bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The induction of pro‐angiogenic processes within a collagen scaffold via exogenous estradiol and endometrial epithelial cells
Authors: Pence Jacquelyn C. , Clancy Kathryn B. H. , Harley Brendan A. C.
Published: May 2015

Nutrient transport remains a major limitation in the design of biomaterials. One approach to overcome this constraint is to incorporate features to induce angiogenesis‐mediated microvasculature formation. Angiogenesis requires a temporal presentation of both pro‐ and anti‐angiogenic factors to achieve stable vasculature, leading to increasingly complex biomaterial design scheme. The endometrium, the lining of the uterus and site of embryo implantation, exemplifies a non‐pathological model of rapid growth, shedding, and re‐growth of dense vascular networks regulated by the dynamic actions of estradiol and progesterone. In this study, we examined the individual and combined response of endometrial epithelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells to exogenous estradiol within a three‐dimensional collagen scaffold. While endothelial cells did not respond to exogenous estradiol, estradiol directly stimulated endometrial epithelial cell transduction pathways and resulted in dose‐dependent increases in endogenous VEGF production. Co‐culture experiments using conditioned media demonstrated estradiol stimulation of endometrial epithelial cells can induce functional changes in endothelial cells within the collagen biomaterial. We also report the effect of direct endometrial epithelial and endothelial co‐culture as well as covalent immobilization of estradiol within the collagen biomaterial. These efforts establish the suitability of an endometrial‐inspired model for promoting pro‐angiogenic events within regenerative medicine applications. These results also suggest the potential for developing biomaterial‐based models of the endometrium. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2185–2194. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CRISPR‐Cas targeted plasmid integration into mammalian cells via non‐homologous end joining
Authors: Bachu Ravichandra , Bergareche Iñigo , Chasin Lawrence A.
Published: May 2015

Mammalian cells are widely used for the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins, as these cells facilitate accurate folding and post‐translational modifications often essential for optimum activity. Targeted insertion of a plasmid harboring a gene of interest into the genome of mammalian cells for the expression of a desired protein is a key step in production of such biologics. Here we show that a site specific double strand break (DSB) generated both in the genome and the donor plasmid using the CRISPR‐Cas9 system can be efficiently used to target ∼5 kb plasmids into mammalian genomes via nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). We were able to achieve efficiencies of up to 0.17% in HEK293 cells and 0.45% in CHO cells. This technique holds promise for quick and efficient insertion of a large foreign DNA sequence into a predetermined genomic site in mammalian cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2154–2162. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rapid and marker‐free refactoring of xylose‐fermenting yeast strains with Cas9/CRISPR
Authors: Tsai Ching‐Sung , Kong In Iok , Lesmana Anastashia , Million Gyver , Zhang Guo‐Chang , Kim Soo Rin , Jin Yong‐Su
Published: May 2015

Genomic integration of expression cassettes containing heterologous genes into yeast with traditional methods inevitably deposits undesirable genetic elements into yeast chromosomes, such as plasmid‐borne multiple cloning sites, antibiotic resistance genes, Escherichia coli origins, and yeast auxotrophic markers. Specifically, drug resistance genes for selecting transformants could hamper further industrial usage of the resulting strains because of public health concerns. While we constructed an efficient and rapid xylose‐fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the engineered strain (SR8) might not be readily used for a large‐scale fermentation because the SR8 strain contained multiple copies of drug resistance genes. We utilized the Cas9/CRISPR‐based technique to refactor an efficient xylose‐fermenting yeast strain without depositing any undesirable genetic elements in resulting strains. In order to integrate genes (XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3) coding for xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase, and xylulokinase from Scheffersomyces stipitis, and delete both PHO13 and ALD6, a double‐strand break formation by Cas9 and its repair by homologous recombination were exploited. Specifically, plasmids containing guide RNAs targeting PHO13 and ALD6 were sequentially co‐transformed with linearized DNA fragments containing XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3 into S. cerevisiae expressing Cas9. As a result, two copies of XYL1, XYL2, and XYL3 were integrated into the loci of PHO13 and ALD6 for achieving overexpression of heterologous genes and knockout of endogenous genes simultaneously. With further prototrophic complementation, we were able to construct an engineered strain exhibiting comparable xylose fermentation capabilities with SR8 within 3 weeks. We report a detailed procedure for refactoring xylose‐fermenting yeast using any host strains. The refactored strains using our procedure could be readily used for large‐scale fermentations since they have no antibiotic resistant markers. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2406–2411. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dissolved carbon dioxide determines the productivity of a recombinant hemagglutinin component of an influenza vaccine produced by insect cells
Authors: Meghrous Jamal , Khramtsov Nikolai , Buckland Barry C. , Cox Manon M.J. , Palomares Laura A. , Srivastava Indresh K.
Published: May 2015

Dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO2) accumulation during cell culture has been recognized as an important parameter that needs to be controlled for successful scale‐up of animal cell culture because above a certain concentration there are adverse effects on cell growth performance and protein production. We investigated the effect of accumulation of dCO2 in bioreactor cultures of expresSF+® insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses expressing recombinant influenza virus hemagglutinins (rHA). Different strategies for bioreactor cultures were used to obtain various ranges of concentrations of dCO2 (<50, 50–100, 100–200, and >200 mmHg) and to determine their effects on recombinant protein production and cell metabolic activity. We show that the accumulation of dCO2 at levels > 100 mmHg resulted in reduced metabolic activity, slowed cell growth, prolonged culture viability after infection, and decreased infection kinetics. The reduced rHA yields were not caused by the decrease in the extracellular pH that resulted from dCO2 accumulation, but were most likely due to the effect of dCO2 accumulation in cells. The results obtained here at the 2 L scale have been used for the design of large‐scale processes to manufacture the rHA based recombinant vaccine Flublok™ at the 2500 L scale Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2267–2275. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bioengineering strategies to generate artificial protein complexes
Authors: Kim Heejae , Siu Ka‐Hei , Raeeszadeh‐Sarmazdeh Maryam , Sun Qing , Chen Qi , Chen Wilfred
Published: May 2015

For many applications, increasing synergy between distinct proteins through organization is important for the specificity, regulation, and overall reaction efficiency. Although there are many examples of protein complexes in nature, a generalized method to create these complexes remains elusive. Many conventional techniques such as random chemical conjugation, physical adsorption onto surfaces, and encapsulation within matrices are imprecise approaches and can lead to deactivation of protein native functionalities. More “bio‐friendly” approaches such as genetically fused proteins and biological scaffolds often can result in low yields and low complex stability. Alternatively, site‐specific protein conjugation or ligation can generate artificial protein complexes that preserve the native functionalities of protein domains and maintain stability through covalent bonds. In this review, we describe three distinct methods to synthesize artificial protein complexes (genetic incorPoration of unnatural amino acids to introduce bio‐orthogonal azide and alkyne groups to proteins, split‐intein based expressed protein ligation, and sortase mediated ligation) and highlight interesting applications for each technique. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1495–1505. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coagulopathy and functional hyposplenism during an episode of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a HgbS/β+‐thalassemia patient
Authors: Gangemi Andrew J. , Pickens Peter V.
Published: May 2015

Key Clinical Message

We report a case of TTP in a sickle cell/β+‐thalassemia heterozygote with nonspecific complaints and a evidence of hemolysis, initially attributed to sickle crisis. Included in this case is a discussion of the development of functional hyposplenism, a rarely reported complication, limitation of ADAMTS‐13 in diagnosis, and the use of platelet transfusion.
Dissolution of Platinum in the Operational Range of Fuel Cells
Authors: Cherevko Serhiy , Keeley Gareth P. , Geiger Simon , Zeradjanin Aleksandar R. , Hodnik Nejc , Kulyk Nadiia , Mayrhofer Karl J. J.
Published: May 2015

One of the most important practical issues in low‐temperature fuel‐cell catalyst degradation is platinum dissolution. According to the literature, it initiates at 0.6–0.9 VRHE, whereas previous time‐ and potential‐resolved inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) experiments, however, revealed dissolution onset at only 1.05 VRHE. In this manuscript, the apparent discrepancy is addressed by investigating bulk and nanoparticulated catalysts. It is shown that, given enough time for accumulation, traces of platinum can be detected at potentials as low as 0.85 VRHE. At these low potentials, anodic dissolution is the dominant process, whereas, at more positive potentials, more platinum dissolves during the oxide reduction after accumulation. Interestingly, the potential and time dissolution dependence is similar for both types of electrode. Dissolution processes are discussed with relevance to fuel‐cell operation and plausible dissolution mechanisms are considered.
Direct Enantioselective Vinylogous Mannich Reaction of Ketimines with γ‐Butenolide by Using Cinchona Alkaloid Amide/Zinc(II) Catalysts
Authors: Nakamura Shuichi , Yamaji Ryota , Hayashi Masashi
Published: May 2015

A direct enantioselective vinylogous Mannich reaction of ketimines with γ‐butenolide has been developed. Good yields and enantioselectivities were observed for the reaction of various ketimines by using a cinchona alkaloid amide/Zn(OTf)2 catalyst and Et3N. Both enantiomers of the products could be obtained by using pseudoenantiomeric chiral catalysts.
New Core‐Shell Type Polymeric Supports Based on the Amberlite XAD‐4 Adsorbent: A Novel Synthesis Procedure
Authors: Cyganowski Piotr , Jermakowicz‐Bartkowiak Dorota , Chęcmanowski Jacek , Kujawska Małgorzata , Bryjak Marek
Published: May 2015

The chloromethyl groups have been introduced into commercial S/DVB copolymer matrixes via interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) synthesis. The procedure involves impregnation of the Amberlite XAD‐4 adsorbent, with use of the vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and divinylbenzene (DVB) monomers mixture, and suspension polymerization process. The syntheses were evaluated by FT‐IR spectra and SEM analyses and furthermore by chlorine content determination as well as characterization of porous structure by nitrogen adsorption at liquid nitrogen temperature. Designed synthesis approach allowed determining organic and water phases composition. Furthermore, impact of an excess of the organic phase removal method has been investigated. Basing on the obtained results it could be stated that the chloromethyl groups, derived from VBC monomer, were successfully introduced into the XAD‐4 structure. Captured SEM images revealed significant changes in the beads' surface morphology after polymerization processes. The presented studies reveal designed and executed synthesis processes, which involve the use of a proper water phase and excess of organic phase removal. Observed changes in the beads' morphology suggest that introduced functionalities are concentrated on the porous surface of the XAD‐4 adsorbent.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C2‐ and Further C7‐Acylation of Indoles with Aldehydes
Authors: Zhang Hui‐Jun , Wu Zhengjian , Lin Weidong , Wen Ting‐Bin
Published: May 2015

The palladium‐catalyzed direct C2‐ and further C7‐acylation of indoles with aldehydes have been developed. This method provides a convenient pathway toward a variety of mono‐ and diacylated indoles.
One‐Step Synthesis of Graphene/Polyaniline Nanotube Composite for Supercapacitor Electrode
Authors: Fan Xin , Yang Zhewei , Liu Zheng
Published: May 2015

Graphene/polyaniline nanotube (GPNT) composite was synthesized using Vitamin C as both the template of polyaniline nanotube via in situ polymerization of aniline and the reducing agent of graphene oxide. The pure polyaniline (PANI), graphene/PANI composite (GP) (using hydrazine monohydrate instead of VC) and GO/PANI composite were also prepared. IR spectroscopy and morphologies of the as‐prepared samples were characterized. And the electrochemical performances were conducted on a three‐electrode cell. IR spectroscopy demonstrated the interaction between graphene and PANI nanotube in GPNT, which is beneficial to enhance the electrochemical performance of the composite electrode. Surface morphology showed PANI nanotube with outer diameter of 140 nm in GPNT. GPNT composites exhibited better electrochemical performances than GP composite and pure PANI. The electrochemical performances showed that the specific capacitance of GPNT was 561 F/g which is more than that of either GP or PANI, it is not only due to the graphene which can provide good electrical conductivity and high specific surface area, but also associated with a good redox activity of ordered PANI nanotubes. The as‐prepared GPNT composites with higher conductivity, lower resistance and better cycle life in our laboratory are promising electrode materials for high‐performance electrical energy storage devices.
Efficient Copper‐Catalyzed Annulation of 2‐Formylazoles with 2‐Haloanilines for the Synthesis of Pyrrole‐ and Imidazole‐Fused Quinoxalines
Authors: Li Zihao , Yan Nannan , Xie Jianwei , Liu Ping , Zhang Jie , Dai Bin
Published: May 2015

Promoted by CuI/2‐hydroxybenzohydrazide catalytic system, a variety of pyrrole‐ and imidazole‐fused quinoxalines have been efficiently one‐pot synthesized from pyrrole‐/imidazole‐2‐carboxaldehyde and 2‐haloanilines in moderate to excellent yields.
An Improved Turn‐On Aptasensor for Thrombin Detection Using Split Aptamer Fragments and Graphene Oxide
Authors: Liu Xingfen , Yang Yonghong , Hua Xiaoxiao , Feng Xiaomiao , Su Shao , Huang Yanqin , Fan Quli , Wang Lianhui , Huang Wei
Published: May 2015

An improved turn‐on aptasensor for thrombin detection using split aptamer fragments and graphene oxide (GO) was reported. The thrombin‐binding aptamer (Apt15) was split into two parts for target recognition, an 8‐base sequence labeled with fluorescein (FAM‐Apt‐A) and a 7‐base oligonucleotide sequence (Apt‐B). In the absence of target protein, the fluorescence of FAM‐Apt‐A/Apt‐B was quenched by GO through Π‐Π stacking between GO and single‐stranded DNA. However, when thrombin was introduced into the system, a target‐induced G‐quadruplex forms with two split aptamer fragments and thrombin. The fluorescence recovered due to weak interaction between G‐quadruplex and GO. Compared to the strategy using intact aptamer, probe concentration was lowered, and an improved sensitivity was obtained. Moreover, heating process to avoid unfavorable secondary structure was avoided due to the use of shorter split aptamer fragments.
New Organic Dyes Based on Biarylmethylene‐Bridged Triphenylamine for Dye Sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Wu Fei , Liu Haitao , Lee Lawrence Tien Lin , Chen Tao , Wang Min , Zhu Linna
Published: May 2015

Three new organic dyes were synthesized and characterized for applications in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In these dyes, diarylmethylene‐bridged triphenylamine is the donor, and different acceptors and vinylthiophene are designed to get TBA‐1, TBA‐2 and TBA‐3. Their photophysical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties were investigated, and the effects of the acceptor structures as well as the linkage on these properties were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the vinylthiophene linkage between the donor and the acceptor is favorable for improving light harvesting ability of TBA‐2. In addition, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments suggest larger Rrec and longer electron lifetime of TBA‐2. Therefore, it outperforms the other dyes, exhibiting the highest power conversion efficiency of 3.87%, with Jsc of 8.25 mA·cm−2 and Voc of 666 mV. Unfortunately, the TBA‐3 with three acceptor groups only shows efficiency of 3.52%, indicating that the design of increasing acceptor groups plays little role on enhancing the solar cell efficiency.
Synthesis and Structure of Tetrahydro‐4,7‐ethanoisobenzofuran‐1,3‐dione Derivative
Authors: Fang Mingfeng , Pan Chunmeng , Lu Song , Lin Zhongxiang , Lu Guo‐Yuan
Published: May 2015

(1R,2R,3S,4R,7R)‐7‐Isopropyl‐6‐methylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐5‐ene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid anhydride (tetrahydro‐4,7‐ethanoisobenzofuran‐1,3‐dione derivative) adduct 2 was prepared via the isomerization of α‐pinene and β‐pinene in turpentine followed by the Diels‐Alder cycloaddition with maleic anhydride in the presence of phosphoric acid/iodine catalysis. The molecular structure of adduct 2 was characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H‐1H COSY, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC, 2D NOESY and MS spectra. The single crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis of adduct 2 was performed, and the X‐ray powder diffractive spectrum of the sample adduct 2 is consistent with the diffractive spectrum calculated from the single crystal data. Therefore the structure and stereochemistry of adduct 2 was established based on extensive spectral data and single crystal X‐ray analysis.
Differential Distortion of Purine Substrates by Human and Plasmodium falciparum Hypoxanthine‐Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase to Catalyse the Formation of Mononucleotides
Authors: Karnawat Vishakha , Gogia Spriha , Balaram Hemalatha , Puranik Mrinalini
Published: May 2015

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) is a potential therapeutic target. Compared to structurally homologous human enzymes, it has expanded substrate specificity. In this study, 9‐deazapurines are used as in situ probes of the active sites of human and Pf HGPRTs. Through the use of these probes it is found that non‐covalent interactions stabilise the pre‐transition state of the HGPRT‐catalysed reaction. Vibrational spectra reveal that the bound substrates are extensively distorted, the carbonyl bond of nucleobase moiety is weakened and the substrate is destabilised along the reaction coordinate. Raman shifts of the human and Pf enzymes are used to quantify the differing degrees of hydrogen bonding in the homologues. A decreased Raman cross‐section in enzyme‐bound 9‐deazaguanine (9DAG) shows that the phenylalanine residue (Phe186 in human and Phe197 in Pf) of HGPRT stacks with the nucleobase. Differential loss of the Raman cross‐section suggests that the active site is more compact in human HGPRT as compared to the Pf enzyme, and is more so in the phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) complex 9DAG–PRPP–HGPRT than in 9‐deazahypoxanthine (9DAH)–PRPP–HGPRT.
Synthesis of Porous δ‐MnO2 Submicron Tubes as Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Rechargeable Li–O2 Batteries
Authors: Zhang Peng , Sun Dongfei , He Mu , Lang Junwei , Xu Shan , Yan Xingbin
Published: May 2015

Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries are receiving intense interest because of their high energy density. A new tubular δ‐MnO2 material prepared by a simple hydrothermal synthesis is an efficient electrocatalyst for Li–O2 batteries. The synthesized δ‐MnO2 exhibits a unique tubular structure, in which the porous walls are composed of highly dispersed ultrathin δ‐MnO2 nanosheets. Such a unique structure and its intrinsic catalytic activity provide the right electrocatalyst characteristics for high‐performance Li–O2 batteries. As a consequence, suppressed overpotentials—especially the oxygen evolution reaction overpotential—superior rate capability, and desirable cycle life are achieved with these submicron δ‐MnO2 tubes as the electrocatalyst. Remarkably, the discharge product Li2O2 of the Li–O2 battery exhibits a uniform nanosheet‐like morphology, which indicates the critical role of the δ‐MnO2 in the electrochemical process, and a mechanism is proposed to analyze the catalysis of δ‐MnO2.
Digitally‐assisted constant‐on‐time dynamic‐biasing technique for bandwidth and slew‐rate enhancement in ultra‐low‐power low‐dropout regulator
Authors: Guo Jianping , Ho Marco , Leung Ka Nang , Li Guangxiang
Published: May 2015

A digitally‐assisted constant‐on‐time dynamic‐biasing (COT‐DB) technique has been proposed to enable significant enhancement in dynamic performances, while the average current consumption can be kept to ultralow level. This dynamic‐biasing technique has a predefined magnitude and duration on biasing current boost, which is beneficial to estimate power budget in systems with finite energy source. The proposed technique has been applied to a low‐dropout regulator (LDO) to demonstrate the effectiveness. Experimental results show that significant improvements in settling times during load‐transients and line‐transients are as much as 880×, while the current consumption is only 1.02 μA. In fact, for the same dynamic performances, the average current consumption of LDO with COT‐DB technique can be as low as 0.39% of the LDO with heavy static biasing. The digitally‐assisted implementation of the technique also allows robust augmentation of the technique onto almost all analog systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A load scheduler for SIP proxy servers: design, implementation and evaluation of a history weighted window approach
Authors: Montazerolghaem Ahmadreza , Shekofteh S.‐Kazem , Yaghmaee M.H. , Naghibzadeh Mahmoud
Published: May 2015

The widespread use of Session Initiation Protocol as a signalling protocol has created various challenges. An important one is that its throughput can be severely degraded when an overload happens in the proxy server because of several retransmissions from the user agent. One common approach to overcome this problem is ‘load balancing’. A balancer needs to know the status of proxy servers, which are continuously gathered implicitly or explicitly. Implicit methods have averagely less overhead than explicit ones. This paper attempts to prevent throughput reduction by balancing the loads among available proxy servers properly using an implicit mechanism called History Weighted Average Response time. The proposed algorithm is robust because it incurs no extra processing to proxy servers. The novelty of the mechanism is making use of ‘response time history’ to estimate the load being currently processed on servers. By implementing in a real testbed, throughput and scalability are improved compared with an important state‐of‐the‐art similar algorithm. This improvement stems from no need for modification in SIP protocol, easy implementation and application, simple computations for making decision and no need for extra feedback between servers and load balancer. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Towards power consumption in optical networks: a cognitive prediction‐based technique
Authors: Sarigiannidis Panagiotis G. , Papadimitriou Georgios , Nicopolitidis Petros , Varvarigos Emmanouel
Published: May 2015

Modern backbone, optical networks have developed into large, massive networks, which consist of numerous intermediate and terminal nodes as well as final users. These networks serve uninterruptedly multitude of users at the expense of considerable power consumption. Many research efforts are aimed at reducing energy consumption in large‐scale optical networks; however, this objective is deemed laborious: the operation of such networks has to continuously remain in good levels without disruptions. One of the most compelling techniques to remedy this situation is to switch off redundant links and devices at specific (short) periods. These links and devices remain idle as long as the network can cope with the underlying traffic demands. Hence, a power mechanism is required to manage how and when underutilized network elements may be silent during network operation. Nevertheless, this management entails fast processing and efficient decision making. While many research efforts neglect this serious factor, the problem of reducing the power consumption still threats the development of today's backbone network. In this work, an effective, cognitive power management technique is proposed by enhancing the decision making with traffic prediction. Traffic capacity is estimated in each link within the network supporting, thus, more efficient decisions on switching off underutilized or even idle network elements a priori. The technique introduced succeeds high accuracy levels, while it offers energy savings up to 30% lower than other energy‐aware schemes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Access to 2,6,8‐Trisubstituted 4‐Aminoquinazolines through Microwave‐Assisted One‐Pot Chemoselective Tris‐Suzuki–Miyaura or SNAr/Bis‐Suzuki–Miyaura Reactions in Water
Authors: Kabri Youssef , Crozet Maxime D. , Terme Thierry , Vanelle Patrice
Published: May 2015

An efficient, sequential, one‐pot strategy for synthesizing polyfunctionalized quinazoline derivatives is presented. After selective amination of 6,8‐dibromo‐2,4‐dichloroquinazoline at the C‐4 position, 2,6,8‐trisubstituted 4‐aminoquinazoline derivatives were prepared through one‐pot chemoselective sequential tris‐Suzuki–Miyaura or SNAr/bis‐Suzuki–Miyaura reactions under microwave irradiation in an aqueous medium. This approach, used with a variety of boronic acids, affords polysubstituted quinazoline derivatives in good to excellent yields in only a few steps and in the environmentally benign solvent water.
Do women who succeed in male‐dominated domains help other women? The moderating role of gender identification
Authors: Kaiser Cheryl R. , Spalding Kerry E.
Published: May 2015

It is often expected that the first women to advance in male‐dominated fields will promote other women who follow them. Two studies test the hypothesis that some women show this expected pattern of promoting women but that others show the opposite pattern, favoring men over women. In two studies, women's gender identification moderated the extent to which they favored men over women when they advanced in a male‐dominated field. Specifically, the weaker women's gender identification, the more favoritism they showed for a male relative to a female subordinate. Gender identification did not moderate women's behavior in a context in which women were not underrepresented, pointing to the power of the situation in eliciting this relationship. Implications for the advancement of women in male‐dominated fields are discussed.
Simulation of Direct Dimethyl Ether Synthesis in a Slurry Reactor by Recirculation and Axial Dispersion Models
Authors: Zare Ghorbaei S. , Ale Ebrahim H.
Published: May 2015

Dimethyl ether is an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel fuel. This fuel can be produced directly from synthesis gas in a slurry bubble column reactor. We predicted the performance of the slurry bubble column reactor for dimethyl ether synthesis using a recirculation model and comparison with axial dispersion results. The differential equations of recirculation and axial dispersion models for the dimethyl ether synthesis are solved for a similar kinetic equation. A comparison of the results with experimental data from the literature confirms that the recirculation model better represents the reactor behavior. Finally, the effects of operating variables are studied using a simulation framework.
Experimental Study of the Spray Characteristics of Diesohol Fuel using a High‐Pressure Common‐Rail Injection System in a Diesel Engine
Authors: Song L. B. , Lin Q. Z. , Xie Y. Z. , Hu H. W. , Hu H. Q. , Pi D. , Xu S. M.
Published: May 2015

The spray characteristics of diesohol fuel have a direct effect on the thermal efficiency and combustion emissions performance of diesel engines. In this research, we investigated the spray characteristics of diesohol fuel under different fuel injection pressures (Pinj) in a high‐pressure common‐rail injection system and at various spray ambient pressures (Pamb) in a constant‐volume pressure vessel by using high‐speed photography technology. The research results support the concept of adding a certain percentage of ethanol to diesel, creating diesohol fuel, which can reduce the environmental impacts of vehicle emissions. Experiments on the spray characteristics were performed and the results suggested that the addition of ethanol has no significant effect on the spray tip penetration, spray cone angle, and spray tip speed. However, atomization conditions such as injection pressure and ambient pressure have a significant impact on the spray characteristics of the blended fuel.
Body Image Dissatisfaction and Eating‐Related Psychopathology in Trans Individuals: A Matched Control Study
Authors: Witcomb Gemma L. , Bouman Walter Pierre , Brewin Nicola , Richards Christina , Fernandez‐Aranda Fernando , Arcelus Jon
Published: May 2015

High levels of body dissatisfaction have already been reported in the trans population; however, the root of this dissatisfaction, and its association with eating disordered behaviours, has not been studied in‐depth. This study aims to assess eating disorder risk by comparing 200 trans people, 200 people with eating disorders and 200 control participants' scores on three subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory‐2 (EDI‐2) and to further explore dissatisfaction in the trans participants using the Hamburg Body Drawing Scale (HBDS). The results showed that overall participants with eating disorders scored higher than trans or control groups on all EDI‐2 measures, but that trans individuals had greater body dissatisfaction than control participants and, importantly, trans males had comparable body dissatisfaction scores to eating disordered males. Drive for thinness was greater in females (cis and trans) compared with males. In relation to HBDS body dissatisfaction, both trans males and trans females reported greatest dissatisfaction not only for gender‐identifying body parts but also for body shape and weight. Overall, trans males may be at particular risk for eating disordered psychopathology and other body image‐related behaviours. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Introducing a handshake for data dissemination using rateless codes in vehicular ad hoc networks
Authors: Khiadani Nadia H. , Safavi Hemami Sayed Mostafa , Hendessi Faramarz
Published: May 2015

Data dissemination in vehicular networks is a notable problem because of the highly dynamic characteristics of these networks and the instability state of channels. Protocols that perform data dissemination based on MAC structure cannot provide reliable communication between vehicles. Protocols that use coding for data dissemination are reliable; however, they are either confronted with collision or not suitable for short time communication. In some situation, the node cooperation is low. In this paper, we extend the idea of data dissemination using rateless codes, DDRC. We introduce a proper handshake for data dissemination using rateless codes, HDDRC. This handshake is based on accelerated movement mathematical calculations. It calculates communication time duration between two members of handshake and sets a proper NAV (Network Allocation Vector). During NAV time, the channel is reserved and only handshake's members are allowed to communicate with each other. Therefore, handshake eliminates collision problem in the receiver node. Simulation results show that the protocol performance is improved by the vehicle's acceleration, which results in increasing the number of cooperating nodes. Comparing the two existing algorithms, DDRC and CORP, HDDRC causes the vehicles to receive messages in a shorter period of time and shorter traveled length of roads. Therefore, HDDRC improves the network performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictability of Equity Models
Authors: Chicaroli Rodrigo , Valls Pereira Pedro L.
Published: May 2015

In this study, we verify the existence of predictability in the Brazilian equity market. Unlike other studies in the same sense, which evaluate original series for each stock, we evaluate synthetic series created on the basis of linear models of stocks. Following the approach of Burgess (Computational Finance, 1999; 99, 297–312), we use the ‘stepwise regression’ model for the formation of models of each stock. We then use the variance ratio profile together with a Monte Carlo simulation for the selection of models with potential predictability using data from 1 April 1999 to 30 December 2003. Unlike the approach of Burgess, we carry out White's Reality Check (Econometrica, 2000; 68, 1097–1126) in order to verify the existence of positive returns for the period outside the sample from 2 January 2004 to 28 August 2007. We use the strategies proposed by Sullivan, Timmermann and White (Journal of Finance, 1999; 54, 1647–1691) and Hsu and Kuan (Journal of Financial Econometrics, 2005; 3, 606–628) amounting to 26,410 simulated strategies. Finally, using the bootstrap methodology, with 1000 simulations, we find strong evidence of predictability in the models, including transaction costs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of heat and mass transfer of different microwave‐assisted extraction methods of essential oil from Citrus limon (Lisbon variety) peel
Authors: Golmakani Mohammad‐Taghi , Moayyedi Mahsa
Published: May 2015

Dried and fresh peels of Citrus limon were subjected to microwave‐assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) and solvent‐free microwave extraction (SFME), respectively. A comparison was made between MAHD and SFME with the conventional hydrodistillation (HD) method in terms of extraction kinetic, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity. Higher yield results from higher extraction rates by microwaves and could be due to a synergy of two transfer phenomena: mass and heat acting in the same way. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis did not indicate any noticeable differences between the constituents of essential oils obtained by MAHD and SFME, in comparison with HD. Antioxidant analysis of the extracted essential oils indicated that microwave irradiation did not have adverse effects on the radical scavenging activity of the extracted essential oils. The results of this study suggest that MAHD and SFME can be termed as green technologies because of their less energy requirements per ml of essential oil extraction.
Discussion of Jamaican Cenozoic ichnology: review and prospectus: (v. 50, pp. 364–382)
Authors: Mitchell Simon F. , Ramsook Ryan
Published: May 2015

We make two comments on the paper ‘Jamaican Cenozoic ichnology: review and prospectus’ by Donovan et al. (2015). Based on biostratigraphy and new radiometric dates, we recommend the separation of the Richmond Formation (deposited in the Wagwater Graben and onlapping onto the edges of the Clarendon Block and Blue Mountains Block) and the Moore Town Formation (deposited in the John Crow Mountain Graben) which are of early Eocene and early Paleocene age, respectively. The ichnofossils of the Scolicia ichnocoenesis are different in the two basins. We also point out that extensive borings recorded from the late Eocene Somerset Formation of the White Limestone Group most probably came from the late Oligocene Walderston Formation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Good Hospitals
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E.
Published: May 2015

The two articles in this issue of the Report consider different ways that hospitals' organizational failings can be masked by ethics talk. In the lead article, Ann Hamric, John Arras, and Margaret Mohrmann take a critical look at the increasingly popular view that courage is a vital part of the moral armamentarium of health care professionals. It's easy to overemphasize and distort this point, they argue. Alexandra Junewicz and Stuart Youngner have a somewhat similar take on patient satisfaction surveys, which are now in widespread use at most hospitals. Surveys are valuable, say Junewicz and Younger, but it is very easy to make too much of them and to misuse them.
What Counts as Equipoise?
Authors: Silverman Henry J. , Dreyfuss Didier
Published: May 2015

A commentary on “SUPPORT: Risks, Harms, and Equipoise,” by Robert M. Nelson; “The Controversy over SUPPORT Continues and the Hyperbole Increases,” by Alan R. Fleischman; and “SUPPORT and the Ethics of Study Implementation,” by John D. Lantos and Chris Feudtner, all in the January‐February 2015 issue.
The Potential Harms and Benefits from Research on Medical Practices
Authors: Wilfond Benjamin S. , Magnus David C.
Published: May 2015

A commentary on “SUPPORT and the Ethics of Study Implementation: Lessons for Comparative Effectiveness Research from the Trial of Oxygen Therapy for Premature Babies,” by John D. Lantos and Chris Feudtner, in the January‐February 2015 issue.
Discharge Decisions and the Dignity of Risk
Authors: Mukherjee Debjani
Published: May 2015

Mrs. Smith's eyes filled with tears as she said, “I feel like I've done something wrong. Are they punishing me because I've been refusing therapy and won't go to a nursing home?” She acknowledged that she hadn't always listened to her doctors but said that she knew better now and wanted to go home and see if she could make it work. Many staff members at our rehabilitation hospital had explained their safety concerns to her, and some had enlisted her adult daughter, with whom she lived, to convince her too. The rehabilitation team had called on the ethics consultation service, of which I am a part, to help figure out whether Mrs. Smith had the capacity to make an informed refusal of discharge recommendations.
“Right to Try” Laws: The Gap between Experts and Advocates
Authors: Dresser Rebecca
Published: May 2015

The year 2014 brought a new development in the bioethics “laboratory of the states.” Five states adopted “right to try” laws intended to promote terminally ill patients' access to investigational drugs. Many more state legislatures are now considering such laws. The campaign for right to try laws is the latest move in an ongoing effort to give seriously ill patients access to drugs whose safety and effectiveness remain largely unknown. Although scientists and policy‐makers oppose the right to try approach, it has proven quite popular among state legislators and the public.
“Aid in Dying” in the Courts
Authors: Latham Stephen R.
Published: May 2015

Three states—Oregon, Washington, and Vermont—have used straightforwardly democratic means to legalize the practice formerly known as “physician‐assisted suicide” but now termed “aid‐in‐dying.” In two states—Montana and New Mexico—aid‐in‐dying has been declared legal neither by directly democratic action by citizens nor by representatively democratic action by the legislature but by court rulings in cases brought by aid‐in‐dying activists. The court case in New Mexico (Morris v. New Mexico, 2014) is undoubtedly of greater significance to the rest of the states. The Morris opinion is as interesting for what it declined to hold as for what it held.
Graphic Medicine in the University
Authors: Squier Susan M.
Published: May 2015

The spring I first offered a graphic medicine graduate seminar, I wasn't sure what to expect. Every class meeting included one hour in which the students, from fields that stress rigorous verbal and written achievement, were required to embrace the position of the amateur by learning to create comics. They experimented with putting images and words together in sequential drawn panels in order to tell a story of their own devising. Of course, they did more than draw; the other two hours of the seminar introduced them both to the medium of comics and to graphic medicine in particular.

What happened surprised me. Not only did the students, none of whom were medical students, explore illness, disability, and medical treatment in their comics, but they also often articulated bioethics issues as well.
Ethics of Development Assistance for Health
Authors: Ruger Jennifer Prah
Published: May 2015

In the past three decades, levels of and contributors to global health aid have increased at an unprecedented pace. Development assistance for health—financial contributions from public and private institutions to low‐ and middle‐income countries to help improve health and health systems—nearly quintupled from 1990 to 2012 (from $5.7 billion to $28.1 billion). DAH is now provided by more than one hundred seventy major global health agencies and organizations, 15 percent of which are private entities (such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), other not‐for‐profit organizations, and public‐private partnerships. Governments are still the largest source for DAH. While increased DAH is essential and welcome, these system developments raise numerous ethical questions. Are the resources sustainable, and do expenditures target correct priorities? Who should decide, and how should these decisions be made?.
Practitioner Courage and Ethical Health Care Environments
Authors: Oakley Justin
Published: May 2015

In this issue of the Hastings Center Report, Ann Hamric, John Arras, and Margaret Mohrmann highlight how contemporary accounts of the virtue of courage in health care often gloss over deeper problems in the underlying health care systems themselves. They express particular concerns about the appropriateness and personal costs of exhortations to health professionals to take courageous action in circumstances where this is “required only because of unethical institutional structures” (p. 39). They offer valuable points that are not adequately recognized in discussions of courage as a professional virtue in health care practice. The call for more judicious appeals to health professionals to exercise courage in health care practice should clearly be heeded. A sole reliance on practitioner courage for exposing unethical workplace practices would be misguided. Nevertheless, there is still a legitimate place for encouraging health professionals to develop and act on courage.
Observational uncertainties in hypothesis testing: investigating the hydrological functioning of a tropical catchment
Authors: Westerberg Ida K. , Birkel Christian
Published: May 2015

Hypothesis testing about catchment functioning with conceptual hydrological models is affected by uncertainties in the model representation of reality as well as in the observed data used to drive and evaluate the model. We formulated a learning framework to investigate the role of observational uncertainties in hypothesis testing using conceptual models and applied it to the relatively data‐scarce tropical Sarapiqui catchment in Costa Rica. Observational uncertainties were accounted for throughout the framework that incorporated different choices of model structures to test process hypotheses, analyses of parametric uncertainties and effects of likelihood choice, a posterior performance analysis and (iteratively) formulation of new hypotheses. Estimated uncertainties in precipitation and discharge were linked to likely non‐linear near‐surface runoff generation and the potentially important role of soils in mediating the hydrological response. Some model‐structural inadequacies could be identified in the posterior analyses (supporting the need for an explicit soil‐moisture routine to match streamflow dynamics), but the available information about the observational uncertainties prevented conclusions about other process representations. The importance of epistemic data errors, the difficulty in quantifying them and their effect on model simulations was illustrated by an inconsistent event with long‐term effects. Finally we discuss the need for new data, new process hypotheses related to deep groundwater losses, and conclude that observational uncertainties need to be accounted for in hypothesis testing to reduce the risk of drawing incorrect conclusions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maternal exposure to hexachlorophene targets intermediate‐stage progenitor cells in the hippocampal neurogenesis involving myelin vacuolation of cholinergic and glutamatergic inputs in mice
Authors: Kato Mizuho , Abe Hajime , Itahashi Megu , Kikuchihara Yoh , Kimura Masayuki , Mizukami Sayaka , Yoshida Toshinori , Shibutani Makoto
Published: May 2015

Hexachlorophene (HCP) has been shown to induce myelin vacuolation due to intramyelinic edema of the nerve fibers in animal neural tissue. We investigated the maternal exposure effect of HCP on hippocampal neurogenesis in the offspring of pregnant mice supplemented with 0 (control), 33 or 100 ppm HCP in diet from gestational day 6 to day 21 after delivery. On postnatal day (PND) 21, offspring as examined in males exhibited decreased granule cell lineage populations expressing paired box 6, sex‐determining region Y‐box 2 and eomesodermin in the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) accompanied by myelin vacuolation involving white matter tracts of the hippocampal fimbria at ≥ 33 ppm. However, SGZ cellular populations expressing brain lipid binding protein and doublecortin were unchanged at any dose. Transcript expression of cholinergic receptor genes, Chrna4 and Chrnb2, and glutamate receptor genes, Grm1 and Grin2d, examined at 100 ppm, decreased in the dentate gyrus. HCP exposure did not alter the number of proliferating or apoptotic cells in the SGZ, or reelin‐ or calcium‐binding protein‐expressing γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons in the dentate hilus, on PND 21 and PND 77. All neurogenesis‐related changes observed in HCP‐exposed offspring on PND 21 disappeared on PND 77, suggesting that maternal HCP exposure at ≥ 33 ppm reversibly decreased type 2 intermediate‐stage progenitor cells in the hippocampal neurogenesis. Myelin vacuolation might be responsible for changes in neurogenesis possibly by reducing nerve conduction velocity of cholinergic inputs from the septal–hippocampal pathway to granule cell lineages and/or GABAergic interneurons, and of glutamatergic inputs to granule cell lineages. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of nerve and microvessel damage and recovery in type 1 diabetic mice after permanent femoral artery ligation
Authors: Lozeron Pierre , Mantsounga Chris S. , Broqueres‐You Dong , Dohan Anthony , Polivka Marc , Deroide Nicolas , Silvestre Jean‐Sébastien , Kubis Nathalie , Lévy Bernard I.
Published: May 2015

Neuropathy is the most common complication of the peripheral nervous system during the progression of diabetes. The pathophysiology is unclear but may involve microangiopathy, reduced endoneurial blood flow, and tissue ischemia. We used a mouse model of type 1 diabetes to study parallel alterations of nerves and microvessels following tissue ischemia. We designed an easily reproducible model of ischemic neuropathy induced by irreversible ligation of the femoral artery. We studied the evolution of behavioral function, epineurial and endoneurial vessel impairment, and large nerve myelinated fiber as well as small cutaneous unmyelinated fiber impairment for 1 month following the onset of ischemia. We observed a more severe hindlimb dysfunction and delayed recovery in diabetic animals. This was associated with reduced density of large arteries in the hindlimb and reduced sciatic nerve epineurial blood flow. A reduction in sciatic nerve endoneurial capillary density was also observed, associated with a reduction in small unmyelinated epidermal fiber number and large myelinated sciatic nerve fiber dysfunction. Moreover, vascular recovery was delayed, and nerve dysfunction was still present in diabetic animals at day 28. This easily reproducible model provides clear insight into the evolution over time of the impact of ischemia on nerve and microvessel homeostasis in the setting of diabetes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.