bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoplasmic reticulum stress implicated in chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Authors: Lucke-Wold Brandon P. , Turner Ryan C. , Logsdon Aric F. , Nguyen Linda , Bailes Julian E. , Lee John M. , Robson Matthew J. , Omalu Bennet I. , Huber Jason D. , Rosen Charles L.
Published: September 2015

OBJECT

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by neurofibrillary tau tangles following repetitive neurotrauma. The underlying mechanism linking traumatic brain injury to chronic traumatic encephalopathy has not been elucidated. The authors investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress as a link between acute neurotrauma and chronic neurodegeneration.

METHODS

The authors used pharmacological, biochemical, and behavioral tools to assess the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in linking acute repetitive traumatic brain injury to the development of chronic neurodegeneration. Data from the authors’ clinically relevant and validated rodent blast model were compared with those obtained from postmortem human chronic traumatic encephalopathy specimens from a National Football League player and World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated strong correlation of endoplasmic reticulum stress activation with subsequent tau hyperphosphorylation. Various endoplasmic reticulum stress markers were increased in human chronic traumatic encephalopathy specimens, and the endoplasmic reticulum stress response was associated with an increase in the tau kinase, glycogen synthase kinase–3β. Docosahexaenoic acid, an endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor, improved cognitive performance in the rat model 3 weeks after repetitive blast exposure. The data showed that docosahexaenoic acid administration substantially reduced tau hyperphosphorylation (t = 4.111, p < 0.05), improved cognition (t = 6.532, p < 0.001), and inhibited C/EBP homology protein activation (t = 5.631, p < 0.01). Additionally the data showed, for the first time, that endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in the pathophysiology of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Docosahexaenoic acid therefore warrants further investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for the prevention of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Patient-Reported Outcomes In Performance Measurement
Authors: Cella David , Hahn Elizabeth , Jensen Sally , Butt Zeeshan , Nowinski Cindy , Rothrock Nan , Lohr Kathleen
Published: September 2015

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are measures of how patients feel or what they are able to do in the context of their health status; PROs are reports, usually on questionnaires, about a patient's health conditions, health behaviors, or experiences with health care that individuals report directly, without modification of responses by clinicians or others; thus, they directly reflect the voice of the patient. PROs cover domains such as physical health, mental and emotional health, functioning, symptoms and symptom burden, and health behaviors. They are relevant for many activities: helping patients and their clinicians make informed decisions about health care, monitoring the progress of care, setting policies for coverage and reimbursement of health services, improving the quality of health care services, and tracking or reporting on the performance of health care delivery organizations. We address the major methodological issues related to choosing, administering, and using PROs for these purposes, particularly in clinical practice settings. We include a framework for best practices in selecting PROs, focusing on choosing appropriate methods and modes for administering PRO measures to accommodate patients with diverse linguistic, cultural, educational, and functional skills, understanding measures developed through both classic and modern test theory, and addressing complex issues relating to scoring and analyzing PRO data.
Study on the Fatigue Properties of the TIG Weld Joint with the Stainless Steel Conduit in Aircraft
Authors: Liu Ying , Li Dong Jie , Li Xiao Hong
Published: September 2015

The research focus on the material of the stainless steel thin conduit in aircraft, named 1Cr18Ni9Ti , and the TIG weld joint of which was investigated to analysis the fatigue properties. The fracture mechanics was used to analysis the crack initiation life and crack propagation life, and the fatigue surface was characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental and analytical results show that, the origin position of fatigue crack is the surface of the conduit. The stress concentration at the weld toe, the crystal structure is not uniform and Stress concentration in the heat affected zone (HAZ) and fusion line, so the fatigue cracks are easily generated in these locations. Delta K increases to a certain value, the HAZ has become one of the most dangerous position. The crack initiation life of HAZ in the total fatigue life is far higher than the proportion of crack propagation life.
Estimation of Fatigue Limit in Interior Inclusion Induced Fracture Mode for Bearing Steel in Rotating Bending
Authors: Oguma Noriyasu , Sekisugi Naoya , Odake Yasuhiro , Sakai Tatsuo
Published: September 2015

The fatigue life forming fine granular area (FGA) is expected to occupy a large fraction of the total fatigue life. In order to examine the commencing time of the FGA forming and estimate the fatigue limit in the interior inclusion induced fracture mode, rotating bending fatigue tests were carried out by using SUJ2 specimens with and without the hydrogen charge. Especially, the hydrogen charge time was set in the wide variety of the cyclic loadings to confirm the FGA forming process supposing the effect of the hydrogen charge on the fatigue crack propagation behavior. From experimental and analytical results, it is concluded that the FGA formation is already started at early stage as 5 % of the fatigue life. Another finding is that we have a clear correlation between the stress intensity factor range and the FGA growth ratio. Based on this aspect, the critical value of the stress intensity factor range in which the FGA is not formed around the inclusion was given as 2.65 MPa.
Fatigue Behavior of Riblet Structured High Strength Aluminum Alloy Thin Sheets at Very High Cycle Numbers
Authors: Stille Sebastian , Beck Tilmann , Singheiser Lorenz
Published: September 2015

The VHCF behavior of age hardened 2024 and 7075 aluminum sheets was studied. The experiments were performed at frequencies of ≈ 20 kHz with fully reversed axial loading (R = -1). Special focus was put on the influence of AA 1050 claddings and riblet-like surface structures, which are used in aerospace applications to reduce aerodynamic drag. The fatigue life and fatigue limit of the AA 2024 bare material are – compared to the non-structured case – significantly reduced by the stress concentrations induced by the riblet structure. However, the fatigue behavior of the clad AA 2024 material is less sensitive to the surface structure. In this case, we obtained a sharp transition from HCF failure up to 5x106 cycles to run-outs at ≥ 2x109 cycles. This threshold value for failure differs with cladding thickness as well as with riblet geometry. We attribute this to the modified stress distribution near the interface (cladding/substrate) as well as to a locally reduced thickness of the cladding in the riblet valleys. Fatigue cracks are – even in the case of run-outs – always initiated at the surface of the clad layer and grow easily to the substrate. Samples only fail, if the threshold for further crack growth into the substrate is exceeded. Both Alclad 2024 and 7075 show the same failure mechanism.
Ultrahigh Plasticity Behavior of Metallic Materials in the Ultra-High-Cycle (or Gigacycle, Very-High-Cycle) Fatigue Regime
Authors: Shanyavskiy Andrey
Published: September 2015

This research concerns the metals behavior as varying, with increasing cyclic stress level, in the transition range between the ultrahigh cycle (UHCF) and high cycle (HCF) fatigue regimes. Having analyzed the synergetics of surface crack initiation, the authors propose to identify the UHCF-to-HCF transition with a certain stress level corrected, with the respective dimensionless functions, for the effect of the environmental attacks, temperature, surface roughness of the test piece, etc. on the crack initiation behavior. Subsurface initiation of a fatigue crack occurs in the test-material susceptible of a deformation-induced transition to superplasticity state, which favors formation of the nanocrystalline zone bordered by a fine-granular area Another case of subsurface cracking is in that a local even area forms owing to the vortex-like deformation combined with the diffusion of the retained gases toward and into the discontinuity. A proposed equation is plainly descriptive of the subsurface growth of fatigue-cracks and allowing to acquire the crack growth duration from the fractography data.Nomenclature
Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation Behaviors in Rotating Bending of SNCM439 Steel in Very High Cycle Regime
Authors: Nakagawa Akiyoshi , Lian Benning , Kondo Takashi , Romilly Douglas P. , Oguma Noriyasu , Jono Masahiro , Sakai Tatsuo
Published: September 2015

In order to ensure the long term durability of mechanical structures, the fatigue property of structural components should be clarified in the long life region such as the gigacycle regime. The rotating bending fatigue tests in very high cycle regime were carried out for a nickel chromium molybdenum steel for structural use of machines (JIS Material Code: SNCM439) in this study. Based on the initiation site of the fatigue crack, fracture modes were classified into the following typical three modes: (1) usual surface fracture, (2) surface defect-initiated fracture and (3) interior inclusion-initiated fracture, respectively. InS-Ndiagram, experimental data in the usual surface fracture mode appeared at higher stress levels with fewer loading cycles, whereas the data in the other two fracture modes appeared at lower stress levels with more loading cycles. Thus, the duplexS-Nproperty was confirmed for this steel in the very long life regime. In order to clarify the fatigue mechanism of the interior inclusion-initiated fracture, the quantitative evaluations were made by applying the stress intensity factor range. The fatigue crack initiation and propagation processes in the interior inclusion-initiated fracture were divided into four stages: formation of the fine granular area (FGA) due to initiation and coalescence of micro-debondings, formation of the fish-eye due to penny-shape crack propagation, crack propagation as surface crack and final catastrophic fracture.
Statistical Estimation of Duplex S-N Curves
Authors: Paolino D.S. , Tridello A. , Chiandussi G. , Rossetto Massimo
Published: September 2015

In recent years, experimental tests investigating properties of materials in gigacycle regime have suggested modifications to well-known statistical fatigue life models. Classical fatigue life models based on a single failure mode and by the presence of the fatigue limit, have been integrated by models that can take into account the occurrence of two failure modes (duplex S-N curve).Duplex S-N models involve a number of unknown parameters that must be statistically estimated from experimental data. The present paper proposes a simplified and automated procedure for statistical parameter estimation. The procedure is applied to experimental datasets taken from the literature. Parameter estimation is carried out by applying the Maximum Likelihood Principle and by taking into account the possible presence of runout specimens with unequal number of cycles. The application of the procedure permits to estimate different key material parameters (e.g., the characteristic parameters of transition stress and fatigue limit), as well as to statistically predict the failure mode of each tested specimen.
High-Cycle Fatigue and Thermal Dissipation Investigations for Low Carbon Steel Q345
Authors: Liu Han Qing , Wang Qing Yuan , Huang Zhi Yong , Teng Zhen Jie
Published: September 2015

Carbon steel is a kind of metallic material that widely used in construction, machinery, manufacturing and other domains. In the mechanical structure system, long-term cyclic stress may cause the mechanical components failure. In this work, the characteristic of fatigue crack propagate in low carbon steel Q345 and the effect of loading frequency to the fatigue property of Q345 steel were investigated. Meanwhile, the dispersion of high-cycle fatigue of life of the Q345 steel under high fatigue testing frequency was analyzed, and the P-S-N curve with the test data was given out. With the help of infrared camera, temperature rise curve during fatigue test was analyzed to study the thermal dissipation of Q345 steel.
Study on Very-High-Cycle-Fatigue Property of Aero-Engine Blades Based on Subcomponent Specimen
Authors: Jiao Sheng Bo , Cheng Li , Li Quan Tong , Li Xiao Wei
Published: September 2015

The cyclic load number of aero-engine blade during its service life is very likely beyond 107, which is regarded as the conventional fatigue limit. Moreover, surface strengthening is very often used in the manufacturing process of blade. The conventional testing method in the VHCF regime cannot exactly reflect the stress state of the blade, including the mechanism of crack initiation. To study the fatigue behavior and effects of laser shock peening, a kind of bending fatigue subcomponent specimen was designed and the laser shock peening model was established. Experiment about TC17 was accomplished by the Ulra-High Cycle bending fatigue system. It is found that the fatigue damage occurs beneath the surface and the S-N curve is continuously rather than multi-step declining in the VHCF regime. Process of surface strengthening has a significant effect on fatigue performance of TC17 titanium alloy.
Exploring the meaning and origin of stereotypes amongst South African employees
Authors: Brink Lizelle , Nel Jan Alewyn
Published: September 2015

Orientation: Stereotypes are defined in different ways and also originate from various sources. Research purpose: To investigate how the employees from selected South African organisations understand and define the concept ‘stereotype’ and what the origins of stereotypes are.Motivation for the study: Individuals hold different perceptions of the same concept. Therefore, different individuals within selected South African organisations may interpret the meaning and origin of stereotypes very differently. This study therefore aimed to discover whether individuals have a shared understanding of the concept of stereotypes and whether they are aware of where stereotypes originate from. Research approach, design and method: A combination of both purposive and convenience sampling was used for the purpose of this study. The sample consisted of individuals working in selected South African organisations (N = 336). Various employment sectors formed part of this study. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data and data analysis was done by making use of thematic analysis. Main findings: The results of this study indicated that people employed in selected South African organisations are familiar with stereotypes and have a clear understanding thereof. Participants in this study have a conscious awareness of the origin of stereotypes. Although not all of the participants had direct experiences with stereotyped groups, they were well aware that stereotypes are also caused by indirect sources. Practical implications/managerial implications: When individuals are aware of where their stereotypes originate, they should actively attempt not to rely on their stereotypes when coming into contact with stereotyped groups. Organisations should educate their employees on the process of stereotypes and exactly what this means and where they originate from. Contribution/value-add: With this study the emic perspective pertaining to the meaning and origin of stereotypes is explored within the South African context. By participating in this study, individuals may become aware of the fact that their perceptions and opinions of others may be based on inaccurate information. This study may encourage individuals to truly get to know someone first rather than relying on their possibly inaccurate stereotypes.
Coupled Northern Hemisphere permafrost–ice-sheet evolution over the last glacial cycle
Authors: Willeit M. , Ganopolski A.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Permafrost influences a number of processes which are relevant for local and global climate. For example, it is well known that permafrost plays an important role in global carbon and methane cycles. Less is known about the interaction between permafrost and ice sheets. In this study a permafrost module is included in the Earth system model CLIMBER-2, and the coupled Northern Hemisphere (NH) permafrost–ice-sheet evolution over the last glacial cycle is explored. The model performs generally well at reproducing present-day permafrost extent and thickness. Modeled permafrost thickness is sensitive to the values of ground porosity, thermal conductivity and geothermal heat flux. Permafrost extent at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) agrees well with reconstructions and previous modeling estimates. Present-day permafrost thickness is far from equilibrium over deep permafrost regions. Over central Siberia and the Arctic Archipelago permafrost is presently up to 200–500 m thicker than it would be at equilibrium. In these areas, present-day permafrost depth strongly depends on the past climate history and simulations indicate that deep permafrost has a memory of surface temperature variations going back to at least 800 ka. Over the last glacial cycle permafrost has a relatively modest impact on simulated NH ice sheet volume except at LGM, when including permafrost increases ice volume by about 15 m sea level equivalent in our model. This is explained by a delayed melting of the ice base from below by the geothermal heat flux when the ice sheet sits on a porous sediment layer and permafrost has to be melted first. Permafrost affects ice sheet dynamics only when ice extends over areas covered by thick sediments, which is the case at LGM.
Towards systematic planning of small-scale hydrological intervention-based research
Authors: Pramana K. E. R. , Ertsen M. W. , van de Giesen N. C.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Many small-scale water development initiatives are accompanied by hydrological research to study either the shape of the intervention or its impacts. Humans influence both, and thus one needs to take human agency into account. This paper focuses on the effects of human actions in the intervention and its associated hydrological research, as these effects have not yet been discussed explicitly in a systematic way. In this paper, we propose a systematic planning, based on evaluating three hydrological research projects in small-scale water intervention projects in Vietnam, Kenya, and Indonesia. The main purpose of the three projects was to understand the functioning of interventions in their hydrological contexts. Aiming for better decision-making on hydrological research in small-scale water intervention projects, we propose two analysis steps: (1) being prepared for surprises and (2) cost-benefit analysis. By performing the two analyses continuously throughout a small-scale hydrological intervention based project, effective hydrological research can be achieved.
Soil geohazard mapping for improved asset management of UK local roads
Authors: Pritchard O. G. , Hallett S. H. , Farewell T. S.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Unclassified roads comprise 60 % of the road network in the United Kingdom (UK). The resilience of this locally important network is declining. It is considered by the Institution of Civil Engineers to be "at risk" and is ranked 26th in the world. Many factors contribute to the degradation and ultimate failure of particular road sections. However, several UK local authorities have identified that in drought conditions, road sections founded upon shrink–swell susceptible clay soils undergo significant deterioration compared with sections on non-susceptible soils. This arises from the local road network having little, if any, structural foundations. Consequently, droughts in East Anglia have resulted in millions of pounds of damage, leading authorities to seek emergency governmental funding. This paper assesses the use of soil-related geohazard assessments in providing soil-informed maintenance strategies for the asset management of the locally important road network of the UK. A case study draws upon the UK administrative county of Lincolnshire, where road assessment data have been analysed against mapped clay-subsidence risk. This reveals a statistically significant relationship between road condition and susceptible clay soils. Furthermore, incorporation of UKCP09 future climate projections within the geohazard models has highlighted roads likely to be at future risk of clay-related subsidence.
The Use of ICT for Tertiary Education in Agriculture and Research in Swaziland: The Case of University of Swaziland (UNISWA) Students
Authors: Masuku Micah Bheki , M. O. Raufu , A. A. Tijani
Published: September 2015

The primary goal of universities is to teach, provide community service, and conduct research. Empirical evidence has shown that innovative research can best be conducted with the aid of ICT. This study therefore, examines factors affecting the use of ICT for tertiary education and research for development among UNISWA students in the Faculty of Agriculture. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select 113 UNISWA undergraduate and postgraduate students from whom data were obtained using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model were used to analyse the data.The results revealed that the radio and television, audio-graphic, email, computer file transfer and multimedia products were the main ICT facilities available. Accessing research and relevant materials online and the use of ICT in improving efficiency of communication among students and lecturers were ranked high by the respondents. Weak wireless services and unemployment were the greatest challenges to the use of ICT facilities by students. Estimated Tobit regression results revealed that availability, accessibility and necessity for ICT facilities significantly influenced their use for learning and research among the undergraduate students while family size, availability, necessity and proficiency were the main factors affecting the use of ICT facilities among the postgraduate students.In order to encourage the use of ICT among UNISWA students, the study is therefore recommending that (i) The university authorities should make ICT facilities available and accessible to all categories of students, (ii) Departments should incorporate the use of ICT facilities into their curriculum, and (iii) lecturers should give ICT based assignments and use ICT-based teaching methods.
From rhetorics to practice: implementation of technological innovation within Spanish public service media
Authors: Fernández-Quijada David , Bonet Montse , Suárez Candel Roberto , Arboledas Luis
Published: September 2015

In the context of media and information society policies, there has been deep controversy in Europe with respect to the legitimate use of new technologies by public service media. Through qualitative interviews and policy documents analysis with a case study, this article illustrates how three Spanish public service media organizations apply technological innovations in order to successfully achieve its public service remit and provides one of the first examples of innovation management in this field. Lessons from this study include the difficult accountability of innovation, the non-formal nature of its practice, the central role of techno-enthusiasts and the bureaucratic problems of developing open innovation practices.
The 50 Most Cited Papers in Craniofacial Anomalies and Craniofacial Surgery
Authors: Mahon Nicola A , Joyce Cormac W , Thomas Sangeetha , Concannon Elizabeth , Murray Dylan
Published: September 2015

Background Citation analysis is a recognized scientometric method of classifying cited articles according to the frequency of which they have been referenced. The total number of citations an article receives is considered to reflect it's significance among it's peers.

Methods Until now, a bibliometric analysis has never been performed in the specialty of craniofacial anomalies and craniofacial surgery. This citation analysis generates an extensive list of the 50 most influential papers in this developing field. Journals specializing in craniofacial surgery, maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, neurosurgery, genetics and pediatrics were searched to demonstrate which articles have cultivated the specialty within the past 55 years.

Results The results show an intriguing compilation of papers which outline the fundamental knowledge of craniofacial anomalies and the developments of surgical techniques to manage these patients.

Conclusions This citation analysis provides a summation of the current most popular trends in craniofacial literature. These esteemed papers aid to direct our decision making today within this specialty.
Comparison of Clinical and Functional Outcomes Using Pectoralis Major and Cutaneous Free Flaps for Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lee Taeyul , Chung Chulhoon , Chang Yongjoon , Kim Jaehyun
Published: September 2015

Background The purpose of this study was to compare postoperative morbidities and functional outcomes of pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap and cutaneous free flap reconstruction approaches in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Methods We retrospectively reviewed records from 99 patients who underwent hypopharyngeal reconstruction with a cutaneous free flap (n=85) or PMMC flap (n=14) between 1995 and 2013. Morbidity was classified into hospitalization, medical, or flap-related complications. Functional outcomes were classified into oral re-alimentation and decannulation time.

Results The overall flap-related complication rate was higher in the PMMC flap group (n=8, 57.1%; P=0.019), but the medical morbidity rate was higher in the cutaneous free flap group (n=68, 80%; P=0.006). The rate of pneumonia was higher in the cutaneous free flap group (n=48, 56.5%; P=0.020). Pulmonary premorbidity was the variable most significantly associated with pneumonia (odds ratio=3.012, P=0.012). There was no statistically significant difference in oral re-alimentation and decannulation time between the two groups.

Conclusions Although the functional superiority of free flaps has been reported in many studies, our results do not support this hypothesis. One limitation of our study is the relatively smaller flap size and fewer PMMC flap cases compared with the cutaneous free flap group. The low postoperative medical morbidity incidence rate in the PMMC flap group was clinically significant; however, the free flap group had more flap-related complications. Thus, PMMC flaps should be considered a viable option, especially for patients with pulmonary premorbidities.
Perspectives on the Late Piano Music of Oskar Morawetz and John Weinzweig
Authors: Keillor Elaine
Published: September 2015

Oskar Morawetz and John Weinzweig were colleagues of Carl Morey at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. Each composed considerable piano music throughout his compositional career. In this article, the author examines the late piano compositions of Morawetz and Weinzweig, comparing approaches to the instrument, and how those approaches were reflected musically in this group of late compositions. Because Morawetz based his approach on the late Romantic piano compositions with which he was familiar, pianists do not encounter extended techniques in his works. Weinzweig, on the other hand, makes new demands upon the performer to bring across his “disparate gestic/phonetic shapes.”
Anhalt’s Oppenheimer: The History of a Never-Finished Major Work
Authors: Beckwith John
Published: September 2015

The “opera fantasy”Oppenheimerby Istvan Anhalt (1919–2012) survives as a draft libretto and 1,100 pages of musical sketches, on which the composer concentrated from mid-1988 to late 1991, partly with the collaboration of the playwright John Murrell. Prolonged negotiations with the Canadian Opera Company eventually collapsed and the work was abandoned. Using prior research by Peter Laki and archival documents (especially the composer’s previously inaccessible “diary” of the opera’s progress), this article tracesOppenheimer’s compositional development and the COC production talks, compares it to the 2005 operaDoctor Atomicby John Adams and Peter Sellars (both works deal with J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in creating the first atomic bomb), and speculates on possible affinities between the existing sketches and other Anhalt compositions of the same period.
Seeds for a Mature Compositional Style: An Analysis of Melody, Musical Layers, and Signals in Claude Vivier’s Chants
Authors: Harman Brian
Published: September 2015

Claude Vivier’s Chants is considered by many to be his first significant musical composition, yet very little exploration has been undertaken to determine what techniques and ideas flow from this work into his mature musical style. This article provides an in-depth analysis of Chants’ pitch organization and the influence of the principal melody on the work as a whole, followed by an analysis of the manipulation of musical layers and the use of processes as signals for formal change in the work. These qualities bear strong similarities to Vivier’s later works, demonstrating that Chants was pivotal in his development as a composer.
A generalized complementary principle with physical constraints for land‐surface evaporation
Authors: Brutsaert Wilfried
Published: September 2015

The idea of complementary evaporative fluxes, first advanced by Bouchet (1963), is reformulated as a general polynomial, satisfying boundary conditions based on strictly physical considerations. Experimental evidence supports the validity of the imposed constraints. Earlier complementary relationships are shown to be special cases which satisfy only one of the necessary conditions. The new formulation provides a more rigorous base for the complementary principle.
Duplication of 10q22.3–q23.3 encompassing BMPR1A and NGR3 associated with congenital heart disease, microcephaly, and mild intellectual disability
Authors: Tang Mi , Yang Yi‐Feng , Xie Li , Chen Jin‐Lan , Zhang Wei‐Zhi , Wang Jian , Zhao Tian‐Li , Yang Jin‐Fu , Tan Zhi‐Ping
Published: September 2015

Chromosome region 10q22.3–q23.3 contains several low copy repeats (LCRs) and is prone to recombination. Deletions with breakpoints within LCR3 and LCR4 have been described to be associated with intellectual disability and dysmorphic features, while the reciprocal duplications are rarely reported. We present an additional case with multiple congenital anomalies that include microcephaly, cardiac defect, and mild intellectual disability, in which a de novo interstitial 8.2‐Mb duplication of 10q22.3–q23.3, including BMPR1A and NGR3, was identified by Illumina SNP array platform. Our study is consistent with the hypothesis that the BMPR1A is a plausible candidate gene for congenital heart disease (CHD) and should contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of these genomic diseases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
One‐Step Borylation of 1,3‐Diaryloxybenzenes Towards Efficient Materials for Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Hirai Hiroki , Nakajima Kiichi , Nakatsuka Soichiro , Shiren Kazushi , Ni Jingping , Nomura Shintaro , Ikuta Toshiaki , Hatakeyama Takuji
Published: September 2015

The development of a one‐step borylation of 1,3‐diaryloxybenzenes, yielding novel boron‐containing polycyclic aromatic compounds, is reported. The resulting boron‐containing compounds possess high singlet‐triplet excitation energies as a result of localized frontier molecular orbitals induced by boron and oxygen. Using these compounds as a host material, we successfully prepared phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes exhibiting high efficiency and adequate lifetimes. Moreover, using the present one‐step borylation, we succeeded in the synthesis of an efficient, thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter and boron‐fused benzo[6]helicene.
CRISPR‐Cas: From the Bacterial Adaptive Immune System to a Versatile Tool for Genome Engineering
Authors: Kirchner Marion , Schneider Sabine
Published: September 2015

The field of biology has been revolutionized by the recent advancement of an adaptive bacterial immune system as a universal genome engineering tool. Bacteria and archaea use repetitive genomic elements termed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in combination with an RNA‐guided nuclease (CRISPR‐associated nuclease: Cas) to target and destroy invading DNA. By choosing the appropriate sequence of the guide RNA, this two‐component system can be used to efficiently modify, target, and edit genomic loci of interest in plants, insects, fungi, mammalian cells, and whole organisms. This has opened up new frontiers in genome engineering, including the potential to treat or cure human genetic disorders. Now the potential risks as well as the ethical, social, and legal implications of this powerful new technique move into the limelight.
The Existence of Tricyanomethane
Authors: Soltner Theresa , Häusler Jonas , Kornath Andreas J.
Published: September 2015

Calcium tricyanomethanide reacts with hydrogen fluoride under formation of tricyanomethane and Ca(HF2)2. Tricyanomethane is stable below −40 °C and was characterized by IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy. The vibrational spectra were compared to the quantum‐chemical frequencies at the PBE1PBE/6‐311G(3df,3dp) level of theory and confirm the predicted C3v symmetry of the molecule with regular CH (109.8 pm), CC (146.7 pm), and CN (114.7 pm) bonds.
Activation pretreatment of low‐grade Ti‐slag by alkali roasting: anticaking technique and kinetics of decomposition
Authors: Meng Fancheng , Wang Dong , Xue Tianyan , Wang Weijing , Liu Yahui , Qi Tao
Published: September 2015

The caking of roasting products is a serious problem in the activation pretreatment of low‐grade Ti‐slag by alkali roasting, which could lead to low heat transfer efficiency and low Ti conversion. In this study, an efficient anticaking technique was developed. This technique involved low‐grade Ti‐slag desilication and anticaking additive introduction. Optimum Ti conversion conditions in alkali roasting with KMnO4 as an anticaking additive were obtained through an orthogonal test. Approximately 99% of titanium in the low‐grade Ti‐slag could be decomposed at a loosening extent of roasting products of >90% in the presence of 4 wt% KMnO4 as an anticaking additive. Kinetic study showed that an unreacted shrinking core model could be used to describe the decomposition of low‐grade Ti‐slag in alkali roasting with KMnO4 as an anticaking additive. Decomposition kinetics were characterized in two sequential stages: decomposition occurred relatively fast in the initial stage and became slower in the second stage. A mechanism of two‐stage decomposition was proposed, i.e., the reaction rate was controlled by a chemical reaction initially and then was controlled by inner/ash layer diffusion. Apparent activation energies were 53.6 kJ/mol in the first stage and 65.9 kJ/mol in the second stage, respectively. © 2015 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transesterification of Triolein over Hydrophobic Microporous Carbon with SO3H Groups
Authors: Fukuhara Kiichi , Nakajima Kiyotaka , Kitano Masaaki , Hayashi Shigenobu , Hara Michikazu
Published: September 2015

SO3H‐bearing microporous amorphous carbon with a large BET surface area (≈2000 m2 g−1) and a high density of SO3H groups (0.5 mmol g−1) was investigated as a solid acid catalyst for the transesterification of triolein and esterification of oleic acid with methanol. The separable and reusable carbon catalyst exhibits higher catalytic performance for both reactions than conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous acid catalysts, including sulfuric acid, at 353 K. This carbon catalyst can provide methyl oleate yields over 99 %, even in a triolein–oleic acid mixture that resembles a crude vegetable oil, owing to efficient transesterification and esterification reactions. The carbon material is sufficiently hydrophobic to be distributed throughout the hydrophobic triolein phase, resulting in high catalytic performance for both reactions.
Nitrogen‐ and Phosphorus‐Doped Nanoporous Graphene/Graphitic Carbon Nitride Hybrids as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Shinde Sambhaji S. , Sami Abdul , Lee Jung‐Ho
Published: September 2015

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the key steps in clean and efficient energy conversion techniques; however, the mass production of current HER devices is hampered by several shortcomings, which include kinetically sluggish processes, stability, and the use of expensive catalysts. In this work we report the facile synthesis of metal‐free hybrids by integrating graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) with nitrogen‐ and phosphorus‐doped nanoporous graphene sheets. A phosphorus‐doped metal‐free hybrid electrocatalyst (g‐C3N4@P‐pGr) displayed excellent HER performance with an overpotential of −0.34 V, high exchange current density of 3.33×10−6 A cm−2, onset potential of 0.076 V, Tafel slope of 90 mV dec−1, Gibbs free energy of −0.16 eV, and long‐term durability comparable to that of well‐developed metal catalysts. Tafel slope analysis suggests that the Volmer–Tafel mechanism is the most favorable HER kinetics for these metal‐free hybrids. The extraordinary HER performance stems from a strong synergistic effect between the highly exposed active sites generated by the introduction of in‐plane pores into graphene and the coupling of g‐C3N4.
Ergebnisse einer Befragung zum Umgang mit Porenbetonabfällen aus dem Abbruch von Gebäuden
Authors: Stier Christian , Forberger Jens
Published: September 2015

Die Menge recycelten Hochbauschutts stieg in den letzten Jahren immer weiter an. Dennoch gibt es nach wie vor Baustoffe, die bislang nicht als Sekundärbaustoffe oder in neuen Produkten eingesetzt werden. Dazu zählt auch Bauschutt aus Porenbeton. Der Beitrag gibt den Erkenntnisstand zum Recycling von Porenbeton wieder und erläutert Ergebnisse einer Befragung bei deutschen Abbruchunternehmen zu deren Umgang mit Porenbetonabfällen.
Emerging roles of apoptotic microtubules during the execution phase of apoptosis
Authors: Oropesa Ávila Manuel , Fernández Vega Alejandro , Garrido Maraver Juan , Villanueva Paz Marina , De Lavera Isabel , De La Mata Mario , Cordero Mario D. , Alcocer Gómez Elizabet , Delgado Pavón Ana , Álvarez Córdoba Mónica , Cotán David , Sánchez‐Alcázar José Antonio
Published: September 2015

Apoptosis is a genetically programmed energy‐dependent process of cell demise, characterized by specific morphological and biochemical events in which the activation of caspases has an essential role. During apoptosis the cytoskeleton participates actively in characteristic morphological rearrangements of the dying cell. This reorganisation has been assigned mainly to actinomyosin ring contraction, while microtubule and intermediate filaments are depolymerized at early stages of apoptosis. However, recent reports have showed that microtubules are reformed during the execution phase of apoptosis organizing an apoptotic microtubule network (AMN). AMN is organized behind plasma membrane, forming a cortical structure. Apoptotic microtubules repolymerization takes place in many cell types and under different apoptotic inducers. It has been hypothesized that AMN is critical for maintaining plasma membrane integrity and cell morphology during the execution phase of apoptosis. AMN disorganization leads apoptotic cells to secondary necrosis and the release of potential toxic molecules which can damage neighbor cells and promotes inflammation. Therefore, AMN formation during physiological apoptosis or in pathological apoptosis induced by anti‐cancer treatments is essential for tissue homeostasis and the prevention of additional cell damage and inflammation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Changing the Action of Iron from Stoichiometric to Electrocatalytic in the Hydrogenation of Ketones in Aqueous Acidic Media
Authors: Gottardo Marina , Easton Max , Fabos Viktoria , Guo Si‐Xuan , Zhang Jie , Perosa Alvise , Selva Maurizio , Bond Alan M. , Masters Anthony. F. , Maschmeyer Thomas
Published: September 2015

Cyclohexanone, a model compound chosen to conveniently represent small oxygenates present in the aqueous phase of biomass hydrothermal upgrading streams, was hydrogenated in the presence of electrodeposited iron(0) using aqueous formic or sulfuric acid as a hydrogen donor. Under these conditions, zero‐valent iron is consumed stoichiometrically and serves as both a formic acid decomposition site and a hydrogen transfer agent. However, the resulting iron(II) can be used to continuously regenerate iron(0) when a potential is applied to the glassy carbon working electrode. Controlled potential electrolysis experiments show a 17 % conversion of cyclohexanone (over 1000 seconds) to cyclohexanol with >80 % efficiency of iron deposition from an iron(II) sulfate solution containing formic or sulfuric acid. In the absence of electrodeposited iron, formation of cyclohexanol could not be detected.
Aging in personal and social immunity: do immune traits senesce at the same rate?
Authors: Reavey Catherine E. , Warnock Neil D. , Garbett Amy P. , Cotter Sheena C.
Published: September 2015

How much should an individual invest in immunity as it grows older? Immunity is costly and its value is likely to change across an organism's lifespan. A limited number of studies have focused on how personal immune investment changes with age in insects, but we do not know how social immunity, immune responses that protect kin, changes across lifespan, or how resources are divided between these two arms of the immune response. In this study, both personal and social immune functions are considered in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides. We show that personal immune function declines (phenoloxidase levels) or is maintained (defensin expression) across lifespan in nonbreeding beetles but is maintained (phenoloxidase levels) or even upregulated (defensin expression) in breeding individuals. In contrast, social immunity increases in breeding burying beetles up to middle age, before decreasing in old age. Social immunity is not affected by a wounding challenge across lifespan, whereas personal immunity, through PO, is upregulated following wounding to a similar extent across lifespan. Personal immune function may be prioritized in younger individuals in order to ensure survival until reproductive maturity. If not breeding, this may then drop off in later life as state declines. As burying beetles are ephemeral breeders, breeding opportunities in later life may be rare. When allowed to breed, beetles may therefore invest heavily in “staying alive” in order to complete what could potentially be their final reproductive opportunity. As parental care is important for the survival and growth of offspring in this genus, staying alive to provide care behaviors will clearly have fitness payoffs. This study shows that all immune traits do not senesce at the same rate. In fact, the patterns observed depend upon the immune traits measured and the breeding status of the individual.
Governance, Environmental And Economic Factors: An international analysis
Authors: Gallego‐Álvarez Isabel , Fernández‐Gómez María José
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study is first to establish whether any relationships exist between countries' environmental performance, governance and socioeconomic characteristics and whether it is possible to classify countries according to these relationships. To achieve these objectives we used the 10 policy categories of the 2012 EPI and some external characteristics – control of corruption, rule of law, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, voice and accountability, political stability, population, population density and GDP per capita – since they have been previously used in the literature and demonstrated to be related to the EPI. We confront the problem from a multivariate perspective, using co‐inertia analysis (COIA), a multivariate statistical method that allows us to directly relate both sets of variables measured in the same countries. The main results from the empirical analysis show that governance indicators and per capita GDP are strongly and directly related to the EPI policy categories concerning environmental effects on human beings, forestry and biodiversity and habitat, and that most European countries and North America present high scores in all of these variables. In contrast, these governance indicators are inversely related to agriculture, climate change, fisheries and the effects that air pollution has on nature, and the majority of countries in Africa, South America and Asia perform better in these political categories but with lower governance rates. The effect of water on nature and political stability covariate positively and both relate negatively to the social variables. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Electrospun TiO2 Nanofibers Surface‐Loaded with Ag Nanoparticles as a Sensitizer and Their Enhanced Effect in Photocatalytic Applications
Authors: Zhang Li , Wang Lei , Wei Yuan , Zhang Mingyue , Jiang Haifeng , Li Jianing , Li Shu , Li Junfeng
Published: September 2015

In this work, Ag–TiO2 nanofibers were prepared by a simple electrospinning and photoreduction method. A mechanism for the synthesis of the Ag–TiO2 nanofibers was proposed on the basis of XRD, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SEM, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) results. The photocatalytic activities of the nanofibers were characterized for the degradation of aqueous solutions of methyl orange (MO) and hydrogen evolution from water with methyl alcohol as a sacrificial reagent under the simulated sunlight irradiation. The results indicate that the Ag‐modified TiO2 nanofibers are efficient and stable photocatalysts for dye degradation and hydrogen evolution. Compared with pure TiO2 nanofibers, the Ag–TiO2 composite nanofibers have higher photocatalytic activities, and the best load of Ag was 5 mol‐%. The Ag nanoparticles serve as charge‐transfer sites and broaden the spectral absorption band of the catalyst.
A simple method for assessment and minimization of errors in determination of electrophoretic or electroosmotic mobilities and velocities associated with the axial electric field distortion
Authors: Mateusz Nowak Paweł , Woźniakiewicz Michał , Kościelniak Paweł
Published: September 2015

It is commonly accepted that the modern CE instruments equipped with efficient cooling system enable accurate determination of electrophoretic or electroosmotic mobilities. It is also often assumed that velocity of migration in a given buffer is constant throughout the capillary length. It is simultaneously neglected that the noncooled parts of capillary produce extensive Joule heating leading to an axial electric field distortion, which contributes to a difference between the effective and nominal electric field potentials and between velocities in the cooled and noncooled parts of capillary. This simplification introduces systematic errors, which so far were however not investigated experimentally. There was also no method proposed for their elimination. We show a simple and fast method allowing for estimation and elimination of these errors that is based on combination of a long‐end and short‐end injections. We use it to study the effects caused by variation of temperature, electric field, capillary length, and pH.