unit, documented dose refusal was greater for patients with HIV (13.7% vs 10.7%, OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16‐1.51, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonadministration and documented refusal of thromboprophylaxis appear to be more common in patients with HIV at our institution. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:215–220. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Quadrature transmit coil for breast imaging at 7 tesla using forced current excitation for improved homogeneity
Authors: McDougall Mary Preston , Cheshkov Sergey , Rispoli Joseph , Malloy Craig , Dimitrov Ivan , Wright Steven M.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

To demonstrate the use of forced current excitation (FCE) to create homogeneous excitation of the breast at 7 tesla, insensitive to the effects of asymmetries in the electrical environment.

Materials and Methods

FCE was implemented on two breast coils: one for quadrature 1H imaging and one for proton‐decoupled 13C spectroscopy. Both were a Helmholtz‐saddle combination, with the saddle tuned to 298 MHz for imaging and 75 MHz for spectroscopy. Bench measurements were acquired to demonstrate the ability to force equal currents on elements in the presence of asymmetric loading to improve homogeneity. Modeling and temperature measurements were conducted per safety protocol. B1 mapping, imaging, and proton‐decoupled 13C spectroscopy were demonstrated in vivo.

Results

Using FCE to ensure balanced currents on elements enabled straightforward tuning and maintaining of isolation between quadrature elements of the coil. Modeling and bench measurements confirmed homogeneity of the field, which resulted in images with excellent fat suppression and in broadband proton‐decoupled carbon‐13 spectra.

Conclusion

FCE is a straightforward approach to ensure equal currents on multiple coil elements and a homogeneous excitation field, insensitive to the effects of asymmetries in the electrical environment. This enabled effective breast imaging and proton‐decoupled carbon‐13 spectroscopy at 7T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1165–1173. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Australian radiation therapy – Part two: Reflections of the past, the present, the future
Authors: Merchant Susan , Halkett Georgia , Sale Charlotte
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Documentation on the history of Australian radiotherapy is limited. This study provides radiation therapists' (RTs) perspectives of the people, workplace, and work practices in Australian radiotherapy centres from 1960 onwards. It provides a follow‐up to our previous study: Australian radiation therapy: An overview – Part one, which outlines the history and development of radiotherapy from conception until present day.

Methods

Four focus groups were conducted on separate occasions in 2010, one in South Australia and three in Victoria, Australia. Participants who worked in radiotherapy were purposively selected to ensure a range of experience, age, and years of work.

Results

From a RT perspective, radiotherapy has evolved from a physically demanding ‘hands‐on’ work environment, often with unpleasant sights and smells of disease, to a more technology‐driven workplace.

Conclusion

Understanding these changes and their subsequent effects on the role of Australian RTs will assist future directions in advanced role development.
Genetic analysis of human parainfluenza viruses circulating in Korea, 2006
Authors: Park Kwang Sook , Yang Mi Hwa , Lee Chang Kyu , Song Ki‐Joon
Published: January 2014

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) are important causes of respiratory tract infections in young children. To characterize the molecular epidemiology of an HPIV outbreak occurring in Korea during 2006, genetic analysis of 269 cell culture isolates from HPIV‐infected children, was conducted using nested reverse transcription‐PCR (RT‐PCR). HPIV‐1 was detected in 70.3% of tested samples (189/269). The detection rate of HPIV‐2 and HPIV‐3 was 1.5% (4/269) and 9.3% (25/269), respectively. Mixed HPIV‐1, ‐2 and ‐3 infections were detected in 19.0% (51/269): HPIV‐1 and HPIV‐2 in 15, HPIV‐1 and HPIV‐3 in 26, HPIV‐2 and HPIV‐3 in 6, and HPIV‐1, ‐2 and ‐3 in 4. Of these positive samples for three different types HIPV‐1, ‐2, and ‐3, two each representative strains were selected, the full length of hemagglutinin‐neuraminidase (HN) gene for HPIV was amplified by RT‐PCR, and sequenced. Multiple alignment analysis, based on reference sequence of HPIV‐1, ‐2, and ‐3 strains available in GenBank, showed that the identity of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences was 92.4–97.6% and 92.7–97.9%, respectively, for HPIV‐1, 88.5–99.8% and 88.6–100% for HPIV‐2, and 96.3–99.5% and 95.0–99.3% for HPIV‐3, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HPIV‐1, ‐2, and ‐3 strains identified in this study were closely related among the strains in the same type with no significant genetic variability. These results show that HPIV of multiple imported sources was circulating in Korea. J. Med. Virol. 86:1041–1047, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antioxidant, oxidative DNA damage protective and antimicrobial activities of the plant Trigonella foenum‐graecum
Authors: Singh Pankaj , Vishwakarma Shri P , Singh Ram L
Published: January 2014

BACKGROUND

The plant Trigonella foenum‐gracecum (TFG) is used as antidiabetic and diuretic. In order to ascertain antioxidant potential of leaf (early and mature) and seed of TFG, total phenolics, free radical scavenging assay, superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, reducing power, lipid peroxidation, ferric thiocyanate assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and DNA damage protective activities were determined. The study was further carried out to assay the antimicrobial activity and HPLC analysis of plant parts.

RESULTS

Ethanol extracts of leaf (early and mature) exhibited a high content of phenolics (54.79 and 41.28 g kg−1 GAE) when it was compared with seed extract (23.85 g kg−1 GAE). Results showed that mature TFG leaf extract had the lowest IC50 for the free radical scavenging assay (IC50 = 2.23 mg mL−1), superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 2.71 mg mL−1), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 17.30 mg mL−1) and highest reducing power (10.14 ascorbic acid equivalents mL−1). However, the ethanol seed extract showed the maximum inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the ferric thiocyanate assay. Mature leaf also showed the maximum DNA damage protection activity and higher concentration of phytochemicals.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the mature TFG leaf had a higher antioxidant activity, which may be due to the presence of total phenolics. It may be used in herbal drugs or as a nutritional supplement. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
An eco‐friendly, quick and cost‐effective method for the quantification of acrylamide in cereal‐based baby foods
Authors: Cengiz Mehmet Fatih , Boyacı Gündüz Cennet Pelin
Published: January 2014

BACKGROUND

The presence of acrylamide in cereal‐based baby foods is a matter of great concern owing to its possible health effects. Derivatization followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) is one of the most common methods to quantify acrylamide. However, it requires the use of toxic chemicals and is time‐consuming. The aim of this study was to develop an eco‐friendly, rapid and inexpensive method for the determination of acrylamide in cereal‐based baby foods.

RESULTS

The method involves defatting with n‐hexane, extraction into water, precipitation of proteins, bromination, extraction into ethyl acetate and injection into a GC/MS system. The effects of defatting, precipitation, treatment with triethylamine, addition of internal standard and column selection were reviewed. A flow chart for acrylamide analysis was prepared. To evaluate the applicability of the method, 62 different cereal‐based baby foods were analyzed. The levels of acrylamide ranged from not detected (below the limit of detection) to 660 µg kg−1.

CONCLUSION

The method is more eco‐friendly and less expensive because it consumes very little solvent relative to other methods using bromine solutions and ethyl acetate. In addition, sample pre‐treatment requires no solid phase extraction or concentration steps. The method is recommended for the determination of trace acrylamide in complex cereal‐based baby food products. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Fate and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coliO157:H7 in repacked soil lysimeters after application of cattle slurry and human urine
Authors: Nyberg Karin A , Ottoson Jakob R , Vinnerås Björn , Albihn Ann
Published: January 2014

BACKGROUND

Use of cattle slurry as a fertiliser is common practice around the world. Human urine use is not as common, but owing to its fertiliser value this might change in the future. It is essential to minimise the transfer of enteric pathogens through fertilisation, with respect to both animal and public health. Therefore the objective of this research was to study the survival and transport of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in two agricultural soils when applied to soil along with either cattle slurry or human urine over a period of 180 days.

RESULTS

Both Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 were more rapidly reduced when applied together with human urine than when applied with cattle slurry. However, both pathogens persisted in low amounts at 20 and 50 cm depth in both soils throughout the whole study period. No Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 was detected in the leachate over the 180 day study.

CONCLUSION

The risk of disease transmission is higher when cattle slurry is used as fertiliser compared with human urine. However, the risk of groundwater infiltration would be low as long as water velocity through the soil is moderate. Increased knowledge of pathogen persistence in soil after fertiliser application is a valuable tool for improving risk evaluations and formulating guidelines for the use of cattle and/or human wastes in cropping soils. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
The impact of cell proliferation markers and p53 mutation status on prognosis of non‐metastatic colon cancer
Authors: Demir Lutfiye , Ekinci Nese , Erten Cigdem , Somali Isil , Can Alper , Dirican Ahmet , Cokmert Suna , Bayoglu Vedat , Akyol Murat , Kucukzeybek Yuksel , Alacacioglu Ahmet , Tarhan Mustafa Oktay
Published: January 2014

Background and Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of cell cycle proteins and p53 together with clinicopathologic features in non‐metastatic resected colon cancer.

Methods

One hundred nine patients who were diagnosed with resected colon cancer between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical staining analyses were used to evaluate the expression of cyclins D1 and A, p53 and Ki‐67 in tumor tissue.

Results

High cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression was more common in stage II than stage III tumors. Disease recurrence was more frequent in tumors with low cyclin D1 expression (P = 0.05). No significant association was observed between p53, Ki‐67 or cyclin A expression and the risk of relapse and/or death. Multivariate analysis showed that the strongest predictor for a shorter disease‐free survival period was extracapsular nodal invasion (ECNI).

Conclusions

We were not able to establish a strong association between patient prognosis and cyclins D1 and A, p53 or Ki‐67 expression. However, a negative correlation between cyclin D1 and cyclin A expression and disease stage as well as more frequent relapses in patients with low expression of cyclin D1 suggested that cyclins may be predictive for early relapse in non‐metastatic colon cancer. J. Surg. Oncol 2014; 109:665–675. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines in the use of radiation therapy for extremity and superficial trunk soft tissue sarcoma in the United States
Authors: Bagaria Sanjay P. , Ashman Jonathan B. , Daugherty Larry C. , Gray Richard J. , Wasif Nabil
Published: January 2014

Background

We sought to examine adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for use of radiation therapy (RT) in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in the United States.

Methods

The surveillance, epidemiology, and end results cancer registry was queried to identify patients undergoing surgery for truncal and extremity STS from 2004 to 2009.

Results

Of 5,075 patients, 50% received RT. Although routine RT is not recommended for Stage I patients, 25% still underwent RT. Even though routine RT is recommended for Stage II and III tumors, only 60% underwent RT. On multivariate analysis predictors of RT included age <50 years (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.28–1.91), malignant fibrous histiocytoma histology (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.3–1.92), T2 classification (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.60–2.20), and G3 (OR 6.27, 95% CI 5.10–7.72). Patients with Stage III STS who received RT showed improved disease specific survival at 5 years compared to those who did not, 68% versus 46%, P <0.001.

Conclusions

Underuse of RT is seen for a significant proportion of patients undergoing treatment for STS in the United States. More effort needs to be directed towards compliance with appropriate treatment recommendations, perhaps by regionalizing sarcoma care or remote multidisciplinary tumor boards. J. Surg. Oncol 2014; 109:633–638. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.