bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by Model Predictive Controller Based on ANFIS Model
Authors: Karimi M. , Yahyazadeh J. , Rezazade A.
Published: September 2016

Proton exchange fuel cell is one of the most promising new technologies in electrical energy production. Due to slow dynamic, nonlinearity and dependency of time changing variables of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), its control issue is a challenging problem. In this paper, model predictive controller (MPC) based on the adaptive neuro‐fuzzy interface model of the PEMFC is proposed to control the output voltage. First the adaptive neuro‐fuzzy interference system (ANFIS) model is identified to approximate the dynamic behavior of the PEMFC system with a set of data which are taken from a physical model of a 5 kW PEMFC setup plant. Then the branch‐and‐bound method and the greedy algorithm are used to solve the constrained optimization function of the predictive control problem. The results reveal that the ANFIS model can effectively approximate the dynamic behavior of the PEMFC and the predictive controller based on this model can successfully control the output and satisfy the constraints.
Diagnosing snow accumulation errors in a rain‐snow transitional environment with snow board observations
Authors: Wayand Nicholas E. , Clark Martyn P. , Lundquist Jessica D.
Published: August 2016

Diagnosing the source of errors in snow models requires intensive observations, a flexible model framework to test competing hypotheses, and a methodology to systematically test the dominant snow processes. We present a novel process‐based approach to diagnose model errors through an example that focuses on snow accumulation processes (precipitation partitioning, new snow density, and snow compaction). Twelve years of meteorological and snow board measurements were used to identify the main source of model error on each snow accumulation day. Results show that modeled values of new snow density were outside observational uncertainties in 52% of days available for evaluation, while precipitation partitioning and compaction were in error 45% and 16% of the time, respectively. Precipitation partitioning errors mattered more for total winter accumulation during the anomalously warm winter of 2014–2015, when a higher fraction of precipitation fell within the temperature range where partition methods had the largest error. These results demonstrate how isolating individual model processes can identify the primary source(s) of model error, which helps prioritize future research.
Biochemical Profile, Biological Activities, and Toxic Effects of Proteins in the Rhinella schneideri Parotoid Gland Secretion
Authors: Sousa‐Filho Luis M. , Freitas Cleverson D. T. , Lobo Marina D. P. , Monteiro‐Moreira Ana C. O. , Silva Renan O. , Santana Lucas A. B. , Ribeiro Ronaldo A. , Souza Marcellus H. L. P. , Ferreira Gustavo P. , Pereira Anna C. T. C. , Barbosa André L. R. , Lima Mauro S. C. S. , Oliveira Jefferson S.
Published: September 2016

Parotoid glands of amphibians are known for the production of several biologically active compounds having pharmacological and toxic effects in mammals. In the present work, a protein fraction obtained from Rhinella schneideri parotoid gland (RsPP) was characterized to study its biological and toxic effects. Rhinella schneideri parotoid secretion is composed of up to 30% (w/w) of soluble proteins. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the RsPP identified 104 proteins, including actin, beta‐actin, ribosomal proteins, catalase, galectin, and uncharacterized proteins; however, no peptidases were found, and this result was reinforced by the absence of proteolytic activity. In addition, RsPP did not exhibit pro‐coagulant or antibacterial effects. However, pretreatment of mice with different doses of RsPP intraperitoneally inhibited carrageenan‐induced paw edema and increased tissue myeloperoxidase activity. RsPP also reduced interleukin 1β levels in the peritoneal cavities and cell migration in the peritoneal cavities of an animal model of carrageenan‐induced peritonitis. Subchronic treatment of animals with RsPP for 7 consecutive days did not alter the serum biochemical, renal, or liver parameters. However, a significant reduction in blood leukocyte count was observed. Our results showed that R. schneideri parotoid secretion contains proteins with anti‐inflammatory and slight toxic effects.
An Efficient One‐Pot Four‐Component Synthesis of Some New Spirooxindole Dihydropyridine Using Alum as a Heterogeneous Green Catalyst
Authors: Mohammadi Ali A. , Taheri Salman , Amouzegar Ali
Published: September 2016

4‐Nitro‐2,3‐dihydrospiro[imidazo[1,2‐a]indeno[2,1‐e]pyridine‐5,3′‐indoline]‐2′,6(1H)‐dione derivatives have been synthesized in good yields in a one‐pot four‐component, and efficient process by reaction of corresponding isatins, 1,3‐indandione, diamine, and nitro ketene dithioacetal in the presence of KAl(SO4)2.12H2O (Alum) as a nontoxic and easily available heterogeneous green catalyst.
A Framework for Optimizing Work–Life Balance Practices in Australia: Perceived Options for Employee Support
Authors: Jenkins Stacey , Bhanugopan Ramudu , Lockhart Pamela
Published: September 2016

Drawing from institutional theory, this study explored work–life balance (WLB) practices in Australian small and medium enterprises. Data were obtained from a sample of 219 managers. The authors identified organizational characteristics associated with the adoption of 4 groups of WLB practices using a causal model. Of the 3 models tested, the final model supported a conceptual framework that included 4 domains: flexible work options, leave programs, support benefits, and care arrangements. The findings suggested that organizational characteristics—namely, industry type and location—affected WLB practices. Implications for theory and practice are discussed along with avenues for future research.
Highly Reduced Species Mechanisms for iso‐Cetane Using the Local Self‐Similarity Tabulation Method
Authors: Kourdis Panayotis D. , Bellan Josette
Published: September 2016

We utilize the local self‐similarity tabulation method to drastically downsize the number of species involved in a detailed kinetic mechanism of iso‐cetane. Reduced‐species mechanisms of 20 and 15 species are constructed, out of the 1114 species involved in the detailed mechanism, with a focus on high‐pressure combustion. The performance of the two reduced mechanisms are compared to the detailed one for a lean (ϕ = 0.5), stoichiometric (ϕ = 1.0), and rich (ϕ = 1.5) iso‐cetane/air mixture at initial temperatures of 900 and 1100 K and constant pressures of 20 and 40 bar. Good to very good agreement between the detailed kinetic mechanism and the two highly reduced species mechanisms are demonstrated.
Laser Power Measurement in Confined Spaces
Authors: Klein Rolf , Schwede Harald
Published: September 2016

A frequent measurement of the laser beam power ensures successful laser processing. Usually, laser systems have a display for laser power. But this display shows the laser power on the laser output and not the laser power at the processing zone. For material processing, it is important to know the effects of the beam guiding system and the processing head on the transmitted laser power. So a laser power measurement as close as possible to the processing zone is preferable. But in many cases, the accessibility of the processing zone is not given for conventional power sensors due to limited space. To enable a greater degree of flexibility, Primes has developed the laser measurement device Cube which will be described below.
Multi‐Material Processing
Authors: Anstaett Christine , Seidel Christian
Published: September 2016

Several additive manufacturing technologies are applied in industrial manufacturing today. For instance, laser‐based powder bed fusion of metals (also known as e.g. laser beam melting, selective laser melting) is utilized for serial production in aerospace industry [1]. The main advantage of additive manufacturing technologies is the freedom of design. Hence, functionally optimized parts in terms of lightweight, fluid dynamics etc., can be produced without having an exponential growth in manufacturing costs when increasing geometrical complexity, like it is known from conventional machining. However, predominantly mono‐material processing is commercially available today. This is especially true with regards to laser‐based powder bed fusion of metals.
Laser Market in Italy
Authors: Vendramini Antonio
Published: September 2016

In order to understand the activities of the Italian laser community, it must be noted that immediately after the demonstration of the first ruby laser by Theodore Maiman on May 16, 1960, many young Italian researchers enlisted at the universities and research institutes in California where the principles of quantum electronics, the base of the laser development, had been developed.
Conical refraction: fundamentals and applications
Authors: Turpin Alex , Loiko Yury V. , Kalkandjiev Todor K. , Mompart Jordi
Published: September 2016

In 1832 Hamilton predicted that a collimated light beam propagating through a biaxial crystal parallel to one of its optical axes refracts as a slanted cone within the crystal and emerges as a hollow light cylinder, this optical effect being named as conical refraction (CR). The diffractive solution of CR presented by Belsky and Khapalyuk in 1978 and the corresponding re‐formulation carried out by Berry in 2004 rekindled this old and almost forgotten phenomenon. In this article, we review the CR phenomenon following different approaches that allow understanding light propagation in biaxial crystals, including the case of multiple crystals in cascade. We then focus on the description of the singular properties of the CR beams, presenting some examples such as optical bottle beams and beams carrying orbital angular momentum. All these features are used to introduce some of the most appealing applications of CR in the fields of optical trapping, free‐space optical communications, polarization metrology, super‐resolution imaging, two‐photon polymerization, and lasers.

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Manipulating light–matter interaction in a gold nanorod assembly by plasmonic coupling
Authors: Li Jin‐Xiang , Xu Yi , Dai Qiao‐Feng , Lan Sheng , Tie Shao‐Long
Published: September 2016

The interaction of light with a single gold nanorod (GNR) depends strongly on the polarization and wavelength of the light. For isolated GNRs, the maximum of the polarization (wavelength)‐dependent linear and nonlinear absorption appear at the same excitation polarization (wavelength). Here, it is demonstrated that these relationships can be manipulated in a GNR assembly composed of randomly distributed and oriented GNRs by controlling the plasmonic coupling strength between GNRs. It is revealed that the strongly localized modes resulting from the plasmonic coupling of GNRs play a crucial role in determining these relationships. For a GNR tetramer, it is shown by numerical simulation that the maximum two‐photon absorption achieved at a particular polarization can be switched to the minimum absorption and vice versa by controlling the coupling strength. More importantly, it is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally that the two‐photon‐absorption peak of a GNR assembly can be made to be different from its single‐photon‐absorption peak by increasing the coupling strength. Both properties are distinct from previous experimental observations. Our findings provide a useful guideline for engineering the interaction of light with complex plasmonic systems.

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Alternative lengthening of telomeres does exist in various canine sarcomas
Authors: Kreilmeier Theresa , Sampl Sandra , Deloria Abigail J. , Walter Ingrid , Reifinger Martin , Hauck Marlene , Borst Luke B. , Holzmann Klaus , Kleiter Miriam
Published: September 2016

Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) found in some human tumors such as sarcomas. Canine tumors are not characterized for ALT and the study aim was to identify if the ALT phenotype exists in canine sarcomas. Sixty‐four canine sarcoma samples (20 snap‐frozen, 44 FFPE) as well as six canine sarcoma cell lines were screened for ALT by C‐circle assay. ALT was further evaluated by measuring telomere length via qPCR and telomere restriction‐fragments including pulsed‐field electrophoresis. ALT‐associated proteins were validated by immunohistochemistry. Further, telomerase activity (TA) and gene expression were analyzed by TRAP and qPCR. DNA from 20 human neuroblastomas and 8 sarcoma cell lines served as comparative controls. ALT was detected in 9.4% (6/64) canine sarcomas including aggressive subtypes as hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and histiocytic sarcoma. C‐circle levels were comparable with human ALT‐positive controls. All ALT tumors demonstrated loss of ATRX expression and 5/6 showed strong p53 expression. TA was detected in 93% (14/15) snap‐frozen samples including a sarcoma with ALT activity. This tumor showed long heterogeneous telomeres, and a high level of colocalization of DAXX with telomeres. One sarcoma was ALT and TA negative. All canine and human sarcoma cell lines were ALT negative. In this study, we demonstrated that canine sarcomas use ALT. As in humans, ALT was identified in aggressive sarcomas subtypes and coexisted with TA in one tumor. Overall, canine sarcomas seem to share many similarities with their human counterparts and appear an attractive model for comparative telomere research. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The TALE homeodomain transcription factor MEIS1 activates the pro‐metastatic melanoma cell adhesion molecule Mcam to promote migration of pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: von Burstin Johannes , Bachhuber Friedrich , Paul Mariel , Schmid Roland M. , Rustgi Anil K.
Published: September 2016

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most deadly types of cancer, and the majority of pancreatic cancer deaths is caused by metastasis. Therapeutic options for systemic disease are limited, in particular due to the heterogeneous events leading to tumor dissemination. Previous studies highlighted an association of the homeodomain transcription factor MEIS1 with a ductal phenotype in pancreatic tissue architecture. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that MEIS1 is expressed in aberrant duct structures of Ela‐TGFα transgenic mice as well as in pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs), primary PDAC, and metastatic disease in Ptf1aCre/+;LSL‐KrasG12D/+ mice. To assess a putative role of MEIS1 in the progression of PDAC, MEIS1 overexpressing pancreatic cancer cell lines were generated by retroviral gene delivery and assessed for proliferation and migration. MEIS1 did not affect proliferation but increased migration in a subset of cell lines tested. Subsequent genome wide expression analysis identified upregulation of the pro‐metastatic gene melanoma cell adhesion molecule (Mcam) in migrating cells. Employing DNA‐pulldown and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays we reveal interaction of MEIS1 with the enhancer‐DNA of Mcam and its transcriptional activation to facilitate migration of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Activation of Mcam through MEIS1 occurs in a cell type dependent fashion, reflecting the different routes that lead to metastasis in vivo. To our knowledge, these results show for the first time a pro‐metastatic function of Mcam in pancreatic cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A genetic polymorphism at miR‐526b binding‐site in the lincRNA‐NR_024015 exon confers risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a population of North China
Authors: Han Lijie , Liu Shengnan , Liang Jia , Guo Yanli , Shen Supeng , Guo Xin , Dong Zhiming , Guo Wei
Published: September 2016

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) may be caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetic variants. The present study was to evaluate the association between haplotype‐tagging SNPs (htSNPs) of lincRNA‐NR_024015 and the risk of ESCC. We selected htSNPs across the whole 1469 bp lincRNA‐NR_024015 locus and 2 kb upstream as well as 2 kb downstream regions of the gene and conducted a case‐control study in 581 ESCC cases and 677 healthy controls to test the effects of functional lincRNA‐NR_024015 htSNPs on ESCC susceptibility. Of the seven potential functional htSNPs, rs8506 AA genotype was found to be associated with increased risk of ESCC. Further stratification analysis showed that the risk effect was more pronounced in male patients and patients with TNM stage III and IV. LincRNA‐NR_024015 was predominantly expressed in cytoplasm of esophageal cancer cells. The expression level of lincRNA‐NR_024015 in ESCC tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in corresponding normal tissues and rs8506 genotype has a genotype‐specific effect on lincRNA‐NR_024015 expression. Furthermore, rs8506 G to A variant might influence lincRNA‐NR_024015 expression and function by disrupting the binding of hsa‐miR‐526b to the site. High expression level of lincRNA‐NR_024015 and rs8506 A allele were associated with poor ESCC patients’ survival. These findings indicate that functional polymorphism rs8506 G>A in lincRNA‐NR_024015 exon may be a genetic modifier for the development of ESCC and lincRNA‐NR_024015 may be a useful marker for the prediction of the biological behavior of ESCC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeting proprotein convertases in furin‐rich lung cancer cells results in decreased in vitro and in vivo growth
Authors: Bassi Daniel E. , Zhang Jirong , Renner Catherine , Klein‐Szanto Andres J.
Published: September 2016

Proprotein convertases (PCs) are serine proteases with an active role in the post‐translational processing of numerous inactive proteins to active proteins including many substrates of paramount importance in cancer development and progression. Furin (PCSKC3), a well‐studied member of this family, is overexpressed in numerous human and experimental malignancies. In the present communication, we treated two furin‐overexpressing non‐small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) cell lines (Calu‐6 and HOP‐62) with the PC inhibitor CMK (Decanoyl‐Arg‐Val‐Lys‐Arg‐chloromethylketone). This resulted in a diminished IGF‐1R processing and a simultaneous decrease in cell proliferation of two NSCLC lines. Similarly, growth of subcutaneous xenografts of both cell lines, were partially inhibited by an in vivo treatment with the same drug. These observations point to a potential role of PC inhibitors in cancer therapy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Motor unit number estimation and neuromuscular fidelity in 3 stages of sarcopenia
Authors: Gilmore Kevin J. , Morat Tobias , Doherty Timothy J. , Rice Charles L.
Published: September 2016

Introduction: Loss of motor units (MUs) and alterations in MU properties are major factors in development of sarcopenia. The purpose of this study was to compare MU properties among 3 groups categorized as either pre‐sarcopenic (n = 7), sarcopenic (n = 7), or severely sarcopenic (n = 5), all with similarly aged subjects (75–82 years). Methods: Using decomposition‐enhanced quantitative electromyography, MU number estimates and neuromuscular stability measures of near‐fiber (NF) jitter and jiggle were derived in addition to contractile properties of ankle dorsiflexors. Results: MU number estimates were similar across groups; however, maximal voluntary strength in the severe sarcopenia group was 27% and 37% less than the sarcopenic and pre‐sarcopenic groups, respectively. Moreover, NF jiggle was 31% greater in the severe group compared with pre‐sarcopenia, NF jitter was 43% greater in the severe group compared with the pre‐sarcopenic group. Conclusion: Unlike MU number estimates, strength and MU stability differed across groups and related to degree of sarcopenia. Muscle Nerve 55: 676–684, 2017
Weight loss maintenance strategies among rural breast cancer survivors: The rural women connecting for better health trial
Authors: Befort Christie A. , Klemp Jennifer R. , Sullivan Debra K. , Shireman Theresa , Diaz Francisco J. , Schmitz Kathryn , Perri Michael G. , Fabian Carol
Published: September 2016

Objective

Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence. Rural women have higher obesity rates compared with urban women and are in need of distance‐based interventions that promote long‐term weight loss.

Methods

In this two‐phase trial, rural breast cancer survivors who lost >5% of their starting weight during a 6‐month lifestyle intervention (delivered through weekly group conference calls) were randomized to one of two 12‐month interventions for weight loss maintenance: continued biweekly phone‐based group counseling or mailed newsletters. The primary outcome was weight regain from 6 to 18 months. Secondary outcomes included dichotomous measures of weight change and costs.

Results

Mean weight loss at 6 months was 14.0 ± 5.1%. Participants in the group phone condition regained less weight (3.3 ± 4.8 kg) compared with participants in the newsletter condition (4.9 ± 4.8 kg; P = 0.03). At 18 months, 75.3% of participants in the group phone condition remained ≥5% below baseline weight compared with 57.8% in the newsletter condition (P = 0.02). Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were $882 to keep one more person ≥5% below baseline weight.

Conclusions

A lifestyle intervention incorporating group phone‐based support improved the magnitude of weight loss maintained and increased the proportion of survivors who maintained clinically significant reductions.
NUDT15 and TPMT genetic polymorphisms are related to 6‐mercaptopurine intolerance in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon
Authors: Zgheib Nathalie K. , Akika Reem , Mahfouz Rami , Aridi Carol Al , Ghanem Khaled M. , Saab Raya , Abboud Miguel R. , Tarek Nidale , El Solh Hassan , Muwakkit Samar A.
Published: September 2016

Background

Interindividual variability in thiopurine‐related toxicity could not be completely explained by thiopurine S‐methyltransferase (TPMT) polymorphisms, as a number of patients who are homozygous wild type or normal for TPMT still develop toxicity that necessitates 6‐mercaptopurine (MP) dose reduction or protocol interruption. Recently, few studies reported on an inherited nucleoside diphosphate‐linked moiety X motif 15 (NUDT15) c.415C>T low‐function variant that is associated with decreased thiopurine metabolism and leukopenia in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and other diseases.

Procedures

The aim of this study is to measure the frequency of TPMT and NUDT15 polymorphisms and assess whether they are predictors of MP intolerance in children treated for ALL. One hundred thirty‐seven patients with ALL of whom 121 were Lebanese were evaluated. MP dose intensity was calculated as the ratio of the tolerated MP dose to planned dose during continuation phase to maintain an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) dose above 300 per μl.

Results

One patient was NUDT15 heterozygous TC and tolerated only 33.33% of the planned MP dose, which was statistically significantly different from the median‐tolerated MP dose intensity of the rest of the cohort (76.00%). Three patients had the TPMT*3A haplotype and tolerated 40.00–66.66% of the planned MP dose, which was also statistically significantly different from the rest of the cohort.

Conclusions

This is the first report on the association of TPMT and NUDT15 polymorphisms with MP dose intolerance in Arab patients with ALL. Genotyping for additional polymorphisms may be warranted for potential gene/allele‐dose effect.
Comparison of hypersensitivity rates to intravenous and intramuscular PEG‐asparaginase in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A meta‐analysis and systematic review
Authors: Hasan Haroon , Shaikh Omar Mohammad , Rassekh Shahrad Rod , Howard A. Fuchsia , Goddard Karen
Published: September 2016

Background

Pegylated‐asparaginase (PEG‐ASP) is a critical treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and has traditionally been delivered via intramuscular (IM) injection. In an attempt to reduce pain and anxiety, PEG‐ASP has increasingly been delivered via intravenous (IV) administration. The study objective was to perform a meta‐analysis and systematic review to compare and generate pooled hypersensitivity rates for IM and IV PEG‐ASP.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted for all epidemiological studies that investigated IV and IM hypersensitivity rates for pediatric ALL. Included studies were critically appraised using the GRACE checklist. Pooled estimates and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IM and IV hypersensitivity rates were derived based on either a random or fixed effects model.

Results

Four studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were of adequate quality. The random effects pooled hypersensitivity rates were 23.5% (95% CI 14.7–33.7) and 8.7% (95% CI 5.4–12.8) for IV and IM, respectively. The fixed effects pooled odds ratio after adjusting for publication bias was 2.49 (95% CI 1.62–3.83), indicating a significantly higher risk of hypersensitivity for IV over IM PEG‐ASP. This risk is far more pronounced for high‐risk (HR) patients compared with standard‐risk (SR) patients (IV vs. IM: HR ↑35.2% and SR ↓2.9%).

Conclusions

Although administering PEG‐ASP through IV is preferable for patients, it poses a significantly higher risk of hypersensitivity when compared with IM administration, especially for HR patients. We recommend pediatric oncologists consider treating patients with HR pediatric ALL with IM PEG‐ASP to reduce the risk of hypersensitivity.
One‐year results from a prospective randomized trial comparing phlebotomy with deferasirox for the treatment of iron overload in pediatric patients with thalassemia major following curative stem cell transplantation
Authors: Inati Adlette , Kahale Mario , Sbeiti Nada , Cappellini Maria Domenica , Taher Ali T. , Koussa Suzanne , Nasr Therese A. , Musallam Khaled M. , Abbas Hussein A. , Porter John B.
Published: September 2016

Background

Iron overload is well documented in patients with β‐thalassemia major, and patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remain at risk as a result of pre‐ and immediate post‐HSCT transfusions.

Procedure

This is a prospective, randomized, 1‐year clinical trial that compares the efficacy and safety of the once‐daily oral iron chelator deferasirox versus phlebotomy for the treatment of iron overload in children with β‐thalassemia major following HSCT.

Results

Patients (aged 12.4 years) received deferasirox (n = 12, 10 mg/kg/day starting dose) or phlebotomy (n = 14, 6 ml/kg/2 weeks) for 1 year. In two and five patients, deferasirox dose was increased to 15 and 20 mg/kg/day, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–assessed liver iron concentration (LIC) decreased with deferasirox (mean 12.5 ± 10.1 to 8.5 ± 9.3 mg Fe/g dry weight [dw]; P = 0.0005 vs. baseline) and phlebotomy (10.2 ± 6.8 to 8.3 ± 9.2 mg Fe/g dw; P = 0.05). LIC reductions were greater with deferasirox than with phlebotomy for patients with baseline serum ferritin 1,000 ng/ml or higher (–8.1 ± 1.5 vs. –3.5 ± 5.7 mg Fe/g dw; P = 0.048). Serum ferritin and non‐transferrin‐bound iron also decreased significantly. In two patients with severe cardiac siderosis, a clinically relevant improvement in myocardial T2* was seen, following phlebotomy and deferasirox therapy (n = 1 each). Adverse effects with deferasirox were skin rash, gastrointestinal upset, and increased liver function tests (all n = 1), while those for phlebotomy were difficulty with venous access (n = 4) and distress during procedure (n = 1). Parents of 13/14 children receiving phlebotomy wished to switch to deferasirox, with 1/14 being satisfied with phlebotomy.

Conclusions

Deferasirox treatment or phlebotomy reduces iron burden in pediatric patients with β‐ thalassemia major post‐HSCT, with a manageable safety profile.
Value of a Community‐Based Medication Management Review Service in Jordan: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Basheti Iman A. , Tadros Odate K. I. , Aburuz Salah
Published: September 2016

Study Objective

To assess the impact of a medication management review (MMR) service on treatment‐related problems (TRPs) and certain clinical outcomes in outpatients.

Design

Prospective randomized controlled study.

Setting

Two community pharmacies in Amman, Jordan.

Patients

A total of 160 people who visited the two community pharmacies between September 2009 and June 2010.

Intervention

Patients were randomized into two groups: intervention (82 patients) and control (78 patients) groups. The clinical pharmacist conducted a baseline assessment MMR for patients in both groups to determine the prevalence and type of TRPs; however, recommendations regarding the identified TRPs were only submitted to the physicians of patients in the intervention group.

Measurements and Main Results

All patients were followed for an average of 3.39 months after their baseline visit to the pharmacy. The impact of the MMR service for the intervention group was assessed by evaluating the outcomes of the recommendations submitted by the clinical pharmacist to resolve the identified TRPs, physicians' acceptance of the recommended interventions, and the effect of the intervention on certain clinical outcomes: blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels. Follow‐up assessment of the control group included evaluating the outcomes of the identified TRPs (identified and corrected by physicians without any input from the clinical pharmacist) and comparing glucose level, blood pressure, and triglyceride‐level results with baseline values. No significant differences in mean number of medical conditions (3.7 vs 3.42, p=0.134), mean number of medications (4.51 vs 4.96, p=0.135), or mean number of TRPs per patient (5.55 vs 5.17, p=0.42) were observed at baseline in the intervention group versus the control group. Follow‐up results revealed a high acceptance rate of recommendations by the physicians (94%). Regarding outcomes of TRPs, almost 70% of the identified TRPs in the intervention group were resolved or improved compared with 2% in the control group (p<0.001). Significant differences were found between the intervention group versus control group with regard to mean ± SD glucose levels (99.08 ± 9.66 vs 115.48 ± 17.34, p<0.001), blood pressure (110.36/81.55 ± 9.45/3.91 vs 125.0/88.73 ± 10.34/4.12, p<0.001), and triglyceride levels (148.53 ± 15.98 vs 170.74 ± 6.26, p=0.001).

Conclusion

The MMR service resulted in a significantly lower number of TRPs and significantly improved clinical outcomes, and it was highly accepted by the physicians.
Fallout oberirdischer Kernwaffentests bis 1963
Authors: Michel Rolf , Steinkopff Thomas
Published: September 2016

Wegen des Fallouts der oberirdischen Kernwaffenexplosionen bekam der Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) 1955 den gesetzlichen Auftrag, die Radioaktivität in Luft und Niederschlag zu überwachen und Methoden zur Vorhersage der atmosphärischen Radioaktivität vorzuhalten. So entstand sein Radioaktivitätsmessnetz. Mit ersten Rückwärtstrajektorien‐Berechnungen konnte er zeigen, dass die radioaktiven Wolken oberirdischer Kernwaffentests in der Stratosphäre nicht nur vom Jetstream Richtung Osten verfrachtet werden. Der Fallout sowjetischer Tests gelangte auch in umgekehrter Richtung nach Europa.
Aus Infrarot‐ wird Weißlicht
Authors: Dehnen Stefanie , Eußner Jens , Chatterjee Sangam , Rosemann Nils
Published: September 2016

Für die Umwandlung von Licht einer Wellenlänge, wie es etwa von Lasern abgestrahlt wird, in Licht mit einem breiten Wellenlängenbereich benötigt man normalerweise aufwendig herzustellende Glasfasern oder Kristalle und gepulste oder sehr leistungsstarke Laser, die entsprechend groß und teuer sind. In einer Kooperation unserer Gruppen an den Universitäten Marburg und Gießen ist es uns gelungen, eine Substanz zu entwickeln, die sehr effizient monochromatisches in weißes Licht umwandelt [1]. Man benötigt hierfür lediglich eine kleine, preiswerte Laserdiode.
Der Farbenfänger
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: September 2016

Galoppierende Pferde, Damen, die auf Bühnen tanzen und Menschen, die mit starrem Blick an Schreib‐ und Kaffeetischen sitzen: In der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts kommt die Fotografie in Schwung. Doch die fotografierte Welt sieht anders aus als die Wirklichkeit: Sie ist schwarz und weiß. Zwar gibt es erste Versuche, Farben festzuhalten – etwa durch Projektion dreier Fotos, die jeweils mit unterschiedlichen Farbfiltern aufgenommen wurden –, doch alle Verfahren haben eines gemeinsam: Sie sind umständlich und kompliziert.
Structure‐based classification of FAD binding sites: A comparative study of structural alignment tools
Authors: Garma Leonardo D. , Medina Milagros , Juffer André H.
Published: September 2016

A total of six different structural alignment tools (TM‐Align, TriangleMatch, CLICK, ProBis, SiteEngine and GA‐SI) were assessed for their ability to perform two particular tasks: (i) discriminating FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide) from non‐FAD binding sites, and (ii) performing an all‐to‐all comparison on a set of 883 FAD binding sites for the purpose of classifying them. For the first task, the consistency of each alignment method was evaluated, showing that every method is able to distinguish FAD and non‐FAD binding sites with a high Matthews correlation coefficient. Additionally, GA‐SI was found to provide alignments different from those of the other approaches. The results obtained for the second task revealed more significant differences among alignment methods, as reflected in the poor correlation of their results and highlighted clearly by the independent evaluation of the structural superimpositions generated by each method. The classification itself was performed using the combined results of all methods, using the best result found for each comparison of binding sites. A number of different clustering methods (Single‐linkage, UPGMA, Complete‐linkage, SPICKER and k‐Means clustering) were also used. The groups of similar binding sites (proteins) or clusters generated by the best performing method were further analyzed in terms of local sequence identity, local structural similarity and conservation of analogous contacts with the FAD ligands. Each of the clusters was characterized by a unique set of structural features or patterns, demonstrating that the groups generated truly reflect the structural diversity of FAD binding sites. Proteins 2016; 84:1728–1747. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electroluminescence from NiSi2/Si/NiSi2 nanowire heterostructures operated at high electric fields
Authors: Glassner Sebastian , Periwal Priyanka , Baron Thierry , Bertagnolli Emmerich , Lugstein Alois
Published: September 2016

The realization of an efficient, silicon‐based light source with nanoscale dimensions may be the missing link to overcome the physical limitations of electrical signaling. Therefore, the generation of hot‐carriers to increase the transition possibilities within the band structure has shown promising results to cope with the inefficient light emission of indirect semiconductors. Here, we present the electroluminescent properties of NiSi2/silicon/NiSi2 nanowire heterostructures, operated at high electric fields. These hot carrier electroluminescent devices show highly reproducible, super‐ and sub‐bandgap emission of light, covering the visible spectrum and extending toward the near infrared regime. A pronounced peak, centered in the blue visible region at 2.6 eV is assigned to phonon‐assisted interband recombination of hot carriers. Spectral components at energies lower than 2.3 eV are linearly polarized along the nanowire axis and mainly attributed to intraband transitions.
A novel approach to estimation of the time to biomarker threshold: applications to HIV
Authors: Reddy Tarylee , Molenberghs Geert , Njagi Edmund Njeru , Aerts Marc
Published: September 2016

In longitudinal studies of biomarkers, an outcome of interest is the time at which a biomarker reaches a particular threshold. The CD4 count is a widely used marker of human immunodeficiency virus progression. Because of the inherent variability of this marker, a single CD4 count below a relevant threshold should be interpreted with caution. Several studies have applied persistence criteria, designating the outcome as the time to the occurrence of two consecutive measurements less than the threshold. In this paper, we propose a method to estimate the time to attainment of two consecutive CD4 counts less than a meaningful threshold, which takes into account the patient‐specific trajectory and measurement error. An expression for the expected time to threshold is presented, which is a function of the fixed effects, random effects and residual variance. We present an application to human immunodeficiency virus‐positive individuals from a seroprevalent cohort in Durban, South Africa. Two thresholds are examined, and 95% bootstrap confidence intervals are presented for the estimated time to threshold. Sensitivity analysis revealed that results are robust to truncation of the series and variation in the number of visits considered for most patients. Caution should be exercised when interpreting the estimated times for patients who exhibit very slow rates of decline and patients who have less than three measurements. We also discuss the relevance of the methodology to the study of other diseases and present such applications. We demonstrate that the method proposed is computationally efficient and offers more flexibility than existing frameworks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On logistic regression analysis of dichotomized responses
Authors: Lu Kaifeng
Published: September 2016

We study the properties of treatment effect estimate in terms of odds ratio at the study end point from logistic regression model adjusting for the baseline value when the underlying continuous repeated measurements follow a multivariate normal distribution. Compared with the analysis that does not adjust for the baseline value, the adjusted analysis produces a larger treatment effect as well as a larger standard error. However, the increase in standard error is more than offset by the increase in treatment effect so that the adjusted analysis is more powerful than the unadjusted analysis for detecting the treatment effect. On the other hand, the true adjusted odds ratio implied by the normal distribution of the underlying continuous variable is a function of the baseline value and hence is unlikely to be able to be adequately represented by a single value of adjusted odds ratio from the logistic regression model. In contrast, the risk difference function derived from the logistic regression model provides a reasonable approximation to the true risk difference function implied by the normal distribution of the underlying continuous variable over the range of the baseline distribution. We show that different metrics of treatment effect have similar statistical power when evaluated at the baseline mean. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxygen dissociation on palladium and gold core/shell nanoparticles
Authors: Staykov Aleksandar , Derekar Durgesh , Yamamura Keisuke
Published: September 2016

Oxygen dissociation reaction on gold, palladium, and gold‐palladium core/shell nanoparticles was investigated with plane wave basis set, density functional theory. Bader population analysis of charge and electron distribution was employed to understand the change of catalytic activity as a function of the nanopaticle composition. The nanoparticles’ electronic properties were investigated and the degree of core/shell charge polarization was estimated for each composition. It was found that surface polarization plays an important role in the catalysis of the initial step of electrophile reactions such as oxygen dissociation. We have investigated the O2 adsorption energy on each nanoparticle and the activation barrier for the oxygen dissociation reaction as a function of the nanoparticle structure. Furthermore, we have investigated the influence of surface geometry, that is., surface bond lengths on the catalytic activity. We have compared the electronic and the geometry effects on the oxygen activation and dissociation. Our design rules for core/shell nanoparticles offer an effective method for control of the surface catalytic activity. Palladium and gold are often used as catalysts in synthetic chemistry. First‐principles calculations elucidate the mechanisms that control the surface reactivity of gold, palladium, and gold‐palladium core shell nanoparticles in oxygen dissociation reactions. Oxygen dissociation is promoted on the gold surface of gold/palladium core‐shell nanoparticles by favorable electron transfer from the core to the shell. Such core‐shell electronic effects can be used for fine‐tuning the nanoparticles catalytic activity.
Cooperative control of networked robots on a dynamic platform in the presence of communication delays
Authors: Nguyen Kim‐Doang , Dankowicz Harry
Published: September 2016

This paper presents an analysis of the synchronization and consensus problems of networked manipulators operating on an underactuated dynamic platform in the presence of communication delays. The proposed formulation does not require detailed information about the system model. A theoretical formulation based on input–output maps of functional differential equations shows that the control system's behavior matches closely that of a non‐adaptive reference system. The tracking synchronization objective is achieved despite the effects of the communication delay and the unknown dynamics of the platform. When there is no common desired trajectory, the modified controller drives all robots to average consensus for an unsigned graph and to bipartite consensus for a structurally balanced signed digraph. In addition, a leader–follower scheme is proposed that allows for the control of the constant and time‐varying consensus values. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the proposed control algorithms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semisupervised learning of author‐specific emotions in micro‐blogs
Authors: Kang Xin , Ren Fuji , Wu Yunong
Published: September 2016

Learning emotions from texts has been an active research topic in affective computing. However, the lack of reliable connection between emotions and language features has caused severely biased emotion predictions. Moreover, the author‐specific patterns in emotion expression could potentially affect emotion predictions, which has never been studied. In this paper, we propose a semisupervised learning algorithm to learn emotional features from large‐scaled micro‐blog documents with a Bayesian network, and introduce an emotion transition factor to generate the author‐specific emotion predictions. We infer the author‐specific emotions in micro‐blog streams through belief propagation, and learn the emotional features through an expectation maximization estimation procedure. We report results of single‐label and multilabel emotion predictions on a micro‐blog stream corpus, and analyze the improvements achieved by the semisupervised feature learning strategy and the incorporation of emotion transition patterns. Finally, we perform personality analysis based on the authors' emotion distribution and examine emotion distributions in the learned features. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Histories of climate, science, and colonization in Australia and New Zealand, 1800–1945
Authors: O'Gorman Emily , Beattie James , Henry Matthew
Published: September 2016

This review article focuses on scholarship that lies at the intersection of histories of climate and British settler colonization in Australia and New Zealand. It first discusses the role of climate in their colonial histories and then developments in the field of climate history, examining similarities and differences within and between Australia and New Zealand. Next, it outlines two significant recent themes in climate history in both places: contested climate debates and perceptions, and social impacts and responses to climate. The article finishes by recommending future areas for research. Throughout, we stress the importance of local‐level approaches to climate as a means of understanding past and present, popular and scientific, interpretations of climate. We also emphasize the role that imperatives of colonization have played in shaping particular kinds of climate knowledge, including in overwriting nonelite views of climate. WIREs Clim Change 2016, 7:893–909. doi: 10.1002/wcc.426

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > World Historical Perspectives
Metaphor and analogy in everyday problem solving
Authors: Keefer Lucas A. , Landau Mark J.
Published: September 2016

Early accounts of problem solving focused on the ways people represent information directly related to target problems and possible solutions. Subsequent theory and research point to the role of peripheral influences such as heuristics and bodily states. We discuss how metaphor and analogy similarly influence stages of everyday problem solving: Both processes mentally map features of a target problem onto the structure of a relatively more familiar concept. When individuals apply this structure, they use a well‐known concept as a framework for reasoning about real world problems and candidate solutions. Early studies found that analogy use helped people gain insight into novel problems. More recent research on metaphor goes further to show that activating mappings has subtle, sometimes surprising effects on judgment and reasoning in everyday problem solving. These findings highlight situations in which mappings can help or hinder efforts to solve problems. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:394‐405. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1407

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Language

Psychology > Reasoning and Decision Making
Spatial cognition in mice and rats: similarities and differences in brain and behavior
Authors: Hok Vincent , Poucet Bruno , Duvelle Éléonore , Save Étienne , Sargolini Francesca
Published: September 2016

The increasing use of mice models in cognitive tasks that were originally designed for rats raises crucial questions about cross‐species comparison in the study of spatial cognition. The present review focuses on the major neuroethological differences existing between mice and rats, with particular attention given to the neurophysiological basis of space coding. While little difference is found in the basic properties of space representation in these two species, it appears that the stability of this representation changes more drastically over time in mice than in rats. We consider several hypotheses dealing with attentional, perceptual, and genetic aspects and offer some directions for future research that might help in deciphering hippocampal function in learning and memory processes. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:406‐421. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1411

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Comparative Psychology

Neuroscience > Cognition

Neuroscience > Physiology
Polycomb and trithorax opposition in development and disease
Authors: Poynter Steven T. , Kadoch Cigall
Published: September 2016

Early discoveries in chromatin biology and epigenetics heralded new insights into organismal development. From these studies, two mediators of cellular differentiation were discovered: the Polycomb group (PcG) of transcriptional repressors, and the trithorax group (trxG) of transcriptional activators. These protein families, while opposed in function, work together to coordinate the appropriate cellular developmental programs that allow for both embryonic stem cell self‐renewal and differentiation. Recently, both the PcG and trxG chromatin modulators have been observed to be deregulated in a wide spectrum diseases including developmental disorders and cancer. To understand the impact of these findings we outline the past, present, and future. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:659–688. doi: 10.1002/wdev.244

This article is categorized under:

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Gene Networks and Genomics

Gene Expression and Transcriptional Hierarchies > Cellular Differentiation

Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan