bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CardioTF, a database of deconstructing transcriptional circuits in the heart system
Authors: Zhen Yisong
Published: August 2016

Background:Information on cardiovascular gene transcription is fragmented and far behind the present requirements of the systems biology field. To create a comprehensive source of data for cardiovascular gene regulation and to facilitate a deeper understanding of genomic data, the CardioTF database was constructed. The purpose of this database is to collate information on cardiovascular transcription factors (TFs), position weight matrices (PWMs), and enhancer sequences discovered using the ChIP-seq method.

Methods:The Naïve-Bayes algorithm was used to classify literature and identify all PubMed abstracts on cardiovascular development. The natural language learning tool GNAT was then used to identify corresponding gene names embedded within these abstracts. Local Perl scripts were used to integrate and dump data from public databases into the MariaDB management system (MySQL). In-house R scripts were written to analyze and visualize the results.

Results:Known cardiovascular TFs from humans and human homologs from fly,Ciona, zebrafish, frog, chicken, and mouse were identified and deposited in the database. PWMs from Jaspar, hPDI, and UniPROBE databases were deposited in the database and can be retrieved using their corresponding TF names. Gene enhancer regions from various sources of ChIP-seq data were deposited into the database and were able to be visualized by graphical output. Besides biocuration, mouse homologs of the 81 core cardiac TFs were selected using a Naïve-Bayes approach and then by intersecting four independent data sources: RNA profiling, expert annotation, PubMed abstracts and phenotype.

Discussion:The CardioTF database can be used as a portal to construct transcriptional network of cardiac development.

Availability and Implementation:Database URL:http://www.cardiosignal.org/database/cardiotf.html.
Perceived stress and fatigue among students in a doctor of chiropractic training program
Authors: Kizhakkeveettil Anupama , Vosko Andrew M. , Brash Marissa , PH Dr , Philips Michael A.
Published: August 2016

Objective

High levels of stress and fatigue are associated with decreased academic success, well-being, and quality of life. The objective of this research was to quantify levels of perceived stress and fatigue among chiropractic students to identify sources of and student coping mechanisms for perceived stress and fatigue and to identify the relationship between students' perceived stress and fatigue.

Methods

A survey comprised of the Perceived Stress Scale, the Undergraduate Sources of Stress Survey, and the Piper Fatigue Scale was administered to chiropractic students in their 2nd, 5th, and 8th trimesters of doctoral study. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, 1-way analysis of variance, and linear correlation tests.

Results

Students reported having moderate to high levels of stress and fatigue, with higher levels of stress and fatigue seen in women than in men. A nonsignificant difference among stress scores and a significant difference among fatigue scores were observed based on program term. Levels of stress predicted levels of fatigue, and stress was strongly correlated with psychological health, relationships with family members, mood, and need for learning accommodations. Fatigue was strongly correlated with psychological health, academic demands, and conflicts between studies and other activities.

Conclusion

There are differences in the reporting of perceived stress and fatigue levels in this chiropractic student population based on gender. The correlation between fatigue and stress also suggests that measures that may alleviate one may likely affect the other.
Evaluation for citation metrics and peer reviewer acknowledgments
Authors: Green Bart N.
Published: August 2016

This editorial discusses the indexing systems that include the Journal of Chiropractic Education, reflects on the increased international participation in chiropractic education scholarly meetings and peer review, and acknowledges the editorial board and peer reviewers for the journal.
Historical variations of mercury stable isotope ratios in Arctic glacier firn and ice cores
Authors: Zdanowicz C. M. , Krümmel E. M. , Poulain A. J. , Yumvihoze E. , Chen J. , Štrok M. , Scheer M. , Hintelmann H.
Published: August 2016

The concentration and isotopic composition of mercury (Hg) were determined in glacier core samples from Canadian Arctic ice caps dating from preindustrial to recent time (early 21st century). Mean Hg levels increased from ≤ 0.2 ng L−1in preindustrial time to ~0.8–1.2 ng L−1in the modern industrial era (last ~200 years). Hg accumulated on Arctic ice caps has Δ199Hg and Δ201Hg that are higher (~ −1 to 2.9‰) than previously reported for Arctic snow impacted by atmospheric Hg depletion events (mostly < −1‰), suggesting that these events contribute little to Hg accumulation on ice caps. The range of δ202Hg, Δ199Hg, and Δ201Hg in glacier cores overlaps with that of Arctic Hg0(g)and of seawater in Baffin Bay and also with that of midlatitude precipitation and industrial Hg sources, including coal and Hg ores. A core from Agassiz ice cap (80.7°N) shows a ~ +1‰ shift in δ202Hg over the nineteenth to twentieth centuries that could reflect changes in the isotopic composition of the atmospheric Hg pool in the High Arctic in response to growing industrial emissions at lower latitudes. This study is the first ever to report on historical variations of Hg stable isotope ratios in Arctic ice cores. Results could help constrain future modeling efforts of the global Hg biogeochemical cycle and the atmosphere's response to changing Hg emissions, past and future.
Grain‐scale supercharging and breakdown on airless regoliths
Authors: Zimmerman M. I. , Farrell W. M. , Hartzell C. M. , Wang X. , Horanyi M. , Hurley D. M. , Hibbitts K.
Published: August 2016

Interactions of the solar wind and emitted photoelectrons with airless bodies have been studied extensively. However, the details of how charged particles interact with the regolith at the scale of a single grain have remained largely uncharacterized. Recent efforts have focused upon determining total surface charge under photoemission and solar wind bombardment and the associated electric field and potential. In this work, theory and simulations are used to show that grain‐grain charge differences can exceed classical sheath predictions by several orders of magnitude, sometimes reaching dielectric breakdown levels. Temperature‐dependent electrical conductivity works against supercharging by allowing current to leak through individual grains; the balance between internal conduction and surface charging controls the maximum possible grain‐to‐grain electric field. Understanding the finer details of regolith grain charging, conductive equilibrium, and dielectric breakdown will improve future numerical studies of space weathering and dust levitation on airless bodies.
Vegetation response to precipitation variability in East Africa controlled by biogeographical factors
Authors: Hawinkel P. , Thiery W. , Lhermitte S. , Swinnen E. , Verbist B. , Van Orshoven J. , Muys B.
Published: August 2016

Ecosystem sensitivity to climate variability varies across East Africa, and identifying the determinant factors of this sensitivity is crucial to assessing region‐wide vulnerability to climate change and variability. Such assessment critically relies on spatiotemporal data sets with inherent uncertainty, on new processing techniques to extract interannual variability at a priori unknown time scales and on adequate statistical models to test for biogeographical effects on vegetation‐precipitation relationships. In this study, interannual variability in long‐term records of normalized difference vegetation index and satellite‐based precipitation estimates was detected using ensemble empirical mode decomposition and standardized precipitation index with varying accumulation periods. Environmental effect modeling using additive models with spatially correlated effects showed that ecosystem sensitivity is primarily predicted by biogeographical factors such as annual precipitation distribution (reaching maximum sensitivity at 500 mm yr−1), vegetation type and structure, ocean‐climate coupling, and elevation. The threat of increasing climate variability and extremes impacting productivity and stability of ecosystems is most imminent in semiarid grassland and mixed cropland ecosystems. The influence of oceanic phenomena such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole is foremost reflected in precipitation variability, but prolonged episodes also pose risks for long‐term degradation of tree‐rich ecosystems in the East African Great Lakes region.
Uplift rate transients at subduction margins due to earthquake clustering
Authors: Mouslopoulou Vasiliki , Oncken Onno , Hainzl Sebastian , Nicol Andrew
Published: August 2016

Coastal uplift is common in continental fore‐arc systems, with elevated paleoshorelines indicating that uplift rates can vary dramatically over time on individual margins. The origins of these changes in uplift rates are examined using a global data set of paleoshorelines together with 2‐D numerical models of subduction systems. Empirical paleoshoreline data (N = 282) from eight subduction margins indicate that uplift rates are generally not steady state and varied by up to a factor of 20 during the late Quaternary (≤125 ka). On many subduction margins uplift rates increase to the present day, a finding which we attribute to sampling bias toward those locations where Holocene uplift rates have been highest (with respect to other global margins which have undergone fast subsidence or no vertical motion—e.g., a property akin to the so‐called Sadler effect). Paleoshorelines and 2‐D models suggest that transient uplift rates at subduction margins are mainly a short‐term (<20 ka) phenomenon that cannot be accounted for by plate‐boundary scale processes such as changes in the rates of plate convergence, sediment underplating or isostatic unloading. Instead, time‐variable uplift rates are ascribed to temporal clustering of large‐magnitude earthquakes on upper plate faults and, to a lesser extent, the subduction thrust. The potential for future damaging earthquakes and tsunamis may have been underestimated at active subduction margins with no measureable Holocene uplift, and in such cases, late Quaternary paleoshorelines could provide an important constraint for hazard analysis.
Data Privacy and Social Acceptance of Smart Meters
Authors: Rocha Marta
Published: August 2016

Smart meters are an important technology that will allow for a two‐way flow of information and communication between the meter and all relevant parties. This technology will be able to monitor and record electricity consumption on a near real‐time basis. Governments, consumers, and privacy advocates have already shared concerns on the vast amount of data that smart meters are able to collect. This chapter analyses the main reasons for these concerns from the point of view of the consumers and the market players. It also provides an analysis of the main data protection law and regulatory mechanisms that have been applied to smart metering systems. It is concluded that there have been already some advances regarding privacy laws with the specific aim to protect data generated by smart meters. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure that there is and will continue being a strong monitoring from the industry itself to ensure that ethical values and community norms are followed as well as from governments and regulators that aim to protect consumers' rights.
Reliability Indices
Authors: Cheng Lin
Published: August 2016

Distribution systems are experiencing rapid growths of advanced measurement, communication, automatic control, and distributed resource and becoming the frontier of smart grids. This fact suggests new reliability assessment methods, which fit “smart” distribution system in order to aid its design. First of all, this chapter presents the reliability assessment methods that suit the presence of three kinds of distribution automation (DA), including fault indicators, sequential coordinated reclosers, and smart load restoration, respectively. Then the reliability benefits of introducing distributed generation (DG) as emergency power sources are discussed, including a discussion on the role of electric vehicles. Thirdly, the reliability impact of information communication technologies (ICT) is studied by summarizing up‐to‐date achievements.
Cascading Failures in Power Systems
Authors: Hines Paul D. H. , Rezaei Pooya
Published: August 2016

Large electric power systems are among the most complex systems created by humankind. One consequence of this complexity is that small unexpected disturbances trigger long chains of cascading component failures that can lead to massive power outages. Because of the many different mechanisms involved and the limited data available from historical cascades, modeling cascading failure is a challenging problem. Furthermore, among all the possible combinations of triggering events a relatively small number lead to large blackouts, which creates difficulties for conventional statistical approaches to risk analysis. In order to facilitate understanding about this complexity, this chapter describes several different approaches to modeling cascading blackouts and subsequently studying the risk of cascades, given a blackout model. Together these results suggest that when combined with good models, risk analysis can provide valuable and actionable insight into cascading failures in power systems.
New Approaches to Interoperability
Authors: Ambrosio Ronald F.
Published: August 2016

The chapter focuses on the challenges of achieving interoperability in future smart grid systems through an exploration of two key pieces of work developed by the GridWise® Architecture Council: the Interoperability Constitution, which defines a series of concise Statements of Principle in several categories that serve to guide individuals and organizations when dealing with interoperability challenges, and the Interoperability Context‐Setting Framework, which builds on the Constitution's Statements of Principle and develops a layered framework and terminology to enable effective dialog among the utility, vendor, standards, policy/regulatory, and customer communities, and assists designers and developers of standards, products, systems, and ultimately complete smart grid implementations to effectively address interoperability at all levels.
Industry Practice and Operational Experience ofICT
Authors: Arteaga Charlie
Published: August 2016

This chapter presents the experiences and lessons learned of building and deploying smart grid communications networks over a period of 10 years, including helping utilities with the development of communication strategies, developing scalable designs, and deployment of communications systems in high‐voltage transmission, medium‐voltage distribution, and low‐voltage networks. Specifically, it addresses the challenges in building a network infrastructure that can provide reliable and cost‐effective bidirectional communications for electric utility devices (voltage and current sensors, remote‐controlled switches, teleprotection devices, phasor measurement units, and electric smart meters) with varying requirements for bandwidth, latency, and resiliency in a smart grid environment.
IEC
61850 for Distribution Systems
Authors: Brand Klaus‐Peter
Published: August 2016

The distribution systems simply by star structures and a unidirectional power flow are now transformed toward grids with meshes and bidirectional flow. The main driver is the increasing connection of renewables to distribution systems. Because these new energy sources are mostly volatile, storage capacities are installed in parallel. Deregulation of the electric market allows the consumer to interact very flexibly with his/her energy supplier. He/she may also become the producer. To keep such a system with so many components' reliable power supply, all applicable information and communication technology have to be used providing smartness for the grid. IEDs (intelligent electronic devices) for control, protection, and monitoring have been interconnected in the past by proprietary serial communication. The standard IEC 61850 with its data model on high semantic level, its communication approach, and its powerful system configuration description language (SCL) for tools has facilitated the setting up of multivendor and large‐area systems. This standard has application domains also outside substation automation. Therefore, nearly all elements for modeling smart distribution systems are available in the standard but maybe not all as IEDs on the market. As the communication should cover all requirements without overhead, the discussion about the best communication solution for distribution automation is not yet closed. Some solutions may work in parallel for different application functions in the distribution grid.
Electric Vehicles and
V2G
Operation
Authors: Liyanage Kithsiri M. , Ekanayake Janaka B. , Liu Chen‐Ching
Published: August 2016

The different types of EVs, their operating modes and V2G operation are discussed. The characteristics of EVs and their key elements are presented. The benefits of V2G operation to smart grid operation are discussed and relevant standards are briefly introduced. Further, battery energy Technologies and Power Electronic technologies that are used in EVs are also highlighted.
Active Management of Electric Vehicles Acting as Distributed Storage
Authors: Soares Filipe J. , Almeida Pedro M. R. , Galus Matthias , Barbeiro Pedro N. P. , Peças Lopes João
Published: August 2016

In the European Union (EU), the greenhouse emissions from the transportation sector increased around 36% since 1990, which degraded the environmental quality. This sector, owing to its oil dependency, is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse emissions, and the road transportation represents about 20% of the total CO2emissions in EU. Moreover, concerns such as the dependency on oil supply and the foreseen prices increase during this century have motivated a wide range of policy and technological measures for the transportation sector. A large part of these measures were to incentivize the electric vehicle (EV) adoption, which is one element with great potential to decarbonize the transportation sector and decrease its oil dependency.

This chapter describes relevant methodologies to actively manage EV charging/discharging (as distributed storage devices) to achieve different goals, such as avoid grid congestion, the EV participation in primary frequency control, and the coordination of EV charging with renewable generation. To contextualize the methodologies described, a brief state of the art in active management functionalities for EV is provided. Some of the results obtained with the described approaches are also presented to demonstrate their overall performance.
Control and Management Architectures
Authors: Matos Manuel A. , Seca Luís , Madureira André G. , Soares Filipe J. , Bessa Ricardo J. , Pereira Jorge , Peças Lopes João
Published: August 2016

The emergence of the smart grid concept led to different proposals for the organization of distributed energy resources (DER), control processes, and management functionalities, instantiated in distinct architectures. Besides the usual scientific publications about the theme, a number of projects, namely, in the Framework Programs FP6 and FP7 and Horizon 2020 (H2020) of the European Union, have been developed in the recent years, addressing this theme directly and indirectly. Commercial solutions are already available for total or partial implementation of smart grids, namely, regarding network automation and enhanced network operation smart appliances. On the other hand, some pilots and demonstration projects that field‐tested architectures and functionalities and assessed the impact of the changes in the electric power systems derived from the implementation of smart grid concepts have been deployed throughout the world.

This chapter reviews the most relevant elements of this kind, compares the main options for the overall architectures, and details the analysis of some specific functionalities, indispensable for the real implementation of the smart grid paradigm.
Smart Meter Health and Exposure Assessment Research
Authors: Olsen Robert G. , Kavet Robert , Tell Richard A.
Published: August 2016

As smart meters incorporate radio frequency transmitters, are located on consumer premises and not under the direct control of the property owner or occupant, concern has been expressed about the possibility of adverse health effect due to human exposure to their electromagnetic fields. In this chapter, these concerns are addressed by describing typical smart meter system configurations, describing the characteristics of nonionizing radio frequency radiation from smart meters and summarizing experimental studies of smart meter radiation. Finally, the radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure from these meters is compared to standards for exposure of these fields that (i) have been developed by carefully convened scientific panels and (ii) are generally well accepted. It is found that the exposure is well below the permissible exposures found in these standards.
Platform Markets and Energy Services
Authors: Weiller Claire M. , Pollitt Michael G.
Published: August 2016

A structural shift from transaction‐based, marginal cost pricing to fee‐based service business models often accompanies the emergence of “platform” markets, that is, multisided markets where an intermediary captures the value of the interaction between user groups. The many examples include telecommunications, data storage, cinema, music and media, and the automobile industry. This chapter explores how retail electricity supply can be conceived of as a platform‐mediated, two‐sided market and the consequences for pricing and market structure. The drivers of such a transition include the introduction of information and communication technologies, increased volatility due to renewable generation, and the new complexity of roles for end‐users. Through two cases, a balancing services provider for smart home energy management systems and an electric vehicle charge manager, we show where a platform entrant could position itself in the retail electricity markets between supply companies and end‐users. Conceiving of electricity as a platform market where new entrants provide an energy optimization and management service may stimulate a competitive ecosystem and innovation. Fee‐based pricing could enable the objectives of time‐varying pricing to be achieved without adversely affecting the most vulnerable customers.
IEC
61968: Integration in Distribution Systems
Authors: Kostic Tatjana , Goodrich Margaret , Neumann Scott , Stanislawski Michael
Published: August 2016

Electric distribution utilities deploy a large number of operational and back‐office systems to enable diverse business processes that involve information exchanges both within the utility and with external organizations. The challenge of integration among these disparate systems is complicated not only by the different technologies they use, but also because each system can have a different representation and identification of the same real‐world objects. The use of the common information model (CIM) as a canonical data model and adoption of standard methods to accomplish data exchange are central to addressing this integration problem.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committee (TC) 57 work to address this integration problem resulted in a set of standards entitled IEC 61968, application integration at electric utilities – system interfaces for distribution management.

This chapter introduces the integration challenge and an overview of each of the IEC 61968 series of standards in terms of its scope, CIM model usage, data exchange technique, and current status and maturity. Finally, the outlook for future developments in this series of standards is discussed.
Superamphiphobic, Magnetic, and Elastic Silicone Sponges with Excellent Temperature Stability
Authors: Li Lingxiao , Zhang Junping
Published: August 2016

It is very challenging to create bioinspired superamphiphobic 3D porous materials that resist wetting of organic liquids with low surface tension. Here, preparation of superamphiphobic, magnetic, and elastic (SAME) silicone sponges is reported with excellent temperature stability. The SAME silicone sponges are prepared by hydrolytic condensation of methyltrimethoxysilane and dimethoxydimethylsilane in the presence of urea, n‐hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, and the Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles, followed by surface modification with 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The SAME silicone sponges are characterized using a wide range of analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. It is found that the wettability of the SAME silicone sponges can be controllable simply by regulating their surface topography and surface chemical composition, in other words, the volume ratio of PFDTES and TEOS. The residual silanol groups on the pore surface of the silicone sponge act as the active sites for the hydrolytic condensation of PFDTES and TEOS. The SAME silicone sponges feature excellent superamphiphobicity for water and various organic liquids of low surface tension, fast magnetic responsiveness, high compressibility (90%), and stretchability (35%) as well as high stability in a wide range of temperature (−196–300 °C).
Carbon Nanotubes in Thin‐Film Solar Cells
Authors: Shastry Tejas A. , Hersam Mark C.
Published: August 2016

Thin‐film photovoltaics offer the promise of cost‐effective and scalable solar energy conversion, but the lifetime and efficiency of these solar cells continue to trail their inorganic silicon counterparts. Carbon nanotubes have recently been explored as materials in thin‐film solar cells due to their optical absorption in the visible and infrared, high chemical stability, and exceptional charge transport properties. In particular, developments in the isolation of carbon nanotubes with homogeneous structures and properties have enabled their use as active absorbing materials, interfacial charge transport layers, and transparent conductive electrodes in organic and perovskite solar cells. This progress report highlights these recent advances and suggests future directions for carbon nanotubes in thin‐film organic and inorganic nanomaterial solar cells.
Somatic AKT1 mutations cause meningiomas colocalizing with a characteristic pattern of cranial hyperostosis
Authors: Keppler‐Noreuil Kim M. , Baker Eva H. , Sapp Julie C. , Lindhurst Marjorie J. , Biesecker Leslie G.
Published: August 2016

Somatic genetic mutations in meningiomas are associated with histologic subtypes, anatomical location, and grade. Concomitant hyperostosis occurs with some meningiomas and the pathogenesis is not well understood. Cranial hyperostosis and meningiomas are common in patients with Proteus syndrome, which is caused by a somatic activating mutation in AKT1 c.49G>A. This same mutation has also been found in 6–9% of sporadic non‐syndromic meningiomas. Sixty‐one patients with Proteus syndrome meeting clinical diagnostic criteria were evaluated at the NIH from 1997 to 2014. Of these 61, 52 had a somatic activating mutation (c.49G>A, p.Glu17Lys) in AKT1 confirmed from affected tissue samples. Photographs, physical examination and/or autopsy, X‐rays, CT, and/or MRI scan of the head were reviewed in 29/52 patients. Of the 29 patients, the most common intracranial tumor was meningioma, all co‐localizing with cranial hyperostosis, and diagnosed at younger ages than typical for isolated, non‐syndromic meningiomas. These patients had progressive cranial overgrowth that consisted primarily of diploic space expansion, and was characterized by unilateral, parasagittal, and frontal bone involvement. We hypothesize that sporadic meningothelial and transitional subtype meningiomas are a forme fruste or microform of Proteus syndrome, and activation of the AKT/PI3K pathway drives hyperostosis in both non‐syndromic, and Proteus‐related meningiomas. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parental hopes, interventions, and survival of neonates with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18
Authors: Janvier Annie , Farlow Barbara , Barrington Keith J.
Published: August 2016

Trisomy 13 and 18 are life‐limiting conditions for which a palliative approach is frequently recommended. The objective of this study was to examine parental goals/decisions, the length of life of their child and factors associated with survival. Parents of children who lived with trisomy 13 or 18 that were part of English‐speaking social networks were invited to participate in a questionnaire study. Participants answered questions about their hopes/goals, decisions regarding neonatal interventions, and the duration of their children's lives. The participants were 332 parents who answered questions about their 272 children (87% response rate based on site visits; 67% on invitations sent). When parents were asked about their hope after the diagnosis, the main themes invoked by parents were the following: meet their child alive (80% of parents with a prenatal diagnosis), spend some time as a family (72%), bring their child home (52%), and give their child a good life (66%). Parents wanted to give them a chance, but also reported their fears were medical complexity, pain and/or life in the hospital (61%). Healthcare providers recommended comfort care at birth to all parents. Life‐sustaining interventions “as for any other child” was chosen as a plan of care by 25% of parents. Of the 216 children with full trisomy, 69% were discharged home after birth and 40% lived >1 y. The presence of a prenatal diagnosis was the strongest independent factor negatively associated with longevity: 36% of children with a prenatal diagnosis lived <24 hr and 47% were discharged home compared to 1% and 87%, respectively for children with a postnatal diagnosis (P < 0.01). Male gender, low‐birth weight, and cardiac and/or cerebral anomaly were also associated with decreased survival (P < 0.05). After a prenatal diagnosis, palliative care at birth consisted of limited interventions, whereas after a postnatal diagnosis (median age of 6 days) it consisted of various interventions, including oxygen, ventilation, tube feeding and intravenous fluids, complicating the analysis. In conclusion, the goals of parents of children with trisomy 13 or 18 were to meet their child, be discharged home and be a family. Having a postnatal diagnosis was the independent factor most associated with these goals. Children with a postnatal diagnosis were treated “as any other children” until the diagnosis, which may give them a survival advantage, independent of palliative care. Rigorous transparency regarding specific interventions and outcomes may help personalize care for these children. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of Tetracyclic Tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines by Acid‐Promoted One‐Pot Sequential Formation of C−C and C−N Bonds
Authors: Nagaraju Vemu , Purnachander Dalovai , Goutham Kommuru , Suresh Surisetti , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Karunakar Galla V.
Published: August 2016

An efficient synthetic protocol was developed for the formation of tetracyclic tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines using a p‐toluenesulfonic acid‐mediated reaction of β‐enaminones and acetylenedicarboxylates. Highly functionalised tetracyclic tetrahydro‐β‐carboline derivatives were synthesised under one‐pot reaction conditions, in which two C−C and one C−N bonds were sequentially formed.
Association of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis with economic productivity and medication usage
Authors: Schlosser Rodney J. , Storck Kristina A. , Rudmik Luke , Smith Timothy L. , Mace Jess C. , Mattos Jose , Soler Zachary M.
Published: August 2016

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has significant impacts upon productivity, economic metrics, and medication usage; however, factors that are associated with these economic outcomes are unknown.

Methods

We evaluated olfactory dysfunction in 221 patients with CRS using the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders–Negative Statements (QOD‐NS) and the 40‐item Smell Identification Test (SIT) and assessed whether an association existed between these olfactory metrics and healthcare utilization, productivity, and medication usage over the preceding 90 days.

Results

After adjusting for CRS‐associated comorbidities, objective measures of disease, demographics, and CRS‐specific quality of life (QOL), patients with lower QOD‐NS scores (worse patient‐reported olfaction) had more missed days of normal productivity and employment, worse productivity levels, more hours of missed employment due to physician visits, more time caring for sinuses, greater distance traveled to medical appointment, more days of oral steroid use, and higher odds of being on disability insurance. Clinical olfaction, as measured by SIT, was associated with greater distance traveled to medical appointment and higher odds of being on disability insurance, but did not correlate with other productivity measures.

Conclusion

Impaired olfactory‐specific QOL is associated with significantly worse economic and productivity metrics and increased medication usage even after adjusting for CRS‐specific comorbidities, objective measures of disease, demographics, and severity of CRS‐specific QOL. Future studies are warranted to determine if targeting the impaired olfactory‐specific QOL noted in patients with CRS results in improved productivity and economic outcomes.
Relationship between nitrogen loss and blood urea nitrogen concentrations in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy
Authors: Sato Takeaki , Kushimoto Shigeki
Published: August 2016

Aim

It is well known that continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) produces some amount of nitrogen loss, but there are few tools that are easily applied to measure it. This study aimed to evaluate nitrogen loss using blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measurement in patients receiving CRRT.

Methods

The subjects were 28 patients who received CRRT (except for liver failure) between 2010 and 2012. Nutrition data and nitrogen excretion in dialysate and urine were measured.

Results

The median age of the patients was 61 years, with an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score of 27 points and a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of 12 points. All‐cause hospital mortality was 50%. Median protein intake was 40 g/day. The daily urinary volume was 245 mL and volume of dialysate was 26,000 mL/day. The median amount of nitrogen loss was 10.58 g/day, with BUN showing a strong correlation (r = 0.804, P < 0.0001). There was a poor relation between protein intake (g/kg body weight) and nitrogen balance (r = 0.322, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

In patients receiving CRRT, the nitrogen loss showed a positive correlation with BUN but not with protein intake. According to the guidelines, recommended protein intake was 1.5–2.0 g/kg/day, but we should be careful to avoid elevating BUN at the same time. The results showed that BUN might be a useful marker to check nitrogen balance in the nutritional management of patients receiving CRRT.
Long‐term efficacy of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation with a novel, low‐cost vascular model “Endo‐Circuit”
Authors: Endo Tomoyuki , Kagaya Yutaka , Arata Yutaro , Imai Hiroyuki
Published: August 2016

Aims

This study investigated the long‐term efficacy of a half‐day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation and low‐cost vascular model for practitioner knowledge, skills, and attitudes in clinical settings and also assessed the usefulness of the vascular model.

Methods

We included participants who attended a half‐day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation focused on the veno‐arterial method between April 2013 and January 2016 at Tohoku University Simulation Center (Sendai, Japan). A survey questionnaire form was sent to each participant in March 2016. Ninety‐six survey respondents engaged in real extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice after the simulation were eligible for this study, and their answers were analyzed for differences between doctors and nurses. The survey asked questions regarding occupation, workplace, course date, years of experience, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice before simulation, problems and fears before the simulation, usefulness of reference materials, long‐term efficacy of the simulation for practice, usefulness of the vascular model, and intensive care data review.

Results

Among all eligible answers, every average self‐reported score (ranging from 0 to 10) of the long‐term efficacy for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice was above 4. Nurses reported experiencing fears more frequently than doctors before the simulation. The usefulness of an original low‐cost vascular model was evaluated at a median score of 7.

Conclusion

A half‐day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation with an original low‐cost vascular model had long‐term positive efficacy for knowledge, skills, and attitudes of practitioners who engaged in real practice after the simulation, and the practitioners considered the model to be useful for them.
Boron Difluoride Complexes of Expanded N‐Confused Calix[n]phyrins That Demonstrate Unique Luminescent and Lasing Properties
Authors: Ishida Masatoshi , Omagari Toshihiro , Hirosawa Ryuji , Jono Keisuke , Sung Young Mo , Yasutake Yuhsuke , Uno Hidemitsu , Toganoh Motoki , Nakanotani Hajime , Fukatsu Susumu , Kim Dongho , Furuta Hiroyuki
Published: August 2016

Complexation of novel multiply N‐confused expanded calix[n]phyrins with boron difluoride afforded a new class of cyclic BODIPY (boron‐dipyrromethene) arrays. The structures of circularly arranged BODIPY subunits linked in an N‐confused fashion give rise to such photophysical properties unique to the macrocycles as redshifted emission wavelengths along with apparent large Stokes shifts, long emission lifetimes, and solid‐state lasing. The DFT calculations support the size‐dependent excited‐state dynamics of the macrocycles.
Synthesis and characterization of novel pentaerythritol ester as PVC plasticizer
Authors: Wang Yigang , Nie Xiaoan , Li Xiaoying
Published: August 2016

A novel bio‐based PVC plasticizer, levulinic acid pentaerythritol ketal ester (LAPKE), was synthesized and evaluated as renewable resource alternatives to traditional phthalate. The structure of LAPKE was characterized by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. The LAPKE and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) at different mass ratio were added to the PVC to prepare PVC samples. The mechanical properties of PVC samples at mass ratio of 1:1 showed that its tensile strength, elongation at break was up to an optimum value. The thermal stability was measured by dynamic thermal stability and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the results showed that the thermal ability of PVC was improved with the addition of LAPKE. The weight loss of migration property (volatility, leaching test and exudation) has also increased by increasing mass ratio of LAPKE. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44227.
National study of the impact of patient information and involvement in decision-making on immediate breast reconstruction rates
Authors: Frisell A , Lagergren J , Boniface J
Published: August 2016

Background

Reconstructive alternatives should be discussed with women facing mastectomy for breast cancer. These include immediate and delayed reconstruction, which both have inherent advantages and disadvantages. Immediate reconstruction rates vary considerably in Swedish healthcare regions, and the aim of the study was to analyse reasons for this disparity.

Methods

All women who underwent mastectomy for primary breast cancer in Sweden in 2013 were included. Tumour data were retrieved from the Swedish National Breast Cancer Registry and from questionnaires regarding patient information and involvement in preoperative decision-making sent to women who were still alive in 2015.

Results

Of 2929 women who had undergone 2996 mastectomies, 2906 were still alive. The questionnaire response rate was 76·3 per cent. Immediate reconstruction rates varied regionally, between 3·0 and 26·4 per cent. Tumour characteristics impacted on reconstruction rates but did not explain regional differences. Patient participation in decision-making, availability of plastic surgery services and patient information, however, were independent predictors of immediate breast reconstruction, and varied significantly between regions. Even in younger patients with low-risk tumours, rates of patient information ranged between 34·3 and 83·3 per cent.

Conclusion

Significant regional differences in immediate reconstruction rates were not explained by differences in tumour characteristics, but by disparities in patient information, availability of plastic surgery services and involvement in decision-making.
Precise Zoological Information: The Concilium Bibliographicum, 1895–1940
Authors: Buckland Michael K. , Burke Colin B.
Published: August 2016

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Cognizant of the benefits and challenges of deep bibliographical searching for zoological resources, Herbert Haviland Field, an American zoologist, established the Concilium Bibliographicum in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1895. The Concilium provided bibliographic data on articles from over 2,000 journals in 20 languages and developed the zoology section of the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) system, a new system in 1895 that improved search through flexible ordering of topical facets. The institute published annual indexes of zoological literature that could be tailored for specific interests; it later introduced card files for new zoological species and other services. But the Concilium faced insurmountable challenges. Poor funding, international hostilities leading to World War I and Field's death in 1921 handicapped daily operations, affecting the Concilium's language use policy, currency and comprehensiveness of references and staffing to maintain the index. An admirable effort that would have been well suited to modern digital solutions, the Concilium was suspended during the war and ceased operations in 1940.
Palladium‐Assisted Cleavage of Peptides and Proteins Containing a Backbone with Thiazolidine Linkage
Authors: Jbara Muhammad , Laps Shay , Maity Suman Kumar , Brik Ashraf
Published: August 2016

The design and synthesis of biomolecules that are responsive to external stimuli is of great interest in various research areas, such as in the preparation of smart biomaterial and chemical biology. Polypeptide backbone disassembly as a response to a particular stimulus is of interest, as it leads to a complete loss of the protein tertiary structure and, as a result, to a loss of function. In this study, a strategy based on palladium‐assisted efficient cleavage of backbone thiazolidine linkage in peptides and proteins was developed. Using a fluorescence‐based assay, encompassing ubiquitinated peptide with a quenching florescence pair, it was possible to optimize the cleavage step after rapid screening of various conditions, such as the type of metal complexes and reaction additives. The optimized conditions prompted fast cleavage of the thiazolidine linkage. The straightforward introduction of a backbone thiazolidine linkage in peptide and proteins coupled with the chemical methods used offers new opportunities in controlling macromolecule function and might, with the aid of cellular protein delivery methods, be applied in cellular settings.
Towards a unified approach for modelling uniform and non‐uniform bubbly flows
Authors: Ziegenhein Thomas , Rzehak Roland , Ma Tian , Lucas Dirk
Published: August 2016

An important ingredient of closure relations for the Euler‐Euler two‐fluid model is the description of turbulent fluctuations. Models proposed in the literature disagree concerning the treatment of such on all scales. The large‐scale fluctuation structures as well as the bubble‐induced turbulence might be neglected, resolved, and/or modelled respectively in different ways. Each treatment has been demonstrated to work for a certain application but a unified perspective is lacking so far.

To this end a set of closure relations for the fluid dynamics of bubbly flow has been collected that represents the best available knowledge and may serve as a baseline for further improvements and extensions. This model comprises a set of bubble forces as well as a turbulence model including turbulence modification due to the bubbles and has been successfully validated for bubbly flows in pipes and bubble columns. Here it is applied to two sets of data representing non‐uniform and uniform flows in bubble columns which are dominated by large‐scale fluctuations and bubble‐induced turbulence respectively.
Unit level small area estimation with copulas
Authors: Rivest Louis‐Paul , Verret François , Baillargeon Sophie
Published: August 2016

The goal of this article is to predict the mean values of a survey variable Y in small areas using simple random samples of units drawn in these areas and known auxiliary variables x. Predictions obtained with non‐normal error distributions are investigated. Exchangeable models for the dependency between the regression errors within a small area are first proposed and the best unbiased predictors (BUPs) for unobserved Y, under the proposed models, are derived. They are compared to the best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs). The second part of the article focuses on a particular class of models for Y, constructed using multivariate exchangeable copulas. They involve a regression parameter , a dependency parameter for the copula, , and , the marginal cumulative distribution function of the regression errors, considered as an infinite‐dimensional parameter. Semi‐parametric methods for estimating the parameters are proposed and small area predictions are constructed using these estimators. Conditional mean squared prediction error estimators, which account for the estimation of the parameters, are discussed. Copula selection is done using cross‐validation. This new methodology is illustrated through simulations and the analysis of a real data set. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 44: 397–415; 2016 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada
Identification and Optimization of the First Highly Selective GLUT1 Inhibitor BAY‐876
Authors: Siebeneicher Holger , Cleve Arwed , Rehwinkel Hartmut , Neuhaus Roland , Heisler Iring , Müller Thomas , Bauser Marcus , Buchmann Bernd
Published: August 2016

Despite the long‐known fact that the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT1 is one of the key players safeguarding the increase in glucose consumption of many tumor entities even under conditions of normal oxygen supply (known as the Warburg effect), only few endeavors have been undertaken to find a GLUT1‐selective small‐molecule inhibitor. Because other transporters of the GLUT1 family are involved in crucial processes, these transporters should not be addressed by such an inhibitor. A high‐throughput screen against a library of ∼3 million compounds was performed to find a small molecule with this challenging potency and selectivity profile. The N‐(1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)quinoline‐4‐carboxamides were identified as an excellent starting point for further compound optimization. After extensive structure–activity relationship explorations, single‐digit nanomolar inhibitors with a selectivity factor of >100 against GLUT2, GLUT3, and GLUT4 were obtained. The most promising compound, BAY‐876 [N4‐[1‐(4‐cyanobenzyl)‐5‐methyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl]‐7‐fluoroquinoline‐2,4‐dicarboxamide], showed good metabolic stability in vitro and high oral bioavailability in vivo.