bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging of nigrosome 1 in substantia nigra at 3T using multiecho susceptibility map‐weighted imaging (SMWI)
Authors: Nam Yoonho , Gho Sung‐Min , Kim Dong‐Hyun , Kim Eung Yeop , Lee Jongho
Published: November 2016

Purpose

To enhance the visibility of nigrosome 1 in substantia nigra, which has recently been suggested as an imaging biomarker for Parkinson's disease (PD) at 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods

The substantia nigra structure was visualized at 3T MRI using multiecho susceptibility map‐weighted imaging (SMWI) in 15 healthy volunteers and 6 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The visibility of nigrosome 1 was further enhanced by acquiring data in an oblique‐coronal imaging plane at a high spatial resolution (0.5 × 0.5 × 1.0 mm3). To compare the visibility, the contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) of the nigrosome 1 structure relative to the neighboring substantia nigra structure were evaluated in the SMWI and other conventional susceptibility contrast images (magnitude, frequency, quantitative susceptibility map [QSM] and susceptibility‐weighted image).

Results

In healthy volunteers, the CNRs of the nigrosome 1 structure were 1.04 ± 0.38, 0.84 ± 0.32, 1.04 ± 0.40, 0.86 ± 0.41, and 1.45 ± 0.48 for magnitude, frequency, quantitative susceptibility map, susceptibility‐weighted image, and SMWI, respectively. Compared to conventional susceptibility contrast images, the SMWI method significantly improved the CNR of nigrosome 1 (P = 0.014 for magnitude, P = 0.030 for QSM, and P < 0.001 for frequency and SWI, respectively). The magnetic susceptibility difference between nigrosome 1 and neighboring substantia nigra structures was 0.037 ± 0.016 ppm (measured in QSM, P < 0.001) in healthy volunteers. In the PD patients, the visibility of the nigrosome 1 structures was reduced.

Conclusion

The SMWI method enhances the visibility of nigrosome 1 structures at 3T MRI when compared to conventional susceptibility contrast images.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:528–536
Effects of covalent modification by 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal on the noncovalent oligomerization of ubiquitin
Authors: Grasso Giuseppe , Axelsen Paul H.
Published: November 2016

When lipid membranes containing ω‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains are subjected to oxidative stress, one of the reaction products is 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (HNE)—a chemically reactive short chain alkenal that can covalently modify proteins. The ubiquitin proteasome system is involved in the clearing of proteins modified by oxidation products such as HNE, but the chemical structure, stability and function of ubiquitin may be impaired by HNE modification. To evaluate this possibility, the susceptibility of ubiquitin to modification by HNE has been characterized over a range of concentrations where ubiquitin forms non‐covalent oligomers. Results indicate that HNE modifies ubiquitin at only two of the many possible sites, and that HNE modification at these two sites alters the ubiquitin oligomerization equilibrium. These results suggest that any role ubiquitin may have in clearing proteins damaged by oxidative stress may itself be impaired by oxidative lipid degradation products. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thirty years of Geriatric Therapeutics
Authors: Elliott Rohan A. , Woodward Michael C.
Published: November 2016

In the 1980s geriatric medicine was in its infancy in Australia, and geriatric therapeutics was a newly developing field. There was little primary literature regarding geriatric pharmacology and pharmacotherapy in older people. The Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne appointed its first geriatrician in 1983, and the ‘Geriatric Therapeutics’ series of articles (now known as ‘Geriatric Therapeutics Review’) began in 1986, as a partnership between the hospital's Pharmacy and Aged and Extended Care departments. Until 1990 Geriatric Therapeutics articles were published in the hospital's Pharmacy Bulletin. Since 1991 they have been published in this journal. For 30 years the series has provided readers with contemporary reviews of the management of medical problems in older people, with an emphasis on rational and safe drug therapy. Over that period there have been considerable changes in the therapeutic management of diseases that commonly affect older people, and the 125 articles published between 1986 and 2016 reflect many of those changes. To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Geriatric Therapeutics series, this article describes its origins and development, and some of the changes in therapeutics that have occurred over the last 30 years.
Recent advances in linear and non‐linear Raman spectroscopy. Part X
Authors: Nafie Laurence A.
Published: November 2016

This review, published annually, provides an overview of advances in the field of Raman spectroscopy as found in papers published in the preceding calendar year in the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy (JRS), as well as in trends over the past decade across journals that have published papers important to the field of Raman spectroscopy. This information is obtained from statistical data on article counts obtained from Thomson Reuters ISI Web of Science Core Collection by year and by subfield of Raman spectroscopy. Additional information is gleaned from presentations at the XXV International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS 2016) in Forteleza, Brazil in August 2016 and those featuring Raman scattering at SCIX 2016 organized by the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA in September 2016. Coverage is also provided for topics from the conference ECONOS 2016 held in April in Göteborg, Sweden and GeoRaman 2016 in June in Novosibirsk, Russia. Finally, papers published in JRS in 2015 are highlighted and arragned by topics at the frontier of Raman spectroscopy. From these various perspectives, it is clear that Raman spectroscopy continues to be a rapidly expanding field that provides sensitive photonic information of matter at the molecular level in an ever‐widening arena of novel applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐resolution stimulated Raman spectroscopy from collisionally populated states after optical pumping (II): 13C2H2, 13C12CH2, 13C12CD2 and 13C2D2
Authors: Martínez Raúl Z. , Bermejo Dionisio , Di Lonardo Gianfranco , Fusina Luciano
Published: November 2016

The combined use of a pump‐probe Raman–Raman technique and the naturally occurring process of vibration‐to‐vibration collisional relaxation to populate and obtain high‐resolution Raman spectra of vibrationally excited states that cannot be easily accessed by other means has been recently demonstrated in 12C2H2 and 12C2D2 (Martínez et al.). This technique has been here applied to four other isotopologues of acetylene, namely 13C2H2, 13C12CH2, 13C12CD2 and 13C2D2. Transitions from the v2 = 2 and v4 = 2, v5 = 1 collisionally populated states have been observed. The latter state was accessible only in the case of hydrogenated molecules. Accurate values of the spectroscopic parameters for the v2 = 3 vibrationally excited states for all the isotopologues were obtained, for the first time, from the least‐squares analysis of the assigned transitions. In addition, the observation of Q branch lines of the v2 = 1, v4 = 2, v5 = 1 ← v4 = 2, v5 = 1 band for 13C2H2 and 13C12CH2 allowed the spectroscopic characterization of the upper states. The harmonic term values and the anharmonicity constants,
,
and
, have been derived for all the studied molecules. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrated Reporting, Connectivity, and Social Media
Authors: Rivera‐Arrubla Yaismir Adriana , Zorio‐Grima Ana
Published: November 2016

Leading companies worldwide are increasingly concerned about stakeholders’ needs. They include sustainability initiatives regarding the environment and the community in their business strategy and adopt a new way of communication with stakeholders, that is, the Integrated Report (IR). This document should include in just one document the information traditionally provided in the annual report, the sustainability report, and the corporate governance report. This article presents the IR phenomenon and pays special attention to the key concept of “connectivity,” according to the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). However, Internet and digital technologies have provided new channels of communication and interaction through social media. Within the framework of the Legitimacy Theory, Reputation Risk Management, and Stakeholder Theory, this article argues that the new possibilities brought by social media can be most valuable for IR purposes as they are useful to increase transparency and stakeholder engagement. Having looked into 78 integrated reports for the year 2012 of the companies included in the IIRC pilot programme, our study posits that the level of IR connectivity (or its absence) can be due to the combination of three types of factors (information quality, corporate characteristics, and communication factors), using fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis. Our findings confirm the equifinality tenet and the causal asymmetry principle. Very interestingly, in the sufficiency analysis, some factors always appear present (big size, long reports, and many channels of social media used) in the model for IR connectivity whereas in the model for non‐IR connectivity size and report length are always absent though the listing status is always present. This pioneering study is unique and valuable as it opens up a new line of research on IR and social media use, two of the latest trends in company reporting.
Polyelectrolyte Coacervates Deposited as High Gas Barrier Thin Films
Authors: Haile Merid , Sarwar Owais , Henderson Robert , Smith Ryan , Grunlan Jaime C.
Published: November 2016

Multilayer coatings consisting of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes have proven to be extraordinarily effective oxygen barriers but require many processing steps to fabricate. In an effort to prepare high oxygen barrier thin films more quickly, a polyelectrolyte complex coacervate composed of polyethylenimine and polyacrylic acid is prepared. The coacervate fluid is applied as a thin film using a rod coating process. With humidity and thermal post‐treatment, a 2 µm thin film reduces the oxygen transmission rate of 0.127 mm poly(ethylene terephthalate) by two orders of magnitude, rivalling conventional oxygen barrier technologies. These films are fabricated in ambient conditions using low‐cost, water‐based solutions, providing a tremendous opportunity for single‐step deposition of polymeric high barrier thin films.

image
Influence of processing parameters on the properties of carbon fibres – an overview
Authors: Jäger H. , Cherif C. , Kirsten M. , Behnisch T. , Wolz D. S. , Böhm R. , Gude M.
Published: November 2016

Several studies have shown the importance of carbon fibres (CF) for different high technology markets. In recent years, different fibre types with improved properties have been developed for those markets. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymers are the basic raw material (precursor) for these fibres in the predominant case. Improvements of the mechanical fibre properties have mainly been achieved by defect reduction during the manufacturing process. Thus, commercial carbon fibres with tensile strengths up to approx. 7000 MPa are currently available. It can be shown that the strengths can be further increased (in the direction of graphene properties) when the relationship between process conditions and defects due to manufacturing of the fibres is better understood. In this context, novel processes like electron beam crosslinking or UV‐activation have proven to be very promising. The article gives an overview about the current situation in the field of carbon fibres development and particularly shows recent shortcomings with respect to novel applications.
Pleural “drop metastases” 21 years after resection of a thymoma
Authors: Chiang Chia‐Chun , Parsons Angela M. , Kriegshauser J. Scott , Paripati Harshita R. , Zarka Matthew A. , Leis A. Arturo
Published: November 2016

Introduction: We describe an unusual case of pleural drop metastases 21 years after complete resection of an encapsulated thymoma in a Southeast Asian patient with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods: This investigation includes a case report and brief review of the literature. Results: The patient presented in 2015 with generalized weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, but no diplopia, ptosis, dysphagia, or dysarthria. Because these symptoms were atypical for an MG exacerbation, a de‐novo work‐up was performed. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed numerous pleural nodules (“drop metastases”), and CT‐guided biopsy revealed metastatic thymoma. Conclusions: The average disease‐free interval for thymoma ranges from 68 to 86 months. Pleural and mediastinal recurrence are more common than distant hematogenous recurrence. Adverse prognostic factors include an initial higher Masaoka stage, incomplete resection, older age, and pleural or pericardial involvement. Despite apparent complete resection of thymoma, clinicians should remain vigilant for recurrence for as long as 20 years after initial management. Long‐term follow‐up with radiologic surveillance is recommended. Muscle Nerve 56: 171–175, 2017
Effects of biological tissue structural anisotropy and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility on the gradient echo MRI signal phase: theoretical background
Authors: Yablonskiy Dmitriy A. , Sukstanskii Alexander L.
Published: November 2016

Quantitative susceptibility mapping is a potentially powerful technique for mapping tissue magnetic susceptibility from gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRI signal phase. In this review, we present up‐to‐date theoretical developments in analyzing the relationships between GRE signal phase and the underlying tissue microstructure and magnetic susceptibility at the cellular level. Two important phenomena contributing to the GRE signal phase are at the focus of this review – tissue structural anisotropy (e.g. cylindrical axonal bundles in white matter) and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy. One of the most intriguing and challenging problems in this field is calculating the so‐called Lorentzian contribution to the phase shift induced by the local environment – magnetized tissue structures that have dimensions smaller than the imaging voxel (e.g. cells, cellular components, blood capillaries). In this review, we briefly discuss a “standard” approach to this problem, based on introduction of an imaginary Lorentzian cavity, as well as a more recent method – the generalized Lorentzian tensor approach (GLTA) – that is based on a statistical approach and a direct solution of the magnetostatic Maxwell equations. The latter adequately accounts for both types of anisotropy: the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and the structural tissue anisotropy. In the GLTA the frequency shift due to the local environment is characterized by the Lorentzian tensor
, which has a substantially different structure than the susceptibility tensor
. While the components of
are compartmental susceptibilities “weighted” by their volume fractions, the components of
are weighted by specific numerical factors depending on tissue geometrical microsymmetry. In multi‐compartment structures, the components of the Lorentzian tensor also depend on the compartmental relaxation properties, hence the MR pulse sequence settings. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A penalized best‐response algorithm for nonlinear single‐path routing problems
Authors: Brun Olivier , Prabhu Balakrishna , Vallet Josselin
Published: November 2016

This article is devoted to nonlinear single‐path routing problems, which are known to be NP‐hard even in the simplest cases. For solving these problems, we propose an algorithm inspired from Game Theory in which individual flows are allowed to independently select their path to minimize their own cost function. We design the cost function of the flows so that the resulting Nash equilibrium of the game provides an efficient approximation of the optimal solution. We establish the convergence of the algorithm and show that every optimal solution is a Nash equilibrium of the game. We also prove that if the objective function is a polynomial of degree
, then the approximation ratio of the algorithm is
. Experimental results show that the algorithm provides single‐path routings with modest relative errors with respect to optimal solutions, while being several orders of magnitude faster than existing techniques. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 69(1), 52–66 2017
Block spectral clustering methods for multiple graphs
Authors: Chen Chuan , Ng Michael K. , Zhang Shuqin
Published: November 2016

In data science, data are often represented by using an undirected graph where vertices represent objects and edges describe a relationship between two objects. In many applications, there can be many relations arising from different sources and/or different types of models. Clustering of multiple undirected graphs over the same set of vertices can be studied. Existing clustering methods of multiple graphs involve costly optimization and/or tensor computation. In this paper, we study block spectral clustering methods for these multiple graphs. The main contribution of this paper is to propose and construct block Laplacian matrices for clustering of multiple graphs. We present a novel variant of the Laplacian matrix called the block intra‐normalized Laplacian and prove the conditions required for zero eigenvalues in this variant. We also show that eigenvectors of the constructed block Laplacian matrix can be shown to be solutions of the relaxation of multiple graphs cut problems, and the lower and upper bounds of the optimal solutions of multiple graphs cut problems can also be established. Experimental results are given to demonstrate that the clustering accuracy and the computational time of the proposed method are better than those of tested clustering methods for multiple graphs.
A unified method for the response analysis of interval/random variable models of acoustic fields with uncertain‐but‐bounded parameters
Authors: Yin Shengwen , Yu Dejie , Yin Hui , Xia Baizhan
Published: November 2016

For the response analysis of engineering systems with uncertain‐but‐bounded parameters, three uncertain models have been considered according to the available probability distribution information. One is the bounded random model in which the uncertain parameters are well defined with sufficient probability distribution information and described as bounded random variables. The second one is the interval model in which the uncertain parameters are expressed as interval variables without giving any information of probability distribution. The last one is the bounded hybrid uncertain model, which includes both bounded random variables and interval variables. On the basis of Gegenbauer polynomial approximation theory, a unified interval and random Gegenbauer series expansion (IRGSE) method is proposed and extended for the response prediction of three uncertain models of acoustic fields with uncertain‐but‐bounded parameters. In IRGSE, the uncertain‐but‐bounded variables with different probability distribution information, including interval variables and bounded random variables with different probability density functions, are transformed into the function of unitary variables defined on [‐1,1] associated with the corresponding polynomial parameter (λ) of Gegenbauer series expansion (GSE). The coefficients of GSE is calculated by Gauss–Gegenbauer integration method. By using IRGSE, the responses of three uncertain acoustic models are approximated uniformly by GSE, through which the interval and random analysis can be easily implemented by many numerical solvers. Two numerical examples are applied to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetics meets pathology – an increasingly important relationship
Authors: Bonthron David T , Foulkes William D
Published: November 2016

The analytical power of modern methods for DNA analysis has outstripped our capability to interpret and understand the data generated. To make good use of this genomic data in a biomedical setting (whether for research or diagnosis), it is vital that we understand the mechanisms through which mutations affect biochemical pathways and physiological systems. This lies at the centre of what genetics is all about, and it is the reason why genetics and genomics should go hand in hand whenever possible. In this Annual Review Issue of The Journal of Pathology, we have assembled a collection of 16 expert reviews covering a wide range of topics. Through these, we illustrate the power of genetic analysis to improve our understanding of normal physiology and disease pathology, and thereby to think in rational ways about clinical management. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Survival of adolescents with cancer treated at pediatric versus adult oncology treatment centers in France
Authors: Desandes Emmanuel , Brugieres Laurence , Laurence Valérie , Berger Claire , Kanold Justyna , Tron Isabelle , Clavel Jacqueline , Lacour Brigitte
Published: November 2016

Background

In France, although children aged less than 15 years with cancer are usually referred to pediatric oncology centers, adolescents may be treated at pediatric or adult oncology centers. The objective was to compare survival according to their site of treatment.

Procedure

Using population‐based registration, 15‐ to 19‐year‐old patients diagnosed with cancer in 2006 or 2007 and living in six French regions (accounting for 41% of the French population) were included.

Results

Of the 594 patients included, 33% of the French adolescents were treated at a pediatric oncology center. Compared with those treated at a pediatric center, adolescents treated at an adult center were older, were more likely to have carcinoma and germ‐cell tumor, had a longer time to diagnosis, and were less likely to be enrolled in a clinical trial. In addition, the decisions for their management were less likely to be taken in the context of multidisciplinary team meetings. In multivariate analysis, adolescent patients treated at a pediatric center did not have significantly different overall survival (OS) compared with those treated at an adult center (5‐year OS: 84.1% [95% confidence interval: 78.6–90.0] versus 87.7% [95% confidence interval: 84.2–91.3]; P = 0.25).

Conclusions

The outcomes of French adolescents with cancer have begun to improve, with 81.2% survival in 2006–2007, with no difference between the types of treatment center. However, for this unique group of diseases, survival is not the unique endpoint. In order to ensure good quality of life after cancer, management of those patients requires specific approaches, designed to reduce the late effects of cancer treatment and improve supportive care.
Synchronous occurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and wilms tumor in two patients: underlying etiology and combined treatment plan
Authors: Yi Joanna S. , Kamihara Junne , Kesselheim Jennifer C. , Davies Kimberly , van Hoff Jack , Silverman Lewis B. , Mullen Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2016

Synchronous cancers are extraordinarily rare in pediatric patients and present a therapeutic challenge. Patient A presented with synchronous unilateral Wilms tumor (WT) and standard‐risk (SR) B‐precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Genetic testing revealed bialleleic BRCA2/FANCD1 mutations. Patient B, after SR B‐precursor ALL induction therapy, was noted on fever workup to have a renal mass; pathology demonstrated lesion indeterminate between WT and nephrogenic rest. Therapy was customized for each patient to treat both cancers. Both patients have ongoing remission from their cancers, without excessive toxicity. We report two regimens for treating synchronous WT and ALL and recommend screening such patients for cancer predisposition.
Patient experiences of acute myeloid leukemia: A qualitative study about diagnosis, illness understanding, and treatment decision‐making
Authors: LeBlanc Thomas W. , Fish Laura J. , Bloom Catherine T. , El‐Jawahri Areej , Davis Debra M. , Locke Susan C. , Steinhauser Karen E. , Pollak Kathryn I.
Published: November 2016

Background

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) face a unique, difficult situation characterized by sudden changes in health, complex information, and pressure to make quick treatment decisions amid sizeable tradeoffs. Yet, little is known about patients' experiences with AML. We used qualitative methods to learn about their experiences with diagnosis and treatment decision‐making to identify areas for improvement.

Methods

We recruited hospitalized patients with AML to participate in semi‐structured qualitative interviews about their experiences being diagnosed with AML, receiving information, and making a treatment decision. Interviews were conducted during their hospitalization for induction chemotherapy. We analyzed data by using a constant comparison approach.

Results

Thirty‐two patients completed an interview. Four main themes emerged: (a) shock and suddenness, (b) difficulty processing information, (c) poor communication, and (d) uncertainty. Patients frequently described their diagnosis as shocking. They also felt that the amount of information was too great and too difficult to process, which negatively impacted their understanding. Patients frequently described a lack of emotional support from clinicians and described uncertainty about their prognosis, the number and nature of available treatments, and what to expect from treatment.

Conclusions

Acute myeloid leukemia poses a sudden, emotionally challenging, information‐laden situation, where little time is available to make important decisions. This results in difficulty processing information and is sometimes complicated by a lack of emotive communication from clinicians. Results indicate a need for targeted interventions to improve AML patients' understanding of illness and treatment options and to address their traumatic experiences around diagnosis.
Plasma and fluorination combination for stable multifunctionality of LDPE packaging films
Authors: Peyroux Jérémy , Dubois Marc , Tomasella Eric , Batisse Nicolas , Frezet Lawrence , Petit Elodie , Kharitonov Alexander P. , Flahaut Delphine
Published: November 2016

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) films are treated by a combination of plasma treatment followed by direct fluorination. Plasma treatment is carried out either with ion bombardment or reactive conditions according to the gas(es) used. The properties of samples prepared by the two combinations (i) ion bombardment/fluorination; and (ii) reactive plasma/fluorination are compared to the films treated only with single fluorination or plasma. Combined treatment results in printability and barrier properties toward O2 enhancement and the maintenance of the barrier properties toward water. Contrary to the direct fluorination only, the two combinations allow stable surface properties to be achieved.
Towards understanding the crosstalk between protein post‐translational modifications: Homo‐ and heterotypic PTM pair distances on protein surfaces are not random
Authors: Korkuć Paula , Walther Dirk
Published: November 2016

Post‐translational modifications (PTMs) represent an important regulatory layer influencing the structure and function of proteins. With broader availability of experimental information on the occurrences of different PTM types, the investigation of a potential “crosstalk” between different PTM types and combinatorial effects have moved into the research focus. Hypothesizing that relevant interferences between different PTM types and sites may become apparent when investigating their mutual physical distances, we performed a systematic survey of pairwise homo‐ and heterotypic distances of seven frequent PTM types considering their sequence and spatial distances in resolved protein structures. We found that actual PTM site distance distributions differ from random distributions with most PTM type pairs exhibiting larger than expected distances with the exception of homotypic phosphorylation site distances and distances between phosphorylation and ubiquitination sites that were found to be closer than expected by chance. Random reference distributions considering canonical acceptor amino acid residues only were found to be shifted to larger distances compared to distances between any amino acid residue type indicating an underlying tendency of PTM‐amenable residue types to be further apart than randomly expected. Distance distributions based on sequence separations were found largely consistent with their spatial counterparts suggesting a primary role of sequence‐based pairwise PTM‐location encoding rather than folding‐mediated effects. Our analysis provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of the characteristics of pairwise PTM site distances on proteins and reveals that, predominantly, PTM sites tend to avoid close proximity with the potential implication that an independent attachment or removal of PTMs remains possible. Proteins 2016; 85:78–92. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modeling Longitudinal Preclinical Tumor Size Data to Identify Transient Dynamics in Tumor Response to Antiangiogenic Drugs
Authors: Hutchinson LG , Mueller H‐J , Gaffney EA , Maini PK , Wagg J , Phipps A , Boetsch C , Byrne HM , Ribba B
Published: November 2016

Experimental evidence suggests that antiangiogenic therapy gives rise to a transient window of vessel normalization, within which the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be enhanced. Preclinical experiments that measure components of vessel normalization are invasive and expensive. We have developed a mathematical model of vascular tumor growth from preclinical time‐course data in a breast cancer xenograft model. We used a mixed‐effects approach for model parameterization, leveraging tumor size data to identify a period of enhanced tumor growth that could potentially correspond to the transient window of vessel normalization. We estimated the characteristics of the window for mice treated with an anti‐VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) or with a bispecific anti‐VEGF/anti‐angiopoietin‐2 antibody (vanucizumab). We show how the mathematical model could theoretically be used to predict how to coordinate antiangiogenic therapy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy to maximize therapeutic effect, reducing the need for preclinical experiments that directly measure vessel normalization parameters.
The role of visual and direct force feedback in robotics‐assisted mitral valve annuloplasty
Authors: Currie Maria E. , Talasaz Ali , Rayman Reiza , Chu Michael W.A. , Kiaii Bob , Peters Terry , Trejos Ana Luisa , Patel Rajni
Published: November 2016

Background

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of both direct force feedback and visual force feedback on the amount of force applied to mitral valve tissue during ex vivo robotics‐assisted mitral valve annuloplasty.

Methods

A force feedback‐enabled master–slave surgical system was developed to provide both visual and direct force feedback during robotics‐assisted cardiac surgery. This system measured the amount of force applied by novice and expert surgeons to cardiac tissue during ex vivo mitral valve annuloplasty repair.

Results

The addition of visual (2.16 ± 1.67), direct (1.62 ± 0.86), or both visual and direct force feedback (2.15 ± 1.08) resulted in lower mean maximum force applied to mitral valve tissue while suturing compared with no force feedback (3.34 ± 1.93 N; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

To achieve better control of interaction forces on cardiac tissue during robotics‐assisted mitral valve annuloplasty suturing, force feedback may be required.
Active disturbance rejection control approach to output‐feedback stabilization of lower triangular nonlinear systems with stochastic uncertainty
Authors: Guo Bao‐Zhu , Wu Ze‐Hao
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we apply the active disturbance rejection control approach to output‐feedback stabilization for uncertain lower triangular nonlinear systems with stochastic inverse dynamics and stochastic disturbance. We first design an extended state observer (ESO) to estimate both unmeasured states and stochastic total disturbance that includes unknown system dynamics, unknown stochastic inverse dynamics, external stochastic disturbance, and uncertainty caused by the deviation of control parameter from its nominal value. The stochastic total disturbance is then compensated in the feedback loop. The constant gain and the time‐varying gain are used in ESO design separately. The mean square practical stability for the closed‐loop system with constant gain ESO and the mean square asymptotic stability with time‐varying gain ESO are developed, respectively. Some numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed output‐feedback control scheme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytical performance of soft data fusion‐aided spectrum sensing in hybrid terrestrial‐satellite networks
Authors: Nallagonda Srinivas , Chandra Aniruddha , Roy Sanjay Dhar , Kundu Sumit
Published: November 2016

The cognitive radio (CR) technology is developed to help secondary users to utilize spectrum holes of the primary users (PUs) opportunistically. Accurate detection of spectrum holes via cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) is essential for realization of CR protocols in next generation hybrid terrestrial‐satellite networks. Soft data fusion refers to a class of efficient CSS schemes for CR networks to find presence or absence of a PU. Each CR user senses the PU and transmits its sensing information in terms of energy obtained using energy detector to fusion center (FC). Next, any of the soft data schemes, which differ in technique of combining the energy information, may be performed at FC to acquire a final decision about a PU. In the present paper, numerical analysis of various soft data‐aided CSS schemes in different fading/shadowing environments is studied. In particular, closed‐form expressions of detection probability for the known soft data schemes are derived for each of the popular fading models. A comparative performance of soft combining schemes is illustrated for various network and channel conditions. Further, an optimal detection threshold that minimizes the total error is also indicated for different soft schemes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bifunctional Magnetic Luminescent Particles Based on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Grafted with a Europium Silylated Bypiridine Tris(β‐diketonate) Complex
Authors: Silva Robson R. , Duarte Adriana P. , Sábio Rafael M. , Caiut José M. A. , Gressier Marie , Menu Marie‐Joëlle , Franco Adolfo , Ribeiro Sidney J. L.
Published: November 2016

A new highly magnetic‐luminescent nanocomposites has been synthesized by grafting luminescent europium complex comprising tris(b‐diketone) and bypridine ligand modified with a silylil function group (Eu[(TTA)3(Bpy‐Si)] complex) on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with 11 nm in size coated with a thin silica outer layer. The γ‐Fe2O3/SiO2 nanoparticles were fully characterized by ATR‐FTIR, FE‐SEM, HR‐TEM and magnetic measurements to confirm the structure of nanocomposite and the superparamagnetic behavior. Grafting with europium silylated bypiridine tris(β‐diketonate) complex on nanoparticles surface was achieved by covalent bonding through triethoxysilyl groups which allows high concentration of the luminescent species. The resulting nanocomposite display superparamagnetic profile and the indirect excitation in the ultraviolet region outcomes high red luminescence intensity (at 613 nm) with narrow characteristic emission lines of Eu(III) and emission lifetime in the millisecond range. The nanocomposite is potentially useful for applications as biolabelling, imaging, bio‐separation and bioassays.
Cyclotriveratrylene‐Based Glycoclusters as High Affinity Ligands of Bacterial Lectins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia ambifaria
Authors: Galanos Nicolas , Chen Yanan , Michael Zachary P. , Gillon Emilie , Dutasta Jean‐Pierre , Star Alexander , Imberty Anne , Martinez Alexandre , Vidal Sébastien
Published: November 2016

The design of multivalent glycoconjugates has been largely studied using a variety of core scaffolds. Cyclotriveratrylenes (CTV) have been scarcely used in this context. The synthesis of the tri‐ and hexa‐propargylated CTV cores allowed the preparation of the corresponding glycoclusters with galactose or fucose residues through azide‐alkyne “click” chemistry. Their interactions with bacterial lectins (LecA, LecB and BambL) was confirmed and studied by titration microcalorimetry. Adsorption onto carbon nanotubes was then attempted based on the hydrophobic CTV cores. Their incorporation into field effect transistor (FET) devices was accomplished but the data collected largely suggested a poor interaction of CTV‐based glycoclusters with the carbon nanotubes leading to non‐specific detection of the lectins.
Synthesis of the Pentasaccharide Repeating Unit Related to the Exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus plantarum C88 in the Form of its 2‐Aminoethyl Glycoside
Authors: Sarkar Vikramjit , Mukhopadhyay Balaram
Published: November 2016

Chemical synthesis of the pentasaccharide, β‐D‐Galp‐(1→6)‐α‐D‐Galp‐3‐O‐(β‐D‐Glcp)‐(1→2)‐α‐D‐Glcp‐(1→3)‐β‐D‐Glcp, is reported by following a convenient [2+2+1] strategy. Two disaccharides α‐D‐Galp‐(1→3)‐β‐D‐Glcp and α‐D‐Galp‐(1→6)‐β‐D‐Galp were synthesized from commercially available monosaccharides through rational protecting group manipulations and coupled to make a tetrasaccharide. The last Glc unit was coupled with the tetrasaccharide to furnish the target pentasaccharide. Stereoselective glycosylations were achieved by the activation of thioglycosides using N‐iodosuccinimide and H2SO4‐silica or activation of trichloroacetimidate using H2SO4‐silica alone. Finally, global deprotection furnished the target molecule. The target pentasaccharide has been synthesized in the form of its 2‐aminoethyl glycoside to facilitate further glycoconjugate formation using the terminal free amine.
A Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Secondary Alkylamines from Nitroalkanes
Authors: Huang Zhi , Lv Jianbo , Jia Yanxing
Published: November 2016

The 1, 2‐addition of various alkyl Grignard reagents to nitroalkanes gives N‐substituted hydroxylamines, which are readily converted into secondary dialkylamines upon reduction. This method provides a practical and efficient method for the direct conversion of nitroalkanes to secondary alkyl amines.
Influence of L‐Leu to D‐Leu Replacement on the Helical Secondary Structures of L‐Leu‐Aib‐Based Dodecapeptides
Authors: Demizu Yosuke , Okitsu Koyo , Doi Mitsunobu , Misawa Takashi , Oba Makoto , Tanaka Masakazu , Kurihara Masaaki
Published: November 2016

A dodecapeptide, Boc‐(L‐Leu‐L‐Leu‐Aib‐L‐Leu‐D‐Leu‐Aib)2‐OMe (2), was designed and synthesized to investigate the influence of L‐Leu to D‐Leu residue replacement on the helical secondary structure of L‐Leu‐Aib‐based dodecapeptides. Its preferred conformation was analyzed based on its Fourier transform infrared spectra, CD spectra, and X‐ray diffraction. It was revealed that peptide 2 formed a mixture of right‐handed (P) 310‐ and α‐helical structures in solution, and eight helical molecules were assembled in the crystalline state.
Adaptive trade‐off between consistency and performance in data replication
Authors: Sun Hailong , Xiao Bang , Wang Xu , Liu Xudong
Published: November 2016

Replication is widely adopted in modern Internet applications and distributed systems to improve the reliability and performance. Though maintaining the strong consistency among replicas can guarantee the correctness of application behaviors, however, it will affect the application performance at the same time because there is a well‐known trade‐off between consistency and performance. Many real‐world applications favoring performance often choose to enforce weak consistency. Although there has been some work on flexible configuration of consistency, most focuses on design or deployment time. As the system settings constantly change during runtime, the tuning of the consistency‐performance trade‐off needs to be handled dynamically. Failing to do that will cause either underestimation or overestimation of the consistency and performance that can be achieved. Existing work does not well support the dynamic tuning of the aforementioned trade‐off in runtime, which is mainly because of the lack of an appropriate quantitative model of consistency and performance. In this work, based on our previous effort on the quantitative model of consistency and latency, we design a replication protocol, CC‐Paxos, to achieve an adaptive trade‐off between consistency and performance according to application preferences and runtime information. By design, CC‐Paxos is not bound to any specific underlying data stores. We have implemented CC‐Paxos and applied it to MySQL databases. And real experiments both within a data center and across data centers show that CC‐Paxos not only can dynamically adjust the delivered consistency in return for ensured performance but also outperforms MySQL Cluster in the case of strong consistency guarantee. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tests on ferritic stainless steel simply supported and continuous SHS and RHS beams
Authors: Arrayago Itsaso , Real Esther , Mirambell Enrique
Published: November 2016

Development of efficient design guidance for stainless steel structures (considering non‐linear behaviour, strain hardening and allowing for moment redistribution in indeterminate structures) is crucial for the widespread use of this corrosion‐resistant material. This paper presents an experimental programme involving ferritic stainless steel simply supported and continuous beams (RHS and SHS) and the assessment of existing cross‐sectional classifications and different plastic design methods available in the literature for indeterminate stainless steel structures, not currently allowed in stainless steel standards. The analysis indicated that some cross‐sectional classification limits seem to be too optimistic for ferritic stainless steels and further research is needed in order to extend plastic design to these grades.
Stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum for seismic design of buildings with structural fuses
Authors: Li Gang , Wang Mengchen , Zeng Yan , Jiang Yi , Hu Hao
Published: November 2016

Stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum is proposed to design the buildings with metallic hysteretic dampers as structural fuses by considering the randomness of seismic loads. Firstly, the structure is separated into two parts: the main part with structural function and the part of structural fuses that is used to dissipate seismic energy. Then a dimensionless single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) system with trilinear restoring force is obtained via structural pushover analysis. The stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum is derived from the SDOF system by utilizing stochastic synthetic ground motions based on a set of far‐field earthquake records. Parameter set of the stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum is studied with the information of structural reliability of the SDOF system. Efficiency of the stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum is confirmed in an example of seismic design of nine‐story planar steel frame with the buckling restrained braces as the structural fuses. An extreme case of seismic load is also considered to test designs from different damage‐reduction spectrum. The seismic design is thus with higher rate of energy absorption by using the stochastic damage‐reduction spectrum.
Research on individual pitch control below rated wind speed
Authors: Han Bing , Zhou Lawu
Published: November 2016

The structure of the modern wind turbine is becoming larger and more complex, with the wind rotor exceeding hundreds of meters in diameter. The blade shear force is also becoming increasingly serious below the rated wind speed, which leads to structure fatigue loads and instability of the generator power. For improving the dynamic performance of large wind turbines, it was proposed that individual pitch control (IPC) method was operated below the rated wind speed. In this paper, we analyze the relationship between the aerodynamic characteristics of blades and the nonlinear time‐varying pitch control system based on wind shear and the tower shadow effect. The combination of IPC and torque control is used to optimize the control mode of the wind turbine. By fine‐tuning the pitch angle, the unbalanced force on the wind rotor was relieved to achieve the purpose of mitigating fatigue loads. Finally, our experimental results prove the validity of the proposed IPC method below the rated wind speed by showing that it can improve power quality and reduce fatigue loads of the key components without reducing the generator output power. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Prospective study evaluating the incidence of bacteraemia and bacteruria in afebrile and febrile neutropaenic dogs undergoing chemotherapy
Authors: Shaffer Kimberly , Bach Jonathan , Chun Ruthanne
Published: November 2016

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the incidence and character of bacteraemia and bacteruria in afebrile and febrile neutropaenic dogs undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. Fifty‐five neutropaenic dogs presenting to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital were enrolled for a total of 57 neutropaenic episodes. The overall incidence of bacteraemia was 12.3% (n = 7/57). Three afebrile dogs and four febrile dogs were bacteraemic; this difference was not significant (P = 0.6968). The overall incidence of bacteruria was 7.5% (n = 4/53). Two afebrile dogs and two febrile dogs were bacteruric; this difference was not significant (P = 1.0). Of the positive blood cultures, the majority of organisms cultured (n = 6/7) were gram‐positive organisms with one gram‐negative organism. Three of the positive blood cultures showed in vitro resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent. Clinical parameters (age, body weight, heart rate, rectal temperature, neutrophil count, haematocrit and platelet count) were not predictive of bacteraemia. The results of this study were not sufficient to justify the use of blood cultures as a first‐line diagnostic test for neutropaenic patients. Blood cultures may have utility in individual case management for a minority of patients in guiding antibiotic choice in the case of resistant bacterial infections. Blood cultures may serve as a tool for antimicrobial de‐escalation, although further study is needed.
Li2ADC·2H2O and Li2ADC: Two new Coordination Polymers with the Acetylenedicarboxylate Dianion (ADC2–)
Authors: Gramm Verena K. , Stein Irena , Riesen Elena , Ruschewitz Uwe
Published: November 2016

Single crystals of dilithium‐acetylenedicarboxylate‐dihydrate, Li2ADC·2H2O (1), were isolated from a solid product formed by isothermal evaporation of an aqueous solution of LiOH und acetylenedicarboxylic acid (H2ADC). 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with Z = 2. LiO4 tetrahedra are interconnected by ADC2– anions and water molecules to form a 3D polymeric structure. Coupled TGA and DTA measurements show that 1 loses its two water molecules above 100 °C. Heating a polycrystalline sample of 1 at 140 °C for 2 h in an argon atmosphere leads to a significant change of the powder diffraction pattern indicating the formation of the new anhydrous coordination polymer dilithium‐acetylenedicarboxylate, Li2ADC (2). Its crystal structure was solved and refined from X‐ray powder diffraction data. 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fddd (Z = 8). LiO4 tetrahedra are interconnected by ADC2– anions to form a 3D polymeric structure.
Erratum to: Student-directed retrieval practice is a predictor of medical licensing examination performance
Authors: Deng Francis , Gluckstein Jeffrey A. , Larsen Douglas P.
Published: November 2016

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