bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extralegal Violence: The Ku Klux Klan In The Reconstruction Era
Authors: Sullivan Sarah K.
Published: January 2017

This article is a response to the Equal Justice Initiative’s 2015 report on lynching, which aimed to provide a comprehensive account of racial terror since 1877. Although the study encompassed three years before the commonly used beginning date of research on lynching, the author argues that it omitted a great number of cases from the Reconstruction era (1865-1877). In this essay, she evaluates testimonial evidence from the 13 volumes of the Report of the Joint Select Committee to Inquire into the Condition of Affairs in the Late Insurrectionary States published by the U.S. Congress in 1872, citing specific cases of atrocities committed by the Ku Klux Klan in the years following the Civil War. A close examination of these reports reveals that the level of extralegal violence inflicted on African Americans in the Reconstruction era has been severely underestimated. Researchers are called to extend their investigations of lynching to include this period of history in order to develop a more truthful account of racial terror in this country.
Construyendo un Índice de Legitimidad del Estado en los Países Bálticos y Nórdicos
Authors: Prado-Román Camilo , Blanco-González Alicia , Díaz-Martín Francisco , Payne Gregory
Published: January 2017

The objective of this research is to build a state legitimacy index in the Baltic and Nordic countries. This index allows longitudinal comparisons between these States. It permits to identify changes over time that reflect varying levels of confidence in the political system and serve as leading indicators for differences in the economic, social, and political stability of states. The state legitimacy index is built around three dimensions (legality, justification and consent). Source data for the metric are taken the European Social Survey (ESS), between 2002 and 2012. Results, which change among countries, show a tendency toward diminishing state legitimacy. In general, Baltic and Nordic citizens trust their justice and laws, but are dissatisfied in their relationship with institutions. Moreover, results show an up-trend in Nordic Countries but a down-trend in Baltic countries. All this suggests that an effort of state institutions is necessary to improve outcomes and halt downward.
Publicité des droits et prescription acquisitive : des liaisons dangereuses?
Authors: Gidrol-Mistral Gaële , Tran Thuy Nam Tran
Published: January 2017

L’influence de la publicité des droits sur la prescription acquisitive au Québec est apparue dans toute sa force lors de la réforme du Code civil. Le législateur avait pour ambition de conférer à la publicité des droits une force probatoire qui aurait relégué la prescription acquisitive au second plan. Cette réforme ambitieuse nécessitait une immatriculation des immeubles. En attendant sa mise en place, des dispositions transitoires ont suspendu l’application des règles qui devaient organiser ce système. En 2000, la réforme a été abandonnée et plusieurs articles du Code ont été modifiés ou abrogés. Cette nouvelle situation a entraîné une certaine confusion quant au rôle de la publicité foncière, confusion encore perceptible aujourd’hui. La Cour d’appel du Québec, fin août 2015, a rendu une décision qui s’inscrit dans ce débat, révélant pleinement les liaisons dangereuses que la publicité des droits entretient avec la prescription acquisitive. L’analyse diachronique de cette saga législative permettra de faire la lumière sur le couronnement et l’éclipse de la publicité des droits.
La notion d’économie du contrat en droit français et québécois
Authors: Fokou Éric
Published: January 2017

Pour la doctrine française, l’économie du contrat constitue l’une des notions prétoriennes les plus influentes en droit contemporain des contrats. Notion à géométrie variable, née en jurisprudence française en 1894, l’économie du contrat fut reprise dès 1919 par les juridictions québécoises. Son essor reste cependant plus significatif en droit français où elle a reçu, depuis lors, une stature constitutionnelle. Cette étude propose, dans une approche systématico-fonctionnaliste, d’examiner les contours et les solutions que la notion inspire à travers le prisme du droit comparé, et présente dès lors un grand intérêt pour la doctrine québécoise où elle demeure encore peu connue.
Affaire Hillis c Canada (PG) : la Cour fédérale juge conforme au droit interne le dispositif décrié
Authors: Raad Mazen
Published: January 2017

Sous l’impulsion, notamment, d’un certain nombre d’institutions financières canadiennes, mais aussi au vu du contexte national et international de cristallisation des consciences sur les enjeux de la lutte contre la fraude et l’évasion fiscales, le Canada a adopté, en 2014, la Loi de mise en oeuvre de l’Accord Canada–États-Unis pour un meilleur échange de renseignements fiscaux qui a, depuis lors, permis la mise en oeuvre de la loi américaine Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), relative au respect des obligations fiscales concernant les comptes déclarables américains ouverts, au Canada, par des personnes présentant des indices d’américanité. Les premiers échanges de renseignements, qui devaient avoir lieu le 30 septembre 2015, ont été l’élément déclencheur d’une série de contestations judiciaires quelques mois plus tôt, traduisant la double volonté de mettre en cause l’illégalité de ces procédés, y compris de leur assise textuelle, et de contrer l’influence, voire l’extraterritorialité, de la loi FATCA. En témoignent, à juste titre, la procédure judiciaire engagée devant la Cour fédérale du Canada dans l’affaire faisant l’objet du présent commentaire et le jugement qui s’en est suivi.
Transcranial Doppler Monitoring in Carotid Endarterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Udesh Reshmi , Natarajan Piruthiviraj , Thiagarajan Karthy , Wechsler Lawrence R. , Crammond Donald J. , Balzer Jeffrey R. , Thirumala Parthasarathy D.
Published: January 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative transcranial Doppler monitoring in predicting perioperative strokes after carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods

An electronic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies on transcranial Doppler monitoring in CEA published from January 1970 through September 2015. All titles and abstracts were independently screened on the basis of predetermined inclusion criteria, which included randomized clinical trials and prospective or retrospective cohort reviews, patients who underwent CEA with intraoperative transcranial Doppler monitoring (either middle cerebral artery velocity [MCAV] or cerebral microembolic signals [MES]) and postoperative neurologic assessments up to 30 days after the surgery, and studies including an abstract, published in English on adult humans 18 years and older with a sample size of 50 or greater.

Results

A total of 25articles with a sample population of 4705 patients were analyzed. Among the study patients, 189 developed perioperative strokes. Transcranial Doppler monitoring (either MCAV or MES) showed specificity of 72.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 61.2%–81.8%) and sensitivity of 56.1% (95% CI, 46.8%–65.0%) for predicting perioperative strokes. Intraoperative MCAV changes during CEA showed strong specificity of 84.1% (95% CI, 74.4%–90.6) and sensitivity of 49.7% (95% CI, 40.6%–58.8) for predicting perioperative strokes.

Conclusions

Patients with perioperative strokes are 4 times more likely to have had transcranial Doppler changes (either MCAV or MES) during CEA compared to patients without strokes. Simultaneous MCAV and MES monitoring by transcranial Doppler sonography and combined intraoperative monitoring of transcranial Doppler sonography with somatosensory evoked potentials and electroencephalography during CEA to predict perioperative stroke could not be evaluated because of a lack of clinical studies combining these measures.
Changes in the Distance Between the Distal Rectal Pouch and Perineum From the Birth Day to the Next Day in Neonates With an Imperforate Anus
Authors: Hosokawa Takahiro , Yamada Yoshitake , Sato Yumiko , Tanami Yutaka , Tanaka Yujiro , Kawashima Hiroshi , Oguma Eiji
Published: January 2017

Objectives

To evaluate changes in the distance between the distal rectal pouch and the perineum (pouch‐perineum distance) from the birth day to the next day and to determine which day is better for diagnosis of a low‐type imperforate anus in neonates.

Methods

We reviewed medical records at our hospital from May 2003 to August 2015 and identified 9 neonates with a radiographically and surgically proven low‐type imperforate anus and 9 with high/intermediate types of imperforate anus who had undergone sonography on both the birth day and the next day before the first surgical treatment. The sonograms were reviewed to measure the pouch‐perineum distance at both examinations. The Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used for the statistical analyses.

Results

The pouch‐perineum distance on the next day (mean ± SD, 9.37 ± 4.89 mm; range, 2.1–20.9 mm) was significantly shorter than on the birth day (15.75 ± 6.67 mm; range, 8.1–37.2 mm; P = .001). The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed significantly better diagnostic performance (P < .001) of the pouch‐perineum distance on the next day (area under the curve, 0.864) versus the birth day (0.420) for the low‐type imperforate anus.

Conclusions

The pouch‐perineum distance was shorter on the next day than on the birth day, and the diagnostic performance of the pouch‐perineum distance on the next day was significantly superior to that on the birth day for the diagnosis of a low‐type imperforate anus. We recommend sonography on the next day in neonates with an imperforate anus when possible.
Liver‐specific Prox1 inactivation causes hepatic injury and glucose intolerance in mice
Authors: Goto Toshihiko , Elbahrawy Ashraf , Furuyama Kenichiro , Horiguchi Masashi , Hosokawa Shinichi , Aoyama Yoshiki , Tsuboi Kunihiko , Sakikubo Morito , Hirata Koji , Masui Toshihiko , Kubo Hajime , Sakai Yoshiharu , Uemoto Shinji , Kawaguchi Yoshiya
Published: January 2017

Previous reports have revealed that Prospero‐related homeobox 1 (Prox1) is required for the migration and differentiation of hepatoblasts during embryonic liver formation. However, the role of Prox1 in adults remains to be elucidated. We created liver‐specific Prox1 knockout mice to verify the role of Prox1 in adult hepatocytes. The mutant mice exhibit hepatic injury and a nonobese, insulin‐resistant diabetic phenotype in vivo. Hepatocyte injury is observed predominantly in the perivenous region and is characterized by the formation of vacuoles and emergence of round‐shaped mitochondria, suggesting that the effect of Prox1 on the maintenance of adult hepatocytes is region dependent. Furthermore, glycolysis is suppressed, and both oxidative phosphorylation and autophagy are upregulated in the livers of Prox1 knockout mice, indicating that Prox1 has a role in regulating energy homeostasis in hepatocytes.
Investigating the mechanism of ADP‐forming acetyl‐CoA synthetase from the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica
Authors: Jones Cheryl P. , Khan Kirin , Ingram‐Smith Cheryl
Published: January 2017

ADP‐forming acetyl‐CoA synthetase (ACD) catalyzes the interconversion of acetyl‐CoA and acetate. The related succinyl‐CoA synthetase follows a three‐step mechanism involving a single phosphoenzyme, but a novel four‐step mechanism with two phosphoenzyme intermediates was proposed for Pyrococcus ACD. Characterization of enzyme variants of Entamoeba ACD in which the two proposed phosphorylated His residues were individually altered revealed that only His252 is essential for enzymatic activity. Analysis of variants altered at two residues proposed to interact with the phosphohistidine loop that swings between distinct parts of the active site are consistent with a mechanism involving a single phosphoenzyme intermediate. Our results suggest ACDs with different subunit structures may employ slightly different mechanisms to bridge the span between active sites I and II.
Time reversal imaging of the 2015 Illapel tsunami source
Authors: An Chao , Meng Lingsen
Published: January 2017

Studies of the 2015 Illapel earthquake show large variance in the east‐west location of the principal slip, and it is also controversial if there is significant slip near the trench. In this study, we derive the initial water elevation from tsunami waves based on the time reversal imaging technique. This approach does not make assumptions on the fault geometry required by finite‐fault inversions. We adopt 4 out of total 24 stations based on their azimuthal coverage in the time reversal analysis. Additionally, we introduce a correction that scales the wave amplitude at each station by the epicentral distance to account for the 2‐D spreading effects. The results show a focused region of water elevation with a maximum height of 2.0 m located approximately 30 km from the trench. By comparison to the initial deformation predicted by several finite‐fault models, our results indicate minimum slip distribution near the trench.
Collision‐induced absorption by N2 near 2.16 µm: Calculations, model, and consequences for atmospheric remote sensing
Authors: Hartmann J.‐M. , Boulet C. , Toon G. C.
Published: January 2017

Classical molecular dynamics simulations (CMDS) are used for calculations of the collision‐induced absorption (CIA) by pure N2 in the (2.1–2.2 µm) region of the first overtone band. They lead to reasonable (±15%) agreement with the only two laboratory measurements available, at 97 K and room temperature. Based on these experiment/theory comparisons, empirical corrections are made to the CMDS‐calculated CIA of pure N2 in the 200–300 K temperature range. In addition, the contribution of N2‐O2 collisions is, in the absence of any laboratory measurement, calculated and a simple semiempirical model (the first of its kind) is built in order to predict the CIA of N2 under Earth atmosphere conditions. This is successfully validated by comparisons with ground‐based atmospheric transmission spectra in the 2.1–2.2 µm region.
Down‐regulation of miR‐146a‐5p and its potential targets in hepatocellular carcinoma validated by a TCGA‐ and GEO‐based study
Authors: Zhang Xin , Ye Zhi‐hua , Liang Hai‐wei , Ren Fang‐hui , Li Ping , Dang Yi‐wu , Chen Gang
Published: January 2017

Our previous research has demonstrated that miR‐146a‐5p is down‐regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and might play a tumor‐suppressive role. In this study, we sought to validate the decreased expression with a larger cohort and to explore potential molecular mechanisms. GEO and TCGA databases were used to gather miR‐146a‐5p expression data in HCC, which included 762 HCC and 454 noncancerous liver tissues. A meta‐analysis of the GEO‐based microarrays, TCGA‐based RNA‐seq data, and additional qRT‐PCR data validated the down‐regulation of miR‐146a‐5p in HCC and no publication bias was observed. Integrated genes were generated by overlapping miR‐146a‐5p‐related genes from predicted and formerly reported HCC‐related genes using natural language processing. The overlaps were comprehensively analyzed to discover the potential gene signatures, regulatory pathways, and networks of miR‐146a‐5p in HCC. A total of 251 miR‐146a‐5p potential target genes were predicted by bioinformatics platforms and 104 genes were considered as both HCC‐ and miR‐146a‐5p‐related overlaps. RAC1 was the most connected hub gene for miR‐146a‐5p and four pathways with high enrichment (VEGF signaling pathway, adherens junction, toll‐like receptor signaling pathway, and neurotrophin signaling pathway) were denoted for the overlapped genes. The down‐regulation of miR‐146a‐5p in HCC has been validated with the most complete data possible. The potential gene signatures, regulatory pathways, and networks identified for miR‐146a‐5p in HCC could prove useful for molecular‐targeted diagnostics and therapeutics.
Nuclear‐Targeted Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Peng Haibao , Tang Jing , Zheng Rui , Guo Guannan , Dong Angang , Wang Yajun , Yang Wuli
Published: January 2017

The pursuit of multifunctional, innovative, more efficient, and safer cancer treatment has gained increasing interest in the research of preclinical nanoparticle‐mediated photothermal therapy (PTT). Cell nucleus is recognized as the ideal target for cancer treatment because it plays a central role in genetic information and the transcription machinery reside. In this work, an efficient nuclear‐targeted PTT strategy is proposed using transferrin and TAT peptide (TAT: YGRKKRRQRRR) conjugated monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles, which can be readily functionalized and stabilized for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles exhibit high photothermal conversion efficiency (≈37%) and considerable photothermal stability. They also show a high magnetization value and transverse relaxivity (207.1 mm−1 s−1), which could be applied for magnetic resonance imaging. The monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with TAT peptides can efficiently target the nucleus and achieve the imaging‐guided function, efficient cancer cells killing ability. Therefore, this work may present a practicable strategy to develop subcellular organelle targeted PTT agents for simultaneous cancer targeting, imaging, and therapy.
From Galvanic to Anti‐Galvanic Synthesis of Bimetallic Nanoparticles and Applications in Catalysis, Sensing, and Materials Science
Authors: Liu Xiang , Astruc Didier
Published: January 2017

The properties of two alloyed metals have been known since the Bronze Age to outperform those of a single metal. How alloying and mixing metals applies to the nanoworld is now attracting considerable attention. The galvanic process, which is more than two centuries old and involves the reduction of a noble‐metal cation by a less noble metal, has not only been used in technological processes, but also in the design of nanomaterials for the synthesis of bimetallic transition‐metal nanoparticles. The background and nanoscience applications of the galvanic reactions (GRs) are reviewed here, in particular with emphasis on recent progress in bimetallic catalysis. Very recently, new reactions have been discovered with nanomaterials that contradict the galvanic principle, and these reactions, called anti‐galvanic reactions (AGRs), are now attracting much interest for their mechanistic, synthetic, catalytic, and sensor aspects. The second part of the review deals with these AGRs and compares GRs and AGRs, including the intriguing AGRs mechanism and the first applications.
Amplified Thermopower Waves in Large‐Area Carbon–Nanotube/Fuel Composites via Thermal Decomposition of Sodium Nitrate
Authors: Hwang Hayoung , Shin Dongjoon , Yeo Taehan , Choi Wonjoon
Published: January 2017

Advancement of micro‐nanotechnology has accompanied the need for developing new energy sources. Thermopower waves (TWs), which use the combustion of high‐energy‐density fuels surrounding micro‐nanostructured materials, can implement the direct conversion between chemical–thermal–electrical energy on a small scale as a potential energy source for the next‐generation devices. Herein, the enhancement of TWs by the decomposition of sodium nitrate for additional thermal energy and charge suppliers in combustion is reported. The hybrid composites of carbon nanotubes and nitrocellulose with and without NaNO3 crystals are prepared as TWs generators. The thermal energy and electrons supplied through the decomposition of NaNO3 crystals amplify the voltage (≈732 mV at 23.3 Ω electrical resistance) and current by a factor of seven compared to the composite without NaNO3 crystals, while the maximum temperature in combustion is increased by 90 °C. The real‐time analyses of the dynamic change of the internal resistance and current for TWs can elucidate the origin of the enhanced energy generated using the hybrid composites. The advanced TWs obtained by the decomposition of the charge suppliers in this work will contribute to facilitating further development of TW‐based devices and understanding the underlying physics of the interaction between micro‐nanostructured materials and combustion on a small scale.
Wafer‐Scale Highly Ordered Anodic Aluminum Oxide by Soft Nanoimprinting Lithography for Optoelectronics Light Management
Authors: Zhang Chi , Li Wenchao , Yu Dongliang , Wang Yanshan , Yin Min , Wang Hui , Song Ye , Zhu Xufei , Chang Paichun , Chen Xiaoyuan , Li Dongdong
Published: January 2017

The porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes have been intensively studied as nanoscale templates for material fabrication. However, the preparation of large‐area highly ordered AAO remains a challenge. In this work, the large‐area soft polydimethylsiloxane mold is employed to transfer the nanopatterns onto Al foil substrates by UV nanoimprinting lithography. It is found that the anodizing behaviors are closely related to the electric field profiles, which can be defined by the morphologies of nanoindentations. The first‐step anodization carried out on the chemical etched patterns leads to some sub‐pores randomly distributed in the main channels. After removal of the as‐formed oxide layer, the stepwise second anodization produces highly ordered inverted nanocone AAO structure. In order to explore the potential application as high‐performance light management nanostructure, electromagnetic simulations are performed on thin‐film perovskite (CH3NH3PbI3) photodetectors using the inverted nanocone AAOs as a substrate. The results indicate that the nanotextured substrate delivers a much higher absorption property than the flat counterpart, demonstrating a promising application for high‐performance optoelectronic devices.
NHC‐organokatalysierte CAr‐O‐Bindungsspaltung: milder Zugang zu 2‐Hydroxybenzophenonen
Authors: Janssen‐Müller Daniel , Singha Santanu , Lied Fabian , Gottschalk Karin , Glorius Frank
Published: January 2017

Eine Truce‐Smiles‐Umlagerung von Acyl‐Anionen‐Äquivalenten, die durch N‐heterocyclische Carben(NHC)‐Katalyse erzeugt werden, wurde entwickelt. Das Verfahren umfasst CAr‐O‐, CAr‐S‐ oder CAr‐N‐Bindungsspaltungen für die CAr‐C‐Bindungsknüpfung und ermöglicht so Zugang zu 2‐Hydroxybenzophenonen, einem wichtigen Strukturmotiv in bioaktiven Naturstoffen. Durch Einsatz dieses Protokolls wurde das Alkaloid Taxilamin in 3 Schritten synthetisiert. DFT‐Rechnungen und Kontrollexperimente stützen einen klassischen SNAr‐Mechanismus mit einem katalysatorgebundenen Meisenheimer‐artigen Intermediat. Das Verfahren beinhaltet milde Reaktionsbedingungen, eine ausgezeichnete Toleranz von funktionellen Gruppen und einen große Substratbreite einschließlich verschiedener Klassen von (Hetero)arenen.
Cooperative Subunit Refolding of a Light‐Harvesting Protein through a Self‐Chaperone Mechanism
Authors: Laos Alistair J. , Dean Jacob C. , Toa Zi S. D. , Wilk Krystyna E. , Scholes Gregory D. , Curmi Paul M. G. , Thordarson Pall
Published: January 2017

The fold of a protein is encoded by its amino acid sequence, but how complex multimeric proteins fold and assemble into functional quaternary structures remains unclear. Here we show that two structurally different phycobiliproteins refold and reassemble in a cooperative manner from their unfolded polypeptide subunits, without biological chaperones. Refolding was confirmed by ultrafast broadband transient absorption and two‐dimensional electronic spectroscopy to probe internal chromophores as a marker of quaternary structure. Our results demonstrate a cooperative, self‐chaperone refolding mechanism, whereby the β‐subunits independently refold, thereby templating the folding of the α‐subunits, which then chaperone the assembly of the native complex, quantitatively returning all coherences. Our results indicate that subunit self‐chaperoning is a robust mechanism for heteromeric protein folding and assembly that could also be applied in self‐assembled synthetic hierarchical systems.
Proton‐Detected Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy of a Zinc Diffusion Facilitator Protein in Native Nanodiscs
Authors: Bersch Beate , Dörr Jonas M. , Hessel Audrey , Killian J. Antoinette , Schanda Paul
Published: January 2017

The structure, dynamics, and function of membrane proteins are intimately linked to the properties of the membrane environment in which the proteins are embedded. For structural and biophysical characterization, membrane proteins generally need to be extracted from the membrane and reconstituted in a suitable membrane‐mimicking environment. Ensuring functional and structural integrity in these environments is often a major concern. The styrene/maleic acid co‐polymer has recently been shown to be able to extract lipid/membrane protein patches directly from native membranes to form nanosize discoidal proteolipid particles, also referred to as native nanodiscs. In this work, we show that high‐resolution solid‐state NMR spectra can be obtained from an integral membrane protein in native nanodiscs, as exemplified by the 2×34 kDa bacterial cation diffusion facilitator CzcD.
Theoretical modeling of thermal stress imposed by selective permeation membranes reinforced with graphene oxide
Authors: Gorji M. , Karimi M. , Rahimi Larki M. , Safavi A.
Published: January 2017

The main purpose of the present work is to study the thermal stress imposed by selective permeation hydrogel‐filled nonwoven membranes (SPHM) in various environmental conditions, including cold, moderate and hot, in view of high and low wearer activity levels. In addition, graphene oxide (GO) has been used in the matrix structure of SPHM to reduce thermal stress. Hence, a mathematical model is proposed to study one‐dimensional heat transfer through SPHM reinforced with GO. Heat transfer equation was solved using the differential quadrature method and the resulting model was verified by experiments using a dynamic heat transfer simulation apparatus. It was observed that SPHM causes a significant thermal stress, especially in hot environments, and high activity level due to the low thermal conductivity of hydrogels. The results also showed that an increase in the GO content from 0.1% up to 0.5% leads to an increase in thermal conductivity up to 85% of blank SPHM without GO. Therefore, SPHM reinforced with GO is a promising candidate for protective clothing, especially in hot environments. Also, the mathematical model can be useful in predicting thermal stress for designing SPHM‐based PCs in various environmental conditions and activity levels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2017,134, 44752.
Broadband dielectric spectroscopy of Nafion‐117, sulfonated polysulfone (sPSF) and sulfonated polyether ketone (sPEK) membranes
Authors: Saleha Wasim F. G. , Ramesh Rahul , Nalajala Naresh , Chakraborty Arup , Ladewig Bradley P. , Neergat Manoj
Published: January 2017

Nafion®‐117, sulfonated polysulfone (sPSF) and sulfonated polyetherketone (sPEK) are characterized using broadband dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range of 10 MHz–100 mHz. Overall, there are 4–5 relaxation processes in these sulfonated membranes and a comparison of their spectral features allows assigning the relaxation processes. At an optimum amplitude of ∼100 mVrms, all the relaxations are clearly defined as the electrode polarization is minimized. At low temperatures (−130 °C), these membranes show a broad relaxation peak in the mid‐frequency region, which quickly shifts towards the high‐frequency region as the temperature is increased to −90 °C. This peak is observed in proton exchange membranes for the first time due to the use of low ac amplitude, and it is assigned to the relaxation of the confined water in the micro‐pores. With all the membranes, the peak associated with SO3H group relaxation is observed in the same frequency range at a temperature of ∼−80 °C. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44790.
Evaluation of physical, rheological, and structural properties of vulcanized EVA/SBS modified bitumen
Authors: Jiang Zhenliang , Hu Changbin , Easa Said M. , Zheng Xiaoyan , Zhang Yu
Published: January 2017

In this study, the performance and modification mechanism of EVA (ethylene‐vinyl‐acetate) modified (EM), EVA/SBS (Styrene‐Butadiene‐Styrene) modified (ESM), and EVA/SBS/sulfur modified (ESSM) bitumens were evaluated. The physical, rheological, morphological, and structural properties were determined before and after aging, and compared with those of base bitumen. These properties were evaluation using conventional physical methods, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, optical microscopy, dynamic shear rheometer, and bending beam rheometer, respectively. The results showed that sulfur was useful in bitumen, EVA, and SBS modification by forming a vulcanized crosslinking polymer network. The vulcanization improved most of the physical properties of ESM bitumen, especially high‐ and low‐temperature performance, and toughness and tenacity (previously not evaluated in the literature). Meanwhile, vulcanization improved the compatibility between polymers and bitumen and increased the aging resistance of ESM bitumen. Vulcanization reactions took place without new functional groups being presented in the infrared spectrum. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44850.
How many ways to use CiteSpace? A study of user interactive events over 14 months
Authors: Ping Qing , He Jiangen , Chen Chaomei
Published: January 2017

Using visual analytic systems effectively may incur a steep learning curve for users, especially for those who have little prior knowledge of either using the tool or accomplishing analytic tasks. How do users deal with a steep learning curve over time? Are there particularly problematic aspects of an analytic process? In this article we investigate these questions through an integrative study of the use of CiteSpace—a visual analytic tool for finding trends and patterns in scientific literature. In particular, we analyze millions of interactive events in logs generated by users worldwide over a 14‐month period. The key findings are: (i) three levels of proficiency are identified, namely, level 1: low proficiency, level 2: intermediate proficiency, and level 3: high proficiency, and (ii) behavioral patterns at level 3 are resulted from a more engaging interaction with the system, involving a wider variety of events and being characterized by longer state transition paths, whereas behavioral patterns at levels 1 and 2 seem to focus on learning how to use the tool. This study contributes to the development and evaluation of visual analytic systems in realistic settings and provides a valuable addition to the study of interactive visual analytic processes.
Biomass from marginal cropland: willingness of North Central US farmers to produce switchgrass on their least productive fields
Authors: Perrin Richard K. , Fulginiti Lilyan E. , Alhassan Mustapha
Published: January 2017

If the US mandates for the use of cellulosic biofuels are ultimately enforced, cellulosic feedstock will be demanded. Native switchgrass is a cellulosic feedstock that has been of substantial interest for this purpose because it is widely grown across the USA, it can be grown on marginal cropland and thus compete minimally with food supplies, it has a low carbon footprint, and in many ways, it is a sustainable source of energy. The purpose of the research reported here is to quantify the potential willingness of producers across 358 counties in a 10‐state area in North Central USA to produce this biomass. We conducted a contingent valuation survey of randomly selected farm operators in this area. From the more than 1100 responses, we found that the mean reservation price at which respondents were willing to supply switchgrass from their least productive field is a return of about $228 per acre, which translates to about $82 per dry ton. Respondents were somewhat less willing to lease out their land for this purpose, requiring an additional $3.50 per dry ton to be willing to lease. In sub‐regions of counties grouped by opportunity cost, mean reservation prices are equivalent to $75 per ton, $82 per ton, and $99 per ton, very close in the first two subregions to the Department of Energy goal of $84 per dry ton delivered to the biorefinery. Thus, prospects appear favorable that substantial fractions of farmers would be willing to supply switchgrass in this area, particularly in the sub‐areas with lower land costs. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Simultaneous confidence bands for log‐logistic regression with applications in risk assessment
Authors: Kerns Lucy X.
Published: January 2017

In risk assessment, it is often desired to make inferences on the low dose levels at which a specific benchmark risk is attained. Applications of simultaneous hyperbolic confidence bands for low‐dose risk estimation with quantal data under different dose‐response models (multistage, Abbott‐adjusted Weibull, and Abbott‐adjusted log‐logistic models) have appeared in the literature. The use of simultaneous three‐segment bands under the multistage model has also been proposed recently. In this article, we present explicit formulas for constructing asymptotic one‐sided simultaneous hyperbolic and three‐segment bands for the simple log‐logistic regression model. We use the simultaneous construction to estimate upper hyperbolic and three‐segment confidence bands on extra risk and to obtain lower limits on the benchmark dose by inverting the upper bands on risk under the Abbott‐adjusted log‐logistic model. Monte Carlo simulations evaluate the characteristics of the simultaneous limits. An example is given to illustrate the use of the proposed methods and to compare the two types of simultaneous limits at very low dose levels.
Piceatannol extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF‐16
Authors: Shen Peiyi , Yue Yiren , Sun Quancai , Kasireddy Nandita , Kim Kee‐Hong , Park Yeonhwa
Published: January 2017

Piceatannol is a natural stilbene with many beneficial effects, such as antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, antiatherogenic activities; however, its role on aging is not known. In this study, we used Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model to study the effect of piceatannol on its lifespan and investigated the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that 50 and 100 µM piceatannol significantly extended the lifespan of C. elegans without altering the growth rate, worm size and progeny production. Piceatannol delayed the age‐related decline of pumping rate and locomotive activity, and protected the worms from heat and oxidative stress. This study further indicated that lifespan extension and enhanced stress resistance induced by piceatannol requires DAF‐16. Since DAF‐16 is conserved from nematodes to mammals, our study may have important implications in utilizing piceatannol to promote healthy aging and combat age‐related disease in humans. © 2016 BioFactors, 43(3):379–387, 2017
Nationwide hospital‐based survey of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in Japan: Epidemiological and clinical characteristics
Authors: Kuriyama Nagato , Miyajima Masakazu , Nakajima Madoka , Kurosawa Michiko , Fukushima Wakaba , Watanabe Yoshiyuki , Ozaki Etsuko , Hirota Yoshio , Tamakoshi Akiko , Mori Etsuro , Kato Takeo , Tokuda Takahiko , Urae Akinori , Arai Hajime
Published: January 2017

Objectives

There have been no nationwide epidemiological studies of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in Japan. Therefore, a nationwide epidemiologic survey of iNPH was performed to determine the number of cases and clinical characteristics by sex and diagnostic level.

Methods

The first survey examined the numbers of cases that met the diagnostic criteria of iNPH and those who underwent shunt operations in 2012. The second survey gathered patients' details to clarify their clinical background characteristics.

Results

The estimated number of cases meeting the diagnostic criteria in 2012 was 12,900, with 6,700 undergoing shunt operations. The estimated crude prevalence was 10.2/100,000 persons. The age of onset was in the 70s in more than 50% of both men and women. Significantly higher (p < .05) frequencies of gait impairment in men and cognitive decline in women were observed as initial symptoms. At the time of definitive diagnosis, gait impairment was observed most frequently in patients with definite iNPH (77.7%). Hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity (40.0%), followed by diabetes mellitus (17.8%) and Alzheimer's disease (14.8%). Hypertension was observed more frequently in men, but diabetes was observed more frequently in women (p < .05). An LP shunt was the first‐choice (55.1%) treatment of iNPH, followed by a VP shunt (43.2%).

Conclusion

This study showed that iNPH occurs most frequently in the 70s, gait impairment and cognitive decline are the most frequent initial symptoms in men and women, respectively, and hypertension and diabetes are the most frequent comorbidities in men and women, respectively.
Towards the design of an optimal strategy for the production of ergosterol from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts
Authors: Náhlík Jan , Hrnčiřík Pavel , Mareš Jan , Rychtera Mojmír , Kent Christopher A.
Published: January 2017

The total yield of ergosterol produced by the fermentation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on the final amount of yeast biomass and the ergosterol content in the cells. At the same time ergosterol purity—defined as percentage of ergosterol in the total sterols in the yeast—is equally important for efficient downstream processing. This study investigated the development of both the ergosterol content and ergosterol purity in different physiological (metabolic) states of the microorganism S. cerevisiae with the aim of reaching maximal ergosterol productivity. To expose the yeast culture to different physiological states during fermentation an on‐line inference of the current physiological state of the culture was used. The results achieved made it possible to design a new production strategy, which consists of two preferable metabolic states, oxidative‐fermentative growth on glucose followed by oxidative growth on glucose and ethanol simultaneously. Experimental application of this strategy achieved a value of the total efficiency of ergosterol production (defined as product of ergosterol yield coefficient and volumetric productivity), 103.84 × 10−6 g L−1h−1, more than three times higher than with standard baker's yeast fed‐batch cultivations, which attained in average 32.14 × 10−6 g L−1h−1. At the same time the final content of ergosterol in dry biomass was 2.43%, with a purity 86%. These results make the product obtained by the proposed control strategy suitable for effective down‐stream processing. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:838–848, 2017
Cell‐free translational screening of an expression sequence tag library of Clonorchis sinensis for novel antigen discovery
Authors: Kasi Devi , Catherine Christy , Lee Seung‐Won , Lee Kyung‐Ho , Kim Yu Jung , Ro Lee Myeong , Ju Jung Won , Kim Dong‐Myung
Published: January 2017

The rapidly evolving cloning and sequencing technologies have enabled understanding of genomic structure of parasite genomes, opening up new ways of combatting parasite‐related diseases. To make the most of the exponentially accumulating genomic data, however, it is crucial to analyze the proteins encoded by these genomic sequences. In this study, we adopted an engineered cell‐free protein synthesis system for large‐scale expression screening of an expression sequence tag (EST) library of Clonorchis sinensis to identify potential antigens that can be used for diagnosis and treatment of clonorchiasis. To allow high‐throughput expression and identification of individual genes comprising the library, a cell‐free synthesis reaction was designed such that both the template DNA and the expressed proteins were co‐immobilized on the same microbeads, leading to microbead‐based linkage of the genotype and phenotype. This reaction configuration allowed streamlined expression, recovery, and analysis of proteins. This approach enabled us to identify 21 antigenic proteins. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:832–837, 2017
A simulation tool as a support for teaching the concepts of urban traffic flow
Authors: Jiménez Felipe , Monzón Sergio
Published: January 2017

The teaching experience has shown that some key concepts in the study of traffic flow are unintuitive which means their application to major problems is highly complex for students. Therefore, simulation software of traffic in urban environments has been proposed that only requires a small number of easily obtainable input variables. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 25:320–329, 2017; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21800
Tutoring and enrichment for refugee youth at BRYTE
Authors: Trinh VyVy , Nugent Nicole
Published: January 2017

In 2016, nearly 85,000 refugees from 79 countries were resettled in the United States. A majority of recently resettled families are from Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, where families are fleeing violence, torture, and persecution. Nearly a third of recently resettled refugees are children and adolescents. Prior to resettlement, a majority of families have limited exposure to the English language, and most children have experienced significant disruption to their education. Nearly one in three refugee children live in linguistically isolated households (no one in the household over age 14 is English‐proficient), significantly impacting parent engagement and advocacy across their children's academic settings. Due to the number of languages spoken by refugee children, most resettled children are placed in English Language Learner classrooms, where nearly all classmates speak Spanish, and often their language is not spoken by anyone in the entire school. Research has shown that acquisition of fluency in the host‐country language is one of the most important predictors of mental health in refugee children resettled in high‐income countries such as the United States. Programming to help with English‐language acquisition, homework, and understanding of the host culture has the potential to be the most important systemic intervention for resettled refugee children.
Marijuana legalization: What effect does it have on teens?
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: January 2017

Last year, JAMA Pediatrics published an original investigation and two editorials on the connection between legalization of recreational marijuana use and the prevalence of adolescent marijuana use. Legalization does have an effect: it led to an increase in use and a decrease in perceived use in Washington state. In Colorado, legalization per se did not have an effect, although there was already a robust medical marijuana system in Colorado, which had likely already resulted in a decrease in perceived use and, along with that, an increase in use.
Keep your eye on …
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: January 2017

The need for mental health training in pediatric residency

The link between alcohol/drug use and teen death by gun violence
An unusual presentation of brucellosis: hepatic microabscesses
Authors: Erdem Ilknur , Kara Ali Ritvan , Elbasan Senay , Ozcaglayan Omer , Degirmenci Pelin Osanmaz , Sedef Samet , Eren Topkaya Aynur
Published: January 2017

Key Clinical Message

Hepatic abscess due to Brucella species is an extremely rare complication especially in acute illness. Here, we report a case of hepatic microabscesses probably caused by Brucella in a 33‐year‐old woman with acute infection who was successfully treated with a combination of doxycycline and rifampicin for 3 months.
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with a new mutation in gene MYBPC3
Authors: Aurensanz Clemente Esther , Ayerza Casas Ariadna , García Lasheras Cecilia , Ramos Fuentes Feliciano , Bueno Martínez Ines , Pelegrín Díaz Juana , Ruiz Frontera Pablo , Montserrat Iglesias Lorenzo
Published: January 2017

Key Clinical Message

We think that the main interests of this study are the report of a new mutation in gene MYBPC3 as a cause of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HMC), and the verification of the fact that not always is the number of mutations related to the severity of the disease.
Scale‐Up of Oscillatory Helical Baffled Reactors Based on Residence Time Distribution
Authors: Ahmed Safaa M. R. , Phan Anh N. , Harvey Adam P.
Published: January 2017

For the first time, the scale‐up of oscillatory helical baffled reactors (OHBR) was studied. Residence time distributions were used to assess the scale‐up over a wide range of net flow Reynolds numbers and oscillation conditions. A simple scale‐up correlation based on oscillation and net flow conditions was established to predict the plug flow behavior at various reactor scales. It is suggested that operating conditions can be easily extrapolated from the laboratory scale to the pilot scale, and even to industrial scales, as the mixing behavior is similar.
Mimicking the Regulation Step of Fe‐Monooxygenases: Allosteric Modulation of FeIV‐Oxo Formation by Guest Binding in a Dinuclear ZnII–FeII Calix[6]arene‐Based Funnel Complex
Authors: Ségaud Nathalie , De Thomasson Constance , Daverat Caroline , Sénéchal‐David Katell , Dos Santos Amandine , Steinmetz Vincent , Maître Philippe , Rebilly Jean‐Noël , Banse Frédéric , Reinaud Olivia
Published: January 2017

A heteroditopic ligand associated with a calix[6]arene scaffold bearing a tris(imidazole) coordinating site at its small rim and an amine/pyridine ligand at its large rim has been prepared, and its regioselective coordination to ZnII at the small rim and FeII in the amine/pyridine ligand has been achieved. The heterodinuclear complex obtained displays an overall cone conformation capped by the tris(imidazole)ZnII moiety and bears a non‐heme FeII complex at its base. Each of the metal centers exhibits one labile position, allowing the coordination inside the cavity of a guest alkylamine at ZnII and the generation of reaction intermediates (FeIII(OOH) and FeIVO) at the large rim. A dependence between the chain length of the encapsulated alkylamine and the distribution of FeIII(OOH) intermediates and FeIII(OMe) is observed. In addition, it is shown that the generation of the FeIVO intermediate is enhanced by addition of the alkylamine guest. Hence, this supramolecular system gathers the three levels of reactivity control encountered in oxidoreductases: i) control of the FeII redox properties through its first coordination sphere, allowing us to generate high valent reactive species; ii) control of guest binding through a hydrophobic funnel that drives its alkyl chain next to the reactive iron complex, thus mimicking the binding pocket of natural systems; iii) guest‐modulated reactivity of the FeII center towards oxidants.