bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional computational models in hydrodynamic and morphodynamic reconstructions of a river bend: sensitivity and functionality
Authors: Kasvi Elina , Alho Petteri , Lotsari Eliisa , Wang Yunsheng , Kukko Antero , Hyyppä Hannu , Hyyppä Juha
Published: June 2014

This study assesses hydrodynamic and morphodynamic model sensitivity and functionality in a curved channel. The sensitivity of a depth‐averaged model to user‐defined parameters (grain size, roughness, transverse bed slope effect, transport relations and secondary flow) is tested. According to the sensitivity analysis, grain size, transverse bed slope effect and sediment transport relations are critical to simulated meander bend morphodynamics. The parametrization of grain size has the most remarkable effect: field‐based grain size parametrization is necessary in a successful morphodynamic reconstruction of a meander bend. The roughness parametrization method affects the distribution of flow velocities and therefore also morphodynamics. The combined effect of various parameters needs further research. Two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructions of a natural meander bend during a flood event are assessed against field measurements of acoustic Doppler current profiler and multi‐temporal mobile laser scanning data. The depth‐averaged velocities are simulated satisfactorily (differences from acoustic Doppler current profiler velocities 5–14%) in both 2D and 3D simulations, but the advantage of the 3D hydrodynamic model is unquestionable because of its ability to model vertical and near‐bed flows. The measured and modelled near‐bed flow, however, differed notably from each other's, the reason of which was left open for future research. It was challenging to model flow direction beyond the apex. The 3D flow features, which also affected the distribution of the bed shear stress, seem not to have much effect on the predicted morphodynamics: the 2D and 3D morphodynamic reconstructions over the point bar resembled each other closely. Although common features between the modelled and measured morphological changes were also found, some specific changes that occurred were not evident in the simulation results. Our results show that short‐term, sub‐bend scale morphodynamic processes of a natural meander bend are challenging to model, which implies that they are affected by factors that have been neglected in the simulations. The modelling of short‐term morphodynamics in natural curved channel is a challenge that requires further study. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolutionary mechanism unifies the hallmarks of cancer
Authors: Horne Steven D. , Pollick Sarah A. , Heng Henry H.Q.
Published: June 2014

The basis for the gene mutation theory of cancer that dominates current molecular cancer research consists of: the belief that gene‐level aberrations such as mutations are the main cause of cancers, the concept that stepwise gene mutation accumulation drives cancer progression, and the hallmarks of cancer. The research community swiftly embraced the hallmarks of cancer, as such synthesis has supported the notions that common cancer genes are responsible for the majority of cancers and the complexity of cancer can be dissected into simplified molecular principles. The gene/pathway classification based on individual hallmarks provides explanation for the large number of diverse gene mutations, which is in contrast to the original estimation that only a handful of gene mutations would be discovered. Further, these hallmarks have been highly influential as they also provide the rationale and research direction for continued gene‐based cancer research. While the molecular knowledge of these hallmarks is drastically increasing, the clinical implication remains limited, as cancer dynamics cannot be summarized by a few isolated/fixed molecular principles. Furthermore, the highly heterogeneous genetic signature of cancers, including massive stochastic genome alterations, challenges the utility of continuously studying each individual gene mutation under the framework of these hallmarks. It is therefore necessary to re‐evaluate the concept of cancer hallmarks through the lens of cancer evolution. In this analysis, the evolutionary basis for the hallmarks of cancer will be discussed and the evolutionary mechanism of cancer suggested by the genome theory will be employed to unify the diverse molecular mechanisms of cancer.
BYL719, a new α‐specific PI3K inhibitor: Single administration and in combination with conventional chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma
Authors: Gobin Bérengère , Huin Marc Baud' , Lamoureux François , Ory Benjamin , Charrier Céline , Lanel Rachel , Battaglia Séverine , Redini Françoise , Lezot Frédéric , Blanchard Frédéric , Heymann Dominique
Published: June 2014

It has been established that disturbances in intracellular signaling pathways play a considerable part in the oncologic process. Phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K) has become of key interest in cancer therapy because of its high mutation frequency and/or gain in function of its catalytic subunits in cancer cells. We investigated the therapeutic value of BYL719, a new specific PI3Kα inhibitor that blocks the ATP site, on osteosarcoma and bone cells. The in vitro effects of BYL719 on proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle were assessed in human and murine osteosarcoma cell. Its impact on bone cells was determined using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and human CD14+ osteoclast precursors. Two different murine preclinical models of osteosarcoma were used to analyze the in vivo biological activities of BYL719. BYL719 decreased cell proliferation by blocking cell cycle in G0/G1 phase with no outstanding effects on apoptosis cell death in HOS and MOS‐J tumor cells. BYL719 inhibited cell migration and can thus be considered as a cytostatic drug for osteosarcoma. In murine preclinical models of osteosarcoma, BYL719 significantly decreased tumor progression and tumor ectopic bone formation as shown by a decrease of Ki67+ cells and tumor vascularization. To explore the maximum therapeutic potential of BYL719, the drug was studied in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, revealing promising efficacy with ifosfamide. BYL719 also exhibited dual activities on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. Overall, the present work shows that BYL719 is a promising drug in either a single or multidrug approach to curing bone sarcoma.
CK2α phosphorylates DBC1 and is involved in the progression of gastric carcinoma and predicts poor survival of gastric carcinoma patients
Authors: Bae Jun Sang , Park See‐Hyoung , Kim Kyoung Min , Kwon Keun Sang , Kim Chan Young , Lee Hun Ku , Park Byung‐Hyun , Park Ho Sung , Lee Ho , Moon Woo Sung , Chung Myoung Ja , Sylvester Karl G. , Jang Kyu Yun
Published: June 2014

CK2α has diverse effects on the tumorigenesis owing to its kinase activity, which phosphorylates various proteins involved in tumorigenesis. We, therefore, investigated the expression and role of CK2α in the phosphorylation of deleted in breast cancer 1 (DBC1) in gastric carcinomas. We used 187 gastric carcinomas and human gastric cancer cells to investigate the roles and relationship between CK2α and DBC1 in gastric carcinomas. Positive expression of CK2α and phospho‐DBC1 predicted shorter overall survival and relapse‐free survival by univariate analysis. Especially, CK2α expression was an independent prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma patients. In gastric carcinoma cells, CK2α was bound to DBC1 and phosphorylated DBC1. The phosphorylation of DBC1 by CK2α was evidenced by co‐immunoprecipitation of CK2α and DBC1 in a GST pull‐down assay, an in vitro kinase assay, and immunofluorescence staining. Inhibition of both CK2α and DBC1 decreased proliferation and invasive activity of cancer cells. Decreased migration and invasive activity was associated with a downregulation of MMP2, MMP9 and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. A mutation at the phosphorylation site of DBC1 also downregulated the signals related with the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Our study demonstrated that CK2α is an independent prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma patients and is involved in tumorigenesis by regulating the phosphorylation of DBC1. In addition, the blocking of CK2α and DBC1 inhibited the proliferation and invasive potential of gastric cancer cells. Therefore, our study suggests that CK2α–DBC1 pathway might be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric carcinoma.
Minority‐Serving Institutions and the Education of U.S. Underrepresented Students
Authors: John Ginelle , Stage Frances K.
Published: June 2014

Numbers of students of color enrolling in higher educational institutions is expected to increase across all racial groups. With continued increases in minority enrollments, minority‐serving institutions have and will continue to play a major role in educating student of color. A large national data set was used to examine the numbers of bachelor's degrees awarded to students by minority‐serving institutions, predominantly minority institutions, and predominantly white institutions. The analysis indicates that minority‐serving institutions are important producers of students of color who earn bachelor's degrees.
The Changing Context of Critical Quantitative Inquiry
Authors: Rios‐Aguilar Cecilia
Published: June 2014

The author provides a framework to help scholars in the field of higher education to be critical. Additionally, the author reflects and comments on the chapters included in this special volume. Finally, this chapter ends with a discussion of the opportunities and challenges of critical quantitative inquiry.
Prostate Cancer Cells Preferentially Home to Osteoblast-rich Areas in the Early Stages of Bone Metastasis: Evidence From In Vivo Models
Authors: Wang Ning , Docherty Freyja E , Brown Hannah K , Reeves Kimberley J , Fowles Anne CM , Ottewell Penelope D , Dear T Neil , Holen Ingunn , Croucher Peter I , Eaton Colby L
Published: June 2014

It has been suggested that metastasis-initiating cells gain a foothold in bone by homing to a metastastatic microenvironment (or “niche”). Whereas the precise nature of this niche remains to be established, it is likely to contain bone cell populations including osteoblasts and osteoclasts. In the mouse tibia, the distribution of osteoblasts on endocortical bone surfaces is non-uniform, and we hypothesize that studying co-localization of individual tumor cells with resident cell populations will reveal the identity of critical cellular components of the niche. In this study, we have mapped the distribution of three human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3-NW1, LN-CaP, and C4 2B4) colonizing the tibiae of athymic mice following intracardiac injection and evaluated their interaction with potential metastatic niches. Prostate cancer cells labeled with the fluorescent cell membrane dye (Vybrant DiD) were found by two-photon microscopy to be engrafted in the tibiae in close proximity (∼40 µm) to bone surfaces and 70% more cancer cells were detected in the lateral compared to the medial endocortical bone regions. This was associated with a 5-fold higher number of osteoblasts and 7-fold higher bone formation rate on the lateral endocortical bone surface compared to the medial side. By disrupting cellular interactions mediated by the chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4)/chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) axis with the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100, the preferential homing pattern of prostate cancer cells to osteoblast-rich bone surfaces was disrupted. In this study, we map the location of prostate cancer cells that home to endocortical regions in bone and our data demonstrate that homing of prostate cancer cells is associated with the presence and activity of osteoblast lineage cells, and suggest that therapies targeting osteoblast niches should be considered to prevent development of incurable prostate cancer bone metastases. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Dimetallic sulfide endohedral metallofullerene Sc2S@C76: Density functional theory characterization
Authors: Zhao Pei , Yang Tao , Guo Yi‐Jun , Dang Jing‐Shuang , Zhao Xiang , Nagase Shigeru
Published: June 2014

In terms of density functional theory combined with statistic mechanics computations, we investigated a dimetallic sulfide endohedral fullerene Sc2S@C76 which has been synthesized without any characterization in experiments. Our theoretical study reveals that Sc2S@Td(19151)‐C76 which satisfies the isolated‐pentagon rule (IPR) possesses the lowest energy, followed by three non‐IPR structures (Sc2S@C2v(19138)‐C76, Sc2S@Cs (17490)‐C76, and Sc2S@C1(17459)‐C76). To clarify the relative stabilities of those isomers at high temperatures, enthalpy–entropy interplay has been taken into consideration. Calculation results indicate that three species Sc2S@Td(19151)‐C76, Sc2S@C2v(19138)‐C76, and Sc2S@C1(17459)‐C76 have noticeable molar fractions at the fullerene‐formation temperature region (500–3000K), and the Sc2S@C1(17459)‐C76 with one pentagon pair becomes the most predominant isomer above 1800 K, suggesting that the unexpected non‐IPR structure is thermodynamically favorable at elevated temperatures. In addition, the structural characteristics, electron features, UV‐vis‐NIR adsorptions, and 13C NMR spectra of those three stable structures are introduced to assist experimental identification and characterization in future. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Impact of Providing Therapy on the Therapist: A Student's Reflection
Authors: Butler Meghan
Published: June 2014

Providing psychotherapy changes the therapist in a variety of ways. This article discusses one doctoral student's perceptions of these changes, such as increasing her patience, gratitude, and reliance on faith; stretching her ability to tolerate ambiguity; and influencing her interpersonal relationships.
Adult Development and the Transformative Powers of Psychotherapy
Authors: Geller Jesse D.
Published: June 2014

This article explores the ways in which receiving, providing, and teaching others to do psychotherapy have influenced my adult development. In my 70s, I arrived at the conviction that at every stage of adulthood, practicing psychotherapy has had a direct and causal influence on my efforts to fill my personal life with meaning, virtue, and maturity. The first section of this article focuses on the ways in which learning to be a particular kind of psychoanalytic therapist facilitated my transition into early adulthood. The middle sections describe how I have used the professional practice of psychotherapy to integrate or dissolve the boundaries between work and play, and science and art, in the everyday conduct of my life. My psychobiographical analysis concludes with some reflections on a professional failure and the compensations of being an aging therapist.
The Regulation of TGFβ1 Induced Fibronectin EDA Exon Alternative Splicing in Human Renal Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells
Authors: Phanish Mysore Keshavmurthy , Heidebrecht Felicia , Nabi Mohammad E. , Shah Nileshkumar , Niculescu‐Duvaz Ioana , Dockrell Mark Edward Carl
Published: June 2014

The EDA+ splice variant of fibronectin (Fn) is an early and important component of the extracellular matrix in renal fibrosis. In this work, we investigate cellular mechanisms of EDA+Fn production in human primary proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs). TGFβ1‐induced EDA+Fn production was assessed by immunocytochemistry, PCR, and Western blotting. SRp40 knockdown was achieved by siRNA. The role of the PI3 kinase‐AKT signalling and splicing regulatory protein SRp40 in the production of EDA+Fn was studied by using the chemical inhibitor LY294002 and siRNA targeted to SRp40 respectively. Interaction between PI3 kinase‐AKT signalling and SRp40 were assessed by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation. To assess the specificity of SRp40 in regulating the splicing of EDA+ exon, we studied the effect of SRp40 knockdown on TGFβ1 induced splicing of FGF receptor 2. Primary human PTECs expressed EDA+ and EDA‐ Fn. TGFβ1 treatment resulted in increases in the production and deposition of EDA+ Fn as well as an increase in the ratio of EDA+/EDA‐ Fn mRNA. The TGFβ1 induced EDA+ production was dependent on PI3 kinase‐AKT signalling and SRp40 expression. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated direct binding between AKT and SRp40 with an increase in the amount of SRp40 bound to AKT upon TGFβ1 treatment. TGFβ1 treatment resulted in reduction in the FGF receptor2 IIIb splice variant which was unaffected by SRp40 knockdown. In this work, we have presented the first evidence for the regulation of Fn pre‐mRNA splicing by PI3 kinase‐AKT signalling and SRp40 in human PTECs. Targeting the splicing of Fn pre‐mRNA to skip the EDA exon is an attractive option to combat fibrosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 286–295, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TGF‐β1 Suppresses Plasmin and MMP Activity in Flexor Tendon Cells via PAI‐1: Implications for Scarless Flexor Tendon Repair
Authors: Farhat Youssef M. , Al‐Maliki Alaa A. , Easa Anas , O'Keefe Regis J. , Schwarz Edward M. , Awad Hani A.
Published: June 2014

Flexor tendon injuries caused by deep lacerations to the hands are a challenging problem as they often result in debilitating adhesions that prevent the movement of the afflicted fingers. Evidence exists that tendon adhesions as well as scarring throughout the body are largely precipitated by the pleiotropic growth factor, Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1(TGF‐β1), but the effects of TGF‐β1 are poorly understood in tendon healing. Using an in vitro model of tendon healing, we previously found that TGF‐β1 causes gene expression changes in tenocytes that are consistent with scar tissue and adhesion formation, including upregulation of the anti‐fibrinolytic protein, PAI‐1. Therefore, we hypothesized that TGF‐β1 contributes to scarring and adhesions by reducing the activity of proteases responsible for ECM degradation and remodeling, such as plasmin and MMPs, via upregulation of PAI‐1. To test our hypothesis, we examined the effects of TGF‐β1 on the protease activity of tendon cells. We found that flexor tendon tenocytes treated with TGF‐β1 had significantly reduced levels of active MMP‐2 and plasmin. Interestingly, the effects of TGF‐β1 on protease activity were completely abolished in tendon cells from homozygous plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI‐1) knockout (KO) mice, which are unable to express PAI‐1. Our findings support the hypothesis that TGF‐β1 induces PAI‐1, which suppresses plasmin and plasmin‐mediated MMP activity, and provide evidence that PAI‐1 may be a novel therapeutic target for preventing adhesions and promoting a scarless, regenerative repair of flexor tendon injuries. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 318–326, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sustained local delivery of oncolytic short hairpin RNA adenoviruses for treatment of head and neck cancer
Authors: Jung Se‐Hui , Choi Joung‐Woo , Yun Chae‐Ok , Yhee Ji Young , Price Robert , Kim Sun Hwa , Kwon Ick Chan , Ghandehari Hamidreza
Published: June 2014

Background

Oncolytic adenovirus (Ad)‐mediated gene therapy is a promising approach for suppression of primary tumors. Therapeutic efficacy of Ad‐mediated gene therapy has been limited by immunogenicity, rapid dissemination of viral progenies into systemic circulation and short duration of biological activity. Polymeric sustained local delivery can overcome many of these challenges to produce a viable therapy with improved outcomes.

Methods

Silk‐elastinlike protein polymer (SELP) hydrogels were used for matrix‐mediated delivery of oncolytic Ad, containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeted to C‐Met (sh‐C‐Met), to solid tumors in a nude mouse model of human head and neck cancer. The biological activity of Ad released from SELP hydrogels was examined as a function of time to investigate protective effects on viral activity. Antitumor efficacy and viral distribution were investigated for 3 weeks in tumor‐bearing mice.

Results

The encapsulation of Ad with SELP hydrogels sustained biological activity longer than Ad alone. Ad in SELP matrix showed 1.5‐fold greater antitumor efficacy compared to that of naked Ad in human xenograft tumor models. Histological analysis demonstrated that treatment with Ad in a SELP matrix resulted in apoptosis in a wider area of tumor tissue and higher density of Ad infection compared to Ad administered alone.

Conclusions

Matrix‐mediated delivery of Ad‐containing shRNA with SELP hydrogels enhances therapeutic efficacy by tumor‐selective infection, spatiotemporal control and preservation of biologic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
k‐Kings in k‐Quasitransitive Digraphs
Authors: Wang Ruixia , Meng Wei
Published: June 2014

Let D be a digraph with vertex set and arc set . A vertex x is a k‐king of D, if for every , there is an ‐path of length at most k. A subset N of is k‐independent if for every pair of vertices , we have and ; it is l‐absorbent if for every there exists such that . A ‐kernel of D is a k‐independent and l‐absorbent subset of . A k‐kernel is a ‐kernel. A digraph D is k‐quasitransitive, if for any path of length k, x0 and are adjacent. In this article, we will prove that a k‐quasitransitive digraph with has a k‐king if and only if it has a unique initial strong component and the unique initial strong component is not isomorphic to an extended ‐cycle where each has at least two vertices. Using this fact, we show that every strong k‐quasitransitive digraph has a ‐kernel.
Studies on the Reaction of Cycloalkanones with Malonodinitrile
Authors: Abdelrazek Fathy M. , Metwally Nadia H. , Kassab Nazmi A. , Jaafar Mohammed T. , Metz Peter , Jäger Anne
Published: June 2014

Cyclopentanone reacts with malononitrile catalyzed by piperidine or sodium acetate to afford under any case cyclopentylidenemalononitrile dimer: 5‐aminospiro‐[2,6,7,7a‐tetrahydroindene‐7,1′‐cyclopentane]‐4,6,6‐tricarbonitrile (7) as the sole product. Contrary to this behavior, cyclohexanone reacts with malononitrile catalyzed by piperidine to afford the analogous cyclohexylidenemalononitrile dimer: 2‐aminospiro‐[3,4,5,6,7,4a‐hexahydronaphthalene‐4,1′‐cyclohexane]‐1,3,3‐tricarbonitrile (11); whereas when the reaction is catalyzed by sodium acetate, it afforded 9,10‐diaza‐8,11‐dioxo‐tricyclo‐[4.3.3.01,6]‐dodecane‐7,12‐dicarbonitrile (12). The structures of these products were established on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data, and plausible mechanism has been postulated to account for their formation. X‐ray crystallography was carried out as a further evidence for structures 7 and 12.
Preparation of 8‐Aza‐7‐deazaaristeromycin and ‐neplanocin A and Their 5′‐Homologs
Authors: Wang Haisheng , Zhang Yan , Ye Wei , Schneller Stewart W.
Published: June 2014

The synthesis of new members of the aristeromycin and neplaoncin A families of carbocyclic nucleosides possessing the 1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine ring is reported. For this purpose, an adapted route to 4‐amino‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine is described.
Chemistry of an Unexplored Heterocyclic Ring System: Versatile Synthesis of 5‐Aryl‐2,3,4‐benzothiadiazepine 2,2‐dioxides
Authors: Fetter József , Bertha Ferenc , Molnár Balázs , Volk Balázs , Simig Gyula
Published: June 2014

The article gives insight into the synthetic approach of a practically new heterocyclic ring system, 2,3,4‐benzothiadiazepines. Starting from the easily available phthalides, an efficient synthesis of 5‐aryl‐2,3,4‐benzothiadiazepine 2,2‐dioxides is described here. Owing to their close structural similarity to 2,3‐benzodiazepines and 2,3‐benzodiazepine‐4‐ones, two well‐known bioactive compound families, the new derivatives can be of importance in medicinal chemistry.
Synthesis of Spiro Pyrrolobenzothiazole Derivatives via a Three‐Component Reaction
Authors: Nassiri M. , Milani F. J. , Hassankhani A.
Published: June 2014

A novel three‐component reaction involving 2‐methylbenzothiazole or 2,5‐dimethylbenzothiazole, acetylenic esters and 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds such as (1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acid or 1,3‐indanedione) leading to the synthesis of spiro pyrrolobenzothiazole derivatives. The reactions proceeded smoothly at room temperature without using any catalyst. This method is very useful to functionalize benzothiazole derivatives in a one‐pot operation. The structures of the synthesized compounds have been characterized by spectral studies.
Hybrid 4‐Aminoquinoline‐1,3,5‐triazine Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Evaluation
Authors: Pathak P. , Thakur A. , Bhat H. R. , Singh U. P.
Published: June 2014

A series of novel 4‐aminoquinoline 1,3,5‐triazine derivatives were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. The antibacterial activities of synthesized compounds were tested against three Gram‐positive bacteria, namely Bacillus subtilis (NCIM‐2063), Bacillus cereus (NCIM‐2156), and Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM‐2079), and four Gram‐negative bacteria, namely Proteus vulgaris (NCIM‐2027), Proteus mirabilis (NCIM‐2241), Escherichia coli (NCIM‐2065), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCIM‐2036), using ciprofloxacin as reference standard drug. Results showed compound 9a and 9e as potent antibacterial agents against all bacterial strains except Bacillus cereus (NCIM‐2156). Copyright © 2014 HeteroCorporation
2‐Pyrazolin‐5‐One‐Based Heterocycles: Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Abeed Ahmed Abdou O.
Published: June 2014

A novel series of pyrazoline and thiazole derivatives incorporating 2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one moiety were synthesized starting from α,β‐unsaturated ketones under the effect of hydrazine derivatives and thiosemicarbazide. The obtained pyrazolines 4a, 4b were treated with different reagents to afford N‐substituted pyrazolines 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. N‐Thiocarbamoyl pyrazolines 12a, 12b were cyclized using phenacyl bromide, 2,3‐dichloroquinoxaline, and monochloroacetic acid afforded the novel pyrazolinyl thiazoles 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, 16f. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by analytical and spectral data.
Cyclocondensation of Ethyl (imidazolidine‐2‐ylidene)acetate with Aromatic Esters Bearing Labile Halogen in ortho‐Position
Authors: Dar'in D. V. , Ivanov А. Yu. , Lobanov P. S.
Published: June 2014

Cyclocondensation of ethyl (imidazolidine‐2‐ylidene)acetate with aromatic esters bearing labile halogen in ortho‐position leads to fused heterocycles, which is formed by substitution of halogen atom with α‐carbon atom of cyclic ketene aminal and binding of nitrogen atom with carbonyl carbon atom of aromatic ester.
A decreased volume of the medial tibial spine is associated with an increased risk of suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury for males but not females
Authors: Sturnick Daniel R. , Argentieri Erin C. , Vacek Pamela M. , DeSarno Michael J. , Gardner‐Morse Mack G. , Tourville Timothy W. , Slauterbeck James R. , Johnson Robert J. , Shultz Sandra J. , Beynnon Bruce D.
Published: June 2014

Measurements of tibial plateau subchondral bone and articular cartilage slope have been associated with the risk of suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Such single‐plane measures of the tibial plateau may not sufficiently characterize its complex, three‐dimensional geometry and how it relates to knee injury. Further, the tibial spines have not been studied in association with the risk of suffering a non‐contact ACL injury. We questioned whether the geometries of the tibial spines are associated with non‐contact ACL injury risk, and if this relationship is different for males and females. Bilateral MRI scans were acquired on 88 ACL‐injured subjects and 88 control subjects matched for sex, age and sports team. Medial and lateral tibial spine geometries were characterized with measurements of length, width, height, volume and anteroposterior location. Analyses of females revealed no associations between tibial spine geometry and risk of ACL injury. Analyses of males revealed that an increased medial tibial spine volume was associated with a decreased risk of ACL injury (OR = 0.667 per 100 mm3 increase). Smaller medial spines could provide less resistance to internal rotation and medial translation of the tibia relative to the femur, subsequently increasing ACL strains and risk of ACL injury. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1451–1457, 2014.
Determination of 15 sedative residues in mutton by rapid resolution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Wei Jinmei , Luo Yuzhu , Zhang Li , Fang Suli
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND

The use of xenobiotic compounds in animal husbandry has given rise to consumer anxieties regarding residual risk and food safety. Thus, animal tissues have become main samples for residue analysis and food safety for sedatives. In this study, a rapid resolution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC‐MS/MS) method was established for the determination of 15 sedatives residues in mutton.

RESULTS

After enzymolysis, sedatives residues in mutton were extracted by ammonium hydroxide–acetonitrile (10:90, v/v) and determined by RRLC‐MS/MS with quantification by standard curve method. The calibration curves showed good linearity within the concentrations of 0.5–50 µg kg−1 with the correlation coefficients (r2) ranged from 0.9639 to 0.9984. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were 0.25–2.5 and 0.5–5 µg kg−1, respectively. The average recoveries of spikes samples were in the ranges of 74.1–116.8% with relative standard deviations of intra‐ and inter‐day ranged from 2.6% to 11.2% and from 2.1% to 11.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This method is simple, sensitive and accurate in the determination of sedative residues. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Perineal reconstruction using pedicled vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (VRAM)
Authors: Touny Ahmed , Othman Haitham , Maamoon Sherif , Ramzy Samy , Elmarakby Hamdy
Published: June 2014

Background

The perineal wound is a major source of morbidity after abdominoperineal resection (APR) for rectal cancer, particularly after preoperative irradiation. Myocutaneous flap reconstruction is a viable alternative to primary perineal wound repair providing well‐vascularized non‐irradiated tissue to fill the dead space, and improve wound healing.

Patients and Methods

Sixty patients with low rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant radiotherapy were prospectively randomized to either primary perineal wound closure (Group B) or VRAM perineal reconstruction (Group A). The study was carried out in the surgical department, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University over a period of 4 years from August 2008 to July 2012. All patients were evaluated as regards incidence of perineal wound complications, abdominal wall complications, and added co‐morbidity.

Results

Perineal wound complications were observed in 5 patients in group A (17.2%) and in 14 patients in group B (46.4%) (P = 0.015). There was no significant difference in the incidence of abdominal wound morbidity between both groups. Operative blood loss and time were lower in group B.

Conclusion

The vertical rectus myocutaneous flap (VRAM) is a relatively simple and reliable technique for perineal wound reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:752–757. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of four sulfonylurea herbicides in tea by matrix solid‐phase dispersion cleanup followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction
Authors: Liang Pei , Wang Jinjin , Liu Guojiao , Guan Jinyan
Published: June 2014

Matrix solid‐phase dispersion combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction has been developed as a new sample pretreatment method for the determination of four sulfonylurea herbicides (chlorsulfuron, bensulfuron‐methyl, chlorimuron‐ethyl, and pyrazosulfuron) in tea by high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The extraction and cleanup by matrix solid‐phase dispersion was carried out by using CN‐silica as dispersant and carbon nanotubes as cleanup sorbent eluted with acidified dichloromethane. The eluent of matrix solid‐phase dispersion was evaporated and redissolved in 0.5 mL methanol, and used as the dispersive solvent of the following dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure for further purification and enrichment of the target analytes before high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. Under the optimum conditions, the method yielded a linear calibration curve in the concentration range from 5.0 to 10 000 ng/g for target analytes with a correlation coefficients (r2) ranging from 0.9959 to 0.9998. The limits of detection for the analytes were in the range of 1.31–2.81 ng/g. Recoveries of the four sulfonylurea herbicides at two fortification levels were between 72.8 and 110.6% with relative standard deviations lower than 6.95%. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of four sulfonylurea herbicides in several tea samples.
Nonwoven polypropylene as a novel extractant phase holder for the determination of insecticides in environmental water samples
Authors: Hu Lu , Li Songqing , Zhang Panjie , Yang Xiaoling , Yang Miyi , Lu Runhua , Gao Haixiang
Published: June 2014

In this work, a novel liquid‐phase microextraction approach using nonwoven polypropylene as the extraction solvent holder was developed. Nonwoven polypropylene, a hydrophobic material, is widely used in the cleanup of oil spills. Due to its large surface area, efficient, and full extraction can be achieved. Nonwoven polypropylene containing an ionic liquid was used to extract benzoylurea insecticides (diflubenzuron, teflubenzuron, flufenoxuron, and chlorfluazuron) through vortex‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction. The parameters that affected the extraction efficiency included the type and volume of the extractant, the extraction time, the time and solvent volume for desorption and the mass and surface area of the nonwoven polypropylene. Under the optimized conditions, good linearity was obtained, with coefficients of determination greater than 0.9996, and the limit of detections of these compounds, calculated at S/N = 3, were in the range of 0.73–5.0 ng/mL. The recoveries of the four insecticides at two spiked levels ranged from 93.3 to 102.0%, with relative standard deviations of less than 4.0%. The proposed method was then successfully used for the rapid determination of benzoylurea insecticides in spiked real water samples before liquid chromatographic analysis. The procedure is simple, inexpensive, easy to execute, and can be widely used.
Propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by modulated moving source in dispersive lossy media
Authors: Burlak G. , Rabinovich V.
Published: June 2014

We apply the complex two‐dimensional stationary‐phase method for problems of electromagnetic waves radiation from the moving modulated sources in dispersive and lossy medium. The explicit formulas for fields generated by a moving source, the Doppler effect, and the retarded time are obtained. We apply the developed approach to numerical study of the Cherenkov radiation in a dispersive medium (Drude model). Our simulations have shown that in double negative dispersive metamaterials, the Cherenkov cone splits in two branches. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complete group classification of systems of two linear second‐order ordinary differential equations: the algebraic approach
Authors: Mkhize T. G. , Moyo S. , Meleshko S. V.
Published: June 2014

We give a complete group classification of the general case of linear systems of two second‐order ordinary differential equations. The algebraic approach is used to solve the group classification problem for this class of equations. This completes the results in the literature on the group classification of two linear second‐order ordinary differential equations including recent results which give a complete group classification treatment of such systems. We show that using the algebraic approach leads to the study of a variety of cases in addition to those already obtained in the literature. We illustrate that this approach can be used as a useful tool in the group classification of this class of equations. A discussion of the subsequent cases and results is given. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Method of the spectral parameter power series in problems of underwater acoustics of the stratified ocean
Authors: Rabinovich Vladimir S. , Hernández‐Juárez Josué
Published: June 2014

The spectral parameter power series method is applied to problems of underwater sound propagation in the stratified ocean. This method is based on representations of solutions of vertical Sturm–Liouville problems of the form of power series with respect to the spectral parameter, and it gives an effective dispersion equation for wave numbers and explicit expressions for the propagating modes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of thin film composites using microstrip line fixtures
Authors: Nguyen Phuong Minh , Chung Jae‐Young
Published: June 2014

We present a technique to measure the material parameters of a thin film composite over a broad frequency range (50 MHz to 2.5 GHz). Two different microstrip line fixtures are prepared for the in‐plane permittivity and permeability measurements, respectively, and their geometries are optimized to uniformly excite the E‐field and H‐field on the film surface. With this, broadband S‐parameter responses of the film can be captured and used in the material parameter retrieval process. The latter is based on the well‐known Nicolson–Ross–Weir equations in conjunction with curve fitting a set of full‐wave simulation data. A patterned magnetic film composite with thin (150 µm) and small (1 × 1 cm2) form factor is characterized using the proposed method. The measurement results demonstrate a constant in‐plane permittivity but a dispersive in‐plane permeability over the target frequency range. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2071–2074, 2014
An eye‐opening measurement circuit for a feed‐forward equalizer
Authors: Arigong Bayaner , Zhang Hualiang , Yoon Sangwoog , Jung Sungyong , Kim Hyoungsoo
Published: June 2014

An eye‐opening measurement circuit provides information about the signal quality of the high‐speed data through the band‐limited channel. Thus this information can be used to evaluate the channel performance, especially when the communication environments are changing constantly. By implementing this as a system‐on‐a chip, it is possible to realize the reconfigurable system such as an adaptable feed‐forward equalizer, which will adapt itself through the changes of the communication channel. Moreover, the highly integrated single‐chip eye‐opening monitoring block can achieve more efficient and cost‐effective communication chip test. In this article, we propose a new eye‐opening measurement circuit, which can work up to 10 GHz. Using the fall time and rise time of the signal, which are affected by intersymbol interference, the corresponding characteristic is converted to DC values to assess the channel performance. The proposed eye‐opening measurement circuit and tunable delay line are fabricated in 0.18‐µm CMOS technology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2136–2141, 2014
Fabrication and measurement of a monopole antenna with three arc‐shaped strips for WLAN/WiMAX applications
Authors: Yoon Joong Han
Published: June 2014

In this article, a novel, compact, printed antenna is applied to simultaneous wireless local area network (WLAN)/Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access (WiMAX) applications. The proposed antenna is composed of three arc‐shaped monopole strips and a rectangular ground plane. The three arc‐shaped strips of the antenna generate three desired resonate frequencies and exhibit relative independence while being tuned separately. Based on the concept, a prototype of the proposed triple‐band antenna is designed, fabricated, and tested. The numerical and experiment results demonstrated that the proposed antenna satisfied the −10 dB impedance bandwidth requirement (467.5 MHz for the 2.4/2.5 GHz bands, from 2.23 to 2.6975 GHz; 857.5 MHz for the 3.5 GHz bands, from 3.3975 to 4.255 GHz; 2,012.5 MHz for the 5 GHz bands, from 5.06 to 7.0725 GHz), while simultaneously covering the WLAN and WiMAX bands. The proposed triple band antenna achieves omnidirectional radiation patterns at all three frequency bands with an antenna peak gain of 4.68 dBi for the lowest band, 2.74 dBi for the middle band, and 3.11 dBi for the highest band. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2061–2066, 2014
Microstrip lowpass–highpass diplexer for a quadplexer application
Authors: Jung Minjae , Min Byung‐Wook
Published: June 2014

A microstrip low‐loss diplexer is designed based on a lowpass and highpass Chebyshev filter configuration and combined with two duplexers for a quadplexer application. A 50‐Ω transmission line is added to the lowpass filter to have a high impedance at the highpass frequency band, resulting in low loss and high isolation. To minimize size of the diplexer, high impedance meander lines, interdigitated capacitors, and stepped impedance transmission lines are used. The proposed diplexer has the isolation higher than 41 dB with the insertion loss less than 1.6 dB at the designed frequencies. The designed quadplexer has a good transmission performances at all four frequency bands, and can be used for a dual‐band frequency division multiplexing system with a dual‐band/broadband antenna. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2026–2028, 2014
Direct conversion Doppler radar vital sign detection system using power management technique
Authors: Lee Chie‐In , Lin Yan‐Ting , Chen Jhih‐Jie , Lin Wei‐Cheng
Published: June 2014

This article is the first to present a low power consumption direct conversion Doppler radar vital sign detection system using a power management technique to detect biomedical signals. The optimal pulse bias with simultaneous switching noise considered was designed to decrease power consumption of the sensor. A noncontact vital sign detection measurement using the optimal pulse bias was performed on a human subject. Based on experimental results, the presented simple and low power system can accurately detect human cardiopulmonary activity, including respiration and heartbeat. Calculated physiological signal amplitudes based on a spectral analysis validates the detection result from presented work. When compared with the sensor using a power amplifier, the proposed sensor can achieve low power dissipation for biomedical monitoring and green energy applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2167–2174, 2014
Implementation of cross couplings in microwave bandpass filters
Authors: Belyaev B. A. , Serzhantov A. M. , Bal'va Y. F. , Tyurnev V. V. , Leksikov A. A. , Galeev R. G.
Published: June 2014

New quasi‐lumped resonator bandpass filters with cross couplings are presented. Coaxial and suspended stripline structures are considered. These filters are notable for their extremely wide and deep upper stopbands at small dimensions. They also have transmission zeros near the passband that significantly improve frequency selectivity. Photographs and measured frequency responses for the four fabricated filters are presented. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2021–2025, 2014
Compact ultra‐wideband bandpass filter using quad‐T‐stub‐loaded ring structure
Authors: Xu Kai‐Da , Zhang Yong‐Hong , Li Joshua Le‐Wei , Joines William T. , Liu Qing Huo
Published: June 2014

A compact ultrawideband (UWB) planar bandpass filter (BPF) using quad‐T‐stub‐loaded ring resonator is presented. At this filter, two sets of the four high impedance lines at the two sides of the ring as the coupling fed structure are used to gain much stronger coupling effect. Compared with the conventional ring resonator filter, the bandwidth of the UWB BPF can be improved after we load four T‐shaped stubs on the ring resonator. That is because these stubs can increase the effective electrical lengths, and also lower the second and third resonant frequencies of the ring resonator at no expense of the size increase. Finally, a prototype of the proposed UWB BPF with 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 101% has been designed and fabricated. The measured results are in good agreement with the full‐wave simulations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1988–1991, 2014
Analysis and design of a compact ultrawideband LNA with 2.3 ± 0.1 dB NF and ±14.6 ps group‐delay‐variation in 0.18‐µm CMOS
Authors: Lin Yo‐Sheng , Wang Chien‐Chin , Lee Guan‐Lin , Wang Chiu‐Hsuan
Published: June 2014

A low‐noise figure (NF) and high power gain (S21) 3–10 GHz ultrawideband low‐noise amplifier (UWB LNA) with excellent phase linearity using standard 0.18‐µm CMOS technology is reported. An enhanced π‐match input network is used to achieve wideband input impedance matching. Both high and flat S21 and low and flat NF frequency responses are achieved by tuning the pole frequencies and pole quality factors of the second‐order gain and NF frequency responses to approximate the maximally flat condition simultaneously. The LNA consumes 18 mW, achieving S11 better than −10 dB for frequency lower than 12.2 GHz and group‐delay‐variation smaller than ±14.6 ps for frequencies 3–10 GHz. Additionally, high and flat S21 of 13.7 ± 1.5 dB is achieved for frequencies 1–12.5 GHz, which means the corresponding 3‐dB bandwidth is 11.5 GHz. Furthermore, the LNA achieves minimum NF of 2.2 dB at 4 GHz and NF of 2.3 ± 0.1 dB for frequencies 3–10 GHz, one of the best NF results ever reported for a 3–10 GHz CMOS UWB LNA. The measured input third‐order intermodulation point (IIP3) is −0.2 dBm at 6 GHz. The chip area is only 0.601 × 0.662 mm2 (i.e., 0.4 mm2) excluding the test pads. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2047–2053, 2014
Ultrabroadband balun with 1:4 impedance transformation ratio using transmission‐line transformers
Authors: Lee H. , Gu J. , Kwon J. , Seo M. , Ham J. , Kim H. , Yang Y.
Published: June 2014

This article presents an ultrabroadband balun with 1:4 impedance transformation ratio using transmission‐line transformers. The proposed ultrabroadband balun consists of one 1:1 transmission‐line transformer as a balun and two 1:4 transmission‐line transformers for impedance transformation. Each transmission‐line transformer is based on a coaxial line, which is wound around a ferrite core to extend the bandwidth to the lower frequency region. Experimentally optimized offset transmission lines are used to compensate for the phase imbalance characteristics at the high frequency band. The implemented ultrabroadband balun operates from 300 kHz to 400 MHz with a return loss of below 12 dB and an insertion loss of less than 1 dB. The magnitude and phase imbalance for the balanced signal output are both less than 0.5 dB and 2.0°, respectively. An outstanding relative bandwidth (the ratio of the highest frequency to the lowest frequency in the operational band) of 1330 was achieved. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1974–1978, 2014
Design of 64‐mA laser diode drive amplifier for 2.4‐GHz radio‐over‐fiber transmission systems
Authors: Hu Zhengfei , Chen Yingmei , Huang Mindi
Published: June 2014

This article presented the design of a large drive current laser diode amplifier for 2.4‐GHz radio‐over‐fiber transmission systems in TSMC 0.18‐µm CMOS technology. The proposed drive amplifier adopted a single‐ended two‐stage amplifier structure with the operating voltages of 1.8 and 3.6 V. The technique of dynamic bias is used to enhance linearity. The measurement results show that the linear amplifier achieves the power gain of 16.9 dB, the output 1‐dB compression point of 20.1 dBm at 2.4 GHz. The maximum output modulation current is up to 64 mA. The components are all on chip including the input and output matching network, and the total chip area is 1.0 × 0.73 mm2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:1971–1974, 2014