bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total Synthesis of 7‐epi‐Pukalide and 7‐Acetylsinumaximol B
Authors: McAulay Kirsten , Clark J. Stephen
Published: June 2017

Convergent total syntheses of the furanocembranoids 7‐epi‐pukalide and 7‐acetylsinumaximol B have been achieved using a one‐pot Knoevenagel condensation and thioether‐mediated furan‐forming reaction. Furan formation proceeds via a sulfur ylide and results in rapid introduction of structural complexity during the coupling of two highly functionalised fragments. The targets have been prepared in 16 steps from (R)‐perillyl alcohol.
Performance study of multistage membrane and hybrid distillation processes for propylene/propane separation
Authors: Park Jaedeuk , Kim Kiwoong , Shin Jae‐Wook , Tak Kyungjae , Park Yong‐Ki
Published: June 2017

This article investigates the separation performance and energy efficiency of multistage membrane and hybrid processes for the separation of propane/propylene mixtures compared with the conventional distillation process. To satisfy the separation objective of 0.996 mol/mol (99.6 mol%) C3H6 purity and 97 % C3H6 separation recovery ratio, a detailed parametric study for the multistage membrane and hybrid process systems was described. For this purpose, the effects of operating conditions and process configurations on separation performance have been evaluated using a counter‐current flow model. The numerical model using a single‐stage membrane was validated with published experimental data for the membrane system, and the model was then applied to multistage membrane and hybrid processes. The optimum variables that satisfy the targeted purity and recovery ratio were examined using the multistage membrane at a given selectivity and pressure ratio. The energy consumption of several hybrid configurations for the separation of propane/propylene mixtures was investigated with conventional distillation.
Generation of Maize (Zea mays) Doubled Haploids via Traditional Methods
Authors: Vanous Kimberly , Vanous Adam , Frei Ursula K. , Lübberstedt Thomas
Published: June 2017

Commercial maize hybrid production has corroborated the usefulness of producing inbred lines; however, the delivery of new lines has always been a major time constraint in breeding programs. Traditional methods for developing inbred lines typically require 6 to 10 generations of self‐pollination to obtain sufficient homozygosity. To bypass the time and costs associated with the development of inbred lines, doubled haploid (DH) systems have been widely adopted in the commercial production of maize. Within just two generations, DH systems can create completely homozygous and homogeneous lines. A typical maize DH system, utilizing anthocyanin markers R1‐nj or Pl1 for haploid selection, is described in this protocol. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Defect Chemistry, Electrical Properties, and Evaluation of New Oxides Sr2CoNb1−xTixO6−δ (0≤x≤1) as Cathode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Azcondo María Teresa , Yuste Mercedes , Pérez‐Flores Juan Carlos , Muñoz‐Gil Daniel , García‐Martín Susana , Muñoz‐Noval Alvaro , Orench Inés Puente , García‐Alvarado Flaviano , Amador Ulises
Published: June 2017

The perovskite series Sr2CoNb1−xTixO6−δ (0≤x≤1) was investigated in the full compositional range to assess its potential as cathode material for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The variation of transport properties and thus, the area specific resistances (ASR) are explained by a detailed investigation of the defect chemistry. Increasing the titanium content from x=0–1 produces both oxidation of Co3+ to Co4+ (from 0 up to 40 %) and oxygen vacancies (from 6.0 to 5.7 oxygen atom/formula unit), although each charge compensation mechanism predominates in different compositional ranges. Neutron diffraction reveals that samples with high Ti‐contents lose a significant amount of oxygen upon heating above 600 K. Oxygen is partially recovered upon cooling as the oxygen release and uptake show noticeably different kinetics. The complex defect chemistry of these compounds, together with the compositional changes upon heating/cooling cycles and atmospheres, produce a complicated behavior of electrical conductivity. Cathodes containing Sr2CoTiO6−δ display low ASR values, 0,13 Ω cm2 at 973 K, comparable to those of the best compounds reported so far, being a very promising cathode material for SOFC.
Greening the Processes of Metal–Organic Framework Synthesis and their Use in Sustainable Catalysis
Authors: Chen Junying , Shen Kui , Li Yingwei
Published: June 2017

Given the shortage of sustainable resources and the increasingly serious environmental issues in recent decades, the demand for clean technologies and sustainable feedstocks is of great interest to researchers worldwide. With regard to the fields of energy saving and environmental remediation, the key point is the development of efficient catalysts, not only in terms of facile synthesis methods, but also the benign utilization of such catalysts. This work reviews the use of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF‐based materials in these fields. The definition of MOFs and MOF‐based materials will be primarily introduced followed by a brief description of the characterization and stability of MOF‐related materials under the applied conditions. The greening of MOF synthesis processes will then be discussed and catalogued by benign solvents and conditions and green precursors of MOFs. Furthermore, their suitable application in sustainable catalysis will be summarized, focusing on several typical atom‐economic reactions, such as the direct introduction of H2 or O2 and C−C bond formation. Approaches towards reducing CO2 emission by MOF‐based catalysts will be described with special emphasis on CO2 fixation and CO2 reduction. In addition, driven by the explosive growth of energy consumption in the last century, much research has gone into biomass, which represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels and a sustainable carbon feedstock for chemical production. The advanced progress of biomass‐related transformations is also illustrated herein. Fundamental insights into the nature of MOF‐based materials as constitutionally easily recoverable heterogeneous catalysts and as supports for various active sites is thoroughly discussed. Finally, challenges facing the development of this field and the outlook for future research are presented.
Cdk5 activity is required for Purkinje cell dendritic growth in cell‐autonomous and non‐cell‐autonomous manners
Authors: Xu Bozong , Kumazawa Ayumi , Kobayashi Shunsuke , Hisanaga Shin‐ichi , Inoue Takafumi , Ohshima Toshio
Published: June 2017

Cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is recognized as a unique member among other Cdks due to its versatile roles in many biochemical processes in the nervous system. The proper development of neuronal dendrites is required for the formation of complex neural networks providing the physiological basis of various neuronal functions. We previously reported that sparse dendrites were observed on cultured Cdk5‐null Purkinje cells and Purkinje cells in Wnt1cre‐mediated Cdk5 conditional knockout (KO) mice. In the present study, we generated L7cre‐mediated p35; p39 double KO (L7cre‐p35f/f; p39–/–) mice whose Cdk5 activity was eliminated specifically in Purkinje cells of the developing cerebellum. Consequently, these mice exhibited defective Purkinje cell migration, motor coordination deficiency and a Purkinje dendritic abnormality similar to what we have observed before, suggesting that dendritic growth of Purkinje cells was cell‐autonomous in vivo. We found that mixed and overlay cultures of WT cerebellar cells rescued the dendritic deficits in Cdk5‐null Purkinje cells, however, indicating that Purkinje cell dendritic development was also supported by non‐cell‐autonomous factors. We then again rescued these abnormalities in vitro by applying exogenous brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Based on the results from culture experiments, we attempted to rescue the developmental defects of Purkinje cells in L7cre‐p35f/f; p39–/– mice by using a TrkB agonist. We observed partial rescue of morphological defects of dendritic structures of Purkinje cells. These results suggest that Cdk5 activity is required for Purkinje cell dendritic growth in cell‐autonomous and non‐cell‐autonomous manners. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 1175–1187, 2017
Fragmentation increases wind disturbance impacts on forest structure and carbon stocks in a western Amazonian landscape
Authors: Schwartz Naomi B. , Uriarte María , DeFries Ruth , Bedka Kristopher M. , Fernandes Katia , Gutiérrez‐Vélez Victor , Pinedo‐Vasquez Miguel A.
Published: June 2017

Tropical second‐growth forests could help mitigate climate change, but the degree to which their carbon potential is achieved will depend on exposure to disturbance. Wind disturbance is common in tropical forests, shaping structure, composition, and function, and influencing successional trajectories. However, little is known about the impacts of extreme winds on second‐growth forests in fragmented landscapes, though these ecosystems are often located in mosaics of forest, pasture, cropland, and other land cover types. Indirect evidence suggests that fragmentation increases risk of wind damage in tropical forests, but no studies have found such impacts following severe storms. In this study, we ask whether fragmentation and forest type (old vs. second growth) were associated with variation in wind damage after a severe convective storm in a fragmented production landscape in western Amazonia. We applied linear spectral unmixing to Landsat 8 imagery from before and after the storm, and combined it with field observations of damage to map wind effects on forest structure and biomass. We also used Landsat 8 imagery to map land cover with the goals of identifying old‐ and second‐growth forest and characterizing fragmentation. We used these data to assess variation in wind disturbance across 95,596 ha of forest, distributed over 6,110 patches. We find that fragmentation is significantly associated with wind damage, with damage severity higher at forest edges and in edgier, more isolated patches. Damage was also more severe in old‐growth than in second‐growth forests, but this effect was weaker than that of fragmentation. These results illustrate the importance of considering landscape context in planning tropical forest restoration and natural regeneration projects. Assessments of long‐term carbon sequestration potential need to consider spatial variation in disturbance exposure. Where risk of extreme winds is high, minimizing fragmentation and isolation could increase carbon sequestration potential.
Vitamin D levels strongly influence bone mineral density and bone turnover markers during weight gain in female patients with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Giollo Alessandro , Idolazzi Luca , Caimmi Cristian , Fassio Angelo , Bertoldo Francesco , Dalle Grave Riccardo , El Ghoch Marwan , Calugi Simona , Bazzani Paola Vittoria , Viapiana Ombretta , Rossini Maurizio , Gatti Davide
Published: June 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate a potential role for vitamin D status on bone mineral density (BMD) during weight gain in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Method

Spine and hip BMD assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), serum vitamin D (25‐OH‐D), N‐propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), C‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured before and after a 20‐week intensive weight‐restoration program in ninety‐one female patients with AN and secondary amenorrhoea.

Results

Ninety‐one consecutive female patients (age 13–45 years; weight 39.4 ± 5.6 kg, body mass index [BMI] 15.1 ± 1.6 kg m−2) were included in the study. Although weight and BMI significantly increased in all patients during treatment, mean BMD only significantly increased at the spine (1.0% ± 3.6%, p = .009). The increase in spine BMD was significantly higher only above post‐treatment 25‐OH‐D levels of 30 ng mL−1 (2.5% vs. 0.5%, respectively, for 25‐OH‐D ≥ and < 30 ng mL−1, p = .026). There was a significant decrease in bone resorption (CTX; p = .043) and increased bone formation (P1NP; p < .001) after weight restoration. Nevertheless, a significant increase in PTH was also found, which was inversely correlated with decreased post‐treatment 25‐OH‐D levels (R2 = .153, p < .001).

Discussion

Hypovitaminosis D may counteract the efficacy of refeeding in AN through increased bone resorption mediated by secondary hyperparathyroidism, which strongly supports the use of vitamin D supplements for bone health in AN.
Macronutrient intake associated with weight gain in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Baskaran Charumathi , Carson Traci L. , Campoverde Reyes Karen J. , Becker Kendra R. , Slattery Meghan J. , Tulsiani Shreya , Eddy Kamryn T. , Anderson Ellen J. , Hubbard Jane L. , Misra Madhusmita , Klibanski Anne
Published: June 2017

Objective

Adolescents and women with anorexia nervosa (AN) are known to severely restrict total calorie and fat intake. However, data are limited regarding specific macronutrient intake associated with weight gain in AN.

Objective

To prospectively investigate dietary macronutrient composition associated with weight gain in adolescent girls with AN.

Method

A prospective naturalistic study of 90 girls 12–18 years old; 45 with AN and 45 healthy normal‐weight‐controls over a 6–12‐month period. Participants completed four‐day food diaries and underwent body composition assessment using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Weight gain was defined as a ≥10% increase in body mass index (BMI) from baseline.

Results

Baseline clinical characteristics did not differ between girls with AN who did not gain weight (AN‐0) versus those who did (AN‐1) over the following 6–12 month period except for percentage of calories from proteins (p = 0.046). At 6–12 month follow‐up, AN‐1 consumed a lower percentage of total calories from protein (p = .001), and a higher percentage of total calories from fat (p = .02) compared to AN‐0. AN‐1 had a significant increase in the percentage of total calories obtained from and poly‐unsaturated‐fatty acids (PUFA) (p = 0.006) compared to AN‐0, between baseline and follow‐up. Within the AN group, BMI at follow‐up was associated positively with percentage of total calories obtained from fat, MUFA, and PUFA (p < .05) at 6/12 months, and inversely with the percentage of total calories obtained from carbohydrates and proteins (p = .03).

Discussion

Consuming a greater proportion of total calories from fat is associated with weight gain in adolescent girls with AN.
Litter is more effective than forest canopy reducing soil evaporation in Dry Chaco rangelands
Authors: Magliano Patricio N. , Giménez Raúl , Houspanossian Javier , Páez Ricardo A. , Nosetto Marcelo D. , Fernández Roberto J. , Jobbágy Esteban G.
Published: June 2017

Soil evaporation is a dominant water flux of flat dry ecosystems, reducing available water for plant transpiration. Vegetation plays a key role at controlling evaporation, especially by altering soil surface micro‐meteorological conditions. Here, we explored the vegetation cover effect on soil evaporation, differentiating the effects of canopy cover (shadow) and of surface cover (litter) in forests and pastures of Dry Chaco rangelands (San Luis, Argentina). We measured daily soil evaporation using irrigated micro‐lysimeters installed at regularly spaced (2 m) patches along transects in native dry forests (n = 54 patches) and pastures (n = 27 patches). In each forest patch, we established a pair of micro‐lysimeters, one with litter (3 cm depth, representing high litter cover conditions of the site) and one with bare soil, but in pastures, only one micro‐lysimeter with bare soil was installed at each patch (representing the typical no litter cover conditions of pastures of the study site). We found that, when soil water was not limiting, litter cover had the strongest effect in reducing evaporation rates, with a 4‐ and 6.4‐fold reduction respect to bare soil micro‐lysimeters in the forest and pasture, respectively. Evaporation decreased sharply with declining incident radiation fraction in bare soil micro‐lysimeters from 5.6 mm/day (full radiation) to 3.5 mm/day (full canopy shadow; R2 = 0.50). Litter‐covered micro‐lysimeters showed lower and more stable evaporation rates, decreasing only from 1.35 to 1.03 mm/day under the same radiation conditions (R2 = 0.10). In accordance with J.T. Ritchie evaporation model, we identified a threshold of ~10.5 mm of cumulative evaporation at which evaporation switched from energy to water limitation in all situations, as revealed by declining evaporation rates and raising surface temperatures. Under typical wet–summer conditions, the pasture, the forest with bare soil, and the forest with litter would need on average a drying cycle of 1.5, 2.5, and 9.5 days, respectively, to reach that threshold. Simulations showed that, considering the distribution of rainfall events at our study site, litter would maintain evaporation in the energy‐limited mode most of the time (68.8% of summer days), potentially favouring transpiration. The ecohydrological key role of soil litter controlling evaporation highlights the importance of an accurate assessment of management practices controlling the evaporation/transpiration partition in dry ecosystems.
Declines in plant palatability from polar to tropical latitudes depend on herbivore and plant identity
Authors: Demko Alyssa M. , Amsler Charles D. , Hay Mark E. , Long Jeremy D. , McClintock James B. , Paul Valerie J. , Sotka Erik E.
Published: June 2017

Long‐standing theory predicts that the intensity of consumer–prey interactions declines with increasing latitude, yet for plant–herbivore interactions, latitudinal changes in herbivory rates and plant palatability have received variable support. The topic is of growing interest given that lower‐latitude species are moving poleward at an accelerating rate due to climate change, and predicting local interactions will depend partly on whether latitudinal gradients occur in these critical biotic interactions. Here, we assayed the palatability of 50 seaweeds collected from polar (Antarctica), temperate (northeastern Pacific; California), and tropical (central Pacific; Fiji) locations to two herbivores native to the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, the generalist crab Mithraculus sculptus and sea urchin Echinometra lucunter. Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) of polar and temperate origin were more readily consumed by urchins than were tropical reds. The decline in palatability with decreasing latitude is explained by shifts in tissue organic content along with the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites, degree of calcification or both. We detected no latitudinal shift in palatability of red seaweeds to crabs, nor any latitudinal shifts in palatability of brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta) to either crabs or urchins. Our results suggest that evolutionary pressure from tropical herbivores favored red seaweeds with lower palatability, either through the production of greater levels of chemical defenses, calcification, or both. Moreover, our results tentatively suggest that the “tropicalization” of temperate habitats is facilitated by the migration of tropical herbivores into temperate areas dominated by weakly defended and more nutritious foods, and that the removal of these competing seaweeds may facilitate the invasion of better‐defended tropical seaweeds.
Dinuclear MoV Complexes with Thiophenolate‐oxazoline Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Exceptional Activity in Catalytic Olefin Epoxidation
Authors: Peschel Lydia M. , Belaj Ferdinand , Schachner Jörg A. , Mösch‐Zanetti Nadia C.
Published: June 2017

The synthesis, characterization, and epoxidation catalysis of two neutral, dinuclear molybdenum(V) complexes [{MoO(Lx)(µ‐O)}2] (x = 1: 1; x = 2: 2) bearing S,N‐bidentate thiophenolate‐oxazoline ligands (L1, L2) are described. Both complexes are formed under reduction of the metal with formation of disulfides (L1)2 and (L2)2. Each Mo center is coordinated by one bidentate thiophenolate‐oxazoline ligand and one terminal and two bridging oxido ligands. The solid‐state structures of NaL2 and complex 1 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The five‐coordinate nature of the molybdenum atoms in 1 and 2 leads to exceptionally high catalytic activities in the epoxidation of cyclooctene. The catalyst loading can be reduced to 0.001 mol‐% (10 ppm), with a turnover number (TON) of 85000 and a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of 62000 h–1 for 1, and a TON of 87400 and a TOF of 107400 h–1 for 2. For cyclooctene, the catalyst solutions can be recycled multiple times without significant loss of activity; however, other substrates (styrene, 1‐octene, and limonene) showed conversions with lower selectivity. The fate of catalyst 1 was examined by stoichiometric addition experiments with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide, which resulted in the formation of benzenesulfonate‐oxazoline derivative HL3 and polyoxomolybdates.
Graphene/Poly(vinylferrocene) Composite Based Amperometric Biosensor for L‐lysine Determination
Authors: Kaçar Ceren , Erden Pınar Esra , Kılıç Esma
Published: June 2017

A novel and sensitive amperometric biosensor for L‐lysine determination based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with graphene (GR) and redox polymer poly(vinylferrocene) (PVF) was constructed. L‐lysine‐α‐oxidase was immobilized onto the modified GCE by a glutaraldehyde/bovine serum albumin cross‐linking procedure. SEM, CV and EIS were used for the characterization of the surface morphology and stepwise fabrication processes of PVF/GR composite. Optimal composition of the biosensor and experimental conditions that affect the performance of the biosensor are discussed. The effect of buffer pH on biosensor response was studied in detail over a wide pH range. L‐lysine biosensor displayed a linear range of 9.9×10−7‐ 3.1×10−4M with a low detection limit of 2.3×10−7M andKMappvalue of 0.4 mM. The L‐lysine biosensor was tested using pharmaceutical sample and cheese with satisfactory results.
Analysis of selected genes associated with cardiomyopathy by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Szabadosova Viktoria , Boronova Iveta , Ferenc Peter , Tothova Iveta , Bernasovska Jarmila , Zigova Michaela , Kmec Jan , Bernasovsky Ivan
Published: June 2017

Background

As the leading cause of congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy represents a heterogenous group of heart muscle disorders. Despite considerable progress being made in the genetic diagnosis of cardiomyopathy by detection of the mutations in the most prevalent cardiomyopathy genes, the cause remains unsolved in many patients. High‐throughput mutation screening in the disease genes for cardiomyopathy is now possible because of using target enrichment followed by next‐generation sequencing. The aim of the study was to analyze a panel of genes associated with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on previously published results in order to identify the subjects at risk.

Methods

The method of next‐generation sequencing by IlluminaHiSeq 2500 platform was used to detect sequence variants in 16 individuals diagnosed with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Detected variants were filtered and the functional impact of amino acid changes was predicted by computational programs.

Results

DNA samples of the 16 patients were analyzed by whole exome sequencing. We identified six nonsynonymous variants that were shown to be pathogenic in all used prediction softwares: rs3744998 (EPG5), rs11551768 (MGME1), rs148374985 (MURC), rs78461695 (PLEC), rs17158558 (RET) and rs2295190 (SYNE1). Two of the analyzed sequence variants had minor allele frequency (MAF)<0.01: rs148374985 (MURC), rs34580776 (MYBPC3).

Conclusion

Our data support the potential role of the detected variants in pathogenesis of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; however, the possibility that these variants might not be true disease‐causing variants but are susceptibility alleles that require additional mutations or injury to cause the clinical phenotype of disease must be considered.
The risk factor of false‐negative and false‐positive for T‐SPOT.TB in active tuberculosis
Authors: Di Li , Li Yan
Published: June 2017

Objectives

T‐SPOT.TB is a promising diagnosis tool to identify both pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, as well as latent tuberculosis; however, the factors that affect the results of T‐SPOT.TB remains unclear. In this study, we aim to figure out the risk factor of T‐SPOT.TB for active TB.

Methods

A total of 349 patients were recruited between January 1st, 2016 and January 22st, 2017 at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, including 98 subjects with TB and 251 subjects with non‐TB disease, and received T‐SPOT.TB (Oxford Immunotec Ltd). Statistics were analyzed by SPSS 19.0 using logistic regression.

Results

The overall specificity and sensitivity of the T‐SPOT.TB was 92.83% (233/251; 95%CI 0.8872‐0.9557) and 83.67% (82/98; 95%CI 0.7454‐0.9010), respectively. Patients with tuberculous meningitis were more likely to have false‐negative results (OR 17.4, 95%CI 3.068‐98.671; P<.001) while patients with cured TB tended to induce false‐positive results (OR 30.297; 95%CI 7.069‐129.849; P<.001). The results were not affected by sex, age, onset time, smoke, alcohol, treatment, allergic history, co‐morbidity, TB (exclude tuberculous meningitis) (P>.05).

Conclusion

Tuberculous meningitis was a risk factor of false‐negative for T‐SPOT.TB, while cured TB was a risk factor of false‐positive.
Temporal variability of ENSO effects on corn yield at the central region of Argentina
Authors: Jozami Emiliano , Montero Bulacio Enrique , Coronel Alejandra
Published: June 2017

The yield of corn is strongly affected by climatic conditions during the growing season. In the central region of Argentina, this crop is mainly managed under rainfed conditions. Hence, in most years, it is subjected to drought at some period during the growing season. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is known to influence rainfall in this region, mainly during the warm semester, hence affecting summer crops yields. This study assessed the relationship between ENSO [analysed through the June–July–August Oceanic Niño Index (JJA‐ONI)] and corn yields in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, which is the main corn‐growing area in Argentina. This was performed for two contrasting periods regarding technology applied in the agricultural sector: 1972–1991 and 1992–2012. Remarkable increases in corn yield between periods were found for the entire region. Except for the province of Entre Ríos, we found statistically significant differences between periods in the trends of corn yield by performing the Chow test. Significant correlations (P < 0.01) between the JJA‐ONI and corn yield were found in many counties of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe provinces. The correlation was higher in the second period for most counties. We consider that two hypotheses could explain this correlation increase: (1) in previous decades the best growing seasons (from a climatic point of view) were not fully exploited because of a low use of inputs and technology; and (2) the correlation between the ONI and rainfall could have increased in the last decades. We confirmed the latter hypothesis with rainfall data from conventional meteorological stations of 11 locations of the region under analysis. The JJA‐ONI assessed in this research is available before farmers make their most relevant corn management decisions (fertilizer dose, sowing date, density, etc.), thus making this index highly valuable.
Frequency Domain Analysis of Multiwavelength Photoacoustic Signals for Differentiating Among Malignant, Benign, and Normal Thyroids in an Ex Vivo Study With Human Thyroids
Authors: Sinha Saugata , Dogra Vikram S. , Chinni Bhargava K. , Rao Navalgund A.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

This study investigated the capability of spectral parameters, extracted by frequency domain analysis of photoacoustic signals, to differentiate among malignant, benign, and normal thyroid tissue.

Methods

We acquired multiwavelength photoacoustic images of freshly excised thyroid specimens collected from 50 patients who underwent thyroidectomy after having a diagnosis of suspected thyroid lesions. A thyroid cytopathologist marked histologic slides of each tissue specimen. These marked slides were used as ground truth to identify the regions of interest (ROIs) corresponding to malignant, benign, and normal thyroid tissue. Three spectral parameters: namely, slope, midband fit, and intercept, were extracted from photoacoustic signals corresponding to different ROIs.

Results

Spectral parameters were extracted from a total of total of 65 ROIs. According to the ground truth, 12 of 65 ROIs belonged to malignant thyroids; 28 of 65 ROIs belonged to benign thyroids; and 25 of 65 ROIs belonged to normal thyroids. Besides slope, the other 2 spectral parameters and grayscale photoacoustic image pixel values were found to be significantly different (P < .05) between malignant and normal thyroids. Between benign and normal thyroids, all 3 spectral parameters and photoacoustic pixel values were significantly different (P < .05).

Conclusions

Preliminary results of our ex vivo human thyroid study show that the spectral parameters extracted from radiofrequency photoacoustic signals as well as the pixel values of 2‐dimensional photoacoustic images can be used for differentiating among malignant, benign, and normal thyroid tissue.
Complex Curing Pathways and Their Influence on the Phthalonitrile Resin Hardening and Elasticity
Authors: Rudyak Vladimir Yurievich , Gavrilov Alexey Andreevich , Guseva Daria Victorovna , Chertovich Alexander Victorovich
Published: June 2017

Phthalonitrile compounds with siloxane bridges are recently suggested for producing thermosetting polymer composites with expanded processing range, excellent mechanical properties, and increased thermo‐oxidative stability. Mesoscale chemistry concept is adopted to describe multipathway curing process in phthalonitriles by adding triple link (triazine) formation into chemical reactions scheme. Coarse‐grained dissipative particle dynamics simulations have shown significant changes in matrix topology and mechanical properties with increase of the triazine reaction rate. In contrast to typical changes induced by high functionality crosslinkers, matrices with high content of triazine reach higher conversion degree, are less topologically interconnected, and are softer than ones without triazine.
Rapid computation of single PET scan rest‐stress myocardial blood flow parametric images by table look up
Authors: Guehl Nicolas J. , Normandin Marc D. , Wooten Dustin W. , Rozen Guy , Ruskin Jeremy N. , Shoup Timothy M. , Woo Jonghye , Ptaszek Leon M. , Fakhri Georges El , Alpert Nathaniel M.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

We have recently reported a method for measuring rest‐stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) using a single, relatively short, PET scan session. The method requires two IV tracer injections, one to initiate rest imaging and one at peak stress. We previously validated absolute flow quantitation in ml/min/cc for standard bull's eye, segmental analysis. In this work, we extend the method for fast computation of rest‐stress MBF parametric images.

Methods

We provide an analytic solution to the single‐scan rest‐stress flow model which is then solved using a two‐dimensional table lookup method (LM). Simulations were performed to compare the accuracy and precision of the lookup method with the original nonlinear method (NLM). Then the method was applied to 16 single scan rest/stress measurements made in 12 pigs: seven studied after infarction of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory, and nine imaged in the native state. Parametric maps of rest and stress MBF as well as maps of left (fLV) and right (fRV) ventricular spill‐over fractions were generated. Regions of interest (ROIs) for 17 myocardial segments were defined in bull's eye fashion on the parametric maps. The mean of each ROI was then compared to the rest (K1r) and stress (K1s) MBF estimates obtained from fitting the 17 regional TACs with the NLM.

Results

In simulation, the LM performed as well as the NLM in terms of precision and accuracy. The simulation did not show that bias was introduced by the use of a predefined two‐dimensional lookup table. In experimental data, parametric maps demonstrated good statistical quality and the LM was computationally much more efficient than the original NLM. Very good agreement was obtained between the mean MBF calculated on the parametric maps for each of the 17 ROIs and the regional MBF values estimated by the NLM (K1map LM = 1.019 × K1ROI NLM + 0.019, R2 = 0.986; mean difference = 0.034 ± 0.036 mL/min/cc).

Conclusions

We developed a table lookup method for fast computation of parametric imaging of rest and stress MBF. Our results show the feasibility of obtaining good quality MBF maps using modest computational resources, thus demonstrating that the method can be applied in a clinical environment to obtain full quantitative MBF information.
Psychosocial Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Intake Following a NYC Supermarket Discount
Authors: Bernales‐Korins Maria , Ang Ian Yi Han , Khan Shamima , Geliebter Allan
Published: June 2017

Objective

To assess the effect of a 50% discount on fruits and vegetables (F&V) on the purchase and intake of F&V and on psychosocial determinants of F&V intake: self‐efficacy (SE), stages of change (SOC), and perceived barriers (PB).

Methods

This randomized controlled trial was conducted in local supermarkets over 16 weeks, including a 4‐week baseline, 8‐week discount intervention, and 4‐week follow‐up. Shoppers with overweight or obesity (BMI > 25) were randomized to receive a discount or no discount via their reward scan card after the baseline. Twenty‐four‐hour recalls and psychosocial measures were obtained for each study period.

Results

Purchases (P < 0.0005) and intakes (P = 0.019) of F&V increased significantly during the intervention, while only F&V intake was sustained at follow‐up. The discount intervention increased SE (P < 0.01) and SOC (P < 0.05) and did not decrease PB (P = 0.057) during the intervention. SOC mediated the discount intervention effect on F&V intake (P < 0.05) during the intervention, explaining 43% of variance.

Conclusions

A supermarket discount intervention led to increases in purchases and intakes of F&V and increases in the psychosocial factors SE and SOC and did not decrease PB. The discount intervention prompted participants to move from the preparation to action stage of SOC, which acted as a mediator for increased F&V intake.
Short silica fiber composites with simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks constituted by siloxane and phenolic systems
Authors: Smitha Alex Ancy , Rajeev R.S. , Ranjith R. , Mohammad Fazil , Gouri C. , Sekkar V.
Published: June 2017

Short silica fiber reinforced simultaneous interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composites comprising of siloxane and resole phenolic units were synthesized through curing of polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ) and phenolic polymer systems along with short silica fibre. IPNs were formed at various PMSQ/phenolic ratios, while weight percentage of silica short fiber was kept at 60% (by weight). The formation of IPN was confirmed by FTIR, TGA and DMA. The effect of IPN composition on the mechanical, thermal, thermo‐physical and dynamic mechanical properties was investigated. The variation in properties was well correlated with the morphological and phase distribution features of IPN and the interaction of matrix with silica fiber. It was found that phenolic addition improved the properties of PMSQ‐silica composite system substantially and the optimal obtained was with 25% phenolic for most of the properties (compressive and flexural strength, toughness and thermal conductivity) due to the complete miscibility of the resultant IPN and its superior interaction with silica fiber. Tensile strength and impact strength showed increasing trend with phenolic content. However, the char residue got decreased with increase in phenolic content. This study shows that the synergy of PMSQ and PF polymeric systems in the form of IPN is worthwhile to be explored further for various potential applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:4010–4019, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Morphological, thermal, and blood‐compatible properties of electrospun nanocomposites for tissue engineering application
Authors: Manikandan Ayyar , Mani Mohan Prasath , Jaganathan Saravana Kumar , Rajasekar Rathanasamy
Published: June 2017

In this work, the morphological, thermal, and blood compatibility properties of prepared polyurethane (PU) and gandharvahasthadi eranda thailam (GHT) nanocomposites were investigated. Morphological and thermal characterization revealed reduced diameter, improved surface roughness, and higher thermal degradation compared to control. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) assay revealed that the fabricated nanocomposites displayed delayed blood clotting time owing to improved surface morphology. The hemolytic assay suggested that nanocomposites would be nonhemolytic material due to low hemolytic index of about 1.15% compared to pure PU (2.733%) portraying its safety with the red blood cells. Thus, the newly developed PU/GHT composite scaffold possessing better physicochemical and blood compatibility may be considered as a potential substitute scaffold for replacing damaged tissue. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E132–E139, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers
Trends in antidepressant prescribing to children and adolescents in Canadian primary care: A time‐series analysis
Authors: Morkem Rachael , Williamson Tyler , Patten Scott , Queenan John A. , Wong Sabrina T. , Manca Donna , Barber David
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe the trends and patterns of antidepressant (AD) prescribing to children and adolescents in Canadian primary care before and after the black‐box warning in 2004.

Methods

Prescription data from the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network, a repository of primary care data on over 1 million patients, was used to analyze AD prescribing to children (8‐11 y) and adolescents (12‐18 y) between 2000 and 2014. Interrupted time series analyses were used to assess the impact of the 2004 black‐box warning on the prescribing levels of ADs.

Results

The 2004 black‐box warning had a significant and immediate effect on the prescribing of AD. However, this drop was not sustained, and 5 years after the advisory AD prescribing rates reversed direction and started to rise. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors dominated as the most common AD prescribed throughout the study period, increasing from 66% prior to the black‐box warning to 83.12% after 2009.

Conclusions

The black‐box warning effectively reduced AD prescribing in primary care for approximately 5 years before a reversal back to a positive rate of prescribing. This rebounding could reflect an emerging consensus about the trade‐off in risks and benefits.
Improvement in open circuit voltage of n‐ZnO/p‐Si solar cell by using amorphous‐ZnO at the interface
Authors: Hussain Babar
Published: June 2017

Several research groups are currently working on n‐ZnO/p‐Si heterojunction solar cell, and recently, Pietruszka et al [Sol. Energ. Mat. Sol. Cells 147 (2016) 164‐170] has reported the highest efficiency of 7.1% for this structure. The main challenge is to enhance the open circuit voltage up to theoretically predicted value of >0.6 V. This paper reports >20% improvement in open circuit voltage of n‐ZnO/p‐Si solar cell by depositing amorphous‐ZnO at the interface at room temperature that possibly improves the passivation and/or avoids oxide formation at the interface during ZnO deposition. Two other materials, aluminum nitride and amorphous‐Si, have also been used as buffer layers to evaluate their effect on suppression of interface states. Furthermore, additional advantage of ZnO as an antireflector has been experimentally verified for different thicknesses of ZnO film.
Investigation of Energetic Particle Distribution from High‐Order Detonations of Munitions
Authors: Walsh Michael R. , Temple Tracey , Bigl Matthew F. , Tshabalala Seipati F. , Mai Nathalie , Ladyman Melissa
Published: June 2017

Military training with munitions containing explosives will result in the deposition of energetic materials on ranges. These residues contain compounds that may result in human health impacts when off‐range migration occurs. Models exist that predict the spatial and mass distribution of particles, but they have proven to be difficult to apply to detonating munitions. We have conducted a series of tests to determine if modelling results can be directly applied to simple detonation scenarios. We also command detonated several rounds to obtain an initial indication of high‐order detonation particle distributional heterogeneity. The detonation tests indicate that particle distributions will be quite heterogeneous and that the model used did not adequately describe the distribution of detonation residues. This research will need to be expanded to build an empirical database sufficient to enable the refinement of existing models and improve their predictions. Research on low‐order detonations should be conducted as low‐order detonations will result in higher mass deposition than high‐order detonations. Distribution models verified with empirical data may then be incorporated into range management models.
Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels in the transition zone correlate with prostate volume
Authors: Pejčić Tomislav , Tosti Tomislav , Tešić Živoslav , Milković Borivoj , Dragičević Dejan , Kozomara Milutin , Čekerevac Milica , Džamić Zoran
Published: June 2017

Background

There is still no consensus regarding intraprostatic androgen levels and the accumulation of androgens in the hyperplastic prostatic tissue. The current opinion is that intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations are maintained but not elevated in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), while there is no similar data concerning intraprostatic testosterone (T).

Methods

Tissue T (tT) and tissue DHT (tDHT) concentration were determined in 93 patients scheduled for initial prostate biopsy. The criteria for biopsy were abnormal DRE and/or PSA > 4 ng/mL. Total prostate volume (TPV) was determined by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). During TRUS‐ guided prostate biopsy, 10‐12 samples were collected from the peripheral zone (PZ) and two additional samples were collected from the transition zone (TZ). The samples from the TZ were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen at −70°C, and transported for tissue androgen determination, using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS).

Results

Pathological analysis revealed that prostate cancer (PCa) was present in 45 and absent in 48 patients. In the whole group, there were 42 men with small prostate (TPV < 30 mL) and 51 with enlarged prostate (TPV ≥ 31 mL). The overall average tT level was 0.79 ± 0.66 ng/g, while the average tDHT level was 10.27 ± 7.15 ng/g. There were no differences in tT and tDHT level in prostates with and without PCa. However, tT and tDHT levels were significantly higher in larger, than in smaller prostates (tT: 1.05 ± 0.75 and 0.46 ± 0.29 ng/g, and tDHT: 15.0 ± 6.09 and 4.51 ± 2.75 ng/g, respectively). There were strong correlations between tT and TPV (r = 0.71), and tDHT and TPV (r = 0.74).

Conclusions

The present study confirmed that both T and DHT accumulated in the stroma of enlarged prostates; the degree of accumulation correlated with prostate volume.
A Facile Method and Novel Mechanism Using Microneedle‐Structured PDMS for Triboelectric Generator Applications
Authors: Trinh Van‐Long , Chung Chen‐Kuei
Published: June 2017

The triboelectric generator (TEG) is a cost‐effective, multi‐fabricated, friendly mechanical‐energy‐harvesting device. The traditional TEG, generally formed by two triboelectric materials in multilayers or a simple pattern, generated triboelectricity as it worked in the cycling contact–separation operation. This paper demonstrates a novel, high‐aspect‐ratio, microneedle (MN)‐structured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based triboelectric generator (MN‐TEG) by means of a low‐cost, simple fabrication using CO2 laser ablation on the polymethyl methacrylate substrate and a molding process. The MN‐TEG, consisting of an aluminum foil and a microneedle‐structured PDMS (MN‐PDMS) film, generates an output performance with an open‐circuit voltage up to 102.8 V, and a short‐circuit current of 43.1 µA, corresponding to the current density of 1.5 µA cm−2. With introducing MN‐PDMS into the MN‐TEG, a great increase of randomly closed bending–friction–deformation (BFD) behavior of MNs leads to highly enhanced triboelectric performance of the MN‐TEG. The BFD keeps increasingly on in‐contact between MN with Al that results in enhancement of electrical capacitance of PDMS. The effect of aspect ratio and density of MN morphology on the output performance of MN‐PDMS TEG is studied further. The MN‐TEG can rapidly charge electric energy on a 0.1 µF capacitor up to 2.1 V in about 0.56 s. The MN‐TEG source under tapping can light up 53 light‐emitting diodes with different colors, connected in series.
Crosslinked Carbon Nanotube Aerogel Films Decorated with Cobalt Oxides for Flexible Rechargeable Zn–Air Batteries
Authors: Zeng Sha , Chen Hongyuan , Wang Han , Tong Xiao , Chen Minghai , Di Jiangtao , Li Qingwen
Published: June 2017

Air electrodes with high catalytic activity are of great importance for rechargeable zinc–air batteries. Herein, a flexible, binder‐free composite air electrode for zinc–air batteries is reported, which utilizes a lightweight, conductive, and crosslinked aerogel film of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) functioned as a 3D catalyst‐supporting scaffold for bifunctional cobalt (II/III) oxides and as a current collector. The composite electrode shows high catalytic activities for both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, resulting from the synergistic effect of nitrogen‐doped CNTs and spinel Co3O4 nanoparticles. Solid‐state Zn–air batteries assembled using such free‐standing air electrodes (without the need of additional current collectors) are bendable and show low resistances, low charge/discharge overpotentials, and a high cyclic stability.
Realistic simulations of the July 1, 2011 severe wind event over the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm
Authors: Hawbecker Patrick , Basu Sukanta , Manuel Lance
Published: June 2017

Severe winds from thunderstorm outflows pose a challenge to wind turbine arrays. They can cause significant power ramps and disruption in energy production. They can also cause extreme structural damage to turbines as was seen in the severe storm event over the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm on July 1, 2011. At this southwestern Minnesota site, blades from multiple turbines broke away and a tower buckled in the intense winds. In this study, we attempt to characterize meteorological conditions over the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm area during this event. The observational network included NEXRAD radars, automated surface observation stations and a wind profiler. Storm reports from the Storm Prediction Center and damage surveys provided additional insight to the in situ measurements. Even with these datasets, assessing wind speeds around turbine rotors is difficult. Thus, Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations of the event are carried out that consider current and anticipated future operational model setups. This work addresses model spatial resolution versus parameterization complexity. Parameterizations of the planetary boundary layer and microphysics processes are evaluated based on their impact on storm dynamics and the low‐level wind field. Results are also compared with the Wind Integration National Dataset, which utilizes data assimilation and an extensive continental domain. Enhanced horizontal resolution with simplistic parameterization helps increase resolved wind speeds and ramp intensity. Enhanced sophistication of microphysics parameterizations also helps increase resolved wind speeds, improve storm timing and structure and resolve higher values of turbulent kinetic energy in the lowest 1 km of the atmosphere. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.