bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical N-Acetylcysteine Improves Wound Healing Comparable to Dexpanthenol: An Experimental Study
Authors: Oguz Abdullah , Uslukaya Omer , Alabalık Ulas , Turkoglu Ahmet , Kapan Murat , Bozdag Zubeyir
Published: January 2015

In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of dexpanthenol and N-acetylcysteine on wound healing. The wound healing process is a multifaceted sequence of activities associated with tissue restoration process. A number of investigations and clinical studies have been performed to determine new approaches for the improvement of wound healing. A total of 30 rats were divided into 3 equal groups. A linear 2-cm incision was made in the rats' skin. No treatment was administered in the first (control) group. Dexpanthenol cream was administered to the rats in the second group and 3% N-acetylcysteine cream was administered to the rats in the third group. The wound areas of all of the rats were measured on certain days. On the 21st day, all wounds were excised and histologically evaluated. The epithelialization and granulation rates between the groups were revealed to be similar in microscopic evaluations. Although the fibrosis was remarkable in the control group as compared with the other groups, it was similar in N-acetylcysteine and dexpanthenol groups. Angiogenesis rate was remarkable in the N-acetylcysteine group compared with the others. In multiple-comparison analysis, Dexpanthenol and N-acetylcysteine groups had similar results in terms of wound healing rates (P < 0.05), which were both higher than in the control group (P > 0.05). The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in wound healing is comparable to dexpanthenol, and both substances can be used to improve wound healing.
A mixture of crushing and segregation: The complexity of grainsize in natural granular flows
Authors: Marks Benjy , Einav Itai
Published: January 2015

The interplay between grain crushing and segregation controls the dynamics of dense granular flows that underpin many natural hazards. We address this issue for the first time by developing a simple lattice model with three interacting rules—for grain crushing, mixing, and segregation. In earthquake faults, particles are trapped, they crush and mix, but do not segregate. In this case the model produces power law distributions, consistent with previous models. When segregation by kinetic sieving is added to the model, we predict depth‐dependent lognormal distributions as previously observed, but not explained, in pyroclastic flows, debris flows, rock avalanches, and dry snow avalanches.
A faster numerical scheme for a coupled system modeling soil erosion and sediment transport
Authors: Le M.‐H. , Cordier S. , Lucas C. , Cerdan O.
Published: January 2015

Overland flow and soil erosion play an essential role in water quality and soil degradation. Such processes, involving the interactions between water flow and the bed sediment, are classically described by a well‐established system coupling the shallow water equations and the Hairsine‐Rose model. Numerical approximation of this coupled system requires advanced methods to preserve some important physical and mathematical properties; in particular, the steady states and the positivity of both water depth and sediment concentration. Recently, finite volume schemes based on Roe's solver have been proposed by Heng et al. (2009) and Kim et al. (2013) for one and two‐dimensional problems. In their approach, an additional and artificial restriction on the time step is required to guarantee the positivity of sediment concentration. This artificial condition can lead the computation to be costly when dealing with very shallow flow and wet/dry fronts. The main result of this paper is to propose a new and faster scheme for which only the CFL condition of the shallow water equations is sufficient to preserve the positivity of sediment concentration. In addition, the numerical procedure of the erosion part can be used with any well‐balanced and positivity preserving scheme of the shallow water equations. The proposed method is tested on classical benchmarks and also on a realistic configuration.
Photoredox Removal of p‐Methoxybenzyl Ether Protecting Group with Hydrogen Peroxide as Terminal Oxidant
Authors: Liu Zheng , Zhang Yi , Cai Zheren , Sun Hao , Cheng Xu
Published: January 2015

We report a mild protocol for removal of the p‐methoxybenzyl ether protecting group under acidic conditions with eosin Y combined with LEDs as a photoredox catalysis system and hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. This protocol is compatible with ethers derived from primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, as well as with various functional groups. The protocol showed unusual selectivity for a tertiary ether over a primary ether. The scale up to gram scale is also explored and identical reactivity is observed.

magnified image
Synthesis and Characterization of Secondary Nitrosamines from Secondary Amines Using Sodium Nitrite and p‐Toluenesulfonic Acid
Authors: Miró Sabaté Carles , Delalu Henri
Published: January 2015

We synthesized nitrosamines (R2NNO) with R=iPr (1), nPr (2), nBu (3), and hydroxyethyl (4) from the amine using sodium nitrite/p‐toluenesulfonic acid in CH2Cl2. The rate of formation of 1–4 increases in the direction iPr<nPr<nBu<CH2CH2OH. Compounds 1–3 were obtained as colorless solids, whereas 4 is a bright yellow liquid. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by elemental analysis, MS, IR, and multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C, and 15N) spectroscopies. Additionally, we measured the UV/Vis spectra of all compounds, which show maxima of absorption at approximately 221 nm and molar extinction coefficients between 3043 and 4859 L mol−1 cm−1. We calculated the optimized structures of 1–4 (B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p)) and computed the NMR spectroscopic chemical shifts and infrared frequencies. Furthermore, we carried out a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of the nitrosamine moiety. Lastly, the compounds described in this work are valuable starting materials for the synthesis of 2‐tetrazenes with potential interest to replace highly toxic hydrazines in rocket propulsion.
Synthesis of Hybrid Hollow Sub‐microspheres Assisted by Pre‐added Colloidal SiO2
Authors: Huang Ting , Wang Chao , Zhang Xinping , Wang Chen , Li Ailing , Qiu Dong
Published: January 2015

A novel method was developed to synthesize organic–inorganic hybrid hollow sub‐microspheres (HHSs) through the addition of colloidal SiO2. The hydrolysis rate of 3‐(methacryloyloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) was accelerated by SiO2 particles; meanwhile, the condensation rate of the hydrolytic species was decelerated. Thus, the hydrolytic monomers and oligomers of MPS were preserved as emulsifiers. These emulsifiers can then emulsify the isopentyl acetate (PEA) to form a steady O/W emulsion. The HHSs were produced by subsequent free radical polymerization and removal of the oil core. The hydrolytic MPS acted as emulsifiers and polymerizable monomers at the emulsification and polymerization stage, respectively. Thus, extra emulsifiers, co‐emulsifiers, and organic monomers were omitted, which simplified the synthesis process. The good dispersion of HHSs in water and oil, as well as the EDX results, indicated the organic–inorganic hybrid structure of HHSs.
A simple, rapid and reliable liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for determination of methotrexate in human plasma and its application to therapeutic drug monitoring
Authors: Wu Dan , Wang Yixuan , Sun Yan , Ouyang Nian , Qian Jun
Published: January 2015

A simple, rapid and reliable liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the determination of methotrexate in human plasma. After a straightforward protein precipitation by acetonitrile–water (70:30, v/v), methotrexate (MTX) and p‐aminoacetophenone (used as internal standard, IS) were separated on a Column C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 3 µm; Column Technology, Fremont, CA, USA) using a gradient elution with mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0.03% acetic acid aqueous solution at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The total chromatographic runtime was 5 min for each injection. Quantification detection was performed in a triple‐quadruple tandem mass spectrometer under positive mode monitoring the following mass transitions: m/z 455.3 → 308.3 for MTX and m/z 136.1 → 94.4 for IS. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.05–25.0 µmol/L with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 µmol/L. The intra‐ and interday precisions were <5.2%, the accuracy varied from −4.1 to 4.5%. The recovery was >94%. The LC‐MS/MS method showed an excellent agreement with the existing HPLC‐UV method using Passing–Bablok regression and Bland–Altman difference plot analysis. The validated LC‐MS/MS can be successfully applied to the routine therapeutic drug monitoring of MTX in clinical laboratories. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) host cell engineering to increase sialylation of recombinant therapeutic proteins by modulating sialyltransferase expression
Authors: Lin Nan , Mascarenhas Joaquina , Sealover Natalie R. , George Henry J. , Brooks Jeanne , Kayser Kevin J. , Gau Brian , Yasa Isil , Azadi Parastoo , Archer‐Hartmann Stephanie
Published: January 2015

N‐Glycans of human proteins possess both α2,6‐ and α2,3‐linked terminal sialic acid (SA). Recombinant glycoproteins produced in Chinese hamster overy (CHO) only have α2,3‐linkage due to the absence of α2,6‐sialyltransferase (St6gal1) expression. The Chinese hamster ST6GAL1 was successfully overexpressed using a plasmid expression vector in three recombinant immunoglobulin G (IgG)‐producing CHO cell lines. The stably transfected cell lines were enriched for ST6GAL1 overexpression using FITC‐Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectin that preferentially binds α2,6‐linked SA. The presence of α2,6‐linked SA was confirmed using a novel LTQ Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (LTQ MS) method including MSn fragmentation in the enriched ST6GAL1 Clone 27. Furthermore, the total SA (mol/mol) in IgG produced by the enriched ST6GAL1 Clone 27 increased by 2‐fold compared to the control. For host cell engineering, the CHOZN® GS host cell line was transfected and enriched for ST6GAL1 overexpression. Single‐cell clones were derived from the enriched population and selected based on FITC‐SNA staining and St6gal1 expression. Two clones (“ST6GAL1 OE Clone 31 and 32”) were confirmed for the presence of α2,6‐linked SA in total host cell protein extracts. ST6GAL1 OE Clone 32 was subsequently used to express SAFC human IgG1. The recombinant IgG expressed in this host cell line was confirmed to have α2,6‐linked SA and increased total SA content. In conclusion, overexpression of St6gal1 is sufficient to produce recombinant proteins with increased sialylation and more human‐like glycoprofiles without combinatorial engineering of other sialylation pathway genes. This work represents our ongoing effort of glycoengineering in CHO host cell lines for the development of “bio‐better” protein therapeutics and cell culture vaccine production. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:334–346, 2015
The combination of Hsp90 inhibitor 17AAG and heavy‐ion irradiation provides effective tumor control in human lung cancer cells
Authors: Hirakawa Hirokazu , Fujisawa Hiroshi , Masaoka Aya , Noguchi Miho , Hirayama Ryoichi , Takahashi Momoko , Fujimori Akira , Okayasu Ryuichi
Published: January 2015

Hsp90 inhibitors have become well‐studied antitumor agents for their selective property against tumors versus normal cells. The combined treatment of Hsp90 inhibitor and conventional photon radiation also showed more effective tumor growth delay than radiation alone. However, little is known regarding the combined treatment of Hsp90 inhibitor and heavy‐ion irradiation. In this study, SQ5 human lung tumor cells were used in vitro for clonogenic cell survival and in vivo for tumor growth delay measurement using a mouse xenograft model after 17‐allylamino‐17‐demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) pretreatment and carbon ion irradiation. Repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) was also assessed along with expressions of DSB repair‐related proteins. Cell cycle analysis after the combined treatment was also performed. The combined treatment of 17AAG and carbon ions revealed a promising treatment option in both in vitro and in vivo studies. One likely cause of this effectiveness was shown to be the inhibition of homologous recombination repair by 17AAG. The more intensified G2 cell cycle delay was also associated with the combined treatment when compared with carbon ion treatment alone. Our findings indicate that the combination of Hsp90 inhibition and heavy‐ion irradiation provides a new effective therapeutic alternative for treatment of solid tumors.
Viologen‐Templated Arrays of Cucurbit[7]uril‐Modified Iron‐Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Benyettou Farah , Nchimi‐Nono Katia , Jouiad Mustapha , Lalatonne Yoann , Milosevic Irena , Motte Laurence , Olsen John‐Carl , Saleh Na'il , Trabolsi Ali
Published: January 2015

Magnetic and fluorescent assemblies of iron‐oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were constructed by threading a viologen‐based ditopic ligand, DPV2+, into the cavity of cucurbituril (CB[7]) macrocycles adsorbed on the surface of the NPs. Evidence for the formation of 1:2 inclusion complexes that involve DPV2+ and two CB[7] macrocycles was first obtained in solution by 1H NMR and emission spectroscopy. DPV2+ was found to induce self‐assembly of nanoparticle arrays (DPV2+⊂CB[7]NPs) by bridging CB[7] molecules on different NPs. The resulting viologen‐crosslinked iron‐oxide nanoparticles exhibited increased saturation magnetization and emission properties. This facile supramolecular approach to NP self‐assembly provides a platform for the synthesis of smart and innovative materials that can achieve a high degree of functionality and complexity and that are needed for a wide range of applications.
Long‐term outcomes after surgical or nonsurgical initial therapy for patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: A 3‐decade survey
Authors: Rosenthal David I. , Mohamed Abdallah S. R. , Weber Randal S. , Garden Adam S. , Sevak Parag R. , Kies Merril S. , Morrison William H. , Lewin Jan S. , El‐Naggar Adel K. , Ginsberg Lawrence E. , Kocak‐Uzel Esengul , Ang K. Kian , Fuller Clifton David
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

The current study was conducted to evaluate long‐term disease control, survival, and functional outcomes after surgical and nonsurgical initial treatment for patients with T4 larynx cancer.

METHODS

Demographics, disease stage, and treatment characteristics were reviewed for 221 sequential patients treated for T4 laryngeal squamous cell cancer at a single institution between 1983 and 2011. Survival and disease control outcomes were calculated.

RESULTS

The median follow‐up time was 47 months (71 months for patients still alive at the time of analysis). The overall 5‐year and 10‐year overall survival rates were 52% and 29%, respectively, and the corresponding disease‐free survival rates were 57% and 48%, respectively. Overall 5‐year and 10‐year locoregional control rates were 78% and 67%, respectively, and the corresponding rates for freedom from distant metastasis were 76% and 74%, respectively. On both univariate and multivariate analyses, lymph node‐positive disease at the time of presentation was associated with overall mortality (P<.0001). Patients treated with laryngectomy followed by postlaryngectomy radiotherapy (161 patients) achieved better initial locoregional control than patients treated with a laryngeal preservation (LP) approach (60 patients) throughout the follow‐up period (log‐rank P<.007) yet the median overall survival times were equal for both groups (64 months; 95% confidence interval 47‐87 months and 38‐87 months, respectively [P =.7]). Patients treated with an LP approach had a tracheostomy rate of 45% and an any‐event aspiration rate of 23%. Rates of high‐grade dysphagia at the time of last follow‐up were worse for patients treated with an LP approach (P<.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy can produce substantial long‐term cancer control and survival rates for patients with T4 larynx cancer. Caution should be taken when selecting patients for initial nonsurgical treatment because of significant rates of functional impairment despite survival equivalence. Cancer 2015;121:1608–1619. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Hydroxy‐Functionalized Basic Ionic Liquids—An Unexpected “Hydroxy” Effect on the Transesterification of Glycerides with Methanol
Authors: Nowicki Janusz , Nosal Hanna , Muszyński Marcin
Published: January 2015

New task‐specific ionic liquids, hydroxy‐functionalized 1‐methyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium hydroxides, were used as catalysts in the transesterification of rapeseed oil with methanol. In comparison to the well‐described 1‐methyl‐3‐butylimidazolium hydroxide [bmim]OH, the new ionic liquids show unexpectedly high catalytic activity. In case of the ionic liquid [glymim]OH, which is structurally similar to glycerol, the conversion of rapeseed oil was nearly 100 %.
Naturally rare versus newly rare: demographic inferences on two timescales inform conservation of Galápagos giant tortoises
Authors: Garrick Ryan C. , Kajdacsi Brittney , Russello Michael A. , Benavides Edgar , Hyseni Chaz , Gibbs James P. , Tapia Washington , Caccone Adalgisa
Published: January 2015

Long‐term population history can influence the genetic effects of recent bottlenecks. Therefore, for threatened or endangered species, an understanding of the past is relevant when formulating conservation strategies. Levels of variation at neutral markers have been useful for estimating local effective population sizes (Ne) and inferring whether population sizes increased or decreased over time. Furthermore, analyses of genotypic, allelic frequency, and phylogenetic information can potentially be used to separate historical from recent demographic changes. For 15 populations of Galápagos giant tortoises (Chelonoidis sp.), we used 12 microsatellite loci and DNA sequences from the mitochondrial control region and a nuclear intron, to reconstruct demographic history on shallow (past ~100 generations, ~2500 years) and deep (pre‐Holocene, >10 thousand years ago) timescales. At the deep timescale, three populations showed strong signals of growth, but with different magnitudes and timing, indicating different underlying causes. Furthermore, estimated historical Ne of populations across the archipelago showed no correlation with island age or size, underscoring the complexity of predicting demographic history a priori. At the shallow timescale, all populations carried some signature of a genetic bottleneck, and for 12 populations, point estimates of contemporary Ne were very small (i.e., < 50). On the basis of the comparison of these genetic estimates with published census size data, Ne generally represented ~0.16 of the census size. However, the variance in this ratio across populations was considerable. Overall, our data suggest that idiosyncratic and geographically localized forces shaped the demographic history of tortoise populations. Furthermore, from a conservation perspective, the separation of demographic events occurring on shallow versus deep timescales permits the identification of naturally rare versus newly rare populations; this distinction should facilitate prioritization of management action.
Phenol removal from water by AG reverse osmosis membrane
Authors: Mnif Amine , Tabassi Dorra , Ben Sik Ali Mourad , Hamrouni Béchir
Published: January 2015

Phenols are considered as organic pollutants that are discharged into the environment causing contamination of drinking water, aquatic life, and plants, and therefore, affecting human. Various treatment technologies for removal of the pollutants from water have been used such as, liquid–liquid extraction, ionic exchange with resins, and membrane processes. In this study, removal and adsorption of phenol from aqueous solutions were studied using a polyamide thin film composite reverse osmosis membrane denoted as AG 2514 TF from Osmonics company. The influence of different parameters, such as, feed concentration, ionic strength, transmembrane pressure, and recovery on the elimination of phenol was also studied. In addition, the effect of transmembrane pressure, feed concentration, and ionic strength on the adsorption of phenol was investigated. For a better understanding of the behavior of the membrane and to get more insights into the retention of phenol, the membrane was characterized with the determination of its surface charge and also by the mechanism of transport through this membrane. The results show that the retention of phenol by AG membrane exceeds 40% and may reach 80%. This was found to depend on feed concentration, ionic strength, transmembrane pressure, and recovery. The adsorption amounts were too low and did not exceed 23%. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 982–989, 2015
Source of error and uncertainty in sheet erosion rates estimated from dendrogeomorphology
Authors: Bodoque José M. , Ballesteros‐Cánovas Juan A. , Lucía Ana , Díez‐Herrero Andrés , Martín‐Duque José F.
Published: January 2015

Dendrogeomorphology has been used since the 1960s to estimate sheet erosion rates. To date, most efforts have focused on accurately determining the first year of root exposure. However, an adequate methodological approach that takes into consideration the microtopography of the ground surface when estimating sheet erosion rates using dendrogeomorphology has not been proposed. In this study, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used for the first time to examine how changes in microtopography determine the level of certainty in estimates. To this end, highly accurate TLS‐based digital elevation models representing exposed roots and their immediate vicinity were analysed using geographic information system tools. The results indicate that erosion rates calculated using the standard dendrogeomorphic method have been underestimated by up to 29% because the method does not take into account changes to the microtopography caused by the axial and radial pressure of the roots. Another source of uncertainty, which we estimate to be 50%, was also found and is the result of changes in the ground surface microtopography caused by variations in soil roughness. These findings do not invalidate the usefulness of dendrogeomorphology for assessing soil erosion, although they do show the need for correct characterization of the microtopography to guarantee reliability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of e‐rater® for the Praxis I® Writing Test
Authors: Ramineni Chaitanya , Trapani Catherine S. , Williamson David M.
Published: January 2015

Automated scoring models were trained and evaluated for the essay task in the Praxis I® writing test. Prompt‐specific and generic e‐rater® scoring models were built, and evaluation statistics, such as quadratic weighted kappa, Pearson correlation, and standardized differences in mean scores, were examined to evaluate the e‐rater model performance against human scores. Performance of the scoring model was also evaluated across different demographic subgroups using the same statistics. Additionally, correlations for automated scores with external measures were observed for validity evidence. Analyses were performed to establish appropriate agreement thresholds between human and e‐rater scores for unusual essays and to examine the impact of using e‐rater on operational scores and classification rates. The generic e‐rater scoring model was recommended for operational use to produce contributory scores within a discrepancy threshold of 1.5 with a human score.
Clinical significance of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A in human cancers
Authors: Khanna Anchit , Pimanda John E.
Published: January 2015

Cancerous Inhibitor of Protein Phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), a recently identified oncogene, has emerged as a potential drug target for a range of different tumor types. High CIP2A expression has been reported in almost all solid organ cancers and in some hematological tumors and is associated with high grade and poor prognosis. Notably, high CIP2A expression is determined in over 70% of tumor patient samples in the majority of human cancers. High expression of CIP2A has also been proposed as a useful biomarker that predicts therapeutic response to chemotherapeutics such as Bortezomib, Erlotinib, Checkpoint Kinase 1 inhibitors and pro‐senescence based therapies. In this review, we highlight, critically evaluate and discuss the ambiguity in CIP2A's prognostic role in different human cancers and its role in modulating response and resistance to chemotherapeutics.
Tailoring thermoelectric properties of nanostructured crystal silicon fabricated by infrared femtosecond laser direct writing
Authors: Mori Masahiro , Shimotsuma Yasuhiko , Sei Tomoaki , Sakakura Masaaki , Miura Kiyotaka , Udono Haruhiko
Published: January 2015

The periodic nanostructuring of inner part of semiconductors can be successfully accomplished by the infrared ultrashort pulse laser with a double pulse configuration. Self‐organized nanostructures inside semiconductor could be induced empirically only if it is indirect band gap semiconductor. The strained silicon regions with a width of about 100 nm are self‐aligned parallel to the polarization direction of the first arriving pulses, despite of the polarization direction of the secondly arriving pulses. AFM inspections reveal that such strained silicon nanostructures exhibit high electric conductivity and low thermal conductivity. The formation mechanisms would be interpreted in terms of the electrostrictive force through the interaction between electron‐hole plasma and phonon. Apart from the basic understanding, such nanostructured silicon will open the door to the fabrication of the self‐contained thermoelectric devices.
A two‐way relay framework based on interference cancellation in wireless networks
Authors: Fu Gowin , Li Li , Hu Honglin , Du Yang
Published: January 2015

The two‐way relay (TWR) protocols are efficient in providing appreciable throughput gains in wireless networks through the use of network coding to combine packets from multiple channels. The key determinant factor in driving the throughput improvement is the degree of simultaneity achieved in the relay scheme. In this paper, we propose a new TWR protocol named interference cancellation TWR (IC‐TWR), which combines network coding, spatial diversity, and IC techniques to arrive at high degree of simultaneity and in the meanwhile to relax the requirement on channel state information as compared with TWR schemes based on amplify‐and‐forward. Numerical analysis shows that the proposed IC‐TWR is uniformly advantageous over the traditional decode‐and‐forward scheme in terms of system throughput and end‐to‐end delay. The proposed scheme may be useful for system designers of high‐speed multimedia applications in wireless mobile networks, wireless cellular networks, wireless sensor networks, and so on. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mineralogy evaluation and segmentation using dual‐energy microtomography
Authors: Alves H. , Lima I. , de Assis J. T. , Neves A. A. , Lopes R. T.
Published: January 2015

Computed tomography is a nondestructive technique that allows the visualization of internal structures of a sample. However, the attenuation coefficient of a material to radiation, shown in grayscale levels, can be interpreted as the combination of parameters of density and atomic number. Thus, the separation of different structures of equal attenuation is no simple task, requiring prior knowledge of the sample composition, which is usually not available. By calibration of a high‐resolution microtomographic system through the dual‐energy technique, using materials of known composition, it is possible to identify and segment images to obtain the spatial distribution of parameters of density and atomic number. As the combination of these two data is unique to each material, it allows the identification and separation of regions, indistinguishable in common grayscale images obtained by microtomography. In this work, we developed a methodology for the evaluation of the dual‐energy technique, as well as assessment, segmentation, and reconstruction of images on a scale of density and atomic number; added to this, we sought to develop a code in MatLab® for data, image processing, and mineralogical segmentation. The results show the capabilities of the dual‐energy technique, combined with the microtomography technique, to obtain information on the composition of the sample, its three‐dimensional spatial distribution, and separation of structures of the same composition. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changing dietary behaviour: the role and development of practitioner communication
Authors: Whitehead Kirsten
Published: January 2015

The need to support people to change diet-related behaviour is widely advocated and how to do this effectively in practice is an expanding area of research. Important factors to consider are how healthcare practitioners communicate with their patients and how that communication may affect diet-related behaviour change and subsequent outcomes. The aim of the present paper is to discuss communication skills for behaviour change (CSBC), focusing predominantly on registered dietitians who are required to communicate effectively and have an important role in supporting patients to change diet-related behaviour. The views of dietitians in relation to CSBC have been investigated and respondents have consistently reported that they perceive these skills to be of vital importance in practice. Patient views have reiterated the importance of good CSBC in one-to-one consultations. However, pre-qualification training of dietitians is thought to deliver practitioners who are competent at a minimum level. The need for ongoing continuous professional development (CPD) in relation to CSBC has been recognised but currently most CPD focuses on updating knowledge rather than improving these essential skills. Measuring CSBC in a consistent and objective manner is difficult and an assessment tool, DIET-COMMS, has been developed and validated for this purpose. DIET-COMMS can be used to support CSBC development, but concerns about logistical challenges and acceptability of implementing this in practice have been raised. Although a suitable assessment tool now exists there is a need to develop ways to facilitate assessment of CSBC in practice.
The Perils and Possibilities of Dance in the Museum: Tate, MoMA, and Whitney
Authors: Bishop Claire
Published: January 2015

This article argues that the art world's current fascination for dance follows on from a previous high point of interaction in the late 1960s and 1970s, and before that, a moment in the late 1930s and early 1940s. It traces these first, second, and third waves of dance in the museum at three institutions: the Tate in London, and the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Three institutional histories are sketched, drawing out the differences between their approaches. The conclusion presents the four most pressing possibilities/problems of presenting dance in the museum: historical framing, spectatorship, altering the work's meaning, and financial support.
‘Chief village in a nation of villages’: history, race and authority in Tanzania's Dodoma plan
Authors: CALLACI EMILY
Published: January 2015

This article explores how notions of African authenticity informed urban planning in post-colonial Africa. It examines an attempt by Tanzania's ruling party to build a new national capital in the sparsely populated region of Dodoma. Paradoxically, Dodoma's planners sought to build a modern African city based on the social principles of the traditional African village. This vision of African village authenticity legitimized Tanzania's ruling party by linking its authority to a purely African, rather than colonial, past. At the same time, it allowed politicians to criminalize urban poverty by attributing it to racial betrayal rather than broader structural failures.
Introduction to the Ronald H. Coase memorial issue
Authors: HODGSON GEOFFREY M. , MÉNARD CLAUDE , SHIRLEY MARY M. , WANG NING
Published: January 2015

This is an introduction to the twelve essays in the special memorial issue in honor of Ronald Coase. It includes a brief account of Coase's long life and some of its many achievements. Coase's distinctive, worldly and empirically-grounded approach to economics is highlighted, claiming that it has yielded major theoretical and policy insights. This introduction concludes with a summary of the contributions of the twelve essays.
Design of screen-printed bulk modified electrodes using anthraquinone–cysteamine functionalized gold nanoparticles and their application to the detection of dissolved oxygen
Authors: Tiwari Ida , Singh Monali , Gupta Mandakini , Metters Jonathan P. , Banks Craig E.
Published: January 2015

We investigated the electroanalytical determination of dissolved oxygen using low-cost disposable screen-printed bulk modified electrodes based on nanostructures.
Multifunctional self-assembled polymeric nanoprobes for FRET-based ratiometric detection of mitochondrial H2O2 in living cells
Authors: Qiao Jing , Liu Zhi , Tian Ye , Wu Man , Niu Zhongwei
Published: January 2015

A micelle-based and mitochondria-targeting FRET probe was fabricated to ratiometrically detect intracellular mitochondrial H2O2.
Abnormal thermal expansion properties of cubic NaZn13-type La(Fe,Al)13 compounds
Authors: Li Wen , Huang Rongjin , Wang Wei , Zhao Yuqiang , Li Shaopeng , Huang Chuanjun , Li Laifeng
Published: January 2015

Remarkable NTE properties as well as near ZTE behavior are observed in the LaFe13−xAlx (x = 1.8–2.7) compounds.
A molecular view of cisplatin's mode of action: interplay with DNA bases and acquired resistance
Authors: Marques M. Paula M. , Gianolio Diego , Cibin Giannantonio , Tomkinson John , Parker Stewart F. , Valero Rosendo , Pedro Lopes R. , Batista de Carvalho Luis A. E.
Published: January 2015

A definite molecular picture of cisplatin's MOA is presented, including a detailed interpretation of the glutathione-mediated drug scavenging process.
Simple soluble Bi(iii) salts as efficient catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes with H2O2
Authors: Rocha Bruno G. M. , Kuznetsov Maxim L. , Kozlov Yuriy N. , Pombeiro Armando J. L. , Shul'pin Georgiy B.
Published: January 2015

Simple soluble Bi(iii) salts exhibit pronounced catalytic activity in the oxidation of inert alkanes with H2O2viaa radical mechanism with participation of the HO˙ radicals.
Immobilization of imidazolium ionic liquids on hydrotalcites using silane linkers: retardation of memory effect
Authors: Finn M. , An N. , Voutchkova-Kostal A.
Published: January 2015

We report a new covalent surface immobilization of silane-modified imidazolium ionic liquids on hydrotalcite-like materials (HTs) and provide detailed characterization of the resulting surface chemistry using PXRD, CP-MAS, TGA and FT-IR.
Indium(iii)-catalyzed tandem synthesis of 2-alkynyl-3,3-dichloropyrrolidines and their conversion to 3-chloropyrroles
Authors: Kushwaha Khushbu , Malakar C. C. , Stas S. , Lemière F. , Abbaspour Tehrani Kourosch
Published: January 2015

A convenient route to 2-alkynyl-3,3-dichloropyrrolidines was described by addition of terminal acetylenes to 2,2,4-trichloroaldimines using In(OTf)3 as a catalyst. In the presence of a base these pyrrolidines were transformed into 3-chloropyrroles.
Imidazolium salt-supported Mukaiyama reagent: an efficient condensation reagent for amide bond formation
Authors: Pandey Khima , Muthyala Manoj Kumar , Choudhary Sunita , Kumar Anil
Published: January 2015

A novel imidazolium salt-supported Mukaiyama reagent has been synthesized and utilized as a coupling agent for the synthesis of amides.
Effective denitrification process by a low voltage in a multi-cathode bio-electrode film reactor
Authors: Cao Ruqiong , Ying Diwen , Li Chenjun , Wang Yalin , Jia Jinping
Published: January 2015

An outstanding nitrate removal rate of 16.8 NO3−–N mg L−1 h−1 was achieved by applying voltage of 0.25 V in a multi-cathode bio-electrode film reactor.
Selective current collecting design for spring-type energy harvesters
Authors: Kim Dongjin , Roh Hee Seok , Kim Yeontae , No Kwangsoo , Hong Seungbum
Published: January 2015

We designed and fabricated a high performance spring-type piezoelectric energy harvester that selectively collects current from the inner part of a spring shell.
The effects of the increasing number of the same chromophore on photosensitization of water-soluble cyclen-based europium complexes with potential for biological applications
Authors: Liang Zhenhao , Chan Chi-Fai , Liu Yurong , Wong Wing-Tak , Lee Chi-Sing , Law Ga-Lai , Wong Ka-Leung
Published: January 2015

Synthesis, full characterization and in vitro studies of five water-soluble cyclen-based europium complexes with various numbers of the same antenna.
The evolution of fibrin-specific targeting strategies
Authors: Stefanelli Victoria L. , Barker Thomas H.
Published: January 2015

A variety of antibodies, antibody fragments, and small peptides have been engineered to specifically target fibrin over its precursor fibrinogen.
Core–shell microspheres delivering FGF-2 and BMP-2 in different release patterns for bone regeneration
Authors: Wang Shuo , Ju Wei , Shang Peng , Lei Lei , Nie Hemin
Published: January 2015

Sequential delivery of FGF-2 and BMP-2 efficiently bridged the bone defects and remodeled the bone graft.
Graphene nanoribbons as prospective field emitter
Authors: Khare Ruchita , Shinde Dhanraj B. , Bansode Sanjeewani , More Mahendra A. , Majumder Mainak , Pillai Vijayamohanan K. , Late Dattatray J.
Published: January 2015

Field emission characteristics of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) synthesized by unzipping of multiwall carbon nanotubes using a facile hydrothermal route have been investigated at a base pressure of 1 × 10−8 mbar. The values of turn-on field, required to draw an emission current densities of 1 and 10 μA/cm2, are found to be 2.8 and 5.8 V/μm, respectively, and a maximum emission current density of 500 μA/cm2 has been drawn at an applied field of 9.8 V/μm. The emission current stability of the GNRs emitter was studied at preset values of 1 and 10 μA over a period of 3 h, and is found to be excellent. The field emission results demonstrated herein suggest that GNRs based field emitters can open up many opportunities for their potential utilization as large area field emitters in various vacuum micro-nanoelectronic devices such as flexible field emission displays, portable X-ray, and microwave tubes.
AIREBO-M: A reactive model for hydrocarbons at extreme pressures
Authors: O’Connor Thomas C. , Andzelm Jan , Robbins Mark O.
Published: January 2015

The Adaptive Intermolecular Reactive Empirical Bond Order potential (AIREBO) for hydrocarbons has been widely used to study dynamic bonding processes under ambient conditions. However, its intermolecular interactions are modeled by a Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential whose unphysically divergent power-law repulsion causes AIREBO to fail when applied to systems at high pressure. We present a modified potential, AIREBO-M, where we have replaced the singular Lennard-Jones potential with a Morse potential. We optimize the new functional form to improve intermolecular steric repulsions, while preserving the ambient thermodynamics of the original potentials as much as possible. The potential is fit to experimental measurements of the layer spacing of graphite up to 14 GPa and first principles calculations of steric interactions between small alkanes. To validate AIREBO-M’s accuracy and transferability, we apply it to a graphite bilayer and orthorhombic polyethylene. AIREBO-M gives bilayer compression consistent with quantum calculations, and it accurately reproduces the quasistatic and shock compression of orthorhombic polyethlyene up to at least 40 GPa.
Influence of self-assembled monolayer binding group on graphene transistors
Authors: Cernetic Nathan , Hutchins Daniel O. , Ma Hong , Jen Alex K.-Y.
Published: January 2015

Graphene transistors on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified dielectric substrates were fabricated and characterized in order to determine the influence SAM binding group has on device properties. It was found that silane based alkyl SAMs had little to no influence in doping graphene transistors, while phosphonic acid based ones caused n-type doping of graphene transistors with a charge neutrality point shift of over 10 V. It was also discovered that alkyl SAM packing density influenced the doping magnitude. Due to substrate surface charge trap quenching, these SAMs independent of binding group enhanced charge mobility of graphene transistors compared to ones on bare oxide substrates.
Observation of 0–π transition in SIsFS Josephson junctions
Authors: Ruppelt N. , Sickinger H. , Menditto R. , Goldobin E. , Koelle D. , Kleiner R. , Vavra O. , Kohlstedt H.
Published: January 2015

The 0–π transition in Superconductor-Insulator-superconductor-Ferromagnet-Superconductor (SIsFS) Josephson junctions (JJs) was investigated experimentally. As predicted by theory, an s-layer inserted into a ferromagnetic SIFS junction can enhance the critical current density up to the value of an SIS tunnel junction. We fabricated Nb′ | AlOx | Nb | Ni60Cu40 | Nb JJs with wedge-like s (Nb) and F (Ni60Cu40) layers and studied the Josephson effect as a function of the s- and F-layer thickness, ds and dF, respectively. For ds = 11 nm, π-JJs with SIFS-type jc(dF) and critical current densities up to jcπ=60 A/cm2 were obtained at 4.2 K. Thicker ds led to a drastic increase of the critical current decay length, accompanied by the unexpected disappearance of the 0–π transition dip in the jc(dF) dependence. Our results are relevant for superconducting memories, rapid single flux quantum logic circuits, and solid state qubits.
Electrical bending actuation of gold-films with nanotextured surfaces
Authors: Kwan K. W. , Gao P. , Martin C. R. , Ngan A. H. W.
Published: January 2015

An actuating material system comprising a gold-film with nanotextured surface was fabricated. Using electroless gold plating onto a substrate of porous anodized aluminum oxide, a thin film of gold with a high density of short gold nanofibers on its surface was made. When one end of such a film was connected to an ion generator, bending was achieved upon electrical charging in air. Experiments showed that the free end of an 8 mm film could be displaced by more than 1.6 mm with a bending strain of 0.08%. In contrast with other types of thin-film artificial muscle materials, the present Au-film did not require any electrolyte to function. With the relatively easy fabrication method, this nanotextured film shows promising actuation behavior in air.
Nanoscale mechanical switching of ferroelectric polarization via flexoelectricity
Authors: Gu Yijia , Hong Zijian , Britson Jason , Chen Long-Qing
Published: January 2015

Flexoelectric coefficient is a fourth-rank tensor arising from the coupling between strain gradient and electric polarization and thus exists in all crystals. It is generally ignored for macroscopic crystals due to its small magnitude. However, at the nanoscale, flexoelectric contributions may become significant and can potentially be utilized for device applications. Using the phase-field method, we study the mechanical switching of electric polarization in ferroelectric thin films by a strain gradient created via an atomic force microscope tip. Our simulation results show good agreement with existing experimental observations. We examine the competition between the piezoelectric and flexoelectric effects and provide an understanding of the role of flexoelectricity in the polarization switching. Also, by changing the pressure and film thickness, we reveal that the flexoelectric field at the film bottom can be used as a criterion to determine whether domain switching may happen under a mechanical force.
Design and characterization of high optical quality InGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs-based polariton microcavities
Authors: Tinkler L. , Walker P. M. , Clarke E. , Krizhanovskii D. N. , Bastiman F. , Durska M. , Skolnick M. S.
Published: January 2015

The presence of dislocations arising from strain relaxation strongly affects polaritons through their photonic component and ultimately limits experiments involving polariton propagation. In this work, we investigate the range of growth parameters to achieve high optical quality GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs-based microcavities containing strained InxGa1−xAs quantum wells and using differential interference contrast (Nomarski) microscopy deduce a design rule for homogeneous versus disordered structures. We illustrate the effect of disorder by contrasting observations of polariton condensates in relaxed and unrelaxed microcavities. In our optimized device, we generate a polariton condensate and deduce a lifetime for the interacting polariton fluid of 39 ± 2 ps.
Explosive boiling of a metallic glass superheated by nanosecond pulse laser ablation
Authors: Jiang M. Q. , Wei Y. P. , Wilde G. , Dai L. H.
Published: January 2015

We report an explosive boiling in a Zr-based (Vitreloy 1) bulk metallic glass irradiated by a nanosecond pulse laser with a single shot. This critical phenomenon is accompanied by the ejection of high-temperature matter from the target and the formation of a liquid-gas spinodal pattern on the irradiated area. An analytical model reveals that the glassy target experiences the normal heating (melting) and significant superheating, eventually culminating in explosive boiling near the spinodal limit. Furthermore, the time lag of nucleation and the critical radius of vapor bubbles are theoretically predicted, which are in agreement with the experimental observations. This study provides the investigation on the instability of a metallic glass liquid near the thermodynamic critical temperature.