bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Standards Related to Interoperability in EHR & HS
Authors: Macedo Mário , Isaías Pedro
Published: May 2014

The standardization of clinical data represents a major step in the development of information and organizational knowledge of health services. The evolution of information systems from a model of different database owners to a different open software based model is a major challenge. For this reason it is essential to adopt models of metadata based on archetypes to improve the development of information systems and simultaneously integrate all applications. The adoption of clinical terminology that can translate existing knowledge and enhance its growth is a necessary goal. Accessibility, ubiquity, completeness, consistency and durability of the clinical data are essential objectives for efficiency and effectiveness gains in organizations. This chapter presents the concepts and technologies needed to implement a model of EHR (Electronic Health Record) based on a standard, open architecture. It also presents some concepts of decision support systems and business processes that can be integrated with the EHR.
A Formal Investigation of Semantic Interoperability of HCLS Systems
Authors: Sahay Ratnesh , Zimmermann Antoine , Fox Ronan , Polleres Axel , Hauswirth Manfred
Published: May 2014

Semantic interoperability facilitates Health Care and Life Sciences (HCLS) systems in connecting stakeholders at various levels as well as ensuring seamless use of healthcare resources. Their scope ranges from local to regional, national and cross-border. The use of semantics in delivering interoperable solution for HCLS systems is weakened by fact that an Ontology Based Information System (OBIS) has restrictions in modeling, aggregating, and interpreting global knowledge in conjunction with local information (e.g., policy, profiles). This chapter presents an example-scenario that shows such limitations and recognizes that enabling two key features, namely the type and scope of knowledge, within a knowledge base could enhance the overall effectiveness of an OBIS. This chapter provides the idea of separating knowledge bases in types with scope (e.g., global or local) of applicability. Then, it proposes two concrete solutions on this general notion. Finally, the chapter describes open research issues that may be of interest to knowledge system developers and broader research community.
Sensor Grid Enhancement with Data Management System for Ubiquitous Healthcare Computing
Authors: Preve Nikolaos
Published: May 2014

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) can be deployed to monitor the health of patients suffering from critical diseases. A wireless network consisting of biomedical sensors can also be implanted into the patient's body and can monitor the patients' conditions. These sensor devices, apart from having an enormous capability of collecting data from their physical surroundings, are also resource constraint in nature with a limited processing and communication ability. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate them with the Grid technology in order to process and store the collected data by the sensor nodes. This chapter proposes the SEnsor Grid Enhancement Data Management system, called SEGEDMA, ensuring the integration of different network technologies and the continuous data access to system users. The main contribution of this work is to achieve the interoperability of both technologies through a novel network architecture ensuring also the interoperability of Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and HL7 standards. According to the results SEGEDMA can be applied successfully in a decentralized healthcare environment.
Constructing racial hierarchies of skill – Experiencing affirmative action in a South African organisation: A qualitative review
Authors: Reuben Shanya , Bobat Shaida
Published: May 2014

Orientation: Apartheid in South Africa constructed racial, economic, social and political segregation, the consequences of which are still experienced today. Government has made concerted efforts to ‘deracialise’ South Africa, most notably through affirmative action (AA) measures.Research purpose: This study aimed to explore employees’ social constructions of AA in a South African organisation.Motivation for the study: Research in this field focuses mostly on attitudinal perspectives of AA with an emphasis on traditional approaches. Subjective, contextualised approaches to AA have received little attention. Thus, this study aimed to critically engage with the embodied nature of prejudice, particularly in reference to how we understand and experience AA.Research approach, design and method: This study aimed to explore AA from a social constructionist orientation, using semi-structured interviews. More specifically, this study used Potter and Wetherell’s discursive psychology.Main findings: The findings illustrate how participants engage in discursive devices that continue to rationalise a racial order of competence. Ultimately, AA is a controversial subject that traverses many segments of life for all South Africans.Practical/managerial implications: The findings contribute to the discipline of industrial psychology, particularly with regard to policies around preferential treatment, and can add value to the ways in which organisational policy documents are conceptualised. The findings also suggest the importance of developing an inclusive, non-discriminatory organisational culture.Contribution/value-add: This approach adds to the existing body of knowledge around the embodied nature of prejudice. The study’s methodology highlights the value of studying context in meaning-making and implied inferences that underlie talk.
Changing Lives, One Note at a Time: Library Internships for Undergraduate Students
Authors: Sestrick Timothy , Terjesen Lina
Published: May 2014

Library internships can be valuable learning opportunities for undergraduate students and excellent examples of the rich learning environment of college and university campuses. This article examines undergraduate academic library internships through the lens of an internship for music majors and discusses ways to create engaging, high-impact educational experiences that complement traditional academic settings and programs. Examples are taken from the internship programs in music, reference, and special collections and include former interns' reflections on the life-changing nature of their experiences.
Three-Dimensional (3-D) Scanning Within Academic Libraries: Exploring and Considering a New Public Service
Authors: Reuscher Jason A.
Published: May 2014

The article discusses the creation of a three-dimensional (3-D) scanning service within an academic library. Academic libraries generally offer two-dimensional (2-D) or flatbed scanning to their patrons—why not 3-D scanning? Inspired by the routine use of the former, the author investigates the reasoning for offering as a service the latter, defining what it is from a library and information science perspective, how it complements the digital repository and digital scholarship projects being supported within academic libraries, and why libraries should consider it as a public service independently from 3-D printing. A technical description of the scanning equipment and an informal, qualitative account are given from experience using a NextEngine 3-D scanner within an academic library, highlighting some of the challenges and opportunities that such a technology might present.
Bacterial actin MreB forms antiparallel double filaments
Authors: van den Ent Fusinita , Izoré Thierry , Bharat Tanmay AM , Johnson Christopher M , Löwe Jan
Published: May 2014

Filaments of all actin-like proteins known to date are assembled from pairs of protofilaments that are arranged in a parallel fashion, generating polarity. In this study, we show that the prokaryotic actin homologue MreB forms pairs of protofilaments that adopt an antiparallel arrangement in vitro and in vivo. We provide an atomic view of antiparallel protofilaments of Caulobacter MreB as apparent from crystal structures. We show that a protofilament doublet is essential for MreB's function in cell shape maintenance and demonstrate by in vivo site-specific cross-linking the antiparallel orientation of MreB protofilaments in E. coli. 3D cryo-EM shows that pairs of protofilaments of Caulobacter MreB tightly bind to membranes. Crystal structures of different nucleotide and polymerisation states of Caulobacter MreB reveal conserved conformational changes accompanying antiparallel filament formation. Finally, the antimicrobial agents A22/MP265 are shown to bind close to the bound nucleotide of MreB, presumably preventing nucleotide hydrolysis and destabilising double protofilaments.
Low‐cloud optical depth feedback in climate models
Authors: Gordon Neil D. , Klein Stephen A.
Published: April 2014

The relationship between low‐level cloud optical depth and atmospheric and surface air temperature is examined in the control climate of 13 climate models to determine if cloud optical depth‐temperature relationships found in observations are replicated in climate models and if climate model behavior found in control climate simulations provides information about the optical depth feedback in climate warming simulations forced by increasing carbon dioxide. A positive relationship between cloud optical depth and cloud temperature exists in all models for low clouds with relatively cold temperatures at middle and high latitudes, whereas a negative relationship exists for warmer low clouds in the tropics and subtropics. This relationship is qualitatively similar to that in an earlier analysis of satellite observations, although modeled regression slopes tend to be too positive and their intermodel spread is large. In the models, the cold cloud response comes from increases in cloud water content with increasing temperature, while the warm cloud response comes from decreases in physical thickness with increasing cloud temperature. The intermodel and interregional spread of low‐cloud optical depth feedback in climate warming simulations is well predicted by the corresponding spread in the relationships between optical depth and temperature for the current climate, suggesting that this aspect of cloud feedback may be constrained by observations. Because models have a positive bias relative to observations in the optical depth‐temperature relationship, shortwave cloud feedback for climate changes may be more positive than climate models currently simulate.
Temporal dynamics of oxygen isotope compositions of soil and canopy CO2 fluxes in a temperate deciduous forest
Authors: Santos E. , Wagner‐Riddle C. , Lee X. , Warland J. , Brown S. , Staebler R. , Bartlett P. , Kim K.
Published: April 2014

Partitioning of CO2 exchange into canopy (FA) and soil (FR) flux components is essential to improve our understanding of ecosystem processes. The stable isotope C18OO can be used for flux partitioning, but this approach depends on the magnitude and consistency of the isotope disequilibrium (Deq), i.e., the difference between the isotope compositions of FR (δA) and FA (δR). In this study, high temporal resolution isotopic data were used (1) to test the suitability of existing steady state and nonsteady models to estimate H218O enrichment in a mixed forest canopy, (2) to investigate the temporal dynamics of δA using a big‐leaf parameterization, and (3) to quantify the magnitude of the C18OO disequilibrium (Deq) in a temperate deciduous forest throughout the growing season and to determine the sensitivity of this variable to the CO2 hydration efficiency (θeq). A departure from steady state conditions was observed even at midday in this study, so the nonsteady state formulation provided better estimates of leaf water isotope composition. The dynamics of δR was mainly driven by changes in soil water isotope composition, caused by precipitation events. Large Deq values (up to 11‰) were predicted; however, the magnitude of the disequilibrium was variable throughout the season. The magnitude of Deq was also very sensitive to the hydration efficiencies in the canopy. For this temperate forest during most of the growing season, the magnitude of Deq was inversely proportional to θeq, due to the very negative δR signal, which is contrary to observations for other ecosystems investigated in previous studies.
Ecosystem CO2/H2O fluxes are explained by hydraulically limited gas exchange during tree mortality from spruce bark beetles
Authors: Frank John M. , Massman William J. , Ewers Brent E. , Huckaby Laurie S. , Negrón José F.
Published: May 2014

Disturbances are increasing globally due to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate. This study determines whether a disturbance that affects the physiology of individual trees can be used to predict the response of the ecosystem by weighing two competing hypothesis at annual time scales: (a) changes in ecosystem fluxes are proportional to observable patterns of mortality or (b) to explain ecosystem fluxes the physiology of dying trees must also be incorporated. We evaluate these hypotheses by analyzing 6 years of eddy covariance flux data collected throughout the progression of a spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) epidemic in a Wyoming Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii)–subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest and testing for changes in canopy conductance (gc), evapotranspiration (ET), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2. We predict from these hypotheses that (a) gc, ET, and NEE all diminish (decrease in absolute magnitude) as trees die or (b) that (1) gc and ET decline as trees are attacked (hydraulic failure from beetle‐associated blue‐stain fungi) and (2) NEE diminishes both as trees are attacked (restricted gas exchange) and when they die. Ecosystem fluxes declined as the outbreak progressed and the epidemic was best described as two phases: (I) hydraulic failure caused restricted gc, ET (28 ± 4% decline, Bayesian posterior mean ± standard deviation), and gas exchange (NEE diminished 13 ± 6%) and (II) trees died (NEE diminished 51 ± 3% with minimal further change in ET to 36 ± 4%). These results support hypothesis b and suggest that model predictions of ecosystem fluxes following massive disturbances must be modified to account for changes in tree physiological controls and not simply observed mortality.
The two types of El‐Niño and their impacts on the length of day
Authors: de Viron O. , Dickey J. O.
Published: April 2014

At the interannual to decadal time scale, the changes in the Earth rotation rate are linked with the El‐Niño–Southern Oscillation phenomena through changes in the atmospheric angular momentum. As climatic studies demonstrate that there were two types of El‐Niño events, namely, eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) events, we investigate how each of them affects the atmospheric angular momentum. We show in particular that EP events are associated with stronger variations of the atmospheric angular momentum and length of day. We explain this difference by the stronger pressure gradient over the major mountain ranges, due to a stronger and more efficiently localized pressure dipole over the Pacific Ocean in the case of EP events.
Intracellular Delivery of Peptide Nucleic Acid and Organic Molecules Using Zeolite‐L Nanocrystals
Authors: Bertucci Alessandro , Lülf Henning , Septiadi Dedy , Manicardi Alex , Corradini Roberto , De Cola Luisa
Published: May 2014

The design and synthesis of smart nanomaterials can provide interesting potential applications for biomedical purposes from bioimaging to drug delivery. Manufacturing multifunctional systems in a way to carry bioactive molecules, like peptide nucleic acids able to recognize specific targets in living cells, represents an achievement towards the development of highly selective tools for both diagnosis and therapeutics. This work describes a very first example of the use of zeolite nanocrystals as multifunctional nanocarriers to deliver simultaneously PNA and organic molecules into living cells. Zeolite‐L nanocrystals are functionalized by covalently attaching the PNA probes onto the surface, while the channel system is filled with fluorescent guest molecules. The cellular uptake of the PNA/Zeolite‐L hybrid material is then significantly increased by coating the whole system with a thin layer of biodegradable poly‐L‐lysine. The delivery of DAPI as a model drug molecule, inserted into the zeolite pores, is also demonstrated to occur in the cells, proving the multifunctional ability of the system. Using this zeolite nanosystem carrying PNA probes designed to target specific RNA sequences of interest in living cells could open new possibilities for theranostic and gene therapy applications.
Carboxylate‐Directed CH Functionalization
Authors: Shi Guangfa , Zhang Yanghui
Published: April 2014

As a widely existing functional group in organic molecules, the carboxyl group has numerous advantageous characteristics such as great convenience for further transformation, relatively low toxicity and cost, and weak coordination to transition metal catalysts, which render it an attractive directing group in transition metal‐catalyzed CH bond functionalization reactions. This review surveys transition metal‐catalyzed CH bond functionalization reactions directed by carboxylates, including carbon‐carbon, carbon‐oxygen, and other carbon‐heteroatom bond formation reactions. Reactions directed by the acidic N‐arylamides, which are derived from carboxylic acids and have a directing mode similar to that of carboxylates, are also presented here.

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Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed CarbonHydrogen Bond Functionalization for the Synthesis of Indoloquinazolinones
Authors: Tsukano Chihiro , Okuno Masataka , Nishiguchi Hiromi , Takemoto Yoshiji
Published: April 2014

The indoloquinazolinone ring system has attracted considerable attention as a pharmacophore, because it shows various biological activities. The reported synthetic methods for the compound are simple and direct, but are not effective for the direct synthesis of indoloquinazolinone with a methylene group at the C‐6 position. A palladium(0)‐catalyzed cyclization of chloroquinazolinone via CH functionalization was developed for a concise synthesis of indoloquinazolinone derivatives. The presence of a substituent at the C‐6 position is important for obtaining the product in good yield. The conformation of the reaction intermediate, in particular the NCPd bond angle, is important for the regioselectivity of the reaction.

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Tetra‐n‐butylammonium Bromide: A Simple but Efficient Organocatalyst for Alcohol Oxidation under Mild Conditions
Authors: Ma Xinyi , Li Zhongfeng , Liu Feijie , Cao Shengli , Rao Honghua
Published: April 2014

A simple but efficient organocatalytic system with 5 mol% tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB) as the catalyst has been identified for alcohol oxidation for the first time. This organocatalytic system is compatible with a broad range of benzylic/allylic alcohols with various catalytically reactive groups. Besides, it shows excellent selectivity for secondary benzylic alcohols over aliphatic alcohols, and good selectivity over the primary benzylic alcohol site in 4‐(1‐hydroxyethyl)benzyl alcohol. Thus, the features of simplicity, high efficiency, selectivity and mildness of reaction conditions associated with this TBAB organocatalytic system suggest its potential for widespread use in synthetic chemistry.

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Weakly Coordinating Directing Groups for Ruthenium(II)‐ Catalyzed CH Activation
Authors: De Sarkar Suman , Liu Weiping , Kozhushkov Sergei I. , Ackermann Lutz
Published: April 2014

Synthetically useful functional groups, including ketones, amides, carbamates, carboxylic acids, aldehydes or ethers, have been identified as weakly coordinating directing groups in efficient ruthenium(II)‐catalyzed CH functionalizations. This strategy set the stage for versatile CH bond olefinations, oxygenations, nitrogenations and oxidative alkyne annulations among others. Thereby, step‐economical access to diversely decorated arenes and heteroarenes was provided in a sustainable fashion.

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Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Alkynylation of N‐Vinylacetamides
Authors: Xu Yun‐He , Zhang Qiu‐Chi , He Tao , Meng Fei‐Fan , Loh Teck‐Peng
Published: April 2014

A direct ethynylation reaction between N‐vinylacetamides and (bromoethynyl)triisopropylsilane catalyzed by palladium is reported. A broad scope of cyclic N‐vinylacetamide derivatives was tolerated and the corresponding products could be obtained in acceptable yields. This work provides a general tool for the synthesis of conjugated enyne products using palladium(II) acetate as catalyst. The mild reaction conditions and reasonable results should make this method a useful synthetic protocol. Unfortunately, other bromo‐substituted alkynes are found to be unreactive and could not afford the desired products under the current reaction conditions.

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Interrelationships between anthropometric variables and overweight in childhood and adolescence
Authors: Brannsether Bente , Eide Geir Egil , Roelants Mathieu , Bjerknes Robert , Júlíusson Pétur Benedikt
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To answer the questions: how does body mass index (BMI) correlate to five overweight related anthropometric variables during different ages in childhood, and which anthropometric variables contribute most to variation in BMI during childhood?

Methods

Data on BMI, height (H), sitting height (SH), waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), waist to sitting height ratio (WSHtR), subscapular skinfold (SSF), and triceps skinfold (TSF), from 4,576 Norwegian children 4.00–15.99 years of age, were transformed to standard deviation scores (SDS) and studied using correlation and multiple regression analyses.

Results

The correlations between BMI SDS and the standardized anthropometric variables were in general strong and positive. For all variables, the correlations were weakest in the youngest age group and highest between 7 and 12 years. WC SDS and WHtR SDS were most strongly correlated with BMI SDS through all ages and in both sexes. A model with seven anthropometric variables adjusted for age and sex explained 81.4% of the variation in BMI SDS. When adjusted for all other variables, WC SDS contributed most to the variation in BMI SDS (b = 0.467, CI [0.372, 0.562]). Age group, but not sex, contributed significantly to variation in BMI SDS.

Conclusion

The interrelationships between BMI SDS and five standardized overweight related anthropometric variables were dependent on age, being weakest in the youngest age group. Independent of sex and age, WC SDS was in this study superior to other anthropometric variables in contributing to variation in BMI SDS during childhood. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:502–510, 2014. © 2014 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A morphological intermediate between eosimiiform and simiiform primates from the late middle Eocene of Tunisia: Macroevolutionary and paleobiogeographic implications of early anthropoids
Authors: Marivaux Laurent , Essid El Mabrouk , Marzougui Wissem , Khayati Ammar Hayet , Adnet Sylvain , Marandat Bernard , Merzeraud Gilles , Ramdarshan Anusha , Tabuce Rodolphe , Vianey‐Liaud Monique , Yans Johan
Published: April 2014

Although advanced anthropoid primates (i.e., Simiiformes) are recorded at the end of the Eocene in North Africa (Proteopithecidae, Parapithecidae, and Oligopithecidae), the origin and emergence of this group has so far remained undocumented. The question as to whether these primates are the result of a monophyletic radiation of endemic anthropoids in Africa, or several Asian clades colonizing Africa, is a current focus of paleoprimatology. In this article, we report the discovery of a new anthropoid from Djebel el Kébar in central Tunisia, dating from the late middle Eocene (Bartonian). This taxon, Amamria tunisiensis, new genus and species, currently known by only one isolated upper molar, is among the most ancient anthropoids to be recorded in Africa thus far. Amamria displays a suite of dental features that are primarily observed in Eosimiiformes (stem Anthropoidea). However, it is not allocated to any known family of that group (i.e., Asian Eosimiidae and Afro‐Asian Afrotarsiidae) inasmuch as it develops some dental traits that are unknown among eosimiiforms, but can be found in African simiiform anthropoids such as proteopithecids and oligopithecids. With such a mosaic of dental traits, Amamria appears to be a structural intermediate, and as such it could occupy a key position, close to the root of the African simiiforms. Given its antiquity and its apparent pivotal position, the possibility exists that Amamria could have evolved in Africa from Asian eosimiiform or Asian “proto”‐simiiform ancestors, which would have entered Africa sometime during the middle Eocene. Amamria could then represent one of the earliest offshoots of the African simiiform radiation. This view would then be rather in favor of the hypothesis of a monophyletic radiation of endemic simiiform anthropoids in Africa. Finally, these new data suggest that there must have been at least two Asian anthropoid colonizers of Africa: the afrotarsiids and the ancestor of Amamria. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:387–401, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effectiveness of an improved medical care system for children in a critical care medical center: is it possible to provide an equivalent level of trauma care for children as we do for adults?
Authors: Toida Chiaki , Muguruma Takashi , Matsuoka Tetsuya
Published: April 2014

Aim

In trauma care, most events that result in preventable trauma death tend to occur in the initial phase of treatment, and providing prompt and accurate care affects the outcomes of patients with severe trauma. Developing a system for administering prompt and accurate care and encouraging team coordination is essential for children as well as adults. However, differences in physical size and vital signs specific to children are potential obstacles to carrying out physical assessments, decision‐making, procedures, and treatments in pediatric patients. An improved medical care system for children was designed at the Osaka Prefectural Senshu Critical Care Medical Center. We evaluated the effectiveness of the new system.

Methods

We enrolled all patients with severe trauma admitted to our center. The therapeutic process and outcomes of trauma care before and after the establishment of the improved system was retrospectively compared.

Results

The results showed a significant decline in the time required to establish an i.v. line and perform tracheal intubation before computed tomography. There were also no statistically significant differences in the timing of craniotomy or trepanation, or the time required to carry out hemostatic procedures, between children and adults. Furthermore, no patients with a probability of survival over 0.5 died following the establishment of the new system.

Conclusion

Our newly improved medical care system facilitates treatment for children using standards equivalent to those used in adults in critical care centers, regardless of the physical size and vital signs of the patient.
A Designed Amide as an Aldol Donor in the Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction
Authors: Weidner Karin , Kumagai Naoya , Shibasaki Masakatsu
Published: April 2014

The direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction offers efficient access to β‐hydroxy carbonyl entities. Described is a robust direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of α‐sulfanyl 7‐azaindolinylamide, thus affording both aromatic and aliphatic β‐hydroxy amides with high ee values. The design of this transformation features a cooperative interplay of a soft and a hard Lewis acid, which together facilitate the challenging chemoselective enolization by a hard Brønsted base.
Magnetobiosensors Based on Viral Protein p19 for MicroRNA Determination in Cancer Cells and Tissues
Authors: Campuzano Susana , Torrente‐Rodríguez Rebeca M. , López‐Hernández Eva , Conzuelo Felipe , Granados Rosario , Sánchez‐Puelles José M. , Pingarrón José M.
Published: April 2014

MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as important clinical biomarkers with both diagnostic and prognostic value for relevant diseases, such as cancer. MiRs pose unique challenges for detection and are currently detected by northern blotting, real‐time PCR, and microarray techniques. These expensive, complicated, and time‐consuming techniques are not feasible for on‐site miR determination. In this study, amperometric magnetobiosensors involving RNA‐binding viral protein p19 as a selective biorecognition element were developed for miR quantification. The p19‐based magnetosensors were able to detect 0.4 fmol of a synthetic target and endogenous miR‐21 (selected as a model for its role in a wide variety of cancers) in only 2 h in total RNA extracted from cancer cells and human breast‐tumor specimens without PCR amplification and sample preprocessing. These results open up formidable perspectives for the diagnosis and prognosis of human cancers and for drug‐discovery programs.
Excited‐State Dynamics of Pentacene Derivatives with Stable Radical Substituents
Authors: Ito Akitaka , Shimizu Akihiro , Kishida Noriaki , Kawanaka Yusuke , Kosumi Daisuke , Hashimoto Hideki , Teki Yoshio
Published: April 2014

The excited‐state dynamics of pentacene derivatives with stable radical substituents were evaluated in detail through transient absorption measurements. The derivatives showed ultrafast formation of triplet excited state(s) in the pentacene moiety from a photoexcited singlet state through the contributions of enhanced intersystem crossing and singlet fission. Detailed kinetic analyses for the transient absorption data were conducted to quantify the excited‐state characteristics of the derivatives.
Significance of Branching for Transfection: Synthesis of Highly Branched Degradable Functional Poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) by Vinyl Oligomer Combination
Authors: Zhao Tianyu , Zhang Hong , Newland Ben , Aied Ahmed , Zhou Dezhong , Wang Wenxin
Published: April 2014

A series of degradable branched PDMAEMA copolymers were investigated with the linear PDMAEMA counterpart as gene‐delivery vectors. The branched PDMAEMA copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical cross‐linking copolymerization based on the “vinyl oligomer combination” approach. Efficient degradation properties were observed for all of the copolymers. The degree of branching was found to have a big impact on performance in transfection when tested on different cell types. The product with the highest degree of branching and highest degree of functionality had a superior transfection profile in terms of both transfection capability and the preservation of cell viability. These branched PDMAEMA copolymers show high potential for gene‐delivery applications through a combination of the simplicity of their synthesis, their low toxicity, and their high performance.
Wearable Solar Cells by Stacking Textile Electrodes
Authors: Pan Shaowu , Yang Zhibin , Chen Peining , Deng Jue , Li Houpu , Peng Huisheng
Published: April 2014

A new and general method to produce flexible, wearable dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSC) textiles by the stacking of two textile electrodes has been developed. A metal–textile electrode that was made from micrometer‐sized metal wires was used as a working electrode, while the textile counter electrode was woven from highly aligned carbon nanotube fibers with high mechanical strengths and electrical conductivities. The resulting DSC textile exhibited a high energy conversion efficiency that was well maintained under bending. Compared with the woven DSC textiles that are based on wire‐shaped devices, this stacked DSC textile unexpectedly exhibited a unique deformation from a rectangle to a parallelogram, which is highly desired in portable electronics. This lightweight and wearable stacked DSC textile is superior to conventional planar DSCs because the energy conversion efficiency of the stacked DSC textile was independent of the angle of incident light.
Drug release behavior of polyurethane/clay nanocomposite: Film vs. nanofibrous web
Authors: Saha Kasturi , Butola B. S. , Joshi Mangala
Published: May 2014

In the present study, polyurethane/clay nanocomposite films have been prepared by solvent casting method. Antiseptic drug chlorhexidine acetate was intercalated into montmorillonite clay and then incorporated into the polyurethane film. For comparison, the drug was also added directly into the polymeric dope used for film casting. In addition to that, nanofibrous web containing neat drug and drug loaded clay were fabricated using electrospinning technique. The emphasis of the study was on investigating the effect of drug intercalated into nanoclay vis‐à‐vis direct drug loading in the polymer on the drug release behaviour of polyurethane nanocomposite films as well as nanofibrous webs. The effect of morphology (film vs. nanofibrous web) on the drug release kinetics has also been discussed. It is observed that the nanoclay is acting as a sustained release carrier of drug, and nanofibrous web exhibits higher drug release rate as compared to the film. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2014,131, 40824.
Extraction of fibers from saccharum munja grass and its application in composites
Authors: Singh Girendra Pal , Madiwale Pallavi Vishwas , Jagtap Ramanand N , Adivarekar Ravindra V
Published: May 2014

With growing environmental awareness, ecological concerns and new legislations, natural fiber‐reinforced plastic composites have received increasing attention during the recent decades. The natural fiber composites have many advantages over traditional glass fiber composites, including lower cost, lighter weight, environmental friendliness, and recyclability. This article reports the findings of the studies done on a new fiber, hitherto unexplored, extracted from Saccharum munja grass. The extracted fibers were further treated using sodium hydroxide to improve its performance in composites. Both treated and untreated fiber‐reinforced composites were prepared by hand lay‐up process using unsaturated polyester resin. Mechanical properties and thermal behavior of the composites were evaluated. The improvement in properties was found for alkali‐treated fiber composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40829.
Surface imprinted core‐shell nanorod with ultrathin water‐compatible polymer brushes for specific recognition and adsorption of sulfamethazine in water medium
Authors: Dai Jiangdong , Zhou Zhiping , Zou Yongli , Wei Xiao , Dai Xiaohui , Li Chunxiang , Yan Yongsheng
Published: May 2014

A surface imprinted core‐shell nanorod with water‐compatible property was first prepared, using a two‐step “living” polymerization technique, with magnetic attapulgite (MATP) as core, and it was applicable in the enhanced selective removal of sulfamethazine residue from pure water environments. MATP was synthesized by an impregnation and pyrolysis method, and polymerable group was subsequently attached onto the surface. The imprinted polymer nanoshell (13 nm) with the “living” fragments was formed via a reverse atom transfer radical precipitation polymerization, avoiding the tedious graft of initiator and providing the easy‐accessible imprinted sites. Ultrathin hydrophilic polymer brushes (2.0 nm) were surface‐grafted to improve their water‐compatibility. The nanoadsorbent exhibited good thermal stability, magnetism, and hydrophilicity through characterization. The nanoadsorbent showed large adsorption capacity toward sulfamethazine from water, which increased with the increase of contact temperature. Langmuir isotherm fitted the equilibrium data better, and the kinetic data (within 45 min) were well‐analyzed by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. Also, the specific adsorption property of the nanoadsorbent was greatly improved through the surface‐grafting, which exhibited excellent selectivity to sulfamethazine compared with other reference antibiotics. Efficient magnetic separation and good reuse of the nanoadsorbent provided the potential possibility for selective recognition and fast removal of antibiotic pollutions from water environments. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40854.
Synthesis and spectroelectrochemical investigation of low‐bandgap polymer: Integrated quinoxaline and benzimidazole in one electron acceptor unit
Authors: Mahmut Mamtimin , Awut Tunsagul , Nurulla Ismayil , Mijit Maxhur
Published: April 2014

Two novel π‐conjugated monomers, 6‐(4‐octyloxyphenyl)‐4,8‐bis(thiophene‐2‐yl)‐3H‐[d] imidazole[1,2,5] benzothiadiazole (M3) and 4‐(4‐octyloxyphenyl)‐2,6‐bis(thiophene‐2‐yl)‐3H‐[d] imidazole‐acenaphtho[1,2‐b]quinoxaline (M4), were synthesized. The monomer M4 contains a thiophene electron‐donating unit and electron withdrawing unit in which quinoxaline and benzimidazole integrated in one benzene ring. Electrochemical polymerization of the monomers was carried out in acetonitrile/dichloromethane solvent mixture containing tetra‐n‐butylammonium hexafluorophosphate and electrochromic properties of polymers (P3 and P4) are described in this article. Furthermore, the effects of structural difference on electrochemical redox behavior and spectroelectrochemical properties of the two resulting polymers were examined. The results showed that an anodic wave at +0.48 V versus Ag wire pseudo‐reference electrode corresponding to the monomer M4 oxidation was observed, while one anodic wave at +0.70 V was observed in oxidation of M3 as it contains stronger electron withdrawing thiadiazole structure. The UV‐vis‐Near‐infrared (Near‐infrared spectroscopy) (NIR) spectra analysis revealed that the two polymers have one absorbance band centered at 603 nm. The band gaps, defined as the onset of the absorption band at 603 nm of these polymers, were determined as 1.60 eV for P3 and as 1.55 eV for P4. The electrochromic results showed that P3 revealed about 20% optical contrast at 980 nm and the P4 has 30% optical contrast at 806 nm with low response time (1 s for each polymer). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40861.
Flow injection analysis of thiamazole based on strong Ru(bpy)32+ co‐reactant electrochemiluminescence
Authors: Kong Dexian , Li Qinglu , Jiang Jiang , Xinyu Zheng , Xuechou Zhou , Chi Yuwu , Chen Guonan
Published: May 2014

Based on the strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) reaction between thiamazole and tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+), a sensitive, simple and rapid flow injection analysis method for the determination of thiamazole was developed. When a Pt working electrode was maintained at a potential of +1.50 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in pH 12.0 H3PO4–NaOH solution containing thiamazole and Ru(bpy)32+ at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, a linear range of 2.0 × 10−7–1.0 × 10−4 mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10−8 mol/L was obtained for the detection of thiamazole. The method showed good reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.75%. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of thiamazole in spiked animal feeds. In addition, a co‐reactant ECL mechanism was proposed for the thiamazole–Ru(bpy)32+ system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved protein deproteinization method for the determination of meloxicam in human plasma and application in pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Liew Kai Bin , Loh Gabriel Onn Kit , Tan Yvonne Tze Fung , Peh Kok Khiang
Published: May 2014

A simple, rapid, specific and reliable high‐performance liquid chromatographic assay of meloxicam in human plasma has been developed using a C18 reversed‐phase analytical column. Reversed‐phase chromatography was conducted using a mobile phase of 0.02 potassium dihydrogen phosphate (adjusted to pH 2.7 with phosphoric acid)–acetonitrile–triethylamine (35:65:0.05, v/v) with UV detection at 354 nm. The drug in human plasma was deproteinized using a combination of methanol and chloroform. This method is simple, rapid and consistent with a high recovery of meloxicam in human plasma ranging from 93.29 to 111.09%. Regression analysis for the calibration plot for plasma standards obtained for the drug concentrations between (25–4000) ng/mL indicated excellent linearity (r ≥ 0.9997). The proposed method was applied to study the bioequivalence between Mobic (original) and Melocam (generic) products. The study was conducted on using two tablets (4 × 7.5 mg) of each of the commercial product and the reference standard in a two‐way open randomized crossover design involving 20 volunteers. Area under the concentration–time curve, peak concentration (Cmax) and time to reach Cmax were 72,868.61 ng h/mL, 2133.93 ng/mL and 4.06 h for Mobic, and 78,352.52 ng h/mL, 2525.18 ng/mL and 3.61 h for Melocam. Two Cmax were discovered in the pharmacokinetic profiles which confirm enterohepatic recirculation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiation reduction in pediatric and adult congenital patients during cardiac catheterization
Authors: Mauriello Daniel A. , Fetterly Kenneth A. , Lennon Ryan J. , Reeder Guy S. , Taggart Nathaniel W. , Hagler Donald J. , Cetta Frank , Cabalka Allison K.
Published: April 2014

Objectives

Our objective was to determine if technical changes combined with radiation safety initiatives reduced the radiation dose delivered to patients during congenital catheterization.

Background

Use of ionizing radiation is necessary during cardiac catheterization. Minimizing radiation dose, while maintaining clinically useful image quality, is an important safety issue. In our congenital heart center intentional practice changes, including technical changes and provider awareness initiatives, were implemented to decrease radiation dose.

Methods

Data were retrospectively collected for all procedures involving children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing catheterization over 45 months. Cases were divided into three categories including: noninterventional (NI), simple intervention (SI), and complex intervention (CI). The change in dose was modeled as log of cumulative air kerma (Ka,r). The change in Ka,r was evaluated for each procedural category as well as changes occurring as a function of age and weight.

Results

Considering all procedures (n = 1,082), Ka,r decreased by 61%. In the NI group (n = 481), Ka,r decreased by 71%. In the SI group (n = 424), Ka,r decreased by 74%. The Ka,r for the 10–17 year old group (n = 125) and those ≥18 years (n = 709) decreased 74 and 67%, respectively. The Ka,r decreased 72 and 66% for those 20–60 kg and ≥60 kg, respectively. Groups not showing significant change in Ka,r included CI, age ≤9 years, and weight ≤20 kg.

Conclusions

Through technical changes and provider awareness initiatives, our institution dramatically reduced the radiation dose in the majority of pediatric and adult CHD patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effective Separation of Lithium Anode and Sulfur Cathode in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Vizintin Alen , Patel Manu U. M. , Genorio Bostjan , Dominko Robert
Published: April 2014

We demonstrate the importance of effective separation between the sulfur cathode and the lithium anode in Li–S batteries. Improved cycling stability is obtained by using fluoro‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a separator between the sulfur cathode and the lithium anode. The thickness of the hydrophobic interlayer is found to be 1–2 μm. The possible mechanism is checked with analytical techniques and suggests that improvement in the capacity stability can be attributed to the reduced reactivity of long‐chain polysulfides with the metallic lithium and to the homogenous distribution of end‐discharge products during cycling. The importance of the effective separation of lithium and sulfur is proven by using commercially available lithium conductive ceramics. Good cycling stability over 350 cycles with a coulombic efficiency above 99.95 % is achieved, which demonstrates the possibility of long cycle life with proper separation of lithium and sulfur cathode.
Electrochemically Generated Nanoparticles of Halogen‐Bridged Mixed‐Valence Binuclear Metal Complex Chains
Authors: Martínez‐Periñán Emiliano , Azani Mohammad‐Reza , Abad José M. , Mateo‐Martí Eva , Pariente Félix , Mas‐Ballesté Rubén , Zamora Félix , Lorenzo Encarnación
Published: April 2014

Spherical nanoparticles composed of MMX chains can be made by a polymerization strategy driven by electrochemical processes. In particular, the [Pt2(MeCS2)4I2] (MMI2) dimetal subunit is employed as a monomer for the formation of [Pt2(MeCS2)4I]n spherical nanostructures on surfaces. We have paid particular attention to elucidating the general mechanism of the deposition process on the basis of in situ electrochemical measurements. The reduction of MMI2 to give the electrodeposition of nanostructures agrees well with formation of the reduced [MMI2]− species followed by a disproportionation mechanism mediated by iodide anions. The chemical composition of the particles was determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to reveal the MMI2 polymer.
Electric Double‐Layer Capacitors Based on Highly Graphitized Nanoporous Carbons Derived from ZIF‐67
Authors: Torad Nagy L. , Salunkhe Rahul R. , Li Yunqi , Hamoudi Hicham , Imura Masataka , Sakka Yoshio , Hu Chi‐Chang , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: April 2014

Nanoporous carbons (NPCs) have large specific surface areas, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and both chemical and mechanical stability, which facilitate their use in energy storage device applications. In the present study, highly graphitized NPCs are synthesized by one‐step direct carbonization of cobalt‐containing zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67 (ZIF‐67). After chemical etching, the deposited Co content can be completely removed to prepare pure NPCs with high specific surface area, large pore volume, and intrinsic electrical conductivity (high content of sp2‐bonded carbons). A detailed electrochemical study is performed using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. Our NPC is very promising for efficient electrodes for high‐performance supercapacitor applications. A maximum specific capacitance of 238 F g−1 is observed at a scan rate of 20 mV s−1. This value is very high compared to previous works on carbon‐based electric double layer capacitors.
The Most Stable Isomers of Giant Fullerenes C102 and C104 Captured as Chlorides, C102(603)Cl18/20 and C104(234)Cl16/18/20/22
Authors: Yang Shangfeng , Wang Song , Troyanov Sergey I.
Published: April 2014

The chlorination of HPLC fractions with pristine giant fullerenes, C102 and C104, followed by X‐ray crystallographic study of chlorides, C102(603)Cl18/20 and C104(234)Cl16–22, confirmed the presence of the most stable IPR (IPR=Isolated Pentagon Rule) isomers, C102(603) and C104(234), in the fullerene soot. The discussion concerns the chlorination patterns of polychlorides and relative stability of pristine isomers of C102 and C104 fullerenes.
Deuterium and Hydrogen Tunneling in the Hydrogenation of 4‐Oxocyclohexa‐2,5‐dienylidene
Authors: Henkel Stefan , Ertelt Melanie , Sander Wolfram
Published: May 2014

4‐Oxocyclohexa‐2,5‐dienylidene is a highly reactive triplet ground state carbene that is hydrogenated in solid H2, HD, and D2 at temperatures as low as 3 K. The mechanism of the insertion of the carbene into dihydrogen was investigated by IR and EPR spectroscopy and by kinetic studies. H or D atoms were observed as products of the reaction with H2 and D2, respectively, whereas HD produces exclusively D atoms. The hydrogenation shows a very large kinetic isotope effect and remarkable isotope selectivity, as was expected for a tunneling reaction. The experiments, therefore, provide clear evidence for both hydrogen tunneling and the rare deuterium tunneling in an intermolecular reaction.