bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interrelations between anthropometric and fitness changes during mid‐adolescence in boys: A 2‐year longitudinal study
Authors: Gerber Barend P. , Pienaar Anita E. , Kruger Ankebe , Ellis Suria
Published: June 2014

Objectives

This study aimed to determine changes and interrelationships between changes in selected anthropometric growth parameters and motor and physical fitness, among boys over a 2 year period during mid‐adolescence.

Methods

Speed, agility, hand‐eye coordination, explosive power, muscle strength, and aerobic endurance were measured once a year, and the anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass, sitting height, arm span, and sitting height ratio), were measured three times per year, 4 months apart (among 73 adolescent boys). A hierarchical linear model, adjusting for covariates and partial correlation analysis (R2) were used to analyze the data.

Results

All anthropometric, motor, and physical measurements improved significantly over the two‐year period. Significantly, greater changes were seen between 13 and 14 years in stature, arm span, sitting height and body mass. Changes in muscle strength, speed and agility were mainly significant between 13 and 14 years while the biggest changes occurred in explosive power and upper‐body‐arm‐and‐shoulder‐strength during year 2 (14–15 years).

The majority of interrelationships, indicating moderate to small relationships, were found between changes in stature, arm span, and sitting height, and changing strength, speed, agility, and hand eye coordination over the two‐year period, after adjusting for maturity age and physical activity levels.

Conclusion

Motor and physical fitness improved significantly from 13 to 15 years, showing definite interrelationships with anthropometric growth during the mid‐adolescence period. Awareness and education about these changes are recommended as it can have significant effects on the sport performance and fitness training of boys during mid‐adolescence. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:617–626, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous enhancement of excitation and postburst inhibition at the end of focal seizures
Authors: Boido Davide , Gnatkovsky Vadym , Uva Laura , Francione Stefano , de Curtis Marco
Published: June 2014

Objective

Comprehension of the events that lead to seizure termination contributes to the development of strategies to confine propagation of ictal discharges. It is commonly assumed that the inhibitory control fails during seizures and recovers after the end of the ictal event. We examine the possibility that a progressive increase of inhibition that counters an increase in the strength of excitation contributes to terminating a focal seizure.

Methods

We analyzed seizures acutely induced by pharmacological manipulations (bicuculline and 4‐aminopyridine) in the entorhinal cortex and in the hippocampus of the in vitro isolated guinea pig brain.

Results

As seizures ended, extracellular and intracellular recordings showed periodic bursting that progressively decreased in frequency. During the late bursting phase, the duration, number, and rate of occurrence of spikes within single bursts remained constant, whereas cumulative spike amplitude (index of excitation during a burst) and interburst interval (index of inhibition between bursts) progressively increased. The increment of average/cumulative burst excitation and interburst interval toward seizure end was confirmed in human focal seizures recorded with intracerebral electrodes in patients with drug‐resistant partial epilepsies. A postburst refractory period of circa 2 seconds that increases with time toward the end of the seizure was confirmed in the experimental model by probing interburst epochs in the CA1 region with local dentate gyrus stimulation just suprathreshold for burst generation.

Interpretation

Our findings support the concept that focal seizures are terminated by the simultaneous and opposing enhancement of excitation (burst activity) in addition to postburst inhibition. We hypothesize that a seizure stops when postburst inhibition becomes large enough to prevent reactivation of excitation. Ann Neurol 2014;76:826–836
Chaotropic‐Anion‐Induced Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Ionic Polymeric Micelles
Authors: Li Yang , Wang Yiguang , Huang Gang , Ma Xinpeng , Zhou Kejin , Gao Jinming
Published: June 2014

Traditional micelle self‐assembly is driven by the association of hydrophobic segments of amphiphilic molecules forming distinctive core–shell nanostructures in water. Here we report a surprising chaotropic‐anion‐induced micellization of cationic ammonium‐containing block copolymers. The resulting micelle nanoparticle consists of a large number of ion pairs (≈60 000) in each hydrophobic core. Unlike chaotropic anions (e.g. ClO4−), kosmotropic anions (e.g. SO42−) were not able to induce micelle formation. A positive cooperativity was observed during micellization, for which only a three‐fold increase in ClO4− concentration was necessary for micelle formation, similar to our previously reported ultra‐pH‐responsive behavior. This unique ion‐pair‐containing micelle provides a useful model system to study the complex interplay of noncovalent interactions (e.g. electrostatic, van der Waals, and hydrophobic forces) during micelle self‐assembly.
Additive Effects in the Palladium‐Catalyzed Carboiodination of Chiral N‐Allyl Carboxamides
Authors: Petrone David A. , Yoon Hyung , Weinstabl Harald , Lautens Mark
Published: June 2014

The use of Pd catalysis as a means to synthesize organic halides has recently received increased attention. Among the reported methods is the Pd‐catalyzed carboiodination, which uses extremely bulky ligands to facilitate carbon–halogen reductive elimination from PdII as the key catalytic step. When approaching substrates exhibiting low stereoselectivity, catalyst troubleshooting becomes difficult as there are few ligands known to promote the key reductive elimination. Herein, we present our finding that tertiary amines act as weakly coordinating ligands which significantly enhance diastereoselectivity in the Pd/QPhos‐catalyzed carboiodination of chiral N‐allyl carboxamides. This methodology allows efficient access to enantioenriched and densely functionalized dihydroisoquinolinones, and has been applied toward the asymmetric formal synthesis of (+)‐corynoline.
Asymmetric, Stereodivergent Synthesis of (−)‐Clusianone Utilizing a Biomimetic Cationic Cyclization
Authors: Boyce Jonathan H. , Porco John A.
Published: June 2014

We report a stereodivergent, asymmetric total synthesis of (−)‐clusianone in six steps from commercial materials. We implement a challenging cationic cyclization forging a bond between two sterically encumbered quaternary carbon atoms. Mechanistic studies point to the unique ability of formic acid to mediate the cyclization forming the clusianone framework.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Isoindolones by Chiral Cyclopentadienyl‐Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed CH Functionalizations
Authors: Ye Baihua , Cramer Nicolai
Published: June 2014

Directed Cp*RhIII‐catalyzed carbon–hydrogen (CH) bond functionalizations have evolved as a powerful strategy for the construction of heterocycles. Despite their high value, the development of related asymmetric reactions is largely lagging behind due to a limited availability of robust and tunable chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands. Rhodium complexes comprising a chiral Cp ligand with an atropchiral biaryl backbone enables an asymmetric synthesis of isoindolones from arylhydroxamates and weakly alkyl donor/acceptor diazo derivatives as one‐carbon component under mild conditions. The complex guides the substrates with a high double facial selectivity yielding the chiral isoindolones in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.
The Formation of Pyrroline and Tetrahydropyridine Rings in Amino Acids Catalyzed by Pyrrolysine Synthase (PylD)
Authors: Quitterer Felix , Beck Philipp , Bacher Adelbert , Groll Michael
Published: June 2014

The dehydrogenase PylD catalyzes the ultimate step of the pyrrolysine pathway by converting the isopeptide L‐lysine‐Nε‐3R‐methyl‐D‐ornithine to the 22nd proteinogenic amino acid. In this study, we demonstrate how PylD can be harnessed to oxidize various isopeptides to novel amino acids by combining chemical synthesis with enzyme kinetics and X‐ray crystallography. The data enable a detailed description of the PylD reaction trajectory for the biosynthesis of pyrroline and tetrahydropyridine rings as constituents of pyrrolysine analogues.
Cyclodextrin‐Templated Porphyrin Nanorings
Authors: Liu Pengpeng , Neuhaus Patrik , Kondratuk Dmitry V. , Balaban T. Silviu , Anderson Harry L.
Published: June 2014

α‐ and β‐Cyclodextrins have been used as scaffolds for the synthesis of six‐ and seven‐legged templates by functionalizing every primary CH2OH with a 4‐pyridyl moiety. Although these templates are flexible, they are very effective for directing the synthesis of macrocyclic porphyrin oligomers consisting of six or seven porphyrin units. The transfer of chirality from the cyclodextrin templates to their nanoring hosts is evident from NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Surprisingly, the mean effective molarity for binding the flexible α‐cyclodextrin‐based template within the six‐porphyrin nanoring (74 M) is almost as high as for the previously studied rigid hexadentate template (180 M). The discovery that flexible templates are effective in this system, and the availability of a template with a prime number of binding sites, open up many possibilities for the template‐directed synthesis of larger macrocycles.
Covalent Hypercoordination: Can Carbon Bind Five Methyl Ligands?
Authors: McKee William C. , Agarwal Jay , Schaefer Henry F. , Schleyer Paul von R.
Published: June 2014

C(CH3)5+is the first reported example of a five‐coordinate carbon atom bound only to separate (that is, monodentate) carbon ligands. This species illustrate the limits of carbon bonding, exhibiting Lewis‐violating “electron‐deficient bonds” between the hypercoordinate carbon and its methyl groups. Though not kinetically persistent under standard laboratory conditions, its dissociation activation barriers may permit C(CH3)5+fleeting existence near 0 K.
Isolation of a Neutral Boron‐Containing Radical Stabilized by a Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene
Authors: Bissinger Philipp , Braunschweig Holger , Damme Alexander , Krummenacher Ivo , Phukan Ashwini K. , Radacki Krzysztof , Sugawara Shun
Published: June 2014

Utilizing a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) as a ligand, neutral CAAC‐stabilized radicals containing a boryl functionality could be prepared by reduction of the corresponding haloborane adducts. The radical species with a duryl substituent was fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Compared to known neutral boryl radicals, the isolated radical species showed larger spin density on the boron atom. Furthermore, the compound that was isolated is extraordinarily stable to high temperatures under inert conditions, both in solution and in the solid state. Electrochemical investigations of the radical suggest the possibility to generate a stable formal boryl anion species.
Morphology, physical properties, silver release, and antimicrobial capacity of ionic silver‐loaded poly(l‐lactide) films of interest in food‐coating applications
Authors: Martínez‐Abad Antonio , Ocio María José , Lagaron José María
Published: June 2014

In the present study, silver ions were incorporated into a poly‐(l‐lactide) (PLA) matrix by a solvent casting technique using different solvents and glycerol as plasticizer. The effect of the different formulations on the morphology, thermal, mechanical and color properties were first evaluated. Additionally, a thorough study of the silver ions release to an aqueous environment was also monitored over time by anodic stripping voltammetry and correlated with the antimicrobial performance against S. enterica. The incorporation of silver contents of up to 1 wt % did not affect morphology, thermal or mechanical properties of the films. A sustainable, antibacterial effectiveness was found for the films in liquid medium and a breakpoint of 10–20 μg L−1 silver was established under the stated conditions, evincing silver ion releasing technologies may be applied to liquid environments while complying with current legislation. This study provides insight into the structure properties relationship of these antibacterial polylactide materials of significant potential in coating applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41001.
Simultaneous adsorptive removal of methylene blue and copper ions from aqueous solution by ferrocene‐modified cation exchange resin
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhang Dehua , Tian Senlin , Ning Ping
Published: June 2014

Resin was modified with ferrocene (Fc) to enhance removal of Methylene Blue (MB) and Cu2+ from simulated wastewater. The FTIR, N2‐BET, and X‐ray fluorescence analysis confirmed that Fc was successfully grafted onto the surface of resin. The adsorption capacity of Fc modified cation exchange resin (FMCER) was calculated to be 392.16 mg/g Cu2+ and 10.01 mg/g MB. Both processes were spontaneous and exothermic, best described by Langmuir equation. Pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model satisfied the adsorption of MB, while the intraparticle‐diffusion model fitted the kinetics of Cu2+ adsorption best. The result revealed a multilayer adsorption of Cu2+ on FMCER, and the kinetics maybe controlled by intraparticle diffusion, film diffusion, and competition force. The adsorption of MB and Cu2+ on FMCER were physicosorptive, with activation energies of 2.09 and 1.27 kJ/mol. pH 2–7 and 4–5 are optimum for the removal of MB and Cu2+, and pH 4 is optimal for the simultaneous removal of MB and Cu2+. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41029.
Degradability of extruded polyethylene/chitosan blends compatibilized with polyethylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride under natural weathering
Authors: Rodríguez‐Félix Dora Evelia , Quiroz‐Castillo Jesús Manuel , Grijalva‐Monteverde Heriberto , del Castillo‐Castro Teresa , Burruel‐Ibarra Silvia Elena , Rodríguez‐Félix Francisco , Madera‐Santana Tomás , Cabanillas Rafael Enrique , Herrera‐Franco Pedro Jesús
Published: June 2014

The impact of chitosan on the natural weathering behavior of two blends obtained by mixing either polyethylene (PE) with chitosan or PE, chitosan and polyethylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PEgMA) as a compatibilizer is analyzed. In order to follow the weathering behavior of both the uncompatibilized and compatibilized systems, the blend films are exposed to outdoor conditions for 6 months. The weathering behavior of the films is monitored by mechanical tests, spectroscopic Fourier transform infrared, and morphological analyses at different weathering periods of time. The presence of chitosan in the blends accelerates significantly the degradation of the films. Apparently, PEgMA also accelerates the photo‐oxidation rate of the films. This behavior appears to be related to the photo‐oxidative instability of maleic anhydride, and also to the better dispersion of chitosan in the PE matrix, which is due to the interactions in the PE/chitosan interface caused by the addition of the compatibilizer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41045.
Crosslinking effect on polydimethylsiloxane elastic modulus measured by custom‐built compression instrument
Authors: Wang Zhixin , Volinsky Alex A. , Gallant Nathan D.
Published: June 2014

A macroscopic compression test utilizing a simple custom‐built instrument was employed to measure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastic modulus. PDMS samples with varying crosslinking density were prepared with the elastomer base to the curing agent ratio ranging from 5 : 1 to 33 : 1. The PDMS network elastic modulus varied linearly with the amount of crosslinker, ranging from 0.57 MPa to 3.7 MPa for the samples tested. PDMS elastic modulus in MPa can be expressed as 20 MPa/PDMS base to curing agent ratio. This article describes a simple method for measuring elastic properties of soft polymeric materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41050.
The Lawless Sea? Policy Options for Voluntary Compliance Regimes in Offshore Resource Zones in the Pacific
Authors: D'Arcy Paul
Published: June 2014

Pacific open ocean fisheries are classic examples of the tragedy of the commons where a lack of defined ownership results in competitive overexploitation by multiple parties. Such circumstances exist over most Pacific seas beyond site of land due to scarce monitoring resources. Voluntary conservation regimes are not working, as fisheries decline substantially. The Pacific has diverse management regimes and approaches, gaps between recommended principles of management and certain practices, and a need for more comprehensive data on assumptions underlying management regimes, especially marine protected areas. Compliance regimes can be enhanced through greater consultation and incorporation of stakeholders in policy‐making and enforcement, devoting more resources to monitoring and enforcement, and integrating sustainable management regimes with national economic development needs. The focus of ocean policy primarily on fisheries issues needs to be broadened to include consideration of the compatible use of seabed minerals and biota with medicinal benefit.
Are scholarly articles disproportionately read in their own country? An analysis of mendeley readers
Authors: Thelwall Mike , Maflahi Nabeil
Published: June 2014

International collaboration tends to result in more highly cited research and, partly as a result of this, many research funding schemes are specifically international in scope. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether this citation advantage is the result of higher quality research or due to other factors, such as a larger audience for the publications. To test whether the apparent advantage of internationally collaborative research may be due to additional interest in articles from the countries of the authors, this article assesses the extent to which the national affiliations of the authors of articles affect the national affiliations of their Mendeley readers. Based on English‐language Web of Science articles in 10 fields from science, medicine, social science, and the humanities, the results of statistical models comparing author and reader affiliations suggest that, in most fields, Mendeley users are disproportionately readers of articles authored from within their own country. In addition, there are several cases in which Mendeley users from certain countries tend to ignore articles from specific other countries, although it is not clear whether this reflects national biases or different national specialisms within a field. In conclusion, research funders should not incentivize international collaboration on the basis that it is, in general, higher quality because its higher impact may be primarily due to its larger audience. Moreover, authors should guard against national biases in their reading to select only the best and most relevant publications to inform their research.
Quantifying spatial dependencies, trade‐offs and uncertainty in bioenergy costs: an Australian case study (2) – National supply curves
Authors: Brinsmead Thomas S. , Herr Alexander , O'Connell Deborah A.
Published: June 2014

A biophysically constrained economic analysis of several alternative biofuel production pathways develops upper and lower bounds on national supply cost curves, taking into account implicit spatial dependencies and trade‐offs. As well as land (and sea) transport suitable biofuels, we also consider electricity and aviation biofuels. One feedstock (crop residues from grains) and five bioenergy pathways illustrate this approach for Australia. The methods are, however, applicable to any feedstock, bioenergy technology, region, or scale. Biofuel production costs, dependent on the spatial concentration of available feedstock, are derived in a companion paper by selecting a cost minimizing production scale. Lower concentrations imply smaller processing plants and greater collection areas and costs. Any candidate production plant location can have a collection area that approximates the least cost for its average spatial concentration, because feedstock concentration varies only modestly within cost minimizing area scales. A set of plant locations, scales, and near to least‐cost collection areas, is found that collectively service all the available residue feedstock using Australian data. This generates upper and lower bounds on nationally aggregated supply cost curves. The sizing of biofuel facilities will be also affected by investment scale commercial considerations, including the reliability of feedstock and investor appetite for risk: these are discussed qualitatively. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Creation of catalytically active particles from enzymes crosslinked with a natural bifunctional agent—homocysteine thiolactone
Authors: Stroylova Yulia Y. , Semenyuk Pavel I. , Asriyantz Regina A. , Gaillard Cedric , Haertlé Thomas , Muronetz Vladimir I.
Published: June 2014

The current study describes an approach to creation of catalytically active particles with increased stability from enzymes by N‐homocysteinylation, a naturally presented protein modification. Enzymatic activities and properties of two globular tetrameric enzymes glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied before and after N‐homocysteinylation. Modification of these proteins concerns the accessible lysine residues and introduces an average of 2–2,5 homocysteine residues per protein monomer. Formation of a range of aggregates was observed for both enzymes, which assemble via formation of intermolecular noncovalent bonds and by disulfide bonds. It was demonstrated that both studied enzymes retain their catalytic activities on modification and the subsequent formation of oligomeric forms. At low concentrations of homocysteine thiolactone, modification of GAPDH leads not only to prevention of spontaneous inactivation but also increases thermal stability of this enzyme on heating to 80°C. A moderate reduction of the activity of GAPDH observed in case of its crosslinking with 50‐fold excess of homocysteine thiolactone per lysine is probably caused by hindered substrate diffusion. Spherical particles of 100 nm and larger diameters were observed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscope techniques after modification of GAPDH with different homocysteine thiolactone concentrations. In case of LDH, branched fibril‐like aggregates were observed under the same conditions. Interestingly, crosslinked samples of both proteins were found to have reversible thermal denaturation profiles, indicating that modification with homocysteine thiolactone stabilizes the spatial structure of these enzymes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 975–984, 2014.
Meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing combined compression and anticoagulation with either modality alone for prevention of venous thromboembolism after surgery
Authors: Zareba P , Wu C , Agzarian J , Rodriguez D , Kearon C
Published: June 2014

Background

Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality, there is still no consensus on the optimal strategy for VTE prevention after major surgery. The objective of this review was to determine the benefits and risks of thromboprophylaxis with both compression and anticoagulation, compared with either modality alone.

Methods

A systematic review of MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Embase databases was performed to identify eligible randomized trials. The literature search and data extraction were carried out independently by two reviewers. Outcomes of interest were deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, bleeding, limb injury and mortality.

Results

Twenty-five studies were eligible for inclusion. Adding compression to anticoagulation decreased the risk of DVT by 49 per cent (risk ratio (RR) 0·51, 95 per cent confidence interval 0·36 to 0·73). The corresponding funnel plot suggested publication bias and, overall, the evidence for this comparison was judged to be of low quality. Adding anticoagulation to compression decreased the risk of DVT by 44 per cent (RR 0·56, 0·45 to 0·69) while increasing the risk of bleeding (RR 1·74, 1·29 to 2·34). There was no suggestion of publication bias and the evidence for this comparison was judged to be of moderate quality.

Conclusion

Combined compression and anticoagulation is more effective at preventing postoperative DVT than either modality alone. However, adding anticoagulation to compression increases the risk of bleeding, and the evidence that adding compression to anticoagulation reduces VTE risk is of low quality.
A Glimpse into the process of gaining permission for the educational dissection of human cadavers in the Ottoman empire
Authors: Akkin Salih Murat , Dinc Gulten
Published: June 2014

Dissection of the human body for educational purposes became officially permitted in the Ottoman Empire only after a long, difficult process. In the West, studies based on the findings of Galen had been taboo during a long period in which dissection of human bodies had been prohibited. Although the first dissection studies since ancient times began to appear in the Western literature in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the post‐Galen taboo against dissection was broken only in the 16th century by the studies of Vesalius. However, in the Eastern World, it was only fairly recently that the idea of the “sanctity of the human body” could be challenged. In the medieval Islamic world, as during the Middle Ages in the West, prohibitions against the dissection of human cadavers continued for social and religious reasons, although the Koran does not specifically ban such dissection. This prohibition also continued through the Ottoman era, which began in the 14th century. The first efforts to end the prohibition on dissection in the Ottoman Empire were made at the beginning of the 19th century during the reign of Sultan Selim III but official permission for dissection was given only in 1841 during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid. Educational dissections in the Ottoman Empire officially began at the Istanbul Medical School following the granting of this permission. This article will discuss the attempts to end the prohibition of dissection in Ottomans within the scope of the history of anatomical study in Turkey. Clin. Anat. 27:964–971, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Depolymerization of Cellulose and Synthesis of Hexitols from Cellulose Using Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Rout Prasant Kumar , Nannaware Ashween Deepak , Prakash Om , Rajasekharan Ram
Published: June 2014

Sustainable, economic, and industrial growth of any nation is based on an integrative approach in utilizing renewable biomass feedstock. Lignocellulosic biomass has come up as the most important candidate for the production of different valuable biochemicals and biofuels. Cellulose isolated from lignocellulosic biomass is exploited for the production of glucose and high‐value hexitols. Innovative catalyst design holds the key to fundamental advances in the transformation of cellulose to high‐value sugars and biochemicals. In this review paper, several heterogeneous catalytic approaches for depolymerization of cellulose and synthesis of hexitols from cellulose have been summarized. In addition, HMF (5‐hydroxymethylfurfural) and LA (levulinic acid) are important biochemicals derived from cellulose. The industrial importance of biochemicals derived from HMF and LA are also highlighted in this article. Therefore, this review is an attempt to provide a brief glimpse of the lignocellulosic biomass refinery‐related efforts, which are currently taking place around the world.
Multiparametric MRI for prostate cancer: Seeing is believing
Authors: Warlick Christopher A.
Published: June 2014

Salami and colleagues present an evaluation of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with MRI/ultrasound fusion prostate biopsies compared with the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial High‐Grade nomogram to predict the presence of clinically significant disease in a largely referral‐based population of men. Their report echoes a growing chorus of studies suggesting the ability of MRI and image‐guided biopsies to improve the identification of men with clinically significant disease.
Comorbidities predict worse prognosis in patients with primary myelofibrosis
Authors: Newberry Kate J. , Naqvi Kiran , Nguyen Khanh T. , Cardenas‐Turanzas Marylou , Florencia Tanaka Maria , Pierce Sherry , Verstovsek Srdan
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND

Comorbidities have been shown to play an important role in the prognostic assessment of several hematologic conditions; however, the role of comorbidities in primary myelofibrosis has not been studied. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence and impact of comorbidities in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation‐27 (ACE‐27).

METHODS

In this retrospective observational cohort study, a total of 349 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PMF who presented to the study institution from 2000 to 2008 were evaluated. The authors evaluated the frequency and severity of comorbidities in these patients and assessed their impact on survival in a bivariable model that included the ACE‐27 and Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System scores as covariates.

RESULTS

Approximately 64% of patients had at least 1 comorbid condition, and diseases of the cardiovascular system (63%) were most common. Comorbidities had a significant negative impact on survival (P < .001). Patients with severe comorbidities had twice the risk of death as those with no comorbidities. When stratified by demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities were found to be significantly associated with worse survival in patients aged < 65 years (P < .001) and those with an ECOG performance status < 1 (P < .001). In a multivariable model that included the ACE‐27 and Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System scores, comorbidities retained a significant association with shorter survival (P ≤ .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The assessment of comorbid conditions in patients with PMF, particularly those who are younger and with a good performance status, has important implications for overall prognosis and treatment planning. Cancer 2014;120:2996–3002. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
A study on the application of an artificial neural algorithm in the color matching of Taiwanese cultural and creative commodities
Authors: Hsiao Shih‐Wen , Wang Ming‐Feng , Lee Dai‐Jung , Chen Chien‐Wei
Published: June 2014

In the recent years, great importance has been shown toward the cultural creativity in Taiwan. Cultural identification and determining how best to apply it to commercial products require investigating and compiling a vast amount of cultural information, along with the individual ideas of designers, to develop new cultural products. During the product development and design process, the color scheme is the final and most important element. It not only represents the first image of the product but also elicits the important first‐sight impression of consumers. Consequently, color ranks first in cultural commodity development. By understanding the Taiwanese culture, as well as assessing, verifying, and internalizing it into the materials that can be used by the designers, this study uses an artificial neural network system and simplifies the collected pictures that are representative of the Taiwanese culture into groups of different matching colors to assist designers in developing cultural commodities with different features and according to different cultural styles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 341–351, 2015
Timing matters: species‐specific interactions between spawning time, substrate quality, and recruitment success in three salmonid species
Authors: Sternecker Katharina , Denic Marco , Geist Juergen
Published: June 2014

Substratum quality and oxygen supply to the interstitial zone are crucial for the reproductive success of salmonid fishes. At present, degradation of spawning grounds due to fine sediment deposition and colmation are recognized as main factors for reproductive failure. In addition, changes in water temperatures due to climate change, damming, and cooling water inlets are predicted to reduce hatching success. We tested the hypothesis that the biological effects of habitat degradation depend strongly on the species‐specific spawning seasons and life‐history strategies (e.g., fall‐ vs. spring‐spawners, migratory vs. resident species) and assessed temperature as an important species‐specific factor for hatching success within river substratum. We studied the species‐specific differences in their responses to such disturbances using egg‐to‐fry survival of Danube Salmon (Hucho hucho), resident brown trout (Salmo trutta fario), and migratory brown trout (Salmo trutta lacustris) as biological endpoint. The egg incubation and hatching success of the salmonids and their dependence on temperature and stream substratum quality were compared. Hatching rates of Danube salmon were lower than of brown trout, probably due to higher oxygen demands and increased interstitial respiration in spring. Increases in maximum water temperature reduced hatching rates of resident and migratory brown trout (both fall‐spawners) but were positively correlated with hatching rates of Danube salmon (a spring‐spawner). Significantly longer incubation periods of resident and migratory brown trout coincided with relatively low stream substratum quality at the end of the egg incubation. Danube salmon seem to avoid low oxygen concentrations in the hyporheic zone by faster egg development favored by higher water temperatures. Consequently, the prediction of effects of temperature changes and altered stream substratum properties on gravel‐spawning fishes and biological communities should consider the observed species‐specific variances in life‐history strategies to increase conservation success.
Experimental Study of Transformer Residual Flux and the Method of Restraining Inrush Current
Authors: Hase Yoshihide , Kamesawa Tomoyuki , Inoue Shinji , Yamamura Shunichiro
Published: June 2014

Whenever a power transformer in a no‐load condition is manually tripped, a residual flux appears in the transformer core, which causes an inrush current when the transformer is later re‐energized. However, the true nature of residual fluxes has not yet been experimentally elucidated. The authors interpreted the residual flux as representing the ending states of transient phenomena after tripping, and tested this interpretation experimentally. In the authors' interpretation, a three‐phase balanced transient phenomenon of the voltage, current, and core flux occurs immediately after the transformer is tripped at the time top0, and it continues until time top1. The true nature of the residual flux is the core fluxes , , at top1. Furthermore, these residual fluxes as well as the voltages and currents during the transient interval are practically three‐phase balanced, so that they can be expressed as three‐phase balanced equilateral triangular phasors. The core flux values and waveforms cannot be directly measured but they can be digitally generated as the integrals of the voltage waveform. Thus a test of the residual flux under the above interpretation can be performed indirectly by preparing (1) measured voltage waveforms just after transformer tripping, (2) flux waveforms mathematically generated by voltage integration just after tripping, and (3) measured transient inrush current , , , occurring immediately after the transformer is re‐energized at time θcl, and then comparing these three data as characteristics in the 3‐D coordinates of and of .

Verification tests were performed utilizing a simulation test circuit in which large numbers of on–off switching tests of a transformer were conducted. The test results clearly indicated that the inrush current reaches its maximum whenever θcl is in antiphase with θop1 (instead of θop0), and reaches its minimum whenever θcl is in phase with θop1. These test results confirmed the authors' interpretation of the true nature of the transient phenomena and the residual flux after tripping. The test results suggest essential algorithms for inrush current restraining control in order to appropriately restrain inrush current phenomena. Field test results at a 66‐kV wind power station where commercial equipment based on the above described theory and method were in service are also presented.
Oxidative Trifluoromethylthiolation of Terminal Alkynes with AgSCF3: A Convenient Approach to Alkynyl Trifluoromethyl Sulfides
Authors: Zhu Sheng‐Qing , Xu Xiu‐Hua , Qing Feng‐Ling
Published: June 2014

A new method for the efficient synthesis of alkynyl trifluoromethyl sulfides was developed. By combining AgSCF3 and NCS in N,N‐dimethylacetamide, an electrophilic active intermediate was produced, which was then treated with a variety of terminal alkynes to afford the corresponding trifluoromethanesulfenylated products in moderate to excellent yields.
Urine 2DE proteome analysis in healthy condition and kidney disease
Authors: Martin‐Lorenzo Marta , Gonzalez‐Calero Laura , Zubiri Irene , Diaz‐Payno Pedro J. , Sanz‐Maroto Aroa , Posada‐Ayala Maria , Ortiz Alberto , Vivanco Fernando , Alvarez‐Llamas Gloria
Published: June 2014

Urine is a source of potential markers of disease. In the context of renal disease, urine is particularly important as it may directly reflect kidney injury. Current markers of renal dysfunction lack both optimal specificity and sensitivity, and improved technologies and approaches are needed. There is no clear consensus about the best sample pretreatment procedure for 2DE analysis of the urine proteome. Sample pretreatment conditions spots resolution and detection sensitivity, critically. As a first goal, we exhaustively compared eight different sample cleaning and protein purification methodologies for 2DE analysis of urine from healthy individuals. Oasis® HLB cartridges allowed the detection of the highest number of low molecular weight proteins; while PD10 desalting columns resulted in the highest number of detected spots in the high molecular weight area. Sample pretreatment strategies were also explored in the context of proteinuria, a clinical condition often associated to renal damage. Testing of urine samples from 13 patients with hypertension or kidney disease and different levels of proteinuria identified Oasis® HLB cartridge purification in combination with albumin depletion by ProteoPrep kit as the best option for urine proteome profiling from patients with proteinuric (> 30 mg/L albumin in urine) renal disease.
Use of singular value decomposition analysis to differentiate phosphorylated precursors in strong cation exchange fractions
Authors: Sadygov Rovshan G.
Published: June 2014

We studied the use of peak deviations (PDs) for application in phosphoproteomics. Due to the differences in the mass defects, the PDs of samples containing mixtures of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated peptides show bimodal distributions. The ratios of peak heights accurately predict the phosphoproteome content of a sample. In this work, we apply a signal‐processing tool, singular value decomposition, to reveal characteristic features of the phosphorylated, nonphosphorylated, and mixed samples. We show that a simple application of singular value decomposition to the PD matrix (i) detects transitions from mostly phosphorylated samples to mostly nonphosphorylated samples, (ii) reveals modes of low‐abundance species in the presence of the high‐abundance species (e.g., phosphorylated peptides), and (iii) simplifies the interpretation of the clustering of a covariance matrix obtained from PDs. As the eigenfunctions of the inner‐product of the data matrix (made from the PDs) are Hermite functions, we observe a change of sign in the transition from samples enriched in phosphorylated peptides to samples containing fewer phosphorylated peptides. The ordering of the singular values of the data matrix points in the direction of changes to the phosphorylation content. No peptide identifications from a database were used for this study.
Paper microfluidic‐based enzyme catalyzed double microreactor
Authors: Ferrer Ivonne M. , Valadez Hector , Estala Lissette , Gomez Frank A.
Published: June 2014

We describe a paper microfluidic‐based enzyme catalyzed double microreactor assay using fluorescent detection. Here, solutions of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and diaphorase (DI) were directly spotted onto the microfluidic paper‐based analytical device (μPAD). Samples containing lactic acid, resazurin, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidized form (NAD+), potassium chloride (KCl), and BSA, in MES buffer were separately spotted onto the μPAD and MES buffer flowed through the device. A cascade reaction occurs upon the sample spot overlapping with LDH to form pyruvate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced form (NADH). Subsequently, NADH is used in the conversion of resazurin to fluorescent resorufin by DI. The μPAD avoids the need of surface functionalization or enzyme immobilization steps. These microreactor devices are low cost and easy to fabricate and effect reaction based solely on buffer capillary action.
Identification of spermatozoa by tissue‐specific differential DNA methylation using bisulfite modification and pyrosequencing
Authors: Balamurugan Kuppareddi , Bombardi Robin , Duncan George , McCord Bruce
Published: June 2014

The focus of this study is to evaluate the application of epigenetic markers as a forensic tool for the determination of semen present in sexual assault cases. A series of genetic loci were screened in order to identify certain epigenetic markers displaying differential methylation that can allow semen to be differentiated from blood, buccal cells, skin epidermis, and vaginal epithelial cells. Of the different loci tested, a panel of six markers, DACT1, USP49, DDX4, Hs_INSL6_03, Hs_ZC3H12D_05, and B_SPTB_03 were identified to contain tissue‐specific differential methylation. Samples ranging from 9–21 for each tissue type were collected and subjected to bisulfite modification. The bisulfite modified DNA was amplified by PCR, and analyzed by pyrosequencing to quantitate the level of methylation at each marker. All six markers successfully differentiated semen samples from the other four tissue types analyzed. Sperm DNA was hypomethylated in all but one marker, B_SPTB_03, where this marker showed hypermethylation. Mean methylation percentages for semen samples were statistically significant from mean methylation percentages of the other four tissues studied (p < 0.01). The results of this study demonstrate the applicability of epigenetic markers as a novel tool for determination of spermatozoa and to identify the tissue source of origin of a DNA sample.
Assessment of the minimum value of photovoltaic electricity in Italy
Authors: Pagliaro Mario , Meneguzzo Francesco , Zabini Federica , Ciriminna Rosaria
Published: June 2014

We investigate the value of solar photovoltaic (PV) power in the Italian wholesale electricity market (IPEX). A model is developed and applied to simulate and predict the monthly average electricity prices in peak hours, as well as to simulate scenarios without PV generation. The computed merit‐order effect of the PV generation in Italy, around −2.9 €/MWh per each additional GWh of PV production, as well as the greater −4.5 €/MWh absolute value evaluated under the hypothesis of stationary electricity demand, are in line with the upper values found in related studies of near mature renewable energy markets. A strong relationship of the value of PV electricity in the IPEX with the electricity demand is clearly evident, leading to important policy implications in terms of possible actions on the granted subsidies, electrification of energy end use, and promotion of specific PV technologies. The anomalous temporal behavior of the IPEX, shown by high off‐peak electricity prices that followed the installation of Italy's large PV park, partly offsets the beneficial effect of PV generation.
Cytochrome P450 induction properties of food and herbal‐derived compounds using a novel multiplex RT‐qPCR in vitro assay, a drug–food interaction prediction tool
Authors: Koe Xue Fen , Tengku Muhammad Tengku Sifzizul , Chong Alexander Shu‐Chien , Wahab Habibah Abdul , Tan Mei Lan
Published: June 2014

A multiplex RT‐qPCR was developed to examine CYP1A2, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 induction properties of compounds from food and herbal sources. The induction of drug metabolizing enzymes is an important pharmacokinetic interaction with unique features in comparison with inhibition of metabolizing enzymes. Cytochrome induction can lead to serious drug–drug or drug–food interactions, especially if the coadministered drug plasma level is critical as it can reduce therapeutic effects and cause complications. Using this optimized multiplex RT‐qPCR, cytochrome induction properties of andrographolide, curcumin, lycopene, bergamottin, and resveratrol were determined. Andrographolide, curcumin, and lycopene produced no significant induction effects on CYP1A2, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. However, bergamottin appeared to be a significant in vitro CYP1A2 inducer starting from 5 to 50 μmol/L with induction ranging from 60 to 100‐fold changes. On the other hand, resveratrol is a weak in vitro CYP1A2 inducer. Examining the cytochrome induction properties of food and herbal compounds help complement CYP inhibition studies and provide labeling and safety caution for such products.
Reactive microglia and macrophage facilitate the formation of Müller glia‐derived retinal progenitors
Authors: Fischer Andy J. , Zelinka Christopher , Gallina Donika , Scott Melissa A. , Todd Levi
Published: June 2014

In retinas where Müller glia have been stimulated to become progenitor cells, reactive microglia are always present. Thus, we investigated how the activation or ablation of microglia/macrophage influences the formation of Müller glia‐derived progenitor cells (MGPCs) in the retina in vivo. Intraocular injections of the Interleukin‐6 (IL6) stimulated the reactivity of microglia/macrophage, whereas other types of retinal glia appear largely unaffected. In acutely damaged retinas where all of the retinal microglia/macrophage were ablated, the formation of proliferating MGPCs was greatly diminished. With the microglia ablated in damaged retinas, levels of Notch and related genes were unchanged or increased, whereas levels of ascl1a, TNFα, IL1β, complement component 3 (C3) and C3a receptor were significantly reduced. In the absence of retinal damage, the combination of insulin and Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) failed to stimulate the formation of MGPCs when the microglia/macrophage were ablated. In addition, intraocular injections of IL6 and FGF2 stimulated the formation of MGPCs in the absence of retinal damage, and this generation of MGPCs was blocked when the microglia/macrophage were absent. We conclude that the activation of microglia and/or infiltrating macrophage contributes to the formation of proliferating MGPCs, and these effects may be mediated by components of the complement system and inflammatory cytokines. GLIA 2014;62:1608–1628