bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of biosensing surfaces using adhesive polydopamine
Authors: Chu Hunghao , Yen Chun‐Wan , Hayden Steven C.
Published: September 2014

Dopamine can be induced to polymerize on a variety of substrates, providing a robust and bioinspired surface coating that can be used to tune substrate surface properties and to sequester other species at the interface. We first exploit the facile nature of this surface modification procedure to generate an array of polydopamine that, in conjunction with fluorescent tags, provides the ability to detect multiple protein targets simultaneously and with great specificity. We then demonstrate the use of polydopamine as a matrix to confine gold nanoparticles at the surface of glass and graphene substrates. The nanoparticles (NPs) are used to template further gold nanoparticle growth in situ at the interface; subsequent calcination to remove the polydopamine matrix and sinter the NPs generates a highly active surface enhanced Raman scattering surface that allows for sensitive molecular detection. These varied uses in surface modification/biosensing demonstrate the utility of polydopamine as a functional surface modification for control of physical and electronic properties at the interface. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:299–306, 2015
A Nationwide Survey of Peer Review Practices in Child Maltreatment Teams
Authors: Greeley Christopher , Yoon Jaennie , Tran Xuan , Giardino Angelo
Published: September 2014

Medical evaluations for suspected child sexual abuse carry a significant medico‐legal burden and are often performed in a variety of clinical settings, by clinicians with different levels of expertise and experience. Peer review or professional practice evaluation is an important component for quality assurance. We surveyed 255 programmes which provided sexual abuse evaluations which were identified through queries with national child abuse professional organisations. We sought information on team composition and setting, patient population characteristics and each site's peer review process. Of the 129 responding programmes, 42 per cent (n = 44) reported having a written peer review process. There were no differences between practice types with regards to having a written peer review process, the percentage of cases reviewed, the documentation type reviewed or the percentage reporting an external review process. The majority of programmes (n = 89, 85%) reported that they review both chart and photo documentation during the peer review process. Our data support that most programmes involved in child maltreatment evaluations undergo some form of peer review, but there exists a large amount of heterogeneity in the process by which it occurs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘We surveyed 255 programmes which provided sexual abuse evaluations’

Key Practitioner Messages:

Peer review is an important process to ensure high quality of clinical practice.

The majority (80%) of programmes which perform child sexual abuse evaluations reported performing some form of peer review.

Most peer review involves both chart and photo documentation reviews.

‘Most peer review involves both chart and photo documentation reviews’
Childhood Trauma among Mexican American Gang Members and Delinquent Youth: A Comparative Exploratory Study
Authors: Cepeda Alice , Valdez Avelardo , Nowotny Kathryn M.
Published: September 2014

This paper examines the association between childhood trauma and gang membership. Specifically, this study compares histories of potentially traumatic events as assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire among a street‐recruited random sample of Mexican American male gang members and a matched comparison group of delinquent youth. The gang and delinquent youth samples are then compared to normative samples of adolescent male psychiatric inpatients and male undergraduates. The findings show that gang members generally report experiencing lower levels of childhood trauma compared to those in the sample of delinquent youth. In fact, gang members' levels of childhood trauma more closely resemble those of the undergraduate sample. However, this analysis suggests that gang membership, and delinquency in general, may be associated with physical neglect. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Gang membership, and delinquency in general, may be associated with physical neglect’

Key Practitioner Messages:

Childhood trauma prevalence and delinquent youth comparison groups are rare in gang research.

Childhood trauma rates (emotional, physical and sexual abuse) were found to be lower among a sample of gang‐involved Mexican American males compared to non‐gang delinquent youth.

Levels of physical neglect should be assessed for in youth regardless of gang membership.

Future research should focus on family‐level sociocultural interventions that may be beneficial for gang‐involved youth and trauma‐informed interventions that may be particularly beneficial for delinquent youth in low‐income communities.
Evaluating Programmes for Violent Fathers: Challenges and Ethical Review
Authors: McConnell Nicola , Taylor Julie
Published: September 2014

A range of challenges exist when evaluating programmes for violent men about domestic abuse. Delivered in five UK sites, the Caring Dads Safer Children programme is designed to enhance the parenting behaviour of violent men. At the end of the first delivery programme in each site, a review was undertaken at the request of the ethics committee: to ensure that the evaluation was not raising further ethical issues; to check on the wellbeing of service users and their families; to scrutinise the evaluation process in terms of data quality and quantity; and to inform service and evaluation changes as necessary. In‐depth interviews were undertaken with practitioners delivering the service and analysed inductively. While some practitioners expressed concerns about the burden on service delivery and challenges to their relationship with families due to the use of standardised measures in the evaluation, others demonstrated how robust evaluation procedures enhanced assessment and service delivery. Organisations need to be confident that the cumulative effects of any disadvantages posed by the use of standardised measures do not outweigh the benefits and plan for potential barriers and resistance to their implementation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Delivered in five UK sites, the Caring Dads Safer Children programme is designed to enhance the parenting behaviour of violent men’

Key Practitioner Messages

Programmes for violent men present a number of challenges for practitioners including difficulty in engagement and high attrition rates.

Robust evaluation is important in illuminating the efficacy of programmes for violent men.

Using routine or standardised measures can positively inform work with perpetrators and their families when used alongside practice wisdom.

Practitioners may become sceptical of evaluation if the use of measures is perceived to impact negatively on service delivery.

‘Practitioners may become sceptical of evaluation if the use of measures is perceived to impact negatively on service delivery’
The visual system of a Palaeognathous bird: Visual field, retinal topography and retino‐central connections in the Chilean Tinamou (Nothoprocta perdicaria)
Authors: Krabichler Quirin , Vega‐Zuniga Tomas , Morales Cristian , Luksch Harald , Marín Gonzalo J.
Published: September 2014

Most systematic studies of the avian visual system have focused on Neognathous species, leaving virtually unexplored the Palaeognathae, comprised of the flightless ratites and the South American tinamous. We investigated the visual field, the retinal topography, and the pattern of retinal and centrifugal projections in the Chilean tinamou, a small Palaeognath of the family Tinamidae. The tinamou has a panoramic visual field with a small frontal binocular overlap of 20°. The retina possesses three distinct topographic specializations: a horizontal visual streak, a dorsotemporal area, and an area centralis with a shallow fovea. The maximum ganglion cell density is 61,900/ mm2, comparable to Falconiformes. This would provide a maximal visual acuity of 14.0 cycles/degree, in spite of relatively small eyes. The central retinal projections generally conform to the characteristic arrangement observed in Neognathae, with well‐differentiated contralateral targets and very few ipsilateral fibers. The centrifugal visual system is composed of a considerable number of multipolar centrifugal neurons, resembling the “ectopic” neurons described in Neognathae. They form a diffuse nuclear structure, which may correspond to the ancestral condition shared with other sauropsids. A notable feature is the presence of terminals in deep tectal layers 11–13. These fibers may represent either a novel retinotectal pathway or collateral branches from centrifugal neurons projecting to the retina. Both types of connections have been described in chicken embryos. Our results widen the basis for comparative studies of the vertebrate visual system, stressing the conserved character of the visual projections' pattern within the avian clade. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:226–250, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
LEtter to the Editor – On Depth and Brightness
Authors: Rich Danny C. , Berns Roy S.
Published: September 2014

This communication contains Rich's Letter to the Editor commenting on a recent article by Roy S. Berns, and Bern's Reply to the Letter. The letter introduces more information on the concepts of Depth and Brightness as well as references. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2014
Observer‐based dissipative control for networked control systems: A switched system approach
Authors: Mathiyalagan Kalidass , Park Ju H. , Sakthivel Rathinasamy
Published: September 2014

This article studies the problem of observer‐based dissipative control problem for wireless networked control systems (NCSs). The packet loss and time delay in the network are modeled by a set of switches, using that a discrete‐time switched system is formulated. First, results for the exponential dissipativity of discrete‐time switched system with time‐varying delays are proposed by using the average dwell time approach and multiple Lyapunov–Krasovskii function. Then, the results are extended to drive the controller design for considered wireless NCS. The attention is focused on designing an observer‐based state feedback controller which ensures that, for all network‐induced delay and packet loss, the resulting error system is exponentially stable and strictly
dissipative. The sufficient conditions for existence of controllers are formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be easily solved using some standard numerical packages. Both observer and controller gains can be obtained by the solutions of set of LMIs. Finally, numerical examples are provided to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 297–308, 2015
He hears, she hears: Are there sex differences in auditory processing?
Authors: Yoder Kathleen M. , Phan Mimi L. , Lu Kai , Vicario David S.
Published: September 2014

Songbirds learn individually unique songs through vocal imitation and use them in courtship and territorial displays. Previous work has identified a forebrain auditory area, the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), that appears specialized for discriminating and remembering conspecific vocalizations. In zebra finches (ZFs), only males produce learned vocalizations, but both sexes process these and other signals. This study assessed sex differences in auditory processing by recording extracellular multiunit activity at multiple sites within NCM. Juvenile female ZFs (n =46) were reared in individual isolation and artificially tutored with song. In adulthood, songs were played back to assess auditory responses, stimulus‐specific adaptation, neural bias for conspecific song, and memory for the tutor's song, as well as recently heard songs. In a subset of females (n =36), estradiol (E2) levels were manipulated to test the contribution of E2, known to be synthesized in the brain, to auditory responses. Untreated females (n =10) showed significant differences in response magnitude and stimulus‐specific adaptation compared to males reared in the same paradigm (n =9). In hormone‐manipulated females, E2 augmentation facilitated the memory for recently heard songs in adulthood, but neither E2 augmentation (n =15) nor E2 synthesis blockade (n =9) affected tutor song memory or the neural bias for conspecific song. The results demonstrate subtle sex differences in processing communication signals, and show that E2 levels in female songbirds can affect the memory for songs of potential suitors, thus contributing to the process of mate selection. The results also have potential relevance to clinical interventions that manipulate E2 in human patients. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 302–314, 2015
Age‐dependent alterations of the NMDA receptor developmental profile and adult behavior in postnatally ketamine‐treated mice
Authors: Lecointre Maryline , Vézier Claire , Bénard Magalie , Ramdani Yasmina , Dupré Nicolas , Brasse‐Lagnel Carole , Henry Vincent J. , Roy Vincent , Marret Stéphane , Gonzalez Bruno J. , Jégou Sylvie , Leroux‐Nicollet Isabelle
Published: September 2014

Ketamine is a NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonist used in pediatric anesthesia. Given the role of glutamatergic signaling during brain maturation, we studied the effects of a single ketamine injection (40 mg/kg s.c) in mouse neonates depending on postnatal age at injection (P2, P5, or P10) on cortical NMDAR subunits expression and association with Membrane‐Associated Guanylate Kinases PSD95 and SAP102. The effects of ketamine injection at P2, P5, or P10 on motor activity were compared in adulthood. Ketamine increased GluN2A and GluN2B mRNA levels in P2‐treated mice without change in proteins, while it decreased GluN2B protein in P10‐treated mice without change in mRNA. Ketamine reduced GluN2A mRNA and protein levels in P5‐treated mice without change in GluN2B and GluN1. Ketamine affected the GluN2A/PSD95 association regardless of the age at injection, while GluN2B/PSD95 association was enhanced only in P5‐treated mice. Microdissection of ketamine‐treated mouse cortex showed a decrease in GluN2A mRNA level in superficial layers (I–IV) and an increase in all subunit expressions in deep layers (V–VI) in P5‐ and P10‐treated mice, respectively. Our data suggest that ketamine impairs cortical NMDAR subunit developmental profile and delays the synaptic targeting of GluN2A‐enriched NMDAR. Ketamine injection at P2 or P10 resulted in hyperlocomotion in adult male mice in an open field, without change in females. Voluntary running‐wheel exercise showed age‐ and sex‐dependent alterations of the mouse activity, especially during the dark phase. Overall, a single neonatal ketamine exposure led to short‐term NMDAR cortical developmental profile impairments and long‐term motor activity alterations persisting in adulthood. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 315–333, 2015
Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling of Aryl Chlorides with Arylboronic Acids Using the Morpholine–NiCl2 Catalyst System
Authors: Abe Taichi , Mino Takashi , Watanabe Kohei , Sakamoto Masami
Published: September 2014

We report a new catalyst system, morpholine–NiCl2, for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of aryl chlorides with aryl‐ or alkenylboronic acids to give biaryl compounds. This catalyst system is easy to apply on a large scale because of its easy preparation and the use of inexpensive reagents. In addition, analysis of the residual nickel shows only 9.7 ppm remaining after normal work‐up. This catalyst system has been applied to 26 compounds to give a variety of biaryl products, including hetero‐biaryl compounds.
Determination of glutathione in single HepG2 cells by capillary electrophoresis with reduced graphene oxide modified microelectrode
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Wang Jun , Fu Hongyan , Liu Dongju , Chen Zhenzhen
Published: September 2014

Determination of intracellular bioactive species will afford beneficial information related to cell metabolism, signal transduction, cell function, and disease treatment. In this study, the electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified carbon fiber microdisk electrode (ER‐GOME) was used as a detector of CZE‐electrochemical detection and developed to detect glutathione (GSH). The electrocatalytic activity of the modified microelectrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. Under optimized experimental conditions, the concentration linear range of GSH was from 1 to 60 μM. When the S/N ratio was 3, the concentration detection limit was 1 μM. Compared with the unmodified carbon fiber microdisk electrode, the sensitivity was enhanced more than five times. With the use of this method, the average contents of GSH in single HepG2 cells were found to be 7.13 ± 1.11 fmol (n = 10). Compared with gold/mercury amalgam microelectrode, which was usually used in determining GSH, the electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified carbon fiber microdisk electrode was friendly to environment for free mercury. Furthermore, there were several merits of the novel electrochemical detector coupled with CE, such as comparative repeatability, easy fabrication, and high sensitivity, hold great potential for the single‐cell assay.
Annexin‐A2 as predictor biomarker of recurrent disease in endometrial cancer
Authors: Alonso‐Alconada Lorena , Santacana Maria , Garcia‐Sanz Pablo , Muinelo‐Romay Laura , Colas Eva , Mirantes Cristina , Monge Marta , Cueva Juan , Oliva Esther , Soslow Robert A , Lopez Maria Angeles , Palacios Jose , Prat Jaime , Valls Joan , Krakstad Camilla , Salvesen Helga , Gil‐Moreno Antonio , Lopez‐Lopez Rafael , Dolcet Xavier , Moreno‐Bueno Gema , Reventos Jaume , Matias‐Guiu Xavier , Abal Miguel
Published: September 2014

Endometrial carcinomas, the most common malignant tumour of the female genital tract, are usually diagnosed at an early stage with uterine‐confined disease and an overall favourable prognosis. However, up to 20% of endometrial carcinomas will end up in recurrent disease, associated with a drop in survival and representing the major clinical challenge. Management of this group of risk patients relies on robust biomarkers that may predict which endometrial carcinomas will relapse. For this, we performed a proteomic analysis comparing primary lesions with recurrences and identified ANXA2 as a potential biomarker associated with recurrent disease that we further validated in an independent series of samples by immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated in vitro a role for ANXA2 in the promotion of metastasis rather than interfering with sensitivity to radio/chemotherapy. In addition, ANXA2 silencing resulted in a reduced metastatic pattern in a mice model of endometrial cancer dissemination, with a limited presence of circulating tumor cells. Finally, a retrospective study in a cohort of 93 patients showed that ANXA2 effectively predicted those endometrioid endometrial carcinomas that finally recurred. Importantly, ANXA2 demonstrated a predictive value also among low risk Stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinomas, highlighting the clinical utility of ANXA2 biomarker as predictor of recurrent disease in endometrial cancer. Retrospective and prospective studies are ongoing to validate ANXA2 as a potential tool for optimal stratification of patients susceptible to receive radical surgery and radio/chemotherapy.
Differential cellular responses induced by dorsomorphin and LDN‐193189 in chemotherapy‐sensitive and chemotherapy‐resistant human epithelial ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Ali Jennifer L. , Lagasse Brittany J. , Minuk Ainsley J. , Love Allison J. , Moraya Amani I. , Lam Linda , Arthur Gilbert , Gibson Spencer B. , Morrison Ludivine Coudière , Werbowetski‐Ogilvie Tamra E. , Fu Yangxin , Nachtigal Mark W.
Published: September 2014

Inherent or acquired drug resistance is a major contributor to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) mortality. Novel drugs or drug combinations that produce EOC cell death or resensitize drug resistant cells to standard chemotherapy may improve patient treatment. After conducting drug tolerability studies for the multikinase inhibitors dorsomorphin (DM) and it is structural analogue LDN‐193189 (LDN), these drugs were tested in a mouse intraperitoneal xenograft model of EOC. DM significantly increased survival, whereas LDN showed a trend toward increased survival. In vitro experiments using cisplatin (CP)‐resistant EOC cell lines, A2780‐cp or SKOV3, we determined that pretreatment or cotreatment with DM or LDN resensitized cells to the killing effect of CP or carboplatin (CB). DM was capable of blocking EOC cell cycle and migration, whereas LDN produced a less pronounced effect on cell cycle and no effect on migration. Subsequent analyses using primary human EOC cell samples or additional established EOC cells lines showed that DM or LDN induced a dose‐dependent autophagic or cell death response, respectively. DM induced a characteristic morphological change with the appearance of numerous LC3B‐containing acidic vacuoles and an increase in LC3BII levels. This was coincident with a decrease in cell growth and the altered cell cycle consistent with DM‐induced cytostasis. By contrast, LDN produced a caspase 3‐independent, reactive oxygen species‐dependent cell death. Overall, DM and LDN possess drug characteristics suitable for adjuvant agents used to treat chemotherapy‐sensitive and ‐resistant EOC.
Evaluation of cytotoxic, genotoxic and inflammatory response in human alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles
Authors: Ursini Cinzia Lucia , Cavallo Delia , Fresegna Anna Maria , Ciervo Aureliano , Maiello Raffaele , Tassone Paola , Buresti Giuliana , Casciardi Stefano , Iavicoli Sergio
Published: September 2014

The toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2‐NPs), used in several applications, seems to be influenced by their specific physicochemical characteristics. Cyto‐genotoxic and inflammatory effects induced by a mixture of 79% anatase/21% rutile TiO2‐NPs were investigated in human alveolar (A549) and bronchial (BEAS‐2B) cells exposed to 1–40 µg ml–1 30 min, 2 and 24 h to assess potential pulmonary toxicity. The specific physicochemical properties such as crystallinity, NP size and shape, agglomerate size, surface charge and specific surface area (SSA) were analysed. Cytotoxic effects were studied by evaluating cell viability using the WST1 assay and membrane damage using LDH analysis. Direct/oxidative DNA damage was assessed by the Fpg‐comet assay and the inflammatory potential was evaluated as interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α release by enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). In A549 cells no significant viability reduction and moderate membrane damage, only at the highest concentration, were detected, whereas BEAS‐2B cells showed a significant viability reduction and early membrane damage starting from 10 µg ml–1. Direct/oxidative DNA damage at 40 µg ml–1 and increased IL‐6 release at 5 µg ml–1 were found only in A549 cells after 2 h. The secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐6, involved in the early acute inflammatory response, and oxidative DNA damage indicate the promotion of early and transient oxidative‐inflammatory effects of tested TiO2‐NPs on human alveolar cells. The findings show a higher susceptibility of normal bronchial cells to cytotoxic effects and higher responsiveness of transformed alveolar cells to genotoxic, oxidative and early inflammatory effects induced by tested TiO2‐NPs. This different cell behaviour after TiO2‐NPs exposure suggests the use of both cell lines and multiple end‐points to elucidate NP toxicity on the respiratory system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative genotoxicity of nanosilver in human liver HepG2 and colon Caco2 cells evaluated by a flow cytometricin vitromicronucleus assay
Authors: Sahu Saura C. , Njoroge Joyce , Bryce Steven M. , Yourick Jeffrey J. , Sprando Robert L.
Published: September 2014

Two widely usedin vitrocell culture models, human liver HepG2 cells and human colon Caco2 cells, and flow cytometry techniques were evaluated as tools for rapid screening of potential genotoxicity of food‐related nanosilver. Comparative genotoxic potential of 20 nm silver was evaluated in HepG2 and Caco2 cell cultures by a flow cytometric‐basedin vitromicronucleus assay. The nanosilver, characterized by the dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry analysis, showed no agglomeration of the silver nanoparticles. The inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated the uptake of 20 nm silver by both cell types. The 20 nm silver exposure of HepG2 cells increased the concentration‐dependent micronucleus formation sevenfold at 10 µg ml–1concentration in attached cell conditions and 1.3‐fold in cell suspension conditions compared to the vehicle controls. However, compared to the vehicle controls, the 20 nm silver exposure of Caco2 cells increased the micronucleus formation 1.2‐fold at a concentration of 10 µg ml–1both in the attached cell conditions as well as in the cell suspension conditions. Our results of flow cytometricin vitromicronucleus assay appear to suggest that the HepG2 cells are more susceptible to the nanosilver‐induced micronucleus formation than the Caco2 cells compared to the vehicle controls. However, our results also suggest that the widely usedin vitromodels, HepG2 and Caco2 cells and the flow cytometricin vitromicronucleus assay are valuable tools for the rapid screening of genotoxic potential of nanosilver and deserve more careful evaluation. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Using chiral molecules as an approach to address low‐druggability recognition sites
Authors: Lucas Xavier , Günther Stefan
Published: September 2014

The content of chiral carbon atoms or structural complexity, which is known to correlate well with relevant physicochemical properties of small molecules, represents a promising descriptor that could fill the gap in existing drug discovery between ligand library filtering rules and the corresponding properties of the target's recognition site.

Herein, we present an in silico study on the yet unclear underlying correlations between molecular complexity and other more sophisticated physicochemical and biological properties. By analyzing thousands of protein–ligand complexes from DrugBank, we show that increasing molecular complexity of drugs is an approach to addressing particularly low‐druggability and polar recognition sites. We also show that biologically relevant protein classes characteristically bind molecules with a certain degree of structural complexity. Three distinct behaviors toward drug recognition are described.

The reported results set the basis for a better understanding of protein–drug recognition, and open the possibility of including target information in the filtering of large ligand libraries for screening. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Current states of endogenous stem cells in adult spinal cord
Authors: Qin Yu , Zhang Wen , Yang Ping
Published: September 2014

New neurons are continuously generated throughout life in the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus of the mammalian hippocampus and in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles. With the aid of new methodologies, significant progress has been made in the characterization of endogenous stem cells (ependymal cells) and their development in the adult spinal cord. Recent studies have shed light on essential extrinsic and intrinsic molecular mechanisms that govern sequential steps of neurogenesis in the adult spinal cord. This review discusses the occurrence, origin, and specific makers of ependymal cells; the factors regulating neurogenesis of multipotent ependymal cells; and the implications of ependymal cells in the repair of spinal cord injuries. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Projected land‐cover change effects on East African rainfall under climate change
Authors: Moore Nathan , Andresen Jeffrey , Lofgren Brent , Pijanowski Bryan , Kim Dong‐Yun
Published: September 2014

Both land‐cover/land‐use change (LCLUC) and greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations have been shown to influence regional climate, albeit at different spatial scales. In East Africa, climate changes due to changing GHG concentrations are broadly projected to be warmer and wetter. LCLUC projections include trends towards both agricultural intensification and agricultural expansion into savannas, which may result in complex climate interactions and impacts. The primary objective of this study was to examine the regional responses to future GHG, LCLUC, and their combined effects in East Africa, and to better understand how hydrometeorological mechanisms might be altered by LCLUC in future scenarios. In this study, we present high‐resolution decadal simulations from a regional climate model that compare the relative and combined effects of projected LCLUC and GHG. This research suggests that taken separately, these two climate forcings may significantly alter regional precipitation patterns both temporally and spatially but in potentially different and independent ways. In combination, some portions of the region exhibit responses dominated by either LCLUC or GHG effects, but certain areas show complex effects resulting from the combined influence of these two forcings. Perhaps most importantly, the results suggest that projected precipitation changes around major population areas may be as strongly influenced by LCLUC as by GHG effects.
Changes in climate extreme events in China associated with warming
Authors: Chen Huopo , Sun Jianqi
Published: September 2014

The science that humans are the cause of global warming, and that the associated climate change would lead to serious changes in climate extreme events, food production, freshwater resources, biodiversity, human mortality, etc. is unequivocal. After several political negotiations, a 2 °C warming has been considered to be the benchmark for such damaging changes. However, an increasing amount of scientific research indicates that higher levels of warming are increasingly likely. What would the world be like if such higher levels of warming occurred? This study aims to provide information for better politically driven mitigation through an investigation of the changes in temperature‐ and precipitation‐based extreme indices using CMIP5 (coupled model intercomparison project phase 5) simulations of a warming of 1, 2, and 3 °C in China. Warming simulations show more dramatic effects in China compared with the global average. In general, the results show relatively small change signals in climate extreme events in China at 1 °C, larger anomalies at 2 °C, and stronger and more extended anomalies at 3 °C. Changes in the studied temperature indices indicate that warm events would be more frequent and stronger in the future, and that cold events would be reduced and weakened. For changes in the precipitation indices, extreme precipitation generally increases faster than total wet‐day precipitation, and China will experience more intensified extreme precipitation events. Furthermore, the risk of flooding is projected to increase, and the dry conditions over northern China are projected to be mitigated. In certain regions, particularly Southwest China, the risks of both drought and flood events would likely increase despite the decreased total precipitation in the future. Uncertainties mainly derived from inter‐model and scenario variabilities are attached to these projections, but a high model agreement can be generally observed in the likelihood of these extreme changes.
Drop coating deposition Raman spectroscopy as a potential tool for identification and determination of fructose in seminal plasma
Authors: Huang Zufang , Wang Jing , Lin Jinyong , Chen Xiwen , Sun Yan , Cao Gang , Lin Juqiang , Lei Jinping , Lin Hongxin , Chen Rong
Published: September 2014

The detection of fructose in the seminal plasma has significant value to evaluate the function of seminal vesicles and evaluate male fertility. In this study, drop coating deposition Raman (DCDR) method was utilized to quantitative determination of fructose in seminal plasma. Optimization of experimental parameters to achieve reagent‐free and rapid detection of fructose was also investigated. Different fructose concentrations within physiological level demonstrated a linear relationship with the band intensity of 627 cm−1 (assigned to fructose), and the relative error of predicted fructose concentration was 10.23%. Our results show that DCDR method has the potential for the determination of fructose concentration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employee Turnover Intention in Travel Agencies: Analysis of Controllable and Uncontrollable Factors
Authors: Pang Loretta , Kucukusta Deniz , Chan Xavier
Published: September 2014

High turnover rates have long been a problem and costly in many industries. Numerous studies have focused on the reasons for employee turnover; however, most have focused on the hospitality industry but scarce in travel agencies. Thus, this research aimed to examine the situation in travel agencies in Hong Kong. A sample of 200 frontline staff was selected by convenience sampling. The results indicated that five independent variables, namely, general job satisfaction, job hopping, job security, training opportunity and promotion opportunity are significantly related to turnover intention. The managerial implications of these findings and future research directions are also discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Macrocyclic Amine‐Linked Oligocarbazole Hollow Microspheres: Facile Synthesis and Efficient Lead Sorbents
Authors: Liao Yaozu , Cai Sisi , Huang Shaojun , Wang Xia , Faul Charl F. J.
Published: September 2014

Novel macrocyclic amine‐linked oligocarbazole hollow microspheres are synthesized via a one‐step oxidative method in aqueous solution. Upon altering the oxidants and acidic media, the average diameters of the obtained hollow microspheres are tunable from 0.23 to 2.0 μm. With attractive amine and carbazole functionalities, exposed surface area, thermostability, and photoluminescent properties, the amine‐linked oligocarbazole hollow microspheres are directly assembled to yield heavy metal sorbents with excellent selectivity and recyclability, shown to efficiently remove lead from contaminated water.

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Rhetorical framing: examining the message structure of nonprofit organizations on Twitter
Authors: Auger Giselle Andree
Published: September 2014

All organizations must persuade stakeholders that they are worth supporting. Organizations need donors to give, volunteers to volunteer, consumers to purchase, and general support for public funding. Because Twitter messages are restricted to 140 characters or less, organizations' message structures must be clearer and may employ traditional rhetorical techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to garner support and promote action. By using content analysis, the tweets of eight charitable organizations from diverse sectors were analyzed for rhetorical content, type of communication such as two‐way symmetrical or two‐way asymmetrical communication, and positive or negative message frame, for one calendar month. Results of this study found that 60% of tweets employed rhetorical strategy and the majority of tweets included a positive message frame. Moreover, each of the three broad functional areas defined by Lovejoy and Saxton (2012) used ethos, pathos, and logos to differing degrees. Based on results, proposed expansions of the functional areas are also discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reach for Generation Y: using celebrity endorsement to communicate about nonprofit causes with young people in Australia
Authors: Branigan Elizabeth , Mitsis Ann
Published: September 2014

The popular contemporary global practice of using celebrities to endorse nonprofit causes can be a constructive means of stakeholder communication that offers the potential to increase awareness of, grow resources for and focus attention on these causes. However, if this communication practice is poorly executed, it risks devaluing complex social problems while more broadly challenging the nonprofit sector's role as a site of social change. This paper offers an analysis of the possibilities and pitfalls of using celebrities to communicate about nonprofit causes to Generation Y stakeholders. Based on findings from interviews with nonprofit leaders who have utilized this communication strategy, it offers an Australian perspective to the growing body of research into the increasingly popular strategy of celebrity endorsement of nonprofit causes.

Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of an immobilised acetylcholinesterase column and its application in screening insecticidal constituents from Magnolia officinalis
Authors: Ye Yong‐Hao , Li Cong , Yang Jun , Ma Liang , Xiao Yu , Hu Jun , Rajput Nasir Ahmed , Gao Cong‐Fen , Zhang Ying‐Ying , Wang Ming‐Hua
Published: September 2014

BACKGROUND

Application of a matrix‐immobilised target enzyme for screening inhibitors is widely used in drug development, but there are few studies in insecticide discovery. In this paper, an economical and effective immobilised acetylcholinesterase (AChE) column was prepared using the sol–gel embedment method, which was further combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography for screening the AChE inhibitors and insecticidal compounds from complex natural products.

RESULTS

AChE inhibitory constituents magnolol and honokiol were isolated from the ethanol extract of Magnolia officinalis, with IC50 values of 0.069 and 0.057 mM respectively. In an in vivo bioassay, magnolol and honokiol showed insecticidal activity against Nilaparvata lugens, with LC50 values of 0.324 and 0.137 mM, which are comparable with that of commonly used insecticide chlorpyrifos (0.233 mM). Moreover, molecular docking was carried out against a homology model of N. lugens AChE. The complexes showed that magnolol and honokiol placed themselves nicely into the active site of the enzyme and exhibited an interaction energy that was in accordance with our activity profile data.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that magnolol and honokiol have great applied potential to be developed as natural insecticides, and an immobilised AChE column is very useful as a rapid screening tool for target enzymes towards potent inhibitors. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Active Packaging System Based on Ag/TiO2 Nanocomposite Used for Extending the Shelf Life of Bread. Chemical and Microbiological Investigations
Authors: Mihaly Cozmuta Anca , Peter Anca , Mihaly Cozmuta Leonard , Nicula Camelia , Crisan Liliana , Baia Lucian , Turila Alin
Published: September 2014

This study was carried out to assess the shelf life and microbiological safety of wheat bread during storage in a packaging system made of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite (Ag/TiO2‐P) in comparison with bread packed in high density polyethylene (HDP‐P) and bread not subject to packaging (CS). The Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by sol–gel procedure, and its morphostructural characterization was performed by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The Ag/TiO2‐P was prepared via inclusion of nanocomposite between the polyethylene layers to avoid bread–nanocomposite contact. Chemical and microbial stability of bread expressed in terms of total fat, protein, sugar, lipid hydroperoxides and yeasts, moulds, and Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus counts, respectively, was monitored for 6 days. Experimental data indicate that Ag/TiO2‐P considerably extends the shelf life and microbiological safety of bread in comparison with HDP‐P and CS. A possible mechanism involved in the preservation of the bread is hypothesized. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A lag‐1 smoother approach to system‐error estimation: sequential method
Authors: Todling Ricardo
Published: September 2014

Starting from sequential data assimilation arguments, the present work shows how to use residual statistics from filtering and lag‐1 (6 h) smoothing to infer components of the system (model) error covariance matrix that project on to a dense observing network. The residuals relationships involving the system‐error covariance matrix are similar to those available to derive background, observation and analysis‐error covariance information from filter residual statistics. An illustration of the approach is given for two low‐dimensional dynamical systems: a linear damped harmonic oscillator and the nonlinear Lorenz system. The application examples consider the important case of evaluating the ability to estimate the model‐error covariance from residual time series obtained from suboptimal filters and smoothers that assume the model to be perfect. The examples show the residuals to contain the necessary information to allow for such estimation. The examples also illustrate the consequences of estimating covariances through time series of residuals (available in practice) instead of multiple realizations from Monte Carlo sampling. A recast of the sequential approach into variational approach language will appear in a companion article.
Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) using an ionic‐liquid primary ion beam source
Authors: Fujiwara Yukio , Saito Naoaki
Published: September 2014

An orthogonal acceleration time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) system has been developed using a prototype vacuum‐electrospay primary beam source that is capable of producing continuous ion beam of an ionic liquid. As a primary ion beam, an imidazolium ionic liquid, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (EMI‐TFSA), was electrosprayed at pressures around 2 × 10−4 Pa and a flow rate of 50 nL/min. Using the TOF‐SIMS system, three samples were analyzed: (i) EMI‐TFSA, (ii) an ammonium ionic liquid, N,N‐diethyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐(2‐methoxyethyl)ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (DEME‐TFSA), and (iii) a polyethylene glycol (PEG300). Preliminary data showed that the vacuum electrospray of the ionic liquid was applicable to a primary ion beam source for SIMS. Nevertheless, irradiation of the ionic‐liquid beam caused deposition as well as sputtering. The deposition would result from larger m/z components of ionic‐liquid charged droplets. This is because projectile energy per nucleon of the larger m/z components seems too low to sputter materials. Because m/z values of charged droplets decrease with decreasing flow rate, it is required to reduce the flow rate of the ionic liquid so as to suppress the deposition of the ionic‐liquid beam. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Black on Backwards Causation
Authors: Garrett Brian ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: September 2014

In this discussion paper I argue that Max Black’s well-known bilking argument does not succeed in showing the impossibility of backwards causation.
Synchrotron Powder Diffraction at P02.1 at PETRA III: From Electron Density Distributions to in situ Total Scattering
Authors: Dippel Ann‐Christin , Bindzus Niels , Saha Dipankar , Delitz Jan Torben , Liermann Hanns‐Peter , Wahlberg Nanna , Becker Jacob , Bøjesen Espen D. , Brummerstedt Iversen Bo
Published: September 2014

The excellent photon beam quality provided at 3rd generation synchrotron sources opens up new opportunities in materials chemistry using X‐ray powder diffraction. Techniques that cover the range from very detailed structure analysis to the observation of rapid structural changes during chemical reactions in real time have become viable. Recent experiments carried out at the High Resolution Powder Diffraction Beamline P02.1 at PETRA III (DESY) demonstrate how to effectively exploit the highly collimated, very intense X‐rays of high energies for chemistry and materials science. Two studies are described in detail, which illustrate the outstanding performance of the instrument: the determination of charge density distributions from powder patterns, and atomic rearrangements followed in situ during the formation of metallic and oxide nanoparticles in solution.
Synthesis, Properties, and Electron Transfer Studies of Ferrocenyl Thiophenes
Authors: Poppitz Elisabeth A. , Hildebrandt Alexander , Korb Marcus , Schaarschmidt Dieter , Lang Heinrich
Published: September 2014

For a series of ferrocenyl thiophenes of type Fe(η5‐C5H4‐(4‐R‐cC4H2S‐3‐yl))(η5‐C5H4‐(C6H3‐3,5‐(CF3)2) [R = H (3a), OMe (4a)], Fe(η5‐C5H4‐(4‐R‐cC4H2S‐3‐yl)(η5‐C5H4‐CHO) [R = H (3b), OMe (4b)], and Fe(η5‐C5H4‐(4‐R‐cC4H2S‐3‐yl)(η5‐C5H4‐C≡N) [R = H (3c), OMe (4c)], the influence of electron‐withdrawing substituents at the ferrocenyl moiety and electron‐donating groups at the thiophene unit on the electronic behavior of 3a–c and 4a–c is reported. The coupling of the ferrocenyl and the thiophene moieties has been realized using the Negishi C,C cross‐coupling reaction protocol. Compounds 3a and 4c were structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. In electrochemical measurements the ferrocenyl redox potential depends on the particular substitution at the ferrocenyl and the thiophene unit. Moreover, UV/Vis/NIR studies showed ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) interactions, which occur after oxidation and are shifted bathochromically as the donor‐acceptor energy gap decreases. Using different substituents, possessing electron‐withdrawing or donating capabilities, allows adjusting the energy difference between the ferrocenium‐acceptor unit and the donating thiophene system.
Effects of Particle Size of Sucrose Suspensions and Pre‐incubation of Enzymes on Lipase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Sucrose Oleic Acid Esters
Authors: Ye Ran , Hayes Douglas G. , Burton Rachel
Published: September 2014

The effects of high‐speed homogenization, high‐intensity ultrasound, and their combination were evaluated for the reduction of the particle size of sucrose crystals to enhance solvent‐free lipase‐catalyzed synthesis of sucrose oleate at 65 °C. The combination of homogenization and ultrasound greatly decreased the particle size of suspended sucrose crystals in mixtures of oleic acid/sucrose oleate (86 wt% monoester and 14 wt% diester at a ratio of 90/10 w/w) from 88 to 18 μm. The suspension‐based medium was charged to a stirred tank bioreactor that also contained immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei or Candida antarctica (Lipozyme®IM and Novozym® 435, respectively; Novozymes, Franklinton, NC, USA), that was pre‐incubated in oleic acid for several different temperatures (23–60 °C), durations (4–24 h), and stir rates (50–400 rpm, radius of 3 cm), prior to use. The optimal performance was achieved using C. antarctica lipase (83.3 wt% ester, consisting of 46 wt% monoester) in the presence of molecular sieves (18 wt%). The low water concentration (~0.12 wt%) did not affect the activity of C. antarctica lipase.
Asymmetrischer Wiederaufbau in Städten nach Katastrophen. Das Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans nach Orkan Katrina
Authors: Kammerbauer Mark
Published: September 2014

When flood events trigger disaster in cities, the recovery process constitutes a complex field of activity covering urban space, state institutions, and impacted citizens. Recovery may not occur evenly, but instead, asymmetrically. In the case of the city of New Orleans in the USA, heavily hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, this can be observed particularly in the city’s Lower Ninth Ward. Here, a rebuilding program oriented towards homeowners was supposed to enable citizens to return. Why couldn’t the plans and programs for recovery prevent the emergence of asymmetric recovery in the Lower Ninth Ward? This paper shows that these plans and programs didn’t adequately respond to urban spatial and social conditions and weren’t oriented towards the vulnerability of impacted citizens. For this purpose, empirical data collected via quantitative and qualitative methods in 2007 and 2009 are featured here. The aim is to support knowledge-based planning recommendations that address the vulnerability of impacted citizens and to contribute to a discussion on just and sustainable recovery in and of cities after disaster.