bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereoselective Cyclopropanation as a Way to 1‐Aminocyclopropane‐1‐phosphonic Acids: Rationale for Phosphoryl Group Migration
Authors: Midura Wanda H. , Cypryk Marek , Rzewnicka Aneta , Krysiak Jerzy A. , Sieroń Lesław
Published: March 2016

Asymmetric cyclopropanation of vinylphosphonates by using (S)‐dimethylsulfonium(p‐tolylsulfinyl)methylide and subsequent highly stereoselective methylation provided substituted cyclopropylphosphonates, which are useful intermediates in the synthesis of rigid aminophosphonic acids. However, in some examples desulfinylation by iPrMgCl led to 1,2‐migration of the phosphoryl group. The scope of this transformation was investigated by changing the temperature, electronegativity of the substituent α to phosphoryl group, and the configuration of the cyclopropylphosphonates. It was found that a cis relationship between the phosphoryl and sulfinyl groups led exclusively to the product of migration. It was proposed that the rearrangement occurred as an internal process in a concerted manner. The feasibility of an intramolecular mechanism was supported by DFT calculations. The products of desulfinylation with retained structure were used for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐phosphonic acids.
Hippocampal sub‐regional shape and physical activity in older adults
Authors: Varma Vijay R. , Tang Xiaoying , Carlson Michelle C.
Published: March 2016

Hippocampal atrophy is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease pathology, and a target biomarker region for testing intervention efficacy. Over the last few decades, a growing body of evidence from animal and human models suggests that physical activity (PA) is associated with structural benefits to the hippocampus in older adults. Very few human studies, however have explored hippocampal sub‐regional specificity of PA; this is significant considering that sub‐regions of the hippocampus are associated with distinct cognitive tasks and are differentially affected by disease pathology. This study used objective and self‐reported measures of daily walking activity and exercise, and surface‐based regional shape analysis using high‐field hippocampal sub‐regional partitions to explore sub‐region specific hippocampal associations in a sample of nondemented, community‐dwelling older adults at elevated sociodemographic risk for cognitive decline. Vertex‐wise surface areas, which may be more sensitive than global volume measures, were calculated using shape diffeomorphometry, and PA was assessed using step activity monitors and PA questionnaires. We found that daily walking activity in a participant's environment was associated in cross‐section mainly with larger surface areas of the subiculum in women. Associations remained significant when controlling for self‐reported exercise. Prior studies have found that PA related to exercise and aerobic fitness may be most closely associated with the anterior hippocampus, particularly the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. These novel findings are the first, to our knowledge, in human models to suggest that PA related to navigation that may not reach the level of moderate‐intensity exercise may be associated with specific sub‐regions of the hippocampus. These findings underscore the importance of better understanding the independent and related biological mechanisms and pathways by which increasing exercise as well as non‐exercise, lifestyle PA may influence structural brain health. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional cross‐hemispheric shift between object‐place paired associate memory and spatial memory in the human hippocampus
Authors: Lee Choong‐Hee , Ryu Jungwon , Lee Sang‐Hun , Kim Hakjin , Lee Inah
Published: March 2016

The hippocampus plays critical roles in both object‐based event memory and spatial navigation, but it is largely unknown whether the left and right hippocampi play functionally equivalent roles in these cognitive domains. To examine the hemispheric symmetry of human hippocampal functions, we used an fMRI scanner to measure BOLD activity while subjects performed tasks requiring both object‐based event memory and spatial navigation in a virtual environment. Specifically, the subjects were required to form object‐place paired associate memory after visiting four buildings containing discrete objects in a virtual plus maze. The four buildings were visually identical, and the subjects used distal visual cues (i.e., scenes) to differentiate the buildings. During testing, the subjects were required to identify one of the buildings when cued with a previously associated object, and when shifted to a random place, the subject was expected to navigate to the previously chosen building. We observed that the BOLD activity foci changed from the left hippocampus to the right hippocampus as task demand changed from identifying a previously seen object (object‐cueing period) to searching for its paired‐associate place (object‐cued place recognition period). Furthermore, the efficient retrieval of object‐place paired associate memory (object‐cued place recognition period) was correlated with the BOLD response of the left hippocampus, whereas the efficient retrieval of relatively pure spatial memory (spatial memory period) was correlated with the right hippocampal BOLD response. These findings suggest that the left and right hippocampi in humans might process qualitatively different information for remembering episodic events in space. © 2016 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prenatal alcohol exposure alters synaptic activity of adult hippocampal dentate granule cells under conditions of enriched environment
Authors: Kajimoto Kenta , Valenzuela C. Fernando , Allan Andrea M. , Ge Shaoyu , Gu Yan , Cunningham Lee Anna
Published: March 2016

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) results in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which is characterized by a wide range of cognitive and behavioral deficits that may be linked to impaired hippocampal function and adult neurogenesis. Preclinical studies in mouse models of FASD indicate that PAE markedly attenuates enrichment‐mediated increases in the number of adult‐generated hippocampal dentate granule cells (aDGCs), but whether synaptic activity is also affected has not been studied. Here, we utilized retroviral birth‐dating coupled with whole cell patch electrophysiological recordings to assess the effects of PAE on enrichment‐mediated changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity as a function of DGC age. We found that exposure to an enriched environment (EE) had no effect on baseline synaptic activity of 4‐ or 8‐week‐old aDGCs from control mice, but significantly enhanced the excitatory/inhibitory ratio of synaptic activity in 8‐week‐old aDGCs from PAE mice. In contrast, exposure to EE significantly enhanced the excitatory/inhibitory ratio of synaptic activity in older pre‐existing DGCs situated in the outer dentate granule cell layer (i.e., those generated during embryonic development; dDGCs) in control mice, an effect that was blunted in PAE mice. These findings indicate distinct electrophysiological responses of hippocampal DGCs to behavioral challenge based on cellular ontogenetic age, and suggest that PAE disrupts EE‐mediated changes in overall hippocampal network activity. These findings may have implications for future therapeutic targeting of hippocampal dentate circuitry in clinical FASD. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A single bout of resistance exercise improves memory consolidation and increases the expression of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus
Authors: Fernandes Jansen , Soares Juliana Carlota Kramer , do Amaral Baliego Luiz Guilherme Zaccaro , Arida Ricardo Mario
Published: March 2016

Over the past decade, several studies have indicated that chronic resistance exercise (i.e., strength training, weight lifting, etc.) is beneficial for brain health and cognitive function. However, little is known about the effects of a single bout of resistance exercise on brain function, particularly on memory consolidation. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of a single bout of resistance exercise applied immediately after the training of fear conditioning on memory consolidation and on the expression of IGF‐1 and synaptic proteins in the hippocampus. Male Wistar rats were familiarized with climbing a ladder without a load for 3 days and randomly assigned into control (CTL) and resistance exercise (RES) groups. The RES group was subjected to a single bout of resistance exercise applied immediately after fear conditioning training. Subsequently, the animals were tested for contextual (24 h) and tone (48 h) fear memory. Another group of animals were subjected to a single bout of resistance exercise and euthanized 24 h later for hippocampal analysis of IGF‐1 and synaptic proteins (synapsin I, synaptophysin, and PSD‐95). The exercised rats improved contextual but not tone fear memory. Hippocampal IGF‐1 was not altered by resistance exercise. However, the levels of synapsin I, synaptophysin, and PSD‐95 increased significantly in the RES group. The results suggested that a single bout of resistance exercise applied immediately after fear conditioning could improve contextual memory, probably through the activation of pre‐ and postsynaptic machinery required for memory consolidation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Elastin‐Like Peptides (ELPs) – Building Blocks for Stimuli‐Responsive Self‐Assembled Materials
Authors: Navon Yotam , Bitton Ronit
Published: March 2016

Elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs) are biopolymers composed of short repeating peptide motifs inspired by the native elastin hydrophobic domains, mostly the pentapeptide VPGXG, where X is a guest residue, which can be any amino acid except proline. The ability to control the hydrophobicity of ELPs, simply by changing the guest residue, and moreover, to transform an ELP from a soluble molecule to an insoluble one upon heating, makes them promising building blocks for novel stimuli‐responsive self‐assembled materials. Over the past decade, ELPs have been designed to self‐assemble into spherical and cylindrical micelles, fibres, vesicles, and coacervates. In this short review, we summarize the recent literature, describing the molecules and conditions employed to attain these desired structures.
Successful renal transplantation in a patient with cold agglutinin disease
Authors: Vilayur Eswari , Trevillian Paul , Heer Munish
Published: March 2016

Cold agglutinin disease is a rare cause of acute graft loss after renal transplantation. A 71‐year‐old female with end stage renal failure was diagnosed to have cold agglutinin disease when investigated for recurrent clotting of hemodialysis circuits. Kidney transplantation was a major challenge due to unavoidable exposure of the transplant kidney to cold temperatures. Large volume plasma exchange given pre‐transplant and infusion of warm saline prior to anastomosis resulted in successful renal transplantation with good graft function despite initial delayed graft function. This challenging case illustrates the complete removal of cold agglutinin antibodies with therapeutic large volume plasma exchange. J. Clin. Apheresis 32:56–58, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relationship between orbital energy gaps and excitation energies for long‐chain systems
Authors: Tsuneda Takao , Singh Raman K. , Nakata Ayako
Published: March 2016

The difference between the excitation energies and corresponding orbital energy gaps, the exciton binding energy, is investigated based on time‐dependent (TD) density functional theory (DFT) for long‐chain systems: all‐trans polyacetylenes and linear oligoacenes. The optimized geometries of these systems indicate that bond length alternations significantly depend on long‐range exchange interactions. In TDDFT formalism, the exciton binding energy comes from the two‐electron interactions between occupied and unoccupied orbitals through the Coulomb‐exchange‐correlation integral kernels. TDDFT calculations show that the exciton binding energy is significant when long‐range exchange interactions are involved. Spin‐flip (SF) TDDFT calculations are then carried out to clarify double‐excitation effects in these excitation energies. The calculated SF‐TDDFT results indicate that double‐excitation effects significantly contribute to the excitations of long‐chain systems. The discrepancies between the vertical ionization potential minus electron affinity (IP–EA) values and the HOMO–LUMO excitation energies are also evaluated for the infinitely long polyacetylene and oligoacene using the least‐square fits to estimate the exciton binding energy of infinitely long systems. It is found that long‐range exchange interactions are required to give the exciton binding energy of the infinitely long systems. Consequently, it is concluded that long‐range exchange interactions neglected in many DFT calculations play a crucial role in the exciton binding energies of long‐chain systems, while double‐excitation correlation effects are also significant to hold the energy balance of the excitations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new method applicable to study solid compounds with multiple polyhedral structures
Authors: Chen Zhenlian , Li Jun
Published: March 2016

A new direct summation method, named as polyhedron method, is proposed to calculate Madelung energy. This method calculates sums of electrostatic interactions over sets of neutral polyhedron unit pairs rather than conventional ion pairs; this gives Madelung constant in a matrix. With robustly rapid convergence, polyhedron method is generally applicable for complex compounds containing multiple polyhedral building‐blocks and numerical polyhedral connection modes. The matrical analysis suggests face‐sharing between octahedral pairs and edge‐sharing between tetrahedral pairs can be electrostatically stable, against Pauling's third rule. Further, the matrical calculation of Madelung energies offers a unique advantage to evaluate enormous configurations of cation distributions in a given lattice in a high‐throughput manner. That is applicable to study solid solution composites, polymorphism, and defect structures, including but not limited to intermediate phase of delithiated cathode compounds, charge order or antisite defects, and extensively magnetic order. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Different Effects of Cognitive Shifting and Intelligence on Creativity
Authors: Pan Xuan , Yu Huihong
Published: March 2016

The relationship between creativity and executive control has long been controversial. Some researchers view creative thinking as a defocused process with little executive control involvement, whereas others claim that executive control plays a vital role in creative thinking. In this study, we focused on one subcomponent of executive control, cognitive shifting, and examined its relationship with creativity by using latent variable analysis and structural equation modeling. We also analyzed whether this relation was mediated by intelligence. The results showed that: (a) cognitive shifting ability had a positive relationship with creativity, but only on the quantitative aspects (fluency and flexibility); (b) Intelligence had a positive relationship with both quantitative and qualitative aspects (originality) of creativity, and its effect on qualitative aspect was stronger than that on the quantitative aspect; (c) There was a mediating effect of intelligence on the relationship between creativity cognitive and shifting.
Quantitative electromyographic characteristics of idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Authors: Chang Wei‐Han , Fang Tuan‐Jen , Li Hsueh‐Yu , Jaw Fu‐Shan , Wong Alice M. K. , Pei Yu‐Cheng
Published: March 2016

Objectives/Hypothesis

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis with no preceding causes is diagnosed as idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis. However, comprehensive guidelines for evaluating the defining characteristics of idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis are still lacking. In the present study, we hypothesized that idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis may have different clinical and neurologic characteristics from unilateral vocal fold paralysis caused by surgical trauma.

Study Design

Retrospective, case series study.

Methods

Patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis were evaluated using quantitative laryngeal electromyography, videolaryngostroboscopy, voice acoustic analysis, the Voice Outcome Survey, and the Short Form‐36 Health Survey quality‐of‐life questionnaire. Patients with idiopathic and iatrogenic vocal fold paralysis were compared.

Results

A total of 124 patients were recruited. Of those, 17 with no definite identified causes after evaluation and follow‐up were assigned to the idiopathic group. The remaining 107 patients with surgery‐induced vocal fold paralysis were assigned to the iatrogenic group. Patients in the idiopathic group had higher recruitment of the thyroarytenoid–lateral cricoarytenoid muscle complex and better quality of life compared with the iatrogenic group.

Conclusion

Idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis has a distinct clinical presentation, with relatively minor denervation changes in the involved laryngeal muscles, and less impact on quality of life compared with iatrogenic vocal fold paralysis.

Level of Evidence

4. Laryngoscope, 126:E362–E368, 2016
Relative Importance of Mineralogy and Organic Matter Characteristics on Macroaggregate and Colloid Dynamics in MG‐Silicate Dominated Soils
Authors: Falsone Gloria , Celi Luisella , Stanchi Silvia , Bonifacio Eleonora
Published: March 2016

Soil aggregation and organic matter (OM) conservation are important in the prevention of land degradation. Aggregation processes and OM turnover influence each other and depend on the characteristics of both minerals and organic pools. We assessed the relative importance of the organic and mineral phases at the macroaggregate and colloidal scale in two soils (CHL and SRP, chlorite and serpentine‐rich, respectively) where Mg‐silicates dominated, by incubating them with a relatively degraded and oxidized organic fraction, that is the humic acids (HAs) extracted from the organic horizons of both CHL and SRP. The HA from SRP were more aromatic and richer in phenolic groups, whereas HA from CHL were N‐richer, more aliphatic and richer in carboxyl groups. The SRP soil formed larger amounts of macroaggregates, more stable than in CHL. At the colloidal scale, SRP was more flocculated and clay had a lower electrophoretic mobility than CHL. HA enhanced aggregate formation in both samples but improved aggregate stability only in CHL. In CHL, slight differences in electrophoretic mobility were visible, while in SRP, differences were more pronounced, with a point of zero charge at lower pH and larger hydrodynamic diameter. The abundance of Mg in SRP may have favoured the formation of weaker outer‐sphere interactions and the release of clay‐HA associations upon water dispersion, while in CHL Ca formed more stable bonds with HA. In SRP, ligand exchange reactions can be ruled out, conversely to the dominant bonding mechanism occurring in Al‐silicate dominated soils, with important consequences on the release of OM‐loaded clay particles. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drivers of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the global epipelagic ocean
Authors: Catalá T. S. , Álvarez‐Salgado X. A. , Otero J. , Iuculano F. , Companys B. , Horstkotte B. , Romera‐Castillo C. , Nieto‐Cid M. , Latasa M. , Morán X. A. G. , Gasol J. M. , Marrasé C. , Stedmon C. A. , Reche I.
Published: March 2016

Fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in open surface waters (< 200 m) of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans was analysed by excitation‐emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). A four‐component PARAFAC model was fit to the EEMs, which included two humic‐ (C1 and C2) and two amino acid‐like (C3 and C4) components previously identified in ocean waters. Generalized‐additive models (GAMs) were used to explore the environmental factors that drive the global distribution of these PARAFAC components. The explained variance for the humic‐like components was substantially larger (> 70%) than for the amino acid‐like components (< 35%). The environmental variables exhibiting the largest effect on the global distribution of C1 and C2 were apparent oxygen utilisation followed by chlorophyll a. Positive non‐linear relationships between both predictor variables and the two humic‐like PARAFAC components suggest that their distribution are biologically controlled. Compared with the dark ocean (> 200 m), the relationships of C1 and C2 with AOU indicate a higher C1/AOU and C2/AOU ratios of the humic‐like substances in the dark ocean than in the surface ocean where a net effect of photobleaching is also detected. C3 (tryptophan‐like) and C4 (tyrosine‐like) variability was mostly dictated by salinity (S), by means of positive non‐linear relationships, suggesting a primary physical control of their distributions at the global surface ocean scale that could be related to the changing evaporation‐precipitation regime. Remarkably, bacterial biomass (BB) only contributed to explain a minor part of the variability of C1 and C4.
Non‐oral Continuous Drug Delivery Techniques in Parkinson's Disease: For Whom, When, and How?
Authors: Timpka Jonathan , Henriksen Tove , Odin Per
Published: March 2016

Continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS) has become one of the main concepts in present Parkinson's disease (PD) research. This is based on the assumption that CDS, or rather near CDS, is the normal striatal setting in a healthy individual. In PD, the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons leads to a reduced capacity to buffer dopamine, which could increase the vulnerability to a pulsatile administration of drugs. The term continuous drug delivery (CDD) describes the process of delivering drugs continuously with the aim of achieving CDS. There are three principal techniques for non‐oral CDD: continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion CSAi), levodopa‐carbidopa intestinal gel infusion (LCIGi), and transdermal rotigotine therapy. CDD has repeatedly been shown effective in the day‐to‐day treatment of PD patients. Although this review does not replace local guidelines regarding the use of the included non‐oral CDD‐based therapies, we have compiled the current base of evidence or consensus view with the intention of facilitating both the selection and the use in a clinical setting. The indications for CSAi and LCIGi are very similar and are centered around motor complications in advanced PD, whereas rotigotine has been proven effective both as a monotherapy in early PD and as an add‐on to levodopa in advanced PD. Deep‐brain stimulation is a relevant option for many of the patients with advanced PD, and we therefore also discuss its use in relation to the CDD‐based techniques. Blinded and controlled trials have shown that non‐oral CDD is an effective approach for the treatment of PD.
A compact omni‐directional circularly polarized antenna for WLAN applications
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Jianxiao , Yang Lin , Liu Ying , Li Xi , Ren Jian
Published: March 2016

A compact omni‐directional circularly polarized (CP) antenna is presented. The proposed CP antenna consists of a centrally fed circular patch and four curved branches which are printed on two substrates and the two substrates are connected by four metal pins. The center circular patch acts as a monopole and the four curved branches are employed as a current loop enabling the antenna radiates omni‐directional CP waves in azimuth plane. The antenna is designed at 2.4 GHz for WLAN application and printed on substrates with a compact size of 0.34λ0 × 0.34λ0 × 0.08λ0 (where λ0 is the wavelength in free space). To verify the design, the antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured results show that the antenna proposed in this article has an impedance bandwidth of about 10% (2.31‐2.55GHz) and 3dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth of about 50% (1.9–3.2 GHz). The S‐parameters, axial ratios, radiation patterns, antenna gains, and antenna efficiencies are studied. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1011–1016, 2016
Platform tolerant UWB antenna over multi‐band AMC structure
Authors: Kumar Pandey Gaurav , Shankar Singh Hari , Kumar Meshram Manoj
Published: March 2016

A low profile (≈0.09λ2.6 GHz) platform tolerant antenna system having a monopole antenna placed over a multiband artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) is presented for ultrawideband (UWB) applications. The AMC structure is a simple triple band structure having planar array of unit cells. The AMC behavior i.e., zero reflection phase point observed about 4.0, 7.2, and 10.3 GHz, respectively. The simulated and measured results of the antenna when placed in free space, on large metal plate, and over numeric body model/human hand are also compared. The results show that the proposed UWB antenna with AMC structure having platform tolerant properties when placed on large metallic plate and body model for on body applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1052–1059, 2016
Three‐dimensional numerical analysis of concrete‐faced rockfill dam using dual‐mortar finite element method with mixed tangential contact constraints
Authors: Zhou Mozhen , Zhang Bingyin , Peng Chong , Wu Wei
Published: March 2016

Concrete‐faced rockfill dam (CFRD) is a popular alternative to traditional dam types in the last two decades. The modelling of CFRD involves complex multi‐body contact and strong geometry and material nonlinearities. We present a numerical approach for the modelling of CFRDs in this paper. Based on the dual‐mortar finite element method, the presented approach considers different parts of rockfill and all concrete slabs as independent deformable continuum. The multi‐body contacts are modelled using Lagrange multipliers with a weak form segment‐to‐segment contact strategy. To alleviate instability induced by strong geometry nonlinearity in the slab–slab contact, we propose a mixed type of constraints for the tangential contact. A general transformation scheme is introduced to simplify the implementation of contact constraints. Three‐dimensional analysis of Tianshengqiao‐1 CFRD is performed. The nonlinear and time‐dependent deformation of the rockfill is considered. We study the influence of the rockfill deformation on the reliability of the concrete face. Three major concerns of the face, that is, the axial compression, the slab–slab separation and the face‐rockfill separation, are discussed in detail. The numerical results are compared with data from in‐situ observation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patient characteristics for different therapeutic strategies in the management ketamine cystitis
Authors: Jhang Jia‐Fong , Birder Lori A. , Chancellor Michael B. , Kuo Hann‐Chorng
Published: March 2016

Aims

Long‐term ketamine abuse results in severely inflamed bladder and intractable bladder pain. Currently there is no guideline for clinician to follow how to manage patients with ketamine cystitis (KC). This study analyzed the KC patient characteristics between who received conservative management and augmentation enterocystoplasty (AE).

Methods

A total of 53 patients with chronic ketamine abuse and lower urinary tract symptoms were included in this study. All of the patients have been initially treated conservatively but fail. They were admitted for detailed urological examinations. Patients were classified according to their maximal bladder capacity (MBC). The patients with extremely small MBC (<100 ml) with or without upper urinary tract damage and very small MBC with upper urinary tract damage were recommended to receive AE. The patient characteristics and treatment outcome are compared between patients with AE and conservative treatment.

Results

Among them, 28 patients underwent AE and 25 were managed with conservative treatment. The only significant difference between groups was more patients with urgency urinary incontinence underwent AE. Patients underwent AE had significantly smaller MBC, thicker bladder wall, and higher incidence of vesicoureteral reflux. Patients underwent AE reported a good outcome. Most of patients received conservative treatment had a fair result.

Conclusions

KC patients who already developed a contracted bladder with extremely small bladder capacity (<300 ml) with irreversible urinary tract change, partial cystectomy, and AE seems necessary for early restoration of a normal lower urinary tract function. The treatment outcome of AE is better than patients with conservative treatment. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:687–691, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Strategies for non‐invasive imaging of polymeric biomaterial in vascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine using ultrasound and photoacoustic techniques
Authors: Avigo Cinzia , Flori Alessandra , Armanetti Paolo , Di Lascio Nicole , Kusmic Claudia , Jose Jithin , Losi Paola , Soldani Giorgio , Faita Francesco , Menichetti Luca
Published: March 2016

The ability of new polymeric materials to provide excellent biomechanical properties expanded their potential for biomedical applications enormously. The use of non‐invasive imaging modalities could provide crucial information to monitor the efficacy/effectiveness/efficiency of the new materials employed in ‘regenerative’ approaches, including scaffolds, hydrogels, self‐assembling materials and nanosized structures. The assessment of the morpho‐functional and metabolic changes of treated or implanted tissues, the visualization of sites of drug delivery and the real‐time check of the in vivo efficacy of therapeutics could be achieved by non‐invasive micro‐ and macro‐imaging techniques. The macro‐ and nano‐requirements of these new materials and their behaviour in vivo can be investigated using standard approaches such as computed tomography, MRI and ultrasound techniques and the emerging photoacoustic imaging. This paper presents recent advancements of ultrasonography and the novel photoacoustic technique to monitor the morpho‐functional parameters of synthetic polymeric scaffolds and conduits in experimental models. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Quantum wire‐on‐well (WoW) cell with long carrier lifetime for efficient carrier transport
Authors: Sugiyama Masakazu , Fujii Hiromasa , Katoh Takumi , Toprasertpong Kasidit , Sodabanlu Hassanet , Watanabe Kentaroh , Alonso‐Álvarez Diego , Ekins‐Daukes Nicholas J. , Nakano Yoshiaki
Published: March 2016

A quantum wire‐on‐well (WoW) structure, taking advantage of the layer undulation of an InGaAs/GaAs/GaAsP superlattice grown on a vicinal substrate, was demonstrated to enhance the carrier collection from the confinement levels and extend the carrier lifetime (220 ns) by approximately four times more than a planar reference superlattice. Strained InGaAs/GaAs/GaAsP superlattices were grown on GaAs substrates under exactly the same conditions except for the substrate misorientation (0 and 6 ° off). The growth on a 6 ° off substrate induced significant layer undulation as a result of step bunching and non‐uniform precursor incorporation between steps and terraces, whereas the growth on a substrate without miscut resulted in planar layers. The undulation was the most significant for InGaAs layers, forming periodically aligned InGaAs nanowires on planar wells, a WoW structure. As for the photocurrent corresponding to the sub‐bandgap range of GaAs, the light absorption by the WoW was extended to longer wavelengths and weakened as compared with the planar superlattice. Almost the same photocurrent was obtained for both the WoW and the planar superlattice. Open‐circuit voltage for the WoW was not affected by the longer‐wavelength absorption edge, and the same value was obtained for the two structures. Furthermore, the superior carrier collection in the WoW, especially under forward biases, improved fill factor compared with the planer superlattice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantifying and understanding the fitness effects of protein mutations: Laboratory versus nature
Authors: Boucher Jeffrey I. , Bolon Daniel N. A. , Tawfik Dan S.
Published: March 2016

The last decade has seen a growing number of experiments aimed at systematically mapping the effects of mutations in different proteins, and of attempting to correlate their biophysical and biochemical effects with organismal fitness. While insightful, systematic laboratory measurements of fitness effects present challenges and difficulties. Here, we discuss the limitations associated with such measurements, and in particular the challenge of correlating the effects of mutations at the single protein level (“protein fitness”) with their effects on organismal fitness. A variety of experimental setups are used, with some measuring the direct effects on protein function and others monitoring the growth rate of a model organism carrying the protein mutants. The manners by which fitness effects are calculated and presented also vary, and the conclusions, including the derived distributions of fitness effects of mutations, vary accordingly. The comparison of the effects of mutations in the laboratory to the natural protein diversity, namely to amino acid changes that have fixed in the course of millions of years of evolution, is also debatable. The results of laboratory experiments may, therefore, be less relevant to understanding long‐term inter‐species variations yet insightful with regard to short‐term polymorphism, for example, in the study of the effects of human SNPs.
Aerosol indirect effects on glaciated clouds. Part I: Model description
Authors: Kudzotsa Innocent , Phillips Vaughan T. J. , Dobbie Steven , Formenton Marco , Sun Jiming , Allen Grant , Bansemer Aaron , Spracklen Dominick , Pringle Kirsty
Published: March 2016

Various improvements were made to a state‐of‐the‐art aerosol–cloud model and comparison of the model results with observations from field campaigns was performed. The strength of this aerosol–cloud model is in its ability to explicitly resolve all the known modes of heterogeneous cloud droplet activation and ice crystal nucleation. The model links cloud particle activation with the aerosol loading and chemistry of seven different aerosol species. These improvements to the model resulted in more accurate prediction especially of droplet and ice crystal number concentrations in the upper troposphere and enabled the model to directly sift the aerosol indirect effects based on the chemistry and concentration of the aerosols. In addition, continental and maritime cases were simulated for the purpose of validating the aerosol–cloud model and for investigating the critical microphysical and dynamical mechanisms of aerosol indirect effects from anthropogenic solute and solid aerosols, focusing mainly on glaciated clouds. The simulations showed that increased solute aerosols reduced cloud particle sizes by about 5 μm and inhibited warm rain processes. Cloud fractions and their optical thicknesses were increased quite substantially in both cases. Although liquid mixing ratios were boosted, there was however a substantial reduction of ice mixing ratios in the upper troposphere owing to the increase in snow production aloft. These results are detailed in the subsequent parts of this study.
Comparison of real‐time refractivity measurements by radar with automatic weather stations, AROME‐WMED and WRF forecast simulations during SOP1 of the HyMeX campaign
Authors: Besson Lucas , Caumont Olivier , Goulet Laurent , Bastin Sophie , Menut Laurent , Bresson Emilie , Fourrié Nadia , Fabry Frédéric , Parent du Châtelet Jacques
Published: March 2016

Weather radars, originally designed to detect and quantify precipitation, can be used to estimate and map the refractivity at low levels, a proxy for humidity. As highlighted by previous studies, this presents a definite meteorological interest, both for numerical weather prediction and for atmospheric process studies. Recent works have given keys to performing high‐accuracy measurements with operational radar without decreasing the quality of reflectivity and Doppler wind classical measurements, and the retrieval of radar refractivity is now performed in real time with the Météo‐France Application Radar à la Météorologie Infra‐Synoptique (ARAMIS) operational network.

Taking advantage of the Hydrological cycle in Mediterranean eXperiment (HyMeX) field campaign (September–November 2012), refractivity measured by a few radars located in southeast France has been compared with in situ measurement by Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), and correlation between these two independent observations is quite good, in particular giving high quality for the diurnal cycle and during the pre‐convection period measurement by the radar.

To go further in the evaluation of the usefulness of such a product, we compared refractivity derived from radar measurements and from two different kinds of model: the numerical prediction model Applications de la Recherche à l'Opérationnel à Méso‐Echelle – Western MEDiterranean (AROME‐WMED) using a 2.5 km resolution grid mesh over southern France and a coarser resolution simulation (54 × 54 km) performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, which both ran in a forecasting mode during the HyMeX Special Observing Period 1. These two models give access to the variability of the modelling and thus enable us to quantify the uncertainty of the refractivity modelling. The result of this comparison is generally fairly good, with a pattern of refractivity field similar to observations (AWS and radar), although obviously with locally strong differences.

We finally illustrate the usefulness of refractivity mapping by radar by investigating a typical meteorological situation of a convective system observed during the HyMeX campaign.
One‐Pot, Clean Synthesis of Vanillic Acid from Ferulic Acid
Authors: Delisi Riccardo , Ciriminna Rosaria , Parrino Francesco , Palmisano Leonardo , Xu Yi‐Jun , Pagliaro Mario
Published: March 2016

Ferulic acid dissolved in water is selectively oxidized to vanillic acid in high yield (≈60 %) under remarkably mild and green conditions, namely at room temperature with air as primary oxidant, over a catalytic amount of nanostructured Bi2WO6. The process is general and opens the route to the selective oxidation of natural substances into derivatives of significant applicative relevance.
Facile palladium–catalyzed homocoupling of aryl halides using 1,4‐butanediol as solvent, reductant and O,O‐ligand
Authors: Huang Ye , Liu Lijie , Feng Wenhua
Published: March 2016

A mild, efficient and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of biaryl compounds via palladium‐catalyzed reductive homocoupling of aryl halides in 1,4‐butanediol (1,4‐DBO) has been developed. In this catalyst system, green solvent‐1,4‐butanediol is used not only as solvent, but also as reductant and O,O‐ligand, and therefore no extra reducing agents and ligands are required. Moreover, the weak coordinate effect brings 1,4‐butanediol close to the palladium and accelerates the process of electron transfer in a four‐membered ring transition state and hence promotes the reduction and catalytic process. A variety of biaryl compounds have been synthesized via this protocol rapidly with low loading of palladium catalyst under mild conditions in air.
Impact of Baseline Total Testosterone Level on Successful Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in Men Taking Once-Daily Tadalafil 5 mg for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An Integrated Analysis of Three Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Mulhall John P. , Brock Gerald B. , Glina Sidney , Baygani Simin , Donatucci Craig F. , Maggi Mario
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Controversy exists as to whether erectile response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors is compromised in men with low total testosterone (TT) levels. This is amplified by reports of improved response to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor therapy after coadministration of testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men unresponsive to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.

Aim

To determine whether TT and luteinizing hormone levels influence efficacy of tadalafil for erectile dysfunction in men with concomitant lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Methods

This integrated analysis included 1,075 men randomized to once-daily tadalafil 5 mg (n = 540) or placebo (n = 535) for 12 weeks in three prospective clinical trials who had not received concomitant testosterone replacement therapy. Subjects were categorized at baseline by low vs normal TT levels (n = 1,049; <300 vs ≥300 ng/dL) and normal vs high luteinizing hormone levels (n = 1,058; ≤9.4 vs >9.4 mIU/mL). Treatment-group differences in International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) by hormone subgroups were assessed using analysis of covariance.

Main Outcome Measures

Changes in IIEF erectile function domain and other domain scores.

Results

The overall study population was comprised primarily of white men (>86%) with a mean age range of 64 to 70 years. Median baseline TT level in the integrated population was 355 ng/dL; levels were lower than 300 ng/dL (cutoff for normal) in 32.4% of men. Men with low TT levels reported diabetes (21.8%), cardiovascular disease (54.1%), and hypertension (49.1%) numerically more often than men with normal TT levels (10.6%, 43.2%, and 36.7%, respectively). Low TT and high luteinizing hormone levels were associated with numerically, but not statistically significantly, lower 12-week IIEF domain scores compared with those with normal levels. Changes in most 12-week IIEF domain scores showed that tadalafil was significantly more effective than placebo (P < .02).

Conclusion

Low TT levels at baseline did not negatively influence response to tadalafil in men of advancing age with concomitant lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction.
Taurine Supplementation Improves Erectile Function in Rats with Streptozotocin-induced Type 1 Diabetes via Amelioration of Penile Fibrosis and Endothelial Dysfunction
Authors: Ruan Yajun , Li Mingchao , Wang Tao , Yang Jun , Rao Ke , Wang Shaogang , Yang Weiming , Liu Jihong , Ye Zhangqun
Published: March 2016

Introduction

For patients with diabetes, erectile dysfunction (ED) is common and greatly affects quality of life. However, these patients often exhibit a poor response to first-line oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors.

Aim

To investigate whether taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, affects diabetic ED (DED).

Methods

Type 1 diabetes mellitus was induced in male rats by using streptozotocin. After 12 weeks, an apomorphine test was conducted to confirm DED. Only rats with DED were administered taurine or vehicle for 4 weeks. Age-matched nondiabetic rats were administered saline intraperitoneally for 4 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

Erectile function was evaluated by electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve. Histologic and molecular alterations of the corpus cavernosum also were analyzed.

Results

Erectile function was significantly reduced in the diabetic rats compared with in the nondiabetic rats, and was improved in the diabetic rats treated with taurine. The corpus cavernosum of the rats with DED exhibited severe fibrosis and decreased smooth muscle content. Deposition of extracellular matrix proteins was increased in the diabetic rats, while expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase/cyclic guanosine monophosphate/nitric oxide pathway–related proteins was reduced. Taurine supplementation ameliorated erectile response as well as histologic and molecular alterations.

Conclusion

Taurine supplementation improves erectile function in rats with DED probably by potential antifibrotic activity. This finding provides evidence for a potential new therapy for DED.
Zoned magmatic areas and anorogenic batholith formation in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (by the example of the Late Paleozoic Khangai magmatic area)
Authors: Yarmolyuk V.V. , Kozlovsky A.M. , Kuzmin M.I.
Published: March 2016

In the Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic, the Central Asian Rift System formed in the southern framing of the Siberian Craton. It has a specific structure owing to zoned magmatic areas comprising the largest world’s batholiths (Angara–Vitim, Khangai, and Khentei) in the core and coeval rift zones on the periphery. By the example of the Khangai batholith, which is the core of the Khangai zoned magmatic area, we have demonstrated that the batholith granites are a specific class of anorogenic granitoids. Each batholith is composed of nearly coeval rocks of widely varying compositions, from low-alkali to subalkalic and alkaline and from mafic to ultrafelsic. The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of rocks of the Khangai batholith are intermediate between the host continental crust and the juvenile mantle source. The melts from this mantle source formed lava sequences on the rift periphery of the batholith and were also manifested in its core as synplutonic mafic intrusions. The isotope-geochemical characteristics of the batholith granitoids evidence that mantle magmas took part in the formation of granite melts. With regard to the volume of the batholith rocks (~1 mln km3), the Khangai zoned magmatic area can be considered a silicic large igneous province, whose formation was controlled by a localized source of material and heat, i.e., mantle plume. We propose a model relating the composition, structure, and geologic position of batholiths to the impact of mantle plumes on the lithosphere of a folded area. The model assumes that mantle melts intruded into the base of crust by the underplating mechanism or formed underlayers, caused crustal anatexis, and were mixed with anatectic melts. The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the resulted magmatic products were intermediate between the parameters typical of the convergent boundaries of lithospheric plates and those characteristic for intraplate environments.
The stress state of the northern Tien Shan crust based on the KNET seismic network data
Authors: Rebetsky Yu.L. , Sycheva N.A. , Sychev V.N. , Kuzikov S.I. , Marinin A.V.
Published: March 2016

In this study we present a detailed analysis of natural stresses in the Northern Tien Shan crust averaged in a window of 10–15 km obtained from seismological data of the local KNET network. The transformation of focal mechanism data into the parameters of the stress tensor was based on the method of cataclastic analysis of rupture displacement elaborated by Yu.L. Rebetsky (Institute of Physic of the Earth, Moscow). The results, including the orientation of the principal stress axes and the reduced stresses, are presented for four depth layers. It was shown that the central part of the study area is dominated by horizontal compression, while multiple domains characterized by horizontal shear and superimposed compression or pure horizontal shear are also present (uppermost layers in the eastern part of the Chuya depression, Suusamyr depression and adjoining regions, in the central part of the Kyrgyz Range). There are also several large domains of high and low effective confining pressure, which defines the corresponding deviator stress, according to the Coulomb–Mohr law. It was shown that relatively strong earthquakes are correlated with zones with low levels of effective pressure where the ruptures are characterized by lower resistance to brittle fracturing, i.e., Coulomb friction stresses. It was also shown that a distinct segment of the ~ 60 km E–W striking fault on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Range generates a uniform distribution of stresses, corresponding to a dextral slip along of its edges.