bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced ordinary differential equation based head modelling for Chinese marionette art preservation
Authors: Liang Hui , Chang Jian , Yang Xiaosong , You Lihua , Bian Shaojun , Zhang Jian Jun
Published: April 2015

Puppetry has been a popular art form for many centuries in different cultures, which becomes a valuable and fascinating heritage assert. Traditional Chinese marionette art with over 2000 years history is one of the most representative forms offering a mixture of stage performance of singing, dancing, music, poetry, opera, story narrative and action. Apart from a set of string rules, which controls the dynamics, head carving skill is another important pillar in this art form.

This paper addresses the heritage preservation of the marionette head carving by digitalizing the head models with a novel modelling technique using ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The technique has been specially tailored to suit the modelling complexity and the need of accurate description of shapes. It offers smoothly sewing ODE swept patches to represent the distinct features of a marionette head with sharp variance of local geometry. Such features otherwise are difficult to model and capture accurately, which may require a great effort and tedious handcrafting of an experienced modeller, when using other representation forms like polygons. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environment optimization for crowd evacuation
Authors: Berseth Glen , Usman Muhammad , Haworth Brandon , Kapadia Mubbasir , Faloutsos Petros
Published: April 2015

The layout of a building, real or virtual, affects the flow patterns of its intended users. It is well established, for example, that the placement of pillars at proper locations can often facilitate pedestrian flow during the evacuation of a building. Such considerations are therefore important for architects, game level developers, and others whose domains involve agents navigating through buildings. In this paper, we take the first steps towards developing a simulation framework that can be used to study the optimal placement of architectural elements, such as pillars or doors, for the purposes of facilitating dense pedestrian flow during the evacuation of a building. In particular, we show that the steering algorithms used to model the local navigation abilities of the agents significantly affect the results, which motivates the need for a statistically valid approach and further study. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skill learning based catching motion control
Authors: Çimen Gökçen , Kavafoǧlu Zümra , Kavafoǧlu Ersan , Çapın Tolga , Gürcay Haşmet
Published: April 2015

Learned biomechanical strategies prepare the human body in kinematics and kinetics terms during interception tasks, such as throwing and catching, in real world. Based on this, we present a real‐time physics‐based approach that generates natural and physically plausible motions for a highly complex task ball catching. We showed that ball catching behavior could be achieved with the proper combination of rather simple motor skills, such as standing, walking, and reaching. The character learns some policies to know how and when to react by using reinforcement learning in order to use time accurately. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method with some of the catching animation results in different catching strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skin lesions and neutrophilic leukemoid reaction in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: He Jianming , Liang Houjie
Published: April 2015

Key Clinical Message

Here, we present a 53‐year‐old man with angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma accompanied by skin lesions (vesicles, papulovesicles, and miliary papules symmetrically distributed on extremities and trunk, with more distal lesions increasing in severity). Routine blood tests showed a white blood cell count of 58.97 × 109/L (Neutrophils% 91.64%).
A New Type of Lewis Acid–Base Bifunctional M(salphen) (M=Zn, Cu and Ni) Catalysts for CO2 Fixation
Authors: Ren Yanwei , Chen Jungui , Qi Chaorong , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: April 2015

A new type of Lewis acid–base bifunctional M(salphen) complexes (M=ZnII, CuII, and NiII) pending two N‐methylhomo‐ piperazine groups as nucleophiles were prepared by a one‐pot method. The Zn(salphen) complexes proved to be efficient and recyclable homogeneous catalysts towards the solvent‐free synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2 in the absence of a co‐catalyst. The catalysts can be easily recovered and five times reused without significant loss of activity and selectivity.
Tetrakis(dimethoxyphenyl)adamantane (TDA) and Its Inclusion Complexes in the Crystalline State: A Versatile Carrier for Small Molecules
Authors: Schwenger Alexander , Frey Wolfgang , Richert Clemens
Published: April 2015

Molecular storage solutions for incorporating small molecules in crystalline matrices are of interest in the context of structure elucidation, decontamination, and slow release of active ingredients. Here we report the syntheses of 1,3,5,7‐tetrakis(2,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)adamantane, 1,3,5,7‐tetrakis(4‐methoxyphenyl)adamantane, 1,3,5,7‐tetrakis(4‐methoxy‐2‐methylphenyl)adamantane, and 1,3,5,7‐tetrakis(4‐methoxy‐2‐ethylphenyl)adamantane, together with their X‐ray crystal structures. All four compounds crystallize readily. Only the octaether shows an unusual level of (pseudo)polymorphism in its crystalline state, combined with the ability to include a number of different small molecules in its crystal lattices. A total of 20 different inclusion complexes with guest molecules as different as ethanol or trifluorobenzene were found. For nitromethane and benzene, schemes for uptake and release are presented.
Intramolecular Communication in Anionic Oxidized Phosphanes through a Chelated Proton
Authors: Popescu A. R. , Rojo I. , Teixidor F. , Sillanpää R. , Viñas C.
Published: April 2015

Oxidation of the 1,2‐(PR2)2‐1,2‐closo‐C2B10H10 (R=Ph, iPr) platform with hydrogen peroxide in acetone is a two‐step procedure in which partial deboronation of the closo cluster and oxidation of the phosphorus atoms occur. Based on NMR spectroscopic and kinetic data, we demonstrate that the phosphorus atoms are oxidized in the first step, followed by cluster deboronation. DFT calculations and natural‐bond orbital (NBO) analysis were used to obtain insight into the electronic structures of diphosphane ortho‐carborane derivatives.
Reduction of CO2 by Pyridine Monoimine Molybdenum Carbonyl Complexes: Cooperative Metal–Ligand Binding of CO2
Authors: Sieh Daniel , Lacy David C. , Peters Jonas C. , Kubiak Clifford P.
Published: April 2015

[(ArPMI)Mo(CO)4] complexes (PMI=pyridine monoimine; Ar=Ph, 2,6‐di‐iso‐propylphenyl) were synthesized and their electrochemical properties were probed with cyclic voltammetry and infrared spectroelectrochemistry (IR‐SEC). The complexes undergo a reduction at more positive potentials than the related [(bipyridine)Mo(CO)4] complex, which is ligand based according to IR‐SEC and DFT data. To probe the reaction product in more detail, stoichiometric chemical reduction and subsequent treatment with CO2 resulted in the formation of a new product that is assigned as a ligand‐bound carboxylate, [(PMI)Mo(CO)3(CO2)]2−, by NMR spectroscopic methods. The CO2 adduct [(PMI)Mo(CO)3(CO2)]2− could not be isolated and fully characterized. However, the CC coupling between the CO2 molecule and the PDI ligand was confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic characterization of one of the decomposition products of [(PMI)Mo(CO)3(CO2)]2−.
Energetic Salts Based on Furazan‐Functionalized Tetrazoles: Routes to Boost Energy
Authors: Wei Hao , Zhang Jiaheng , He Chunlin , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: April 2015

Based on the backbone of the furazan‐tetrazole structure, routes were developed to improve the properties of energetic materials. Two types of high‐density energetic salts were designed, prepared, and fully characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray analyses support the structural characteristics for two amino salts. A majority of the salts exhibited good detonation properties, high thermal stabilities, and relatively low impact and friction sensitivities. Hydroxylammonium and hydrazinium salts, 1–3 and 1–4, which have relatively high densities (1.84 and 1.74 g cm−3,, respectively), acceptable impact and friction sensitivities (14 J, 160 N and 28 J, 360 N), and good detonation pressures (38.3 and 32.2 GPa) and velocities (9323 and 9094 m s−1), have performance properties superior to 1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazinane (RDX) and triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB).
Chimerical Pyrene‐Based [7]Helicenes as Twisted Polycondensed Aromatics
Authors: Buchta Michal , Rybáček Jiří , Jančařík Andrej , Kudale Amit A. , Buděšínský Miloš , Chocholoušová Jana Vacek , Vacek Jaroslav , Bednárová Lucie , Císařová Ivana , Bodwell Graham J. , Starý Ivo , Stará Irena G.
Published: April 2015

Chimerical pyrene‐based dibenzo[7]helicene rac‐1 and 2H‐pyran[7]helicene (M,R,R)‐(−)‐2, in which two pyrene subunits are fused to the [7]helicene/[7]heterohelicene scaffold, were synthesised by means of Ni0‐ or CoI‐mediated [2+2+2] cycloisomerisation of dipyrenyl‐acetylene‐derived triynes. Pyrene‐based dibenzo[7]helicene 1 was obtained in enantioenriched form by enantioselective cycloisomerisation under Ni0/QUINAP catalysis (57 % ee) or in enantiopure form by racemate resolution by liquid chromatography on a chiral column. 1,3‐Allylic‐type strain‐controlled diastereoselective cycloisomerisation was employed in the synthesis of enantiopure (M,R,R)‐(−)‐2. Physicochemical properties of 1 and 2 encompassing the helicity assignment, stability to racemisation, X‐ray crystal structure, UV/Vis, experimental/calculated electronic circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra were studied. Accordingly, comparison of the X‐ray crystal structure of (M,R,R)‐(−)‐2 with calculated structures (DFT: B3LYP/cc‐pVDZ, B97D/cc‐pVDZ) indicated that its helical backbone is slightly over‐flattened owing to intramolecular dispersion forces between tert‐butylated pyrene subunits. Both 1 and 2 are fluorescent (with quantum yields in dichloromethane of ΦF=0.10 and 0.17, respectively) and are suggested to form intramolecular excimer states upon excitation, which are remarkably stabilised and exhibit large Stokes shifts (296 and 203 nm, respectively).
The graceful exit or reluctant demise of the older adult with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Sekeres Mikkael A. , Gerds Aaron T.
Published: April 2015

Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia should be better prepared for the difficult realities of their disease, and clinicians should adjust their optimism about the potential benefits of induction chemotherapy and practice under the assumption that patients will relapse or that therapy will fail. These patients and their families will then be ready for the health care burden they are about to endure and will be much more open to the suggestion of palliative approaches or hospice when the time comes, recognizing it as part of the natural course of events.
Health care utilization and end‐of‐life care for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: El‐Jawahri Areej R. , Abel Gregory A. , Steensma David P. , LeBlanc Thomas W. , Fathi Amir T. , Graubert Timothy A. , DeAngelo Daniel J. , Wadleigh Martha , Ballen Karen K. , Foster Julia E. , Attar Eyal C. , Amrein Philip C. , Brunner Andrew M. , Stone Richard M. , Temel Jennifer S.
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Health care utilization in older adults (age ≥60 years) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not been well studied.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 330 consecutive older patients who were diagnosed with AML between May 1, 2005 and December 23, 2011, at 2 hospitals in Boston to examine their health care utilization and end‐of‐life care. Using multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusting for covariates, we also compared health care utilization between patients who received intensive induction chemotherapy (n = 197; cytarabine/ anthracycline combination) versus nonintensive chemotherapy (n = 133; single‐agent therapy).

RESULTS

The median number of hospitalizations for the entire cohort was 4.2 (range, 1‐18 hospitalizations). Patients who died spent a mean of 28.3% of their life after diagnosis in the hospital and 13.8% of their life attending outpatient clinic appointments. Although the majority of patients (87.9%) died during the 2‐year follow‐up period, a minority received palliative care (16.2%) or hospice (23.1%) services. Within 30 days of death, 84.5% of patients were hospitalized, and 61% died in the hospital. Among the patients who died, those who received intensive induction therapy (vs nonintensive therapy) spent 30% more of their life after diagnosis in the hospital (P < .0001) and were less likely to receive hospice services (odds ratio, 0.45; P = .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings highlight the intensity of health care utilization among older patients with AML, regardless of treatment modality. Despite the poor prognosis, palliative care and hospice services are rarely used. Future work should study novel health care delivery models to optimize care throughout the course of illness and at the end of life. Cancer 2015;121:2840‐2848. © 2015 American Cancer Society
The SIPSim implicit parallelism model and the SkelGIS library
Authors: Coullon Hélène , Limet Sébastien
Published: April 2015

Scientific simulations give rise to complex codes where data size and computation time become very important issues, and sometimes a scientific barrier. Thus, parallelization of scientific simulations becomes a significant work. Many time and human efforts are deployed to produce efficient parallel programs. But still, many simulations could not be parallelized because of lack of time to learn parallel programming or lack of human resources. Therefore, aiding parallelization through abstracted parallelism or implicit parallelism has become a main topic in computer science. Many implicit parallelism solutions have been proposed such as algorithmic skeletons libraries, domain‐specific languages or specific libraries. In this paper is introduced a new type of solution to give a totally transparent access to parallel programming for non‐computer scientists of the domain of numerical simulations. This solution is an implicit parallelism model, called Structured Implicit Parallelism on scientific Simulations (SIPSim). After a description of the SIPSim model, this paper presents the implementation of the model, as a C++ templated library called SkelGIS, for two different cases of simulations: simulations on Cartesian meshes and simulations of two physical phenomena linked through a network. For each case, the implementation of the SIPSim components are described, and a simple simulation example is given. SkelGIS is then evaluated on two real cases, one for each case, first on the resolution of shallow water equations and second on an arterial blood flow simulation. To clearly state on SkelGIS performance and its ease of programming, different experiments on both cases are evaluated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A set of measures to quantify the dynamicity of longitudinal social networks
Authors: Uddin Shahadat , Khan Arif , Piraveenan Mahendra
Published: April 2015

This study proposes a new set of measures for longitudinal social networks (LSNs). A LSN evolves over time through the creation and/or deletion of links among a set of actors (e.g., individuals or organizations). The current literature does feature some methods, such as multiagent simulation models, for studying the dynamics of LSNs. These methods have mainly been utilized to explore evolutionary changes in LSNs from one state to another and to explain the underlying mechanisms for these changes. However, they cannot quantify different aspects of a LSN. For example, these methods are unable to quantify the level of dynamicity shown by an actor in a LSN and its contribution to the overall dynamicity shown by that LSN. This article develops a set of measures for LSNs to overcome this limitation. We illustrate the benefits of these measures by applying them to an exploration of the Enron crisis. These measures successfully identify a significant but previously unobserved change in network structures (both at individual and group levels) during Enron's crisis period. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 309–320, 2016
Single crystal growth, structural, optical, mechanical, dielectric and thermal studies of formic acid doped potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystal for NLO applications
Authors: Anis Mohd , Muley G. G. , Shirsat M. D. , Hussaini S. S.
Published: April 2015

Optically transparent formic acid (FA) doped potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal of dimension 21×15×9 mm3 has been grown by slow evaporation solution technique (SEST). The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique was used to confirm the cell parameters and the shifts in peak positions of identified reflecting planes. The incorporation of FA in KDP has been qualitatively analyzed by fourier transform infrared analysis. The UV‐visible absorption spectrum of crystals has been recorded in the range of 200 to 900 nm and the doped KDP crystal is found to have improved optical parameters than pure KDP. The color centered photoluminescence emission spectrum of grown crystal has been illustrated in visible region. The mechanical behavior of pure and doped KDP crystal has been investigated using the Vicker's microhardness analyzer and hardness parameters have been calculated. The effect of FA on thermal stability of KDP crystal was examined by means of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The temperature dependent dielectric behavior of crystals was studied.
Visible Light‐Driven Atom Transfer Radical Addition to Olefins using Bi2O3 as Photocatalyst
Authors: Riente Paola , Pericàs Miquel A.
Published: April 2015

Bismuth oxide, an inexpensive and non‐toxic semiconductor, has been successfully used as a visible light photocatalyst for the atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reaction of organobromides to diversely functionalized terminal olefins. The reaction takes place under very mild conditions, in the absence of any additive, and with low catalyst loading (1 mol %). The corresponding ATRA products are obtained with moderate to excellent yields (up to 95 %).
Ceramic Lithium Ion Conductor to Solve the Anode Coking Problem of Practical Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Wang Wei , Wang Feng , Chen Yubo , Qu Jifa , Tadé Moses O. , Shao Zongping
Published: April 2015

For practical solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operated on hydrocarbon fuels, the facile coke formation over Ni‐based anodes has become a key factor that limits their widespread application. Modification of the anodes with basic elements may effectively improve their coking resistance in the short term; however, the easy loss of basic elements by thermal evaporation at high temperatures is a new emerging problem. Herein, we propose a new design to develop coking‐resistant and stable SOFCs using Li+‐conducting Li0.33La0.56TiO3 (LLTO) as an anode component. In the Ni/LLTO composite, any loss of surface lithium can be efficiently compensated by lithium diffused from the LLTO bulk under operation. Therefore, the SOFC with the Ni/LLTO anode catalyst layer yields excellent power outputs and operational stability. Our results suggest that the simple adoption of a Li+ conductor as a modifier for Ni‐based anodes is a practical and easy way to solve the coking problem of SOFCs that operate on hydrocarbons.
Mild and Robust Redox‐Neutral Pd/C‐Catalyzed Lignol β‐O‐4′ Bond Cleavage Through a Low‐Energy‐Barrier Pathway
Authors: Galkin Maxim V. , Dahlstrand Christian , Samec Joseph S. M.
Published: April 2015

A Pd/C catalyzed redox neutral CO bond cleavage of 2‐aryloxy‐1‐arylethanols has been developed. The reactions are carried out at 80 °C, in air, using a green solvent system to yield the aryl ketones in near quantitative yields. Addition of catalytic amounts of a hydrogen source to the reaction mixture activates the catalyst to proceed through a low energy barrier pathway. Initial studies support a transfer hydrogenolysis reaction mechanism that proceeds through an initial dehydrogenation followed by an enol adsorption to Pd/C and a reductive CO bond cleavage.
A comprehensive study of space vector pulse‐width modulation technique for three‐phase Z‐source inverters
Authors: Yu Kun , Xiong Binyu , Zhao Jiyun
Published: April 2015

The space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) technique has received much attention for three‐phase Z‐source inverters (ZSIs). The differences and connections between the SVPWM technique for ZSIs and for traditional voltage source inverters have been discussed as well. By selecting different null state and shoot‐through state, three switching patterns with different switching numbers have been studied, and the harmonic spectrums of these three patterns are demonstrated. In this paper, the solutions of maximum boost control and constant boost control methods using SVPWM techniques with less switching actions have been proposed and compared with the carrier‐based strategies. Selected experimental results have been provided to validate the theoretical analysis. This work will be beneficial for understanding the SVPWM concept and modulation techniques of the three‐phase ZSIs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development and validation of a DESI‐HRMS/MS method for the fast profiling of esomeprazole and its metabolites in rat plasma: a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Rossi Alessandra , Castrati Luca , Colombo Paolo , Flammini Lisa , Barocelli Elisabetta , Bettini Ruggero , Elviri Lisa
Published: April 2015

The advances in pharmaceutical development and drug discovery impose the availability of reliable high‐throughput screening methods for the rapid evaluation of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (PK) in biological samples. Here, a desorption electrospray mass spectrometry (DESI‐MS) method has been developed and validated for the PK profiling of esomeprazole and its metabolites (5‐hydroxyomeprazole and omeprazole sulfone) in rat plasma. Rats were treated with an esomeprazole solution (2.5 mg/mL) for endovenous administration and the analyte levels were profiled over 2 h after liquid‐liquid extraction from plasma. MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments were performed by using a DESI‐LTQ‐Orbitrap XL instrument and an on‐spot fixed time analysis on PMMA surfaces. Validation was performed for the esomeprazole. The DESI‐MS/MS method exhibited for the esomepazole excellent sensitivity (limit of detection (LOD)=60 ng/mL), linearity (0.2‐20 µg/mL concentration range; y=23848(±361)X, n=15; r2=0.987) and precision (RSD<9%) by using an internal standard method. The PK results were discussed in terms of Area Under the Curve, Cmax and Tmax. Data reliability was demonstrated by comparison with a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method (p>0.05). The data achieved demonstrated that the DESI‐MS method is suitable for sensitive and fast profiling of a drug and its metabolites at the therapeutic concentration levels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide levels and outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an analysis of the I‐Preserve study
Authors: Jhund Pardeep S. , Anand Inder S. , Komajda Michel , Claggett Brian L. , McKelvie Robert S. , Zile Michael R. , Carson Peter E. , McMurray John J.V.
Published: April 2015

Aims

In patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction, decreases or increases in NT‐proBNP levels are associated with better and worse outcomes, respectively. The association in HF and preserved ejection fraction (HF‐PEF) is unknown. We examined the association between change in level of NT‐proBNP and prognosis in patients with HF‐PEF.

Methods and results

We examined the association between change in NT‐proBNP from baseline to 6 months and cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization in 2612 participants in the Irbesartan in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Systolic Function Study (I‐Preserve). Change in NT‐proBNP was modelled as a restricted cubic spline in a Cox model after adjusting for baseline NT‐proBNP and known prognostic variables. Median change in NT‐proBNP from baseline was −7 pg/mL (interquartile range −143 to +108). After adjustment, a 1000 pg/mL decrease in NT‐proBNP from baseline was associated with a reduction in the risk of CV death or HF hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53–1.02]; a 1000 pg/mL increase was associated with an increase in risk (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.50–2.69). Beyond a 1000 pg/mL rise or fall, there was little additional change in risk. Addition of change in NT‐proBNP at 6 months to a model with only baseline NT‐proBNP improved the C‐statistic from 0.752 to 0.769 (P = 0.013).

Conclusion

In HF‐PEF, a rise in NT‐proBNP was associated with an increase in risk of CV death or HF hospitalization and a fall was associated with a trend towards a decrease in risk. NT‐proBNP may be a useful marker to monitor prognosis in this condition.
Crossed McMurry Coupling Reactions for Porphycenic Macrocycles: Non‐Statistical Selectivity and Rationalisation
Authors: Cowie Thomas Y. , Kennedy Lorna , Żurek Justyna M. , Paterson Martin J. , Bebbington Magnus W. P.
Published: April 2015

Crossed McMurry reactions of bifuran‐ or bithiophenedicarbaldehydes with bipyrroledicarbaldehydes have been studied for the first time. Only those porphycenic macrocycles derived from homocoupled McMurry products were formed. The results are explained by using both density functional theory and electron propagator computations to model the electron affinity of the dialdehyde starting materials. It was predicted that bifuran\bithiophene cross‐coupling would indeed occur, and this was demonstrated by the first synthesis of a novel dioxa,dithio hetero‐porphycenoid annulene. This approach will allow the prior identification of viable substrates for related crossed McMurry reactions.
Synthesis of γ‐Difluoromethyl α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Butyrolactones Using PhSCF2SiMe3 as a Difluoromethylating Agent
Authors: Issaree Arisara , Masusai Chonticha , Soorukram Darunee , Kuhakarn Chutima , Reutrakul Vichai , Pohmakotr Manat
Published: April 2015

The synthesis of γ‐difluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactones using PhSCF2SiMe3 (1) as a difluoromethylating agent is described. The method involves the fluoride‐catalyzed nucleophilic addition of 1 to a masked maleic anhydride 2 (cyclopentadiene–maleic anhydride adduct) to give key adduct 3. This adduct can be converted into γ‐difluoromethyl α,β‐unsaturated γ‐butyrolactones 6 through reductive cleavage of the phenylsulfanyl group, stereoselecive nucleophilic addition reaction with Grignard reagents, followed by flash‐vacuum pyrolysis.
Chlorin e6 131:152‐Anhydride: A Key Intermediate in Conjugation Reactions of Chlorin e6
Authors: Chen Hui , Jinadasa R. G. Waruna , Jiao Lijuan , Fronczek Frank R. , Nguyen Alex L. , Smith Kevin M.
Published: April 2015

Since the patent for the photodynamic therapy agent Talaporfin (mono‐L‐aspartylchlorin e6) was issued in 1987, confusion has existed regarding which of the three carboxylic acid groups in the chlorophyll degradation product, chlorin e6 (1), is modified in standard amino acid type conjugations (using DCC or EDC and an organic base) with amino acids and other biomolecules. Here it is shown that the site of conjugation is the central 152‐carboxylic acid, such reactions proceeding in numerous examples via a 131:152‐anhydride for which a high resolution X‐ray structure is reported. Conjugation with eight oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles, in every case, afforded the 152‐conjugate, reinforcing the earlier conclusion that Talaporfin is the 152‐aspartyl conjugate of chlorin e6 and suggesting that reports of 173‐conjugation of chlorin e6 using stoichiometric peptide coupling procedures should be subjected to further scrutiny.
Techno‐economic feasibility study of autonomous hybrid wind and solar power systems for rural areas in Iran, A case study in Moheydar village
Authors: Ataei Abtin , Biglari Mojtaba , Nedaei Mojtaba , Assareh Ehsanolah , Choi Jun‐Ki , Yoo ChangKyoo , Adaramola Muyiwa Samuel
Published: April 2015

In this research, a feasibility study of using a small wind turbine as an integrated system with a solar photovoltaic system and a diesel generator was performed using the HOMER® optimization model. For this purpose three main scenarios have been taken into account. In the first two scenarios the diesel price was considered 0.8 $/L (Scenario 1) and 1.5 $/L (Scenario 2) and no limits were assumed for emissions of diesel generator. The most efficient system in the first scenario consists of one wind turbine (15 kW), a 75 kW generator, 35 batteries, and a 15 kW converter with renewable fraction of 53%. However in the second scenario, 7 kW photovoltaic array was added to the designed optimal hybrid system and thus the renewable fraction was increased to 71%. In the third scenario the limits were specified for the different pollutants using the CAP (Ontario Clean Air Program) standard. It was revealed that the optimal configuration which contains a 75 kW diesel generator, 21 kW photovoltaic array, 75 kW wind turbines, 50 batteries, and a 20 kW converter would be the most economically feasible. Emission analysis revealed that among all of the designed hybrid systems, highest level of CO2 emissions was observed for a stand‐alone diesel system with value of 115,436 kg/yr and the lowest level was observed for the hybrid system in the third scenario with value of 991 kg/yr. Additionally it was proved that the third scenario would be the best option for connecting the system to the grid. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1521–1527, 2015
Numerical modeling of chlorine concentration in water storage tanks
Authors: Codina Ramon , Principe Javier , Muñoz Christian , Baiges Joan
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we describe a numerical model to simulate the evolution in time of the hydrodynamics of water storage tanks, with particular emphasis on the time evolution of chlorine concentration. The mathematical model contains several ingredients particularly designed for this problem, namely, a boundary condition to model falling jets on free surfaces, an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian formulation to account for the motion of the free surface because of demand and supply of water, and a coupling of the hydrodynamics with a convection–diffusion–reaction equation modeling the time evolution of chlorine. From the numerical point of view, the equations resulting from the mathematical model are approximated using a finite element formulation, with linear continuous interpolations on tetrahedra for all the unknowns. To make it possible, and also to be able to deal with convection‐dominated flows, a stabilized formulation is used. In order to capture the sharp gradients present in the chlorine concentration, particularly near the injection zone, a discontinuity capturing technique is employed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mismatch repair status and synchronous metastases in colorectal cancer: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Nordholm‐Carstensen Andreas , Krarup Peter‐Martin , Morton Dion , Harling Henrik ,   on behalf of the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group
Published: April 2015

The causality between the metastatic potential, mismatch repair status (MMR) and survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) is complex. This study aimed to investigate the impact of MMR in CRC on the occurrence of synchronous metastases (SCCM) and survival in patients with SCCM on a national basis. A nationwide cohort study of 6,692 patients diagnosed with CRC between 2010 and 2012 was conducted. Data were prospectively entered into the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group's database and merged with data from the Danish Pathology Registry and the National Patient Registry. Multivariable and multinomial logistic‐ and Cox‐regression and proportional excess hazards analyses were used for confounder adjustment and to adjust for the general population mortality. In total, 983 of 6,692 patients (14.7%) had dMMR and 935 (14.0%) had SCCM. dMMR was associated with a decreased risk of SCCM, adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 0.54 (95% confidence interval (CI):0.40–0.70, p < 0.001). The association only applied to confined hepatic metastases (aOR = 0.30, 95%CI: 0.18–0.49, p < 0.001), whereas the presence of confined pulmonary metastases (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.39–1.29, p = 0.258) or synchronous hepatic and pulmonary metastases (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI:0.26–1.29, p = 0.436) were unaffected by MMR. MMR in patients with SCCM had no impact on survival (Cox: adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.54–1.06, p = 0.101; Proportional excess hazards: aHR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.50–1.07, p = 0.111) when adjusting for other prognostic factors. The metastatic pattern varied according to MMR status. MMR had no impact on survival in patients with UICC Stage IV CRC. These findings may be important for the understanding of the metastatic processes and thus for optimizing staging and treatment in CRC patients.
Lower lung cancer rates in Jewish smokers in Israel and the USA
Authors: Rennert Gad , Kremer Ran , Rennert Hedy S. , Wollner Mira , Agbarya Abed , Pinchev Mila , Lejbkowicz Flavio , Spitz Margaret R. , Muscat Joshua E.
Published: April 2015

Lung cancer rates in Israeli Jews have remained stable over the last five decades and are much lower than in most developed countries despite high historical smoking rates. We compared lung cancer risk in Jews and non‐Jews in Israel and in the United States. Data were derived from a population‐based, case–control study in Israel (638 cases, 496 controls) to estimate lung cancer risk associated with smoking. Data were also acquired from a case–control study in the United States with information on religious affiliation (5,093 cases, 4,735 controls). Smoking was associated with lung cancer risk in all religion/gender groups in both studies. However, major differences in risk magnitude were noted between Jews and non‐Jews; ever smoking was associated with a moderately elevated risk of lung cancer in Jewish men and women in Israel (OR = 4.61, 2.90–7.31 and OR = 2.10, 1.36–3.24, respectively), and in Jewish men and women in the United States (OR = 7.63, 5.34–10.90 and OR = 8.50, 5.94–12.17) but were significantly higher in Israeli non‐Jewish men (OR = 12.96, 4.83–34.76) and US non‐Jewish men and women (OR = 11.33, 9.09–14.12 and OR = 12.78, 10.45–15.63). A significant interaction between smoking and religion was evident in light, moderate and heavy male and female smokers. The differences in risk level between Israeli Jews and non‐Jews could not be explained by lung cancer genetic risk variants which were identified in GWAS (genes in the CHRNA5, TERT and CLPTM1L regions). Data from the two studies support the notion of a reduced risk of lung cancer in Jewish compared to non‐Jewish smokers in different areas of the world.
Recent Progress of Innovative Perovskite Hybrid Solar Cells
Authors: Heo Jin Hyuck , Song Dae Ho , Patil Basavaraj Rudragouda , Im Sang Hyuk
Published: April 2015

Recently, innovative perovskite hybrid solar cells have attracted great interest in solar cell research fields, such as dye‐sensitized solar cells, organic photovoltaics, thin‐film solar cells, and silicon solar cells, because their device efficiencies are gradually approaching those of crystalline Si solar cells, and they can be fabricated by cheap low‐temperature solution processes. Here, we review the recent progress of innovative perovskite hybrid solar cells. The introduction includes the general concerns about solar cells and why we need innovative solar cells. The second part explains the structure and the material properties of hybrid perovskite materials. We focus on why the hybrid perovskite materials can exhibit excellent solar cell properties, such as high open‐circuit voltage. The third part introduces recent progress in innovative perovskite hybrid solar cells, in terms of device architecture and deposition methods for dense perovskite thin films with full surface coverage. The device architecture is important in attaining high power conversion efficiency; the device operating mechanism is dependent on the device structure; and the pinhole‐free dense perovskite thin films with full surface coverage are crucial for achieving high efficiency. Finally, we summarize the recent progress in perovskite hybrid solar cells, and the issues to be solved, in the summary and outlook section.
Those Who Can Coach Can Teach
Authors: Ehrenworth Mary , Minor Cornelius , Federman Mark , Jennings James , Messer Katherine , McCloud Christopher
Published: April 2015

Building on the work of John Hattie, Richard Kent, and Tom Newkirk, a think tank collaborative in New York City's high schools works to raise the level of students’ close reading, argumentation, and agency across the curriculum by teaching students to analyze athletic competitions, to compose sports arguments, and to transfer and apply these skills to academic subjects. The study also investigates the kind of feedback and the kind of vision statements that athletic coaches give and considers how to adapt these for academic classes. This study recommends several specific structures for closer collaboration between athletic coaches and academic teachers to increase students’ engagement with higher order analytic skills, to develop shared language for these skills, and to create more opportunities for explicit transfer and higher student achievement.
Fiber probe for nonlinear imaging applications
Authors: Lukić Aleksandar , Dochow Sebastian , Chernavskaia Olga , Latka Ines , Matthäus Christian , Schwuchow Anka , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen
Published: April 2015

Over the past years it had been demonstrated that multimodal imaging combining the nonlinear modalities coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), two‐photon excited auto‐fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG) show a great potential for tissue diagnosis and tumor identification. To extend the applicability of this multimodal imaging approach for in‐vivo tissue screening of difficult to access body regions the development of suitable fiber optic probes is required. Here we report about a novel CARS imaging fiber probe consisting of 10,000 coherent light guiding elements preserving the spatial relationship between the entrance and the output of the fiber. Therefore the scanning procedure can be shifted from the distal to the proximal end of the fiber probe and no moving parts or driving current are required to realize in‐vivo CARS endoscopy.

Back scattered CARS image of rabbit aorta with plaques (white) using a laser scanning microscope and an imaging fiber.

magnified image

Back scattered CARS image of rabbit aorta with plaques (white) using a laser scanning microscope and an imaging fiber.
Low Dose of IGF‐I Increases Cell Size of Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells Via Akt/S6K Signaling Pathway
Authors: Gao Chun‐qi , Zhi Rui , Yang Zhou , Li Hai‐chang , Yan Hui‐chao , Wang Xiu‐qi
Published: April 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of insulin growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) on the size of pig skeletal muscle satellite cells (SCs). Using microarray, real‐time RT‐PCR, radioimmunoassay analysis and western blot, we first showed that supplementation of low‐dose of IGF‐I in culture medium resulted in enlarged cell size of Lantang SCs, only Akt and S6K were up‐regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels among almost all of the mTOR pathway key genes, but had no effect on cell number. To elucidate the signaling mechanisms responsible for regulating cell size under low‐dose of IGF‐I treatment, we blocked Akt and S6K activity with the specific inhibitors MK2206 and PF4708671, respectively. Both inhibitors caused a decrease in cell size. In addition, MK2206 lowered the protein level of p‐Akt (Ser473), p‐S6K (Thr389), and p‐rpS6 (Ser235/236), whereas PF4708671 lowered the protein level of p‐S6K (Thr389) and p‐rpS6 (Ser235/236). However, low dose of IGF‐I didn't affect the protein level of p‐mTOR (Ser2448) and p‐mTOR (Ser2481). When both inhibitors were applied simultaneously, the effect was the same as that of the Akt inhibition alone. Taken together, we report for the first time that low‐dose of IGF‐I treatment increases cell size via Akt/S6K signaling pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2637–2648, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The history of the oldest self‐sustaining laboratory animal: 150 years of axolotl research
Authors: Reiß Christian , Olsson Lennart , Hoßfeld Uwe
Published: April 2015

Today the Mexican axolotl is critically endangered in its natural habitat in lakes around Mexico City, but thrives in research laboratories around the world, where it is used for research on development, regeneration, and evolution. Here, we concentrate on the early history of the axolotl as a laboratory animal to celebrate that the first living axolotls arrived in Paris in 1864, 150 years ago. Maybe surprisingly, at first the axolotl was distributed across Europe without being tied to specific research questions, and amateurs engaged in acclimatization and aquarium movements played an important role for the rapid proliferation of the axolotl across the continent. But the aquarium also became an important part of the newly established laboratory, where more and more biological and medical research now took place. Early scientific interest focused on the anatomical peculiarities of the axolotl, its rare metamorphosis, and whether it was a larva or an adult. Later, axolotl data was used to argue both for (by August Weismann and others) and against (by e.g., Albert von Kölliker) Darwinism, and the axolotl even had a brief history as a laboratory animal used in a failed attempt to prove Lysenkoism in Jena, Germany. Nowadays, technical developments such as transgenic lines, and the very strong interest in stem cell and regeneration research has again catapulted the axolotl into becoming an important laboratory animal. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 393–404, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reproducibility of DCE‐MRI time–intensity curve‐shape analysis in patients with knee arthritis: A comparison with qualitative and pharmacokinetic analyses
Authors: van der Leij Christiaan , Lavini Cristina , van de Sande Marleen G.H. , de Hair Marjolein J.H. , Wijffels Christophe , Maas Mario
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To compare the between‐session reproducibility of dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) combined with time–intensity curve (TIC)‐shape analysis in arthritis patients, within one scanner and between two different scanners, and to compare this method with qualitative analysis and pharmacokinetic modeling (PKM).

Materials and Methods

Fifteen knee joint arthritis patients were included and scanned twice on a closed‐bore 1.5T scanner (n = 9, group 1), or on a closed‐bore 1.5T and on an open‐bore 1.0T scanner (n = 6, group 2). DCE‐MRI data were postprocessed using in‐house developed software ("Dynamo"). Disease activity was assessed.

Results

Disease activity was comparable between the two visits. In group 1 qualitative analysis showed the highest reproducibility with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) between 0.78 and 0.98 and root mean square‐coefficients of variation (RMS‐CoV) of 8.0%–14.9%. TIC‐shape analysis showed a slightly lower reproducibility with similar ICCs (0.78–0.97) but higher RMS‐CoV (18.3%–42.9%). The PKM analysis showed the lowest reproducibility with ICCs between 0.39 and 0.64 (RMS‐CoV 21.5%–51.9%). In group 2 TIC‐shape analysis of the two most important TIC‐shape types showed the highest reproducibility with ICCs of 0.78 and 0.71 (RMS‐CoV 29.8% and 59.4%) and outperformed the reproducibility of the most important qualitative parameter (ICC 0.31, RMS‐CoV 45.1%) and the within‐scanner reproducibility of PKM analysis.

Conclusion

TIC‐shape analysis is a robust postprocessing method within one scanner, almost as reproducible as the qualitative analysis. Between scanners, the reproducibility of the most important TIC‐shapes outperform that of the most important qualitative parameter and the within‐scanner reproducibility of PKM analysis. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2015;42:1497–1506.
OKN‐007 decreases tumor necrosis and tumor cell proliferation and increases apoptosis in a preclinical F98 rat glioma model
Authors: de Souza Patricia Coutinho , Balasubramanian Krithika , Njoku Charity , Smith Natalyia , Gillespie David L. , Schwager Andrea , Abdullah Osama , Ritchey Jerry W. , Fung Kar‐Ming , Saunders Debra , Jensen Randy L. , Towner Rheal A.
Published: April 2015

Background

Glioblastoma is a malignant World Health Organization (WHO) grade IV glioma with a poor prognosis in humans. New therapeutics are desperately required. The nitrone OKN‐007 (2,4‐disulfophenyl‐PBN) has demonstrated effective anti‐glioma properties in several rodent models and is currently being used as a clinical investigational drug for recurrent gliomas. We assessed the regional effects of OKN‐007 in the tumor necrotic core and non‐necrotic tumor parenchyma.

Methods

An F98 rat glioma model was evaluated using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐MRS), diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), morphological T2‐weighted imaging (T2W) at 7 Tesla (30 cm‐bore MRI), as well as immunohistochemistry and microarray assessments, at maximum tumor volumes (15–23 days following cell implantation in untreated (UT) tumors, and 18–35 days in OKN‐007‐treated tumors).

Results

1H‐MRS data indicates that Lip0.9/Cho, Lip0.9/Cr, Lip1.3/Cho, and Lip1.3/Cr ratios are significantly decreased (all P < 0.05) in the OKN‐007‐treated group compared with UT F98 gliomas. The Cho/Cr ratio is also significantly decreased in the OKN‐007‐treated group compared with UT gliomas. In addition, the OKN‐007‐treated group demonstrates significantly lower ADC values in the necrotic tumor core and the nonnecrotic tumor parenchyma (both P < 0.05) compared with the UT group. There was also an increase in apoptosis following OKN‐007 treatment (P < 0.01) compared with UT.

Conclusion

OKN‐007 reduces both necrosis and tumor cell proliferation, as well as seems to mediate multiple effects in different tumor regions (tumor necrotic core and nonnecrotic tumor parenchyma) in F98 gliomas, indicating the efficacy of OKN‐007 as an anti‐cancer agent and its potential clinical use. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2015;42:1582–1591.
Modification in structure of La and Nd co‐doped epitaxial BiFeO3 thin films probed by micro Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ahlawat Anju , Satapathy S. , Sathe V. G. , Choudhary R. J. , Singh M. K. , Kumar Ravi , Sharma T. K. , Gupta P. K.
Published: April 2015

The influence of La and Nd co‐substitution on structure, electric and magnetic properties of epitaxial thin films of BiFeO3 (BFO) was examined. We demonstrate structural phase transition in co‐doped La and Nd BFO thin films using Raman spectroscopy. Based on group theoretical analysis of the number and symmetry of Raman lines, we provide strong experimental evidence that the structure has been changed from rhombohedral to monoclinic due to co‐doping in BFO. The change in structure was also reflected in morphology of these films. Room temperature magnetic hysteresis curves showed that doped films exhibit enhanced ferromagnetic properties with remnant magnetization of ~10 emu/cm3 and coercive field of 1.2 kOe. The enhanced magnetic properties highlight the potential applications of doped BLNFO thin film for smart devices. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.