bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribución online de películas en España: ¿una oportunidad para la diversidad cultural?
Authors: Aranzubia Cob Asier , Ferreras Rodríguez José Gabriel
Published: February 2016

En este artículo se presta atención a las oportunidades (y a algunas de las amenazas) que la distribución de películas por Internet ha abierto para la diversidad cultural en España. Entre las oportunidades destaca la ampliación de los cauces tradicionales de distribución que necesariamente se traduce en un incremento de las posibilidades que las películas minoritarias encuentran para llegar a su público. Desde el punto de vista de los consumidores, estas nuevas plataformas suponen también una considerable ampliación de la oferta disponible, aunque todo parece indicar que, hasta ahora, dicha multiplicación de la oferta no está dando como resultado una dieta audiovisual más diversa. En este artículo se reflexiona también sobre la amenaza más acuciante que se cierne sobre las nuevas ventanas de distribución de películas por internet en España: las enormes dificultades que estas plataformas están encontrando para ser rentables dentro de un ecosistema digital en el que, por desgracia, se están repitiendo (y en ocasiones acentuando) las mismas dinámicas de  concentración que arrastra, desde hace décadas, el sector de la distribución/exhibición en España.
El color en las publicaciones periódicas. Funcionalidades en las revistas femeninas de alta gama
Authors: Montes Vozmediano Manuel , García Jiménez Antonio
Published: February 2016

El análisis de las funcionalidades comunicativas del color se hace más necesario en la medida en que su presencia se ha generalizado en todos los medios de comunicación. En este trabajo se toman como referencia unas publicaciones a la vanguardia del diseño y con una periodicidad que permite desarrollar todo el potencial comunicativo de este elemento plástico: las revistas femeninas de alta gama. La metodología empleada, el análisis de contenido, ha permitido mediante el registro de variables manifiestas (propias de la representación gráfica) realizar un análisis exhaustivo del color en el ámbito de estudio elegido. Se han registrado 35 subvariables específicas del elemento cromático, dentro de más de 1.200 páginas, en un periodo de cinco años. De igual modo, se han registrado también variables latentes (como la temática de los artículos o su género periodístico) lo que ha permitido testar su relación con el color. Cabe mencionar que se han extraído resultados globales referidos al sector, así como otros particulares de cada una de las publicaciones. Dado el periodo investigado, se ha podido realizar un análisis diacrónico, con el fin de determinar si existen características que presentan una tendencia estable o que muestren una aplicación, o uso, en progresión o en regresión. En este estudio se constata la relevancia y versatilidad del aporte comunicativo del color en el plano compositivo; computando algunas de sus variantes connotativas, se confirma su potencial informativo y se propone una categorización de las funciones compositivas.
La ley y la trampa
Authors: Llorente Fran
Published: February 2016

Artículo para la sección Tribuna del número 11 de adComunica.
Sin comunicación no hay Comunidad
Authors: De Dios Carlota
Published: February 2016

Artículo para la sección Tribuna del número 11 de adComunica.
Los nuevos escenarios y desafíos de la regulación en comunicación audiovisual
Authors: Izquierdo Castillo Jéssica
Published: February 2016

Reseña para la sección Tribuna.Boix Palop, Andrés y Vidal Beltrán, José María (2014) (coord.). La nueva regulación del audiovisual: medios, derechos y libertades. Navarra: Thomson Reuters Aranzadi.
La convergencia multimedia y su impacto en las redacciones de las radiotelevisiones públicas de proximidad. Un análisis de caso
Authors: Larrondo Ureta Ainara
Published: February 2016

Los nuevos condicionantes económicos, tecnológicos y de consumo han animado a las compañías de medios a iniciar procesos de conversión empresarial y profesional que buscan optimizar al máximo la producción. Las redacciones de estos medios han comenzado así a poner en práctica maneras de planificar, elaborar y distribuir el contenido que buscan la confluencia de distintos soportes (prensa/radio-televisión y web). Ello está dando lugar a una estrategia de contenidos convergente, multiplataforma y multimedia. Aunque inicialmente la investigación en torno a esta convergencia mediática se centró mayoritariamente en las empresas de prensa, en los últimos años se percibe un creciente interés por analizar su desarrollo también en los medios audiovisuales. En Europa, el contexto de inquietud por el devenir de los servicios públicos de radiotelevisión y las implicaciones concretas de la convergencia para este tipo de corporaciones particulares (Ferrell y Hujanen, 2003; Ferrell y Bardoel, 2007; Bardoel y D’Haenens, 2008) han animado a explorar su experiencia convergente a nivel de redacciones (NRK, BBC Scotland, VRT, CCMA). En vista de ello y de la necesidad de acometer más estudios sobre grupos de todos los tamaños, independientemente de su ámbito (Erdal, 2009; Saltzis y Dickinson, 2008; García y Carvajal, 2008), este artículo aborda la experiencia de una radiotelevisión pública de proximidad, la vasca Euskal Irrati Telebista (EITB). Se trata de un caso representativo cuyo análisis arroja resultados que pueden ser de utilidad para otros grupos de similares características y alcance.
Televisión de proximidad en naciones sin Estado. Comparación del caso catalán y escocés
Authors: Martori Muntsant Aida
Published: February 2016

La televisión de proximidad es uno de los pilares fundamentales en la configuración identitaria de las naciones sin Estado. Los prestadores que ofrecen contenido local son una pieza clave de los espacios comunicativos, para vincular los medios de comunicación con el territorio. Cataluña y Escocia comparten dos características que sirven de premisa para la investigación: son naciones sin Estado y cuentan con un espacio comunicativo propio. A partir de enfoques teóricos basados en las teorías de servicio público (PSB) y de proximidad cultural, exponemos la situación de los prestadores audiovisuales locales en cada uno de estos casos. La metodología cualitativa basa en la consulta de documentación oficial e inédita; las entrevistas a prestadores, reguladores y expertos de las dos regiones; y la observación no participante en las emisoras de ambos territorios. Cataluña cuenta con una amplia tradición de televisión local. Actualmente existen once canales de televisión pública de proximidad, operados por Consorcios constituidos directamente por agrupaciones de gobiernos municipales, que comparten contenido de forma regular a través de la red Xarxa Audiovisual Local. En Escocia ha habido una falta histórica de televisión local, y recientemente se han adjudicado dos canales (Edimburgo y Glasgow) al mismo prestador comercial que ya operaba un canal generalista en la región. La comparación de dos panoramas nacionales distintos con puntos de partida en común, permite evidenciar la multiplicidad de posibilidades existentes a la hora de configurar la oferta audiovisual de proximidad, vinculada a las capas de identidad más próximas a la ciudadanía.
La televisión de proximidad como eje de la oferta audiovisual cercana. El papel de TVG en Galicia
Authors: López García Xosé , Soengas Pérez Xosé , Rodríguez Vázquez Ana Isabel
Published: February 2016

La televisión ha demostrado sus fortalezas en la conformación del actual ecosistema mediático construido alrededor del nuevo paradigma de la comunicación global, Internet. La mejor prueba de su solidez son los índices de audiencia que mantienen las diferentes ofertas televisivas. Todo ha sido posible gracias a su capacidad de adaptación para la oferta multidispositivos, todavía en fase de desarrollo, y el aprovechamiento de sus fortalezas para la comunicación mediante imágenes. El escenario de proximidad ha sido el mejor laboratorio para experimentar el potencial de la televisión como eje de la información visual cercana. El trabajo presenta el análisis de caso de Televisión de Galicia, el canal autonómico público, a través de una metodología exploratorio-descriptiva que permite concluir la importancia que sigue teniendo la proximidad como valor estratégico de la conexión social de este canal que sigue jugando un papel clave en la oferta audiovisual cercana de Galicia.
Microcelebridades y comunicación encubierta online en España. El caso de #Pentatrillones
Authors: Caro Castaño Lucía
Published: February 2016

La consolidación de las plataformas de redes sociales ha permitido la emergencia de nuevos prescriptores de consumo como las microcelebridades, figuras cada vez más apreciadas por las marcas comerciales para conectar con el consumidor de un modo cercano y aparentemente espontáneo. Asimismo, el carácter mediado de esta comunicación ha demostrado ser una fuente de oportunidades para el florecimiento del astroturfing, una forma ilegítima de relaciones públicas que busca distorsionar la percepción de la opinión pública o de un grupo de consumidores/votantes/ciudadanos acerca cuáles son los temas de interés. En este trabajo se utiliza el análisis de caso y la observación etnográfica para estudiar cómo la marca Amstel incorporó a su campaña de lanzamiento de la cerveza Amstel Radler en España en agosto de 2014 la práctica del astroturfing en Twitter. La estrategia en redes incorporó así el trabajo remunerado de microcelebridades que dieron visibilidad a la etiqueta #Pentatrillones sin especificar su carácter promocional, animando a que otros usuarios generaran también contenidos. No obstante, cuando un usuario desveló que se trataba de una campaña encubierta, se abrió un debate acerca de la legitimidad y límites de estas prácticas, demostrando el carácter distribuido de la comunicación en estos espacios, pero también la frágil posición de estos prescriptores, pues el grueso de las críticas se fijó en ellos y no en sus promotores (marca y agencia).
Report of the workshop on age estimation in beluga: Beaufort, North Carolina, US 5-9 December 2011
Authors: Lockyer Christina , Hohn Aleta A. , Hobbs Roderick , Stewart Robert EA
Published: February 2016

A workshop convened by C. Lockyer and A. A. Hohn to examine variation among readers in estimating beluga ages was held in Beaufort, North Carolina, US. Terms of Reference for the workshop included the following:1.  Provide a guide as to acceptable levels of accuracy and precision for age reading that will enable ages to be used in population models.2.  Conduct an inter-reader/laboratory comparison for calibration and standardization of age readings from GLG counts among all readers/laboratories.3.  Provide information on validation that will enable GLG counts to be translated to real age.4.  Produce a manual of guidelines for the preparation and reading of GLGs in beluga teeth.Presentations by participants are abstracted here. Then we report on the processes used to compare sections, images, and interpretation, and generate guidelines for best practices in beluga age estimation. A comparative study quantified differences among readers and found that precision of experienced readers was good, higher than reported for other odontocetes. Participants agreed that counting GLGs using well prepared thin sections was preferred because they are simpler to prepare than stained sections and there was more agreement among readers compared to using half sections. Examination of teeth from captive beluga as both untreated sections and stained sections and did not clarify the reading of wild beluga teeth. This Workshop concurred with Workshop 1 (Tampa 26-27 November 2011) that interpreting one GLG as an annual record is irrefutable. Guidelines for best practices were developed.
Temperature-depended mechanical properties of microfabricated vanadium oxide mechanical resonators for thermal sensing
Authors: Inomata Naoki , Pan Libao , Toda Masaya , Ono Takahito
Published: February 2016

This study describes our newly fabricated resonant thermal sensors based on vanadium oxide and investigates the temperature dependences of their resonant frequencies and Q factor. The suspended vanadium oxide resonators are microfabricated using Au or SiO2 as the sacrificial layer. The resonant frequency of the fabricated vanadium oxide resonators linearly varies with temperature, and the value of temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency is −1308 ppm/K in the range of 20–100 °C. The averaged Q factor in this range was 540. The temperature and thermal resolution of the vanadium oxide resonator are estimated as 1.7 mK/

and 4.3 nW/

, respectively, which are higher than those of a Si resonator having similar dimensions and under similar conditions. Therefore, the feasibility that vanadium oxide is a promising material for resonant thermal sensors is indicated.
Deformation of the Nankai Trough inner accretionary prism: The role of inherited structures
Authors: Boston Brian , Moore Gregory F. , Jurado María José , Sone Hiroki
Published: February 2016

Accretionary prisms commonly grow seaward, with the strata of the inner prism consisting of older, previously accreted outer prism rocks overlain by thick fore‐arc basin strata. We focus on the Nankai Trough inner accretionary prism using three‐dimensional (3‐D) seismic data and logging data from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). We update the 3‐D seismic volume using well velocity data to better constrain deeper horizons. Interpretation of these horizons reveals multiple folds with axial surfaces that strike near parallel to modern outer prism thrust faults, and we interpret that these folds formed as a result of thrust faulting. Reactivation of one inner prism thrust fault continued until at least ∼0.44 Ma, after the modern fore‐arc basin formed, indicating that the inner prism had continued deformation until that time. Structural restorations of these folded seismic horizons demonstrate that ∼580 m of slip occurred on this steeply dipping reactivated thrust after fore‐arc basin formation. Structural interpretation and analysis of logging‐while‐drilling data, including borehole images, in the deep inner prism revealed intense deformation of a generally homogenous lithology characterized by bedding that dips steeply (60°–90°), intersected by faults and fractures that have a range of dips and densities. Our study of the deep Kumano Basin provides new insights into the structure of the inner prism and reveals that although the inner prism has partially preserved inherited outer prism structures, these older folds and faults are steeply rotated and cut by multiple fracture populations during subsequent deformation.
Predictability of the Arctic sea ice edge
Authors: Goessling H. F. , Tietsche S. , Day J. J. , Hawkins E. , Jung T.
Published: February 2016

Skillful sea ice forecasts from days to years ahead are becoming increasingly important for the operation and planning of human activities in the Arctic. Here we analyze the potential predictability of the Arctic sea ice edge in six climate models. We introduce the integrated ice‐edge error (IIEE), a user‐relevant verification metric defined as the area where the forecast and the “truth” disagree on the ice concentration being above or below 15%. The IIEE lends itself to decomposition into an absolute extent error, corresponding to the common sea ice extent error, and a misplacement error. We find that the often‐neglected misplacement error makes up more than half of the climatological IIEE. In idealized forecast ensembles initialized on 1 July, the IIEE grows faster than the absolute extent error. This means that the Arctic sea ice edge is less predictable than sea ice extent, particularly in September, with implications for the potential skill of end‐user relevant forecasts.
Jupiter's X‐ray and EUV auroras monitored by Chandra, XMM‐Newton, and Hisaki satellite
Authors: Kimura T. , Kraft R. P. , Elsner R. F. , Branduardi‐Raymont G. , Gladstone G. R. , Tao C. , Yoshioka K. , Murakami G. , Yamazaki A. , Tsuchiya F. , Vogt M. F. , Masters A. , Hasegawa H. , Badman S. V. , Roediger E. , Ezoe Y. , Dunn W. R. , Yoshikawa I. , Fujimoto M. , Murray S. S.
Published: February 2016

Jupiter's X‐ray auroral emission in the polar cap region results from particles which have undergone strong field‐aligned acceleration into the ionosphere. The origin of precipitating ions and electrons and the time variability in the X‐ray emission are essential to uncover the driving mechanism for the high‐energy acceleration. The magnetospheric location of the source field line where the X‐ray is generated is likely affected by the solar wind variability. However, these essential characteristics are still unknown because the long‐term monitoring of the X‐rays and contemporaneous solar wind variability has not been carried out. In April 2014, the first long‐term multiwavelength monitoring of Jupiter's X‐ray and EUV auroral emissions was made by the Chandra X‐ray Observatory, XMM‐Newton, and Hisaki satellite. We find that the X‐ray count rates are positively correlated with the solar wind velocity and insignificantly with the dynamic pressure. Based on the magnetic field mapping model, a half of the X‐ray auroral region was found to be open to the interplanetary space. The other half of the X‐ray auroral source region is magnetically connected with the prenoon to postdusk sector in the outermost region of the magnetosphere, where the Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability, magnetopause reconnection, and quasiperiodic particle injection potentially take place. We speculate that the high‐energy auroral acceleration is associated with the KH instability and/or magnetopause reconnection. This association is expected to also occur in many other space plasma environments such as Saturn and other magnetized rotators.
Spring plankton dynamics in the Eastern Bering Sea, 1971–2050: Mechanisms of interannual variability diagnosed with a numerical model
Authors: Banas Neil S. , Zhang Jinlun , Campbell Robert G. , Sambrotto Raymond N. , Lomas Michael W. , Sherr Evelyn , Sherr Barry , Ashjian Carin , Stoecker Diane , Lessard Evelyn J.
Published: February 2016

A new planktonic ecosystem model was constructed for the Eastern Bering Sea based on observations from the 2007–2010 BEST/BSIERP (Bering Ecosystem Study/Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program) field program. When run with forcing from a data‐assimilative ice‐ocean hindcast of 1971–2012, the model performs well against observations of spring bloom time evolution (phytoplankton and microzooplankton biomass, growth and grazing rates, and ratios among new, regenerated, and export production). On the southern middle shelf (57°N, station M2), the model replicates the generally inverse relationship between ice‐retreat timing and spring bloom timing known from observations, and the simpler direct relationship between the two that has been observed on the northern middle shelf (62°N, station M8). The relationship between simulated mean primary production and mean temperature in spring (15 February to 15 July) is generally positive, although this was found to be an indirect relationship which does not continue to apply across a future projection of temperature and ice cover in the 2040s. At M2, the leading direct controls on total spring primary production are found to be advective and turbulent nutrient supply, suggesting that mesoscale, wind‐driven processes—advective transport and storminess—may be crucial to long‐term trends in spring primary production in the southeastern Bering Sea, with temperature and ice cover playing only indirect roles. Sensitivity experiments suggest that direct dependence of planktonic growth and metabolic rates on temperature is less significant overall than the other drivers correlated with temperature described above.
The role of the tropical West Pacific in the extreme Northern Hemisphere winter of 2013/2014
Authors: Watson Peter A. G. , Weisheimer Antje , Knight Jeff R. , Palmer T. N.
Published: February 2016

In the 2013/2014 winter, the eastern U.S. was exceptionally cold, the Bering Strait region was exceptionally warm, California was in the midst of drought, and the UK suffered severe flooding. It has been suggested that elevated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical West Pacific (TWPAC) were partly to blame due to them producing a Rossby wave train that propagated into the extratropics. We find that seasonal forecasts with the tropical atmosphere relaxed toward a reanalysis give 2013/2014 winter mean anomalies with strong similarities to those observed in the Northern Hemisphere, indicating that low‐latitude anomalies had a role in the development of the extremes. Relaxing just the TWPAC produces a strong wave train over the North Pacific and North America in January, but not in the winter mean. This suggests that anomalies in this region alone had a large influence but cannot explain the extremes through the whole winter. We also examine the response to applying the observed TWPAC SST anomalies in two atmospheric general circulation models. We find that this does produce winter mean anomalies in the North Pacific and North America resembling those observed and that the tropical forcing of Rossby waves due to the applied SST anomalies appears stronger than that in reanalysis, except in January. Therefore, both experiments indicate that the TWPAC influence was important, but the true strength of the TWPAC influence is uncertain. None of the experiments indicate a strong systematic impact of the TWPAC anomalies on Europe.
Simulating California reservoir operation using the classification and regression‐tree algorithm combined with a shuffled cross‐validation scheme
Authors: Yang Tiantian , Gao Xiaogang , Sorooshian Soroosh , Li Xin
Published: February 2016

The controlled outflows from a reservoir or dam are highly dependent on the decisions made by the reservoir operators, instead of a natural hydrological process. Difference exists between the natural upstream inflows to reservoirs and the controlled outflows from reservoirs that supply the downstream users. With the decision maker's awareness of changing climate, reservoir management requires adaptable means to incorporate more information into decision making, such as water delivery requirement, environmental constraints, dry/wet conditions, etc. In this paper, a robust reservoir outflow simulation model is presented, which incorporates one of the well‐developed data‐mining models (Classification and Regression Tree) to predict the complicated human‐controlled reservoir outflows and extract the reservoir operation patterns. A shuffled cross‐validation approach is further implemented to improve CART's predictive performance. An application study of nine major reservoirs in California is carried out. Results produced by the enhanced CART, original CART, and random forest are compared with observation. The statistical measurements show that the enhanced CART and random forest overperform the CART control run in general, and the enhanced CART algorithm gives a better predictive performance over random forest in simulating the peak flows. The results also show that the proposed model is able to consistently and reasonably predict the expert release decisions. Experiments indicate that the release operation in the Oroville Lake is significantly dominated by SWP allocation amount and reservoirs with low elevation are more sensitive to inflow amount than others.
A Moisture‐ and Oxygen‐Impermeable Separator for Aprotic Li‐O2 Batteries
Authors: Kim Byung Gon , Kim Joo‐Seong , Min Jaeyun , Lee Yong‐Hee , Choi Jeong Hoon , Jang Min Chul , Freunberger Stefan A. , Choi Jang Wook
Published: February 2016

Despite the unparalleled theoretical gravimetric energy, Li‐O2 batteries are still under a research stage because of their insufficient cycle lives. While the reversibility in air‐cathodes has been lately improved significantly by the deepened understanding on the electrode–electrolyte reaction and the integration of diverse catalysts, the stability of the Li metal interface has received relatively much less attention. The destabilization of the Li metal interface by crossover of water and oxygen from the air‐cathode side can indeed cause as fatal degradation for the cycle life as the irreversibility of the air‐cathodes. Here, it is reported that cheap poreless polyurethane separator can effectively suppress this crossover while allowing Li ions to diffuse through selectively. The polyurethane separator also protects Li metal anodes from redox mediators used for enhancing the reversibility of the air‐cathode reaction. Based on the Li metal protection, a persistent capacity of 600 mAh g−1 is preserved for more than 200 cycles. The current approach can be readily applicable to many other rechargeable batteries that suffer from similar interfacial degradation by side products from the other electrode.
Enzyme‐Catalyzed Formation of Supramolecular Hydrogels as Promising Vaccine Adjuvants
Authors: Wang Huaimin , Luo Zichao , Wang Youzhi , He Tao , Yang Chengbiao , Ren Chunhua , Ma Linsha , Gong Changyang , Li Xingyi , Yang Zhimou
Published: February 2016

Promising vaccine adjuvants of self‐assembling peptide hydrogels for protein ovalbumin (OVA) are introduced in this study. The hydrogels are formed by the enzyme of phosphatase, and the vaccine adjuvant potency of both l‐ and d‐peptide hydrogels is evaluated. The results indicate that, compared with the clinically used alum adjuvant, both l‐ and d‐peptide hydrogels can increase the IgG production of OVA for about 1.3 and 3.8 times, respectively. Both gels can enhance antigen uptake and induce dendritic cell maturation, and promote and prolong accumulation of antigen in lymph node, as well as evoke germinal center formation. However, the d‐peptide hydrogel with OVA exhibits a slightly more efficient accumulation of OVA in the lymph nodes and seems preventing tumor growth more significantly than its l‐counterpart. With the good biocompatibility and degradability of peptide hydrogels, the hydrogels described in this study have big potential for the production of protein vaccines for immunotherapy against different diseases.
Delivering Nucleic‐Acid Based Nanomedicines on Biomaterial Scaffolds for Orthopedic Tissue Repair: Challenges, Progress and Future Perspectives
Authors: Raftery Rosanne M. , Walsh David P. , Castaño Irene Mencía , Heise Andreas , Duffy Garry P. , Cryan Sally‐Ann , O'Brien Fergal J.
Published: February 2016

As well as acting to fill defects and allow for cell infiltration and proliferation in regenerative medicine, biomaterial scaffolds can also act as carriers for therapeutics, further enhancing their efficacy. Drug and protein delivery on scaffolds have shown potential, however, supraphysiological quantities of therapeutic are often released at the defect site, causing off‐target side effects and cytotoxicity. Gene therapy involves the introduction of foreign genes into a cell in order to exert an effect; either replacing a missing gene or modulating expression of a protein. State of the art gene therapy also encompasses manipulation of the transcriptome by harnessing RNA interference (RNAi) therapy. The delivery of nucleic acid nanomedicines on biomaterial scaffolds — gene‐activated scaffolds —has shown potential for use in a variety of tissue engineering applications, but as of yet, have not reached clinical use. The current state of the art in terms of biomaterial scaffolds and delivery vector materials for gene therapy is reviewed, and the limitations of current procedures discussed. Future directions in the clinical translation of gene‐activated scaffolds are also considered, with a particular focus on bone and cartilage tissue regeneration.
Biomaterial‐Enhanced Cell and Drug Delivery: Lessons Learned in the Cardiac Field and Future Perspectives
Authors: O'Neill Hugh S. , Gallagher Laura B. , O'Sullivan Janice , Whyte William , Curley Clive , Dolan Eimear , Hameed Aamir , O'Dwyer Joanne , Payne Christina , O'Reilly Daniel , Ruiz‐Hernandez Eduardo , Roche Ellen T. , O'Brien Fergal J , Cryan Sally Ann , Kelly Helena , Murphy Bruce , Duffy Garry P.
Published: February 2016

Heart failure is a significant clinical issue. It is the cause of enormous healthcare costs worldwide and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac regenerative therapy has progressed considerably from clinical and preclinical studies delivering simple suspensions of cells, macromolecule, and small molecules to more advanced delivery methods utilizing biomaterial scaffolds as depots for localized targeted delivery to the damaged and ischemic myocardium. Here, regenerative strategies for cardiac tissue engineering with a focus on advanced delivery strategies and the use of multimodal therapeutic strategies are reviewed.
Preparation and Evaluation of Novel pH‐Sensitive Poly(butyl acrylate‐co‐itaconic acid) Hydrogel Microspheres for Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Razzaq Rabia , Ranjha Nazar Mohammad , Rashid Zermina , Nasir Bushra
Published: February 2016

In this study, a series of novel pH‐sensitive copolymeric butyl acrylate‐co‐itaconic acid (p(BA‐co‐IA)) hydrogel microspheres were prepared by modified suspension polymerization of butyl acrylate and itaconic acid with the addition of 5% ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross‐linker and 1% benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Nifedipine, an antihypertensive drug, was successfully encapsulated into these hydrogel microspheres by the equilibrium swelling method. Prepared hydrogel micropsheres were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The chemical stability of the nifedipine after being encapsulated into prepared hydrogel microspheres was confirmed by FTIR, DSC, and XRD analysis. TGA indicates that prepared samples showed much better thermal stability than pure drug nifedipine. SEM images showed that prepared p(BA‐co‐IA) hydrogel microspheres are spherical in shape. The size distribution of prepared samples was found between 4.145 to 10 μm using a Malvern nanosize ZS instrument. The maximum percentage entrapment efficiency of nifedipine was found 67%, and % yield was about 72%. The maximum in vitro release studies of drug‐loaded microspheres, which is 94.4% for the pH 7.4 buffer solution, demonstrated the pH sensitivity of prepared hydrogel microspheres. The cumulative drug release data were analyzed by using the Korsmeyer–Peppas equation to calculate a value of diffusion exponent (n), which follows non‐Fickian diffusion.
Extended Motor Evoked Potentials Monitoring Helps Prevent Delayed Paraplegia After Aortic Surgery
Authors: See Reiner B. , Awosika Oluwole O. , Cambria Richard P. , Conrad Mark F. , Lancaster Robert T. , Patel Virendra I. , Chitilian Hovig V. , Kumar Sandeep , Simon Mirela V.
Published: February 2016

Objective

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) monitoring can promptly detect spinal cord ischemia (SCI) from aortic clamping during open thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair (OTAAR) with distal aortic perfusion (DAP) and thus help decrease the risk of immediate postoperative SCI (IP‐SCI). However, neither stable MEPs during aortic clamp interval (ACI) nor absence of IP‐SCI eliminate the possibility of delayed postoperative SCI (DP‐SCI). We hypothesized that extension of MEPs monitoring beyond ACI can also help decrease the risk of DP‐SCI.

Methods

We identified 150 consecutive patients at our institution between April 2005 and October 2014 who underwent OTAAR with DAP and MEPs monitoring and had no IP‐SCI. Using logistic regression analysis, we studied the independent effect of extended MEPs monitoring on the risk of developing DP‐SCI. We used a propensity score analysis to adjust for potential confounders, such as poorly controlled hypertension, previous aneurysm surgery, splenectomy, acute aortic dissection, aneurysm type, older age, and history of diabetes and smoking.

Results

From the 150 patients, 129 (86%) remained neurologically intact whereas 21 (14%) developed DP‐SCI. Nineteen of these twenty‐one patients (90%) had no extended monitoring. Fifty‐seven of fifty‐nine (97%) patients who benefited from extended monitoring had no DP‐SCI (p = 0.003). Extended MEPs monitoring was independently associated with decreased risk of DP‐SCI (odds ratio = 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.03, 0.65; p = 0.01).

Interpretation

MEPs detect the lowest systemic blood pressure that ensures appropriate spinal cord perfusion in the postoperative period. Thus, they inform the hemodynamic management of patients post‐OTAAR, particularly in the absence of a reliable neurological exam. Ann Neurol 2016;79:636–645
Effect of a polymer on chromium(III) diffusion during gelant injection in fractured media
Authors: Bai Yingrui , Li Junjian , Xiong Chunming , Shang Xiaosen , Wei Falin , Zhang Miao
Published: February 2016

The effect of a polymer on chromium diffusion during gelant injection into fractured media was explored with a polymer/chromium(III) (Cr3+) gelant. The capture and barrier effects are two main affecting mechanisms of polymer molecules on the diffusion of Cr3+, and the formation of the polymer leak‐off layer is a key influencing factor. The experimental results show that when the polymer molecular weight (MW) or concentration increased, both the diffusion rate of Cr3+ and the leak‐off degree of the gelant decreased sharply. This resulted in the delayed initial production and advanced final production of Cr3+. Because of the changing diffusion rate of Cr3+ and the dilution effect of brine during gelant injection, the change trends of the Cr3+ production from the fracture outlet and matrix ports reversed after the injection volume exceeded a value; this value was named the critical injected volume. During gelant injection into the fractures, under the effects of gravity action and the disproportionate diffusion of Cr3+, the chromium diffusion profiles measured at the fracture top and bottom were different. The chromium diffusion profile along the matrix varied with increasing gelant injected volume, but it finally reached the diffusion equilibrium state in the matrix. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43447.
Consent and confidentiality in the light of recent demands for data sharing
Authors: Williams Garrath , Pigeot Iris
Published: February 2016

Many attempts have been made to formalize ethical requirements for research. Among the most prominent mechanisms are informed consent requirements and data protection regimes. These mechanisms, however, sometimes appear as obstacles to research. In this opinion paper, we critically discuss conventional approaches to research ethics that emphasize consent and data protection. Several recent debates have highlighted other important ethical issues and underlined the need for greater openness in order to uphold the integrity of health‐related research. Some of these measures, such as the sharing of individual‐level data, pose problems for standard understandings of consent and privacy. Here, we argue that these interpretations tend to be overdemanding: They do not really protect research subjects and they hinder the research process. Accordingly, we suggest another way of framing these requirements. Individual consent must be situated alongside the wider distribution of knowledge created when the actions, commitments, and procedures of researchers and their institutions are opened to scrutiny. And instead of simply emphasizing privacy or data protection, we should understand confidentiality as a principle that facilitates the sharing of information while upholding important safeguards. Consent and confidentiality belong to a broader set of safeguards and procedures to uphold the integrity of the research process.
Enantiomeric resolution of multiple chiral centres racemates by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Ali Imran , Suhail Mohd. , AL‐Othman Zeid A. , Alwarthan Abdulrahman , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y.
Published: February 2016

Enantiomeric resolution of multichiral centre racemates is an important area as some multichiral centre racemates are of great medicinal importance. However, enantioseparation of such types of racemates is a challenging task. Amongst many analytical techniques, capillary electrophoresis is a powerful technique and may be used to resolve such racemates. Only few papers are available describing enantiomeric resolution of such racemates. Therefore, efforts have been made to describe the enantiomeric resolution of multichiral centre racemates by capillary electrophoresis. This article discusses the importance of multichiral racemates, the need for capillary electrophoresis in enantiomeric resolution and chiral resolution of multichiral centre racemates using various chiral selectors. Further, attempts have been made to discuss the future challenges and prospects of enantiomeric resolution of multichiral racemates. The various chiral selectors used for the purpose are chiral crown ether, cyclodextrins, polysaccharides, macrocyclic glycopeptide antibiotics and ligand exchange. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase in l‐Lysine Lactamization During Capuramycin Biosynthesis
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Jin Yuanyuan , Cui Zheng , Nonaka Koichi , Baba Satoshi , Funabashi Masanori , Yang Zhaoyong , Van Lanen Steven G.
Published: February 2016

Capuramycins are one of several known classes of natural products that contain an l‐Lys‐derived l‐α‐amino‐ɛ‐caprolactam (l‐ACL) unit. The α‐amino group of l‐ACL in a capuramycin is linked to an unsaturated hexuronic acid component through an amide bond that was previously shown to originate by an ATP‐independent enzymatic route. With the aid of a combined in vivo and in vitro approach, a predicted tridomain nonribosomal peptide synthetase CapU is functionally characterized here as the ATP‐dependent amide‐bond‐forming catalyst responsible for the biosynthesis of the remaining amide bond present in l‐ACL. The results are consistent with the adenylation domain of CapU as the essential catalytic component for l‐Lys activation and thioesterification of the adjacent thiolation domain. However, in contrast to expectations, lactamization does not require any additional domains or proteins and is likely a nonenzymatic event. The results set the stage for examining whether a similar NRPS‐mediated mechanism is employed in the biosynthesis of other l‐ACL‐containing natural products and, just as intriguingly, how spontaneous lactamization is avoided in the numerous NRPS‐derived peptides that contain an unmodified l‐Lys residue.
Dual‐Layer Hollow Fibers for Sulfur Removal from Fuels
Authors: Amaral Rafael A. , Borges Cristiano P. , Habert Alberto C. , Mermier Nicolas R. J.‐D.
Published: February 2016

Emission of sulfur compounds to the atmosphere is universally recognized as one key target to be reduced. For membrane pervaporation which is considered as a potential purification process of fuels, dual‐layer polyurethane (PU)/polyethersulfone hollow‐fiber membranes were prepared. A novel fabrication technique is proposed using a quadruple spinneret to produce the fiber with such morphology by simultaneous spinning of two polymer solutions in the presence of two corresponding precipitation media. Activated carbon was added into the PU solution to improve the transport properties of the selective layer. Resulting hollow‐fiber membranes showed very good adhesion between the selective layer and its support, in addition to an effective removal of a sulfur compound such as 2‐methyl thiophene from a typical model fuel, an indication of good prospects for both the fabrication technique and for sulfur removal by pervaporation of fuels.
Rheology‐Based Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for De‐oiling Hydrocyclone Efficiency
Authors: Li Changjun , Huang Qian
Published: February 2016

The de‐oiling hydrocyclone belongs to the most effective devices to recover oil from oily wastewater. An improved multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed for simulating oil‐water separation in a de‐oiling hydrocyclone. This model approach uses the Reynolds stress model to resolve the turbulent and the modified mixture model with a new viscosity correlation of oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions. This modified model of emulsion viscosity based on the power law equation and experimental data of three types of crude oil is introduced to predict the viscosity of O/W emulsions. A comparison between experimental and predicted values of separation efficiency demonstrates that multiphase simulations with the modified model of viscosity provide a better accuracy than CFD models associated with original rheological models. This improved CFD model can be further applied in developing new designs in the future.
Homogeneous Catalytic Kinetics of Methyl Glycolate Hydrolysis
Authors: Xu Yan , Meh Ablikim , Yang Guangcun , Zhao Yujun , Chen Qu , Li Zhenhua , Ma Xinbin
Published: February 2016

Catalytic hydrolysis of methyl glycolate is a promising way to produce glycolic acid with high purity. The hydrolysis of methyl glycolate was investigated both in a stirred‐batch reactor and in a reactive distillation column. Batch hydrolysis distillation was found to be rather effective in improving the conversion of methyl glycolate. A mechanism model including the cooperative catalysis of sulfuric acid and the generated glycolic acid was developed based on the acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis mechanism and the protolysis equilibrium; then, the model was further simplified according to the relationship between the concentrations of hydroxonium ions and their providers. This simplified model could be easily introduced to Aspen Plus and applied to simulating the homogeneous hydrolysis process of methyl glycolate with or without sulfuric acid as catalyst via the reactive distillation technique.
Synthesis of MnOx Water Oxidation Catalyst on Fluorine‐Doped Tin Oxide with a Dual‐Series Cyclic Voltammetry Method
Authors: Yuan Hao , Lunt Richard R. , Blanchard Gary J. , Ofoli Robert Y.
Published: February 2016

This Communication reports a new method for synthesizing manganese‐based water oxidation catalysts in situ in aqueous media. The method provides powerful tunability of the electrodeposition process to enable independent control over the morphology of the catalytic film and the oxidation state of the catalyst. Our results show that the first cyclic voltammetry (CV) series produces a film with a nanoscale fibrous structure, whereas the second CV series improves its catalytic performance by enhancing the oxidation state of the film without damaging the existing surface morphology. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the MnOx film, CV was used to assess the catalyst functionality, and long‐term amperometry was used to assess the stability.
Vertically Aligned Titanium Nitride Nanorod Arrays as Supports of Platinum–Palladium–Cobalt Catalysts for Thin‐Film Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Electrodes
Authors: Jiang Shangfeng , Yi Baolian , Zhang Hongjie , Song Wei , Bai Yangzhi , Yu Hongmei , Shao Zhigang
Published: February 2016

The degradation of the carbon supports and high platinum (Pt) loading significantly hinder the wide adoption of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In conventional electrodes, the ionomer binders introduce an undesirable, high oxygen‐transport resistance and cover the catalysts active sites. Herein, an advanced catalytic layer based on vertically aligned titanium nitride nanorod arrays (TiN NRs) is prepared, without additional ionomer or binders in the cathode. After supporting the thin‐film platinum–palladium–cobalt (PtPdCo) catalyst (Pt loading: 66.9 μm cm−2) onto TiN NRs, the ordered electrodes were investigated as the cathode of a single cell without additional ionomer in the catalytic layer. With this electrode architecture, the as‐synthesized electrode performs with a maximum power density of 390.5 mW cm−2 and cathode mass‐specific power density of 5.84 W mgPt−1. The 2000 potential cycles accelerated degradation test shows that the PtPdCo–TiN electrode is more stable than the commercial gas diffusion electrode.
Metal–Organic Framework‐Templated Porous Carbon for Highly Efficient Catalysis: The Critical Role of Pyrrolic Nitrogen Species
Authors: Huang Gang , Yang Li , Ma Xiao , Jiang Jun , Yu Shu‐Hong , Jiang Hai‐Long
Published: February 2016

Metal‐free catalysts are of great importance and alternative candidates to conventional metal‐based catalysts for many reactions. Herein, several types of metal–organic frameworks have been exploited as templates/precursors to afford porous carbon materials with various nitrogen dopant forms and contents, degrees of graphitization, porosities, and surface areas. Amongst these materials, the PCN‐224‐templated porous carbon material optimized by pyrolysis at 700 °C (denoted as PCN‐224‐700) is composed of amorphous carbon coated with well‐defined graphene layers, offering a high surface area, hierarchical pores, and high nitrogen content (mainly, pyrrolic nitrogen species). Remarkably, as a metal‐free catalyst, PCN‐224‐700 exhibits a low activation energy and superior activity to most metallic catalysts in the catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol. Theoretical investigations suggest that the content and type of the nitrogen dopant play crucial roles in determining the catalytic performance and that the pyrrolic nitrogen species makes the dominant contribution to this activity, which explains the excellent efficiency of the PCN‐224‐700 catalyst well.
Spectral Signatures of Ultrafast Spin Crossover in Single Crystal [FeII(bpy)3](PF6)2
Authors: Field Ryan , Liu Lai Chung , Gawelda Wojciech , Lu Cheng , Miller R. J. Dwayne
Published: February 2016

Solvated iron(II)‐tris(bipyridine) ([FeII(bpy)3]2+) has been extensively studied with regard to the spin crossover (SCO) phenomenon. Herein, the ultrafast spin transition dynamics of single crystal [FeII(bpy)3](PF6)2 was characterized for the first time using femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. The single crystal environment is of interest for experiments that probe the nuclear motions involved in the SCO transition, such as femtosecond X‐ray and electron diffraction. We found that the TA at early times is very similar to what has been reported in solvated [FeII(bpy)3]2+, whereas the later dynamics are perturbed in the crystal environment. The lifetime of the high‐spin state is found to be much shorter (100 ps) than in solution due to chemical pressure exerted by the lattice. Oscillatory behavior was observed on both time scales. Our results show that single crystal [FeII(bpy)3](PF6)2 serves as an excellent model system for localized molecular spin transitions.
Undeniable Confirmation of the syn‐Addition Mechanism for Metal‐Free Diboration by Using the Crystalline Sponge Method
Authors: Cuenca Ana B. , Zigon Nicolas , Duplan Vincent , Hoshino Manabu , Fujita Makoto , Fernández Elena
Published: February 2016

The stereochemical outcome of the recently developed metal‐free 1,2‐diboration of aliphatic alkenes has, until now, only been elucidated by indirect means (e.g. derivatization). This is because classical conformational analysis of the resulting 1,2‐diboranes is not viable; in the 1H NMR spectrum the relevant 1H resonances are broadened by 11B, and the occurrence of the products as oily compounds precludes X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Herein, the crystalline sponge method is used to display the crystal structures of the diboronic esters formed from internal E and Z olefins, evidencing the stereospecific syn addition mechanism of the reaction, which is fully consistent with the prediction from DFT calculations.