bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of different drying technologies on drying characteristics and quality of red pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.): a comparative study
Authors: Cao Zhen‐zhen , Zhou Lin‐yan , Bi Jin‐feng , Yi Jian‐yong , Chen Qin‐qin , Wu Xin‐ye , Zheng Jin‐kai , Li Shu‐rong
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Hot air drying and sun drying are traditional drying technologies widely used in the drying of agricultural products for a long time, but usually recognized as time‐consuming or producing lower‐quality products. Infrared drying is a rather effective drying technology that has advantages over traditional drying technologies. Thus, in order to investigate the application of infrared drying in the dehydration of red pepper, the drying characteristics and quality of infrared‐dried red pepper were compared with those of sun‐dried and hot air‐dried red pepper.

RESULTS

The infrared drying technology significantly enhanced the drying rate when compared with hot air drying and sun drying. Temperature was the most important factor affecting the moisture transfer during the process of infrared drying as well as hot air drying. Effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) values of infrared drying ranged from 1.58 × 10−9 to 3.78 × 10−9 m2 s−1. The Ea values of infrared drying and hot air drying were 42.67 and 44.48 kJ mol−1 respectively. Infrared drying and hot air drying produced color loss to a similar extent. Relatively higher crispness values were observed for infrared‐dried samples.

CONCLUSION

Sun drying produced dried red pepper with the best color when compared with hot air drying and infrared drying. Meanwhile, infrared drying markedly improved the drying rate at the same drying temperature level of hot air drying, and the products obtained had relatively better quality with higher crispness values. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Development of an immunochromatographic test strip for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative detection of ochratoxin A and zearalenone in cereal
Authors: Sun Yaning , Xing Guangxu , Yang Jifei , Wang Fangyu , Deng Ruiguang , Zhang Gaiping , Hu Xiaofei , Zhang Yong
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN) are natural products of filamentous fungi that are harmful to humans and animals exposed to them even in extremely low concentration. The immunochromatographic test strip has become a popular diagnostic tool for detecting analytes. Its major advantages are that results can be obtained within 5–10 min, all needed reagents are included in the strip and it can be used to detect OTA and ZEN contamination in spots. In this study a colloidal gold‐based immunochromatographic test strip of competitive format was developed for the rapid simultaneous qualitative and quantitative detection of OTA and ZEN in corn and other cereals.

RESULTS

The test strip results with the naked eye showed that the sensitivities were 6 µg kg−1 OTA and 20 µg kg−1 ZEN in cereal, while those with a TSR3000 membrane strip reader showed that the IC50 values of OTA and ZEN were 1.7905 and 4.3514 ng mL−1 and the lower detection limit (LDL) values were 0.7697 and 1.2000 µg kg−1 respectively. These results were confirmed by high‐performance liquid chromatography.

CONCLUSION

The immunochromatographic test strip developed in this study could be used for the rapid simultaneous, qualitative and quantitative screening of OTA and ZEN in corn samples. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Consequences of on‐line dialysis on polyelectrolyte molar masses determined by size‐exclusion chromatography with light scattering detection
Authors: Radke Wolfgang
Published: November 2015

Size‐exclusion chromatography with light scattering detection experiments conducted on poly(acrylic acid) neutralized to different degrees or using hydroxides with different counterions suggest that the same counterion and degree of neutralization is observed at the detector, irrespective of salt concentration, degree of neutralization and counterion at the time of injection. This strongly supports that during the chromatographic experiment the counterions of the polyelectrolyte are exchanged with those of the eluent, resulting in an effective dialysis of the polyelectrolyte solution during the size‐exclusion chromatography experiment. Consequently, the refractive index increment determined by a refractive index detector equals the refractive index increment obtained after excessive dialysis against the pure eluent. Therefore, the species detected and characterized by light scattering coupled to size‐exclusion chromatography are not identical to the species injected into the chromatographic system. Despite this structural change during the chromatographic experiments, the correct molar mass for the injected species is obtained by size‐exclusion chromatography with light scattering detection.
Assessment of curing behavior of light‐activated dental composites using intensity correlation based multiple reference optical coherence tomography
Authors: Dsouza Roshan , Subhash Hrebesh , Neuhaus Kai , Kantamneni Ramakrishna , McNamara Paul M. , Hogan Josh , Wilson Carol , Leahy Martin
Published: November 2015

Background and Objectives

Monitoring the curing kinetics of light‐activated resin is a key area of research. These resins are used in restorative applications and particularly in dental applications. They can undergo volumetric shrinkage due to poor control of the depth dependent curing process, modulated by the intensity and duration of the curing light source. This often results in the formation of marginal gaps, causing pain and damage to the restoration site. In this study, we demonstrate the capabilities of a correlation method applied using a multiple references optical coherence tomography (MR‐OCT) architecture to monitor the curing of the resin.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A MR‐OCT system is used in this study to monitor the curing of the resin. The system operates at the center wavelength of 1310 nm with an A‐scan rate of 1200 A‐scans per second. The axial and lateral resolution of the system is ∼13 μm and ∼27 μm. The method to determine the intensity correlation between adjacent B‐frames is based on the Pearson correlation coefficient for a region of interest. Calculating the correlation coefficient for multiple B‐frames related to the first B‐frame at regular spaced time points, shows for a noncured resin a reduction of the correlation coefficient over time due to Brownian motion. The time constant of the reduction of the correlation value is a measure for the progress of the polymerization during LED light irradiation of the resin. The proposed approach is potentially a low‐cost, powerful and unique optical imaging modality for measuring the curing behavior of dental resin and other resins, coatings, and adhesives in medical and industrial applications.

Results

To demonstrate the proposed method to monitor the curing process, a light‐activated resin composite from GRADIA DIRECT ANTERIOR (GC Corporation, Japan) is studied. The curing time of resin was measured and monitored as a function of depth. The correlation coefficient method is highly sensitive to Brownian motion. The process of curing results in a change in intensity as measured by the MR‐OCT signal and hence can be monitored using this method.

Conclusions

These results show that MR‐OCT has the potential to measure the curing time and monitor the curing process as a function of depth. Moreover, MR‐OCT as a product has potential to be compact, low‐cost and to fit into a smartphone. Using such a device for monitoring the curing of the resin will be suitable for dentists in stationary and mobile clinical settings. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:77–82, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcomes of adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation in 321 recipients
Authors: Uchiyama Hideaki , Shirabe Ken , Kimura Koichi , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Ikegami Toru , Harimoto Norifumi , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: November 2015

We conducted a retrospective investigation in order to clarify whether selecting the type of liver graft had an impact on outcomes of adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT). Data from the medical records of the donors and the recipients of 321 consecutive cases of AALDLT performed between April 2004 and March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Our general criteria for selecting the type of liver graft was that a left graft was preferentially selected when the estimated volume of the left graft was ≥35% of the standard liver volume of the recipient, and that a right graft was selected only when the estimated remnant liver volume of the donor was ≥35% of the total liver volume. In this series, 177 left grafts, 136 right grafts, and 8 posterior grafts were used. The left grafts tended to have 2 or more arteries, whereas the right grafts tended to have 2 or more bile duct orifices. The graft survival curves and the incidences of severe complications were comparable between the AALDLT using right grafts and the AALDLT using left grafts. The preoperative estimation of graft size hardly enabled us to predict severe posttransplant complication. Moreover, small‐for‐size graft syndrome occurred regardless of the estimated graft volumes. Instead, donor age was a significant risk factor for small‐for‐size graft syndrome. In conclusion, left grafts should be more aggressively used for the sake of donors' safety. The use of hepatic grafts from older donors should be avoided if possible in order to circumvent troublesome posttransplant complications. Liver Transpl 22:305‐315, 2016. © 2015 AASLD.
The Dice co‐efficient: a neglected verification performance measure for deterministic forecasts of binary events
Authors: Jolliffe Ian T.
Published: November 2015

When deterministic forecasts of binary events are made, there are circumstances in which the number of ‘correct rejections’, d, is difficult to define or is so large that it will dominate in calculations of most performance measures. For this reason it is sometimes desirable to use a measure that is independent of d. The usual measure of choice in meteorology is a/(a + b + c), variously known as the threat score, or the critical success index (CSI), where a, b, c are the numbers of hits, false alarms and misses respectively. An alternative measure that is in common use in ecology is the Dice co‐efficient 2a/(2a + b + c), but it does not appear to have been used in meteorology. The aim of this note is to introduce the Dice co‐efficient to a meteorological audience with a brief history, and compare its properties with those of the CSI. The two measures share many properties, both good and bad, but the Dice co‐efficient has some appealing interpretations not shared by the CSI. In particular, it can be calculated by dividing the number of hits by the average of ‘total number of events observed’ and ‘total number of events forecasted’. It is also obtained as the harmonic mean of the hit rate a/(a + c) and the frequency of hits a/(a + b).
Response of energy consumption for building heating to climatic change and variability in Tianjin City, China
Authors: Li Mingcai , Cao Jingfu , Guo Jun , Niu Jide , Xiong Mingming
Published: November 2015

The present paper concerns the impact of climate on building heating energy consumption for different types of energy in Tianjin, a large city in northern China. The results show that heating energy consumption is dominantly related to dry bulb temperature (DBT), but the impacts vary with energy types and time scales (day, month or year). DBT can explain 97.7% of the coal consumption at different time scales and 83.0–89.7% of the natural gas consumption. DBT can also account for 25% of the daily and monthly heating electricity consumption and 89% of the annual heating electricity consumption. These results suggest that different measures for building energy conservation should be taken because of the differing climate impacts for different energy types. Especially, likely increase in temperature in the future should be considered to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. In addition, different models should be used to predict building energy consumption at different time scales. This would be helpful for energy policy makers and energy providers for adjusting energy use strategies.
Toe resurfacing with a thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap
Authors: Kim Youn Hwan , Kim Ki Ho , Sung Kun‐Yong , Kim Jeong Tae , Kim Sang Wha
Published: November 2015

Background

In toe reconstruction, amputation procedures are much more common than salvage procedures. However, toe resurfacing, rather than amputation, provides superior functional and aesthetic results. In this study, we report the clinical outcomes of toe resurfacing using a thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flap.

Patients and methods

Between January 2004 and June 2013, a total of 15 patients underwent toe resurfacing using thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps. Thin flaps were harvested by discarding the deep adipose layer. Twelve cases involved a great toe defect, three, a second toe defect, three, a third toe defect, and one, a fourth toe defect. Patient ages ranged from 19 to 82 years (mean, 42.9 years). The mechanism of injury varied, including crushing injury, degloving injury, and diabetic foot infection.

Results

The size of thoracodorsal artery perforator flap ranged from 4 × 3 to 20 × 8 cm2 and the thickness of the flap ranged from 4 to 9 mm (mean, 6.5 mm). All flap survived completely without complications. The mean follow‐up period was 18.8 months (range, 12–60 months). Only one patient with rheumatoid arthritis had mild gait disturbance. All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic and functional results.

Conclusion

Toe resurfacing with thin thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps appears to be a safer and more reliable option than amputation for preserving their function. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:312–318, 2017.
Marcinkiewicz exponents and integrals over non‐rectifiable paths
Authors: Kats Boris A. , Katz David B.
Published: November 2015

We introduce and study certain distributions generalizing the operation of curvilinear integration for the case where the path of integration is not rectifiable. Then we apply that distributions for solving of boundary value problems of Riemann—Hilbert type in domains with non‐rectifiable boundaries. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression analysis of Cdx2 and Pou5f1 in a marsupial, the stripe‐faced dunnart, during early development
Authors: Familari Mary , Au Phil Chi Khang , de Iongh Robb U. , Cruz Yolanda , Selwood Lynne
Published: November 2015

The first lineage allocation during mouse development forms the trophectoderm and inner cell mass, in which Cdx2 and Pou5f1 display reciprocal expression. Yet Cdx2 is not required for trophectoderm specification in other mammals, such as the human, cow, pig, or in two marsupials, the tammar and opossum. The role of Cdx2 and Pou5f1 in the first lineage allocation of Sminthopsis macroura, the stripe‐faced dunnart, is unknown. In this study, expression of Cdx2 and Pou5f1 during oogenesis, development from cleavage to blastocyst stages, and in the allocation of the first three lineages was analyzed for this dunnart. Cdx2 mRNA was present in late antral‐stage oocytes, but not present again until Day 5.5. Pou5f1 mRNA was present from primary follicles to zygotes, and then expression resumed starting at the early unilaminar blastocyst stage. All cleavage stages and the pluriblast and trophoblast cells co‐expressed CDX2 and POU5F1 proteins, which persisted until early stages of hypoblast formation. Hypoblast cells also show co‐localisation of POU5F1 and CDX2 once they were allocated, and this persisted during their division and migration. Our studies suggest that CDX2, and possibly POU5F1, are maternal proteins, and that the first lineage to differentiate is the trophoblast, which differentiates to trophectoderm after shell loss one day before implantation. In the stripe‐faced dunnart, cleavage cells, as well as trophoblast and pluriblast cells, are polarized, suggesting the continued presence of CDX2 in both lineages until late blastocyst stages may play a role in the formation and maintenance of polarity. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 108–123, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Impact of Affirmative Action on the Employment of Minorities and Women: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Three Decades of EEO‐1 Filings
Authors: Kurtulus Fidan Ana
Published: November 2015

What role has affirmative action played in the growth of minority and female employment in U.S. firms? This paper presents a longitudinal analysis of this question by exploiting rich variation across firms in the timing of federal contracting to identify affirmative action effects over the course of three decades spanning 1973 to 2003. It constitutes the first study to comprehensively document the long‐term and dynamic effects of affirmative action in federal contracting on employment composition within firms in the United States. I use a new panel of over 100,000 large private‐sector firms from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including both firms that obtain federal contracts and are therefore mandated to implement affirmative action and firms that are noncontractors, across all industries and regions. The paper's key results indicate that the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action in federal contracting over 1973 to 2003 were black and Native American women and men. Dynamic event study analysis of workforce composition around the time of contracting reveals that a large part of the effect of affirmative action on increasing protected group shares occurred within the first four years of gaining a contract, and that these increased shares persisted even after a firm was no longer a federal contractor. The paper also uncovers important results on how the impact of affirmative action evolved over 1973 to 2003, in particular that the fastest growth in the employment shares of minorities and women at federal contractors relative to noncontracting firms occurred during the 1970s and early 1980s, decelerating substantially in ensuing years.
High‐efficiency Sb2S3‐based hybrid solar cell at low light intensity: cell made of synthesized Cu and Se‐doped Sb2S3
Authors: Janošević Valentina , Mitrić Miodrag , Bundaleski Nenad , Rakočević Zlatko , Validžić Ivana Lj
Published: November 2015

Cu‐doped (as p‐doped) and Se‐doped (as n‐doped) Sb2S3 were synthesized from undoped Sb2S3 using a newly developed technique, simple colloidal synthesis method. X‐ray diffraction measurements detected no peaks related to any of the Cu and Se compounds in Cu and Se‐doped samples. Energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, however, confirmed the presence of Cu and Se ions in the doped samples. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed the optical band gap energy changes because of doping effect, as reported for both the p‐type and the n‐type material. The valence‐band X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data showed a significant shift in the valence band to higher (Se‐doped; +0.53 eV) and a shift to lower (Cu‐doped; −0.41 eV) binding energy, respectively, when compared with the undoped sample. We report here on an inexpensive solar cell designed and made entirely of a synthesized material (indium tin oxide/p‐doped Sb2S3 + polyaniline (PANI)/amorphous/undoped Sb2S3 + PANI/n‐doped Sb2S3 + PANI/PANI/electrolyte (0.5 M KI + 0.05 M I2)/Al). The cell has a high efficiency of 8% to 9% at a very low light intensity of only 5% sun, which makes it particularly suitable for indoor applications. As found, the cell performance at the intensity of 5% sun is governed by high shunt resistance (RSH) only, which satisfies standard testing conditions. At higher light intensities (25% sun), however, the cell exhibits lower but not insignificant efficiency (around 2%) governed by both the series (RS) and the RSH. Minimal permeability in the UV region (up to 375 nm) and its almost constant value in the visible and the NIR region at low light intensity of 5% sun could be the reasons for higher cell efficiency. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Snow Cover on the Active‐Layer Thermal Regime – A Case Study from James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Hrbáček Filip , Láska Kamil , Engel Zbyněk
Published: November 2015

The response of active‐layer thickness and the ground thermal regime to climatic conditions on the Ulu Peninsula (James Ross Island, northeastern Antarctic Peninsula) in 2011–13 is presented. The mean air temperature over this period was –8.0°C and ground temperature at 5 cm depth varied from –6.4°C (2011–12) to –6.7°C (2012–13). The active‐layer thickness ranged between 58 cm (January 2012) and 52 cm (February 2013). Correlation analyses indicate that air temperature affects ground temperature more significantly on snow‐free days (R2 = 0.82) than on snow cover days (R2 = 0.53). Although the effect of snow cover on the daily amplitude of ground temperature was observable to 20 cm depth, the overall influence of snow depth on ground temperature was negligible (freezing n‐factor of 0.95–0.97). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizing a partially ordered miniprotein through folding molecular dynamics simulations: Comparison with the experimental data
Authors: Baltzis Athanasios S. , Glykos Nicholas M.
Published: November 2015

The villin headpiece helical subdomain (HP36) is one of the best known model systems for computational studies of fast‐folding all‐α miniproteins. HP21 is a peptide fragment—derived from HP36—comprising only the first and second helices of the full domain. Experimental studies showed that although HP21 is mostly unfolded in solution, it does maintain some persistent native‐like structure as indicated by the analysis of NMR‐derived chemical shifts. Here we compare the experimental data for HP21 with the results obtained from a 15‐μs long folding molecular dynamics simulation performed in explicit water and with full electrostatics. We find that the simulation is in good agreement with the experiment and faithfully reproduces the major experimental findings, namely that (a) HP21 is disordered in solution with <10% of the trajectory corresponding to transiently stable structures, (b) the most highly populated conformer is a native‐like structure with an RMSD from the corresponding portion of the HP36 crystal structure of <1 Å, (c) the simulation‐derived chemical shifts—over the whole length of the trajectory—are in reasonable agreement with the experiment giving reduced χ2 values of 1.6, 1.4, and 0.8 for the Δδ13Cα, Δδ13CO, and Δδ13Cβ secondary shifts, respectively (becoming 0.8, 0.7, and 0.3 when only the major peptide conformer is considered), and finally, (d) the secondary structure propensity scores are in very good agreement with the experiment and clearly indicate the higher stability of the first helix. We conclude that folding molecular dynamics simulations can be a useful tool for the structural characterization of even marginally stable peptides.
Ka band enabling technologies for high throughput satellite (HTS) communications
Authors: Hasan Mohamed , Bianchi Christopher
Published: November 2015

Global demands for personal, businesses and governments connected data continue to challenge our communication technologies and infrastructure. Both wired and wireless terrestrial communications systems are realizing advancements in technologies and their applied infrastructure enhancements. These ever evolving terrestrial communication systems are providing for increased data capacity, an enhanced quality of service and a lower cost per bit for all users. Satellite systems are especially challenged in order to remain relevant for these same enhancements in order to augment and compete with these terrestrial global communication systems. In order to meet these global demands the next generation satellite communications systems are evolving by advancing their own technologies and infrastructure. The resulting next generation communication satellite systems include utilization of the Ka frequency band and also through the application of other key advancements in antenna systems and processing payloads. This paper provides an overview of many of the communication satellite system advancements which are in part enabled through the utilization of the Ka frequency band. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An ensemble method for detecting shilling attacks based on ordered item sequences
Authors: Zhang Fuzhi , Chen Honghong
Published: November 2015

Collaborative filtering systems are vulnerable to shilling attacks in which malicious users bias the systems' recommendation output by inserting fake profiles. While many approaches have been proposed to detect shilling attacks, they suffer from low precision. To solve this problem, an ensemble method for detecting shilling attacks based on ordered item sequences is proposed. Firstly, by analyzing the differences of rating patterns between genuine and attack profiles, we construct ordered popular item sequences and ordered novelty item sequences, and based on which, the popular and novelty item rating series are constructed for each user profile. Secondly, we propose six features to characterize the attack profiles. Particularly, we extract two features based on the popular and novelty item rating series. We partition the item set according to the ordered item sequences and combine them with mutual information to extract another four features. Finally, we propose an ensemble framework to detect shilling attacks. In particular, we create base training sets with great diversities using bootstrap resampling technique. Based on these base training sets, we train decision tree algorithm to generate diverse base classifiers. The simple majority voting strategy is used to combine the predictive results of these base classifiers. Experimental results indicate that ensemble method for detecting shilling attacks based on ordered item sequences can significantly improve the precision while maintaining a high recall. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design Catalogs: A Systematic Approach to Design and Value Flexibility in Engineering Systems
Authors: Cardin Michel‐Alexandre , de Neufville Richard , Geltner David M.
Published: November 2015

This paper proposes design catalogs as an efficient systematic process for identifying and evaluating improved designs in engineering systems by exploiting ideas of flexibility. Standard design and evaluation approaches typically do not cope well with a range of possible operating conditions. They often simplify considerations of uncertainty, which may lead to designs that do not perform as well as those responding dynamically to changing conditions. The proposed process addresses the complexity of the design problem under uncertainty, recognizing that it is impossible to analyze all possible combinations of evolutions, and the flexible ways in which the system could adapt over time. The process creates a small subset of designs that collectively perform well over a range of scenarios. It bundles representative scenarios and their flexible responses to enable a more thorough analysis that accounts explicitly for uncertainty—and enable considerations of improved designs. Each element consists of combinations of design variables, parameters, and management decision rules carefully selected, and referred as operating plans. In the example analysis, the process improves economic performance by 37% as compared to standard methods in an infrastructure system case study, while exploring only 3% of the design space. It reaches 86% of the stochastically optimal solution while being 183 times faster computationally in the example numerical study. The systematic property aims for practical applications in industry. In each phase, it gives the freedom to rely on the designer's expertise with the system, or to consider analytical tools already in use at the design organization.
Mechanistic investigation of nonisothermal suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride
Authors: Darvishi R. , Esfahany M. Nasr , Bagheri R.
Published: November 2015

Vinyl chloride suspension polymerization using different temperature trajectories was carried out in a pilot scale batch reactor. Detailed understanding of the conversion at which the primary particles become motionless (Xm) and the key effects of Xm on morphology development of PVC grains were provided. Motionless conversion is estimated for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) grains prepared with different temperature trajectories by cold plasticizer absorption measurements. The porosity of PVC grains (prepared isothermally and nonisothermally) shows a maximum at a certain conversion that is considered motionless conversion. With increasing monomer conversion, the cold plasticizer uptake decreases dramatically with conversions greater than motionless conversion until the monomer phase is completely exhausted (Xf) and continues to slightly decrease after Xf. The decrease in cold plasticizer absorption is more pronounced for PVC grains produced nonisothermally by lower initial temperature. The results obtained by scanning electron microscopy and Brabender® plastography showed that the changes in internal structure and fusion behavior of PVC grains after Xm would be much lower when early aggregates of primary particles are formed. Scanning electron microscopy photographs indicate that applying the variable temperature with negative slope accelerates networking between the primary particles inside the polymerizing monomer droplets. The Brabender® plastograph measurements indicate a lower time and temperature of fusion and a higher degree of gelation for nonisothermally produced resin in which the temperature trajectory follows a greater negative slope. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:84–92, 2018. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Perspectives of wildlife conservation professionals on intensive deer management
Authors: Chitwood M. Colter , Peterson M. Nils , Bondell Howard D. , Lashley Marcus A. , Brown Robert D. , Deperno Christopher S.
Published: November 2015

Intensive deer management (IDM) is fundamentally changing how one of the most important game species in North America is being managed, but little is known about how wildlife conservation professionals view these changes. The IDM approach encourages privatization of deer (Odocoileus spp.) through practices including feeding, high fencing, artificial insemination and markets in deer semen, and translocation. To evaluate support for IDM practices, we surveyed 208 registrants of the 2010 Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting held in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Specifically, we evaluated support for IDM practices using state‐agency wildlife biologists, private wildlife managers, and academics, and we evaluated how geographic region and employment type are related to opinions about IDM. Using Principal Components Analysis, we created 3 new scales that measured respondents’ opinions about deer management, deer husbandry, and deer hunting. We detected strong opposition to IDM among respondents, with respondents from universities having the strongest opposition, followed by state‐agency employees from Texas, and private consultants from Texas (the latter having the greatest support for IDM). Our study highlights the need for critical and empirical evaluation of the articulation between IDM and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, particularly the tenets that assert wildlife are held in the public trust and advocate elimination of markets for wildlife. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
A comparison of automated and traditional monitoring techniques for marbled murrelets using passive acoustic sensors
Authors: Borker Abraham L. , Halbert Portia , Mckown Matthew W. , Tershy Bernie R. , Croll Donald A.
Published: November 2015

Autonomous sensors and automated analysis have great potential to reduce cost and increase efficacy of wildlife monitoring. By increasing sampling effort, autonomous sensors are powerful at detecting rare and elusive species such as the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus). New approaches must be tested for comparability to existing methodologies, so we compared the results of inland audio–visual and of automated acoustic monitoring for marbled murrelets, conducted during the 2010 breeding season, at 7 sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA. We found automated acoustic surveys and analysis had fewer detections per morning compared with audio–visual surveyors, but the rate of automated acoustic detections per morning was positively and strongly correlated with the rate of audio–visual detections per mornings (r = 0.96, P < 0.01). Furthermore, acoustic monitoring sampled 10 times more mornings per site ( = 48) than were monitored by human surveyors ( = 4.4) at a comparable cost. We used resampling to estimate the power to detect murrelet presence with acoustic sensors at >80% within 8 continuous days of recordings, even at low‐activity sites. Our results suggest that autonomous sensor and automated analysis approaches could greatly increase the scale and efficacy of murrelet monitoring, allowing for more cost‐effective surveying of large and remote areas of potential habitat, as well as, improved ability to measure changes in inland activity. Further study of passive acoustic recordings would be valuable to examine for acoustic signs of breeding phenology, and site occupancy, if acoustic surveys are to replace the utility of audio–visual surveys. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Photophysical Properties of Heteronuclear Zinc(II)/Cadmium(II)‐Lanthanide(III) Coordination Complexes based on Benzoic Acid
Authors: Chi Yu‐Xian , Liu Yu‐Qian , Hu Xiao‐Shuang , Tang Xiao‐Yun , Liu Yu‐Juan , Jin Jing , Niu Shu‐Yun , Zhang Guang‐Ning
Published: November 2015

The heteronuclear d‐f coordination complexes [Er2Zn2(C6H5COO)10(phen)2] (1), [Ho2Zn2(C6H5COO)10(phen)2] (2), [Pr3Zn6(C6H5COO)21(phen)3] (3), [ErCd(C6H5COO)5(phen)·H2O] (4), [Ho2Cd3(C6H5COO)12(phen)2] (5), [EuCd2(C6H5COO)7(phen)2] (6) (C6H5COOH = benzoic acid;phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized by hydrothermal methods, and their structures were studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Complexes 1, 2, 4, and 5 crystallize in the triclinic space group P and complexes 3 and 6 in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The room temperature IR, UV/Vis/NIR absorption, and emission spectra of the six complexes were determined and assigned. In the visible and NIR regions, the emission spectra of complexes show characteristic bands of corresponding LnIII ions, which are attributed to the sensitization from the d block (Zn/Cd‐ligand section) and ligands. In comparison with isolated LnIII ions, the NIR emission bands of complexes 1–5 exhibit shifting, broadening and splitting, which are also present in their UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectra. Thus, the two spectra of complexes can evidence each other.
Degradation of Phytic Acid and Soy Protein in Soy Meal via Co‐fermentation of Aspergillusoryzae and Aspergillusficuum
Authors: Chen Liyan , Vadlani Praveen V. , Madl Ronald L. , Gibbons William
Published: November 2015

The usage of soy meal (SM) as a protein source for young monogastric animals is limited by the presence of antinutritional factors. To address this problem, fermentation was applied to simultaneously degrade phytic acid and soy protein in SM. Aspergillusoryzae (ATCC 9362) and Aspergillusficuum (ATCC 66876), sources of protease and thermostable phytase, respectively, were co‐fermented using a two‐stage temperature protocol: 36.5 °C (0–28 h), then 50 °C (28–40 h). The two‐stage co‐fermentation approach achieved a 17 % increase of phytic acid degradation compared to A. oryzae fermentation and 72 % increase in protein degree of hydrolysis (DH) compared to A. ficuum fermentation. The two‐stage temperature fermentation produced a 27 % increase in phytic acid degradation and 90 % increase in DH compared to a single‐stage fermentation. The fermented SM with reduced levels of antinutritional factors would serve as high quality feedstuff.
Improving Patient Care by Incorporation of Multidisciplinary Breast Radiology-Pathology Correlation Conference
Authors: Prakash Seema , Venkataraman Shambhavi , Slanetz Priscilla J. , Dialani Vandana , Fein-Zachary Valerie , Littlehale Nancy , Mehta Tejas S.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

It is well known that radiologic-pathologic correlation is critical in managing patients with breast disease. Although regular multidisciplinary conferences addressing radiologic-pathologic correlation are common at most major academic institutions, this approach is not universal in community-based settings or even some of the smaller academic practices. This study was performed to assess the impact of a weekly multidisciplinary conference on patient care to determine whether all breast practices should adopt this approach as a means to streamline and improve the quality of patient care.

Methods

We reviewed cases of percutaneous breast core biopsies presented at our weekly breast radiology-pathology correlation conference from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2012. Each reviewed case was assigned to 1 of 4 categories (concordant → concordant, concordant → discordant, discordant → discordant, and discordant → concordant) based on the “initial” and “final” impressions of concordance between radiology and pathology. Changes in concordance, histopathological diagnosis, or management that occurred during the conference were recorded prospectively and analysed. Changes in management that were considered significant included changes in recommendations for surgery, repeat core biopsy, or follow-up imaging.

Results

Of 1387 presented at the conference, 1313 (94.7%) had no change during the meeting, confirming 1279 (92.2%) concordant and 34 (2.4%) discordant cases. A total of 74 (5.3%) cases had a change during the conference: 22 of 74 (29.7%) were changed from discordant to concordant, avoiding surgical excision in 15 and short interval imaging in 7; 23 of 74 (31.1%) were changed from concordant to discordant; on excision 3 were cancer, 3 atypia, 10 benign, 2 stable on follow-up imaging, and 5 lost to follow-up; the remaining 29 of 74 (39.2%) stayed concordant after review, but had a change in management, avoiding surgery in 14 and short interval imaging in 15. Overall, as a result of this conference, repeat biopsy or excision was recommended in 23, surgery was avoided in 29, short interval imaging avoided in 22, and cancer detected in 3 cases.

Conclusions

Our weekly breast radiology-pathology correlation conference impacted patient management in up to 5.3% of cases. These results support the need to incorporate a weekly multidisciplinary case review of breast core biopsies into all breast care practices. Such a conference maximizes cancer detection, identifies discordant cases in a timely manner, decreases follow-up imaging, and avoids unnecessary surgical intervention.
Unusual effects of crowders on heme retention in myoglobin
Authors: Kundu Jayanta , Kar Uddipan , Gautam Saurabh , Karmakar Sandip , Chowdhury Pramit K.
Published: November 2015

Myoglobin (Mb) undergoes pronounced heme loss under denaturing conditions wherein the proximal histidine gets protonated. Our data show that macromolecular crowding agents (both synthetic and protein based) can appreciably influence the extent of heme retention in Mb. Interestingly, glucose and sucrose, the monomeric constituents of dextran and ficoll‐based crowders were much more effective in preventing heme dissociation of Mb, albeit, at much higher concentrations. The protein crowders BSA and lysozyme show very interesting results with BSA bringing about the maximum heme retention amongst all the crowding agents used while lysozyme induced heme dissociation even in the native state of Mb. The stark difference that these protein crowders exhibit when interacting with the heme protein is a testament to the varied interaction potentials that a test protein might be exposed to in the physiological (crowded) milieu.
Characterization and crystal structure determination of β‐1,2‐mannobiose phosphorylase from Listeria innocua
Authors: Tsuda Tomohiro , Nihira Takanori , Chiku Kazuhiro , Suzuki Erika , Arakawa Takatoshi , Nishimoto Mamoru , Kitaoka Motomitsu , Nakai Hiroyuki , Fushinobu Shinya
Published: November 2015

Glycoside hydrolase family 130 consists of phosphorylases and hydrolases for β‐mannosides. Here, we characterized β‐1,2‐mannobiose phosphorylase from Listeria innocua (Lin0857) and determined its crystal structures complexed with β‐1,2‐linked mannooligosaccharides. β‐1,2‐Mannotriose was bound in a U‐shape, interacting with a phosphate analog at both ends. Lin0857 has a unique dimer structure connected by a loop, and a significant open–close loop displacement was observed for substrate entry. A long loop, which is exclusively present in Lin0857, covers the active site to limit the pocket size. A structural basis for substrate recognition and phosphorolysis was provided.
Commitment of Annexin A2 in recruitment of microRNAs into extracellular vesicles
Authors: Hagiwara Keitaro , Katsuda Takeshi , Gailhouste Luc , Kosaka Nobuyoshi , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: November 2015

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the exact molecular mechanisms of the recruitment of miRNAs in EVs are not well characterized. Based on proteomic analysis, we identified that silencing of Annexin A2 (ANXA2) significantly decreased the amount of miRNAs in EVs. In addition, microarray analysis revealed that ANXA2 regulated the loading of miRNAs into EVs in a sequence independent manner. Lastly, immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed that ANXA2 could bind miRNAs in EVs in the presence of Ca2+. These observations demonstrate that ANXA2 plays an important role in the packaging process of miRNAs into EVs.
Usefulness of filtered unipolar electrogram morphology for evaluating transmurality of ablated lesions during pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Kogawa Rikitake , Watanabe Ichiro , Okumura Yasuo , Mano Hiroaki , Sonoda Kazumasa , Nagashima Koichi , Sasaki Naoko , Ohkubo Kimie , Takahashi Keiko , Iso Kazuki , Kurokawa Sayaka , Nakai Toshiko , Hirayama Atsushi
Published: November 2015

Background

Although alteration of the amplitude and morphology of bipolar electrograms is used widely as a guide of the ablation effect, there is little information concerning unipolar electrograms. The amplitude and morphology of filtered bipolar (BP) and filtered unipolar (UP) electrograms were compared during pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods

BP (30–250 Hz) and UP (30–100 Hz) signals from the ablation catheter were recorded before and after each ablation point at the pulmonary vein antrum in 6 patients with atrial fibrillation.

Results

In the electrogram group with low‐voltage amplitude in BP electrograms before ablation (<0.5 mV), the reduction in amplitude after ablation was significantly greater in the UP than in the BP electrograms, whereas the reduction was similar between the two recording methods in the electrogram group with high‐voltage amplitude in BP electrograms (≥0.5 mV). Furthermore, the S wave in the UP electrograms disappeared at the sites of no pace capture after ablation, whereas no characteristic morphologic changes were observed in the BP electrograms.

Conclusion

Filtered UP electrograms may be useful in assessing the effectiveness of lesion formation.
Antidepressant‐like effects of Sanyuansan in the mouse forced swim test, tail suspension test, and chronic mild stress model
Authors: Yan Shuo , You Zi‐Li , Zhao Qiu‐Ying , Peng Cheng , He Gang , Gou Xiao‐jun , Lin Bin
Published: November 2015

Natural products have been widely reported as effective therapeutic alternatives for treatment of depression. Sanyuansan is a compound recipe composed of ginseng total saponins, fish oil, and valeriana. The aims of this study were to validate whether Sanyuansan has antidepressant‐like effects through acute behavioral tests including the forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), locomotor activity test, and chronic mild stress (CMS) mice model of depression. C57BL/6 mice were given oral administration of 30 mg/kg imipramine, Sanyuansan, and saline, respectively. The acute behavioral tests including the TST, FST, and locomotor activity test were done after the administration of drugs for consecutively three times (24 hours, 1 hour, and 0.5 hour prior to the tests). Furthermore, the sucrose preference and the serum corticosterone level of mice in the CMS model were examined. Sanyuansan only at 900 mg/kg markedly reduced immobility time in the TST compared with the saline‐treated group of mice. Sanyuansan at doses of 225 mg/kg, 450 mg/kg, and 900 mg/kg significantly reduced immobility time of mice in the FST. Sanyuansan reversed the CMS‐induced anhedonia and hyperactivation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis. In addition, our results showed that neither imipramine nor Sanyuansan at any dosage increased spontaneous motor activity. These results suggested that Sanyuansan induced significant antidepressant‐like effects in mice in both acute and chronic animal models, which seemed unlikely to be attributed to an increase in locomotor activities of mice, and had no sedative‐like effects.
Resolving thePhomaenigma
Authors: Chen Q. , Jiang J.R. , Zhang G.Z. , Cai L. , Crous P.W.
Published: November 2015

TheDidymellaceaewas established in 2009 to accommodateAscochyta,DidymellaandPhoma, as well as several related phoma-like genera. The family contains numerous plant pathogenic, saprobic and endophytic species associated with a wide range of hosts.AscochytaandPhomaare morphologically difficult to distinguish, and species from both genera have in the past been linked toDidymellasexual morphs. The aim of the present study was to clarify the generic delimitation inDidymellaceaeby combing multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU,rpb2andtub2, and morphological observations. The resulting phylogenetic tree revealed 17 well-supported monophyletic clades inDidymellaceae, leading to the introduction of nine genera, three species, twonomina novaand 84 combinations. Furthermore, 11 epitypes and seven neotypes were designated to help stabilise the taxonomy and use of names. As a result of these data,Ascochyta,DidymellaandPhomawere delineated as three distinct genera, and the generic circumscriptions ofAscochyta,Didymella,EpicoccumandPhomaemended. Furthermore, the genusMicrosphaeropsis, which is morphologically distinct from the members ofDidymellaceae, grouped basal to theDidymellaceae, for which a new familyMicrosphaeropsidaceaewas introduced.
Risk Stratification for Athletes and Adventurers in High-Altitude Environments: Recommendations for Preparticipation Evaluation
Authors: Campbell Aaron D. , McIntosh Scott E. , Nyberg Andy , Powell Amy P. , Schoene Robert B. , Hackett Peter
Published: November 2015

High-altitude athletes and adventurers face a number of environmental and medical risks. Clinicians often advise participants or guiding agencies before or during these experiences. Preparticipation evaluation (PPE) has the potential to reduce risk of high-altitude illnesses in athletes and adventurers. Specific conditions susceptible to high-altitude exacerbation also important to evaluate include cardiovascular and lung diseases. Recommendations by which to counsel individuals before participation in altitude sports and adventures are few and of limited focus. We reviewed the literature, collected expert opinion, and augmented principles of a traditional sport PPE to accommodate the high-altitude wilderness athlete/adventurer. We present our findings with specific recommendations on risk stratification during a PPE for the high-altitude athlete/adventurer.
SITUATING SCAMANDER: ‘NATURECULTURE’ IN THE ILIAD
Authors: Holmes Brooke
Published: November 2015

The true subject of the Iliad, Simone Weil famously wrote, is force. Time and again, ‘the human spirit is shown as modified by its relation with force, as swept away, blinded, by the very force it imagined it could handle, as deformed by the weight of the force it submits to’. Force turns men, perpetrators of violence and its victims alike, into things: objectification is its bane. Homer's clarity about the moral degradation of war, that machine of force, is what makes him, in Weil's accounting, not just the first but the greatest of poets.