bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence diagnostics in meta‐regression model
Authors: Shi Lei , Zuo ShanShan , Yu Dalei , Zhou Xiaohua
Published: July 2017

This paper studies the influence diagnostics in meta‐regression model including case deletion diagnostic and local influence analysis. We derive the subset deletion formulae for the estimation of regression coefficient and heterogeneity variance and obtain the corresponding influence measures. The DerSimonian and Laird estimation and maximum likelihood estimation methods in meta‐regression are considered, respectively, to derive the results. Internal and external residual and leverage measure are defined. The local influence analysis based on case‐weights perturbation scheme, responses perturbation scheme, covariate perturbation scheme, and within‐variance perturbation scheme are explored. We introduce a method by simultaneous perturbing responses, covariate, and within‐variance to obtain the local influence measure, which has an advantage of capable to compare the influence magnitude of influential studies from different perturbations. An example is used to illustrate the proposed methodology.
Cookies elaborated with oat and common bean flours improved serum markers in diabetic rats
Authors: Pérez‐Ramírez Iza F , Becerril‐Ocampo Laura J , Reynoso‐Camacho Rosalía , Herrera Mayra D , Guzmán‐Maldonado S Horacio , Cruz‐Bravo Raquel K
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Common beans have been associated with anti‐diabetic effects, due to its high content of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, its consumption has decreased worldwide. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the development of novel functional foods elaborated with common beans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti‐diabetic effect of oat–bean flour cookies, and to analyze its bioactive composition, using commercial oat–wheat cookies for comparative purposes.

RESULTS

Oat‐bean cookies (1.2 g kg−1) slightly decreased serum glucose levels (∼1.1‐fold) and increased insulin levels (∼1.2‐fold) in diabetic rats, reducing the hyperglycemic peak in healthy rats (∼1.1‐fold). Oat–bean cookies (0.8 and 1.2 g kg−1) exerted a greater hypolipidemic effect than commercial oat–wheat cookies (1.2 g kg−1), as observed in decreased serum triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, the supplementation with 1.2 g kg−1 oat–bean cookies decreased atherogenic index and serum C‐reactive protein levels, suggesting their cardioprotective potential. The beneficial effect of oat–bean cookies was associated with their high content of dietary fiber and galacto oligosaccharides, as well as chlorogenic acid, rutin, protocatechuic acid, β‐sitosterol and soyasaponins.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that common beans can be used as functional ingredients for the elaboration of cookies with anti‐diabetic effects. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of short‐term heat stress at the grain formation stage on physicochemical properties of waxy maize starch
Authors: Gu Xiaotian , Huang Tianqi , Ding Mengqiu , Lu Weiping , Lu Dalei
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Waxy maize (Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) suffers short‐term exposure to high temperature during grain filling in southern China. The effects of such exposure are poorly understood.

RESULTS

Starch granule size was increased by 5 days' short‐term heat stress (35.0 °C) and the increase was higher when the stress was introduced early. Heat stress increased the iodine binding capacity of starches and no difference was observed among the three stages. Starch relative crystallinity was increased and swelling power was decreased only when heat stress was introduced early. Heat stress also increased the pasting viscosity, and this effect became more pronounced with later applications of stress. Heat stress reduced starch gelatinization enthalpy, and the reduction gradually increased with later exposures. Heat stress increased the gelatinization temperature and retrogradation enthalpy and percentage of the samples, with the increases being largest with earlier introduction of high temperature.

CONCLUSION

Heat stress increased the pasting viscosities and retrogradation percentage of starch by causing change in granule size, amylopectin chain length distribution and crystallinity, and the effects observed were more severe with earlier introduction of heat stress after pollination. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Determination of seven drugs of abuse and their metabolites in surface and wastewater using solid‐phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography with high‐resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Prosen Helena , Fontanals Núria , Borrull Francesc , Marcé Rosa Maria
Published: July 2017

A method based on liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization high‐resolution mass spectrometry (Exactive Orbitrap) combined with solid‐phase extraction using a strong cationic exchange mixed‐mode sorbent has been developed for the determination of seven drugs of abuse, including two synthetic cathinones, as well as some of their metabolites in environmental water samples. The method provides low detection limits and a high confirmation power thanks to the diagnostic and two fragment ions monitored for each compound in high‐resolution mass spectrometry, providing six identification points for each analyte. The clean‐up step based on methanol in the extraction step adequately decreased the matrix effect, mainly for river and effluent water, and provided suitable process efficiency. Method detection and quantitation limits for environmental waters were at low nanogram per liter. The method was applied to analyze the samples of influent and effluent wastewater, as well as surface water. Codeine, methadone, and its metabolite were determined in all samples of wastewater and the metabolite of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, was found at the highest concentration.
Interactive regulations by viruses and dissolved organic matter on the bacterial community
Authors: Liu Hongbin , Tan Shangjin , Xu Jie , Guo Wang , Xia Xiaomin , Yan Cheung Shun
Published: July 2017

Viruses and dissolved organic matter (DOM) are major top–down and bottom–up factors, respectively, which control the abundance and diversity of bacterial communities. However, the relative strength and interaction between these two regulators in different marine ecosystems are not fully understood. We applied viral reduction and cross‐transplantation of eutrophic estuarine and pristine coastal waters to examine the separate and combined effects of viruses and DOM on the bacterial community composition. We showed that bacteria were more abundant in the virus‐depleted groups, particularly in those from the eutrophic estuarine water (i.e., > 7 times higher, when compared with the virus‐rich groups). Cluster analyses showed that the bacterial communities in the virus‐rich groups were most similar to the in situ populations. Bacterial community richness, evenness and diversity were reduced at high DOM concentrations but were sustained by viruses. This allowed bacteria that were less vulnerable to viral infection to thrive (such as those in the families Alteromonadaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and SAR11), while suppressing those capable of fast growth at elevated DOM concentrations but which were more vulnerable to viral attack (such as those from the family Vibrionaceae). Our results showed that viral regulation occurring at the strain level can affect the bacterial community structure at higher phylogenetic levels. In addition, some less abundant groups, such as Vibrio and Alteromonas, might actually win the competition for resources, providing viral control is removed. Our results also showed that the population dynamics of certain bacterial groups was controlled by viruses, and the strength of such control was modulated by the concentration of DOM. We suggest that the composition of the bacterial community in aquatic environments results from the interactive regulation by DOM and viruses among other regulators.
Sirtuin 1 attenuates inflammation and hepatocellular damage in liver transplant ischemia/Reperfusion: From mouse to human
Authors: Nakamura Kojiro , Kageyama Shoichi , Ke Bibo , Fujii Takehiro , Sosa Rebecca A. , Reed Elaine F. , Datta Nakul , Zarrinpar Ali , Busuttil Ronald W. , Kupiec‐Weglinski Jerzy W.
Published: July 2017

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), an inevitable antigen‐independent inflammation response in cadaveric liver transplantation, correlates with poor early graft function, rejection episodes, and contributes to donor organ shortage. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a histone deacetylase that may regulate inflammatory cell activity and manage liver function in IRI, though its functional role and clinical relevance remains to be elucidated. We investigated the efficacy of SIRT1 activation in a murine liver IRI model and verified the concept of putative SIRT1‐mediated hepatoprotection in clinical liver transplantation. In the experimental arm, mice were subjected to 90 minutes of liver partial warm ischemia followed by 6 hours of reperfusion with or without adjunctive SIRT1 activation in vivo (resveratrol [Res]). In parallel, bone marrow–derived macrophage (BMDM) or spleen lymphocyte cultures were treated with Res. In the clinical arm, liver biopsies from 21 adult primary liver transplant patients (2 hours after reperfusion) were divided into “low” (n = 11) versus “high” (n = 10) SIRT1 expression groups, assessed by Western blots. Treatment with Res attenuated murine liver IRI while up‐regulating SIRT1, suppressing leukocyte infiltration, and decreasing proinflammatory cytokine programs. SIRT1 silencing (small interfering RNA) in BMDM cultures enhanced inflammatory cytokine programs, whereas addition of Res decreased proinflammatory response in a SIRT1‐dependent manner. In addition, Res decreased interferon γ production in liver‐infiltrating and spleen lymphocyte cultures. Human liver transplants with high SIRT1 levels showed improved hepatocellular function and superior survival (P = 0.04), accompanied by lower proinflammatory cytokine profile. In conclusion, our translational study is the first to identify SIRT1 as a regulator of hepatocellular function in human liver transplant recipients under ischemia/reperfusion stress. By targeting innate and adaptive immune activation, manipulation of SIRT1 signaling should be considered as a novel means to combat inflammation in liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation 23 1282–1293 2017 AASLD.
What is targeted proteomics? A concise revision of targeted acquisition and targeted data analysis in mass spectrometry
Authors: Borràs Eva , Sabidó Eduard
Published: July 2017

Targeted proteomics has gained significant popularity in mass spectrometry‐based protein quantification as a method to detect proteins of interest with high sensitivity, quantitative accuracy and reproducibility. However, with the emergence of a wide variety of targeted proteomics methods, some of them with high‐throughput capabilities, it is easy to overlook the essence of each method and to determine what makes each of them a targeted proteomics method. In this viewpoint, we revisit the main targeted proteomics methods and classify them in four categories differentiating those methods that perform targeted data acquisition from targeted data analysis, and those methods that are based on peptide ion data (MS1 targeted methods) from those that rely on the peptide fragments (MS2 targeted methods).
Insecticide resistance of adults and nymphs of Asian citrus psyllid populations from Apatzingán Valley, Mexico
Authors: Pardo Saúl , Martínez Ana M , Figueroa José I , Chavarrieta Juan M , Viñuela Elisa , Rebollar‐Alviter Ángel , Miranda Mario A , Valle Javier , Pineda Samuel
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND

Control of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, the most important pest of citrus worldwide, is based on the use of insecticides, though unsatisfactory results have recently been reported. In this study, insecticide resistance of D. citri to three insecticides (bifenthrin, malathion, and chlorpyrifos) was examined.

RESULTS

Three populations (designated Dci‐CParácuaro, Dci‐El Junco, and Dci‐Antúnez) of both adults and fourth‐instar D. citri individuals were collected in 2014 at two different times and on one occasion, respectively, from three locations (Crucero de Parácuaro, El Junco, and Antúnez). These locations represent the major commercial Mexican lemon production areas in the Apatzingán Valley in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The three populations of D. citri adults and fourth‐instar nymphs at the different collection times showed low levels of resistance (≤7‐fold) to bifenthrin, but were very resistant to malathion (≤345‐ and ≤432‐fold for adults and fourth instars, respectively) and chlorpyrifos (≤2435‐ and ≤1424‐fold for adults and fourth instars, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Resistance levels to the tested insecticides were highly variable but homogeneous among seasons and localities. Resistance management programmes that include crop sanitation, use of biological and cultural control practices, and rotation of insecticide classes should be established, particularly in areas where D. citri has developed resistance to malathion and chlorpyrifos. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Structure‐related current transport and photoluminescence in SiOxNy and SiNx based superlattices with Si nanocrystals
Authors: Zhigunov Denis M. , Martyshov Mikhail N. , Forsh Pavel A. , Kamenskikh Irina A. , Yakunin Sergey N. , Kashkarov Pavel K.
Published: July 2017

A comparative study of structural properties, photoluminescence and electrical conductivity of SiOxNy/SiO2, SiOxNy/Si3N4 and SiNx/Si3N4 superlattices is presented. The samples were prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and annealed at 1150 °C in order to produce arrays of silicon nanocrystals, with their formation being confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Reference samples without silicon nanocrystals were also fabricated by annealing of as‐prepared films at a lower temperature (700 °C). All high temperature ‐annealed samples are characterized by similar photoluminescence spectra with the maxima in the range from 1.3 to 1.6 eV, which were attributed to Si nanocrystals. The peak position, as well as photoluminescence lifetime in the microsecond range, point to the quantum confined origin of the emission. Current‐voltage measurements revealed an increase in conductivity by several orders of magnitude for the samples with Si nanocrystals in SiNx/Si3N4 superlattices as compared to both SiOxNy/Si3N4 and SiOxNy/SiO2 films, as well as to low temperature annealed counterparts. The dependence of the conduction mechanism in superlattices on their structural properties is discussed.
Antiangiogenic Effects of Ziyuglycoside II, a Major Active Compound of Sanguisorba officinalis L.
Authors: Nam Sang‐Hyeon , Lkhagvasuren Khaliunaa , Seo Hee Won , Kim Jin‐Kyung
Published: July 2017

Ziyuglycoside II, a major bioactive compound of Sanguisorba officinalis L., displays anticancer potential against several human cancer cells. However, little information concerning its antiangiogenic properties and possible mechanisms is available. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of ziyuglycoside II on angiogenesis. Ziyuglycoside II inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tubule formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, as well as the number of microvessels growing from the aortic rings. The underlying antiangiogenic mechanism of ziyuglycoside II correlated with blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 and the fibroblast growth factor receptor‐1 mediated signaling pathway. Moreover, an in vivo Matrigel plug assay in mice showed a significant decrease in vascularization and hemoglobin content in the plugs from ziyuglycoside II‐treated mice compared with control mice. Overall, these results suggest that ziyuglycoside II inhibits various attributes of angiogenesis, which might contribute to its reported antitumor effects. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EyeSLAM: Real‐time simultaneous localization and mapping of retinal vessels during intraocular microsurgery
Authors: Braun Daniel , Yang Sungwook , Martel Joseph N. , Riviere Cameron N. , Becker Brian C.
Published: July 2017

Background

Fast and accurate mapping and localization of the retinal vasculature is critical to increasing the effectiveness and clinical utility of robot‐assisted intraocular microsurgery such as laser photocoagulation and retinal vessel cannulation.

Methods

The proposed EyeSLAM algorithm delivers 30 Hz real‐time simultaneous localization and mapping of the human retina and vasculature during intraocular surgery, combining fast vessel detection with 2D scan‐matching techniques to build and localize a probabilistic map of the vasculature.

Results

In the harsh imaging environment of retinal surgery with high magnification, quick shaky motions, textureless retina background, variable lighting and tool occlusion, EyeSLAM can map 75% of the vessels within two seconds of initialization and localize the retina in real time with a root mean squared (RMS) error of under 5.0 pixels (translation) and 1° (rotation).

Conclusions

EyeSLAM robustly provides retinal maps and registration that enable intelligent surgical micromanipulators to aid surgeons in simulated retinal vessel tracing and photocoagulation tasks.
Constrained extremum seeking stabilization of systems not affine in control
Authors: Scheinker Alexander , Scheinker David
Published: July 2017

Recently, a form of extremum seeking for control (ESC) was developed for the stabilization of uncertain nonlinear systems. In ESC, the extremum seeker itself directly controls the systems through feedback rather than fine tuning a controller. The ESC results, and other related results, apply only to systems affine in control. However, in most physical systems, the control effort enters the system's dynamics through a nonlinear function, such as an input with deadzone and saturation. In this work, we use our previous results on ESC to develop constrained extremum seeking stabilizing controllers for systems of practical interest that are nonaffine in control. Considering that any odd function can be approximated arbitrarily well by an odd polynomial, we present analytic results for designing controllers for systems in which control enters the system dynamics through an odd polynomial. Furthermore, we study the robustness of the scheme to uncertainty in the odd polynomial degree as well as robustness to even‐powered perturbations.
Influence of artefacts in marine digital terrain models on habitat maps and species distribution models: a multiscale assessment
Authors: Lecours Vincent , Devillers Rodolphe , Edinger Evan N. , Brown Craig J. , Lucieer Vanessa L.
Published: July 2017

Remote sensing techniques are currently the main methods providing elevation data used to produce Digital Terrain Models (DTM). Terrain attributes (e.g. slope, orientation, rugosity) derived from DTMs are commonly used as surrogates of species or habitat distribution in ecological studies. While DTMs’ errors are known to propagate to terrain attributes, their impact on ecological analyses is however rarely documented. This study assessed the impact of data acquisition artefacts on habitat maps and species distribution models. DTMs of German Bank (off Nova Scotia, Canada) at five different spatial scales were altered to artificially introduce different levels of common data acquisition artefacts. These data were used in 615 unsupervised classifications to map potential habitat types based on biophysical characteristics of the area, and in 615 supervised classifications (MaxEnt) to predict sea scallop distribution across the area. Differences between maps and models built from altered data and reference maps and models were assessed. Roll artefacts decreased map accuracy (up to 14% lower) and artificially increased models’ performances. Impacts from other types of artefacts were not consistent, either decreasing or increasing accuracy and performance measures. The spatial distribution of habitats and spatial predictions of sea scallop distributions were always affected by data quality (i.e. artefacts), spatial scale of the data, and the selection of variables used in the classifications. This research demonstrates the importance of these three factors in building a study design, and highlights the need for error quantification protocols that can assist when maps and models are used in decision‐making, for instance in conservation and management.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Study of New P3 Type Layered Na0.6Ni0.25Mn0.5Co0.25O2 for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Maddukuri Satyanarayana , Valerie Pralong , Upadhyayula Varadaraju V.
Published: July 2017

The room temperature stable P3 type Na0.6Ni0.25Mn0.5Co0.25O2 phase was studied as an interaction material for Na ion batteries. The phase was synthesized by mixed hydroxide co‐precipitation method followed by heating at 750 °C in air. The phase purity was analyzed by means of Rietveld refinement using GSAS software. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that Co, and Mn are in oxidation states of 3+ and 4+, respectively, and Ni is in 2+ and 3+ oxidation states. The electrochemical properties of this layered material as a cathode delivered the reversible discharge capacity of 105 and 130 mAh/g at C/10 rate in the voltage window of 1.5‐3.6 and 1.5‐4.0 V vs. Na+/Na, respectively. The good capacity retention and nearly 99 % of coloumbic efficiency was observed. The Na insertion and de‐insertion was occurred by reversible phase transitions as evidenced by ex‐situ powder X‐ray diffration. With increasing cutoff voltage to 4.4 V, the ex‐situ powder X‐ray diffration pattern indicated that the existence of P3 phase at high Na de‐insertion.
Structural Diversity in Zn(II) Coordination Polymers Constructed by Linear N,N′‐Donor Linker and Different Pseudohalides: Sorption Study and Luminescent Properties
Authors: Halder Arijit , Bhattacharya Biswajit , Sen Riti , Ghoshal Debajyoti
Published: July 2017

Reaction of a linear N,N′‐donor ligand, (4‐bpdh) with Zn(NO3)2⋅6H2O and four different pseudohalides [NCS−, NCO−, N3− and N(CN)2−]; afforded five complexes, namely {Zn(4‐bpdh)(H‐4‐bpdh)(SCN)3]}n (1), {Zn(4‐bpdh)(CNO)2]}n (2), {Zn(4‐bpdh)(N3)2]}n (3), {Zn3(4‐bpdh)3(N3)6(H2O)]⋅(4‐bpdh)0.5 (H2O)4}n (4) and {[Zn(4‐bpdh)2(N(CN)2)](N(CN)2) ⋅x(H2O)}n (5). All the complexes 1–5 were characterized by single crystal X‐ray analysis and other physicochemical methods. From X‐ray structural analysis, 1 is a discrete zero dimensional monomer, extended to a one dimensional supramolecular structure by H‐bonding and C−H⋅⋅⋅π interactions. Isostructural 2–3 are showing one dimensional chain structure. On the other hand, 4 shows a two dimensional structure linked by both bridging azide, and 4‐bpdh, whereas 5 forms a two‐fold interpenetrated α‐polonium type three‐dimensional network having two different types of channels occupied by the water molecule and free dicyanamide. The sorption study was performed for compound 2, 4 and 5 with different gases and vapors. Both 2 and 4 shows surface adsorption for the gases but evacuated framework of 5 selectively adsorbs CO2 over N2 and H2. Both 4 and 5 also exhibit interesting sorption behavior for the vapors. Solid state luminescence studies of all the complexes have also been performed at room temperature which shows ligand based emission in all the cases.
Nanotitania‐Supported Rhodium(0) Nanoparticles: Superb Catalyst in Dehydrogenation of Dimethylamine Borane
Authors: Tanyildizi Seda , Morkan İzzet , Özkar Saim
Published: July 2017

Rhodium(0) nanoparticles, in situ formed from the reduction of rhodium(II) octanoate in toluene solution, are active catalyst in dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane, however not very stable. When the same nanoparticle formation reaction is performed in the presence of nanotitania it yields the supported rhodium(0) nanoparticles (Rh(0)/nanoTiO2) with an average size of 3.17 ± 0.52 nm, which can be isolated and characterized by a combination of analytical techniques including  inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area measurement. Rh(0)/nanoTiO2 is highly active and long lived catalyst providing 9700 turnovers in releasing 1 equivalent H2 from dimethylamine borane over 27 h before deactivation and a record initial turnover frequency (TOF) value of 2900 h−1 in H2 generation at 60.0 ± 0.5 °C, which is the highest TOF value ever reported for dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane using homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst. Rh(0)/nanoTiO2 is also quite reusable catalyst preserving 57 % of the initial catalytic activity even after the fourth run of dehydrogenation reaction. This report also includes the results of kinetic study on the catalytic dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane depending on the temperature and catalyst concentration.
Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis of MnWO4 Nanorods for Non‐Enzymatic Glucose Sensing and Supercapacitor Properties with Insights from Density Functional Theory Simulations
Authors: Naik Kusha Kumar , Gangan Abhijeet Sadashiv , Pathak Alok , Chakraborty Brahmananda , Nayak Saroj K. , Rout Chandra Sekhar
Published: July 2017

Here we report a facile and novel hydrothermal method to grow MnWO4 nanorods and their electrochemical glucose sensing and supercapacitor properties have been investigated. MnWO4 nanorods exhibited good glucose sensing performance with sensitivity of 13.7 μAμM−1cm−2 in the 5–110 μM linear range and specific capacitance of 199 F/g at 2 mV/s and 256.41 F/g at 0.4 A/g. First principles simulations have also been carried out to qualitatively support our experimental observations by investigating the bonding and charge transfer mechanism of glucose on MnWO4 through demonstration of Partial Density of States and charge density distributions. Large Density of States near Fermi level and empty d states around 2 eV above Fermi level of Mn d orbital qualify MnWO4 as communicating media to transfer the charge from glucose by participating in the redox reactions. Insight into the electronic structure reveals that there is charge transfer from oxygen p orbital of glucose to d orbital of Mn. Also, the quantum capacitance of MnWO4 electrodes has been presented to justify its supercapacitor performance. The maximum quantum capacitance of 762 μF/cm2 is obtained which is mostly contributed by the d electrons of Mn. Our experimental data and theoretical insight strongly infer that MnWO4 has the potential to be tailored as efficient and high‐performance glucose sensing and energy storage devices.
Highly Selective Aqueous Phase Detection of Azinphos‐Methyl Pesticide in ppb Level Using a Cage‐Connected 3D MOF
Authors: Singha Debal Kanti , Majee Prakash , Mondal Sudip Kumar , Mahata Partha
Published: July 2017

A new metal‐organic framework (MOF) [Cd2.5(PDA)(tz)3] {PDA= 1,4‐Phenylenediacetate and tz= 1,2,4‐triazolate},1, has been synthesized by solvothermal reaction. The structure and morphology of1was systematically characterized by Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), Single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Single crystal X‐ray data of1confirmed cage connected three‐dimensional structure with three different types of Cd2+ions (square pyramidal, trigonal antiprism and octahedral geometries). Photoluminescence study of1in aqueous medium showed emission at 290 nm upon excitation at 225 nm. This emissive property was used for the highly selective and sensitive detection of azinphos‐methyl pesticide in aqueous medium through luminescence quenching. Compound1is able to detect azinphos‐methyl with a detection limit of 16 ppb and its sensitivity remains unchanged in the presence of other pesticides.
Morphology Adjustable Silica Nanosheets for Immobilization of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Sun Jiao , Liu Xinbang , Tang Qin , Hill Jonathan P. , Ariga Katsuhiko , Ji Qingmin
Published: July 2017

A network of silica nanosheets composed of nanosheets of several nanometers in thickness and containing pores, whose dimensions are on the hundreds‐of‐nanometers scale, exhibits morphological self‐adjustment upon binding of nanoparticles at its surface. The loading of nanoparticles in the nanosheets caused an obvious rearrangement of the silica nanosheet network probably due to the incomplete silica framework of the nanosheets. This self‐adjustment of the structure leads to a fixing of the nanoparticles at the nanosheets’ interiors. In addition, the resulting gold nanoparticle‐loaded silica nanosheets show high performance for the catalytic reduction of nitrophenols with high conversion. The networked nanosheets described here may be used as a new supporting substrate for other metal nanoparticles and could be used for various catalytic processes.
Biocompatible Fluorescent Carbon Dots for Ratiometric Intracellular pH Sensing
Authors: Chandra Anil , Singh Neetu
Published: July 2017

We report here carbon dots (CDs) that can be utilized for intracellular pH sensing via fluorescence emission monitoring. The carbon dots are synthesized using a simple procedure from an economical carbon source Agaricus bisporus. Along with the excitation dependent fluorescence emission, typical to carbon dots, these CDs were found to have distinct emission maxima peaks at 450 nm and 550 nm when excited by 365 nm and 500 nm respectively. Interestingly, while the fluorescence emission at 450 nm was unaffected by pH changes in solution, the fluorescence emission intensity at 550 nm increased with decrease in pH, making these CDs a potential probe for pH sensing ratiometrically. Further, the CDs were found to be biocompatible and easily internalized in HeLa cells. We also demonstrated the utility of these CDs in sensing the changes in intracellular pH.
Cyclization of α‐Diazo Esters Triggered by Oxidation: A Facile Preparation of 5‐Aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐4‐carboxylates
Authors: Kondo Hideaki , Yamakoshi Hiroyuki , Kimura Ayaka , Nakamura Seiichi
Published: July 2017

A method for the preparation of 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofuran‐4‐carboxylates has been developed. Exposure of 4‐(arylmethyl)oxy‐2‐diazobutyrates to 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) effected oxidative generation of oxocarbenium intermediates, which underwent intramolecular attack of the diazo carbon atom and subsequent β‐elimination to give 5‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydrofurancarboxylates in modest to good yields. In particular, tertiary arylmethyl ethers offer the advantages of enhanced reactivity toward DDQ and higher product yields due to a Thorpe−Ingold effect. To demonstrate the synthetic utility of the cyclization reaction, selective transformations of an aromatization‐prone dihydrofuran product are also described.
New speedup algorithms for nonlinear dynamic time history analysis of supertall building structures under strong earthquakes
Authors: He Zheng , Fu Shaojun , Shi Yongan , Tao Qian , Sun Chengjiang
Published: July 2017

Some speedup algorithms oriented to improving computational efficiency of nonlinear dynamic time history analysis of supertall buildings structures excited by strong earthquakes are proposed. In order to minimize Jacobian factorizations, the inexact Newton algorithm combined with the sparse Cholesky matrix factorization (INC) is suggested with an unbalance‐independent relation for the determination of a forcing term in the INC. Further, some shared memory parallel computing techniques are incorporated into the state transformation procedures developed previously (parallel state transformation procedure) and the matrix factorization (parallelized factorization) for full utilization of the resources of an ordinary personal computer. All the algorithms are integrated in a finite element program specialized in time history analysis of aseismic supertall building structures, with some features from OpenSees. Computational efficiency, as well as accuracy, of the proposed speedup algorithms is demonstrated on one 12‐story reinforced concrete frame (K1) and 4 frame‐core‐tube supertall buildings (S1–S4). The results from the demonstration indicate that, as the number of degrees of freedom increases, the proportion of time consumed in Jacobian factorization becomes relatively more dominant. The combination of the INC and the parallelized factorization can achieve better acceleration performance in this case. Factors associated with the forcing term of the INC have much influence on computational efficiency and should be selected based on building scale. Combination of all the algorithms in the biggest model (S4) yields an average of 28.72 of acceleration ratio even with peak ground acceleration equal to 3.2 g. In all cases considered, a desirable agreement in structural response is always reached between conventional time history analysis method and the method using the proposed speedup algorithms.
Example‐based face image super‐resolution taking into consideration correspondence of facial parts
Authors: Hamdan Suhail , Fukumizu Yohei , Izumi Tomonori , Yamauchi Hironori
Published: July 2017

Example‐based methods are widely adopted in image super‐resolution (SR) to generate clear, high‐resolution (HR) images from low‐resolution (LR) images. This paper reports our study of example‐based algorithms on LR facial images that exploit the relationship between LR and HR image patch pairs in a database using a Markov random field (MRF) model. We aimed to restore each part in a face with patches related to the parts. We generated patches with information on their original positions from a set of normalized facial images where their facial feature points were approximately in the same position. The nearer candidate patch's position to the target position yielded higher compatibility of the facial parts. Our algorithm restored LR images by combining the proposed facial parts' compatibility function with the conventional function to find the best set of estimated HR patches. The final SR results were obtained by stitching the inferred HR patches from an iteration process. An experiment on a set of facial images demonstrates that the combined compatibility function achieves the best quality in the resulting image, i.e. 30.39 [dB], in terms of the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) compared to the previously achieved quality of 29.65 [dB]. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A highly efficient single‐phase sine‐wave inverter with single‐switch high‐frequency modulation
Authors: Faizal Abdullah M. , Iqbal Shahid , Ishak Dahaman
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a highly efficient single‐phase sine‐wave inverter with single‐switch high‐frequency modulation. In this topology, a control circuit is connected at the lower arm of a full‐bridge inverter to control the output voltage across the full‐bridge inverter. The switch at the lower arm of the full‐bridge inverter controls the output voltage of the full‐bridge inverter by increasing or reducing the voltage level at the lower arm of the inverter. This switch of lower arm is controlled by a high‐frequency sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) switching signal, while the power switches of the full‐bridge inverter operate with a square‐wave switching signal at the line frequency to unfold DC–AC inversion, thus producing a sinusoidal voltage at the load. Both computer simulation and experiment are carried out to verify the performance of the proposed topology. Experimental results from a 1000‐W laboratory prototype are presented to testify and validate the analysis, design, and performance of the proposed topology. The results show that the proposed topology has nearly sinusoidal output voltage and current waveforms with a total harmonics distortion of less than 5%. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Memristor‐based pseudo‐random pattern generator using relaxation oscillator
Authors: Takahashi Yasuhiro , Sekine Toshikazu , Yokoyama Michio
Published: July 2017

This letter presents a new pseudo‐random pattern generator using a memristor and relaxation oscillator based on an operational amplifier. The pulse width of the proposed generator is determined by the resistance storage property of the memristor, and the random pulse sequence depends on the RC time constant of the relaxation oscillator. From the simulation results, we show that the pulse width time is 7.6 μs, and the random pulse sequence is 2048 bits. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Software update: the ORCA program system, version 4.0
Authors: Neese Frank
Published: July 2017

This short update provides an overview of the capabilities that have been added to the ORCA electronic structure package (version 4.0) since publication of the first article in 2012. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2018, 8:e1327. doi: 10.1002/wcms.1327

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods

Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory

Software > Quantum Chemistry
Developmental mechanisms of intervertebral disc and vertebral column formation
Authors: Lawson Lisa Y. , Harfe Brian D.
Published: July 2017

The vertebral column consists of repeating units of ossified vertebrae that are adjoined by fibrocartilagenous intervertebral discs. These structures form from the embryonic notochord and somitic mesoderm. In humans, congenital malformations of the vertebral column include scoliosis, kyphosis, spina bifida, and Klippel Feil syndrome. In adulthood, a common malady affecting the vertebral column includes disc degeneration and associated back pain. Indeed, recent reports estimate that low back pain is the number one cause of disability worldwide. Our review provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying vertebral column morphogenesis and intervertebral disc development and maintenance, with an emphasis on what has been gleaned from recent genetic studies in mice. The aim of this review is to provide a developmental framework through which vertebral column formation can be understood so that ultimately, research scientists and clinicians alike can restore disc health with appropriately designed gene and cell‐based therapies. WIREs Dev Biol 2017, 6:e283. doi: 10.1002/wdev.283

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Regulatory Mechanisms

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: Regional Development
Management of Enterocutaneous Fistula: Outcomes in 276 Patients
Authors: Quinn Martha , Falconer Stuart , McKee Ruth F.
Published: July 2017

Objective

To assess the outcomes of patients with type II intestinal failure due to enterocutaneous fistulae in a tertiary referral centre over a 15 year period.

Summary background

Intestinal failure secondary to enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) requires multidisciplinary management at significant cost. Mortality and morbidity are high.

Methods

Patients were identified from a prospectively collected database of patients requiring inpatient parenteral nutrition (1998–2013). Data collected included: demographics, mode of admission, pathological grouping and outcome.

Results

A total of 286 ECF were identified in 278 patients, mean age 64 years (20–96 years) with an equal gender distribution. In total, 112 fistulas developed following an emergency admission, 89 fistulas following an elective admission, and the remainder 85 were transferred from outlying district hospitals. In total, 246 ECF were as a result of previous surgery, 11 occurred following endoscopic procedures, with the remainder occurring spontaneously. All patients received parenteral nutrition (PN). Forty‐seven patients overall died from sepsis/multiorgan failure. A total of 154 ECF resolved with aggressive non‐operative management and 46 died prior to resolution of their fistula or surgery. 74.8% of patients with ECF proximal to the duodenal‐jejunal flexure closed without surgery compared to 35.4% with disease distal to the flexure (p = 0.001). Nineteen early operations were performed, with 51 patients undergoing definitive surgery. In‐hospital mortality was 19.1% (53/278), with 30‐day post‐operative mortality from definitive surgery being 9.8% (5/51).

Conclusion

Mortality remains high and is associated with sepsis. Fistulas proximal to the duodeno‐jejunal flexure are more likely to close spontaneously. If the fistula fails to close spontaneously care is often prolonged and complex, requiring a dedicated nutrition team. In this series, spontaneous closure was more common in upper GI fistulas. Patients who are not able to be discharged in the interval between fistula formation and definitive surgery have a higher mortality risk.
Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Diagnosis of Appendicitis during Pregnancy: A Canadian Experience
Authors: Burns Michael , Hague Cameron J. , Vos Patrick , Tiwari Pari , Wiseman Sam M.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of appendicitis during pregnancy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of all MRI scans performed at our institution, between 2006 and 2012, for the evaluation of suspected appendicitis in pregnant women. Details of the MRI scans performed were obtained from the radiology information system as well as details of any ultrasounds carried out for the same indication. Clinical and pathological data were obtained by retrospective chart review.

Results

The study population comprised 63 patients, and 8 patients underwent a second MRI scan during the same pregnancy. A total of 71 MRI scans were reviewed. The appendix was identified on 40 scans (56.3%). Sensitivity of MRI was 75% and specificity was 100% for the diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnant women. When cases with right lower quadrant inflammatory fat stranding or focal fluid, without appendix visualization, were classified as positive for appendicitis, MRI sensitivity increased to 81.3% but specificity decreased to 96.4%.

Conclusions

MRI is sensitive and highly specific for the diagnosis of appendicitis during pregnancy and should be considered as a first line imaging study for this clinical presentation.
Becoming Brazilians
Authors: Eakin Marshall C.
Published: July 2017

This book traces the rise and decline of Gilberto Freyre's vision of racial and cultural mixture (mestiçagem - or race mixing) as the defining feature of Brazilian culture in the twentieth century. Eakin traces how mestiçagem moved from a conversation among a small group of intellectuals to become the dominant feature of Brazilian national identity, demonstrating how diverse Brazilians embraced mestiçagem, via popular music, film and television, literature, soccer, and protest movements. The Freyrean vision of the unity of Brazilians built on mestiçagem begins a gradual decline in the 1980s with the emergence of an identity politics stressing racial differences and multiculturalism. The book combines intellectual history, sociological and anthropological field work, political science, and cultural studies for a wide-ranging analysis of how Brazilians - across social classes - became Brazilians.
Alcohol use and intimate partner violence among women and their partners in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Greene M. C. , Kane J. C. , Tol W. A.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Alcohol use is a well-documented risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV); however, the majority of research comes from high-income countries.

Methods:

Using nationally representative data from 86 024 women that participated in the Demographic and Health Surveys, we evaluated the relationship between male partner alcohol use and experiencing IPV in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using multilevel mixed-effects models, we calculated the within-country, between-country, and contextual effects of alcohol use on IPV.

Results:

Prevalence of partner alcohol use and IPV ranged substantially across countries (3–62 and 11–60%, respectively). Partner alcohol use was associated with a significant increase in the odds of reporting IPV for all 14 countries included in this analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between alcohol use and IPV, although largely explained by partner alcohol use, was also attributable to overall prevalence of alcohol use in a given country. The partner alcohol use–IPV relationship was moderated by socioeconomic status (SES): among women with a partner who used alcohol those with lower SES had higher odds of experiencing IPV than women with higher SES.

Conclusions:

Results of this study suggest that partner alcohol use is a robust correlate of IPV in SSA; however, drinking norms may independently relate to IPV and confound the relationship between partner alcohol use and IPV. These findings motivate future research employing experimental and longitudinal designs to examine alcohol use as a modifiable risk factor of IPV and as a novel target for treatment and prevention research to reduce IPV in SSA.
Controlling Purple Jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera): Assessment of Feasibility and Costs
Authors: Leblanc Michaël , Lavoie Claude
Published: July 2017

We experimentally tested the feasibility of a control campaign of purple jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera), an exotic invasive species in Europe and North America. We evaluated the amount of time and money required to control the plant along riverbanks, with particular attention paid to the recovery of riparian vegetation following hand pulling and bagging. Work time was directly and significantly related to stem density and fresh biomass of the invader, but the relationship was stronger for density. Density and biomass were strongly reduced by the first hand-pulling operation from a mean of 45 to 2 stems m−2 and from a mean of 0.95 kg m−2 to nearly zero, a good performance but not enough to negate the need for a second hand pulling later in the summer. A single hand pulling significantly reduced the cover of purple jewelweed from to 30% to 7%. Riparian vegetation disturbed by the first hand pulling largely recovered during the following 30 d. Expressed over an area of 1 ha, the total amount of time required to control purple jewelweed is 1,400 work hours over 2 yr, or a minimum investment of Can$21,000 (US$17,000). Although controlling a well-established purple jewelweed population is expensive, to properly evaluate the benefits, we must also consider the costs of soil erosion caused by this species.