bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the urinary bladder: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Chen Haiyan , Li Yanxia , Nand Sucha , Quek Marcus L. , Kini Ameet R. , Barkan Güliz A.
Published: March 2014

T cell‐derived malignant lymphoma is rarely detected as a bladder neoplasm. A literature review for anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) involving urinary bladder reveals only seven previously reported cases. Here, we report a case of a 59‐year‐old HIV‐negative man with ALK‐positive ALCL. He presented an unusual clinical course with initial consideration of adult onset Still's Disease (AOSD) due to his negative results searching for malignancy and infectious diseases. He rapidly developed macrophage activation (hemophagocytic) syndrome and experienced an unusual rapid disease progression and died in 39 days after onset of symptoms. Compared to previously reported cases, the current case of ALK‐1‐positive ALCL is a rare case with an unusual presentation. From this case, we learned that ALCL is one malignancy that should be considered and screened in patients with suspected AOSD. Also, T‐cell lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome should be considered in a patient with sustained corticosteroid‐resistant spike fever, high serum ferritin, and rapid exacerbation of the disease course. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:60–65. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Divergent patterns of riparian cottonwood recovery after the return of wolves in Yellowstone, USA
Authors: Beschta Robert L. , Ripple William J.
Published: March 2014

Understanding the potential effect apex predators may have on riparian plant communities, via a trophic cascade, represents an important research challenge in Rocky Mountain ecosystems. In the northern ungulate winter range of Yellowstone National Park where grey wolves (Canis lupus) were historically present, absent for seven decades, and recently reintroduced, our objective was to evaluate patterns of cottonwood (Populus spp.) recruitment for two adjacent reaches of the Lamar Valley. Results indicated that recruitment was common in both reaches when wolves were historically present and declined because of intensive herbivory from elk (Cervus elaphus) after wolves were extirpated in the early 1900s. By the 1970s, cottonwood recruitment along both reaches had essentially ceased. Wolves were reintroduced in the mid‐1990s, and by 2012, some 4660 young cottonwoods ≥2 m in height (the general upper browse level of elk) had become established within the 2‐km‐long upper Lamar study reach, consistent with re‐establishment of a tri‐trophic cascade involving wolves, elk, and cottonwoods. However, within the 8‐km‐long lower Lamar study reach, only 22 young cottonwoods had attained a height of ≥2 m because of high levels of herbivory, especially from bison (Bison bison). Top–down trophic interactions involving wolves and elk, as well as reach characteristics and browsing by bison, appear to explain the strongly contrasting patterns of recent riparian cottonwood recruitment currently underway in the northern Yellowstone – one reach represented by a recovering riparian ecosystem and the other an alternative stable state with highly altered riparian vegetation and channel conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile Synthesis of 2‐(Perfluoroalkyl)indoles through a Michael Addition/CuI‐Catalyzed Annulation Process
Authors: Cao Long , Shen Dandane , Wei Jiamei , Chen Jie , Deng Hongmei , Shao Min , Shi Jumei , Zhang Hui , Cao Weiguo
Published: March 2014

A practical and economical process for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated indole compounds has been developed. The Michael addition of 2‐iodo‐ or 2‐bromoanilines to methyl perfluoroalk‐2‐ynoates affords N‐(o‐haloaryl)enamines, which subsequently undergo a copper‐catalyzed annulation reaction to give 2‐perfluoroalkyl‐substituted indoles in good to excellent yields. This method displays excellent functional group tolerance and is carried out in one pot under mild conditions.
Genetic diversity of maize germplasm assessed by retrotransposon‐based markers
Authors: Kuhn Betty Cristiane , López‐Ribera Ignacio , da Silva Machado Maria de Fátima Pires , Vicient Carlos M.
Published: March 2014

Maize is one of the most important crops and also a model for grass genome research. Transposable elements comprise over 78% of the maize genome and their ability to generate new copies makes them good potential markers. Interretrotransposon‐amplified polymorphism (IRAP) and retrotransposon microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) protocols were used for the first time in maize to study the genetic variability between maize cultivars. Ten PCR primers were selected based on a systematic analysis of the sequence conservation in the extremities of different high copy number transposable elements, whereas one primer was chosen based on a microsatellite sequence. Of the 16 primer combinations tested, 14 produced polymorphic bands. These markers were used to identify genetic similarity among 20 maize cultivars selected by their different kernel oil content. Genetic similarity analysis was performed based on the polymorphic band profiles and dendrograms were developed by the unweighted pair‐group method with arithmetic averages. Clustering technique revealed that samples were grouped into three clusters that differed in their kernel oil content and size, and in their relative embryo size. In the current investigation, there is evidence that IRAP/REMAP may be useful as markers in maize.
Toward the generation of an aminonaphthalene trisulfonate labeled N‐glycan database for capillary gel electrophoresis analysis of carbohydrates
Authors: Kerékgyártó Márta , Guttman András
Published: March 2014

There is an increasing trend to develop therapeutic glycoproteins, mostly antibodies that require high resolution bioanalytical tools to address the challenging aspects of comprehensive carbohydrate characterization. In this paper we introduce an initial version of a glucose unit database for 8‐aminonaphthalene‐1,3,6‐trisulfonic acid‐labeled glycans. At this stage we mainly focused on therapeutic IgG derived glycans of core fucosylated biantennary structures with and without sialic acid residues, as well as high mannose structures. Currently 25 oligosaccharides represent this first set of the database that shows the abbreviated names of the individual sugar structures with their graphic representation, precise molecular mass and glucose unit (GU) values with corresponding SDs. The database will provide a quick glycan analysis tool for preliminary data interpretation of rapid (around 200 s) CGE‐LED‐induced fluorescence (CGE‐LEDIF) based glycan profiling runs.
Investigation of the Decomposition Mechanism of Lithium Bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) Salt in the Electrolyte of an Aprotic Li–O2 Battery
Authors: Lau Kah Chun , Lu Jun , Low John , Peng Du , Wu Huiming , Albishri Hassan M. , Al‐Hady D. Abd , Curtiss Larry A. , Amine Khalil
Published: March 2014

The stability of the lithium bis(oxalate) borate (LiBOB) salt against lithium peroxide (Li2O2) formation in an aprotic Li–O2 (Li–air) battery is investigated. From theoretical and experimental findings, we find that the chemical decomposition of LiBOB in electrolytes leads to the formation lithium oxalate during the discharge of a Li–O2 cell. According to density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the formation of lithium oxalate as the reaction product is exothermic and therefore is thermodynamically feasible. This reaction seems to be independent of solvents used in the Li–O2 cell, and therefore LiBOB is probably not suitable to be used as the salt in Li–O2 cell electrolytes.
Activation of invariant natural killer T cells impedes liver regeneration by way of both IFN-γ- and IL-4-dependent mechanisms
Authors: Yin Shi , Wang Hua , Bertola Adeline , Feng Dechun , Xu Ming-jiang , Wang Yan , Gao Bin
Published: March 2014

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a major subset of lymphocytes found in the liver. These cells mediate various functions, including hepatic injury, fibrogenesis, and carcinogenesis. However, the function of iNKT cells in liver regeneration remains unclear. In the present study, partial hepatectomy (PHx) was used to study liver regeneration. α-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), a specific ligand for iNKT cells, was used to induce iNKT cell activation. After PHx, two strains of iNKT cell-deficient mice, CD1d−/− and Jα281−/− mice, showed normal liver regeneration. Injection of α-GalCer before or after PHx, which rapidly stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-4 production by iNKT cells, markedly inhibited liver regeneration. In vitro treatment with IFN-γ inhibited hepatocyte proliferation. In agreement with this in vitro finding, genetic disruption of IFN-γ or its downstream signaling molecule signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 significantly abolished the α-GalCer-mediated inhibition of liver regeneration. In vitro exposure to IL-4 did not affect hepatocyte proliferation, but surprisingly, genetic ablation of IL-4 or its downstream signaling molecule STAT6 partially eliminated the inhibitory effect of α-GalCer on liver regeneration. Further studies revealed that IL-4 contributed to α-GalCer-induced iNKT cell expansion and IFN-γ production, thereby inhibiting liver regeneration. Conclusion: iNKT cells play a minor role in controlling liver regeneration after PHx under healthy conditions. Activation of iNKT cells by α-GalCer induces the production of IFN-γ, which directly inhibits liver regeneration, and IL-4, which indirectly attenuates liver regeneration by stimulating iNKT cell expansion and IFN-γ production. (Hepatology 2014;60:1356–1366)
Mosaic surface storages of a small boreal catchment
Authors: Carrer Gwenael E. , Rousseau Alain N. , St‐Hilaire André , Jutras Sylvain
Published: March 2014

Recent studies have suggested that the hydrologic connectivity of northern headwater catchments is likely controlled by antecedent moisture conditions and land cover patterns. A water storage model (EWS), based on water levels (WLs), specific yield (Sy) and surface elevation (SE) changes, was compared with a basic water budget of a small, boreal, patterned fen (13 ha) during the ice‐free period. Results showed that the EWS model reproduced well storage variations derived from the water budget. These results suggest that storage variations can be properly represented by the fluctuations of WLs when we consider the heterogeneous soil properties. However, storage deviations occurred at the daily scale and could be explained by a lack of information on water retention in unsaturated layers, canopy interceptions and preferential flows. Despite the significant impact of SE changes on the different peatland cover storage budgets (strings and lawns), using Sy mean values had a low impact on storage estimations. This can be explained by the large proportion of pools and high WLs throughout the fen. At the fen scale, high storage in the pools seemed to reduce the Sy difference between strings and lawns. The results of this study provide new insights about the complex hydrological behaviour of northern catchments and allow for conceiving new hydrological modelling perspectives. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sonographic appearance of an intramuscular myxoma of the pectoralis major muscle
Authors: Kim Suk Jung
Published: March 2014

Intramuscular myxomas are benign soft tissue tumors that usually involve skeletal muscle of the extremities; occurrence in the chest wall is extremely rare. We describe a case of intramuscular myxoma in the pectoralis major muscle of a 55‐year‐old woman. The patient presented with a palpable lump in her right breast. Mammography showed a circumscribed, oval, hyperdense mass within the pectoralis muscle. Ultrasonography showed a circumscribed, oval, complex mass within the pectoralis muscle. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42:505–508, 2014
Enrichment of neonicotinoid insecticides from lemon juice sample with magnetic three‐dimensional graphene as the adsorbent followed by determination with high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Liu Li , Feng Tao , Wang Chun , Wu Qiuhua , Wang Zhi
Published: March 2014

A novel 3D‐graphene (3D‐G) magnetic nanomaterial was prepared and used as an adsorbent for the extraction of four neonicotinoid insecticides (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) from lemon juice sample. Then, HPLC with UV detection was applied for the determination of the neonicotinoid insecticides desorbed from the 3D‐G magnetic nanomaterial. The main experimental parameters that affect the extraction efficiencies such as the amount of 3D‐G magnetic nanomaterial, sample solution pH, extraction time, salting‐out effect, and desorption conditions were studied and optimized. As a result, the linear concentration range of the method was from 0.3 to 100.0 ng/mL for thiacloprid, from 0.5 to 100.0 ng/mL for imidacloprid and acetamiprid, and from 1.0 to 100.0 ng/mL for thiamethoxam, with correlation coefficients of 0.9965–0.9985, respectively. The LODs of the method based on an S/N of 3 were between 0.08 and 0.2 ng/mL. The enrichment factors obtained were between 67 and 427, and the RSDs (n = 6) were in the range from 4.6 to 7.1%, and the recoveries of the method fell in the range of 88.75 to 111.60%.
Simulation of flow and turbulence in the Phoenix area using a modified urbanized mesoscale model
Authors: Park S. Y. , Fernando H. J. S. , Yoon S. C.
Published: March 2014

The urban canopy parameterization (UCP) of Dupont et al. implemented in the MM5v3.7 mesoscale meteorological modelling system (MM5‐UCP‐Basic) is evaluated against the non‐urbanized model (MM5‐NoUCP) using measurements taken in urban Phoenix during two field studies. In general, MM5‐UCP‐Basic improved the predictions of typical meteorological parameters. Nevertheless, significant discrepancies still exist between observations and the predictions of MM5‐UCP‐Basic, and new parameterizations and land‐use classes are introduced to improve the model performance. Anthropogenic heat flux from buildings and roadways is also included. The land‐use classes in the improved model (MM5‐UCP‐MOD) represent roadways and rivers, in addition to five classes of buildings identified in MM5‐UCP‐Basic. New parameterizations include those for momentum roughness, velocity decay during evening transition, and heat and momentum diffusivities for the nocturnal period that account for different heat and momentum transfer rates under stable atmospheric conditions. Five nested grid domains are used for simulations, with the highest resolution (1 km) implemented in the two UCP versions. In general, substantial improvements in the prediction of wind speed, temperature (especially during the night time), and momentum flux as well as a smaller improvement in the heat flux are noted, pointing to possible further enhancement to model performance by including improved physics in the model.
Systematic Identification of Matching Molecular Series and Mapping of Screening Hits
Authors: de la Vega de León Antonio , Hu Ye , Bajorath Jürgen
Published: March 2014

Matching molecular series (MMS) have originally been introduced as an extension of the matched molecular pair (MMP) concept to facilitate the design of substructure‐based structure‐activity relationship (SAR) networks. An MMP is defined as a pair of compounds that only differ by a structural change at a single site. In addition, an MMS is defined as an MMP‐based series of compounds that have a conserved structural core and are distinguished by modifications at a single site. Systematic generation of MMS from specifically active compounds generalizes the search for series of structural analogs. Potency‐ordered MMS provide series associated with SAR information. We have systematically extracted MMS from publicly available compounds with well‐defined activity measurements and generated a large database with approx. 40 000 single‐ and 13 600 multi‐target series, which provide a rich source of SAR information. As an application, we introduce MMP‐based mapping of screening hits to MMS to search for initial SAR information and determine all SAR environments available for such hits. The MMS database is made freely available to the scientific community.
Quantification of circumferential, longitudinal, and radial global fractional shortening using steady‐state free precession cines: A comparison with tissue‐tracking strain and application in fabry disease
Authors: Cheng‐Baron June , Chow Kelvin , Pagano Joseph J. , Punithakumar Kumaradevan , Paterson D. Ian , Oudit Gavin Y. , Thompson Richard B.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

Conventional calculation of myocardial strain requires tissue‐tracking. A surrogate for strain called global fractional shortening (GFS) is proposed based on changes in dimensions of endocardial and epicardial surfaces without tissue‐tracking.

Methods

Three‐dimensional endocardial and epicardial left ventricular surfaces traced at end‐diastole and end‐systole using conventional steady‐state free precession cine images were used to calculate GFScc (circumferential), GFSll (longitudinal), and GFSrr (radial) using fractional length changes in each direction over the heart surface. GFS values were validated using finite element models (FEM) and in vivo using tagging‐derived strains (εcc,εll,εrr) in patients with a wide range of ejection fraction (EF) and diagnosis (n = 32). GFS was also measured in 31 patients with Fabry disease and matched healthy controls.

Results

GFS values were within 3% of average FEM‐derived Lagrangian strains and had good agreement in vivo (GFScc = −14 ± 4%, εcc = −14 ± 4%, R2 = 0.85; GFSll = −12 ± 4%, εll = −12 ± 4%, R2 = 0.72; GFSrr = 46 ± 21%). εrr could not be measured reliably from tagging. Compared with healthy controls with matched EF, patients with Fabry disease had significantly increased GFScc (Endo) (−28 ± 3% versus −25 ± 2%), decreased GFScc(Epi) (−10 ± 2% versus −11 ± 2%) and decreased GFSll for all components.

Conclusion

GFS yields similar values to conventionally measured strains without requiring tissue‐tracking. Compared with controls, patients with Fabry disease have significant differences in several GFS components. Magn Reson Med 73:586–596, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Real‐time feedback for spatiotemporal field stabilization in MR systems
Authors: Duerst Yolanda , Wilm Bertram J. , Dietrich Benjamin E. , Vannesjo S. Johanna , Barmet Christoph , Schmid Thomas , Brunner David O. , Pruessmann Klaas P.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

MR imaging and spectroscopy require a highly stable, uniform background field. The field stability is typically limited by hardware imperfections, external perturbations, or field fluctuations of physiological origin. The purpose of the present work is to address these issues by introducing spatiotemporal field stabilization based on real‐time sensing and feedback control.

Methods

An array of NMR field probes is used to sense the field evolution in a whole‐body MR system concurrently with regular system operation. The field observations serve as inputs to a proportional‐integral controller that governs correction currents in gradient and higher‐order shim coils such as to keep the field stable in a volume of interest.

Results

The feedback system was successfully set up, currently reaching a minimum latency of 20 ms. Its utility is first demonstrated by countering thermal field drift during an EPI protocol. It is then used to address respiratory field fluctuations in a T2*‐weighted brain exam, resulting in substantially improved image quality.

Conclusion

Feedback field control is an effective means of eliminating dynamic field distortions in MR systems. Third‐order spatial control at an update time of 100 ms has proven sufficient to largely eliminate thermal and breathing effects in brain imaging at 7 Tesla. Magn Reson Med 73:884–893, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Closed‐form solution for T2 mapping with nonideal refocusing of slice selective CPMG sequences
Authors: Petrovic Andreas , Scheurer Eva , Stollberger Rudolf
Published: March 2014

Purpose

T2 quantification with multiecho sequences is typically impaired by the contribution of stimulated echoes to the echo decay due to B1+ inhomogeneity and slice profile effects. In this work, a compact signal model based on the generating functions approach, which accounts for both sources of error, is presented.

Methods

The generating functions (GF) approach is used to obtain a closed solution to the evolution of the transverse magnetization in an echo train, however, not in the time domain, but in the transformed z‐domain. The approach is generalized by the incorporation of flip angle distribution across the refocusing slice profiles. The approach is tested by fitting the model to simulated data as well as to phantom and in vivo measurements, followed by a comparison with the common monoexponential fitting approach.

Results

The fitting simulations indicate that T2 errors of up to 30% can be commonplace in a clinical setting using the monoexponential method. Conversely, the GF approach produced accurate results. Phantom and in vivo experiments showed a good agreement of the GF values with spectroscopic measurements and single‐echo spin‐echo sequences.

Conclusion

A correction for stimulated echoes is necessary to compute comparable T2 values. The presented approach provides a solution to this issue. Magn Reson Med 73:818–827, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
N‐Aryl Isoleucine Derivatives as Angiotensin II AT2 Receptor Ligands
Authors: Behrends Malte , Wallinder Charlotta , Wieckowska Anna , Guimond Marie-Odile , Hallberg Anders , Gallo-Payet Nicole , Larhed Mats
Published: March 2014

A novel series of ligands for the recombinant human AT2 receptor has been synthesized utilizing a fast and efficient palladium‐catalyzed procedure for aminocarbonylation as the key reaction. Molybdenum hexacarbonyl [Mo(CO)6] was employed as the carbon monoxide source, and controlled microwave heating was applied. The prepared N‐aryl isoleucine derivatives, encompassing a variety of amide groups attached to the aromatic system, exhibit binding affinities at best with Ki values in the low micromolar range versus the recombinant human AT2 receptor. Some of the new nonpeptidic isoleucine derivatives may serve as starting points for further structural optimization. The presented data emphasize the importance of using human receptors in drug discovery programs.
Synthesis of amphoteric nanocomposite hydrogels with ultrahigh tensibility
Authors: Du Juan , Wu Ronglan , Liu Huanhuan , Nie Xudong , Li Huili , Xu Shimei , Wang Jide
Published: March 2014

Amphoteric nanocomposite hydrogels (NC gels) were synthesized by in situ copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and N[‐3(dimethylamino)propyl] methacrylamide (DMAPMA) in an aqueous dispersion of laponite XLG. Mechanical analyses demonstrated that this type of hydrogels had a combination of high tensile strength and excellent stretchability. The tensile strength was increased by 5 times up to 316 kPa when the laponite content was increased from 0.1 wt% to 20 wt%, and a maximum fracture strain of 2,317% was achieved for hydrogels containing 3 wt% laponite. Additionally, the marked improvements in strength were achieved with minimal sacrifice of the tensibility. This work provided a continuation to previous efforts of the preparation and properties of ionic NC gels. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:538–544, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Low carbohydrate diet to achieve weight loss and improve HbA1c in type 2 diabetes and pre‐diabetes: experience from one general practice
Authors: Unwin David , Unwin Jen
Published: March 2014

Patients with diabetes have long been exhorted to give up sugar, encouraged instead to take in fuel as complex carbohydrate such as the starch found in bread, rice or pasta (especially if ‘wholemeal’). However, bread has a higher glycaemic index than table sugar itself. There are no essential nutrients in starchy foods and people with diabetes struggle to deal with the glycaemic load they bring. The authors question why carbohydrate need form a major part of the diet at all. The central goal of achieving substantial weight loss has tended to be overlooked. The current pilot study explores the results of a low carbohydrate diet for a case series of 19 type 2 diabetes and pre‐diabetes patients over an eight‐month period in a suburban general practice.

A low carbohydrate diet was observed to bring about major benefits. Blood glucose control improved (HbA1c 51±14 to 40±4mmol/mol; p<0.001). By the end of the study period only two patients remained with an abnormal HbA1c (>42mmol/mol); even these two had seen an average drop of 23.9mmol/mol. Weight fell from 100.2±16.4 to 91.0±17.1kg (p<0.0001), and waist circumference decreased from 120.2±9.6 to 105.6±11.5cm (p<0.0001). Simultaneously, blood pressure improved (systolic 148±17 to 133±15mmHg, p<0.005; and diastolic 91±8 to 83±11mmHg, p<0.05). Serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase decreased from 75.2±54.7 to 40.6±29.2 U/L (p<0.005). Total serum cholesterol decreased from 5.5±1.0 to 4.7±1.2mmol/L (p<0.01).

This approach is easy to implement in general practice, and brings rapid weight loss and improvement in HbA1c. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons. Practical Diabetes 2014; 31(2): 76–79
Proteome‐wide search for PP2A substrates in fission yeast
Authors: Bernal Manuel , Zhurinsky Jacob , Iglesias‐Romero Ana B. , Sanchez‐Romero Maria A. , Flor‐Parra Ignacio , Tomas‐Gallardo Laura , Perez‐Pulido Antonio J. , Jimenez Juan , Daga Rafael R.
Published: March 2014

PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) is a major phosphatase in eukaryotic cells that plays an essential role in many processes. PP2A mutations in Schizosaccharomyces pombe result in defects of cell cycle control, cytokinesis and morphogenesis. Which PP2A substrates are responsible for these changes is not known. In this work, we searched for PP2A substrates in S. pombe using two approaches, 2D‐DIGE analysis of PP2A complex mutants and identification of PP2A interacting proteins. In both cases, we used MS to identify proteins of interest. In the DIGE experiment, we compared proteomes of wild‐type S. pombe, deletion of pta2, the phosphoactivator of the PP2A catalytic subunit, and pab1–4, a mutant of B‐type PP2A regulatory subunit. A total of 1742 protein spots were reproducibly resolved by 2D‐DIGE and 51 spots demonstrated significant changes between PP2A mutants and the wild‐type control. MS analysis of these spots identified 27 proteins that include key regulators of glycerol synthesis, carbon metabolism, amino acid biosyntesis, vitamin production, and protein folding. Importantly, we independently identified a subset of these proteins as PP2A binding partners by affinity precipitation, suggesting they may be direct targets of PP2A. We have validated our approach by demonstrating that phosphorylation of Gpd1, a key enzyme in glycerol biogenesis, is regulated by PP2A and that ability of cells to respond to osmotic stress by synthesizing glycerol is compromised in the PP2A mutants. Our work contributes to a better understanding of PP2A function and identifies potential PP2A substrates.
Designing Zwitterionic SiO2NH2‐Au Particles with Tunable Patchiness using Wrinkles
Authors: Brüx Roland , Hiltl Stephanie , Schröder Vera , von Essen Carolina , Böker Alexander
Published: March 2014

A facile template‐based approach toward zwitterionic SiO2NH2‐Au patchy particles is presented. Therefore, wrinkle templates prepared by stress release in a bilayer system comprised of an elastic PDMS fundament and a thin SiOx top layer are used. After aligning positively charged, amine‐functionalized silica particles in wrinkle grooves, their surfaces are partially modified with negatively charged gold nanoparticles in an electrostatic adsorption step. Patchiness is precisely controlled by the degree of immersion of the initial particles into wrinkles of varying dimensions. By ultrasonication or wetting with a water droplet, patchy particles are easily released from the substrate‐yielding particles with two oppositely charged hemispheres. Interfacial tension measurements prove the surface activity of the SiO2NH2‐Au particles in an oil/water system and are explained in the view of the Janus‐type surface charges of the particles and the charge of the oil/water interface.
Study of superconducting properties of ferrocene‐added MgB2
Authors: Sudesh  , Das S. , Bernhard C. , Shripathi T. , Varma G. D.
Published: March 2014

In the present study, we have shown the effects of ferrocene (FeC10H10) addition on the superconducting properties of polycrystalline MgB2 superconductor using transport and magnetic measurements. The addition of FeC10H10 up to 2 wt% in the MgB2 sample has shown enhanced critical current density, JC in the entire magnetic field region without affecting much the transition temperature. At 10 K, with respect to a pristine MgB2 sample, JC has improved by a factor of 6.55 at 6 T applied field for 1 wt% FeC10H10. An improvement in the upper critical field, and irreversibility field, Hirr has also been observed up to 2 wt% addition of FeC10H10. The value of as obtained using the Ginzburg–Landau (GL)‐theory fit of the experimental data increases by almost 2 T for 2 wt% FeC10H10‐added MgB2 as compared to the pristine samples. From X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), we observed that the Fe is present in sample in the form of ferromagnetic oxides, Fe3O4 and γ‐Fe2O3. These ferromagnetic inclusions provide efficient pinning centers to improve JC(H) behavior. The flux pinning mechanisms present in the FeC10H10‐added samples are described and discussed in this paper.
Can Tolerant Diatom Taxa be Used for Effective Assessments of Human Pressure?
Authors: Szczepocka E. , Kruk A. , Rakowska B.
Published: March 2014

Because lately the low bioindicative value of tolerant species from different taxonomic groups is often questioned, in this study, we hypothesized that tolerant diatoms may be used for effective temporal assessments of human pressure. We tested this on the lowland Bzura River in central Poland, on 156 diatom samples (DSs) from two study periods of 1972 with extremely severe point‐source water pollution and of 2002–2004, where the complex wastewater management in the river catchment improved water quality considerably. Out of the total 295 diatom species recorded in the samples, only 133 tolerant ones were included in the study. Patterns in their abundance were recognized with a Kohonen artificial neural network (self‐organizing map, SOM), whereas the species significantly associated with each SOM cluster of diatom samples were identified with the indicator value (IndVal) index and the Monte Carlo test. If the hypothesis tested was not supported, the assignation of DSs to the SOM clusters would be random. However, the separation of DSs from 1972 and 2002–2004 was almost perfect because the number of exceptions was as low as 4.5%. In addition, the relatively high number (64 out of 133) of tolerant species significantly associated with any SOM cluster (and respective environmental conditions at sites from which samples assigned to it come) supports the hypothesis tested. This means that almost half of the studied species are not evenly distributed in particular clusters as might be expected for highly tolerant species. The study proves that the abundances of many diatom species, currently classified as tolerant, carry quite precise information on the differences in the quality of the environment, and indicates those tolerant diatom species whose bioindicative potential may be highest. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A weighted cumulative sum (WCUSUM) to monitor medical outcomes with dependent censoring
Authors: Sun Rena Jie , Kalbfleisch John D. , Schaubel Douglas E.
Published: March 2014

We develop a weighted cumulative sum (WCUSUM) to evaluate and monitor pre‐transplant waitlist mortality of facilities in the context where transplantation is considered to be dependent censoring. Waitlist patients are evaluated multiple times in order to update their current medical condition as reflected in a time‐dependent variable called the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Higher MELD scores are indicative of higher pre‐transplant death risk. Moreover, under the current liver allocation system, patients with higher MELD scores receive higher priority for liver transplantation. To evaluate the waitlist mortality of transplant centers, it is important to take this dependent censoring into consideration. We assume a ‘standard’ transplant practice through a transplant model and utilize inverse probability censoring weights to construct a WCUSUM. We evaluate the properties of a weighted zero‐mean process as the basis of the proposed WCUSUM. We then discuss a resampling technique to obtain control limits. The proposed WCUSUM is illustrated through the analysis of national transplant registry data. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Super‐light concrete decks for building floor slabs
Authors: Hertz Kristian , Castberg Andreas , Christensen Jacob
Published: March 2014

This paper presents investigations carried out at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) on a prototype series for a super‐lightweight prestressed concrete deck element called the SL‐Deck.

The intention behind making a new prefabricated deck element is to improve performance with respect to flexibility, sound insulation and fire resistance compared with present‐day prefabricated structures.

Full‐scale tests and theoretical investigations show that the deck structure performs as intended. Also, that it is possible to assess by calculation the loadbearing capacity in bending and shear, and assess the pull‐out strength of prestressing wires, the fire resistance and the acoustic insulation. Based on the results of the investigations, recommendations are given for further development of the structure before fully automated mass production is established.
Consistent practical design of concrete structures
Authors: Nyhus Bente Skovseth
Published: March 2014

The design of large concrete structures is a very complex area which requires specialized skills and specialized tools. Tools are available to design these structures efficiently. However, these design tools are based on inconsistency between what is assumed in the structural analysis and the sectional design. This inconsistency is believed to be conservative, but is such an approach always safe and cost‐effective? In light of this, a design tool has been developed to eliminate this inconsistency. The program is called ShellDesign and the new method is called the “consistent stiffness method”. The method can be used in practical design and is a more efficient alternative to running non‐linear analysis programs. In order to obtain a more rational and consistent design method for transverse shear, implementation of the modified compression field theory (MCFT) in ShellDesign is almost finished. The main advantages of developing ShellDesign are to increase the competitiveness of concrete structures, contribute to increased safety and also to increase operability and document robustness in existing structures.
Dynamically loaded concrete structures – monitoring‐based assessment of the real degree of fatigue deterioration
Authors: Urban Susanne , Strauss Alfred , Schütz Robert , Bergmeister Konrad , Dehlinger Christian
Published: March 2014

When it comes to dynamically loaded concrete structures, determining the real degree of fatigue damage of a structure on site is a very demanding process that has not been explored in depth. Calculation concepts according to current codes and specifications (e.g. fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 [1]) do not offer efficient results for this task. However, the permanent monitoring from the erection of a structure up to the end of its lifetime is seen as a very promising possibility for assessing the degree of damage constantly. This article takes a closer look at the concrete fatigue concept of fib Model Code 2010 [1], shows an FE simulation of a time‐dependent fatigue process for an offshore wind turbine foundation and presents a fatigue monitoring concept including laboratory tests, which enables the detection of the real degree of deterioration in a concrete structure. During tests, the use of ultrasound was identified as the most appropriate method. Measuring wave velocity enables the determination of the dynamic E‐modulus, which correlates to the degree of damage within the cross‐section of the structure considered.
A Flexible Tri‐carboxylic Acid Derived Zinc(II) 3D Helical Metal‐Organic‐Framework and a Cadmium(II) Interwoven 2D Layered Framework Solid
Authors: Vishnoi Pratap , Murugavel Ramaswamy
Published: March 2014

Starting from a flexible tri‐carboxylic acid ligand H3L {H3L = 2,4,6‐tris[(4′‐carboxyphenoxy)methyl]‐1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene}, a 3D metal‐organic framework [Zn(HL)(H2O)]n (1) and a 2D polymeric layered solid {[(CH3)2NH2)]2[Cd2L2(DMA)2]}n (2) were hydrothermally synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FT‐IR spectroscopy, TGA, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray structural analyses reveal that the complex 1 is an example of a doubly interpenetrated 3D helical MOF with mutually entwined right‐ and left‐handed helices to form an overall racemic framework. Complex 2 is made up of fourfold interwoven 2D nets in the solid state.
Concurrent evolution of cancer cachexia and heart failure: bilateral effects exist
Authors: Kazemi‐Bajestani Seyyed M. R. , Becher Harald , Fassbender Konrad , Chu Quincy , Baracos Vickie E.
Published: March 2014

Cancer cachexia is defined as a multifactorial syndrome of involuntary weight loss characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass and progressive functional impairment. It is postulated that cardiac dysfunction/atrophy parallels skeletal muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia. Cardiotoxic chemotherapy may additionally result in cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in some cancer patients. Heart failure thus may be a consequence of either ongoing cachexia or chemotherapy‐induced cardiotoxicity; at the same time, heart failure can result in cachexia, especially muscle wasting. Therefore, the subsequent heart failure and cardiac cachexia can exacerbate the existing cancer‐induced cachexia. We discuss these bilateral effects between cancer cachexia and heart failure in cancer patients. Since cachectic patients are more susceptible to chemotherapy‐induced toxicity overall, this may also include increased cardiotoxicity of antineoplastic agents. Patients with cachexia could thus be doubly unfortunate, with cachexia‐related cardiac dysfunction/heart failure and increased susceptibility to cardiotoxicity during treatment. Cardiovascular risk factors as well as pre‐existing heart failure seem to exacerbate cardiac susceptibility against cachexia and increase the rate of cardiac cachexia. Hence, chemotherapy‐induced cardiotoxicity, cardiovascular risk factors, and pre‐existing heart failure may accelerate the vicious cycle of cachexia‐heart failure. The impact of cancer cachexia on cardiac dysfunction/heart failure in cancer patients has not been thoroughly studied. A combination of serial echocardiography for detection of cachexia‐induced cardiac remodeling and computed tomography image analysis for detection of skeletal muscle wasting would appear a practical and non‐invasive approach to develop an understanding of cardiac structural/functional alterations that are directly related to cachexia.
Shuttling of information between the mucosal and luminal environment drives intestinal homeostasis
Authors: Asselin Claude , Gendron Fernand-Pierre
Published: March 2014

The gastrointestinal tract is a passageway for dietary nutrients, microorganisms and xenobiotics. The gut is home to diverse bacterial communities forming the microbiota. While bacteria and their metabolites maintain gut homeostasis, the host uses innate and adaptive immune mechanisms to cope with the microbiota and luminal environment. In recent years, multiple bi‐directional instructive mechanisms between microbiota, luminal content and mucosal immune systems have been uncovered. Indeed, epithelial and immune cell‐derived mucosal signals shape microbiota composition, while microbiota and their by‐products shape the mucosal immune system. Genetic and environmental perturbations alter gut mucosal responses which impact on microbial ecology structures. On the other hand, changes in microbiota alter intestinal mucosal responses. In this review, we discuss how intestinal epithelial Paneth and goblet cells interact with the microbiota, how environmental and genetic disorders are sensed by endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy responses, how specific bacteria, bacterial‐ and diet‐derived products determine the function and activation of the mucosal immune system. We will also discuss the critical role of HDAC activity as a regulator of immune and epithelial cell homeostatic responses.
Comparison of outcomes between operative vaginal deliveries and spontaneous vaginal deliveries in southeast Nigeria
Authors: Lawani Lucky O. , Anozie Okechukwu B. , Ezeonu Paul O. , Iyoke Chukwuemeka A.
Published: March 2014

Objective

To evaluate the incidence of, indications for, and outcome of operative vaginal deliveries compared with spontaneous vaginal deliveries in southeast Nigeria.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving cases of operative vaginal delivery performed at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital over a 10‐year period. Data on the procedures were abstracted from the operation notes of the medical records of parturients.

Results

An incidence of 4.7% (n = 461) was recorded. The most common indications for vacuum and forceps delivery were prolonged second stage of labor (44.9%) and poor maternal effort (27.8%). The only indication for destructive operation was intrauterine fetal death (3.7%). The risk ratio (RR) for hemorrhage/vulvar hematoma was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–2.48) for vacuum‐assisted delivery and 5.49 (95% CI, 0.82–36.64) for forceps delivery. The RR for genital laceration was 1.21 (95% CI, 0.44–3.30) for vacuum‐assisted delivery and 9.41 (95% CI, 1.33–66.65) for forceps delivery. The risk of fetal scalp bruises and caput succedaneum was higher for operative vaginal delivery than for spontaneous vaginal delivery, with no significant difference in maternal morbidity. The perinatal mortality rate was 0.9 per 1000 live births.

Conclusion

Operative vaginal delivery by experienced healthcare providers is associated with good obstetric outcomes with minimal risk.
Gelfand pairs and strong transitivity for Euclidean buildings
Authors: CAPRACE PIERRE-EMMANUEL , CIOBOTARU CORINA
Published: March 2014

Let $G$ be a locally compact group acting properly, by type-preserving automorphisms on a locally finite thick Euclidean building $\Delta $, and $K$ be the stabilizer of a special vertex in $\Delta $. It is known that $(G, K)$ is a Gelfand pair as soon as $G$ acts strongly transitively on $\Delta $; in particular, this is the case when $G$ is a semi-simple algebraic group over a local field. We show a converse to this statement, namely that if $(G, K)$ is a Gelfand pair and $G$ acts cocompactly on $\Delta $, then the action is strongly transitive. The proof uses the existence of strongly regular hyperbolic elements in $G$ and their peculiar dynamics on the spherical building at infinity. Other equivalent formulations are also obtained, including the fact that $G$ is strongly transitive on $\Delta $ if and only if it is strongly transitive on the spherical building at infinity.
Extended Squire’s transformation and its consequences for transient growth in a confined shear flow
Authors: John Soundar Jerome J. , Chomaz Jean-Marc
Published: March 2014

The classical Squire transformation is extended to the entire eigenfunction structure of both Orr–Sommerfeld and Squire modes. For arbitrary Reynolds numbers $\mathit{Re}$, this transformation allows the solution of the initial-value problem for an arbitrary three-dimensional (3D) disturbance via a two-dimensional (2D) initial-value problem at a smaller Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}_{2D}$. Its implications for the transient growth of arbitrary 3D disturbances is studied. Using the Squire transformation, the general solution of the initial-value problem is shown to predict large-Reynolds-number scaling for the optimal gain at all optimization times $t$ with ${t}/{\mathit{Re}}$ finite or large. This result is an extension of the well-known scaling laws first obtained by Gustavsson (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 224, 1991, pp. 241–260) and Reddy & Henningson (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 252, 1993, pp. 209–238) for arbitrary $\alpha \mathit{Re}$, where $\alpha $ is the streamwise wavenumber. The Squire transformation is also extended to the adjoint problem and, hence, the adjoint Orr–Sommerfeld and Squire modes. It is, thus, demonstrated that the long-time optimal growth of 3D perturbations as given by the exponential growth (or decay) of the leading eigenmode times an extra gain representing its receptivity, may be decomposed as a product of the gains arising from purely 2D mechanisms and an analytical contribution representing 3D growth mechanisms equal to $1+ \left (\beta \mathit{Re}/\mathit{Re}_{2D}\right )^2 \mathcal{G}$, where $\beta $ is the spanwise wavenumber and $\mathcal{G}$ is a known expression. For example, when the leading eigenmode is an Orr–Sommerfeld mode, it is given by the product of respective gains from the 2D Orr mechanism and an analytical expression representing the 3D lift-up mechanism. Whereas if the leading eigenmode is a Squire mode, the extra gain is shown to be solely due to the 3D lift-up mechanism. Direct numerical solutions of the optimal gain for plane Poiseuille and plane Couette flow confirm the novel predictions of the Squire transformation extended to the initial-value problem. These results are also extended to confined shear flows in the presence of a temperature gradient.
On the Instability of Plane Poiseuille Flow of Two Immiscible Fluids Using the Energy Gradient Theory
Authors: Farahbakhsh I. , Nourazar S. S. , Ghassemi H. , Dou H.-S. , Nazari-Golshan A.
Published: March 2014

In the present study, the instability of laminar flow of two immiscible fluids is investigated. The theory of energy gradient is employed for the analysis. The distributions of energy gradient for various viscosity ratios, i.e., ratios of lower viscosity to higher one, are obtained and the results for the onset of instability are compared with the available experimental data. The comparison of the results shows excellent agreement with the existing experimental data. It will be also demonstrated that as the viscosity ratio decreases the flow becomes more stable even at high Reynolds numbers.