bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
gsimcli: a geostatistical procedure for the homogenisation of climatic time series
Authors: Ribeiro Sara , Caineta Júlio , Costa Ana Cristina , Henriques Roberto
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT

Climate data homogenisation is of major importance in monitoring climate change and in validating weather forecasts, general circulation and regional atmospheric models, modelling of erosion and drought monitoring, among other impact studies. Discontinuities in the time series, also named inhomogeneities, may lead to biased conclusions in such studies, so they should be detected and corrected. Previous studies have suggested a geostatistical stochastic approach, which uses Direct Sequential Simulation (DSS), as a promising methodology for the homogenisation of precipitation data series. Based on the spatial and temporal correlation between the neighbouring stations, DSS calculates local probability density functions at a candidate station to detect inhomogeneities. Here, we present a new method named gsimcli (Geostatistical SIMulation for the homogenisation of CLImate data), which is an improved and extended version of that approach. This technique is novel in its incorporation of spatial correlation metrics for the homogenisation of climate time series. The method's performance is assessed with annual and monthly precipitation, and monthly temperature data from two regions of the COST‐HOME benchmark data set, and the results are compared using performance metrics. We also evaluate a semi‐automatic version of the gsimcli method, which performs additional adjustments for sudden shifts. Both gsimcli versions provided similar results in the homogenisation of annual series. The gsimcli method was more efficient in the homogenisation of the benchmark's precipitation series than the original geostatistical approach. The gsimcli approach performed more closely to state‐of‐the‐art procedures in the homogenisation of monthly data than in the homogenisation of annual data. We expect that the proposed procedure will open new perspectives for the development of techniques that detect and correct inhomogeneities in climate data with monthly and sub‐monthly resolution.
Validation of a new high‐throughput method to determine urinary S‐phenylmercapturic acid using low‐temperature partitioning extraction and ultra high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Gomes Rafaela de Paiva , Pena Camila Bárbara , Rezende Jennifer , Coutrim Mauricio Xavier , Afonso Robson José de Cássia Franco
Published: November 2016

A new highly sensitive and environmentally friendly analytical method, using low‐temperature partition extraction and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, without the use of a labeled analyte, was developed and validated to determine and quantify urinary S‐phenylmercapturic acid in urine samples. The World Health Organization, in its guidelines for air quality in Europe, recognizes that benzene is carcinogenic to humans and there is no safe level of exposure. Urinary S‐phenylmercapturic acid is a sensitive and specific biological marker of exposure to benzene. The new analytical method, extraction, and analysis, were linear in the working range between 0.1 and 200.0 μg/L, precise (relative standard deviation lower than 6.0%), accurate (97.0–105.0%), and sensitive. The method's limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.084 μg/L, respectively. The recovery with the low‐temperature partition extraction was 96.1%, with relative standard deviation less than 3.8%. The method is simple, accurate, and reproducible, and has been successfully applied in the evaluation of nonoccupational exposure to benzene, by urinary S‐phenylmercapturic acid in urine samples.
On the relation between plasma power and aging treatment in the production of thin aluminum zirconium foils by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Egorova A. , Kovac J. , v. Hehl A. , Mehner A. , Zoch H.‐W.
Published: November 2016

In the foregoing years, micro components were frequently employed in various sectors such as the electronics and medical industry. In order to produce these components in large amounts and satisfying quality, the production processes have to be improved constantly. Heat treatment represents a critical step in the production chain of micro components, since it can either soften the foils for micro forming or increase the hardness of the micro components after the cold forming process, provided those are made of hardenable materials. In the investigated Al–Zr alloy, the formation of small primary Al3Zr precipitations results in a considerable improvement of the material's hardness. However, the presence of precipitations in the Al–Zr foils drastically limits the formability. Additionally, the precipitations are nearly not avoidable in the casting of the raw material and irreversible due to the limited solubility of zirconium in aluminum (0.28 wt%) close to the melting point of the aluminum solution. To overcome this problem, magnetron sputtering was employed to fabricate zirconium supersaturated Al–Zr foils by taking advantage of a low substrate temperature (below 50 °C). In particular the plasma power seems to influence the aging behaviour of sputtered Al–Zr foils.
Influence of active component cooling on process speed and joint strength during continuous induction joining of glass fiber reinforced polyamide 6 and steel
Authors: Hümbert M. , Mitschang P.
Published: November 2016

Induction welding of metals and thermoplastic fiber reinforced polymer composites is a promising technology for the joining of hybrid components. It uses the possibility to induce eddy currents into a metal in order to melt the polymer of the adjacent composite. By applying pressure onto both parts, for example with a consolidation roller, the polymer adheres to the metal and a bond is generated.

However, the relatively low process speed, caused by a slow cooling of the components, prevents a wide use of this method so far. Therefore, this study examines the influence of an active component cooling on the process speed and the resulting effects on the joining strength.
Monitoring acute metabolic changes in the liver and kidneys induced by fructose and glucose using hyperpolarized [2‐13C]dihydroxyacetone
Authors: Marco‐Rius Irene , von Morze Cornelius , Sriram Renuka , Cao Peng , Chang Gene‐Yuan , Milshteyn Eugene , Bok Robert A. , Ohliger Michael A. , Pearce David , Kurhanewicz John , Larson Peder E.Z. , Vigneron Daniel B. , Merritt Matthew
Published: November 2016

Purpose

To investigate acute changes in glucose metabolism in liver and kidneys in vivo after a bolus injection of either fructose or glucose, using hyperpolarized [2‐13C]dihydroxyacetone.

Methods

Spatially registered, dynamic, multislice MR spectroscopy was acquired for the metabolic products of [2‐13C]dihydroxyacetone in liver and kidneys. Metabolism was probed in 13 fasted rats at three time points: 0, 70, and 140 min. At 60 min, rats were injected intravenously with fructose (n = 5) or glucose (n = 4) at 0.8 g/kg to initiate acute response. Controls (n = 4) did not receive a carbohydrate challenge.

Results

Ten minutes after fructose infusion, levels of [2‐13C]phosphoenolpyruvate and [2‐13C]glycerol‐3‐phosphate halved in liver: 51% (P = 0.0010) and 47% (P = 0.0001) of baseline, respectively. Seventy minutes later, levels returned to baseline. The glucose challenge did not alter the signals significantly, nor did repeated administration of the dihydroxyacetone imaging bolus. In kidneys, no statistically significant changes were detected after sugar infusion other than a 20% increase of the glycerol‐3‐phosphate signal between 10 and 80 min after fructose injection (P = 0.0028).

Conclusion

Hyperpolarized [2‐13C]dihydroxyacetone detects a real‐time, transient metabolic response of the liver to an acute fructose challenge. Observed effects possibly include ATP depletion and changes in the unlabeled pool sizes of glycolytic intermediates. Magn Reson Med 77:65–73, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Direct estimation of tracer‐kinetic parameter maps from highly undersampled brain dynamic contrast enhanced MRI
Authors: Guo Yi , Lingala Sajan Goud , Zhu Yinghua , Lebel R. Marc , Nayak Krishna S.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to develop and evaluate a T1‐weighted dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI methodology where tracer‐kinetic (TK) parameter maps are directly estimated from undersampled (k,t)‐space data.

Theory and Methods

The proposed reconstruction involves solving a nonlinear least squares optimization problem that includes explicit use of a full forward model to convert parameter maps to (k,t)‐space, utilizing the Patlak TK model. The proposed scheme is compared against an indirect method that creates intermediate images by parallel imaging and compressed sensing before to TK modeling. Thirteen fully sampled brain tumor DCE‐MRI scans with 5‐second temporal resolution are retrospectively undersampled at rates R = 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 for each dynamic frame. TK maps are quantitatively compared based on root mean‐squared‐error (rMSE) and Bland‐Altman analysis. The approach is also applied to four prospectively R = 30 undersampled whole‐brain DCE‐MRI data sets.

Results

In the retrospective study, the proposed method performed statistically better than indirect method at R ≥ 80 for all 13 cases. This approach provided restoration of TK parameter values with less errors in tumor regions of interest, an improvement compared to a state‐of‐the‐art indirect method. Applied prospectively, the proposed method provided whole‐brain, high‐resolution TK maps with good image quality.

Conclusion

Model‐based direct estimation of TK maps from k,t‐space DCE‐MRI data is feasible and is compatible up to 100‐fold undersampling. Magn Reson Med 78:1566–1578, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Crystalline and active additive for optimization morphology and absorption of narrow bandgap polymer solar cells
Authors: Zhou Weihua , Ai Qingyun , Zhang Lin , Liu Xiangfu , Hu Xiaotian , Chen Yiwang
Published: November 2016

The morphology of active layer with an interpenetrating network structure and appropriate phase separation is of great significance to improve the photovoltaic performance for polymer solar cells. A highly crystalline small molecule named DPP‐TP6 was synthesized and incorporated into the narrow bandgap polymer solar cells to optimize the morphology of PTB7:PC71BM active layer. The DPP‐TP6 small molecule was demonstrated to enhance the light absorbance of active layer and play the role of energy cascade to increase the exciton separation and charge transfer. What's more, DPP‐TP6 facilitated forming interpenetrating network structure and increasing the phase separation size of ternary blends. These phenomena lead to a higher hole mobility and a more balanced carrier mobility, so as to increase the power conversion efficiency to 7.85% at DPP‐TP6 weight ratio of 8 wt %, comparing to the pristine PTB7:PC71BM system of 6.50%. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 726–733
Click polymerization: The aurora of polymer synthetic methodology
Authors: Shi Yang , Sun Jing Zhi , Qin Anjun
Published: November 2016

As an emerged efficient polymerization methodology, the click polymerization plays a significant role in the area of polymer and materials sciences. Similar to the click reaction, the click polymerization enjoys the advantages of high efficiency, mild reaction conditions, and high regio‐ and stereo‐selectivity etc. In this highlight, we summarize the recent progress on click polymerizations, with focus on the alkyne‐based ones. The challenges and opportunities in this area are also briefly discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 616–621
A Sustainable Approach for Post‐Disaster Rehabitation of Rural Heritage Settlements
Authors: Wang Yu
Published: November 2016

This paper is an attempt to rethink the concept of ‘cultural heritage’ in general and ‘living heritage’ in particular as applied by the conservation community, for example by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (http://www.iccrom.org/priority‐areas/living‐heritage/).The arguments are informed by my investigation into the reconstruction of the heritage village of Taoping, damaged in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In reviewing the evolution of theories conceptualizing heritage and its conservation, the inherent links to the ontology of modernity become apparent, and carry consequences particularly for heritage settlement conservation. Whereas rural settlements emerged from a long‐term communication between nature and people, in today's rural settlements this relationship is skewed by the inhabitants' own drive towards modernization. We see a confrontation between the modernity‐grounded heritage conservation and the likewise grounded modernization of the rural settlements. Modernity generated two contesting, even contradictory, movements: (1) generating the concept of (rural) heritage and heritage conservation intrinsically resting on habitation, and (2) the practice of modernization as performed by the inhabitants. The concept of ‘living heritage’ cannot interpret this dualism, as the initial (conservation‐worthy) relationship between land and people no longer exists. The appropriate term would be ‘lived‐in cultural heritage’, as becomes apparent in reconstructing a rural heritage settlement, a process that is complex, where the attitude of the community is volatile, and results of the reconstruction are uncertain. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
A Comparative Mechanistic and Kinetic Study of the Synthesis Reaction of 3, 4, 5‐Substituted Furan‐2(5H)‐ones: Solvent Effect
Authors: Habibi‐Khorassani Sayyed Mostafa , Shahraki Mehdi , Dehdab Maryam
Published: November 2016

Solvent can influence kinetics and mechanism of a chemical reaction. Herein, the different behavior of solvent media on the competitive mechanism between benzaldehyde (1), 4‐ethylaniline (2) and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (3) has been described when solvent was changed from acidic pH range (formic acid in the previous work) to values near or above neutrality (ethanol in the recent work). Experimental documents was obtained using UV‐vis and stopped‐flow spectrophotometry techniques. The results showed that the reaction in the presence of ethanol followed second order kinetics with respect to benzaldehyde (1) and 4‐ethylaniline (2), while it was second order kinetics in previous work (formic acid) in relation to 4‐ethylaniline (2) and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (3). A speculative mechanism involving five steps was proposed that the first step encountered the largest energy barrier as a rate‐determining step (RDS). Furthermore, the influences of temperature and concentration on the reaction rate were investigated. Activation parameters (
,
and
) along with kinetics values (kove and Ea) were determined. The reaction was entropy controlled in ethanol as a solvent.
ESP Promoted “On Water” Click Reaction: A Highly Economic and Sustainable Protocol for 1,4‐Disubstituted‐1H‐1,2,3‐Triazole Synthesis at Room Temperature
Authors: Konwar Manashjyoti , Ali Abdul A. , Chetia Mitali , Saikia Prakash J. , Khupse Nageshwar D. , Sarma Diganta
Published: November 2016

A highly economic and green protocol for azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reactions in water has been developed which offers a mild, practical and inexpensive basic alternative to the conventional protocols. The protocol uses readily available, considered as waste material, Egg Shell Powder (ESP) as an additive for CuAAC reaction. The reactions proceeded in water in presence of this basic waste material derived additive under ‘external base/ligand/reducing agent/organic solvent’ free conditions affording good to excellent yields of the desired products.
Regulation of SBA‐15, γ‐Al2O3, ZSM‐5 and MgO on Molybdenum oxide and Consequent Effect on DME Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhou , Zhang Qingde , Jia Lingyu , Wang Wenfeng , Gao Xiaofeng , Gu Yingying , Gao Xiujuan , Han Yizhuo , Tan Yisheng
Published: November 2016

MoO3 supported on SBA‐15, γ‐Al2O3, ZSM‐5 and MgO were prepared in this paper, the regulation of the support on the molybdenum oxide was explored. When the same molar ratio of MoO3 was loaded, three dimensional MoO3 were formed only over SBA‐15, γ‐Al2O3 and ZSM‐5, while MoOx domains were detected over MgO. Mo6+ species detected on SBA‐15, γ‐Al2O3, ZSM‐5 and MgO were almost at the same binding energy position while surface oxygen species detected on the surface were obviously at different position of binding energy. The amount of lattice oxygen predominates in the surface oxygen species of MoO3‐γ‐Al2O3 and MoO3‐MgO while the surface hydroxyl groups have most amounts in MoO3‐SBA‐15 and MoO3‐ZSM‐5. The surface acid property of the support rather than pH value of impregnating solution makes more contributions to governing the ratio of tetrahedral or octahedral molybdenum oxide. High content of lattice oxygen and more amounts of Lewis acid in γ‐Al2O3 are apt to form formaldehyde, and high content of surface hydroxyl group and more amounts of Bronsted acid sites in ZSM‐5 are in favor of the formation of methanol.
Regio‐Selective Phosphation and Phosphonation of 9‐Fluorenones
Authors: Deshidi Ramesh , Devari Shekaraiah , Rizvi Masood , Shah Bhahwal Ali
Published: November 2016

A method for regio‐selective phosphation and phopshonation at 9‐position of fluorenones has been developed. The outcome of reaction can be controlled by varying temperature viz., at low temperature phosphonate is the exclusive product, whereas at high temperature phosphate is the favoured product. The reaction is easy to set up, involves mild conditions and proceeds efficiently over a broad range of substrates with excellent functional group tolerance.
Cobalt Complexes Offering Aryldicarboxylic Acid Groups: Hydrogen Bonding Assemblies and the Resultant Topologies
Authors: Srivastava Sumit , Gupta Rajeev
Published: November 2016

This work reports synthesis of tris‐chelated Co3+ complexes, either having mer or fac geometries, and bis‐chelated Co3+ complexes containing appended aryldicarboxylic acid groups. The tris‐chelated complexes offer six appended –COOH groups while bis‐chelated complexes provide eight –COOH groups. Both tris‐ and bis‐chelated complexes participate in intermolecular hydrogen bonding to generate complicated yet interesting self‐assembled architectures that has been simplified by the topological analyses. We evaluate the effect of tris‐ versus bis‐chelated complexes; mer versus fac geometrical forms; lattice solvent molecules; and cations on the hydrogen bonding based self‐assemblies.
Hungry Porphyrins: Protonation and Self‐Metalation of Tetraphenylporphyrin on TiO2(110) ‐ 1 × 1
Authors: Köbl Julia , Wang Tao , Wang Cici , Drost Martin , Tu Fan , Xu Qian , Ju Huanxin , Wechsler Daniel , Franke Matthias , Pan Haibin , Marbach Hubertus , Steinrück Hans‐Peter , Zhu Junfa , Lytken Ole
Published: November 2016

We have studied the adsorption and self‐metalation of tetraphenylporphyrin (2HTPP) on TiO2(110) ‐ 1 × 1 with X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). Upon adsorption at room temperature the first monolayer of 2HTPP is protonated by protons from the surface, forming porphyrin diacid (4HTPP2+). In STM, single molecules with low mobility and no long‐range order were observed. As the surface is heated to 400 K, any unprotonated 2HTPP molecules in the second layer metalate, forming titanyl tetraphenylporphyrin (TiOTPP), but the protonated molecules in the first layer remain. As the surface is heated further to 550 K even the protonated 4HTPP2+ molecules metalate and only TiOTPP remain on the surface.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Highly Monodispersed Single‐Walled Alunminosilicate Nanotubes
Authors: Lam Chon Hei , Yang An‐Chih , Chi Heng‐Yu , Chan Kuan‐Ying , Hsieh Chih‐Chen , Kang Dun‐Yen
Published: November 2016

The synthesis of single‐walled aluminosilicate nanotubes (AlSiNTs) generally requires conductive heating over a period of 4 days. This paper outlines a novel microwave‐assisted method for the synthesis of AlSiNTs, which achieves yields on par with conventional methods in just 12 hours. The AlSiNTs obtained using the proposed method are much shorter (average length of 140 nm) than those synthesized in a reactor subjected to conductive heating in an oil bath (average length of 480 nm). The proposed synthesis method produces a product with highly monodispersed length distribution (100 – 200 nm), compared to those obtained from a conductively‐heated reactor (50 – 950 nm). We applied suspensions of the resulting AlSiNTs to produce thin films via spin coating. The thin films cast from microwaved AlSiNTs yielded a far smoother top surface with uniform surface morphology. This can be attributed to the shorter average length and the narrower length distribution of the AlSiNTs in the casting solution.
Development of a 18F‐labeled Diaryl‐Substituted Dihydropyrrolo[3,2,1‐hi]indole as Potential Probe for Functional Imaging of Cyclooxygenase‐2 with PET
Authors: Gassner Cemena , Neuber Christin , Laube Markus , Bergmann Ralf , Kniess Torsten , Pietzsch Jens
Published: November 2016

High COX‐2 expression is associated with tumor progression and poor treatment response. Imaging of functional COX‐2 expression by PET would provide beneficial information for theranostics. Here we describe precursor synthesis and radiolabeling attempts of (dihydro)pyrrolo[3,2,1‐hi]indoles [18F]DHPI and [18F]PI, two novel tricyclic COX‐2 inhibitors. Contrary to [18F]PI, [18F]DHPI was accessible by [18F]fluorination under mild basic conditions and McMurry cyclization. Radiopharmacological evaluation was performed in vitro by investigating cellular uptake in human COX‐2‐positive cells, and in vivo in rats and A2058‐melanoma xenograft mice, by focusing on metabolic stability and tumor uptake. To assess COX‐2 specificity, blocking experiments with celecoxib were performed. Despite of high COX‐2 selectivity and metabolic stability, [18F]DHPI did not show COX‐2‐dependent cell and tissue uptake, in part explained by high unspecific binding. Since appropriate lipophilicity is a prerequisite for targeting intracellularly localized COX‐2, future efforts should focus on use of longer‐lived radionuclides and/or targeted delivery systems.
“That Is Not Very American”: A Microethnographic Discourse Analysis of a Chinese ESL Learner's Appropriation of Cultural Values at an Art Exhibition
Authors: Lee‐Johnson Yin Lam
Published: November 2016

This article is based on part of the discourse data collected from a 5‐month ethnographic study about how first‐year learners of English as a second language (ESL) socially interact with their native‐speaking peers in a college town in the U.S. Midwest. The data were collected from participant observation at an art exhibition at the research site. The analysis focuses on a video‐recorded event when an ESL learner from China, Joe, had a negotiated meaning‐making opportunity about the cultural values of art appreciation with his native‐speaking friend, Carmen. The data corpus warrants an analytical framework that focuses on the contextualized interpretations of the smallest meaningful units, and thus the researcher employed microethnographic discourse analysis. The findings suggest that local campus communities are the venues where cultural values are contested, negotiated, and appropriated among ESL learners and their native‐speaking peers. The study also shows that microethnographic discourse analysis is an effective tool for revealing the hidden and unmarked cultural constructs such as “what it means to be American.”
Test Preparation in the Accountability Era: Toward a Learning‐Oriented Approach
Authors: Gebril Atta
Published: November 2016

The article introduces a learning‐oriented approach to test preparation that could help in easing the tension between learning and assessment. The first part of the article discusses the different concepts that are usually used in the context of test preparation. The second section reports on the literature pertaining to the effects of test preparation on teaching, learning, and test performance. The article also attempts to differentiate between appropriate and unhealthy practices and show the intricate differences between these concepts. In conclusion, the author suggests a number of guidelines for different stakeholders about how to conduct test preparation activities effectively and how to avoid the common pitfalls when carrying out this task. These guidelines focus specifically on how to develop and carry out test preparation activities that are learning‐oriented, how to develop assessment tasks that discourage inappropriate test preparation practices, and how to use strategies for promoting professionally sound test preparation activities.
Exegesis of the Introduction and Sect. I from “Fundamentals of the Mechanics of Continua”** by E. Hellinger
Authors: Eugster Simon R. , dell'Isola Francesco
Published: November 2016

The fundamental review article DIE ALLGEMEINEN ANSÄTZE DER MECHANIK DER KONTINUA in the Encyklopädie der mathematischen Wissenschaften mit Einschluss ihrer Anwendungen, Bd. IV‐4, Hft. 5 (1913) by Ernst Hellinger has not been translated into English so far. We believe that such a circumstance is really deprecative, as the insight reached by Hellinger in the mathematical structure of continuum mechanics seems, in some aspects, unsurpassed even nowadays. Hellinger's scientific manuscripts do not fill more than one and half boxes in library storage , but their impact on mathematics and mechanical sciences is profound. Indeed, the Hellinger‐Reissner variational principle is still a fundamental tool in theoretical and numerical mechanics. The intent of this paper is threefold: i) to allow to those who cannot understand German to enjoy the reading of a crystal‐clear and still topical article whose content has some enlightening parts, ii) to show that only one century ago the principle of virtual work (or virtual velocities) was regarded as the central principle in continuum mechanics and that Hellinger did forecast already then the main lines of its development, iii) to discuss some technical and conceptual aspects of the variational principles in continuum mechanics which some authors consider still controversial.
A novel mechanism of immunity controls the onset of cinnamycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces cinnamoneus DSM 40646
Authors: O’Rourke Sean , Widdick David , Bibb Mervyn
Published: November 2016

Streptomyces cinnamoneus DSM 40646 produces the Class II lantibiotic cinnamycin which possesses an unusual mechanism of action, binding to the membrane lipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to elicit its antimicrobial activity. A comprehensive analysis of the cinnamycin biosynthetic gene cluster has unveiled a novel mechanism of immunity in which the producing organism methylates its entire complement of PE prior to the onset of cinnamycin production. Deletion of the PE methyl transferase gene cinorf10, or the two-component regulatory system (cinKR) that controls its expression, leads not only to sensitivity to the closely related lantibiotic duramycin, but also abolishes cinnamycin production, presumably reflecting a fail-safe mechanism that serves to ensure that biosynthesis does not occur until immunity has been established.
Retracted: Novel Nonionic Polyurethane Surfactants and Ag Nanohybrids: Influence of Nonionic Polymeric Chains
Authors: Negm Nabel A. , El Hashash Maher A. , Youssif Mona A. , Ismail Eid A. , Abdeen Zizi I. , Rahman Nasser R. Abdel
Published: November 2016

Five novel nonionic surfactants were prepared by the reaction of polyethylene glycol of different molecular weights with toluene diisocyanate. The obtained polyurethane polymers were reacted with oleic acid to obtain the nonionic polyurethane surfactants. The structures of the synthesized compounds were determined by using: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and their average molecular weights by means of GC analysis. Silver nanohybrids of the nonionic polyurethane surfactants were prepared via physical combination by chemically prepared silver nanoparticles. The silver nanohybrids were determined using: UV, TEM, and DLS spectroscopy. The influence of the nonionic chain length (polyethylene glycol chains) on the surface activity of the synthesized nonionic polyurethane oleate surface active agents and their silver nanohybrids was studied. The results of surface activity of the nonionic polyurethanes oleate and their nanohybrids showed an increase in the critical micelle concentration by decreasing the polyethylene glycol chain lengths. The nanohybrids were also more surface active. Longer polyethylene glycol chains provide good protection for the formed silver nanoparticles than the shorter chains.
The Lasting Impact of Grandfathers: Class, Occupational Status, and Earnings over Three Generations in Sweden 1815–2011
Authors: Dribe Martin , Helgertz Jonas
Published: November 2016

This article examines socioeconomic mobility across three generations in Sweden from 1815 and until 2011. Using longitudinal micro-level data from the Scanian Economic-Demographic Database (SEDD), we examine the transmission of socio-economic status along three different dimensions; social class (HISCLASS), occupational status (HISCAM), and earnings. We demonstrate an association between grandfathers' class or occupational status and the outcome of grandsons, when controlling for the association between fathers and sons. The associations remain stable over time and are stronger for paternal grandfathers than for maternal. For earnings, we find no grandparental association.
An adaptive randomized trial of dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavior therapy for binge-eating
Authors: Chen E. Y. , Cacioppo J. , Fettich K. , Gallop R. , McCloskey M. S. , Olino T. , Zeffiro T. A.
Published: November 2016

Background

Early weak treatment response is one of the few trans-diagnostic, treatment-agnostic predictors of poor outcome following a full treatment course. We sought to improve the outcome of clients with weak initial response to guided self-help cognitive behavior therapy (GSH).

Method

One hundred and nine women with binge-eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN) (DSM-IV-TR) received 4 weeks of GSH. Based on their response, they were grouped into: (1) early strong responders who continued GSH (cGSH), and early weak responders randomized to (2) dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or (3) individual and additional group cognitive behavior therapy (CBT+).

Results

Baseline objective binge-eating-day (OBD) frequency was similar between DBT, CBT+ and cGSH. During treatment, OBD frequency reduction was significantly slower in DBT and CBT+ relative to cGSH. Relative to cGSH, OBD frequency was significantly greater at the end of DBT (d = 0.27) and CBT+ (d = 0.31) although these effects were small and within-treatment effects from baseline were large (d = 1.41, 0.95, 1.11, respectively). OBD improvements significantly diminished in all groups during 12 months follow-up but were significantly better sustained in DBT relative to cGSH (d = −0.43). At 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments, DBT, CBT and cGSH did not differ in OBD.

Conclusions

Early weak response to GSH may be overcome by additional intensive treatment. Evidence was insufficient to support superiority of either DBT or CBT+ for early weak responders relative to early strong responders in cGSH; both were helpful. Future studies using adaptive designs are needed to assess the use of early response to efficiently deliver care to large heterogeneous client groups.
Pension Insecurity and Wellbeing in Europe
Authors: OLIVERA JAVIER , PONOMARENKO VALENTINA
Published: November 2016

This paper studies pension insecurity in a sample of non-retired individuals aged 50 years or older from 18 European countries. We capture pension insecurity with the subjective expectations on the probability that the government will reduce the pensions of the individual before retirement or will increase the statutory retirement age. We argue that changes in economic conditions and policy affect the formation of such probabilities, and through this, subjective wellbeing. In particular, we study the effects of pension insecurity on subjective wellbeing with pooled linear models, regressions per quintiles and instrumental variables. We find a statistically significant, stable and negative association between pension insecurity and subjective wellbeing. Our findings reveal that the individuals who are more affected by pension insecurity are those who are further away from their retirement, have lower income, assess their life survival as low, have higher cognitive abilities and do not expect private pension payments.
The impact of measures taken in the outdoor environment on an ageing population: a panel study over a ten-year period
Authors: HALLGRIMSDOTTIR BERGLIND , STÅHL AGNETA
Published: November 2016

For older people mobility and participation in activities can be restricted both by individual factors and by the environment. The aim of this paper was to examine the longitudinal impact of measures taken in the outdoor environment on an ageing population. The following factors were examined on three occasions over a nine-year period: frequency of walking; differences in report on environmental barriers; and reported valuation of the outdoor environment; and how these relate to different characteristics. At the second follow-up, the respondents experienced more functional limitations and more were using mobility devices than at baseline. At the first and second follow-up, the respondents did not experience as many environmental barriers in their outdoor environment compared to baseline. However, frequency of walking and evaluation of the outdoor environment decreased in general between baseline and first- and second follow-up. A quite promising result from the study is that compared to people not using mobility devices, mobility device users were more likely to be frequent walkers at first- and second follow-up than at baseline. Likewise, at second follow-up respondents having functional limitations were less likely to experience traffic barriers than at baseline. In terms of accessibility, usability and mobility for an ageing population, the results are promising, showing that measures in the outdoor environment can possibly facilitate walking for those who are more fragile, even in a longitudinal perspective.
Hebrew verbal passives in Later Language Development: the interface of register and verb morphology
Authors: RAVID DORIT , VERED LIZZY
Published: November 2016

The current study examined the production of Hebrew verbal passives across adolescence as mediated by linguistic register and verb morphology. Participants aged eight to sixteen years and a group of adults were asked to change written active-voice sentences into corresponding passive-voice forms, divided by verb register (neutral and high),binyanpattern (Qal / Nif'al, Hif'il / Huf'al, andPi'el / Pu'al), and verb tense (past and future tense). Results showed that Hebrew passive morphology is a very late acquisition, almost a decade later than in other languages, that passivizing neutral-register verbs was less challenging than high-register verbs, and that past tense verbs were easier to passivize than future tense verbs. An order of acquisition was determined among the threebinyanpairs. The paper provides an account of these findings grounded in the event-telling role of Hebrew passives in discourse and the spurt of abstract, lexically specific vocabulary in Later Language Development.
The Relationship Between Worry and Dimensions of Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Rabner Jonathan , Mian Nicholas D. , Langer David A. , Comer Jonathan S. , Pincus Donna
Published: November 2016

Background: Worry is a common feature across many anxiety disorders. It is important to understand how and when worry presents from childhood to adolescence to prevent long-term negative outcomes. However, most of the existing studies that examine the relationship between worry and anxiety disorders utilize adult samples. Aims: The present study aimed to assess the level of worry in children and adolescents and how relationships between worry and symptoms of separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and social anxiety disorder (Soc) may present differently at different ages. Method: 127 children (age 8–12 years) and adolescents (age 13–18 years), diagnosed with any anxiety disorder, presenting at a child anxiety out-patient clinic, completed measures of worry, anxiety and depression. Results: Worry scores did not differ by age group. Soc symptoms were significantly correlated with worry in both age groups; however, SAD symptoms were only significantly correlated with worry in younger participants. After the inclusion of covariates, SAD symptoms but not Soc symptoms remained significant in the regression model with younger children, and Soc symptoms remained significant in the regression model with older children. Conclusions: The finding that worry was comparable in both groups lends support for worry as a stable construct associated with anxiety disorders throughout late childhood and early adolescence.
Gendering Guilt among Dependent Family Members’ Caregivers
Authors: Brea Maria-Teresa , Albar María-Jesús , Casado-Mejia Rosa
Published: November 2016

This study analyzes guilt among family caregivers of dependent patients, from a gender perspective. A qualitative design was used, conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups. Using purposive sampling, we selected 73 family caregivers and 23 health professionals (family medicine, community nursing, and social work) from the Primary Care District of Seville. The content of the information collected was analyzed in terms of the following categories: a) guilt for abandoning family and friends; b) guilt for the relationship with the dependent person; and c) guilt for placing the relative in a nursing home. To validate the findings, data sources, methodological techniques, and researchers’ disciplines were all triangulated. Results indicated that women report more guilt than men for abandoning family and friends, and because of their relationship with the dependent person. However, with respect to nursing home placement, no difference was observed as a function of gender. The high incidence of caregiver guilt needs to be addressed by health professionals to avoid the emergence of other mental health issues.
Abgrenzung Gesichts- und Kopfschmerzen aus zahnmedizinischer Sicht
Authors: Ettlin Dominik A.
Published: November 2016

Zusammenfassung. Entzündungen und Traumata sind häufige Ursachen von akuten Schmerzen im Mund- und Gesichtsbereich. Demgegenüber stehen diagnostisch unklare und/oder therapieresistente Beschwerden, die gegebenenfalls durch psychosoziale Belastungen kompliziert werden. Das zeitliche Schmerzmuster gibt differenzialdiagnostische Hinweise. Bei kurzdauernden Schmerzattacken ist die Trigeminusneuralgie die wichtigste neurologische Differenzialdiagnose. Bei anhaltenden Mund- und Gesichtsschmerzen ist an eine Trigeminusneuropathie und an eine Myoarthropathie des Kausystems zu denken. Letztere basiert auf der Erfassung definierter Leit- und Begleitsymptome inkl. Kopfschmerzen. Die stressbedingte Kaumuskel-Anspannung (z.B. Zähnepressen und -knirschen) spielt bei der Pathogenese eine bedeutende Rolle. Diese Parafunktionen sind zentralnervös reguliert und stehen häufig in direktem Zusammenhang mit psychosozialen Belastungen. Deshalb bilden Kenntnisse des biopsychosozialen Krankheitsmodells und die Verfügbarkeit eines interdisziplinären Expertenteams die Grundlage zur adäquaten Diagnostik und Behandlung.
A hyperaccumulation pathway to three-dimensional hierarchical porous nanocomposites for highly robust high-power electrodes
Authors: Zhu Jian , Shan Yu , Wang Tao , Sun Hongtao , Zhao Zipeng , Mei Lin , Fan Zheng , Xu Zhi , Shakir Imran , Huang Yu , Lu Bingan , Duan Xiangfeng
Published: November 2016

Natural plants consist of a hierarchical architecture featuring an intricate network of highly interconnected struts and channels that not only ensure extraordinary structural stability, but also allow efficient transport of nutrients and electrolytes throughout the entire plants. Here we show that a hyperaccumulation effect can allow efficient enrichment of selected metal ions (for example, Sn2+, Mn2+) in the halophytic plants, which can then be converted into three-dimensional carbon/metal oxide (3DC/MOx) nanocomposites with both the composition and structure hierarchy. The nanocomposites retain the 3D hierarchical porous network structure, with ultrafine MOx nanoparticles uniformly distributed in multi-layers of carbon derived from the cell wall, cytomembrane and tonoplast. It can simultaneously ensure efficient electron and ion transport and help withstand the mechanical stress during the repeated electrochemical cycles, enabling the active material to combine high specific capacities typical of batteries and the cycling stability of supercapacitors.
‘To use or not to use’: a qualitative study to evaluate experiences of healthcare providers and patients with the assessment of burden of COPD (ABC) tool
Authors: Slok Annerika H M , Twellaar Mascha , Jutbo Leslie , Kotz Daniel , Chavannes Niels H , Holverda Sebastiaan , Salomé Philippe L , Dekhuijzen P N Richard , Rutten-van Mölken Maureen P M H , Schuiten Denise , in ’t Veen Johannes C C M , van Schayck Onno C P
Published: November 2016

In the management of chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a shift from doctor-driven care to patient-centred integrated care with active involvement of and self-management by the patient. A recently developed tool, the assessment of burden of COPD (ABC) tool, can be used in this transition to facilitate self-management support and shared decision-making. We performed a qualitative study, in which we collected and analysed the data using the methods of conventional content analyses. We performed in-depth interviews consisting of mainly open questions. Fifteen healthcare providers and 21 patients were interviewed who had worked with the ABC tool in daily care. In general, participants responded positively to the tool. Healthcare providers felt the visual representation provided was effective and comprehensible for patients and provided them with insight into their disease, a finding that patients confirmed. If patients were allowed to choose between a consultation with or without the ABC tool, the majority would prefer using the tool: it provides them with an overview and insight, which makes it easier to discuss all relevant topics related to COPD. The tool can provide structure in consultations, and is compatible with the concepts of ‘motivational interviewing’ and ‘individualised care-planning’. Suggestions for improvement related to content and layout. So far, the tool has only been available as a stand-alone online program, that is not connected to the electronic medical record systems. It was therefore suggested that the tool be integrated into the systems to enhance its usability and its uptake by healthcare providers.
Thermal gradient induced tweezers for the manipulation of particles and cells
Authors: Chen Jiajie , Cong Hengji , Loo Jacky , Kang Zhiwen , Tang Minghui , Zhang Haixi , Wu Shu-Yuen , Kong Siu-Kai , Ho Ho-Pui
Published: November 2016

Optical tweezers are a well-established tool for manipulating small objects. However, their integration with microfluidic devices often requires an objective lens. More importantly, trapping of non-transparent or optically sensitive targets is particularly challenging for optical tweezers. Here, for the first time, we present a photon-free trapping technique based on electro-thermally induced forces. We demonstrate that thermal-gradient-induced thermophoresis and thermal convection can lead to trapping of polystyrene spheres and live cells. While the subject of thermophoresis, particularly in the micro- and nano-scale, still remains to be fully explored, our experimental results have provided a reasonable explanation for the trapping effect. The so-called thermal tweezers, which can be readily fabricated by femtosecond laser writing, operate with low input power density and are highly versatile in terms of device configuration, thus rendering high potential for integration with microfluidic devices as well as lab-on-a-chip systems.
Antagonizing STAT5B dimerization with an osmium complex
Authors: Liu Li-Juan , Wang Wanhe , Kang Tian-Shu , Liang Jia-Xin , Liu Chenfu , Kwong Daniel W. J. , Wong Vincent Kam Wai , Ma Dik-Lung , Leung Chung-Hang
Published: November 2016

Targeting STAT5 is an appealing therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and inflammation. Here, we present the novel osmium(II) complex 1 as the first metal-based inhibitor of STAT5B dimerization. Complex 1 exhibited superior inhibitory activity against STAT5B DNA binding compared to STAT5A DNA binding. Moreover, 1 repressed STAT5B transcription and blocked STAT5B dimerization via binding to the STAT5B protein, thereby inhibiting STAT5B translocation to the nucleus. Furthermore, 1 was able to selectively inhibit STAT5B phosphorylation without affecting the expression level of STAT5B.
Temporal dynamics, population characterization and mycotoxins accumulation of Fusarium graminearum in Eastern China
Authors: Qiu Jian-bo , Sun Jing-Tao , Yu Ming-Zheng , Xu Jian-Hong , Shi Jian-Rong
Published: November 2016

Trichothecene genotype composition, mycotoxin production, genetic diversity, and population structure were analyzed, using 185 Fusarium strains collected from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) throughout the Jiangsu province during 1976, 1983, 1998, 2006, and 2014. The results showed that 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3ADON) was consistently the predominant type in this region over 40 years, and the nivalenol (NIV) type has emerged since 1998. Long-term rotation of wheat and rice (Oryza sativa L.), rather than fungicide application, crop fitness, or weather conditions, might be the main cause of this phenomenon. The genetic diversity results from two toxin synthetic genes, Pks4 and Tri10, and variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) markers revealed the largest variance within the population in 1998, which was also the year with the highest production of mycotoxins. Population differentiation analysis indicated that major temporal population comparisons from the same area were not significantly differentiated. Our results showed that dominant species could maintain genetic stability for a long time, and Pks4 would be of utility in genetic and population studies.