bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: Studies on the Reaction of Aryl Glyoxals with‐Prolinol: Unexpected Formation of Morpholin‐2‐one Derivatives and Stereoselective Trifluoromethylation of the Bicyclic System.
Authors: Mloston Grzegorz , Wroblewska Aneta , Linden Anthony , Heimgartner Heinz
Published: November 2015

The reaction of L‐prolinol with aryl glyoxals affords labile bicyclic products (III), which undergo isomerization in the presence of an acid to form morpholine derivatives as single diastereomer (IV) or mixtures of diastereomers (VII).
ChemInform Abstract: Copper(II)‐Catalyzed β‐Borylation of Acetylenic Esters in Water.
Authors: Peck Cheryl L. , Calderone Joseph A. , Santos Webster L.
Published: November 2015

This facile borylation reaction proceeds in a regio‐, E/Z‐, and chemoselective manner to afford high yields of (Z)‐β‐boryl‐α,β‐unsaturated esters exclusively.
ChemInform Abstract: H2SO4‐Silica: An Efficient Promoter for Selective Removal of Benzylidene and Isopropylidene Groups in the Presence of p‐Methoxybenzyl Group.
Authors: Verma Prashant Rajan , Mukhopadhyay Balaram
Published: November 2015

Selective removal of the benzylidene and isopropylidene protections in the presence of acid‐labile p‐methoxybenzyl group using H2SO4—silica in methanol is reported.
ChemInform Abstract: Inorganic Nanoparticles Engineered to Attack Bacteria
Authors: Miller Kristen P. , Wang Lei , Benicewicz Brian C. , Decho Alan W.
Published: November 2015

Review: 340 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: New Faces of Porous Prussian Blue: Interfacial Assembly of Integrated Hetero‐Structures for Sensing Applications
Authors: Kong Biao , Selomulya Cordelia , Zheng Gengfeng , Zhao Dongyuan
Published: November 2015

Review: 258 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Chemistry of the P‐Block Elements with Anionic Scorpionate Ligands
Authors: Reglinski John , Spicer Mark D.
Published: November 2015

Review: 147 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Magnetic Properties of Transition Metal (Mn(II), Mn(III), Ni(II), Cu(II)) and Lanthanide (Gd(III), Dy(III), Tb(III), Eu(III), Ho(III), Yb(III)) Clusters and [Nxn] Grids: Isotropic Exchange and SMM Behaviour
Authors: Thompson Laurence K. , Dawe Louise N.
Published: November 2015

Review: 52 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Metallo/Clusto Hybridized Supramolecular Polymers
Authors: Li Haolong , Wu Lixin
Published: November 2015

Review: 110 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Luminescent 4f and D‐4f Polynuclear Complexes and Coordination Polymers with Flexible Salen‐Type Ligands
Authors: Yang Xiaoping , Jones Richard A. , Huang Shaoming
Published: November 2015

Review: 61 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Reactivity of Polar Organometallic Compounds in Unconventional Reaction Media: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Garcia‐Alvarez Joaquin , Hevia Eva , Capriati Vito
Published: November 2015

Review: [120 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Alkenes
Authors: Mann Sam E. , Benhamou L. , Sheppard Tom D.
Published: November 2015

Review: [142 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐catalyzed Modification of Unprotected Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Oligonucleotides
Authors: Shaughnessy Kevin H.
Published: November 2015

Review: 124 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Non‐uniform Sampling: Post‐Fourier Era of NMR Data Collection and Processing
Authors: Kazimierczuk Krzysztof , Orekhov Vladislav
Published: November 2015

Review: 73 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Biomaterials Based Nano‐Applications of Aloe vera and its Perspective: A Review
Authors: Balaji Arunpandian , Vellayappan Muthu Vignesh , John Agnes Aruna , Subramanian Aruna Priyadarshini , Jaganathan Saravana Kumar , SelvaKumar M. , Faudzi Ahmad Athif bin Mohd , Supriyanto Eko , Yusof Mustafa
Published: November 2015

Review: 118 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Biodegradation of Ionic Liquids — A Critical Review
Authors: Jordan Andrew , Gathergood Nicholas
Published: November 2015

Review: 120 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Layered Double Hydroxides Toward Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion: Design, Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Shao Mingfei , Zhang Ruikang , Li Zhenhua , Wei Min , Evans David G. , Duan Xue
Published: November 2015

Review: 149 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Monitoring Organic Reactions by UF‐NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Herrera Antonio , Fernandez‐Valle Encarnacion , Martinez‐Alvarez Roberto , Molero‐Vilchez Dolores , Pardo‐Botero Zulay D. , Saez‐Barajas Elena
Published: November 2015

Review: 75 refs.
Influence of Soil Aging and Stabilization with Compost on Zn and Cu Fractionation, Stability, and Mobility
Authors: Gusiatin Zygmunt Mariusz , Kulikowska Dorota
Published: November 2015

To determine the effect of soil aging (1, 12, or 24 months) and compost maturation time on metal redistribution and mobility, soil artificially contaminated with Zn and Cu was stabilized with compost for 35, 24, or 12 months. The compost was produced from municipal sewage sludge, wood chips, rape straw, and grass, matured for 3 or 12 months, then used as a soil amendment at a dosage of 20% (w/w). The total time in each series, including aging of spiked soil and its stabilization with compost, was 36 months. The results showed that soil aging reduced CaCl2 extractable Zn fraction and increased Zn stability (as reduced partition index, IR) more than compost addition, which only reduced Zn mobility in soils that had been aged for 1 and 12 months. However, after soil that had been previously aged 1 month was incubated with compost for one year, Zn mobility started to increase. Composts did not influence the changes in the IR of Zn over time. In contrast, compost addition increased Cu stability more than soil aging did, whereas soil aging and compost addition had a negligible effect on Cu mobility. The IR of Cu in all amended soils averaged 0.51, and reached a maximum of 0.57 12 months after addition of compost to soil previously aged for 12 months. Importantly, the maturation time of compost did not affect the mobility or stability of either metal.
A task scheduling strategy based on weighted round robin for distributed crawler
Authors: Ge Dajie , Ding Zhijun , Ji Hongfei
Published: November 2015

With the rapid development of the network, stand‐alone crawlers are finding hard to find and gather information. Distributed crawlers are gradually accepted to solve this problem. This paper proposes a task scheduling strategy based on weighted round robin for small‐scale distributed crawler with formula weights for the current node based on crawling efficiency, implements a distributed crawler system with multithreading support and deduplication which takes the algorithm as core, and discusses some possible extensions and details. The design of the error recovery mechanism and the node table allows crawling nodes have flexible scalability and fault tolerance. Finally, we conducted some experiments to prove the good load balancing performance of the system. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 2015.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoinduced Electron Transfer between Psoralens and DNA: Influence of DNA Sequence and Substitution
Authors: Fröbel Sascha , Levi Lucilla , Ulamec Sabine M. , Gilch Peter
Published: November 2015

Psoralens are heterocyclic compounds which are, among other uses, used to treat skin deseases in the framework of PUVA therapy. In the dark, they intercalate into DNA and can form photoadducts with thymines upon UV‐A excitation, which harms the affected cells. We have recently discovered that after excitation of intercalated psoralens, an efficient photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from DNA occurs. Here, the PET is studied in detail by means of femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Using DNA samples that contain either only GC or AT base pairs, we show that only guanine donates the electrons. Additionally, the substituent effects on PET are studied relying on three different psoralen derivatives. The substitution alters spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the psoralens, which are determined by cyclic voltammetry and steady state spectroscopy. These experiments allow us to estimate the PET energetics, which are in line with the measured kinetics. Implications for the applications of psoralens are discussed.
Function vector synchronization based on fuzzy control for uncertain chaotic systems with dead‐zone nonlinearities
Authors: Hamel Sarah , Boulkroune Abdesselem , Bouzeriba Amel
Published: November 2015

In this article, a fuzzy adaptive control scheme is designed to achieve a function vector synchronization behavior between two identical or different chaotic (or hyperchaotic) systems in the presence of unknown dynamic disturbances and input nonlinearities (dead‐zone and sector nonlinearities). This proposed synchronization scheme can be considered as a generalization of many existing projective synchronization schemes (namely the function projective synchronization, the modified projective synchronization, generalized projective synchronization, and so forth) in the sense that the master and slave outputs are assumed to be some general function vectors. To practically deal with the input nonlinearities, the adaptive fuzzy control system is designed in a variable‐structure framework. The fuzzy systems are used to appropriately approximate the uncertain nonlinear functions. A Lyapunov approach is used to prove the boundedness of all signals of the closed‐loop control system as well as the exponential convergence of the corresponding synchronization errors to an adjustable region. The synchronization between two identical systems (chaotic satellite systems) and two different systems (chaotic Chen and Lü systems) are taken as two illustrative examples to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 234–249, 2016
Tailoring the Composition of Bio‐oil by Vapor‐Phase Removal of Organic Acids
Authors: Zhang Jing , Choi Yong S. , Shanks Brent H.
Published: November 2015

Selective removal of organic acids from biomass pyrolysis vapors was demonstrated. A broad adsorbent range was tested with CaCO3 showing the best selectivity. Extensive material characterization demonstrated that the acid removal occurred through monolayer adsorption on CaCO3. Adsorbent regeneration was achieved by in situ heat treatment of the postreaction adsorbent where the adsorbed acid was converted into a ketone. The mitigation of the loss of other products was achieved by using surface modified CaCO3 materials, resulting in a significant improvement in the selectivity toward organic acid removal. The surface modification appeared to lead to formation of a metal‐carboxylate intermediate consisting of both acetate and carbonate groups. Acetate group on the CaCO3 surface resulted in the suppression of side reactions. Generally, a higher acid removal was accompanied with a greater loss of other compounds, which could be tuned by using CaCO3 with different surface modification.
Anthraquinone‐Based Polymer as Cathode in Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries
Authors: Bitenc Jan , Pirnat Klemen , Bančič Tanja , Gaberšček Miran , Genorio Boštjan , Randon‐Vitanova Anna , Dominko Robert
Published: November 2015

Mg batteries are a promising battery technology that could lead to safer and significantly less expensive non‐aqueous batteries with energy densities comparable or even better than state‐of‐the‐art Li‐ion batteries. Although the first prototype Mg battery using stable Mo6S8 as cathode was introduced over fifteen years ago, major challenges remain to be solved. In particular, the design of high energy cathode materials and the development of non‐corrosive electrolytes with high oxidative stability are issues that need to be tackled. Herein, we present a new, general, and robust approach towards achieving stable cycling of Mg batteries. The core of our approach is the use of stable polymer cathode and Mg powder anode coupled with non‐nucleophilic electrolytes. Our systems exhibit an excellent rate capability and significant improvement in electrochemical stability.
Tuning Thiophene‐Based Phenothiazines for Stable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: Cecconi Bianca , Manfredi Norberto , Ruffo Riccardo , Montini Tiziano , Romero‐Ocaña Ismael , Fornasiero Paolo , Abbotto Alessandro
Published: November 2015

Dibranched donor–(π–acceptor)2 dyes, where phenothiazine is the donor core, cyanoacrylic acid is the acceptor/anchoring group, and π is represented by mono‐ and poly‐cyclic simple and fused thiophene derivatives, were tested as photosensitizers in the photocatalytic production of H2, in combination with a Pt/TiO2 catalyst. The optical and electrochemical properties of the dyes were investigated, showing that careful design of the thiophene‐based π spacer afforded enhanced optical properties. In the H2 production over 20 h, the new thiophene‐based sensitizers revealed improved stability after longer irradiation times and enhanced performances, in terms of H2 production rates and light‐to‐fuel efficiencies, after an initial activation period, which were for the first time associated with enhanced stability under photocatalytic production of H2 and the absence of critical dye degradation.
Microfluidic Separation of Ethylene and Ethane Using Frustrated Lewis Pairs
Authors: Voicu Dan , Stephan Douglas W. , Kumacheva Eugenia
Published: November 2015

Separation of gaseous olefins and paraffins is one of the most important separation processes in the industry. Development of new cost‐effective technologies aims at reducing the high energy consumption during the separation process. Here, we took advantage of the reaction of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) with ethylene to achieve reactive extraction of ethylene from ethylene–ethane mixtures. The extraction was studied using a microfluidic platform, which enabled a rapid, high‐throughput assessment of reaction conditions to optimize gas separation efficiency. A separation factor of 7.3 was achieved for ethylene from a 1:1 volume ratio mixture of ethylene and ethane, which corresponded to an extracted ethylene purity of 88 %. The results obtained in the microfluidic studies were validated using infrared spectroscopy. This work paves the way for further development of the FLPs and optimization of reaction conditions, thereby maximizing the separation efficiency of olefins from their mixtures with paraffins.
Prenatal stress and early‐life exposure to fluoxetine have enduring effects on anxiety and hippocampal BDNF gene expression in adult male offspring
Authors: Boulle Fabien , Pawluski Jodi L. , Homberg Judith R. , Machiels Barbie , Kroeze Yvet , Kumar Neha , Steinbusch Harry W. M. , Kenis Gunter , Van den Hove Daniel L. A.
Published: November 2015

With the growing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications (SSRIs) for the treatment of depression during the perinatal period, questions have been raised about the longterm impact of these medications on development. We aimed to investigate how developmental SSRI exposure may alter affect‐related behaviors and associated molecular processes in offspring using a rodent model of maternal stress and depression. For this purpose, prenatally stressed or non‐stressed male offspring were exposed to fluoxetine (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle, via lactation, until weaning. Primary results show that postnatal fluoxetine exposure differentially altered anxiety‐like behavior by increasing anxiety in non‐stressed offspring and decreasing anxiety in prenatally stressed offspring. In the hippocampus, developmental fluoxetine exposure decreased BDNF IV and TrkB mRNA expression. Prenatal stress alone also decreased escape behaviors and decreased hippocampal BDNF IV mRNA expression. These data provide important evidence for the long‐term programming effects of early‐life exposure to SSRIs on brain and behavior. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 427–438, 2016.
Development and validation of a GC‐C‐IRMS method for the confirmation analysis of pseudo‐endogenous glucocorticoids in doping control
Authors: de la Torre Xavier , Curcio Davide , Colamonici Cristiana , Molaioni Francesco , Cilia Marta , Botrè Francesco
Published: November 2015

Glucocorticoids are included in the S9 section of the World Anti‐doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list international standard. Some among them are pseudo‐endogenous steroids, like cortisol and cortisone, which present the same chemical structure as endogenously produced steroids. We are proposing an analytical method based on gas chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC‐C‐IRMS) which allows discrimination between endogenous and synthetic origin of the urinary metabolites of the pseudo‐endogenous glucocorticoids. A preliminary purification treatment by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the target compounds (TC) (i.e., cortisol, tetrahydrocortisone (THE) 5α‐tetrahydrocortisone (aTHE), tetrahydrocortisol (THF), and 5α‐tetrahydrocortisol (aTHF)) allows collection of extracts with adequate purity for the subsequent analysis by IRMS. A population of 40 urine samples was analyzed for the TC and for the endogenous reference compounds (ERC: i.e., 11‐desoxy‐tetrahydrocortisol (THS) or pregnanediol). For each sample, the difference between the delta values of the ERCs and TCs (Δδ values) were calculated and based on that, some decision limits for atypical findings are proposed. The limits are below 3% units except for cortisol. The fit to purpose of the method has been confirmed by the analysis of urine samples collected in two patients under treatment with 25 mg of cortisone acetate (p.o). The samples showed Δδ values higher than 3 for at least 24 h following administration depending on the TC considered. The method can easily be integrated into existing procedures already used for the HPLC purification and IRMS analysis of pseudo‐endogenous steroids with androgenic/anabolic activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differences in sap flux‐based stand transpiration between upper and lower slope positions in a Japanese cypress plantation watershed
Authors: Kume Tomonori , Tsuruta Kenji , Komatsu Hikaru , Shinohara Yoshinori , Katayama Ayumi , Ide Jun'ichiro , Otsuki Kyoichi
Published: November 2015

This study investigated the difference in stand transpiration (E) between upper (UP) and lower (LP) slope plots of a Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) watershed to obtain catchment‐scale E estimates. Sap flux‐based stand‐scale E estimates were conducted on the UP and LP, which had contrasting stand structures (diameter at breast height and tree height) despite being the same age. The plant area index was similar in the UP and LP, while the total sapwood area (AS_stand) and the mean sap flux density (JS) in the UP were 23% and ~30% lower, respectively, than those of the LP. Stand‐scale E is the product of the AS_stand and JS in a stand. As a result, E in the UP was ~50% lower than that in the LP. This ratio was relatively constant throughout the year, which was supported by a similar decline in E, which resulted from soil water decline in the UP and LP. Canopy conductance (GC) in the UP was ~50% smaller than that of the LP. In contrast to previous studies that showed a consistent JS along a slope, the differences in E between the UP and LP were caused by differences in AS_stand and JS, probably because the UP exhibited a lower GC per unit leaf area than the LP. Additionally, evapotranspiration (ET), the sum of sap flux‐scaled E plus rainfall interception, was 8–14% lower than the catchment water balance ET (precipitation minus runoff), which suggests the feasibility of calculating sap flux‐scaled E for the two slope positions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Taguchi algorithm for cognitive radio spectrum allocation
Authors: Hei Yongqiang , Qiu Zhuo , Liu Jiao , Li Wentao
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the spectrum allocation problem in cognitive radio was studied to improve the utilisation of spectrum by optimising the spectrum allocation factor. On the basis of investigating some existing evolutionary spectrum allocation algorithms applied in the spectrum allocation problem, a new efficient Taguchi algorithm based on orthogonal array was proposed, in which sigmoid limiting transformation was introduced to deal with the 0–1 discrete spectrum allocation optimization problem. A new random level based on Taguchi algorithm is then introduced to solve local optimal problem. The simulation results show that Taguchi algorithm has promising ability in improving the utilisation of spectrum resources when compared with traditional evolutionary algorithms. Besides, Taguchi algorithm has the advantages of easy implementation, low complexity dealing with high‐dimensional problem, and high efficiency in achieving optimum solutions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Three‐dimensional modeling of non‐hydrostatic free‐surface flows on unstructured grids
Authors: Liu Xin , Mohammadian Abdolmajid , Infante Sedano Julio Ángel
Published: November 2015

A three‐dimensional numerical model is presented for the simulation of unsteady non‐hydrostatic shallow water flows on unstructured grids using the finite volume method. The free surface variations are modeled by a characteristics‐based scheme, which simulates sub‐critical and super‐critical flows. Three‐dimensional velocity components are considered in a collocated arrangement with a σ‐coordinate system. A special treatment of the pressure term is developed to avoid the water surface oscillations. Convective and diffusive terms are approximated explicitly, and an implicit discretization is used for the pressure term to ensure exact mass conservation. The unstructured grid in the horizontal direction and the σ coordinate in the vertical direction facilitate the use of the model in complicated geometries. Solution of the non‐hydrostatic equations enables the model to simulate short‐period waves and vertically circulating flows. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection and screening of chromosomal rearrangements in uterine leiomyomas by long‐distance inverse PCR
Authors: Pradhan Barun , Sarvilinna Nanna , Matilainen Juha , Aska Elli , Sjöberg Jari , Kauppi Liisa
Published: November 2015

Genome instability is a hallmark of many tumors and recently, next‐generation sequencing methods have enabled analyses of tumor genomes at an unprecedented level. Studying rearrangement‐prone chromosomal regions (putative “breakpoint hotspots”) in detail, however, necessitates molecular assays that can detect de novo DNA fusions arising from these hotspots. Here we demonstrate the utility of a long‐distance inverse PCR‐based method for the detection and screening of de novo DNA rearrangements in uterine leiomyomas, one of the most common types of human neoplasm. This assay allows in principle any genomic region suspected of instability to be queried for DNA rearrangements originating there. No prior knowledge of the identity of the fusion partner chromosome is needed. We used this method to screen uterine leiomyomas for rearrangements at genomic locations known to be rearrangement‐prone in this tumor type: upstream HMGA2 and within RAD51B. We identified a novel DNA rearrangement upstream of HMGA2 that had gone undetected in an earlier whole‐genome sequencing study. In more than 30 additional uterine leiomyoma samples, not analyzed by whole‐genome sequencing previously, no rearrangements were observed within the 1,107 bp and 1,996 bp assayed in the RAD51B and HMGA2 rearrangement hotspots. Our findings show that long‐distance inverse PCR is a robust, sensitive, and cost‐effective method for the detection and screening of DNA rearrangements from solid tumors that should be useful for many diagnostic applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maternal Mind‐Mindedness: Stability Across Relationships and Associations with Attachment Style and Psychological Mindedness
Authors: Hill Sharon , McMahon Catherine
Published: November 2015

This paper explores the concordance of mind‐mindedness across descriptions of different people and construct validity by examining associations between mind‐mindedness and psychological mindedness. Mothers of preschoolers (N = 103) completed online questionnaires assessing attachment style, psychological mindedness and mind‐mindedness via three written descriptions (child, partner/close friend and a famous person), which were used to derive two scores (frequency and proportional) for mental state descriptors. Frequency scores for mind‐minded comments were significantly correlated for child and partner descriptions. Famous person scores (frequency and proportional) were significantly lower than child and partner scores, further supporting specificity to relationship closeness. Mind‐mindedness scores (frequency and proportional) were positively related to an interest in the psychological processes of oneself and others (psychological mindedness) but not associated with attachment style. This study supports the proposition that mind‐mindedness is an orientation to mental states particular to close relationships and that mind‐mindedness is linked to a broader capacity for self‐awareness (psychological mindedness). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective isolation of hydrophobin SC3 by solid‐phase extraction with polytetrafluoroethylene microparticles and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis
Authors: Kupčík Rudolf , Zelená Miroslava , Řehulka Pavel , Bílková Zuzana , Česlová Lenka
Published: November 2015

Hydrophobins are small proteins that play a role in a number of processes during the filamentous fungi growth and development. These proteins are characterized by the self‐assembly of their molecules into an amphipathic membrane at hydrophilic–hydrophobic interfaces. Isolation and purification of hydrophobins generally present a challenge in their analysis. Hydrophobin SC3 from Schizophyllum commune was selected as a representative of class I hydrophobins in this work. A novel procedure for selective and effective isolation of hydrophobin SC3 based on solid‐phase extraction with polytetrafluoroethylene microparticles loaded in a small self‐made microcolumn is reported. The tailored binding of hydrophobins to polytetrafluoroethylene followed by harsh elution conditions resulted in a highly specific isolation of hydrophobin SC3 from the model mixture of ten proteins. The presented isolation protocol can have a positive impact on the analysis and utilization of these proteins including all class I hydrophobins. Hydrophobin SC3 was further subjected to reduction of its highly stable disulfide bonds and to chymotryptic digestion followed by mass spectrometric analysis. The isolation and digestion protocols presented in this work make the analysis of these highly hydrophobic and compact proteins possible.
The social distraction of facial paralysis: Objective measurement of social attention using eye‐tracking
Authors: Ishii Lisa , Dey Jacob , Boahene Kofi D. O. , Byrne Patrick J. , Ishii Masaru
Published: November 2015

Objectives

To measure the attentional distraction to the facial paralysis deformity using eye‐tracking, and to distinguish between attention paid to the upper and lower facial divisions in patients with complete paralysis. We hypothesized that features affected by the paralysis deformity would distract the casual observer, leading to an altered pattern of facial attention as compared to normals.

Study Design

Randomized controlled experiment.

Methods

Sixty casual observers viewed images of paralyzed faces (House‐Brackmann [HB] IV–VI) and normal faces smiling and in repose. The SMI iView X RED (SensoMotoric, Inc., Boston, MA) eye‐gaze tracker recorded eye movements of observers gazing on the faces. Fixation durations for predefined areas of interest were analyzed using three separate multivariate analyses.

Results

Casual observers gazing on both paralyzed and normal faces directed the majority of their attention to the central triangle (CT) region. Significant differences occurred in the distribution of attention among individual features in the CT and to individual sides of the face. Observers directed more attention to the mouth of paralyzed faces, smiling (analysis of variance [ANOVA] > F 0.0001) and in repose (ANOVA > F 0.0000). Attention was asymmetrically distributed between the two halves of paralyzed faces (paralyzed smiling minus normal smiling P > |z| 0.000).

Conclusions

Casual observers directed attention in a measurably different way when gazing on paralyzed faces as compared to normal faces, a finding exacerbated with smiling. These findings help explain society's perceptions of attractiveness and affect display that differ for paralyzed and normal faces and can be used to direct our reconstructive efforts.

Level of Evidence

N/A. Laryngoscope, 126:334–339, 2016
Tumoral calcinosis in the neck region involving an unusual site in a hemodialysis patient
Authors: Pan Chien‐Wei , Chen Rong‐Fong
Published: November 2015

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare disorder characterized by calcium salt deposition in the periarticular soft tissue region. It often occurs in the hip, elbow, shoulder, foot, and wrist. Soft tissue calcification associated with tumoral calcinosis is rare in the head and neck. The present case describes a 65‐ year‐old male who had been on hemodialysis for 3 years. A bulky mass, containing chalky amorphous calcified material, occurred at the lower neck and superior mediastinum. Chronic renal failure is a common condition associated with secondary tumoral calcinosis. The pathogenesis has been progressively unraveled, which indicates that secondary hyperparathyroidism and tissue injury play a part in multifactorial calcification. Laryngoscope, 126:E196–E198, 2016
Lead and Cadmium in Soils of La Rioja Vineyards, Spain
Authors: Marín Alvaro , Andrades Marisol , Iñigo Victoria , Jiménez‐Ballesta Raimundo
Published: November 2015

Land degradation can be triggered by the abuse of chemicals that damage soil quality. Agriculture is changing the chemical and physical properties of soils, and in vineyards, those changes are due to the use of pesticides. In order to assess the Pb and Cd content, 212 soil samples from La Rioja D.O.Ca were analysed. Concentrations of Pb in soil ranged from 0·96 to 64·31 mg kg−1 with a mean concentration of 21·26 mg kg−1 in the surface layer, while they ranged from 7·97–43·93 mg kg−1 with a mean of 20·83 mg kg−1 in the subsurface layer. The mean content of bioavailable lead was 1·03 mg kg−1 in the surface layer and 0·76 mg kg−1 in the subsurface. Cd overall average concentration was 0·29 mg kg−1 in the surface; in the subsurface, the mean was 0·31 mg kg−1 and ranged from 0·10 to 1·22 mg kg−1. The values in the surface layers were 0·15 mg kg−1 and in the subsurface layer 0·01 of Cd bioavailability. On the basis of pedogeochemical Pb and Cd distribution, balanced fertilization will be of great importance for sustainable development of agricultural wine‐producers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tunable generation of entangled photons in a nonlinear directional coupler
Authors: Setzpfandt Frank , Solntsev Alexander S. , Titchener James , Wu Che Wen , Xiong Chunle , Schiek Roland , Pertsch Thomas , Neshev Dragomir N. , Sukhorukov Andrey A.
Published: November 2015

The on‐chip integration of quantum light sources has enabled the realization of complex quantum photonic circuits. However, for the practical implementation of such circuits in quantum information applications, it is crucial to develop sources delivering entangled quantum photon states with on‐demand tunability. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate the concept of a widely tunable quantum light source based on spontaneous parametric down‐conversion in a simple nonlinear directional coupler. We show that spatial photon‐pair correlations and entanglement can be reconfigured on‐demand by tuning the phase difference between the pump beams and the phase mismatch inside the structure. We experimentally demonstrate the generation of split states, robust N00N states, various intermediate regimes and biphoton steering on a single chip. Furthermore we theoretically investigate other regimes allowing all‐optically tunable generation of all Bell states and flexible control of path‐energy entanglement. Such wide‐range capabilities of a structure comprised of just two coupled nonlinear waveguides are attributed to the intricate interplay between linear coupling and nonlinear phase matching. This scheme provides an important advance towards the realization of reconfigurable quantum circuitry.

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Pretransplant echocardiographic parameters as markers of posttransplant outcomes in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Bushyhead Daniel , Kirkpatrick James N. , Goldberg David
Published: November 2015

Despite advances in liver transplantation and preoperative risk stratification, there remains significant posttransplant morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and renal disease. There are limited and conflicting data on the role of pretransplant echocardiography to predict these outcomes. The purpose of our study was to determine if pretransplant echocardiographic parameters were associated with posttransplant survival and the development of incident cardiovascular events and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 397 adult liver transplant recipients at the University of Pennsylvania from January 1, 2005 to September 30, 2014. Patients with acute liver failure, those without a diagnosis of cirrhosis (eg, polycystic liver disease without portal hypertension), retransplants, and multiorgan transplants were excluded. In multivariable Cox regression models, tricuspid regurgitation graded greater than mild was associated with significantly increased posttransplant mortality (hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03‐2.75; P = 0.04). In multivariable competing risk models, increasing pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was associated with significantly increased risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction or heart failure (subhazard ratio per 5 mm Hg increase in PASP, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.48‐2.17; P < 0.001). In multivariable competing risk models, increased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was associated with a numerical but nonsignificant increased risk of stage 4 or 5 CKD (subhazard ratio, 1.11 per 5% increase in LVEF; 95% CI, 0.99‐1.24; P = 0.07). In a post hoc analysis, LVEF ≥ 65% was the best cutoff for increased risk of CKD (subhazard ratio, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.06‐2.89; P = 0.03). In conclusion, several pretransplant echocardiographic parameters were associated with posttransplant morbidity and mortality, suggesting that pretransplant echocardiography may be used as a tool to risk‐stratify patients for posttransplant outcomes. Liver Transpl 22:316–323, 2016. © 2015 AASLD.
Harbourne constants and conic configurations on the projective plane
Authors: Pokora Piotr , Tutaj‐Gasińska Halszka
Published: November 2015

In this note we exhibit the so‐called Harbourne constants which capture and measure the bounded negativity on various birational models of an algebraic surface. We show an estimation for Harbourne constants for conic configurations on the complex projective plane with transversal intersection points.
Modification Pathways for Copoly(2‐oxazoline)s Enabling Their Application as Antireflective Coatings in Photolithography
Authors: Fimberger Martin , Behrendt Andreas , Jakopic Georg , Stelzer Franz , Kumbaraci Volkan , Wiesbrock Frank
Published: November 2015

Chromophore‐functionalized copoly(2‐oxazoline)s are successfully evaluated as bottom antireflective coatings (BARCs) in high‐resolution photolithography. With respect to UV light sources used in photolithographic production routines, anthracene is chosen as a chromophore. For application as polymer in BARCs, the copolymer poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazolin)45‐stat‐poly(2‐dec‐9′‐enyl‐2‐oxazolin)20‐stat‐poly(2‐(3′‐(1″‐(anthracen‐9‐ylmethyl)‐1″,2″,3″‐triazol‐4‐yl)propyl)‐2‐oxazolin)35 can be synthesized by the Huisgen cycloaddition click reaction of the copolymer poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazolin)45‐stat‐poly(2‐dec‐9′‐enyl‐2‐oxazolin)20‐stat‐poly(2‐pent‐4′‐inyl‐2‐oxazolin)35 and the corresponding azide‐functionalized anthracenes. These copolymers can be crosslinked by the thermally induced thiol‐ene reaction involving the unsaturated C=C bonds of the poly(2‐dec‐9′‐enyl‐2‐oxazoline) repetition units and a multifunctional thiol as crosslinker. Tests of this BARC in a clean room under production conditions reveal a significant decrease of the swing‐curve of a chemically amplified positive photoresist by more than 50%, hence significantly increasing the resolution of the photoresist.

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Pedicled posteromedial thigh (PMT) flap: A new alternative for groin defect reconstruction
Authors: Scaglioni Mario F. , Enrique Carrillo Jimenez Leonardo , Kuo Yur‐Ren , Chen Yen‐Chou
Published: November 2015

The posterior medial thigh is mainly vascularized by the profunda femoris artery (PFA), which nourishes the adductor magnus muscle and overlying skin, to supply a number of perforators that can potentially be used as pedicles for local perforator flaps. Here we present two cases utilizing the pedicled posteromedial thigh flap (PMT) to reconstruct the groin defects. Two patients underwent resection for metastatic malignant melanoma resulting in large defects of the groin with exposure of major inguinal vessels; the dimensions of the skin defects were 15 cm × 5 cm and 16 cm × 6 cm, two ipsilateral pedicled PMT flaps were designed to cover the defects. The pedicled PMT flaps were based on perforators arising from the PFA and were transposed through a submuscular tunnel into the defect. The postoperative course was uneventful and the wounds were reconstructed successfully. The pedicled PMT flap may be an option for reconstruction of groin defects and could be incorporated into the armamentarium of the reconstructive microsurgeon. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:339–343, 2017.
Mapping murine diabetic kidney disease using chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI
Authors: Wang Feng , Kopylov David , Zu Zhongliang , Takahashi Keiko , Wang Suwan , Quarles C. Chad , Gore John C. , Harris Raymond C. , Takahashi Takamune
Published: November 2015

Purpose

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of renal failure; however, current clinical tests are insufficient for assessing this disease. DN is associated with changes in renal metabolites, so we evaluated the utility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging to detect changes characteristic of this disease.

Methods

Sensitivity of CEST imaging at 7 Tesla to DN was evaluated by imaging diabetic mice [db/db, db/db endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)−/−] that show different levels of nephropathy as well as by longitudinal imaging (8 to 24 weeks). Nondiabetic (db/m) mice were used as controls.

Results

Compared with nondiabetic mice, the CEST contrasts of hydroxyl metabolites that correspond to glucose and glycogen were significantly increased in papilla (P), inner medulla (IM), and outer medulla (OM) in db/db and db/db eNOS−/− kidneys at 16 weeks. The db/db eNOS−/− mice that showed advanced nephropathy exhibited greater CEST effects in OM and significant CEST contrasts were also observed in cortex. Longitudinally, db/db mice exhibited progressive increases in hydroxyl signals in IM+P and OM from 12 to 24 weeks and an increase was also observed in cortex at 24 weeks.

Conclusion

CEST MRI can be used to measure changes of hydroxyl metabolites in kidney during progression of DN. Magn Reson Med 76:1531–1541, 2016. © 2015 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Experimental considerations for fast kurtosis imaging
Authors: Hansen Brian , Lund Torben E. , Sangill Ryan , Stubbe Ebbe , Finsterbusch Jürgen , Jespersen Sune Nørhøj
Published: November 2015

Purpose

The clinical use of kurtosis imaging is impeded by long acquisitions and postprocessing. Recently, estimation of mean kurtosis tensor
and mean diffusivity (
) was made possible from 13 distinct diffusion weighted MRI acquisitions (the 1‐3‐9 protocol) with simple postprocessing. Here, we analyze the effects of noise and nonideal diffusion encoding, and propose a new correction strategy. We also present a 1‐9‐9 protocol with increased robustness to experimental imperfections and minimal additional scan time. This refinement does not affect computation time and also provides a fast estimate of fractional anisotropy (FA).

Theory and Methods

1‐3‐9/1‐9‐9 data are acquired in rat and human brains, and estimates of
, FA,
from human brains are compared with traditional estimates from an extensive diffusion kurtosis imaging data set. Simulations are used to evaluate the influence of noise and diffusion encodings deviating from the scheme, and the performance of the correction strategy. Optimal b‐values are determined from simulations and data.

Results

Accuracy and precision in
and
are comparable to nonlinear least squares estimation, and is improved with the 1‐9‐9 protocol. The compensation strategy vastly improves parameter estimation in nonideal data.

Conclusion

The framework offers a robust and compact method for estimating several diffusion metrics. The protocol is easily implemented. Magn Reson Med 76:1455–1468, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Initial evaluation of hepatic T1 relaxation time as an imaging marker of liver disease associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD)
Authors: Gao Ying , Erokwu Bernadette O. , DeSantis David A. , Croniger Colleen M. , Schur Rebecca M. , Lu Lan , Mariappuram Jose , Dell Katherine M. , Flask Chris A.
Published: November 2015

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a potentially lethal multi‐organ disease affecting both the kidneys and the liver. Unfortunately, there are currently no non‐invasive methods to monitor liver disease progression in ARPKD patients, limiting the study of potential therapeutic interventions. Herein, we perform an initial investigation of T1 relaxation time as a potential imaging biomarker to quantitatively assess the two primary pathologic hallmarks of ARPKD liver disease: biliary dilatation and periportal fibrosis in the PCK rat model of ARPKD. T1 relaxation time results were obtained for five PCK rats at 3 months of age using a Look–Locker acquisition on a Bruker BioSpec 7.0 T MRI scanner. Six three‐month‐old Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats were also scanned as controls. All animals were euthanized after the three‐month scans for histological and biochemical assessments of bile duct dilatation and hepatic fibrosis for comparison. PCK rats exhibited significantly increased liver T1 values (mean ± standard deviation = 935 ± 39 ms) compared with age‐matched SD control rats (847 ± 26 ms, p = 0.01). One PCK rat exhibited severe cholangitis (mean T1 = 1413 ms), which occurs periodically in ARPKD patients. The observed increase in the in vivo liver T1 relaxation time correlated significantly with three histological and biochemical indicators of biliary dilatation and fibrosis: bile duct area percent (R = 0.85, p = 0.002), periportal fibrosis area percent (R = 0.82, p = 0.004), and hydroxyproline content (R = 0.76, p = 0.01). These results suggest that hepatic T1 relaxation time may provide a sensitive and non‐invasive imaging biomarker to monitor ARPKD liver disease. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast food, soft drink and candy intake is unrelated to body mass index for 95% of American adults
Authors: Just David R. , Wansink Brian
Published: November 2015

Objective

Excessive intake of fast food, soft drinks and candy are considered major factors leading to overweight and obesity. This article examines whether the epidemiological relationship between frequency of intake of these foods and body mass index (BMI) is driven by the extreme tails (+/−2 standard deviations). If so, a clinical recommendation to reduce frequency intake may have little relevance to 95% of the population.

Methods

Using 2007–2008 Centers for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the consumption incidence of targeted foods on two non‐continuous days was examined across discrete ranges of BMI. Data were analysed in 2011.

Results

After excluding the clinically underweight and morbidly obese, consumption incidence of fast food, soft drinks or candy was not positively correlated with measures of BMI. This was true for sweet snacks (r = 0.005, p = <0.001) and salty snacks (r = 0.001, p = 0.040). No significant variation was found between BMI subcategories in weekly consumption frequency of fast food meals.

Conclusions

For 95% of this study's sample, the association between the intake frequency of fast food, soft drinks and candy and BMI was negative. This result suggests that a strategy that focuses solely on these problem foods may be ineffective in reducing weight. Reducing the total calories of food eaten at home and the frequency of snacking may be more successful dieting advice for the majority of individuals.
Evaluation of the effects of crude glycerol on the production and properties of novel polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers containing high 11‐hydroxyoctadecanoate by Cupriavidus necator IPT 029 and Bacillus megaterium IPT 429
Authors: Ribeiro Paulo Leonardo Lima , de Souza Silva Graciete , Druzian Janice Izabel
Published: November 2015

Crude glycerol (CG), a by‐product from biodiesel production, is a carbon source with potential as feedstock for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. PHAs are biological macromolecules synthesized by microorganisms as intracellular carbon and energy storage granules. PHA production and its properties were investigated using Cupriavidus necator IPT 029 and Bacillus megaterium IPT 429 cultivated with CGs from different origins. The highest PHA extraction percentage (71.56% [w/v]) occurred when C. necator IPT 029 metabolized CG 3 (from the processing of biodiesel from castor bean oil). The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses revealed novel PHA constituents as building blocks of medium (3‐hydroxytetradecanoate) and long (11‐hydroxyoctadecanoate) chains. Molar mass distribution revealed range of 121–6900 kDa. The initial degradation temperature ranged from 181.83 to 287.50°C and the crystallinity ranged from 35.30 to 66.70%. The results obtained indicate that C. necator IPT 029 from CG 3 could produce copolymers with industrially applicable thermophysical properties. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple roles for TGFβ receptor type II in regulating the pancreatic response in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Gittes George K
Published: November 2015

In their recent publication in Journal of Pathology, Grabliauskaite and Sapanora and their colleagues in Zurich use a conditional ablation of the TGFβ type II receptor (TBRII) to analyse its specific role in pancreatic epithelial cells in response to a caerulein‐induced model of acute pancreatitis. These experiments help to clarify some confusion that has existed in the literature stemming from the use of a dominant‐negative transgenic TBRII mouse. The results point to a central role for TBRII in acinar cells in mitigating the overall response of the pancreas to the damage and inflammation of acute pancreatitis. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.