bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stomata‐Inspired Membrane Produced Through Photopolymerization Patterning
Authors: Kim Hyejeong , Lee Sang Joon
Published: June 2015

The programmed movements of responsive functional hydrogels have received much attention because of their abundant functions and wide range of engineering applications. In this study, an innovative stomata‐inspired membrane (SIM) is fabricated by using a temperature‐responsive hydrogel through a simple, cost‐effective, and high‐throughput patterned photopolymerization. Polymerization‐induced diffusion on the macroscale surface results in formation of a double‐parted polymer membrane with fine pores after single illumination. After heating the SIM, the less deformable thick frame supports the whole structure and the highly deformable thin base regulates pore shape. Among various SIM types, the slit pores of monocot SIM, which are lined up in parallel, exhibit the largest radius deformation. The morphological configuration of the SIM can be easily controlled by changing the photomask for a given application. As the developed SIM features the sensing‐to‐activation functions of stimuli‐responsive hydrogels and can be easily fabricated, this membrane can be potentially used for numerous practical applications, such as filter membranes with adjustable pores, membrane‐based sensors, membrane‐based actuators, and multifunctional membranes.
Characterization of facial pain associated with chronic rhinosinusitis using validated pain evaluation instruments
Authors: DeConde Adam S. , Mace Jess C. , Ashby Shaelene , Smith Timothy L. , Orlandi Richard R. , Alt Jeremiah A.
Published: June 2015

Background

Prior investigations into facial pain associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have yielded important results, but have yet to use pain‐specific outcome measures. This study seeks to characterize facial pain associated with CRS using validated pain‐specific instruments.

Methods

Adults with CRS were enrolled into a prospective, cross‐sectional study along with control participants presenting with non‐CRS diagnoses. Facial pain was characterized in both groups using the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI‐SF) and the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ). CRS‐specific measures of disease were measured including the 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test‐22 (SNOT‐22), nasal endoscopy, and computed tomography scoring.

Results

The patients comprised of CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP; n = 25), CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP; n = 30), and control participants (n = 8). Subjects with CRSwNP and CRSsNP were less likely to be pain free than controls (16.0%, 6.7%, and 62.5% respectively, p = 0.001) and carried greater burden of pain as measured by the BPI‐SF and SF‐MPQ than controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.017, respectively). Pain in CRS was most commonly located around the eyes and characterized as “throbbing” and “aching.” Nasal polyp status was not associated with differences in character, severity, or location of pain.

Conclusion

Subjects with CRS have a greater burden of facial pain relative to control subjects across several standardized pain measures. Further, facial pain in CRS significantly correlated to quality of life and CRS‐specific disease severity measures. Study across larger cohorts using standardized pain measures is warranted to clarify the association of facial pain with CRS.
Improvement and prevention of asthma with concomitant treatment of allergic rhinitis and allergen‐specific therapy
Authors: Mener David J. , Lin Sandra Y.
Published: June 2015

Background

Asthma and allergic rhinitis are 2 of the most prevalent chronic medical diseases. Asthma is estimated to affect 8% of adults and 9% of children, with nearly 300 million people affected worldwide. Poorly controlled allergic rhinitis may be associated with worsening asthma symptoms over time. Various treatments have been proposed in the improvement and prevention of asthma in children and adults with allergic symptoms, which have included pharmacotherapy with antihistamines and topical intranasal corticosteroids, as well as allergen‐specific immunotherapy.

Methods

Articles were selected through PubMed and personal knowledge of the authors based on a comprehensive literature review examining whether treatment of allergic rhinitis improves and/or prevents concomitant symptoms of asthma. The largest and highest‐quality studies were included in the literature review. The search selection was not standardized. Articles written in a language other than English were excluded.

Results

Clinical trials have showed improvement in asthma symptoms with concomitant treatment of allergic rhinitis with antihistamines and topical intranasal corticosteroids, though improvement in objective pulmonary function parameters has not been uniformly demonstrated with antihistamine use alone. There is very strong evidence to suggest that subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy may in addition prevent the progression of asthma in high‐risk atopic patients by inducing immunological tolerance.

Conclusion

Traditional pharmacotherapy with antihistamines and topical intranasal steroids has been shown to improve allergic rhinitis symptoms with concomitant allergic asthma; however, only allergen‐specific immunotherapy offers long‐term control in improving asthma symptoms, exacerbations, and likely ultimate prevention in developing asthma.
Direct condensation of lactic acid in the presence or absence of supported zirconium sulfate
Authors: Raase Jennifer Marina , Reichert Karl‐Heinz , Schomäcker Reinhard
Published: June 2015

Direct condensation of l‐lactic acid was studied, aiming at highly crystalline and enantiopure high molecular weight (MW) products. Catalyst‐free polylactic acid (PLA) with weight average MW of 80,000 g mol−1, based on PLA standards, and a crystallinity of 75% is synthesized at 140°C in a fixed‐bed reactor under vacuum or nitrogen purging. Supported zirconium sulfate is found to be an efficient and enantioselective catalyst for the melt and solid‐state post‐condensation of short‐chain prepolymers. Small‐molecule monohydroxy alcohols, aldehydes, di‐ and monocarboxylic acids (e.g., acrylic acid [1,700 ppm], propionic acid [1,800 ppm]) are detected in the lactic acid and prepolymers by high performance liquid chromatography, electron spray ionization, and electron impact mass spectroscopy. Thermal degradation of polymer chains, the crystallinity of the prepolymer, and the presence of monofunctional impurities are crucial parameters for the limitation of the MW of the resulting product. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42444.
Fluorescently labeled degradable thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers: Visual evaluation for the degradation behavior
Authors: Liu Zhengsheng , Liu Shuai , Shi Heguang , Ren Hongqi , Wang Ruiyu , Yang Jixiang , Guo Tianying
Published: June 2015

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) were synthesized with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as the rigid segment, poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA‐PEG‐PLGA) diol as soft segment, and 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) as the chain extender. During the chain extension process, three kinds of fluorescent monomers 4‐(2‐hydroxyethylamino)−1,8‐naphthoyl‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)imide (HNHI), 1,5‐dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN), and dicoumarin (DIC) were introduced to get the fluorescently labeled degradable TPUs. The structure and degradation properties of the TPUs were characterized in detail. The results showed that there was no significant effect found on average molecular weight, mechanical properties, and glass transition temperature of polyurethane by introducing 0.001% (wt) weight percent of fluorescence monomers. The degradation behavior of fluorescent‐tagged thermoplastic elastomer has been characterized with fluorescence microscopy. Results showed that polyurethane elastomers, in which fluorescence monomers especially HNHI were introduced by chemical reaction, had more homogeneous and stable fluorescence intensity than that with fluorescence monomers introduced by post blending. This work also provides a promising visual characterization approach to monitor degradation behavior of degradable TPUs for tissue engineering applications or drug delivery system. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42519.
Enzymatic‐assisted extraction and modification of lignocellulosic plant polysaccharides for packaging applications
Authors: Martínez‐Abad Antonio , Ruthes Andrea C. , Vilaplana Francisco
Published: June 2015

Plant polysaccharides comprise the main renewable resource available in the biosphere for biomaterial production. However, the recalcitrant and heterogeneous structure of lignocellulosic biomass hinders the effective fractionation and exploitation of the polysaccharide components for the design of carbohydrate‐based materials. Carbohydrate‐active enzymes constitute a selective and versatile biotechnological tool that can assist during the biomass pretreatment steps to extract and fractionate the polysaccharide macromolecular components. Moreover, this enzymatic toolbox can be as well exploited for the tailored modification of the molecular structure of relatively pure polysaccharide components to achieve customized macroscopic properties. This review critically discusses the potential and challenges of the use of plant lignocellulosic polysaccharides and enzymatic modifications to design and prepare suitable materials for packaging applications in terms of their structure–property relations. Structural factors such as the molar mass and crystallinity of the polysaccharide fractions and functional factors such as water sensitivity and processability of the derived films are critical for the material performance. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42523.
Crystallization and melting behavior of poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone) and poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐L‐lactide) copolymers with novel chain microstructures
Authors: Fernández Jorge , Etxeberria Agustin , Sarasua Jose‐Ramon
Published: June 2015

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) characterization of the statistical copolymers of this study showed that the poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐L‐lactide)s, with ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) molar contents ranging from 70 to 94% and ε‐CL average sequence length (lCL) between 2.20–9.52, and the poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone)s, with 60 to 85% of ε‐CL and lCL between 2.65–6.08, present semi‐alternating (R→2) and random (R∼1) distribution of sequences, respectively. These syntheses were carried out with the aim of reducing the crystallinity of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), needed to provide mechanical strength to the material but also responsible for its slow degradation rate. However, this was not achieved in the case of the ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone (ε‐CL‐co‐δ‐VAL). Non‐isothermal cooling treatments at different rates and isothermal crystallizations (at 5, 10, 21 and 37°C) were conducted by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and demonstrated that ε‐CL copolymers containing δ‐valerolactone (δ‐VAL) exhibited a larger crystallization capability than those of L‐lactide (L‐LA) and also arranged into crystalline structures over shorter times. The crystallization enthalpies of the ε‐CL‐co‐δ‐VAL copolymers during the cooling treatments and their heat of fusion (ΔHm) at the different isothermal temperatures were very large (i.e. ΔHc > 53 Jg−1) and in some cases, unrelated to the copolymer composition. In some compositions, such as the 60 : 40, Wide Angle X‐ray Scattering (WAXS) proved that that these two lactones undergo isomorphism and co‐crystallize in a single cell. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42534.
Novel acetylene‐terminated polyimide oligomers with excellent processability and high toughness of films
Authors: Yu Ping , Wang Yan , Yu Junrong , Zhu Jing , Hu Zuming
Published: June 2015

A series of acetylene‐terminated imide oligomers based on 2,3,3′,4′‐Diphenyl ether tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (a‐ODPA), 3,4′‐Oxydianiline (3,4′‐ODA), and 3‐Ethynylaniline (3‐EA) with different molecular weights were synthesized by using acetic anhydride and triethylamine as dehydrating agent. Their main structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Thermal curing processing was characterized by FT‐IR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All the uncured imide oligomers showed excellent solubility (more than 30 wt %) in organic solvent such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP). These imide oligomers also possessed a very low viscosity, thus provided better processing window. These oligomers were formulated into thermosetting films by thermal crosslinking of the ethynyl groups. The properties of cured films were evaluated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile measurement. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and elongation at break of the cured films were found to be almost >260°C and >9.2%, respectively. The cured films in air resulted in higher thermal stability than those under N2 atmosphere. Experimental results suggested that the introduction of asymmetric and flexible ether‐hinge with 3‐EA in polyimide oligomers can improve the processability of the imide oligomers and the toughness for a cured sample without sacrificing their thermal‐oxidative stability. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42537.
Improved electrochemical performances of polyaniline by graphitized mesoporus carbon: Hybrid electrode for supercapacitor
Authors: Male Umashankar , Srinivasan Palaniappan
Published: June 2015

In this work, graphitized mesoporus carbon (GMC) was used to increase the specific capacitance and cycle stability of polyaniline (PANI). Hybrid material of polyaniline‐graphitized mesoporus carbon (GMCP) was prepared by in situ chemical polymerization of aniline in presence of sulphuric acid using ammonium persulfate oxidant with various amounts of GMC. Formation of hybrid sample was confirmed from X‐ray diffraction, and the composite sample was stable up to 250°C. Morphology, crystalline nature, and electrochemical performance of GMCP were compared with that of its individual components, GMC and PANI. GMC showed particle morphology and PANI showed nanofiber morphology. GMCP2 composite showed nanofibrous form of PANI grown on GMC (spherical form) along with PANI nanofibers. Higher crystallinity was obtained for GMCP than that of PANI. Cycling stability of GMCP2 was carried up to 12,000 cycles at 1200 W kg−1 and the retention capacitance was 66% of its original capacitance of 243 F g−1. With the same power density, GMC showed less capacitance value of 53 F g−1 with 92% retention and PANI showed capacitance of 187 F g−1 and it underwent 1500 cycles only. Higher supercapacitor performance was obtained for GMCP composite compared to that of its components, PANI and GMC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42540.
Self film‐forming and opaque hollow latexes fabricated via seeded emulsion polymerization followed by alkali post‐treatment
Authors: Huang Xinyi , Li Lingxiao , Xu Min , Xu Jing , Jiang Yiming , Kan Chengyou
Published: June 2015

In order to obtain novel hollow latexes with both opaque and self film‐forming properties, the four‐layer core/shell latex particles—sequentially consisting of a high carboxyl‐containing soft core, a transition layer, a rigid supporting layer, and an outermost film‐forming layer—are first designed and prepared by emulsion polymerization, and then treated with alkali to fabricate self film‐forming hollow latexes. On the basis of the previous research on the three‐layer core/shell latex, influences of the composition and thickness of the film‐forming layer on the properties and morphologies of the four‐layer core/shell and the final hollow latexes are investigated. Results show that under optimized conditions with butyl acrylate/styrene (BA/St) mass ratio of 2/1, divinyl benzene (DVB) content of 1 wt %, and core/film‐forming layer mass ratio of 1/6 in the film‐forming layer preparation, the final hollow latex particles exhibit best morphology considering both light scattering efficiency and film‐forming capability at room temperature. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42541.
Calcium signalling in human neutrophil cell lines is not affected by low‐frequency electromagnetic fields
Authors: Golbach Lieke A. , Philippi John G.M. , Cuppen Jan J.M. , Savelkoul Huub F.J. , Verburg‐van Kemenade B.M. Lidy
Published: June 2015

We are increasingly exposed to low‐frequency electromagnetic fields (LF EMFs) by electrical devices and power lines, but if and how these fields interact with living cells remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of LF EMF exposure on calcium signalling in neutrophils. In neutrophilic granulocytes, activation of G‐protein coupled receptors leads to efflux of calcium from calcium stores and influx of extracellular calcium via specialised calcium channels. The cytoplasmic rise of calcium induces cytoskeleton rearrangements, modified gene expression patterns, and cell migration. If LF EMF modulates intracellular calcium signalling, this will influence cellular behaviour and may eventually lead to health problems. We found that calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation was not altered after a short 30 min or long‐term LF EMF exposure in human neutrophil‐like cell lines HL‐60 or PLB‐985. Neither of the two investigated wave forms (Immunent and 50 Hz sine wave) at three magnetic flux densities (5 μT, 300 μT, and 500 μT) altered calcium signalling in vitro. Gene‐expression patterns of calcium‐signalling related genes also did not show any significant changes after exposure. Furthermore, analysis of the phenotypical appearance of microvilli by scanning electron microscopy revealed no alterations induced by LF EMF exposure. The findings above indicate that exposure to 50 Hz sinusoidal or Immunent LF EMF will not affect calcium signalling in neutrophils in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics. 36:430–443, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model averaging quantiles from data censored by a limit of detection
Authors: Nysen Ruth , Faes Christel , Ferrari Pietro , Verger Philippe , Aerts Marc
Published: June 2015

In chemical risk assessment, it is important to determine the quantiles of the distribution of concentration data. The selection of an appropriate distribution and the estimation of particular quantiles of interest are largely hindered by the omnipresence of observations below the limit of detection, leading to left‐censored data. The log‐normal distribution is a common choice, but this distribution is not the only possibility and alternatives should be considered as well. Here, we focus on several distributions that are related to the log‐normal distribution or that are seminonparametric extensions of the log‐normal distribution. Whereas previous work focused on the estimation of the cumulative distribution function, our interest here goes to the estimation of quantiles, particularly in the left tail of the distribution where most of the left‐censored data are located. Two different model averaged quantile estimators are defined and compared for different families of candidate models. The models and methods of selection and averaging are further investigated through simulations and illustrated on data of cadmium concentration in food products. The approach is extended to include covariates and to deal with uncertainty about the values of the limit of detection. These extensions are illustrated with 134cesium measurements from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. We can conclude that averaged models do achieve good performance characteristics in case no useful prior knowledge about the true distribution is available; that there is no structural difference in the performance of the direct and indirect method; and that, not surprisingly, only the true or closely approximating model can deal with extremely high percentages of censoring.
The dual nature of HDL: Anti‐Inflammatory and pro‐Inflammatory
Authors: Namiri‐Kalantari Ryan , Gao Feng , Chattopadhyay Arnab , Wheeler Aerin Alese , Navab Kaveh D. , Farias‐Eisner Robin , Reddy Srinivasa T.
Published: June 2015

High density lipoprotein (HDL) has long been considered a protective factor against the development of coronary heart disease. Two important roles of HDL include reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and the modulation of inflammation. The main protein component of HDL; apolipoprotein A‐I (apo A‐I) is primarily responsible for RCT. Apo A‐I can be damaged by oxidative mechanisms, which reduce the protein's ability to promote RCT. In disease states such as diabetes, associated with a chronic acute‐phase response, HDL has been found to be dysfunctional and pro‐inflammatory. HDL cholesterol levels do not predict composition and/or function and therefore it is important to evaluate the quality and not just the quantity of HDL cholesterol when considering the risk of cardiovascular events. In clinical practice, there are currently no widely available tests for measuring the composition, functionality, and inflammatory properties of HDL. Small peptides that mimic some of the properties of apo A‐I have been shown in pre‐clinical models to improve HDL function and reduce atherosclerosis without altering HDL cholesterol levels. Clinical trials using HDL and HDL mimetics as therapeutic agents are currently underway. Results in animal studies and early clinical trials will be reviewed. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(3):153–159, 2015
Quantitative analysis of the concentrations of IGFs and several IGF‐binding proteins in a large fibrous abdominal tumor and the circulation of a patient with hypoglycemia
Authors: van Doorn Jaap , van de Hoef Wouter , Dullaart Robin P. F.
Published: June 2015

The syndrome of nonislet cell tumor induced hypoglycemia (NICTH) represent extreme cases of excessive expression and production of incompletely processed high‐molecular‐mass pro‐IGF‐II forms (big IGF‐II) by an often large tumor. Tumor‐derived big IGF‐II is responsible for enhanced insulin‐like effects in the body through complicated mechanisms, leading to hypoglycemia. Case studies on NICTH usually focus on measurements of diagnostic parameters in the circulation of patients. Some studies have also reported on qualitative immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissue, in particular with respect to the expression of IGF‐II at the mRNA or protein level. However, quantitative data on the concentrations of IGFs and IGFBPs in tumor specimen causing NICTH, in relation to their corresponding plasma levels are lacking. Such an analysis would provide an estimate of the total potential of (big) IGF‐II retained by the tumor and more insight in the relative levels of different IGFBPs and their origin in the circulation, that is, systemically induced by tumor related factors or directly tumor‐derived. Here we investigated quantitatively the levels of IGFs and IGFBPs in a large, 1.76 kg weighing, solitary fibrous tumor from a typical case of NICTH using highly specific immunometric assays. Besides a high level of big IGF‐II, patient's plasma also contained increased levels of both IGFBP‐2 and ‐6 which declined after removal of the tumor. These IGFBPs have a higher affinity for (pro‐) IGF‐II than IGF‐I and exhibit intrinsic IGF‐independent bioactivities. Tumor tissue contained high amounts of big IGF‐II and IGFBP‐6, exceeding that in patient's circulation many‐fold. A relatively low tumor content of IGFBP‐2 was found suggesting that the preoperative high levels in plasma were attributable to systemic mechanisms. The background literature and possible implications of these findings are briefly discussed. Based on the present results we postulate that tumor tissue is not the source of the elevated levels of IGFBP‐2 often seen in NICTH patients. Large tumors that cause NICTH can produce IGFBP‐6 leading to enhanced levels of this IGFBP in the circulation. Hence, the measurement of IGFBP‐6 in plasma may serve as an additional marker of this disease pattern. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(3):183–189, 2015
Atypical manifestation of cat‐scratch disease: isolated epigastric pain in an immunocompetent, 12‐year‐old child
Authors: Kayemba‐Kay's Simon , Kovács Tamas , Rakotoharinandrasana Iarolalao , Benosman Sidi Mohamed
Published: June 2015

Key Clinical Message

We present a 12‐year‐old immunocompetent girl with hepato splenic cat‐scratch disease (CSD). Her sole inaugural complaint was isolated epigastric pain. She fully recovered, with normalized abdominal CT scan following 2 weeks course of Azythromycin®. CSD should be included in differential diagnosis in children with epigastric pain, especially in those with domestic pets.
Unilateral foveal hypoplasia in a child with bilateral anterior segment dysgenesis
Authors: Shields Rebecca A. , Cavuoto Kara M. , McKeown Craig A. , Chang Ta C.
Published: June 2015

Key Clinical Message

In patients with foveal hypoplasia, anterior segment dysgenesis and an absence of systemic findings, consider a recently described syndrome of foveal hypoplasia, optic nerve decussation defects and anterior segment dysgenesis (FHONDA) in the differential diagnosis.
How Do Noninvasive Imaging Facilities Perceive the Accreditation Process? Results of an Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Survey
Authors: Manning Warren J. , Farrell Mary B. , Bezold Louis I. , Choi John Y. , Cockroft Kevin M. , Gornik Heather L. , Jerome Scott D. , Katanick Sandra L. , Heller Gary V.
Published: June 2015

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) accredits vascular, echocardiography, nuclear medicine, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging laboratories. How facilities involved in the accreditation process view accreditation is unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the perception of laboratory accreditation from those who had undergone the process. An electronic survey request was sent to all facilities that had received IAC accreditation at least once. Demographic information, as well as opinions on the perceived value of accreditation as it relates to 15 quality metrics was acquired. Responses were obtained from 2782 facilities. Of the 15 quality metrics examined, the process was perceived as leading to improvements by a majority of respondents for 10 (67%) metrics including: report standardization, adherence to guidelines, test standardization, report completeness, identification of deficiencies, improved staff knowledge, report timeliness, distinguished facility, correction of deficiencies, and image quality. Overall, the perceived improvement was greater for hospital‐based facilities (global 66% vs 59%; P < 0.001). Survey data demonstrate that the accreditation process has a positive perceived impact on the majority of examined metrics. These findings suggest that those undergoing the process find value in accreditation.
Drosophila comes of age as a model system for understanding the function of cytoskeletal proteins in cells, tissues, and organisms
Authors: Rodal Avital A. , Del Signore Steven J. , Martin Adam C.
Published: June 2015

For the last 100 years, Drosophila melanogaster has been a powerhouse genetic system for understanding mechanisms of inheritance, development, and behavior in animals. In recent years, advances in imaging and genetic tools have led to Drosophila becoming one of the most effective systems for unlocking the subcellular functions of proteins (and particularly cytoskeletal proteins) in complex developmental settings. In this review, written for non‐Drosophila experts, we will discuss critical technical advances that have enabled these cell biological insights, highlighting three examples of cytoskeletal discoveries that have arisen as a result: (1) regulation of Arp2/3 complex in myoblast fusion, (2) cooperation of the actin filament nucleators Spire and Cappuccino in establishment of oocyte polarity, and (3) coordination of supracellular myosin cables. These specific examples illustrate the unique power of Drosophila both to uncover new cytoskeletal structures and functions, and to place these discoveries in a broader in vivo context, providing insights that would have been impossible in a cell culture model or in vitro. Many of the cellular structures identified in Drosophila have clear counterparts in mammalian cells and tissues, and therefore elucidating cytoskeletal functions in Drosophila will be broadly applicable to other organisms. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Children: Are We Doing Enough?
Authors: Ito S
Published: June 2015

Use of medicines in children is often off‐label or off‐evidence because essential information is lacking. Over the last two decades, consistent efforts have been made to render the regulatory framework more amenable to the needs of the pediatric population. Methodological progress is also evident. However, the consistent effort must be sustained.
Selecting the proper pediatric dose: It is more than size that matters
Authors: Kearns GL
Published: June 2015

Appropriate pediatric dose selection remains one of the most vexing clinical problems faced by healthcare professionals who are charged to provide medical care to infants and children. While body size does reflect the ontogeny of processes that govern drug disposition, there are extremes of disease that perturb the expected relationships.
Harvard and MIT sued for failing to caption online educational programs
Authors: Charmatz Marc
Published: June 2015

“Just as buildings without ramps bar people who use wheelchairs, online content without captions excludes individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.” That's the conclusion of class action complaints filed against Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute for Technology for failing to caption their online educational programs.
Enhance digital and curricular access: Online learning and digital communications
Authors: Thompson Tom L.
Published: June 2015

Higher education institutions are using technology in almost every aspect of their business, from enrollment to teaching, and digital communications are embedded throughout. For most people, technology brings new and easier ways of doing business and communicating with one another. However, access to technology is not the same as the accessibility and usability of that technology. Colleges are increasingly being challenged to address digital and curricular accessibility in a continuous and systematic manner.
Create a pre‐orientation program for first‐year students with disabilities
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: June 2015

Transitioning to college can present challenges to students with disabilities. If they understand from the beginning how to self‐advocate, use effective study strategies, and take proactive steps to arrange accommodations, the transition can be easier.
Prepare young leaders to be successful
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: June 2015

BALTIMORE, MD. — Are you ever the youngest person in the room at important campus meetings? Do you have young staff members who have the potential to become leaders?
Relaxation of the Navier–Stokes–Korteweg equations for compressible two‐phase flow with phase transition
Authors: Neusser J. , Rohde C. , Schleper V.
Published: June 2015

The Navier–Stokes–Korteweg (NSK) system is a classical diffuse‐interface model for compressible two‐phase flow. However, the direct numerical simulation based on the NSK system is quite expensive and in some cases even not possible. We propose a lower‐order relaxation of the NSK system with hyperbolic first‐order part. This allows applying numerical methods for hyperbolic conservation laws and removing some of the difficulties of the original NSK system. To illustrate the new ansatz, we first present a local discontinuous Galerkin method in one and two spatial dimensions. It is shown that we can compute initial boundary value problems with realistic density ratios and perform stable computations for small interfacial widths. Second, we show that it is possible to construct a semi‐discrete finite‐volume scheme that satisfies a discrete entropy inequality. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non‐intrusive reduced‐order modelling of the Navier–Stokes equations based on RBF interpolation
Authors: Xiao D. , Fang F. , Pain C. , Hu G.
Published: June 2015

We present a new non‐intrusive model reduction method for the Navier–Stokes equations. The method replaces the traditional approach of projecting the equations onto the reduced space with a radial basis function (RBF) multi‐dimensional interpolation. The main point of this method is to construct a number of multi‐dimensional interpolation functions using the RBF scatter multi‐dimensional interpolation method. The interpolation functions are used to calculate POD coefficients at each time step from POD coefficients at earlier time steps. The advantage of this method is that it does not require modifications to the source code (which would otherwise be very cumbersome), as it is independent of the governing equations of the system. Another advantage of this method is that it avoids the stability problem of POD/Galerkin. The novelty of this work lies in the application of RBF interpolation and POD to construct the reduced‐order model for the Navier–Stokes equations. Another novelty is the verification and validation of numerical examples (a lock exchange problem and a flow past a cylinder problem) using unstructured adaptive finite element ocean model. The results obtained show that CPU times are reduced by several orders of magnitude whilst the accuracy is maintained in comparison with the corresponding high‐fidelity models. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DaaS: A Cost‐Savings Strategy
Authors: Fanning Kurt , Cannon David M.
Published: June 2015

Firms are looking to various IT strategies in the wake of the vendors providing services through cloud offerings. One of the newest is Desktop‐as‐a‐Service (DaaS). DaaS is providing end users with a desktop environment either through an internal data center or through a cloud provider. In either case, firms can eliminate many costs associated with maintaining separate desktops for its employees and consultants. The firm can also easily scale up and back with minimum investment while using DaaS. Thus, this article attempts to explain DaaS while explaining how firms will be able to achieve cost savings and operational efficiency by using DaaS. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate Identity Theft: A Growing Risk
Authors: Ann McGee Jo , Ralph Byington J.
Published: June 2015

When the computer is used in conjunction with the Internet to perpetrate crime it is referred to as cyber‐crime. A growing problem within the cyber‐crime realm is corporate identity theft (CIT). The purpose of this article is to familiarize management with the risk associated with CIT and to offer strategies management can implement in an effort to detect and prevent losses. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Executive Warfighter
Authors: Morrill Peter O.
Published: June 2015

It is clear that cyber warfare is taking place, with the Internet as the battlefield. There appears to be a growing number of cyber warfighters on the attack deployed throughout the worldwide Internet. The author, a former Marine with extensive experience in information system breaches and security, shares his concerns with corporate executives. He provides a lively exposition on current problems in international data security, and his experience as a Marine comes forth as he passionately warns corporate executives that they must address the cyber‐crime attacks their organizations are apt to face in the near future with effective leadership. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Managing Investors' Perception Through Strategic Word Choices in Financial Narratives
Authors: Riley Tracey J. , Luippold Benjamin L.
Published: June 2015

Corporate managers have been shown to successfully use narrative impression management techniques to influence investors' perceptions of company performance. Examples of these techniques include using complex language to disguise bad news, attributing bad news to external forces, altering the tone of the narratives to sound more positive, and writing with more verbs than adjectives to convey the context as concrete. We provide an overview of the research examining managers' impression management techniques through word choice, along with evidence that suggests how investors respond. Based on this information, managers may wish to consider strategically choosing their language to ensure that their message is interpreted as intended. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inversion
Authors: Le Guyader Louis P.
Published: June 2015

American corporations are inverting, or moving their tax domicile, to escape having their consolidated group earnings ensnared in the globally oriented IRS tax system. Inversions require tricky legal steps that may necessitate changing the headquarters location, concentrating certain operations outside of the United States, and complying with any number of foreign rules, including tax rules. The decision to invert requires planning and effort. Two things are evident: from the inversion steps to the secondary effects, the devil is in the details; and brilliant moves at inversion today may appear shortsighted and expensive if the United States changes the IRS tax regimes that provoke so many American corporations to consider the strategy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Obstructive sleep apnea and adverse outcomes in surgical and nonsurgical patients on the wards
Authors: Lyons Patrick G. , Zadravecz Frank J. , Edelson Dana P. , Mokhlesi Babak , Churpek Matthew M.
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with clinical deterioration in postoperative patients and patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Paradoxically, OSA has also been associated with decreased risk of inpatient mortality in these same populations.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between OSA and in‐hospital mortality in a large cohort of surgical and nonsurgical ward patients.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

A 500‐bed academic tertiary care hospital in the United States.

PATIENTS

A total of 93,676 ward admissions from 53,150 unique adult patients between November 1, 2008 and October 1, 2013.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS

OSA diagnoses and comorbidities were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Logistic regression was used to control for patient characteristics, location prior to ward admission, and admission severity of illness. The primary outcome was in‐hospital death. Secondary outcomes included rapid response team (RRT) activation, intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, intubation, and cardiac arrest on the wards.

MAIN RESULTS

OSA was identified in 5,625 (10.6%) patients. Patients with OSA were more likely to be older, male, and obese, and had higher rates of comorbidities. OSA patients had more frequent RRT activations (1.5% vs 1.1%) and ICU transfers (8% vs 7%) than controls (P < 0.001 for both comparisons), but a lower inpatient mortality rate (1.1% vs 1.4%, P < 0.05). OSA was associated with decreased adjusted odds for ICU transfer (odds ratio [OR]: 0.91 [0.84‐0.99]), cardiac arrest (OR: 0.72 [0.55‐0.95]), and in‐hospital mortality (OR: 0.70 [0.58‐0.85]).

CONCLUSIONS

After adjustment for important confounders, OSA was not associated with clinical deterioration on the wards and was associated with significantly decreased in‐hospital mortality. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:592–598. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
3 Tesla MRI detects deterioration in proximal femur microarchitecture and strength in long‐term glucocorticoid users compared with controls
Authors: Chang Gregory , Rajapakse Chamith S. , Regatte Ravinder R. , Babb James , Saxena Amit , Belmont H. Michael , Honig Stephen
Published: June 2015

Background

Glucocorticoid‐induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common secondary form of osteoporosis, and glucocorticoid users are at increased risk for fracture compared with nonusers. There is no established relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in GIO. We used 3 Tesla (T) MRI to investigate how proximal femur microarchitecture is altered in subjects with GIO.

Methods

This study had institutional review board approval. We recruited 6 subjects with long‐term (> 1 year) glucocorticoid use (median age = 52.5 (39.2–58.7) years) and 6 controls (median age = 65.5 [62–75.5] years). For the nondominant hip, all subjects underwent dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess BMD and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 3D FLASH) to assess metrics of bone microarchitecture and strength.

Results

Compared with controls, glucocorticoid users demonstrated lower femoral neck trabecular number (−50.3%, 1.12 [0.84–1.54] mm−1 versus 2.27 [1.88–2.73] mm−1, P = 0.02), plate‐to‐rod ratio (−20.1%, 1.48 [1.39–1.71] versus 1.86 [1.76–2.20], P = 0.03), and elastic modulus (−64.8% to −74.8%, 1.54 [1.22–3.19] GPa to 2.31 [1.87–4.44] GPa versus 6.15 [5.00–7.09] GPa to 6.59 [5.58–7.31] GPa, P < 0.05), and higher femoral neck trabecular separation (+192%, 0.705 [0.462–1.00] mm versus 0.241 [0.194–0.327] mm, P = 0.02). There were no differences in femoral neck trabecular thickness (−2.7%, 0.193 [0.184–0.217] mm versus 0.199 [0.179–0.210] mm, P = 0.94) or femoral neck BMD T‐scores (+20.7%, −2.1 [−2.8 to −1.4] versus −2.6 [−3.3 to −2.5], P = 0.24) between groups.

Conclusion

The 3T MRI can potentially detect detrimental changes in proximal femur microarchitecture and strength in long‐term glucocorticoid users. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2015;42:1489–1496.
High transmission 3D printed flex‐PCB‐based ion funnel
Authors: Tridas Eric Miguel , Allemang Christopher , Mast Fabian , Anthony J Mark , Schlaf Rudiger
Published: June 2015

In this study a novel fabrication method for a radio frequency (RF) ion funnel is presented. RF ion funnels are important devices for focusing ion clouds at low vacuum conditions for mass spectrometry or deposition‐related applications. Typically, ion funnels are constructed of stainless steel plate ring electrodes with a decreasing diameter where RF and direct current potentials are applied to the electrodes to focus the ion cloud. The presented novel design is based on a flexible circuit board that serves both as the signal distribution circuit and as the electrodes of the ion funnel. The flexible circuit board is rolled into a 3D printed scaffold to create a funnel shape with ring electrodes formed by the copper electrodes of the flexible circuit board. The design is characterized in direct comparison with a conventional steel‐plate electrode design. The discussed results show that the new funnel has similar performance to the conventionally designed funnel despite much lower manufacturing costs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of position isomers by energy‐resolved mass spectrometry
Authors: Menachery Sunil Paul M. , Laprévote Olivier , Nguyen Thao P. , Aravind Usha K. , Gopinathan Pramod , Aravindakumar Charuvila T.
Published: June 2015

This study reports an energy‐resolved mass spectrometric (ERMS) strategy for the characterization of position isomers derived from the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (●OH) with diphenhydramine (DPH) that are usually hard to differentiate by other methods. The isomer analogues formed by ●OH attack on the side chain of DPH are identified with the help of a specific fragment ion peak (m/z 88) in the collision‐induced dissociation (CID) spectrum of the protonated molecule. In the negative ion mode, the breakdown curves of the deprotonated molecules show an order of stability (supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations) ortho > meta > para of the positional isomers formed by the hydroxylation of the aromatic ring. The gas phase stability of the deprotonated molecules [M − H]− towards the benzylic cleavage depends mainly on the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and of the mesomeric effect of the phenol hydroxyl. The [M − H]− molecules of ortho and meta isomers result a peak at m/z 183 with notably different intensities because of the presence/absence of an intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the OH group and C9 protons. The ERMS approach discussed in this report might be an effective replacement for the conventional methods that requires very costly and time‐consuming separation/purification methods along with the use of multi‐spectroscopic methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical mixing in the bottom boundary layer of a eutrophic reservoir: The effects of internal seiching on nitrogen dynamics
Authors: Deemer Bridget R. , Henderson Stephen M. , Harrison John A.
Published: June 2015

In lakes and reservoirs, the bottom boundary layer (BBL) mediates chemical fluxes between sediments and the overlying water column. At the internal shoreline, where the thermocline contacts the lakebed, the motions of internal waves can create fluctuating redox conditions and dynamic physical forcing that may support ecologically important reactions such as denitrification. We characterized physical and chemical dynamics within the internal shoreline of a eutrophic reservoir during the spring and early summer of 2012 (18 May to 18 July). An internal seiche was found to generate quasi‐periodic fluctuations (periods about 12–24 h) in BBL stratification, temperature, and redox conditions. To examine possible implications for chemical mixing and microbial processing, differences between vertically offset, simultaneous BBL measurements of velocity, temperature, N2, and N2O were made over 23 h. Vertical differences in BBL temperature, N2, and N2O formed and collapsed during the wave cycle, with the largest differences occurring following the arrival of an internal bore. Through much of the wave cycle, chemical differences were explained by physical advection and mixing. However, chemical differences measured after bore arrival were not explained by advection, possibly owing to local production of N2 and N2O. These results highlight the dynamic physical environment within the internal shoreline, and the potential of this zone to contribute to system wide denitrification and nitrous oxide production.