bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diesel Fuels for Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines
Authors: Hancsók Jenő
Published: June 2016

Diesel fuel is used in a wide variety of engines ranging from small passenger cars to large trucks and construction equipment. Currently, light‐ and heavy‐duty cars and buses mainly have diesel engines. Unlike the spark‐ignited gasoline engine, the diesel engine employs compression ignition, which offers a number of advantages such as improved energy efficiency and no knock concerns but also has some disadvantages.

Some consumers, especially in the United States, perceive diesel as noisy, smoky, and hard to start in the winter. The fuel economy benefit that diesel engines can offer is not attractive when gasoline prices are relatively low. However, in other countries, diesel engines have a more positive image; in the European Union, for example, diesel engines constituted more than 60% of new car passenger and light‐duty truck sales (2013).

The article describes the principles of diesel engine operation, and the composition, characteristics, and standards and production of diesel fuel.
Understanding evapotranspiration trends and their driving mechanisms over the NLDAS domain based on numerical experiments using CLM4.5
Authors: Parr Dana , Wang Guiling , Fu Congsheng
Published: June 2016

Previous studies documented a recent decline of the global terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) trend, of which the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Based on experiments using the Community Land Model version 4.5 driven with the North American Land Data Assimilation System phase‐2 (NLDAS‐2) forcing data, this study investigates the variation and changes of ET trends at the continental scale and the mechanisms underlying these changes. Simulations are conducted over the NLDAS domain including the contiguous U.S. and part of Mexico for the period of 1980–2014. Changes of ET trend are derived based on the two subperiods 1982–1997 and 1998–2008. The strongest signals of trend change, of either sign, are primarily located in dry regimes, where ET is limited by water rather than energy. Sensitivity experiments were performed to isolate the impact of some of the most influential factors on the changing ET trends. Results indicate that trends in wind speed and surface air temperature had negligible impact on the ET trend and its changes within the study domain, and the ET trend and its changes are dominated by changes in precipitation amount. Changes in precipitation characteristics including the frequency and intensity are suggested to have a secondary effect on the ET trend changes through modifying the partitioning of water between infiltration and runoff. These findings are further supported by correlation coefficients between ET and various driving factors. Results from this study may be region specific and therefore may not hold for ET trend changes over the rest of the globe.
Linking high‐frequency DOC dynamics to the age of connected water sources
Authors: Tunaley C. , Tetzlaff D. , Lessels J. , Soulsby C.
Published: June 2016

We combined high‐frequency dissolved organic matter fluorescence (FDOM) data with stable isotope observations to identify the sources and ages of runoff that cause temporal variability in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) within a peat‐dominated Scottish catchment. FDOM was strongly correlated (r2 ∼ 0.8) with DOC, allowing inference of a 15 min time series. We captured 34 events over a range of hydrological conditions. Along with marked seasonality, different event responses were observed during summer depending on dry or wet antecedent conditions. The majority of events exhibited anticlockwise hysteresis as a result of the expansion of the riparian saturation zone, mobilizing previously unconnected DOC sources. Water ages from the main runoff sources were extracted from a tracer‐aided hydrological model. Particularly useful were ages of overland flow, which were negatively correlated with DOC concentration. Overland flow age, which ranged between 0.2 and 360 days, reflected antecedent conditions, with younger water generally mobilizing the highest DOC concentrations in summer events. During small events with dry antecedent conditions, DOC response was proportionally higher due to the displacement and mixing of small volumes of previously unconnected highly concentrated riparian soil waters by new precipitation. During large events with wet antecedent conditions, the riparian saturation zone expands to organic layers on the hillslopes causing peaks in DOC. However, these peaks were limited by dilution and supply. This study highlights the utility of linking high‐frequency DOC measurements with other tracers, allowing the effects of hydrologic connectivity and antecedent conditions on delivery of DOC to streams to be assessed.
Causes of unrest at silicic calderas in the East African Rift: New constraints from InSAR and soil‐gas chemistry at Aluto volcano, Ethiopia
Authors: Hutchison William , Biggs Juliet , Mather Tamsin A. , Pyle David M. , Lewi Elias , Yirgu Gezahegn , Caliro Stefano , Chiodini Giovanni , Clor Laura E. , Fischer Tobias P.
Published: June 2016

Restless silicic calderas present major geological hazards, and yet many also host significant untapped geothermal resources. In East Africa, this poses a major challenge, although the calderas are largely unmonitored their geothermal resources could provide substantial economic benefits to the region. Understanding what causes unrest at these volcanoes is vital for weighing up the opportunities against the potential risks. Here we bring together new field and remote sensing observations to evaluate causes of ground deformation at Aluto, a restless silicic volcano located in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data reveal the temporal and spatial characteristics of a ground deformation episode that took place between 2008 and 2010. Deformation time series reveal pulses of accelerating uplift that transition to gradual long‐term subsidence, and analytical models support inflation source depths of ∼5 km. Gases escaping along the major fault zone of Aluto show high CO2 flux, and a clear magmatic carbon signature (CO2‐δ13C of −4.2‰ to −4.5‰). This provides compelling evidence that the magmatic and hydrothermal reservoirs of the complex are physically connected. We suggest that a coupled magmatic‐hydrothermal system can explain the uplift‐subsidence signals. We hypothesize that magmatic fluid injection and/or intrusion in the cap of the magmatic reservoir drives edifice‐wide inflation while subsequent deflation is related to magmatic degassing and depressurization of the hydrothermal system. These new constraints on the plumbing of Aluto yield important insights into the behavior of rift volcanic systems and will be crucial for interpreting future patterns of unrest.
Propagation of equatorial noise to low altitudes: Decoupling from the magnetosonic mode
Authors: Santolík O. , Parrot M. , Němec F.
Published: June 2016

Equatorial noise (often phenomenologically described as magnetosonic waves in the literature) is a natural electromagnetic emission, which is generated by instability of ion distributions and which can interact with electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts. We use multicomponent electromagnetic measurements of the DEMETER spacecraft to investigate if equatorial noise propagates inward down to the Earth. Analysis of a selected event recorded under disturbed geomagnetic conditions shows that equatorial noise can be observed at an altitude of 700 km, while propagating radially downward as a superposition of spectral lines from different distant sources observed at frequencies both below and above the local proton cyclotron frequency. Changes in the local ion composition encountered by the waves during their inward propagation disconnect the identified wave mode from the low‐frequency magnetosonic mode. The local ion composition also induces a cutoff which prevents the waves from propagating down to the ground.
Dominant role of winds near Sri Lanka in driving seasonal sea level variations along the west coast of India
Authors: Suresh I. , Vialard J. , Izumo T. , Lengaigne M. , Han W. , McCreary J. , Muraleedharan P. M.
Published: June 2016

The strong seasonal cycle of sea level along the west coast of India (WCI) has important consequences for ecosystem and fisheries, and the Lakshadweep high/low in the southeast Arabian Sea is important for fisheries and the Indian summer monsoon. Previous studies suggested that WCI sea level variability is primarily driven by remote wind forcing from the Bay of Bengal and equatorial Indian Ocean through coastal Kelvin wave propagation. Using a linear ocean model, we demonstrate that wind forcing in a relatively small region around the southern tip of India and east of Sri Lanka contribute to ~60% of this variability. Wind variations from the rest of the Bay and the equator only account respectively for ~20% and ~10%. Sea level signals forced by the “southern tip” winds extend westward into the eastern Arabian Sea through Rossby wave propagation, with more than 50% contribution in the Lakshadweep high/low region.
Reconstructing time series and their uncertainty from observations with universal noise
Authors: Sambridge M.
Published: June 2016

A new approach is presented for the reconstruction of time series and other (y,x) functions from observables with any type of stochastic noise. In particular, noise may exist in both dependent and independent variables, i.e.,yandx, ort, and may even be correlated between these variables. This situation occurs in many areas of the geosciences when the independent time variable is itself the result of a measurement process, such as in paleo– sea level estimation. Uncertainty in the recovered time series is quantified in probabilistic terms using Bayesian changepoint modeling. The main contribution of the paper is the derivation of a new form of integrated likelihood function which can measure the data fit for a curve to (y,t) observables contaminated by any type of random noise. Closed form expressions are found for the special case of correlated Gaussian data noise and curves built from the sum of piecewise linear polynomials. The technique is illustrated by estimating relative sea level variations, over the last five glacial cycles, from a data set of 1928δ18O measurements. Comparisons are also made with other techniques including those that assume an error free “independent” variable. Experiments illustrate several benefits of accounting for timing errors. These include allowing rigorous uncertainty information of both time‐dependent signals and their gradients. Derivatives of the integrated likelihood function are also given, which allow implementation of likelihood maximization. The new likelihood function better reflects real errors in data and can improve recovery of the estimated time series.
An intercomparison of the thermal offset for different pyranometers
Authors: Sanchez G. , Cancillo M. L. , Serrano A.
Published: June 2016

An unprecedented intensive intercomparison campaign focused on the experimental measurement of the thermal offset of pyranometers has been conducted at Badajoz (Spain) with the participation of three main manufacturers. The purpose of this study is to compare the thermal offset of six commercially available pyranometers, being some of them widely used and others recently commercialized. In this campaign, the capping methodology has been used to experimentally measure the daytime thermal offset of the pyranometers. Thus, a short but intense campaign has been conducted in two selected summer days under clear‐sky conditions, covering a large range of solar zenith angle, irradiance, and temperature. Along the campaign, a total of 305 capping events have been performed, 61 for each pyranometer. The daytime thermal offset obtained for different pyranometers ranges between 0 and −16.8 W/m2 depending on the environmental conditions, being sometimes notably higher than values estimated indoors by manufacturers. The thermal offset absolute value of all instruments shows a diurnal cycle, increasing from sunrise to central hours of the day and decreasing from midafternoon to sunset. The analysis demonstrates that thermal offset is notably higher and more variable during daytime than during nighttime, requiring specific daytime measurements. Main results emphasize the key role played by wind speed in modulating the thermal offset.
Discovery of a widespread low‐latitude diurnal CO2 frost cycle on Mars
Authors: Piqueux Sylvain , Kleinböhl Armin , Hayne Paul O. , Heavens Nicholas G. , Kass David M. , McCleese Daniel J. , Schofield John T. , Shirley James H.
Published: June 2016

While the detection of CO2 ice has only been reported outside the Martian polar regions at very high elevation (i.e., Elysium, Olympus Mons, and the Tharsis Montes), nighttime surface observations by the Mars Climate Sounder on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter document the widespread occurrence of atmospherically corrected ground temperatures consistent with the presence of extensive carbon dioxide frost deposits in the dusty low thermal inertia units at middle/low latitudes. Thermal infrared emissivities, interpreted in conjunction with mass balance modeling, suggest micrometer size CO2 ice crystals forming optically thin layers never exceeding a few hundreds of microns in thickness (i.e., 10−2 kg m−2) locally, which is insufficient to generate a measurable diurnal pressure cycle (<<0.1% of the Martian atmosphere). Atmospheric temperatures at middle/low latitudes are not consistent with precipitation of CO2 ice, suggesting that condensation occurs on the surface. The recurring growth and sublimation of CO2 ice on Martian dusty terrains may be an important process preventing soil induration and promoting dynamic phenomena (soil avalanching and fluidization and regolith gardening), maintaining a reservoir of micrometer size dust particles that are mobile and available for lifting. The discovery of this diurnal CO2 cycle represents an important step forward in our understanding of the way the Martian atmosphere interacts with the surface.
Analytical Nanotoxicology
Authors: Caballero‐Díaz Encarnación
Published: June 2016

The inclusion of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in a large number of consumer products and their potential use for medical purposes leads to an urgent need for designing and establishing toxicity assessment protocols that allow for obtaining information on potential harmful effects of NPs at cellular and organism levels (in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively). For defining the toxicological profile of NPs, exhaustive characterization studies are firstly needed in order to correlate the observed biological response with well‐characterized NPs. This article summarizes the key aspects about NP characterization to be considered in any toxicological study. Characterized NPs are then assayed by in vitro toxicity screening tests based on cell culture systems, existing numerous available testing platforms whose choice depends on the cellular effect to be analyzed. For further corroboration of the effects reported on cell lines, in vivo experiments are finally conducted on experimental animals where investigation about pharmacokinetics provides a better understanding on biological behavior of NPs, creating more realistic scenarios for risk assessment. This article describes the most commonly used analytical strategies for in vitro and in vivo nanotoxicity assessment. A final section is also included for setting the reader in a context on challenges and future prospects in nanotoxicity.
Single‐Cell Hypoxia: Current Analytical Techniques and Future Opportunities
Authors: Pappas Dimitri
Published: June 2016

Hypoxia, or insufficient dissolved oxygen, can be both a driver of biological function and a by‐product of disease. Hypoxia response in cells is a complex process, regulated by hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1. Single‐cell analysis allows both differences in hypoxia response and differences in oxygen transport to be studied. In this article, we discuss the biological aspects of hypoxia in both normal and diseased tissues and cells. We also review new and emerging analytical methods to study hypoxia, including microfluidic hypoxia systems, spectroscopic probes, and analyses for drug resistance, cell biology, and other applications.
Nanobody Platform for Determination of Protein Structure, Application of
Authors: Traenkle Bjoern , Kaiser Philipp D. , Rothbauer Ulrich
Published: June 2016

Since their first description 20 years ago, single‐domain antibody fragments derived from heavy‐chain‐only antibodies of camelids, the so‐called nanobodies, have emerged as reliable recombinant binding molecules for the proteomic research community. The facile identification of antigen‐specific nanobodies and their beneficial biochemical properties regarding size, affinity, and stability supported by multiple crystal structures turn those proteins into versatile binders suitable for multiple applications in the field. During the past decade, nanobodies have been shown as highly functional chaperones assisting the crystallization process of challenging proteins and large protein complexes. In this article, we provide the background knowledge about nanobodies and review their recent application as crystallization chaperones for the determination of protein structures.
Inorganic Nanomaterials Synthesis Using Ionic Liquids
Authors: Taubert Andreas
Published: June 2016

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been studied for a wide range of applications, including organic synthesis, separation and extraction, and electrochemistry. Inorganic nanomaterials synthesis in and with ILs has evolved into a large field with very different approaches and application fields. This article gives an overview of the field and recent developments focusing on the use of ILs for materials synthesis and design. Furthermore, the article highlights a few promising approaches that add value to inorganic materials science by giving access to hitherto unknown inorganic materials or to materials that have so far only been accessible with great experimental effort via conventional processes.
Computational study of core‐shell droplet formation in coaxial electrohydrodynamic atomization process
Authors: Yan Wei‐Cheng , Davoodi Pooya , Tong Yen Wah , Wang Chi‐Hwa
Published: June 2016

In this study, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed to simulate the liquid cone‐jet and core‐shell droplet formation in the Coaxial Electrohydrodynamic Atomization (CEHDA) process. Validation experiments were conducted using poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) solutions as core and shell materials, respectively. Good agreement was obtained between experimental results and simulation predictions in terms of both particle size and core‐shell structure. Investigation of interfacial tension between core and shell fluids showed that a stable compound cone‐jet and droplet can be easily formed using miscible or partially miscible liquids compared with immiscible liquids with higher interfacial tension. It was also found that the nozzle tip configuration has significant effects on droplet production due to differences in fluid motion. The results also showed that the productivity of the CEHDA process, that is, slow production of core‐shell microparticles due to low flow rates, could be enhanced using optimal cone‐shaped nozzle configuration. Overall, this computational model provided a means of designing and optimizing CEHDA processes for large‐scale core‐shell microparticle fabrication in pharmaceutical application, such as selections of materials and nozzle configuration. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4259–4276, 2016
Optimal processing network design under uncertainty for producing fuels and value‐added bioproducts from microalgae: Two‐stage adaptive robust mixed integer fractional programming model and computationally efficient solution algorithm
Authors: Gong Jian , You Fengqi
Published: June 2016

Fractional metrics, such as return on investment (ROI), are widely used for performance evaluation, but uncertainty in the real market may unfortunately diminish the results that are based on nominal parameters. This article addresses the optimal design of a large‐scale processing network for producing a variety of algae‐based fuels and value‐added bioproducts under uncertainty. We develop by far the most comprehensive processing network with 46,704 alternative processing pathways. Based on the superstructure, a two‐stage adaptive robust mixed integer fractional programming model is proposed to tackle the uncertainty and select the robust optimal processing pathway with the highest ROI. Since the proposed problem cannot be solved directly by any off‐the‐shelf solver, we develop an efficient tailored solution method that integrates a parametric algorithm with a column‐and‐constraint generation algorithm. The resulting robust optimal processing pathway selects biodiesel and poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate as the final fuel and bioproduct, respectively. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 582–600, 2017
Polynomial chaos‐based robust design of systems with probabilistic uncertainties
Authors: Shen Dongying E. , Braatz Richard D.
Published: June 2016

A new algorithm is proposed for the design of nonlinear dynamical systems with probabilistic uncertainties. The dependence of the design objective and constraints on uncertainties is quantified by the polynomial chaos expansions (PCEs), while the relationships between the design parameters and the design objective/constraints are parameterized by Legendre polynomials. In two case studies, the polynomial chaos‐based algorithm reduces the number of system evaluations required by optimization by an order of magnitude. Quantifying the dependence on uncertain parameters via the PCEs and including the quantification in design optimization simultaneously improved the distribution of the performance index and the probability of constraint fulfillment. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 3310–3318, 2016
Experimentally‐based constitutive relations for co‐current gas‐liquid flow in randomly packed beds
Authors: Salgi Paul , Balakotaiah Vemuri
Published: June 2016

Experimental Observations on average pulse velocity and frequency in concurrent gas‐liquid (down) flow through randomly packed beds are used to extract constitutive relations for the gas‐liquid interaction and mean curvature terms that appear in a recently proposed volume‐averaged two‐fluid model for bubbly flow. The proposed closures lead to a reasonably quantitative prediction of the average pressure drop and liquid saturation under bubbly flow conditions and in the near pulse regime. In addition, the proposed closures provide realistic estimates for the location of the bubble‐to‐pulse transition in microgravity and in 1g down‐flow and predict the disappearance of the bubbly flow pattern at low liquid fluxes in 1g down‐flow. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 812–822, 2017
Delayed diagnosis in a house of correction: Smith–Magenis syndrome due to a de novo nonsense RAI1 variant
Authors: Yeetong Patra , Vilboux Thierry , Ciccone Carla , Boulier Kristin , Schnur Rhonda E. , Gahl William A. , Huizing Marjan , Laje Gonzalo , Smith Ann C. M.
Published: June 2016

We report a 25‐year‐old female confirmed to have Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) due to a de novo RAI1 variant. Her past history is significant for developmental and intellectual delay, early and escalating maladaptive behaviors, and features consistent with significant sleep disturbance, the etiology of which was not confirmed for over two decades. The diagnosis of SMS was initially suspected in 1998 (at age 12 years), but that was 5 years before the initial report of RAI1 variants as causative of the SMS phenotype; cytogenetic fluorescence in situ hybridization studies failed to confirm an interstitial deletion of 17p11.2. Re‐evaluation for suspected SMS was pursued with RAI1 sequencing analysis in response to urgent parental concerns of escalating behaviors and aggression with subsequent incarceration of the subject for assault of a health professional. Genetic analysis revealed a de novo RAI1 (NM_030665.3) nonsense variant, c.5536C>T; p.Q1846X. This case illustrates the importance of confirming the SMS diagnosis, which is associated with cognitive and functional impairment, as well as significant psychiatric co‐morbidities and behavioral problems. The diagnosis was particularly relevant to the legal discussion and determination of her competence to stand trial. As other similar cases may exist, this report will help to increase awareness of the possibility of a very late diagnosis of SMS, with the need for re‐evaluation of individuals suspected to have SMS who were initially evaluated prior to the identification of the RAI1 gene. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recognizable facial features in patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Authors: Gurrieri Fiorella , Tiziano Francesco Danilo , Zampino Giuseppe , Neri Giovanni
Published: June 2016

Alternating hemiplegia of childhood is an early onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by paroxystic episodes of alternating hemiplegia, variable degrees of intellectual disability, and dystonic movements. The main causative gene, ATP1A3, is also responsible for other neurodevelopmental disorders. While the neurological profile of this condition is well defined, the question whether a recognizable pattern of physical anomalies does exist in this condition is still open. We performed a morphological evaluation of 30 patients at different ages. All patients were evaluated independently by each author and evaluation sheets were compared, discussed, and agreed afterwards. This study started before the identification of ATP1A3 as the causative gene, and the patients were selected upon their neurological picture. Four of these 30 patients tested negative for ATP1A3 mutations and were excluded from the present work. On physical ground, almost all patients shared a similar physical phenotype consisting of hypotonia, long face, thin eyebrows, strabismus, hypertelorism, long palpebral fissures, downturned mouth, and slender habitus. Such phenotype is sufficiently typical to generate a recognizable gestalt. We also evaluated patients photographs taken from the parents in early childhood (6–20 months) to delineate a clinical profile possibly recognizable before the neurological signs suggest the diagnosis. Our data suggest that the typical early gestalt is sufficient to advise the molecular analysis of ATP1A3, even in absence of the pathognomonic neurological signs. Finally, since a number of patients is now adult, some information can be drawn on the phenotypic evolution of the facial appearance of patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
GWAS‐identified schizophrenia risk SNPs at TSPAN18 are highly diverged between Europeans and East Asians
Authors: Liu Jiewei , Li Ming , Su Bing
Published: June 2016

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple schizophrenia (SCZ) risk variants for samples of European and East Asian descent, but most of the identified susceptibility variants are population‐specific to either Europeans or East Asians. This strong genetic heterogeneity suggests that differential population histories may play a role in SCZ susceptibility. Here, we explored this possibility by examining the allele frequency divergence of 136 previously reported genome‐wide SCZ risk SNPs between European and East Asian populations. Our results showed that two SNPs (rs11038167 and rs11038172) at TSPAN18, reported as genome‐wide significant SCZ risk variants in Han Chinese, were entirely monomorphic in Europeans, indicating a deep between‐population divergence at this gene locus. To explore the evolutionary history of TSPAN18 in East Asians, we conducted population genetic analyses including multiple neutrality tests, the haplotype‐based iHS and EHH tests, as well as haplotype bifurcation map and network constructions. We found that the protective allele of rs11038172 (G allele) had a long extended haplotype with much slower decay compared to the A allele. The star‐like shape of the G‐allele‐carrying haplotypes indicates a recent enrichment in East Asians. Together, the evidences suggest that the protective allele of rs11038172 has experienced recent Darwinian positive selection in East Asians. These findings provide new insights that may help explain the strong genetic heterogeneity in SCZ risk and previous inconsistent association results for SCZ among both Europeans and East Asians. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Detecting menarcheal status through dental mineralization stages?
Authors: Lacoste Jeanson Alizé , Santos Frédéric , Bruzek Jaroslav , Urzel Vanessa
Published: June 2016

Menarche is an indicator frequently used to study variation in growth, development, and related health conditions among members of living populations. As a life event, menarche is often associated with changes in an individual's social identity. The reproductive lifespan, which for females starts with menarche, is a paramount feature of palaeodemographic studies. Determination of menarche status from the skeletal remains of individuals of past populations can be obtained by assessing the developmental status of the iliac crest, as well as the hand and wrist bones, which are, unlike teeth, often poorly recovered in bioarchaeological contexts. The present study seeks to evaluate the link between dental mineralization and menarche in a population of known menarche status. The relationship between permanent teeth mineralization and menarche status was investigated by using data of developing permanent teeth (167 radiographs) rated in accordance with the well‐known standards of Demirjian et al. and Moorrees et al. collected among 73 living French females of known menarcheal status. Using correlation ratios, GLMM and CART algorithm, menarcheal status is correlated with mineralization of the premolars. Menarcheal status is predicted correctly for 92 and 77% of radiographs of the learning and validation samples, respectively. Although promising, the results require caution prior to generalization to other populations. The age of menarche in this particular sample may simply coincide with the development of the premolars in this particular sample. Therefore, further investigation applied to populations with various mean ages of menarche is required in order to provide new evidence of variation in human growth and development from the correspondence between the mineralization of the permanent teeth and menarche.
Activity‐dependent calcium, oxygen, and vascular responses in a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 1
Authors: Khennouf Lila , Gesslein Bodil , Lind Barbara Lykke , van den Maagdenberg Arn M.J.M. , Lauritzen Martin
Published: June 2016

Objective

Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1) is a subtype of migraine with aura caused by a gain‐of‐function mutation in the pore‐forming α1 subunit of CaV2.1 (P/Q‐type) calcium channels. However, the mechanisms underlying how the disease is brought about and the prolonged aura remain incompletely understood.

Methods

In the anesthetized FHM1 mouse model in vivo, we used two‐photon microscopy to measure calcium changes in neurons and astrocytes during somatosensory stimulations and cortical spreading depression (CSD), the putative mechanism of the migraine aura. We combined it with assessment of local field potentials by electrophysiological recordings, cerebral blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry, and oxygen consumption with measurement of the oxygen tissue tension.

Results

During spreading depression, the evoked increase in cytosolic Ca2+ was larger and faster in FHM1 mice than wild‐type (WT) mice. It was accompanied by larger increases in oxygen consumption in FHM1 mice, leading to tissue anoxia, but moderate hypoxia, in WT mice. In comparison, before CSD, Ca2+ and hemodynamic responses to somatosensory stimulations were smaller in FHM1 mice than WT mice and almost abolished after CSD. The CSD‐induced Ca2+ changes were mitigated by the CaV2.1 gating modifier, tert‐butyl dihydroquinone.

Interpretation

Our findings suggest that tissue anoxia might be a mechanism for prolonged aura in FHM1. Reduced Ca2+ signals during normal network activity in FHM1 as compared to WT mice may explain impaired neurovascular responses in the mutant, and these alterations could contribute to brain frailty in FHM1 patients. Ann Neurol 2016;80:219–232
Copper(II) nanoparticles: an efficient and reusable catalyst in green oxidation of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes in water
Authors: Mirsafaei Razieh , Heravi Majid M. , Hosseinnejad Tayebeh , Ahmadi Shervin
Published: June 2016

Copper(II) nanoparticles immobilized onto 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) supported on mesoporous silica KIT‐5 nanocomposite (AK) was prepared. The APTES group on KIT‐5 was manipulated as a suitable coordinating agent for copper(II) and fully characterized using FT‐IR, SEM, EDX, ICP, TGA, XRD and UV–visible methods. Moreover, a quantitative description for metal–ligand interactions in the APTES‐KIT‐5 mesoporous silica‐supported copper(II) acetate complex was assessed via quantum chemistry computations. This novel transition metal supported heterogeneous surface was used as an effective catalyst in low loading for selective oxidation of differently substituted benzylic alcohols in water, using H2O2as oxidant to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds in high to excellent yields. This heterogeneous nanocatalyst can be recovered and reused several times without any significant loss of activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene with in situ bulk polymerization toughened by one‐pot Nd‐based styrene–isoprene–butadiene terpolymer rubber
Authors: Li Tingting , Li Li , Xu Qiang , Wang Yurong , Li Yang
Published: June 2016

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) resins were obtained with in situ bulk polymerization toughened by styrene–isoprene–butadiene terpolymer rubber (SIBR). SIBR prepolymer was prepared through selective polymerization of styrene (St), isoprene (Ip), and butadiene (Bd) in St with [Nd]/[Al]/[Cl] catalyst. Nd‐based catalyst exhibited more favorable activity toward conjugated diene other than St, resulting in St solution of random SIBR with high cis‐1,4 stereoregularity and low St content, which was directly exposed to the free radical polymerization of St to generate HIPS. Effect of toughened rubber and the initiators [difunctional (D2) and trifunctional (T3)] were examined to attain HIPS possessing mechanical properties as follow: impact strength, 0.9–24.8 kJ/m2; tensile strength, 16.0–27.5 MPa; and elongation at break, 7.4–107.0%. Increasing SIBR matrix in HIPS improved the impact strength and decreased tensile strength. The fracture surface morphologies of HIPS specimens were studied by notched impact tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), illustrating that the incremental SIBR matrix presented synergistic toughening effect of crazing to enhance the ductile fracture behavior. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43979.
Electrochemical activity of sulfur networks synthesized through RAFT polymerization
Authors: Almeida C. , Costa H. , Kadhirvel P. , Queiroz A. M. , Dias R. C. S. , Costa M. R. P. F. N.
Published: June 2016

Novel results concerning the inverse vulcanization of sulfur using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization are here reported. It is shown that RAFT polymerization can be used to carry out this crosslinking process, with the additional possibility to extend the reaction time from a few minutes as with classical free radical polymerization (FRP) to several hours. Higher control on viscosity and processability of the synthesized networks, as well as, the implementation of semibatch feed policies during crosslinking are important advantages of the RAFT process here explored comparatively to the FRP inverse vulcanization. Using cyclic voltammetry, it was assessed the electrochemical activity of the synthesized sulfur‐rich polymer networks. It is shown that the fundamental electrochemical activity of the elemental sulfur was preserved in the produced materials. Testing of electrochemical cells assembled with lithium in the anode and different sulfur based materials in the cathode, including the synthesized RAFT networks, is also shown. The results here presented highlight the new opportunities introduced by reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization mechanisms on the control of the synthesis process and in the design of such advanced materials and show also that many potential derivatizing possibilities can be achieved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43993.
INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN THE GROUND SPIDER,Pardosa sumatrana(THORELL, 1890; ARANEAE: LYCOSIDAE)
Authors: Tahir Hafiz Muhammad , Khizar Farva , Naseem Sajida , Yaqoob Rabia , Samiullah Khizar
Published: June 2016

Elevated levels of insecticides detoxifying enzymes, such as esterases, glutathioneS‐transferases (GSTs), and cytochrome P‐450 monooxygenases, act in the resistance mechanisms in insects. In the present study, levels of these enzymes in the insecticide‐resistant ground spiderPardosa sumatrana(Thorell, 1890) were compared with a susceptible population (control) of the same species. Standard protocols were used for biochemical estimation of enzymes. The results showed significantly higher levels of nonspecific esterases and monooxygenases in resistant spiders compared to controls. The activity of GSTs was lower in the resistant spiders. Elevated levels of nonspecific esterases and monooxygenases suggest their role in metabolic resistance inP. sumatrana. The reduced levels of total protein contents revealed its possible consumption to meet energy demands.
Unstable Isomer of C90 Fullerene Isolated as Chloro Derivatives, C90(1)Cl10/12
Authors: Chilingarov Norbert S. , Troyanov Sergey I.
Published: June 2016

High‐temperature chlorination of C90‐containing fullerene fraction resulted in the isolation and X‐ray structural characterization of C90(1)Cl10/12, the first derivatives of a relatively unstable isomer D5h‐C90(1) with a nanotubular shape. In the crystal structure, three isomers of both C90(1)Cl10 and C90(1)Cl12 with similar chlorination patterns co‐crystallize in the same crystallographic site. Thus, in contrast to the previous reports, D5h‐C90(1) is present, though with a low abundance, in the fullerene soot produced by arc‐discharge method with undoped graphite rods.
Hydrogen‐Bonding Catalysis of Tetraalkylammonium Salts in an Aza‐Diels–Alder Reaction
Authors: Kumatabara Yusuke , Kaneko Shiho , Nakata Satoshi , Shirakawa Seiji , Maruoka Keiji
Published: June 2016

A piperidine‐derived tetraalkylammonium salt with a non‐coordinating counteranion worked as an effective hydrogen‐bonding catalyst in an aza‐Diels–Alder reaction of imines and a Danishefsky diene. The hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the ammonium salt and an imine was observed as part of a 1H NMR titration study.
Influences of El Niño on aerosol concentrations over eastern China
Authors: Feng Juan , Zhu Jianlei , Li Yan
Published: June 2016

The influence of El Niño on aerosol concentrations is investigated for eastern China over period 1986–2006. Result suggests that the influence of El Niño on aerosol concentration differs between events. The 1987/1988 El Niño event decreased the aerosol concentrations during the mature and decay spring of the event; however, an anomalous northern‐increase and southern‐decrease dipole structure occurred during the decay summertime over eastern China. In contrast, the event of 1997/1998 was associated with an evident increase in aerosol concentration over its lifespan. These anomalous aerosol concentrations are mainly caused by circulation changes associated with El Niño events.
Detection of exogenous gene doping of IGF‐I by a real‐time quantitative PCR assay
Authors: Zhang Jin‐Ju , Xu Jing‐Feng , Shen Yong‐Wei , Ma Shi‐Jiao , Zhang Ting‐Ting , Meng Qing‐Lin , Lan Wen‐Jun , Zhang Chun , Liu Xiao‐Mei
Published: June 2016

Gene doping can be easily concealed since its product is similar to endogenous protein, making its effective detection very challenging. In this study, we selected insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) exogenous gene for gene doping detection. First, the synthetic IGF‐I gene was subcloned to recombinant adeno‐associated virus (rAAV) plasmid to produce recombinant rAAV2/IGF‐I‐GFP vectors. Second, in an animal model, rAAV2/IGF‐I‐GFP vectors were injected into the thigh muscle tissue of mice, and then muscle and blood specimens were sampled at different time points for total DNA isolation. Finally, real‐time quantitative PCR was employed to detect the exogenous gene doping of IGF‐I. In view of the characteristics of endogenous IGF‐I gene sequences, a TaqMan probe was designed at the junction of exons 2 and 3 of IGF‐I gene to distinguish it from the exogenous IGF‐I gene. In addition, an internal reference control plasmid and its probe were used in PCR to rule out false‐positive results through comparison of their threshold cycle (Ct) values. Thus, an accurate exogenous IGF‐I gene detection approach was developed in this study.
Use of hierarchical models to analyze European trends in congenital anomaly prevalence
Authors: Cavadino Alana , Prieto‐Merino David , Addor Marie‐Claude , Arriola Larraitz , Bianchi Fabrizio , Draper Elizabeth , Garne Ester , Greenlees Ruth , Haeusler Martin , Khoshnood Babak , Kurinczuk Jenny , McDonnell Bob , Nelen Vera , O'Mahony Mary , Randrianaivo Hanitra , Rankin Judith , Rissmann Anke , Tucker David , Verellen‐Dumoulin Christine , de Walle Hermien , Wellesley Diana , Morris Joan K.
Published: June 2016

Background

Surveillance of congenital anomalies is important to identify potential teratogens. Despite known associations between different anomalies, current surveillance methods examine trends within each subgroup separately. We aimed to evaluate whether hierarchical statistical methods that combine information from several subgroups simultaneously would enhance current surveillance methods using data collected by EUROCAT, a European network of population‐based congenital anomaly registries.

Methods

Ten‐year trends (2003 to 2012) in 18 EUROCAT registries over 11 countries were analyzed for the following groups of anomalies: neural tube defects, congenital heart defects, digestive system, and chromosomal anomalies. Hierarchical Poisson regression models that combined related subgroups together according to EUROCAT's hierarchy of subgroup coding were applied. Results from hierarchical models were compared with those from Poisson models that consider each congenital anomaly separately.

Results

Hierarchical models gave similar results as those obtained when considering each anomaly subgroup in a separate analysis. Hierarchical models that included only around three subgroups showed poor convergence and were generally found to be over‐parameterized. Larger sets of anomaly subgroups were found to be too heterogeneous to group together in this way.

Conclusion

There were no substantial differences between independent analyses of each subgroup and hierarchical models when using the EUROCAT anomaly subgroups. Considering each anomaly separately, therefore, remains an appropriate method for the detection of potential changes in prevalence by surveillance systems. Hierarchical models do, however, remain an interesting alternative method of analysis when considering the risks of specific exposures in relation to the prevalence of congenital anomalies, which could be investigated in other studies. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:480–10, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Absence of prenatal ultrasound surveillance: Data from the Portuguese congenital anomalies registry
Authors: Correia Sandrina , Machado Ausenda , Braz Paula , Rodrigues Ana Paula , Matias‐Dias Carlos
Published: June 2016

Background

In Portugal, prenatal care guidelines advocate two prenatal ultrasound scans for all pregnant women. Not following this recommendation is considered inadequate prenatal surveillance. The National Registry of Congenital Anomalies (RENAC in Portuguese) is an active population‐based registry and an important instrument for the epidemiological surveillance of congenital anomalies (CA) in Portugal. Regarding pregnancies with CA, this study aims to describe the epidemiology of absent prenatal ultrasound scans and factors associated with this inadequate surveillance.

Methods

A cross‐sectional comparative study from 2008 to 2013 was carried out using data from RENAC. Associations of nonuptake of prenatal ultrasound screening with socio‐demographic health behaviors and obstetric history data were evaluated using multiple logistic regression. Potential confounders were investigated and included if they changed the crude odds ratio estimate by at least 10% after adjustment by the Mantel‐Haenszel method. The statistical significance level was set at 5%.

Results

Overall, 6090 notifications of congenital anomalies were reported to RENAC, and 2% of the pregnant women reported no prenatal ultrasound screening surveillance. These women were on average aged 30.0 years, and 52.8% had no professional occupation. The odds of not performing an ultrasound scan during their pregnancy increased 2.47 times with lack of professional activity, 4.67 times in non‐Caucasian women, and decreased 46% for any previous miscarriage.

Conclusion

For pregnant women who did not receive an ultrasound screening examination during pregnancy, the strongest statistically associated factors were professional occupation, ethnicity, and number of miscarriages in previous gestations. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:489–493, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Elucidation of ethanol tolerance mechanisms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by global metabolite profiling
Authors: Kim Sooah , Kim Jungyeon , Song Ju Hwan , Jung Young Hoon , Choi Il‐Sup , Choi Wonja , Park Yong‐Cheol , Seo Jin‐Ho , Kim Kyoung Heon
Published: June 2016

Ethanol, the major fermentation product of yeast, is a stress factor in yeast. We previously constructed an ethanol‐tolerant mutant yeast iETS3 by using the global transcriptional machinery engineering. However, the ethanol‐tolerance mechanism has not been systematically investigated. In this study, global metabolite profiling was carried out, mainly by gas chromatography/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOF MS), to investigate the mechanisms of ethanol tolerance in iETS3. A total of 108 intracellular metabolites were identified by GC/TOF MS and high performance liquid chromatography, and these metabolites were mostly intermediates of the central carbon metabolism. The metabolite profiles of iETS3 and BY4741, cultured with or without ethanol, were significantly different based on principal component and hierarchical clustering analyses. Our metabolomic analyses identified the compositional changes in cell membranes and the activation of glutamate metabolism and the trehalose synthetic pathway as the possible mechanisms for the ethanol tolerance. These metabolic traits can be considered possible targets for further improvement of ethanol tolerance in the mutant. For example, the KGD1 deletion mutant, with up‐regulated glutamate metabolism, showed increased tolerance to ethanol. This study has demonstrated that metabolomics can be a useful tool for strain improvement and phenotypic analysis of microorganisms under stress.