bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Perspective of Safety Engineers on Safety Climate
Authors: Braunger Paul , Korunka Christian , Kubicek Bettina , Frank Hermann , Lueger Manfred
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate safety climate and how it relates to the safety performance of employees from the perspective of safety engineers. Using Griffin and Neal's (2000) safety climate model as a theoretical basis, we hypothesized that the organizational safety climate is a higher‐order construct that relates to the safety compliance of employees and their safety participation via the mediating roles of safety knowledge and safety motivation. Hypotheses were tested among 236 safety engineers working in the wood and metal‐processing industries in Austria. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis showed that safety climate is a higher‐order construct comprising manager values, safety communication, safety practices, safety training, and safety equipment. Moreover, from the perspective of safety engineers, the safety climate of the organizations was related to employee safety motivation, which in turn related to their safety compliance and safety participation. In contrast to our assumptions, the safety knowledge of employees was, in the view of safety engineers, neither related to employee safety compliance nor to their safety participation. Multigroup analysis revealed no differences between internally and externally employed safety engineers for these relations. Thus, although the safety climate model was generally confirmed from an engineer's perspective, engineers rated motivational aspects of safety climate is more important compared to knowledge aspects.
An Analysis of Applicability using Quality Metrics for Ontologies on Ontology Design Patterns
Authors: Lantow Birger , Sandkuhl Kurt
Published: January 2015

Ontology design patterns (ODPs) provide best‐practice solutions for common or recurring ontology design problems. This work focuses on content ODPs, which form small ontologies themselves and thus can be subject to ontology quality metrics in general. We investigate the use of such metrics for content ODP evaluation in terms of metrics applicability and validity. The quality metrics used for this investigation are taken from existing work in the area of ontology quality evaluation. We discuss the general applicability to content ODP of each metric considering its definition, ODP characteristics, and the defined goals of ODPs. The research process presented in this paper has two phases. In the first phase, we conducted a literature research in the area of metrics for assessing ontology quality. The second phase consisted of a two‐step evaluation of the ontology metrics identified in the literature analysis. During the first step, we investigated whether the metrics are appropriate to differentiate between content ODPs of different quality. Metrics that proved to be applicable were calculated for a random set of 14 content ODPs. In the second step, a controlled experiment, the quality indicated by the metric value was contrasted with the perception of ontology engineers; that is, do ‘measured quality’ and ‘perceived quality’ match?. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alantolactone Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest on Lung Squamous Cancer SK‐MES‐1 Cells
Authors: Zhao Peng , Pan Zhenxiang , Luo Yungang , Zhang Leilei , Li Xin , Zhang Guangxin , Zhang Yifan , Cui Ranji , Sun Mei , Zhang Xingyi
Published: January 2015

Alantolactone, a sesquiterpene lactone compound, has variety of pharmacological properties, including anti‐inflammatory and antineoplastic effects. In our study, alantolactone inhibited cancer cell proliferation. To explore the mechanisms underlying its antitumor action, we further examined apoptotic cells and cell cycle distribution using flow cytometry analysis. Alantolactone triggered apoptosis and induced cell cycle G1/G0 phase arrest. Furthermore, the expressions of caspases‐8, ‐9, ‐3, PARP, and Bax were significantly upregulated, while antiapoptotic factor Bcl‐2 expression was inhibited. In addition, the expressions of cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), CDK6, cyclin D3, and cyclin D1 were downregulated by alantolactone. Therefore, our findings indicated that alantolactone has an antiproliferative role on lung squamous cancer cells, and it may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for squamous lung cancer SK‐MES‐1 cells.
The influence of polyamic acid molecular weight on the membrane structure and performance of polyimide solvent‐resistant nanofiltration
Authors: Wang Jianqiang , Song Keying , Cao Bing , Li Li , Pan Kai
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Polyimide (PI) solvent‐resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) membranes were prepared by a two‐step method. The polyamic acid (PAA) precursor was synthesized first, and then PAA membranes were obtained via a non‐solvent induced phase separation method. Finally, the PAA membranes were transformed into PI membranes by the thermal imidization method. The effect of molecular weight of precursor on the structure and performance of PI membranes was investigated in detail. In addition, the influence of other processing parameters, such as evaporation time and immersion time in the coagulation bath, on the performance of PI membranes prepared from PAA with different molecular weights was also investigated.

RESULTS

The results showed that the structure of PI membrane varied with PAA molecular weight. The PI membranes prepared from low molecular weight PAA failed to form a defect‐free membrane with enough strength, and resulted in high flux but low rejection. Accordingly, PI membranes processed from PAA with high molecular weight retain rejection higher than 90% of FCF with decreased flux. The results also indicated that the optimized molecular weight of PAA should be between 1.23 × 105 g mol−1 and 2.44 × 105 g mol−1 to prepare defect‐free PI membrane for nanofiltration. The results also showed that the performance of the PI membranes can be controlled by adjusting the evaporation time, immersion time, and also the operating pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

The PAA molecular weight has a great effect on the morphology and performance of PI membranes. A suitable PAA molecular weight is necessary for preparing defect‐free PI nanofiltration membrane. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
New Method for the Synthesis and Reactivity of (5‐R‐1,3,4‐Oxadiazol‐2‐yl)furoxans
Authors: Fershtat Leonid L. , Kulikov Alexander S. , Ananyev Ivan V. , Struchkova Marina I. , Makhova Nina N.
Published: January 2015

A new, simple and general one‐pot method for the preparation of (5‐R‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)furoxans has been developed on the basis of the interaction between accessible 3‐methylfuroxan‐4‐carboxylic acid hydrazide and aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic carboxylic acids or their chlorides in the presence of POCl3. The synthesis and study of (5‐R‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)furoxans reactivity resulted in new polyheterocyclic ensembles incorporating furoxan, 1,3,4‐oxadiazole, pyrrole, triazole, furan, thiophene, pyrimidine, and other heterocycles in different combinations.
Synthesis and Properties of Photochromic Diarylethenes Bearing Thiazole Moiety
Authors: Hu Tiesheng , Li Zhipeng , Wang Tingting , Zeng Heping
Published: January 2015

Four new diarylethene derivatives based on thiophene or thiazole moieties were designed and synthesized, and the structures of compounds 4a and 5a were determined by single‐X‐ray diffraction analysis. All of these compounds showed reversible photochromic reactions and notable fluorescence photo‐switches in solution. Furthermore, diarylethenes 4a and 5a also showed good photochromism in single crystal phase. The electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents play the same role in the photochromic process: red‐shifted absorption and fluorescence (1a and 2a compared with 3a). The fluorescent modulation efficiencies of asymmetrical diarylethenes 4 and 5 were significantly enhanced compared with the similar dithienylethenes, and the fatigue resistance of 5 was much better than 4, which showed that the diarylethene bearing electron‐withdrawing group could improve its fatigue resistance.
Changes in the metabolism of sphingolipids after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Testai Fernando D. , Xu Hao‐Liang , Kilkus John , Suryadevara Vidyani , Gorshkova Irina , Berdyshev Evgeny , Pelligrino Dale A. , Dawson Glyn
Published: January 2015

We previously described how ceramide (Cer), a mediator of cell death, increases in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients. This study investigates the alterations of biochemical pathways involved in Cer homeostasis in SAH. Cer, dihydroceramide (DHC), sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P), and the activities of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), neutral sphingomyelinase (NSMase), sphingomyelinase synthase (SMS), S1P‐lyase, and glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) were determined in the CSF of SAH subjects and in brain homogenate of SAH rats. Compared with controls (n = 8), SAH patients (n = 26) had higher ASMase activity (10.0 ± 3.5 IF/µl· min vs. 15.0 ± 4.6 IF/µl • min;P = 0.009) and elevated levels of Cer (11.4 ± 8.8 pmol/ml vs. 33.3 ± 48.3 pmol/ml;P = 0.001) and DHC (1.3 ± 1.1 pmol/ml vs. 3.8 ± 3.4 pmol/ml;P = 0.001) in the CSF. The activities of GCS, NSMase, and SMS in the CSF were undetectable. Brain homogenates from SAH animals had increased ASMase activity (control: 9.7 ± 1.2 IF/µg • min; SAH: 16.8 ± 1.6 IF/µg • min;P < 0.05) and Cer levels (control: 3,422 ± 26 fmol/nmol of total lipid P; SAH: 7,073 ± 2,467 fmol/nmol of total lipid P;P < 0.05) compared with controls. In addition, SAH was associated with a reduction of 60% in S1P levels, a 40% increase in S1P‐lyase activity, and a twofold increase in the activity of GCS. In comparison, NSMase and SMS activities were similar to controls and SMS activities similar to controls. In conclusion, our results show an activation of ASMase, S1P‐lyase, and GCS resulting in a shift in the production of protective (S1P) in favor of deleterious (Cer) sphingolipids after SAH. Additional studies are needed to determine the effect of modulators of the pathways described here in SAH. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Meridional position biases of East Asian subtropical jet stream in CMIP5 models and their relationship with ocean model resolutions
Authors: Ma Jing , Xu Haiming , Lin Pengfei
Published: January 2015

The East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ) stream in each of the 20 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) is evaluated against the ERA‐interim product. The multi‐model ensemble mean (MME) simulates a reasonably realistic climatology of the EASJ; however, the MME EASJs are shifted southward in all seasons in comparison with the observations. Upon closer inspection, it is found that only in the coupled general circulation models (CGCMs) with relatively coarse ocean model resolutions are the simulated EASJs shifted southward remarkably in all four seasons; for those CGCMs with relatively high ocean model resolutions, the simulated EASJs are shifted northward, indicating that the simulated meridional location of the EASJ is closely related to the horizontal resolution in the ocean model. Based on the singular value decomposition (SVD) and composite analyses, the simulated meridional location of the EASJ is closely associated with the sea surface temperature (SST) over the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) region, with southward (northward) shift of the EASJ corresponding to low (high) SSTs. The CGCMs with relatively low (high) ocean model resolutions generally simulate negative (positive) SST biases over the KOE region with an SST decrease (increase) of about −3 K (+2 K) in comparison with the MME. Through a mixed‐layer heat budget analysis, it is revealed that the SST differences between the models with coarse and fine ocean components are mainly attributed to the ocean heat transport effect.
Climate change impacts on reference crop evapotranspiration in North‐West hydrological region of Bangladesh
Authors: Mojid M. A. , Rannu R. P. , Karim N. N.
Published: January 2015

Climate change is a critical global environmental challenge that has rigorous impacts on crop‐water demand and a number of other systems, such as hydrological systems and ecosystems. Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) being a hydrological parameter reflects the integrated effects of various climatic parameters. Consequently, any variations in the climatic parameters induce variability in ETo. This study identified the accountable climatic parameters for the variability of ETo in Dinajpur and Bogra districts of the North‐West hydrological region of Bangladesh. ETo was determined by FAO Penman–Monteith method from the daily weather parameters of the two districts for a period of 21 years (1990–2010). Trends of ETo and its governing climatic parameters over the years were detected and quantified. Correlations between ETo and the governing parameters were determined. The results revealed decreasing trends of ETo in most of the months of the year during the study period in both districts. The climatic parameters causing the observed trends in ETo differed over the months of the year. The combine effects of decreasing net radiation and wind speed, and increasing mean daily air temperature and saturation vapour pressure deficit contributed reducing ETo in the study area. These results, by enhancing our understanding of the effects of climate variability and climate change on ETo, will help sustainable planning of water resources utilization in agriculture of the region.
Design of a microfluidic device for comprehensive spatial two‐dimensional liquid chromatography
Authors: Wouters Bert , De Vos Jelle , Desmet Gert , Terryn Herman , Schoenmakers Peter J. , Eeltink Sebastiaan
Published: January 2015

This study discusses the design aspects for the construction of a microfluidic device for comprehensive spatial two‐dimensional liquid chromatography. In spatial two‐dimensional liquid chromatography each peak is characterized by its coordinates in the plane. After completing the first‐dimension separation all fractions are analyzed in parallel second‐dimension separations. Hence, spatial two‐dimensional liquid chromatography potentially provides much higher peak‐production rates than a coupled column multi‐dimensional liquid chromatography approach in which the second‐dimension analyses are performed sequentially. A chip for spatial two‐dimensional liquid chromatography has been manufactured from cyclic olefin copolymer and features a first‐dimension separation channel and 21 parallel second‐dimension separation channels oriented perpendicularly to the former. Compartmentalization of first‐ and second‐dimension developments by physical barriers allowed for a preferential flow path with a minimal dispersion into the second‐dimension separation channels. To generate a homogenous flow across all the parallel second‐dimension channels, a radially interconnected flow distributor containing two zones of diamond‐shaped pillars was integrated on‐chip. A methacrylate ester based monolithic stationary phase with optimized macroporous structure was created in situ in the confines of the microfluidic chip. In addition, the use of a photomask was explored to localize monolith formation in the parallel second‐dimension channels. Finally, to connect the spatial chip to the liquid chromatography instrument, connector ports were integrated allowing the use of Viper fittings. As an alternative, a chip holder with adjustable clasp locks was designed that allows the clamping force to be adjusted.
CO2‐Redispersible Polymer Latexes with Low Glass Transition Temperatures
Authors: Gariepy Dan , Zhang Qi , Zhu Shiping
Published: January 2015

In this work, acrylic latexes are prepared through surfactant‐free emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA). CO2‐responsive 2‐(diethyl)aminoethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) is used as a co‐monomer. The resulting latexes can be easily coagulated by adding a small amount of caustic soda. Once washed, coagulated particles could be redispersed into water to prepare stable latexes with CO2 and ultrasonication. CO2‐redispersibility of the latexes is examined as a function of glass transition temperature of the polymers having different MMA/BA ratios. It is found that, while high MMA content latexes are easily CO2‐redispersed, it is challenging to re‐disperse high BA content latexes. For latex particles with T
g below ambient conditions, coagulation with caustic soda leads to the fusion of individual particles, and the particles are no longer redispersible. This work provides a mechanistic insight and practical guidance for the applicability of CO2‐responsive amine‐containing molecules (employed as comonomer, initiator, surfactant, and so on) in developing CO2‐redispersible latex products.

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Controlling of Water Collection Ability by an Elasticity‐Regulated Bioinspired Fiber
Authors: Wang Sijie , Feng Shile , Hou Yongping , Zheng Yongmei
Published: January 2015

A special artificial spider silk is presented which is fabricated by using both an elastic polymer and a fiber, and the water collection behavior is investigated. Through exerting tension in varying degree, the length of the three‐phase contact line (TCL) and the area of spindle knot can be regulated readily, which makes a great contribution to the improvement of collecting efficiency and water‐hanging ability. The water‐hanging ability can be predicted at a given stretching ratio according to the given expression of the TCL. As a result, liquid capture or release of distinct measure can be achieved via exerting tension. This research is helpful to design smart materials for developing applications in fogwater collection, dehumidification, high‐efficiency humidity control, and controllable adhesion.

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Towards a quaternionic function theory linked with the Lamé's wave functions
Authors: Morais J. , Pérez‐de la Rosa M. A.
Published: January 2015

Over the past few years, considerable attention has been given to the role played by the Lamé's Wave Functions (LWFs) in various problems of mathematical physics and mechanics. The LWFs arise via the method of separation of variables for the wave equation in ellipsoidal coordinates. The present paper introduces the Lamé's Quaternionic Wave Functions (LQWFs), which extend the LWFs to a non‐commutative framework. We show that the theory of the LQWFs is determined by the Moisil‐Theodorescu type operator with quaternionic variable coefficients. As a result, we explain the connections between the solutions of the Lamé's wave equation, on one hand, and the quaternionic hyperholomorphic and anti‐hyperholomorphic functions on the other. We establish analogues of the basic integral formulas of complex analysis such as Borel‐Pompeiu's, Cauchy's, and so on, for this version of quaternionic function theory. We further obtain analogues of the boundary value properties of the LQWFs such as Sokhotski‐Plemelj formulae, the
‐hyperholomorphic extension of a given Hölder function and on the square of the singular integral operator. We address all the text mentioned earlier and explore some basic facts of the arising quaternionic function theory. We conclude the paper showing that the spherical, prolate, and oblate spheroidal quaternionic wave functions can be generated as particular cases of the LQWFs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amplitude equation for the stochastic reaction‐diffusion equations with random Neumann boundary conditions
Authors: Mohammed Wael W.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we consider a quite general class of reaction‐diffusion equations with cubic nonlinearities and with random Neumann boundary conditions. We derive rigorously amplitude equations, using the natural separation of time‐scales near a change of stability and investigate whether additive degenerate noise and random boundary conditions can lead to stabilization of the solution of the stochastic partial differential equation or not. The nonlinear heat equation (Ginzburg–Landau equation) is used to illustrate our result. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A gut microbial metabolite of ginsenosides, compound K, induces intestinal glucose absorption and Na+/glucose cotransporter 1 gene expression through activation of cAMP response element binding protein
Authors: Wang Chun‐Wen , Huang Yu‐Chuan , Chan Fang‐Na , Su Shih‐Chieh , Kuo Yu‐Han , Huang Shu‐Fen , Hung Mei‐Whey , Lin Hang‐Chin , Chang Wen‐Liang , Chang Tsu‐Chung
Published: January 2015

Scope

The Na+/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) plays a crucial role in glucose uptake in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), which has been shown essential in ameliorating intestinal inflammation. Ginseng has historically been used to treat inflammatory disorders. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of ginseng‐mediated induction of SGLT1 gene expression in human intestinal cells is therefore important.

Methods and results

We demonstrate that ginsenoside compound K (CK) enhances SGLT1‐mediated glucose uptake in mice and human intestinal Caco‐2 cells. Transient transfection analysis using SGLT1 promoter‐luciferase reporters demonstrated that the presence of an essential cAMP response element (CRE) is required for CK‐mediated induction of SGLT1 gene expression. The ChIP assays indicated that increased CRE‐binding protein (CREB) and CREB‐binding protein (CBP) binding to the SGLT1 promoter in CK‐treated cells is associated with an activated chromatin state. Our result showed that the increased CREB phosphorylation is directly correlated with SGLT1 expression in IECs. Further studies indicated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway is involved in the CK‐mediated effect.

Conclusion

These findings provide a novel mechanism for the CK‐mediated upregulation of SGLT1 expression through EGFR‐CREB signaling activation, which could contribute to reducing gut inflammation.
Benzoxazinoids: Cereal phytochemicals with putative therapeutic and health‐protecting properties
Authors: Adhikari Khem B. , Tanwir Fariha , Gregersen Per L. , Steffensen Stine K. , Jensen Bettina M. , Poulsen Lars K. , Nielsen Claus H. , Høyer Søren , Borre Michael , Fomsgaard Inge S.
Published: January 2015

Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are a group of natural chemical compounds with putative pharmacological and health‐protecting properties. BXs were formerly identified in and isolated from selected dicot medicinal plants and young cereal plants. Recently, BXs were found to be present in mature cereal grains and bakery products, such that knowledge about the pharmacological properties of BXs, which until now have unknowingly been consumed through the daily bread and breakfast cereals, has come into new focus. This review discusses published results from in vitro studies and a few human and animal model studies on the health effects and pharmacological responses of various BX compounds. Many of these studies have reported antimicrobial, anticancer, reproductive system stimulatory, central nervous system stimulatory, immunoregulatory, and appetite‐ and weight‐reducing effects of BXs and/or BX derivatives. The health benefits of wholegrain intake may be associated with the solitary and/or overlapping biological effects of fibers, lignans, phenolic acids, alkylresorcinols, BXs, and other bioactive compounds. In the context of BXs as dietary ingredients, further comprehensive investigations are required to understand their biological functions, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, to explore their potential contribution on the health effects associated with wholegrain consumption, and to examine their potential as functional food ingredients.
Resistance strength training exercise in children with spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Lewelt Aga , Krosschell Kristin J. , Stoddard Gregory J. , Weng Cindy , Xue Mei , Marcus Robin L. , Gappmaier Eduard , Viollet Louis , Johnson Barbara A. , White Andrea T. , Viazzo‐Trussell Donata , Lopes Philippe , Lane Robert H. , Carey John C. , Swoboda Kathryn J.
Published: January 2015

Introduction: Preliminary evidence in adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and in SMA animal models suggests exercise has potential benefits in improving or stabilizing muscle strength and motor function. Methods: We evaluated feasibility, safety, and effects on strength and motor function of a home‐based, supervised progressive resistance strength training exercise program in children with SMA types II and III. Up to 14 bilateral proximal muscles were exercised 3 times weekly for 12 weeks. Results: Nine children with SMA, aged 10.4 ± 3.8 years, completed the resistance training exercise program. Ninety percent of visits occurred per protocol. Training sessions were pain‐free (99.8%), and no study‐related adverse events occurred. Trends in improved strength and motor function were observed. Conclusions: A 12‐week supervised, home‐based, 3‐day/week progressive resistance training exercise program is feasible, safe, and well tolerated in children with SMA. These findings can inform future studies of exercise in SMA. Muscle Nerve 52: 559–567, 2015
Dramatic changes in muscle contractile and structural properties after 2 botulinum toxin injections
Authors: Minamoto Viviane B. , Suzuki Kentaro P. , Bremner Shannon N. , Lieber Richard L. , Ward Samuel R.
Published: January 2015

Introduction: Botulinum toxin is frequently administered serially to maintain therapeutic muscle paralysis, but the effect of repeated doses on muscle function are largely unknown. This study characterized the muscle response to 2 onabotulinum toxin (BoNT) injections separated by 3 months. Methods: Animal subjects received a single toxin injection (n = 8), 2 BoNT injections separated by 3 months (n = 14), or 1 BoNT and 1 saline injection separated by 3 months (n = 8). Results: The functional effect of 2 serial injections was exponentially greater than the effect of a single injection. While both groups treated with a single BoNT injection had decreased torque in the injected leg by approximately 50% relative to contralateral legs, the double BoNT injected group had decreased torque by over 95% relative to the preinjection level. Both single and double BoNT injections produced clear signs of fiber‐type grouping. Conclusions: These experiments demonstrate a disproportionately greater effect of repeated BoNT injections. Muscle Nerve 52: 649–657, 2015
Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of graphene oxide–polystyrene nanocomposites
Authors: Suresh I. Kattimuttathu , Chidambaram Krishnappan , Vinod Vellorathekkaepadil , Rajender Nutenki , Venkateswara Reddy Mandapati , Miroslav Černík
Published: January 2015

The synthesis of graphene oxide (GO)–polystyrene (PS) Pickering emulsions, as environment‐friendly nanostructures suitable for novel applications, has received significant attention in recent years. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of GO–PS nanocomposites through seeded emulsion polymerization and the selective light reflection properties of dry films have been reported. Amphiphilic molecule sulfonated 3‐pentadecyl phenol was used as a co‐surfactant to stabilize GO dispersions during the emulsion polymerization process. The particle size of the dispersions as measured by dynamic light scattering decreases from 540 nm, for PS without any GO, to 88 nm with 1 wt% GO content. Scanning electron microscopy studies show a uniform size distribution of the composite particles prepared with GO. The dried films show a structural color that varies with the GO content. The self‐assembly behavior of the dried film was further studied using reflectance spectroscopy, which shows a red shift of the reflectance maximum from 440 to 538 nm as the GO loading was increased from 0.2 to 0.5 wt%, respectively, indicating a different microstructure. X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to study the morphology and structure of the composite particles on drying. The AFM study confirms the non‐spherical shape of the particles. Thermogravimetric analysis shows improved thermal decomposition characteristics of the nanocomposite films. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive finite‐time attitude stabilization for rigid spacecraft with actuator faults and saturation constraints
Authors: Lu Kunfeng , Xia Yuanqing , Fu Mengyin , Yu Chunmei
Published: January 2015

The attitude stabilization problem for rigid spacecraft in the presence of inertial uncertainties, external disturbances, actuator saturations, and actuator faults is addressed in this paper. First, a novel fast terminal sliding mode manifold is designed to avoid the singularity problem while providing high control ability. In addition, fast terminal sliding mode control laws are proposed to make the spacecraft system trajectory fast converge onto the fast terminal sliding mode surface and finally evolve into small region in finite time, which cannot be achieved by the previous literatures. Based on the real sliding mode context, a practical adaptive fast terminal sliding mode control law is presented to guarantee attitude stabilization in finite time. Also, simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the control strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust stabilization of MIMO systems in finite/fixed time
Authors: Polyakov A. , Efimov D. , Perruquetti W.
Published: January 2015

The control design problem for finite‐time and fixed‐time stabilizations of linear multi‐input system with nonlinear uncertainties and disturbances is considered. The control design algorithm based on block decomposition and implicit Lyapunov function technique is developed. The robustness properties of the obtained control laws with respect to matched and unmatched uncertainties and disturbances are studied. Procedures for tuning of control parameters are presented in the form of linear matrix inequalities. Aspects of practical implementation of developed algorithms are discussed. Theoretical results are supported by numerical simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drag Forces on Large Cylinders
Authors: Turcotte Benoit , Millar Robert G. , Hassan Marwan A.
Published: January 2015

Introducing large woody debris into streams is a common practice in restoration projects. Beyond the complexity of flow patterns and sediment movements in streams where woody debris are found or placed, it seems that our understanding of the basic hydraulics of large roughness elements in small channels remains limited. Underestimating the drag force affecting large roughness elements can compromise the success of stream restoration projects. Results from a simple experimental setting confirm that drag force estimates based on approaches developed for small cylinders are not valid when applied to large cylinders. Indeed, the classic drag force equation that uses an empirical drag coefficient is found to significantly underestimate measured drag forces, even when corrected for the ‘blockage ratio’. In contrast, application of specific momentum can yield good estimates of the drag force. A dimensionless depth is defined in a 1D context as a function of the flow depth, critical flow depth and cylinder diameter. A cylinder is considered to be ‘large’ when this dimensionless depth is smaller than 2. In this instance, a relationship is established to estimate the upstream flow depth and the drag force acting on the cylinder. This research bridges the small roughness element theory widely recognized in hydraulic engineering with the theory applicable to large, flow controlling structures such as weirs. From a practical perspective, this research can be used to assist in the design of engineered large woody debris structures. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective Capture and Quick Detection of Targeting Cells with SERS‐Coding Microsphere Suspension Chip
Authors: Li Dian , Zhang Yuting , Li Ruimin , Guo Jia , Wang Changchun , Tang Chuanbing
Published: January 2015

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured from blood fluid represent recurrent cancers and metastatic lesions to monitor the situation of cancers. We develop surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐coding microsphere suspension chip as a new strategy for fast and efficient capture, recovery, and detection of targeting cancer cells. Using HeLa cells as model CTCs, we first utilize folate as a recognition molecule to be immobilized in magnetic composite microspheres for capturing HeLa cells and attaining high capturing efficacy (up to 95%). After capturing cells, the composite microsphere, which utilizes a disulfide bond as crosslinker in the polymer shell and as a spacer for linking folate, can recycle 90% cells within 20 min eluted by glutathion solution. Taking advantage of the SERS with fingerprint features, we characterize captured/recovered cells with the unique signal of report‐molecule 4‐aminothiophenol through introducing the SERS‐coding microsphere suspension chip to CTCs. Finally, the exploratory experiment of sieving cells shows that the magnetic composite microspheres can selectively capture the HeLa cells from samples of mixed cells, indicating that these magnetic composite microspheres have potential in real blood samples for capturing CTCs.
Professor Tetsuo Nozoe and Taiwan
Authors: Lo Tung‐Bin
Published: January 2015

Note from the Editor:

From the earliest moments in the planning of the publication of the Nozoe Autograph Books, I had hoped to obtain an essay written by someone who had known and both studied under and performed research with Tetsuo Nozoe from his days in Formosa, then Taiwan. But that was a faint hope, as Nozoe left Taiwan for Sendai in early May 1948, more than 66 years ago! Anyone who would have been with Nozoe in Taiwan would be 90 years old! For months, I put out many “feelers” and then, quite unexpectedly, I heard from Professor Tien‐Yau Luh, NTU Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University. He wrote,

“In the beginning, I was wondering if your letter was actually addressed to me or my colleagues who bear the last name LIU. Nevertheless, I did make an introductory remark before the Nozoe award lecture held in Taipei last July/August at the ISNA meeting. Concerning the short essay on Professor Nozoe in Taiwan, I have contacted a retired professor who worked in Nozoe's laboratory at the Taihoku and NTU in the 1940s for help. He kindly agreed to orally describe the “history” of the period, and I shall be happy to edit it, to form an essay for your project.”

A miracle! And with Professor Luh's assistance, we now present a very special essay by Professor Tung‐Bin Lo that meets—even exceeds—our hopes. At every stage of the design and production of the Nozoe Autograph Books project, we have readily received the assistance, support and contributions of enthusiastic scientists and friends of Tetsuo Nozoe from around the world. With this issue of The Chemical Record, the 15th consecutive issue of the journal, the publication of every page of the Nozoe Autograph Books—all 1179 pages—is completed. Together with 19 specially invited essays, including Professor Lo's that follows, we have produced a wonderful, historically important collection that is now archivally safe.

And we have a surprise! As described in more detail in another essay accompanying this issue written by Brian Johnson and myself, there will be a 16th segment of the Nozoe Autograph Books. We shall be collecting autographs for a volume to be given to Tohoku University in honor of Professor Nozoe and to celebrate his and his friends' achievements in science. I hope you will join us and sign the book, just as Professors Luh and Lo have joined us in making this project ever more robust and unique.

 —Jeffrey I. Seeman

 Guest Editor

 University of Richmond

 Richmond, Virginia 23173, USA

 E‐mail: jseeman@richmond.edu
Severe left diaphragmatic hernia limits size of fetal left heart more than does right diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Byrne F. A. , Keller R. L. , Meadows J. , Miniati D. , Brook M. M. , Silverman N. H. , Moon‐Grady A. J.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To assess whether severity of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) correlates with the degree of left heart hypoplasia and left ventricle (LV) output, and to determine if factors leading to abnormal fetal hemodynamics, such as compression and reduced LV preload, contribute to left heart hypoplasia.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross‐sectional study of fetuses at 16–37 weeks' gestation that were diagnosed with CDH between 2000 and 2010. Lung‐to‐head ratio (LHR), liver position and side of the hernia were determined from stored ultrasound images. CDH severity was dichotomized based on LHR and liver position. The dimensions of mitral (MV) and aortic (AV) valves and LV were measured, and right and left ventricular outputs were recorded.

Results

In total, 188 fetuses with CDH were included in the study, 171 with left CDH and 17 with right CDH. Fetuses with severe left CDH had a smaller MV (Z = –2.24 ± 1.3 vs –1.33 ± 1.08), AV (Z = –1.39 ± 1.21 vs –0.51 ± 1.05) and LV volume (Z = −4.23 ± −2.71 vs −2.08 ± 3.15) and had lower LV output (26 ± 10% vs 32 ± 10%) than those with mild CDH. MV and AV in fetuses with right CDH (MV, Z = –0.83 ± 1.19 and AV, Z = –0.71 ± 1.07) were larger than those in fetuses with left CDH, but LV outputs were similarly diminished, regardless of hernia side. Severe dextroposition and abnormal liver position were associated independently with smaller left heart, while LHR was not.

Conclusion

The severity of left heart hypoplasia correlates with the severity of CDH. Altered fetal hemodynamics, leading to decreased LV output, occurs in both right‐ and left‐sided CDH, but the additional compressive effect on the left heart is seen only when the hernia is left‐sided. Improved knowledge of the physiology of this disease may lead to advances in therapy and better risk assessment for use in counseling affected families. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Damping of edgewise vibration in wind turbine blades by means of circular liquid dampers
Authors: Basu Biswajit , Zhang Zili , Nielsen Søren R. K.
Published: January 2015

This paper proposes a new type of passive vibration control damper for controlling edgewise vibrations of wind turbine blades. The damper is a variant of the liquid column damper and is termed as a circular liquid column damper (CLCD). Rotating wind turbine blades generally experience a large centrifugal acceleration. This centrifugal acceleration makes the use of this kind of oscillatory liquid damper feasible with a small mass ratio to effectively suppress edgewise vibrations. A reduced 2‐DOF non‐linear model is used for tuning the CLCD attached to a rotating wind turbine blade, ignoring the coupling between the blade and the tower. The performance of the damper is evaluated under various rotational speeds of the rotor. A special case in which the rotational speed is so small that the gravity dominates the motion of the liquid is also investigated. Further, the legitimacy of the decoupled optimization is verified by incorporating the optimized damper into a more sophisticated 13‐DOF aeroelastic wind turbine model with due consideration to the coupled blade‐tower‐drivetrain vibrations of the wind turbine as well as a pitch controller. The numerical results from the illustrations on a 5 and a 10MW wind turbine machine indicate that the CLCD at an optimal tuning can effectively suppress the dynamic response of wind turbine blades. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quadratic programming
Authors: Turlach Berwin A. , Wright Stephen J.
Published: January 2015

Optimization problems in which a quadratic objective function is optimized subject to linear constraints on the parameters are known asquadratic programming problems(QPs). This focus article reviews algorithms for convexQPs(in which the objective is a convex function) and provides pointers to various online resources aboutQPs.WIREs Comput Stat2015, 7:153–159. doi: 10.1002/wics.1344

This article is categorized under:

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Quadratic and Nonlinear Programming
Demography of plains zebras (Equus quagga) under heavy predation
Authors: Grange Sophie , Barnier Florian , Duncan Patrick , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Valeix Marion , Ncube Hlengisizwe , Périquet Stéphanie , Fritz Hervé
Published: January 2015

In natural ecosystems, ungulate densities show strong temporal variations. The ecological processes driving these fluctuations are complex: food limitation and predation are both important and can interact. Survival rates are central to this debate, but data are sparse for tropical ecosystems. Here, we estimate age‐ and sex‐specific survival rates for plains zebra in Hwange National Park, a nutrient‐poor savanna with a high predator–prey ratio. We estimated survival from a detailed Capture‐Mark‐Recapture (CMR) monitoring based on 248 individual life histories, for the first time in an African grazer. We controlled for variations in detection probabilities among adult females, which resulted from their social structure. As expected, annual survival was low during the first year (0.441); increased in yearlings (0.560) and peaked at 0.795 and 0.847 in adult males and females respectively. The survival of adult females was lower during the dry season, which probably resulted from higher predation due to predictable movements of zebras to waterholes. Survival at all ages was low compared to ungulates without predators. The demographic model we constructed showed a declining trend (λ = 0.94), which was consistent with the data from road counts ( = 0.92). Life Table Response Experiment (LTRE) analyses using the Serengeti and Kruger populations as references showed that the main cause of this declining trend in the Hwange population was low survival in yearling and adult females; low foal survival also contributed. In this ecosystem, predation is likely to be the main ecological process causing low survival, and therefore a decline in the zebra population.
Fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase deficiency: clinical, biochemical and genetic features in French patients
Authors: Lebigot Elise , Brassier Anaïs , Zater Mokhtar , Imanci Dilek , Feillet François , Thérond Patrice , de Lonlay Pascale , Boutron Audrey
Published: January 2015

Fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase (FBPase) deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation of the fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase gene(FBP1). Disease is mainly revealed by hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis, both symptoms being characteristic for an enzymatic block in the last steps of the gluconeogenesis. Twelve patients with FBPase deficiency were diagnosed in France in the 2001‐2013 period, using a diagnostic system based on a single blood sample which allows simultaneous enzyme activity measurement on mononuclear white blood cells and molecular analysis. Sequencing of exons and intron–exon junctions of FBP1 gene was completed in unsolved cases by a gene dosage assay developed for each exon. For most patients, first metabolic decompensation occurred before two years of age with a similar sequence: the triggering factors were fever, fasting, or decrease of food intake. However, diagnosis was made late at a mean age of 3 years, as mitochondrial defects or glycogen storage diseases were firstly suspected. Enzyme activity in leukocytes was dramatically decreased (<10 %). Twelve different mutations were identified in 22 alleles among them seven were novels: one missense mutation c.472C > T, one point deletion c.48del, one point duplication c.865dupA, one deletion‐insertion, and two splice mutations (c.427‐1del and c.825 + 1G > A). We described the first intragenic deletion in FBP1 (g.97,364,754_97,382,011del) in homozygous state. Our report also confirms that this very rare disease is misdiagnosed, as other energetic defects are firstly suspected.
Differential inhibition of PDKs by phenylbutyrate and enhancement of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity by combination with dichloroacetate
Authors: Ferriero Rosa , Iannuzzi Clara , Manco Giuseppe , Brunetti‐Pierri Nicola
Published: January 2015

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) is a key enzyme in metabolism linking glycolysis to tricarboxylic acid cycle and its activity is tightly regulated by phosphorylation catalyzed by four pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) isoforms. PDKs are pharmacological targets for several human diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, and inherited PDHC deficiency. We investigated the inhibitory activity of phenylbutyrate toward PDKs and found that PDK isoforms 1‐to‐3 are inhibited whereas PDK4 is unaffected. Moreover, docking studies revealed putative binding sites of phenylbutyrate on PDK2 and 3 that are located on different sites compared to dichloroacetate (DCA), a previously known PDK inhibitor. Based on these findings, we showed both in cells and in mice that phenylbutyrate combined to DCA results in greater increase of PDHC activity compared to each drug alone. These results suggest that therapeutic efficacy can be enhanced by combination of drugs increasing PDHC enzyme activity.
The secret society and the social dynamics of terrorist behavior
Authors: Mackert Jürgen
Published: January 2015

The article argues that individualist accounts cannot adequately explain the social dynamics ofterrorist behavior as they turn analyses ofterrorism into analyses of terrorists. A relational approach that concentrates on the social relations between terrorist organizations and their members would be able to do this, however. Therefore, the article presents a fonnal analysis that makes the "secret society" of terrorists the lynchpin of an explanation of how terrorist organizations shape the behavioral conditions of volunteers and suicide terrorists in a manner that triggers a type ofbehavior we might call terrorism.
When "the facts" become a text reinterpreting war with serbian war veterans
Authors: Schuchte Klaus
Published: January 2015

Rationalist theories of political violence proclaim rather than show what motivates war participation. This article tries to examine the limits of reconstructions of these motivations by analyzing interview material gathered from Serbian war veterans. Using "grounded theory" as a methodology, this research has revealed that the identification of motivations has to take into account social and historical contexts that play out as life-worlds and world-views. Real decision points are, however, hard to identify. Therefore, the article suggests a stronger focus on "carriers" (Tragerschichten) for the study of conflict dynamics.
Sichere ordnung, ordentliche sicherheit? gewalt und herrschaft in der frühen neuzeit
Authors: Pröve Ralf
Published: January 2015

Dieser Beitrag zielt darauf ab, verschiedene geschichtswissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf den wechselseitigen Zusammenhang von Herrschaft und Gewalt kritisch zu beleuchten. Dabei spielt die häufig unzureichende Differenzierung zwischen Quellenbegriff und Forschungsbegriff erkenntnistheoretisch eine wichtige Rolle. Mit „Ordnung" und „Sicherheit" sollen dann zwei akteurszentrierte Bezugssysteme herangezogen werden, um die historische Forschungsperspektive so erweitem zu konnen, dass mogliche Auswege aus dem hier behandelten erkenntnistheoretischen Dilemma aufgezeigt werden können.