bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eco-friendly methodology for efficient synthesis and scale-up of 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate using Rhizopus oryzae lipase and its biological evaluation
Authors: Kumar Vinod , Jahan Firdaus , Kameswaran Karthikeya , Mahajan Richi V , Saxena Rajendra Kumar
Published: March 2014

Lipase-mediated synthesis of phenolic acid esters is a green and economical alternative to current chemical methods. Octyl methoxycinnamate, an important UVB-absorbing compound, was synthesized by the esterification of p-methoxycinnamic acid with 2-ethyl hexanol using Rhizopus oryzae lipase. A molar ratio of 1:2 of p-methoxycinnamic acid and 2-ethyl hexanol was found to give an optimum yield using cyclo-octane (50 ml) as reaction solvent, at a temperature of 45 °C, and 750 U of lipase, resulting in a yield of 91.3 % in 96 h. This reaction was successfully scaled up to 400-ml reaction size where 88.6 %bioconversion was achieved. The synthesized compound was found to have superior antioxidant activity as compared to ascorbic acid. The synthesized compound also exhibited good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aures, Candida albicans (yeast), Aspergillus niger, Alternaria solani, and Fussarium oxysporum by well diffusion method in terms of zone of inhibitions (in mm).
Identifying Pediatric Emergence Delirium by Using the PAED Scale: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Stamper Matthew J. , Hawks Sharon J. , Taicher Brad M. , Bonta Juliet , Brandon Debra H.
Published: March 2014

Pediatric emergence delirium is a postoperative phenomenon characterized by aberrant cognitive and psychomotor behavior, which can place the patient and health care personnel at risk for injury. A common tool for identifying emergence delirium is the Level of Consciousness‐Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (LOC‐RASS), although it has not been validated for use in the pediatric population. The Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium Scale (PAED) is a newly validated tool to measure emergence delirium in children. We chose to implement and evaluate the effectiveness and fidelity of using the PAED Scale to identify pediatric emergence delirium in one eight‐bed postanesthesia care unit in comparison with the traditional LOC‐RASS. The overall incidence of pediatric emergence delirium found by using the LOC‐RASS with a retrospective chart review (3%) was significantly lower than the incidence found by using the LOC‐RASS (7.5%) and PAED Scale (11.5%) during the implementation period. Our findings suggest that the PAED Scale may be a more sensitive measure of pediatric emergence delirium, and, in the future, we recommend that health care personnel at our facility use the PAED Scale rather than the LOC‐RASS.
El uso de los arquetipos en la industria de la moda en Colombia
Authors: Ceballos Lina María , Villegas Gómez Juliana
Published: March 2014

Los arquetipos se han presentado como una herramienta poderosa para la definición de la personalidadde marca y son especialmente útiles en el mercadeo de marcas de moda. El presente estudio buscacomprender el uso de los arquetipos en empresas colombianas de moda, presenta la percepción que tienenlos empresarios de esta herramienta e identifica las motivaciones y los obstáculos para su incorporación.Se realizaron 16 entrevistas a profundidad, la mayoría con empresarios que estaban implementando odeseaban implementar los arquetipos. Se evidencia que los jefes de las marcas de moda colombianaspresentan varias motivaciones para usar la herramienta; sin embargo, el uso de arquetipos es limitado ypresenta múltiples obstáculos para su implementación.
Enhancing the Translation of Disaster Health Competencies Into Practice
Authors: Walsh Lauren , Altman Brian A. , King Richard V. , Strauss-Riggs Kandra
Published: March 2014

Objectives

Disaster health workers currently have no common standard based on a shared set of competencies, learning objectives, and performance metrics with which to develop courses or training materials relevant to their learning audience. We examined how existing competency sets correlate within the 2012 pyramidal learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health criteria and describe how this exercise can guide curriculum developers.

Methods

We independently categorized 35 disaster health-related competency sets according to the 4 levels and criteria of the pyramidal learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health.

Results

Using the hierarchical learning framework of competency sets in disaster medicine and public health criteria as guidance, we classified with consistency only 10 of the 35 competency sets.

Conclusions

The proposed series of minor modifications to the framework should allow for consistent classification of competency sets. Improved education and training of all health professionals is a necessary step to ensuring that health system responders are appropriately and adequately primed for their role in disasters. Revising the organizing framework should assist disaster health educators in selecting competencies appropriate to their learning audience and identify gaps in current education and training. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness.2014;8:70-78)
Effect of feeding a commercial ammonia binding product De-Odorase™ on broiler chicken performance
Authors: Lazarevic M. , Resanovic R. , Vucicevic I. , Kocher A. , Moran C.A.
Published: March 2014

Ammonia production in commercial poultry sheds poses a problem for farmers as high levels can affect animal's respiratory health, resulting in hock and foot pad lesions and thereby affecting performance. A study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of whole, chopped and dried Yucca schidigera (De-Odorase™, Alltech Inc, USA) to reduce ammonia excretion from broilers and investigate the impact on broiler performance. Nine hundred and two, one-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to one of two diets, without (control) or supplemented with 500 g/t De-Odorase™. Birds fed the treatment diet had significantly higher body weight (P < 0.05) at 42 d and improved FCR (P < 0.05). Significant reductions in ammonia from litter were reported at 37 and 42 days old (P < 0.05 and P < 0.1, respectively). No significant differences were seen in foot pad, gait score, feather score or carcass data; although the birds fed De-Odorase™ had consistent numerical improvements in these parameters. The results of this study suggest that feeding whole, chopped and dried Yucca schidigera as a functional ingredient in the diet can be part of an ammonia management programme to improve broiler welfare and zootechnical performance.
A fluid-mechanical model of elastocapillary coalescence
Authors: Singh Kiran , Lister John R. , Vella Dominic
Published: March 2014

We present a fluid-mechanical model of the coalescence of a number of elastic objects due to surface tension. We consider an array of spring–block elements separated by thin liquid films, whose dynamics are modelled using lubrication theory. With this simplified model of elastocapillary coalescence, we present the results of numerical simulations for a large number of elements, $N=O(10^4)$. A linear stability analysis shows that pairwise coalescence is always the most unstable mode of deformation. However, the numerical simulations show that the cluster sizes actually produced by coalescence from a small white-noise perturbation have a distribution that depends on the relative strength of surface tension and elasticity, as measured by an elastocapillary number $K$. Both the maximum cluster size and the mean cluster size scale like $K^{-1/2}$ for small $K$. An analytical solution for the response of the system to a localized perturbation shows that such perturbations generate propagating disturbance fronts, which leave behind ‘frozen-in’ clusters of a predictable size that also depends on $K$. A good quantitative comparison between the cluster-size statistics from noisy perturbations and this ‘frozen-in’ cluster size suggests that propagating fronts may play a crucial role in the dynamics of coalescence.
Pre-Mainsequence Stellar Evolution in N-Body Models
Authors: Railton Anna D. , Tout Christopher A. , Aarseth Sverre J.
Published: March 2014

We provide a set of analytic fits to the radii of pre-mainsequence stars in the mass range 0.1 < M/M⊙ < 8.0. We incorporate the formulae in N-body cluster models for evolution from the beginning of pre-main sequence. In models with 1 000 stars and high initial cluster densities, pre-mainsequence evolution causes roughly twice the number of collisions between stars than in similar models with evolution begun only from the zero-age main sequence. The collisions are often all part of a runaway sequence that creates one relatively massive star.
Increased risk of iodine deficiency with vegetarian nutrition
Authors: Remer Thomas , Neubert Annette , Manz Friedrich
Published: March 2014

Observational studies primarily based on diet questionnaires or food records have reported that vegetarians can have a very low I intake. However, analytically ascertained data on the possible degree of I deficiency with this form of diet is lacking. Six healthy adult volunteers participated in the present controlled experimental diet study carried out in four separate 5 d diet periods. The study diets, normal, protein-rich, lactovegetarian, and repeat of the initial normal diet, were almost isoenergetic and contained no fish, sea food, iodized salt or processed foods fortified with I. During the last 48 h of each diet period two 24 h urine samples were obtained from each subject. I analyses were performed in the urine samples and in representative samples taken from all ingested diets. Urinary I excretion was significantly lower with the lactovegetarian diet (36·6 (sd 8·8) μg/d) than with the normal and the protein-rich diets (50·2 (sd 14·0) and 61·0 (sd 8·0) μg/d respectively). Accordingly, a markedly reduced I intake was confirmed analytically for the lactovegetarian diet (15·6 μg/dv.35·2 and 44·5 μg/d respectively). Our results provide experimental confirmation of literature findings indicating that I supply is higher with non-vegetarian than with vegetarian diets. Specifically, the extremely low intake and urinary output of I as analytically determined for one exemplary vegetarian diet, demonstrate that dietary I may be limiting when strict forms of vegetarian dietary practices (no iodized salt, no I supplements) are followed. The present study is, therefore, the first diet-experiment-based pointer to the potential danger of I deficiency disorders due to strict forms of vegetarian nutrition, especially when fruits and vegetables grown in soils with low I levels are ingested.
The Heat is On: Local Government and Climate Governance in South Africa
Authors: du Plessis Anél , Kotzé Louis J
Published: March 2014

Departing from the fact that climate change poses localized effects, this article critically considers from a legal perspective the role of local authorities in the South African government's response to climate change. A brief review of the relevance of climate mitigation and adaptation is followed by an explanation of what these concepts mean for local government. The article then discusses the extent to which the country's environmental and local government law and policy framework provides for municipalities' participation and involvement in climate governance. The article identifies strengths and weaknesses in relation to the local sphere of government's formal involvement in climate governance vis-à-vis authorities in the provincial and national spheres. It concludes that, as a result of their proximity to the effects of climate change, municipalities have a critically important role to play in the climate governance effort, despite the patchwork of environmental and local government laws and lack of explicit, consolidated policy and legal arrangements to this effect.
Hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy: early post-operative parathyroid hormone assay as a risk stratification and management tool
Authors: Islam S , Al Maqbali T , Howe D , Campbell J
Published: March 2014

Objective:

To develop a practical, efficient and predictive algorithm to manage potential or actual post-operative hypocalcaemia after complete thyroidectomy, using a single post-operative parathyroid hormone assay.

Methods:

This paper reports a prospective study of 59 patients who underwent total or completion thyroidectomy over a period of 24 months. Parathyroid hormone levels were checked post-operatively on the day of surgery, and all patients were evaluated for hypocalcaemia both clinically and biochemically with serial corrected calcium measurements.

Results:

No patient with an early post-operative parathyroid hormone level of 23 ng/l or more (i.e. approximately twice the lower limit of the normal range) developed hypocalcaemia. All the patients who initially had post-operative hypocalcaemia but had an early parathyroid hormone level of 8 ng/l or more (i.e. approximately two-thirds of the lower limit of the normal range) had complete resolution of their hypocalcaemia within three months.

Conclusion:

Early post-operative parathyroid hormone measurement can reliably predict patients at risk of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia, and predict those patients expected to recover from temporary hypocalcaemia. A suggested post-operative management algorithm is presented.
Relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy
Authors: Persky Michael , Fang Y , Myssiorek D
Published: March 2014

Design:

The relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during consecutive thyroidectomies was prospectively evaluated. When one structure was noted, careful dissection was performed to locate the other structure, to preserve their natural anatomical relationship.

Patients:

In total, 103 consecutive thyroid lobectomies were performed on 73 patients. The distance from the superior parathyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve was recorded.

Results:

In 88 cases (88.9 per cent), the superior parathyroid gland was identified within 5 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In 62 cases (62.6 per cent), the gland was within 1 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The height of the thyroid lobe was positively associated with the distance between the two structures (p = 0.001), as was the incidence of cancer (p = 0.033). The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was less than 4 per cent.

Conclusion:

In most cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve was found in close proximity to the superior parathyroid gland. In a thyroid gland with a large height, or in a cancerous lobe, this relationship is less reliable.
Comment on ‘Propagation of solitary waves and shock wavelength in the pair plasma (J. Plasma Phys. 78, 525–529, 2012)’
Authors: Verheest Frank
Published: March 2014

In a recent paper ‘Propagation of solitary waves and shock wavelength in the pair plasma (J. Plasma Phys. 78, 525–529, 2012)’, Malekolkalami and Mohammadi investigate nonlinear electrostatic solitary waves in a plasma comprising adiabatic electrons and positrons, and a stationary ion background. The paper contains two parts: First, the solitary wave properties are discussed through a pseudopotential approach, and then the influence of a small dissipation is intuitively sketched without theoretical underpinning. Small dissipation is claimed to lead to a shock wave whose wavelength is determined by linear oscillator analysis. Unfortunately, there are errors and inconsistencies in both the parts, and their combination is incoherent.
Three-wave interaction and Manley–Rowe relations in quantum hydrodynamics
Authors: Wallin Erik , Zamanian Jens , Brodin Gert
Published: March 2014

The theory for nonlinear three-wave interaction in magnetized plasmas is reconsidered using quantum hydrodynamics. The general coupling coefficients are calculated for the generalized Bohm de Broglie term. It is found that the Manley–Rowe relations are fulfilled only if the form of the particle dispersive term coincides with the standard expression. The implications of our results are discussed.
Putting Indian Christianities into Context: Biographies of Christian Conversion in a Leprosy Colony
Authors: STAPLES JAMES
Published: March 2014

Gandhian andHindutva-inspired discourses around conversions to Christianity in India over-simplify the historical nexus of relations between missionaries, converts and the colonial state. Challenging the view that conversions were ever only about material gain, this paper draws on long-term ethnographic fieldwork with leprosy-affected people in South India to consider the role that conversion has also played in establishing alternative, often positively construed, identities for those who came to live in leprosy colonies from the mid twentieth century onwards. The paper draws out the distinctive values associated with a Christian identity in India, exploring local Christianities as sets of practices through which, for example, a positive sense of belonging might be established for those otherwise excluded, rather than being centred upon personal faith and theologyper se. Biographical accounts are drawn upon to document and analyse some of the on-the-ground realities, and the different implications—depending on one's wider social positioning—of converting from Hinduism to Christianity in South India.
Temporal and spatial expansion of a multi-dimensional model for electron acceleration in the bubble regime
Authors: Thomas J. , Pukhov A. , Kostyukov I.Yu.
Published: March 2014

An extended analytical model for particle dynamics in fields of a highly-nonlinear plasma wakefield (the bubble or blow out regime) is derived. A recently proposed piecewise model is generalized to include a time dependent bubble radius and full field solution in the acceleration direction. Incorporation of the cavity dynamics in the model is required to simulate the particle trapping properly. On the other hand, it is shown that the previously reported piecewise model does not reproduce the formation of a mono energetic peak in the particle spectrum. The mono energetic electron beams are recovered only when the full longitudinal field gradient is included in the model.
Twenty years of MALL project implementation: A meta-analysis of learning outcomes
Authors: Burston Jack
Published: March 2014

Despite the hundreds of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) publications over the past twenty years, statistically reliable measures of learning outcomes are few and far between. In part, this is due to the fact that well over half of all MALL-related studies report no objectively quantifiable learning outcomes, either because they did not involve MALL implementation projects, or if they did, learning gains were only based on subjective teacher assessments and/or student self-evaluations. Even more so, the paucity of statistically reliable learning outcome data stems from the short duration of projects and small numbers of students involved. Of the 291 distinct studies examined in this review only 35 meet minimal conditions of duration and sample size, i.e., ten experimental subjects over a period of at least a month. Sixteen of these suffer from serious design shortcomings, leaving only nineteen MALL studies that can reliably serve as a basis for determining the learning outcomes of mobile-based language applications. Of these studies, fifteen can be considered to report unequivocal positive results, with those focusing on reading, listening and speaking without exception evidencing a MALL application advantage. Four studies, all focusing on vocabulary, reported no significant differences.
Distribution and status of the Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus in Mongolia: a cause for conservation concern?
Authors: GILBERT MARTIN , TINGAY RUTH , LOSOLMAA JAMBAL , SUREDA NADIA , GILBERT COLIN , BATMUNKH DAVAASUREN , GOMBOBAATAR SUNDEV
Published: March 2014

Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (PFE) is sparsely distributed across a vast swathe of central, eastern and southern Asia, and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN on the basis of population size and reports of declines in many areas. Mongolia has long been considered a breeding stronghold for the species, but evidence to support this is unclear. Our objective was to assess the current distribution and status of the PFE in Mongolia to enable a more accurate assessment of the species’ conservation status, through collation of existing information from the historical literature, and a contemporary survey of historical sites and potential PFE breeding habitat. Thirty-four traceable locations were identified in the historical literature, of which breeding activity had been recorded in seven. Field surveys were conducted at a total of 77 sites throughout the study period (2005–2011) between April and October, including 21 of the historical PFE locations. PFE were observed at eight sites, all of which were historical PFEs locations, and no evidence of breeding activity was recorded. These findings suggest that Mongolia is not (and may never have been) a breeding stronghold for the PFE. The lack of eagles at 13 of 21 historical sites surveyed, coupled with a lack of sightings of birds at alternative locations is suggestive of a decline in site occupancy. Observations of juvenile eagles within one month of the spring thaw suggests that at least a proportion of Mongolian PFEs are breeding at southern latitudes, and future studies to establish these migratory linkages are warranted. These findings, coupled with evidence of declines in other parts of the PFE range indicate a need to re-evaluate the species’ conservation status, and in particular to determine the number of mature PFEs present in suitable habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar between November and March.
Percutaneous management of coronary sinus atrial septal defect: two cases representing the spectrum for device closure and a review of the literature
Authors: Sandeep Nefthi , Slack Michael C.
Published: March 2014

Coronary sinus atrial septal defects are the rarest defects of the atrial septum comprising <1% of the five different types of atrial septal defects. Despite the widespread adoption of percutaneous device closure of secundum atrial septal defects, the published experience with percutaneous device closure of coronary sinus atrial septal defects is limited to only a few isolated case reports because of uncertainty regarding safety and efficacy. Open-heart surgical repair remains the treatment of choice for coronary sinus atrial septal defects, although this may not be the only treatment option in selected cases. Herein we describe our own experience with two patients with different clinical presentations and our method of successful percutaneous coronary sinus atrial septal defect closure in each. We then present a review of the anatomic spectrum of coronary sinus atrial septal defects along with a review of contemporary surgical and percutaneous device treatment.
A model for the pension system in Mexico: diagnosis and recommendations
Authors: ALONSO JAVIER , HOYO CARMEN , TUESTA DAVID
Published: March 2014

The reform of the pension system of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in 1997, limited the growing fiscal cost of the previous pay-as-you-go scheme. Sixteen years on from its creation, the Retirement Savings System (SAR) has had favourable macroeconomic effects for Mexico, as it has significantly increased financial savings and encouraged the development of local financial markets.

However, the employment and pension coverage has not developed as hoped, due to the high rate of informality in the labour market. In addition, the replacement rates (RR) forecast for old-age pensions from the defined-contribution scheme will be low, due to problems exogenous to the pension system, such as low contribution rates and low contribution densities. The main objective of this study is to develop a macroeconomic and actuarial projection model to simulate the expected coverage and RR for the period 2012–2050, within the framework of a demographic and economic forecast that will allow a detailed diagnosis of the current conditions of the pension system. The results reveal the unpromising scenario that the pension system has and will continue to have in the long term, with limited improvements in coverage rates. The possibility of obtaining adequate pensions will be restricted to those who have socioeconomic conditions with a long employment history, who can thus make contributions to their individual accounts.

Taking into account this baseline projection scenario, we simulate the expected effects of applying a set of proposals with the aim of tackling the main problems, such as the low coverage, low RR, and low level of participation by young people in the system.
The Multiple-Baseline Design
Authors: Whitehurst Geoffrey
Published: March 2014

The multiple-baseline research design has been proposed as an efficient alternative methodology for suitable between-group experimental designs in aviation ( Whitehurst, 2013 , Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors). However, without replicating a study, comparable statistical conclusions could not be stated. This study replicated one by Whitehurst and Rantz (2012 , Journal of Aviation / Aerospace Education and Research) which investigated the flight performance of pilots trained on digital flight instrumentation when they transitioned to analog flight instrumentation for the first time. The data from this multiple-baseline replication showed a similar statistically significant degradation in flight performance postintervention to the original study. This suggests that the multiple-baseline design (MBD) can produce similar results to between-group experimental designs and could be an efficient design to use for suitable aviation studies.
Structural characterization of inclusion complexes of para-sulphonato-calix[8]arene with 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-ethane and 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)-propane. New ‘double cone’ and ‘up–flat–down’ conformations of para-sulphonato-calix[8]arene
Authors: Lesniewska B. , Perret F. , Suwinska K. , Coleman A. W.
Published: March 2014

Two new conformations of para-sulphonato-calix[8]arene have been found in supramolecular complexes with BPE and BPP, the gas take-up has been demonstrated for S8C–BPE complex.
Denitrification potential of organic, forest and grassland soils in the Ribble-Wyre and Conwy River catchments, UK
Authors: Sgouridis Fotis , Ullah Sami
Published: March 2014

Denitrification potential was significantly influenced by land use type where it was lower in organic and forest than in semi-improved and improved grassland soils.
Human oral cancer cells with increasing tumorigenic abilities exhibit higher effective membrane capacitance
Authors: Liang X. , Graham K. A. , Johannessen A. C. , Costea D. E. , Labeed F. H.
Published: March 2014

Cells with stem cell-like/tumorigenic properties have been identified in many cancers. Dielectrophoresis revealed cells with higher tumorgenicity exhibited higher effective membrane capacitance. Treatment with 4-MU decreased membrane capacitance. Dielectrophoresis may be suitable for isolation of tumorigenic cells.
Fabrication of high-performance facilitated transport membranes for CO2separation
Authors: Liao Jiayou , Wang Zhi , Gao Chengyun , Li Shichun , Qiao Zhihua , Wang Ming , Zhao Song , Xie Xianmei , Wang Jixiao , Wang Shichang
Published: March 2014

At present, liquid membranes, ion-exchange membranes and fixed carrier membranes are the three popular facilitated transport membranes for CO2separation. We report a method to combine their advantages and overcome their deficiencies.
Peptide–perylene diimide functionalized magnetic nano-platforms for fluorescence turn-on detection and clearance of bacterial lipopolysaccharides
Authors: Liu Fang , Mu Jing , Wu Xiangyang , Bhattacharjya Surajit , Yeow Edwin Kok Lee , Xing Bengang
Published: March 2014

A simple and novel dual-functional peptide magnetic nanoplatform has been successfully designed for sensitive detection and rapid clearance of bacterial endotoxins.
Mechanized silica nanoparticles based on reversible bistable [2]pseudorotaxanes as supramolecular nanovalves for multistage pH-controlled release
Authors: Wang MingDong , Chen Tao , Ding ChenDi , Fu JiaJun
Published: March 2014

Mechanized silica nanoparticles installed with the reversible bistable [2]pseudorotaxanes achieve multistage pH-controlled release of cargoes.
Computational investigation of structural and electronic properties of aqueous interfaces of GaN, ZnO, and a GaN/ZnO alloy
Authors: Kharche Neerav , Hybertsen Mark S. , Muckerman James T.
Published: March 2014

Snapshots of equilibrated aqueous interfaces of GaN(101̄0), ZnO(101̄0), GaN/ZnO(101̄0), and GaN/ZnO(12̄10) surfaces from DFT/MD simulations.
Specific adsorption of perchlorate anions on Pt{hkl} single crystal electrodes
Authors: Attard Gary A. , Brew Ashley , Hunter Katherine , Sharman Jonathan , Wright Edward
Published: March 2014

Perchlorate anion adsorption inhibits the oxygen reduction reaction on Pt{hkl} electrodes in aqueous perchloric acid due to weak specific adsorption.
Methods for the catalytic activation of metallic structured substrates
Authors: Montebelli Andrea , Visconti Carlo Giorgio , Groppi Gianpiero , Tronconi Enrico , Cristiani Cinzia , Ferreira Cristina , Kohler Stefanie
Published: March 2014

The review addresses the methods for depositing catalytic layers onto metallic structured substrates, specifically focusing on honeycomb monoliths and open-cell foams.
Synthesis of new derivatives of copper complexes of Josiphos family ligands for applications in asymmetric catalysis
Authors: Oost R. , Rong J. , Minnaard A. J. , Harutyunyan S. R.
Published: March 2014

New derivatives of copper complexes of Josiphos family ligands have been prepared and studied in asymmetric catalytic addition of Grignard reagents to enones, enoates and aromatic ketones.
Mixed-ligand hydroxocopper(ii)/pyridazine clusters embedded into 3D framework lattices
Authors: Degtyarenko Anna S. , Handke Marcel , Krämer Karl W. , Liu Shi-Xia , Decurtins Silvio , Rusanov Eduard B. , Thompson Laurence K. , Krautscheid Harald , Domasevitch Konstantin V.
Published: March 2014

Three types of polynuclear Cu(ii) clusters rely on the compatibility of short-distance hydroxo-, carboxylato and pyridazine bridges and are applicable for the construction of 3D MOF structures.
Efficient and persistent cold cathode emission from CuPc nanotubes: a joint experimental and simulation investigation
Authors: Ghorai Uttam Kumar , Das Swati , Saha Subhajit , Mazumder Nilesh , Sen Dipayan , Chattopadhyay Kalyan Kumar
Published: March 2014

Experimentally observed excellent cold cathode emission characteristics of chemically synthesized CuPc nanotubes and theoretical justifications via finite element method simulation.
Approaches to time-resolved diffraction using an XFEL
Authors: Spence John C. H.
Published: March 2014

We describe several schemes for time-resolved imaging of molecular motion using a free-electron laser (XFEL), in response to the many challenges and opportunities which XFEL radiation has created for accurate time-resolved measurement of structure. For pump–probe experiments using crystals, the problem of recording full Bragg reflections (not partials) in each shot arises. Two solutions, the use of the large bandwith which necesarily results from using attosecond pulses, and the use the coherent convergent beam mode are suggested. We also show that with attosecond recording times shorter than the temporal coherence time, Bragg reflections excited by different wavelengths from different reflections can interfere, providing structure factor phase information. For slower processes, a mixing jet sample-delivery device is described to allow snapshot solution scattering during molecular reactions on the microsecond scale. For optically excited membrane proteins, we suggest the use of the lipid cubic phase sample delivery device operating at atmospheric pressure. The use of two-color and split-and-delay schemes is suggested for improved accuracy in the Monte-Carlo method of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX).
Smartphone technology can be transformative to the deployment of lab-on-chip diagnostics
Authors: Erickson David , O'Dell Dakota , Jiang Li , Oncescu Vlad , Gumus Abdurrahman , Lee Seoho , Mancuso Matthew , Mehta Saurabh
Published: March 2014

The rapid expansion of mobile technology is transforming the biomedical landscape.
Inhibition of human amylin fibril formation by insulin-mimetic vanadium complexes
Authors: He Lei , Wang Xuesong , Zhao Cong , Zhu Dengsen , Du Weihong
Published: March 2014

Inhibition of human amylin fibril formation by insulin-mimetic vanadium complexes.
Amphiphilic siderophore production by oil-associating microbes
Authors: Kem Michelle P. , Zane Hannah K. , Springer Stephen D. , Gauglitz Julia M. , Butler Alison
Published: March 2014

Amphibactin siderophores have been isolated from oil-associatedVibriospp. following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and fromAlcanivorax borkumensisSK2.
Carbohydrate-based first stereoselective total synthesis of bioactive cytospolide P
Authors: Suman Pathi , Raju Bhimapaka China
Published: March 2014

A facile stereoselective approach has been developed for the total synthesis of cytospolide P via Yamaguchi macrolactonization.
Quantum mechanistic insights on aryl propargyl ether Claisen rearrangement
Authors: Srinivasadesikan Venkatesan , Dai Jiun-Kuang , Lee Shyi-Long
Published: March 2014

The mechanism of aryl propargyl ether Claisen rearrangement in gas and solvent phase was investigated using DFT methods.
Self-assembly of peptides to nanostructures
Authors: Mandal Dindyal , Nasrolahi Shirazi Amir , Parang Keykavous
Published: March 2014

The formation of well-ordered nanostructures through self-assembly of diverse organic and inorganic building blocks has drawn much attention owing to their potential applications in biology and chemistry.
“Onion peel” dendrimers: a straightforward synthetic approach towards highly diversified architectures
Authors: Sharma Rishi , Naresh Kottari , Chabre Yoann M. , Rej Rabindra , Saadeh Nadim K. , Roy René
Published: March 2014

We report herein a novel “onion peel strategy” for the divergent construction of glycodendrimers using different building blocks at each layer of the dendritic growth.
Hierarchically porous π-conjugated polyHIPE as a heterogeneous photoinitiator for free radical polymerization under visible light
Authors: Wang Zi Jun , Landfester Katharina , Zhang Kai A. I.
Published: March 2014

A hierarchically porous π-conjugated polyHIPE was used as a heterogeneous visible light photoinitiator for the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under a household energy saving light bulb at room temperature.
Enantioselective heterogeneous Brønsted acid catalysis
Authors: Mutyala Anil Kumar , Patil Nitin T.
Published: March 2014

This highlight describes the state-of-the-art applications of appropriately designed heterogeneous chiral Brønsted acid catalysts and their applications in organic synthesis.
Singlet carbenes as mimics for transition metals: synthesis of an air stable organic mixed valence compound [M2(C2)+˙; M = cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene]
Authors: Jin Liqun , Melaimi Mohand , Liu Liu Leo , Bertrand Guy
Published: March 2014

A bis-carbene-stabilized ethynyl radical cation, a purely organic mixed valence compound, is indefinitely air stable.
Efficient catalytic-free method to produce α-aryl cycloalkanones through highly chemoselective coupling of aryl compounds with oxyallyl cations
Authors: Luo Juan , Zhou Hui , Hu Jiwei , Wang Rui , Tang Qiang
Published: March 2014

Efficient catalytic-free method to produce α-aryl cycloalkanones through highly chemoselective coupling of aryl compounds with oxyallyl cations at room temperature.
Platinum nanoparticles supported on ionic liquid-modified-silica gel: hydrogenation catalysts
Authors: Foppa Lucas , Dupont Jairton , Scheeren Carla W.
Published: March 2014

Platinum nanoparticles (ca.2.3 nm) dispersed in ionic liquids and functionalized ionic liquids were supported within a silica network by the sol–gel method.
Fabric-based flexible electrode with multi-walled carbon nanotubes@Ni network structure as a novel anode for hydrogen peroxide electrooxidation
Authors: Zhang Dongming , Ye Ke , Cheng Kui , Xu Yang , Yin Jinling , Cao Dianxue , Wang Guiling
Published: March 2014

A simple method involving dyeing and electrodeposition is introduced to fabricate a three-dimensional Ni@multi-walled carbon nanotubes flexible electrode on wearable fabric.
Microfluidic long-term differential oxygenation for bacterial growth characteristics analyses
Authors: Cui Xin , Yip Hon Ming , Zhu Qian , Yang Chengpeng , Lam Raymond H. W.
Published: March 2014

Dissolved oxygen is a critical micro-environmental factor to determine the growth characteristics of bacteria, such as cell viability, migration, aggregation and metabolic processes.
Continuous synthesis of colloidal chalcopyrite copper indium diselenide nanocrystal inks
Authors: Kim Ki-Joong , Oleksak Richard P. , Pan Changqing , Knapp Michael W. , Kreider Peter B. , Herman Gregory S. , Chang Chih-Hung
Published: March 2014

A continuous synthetic method in a micro-tubular reactor is introduced for synthesizing mono-disperse and solution-stable chalcopyrite colloidal copper indium diselenide nanocrystal (CuInSe2 NC) inks with potential scalability.
Surface modification of TiO2 nanotube arrays with Y2O3 barrier layer: controlling charge recombination dynamics in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Lin Lu-Yin , Yeh Min-Hsin , Chen Chia-Yuan , Vittal R. , Wu Chun-Guey , Ho Kuo-Chuan
Published: March 2014

TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) with advanced architecture of high surface-to-volume ratio and open-up geometry coated with a wide band gap barrier layer of Y2O3 to retard back transfer of electrons is applied on a flexible photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
Construction of a photoanode with varied TiO2nanostructures for a Z907-sensitized solar cell with efficiency exceeding 10%
Authors: Shiu Jia-Wei , Lan Zih-Jian , Chan Chien-Yi , Wu Hui-Ping , Wei-Guang Diau Eric
Published: March 2014

The Z907-sensitized solar cells attained power conversion efficiencies exceeding 10% with the HDP-ML and HD1-BL film configurations.
Graphene–Co3O4nanocomposite as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for lithium–air batteries
Authors: Sun Chunwen , Li Fan , Ma Chao , Wang Yan , Ren Yulan , Yang Wei , Ma Zhaohui , Li Jianqi , Chen Yujin , Kim Youngsik , Chen Liquan
Published: March 2014

Graphene–Co3O4nanocomposite as an efficient bifunctional catalyst for lithium–air batteries.
Parkin is activated by PINK1-dependent phosphorylation of ubiquitin at Ser65
Authors: Kazlauskaite Agne , Kondapalli Chandana , Gourlay Robert , Campbell David G. , Ritorto Maria Stella , Hofmann Kay , Alessi Dario R. , Knebel Axel , Trost Matthias , Muqit Miratul M. K.
Published: March 2014

We have previously reported that the Parkinson's disease-associated kinase PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) is activated by mitochondrial depolarization and stimulates the Parkin E3 ligase by phosphorylating Ser65 within its Ubl (ubiquitin-like) domain. Using phosphoproteomic analysis, we identified a novel ubiquitin phosphopeptide phosphorylated at Ser65 that was enriched 14-fold in HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cells overexpressing wild-type PINK1 stimulated with the mitochondrial uncoupling agent CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone), to activate PINK1, compared with cells expressing kinase-inactive PINK1. Ser65 in ubiquitin lies in a similar motif to Ser65 in the Ubl domain of Parkin. Remarkably, PINK1 directly phosphorylates Ser65 of ubiquitin in vitro. We undertook a series of experiments that provide striking evidence that Ser65-phosphorylated ubiquitin (ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65) functions as a critical activator of Parkin. First, we demonstrate that a fragment of Parkin lacking the Ubl domain encompassing Ser65 (ΔUbl-Parkin) is robustly activated by ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65, but not by non-phosphorylated ubiquitin. Secondly, we find that the isolated Parkin Ubl domain phosphorylated at Ser65 (UblPhospho−Ser65) can also activate ΔUbl-Parkin similarly to ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65. Thirdly, we establish that ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65, but not non-phosphorylated ubiquitin or UblPhospho−Ser65, activates full-length wild-type Parkin as well as the non-phosphorylatable S65A Parkin mutant. Fourthly, we provide evidence that optimal activation of full-length Parkin E3 ligase is dependent on PINK1-mediated phosphorylation of both Parkin at Ser65 and ubiquitin at Ser65, since only mutation of both proteins at Ser65 completely abolishes Parkin activation. In conclusion, the findings of the present study reveal that PINK1 controls Parkin E3 ligase activity not only by phosphorylating Parkin at Ser65, but also by phosphorylating ubiquitin at Ser65. We propose that phosphorylation of Parkin at Ser65 serves to prime the E3 ligase enzyme for activation by ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65, suggesting that small molecules that mimic ubiquitinPhospho−Ser65 could hold promise as novel therapies for Parkinson's disease.
Immigration Within the United States: Prevalence of Childhood Hearing Loss Revisited
Authors: Pape Lindsay , Kennedy Kaitlyn , Kaf Wafaa , Zahirsha Zisansha
Published: March 2014

Purpose

As more adult and child immigrants enter the United States each year, there is a high likelihood that the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in the United States is underestimated, given estimations of the number of immigrant children entering the country with hearing loss.

Method

Information was collected using online search engines and peer-reviewed journals. The most recent articles available through search engines included in EBSCO
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at the time were used. The gathered data were organized by emigrating country, and the 2 countries with the highest immigration rates were presented. Estimations of the number of children immigrating with hearing loss were made using data from published peer-reviewed articles and government reports on immigration.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hearing loss in the United States is underestimated when considering undetected hearing loss in immigrant children. The addition of the immigrant children from only Mexico and China presents a 7.5% increase in the total number of children in the United States with hearing loss. This reinforces the importance of early detection of hearing loss in these children, resulting in more accurate estimation of the rate of childhood hearing loss in the United States and better planning for intervention programs.
Multipath cancellation by frequency diversity: a training‐free and analytical approach to accurate RSS ranging in ground‐deployed wireless sensor networks
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Qi Wangdong , Liu Peng , Wei Li
Published: March 2014

Received signal strength (RSS) ranging in multipath environments suffers from two major drawbacks: laborious training and poor accuracy. Based on the observation that frequency‐squared weighted RSS is periodic with respect to carrier frequency, multipath cancellation by frequency diversity (MCFD) is proposed, which is a novel training‐free approach to RSS ranging that makes RSS measurements at multiple frequencies and combines them together to cancel out the multipath effect. Simulations and experimental results in two common scenarios for ground‐deployed wireless sensor networks show that MCFD outperforms traditional RSS ranging in accuracy.
Energy‐efficient high‐accuracy switching method for SAR ADCs
Authors: Rahimi E. , Yavari M.
Published: March 2014

A new tri‐level switching method for successive approximation register (SAR) analogue‐to‐digital converters (ADCs) is presented. The proposed switching method enhances the efficiency of digital‐to‐analogue converter switching energy by 93.7% and achieves a 75% reduction in the total capacitor size, compared with the conventional SAR ADC. In addition, the accuracy of the proposed SAR ADC has no dependency on the accuracy of the mid‐level reference voltage (Vcm) except in the least significant bit, and the common‐mode voltage at the input of the comparator will remain approximately unchanged. Analytical calculations and behavioural simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed switching scheme.
Wavelet‐Markov local descriptor for detecting fake fingerprints
Authors: Gragnaniello D. , Poggi G. , Sansone C. , Verdoliva L.
Published: March 2014

The use of a wavelet‐Markov local descriptor, which exploits joint dependencies among wavelet coefficients, for fingerprint liveness detection, is proposed. On the LivDet 2009 datasets, a properly trained support vector machine classifier based on this descriptor guarantees an average error below 3%, as opposed to the 8% average error of the best conventional techniques.
Enhancing MESSL algorithm with robust clustering based on Student's t‐distribution
Authors: Zohny Z.Y. , Naqvi S.M. , Chambers J.A.
Published: March 2014

The model‐based expectation maximisation source separation and localisation (MESSL) algorithm is enhanced through the integration of robust clustering based on the Student's t‐distribution. This heavy‐tailed distribution, as compared with the Gaussian distribution used in MESSL, can potentially capture in a better manner the outlier values in the univariate parametric modelling of the time–frequency (T–F) points and thereby lead to more accurate probabilistic masks for source separation. In particular, the Student's t‐distribution is exploited in modelling the interaural phase difference (IPD) in order to represent in a better manner the uncertainties introduced by the statistical non‐stationarity of the speech signals and the associated small sample length effects. Simulation studies based on speech mixtures formed from the TIMIT database confirm the advantage of the proposed approach in terms of the signal to distortion ratio (SDR).
Regional tropical deforestation detection using ALOS PALSAR 50 m mosaics in Riau province, Indonesia
Authors: Zeng Tao , Dong Xichao , Quegan Shaun , Hu Cheng , Uryu Yumiko
Published: March 2014

ALOS PALSAR has provided a five‐year archive of systematic global tropical forest coverage, released as slope‐corrected and ortho‐rectified 50 m mosaic products by JAXA, which are of great help to monitor forest changes. Based on the mosaics, a map of deforestation between the years 2007 and 2008 is built for Riau province, Indonesia, achieving a detection rate of over 86% at a false alarm rate of 20%, calculated by treating independent World Wildlife Fund (WWF) 2007 and 2008 maps as a reference. Non‐forest is discriminated from forest by thresholding the HH/HV ratio in the PALSAR data. Deforestation is then estimated by detecting non‐forest in the 2008 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image (acquired close in time to the WWF 2008 reference map) within the region identified as natural forest in the WWF 2007 reference map. This reduces the errors caused by comparing the change detection between the bi‐temporal SAR images with the WWF reference maps that are temporally mismatched with the SAR data, leading to more realistic estimates of the ability of PALSAR to detect deforestation than was previously reported.
Parametric macromodelling of linear high‐frequency systems using multiple frequency scaling and sequential sampling
Authors: Chemmangat K. , Ferranti F. , Dhaene T. , Knockaert L.
Published: March 2014

An enhanced parametric macromodelling scheme is presented for linear high‐frequency systems based on the use of multiple frequency scaling coefficients and a sequential sampling algorithm to fully automate the entire modelling process. The proposed method is applied on a ring resonator bandpass filter example and compared with another state‐of‐the‐art macromodelling method to show its improved modelling capability and reduced setup time.