bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The incidence of mesh extrusion after vaginal incontinence and pelvic floor prolapse surgery
Authors: Cohen Seth , Kavaler Elizabeth
Published: March 2014

Purpose: The advantages of using synthetic mesh in vaginal reconstructive surgery are significant. However, the concern about extrusion has led many to question its use. We wished to learn the extrusion rates and time to extrusion in patients undergoing vaginal stress incontinence and prolapse surgeries using polypropylene mesh. Materials and methods: Five hundred and seventy six women underwent vaginal reconstructive surgery with synthetic mesh between August 2000 and October 2009 for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, with or without pelvic organ prolapse repair. 367 patients had at least one year follow-up. Procedures were: pubo-vaginal sling (PVS), PVS and anterior repair, PVS with anterior and/or posterior repairs, and PVS with hysterectomy and anterior and posterior repairs. Time to mesh extrusion was estimated using a survival function curve. Results: Forty-two (11.4%) patients sustained a mesh extrusion. The rate of mesh extrusion was (6.3%) in the PVS group, (14.7%) in the PVS and anterior repair group, (11.1%) in the PVS with anterior and posterior repairs group and (5%) in the PVS with hysterectomy and anterior and posterior repair. Percent extrusion free at one to four years post-op was (91%) and (85%). Conclusion: Our study provides a large series of prolapse cases performed by a single surgeon with follow-up that extends at least one year, with the longest follow-up at eight years. The incidence of long term mesh extrusion needs to be considered with respect to the support advantages of synthetic mesh in planning vaginal reconstructive surgery.
Construction et déconstruction d’une borne temporelle. L’année 1980 dans Spirale et Liberté1
Authors: Lapointe Martine-Emmanuelle
Published: March 2014

La critique a très souvent divisé l’histoire littéraire québécoise en un avant et un après. Chez les auteurs les plus sévères, l’après se présente comme la suite endeuillée des années 1960, son prolongement moribond — topos que l’on retrouve aussi parfois dans la France de l’après mai 1968. L’après se situe donc dans un espace temporel aux contours imprécis. Il aurait un commencement — autour de 1980 — mais pas de fin, car il incarnerait le dénouement sous toutes ses formes, l’épuisement des signes de la culture, la morosité sociétale, la fin des idéologies. Le présent article interroge les présupposés d’une telle mise en récit de la littérature québécoise contemporaine et par là même de la fabrication de la borne temporelle de 1980. L’analyse porte plus précisément sur les dossiers que les revues Spirale et Liberté ont fait paraître en 1980. Elle vise certes à relever les figures de la fin, de la désillusion et du désenchantement, souvent associées au contexte politique entourant le premier référendum sur la souveraineté du Québec, mais aussi celles d’un certain ressourcement, porté entre autres par le discours féministe dans les pages du magazine culturel Spirale. L’examen des dossiers parus en 1980 tend à dégager d’un vaste ensemble de textes un récit minimal, lequel permet de mieux y cerner l’inscription, non pas de l’année 1980, mais des oeuvres et des réflexions sur la culture qu’elle a vu naître.
Histoire littéraire et littérature contemporaine
Authors: Viart Dominique
Published: March 2014

On oppose souvent histoire littéraire et étude de la littérature contemporaine. Opposition fallacieuse, comme le démontre cette intervention en examinant la constitution de la littérature contemporaine en objet de recherche, la mobilisation de l’histoire littéraire que cela suppose et le regard rétrospectif que la littérature contemporaine projette sur l’histoire littéraire dont elle hérite. Il faut pour cela faire justice des réserves et objections que l’étude du contemporain suscite encore dans les universités traditionalistes, historiennes par vocation ; déterminer, au sein de la production contemporaine, les corpus pertinents pour une telle recherche, les critères qui les distinguent, et périodiser ce corpus. Fondée sur l’observation des esthétiques et enjeux nouveaux que la littérature actuelle se donne à elle-même, la seule approche recevable ne peut être qu’historique et non théorique. Le recours à l’histoire littéraire est en effet nécessaire pour identifier le « tournant » où cette littérature prend naissance. Il est décisif pour décrire les formes qui apparaissent en les confrontant aux formes anciennement attestées. Plus encore : les écrivains contemporains se définissent aussi par le regard qu’ils portent sur l’histoire littéraire, par leur manière de la raconter autrement. Prendre conscience de ce « régime d’historicité » de la littérature contemporaine suppose d’analyser non seulement les oeuvres, mais aussi ce que ces oeuvres disent de la place que les écrivains s’accordent dans l’histoire littéraire qui les a nourris.
Religion, « communauté » et citoyenneté : le cas des écoles Steiner, musulmane et juive en contexte montréalais
Authors: Tremblay Stéphanie
Published: March 2014

Nous proposons, à partir d’une étude ethnographique menée dans la région de Montréal, d’explorer la conception de la citoyenneté véhiculée au sein de trois écoles privées de groupes ou de courants minoritaires (Steiner, musulmane et juive). Après avoir dressé un rapide panorama des critiques adressées aux écoles religieuses dans les débats éducatifs, sociaux et politiques, nous aborderons d’un point de vue théorique les notions decommunautééducative et decitoyenneté. Ces précisions nous permettront de mettre en lumière comment les enseignants de ces trois écoles cherchent à développer, par des voies à la fois différentes et convergentes, une formation du citoyen porteuse d’un « particularisme universel » (Riedel 2008). Les trois écoles aspirent en effet, malgré leurs spécificités, à s’ouvrir à la diversité ambiante et à la participation de leurs élèves au reste de la société, mais ceci à travers un vecteur spirituel ou religieux particulier, servant dedais sacréaux valeurs civiques.
La diversité religieuse au-delà de la métropole : le cas d’un lieu de culte musulman à Saguenay
Authors: Boucher Yannick
Published: March 2014

La problématique liée aux minorités religieuses en région québécoise est un sujet encore peu exploré par les sciences sociales en comparaison des travaux réalisés à Montréal. Bien que ces minorités soient moins le fait de l’immigration que dans la métropole, certaines régions composent elles aussi avec la réalité de la diversité et de la transformation démographique. Le cas des musulmans permettra de nourrir notre réflexion sur la diversité religieuse en lien avec l’immigration. Comment cette population vivant en situation minoritaire compose-t-elle avec ce nouveau contexte social ? Quel rôle joue la mosquée pour ceux qui la fréquentent ? Comment le lieu de culte musulman s’intègre-t-il dans le paysage religieux de la région ? L’objectif de cet article est donc de nous éclairer sur la présence de migrants musulmans en contexte régional.
Les stratégies des familles haïtiennes de Montréal quant aux maux de ventre de leurs enfants
Authors: Gomez Cardona Liliana
Published: March 2014

Cet article fait suite à une recherche menée auprès d’immigrants d’origine haïtienne de Montréal et dont l’objectif était de connaître les moyens de soulagement des maux de ventre de leurs enfants. L’article se concentre sur les trajectoires thérapeutiques de cinq familles qui sont façonnées par leurs dynamiques et parcours migratoires. Notre démarche méthodologique était qualitative, reposant sur des entretiens semi-dirigés et une analyse interprétative. Nous avons constaté que les diverses explications avancées quant aux causes des douleurs au ventre sont le reflet de métissages culturels. Chaque famille présente des dynamiques particulières, et les trajectoires thérapeutiques sont composées de ressources multiples. Cependant, et au-delà d’une telle diversité, la famille reste la ressource fondamentale, tout comme le soutien communautaire et celui des églises. En ce qui a trait à la consultation des services médicaux, les opinions sont teintées d’expériences prémigratoires plutôt négatives.
Le Nouveau-Brunswick et ses immigrants entrepreneurs : pratiques et stratégies entrepreneuriales dans un contexte inédit
Authors: Sall Leyla
Published: March 2014

Depuis le début des années 2000, le Nouveau-Brunswick manifeste sa volonté d’avoir « sa part » d’immigrants entrepreneurs. Le recrutement se fait prioritairement en Chine et en Corée du Sud. Pour le gouvernement provincial, souscrivant aux pratiques et aux principes néolibéraux, l’accueil d’immigrants entrepreneurs soigneusement sélectionnés grâce à leurs avoirs financiers et leurs projets d’entreprise permettrait de lutter contre le « mauvais sort » économique de la province caractérisé par un taux de chômage au-dessus de la moyenne canadienne, une population vieillissante et l’incapacité de retenir ses propres jeunes résidents.

Si l’État poursuit des objectifs démographiques et économiques, les immigrants recrutés sont tout aussi stratèges. Manoeuvrant en contexte de vulnérabilité entrepreneuriale, leurs pratiques dépendent de leur propre « feuille de route migratoire ». Cet article met en évidence le caractère inédit et vulnérable de la situation des immigrants entrepreneurs néo-brunswickois.
Le processus de reconnaissance du droit à l’eau à l’échelle internationale et l’enjeu de la légitimité dans la gouvernance mondiale : quelle place pour le droit ?
Authors: Paquerot Sylvie
Published: March 2014

La gouvernance mondiale ne reproduisant pas les conditions d’organisation des pouvoirs d’un régime démocratique, il importe dès lors de se questionner sur la fonction qu’y joue ou que peut y jouer le droit international. Ce dernier peut-il contribuer concrètement à une éventuelle démocratisation de cette gouvernance globale? Nous examinerons ici cette question à partir de l’exemple de la revendication de la reconnaissance du droit d’accès à l’eau qui, en une vingtaine d’années, est parvenue à s’inscrire dans le système juridique international. Après avoir rappelé les conditions de cette inscription et sa portée à la fois sur le plan international et dans le droit interne des États, nous analyserons les caractéristiques spécifiques du rapport entre droit et politique que ce processus donne à voir, puis nous relèverons les conséquences qui peuvent en être tirées du point de vue du potentiel de démocratisation de la gouvernance mondiale.
La réforme du droit entre action sociale et choix systémiques : réflexion à partir d’une étude de cas sur les demandes de modification des règles de procédure du Code criminel canadien
Authors: Garcia Margarida
Published: March 2014

Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes intéressée à l’action sociale qui précède le processus formel de création du droit pénal, plus spécifiquement aux traces qu’elle laisse dans les élans de réforme des normes de procédure criminelle. Notre étude porte sur les demandes de réforme au Code criminel acheminées par des groupes sociaux au ministère de la Justice du Canada pendant les premières 35 années de vie du Code. L’analyse tient évidemment compte de qui a demandé quoi et pourquoi, mais ultimement, elle cherche à problématiser, face à ces demandes de réforme, la rationalité qui amène le système politique à choisir telle demande plutôt que telle autre, à exclure celle-ci pour mieux retenir celle-là, à distinguer celles qui « méritent » une consécration législative et celles qui ne la méritent pas. Notre but est de décrire le processus de réforme du droit criminel en thématisant le rapport entre la production sociale d’attentes normatives et la sélection formelle de quelques-unes d’entre elles par le système politique.
De la formation du gouvernement
Authors: Cyr Hugo
Published: March 2014

Lors de chacune des élections générales fédérales ou québécoises ayant mené à la formation d’un gouvernement minoritaire au cours de la dernière décennie, les médias se sont fait concurrence pour annoncer en primeur qui allait former le prochain gouvernement, et ce, avant même que l’un ou l’autre chef de parti se soit exprimé de quelque façon que ce soit sur les résultats des élections. Les médias ont pris la très fâcheuse habitude de remplacer l’ensemble du corpus de règles et principes constitutionnels applicables à la formation du gouvernement par l’application de la maxime simpliste suivante : « le parti politique ayant fait élire le plus grand nombre de députés a gagné les élections et a droit de former le prochain gouvernement ». Les médias présentent la chose comme s’il s’agissait d’un automatisme, d’une simple question d’arithmétique. Or, si cette heuristique ne cause pas de difficultés particulières lorsqu’un parti politique remporte une majorité de sièges, elle est tout à fait inadéquate pour décrire le droit et les conventions applicables en matière de formation du gouvernement dans notre système parlementaire. Cette heuristique est des plus problématiques lorsqu’aucun parti n’obtient une majorité de sièges lors d’élections générales. En réalité, comme la pratique parlementaire nous le démontre, lorsqu’aucun parti n’obtient une majorité de sièges, il n’est pas possible de déterminer qui formera le prochain gouvernement en nous fiant uniquement au nombre de sièges que l’un ou l’autre des partis a pu remporter. En effet, selon les principes de base, (a) le premier ministre sortant a le droit d’être le premier à tenter d’obtenir la confiance de l’assemblée législative au retour des élections générales, et (b) il est du devoir du gouverneur général (ou du lieutenant-gouverneur) de nommer le chef du(des) parti(s) le(s) plus susceptible(s) de jouir de la confiance de la chambre élue pour occuper le poste de premier ministre. Une méconnaissance populaire de l’ensemble des règles et principes applicables risque d’engendrer une importante crise de confiance dans nos institutions démocratiques. Cela est d’autant plus vrai si les acteurs politiques agissent conformément aux normes applicables, tout en allant à l’encontre de celles, erronées, publicisées par les médias. Cet article vise donc à expliciter les règles et principes constitutionnels canadiens applicables à la formation du gouvernement et à illustrer les différents facteurs constitutionnels devant entrer en ligne de compte en fonction des divers cas de figure possibles. Un aide-mémoire se trouve en annexe du texte de manière à faciliter la consultation de ces règles et principes applicables à ces diverses situations.
Démission et congédiement : la difficile parité des règles de droit applicables à ces deux actes
Authors: Morin Fernand
Published: March 2014

Selon le Code civil du Québec, le contrat de travail peut être résilié par l’employeur ou par le salarié en respectant un même délai de congé donné à la partie visée (art 2091 CcQ). À défaut de ce préavis donné par l’employeur, le salarié a droit à une indemnité équivalente, et il ne peut renoncer à la recevoir (art 2092 CcQ). Cependant, le même préavis n’est pas exigible si la rupture résulte d’un « motif sérieux » (art 2094 CcQ). Telles sont les principales règles de droit applicables aux deux parties au contrat de travail. La Cour d’appel en fit cependant une application fort différente en cette affaire Asphalte Desjardins inc. Malgré le préavis de démission donné par le salarié conformément à l’article 2091 CcQ, la Cour d’appel reconnut la pleine valeur juridique de la brusque rupture imposée ultérieurement par l’employeur sans préavis ni « motif sérieux »! Tel serait l’intérêt juridique et pratique de l’étude de ce jugement...
Exciplex-triplet energy transfer: A new method to achieve extremely efficient organic light-emitting diode with external quantum efficiency over 30% and drive voltage below 3 V
Authors: Seo Satoshi , Shitagaki Satoko , Ohsawa Nobuharu , Inoue Hideko , Suzuki Kunihiko , Nowatari Hiromi , Yamazaki Shunpei
Published: March 2014

A novel approach to enhance the power efficiency of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) by employing energy transfer from an exciplex to a phosphorescent emitter is reported. It was found that excitation energy of an exciplex formed between an electron-transporting material with a π-deficient quinoxaline moiety and a hole-transporting material with aromatic amine structure can be effectively transferred to a phosphorescent iridium complex in an emission layer of a phosphorescent OLED. Moreover, such an exciplex formation increases quantum efficiency and reduces drive voltage. A highly efficient, low-voltage, and long-life OLED based on this energy transfer is also demonstrated. This OLED device exhibited extremely high external quantum efficiency of 31% even without any attempt to enhance light outcoupling and also achieved a low drive voltage of 2.8 V and a long lifetime of approximately 1,000,000 h at a luminance of 1,000 cd/m2.
Plate rotation during continental collision and its relationship with the exhumation of UHP metamorphic terranes: Application to the Norwegian Caledonides
Authors: Bottrill A. D. , van Hunen J. , Cuthbert S. J. , Brueckner H. K. , Allen M. B.
Published: March 2014

Lateral variation and asynchronous onset of collision during the convergence of continents can significantly affect the burial and exhumation of subducted continental crust. Here we use 3‐D numerical models for continental collision to discuss how deep burial and exhumation of high and ultrahigh pressure metamorphic (HP/UHP) rocks are enhanced by diachronous collision and the resulting rotation of the colliding plates. Rotation during collision locally favors eduction, the inversion of the subduction, and may explain the discontinuous distribution of ultra‐high pressure (UHP) terranes along collision zones. For example, the terminal (Scandian) collision of Baltica and Laurentia, which formed the Scandinavian Caledonides, resulted in the exhumation of only one large HP/UHP terrane, the Western Gneiss Complex (WGC), near the southern end of the collision zone. Rotation of the subducting Baltica plate during collision may provide an explanation for this distribution. We explore this hypothesis by comparing orthogonal and diachronous collision models and conclude that a diachronous collision can transport continental material up to 60 km deeper, and heat material up to 300°C hotter, than an orthogonal collision. Our diachronous collision model predicts that subducted continental margin material returns to the surface only in the region where collision initiated. The diachronous collision model is consistent with petrological and geochonological observations from the WGC and makes predictions for the general evolution of the Scandinavian Caledonides. We propose the collision between Laurentia and Baltica started at the southern end of the collisional zone, and propagated northward. This asymmetric geometry resulted in the counter clockwise rotation of Baltica with respect to Laurentia, consistent with paleomagnetic data from other studies. Our model may have applications to other orogens with regional UHP terranes, such as the Dabie Shan and Papua New Guinea cases, where block rotation during exhumation has also been recorded.
Bioinformatics in Genome Sequencing Projects
Authors: Jongeneel Cornelis Victor
Published: March 2014

Genome sequencing and analysis is a field that has evolved very rapidly over the 10 years since a final draft of the human genome sequence was published in 2003. From obtaining a full genome sequence from a representative individual or strain of a small number of species, the genomics community has moved to documenting genetic diversity within species, with an emphasis on humans, and more generally by sequencing the genomes of a rapidly growing number of species. The advent of low‐cost, very high throughput sequencing techniques has also made it possible to sample transcriptomes (the part of the genome transcribed into
ribonucleic acid
), genomic regions bound by proteins, bacterial communities, or even entire ecosystems, using sequencing approaches. This has spawned a new generation of software tools designed to handle the very large numbers of short sequences, commonly referred to as reads, produced by the new machines, and has also propelled the field of computational genomics into the realm of Big Data that require large and sophisticated computer systems for their management and analysis.

Key Concepts:

Rapidly evolving sequencing technologies have revolutionised the analysis of genomes.

The management and analysis of billions of short sequence reads requires specialised software and access to high‐end computer hardware.

Clusters of commodity servers are the preferred infrastructure for genome sequencing projects, but machines with large amounts of memory are required for assembly.

Cloud computing is expected to have a big impact on the field, but issues of data transfer are not fully resolved.

Large distributed resources supporting a Map/Reduce programming paradigm and distributed storage, such as Apache Hadoop, will probably become standard.
Centromeres
Authors: Gohard Florence H , Zhiteneva Alisa A , Earnshaw William C
Published: March 2014

Cell division requires the faithful partitioning of the replicated genome into two daughter cells. Failure to achieve this can result in cell death or drive neoplastic transformation and, in meiosis, can lead to infertility and aneuploidy. Centromeres are sites at which eukaryotic chromosomes interact with the mitotic spindle and sister chromatids remain linked until properly aligned. Linkage to the spindle occurs via the kinetochore – a highly elaborate proteinaceous structure assembled on the surface of the centromere. Paradoxically given their essential functions, there is a surprising diversity in centromeric architecture,deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)sequence and protein composition across eukaryotes. Centromere assembly and maintenance are epigenetically determined, and their key unifying feature is the presence of a centromere‐specific histone H3 variant: CENP‐A. In this article, the authors have focused on the specification, composition and function of the mammalian centromere in mitosis.

Key Concepts:

Centromeres are chromosomal loci necessary for chromosome segregation.

The most common form of centromere is the regional centromere that is present once, and only once, per chromosome.

Centromeres are epigenetically regulated; the centromere‐specific histone H3 variant CENP‐A is the determinant of centromere identity.

Centromeres assemble kinetochores consisting of multiple copies of >100 proteins that regulate chromosome interactions with the mitotic spindle.

Centromeres are flanked by heterochromatin, which is necessary for sister chromatid cohesion and error correction.

Plasticity in centromere positioning and activity can compensate for the loss or gain of a centromere on a single chromosome fragment.
Advances in Flowering Plant Evolution
Authors: Crepet William L
Published: March 2014

Flowering plants are the most important plants in the terrestrial ecosystem at most latitudes and altitudes and they are of direct and critical economic importance to our society in many dimensions. They are the most variable seed plants in terms of morphological characteristics and habit and are the most diverse of all plants. It is no surprise that they have been the objects of a great deal of attention from the research community. What is surprising is the scale of the uncertainty surrounding our basic knowledge of angiosperms. Angiosperm relationships are only now being resolved through the application of various algorithms to the combination of molecular genetics‐derived data and morphological data. Yet the relationship of the angiosperms themselves to nonangiospermous seed plants, or understanding the origin of this major group, still remains a hotly contested mystery and explanations for the relative and stunning success of the angiosperms are still being debated. Even precise knowledge of timing in the history of angiosperms is unsettled due to conflicts between timing implied by existing fossil evidence and timing suggested from extrapolations from molecular clock timing models. Finally, questions remain as to the causes of the remarkable success of angiosperms relative to all other plants and seed plants in species numbers and ecological dominance. Recent advances provide insights into some of these persistent questions, whereas others remain unresolved in spite of advances in investigatory techniques now being applied to them.

Key Concepts:

The importance of an improved fossil record in understanding angiosperm evolution is considered with respect to angiosperm origins and success.

The importance of new algorithms in reducing the level of subjectivity in assessments of flowering plant relationships is discussed.

This article contains an appraisal of angiosperm aspects that might be related to their successful species diversity.

The idea of inevitable subjectivity in attempts to determine angiosperm relationships based on morphological characters is discussed.

Historical development of views on angiosperm relationships is considered in this article.
Epimutations and Cancer Susceptibility
Authors: Sloane Mathew Aidan , Hesson Luke Benjamin , Ward Robyn Lynne
Published: March 2014

Germline genetic testing often fails to detect a mutation in the coding region of the relevant predisposition gene despite a strong clinical suspicion of a hereditary cancer syndrome. In some cases, cancer predisposition is caused by a constitutional epimutation. Epimutations are epigenetic aberrations, typically defined by
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
methylation, that predispose individuals to cancer through soma‐wide changes in the expression of the afflicted gene. They have been documented in patients with colorectal cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukaemias and some imprinting disorders. The molecular cause of most epimutations is unknown but it is hypothesised that they could be driven by hitherto unidentified genetic alterations in long‐range
cis
‐regulatory elements that manifest as DNA methylation or repressive histone modifications at a gene promoter. An understanding of the molecular origin of epimutations may help elucidate the basis of predisposition to cancer.

Key Concepts:

Constitutional epimutations predispose carriers to early‐onset cancer.

A constitutional epimutation inactivates expression from one allele of a gene throughout normal tissues.

Primary constitutional epimutations are not inherited in a Mendelian fashion. They are absent in the germline but are present in tissues derived from all three germ layers.

Secondary constitutional epimutations cosegregate with an in
cis
genetic change.

In
cis
DNA elements such as enhancers and insulators regulate gene expression and are potential sites of genetic alterations that give rise to epimutations.

Identifying the cause of epimutations will help explain the origin of some cases of familial cancer without a germline DNA mutation.
Molecular Genetics of Dystrophinopathies
Authors: Ferlini Alessandra , Neri Marcella
Published: March 2014

The term dystrophinopathies includes a spectrum of muscle diseases caused by mutations in the dystrophin (
DMD
) gene. The commonest mutations are intragenic deletions (65% of cases) and duplications (10%); the remaining 25% are small mutations (missense, nonsense, frameshifting and indels). Atypical mutations (deep intronic, or in 5′/3′ untranslated regions) account for no more than 1%. The functional consequences of mutations are related to the maintenance of the open reading frame, though exceptions to the rule are known. A precise molecular characterisation of dystrophin mutations is nowadays mandatory for the inclusion of patients in therapeutic trials, as the antisense‐mediated targeted exon skipping or the stop codon reversion uses gentamycin and ataluren drugs. Understanding the complexity of the dystrophin gene regulation has provided outstanding information about muscle functions, sarcolemma architecture and signalling circuits, muscle metabolism and other basic science mechanisms.

Key Concepts:

The dystrophin gene (
DMD
) is one of the largest disease genes in the human genome.

Dystrophin deficiency accounts for different allelic conditions: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD) are X‐linked recessive hereditary myopathies in which the skeletal muscle is affected with a nonreversible, age‐dependent degeneration. Allelic dystrophin mutations can also give rise to isolated cardiac involvement, or X‐linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDC).

The commonest mutational event in the dystrophin gene is represented by intragenic deletions accounting for 65% of dystrophin mutations. Intragenic duplications account for 10% of all mutations and small mutations represent 25%.

The functional consequences of all mutation types are mainly related to the maintenance of the open reading frame: ‘inframe’ mutations result in a shorter but partially functional dystrophin and are associated with BMD. Frame‐shift mutations are related to the absence of protein production and a DMD phenotype.

The fine genetic characterisation of dystrophin mutations has become mandatory for making patients eligible for novel personalised trials.
Development of a novel robust identification scheme for nonlinear dynamic systems
Authors: George Nithin V. , Panda Ganapati
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a set of single layer low complexity nonlinear adaptive models for efficient identification of dynamic systems in the presence of outliers in the training signal. The weights of the new models have been updated using a new robust learning algorithm. The proposed robust algorithm is based on adaptive minimization of Wilcoxon norm of errors. The computational complexity associated with the new models has further been reduced by processing the input in block form and using a newly derived robust block learning algorithm. Through exhaustive simulation study of many benchmark identification examples, it has been shown that in all cases, the new models provide enhanced and robust identification performance compared with that provided by the corresponding conventional squared error‐based approaches. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sodium Iodide/tert‐Butyl(dimethyl)silyl Chloride‐Induced Isomerization of 2,3‐Allenols to 2(E)‐Enals
Authors: Zeng Rong , Ma Zhichao , Fu Chunling , Ma Shengming
Published: March 2014

Through an unexpected CC bond migration, 2(E)‐enals were efficiently prepared highly stereoselectively in moderate to good yields via the sodium iodide/tert‐butyl(dimethyl)silyl chloride (NaI/TBSCl)‐mediated reaction of the easily available 2,3‐allenols. Based on a careful mechanistic study, including control experiments and deuterium‐labeling experiments, an electron‐withdrawing substituent group in the 4 position has been proven to be crucial and a possible mechanism has been proposed.

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Electronic Effects in Carbene‐Mediated CH Bond Functionalization: An Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Boultadakis‐Arapinis Mélissa , Gandon Vincent , Prost Elise , Micouin Laurent , Lecourt Thomas
Published: March 2014

In this article, we show that short‐distance and long‐range electronic effects are strongly affecting the mechanism and stereoselectivity of Rh(II)‐carbene mediated CH functionalization processes. Based on experimental studies with deuterium‐labelled carbohydrates and DFT calculations, we show that the orientation of the lone pairs of adjacent heteroatoms, as well as the nature of substituents located far from the reaction center, are inducing a shift from the classical concerted mechanism to the less common stepwise process. Furthermore, we reveal that the stereochemical outcome of these transformations is depending on the relative energies of the CH bond activation and Rh(II)‐carbene isomerization barriers. The formation of a single diastereoisomer is thus resulting from Curtin–Hammet‐like kinetics when insertion occurs in poorly activated CH bonds. However, the formation of diastereoisomeric mixtures is resulting from two disconnected and totally stereoselective transformations when the reactivity of the CH bonds towards electrophilic metallocarbenes is increased by short‐distance or long‐range electronic effects.

Abbreviations:Rh: rhodium; Bn: benzyl; Bz: benzoyl; Me: methyl;t‐Bu:tert‐butyl; Ph: phenyl; Ac: acetyl; ClAc: chloroacetyl; TBDMS:tert‐butyldimethylsilyl; TMS: trimethylsilyl; D: deuterium; P: protecting group; L: ligand; THF: tetrahydrofuran; DFT: density functional theory; TS: transition state; BO: bond order; NMR: nuclear magnetic resonance; MS: mass spectrometry; NOE: nuclear Overhauser effect.

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Titanium Dioxide Mesoporous Electrodes for Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Cross‐Analysis of the Critical Parameters
Authors: Colella Silvia , Orgiu Emanuele , Bruder Ingmar , Liscio Andrea , Palermo Vincenzo , Bruchmann Bernd , Samorì Paolo , Erk Peter
Published: March 2014

We report a comparative study on the use of four different mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) photo‐electrodes for the fabrication of solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (sDSSCs). The photovoltaic parameters of the device correlate with several intrinsic properties of the film, based not only on its morphological features, as commonly considered in standard characterizations, but also on the transport and the electronic properties of the photo‐electrode. These properties differ significantly for TiO2 electrodes processed using different colloidal pastes, and are decisive for the photovoltaic efficiency, ranging from 3.7% up to 5.1%. In particular, the dielectric permittivity of each mesoporous layer (εeff) and the number of traps (Nt) determined by the space‐charge‐limited current (SCLC) theory are found to be a bottle‐neck for the charge transport, greatly influencing the fill factor (FF) and open circuit voltage (Voc) of the cells. In addition, a direct correlation between TiO2 surface potential with the Voc was established. Cross‐analysis of key macroscopic parameters of the films prior to integration in the devices, in particular focusing on the determination of the capacitance and surface potential shift of the TiO2 mesoporous anode, represents a straightforward yet powerful method to screen and select the most suitable TiO2 for applications in sDSSCs.
Facile Synthesis of 3D MnO2–Graphene and Carbon Nanotube–Graphene Composite Networks for High‐Performance, Flexible, All‐Solid‐State Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Zheye , Xiao Fei , Qian Lihua , Xiao Junwu , Wang Shuai , Liu Yunqi
Published: March 2014

The integration of graphene nanosheets on the macroscopic level using a self‐assembly method has been recognized as one of the most effective strategies to realize the practical applications of graphene materials. Here, a facile and scalable method is developed to synthesis two types of graphene‐based networks, manganese dioxide (MnO2)–graphene foam and carbon nanotube (CNT)–graphene foam, by solution casting and subsequent electrochemical methods. Their practical applications in flexible all‐solid‐state asymmetric supercapacitors are explored. The proposed method facilitates the structural integration of graphene foam and the electroactive material and offers several advantages including simplicity, efficiency, low‐temperature, and low‐cost. The as‐prepared MnO2–graphene and CNT–graphene electrodes exhibit high specific capacitances and rate capability. By using polymer gel electrolytes, a flexible all‐solid‐state asymmetric supercapacitor was synthesized with MnO2–graphene foam as the positive electrode and CNT‐graphene as the negative electrode. The asymmetric supercapacitors can be cycled reversibly in a high‐voltage region of 0 to 1.8 V and exhibit high energy density, remarkable rate capability, reasonable cycling performance, and excellent flexibility.
Inventory pinch based, multiscale models for integrated planning and scheduling‐part II: Gasoline blend scheduling
Authors: Castillo Pedro A. Castillo , Mahalec Vladimir
Published: March 2014

Integration of planning and scheduling optimizes simultaneous decisions at both levels, thereby leading to more efficient operation. A three‐level discrete‐time algorithm which uses nonlinear models and integrates planning and detailed scheduling is introduced: first level optimizes nonlinear blend models via multiperiod nonlinear programming (NLP), where period boundaries are initially determined by the inventory pinch points; second level uses fixed recipes (from the first level) in a multiperiod mixed‐integer linear program to determine first an optimal production plan and then to optimize an approximate schedule which minimizes the total number of switches in blenders and swing tanks; third level computes detailed schedules that adhere to inventory constraints computed in the approximate schedule. If inventory infeasibilities appear at the second or the third level, the first‐level periods are subdivided and blend recipes are reoptimized. Algorithm finds the same or better solutions and is substantially faster than previously published full‐space continuous‐time model. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2475–2497, 2014
Physical and thermal characterization of polylactic acid meltblown nonwovens
Authors: Hammonds Ryan L. , Gazzola William H. , Benson Roberto S.
Published: March 2014

A series of polylactic acid (PLA) nonwovens were prepared by the melt blowing process using micro and nano dies. The nonwovens were characterized for structural, thermal, and mechanical properties. These properties varied with the type of die, airflow, and die to collector distance (DCD). The mean pore size for PLA microfiber ranged between 1.82 and 10.48 micrometers, and nanofiber nonwovens ranged between 452 and 818 nanometers. The tensile modulus and strength of PLA nonwovens increased with airflow at a given DCD, but decreased with increased DCD for a given airflow. Thermograms from calorimetry showed microfiber mats had a larger composition of beta‐form crystals than the nanofiber mats. The results showed that a wide range of nonwovens can easily be generated with properties tailored to the specific application. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40593.
Simultaneous polypropylene functionalization and nanoclay dispersion in PP/Clay nanocomposites using ultrasound
Authors: Martínez‐Colunga Juan G. , Sánchez‐Valdés Saul , Ramos‐deValle L. F. , Muñoz‐Jiménez Libertad , Ramírez‐Vargas Eduardo , Ibarra‐Alonso Maria Cristina. , Lozano‐Ramirez Tomas , Lafleur Pierre G.
Published: March 2014

Polypropylene nanocomposite materials were prepared with 5 and 10 wt % cloisite C20A clay, jointly with 0.6 and 1.2 wt % of maleic anhydride (MA) for the simultaneous polymer functionalization and clay dispersion in a twin screw extruder assisted with ultrasonic irradiation, using different sonication intensities (231, 347, and 462 W, which correspond to 30%, 45%, and 60% of the maximum instrument intensity, “770 W”) all in a single‐step operation. The MA polymer functionalization was followed by FTIR spectroscopy and determined by titration. The increase in modulus of the obtained PP/Clay nanocomposites was attributed to the greater dispersion level, presumably achieved becuase of the joint application of the PP–Clay compatibilization with MA and the sonication during processing in a twin screw extruder. The greater level of clay dispersion was verified by the displacement of the XRD diffraction peak to lower angles, indicating an intercalated‐exfoliated structure that was corroborated by STEM. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40631.
Structure and mechanical properties of crosslinked glycidyl azide polymers via click chemistry as potential binder of solid propellant
Authors: Hu Chong , Guo Xiang , Jing Yihan , Chen Jun , Zhang Chao , Huang Jin
Published: March 2014

Depending upon the advantages of high efficiency, insensitivity to humidity and so on, the reaction of azide groups in glycidyl azide polymers (GAP) with alkynyl compounds has been used as a substitute of the urethane curing strategy to develop GAP‐based binder for solid propellant. In this work, an alkynyl compound of dimethyl 2,2‐di(prop‐2‐ynyl)malonate (DDPM) reacted with GAP to produce new crosslinked materials under the catalysis of Cu(I)Cl at ambient temperature, and showed great potential as a binder in composite propellant. As the feeding molar ratio of DDPM vs. GAP increased from 1 : 1 to 5 : 1, the crosslinking densities of as‐prepared materials gradually increased, together with simultaneous enhancement of Young's modulus and tensile strength. The breaking elongation showed the maximum value of ca. 82% when the feeding molar ratio of DDPM vs. GAP was 3 : 1. In addition, with an increase of the crosslinking densities, the glass transition temperatures of as‐prepared materials significantly increased from −43.9°C to −5.1°C while the mechanical loss peaks also gradually broadened and shifted up to high temperature, and even presented two peaks at the feeding molar ratio of DDPM vs. GAP higher than 4 : 1. It indicated that the formation of triazole‐based network resulted in structural heterogeneity in the as‐prepared materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40636.
Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polyamide 6 with melamine polyphosphate and ionic liquid surfactant‐treated montmorillonite
Authors: Zhang Ri‐Chao , Hong Soon Man , Koo Chong Min
Published: March 2014

The mechanical properties and inflammability of polyamide 6 (PA6) nanocomposites incorporated with Montmorillonite organoclay (MMT) modified with thermal stable ionic liquid surfactants were investigated. The compatibility between ionic liquid‐treated MMT and PA6 matrix was improved and the intercalation morphology was achieved, which resulted in the increaseof tensile modulus. However, the addition of organo‐MMTs alone did not improve the inflammability of the PA6 nanocomposite, because of strong melt‐dripping behavior of PA6 matrix. Addition of auxiliary melamine polyphosphate (MPP) intumescent flame retardant to the nanocomposite prevented the melt dripping and enhanced inflammability performance. The enhanced inflammability of PA6/organoclay/MPP nanocomposites was attributed to the synergistic effect between imidazolium or phosphonium organo‐MMTs and intumescent flame retardant MPP. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40648.
Polymer networks based in (4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N‐methyl‐D‐glucamine supported on microporous polypropylene layers with retention boron capacity
Authors: Palencia Manuel , Vera Myleidi , Combatt Enrique
Published: March 2014

New cellulose porous layers, with capacity to transport and retain boron from aqueous solution, were developed via interpenetrating polymer network (IPNs). These polymer systems were made to assemble mimetic systems of plant root tissue for the study of available boron transport. For that cellulose porous layers supported on polypropylene matrix were used as primary network for the formation of IPN. A vinyl monomer, (4‐vinylbenzyl)‐N‐methyl‐d‐glucamine (VbNMDG), was synthesized at three concentration levels and cellulose ultrafiltration membranes were modified by in situ polymerization in the inside of the pores. Change of hydrophilicity, percent of secondary network, permeability and retention properties were studied. The formation of IPNs in the inside of the pores decreased the permeabilities of polymer layers. In addition, a decrease of hydrophilicity was seen. A linear increase of boron retention in function of VbNMDG concentrations was observed for the different boron concentrations and a negative effect on retention capability was evidenced for several charge and discharge cycles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40653.
Monocular Camera based Trajectory Tracking of 3‐DOF Helicopter
Authors: Li Shuailing , Liu Hao , Shi Zongying , Zhong Yisheng
Published: March 2014

The vision based flight control problems of unmanned micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) have attracted much attention in recent years. This paper presents a new solution to the trajectory tracking problem of a three‐degrees‐of‐freedom (3‐DOF) helicopter by utilizing only an onboard monocular camera without any artificial marker. First, the parallel tracking and mapping (PTAM) algorithm, which is a famous solution to the visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) problem, is employed to estimate the attitude angles of the 3‐DOF helicopter. Then the calibration puzzle of the mapping between the onboard camera and helicopter coordinate systems is turned into an optimization problem. A robust cost function is applied to get the accurate estimate of the mapping. Finally, for the purpose of alleviating the influences of nonlinearity and coupling between channels, the feedback linearization (FL) and the linear quadratic regulation (LQR) techniques are employed to design the controller. Experimental results show that the proposed method can ensure that the helicopter hovers without drift and has good tracking performance.
Paracrine cellular and extracellular matrix interactions with mesenchymal progenitors during pulmonary alveolar septation
Authors: McGowan Stephen E.
Published: March 2014

Alveolar development in humans primarily occurs postnatally and requires a carefully orchestrated expansion of distal epithelial and mesenchymal progenitor populations and coordinated differentiation, to create a highly segmented gas‐exchange surface. The regulation of alveolarization normally assimilates cues from paracrine cell–cell, cell–extracellular matrix, and mechanical interactions which are superimposed on cells and the extracellular matrix through phasic respiratory movement. In bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the entire process is precociously initiated when cellular and extracellular components are adapted to the saccular stage where movement and circulation are much more limited. This review focuses on mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and pericytes), and epithelial cells are primarily discussed as sources of growth factor ligands or recipients of ligands produced by mesenchymal cells. Some interstitial fibroblasts differentiate to contractile myofibroblasts, containing a smooth muscle‐actin rich cytoskeleton, which connects with tensile and elastic elements in the extracellular matrix, and together comprise a load‐bearing network that diffuses mechanical forces during respiration. Other interstitial fibroblasts assimilate neutral lipid droplets, which regulate the differentiation of distal epithelial progenitors and surfactant production by alveolar type 2 cells. Pericytes organize and reinforce the capillary network as it expands to match the coverage of type 1 epithelial cells. Hyperoxia and the mechanical load imposed by positive pressure mechanical ventilation disrupt these paracrine interactions, leaving thickened alveolar walls, airways and arterioles, thereby diminishing gas‐exchange surface area. Better understanding of these mechanisms of alveolar septation will lead to more effective treatments to preserve and perhaps augment the surface usual sequence of events that drive alveolarization. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:227–239, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.