bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of Urban Settlements Types based on space-borne SAR datasets
Authors: Novack T. , Stilla U.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. In this work we focused on the classification of Urban Settlement Types (USTs) based on two datasets from the TerraSAR-X satellite acquired at ascending and descending look directions. These data sets comprise the intensity, amplitude and coherence images as well as binary images representing man-made structures. In accordance to most official UST maps, the urban blocks of our study site were considered as the analysis units. The urban blocks were classified into Vegetated Areas, Single-Family Houses and Commercial and Residential Buildings. As image attributes, Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOGs) calculated in nine angles out of each image of our dataset were used. The descriptive statistics of the geometrical features of man-made structures inside the blocks were also used as image attributes. The pertinence of HOGs features for the concerning classification task is corroborated by feature selection algorithms used in the quantitative exploratory analysis of the attributes. 76 % of 1926 blocks were correctly classified and a Kappa index of 0.60 was obtained. As in some of the urban blocks from our study site more than one UST class are found, we propose a method for detecting blocks with mixed classes and segmenting them into more objects whose classification becomes hopefully more stable and accurate.
Addressing Grand Challenges in Earth Observation Science: The Earth Observation Data Centre for Water Resources Monitoring
Authors: Wagner W. , Fröhlich J. , Wotawa G. , Stowasser R. , Staudinger M. , Hoffmann C. , Walli A. , Federspiel C. , Aspetsberger M. , Atzberger C. , Briese C. , Notarnicola C. , Zebisch M. , Boresch A. , Enenkel M. , Kidd R. , von Beringe A. , Hasenauer S. , Naeimi V. , Mücke W.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Earth observation is entering a new era where the increasing availability of free and open global satellite data sets combined with the computing power offered by modern information technologies opens up the possibility to process high-resolution data sets at global scale and short repeat intervals in a fully automatic fashion. This will not only boost the availability of higher level earth observation data in purely quantitative terms, but can also be expected to trigger a step change in the quality and usability of earth observation data. However, the technical, scientific, and organisational challenges that need to be overcome to arrive at this point are significant. First of all, Petabyte-scale data centres are needed for storing and processing complete satellite data records. Second, innovative processing chains that allow fully automatic processing of the satellite data from the raw sensor records to higher-level geophysical products need to be developed. Last but not least, new models of cooperation between public and private actors need to be found in order to live up to the first two challenges. This paper offers a discussion of how the Earth Observation Data Centre for Water Resources Monitoring (EODC) – a catalyser for an open and international cooperation of public and private organisations – will address these three grand challenges with the aim to foster the use of earth observation for monitoring of global water resources.
Introduction and preliminary results of a calibration for full-frame hyperspectral cameras to monitor agricultural crops with UAVs
Authors: Aasen H. , Bendig J. , Bolten A. , Bennertz S. , Willkomm M. , Bareth G.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Hyperspectral remote sensing helps to acquire information about the status of agricultural crops to allow optimized management practices in the context of precision agriculture. Due to technological innovations small and lightweight hyperspectral sensors have become available which may be carried by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In this paper we give a brief overview over existing hyperspectral sensors for UAVs. We focus on a new type of full-frame sensors which capture hyperspectral information in two dimensional image frames. We then develop a calibration procedure for these sensors and identify challenges in remote sensing of vegetation. The calibration is evaluate by in-field data acquired during a flight campaign. The spectral calibration shows good results with less than three percent difference in reflection for 110 of the 125 bands (458 to 886 nm).
A non-parameterized method for co-registration of panchromatic and multispectral images
Authors: Peng J.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Precise co-registration of panchromatic and multispectral images can be challenging due to the imperfect alignment of different sensors from the same platform or the involvement of different platforms. However, conventional methods heavily depending on the quality of feature matching and parameterized model fitting fail to yield an accurate result if the relative deformation between images is large. We propose a non-parameterized method that is free of such problems. A basic functional model is established with the consideration of equal radiance and smooth regularization. The local radiance deformation and the self-tuning weighting are then introduced to make the model more suitable for the specific requirement of co-registration. The model is finally solved with a twostage coarse-to-fine optimization approach. Our experiment on ZY-3 (China) images demonstrates its superiority over conventional methods, especially when large deformation due to terrain relief and sensor mis-alignment exists.
Terrestrial laser scanning for plant height measurement and biomass estimation of maize
Authors: Tilly N. , Hoffmeister D. , Schiedung H. , Hütt C. , Brands J. , Bareth G.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Over the last decades, the role of remote sensing gained in importance for monitoring applications in precision agriculture. A key factor for assessing the development of crops during the growing period is the actual biomass. As non-destructive methods of directly measuring biomass do not exist, parameters like plant height are considered as estimators. In this contribution, first results of multitemporal surveys on a maize field with a terrestrial laser scanner are shown. The achieved point clouds are interpolated to generate Crop Surface Models (CSM) that represent the top canopy. These CSMs are used for visualizing the spatial distribution of plant height differences within the field and calculating plant height above ground with a high resolution of 1 cm. In addition, manual measurements of plant height were carried out corresponding to each TLS campaign to verify the results. The high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.93) between both measurement methods shows the applicability of the presented approach. The established regression model between CSM-derived plant height and destructively measured biomass shows a varying performance depending on the considered time frame during the growing period. This study shows that TLS is a suitable and promising method for measuring plant height of maize. Moreover, it shows the potential of plant height as a non-destructive estimator for biomass in the early growing period. However, challenges are the non-linear development of plant height and biomass over the whole growing period.
Analysis of deformation patterns through advanced DINSAR techniques in Istanbul megacity
Authors: Balik Sanli F. , Calò F. , Abdikan S. , Pepe A. , Gorum T.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. As result of the Turkey’s economic growth and heavy migration processes from rural areas, Istanbul has experienced a high urbanization rate, with severe impacts on the environment in terms of natural resources pressure, land-cover changes and uncontrolled sprawl. As a consequence, the city became extremely vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards, inducing ground deformation phenomena that threaten buildings and infrastructures and often cause significant socio-economic losses. Therefore, the detection and monitoring of such deformation patterns is of primary importance for hazard and risk assessment as well as for the design and implementation of effective mitigation strategies. Aim of this work is to analyze the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of deformations affecting the Istanbul metropolitan area, by exploiting advanced Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) techniques. In particular, we apply the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) approach to a dataset of 43 TerraSAR-X images acquired, between November 2010 and June 2012, along descending orbits with an 11-day revisit time and a 3 m × 3 m spatial resolution. The SBAS processing allowed us to remotely detect and monitor subsidence patterns over all the urban area as well as to provide detailed information at the scale of the single building. Such SBAS measurements, effectively integrated with ground-based monitoring data and thematic maps, allows to explore the relationship between the detected deformation phenomena and urbanization, contributing to improve the urban planning and management.
Automatic registration of multi-source medium resolution satellite data
Authors: Barazzetti L. , Gianinetto M. , Scaioni M.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Multi-temporal and multi-source images gathered from satellite platforms are nowadays a fundamental source of information in several domains. One of the main challenges in the fusion of different data sets consists in the registration issue, i.e., the integration into the same framework of images collected with different spatial resolution and acquisition geometry. This paper presents a novel methodology to accomplish this task on the basis of a method that stands out from existing approaches. The whole data (time series) set is simultaneously co-registered with a two-dimensional multiple Least Squares adjustment with different geometric transformations implemented. Some tests were carried out with different geometric transformation models (including similarity, affine, and polynomial) and variable matching thresholds. They showed a sub-pixel precision after the computation of multiple adjustment. The use of multi-image corresponding points allowed the improvement of the registration accuracy and reliability of a time series made up of data imaged with different sensors.
Ordinal classification for efficient plant stress prediction in hyperspectral data
Authors: Behmann J. , Schmitter P. , Steinrücken J. , Plümer L.
Published: September 2014

Abstract. Detection of crop stress from hyperspectral images is of high importance for breeding and precision crop protection. However, the continuous monitoring of stress in phenotyping facilities by hyperspectral imagers produces huge amounts of uninterpreted data. In order to derive a stress description from the images, interpreting algorithms with high prediction performance are required. Based on a static model, the local stress state of each pixel has to be predicted. Due to the low computational complexity, linear models are preferable. In this paper, we focus on drought-induced stress which is represented by discrete stages of ordinal order. We present and compare five methods which are able to derive stress levels from hyperspectral images: One-vs.-one Support Vector Machine (SVM), one-vs.-all SVM, Support Vector Regression (SVR), Support Vector Ordinal Regression (SVORIM) and Linear Ordinal SVM classification. The methods are applied on two data sets - a real world set of drought stress in single barley plants and a simulated data set. It is shown, that Linear Ordinal SVM is a powerful tool for applications which require high prediction performance under limited resources. It is significantly more efficient than the one-vs.-one SVM and even more efficient than the less accurate one-vs.-all SVM. Compared to the very compact SVORIM model, it represents the senescence process much more accurate.
'So Much the Worse for the Whites': Dialectics of the Haitian Revolution
Authors: Ciccariello-Maher George
Published: September 2014

This article sets out from an analysis of the pioneering work of Susan Buck-Morss to rethink, not only Hegel and Haiti, but broader questions surrounding dialectics and the universal brought to light by the Haitian Revolution. Reading through the lens of C.L.R. James’ The Black Jacobins, I seek to correct a series of ironic silences in her account, re-centering the importance of Toussaint’s successor, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and underlining the dialectical importance of identitarian struggles in forging the universal. Finally, I offer Frantz Fanon’s reformulation of the Hegelian master-slave dialectic—overlooked in Buck-Morss’ account—as a corrective that allows us to truly rethink progress toward the universal in decolonized dialectical terms.
Reduced pollen viability and achene development in Solidago ×niederederi Khek from Poland
Authors: Migdałek Grzegorz , Kolczyk Jolanta , Pliszko Artur , Kościńska-Pająk Maria , Słomka Aneta
Published: September 2014

Pollen and achene characters of natural interspecific hybrid Solidago ×niederederi Khek were analyzed and compared with putative parental species S. virgaurea L. and S. canadensis L. to estimate the level of disturbances in generative reproduction resulting from its hybrid nature. Pollen viability (stainability) of Solidago ×niederederi from one newly discovered locality in NE Poland was evidently reduced to ~65% in both viability tests (acetocarmine and Alexander). The diameter of viable pollen (median 21.11 µm) fell between S. canadensis (median 19.52 µm) and S. virgaurea (median 23.48 µm). Both parental species produced normally developed achenes with high frequency (~90%) whereas in the hybrid, the seed set was dramatically low (6%). The results clearly indicated that sexual reproduction of hybridogenous taxon S. ×niederederi is disturbed, and its potential impact as an invasive species depends mainly on vegetative propagation.
Correlation between the Time to Surgery and That to Recovery from Postoperative Diplopia Based on a Single-Center, Retrospective Experience: A Case Series of 11 Patients
Authors: Kim Nam Hoon , Kang Seok Joo
Published: September 2014

Background We conducted this study to identify the correlation between the time to surgery and that to recovery from postoperative diplopia.

Methods In the current single-center, retrospective study, we enrolled a total of 11 patients (n=11) who were diagnosed with white-eyed blowout fracture and underwent surgical operation at our institution between January 2009 and January 2013. To identify the correlation between the time to surgery and that to recovery from postoperative diplopia, we divided our patients into the three groups: the group A (time to surgery, <2 days) (n=4), the group B (time to surgery, 3-7 days) (n=4) and the group C (n=3) (time to surgery, 8-60 days). Then, we compared such variables as sex, age, signs of soft tissue injury, preoperative nausea/vomiting, the degree of preoperative diplopia and the side of the fracture on computed tomography scans between the three groups.

Results In our series, mean age at the onset of trauma was nine years (range, 5-16 years); the mean time to surgery was 30 days (range, 2-60 days); and the mean follow-up period was one year (range, 6 months-2 years). Our results showed that the time to recovery was shorter in the patients with a shorter time to surgery.

Conclusions We found that the degree of recovery from impaired ocular motility and diplopia was the highest in the patients undergoing surgical operations within 48 hours of the onset of trauma with the reconstruction of the fracture sites using implant materials.
The Influence of Pfannenstiel Incision Scarring on Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator
Authors: Park Young Jin , Kim Eun Key , Yun Ji Young , Eom Jin Sup , Lee Taik Jong
Published: September 2014

Background Abdominal wall free flaps are used most frequently in autologous breast reconstruction, and these flaps require intact and robust deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) vessels. Pfannenstiel incisions are often present during preoperative visits for breast reconstruction and could potentially signal compromised blood supply to the lower abdominal wall. In this study, we compared the number of DIEP vessels between patients with and without Pfannenstiel incisions undergoing autologous breast reconstruction.

Methods A retrospective review of medical records was performed for patients with (study) and without (control) Pfannelstiel incisions (n=34 for each group) between June 2010 and July 2013. In addition to patient demographics, number of caesarian sections, and outcomes of free flap reconstruction, abdominal wall vasculature was compared using the preoperative computed tomography angiographic data between the groups. For each patient, vessels measuring greater than 1 mm were counted and divided into four sections of the lower abdominal wall.

Results The mean number of perforator vessels was 10.6 in the study group and 11.4 in the control group, which was not statistically different (P=0.575). Pfannenstiel incisions with history of repeat caesarian sections were not associated with decreased number of perforator vessels.

Conclusions Pfannenstiel scars are associated with neither a change in the number of DIEP vessels nor decreased viability of a free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous and DIEP flap. Lower abdominal free flaps based on DIEP vessels appear safe even in patients who have had multiple caesarian sections through Pfannenstiel incisions.
L’encadrement de l’échange de droits d’émission dans le marché réglementé du carbone au Québec sera-t-il efficace ? Enjeux, constats et prédictions
Authors: Papy Jacques
Published: September 2014

Le 1er janvier 2012, le Québec a lancé, dans le cadre de la Western Climate Initiative, un système de plafonnement et d’échange de droits d’émission de gaz à effet de serre (SPEDE), l’un des premiers systèmes du genre en Amérique du Nord. Le SPEDE est la clé de voûte de la politique de la province en matière de lutte contre les changements climatiques. Il appartient cependant à une catégorie d’instruments économiques de protection de l’environnement encore peu connue de la communauté juridique québécoise. Son étude paraît donc d’une grande actualité. L’article a pour objectif de proposer une première analyse des règles qui encadrent le SPEDE, à la lumière des enseignements de l’analyse économique du droit. L’analyse permet de dresser une nomenclature cohérente et intelligible des règles du SPEDE structurée autour de leur utilité dans l’échange de droits d’émission. Elle fait ainsi ressortir les stratégies de diversification de l’échange, d’institutionnalisation de ses modalités, ainsi que les enjeux de la surveillance du marché du carbone dans un contexte de fragmentation des autorités de tutelle.
Some Considerations for Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIAs) of Business
Authors: Collins Tara M. , Guevara Gabrielle
Published: September 2014

With increasing international attention to business and human/child rights, the necessary next step must examine the monitoring of activities in order for the connection between business and child rights to be meaningful. Consequently, the essential question for this paper is whether business should use child rights impact assessments (CRIAs) and if so, what are some considerations in order to move forward? It is argued that the business must develop and carry out CRIAs in order to meet its due diligence obligations, and to identify and respond to potential and actual child rights impacts due to business activities. Business should use CRIAs as part of a broader process of supporting its organizational commitment to human rights. Other actors can also participate in this monitoring endeavour of business activities. This paper identifies some challenges and considerations of CRIAs in relation to business.
Assessing the change in attitudes, knowledge, and perspectives of medical students towards chiropractic after an educational intervention*
Authors: Wong Jessica J. , Di Loreto Luciano , Kara Alim , Yu Kavan , Mattia Alicia , Soave David , Weyman Karen , Kopansky-Giles Deborah
Published: September 2014

Objective

We assessed the change in attitudes, knowledge, and perspectives of medical students towards chiropractic after a 1-hour educational intervention.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was used with a 52-item cross-sectional paper survey and 1 focus group of third-year medical students. The views of these medical students towards chiropractic were assessed previously in their second-year of medical school. ANOVA and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to assess between-group differences between the medical students' views before and after the educational intervention. The constant comparative method for analyzing qualitative data was used to identify emergent themes from the focus group transcript.

Results

Of 112 third-year medical students, 58 completed the survey (51.7% response rate). The focus group consisted of 6 medical students. Self-reported understanding of chiropractic and number of attitude-positive responses were significantly higher in the group after the educational session. The average number of correct responses assessing knowledge on chiropractic also was significantly higher. Focus group themes were that medical students wanted exposure to chiropractic in clinical settings, had negative attitudes towards chiropractic formed from hidden curriculum, had concerns regarding evidence and safety of chiropractic, and thought that timing of the session on chiropractic was too late in the curriculum.

Conclusions

The attitudes and knowledge of medical students towards chiropractic improved immediately after a 1-hour educational intervention. Formally educating medical students on chiropractic may help minimize hidden curriculum issues regarding chiropractic, as identified by the medical students, and facilitate collaboration between medical and chiropractic providers.
On the relation of Langmuir turbulence radar signatures to auroral conditions
Authors: Schlatter N. M. , Ivchenko N. , Häggström I.
Published: September 2014

We present a statistical study of anomalous radar echoes observed in the auroral ionosphere thought to be signatures of Langmuir turbulence (LT). Data obtained with the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard radar during the international polar year (IPY) were searched for these anomalous echoes in the auroral F region. In incoherent scatter radar experiments LT may in certain circumstances be observed as enhanced backscattered radar power at the ion line frequencies, plasma line frequencies, and at zero Doppler shift. The power enhancement at zero Doppler shift could arise due to Bragg scattering from nonpropagating density fluctuations caused by strong LT. In the IPY data set, around 0.02% of the data comply with our search criteria for altitudes above 190 km based on the ion line spectrum including enhancement at zero Doppler shift. The occurrence frequency of the identified events peaks in the premidnight sector and increases with local geomagnetic disturbance. Enhanced backscattered power is observed with limited altitude extent (below 20 km in 70% of the events), and the altitude distribution of identified radar signatures in the ion line channel has a peak at about 220 km. Enhancement of the plasma line is observed with the ion line enhancements in more than 60% of the events. Two classes of enhanced plasma lines occur. In the first class, plasma lines are limited in frequency and altitude and occur at altitudes of ion line enhancements. In the second class, the plasma lines are spread in frequency and range and are observed at lower altitudes than the first class (at about 170 km) with frequencies close to 3 MHz. Available optical data available indicate that the identified events to occur during auroral breakup with high‐energy electron precipitation.
Cassini multi‐instrument assessment of Saturn's polar cap boundary
Authors: Jinks S. L. , Bunce E. J. , Cowley S. W. H. , Provan G. , Yeoman T. K. , Arridge C. S. , Dougherty M. K. , Gurnett D. A. , Krupp N. , Kurth W. S. , Mitchell D. G. , Morooka M. , Wahlund J.‐E.
Published: September 2014

We present the first systematic investigation of the polar cap boundary in Saturn's high‐latitude magnetosphere through a multi‐instrument assessment of various Cassini in situ data sets gathered between 2006 and 2009. We identify 48 polar cap crossings where the polar cap boundary can be clearly observed in the step in upper cutoff of auroral hiss emissions from the plasma wave data, a sudden increase in electron density, an anisotropy of energetic electrons along the magnetic field, and an increase in incidence of higher‐energy electrons from the low‐energy electron spectrometer measurements as we move equatorward from the pole. We determine the average level of coincidence of the polar cap boundary identified in the various in situ data sets to be 0.34° ± 0.05° colatitude. The average location of the boundary in the southern (northern) hemisphere is found to be at 15.6° (13.3°) colatitude. In both hemispheres we identify a consistent equatorward offset between the poleward edge of the auroral upward directed field‐aligned current region of ~1.5–1.8° colatitude to the corresponding polar cap boundary. We identify atypical observations in the boundary region, including observations of approximately hourly periodicities in the auroral hiss emissions close to the pole. We suggest that the position of the southern polar cap boundary is somewhat ordered by the southern planetary period oscillation phase but that it cannot account for the boundary's full latitudinal variability. We find no clear evidence of any ordering of the northern polar cap boundary location with the northern planetary period magnetic field oscillation phase.
The Self‐enhancement Function of Autobiographical Memory
Authors: Demiray Burcu , Janssen Steve M. J.
Published: September 2014

The self‐enhancement function of autobiographical memory was examined by assessing the psychological distance of adults' most important memories. Participants (N = 445, ages 18–80) reported the seven most important events from their lives on an online survey and rated the memories in terms of valence, emotionality, importance, vividness, reliving, rehearsal, novelty, and psychological distance. Participants also completed the Rosenberg Self‐esteem Scale. Regression analyses showed that participants felt psychologically closer to positive memories than to negative memories, independent of the actual age of the memories. The self‐enhancement function was unrelated to participants' age but was related to their self‐esteem: Higher self‐esteem was associated with feeling closer to positive memories. Finally, a moderated multiple‐mediation model showed that memories' importance and rehearsal mediated the relation between one's self‐esteem and the psychological distance of their positive versus negative memories. Findings are discussed in relation to the functional approach to autobiographical memory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Core–Shell‐Type Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposites for Bioimaging and Therapeutic Agent Delivery
Authors: Wang Yao , Gu Hongchen
Published: September 2014

Advances in nanotechnology and nanomedicine offer great opportunities for the development of nanoscaled theranostic platforms. Among various multifunctional nanocarriers, magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposites (M‐MSNs) attract prominent research interest for their outstanding properties and potential biomedical applications. This Research News article highlights recent progress in the design of core–shell‐type M‐MSNs for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. First, an overview of synthetic strategies for three representative core–shell‐type M‐MSNs with different morphologies and structures is presented. Then, the diagnostic functions of M‐MSNs is illustrated for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. Next, magnetic targeted delivery and stimuli‐responsive release of drugs, and effective package of DNA/siRNA inside mesopores using M‐MSNs as therapeutic agent carriers are discussed. The article concludes with some important challenges that need to be overcome for further practical applications of M‐MSNs in nanomedicine.
Synthesis and Characterization of Organic Dyes with Various Electron‐Accepting Substituents for p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Weidelener Martin , Powar Satvasheel , Kast Hannelore , Yu Ze , Boix Pablo P. , Li Chen , Müllen Klaus , Geiger Thomas , Kuster Simon , Nüesch Frank , Bach Udo , Mishra Amaresh , Bäuerle Peter
Published: September 2014

Four new donor‐π‐acceptor dyes differing in their acceptor group have been synthesized and employed as model systems to study the influence of the acceptor groups on the photophysical properties and in NiO‐based p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells. UV/Vis absorption spectra showed a broad range of absorption coverage with maxima between 331 and 653 nm. Redox potentials as well as HOMO and LUMO energies of the dyes were determined from cyclic voltammetry measurements and evaluated concerning their potential use as sensitizers in p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (p‐DSCs). Quantum‐chemical density functional theory calculations gave further insight into the frontier orbital distributions, which are relevant for the electronic processes in p‐DSCs. In p‐DSCs using an iodide/triiodide‐based electrolyte, the polycyclic 9,10‐dicyano‐acenaphtho[1,2‐b]quinoxaline (DCANQ) acceptor‐containing dye gave the highest power conversion efficiency of 0.08 %, which is comparable to that obtained with the perylenemonoimide (PMI)‐containing dye. Interestingly, devices containing the DCANQ‐based dye achieve a higher VOC of 163 mV compared to 158 mV for the PMI‐containing dye. The result was further confirmed by impedance spectroscopic analysis showing higher recombination resistance and thus a lower recombination rate for devices containing the DCANQ dye than for PMI dye‐based devices. However, the use of the strong electron‐accepting tricyanofurane (TCF) group played a negative role in the device performance, yielding an efficiency of only 0.01 % due to a low‐lying LUMO energy level, thus resulting in an insufficient driving force for efficient dye regeneration. The results demonstrate that a careful molecular design with a proper choice of the acceptor unit is essential for development of sensitizers for p‐DSCs.
Enantioselective Self‐Assembly of Triangular Dy3 Clusters with Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior
Authors: Lin Shuang‐Yan , Wang Chao , Zhao Lang , Tang Jinkui
Published: September 2014

Three pairs of enantiopure chiral triangular Ln3 clusters, [Ln3LRRRRRR/SSSSSS(μ3‐OH)2(H2O)2(SCN)4]⋅xCH3OH⋅yH2O (R‐Dy3, Ln=Dy, x=6, y=0; S‐Dy3, Ln=Dy, x=6, y=1; R‐Ho3, Ln=Ho, x=6, y=1; S‐Ho3, Ln=Ho, x=6, y=1; R‐Er3, Ln=Er, x=6, y=0; S‐Er3, Ln=Er, x=6, y=1), have been successfully synthesized by a rational enantioselective synthetic strategy. The core of triangular Ln3 is bound in the central N6O3 of the macrocyclic ligand, and the coordination spheres of Ln ions are completed by four SCN− anions and two H2O molecules in axial positions of the macrocycle. The circular dichroism (CD) and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of the enantiomers demonstrate that the chirality is successfully transferred from the ligands to the resulting Ln3 clusters. Ac susceptibility measurements reveal that single‐molecule magnet behavior occurs for both enantiopure clusters of R‐Dy3 and S‐Dy3. This work is one of the few examples of the successful design of a pair of triangular Dy3 clusters showing simultaneously slow magnetic relaxation and optical activity, and this might open up new opportunities to develop novel multifunctional materials.
Enhancement of Stability and Activity of siRNA by Terminal Substitution with Serinol Nucleic Acid (SNA)
Authors: Kamiya Yukiko , Takai Junya , Ito Hiroshi , Murayama Keiji , Kashida Hiromu , Asanuma Hiroyuki
Published: September 2014

RNA interference (RNAi ), sequence‐specific gene silencing triggered by double‐stranded, small interfering RNA (siRNA), has become a facile and effective tool for biological research and holds potential for therapeutic applications. However, the application of siRNA is hindered by susceptibility to nucleases and off‐target effects. In this study, we introduced artificial nucleotides, serinol nucleic acid (SNA), with an acyclic scaffold, at the termini of siRNA strands. Our aim was appropriately to accommodate the antisense strand in an RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC) by inhibiting sense‐strand incorporation and thus improve resistance to nuclease‐mediated degradation. Substitution of SNA into siRNA at both termini of the sense strand and at the 3′ terminus of the antisense strand improved antisense strand selectivity remarkably in the formation of RISC, RNAi activity, and nuclease resistance.
GP73 was upregulated in PBMC stimulated with ConA but failed to promote lymphocyte proliferation
Authors: Wang Fang , Li Zhaotao , Li Leike , Hu Longbo , Xiao Jing , Su Zhong , Peng Tao
Published: September 2014

Golgi protein 73‐kD (GP73), a type II Golgi transmembrane glycoprotein, is highly expressed in a variety of human diseases, but its physiology and pathology remain unknown. In examining the function of GP73 in the immune system, treatment of human PBMC with ConA significantly increased the intracellular expression of GP73 and its secretion into the culture medium. Two‐way MLR and the ConA stimulation assay showed that treatment with purified GP73 protein barely affected the proliferation of PBMC. These results suggest that lymphocyte‐secreted GP73 might partially contribute to higher serum GP73 in patients, and secreted GP73 exerts an extremely weak effect on the proliferation of PBMC ex vivo.
Heterobimetallic Metal–Organic Framework as a Precursor to Prepare a Nickel/Nanoporous Carbon Composite Catalyst for 4‐Nitrophenol Reduction
Authors: Yang Ying , Zhang Ying , Sun Cheng Jun , Li Xinsong , Zhang Wen , Ma Xiaohui , Ren Yang , Zhang Xin
Published: September 2014

Nickel/nanoporous carbon (Ni/NPC) composites are facilely prepared by direct pyrolysis of nonporous heterobimetallic zinc–nickel–terephthalate frameworks (Zn1−xNixMOF, x≈0–1, MOF=metal–organic framework) at 1223 K in situ. Tailoring the Ni/Zn ratio creates densely populated and small Ni nanocrystals (Ni NCs) while maintaining sufficient porosity and surface area in the final product, which exhibits the largest activity factor (9.2 s−1 g−1) and excellent stability toward 4‐nitrophenol reduction.
Evaluating the reliability of spectral variables selected by subsampling methods
Authors: Lin Zhaozhou , Pan Xiaoning , Xu Bing , Zhang Jiayu , Shi Xinyuan , Qiao Yanjiang
Published: September 2014

It is imperfect to evaluate a subsampling variable selection method using only its prediction performance. To further assess the reliability of subsampling variable selection methods, dummy noise variables of different amplitudes were augmented to the original spectral data, and the false variable selection number was recorded. The reliabilities of three subsampling variable selection methods including Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination (MC‐UVE), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and stability CARS (SCARS) were evaluated using this dummy noise strategy. The evaluation results indicated that both CARS and SCARS produced more parsimonious variable sets, but the reliabilities of their final variable sets were weaker than those of MC‐UVE. On the contrary, only marginal improvement on the prediction performance was obtained using MC‐UVE. Further experiments showed that removing white noise‐like variables beforehand would improve the reliability of variables extracted by CARS and SCARS. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced Iridium Complex Electrochemiluminescence Cytosensing and Dynamic Evaluation of Cell‐Surface Carbohydrate Expression
Authors: Zhou Hong , Yang Yiying , Li Chunxiang , Yu Bing , Zhang Shusheng
Published: September 2014

A newly prepared [(ppy)2Ir(dcbpy)]+⋅PF6− (ppy: 2‐phenylpyridyl; dcbpy: 4,4′‐dicarboxy‐2,2′‐bipyridyl) and gold nanoparticle functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (Au/Ir‐MSN) is reported. Based on the binding between concanavalin A (Con A) and mannose, the novel nanoparticle was applied to an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) in situ cytosensing strategy and the dynamic evaluation of cell‐surface carbohydrate expression. The ECL activity of the presented Con A@Au/Ir‐MSN nanoprobe was greatly enhanced by employing a functionalized nanoparticle and graphene nanomaterial with an increased surface area and simultaneously improved electron‐transfer efficiency at the electrode interface. Under optimal conditions, the sandwich‐type ECL cytosensor showed a linear response to K562 cells at concentrations ranging from 1.0×102 to 1.0×106 cells mL−1 and realized a low detection limit of a single cell. The proposed method could also be successfully used for monitoring the dynamic variation of carbohydrate expression in cancer cells in response to external stimulation by an inhibitor.
Unprecedented 1,14‐seco‐Crotofolanes from Croton insularis: Oxidative Cleavage of Crotofolin C by a Putative Homo‐Baeyer–Villiger Rearrangement
Authors: Maslovskaya Lidiya A. , Savchenko Andrei I. , Pierce Carly J. , Gordon Victoria A. , Reddell Paul W. , Parsons Peter G. , Williams Craig M.
Published: September 2014

EBC‐162 isolated from Croton insularis, obtained from the northern rainforest of Australia, was structurally affirmed as crotofolin C (4). Novel oxidative degradation products, EBC‐233 and EBC‐300, which are the first crotofolane endoperoxides, were also isolated. Both endoperoxides were found to be stable intermediates, which are proposed to undergo an unprecedented homo‐Baeyer–Villiger biosynthetic rearrangement to give a new class of 1,14‐seco‐crotofolane diterpenes. Prolonged storage of all isolates assisted in authenticating their natural product status. Anticancer activities of reported compounds are presented.
Clinical risk factors for the development of hypertension in patients treated with inhibitors of the VEGF signaling pathway
Authors: Hamnvik Ole‐Petter R. , Choueiri Toni K. , Turchin Alexander , McKay Rana R. , Goyal Lipika , Davis Michael , Kaymakcalan Marina D. , Williams Jonathan S.
Published: September 2014

BACKGROUND

VEGF signaling pathway inhibitor (anti‐VEGF) therapy is associated with hypertension, but little is known about predisposing clinical characteristics. This study describes the real‐world association between baseline clinical characteristics, blood pressure (BP) response, and survival in patients prescribed anti‐VEGF therapies.

METHODS

Clinical data from Partners HealthCare in Massachusetts was obtained from adults treated with anti‐VEGF therapies (2002‐2013). Treatment‐induced hypertensive response was defined as worsening of preexisting hypertension or new diagnosis of hypertension (if no prior hypertension history).

RESULTS

Data from 1120 patients with renal cell carcinoma (32.2%), hepatocellular carcinoma (11.6%), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (12.5%), and other sarcomas (15.3%) were analyzed. Most patients received sunitinib (52%), sorafenib (25.9%), or pazopanib (18%). A treatment‐induced hypertensive response was identified in 49.7% of treated patients. Preexisting hypertension, present in 65.4%, was an independent risk factor for BP elevation (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27‐1.92); other risk factors included age ≥60 years (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06‐1.52), and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.53). Race, sex, anti‐VEGF therapy prescribed, and baseline antihypertensive class were not significant risk factors. The absolute observed mean increase in BP was 21 mm Hg (systolic)/15 mm Hg (diastolic), both in patients with and without preexisting hypertension. The development of hypertension predicted improved survival (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.65‐0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Preexisting hypertension, age, and BMI identify patients at risk for significant anti‐VEGF therapy‐induced BP elevation. Hypertension appears to be a clinical biomarker of efficacy of anti‐VEGF therapies in a broad range of malignancies. Cancer 2015;121:311–9. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
The pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of inhaled fluticasone furoate and vilanterol administered alone or simultaneously as fluticasone furoate/vilanterol
Authors: Kempsford Rodger , Allen Ann , Bareille Philippe , Hamilton Melanie , Cheesbrough Anne
Published: September 2014

Purpose

To investigate the potential for systemic pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) interactions between inhaled fluticasone furoate (FF) and vilanterol (VI) when delivered simultaneously via the ELLIPTA™ dry powder inhaler (DPI).

Methods

Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study. Healthy subjects (n = 16) received single doses of FF (800 mcg), VI (100 mcg), FF/VI (800/100 mcg), and placebo. Endpoints measured were systemic PD (FF: serum cortisol; VI: heart rate), FF and VI plasma PK (0–48 hours), pharyngometry, inhalation and breath hold profiles and safety assessments.

Results

Treatment differences [90% confidence interval (CI)] in weighted mean serum cortisol (0–24 hours) were 12.3% [4.4, 20.9] (FF/VI vs. FF) and for maximum heart rate (0–4 hours) were −1.2 bpm [−4.6, 2.1] (FF/VI vs. VI). When delivered simultaneously, FF and VI systemic exposures were slightly lower (<20%) versus delivery of either agent alone (although this was not a formal bioequivalence study). In vitro simulation of selected inhalation profiles and modeling supported the PK and PD findings. FF/VI, FF and VI were well tolerated with an AE incidence comparable to placebo.

Conclusions

These results suggest there was a slight PK interaction and no PD interactions of concern between inhaled FF and VI when delivered simultaneously via the ELLIPTA DPI in healthy subjects.
Effect of food on the bioavailability and tolerability of the JAK2‐selective inhibitor fedratinib (SAR302503): Results from two phase I studies in healthy volunteers
Authors: Zhang Meng , Xu Christine , Ma Lei , Shamiyeh Elias , Yin Jianyun , von Moltke Lisa L. , Smith William B.
Published: September 2014

Fedratinib (SAR302503/TG101348) is a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)‐selective inhibitor developed for treatment of patients with myelofibrosis. The effect of food intake on the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and tolerability of single‐dose fedratinib was investigated in two Phase I studies (FED12258: 100 mg or 500 mg under fasted or fed [high‐fat breakfast] conditions; ALI13451: 500 mg under fasted or fed [low‐ or high‐fat breakfast] conditions) in healthy male subjects. At the 500 mg dose the fed:fasted ratio estimate for area under the plasma concentration—time curve extrapolated to infinity was 0.96 (100 mg; high‐fat/fasted), 1.19–1.24 (500 mg; high‐fat/fasted), and 1.22 (500 mg; low‐fat/fasted). Fedratinib 500 mg attained peak plasma concentration 4 hours after a high‐fat breakfast and 2–2.5 hours after a low‐fat breakfast or under fasted conditions; terminal half‐life was 76–88 hours (fasted) and 73–78 hours (fed). The most frequent adverse events were mild gastrointestinal toxicities, the incidence of which decreased following a high‐fat breakfast compared with both fasted and low‐fat breakfast conditions (17%, 67%, and 59% of subjects, respectively, in ALI13451). In conclusion, food intake had minimal impact on the PKs of fedratinib, and the tolerability of this drug was improved when taken following a high‐fat breakfast.
Absolute oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of canagliflozin: A microdose study in healthy participants
Authors: Devineni Damayanthi , Murphy Joseph , Wang Shean‐Sheng , Stieltjes Hans , Rothenberg Paul , Scheers Ellen , Mamidi Rao N.V.S.
Published: September 2014

Absolute oral bioavailability of canagliflozin was assessed by simultaneous oral administration with intravenous [14C]‐canagliflozin microdose infusion in nine healthy men. Pharmacokinetics of canagliflozin, [14C]‐canagliflozin, and total radioactivity, and safety and tolerability were assessed at prespecified timepoints. On day 1, single‐dose oral canagliflozin (300 mg) followed 105 minutes later by intravenous [14C]‐canagliflozin (10 µg, 200 nCi) was administered. After oral administration, the mean (SD) Cmax of canagliflozin was 2504 (482) ng/mL at 1.5 hours, AUC∞ 17,375 (3555) ng.h/mL, and t1/2 11.6 (0.70) hours. After intravenous administration, the mean (SD) Cmax of unchanged [14C]‐canagliflozin was 17,605 (6901) ng/mL, AUC∞ 27,100 (10,778) ng.h/mL, Vdss 83.5 (29.2) L, Vdz 119 (41.6) L, and CL 12.2 (3.79) L/h. Unchanged [14C]‐canagliflozin and metabolites accounted for about 57% and 43% of the plasma total [14C] radioactivity AUC∞, respectively. For total [14C] radioactivity, the mean (SD) Cmax was 15,981 (2721) ng‐eq/mL, and AUC∞ 53,755 (15,587) ng‐eq.h/mL. Renal (34.5% in urine) and biliary (34.1% in feces) excretions were the major elimination pathways for total [14C] radioactivity. The absolute oral bioavailability of canagliflozin was 65% (90% confidence interval: 55.41; 76.07). Overall, oral canagliflozin 300 mg coadministered with intravenous [14C]‐canagliflozin (10 µg) was generally well‐tolerated in healthy men, with no treatment‐emergent adverse events.
Population pharmacokinetics of recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein
Authors: Nestorov Ivan , Neelakantan Srividya , Ludden Thomas M , Li Shuanglian , Jiang Haiyan , Rogge Mark
Published: September 2014

Population pharmacokinetics (PK) of FVIII activity‐time profiles following recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein (rFVIIIFc) and recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) dosing were evaluated in previously treated patients with severe hemophilia A (from two clinical trials). Potential covariates that may be determinants of variability in FVIII activity were identified. A 2‐compartment model adequately described the PK of both compounds. von Willebrand Factor (VWF) concentration was the major covariate for rFVIIIFc clearance, reflecting its protective role in FVIII activity clearance. The effect of body weight and hematocrit on the central volume of distribution of rFVIIIFc was minor. The results of these analyses confirmed that rFVIIIFc clearance (1.65 dL/h) is much lower than that of rFVIII (2.53 dL/h), while the steady state volumes of distribution were similar. The strong positive correlations between the PK parameters of rFVIIIFc and rFVIII suggest that individuals who have high time‐related PK characteristics with rFVIII are likely to have comparable characteristics with rFVIIIFc. Steady‐state activity‐time profiles for selected rFVIIIFc dosing regimens were simulated accounting for uncertainty in model parameters. These population PK analyses and simulations provide a comprehensive characterization of the PK of rFVIIIFc and rFVIII and may be useful for designing dosing regimens.
SCRRM: a stability‐aware cooperative routing scheme for reliable high‐speed data transmission in multi‐rate mobile ad hoc wireless networks
Authors: The Dung Le , An Beongku
Published: September 2014

In this paper, we propose a Stability‐aware Cooperative Routing scheme for Reliable high‐speed data transmission in Multi‐rate mobile ad hoc wireless networks, called SCRRM, to provide high data transmission with stable and reliable routes. The main features and contributions of our proposed routing scheme are as follows: First, we use the cross‐layer concept with network layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer. Second, a stable routing path based on link lifetime calculated from node mobility information is selected as the main routing path. Third, we use the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), PHY delay, and MAC delay for adaptively choosing relay and appropriate data rate. Fourth, we derive mathematical models to investigate the tradeoff between point‐to‐point transmission rates and the corresponding effective transmission ranges. The performance evaluation through analysis and simulation demonstrates that our proposed routing scheme can adaptively select optimal data rate and outperforms single‐rate routing protocol in terms of packet delivery ratio, network throughput, and average end‐to‐end delay in all settings of node density and node mobility. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.