bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prisons: Administration and Organization
Authors: Owen Stephen
Published: December 2015

Prisons are facilities designed for the long‐term incarceration of persons convicted of crime. This entry defines prisons and provides a brief discussion of their goals and classic theories of inmate life. However, the primary focus of the entry is on how prison systems are organized and administered in the United States. This includes a consideration of security levels and special types of housing unit, classification processes, women's prisons, and styles of correctional management and leadership. The role of the warden, politics, and prison design may all influence contemporary prison administration.
Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics in
B
elgium: An Overview
Authors: Pauwels Lieven , Hardyns Wim
Published: December 2015

Belgium is a small (with a surface area of 32,545 km
2
) but well‐situated country in the northwest of Europe. An overview is given of four important crime and criminal justice statistics in Belgium: police statistics, self‐report studies, victim surveys, and judicial statistics. While the overall picture of Belgian statistics on crime and punishment may be one dominated by methodological concerns regarding reliability and validity, since the 1990s much effort has been made.
Public Safety and Crime
Authors: McIntyre, R. N.
Published: December 2015

Public safety entails the government's ability to provide for the well‐being of citizens in response to violations of recognized norms and laws. Although it is correlated with various administrative laws, public safety is often recognized as referring to law enforcement and the response to crime. The pursuit of public safety has taken numerous forms and perspectives in response to internal and external factors. While originally instigated to maintain community order, public safety now pertains to our current global economy and the manifestation of global or transnational crimes.
Family Disorganization and Crime
Authors: Gillespie Lane Kirkland
Published: December 2015

The relationship between family dynamics and crime has been a central focus in the criminological tradition. Research exploring family disorganization and crime has examined the influence of family structure and family functioning on individual delinquent behavior, as well as the influence of family structure on crime at the community level. Studies on the topic of family disorganization and crime have been aimed at assessing the relationship between family structure, functioning, and crime, as well as explaining why and how family organization influences crime.
Consumer Fraud
Authors: Champion Christine J.
Published: December 2015

Consumer fraud is a category of crime that encompasses the intentional misrepresentation of goods or services to potential customers. This type of fraud is typically combatted on the state or national level through establishing consumer protection agencies and passing laws that regulate standards of trade. The methods for committing consumer fraud have become increasingly sophisticated and have a wider reach for targeting victims since the advent of the internet. Technological advances have also made the policing of consumer fraud into a more complex enterprise, in some ways contributing to the underreporting of this crime.
Prostitution
Authors: Lama Alexandria
Published: December 2015

Prostitution is one of the most controversial forms of legal and illegal employment. Prostitution has a long history across the world and is one of the oldest professions known to man. It has strong influences from slavery to modern‐day society that go beyond street‐level prostitution. It has developed into discreet indoor brothels, escort services, and call girls. With roughly two million women who work in prostitution, many face physical and sexual assault from customers and pimps, while those who work indoors with strict regulations feel a sense of security and satisfaction in their profession. The public opinion and policy implications vary across the world, from full legalization of prostitution to countries that want to abolish it and punish anyone who is involved in this form of work.
Personality and Crime
Authors: Brown Wyatt
Published: December 2015

This entry provides a brief overview of the linkages between personality and crime, with a specific focus on measurement issues in personality research. Attention is also given to criminological theories that incorporate personality into their framework.
Parricide
Authors: Heide Kathleen M.
Published: December 2015

This essay begins with the clarification of terms and parricide incidence data. Findings from analyses of thousands of parricide cases are synthesized in terms of the characteristics of juvenile and adult parricide offenders, victims, and incidents. A typology of four types of parricide offender is presented, which addresses the underlying dynamics that propel offspring to kill their parents.
Terrorism
Authors: Dugan Laura
Published: December 2015

Terrorism has become more salient in recent decades after the devastating attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. As a response to those attacks, the US federal government has concentrated resources to stop terrorism and organized a network of academic researchers to better understand it. One result of this effort is the development of the Global Terrorism Database, which is the most comprehensive open source chronicle of terrorist events over the past four decades. The dataset is the first to provide objective information allowing us to observe changes in trends, and the behavior of more than 2,000 terrorist organizations. From it, we know that terrorists most often rely on readily available weapons such as explosives or firearms, and that they most often direct their attacks toward convenient targets, such as private citizens. Despite the simplicity of their methods, terrorists do sometimes rely on sophisticated technology to coordinate attacks. Thus, it is critical that law enforcement also adopt more sophisticated approaches to process the massive amounts of information that are produced during a rapidly evolving situation or the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Further, in order to be effective in reducing terrorist risk, we must examine what has worked in the past. Thus far research has shown that using repressive strategies often increases terrorism, but new evidence suggests that improving the well‐being of the terrorists' constituency might lessen attacks.
Evidence‐Based Policing
Authors: Reitzel John David
Published: December 2015

Evidence‐based policing (EBP) is a rising strategy in law enforcement and crime prevention that brings together police practitioners and academic research. The framework for EBP was laid out in the late 1990s by Lawrence Sherman, and since that time, there have been numerous developments that have advanced EBP, including the creation of the Evidence‐Based Policing Matrix. At its core, EBP is a strategy predicated on the police of the best available science on what works in responding to crime while also engaging in critical self‐evaluation by evaluating their responses through the measurement of both output and outcomes.
Family Court
Authors: Babb Barbara A.
Published: December 2015

A family court is a tribunal that hears and resolves family law matters within justice systems in each state in the United States and the District of Columbia. The family court can be structured as a completely separate court or as a distinct division or department of a state court of general jurisdiction. The ideal model is the unified family court, organized around the concepts of therapeutic jurisprudence and the ecology of human development. The aim of a unified family court is to produce a resolution encompassing all legal issues and addressing the individual family's legal, personal, emotional, and social needs. The unified family court also aims to resolve underlying nonlegal issues, such as domestic violence and substance abuse, that are exacerbating the legal issues. Given the significant volume and complexity of family law cases across the United States, it is critical for states to overhaul outdated and ineffective, inefficient family courts.
Juries
Authors: Williams Marian R.
Published: December 2015

Juries perform an important role in the criminal justice system. They are responsible for assessing the facts of a case and determining whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty of a crime. Juries have a long history and the right to a trial by jury is enshrined within the US Constitution, even though most defendants plead guilty and avoid a jury trial. Jury trials today are not without controversy, with race, gender, and other factors playing a role in jury selection and deliberations.
Robbery
Authors: Schwartz Jennifer , Reyes Heather
Published: December 2015

Robbery
is defined as the threat or use of force in attempts to obtain another's belongings. Robbery is predominantly urban and often committed by young, African American males. Motives include the thrill and excitement, procurement of drugs or money for drugs, to settle a debt or as retribution, or to maintain a reputation as tough. Explanations for robbery occur at the individual and structural levels. Most research at the individual level concerns motives and enactment, whereas research focusing on the structural conditions that support robbery consider historical residential racial segregation, concentrated poverty of minority populations, and cultural adaptations to such social conditions.
Numerical fitting‐based likelihood calculation to speed up the particle filter
Authors: Li Tiancheng , Sun Shudong , Corchado Juan M. , Sattar Tariq P. , Si Shubin
Published: December 2015

The likelihood calculation of a vast number of particles forms the computational bottleneck for the particle filter in applications where the observation model is complicated, especially when map or image processing is involved. In this paper, a numerical fitting approach is proposed to speed up the particle filter in which the likelihood of particles is analytically inferred/fitted, explicitly or implicitly, based on that of a small number of so‐called fulcrums. It is demonstrated to be of fairly good estimation accuracy when an appropriate fitting function and properly distributed fulcrums are used. The construction of the fitting function and fulcrums are addressed respectively in detail. To avoid intractable multivariate fitting in multi‐dimensional models, a nonparametric kernel density estimator such as the nearest neighbor smoother or the uniform kernel average smoother can be employed for implicit likelihood fitting. Simulations based on a benchmark one‐dimensional model and multi‐dimensional mobile robot localization are provided. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution‐Processable Ultrathin Black Phosphorus as an Effective Electron Transport Layer in Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Lin Shenghuang , Liu Shenghua , Yang Zhibin , Li Yanyong , Ng Tsz Wai , Xu Zaiquan , Bao Qiaoliang , Hao Jianhua , Lee Chun‐Sing , Surya Charles , Yan Feng , Lau Shu Ping
Published: December 2015

2D van der Waals crystals, possessing excellent electronic and physical properties, have been intriguing building blocks for organic optoelectronic devices. Most of the 2D materials are served as hole transport layers in organic devices. Here,it is reported that solution exfoliated few layers black phosphorus (BP) can be served as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) for the first time. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of the BP‐incorporated OPVs can be improved to 8.18% in average with the relative enhancement of 11%. The incorporation of BP flakes with the optimum thickness of ≈10 nm can form cascaded band structure in OPVs, which can facilitate electron transport and enhance the PCEs of the devices. This study opens an avenue in using solution exfoliated BP as a highly efficient ETL for organic optoelectronics.
Giving Direction to Motion and Surface with Ultra‐Fast Speed Using Oriented Hydrogel Fibers
Authors: Liu Li , Jiang Shaohua , Sun Yue , Agarwal Seema
Published: December 2015

Thermoresponsive hydrogel fibrous membranes showing directionally controlled movements and surface change with ultra‐fast speed are presented for the first time. They show reversible coiling, rolling, bending, and twisting deformations in different controllable directions for many cycles (at least 50 cycles tried) with inside‐out change in surfaces and shapes. Speed, reversibility, large‐scale deformations and, most importantly, control over the direction of deformation is required in order to make synthetic actuators inspired from natural materials or otherwise. A polymeric synthetic material combining all these properties is still awaited. This issue is addressed and provide a very simple system fulfilling all these requirements by combining porosity and asymmetric swelling/shrinking via orientation of hydrogel fibers at different angles in a fibrous membrane. Electrospinning is used as a tool for making membranes with fibers oriented at different angles.
A New Design Paradigm for Smart Windows: Photocurable Polymers for Quasi‐Solid Photoelectrochromic Devices with Excellent Long‐Term Stability under Real Outdoor Operating Conditions
Authors: Bella Federico , Leftheriotis George , Griffini Gianmarco , Syrrokostas George , Turri Stefano , Grätzel Michael , Gerbaldi Claudio
Published: December 2015

A new photoelectrochromic device (PECD) is presented in this work proposing the combination of a WO3‐based electrochromic device (ECD) and a polymer‐based dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC). In the newly designed architecture, a photocurable polymeric membrane is employed as quasi‐solid electrolyte for both the ECD and the DSSC. In addition, a photocurable fluoropolymeric system is incorporated as solution‐processable external protective thin coating film with easy‐cleaning and UV‐shielding functionalities. Such new polymer‐based device assembly is characterized by excellent device operation with improved photocoloration efficiency and switching ability compared with analogous PECDs based on standard liquid electrolyte systems. In addition, long‐term (>2100 h) stability tests under continuous exposure to real outdoor conditions reveal the remarkable performance stability of this new quasi‐solid PECD system, attributed to the protective action of the photocurable fluorinated coating that effectively prevents photochemical and physical degradation of the PECD components during operation. This first example of quasi‐solid PECD systems paves the way for a new generation of thermally, electrochemically, and photochemically stable polymer‐based PECDs, and provides for the first time a clear demonstration of their true potential as readily upscalable smart window components for energy‐saving buildings.
Energy Level Bending in Ultrathin Polymer Layers Obtained through Langmuir–Shäfer Deposition
Authors: Bao Qinye , Fabiano Simone , Andersson Mattias , Braun Slawomir , Sun Zhengyi , Crispin Xavier , Berggren Magnus , Liu Xianjie , Fahlman Mats
Published: December 2015

The semiconductor–electrode interface impacts the function and the performance of (opto)electronic devices. For printed organic electronics the electrode surface is not atomically clean leading to weakly interacting interfaces. As a result, solution‐processed organic ultrathin films on electrodes typically form islands due to dewetting. It has therefore been utterly difficult to achieve homogenous ultrathin conjugated polymer films. This has made the investigation of the correct energetics of the conjugated polymer–electrode interface impossible. Also, this has hampered the development of devices including ultrathin conjugated polymer layers. Here, Langmuir–Shäfer‐manufactured homogenous mono‐ and multilayers of semiconducting polymers on metal electrodes are reported and the energy level bending using photoelectron spectroscopy is tracked. The amorphous films display an abrupt energy level bending that does not extend beyond the first monolayer. These findings provide new insights of the energetics of the polymer–electrode interface and opens up for new high‐performing devices based on ultrathin semiconducting polymers.
A mutation in COL4A2 causes autosomal dominant porencephaly with cataracts
Authors: Ha Thuong T. , Sadleir Lynette G. , Mandelstam Simone A. , Paterson Sarah J. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Gecz Jozef , Corbett Mark A.
Published: December 2015

Mutations in COL4A1 are well described and result in brain abnormalities manifesting with severe neurological deficits including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and focal epilepsy. Families with mutations in COL4A2 are now emerging with a similar phenotype. We describe a family with an autosomal dominant disorder comprising porencephaly, focal epilepsy, and lens opacities, which was negative for mutations in COL4A1. Using whole exome sequencing of three affected individuals from three generations, we identified a rare variant in COL4A2. This COL4A2 (c.2399G>A, p.G800E, CCDS41907.1) variant was predicted to be damaging by multiple bioinformatics tools and affects an invariable glycine residue that is essential for the formation of collagen IV heterotrimers. The cataracts identified in this family expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with mutations in COL4A2 and highlight the increasing overlap with phenotypes associated with COL4A1 mutations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Template‐Free Synthesis of a Molecular Solomon Link by Two‐Component Self‐Assembly
Authors: Song Young Ho , Singh Nem , Jung Jaehoon , Kim Hyunuk , Kim Eun‐Hee , Cheong Hae‐Kap , Kim Yousoo , Chi Ki‐Whan
Published: December 2015

A molecular Solomon link was synthesized in high yield through the template‐free, coordination‐driven self‐assembly of a carbazole‐functionalized donor and a tetracene‐based dinuclear ruthenium(II) acceptor. The doubly interlocked topology was realized by a strategically chosen ligand which was capable of participating in multiple CH⋅⋅⋅π and π–π interactions, as evidenced from single‐crystal X‐ray analysis and computational studies. This method is the first example of a two‐component self‐assembly of a molecular Solomon link using a directional bonding approach. The donor alone was not responsible for the construction of the Solomon link, and was confirmed by its noncatenane self‐assemblies obtained with other similar ruthenium(II) acceptors.
Single‐Atom Catalyst of Platinum Supported on Titanium Nitride for Selective Electrochemical Reactions
Authors: Yang Sungeun , Kim Jiwhan , Tak Young Joo , Soon Aloysius , Lee Hyunjoo
Published: December 2015

As a catalyst, single‐atom platinum may provide an ideal structure for platinum minimization. Herein, a single‐atom catalyst of platinum supported on titanium nitride nanoparticles were successfully prepared with the aid of chlorine ligands. Unlike platinum nanoparticles, the single‐atom active sites predominantly produced hydrogen peroxide in the electrochemical oxygen reduction with the highest mass activity reported so far. The electrocatalytic oxidation of small organic molecules, such as formic acid and methanol, also exhibited unique selectivity on the single‐atom platinum catalyst. A lack of platinum ensemble sites changed the reaction pathway for the oxygen‐reduction reaction toward a two‐electron pathway and formic acid oxidation toward direct dehydrogenation, and also induced no activity for the methanol oxidation. This work demonstrates that single‐atom platinum can be an efficient electrocatalyst with high mass activity and unique selectivity.
A Crystalline Copper(II) Coordination Polymer for the Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Generation of Hydrogen
Authors: Dong Xi‐Yan , Zhang Mei , Pei Ru‐Bo , Wang Qian , Wei Dong‐Hui , Zang Shuang‐Quan , Fan Yao‐Ting , Mak Thomas C. W.
Published: December 2015

A crystalline coordination polymer (CP) photocatalyst (Cu‐RSH) which combines redox‐active copper centers with photoactive rhodamine‐derived ligands remains stable in acid and basic solutions from pH 2 to 14, and efficiently catalyzes dihydrogen evolution at a maximum rate of 7.88 mmol g−1 h−1 in the absence of a mediator and a co‐catalyst. Cyclic voltammetry, control experiments, and DFT calculations established that copper nodes with open coordination sites and favorable redox potentials, aided by spatially ordered stacking of rhodamine‐based linkers, account for the high catalytic performance of Cu‐RSH. Emission quenching, time‐resolved fluorescence decay, and transient photocurrent experiments disclosed the charge separation and transfer process in the catalytic system. The present study demonstrates the potential of crystalline copper CPs for the practical utilization of light.
Temperature‐Induced Irreversible Phase Transition From Perovskite to Diamond But Pressure‐Driven Back‐Transition in an Ammonium Copper Formate
Authors: Shang Ran , Chen Sa , Wang Bing‐Wu , Wang Zhe‐Ming , Gao Song
Published: December 2015

The compound [CH3CH2NH3][Cu(HCOO)3] undergoes a phase transition at 357 K, from a perovskite to a diamond structure, by heating. The backward transition can be driven by pressure at room temperature but not cooling under ambient or lower pressure. The rearrangement of one long copper–formate bond, the switch of bridging‐chelating mode of the formate, the alternation of N−H⋅⋅⋅O H‐bonds, and the flipping of ethylammonium are involved in the transition. The strong N−H⋅⋅⋅O H‐bonding probably locks the metastable diamond phase. The two phases display magnetic and electric orderings of different characters.
Total Synthesis and Activity of the Metallo‐β‐lactamase Inhibitor Aspergillomarasmine A
Authors: Koteva Kalinka , King Andrew M. , Capretta Alfredo , Wright Gerard D.
Published: December 2015

Resistance to β‐lactam antibiotics is mediated primarily by enzymes that hydrolytically inactivate the drugs by one of two mechanisms: serine nucleophilic attack or metal‐dependent activation of a water molecule. Serine β‐lactamases are countered in the clinic by several codrugs that inhibit these enzymes, thereby rescuing antibiotic action. There are no equivalent inhibitors of metallo‐β‐lactamases in clinical use, but the fungal secondary metabolite aspergillomarasmine A has recently been identified as a potential candidate for such a codrug. Herein we report the synthesis of aspergillomarasmine A. The synthesis enabled confirmation of the stereochemical configuration of the compound and offers a route for the synthesis of derivatives in the future.
Degradable Molybdenum Oxide Nanosheets with Rapid Clearance and Efficient Tumor Homing Capabilities as a Therapeutic Nanoplatform
Authors: Song Guosheng , Hao Jiali , Liang Chao , Liu Teng , Gao Min , Cheng Liang , Hu Junqing , Liu Zhuang
Published: December 2015

Molybdenum oxide (MoOx) nanosheets with high near‐infrared (NIR) absorbance and pH‐dependent oxidative degradation properties were synthesized, functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), and then used as a degradable photothermal agent and drug carrier. The nanosheets, which are relatively stable under acidic pH, could be degraded at physiological pH. Therefore, MoOx‐PEG distributed in organs upon intravenous injection would be rapidly degraded and excreted without apparent in vivo toxicity. MoOx‐PEG shows efficient accumulation in tumors, the acidic pH of which then leads to longer tumor retention of those nanosheets. Along with the capability of acting as a photothermal agent for effective tumor ablation, MoOx‐PEG can load therapeutic molecules with high efficiencies. This concept of inorganic theranostic nanoagent should be relatively stable in tumors to allow imaging and treatment, while being readily degradable in normal organs to enable rapid excretion and avoid long‐term retention/toxicity.
Photochemical Regulation of Gene Expression Using Caged siRNAs with Single Terminal Vitamin E Modification
Authors: Ji Yuzhuo , Yang Jiali , Wu Li , Yu Lijia , Tang Xinjing
Published: December 2015

Caged siRNAs with a single photolabile linker and/or vitamin E (vitE) modification at the 5′ terminal were rationally designed and synthesized. These virtually inactive caged siRNAs were successfully used to photoregulate both firefly luciferase and GFP gene expression in cells with up to an 18.6‐fold enhancement of gene silencing activity, which represents one of the best reported photomodulation of gene silencing efficiencies to date. siRNA tracking and vitE competition experiments indicated that the inactivity of vitE‐modified siRNAs was not due to the bulky moiety of vitE; rather, the involvement of vitE‐binding proteins has a large contribution to caged siRNA inactivation by preventing the dissociation of siRNA/lipo complexes and/or siRNA release. Further patterning experiments revealed the ability to spatially regulate gene expression through simple light irradiation.
Self‐assembly of metal–organic framework thin films containing metalloporphyrin and their photocatalytic activity under visible light
Authors: Zhou Yuanrong , Yang Weijun , Qin Minggao , Zhao Haoliang
Published: December 2015

With [5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐carboxyphenyl)porphyrin]Mn(III) and sterically controlled 2,2¢‐dimethyl‐4,4¢‐pyridine as the main raw materials, metal–organic framework thin films containing metalloporphyrin (MnPor‐MOF) with catalytically active sites were built up on functionalized quartz glass surfaces using a layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly method. Retaining active catalytic sites and having a porous reticular structure, the MnPor‐MOF films possessed remarkable photocatalytic activity for oxidative degradation of methylene blue in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under visible‐light irradiation. Most meaningfully, the MnPor‐MOF films were highly stable and simply and conveniently reusable, and are thus a potentially new organic material for photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Northeast Asia's New ‘History Spiral’
Authors: King Amy , Taylor Brendan
Published: December 2015

The remembered history of the Second World War continues to infect contemporary relations between China and its Northeast Asian neighbours. This article argues that a ‘history spiral’ has taken hold in Northeast Asia as a result of the region's changing strategic order and domestic politics in China, Japan and South Korea. Using the case studies of the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands territorial dispute, the Dokdo/Takeshima territorial disputes, and Sino‐South Korean memorial diplomacy, we explore the interactive spiralling dynamics of Northeast Asia's history problems. We suggest that despite some recent signs of an improvement in Northeast Asian relations since late 2014, the ‘history spiral’ is likely to remain a fixture of Northeast Asia's international politics owing to the region's changing strategic order.
Image‐Based Analysis to Predict the Activity of Tariquidar Analogs as P‐Glycoprotein Inhibitors: The Importance of External Validation
Authors: Shayanfar Shadi , Shayanfar Ali , Ghandadi Morteza
Published: December 2015

Permeability glycoprotein (P‐gp) is involved in the pathology of various diseases including cancer and epilepsy, mainly through the translocation of some medicines across the cell membrane. Here, we employed image‐based quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models to predict the P‐gp inhibitory activity of some Tariquidar derivatives. The structures of 65 Tariquidar derivatives and their P‐gp inhibition activities were collected from the literature. For each compound, the pixels of bidimensional images and their principal components (PCs) were calculated using MATLAB software. Various statistical methods including principal component regression, artificial neural networks, and support vector machines were employed to investigate the correlation between the PCs and the activity of the compounds. The predictability of the models was investigated using external validation and applicability domain analysis. An artificial neural network‐based model demonstrated the best prediction results for the test set. Moreover, external validation analysis of the developed models supports the idea that R2 cannot assure the validity of QSAR models and another criterion, i.e., the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) parameter, should be involved to evaluate the validity of the QSAR models. The results of this study indicate that image analysis could be as suitable as descriptors calculated by commercial software to predict the activity of drug‐like molecules.
Inhibitory and Activating Effects of Some Flavonoid Derivatives on Human Pyruvate Kinase Isoenzyme M2
Authors: Adem Sevki , Aslan Abdulselam , Ahmed Ishtiaq , Krohn Karsten , Guler Caglar , Comaklı Veysel , Demirdag Ramazan , Kuzu Muslum
Published: December 2015

Pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2 (PKM2) is expressed excessively in many different cancer types and it plays an important role in the control of glucose metabolism. Thus, it is evaluated as an important target in the development of medication for cancer. The flavonoids comprise a large group of natural products with variable phenolic structures and occur mainly in plants. They are of great interest due to their biological properties. In this study, the effects of various flavonoid derivatives on the PKM2 enzyme activity were analyzed in vitro. The flavonoid derivatives 1 and 2 showed inhibition effect with IC50 values of <60 μM. IC50 values of compounds 3–8 were calculated as 134, 415, 145, 163, 295 μM, and 3.5 mM, respectively. The molecules 9–12 showed an activation effect with values of AC50 of less than 90 μM. The IC50 values of the derivatives 13–17 were calculated as 115, 150, 200, 221, and 275 μM, respectively. The results show that catechin derivatives can be probably used as lead compounds for the design of PKM2 enzyme activators and inhibitors.
Lanthanide Luminescence Improvement by Using a Functional Poly(Ionic Liquid) as Matrix and Co‐ligand
Authors: Li Zhiqiang , Wang Jin , Chen Meng , Wang Yige
Published: December 2015

A poly(ionic liquid) (BA‐PIL) carrying a benzoic acid group in each repeating unit of the polymer architecture, which has the dual function of acting as a matrix and second ligand, has been developed. Through the incorporation of BA‐PIL with the complex [Ln(hfa)3] (hfa=hexafluoroacetylacetone) as an emitting precursor, significant luminescence improvement was achieved in the obtained hybrid materials. Confinement of the lanthanide(III) complexes within the rigid chains of the polymer, together with replacement of the coordinated water molecules, are believed to be ascribed to the enhanced optical properties.
Differences in and correlations between cognitive abilities and brain volumes in healthy control, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease groups
Authors: Chung Soon‐Cheol , Choi Mi‐Hyun , Kim Hyung‐Sik , Lee Jung‐Chul , Park Sung‐Jun , Jeong Ul‐Ho , Baek Ji‐Hye , Gim Seon‐Young , Choi Young Chil , Lee Beob‐Yi , Lim Dae‐Woon , Kim Boseong
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in and correlations between cognitive abilities and brain volumes in healthy control (HC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) groups. The Korean Version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD‐K), which is used to diagnose AD, was used to measure the cognitive abilities of the study subjects, and the volumes of typical brain components related to AD diagnosis—cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), gray matter (GM), and white matter (WM)—were acquired. Of the CERAD‐K subtests, the Boston Naming Test distinguished significantly among the HC, MCI, and AD groups. GM and WM volumes differed significantly among the three groups. There was a significant positive correlation between Boston Naming Test scores and GM and WM volumes. In conclusion, the Boston Naming Test and GM and WM brain volumes differentiated the three tested groups accurately, and there were strong correlations between Boston Naming Test scores and GM and WM volumes. These results will help to establish a test method that differentiates the three groups accurately and is economically feasible. Clin. Anat. 29:473–480, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluorescent Dansyl‐Guanosine Conjugates that Bind c‐MYC Promoter G‐Quadruplex and Downregulate c‐MYC Expression
Authors: Pavan Kumar Y. , Saha Puja , Saha Dhurjhoti , Bessi Irene , Schwalbe Harald , Chowdhury Shantanu , Dash Jyotirmayee
Published: December 2015

The four‐stranded G‐quadruplex present in the c‐MYC P1 promoter has been shown to play a pivotal role in the regulation of c‐MYC transcription. Small‐molecule compounds capable of inhibiting the c‐MYC promoter activity by stabilising the c‐MYC G‐quadruplex could potentially be used as anticancer agents. In this context, here we report the synthesis of dansyl‐guanosine conjugates through one‐pot modular click reactions. The dansyl‐guanosine conjugates can selectively detect c‐MYC G‐quadruplex over other biologically relevant quadruplexes and duplex DNA and can be useful as staining reagents for selective visualisation of c‐MYC G‐quadruplex over duplex DNA by gel electrophoresis. NMR spectroscopic titrations revealed the preferential binding sites of these dansyl ligands to the c‐MYC G‐quadruplex. A dual luciferase assay and qRT‐PCR revealed that a dansyl‐bisguanosine ligand represses the c‐MYC expression, possibly by stabilising the c‐MYC G‐quadruplex.
Two‐year clinical outcomes of the NOBORI biolimus‐eluting stents versus XIENCE/PROMUS everolimus‐eluting stents in small vessel disease
Authors: Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Kuramitsu Shoichi , Shinozaki Tomohiro , Hiromasa Takashi , Kobayashi Yohei , Morinaga Takashi , Yamaji Kyohei , Soga Yoshimitsu , Shirai Shinichi , Ando Kenji
Published: December 2015

Background

Biolimus‐eluting stents (BES) have similar efficacy and safety compared with cobalt chromium everolimus‐eluting stents (CoCr‐EES), whereas it is unclear whether the same applies to small vessel disease. We sought compare clinical outcomes between BES and CoCr‐EES in patients with small vessel disease.

Methods and results

A total of 1,132 patients treated only with BES (612 patients) or EES (520 patients) in small vessel disease (stent size 2.5‐mm) were retrospectively analyzed. We assessed the cumulative 2‐year incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), definite stent thrombosis (ST), and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD‐TLR). The cumulative 2‐year incidence of MACE was similar between the two groups (12.1% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.77). The cumulative incidence of cardiac death, CD‐TLR, and definite ST were also not significantly different between both groups (3.2% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.78; 8.3% vs. 8.4%, P = 1.00; 0.33% vs. 0.21%, P = 0.66, respectively). After multivariate adjusting, the adjusted risk of BES group relative to CoCr‐EES group for MACE was not significantly different (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.78, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 0.53–1.15, P = 0.20). Similarly, no significant difference in the adjusted risks for cardiac death and CD‐TLR were observed between the two groups (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.28–1.37, P = 0.24; HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.51–1.29, P = 0.38).

Conclusions

Two‐year clinical outcomes of BES are similar to those of CoCr‐EES in patients with small vessel disease. The use of BES is acceptable for small coronary artery disease. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Surgical cut‐down or percutaneous access—which is best for less vascular access complications in transfemoral TAVI?
Authors: Spitzer Stefan G. , Wilbring Manuel , Alexiou Konstantin , Stumpf Jürgen , Kappert Utz , Matschke Klaus
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Objective of the present study was to compare VARC‐2 access and bleeding complications of a complete percutaneous versus a surgical cut‐down approach for transfemoral TAVI “in a real world‐all comers” setting.

Background

The ideal approach for transfemoral TAVI is still part of a lively debate. Until today, for none of the available techniques superiority could be demonstrated. The present study adds a considerable number of patients to the available experience. Methods: The study included 334 consecutive patients, including 199 patients in the percutaneous and 135 patients in the cut‐down group. Mean patient's age was 81.4 ± 4.6. Calculated logistic EuroSCORE correlated an intermediate to high surgical risk (17.8% ± 12.3%). Primary study endpoints were vascular access site as well as bleeding complications according the actual VARC‐2 criteria.

Results

Mean procedure time was significantly shorter in the cut‐down group (69 ± 19 min vs. 91 ± 22 min; P < 0.01). Overall rate of VARC‐2 access complications were significantly more frequent in the percutaneous group (n = 41/199; 20.6% vs. n = 11/135; 8.1%; P = 0.04); the incidence of major complications did not differ significantly (P = 0.19). VARC‐2 bleeding complications were more frequent in the percutaneous group as well (18.1% vs. 4.4%; P = 0.029). Hospital stay differed not significantly (P = 0.214). Hospital mortality was 3.5% in the percutaneous group and 1.5% in the cut‐down group (P = n.s.).

Conclusion

Surgical cut‐down provided a convenient and controlled access, resulting in less access and bleeding complications. Nontheless, major access complication differed not significantly. Both approaches must be seen as complementary techniques. A portfolio containing both techniques is the exclusive way to provide a tailor‐made and patient‐orientated approach. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Temporal Trends in Strut‐Level Optical Coherence Tomography Evaluation of Coronary Stent Coverage
Authors: Lee Kwan S. , Lee Justin Z. , Hsu Chiu‐Hsieh , Husnain Muhammad , Riaz Haris , Riaz Irbaz Bin , Thai Hoang , Cassese Salvatore , Finn Aloke , Samady Habib , Byrne Robert A.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

We sought to pool data from all studies with reported strut‐level data in human subjects evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT) surveillance and to compare the aggregate data of stent strut coverage on a longitudinal temporal timeline from initial implantation for different coronary stent subtypes.

Background

Delayed strut coverage following drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation is an important contributor to late stent thrombosis (LST). OCT can detect stent strut coverage.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of published or presented studies reporting OCT stent strut coverage of bare‐metal stents (BMS) and DES in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to June 2014. Data from 3,515 patients with strut‐level data on 731,761 struts were analyzed.

Results

The temporal kinetics of strut coverage differed according to stent type. The rate of strut coverage, reflected by the calculated regression coefficient, was found to be the highest in BMS, followed by early generation zotarolimus‐eluting stent, everolimus‐eluting stent, newer‐generation zotarolimus‐eluting stent, paclitaxel‐eluting stent, and sirolimus‐eluting stent (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Aggregate rates of stent strut coverage assessed by OCT surveillance differed according to stent type. The clinical implications of these differences require further study but may underlie the differences in rates of stent thrombosis observed in clinical trials with different stent types. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Three Sesquiterpenoid Dimers from Chloranthus japonicus: Absolute Configuration of Chlorahololide A and Related Compounds
Authors: Shi Xin‐Wei , Lu Qiang‐Qiang , Pescitelli Gennaro , Ivšić Trpimir , Zhou Jun‐Hui , Gao Jin‐Ming
Published: December 2015

A novel sesquiterpenoid dimer, named multistalide C (1), together with two known congeners, shizukaols C (2) and D (3), was isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus japonicus Sieb. The structures of compounds 1, 2, 3 were elucidated by extensive HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 3 exhibited significant toxic effects on brine shrimp larvae (Artemia salina). The absolute configuration of 1 was established by CD/TDDFT calculations. The related compound chlorahololide A was also reinvestigated. The previous assignment of the absolute configuration of chlorahololide A and several related sesquiterpenoid dimers, based on an incorrect application of the exciton chirality method, is criticized. Chirality 28:158–163, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Albumin's Influence on Carprofen Enantiomers–Hymecromone Interaction
Authors: Tang Mingjie , Guo Yanjie , Gao Youshui , Tang Chao , Dang Xiaoqian , Zhou Zubin , Sun Yuqiang , Wang Kunzheng
Published: December 2015

Hymecromone is an important coumarin drug, and carprofen is one of the most important nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The present study aims to determine the influence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the carprofen–hymecromone interaction. The inhibition of carprofen enantiomers on the UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7‐catalyzed glucuronidation of hymecromone was investigated in the UGTs incubation system with and without BSA. The inhibition capability of increased by 20% (P < 0.001) of (R)‐carprofen after the addition of 0.5% BSA in the incubation mixture. In contrast, no significant difference was observed for the inhibition of (S)‐carprofen on UGT2B7 activity in the absence or presence of 0.5% BSA in the incubation system. The Lineweaver‐Burk plot showed that the intersection point was located in the vertical axis, indicating the competitive inhibition of (R)‐carprofen on UGT2B7 in the incubation system with BSA, which is consistent with the inhibition kinetic type of (R)‐carprofen on UGT2B7 in the incubation system without BSA. Furthermore, the second plot using the slopes from the Lineweaver‐Burk versus the concentrations of (R)‐carprofen showed that the fitting equation was y=39.997x+50. Using this equation, the inhibition kinetic parameter was calculated to be 1.3 μM. For (S)‐carprofen, the intersection point was located in the horizontal axis in the Lineweaver‐Burk plot for the incubation system with BSA, indicating the noncompetitive inhibition of (S)‐carprofen on the activity of UGT2B7. The fitting plot of the second plot was y=24.6x+180, and the inhibition kinetic parameter was 7.3 μM. In conclusion, the present study gives a short summary of BSA's influence on the carprofen enantiomers–hymecromone interaction, which will guide the clinical application of carprofen and hymecromone. Chirality 28:226–229, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nano assembly and encapsulation; a versatile platform for slowing the rotation of polyanionic Gd3+‐based MRI contrast agents
Authors: Farashishiko Annah , Chacón Kelly N. , Blackburn Ninian J. , Woods Mark
Published: December 2015

Encapsulating discrete Gd3+ chelates in nano‐assembled capsules (NACs) is a simple and effective method of preparing an MRI contrast agent capable of delivering a large payload of high relaxivity imaging agent. The preparation of contrast agent containing NACs had previously focussed on preparations incorporating GdDOTP5‐ into the internal aggregate. In this report we demonstrate that other Gd3+ chelates bearing overall charges as low as 2‐ can also be used to prepare NACs. This discovery opens up the possibility of using Gd3+ chelates that have inner‐sphere water molecules that could further increase the relaxivity enhancement associated with the long τR that arises from encapsulation. However, encapsulation of the q = 1 chelate GdDTPA2‐ did not give rise to a significant increase in relaxivity relative to encapsulation of the outer‐sphere chelate GdTTHA3‐. This leads us to the conclusion that in the NAC interior proton transport is not mediated by movement of whole water molecules and the enhanced relaxivity of Gd3+ chelate encapsulated within NACs arises primarily from second sphere effects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specific targeting and noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging of an asthma biomarker in the lung using polyethylene glycol functionalized magnetic nanocarriers
Authors: Al Faraj Achraf , Shaik Asma Sultana , Afzal Sibtain , Al‐Muhsen Saleh , Halwani Rabih
Published: December 2015

Simultaneous inhibition of IL4 and IL13 via the common receptor chain IL4Rα to block adequately their biologic effects presents a promising therapeutic approach to give the additional relief required for asthma patients. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were conjugated with anti‐IL4Rα blocking antibodies via polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers. The delivery of these blocking antibodies to the inflammatory sites in the lung via the developed nanocarriers was assessed using noninvasive free‐breathing pulmonary MRI. Biocompatibility assays confirmed the safety of the developed nanocarriers for pre‐clinical investigations. For all the investigated formulations, nanocarriers were found to be very stable at neutral pH. However, the stability noticeably decreased with the PEG length in acidic environment and thus the loaded antibodies were preferentially released. Immunofluorescence and fluorimetry assays confirmed the binding of the nanocarriers to the IL4Rα asthma biomarker. Pulmonary MRI performed using an ultra‐short echo time sequence allowed simultaneous noninvasive monitoring of inflammatory responses induced by ovalbumin challenge and tracking of the developed nanocarriers, which were found to colocalize with the inflammatory sites in the lung. Targeting of the developed nanocarriers to areas rich in IL4Rα positive inflammatory cells was confirmed using histological and flow cytometry analyses. The anti‐IL4Rα‐conjugated nanocarriers developed here have been confirmed to be efficient in targeting key inflammatory cells during chronic lung inflammation following intrapulmonary administration. Targeting efficiency was monitored using noninvasive MRI, allowing detection of the nanocarriers’ colocalizations with the inflammatory sites in the lung of ovalbumin‐challenged asthmatic mice. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of patient subgroups with markedly disparate rates of MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma: A report from the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group project
Authors: Thompson Daria , Vo Kieuhoa T. , London Wendy B. , Fischer Matthias , Ambros Peter F. , Nakagawara Akira , Brodeur Garrett M. , Matthay Katherine K. , DuBois Steven G.
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND

MYCN gene amplification (MNA) is a hallmark of aggressive neuroblastoma. This study was performed to determine univariate and multivariate predictors of tumor MNA.

METHODS

Data from the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group were analyzed for a subset of 7102 patients with known MYCN status. Chi‐square testing and logistic regression were used to identify univariate and multivariate predictors of MYCN status. Recursive partitioning was used to identify groups of patients with maximal differences in rates of MNA.

RESULTS

All clinical features (age ≥ 18 months, high ferritin levels, high lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels, International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage 4, and adrenal sites) and pathological/biological features (DNA index ≤ 1, high mitosis‐karyorrhexis index [MKI], undifferentiated/poorly differentiated grade, unfavorable histology according to the International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification, and segmental chromosomal aberrations [SCAs]) were significantly associated with MNA. LDH (odds ratio [OR], 8.4; P < .001) and chromosomal 1p loss of heterozygosity (OR, 19.8; P < .001) were the clinical and biological variables, respectively, most strongly associated with MNA. In logistic regression, all variables except chromosome 17q aberration and pooled SCAs were independently predictive of MNA. Recursive partitioning identified subgroups with disparate rates of MNA, including subgroups with 85.7% MNA (patients with high LDH levels who had poorly differentiated adrenal tumors with chromosome 1p deletion) and 0.6% MNA (localized tumors having hyperdiploidy and low MKIs and lacking chromosome 1p aberrations).

CONCLUSIONS

MNA is strongly associated with other clinical and biological variables in neuroblastoma. Recursive partitioning has identified subgroups of neuroblastoma patients with highly disparate rates of MNA. These findings can be used to inform investigations of molecular mechanisms of MNA. Cancer 2016;122:935–45. © 2015 American Cancer Society.