bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Pediatric Trauma and Its Patterns in Western Iran: A Hospital Based Experience
Authors: Jalalvandi Fereshteh , Arasteh Peyman , Safari Faramani Roya , Esmaeilivand Masoumeh
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Trauma is a major cause of mortality in children aged 1 to 14 years old and its patterns differs from country to country. In this study we investigated the epidemiology and distribution of non-intentional trauma in the pediatric population.

MATERIALS & METHODS: The archives of 304 children below 10 years old who presented to Taleghani trauma care center in Kermanshah, Iran from March to September 2008, were reviewed. Patients’ demographic and injury related information were registered. The participants were categorized into three age groups of 0-2, 3-6 and 7-10 years old and the data was compared among age groups and between both sexes.

FINDINGS: The most common cause for trauma was falling from heights (65.5%) and road traffic accidents (16.4%). The most common anatomical sites of injury were the upper limbs followed by the head and neck (36.8% and 31.2%, respectively). Injuries mostly occurred in homes (67.4%). The injuries were mostly related to the orthopedics and the neurosurgery division (84.1% and 13.1%, respectively). Accident rates peaked during the hours of 18-24 (41.3%). Male and female patients did display any difference regarding the variables.

Children between the ages of 0-2 years old had the highest rate of injury to the head and neck area (40.3%) (p=0.024). Falls and road traffic accidents displayed increasing rates from the ages of 0-2 to 3-6 and decreasing rates to the ages of 7-10 years old (p=0.013). From the ages of 0-2 to 3-6 years old, street accidents increased and household traumas decreased. After that age household trauma rates increased and street accidents decreased (p=0.005). Children between the ages of 7-10 years old had the highest rate of orthopedic injury (p=0.029).

CONCLUSION: Special planning and health policies are needed to prevent road accidents especially in children between the ages of 3-6 years old. Since homes were the place where children between the ages of 0-2 were mostly injured, parents should be educated about the correct safety measures that they need to take regarding their children's environments. The orthopedics department needs to receive the most training and resources for the management of pediatric trauma.
Pain Management Practices by Nurses: An Application of the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Model
Authors: Alzghoul Bashar I. , Abdullah Nor Azimah Chew
Published: October 2015

Pain is one of the most common reasons that drives people to go to hospitals. It has been found that several factors affect the practices of pain management. In this regard, this study aimed at investigating the underlying determinants in terms of pain management practices. Based on reviewing the previous studies and the suggestions of the KAP model, it was hypothesized that the main elements of the KAP model (attitudes and knowledge) significantly predict the variation in the practices of nurses regarding pain management. A questionnaire comprising the KAP model’ s constructs , i.e. knowledge and attitude towards pain management , as well as pain management practices, was used to collect data from 266 registered nurses ( n=266) who are deemed competent in the management of patients’ pain in the Jordanian public hospitals. The two constructs, attitude and knowledge, which are the main determinants of the KAP model were found to independently predict nurses’ practices of managing patients’ pain. Knowledge of pain management was found to be the strongest predictor. Additionally, it was found that about 69% of the variance in pain management could be explained by the constructs of the KAP model. Therefore, it is recommended that the Jordanian hospitals and universities focus on nurses’ knowledge and attitude towards pain management in order to enhance their practices in the field of pain management.
SMEs in the UAE’s Creative Industries: Female Employees and Lax Marketing Efforts
Authors: Hadi Yaser
Published: October 2015

Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) are often at the forefront of technological innovations, and the target of M&As for this reason. Most businesses are SMEs, as there are comparatively fewer large corporations. The marketing efforts at SMEs in creative industries differ from those of other firms, with efforts often involving customers in the process more frequently than in other types of businesses. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is a thriving creative business community, especially in Dubai, the country’s largest city. A survey of three SMEs in creative industries in Dubai provides a glimpse of the business culture, struggles, and opportunities encountered by creative workers. These firms do not place much importance on marketing, which is surprising. This may be related to women’s’ low representation in these companies’ workforces, which are low even by UAE standards, though not as low as may commonly be believed.
Determinants of Dividend Policy: A Panel Data Analysis for Turkish Listed Firms
Authors: Kuzucu Narman
Published: October 2015

Dividend policy of firms is one of the most controversial issues of theoretical finance. This paper aims to investigate the firm-level factors influencing the dividend decisions of firms from an emerging market. We examined eight-year panel data for the period from 2006 to 2013 from the Turkish stock market (Borsa Istanbul). The results show that financial leverage, size, growth rate, age, profitability, ownership structure and P/E ratio are statistically significant. The relationship of leverage, growth rate, profitability and family control with dividends is negative, whereas the relationship of size, age and P/E ratio is positive. Therefore, firms with higher debt ratios / growth rates / higher earnings are likely to retain more of their earnings. The empirical evidence from the Turkish stock market shows that the maturity hypothesis proposed by Grullon, Michaely and Swaminathan (2002) best explains the dividend behaviors of firms. Accordingly, as a firm matures, the availability of profitable projects reduces and earnings decrease. As the investment opportunities reduce, the need for resources decreases and the firm increases dividend payouts to shareholders.
Modeling Stock Market Volatility Using GARCH Approach on the Ghana Stock Exchange
Authors: Omari-Sasu Akoto Yaw , Frempong Nana Kena , Boateng Maxwell Akwasi , Boadi Richard Kena
Published: October 2015

The study examined and modeled stock market volatility of financial return series for three listed equities on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE). A historical data from 25th June 2007 to 31st October 2014 was considered for the analysis. The series for each of the three equities were tested for stationarity using the KPSS test. Series found to be non-stationary were transformed to be stationary. The study fitted a GARCH (p, q) model for volatility. GARCH (1, 1), GARCH (1, 2), GARCH (2, 1) and the GARCH (2, 2) models were fitted to residual series of some three equities. Results revealed the presence of volatilities in all three equities and also showed that volatility though present was not persistent in the three equities. For each of the companies under study, the GARCH (1, 1) model was found to outperform the other three models based on the comparison of the AICc for each model. The study recommended the use and comparison of other variants of the GARCH model in estimation of volatility.
The Effect of Knowledge Integration, Knowledge Innovation on New Product Performance: An Empirical Study in Saudi Arabia Firms
Authors: Aldakhil Abdullah M.
Published: October 2015

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of knowledge integration, knowledge innovation on new product performance in Saudi Aria firms. In this study, two hypotheses are developed: the relationship between knowledge integration and knowledge innovation; and the relationship between knowledge innovation and new product performance. Federation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) directory handbook was used as sampling frame for sample selection. A total of 500 firms from food and beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical, automotive, and electronic and telecommunication industry were chosen randomly. The questionnaires were posted along with a cover letter explaining the purpose of study and stressing the confidentiality of responses; a smaller envelop for reply purpose also attached. The majority of manufacturing companies are located in Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah as major industrial regions in Saudi Arabia. The results of this study suggest that the knowledge integration indicators have significant contributed in developing knowledge innovation. In fact, utilizing knowledge innovation, firms introduced new ideas, apply knowledge innovation in order achieve competitive advantage have significant effect in increasing the new product performance. In this context, firms should pay attention on those significant indicators in order to achieve competitive advantage in the global market.
Capping and Decapping Series of Boranes
Authors: Kiremire Enos
Published: October 2015

Whereas many of the capped series of carbonyl clusters of transition metals are known, those of corresponding borane series are unknown. These include the monocapped, bicapped, tricapped, tetracapped and so on. This paper attempts to correlate selected capped series of the carbonyl series with the hypothetical corresponding ones of boranes using 14n and 4n rules. Some selected examples of capped and decapped borane series have been generated and tabulated. The borane clusters are found to follow a precise numerical algorithm. A comparison of selected examples of carbonyl cluster of lower series such as closo, nido and arachno with the corresponding borane clusters has been made. The popularly cited Rudolph system of deducing shapes of clusters is also discussed in terms of decapping series. The use of fragments and their corresponding fragment series enormously simplifies the categorization of molecular formulas into series from which their shapes can be predicted with or without the use of the cluster number (k value). The fragment series vindicates the vital Hoffmann’s isolobal concept very well.
Pairs of Comparable Relations for Complete Homogeneous Symmetric Polynomial
Authors: Bera Soumendra
Published: October 2015

Complete homogeneous symmetric polynomial has connections with binomial coefficient, composition, elementary symmetric polynomial, exponential function, falling factorial, generating series, odd prime and Stirling numbers of the second kind by different summations. Surprisingly the relations in the context are comparable in pairs. 
Residual Symmetry for Linear Algebraic Equations and the Lorentz-Group Algorithm
Authors: Liu Chein-Shan
Published: October 2015

In the iterative solution of $n$ linear algebraic equations ${\bf B}{\bf x}={\bf b}$
by using the steepest descent method, i.e.,
${\bf x}_{k+1}={\bf x}_k-\alpha_k {\bf B}^{\mbox{\scriptsize T}}{\bf r}_k$,
it is known that the steplength
$\alpha_k:={\bf r}_k^{\mbox{\scriptsize T}} {\bf A}{\bf r}_k/\|{\bf A}{\bf r}_k\|^2$ causes
a slow convergence, where ${\bf r}={\bf B}{\bf x}-{\bf b}$ is the residual vector and ${\bf A}={\bf B}{\bf B}^{\mbox{\scriptsize T}}$.
In this paper we study the residual symmetry of the residual dynamics
for a scaled residual vector ${\bf y}\in {\mathbb S}^{n-1}_{\|{\bf r}_0\|}$, which
as expressed in the augmented space is a nonlinear Lorentzian dynamical system, and is endowed with a cone structure in the Minkowski
space with the Lorentz group $SO_o(n,1)$ being the internal symmetry group. Consequently,
we can modify the steplength to $\alpha_k={\bf y}_k^{\mbox{\scriptsize T}} {\bf A}{\bf y}_k/\|{\bf A}{\bf y}_k\|^2$
with ${\bf y}_k$ being computed by a Lorentz group algorithm (LGA)
based on $SO_o(n,1)$,
which can significantly improve the convergence speed and enhance the stability.
Several linear inverse problems are used to assess the numerical performance of the LGA.
Antioxidant Activity and Validation of Quantification Method for Lycopene Extracted from Tomato
Authors: Cefali Letícia Caramori , Cazedey Edith Cristina Laignier , Souza-Moreira Tatiana Maria , Correa Marcos Antônio , Salgado Hérida Regina Nunes , Isaac Vera Lucia Borges
Published: October 2015

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes with potent antioxidant activity. The aim of the study was to obtain an extract containing lycopene from four types of tomatoes, validate a quantification method for the extracts by HPLC, and assess its antioxidant activity. Results revealed that the tomatoes analyzed contained lycopene and antioxidant activity. Salad tomato presented the highest concentration of this carotenoid and antioxidant activity. The quantification method exhibited linearity with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. Tests for the assessment of precision, accuracy, and robustness achieved coefficients with variation of less than 5%. The LOD and LOQ were 0.0012 and 0.0039 μg/mL, respectively. Salad tomato can be used as a source of lycopene for the development of topical formulations, and based on performed tests, the chosen method for the identification and quantification of lycopene was considered to be linear, precise, exact, selective, and robust.
Simultaneous Determination of Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, and Octocrylene in a Sunscreen Formulation Using Validated Spectrophotometric and Chemometric Methods
Authors: Abdel-Ghany Maha F , Abdel-Aziz Omar , Ayad Miriam F , Mikawy Neven N
Published: October 2015

Accurate, reliable, and sensitive spectrophotometric and chemometric methods were developed for simultaneous determination of octinoxate (OMC), oxybenzone (OXY), and octocrylene (OCR) in a sunscreen formulation without prior separation steps, including derivative ratio spectra zero crossing (DRSZ), double divisor ratio spectra derivative (DDRD), mean centering ratio spectra (MCR), and partial least squares (PLS-2). With the DRSZ technique, the UV filters could be determined in the ranges of 0.5–13.0, 0.3–9.0, and 0.5–9.0 μg/mL at 265.2, 246.6, and 261.8 nm, respectively. By utilizing the DDRD technique, UV filters could be determined in the above ranges at 237.8, 241.0, and 254.2 nm, respectively. With the MCR technique, the UV filters could be determined in the above ranges at 381.7, 383.2, and 355.6 nm, respectively. The PLS-2 technique successfully quantified the examined UV filters in the ranges of 0.5–9.3, 0.3–7.1, and 0.5–6.9 μg/mL, respectively. All the methods were validated according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines and successfully applied to determine the UV filters in pure form, laboratory-prepared mixtures, and a sunscreen formulation. The obtained results were statistically compared with reference and reported methods of analysis for OXY, OMC, and OCR, and there were no significant differences with respect to accuracy and precision of the adopted techniques.
Development of a Method for Crustacean Allergens Using Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Nagai Hiroyuki , Minatani Tomiaki , Goto Kotaro
Published: October 2015

An LC/MS/MS analysis method was developed for crustacean allergens, tropomyosin, and arginine kinase. A protein extract from shrimp was reduced, alkylated, and digested by trypsin. Peptide spectra were obtained using full scan analysis by LC/MS/MS, and we determined a sequence through a protein search. 22ADTLEQQNK30, 92IQLLEEDLER101, 113LAEASQAADESER125, 134SLSDEER140, 153FLAEEADR160, and 190IVELEEELR198 of tropomyosin and 152VSSTLSSLEGELK164 and 217TFLVWVNEEDHLR229 of arginine kinase were selected as the specific peptides, and optimal multiple-reaction monitoring conditions were used. The results obtained through the LC/MS/MS analysis correlated well with those using the ELISA method for various crustacean samples (r2 > 0.9). Moreover, unregulated species, such as krill or insects, which produce positive results in some crustacean ELISA assays, can be differentiated by LC/MS/MS. These findings suggest that LC/MS/MS analysis may be effective for crustacean food allergen analysis.
Visual and Real-Time Event-Specific Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Based Detection Assays for Bt Cotton Events MON531 and MON15985
Authors: Randhawa Gurinder Jit , Chhabra Rashmi , Bhoge Rajesh K , Singh Monika
Published: October 2015

Bt cotton events MON531 and MON15985 are authorized for commercial cultivation in more than 18 countries. In India, four Bt cotton events have been commercialized; more than 95% of total area under genetically modified (GM) cotton cultivation comprises events MON531 and MON15985. The present study reports on the development of efficient event-specific visual and real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for detection and identification of cotton events MON531 and MON15985. Efficiency of LAMP assays was compared with conventional and real-time PCR assays. Real-time LAMP assay was found time-efficient and most sensitive, detecting up to two target copies within 35 min. The developed real-time LAMP assays, when combined with efficient DNA extraction kit/protocol, may facilitate onsite GM detection to check authenticity of Bt cotton seeds.
Validation of the Thermo Scientific SureTect Escherichia coli O157:H7 Real-Time PCR Assay for Raw Beef and Produce Matrixes
Authors: Cloke Jonathan , Crowley Erin , Bird Patrick , Bastin Ben , Flannery Jonathan , Agin James , Goins David , Clark Jr Dorn , Radcliff Roy , Wickstrand Nina , Kauppinen Mikko
Published: October 2015

The Thermo Scientific™ SureTect™ Escherichia coli O157:H7 Assay is a new real-time PCR assay which has been validated through the AOAC Research Institute (RI) Performance Tested MethodsSM program for raw beef and produce matrixes. This validation study specifically validated the assay with 375 g 1:4 and 1:5 ratios of raw ground beef and raw beef trim in comparison to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service, Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (USDS-FSIS/MLG) reference method and 25 g bagged spinach and fresh apple juice at a ratio of 1:10, in comparison to the reference method detailed in the International Organization for Standardization 16654:2001 reference method. For raw beef matrixes, the validation of both 1:4 and 1:5 allows user flexibility with the enrichment protocol, although which of these two ratios chosen by the laboratory should be based on specific test requirements. All matrixes were analyzed by Thermo Fisher Scientific, Microbiology Division, Vantaa, Finland, and Q Laboratories Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the method developer study. Two of the matrixes (raw ground beef at both 1:4 and 1:5 ratios) and bagged spinach were additionally analyzed in the AOAC-RI controlled independent laboratory study, which was conducted by Marshfield Food Safety, Marshfield, Wisconsin. Using probability of detection statistical analysis, no significant difference was demonstrated by the SureTect kit in comparison to the USDA FSIS reference method for raw beef matrixes, or with the ISO reference method for matrixes of bagged spinach and apple juice. Inclusivity and exclusivity testing was conducted with 58 E. coli O157:H7 and 54 non-E. coli O157:H7 isolates, respectively, which demonstrated that the SureTect assay was able to detect all isolates of E. coli O157:H7 analyzed. In addition, all but one of the nontarget isolates were correctly interpreted as negative by the SureTect Software. The single isolate giving a positive result was an E. coli O157:NM isolate. Nonmotile isolates of E. coli O157 have been demonstrated to still contain the H7 gene; therefore, this result is not unexpected. Robustness testing was conducted to evaluate the performance of the SureTect assay with specific deviations to the assay protocol, which were outside the recommended parameters and which are open to variation. This study demonstrated that the SureTect assay gave reliable performance. A final study to verify the shelf life of the product, under accelerated conditions was also conducted.
A Complementary Study of Mechanisms and Behaviors in Chromatography via Modeling
Authors: Kouskoura Maria G , Mitani Constantina V , Markopoulou Catherine K
Published: October 2015

Evolution in preparation of chromatographic columns has created the need for studying and evaluating them with the use of smart software. This research is an attempt to compare the retention mechanism between two stationary phases (butyl and phenyl) with the use of multivariate analysis for a large number of probes. Partial least squares has the ability to spot either major or minor differences in the chromatographic behavior of probes, with regard to changes in the stationary or mobile phases. The models developed refer to a total of 108 miscellaneous chemical compounds, described by 63 X variables (physicochemical properties and structural features) and one Y variable (retention time). The results showed that in both columns and mobile phases (40% methanol or 40% acetonitrile) the retention of an analyte is mainly affected by its lipophilicity, molar volume, and refractivity, which tend to cause delayed elution. On the contrary, solubility in water, polar surface area, and hydrogen bond donor or acceptor properties promote faster elution. The most important difference proved to be the effect of the presence of the carboxylic group and the solubility that affected the retention in a similar way in both columns but not with both mobile phases.
New Trends in Pesticide Residue Analysis in Cereals, Nutraceuticals, Baby Foods, and Related Processed Consumer Products
Authors: Raina-Fulton Renata
Published: October 2015

Pesticide residue methods have been developed for a wide variety of food products including cereal-based foods, nutraceuticals and related plant products, and baby foods. These cereal, fruit, vegetable, and plant-based products provide the basis for many processed consumer products. For cereal and nutraceuticals, which are dry sample products, a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method has been used with additional steps to allow wetting of the dry sample matrix and subsequent cleanup using dispersive or cartridge format SPE to reduce matrix effects. More processed foods may have lower pesticide concentrations but higher co-extracts that can lead to signal suppression or enhancement with MS detection. For complex matrixes, GC/MS/MS or LC/electrospray ionization (positive or negative ion)-MS/MS is more frequently used. The extraction and cleanup methods vary with different sample types particularly for cereal-based products, and these different approaches are discussed in this review. General instrument considerations are also discussed.
A Polar Rover for Large-Scale Scientific Surveys: Design, Implementation and Field Test Results
Authors: He Yuqing , Chen Cheng , Bu Chunguang , Han Jianda
Published: October 2015

Exploration of polar regions is of great importance to scientific research. Unfortunately, due to the harsh environment, most of the regions on the Antarctic continent are still unreachable for humankind. Therefore, in 2011, the Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) launched a project to design a rover to conduct large-scale scientific surveys on the Antarctic. The main challenges for the rover are twofold: one is the mobility, i.e., how to make a rover that could survive the harsh environment and safely move on the uneven, icy and snowy terrain; the other is the autonomy, in that the robot should be able to move at a relatively high speed with little or no human intervention so that it can explore a large region in a limit time interval under the communication constraints. In this paper, the corresponding techniques, especially the polar rover's design and autonomous navigation algorithms, are introduced in detail. Subsequently, an experimental report of the fields tests on the Antarctic is given to show some preliminary evaluation of the rover. Finally, experiences and existing challenging problems are summarized.
Performance Measurement Model for the Supplier Selection Based on AHP
Authors: De Felice Fabio , Deldoost Mostafa H. , Faizollahi Mohsen , Petrillo Antonella
Published: October 2015

The performance of the supplier is a crucial factor for the success or failure of any company. Rational and effective decision making in terms of the supplier selection process can help the organization to optimize cost and quality functions. The nature of supplier selection processes is generally complex, especially when the company has a large variety of products and vendors. Over the years, several solutions and methods have emerged for addressing the supplier selection problem (SSP). Experience and studies have shown that there is no best way for evaluating and selecting a specific supplier process, but that it varies from one organization to another. The aim of this research is to demonstrate how a multiple attribute decision making approach can be effectively applied for the supplier selection process.
PALAEOLITHIC ZOOARCHAEOLOGY IN MYANMAR: A REVIEW AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
Authors: Htut Aung Tin , Marwick Ben , Conrad Cyler
Published: October 2015

The Anyathian culture, one of the prominent stone arte-fact traditions in Mainland Southeast Asia spanning the Pleistocene and Holocene, has been frequently described at archaeological sites in the central belt of Myanmar. Human exploitative patterns of plant and animal re-sources relating to the Anyathian are obscure due to the paucity of systematic stratigraphic excavations in Myan-mar. However, recent research in the States of Shan and Kayin has shown that Myanmar has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of human subsistence economies at hunter-gatherer sites throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene. This study reviews faunal evidence recovered in association with stone artefacts at hunter-gatherer sites throughout Myanmar and illustrates the significance that further, more intensive research and better chronometric dating has for developing our understanding of foraging strategies in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene in Myanmar.
Register-Bending in Québec Food Culture: translating nun’s farts and sunofabitch’s ears into something anyone would want to eat
Authors: Wheeler Anne-Marie
Published: October 2015

The food language of Québec’s cabanes à sucre represents a particularly salient example of what the English language has never successfully been able to communicate about québécois culture: how the politicized nature of French as it is spoken in Québec is played out in the collision and conflation of high and low registers, a tension between reverence and repulsion. This manifests itself in the realm of Québec’s food culture in the recent return of the nation’s high-end food purveyors and top chefs to their roots in maple-soaked deep-fried comfort foods, and the equally high and low register-bending, and thus largely untranslatable names, that accompany many dishes: des pets de soeurs, des oreilles de criss. This paper focuses on the work of celebrity chef Martin Picard, famous for his foie gras poutine and infamous for his squirrel sushi and tail-stuffed “Confederation Beaver,” arguing that his menu is essentially a form of food joual.
A deleterious gene-by-environment interaction imposed by calcium channel blockers in Marfan syndrome
Authors: Doyle Jefferson J , Doyle Alexander J , Wilson Nicole K , Habashi Jennifer P , Bedja Djahida , Whitworth Ryan E , Lindsay Mark E , Schoenhoff Florian , Myers Loretha , Huso Nick , Bachir Suha , Squires Oliver , Rusholme Benjamin , Ehsan Hamid , Huso David , Thomas Craig J , Caulfield Mark J , Van Eyk Jennifer E , Judge Daniel P , Dietz Harry C ,   GenTAC Registry Consortium,   MIBAVA Leducq Consortium
Published: October 2015

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are prescribed to patients with Marfan syndrome for prophylaxis against aortic aneurysm progression, despite limited evidence for their efficacy and safety in the disorder. Unexpectedly, Marfan mice treated with CCBs show accelerated aneurysm expansion, rupture, and premature lethality. This effect is both extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) dependent and angiotensin-II type 1 receptor (AT1R) dependent. We have identified protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) as a critical mediator of this pathway and demonstrate that the PKCβ inhibitor enzastaurin, and the clinically available anti-hypertensive agent hydralazine, both normalize aortic growth in Marfan mice, in association with reduced PKCβ and ERK1/2 activation. Furthermore, patients with Marfan syndrome and other forms of inherited thoracic aortic aneurysm taking CCBs display increased risk of aortic dissection and need for aortic surgery, compared to patients on other antihypertensive agents.
SPOP the mutation
Authors: Rider Leah , Cramer Scott D
Published: October 2015

Prostate cancers with mutations to a protein called SPOP use an error-prone method to repair broken DNA strands.
Quantifying internally generated and externally forced climate signals at regional scales in CMIP5 models
Authors: Lyu Kewei , Zhang Xuebin , Church John A. , Hu Jianyu
Published: October 2015

The Earth's climate evolves because of both internal variability and external forcings. Using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models, here we quantify the ratio of externally forced variance to total variance on interannual and longer time scales for regional surface air temperature (SAT) and sea level, which depends on the relative strength of externally forced signal compared to internal variability. The highest ratios are found in tropical areas for SAT but at high latitudes for sea level over the historical period when ocean dynamics and global mean thermosteric contributions are considered. Averaged globally, the ratios over a fixed time interval (e.g., 30 years) are projected to increase during the 21st century under the business‐as‐usual scenario (RCP8.5). In contrast, under two mitigation scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP4.5), the ratio declines sharply by the end of the 21st century for SAT, but only declines slightly or stabilizes for sea level, indicating a slower response of sea level to climate mitigation.
New ways to measure waves and their effects at NOAA tide gauges: A Hawaiian‐network perspective
Authors: Sweet William V. , Park Joseph , Gill Stephen , Marra John
Published: October 2015

We use the standard deviation (sigma) of continuous 1 s water level sampling at 46 U.S. NOAA tide gauges available since 1996 as a high‐frequency variance measure. Sigma estimates local infragravity and incident wave band variability, is significantly correlated (r = 0.5–0.9) to significant wave height (Hs), and scales linearly to local observations and output from the global ocean wave reanalysis at most ocean‐exposed and harbor‐sheltered locations. Empirical orthogonal functions of daily mean sigma from six Hawaii tide gauges distinguish northerly and southerly modes that closely match local Hs observations. Depending on tide gauge location, the 99% of daily maxima sigma can be as large as or larger than the nontidal residual component of the water level sample. Our findings provide new uses of land‐based tide gauge data to estimate significant wave heights and dynamic water levels to better monitor for local conditions leading to impacts.
ACE observations of magnetic waves arising from newborn interstellar pickup helium ions
Authors: Argall Matthew R. , Fisher Meghan K. , Joyce Colin J. , Smith Charles W. , Isenberg Philip A. , Vasquez Bernard J. , Schwadron Nathan A. , Skoug Ruth M.
Published: October 2015

We report low‐frequency magnetic waves that were observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft on day of year 180 of 1999 with characteristics consistent with the predictions of waves excited by newborn interstellar pickup He+ ions. This event was found by examining daily spectrograms of MAG data, a new data product that is now available to the community via the ACE Science Center. The event shown here is one of approximately 20 similar events that will be analyzed in future studies. This event is fairly typical of those we have found so far. The waves exist at spacecraft‐frame frequencies between the He+ cyclotron frequency and approximately twice the H+ cyclotron frequency. Fluctuations are transverse to the mean magnetic field, are noncompressive, circularly polarized, have field‐aligned minimum variance directions, and are left‐hand polarized in the spacecraft frame as predicted by theory. The event lasts for just under 1 h.
Improved range and lag coverage for radar measurements of overspread targets by unmatched filtering of alternating codes
Authors: Grydeland T. , Gustavsson B.
Published: October 2015

We propose that by using unmatched decoding for alternating codes, estimates of the autocorrelation function of the backscatter can be estimated at ranges between those resolved by matched filtering. The number of additional correlation estimates obtained in this way is twice that obtained using matched filtering, although each estimate contributes with only a quarter of the power in comparison. This leads to improvements in code performance by a factor of 1.5, and an increase in the speed of incoherent scatter radar experiments by the same factor.
Heterogeneous Dipeptide‐Catalyzed α‐Amination of Aldehydes in a Continuous‐Flow Reactor: Effect of Residence Time on Enantioselectivity
Authors: Ötvös Sándor B. , Szloszár Aliz , Mándity István M. , Fülöp Ferenc
Published: October 2015

A solid‐supported dipeptide‐catalyzed continuous‐flow process was developed for the direct enantioselective α‐amination of aldehydes with dibenzyl azodicarboxylate as the electrophilic nitrogen source. With residence time control as an efficient tool for the fine‐tuning of the enantioselectivity, synthetically useful α‐hydrazino alcohols were achieved with excellent ees. The packed‐bed system proved to be highly robust: no decrease in catalyst activity or selectivity was detected throughout 20 h of continuous‐flow operation.

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Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Properties of Novel Bioactive Poly(xanthoneamide‐triazole‐ethersulfone) and Its Multifunctional Nanocomposite with Polyaniline
Authors: Hasantabar Vahid , Lakouraj Moslem Mansour , Zare Ehsan Nazarzadeh , Mohseni Mojtaba
Published: October 2015

Multifunctional nanocomposites represent a new class of multiphase materials containing dispersion of nanosized filler materials such as nanoparticles within the polymer matrices. In this study, a polyaniline@polyxanthonetriazole@Fe3O4 (PANI@PXT@Fe3O4) trilayered nanocomposite was synthesized successfully through emulsion polymerization of PANI in the presence of a dilayered magnetic polyxanthone triazole (PXT@Fe3O4) composite. Nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry were used for characterization of synthesized materials. The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of PANI, PXT, PXT@Fe3O4, and PANI@PXT@Fe3O4 trilayered nanocomposite were investigated by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl free radical (DPPH•) and inhibition zone assays, respectively. Summing up, the results showed a synergic effect on thermal stability, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the PANI@PXT@Fe3O4 trilayered nanocomposite. Consequently, the developed PANI@PXT@Fe3O4 trilayered nanocomposite is a suitable candidate for biological applications.
A Benign and Simple Strategy for Surface Modification of Al2O3 Nanoparticles with Citric Acid and L(+)‐Ascorbic Acid and Its Application for the Preparation of Novel Poly(vinyl chloride) Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Sadeghzadeh Rozita
Published: October 2015

In this research, the preparation of nanocomposites (NCs) containing nonaggregated nanoparticles (NPs) was studied. Alumina NPs were functionalized by two coupling agents, citric acid and ascorbic acid. NCs of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) doped with varying amounts of modified Al2O3 NPs were synthesized via the ultrasonication method. The X‐ray diffraction confirmed that the structure of the modified Al2O3 NPs was still preserved in a pure crystalline phase with the hexagonal structure. Surface morphology showed a picturesque network structure due to the existence of hydrogen bonds in the modified Al2O3. It also proved good dispersion of NPs in the polymer matrix in nanoscale.
Predictive validity of the body adiposity index in costa rican students
Authors: Carpio‐Rivera Elizabeth , Hernández‐Elizondo Jessenia , Salicetti‐Fonseca Alejandro , Solera‐Herrera Andrea , Moncada‐Jiménez José
Published: October 2015

Objective

To verify the validity of the body adiposity index (BAI) in a sample of Costa Rican students.

Methods

Volunteers were 93 females (mean age = 18.6 ± 2.4 years) and 106 males (mean age = 19.2 ± 2.8 years). Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used as the “gold standard” to determine body fat percentage (BF%). Pearson's correlation coefficient and paired samples t‐test studied the association and mean differences between BAI and DXA BF%. Concordance between BAI and DXA BF% was determined by the Lin's concordance correlation coefficient and the Bland‐Altman agreement analysis.

Results

Significant correlations between BAI and DXA BF% were found for females (r = 0.74) and males (r = 0.53) (P < 0.001). Differences between methods were found for females (BAI = 29.3 ± 4.1% vs. DXA = 36.5 ± 7.9%) and males (BAI = 24.8 ± 3.7% vs. DXA = 21.9 ± 8.6%; P < 0.001). Concordance was poor in females and males. Bland‐Altman plots showed BAI underestimating and overestimating BF% in relation to the “gold standard” in females and males, respectively.

Conclusions

BAI presented low agreement with BF% measured by DXA; therefore, BAI is not recommended for BF% prediction in this Central American sample studied. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:394–397, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The brain as immunoprecipitator of serum autoantibodies against N‐Methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor subunit NR1
Authors: Castillo‐Gomez Esther , Kästner Anne , Steiner Johann , Schneider Anja , Hettling Bilke , Poggi Giulia , Ostehr Kristin , Uhr Manfred , Asif Abdul R. , Matzke Mike , Schmidt Ulrike , Pfander Viktoria , Hammer Christian , Schulz Thomas F. , Binder Lutz , Stöcker Winfried , Weber Frank , Ehrenreich Hannelore
Published: October 2015

Autoantibodies (AB) against N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor subunit NR1 (NMDAR1) are highly seroprevalent in health and disease. Symptomatic relevance may arise upon compromised blood–brain barrier (BBB). However, it remained unknown whether circulating NMDAR1 AB appear in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Of n = 271 subjects with CSF–serum pairs, 26 were NMDAR1 AB seropositive, but only 1 was CSF positive. Contrariwise, tetanus AB (non–brain‐binding) were present in serum and CSF of all subjects, with CSF levels higher upon BBB dysfunction. Translational mouse experiments proved the hypothesis that the brain acts as an ‘immunoprecipitator’; simultaneous injection of NMDAR1 AB and the non–brain‐binding green fluorescent protein AB resulted in high detectability of the former in brain and the latter in CSF. ANN NEUROL 2016;79:144–151
Mutations in the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway regulators NPRL2 and NPRL3 cause focal epilepsy
Authors: Ricos Michael G. , Hodgson Bree L. , Pippucci Tommaso , Saidin Akzam , Ong Yeh Sze , Heron Sarah E. , Licchetta Laura , Bisulli Francesca , Bayly Marta A. , Hughes James , Baldassari Sara , Palombo Flavia ,   Epilepsy Electroclinical Study Group, Santucci Margherita , Meletti Stefano , Berkovic Samuel F. , Rubboli Guido , Thomas Paul Q. , Scheffer Ingrid E. , Tinuper Paolo , Geoghegan Joel , Schreiber Andreas W. , Dibbens Leanne M.
Published: October 2015

Objective

Focal epilepsies are the most common form observed and have not generally been considered to be genetic in origin. Recently, we identified mutations in DEPDC5 as a cause of familial focal epilepsy. In this study, we investigated whether mutations in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulators, NPRL2 and NPRL3, also contribute to cases of focal epilepsy.

Methods

We used targeted capture and next‐generation sequencing to analyze 404 unrelated probands with focal epilepsy. We performed exome sequencing on two families with multiple members affected with focal epilepsy and linkage analysis on one of these.

Results

In our cohort of 404 unrelated focal epilepsy patients, we identified five mutations in NPRL2 and five in NPRL3. Exome sequencing analysis of two families with focal epilepsy identified NPRL2 and NPRL3 as the top candidate‐causative genes. Some patients had focal epilepsy associated with brain malformations. We also identified 18 new mutations in DEPDC5.

Interpretation

We have identified NPRL2 and NPRL3 as two new focal epilepsy genes that also play a role in the mTOR‐signaling pathway. Our findings show that mutations in GATOR1 complex genes are the most significant cause of familial focal epilepsy identified to date, including cases with brain malformations. It is possible that deregulation of cellular growth control plays a more important role in epilepsy than is currently recognized. ANN NEUROL 2016;79:120–131
Measurement of Local Sodium Ion Levels near Micelle Surfaces with Fluorescent Photoinduced‐Electron‐Transfer Sensors
Authors: Uchiyama Seiichi , Fukatsu Eiko , McClean Gareth D. , de Silva A. Prasanna
Published: October 2015

The Na+ concentration near membranes controls our nerve signals aside from several other crucial bioprocesses. Fluorescent photoinduced electron transfer (PET) sensor molecules target Na+ ions in nanospaces near micellar membranes with excellent selectivity against H+. The Na+ concentration near anionic micelles was found to be higher than that in bulk water by factors of up to 160. Sensor molecules that are not held tightly to the micelle surface only detected a Na+ amplification factor of 8. These results were strengthened by the employment of control compounds whose PET processes are permanently “on” or “off”.
Antimicrobial PLA/TPS/gelatin sheets with enzymatically crosslinked surface containing silver nanoparticles
Authors: De Oliveira Pizzoli Ana Paula , Marchiore Nicolli Grecco , De Souza Silvio José , de Freitas Santos Priscila Dayane , Gonçalves Odinei Hess , Yamashita Fabio , Bracht Livia , Shirai Marianne Ayumi , Leimann Fernanda Vitória
Published: October 2015

In the present work, poly (lactic acid)/thermoplastic starch/gelatin sheets were produced by calendering–extrusion process and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, synthesized by chemical reduction with d‐glucose), were incorporated at sheet surfaces to promote antimicrobial activity. A gelatin solution containing AgNPs was enzymatically crosslinked as a layer at sheets surface using transglutaminase. AgNPs presented 63 nm (z average size) and spherical shape (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) while morphology analysis showed that sheets presented internal porosity. Mechanical properties (Young modulus, elongation at break, and tensile strength) and water vapor permeability presented significant difference in function of gelatin amount added to sheets formulation due to increased internal porosity. Antimicrobial activity was demonstrated against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the AGNPs solution as well as for the surface treated films. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43039.
A Feasible Approach For The Force Control Of Traction Wheels Driven By Electric Motors
Authors: Young Jieh‐Shian , Chen Kuan‐Jung
Published: October 2015

This study proposes a novel approach to evaluating and controlling the traction force of a wheel directly driven by an electric motor on different road surfaces. Instead of slip ratio measurements, the database of the motor called the current‐RPM‐torque database can evaluate the traction force of the wheel. The feedback of the measured current and the rotational speed can assist the autonomous traction controller synthesized from this database by the neural network approach when one traction wheel of the vehicle is traveling on different kinds of road surfaces. The adequate gains which are the training data for the neural network control synthesis have to satisfy the assigned specifications in time domain for different slip ratios. This paper also finds that the adequate gains mainly depend on slip ratio slope rather than slip ratio. Based on a scenario similar to real situations, the simulated results in this study show that it is feasible to evaluate and control the traction force through the motor database by the feedback of the current and the RPM.
Novel Approach to Switched Controller Design for Linear Continuous‐Time Systems
Authors: Veselý Vojtech , Ilka Adrian
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we study a novel approach to the design of an output feedback switched controller with an arbitrary switching algorithm for continuous‐time invariant systems that is described by a novel plant model as a gain‐scheduled plant using the multiple quadratic stability and quadratic stability approaches. In the proposed design procedure, there is no need to use the notion of the "dwell time". The obtained results are in the form of bilinear matrix inequalities (BMI). Numerical examples show that, in the proposed method, the design procedure is less conservative and gives more possibilities than that described in the papers published previously.
Characterization of continuous monoclonal antibody epitopes in the N‐terminus of Ro60
Authors: Ødum Nielsen Inger , Hartwig Trier Nicole , Friis Tina , Houen Gunnar
Published: October 2015

One of the major targets of the autoimmune response in the rheumatic autoimmune diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Sjögrens Syndrome, is the protein Ro60. Ro60 is known to associate with small misfolded RNAs, and is involved in RNA quality control and in enhancing cell survival during cellular stress, e.g. after ultaviolet irradiation. In this study, six monoclonal antibodies to Ro60 were analyzed in order to identify antigenic regions and the nature of these. Preliminary analyses revealed that two of the antibodies recognized continuous epitopes, while the remaining antibodies most likely recognized conformational epitopes. The continuous epitopes of Ro60 were characterised by modified immunoassays employing resin‐bound peptides and free peptides. Peptide screenings located the epitopes to the N‐terminus of Ro60, and further analyses indicated that the epitopes of the monoclonal antibodies TROVE2 and SSI‐HYB 358‐02 were located to amino acids 8‐17 and 34‐49, respectively. Moreover, charged amino acids were found to be especially important for antibody reactivity, although antibody reactivity of the monoclonal antibody TROVE2 primarily was found to be epitope backbone‐dependent. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 106: 62–71, 2016.