bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Commissions and Omissions Are Dissociable Aspects of Everyday Action Impairment in Schizophrenia
Authors: Devlin Kathryn N. , Giovannetti Tania , Kessler Rachel K. , Fanning Molly J.
Published: July 2014

Prior research using performance-based assessment of functional impairment has informed a novel neuropsychological model of everyday action impairment in dementia in which omission errors (i.e., failure to complete task steps) dissociate from commission errors (i.e., inaccurate performance of task steps) and have unique neuropsychological correlates. However, this model has not been tested in other populations. The present study examined whether this model extends to schizophrenia. Fifty-four individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were administered a neuropsychological protocol and the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT), a performance-based measure of everyday action. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to examine the construct(s) comprising everyday action impairment, and correlations between the resultant component(s) and neuropsychological tests were examined. Results showed that omissions and a subset of commissions were distinct components of everyday action. However, results did not support unique associations between these components and specific neuropsychological measures. These findings extend the omission-commission model to schizophrenia and may have important implications for efficient assessment and effective rehabilitation of functional impairment, such as the potential efficacy of targeted interventions for the rehabilitation of omission and commission deficits in everyday functioning. Larger studies with prospective designs are needed to replicate the present preliminary findings. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–10)
Food security status among grade 5 students in Nova Scotia, Canada and its association with health outcomes
Authors: Kirk Sara FL , Kuhle Stefan , McIsaac Jessie-Lee D , Williams Patty L , Rossiter Melissa , Ohinmaa Arto , Veugelers Paul J
Published: July 2014

Objective

Food security (FS) exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their needs. The present research sought to determine whether students from households experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (FI) had poorer diet quality, higher body weights and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students from households classed as having high FS or marginal FI status.

Design

Population-based survey conducted in schools. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore associations between FS status (high FS; marginal, moderate, severe FI), dietary behaviours and intake, and health-related outcomes (body weight, quality of life, mood, peer relationships, externalizing problems).

Setting

Nova Scotia, Canada.

Subjects

Grade 5 students (n5853), aged 10–11 years, with complete information on FS status and student outcomes.

Results

In this sample, rates of household FS were 73·5 % (high FS), 8·3 % (marginal FI) 10·2 % (moderate FI) and 7·1 % (severe FI status). Students living in households experiencing moderate or severe FI had poorer diet quality, higher BMI and poorer psychosocial outcomes than students classed as having high FS or marginal FI.

Conclusions

These findings provide important evidence for policy makers on the prevalence of FI among families in Nova Scotia with grade 5 children and its relationship with childhood nutrition, psychosocial and quality of life factors, and weight status.
Granulomatous slack skin disease: a new combined proton and photon therapy approach with a reported case response
Authors: Farr Jonathan B. , Thornton Allan F. , O’Ryan-Blair Avril , Allgower Chris E. , Schroeter Arnold L. , Schreuder Andries N.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

Here, we report the feasibility and long-term efficacy of a granulomatous slack skin disease (GSSD) treatment with combined high-energy photon and proton beams.

Patient and methods

A GSSD patient with abdominal disease volume 25×15×2–4 cm deep was recommended for treatment at this institution. In addition to photons and electrons, high-energy protons delivered with advanced planning techniques and patient positioning were used. The patient was irradiated to a total dose of 40 Gy by using 20 Gy matched photon and electrons followed by 20 Gy equivalent protons delivered by using innovative range compensation and patient positioning.

Results

The test patient tolerated the treatment well and is now a 10-year survivor of the disease.

Conclusions

Treatment of GSSD with protons is feasible. The range and narrow penumbra properties of the proton beam provided an ideal capability to match fields accurately to cover large volumes while also sparing underlying normal tissues.
Spin evolution of Earth-sized exoplanets, including atmospheric tides and core–mantle friction
Authors: Cunha Diana , Correia Alexandre C.M. , Laskar Jacques
Published: July 2014

Planets with masses between 0.1 and 10 M⊕are believed to host dense atmospheres. These atmospheres can play an important role on the planet's spin evolution, since thermal atmospheric tides, driven by the host star, may counterbalance gravitational tides. In this work, we study the long-term spin evolution of Earth-sized exoplanets. We generalize previous works by including the effect of eccentric orbits and obliquity. We show that under the effect of tides and core–mantle friction, the obliquity of the planets evolves either to 0° or 180°. The rotation of these planets is also expected to evolve into a very restricted number of equilibrium configurations. In general, none of these equilibria is synchronous with the orbital mean motion. The role of thermal atmospheric tides becomes more important for Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of their systems; so they cannot be neglected when we search for their potential habitability.
Cognitive Remediation Therapy for borderline personality disorder: is it a feasible and acceptable treatment? A pilot study of two single cases
Authors: Reeder Clare , Stevens Peter , Liddement James , Huddy Vyv
Published: July 2014

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is associated with problems in attention, memory, planning and cognitive flexibility, which may underpin aspects of behavioural dysregulation. Cognitive remediation (CR) is an individual psychological therapy which aims to improve thinking skills and thus positively impact everyday functioning. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of CR for two BPD patients who had not previously engaged with psychological therapy. Participants were assessed using neuropsychological, symptom and social functioning measures and then received up to 40 sessions of individual CR. They were re-assessed post-therapy and 3 months later, and rated their experience of CR. The participants reported increased self-esteem and improved memory. Neuropsychological tests showed executive functioning improvements post-therapy, which were partially maintained at follow-up. CR was a feasible and acceptable therapeutic approach for these two participants and may hold promise as a complementary therapeutic approach for BPD characterized by marked cognitive problems or difficulty in engaging in more emotionally focused psychotherapies.
Accurate Determination of Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted MRI: A Simulation and in vivo Study on Healthy Subjects and Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Cramer Stig P , Larsson Henrik BW
Published: July 2014

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE–MRI) is increasingly used to estimate permeability in situations with subtle blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage. However, the method's ability to differentiate such low values from zero is unknown, and no consensus exists on optimal selection of total measurement duration, temporal resolution, and modeling approach under varying physiologic circumstances. To estimate accuracy and precision of the DCE–MRI method we generated simulated data using a two-compartment model and progressively down-sampled and truncated the data to mimic low temporal resolution and short total measurement duration. Model fit was performed with the Patlak, the extended Tofts, and the Tikhonov two-compartment (Tik-2CM) models. Overall, 17 healthy controls were scanned to obtain in vivo data. Long total measurement duration (15 minutes) and high temporal resolution (1.25 seconds) greatly improved accuracy and precision for all three models, enabling us to differentiate values of permeability as low as 0.1 ml/100 g/min from zero. The Patlak model yielded highest accuracy and precision for permeability values <0.3 ml/100 g/min, but for higher values the Tik-2CM performed best. Our results emphasize the importance of optimal parameter setup and model selection when characterizing low BBB permeability.
Neurogenesis and Inflammation after Ischemic Stroke: What is Known and Where We Go from Here
Authors: Tobin Matthew K , Bonds Jacqueline A , Minshall Richard D , Pelligrino Dale A , Testai Fernando D , Lazarov Orly
Published: July 2014

This review covers the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke and future directions regarding therapeutic options after injury. Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease process affecting millions of people worldwide every year. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of stroke are not fully understood but there is increasing evidence demonstrating the contribution of inflammation to the drastic changes after cerebral ischemia. This inflammation not only immediately affects the infarcted tissue but also causes long-term damage in the ischemic penumbra. Furthermore, the interaction between inflammation and subsequent neurogenesis is not well understood but the close relationship between these two processes has garnered significant interest in the last decade or so. Current approved therapy for stroke involving pharmacological thrombolysis is limited in its efficacy and new treatment strategies need to be investigated. Research aimed at new therapies is largely about transplantation of neural stem cells and using endogenous progenitor cells to promote brain repair. By understanding the interaction between inflammation and neurogenesis, new potential therapies could be developed to further establish brain repair mechanisms.
Imaging Reveals the Focal Area of Spreading Depolarizations and a Variety of Hemodynamic Responses in a Rat Microembolic Stroke Model
Authors: Bere Zsófia , Obrenovitch Tihomir P , Kozák Gábor , Bari Ferenc , Farkas Eszter
Published: July 2014

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) occur in stroke, but the spatial association between SDs and the corresponding hemodynamic changes is incompletely understood. We applied multimodal imaging to visualize the focal area of selected SDs, and hemodynamic responses with SDs propagating over the ischemic cortex. The intracarotid infusion of polyethylene microspheres ( d = 45 to 53 μm) produced multifocal ischemia in anesthetized rats ( n = 7). Synchronous image sequences captured through a cranial window above the frontoparietal cortex revealed: Changes in membrane potential (voltage-sensitive (VS) dye method); cerebral blood flow (CBF; laser speckle contrast (LSC) imaging); and hemoglobin (Hb) deoxygenation (red intrinsic optical signal (IOS) at 620 to 640 nm). A total of 31 SD events were identified. The foci of five SDs were seen in the cranial window, originating where CBF was the lowest (56.9 ± 9%), but without evident signs of infarcts. The hyperemic CBF responses to propagating SDs were coupled with three types of Hb saturation kinetics. More accentuated Hb desaturation was related to a larger decrease in CBF shortly after ischemia induction. Microsphere-induced embolization triggers SDs in the rat brain, relevant for small embolic infarcts in patients. The SD occurrence during the early phase of ischemia is not tightly associated with immediate infarct evolution. Various kinetics of Hb saturation may determine the metabolic consequences of individual SDs.
7.0 T MRI Detection of Cerebral Microinfarcts in Patients with a Symptomatic High-Grade Carotid artery Stenosis
Authors: de Rotte Alexandra AJ , Koning Wouter , den Hartog Anne G , Bovens Sandra M , Zwanenburg Jaco JM , Klomp Dennis WJ , Pasterkamp Gerard , Moll Frans L , Luijten Peter R , de Borst Gert Jan , Hendrikse Jeroen
Published: July 2014

In the current study, the presence of cerebral cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) was evaluated in a series of 21 patients with a symptomatic high-grade > 50% stenosis of the carotid artery. A T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence and a T1-weighted turbo field echo sequence of the brain were obtained at 7.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Primary study endpoint was the number of CMIs and macroinfarcts. In total, 53 cerebral infarcts (35 macroinfarcts; 18 CMIs) were found ipsilateral to the symptomatic carotid artery, in 14 patients (67%). In four of these patients, both CMIs and macroinfarcts were visible. In the contralateral hemisphere, seven infarcts (five macroinfarcts and two CMIs) were found in five patients (24%). In the ipsilateral hemispheres, the number of CMIs and macroinfarcts were significantly correlated ( P = 0.02). Unpaired comparison of medians showed that the number of CMIs in the ipsilateral hemisphere was significantly higher than the number of CMIs in the contralateral hemisphere ( P = 0.04). No significant correlation was found between stenosis grade and the number of any infarct. The current study shows that in symptomatic patients with significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis, CMIs are part of the total cerebrovascular burden and these CMIs prevail with a similar pattern as observed macroinfarcts.
Development of an ELISA microarray assay for the sensitive and simultaneous detection of ten biodefense toxins
Authors: Jenko Kathryn L. , Zhang Yanfeng , Kostenko Yulia , Fan Yongfeng , Garcia-Rodriguez Consuelo , Lou Jianlong , Marks James D. , Varnum Susan M.
Published: July 2014

An ELISA-based protein microarray was developed for the sensitive and simultaneous detection of 10 biodefense toxins.
Simultaneous determination of whitening agents and parabens in cosmetic products by capillary electrophoresis with on-line sweeping enhancement
Authors: Tsai I-Chi , Su Chia-Yu , Hu Cho-Chun , Chiu Tai-Chia
Published: July 2014

An on-line sweeping-MEKC method for simultaneous determination of whitening agents and parabens in commercial cosmetic products was demonstrated. This approach was shown to offer high separation efficiency, short analysis time, and convenience of analysis. The LODs of the analytes were in the range from 8 to 162 nM (1.1 to 21.0 ng mL−1) and a 46 to 279-fold enhancement was achieved.
Electrochemical characterization of luminol and its determination in real samples
Authors: Yildiz Gulcemal , Tasdoven Ugur , Menek Necati
Published: July 2014

The electrochemical behavior of luminol, an important molecule in forensic science, was studied in Britton–Robinson buffer solution (pH 2–pH 13) at a glassy carbon electrode using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques.
Revealing the nature of the active site on the carbon catalyst for C–H bond activation
Authors: Sun XiaoYing , Li Bo , Su Dangsheng
Published: July 2014

The single ketone group is determined to be the active site in ODH.
Membrane lipid peroxidation by the peroxidase-like activity of magnetite nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Lijun , Min Yue , Xu Doudou , Yu Fengjiao , Zhou Wuzong , Cuschieri Alfred
Published: July 2014

Magnetite nanoparticles act as peroxidase-like mimetics to catalyse lipid peroxidation in liposomes at acidic pH, predominantly by decomposing the pre-existing LOOH to initiate the chain reactions.
Selective reduction of CO2to formate through bicarbonate reduction on metal electrodes: new insights gained from SG/TC mode of SECM
Authors: Sreekanth Narayanaru , Phani Kanala Lakshminarasimha
Published: July 2014

Using SG/TC mode of SECM it is discovered that HCOO−comes solely from the direct reduction of HCO3−and CO from CO2at low pH and high applied potentials in CO2/HCO3−solution on Au and Ag surfaces, pointing to the selective reduction of CO2to HCOO−.
Modulation of the solubility of luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals through facile surface functionalization
Authors: Avellini Tommaso , Lincheneau Christophe , La Rosa Marcello , Pertegás Antonio , Bolink Henk J. , Wright Iain A. , Constable Edwin C. , Silvi Serena , Credi Alberto
Published: July 2014

Luminescent quantum dots with programmed solubility in solvents ranging from hexane to water are obtained with a simple and general ligand exchange procedure.
In situ generation of redox active peptides driven by selenoester mediated native chemical ligation
Authors: Rasale Dnyaneshwar B. , Maity Indrajit , Das Apurba K.
Published: July 2014

Redox active peptides synthesized via selenoester mediated native chemical ligation with a propensity to self-assemble in aqueous medium. A gel–sol transition of self-assembled peptide in a reducing environment makes it a versatile candidate for the development of functional biomaterials.
Graphene/graphite sheet assisted growth of high-areal-density horizontally aligned carbon nanotubes
Authors: Xie Huanhuan , Zhang Rufan , Zhang Yingying , Zhang Wenlin , Jian Muqiang , Wang Chunya , Wang Qi , Wei Fei
Published: July 2014

Graphene/graphite sheets produced by chemical vapor deposition and released by chemical etching were directly used for the synthesis of high-areal-density horizontally aligned carbon nanotube arrays.
Synthesis, structure, and catecholase activity of bispyrazolylacetate copper(ii) complexes
Authors: Gajewska Małgorzata J. , Ching Wei-Min , Wen Yuh-Sheng , Hung Chen-Hsiung
Published: July 2014

Heteroleptic copper(ii) complexes containing bis(3,5-di-t-butylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate and nitrogen heterocyclic co-ligands identified the influence of co-ligands on the conformation and catecholase-like catalytic activity.
Large structural changes upon protonation of Fe4S4 clusters: the consequences for reactivity
Authors: Dance Ian , Henderson Richard A.
Published: July 2014

Recognition that protonation of μ3-S in [Fe4S4X4]2− clusters causes breaking of an S–Fe bond provides a kinetically consistent general mechanism for the acid-catalysed substitution reactions of [Fe4S4X4]2− clusters.
Rice cadmium monitoring using heat-extraction electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: Guo Wei , Zhang Ping , Jin Lanlan , Hu Shenghong
Published: July 2014

A simple and high throughput method using heat-extraction electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (HE-ETAAS) was developed for monitoring rice cadmium (Cd) from Chinese markets.
Presence and utility of intrinsically disordered regions in kinases
Authors: Kathiriya Jaymin J. , Pathak Ravi Ramesh , Clayman Eric , Xue Bin , Uversky Vladimir N. , Davé Vrushank
Published: July 2014

We reveal presence of intrinsically disordered regions in human kinome and build a kinase–kinase interaction network identifying a novel SRC–SMAD relationship.
Acute and subacute response of iron, zinc, copper and selenium in pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Authors: Humann-Ziehank Esther , Menzel Anne , Roehrig Petra , Schwert Barbara , Ganter Martin , Hennig-Pauka Isabel
Published: July 2014

Experimental bacterial lung infection affects trace elements in blood and liver tissue.
Redox processes at a nanostructured interface under strong electric fields
Authors: Steurer Wolfram , Surnev Svetlozar , Netzer Falko P. , Sementa Luca , Negreiros Fabio R. , Barcaro Giovanni , Durante Nicola , Fortunelli Alessandro
Published: July 2014

Manipulation of chemistry and film growth via external electric fields is a longstanding goal in surface science.
Silver triflate and triflic anhydride-promoted expedient synthesis of acylated 1-aminoisoquinolines
Authors: Li Yuewen , Gao Liang , Zhu Hui , Li Guangming , Chen Zhiyuan
Published: July 2014

A practical and convergent synthesis of biologically active 1-(N-acyl)-1-aminoisoquinolines from the reaction of 2-alkynylbenzaldoximes with amides has been realized.
Approaches to the total synthesis of chaetochalasin A
Authors: Thomas Eric J. , Willis Mark
Published: July 2014

Chaetochalasin A is a complex natural product whose biosynthesis may involve two domino Diels–Alder reactions.
A novel porous substrate for the growth of high quality GaN crystals by HVPE
Authors: Dai Yuanbin , Wu Yongzhong , Zhang Lei , Shao Yongliang , Tian Yuan , Huo Qin , Zhang Peng , Cao Xingzhong , Hao Xiaopeng
Published: July 2014

This manuscript describes a high temperature annealing process to prepare a porous substrate. The substrate was used for the growth of GaN by using HVPE method to provide reduced residual stress and low defect density.
Microwave-assisted exfoliation method to develop platinum-decorated graphene nanosheets as a low cost counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Saranya K. , Sivasankar N. , Subramania A.
Published: July 2014

Graphene nanosheets (GNs) are prepared from natural graphite by a simple ecofriendly microwave-assisted exfoliation technique.
Zinc–bromine hybrid flow battery: effect of zinc utilization and performance characteristics
Authors: Suresh S. , Kesavan T. , Munaiah Y. , Arulraj I. , Dheenadayalan S. , Ragupathy P.
Published: July 2014

The effect of zinc utilization and the performance characteristics in a zinc–bromine redox flow cell is reported. Simultaneously changing the quality of the electrolyte and the electrode substrate material resulted in an increase in the surface coverage with randomly oriented crystallographic (101) planes and, as a result, the cell exhibited higher Faradaic efficiency.
Combined spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry investigates the interaction between [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(benzaldehyde-N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone)Cl]Cl anticancer drug and human serum albumin
Authors: Huang Shan , Zhu Fawei , Xiao Qi , Zhou Quan , Su Wei , Qiu Hangna , Hu Baoqing , Sheng Jiarong , Huang Chusheng
Published: July 2014

The interaction between Ru anticancer drug and HSA was investigated systematically under physiological conditions.
Iron/acetic acid mediated intermolecular tandem C–C and C–N bond formation: an easy access to acridinone and quinoline derivatives
Authors: Rajawinslin R. R. , Gawande Sachin D. , Kavala Veerababurao , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Kuo Chun-Wei , Kuo Ting-Shen , Chen Mei-Ling , He Chiu-Hui , Yao Ching-Fa
Published: July 2014

An efficient iron/acetic acid mediated one pot reductive cyclization protocol was successfully developed for the synthesis of acridinone and quinoline derivatives.
One-step synthesis of hollow polymeric nanospheres: self-assembly of amphiphilic azo polymers via hydrogen bond formation
Authors: Zhang Taoran , Jin Cheng , Wang Lingyu , Yin Qinjian
Published: July 2014

We introduce a facile and novel way that describes the random amphiphilic azo copolymer to construct hollow nanospheres via hydrogen bond formation.
Binding to semiflexible polymers: a novel method to control the structures of small numbers of building blocks
Authors: Zhang Dong , Zhang Linxi
Published: July 2014

Semiflexible polymer chains can serve as an effective soft elastic medium to control the structures of small numbers of building blocks through three different aspects: local organization of two neighbor particles, spatial arrangement of small numbers of building blocks, and the relative orientation of neighboring non-spherical building blocks.
Fluorescent TEM-1 β-lactamase with wild-type activity as a rapid drug sensor for in vitro drug screening
Authors: Cheong Wing-Lam , Tsang Ming-San , So Pui-Kin , Chung Wai-Hong , Leung Yun-Chung , Chan Pak-Ho
Published: July 2014

We report the development of a novel fluorescent drug sensor from the bacterial drug target TEM-1 β-lactamase through the combined strategy of Val216→Cys216 mutation and fluorophore labelling for in vitro drug screening. The Val216 residue in TEM-1 is replaced with a cysteine residue, and the environment-sensitive fluorophore fluorescein-5-maleimide is specifically attached to the Cys216 residue in the V216C mutant for sensing drug binding at the active site. The labelled V216C mutant has wild-type catalytic activity and gives stronger fluorescence when β-lactam antibiotics bind to the active site. The labelled V216C mutant can differentiate between potent and impotent β-lactam antibiotics and can distinguish active-site binders from non-binders (including aggregates formed by small molecules in aqueous solution) by giving characteristic time-course fluorescence profiles. Mass spectrometric, molecular modelling and trypsin digestion results indicate that drug binding at the active site is likely to cause the fluorescein label to stay away from the active site and experience weaker fluorescence quenching by the residues around the active site, thus making the labelled V216C mutant to give stronger fluorescence in the drug-bound state. Given the ancestor's role of TEM-1 in the TEM family, the fluorescent TEM-1 drug sensor represents a good model to demonstrate the general combined strategy of Val216→Cys216 mutation and fluorophore labelling for fabricating tailor-made fluorescent drug sensors from other clinically significant TEM-type β-lactamase variants for in vitro drug screening.
Prevention of oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in the intestine by different cranberry phenolic fractions
Authors: Denis Marie-Claude , Desjardins Yves , Furtos Alexandra , Marcil Valérie , Dudonné Stéphanie , Montoudis Alain , Garofalo Carole , Delvin Edgard , Marette André , Levy Emile
Published: July 2014

Cranberry fruit has been reported to have high antioxidant effectiveness that is potentially linked to its richness in diversified polyphenolic content. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of cranberry polyphenolic fractions in oxidative stress (OxS), inflammation and mitochondrial functions using intestinal Caco-2/15 cells. The combination of HPLC and UltraPerformance LC®-tandem quadrupole (UPLC-TQD) techniques allowed us to characterize the profile of low, medium and high molecular mass polyphenolic compounds in cranberry extracts. The medium molecular mass fraction was enriched with flavonoids and procyanidin dimers whereas procyanidin oligomers (DP > 4) were the dominant class of polyphenols in the high molecular mass fraction. Pre-incubation of Caco-2/15 cells with these cranberry extracts prevented iron/ascorbate-mediated lipid peroxidation and counteracted lipopolysaccharide-mediated inflammation as evidenced by the decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and interleukin-6), cyclo-oxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2. Cranberry polyphenols (CP) fractions limited both nuclear factor κB activation and Nrf2 down-regulation. Consistently, cranberry procyanidins alleviated OxS-dependent mitochondrial dysfunctions as shown by the rise in ATP production and the up-regulation of Bcl-2, as well as the decline of protein expression of cytochrome c and apoptotic-inducing factor. These mitochondrial effects were associated with a significant stimulation of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator-1-α, a central inducing factor of mitochondrial biogenesis and transcriptional co-activator of numerous downstream mediators. Finally, cranberry procyanidins forestalled the effect of iron/ascorbate on the protein expression of mitochondrial transcription factors (mtTFA, mtTFB1, mtTFB2). Our findings provide evidence for the capacity of CP to reduce intestinal OxS and inflammation while improving mitochondrial dysfunction.
Simplified computation in memoryless anti‐collision RFID identification protocols
Authors: Landaluce H. , Perallos A. , Bengtsson L. , Garcia Zuazola I.J.
Published: July 2014

A memoryless‐based Collision window Tree plus (CwT+) protocol for simplified computation in anti‐collision radio frequency identification (RFID) is proposed and presented. The CwT+ makes effective use of a threshold to accurately enhance bit‐tracking and in turn lowers the identification time of the communication response. The threshold limits the bitstream of responding tags in an accurate fashion for simplified computation in the interrogation procedure. Simulation results show the outperformance of the CwT+ compared with earlier protocols.
CMOS sensor‐based palm‐sized in‐line optical analysis device for microchemistry systems
Authors: Tokuda T. , Wakama N. , Terao K. , Masuda K. , Mori R. , Noda T. , Sasagawa K. , Nishiyama Y. , Kakiuchi K. , Ohta J.
Published: July 2014

A palm‐sized optical measurement device capable of polarisation rotation and single‐wavelength absorption measurements is presented. The device is equipped with a polarisation‐analysing CMOS image sensor with an on‐chip multi‐angular polariser array. The volume of the device is as small as 51 cm3, which is smaller than both 1/1000 of a conventional desktop polarimeter and 1/10 of the previous device. The capability of the proposed device to perform simultaneous polarisation rotation/single‐wavelength absorption measurements is experimentally verified through in situ monitoring of a photochemical reaction performed in a microflow reactor.
71% PAE C‐band GaN power amplifier using harmonic tuning technology
Authors: Lu Yang , Cao Mengyi , Wei Jiaxing , Zhao Bochao , Ma Xiaohua , Hao Yue
Published: July 2014

A high‐efficiency C‐band internally matched power amplifier, developed with 12 mm AlGaN/GaN high‐electron mobility transistors is described. The second‐harmonic frequency (2f0) tuning network is applied to confine the impedance at 2f0 in safe efficiency regions. The packaged power amplifier achieves 71% power‐added efficiency (PAE) and 102 W output power, associated with 17 dB power gain. The PAE is believed to be the highest of the C‐band GaN power amplifiers reported to date.
Evaluation of the capacity of constrained codes with multiple constrained signalling dimensions
Authors: Jamieson Craig , Fair Ivan
Published: July 2014

Constrained sequence codes are widely used to meet constraints imposed by digital communication systems. This study presents methods to evaluate the capacity of constrained codes that have multiple independently or dependently constrained signalling dimensions. The authors outline a straightforward analysis technique when the signalling dimensions are independent, and demonstrate how the capacity can be evaluated, estimated or upper bounded when the signalling dimensions are dependent. Their motivation for this work is capacity analysis of DC‐free codes with complex‐valued symbols, and they present results for these types of codes throughout the study.
Vertebral body segmentation using a probabilistic and universal shape model
Authors: Aslan Melih S. , Shalaby Ahmed , Farag Aly A.
Published: July 2014

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterised by a reduction in bone mass, resulting in an increased risk of fractures. Doctors need the bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of vertebral bodies in order to diagnose and treat osteoporosis. The authors' objective is to segment the VBs as accurately as possible and hence to increase the accuracy of the BMD measurements and fracture analysis. Three pieces of information (intensity, spatial interaction and shape) are modelled to optimise a probabilistic energy functional. A universal shape prior, which is modelled using the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal regions, is proposed. Volumetric computed tomography data sets with various challenges are used in this study. The authors classify data sets based on some features related to the anatomy, imaging modality and level of the bone health. The proposed framework is one of only a few reported in the literature tested on the data obtained from different imaging devices. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method is robust under various noise levels, less variant to the initialisation and faster than existing vertebrae segmentation reports in the literature.
New reversible full‐embeddable information hiding method for vector quantisation indices based on locally adaptive complete coding list
Authors: Pan Zhibin , Ma Xiaoxiao , Deng Xiaoman
Published: July 2014

Steganography based on vector quantisation (VQ)‐compressed indices is widely used in information hiding. In this study, the authors propose a new reversible information hiding method for VQ indices using an on‐line generated locally adaptive complete coding list. The complete coding list guarantees that all VQ indices can embed one or two secret bits which efficiently increase the embedding capacity. Additionally, they propose a mixed coding method with an index position threshold by exploring the biased‐distribution of locally complete coding indices in order to reduce the bit rate. Experimental results demonstrated that the authors proposed method has a better performance in embedding capacity, bit rate and the embedding‐efficiency compared with the four information hiding methods.
Semantic image compression based on data hiding
Authors: Zhang Xinpeng , Zhang Weiming
Published: July 2014

This study proposes a novel scheme of semantic image compression. A compressor firstly creates a compact image by gathering a part of pixels in an original image, and calculates estimation errors of the rest pixels. Then, a compressed image is produced by embedding the estimation errors into the compact image using data hiding techniques. This way, the compressed image are made up of a small number of pixel values, and the original content is still visible roughly through the compressed image without any decompression tool. If a decompression tool is available, a user may reconstruct a high quality image with original size by exploiting the embedded data. Because the proposed scheme is compatible with reversible and non‐reversible data hiding techniques, either the lossy or lossless semantic compression can be performed. With different parameters, the qualities of compressed and decompressed images vary. Furthermore, the smoother the original image content, the better is the compression–decompression performance.
Mode‐stirred reverberating chamber Doppler spectra: multi‐frequency measurements and empirical model
Authors: Sorrentino Antonio , Gifuni Angelo , Ferrara Giuseppe , Migliaccio Maurizio
Published: July 2014

A new empirical model for the Doppler spectrum of the received field obtained in a reverberating chamber (RC) when the continuous mechanical stirring is employed, is proposed. The characterisation of the Doppler spectrum is 2‐fold: on the one side, it allows synthesising an electromagnetic field with desired characteristics within the chamber; on the other side, if the RC is used as a wireless emulator, any wireless propagation environments can be properly emulated within the chamber. The model is successfully tested on an extensive set of measurements accomplished at the RC of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, formerly Istituto Universitario Navale (IUN). Results, confirm the effectiveness of the prosed method.
Null steering method by controlling two elements
Authors: Mohammed Jafar Ramadhan , Sayidmarie Khalil Hassan
Published: July 2014

Null steering in adaptive arrays is usually achieved by controlling the complex weights of all or most of the array elements. This study explores an alternative approach, where only the two side elements of the array are used for null steering. By suitably adjusting the amplitude and phase excitations of these elements, it is possible to modify the overall array pattern to place a wide angular null in the direction of undesired interfering signals. Unlike the adaptive arrays, the proposed method is much simpler in practical implementation.
Wideband omnidirectional printed dipole antenna with dumbbell‐shaped open sleeve for wireless communication applications
Authors: Zhang Zhi‐Ya , Yang Xiao‐dong , Zuo Shao‐Li , Fu Guang
Published: July 2014

The wideband performance of a printed dipole antenna with dumbbell‐shaped open sleeve structure is presented. Besides using printed dipole for omndirectional radiation patterns, the dumbbell‐shaped open sleeve structure is employed to improve the impendence matching at lower band because of producing two resonant points; whereas two parasitical patches are also used to increase the bandwidth of the lower band. The four tuning stubs and the coupling feed can effectively enhance the impendence bandwidth at upper band. A wideband impedance characteristic of about 91.4% for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) ≤ 2 ranging from 0.89 to 2.39 GHz is obtained. The omnidirectional radiation patterns in the whole operation bands are achieved where the un‐roundness in the H‐plane is <2.2 dB. It is sufficient for accommodating recent wireless communication services such as GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900, UMTS, IMT2000 and Wibro.
Synthesis and shape‐dependent visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activities of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanostructures
Authors: Ren Qingshan , Wang Wenzhong , Shi Honglong , Liang Yujie
Published: July 2014

Rose‐ and sphere‐shaped Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanostructures were synthesised via a facile solvothermal process. Shape‐dependent visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activities of the as‐synthesised rose‐ and sphere‐shaped CZTS nanostructures were evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results indicate that the rose‐shaped CZTS nanostructures exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity with 91.2% degradation of MB after 10 h reaction under visible‐light irradiation, which was higher than that (58.7%) of the prepared sphere‐shaped CZTS nanostructures. High adsorption ability of MB resulted from the higher surface area of the rose‐shaped CZTS nanostructures, which is responsible for the enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity.
Bedeutung der Schlafendoskopie bei obstruktiv-schlafbezogener Atmungsstörung im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Quante M. , Merkenschlager A. , Kiess W. , Horn I.-S. , Kyas D. , Dietz A. , Fischer M.
Published: July 2014

Hintergrund: Studien zur gezielten operativen OSAS-Therapie nach Medikamenten-induzierter Schlafendoskopie (MISE) konnten bei Erwachsenen ein verbessertes Outcome erzielen. Im Kindesalter liegen zu diesem Verfahren nur wenige Erfahrungen vor. Diese Studie evaluiert den differenzialdiagnostischen Stellenwert der MISE bei obstruktiven schlafbezogenen Atmungserkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Es wird untersucht, ob initiale Therapie-Entscheidungen beeinflusst werden.

Material und Methoden: Es wurden retrospektiv die Krankenakten von 25 Kindern mit obstruktiver schlafbezogener Erkrankung analysiert, die im Zeitraum von 05/2012 bis 12/2013 eine Polysomnografie und Schlafendoskopie erhalten hatten. Anhand des Grades der obstruktiven schlafbezogenen Erkrankung wurden 2 Gruppen gebildet (Upper airway resistence syndrome (UARS) und mildes OSAS: AHI<5, n=10; moderates und schweres OSAS: AHI≥5, n=15).

Ergebnisse: Häufigster Ort einer Obstruktion war die Oropharynx-Ebene. Ein moderates oder schweres OSAS war signifikant mit einer vollständigen Obstruktion auf Oropharynx-Ebene assoziiert (p=0,02). Zudem fand sich ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der Adenoidgröße und dem Obstruktionsmuster auf Velopharynx­Ebene (p=0,02). Eine vollständige Obstruktion auf Oropharynx-Ebene konnte bei 71% der Kinder mit Tonsillengröße IV gefunden werden. Es bestand keine Assoziation zwischen der Adenoid- und Tonsillengröße und dem Ausprägungsgrad der schlafbezogenen Atmungsstörung. Bei 5 Kindern (20%) ergab sich ein Erkenntniszugewinn mit Anpassung der initial geplanten Therapien.

Schlussfolgerung: Die Medikamenten-induzierte Schlafendoskopie erscheint ein vielversprechendes Verfahren mit therapeutischer Konsequenz, um Obstruktionen beim kindlichen OSAS topografisch zu beurteilen. Weitere Studien sind jedoch notwendig, um verlässliche Vorhersageparameter für potenzielle Therapieversager nach operativer Therapie zu etablieren.
Noninvasive Management of an Odontoid Process Fracture in a Toddler: Case Report
Authors: Kim Woosung , O'Malley Mike , Kieser David Christopher
Published: July 2014

Study Design

Case report.

Objective

Odontoid process fractures represent an uncommon injury in small children, with their optimal management remaining unclear. We present a case of conservatively managed displaced type 2 odontoid process fracture in a small child.

Methods

We analyzed clinical and radiographic outcomes of a restrained 2-year-old girl involved in a motor vehicle accident who sustained a displaced type 2 odontoid process fracture and was treated conservatively in a semirigid Aspen collar.

Results

The fracture progressively healed with callus formation evident at 6 weeks. By 12 weeks, the patient was asymptomatic and had regained head control and a full range of movement. Radiographic remodeling of the fracture was seen to improve over the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion

This case illustrates that displaced type 2 odontoid process fractures can be successfully managed conservatively in small children.
Optical spectra of the silicon-terminated carbon chain radicals SiCnH (n = 3,4,5)
Authors: Kokkin D. L. , Reilly N. J. , Fortenberry R. C. , Crawford T. D. , McCarthy M. C.
Published: July 2014

The gas-phase optical spectra of three silicon-terminated carbon chain radicals, SiCnH (n = 3 − 5), formed in a jet-cooled discharge of silane and acetylene, have been investigated by resonant two-color two-photon ionization and laser-induced fluorescence/dispersed fluorescence. Analysis of the spectra was facilitated by calculations performed using equation-of-motion coupled cluster methods. For SiC3H and SiC5H, the observed transitions are well-described as excitations from a 2Π ground state to a 2Σ state, in which vibronic coupling, likely involving a higher-lying Π state with a very large predicted f-value (close to unity), is persistent. The lowest 2Σ states of both species are characterized by a rare silicon triple bond, which was identified previously [T. C. Smith, H. Y. Li, D. J. Clouthier, C. T. Kingston, and A. J. Merer, J. Chem. Phys. 112, 3662 (2000)] in the lowest 2Σ state of SiCH. Although a strong Π − Π transition is predicted for SiC4H, the observed spectrum near 505 nm more likely corresponds to excitation to a relatively dark Σ state which is vibronically coupled to a nearby Π state. In contrast to the chains with an odd number of carbon atoms, which exhibit relatively sharp spectral features and lifetimes in the 10–100 ns range, SiC4H shows intrinsically broadened spectral features consistent with a ∼100 fs lifetime, and a subsequent long-lived decay (>50 μs) which we ascribe to mixing with a nearby quartet state arising from the same electronic configuration. The spin-orbit coupling constants for both SiC3H and SiC5H radicals were determined to be approximately 64 cm−1, similar to that of SiCH (69.8 cm−1), suggesting that the unpaired electron in these species is localized on the silicon atom. Motivated by the new optical work, the rotational spectrum of linear SiC3H was detected by cavity Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy in the 13–34 GHz range. Each rotational transition from the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$^2\Pi _{\nicefrac{3}{2}}$\end{document}Π3/22 ground state exhibits well-resolved Λ-doubling and hyperfine structure; the derived rotational constant of B = 2.605 GHz is in excellent agreement with our calculations.
CO (a3Π) quenching at a metal surface: Evidence of an electron transfer mediated mechanism
Authors: Grätz Fabian , Engelhart Daniel P. , Wagner Roman J. V. , Meijer Gerard , Wodtke Alec M. , Schäfer Tim
Published: July 2014

We observe a strong influence of molecular vibration and surface temperature on electron emission promoted by the de-excitation of metastable CO(a3Π) on a clean Au(111) surface using a molecular beam surface scattering apparatus. The de-excitation is independent of incidence translational energy. These observations appear incompatible with existing theories of metastable particle de-excitation on metal surfaces, which are based on the Auger effect. Instead, they strongly suggest a mechanism involving formation of a transient anion whose lifetime is similar to the vibrational period of the CO molecule.
Influence of Cr doping on the stability and structure of small cobalt oxide clusters
Authors: Tung Nguyen Thanh , Tam Nguyen Minh , Nguyen Minh Tho , Lievens Peter , Janssens Ewald
Published: July 2014

The stability of mass-selected pure cobalt oxide and chromium doped cobalt oxide cluster cations, Con\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm O}_m^+$\end{document}Om+ and Con−1\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm CrO}_m^+$\end{document} CrO m+ (n = 2, 3; m = 2–6 and n = 4; m = 3–8), has been investigated using photodissociation mass spectrometry. Oxygen-rich Con\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm O}_m^+$\end{document}Om+ clusters (m ⩾ n + 1 for n = 2, 4 and m ⩾ n + 2 for n = 3) prefer to photodissociate via the loss of an oxygen molecule, whereas oxygen poorer clusters favor the evaporation of oxygen atoms. Substituting a single Co atom by a single Cr atom alters the dissociation behavior. All investigated Con−1\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm CrO}_m^+$\end{document} CrO m+ clusters, except \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm CoCrO}_2^+$\end{document} CoCrO 2+ and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm CoCrO}_3^+$\end{document} CoCrO 3+, prefer to decay by eliminating a neutral oxygen molecule. Co2\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm O}_2^+$\end{document}O2+, Co4\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm O}_3^+$\end{document}O3+, Co4\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm O}_4^+$\end{document}O4+, and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\rm CoCrO}_2^+$\end{document} CoCrO 2+ are found to be relatively difficult to dissociate and appear as fragmentation product of several larger clusters, suggesting that they are particularly stable. The geometric structures of pure and Cr doped cobalt oxide species are studied using density functional theory calculations. Dissociation energies for different evaporation channels are calculated and compared with the experimental observations. The influence of the dopant atom on the structure and the stability of the clusters is discussed.
Stochastic models for surface diffusion of molecules
Authors: Shea Patrick , Kreuzer Hans Jürgen
Published: July 2014

We derive a stochastic model for the surface diffusion of molecules, starting from the classical equations of motion for an N-atom molecule on a surface. The equation of motion becomes a generalized Langevin equation for the center of mass of the molecule, with a non-Markovian friction kernel. In the Markov approximation, a standard Langevin equation is recovered, and the effect of the molecular vibrations on the diffusion is seen to lead to an increase in the friction for center of mass motion. This effective friction has a simple form that depends on the curvature of the lowest energy diffusion path in the 3N-dimensional coordinate space. We also find that so long as the intramolecular forces are sufficiently strong, memory effects are usually not significant and the Markov approximation can be employed, resulting in a simple one-dimensional model that can account for the effect of the dynamics of the molecular vibrations on the diffusive motion.