bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CO2, NOx and SOx removal from flue gas via microalgae cultivation: A critical review
Authors: Yen Hong‐Wei , Ho Shih‐Hsin , Chen Chun‐Yen , Chang Jo‐Shu
Published: April 2015

Flue gas refers to the gas emitting from the combustion processes, and it contains CO2, NOx, SOx and other potentially hazardous compounds. Due to the increasing concerns of CO2 emissions and environmental pollution, the cleaning process of flue gas has attracted much attention. Using microalgae to clean up flue gas via photosynthesis is considered a promising CO2 mitigation process for flue gas. However, the impurities in the flue gas may inhibit microalgal growth, leading to a lower microalgae‐based CO2 fixation rate. The inhibition effects of SOx that contribute to the low pH could be alleviated by maintaining a stable pH level, while NOx can be utilized as a nitrogen source to promote microalgae growth when it dissolves and is oxidized in the culture medium. The yielded microalgal biomass from fixing flue gas CO2 and utilizing NOx and SOx as nutrients would become suitable feedstock to produce biofuels and bio‐based chemicals. In addition to the removal of SOx, NOx and CO2, using microalgae to remove heavy metals from flue gas is also quite attractive. In conclusion, the use of microalgae for simultaneous removal of CO2, SOx and NOx from flue gas is an environmentally benign process and represents an ideal platform for CO2 reutilization.
Axial and Radial Dispersion in a Large‐Diameter Bubble Column Reactor at Low Height‐to‐Diameter Ratios
Authors: Bloch Gregor , Zander Hans‐Jörg , Wunderlich Bernd , Acher Thomas
Published: April 2015

Experiments are conducted in a bubble column reactor with inner diameter of 970 mm at atmospheric pressure with an air/water system at height‐to‐diameter ratios of 1 and below. Axial and radial dispersion coefficients are measured using a tracer, which is detected by conductivity probes. An analytical mathematical model for the determination of the dispersion coefficients from the experiments is presented. The measurements show the determined axial dispersion coefficients to vary significantly over the height of the column while increasing linearly with the gas flow rate.
Novel flow cytometric analysis of the blood–brain barrier
Authors: Williams Dionna W. , Tesfa Lydia , Berman Joan W.
Published: April 2015

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is primarily comprised of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) and astrocytes and serves as a physical and chemical barrier that separates the periphery from the brain. We describe a flow cytometric method using our in vitro model of the human BBB to characterize BMVEC surface junctional proteins critical for maintenance of barrier function, cell viability, and leukocyte adhesion. For this methodology, BMVEC are cocultured with astrocytes in a transwell tissue culture insert to establish the barrier, after which time the BBB are treated with specific agents, and the BMVEC collected for flow cytometric analyses. We use a standard and optimized method to recover the BMVEC from the coculture model that maintains junctional protein expression and cell viability. A novel leukocyte adhesion assay enables a quantitative analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) interactions with the BMVEC and can be used to assess the adhesion of many cell types to the BBB. Furthermore, this method enables the concomitant analysis of a large number of adhesion molecules and tight junction proteins on both the BMVEC and adherent PBMC under homeostatic and pathologic conditions. Flow cytometry is an extremely powerful tool, and this technique can also be applied to assess variables not performed in this study, including cell cycle progression, and calcium flux. © 2015 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Influence of transport and time on blood variables commonly measured for the athlete biological passport
Authors: Robinson Neil , Giraud Sylvain , Schumacher Yorck Olaf , Saugy Martial
Published: April 2015

Some recent studies have characterized the stability of blood variables commonly measured for the Athlete Biological Passport. The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of different shipments conditions and the quality of the results returned by the haematological analyzer. Twenty‐two healthy male subjects provided five EDTA tubes each. Four shipment conditions (24, 36, 48, 72 h) under refrigerated conditions were tested and compared to a set of samples left in the laboratory also under refrigerated conditions (group control). All measurements were conducted using two Sysmex XT‐2000i analyzers. Haemoglobin concentration, reticulocytes percentage, and OFF‐score numerical data were the same for samples analyzed just after collection and after a shipment under refrigerated conditions up to 72 h. Detailed information reported especially by the differential (DIFF) channel scatterplot of the Sysmex XT‐2000i indicated that there were signs of blood deterioration, but were not of relevance for the variables used in the Athlete Biological Passport. As long as the cold chain is guaranteed, the time delay between the collection and the analyses of blood variables can be extended. Copyright© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
B‐cell acquisition of antigen: Sensing the surface
Authors: Knight Andrew M.
Published: April 2015

B‐cell antigen receptor (BCR) recognition and acquisition of antigen by B cells is the essential first step in the generation of effective antibody responses. As B‐cell‐mediated antigen presentation is also believed to play a significant role in the activation of CD4+ Th‐cell responses, considerable effort has focused on clarifying the nature of antigen/BCR interactions. Following earlier descriptions of interactions of soluble antigens with the BCR, it is now clear that B cells also recognize, physically extract and present antigens that are tethered to, or integral components of, the surfaces or extracellular matrix of other cells. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Zeng et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2015. 45: XXXX–XXXX] examine how the physical property or “stiffness” of the surface displaying antigens to B cells influences the B‐cell response. This commentary reports that antigen tethered on “less stiff” surfaces induces increased B‐cell activation and antibody responses. I then infer how “sensing the surface” by B cells may represent a new component of the immune system's ability to detect “damage,” and how this understanding may influence approaches to clinical therapies where immune activity is either unwanted or desired.
Development of D–π–A Fluorescent Dyes with a 3‐Pyridyl Group as Electron‐Withdrawing Anchoring Group for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Ooyama Yousuke , Uenaka Koji , Ohshita Joji
Published: April 2015

D–π–A and (D–π–)2A fluorescent dyes (OUY‐1 and OUY‐2) with a 3‐pyridyl group as an electron‐withdrawing anchoring group have been newly developed as photosensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We found that both dyes OUY‐1 and OUY‐2 were adsorbed onto a TiO2 electrode through the formation of pyridinium ions and/or hydrogen bonding of the pyridyl group with the Brønsted‐acidic sites on the TiO2 surface. However, D–π–A dye NI‐6, with a 4‐pyridyl group, was predominantly adsorbed onto the TiO2 surface through coordinate bonding between the pyridyl group and the Lewis‐acidic sites on the TiO2 surface. The photovoltaic performance of DSSC based on dye OUY‐1 is comparable to that of the dye NI‐6. On the other hand, the photovoltaic performance of DSSC based on dye OUY‐2 is much lower than that of the dye OUY‐1. This work revealed that the binding mode of D–π–A dyes with pyridyl groups on the TiO2 surface can be changed by control of the basicity and electron density of pyridyl groups.
Sensitivity improvement of kukoamine determination by complexation with dihydrogen phosphate anions in capillary zone electrophoresis
Authors: Li Yuan‐Yuan , Di Rui , Hsu Wing‐Leung , Huang Ye‐Qing , Sun Hongyan , Cheung Hon‐Yeung
Published: April 2015

A novel complexation between kukoamines and dihydrogen phosphate ions (DPI) during CZE was discovered to improve the UV signal of kukoamine by around 30‐fold. This complexation formed by electric current was attributed to the hydrogen bonding of hydroxyl and amino (or amide) groups between the analyte and electrolyte anions. The established CZE method is low‐cost, easy to operate, and eco‐friendly, and it was shown to be superior to HPLC in terms of separation capability, efficiency, specificity, and sensitivity. We believe that our CZE method can be applied as an alternative to HPLC for kukoamine assay. The approach described here can be also extended for analyzing other compounds with similar functional groups.
Comparative sensitivity of field and laboratory populations of Hyalella azteca to the pyrethroid insecticides bifenthrin and cypermethrin
Authors: Clark Stephen L. , Ogle R. Scott , Gantner Andrew , Hall Lenwood W. , Mitchell Gary , Giddings Jeffrey , McCoole Matthew , Dobbs Michael , Henry Kevin , Valenti Ted
Published: April 2015

Hyalella azteca are epibenthic invertebrates that are widely used for toxicity studies. They are reported to be more sensitive to pyrethroid insecticides than most other test species, which has prompted considerable use of this species in toxicity testing of ambient surface waters where the presence of pyrethroids is suspected. However, resident H. azteca have been found in some ambient water bodies reported to contain surface water and/or sediment pyrethroid concentrations that are toxic to laboratory reared H. azteca. This observation suggests differences in the sensitivities of laboratory reared and field populations of H. azteca to pyrethroids. The goal of the present study was to determine the sensitivities of laboratory reared and field populations of H. azteca to the pyrethroids bifenthrin and cypermethrin. Specimens of H. azteca were collected from resident populations at field sites that are subject to varied land-use activities as well as from laboratory populations. These organisms were exposed to bifenthrin- or cypermethrin-spiked water in 96-h water-only toxicity tests. The resulting data demonstrated that: 1) field-collected populations in urban and agricultural settings can be >2 orders of magnitude less sensitive to the pyrethroids than laboratory reared organisms; 2) field-collected organisms varied in their sensitivity (possibly based on land-use activities), with organisms collected from undeveloped sites exhibiting sensitivities similar to laboratory reared organisms; and 3) the sensitivity of field-collected “tolerant” organisms increased in subsequent generations reared under laboratory conditions. Potential mechanisms for these differences are discussed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2250–2262. © 2015 SETAC
Creatinine and myoglobin are poor predictors of anaerobic threshold in colorectal cancer and health
Authors: Nyasavajjala Sitaramachandra M. , Phillips Beth E. , Lund Jon N. , Williams John P.
Published: April 2015

Aims

Myoglobin is a haem protein produced in skeletal muscles. Serum concentrations of myoglobin have been proposed as a surrogate marker of muscle mass and function in both cachectic cancer patients and healthy non‐cancer individuals. Creatinine, a metabolite of creatine phosphate, an energy store found in skeletal muscle, is produced at a constant rate from skeletal muscle. Urinary and plasma creatinine have been used in clinical practice as indicators of skeletal muscle mass in health and disease. Our study aimed to test the hypothesis that plasma myoglobin and creatinine concentration could accurately predict skeletal muscle mass and aerobic capacity in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and matched healthy controls and thereby an indicative of aerobic performance.

Methods

We recruited 47 patients with CRC and matching number of healthy volunteers for this study. All participants had their body composition measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan, aerobic capacity measured to anaerobic threshold (AT) by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and filled in objective questionnaires to assess the qualitative functions. This study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, after approval by the local National Health Service (NHS) Research Ethics Committee.

Results

Age‐matched groups had similar serum myoglobin and creatinine concentrations in spite of differences in their aerobic capacity. AT was significantly lower in the CRC group compared with matched controls (1.18 ± 0.44 vs. 1.41 ± 0.71 L/min; P < 0.01). AT had significant correlation with lean muscle mass (LMM) among these groups, but myoglobin and creatinine had poor correlation with LMM and AT.

Conclusions

Serum myoglobin is a poor predictor of muscle mass, and serum myoglobin and creatinine concentrations do not predict aerobic performance in CRC patients or healthy matched controls.
An Unexpected Pyrimidine Ring Transformations in the Reaction of 4‐aryl‐5‐nitro‐6‐bromomethylpyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones with Anilines
Authors: Remennikov Grigoriy Ya , Gavryushin Andrey , Polborn Kurt
Published: April 2015

The reaction of 4‐aryl‐6‐bromomethyl‐5‐nitro‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones, containing three possible combinations of substituted and unsubstituted nitrogen atoms with anilines depending on the conditions leads to the products of ring contraction of the pyrimidinone ring into an imidazolone, as well as to the formation of 7‐aryl‐6,7‐dihydroisoxazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidin‐5(4H)‐one derivatives, and in some cases to the 5‐aminopyrimidinones. The mechanisms of these unusual ring transformations are discussed.
One‐pot Synthesis of 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐thione Derivatives and their Biological Activity
Authors: Salem Mounir A. I. , Marzouk Magda I. , Salem Marwa S. , Alshibani Ghazala A.
Published: April 2015

2‐Thioxo/oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate derivatives 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d were prepared by the reaction of ethyl acetoacetate and thiourea or urea with aldehydes using NH4Cl as a catalyst. Compounds 2a and 2c reacted with mono and bihalogenated compounds such as ethyl iodide, chloroacetonitrile, epichlorohydrin, acetyl chloride, ethyl bromoacetate, chloroacetic acid, chloroacetylchloride, and/or oxalyl chloride to afford compounds 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6a, 6b, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Compounds 2a, 2c, and 7 were allowed to react with p‐fluorobenzaldehyde to yield the corresponding products 11a, 11b, and 12, respectively. Oxidation of 2a and 2c gave 2b, 13a, 13b, 14, 15, 16 dependent on the oxidizing agent used. Vilsmeiere‐Haack formylation of 2a and 2b with POCl3/DMF afforded 17a and 17b. Chlorination of 2b and 2d gave the chlorinated derivative 18a and 18b, which reacted with thiourea to give thioureidopyrimidine 19a and 19b. Reactions of 2a with hydrazine monohydrate, semicarbazide hydrochloride, and sodium hydroxide gave compounds 20, 21, 22, respectively. The cytotoxicity and in vitro anticancer evaluation of some prepared compounds have been assessed against two different human tumor cell lines including breast adenocarcinoma MCF‐7 and human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some compounds were investigated. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and mass spectral data.
Application of carbon nanotubes modified with a Keggin polyoxometalate as a new sorbent for the hollow‐fiber micro‐solid‐phase extraction of trace naproxen in hair samples with fluorescence spectrophotometry using factorial experimental design
Authors: Naddaf Ezzat , Ebrahimi Mahmoud , Es'haghi Zarrin , Bamoharram Fatemeh Farrash
Published: April 2015

A sensitive technique to determinate naproxen in hair samples was developed using hollow‐fiber micro‐solid‐phase combined with fluorescence spectrophotometry. The incorporation of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes modified with a Keggin polyoxometalate into a silica matrix prepared by the sol–gel method was reported. In this research, the Keggin carbon nanotubes /silica composite was used in the pores and lumen of a hollow fiber as the hollow‐fiber micro‐solid‐phase extraction device. The device was used for the microextraction of the analyte from hair and water samples under the optimized conditions. An orthogonal array experimental design with an OA24 (46) matrix was employed to optimize the conditions. The effect of six factors influencing the extraction efficiency was investigated: pH, salt, volume of donor and desorption phase, extraction and desorption time. The effect of each factor was estimated using individual contributions as response functions in the screening process. Analysis of variance was employed for estimating the main significant factors and their contributions in the extraction. Calibration curve plot displayed linearity over a range of 0.2–10 ng/mL with detection limits of 0.072 and 0.08 ng/mL for hair and aqueous samples, respectively. The relative recoveries in the hair and aqueous matrices ranged from 103–95%. The relative standard deviation for fiber‐to‐fiber repeatability was 3.9%.
Elucidation of the absolute configuration of rhizopine by chiral supercritical fluid chromatography and vibrational circular dichroism
Authors: Krief Alain , Dunkle Melissa , Bahar Masoud , Bultinck Patrick , Herrebout Wouter , Sandra Pat
Published: April 2015

The absolute configuration of rhizopine, an opine‐like natural product present in nitrogen‐fixing nodules of alfalfa infected by rhizobia, is elucidated using a combination of state‐of‐the‐art analytical and semi‐preparative supercritical fluid chromatography and vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy. A synthetic peracetylated racemate was fractionated into its enantiomers and subjected to absolute configuration analysis revealing that natural rhizopine exists as a single enantiomer. The stereochemistry of non‐derivatized natural rhizopine corresponds to (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)‐4‐amino‐6‐methoxycyclohexane‐1,2,3,5‐tetraol.
High‐Performance TiO2 Nanoparticle/DOPA‐Polymer Composites
Authors: Liaqat Faroha , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Schechtel Eugen , Kappl Michael , Auernhammer Günter K. , Char Kookheon , Zentel Rudolf , Butt Hans‐Jürgen , Tremel Wolfgang
Published: April 2015

Many natural materials are complex composites whose mechanical properties are often outstanding considering the weak constituents from which they are assembled. Nacre, made of inorganic (CaCO3) and organic constituents, is a textbook example because of its strength and toughness, which are related to its hierarchical structure and its well‐defined organic–inorganic interface. Emulating the construction principles of nacre using simple inorganic materials and polymers is essential for understanding how chemical composition and structure determine biomaterial functions. A hard multilayered nanocomposite is assembled based on alternating layers of TiO2 nanoparticles and a 3‐hydroxy‐tyramine (DOPA) substituted polymer (DOPA‐polymer), strongly cemented together by chelation through infiltration of the polymer into the TiO2 mesocrystal. With a Young's modulus of 17.5 ± 2.5 GPa and a hardness of 1.1 ± 0.3 GPa the resulting material exhibits high resistance against elastic as well as plastic deformation. A key feature leading to the high strength is the strong adhesion of the DOPA‐polymer to the TiO2 nanoparticles.

image
Investigation of poly(lactide) stereocomplexation between linear poly(L‐lactide) and PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA tri‐block copolymer
Authors: Jing Zhanxin , Shi Xuetao , Zhang Guangcheng , Lei Ruiying
Published: April 2015

In this study, stereocomplexed poly(lactide) (PLA) was investigated by blending linear poly(l‐lactide) (PLLA) and tri‐block copolymer poly(d‐lactide) − (polyethylene glycol) − poly(d‐lactide) (PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA). Synthesized PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA tri‐block copolymers with different PEG and PDLA segment lengths were studied and their influences on the degree of sterecomplexation and non‐isothermal crystallization behaviour of the PLLA/PDLA‐PEG‐PDLA blend were examined in detail by DSC, XRD and polarized optical microscopy. A full stereocomplexation between PLLA and PDLA‐PEG4k‐PDLA200 could be formed when the L/D ratio ranged from 7/3 to 5/5 without the presence of PLA homocrystals. The segmental mobility and length of both PEG and PDLA are the dominating factors in the critical D/L ratio to achieve full stereocomplexation and also for nucleation and spherulite growth during the non‐isothermal crystallization process. For fixed PEG segmental length, the stereocomplexed PLA formed showed first an increasing and then a decreasing melting temperature with increasing PDLA segments due to their intrinsic stiff mobility. Furthermore, the effect of PEG segmental mobility on PLA stereocomplexation was investigated. The results clearly showed that the crystallization temperature and melting temperature of stereocomplexed‐PLA kept increasing with increasing PEG segmental length, which was due to PEG soft mobility in the tri‐block copolymers. However, PEG was not favourable for nucleation but could facilitate the spherulite growth rate. Both the PDLA and PEG segmental lengths in the tri‐block copolymers affect the crystallinity of stereocomplexed‐PLA and the stereocomplexation formation process; they have a different influence on blends prepared by solution casting or the melting method. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Inactivation Effects of Non‐Thermal Atmospheric‐Pressure Helium Plasma Jet on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Xu Zimu , Shen Jie , Zhang Zelong , Ma Jie , Ma Ronghua , Zhao Ying , Sun Qiang , Qian Shulou , Zhang Hao , Ding Lili , Cheng Cheng , Chu Paul K. , Xia Weidong
Published: April 2015

The antimicrobial effects and mechanism of helium atmospheric‐pressure plasma jet (APPJ) treatment on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms are evaluated in vitro. The S. aureus biofilms are more resistant to the plasma treatment than adherent bacteria. The APPJ‐treated S. aureus biofilms disclose a depth/layer‐related intra‐bacterial ROS accumulation effect. Plasma exposure may induce bacterial oxidative stress and trigger the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the biofilms, which possibly contributes to bacteria death in addition to direct etching from the exterior of bacteria. The findings provide insights into the mechanism of biofilm inactivation by plasma reactive species and plasma‐induced intracellular ROS.
A general and Eu specific perspective on lattice dynamics in pyrochlore and defect fluorite (EuNd)ZrO
Authors: Klobes Benedikt , Finkeldei Sarah , Brandt Felix , Bosbach Dirk , Bessas Dimitrios , Embs Jan‐Peter , Hermann Raphaël P.
Published: April 2015

Lattice dynamics in pyrochlore and defect fluorite type (EuNd)ZrO were investigated using nuclear inelastic scattering by the Eu Mössbauer resonance for x = 0, 0.5, and 0.75 and using inelastic neutron scattering for x = 1. On the basis of the generalized density of phonon states obtained by inelastic neutron scattering, the vibrational entropy of the disordered defect fluorite NdZrO is found to be 12(3)% smaller than the one of the ordered pyrochlore counterpart. Accordingly, the loss of specific Zr–O coordination in the defect fluorite structure leads to a strong broadening of phonon modes. The Eu sublattice in both structure types was further characterized by thermodynamic quantities calculated using the Eu partial density of phonon states. The Eu framework is shown to be significantly softer than the other sublattices.
Endobronchial T‐cell lymphoma in a patient with chronic pyothorax
Authors: Matsumoto Shinsaku , Fujimoto Nobukazu , Fuchimoto Yasuko , Asano Michiko , Yano Tomofumi , Kishimoto Takumi
Published: April 2015

We report a very rare case of primary endobronchial peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), which presented as an endobronchial tumor obstructing the main airway. An 81‐year‐old man was referred to our hospital for a 1‐month history of productive cough and wheeze. Computed tomography revealed chronic pyothorax with calcified foci in the right lung and a mass inside the bronchus intermedius. Flexible bronchoscopy identified an endobronchial tumor obstructing the bronchus intermedius. The biopsy specimen showed an infiltration composed predominantly of small atypical lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that the proliferating cells were positive for CD3, CD4, and CD5 and negative for CD8 and CD20. Pathological tests confirmed that the case was PTCL‐NOS. PTCL‐NOS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of endobronchial tumors.
Signal detection in FDA AERS database using Dirichlet process
Authors: Hu Na , Huang Lan , Tiwari Ram C.
Published: April 2015

In the recent two decades, data mining methods for signal detection have been developed for drug safety surveillance, using large post‐market safety data. Several of these methods assume that the number of reports for each drug–adverse event combination is a Poisson random variable with mean proportional to the unknown reporting rate of the drug–adverse event pair. Here, a Bayesian method based on the Poisson–Dirichlet process (DP) model is proposed for signal detection from large databases, such as the Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database. Instead of using a parametric distribution as a common prior for the reporting rates, as is the case with existing Bayesian or empirical Bayesian methods, a nonparametric prior, namely, the DP, is used. The precision parameter and the baseline distribution of the DP, which characterize the process, are modeled hierarchically. The performance of the Poisson–DP model is compared with some other models, through an intensive simulation study using a Bayesian model selection and frequentist performance characteristics such as type‐I error, false discovery rate, sensitivity, and power. For illustration, the proposed model and its extension to address a large amount of zero counts are used to analyze statin drugs for signals using the 2006–2011 AERS data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic toxicity of commercial chlorpyrifos to earthworm Pheretima peguana
Authors: Muangphra Ptumporn , Tharapoom Kampanat , Euawong Nongnuch , Namchote Suluck , Gooneratne Ravi
Published: April 2015

A chronic toxicity study was conducted in earthworms (Pheretima peguana) exposed to soil spiked with chlorpyrifos at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg soil dry matter for 7, 14, and 28 days. The integrity of the coelomocyte lysosomal membrane, nervous system, and male reproductive tissue was monitored using, respectively, the neutral‐red retention assay, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme assay, and histomorphology of spermatogenic cells in the seminal vesicles and cocoon production (at 28 days after 28 days’ exposure). Chlorpyrifos decreased the coelomocyte neutral‐red retention time (NRRT) significantly (p < 0.05) at concentrations > 0.1 mg/kg soil as early as day 7 of exposure and was dose‐ and time‐dependent. Chlorpyrifos inhibition of AChE activity was greater at day 7 than at day14 (p < 0.05) indicating possibly nerve recovery. Chlorpyrifos induced concentration‐dependent damage to spermatogenic cells and cytophores in premature stages. The number and size of premature, maturing, and fully mature spermatogenic stages were increased at low concentrations (<1 mg/kg) but a number of these maturation stages declined at higher concentrations (10 and100 mg/kg) on day 28. The most severe effects were observed in the maturing and fully mature stages at the highest chlorpyrifos concentration, and this had an adverse impact on cocoon production and cocoon viability. Collectively, the results suggest induction of widespread effects on multiple organ systems in P. peguana exposed to chlorpyrifos. Although NRRT and AChE activity were the most sensitive of the biomarkers, cocoon production and cocoon viability could still be considered as diagnostic tools for monitoring effects from low‐dose long‐term chlorpyrifos toxicity and for evaluating population effects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1450–1459, 2016.
Subjective ultrasound assessment, the ADNEX model and ultrasound‐guided tru‐cut biopsy to differentiate disseminated primary ovarian cancer from metastatic non‐ovarian cancer
Authors: Epstein E. , Van Calster B. , Timmerman D. , Nikman S.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To compare subjective ultrasound assessment and the ADNEX model with ultrasound‐guided tru‐cut biopsy to differentiate disseminated primary ovarian cancer from metastatic non‐ovarian cancer.

Methods

This was a prospective study including 143 consecutive women with disseminated malignancy of unknown primary origin, with a pelvic tumor/carcinosis. Women underwent either transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound as well as transabdominal ultrasound examination followed by tru‐cut biopsy. The ultrasound examiner assessed tumor morphology, spread in the pelvis and abdomen, and predicted tumor origin as primary ovarian or metastatic using both subjective assessment and the ADNEX model. Histology from tru‐cut biopsy served as the gold standard for assessment of diagnostic accuracy. Biopsy adequacy and the complication rate were assessed.

Results

Tru‐cut biopsy was performed transvaginally in 131/143 (92%) women. Two women needed inpatient care (one had abdominal wall hematoma, and one infection). Biopsy resulted in a conclusive diagnosis in 126/143 (88%) women, amongst whom cytoreductive surgery was performed in 30/126 confirming the diagnosis in all cases. Non‐ovarian metastatic cancer was found in 37/126 (29%) women and primary ovarian cancer in 89/126 (71%) women. Subjective ultrasound evaluation had a sensitivity of 82% (73/89) and a specificity of 70% (26/37) in predicting primary ovarian cancer. The ADNEX model had an area under the receiver–operating characteristics curve of 0.891 (95% CI, 0.794–0.946) (in women with an ovarian lesion, n = 104). Tumor origin was associated with age, CA 125, previous neoplasia, presence of omental cake and tumor mobility.

Conclusions

Subjective ultrasound assessment and the ADNEX model can both be used to predict whether a pelvic tumor is metastatic and of non‐ovarian origin, indicating the need for tru‐cut biopsy, which is associated with very few complications and will provide a conclusive diagnosis in nine out of 10 women. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Attitudes and Knowledge of Maternal‐Fetal Medicine Fellows Regarding Noninvasive Prenatal Testing
Authors: Swaney Paul , Hardisty Emily , Sayres Lauren , Wiegand Samantha , Vora Neeta
Published: April 2015

Using cell‐free DNA in maternal serum to detect fetal aneuploidy has been shown to have high sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to assess attitudes and knowledge of Maternal‐Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellows regarding noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). A 13 question survey was sent via listserv to US‐based MFM fellows. One hundred sixteen fellows responded, a 42.3 % response rate, with >75 % reporting they are comfortable ordering NIPT. Most (82 %) preferred that a patient discuss options with a provider or genetic counselor. Three common methods used to learn about NIPT were: formal educational activities (n = 78, 69 %), self‐review of the literature (n = 76, 67 %), and discussions with peers (n = 73, 65 %). On questions related to trisomy 21, accuracy was >70 %. However, accuracy was lower regarding use in twin pregnancies (42 %) and monosomy X screening (50 %).
The Emergence of Democracy: Forces and Counter-forces
Authors: Berg-Schlosser Dirk
Published: April 2015

Capitalism and democracy have transformed the world, but not in a harmonious way. This article provides a broad overview of the major driving forces of democracy, its relationship with ongoing socioeconomic developments and some of the countervailing factors. It points to the inherently conflictive nature of democratic procedures and decision-making, but also emphasizes the potentially universal implications of basic democratic values. Against this background, the future prospects of democracy and possible alternatives in the age of globalization are assessed. All this is based, as far as space permits, on the huge body of available theoretical and empirical literature, but also on the author’s long-term preoccupation with this topic and some of his personal views and experiences.
Democratizing Potential of the ‘Arab Spring’: Some Early Observations
Authors: Mufti Malik
Published: April 2015

An influential approach in the scholarship has stressed the ‘robustness of authoritarianism’ in the Arab world. While this approach has generated a rich research programme yielding valuable insights, it has also contributed to a widespread tendency to downplay the significance of the 2011 uprisings. A perspective that is broader both temporally (going back to the aftermath of the Ottoman Empire’s collapse) and spatially (to include Turkey, another successor state to that same empire which may serve as a useful negative case) can illuminate not only variations between regional states, but also convergences – such as the expansion of political mobilization and participation, or the emergence of Islamism versus secular nationalism as a key axis of ideological conflict – that suggest less pessimistic conclusions about the prospects for democracy in the longer-term future.
Where’s the Party? The Decline of Party Institutionalization and What (if Anything) that Means for Democracy
Authors: Wilkinson Steven I.
Published: April 2015

Strong institutionalized parties are often seen as vital for healthy democracies. The Indian case, therefore, represents a strange paradox: many parties are weak, corrupt and personalistic, yet democracy as a whole seems to be thriving, with increasing turnout and apparently strong popular support for democratic procedures and norms. This article explores some of the reasons for this strange outcome and suggests that the existing literature on party institutionalization might need some revision.
Second-order Lagrangian description of tri-dimensional gravity wave interactions
Authors: Nouguier Frédéric , Chapron Bertrand , Guérin Charles-Antoine
Published: April 2015

We revisit and supplement the description of gravity waves based on perturbation expansions in Lagrangian coordinates. A general analytical framework is developed to derive a second-order Lagrangian solution to the motion of arbitrary surface gravity wave fields in a compact and vectorial form. The result is shown to be consistent with the classical second-order Eulerian expansion by Longuet-Higgins (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 17, 1963, pp. 459–480) and is used to improve the original derivation by Pierson (1961 Models of random seas based on the Lagrangian equations of motion. Tech. Rep. New York University) for long-crested waves. As demonstrated, the Lagrangian perturbation expansion captures nonlinearities to a higher degree than does the corresponding Eulerian expansion of the same order. At the second order, it can account for complex nonlinear phenomena such as wave-front deformation that we can relate to the initial stage of horseshoe-pattern formation and the Benjamin–Feir modulational instability to shed new light on the origins of these mechanisms.
Small States, Nationalism and Institutional Capacities: An Explanation of the Difference in Response of Ireland and Denmark to the Financial Crisis
Authors: Campbell John L. , Hall John A.
Published: April 2015

This paper uses theories of small states (e.g. Katzenstein) and nationalism (e.g. Gellner) to explain why Denmark and Ireland responded to the 2008 financial crisis in different ways. In Denmark, a coordinated market economy with considerable corporatism and state intervention, the private sector shouldered much of the financial burden for rescuing the banking sector. In Ireland, a liberal market economy without much corporatism or state intervention, the state shouldered the burden. The difference stems in large part from the fact that Denmark had comparatively thick institutions and a strong sense of nationalism whereas Ireland did not. Lessons for the theories of small states and nationalism are explored.
DIRECTIONAL TIME–FREQUENCY ANALYSIS VIA CONTINUOUS FRAMES
Authors: CHRISTENSEN OLE , FORSTER BRIGITTE , MASSOPUST PETER
Published: April 2015

Grafakos and Sansing [‘Gabor frames and directional time–frequency analysis’, Appl. Comput. Harmon. Anal.25 (2008), 47–67] have shown how to obtain directionally sensitive time–frequency decompositions in $L^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{n})$ based on Gabor systems in $L^{2}(\mathbb{R})$. The key tool is the ‘ridge idea’, which lifts a function of one variable to a function of several variables. We generalise their result in two steps: first by showing that similar results hold starting with general frames for $L^{2}(\mathbb{R}),$ in the settings of both discrete frames and continuous frames, and second by extending the representations to Sobolev spaces. The first step allows us to apply the theory to several other classes of frames, for example wavelet frames and shift-invariant systems, and the second one significantly extends the class of examples and applications. We consider applications to the Meyer wavelet and complex B-splines. In the special case of wavelet systems we show how to discretise the representations using ${\it\epsilon}$-nets.
An analysis of performance practices in African American gospel music: rhythm, lyric treatment and structures in improvisation and accompaniment
Authors: Legg Andrew , Philpott Carolyn
Published: April 2015

African American gospel music is a unique and distinctive idiom that has had a pervasive influence upon the development of contemporary popular music. While there are now many sources available on African American gospel music, the focus of the vast majority of these studies is on the sociological, historical and stylistic aspects of the genre, rather than on identifying and codifying specific musical characteristics and performance practices. This paper extends the discussion of gospel singing techniques in Andrew Legg's 2010 article ‘A taxonomy of musical gesture in African American gospel music’ (Popular Music, 29/1) by examining some of the key performance practices associated with rhythm and lyric treatment in African American gospel music, as well as common structures in gospel music improvisation and accompaniment. Through analysis of selected recordings, this research proposes a codified frame of reference for the definition and discussion of terminologies and performance practice techniques inherent within African American gospel music.
Locating music in capitalism: a view from exile Tibet
Authors: Morcom Anna
Published: April 2015

Since the late 1990s, a thriving scene of pop music has developed among the numerically very small and globally highly dispersed Tibetan exile community. This clearly connects it with globalisation and the spread of what is termed the neoliberal phase of capitalism to India and Nepal where most Tibetan exiles live, and the related spread of digital recording technology and facilities – commodities produced by often large, multinational corporations. Yet this micro industry is not profitable, and even though it is pop music and monetised, it is not ‘commercial’, and in fact is seen and structured more as ‘community work’. Exile Tibetan pop music thus cannot be located outside of capitalism, yet at the same time it is not in and of itself capitalist. In this paper, the author explores new ways in which we can locate music in capitalism, looking beyond the ideas of commercialism or commoditisation and takeover or resistance that have dominated theoretical approaches since Adorno and have fixed popular music especially with a still-enduring ‘capitalist’ image. The author draws in particular on the historian Fernand Braudel's model of capitalism as an ‘anti-market’ that lies ‘on top’ of other social and economic layers. Thus capitalism exerts global hegemony, yet there remain uneven spaces such as exile Tibetan pop music, which are in and of themselves not capitalist, existing within it and because of it.
Developing and evaluating computational models of musical style
Authors: Collins Tom , Laney Robin , Willis Alistair , Garthwaite Paul H.
Published: April 2015

Stylistic composition is a creative musical activity, in which students as well as renowned composers write according to the style of another composer or period. We describe and evaluate two computational models of stylistic composition, called Racchman-Oct2010 (random constrained chain of Markovian nodes, October 2010) and Racchmaninof-Oct2010 (Racchman with inheritance of form). The former is a constrained Markov model, and the latter embeds this model in an analogy-based design system. Racchmaninof-Oct2010 applies a pattern discovery algorithm called SIACT and a perceptually validated formula for rating pattern importance, to guide the generation of a new target design from an existing source design. A listening study is reported concerning human judgments of music excerpts that are, to varying degrees, in the style of mazurkas by Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849). The listening study acts as an evaluation of the two computational models and a third, benchmark system, called Experiments in Musical Intelligence. Judges' responses indicate that some aspects of musical style, such as phrasing and rhythm, are being modeled effectively by our algorithms. Judgments are also used to identify areas for future improvements. We discuss the broader implications of this work for the fields of engineering and design, where there is potential to make use of our models of hierarchical repetitive structure.
Adolescent age moderates genetic and environmental influences on parent–adolescent positivity and negativity: Implications for genotype–environment correlation
Authors: Marceau Kristine , Knopik Valerie S. , Neiderhiser Jenae M. , Lichtenstein Paul , Spotts Erica L. , Ganiban Jody M. , Reiss David
Published: April 2015

We examined how genotype–environment correlation processes differ as a function of adolescent age. We tested whether adolescent age moderates genetic and environmental influences on positivity and negativity in mother–adolescent and father–adolescent relationships using parallel samples of twin parents from the Twin and Offspring Study in Sweden and twin/sibling adolescents from the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development Study. We inferred differences in the role of passive and nonpassive genotype–environment correlation based on biometric moderation findings. The findings indicated that nonpassive gene–environment correlation played a stronger role for positivity in mother– and father–adolescent relationships in families with older adolescents than in families with younger adolescents, and that passive gene–environment correlation played a stronger role for positivity in the mother–adolescent relationship in families with younger adolescents than in families with older adolescents. Implications of these findings for the timing and targeting of interventions on family relationships are discussed.
The effect of pre-maturation culture using phosphodiesterase type 3 inhibitor and insulin, transferrin and selenium on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of bovine oocytes
Authors: Guimarães A.L.S. , Pereira S.A. , Kussano N.R. , Dode M.A.N.
Published: April 2015

This study aims to evaluate if a pre-maturation culture (PMC) using cilostamide as a meiotic inhibitor in combination with insulin, transferrin and selenium (ITS) for 8 or 24 h increases in vitro embryo production. To evaluate the effects of PMC on embryo development, cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, embryo size and total cell number were determined. When cilostamide (20 μM) was used in PMC for 8 or 24 h, 98% of oocytes were maintained in germinal vesicles. Although the majority of oocytes resumed meiosis after meiotic arrest, the cleavage and blastocyst rates were lower than the control (P < 0.05). When the cilostamide concentration was lowered (10 μM) and oocytes were arrested for 8 h, embryo development was improved (P < 0.05) and was similar (P > 0.05) to the control. The deleterious effect of 20 μM cilostamide treatment for 24 h on a PMC was confirmed by lower cumulus cell viability, determined by trypan blue staining, in that group compared with the other groups. A lower concentration (10 μM) and shorter exposure time (8 h) minimized that effect but did not improve embryo production. More studies should be performed to determine the best concentration and the arresting period to increase oocyte competence and embryo development.
Practical Issues for Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of III-Nitride Semiconductor Materials
Authors: Tang Fengzai , Moody Michael P. , Martin Tomas L. , Bagot Paul A.J. , Kappers Menno J. , Oliver Rachel A.
Published: April 2015

Various practical issues affecting atom probe tomography (APT) analysis of III-nitride semiconductors have been studied as part of an investigation using ac-plane InAlN/GaN heterostructure. Specimen preparation was undertaken using a focused ion beam microscope with a mono-isotopic Ga source. This enabled the unambiguous observation of implantation damage induced by sample preparation. In the reconstructed InAlN layer Ga implantation was demonstrated for the standard “clean-up” voltage (5 kV), but this was significantly reduced by using a lower voltage (e.g., 1 kV). The characteristics of APT data from the desorption maps to the mass spectra and measured chemical compositions were examined within the GaN buffer layer underlying the InAlN layer in both pulsed laser and pulsed voltage modes. The measured Ga content increased monotonically with increasing laser pulse energy and voltage pulse fraction within the examined ranges. The best results were obtained at very low laser energy, with the Ga content close to the expected stoichiometric value for GaN and the associated desorption map showing a clear crystallographic pole structure.
A BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATERS: CONTOIS KINETICS
Authors: ALQAHTANI RUBAYYI T. , NELSON MARK I. , WORTHY ANNETTE L.
Published: April 2015

This paper analyses the steady-state operation of a generalized bioreactor model that encompasses a continuous-flow bioreactor and an idealized continuous-flow membrane bioreactor as limiting cases. A biodegradation of organic materials is modelled using Contois growth kinetics. The bioreactor performance is analysed by finding the steady-state solutions of the model and determining their stability as a function of the dimensionless residence time. We show that an effective recycle parameter improves the performance of the bioreactor at moderate values of the dimensionless residence time. However, at sufficiently large values of the dimensionless residence time, the performance of the bioreactor is independent of the recycle ratio.
Maternal and newborn infants amino acid concentrations in obese women born themselves with normal and small for gestational age birth weight
Authors: Tsyvian P. B. , Bashmakova N. V. , Kovtun O. P. , Makarenko L. V. , Pestryaeva L. A.
Published: April 2015

This study was undertaken to compare amino acid concentrations in maternal and newborn infants’ serum in normal pregnancy and two groups of obese women who were born themselves with normal and small for gestational age (SGA) birth weight. Maternal cholesterol, lipoproteins concentrations and maternal and infants amino acid concentrations were evaluated at the time of delivery in 28 normal pregnancies, 46 obese pregnant women with normal birth weight (Ob-AGA group) and 44 obese pregnant women born themselves SGA (Ob-SGA group). Mean birth weight of newborn infants in Ob-SGA group was significantly less than in normal and Ob-AGA groups. Cholesterol and lipoproteins were significantly elevated in obese women (more prominent in Ob-SGA group). Most amino acid concentrations and fetal–maternal amino acid gradients were significantly lower in Ob-SGA group. These data suggest significant changes in placental amino acid transport/synthetic function in obese women who were born themselves SGA.