bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Luminescence study of Dy or Ce activated LiCaBO3 phosphor for γ‐ray and C5+ ion beam irradiation
Authors: Oza Abha H. , Dhoble N. S. , Lochab S. P. , Dhoble S. J.
Published: January 2015

The photoluminescence and thermoluminescence characteristics of rare earths (Dy or Ce) activated LiCaBO3 phosphors have been studied. Phosphors were synthesized by modified solid state synthesis. The phosphors were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) for structural, morphological and luminescence studies. Dy3+ activated LiCaBO3 shows emission at 486 and 577 nm due to 4 F9/2 → 6H15/2 and 4 F9/2 → 6H13/2 transition, respectively, whereas the PL emission spectra of Ce3+ activated LiCaBO3 phosphor shows a broad band peaking at 432 nm, which is due to the transition from 5d level to the ground state of the Ce3+ ion. The thermoluminescence study was also carried out for both these phosphors for γ‐ray irradiation and carbon beam irradiation. Linearity was studied for a 0.4–3.1 Rad dose γ‐rays. Linear behaviour over this dose range was observed. Gamma ray‐irradiated phosphors were shown to be negligible fading upon storage. All the samples were also studied for 75 MeV C5+ ion beam exposure in the range of 3.75 × 1012 – 7.5 × 1013 ion cm–2 fluence. In addition to this, trapping parameters of all the samples were also calculated using Chen's peak shape method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanism of alcohol‐enhanced lucigenin chemiluminescence in alkaline solution
Authors: Chi Quan , Chen Wanying , He Zhike
Published: January 2015

The chemiluminescence (CL) of lucigenin (Luc2+) can be enhanced by different alcohols in alkaline solution. The effect of different fatty alcohols on the CL of lucigenin was related to the carbon chain length and the number of hydroxyl groups. Glycerol provides the greatest enhancement. UV/Vis absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra showed that N‐methylacridone (NMA) was produced in the CL reaction in the presence of different alcohols. The peak of the CL spectrum was located at 470 nm in all cases, indicating that the luminophore was always the excited‐state NMA. The quenching of lucigenin CL by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the electron spin resonance (ESR) results with the spin trap of 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline N‐oxide (DMPO) demonstrated that superoxide anions (O2•–) were generated from dissolved oxygen in the CL reaction and that glycerol and dihydroxyacetone (DHA) can promote O2•− production by the reduction of dissolved oxygen in alkaline solution. It was assumed that the enhancement provided by different alcohols was related to the solvent effect and reducing capacity. Glycerol and DHA can also reduce Luc2+ into lucigenin cation radicals (Luc•+), which react with O2•− to produce CL, and glycerol can slowly transform into DHA, which is oxidized quickly in alkaline solution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Buffer‐free therapeutic antibody preparations provide a viable alternative to conventionally buffered solutions: From protein buffer capacity prediction to bioprocess applications
Authors: Bahrenburg Sven , Karow Anne R. , Garidel Patrick
Published: January 2015

Protein therapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), have significant buffering capacity, particularly at concentrations >50 mg/mL. This report addresses pH‐related issues critical to adoption of self‐buffered monoclonal antibody formulations. We evaluated solution conditions with protein concentrations ranging from 50 to 250 mg/mL. Samples were both buffer‐free and conventionally buffered with citrate. Samples were non‐isotonic or adjusted for isotonicity with NaCl or trehalose. Studies included accelerated temperature stability tests, shaking stability studies, and pH changes in infusion media as protein concentrate is added. We present averaged buffering slopes of capacity that can be applied to any mAb and present a general method for calculating buffering capacity of buffer‐free, highly concentrated antibody liquid formulations. In temperature stability tests, neither buffer‐free nor conventionally buffered solution conditions showed significant pH changes. Conventionally buffered solutions showed significantly higher opalescence than buffer‐free ones. In general, buffer‐free solution conditions showed less aggregation than conventionally buffered solutions. Shaking stability tests showed no differences between buffer‐free and conventionally buffered solutions. “In‐use” preparation experiments showed that pH in infusion bag medium can rapidly approximate that of self‐buffered protein concentrate as concentrate is added. In summary, the buffer capacity of proteins can be predicted and buffer‐free therapeutic antibody preparations provide a viable alternative to conventionally buffered solutions.
Publication of surgeon-specific outcomes
Authors: Alderson D , Cromwell D
Published: January 2015

Need to move to compulsory institutional reporting
“On the job” learning: A bioinformatics course incorporating undergraduates in actual research projects and manuscript submissions
Authors: Smith Jason T. , Harris Justine C. , Lopez Oscar J. , Valverde Laura , Borchert Glen M.
Published: January 2015

The sequencing of whole genomes and the analysis of genetic information continues to fundamentally change biological and medical research. Unfortunately, the people best suited to interpret this data (biologically trained researchers) are commonly discouraged by their own perceived computational limitations. To address this, we developed a course to help alleviate this constraint. Remarkably, in addition to equipping our undergraduates with an informatic toolset, we found our course design helped prepare our students for collaborative research careers in unexpected ways. Instead of simply offering a traditional lecture‐ or laboratory‐based course, we chose a guided inquiry method, where an instructor‐selected research question is examined by students in a collaborative analysis with students contributing to experimental design, data collection, and manuscript reporting. While students learn the skills needed to conduct bioinformatic research throughout all sections of the course, importantly, students also gain experience in working as a team and develop important communication skills through working with their partner and the class as a whole, and by contributing to an original research article. Remarkably, in its first three semesters, this novel computational genetics course has generated 45 undergraduate authorships across three peer‐reviewed articles. More importantly, the students that took this course acquired a positive research experience, newfound informatics technical proficiency, unprecedented familiarity with manuscript preparation, and an earned sense of achievement. Although this course deals with analyses of genetic systems, we suggest the basic concept of integrating actual research projects into a 16‐week undergraduate course could be applied to numerous other research‐active academic fields. © 2015 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43(3):154–161, 2015.
The chromatographic assay of 4‐hydroxynonenal as a biomarker of diseases by means of MEPS and HPLC technique
Authors: Ligor Magdalena , Ligor Tomasz , Gadzała‐Kopciuch Renata , Buszewski Bogusław
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new analytical method for the determination of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (4‐HNE) in biological samples while applying microextraction by packed sorbent as a sample preparation method and HPLC with UV–vis detection. Various microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) sorbents like C2, C8, C18, M1 (80% C8 and 20% SCX) and silica were used to separate 4‐HNE from biological samples. The highest affinity of 4‐HNE was observed for sorbents like C18. The extraction efficiency was in the range from 47.4 to 89.2% dependent on the concentration of 4‐HNE. Lower efficiency of 4‐HNE extraction was obtained with use of MEPS packings such as C8 and M1. The extraction efficiency was in the range from 35.2 to 66.3% for packing C8 and from 34.2 to 64.3% for packing M1, respectively. The limit of detection and lower limit of quantitation for UV–vis detection were respectively 4.5 and 9.0 nmol/mL. The proposed method can be used for the evaluation of extraction efficiency of 4‐HNE in biological sample because the values of lower limit of quantitation are lower than the determined amounts of the analyte in samples. The method yields excellent performance of quantification and identification in analysis of inflammation biomarkers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth inhibitory effects of miR‐221 and miR‐222 in non‐small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Yamashita Ryo , Sato Mitsuo , Kakumu Tomohiko , Hase Tetsunari , Yogo Naoyuki , Maruyama Eiichi , Sekido Yoshitaka , Kondo Masashi , Hasegawa Yoshinori
Published: January 2015

Both pro‐ and anti‐oncogenic roles of miR‐221 and miR‐222 microRNAs are reported in several types of human cancers. A previous study suggested their oncogenic role in invasiveness in lung cancer, albeit only one cell line (H460) was used. To further evaluate involvement of miR‐221 and miR‐222 in lung cancer, we investigated the effects of miR‐221 and miR‐222 overexpression on six lung cancer cell lines, including H460, as well as one immortalized normal human bronchial epithelial cell line, HBEC4. miR‐221 and miR‐222 induced epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like changes in a minority of HBEC4 cells but, unexpectedly, both the microRNAs rather suppressed their invasiveness. Consistent with the prior report, miR‐221 and miR‐222 promoted growth in H460; however, miR‐221 suppressed growth in four other cell lines with no effects in one, and miR‐222 suppressed growth in three cell lines but promoted growth in two. These are the first results to show tumor‐suppressive effects of miR‐221 and miR‐222 in lung cancer cells, and we focused on clarifying the mechanisms. Cell cycle and apoptosis analyses revealed that growth suppression by miR‐221 and miR‐222 occurred through intra‐S‐phase arrest and/or apoptosis. Finally, lung cancer cell lines transfected with miR‐221 or miR‐222 became more sensitive to the S‐phase targeting drugs, possibly due to an increased S‐phase population. In conclusion, our data are the first to show tumor‐suppressive effects of miR‐221 and miR‐222 on lung cancer, warranting testing their potential as therapeutics for the disease.
ANGPTL3 is a novel biomarker as it activates ERK/MAPK pathway in oral cancer
Authors: Koyama Tomoyoshi , Ogawara Katsunori , Kasamatsu Atsushi , Okamoto Atsushi , Kasama Hiroki , Minakawa Yasuyuki , Shimada Ken , Yokoe Hidetaka , Shiiba Masashi , Tanzawa Hideki , Uzawa Katsuhiro
Published: January 2015

Angiopoietin‐like 3 (ANGPTL3), which is involved in new blood vessel growth and stimulation of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), is expressed aberrantly in several types of human cancers. However, little is known about the relevance of ANGPTL3 in the behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, we evaluated ANGPTL3 mRNA and protein in OSCC‐derived cell lines (n = 8) and primary OSCCs (n = 109) and assessed the effect of ANGPTL3 on the biology and function of OSCCs in vitro and in vivo. Significant (P < 0.05) ANGPTL3 upregulation was detected in the cell lines and most primary OSCCs (60%) compared with the normal counterparts. The ANGPTL3 expression level was correlated closely (P < 0.05) with tumoral size. In patients with T3/T4 tumors, the overall survival rate with an ANGPTL3‐positive tumor was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of ANGPTL3‐negative cases. In vitro, cellular growth in ANGPTL3 knockdown cells significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with inactivated extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and cell‐cycle arrest at the G1 phase resulting from upregulation of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors, including p21Cip1 and p27Kip1. We also observed a marked (P < 0.05) reduction in the growth in ANGPTL3 knockdown‐cell xenografts with decreased levels of phosphorylated ERK relative to control‐cell xenografts. The current data indicated that ANGPTL3 may play a role in OSCCs via MAPK signaling cascades, making it a potentially useful diagnostic/therapeutic target for use in patients with OSCC.
Quality of life and disease understanding: impact of attending a patient‐centered cancer symposium
Authors: Padrnos Leslie , Dueck Amylou C. , Scherber Robyn , Glassley Pamela , Stigge Rachel , Northfelt Donald , Mikhael Joseph , Aguirre Annette , Bennett Robert M. , Mesa Ruben A.
Published: January 2015

To evaluate the impact of a patient‐centered symposium as an educational intervention on a broad population of cancer patients. We developed a comprehensive patient symposium. Through voluntary questionnaires, we studied the impact of this cancer symposium on quality of life, cancer‐specific knowledge, and symptom management among cancer patients. Symposium attendees were provided surveys prior to and 3 months following the educational intervention. Surveys included (1) EORTC‐QLQ‐C30; (2) disease understanding tool developed for this conference; (3) validated disease‐specific questionnaires. Changes over time were assessed using McNemar's tests and paired t‐tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 158 attendees completed the pre‐convention survey. Most respondents reported at least “quite a bit” of understanding regarding treatment options, screening modalities, symptomatology, and cancer‐related side effects. Attendees endorsed the least understanding of disease‐related stress, risk factors, fatigue management, and legal issues related to disease/treatment. At 3 months, there was improvement in understanding (12 of 14 areas of self‐reported knowledge especially regarding nutrition, and stress/fatigue management). However, no significant change was seen in QLQ‐C30 functioning, fatigue, pain, or insomnia. A patient symposium, as an educational intervention improves a solid knowledge base amongst attendees regarding their disease, increases knowledge in symptom management, but may be insufficient to impact QoL as a single intervention.
Polyamide Fluorescent Probes for Visualization of Repeated DNA Sequences in Living Cells
Authors: Nozeret Karine , Loll François , Escudé Christophe , Boutorine Alexandre S.
Published: January 2015

DNA imaging in living cells usually requires transgenic approaches that modify the genome. Synthetic pyrrole‐imidazole polyamides that bind specifically to the minor groove of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) represent an attractive approach for in‐cell imaging that does not necessitate changes to the genome. Nine hairpin polyamides that target mouse major satellite DNA were synthesized. Their interactions with synthetic target dsDNA fragments were studied by thermal denaturation, gel‐shift electrophoresis, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The polyamides had different affinities for the target DNA, and fluorescent labeling of the polyamides affected their affinity for their targets. We validated the specificity of the probes in fixed cells and provide evidence that two of the probes detect target sequences in mouse living cell lines. This study demonstrates for the first time that synthetic compounds can be used for the visualization of the nuclear substructures formed by repeated DNA sequences in living cells.
Risk assessments and recidivism among a population‐based group of Swedish offenders sentenced to life in prison
Authors: Sturup Joakim , Karlberg Daniel , Fredriksson Björn , Lihoff Tobias , Kristiansson Marianne
Published: January 2015

Background

In Sweden, the number of people serving life sentences has steadily increased. To date, few studies have examined the recidivism rate or the predictive validity of different risk assessment instruments in this group.

Aims

Our aim was to test the predictive validity among inmates serving life sentences of two different instruments used for assessing risk—the Historical, Clinical and Risk Management‐20 (HCR‐20), most widely used in clinical populations, and the Psychopathy Checklist‐Revised (PCL‐R), commonly applied in both penal and clinical settings.

Method

Ninety‐eight life‐sentenced prisoners were included, 26 of whom were released during the study period. Data on risk assessments and dates for release were collected from administrative records, while recidivism data were retrieved from a national database on criminal convictions.

Results

Sex offenders obtained the highest scores and inmates charged with domestic violent offences obtained the lowest scores on both instruments. The released prisoners were followed for a mean period of 33 months. During this time five prisoners (19%) reoffended, four of them violently, with an average time to recidivism of 10 months. Only PCL‐R Facet 4, which reflects antisocial features, was significantly associated with recidivism.

Conclusions

This small, but population‐based, study demonstrates that antisocial behaviour shows incremental predictive validity for reoffending among life‐sentenced offenders, but other measures have little to add for this specific task. The fact that those life sentenced prisoners who reoffended did so so soon after release should prompt allocation of earlier interventions towards preventing this. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal balloon dilation to prevent progression of banding site stenosis after bilateral pulmonary artery banding
Authors: Hoshino Shinsuke , Kitano Masataka , Abe Tadaaki , Yazaki Satoshi , Kagisaki Koji
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal balloon dilation (PTBD) for the treatment of bilateral pulmonary artery banding (bil‐PAB) site stenosis. Background: Although bil‐PAB is an alternative initial treatment for high‐risk neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or critical aortic stenosis (cAS), those patients often suffer from desaturation because of progressive stenosis of the bil‐PAB sites during the interstage period.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of 11 consecutive PTBD procedures performed between 2006 and 2012 to treat bil‐PAB site stenosis in four high‐risk infants (three females) with HLHS or cAS.

Results

PTBD was repeated twice in two patients and three times in one patient over intervals. The mean balloon diameter (BD) and BD‐to‐band circumference (BC) ratio were 3.1 ± 0.5 mm and 0.31 ± 0.06, respectively. After the procedures, the mean minimum lumen diameter was dilated significantly from 1.1 ± 0.1 mm to 1.7 ± 0.3 mm (P < 0.01), and the mean peripheral oxygen saturation increased significantly from 75 ± 8% to 85 ± 4% (P < 0.01). All patients reached the next stage operation involving the Norwood & bidirectional Glenn or Ross procedure, after growth. No complications such as band rupture occurred.

Conclusions

For progressive stenosis of bil‐PAB sites, PTBD using a balloon size that did not exceed the BC (BD around 30% of the BC) was an effective and safe procedure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of ductal stenting versus surgical shunts for palliation of patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum
Authors: Mallula Kiran , Vaughn Gabrielle , El‐Said Howaida , Lamberti John J. , Moore John W.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

We sought to compare ductal stenting (DS) to systemic‐pulmonary artery shunt (SPS) in a contemporary cohort of patients having pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS).

Background

Alternative palliative strategies (interventional versus surgical) are currently available for initial palliation of ductal dependent patients with various forms of congenital heart disease. There is little data available to guide strategy selection.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with PAIVS at our institution from Jan 2006 to Dec 2013 was performed. Demographic, echocardiographic, procedural, and follow‐up data were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients were identified. Thirteen underwent DS and 16 underwent SPS. In the DS group, 6 had radiofrequency perforation of the pulmonary valve, and 12 underwent balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) prior to DS. SPS was performed after perforation of the pulmonary valve in 1 patient and after BPV in 4 patients. Procedural success was 92.8% in the DS group versus 93.3% in the SPS group. In the DS group, one patient required emergency shunting due to intra‐procedural ductal spasm. In the SPS group there was one procedure related death, and there were six significant procedure‐related complications. Five patients required re‐interventions prior to hospital discharge. The median length of hospital stay for the DS versus SPS group was 10 versus 23 days, respectively (P < 0.05). Post discharge, there were seven reinterventions in the DS group and two reinterventions in the SPS group.

Conclusions

DS may provide a safe and effective alternative to SPS in selected patients with PAIVS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis obscured by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Back to basics
Authors: Witt Chance M. , Eleid Mackram F. , Nishimura Rick A.
Published: January 2015

In this report, we describe the case of a 41‐year‐old man with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presenting with right‐sided congestive heart failure symptoms. Noninvasive testing was suggestive, but non‐diagnostic for constrictive pericarditis (CP) and thus invasive hemodynamic catheterization was performed. The unique presence of both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and constriction in this case led to lack of “modern” echocardiographic and invasive criteria for CP, based upon findings of enhanced ventricular dependence. However, classic hemodynamic criteria of early rapid filling with elevation and end‐equalization of diastolic pressures were present, and the patient ultimately received pericardiectomy with dramatic clinical improvement. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The STENTYS® paclitaxel‐eluting stent in the treatment of unprotected distal left main
Authors: Briguori Carlo , Visconti Gabriella , Donahue Michael , Focaccio Amelia , Mitomo Satoru , Kawamoto Hiroyoshi , Nakamura Sunao
Published: January 2015

Background

Vessel tapering represents an important limitation of the balloon‐expandable drug‐eluting stent (DES) in the treatment of distal unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) lesions. In this study, we assessed the suitability of the STENTYS DES(P), a self‐apposing nitinol paclitaxel‐eluting stent, for use in the treatment of distal ULMCA lesions.

Methods and Results

From February 2012 to September 2013, 75 consecutive patients with tapered (that is a >1 mm difference in the diameter from the proximal to the distal main vessel) distal ULMCA lesions were treated with the STENTYS DES(P) (STENTYS‐DES group) at the Clinica Mediterranea (Naples, Italy). A matched‐group of 75 patients treated with second‐generation DES in the same period (Control group) was selected from the database of New Tokyo Hospital (Chiba, Japan). The result was assessed by both quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Although the final balloon diameter was larger in the Control group (4.51 ± 0.51 vs. 3.62 ± 0.49 mm; P < 0.001), the IVUS analysis showed a larger final minimal lumen area in the STENTYS‐DES group than in the Control group (left main: 17.45 ± 3.45 vs. 14.84 ± 3.45 mm2; P < 0.001; polygon of confluence: 15.74 ± 3.28 vs. 12.55 ± 5.45 mm2; P < 0.002; ostial left anterior descending artery: 11.73 ± 1.97 vs. 8.56 ± 1.80 mm2; P < 0.001). At 12 ± 5 months, major adverse cardiac events (including death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization) occurred in seven patients in both groups.

Conclusions

This pilot study suggests that the self‐apposing properties of the STENTYS DES(P) offer a valid alternative for the treatment of the distal ULMCA lesions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organocatalysed Asymmetric Direct Mannich Reaction of Acetophenone Derivatives and Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepines with Azetidine‐2‐carboxylic Acid
Authors: Ren Yuan‐Yuan , Wang You‐Qing , Liu Shuang , Pan Kun
Published: January 2015

An enantioselective direct Mannich reaction of different acetophenone derivatives with various substituted seven‐membered cyclic imines using (S)‐azetidine‐2‐carboxylic acid as an organocatalyst is described, which provides an efficient access to optically active 11‐substituted‐10,11‐dihydrodibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine derivatives with 87–95 % ee. For α,β‐unsaturated ketone benzalacetone, the desired Mannich product was obtained with 72 % ee. A plausible transition state is established to explain the observed absolute stereochemistry of the Mannich products. The reaction can also be performed on a gram scale with no adverse effects on the yield and enantioselectivity. Furthermore, some simple transformations involving the Wittig olefination and the decarboxylative reduction of the Mannich products were performed.
Design of a Hierarchical Meso/Macroporous Zeolite‐Supported Cobalt Catalyst for the Enhanced Direct Synthesis of Isoparaffins from Syngas
Authors: Lin Qihang , Yang Guohui , Chen Qingjun , Fan Ronggang , Yoneyama Yoshiharu , Wan Huilin , Tsubaki Noritatsu
Published: January 2015

A hierarchical meso/macroporous zeolite‐supported Co catalyst (Co/ASB) was designed and employed for the direct synthesis of isoparaffins. The hierarchical porous zeolite (ASB) was developed by a steam‐assisted crystallization method using alumina‐modified meso/macroporous silica as the precursor. Structural characterization indicated that the as‐synthesized ASB exhibited nanosized β‐zeolite crystallites and a hierarchical meso/macroporous structure. The activity of the Co/ASB catalyst was much higher than that of conventional Co catalysts supported on SiO2 (Co/SiO2) and H‐β‐zeolite (Co/B). A high isoparaffins selectivity of 30.5 % was obtained from Co/ASB because of the hydrocracking/isomerization of long‐chain hydrocarbons at the strong acidic sites of the β‐zeolite. Furthermore, as a result of the fast diffusion of syngas in the unique hierarchical pores, the methane selectivity of Co/ASB was lower than that of Co/B.
Imidazole Derivatives as Accelerators for Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydroesterification and Hydrocarbamoylation of Alkenes: Extensive Ligand Screening and Mechanistic Study
Authors: Konishi Hideyuki , Muto Takashi , Ueda Tsuyoshi , Yamada Yayoi , Yamaguchi Miyuki , Manabe Kei
Published: January 2015

Imidazole derivatives are effective ligands for promoting the [Ru3(CO)12]‐catalyzed hydroesterification of alkenes using formates. Extensive ligand screening was performed to identify 2‐hydroxymethylated imidazole as the optimal ligand. Neither carbon monoxide gas nor a directing group was required, and the reaction also showed a wide substrate generality. The Ru–imidazole catalyst system also promoted intramolecular hydrocarbamoylation to afford lactams. A Ru–imidazole complex was unambiguously analyzed by X‐ray crystallography, and it had a trinuclear structure derived from one [Ru3(CO)12] and two ligands. This complex was also successfully used for hydroesterification. The mechanism was examined in detail by using D‐ and 13C‐labeled formates, indicating that the hydroesterification reaction proceeds by a decarbonylation–recarbonylation pathway.
Nanostructured Encapsulated Catalysts for Combination of Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis and Hydroprocessing
Authors: Kruse Nadine , Machoke Albert G. , Schwieger Wilhelm , Güttel Robert
Published: January 2015

Controlling the selectivity of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a single reaction step is highly desirable, but is a major challenge in heterogeneous catalysis. One approach is the application of bifunctional catalysts. However, to control the catalytic properties the morphology of the catalyst needs to be controlled on the nanoscopic scale. Herein, an innovative synthetic approach that allows the bottom‐up construction of nanostructured bifunctional catalysts in a step‐wise manner is described. The resulting material, which exhibits cobalt nanoparticles encapsulated inside a zeolite matrix, was proven to be active in the combined Fischer–Tropsch and cracking reaction, evidenced by a shift from waxy to liquid products. Consequently, the use of this novel approach was demonstrated in terms of material synthesis and catalytic applications.
Decoupled Spin Crossover and Structural Phase Transition in a Molecular Iron(II) Complex
Authors: Kershaw Cook Laurence J. , Shepherd Helena J. , Comyn Tim P. , Baldé Chérif , Cespedes Oscar , Chastanet Guillaume , Halcrow Malcolm A.
Published: January 2015

Crystalline [Fe(bppSMe)2][BF4]2 (1; bppSMe=4‐(methylsulfanyl)‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) undergoes an abrupt spin‐crossover (SCO) event at 265±5 K. The crystals also undergo a separate phase transition near 205 K, involving a contraction of the unit‐cell a axis to one‐third of its original value (high‐temperature phase 1; Pbcn, Z=12; low‐temperature phase 2; Pbcn, Z=4). The SCO‐active phase 1 contains two unique molecular environments, one of which appears to undergo SCO more gradually than the other. In contrast, powder samples of 1 retain phase 1 between 140–300 K, although their SCO behaviour is essentially identical to the single crystals. The compounds [Fe(bppBr)2][BF4]2 (2; bppBr=4‐bromo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) and [Fe(bppI)2][BF4]2 (3; bppI=4‐iodo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridine) exhibit more gradual SCO near room temperature, and adopt phase 2 in both spin states. Comparison of 1–3 reveals that the more cooperative spin transition in 1, and its separate crystallographic phase transition, can both be attributed to an intermolecular steric interaction involving the methylsulfanyl substituents. All three compounds exhibit the light‐induced excited‐spin‐state trapping (LIESST) effect with T(LIESST=70–80 K), but show complicated LIESST relaxation kinetics involving both weakly cooperative (exponential) and strongly cooperative (sigmoidal) components.
Methane Extraction from Natural Gas Hydrate Reservoirs with Simultaneous Storage of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Merkel Florian Stephan , Schultz Heyko Jürgen
Published: January 2015

Hydrates of natural gases like methane have become subjects of great interest, mainly because of their potential as an energetic resource. Another important discussion topic is carbon dioxide and its function as greenhouse gas. Extracting methane from gas hydrates while simultaneously storing carbon dioxide in them (reformation) could be a promising means to solve both problems at the same time. Here, reformation of natural gas hydrates has been examined to realize technically feasible reformation processes and promising results regarding the saturation of hydrates with carbon dioxide have been achieved.
Safety profile of benazepril in essential hypertension
Authors: Macnab Malcolm , Mallows Susan
Published: January 2015

Data from clinical trials with benazepril suggest that the safety profile of benazepril is similar to that of other angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Treatment‐related side effects occurred in 20% of benazepril‐treated patients and in 18% of patients receiving placebo. The most commonly reported side effects with benazepril were headache, dizziness, and fatigue. The incidence of side effects was not affected by the degree of hypertension, age, gender, race, dosage, or the degree of renal impairment. Side effects believed to be related to the pharmacologic action of ACE inhibitors as a class include symptomatic hypotension, which occurred at a relatively low rate with benazepril, and hyperkalemia and elevation of serum creatinine, which occurred to the same extent with benazepril as has been noted with other ACE inhibitors. The mechanism of cough as an ACE inhibitor side effect is unknown; the incidence was similar to that with other ACE inhibitors. Rash and taste disturbance have occurred rarely with benazepril. The incidence of neutropenia and of proteinuria was the same in both the benazepril and placebo groups. Renal failure in hypertensive patients treated with benazepril has not been reported. Overall, benazepril is generally well tolerated by hypertensive patients. The incidence of most side effects is comparable to that with other ACE inhibitors and placebo.
Treatment considerations for the hypertensive patient over age 55
Authors: Tifft Charles P.
Published: January 2015

The prevalence of hypertension increases with age. The majority of the hypertensive population is over age 55. Although the treatment of systolic hypertension remains incompletely understood, the reduction of diastolic hypertension with pharmacotherapy has been shown to reduce complications from hypertension in persons over age 55. The older hypertensive patient is at risk for the same complications as the younger patient: angina, myocardial infarction, arteriosclerosis obliterans, stroke, myocardial hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, and renal failure; the risk of sudden death and multi‐infarct dementia in the older patient may be somewhat higher. The older hypertensive individual may have reduced plasma volume and defective salt and water conservation, reduced renal function, impairment of baroreceptor reflexes and sympathetic reactivity, and altered drug pharmacokinetics, or may have arteriosclerosis leading to pseudohypertension. Many circumstances interfere with adequate compliance with therapeutic regimens among the elderly. Concomitant medical conditions increase the possibility of drug interactions and require that the practitioner be able to adjust the antihypertensive program to the patient.
Eliminating radiotherapy to the contralateral retropharyngeal and high level II lymph nodes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is safe and improves quality of life
Authors: Spencer Christopher R. , Gay Hiram A. , Haughey Bruce H. , Nussenbaum Brian , Adkins Douglas R. , Wildes Tanya M. , DeWees Todd A. , Lewis James S. , Thorstad Wade L.
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Radiation treatment volumes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are controversial. The authors report the outcomes, patterns of failure, and quality of life (QOL) of patients who received treatment for HNSCC using intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that eliminated the treatment of contralateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLNs) in the clinically uninvolved neck.

METHODS

A prospective institutional database was used to identify patients who had primary oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal, and unknown primary HNSCC for which they received IMRT. There were 3 temporal groups (generations 1‐3). Generation 1 received comprehensive neck IMRT with parotid sparing, generation 2 eliminated the contralateral high level II (HLII) lymph nodes, and generation 3 further eliminated the contralateral RPLNs in the clinically uninvolved neck. Patterns of failure and survival analyses were completed, and QOL data measured using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory were compared in a subset of patients from generations 1 and 3.

RESULTS

In total, 748 patients were identified. Of the 488 patients who received treatment in generation 2 or 3, 406 had a clinically uninvolved contralateral neck. There were no failures in the spared RPLNs (95% confidence interval, 0%‐1.3%) or in the high contralateral neck (95% confidence interval, 0%‐0.7%). QOL data were compared between 44 patients in generation 1 and 51 patients in generation 3. QOL improved both globally and in all domains assessed for generation 3, in which reduced radiotherapy volumes were used (P < .007).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with locally advanced HNSCC, eliminating coverage to the contralateral HLII lymph nodes and contralateral RPLNs in the clinically uninvolved side of the neck is associated with minimal risk of failure in these regions and significantly improved patient‐reported QOL. Cancer 2014;120:3994–4002. © 2014 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society.
Prognostic significance of complex karyotype and monosomal karyotype in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with risk‐adapted protocols
Authors: Motlló Cristina , Ribera Josep‐María , Morgades Mireia , Granada Isabel , Montesinos Pau , González‐Campos José , Fernández‐Abellán Pascual , Tormo Mar , Bethencourt Concepción , Brunet Salut , Hernández‐Rivas Jesús‐María , Moreno María‐José , Sarrà Josep , del Potro Eloy , Barba Pere , Bernal Teresa , Grande Carlos , Grau Javier , Cervera José , Feliu Evarist ,   PETHEMA Group, Spanish Society of Hematology
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

The karyotype is a predictor of outcomes in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The unfavorable prognostic significance of complex karyotype (CK) has been reported, whereas the prognostic relevance of monosomal karyotype (MK) has not been consistently evaluated. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of CK and MK in adults with ALL treated with risk‐adapted protocols of the Spanish PETHEMA Group.

METHODS

The karyotypes of 881 adult ALL patients treated according to the protocols of the PETHEMA Group between 1993 and 2012 were centrally reviewed. CK and MK were assessed according to Moorman's criteria, and Breem's criteria, respectively. Specific analyses according to the risk groups and to the presence of t(9:22) were performed.

RESULTS

Of 364 evaluable patients 33 (9.2%) had CK, and 68 of 535 evaluable patients (12.8%) had MK. Complete remission rate, remission duration, and overall survival were not significantly different according to the presence of CK or MK in the whole series, according to the B or T lineage, in the high‐risk group, or in patients with t(9;22), regardless of imatinib treatment, and in patients who received chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that CK and MK were not associated with a worse prognosis in adult patients with ALL treated with risk‐adapted or subtype‐oriented protocols. In patients with Ph+ ALL, MK did not have an impact on prognosis irrespective of imatinib treatment. Cancer. © 0000 American Cancer Society Cancer 2014;120:3958–3964. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
A systematic literature review of Linked Data‐based recommender systems
Authors: Figueroa Cristhian , Vagliano Iacopo , Rocha Oscar Rodríguez , Morisio Maurizio
Published: January 2015

Recommender systems (RS) are software tools that use analytic technologies to suggest different items of interest to an end user. Linked Data is a set of best practices for publishing and connecting structured data on the Web. This paper presents a systematic literature review to summarize the state of the art in RS that use structured data published as Linked Data for providing recommendations of items from diverse domains. It considers the most relevant research problems addressed and classifies RS according to how Linked Data have been used to provide recommendations. Furthermore, it analyzes contributions, limitations, application domains, evaluation techniques, and directions proposed for future research. We found that there are still many open challenges with regard to RS based on Linked Data in order to be efficient for real applications. The main ones are personalization of recommendations, use of more datasets considering the heterogeneity introduced, creation of new hybrid RS for adding information, definition of more advanced similarity measures that take into account the large amount of data in Linked Data datasets, and implementation of testbeds to study evaluation techniques and to assess the accuracy scalability and computational complexity of RS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uncovering Structure–Activity Relationships in Manganese‐Oxide‐Based Heterogeneous Catalysts for Efficient Water Oxidation
Authors: Indra Arindam , Menezes Prashanth W. , Driess Matthias
Published: January 2015

Artificial photosynthesis by harvesting solar light into chemical energy could solve the problems of energy conversion and storage in a sustainable way. In nature, CO2 and H2O are transformed into carbohydrates by photosynthesis to store the solar energy in chemical bonds and water is oxidized to O2 in the oxygen‐evolving center (OEC) of photosystem II (PS II). The OEC contains CaMn4O5 cluster in which the metals are interconnected through oxido bridges. Inspired by biological systems, manganese‐oxide‐based catalysts have been synthesized and explored for water oxidation. Structural, functional modeling, and design of the materials have prevailed over the years to achieve an effective and stable catalyst system for water oxidation. Structural flexibility with eg1 configuration of MnIII, mixed valency in manganese, and higher surface area are the main requirements to attain higher efficiency. This Minireview discusses the most recent progress in heterogeneous manganese‐oxide‐based catalysts for efficient chemical, photochemical, and electrochemical water oxidation as well as the structural requirements for the catalyst to perform actively.
A secure and effective biometric‐based user authentication scheme for wireless sensor networks using smart card and fuzzy extractor
Authors: Das Ashok Kumar
Published: January 2015

User authentication is a prominent security requirement in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for accessing the real‐time data from the sensors directly by a legitimate user (external party). Several user authentication schemes are proposed in the literature. However, most of them are either vulnerable to different known attacks or they are inefficient. Recently, Althobaiti et al. presented a biometric‐based user authentication scheme for WSNs. Although their scheme is efficient in computation, in this paper, we first show that their scheme has several security pitfalls such as (i) it is not resilient against node capture attack; (ii) it is insecure against impersonation attack; and (iii) it is insecure against man‐in‐the‐middle attack. We then aim to propose a novel biometric‐based user authentication scheme suitable for WSNs in order to withstand the security pitfalls found in Althobaiti et al. scheme. We show through the rigorous security analysis that our scheme is secure and satisfies the desirable security requirements. Furthermore, the simulation results for the formal security verification using the most widely used and accepted Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications tool indicate that our scheme is secure. Our scheme is also efficient compared with existing related schemes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disordered eating and psychological well‐being in overweight and nonoverweight adolescents: Secular trends from 1999 to 2010
Authors: Loth Katie , Wall Melanie , Larson Nicole , Neumark‐Sztainer Dianne
Published: January 2015

Objective

In this research study, we examine how both overweight and nonoverweight adolescent girls and boys fared from 1999 to 2010 in terms of disordered eating behaviors and psychosocial well‐being.

Method

A repeated cross‐sectional design was used. Participants were recruited from public schools in 1999 (n = 3072, mean age = 14.6 ± 1.8) and 2010 (n = 2793, mean age = 14.4 ± 2.0). Secular trends were examined by weight status and gender using inverse probability weighting to control for changes in socio‐demographics.

Results

In general, the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and markers of psychosocial well‐being among overweight girls and boys remained the same from 1999 to 2010. In contrast, among nonoverweight girls, chronic dieting, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and extreme weight control behaviors decreased, and body satisfaction improved during this time period. Further, among non‐overweight boys, the prevalence of unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors decreased, as did mean depression scores.

Discussion

Overall, findings indicate a strong need to ensure that messages about the dangers of disordered eating behaviors are reaching overweight youth. Obesity prevention interventions should not overlook the comorbid nature of obesity, disordered eating and poor psychosocial health; prevention programming should address shared risk factors, including dieting, media use, body dissatisfaction, and weight‐related teasing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:323–327)
Trajectories of picky eating during childhood: A general population study
Authors: Cardona Cano Sebastian , Tiemeier Henning , Van Hoeken Daphne , Tharner Anne , Jaddoe Vincent W.V. , Hofman Albert , Verhulst Frank C. , Hoek Hans W.
Published: January 2015

Objective

 This cohort study describes the prevalence of picky eating and examines prognostic factors for picky eating trajectories during childhood.

Methods

 4,018 participants of a population‐based cohort with measurements from pregnancy onwards were included. Picky eating was assessed by maternal report when children were 1.5, 3, and 6 years old. The associations of child and family characteristics with trajectories of picky eating were examined using logistic regression. Never picky eaters were used as the reference group.

Results

 Prevalence of picky eating was 26.5% at 1.5 years of age, 27.6% at the age of 3 and declined to 13.2% at 6 years. Four main picky eating trajectories were defined: (1) never picky eating at all three assessments (55% of children), (2) remitting (0–4 years, 32%), (3) late‐onset (6 years only, 4%), and (4) persistent (all ages, 4%). This implies that almost two thirds of the early picky eaters remitted within 3 years. Male sex, lower birth weight, non‐Western maternal ethnicity, and low parental income predicted persistent picky eating. More often late‐onset picky eaters were children of parents with low income and non‐Western ethnicity.

Discussion

 We found that nearly half (46%) of children were picky eaters at some point during early childhood. Remittance was very high. This suggests that picky eating is usually a transient behavior and part of normal development in preschool children. However, a substantial group of persistent picky eaters, often from a socially disadvantaged background, continues to have problems beyond the preschool age. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:570–579)
Validation of the exercise and eating disorders questionnaire
Authors: Danielsen Marit , Bjørnelv Sigrid , Rø Øyvind
Published: January 2015

Objective

Compulsive exercise is a well‐known feature in eating disorders. The Exercise and Eating Disorder (EED) self‐report questionnaire was developed to assess aspects of compulsive exercise not adequately captured by existing instruments. This study aimed to test psychometric properties and the factor structure of the EED among women with eating disorders and a control group.

Method

The study included 449 female participants, including 244 eating disorders patients and 205 healthy controls. The patient group consisted of 32.4% (n = 79) AN patients, 23.4% (n = 57) BN, 34.4% (n = 84) EDNOS and 9.8% (n = 24) with BED diagnosis.

Results

The analyses confirmed adequate psychometric properties of the EED, with a four‐factor solution: (1) compulsive exercise, (2) positive and healthy exercise, (3) awareness of bodily signals, and (4) weight and shape exercise. The EED discriminated significantly (p < .001) between patients and controls on the global score, subscales, and individual items. Test‐retest reliability was satisfactory (r = 0.86). Convergent validity was demonstrated by high correlations between the EED and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE‐Q; r = 0.79).

Discussion

The EED is the first clinically derived, self‐report questionnaire to assess compulsive exercise among ED patients. The EED offers assessment that has broader clinical utility than existing instruments because it identifies treatment targets and treatment priorities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:983–993).