bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extensión del Bosque Nublado y su Contribución de la Lluvia Horizontal a la Precipitación Total en la Reserva Biológica Uyuca, Honduras
Authors: Agudelo Nelson , Mora José Manuel , Pérard Samantha , Jut Solórzano Julio César
Published: April 2016

Se ha asumido que la zona impactada por las nubes y las neblinas en el cerro Uyuca está a partir de los 1,700 msnm y cubre un área de 237.1 ha. De éstas, el bosque latifoliado maduro multiestratificado cubre 52 ha mientras que las otras 185 ha están cubiertas por el bosque secundario conformado por rodales puros y mixtos de Pinus maximinoi y bosque latifoliado. Ante la importancia de los bosques nublados o nubosos como recolectores de agua se cuantificó la precipitación horizontal u oculta a nivel de la masa latifoliada madura durante cinco años (1987-1992). Para ello se distribuyó una red de 12 pluviómetros tipo embudo, de 52 cm de diámetro, a varias altitudes dentro del bosque. Como control se colocaron tres pluviómetros en un área abierta de 2.7 ha adyacente al bosque maduro. Se hicieron registros diarios de la precipitación, la nubosidad y la visibilidad, la dirección y la velocidad del viento a lo largo de los cinco años del estudio. La precipitación media mensual varió entre los 62.3 mm y los 276.3 mm. El promedio aritmético de la precipitación total anual dentro del bosque fue de 2,021.6 mm. No obstante, este promedio fue de 2,360 mm estimado mediante el método de los polígonos de Thiessen. A campo abierto se registró un promedio total anual de 978 mm. Consecuentemente, la precipitación horizontal fue de 1,382.2 mm, un aporte del bosque de 141.3% a la precipitación normal. Se determinó que la zona de vida del bosque muy húmedo montano bajo subtropical en el cerro Uyuca comienza a partir de los 1,600 msnm. Como resultado, el área de bosque nuboso en el cerro Uyuca es de 556 ha. Este sector adicional (322 ha), en la actualidad, no es parte del núcleo de la Reserva Biológica del Cerro Uyuca. Consecuentemente, este sector adicional o al menos sus partes más factibles deben ser estrictamente preservadas para proteger un área de bosque nublado de gran relevancia. Esto es fundamental sobre todo si se tiene en cuenta que debido a su delicada dependencia del clima local, los bosques nubosos serán fuertemente afectados por el cambio climático global. La inclusión en la zonificación de la reserva de una Subzona de Adaptación al Cambio Climático es un primer paso excelente para trabajar en contrarrestar los impactos del cambio climático y el efecto compuesto de este con otros factores de amenaza a la biodiversidad.
Effectiveness of Some Educational Methods and Tools on Improving the Level of Understanding of Biostatistics among Medical Students and Paramedical Postgraduate Students
Authors: Shakeri Nezhat
Published: April 2016

It has been observed that medical students and researchers lack sufficient knowledge in understanding statistical concepts. This indicates the importance of improving the level of instruction in this field. This experimental study was conducted to introduce and investigate the effectiveness of some educational methods and tools in improving the level of understanding of biostatistics among medical students and paramedical postgraduate students. For this purpose, from 40 medical students and 20 paramedical postgraduate students, who attended the biostatistics course, pre-test and post-test questionnaires were collected. The medical students were divided into two training groups, namely, training with the help of software (intervention group), and the traditional (lecture method) group. The paramedical postgraduate students were also divided into two groups, except that for the intervention group, in addition to training with the help of software, educational DVDs were also provided. Knowledge, attitude and the awareness index of the students were determined by using a questionnaire. Post-test results indicate that, the awareness index in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The new method of teaching significantly upgraded the knowledge of the students (P<0.05) and increased the level of attitude of the medical students (P<0.04). Comparing the post-test results of the two groups, i.e., medical students and paramedical postgraduate students, demonstrated that a combination of software and instructional DVDs had a positive effect on the desired outcome (P<0.01). Usage of statistical software and additional virtual methods will contribute to increasing the level of knowledge and attitude of the students toward biostatistics. The training method and, accordingly, the curricula of biostatistics courses in medical and paramedical schools must be revised.
En torno al sentido de gobernabilidad y gobernanza: delimitación y alcances
Authors: Brower Beltramin Jorge Antonio
Published: April 2016

Resumen: durante las últimas décadas los conceptos de gobernabilidad y gobernanza han cobrado gran relevancia en el ámbito de las teorías políticas y las diversas reflexiones y aportes en relación al fortalecimiento de las democracias en todo el mundo. Este artículo establece un recorrido de lectura sobre la geografía conceptual de los términos gobernabilidad y gobernanza, exponiendo en ese recorrido vinculaciones significativas con otros campos de sentido y nociones al interior de ellos, que posibilitan una mejor comprensión de estos términos. Finalmente  proponemos una relectura desde la complejidad para enriquecer el sentido de los conceptos gobernabilidad y gobernanza. Este aporte, proveniente de una dimensión gnoseológica epistémica contribuye no sólo a  aumentar la densidad semántica de los conceptos sino que aporta una forma de conocimiento cuyo efecto va más allá del plano teórico, viéndose expresado en las políticas públicas y su implementación en sociedades concretas.
La Revolución onto-epistemológica del Constructivismo en las Relaciones Internacionales
Authors: Arriola Jonathan David
Published: April 2016

En los últimos años, el constructivismo se consolidó como una de las alternativas a las teorías realista y liberal que, hasta la caída de la URSS, dominaron la teoría de las Relaciones Internacionales. En el artículo, proponemos que el constructivismo implicó una doble innovación: 1) a nivel ontológico, pues concibe a la realidad social como “elástica” y 2) a nivel epistemológico, por afirmar que, para comprenderla, se debe apelar a la hermenéutica, a la historicidad y, sobre todo, a las ideas. Así, concluiremos que el constructivismo como una “meta-teoría” pues lo que propone es una ontología del resto de las teorías de relaciones internacionales, las cuales se revelan más como discurso que como ciencia.
Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for girl victims of sexual violence in Brazil: Are there differences in effectiveness when applied by different groups of psychologists?
Authors: Habigzang Luísa Fernanda , Pinto Pizarro de Freitas Clarissa , Von Hohendorff Jean , Koller Sílvia Helena
Published: April 2016

The effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group therapy model for the treatment of girl victims of sexual violence (SV) was investigated when applied by different groups of professionals: researchers/psychologists who developed it (G1) and psychologists from the public social care network trained by the first group (G2). A quasi-experimental study was carried out, in which the group therapy model was applied by the two groups. A total of 103 girl victims of sexual violence (SV), aged between seven and 16 years (M=11.76 years, SD=2.02 years) were included, with 49 attended by G1, and 54 by G2. The results indicated a significant reduction in the symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD. The comparison between the results obtained by the two groups of professionals in the application of the model indicated no significant differences in the rates of improvement of the participants. These results indicate the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral group therapy model evaluated and the possibility of it being used as a care strategy by psychology professionals working in public services.
Beliefs about obesity and their relationship with dietary restraint and body image perception
Authors: Magallares Alejandro , Carbonero-Carreño Rocio , Ruiz-Prieto Inmaculada , Jauregui-Lobera Ignacio
Published: April 2016

Recent studies provide evidence that beliefs about the causes of obesity may actually have an influence on eating habits. In this work we wanted to analyze the relationship that may exists between beliefs about obesity, dietary restraint and body image perception. For that purpose, 258 students of a High School and Occupational Training School in Seville (Spain) were recruited to conduct the study. According to our results, it was found that beliefs about obesity were positively related with dietary restraint and body image perception. Additionally, it was found that people high in beliefs about the controllability of the weight scored more in dietary restraint and body image perception than participants that did not believe that obesity was under personal control. No differences were found in Body Mass Index. Finally, it is suggested, according to the results that we found, that in order to be effective, public health campaigns may need to target people’s beliefs just as much as they target their behaviours.
Diversité sociale et sémantique : représentation socio-sémantique d’un corpus scientifique, le cas du corpus ACL Anthology
Authors: Omodei Elisa , Guo Yufan , Cointet Jean-Philippe , Poibeau Thierry
Published: April 2016

Nous proposons une nouvelle méthode pour l’extraction de termes multi-mots à partir de publications scientifiques. Notre stratégie est fondée sur la combinaison de deux approches : une première liste de termes « candidats » est d’abord extraite à partir de critères de fréquence et de spécificité. Cette liste est ensuite classée suivant la position du terme dans le Résumé : (en ayant recours à un étiquetage de la valeur « argumentative » des phrases, selon une analyse de type text zoning). Cette approche permet de classer les termes en différentes catégories, et notamment de distinguer le vocabulaire conceptuel des éléments d’ordre méthodologique. Nous avons appliqué cette méthode à l’extraction des termes utilisés en traitement automatique des langues à partir de l’analyse d’un corpus (ACL Anthology) s’étendant de 1980 à 2008. Nous montrons ainsi qu’il est possible de suivre les méthodes utilisées, comment elles sont introduites dans le domaine, par quel type d’auteur et pour quel usage, etc. Nous observons ainsi plusieurs faits marquants de l’évolution du domaine sur une période de plus de 30 ans.
Time for full inclusion of community actions in the response to AIDS
Authors: Collins Chris J , Greenall Matthew N , Mallouris Chris , Smith Sally L
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Community action, including activism, advocacy and service delivery, has been crucially important in the global response to AIDS from the beginning of the epidemic and remains one of its defining features. This indispensable contribution has been increasingly acknowledged in strategic planning documents from UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and other organizations. A growing body of literature demonstrates that community‐based services can have measurable impact, serve populations that are not accessing public health services and reach people at scale.

Discussion

Recognition of the powerful potential role of community has not translated into full incorporation of community responses in programme planning or financing, and communities are still not fully understood as true assets within overall systems for health. The diverse community contributions remain seriously underappreciated and under‐resourced in national responses.

Conclusions

It is time for a paradigm shift in how we think about, plan and finance community‐based responses to HIV in order to achieve improved impact and move toward ending the epidemic. We must utilize the unique strengths of communities in creating resilient and sustainable systems for health. There are several priorities for immediate attention, including agreement on the need to nurture truly comprehensive systems for health that include public, private and community activities; re‐examination of donor and national funding processes to ensure community is strategically included; improvement of data systems to capture the full spectrum of health services; and improved accountability frameworks for overall health systems. Health planning and financing approaches run by governments and donors should institutionalize consideration of how public, community and private health services can strategically contribute to meeting service needs and accomplishing public health targets.
Integrated p–n junction InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well devices with diverse functionalities
Authors: Cai Wei , Gao Xumin , Yuan Wei , Yang Yongchao , Yuan Jialei , Zhu Hongbo , Wang Yongjin
Published: April 2016

We propose, fabricate, and demonstrate integrated p–n junction InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well devices with diverse functionalities on a GaN-on-silicon platform. Suspended devices with a common n-contact are realized using a wafer-level process. For the integrated devices, part of the light emitted by a light-emitting diode (LED) is guided in-plane through a suspended waveguide and is sensed by another photodiode. The induced photocurrent is tuned by the LED. The integrated devices can act as two independent LEDs to deliver different signals simultaneously for free-space visible light communication. Furthermore, the suspended devices can be used as two separate photodiodes to detect incident light with a distinct on/off switching performance.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO EXPORTING SMEs IN EMERGING MARKETS.
Authors: De Souza Izabel , Floriani Dinora Eliete , Borini Felipe Mendes
Published: April 2016

The purpose is to analyze whether use of government incentives by exporting SMEs in Brazil helps them increase their degree of internationalization (DOI) and/or improve their export performance. The regression model reveals that greater use of financial incentives was related to higher DOI and better performance. However, the variable percentage of sales financed had a negative influence on DOI, on export performance and on international competitiveness, showing that the lower the percentage financed, the higher the DOI.
Estimation and propagation of uncertainties associated with paleomagnetic directions
Authors: Heslop David , Roberts Andrew P.
Published: April 2016

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a well‐established technique in paleomagnetism and provides a means to estimate magnetic remanence directions from univectorial segments of stepwise demagnetization data. Derived directions constrain past geomagnetic field behavior and form the foundation of chronological and tectonic reconstructions. PCA of isolated remanence segments relies on estimates of the segment mean and covariance matrix, which can carry large uncertainties given the relatively small number of demagnetization data points used to characterize individual specimens. Traditional PCA does not, however, lend itself to quantification of these uncertainties, and inferences drawn from paleomagnetic reconstructions suffer from an inability to propagate uncertainties from individual specimens to higher levels, such as in calculations of paleomagnetic site mean directions and pole positions. In this study, we employ a probabilistic reformulation of PCA that represents the unknowns involved in the data fitting process as probability density functions. Such probability density functions represent our state of knowledge about the unknowns in the fitting process and provide a tractable framework with which to rigorously quantify uncertainties associated with remanence directions estimated from demagnetization data. These uncertainties can be propagated readily through each step of a paleomagnetic reconstruction to enable quantification of uncertainties for all stages of the data interpretation sequence, removing the need for arbitrary selection/rejection criteria at the specimen level. Rigorous uncertainty determination helps to protect against spurious inferences being drawn from uncertain data.
Probabilistic assessment of erosion and flooding risk in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Wahl Thomas , Plant Nathaniel G. , Long Joseph W.
Published: April 2016

We assess erosion and flooding risk in the northern Gulf of Mexico by identifying interdependencies among oceanographic drivers and probabilistically modeling the resulting potential for coastal change. Wave and water level observations are used to determine relationships between six hydrodynamic parameters that influence total water level and therefore erosion and flooding, through consideration of a wide range of univariate distribution functions and multivariate elliptical copulas. Using these relationships, we explore how different our interpretation of the present‐day erosion/flooding risk could be if we had seen more or fewer extreme realizations of individual and combinations of parameters in the past by simulating 10,000 physically and statistically consistent sea‐storm time series. We find that seasonal total water levels associated with the 100 year return period could be up to 3 m higher in summer and 0.6 m higher in winter relative to our best estimate based on the observational records. Impact hours of collision and overwash—where total water levels exceed the dune toe or dune crest elevations—could be on average 70% (collision) and 100% (overwash) larger than inferred from the observations. Our model accounts for non‐stationarity in a straightforward, non‐parametric way that can be applied (with little adjustments) to many other coastlines. The probabilistic model presented here, which accounts for observational uncertainty, can be applied to other coastlines where short record lengths limit the ability to identify the full range of possible wave and water level conditions that coastal mangers and planners must consider to develop sustainable management strategies.
Response of rapidly developing extratropical cyclones to sea surface temperature variations over the western Kuroshio–Oyashio confluence region
Authors: Hirata Hidetaka , Kawamura Ryuichi , Kato Masaya , Shinoda Taro
Published: April 2016

The dynamical response of rapidly developing extratropical cyclones to sea surface temperature (SST) variations over the western Kuroshio–Oyashio confluence (WKOC) region was examined by using regional cloud‐resolving simulations. This study specifically highlights an explosive cyclone that occurred in early February 2014 and includes a real SST experiment (CNTL run) and two sensitivity experiments with warm and cool SST anomalies over the WKOC region (warm and cool runs). The results derived from the CNTL run indicated that moisture supply from the ocean was enhanced when the dry air associated with the cold conveyor belt (CCB) overlapped with warm currents. Further, the evaporated moisture contributed substantially to latent heat release over the bent‐back front with the aid of the CCB, leading to cyclone intensification and strengthening of the asymmetric structure around the cyclone's center. Such successive processes were more active in the warm run than in the cool run. The dominance of the zonally asymmetric structure resulted in a difference in sea level pressure around the bent‐back front between the two runs. The WKOC SST variations have the potential to affect strong wind distributions along the CCB through modification of the cyclone's inner system. Additional experiments with two other cyclones showed that the cyclone response to the WKOC SST variations became evident when the CCB north of the cyclone's center overlapped with that region, confirming that the dry nature of the CCB plays an important role in latent heat release by allowing for larger moisture supply from the ocean.
Distribution of subglacial sediments across the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica
Authors: Frederick Bruce C. , Young Duncan A. , Blankenship Donald D. , Richter Thomas G. , Kempf Scott D. , Ferraccioli Fausto , Siegert Martin J.
Published: April 2016

Topography, sediment distribution, and heat flux are all key boundary conditions governing the dynamics of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). EAIS stability is most at risk in Wilkes Land across vast expanses of marine‐based catchments including the 1400 km × 600 km expanse of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin (WSB) region. Data from a recent regional aerogeophysical survey (Investigating the Cryospheric Evolution of the Central Antarctic Plate (ICECAP)/IceBridge) are combined with two historical surveys (Wilkes basin/Transantarctic Mountains System Exploration‐Ice‐house Earth: Stability or DYNamism? (WISE‐ISODYN) and Wilkes Land Transect (WLK)) to improve our understanding of the vast subglacial sedimentary basins impacting WSB ice flow and geomorphology across geologic time. Analyzing a combination of gravity, magnetic and ice‐penetrating radar data, we present the first detailed subglacial sedimentary basin model for the WSB that defines distinct northern and southern subbasin isopachs with average sedimentary basin thicknesses of 1144 m ± 179 m and 1623 m ± 254 m, respectively. Notably, more substantial southern subbasin sedimentary deposition in the WSB interior supports a regional Wilkes Land hypothesis that basin‐scale ice flow and associated glacial erosion is dictated by tectonic basement structure and the inherited geomorphology of preglacial fluvial networks. Orbital, temperate/polythermal glacial cycles emanating from adjacent alpine highlands during the early Miocene to late Oligocene likely preserved critical paleoclimatic data in subglacial sedimentary strata. Substantially thinner northern WSB subglacial sedimentary deposits are generally restricted to fault‐controlled, channelized basins leading to prominent outlet glacier catchments suggesting a more dynamic EAIS during the Pliocene.
The grain size gap and abrupt gravel‐sand transitions in rivers due to suspension fallout
Authors: Lamb Michael P. , Venditti Jeremy G.
Published: April 2016

Median grain sizes on riverbeds range from boulders in uplands to silt in lowlands; however, rivers with ~1–5 mm diameter bed sediment are rare. This grain size gap also marks an abrupt transition between gravel‐ and sand‐bedded reaches that is unlike any other part of the fluvial network. Abrupt gravel‐sand transitions have been attributed to rapid breakdown or rapid transport of fine gravel, or a bimodal sediment supply, but supporting evidence is lacking. Here we demonstrate that rivers dramatically lose the ability to transport sand as wash load where bed shear velocity drops below ~0.1 m/s, forcing an abrupt transition in bed‐material grain size. Using thresholds for wash load and initial motion, we show that the gap emerges only for median bed‐material grain sizes of ~1–5 mm due to Reynolds number dependencies in suspension transport. The grain size gap, therefore, is sensitive to material properties and gravity, with coarser gaps predicted on Mars and Titan.
Ultrarelativistic electron butterfly distributions created by parallel acceleration due to magnetosonic waves
Authors: Li Jinxing , Bortnik Jacob , Thorne Richard M. , Li Wen , Ma Qianli , Baker Daniel N. , Reeves Geoffrey D. , Fennell Joseph F. , Spence Harlan E. , Kletzing Craig A. , Kurth William S. , Hospodarsky George B. , Angelopoulos Vassilis , Blake J. Bernard.
Published: April 2016

The Van Allen Probe observations during the recovery phase of a large storm that occurred on 17 March 2015 showed that the ultrarelativistic electrons at the inner boundary of the outer radiation belt (L* = 2.6–3.7) exhibited butterfly pitch angle distributions, while the inner belt and the slot region also showed evidence of sub‐MeV electron butterfly distributions. Strong magnetosonic waves were observed in the same regions and at the same time periods as these butterfly distributions. Moreover, when these magnetosonic waves extended to higher altitudes (L* = 4.1), the butterfly distributions also extended to the same region. Combining test particle calculations and Fokker‐Planck diffusion simulations, we successfully reproduced the formation of the ultrarelativistic electron butterfly distributions, which primarily result from parallel acceleration caused by Landau resonance with magnetosonic waves. The coexistence of ultrarelativistic electron butterfly distributions with magnetosonic waves was also observed in the 24 June 2015 storm, providing further support that the magnetosonic waves play a key role in forming butterfly distributions.
Failing the Informal City: How Rio de Janeiro's Mega Sporting Events Derailed the Legacy of Favela‐Bairro
Authors: McGuirk Justin
Published: April 2016

The eviction of thousands of inhabitants from informal settlements has been a regressive feature in the lead up to Rio 2016. Writer and curator Justin McGuirk describes why, on the eve of the Olympic Games, the government reverted to favela removals after the enlightened era of the Favela‐Bairro in the 1990s, which saw informal communities upgraded and integrated into the formal city.
Dissatisfied São Paulo
Authors: Perrotta‐Bosch Francesco
Published: April 2016

São Paulo is a city of voracious appetites: insatiable in its desire for development and transformation, having swallowed up a population of some 20 million. Could it, however, be approaching a moment of reflection and repose? Architect and writer Francesco Perrotta‐Bosch describes how a new development plan, the Plano Diretor, is enabling the city to take stock.
Landscaping Brazil: The Legacy of Roberto Burle Marx
Authors: Hepner Alexandre , Macedo Silvio Soares
Published: April 2016

The Modernist landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (1909–94) was a game changer, revolutionising the treatment of green space in Brazil. Here, architect Alexandre Hepner, co‐founder of Estúdio ARKIZ, and Silvio Soares Macedo, a professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo, reflect on Burle Marx's enduring legacy.
Carrier Type Control of WSe2 Field‐Effect Transistors by Thickness Modulation and MoO3 Layer Doping
Authors: Zhou Changjian , Zhao Yuda , Raju Salahuddin , Wang Yi , Lin Ziyuan , Chan Mansun , Chai Yang
Published: April 2016

Control of the carrier type in 2D materials is critical for realizing complementary logic computation. Carrier type control in WSe2 field‐effect transistors (FETs) is presented via thickness engineering and solid‐state oxide doping, which are compatible with state‐of‐the‐art integrated circuit (IC) processing. It is found that the carrier type of WSe2 FETs evolves with its thickness, namely, p‐type (<4 nm), ambipolar (≈6 nm), and n‐type (>15 nm). This layer‐dependent carrier type can be understood as a result of drastic change of the band edge of WSe2 as a function of the thickness and their band offsets to the metal contacts. The strong carrier type tuning by solid‐state oxide doping is also demonstrated, in which ambipolar characteristics of WSe2 FETs are converted into pure p‐type, and the field‐effect hole mobility is enhanced by two orders of magnitude. The studies not only provide IC‐compatible processing method to control the carrier type in 2D semiconductor, but also enable to build functional devices, such as, a tunable diode formed with an asymmetrical‐thick WSe2 flake for fast photodetectors.
Enhanced Nanodrug Delivery to Solid Tumors Based on a Tumor Vasculature‐Targeted Strategy
Authors: Song Chenghua , Zhang Yejun , Li Chunyan , Chen Guangcun , Kang Xiaofeng , Wang Qiangbin
Published: April 2016

Tumor angiogenesis is a hallmark of tumor growth and metastasis, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis is an effective strategy for tumor therapy. The high expression levels of specific biomarkers such as integrin receptors (e.g., αvβ3) in the endothelium of tumor vessels make angiogenesis an ideal target for drug delivery and thus tumor therapy. Herein, a new nanodrug (T&D@RGD‐Ag2S) is presented, which can effectively inhibit tumor growth by integrating the specific recognition peptide cyclo(Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐d‐Phe‐Cys) (cRGD) for tumor vascular targeting, the broad‐spectrum endothelial inhibitor O‐(chloroacetyl‐carbamoyl) fumagillol (TNP‐470), and chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) for synergetic tumor therapy. The results show that the T&D@RGD‐Ag2S nanodrug rapidly and specifically binds to the tumor vasculature after intravenous injection. Tumor vascular density is greatly reduced following effective angiogenesis inhibition by TNP‐470. Meanwhile, increased delivery of DOX deep into the tumor induces extensive tumor apoptosis, resulting in remarkable tumor growth inhibition in a human U87‐MG malignant glioma xenograft model. In addition, the therapeutic effects of T&D@RGD‐Ag2S on inhibiting tumor growth and decreasing vessel density are monitored in situ using near‐infrared II (NIR‐II) fluorescence imaging of Ag2S quantum dots. This tumor vasculature‐targeted strategy can be extended as a general method for treating a broad range of tumors and holds promise for future clinical applications.
Bioactive Anti‐Thrombotic Modification of Decellularized Matrix for Vascular Applications
Authors: Glynn Jeremy J. , Hinds Monica T.
Published: April 2016

The decellularized matrix derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a widely used biomaterial being investigated for numerous applications. Currently, thrombus deposition and neointimal hyperplasia have limited the use of SIS in some vascular applications. To limit these detrimental processes, this work applies bioactive, endothelial‐inspired properties to the material. SIS is modified with the endothelial cell membrane protein thrombomodulin and the glycosaminoglycan heparin to facilitate protein C activation and anticoagulant activity, respectively. Modifying SIS with thrombomodulin alone enables robust activated protein C (APC) generation, and thrombomodulin activity is maintained after prolonged exposure to fluid shear and blood plasma. Heparin‐modified SIS has a potent anticoagulant activity. When both modifications are applied sequentially, SIS modified first with thrombomodulin then with heparin retains the full activity of each individual modification. Tubular SIS devices are connected to a baboon arteriovenous shunt to quantify thrombus deposition on these materials. After being exposed to flowing whole blood for 60 min, SIS devices modified first with thrombomodulin then with heparin have significantly less platelet accumulation compared to unmodified SIS devices. These studies demonstrate that modifying SIS with thrombomodulin and heparin confers APC generation and anticoagulant activity that results in reduced thrombogenesis.
Zeolite Crystals Embedded Nanotextured Coating with Hydrophobic Surface: An Innovation Toward Next Generation Solar Cover Glass for Efficient Light‐Harvesting
Authors: Das Indranee , De Goutam
Published: April 2016

A zeolite crystals embedded nanotextured hard coating with hydrophobic surface is fabricated on low iron borosilicate glass to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic systems through advance light‐trapping. The surface roughness generated from embedding 3D nanocrystals enhances absorption of sunlight by reducing reflection loss, and capturing maximum incident light to construct higher electricity and passive solar gain. Furthermore, the deposition of a very thin hydrophobic layer facilitates self‐cleaning. The sunlight to electrical power generation capability of this nanotextured coating on glass is around 2.7% higher compared to the commercial millimeterscale textured (translucence) cover glass on the standard silicon solar cell. These nanotextured self‐cleanable coatings exhibiting antidazzle and positive temperature effects, would be an ideal candidate to fabricate next generation durable cover glass on solar panel. Moreover, the elevated visual transparency along with light‐trapping efficiency of this coating can explore its additional outdoor solar applications on the glass walls in greenhouses.
Floating, Flexible Polymeric Dye‐Sensitized Solar‐Cell Architecture: The Way of Near‐Future Photovoltaics
Authors: Bella Federico , Lamberti Andrea , Bianco Stefano , Tresso Elena , Gerbaldi Claudio , Pirri Candido Fabrizio
Published: April 2016

Light‐cured polymer‐based flexible dye‐sensitized solar cells with a patterned “Fakir”‐shaped super‐hydrophobic architecture on the external sided are demonstrated for the first time as truly floating photovoltaic devices. Conversion efficiency exceeding 5% and stable performance upon severe and very long‐term thermomechanical aging tests are obtained. The polymeric architecture paves the way to floating third‐generation photovoltaic devices (both dye‐sensitized and perovskite solar cells). It is therefore possible to avoid not only the overheating of cells and water evaporation from water bodies in the driest areas, but also the installation of photovoltaic systems on land, thus reserving land use for agriculture or building.
Convective condensation in a stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor
Authors: de Beer Michiel M. , Keurentjes Jos T. F. , Schouten Jaap C. , van der Schaaf John
Published: April 2016

Centrifugal intensification of condensation heat transfer in the rotor–stator cavities of a stator–rotor–stator spinning disc reactor (srs‐SDR) is studied, as a function of rotational velocity ω, volumetric throughflow rate
, and average temperature driving force
. For the current range of ω, heat transfer from the vapor bubbles to the condensate liquid is limiting, due to a relatively low gas–liquid interfacial area aGL. For
rad s−1, a strong increase of aGL, results in increasing the reactor‐average condensation heat transfer coefficient hc from 1600 to 5600 W m−2 K−1, for condensation of pure dichloromethane vapor. Condensation heat transfer in the srs‐SDR is enhanced by rotation, independent of the vapor velocity. The intensified condensation comes at the cost of relatively high energy dissipation rates, indicating condensation in the srs‐SDR is more suited as a means to supply heat (e.g. in an intensified reactor‐heat exchanger), rather than for bulk cooling purposes. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 3784–3796, 2016
Mutation‐specific effects on thin filament length in thin filament myopathy
Authors: Winter Josine M. de , Joureau Barbara , Lee Eun‐Jeong , Kiss Balázs , Yuen Michaela , Gupta Vandana A. , Pappas Christopher T. , Gregorio Carol C. , Stienen Ger J. M. , Edvardson Simon , Wallgren‐Pettersson Carina , Lehtokari Vilma‐Lotta , Pelin Katarina , Malfatti Edoardo , Romero Norma B. , Engelen Baziel G. van , Voermans Nicol C. , Donkervoort Sandra , Bönnemann C. G. , Clarke Nigel F. , Beggs Alan H. , Granzier Henk , Ottenheijm Coen A. C.
Published: April 2016

Objective

Thin filament myopathies are among the most common nondystrophic congenital muscular disorders, and are caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that are associated with the skeletal muscle thin filament. Mechanisms underlying muscle weakness are poorly understood, but might involve the length of the thin filament, an important determinant of force generation.

Methods

We investigated the sarcomere length‐dependence of force, a functional assay that provides insights into the contractile strength of muscle fibers as well as the length of the thin filaments, in muscle fibers from 51 patients with thin filament myopathy caused by mutations in NEB, ACTA1, TPM2, TPM3, TNNT1, KBTBD13, KLHL40, and KLHL41.

Results

Lower force generation was observed in muscle fibers from patients of all genotypes. In a subset of patients who harbor mutations in NEB and ACTA1, the lower force was associated with downward shifted force–sarcomere length relations, indicative of shorter thin filaments. Confocal microscopy confirmed shorter thin filaments in muscle fibers of these patients. A conditional Neb knockout mouse model, which recapitulates thin filament myopathy, revealed a compensatory mechanism; the lower force generation that was associated with shorter thin filaments was compensated for by increasing the number of sarcomeres in series. This allowed muscle fibers to operate at a shorter sarcomere length and maintain optimal thin–thick filament overlap.

Interpretation

These findings might provide a novel direction for the development of therapeutic strategies for thin filament myopathy patients with shortened thin filament lengths. Ann Neurol 2016;79:959–969
Asymmetrische Katalyse mit CO2: Die direkte α‐Allylierung von Ketonen
Authors: Pupo Gabriele , Properzi Roberta , List Benjamin
Published: April 2016

Quartäre Stereozentren sind Bestandteile einer Vielzahl von bioaktiven Molekülen. In der Vergangenheit erwies sich die Tsuji‐Trost‐Reaktion als eine umfangreiche Methode zur C‐C‐Bindungsknüpfung, die prinzipiell den Zugang zu quartären Stereozentren durch α‐Allylierung von Ketonen ermöglichen sollte. Trotz bekannter indirekter Methoden ist die direkte katalytische α‐Allylierung verzweigter Ketone allerdings bisher unbekannt. Durch die Kombination von Enol‐Katalyse und CO2 als formaler Katalysator konnten wir eine Lösung dieses Problems erarbeiten. Wir berichten hier über die direkte, enantioselektive und atomökonomische Tsuji‐Trost‐Allylierung verzweigter Ketone mit Allylalkohol. Die beschriebene Methode ermöglicht die Synthese von quartären Stereozentren in hoher Enantioselektivität mit Wasser als einzigem Nebenprodukt. Wir erwarten, dass diese Methode Anwendung in der asymmetrischen Katalyse findet und zur Entwicklung neuer atomökonomischer Reaktionen führt.
Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity of diethyltin N‐[(2‐oxyphenyl)methylene]phenylalaninates
Authors: Liu Qingtao , Zhang Hao , Zheng Xiaoliang , Wang Wenqiang , Tian Laijin
Published: April 2016

Four new diethyltin N‐[(2‐oxyphenyl)methylene]phenylalaninates, (CH3CH2)2Sn[2‐O‐3‐X‐5‐YC6H2CHNCH(CH2Ph)COO] (X, Y = H, H, 1; H, Br, 2; H, OCH3, 3; Br, Br, 4), have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis and infrared and NMR (1H, 13C and 119Sn) spectra. The crystal structures of 1, 2, 3, 4 have been determined. Compounds 1 and 2 have a 12‐membered macrocyclic structure with a trimeric [Sn3O6C3] core. Each tin atom is six‐coordinated in distorted [SnC2NO3] octahedral geometry. Compound 3 is a centrosymmetric weak dimer in which the two tin centers are linked by two asymmetric SnO⋅⋅⋅Sn bridges involving the phenolic oxygen of the ligand and two Sn⋅⋅⋅O interactions from ether oxygen of the adjacent ligand. The coordination geometry of the tin atom can be described as a distorted pentagonal bipyramid with two ethyl groups in axial positions. Compound 4 is a novel binuclear tin complex, formed by the carboxylate of a ligand asymmetrically bridging two tin atoms, which contains a five‐coordinated tin and a six‐coordinated tin. Bioassay results have shown that the compounds have weak in vitro activity against two human tumor cell lines, A549 and CoLo205. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in Neurons and Synapses in Hippocampus of Streptozotocin‐Induced Type 1 Diabetes Rats: A Stereological Investigation
Authors: Zhao Feng , Li Jing , Mo Linlong , Tan Min , Zhang Ting , Tang Yong , Zhao Yuanyu
Published: April 2016

Previous studies have indicated that diabetes could cause hippocampus atrophy, neuron loss, and synaptic plasticity impairment. However, biological conclusions based on density were difficult to interpret because the changes in density could be due to an alteration of total quantity and/or an alteration in the reference volume. In the present study, we used unbiased stereological methods to investigate the effects of type 1 diabetes on the total volume of CA1and dentate gyrus (DG), the total number of neurons and the total number of Spinophilin/NeurabinII‐positive boutons in CA1and DG of streptozotocin‐treated rat model. Fifty Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into sodium citrate buffer‐treated group (control group) and streptozotocin (STZ)‐treated group (diabetes group), in which type 1 diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection. Learning and memory were measured using the Morris water maze test. Our results indicated that diabetes induced deficit in learning/memory, decrease in total CA1volume (by 51.5%) and degeneration in synaptic structures in CA1sr (by 30.2%). While there were no significant changes in total DG volume, total neuron number in CA1and DG, total Spinophilin/NeurabinII‐positive bouton number in DG. The present study provided the first evidence of changes in the total volume, the total neuron number and the total Spinophilin/NeurabinII‐positive bouton number in CA1and DG of STZ‐induced diabetic rats. Anat Rec, 299:1174–1183, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
N‐Cadherin Aided in Maintaining the Characteristics of Leukemic Stem Cells
Authors: Zhi Lei , Gao Ying , Yu Chunyan , Zhang Yi , Zhang Bo , Yang Jie , Yao Zhi
Published: April 2016

In our previous study, it has been revealed that N‐cadherin+ and leukemic stem cells (LSCs, CD34+/CD38−/CD123+) could be enriched by chemotherapy because of their resistance to chemotherapy. In this study, we found that N‐cadherin mRNA was highly expressed in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) of patients with t(8;21) translocation. To determine the role of N‐cadherin in maintaining LSCs self‐renewal and stationary properties, colony‐forming assay, cell cycle analysis, and engraftment in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice were used to compare N‐cadherin+ and N‐cadherin− cells. Both leukemic cell lines KG1a and CD34+/CD38− BMMNCs derived from acute myeloid leukemia patients were used, and cells were divided into N‐cadherin+ and N‐cadherin− fraction after sorting by FACS. The results showed that N‐cadherin+ cells had remarkable increased numbers of colonies with cytokines stimulation when compared with the negative control, suggesting a higher proliferative capacity of N‐cadherin+ cells with cytokines stimulation. The results also showed that most cells in N‐cadherin+ fraction stayed in the G0–G1 stage, indicating the involvement of N‐cadherin in maintaining the quiescent state of LSCs in niche. The results of engraftment showed that there was a higher proportion of hCD45+ cells in mice transplanted with N‐cadherin+ cells than N‐cadherin− cells. In addition, it was obvious that NOD/SCID mice transplanted with N‐cadherin+ cells had a shorter lifetime than the negative control, suggesting that LSCs self‐renewal capacity resides predominantly in N‐cadherin+ fraction. In summary, N‐cadherin might play an important role in maintaining the self‐renewal and stationary properties of LSCs. Anat Rec, 299:990–998, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estimating performance of traffic signals based on link travel times
Authors: So Jaehyun (Jason) , Stevanovic Aleksandar , Koonce Peter
Published: April 2016

Recent advances in communication and computing technology have made travel time measurements more available than ever before. In urban signalized arterials, travel times are strongly influenced by traffic signals. This study presents a novel method based on well‐known principles to estimate traffic signal performance (or more precisely their major “through” movements) based on travel time measurements. The travel times were collected between signals in the field by using point‐to‐point travel time measurement technologies. Closed‐circuit television cameras and signal databases were used to collect traffic demand and signal timings, respectively. Then, the volume/capacity ratio of major downstream signal movements was computed based on demand and signal timings. This volume/capacity ratio was then correlated with travel times on the relevant intersection approach. The best volume‐delay function was found, along with many other functions, to fit the field data. This volume‐delay function was then used to estimate volume/capacity ratios and, indirectly, a few other signal performance metrics. The method, called travel time‐based signal performance measurements, was automated and displayed on a Google Map. The findings show that the proposed method is accurate and robust enough to provide necessary information about signal performance. A newly developed volume‐delay function was found to work just slightly better than the Bureau of Public Roads curve. Several issues, which may reduce the accuracy of the proposed method, are identified, and their solutions are proposed for future research. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ensemble survival trees for identifying subpopulations in personalized medicine
Authors: Chen Yu‐Chuan , Chen James J.
Published: April 2016

Recently, personalized medicine has received great attention to improve safety and effectiveness in drug development. Personalized medicine aims to provide medical treatment that is tailored to the patient's characteristics such as genomic biomarkers, disease history, etc., so that the benefit of treatment can be optimized. Subpopulations identification is to divide patients into several different subgroups where each subgroup corresponds to an optimal treatment. For two subgroups, traditionally the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model is fitted and used to calculate the risk score when outcome is survival time endpoint. Median is commonly chosen as the cutoff value to separate patients. However, using median as the cutoff value is quite subjective and sometimes may be inappropriate in situations where data are imbalanced. Here, we propose a novel tree‐based method that adopts the algorithm of relative risk trees to identify subgroup patients. After growing a relative risk tree, we apply k‐means clustering to group the terminal nodes based on the averaged covariates. We adopt an ensemble Bagging method to improve the performance of a single tree since it is well known that the performance of a single tree is quite unstable. A simulation study is conducted to compare the performance between our proposed method and the multivariate Cox model. The applications of our proposed method to two public cancer data sets are also conducted for illustration.
Organo‐Functionalization of Silicon Nanocrystals Synthesized by Inductively Coupled Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Lee Don‐Sung , Choe Dong‐Hoe , Yoo Seung‐Wan , Kim Jung‐Hyung , Jeong Hyun‐Dam
Published: April 2016

Octadecyl‐terminated silicon nanocrystals (ODE‐Si NCs) are obtained via a surface‐initiated thermal hydrosilylation reaction on hydride‐terminated Si NCs (HSi NCs). Pristine Si NCs were synthesized at the gram scale by using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP‐CVD). The HSi NCs were produced through a chemical etching process with hydrofluoric acid (HF), ethanol (EtOH), and distilled water (d‐H2O). The results obtained from X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) indicate that the synthesized Si NCs obtained via ICP‐CVD have diamond cubic‐structured silicon with a grain size of 10 nm and a densely packed Si NC array consisting of individual NCs. Organo‐functionalized Si NCs, i.e., ODE‐Si NCs, are well soluble in organic solvent whereas pristine Si NCs synthesized through ICP‐CVD are not. The surface chemistry of the ODE‐Si NCs was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (
1H‐NMR), and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE‐TEM). Thereby, these newly synthesized and scalable organo‐functionalized Si NCs are applicable as raw materials for practical use in devices by tuning the surface chemistry with various capping molecules.