bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐resolution stimulated Raman spectroscopy and analysis of line positions and assignments for the ν2 and ν3 bands of 13C2H4
Authors: Alkadrou A. , Rotger M. , Bermejo D. , Doménech J. L. , Boudon V.
Published: March 2016

High‐resolution stimulated Raman spectra of13C2H4 in the regions of the ν2 and ν3 Raman active modes have been recorded at two temperatures (145 and 296 K) based on the quasi continuous‐wave (cw) stimulated Raman spectrometer at Instituto de Estructura de la Materia IEM‐CSIC in Madrid. A tensorial formalism adapted to X2Y4 planar asymmetric tops with D2h symmetry (developed in Dijon) and a program suite called D2hTDS (now part of the XTDS/SPVIEW spectroscopic software) were proposed to analyze and calculate the high‐resolution spectra. A total of 103 and 51 lines corresponding to ν2 and ν3 Raman active modes have been assigned and fitted in wavenumber with a global root mean square deviation of 0.54 × 10−3 and 0.36 × 10−3 cm−1, respectively. Due to the fact that the Raman scattering effect is weak, we did not perform in this contribution the line intensities analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Actein protects against methylglyoxal‐induced oxidative damage in osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells
Authors: Suh Kwang Sik , Chon Suk , Choi Eun Mi
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an endogenous product of glucose metabolism known to be toxic to cells and to be present in elevated concentrations under certain pathophysiological conditions. In the present study the effect of actein isolated from black cohosh on MG‐induced cytotoxicity was investigated in MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells.

RESULTS

Treatment of MC3T3‐E1 osteoblastic cells with actein prevented MG‐induced cell death and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial superoxide, inflammatory cytokines and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end‐products (sRAGE). In addition, actein increased the activity of glyoxalase I and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). These findings suggest that actein protects against MG‐induced cell damage by reducing oxidative stress and increasing MG detoxification. Treatment with actein prior to MG exposure reduced MG‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction by preventing mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) loss. Additionally, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC‐1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF‐1) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly increased by actein, suggesting that actein may induce mitochondrial biogenesis.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that actein reduces MG‐induced damage in osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells by enhancing antioxidant defenses, the glyoxalase system and mitochondrial biogenesis. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Valorisation of untreated cane molasses for enhanced phytase production by Bacillus subtilis K46b and its potential role in dephytinisation
Authors: Rocky‐Salimi Karim , Hashemi Maryam , Safari Mohammad , Mousivand Maryam
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

The high cost of phytase production is the most limiting factor in its application in animal feeds. The present study aimed to develop a low‐cost medium for production of a novel phytase in submerged fermentation using inexpensive agro‐industrial by‐products. The applicability of phytase in dephytinisation of commonly used food/feed ingredients, i.e. soybean meal and wheat bran, was also investigated.

RESULTS

Using a one‐factor‐at‐a‐time approach, soybean meal and cane molasses were identified as significant agro‐industrial by‐products and these factors were subsequently optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). A central composite design was employed to further enhance phytase yield. Under optimum conditions of soybean meal 22.3 g L−1, cane molasses 100 g L−1 and 39 h fermentation, phytase production increased to 56.562 U mL−1, indicating more than 28‐fold enhancement. The enzyme efficiently dephytinised wheat bran and soybean meal after 24 h incubation at 56.5 °C and increased inorganic phosphate content by 240% and 155%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Soybean meal and cane molasses were successfully used for enhancement of phytase production as economical carbon, nitrogen and phytic acid sources using RSM. The phytase showed a good capability to dephytinise wheat bran and soybean meal, demonstrating that the enzyme can be considered as a potential candidate for industrial food and feed applications. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Recent developments in identifying and quantifying emotions during food consumption
Authors: Kenney Erica , Adhikari Koushik
Published: March 2016

Emotions and the consumption of food and beverages are inextricably intertwined. As the fields of sensory and consumer science seek to better conceptualize the consumer experience, interest in emotion measurement is growing. Emotions can provide key information to differentiate between products and predict consumer choice as well as give more detail about product perception. There are several emotion measurement instruments, including physiological methods and facial recognition, self‐reported verbal emotion measurement and self‐reported visual emotion measurement. This review discusses the purpose of measuring emotions, what is the definition of an emotion, what different instruments are available, and touches upon some promising research to deepen the connection between food and emotions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Neoadjuvant radiotherapy for retroperitoneal sarcoma: A systematic review
Authors: Cheng Hao , Miura John T. , Lalehzari Mona , Rajeev Rahul , Donahue Amy E. , Bedi Meena , Gamblin T. Clark , Turaga Kiran K. , Johnston Fabian M.
Published: March 2016

Background and Objectives

The multi‐modal treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma has seen increased use of neoadjuvant radiation. However, its effect on local recurrence and survival remain controversial. We aimed to synthesize and evaluate the literature.

Methods

The review was conducted according the recommendation of the Meta‐Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) group with pre‐specified inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

Of 8,701 citations collected, 15 articles reported on 464 patients. The median age was 56 years (45–64). The predominant histological subtypes were liposarcoma (51.54%) and leiomyosarcoma (23.26%). Tumor differentiation composed of 37.1% well‐, 12.8% moderate‐, 46.0% poorly‐, and 4.1% undifferentiated. Most studies featured external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) treatment regimen with some who included patients treated with IMRT instead. Median follow‐up averaged 41.4 months (19–106 months). Median 5‐year OS, PFS, and LRR rates were 58%, 71.5%, and 25%. Using the NCI CTCAE, toxicities from Grade 1 (Mild) through Grade 5 (death) were experienced by 18.8%, 10.2%, 16.3%, 0.7%, and 1.6% of patients.

Conclusions

NART is a safe to use for RPS, but its effect toward survival and local control remains unclear. Without randomized control trials, common reporting criteria for pro‐ and retrospective studies are needed to allow comparison between studies. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:628–634. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rapid determination of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in particulate matter using accelerated solvent extraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection
Authors: Xu Tianci
Published: March 2016

A method has been developed for the trace analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known as persistent organic pollutants and ubiquitous constituents of fine particulate matter that causes growing airborne pollution. The method, which was especially for samples of airborne particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter, utilized accelerated solvent extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. Four principal parameters of accelerated solvent extraction were optimized to obtain maximum extraction efficiency. Using the established synergetic programs of gradient elution and fluorescence wavelength switching, a rapid separation was achieved in 6.56 min with good linearity for 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (coefficient of determination above 0.999). The limits of detection ranged from 0.833 to 10.0 pg/m3. The precision of the method expressed as inter‐day relative standard deviation ranged from 0.2 to 1%, which was calculated from nine repetitive measurements of 8.00 μg/L analytes. Average spiked recoveries ranged from 71.6 to 97.7%, with the exception of naphthalene. The rapid, sensitive, and accurate method can meet the pressing needs of health risk assessment and increasingly heavy daily tasks of air quality monitoring.
Simultaneous analysis of ten phytohormones in Sargassum horneri by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Li Yan , Zhou Chengxu , Yan Xiaojun , Zhang Jinrong , Xu Jilin
Published: March 2016

Phytohormones have attracted wide attention due to their important biological functions. However, their detection is still a challenge because of their complex composition, low abundance and diverse sources. In this study, a novel method of high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ten phytohormones including indole‐3‐acetic acid, isopentenyladenine, isopentenyl adenosine, trans‐zeatin riboside, zeatin, strigolactones, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, gibberellin A3, and jasmonic acid in Sargassum horneri (S. horneri). The phytohormones were extracted from freeze‐dried S. horneri with methanol/water/methanoic acid (15:4:1, v/v/v) analyzed on a Hypersil Gold C18 column and detected by electrospray ionization tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The experimental conditions for the extraction and analysis of phytohormones were optimized and validated in terms of reproducibility, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, accuracy, and stability. Distributions of the phytohormones in the stems, blades, and gas bladder of the S. horneri in drift, fixed, and semi‐fixed growing states were investigated for the first time. The observed contents of the phytohormones in S. horneri range from not detected to 5066.67 ng/g (fresh weight). Most phytohormones are distributed mainly in the stems of S. horneri in drift and semi‐fixed states.
Preconcentration of valsartan by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop and its determination in urine sample: Central composite design
Authors: Pebdani Arezou Amiri , Shabani Ali Mohammad Haji , Dadfarnia Shayesteh , Talebianpoor Mohammad Sharif , Khodadoust Saeid
Published: March 2016

In this work, a fast, easy, and efficient dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method based on solidification of floating organic drop followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection was developed for the separation/preconcentration and determination of the drug valsartan. Experimental design was applied for the optimization of the effective variables (such as volume of extracting and dispersing solvents, ionic strength, and pH) on the extraction efficiency of valsartan from urine samples. The optimized values were 250.0 μL ethanol, 65.0 μL 1‐dodecanol, 4.0% w/v NaCl, pH 3.8, 1.0 min extraction time, and 4.0 min centrifugation at 4000 rpm min−1. The linear response (r2= 0.997) was obtained in the range of 0.013–10.0 μg mL−1with a limit of detection of 4.0 ng mL−1and relative standard deviations of less than 5.0 % (n= 6).
Determination and pharmacokinetic study of four lignans in rat plasma after oral administration of an extract of Valeriana amurensis by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xue Juan , Mi Yingying , Wang Zhibin , Sun Yichun , Wu Qiong , Wang Changfu , Zhang Hongwei , Yang Xin , Kuang Haixue , Wang Qiuhong
Published: March 2016

A selective and sensitive ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetic study of (+)‐8‐hydroxypinoresinol‐4’‐O‐β ‐D‐glucopyranoside, prinsepiol‐4‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, (+)‐pinoresinol‐4,4’‐di‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, and (−)‐massoniresinol 3α‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside in rat plasma after the oral administration of a Valeriana amurensis extract. The analytes and ethyl 4‐hydroxybenzoate (internal standard) were separated on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 chromatographic column. The detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using an electrospray ionization source operating in negative ionization mode. The linear ranges (ng/mL) of the standard curves were 0.39–154.00, 0.62–244.70, 0.50–198.60, and 0.34–134.50 for (+)‐8‐hydroxypinoresinol‐4’‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, prinsepiol‐4‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, (+)‐pinoresinol‐4,4’‐di‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, and (−)‐massoniresinol 3α‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, respectively. The inter‐ and intra‐day precisions were less than 11.0%, the accuracies were between −5.9 and 7.7%, and the extraction recoveries of the four analytes were > 81.2% from rat plasma. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of the four analytes after oral administration of a Valeriana amurensis extract to rats. The developed method has the potential for pharmacokinetic analysis and to provide additional information in the clinical application of Valeriana amurensis.
Preparation of magnetic glycoprotein‐imprinted nanoparticles with dendritic polyethyleneimine as a monomer for the specific recognition of ovalbumin from egg white
Authors: Zhang Lili , Tang Yuhai , Hao Yi , He Gaiyan , Zhang Bianbian , Gao Ruixia , Zhang Min
Published: March 2016

Glycoproteins are crucial in massive physiological events and clinical application. It is necessary to prepare new materials to isolate the specific glycoprotein. New and simple core–shell molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared by surface imprinting. The polymers are synthesized with magnetic nanoparticles as the core, water‐soluble dendritic polyethyleneimine as the monomer and the ovalbumin as the template. The prepared imprinted polymers showed thin imprinted shell, biocompatibility and superparamagnetic properties. The resultant materials exhibited fast kinetics, high adsorption capacity, perfect selectivity and reusability. More important, they can absorb the template glycoprotein from the neutral solution and successfully be applied to recognize the ovalbumin from egg white, which means that they can provide an alternate method to isolate glycoprotein from bodily fluids.
Rehabilitation and post‐release monitoring of two wolves with severe injuries
Authors: Rio‐Maior Helena , Beja Pedro , Nakamura Mónia , Santos Nuno , Brandão Ricardo , Sargo Roberto , Dias Isabel , Silva Filipe , Álvares Francisco
Published: March 2016

Injured free‐ranging wolves (Canis lupus) are often rehabilitated and released into the wild, but there is limited data on their post‐release survival and behavior. We used global positioning system telemetry to document movements and spatial overlap with resident packs of 2 wolves in northern Portugal that were released following rehabilitation from severe traumatic injuries and were kept in captivity for 10–12 weeks in 2012. A yearling female, with a complex fracture on the thoracic limb, traveled 2,709 km over about 643 km2, during the 12 months post‐release before being illegally shot. During the first 8 months, it was located frequently around 3 different pack territories, but afterwards its movements were restricted to a single pack territory. We tracked a yearling male with an amputated hind limb for 5 months and it traveled 922 km over about 574 km2before dying in a road casualty. It visited 4 different pack territories in succession but also spent time outside known territory boundaries. Our findings suggest that rehabilitated wolves can recover their locomotor activity and survive in the wild for several months, even after suffering severe injuries and spending ≤3 months in captivity. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Three‐dimensional manometry of the upper esophageal sphincter in swallowing and nonswallowing tasks
Authors: Meyer Jacob P. , Jones Corinne A. , Walczak Chelsea C. , McCulloch Timothy M.
Published: March 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

High‐resolution manometry (HRM) is useful in identifying disordered swallowing patterns and quantifying pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) physiology. HRM is limited by unidirectional sensors and circumferential averaging of pressures, resulting in an imperfect understanding of pressure from asymmetrical pharyngeal anatomy. This study aims to evaluate UES pressures simultaneously from different axial directions.

Study Design

Case series.

Methods

Three‐dimensional HRM was performed on eight healthy subjects to evaluate circumferential UES pressure patterns at rest, during the Valsalva maneuver, and during water swallowing.

Results

Multivariate analysis of the variance revealed a significant main effect of circumferential direction on pressure while at rest (P < .001); pressure was greater in the anterior and posterior portions of the UES versus lateral portions. A significant main effect of direction on pressure was not found during the Valsalva maneuver. During swallowing of a 5‐mL water bolus, circumferential direction had a significant main effect on pressure immediately before UES pressure dropped (P = .001), while the UES was open (P = .01) and at UES closure (P < .001). There was also a significant main effect of sensor level along the vertical axis on pressure immediately before UES pressure dropped (P = .032) and at UES closure (P < .001). Anterior and posterior pressures were again greater than lateral pressures at all swallowing events.

Conclusions

These results confirm that UES pressures vary significantly based on their circumferential origin, with the majority of the total pressure generated in anterior and posterior regions. Improved understanding of UES pressure in a three‐dimensional space can lead to more sophisticated treatments for pharyngeal and UES dysfunction.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:2539–2545, 2016
Energy equipartition and unidirectional emission in a spaser nanolaser
Authors: Totero Gongora Juan Sebastian , Miroshnichenko Andrey E. , Kivshar Yuri S. , Fratalocchi Andrea
Published: March 2016

A spaser is a nanoplasmonic counterpart of a laser, with photons replaced by surface plasmon polaritons and a resonant cavity replaced by a metallic nanostructure supporting localized plasmonic modes. By combining analytical results and first‐principle numerical simulations, we provide a comprehensive study of the ultrafast dynamics of a spaser. Due to its highly‐nonlinear nature, the spaser is characterized by a large number of interacting degrees of freedom, which sustain a rich manifold of different phases we discover, describe and analyze here. In the regime of strong interaction, the system manifests an irreversible ergodic evolution towards the configuration where energy is equally shared among all the available degrees of freedom. Under this condition, the spaser generates ultrafast vortex‐like lasing modes that are spinning on the femtosecond scale and whose direction of rotation is dictated by quantum noise. In this regime, the spaser acquires the character of a nanoparticle with an effective spin. This opens up a range of interesting possibilities for achieving unidirectional emission from a symmetric nanostructure, stimulating a broad range of applications for nanoplasmonic lasers as unidirectional couplers and random information sources.

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Surface‐plasmon wavefront and spectral shaping by near‐field holography
Authors: Epstein Itai , Tsur Yuval , Arie Ady
Published: March 2016

Surface‐plasmon‐polariton waves are two‐dimensional electromagnetic surface waves that propagate at the interface between a metal and a dielectric. These waves exhibit unusual and attractive properties, such as high spatial confinement and enhancement of the optical field, and are widely used in a variety of applications, such as sensing and subwavelength optics. The ability to precisely control the spatial and spectral properties of the surface‐plasmon wave is required in order to support the growing interest in both research and applications of plasmonic waves, and to bring it to the next level. Here, we review the challenges and methods for shaping the wavefront and spectrum of plasmonic waves. In particular, we present the recent advances in plasmonic spatial and spectral shaping, which are based on the realization of plasmonic holograms for the optical nearfield.

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Evaluation of cell and matrix mechanics using fluorescence excitation spectroscopy: Feasibility study in collagen gels containing fibroblasts
Authors: Padilla‐Martinez Juan Pablo , Wang Ruisheng , Franco Walfre
Published: March 2016

Background and Objective

Collagen gels containing cells are commonly used in tissue engineering, wound healing, and cancer research to investigate the interplay between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), as changes in the density and stiffness of the microenvironment are known to play a role in many diseases or pathological conditions. In these gels, the stiffness is regularly determined using destructive methods, such as indentation and tensile tests. Certain molecules native to cells and the ECM display fluorescence upon irradiation with ultraviolet light. The objective of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of using the endogenous, or innate, fluorescence of collagen gels containing fibroblasts as an optical marker to evaluate changes in the mechanical properties of the ECM.

Materials and Methods

Human foreskin fibroblasts cells at concentrations of 50,000 and 100,000 cells/ml were cultured in three‐dimensional gels of type I collagen for 16 days. Fibroblast cells remodeled the ECM, contracting and increasing the stiffness of the gel. During this remodeling process, changes in mechanical properties and fluorescence were measured with an indentation test and a spectrofluorometer, respectively. Force and displacement measurements from the indentation test were used to calculate the elastic modulus of the gel. Maps of fluorescence intensity, at excitation/emission of 240–520/290–530 nm, were used to identify the wavelengths of interest.

Results

Fluorescence excitation/emission maps exhibited two distinct excitation/emission bands whose intensities increased as the fibroblasts remodeled and increased the stiffness of the ECM: The 290/340 nm band ascribed to tryptophan and the 330/390 nm band ascribed to cross‐links of collagen (pepsin‐digestible cross‐links). A Spearman correlation analysis, between the elastic modulus of the gel containing fibroblasts and the fluorescence of cross‐links of collagen, resulted in R = 0.95 (P < 0.05) and R = 0.77 (P = 0.12) for 50,000 and 100,000 cells/ml, respectively.

Conclusions

The endogenous fluorescence intensity ascribed to pepsin‐digestible cross‐links of collagen may serve as an optical marker to evaluate changes in the mechanical properties of the ECM; this is relevant to collagenous tissues for which pathological states are related to mechanical alterations, such as keratoconus in cornea and osteoarthritis in articular cartilage. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:377–384, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nanoindentation of Films of Perfluorotridecyl, Perfluorodecyl, and Perfluoroheptyl End‐Functionalized Polystyrene at the Micron Scale
Authors: Yurdacan Merve , Franke Oliver , Hogen‐Esch Thieo
Published: March 2016

Polystyrenes (PS) end‐functionalized with perfluorotridecyl (PFTD), perfluorodecyl (PFD), and perfluoroheptyl (PFH) groups are synthesized using the corresponding perfluoroalkyl initiators by atom transfer radical polymerization. Polymer thin films deposited on silicon wafers are studied by dynamic nanoindentation (NI). NI measurements of the 15k PFTD‐PS sample showed increases of about 80 and 300% in the storage and loss moduli, respectively, compared to the 15k PS homopolymer. Measurements made on different regions of the PFTD‐functionalized PS show a fivefold greater standard deviation compared to the 15k PS homopolymer. The effects for the PFD and PFH groups are smaller in all respects consistent with expectations.

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Copolymerization of Epichlorohydrin and CO2 Using Zinc Glutarate: An Additional Application of ZnGA in Polycarbonate Synthesis
Authors: Sudakar Padmanaban , Sivanesan Dharmalingam , Yoon Sungho
Published: March 2016

The use of zinc glutarate (ZnGA) as a heterogeneous catalyst for the copolymerization of epichlorohydrin, an epoxide with an electron‐withdrawing substituent, and CO2 is reported. This catalyst shows the highest selectivity (98%) for polycarbonate over the cyclic carbonate in epichlorohydrin/CO2 copolymerization under mild conditions. The (epichlorohydrin‐co‐CO2) polymer exhibits a high glass transition temperature (Tg), 44 °C, which is the maximum Tg value obtained for the (epichlorohydrin‐co‐CO2) polymer to date.

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Imidazolium‐Based Poly(Ionic Liquid)s Featuring Acetate Counter Anions: Thermally Latent and Recyclable Precursors of Polymer‐Supported N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes for Organocatalysis
Authors: Lambert Romain , Coupillaud Paul , Wirotius Anne‐Laure , Vignolle Joan , Taton Daniel
Published: March 2016

Statistical copoly(ionic liquid)s (coPILs), namely, poly(styrene)‐co‐poly(4‐vinylbenzylethylimidazolium acetate) are synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization in methanolic solution. These coPILs serve to in situ generate polymer‐supported N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), referred to as polyNHCs, due to the noninnocent role of the weakly basic acetate counter‐anion interacting with the proton in C2‐position of pendant imidazolium rings. Formation of polyNHCs is first evidenced through the quantitative formation of NHC‐CS2 units by chemical postmodification of acetate‐containing coPILs, in the presence of CS2 as electrophilic reagent (= stoichiometric functionalization of polyNHCs). The same coPILs are also employed as masked precursors of polyNHCs in organocatalyzed reactions, including a one‐pot two‐step sequential reaction involving benzoin condensation followed by addition of methyl acrylate, cyanosilylation, and transesterification reactions. The catalytic activity can be switched on and off successively upon thermal activation, thanks to the deprotonation/reprotonation equilibrium in C2‐position. NHC species are thus in situ released upon heating at 80 °C (deprotonation), while regeneration of the coPIL precursor occurs at room temperature (reprotonation), triggering its precipitation in tetrahydrofuran. This also allows recycling the coPIL precatalyst by simple filtration, and reusing it for further catalytic cycles. The different organocatalyzed reactions tested can thus be performed with excellent yields after several cycles.

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Novel Dystonia Genes: Clues on Disease Mechanisms and the Complexities of High‐Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Domingo Aloysius , Erro Roberto , Lohmann Katja
Published: March 2016

Dystonia is a genetically heterogenous disease and a prototype disorder where next‐generation sequencing has facilitated the identification of new pathogenic genes. This includes the first two genes linked to recessively inherited isolated dystonia, that is, HPCA (hippocalcin) and COL6A3 (collagen VI alpha 3). These genes are proposed to underlie cases of the so‐called DYT2‐like dystonia, while also reiterating two distinct pathways in dystonia pathogenesis. First, deficiency in HPCA function is thought to alter calcium homeostasis, a mechanism that has previously been forwarded for CACNA1A and ANO3. The novel myoclonus‐dystonia genes KCTD17 and CACNA1B also implicate abnormal calcium signaling in dystonia. Second, the phenotype in COL6A3‐loss‐of‐function zebrafish models argues for a neurodevelopmental defect, which has previously been suggested as a possible biological mechanism for THAP1, TOR1A, and TAF1 based on expression data. The newly reported myoclonus‐dystonia gene, RELN, plays also a role in the formation of brain structures. Defects in neurodevelopment likewise seem to be a recurrent scheme underpinning mainly complex dystonias, for example those attributable to biallelic mutations in GCH1, TH, SPR, or to heterozygous TUBB4A mutations. To date, it remains unclear whether dystonia is a common phenotypic outcome of diverse underlying disease mechanisms, or whether the different genetic causes converge in a single pathway. Importantly, the relevance of pathways highlighted by novel dystonia genes identified by high‐throughput sequencing depends on the confirmation of mutation pathogenicity in subsequent genetic and functional studies. However, independent, careful validation of genetic findings lags behind publications of newly identified genes. We conclude with a discussion on the characteristics of true‐positive reports. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Small Molecules for Active Targeting in Cancer
Authors: Kue Chin S. , Kamkaew Anyanee , Burgess Kevin , Kiew Lik V. , Chung Lip Y. , Lee Hong B.
Published: March 2016

For the purpose of this review, active targeting in cancer research encompasses strategies wherein a ligand for a cell surface receptor expressed on tumor cells is used to deliver a cytotoxic or imaging cargo. This area of research is more than two decades old, but in those 20 and more years, how many receptors have been studied extensively? What kinds of the ligands are used for active targeting? Are they mostly naturally occurring molecules such as folic acid, or synthetic substances developed in campaigns for medicinal chemistry efforts? This review outlines the most important receptor or ligand combinations that have been used in active targeting to answer these questions, and therefore to address the most important one of all: is research in active targeting affording diminishing returns, or is this an area for which the potential far exceeds progress made so far?
Computational assessment of feature combinations for pathogenic variant prediction
Authors: König Eva , Rainer Johannes , Domingues Francisco S.
Published: March 2016

Background

Although several methods have been proposed for predicting the effects of genetic variants and their role in disease, it is still a challenge to identify and prioritize pathogenic variants within sequencing studies.

Methods

Here, we compare different variant and gene‐specific features as well as existing methods and investigate their best combination to explore potential performance gains.

Results

We found that combining the number of “biological process” Gene Ontology annotations of a gene with the methods PON‐P2, and PROVEAN significantly improves prediction of pathogenic variants, outperforming all individual methods. A comprehensive analysis of the Gene Ontology feature suggests that it is not a variant‐dependent annotation bias but reflects the multifunctional nature of disease genes. Furthermore, we identified a set of difficult variants where different prediction methods fail.

Conclusion

Existing pathogenicity prediction methods can be further improved.
Use of fibula flaps to treat persistent talonavicular nonunion: A report of three cases
Authors: Puente‐Alonso Carles , Higueras‐Suñe Carmen , González‐Vargas Jose A. , Carrasco‐López Cristian
Published: March 2016

Owing to the limited blood supply in the midfoot, multiple arthrodesis attempts in midfood joints may result in severe osteonecrosis, leading to a difficult scenario for bone reconstruction. This article describes the use of fibula flaps (two free and one pedicled flap) to reconstruct bone defects in three cases of persistent nonunion in midfoot joints. Before admission, all patients (aged 32–56 years old) had undergone multiple arthrodesis attempts (range 3–4) aimed at treating joint diseases associated with flatfoot or Müller–Weiss syndrome. All inserted flaps were stable, and bone fusion was confirmed by X‐ray examination at month 4. After the follow‐up period (range 1–4 years), all patients showed normal, painless gait. No foot deformities or further complications were observed. Our report suggests that fibula flap transfer may be a good alternative for treating persistent nonunion in midfoot joints involving bone loss, and may prevent the osteonecrosis associated with limited blood supply. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:430–434, 2016.
A generalization of the coupled integrable dispersionless equations
Authors: Lou Sen‐Yue , Yu Guo‐Fu
Published: March 2016

The paper investigates an extension of the coupled integrable dispersionless equations, which describe the current‐fed string within an external magnetic field. By using the relation among the coupled integrable dispersionless equations, the sine‐Gordon equation and the two‐dimensional Toda lattice equation, we propose a generalized coupled integrable dispersionless system. N‐soliton solutions to the generalized system are presented in the Casorati determinant form with arbitrary parameters. By choosing real or complex parameters in the Casorati determinant, the properties of one‐soliton and two‐soliton solutions are investigated. It is shown that we can obtain solutions in soliton profile and breather profile. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hopf bifurcation in structural population models
Authors: Hovsepyan Narek , Velázquez Juan L.
Published: March 2016

We study a nonlinear PDE problem motivated by the peculiar patterns arising in myxobacteria, namely, counter‐migrating cell density waves. We rigorously prove the existence of Hopf bifurcations for some specific values of the parameters of the system. This shows the existence of periodic solutions for the systems under consideration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Existence of local‐in‐time classical solutions of a model of flow in a bounded elastic tube
Authors: Peralta Gilbert , Propst Georg
Published: March 2016

This paper studies the local‐in‐time existence of classical solutions to a hyperbolic system with differential boundary conditions modelling a flow in an elastic tube. The well‐known Lax transformations used for obtaining a priori estimates for conservation laws are difficult to apply here because of the inhomogeneity of the partial differential equations (PDE). Rather, our method relies on a suitable splitting of the original system into the PDE part and the ODE part, the characteristics for the PDE part, appropriate modulus of continuity estimates and a compactness argument. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inflammation related responses of intestinal cells to plum and cabbage digesta with differential carotenoid and polyphenol profiles following simulated gastrointestinal digestion
Authors: Kaulmann Anouk , Legay Sylvain , Schneider Yves‐Jacques , Hoffmann Lucien , Bohn Torsten
Published: March 2016

Scope

Plums/cabbages represent fruits/vegetables rich in carotenoids and polyphenols, and have been associated with anti‐inflammatory properties.

Methods and results

We tested four plum (Italian Plum, Plum 620, Ersinger, and Cherry Plum) and cabbage varieties (Duchy, Kalorama, Kale, Scots Kale) with contrasting carotenoid/polyphenol content for their capability to alter inflammation/oxidative stress following simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Digesta were exposed to Caco‐2(TC‐7) and to a triple‐culture(Caco‐2/HT‐29‐MTX (90:10 v/v) including THP‐1 like macrophages), stimulated to induce inflammation (10 μg/mL LPS, 100 ng/mL TNF‐α, 25 ng/mL IL‐1‐β for 24 h, the last 18 h with digesta). Endpoints investigated included IL‐6, IL‐8, PGE‐2, NO (all ELISA), NF‐κB, MAPK, IL‐6, IL‐8, iNOS, Nrf2, COX‐2 (real‐time‐PCR) and Nrf2 (immunostaining). IL‐6 secretion was reduced in THP‐1 cells by Scots Kale and Kalorama (up to 22%, p<0.05), and IL‐8 secretion in the coculture (up to 35% in plums, p<0.05). This was accompanied by decreased NF‐kB expressions in THP‐1 cells (up to 30%, p<0.05). Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus was partly reduced by plums and cabbages (up to 40% (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Some varieties, especially in the triple‐culture, reduced inflammation, though this was unrelated to concentrations of carotenoids/polyphenols. The potential of phytochemical‐rich fruits and vegetables to ameliorate gastrointestinal inflammation should be further investigated.
Dietary proanthocyanidins inhibit UV radiation‐induced skin tumor development through functional activation of the immune system
Authors: Katiyar Santosh K.
Published: March 2016

The incidence of skin cancer is equivalent to the incidence of malignancies in all other organs combined. The main risk factor for this disease is overexposure of the skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV irradiation induces inflammation, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and suppression of the immune system in the skin, which together contribute to carcinogenesis. The use of dietary phytochemicals shows great promise as a complementary and alternative strategy for skin cancer prevention. Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) have been tested extensively for their anti‐skin cancer effect using in vivo animal models. Supplementation of an AIN76A control diet with GSPs (0.2 and 0.5%, w/w) significantly inhibits UV radiation‐induced skin tumor development as well as malignant transformation of papillomas to carcinoma in mice. The inhibition of UVB‐induced skin tumor development by GSPs is mediated through interrelated mechanisms of action including: (i) inhibition of inflammation, (ii) rapid repair of damaged DNA, and (iii) stimulation of immune system. Additionally, the chemopreventive effects of GSPs involve DNA repair‐dependent functional activation of antigen‐presenting cells and stimulation of CD8+ effector T cells. These effects of GSPs could be useful in attenuation of the adverse effects of UV radiation and may have health benefits in humans.
Performance evaluation of legacy QCN for multicast and multiple unicast traffic transmission
Authors: Mliki Hela , Chaari Lamia , Kamoun Lotfi , Cousin Bernard
Published: March 2016

A multicast congestion control scheme is an interesting feature to control group communication applications such as teleconferencing tools and information dissemination services. This paper addresses a comparison between multiple unicast and multicast traffic congestion control for Carrier Ethernet. In this work, we proposed to study the quantized congestion notification (QCN), which is a layer 2 congestion control scheme, in the case of multicast traffic and multiple unicast traffic. Indeed, the QCN has recently been standardized as the IEEE 802.1Qau Ethernet Congestion Notification standard. This scheme is evaluated through simulation experiments, which are implemented by the OMNeT++ framework. This paper evaluates the reaction point start time congestion detection, feedback rate, loss rate, stability, fairness and scalability performance of the QCN for multicast traffic transmission and multiple unicast traffic transmission. This paper also draws a parallel between QCN for multicast traffic transmission and that for multiple unicast traffic transmission. Despite the benefit of integrating the multicast traffic, results show that performance could degrade when the network scales up. The evaluation results also show that it is probable that the feedback implosion problem caused by the bottlenecks could be solved if we choose to set the queue parameter Qeq threshold value at a high value, 75% of the queue capacity for instance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New fast divide‐and‐conquer algorithms for the symmetric tridiagonal eigenvalue problem
Authors: Li Shengguo , Liao Xiangke , Liu Jie , Jiang Hao
Published: March 2016

In this paper, two accelerated divide‐and‐conquer (ADC) algorithms are proposed for the symmetric tridiagonal eigenvalue problem, which costO(N2r) flops in the worst case, whereNis the dimension of the matrix andris a modest number depending on the distribution of eigenvalues. Both of these algorithms use hierarchically semiseparable (HSS) matrices to approximate some intermediate eigenvector matrices, which are Cauchy‐like matrices and are off‐diagonally low‐rank. The difference of these two versions lies in using different HSS construction algorithms, one (denoted by ADC1) uses a structured low‐rank approximation method and the other (ADC2) uses a randomized HSS construction algorithm. For the ADC2 algorithm, a method is proposed to estimate the off‐diagonal rank. Numerous experiments have been carried out to show their stability and efficiency. These algorithms are implemented in parallel in a shared memory environment, and some parallel implementation details are included. Comparing the ADCs with highly optimized multithreaded libraries such as Intel MKL, we find that ADCs could be more than six times faster for some large matrices with few deflations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational electro‐elasticity and magneto‐elasticity for quasi‐incompressible media immersed in free space
Authors: Pelteret Jean‐Paul , Davydov Denis , McBride Andrew , Vu Duc Khoi , Steinmann Paul
Published: March 2016

In this work, a mixed variational formulation to simulate quasi‐incompressible electro‐active or magneto‐active polymers immersed in the surrounding free space is presented. A novel domain decomposition is used to disconnect the primary coupled problem and the arbitrary free‐space mesh update problem. Exploiting this decomposition, we describe a block‐iterative approach to solving the linearised multiphysics problem, and a physically and geometrically based, three‐parameter method to update the free space mesh. Several application‐driven example problems are implemented to demonstrate the robustness of the mixed formulation for both electro‐elastic and magneto‐elastic problems involving both finite deformations and quasi‐incompressible media. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dubins path‐based dynamic soaring trajectory planning and tracking control in a gradient wind field
Authors: Gao Chen , Liu Hugh H. T.
Published: March 2016

This paper studies small unmanned aerial vehicle dynamic soaring for conserving onboard energy to extend flight endurance performance. A novel dynamic soaring path planning approach is proposed using the Dubins path. It enjoys a significant improvement in computational efficiency. In addition, a custom‐built trajectory tracking controller is developed for a nonlinear unmanned aerial vehicle dynamics model to verify the implementation of the proposed path planning approach. Extensive numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design and development. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationships between misreported energy intake and pregnancy in the pregnancy, infection and nutrition study: new insights from a dynamic energy balance model
Authors: Thomas D. M. , Bredlau C. , Islam S. , Armah K. A. , Kunnipparampil J. , Patel K. , Redman L. M. , Misra D. , Salafia C.
Published: March 2016

Objective

Providing effective dietary counselling so that pregnancy weight gain remains within the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines requires accurate maternal energy intake measures. Current practice is based on self‐reported intake that has been demonstrated unreliable. This study applies an objective calculation of energy intake from a validated mathematical model to identify characteristics of individuals more likely to misreport during pregnancy.

Methods

A validated maternal energy balance equation was used to calculate energy intake from gestational weight gain in 1,368 subjects. The difference between self‐reported and model‐predicted energy intake was tested for demographics, economic status, education level and maternal health status.

Results

A weight gain of 15.2 kg resulted in model‐predicted intake during pregnancy of 2,882.97 ±  135.71 kcal day−1, which differed from self‐reported intake of 2,180.5 ± 856.0 kcal day−1. The achieved weight gain exceeded the IOM guidelines; however, the model predicted weight gain from self‐reported energy intake was below IOM guidelines. Higher income (p = 0.004), education (p = 0.003), birth weight (p = 0.017), gestational diabetes (p = 0.008) and pre‐existing diabetes (p < 0.001) were associated with under‐reported energy intake. More children living at home (p = 0.001) were associated with more accurate self‐reported intake.

Conclusions

When assessing self‐reported energy intake in pregnancy studies, birth weight, gestational diabetes status, pre‐existing diabetes, higher income and education predict higher under‐reporting. Clinicians providing dietary treatment recommendations during pregnancy should be aware that individuals with pre‐existing diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus are more likely to misreport their intake. Additionally, the systems model approach can be applied early in intervention to objectively monitor dietary compliance to treatment recommendations.
Two series of inorganic melamine salts as flame retardants and smoke suppressants for flexible PVC
Authors: Wu Wei Hong , Wu Hong Juan , Liu Wei Hua , Wang Yan En , Liu Ning , Yang Xiu Min , Li Yue Min , Qu Hong Qiang
Published: March 2016

Two series of inorganic melamine salts containing a tungstate or molybdate were synthesized as a flame retardant and smoke suppressant for flexible PVC, and their flame retardancy and smoke suppression were studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI), smoke density rating (SDR) test, cone calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It can be found that the presence of melamine tungstate or melamine molybdate causes an obvious increase in LOI and a decrease in SDR. The cone calorimeter results reveal that melamine tungstate or melamine molybdate can clearly change the decomposition behavior of PVC and form a char layer on the surface of the composites, consequently resulting in efficient reduction of the flammability parameters, such as heat release rate, smoke production rate, total smoke production, and so on. The TGA and SEM results demonstrate that melamine tungstate can delay the degradation of PVC and improve the stability of the char residue. Moreover, melamine molybdate and the PVC matrix form a novel intumescent flame retardant and smoke suppression system, in which the PVC matrix acts as the carbonization agent and molybdate as the acid source (Lewis acid). Molybdate can catalyze the dehydrochlorination reaction and promote the crosslinking reaction of PVC effectively. Melamine (MA) and the released hydrogen chloride can act as the blowing agent, which enhance the intumescence of the char. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:529–536, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Modification of isotactic polypropylene by silica nanocapsules via melt blending method
Authors: Liang Chao , Hu Chunyan , Zheng Yanlan , Yan Kelu , Zhu Xiaomin
Published: March 2016

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) fibers containing silica nanocapsules (described as SNCs) were prepared with twin‐screw extruder. Modification of silica nanocapsules was hydrolyzed with octadecyltrimethoxysilane in order to improve the interaction between capsules and the hydrophobic PP matrix. Characterization of iPP/SNCs blends were performed by transmission electron microscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and tensile strength tests. Dispersion quality of silica nanocapsules was examined using FE‐SEM. As a result, the modified silica nanocapsules with octadecyltrimethoxysilane (SNCs‐C18) could be well dispersed into iPP matrix because of the hydrophobic surface of modified capsules. The incorporation of all the SNCs samples showed little influence on the crystallization behavior, thermal stability of iPP and mechanical properties. By contrast, the presence of unmodified SNCs in iPP showed a negative effect on mechanical properties due to the poor interface interaction between the inorganic and organic phases. This study presented a successful potential applied for encapsulation. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:762–769, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers