bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teflon granulomas mimicking cerebellopontine angle tumors following microvascular decompression
Authors: Deep Nicholas L. , Graffeo Christopher S. , Copeland William R. , Link Michael J. , Atkinson John L. , Neff Brian A. , Raghunathan Aditya , Carlson Matthew L.
Published: June 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

To report two patients with a history of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm who presented with Teflon granulomas (TG) mimicking cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors and to perform a systematic review of the English‐language literature.

Study Design

Case series at a single tertiary academic referral center and systematic review.

Methods

Retrospective chart review with analysis of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. Systematic review using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases.

Results

Two patients with large skull base TGs mimicking CPA tumors clinically and radiographically were managed at the authors' institution. The first presented 4 years after MVD with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, multiple progressive cranial neuropathies, and brainstem edema due to a growing TG. Reoperation with resection of the granuloma confirmed a foreign‐body reaction consisting of multinucleated giant cells containing intracytoplasmic Teflon particles. The second patient presented 11 years after MVD with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss and recurrent hemifacial spasm. No growth was noted over 2 years, and the patient has been managed expectantly. Only one prior case of TG after MVD for hemifacial spasm has been reported in the English literature.

Conclusions

TG is a rare complication of MVD for hemifacial spasm. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients presenting with a new‐onset enhancing mass of the CPA after MVD, even when performed decades earlier. A thorough clinical and surgical history is critical toward establishing an accurate diagnosis to guide management and prevent unnecessary morbidity. Surgical intervention is not required unless progressive neurologic complications ensue.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 127:715–719, 2017
The rise of the machines: Artificial intelligence meets scholarly content
Authors: Wade Alex D. , Wang Kuansan
Published: June 2016

Key points

New forms of human/machine dialogue are emerging as robots understand vast amounts of content rather than simply indexing content as strings of characters.

Recognizing strings of characters as entities (e.g. = names = authors) allows for meaningful associations between entities and reasoning over these relationships.

Web‐scale adoption of the Semantic Web approach has been slow because it is too complex to implement and does not scale.

User intent, discovered through conversational models of human–computer interaction, allows for a deeper understanding of exactly what researchers are looking for.

Personal agents hold the promise of finding information that we will find useful before we have started to look for it.

Publishers can use Academic Knowledge APIs to interpret academic user queries and find rich information from the Microsoft Academic Graph.
Why are there virtually no mandatory open access policies at American universities?
Authors: Anderson Rick
Published: June 2016

Key points

U.S. university OA policies are far less mandatory than those in the U.K.

The waiver clauses in U.S. university policies make it easy for authors to decline making their articles OA.

The relative autonomy – and competitiveness – of U.S. universities may be the reason for weaker OA policies.

OA in the U.S. is likely to be driven by government funding agency policies rather than by academia.
Greenhouse gas flux from headwater streams in New Hampshire, USA: Patterns and drivers
Authors: Schade John D. , Bailio Jason , McDowell William H.
Published: June 2016

Freshwater ecosystems can be considerable sources of greenhouse gases (GHG), however, much uncertainty remains in global estimates and understanding of drivers of these emissions. Furthermore, headwater streams have received insufficient attention and may contribute disproportionately to global GHG flux. Our objective was to quantify carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) flux and assess the impact of changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NO3 concentrations on GHG flux in three streams in the Lamprey River watershed in New Hampshire, U.S.A., that contrast in surface water DOC: NO3. We measured DOC, NO3 and dissolved gas partial pressures and estimated gas flux in surface waters monthly from May 2011 to April 2012. We found higher GHG partial pressures and fluxes in the two streams with high DOC concentrations. The stream with high DOC and high NO3 showed high N2O and low CH4 flux, while the high DOC, low NO3 stream showed high CH4 and low N2O flux. Our results support a model in which C inputs drive total GHG production, while NO3 input regulates the relative importance of CH4 and N2O, likely by suppressing methanogenesis and stimulating denitrification. Results suggest streams in this region are small sources of CO2, but potentially important sources of CH4 and N2O. Since CH4 and N2O are more powerful than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere, freshwater emissions of these gases have the potential to partially offset climate benefits of terrestrial carbon sinks, a possibility that has not been sufficiently incorporated into climate models.
Treatment of port wine stains using Pulsed Dye Laser, Erbium YAG Laser, and topical rapamycin (sirolimus)—A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Greveling Karin , Prens Errol P. , van Doorn Martijn B.
Published: June 2016

Background and Objective

Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) is currently the gold standard treatment for port wine stains (PWS), although the degree of lesion blanching is variable and often unpredictable. This appears to be due to reformation and reperfusion of blood vessels. Rapamycin has shown potential as an antiangiogenic agent and may prevent the revascularization after PDL treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant use of (commercially available) topical rapamycin after PDL treatment in patients with PWS.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a prospective, intra‐patient, randomized controlled trial. Four treatment areas of 1 cm2 were created in each PWS. PDL‐only treatment was compared to the following three treatments: PDL + rapamycin, PDL + Erbium YAG laser ablation of the stratum corneum + rapamycin, and rapamycin monotherapy. We also compared PDL + Erbium YAG + rapamycin with PDL + rapamycin. The primary endpoint was the percentage clearance assessed colorimetrically at 6 months follow‐up. Secondary outcomes were photographic evaluation by an expert panel, patient satisfaction, treatment related pain, and safety.

Results

Fourteen patients completed the treatment protocol. The highest percentage clearance was achieved with PDL‐only treatment (mean [SD] 16% [34]), but there were no statistically significant differences between treatments. The best photographic evaluation and highest patient satisfaction were also achieved with PDL‐only treatment, but only the difference between PDL‐only and rapamycin monotherapy was statistically significant. The treatment related pain was well tolerated. Application‐site pruritus was a frequent occurring adverse event. Allergic contact dermatitis to rapamycin occurred in one patient. There were no serious adverse events.

Conclusion

Topical application of the commercially available solution of rapamycin (Rapamune® 0.1%) as an adjuvant to PDL treatment does not appear to improve PWS blanching. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:104–109, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sonophotolytically Synthesized Silicon Nanoparticle‐Polymer Composite Ink from a Commercially Available Lower Silane
Authors: Cádiz Bedini Andrew P. , Muthmann Stefan , Flohre Jan , Thiele Björn , Willbold Sabine , Carius Reinhard
Published: June 2016

The preparation of a printable silicon ink using semiconductor grade and commercially available trisilane (Si3H8) is reported. The synthesis is carried out in solution at room temperature or below in N2 atmosphere at ambient pressure and involves an initial sonication step, followed by irradiation with ultraviolet light. The production of higher order silanes via ultrasound is demonstrated using gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements are used to show that a combined sonophotolytic treatment yields a highly branched silicon hydride polymer. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are used to ascertain the sonocatalytic production of silicon nanoparticles. Furthermore, it is argued that these particles are partially responsible for enabling dramatically accelerated polymer growth, not otherwise observed in the same amount of time using ultraviolet light alone. Finally, the utility of the ink used in this study is demonstrated for the field of printable electronics by fabricating amorphous silicon thin films by spin‐coating and atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition with optoelectronic properties approaching those of state‐of‐the‐art plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) material.

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Simple Platform Method for the Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Microgels by Modification of Active Ester Latex Particles
Authors: Han Kang , Tiwari Rahul , Heuser Thomas , Walther Andreas
Published: June 2016

This study reports a simple and versatile synthesis route for the preparation of highly uniform and densely functionalized aqueous microgels by modification of latex particles composed of an active ester monomer (pentafluorophenyl acrylate; PFPA). The hydrophobic nature of the PFPA allows synthesizing very uniform latex particles via emulsion polymerization, whose size can be controlled by the surfactant concentration, while the degree of crosslinking is a function of the added crosslinker. The high reactivity of the PFPA groups toward nucleophilic substitution delivers a platform method to synthesize functional microgels by reaction with functional amines. This study demonstrates this process for the dense functionalization of the entire particle with an amine carrying a pH‐responsive unit. This study further describes the influence of the crosslinking degree on the ability for swelling of the resulting microgels in aqueous dispersion.

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Three Lawsuits and Legislation Aim to Defang Persuader Rule
Authors: DeMaria Alfred T.
Published: June 2016

Announced five years ago, the Department of Labor's new persuader rule was finally released in late March and applies to all covered activities effective July 1. This month's article summarizes the rule's main provisions, the efforts to prevent its taking effect, and the arguments advanced for and against it. Next month, the editor looks at the impacts for employers and makes recommendations for coping with yet another prounion rule change from the Obama administration.
Software Infrastructure for Computer‐aided Drug Discovery and Development, a Practical Example with Guidelines
Authors: Moretti Loris , Sartori Luca
Published: June 2016

In the field of Computer‐Aided Drug Discovery and Development (CADDD) the proper software infrastructure is essential for everyday investigations. The creation of such an environment should be carefully planned and implemented with certain features in order to be productive and efficient. Here we describe a solution to integrate standard computational services into a functional unit that empowers modelling applications for drug discovery. This system allows users with various level of expertise to run in silico experiments automatically and without the burden of file formatting for different software, managing the actual computation, keeping track of the activities and graphical rendering of the structural outcomes. To showcase the potential of this approach, performances of five different docking programs on an Hiv‐1 protease test set are presented.
Locating depots for capacitated vehicle routing
Authors: Gørtz Inge Li , Nagarajan Viswanath
Published: June 2016

We study a location‐routing problem in the context of capacitated vehicle routing. The input to the k‐location capacitated vehicle routing problem (k‐LocVRP) consists of a set of demand locations in a metric space and a fleet of k identical vehicles, each of capacity Q. The objective is to locate k depots, one for each vehicle, and compute routes for the vehicles so that all demands are satisfied and the total cost is minimized. Our main result is a constant‐factor approximation algorithm for k‐LocVRP. In obtaining this result, we introduce a common generalization of the k‐median and minimum spanning tree problems (called k median forest), which might be of independent interest. We give a local‐search based
‐approximation algorithm for k median forest, which leads to a
‐approximation algorithm for k‐LocVRP, for any constant
. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 68(2), 94–103 2016
A Two‐Parameter Stabilized Finite Element Method for Incompressible Flows
Authors: Shang Yueqiang , Qin Jin
Published: June 2016

Based on two‐grid discretizations, a two‐parameter stabilized finite element method for the steady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations at high Reynolds numbers is presented and studied. In this method, a stabilized Navier–Stokes problem is first solved on a coarse grid, and then a correction is calculated on a fine grid by solving a stabilized linear problem. The stabilization term for the nonlinear Navier–Stokes equations on the coarse grid is based on an elliptic projection, which projects higher‐order finite element interpolants of the velocity into a lower‐order finite element interpolation space. For the linear problem on the fine grid, either the same stabilization approach (with a different stabilization parameter) as that for the coarse grid problem or a completely different stabilization approach could be employed. Error bounds for the discrete solutions are estimated. Algorithmic parameter scalings of the method are also derived. The theoretical results show that, with suitable scalings of the algorithmic parameters, this method can yield an optimal convergence rate. Numerical results are provided to verify the theoretical predictions and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 425–444, 2017
Theoretical investigation on photovoltaic properties of PC61BM‐PDPP5T system as a promising polymer‐based solar cell
Authors: Zhao Cai‐bin , Ge Hong‐guang , Wang Zhan‐ling , Jin Ling‐xia , Zhang Qiang , Wang Wen‐liang , Yin Shi‐wei
Published: June 2016

In the current work, dependent density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory calculations coupled with the inherent charge hopping model and some visualization techniques have been used to systematically investigate the photovoltaic properties of PC61BM‐PDPP5T system. Calculations show that PC61BM‐PDPP5T system possesses the relatively large open‐circuit voltage 0.82 V the middle‐sized exciton binding energy (0.690 eV), the small internal reorganization energy (0.159 eV) in the exciton‐dissociation process, but the relatively large one (0.396 eV) in the case of charge‐recombination. With a simplified molecular model, the exciton‐dissociation rate constant, kdis, is estimated to be as large as 1.156 × 1010 s−1 in PC61BM‐PDPP5T phase interface, while the charge‐recombination one, krec, is only 1.018 × 107 s−1 under the same condition, which indicates a rapid and efficient photoinduced exciton‐dissociation process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cover Picture: Impact of surface recombination on efficiency of III‐nitride light‐emitting diodes (Phys. Status Solidi RRL 6/2016)
Authors: Bulashevich Kirill A. , Karpov Sergey Yu.
Published: June 2016

No abstract is available for this article.
Back Cover: Hydrogen on hybrid MoS2/graphene nanostructures (Phys. Status Solidi RRL 6/2016)
Authors: Maniadaki Aristea E. , Kopidakis Georgios
Published: June 2016

No abstract is available for this article.
Measurement and Analysis of Vibration Levels in Rail Transport in Central Europe
Authors: Böröcz Péter , Singh S. Paul
Published: June 2016

In the last decade, with a continued change in world economic conditions and global trade, transportation of goods has continued to increase. The opening of new and existing markets requires that products and packages move through various regions of the world using available logistical equipment and networks at a faster pace. It also requires that damage be kept at a minimum while providing maximum safety to individuals. This can be achieved by properly designing packages to transportation levels that occur in the supply chain. The purpose of this research is to both measure and analyse the vibration physical forces that occur during rail transport. Rail shipments are widely used across the world, and they are an integral part of the intermodal transfer of ISO containers from ships and trucks to rail. The aim of this paper is to provide vibration levels measured for rail shipments on a major railway line in Central Europe that has not been previously published. The vibration levels that were measured in this study were compared with American Society of Testing and Materials, United States Military Standards and United Kingdom Defense Standard standards and International Safe Transit Association procedures in the form of power spectral density spectrums. A composite power spectral density spectrum is provided which can be used to simulate the measured rail vibration levels in Central Europe. Results are also compared with rail travel in other international shipments for North America and Asia. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dimension reduction of satellite observations for remote sensing. Part 1: A comparison of compression, channel selection and bottleneck channel approaches
Authors: Aires F. , Pellet V. , Prigent C. , Moncet J.‐L.
Published: June 2016

With the increasing volume of satellite observations, dimension reduction techniques are more and more important for storage or transmission. Furthermore, they are essential for inversion schemes that, in practice, cannot handle the huge amount of information provided by modern instruments for near‐real‐time inversion. In this article, we compare the theoretical advantages and limitations of the two general strategies: compression (i.e. feature extraction) and channel selection (i.e. feature selection). The statistical ‘input variable selection’ framework is adopted to revisit the basis of these remote‐sensing techniques. The flexibility of these methods to specific applications is demonstrated. Special emphasis is put on the optimization of observation dimension reduction for the simultaneous retrieval of several variables (e.g. temperature and humidity). In addition to considering the signal‐to‐noise ratio for the variable to retrieve, we propose to account for contamination by other unknown variables. We also introduce a new approach named ‘bottleneck channels’ (BC), which combines compression and channel selection techniques and can therefore benefit from the advantages of both strategies. Various configurations of the BC approach can be considered: strict, linearly or nonlinearly projected, each with advantages and drawbacks. In the companion article, experiments will be conducted on microwave data to illustrate the practical advantages of each approach. BC are able to compress and suppress noise in a similar way to principal component analysis (PCA) and they can be interpreted as channels, as in channel selection.
Re‐constructing nutritional history of Serengeti wildebeest from stable isotopes in tail hair: seasonal starvation patterns in an obligate grazer
Authors: Rysava K. , McGill R. A. R. , Matthiopoulos J. , Hopcraft J. G. C.
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Nutritional bottlenecks often limit the abundance of animal populations and alter individual behaviours; however, establishing animal condition over extended periods of time using non‐invasive techniques has been a major limitation in population ecology. We test if the sequential measurement of δ15N values in a continually growing tissue, such as hair, can be used as a natural bio‐logger akin to tree rings or ice cores to provide insights into nutritional stress.

Methods

Nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured by continuous‐flow isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) from 20 sequential segments along the tail hairs of 15 migratory wildebeest. Generalized Linear Models were used to test for variation between concurrent segments of hair from the same individual, and to compare the δ15N values of starved and non‐starved animals. Correlations between δ15N values in the hair and periods of above‐average energy demand during the annual cycle were tested using Generalized Additive Mixed Models.

Results

The time series of nitrogen isotope ratios in the tail hair are comparable between strands from the same individual. The most likely explanation for the pattern of 15N enrichment between individuals is determined by life phase, and especially the energetic demands associated with reproduction. The mean δ15N value of starved animals was greater than that of non‐starved animals, suggesting that higher δ15N values correlate with periods of nutritional stress.

Conclusions

High δ15N values in the tail hair of wildebeest are correlated with periods of negative energy balance, suggesting they may be used as a reliable indicator of the animal's nutritional history. This technique might be applicable to other obligate grazers. Most importantly, the sequential isotopic analysis of hair offers a continuous record of the chronic condition of wildebeest (effectively converting point data into time series) and allows researchers to establish the animal's nutritional diary.
Friedel‐Crafts dealkylation reaction mediated by a stereoselective proton transfer in the fragmentation of protonated cyclic indolyl α‐amino esters
Authors: Cao Xiaoji , Wang Ye , Mo Yawen , Wu Liang , Mo Weimin
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Chiral cyclic indolyl α‐amino esters are valuable substructures of peptides and peptidomimetics. Systematically exploring the fragmentation behavior of the protonated cyclic indolyl α‐amino esters by a combination of high‐resolution high‐energy collisional dissociation mass spectrometry, hydrogen‐deuterium exchange experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations is useful for further understanding their intrinsic properties and the fragmentation mechanisms of peptidomimetics constructed with them.

Methods

All high‐resolution high‐energy collisional dissociation tandem mass spectrometry experiments were carried out using electrospray ionization hybrid Quadrupole‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. Only the labile hydrogens were exchanged with deuterium in hydrogen‐deuterium exchange experiments. Theoretical calculations were carried out by the DFT method at the B3LYP level with the 6‐311G(d,p) basis set in the Gaussian 03 package of programs.

Results

In the fragmentation of protonated cyclic indolyl α‐amino esters, when the two labile hydrogens on the N8 position are successively transferred to the C3 and C4 positions, a Friedel‐Crafts dealkylation reaction takes place spontaneously, with concomitant formation of an ion‐neutral complex of [cyclic N‐sulfonyl ketimino esters/protonated indoles]. Direct separation of this complex formed the protonated indoles, while a stereoselective proton transfer between the two components in the complex gave rise to protonated cyclic N‐sulfonyl ketimino esters, which coincided with the hydrogen‐deuterium experiments.

Conclusions

Using H/D exchange experiments combined with theoretical calculations, a Friedel‐Crafts dealkylation reaction mediated by a stereoselective proton transfer in the [cyclic N‐sulfonyl ketimino esters/protonated indoles] complex was proposed for the fragmentation of protonated cyclic indolyl α‐amino esters in high‐energy collisional dissociation tandem mass spectrometry for the first time. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of allocryptopine and protopine metabolites in rat liver S9 by high‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Huang Ya‐Jun , Xiao Sa , Sun Zhi‐Liang , Zeng Jian‐Guo , Liu Yi‐Song , Liu Zhao‐Ying
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Allocryptopine (AL) and protopine (PR) have been extensively studied because of their anti‐parasitic, anti‐arrhythmic, anti‐thrombotic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐bacterial activity. However, limited information on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of AL and PR has been reported. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro metabolism of AL and PR in rat liver S9 using a rapid and accurate high‐performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/QqTOFMS) method.

Methods

The incubation mixture was processed with 15% trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Multiple scans of AL and PR metabolites and accurate mass measurements were automatically performed simultaneously through data‐dependent acquisition in only a 30‐min analysis. The structural elucidations of these metabolites were performed by comparing their changes in accurate molecular masses and product ions with those of the precursor ion or metabolite.

Results

Eight and five metabolites of AL and PR were identified in rat liver S9, respectively. Among these metabolites, seven and two metabolites of AL and PR were identified in the first time, respectively. The demethylenation of the 2,3‐methylenedioxy, the demethylation of the 9,10‐vicinal methoxyl group and the 2,3‐methylenedioxy group were the main metabolic pathways of AL and PR in liver S9, respectively. In addition, the cleavage of the methylenedioxy group of the drugs and subsequent methylation or O‐demethylation were also the common metabolic pathways of drugs in liver S9. In addition, the hydroxylation reaction was also the metabolic pathway of AL.

Conclusions

This was the first investigation of in vitro metabolism of AL and PR in rat liver S9. The detailed structural elucidations of AL and PR metabolites were performed using a rapid and accurate HPLC/QqTOFMS method. The metabolic pathways of AL and PR in rat were tentatively proposed based on these characterized metabolites and early reports. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Re‐investigation of the fragmentation of protonated carotenoids by electrospray ionization and nanospray tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Neto Fausto Carnevale , Guaratini Thais , Costa‐Lotufo Letícia , Colepicolo Pio , Gates Paul J. , Lopes Norberto Peporine
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Carotenoids are polyene isoprenoids with an important role in photosynthesis and photoprotection. Their characterization in biological matrices is a crucial subject for biochemical research. In this work we report the full fragmentation of 16 polyenes (carotenes and xanthophylls) by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐CID‐MS/MS) and nanospray tandem mass spectrometry (nanoESI‐CID‐MS/MS).

Methods

Analyses were carried out on a quadrupole time‐of‐flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer coupled with a nanoESI source and on a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer with an ESI source. The formulae of the product ions were determined by accurate‐mass measurements.

Results

It is demonstrated that the fragmentation routes observed for the protonated carotenoids derive essentially from charge‐remote fragmentations and pericyclic rearrangements, such as electrocyclic and retro‐ene eliminations (assisted or not by a sigmatropic hydrogen shift). All mechanisms are dependent on cis‐trans isomerization through the formation of several conjugated polyene carbocation intermediates. Some specific ions for the carotenoid epoxides were justified through formation of cyclic oxonium ions.

Conclusions

Complete fragmentation pathways of protonated carotenoids by ESI‐ and nanoESI‐CID‐MS/MS provided structural information about functional groups, polyene chain and double bonds, and contribute to identification of carotenoids based on MS/MS fragmentation patterns. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of lipid extraction and ultrafiltration on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of fish bone collagen
Authors: Guiry Eric J. , Szpak Paul , Richards Michael P.
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Fish bone collagen isotopic measurements are increasingly important in palaeodietary and paleoenvironmental studies yet differences in the chemical and physical properties of fish relative to other vertebrate bones are rarely considered. Lipid content in fish bone, which can exceed 50%, may underlie the poor collagen integrity criteria typically observed in archaeological studies.

Methods

We compare stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic and elemental compositions of bone collagen prepared using four different methods from a wide range of modern fish species to: (1) assess the extent to which lipid content influences bone collagen δ13C and δ15N values, and (2) evaluate the relative efficacy of chemical (2:1 chloroform/methanol) and physical (30 kDa ultrafilters) methods for removing lipids from bones.

Results

Lower δ13C values were observed when the lipid content exceeded 5% of the initial bone mass. The lipid content did not influence the δ15N values. 30 kDa ultrafiltration, a common pretreatment for purifying archaeological collagen, removed fewer lipids and was associated with reduced collagen yields (37% loss) as well as altered amino acid compositions. In contrast, collagen prepared using a 2:1 chloroform/methanol lipid extraction step resulted in significantly improved collagen yields, elemental compositions, and isotopic measurements relative to a control treatment.

Conclusions

The chemical lipid extraction method (2:1 chloroform/methanol) performed significantly better than the physical lipid extraction method (30 kDa ultrafilters). Given the high quantities of lipids in fish bones we recommend the inclusion of a chemical lipid extraction step when isolating collagen from modern and archaeological fish bones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dual‐spray hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) reactions: A new method of probing protein structure
Authors: Rashid Shaan , Overton Sean , Mazigh Bihac , Mayer Paul M.
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Traditionally, hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) reactions are done in the solution phase. This usually involves incubating the protein with a suitable deuterating agent then acidifying the solution to quench the reaction. A more efficient method may be to conduct the reaction within the ion source of a mass spectrometer and subsequently analyze the products.

Methods

Using the two electrospray emitters equipped on the Waters Synapt G1 mass spectrometer, HDX reactions were conducted within the ion source region in a controlled fashion (‘dual‐spray’). Peptide and protein solutions were electrosprayed through one emitter and the deuterating agent D2O through the secondary electrospray emitter. For the relatively small peptides, Phe‐Leu‐Glu‐Glu‐Leu and oxytocin, the yield of products was calculated using deconvolution functions. Electrospray ionization (ESI) charge‐state distributions and average number of deuterium exchanges were used to probe secondary and tertiary structures of ubiquitin, lysozyme, and cytochrome c in their native and unfolded states.

Results

Clear shifts in isotope distributions indicated HDX occurring within the ion source. By ion mobility, simultaneous deuterium exchange for two isobaric species, the oxytocin monomer and dimer, was observed. For denatured ubiquitin, the 12+ and 13+ charge states have a lower average number of exchanges relative to the lower charge states which indicates that these charge states have segments which restrict the access of D2O. Lysozyme has a linear relationship between the charge state and the average number of exchanges, indicating that lysozyme becomes increasingly unfolded as the charge state increases. The dual‐spray HDX method was paired to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to demonstrate the applicability of the technique for probing gas‐phase structures in protein mixtures.

Conclusions

ESI droplets formed from a secondary emitter penetrate primary ESI droplets and change the solvent composition. Dual‐spray HDX is demonstrated to be a more efficient method for probing the structure of proteins than solution‐phase HDX since the acid quenching step can be surpassed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass bias corrections for U‐Pb isotopic analysis by secondary ion mass spectrometry: Implications for U‐Pb dating of uraninite
Authors: Sharpe Ryan , Fayek Mostafa
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Uranium (U)‐lead (Pb) geochronology of uraninite is critical to the study of the genesis of U deposits throughout the world. Previous attempts at developing a technique to date uraninite using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have, however, had limited success. Improper correction of mass bias results in incorrect reported U‐Pb ratios. When these results are plotted on Concordia diagrams they produce erroneous ages, complicating the study of U deposits.

Methods

Uranium and Pb isotope ratios were measured in three uraninite reference materials (RMs) with varying Pb content and three samples with unknown U‐Pb isotope compositions using a CAMECA 7f SIMS instrument. Measurements were made using a primary beam of O– accelerated at 12.5 kV. A mass resolving power of 1300 and a 50‐V offset were used to minimize interferences.

Results

The study demonstrates that the mass bias for U‐Pb isotope ratio measurements in uraninite by SIMS varies as a function of Pb content. A three‐point calibration curve was developed using uraninite RMs with low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐Pb contents. Corrected ratios for both concordant and discordant uraninite were plotted on a Concordia diagram to demonstrate the effect that different correction techniques have on the resulting age.

Conclusions

Accurate determination of U‐Pb ratios in uraninite using a SIMS instrument requires a suite of RMs with varying Pb content and the construction of a calibration curve, or a uraninite RM with a Pb content similar to that of the unknowns. Failure to standardize correctly will result in erroneous ages being calculated using Concordia diagrams. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discrimination of side‐window glass of Korean autos by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Lee Sin‐Woo , Ryu Jong‐Sik , Min Ji‐Sook , Choi Man‐Yong , Lee Kwang‐Sik , Shin Woo‐Jin
Published: June 2016

Rationale

Fragments of glass from cars are often found at crime scenes and can be crucial evidence for solving the crime. The glass fragments are important as trace evidence at crime scenes related to car accidents and burgled homes. By identifying the origin of glass fragments, it is possible to infer the identity of a suspect. Our results represent a promising approach to a thorough forensic investigation of car glass.

Methods

Thirty‐five samples from the side windows of cars produced and used in South Korea were collected from the official agencies of five car manufacturers and from two glassmakers. In addition, 120 samples from side mirrors were collected from the same suppliers as well as from small businesses. Their chemical compositions (including Pb isotopes) were analyzed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was performed.

Results

The percentages of major elements (Si, Ca, and Fe) in side‐window glass varied within narrow ranges (30.0 ± 2.36%, 5.93 ± 0.52%, and 0.33 ± 0.05%, respectively), while the differences among Pb isotope ratios were not significant. In contrast, light rare earth elements (LREEs) were different from each glassmaker. From the LDA, the types of side‐window glass were successfully discriminated according to car manufacturer, glassmaker, and even glass thickness. However, glass from side mirrors cannot be used for good forensic identifiers.

Conclusions

Discrimination techniques for side‐window glass, although not for side mirrors, using chemical compositions combined with multivariate statistical analyses provide evidence for forensic investigations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry for the rapid identification of pollens and semi‐quantification of flavonoid fingerprints
Authors: Xiao Xiaoyin , Miller Lance L. , Parchert Kylea J. , Hayes Dulce , Hochrein James M.
Published: June 2016

Rationale

From allergies to plant reproduction, pollens have important impacts on the health of human and plant populations, yet identification of pollen grains remains difficult and time‐consuming. Low‐volatility flavonoids generated from pollens cannot be easily characterized and quantified with current analytical techniques.

Methods

Here we present the novel use of atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP‐MS) for the characterization of flavonoids in pollens. Flavonoid patterns were generated for pollens collected from different plant types (trees and bushes) in addition to bee pollens from distinct geographic regions. Standard flavonoids (kaempferol and rhamnazin) and those produced from pollens were compared and assessed with ASAP‐MS using low‐energy collision MS/MS. Results for a semi‐quantitative method for assessing the amount of a flavonoid in pollens are also presented.

Results

Flavonoid patterns for pollen samples were distinct with variability in the number and relative abundance of flavonoids in each sample. Pollens contained 2–5 flavonoids, and all but Kochia scoparia contained kaempferol or kaempferol isomers. We establish this method as a reliable and applicable technique for analyzing low‐volatility compounds with minimal sample preparation. Standard curves were generated using 0.2–5 μg of kaempferol; from these experiments, it was estimated that there is approximately 2 mg of kaempferol present in 1 g of P. nigra italica pollen.

Conclusions

Pollens can be characterized with a simple flavonoid pattern rather than analyzing the whole product pattern or the products‐temperature profiles. ASAP‐MS is a rapid analytical technique that can be used to distinguish between plant pollens and between bee pollens originating from different regions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust Monocular Visual Teach and Repeat Aided by Local Ground Planarity and Color‐constant Imagery
Authors: Clement Lee , Kelly Jonathan , Barfoot Timothy D.
Published: June 2016

Visual Teach and Repeat (VT&R) allows an autonomous vehicle to accurately repeat a previously traversed route using only vision sensors. Most VT&R systems rely on natively three‐dimensional (3D) sensors such as stereo cameras for mapping and localization, but many existing mobile robots are equipped with only 2D monocular vision, typically for teleoperation. In this paper, we extend VT&R to the most basic sensor configuration—a single monocular camera. We show that kilometer‐scale route repetition can be achieved with centimeter‐level accuracy by approximating the local ground surface near the vehicle as a plane with some uncertainty. This allows our system to recover absolute scale from the known position and orientation of the camera relative to the vehicle, which simplifies threshold‐based outlier rejection and the estimation and control of lateral path‐tracking error—essential components of high‐accuracy route repetition. We enhance the robustness of our monocular VT&R system to common failure cases through the use of color‐constant imagery, which provides it with a degree of resistance to lighting changes and moving shadows where keypoint matching on standard gray images tends to struggle. Through extensive testing on a combined 30 km of autonomous navigation data collected on multiple vehicles in a variety of highly nonplanar terrestrial and planetary‐analogue environments, we demonstrate that our system is capable of achieving route‐repetition accuracy on par with its stereo counterpart, with only a modest tradeoff in robustness.
Design, Control, and Experimentation of Internally‐Actuated Rovers for the Exploration of Low‐gravity Planetary Bodies
Authors: Hockman Benjamin J. , Frick Andreas , Reid Robert G. , Nesnas Issa A.D. , Pavone Marco
Published: June 2016

This paper discusses the design, control, and experimentation of internally‐actuated rovers for the exploration of low‐gravity (micro‐g to milli‐g) planetary bodies, such as asteroids, comets, or small moons. The rover is actuated by spinning three internal flywheels, which allows all subsystems to be packaged in one sealed enclosure and enables the platform to be minimalistic, thereby reducing its cost. By controlling the spin rate of the flywheels, the rover can achieve large surface coverage by attitude‐controlled hops, fine mobility by tumbling, and coarse instrument pointing by changing the orientation relative to the ground. We first discuss the dynamics of such rovers, their control, and key design features (e.g., flywheel shape and orientation, geometry of external spikes, and system engineering aspects). We then discuss the design and control of a first‐of‐a‐kind test bed that enables the accurate emulation of a microgravity environment for mobility experiments, which consists of a three‐degree‐of‐freedom gimbal attached to an actively controlled gantry crane. Finally, we present experimental results on the test bed that provide key insights for rover control and validate our theoretical analysis.
Using machine learning to draw inferences from pass location data in soccer
Authors: Brooks Joel , Kerr Matthew , Guttag John
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we present two approaches to analyzing pass event data to uncover sometimes‐nonobvious insights into the game of soccer. We illustrate the utility of our methods by applying them to data from the 2012–2013 La Liga season. We first show that teams are characterized by where on the pitch they attempt passes, and can be identified by their passing styles. Using heatmaps of pass locations as features, we achieved a mean accuracy of 87% in a 20‐team classification task. We also investigated using pass locations over the course of a possession to predict shots. For this task, we achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.785. Finally, we used the weights of the predictive model to rank players by the value of their passes. Shockingly, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi topped the rankings. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining: The ASA Data Science Journal, 2016
The Social Lives of Gender and Religion: Implications for Development Policy
Authors: Mee Wendy
Published: June 2016

To date, the literature on ‘gender and development’ has remained largely sequestered from that on ‘religion and development’, and consequently the presence of conceptual problems common to the two fields has gone largely unremarked. This paper identifies three such conceptual problems, here termed categorization, identification and representation. The oversight of common conceptual problems has important implications for the assessment of religion and gender in sustainable development policy. One such effect, I argue, is the consolidation of a narrow range of negative and secularist readings of the potential role of gender and religion in sustainable development. To circumvent conceptualizations that may give rise to prejudicial readings of gender and religion, this paper follows feminist and religious studies scholars in arguing that we conceive of gender and religion as permeable categories and non‐exclusive identities, constituted by diverse discursive elements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Where are the Animals in Sustainable Development? Religion and the Case for Ethical Stewardship in Animal Husbandry
Authors: Narayanan Yamini
Published: June 2016

The rights of livestock that are designated as food/farm animals have been a blindspot across development discourse and policies in spite of compelling moral (and socio‐ecological) factors. They are regarded as 'resources' to sustain growth, leading to food production systems that support factory farming and invasive animal husbandry practices. The paper argues that religion and sustainable development are unlikely partners in the commodification of animals in these policies. Capitalist‐driven interpretations of religion support the objectification of animals. Sustainable development, an efficiency‐driven growth paradigm, is concerned with the preservation of finite natural resources. Sentient factory farmed animals are seen as infinite resources.Using Christianity and Hinduism as examples, the paper argues that religion can also shape alternative animal husbandry/food production practices, and expand the social justice element of sustainable development to encompass what I term 'sociozoological justice' in economic systems that heavily involve animals. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Hierarchical Structures of Bone and Bioinspired Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Liu Yan , Luo Dan , Wang Tie
Published: June 2016

Bone, as a mineralized composite of inorganic (mostly carbonated hydroxyapatite) and organic (mainly type I collagen) phases, possesses a unique combination of remarkable strength and toughness. Its excellent mechanical properties are related to its hierarchical structures and precise organization of the inorganic and organic phases at the nanoscale: Nanometer‐sized hydroxyapatite crystals periodically deposit within the gap zones of collagen fibrils during bone biomineralization process. This hierarchical arrangement produces nanomechanical heterogeneities, which enable a mechanism for high energy dissipation and resistance to fracture. The excellent mechanical properties integrated with the hierarchical nanostructure of bone have inspired chemists and material scientists to develop biomimetic strategies for artificial bone grafts in tissue engineering (TE). This critical review provides a broad overview of the current mechanisms involved in bone biomineralization, and the relationship between bone hierarchical structures and the deformation mechanism. Our goal in this review is to inspire the application of these principles toward bone TE.
Flexible Capacitive Tactile Sensor Based on Micropatterned Dielectric Layer
Authors: Li Tie , Luo Hui , Qin Lin , Wang Xuewen , Xiong Zuoping , Ding Haiyan , Gu Yang , Liu Zheng , Zhang Ting
Published: June 2016

Flexible tactile sensors are considered as an effective way to realize the sense of touch, which can perform the synchronized interactions with surrounding environment. Here, the utilization of bionic microstructures on natural lotus leaves is demonstrated to design and fabricate new‐type of high‐performance flexible capacitive tactile sensors. Taking advantage of unique surface micropattern of lotus leave as the template for electrodes and using polystyrene microspheres as the dielectric layer, the proposed devices present stable and high sensing performance, such as high sensitivity (0.815 kPa−1), wide dynamic response range (from 0 to 50 N), and fast response time (≈38 ms). In addition, the flexible capacitive sensor is not only applicable to pressure (touch of a single hair), but also to bending and stretching forces. The results indicate that the proposed capacitive tactile sensor is a promising candidate for the future applications in electronic skins, wearable robotics, and biomedical devices.