bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solution blowing of thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibers: A facile method to produce flexible porous materials
Authors: Polat Yusuf , Pampal Esra Serife , Stojanovska Elena , Simsek Ramazan , Hassanin Ahmed , Kilic Ali , Demir Ali , Yilmaz Safak
Published: October 2015

Solution blowing (SB) is a promising and scalable approach for the production of nanofibers. Air pressure, solution flow‐rate, and nozzle‐collector distance were determined as effective process parameters, while solution concentration was also reported as a material parameter. Here we performed a parametric study on thermoplastic polyurethane/dimethyl formamide (TPU/DMF) solutions to examine the effect of such parameters on the resultant properties such as fiber diameter, diameter distribution, porosity, and air permeability of the nanofibrous webs. The obtained solution blown thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibers had average diameter down to 170 ± 112 nm, which is similar to that observed in electrospinning. However, the production rate per nozzle can be 20 times larger, which is primarily dependent on air pressure and solution flow rate (20 mL/h). Moreover, it was even possible to produce nanofibers polymer concentrations of 20%; however, this increased the average nanofiber diameter. The fibers produced from the TPU/DMF solutions at concentrations of 20% and 10% had average diameters of 671 ± 136 nm and 170 ± 112 nm, respectively. SB can potentially be used for the industrial‐scale production of products such as nanofibrous filters, protective textiles, scaffolds, wound dressings, and battery components. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43025.
Halogen‐Adjusted Chemoselective Synthesis of Fluorene Derivatives with Position‐Controlled Substituents
Authors: Song Juan , Sun Wei , Li Yali , Wei Fuliang , Liu Chao , Qian Yan , Chen Shufen
Published: October 2015

Fluorenes have been synthesized through an efficient novel Pd‐catalyzed tandem cross‐coupling reaction; these substrates are fascinating building blocks found in organic photoelectric materials. The position of the substituent on fluorenes could be conveniently tuned by changing the halogen in the ortho‐halobenzyl bromide substrates when coupled with various arylboronic acids. This newly developed synthetic approach could achieve the potential diversity in fluorene‐based molecular architectures.
The metabolomic study on atherosclerosis mice and its application in a traditional Chinese medicine Sishen granule
Authors: Tian Feng , Gu Lei , Si Aiyong , Yao Quanbao , Zhang Xianwei , Zhao Jihui , Hu Daode
Published: October 2015

Although an atherosclerosis (AS) model using low‐density lipoprotein receptor deletion mice has been widely applied, its pathological pathway in metabolite level is still not clear. To further reveal the metabolite profile and identify the potential biomarkers in AS development, a serum metabolomic approach was developed based on reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC‐Q‐TOF‐MS). The established metabolomic platform was also used for elucidating the therapeutic mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine named Sishen granule (SSKL). Twenty‐one potential biomarkers in AS mouse serum were identified. Through functional analysis of these biomarkers, inflammation, proliferation, dysfunction of energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism were considered the most relevant pathological changes in AS. DNA damage products were found for the first time in the metabolomic study of AS. The network established by 20 biomarkers revealed that pyruvate metabolism, citrate cycle, fatty acid metabolism and urea metabolism were seriously disturbed. This metabolomic study not only supplied a systematic view of the progression of AS but also provided a theoretical basis for the treatment of AS. This metabolomic study also demonstrated that SSKL had therapeutic effectiveness for AS through partly reversing the inflammation reaction and amino acid metabolism dysfunction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein‐Specific Imaging of O‐GlcNAcylation in Single Cells
Authors: Lin Wei , Gao Ling , Chen Xing
Published: October 2015

Thousands of intracellular proteins are post‐translationally modified with O‐GlcNAc, and O‐GlcNAcylation impacts the function of modified proteins and mediates diverse biological processes. However, the ubiquity of this important glycosylation makes it highly challenging to probe the O‐GlcNAcylation state of a specific protein at the cellular level. Herein, we report the development of a FLIM–FRET‐based strategy, which exploits the spatial proximity of the O‐GlcNAc moiety and the attaching protein, for protein‐specific imaging of O‐GlcNAcylation in single cells. We demonstrated this strategy by imaging the O‐GlcNAcylation state of tau and β‐catenin inside the cells. Furthermore, the changes in tau O‐GlcNAcylation were monitored when the overall cellular O‐GlcNAc was pharmacologically altered by using the OGT and OGA inhibitors. We envision that the FLIM–FRET strategy will be broadly applicable to probe the O‐GlcNAcylation state of various proteins in the cells.
Secondary Binding Interactions in a Synthetic Receptor for Trimethyllysine
Authors: Pinkin Nicholas K. , Liu Ina , Abron Jessicca D. , Waters Marcey L.
Published: October 2015

We have systematically studied how secondary interactions with neighboring lysine (Lys) and arginine (Arg) residues influence the binding and selectivity of the synthetic receptor A2N for trimethyllysine (Kme3). Multiple secondary binding sites on A2N are formed by carboxylates rigidly positioned over aromatic rings, a motif that has been shown to stabilize salt bridges. We varied the spacing between KmeX (X=0, 3) and an ancillary Lys or Arg and measured binding by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). These studies revealed that both neighboring residues improve the binding of A2N to KmeX by approximately 1 kcal mol−1, with little influence of the spacing. Nonetheless, the improvement in affinity caused by Arg is enthalpically driven, while for Lys it is entropically driven, suggesting different mechanisms by which the residues interact with the secondary binding site.
Kinetics of reverse water‐gas shift reaction over Pt/Al2O3 catalyst
Authors: Jadhav Suhas G. , Vaidya Prakash D. , Bhanage Bhalchandra M. , Joshi Jyeshtharaj B.
Published: October 2015

The CAMERE (Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation to Form Methanol via a Reverse Water‐Gas Shift Reaction) process for the transformation of CO2 into methanol comprises reverse water‐gas shift (RWGS) and methanol production. In this work, the reaction kinetics of RWGS was investigated using a commercial Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. Catalytic runs were accomplished in a fixed‐bed flow reactor at 0.1 MPa in the 573–873 K range. The space time was varied in the 0.03–0.25 g · h/L range. The prevalence of the chemical control regime was established. The influence of reaction variables on the catalyst performance was investigated, and it was found that the increase in pressure resulted in a growing CO2 conversion value. The reactor was operated under differential reaction conditions and the influence of the H2/CO2 ratio in the feed on reaction rates was studied. Finally, the reaction pathway was analyzed using the associative and redox reaction mechanisms, and the latter appeared dominant over Pt/Al2O3.
Fungal Decontamination of Fleshy Fruit Water Washes by Double Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma
Authors: Ouf Salama A. , Mohamed Abdel‐Aleam H. , El‐Sayed Wael S.
Published: October 2015

The washwater from strawberries had the highest level of contamination by fungal species compared to washwater from cherries or red grapes. The fungal counts in the washwater from moldy fruits were much higher than those recovered from healthy fruits. Aspergillus niger and Penicillium italicum were the most dominant fungi isolated from the fruit washwater. Treatment of the washwater with double atmospheric pressure cold plasma (DAPCP) for 7.5 min induced a significant reduction in the colony forming units of fungal species that reached 74.7–100% in the washwater of cherries. The variation in plasma efficacy for the different samples was dependent on the level of antioxidants in the washwater, which attenuated the oxidizing radicals and reduced the life span of the reactive species generated by the plasma, particularly oxygen radicals. Upon DAPCP treatment, the spores of A. niger exhibited electroporation in their walls. The treatment of the washwater with DAPCP for 9 min induced a steady reduction in the amount of mycotoxins in the washwater of moldy fruits, reaching reductions of 87.93, 66.42, and 72.00% for aflatoxins, fumonisins, and ochratoxins, respectively, in the washwater from cherries.
Performance of an Integrated Treatment System for Clean Drinking Water Production
Authors: Baig Shams Ali , Sheng Tiantian , Zhu Jianwen , Xu Xinhua
Published: October 2015

This study is related to the removal of organics and other pollutants from drinking water using an integrated treatment system consisting of coagulation–sedimentation, ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC)‐enhanced sand filtration. Standard methods and instruments were employed to measure turbidity, chemical oxygen demand determined by using the permanganate method as permanganate index (CODMn), UV254, total organic carbon (TOC), ammonia and nitrite of raw and treated water under controlled laboratorial conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that the total removal rates of turbidity, CODMn, UV254 and TOC were in the range of 98–99.9, 21–71, 33–73 and 20–47%, respectively, in different units of the integrated treatment system. GAC‐enhanced sand filtration significantly removed ammonia and nitrite, and the average removal efficiency was attained to 88 and 98%, respectively. In addition, most of the organic matter concentrations were observed to be reduced in GAC‐enhanced sand filtration and only small molecular weight compounds were detected in the effluent. All these pollutant reductions were noticed in the upper 350 mm of the activated carbon column in GAC‐enhanced sand filtration. The findings from this study suggest that the integrated treatment process can efficiently remove organics and other toxic pollutants from drinking water and can be a better alternative to conventional treatment.
Skin Bond Electron Relaxation Dynamics of Germanium Manipulated by Interactions with H2, O2, H2O, H2O2, HF, and Au
Authors: Wu Lihong , Bo Maolin , Guo Yongling , Wang Yan , Li Can , Huang Yongli , Sun Chang Q
Published: October 2015

Although germanium performs amazingly well at sites surrounding hetero‐coordinated impurities and under‐coordinated defects or skins with unusual properties, having important impact on electronic and optical devices, understanding the behavior of the local bonds and electrons at such sites remains a great challenge. Here we show that a combination of density functional theory calculations, zone‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bond order length strength correlation mechanism has enabled us to clarify the physical origin of the Ge 3d core‐level shift for the under‐coordinated (111) and (100) skin with and without hetero‐coordinated H2, O2, H2O, H2O2, HF impurities. The Ge 3d level shifts from 27.579 (for an isolated atom) by 1.381 to 28.960 eV upon bulk formation. Atomic under‐coordination shifts the binding energy further to 29.823 eV for the (001) and to 29.713 eV for the (111) monolayer skin. Addition of O2, HF, H2O, H2O2 and Au impurities results in quantum entrapment by different amounts, but H adsorption leads to polarization.
Molecular Solution Behaviour of an Intermediate Biofuel Feedstock: Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol (ABE)
Authors: Zehentbauer Florian M. , Kiefer Johannes
Published: October 2015

Mixtures of acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) are common intermediate products in the production of biofuels via biomass fermentation. Their separation to yield, for example, bio‐butanol, is still difficult due to the lack of a fundamental understanding of these mixtures at the molecular level. In order to bridge this gap, a detailed analysis of characteristic features of the vibrational spectrum is carried out. A systematic study of the binary solutions of acetone with ethanol and butanol does not only reveal a universal behaviour at the molecular level when acetone is mixed with short‐chain alcohols, it also shows that the phenomena at a length scale between the molecules and in the macroscopic solution need to be taken into account to understand the structure–property relationships. The size of self‐associated molecule clusters seems to determine whether or not a system exhibits an azeotrope. When a second alcohol is added to an acetone/alcohol solution, no additional non‐idealities are induced, which is advantageous for modelling ternary ABE mixtures and for improving their processing in the production of biofuels.
Characterization and isolation of immature neurons of the adult mouse piriform cortex
Authors: Rubio A. , Belles M. , Belenguer G. , Vidueira S. , Fariñas I. , Nacher J.
Published: October 2015

Physiological studies indicate that the piriform or primary olfactory cortex of adult mammals exhibits a high degree of synaptic plasticity. Interestingly, a subpopulation of cells in the layer II of the adult piriform cortex expresses neurodevelopmental markers, such as the polysialylated form of neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA‐NCAM) or doublecortin (DCX). This study analyzes the nature, origin, and potential function of these poorly understood cells in mice. As previously described in rats, most of the PSA‐NCAM expressing cells in layer II could be morphologically classified as tangled cells and only a small proportion of larger cells could be considered semilunar‐pyramidal transitional neurons. Most were also immunoreactive for DCX, confirming their immature nature. In agreement with this, detection of PSA‐NCAM combined with that of different cell lineage‐specific antigens revealed that most PSA‐NCAM positive cells did not co‐express markers of glial cells or mature neurons. Their time of origin was evaluated by birthdating experiments with halogenated nucleosides performed at different developmental stages and in adulthood. We found that virtually all cells in this paleocortical region, including PSA‐NCAM‐positive cells, are born during fetal development. In addition, proliferation analyses in adult mice revealed that very few cells were cycling in layer II of the piriform cortex and that none of them was PSA‐NCAM‐positive. Moreover, we have established conditions to isolate and culture these immature neurons in the adult piriform cortex layer II. We find that although they can survive under certain conditions, they do not proliferate in vitro either. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 748–763, 2016
Furyl‐Substituted Mixed Phosphonium–Iodonium Ylides in the Synthesis of Annelated P‐Containing Heterocyclic Compounds
Authors: Matveeva Elena D. , Vinogradov Dmitrii S. , Podrugina Tatyana A. , Nekipelova Tatiana D. , Mironov Andrey V. , Gleiter Rolf , Zefirov Nikolay S.
Published: October 2015

Photochemical reactions between stabilized furyl‐substituted phosphonium–iodonium ylides and terminal acetylenes led to the formation of new P‐containing heterocyclic compounds. For the heterocyclization of 2‐furyl‐substituted ylides, we observed an unprecedented electrophilic ipso attack onto the α position of the furan ring in a carbocationic intermediate, leading – via a spiro intermediate – to the rearranged product with a 2,3‐shift in the furan ring.
Developing Wind‐Concentrator Systems for the Use of Wind Turbines in Areas with Low Wind‐Speed Potentials
Authors: Vardar Ali , Eker Bülent , Kurtulmuş Ferhat , Taşkın Onur
Published: October 2015

The ability to supply energy in rural areas and in agricultural plants with renewable energy technologies, especially wind energy, is advantageous in terms of a sustainable environment and the increasing cost of energy. Today, wind turbines are used actively in many areas, some of which are for commercial purposes. Small‐scale wind turbines that produce electricity directly have the necessary characteristics for use in agricultural plants. In this study, wind‐concentrator systems for small‐scale wind turbines that can be used in agricultural electrification applications have been designed for geographical areas where the wind‐speed potential is low. Three different concentrator systems have been designed to make use of low wind‐speed potentials and obtain high power values with relatively small rotor diameters. The three different designs have been produced as prototypes, and power values of 324–503 W m−2 (at 5 m s−1 wind speed) can be obtained by concentrating the wind. The efficiency, power, energy production capacity, and economic elements of the models were determined, and the possible results for agricultural plants have been assessed. According to these assessments, the efficiency values are 71 and 90 % for wind speed and 410 and 600 % for wind power. The energy production capacities are a maximum of 6462, 5193, and 8226 kWh m−2 per year for the conical wind‐concentrator system, the wind‐concentrator system with a panel, and the wind‐concentrator system without a panel, respectively. If the energy production cost per unit of these systems is considered, these systems are not economical. Therefore, these systems must be produced on a large scale to become economical, and their size must be enlarged to reduce the cost. Consequently, the potential power values per unit area and the potential energy values per unit produced by the wind‐concentrator systems will contribute to the production of more energy than that achieved by current wind turbines.
Proton pump inhibitors and risk of periampullary cancers—A nested case–control study
Authors: Chien Li‐Nien , Huang Yan‐Jiun , Shao Yu‐Hsuan Joni , Chang Chen‐Jung , Chuang Ming‐Tsang , Chiou Hung‐Yi , Yen Yun
Published: October 2015

Considerable attention has been focused on long‐term use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications in relation to increased risk of cancer via stimulation of DNA‐damaged cells. The aim of this study is to examine the dose‐dependent effect of PPI on periampullary cancers in a national population‐based cohort. A nested case–control analysis was constructed based on Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and the Taiwan Cancer Registry between the years 2000 and 2010. Cases involving patients diagnosed with periampullary cancers were selected and controls were matched to cases according to age, sex and observational period. A “PPI user” was defined as any patient receiving more than 28 cumulative defined daily doses as measured by prescription drug claims. Conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to the level of PPI exposure. A total of 7,681 cases and 76,762 matched controls were included with a mean follow‐up period of 6.6 years (SD: 2.0). The odds of PPI exposure in patients with periampullary cancers were higher than that of control patients with an adjusted OR of 1.35 (95% CIs: 1.16–1.57). Our results also showed that PPI exposure was slightly linked to periampullary cancers in dose‐dependent manner. A similar association was observed in patients who solely took PPI but no eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection. Long‐term PPI use was associated with an increased risk of periampullary cancers in the current population‐based study. Physicians must weigh potential risks of long‐term maintenance against therapeutic benefit.
Differences in the calcification of preosteoblast cultured on sputter‐deposited titanium, zirconium, and gold
Authors: Chen Peng , Nagai Akiko , Tsutsumi Yusuke , Ashida Maki , Doi Hisashi , Hanawa Takao
Published: October 2015

In this study, osteogenic differentiation and calcification of preosteoblast (MC3T3‐E1) cultured on sputter‐deposited titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), and gold (Au) on cover glasses were evaluated to understand the differences in bone formation ability among these three metals; these metals show the same high corrosion resistance, but Ti and Zr are covered by surface passive oxide film while Au is not covered by the oxide film. Ti and Zr promoted cellular proliferation without osteogenic differentiation. Cells cultured on Ti and Zr expressed higher levels of Runx2, Col1α1, and Akp2 at an earlier stage, which indicated faster promotion of osteogenic differentiation, as compared to those cultured on Au. Moreover, after 21 days of culture, the Bglap1 and Ifitm5 expression peaks in cells cultured on Ti and Zr were higher than those in cells cultured on Au, which indicated faster promotion of calcification. Cells cultured on Ti showed an advantage in osteogenic differentiation at an early stage, while cells on Zr showed better calcification promotion with a long‐term culture. The amount of extracellular calcified deposits was in good agreement with the gene expression results. On the other hand, the intracellular calcium content of cells on Au specimens was higher than that of cells on Ti and Zr specimens. The results indicate that preosteoblasts on Ti and Zr showed faster osteogenic differentiation and calcification than those on Au, whereas Au improved the intracellular calcium content. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 639–651, 2016.
DSPMP: Discriminating secretory proteins of malaria parasite by hybridizing different descriptors of Chou's pseudo amino acid patterns
Authors: Fan Guo‐Liang , Zhang Xiao‐Yan , Liu Yan‐Ling , Nang Yi , Wang Hui
Published: October 2015

Identification of the proteins secreted by the malaria parasite is important for developing effective drugs and vaccines against infection. Therefore, we developed an improved predictor called “DSPMP” (Discriminating Secretory Proteins of Malaria Parasite) to identify the secretory proteins of the malaria parasite by integrating several vector features using support vector machine‐based methods. DSPMP achieved an overall predictive accuracy of 98.61%, which is superior to that of the existing predictors in this field. We show that our method is capable of identifying the secretory proteins of the malaria parasite and found that the amino acid composition for buried and exposed sequences, denoted by AAC(b/e), was the most important feature for constructing the predictor. This article not only introduces a novel method for detecting the important features of sample proteins related to the malaria parasite but also provides a useful tool for tackling general protein‐related problems. The DSPMP webserver is freely available at http://202.207.14.87:8032/fuwu/DSPMP/index.asp. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesorectal pathologic assessment in two grades predicts accurately recurrence, positive circumferential margin, and correlates with survival
Authors: Lino‐Silva Leonardo S. , García‐Gómez Miguel A. , Aguilar‐Romero José M. , Domínguez‐Rodríguez Jorge A. , Salcedo‐Hernández Rosa A. , Loaeza‐Belmont Reynaldo , Ruiz‐García Erika B. , Herrera‐Gómez Ángel
Published: October 2015

Background and Objectives

We aimed to determine the prognostic value of the mesorectum quality assessed in a two‐grade system compared with a classic system.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer were included (n = 103). Mesorectum was assessed into three grades (classic system: complete, nearly complete, incomplete) and compared with a two‐grade system (adequate, inadequate).

Results

Mesorectum was complete in 62 (60.25%) patients, nearly complete in 21, and incomplete in 20. Reassessment showed adequate mesorectum in 83 (80.5%) patients and inadequate in 20. A R0 resection was achieved in 90.4% of adequate mesorectum and in 65% of inadequate mesorectum (P = 0.006). Recurrence was present in 18% of adequate mesorectum patients as compared with 50% of inadequate mesorectum (P = 0.003). The classic system failed to accurately predict the 5‐year survival rate between complete (78.9%) and nearly complete (86.2%) categories (P = 0.235); whereas a two grading system showed a 5‐year survival rate of 80.8% for adequate versus 39.3% for inadequate (P = 0.034).

Conclusion

High recurrence occurred in inadecuate mesorectum patients and was correlated with R1/R2 resections, positive margins, and decreased survival. We propose a simplified classification of mesorectum that correlates with survival and overall recurrence. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015;112:900–906. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Can perioperative acupuncture reduce the pain and vomiting experienced after tonsillectomy? A meta‐analysis
Authors: Cho Hye Kyung , Park In Joon , Jeong Yeon Min , Lee Yeon Ji , Hwang Se Hwan
Published: October 2015

Objectives

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce pain, nausea, and vomiting. However, its use alongside surgical interventions remains a novel practice, despite the increasing applications of alternative medicine. The goal of this meta‐analysis was to perform a systematic review of the literature addressing the effect of acupuncture on postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting following tonsillectomy.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane database.

Methods

Two authors independently searched the databases from the inception of article collection until June 2015. We included 1) analysis studies that compared groups of patients who had received perioperative acupuncture (acupuncture groups) with those who had received a pain control agent or sham treatment (control group); and 2) analysis studies in which the outcomes of interest were postoperative pain intensity, rescue analgesic consumption, or nausea and vomiting.

Results

The pain score reported by patients during the first 48 hours and the postoperative need for analgesics were significantly lower in the acupuncture group versus the control group. Additionally, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group. No major adverse effects of perioperative acupuncture were reported in the enrolled studies.

Conclusion

Perioperative acupuncture may provide pain relief without side effects in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. However, there were high levels of heterogeneity in several of the measured parameters; thus, the efficacy of acupuncture cannot be considered to have been evaluated sufficiently. For this reason, additional large well‐designed trials are required to further support the results of this study.

Level of Evidence

NA. Laryngoscope, 126:608–615, 2016
Snail‐like Particles from Compartmentalized Microfibers
Authors: Lee Jaemin , Park Tae‐Hong , Lee Kyung Jin , Lahann Joerg
Published: October 2015

Electrohydrodynamic cojetting has been employed to synthesize compartmentalized microfibers from thermally responsive hydrogels. The synthesis of the hydrogels as well as their transformation into compartmentalized microcylinders is discussed. After programmable shape‐shifting, snail‐like particles are obtained that undergo functional and structural reconfiguration in response to a change in temperature.

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In vivo wideband multifrequency MR elastography of the human brain and liver
Authors: Dittmann Florian , Hirsch Sebastian , Tzschätzsch Heiko , Guo Jing , Braun Jürgen , Sack Ingolf
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To demonstrate the feasibility of in vivo wideband MR elastography (wMRE) using continuous, time‐harmonic shear vibrations in the frequency range of 10–50 Hz.

Theory and Methods

The method was tested in a gel phantom with marked mechanical loss. The brains and livers of eight volunteers were scanned by wMRE using multislice, single‐shot MRE with optimized fractional encoding and synchronization of sequence acquisition to vibration. Multifrequency three‐dimensional inversion was used to reconstruct compound maps of magnitude |G*| and phase φ of the complex shear modulus. A new phase estimation, φ*, was developed to avoid systematic bias due to noise.

Results

In the phantom, G*‐dispersion measured by wMRE agreed well with oscillatory shear rheometry. |G*| and φ* measured at vibrations of 10–25 HZ, 25–35 HZ, and 40–50 HZ were 0.62 ± 0.08, 1.56 ± 0.16, 2.18 ± 0.20 kPa and 0.09 ± 0.17, 0.39 ± 0.16, 0.20 ± 0.13 rad in brain and 0.89 ± 0.11, 1.67 ± 0.20, 2.27 ± 0.35 kPa and 0.15 ± 0.10, 0.24 ± 0.05, 0.26 ± 0.05 rad in liver. Elastograms including all frequencies showed the best resolution of anatomical detail with |G*| = 1.38 ± 0.12 kPa, φ* = 0.24 ± 0.10 rad (brain) and |G*| = 1.79 ± 0.23 kPa, φ* = 0.24 ± 0.05 rad (liver).

Conclusion

wMRE reveals highly dispersive G* properties of the brain and liver, and our results suggest that the influence of large‐scale structures such as fluid‐filled vessels and sulci on the MRE‐measured parameters increases at low vibration frequencies. Magn Reson Med 76:1116–1126, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quality of Life Assessment in Retinoblastoma: A Cross‐Sectional Study of 122 Survivors from India
Authors: Batra Atul , Kumari Mamta , Paul Reeja , Patekar Mukesh , Dhawan Deepa , Bakhshi Sameer
Published: October 2015

Background

With current modalities, cure rates of retinoblastoma are high and hence the number of survivors is increasing. However, data on quality of life (QOL) are minimal.

Procedure

We analyzed QOL in 122 retinoblastoma survivors using the PedsQLTM 4.0 generic core scale. The self‐reported questionnaire was filled by children of more than 5 years of age who had completed treatment for more than 12 months. The questionnaire consists of 23 questions on physical, social, emotional, and school domains on a scale from 0 to 4. This was converted to a scale from 0 to 100, where higher values represented better QOL. The QOL was compared with 50 siblings. Factors predicting the QOL were assessed.

Results

The median age of retinoblastoma survivors was 98 months (range 60–247) and 68% were males. Overall QOL was significantly poorer in retinoblastoma survivors as compared with the controls. The emotional health domain of QOL was significantly affected. Difficulties in maintaining friendships and competing were reported in the social health domain. The school health domain showed significantly higher absenteeism. However, the physical health domain, including household work, exercise, and self‐care, was similar in both the groups. Lower age at diagnosis (≤18 months) predicted better QOL (P = 0.05), whereas age at assessment, sex, IRSS stage, and previous surgery and radiotherapy were not predictive of poor QOL.

Conclusions

We found a significantly poorer QOL in retinoblastoma survivors with the psychosocial health domain being more affected than the physical domain. Age less than 18 months at diagnosis predicted better QOL.
Improving the stability of polylactic acid foams by interfacially adsorbed particles
Authors: Lobos Juan , Iasella Steven , Rodriguez‐Perez Miguel A. , Velankar Sachin S.
Published: October 2015

Polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which have poor melt strength, are difficult to foam due to severe cell coalescence during foaming. We show that addition of a few percent of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles can stabilize PLA foams against bubble coalescence and collapse. The particles and a chemical blowing agent, were dispersed into the PLA by extrusion, and then foamed by heating. The PTFE‐containing foams remained stable even when the foams were held under molten conditions for extended periods. Foam stability is attributed to an interfacial mechanism: due to their low surface energy, the PTFE particles adsorb on the inner surface of the foam bubbles at a high surface coverage, and endow the bubbles with an interfacial “shell” that prevents coalescence. This mechanism resembles the particle‐stabilization of Pickering emulsions in oil/water systems. Particle adsorption at the interface is a necessary condition for using this approach, and hence this approach is most likely to be successful if the particles have a low surface energy and the polymer has a high surface tension. The approach of using interfacially adsorbed particles can be broadly generalized, and offers the opportunity of foaming various polymers with low melt strength, or for expanding the processing window within which foaming can be conducted. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:9–17, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Synthesis of polypropylene/cellulosic fiber composites using Ziegler‐Natta catalyst by in situ polymerization
Authors: de Fatima Marques Maria V. , Lunz Juliana N. , Oliveira Patrícia L.
Published: October 2015

Composites of polypropylene/natural fiber were obtained synthesizing polypropylene in the presence of chemically treated fibers. For this, vegetal cellulose fibers were introduced in the polymerization medium of propylene using Ziegler‐Natta catalyst. The fibers were treated to increase their compatibility with the polypropylene matrix and decrease the accessibility of functional groups to the catalyst active sites. At first, mild acid hydrolysis was performed, followed by chemical treatments with triethylaluminum and stearic alcohol. The results showed that the chemical treatments increased the crystallinity index to 73–77% in comparison with the original fiber (57.6%). The catalyst activity and its stereospecificity maintained high when fiber was treated with triethylaluminium and that with stearic alcohol. The composites contained amounts of fiber in a range of 3.1–5.8%. The fibers did not induce crystallization of PP crystallites different from the most common α‐form. Fibers were fibrillated to nanometric diameter, although micrometric length. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:71–78, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Organic electrochemical transistors based on PEDOT with different anionic polyelectrolyte dopants
Authors: Inal Sahika , Rivnay Jonathan , Hofmann Anna I. , Uguz Ilke , Mumtaz Muhammad , Katsigiannopoulos Dimitrios , Brochon Cyril , Cloutet Eric , Hadziioannou Georges , Malliaras George G.
Published: October 2015

Recent applications of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) in bioelectronics motivate the search for new materials with mixed electronic and ionic conductivity. We investigate the characteristics of a series of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐based materials with a new class of anionic polyelectrolytes used as dopants and stabilizers, replacing the traditionally used poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). We show that the backbone of the polyanion plays a major role in determining device performance, while its molecular weight and the counter ion used during PEDOT synthesis play a less important role. We find that transconductance increases with the degree of swelling of the film, consistent with enhanced ion transport. Finally, we identify a polymer that offers performance close to the state‐of‐the‐art. This work highlights the importance of the polyanion phase as a means to control OECT performance. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 147–151
p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with a CdSeS Quantum‐Dot‐Sensitized NiO Photocathode for Outstanding Short‐Circuit Current
Authors: Kong Wenping , Li Shengjun , Chen Zeng , Wei Chaochao , Li Wei , Li Tao , Yan Ying , Jia Xiyang , Xu Binghua , Zhang Weifeng
Published: October 2015

CdSeS quantum dots (QDs) are firstly introduced into a NiO photocathode for photocathodic dye‐sensitized solar cells (p‐DSCs). The optimized sample exhibits a short‐circuit density (14.68 mA cm−2) and power conversion efficiency (1.02%) that are almost one order of magnitude higher than the reported value of p‐QDSCs. Steady‐state photoluminescence and time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements indicate that the photoexcited holes can be almost completely injected from CdSeS QDs into the valence band of NiO. At the same time, it can be observed from electrochemical impedance spectra measurements.
Effect of composition‐graded interlayers in double‐heterostructure blue InGaN light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Kuo Yen‐Kuang , Chang Jih‐Yuan
Published: October 2015

The optical and electrical characteristics of the double‐heterostructure (DH) blue InGaN light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) with composition‐graded interlayers are studied numerically. Specifically, the detailed physical mechanisms and influences of grading layer thickness on the LED performance are explored systematically. Simulation results reveal that besides the advantages of mitigating lattice relaxation in real epitaxy, the employment of thick composition‐graded interlayers can benefit from the enhanced spatial separation of electron–hole wavefunctions, suppressed Auger recombination, and reduced polarization effect in DH active region. The illumination efficiency and electrical characteristics are markedly improved when the thick grading layers are employed.
Cover Picture: Nonhydrogenic exciton spectrum in perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 (Phys. Status Solidi RRL 10/2015)
Authors: Menéndez‐Proupin E. , Ríos Carlos L. Beltrán , Wahnón P.
Published: October 2015

No abstract is available for this article.
Medieval Wales
Authors: Carr A. D.
Published: October 2015

This volume examines the main themes in Welsh history from the coming of the Normans in the eleventh century and their impact on Welsh society and politics to the fall of the Duke of Buckingham, the last great marcher magnate, in 1521. It also looks at the part played by the leaders of the native Welsh community in the years after the conquest of 1282–3. This is one of the less familiar aspects of the medieval history of the British Isles, but one in which there has been an increasing interest in recent years

Wales lost its independence in 1282. Owain Glyn Dŵr led a revolt in the early fifteenth century. Henry Tudor was of Welsh descent and landed in Milford Haven in 1485. These are the most familiar facts about the History of Medieval Wales, and today this history is often presented as nothing more than a romantic story of princes and castles. But there is a great deal more to it. Like every other nation, Wales has a history and identity of its own, and Edward I did not bring that history to an end. Unlike England it was not conquered by the Normans. In the thirteenth century the native princess of Gwynedd tried to create a single Welsh principality, and for a short time came close to success. The fourteenth century was much a period of crisis for Wales as for every other part of Europe and the effect of the Black Death lasted a long time. The fifteenth century saw the leaders of the community move on to a wider political stage.

Why did conquest come in 1282? Who was Owain Glyn Dŵr and why did he rebel? Why was Henry Tudor's bid for power based in Wales and what gave him credibility there? Dr Carr considers these questions and suggests some possible answers as he examines one of the less familiar areas of British History.
Development of a subjective cognitive decline questionnaire using item response theory: A pilot study
Authors: Gifford Katherine A. , Liu Dandan , Romano Raymond R. , Jones Richard N. , Jefferson Angela L.
Published: October 2015

Introduction

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may indicate unhealthy cognitive changes, but no standardized SCD measurement exists. This pilot study aimed to identify reliable SCD questions.

Methods

A total of 112 cognitively normal (NC; 76 ± 8 years; 63% female), 43 mild cognitive impairment (MCI; 77 ± 7 years; 51% female), and 33 diagnostically ambiguous participants (79 ± 9 years; 58% female) were recruited from a research registry and completed 57 self‐report SCD questions. Psychometric methods were used for item reduction.

Results

Factor analytic models assessed unidimensionality of the latent trait (SCD); 19 items were removed with extreme response distribution or trait‐fit. Item response theory (IRT) provided information about question utility; 17 items with low information were dropped. Post hoc simulation using computerized adaptive test (CAT) modeling selected the most commonly used items (n = 9 of 21 items) that represented the latent trait well (r = 0.94) and differentiated NC from MCI participants (F [1, 146] = 8.9, P = .003).

Discussion

IRT and CAT modeling identified nine reliable SCD items. This pilot study is a first step toward refining SCD assessment in older adults. Replication of these findings and validation with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers will be an important next step for the creation of a SCD screener.
Europium as an inhibitor of Amyloid‐β(1‐42) induced membrane permeation
Authors: Williams Thomas L. , Urbanc Brigita , Marshall Karen E. , Vadukul Devkee M. , Jenkins A. Toby A. , Serpell Louise C.
Published: October 2015

Soluble Amyloid‐beta (Aβ) oligomers are a source of cytotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The toxicity of Aβ oligomers may arise from their ability to interact with and disrupt cellular membranes mediated by GM1 ganglioside receptors within these membranes. Therefore, inhibition of Aβ–membrane interactions could provide a means of preventing the toxicity associated with Aβ. Here, using Surface Plasmon field‐enhanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy, we determine that the lanthanide, Europium III chloride (Eu3+), strongly binds to GM1 ganglioside‐containing membranes and prevents the interaction with Aβ42 leading to a loss of the peptides ability to cause membrane permeation. Here we discuss the molecular mechanism by which Eu3+ inhibits Aβ42‐membrane interactions and this may lead to protection of membrane integrity against Aβ42 induced toxicity.
Computational prediction of protein interfaces: A review of data driven methods
Authors: Xue Li C. , Dobbs Drena , Bonvin Alexandre M.J.J. , Honavar Vasant
Published: October 2015

Reliably pinpointing which specific amino acid residues form the interface(s) between a protein and its binding partner(s) is critical for understanding the structural and physicochemical determinants of protein recognition and binding affinity, and has wide applications in modeling and validating protein interactions predicted by high‐throughput methods, in engineering proteins, and in prioritizing drug targets. Here, we review the basic concepts, principles and recent advances in computational approaches to the analysis and prediction of protein–protein interfaces. We point out caveats for objectively evaluating interface predictors, and discuss various applications of data‐driven interface predictors for improving energy model‐driven protein–protein docking. Finally, we stress the importance of exploiting binding partner information in reliably predicting interfaces and highlight recent advances in this emerging direction.
Lgbtq Self-Efficacy in the Social Studies
Authors: Brant Cathy A.R. , Tyson Cynthia A.
Published: October 2015

Multicultural education, in some capacity, is a part of nearly every teacher education program in the country. Studies have shown, though, that this multicultural education does not often include issues of gender non-conformity and sexuality as a part of the instruction. Given these experiences in teacher preparation programs, we wanted to investigate pre-service and in-service social studies teachers' sense of self-efficacy in working with LGBTQ youth, teaching LGBTQ content, and addressing LGBTQ bias in school context. Using a Likert-scale we assessed the self-efficacy of 47 pre-service teachers. We found that the teachers had the highest sense of self-efficacy working with LGBTQ students and families. The participants reported a lower sense of self-efficacy teaching LGBTQ content and the lowest sense of self-efficacy addressing bias against LGBTQ individuals in commercial teaching materials and school contexts. The results of this study reveal the need for social studies teacher educators to be purposeful in the inclusion of these topics in their teacher preparation courses.
Should I stay, or should I go? – How fund dynamics influence venture capital exit decisions
Authors: Bock Carolin , Schmidt Maximilian
Published: October 2015

We investigate the determinants of venture capital (VC) exit behavior after the lockup expiry in initial public offerings (IPOs) by considering insights from prospect theory and behavioral finance for the first time. Hereby, the paper concentrates on the under‐researched relationship between fund managers and the limited partners investing in these funds. The results from a proprietary dataset of 292 U.S. VC‐backed IPOs from 1991 to 2008 imply that VC firm characteristics and fund dynamics have a significant influence on the exit extent after the lockup expiry and may not always be in line with limited partners' interests, hinting at the relevance of behavior grounded in prospect theory. In particular, first‐time funds keep their shares longer after an IPO, whereas funds satisfied with current fund performance cash out soon after the end of the lockup period.
Colgajo microquirúrgico de músculo gracilis para cobertura de palma y dorso de mano tras revascularización
Authors: García-Bernal F.J. , Zayas P. , Regalado J. , Julb C.
Published: October 2015

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 28 años de edad que sufrió el atrapamiento y la avulsión cutánea de la palma y dorso de la mano izquierda con arrancamiento de todos los pedículos vasculo-nerviosos a la altura del canal carpiano. Presentaba una fractura metafisaria de la falange proximal del quinto dedo, fractura diafisaria del tercer metacarpiano y avulsión de la piel del pulgar a la altura de la articulación trapeciometacarpiana. Las fracturas se fijaron con agujas. Tras la revascularización del pulgar y reparación microquirúrgica de los pedículos avulsionados, el 5.° dedo y la piel de la palma y del dorso, evolucionaron a la necrosis. Una semana después se realizó el desbridamiento de la necrosis y la cobertura con un colgajo microvascular de músculo gracilis, anastomosado a la arteria cubital termino-lateralmente. Cinco días después el colgajo se cubrió con un injerto de piel de espesor parcial.

El postoperatorio trascurrió sin complicaciones. El paciente comenzó la rehabilitación a la 4.a semana tras revascularización. 28 meses tras la intervención presenta un rango de movimiento de los dedos trifalángicos y muñeca completos, rigidez en pulgar (IF 30°-90°, MCF 20-60°). La sensibilidad era de 20 mm en el test de discriminación a los dos puntos en los dedos trifalángicos y, anestesia en el pulgar. La fuerza de prensa era del 79,6% (43 kg/54 kg) respecto a la mano sana.

El colgajo microquirúrgico del músculo gracilis constituye una excelente opción para cobertura en mano, al permitir el deslizamiento de los tendones. Además, mediante el uso de presoterapia, se consigue un excelente resultado estético, en un único tiempo, muy superior al conseguido con colgajos fasciocutáneos.
Quiste óseo aneurismático en tercer metacarpiano tratado con injerto no vascularizado de peroné
Authors: Losa S. , Doñate F. , Gallach D.
Published: October 2015

Niño de 4 años que presenta un quiste óseo aneurismático de gran tamaño en tercer metacarpiano tratado mediante escisión radical e injerto no vascularizado de peroné.
Colgajo sinovial como tratamiento de neuromas del nervio mediano
Authors: Jiménez I. , Marcos-García A. , Medina J. , Muratore-Moreno G.
Published: October 2015

El desarrollo de un neuroma es una temida complicación tras la cirugía de los nervios periféricos. El tratamiento es de gran complejidad, especialmente cuando afecta a los principales nervios a nivel de la muñeca. Presentamos un caso de neuroma en continuidad del nervio mediano tratado mediante neurolisis y cobertura mediante un colgajo sinovial.
Nueva técnica supinadora para la deformidad en pronación del antebrazo
Authors: Rotella J.M. , Rotella P. , Escobedo A. , Herrera J.M. , Rotella M. , Rotella C.I.
Published: October 2015

El síndrome espático es una encefalopatía no progresiva con alteraciones motoras, sensitivas e intelectuales. La deformidad en pronación afecta el uso de la extremidad al coger y manipular objetos. El tener la mano en pronación y no poder llevar objetos a la vista influye negativamente en el aprendizaje.

En este trabajo se presenta una nueva técnica supinadora en la que se transfiere el pronador redondo a un hemitendón del braquiorradial que mantiene su inserción en el radio.

La indicación para su realización es un paciente con hemiparesia espástica, con el antebrazo en pronación marcada, muñeca en extensión y pulgar en flexión y aducción. Es imprescindible que el paciente mantenga una aceptable función de prensión y no presente contracturas ni rigideces articulares.