bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Å ta spørsmål om form på alvor
Authors: Gjernes Liv Mildrid
Published: January 2017

I dette essayet vil jeg prøve å vise hvordan Åpen forms metode, som ble utviklet i Bergen på 1970-tallet, og som senere har blitt brukt i undervisninga ved Bergen arkitekthøgskole, også kan anvendes som verktøy i faget kunst og håndverk i grunnskolelærerutdanninga. Åpen form undersøker et intersubjektivt og innovativt rom, tuftet på individets erfaringsverden, egenverdi og skapende mot. I et deltakende samspill kan Åpen form kommuniseres inn i en felles forståelse, tolket, utført, vist og avklaret gjennom praktiske handlinger og øvelser. Jeg tar utgangspunkt i 1) Viktor Papaneks tilnærming med at det å forme i seg selv er en grunnleggende menneskelig aktivitet, går videre til Hansjörg Hohrs «estetiske læreprosesser» og fortsetter med 2) Oskar Hansens begrep om «Open Form», praktisert og utviklet av Svein Hatløy og arkitektgruppa Gult Felt gjennom ulike symposier og prosjekter på Vestlandet. Den åpne tilnærminga til form blir belyst spesielt med 3) «Warszawa-spelet» og med et lite eksempel fra egen didaktisk praksis. For videre å underbygge en kunstdidaktisk tilnærming, tolker jeg 4) Åpen forms metode i et fenomenologisk perspektiv og avrunder essayet med min overbevisning om 5) «det estetiske som kunnskapsform» i forlengelse av definisjonen til pedagogene Austring og Sørensen og min egen erfaring fra praksis som kunstner og som lærer i arbeid med form. Åpen form som metode har referanser i kunstfeltets mangfoldige estetiske praksiser. Denne tenkinga kan la seg utvikle og bruke som en didaktisk formel også i mer almendannende undervisning. Som lærerutdanner med kunstfaglig bakgrunn, ser jeg her en mulighet til å styrke og synliggjøre estetiske læreprosesser i grunnskolelærerutdanninga. Metoden representerer en åpen og praktisk undersøkende holdning til form i et materielt og romlig uttrykk. I et forsøk på å løfte fram dette enkle men anvendelige tenkesettet, vil jeg trekke inn både biografiske og selvbiografiske elementer, referanser fra ulike estetiske praksiser og noe filosofisk teori som jeg mener kan belyse og inspirere. Essayet plasserer Åpen forms metode i en vitenskapsteoretisk sammenheng. Det inneholder også noe utdypende teori som samtidig belyser det estetiske som en allmenn kunnskapsform.
Panel strain ofKlebsiella pneumoniaefor beta-lactam antibiotic evaluation: their phenotypic and genotypic characterization
Authors: Dsouza Roshan , Pinto Naina Adren , Hwang InSik , Cho YoungLag , Yong Dongeun , Choi Jongrak , Lee Kyungwon , Chong Yunsop
Published: January 2017

Klebsiella pneumoniaeis responsible for numerous infections caused in hospitals, leading to mortality and morbidity. It has been evolving as a multi-drug resistant pathogen, acquiring multiple resistances such as such as horizontal gene transfer, transposon-mediated insertions or change in outer membrane permeability. Therefore, constant efforts are being carried out to control the infections using various antibiotic therapies. Considering the severity of the acquired resistance, we developed a panel of strains ofK. pneumoniaeexpressing different resistance profiles such as high-level penicillinase and AmpC production, extended spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases. Bacterial strains expressing different resistance phenotypes were collected and examined for resistance genes, mutations and porin alterations contributing to the detected phenotypes. Using the Massive parallel sequencing (MPS) technology we have constructed and genotypically characterized the panel strains to elucidate the multidrug resistance. These panel strains can be used in the clinical laboratory as standard reference strains. In addition, these strains could be significant in the field of pharmaceuticals for the antibiotic drug testing to verify its efficiency on pathogens expressing various  resistances.
Accelerometer-measured physical activity is not associated with two-year weight change in African-origin adults from five diverse populations
Authors: Dugas Lara R. , Kliethermes Stephanie , Plange-Rhule Jacob , Tong Liping , Bovet Pascal , Forrester Terrence E. , Lambert Estelle V. , Schoeller Dale A. , Durazo-Arvizu Ramon A. , Shoham David A. , Cao Guichan , Brage Soren , Ekelund Ulf , Cooper Richard S. , Luke Amy
Published: January 2017

Background

Increasing population-levels of physical activity (PA) is a controversial strategy for managing the obesity epidemic, given the conflicting evidence for weight loss from PA aloneper se. We measured PA and weight change in a three-year prospective cohort study in young adults from five countries (Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles and USA).

Methods

A total of 1,944 men and women had baseline data, and at least 1 follow-up examination including measures of anthropometry (weight/BMI), and objective PA (accelerometer, 7-day) following the three-year study period. PA was explored as 1-minute bouts of moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA) as well as daily sedentary time.

Results

At baseline; Ghanaian and South African men had the lowest body weights (63.4 ± 9.5, 64.9 ± 11.8 kg, respectively) and men and women from the USA the highest (93.6 ± 25.9, 91.7 ± 23.4 kg, respectively). Prevalence of normal weight ranged from 85% in Ghanaian men to 29% in USA men and 52% in Ghanaian women to 15% in USA women. Over the two-year follow-up period, USA men and Jamaican women experienced the smallest yearly weight change rate (0.1 ± 3.3 kg/yr; −0.03 ± 3.0 kg/yr, respectively), compared to South African men and Ghanaian women greatest yearly change (0.6.0 ± 3.0 kg/yr; 1.22 ± 2.6 kg/yr, respectively). Mean yearly weight gain tended to be larger among normal weight participants at baseline than overweight/obese at baseline. Neither baseline MVPA nor sedentary time were associated with weight gain. Using multiple linear regression, only baseline weight, age and gender were significantly associated with weight gain.

Discussion

From our study it is not evident that higher volumes of PA alone are protective against future weight gain, and by deduction our data suggest that other environmental factors such as the food environment may have a more critical role.
The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager instruments
Authors: Dymond K. F. , Nicholas A. C. , Budzien S. A. , Coker C. , Stephan A. W. , Chua D. H.
Published: January 2017

The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) instruments are ultraviolet limb scanning sensors flying on the United States Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 5D‐3 satellites. The SSULIs cover the 800–1700 Å wavelength range at 18 Å spectral resolution. This wavelength range contains spectral signatures of all the dominant neutral and ionized species in the thermosphere and F region ionosphere. The instruments view ahead of the spacecraft and operate as limb imagers covering the 100–750 km altitude range at 10–15 km resolution with a 90 s scan cadence. We describe these instruments and summarize their calibration and on‐orbit performance. Day‐to‐day variability of the nighttime ionosphere at low latitudes and longer‐term variability of the global mean exospheric temperature are highlighted.
Assessment of an atmospheric transport model for annual inverse estimates of California greenhouse gas emissions
Authors: Bagley Justin E. , Jeong Seongeun , Cui Xinguang , Newman Sally , Zhang Jingsong , Priest Chad , Campos‐Pineda Mixtli , Andrews Arlyn E. , Bianco Laura , Lloyd Matthew , Lareau Neil , Clements Craig , Fischer Marc L.
Published: January 2017

Atmospheric inverse estimates of gas emissions depend on transport model predictions, hence driving a need to assess uncertainties in the transport model. In this study we assess the uncertainty in WRF‐STILT (Weather Research and Forecasting and Stochastic Time‐Inverted Lagrangian Transport) model predictions using a combination of meteorological and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements. WRF configurations were selected to minimize meteorological biases using meteorological measurements of winds and boundary layer depths from surface stations and radar wind profiler sites across California. We compare model predictions with CO measurements from four tower sites in California from June 2013 through May 2014 to assess the seasonal biases and random errors in predicted CO mixing ratios. In general, the seasonal mean biases in boundary layer wind speed (< ~ 0.5 m/s), direction (< ~ 15°), and boundary layer height (< ~ 200 m) were small. However, random errors were large (~1.5–3.0 m/s for wind speed, ~ 40–60° for wind direction, and ~ 300–500 m for boundary layer height). Regression analysis of predicted and measured CO yielded near‐unity slopes (i.e., within 1.0 ± 0.20) for the majority of sites and seasons, though a subset of sites and seasons exhibit larger (~30%) uncertainty, particularly when weak winds combined with complex terrain in the South Central Valley of California. Looking across sites and seasons, these results suggest that WRF‐STILT simulations are sufficient to estimate emissions of CO to up to 15% on annual time scales across California.
A twentieth century major soluble ion record of dust and anthropogenic pollutants from Inilchek Glacier, Tien Shan
Authors: Grigholm B. , Mayewski P. A. , Aizen V. , Kreutz K. , Aizen E. , Kang S. , Maasch K. A. , Sneed S. B.
Published: January 2017

Using a high‐resolution (~18 samples/year) major soluble ion record (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) covering the period 1908–1995 A.D. from the Inilchek Glacier, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan, we provide a detailed climate and environmental proxy record for the region. Chemical concentrations, empirical orthogonal function analyses, and noncrustal excess calculations are used to identify natural and potential anthropogenic depositional trends. Dominant dust proxy species (i.e., Ca2+) reveal highest concentrations during the 1950s–1970s, with declining decadal trends through the end of the record. These trends likely reflect decreases in central Asian dust storm activity post‐1950, which has been associated with coupled atmospheric circulation variability and anthropogenic activities. Comparison between Ca2+ and ERA‐Interim (1979–1995) climate reanalysis data indicates a strong relationship to spring (March–May) geopotential height patterns in northwest China and southern Siberia associated with the Siberian High. Noncrustal contribution (excess) estimates of NO3−, K+, SO42−, and Cl− concentrations suggest discernable anthropogenic inputs began between the 1950s and 1970s, increased into the middle/late 1980s, and declined in the 1990s. Excess trends coincide with Former Soviet Union consumption, production, and emission of fossil fuels and fertilizers, reflecting the rapid growth of agriculture and industry, as well as economic declines in the middle to late 1980s/early 1990s. Excess‐Cl− trends reflect timings that coincide with the construction of the Pavlodar Chemical Plant and the military production of Cl2 in Kazakhstan. NOAA Hybrid Single‐Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory back trajectory frequency analysis suggests eastern Uzbekistan (e.g., Fergana Valley), Kyrgyzstan, and southern Kazakhstan as the primary pollutant sources to the study region.
Paleoproductivity in the northwestern Pacific Ocean during the Pliocene‐Pleistocene climate transition (3.0–1.8 Ma)
Authors: Venti Nicholas L. , Billups Katharina , Herbert Timothy D.
Published: January 2017

Alkenone mass accumulation rates (MARs) provide a proxy for export productivity in the northwestern Pacific (Ocean Drilling Program Site 1208) spanning the late Pliocene through early Pleistocene (3.0–1.8 Ma). We investigate changes in productivity associated with global cooling during the onset and expansion of Northern Hemisphere glaciation (NHG). Alkenone MARs vary on obliquity timescales throughout, but the amplitude increases at 2.75 Ma concurrent with the intensification of NHG and cooling of the sea surface by 3°C. The obliquity‐scale variations in alkenone MARs parallel shipboard measurements of sediment color reflectance (%) with higher MARs significantly correlated (>95%) with darker (opal‐rich) intervals. Variations in both lead benthic foraminiferal δ18O values by 1.5–2 kyr suggesting that export productivity may be a contributing factor, rather than a response, to the extent of continental glaciation. The biological pump is therefore a plausible mechanism for transferring atmospheric CO2 into the deep ocean during the onset of NHG and the ensuing obliquity‐dominated climate regime. Obliquity‐scale correlation between productivity and magnetic susceptibility is consistent with a link via westerly winds delivering terrigenous sediments and mixing the upper water column. Alkenone MARs also contain a ~400 kyr modulation. Because this periodicity is a multiple of the residence time of carbon in the ocean, it may reflect inputs of new nutrients associated with eccentricity‐forced changes in the terrestrial biosphere and weathering. We ascribe these findings to interactions between the East Asian winter monsoon and productivity in the North Pacific Ocean, perhaps contributing to Plio‐Pleistocene climate change.
Cortical excitability correlates with seizure control and epilepsy duration in chronic epilepsy
Authors: Pawley Adam D. , Chowdhury Fahmida A. , Tangwiriyasakul Chayanin , Ceronie Bryan , Elwes Robert D. C. , Nashef Lina , Richardson Mark. P.
Published: January 2017

Objective

Cortical excitability differs between treatment responders and nonresponders in new‐onset epilepsy. Moreover, during the first 3 years of epilepsy, cortical excitability becomes more abnormal in nonresponders but normalizes in responders. Here, we study chronic active epilepsy, to examine whether cortical excitability continues to evolve over time, in association with epilepsy duration and treatment response.

Methods

We studied 28 normal subjects, 28 patients with moderately controlled epilepsy (≤4 seizures per year) and 40 patients with poorly controlled epilepsy (≥20 or more seizures per year). Resting motor threshold (RMT), active motor threshold (AMT), short‐interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF) and cortical silent period (CSP) were measured, using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Disease and treatment covariates were collected (age at onset of epilepsy, epilepsy duration, number of drugs prescribed, total drug load, sodium channel drug load).

Results

RMT and AMT were higher in patients than in normal subjects; RMT and AMT were higher in poorly controlled than moderately controlled patients. ICF at 12 msec and 15 msec were lower in poorly controlled patients than in normal subjects. Long‐interval intracortical inhibition (LICI) at 50 msec was higher in poorly controlled compared to moderately controlled patients. These differences were not explained by antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment or duration of epilepsy. RMT and AMT increased with duration in the poorly controlled group, but did not increase with duration in the moderately controlled group.

Interpretation

Cortical excitability differs markedly between moderately controlled and poorly controlled patients with chronic epilepsy, not explained by disease or treatment variables. Moreover, the evolution of cortical excitability over time differs, becoming more abnormal in the poorly controlled group.
The ecology of anemia: Anemia prevalence and correlated factors in adult indigenous women in Argentina
Authors: Goetz Teddy G. , Valeggia Claudia
Published: January 2017

Objectives

The Toba/Qom of Namqom are an indigenous community native to the Gran Chaco region of northern Argentina. Historically seminomadic foragers, the diet of peri‐urban community members has rapidly changed from high‐protein, high‐fiber to hypercaloric, processed. This study aims to understand the impact of this nutritional transition on aspects of women's health by exploring the relationship between prevalence of anemia and current diet composition, place of birth, and reproductive history.

Methods

We measured the capillary hemoglobin (Hb) levels of 153 adult women. Each participant was also given two interviews characterizing reproductive history and a 24‐hour food recall.

Results

The average Hb level was 12.6 g/dL (range 5.8–15.7 g/dL). In our sample, 28% of participants were anemic and 31% were borderline anemic. Iron and vitamin C consumption were negatively associated with Hb levels. Body mass index was marginally associated with Hb levels. Being born in a peri‐urban setting, a proxy for early Westernized diet was associated with higher risk of anemia, suggesting developmental experience may play a role. Pregnant and lactating women had lower Hb levels than menstruating and menopausal women. Age, height, parity, and age at first pregnancy were not found to be statistically significant predictors of anemia.

Conclusions

Iron deficiency represents a serious health concern for women, particularly pregnant ones. Our results suggest that both past and current nutritional ecology variables may be associated with the risk of anemia. These findings inform public health interventions, since reproductive history may be more difficult to modify than current diet.
Carbazole‐Fused Zinc(II)−Phthalocyanine Sensitizers
Authors: Kimura Mutsumi , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Tohata Yuki , Ikeuchi Takuro , Yamamoto Satoshi , Kobayashi Nagao
Published: January 2017

Ring‐expanded zinc phthalocyanines 3, 4, and PcS27 were synthesized from new carbazole‐fused phthalonitriles 1 and 2, and the effect of direct annulation of heterocycles with the phthalocyanine macrocycles on their optical and electrochemical properties were investigated. Carbazole‐fused zinc phthalocyanine 3 exhibited an intense Q band in the near‐infrared‐light region, owing to destabilization of the HOMO energy level, whilst low‐symmetry push–pull compound 4 showed a well‐defined split Q band, owing to splitting of the LUMO and LUMO+1 energy levels. Sensitizer PcS27, which had a donor–π‐linker–acceptor structure, showed a panchromatic response from the visible‐light region to the near‐infrared‐light region if used as a light‐harvesting dye on TiO2 electrodes for dye‐sensitized solar cells.
Biomechanical implications of walking with indigenous footwear
Authors: Willems Catherine , Stassijns Gaetane , Cornelis Wim , D'Août Kristiaan
Published: January 2017

Objectives

This study investigates biomechanical implications of walking with indigenous “Kolhapuri” footwear compared to barefoot walking among a population of South Indians.

Materials and methods

Ten healthy adults from South India walked barefoot and indigenously shod at voluntary speed on an artificial substrate. The experiment was repeated outside, on a natural substrate. Data were collected from (1) a heel‐mounted 3D‐accelerometer recording peak impact at heel contact, (2) an ankle‐mounted 3D‐goniometer (plantar/dorsiflexion and inversion/eversion), and (3) sEMG electrodes at the m. tibialis anterior and the m. gastrocnemius medialis.

Results

Data show that the effect of indigenous footwear on the measured variables, compared to barefoot walking, is relatively small and consistent between substrates (even though subjects walked faster on the natural substrate). Walking barefoot, compared to shod walking yields higher impact accelerations, but the differences are small and only significant for the artificial substrate. The main rotations of the ankle joint are mostly similar between conditions. Only the shod condition shows a faster ankle rotation over the rapid eversion motion on the natural substrate. Maximal dorsiflexion in late stance differs between the footwear conditions on an artificial substrate, with the shod condition involving a less dorsiflexed ankle, and the plantar flexion at toe‐off is more extreme when shod. Overall the activity pattern of the external foot muscles is similar.

Discussion

The indigenous footwear studied (Kolhapuri) seems to alter foot biomechanics only in a subtle way. While offering some degree of protection, walking in this type of footwear resembles barefoot gait and this type of indigenous footwear might be considered “minimal”.
Development of a SERS Probe for Selective Detection of Healthy Prostate and Malignant Prostate Cancer Cells Using ZnII
Authors: Pramanik Avijit , Chavva Suhash Reddy , Viraka Nellore Bhanu Priya , May Kelli , Matthew Tejus , Jones Stacy , Vangara Aruna , Ray Paresh Chandra
Published: January 2017

Even in the 21st century, prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer‐related death for men. Since a normal prostate gland has a high ZnII content and there are huge differences in ZnII content between healthy and malignant prostate cancer cells, mobile zinc can be used as a biomarker for prostate cancer prediction. A highly efficient surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe using a p‐(imidazole)azo)benzenethiol attached gold nanoparticle as a Raman reporter, which has the capability to identify prostate cancer cells based on ZnII sensing, has been designed. A facile synthesis, characterization and evaluation of a ZnII sensing Raman probe are described. Reported data indicate that after binding with ZnII, Raman reporter attached to a gold nanoparticle forms an assembly structure, which allows selective detection of ZnII even at 100 ppt concentration. Theoretical full‐wave finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations have been used to understand the enhancement of the SERS signal. The SERS probe is highly promising for in vivo sensing of cancer, where near‐IR light can be easily used to avoid tissue autofluorescence and to enhance tissue penetration depth. Reported data show that the SERS probe can distinguish metastatic cancer cells from normal prostate cells very easily with a sensitivity as low as 5 cancer cells mL−1. The probe can be used as a chemical toolkit for determining mobile ZnII concentrations in biological samples.
Evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of autistic disorder diagnoses
Authors: Whitehouse Andrew J.O. , Cooper Matthew N. , Bebbington Keely , Alvares Gail , Lin Ashleigh , Wray John , Glasson Emma J.
Published: January 2017

The increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may in part be due to a shift in the diagnostic threshold that has led to individuals with a less severe behavioral phenotype receiving a clinical diagnosis. This study examined whether there were changes over time in the qualitative and quantitative phenotype of individuals who received the diagnosis of Autistic Disorder. Data were from a prospective register of new diagnoses in Western Australia (n = 1252). From 2000 to 2006, we examined differences in both the percentage of newly diagnosed cases that met each criterion as well as severity ratings of the behaviors observed (not met, partially met, mild/moderate and extreme). Linear regression determined there was a statistically significant reduction from 2000 to 2006 in the percentage of new diagnoses meeting two of 12 criteria. There was also a reduction across the study period in the proportion of new cases rated as having extreme severity on six criteria. There was a reduction in the proportion of individuals with three or more criteria rated as extreme from 2000 (16.0%) to 2006 (1.6%), while percentage of new cases with no “extreme” rating on any criteria increased from 58.5% to 86.6% across the same period. This study provides the first clear evidence of a reduction over time in the behavioral severity of individuals diagnosed with Autistic Disorder during a period of stability in diagnostic criteria. A shift toward diagnosing individuals with less severe behavioral symptoms may have contributed to the increasing prevalence of Autistic Disorder diagnoses. Autism Res 2017, 10: 179–187. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Graphene and Graphene Oxide Modified by Deep Eutectic Solvents and Ionic Liquids Supported on Silica as Adsorbents for Solid‐Phase Extraction
Authors: Wang Xiaoqin , Li Guizhen , Row Kyung Ho
Published: January 2017

A novel deep eutectic solvent (DES) and ionic liquid (IL)‐modified graphene (G) and graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized and used as effective adsorbents for the preconcentration of three chlorophenols (CPs), 4‐chlorophenol (4‐CP), 2,4‐dichlorophenol (2,4‐DCP), and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (2,4,6‐TCP), in environmental water samples prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The new materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (S‐4200) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry. The prepared functionalized GO@silica shows remarkable adsorption capacity toward CPs. When used as solid‐phase extraction (SPE) sorbents, a superior recovery (88.49–89.70%) could be obtained compared to commercial sorbents, such as silica and aminosilica. Based on this, a method for the analysis of CPs in water samples was established by coupling SPE with HPLC. These results highlight the potential new role of DES and IL‐modified GO in the preparation of analytical samples.
Upregulation of long noncoding RNA TUG1 promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Hu Yingying , Sun Xiangwei , Mao Chenchen , Guo Gangqiang , Ye Sisi , Xu Jianfeng , Zou Ruanmin , Chen Jun , Wang Ledan , Duan Ping , Xue Xiangyang
Published: January 2017

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a novel class of transcripts that have critical roles in carcinogenesis and progression, have emerged as important gene expression modulators. Recent evidence indicates that lncRNA taurine‐upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) functions as an oncogene in numerous types of human cancers. However, its function in the development of cervical cancer remains unknown. The aim of this research was to investigate the clinical significance and biological functions of TUG1 in cervical cancer. TUG1 was found to be significantly upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and four cervical cancer cell lines by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Elevated TUG1 expression was correlated with larger tumor size, advanced international federation of gynecology and obstetrics (FIGO) stage, poor differentiation, and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, knockdown of TUG1 suppressed cell proliferation with activation of apoptosis, in part by regulating the expression of Bcl‐2 and caspase‐3. Silencing of TUG1 inhibited cell migration and invasion via the progression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Taken together, our findings indicate that TUG1 acts as an oncogene in cervical cancer and may represent a novel therapeutic target.
Highly Active Three‐Dimensional NiFe/Cu2O Nanowires/Cu Foam Electrode for Water Oxidation
Authors: Chen Hu , Gao Yan , Sun Licheng
Published: January 2017

Water splitting is of paramount importance for exploiting renewable energy‐conversion and ‐storage systems, but is greatly hindered by the kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, a three‐dimensional, highly efficient, and durable NiFe/Cu2O nanowires/Cu foam anode (NiFe/Cu2O NWs/CF) for water oxidation in 1.0 m KOH was developed. The obtained electrode exhibited a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a uniquely low overpotential of η=215 mV. The average specific current density (js) was estimated, on the basis of the electrocatalytically active surface area, to be 0.163 mA cm−2 at η=310 mV. The electrode also displayed a low Tafel slope of 42 mV decade−1. Moreover, the NiFe/Cu2O NWs/CF electrode could maintain a steady current density of 100 mA cm−2 for 50 h at an overpotential of η=260 mV. The outstanding electrochemical performance of the electrode for the OER was attributed to the high conductivity of the Cu foam and the specific structure of the electrode with a large interfacial area.
Creatinine in urine – a method comparison
Authors: Luginbühl Marc , Weinmann Wolfgang
Published: January 2017

Drug screening in urine is widely applied in forensic toxicology. Contrary to blood analysis, excessive or reduced fluid intake can substantially alter the concentration of substances in urine. As a standard to detect urinary dilution, creatinine concentrations are analyzed. A sample with a concentration below 20 mg/dL is generally defined as too diluted to provide a valid result in abstinence control samples. This work investigates the potential of three different methods for the determination of creatinine concentrations in urine samples: A ZIC®‐HILIC‐based liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method, a spectrophotometric method on an AU 480 chemistry system, and a portable, chemical‐reaction‐based, point‐of‐care testing device were compared by measuring 200 urine samples. When comparing the two laboratory methods, LC–MS/MS and spectrophotometry, a mean difference of 3.7 ± 14 mg/dL was found, indicating that the spectrophotometric method slightly overestimates the creatinine concentration. When comparing the LC–MS/MS method with the point‐of‐care testing device, a mean concentration difference within the calibration range for POCT (>20 mg/dL (excluding 16 samples) and <500 mg/dL (excluding 4 samples)) of 21 ± 37 mg/dL was found, indicating that the point‐of‐care testing device overestimates the measured creatinine concentration. A point‐of‐care testing device as used during this study can provide valuable information for on‐site analysis. However, reported concentrations above 500 mg/dL should be further evaluated, for example by dilution of the sample. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
No inbreeding depression in laboratory‐reared individuals of the parasitoid wasp Allotropa burrelli
Authors: Quaglietti Bastien , Tamisier Lucie , Groussier Géraldine , Fleisch Alexandre , Le Goff Isabelle , Ris Nicolas , Kreiter Philippe , Fauvergue Xavier , Malausa Thibaut
Published: January 2017

Inbreeding depression is a major concern in almost all human activities relating to plant and animal breeding. The biological control of pests with natural enemies is no exception, because populations of biocontrol agents experience a series of bottlenecks during importation, rearing, and introduction. A classical biological control program for the Comstock mealybug Pseudococcus comstocki (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was initiated in France in 2008, based on the introduction of an exotic parasitoid, Allotropa burrelli Mues. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), a haplodiploid parasitoid imported from Japan. We evaluated the sensitivity of A. burrelli to inbreeding, to optimize rearing and release strategies. We compared several morphological and life‐history traits between the offspring of siblings and the offspring of unrelated parents. We took into account the low level of genetic variability due to the relatively small size of laboratory‐reared populations by contrasting two types of pedigree: one for individuals from a strain founded from a single field population, and the other generated by hybridizing individuals from two strains founded from two highly differentiated populations. Despite this careful design, we obtained no evidence for a negative impact of inbreeding on laboratory‐reared A. burrelli. We discussed the results in light of haplodiploid sex determination and parasitoid mating systems, and classical biological control practices.
Rotamer‐Induced Dynamic Nature of a [2]Rotaxane and Control of the Dynamics by External Stimuli
Authors: Santra Saikat , Ghosh Pradyut
Published: January 2017

A CuI‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction between an azide‐terminated NiII‐templated [2]pseudorotaxane with an oxy‐ether tris(amino) macrocycle (MC) and an alkyne‐terminated triphenylene stopper unit produces a new [2]rotaxane (ROT) with multiple functional groups. A detailed mass spectrometry study and various 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy studies confirm the interpenetration of the axle in the macrocycle of ROT. The tri‐acetylation of the tris(amine) moiety of ROT produces AcROT with three tertiary amide functionalities. Prior to this selection, a detailed study of the dynamic properties was undertaken with the tertiary amide functionalized macrocycle MC1 and the tri‐methylated derivative of MC, MC2. A1H NMR study of AcROT at room temp. reveals multiple signals for most of the protons owing to the existence of multiple conformers and co‐conformers in solution through tertiary amide bond rotations. Furthermore, the ethereal pocket of the heteroditopic macrocycle was explored to demonstrate the reversible locking and unlocking of the dynamic behaviour of AcROT through the addition and removal, respectively, of alkali‐metal ions.
AGGREGATES: Finding structures in simulation results of solutions
Authors: Bernardes Carlos E. S.
Published: January 2017

Molecular Dynamic and Monte‐Carlo simulations are widely used to investigate the structure and physical properties of solids and liquids at a molecular level. Tools to extract the most relevant information from the obtained results are, however, in considerable demand. One such tool, the program AGGREGATES, is described in this work. Based on distance criteria, the program searches trajectory files for the presence of molecular clusters and computes several statistical and shape properties for these structures. Tools designed to investigate the local organization and the molecular conformations in the clusters are also available. Among these, it is introduced a new approach to perform a First Shell Analysis, by looking for the presence of atomic contacts between molecules. These elements are particularly useful to obtain information on molecular assembly processes (such as the nucleation of crystals or colloidal particles) or to investigate polymorphism in organic compounds. The program features are illustrated here through the investigation of the 4′‐hydroxyacetophenone + ethanol system. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous determination of free and total prostate‐specific antigen by a magnetic particle‐based time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay
Authors: Zhou Bin , Zhang Jue , Lv Zhongwei , Fan Jun , Zhang Yi , Huang Biao
Published: January 2017

Objectives

In this paper, a novel, sensitive and rapid method to simultaneously determine the free and total prostate‐specific antigen (fPSA and tPSA) in serum by combining a time‐resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) and immunomagnetic separation was described.

Methods

The new approach uses magnetic particles as an immobilization matrix and means of separation, whereas the luminescent europium (Eu) and samarium (Sm) chelates are used as probes. The proposed method was evaluated via a single‐step, sandwich‐type TRFIA immunoassay of tPSA and fPSA as model analytes in serum.

Results

A new one‐step method to simultaneously detect fPSA and tPSA in less than 15 minutes was built up with the detection limits 0.006 ng/mL for fPSA and 0.05 ng/mL for tPSA. The assay ranges for fPSA and tPSA were both 0.5‐100 ng/mL, whereas the average recovery of those two obtained by our original mode were 95.9% and 95.3%, respectively. The present new TRFIA method carrying larger reproducibility, higher recovery, and sensitive specificity was demonstrated to be widely acceptable.

Conclusions

This simultaneous determination method containing a fast and sensitive approach can be put into an important position to screening large quantities of specimen, and be commonly applied to the clinical determination of fPSA and tPSA in human serum.
Enhancing capillary blood collection: The influence of nicotinic acid and nonivamide
Authors: Moro Christian , Bass Jessica , Scott Anna Mae , Canetti Elisa F.D.
Published: January 2017

Background

Nicotinic acid and nonivamide are often applied topically during capillary blood collection to induce vasodilation. These molecules may have an influence on immune effector cell activity in nearby tissues. This study investigates whether the induction of flushing by nicotinic acid and nonivamide causes an inflammatory response that influences the composition of immune cells present in a capillary blood sample.

Methods

Females aged between 18 and 30 years old provided capillary blood samples. Experimental samples were taken from an earlobe treated with nicotinic acid and nonivamide with controls obtained from the untreated earlobe. Immunophenotypic analyses were conducted using polychromatic flow cytometry to determine whether any changes occurred in leucocyte subpopulations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD56, and CD14) and granulocytic functional‐related surface antigen markers (CD11b, CD18, CD16b, and CD66b).

Results

No significant differences were observed between experimental and control samples in the mean percent of parent for the lymphocyte, monocyte, or granulocyte subpopulations, or in the median fluorescence intensity of particular surface markers expressed on these leucocytes.

Conclusion

The topical application of nicotinic acid and nonivamide is a possible method to improve capillary blood collection for immunological assessments. The use of these agents may increase the safety and compliance of patients who suffer from needle phobia or are unable to provide venous blood samples.
Axial‐field eddy‐current coupling: a 3D test problem for numerical experiments
Authors: Fontchastagner Julien , Lubin Thierry , Netter Denis
Published: January 2017

This paper deals with a device which is particularly relevant to test 3D quasi‐static magnetic numerical computations: axial eddy‐current coupling. The authors have performed several numerical finite element method computations for this particular device. The eddy currents problem is solved thanks to 2 classical formulations based on magnetic vector and scalar potentials. Results are compared with experimental measurements made on a magnetic transmission already designed and built.
Intracellular fate of Ureaplasma parvum entrapped by host cellular autophagy
Authors: Nishiumi Fumiko , Ogawa Michinaga , Nakura Yukiko , Hamada Yusuke , Nakayama Masahiro , Mitobe Jiro , Hiraide Atsushi , Sakai Norio , Takeuchi Makoto , Yoshimori Tamotsu , Yanagihara Itaru
Published: January 2017

Genital mycoplasmas, including Ureaplasma spp., are among the smallest human pathogenic bacteria and are associated with preterm birth. Electron microscopic observation of U. parvum showed that these prokaryotes have a regular, spherical shape with a mean diameter of 146 nm. U. parvum was internalized into HeLa cells by clathrin‐mediated endocytosis and survived for at least 14 days around the perinuclear region. Intracellular U. parvum reached endosomes in HeLa cells labeled with EEA1, Rab7, and LAMP‐1 within 1 to 3 hr. After 3 hr of infection, U. parvum induced the cytosolic accumulation of galectin‐3 and was subsequently entrapped by the autophagy marker LC3. However, when using atg7−/− MEF cells, autophagy was inadequate for the complete elimination of U. parvum in HeLa cells. U. parvum also colocalized with the recycling endosome marker Rab11. Furthermore, the exosomes purified from infected HeLa cell culture medium included U. parvum. In these purified exosomes ureaplasma lipoprotein multiple banded antigen, host cellular annexin A2, CD9, and CD63 were detected. This research has successfully shown that Ureaplasma spp. utilize the host cellular membrane compartments possibly to evade the host immune system.
Simultaneous PET/MR imaging with a radio frequency‐penetrable PET insert
Authors: Grant Alexander M. , Lee Brian J. , Chang Chen‐Ming , Levin Craig S.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

A brain sized radio frequency (RF)‐penetrable PET insert has been designed for simultaneous operation with MRI systems. This system takes advantage of electro‐optical coupling and battery power to electrically float the PET insert relative to the MRI ground, permitting RF signals to be transmitted through small gaps between the modules that form the PET ring. This design facilitates the use of the built‐in body coil for RF transmission and thus could be inserted into any existing MR site wishing to achieve simultaneous PET/MR imaging. The PET detectors employ nonmagnetic silicon photomultipliers in conjunction with a compressed sensing signal multiplexing scheme, and optical fibers to transmit analog PET detector signals out of the MRI room for decoding, processing, and image reconstruction.

Methods

The PET insert was first constructed and tested in a laboratory benchtop setting, where tomographic images of a custom resolution phantom were successfully acquired. The PET insert was then placed within a 3T body MRI system, and tomographic resolution/contrast phantom images were acquired both with only the B0 field present, and under continuous pulsing from different MR imaging sequences.

Results

The resulting PET images have comparable contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) under all MR pulsing conditions: The maximum percent CNR relative difference for each rod type among all four PET images acquired in the MRI system has a mean of 14.0 ± 7.7%. MR images were successfully acquired through the RF‐penetrable PET shielding using only the built‐in MR body coil, suggesting that simultaneous imaging is possible without significant mutual interference.

Conclusions

These results show promise for this technology as an alternative to costly integrated PET/MR scanners; a PET insert that is compatible with any existing clinical MRI system could greatly increase the availability, accessibility, and dissemination of PET/MR.
Three‐dimensional dynamic response of ground with a poroviscoelastic interlayer to a harmonic moving rectangular load
Authors: Feng S.‐J. , Li Y.‐C. , Chen Z.‐L. , Chen H.X.
Published: January 2017

Stratification is a basic characteristic of ground. Due to the influence of ground water, saturated weak interlayers widely exist, particularly in soft soil area. An interlayer of high compressibility and low strength has a substantial effect on dynamic response of the ground, especially under high speed moving load. Thus, a comprehensive investigation in the influence of interlayer is essential and useful in geotechnical and transportation‐related engineering. This paper presents a three‐dimensional semi‐analytical approach to study the dynamic response of a layered ground with a soft saturated interlayer. The ground is modelled as a half‐space consisting of three parts: a viscoelastic upper layer, a saturated poroviscoelastic interlayer governed by Biot's theory and a viscoelastic half‐space. An ‘adapted stiffness matrix’ is proposed to obtain the semi‐analytical solution to the system. Comprehensive parametric study is conducted to investigate the influences of existence, geometrical and physical properties of the interlayer. Depth, thickness, hydraulic permeability of the interlayer, load speed and frequency significantly influence the dynamic response of the ground, among which the interlayer depth plays a dominant role. Resonant frequency exists, which is highly affected by the interlayer thickness, especially in low speed regime. Both hydraulic permeability and boundary conditions of the interlayer influence the characteristics of pore pressure distribution. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The intrinsic permeability of microcracks in porous solids: Analytical models and Lattice Boltzmann simulations
Authors: Timothy Jithender J. , Meschke Günther
Published: January 2017

The paper presents a synthesis of analytical modeling and computational simulations of the intrinsic permeability of microcracks, embedded in porous materials taking into account the interaction of the fluid flow in the microcrack with the surrounding porous material. In the first part of the paper, using theDARCY,STOKES,BRINKMAN, and theBEAVERS–JOSEPHapproximations, we derive the intrinsic permeability of a plain non‐rough microcrack in terms of the microcrack geometry and the permeability of the porous material surrounding the microcrack. In the second part of the paper, the intrinsic permeability of a microcrack is determined by means of computational simulations using the framework of the lattice Boltzmann method with partial bounceback conditions. The comparison of predictions from the analytical model and the numerical simulations show an excellent agreement. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inverse emulsion free‐radical polymerization of acrylamide terpolymer for enhanced oil recovery application in harsh reservoir conditions
Authors: García‐Uriostegui L. , Pineda‐Torres G. , López‐Ramírez S. , Barragán‐Aroche J. , Durán‐Valencia C.
Published: January 2017

A free‐radical inverse emulsion polymerization formulation has been developed for preparation of acrylamide (AAm)/sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate (AMPSNa)/N‐vinylpyrrolidone (VP) terpolymers. An aqueous solution of a blend of monomers is emulsified in n‐decane using Tween 85 (Tw85). Ammonium persulfate (APS) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) were used as initiators for water and oil phases, respectively. The reactions were catalyzed by temperature and by a redox pair; the former is achieved at 60°C and the latter by adding tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) and sodium bisulphite (BisNa) to activate the initiator in water and oil phase, respectively. The emulsion type, stability, conversion, and rate of polymerization were analyzed. The obtained terpolymer was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and rheology. Thermal catalyzed emulsion polymerization initiated with DCP showed the best performance as viscosity control agent and as polymeric precursor for in situ gel forming, for water mobility control and flow diversification, respectively. Both application for enhanced oil recovery purposes in harsh oil reservoir conditions are presented. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:1214–1223, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Ultrasound studies on magnetic fluids based on maghemite nanoparticles
Authors: Predoi Daniela , Popa Cristina L. , Predoi Mihai V.
Published: January 2017

In the last decades, the study of magnetic fluids with different biomedical applications such as targeted delivery of a chemotherapeutic solution to the tumor site has been of high interest. For this purpose, ultrasonic and antimicrobial studies were used to characterize the aqueous solutions based on maghemite nanoparticles. The maghemite (γ‐Fe2O3) and dextran‐coated maghemite nanoparticles (DMNp) were synthesized by coprecipitation method. The spherical shape of the nanoparticles and uniform size with an average diameter around 9.5 ± 0.5 nm for γ‐Fe2O3 were observed in transmission electron microscopy micrographs. Dynamic light scattering was used to determine the hydrodynamic size of γ‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles and DMNp in suspensions. The hydrodynamic diameter obtained of γ‐Fe2O3 and DMNp was 17 and 21 nm, respectively. Moreover, a noninvasive method based on ultrasounds was used to characterize the aqueous solutions. The preliminary results showed the attainable accuracy in determining acoustic wave velocity and attenuation in various solutions. These data could be correlated with particle density and size. More than that, velocity and attenuation can be used as characteristic parameters of a given solution. A finite element model of the dispersed particles, correlated with measured velocity, allowed to solve for the elastic properties of the particles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:485–490, 2017. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers