bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Education, Social Attitudes and Social Participation among Adults in Britain
Authors: Paterson Lindsay
Published: February 2014

A stable finding of research on civic participation is the correlation between overall educational attainment and various attributes that are relevant to democracy, such as propensity to be active, to vote, and to hold views on important public issues. But research since the 1990s has suggested that we should be cautious about this inference. The most important question is that raised by the findings of Nie et al. (1996) on the USA, showing that rising overall levels of education, while probably making populations more liberal, did not make them more likely to vote. Even that conclusion may be too general, because research by, for example, Campbell (2004) and Nie and Hillygus (2001) shows that the content and style of an educational course are relevant. More problematic still are questions about the nature of the citizens which education might help to create: is education democratically desirable because it makes people think, or because it makes people socially liberal (which is the general tenor of most of the writing on this topic)? The paper therefore asks, using British data, what kind of education matters for social attitudes and civic participation by adults? Several British data sources are used, mainly the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts, the British Social Attitudes Survey and the British Household Panel Study.
Re-Constructing the Map: NBC's Geographic Imagination and the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics
Authors: Shears Andrew , Fekete Emily
Published: February 2014

The 2012 Olympic Games was an event watched on television by billions of viewers worldwide. In the United States, approximately 40 million people viewed a tape-delayed opening ceremony of the games on the NBC network. With such a high viewership, NBC was in a position of power to influence and educate their audience on the various countries across the globe who participated in the Olympic Games and opening ceremony. Drawing on Gregory's notion of a ‘geographic imagination’, we suggest NBC editors put their version of the world on display to the American audience, thus influencing the way in which American viewers may understand the world. In this paper, we have constructed a map to provide a visual representation of NBC's geographic imagination. We find this map, based on total screen time the countries received during the ‘Parade of Nations’ segment of the opening ceremony, to suggest a unique geographic imagination worthy of further study because of its potential wide influence.
Towards a Sociology of Attitudes
Authors: Voas David
Published: February 2014

The psychology of attitudes has made important contributions to knowledge over many decades, but it has tended to cause confusion in the study of social attitudes. From a sociological perspective, attitudes should be defined as prescriptive or evaluative judgements, not as individual predispositions to act in particular ways or to view something favourably or unfavourably. The basic distinction that has been lost is that between personal preferences, tastes or feelings on the one hand and social attitudes on the other. Attitudes also need to be distinguished from beliefs and values. Contrary to the current consensus in psychology, if not actual practice in sociology, attitudes are more usefully regarded as observable characteristics than as latent constructs.

This perspective is applied to survey questions related to attitudes and then both theoretically and empirically to the concepts of tolerance and trust, with the aim of illustrating what might emerge from a more sociological treatment of attitudes. The analysis involves cross-national comparisons using the 2008 European Values Study. Distaste for multiple kinds of out-groups seems to be a better predictor of not wanting a homosexual as a neighbour than disapproval of homosexuality, and similar results are found for other ‘others’. With trust, the evidence shows that not only individual but also national differences in the perceived fairness of others have substantial effects. To the extent that trust is rooted in a moral evaluation of people in general, it qualifies as an attitude itself rather than being just a belief about the attitudes of others.
What's Driving the Public? A Cross-Country Analysis of Political Attitudes, Human Values and Political Articulation
Authors: Kulin Joakim , Seymer Alexander
Published: February 2014

This study addresses how political attitudes are shaped across national contexts. It does so by investigating the influence of nation-specific political articulation and framing on the relationship between human values and political attitudes. Based on the literature, two attitude dimensions can be identified. First, the socioeconomic dimension captures the tension between economic equality and equity (rewarding achievements and effort). Second, the sociocultural dimension captures the tension between individual/civil liberties and traditions/conservative norms. Very few comparative studies systematically investigate the influence of a coherent structure of more basic and abstract motivations (values) on political attitudes. We fill this gap by examining the influence of basic human values on the socioeconomic and sociocultural attitude dimensions across national contexts. To investigate the impact of human values and political attitudes, individual-level data from the European Social Survey (ESS 2008) from 2008 are analyzed using multi-group structural equation modeling (MGSEM). Moreover, we also explore political discourse as a key contextual factor at the country level modifying the relationships between values and attitudes. Specifically, we use data from the Comparative Manifesto Project to investigate the moderating influence of political articulation, i.e., the articulation of socioeconomic and sociocultural issues in political party manifestos, on the relationship between values and political attitudes across countries. Results indicate substantial cross-national variation in the link between values and sociopolitical attitudes, and that this variation can be partly explained by the articulation of sociopolitical issues.
Root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE)?
Authors: Chai T. , Draxler R. R.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Both the root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) are regularly employed in model evaluation studies. Willmott and Matsuura (2005) have suggested that the RMSE is not a good indicator of average model performance and might be a misleading indicator of average error and thus the MAE would be a better metric for that purpose. Their paper has been widely cited and may have influenced many researchers in choosing MAE when presenting their model evaluation statistics. However, we contend that the proposed avoidance of RMSE and the use of MAE is not the solution to the problem. In this technical note, we demonstrate that the RMSE is not ambiguous in its meaning, contrary to what was claimed by Willmott et al. (2009). The RMSE is more appropriate to represent model performance than the MAE when the error distribution is expected to be Gaussian. In addition, we show that the RMSE satisfies the triangle inequality requirement for a distance metric.
The Legal History of a Changing Population: Integrating Mexican and U.S. Legal Customs in the American Southwest
Authors: Bottorff Andrea
Published: February 2014

None
Lawyering in Place: Topographies of Practice and Pleading in Pittsburgh, 1775—1895
Authors: Hibbitts Bernard J.
Published: February 2014

None
Deference Deferred: The Subversion of the Deference Rule in Pennsylvania in View of the United States Supreme Court’s Recent Decision in Hosanna-Tabor
Authors: Pomerleau Katherine L.
Published: February 2014

None
Transnational Migrations and YouTube Sensations: Korean Americans, Popular Music, and Social Media
Authors: Jung Eun-Young
Published: February 2014

This article addresses the music making of Korean Americans, focusing on their place within the emergent social media environment that has exploded in the last five years and comparing this with the very different environment of the previous decade. Biographical coverage of the careers of three Korean American musicians, two of whom have extensive social media presence, demonstrates how these media, particularly YouTube, represent a fundamental shift in the popular music profession, providing equalizing opportunities that are enabling some to circumvent racial barriers that have long existed and still persist in the major music and entertainment industries in the United States.
Envisioned, Ensounded, Enacted: Sacred Ecology and Indigenous Musical Experience in Yoreme Ceremonies of Northwest Mexico
Authors: Simonett Helena
Published: February 2014

This paper explores an ecological approach to the perception of musical meaning. Ethnographically informed by a Yoreme understanding of seeing and hearing as interrelated perceptual activities, this paper critically evaluates the concept of soundscape and the dichotomization and hierarchization of our (Western) perception faculties. It is a contribution to the growing number of publications with an integrative humanistic-scientific theoretical approach to ethnomusicology, based on insights gained from indigenous cosmovision, perception of sound, and human-animal-environment relationships.
A G2 Continuous Path-smoothing Algorithm Using Modified Quadratic Polynomial Interpolation
Authors: Huh Uk-Youl , Chang Seong-Ryong
Published: February 2014

Path searching algorithm is one of the main topics in studies on path planning. These algorithms are used to avoiding obstacles and find paths from starting point to target point. There are dynamic problems that must be addressed when these paths are applied in real environments. In order to be applicable in actual situations, the path must be a smooth path. A smooth path is a path that maintains continuity. Continuity is decided by the differential values of the path. In order to be G2 continuous, the secondary differential values of the path must be connected throughout the path. In this paper, the interpolation method is used to construct continuous paths. The quadratic polynomial interpolation is a simple method for obtaining continuous paths about three points. The proposed algorithm makes a connection of three points with curves and the proposed path is rotated using the parametric method in order to make the path optimal and smooth. The polynomials expand to the next three points and they merge into the entire path using the membership functions with G2 continuity.
Resonant second-harmonic generation in metal–insulator–metal structure
Authors: Teshima Daiki , Fujimura Ryushi , Kajikawa Kotaro
Published: February 2014

Optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure is investigated. The experimental results of the second-harmonic (SH) intensity profile as a function of the angle of incidence indicate that the SH light observed from the MIM structure is mainly from bulk nonlinear polarization (quadrupoles or magnetic dipoles) in the metallic layer rather than from the nonlinear electric dipoles at the metallic surface (surface SHG). This is because the SH fields from the metallic surfaces in contact with the insulator layer are canceled and the SH light from the bulk nonlinear polarization (bulk SHG) is dominantly observed. A comparison with the SH intensity from a quartz crystal used as a standard reveals that the susceptibility for the bulk nonlinear polarization is found be in the order of 102 pm/V.
Evaluation of damage in InGaZnO4 induced by plasma using electron spin resonance measurement
Authors: Matsuda Tokiyoshi , Nishimoto Daiki , Takahashi Kota , Kimura Mutsumi
Published: February 2014

Damage in InGaZnO4 (IGZO) powder induced by plasma was evaluated using electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement. An ESR signal was found at g = 1.939 with a peak-to-peak width of Δg = 0.006, and another weak signal was found at g = 2.003 with Δg = 0.003. The former ESR signal results from singly ionized oxygen vacancies caused by the trapping of an unpaired electron surrounding Ga3+ and Zn2+, whereas the latter signal results from free electrons or oxygen vacancies surrounding In3+.
Multiple Buffering for Parallel Approximate Sequence Matching using Disk-based Suffix Tree on Multi-core CPU
Authors: Tamura Keiichi , Watanuki Yousuke , Kitakami Hajime , Takahashi Yoshifumi
Published: February 2014

Suffix trees, which are trie structures that present the suffixes of sequences (e.g., strings), are widely used for sequence search in different application domains such as, text data mining, bioinformatics and computational biology. In particular, suffix trees are useful in bioinformatics applications, because they can search similar sub-sequences and extract frequent sequence patterns efficiently. In recent years, efficient construction of a suffix tree that allows faster sequence searches has become one of the most important challenges, because the number and size of the data that are stored in sequence databases have been increasing exponentially. This paper proposes a novel parallelization model for approximate sequence matching that uses disk-based suffix trees, which are built on hard disks not on memory, on a multi-core CPU. In the proposed parallelization model, we divide an entire sequence database into two or more sub-databases called partitions. For each partition, we build a disk-based suffix tree and define a task as an approximate sequence matching on one disk-based suffix tree. Moreover, the proposed parallelization model involves a multiple buffering management system to avoid conflicts among CPU-cores. We evaluated the proposed parallelization model using an actual amino acid sequence database on a PC. The experimental results show a substantial improvement in computation performance.
Efficient Migration of Application to Clouds: Analysis and Comparison
Authors: Rai Rashmi , Mehfuz Shabana , Sahoo G.
Published: February 2014

Owing to the immense popularity in the last couple of years Cloud technology is being regarded as one of the most influential technology in new era. Given the long term benefits of adopting this new phenomenon, many organizations have decided to migrate to the cloud. However, due to rapidly evolving market and the security issues hovering over the cloud, most of the organizations are unsure about how to proceed with the migration into the cloud. After a brief introduction about the technology, this paper aims to provide an understanding of migration challenges. The paper analyses the migration of a web-based application, used for an academic organization, to the cloud. It also compares the application’s performance when deployed to a traditional server versus its deployment to Windows Azure.
A Model of Acceptance of Web 2.0 in learning in higher education: a case study of two cultures
Authors: Usoro Abel , Echeng Razep , Majewski Grzegorz
Published: February 2014

Though a few empirical studies on acceptance of Web 2.0 as a social networking tool in teaching and learning exist, apparently none of such studies is on students and faculties views from different cultures which is the focus of this study. This paper reports on a pilot study that begins to fill this gap by investigating the perceptions, attitude and acceptance of Web 2.0 in teaching and learning from two countries (developed and developing). A conceptual model of 9 variables and associated hypotheses was designed based on literature review and initial primary study. A questionnaire was developed from the model operationalization and used to collect data from 317 students from 5 universities in Nigeria and 273 students and lecturers from one university in Scotland. The findings that came from data analysis indicate that all the variables are validated from the data collected in Scotland but motivation via learning management systems which are not presently used in these universities in Nigeria affect intention to use Web 2.0 in e-learning in Nigeria. Some of the validated variables are perceived usefulness and prior knowledge. The major conclusions and recommendations include the utilization of Web 2.0 facilities to stimulate participation in learning. This work will contribute to the body of knowledge on acceptance of Web 2.0 social networking tools in teaching and learning. It will aid the key players of e-learning which include content developers, technology vendors and service providers. It may also support management decisions toward investing better on technology so as to improve the educational sector.
Music, Mathematics, and Microcomputers
Authors: Gwee Nigel
Published: February 2014

In early Western medieval education, music was taught as one of the quadrivium, which comprised four of the seven liberal arts, in turn built upon an earlier Western classical tradition that produced the trivium. We re-examine music’s close relationship with the other elements of the quadrivium, and further establish links with elements of modern computing theory.
Agile Software Development and Service Science
Authors: Meier Andreas , Ivarsson Jenny C.
Published: February 2014

This paper shows the necessary steps, which should be taken in order to get the most out of agile software development in interdisciplinary settings involving scientific experts. If applied properly, Agile delivers increased productivity, higher quality and, last but not least, higher customer satisfaction. The task of developing high quality software is already difficult. Developing software for a new IT-enabled service in an interdisciplinary team however, is even more challenging.

In interdisciplinary projects scientific experts from different fields need to work together with computer scientists, developers, testers, business analysts and domain experts. Software engineering is very time-consuming and scientific experts who have never been involved in a software project, often find it hard to understand why progress sometimes seems so slow. Therefore, it is important that they understand what it takes to write high-quality code, i.e. code that is clean, tested, documented and extendable at the right points. The best way to achieve this goal is to expand the software team, make the scientific experts an integral part of it and thus profit from their know-how.
Battling Bullying: Do Obese Children Face the Same Fight?
Authors: Vanderloo Leigh M. , Mandich Gillian
Published: February 2014

The prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada continues to rise. While the relationship between chronic conditions and related physiological co-morbidities has been examined extensively, less attention has been focused on the psychological and social implications of increased adiposity. This paper addresses the impact of social stigmatization and discrimination, specifically bullying, on the psychological well-being of obese children, and highlights potential solutions from a population health perspective. Additional attention is required to study the impact of stigmatizing experiences on the emotional well-being of obese children and adverse psychosocial outcomes that may be exacerbated by weight bias.
Real‐time inversions for finite fault slip models and rupture geometry based on high‐rate GPS data
Authors: Minson S. E. , Murray Jessica R. , Langbein John O. , Gomberg Joan S.
Published: February 2014

We present an inversion strategy capable of using real‐time high‐rate GPS data to simultaneously solve for a distributed slip model and fault geometry in real time as a rupture unfolds. We employ Bayesian inference to find the optimal fault geometry and the distribution of possible slip models for that geometry using a simple analytical solution. By adopting an analytical Bayesian approach, we can solve this complex inversion problem (including calculating the uncertainties on our results) in real time. Furthermore, since the joint inversion for distributed slip and fault geometry can be computed in real time, the time required to obtain a source model of the earthquake does not depend on the computational cost. Instead, the time required is controlled by the duration of the rupture and the time required for information to propagate from the source to the receivers. We apply our modeling approach, called Bayesian Evidence‐based Fault Orientation and Real‐time Earthquake Slip, to the 2011 Tohoku‐oki earthquake, 2003 Tokachi‐oki earthquake, and a simulated Hayward fault earthquake. In all three cases, the inversion recovers the magnitude, spatial distribution of slip, and fault geometry in real time. Since our inversion relies on static offsets estimated from real‐time high‐rate GPS data, we also present performance tests of various approaches to estimating quasi‐static offsets in real time. We find that the raw high‐rate time series are the best data to use for determining the moment magnitude of the event, but slightly smoothing the raw time series helps stabilize the inversion for fault geometry.
Skewed orientation groups in scatter plots of earthquake fault plane solutions: Implications for extensional geometry at oceanic spreading centers
Authors: Lister G. S. , Tkalčić H. , McClusky S. , Forster M. A.
Published: February 2014

Systematic analysis of earthquake focal solutions derived from centroid moment tensors shows well‐defined orientation groups in scatterplots of fault plane normals and associated slip line vectors. Consideration of the geometry implied by these orientation groups can allow resolution of the ambiguity inherent in the choice as to which of the two conjugate fault plane solutions should apply, and in many cases, the same classification can be applied to the entire orientation group. Examining scatter plots of data from normal fault earthquakes on spreading ridges typically shows orthogonal relations but there are also many cases where there is a skew with respect to the great circles defined by faults on adjacent transform faults. This can be explained by finite rock strength in the adjacent transforms, requiring resolved shear stress to allow movement, thus requiring rotation of the trajectories of the deviatoric stress axes: anticlockwise for right‐lateral transforms and clockwise for left‐lateral transforms. This asymmetry also requires formation of tilt block geometries reminiscent of Basin and Range style continental extension.
Spatiotemporal development of irreversible mixing in midlatitude baroclinic wave life cycles: Morphology, energetics, and nonisentropic mixing activity
Authors: Yamazaki Y. H. , Peltier W. R.
Published: February 2014

The significance of nonisentropic irreversible mixing processes is diagnosed for idealized simulations of synoptic‐scale baroclinic wave life cycles along the subtropical jet stream, using a nonhydrostatic, anelastic, mesoscale model subject to a free‐slip surface boundary condition. A variety of morphological features of mixing is identified such as a mesoscale columnar vortex associated with the onset of frontal fracture, episodic overturnings along the surface fronts, “wrinkling” of the tropopause, and injection of tropospheric air into the stratosphere. The evolution of the degree of nonisentropic irreversible mixing is first analyzed by computing the change of the “base” component of potential energy that cannot be converted into kinetic energy. The structure of the mixing activity is also diagnosed through inspection of spatiotemporal changes of entropy to demonstrate that the surface fronts are by far the most active regions of such activity. This activity is found to be primarily longitudinal, extending from the surface to the lower stratosphere, to form a three‐dimensional spiral in the synoptic‐scale cyclone and along the fronts. However, an exceptional region also exists along the warm front, where the structure becomes primarily transverse in the mature phase of frontal development in a model including an explicit representation of small‐scale turbulence. In all simulations, the net transfer of mass and heat across the tropopause is from troposphere to stratosphere. The maximum transfer occurs when the observed climatological level of stratification contrast is assumed between stratosphere and troposphere. The same climatological choice leads to a minimum net irreversible mixing, which occurs primarily at Earth's surface.
Watershed‐scale modeling of streamflow change in incised montane meadows
Authors: Essaid Hedeff I. , Hill Barry R.
Published: February 2014

Land use practices have caused stream channel incision and water table decline in many montane meadows of the Western United States. Incision changes the magnitude and timing of streamflow in water supply source watersheds, a concern to resource managers and downstream water users. The hydrology of montane meadows under natural and incised conditions was investigated using watershed simulation for a range of hydrologic conditions. The results illustrate the interdependence between: watershed and meadow hydrology; bedrock and meadow aquifers; and surface and groundwater flow through the meadow for the modeled scenarios. During the wet season, stream incision resulted in less overland flow and interflow and more meadow recharge causing a net decrease in streamflow and increase in groundwater storage relative to natural meadow conditions. During the dry season, incision resulted in less meadow evapotranspiration and more groundwater discharge to the stream causing a net increase in streamflow and a decrease in groundwater storage relative to natural meadow conditions. In general, for a given meadow setting, the magnitude of change in summer streamflow and long‐term change in watershed groundwater storage due to incision will depend on the combined effect of: reduced evapotranspiration in the eroded meadow; induced groundwater recharge; replenishment of dry season groundwater storage depletion in meadow and bedrock aquifers by precipitation during wet years; and groundwater storage depletion that is not replenished by precipitation during wet years.
Seasonality updated in 28 European/Mediterranean countries: A continuing enigma
Authors: Cummings David R.
Published: February 2014

Objectives

This report updates birth seasonality for 28 European/Mediterranean countries and evaluates the possible influence of atmospheric clarity/quality on seasonality.

Methods

Birth data between 1970 and 2011 were adjusted for seasonality and are presented as conceptions.

Results

Presently, 27 of 28 countries have peak conceptions during the last 3 months of the year, a greater concentration than was previously recognized.

Conclusions

There is no apparent explanation for the en masse transition of seasonality, particularly the abrupt change in seasonality for nine countries, The frequency of sexual intercourse might be a one determinant while another possibility might be the decadal changes in atmospheric clearness/quality. However, causal relationships cannot be inferred without further study and/or animal experimentation. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:424–426, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Control of the Emission Behaviors of Trifunctional o‐Carborane Dyes
Authors: Tominaga Masato , Naito Hirofumi , Morisaki Yasuhiro , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: February 2014

A series of organic dyes were synthesized that contain an o‐carborane unit in combination with phenanthrene, tolane, and BODIPY moieties. In solution, compound 7 a, which has phenanthrene and tolane units, does not emit as a result of an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) from the emitters to the C1C2 bond of the o‐carborane cage, whereas, in the aggregate and solid state, 7 a emits intense green light through aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). In solution, compound 7 b, which has phenanthrene, tolane, and BODIPY units, emits green light from the BODIPY moiety, whereas, in both the aggregate and solid state, it does not emit as a result of the energy transfer from the phenanthrene and tolanes to the neighboring BODIPY units and the successive aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) mechanism. This work shows that the emission behaviors, the ICT, AIE, energy transfer, and ACQ, of these dyes can be controlled by the substituents at the o‐carborane core.
Delayed Gadolinium‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Medial Tibiofemoral Cartilage and Its Relationship With Meniscal Pathology: A Longitudinal Study Using 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Crema Michel D. , Hunter David J. , Burstein Deborah , Roemer Frank W. , Li Ling , Krishnan Nitya , Marra Monica D. , Hellio Le‐Graverand Marie‐Pierre , Guermazi Ali
Published: February 2014

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between medial meniscal pathology and cartilage matrix status using delayed gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) in medial tibiofemoral cartilage in a sample of middle‐aged women.

Methods

A total of 148 women ages ≥40 years were included, and 3.0T MRI of the knee was performed at baseline and at 1 year. T2‐weighted, fat‐suppressed and 3‐dimensional inversion recovery–prepared spoiled gradient‐recalled echo sequences were acquired 90 minutes after gadolinium injection. Baseline medial meniscal pathology was scored on a scale of 0–3, where 0 = normal, 1 = intrasubstance meniscal signal change, 2 = single tears, and 3 = complex tears/maceration. The central medial femur, the medial tibial plateau, and the posterior medial femur were subjected to dGEMRIC at baseline and at 1 year. Analysis of covariance was used to examine whether baseline and 1‐year dGEMRIC indices in the same regions were related to the severity of meniscal damage at baseline, using normal medial menisci (grade 0) as the reference.

Results

Medial compartments with grade 3 lesions showed significantly lower dGEMRIC indices (less proteoglycan content) at the central medial femur region compared with compartments with normal menisci. Mean ± SEM differences in dGEMRIC indices between grade 3 and grade 0 menisci at the central medial femur were −119.1 ± 34.2 msec at baseline (P = 0.03) and −120.3 ± 35.2 msec at followup (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

High‐grade damage of the medial meniscus showed significant associations with lower dGEMRIC indices. The dGEMRIC technique may be a useful tool in detecting early degenerative changes of cartilage when meniscal function is lost.
Inhibition of Spermidine/Spermine N1‐Acetyltransferase Activity: A New Therapeutic Concept in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Neidhart Michel , Karouzakis Emmanuel , Jüngel Astrid , Gay Renate E. , Gay Steffen
Published: February 2014

Objective

Changes in polyamine‐modulated factor 1 (PMF‐1) promoter methylation might favor the expression of spermidine/spermine N1‐acetyltransferase 1 (SSAT‐1), causing excessive consumption of S‐adenosyl methionine (SAM). This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of SSAT‐1 activity inhibition, either alone or in combination with SAM.

Methods

Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA). PMF‐1 promoter methylation was determined by pyrosequencing. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against SSAT‐1 were transfected weekly in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). In addition, synovial fibroblasts were treated with diminazene aceturate (DA), an inhibitor of SSAT‐1. SSAT‐1, 5‐methylcytosine (5‐MeC), adenosyl methionine decarboxylase (AMD), PMF‐1, DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT‐1), CXCL12, β1 integrin, and CD44 levels were measured by flow cytometry. Putrescine levels were determined by colorimetry. Levels of matrix metalloproteinases were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Cell adhesion was tested. The SCID mouse model of RA was used to monitor the invasiveness of RASFs.

Results

RASFs showed elevated SSAT‐1, AMD, and PMF‐1 levels. However, PMF‐1 promoter methylation was unchanged. Transfection of siRNA targeting SSAT‐1 increased 5‐MeC levels within 21 days. Similarly, DA increased 5‐MeC levels in RASFs. In addition, DA increased the levels of DNMT‐1, decreased the levels of AMD, putrescine, activation markers, and MMP‐1, and altered the adhesion of RASFs. DA was more efficient in RASFs with higher levels of SSAT‐1. Most interestingly, the combination of DA and SAM reduced the invasiveness of RASFs by 70%.

Conclusion

The use of DA alone or in combination with SAM/l‐methionine might introduce a new therapeutic concept in RA. This is the first therapy that would directly target RASFs and thereby inhibit ongoing joint destruction.
Metabolic engineering for p‐coumaryl alcohol production in Escherichia coli by introducing an artificial phenylpropanoid pathway
Authors: Jansen Frank , Gillessen Bernhard , Mueller Frank , Commandeur Ulrich , Fischer Rainer , Kreuzaler Fritz
Published: February 2014

The plant polymer lignin is the greatest source of aromatic chemical structures on earth. Hence, the chemically diverse lignin monomers are valuable raw materials for fine chemicals, materials synthesis, and food and flavor industries. However, extensive use of this natural resource is hampered by the large number of different lignin monomers and the complex and irregular structure of lignin, which renders current processes for its chemical or enzymatic degradation inefficient. The microbial production of lignin monomers from renewable resources represents a promising alternative to lignin degradation, which could meet the demand for aromatic chemical structures. In this study, we describe the functional introduction of an artificial phenylpropanoid pathway into Escherichia coli, achieved by transferring several genes from plants and microbes. The established chimeric pathway efficiently converts l‐tyrosine into the lignin precursor molecule p‐coumaryl alcohol.
James Cretson leadership award: A tale of finding my intellectual home with ASIS&T
Authors: Shah Chirag
Published: February 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

A converted computer scientist, the author looks back to his early intrigue with ASIS&T, his excitement at meeting notable scholars and subsequent history of participation. Shah presented a paper at his first meeting and every year since and has expanded his engagement, becoming active in SIGs, volunteering at the organizational level and advising a student chapter. Though this level of engagement involves significant work, Shah sees it not as a burden but as an important aspect of his career. As student chapter advisor, Shah encourages students to join ASIS&T early, attend as many activities as possible and interact broadly with others. New members should join a local chapter and a SIG and take advantage of scholarly opportunities through the Association. Attention to specific issues from organizational transparency to outreach will improve the Association.
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia presenting with polyserositis due to an immune‐mediated monocyte activation
Authors: Imataki Osamu , Watanabe Naoki , Matsumoto Kensuke , Uemura Makiko
Published: February 2014

Key Clinical Message

Monocytosis is often profoundly implicated in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). We diagnosed a 63‐year‐old woman with CMML involving heterochronological systemic polyserositis with infiltrating benign monocytes. The patient's pleural effusion was eliminated completely with corticosteroid therapy. We speculate that our case represents an immunological reaction with activated monocytes triggered by infection.
A Fluorescent Sensor for Highly Selective Detection of Nitroaromatic Explosives Based on a 2D, Extremely Stable, Metal–Organic Framework
Authors: Zhang Shu‐Ran , Du Dong‐Ying , Qin Jun‐Sheng , Bao Shao‐Juan , Li Shun‐Li , He Wen‐Wen , Lan Ya‐Qian , Shen Ping , Su Zhong‐Min
Published: February 2014

A 2D, extremely stable, metal–organic framework (MOF), NENU‐503, was successfully constructed. It displays highly selective and recyclable properties in detection of nitroaromatic explosives as a fluorescent sensor. This is the first MOF that can distinguish between nitroaromatic molecules with different numbers of NO2 groups.
ChemInform Abstract: The Layered Antimonides RELi3Sb2 (RE: Ce—Nd, Sm, Gd—Ho). Filled Derivatives of the CaAl2Si2 Structure Type.
Authors: Schaefer Marion C. , Suen Nian‐Tzu , Raglione Michaella , Bobev Svilen
Published: February 2014

The title compounds are prepared from stoichiometric mixtures of the elements (Nb tubes, 900 °C for 24 h and 800 °C for 96 h) and characterized by powder and single crystal XRD, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and TB‐LMTO electronic band structure calculations.
ChemInform Abstract: High Pressure Synthesis of Marcasite‐Type Rhodium Pernitride.
Authors: Niwa Ken , Dzivenko Dmytro , Suzuki Kentaro , Riedel Ralf , Troyan Ivan , Eremets Mikhail , Hasegawa Masashi
Published: February 2014

RhN2 is prepared by high temperature/high‐pressure reaction of Rh and N2 (IR laser‐heated diamond anvil cell, 43.2 GPa, ≈3000 K).
ChemInform Abstract: In situ Grafted Carbon on Sawtooth‐Like SiC Supported Ni for High‐Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.
Authors: Xie Song , Guo Xiao‐Ning , Jin Guo‐Qiang , Tong Xi‐Li , Wang Ying‐Yong , Guo Xiang‐Yun
Published: February 2014

A new C—Ni—SiC composite is prepared by hydrothermal growth of Ni(OH)2 on sawtooth‐like SiC from a mixture of SiC, Ni(NO3)2 solution, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, and urea (autoclave, 150 °C, 12 h) followed by calcination at 450 °C for 4 h to obtain NiO/SiC composite.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Structure and Properties of a New Noncentrosymmetric Aluminoborate.
Authors: Meng Qin , Wang Guo‐Ming , Yang Bai‐Feng , He Huan , Yang Guo‐Yu
Published: February 2014

Colorless prismatic crystals of the new compound (H2teta)[Al(B5O10)] (teta: triethylenetetramine) are solvothermally synthesized in the absence of water from a mixture of Al(OiPr)3, H3BO3, teta, and pyridine (autoclave, 180 °C, 7 d; 20% yield).
ChemInform Abstract: From Solution to the Solid State: Control of Niobium Oxide—Fluoride [NbOxFy]n‐ Species.
Authors: Lu Hongcheng , Gautier Romain , Donakowski Martin D. , Liu Zhengtang , Poeppelmeier Kenneth R.
Published: February 2014

Compounds (II) and (III) are formed by adjusting the acidity of the solution using different organic bases.
ChemInform Abstract: Two‐Dimensional Bicapped Supramolecular Hybrid Semiconductor Material Constructed from the Insulators α‐Keggin Polyoxomolybdate and 4,4′‐Bipyridine.
Authors: Iyer Abishek K. , Peter Sebastian C.
Published: February 2014

(bpyH)2[SiMo14O44]·xH2O (bpy: 4,4′‐bipyridine) is hydrothermally synthesized from a mixture of Na2MoO4, Na2SiO3, CuCl2, bpy, HCl, and H2O (autoclave, pH 1.6, 160 °C, 5 d, 61% yield).
ChemInform Abstract: Copper‐Catalyzed ortho‐Halogenation of Protected Anilines.
Authors: Urones Beatriz , Martinez Angel Manu , Rodriguez Nuria , Gomez Arrayas Ramon , Carretero Juan C.
Published: February 2014

A highly regioselective 2‐pyridylsulfonyl and 2‐pyrimidylsulfonyl‐directed ortho‐C—H mono‐halogenation of anilines (I), (IV), (VI) and (VIII) is described.
ChemInform Abstract: Development of a Robust Reagent for the Two‐Carbon Homologation of Aldehydes to (E)‐α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes in Water.
Authors: McNulty James , Zepeda‐Velazquez Carlos , McLeod David
Published: February 2014

The new pinacolacetalphosphonium salt (V) smoothly reacts with aldehydes in aqueous medium to give homologated acetals which hydrolyze to corresponding two‐carbon homologated unsaturated aldehydes with excellent (E)‐selectivity.
ChemInform Abstract: Cobalt Carbonyl as an Effective CO Source in One‐Pot Synthesis of Esters from Aryl Halides.
Authors: Baburajan P. , Senthilkumaran R. , Elango Kuppanagounder P.
Published: February 2014

Co2(CO)8 is applied for the first time as an effective carbonyl source in Pd‐catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation reactions of aryl halides under microwave conditions.
ChemInform Abstract: Iodide‐Catalyzed Synthesis of N‐Nitrosamines via C—N Cleavage of Nitromethane.
Authors: Zhang Jie , Jiang Jiewen , Li Yuling , Wan Xiaobing
Published: February 2014

A mild and operationally simple method for the title synthesis from commercially available materials is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: Conversion of Azides into Diazo Compounds in Water.
Authors: Chou Ho‐Hsuan , Raines Ronald T.
Published: February 2014

A new phosphinoester mediates the conversion of azides into diazo compounds in phosphate buffer at pH 7.0.
ChemInform Abstract: New One‐Pot Procedure for the Synthesis of Diprotected Amino Alcohols from Unprotected Vinyl Aziridines.
Authors: Righi Giuliana , Bovicelli Paolo , Tirotta Ilaria
Published: February 2014

An one‐pot procedure for the synthesis of diprotected amino alcohols from 1,2‐trans‐substituted vinyl aziridines is studied.
ChemInform Abstract: Non‐Symmetrical Dialkyl Carbonate Synthesis Promoted by 1‐(3‐Trimethoxysilylpropyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium Chloride.
Authors: Kumar Subodh , Jain Suman L.
Published: February 2014

A simple, efficient and environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of non‐symmetrical dialkyl carbonates (III) (18 examples) via ionic liquid promoted transesterification of dimethyl carbonate is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: A Straightforward and Highly Diastereoselective Access to Functionalized Monofluorinated Cyclopropanes via a Michael Initiated Ring Closure Reaction.
Authors: Ferrary Thibault , David Emilie , Milanole Gaelle , Besset Tatiana , Jubault Philippe , Pannecoucke Xavier
Published: February 2014

A tandem Michael addition/ring closure sequence is developed to yield fluorinated cyclopropanes from a reaction of ammonium salts (I) derived from bromofluoroacetate and DABCO with electron deficient alkenes.
ChemInform Abstract: Cycloaddition Profile of Pentafulvenes with 3‐Oxidopyrylium Betaine: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations.
Authors: Kuthanapillil Jinesh M. , Nijamudheen A. , Joseph Nayana , Prakash Praveen , Suresh E. , Datta Ayan , Radhakrishnan K. V.
Published: February 2014

The control of the cycloaddition of the title compounds towards the [6+3] or [3+2] adducts by either organic base or microwave irradiation is presented.
ChemInform Abstract: Rapid and Efficient Trifluoromethylation of Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Compounds Using Potassium Trifluoroacetate Enable by a Flow System.
Authors: Chen Mao , Buchwald Stephen L.
Published: February 2014

This simple, scalable, and efficient protocol represents the first example of a trifluoromethylation conducted under flow conditions using CF3COOK as ‐CF3 source.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Aromatic Nitro Compounds — An Unusual Chain Elongation.
Authors: Nemeth Janos , Kiss Arpad , Hell Zoltan
Published: February 2014

Treatment of nitro‐substituted acetophenones with alcohols in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium on magnesium‐lanthanum mixed oxide provides the corresponding aromatic amines and also unexpected chain elongation products.
ChemInform Abstract: Use of Primary Amines for the Selective N‐Alkylation of Anilines by a Reusable Heterogeneous Catalyst.
Authors: Linciano Pasquale , Pizzetti Marianna , Porcheddu Andrea , Taddei Maurizio
Published: February 2014

A simple protocol for the Pd‐C mediated oxidation of primary amines to imines followed by aniline addition is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: Development of a Chiral Bis(guanidino)iminophosphorane as an Uncharged Organosuperbase for the Enantioselective Amination of Ketones.
Authors: Takeda Tadahiro , Terada Masahiro
Published: February 2014

Newly developed bis(guanidino)iminophosphoranes possess the highest basicity among chiral organocatalysts reported to date.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade Oxidation/sp2 C—H Acylation of Azoarenes with Aryl Methanes.
Authors: Xiong Feng , Qian Cheng , Lin Dongen , Zeng Wei , Lu Xiaoxia
Published: February 2014

A Pd‐catalyzed oxidative acylation of azoarenes with aryl methanes by using tBuOOH as oxidant is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: First Palladium‐Catalyzed Denitrated Coupling Reaction of Nitroarenes with Phenols.
Authors: Wang Hailei , Yu Ajuan , Cao Aijuan , Chang Junbiao , Wu Yangjie
Published: February 2014

A novel protocol of palladacycle‐catalyzed denitrated coupling of nitroarenes (I) with phenols (II) is described leading to unsymmetrical diaryl ethers (III) (37 examples) in moderate to high yields.
ChemInform Abstract: DMAP‐Catalyzed Regel‐Type Direct C‐2 (Hetero)Aroylation of Oxazoles and Thiazoles Derivatives with Acid Chlorides.
Authors: Lassalas Pierrik , Marsais Francis , Hoarau Christophe
Published: February 2014

The general and efficient method allows the synthesis of a wide range of 2‐ketoazoles via metal free reaction of oxazoles and thiazoles with acid chlorides.
ChemInform Abstract: High‐Pressure Organic Chemistry. Part 38. Efficient Organocatalytic Michael Addition Reaction of β‐Ketoesters under High Pressure.
Authors: Moritaka Maya , Nakano Keiji , Ichikawa Yoshiyasu , Kotsuki Hiyoshizo
Published: February 2014

The catalytic activities of four different thioureas using DMAP as co‐catalyst in four solvents are described.
ChemInform Abstract: Direct Preparation of Nitriles from Carboxylic Acids in Continuous Flow.
Authors: Cantillo David , Kappe C. Oliver
Published: February 2014

The title reaction proceeds in supercritical MeCN without any catalyst or additives.
ChemInform Abstract: Organocatalytic Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Morita—Baylis—Hillman Carbonates with Phosphorus Ylides: Synthesis of Chiral 3‐Substituted 2,4‐Functionalized 1,4‐Pentadienes.
Authors: Lin Aijun , Wang Junying , Mao Haibin , Shi Yan , Mao Zhijie , Zhu Chengjian
Published: February 2014

In the presence of a cinchona alkaloid derived tertiary amine catalyst phosphorous ylides (I) undergo efficient asymmetric allylic substitution of O‐Boc protected Morita—Baylis—Hillman products (II) to yield the chiral pentadiene (IV) after reaction of the allylic adducts with formaldehyde.
ChemInform Abstract: Microwave‐Assisted Efficient Synthesis of Aryl Thioethers Through C—H Functionalization of Arenes.
Authors: Liu Yi‐Chen , Lee Chin‐Fa
Published: February 2014

The sequential Ir‐catalyzed borylation followed by copper promoted C‐S bond formation gives access to aryl thioethers with excellent meta regioselectivity.
ChemInform Abstract: ZnO‐Mediated Regioselective C‐Arylsulfonylation of Indoles: A Facile Solvent‐Free Synthesis of 2‐ and 3‐Sulfonylindoles and Preliminary Evaluation of Their Activity Against Drug‐Resistant Mutant HIV‐1 Reverse Transcriptases (RTs).
Authors: Tocco Graziella , Begala Michela , Esposito Francesca , Caboni Pierluigi , Cannas Valeria , Tramontano Enzo
Published: February 2014

Moreover, indoles and sulfonyl chlorides with strong electron withdrawing groups furnish the corresponding 2‐sulfinyl or 3‐sulfinyl indole derivatives.
ChemInform Abstract: Salicylaldoxime‐Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol)‐Bridged Dicationic Ionic Liquid ([Salox‐PEG1000‐DIL][BF4]) as a Novel Ligand for Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki—Miyaura Reaction in Water.
Authors: Wang Yinglei , Luo Jun , Liu Zuliang
Published: February 2014

The catalytic system can be easily recovered and reused for at least five runs with only slight decrease in its activity.
ChemInform Abstract: Gallium(III) Triflate Catalyzed Diastereoselective Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction by Using Low Catalyst Loadings.
Authors: Plancq Baptiste , Justafort Lyse Carole , Lafantaisie Mathieu , Ollevier Thierry
Published: February 2014

Ga(OTf)3 is a safe and bench‐stable catalyst and act as a HOTf surrogate.
ChemInform Abstract: Facile One‐Pot Palladium‐Catalyzed Sequential Coupling to Diarylmethanes by Using Aryl Methyl Ketones as the Methylene Donors.
Authors: Wang Xing , Liu Lian‐Hua , Shi Jin‐Hua , Peng Ji , Tu Hai‐Yang , Zhang Ai‐Dong
Published: February 2014

No coupling product is obtained when aryl bromides are reacting with substrates bearing an active hydrogen such as in the amino‐ and hydroxy‐group.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of Optically Pure 3,3′‐Diaryl Binaphthyl Disulfonic Acids via Stepwise N—S Bond Cleavage.
Authors: Hatano Manabu , Ozaki Takuya , Nishikawa Keisuke , Ishihara Kazuaki
Published: February 2014

A practical synthesis of the title compounds in nine steps starting from binaphthyl (I) is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of 1,4‐Diarylfluorenone and 1,4‐Diarylfluorene.
Authors: Wang Yanmei , Liu Qiancai , Xiong Xiaoli , Deng Shiming , Zhang Jun , Zhu Min , Ge Hangmin
Published: February 2014

Starting materials (I) are readily prepared by condensation of 1,3‐diarylacetones with ninhydrin.