bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Abatement of Organic Pollutants in Continuous‐Reaction Systems through the Assembly of Microfluidic Cells in Series
Authors: Sabatino Simona , Galia Alessandro , Scialdone Onofrio
Published: October 2015

The electrochemical treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic pollutants was performed under a continuous mode by using, for the first time, various micro‐electrochemical cells in series. A synthetic solution of acid orange 7 (AO7), a largely used azoic dye, was chosen as model wastewater. Both the electro‐Fenton (EF) method with a cheap compact graphite cathode and electrochemical oxidation (EO) at a boron‐doped diamond (BDD) anode were used. EO gave higher abatement of total organic carbon (TOC), but drastically higher energetic consumptions than EF. It is worth mentioning that very different operating conditions were set for EF and EO to optimize their performances. The utilization of three cells in series, all working with EO, allowed an increase in the abatement, but gave rise to quite high energetic consumptions. Conversely, in the case of EF, the utilization of three reactors in series gave rise to a slight increase in the abatement of the TOC, because of the formation of products that are resistant to EF. The utilization of two reactors in series, devoted respectively to EF and EO, each working at optimized operating conditions, gave very good figures of merit in terms of the abatement of TOC and energetic consumption. In particular, high abatement of TOC coupled with drastically lower energetic consumptions than that achieved by the sole EO process were obtained. The effects of current density, flow rate, and initial concentration of AO7 on the process were investigated.
Combination of Optimization and Metalated‐Ligand Exchange: An Effective Approach to Functionalize UiO‐66(Zr) MOFs for CO2 Separation
Authors: Hu Zhigang , Faucher Samuel , Zhuo Yingying , Sun Yao , Wang Songnan , Zhao Dan
Published: October 2015

The strategy to functionalize water‐stable metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in order to improve their CO2 uptake capacities for efficient CO2 separation remains limited and challenging. We herein present an effective approach to functionalize a prominent water‐stable MOF, UiO‐66(Zr), by a combination of optimization and metalated‐ligand exchange. In particular, by systematic optimization, we have successfully obtained UiO‐66(Zr) of the highest BET surface area reported so far (1730 m2 g−1). Moreover, it shows a hybrid Type I/IV N2 isotherm at 77 K and a mesopore size of 3.9 nm for the first time. The UiO‐66 MOF underwent a metalated‐ligand‐exchange (MLE) process to yield a series of new UiO‐66‐type MOFs, among which UiO‐66‐(COONa)2‐EX and UiO‐66‐(COOLi)4‐EX MOFs have both enhanced CO2 working capacity and IAST CO2/N2 selectivity. Our approach has thus suggested an alternative design to achieve water‐stable MOFs with high crystallinity and gas uptake for efficient CO2 separation.
Enantioselective Guest Effect on the Spin State of a Chiral Coordination Framework
Authors: Gural'skiy Il'ya A. , Kucheriv Olesia I. , Shylin Sergii I. , Ksenofontov Vadim , Polunin Ruslan A. , Fritsky Igor O.
Published: October 2015

The diversity of spin crossover (SCO) complexes that, on the one hand, display variable temperature, abruptness and hysteresis of the spin transition, and on the other hand, are spin‐sensitive to the various guest molecules, makes these materials unique for the detection of different organic and inorganic compounds. We have developed a homochiral SCO coordination polymer with a spin transition sensitive to the inclusion of the guest 2‐butanol, and these solvates with (R)‐ and (S)‐alcohols demonstrate different SCO behaviours depending on the chirality of the organic analyte. A stereoselective response to the guest inclusion is detected as a shift in the temperature of the transition both from dia‐ to para‐ and from para‐ to diamagnetic states in heating and cooling modes respectively. Furthermore, the Mössbauer spectroscopy directly visualizes how the metallic centres in a chiral coordination framework differently sense the interaction with guests of different chiralities.
Theoretical and experimental investigations of dynamics of bubble growth and triple line
Authors: Vafaei Saeid
Published: October 2015

The dynamics of triple line and bubble growth were investigated inside water, gold, silver, and alumina nanofluids. The presence of nanoparticles was found to modify the behaviour of the triple line, depending on nanoparticle materials. Two analytical expressions were developed, one for the contact angle of bubbles and another for the contact angle of droplets, using force balance in the horizontal direction. It was mathematically proven that these analytical expressions are the exact analytical solutions of the Young‐Laplace equation. These analytical expressions prove that the Young equation cannot be an accurate force balance at the triple line for axisymmetric bubbles and droplets. The analytical expressions predict the contact angle of bubbles and droplets and prove theoretically that the contact angles of axisymmetric bubbles and droplets depend on volume or size, which agreed with existing experimental data. The predictions of the analytical expressions were compared with experimental data, and close agreements were observed. To reduce uncertainty and error, these two analytical expressions can be used instead of the Young equation, particularly in CFD calculations, to predict the behaviour of triple line or fluid flow in the vicinity of substrate for droplets and bubbles.
Breast conservation versus mastectomy for patients with T3 primary tumors (>5 cm): A review of 5685 medicare patients
Authors: Bleicher Richard J. , Ruth Karen , Sigurdson Elin R. , Daly John M. , Boraas Marcia , Anderson Penny R. , Egleston Brian L.
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

Although breast conservation therapy (BCT) is standard for breast cancer treatment, patients with tumors measuring >5 cm have been excluded from clinical trials. Nevertheless, only a few small retrospective series to date have compared BCT with mastectomy for tumors measuring >5 cm. The current study was performed to determine whether survival is equivalent for BCT versus mastectomy using a large national data set.

METHODS

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare‐linked cases were identified for patients aged ≥66 years undergoing breast conservation for invasive, noninflammatory, nonmetastatic breast cancer between 1992 and 2009. Propensity score‐based adjustment was used to account for demographics and tumor and treatment factors.

RESULTS

A total of 5685 patients with tumors measuring >5.0 cm underwent breast surgery, with 15.6% receiving BCT. Mean ages of the patients and tumor sizes were similar. Predictors of BCT included neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy use, higher income, breast cancer as a first malignancy, and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. Predictors of mastectomy included younger age, nonductal histology, higher grade, numbers of lymph nodes examined and found to be positive, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III disease, postoperative chemotherapy use, and residential region of the country. Adjusted overall and breast cancer‐specific survival were not different between patients treated with BCT and mastectomy (hazard ratio, 0.934; 95% confidence interval, 0.791‐1.103 [P = .419] for overall survival; and subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.042; 95% confidence interval, 0.793‐1.369 [P = .769] for breast cancer‐specific survival), with each improving over time. The median follow‐up was 7.0 years.

CONCLUSIONS

For Medicare patients with tumors measuring >5 cm, survival is similar between those treated with BCT and mastectomy as for patients with smaller primary tumors. Despite exclusion from randomized trials, BCT may remain an option for patients with larger tumors when deemed clinically and cosmetically amenable to surgical resection. Cancer 2016;122:42–49. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Pharmacoepidemiologic Methods for Studying the Health Effects of Drug–Drug Interactions
Authors: Hennessy S , Leonard CE , Gagne JJ , Flory JH , Han X , Brensinger CM , Bilker WB
Published: October 2015

A drug‐drug interaction (DDI) occurs when one or more drugs affect the pharmacokinetics (the body's effect on the drug) and/or pharmacodynamics (the drug's effect on the body) of one or more other drugs. Pharmacoepidemiologic studies are the principal way of studying the health effects of potential DDIs. This article discusses aspects of pharmacoepidemiologic research designs that are particularly salient to the design and interpretation of pharmacoepidemiologic studies of DDIs.
Why therapeutic drug monitoring is needed for monoclonal antibodies and how do we implement this?
Authors: Mould DR
Published: October 2015

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have improved clinical outcomes for many therapeutic indications. However, extensive between‐subject variability (BSV) contributes to therapeutic failures through suboptimal exposure. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is routinely implemented for inflammatory diseases; improving outcomes and reducing treatment costs. BSV can be more extensive with anticancer mAbs. Clearance BSV is associated with patient factors and disease burden, suggesting that TDM could benefit anticancer mAbs, as was seen with inflammatory disease, however, there are many hurdles.
A spatially explicit capture–recapture estimator for single‐catch traps
Authors: Distiller Greg , Borchers David L.
Published: October 2015

Single‐catch traps are frequently used in live‐trapping studies of small mammals. Thus far, a likelihood for single‐catch traps has proven elusive and usually the likelihood for multicatch traps is used for spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) analyses of such data. Previous work found the multicatch likelihood to provide a robust estimator of average density. We build on a recently developed continuous‐time model for SECR to derive a likelihood for single‐catch traps. We use this to develop an estimator based on observed capture times and compare its performance by simulation to that of the multicatch estimator for various scenarios with nonconstant density surfaces. While the multicatch estimator is found to be a surprisingly robust estimator of average density, its performance deteriorates with high trap saturation and increasing density gradients. Moreover, it is found to be a poor estimator of the height of the detection function. By contrast, the single‐catch estimators of density, distribution, and detection function parameters are found to be unbiased or nearly unbiased in all scenarios considered. This gain comes at the cost of higher variance. If there is no interest in interpreting the detection function parameters themselves, and if density is expected to be fairly constant over the survey region, then the multicatch estimator performs well with single‐catch traps. However if accurate estimation of the detection function is of interest, or if density is expected to vary substantially in space, then there is merit in using the single‐catch estimator when trap saturation is above about 60%. The estimator's performance is improved if care is taken to place traps so as to span the range of variables that affect animal distribution. As a single‐catch likelihood with unknown capture times remains intractable for now, researchers using single‐catch traps should aim to incorporate timing devices with their traps.
Plasma markers of oxidative stress are uncorrelated in a wild mammal
Authors: Christensen Louise L. , Selman Colin , Blount Jonathan D. , Pilkington Jill G. , Watt Kathryn A. , Pemberton Josephine M. , Reid Jane M. , Nussey Daniel H.
Published: October 2015

Oxidative stress, which results from an imbalance between the production of potentially damaging reactive oxygen species versus antioxidant defenses and repair mechanisms, has been proposed as an important mediator of life‐history trade‐offs. A plethora of biomarkers associated with oxidative stress exist, but few ecological studies have examined the relationships among different markers in organisms experiencing natural conditions or tested whether those relationships are stable across different environments and demographic groups. It is therefore not clear to what extent studies of different markers can be compared, or whether studies that focus on a single marker can draw general conclusions regarding oxidative stress. We measured widely used markers of oxidative damage (protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde) and antioxidant defense (superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) from 706 plasma samples collected over a 4‐year period in a wild population of Soay sheep on St Kilda. We quantified the correlation structure among these four markers across the entire sample set and also within separate years, age groups (lambs and adults), and sexes. We found some moderately strong correlations between some pairs of markers when data from all 4 years were pooled. However, these correlations were caused by considerable among‐year variation in mean marker values; correlation coefficients were small and not significantly different from zero after accounting for among‐year variation. Furthermore, within each year, age, and sex subgroup, the pairwise correlation coefficients among the four markers were weak, nonsignificant, and distributed around zero. In addition, principal component analysis confirmed that the four markers represented four independent axes of variation. Our results suggest that plasma markers of oxidative stress may vary dramatically among years, presumably due to environmental conditions, and that this variation can induce population‐level correlations among markers even in the absence of any correlations within contemporaneous subgroups. The absence of any consistent correlations within years or demographic subgroups implies that care must be taken when generalizing from observed relationships with oxidative stress markers, as each marker may reflect different and potentially uncoupled biochemical processes.
Wave: a distributed scheduling algorithm for convergecast in IEEE 802.15.4e TSCH networks
Authors: Soua Ridha , Minet Pascale , Livolant Erwan
Published: October 2015

The IEEE 802.15.4e MAC amendment has been proposed to meet the requirements of industrial applications. Using slotted medium access with channel hopping, the MAC layer orchestrates the medium accesses of nodes according to a given schedule. Nevertheless, this amendment does not specify how this schedule is computed. The purpose of this paper is to propose a distributed joint time slot and channel assignment, called Wave, for data gathering in low‐power lossy networks. This schedule targets minimised data convergecast delays by reducing the total number of slots in the schedule. Moreover, Wave ensures the absence of conflicting transmissions in the schedule provided. In such a schedule, a node is awake only during its transmission slots and those of its children in the convergecast routing graph. Thus, energy efficiency is ensured. In this paper, we present Wave with its properties (e.g. support of heterogeneous traffic, support of a sink equipped with multiple interfaces, worst case delays and buffer size) and compare it with a centralised scheduling algorithm like TMCP and a distributed one like DeTAS. Simulation results show the good performance of Wave compared with TMCP. Because in an industrial environment, several routing graphs can coexist, we study how Wave supports this coexistence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retracted: Early hominin biogeography in Island Southeast Asia
Authors: Larick Roy , Ciochon Russell L.
Published: October 2015

The above article from Evolutionary Anthropology, published on 19 October 2015 in Wiley OnlineLibrary (www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com), and in Volume 24, Number 5, pp. 185‐213, has been retracted by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The retraction has been made due to the inclusion without explicit permission of unpublished third‐party research data disclosed to the authors in personal correspondence. The Editor notes that the journal has since clarified its policy on citing unpublished research findings, and in particular those disclosed in personal correspondence, to avoid future instances of this nature.

REFERENCE

Larick, R. and
Ciochon, R. L. (2015), . Anthropol., 24: 185–213. doi:10.1002/evan.21460
Implications for practice: Resurgence and differential reinforcement of alternative responding
Authors: Bloom Sarah E. , Lambert Joseph M.
Published: October 2015

During the maintenance stages of differential reinforcement of alternative responding (DRA), failure to reinforce alternative responses could result in a resurgence of problem behavior. However, translational work done with arbitrary human responses suggests that teaching individuals to emit multiple alternative responses in sequential order may facilitate the resurgence of appropriate, rather than problem, behavior. This paper discusses the practical implications of serial DRA training on problem and appropriate behavior resurgence, as presented in the preceding article, “Serial Alternative Response Training As Intervention for Target Response Resurgence.” Clinical scenarios as well as implications for self‐advocacy and acceptability of behavioral interventions are considered.
Nanoscale surface modification by anodic oxidation increased bone ingrowth and reduced fibrous tissue in the porous coating of titanium–alloy femoral hip arthroplasty implants
Authors: Hall Deborah J. , Urban Robert M. , Pourzal Robin , Turner Thomas M. , Skipor Anastasia K. , Jacobs Joshua J.
Published: October 2015

Hip arthroplasty femoral stems coated with Ti6Al4V beads were treated by anodic oxidation in H3PO4 for enhanced bioactivity and were studied in a 6‐month canine model to determine the effects of the treated surface on the ingrowth of bone and soft tissues. The area fractions of bone, marrow, and fibrous tissue in the porous coating of seven treated and seven untreated control implants were determined using histomorphological techniques. The area fraction of bone within the porous coating was greater for anodic oxide treated (23.6 ± 8.3%) compared to control implants (l2.7 ± 4.7%) (p = 0.013), and there was less fibrous tissue in the treated implants (18.0 ± 9.5%) compared to the controls (33.1 ± 7.9%) (p = 0.006). XPS, XRD, TEM, and SEM analyses of the treated implants revealed a 400 nm‐thick titanium oxide layer of low crystallinity with an undulating surface, populated with more than 25 nm‐size pores per square micrometer. There was no detectable increase in serum titanium or in generation of particulates locally compared to the control implants. Micro and nanoscale surface modification by anodic oxidation increased bone ingrowth and reduced fibrous tissue, which may extend the longevity of fixation, limiting pathways for particle migration, and impeding the progression of osteolysis and aseptic loosening of arthroplasty components. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 283–290, 2017.
Analysis of Multiple Families With Single Individuals Affected by Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib (PHP1B) Reveals Only One Novel Maternally Inherited GNAS Deletion
Authors: Takatani Rieko , Molinaro Angelo , Grigelioniene Giedre , Tafaj Olta , Watanabe Tomoyuki , Reyes Monica , Sharma Amita , Singhal Vibha , Raymond F Lucy , Linglart Agnès , Jüppner Harald
Published: October 2015

Proximal tubular resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) resulting in hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia are preeminent abnormalities in pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B), but resistance toward other hormones as well as variable features of Albright's Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO) can occur also. Genomic DNA from PHP1B patients shows epigenetic changes at one or multiple differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within GNAS, the gene encoding Gαs and splice variants thereof. In the autosomal dominant disease variant, these methylation abnormalities are caused by deletions in STX16 or GNAS on the maternal allele. The molecular defect(s) leading to sporadic PHP1B (sporPHP1B) remains in most cases unknown and we therefore analyzed 60 sporPHP1B patients and available family members by microsatellite markers, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and methylation-specific MLPA (MS-MLPA). All investigated cases revealed broad GNAS methylation changes, but no evidence for inheritance of two paternal chromosome 20q alleles. Some patients with partial epigenetic modifications in DNA from peripheral blood cells showed more complete GNAS methylation changes when testing their immortalized lymphoblastoid cells. Analysis of siblings and children of sporPHP1B patients provided no evidence for an abnormal mineral ion regulation and no changes in GNAS methylation. Only one patient revealed, based on MLPA and microsatellite analyses, evidence for an allelic loss, which resulted in the discovery of two adjacent, maternally inherited deletions (37,597 and 1427 bp, respectively) that remove the area between GNAS antisense exons 3 and 5, including exon NESP. Our findings thus emphasize that the region comprising antisense exons 3 and 4 is required for establishing all maternal GNAS methylation imprints. The genetic defect(s) leading in sporPHP1B to epigenetic GNAS changes and thus PTH-resistance remains unknown, but it seems unlikely that this disease variant is caused by heterozygous inherited or de novo mutations involving GNAS. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Modulation of 17β‐Estradiol Signaling on Cellular Proliferation by Caveolin‐2
Authors: Totta Pierangela , Gionfra Fabio , Busonero Claudia , Acconcia Filippo
Published: October 2015

The sex hormone 17β‐estradiol (E2) exerts pleiotropic effects by binding to the ligand‐activated transcription factor estrogen receptor α (ERα). The E2:ERα complex regulates several physiological processes, including cell survival and proliferation, through transcriptional effects (i.e., estrogen responsive element [ERE]‐based gene transcription) and non‐transcriptional membrane‐initiated effects (i.e., the activation of extra‐nuclear signaling cascades), which derive from the activation of the pool of ERα that is localized to plasma membrane caveolae. Caveolae are ω‐shaped membrane sub‐domains that are composed of scaffold proteins named caveolins (i.e., caveolin‐1, caveolin‐2, and caveolin‐3). Although caveolin‐3 is exclusively expressed in muscles, caveolin‐1 and caveolin‐2 are co‐expressed in all human tissues. From a functional point of view, caveolin‐2 can operate both dependently on and independently of caveolin‐1, which is the main coat component of caveolae. Interestingly, while a functional interplay between caveolin‐1 and ERα has been reported in the control of E2‐induced physiological effects, the role of caveolin‐2 in E2:ERα signaling within the cell remains poorly understood. This study shows that siRNA‐mediated caveolin‐2 depletion in breast ductal carcinoma cells (MCF‐7) reduces E2‐induced ERα phosphorylation at serine residue 118 (S118), controls intracellular receptor levels, precludes ERα‐mediated extra‐nuclear activation of signaling pathways, reduces ERα transcriptional activity, and prevents cellular proliferation. Meanwhile, the impact of caveolin‐1 depletion on ERα signaling in MCF‐7 cells is shown to be similar to that elicited by siRNA‐mediated caveolin‐2 depletion. Altogether, these data demonstrate that caveolin‐2 expression is necessary for the control of E2‐dependent cellular proliferation. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1219–1225, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Digestive enzymatic activity during ontogenetic development in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Guerrera Maria Cristina , De Pasquale Francesca , Muglia Ugo , Caruso Gabriella
Published: October 2015

Despite the growing importance of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an experimental model in biomedical research, some aspect of physiological and related morphological age dependent changes in digestive system during larval development are still unknown. In this paper, a biochemical and morphological study of the digestive tract of zebrafish was undertaken to record the functional changes occurring in this species during its ontogenetic development, particularly from 24 hr to 47 days post fertilization (dpf). Endo‐ and exo‐proteases, as well as α‐amylase enzymes, were quantified in zebrafish larvae before first feeding (7 dpf). The most morphologically significant events during the ontogenesis of the gut occurred between 3 dpf (mouth opening) and 7 dpf (end of exocrine pancreas differentiation). The presence of a wide range of digestive enzymes, already active at earlier zebrafish larval stages, closely related with the omnivorous diet of this species. Increasing enzyme activities were found with increasing age, probably in relation with intestinal mucosa folding and consequent absorption surface increase. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 699–706, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Initial validation of equilibrium contrast imaging for extracellular volume quantification using a three‐dimensional engineered tissue model
Authors: Bandula Steve , Magdeldin Tarig , Stevens Nicola , Yeung Jason , Moon James C. , Taylor Stuart A. , Cheema Umber , Punwani Shonit
Published: October 2015

Background

To test the principles underpinning equilibrium contrast imaging estimation of tissue extracellular volume (ECV) fraction, using a three‐dimensional (3D) engineered tissue model with known cellular and extracellular volumes.

Methods

Six 3D tissue models (tumoroids) consisting of cell cultures within a collagen containing hydrogel were constructed after culture centrifugation and direct measurement of the cell component volume. Measured tumoroid ECV ranged from 0.89 to 1. ECV was calculated after measuring the T1 relaxation time at 3 Tesla using inversion recovery relaxometry (TI 100–1500 ms) within the tumoroids and surrounding medium before and 375 min after spiking the medium with Gadolinium (to achieve a concentration of 1.4 mM/L). Linear regression model prediction of directly measured ECV (ECVm) by EQ‐MRI measured ECV (ECVeq); and Bland‐Altman agreement between measures was assessed.

Results

The fractional cellular volume measured by EQ‐MRI (ECVeq) within the tumoroids ranged from 0.821 to 0.963. ECVeq was a good predictor of ECVm (R2 = 0.77, P = 0.02). The regression line Y‐axis intercept (when X = 0) was 0.045 ± 0.019 with a slope of 1.28 ± 0.35. Bland‐Altman comparison demonstrated 95% limits of agreement between ‐0.002 and 0.114 with a bias (SD) of 0.056 (0.03).

Conclusion

This study supports the principles of ECV estimation using equilibrium contrast MRI, but future development of this model may allow validation over a wider, more physiological ECV range and a greater understanding of the effect of tissue extracellular protein burden on ECV. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:1224–1229.
Age‐related changes in aortic 3D blood flow velocities and wall shear stress: Implications for the identification of altered hemodynamics in patients with aortic valve disease
Authors: van Ooij Pim , Garcia Julio , Potters Wouter V. , Malaisrie S. Chris , Collins Jeremy D. , Carr James C. , Markl Michael , Barker Alex J.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To investigate age‐related changes in peak systolic aortic 3D velocity and wall shear stress (WSS) in healthy controls and to investigate the importance of age‐matching for 3D mapping of abnormal aortic hemodynamics in bicuspid aortic valve disease (BAV).

Materials and Methods

4D flow MRI (fields strengths = 1.5–3T; resolution = 2.2–3.9 × 1.7–2.6 × 2.2–4.0 mm3; Venc = 150–250 cm/s; TE/TR/FA = 2.3–2.8/4.7–5.4msec/7–15°) was performed in 56 controls (age range: 19–78 years) and in two BAV patient groups each consisting of 10 subjects (group 1: 20–29 years, group 2: 52–57 years). Heat maps showing abnormal 3D velocity and WSS were created for the BAV patients by comparison with an age‐matched and with an unmatched control group. The fraction of the aorta exposed to abnormal velocity/WSS was calculated relative to the total aortic volume/surface.

Results

Significant inverse relationships between age and healthy velocity/WSS were found (R2 = 0.32/0.39, P < 0.001). For BAV group 1, abnormally elevated velocity/WSS was overestimated when compared with older controls (51–60 years) than when correctly age‐matched (∼25 ± 14% vs. ∼8 ± 5%). For BAV group 2, abnormally decreased velocity/WSS was overestimated when compared with younger controls (21–30 years) than when correctly age‐matched (∼9 ± 7% vs. 1 ± 1%).

Conclusion

Significant correlations exist between age and peak systolic velocity and WSS. Therefore, robust age‐matching is important when creating abnormal 3D aortic velocity and WSS maps for patients with BAV. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:1239–1249.
An evaluation of persistent meteorological drought using a homogeneous Island of Ireland precipitation network
Authors: Wilby R. L. , Noone S. , Murphy C. , Matthews T. , Harrigan S. , Broderick C.
Published: October 2015

This paper investigates the spatial and temporal properties of persistent meteorological droughts using the homogeneous Island of Ireland Precipitation (IIP) network. Relative to a 1961–1990 baseline period it is shown that the longest observed run of below average precipitation since the 1850s lasted up to 5 years (10 half‐year seasons) at sites in southeast and east Ireland, or 3 years across the network as a whole. Dry spell and wet spell length distributions were represented by a first‐order Markov model which yields realistic runs of below average rainfall for individual sites and IIP series. This model shows that there is relatively high likelihood (p = 0.125) of a 5‐year dry spell at Dublin, and that near unbroken dry runs of 10 years or more are conceivable. We suggest that the IIP network and attendant rainfall deficit modelling provide credible data for stress testing water supply and drought plans under extreme conditions.
Temporal dynamics and spatial patterns of drought and the relation to ENSO: a case study in Northwest China
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , Menzel Lucas , Dong Chunyu , Fang Ruihong
Published: October 2015

An investigation of temporal dynamics and spatial patterns of dryness/wetness conditions over the eastern part of Northwest China (including Shaanxi, Ningxia, the eastern part of Gansu, and a part of southern Inner Mongolia) during the period 1960–2009 is presented. The analysis of this study is threefold. First, the dryness/wetness conditions over the study area were characterized using the self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). The spatiotemporal variability of dryness/wetness conditions in the study area was then investigated by the rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) and Mann–Kendall trend test. Third, we examined the periodical oscillations of dryness/wetness conditions and the multi‐scale relationships between dryness/wetness conditions and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The results indicate that most parts of the study area were characterized by a dry trend in both the rainy season (May–September) and winter. Four sub‐regions of dryness/wetness conditions across the study area were identified. Based on the wavelet analysis, the periodical features in the PDSI time series for each sub‐region were explored. Negative relationships between the PDSI in the sub‐region I (representing the central and southern parts of Shaanxi and the southeastern Gansu) and the Niño 3.4 index can be consistently detected on 2–6 year scales during the entire period 1960–2009. This suggests that the strong El Niño events generally lead to very dry conditions in the sub‐region I on multi‐year scales. In addition, we further investigated how the ENSO cycle modulates the strength of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) in both developing and decaying phases of El Niño and La Niña events. The results of this study could be beneficial for efficient water resources management and drought assessment in the current study area and also provide a valuable reference for other areas with similar climatic characteristics.
Importance of Glu53 in the C‐terminal region of brazzein, a sweet‐tasting protein
Authors: Lim Jin‐Kyung , Jang Jin‐Chul , Kong Ji‐Na , Kim Myung‐Chul , Kong Kwang‐Hoon
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

The sweetness of brazzein, one of the known sweet proteins, is dependent on charges and/or structures of its specific amino acid side chains. As the residues in the C‐terminus of brazzein are known to play a critical role in sweetness, the currently unknown function of Glu53 requires further study.

RESULTS

To identify important residues responsible for the sweetness of the protein brazzein, four mutants of the Glu53 residue in the C‐terminal region of des‐pE1M‐brazzein, which lacks the N‐terminal pyroglutamate, were constructed using site‐directed mutagenesis. Mutations of Glu53 substitution to Ala or Asp significantly decreased the sweetness. On the other hand, a Lys mutation resulted in a molecule with sweetness similar to that of des‐pE1M‐brazzein. Mutation of Glu53 to Arg resulted in a molecule significantly sweeter than des‐pE1M‐brazzein, which agrees with previous findings showing that mutation with positively charged residues results in a sweeter protein.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the residue at position 53 is crucial for the sweetness of brazzein, which may be interacting with the sweet‐taste receptor. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular characterisation of a bio‐based active packaging containing Origanum vulgare L. essential oil using pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Llana‐Ruíz‐Cabello María , Pichardo Silvia , Jiménez‐Morillo Nicasio T , Bermúdez José M , Aucejo Susana , González‐Vila Francisco J , Cameán Ana M , González‐Pérez José A
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

Environmental, economic and safety challenges motivate shift towards safer materials for food packaging. New bioactive packaging techniques, i.e. addition of essential plant oils (EOs), are gaining attention by creating barriers to protect products from spoilage. Analytical pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py‐GC‐MS) was used to fingerprint a bioactive polylactic acid (PLA) with polybutylene succinate (PBS) (950 g kg−1:50 g kg−1) film extruded with variable quantities (0, 20, 50 and 100 g kg−1) of Origanum vulgare EO.

RESULTS

Main PLA:PBS pyrolysis products were lactide enantiomers and monomer units from the major PLA fraction and succinic acid anhydride from the PBS fraction. Oregano EO pyrolysis released cymene, terpinene and thymol/carvacrol peaks as diagnostic peaks for EO. In fact, linear correlation coefficients better than 0.950R2 value (P < 0.001) were found between the chromatographic area of the diagnostic peaks and the amount of oregano EO in the bioplastic.

CONCLUSION

The pyrolytic behaviour of a bio‐based active package polymer including EO is studied in detail. Identified diagnostic compounds provide a tool to monitor the quantity of EO incorporated into the PLA:PBS polymeric matrix. Analytical pyrolysis is proposed as a rapid technique for the identification and quantification of additives within bio‐based plastic matrices. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Improved accuracy and precision of tracer kinetic parameters by joint fitting to variable flip angle and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI data
Authors: Dickie Ben R. , Banerji Anita , Kershaw Lucy E. , McPartlin Andrew , Choudhury Ananya , West Catharine M. , Rose Chris J.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To improve the accuracy and precision of tracer kinetic model parameter estimates for use in dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI studies of solid tumors.

Theory

Quantitative DCE‐MRI requires an estimate of precontrast T1, which is obtained prior to fitting a tracer kinetic model. As T1 mapping and tracer kinetic signal models are both a function of precontrast T1 it was hypothesized that its joint estimation would improve the accuracy and precision of both precontrast T1 and tracer kinetic model parameters.

Methods

Accuracy and/or precision of two‐compartment exchange model (2CXM) parameters were evaluated for standard and joint fitting methods in well‐controlled synthetic data and for 36 bladder cancer patients. Methods were compared under a number of experimental conditions.

Results

In synthetic data, joint estimation led to statistically significant improvements in the accuracy of estimated parameters in 30 of 42 conditions (improvements between 1.8% and 49%). Reduced accuracy was observed in 7 of the remaining 12 conditions. Significant improvements in precision were observed in 35 of 42 conditions (between 4.7% and 50%). In clinical data, significant improvements in precision were observed in 18 of 21 conditions (between 4.6% and 38%).

Conclusion

Accuracy and precision of DCE‐MRI parameter estimates are improved when signal models are fit jointly rather than sequentially. Magn Reson Med 76:1270–1281, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk factors to develop autonomic dysreflexia during urodynamic examinations in patients with spinal cord injury
Authors: Vírseda‐Chamorro Miguel , Salinas‐Casado Jesus , Gutiérrez‐Martín Pablo , de la Marta‐García Manuel , López‐García‐Moreno Antonio , Esteban Fuertes Manuel
Published: October 2015

Aims

The risk factors for developing autonomic dysreflexia (AD) during urodynamic (UD) examination in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) above Th6 still remain unclear. The main goal of our study is to investigate the risk factors that could be associated with AD in these particular patients.

Design

Cross sectional survey.

Subject and methods

The study was carried out in 83 patients with SCI above Th6 who were submitted to our center for a UD examination. AD was defined as a rise in systolic blood pressure above 15 mm Hg with a pulse rate below 60 beats per minute.

Results

The prevalence rate of AD among our patients was 54%. Univariate analysis of our study showed the following risk factors: patient's age, SCI completeness, traumatic etiology, indwelling catheter, presence of chills or sweating, anticholinergic treatment, maximum detrusor voiding pressure, detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate, detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia, and bladder outlet obstruction. Using multivariate logistic regression, we found that there are only two independent risk factors: patient's age equal to or above 45 years of age (OR = 10.995) and maximum detrusor voiding pressure equal to or above 31 cm H2O (OR = 3.879).

Conclusions

According to our results, the patient's age and maximum detrusor voiding pressure should be considered at the time of performing a UD examination in order to prevent the sudden onset of AD in patients with SCI above Th6. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:171–175, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recycling of waste FRP and corn straw in wood plastic composite
Authors: Chen Juan , Teng Zhaoyang , Wu Jianjun
Published: October 2015

Waste fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) combined with corn straw fiber was recycled and incorporated in wood plastic composite (WPC). The synergistic enhancement effect of glass fiber and corn straw fiber was investigated. The results show that there was a good physical interlocking structure among glass fiber of waste FRP, corn straw fiber and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in WPC, which led to the enhancement of mechanical properties of WPC. With 30 phr (parts per hundreds of resin) waste FRP, the tensile strength and flexural strength of WPC were improved to 24 and 66 MPa, increased by 31% and 23% with respect to starting WPC. This study reveals that waste FRP and corn straw fiber can be good alternative for wood fiber in the production of WPC. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2140–2145, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of fiber chemical treatment of nonwoven coconut fiber/epoxy composites adhesion obtained by RTM process
Authors: de Carvalho Benini Kelly C.C. , Brocks Thatiane , Montoro Sérgio R. , Odila Hilário Cioffi Maria , Jacobus Cornelis Voorwald Herman
Published: October 2015

In this work untreated and alkali treated nonwoven coconut fiber mats/epoxy resin composites were manufactured using the resin transfer molding process. The alkaline solution removes some impurities present on fibers superficial layers and the effect regarding fiber/matrix adhesion were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultrasonic C‐scan, and quasi‐static flexural test. Results show a removing of some amorphous fibers constituents, mainly waxes, extractives, and hemicellulose, revealing the fiber roughness surface but no initial degradation temperature changing. Regarding the composites, a similar interfacial adhesion was observed in both one through the results of SEM, DMA and quasi‐static flexural tests. The conclusion is that chemical treatment conditions applied on the fiber surface was been suitable to improve fiber roughness but did not the adhesion between coconut fibers mat and epoxy resin. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2518–2527, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Validation of eight atmospheric reanalyses in the Antarctic Peninsula region
Authors: Nygård Tiina , Vihma Timo , Birnbaum Gerit , Hartmann Jörg , King John , Lachlan‐Cope Tom , Ladkin Russell , Lüpkes Christof , Weiss Alexandra
Published: October 2015

Eight atmospheric reanalyses were compared against observed vertical profiles of temperature, specific humidity and wind speed collected by two research aircraft in February–March 2010 in the Antarctic Peninsula region. These data offered a rare possibility to validate reanalyses against independent in situ data which have not been assimilated into the reanalyses. The reanalyses had generally too moist profiles with too low wind speeds, but otherwise the errors in the reanalyses had large spatial differences. On the eastern side of the peninsula, the near‐surface temperatures were largely overestimated. None of the reanalyses outperformed the others in all variables, at all altitudes and on both sides of the peninsula. Generally, NCEP‐CFSR and MERRA had the smallest errors in temperature profiles, JRA‐55 had marginally the most accurate specific humidity profiles and NCEP‐CFSR had the best wind profiles. The reanalyses were coherent, although biased, on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, but on the eastern side the spread was large. All the reanalyses underestimated the variability between the individual profiles of temperature and wind speed. The modern reanalyses with a sufficient spatial resolution and an adequate data assimilation method outperformed the others, especially on the eastern side.
Carbon and nitrogen discrimination factors of wolves and accuracy of diet inferences using stable isotope analysis
Authors: McLaren Ashley A. D. , Crawshaw Graham J. , Patterson Brent R.
Published: October 2015

Dietary inferences using stable isotope analysis rely on comparing stable carbon and nitrogen isotope content of consumer to prey tissues by modeling discrimination between these tissues. Diet–tissue discrimination factors applied in these models for wild populations must be obtained from controlled feeding studies where consumer diets are known. Species‐specific discrimination factors are lacking for wolves (Canis lupus), and most researchers assessing the diet of free‐ranging wolves have used discrimination factors derived from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) fed a commercial pellet diet. We calculated diet–tissue discrimination factors for various tissues from captive wolves fed a controlled diet of horse (Equus caballus) meat and also assessed the feasibility of seasonal delineation of diet through the partitioning of metabolically inactive tissues such as guard hairs and whiskers. Stable carbon isotopic discrimination in wolves was highest in whiskers (4.31‰), followed by guard hair (4.25‰), and lowest in serum (2.21‰) and red blood cells (2.16‰). Stable nitrogen isotopic discrimination was highest in serum (4.54‰), guard hair (3.09‰), and whiskers (3.05‰), and lowest in red blood cells (2.99‰). Using these values, we demonstrated the sensitivity of estimated wolf diet proportions to choice of discrimination factors. We also documented a decrease in growth rate of hair and whiskers from summer through autumn, which cautions estimating temporally explicit diet of mammals based on stable isotope analysis of discrete sections of hair and whiskers. We conclude that species‐specific discrimination estimates should be used in dietary assessments based on stable isotope analyses to limit inaccuracies in diet interpretation of wild populations. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Governing the Family
Authors: Parton Nigel
Published: October 2015

Drawing on original research this book provides a challenging and instructive analysis of the nature of the heated and often contradicting arguments of recent years about how to reform the child care system, and the emergence of a central concern with child protection.

It provides a unique insight into the political influences on the 1989 Children Act and the issues it attempted to address, the bargains that were struck in the process of it becoming law and the new balances it introduced between the role of the state, the responsibilities of parents and the rights of children.
The Establishment and Development of Neurosurgery Services in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Kaptigau W. Matui , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V. , Kevau Ikau , Watters David A.
Published: October 2015

Background

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a developing Pacific Nation of 7.3 million people. Although neurosurgery training was introduced to PNG in the year 2000, it was in 2003 that a neurosurgery service was established. Prior to this time, neurosurgery in PNG was performed by general surgeons, with some assistance from visiting Australian neurosurgeons. Neurosurgical training was introduced to PNG in 2000. The model involved a further 3 years of training for a surgeon who had already completed 4 years of general surgical training. We aim to review the output, outcomes and impact achieved by training the first national neurosurgeon.

Methods

The data on activity (output) and outcomes were collected prospectively from 2003–2012. Ongoing mentoring and continuing professional development were provided through annual neurosurgical visits from Australia. There were serious limitations in the provision of equipment, with a lack of computerized tomographic or MR imaging, and adjuvant oncological services.

Results

There were 1618 neurosurgery admissions, 1020 neurosurgical procedures with a 5.74 % overall mortality. Seventy percent of cases presented as emergencies. There were improved outcomes, particularly for head injuries, whilst hydrocephalus was managed with an acceptable morbidity and revision rate.

Conclusions

The training of a neurosurgeon resulted in PNG patients receiving a better range of surgical services, with a lower mortality. The outcomes able to be delivered were limited by late presentations of patients and lack of resources including imaging. These themes are familiar to all low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and this may serve as a model for other LMIC neurosurgical services to adopt as they consider whether to establish and develop neurosurgical and other sub‐specialist surgical services.