bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Pragmatic Instruction versus Educational Sojourn on Knowledge of Conventional Expressions
Authors: Rafieyan Vahid
Published: June 2016

Conventional expressions are crucial for social interactions. However, despite their communicative value, they are not acquired even by advanced language learners. Therefore, some sort of pragmatic intervention in the form of pragmatic instruction or educational sojourn should be provided to help language learners develop their knowledge of target language conventional expressions. To this end, the current study was conducted on two groups of participants including 15 Malaysian undergraduate students of English education at a university in Malaysia and 15 Malaysian undergraduate students of English education from the same Malaysian university on a one-semester academic exchange program at a university in the United States to compare the effect of pragmatic instruction and educational sojourn on the development of knowledge of target language conventional expressions. Knowledge of target language conventional expressions was assessed through a discourse completion task. The results of independent-samples t-test revealed the superiority of the effect of pragmatic instruction to educational sojourn in developing knowledge of target language conventional expressions. The pedagogical implications of the findings suggested incorporation of pragmatic features of the target language into foreign language class instruction.
Relationships among Foreign Language Anxiety, Academic Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Metacognitive Awareness: A Structural Equation Modelling
Authors: Tuncer Murat , Dogan Yunus
Published: June 2016

The present research attempted to investigae the relationships among foreign language classroom anxiety, academic self-efficacy beliefs and metacognitive awareness of Turkish university students studying English. The population included the students at the University of Fırat who were already registered to study at different engineering departments, and had compulsory English prep-class education. The sample consisted of 271 students who wanted to take part in the study. For data collection, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Questionnaire developed by Horwitz et. al(1986), the Academic Self-efficacy Questionnairedeveloped by Owen and Froman (1988) and the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory developed by Schraw and Dennison (1994) were used. The analyses of the study were carried out by using structural equation modelling. As a result, it was found that academic self-efficacy predicted foreign language classroom anxiety significantly in a positive way; academic self-efficacy predicted metacognitive awareness significantly in a negative way, and foreign language classroom anxiety predicted metacognitive awareness significantly in a positive way.
Poor and Unhygienic Nutrition in Schools of District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Nabi Ghulam , Aziz Tariq , Aqdas Muhammad Imtiaz , Khan Nasrullah , Rahman Aziz Ur , Saima Dr. , Hassan Noor Ul
Published: June 2016

Proper qualitative and quantitative nutrition is very crucial for both physical and mental development of children. School going children need special attention with respect to their nutrition need as, poor and unhygienic nutrition not only have serious effects on physical and mental growth, but also compromises cognitive behavior. Some developed countries have formulated special lunch food programs for school children and is under strict control. However, in developing countries there is no such policy. This review article focuses on the food items mostly served and their possible consequences in the schools of Pakistan especially in district Lower Dir.
Vaart de notaris tuchtrechtelijk op het kompas van de verkopende executeur? In het algemeen wel, nu niet!
Authors: Schols B.M.E.M.
Published: June 2016

Vaart de notaris tuchtrechtelijk op het kompas van de verkopende executeur? In het algemeen wel, nu niet!

De aanleiding voor deze bijdrage is het arrest van Hof Amsterdam van 22 december 2015, ECLI:NL:GHAMS:2015:5551, waarin de notariële tuchtrechter moest oordelen over de rol van de notaris bij de verkoop van een landgoed door een beheersexecuteur. Bijzondere omstandigheden in de casus zijn onder meer dat er géén schulden van de nalatenschap waren en dat de koopovereenkomst op een notariskantoor werd gesloten.

De notaris dient volgens het hof te onderzoeken of tegeldemaking nodig is voor de betaling van de schulden van de nalatenschap. De auteur concludeert dat de notaris civielrechtelijk en tuchtrechtelijk niet te benijden is in dezen. De erflater doet er in ieder geval goed aan om ter uitbreiding van de beschikkingsbevoegdheid van de executeur een afwikkelingsbewind in te stellen.
Vervanging van de executeur door de kantonrechter
Authors: van der Geld L.A.G.M.
Published: June 2016

Vervanging van de executeur door de kantonrechter

Een executeur kan komen te ontbreken, bijvoorbeeld omdat hij is vooroverleden. Voor die situatie kan een erflater in zijn testament een vervangingsclausule hebben opgenomen als bedoeld in artikel 4:142 lid 1 BW, waarbij aan de kantonrechter de bevoegdheid wordt toegekend om een vervanger te benoemen. De auteur bespreekt in deze bijdrage hoe de vervangingsclausule uitwerkt in de praktijk.
Advancing haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell biology through single‐cell profiling
Authors: Hamey Fiona K. , Nestorowa Sonia , Wilson Nicola K. , Göttgens Berthold
Published: June 2016

Haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) sit at the top of the haematopoietic hierarchy, and their fate choices need to be carefully controlled to ensure balanced production of all mature blood cell types. As cell fate decisions are made at the level of the individual cells, recent technological advances in measuring gene and protein expression in increasingly large numbers of single cells have been rapidly adopted to study both normal and pathological HSPC function. In this review we emphasise the importance of combining the correct computational models with single‐cell experimental techniques, and illustrate how such integrated approaches have been used to resolve heterogeneities in populations, reconstruct lineage differentiation, identify regulatory relationships and link molecular profiling to cellular function.
Dissolved organic matter transport reflects hillslope to stream connectivity during snowmelt in a montane catchment
Authors: Burns Margaret A. , Barnard Holly R. , Gabor Rachel S. , McKnight Diane M. , Brooks Paul D.
Published: June 2016

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) transport is a key biogeochemical linkage across the terrestrial‐aquatic interface in headwater catchments, and quantifying the biological and hydrological controls on DOM composition provides insight into DOM cycling at the catchment scale. We evaluated the mobility of DOM components during snowmelt in a montane, semiarid catchment. DOM composition was evaluated on a near‐daily basis within the soil and the stream during snowmelt, and was compared to groundwater samples using a site‐specific parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model derived from soil extracts. The fluorescent component loadings in the interstitial soil water and in the groundwater were significantly different and did not temporally change during snowmelt. In the stream, a transition occurred during snowmelt from fluorescent DOM with higher contributions of amino acid‐like components indicative of groundwater to higher humic‐like contributions indicative of soil water. Furthermore, we identified a humic‐like fluorescent component in the soil water and the stream that is typically only observed in extracted water soluble organic matter from soil which may suggest hillslope to stream connectivity over very short time scales. Qualitative interpretations of changes in stream fluorescent DOM were supported by two end‐member mixing analyses of conservative tracers. After normalizing fluorescent DOM loadings for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, we found that the peak in DOC concentration in the stream was driven by the nonfluorescent fraction of DOM. This study demonstrated how PARAFAC analysis can be used to refine our conceptual models of runoff generation sources, as well as provide a more detailed understanding of stream chemistry dynamics.
Travel times in the vadose zone: Variability in space and time
Authors: Sprenger Matthias , Seeger Stefan , Blume Theresa , Weiler Markus
Published: June 2016

Water travel times reflect hydrological processes, yet we know little about how travel times in the unsaturated zone vary with time. Using the soil physical model HYDRUS‐1D, we derived time variable travel time distributions for 35 study sites within the Attert catchment in Luxembourg. While all sites experience similar climatic forcing, they differ with regard to soil types (16 Cambisols, 12 Arenosols, and 7 Stagnosols) and the vegetation cover (29 forest and 6 grassland). We estimated site specific water flow and transport parameters by fitting the model simulations to observed soil moisture time series and depth profiles of pore water stable isotopes. With the calibrated model, we tracked the water parcels introduced with each rainfall event over a period of several years. Our results show that the median travel time of water from the soil surface to depths down to 200 cm is mainly driven by the subsequent rainfall amounts. The median time until precipitation is taken up by roots is governed by the seasonality of evapotranspiration rates. The ratio between the amount of water that leaves the soil profile by on the one hand and evaporation and transpiration on the other hand also shows an annual cycle. This time variable response due to climatic forcing is furthermore visible in the multimodal nature of the site specific master transit time distribution representing the flow‐averaged probability density for rainwater to become recharge. The spatial variability of travel times is mainly driven by soil texture and structure, with significant longer travel times for the clayey Stagnosols than for the loamy to sandy Cambisols and Arenosols.
Synchronous oceanic spreading and continental rifting in West Antarctica
Authors: Davey F. J. , Granot R , Cande S. C. , Stock J. M. , Selvans M. , Ferraccioli F.
Published: June 2016

Magnetic anomalies associated with new ocean crust formation in the Adare Basin off north‐western Ross Sea (43–26 Ma) can be traced directly into the Northern Basin that underlies the adjacent morphological continental shelf, implying a continuity in the emplacement of oceanic crust. Steep gravity gradients along the margins of the Northern Basin, particularly in the east, suggest that little extension and thinning of continental crust occurred before it ruptured and the new oceanic crust formed, unlike most other continental rifts and the Victoria Land Basin further south. A preexisting weak crust and localization of strain by strike‐slip faulting are proposed as the factors allowing the rapid rupture of continental crust.
Effects of ionizing energetic electrons and plasma transport in the ionosphere during the initial phase of the December 2006 magnetic storm
Authors: Suvorova A. V. , Huang C.‐M. , Dmitriev A. V. , Kunitsyn V. E. , Andreeva E. S. , Nesterov I. A. , Klimenko M. V. , Klimenko V. V. , Tumanova Yu. S.
Published: June 2016

The initial phase of a major geomagnetic storm on 14 December 2006 was selected in order to investigate the ionizing effect of energetic electrons in the ionosphere. The global network of GPS receivers was used to analyze the total electron content (TEC). A strong positive ionospheric storm of ~20 TEC units (TECU) with ~6 h duration was observed on the dayside during the interval of northward interplanetary magnetic field. At the same time, the NOAA/POES satellites observed long‐lasting intense fluxes of >30 keV electrons in the topside ionosphere at middle and low latitudes, including a near‐equatorial forbidden zone outside of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). We found that the TEC increases overlapped well with the enhancements of energetic electrons. Modeling of the ionospheric response by using a Global Self‐consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Protonosphere, based on the standard mechanisms of plasma transport, could only partially explain the ionospheric response and was unable to predict the long‐duration increase of TEC. For the energetic electrons, we estimated the ionizing effect of ~45 TECU and ~23 TECU in the topside ionosphere, respectively, inside and outside of SAA. The ionizing effect contributed from 50% to 100% of TEC increases and provided the long duration and wide latitudinal extension of the positive ionospheric storm. This finding is a very important argument in supporting significant ionizing effect of energetic electrons in the storm time ionosphere both at middle and low latitudes.
Anomalous density and elastic properties of basalt at high pressure: Reevaluating of the effect of melt fraction on seismic velocity in the Earth's crust and upper mantle
Authors: Clark Alisha N. , Lesher Charles E. , Jacobsen Steven D. , Wang Yanbin
Published: June 2016

Independent measurements of the volumetric and elastic properties of Columbia River basalt glass were made up to 5.5 GPa by high‐pressure X‐ray microtomography and GHz‐ultrasonic interferometry, respectively. The Columbia River basalt displays P and S wave velocity minima at 4.5 and 5 GPa, respectively, violating Birch's law. These data constrain the pressure dependence of the density and elastic moduli at high pressure, which cannot be modeled through usual equations of state nor determined by stepwise integrating the bulk sound velocity as is common practice. We propose a systematic variation in compression behavior of silicate glasses that is dependent on the degree of polymerization and arises from the flexibility of the aluminosilicate network. This behavior likely persists into the liquid state for basaltic melts resulting in weak pressure dependence for P wave velocities perhaps to depths of the transition zone. Modeling the effect of partial melt on P wave velocity reductions suggests that melt fraction determined by seismic velocity variations may be significantly overestimated in the crust and upper mantle.
Four‐bit reconfigurable discriminator for frequency identification receivers: A building block approach
Authors: Espinosa‐Espinosa Moisés , Llamas‐Garro Ignacio , de Oliveira Bruno Gomes Moura , de Melo Marcos T. , Kim Jung‐Mu
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a building block approach to design a reconfigurable discriminator (RD), which is the core circuit in frequency identification receivers. The RD is used to identify an unknown signal; the output of the circuit determines a frequency subband where the unknown signal falls into. The proposed building block design approach is scalable and can be used to produce any multibit RD. This design approach can be used to produce RD circuits with more or less resolution for a fixed band of operation, according to the number of bits used for a given design. The building block approach is demonstrated through the design of a 4‐bit RD. This design is a two‐port device that provides a series readout and can produce 4 bits for frequency identification. The device operates from 1 to 4 GHz, implemented by microstrip lines and PIN diode switches. Simulated and measured responses are in agreement.
Nano‐Size Zirconium‐Enriched Cores in Mg–Gd–Y–Zr: An Atomic‐Scale HAADF–STEM Study
Authors: Zheng Jing‐Xu , Chen Bin
Published: June 2016

In the present study, nano‐size zirconium‐enriched cores are observed in Mg–Gd–Y–Zr alloy by means of atomic‐scale high‐angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF–STEM). The ZCs are identified as defect‐incorporated Al2Zr (type‐I) and AlZr2 (type‐II). The concentration of Al in the alloy is 0.039 wt% as a common impurity element in Mg alloys. The interfaces between Al2Zr‐type ZCs and the α‐Mg matrix are semi‐coherent, which provide heterogeneous nucleation sites during casting. The orientation relationship between Al2Zr‐type ZCs and the α‐Mg matrix is as follows: [0001]Mg // . In contrast, the orientation relationship between AlZr2‐type ZC and α‐Mg matrix is not observable.
Bacterial Nanocellulose‐Based Flexible Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrate
Authors: Tian Limei , Jiang Qisheng , Liu Keng‐Ku , Luan Jingyi , Naik Rajesh R. , Singamaneni Srikanth
Published: June 2016

Owing to high purity, simple surface chemistry, and 3D nanofibrous structure, biosynthesized bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a highly attractive biomaterial for a wide range of applications. Conventional cellulose‐based laboratory filter paper, adsorbed with plasmonic nanostructures can be employed as a flexible surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. In this work, a BNC film‐based SERS substrate fabricated by gravity‐assisted filtration method is reported. The 3D porous structure of BNC facilitates uniform and dense adsorption of plasmonic nanostructures on the surface and in subsurface regions, which results in large SERS enhancement. Furthermore, significantly lower surface roughness of BNC compared to conventional filter paper results in an excellent uniformity of SERS activity across the entire substrate. Harnessing the smooth surface of BNC, it is shown that BNC‐based SERS substrate serves as an ideal platform for collection, detection, and recognition of bacteria. The 3D plasmonic BNC composites demonstrated here are highly attractive for a broad range of applications including sensing, catalysis, and energy harvesting.
Study of Solid Particle Erosion Wear Behavior of Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite with Cenosphere Filler
Authors: Jena Hemalata , Pradhan Arun Kumar , Pandit Mihir Kumar
Published: June 2016

In this study, solid particle erosion (SPE) wear behavior of bamboo fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite with cenosphere filler was investigated. Cenosphere is an industrial waste of thermal power plants which is produced during burning of pulverized coals. The present composites consisting of varying weight percentage of fibers and cenosphere fillers were prepared by hand lay‐up technique. The erosion wear rates of these composites have been studied with varying impact velocities and impingement angles. The study reveals that addition of cenosphere filler to the bamboo–epoxy composite reduces its erosion wear rate. Morphologies of the eroded surface of composite samples were inspected by a scanning electron microscope to discuss the behavior of erosion wear. Both bamboo–epoxy composite with and without cenosphere filler show semiductile erosion wear behavior with maximum erosion rate at an impingement angle of 60°.
Interface‐Engineered Plasmonics in Metal/Semiconductor Heterostructures
Authors: Jia Chuancheng , Li Xinxi , Xin Na , Gong Yao , Guan Jianxin , Meng Linan , Meng Sheng , Guo Xuefeng
Published: June 2016

Plasmonic manipulation of light in metal/semiconductor heterostructures is a powerful tool that exploits extraordinary optical properties of metallic nanostructures to concentrate and control light at the nanometer scale. Here, recent progresses in the mechanism and strategies developed for the control of plasmon‐induced optical field distribution, hot electron injection and energy transfer at the metal/semiconductor heterostructure interface are discussed. This is of crucial importance to the selection of matched materials, the design of optimized device architectures and the future development of efficient fabrication technologies for plasmon‐enhanced photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.
Long‐term potentiation–like cortical plasticity is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease patients independently from age of onset
Authors: Di Lorenzo Francesco , Ponzo Viviana , Bonnì Sonia , Motta Caterina , Negrão Serra Priscilla C. , Bozzali Marco , Caltagirone Carlo , Martorana Alessandro , Koch Giacomo
Published: June 2016

Objective

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered an age‐related disorder. However, it is unclear whether AD induces the same pathological and neurophysiological modifications in synaptic functions independently from age of disease onset. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation tools to investigate the mechanisms of cortical plasticity and sensory‐motor integration in AD patients with a wide range of disease onset.

Methods

We evaluated newly diagnosed sporadic AD (n = 54) in comparison with healthy age‐matched controls (HS; n = 24). Cortical plasticity mechanisms of long‐term potentiation (LTP) or of long‐term depression (LTD) were assessed using respectively intermittent (iTBS) or continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) protocols. Sensory‐motor integration was evaluated by means of short afferent inhibition (SAI) protocol.

Results

AD patients show after iTBS an impairment of LTP‐like cortical plasticity forming a paradoxical LTD in comparison to HS. LTD‐like cortical plasticity is similar between AD and HS. LTP‐like cortical plasticity is not associated with age, but AD patients presenting with more altered LTP‐like cortical plasticity have more‐severe cognitive decline at 18 months. SAI is impaired in AD and shows a strong association with the individual age of subjects rather than with disease age of onset.

Interpretation

Cortical LTP disruption is a central mechanism of AD that is independent from age of onset. AD can be described primarily as a disorder of LTP‐like cortical plasticity not influenced by physiological aging and associated with a more‐severe cognitive decline. Ann Neurol 2016;80:202–210
From a Sequential to a Concurrent Reaction in Aqueous Medium: Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Allylic Alcohol Isomerization and Asymmetric Bioreduction
Authors: Ríos‐Lombardía Nicolás , Vidal Cristian , Liardo Elisa , Morís Francisco , García‐Álvarez Joaquín , González‐Sabín Javier
Published: June 2016

The ruthenium‐catalyzed redox isomerization of allylic alcohols was successfully coupled with the enantioselective enzymatic ketone reduction (mediated by KREDs) in a concurrent process in aqueous medium. The overall transformation, formally the asymmetric reduction of allylic alcohols, took place with excellent conversions and enantioselectivities, under mild reaction conditions, employing commercially and readily available catalytic systems, and without external coenzymes or cofactors. Optimization resulted in a multistep approach and a genuine cascade reaction where the metal catalyst and biocatalyst coexist from the beginning.
Identifikation von Weißweinen durch ionische Poly(para‐phenylen‐ ethinylene) und ihre Komplexe
Authors: Han Jinsong , Bender Markus , Seehafer Kai , Bunz Uwe H. F.
Published: June 2016

Ein einfaches Sensorfeld aus einem anionischen und einem kationischen Poly(para‐phenylenethinylen) (PPE) sowie deren elektrostatischem Komplex unterscheidet verschiedene Weißweine. Die PPEs und der Komplex wurden bei pH 13 verwendet. Der Komplex wurde auch bei pH 3 eingesetzt. Diese aus vier Sensorelementen bestehende “chemische Zunge”, unterscheidet 13 verschiedene Weißweine. Grundlage der sensorischen Erkennung ist die Fluoreszenzlöschung der konjugierten Polymere. Die Fluoreszenzlöschung wird nicht durch die Hauptkomponenten des Weines induziert, denn Säuren, Zucker, Alkohole usw. zeigen keine Fluoreszenzlöschung. Die vorrangigen Löscher sind vielmehr die im Wein befindlichen farbigen Tannine und andere Polyphenole. Die Löschung der PPE‐Fluoreszenz durch die Tannine wird allerdings von den Hauptkomponenten des Weines moduliert.
Spontaneous Formation of an Air‐Stable Radical upon the Direct Fusion of Diphenylmethane to a Triarylporphyrin
Authors: Kato Kenichi , Cha Wonhee , Oh Juwon , Furukawa Ko , Yorimitsu Hideki , Kim Dongho , Osuka Atsuhiro
Published: June 2016

The direct fusion of a diphenylmethane segment to a NiII 5,10,15‐triarylporphyrin with three linkages furnished an air‐ and moisture‐stable neutral radical through unexpected and spontaneous oxidation. This radical was demetalated by treatment with H2SO4 and CF3CO2H to provide the corresponding free‐base radical. These porphyrin radicals are very stable owing to spin delocalization and have been fully characterized through UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallographic analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, electrochemical studies, laser‐based ultrafast spectroscopic studies, and theoretical calculations. They were chemically oxidized and reduced to the corresponding cation and anion but did not react with hydrogen‐atom donors.
Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarbonylative Borylation of Amides: Evidence for Acyl C−N Bond Activation
Authors: Hu Jiefeng , Zhao Yue , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Yemin , Shi Zhuangzhi
Published: June 2016

A nickel/N‐heterocyclic carbene catalytic system has been established for decarbonylative borylation of amides with B2nep2 by C−N bond activation. This transformation shows good functional‐group compatibility and can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for late‐stage borylation of amide groups in complex compounds. More importantly, as a key intermediate, the structure of an acyl nickel complex was first confirmed by X‐ray analysis. Furthermore, the decarbonylative process was also observed. These findings confirm the key mechanistic features of the acyl C−N bond activation process.
Identification of White Wines by using Two Oppositely Charged Poly(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s Individually and in Complex
Authors: Han Jinsong , Bender Markus , Seehafer Kai , Bunz Uwe H. F.
Published: June 2016

We present a simple array composed of an anionic and a cationic poly(para‐phenyleneethynylene) (PPE), together with an electrostatic complex between the two of them. The individual PPEs and the PPE complex were employed in the sensing of white wines at pH 13; the complex was also successfully employed as a sensor element at pH 3. The sensing mechanism is fluorescence quenching. Thirteen different wines were differentiated by this chemical tongue, which consists of four elements. The fluorescence quenching is not induced by the major components of the wines. Compounds such as acids, sugars, and alcohols alone do not quench the fluorescence, but rather the colored tannins and other polyphenols contained in wine are the main quenchers. However, the major constituents of wine significantly modulate the quenching of the PPEs by the tannins.
Preparation and characterization of an amphiphilic macrophotoinitiator based on 2‐hydroxyl‐2‐methyl‐1‐phenylpropanone
Authors: Xie Yangzhi , Huang He
Published: June 2016

On the basis of 2‐hydroxyl‐2‐methyl‐1‐phenylpropanone (HMPP) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), we prepared amphiphilic macrophotoinitiators (HMPP–PEG–HMPP) by first reacting HMPP with isophorone diisocyanate and subsequently reacting it with PEGs with different chain lengths. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high‐performance liquid chromatography, and 1H‐NMR were used to confirm the structure of the amphiphilic macrophotoinitiators. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra showed that the amphiphilic macrophotoinitiators had maximum absorption wavelengths that were similar to those of the low‐molecular‐weight photoinitiator HMPP. The photolysis rate of the amphiphilic macrophotoinitiators was slightly lower than that of HMPP, but the migration rate of the amphiphilic macrophotoinitiators from a UV‐cured matrix was much lower compared to that of HMPP. Because of their amphiphilic nature, these macrophotoinitiators may play roles as both photoinitiators and emulsifiers, and they have been applied to the solution polymerization of water‐soluble monomer acrylamide in water and the emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43910.
Challenges in the Heterologous Production of Antibiotics in Streptomyces
Authors: Bekiesch Paulina , Basitta Patrick , Apel Alexander K.
Published: June 2016

The fast growing genome databases provide us with a large number of so far unknown secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. A key method to study these gene clusters is their heterologous expression in an engineered host strain. Gene clusters derived from actinomycetes are usually expressed in a Streptomyces host strain to identify and investigate the corresponding compounds. However, heterologous expression is often accompanied with some challenges affecting the production rates of secondary metabolites. The first step is therefore the selection of a suitable expression vector and host strain. Once production has been established, there are several possibilities to improve compound yields either by media screens, by overexpression of regulatory or transport genes or by introduction of constitutive or inducible promoters. A surely important, but hitherto little studied factor is also the regulation of a heterologously expressed gene cluster by its host strain. This review gives a short overview on the chances and challenges provided by heterologous production of secondary metabolites in Streptomyces.
News censorship in online social networks: A study of circumvention in the commentsphere
Authors: Schwartz David G. , Yahav Inbal , Silverman Gahl
Published: June 2016

This study investigates the interplay between online news, reader comments, and social networks to detect and characterize comments leading to the revelation of censored information. Censorship of identity occurs in different contexts–for example, the military censors the identity of personnel and the judiciary censors the identity of minors and victims. We address three objectives: (a) assess the relevance of identity censorship in the presence of user‐generated comments, (b) understand the fashion of censorship circumvention (what people say and how), and (c) determine how comment analysis can aid in identifying decensorship and information leakage through comments. After examining 3,582 comments made on 48 articles containing obfuscated terms, we find that a systematic examination of comments can compromise identity censorship. We identify and categorize information leakage in comments indicative of knowledge of censored information that may result in information decensorship. We show that the majority of censored articles contained at least one comment leading to censorship circumvention.
Print or digital? Reading behavior and preferences in Japan
Authors: Kurata Keiko , Ishita Emi , Miyata Yosuke , Minami Yukiko
Published: June 2016

In today's digital age, daily reading may be becoming digital reading. To understand this possible shift from reading print media to reading digital media, we investigated reading behavior for 11 media and reading preferences between print and digital in different circumstances. In August 2012, an online survey was used to inquire about the reading behavior and preference of 1,755 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 69 years. The participants contained equal numbers of men and women from five age brackets. Our main finding was that approximately 70% of total reading time was spent on digital media and that preferences favored print media. Cluster analysis of reading time by media was used to categorize respondents into eight clusters, and a second cluster analysis on stated preference (digital or print) yielded six clusters. The correspondence analysis between reading behavior clusters and preference clusters revealed that there is a mismatch between reading behavior and stated preference for either print or digital media.
Data reusers' trust development
Authors: Yoon Ayoung
Published: June 2016

Data reuse refers to the secondary use of data—not for its original purpose but for studying new problems. Although reusing data might not yet be the norm in every discipline, the benefits of reusing shared data have been asserted by a number of researchers, and data reuse has been a major concern in many disciplines. Assessing data for trustworthiness becomes important in data reuse with the growth in data creation because of the lack of standards for ensuring data quality and potential harm from using poor‐quality data. This research explores many facets of data reusers' trust in data generated by other researchers focusing on the trust judgment process with influential factors that determine reusers' trust. The author took an interpretive qualitative approach by using in‐depth semistructured interviews as the primary research method. The study results suggest different stages of trust development associated with the process of data reuse. Data reusers' trust may remain the same throughout their experiences, but it can also be formed, lost, declined, and recovered during their data reuse experiences. These various stages reflect the dynamic nature of trust.
Noble‐Metal Nanocrystals with Controlled Facets for Electrocatalysis
Authors: Hong Jong Wook , Kim Yena , Kwon Yongmin , Han Sang Woo
Published: June 2016

Noble‐metal nanocrystals (NCs) show excellent catalytic performance for many important electrocatalysis reactions. The crystallographic properties of the facets by which the NCs are bound, closely associated with the shape of the NCs, have a profound influence on the electrocatalytic function of the NCs. To develop an efficient strategy for the synthesis of NCs with controlled facets as well as compositions, understanding of the growth mechanism of the NCs and their interaction with the chemical species involved in NC synthesis is quite important. Furthermore, understanding the facet‐dependent catalytic properties of noble‐metal NCs and the corresponding mechanisms for various electrocatalysis reactions will allow for the rational design of robust electrocatalysts. In this review, we summarize recently developed synthesis strategies for the preparation of mono‐ and bimetallic noble‐metal NCs by classifying them by the type of facets through which they are enclosed and discuss the electrocatalytic applications of noble‐metal NCs with controlled facets, especially for reactions associated with fuel‐cell applications, such as the oxygen reduction reaction and fuel (methanol, ethanol, and formic acid) oxidation reactions.
Effects of Public Posting and Goal Setting on Team Performance in a Residential Setting
Authors: Perrin Christopher J. , Fredrick Amy , Klick Sheila
Published: June 2016

Treatment integrity has been shown to be of critical importance in behavioral programming. The extent to which tasks are completed as designed often has a direct effect on the quality of care provided to clients. Most research on treatment integrity has focused on implementation of interventions. The current study used a multiple baseline design across behaviors to evaluate the effects of public posting of team performance data and goal setting on data collection by direct‐care staff. Results of the current study suggest that public posting and goal setting may be effective strategies to improve staff data collection. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unraveling the aggregation propensity of human insulin C‐peptide
Authors: Tsiolaki Paraskevi L. , Louros Nikolaos N. , Zompra Aikaterini A. , Hamodrakas Stavros J. , Iconomidou Vassiliki A.
Published: June 2016

Over the last 20 years, proinsulin C‐peptide emerged as an important player in various biological events. Much time and effort has been spent in exploring all functional features of C‐peptide and recording its implications in Diabetes mellitus. Only a few studies, though, have addressed C‐peptide oligomerization and link this procedure with Diabetes. The aim of our work was to examine the aggregation propensity of C‐peptide, utilizing Transmission Electron Microscopy, Congo Red staining, ATR‐FTIR, and X‐ray fiber diffraction at a 10 mg ml−1concentration. Our experimental work clearly shows that C‐peptide self‐assembles into amyloid‐like fibrils and therefore, the aggregation propensity of C‐peptide is a characteristic novel feature that should be related to physiological and also pathological conditions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 108: 1–8, 2017.
Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Rotational Atherectomy: A UK Multicentre Experience
Authors: Eftychiou Christos , Barmby David S. , Wilson Simon J. , Ubaid Salahaddin , Markwick Andrew J. , Makri Loukia , Blaxill Jonathan M. , Spratt James C. , Gunning Mark , Greenwood John P.
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To identify factors associated with outcomes following rotational atherectomy (RA).

Background

RA is an effective way to mechanically modify heavily calcified lesions before stenting; however its outcomes are not well defined.

Methods and Results

Retrospective evaluation of all patients who underwent RA in three large UK centers (Leeds General Infirmary (LGI), Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) and University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS)) from March 2005 to January 2013. Five hundred and eighteen patients had RA with median follow‐up period of 22 months. About 68.3% were male, 28.7% had DM and 34.6% were treated because of ACS. Stents were deployed in 97.3% of the patients while 30.7% of the procedures were performed transradially. Maximum burr was ≤1.75 mm in 85.5% and the mean SYNTAX score was 19.5 ± 11.6. Peri‐procedural complications occurred in 6.4% and vascular access complications in 1.9%. Outcomes in the follow‐up period were: MACE 17.8%, cardiac death 7.1%, MI 11.7%, TVR 7.5%, all‐cause death 13.7%, definite stent thrombosis (ST) 1.4% and stroke 2.9%. Patients with intermediate and high SYNTAX scores were more likely to suffer MACE, cardiac death, MI, all‐cause death and ST. Patients with a SYNTAX score >32 were also more likely to have a peri‐procedural complication. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of PVD (P = 0.026, OR = 2.0), DM (P = 0.008, OR = 2.1), ACS presentation (P = 0.011, OR = 2.1) and SYNTAX score ≥23 (P = 0.02, OR = 1.9) had a significant association with MACE.

Conclusions

RA is safe and effective, with high rate of procedural success and relatively low incidence of MACE. PVD, DM, ACS presentation and SYNTAX score were significant predictors for MACE. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Esophageal perforation caused by an AMPLATZERTM vascular plug 4 occlusion device
Authors: Wiegand Gesa , Schlensak Christian , Hofbeck Michael
Published: June 2016

The AMPLATZERTM Vascular Plug 4 (AVP4) is a self‐expandable, replaceable occluder made of Nitinol wire mesh, which allows the safe and effective interventional occlusion of medium size vessels. This report describes an infant diagnosed with pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect, and multifocal collateral lung perfusion through four major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs). A central aorto‐pulmonary shunt was performed at 4 months of age. Because of postoperative pulmonary hyperperfusion, one of the MAPCAs was closed interventionally using a 5 mm AVP4. This MAPCA originated from the descending aorta (DAO) near the fifth thoracic vertebra and ran behind the esophagus to the lower lobe of the right lung. The MAPCA was closed near its origin from the DAO. Four weeks later, the patient presented with severe gastrointestinal bleeding, caused by perforation of the AVP4 into the esophagus. The occluder was extracted surgically, the MAPCA was clipped and the esophageal injury was sutured. To date, there have been no reports describing esophageal perforation due to an AVP4. The perforation in this patient may have been due to implantation of the AVP4 near the aorta in a MAPCA segment located directly in front of the spine and behind the esophagus. Another possible factor may have been the requirement for a gastrointestinal feeding tube. Although the occluder is soft and flexible, the spindle‐shaped ends may cause trauma if they are located close to other structures. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Procedural outcomes with use of the flash ostial system in aorto‐coronary ostial lesions
Authors: Nguyen‐Trong Phuong‐Khanh J. , Martinez Parachini Jose Roberto , Resendes Erica , Karatasakis Aris , Danek Barbara A. , Alame Aya , Makke Lorenza B. , Ayers Colby R. , Roesle Michele , Rangan Bavana , Banerjee Subhash , Brilakis Emmanouil S.
Published: June 2016

Background

The Flash Ostial system (Ostial Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA) was designed to optimize implantation of aorto‐ostial coronary stents by flaring the proximal stent struts against the aortic wall.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical record, angiograms, and intravascular ultrasound images of 22 aorto‐ostial percutaneous coronary interventions performed at our institution between March and September 2015. The Flash Ostial system was used in 13 cases (59%).

Results

Mean age was 67 ± 8 years and all patients were men. The target vessel was the right coronary artery (59%), left main (27%), or a saphenous vein graft (14%); 59% of the lesions had moderate/severe calcification. The mean number of predilation balloons was 1.8 ± 1.6, mean Flash ostial balloon diameter was 3.3 ± 0.5 mm and mean inflation pressure was 13.1 ± 4.0 atmospheres. Intravascular ultrasonography (available for 19 patients) revealed mean ostial minimum lumen cross‐sectional area (MLA) of 9.2 ± 3.0 mm2 and reference MLA of 8.5 ± 2.7 mm2. The percent difference between ostial and reference MLA was higher in cases in which the Flash Ostial system was used versus those where it was not (9.6 ± 5.5% vs. 4.0 ± 2.8%, P = 0.03). All stent struts were well apposed. Technical success was 100%. One patient developed a left groin pseudoaneurysm treated with thrombin injection and one patient had a periprocedural myocardial infarction. Median contrast, fluoroscopy time, and procedure time were 235 mL, 33 min, and 118 min, respectively.

Conclusions

The Flash Ostial system can be successfully used in aorto‐ostial stenting, resulting in large ostial vessel MLA. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystal‐Field and Covalency Effects in Uranates: An X‐ray Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Butorin Sergei M. , Kvashnina Kristina O. , Smith Anna L. , Popa Karin , Martin Philippe M.
Published: June 2016

The electronic structure of UV‐ and UVI‐containing uranates NaUO3 and Pb3UO6 was studied by using an advanced technique, namely X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in high‐energy‐resolution fluorescence‐detection (HERFD) mode. Due to a significant reduction in core–hole lifetime broadening, the crystal‐field splittings of the 5f shell were probed directly in HERFD‐XAS spectra collected at the U 3d edge, which is not possible by using conventional XAS. In addition, the charge‐transfer satellites that result from U 5f–O 2p hybridization were clearly resolved. The crystal‐field parameters, 5f occupancy, and degree of covalency of the chemical bonding in these uranates were estimated by using the Anderson impurity model by calculating the U 3d HERFD‐XAS, conventional XAS, core‐to‐core (U 4f–3d transitions) resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering (RIXS), and U 4f X‐ray photoelectron spectra. The crystal field was found to be strong in these systems and the 5f occupancy was determined to be 1.32 and 0.84 electrons in the ground state for NaUO3 and Pb3UO6, respectively, which indicates a significant covalent character for these compounds.
Host–Guest Assembly of a Molecular Reporter with Chiral Cyanohydrins for Assignment of Absolute Stereochemistry
Authors: Gholami Hadi , Anyika Mercy , Zhang Jun , Vasileiou Chrysoula , Borhan Babak
Published: June 2016

The absolute stereochemistry of cyanohydrins, derived from ketones and aldehydes, is obtained routinely, in a microscale and derivatization‐free manner, upon their complexation with Zn‐MAPOL, a zincated porphyrin host with a binding pocket comprised of a biphenol core. The host–guest complex leads to observable exciton‐coupled circular dichroism (ECCD), the sign of which is easily correlated to the absolute stereochemistry of the bound cyanohydrin. A working model, based on the ECCD signal of cyanohydrins with known configuration, is proposed.
An Easy Access to Organic Salt‐Based Stimuli‐Responsive and Multifunctional Supramolecular Hydrogels
Authors: Majumder Joydeb , Dastidar Parthasarathi
Published: June 2016

By exploiting orthogonal hydrogen bonding involving supramolecular synthons and hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions, a new series of simple organic salt based hydrogelators derived from pyrene butyric acid and its β‐alanine amide derivative, and various primary amines has been achieved. The hydrogels were characterised by microscopy, table‐top rheology and dynamic rheology. FTIR, variable‐temperature 1H NMR and emission spectroscopy established the role of various supramolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking in hydrogelation. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD) studies supported the conclusion that orthogonal hydrogen bonding involving amide–amide and primary ammonium monocarboxylate (PAM) synthons indeed played a crucial role in hydrogelation. The hydrogels were found to be stimuli‐responsive and were capable of sensing ammonia and adsorbing water‐soluble dye (methylene blue). All the hydrogelators were biocompatible (MTT assay in RAW 264.7 cells), indicating their suitability for use in drug delivery.
η6‐Arene‐Zirconium‐PNP‐Pincer Complexes: Mechanism of Their Hydrogenolytic Formation and Their Reactivity as Zirconium(II) Synthons
Authors: Plundrich Gudrun T. , Wadepohl Hubert , Clot Eric , Gade Lutz H.
Published: June 2016

The cyclometalated monobenzyl complexes [(CbzdiphosR‐CH)ZrBnX] 1 iPrCl and 1 PhI reacted with dihydrogen (10 bar) to yield the η6‐toluene complexes [(CbzdiphosR)Zr(η6‐tol)X] 2 iPrCl and 2 PhI (cbzdiphos=1,8‐bis(phosphino)‐3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9H‐carbazole). The arene complexes were also found to be directly accessible from the triiodide [(CbzdiphosPh)ZrI3] through an in situ reaction with a dibenzylmagnesium reagent and subsequent hydrogenolysis, as exemplified for the η6‐mesitylene complex [(CbzdiphosPh)Zr(η6‐mes)I] (3 PhI). The tolyl‐ring in 2 iPrCl adopts a puckered arrangement (fold angle 23.3°) indicating significant arene‐1,4‐diido character. Deuterium labeling experiments were consistent with an intramolecular reaction sequence after the initial hydrogenolysis of a Zr−C bond by a σ‐bond metathesis. A DFT study of the reaction sequence indicates that hydrogenolysis by σ‐bond metathesis first occurs at the cyclometalated ancillary ligand giving a hydrido‐benzyl intermediate, which subsequently reductively eliminates toluene that then coordinates to the Zr atom as the reduced arene ligand. Complex 2 PhI was reacted with 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl isocyanide giving the deep blue, diamagnetic ZrII‐diisocyanide complex [(CbzdiphosPh)Zr(CNDipp)2I] (4 PhI). DFT modeling of 4 PhI demonstrated that the HOMO of the complex is primarily located as a “lone pair on zirconium”, with some degree of back‐bonding into the C≡N π* bond, and the complex is thus most appropriately described as a zirconium(II) species. Reaction of 2 PhI with trimethylsilylazide (N3TMS) and 2 iPrCl with 1‐azidoadamantane (N3Ad) resulted in the formation of the imido complexes [(CbzdiphosR)Zr=NR′(X)] 5 iPrCl‐NAd and 5 PhI‐NTMS, respectively. Reaction of 2 iPrCl with azobenzene led to N−N bond scission giving 6 iPrCl, in which one of the NPh‐fragments is coupled with the carbazole nitrogen to form a central η2‐bonded hydrazide(−1), whereas the other NPh‐fragment binds to zirconium acting as an imido‐ligand. Finally, addition of pyridine to 2 iPrCl yielded the dark purple complex [(CbzdiphosiPr)Zr(bpy)Cl] (7 iPrCl) through a combination of CH‐activation and C−C‐coupling. The structural data and UV/Vis spectroscopic properties of 7 iPrCl indicate that the bpy (bipyridine) may be regarded as a (dianionic) diamido‐type ligand.