bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalized pseudo empirical likelihood inferences for complex surveys
Authors: Tan Zhiqiang , Wu Changbao
Published: January 2015

We consider generalized pseudo empirical likelihood inferences for complex surveys. The method is based on a weighted version of the Kullback–Leibler (KL) distance for calibration estimation (Deville & Särndal, 1992) and includes the pseudo empirical likelihood estimator (Chen & Sitter, 1999; Wu & Rao, 2006) and the calibrated likelihood estimator (Tan, 2013) as special cases. We show that a suitably formulated empirical likelihood ratio‐type statistic follows asymptotically a scaled chi‐square distribution, which extends the main result in Wu & Rao (2006) and makes the likelihood ratio‐type confidence intervals available for calibration estimation using arbitrary choices of the weighting factor in the weighted KL distance. We further show that the scaling factor for the scaled chi‐square distribution can be circumvented either through a particular choice of the weighting factor for the KL distance or using a bootstrap method. The proposed bootstrap procedure is justified for single‐stage sampling designs with negligible sampling fractions. Finite sample performances of confidence intervals constructed using our proposed methods are investigated and compared with existing ones through two simulation studies. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 43: 1–17; 2015 © 2015 Statistical Society of Canada
Insular projections to the parahippocampal region in the rat
Authors: Mathiasen Mathias L. , Hansen Lilliane , Witter Menno P.
Published: January 2015

The insular cortex is involved in the perception of interoceptive signals, coding of emotional and affective states, and processing information from gustatory, olfactory, auditory, somatosensory, and nociceptive modalities. This information represents an important component of episodic memory, mediated by the parahippocampal‐hippocampal region. A comprehensive description of insular projections to the latter region is lacking. Previous studies reported that insular projections do not target any of the subdivisions in the hippocampal formation (the dentate gyus, the cornu ammonis [CA] fields 1, 2, and 3 and the subiculum), but, in contrast, target the parahippocampal region (perirhinal, postrhinal, lateral and medial entorhinal cortices, and pre‐ and parasubiculum). The present study examined the topographical and laminar organization of insular projections to the parahippocampal region in the rat with the use of anterograde tracing. Notably, our results corroborated the absence of hippocampal projections. We further showed that the perirhinal and the lateral entorhinal cortices received extensive projections from the insular cortex, primarily from its agranular areas. With the exception of a weak projection to the postrhinal cortex, projections to the remaining parahippocampal areas were either absent or very sparse. The projections to the lateral entorhinal cortex displayed a preference for the deep layers of its most lateral subdivisions, known also to receive hippocampal inputs. Projections to the perirhinal cortex primarily targeted the superficial layers with a preference for its ventral subdivision, referred to as area 35. Our findings indicate that only processed information, reflecting emotional and affective states, but not primary gustatory and viscerosensory information, has direct access to the parahippocampal‐hippocampal system. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1379–1398, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toxicity of the conventional energetics TNT and RDX relative to new insensitive munitions constituents DNAN and NTO in Rana pipiens tadpoles
Authors: Stanley Jacob K. , Lotufo Guilherme R. , Biedenbach James M. , Chappell Pornsawan , Gust Kurt A.
Published: January 2015

An initiative within the US military is targeting the replacement of traditional munitions constituents with insensitive munitions to reduce risk of accidental detonation. The purpose of the present study was to comparatively assess toxicity of the traditional munitions constituents 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) with the new insensitive munitions constituents 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO). The following exposure durations were performed with Rana pipiens (leopard frog) tadpoles: TNT and DNAN, 96 h and 28 d; RDX, 10 d and 28 d; NTO, 28 d. The 96-h 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values and 95% confidence intervals for TNT and DNAN were 4.4 mg/L (4.2 mg/L, 4. 7 mg/L) and 24.3 mg/L (21.3 mg/L, 27.6 mg/L), respectively. No significant impacts on survival were observed in the 10-d exposure to RDX up to 25.3 mg/L. Effects on tadpole swimming distance were observed with a lowest-observed-effect concentration (LOEC) of 5.9 mg/L RDX. In the 28-d exposures, the LOECs for survival for TNT, DNAN, and NTO were 0.003 mg/L, 2.4 mg/L, and 5.0 mg/L, respectively. No significant mortality was observed in the RDX chronic 28-d exposure up to the highest treatment level tested of 28.0 mg/L. Neither tadpole developmental stage nor growth was significantly affected in any of the 28-d exposures. Rana pipiens were very sensitive to chronic TNT exposure, with an LOEC 3 orders of magnitude lower than those for insensitive munitions constituents DNAN and NTO. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:873–879. © 2015 SETAC
Mercury and other trace elements in Ohio River fish collected near coal-fired power plants: Interspecific patterns and consideration of consumption risks
Authors: Reash Robin J , Brown Lauren , Merritt Karen
Published: January 2015

Many coal-fired electric generating facilities in the United States are discharging higher loads of Hg, Se, and other chemicals to receiving streams due to the installation of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) air pollution control units. There are regulatory concerns about the potential increased uptake of these bioaccumulative trace elements into food webs. We evaluated the concentrations of As, total Hg (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and Se in Ohio River fish collected proximal to coal-fired power plants, of which 75% operate FGD systems. Fillet samples (n = 50) from 6 fish species representing 3 trophic levels were analyzed. Geometric mean fillet concentrations of THg (wet wt), MeHg (wet wt), and Se (dry wt) in 3 species were 0.136, 0.1181, and 3.19 mg/kg (sauger); 0.123, 0.1013, and 1.56 mg/kg (channel catfish); and 0.127, 0.0914, and 3.30 mg/kg (hybrid striped bass). For all species analyzed, only 3 fillet samples (6% of total) had MeHg concentrations that exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) human health criterion (0.3 mg/kg wet wt); all of these were freshwater drum aged ≥19 y. None of the samples analyzed exceeded the USEPA proposed muscle and whole body Se thresholds for protection against reproductive effects in freshwater fish. All but 8 fillet samples had a total As concentration less than 1.0 mg/kg dry wt. Mean Se health benefit values (HBVSe) for all species were ≥ 4, indicating that potential Hg-related health risks associated with consumption of Ohio River fish are likely to be offset by adequate Se concentrations. Overall, we observed no measurable evidence of enhanced trace element bioaccumulation associated with proximity to power plant FGD facilities, however, some enhanced bioaccumulation could have occurred in the wastewater mixing zones. Furthermore, available evidence indicates that, due to hydraulic and physical factors, the main stem Ohio River appears to have low net Hg methylation potential. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2015;11:474–480. © 2015 SETAC

Key Points

Fish collected near coal-fired power plants on the Ohio River had, overall, low fillet concentrations of As, THg, MeHg, and Se. Six percent of analyzed samples exceeded USEPA's MeHg human health criterion, whereas none of the samples had tissue Se concentrations that exceeded USEPA's draft fish tissue criteria. Due to Se health benefit values (HBV-Se) exceeding 1.0 for all species, our results suggest that potential human health risks from ingesting Ohio River fish having high THg concentrations is offset by adequate Se content.
Solid‐state fermentation process model reparametrization procedure for parameters estimation using particle swarm optimization
Authors: da Silveira Christian L , Mazutti Marcio A , Salau Nina PG
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Solid‐state fermentation is a well‐known bioprocess. The development of a solid‐state fermentation reactor faces difficulties in controlling temperature gradients inside the bed. To understand this behavior, a good phenomenological model must be used. Furthermore, the model parameters must be obtained by a reliable and robust parameters estimation procedure, since often the model parameters are not available in the literature.

RESULTS

The heuristic particle swarm optimization (PSO) method was used to estimate the parameters of the reparametrized model through the minimization of a nonlinear‐square objective function, since it is less sensitive to initial guesses than derivative based methods. Statistical analyses were made to evaluate the parameter estimation quality. Also, simulations with the reparametrized model were performed. All the analyses have revealed the great accuracy of the proposed model, predicting with very small residuals (errors) several experimental data sets of a solid‐state fermentation process.

CONCLUSION

Parameter models reparametrization procedure can be a very useful mathematical tool to obtain accurate and reliable models with fewer parameters to be estimated, providing less parameters correlation and increasing the degrees of freedom to perform the statistical analysis. In addition, the particle swarm optimization was found to be a very robust and efficient parameter estimation method. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Hydrogenation of biomass‐derived levulinic acid to γ‐valerolactone over copper catalysts supported on ZrO2
Authors: Balla Putrakumar , Perupogu Vijayanand , Vanama Pavan Kumar , Komandur VR Chary
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

The utilization of biomass and agricultural wastes for production of biofuels is of interest as a research topic, since it could provide a cheaper process due to the wide availability and low cost of raw materials.

RESULTS

In this work the vapor phase hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ‐valerolactone over copper catalysts supported on ZrO2 was investigated. The catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method with Cu loadings varying from 2 to 20 wt% and characterized by various physico‐chemical techniques. It was observed that copper dispersion and particle size obtained using a N2O decomposition method are in agreement with the findings derived from XRD and TPR. The catalytic functionalities are discussed in relation to the dispersion of copper and other structural properties of Cu species supported on ZrO2. A comparison of catalytic results of Cu/ZrO2 was made with CuO supported on Al2O3, SiO2 and TiO2.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporation of 5 wt% copper on ZrO2 resulted in well dispersed copper oxide on the support, evidenced by XRD, TPR and N2O decomposition studies. This catalyst exhibited good conversion (81%) of levulinic acid with good selectivity (83%) towards γ‐valerolactone. The activity results are directly related to the dispersion of copper and acidity. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Approximations to m‐Colored Complete Infinite Hypergraphs
Authors: Kittipassorn Teeradej , Narayanan Bhargav P.
Published: January 2015

Given an edge coloring of a graph with a set of m colors, we say that the graph is exactly m‐colored if each of the colors is used. In 1999, Stacey and Weidl, partially resolving a conjecture of Erickson from 1994, showed that for a fixed natural number and for all sufficiently large k, there is a k‐coloring of the complete graph on such that no complete infinite subgraph is exactly m‐colored. In the light of this result, we consider the question of how close we can come to finding an exactly m‐colored complete infinite subgraph. We show that for a natural number m and any finite coloring of the edges of the complete graph on with m or more colors, there is an exactly ‐colored complete infinite subgraph for some satisfying ; this is best possible up to the additive constant. We also obtain analogous results for this problem in the setting of r‐uniform hypergraphs. Along the way, we also prove a recent conjecture of the second author and investigate generalizations of this conjecture to r‐uniform hypergraphs.
Spatially resolved chemical reaction monitoring using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Feindel Kirk W.
Published: January 2015

Over the previous three decades, the use of MRI for studying dynamic physical and chemical processes of materials systems has grown significantly. This mini‐review provides a brief introduction to relevant principles of MRI, including methods of spatial localization, factors contributing to image contrast, and chemical shift imaging. A few historical examples of1H MRI for reaction monitoring will be presented, followed by a review of recent research including1H MRI studies of gelation and biofilms,1H,7Li, and11B MRI studies of electrochemical systems,in vivoglucose metabolism monitored with19F MRI, andin situtemperature monitoring with27Al MRI. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An effective hybrid displacement function element method for solving the edge effect of Mindlin–Reissner plate
Authors: Shang Yan , Cen Song , Li Chen‐Feng , Huang Jun‐Bin
Published: January 2015

In bending problems of Mindlin–Reissner plate, the resultant forces often vary dramatically within a narrow range near free and soft simply‐supported (SS1) boundaries. This is so‐called the edge effect or the boundary layer effect, a challenging problem for conventional finite element method. In this paper, an effective finite element method for analysis of such edge effect is developed. The construction procedure is based on the hybrid displacement function (HDF) element method [1], a simple hybrid‐Trefftz stress element method proposed recently. What is different is that an additional displacement function f related to the edge effect is considered, and its analytical solutions are employed as the additional trial functions for the first time. Furthermore, the free and the SS1 boundary conditions are also applied to modify the element assumed resultant fields. Then, two new special elements, HDF‐P4‐Free and HDF‐P4‐SS1, are successfully constructed. These new elements are allocated along the corresponding boundaries of the plate, while the other region is modeled by the usual HDF plate element HDF‐P4‐11 β [1]. Numerical tests demonstrate that the present method can effectively capture the edge effects and exactly satisfy the corresponding boundary conditions by only using relatively coarse meshes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A control volume mixed finite element formulation for tetrahedral elements
Authors: Naff Richard L.
Published: January 2015

The control‐volume mixed finite element method is formulated for and applied to a computational domain consisting of a tetrahedral partitioning to solve the steady groundwater flow equations. Test functions consistent with piecewise constant and piecewise linear pressure distributions are used in the formulation. Comparisons are made with a standard mixed finite element formulation using lowest‐order Raviart Thomas basis functions. Results suggest that the control‐volume based formulation is a viable alternative to the standard formulation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Loss of PTEN promotes podocyte cytoskeletal rearrangement, aggravating diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Lin Jamie S , Shi Yuanyuan , Peng Hui , Shen Xiaojie , Thomas Sandhya , Wang Yanlin , Truong Luan D , Dryer Stuart E , Hu Zhaoyong , Xu Jing
Published: January 2015

In diabetic nephropathy (DN), podocyte cytoskeletal rearrangement occurs followed by podocyte effacement and the development of proteinuria. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue) is a ubiquitously expressed phosphatase that plays a critical role in cell proliferation, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and motility. In mouse models of diabetes mellitus, PTEN expression is reportedly decreased in mesangial cells, contributing to expansion of the mesangial matrix, but how PTEN in the podocyte influences the development of DN is unknown. We observed that PTEN expression is down‐regulated in the podocytes of diabetic db/db mice and patients with DN. In cultured podocytes, PTEN inhibition caused actin cytoskeletal rearrangement and this response was associated with unbalanced activation of the small GTPases Rac1/Cdc42 and RhoA. In mice treated with PTEN inhibitor, actin cytoskeletal rearrangement occurred in podocytes and was accompanied by increased albumin excretion. We also created mice with an inducible deletion of PTEN selectively in podocytes. These mice exhibited increased albumin excretion and moderate foot process effacement. When the mice were challenged with a high fat diet, podocyte‐specific knockout of PTEN resulted in substantially increased proteinuria and glomeruloclerosis compared to control mice fed a high fat diet or mice with PTEN deletion fed a normal diet. These results indicate that PTEN is involved in the regulation of cytoskeletal rearrangement in podocytes and that loss of PTEN predisposes to the development of proteinuria and DN. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optic nerve pilomyxoid astrocytoma in a patient with Noonan syndrome
Authors: Nair Sushmita , Fort John A. , Yachnis Anthony T. , Williams Charles A.
Published: January 2015

Noonan syndrome (NS; MIM 163950) is an autosomal dominant syndrome which is clinically diagnosed by the distinct facial features, short stature, cardiac anomalies and developmental delay. About 50% of cases are associated with gain of function mutations in PTPN11 gene which leads to activation of the RAS/mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway. This is known to have a role in tumorigenesis. Despite this, only limited reports of solid tumors (Fryssira H, Leventopoulos G, Psoni S, et al. Tumor development in three patients with Noonan syndrome. Eur J Pediatr 2008;167:1025–1031; Schuettpelz LG, McDonald S, Whitesell K et al. Pilocytic astrocytoma in a child with Noonan syndrome. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:1147–1149; Sherman CB, Ali‐Nazir A, Gonzales‐Gomez I, et al. Primary mixed glioneuronal tumor of the central nervous system in a patient with Noonan syndrome. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2009;31:61–64; Sanford RA, Bowman R, Tomita T, et al. A 16 year old male with Noonan's syndrome develops progressive scoliosis and deteriorating gait. Pediatr Neurosurg 1999;30:47–52) and no prior reports of optic gliomas have been described in patients with NS. We present here a patient with NS with a PTPN11 mutation and an optic pathway pilomyxoid astrocytoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1084–1086. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extreme doses of intravenous methadone for severe pain in two children with cancer
Authors: Rasmussen Vinni Faber , Lundberg Vicki , Jespersen Torben Worsøe , Hasle Henrik
Published: January 2015

We describe the effect and side effects in two children with cancer treated with intravenous methadone in extreme doses (>10 mg/kg/day) due to vincristine‐induced neuropathy where surgical procedures provoked severe neuropathic pain. The maximum daily dose was 33 and 25 mg/kg/day. Methadone remained effective at adjusted doses. Few side effects were reported. No significant changes in paraclinical data were observed. Prolonged QTc‐interval occurred only during concomitant treatment with fluconazole. In conclusion, methadone should be seen as a part of the armamentarium against cancer‐related pain. Methadone can be used in extreme doses with appropriate monitoring by clinicians experienced in its use. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1087–1090. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Change in structure and ligand binding properties of hyperstable cytochrome c555 from Aquifex aeolicus by domain swapping
Authors: Yamanaka Masaru , Nagao Satoshi , Komori Hirofumi , Higuchi Yoshiki , Hirota Shun
Published: January 2015

Cytochrome c555 from hyperthermophilic bacteria Aquifex aeolicus (AA cyt c555) is a hyperstable protein belonging to the cyt c protein family, which possesses a unique long 310‐α‐310 helix containing the heme‐ligating Met61. Herein, we show that AA cyt c555 forms dimers by swapping the region containing the extra 310‐α‐310 helix and C‐terminal α‐helix. The asymmetric unit of the crystal of dimeric AA cyt c555 contained two dimer structures, where the structure of the hinge region (Val53–Lys57) was different among all four protomers. Dimeric AA cyt c555 dissociated to monomers at 92 ± 1°C according to DSC measurements, showing that the dimer was thermostable. According to CD measurements, the secondary structures of dimeric AA cyt c555 were maintained at pH 2.2–11.0. CN‐ and CO bound to dimeric AA cyt c555 in the ferric and ferrous states, respectively, owing to the flexibility of the hinge region close to Met61 in the dimer, whereas these ligands did not bind to the monomer under the same conditions. In addition, CN‐ and CO bound to the oxidized and reduced dimer at neutral pH and a wide range of pH (pH 2.2–11.0), respectively, in a wide range of temperature (25–85°C), owing to the thermostability and pH tolerance of the dimer. These results show that the ligand binding character of hyperstable AA cyt c555 changes upon dimerization by domain swapping.
Au‐free Si MOS compatible Ni/Ge/Al ohmic contacts to n+‐InGaAs
Authors: Oh Jungwoo , Yoon Seonno , Ki Bugeun , Song Yunwon , Lee Hi‐Deok
Published: January 2015

Complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor‐compatible Ni/Ge/Al ohmic contacts to a n+‐InGaAs layer exhibited a specific contact resistivity of 9.8 × 10−8 Ωcm2 at 300 and 5.1 × 10−8 Ωcm2 at 500 °C. Only 7 nm of the n+‐InGaAs layer was consumed during the Ni/Ge/Al ohmic formation. For comparison, Ni/Al and Ge/Ni/Al contacts showed a higher specific contact resistivity with significant consumption of the n+‐InGaAs layer. The relatively low contact resistivities for Ni/Ge/Al are attributed to the transient increase in the donor concentration of n+‐InGaAs. Ge metals segregated towards the n+‐InGaAs surface and redistributed into the Ga and In sites, which increased the doping and acted as a diffusion barrier. These electrical and physical analyses of Ni/Ge/Al ohmic contacts to n+‐InGaAs advance Au‐free metallization techniques for highly scaled InGaAs channel metal‐oxide field‐effect transistors.
Effects of a GaN cap layer on the reliability of AlGaN/GaN Schottky diodes
Authors: Kang He , Wang Quan , Xiao Hongling , Wang Cuimei , Jiang Lijuan , Feng Chun , Chen Hong , Yin Haibo , Qu Shenqi , Peng Enchao , Gong Jiamin , Wang Xiaoliang , Li Baiquan , Wang Zhanguo , Hou Xun
Published: January 2015

In this paper, AlGaN/GaN‐ and GaN/AlGaN/GaN‐based Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were fabricated and studied for comparison. The recorded electrical characteristics of the devices show that the introduction of a GaN cap layer can evidently reduce the reverse leakage current and suppress the forward current decay of the devices. What is more important, the GaN/AlGaN/GaN‐based SBDs are capable of greatly alleviating the unrecoverable degradation of the reverse characteristics, which was observed in the device without a GaN cap layer when the device was under long time reverse dc stress. Detailed analyses were discussed.
Photoluminescence characterization of InGaN/InGaN quantum wells grown by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy: Impact of nitrogen and galium fluxes
Authors: Baranowski Michał , Kudrawiec Robert , Misiewicz Jan , Turski Henryk , Skierbiszewski Czesław
Published: January 2015

The impact of Ga and N fluxes on optical quality of InGaN multiple quantum wells grown by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy is studies by means of photoluminescence (PL) and time resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) technique. This investigation reveals that both PL spectrum intensity and broadening are affected by Ga and N fluxes but the optimal growth conditions for the smallest broadening and highest intensity can be different. These effects are explained by the changes in the concentration of nonradiative recombination centres. The experimental results are supported by simulation via hopping excitons model. The theoretical studies of impact of quantum wells inhomogeneity and concentration of nonradiative centres on photoluminescence intensity, decay times and quenching are presented and discussed. Both experimental and theoretical results show that nonradiative processes are present also at low temperature and the recombination efficiency can be lower than 100% even at low temperatures.
Low Schottky Barrier Black Phosphorus Field‐Effect Devices with Ferromagnetic Tunnel Contacts
Authors: Kamalakar M. Venkata , Madhushankar B. N. , Dankert André , Dash Saroj P.
Published: January 2015

Black phosphorus (BP) has been recently unveiled as a promising 2D direct bandgap semiconducting material. Here, ambipolar field‐effect transistor behavior of nanolayers of BP with ferromagnetic tunnel contacts is reported. Using TiO2/Co contacts, a reduced Schottky barrier <50 meV, which can be tuned further by the gate voltage, is obtained. Eminently, a good transistor performance is achieved in the devices discussed here, with drain current modulation of four to six orders of magnitude and a mobility of μh ≈ 155 cm2 V−1 s−1 for hole conduction at room temperature. Magnetoresistance calculations using a spin diffusion model reveal that the source–drain contact resistances in the BP device can be tuned by gate voltage to an optimal range for injection and detection of spin‐polarized holes. The results of the study demonstrate the prospect of BP nanolayers for efficient nanoelectronic and spintronic devices.
Magnetic resonance imaging‐estimated placental perfusion in fetal growth assessment
Authors: Sohlberg S. , Mulic‐Lutvica A. , Olovsson M. , Weis J. , Axelsson O. , Wikström J. , Wikström A‐K.
Published: January 2015

Objective

To evaluate in‐vivo placental perfusion fraction, estimated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as a marker of placental function.

Methods

A study population of 35 pregnant women, of whom 13 had pre‐eclampsia (PE), were examined at 22–40 weeks' gestation. Within a 24‐h period, each woman underwent an MRI diffusion‐weighted sequence (from which we calculated the placental perfusion fraction), venous blood sampling and an ultrasound examination including estimation of fetal weight, amniotic fluid index and Doppler velocity measurements. The perfusion fractions in pregnancies with and without fetal growth restriction were compared and correlations between the perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates and plasma markers were estimated using linear regression. The associations between the placental perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates were modified by the presence of PE (P  <  0.05) and therefore we included an interaction term between PE and covariates in the models.

Results

The median placental perfusion fractions in pregnancies with and without fetal growth restriction were 21% and 32%, respectively (P = 0.005). The correlations between placental perfusion fraction and ultrasound estimates and plasma markers were highly significant (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). The highest coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.56) for placental perfusion fraction was found for a model that included pulsatility index in the ductus venosus, plasma level of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1, estimated fetal weight and presence of PE.

Conclusion

The placental perfusion fraction has the potential to contribute to the clinical assessment of cases with placental insufficiency. © 2015 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Tracheobronchial Fistula During the Perioperative Period of Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Morita Masaru , Saeki Hiroshi , Okamoto Tatsuro , Oki Eiji , Yoshida Sei , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: January 2015

Background

Tracheobronchial (TB) injury and fistula formation during the perioperative period of esophagectomy is a rare but life‐threatening complication.

Methods

We examined the development of intraoperative TB injury and postoperative TB fistulas in consecutive 763 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy, including 494 patients who underwent transthoracic subtotal esophagectomy.

Results

TB injury and fistulas developed in two (0.4 %) and four patients (0.8 %), respectively, who received transthoracic esophagectomy. TB injury developed during the dissection of a tumor invading a major airway. Direct suturing of the laceration and covering it using a muscle flap was effective for one patient, while additional repair with a major pectoral muscle flap was needed in another patient. Postoperative TB fistulas developed due to peri‐tracheal infection in two patients, and conservative treatment with drainage was performed. In another two patients, gastro‐tracheal fistulas developed due to mechanical compression of staplers on the gastric tube, which was elevated via the posterior mediastinal route. The direct repair of the gastric tube and covering it with a major pectoral muscle flap resulted in the resolution of these fistulas.

Conclusion

Careful dissection with direct vision of the esophagus, as well as oversewing of the staplers on the gastric tube, is mandatory for preventing TB injury and fistula formation. Appropriate drainage is effective in cases with peri‐tracheal abscesses. If the TB fistula fails to heal within a 4‐ to 6‐week period, conservative management should be abandoned. Direct surgical intervention with coverage by a muscle flap is important for TB fistulas.
Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Interpretation Criteria for Assessment of Antibiotic Treatment Response in Pyogenic Spine Infection
Authors: Riccio Silvia A. , Chu Angel K.M. , Rabin Harvey R. , Kloiber Reinhard
Published: January 2015

Purpose

The objective of the study was to determine if fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) can assess the response of patients with pyogenic spine infection to antibiotic treatment in a clinically useful time frame.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients with suspected pyogenic spine infection had baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT. Patients with proven or probable infection were divided into good and poor responders to antibiotic therapy based on clinical criteria. These patients had a follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT 6-8 weeks later.

Results

Six of 28 patients were deemed negative for infection based on 18F-FDG PET/CT. Two patients were excluded because of discrepancies in interpretation. Of the 20 patients deemed positive for infection, 13 had a pathogen isolated and all showed 18F-FDG uptake in bone and/or soft tissue at baseline. Patients with a poor clinical response to treatment had persistent 18F-FDG uptake in bone and/or soft tissue on follow-up. Patients with good clinical response had uptake confined to the margins of the destroyed disc. None of these patients had recurrent infection, even if antibiotics had already been discontinued at the time of the follow-up scan.

Conclusions

18F-FDG uptake confined to the margins of a destroyed disc after antibiotic therapy of pyogenic spine infection must not be considered indicative of persistent infection and likely represents mechanically induced inflammation. 18F-FDG uptake in bone or soft tissue does indicate active infection. Quantification of activity could not reliably differentiate patients with active infection from those without active infection and those who had had a successful response to therapy. The pattern of activity is critical to accurate interpretation.
Looking for my self: Identity‐driven attention allocation
Authors: Coleman Nicole Verrochi , Williams Patti
Published: January 2015

This research builds on the motivational aspects of identity salience, finding that social identities direct the allocation of attention in identity‐syntonic ways. Drawing from identity‐based motivation (Oyserman, 2009; Reed, et al., 2012) we suggest individuals use attention to enhance identity‐fit; selectively focusing on cues and stimuli that are identity‐consistent. In two studies we find that activating a social identity drives preferential attention toward identity‐relevant stimuli. Using a novel paradigm, Study 1 demonstrates that individuals strategically focus attention on identity‐consistent emotional stimuli, while also shifting attention away from identity‐inconsistent emotional stimuli. Using a dot‐probe paradigm, Study 2 extends these results to show that individuals allocate attention toward both emotional and non‐emotional (semantic associates) stimuli that are identity‐consistent, and away from those that are incompatible. Consistent with theories suggesting cognition and perception are constructed (James, 1890/1983) and that identities direct and influence meaning‐making (Oyserman, 2009; Reed et al., 2012), we find that social identities drive attention allocation, with identity‐consistent stimuli receiving greater attention; suggesting that an identity's sense‐making begins with motivated attention toward perceiving an identity‐consistent environment.
A Personal Narrative: Living with the Experience of Aphasia, Verbal Dyspraxia and Foreign Accent Syndrome
Authors: Othenin-Girard Corinne
Published: January 2015

This paper is a personal exploration of one woman's lived experience with aphasia, verbal dyspraxia and accent change following cryptogenic ischaemic stroke. I share insights into my experiences, especially of an emotional and cultural nature, after growing up multilingual in Europe and then living with communication changes in a predominantly English-speaking country (Australia) and following return to Europe. My formal reflections commenced 15 years after the stroke and, following my previous studies in the medical field, multimodal visual arts and philosophy, were initiated in the context of postgraduate study emphasising a multimodal arts-based, collaborative, experiential approach to reconstructing understandings of experiences, values and meanings. Central features of this personal narrative include emergent, iterative enquiry and learning: emergent, in that the enquiry was open-ended, allowing for an element of surprise and the opportunity to pursue unanticipated directions; iterative, in that it involved knowingly experiencing and conversing about what had been discovered in order to engage with the process of continuous meaning-making. Following the enquiry, fellow students provided intersubjective responses to issues that touched personal reflection on their part. In particular, I highlight one fellow student's intersubjective responses that touched me in return by providing especially pertinent understanding and images.
Presence of the Endangered Amur tigerPanthera tigris altaicain Jilin Province, China, detected using non-invasive genetic techniques
Authors: Caragiulo Anthony , Kang Yang , Rabinowitz Salisa , Dias-Freedman Isabela , Loss Simone , Zhou Xu-Wei , Bao Wei-Dong , Amato George
Published: January 2015

China is home to three subspecies of tigerPanthera tigrisbut there are no estimates of the size of any of the populations. We detected a population of the Endangered Amur tigerPanthera tigris altaicain Hunchun Nature Reserve in Jilin Province using both mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellite loci. Four male and one female tigers were detected, indicating the potential for a small breeding group. However, genetic diversity was low overall, with six loci showing a heterozygote deficiency and a mean of 2.55 alleles per locus. This study is the first estimate of the wild Amur tiger population in China to use non-invasive techniques, and the presence of a female tiger indicates this is a potentially viable population. We provide baseline genetic diversity estimates to support monitoring of the population. The small number of tiger scats located indicates the importance of continuing the current conservation efforts for this tiger subspecies in Hunchun Nature Reserve. Such efforts include reducing poaching of tigers and their prey, and implementation of management plans to encourage the persistence and recovery of tigers in this area.
The development of the Australian environmental offsets policy: from theory to practice
Authors: MILLER KATHERINE L. , TREZISE JAMES A. , KRAUS STEFAN , DRIPPS KIMBERLEY , EVANS MEGAN C. , GIBBONS PHILIP , POSSINGHAM HUGH P. , MARON MARTINE
Published: January 2015

Environmental offsetting involves compensating for the residual adverse impacts of an action on the environment by generating an equivalent benefit elsewhere. As the prevalence of environmental offsetting grows, so does the challenge of translating no-net-loss goals to workable policy. From 2011–2012, the Australian Government developed an Environmental Offsets Policy and an accompanying metric (the Offsets Assessment Guide) to support decision making about offset requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Through extensive stakeholder consultation and in collaboration with academic researchers, the Guide was developed with the aim of accounting appropriately for ecological equivalence in a transparent and flexible manner. This paper outlines the Australian Government's environmental offset policy development process, and describes the approach adopted for evaluating the suitability of proposed offsets in meeting the policy goals. The Guide explicitly estimates the extent to which an offset will improve the target biota and/or avert future losses, the degree of confidence that the offset will be implemented successfully, and the time it will take to deliver a conservation benefit. Since implementation of the Environmental Offsets Policy and the Guide, there has been a shift in focus from estimating offset requirements based on simplistic area ratios, toward directly evaluating the components of an offset action that determine its environmental performance. Achieving a balance between scientific robustness and policy workability is an ongoing challenge. The Environmental Offsets Policy and Guide represent an important step towards consistency and transparency in environmental offset decision-making.
On session types and polynomial time
Authors: DAL LAGO UGO , DI GIAMBERARDINO PAOLO
Published: January 2015

We show how systems of session types can enforce interactions to take bounded time for all typable processes. The type system we propose is based on Lafont's soft linear logic and is strongly inspired by recent works about session types as intuitionistic linear logic formulas. Our main result is the existence, for every typable process, of a polynomial bound on the length of reduction sequences starting from it and on the size of its reducts.
The Dimensional Assessment of Personality Psychopathology Basic Questionnaire: Shortened Versions Item Analysis
Authors: Aluja Anton , Blanch Àngel , Blanco Eduardo , Martí-Guiu Maite , Balada Ferran
Published: January 2015

This study has been designed to evaluate and replicate the psychometric properties of the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Psychopathology-Basic Questionnaire (DAPP-BQ) and the DAPP-BQ short form (DAPP-SF) in a large Spanish general population sample. Additionally, we have generated a reduced form called DAPP-90, using a strategy based on a structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology in two independent samples, a calibration and a validation sample. The DAPP-90 scales obtained a more satisfactory fit on SEM adjustment values (average: TLI > .97 and RMSEA < .04) respect to full DAPP-BQ and the 136-item version. According to the factorial congruency coefficients, the DAPP-90 obtains a similar structure to the DAPP-BQ and the DAPP-SF. The DAPP-90 internal consistency is acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha mean of .75. We did not find any differences in the pattern of relations between the two DAPP-BQ shortened versions and the SCL-90-R factors. The new 90-items version is especially useful when it is difficult to use the long version for diverse reasons, such as the assessment of patients in hospital consultation or in brief psychological assessments.
A molecular nematic liquid crystalline material for high-performance organic photovoltaics
Authors: Sun Kuan , Xiao Zeyun , Lu Shirong , Zajaczkowski Wojciech , Pisula Wojciech , Hanssen Eric , White Jonathan M. , Williamson Rachel M. , Subbiah Jegadesan , Ouyang Jianyong , Holmes Andrew B. , Wong Wallace W.H. , Jones David J.
Published: January 2015

Solution-processed organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) hold great promise to enable roll-to-roll printing of environmentally friendly, mechanically flexible and cost-effective photovoltaic devices. Nevertheless, many high-performing systems show best power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) with a thin active layer (thickness is ~100 nm) that is difficult to translate to roll-to-roll processing with high reproducibility. Here we report a new molecular donor, benzodithiophene terthiophene rhodanine (BTR), which exhibits good processability, nematic liquid crystalline behaviour and excellent optoelectronic properties. A maximum PCE of 9.3% is achieved under AM 1.5G solar irradiation, with fill factor reaching 77%, rarely achieved in solution-processed OPVs. Particularly promising is the fact that BTR-based devices with active layer thicknesses up to 400 nm can still afford high fill factor of ~70% and high PCE of ~8%. Together, the results suggest, with better device architectures for longer device lifetime, BTR is an ideal candidate for mass production of OPVs.
Evolution of conductive filament and its impact on reliability issues in oxide-electrolyte based resistive random access memory
Authors: Lv Hangbing , Xu Xiaoxin , Liu Hongtao , Liu Ruoyu , Liu Qi , Banerjee Writam , Sun Haitao , Long Shibing , Li Ling , Liu Ming
Published: January 2015

The electrochemical metallization cell, also referred to as conductive bridge random access memory, is considered to be a promising candidate or complementary component to the traditional charge based memory. As such, it is receiving additional focus to accelerate the commercialization process. To create a successful mass product, reliability issues must first be rigorously solved. In-depth understanding of the failure behavior of the ECM is essential for performance optimization. Here, we reveal the degradation of high resistance state behaves as the majority cases of the endurance failure of the HfO2 electrolyte based ECM cell. High resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the change in filament nature after repetitive switching cycles. The result showed that Cu accumulation inside the filament played a dominant role in switching failure, which was further supported by measuring the retention of cycle dependent high resistance state and low resistance state. The clarified physical picture of filament evolution provides a basic understanding of the mechanisms of endurance and retention failure and the relationship between them. Based on these results, applicable approaches for performance optimization can be implicatively developed, ranging from material tailoring to structure engineering and algorithm design.
Spatial properties of odd and even low order harmonics generated in gas
Authors: Lambert G. , Andreev A. , Gautier J. , Giannessi L. , Malka V. , Petralia A. , Sebban S. , Stremoukhov S. , Tissandier F. , Vodungbo B. , Zeitoun Ph.
Published: January 2015

High harmonic generation in gases is developing rapidly as a soft X-ray femtosecond light-source for applications. This requires control over all the harmonics characteristics and in particular, spatial properties have to be kept very good. In previous literature, measurements have always included several harmonics contrary to applications, especially spectroscopic applications, which usually require a single harmonic. To fill this gap, we present here for the first time a detailed study of completely isolated harmonics. The contribution of the surrounding harmonics has been totally suppressed using interferential filtering which is available for low harmonic orders. In addition, this allows to clearly identify behaviors of standard odd orders from even orders obtained by frequency-mixing of a fundamental laser and of its second harmonic. Comparisons of the spatial intensity profiles, of the spatial coherence and of the wavefront aberration level of 5ω at 160 nm and 6ω at 135 nm have then been performed. We have established that the fundamental laser beam aberrations can cause the appearance of a non-homogenous donut-shape in the 6ω spatial intensity distribution. This undesirable effect can be easily controlled. We finally conclude that the spatial quality of an even harmonic can be as excellent as in standard generation.
Synthesis of a highly dispersive sinapinic acid@graphene oxide (SA@GO) and its applications as a novel surface assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for proteomics and pathogenic bacteria biosensing
Authors: Abdelhamid Hani Nasser , Wu Hui-Fen
Published: January 2015

GO-modified sinapinic acid was synthesized and characterized; it was then investigated for use in SALDI-MS for proteomics and pathogenic bacterial biosensing.
Smart, reusable labels for assessing self-cleaning films
Authors: Mills A. , Wells N.
Published: January 2015

Novel, reusable photocatalyst activity indicator label undergoes a rapid colour change when placed in contact with a photocatalytic film via the photoreduction of methylene blue contained within the label's adhesive, and is ideal for assessing photocatalytic activity in situ and in laboratory work.
Ultra high-resolution HSQC: application to the efficient and accurate measurement of heteronuclear coupling constants
Authors: Marcó Núria , Fredi André , Parella Teodor
Published: January 2015

A rapid acquisition strategy in terms of enhanced resolution per time unit for the simple and efficient determination of multiple coupling constants is proposed. The use of 13C spectral aliasing combined with pure shift NMR techniques allows accurate measurements of the magnitude and the sign from ultra high resolved 2D cross-peaks.
Assembly of organic–inorganic hybrid materials constructed from polyoxometalate and metal–1,2,4-triazole units: synthesis, structures, magnetic, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Jiao Yan-Qing , Qin Chao , Zang Hong-Ying , Chen Wei-Chao , Wang Chun-Gang , Zheng Tian-Tian , Shao Kui-Zhan , Su Zhong-Min
Published: January 2015

A family of organic–inorganic hybrids built by Keggin/Dawson POMs with metal–1,2,4-triazole units has been synthesized through modulating the pH value.
Recent progress in theoretical and computational investigations of Li-ion battery materials and electrolytes
Authors: Bhatt Mahesh Datt , O'Dwyer Colm
Published: January 2015

Advancements and progress in computational and theoretical investigations of Li-ion battery materials and electrolytes are reviewed and assessed.
Fabrication and optical nonlinearities of composite films derived from the water-soluble Keplerate-type polyoxometalate and chloroform-soluble porphyrin
Authors: Shi Zonghai , Zhou Yunshan , Zhang Lijuan , Yang Di , Mu Cuncun , Ren Haizhou , Shehzad Farooq Khurum , Li Jiaqi
Published: January 2015

Porphyrin–POM composite films fabricated using a LBL approach show notable nonlinear saturated absorption and self-defocusing effects.
Thermal stability, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin and its degradation product 4-vinyl guaiacol
Authors: Esatbeyoglu Tuba , Ulbrich Katrin , Rehberg Clemens , Rohn Sascha , Rimbach Gerald
Published: January 2015

The curcumin degradation product 4-vinyl guaiacol exhibits biological activity.
Effect and mechanism of Salicornia bigelovii Torr. plant salt on blood pressure in SD rats
Authors: Zhang Shumeng , Wei Mingqian , Cao Chunjie , Ju Yaoyao , Deng Yanqun , Ye Tianwen , Xia Zufeng , Chen Meizhen
Published: January 2015

This study investigated the effect and mechanism of Salicornia bigelovii Torr. plant salt on blood pressure in SD rats.