bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The solar type II radio bursts of 7 March 2012: Detailed simulation analyses
Authors: Schmidt J. M. , Cairns Iver H. , Lobzin V. V.
Published: August 2014

Type II solar radio bursts are often indicators for impending space weather events at Earth. They are consequences of shock waves driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that move outward from the Sun. We simulate such type II radio bursts by combining elaborate three‐dimensional (3‐D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) predictions of realistic CMEs near the Sun with an analytic kinetic radiation theory developed recently. The simulation approach includes the reconstruction of initial solar magnetic fields, the dimensioning of the initial flux rope of the CME with STEREO spacecraft data, and the launch of the CME into an empirical data‐driven corona and solar wind. In this paper, we simulate a complicated double CME event (a very fast CME followed by a slower CME without interaction) and the related coronal and interplanetary type II radio bursts that occurred on 7 March 2012. We extend our previous work to show harmonic and interplanetary emission as well as the simulation's surprising ability (for these events at least) for predicting emission for two closely spaced CMEs leaving the same active region. We demonstrate that the theory predicts well the observed fundamental and harmonic emission from ∼20 MHz to 50 kHz or from the high corona to near 1 AU. Specifically, the theory predicts flux, frequency, and time variations that are consistent with the presence or absence of observed type II emissions when interfering emissions are absent and are not inconsistent with observations when interfering type III bursts are present. The predicted and observed type II emission is predominantly fundamental for these two events. Harmonic emission occurs for the second CME only for a short time interval, when an extended shock has developed that can drive flank emission. The coronal and interplanetary emission follow closely hyperbolic lines in frequency‐time space, consisting of a succession of islands of emission with varying intensity. The islands develop due to competition between the shock moving through varying coronal and solar wind magnetic field structures (e.g., loops and streamers), growth of the driven radio source due to the spherical expansion of the shock, and movement of the active radio sources from the shock's nose to its flanks.
Micrometeoroid impact charge yield for common spacecraft materials
Authors: Collette A. , Grün E. , Malaspina D. , Sternovsky Z.
Published: August 2014

The impact ionization charge yield is experimentally measured from four common materials used in space and specifically on the two STEREO spacecraft (germanium‐coated black Kapton, beryllium copper, multilayer insulation, and solar cells). Cosmic dust particle impacts on spacecraft have been detected by electric field and plasma and radio wave instruments. The accurate interpretation of these signals is complicated by many factors, including the details of the spacecraft antenna system, the local spacecraft plasma environment, and our understanding of the physics of the impact process. The most basic quantity, the amount of charge liberated upon impact, is generally considered poorly constrained and is suspected to depend on the target material. Here we show that for common materials used on spacecraft this variability is small for impacts around 10 km/s, and the impact charge yield can be approximated by 80 fC for a 1 pg projectile. At higher speeds (∼50 km/s), variation of up to a factor of 5 is observed. The measured yields in the 10–50 km/s range are compared to measurements and predictions from the literature and are found to be lower than predicted by at least a factor of 12 at 10 km/s and at least a factor of 1.7 at 50 km/s. Impact charge is also found to depend on angle of incidence; the data suggest a maximum at 45°.
A coordinated investigation of the gravity wave breaking and the associated dynamical instability by a Na lidar and an Advanced Mesosphere Temperature Mapper over Logan, UT (41.7°N, 111.8°W)
Authors: Cai Xuguang , Yuan Tao , Zhao Yucheng , Pautet Pierre‐Dominique , Taylor Mike J. , Pendleton W. R.
Published: August 2014

The impacts of gravity wave (GW) on the thermal and dynamic characteristics within the mesosphere/lower thermosphere, especially on the atmospheric instabilities, are still not fully understood. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation on one GW breaking event during a collaborative campaign between the Utah State University Na lidar and the Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (AMTM) on 9 September 2012. The AMTM provides direct evidence of the GW breaking as well as the horizontal parameters of the GWs involved, while the Na lidar's full diurnal cycle observations are utilized to uncover the roles of tide and GWs in generating a dynamical instability layer. By studying the changes of the OH layer peak altitude, we located the wave breaking altitude as well as the significance of a 2 h wave that are essential to this instability formation. By reconstructing the mean fields, tidal and GW variations during the wave breaking event, we find that the large‐amplitude GWs significantly changed the Brunt–Vaisala frequency square and the horizontal wind shear when superimposed on the tidal wind, producing a transient dynamic unstable region between 84 km and 87 km around 11:00 UT that caused a subsequent small‐scale GW breaking.
Numerical modeling of the global changes to the thermosphere and ionosphere from the dissipation of gravity waves from deep convection
Authors: Vadas S. L. , Liu H.‐L. , Lieberman R. S.
Published: August 2014

During the minimum of solar cycles 23–24, the Sun was extremely quiet; however, tropospheric deep convection was strong and active. In this paper, we model the gravity waves (GWs) excited by deep convective plumes globally during 15–27 June in 2009 and in 2000 (previous solar maximum). We ray trace the GWs into the thermosphere and calculate the body force/heatings which result where they dissipate. We input these force/heatings into a global dynamical model and study the neutral and plasma changes that result. The body forces induce horizontal wind () and temperature (T′) perturbations, while the heatings primarily induce T′. We find that the forces create much larger T′ than the heatings. consists of clockwise and counterclockwise circulations and “jet”‐like winds that are highly correlated with deep convection, with ∼50–200m/s. and T′ are much larger during 2009 than 2000. decreases slightly (significantly) with altitude from z∼150 to 400 km during 2009 (2000). T′ perturbations at z=350km primarily propagate westward at ∼460 m/s, consistent with migrating tides. It was found that planetary‐scale diurnal and semidiurnal tides are generated in situ in the thermosphere, with amplitudes ∼10–40m/s at z=250 km. The largest‐amplitude in situ tides are DW1, D0, DW2, SW2, SW3, and SW5. Smaller‐amplitude in situ tides are S0, SE2, and SW3. Total electron content (TEC′) perturbations of 1–2.5 (2–3.5) total electron content units (TECU, where 1 TECU = 1016 el m−2) during 2009 (2000) are created in the upper atmosphere above nearby regions of deep tropical convection. For a given local time (LT), there are 2 to 3 TEC′ peaks in longitude around the Earth.
Infrasonic interferometry applied to microbaroms observed at the Large Aperture Infrasound Array in the Netherlands
Authors: Fricke J. T. , Evers L. G. , Smets P. S. M. , Wapenaar K. , Simons D. G.
Published: August 2014

We present the results of infrasonic interferometry applied to microbaroms, obtained from ambient noise. For this purpose the “Large Aperture Infrasound Array” (LAIA) was used, which has been installed in the Netherlands. Preprocessing appeared to be an essential step in enhancing the microbarom signals from ambient noise that strongly influences the results of the interferometry. Both the state of the atmosphere and the noise characteristics are taken into account to assess the strength of the cross correlation. The delay time of the microbaroms between two stations is determined through cross correlating the recordings. By calculating the cross correlations between all 55 station pairs of LAIA, we are able to find the delay time of microbaroms up to a interstation distance of 40.6 km. Using the strength of the cross correlations, we are able to show that the coherence of the microbaroms along the direction of arrival is higher than orthogonal to it. A comparison of the atmospheric state, with a cross correlation, over a period of 10 days, reveals that the infrasound propagation over the array is correlated with the tropospheric temperature and wind. Based on the cross correlations between the three closest stations, we are able to passively estimate the effective sound speed and the wind speed as a function of time.
Continuous flow characterization of solid biomass in a reciprocating/rotating scraper tube: An experimental study
Authors: Boodhoo Kamelia V. K. , Smith Lily , Solano Juan Pedro , Gronnow Mark , Clark James
Published: August 2014

The performance of reciprocating/rotating scrapers has been assessed in a visualization study of the continuous flow hydrodynamics of air‐fluidized solid biomass under varying conditions of air flow rate and scraping velocities. A combination of low air flow rates and high scraping velocities results in more uniform flow of both types of biomass investigated. Power consumed by the reciprocating action of the scrapers increases with the scraping velocity but typically represents no more than 20% of the overall power consumption at the highest air flow rate applied. We also demonstrate that rotation of the scrapers superimposed on their reciprocating action gives higher flow rate of biomass and better mixing within the bulk solid compared to reciprocating action alone. The application of the reciprocating/rotating scraper technology described in this study represents a viable step forward in developing a continuous, large‐scale process for the microwave‐assisted decomposition of solid biomass to produce bio‐oils. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3732–3738, 2014
Bioenergetic markers in skin fibroblasts of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive lateral sclerosis patients
Authors: Kirk Kathryne , Gennings Chris , Hupf Jonathan C. , Tadesse Saba , D'Aurelio Marilena , Kawamata Hibiki , Valsecchi Federica , Mitsumoto Hiroshi ,   for the ALS/PLS COSMOS Study Groups, Manfredi Giovanni
Published: August 2014

Energy metabolism could influence amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and progressive lateral sclerosis (PLS) pathogenesis and the response to therapy. We developed a novel assay to simultaneously assess mitochondrial content and membrane potential in patients' skin fibroblasts. In ALS and PLS fibroblasts, membrane potential was increased and mitochondrial content decreased, relative to healthy controls. In ALS higher mitochondrial membrane potential correlated with age at diagnosis, and in PLS it correlated with disease severity. These unprecedented findings in ALS and PLS fibroblasts could shed new light onto disease pathogenesis and help in developing biomarkers to predict disease evolution and the individual response to therapy in motor neuron diseases. Ann Neurol 2014;76:620–624
Quantum synchronization of two Van der Pol oscillators
Authors: Walter Stefan , Nunnenkamp Andreas , Bruder Christoph
Published: August 2014

Synchronization of two dissipatively coupled Van der Pol oscillators in the quantum regime is studied. Due to quantum noise strict frequency locking is absent and is replaced by a crossover from weak to strong frequency entrainment. The differences to the behavior of one quantum Van der Pol oscillator subject to an external drive are discussed. Moreover, a possible experimental realization of two coupled quantum Van der Pol oscillators in an optomechanical setting is described.
Study on fracture behavior of PLLA transcrystallization: Effect of crystalline morphology
Authors: Wen Tao , Zhang Xiuqin , Xiong Zujiang , de Vos Sicco , Wang Ruyin , Wang Fosong , Wang Dujin
Published: August 2014

In the present work, the fracture behavior of transcrystallization (TC) of poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) in thin film and the dependence of mechanical properties on the morphology of TC have been studied. The nucleation density of TC was merely determined by the annealing temperatures of the fibers which used for inducing nucleation, and the crystallization temperature and time of the samples were completely identical. By using in situ polarized optical microscopy, the fracture process of TCs was characterized. For the TC with high nucleating density (TC‐H), lots of cracks were generated from the TC bulk during fracture. But only few cracks were observed on the TC with low nucleation density (TC‐L), and the final fracture of TC‐L always occurred in the junctions of crystal segments. Compared to the samples which do not contain TC, the fracture strength was enhanced by 8.1% because of the presence of TC‐H. On the contrary, the presence of TC‐L can reduce the fracture strength of the samples. The fracture surfaces of TC were characterized by scanning electron microscope. It was observed that the fracture surface of TC‐H exhibited obvious fibrillation and cavitation, but the fracture surface of TC‐L was smooth and featureless. The possible fracture mechanism for two TCs was discussed in view of their intrinsic crystal organizations. © 2014 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41273.
Benzimidazole‐1,2,3‐triazole Hybrid Molecules: Synthesis and Evaluation for Antibacterial/Antifungal Activity
Authors: Ouahrouch Abdelaaziz , Ighachane Hana , Taourirte Moha , Engels Joachim W. , Sedra My Hassan , Lazrek Hassan B.
Published: August 2014

A novel series of hybrid molecules 4a–i and 5a–i were prepared by condensation of 4‐(trimethylsilylethynyl)benzaldehyde 1 with substituted o‐phenylenediamines. These in turn were reacted with 2‐(azidomethoxy)ethyl acetate in a Cu alkyne–azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) to generate the 1,2,3‐triazole pharmacophore under microwave assistance. The newly synthesized compounds were examined for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and the phytopathogenic fungi Verticillium dahliae and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis. 2‐((4‐(4‐(5‐Trifluoromethyl benzimidazol‐2‐yl)phenyl)‐1,2,3‐triazol‐1‐yl)methoxy)ethanol 5e showed a moderate inhibition of 30% in the Foa sporulation test.
Efficient solution‐processed double‐layer red OLEDs based on a new europium complex with a carbazole group
Authors: Liu Jian , Miao Jing‐Sheng , Wu Hong‐Bin
Published: August 2014

A new europium complex EuL3(Phen) was used as guest dopant, and a blend of Polyvinylcarbazole and 2‐(biphenyl‐4‐yl)‐5‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (PVK and PBD) as host matrix. Efficient red organic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) with double‐layer structures were manufactured via a solution‐processed technique. The guest‐doped levels were 1, 3 and 5 wt% relative to the blend mass, respectively. For the 1 wt% doping‐level device, the luminous efficiency and luminance were up to 2.96 cd/A and 635.78 cd/m2 with emissions from both EuL3(Phen) and from the host; for the 3 wt% doping‐level device, the maximum luminous efficiency and luminance were 1.01 cd/A and 370.91 cd/m2 for the single emission from EuL3(Phen) only. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of omission of surgery on survival of older patients with breast cancer
Authors: de Glas N A , Jonker J M , Bastiaannet E , de Craen A J M , van de Velde C J H , Siesling S , Liefers G-J , Portielje J E A , Hamaker M E
Published: August 2014

Background

Older patients with breast cancer are often not treated in accordance with guidelines. With the emergence of endocrine therapy, omission of surgery can be considered in some patients. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate time trends in surgical treatment between 1995 and 2011, and to evaluate the effects of omitting surgery on overall and relative survival in older patients with resectable breast cancer.

Methods

Patients aged 75 years and older with stage I–III breast cancer diagnosed between 1995 and 2011 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Time trends of all treatment modalities were evaluated using linear regression models. Changes in overall survival were calculated by Cox regression. Relative survival was calculated using the Ederer II method.

Results

Overall, 26 292 patients were included. The proportion of patients receiving surgical treatment decreased significantly, from 90·8 per cent in 1995 to 69·9 per cent in 2011 (P < 0·001). Multivariable analysis showed that overall survival did not change over time (hazard ratio 1·00 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·99 to 1·00) per year); nor did relative survival (relative excess risk 1·00 (0·98 to 1·02) per year).

Conclusion

Omission of surgery has become more common in older patients with breast cancer during the past 15 years in the Netherlands, but this has not altered overall or relative survival.
Non‐muscle myosins in tumor progression, cancer cell invasion, and metastasis
Authors: Ouderkirk Jessica L. , Krendel Mira
Published: August 2014

The actin cytoskeleton, which regulates cell polarity, adhesion, and migration, can influence cancer progression, including initial acquisition of malignant properties by normal cells, invasion of adjacent tissues, and metastasis to distant sites. Actin‐dependent molecular motors, myosins, play key roles in regulating tumor progression and metastasis. In this review, we examine how non‐muscle myosins regulate neoplastic transformation and cancer cell migration and invasion. Members of the myosin superfamily can act as either enhancers or suppressors of tumor progression. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on how mutations or epigenetic changes in myosin genes and changes in myosin expression may affect tumor progression and patient outcomes and discusses the proposed mechanisms linking myosin inactivation or upregulation to malignant phenotype, cancer cell migration, and metastasis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Aspiration cytology of mammary analogue secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland
Authors: Jung Min Jung , Kim Sang Yoon , Nam Soon Yuhl , Roh Jong‐Lyel , Choi Seung‐Ho , Lee Jeong Hyun , Baek Jung Hwan , Cho Kyung‐Ja
Published: August 2014

Background

Aspiration cytologic findings of mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), a newly established salivary gland neoplasm defined by a t(12;15)(p13;q25) ETV6‐NTRK3 translocation, are not fully characterized to date. We report cytologic descriptions of nine cases of molecularly confirmed MASC, including two with unusual findings.

Methods

Aspiration smears from nine MASCs of the salivary glands were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed according to the cellular and structural features of the corresponding surgical specimens.

Results

Aspiration smears of MASC generally reflected the histologic diversity of the tumors. Among usual histologic findings, a micropapillary pattern was associated with a predominance of vacuolated individual cells on aspiration smears, a papillary‐cystic pattern with a predominance of thin branching papillary structures, and a microcystic pattern with a predominance of irregular sheets of eosinophilic cells. There were two unusual cases, one with three‐dimensional groups of high‐grade atypical cells, and one with epithelial clusters floating in a notably mucinous background. These cases represented MASC with high‐grade transformation and MASC with cystadenocarcinoma‐like features, respectively. The secretory activity of MASC was not prominent in the aspiration specimens.

Conclusions

Although unusual cases were present, most MASC cases showed characteristic cytologic findings, which could aid the cytologic diagnosis of MASC. And knowledge of the histologic spectrum of MASC, including high‐grade transformation, could be valuable for cytological differential diagnoses of salivary gland tumors, and the management of patients with MASC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:287–293. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Infant perceptual development for faces and spoken words: An integrated approach
Authors: Watson Tamara L. , Robbins Rachel A. , Best Catherine T.
Published: August 2014

There are obvious differences between recognizing faces and recognizing spoken words or phonemes that might suggest development of each capability requires different skills. Recognizing faces and perceiving spoken language, however, are in key senses extremely similar endeavors. Both perceptual processes are based on richly variable, yet highly structured input from which the perceiver needs to extract categorically meaningful information. This similarity could be reflected in the perceptual narrowing that occurs within the first year of life in both domains. We take the position that the perceptual and neurocognitive processes by which face and speech recognition develop are based on a set of common principles. One common principle is the importance of systematic variability in the input as a source ofinformationrather thannoise. Experience of this variability leads to perceptual tuning to the critical properties that define individual faces or spoken words versus their membership in larger groupings of people and their language communities. We argue that parallels can be drawn directly between the principles responsible for the development of face and spoken language perception. © 2014 The Authors.Dev PsychobiolPublished by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1454–1481, 2014.
Effects of vegetation on flow and sediment transport: comparative analyses and validation of predicting models
Authors: Vargas‐Luna Andrés , Crosato Alessandra , Uijttewaal Wim S.J.
Published: August 2014

The presence of vegetation modifies flow and sediment transport in alluvial channels and hence the morphological evolution of river systems. Plants increase the local roughness, modify flow patterns and provide additional drag, decreasing the bed‐shear stress and enhancing local sediment deposition. For this, it is important to take into account the presence of vegetation in morphodynamic modelling. Models describing the effects of vegetation on water flow and sediment transport already exist, but comparative analyses and validations on extensive datasets are still lacking. In order to provide practical information for modelling purposes, we analysed the performance of a large number of models on flow resistance, vegetation drag, vertical velocity profiles and bed‐shear stresses in vegetated channels. Their assessments and applicability ranges are derived by comparing their predictions with measured values from a large dataset for different types of submerged and emergent vegetation gathered from the literature. The work includes assessing the performance of the sediment transport capacity formulae of Engelund and Hansen and van Rijn in the case of vegetated beds, as well as the value of the drag coefficient to be used for different types of vegetation and hydraulic conditions. The results provide a unique comparative overview of existing models for the assessment of the effects of vegetation on morphodynamics, highlighting their performances and applicability ranges. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
N-cadherin Restrains PTH Activation of Lrp6/β-catenin Signaling and Osteoanabolic Action
Authors: Revollo Leila , Kading Jacqueline , Jeong Sung Yeop , Li Jiemin , Salazar Valerie , Mbalaviele Gabriel , Civitelli Roberto
Published: August 2014

Interaction between parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone–related peptide receptor 1 (PTHR1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 6 (Lrp6) is important for parathyroid hormone (PTH) signaling and anabolic action. Because N-cadherin has been shown to negatively regulate canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, we asked whether N-cadherin alters PTH signaling and stimulation of bone formation. Ablation of the N-cadherin gene (Cdh2) in primary osteogenic lineage cells resulted in increased Lrp6/PTHR1 interaction in response to PTH1-34, associated with enhanced PTH-induced PKA signaling and PKA-dependent β-catenin C-terminus phosphorylation, which promotes β-catenin transcriptional activity. β-catenin C-terminus phosphorylation was abolished by Lrp6 knockdown. Accordingly, PTH1-34 stimulation of Tcf/Lef target genes, Lef1 and Axin2, was also significantly enhanced in Cdh2-deficient cells. This enhanced responsiveness to PTH extends to the osteo-anabolic effect of PTH, as mice with a conditional Cdh2 deletion in Osx+ cells treated with intermittent doses of PTH1-34 exhibited significantly larger gains in trabecular bone mass relative to control mice, the result of accentuated osteoblast activity. Therefore, N-cadherin modulates Lrp6/PTHR1 interaction, restraining the intensity of PTH-induced β-catenin signaling, and ultimately influencing bone formation in response to intermittent PTH administration. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Denosumab Rapidly Increases Cortical Bone in Key Locations of the Femur: A 3D Bone Mapping Study in Women With Osteoporosis
Authors: Poole Kenneth ES , Treece Graham M , Gee Andrew H , Brown Jacques P , McClung Michael R , Wang Andrea , Libanati Cesar
Published: August 2014

Women with osteoporosis treated for 36 months with twice-yearly injections of denosumab sustained fewer hip fractures compared with placebo. Treatment might improve femoral bone at locations where fractures typically occur. To test this hypothesis, we used 3D cortical bone mapping of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis to investigate the timing and precise location of denosumab versus placebo effects in the hips. We analyzed clinical computed tomography scans from 80 female participants in FREEDOM, a randomized trial, wherein half of the study participants received subcutaneous denosumab 60 mg twice yearly and the others received placebo. Cortical 3D bone thickness maps of both hips were created from scans at baseline, 12, 24, and 36 months. Cortical mass surface density maps were also created for each visit. After registration of each bone to an average femur shape model followed by statistical parametric mapping, we visualized and quantified statistically significant treatment effects. The technique allowed us to pinpoint systematic differences between denosumab and control and to display the results on a 3D average femur model. Denosumab treatment led to an increase in femoral cortical mass surface density and thickness, already evident by the third injection (12 months). Overall, treatment with denosumab increased femoral cortical mass surface density by 5.4% over 3 years. One-third of the increase came from increasing cortical density, and two-thirds from increasing cortical thickness, relative to placebo. After 36 months, cortical mass surface density and thickness had increased by up to 12% at key locations such as the lateral femoral trochanter versus placebo. Most of the femoral cortex displayed a statistically significant relative difference by 36 months. Osteoporotic cortical bone responds rapidly to denosumab therapy, particularly in the hip trochanteric region. This mechanism may be involved in the robust decrease in hip fractures observed in denosumab-treated women at increased risk of fracture. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
An EGFR targeting nanoparticle self assembled from a thermoresponsive polymer
Authors: Goodall Stephen , Howard Christopher B. , Jones Martina L. , Munro Trent , Jia Zhongfan , Monteiro Michael J. , Mahler Stephen
Published: August 2014

BACKGROUND

Decorating nanoparticles with proteins, antibodies and antibody fragments allows highly specific targeting to selected cells for improved delivery of therapeutics and diagnostics. A range of particles have previously been trialled in drug delivery including liposomes, dendrimers, hydrogels and inorganic particles. Polymer nanoparticles can be rationally designed and self‐assembled with control over particle size, morphology, charge and shape, allowing for optimization of drug delivery. However, post‐functionalization of particles with antibodies or proteins can influence the self‐assembly process and creates challenges in maintaining bioactivity.

RESULTS

An EGFR‐targeting scFv antibody fragment has been integrated as a hydrophilic moiety, and through self‐assembly driven by a thermoresponsive polymer, formed antibody‐targeted polymeric nanoparticles (immunoparticles) of approximately 320 nm in diameter. The binding of the scFv to native EGFR on MDA MB 468 cells and to recombinant EGFR was determined using flow cytometry and surface plasmon resonance respectively. Conjugation of the scFv to the thermoresponsive polymer did not compromise the binding to EGFR. Furthermore, cross‐linking the scFv with glutaraldehyde to stabilize the immunoparticle did not impact the binding of the particle to EGFR.

CONCLUSION

The temperature‐induced self‐assembly of immunoparticles from antibody‐conjugated polymers provides a novel method to prepare targeted nanoparticles. This methodology further provides a rapid and versatile way to build immunoparticles with multi‐targeting capability by combining different types of scFv‐PNIPAM conjugates targeting different receptors. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis of a stable isotopically labeled universal surrogate peptide for use as an internal standard in LC‐MS/MS bioanalysis of human IgG and Fc‐fusion protein drug candidates
Authors: Voronin Kimberly , Allentoff Alban J. , Bonacorsi Samuel J. , Mapelli Claudio , Gong Sharon X. , Lee Ving , Riexinger Douglas , Sanghvi Nishith , Jiang Hao , Zeng Jianing
Published: August 2014

The synthesis of a 16‐residue, stable isotopically labeled peptide is described for use as a LC‐MS/MS (Liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) internal standard in bioanalytical studies. This peptide serves as a single universal surrogate peptide capable of quantifying a wide variety of immunoglobulin G and Fc‐fusion protein drug candidates in animal species used in pre‐clinical drug development studies. An efficient synthesis approach for this peptide was developed using microwave‐assisted solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) techniques, which included the use of a pseudoproline dipeptide derivative. The corresponding conventional room temperature SPPS was unsuccessful and gave only mixtures of truncated products. Stable‐labeled leucine was incorporated as a single residue via manual coupling of commercially available Fmoc‐[13C6, 15N]‐l‐leucine onto an 11‐unit segment followed by automated microwave‐assisted elaboration of the final four residues. Using this approach, the desired labeled peptide was prepared in high purity and in sufficient quantities for long‐term supplies as a bioanalytical internal standard. The results strongly demonstrate the importance of utilizing both microwave‐assisted peptide synthesis and pseudoproline dipeptide techniques to allow the preparation of labeled peptides with highly lipophilic and sterically hindered side‐chains.
Using Visual Data Mining to Enhance the Simple Tools in Statistical Process Control: A Case Study
Authors: Smith Huw D. , Megahed Fadel M. , Jones‐Farmer L. Allison , Clark Mark
Published: August 2014

Statistical process control (SPC) is a collection of problem‐solving tools used to achieve process stability and improve process capability through variation reduction. Because of its sound statistical basis and intuitive use of visual displays, SPC has been extensively used in manufacturing and health care and service industries. Deploying SPC involves both a technical aspect and a proper environment for continuous improvement activities based on management support and worker empowerment. Many of the commonly used SPC tools, including histograms, fishbone diagrams, scatter plots, and defect concentration diagrams, were proposed prior to the advent of microcomputers as efficient methods to record and visualize data for single (or few) variable(s) processes. As the volume, variety, and velocity of data continues to evolve, there are opportunities to supplement and improve these methods for understanding and visualizing process variation. In this paper, we propose enhancements to some of the basic quality tools that can be easily applied with a desktop computer. We demonstrate how these updated tools can be used to better characterize, understand, and/or diagnose variation in a case study involving a US manufacturer of structural tubular metal products. Finally, we create the quality visualization toolkit to allow practitioners to implement some of these visualization tools without the need for training, extensive statistical background, and/or specialized statistical software. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local Analyses of Ionic Liquid/Solid Interfaces by Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy and Photoemission Spectroscopy
Authors: Fukui Ken‐ichi , Yokota Yasuyuki , Imanishi Akihito
Published: August 2014

Local analyses of ionic liquid/solid electrode interfaces at a controlled electrode potential are of fundamental importance to understanding the origin and properties of the electric double layer at the interfaces, which is necessary for their application to electrochemical devices. This account summarizes our recent achievements of such analyses by using the novel analytical tools of electrochemical frequency modulation AFM (EC‐FM‐AFM) and electrochemical photoemission spectroscopy (EC‐PES). Rather stable stepped structures composed of layers of ion pairs and softer solvation layers outside of the imaged layer were clearly visualized by FM‐AFM depending on the substrates. An extremely extended diffusion layer was directly observed by EC‐PES during the electrodeposition of metal ion solutes.
Human fetal growth is constrained below optimal for perinatal survival
Authors: Vasak B. , Koenen S. V. , Koster M. P. H. , Hukkelhoven C. W. P. M. , Franx A. , Hanson M. A. , Visser G. H. A.
Published: August 2014

Objective

The use of fetal growth charts assumes that the optimal size at birth is at the 50thbirth‐weight centile, but interaction between maternal constraints on fetal growth and the risks associated with small and large fetal size at birth may indicate that this assumption is not valid for perinatal mortality rates. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution and timing (antenatal, intrapartum or neonatal) of perinatal mortality and morbidity in relation to birth weight and gestational age at delivery.

Methods

Data from over 1 million births occurring at 28–43 weeks' gestation from singleton pregnancies without congenital abnormalities in the period from 2002 to 2008 were collected from The Netherlands Perinatal Registry. The distribution of perinatal mortality according to birth‐weight centile and gestational age at delivery was studied.

Results

In the 1 170 534 pregnancies studied, there were 5075 (0.43%) perinatal deaths. The highest perinatal mortality occurred in those with a birth weight below the 2.3rdcentile (25.4/1000 births) and the lowest mortality was in those with birth weights between the 80thand 84thcentiles (2.4/1000 births), according to routinely used growth charts. Antepartum deaths were lowest in those with birth weight between the 90thand 95thcentiles. Data were almost identical when the analysis was restricted to infants born at ≥ 37 weeks' gestation.

Conclusion

From an immediate survival perspective, optimal fetal growth requires a birth weight between the 80thand 84thcentiles for the population. Median birth weight in the population is, by definition, substantially lower than these centiles, implying that the majority of fetuses exhibit some form of maternal constraint on growth. This finding is consistent with adaptations that have evolved in humans in conjunction with a large head and bipedalism, to reduce the risk of obstructed delivery. These data also fit remarkably well with those on long‐term adult cardiovascular and metabolic health risks, which are lowest in cases with a birth weight around the 90thcentile. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Pain during Fallopian‐tube patency testing by hysterosalpingo‐foam sonography
Authors: Van Schoubroeck D. , Van den Bosch T. , Ameye L. , Boes A. S. , D'Hooghe T. , Timmerman D.
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To evaluate perception of pain during Fallopian‐tube patency testing by hysterosalpingo‐foam sonography (HyFoSy).

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 216 consecutive women presenting at a university fertility clinic for HyFoSy examination were included. Patients were instructed to take ibuprofen 1 hour before the procedure. Immediately after the procedure, patients filled in a questionnaire concerning discomfort or pain experienced during the process, including a visual analog scale (VAS) score for perception of pain.

Results

The median VAS score for perception of pain during transvaginal ultrasound examination and during HyFoSy examination was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2–1.7) and 3.6 (95% CI, 3.0–4.0), respectively. One‐third of women reported that the level of discomfort or pain during HyFoSy examination was similar to that during the preceding transvaginal ultrasound examination and 48% of women considered HyFoSy examination to be neutral/unpleasant, but not painful. There was an inverse association between both patients' age and parity and the pain experienced.

Conclusions

HyFoSy examination is tolerated well and allows for reliable tubal patency testing without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation in an outpatient setting with a low technical failure rate. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Identification of mineral inclusions in archaeological ceramics using microbeam X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Attaelmanan Atta G.
Published: August 2014

Archaeological ceramics are subjected to chemical and geochemical analyses in order to ascertain production techniques and provenance. Many analytical techniques are currently available for the determination of qualitative and quantitative characteristics pertaining to clay composition and structure. Microbeam XRF is utilised in this report to analyse mineral inclusions present in Mleiha ceramics in order to establish better provenance data. A total of 67 mineral inclusions of different sizes and colours were analysed. The majority of the sampled inclusions (94%) were silicates, and only 6% were calcites. A total of 35 inclusions from the former group were olivine minerals composed of a mixture of Mg, Si, and Fe oxides constituting 87–99% of the inclusions' mass, in addition to 13 inclusions composed mainly of Al, Si, and Ca oxides with sum concentrations ranging from 80% to 98%. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comprobación de la eficiencia débil en los principales mercados financieros latinoamericanos
Authors: Duarte Duarte Juan Benjamín , Mascareñas Pérez-Iñigo Juan Manuel
Published: August 2014

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo comprobar la eficiencia débil en los 5 principales mercados bursátiles de Latinoamérica, usando 2 enfoques; primero se evalúa la normalidad de las series mediante las estadísticas básicas, el test Jarque-Bera y la prueba de bondad de ajuste de la chi-cuadrado; en segundo lugar, se contrasta la caminata aleatoria (RW) de los activos en sus versiones RW1 (test Rachas y test BDS), RW2 (filtros de Alexander con algoritmos genéticos) y RW3 (Test Ljung-Box e Intervalo de Bartlett); encontrando que las 5 principales economías latinoamericanas han experimentado un cambio de no eficiencia a eficiencia en los últimos años de acuerdo con el siguiente orden cronológico:México(2007), Brasil (2008), Colombia (2008), Chile (2011) y Perú (2012).
Prenatal stress increases the striatal and hippocampal expression of correlating c‐FOS and serotonin transporters in murine offspring
Authors: Bielas H. , Arck P. , Bruenahl C.A. , Walitza S. , Grünblatt E.
Published: August 2014

Prenatal stress (PS) is a known risk factor for several psychiatric diagnoses, including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, anxiety, and depression which have been associated with serotonin transporter (SERT) dysregulation. Moreover, long‐term effects in animal models associate with higher levels of immediate early genes, e.g. c‐FOS (up‐regulated in response to neuronal activity), in the brain of PS offspring. We therefore quantified the expression of both protein related mRNAs in adolescent BALB/c mice subjected to mild auditory stress on two separate days in mid gestation. SERT and c‐FOS consistently correlated in most brain regions of PS mice and controls. Moreover, two‐way ANOVAs revealed concomitantly increased levels of proteins, as well as of FOSL1 and FOSL2 mRNA, especially in the striatum and hippocampus of the PS offspring. Sex affected only and less consistently mRNA expression, yet interacted with PS, demonstrating that glucocorticoid receptor mRNA expression decreased in PS males but increased in PS females compared to the respective controls. This first finding of a correlation between SERT and c‐FOS protein expression affected by PS, together with related mRNAs, may be considered a new target for behavioral and treatment studies in offspring.
Block maps between primitive uniform and Pisot substitutions
Authors: SALO VILLE , TÖRMÄ ILKKA
Published: August 2014

In this article, we prove that for all pairs of primitive Pisot or uniform substitutions with the same dominating eigenvalue, there exists a finite set of block maps such that every block map between the corresponding subshifts is an element of this set, up to a shift.
On the reducibility of two-dimensional linear quasi-periodic systems with small parameter
Authors: XU JUNXIANG , LU XUEZHU
Published: August 2014

In this paper we consider a linear real analytic quasi-periodic system of two differential equations, whose coefficient matrix analytically depends on a small parameter and closes to constant. Under some non-resonance conditions about the basic frequencies and the eigenvalues of the constant matrix and without any non-degeneracy assumption of the small parameter, we prove that the system is reducible for most of the sufficiently small parameters in the sense of the Lebesgue measure.
A family of non-sofic beta expansions
Authors: AKIYAMA SHIGEKI
Published: August 2014

Let ${\it\beta}_{n}>1$ be a root of $x^{n}-x-1$ for $n=4,5,\ldots$ ; we will prove that ${\it\beta}_{n}$ is not a Parry number, i.e., the associated beta transformation does not correspond to a sofic symbolic system. A generalization is shown in the last section.
Ergodic properties of discrete dynamical systems and enveloping semigroups
Authors: ROMANOV A. V.
Published: August 2014

For a continuous semicascade on a metrizable compact set ${\rm\Omega}$, we consider the weak$^{\ast }$ convergence of generalized operator ergodic means in $\text{End}\,C^{\ast }({\rm\Omega})$. We discuss conditions under which: every ergodic net contains a convergent sequence; all ergodic nets converge; all ergodic sequences converge. We study the relationships between the convergence of ergodic means and the properties of transitivity of the proximality relation on ${\rm\Omega}$, minimality of supports of ergodic measures, and uniqueness of minimal sets in the closure of trajectories of a semicascade. These problems are solved in terms of three associated algebraic-topological objects: the Ellis semigroup $E$, the Köhler operator semigroup ${\rm\Gamma}\subset \text{End}\,C^{\ast }({\rm\Omega})$, and the semigroup $G=\overline{\text{co}}\,{\rm\Gamma}$. The main results are stated for semicascades with metrizable $E$ and for tame semicascades.
Odd and even Maass cusp forms for Hecke triangle groups, and the billiard flow
Authors: POHL ANKE D.
Published: August 2014

By a transfer operator approach to Maass cusp forms and the Selberg zeta function for cofinite Hecke triangle groups, Möller and the present author found a factorization of the Selberg zeta function into a product of Fredholm determinants of transfer-operator-like families:$$\begin{eqnarray}Z(s)=\det (1-{\mathcal{L}}_{s}^{+})\det (1-{\mathcal{L}}_{s}^{-}).\end{eqnarray}$$In this article we show that the operator families${\mathcal{L}}_{s}^{\pm }$arise as families of transfer operators for the triangle groups underlying the Hecke triangle groups, and that for$s\in \mathbb{C}$,$\text{Re}s={\textstyle \frac{1}{2}}$, the operator${\mathcal{L}}_{s}^{+}$(respectively${\mathcal{L}}_{s}^{-}$) has a 1-eigenfunction if and only if there exists an even (respectively odd) Maass cusp form with eigenvalue$s(1-s)$. For non-arithmetic Hecke triangle groups, this result provides a new formulation of the Phillips–Sarnak conjecture on non-existence of even Maass cusp forms.
Uniform Diophantine approximation related to -ary and -expansions
Authors: BUGEAUD YANN , LIAO LINGMIN
Published: August 2014

Let $b\geq 2$ be an integer and $\hat{v}$ a real number. Among other results, we compute the Hausdorff dimension of the set of real numbers ${\it\xi}$ with the property that, for every sufficiently large integer $N$, there exists an integer $n$ such that $1\leq n\leq N$ and the distance between $b^{n}{\it\xi}$ and its nearest integer is at most equal to $b^{-\hat{v}N}$. We further solve the same question when replacing $b^{n}{\it\xi}$ by $T_{{\it\beta}}^{n}{\it\xi}$, where $T_{{\it\beta}}$ denotes the classical ${\it\beta}$-transformation.
An Exercise Programme for Smoking Cessation: Perceptions of the Fit2quit Trial Intervention
Authors: Roberts Vaughan , Dale Leila Pfaeffli , Dorey Enid , Bullen Christopher , Maddison Ralph
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Few trials of exercise interventions for smoking cessation have included a qualitative evaluation of the intervention from the participants' perspective.

Aims: To determine the perceptions of participants who received a 6-month telephone counselling exercise intervention to aid smoking cessation.

Methods: Participants in the Fit2Quit study intervention group were asked to take part in a semi-structured phone interview. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim, and a general inductive approach to data analysis was followed.

Results/Findings: Twenty participants from the intervention group completed an interview. The following themes emerged from the analyses: (1) The support people were genuinely interested in what I was achieving, (2) new awareness, new attitude, new lifestyle: I could see the benefits, (3) lack of time, willpower and money stopped me from changing and (4) I would have preferred a “more hands on” approach: Recommendations for future programmes.

Conclusions: A telephone counselling intervention to enhance exercise for smoking cessation was well received. Aspects of the intervention, particularly the provision of support and encouragement from the participant support person, were beneficial. Suggested improvements were greater tailoring of the call schedule, greater face-to-face contact and provision of a buddy system or support group. Such improvements may increase adherence and, therefore, effectiveness of exercise interventions for smoking cessation.
Assessing the Correspondence between Experimental Results Obtained in the Lab and Field: A Review of Recent Social Science Research
Authors: Coppock Alexander , Green Donald P.
Published: August 2014

A small but growing social science literature examines the correspondence between experimental results obtained in lab and field settings. This article reviews this literature and reanalyzes a set of recent experiments carried out in parallel in both the lab and field. Using a standardized format that calls attention to both the experimental estimates and the statistical uncertainty surrounding them, the study analyzes the overall pattern of lab-field correspondence, which is found to be quite strong (Spearman'sρ= 0.73). Recognizing that this correlation may be distorted by the ad hoc manner in which lab-field comparisons are constructed (as well as the selective manner in which results are reported and published), the article concludes by suggesting directions for future research, stressing in particular the need for more systematic investigation of treatment effect heterogeneity.