bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relaxation‐compensated CEST‐MRI at 7 T for mapping of creatine content and pH – preliminary application in human muscle tissue in vivo
Authors: Rerich Eugenia , Zaiss Moritz , Korzowski Andreas , Ladd Mark E. , Bachert Peter
Published: September 2015

The small biomolecule creatine is involved in energy metabolism. Mapping of the total creatine (mostly PCr and Cr) in vivo has been done with chemical shift imaging. Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) allows an alternative detection of creatine via water MRI. Living tissue exhibits CEST effects from different small metabolites, including creatine, with four exchanging protons of its guanidinium group resonating about 2 ppm from the water peak and hence contributing to the amine proton CEST peak. The intermediate exchange rate (≈ 1000 Hz) of the guanidinium protons requires high RF saturation amplitude B1. However, strong B1 fields also label semi‐solid magnetization transfer (MT) effects originating from immobile protons with broad linewidths (~kHz) in the tissue. Recently, it was shown that endogenous CEST contrasts are strongly affected by the MT background as well as by T1 relaxation of the water protons. We show that this influence can be corrected in the acquired CEST data by an inverse metric that yields the apparent exchange‐dependent relaxation (AREX). AREX has some useful linearity features that enable preparation of both concentration, and – by using the AREX‐ratio of two RF irradiation amplitudes B1 – purely exchange‐rate‐weighted CEST contrasts. These two methods could be verified in phantom experiments with different concentration and pH values, but also varying water relaxation properties. Finally, results from a preliminary application to in vivo CEST imaging data of the human calf muscle before and after exercise are presented. The creatine concentration increases during exercise as expected and as confirmed by 31P NMR spectroscopic imaging. However, the estimated concentrations obtained by our method were higher than the literature values:
to
. The CEST‐based pH method shows a pH decrease during exercise, whereas a slight increase was observed by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Access to Cytotoxic Medicines by Children With Cancer: A Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries
Authors: Barr Ronald , Robertson Jane
Published: September 2015

Background

The Essential Medicines Working Group of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) has proposed a list of antineoplastic drugs that should be available in low and middle income countries.

Procedure

Data were extracted on the listing of 18 essential and 8 ancillary antineoplastic medicines in the national essential medicines lists (NEMLs) or national reimbursable medicines lists (NRMLs) of 135 countries with gross national income (GNI) per capita of less than US $25,000. Correlations between numbers of medicines listed and GNI per capita, annual government health expenditure (AGHE) per capita, and the number of physicians per million people were examined.

Results

Listing of the 18 essential antineoplastic drugs ranged from 27% (thioguanine) to 95% (methotrexate). The median number of medicines listed was 7 (0–18) in low income countries (n = 26) and 14 in lower‐middle (n = 42), upper‐middle (n = 44), and high income countries (n = 20). For the ancillary eight medicines, the median was one (0–8) across the 135 countries. Correlations with GNI per capita (r = 0.17, P = 0.0266) and physician density (r = 0.25, P = 0.0017) were statistically significant; not so for AGHE per capita (r = 0.00, P = 0.5000).

Conclusions

There was large variability within income groups in numbers of antineoplastic agents identified as essential in NEMLs and NRMLs. While not a direct measure of availability, listing is an important step, guiding procurement for the public sector. These results focus attention on deficits in NEMLs and NMRLs as a step to improving access to effective antineoplastic medicines for cancers in children in low and middle income countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Advances in Pediatric Intravenous Iron Therapy
Authors: Mantadakis Elpis
Published: September 2015

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to be very common worldwide. Intravenous (IV) iron is an infrequently used therapeutic option in children with IDA despite numerous studies in adults and several small but notable pediatric studies showing efficacy and safety. Presently, the availability of newer IV iron products allows for replacement of the total iron deficit at a single setting. These products appear safer compared to the high molecular weight iron dextrans of the past. Herein, we review the medical literature and suggest that front line use of IV iron should be strongly considered in diseases associated with IDA in children. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activity and Toxicity of Intravenous Erwinia Asparaginase Following Allergy to E. coli‐Derived Asparaginase in Children and Adolescents With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Vrooman Lynda M. , Kirov Ivan I. , Dreyer ZoAnn E. , Kelly Michael , Hijiya Nobuko , Brown Patrick , Drachtman Richard A. , Messinger Yoav H. , Ritchey A. Kim , Hale Gregory A. , Maloney Kelly , Lu Yuan , Plourde Paul V. , Silverman Lewis B.
Published: September 2015

Background

Erwinia asparaginase is antigenically distinct from E.coli‐derived asparaginase and may be used after E.coli‐derived asparaginase hypersensitivity. In a single‐arm, multicenter study, we evaluated nadir serum asparaginase activity (NSAA) and toxicity with intravenously administered asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi (IV‐Erwinia) in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma with hypersensitivity to E.coli‐derived asparaginase.

Patients and Methods

Between 2012 and 2013, 30 patients (age 1–17 years) enrolled from 10 centers. Patients received IV‐Erwinia, 25,000 IU/m2/dose on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, for 2 consecutive‐weeks (6 doses = 1 cycle) for each dose of pegaspargase remaining in the original treatment plan. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of patients achieving NSAA ≥0.1 IU/ml 48 hr after dose 5 in Cycle 1. Secondary objectives included determining the proportion achieving NSAA ≥0.1 IU/ml 72 hr after Cycle 1 dose 6, and the frequency of asparaginase‐related toxicities.

Results

Twenty‐six patients completed Cycle 1; 24 were evaluable for NSAA assessment. In Cycle 1, NSAA ≥0.10 IU/ml was detected in 83% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 63–95%) 48 hr post‐dose 5 (mean ± SD; 0.32 IU/ml ± 0.23), and in 43% (95% CI, 22–66%) 72 hr post‐dose 6 (mean ± SD; 0.089 IU/ml ± 0.072). For all 30 patients over all cycles, hypersensitivity/infusional reactions with IV‐Erwinia occurred in 37%, pancreatitis 7%, and thrombosis 3%.

Conclusions

IV‐Erwinia administration in children/adolescents appeared feasible and tolerable. A therapeutically‐effective NSAA (≥0.10 IU/ml) was achieved in most patients at 48 hr, but in fewer than half 72 hr post‐dosing, suggesting that monitoring NSAA levels and/or every 48 hr dosing may be indicated. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fertility After Treatment With High Dose Melphalan in Women With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Authors: Even‐Or Ehud , Ben‐Haroush Avi , Yahel Anat , Yaniv Isaac , Stein Jerry
Published: September 2015

Background

High‐dose melphalan (HDM) is an integral component of conditioning regimens for autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with malignant and non‐malignant diseases. The gonadotoxic effects of HDM are often obscured by previous or concurrent administration of alkylating agents. From April 1996 to January 2006 our acute myeloid leukemia treatment regimen included induction and consolidation therapy with cytosine arabinoside, anthracyclines and etoposide, followed by HDM and autologous stem cell infusion. We explored gonadal function in surviving female patients so treated, who represent a unique group of patients exposed to HDM as a single gonadotoxic agent.

Procedure

The fertility assessment included a questionnaire, blood tests for luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and anti mullerian hormone (AMH), and a gynecological ultrasound exam for antral follicular count (AFC).

Results

Eight female survivors participated. Although fertility assessment showed considerable damage to ovarian reserve in all participants, four of the eight female survivors conceived and bore children without medical intervention.

Conclusion

In this cohort, HDM treatment reduced fertility potential but did not preclude fecundity. Early referral to a fertility clinic and long term follow‐up including serial measurements of AMH levels and AFC for female patients receiving HDM are recommended. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Membrane protein isolation and identification by covalent binding for proteome research
Authors: Liu Yiying , Yan Guoquan , Gao Mingxia , Deng Chunhui , Zhang Xiangmin
Published: September 2015

A novel method to achieve highly efficient identification of membrane proteins (MPs) has been developed based on a covalent binding (CB) strategy. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles coated with a PEG layer were synthesized. The PEG chain end was functionalized to form the PEG‐tresyl group, which is an octopus‐like long arm to capture the free amino groups of MPs. The long arm could be used to bind proteins in a high concentration of the SDS medium. Then, the SDS and interfering substances were completely depleted by washing. The CB proteins could form a molecular monolayer on the surface of the nanoparticles in the denatured state, which was significantly favorable for the proteolysis of MPs. Therefore, isolation with CB and highly efficient digestion resulted in a larger scale of MPs. The method has been verified by a proteome identification of mouse liver samples. A total of 2946 MPs were identified in an MP fraction. A total of 1505 proteins were characterized as integral MPs, and 735 MPs were identified beyond the largest database summarized by PeptideAtlas. This approach has great potential for membrane proteome research.
Macroscopic alignment of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) for enhanced long‐range collection of photogenerated carriers
Authors: Li Anton , Bilby David , Dong Ban Xuan , Amonoo Jojo , Kim Jinsang , Green Peter F.
Published: September 2015

An epitaxy‐directing solvent additive 1,3,5‐trichlorobenzene is combined with an off‐center spin‐casting technique to produce poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) fibers with uniaxial in‐plane alignment on the centimeter scale. Photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pc‐AFM) is used to characterize planar heterojunction devices assembled from phenyl‐C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) acceptor and both aligned and unaligned P3HT donor. By varying the relative positions of the laser spot (site of carrier generation) and probe (site of hole extraction), it is found that devices with aligned P3HT exhibit anisotropic and greatly enhanced long‐range photocarrier transport, with nearly 10% of original photocurrent measured 400 µm from the laser spot along the direction parallel to the alignment. Complementary thin film transistor (TFT) measurements reveal a factor of ∼3.5 difference in the hole mobilities parallel and perpendicular to the direction of alignment. Together, these findings highlight the importance of macroscopic alignment as a strategy to overcome the low mobilities of disordered polymer semiconductors.1 © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 180–188
Dependence on material choice of degradation of organic solar cells following exposure to humid air
Authors: Glen Tom S. , Scarratt Nicholas W. , Yi Hunan , Iraqi Ahmed , Wang Tao , Kingsley James , Buckley Alastair R. , Lidzey David G. , Donald Athene M.
Published: September 2015

Electron microscopy has been used to study the degradation of organic solar cells when exposed to humid air. Devices with various different combinations of commonly used organic solar cell hole transport layers and cathode materials have been investigated. In this way the ingress of water and the effect it has on devices could be studied. It was found that calcium and aluminum in the cathode both react with water, causing voids and delamination within the device. The use of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was found to increase the degradation by easing water ingress into the device. Replacing these materials removed these degradation features. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 216–224
Desire for hastened death: how do professionals in specialized palliative care react?
Authors: Galushko M. , Frerich G. , Perrar K. M. , Golla H. , Radbruch L. , Nauck F. , Ostgathe C. , Voltz R.
Published: September 2015

Objective

Desires for hastened death (DHD; wish to hasten death is also in use) are prevalent in terminally ill patients. Studies show that health professionals (HP) are often underprepared when presented with DHD. HPs in specialized palliative care (SPC‐HP) often encounter DHD. This study aimed to identify SPC‐HP responses to DHD in daily practice and their corresponding functions.

Methods

Narrative interviews were conducted with 19 SPC‐HPs at four German University Hospitals. Transcripts were analyzed using the documentary method. An inventory of established responses to DHD was compiled, and their corresponding functions in the context of the patient–SPC‐HP interaction were reconstructed.

Results

Twelve response categories and six corresponding functions were identified. On the patient level, responses categorized as symptom control, exploring the reasons and generating perspective, reorientation, and hope were particularly used to ease the patient's burden. On the interaction level, creating a relationship was fundamental. On the SPC‐HP level, various methods served the functions self‐protection and showed professional expertise.

Conclusions

Profound personal and professional development is necessary to respond to the inherent challenges presented by DHD. Establishing helpful relationships with patients is essential regardless of SPC‐HP specialization. SPC‐HPs should maximize their skills in establishing and maintaining relationships as well as strengthening their own resilience, possibly in specific training courses. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Body Posture After Mastectomy: Comparison Between Immediate Breast Reconstruction Versus Mastectomy Alone
Authors: Atanes Mendes Peres Ana Carolina , Dias de Oliveira Latorre Maria do Rosário , Yugo Maesaka Jonathan , Filassi José Roberto , Chada Baracat Edmund , Alves Gonçalves Ferreira Elizabeth
Published: September 2015

Background

Immediate breast reconstruction has been increasingly incorporated as part of breast cancer treatment, especially for the psychological benefits. Currently, there are many options for breast reconstruction surgery, but the impact of the different techniques on body posture has not been widely studied. One study demonstrated that immediate breast reconstruction with a Beker‐25 prosthesis could help to preserve body posture after mastectomy; however, there is no evidence regarding the effect of surgery on the body posture of women after breast reconstruction when using autologous tissue.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the body postures of women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using an abdominal flap with those of women who underwent mastectomy alone.

Design

This is a cross‐sectional study.

Subjects

Seventy‐six women diagnosed with breast cancer underwent mastectomy, between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis, are the participants of the study. Two groups were defined: women who underwent mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (n = 38) and women who underwent mastectomy alone (n = 38).

Procedure

To assess body posture, specific anatomical points for obtaining photographs were located and marked in anterior, posterior and right‐side and left‐side views. The photographs were analysed using Postural Analysis Software/Software de Análise Postural (PAS/SAPO).

Results

In the left lateral view, there was a significant difference in the vertical alignment of the trunk (4.2 vs 3.1; p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the variables in the anterior, posterior or right‐side views.

Conclusion

Women who underwent mastectomy alone, compared with women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps, showed differences in the vertical alignment of the trunk, with greater asymmetry between the acromion and greater trochanter, which can mean trunk rotation. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the alignment of the head, shoulders, scapula, or pelvis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of poling on polarization alignment, dielectric behavior, and piezoelectricity development in polycrystalline BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Cao Lei , Zhou Changrong , Xu Jiwen , Li Qinglin , Yuan Changlai , Chen Guohua
Published: September 2015

This study investigates the effect of poling electric field on polarization alignment, dielectric dispersion, relaxor feature, phase transition temperature (Tm), and piezoelectric properties evolution of (1–x)BiFeO3–xBaTiO3[(1–x)BF–xBT] ceramics with x = 0.26, 0.29, 0.32, and 0.35. The XRD pattern studies indicate that the application electric field induced the polarization alignment along with a significant change of the diffraction intensity of peaks, which gives rise to increasing piezoelectric properties. Simultaneously, the degree of dielectric dispersion and diffuse factor γ in the modified Curie–Weiss equation and Tm increase after applying the poling electric field. Moreover, the relaxor characteristics are more evident with increasing BT content. The dielectric behavior and relaxor feature may be attributed to the small random field domains resulting from local charge imbalance due to off‐valent substituents between A‐ and B‐site cation in (1–x)BF–xBT ceramics. Meanwhile, the application of the poling electric field probably increases the strength of the neighboring dipole–dipole interaction, giving the enhanced degree of dielectric dispersion and Tm.
Magnetic properties in BiFeO3 doped with non‐metallic element: First‐principles investigation
Authors: Rong Qing‐Yan , Wang Ling‐Ling , Hu Ai‐Ming , Xiao Wen‐Zhi
Published: September 2015

Based on first‐principles spin‐polarized density functional theory calculations, the relative stability, electronic structures, and magnetic properties of B‐, C‐, N‐, and F‐doped BiFeO3 are investigated. The substitution of B, C, N, and F for O produces a magnetic moment of 3.0, 2.0, 1.0, and 1.0 μB per dopant, respectively. The net magnetic moments are from the broken of the symmetry of the AFM spin ordering network. We find that the BiFeO3 with one O atom substituted by a C atom leads to a ferrimagnetic half‐metallic property with a C‐type spin alignment. The B‐ and N‐doped BiFeO3 are ferrimagnetic semiconductors, and ordered an A‐type and a G‐type spin alignment, respectively. As for F‐doped case, system becomes metallic in its G‐type spin alignment. Our study demonstrates that the nonmagnetic elements doping is an efficient route to tune magnetic and electronic properties in BiFeO3.
Nanoscale cathodoluminescence of stacking faults and partial dislocations in a‐plane GaN
Authors: Schmidt Gordon , Veit Peter , Wieneke Matthias , Bertram Frank , Dadgar Armin , Krost Alois , Christen Jürgen
Published: September 2015

In GaN, the basal plane stacking fault type I1 is a two‐dimensional defect characterized by a cubic inclusion within the wurtzite structure. Excitons are bound at the BSF I1 similar to the localization in a quantum well heterostructure leading to an efficient radiative recombination. In this study, we present the optical and structural properties of basal plane stacking faults occurrent in silicon doped a‐plane GaN layer by means of highly spatially resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy performed in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Drastically reduced panchromatic intensity in the vicinity of partial dislocations terminating the stacking faults, points to their non‐radiative character. Originating from intersection of two‐dimensional defects, the emission at 379.6 nm could be attributed to optically active stair‐rod dislocations.
Representing the Margins: Multimodal Performance as a Tool for Critical Reflection and Pedagogy
Authors: Darvin Ron
Published: September 2015

This article discusses how drama as a multimodal performance can be a powerful means to represent marginalized identities and to stimulate critical thought among teachers and learners about material conditions of existence and social inequalities.
Remix Culture and English Language Teaching: The Expression of Learner Voice in Digital Multimodal Compositions
Authors: Hafner Christoph A.
Published: September 2015

A number of scholars maintain that the affordances of digital media to easily copy, edit, and share digital content has led to the development of aremix culturein which the amateur creation of cultural artifacts—often remixes, mashups, or parodies based on the creative works of others—has proliferated. At the same time, inTESOLthere is increasing interest in engaging students with processes of digital multimodal composition, focusing not only on language proficiency as it is traditionally conceived but also on the strategic use of multimodal resources and collaborative tools to reach a wide authentic audience on the Internet. One issue which such approaches must face is the tendency for some students to draw upon and remix existing creative works in their digital compositions. In particular, the issue is whether this practice of remix promotes or compromises the expression of learner voice. This article considers these questions by examining the multimodal compositions of students in a course in English for science at a Hong Kong university. The analysis generates a theoretical model of remix practices, which can be applied to the teaching and evaluation of multimodal compositions in English language courses.
Reconceptualising Poetry as a Multimodal Genre
Authors: Newfield Denise , D'abdon Raphael
Published: September 2015

This conceptual article theorises the role of poetry in English classrooms from a multimodal perspective. It discusses the gap between the practices of poetry inside and outside South African schools, particularly where English is taught as an additional language (EAL). The former is shown to be monomodal and prescriptive, while the latter is multimodal and exciting. The reconceptualisation of poetry as a multimodal genre is effected through the integration of multimodality and orality, two fields of study that deal with meaning making. The article attempts to bridge the divide between poetry in print and in performance. It begins with a critique of the current conceptualisation of poetry that underlies the EAL curriculum, practice, and assessment in South Africa. Through bringing multimodality and oral studies together complementarily, and building on empirical studies, an alternative conceptualisation of poetry is constructed. An English poem by a South African Xhosa‐speaking poet is used to demonstrate the curricular, pedagogic, and research implications of this alternative approach. The authors argue that poetry, if reconceptualised as a multimodal genre, can rejuvenate literacy, particularly in classrooms where English is not the first language of students.
Identity Texts and Academic Achievement: Connecting the Dots in Multilingual School Contexts
Authors: Cummins Jim , Hu Shirley , Markus Paula , Kristiina Montero M.
Published: September 2015

The construct of identity text conjoins notions of identity affirmation and literacy engagement as equally relevant to addressing causes of underachievement among low socioeconomic status, multilingual, and marginalized group students. Despite extensive empirical evidence supporting the impact on academic achievement of both identity affirmation and literacy engagement, these variables have been largely ignored in educational policies and instructional practices. The authors propose a framework for identifying major causes of underachievement among these three overlapping groups and for implementing evidence‐based instructional responses. The framework argues that schools can respond to the devaluation of identity experienced by many students and communities by exploring instructional policies and strategies that enable students to use their emerging academic language and multilingual repertoires for powerful identity‐affirming purposes. Drawing on projects involving First Nations and immigrant‐background multilingual students, the authors document the profound transformations in academic, intellectual, and personal identity that multimodal identity text work is capable of engendering.
Approaching the Grammatical Count/Mass Distinction From a Multimodal Perspective
Authors: Brown Derek J.
Published: September 2015

The way in which the count/mass distinction (CMD) is realized in English can cause serious problems for learners. Cognitive theories of language propose that it is based on the speaker's conceptualization of the world. It has also been argued that this conceptualization is socially constructed, as social semiotic resources influence what a speaker may regard as salient when distinguishing between count and mass nouns. Examples of this can be seen in the way different cultures realize the concept of countability in their languages. If the grammatical CMD is a realization of socially constructed conceptualization, then it is possible that by understanding the basis for the distinction in that particular language learners would be better able to apply those principles and construct meaning in that language. This article explores how, using a multimodal approach, students can be empowered as meaning makers by instructing them in the ideas of boundedness, homogeneity/heterogeneity, perceptual conspicuousness, and function, as they interact to understand the grammatical CMD in both their own language and in the target language, English.
Private diaries as information sources in climate research
Authors: Adamson George C. D.
Published: September 2015

Private diaries constitute a unique set of materials within climate change research in that they provide information both on past climate variability and on the ways that people live within, and interact with, climate. The fact that the observations within diaries are affected as much by personal experience as by physical conditions can render the derivation of robust climatic data problematic, and a number of techniques have been developed to generate quantitative or semiquantitative information from them. These include frequency counts of binary meteorological phenomena such as days with/without precipitation, content analysis techniques, proxies such as grain harvest dates, and statistical techniques that assume of some degree of continuity between the reconstruction period and the present day. The latter approaches can provide the most robust data, but can preclude direct comparison between past and present climates. Some studies attempt to increase reliability through comparison with other contemporaneous reconstructions, but this can create a potential for circular reasoning. As ethnographies, the methodological issues are less challenging. Most were highly personal documents and not intended for publication; diaries can therefore represent ‘pure’ ethnographies, representing an unbiased account of individuals’ interactions with the ‘weather world’ and, in some cases, the ways that weather informed the character they presented to the world. Diaries can therefore exemplify individuals’ highly personal engagement with weather and climate, reflective of a myriad of a number of social, cultural, political, and scientific narratives. Their use in climate research can therefore provide important contributions to current debates. WIREs Clim Change 2015, 6:599–611. doi: 10.1002/wcc.365

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change
A selective decision–fusion rule for cooperative spectrum sensing using energy detection
Authors: Alkheir Ala Abu , Ibnkahla Mohamed
Published: September 2015

Increasing the number of terminals in a cognitive radio network is known to improve the accuracy of cooperative spectrum sensing at the cost of reducing the useful communication time. This downside can be partially mitigated using decision‐based fusion and/or sequential reporting. This paper proposes a novel selective decision‐based cooperative spectrum sensing strategy that limits the reporting time to a single reporting slot with a possibility for retransmissions using automatic repeat request. The terminal with the highest energy estimate sends its local decision to the fusion center to make a final decision. Potential decoding errors are mitigated using threshold‐based automatic repeat request. The performance of the proposed strategy is studied using rigorous mathematical analysis and intensive computer simulations. Results show observable performance enhancements compared with some benchmark strategies in terms of detection accuracy and agility. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiband Transport in CoSb3 Prepared by Rapid Solidification
Authors: Ikeda Matthias , Tomeš Petr , Prochaska Lukas , Eilertsen James , Populoh Sascha , Löffler Stefan , Svagera Robert , Waas Monika , Sassik Herbert , Weidenkaff Anke , Paschen Silke
Published: September 2015

Nano‐grained CoSb3 was prepared by melt‐spinning and subsequent spark plasma sintering. The phonon thermal conductivity of skutterudites is known to be sensitive to the kind and the amount of guest atoms. Thus, unfilled CoSb3 can serve as model compound to study the impact of a nanostructure on the thermoelectric properties, especially the phonon thermal conductivity. Therefore, a series of materials was prepared differing only by the cooling speed during the quenching procedure. In contrast to clathrates, the microstructure of meltspun CoSb3 was found to be sensitive to the cooling speed. Although the phonon thermal conductivity, studied by means of Flash and 3ω measurements, was found to be correlated with the grain size, the bulk density of the sintered materials had an even stronger impact. Interestingly, the reduced bulk density did not result in an increased electrical resistivity. The influence of Sb and CoSb2 as foreign phase on the electronic properties of CoSb3 was revealed by a multi‐band Hall effect analysis. While CoSb2 increases the charge carrier density, the influence of the highly mobile charge carriers introduced by elemental Sb on the thermoelectric properties of the composite offer an interesting perspective for the preparation of efficient thermoelectric composite materials.
Syntheses, Crystal Structures, Thermal and Photoluminescent Properties of Four Coordination Complexes with a Hetero­cyclic Thioether Carboxylate Ligand
Authors: Li Jing‐Juan , Wei Lu‐Lu , Han Zhen , Xu Li , Li Lin‐Ke
Published: September 2015

A series of transition metal coordination complexes, {[Cu(3‐Sptta)2]·1/2H2O}n (1), {[Cd(3‐Sptta)2]·1/2H2O}n (2), [Zn(3‐Sptta)2(H2O)4] (3), and [Co(3‐Sptta)2(H2O)4] (4) were synthesized under solvothermal and solvent evaporation conditions using the newly designed heterocyclic N/NS carboxylate ligand [2‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐5‐]‐thio‐acetate (3‐Sptta) as a main building block. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. The four complexes exhibit structural diversity: complexes 1 and 2 exhibit similar 2D “wave‐like” double‐layer framework with two shares of mutually parallel left‐handed and right‐handed helical chains, whereas 3 and 4 present mononuclear structures. Moreover, the thermal stabilities of complexes 1–4 were investigated. The luminescent properties of complexes 2, 3 and the free ligand were also studied.
Effects of Communities That Care on Males’ and Females’ Drug Use and Delinquency 9 Years After Baseline in a Community‐Randomized Trial
Authors: Oesterle Sabrina , Hawkins J. David , Kuklinski Margaret R. , Fagan Abigail A. , Fleming Christopher , Rhew Isaac C. , Brown Eric C. , Abbott Robert D. , Catalano Richard F.
Published: September 2015

This study tested sustained effects of the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system on health‐risking behaviors 9 years after baseline in a community‐randomized trial involving 24 towns in seven states. Earlier analyses found sustained effects on abstinence from drug use and delinquency through Grade 12 in a panel of fifth graders. At age 19, 91 % (n = 3986) of the living panel completed the survey. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. The prevalence of lifetime and current substance use and delinquency were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included substance use disorders, major depression, suicidality, educational attainment, and sexual risk behaviors. CTC had a significant overall effect across lifetime measures of the primary outcomes for males, but not for females or the full sample, although lifetime abstinence from delinquency in the full sample was significantly higher in CTC communities (ARR = 1.16). Males in CTC communities also continued to show greater lifetime abstinence from cigarette smoking (ARR = 1.22). CTC did not have a sustained effect on current substance use and delinquency nor did it improve the secondary outcomes at age 19 for either gender. Communities using CTC may need to extend their prevention planning to include the high school years to sustain effects on drug use and delinquency beyond high school for both genders.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01088542.
The Racial School Climate Gap: Within‐School Disparities in Students’ Experiences of Safety, Support, and Connectedness
Authors: Voight Adam , Hanson Thomas , O’Malley Meagan , Adekanye Latifah
Published: September 2015

This study used student and teacher survey data from over 400 middle schools in California to examine within‐school racial disparities in students’ experiences of school climate. It further examined the relationship between a school’s racial climate gaps and achievement gaps and other school structures and norms that may help explain why some schools have larger or smaller racial disparities in student reports of climate than others. Multilevel regression results problematized the concept of a “school climate” by showing that, in an average middle school, Black and Hispanic students have less favorable experiences of safety, connectedness, relationships with adults, and opportunities for participation compared to White students. The results also show that certain racial school climate gaps vary in magnitude across middle schools, and in middle schools where these gaps are larger, the racial achievement gap is also larger. Finally, the socioeconomic status of students, student–teacher ratio, and geographic location help explain some cross‐school variation in racial climate gaps. These findings have implications for how school climate in conceptualized, measured, and improved.
Avoiding the manufacture of ‘sameness’: first-in-family students, cultural capital and the higher education environment
Authors: O’Shea Sarah
Published: September 2015

Drawing upon Bourdieu’s theories of social and cultural capital, a number of studies of the higher education environment have indicated that students who are first-in-family to come to university may lack the necessary capitals to enact success. To address this issue, university transition strategies often have the primary objective of ‘filling students up’ with legitimate forms of cultural capital required by the institution. However, this article argues that such an approach is fundamentally flawed, as students can be either framed as deficit or replete in capitals depending on how their particular background and capabilities are perceived. Drawing on interviews conducted with first-in-family students, this article explores how one cohort considered their movement into university and how they enacted success within this environment. Utilising Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework, this article discusses how these individuals drew upon existing and established capital reserves in this transition to higher education.
Evaluating Manifest Monotonicity Using Bayes Factors
Authors: Tijmstra Jesper , Hoijtink Herbert , Sijtsma Klaas
Published: September 2015

The assumption of latent monotonicity in item response theory models for dichotomous data cannot be evaluated directly, but observable consequences such as manifest monotonicity facilitate the assessment of latent monotonicity in real data. Standard methods for evaluating manifest monotonicity typically produce a test statistic that is geared toward falsification, which can only provide indirect support in favor of manifest monotonicity. We propose the use of Bayes factors to quantify the degree of support available in the data in favor of manifest monotonicity or against manifest monotonicity. Through the use of informative hypotheses, this procedure can also be used to determine the support for manifest monotonicity over substantively or statistically relevant alternatives to manifest monotonicity, rendering the procedure highly flexible. The performance of the procedure is evaluated using a simulation study, and the application of the procedure is illustrated using empirical data.
New insights into the genetic instability in CCTG repeats
Authors: Guo Pei , Lam Sik Lok
Published: September 2015

Tetranucleotide CCTG repeat expansion is associated with myotonic dystrophy type 2, which is an inherited and progressive muscle degeneration disease. Yet, no cure is available and the molecular mechanism of repeat expansion remains elusive. In this study, we used high‐resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to reveal a mini‐dumbbell structure formed by two CCTG repeats. Upon slippage in the nascent strand during DNA replication, the formation of the mini‐dumbbell provides a possible pathway for a two‐repeat expansion. In addition, fast exchange between two competing mini‐dumbbells among three repeats results in a mini‐loop structure that accounts for one‐repeat expansion. These mini‐dumbbell and mini‐loop intermediates can also co‐exist at multiple sites in CCTG repeats, leading to three or larger size repeat expansions.
Impact of esophageal temperature monitoring guided atrial fibrillation ablation on preventing asymptomatic excessive transmural injury
Authors: Kiuchi Kunihiko , Okajima Katsunori , Shimane Akira , Kanda Gaku , Yokoi Kiminobu , Teranishi Jin , Aoki Kousuke , Chimura Misato , Toba Takayoshi , Oishi Shogo , Sawada Takahiro , Tsukishiro Yasue , Onishi Tetsuari , Kobayashi Seiichi , Taniguchi Yasuyo , Yamada Shinichiro , Yasaka Yoshinori , Kawai Hiroya , Yoshida Akihiro , Fukuzawa Koji , Itoh Mitsuaki , Imamura Kimitake , Fujiwara Ryudo , Suzuki Atsushi , Nakanishi Tomoyuki , Yamashita Soichiro , Hirata Ken‐ichi , Tada Hiroshi , Yamasaki Hiro , Naruse Yoshihisa , Igarashi Miyako , Aonuma Kazutaka
Published: September 2015

Background

Even with the use of a reduced energy setting (20–25 W), excessive transmural injury (ETI) following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is reported to develop in 10% of patients. However, the incidence of ETI depends on the pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) method and its esophageal temperature monitor setting. Data comparing the incidence of ETI following AF ablation with and without esophageal temperature monitoring (ETM) are still lacking.

Methods

This study was comprised of 160 patients with AF (54% paroxysmal, mean: 24.0±2.9 kg/m2). Eighty patients underwent ablation accompanied by ETM. The primary endpoint was defined as the occurrence of ETI assessed by endoscopy within 5 d after the AF ablation. The secondary endpoint was defined as AF recurrence after a single procedure. If the esophageal temperature probe registered >39 °C, the radiofrequency (RF) application was stopped immediately. RF applications could be performed in a point‐by‐point manner for a maximum of 20 s and 20 W. ETI was defined as any injury that resulted from AF ablation, including esophageal injury or periesophageal nerve injury (peri‐ENI).

Results

The incidence of esophageal injury was significantly lower in patients whose AF ablation included ETM compared with patients without ETM (0 [0%] vs. 6 [7.5%], p=0.028), but not the incidence of peri‐ENI (2 [2.5%] vs. 3 [3.8%], p=1.0). AF recurrence 12 months after the procedure was similar between the groups (20 [25%] in the ETM group vs. 19 [24%] in the non‐ETM group, p=1.00).

Conclusions

Catheter ablation using ETM may reduce the incidence of esophageal injury without increasing the incidence of AF recurrence but not the incidence of peri‐ENI.
Clinical consequences and economic costs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Authors: Knauert Melissa , Naik Sreelatha , Gillespie M. Boyd , Kryger Meir
Published: September 2015

Objective

To provide an overview of the healthcare and societal consequences and costs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Data sources

PubMed database for English‐language studies with no start date restrictions and with an end date of September 2014.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify all studies that discussed the physiologic, clinical and societal consequences of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome as well as the costs associated with these consequences. There were 106 studies that formed the basis of this analysis.

Conclusions

Undiagnosed and untreated obstructive sleep apnea syndrome can lead to abnormal physiology that can have serious implications including increased cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic disease, excessive daytime sleepiness, work‐place errors, traffic accidents and death. These consequences result in significant economic burden. Both, the health and societal consequences and their costs can be decreased with identification and treatment of sleep apnea.

Implications for practice

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, despite its consequences, is limited by lack of diagnosis, poor patient acceptance, lack of access to effective therapies, and lack of a variety of effective therapies. Newer modes of therapy that are effective, cost efficient and more accepted by patients need to be developed.
Building Sustainable Organizations in China
Authors: Marquis Chris , Jackson Susan E. , Li Yuan
Published: September 2015

As China shifts its development model from focusing on economic growth at all costs to a model in which economic growth is balanced with solving pressing societal and environmental problems, there is an increasing need for management research on building sustainable organizations in China. This collection of papers focuses attention on the role of business in promoting sustainable economic development, highlighting a number of key processes including: the factors that foster transparency and CSR reporting, how stakeholders can influence corporations to abandon their CSR commitments, the benefits of environmental branding and labeling, and the antecedents and performance consequences of proactive environmental strategies. In this introductory essay we reflect on recent trends in sustainability research in China, and to encourage this important movement, provide recommendations for future research directions.
Letter from the Editor
Authors: Lewin Arie Y.
Published: September 2015

This issue of MOR features a guest editorial by deputy editor Professor Klaus Meyer on the role of ‘Context in Management Research in Emerging Economies’ and a Perspective paper co-authored by Yadong Luo and John Child on ‘The Growth of Emerging Economy Enterprises: A Composition-Based View’, followed by two commentaries. The first, ‘Extraordinary Survival from Ordinary Resources – How So?’, is by Richard Burton and the second, ‘Reframing the Compositional Capability’ is by Henk Volberda and Emre Karali.
Comparison of availability and plasma clearance rates ofβ-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate delivery in the free acid and calcium salt forms
Authors: Fuller John C. , Sharp Rick L. , Angus Hector F. , Khoo Paul Y. , Rathmacher John A.
Published: September 2015

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, has long been supplemented as a Ca salt (Ca-HMB) to increase strength and performance gains with exercise and to reduce recovery time. Recently, the free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA) has become commercially available in capsule form (gelcap). The current study was conducted to compare the bioavailability of HMB using the two commercially available capsule forms of HMB-FA and Ca-HMB. We also compared the pharmacokinetics of each form when administered mixed in water. Ten human subjects (five male and five female) were studied in a randomised crossover design. There was no significant sex by treatment interaction for any of the pharmacokinetic parameters measured. HMB-FA administered in capsules was more efficient than Ca-HMB capsule at HMB delivery with a 37 % increase in plasma clearance rate (74·8 (sem4·0)v.54·5 (sem3·2) ml/min,P<0·0001) and a 76 % increase in peak plasma HMB concentration (270·2 (sem17·8)v.153·9 (sem17·9) μmol/l,P<0·006), which was reached in one-third the time (P<0·009). When HMB-FA and Ca-HMB were administered in water, the differences still favoured HMB-FA, albeit to a lesser degree. Plasma HMB with HMB-FA administered in water was greater during the early phase of absorption (up to 45 min postadministration,P<0·05); this resulted in increased AUC during the first 60 min after administration, when compared with Ca-HMB mixed in water (P<0·03). In conclusion, HMB-FA in capsule form improves clearance rate and availability of HMB compared with Ca-HMB in capsule form.
MICHAEL SYNCELLUS: A NEGLECTED SOURCE FOR AELIUS HERODIAN'S ΠΕΡΙ ΚΑΘΟΛΙΚΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΩΙΔΙΑΣ
Authors: Xenis Georgios A.
Published: September 2015

In his book Περὶ τῆς τοῦ λόγου συντάξεως Michael Syncellus includes a section on the rules for accenting prepositions that occur in anastrophe (1128–204, §§ 144–9). This section is also part of the chapter on the accentuation of prepositions preserved in the Τονικὰ παραγγέλματα by John of Alexandria (26.13–28.19), an important epitome of Aelius Herodian's lost work Περὶ καθολικῆς προσῳδίας. Further below (1595–606, § 189, and 1614–43, §§ 191–2), Michael's treatment of the various functions of the conjunction ἤ/ἦ (διαζευκτικός, παραδιαζευκτικός, διασαφητικός, διαπορητικός, διαβεβαιωτικός) again presents very strong similarities with the corresponding unit of the chapter on the accentuation of conjunctions in the Τονικὰ παραγγέλματα (41.1–42.24). In this article I first argue that Michael's sections, which have gone entirely unnoticed by students of the Cath. Pr., have drawn directly upon the Cath. Pr., and I identify the ways in which they add to our picture of Herodian's and John's aforementioned works. Then I turn my attention to John's chapter on the accentuation of prepositions: I provide additional evidence to support Eduard Hiller's view that it does not form a coherent whole, and I discuss the implications of this problematical structure for defining the contents of Book 18 and the Appendix of the Cath. Pr.