bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological characteristics of internationally adopted post-institutionalized children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Gindis Boris
Published: March 2014

Gindis, B. (2014). Psychological characteristics of internationally adopted post-institutionalized children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 35-42. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.133Aims: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) is widely observed in internationally adopted (IA) post-institutionalized children. The specificity of FASD in IA children has significant practical implications and necessitates a modified methodology for identification and remediation.Design methods, and participants: Clinical case study with statistical analysis (simple frequency recorded in an Excel spreadsheet); quantitative and qualitative data was obtained through individual medical, neuropsychological, and educational assessments of 63 children, ages five to sixteen, adopted from Eastern Europe to the United States.Findings: FASD in international adoptees presents amplified characteristics typical for this condition, with the following specificities revealed in our research: rapid first-language loss and a particular pattern of English language learning; profound complex childhood trauma related to extreme deprivation and institutional upbringing; “mixed maturity” evident in impaired executive functions; low predictive accuracy during a pre-adoption screening for FASD conditions; general cognitive ability (IQ) being in the Low Average to Borderline range, with processing speed, attention, and working memory as the weakest cognitive skills; and academic achievements being higher than could be predicted based on cognitive abilities.Conclusions: FASD must be recognized as an educational handicap in our school system in order to change the outcomes for afflicted children. Educational remediation and cognitive-behavioral therapeutic intervention are the most effective remedial methods for IA children with FASD. Practical recommendations for adoptive parents include early identification and specialized remediation of “secondary” disabilities through concerted efforts of the school and family.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders must be recognized globally as a large public health problem
Authors: Popova Svetlana , Chambers Christina
Published: March 2014

Popova, S., & Chambers, C. (2014). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders must be recognized globally as a large public health problem. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 1-3. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.174We are pleased to start a new year by introducing the Second Special Issue on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which contains 11 original research papers.
An international campaign to raise awareness of the risks of drinking in pregnancy
Authors: Bazzo Stefanie , Marini Francesco , Black Diane
Published: March 2014

Bazzo, S., Marini, F., & Black, D. (2014). An international campaign to raise awareness of the risks of drinking in pregnancy. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 3(1), 113-116. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v3i1.175Prenatal exposure to alcohol is a major cause of birth defects and developmental disorders around the world. Prevention is a complex issue, with one factor being poor understanding of the risks of drinking during pregnancy. Awareness campaigns have emerged as an effective tool to increase knowledge of the risks in a manner which embraces the whole public and avoids creating stigma. Unfortunately many organizations lack the expertise or resources to develop, carry out, and evaluate such campaigns. The EUFASD Alliance, in collaboration with partners in health education from the Local Health Authority of Treviso, Italy, and a creative partner, Fabrica, propose to develop a campaign which can be adapted to countries and cultures around the world. A key goal is empowerment of individuals and local groups to make choices and change behaviors. A network of partners around the world is being developed to carry out the campaign. Most importantly, the effectiveness of the campaign will be evaluated in several key centers around the world.
Photodissociation of water and O(3PJ) formation on a lunar impact melt breccia
Authors: DeSimone Alice J. , Orlando Thomas M.
Published: March 2014

Photodissociation of water deposited on an impact melt breccia collected during Apollo 16 was studied by measuring O(3PJ = 2,1,0) photoproducts detected with resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization. For each spin‐orbit state, the oxygen atom time‐of‐flight (TOF) spectrum was measured as a function of H2O exposure and 157 nm irradiation time. Four Maxwell‐Boltzmann distributions with translational temperatures of 10,000 K, 1800 K, 400 K, and 102 K were required to fit the data. The most likely formation mechanisms are molecular hydrogen elimination following ion‐electron recombination, secondary recombination of hydroxyl radicals, and photodissociation of adsorbed hydroxyls. The irradiation time required to reach maximum oxygen signal suggests that water clusters into islands when adsorbing on the lunar impact melt breccia. After enough irradiation for the oxygen atom yield to reach its maximum, the slowly decreasing signal was fit with an exponential curve to obtain a cross section that represents the rate of surface hydroxyl depletion. For 0.1, 1, and 5 Langmuir (1 L = 10−6 Torr s) H2O exposure, respectively, the measured O(3P) depletion cross sections were 4.9 × 10−20, 6.6 × 10−20, and 4.6 × 10−20 cm2. These results imply that photodissociation of water on the lunar surface cannot account for the large mass‐16 (±1 amu) signal observed in the lunar atmosphere. Unless another significant source of oxygen atoms is present, this unexpectedly large signal is likely due to CH4 or OH.
Crustal structure in the area of the 2002 Molise earthquake: Clues for the evolution of the southern Apennines
Authors: Chiarabba C. , De Gori P. , Latorre D. , Amato A.
Published: March 2014

The Apennines is a mountain belt with paired extension and compression that are explained by the subduction and delamination of the Ionian/Adria lithosphere. During the belt formation, the Adria crust is flexed downward and then incorporated into the wedge after peeling off along some weak level whose origin is still discussed. In southern Apennines, this process seems to have stopped at about 0.7 Ma by the development of a tear in the subducting lithosphere and consequent extension that spread along the mountain range. Seismological data acquired after the 2002 Mw 6.0 Molise strike‐slip earthquake yield modeling the structure of the Adria crust as congealed close to the leading edge of the belt. Tomography images show inverted normal faults within the sedimentary cover (Apulian units). Fault inversion, incomplete close to the compressional front, testifies for a final squeezing of the entire, previously flexed, Apulian continental margin. Pronounced high Vp and low Vp/Vs anomalies are observed at depth greater than 12 km and undoubtfully attributed to heterogeneities of the basement, solving the long‐lasting contention on the nature of similar high‐speed bodies observed beneath the Apennines. Beneath these bodies, we observe a strong reflectivity, suggesting the presence of a fluid‐filled layer in the middle lower crust that may act as a decoupling level in the Apennines tectonics. The deep fluids are also favoring the rupture of strike‐slip earthquakes, like those that occurred in 2002, and the intermediate‐depth seismicity diffused in the Apulian region.
High Degree of Polymerization in a Fullerene‐Containing Supramolecular Polymer
Authors: Isla Helena , Pérez Emilio M. , Martín Nazario
Published: March 2014

Supramolecular polymers based on dispersion forces typically show lower molecular weights (MW) than those based on hydrogen bonding or metal–ligand coordination. We present the synthesis and self‐assembling properties of a monomer featuring two complementary units, a C60 derivative and an exTTF‐based macrocycle, that interact mainly through π–π, charge‐transfer, and van der Waals interactions. Thanks to the preorganization in the host part, a remarkable log Ka=5.1±0.5 in CHCl3 at room temperature is determined for the host–guest couple. In accordance with the large binding constant, the monomer self‐assembles in the gas phase, in solution, and in the solid state to form linear supramolecular polymers with a very high degree of polymerization. A MW above 150 kDa has been found experimentally in solution, while in the solid state the monomer forms extraordinarily long, straight, and uniform fibers with lengths reaching several microns.
A2: Rapid and Sustained Response in Patients Suffering From Severe Cryopyrin‐Associated Periodic Syndromes Treated With Anakinra (Kineret®)
Authors: Leinonen Mika , Hallén Bengt , Olivecrona Hans
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:

Cryopyrin‐Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) are a group of rare inherited autoinflammatory diseases consisting of a spectrum of three conditions: FCAS, Muckle‐Wells Syndrome and the most severe form, NOMID. Anakinra was recently approved in the US for treatment of NOMID and in the European Union for treatment of CAPS. The objective of the present analysis is to assess the response rate to anakinra treatment and time to changes in symptom severity after initiation, withdrawal and re‐institution of the treatment in patients with severe CAPS.

Methods:

A prospective, open‐label withdrawal design study of anakinra treatment with long‐term extension including 43 patients was conducted at the National Institutes of Health (Goldbach‐Mansky et al 2006, Sibley et al 2012). The primary efficacy endpoint, the Diary Symptom Sum Score (DSSS) collected daily up to 60 months included 5 symptoms (fever, rash, joint pain, vomiting, headache); each scored from 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (severe symptoms). Earlier data demonstrated that rash and conjunctivitis disappeared in 3 days in all patients, the DSSS was decreased at 3 months and all patients except one met the criteria of a flare during the 7‐day withdrawal phase (Goldbach‐Mansky et al 2006). In the present analysis, we defined the response as at least 50% improvement from baseline in the weekly average DSSS. The mean changes in DSSS were estimated with Mixed Model for Repeated Measures (MMRM).

Results:

Twenty nine out of the 43 enrolled patients provided valid DSSS data for the analysis. A majority of the patients were children (17% <2 years, 55% 2–11 years, 7% 12–17 years, 21% 18 years or more). All 29 patients responded to the treatment during the first 10 days based on DSSS. The average DSSS decreased from 4.5 to 0.8 in 2 days. This response was maintained throughout the study up to 60 months and at each post‐baseline visit >80% of the patients met the response criteria. Eleven consecutive patients participated in the withdrawal phase at 3 months of treatment. After treatment withdrawal the average DSSS increased from 0.6 to 5.2 (p<0.0001 compared to continuously treated patients). After re‐institution of treatment the DSSS returned to pre‐withdrawal levels within 3 days.

Conclusion:

All patients experienced a rapid response to the anakinra treatment, both initially and after a flare caused by the withdrawal phase. The response was maintained up to 60 months.
Supramolecular Organogels Based on Dendrons and Dendrimers
Authors: Feng Yu , He Yan‐Mei , Fan Qing‐Hua
Published: March 2014

Dendrons and dendrimers have well‐defined, discrete structures that can be precisely controlled at the molecular lever. Owing to their unique architectures and multiple functionalities, dendritic molecules have shown intensive self‐assembly behavior and functional performance. In particular, they have been shown to be promising candidates for applications in the assembly of gel‐phase materials. Furthermore, the introduction of suitable functional moieties into the core, the branches, and/or the periphery of the dendritic gelators enables the construction of smart and functional supramolecular gel materials. Over the past decade, a number of dendritic organogelators that are based on poly(amino acid), poly(amide), and poly(aryl ether) dendrons, or together with multiple alkyl chains on the periphery, have been reported. This review describes the important developments in dendritic organogelators, with an emphasis on new strategies for the molecular design of dendritic gelators, understanding of driving forces for gel formation, and their evolution for potential applications in smart soft materials.
Rollover‐Assisted C(sp2)C(sp3) Bond Formation
Authors: Zucca Antonio , Maidich Luca , Canu Laura , Petretto Giacomo L. , Stoccoro Sergio , Cinellu Maria Agostina , Clarkson Guy J. , Rourke Jonathan P.
Published: March 2014

Rollover cyclometalation involves bidentate heterocyclic donors, unusually acting as cyclometalated ligands. The resulting products, possessing a free donor atom, react differently from the classical cyclometalated complexes. Taking advantage of a “rollover”/“retro‐rollover” reaction sequence, a succession of oxidative addition and reductive elimination in a series of platinum(II) complexes [Pt(N,C)(Me)(PR3)] resulted in a rare C(sp2)C(sp3) bond formation to give the bidentate nitrogen ligands 3‐methyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, 3,6‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, and 3‐methyl‐2‐(2′‐pyridyl)‐quinoline, which were isolated and characterized. The nature of the phosphane PR3is essential to the outcome of the reaction. This route constitutes a new method for the activation and functionalization of CH bond in the C(3) position of bidentate heterocyclic compounds, a position usually difficult to functionalize.
Access to the Aeruginosin Serine Protease Inhibitors through the Nucleophilic Opening of an Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: Total Synthesis of Microcin SF608
Authors: Diethelm Stefan , Schindler Corinna S. , Carreira Erick M.
Published: March 2014

Serine proteases play key roles in many biological processes and are associated with several human diseases such as thrombosis or cancer. During the search for selective inhibitors of serine proteases, a family of linear peptides named the aeruginosins was discovered in marine cyanobacteria. We herein report an entry route into the synthetically challenging core fragment of these natural products. Starting from the common oxabicyclic building block 11, we accessed the octahydroindole core of the aeruginosins, exemplified by the total synthesis of microcin SF608 (2). Key to the synthetic strategy is a highly efficient nucleophilic opening of an oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane producing the hydroindole motif of microcin SF608. Moreover, during the synthetic efforts we have observed an unusual regioselective epoxide reduction. Detailed experimental studies of this reaction led us to propose a mechanistic rationale involving intramolecular hydrogen atom delivery by a carbamate NH group to control the regioselectivity of the homolytic epoxide cleavage.
Ionic‐Liquid‐Assisted Synthesis of Nanostructured and Carbon‐Coated Li3V2(PO4)3 for High‐Power Electrochemical Storage Devices
Authors: Zhang Xiaofei , Böckenfeld Nils , Berkemeier Frank , Balducci Andrea
Published: March 2014

Carbon‐coated Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) displaying nanostructured morphology can be easily prepared by using ionic‐liquid‐assisted sol–gel synthesis. The selection of highly viscous and thermally stable ionic liquids might promote the formation of nanostructures during the sol–gel synthesis. The presence of these structures shortens the diffusion paths and enlarges the contact area between the active material and the electrolyte; this leads to a significant improvement in lithium‐ion diffusion. At the same time, the use of ionic liquids has a positive influence on the coating of the LVP particles, which improves the electronic conductivity of this material; this leads to enhanced charge‐transfer properties. At a high current density of 40 C, the LVP/N‐butyl‐N‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide material delivered a reversible capacity of approximately 100 mA h g−1, and approximately 99 % of the initial capacity value was retained even after 100 cycles at 50 C. The excellent high rate and cycling stability performance make Li3V2(PO4)3 prepared by ionic‐liquid‐assisted sol–gel synthesis a very promising cathode material for high‐power electrochemical storage devices.
REM sleep twitches rouse nascent cerebellar circuits: Implications for sensorimotor development
Authors: Sokoloff Greta , Uitermarkt Brandt D. , Blumberg Mark S.
Published: March 2014

The cerebellum is critical for sensorimotor integration and undergoes extensive postnatal development. During the first postnatal week in rats, climbing fibers polyinnervate Purkinje cells and, before granule cell migration, mossy fibers make transient, direct connections with Purkinje cells. Activity‐dependent processes are assumed to play a critical role in the development and refinement of these and other aspects of cerebellar circuitry. However, the sources and patterning of activity have not been described. We hypothesize that sensory feedback (i.e., reafference) from myoclonic twitches in sleeping newborn rats is a prominent driver of activity for the developing cerebellum. Here, in 6‐day‐old rats, we show that Purkinje cells exhibit substantial state‐dependent changes in complex and simple spike activity—primarily during active sleep. In addition, this activity increases significantly during bouts of twitching. Moreover, the surprising observation of twitch‐dependent increases in simple spike activity at this age suggests a functional engagement of mossy fibers before the parallel fiber system has developed. Based on these and other results, we propose that twitching comprises a unique class of self‐produced movement that drives critical aspects of activity‐dependent development in the cerebellum and other sensorimotor systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 1140–1153, 2015
Scalable synthesis of highly pure 2‐monoolein by enzymatic ethanolysis
Authors: Wang Xiaosan , Liang Li , Yu Zhenzhen , Rui Lilian , Jin Qingzhe , Wang Xingguo
Published: March 2014

It has been reported that 2‐monoolein exhibits various biological activities. In this study, an enzymatic method is reported for the synthesis of highly pure 2‐monoolein by ethanolysis of oleic acid‐rich oil. The effects of solvent type, addition amounts of solvent and lipase, and reaction time on 2‐MAGs content in the crude reaction mixture were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, there was 37.6% (area/area) 2‐MAGs produced in the crude mixture. 2‐MAGs were obtained at 97–98% purity and 33.6% yield (w/w) after fractionation in 85% ethanol aqueous solution and hexane to fully remove impurities including DAGs, TAGs, and fatty acid ethyl esters. Subsequently, 2‐MAGs were purified further by two‐step crystallization in hexane to remove saturated and polyunsaturated 2‐MAGs to obtain pure 2‐monoolein. After the two‐step crystallization, 97.5% 2‐monoolein was obtained at 78.3% yield (w/w). Compared to previous methods, our method for the synthesis of 2‐monoolein is easier to scale up, obtain highly pure 2‐monoolein product and more economical. In addition, the study on the effect of solvent type suggests that selectivity of the lipase and acyl migration of 2‐MAGs may be affected by reaction solvent polarity.

Practical application: Synthetic 2‐monoolein can be used as emulsifier and surfactant in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic and other industries. In addition, 2‐monoolein has exhibited strong antioxidation and anti‐atherosclerotic properties in vitro and in a cellular model. Thus, 2‐monoolein has potential application in treating cardiovascular diseases.
Bile analysis using high‐throughput FTIR spectroscopy for the diagnosis of malignant biliary strictures: a pilot study in 57 patients
Authors: Untereiner Valérie , Dhruvananda Sockalingum Ganesh , Garnotel Roselyne , Gobinet Cyril , Ramaholimihaso Fidy , Ehrhard Florent , Diebold Marie‐Danièle , Thiéfin Gérard
Published: March 2014

This study aimed at determining whether FTIR spectroscopy is able to distinguish bile samples from patients with and without malignant biliary strictures. Bile samples were collected in 19 patients with malignant biliary strictures and 38 with benign biliary diseases during endoscopic procedures. FTIR spectra were acquired on dried drops of whole bile, aqueous and organic phases obtained after lipid extraction. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis and by the support vector machine classification using a leave‐n‐out cross validation procedure. This was applied to the whole set of spectra and the mean and median spectra of each patient. By leaving one patient out, the classifier allowed discriminating patients with and without malignant biliary strictures with a sensitivity between 82% and 95% and a specificity between 85% and 100%. Using a randomized leave‐n ‐out cross‐validation with n = 2, 5 and 10 patients, the sensitivity decreased slightly by about 5 to 10% while the specificity remained stable, suggesting the robustness of the classifier. FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics therefore shows potential to differentiate bile from patients with and without malignant biliary strictures. Although promising, the results of this pilot study cannot be generalized and needs to be confirmed in a larger population. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Extraction of site–site bridge functions and effective pair potentials from simulations of polar molecular liquids
Authors: Chuev Gennady N. , Vyalov Ivan , Georgi Nikolaj
Published: March 2014

We develop an efficient method to extract site–site bridge functions from molecular simulations. The method is based on the inverse solution of the reference site interaction model. Using the exact long‐range asymptotics of site–site direct correlation functions defined by the site–site Ornstein–Zernike equations, we regularize the ill‐posed inverse problem, and then calculate site–site bridge functions and effective pair potentials for ambient water, methanol, and ethanol. We have tested the proposed algorithm and checked its performance. Our study has revealed various peculiarities of the site–site bridge functions, such as long‐range behavior, strong dependence on the electrostatic interactions. Using the obtained data, we have calculated thermodynamic properties of the solvents, namely, isothermal compressibility, internal energy, and Kirkwood‐Buff integrals. The obtained values are in excellent agreement not only with molecular simulations but also with available experimental data. Further extensions of the method are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Landmine‐detection rats: An evaluation of reinforcement procedures under simulated operational conditions
Authors: Mahoney Amanda , Lalonde Kate , Edwards Timothy , Cox Christophe , Weetjens Bart , Poling Alan
Published: March 2014

Because the location of landmines is initially unknown, it is impossible to arrange differential reinforcement for accurate detection of landmines by pouched rats working on actual minefields. Therefore, provision must be made for maintenance of accurate responses by an alternative reinforcement strategy. The present experiment evaluated a procedure in which a plastic bag containing 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), the active ingredient in most landmines, was placed in contact with the ground in a disturbed area, then removed, to establish opportunities for reinforcement. Each of five rats continued to accurately detect landmines when extinction was arranged for landmine‐detection responses and detections of TNT‐contaminated locations were reinforced under a fixed‐ratio 1 schedule. The results of this translational research study suggest that the TNT‐contamination procedure is a viable option for arranging reinforcement opportunities for rats engaged in actual landmine‐detection activities and the viability of this procedure is currently being evaluated on minefields in Angola and Mozambique.
Methodological quality of national guidelines for pediatric inpatient conditions
Authors: Hester Gabrielle , Nelson Katherine , Mahant Sanjay , Eresuma Emily , Keren Ron , Srivastava Rajendu
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Guidelines help inform standardization of care for quality improvement (QI). The Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings network published a prioritization list of inpatient conditions with high prevalence, cost, and variation in resource utilization across children's hospitals. The methodological quality of guidelines for priority conditions is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To rate the methodological quality of national guidelines for 20 priority pediatric inpatient conditions.

DESIGN

We searched sources including PubMed for national guidelines published from 2002 to 2012. Guidelines specific to 1 organism, test or treatment, or institution were excluded. Guidelines were rated by 2 raters using a validated tool (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation) with an overall rating on a 7‐point scale (7 = the highest). Inter‐rater reliability was measured with a weighted kappa coefficient.

RESULTS

Seventeen guidelines met inclusion criteria for 13 conditions; 7 conditions yielded no relevant national guidelines. The highest methodological‐quality guidelines were for asthma, tonsillectomy, and bronchiolitis (mean overall rating 7, 6.5, and 6.5, respectively); the lowest were for sickle cell disease (2 guidelines) and dental caries (mean overall rating 4, 3.5, and 3, respectively). The overall weighted kappa was 0.83 (95% confidence interval 0.78–0.87).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a group of moderate to high methodological‐quality national guidelines for priority pediatric inpatient conditions. Hospitals should consider these guidelines to inform QI initiatives. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:384–390. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Circulating pro‐ and anti‐angiogenic mediators in patients infected with hepatitis C at different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Talaat Roba M. , Salem Tarek A. , El‐Masry Samir , Imbarek Arafat , Mokhles Mohamed , Abdel‐Aziz Amal
Published: March 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor characterized by neovascularization. The objective of the current study was to determine circulating proangiogenic [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α)] and antiangiogenic [IL‐4, IL‐12, interferon gamma‐induced protein 10 (IP‐10), and angiostatin] factors in Egyptian patients with different stages of HCC. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of these mediators in plasma of 135 HCC patients (57 Child‐Pugh A, 24 Child‐Pugh B, and 54 Child‐Pugh C stage) and 50 healthy subjects. Results showed a significant increase in plasma levels of VEGF (P < 0.001), PDGF (P < 0.001), TNF‐α (P < 0.01), angiostatin (P < 0.01), and IP‐10 (P < 0.001) and a significant reduction in IL‐12 (P < 0.001) in HCC patients in relation to normal controls. Classifying HCC patients based on their Child‐Pugh's score revealed that the maximum production of proangiogenic mediators (VEGF and TNF‐α) was present in HCC patients with Child‐Pugh C score which coincides with maximum reduction in antiangiogenic mediators (IL‐4, IL‐12, and angiostatin). Taken together, these results indicated that the determination of these factors in different Child‐Pugh's scores of HCC might be an important guide in clinical decision making regarding therapy and outcome. J. Med. Virol. 86:1120–1129, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Esterified xylo‐oligosaccharides for stabilization of Tween 80‐stabilized oil‐in‐water emulsions: stabilization mechanism, rheological properties, and stability of emulsions
Authors: Udomrati Sunsanee , Gohtani Shoichi
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

Amphiphilic oligosaccharides have hydrophilic and hydrophobic subregions; therefore they can act like surfactants, while maintaining the viscous properties of the starting materials as stabilizers in emulsions. In the present work, xylo‐oligosaccharides were modified by enzymatic esterification. Their emulsifying and stabilizing properties may improve the stability of emulsions, which could be explained by rheological properties.

RESULTS

The degree of substitution (DS) of esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide ranged between 0.042 and 0.066. The esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide was adsorbed on to the surface of the oil droplets. The critical flocculation concentrations (CFCs) of Tween 80‐stabilized emulsions containing native and esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide were 140 and 190 g kg−1, respectively. At concentrations below CFC, no creaming or flocculation was observed and the flow behavior of emulsions was Newtonian. At concentrations above CFC, emulsions containing native and esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide showed extensive flocculation of emulsion droplets; consequently, shear‐thinning flow behavior was expressed. Further increases in the concentration improved the creaming stability. The concentration and type of esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide influenced the rate of creaming, whereas flow behavior of emulsions containing esterified xylo‐oligosaccharide was clearly induced by concentration.

CONCLUSION

Esterified xylo‐oligosaccharides have potential as emulsifiers and stabilizers, since they extended the CFC and were more effective in preventing creaming, compared with the native species. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Analysis of volatile components extracted from the peels of four different Chinese pomelos using TDS‐GC‐MS
Authors: Shao Qingsong , Liu Hongbo , Zhang Ailian , Wan Yangyan , Hu Runhuai , Li Mingyan
Published: March 2014

BACKGROUND

The rational utilization of the resources of Chinese pomelo peels requires reliable fast evaluation methods for their quality. However, how to improve the accuracy of prediction of the volatile organic compounds in the peels is not well addressed. In this study dynamic headspace collection combined with thermal desorption system/cold trap injection and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TDS‐GC‐MS) was employed to examine the volatile organic compounds in the peels of four different types of Chinese pomelos.

RESULTS

All four kinds of pomelo peels contained substantial quantities of olefins, such as limonene, β‐myrcene, α‐pinene, β‐pinene, α‐phellandrene and terpinolene, although there were obvious differences in the volatile organic compound profiles obtained from the pomelos under the same test conditions. Extractions of Yuhuan, Xiangyou, Huangjin sweet and Guanxi sweet pomelo peels were found in a total of 34, 16, 9 and 20 different volatile compounds, representing total mass fractions of 99.18%, 99.88%, 100% and 99.33% of the overall extraction yield.

CONCLUSION

The advantage of this innovative method to the determination of volatile components in the peels of different pomelos is that it allows volatile components to be extracted from the fruit in its natural state. The volatile organic compounds of different kinds of pomelo peels under the same test conditions were obviously different. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that this method represents a novel and rapid means of evaluating pomelo peel quality. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Is distal fibular fracture an absolute contraindication to free fibular flap harvesting? Areview of evidence in the literature and illustration by a successful case
Authors: Chan Richie Chiu‐Lung , Wei Fu‐Chan , Wong Jason Kin Fai , Wu Chao‐Min
Published: March 2014

Despite the advantages of a fibula flap, many surgeons would often be hesitant in its use in patients with a history of distal fibular fracture. The chief concern is the potential vascular damage sustained during the injury. From our experience, however, we noticed that the blood supply of various components of a fibula flap rarely relies on its distal part alone. Avoiding the use of this flap may unnecessarily forgo the optimal reconstructive option in many patients. Free fibula flap was harvested from a 41‐year‐old man who had a history of left fibula fracture 10 years before surgery. The fracture was treated with open reduction with internal fixation. The plate was removed 1 year after the trauma surgery. We used this fractured and healed fibula to reconstruct the intraoral and mandibular defect after tumor extirpation. The harvesting process was straight‐forward and the flap survived uneventfully. On the basis of our experience and current evidence in the literature, we believe that a history of previous fibular fracture should not be considered as an absolute contraindication for free fibular flap harvesting. With a good knowledge of the lower limb anatomy and appropriate patient selection, the fibular flap can still be a safe option that incurs no additional risk. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:60–63, 2015.
Field programmable gate array based predictive control system for spacecraft rendezvous in elliptical orbits
Authors: Hartley Edward N. , Maciejowski Jan M.
Published: March 2014

A field programmable gate array (FPGA) based model predictive controller for two phases of spacecraft rendezvous is presented. Linear time‐varying prediction models are used to accommodate elliptical orbits, and a variable prediction horizon is used to facilitate finite time completion of the longer range manoeuvres, whilst a fixed and receding prediction horizon is used for fine‐grained tracking at close range. The resulting constrained optimisation problems are solved using a primal–dual interior point algorithm. The majority of the computational demand is in solving a system of simultaneous linear equations at each iteration of this algorithm. To accelerate these operations, a custom circuit is implemented, using a combination of Mathworks HDL Coder and Xilinx System Generator for DSP, and used as a peripheral to a MicroBlaze soft‐core processor on the FPGA, on which the remainder of the system is implemented. Certain logic that can be hard‐coded for fixed sized problems is implemented to be configurable online, in order to accommodate the varying problem sizes associated with the variable prediction horizon. The system is demonstrated in closed‐loop by linking the FPGA with a simulation of the spacecraft dynamics running in Simulink on a PC, using Ethernet. Timing comparisons indicate that the custom implementation is substantially faster than pure embedded software‐based interior point methods running on the same MicroBlaze and could be competitive with a pure custom hardware implementation.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A privacy‐preserving location tracking system for smartphones based on cloud storage
Authors: Zhao Kao , Jin Hai , Zou Deqing , Dai Weiqi , Xiang Yang
Published: March 2014

With the widespread use of smartphones, the loss of a device is a critical problem, which results both in disrupting daily communications and losing valuable property. As a result, tracking systems have been developed to track mobile devices. Previous tracking systems focus on recovering the device's locations after it goes missing, with security methods implemented on the clients. However, users' locations are stored in untrusted third‐party services, which may be attacked or eavesdropped. In this paper, we propose a system, named Android Cloud Tracker, to provide a privacy‐preserving tracking client and safe storing of user's locations. We use cloud storage controlled by users themselves as storage facilities, and they do not need to worry about any untrusted third party. We implement Android Cloud Tracker prototype on Android phones, and the evaluation shows that it is both practical and lightweight: it generates a small amount of data flow and its distributed architecture provides strong guarantees of location privacy while preserving the ability to efficiently track missing devices. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Momentum transfer dependence of reflection electron energy loss spectra: theory and experiment
Authors: Calliari Lucia , Dapor Maurizio , Garberoglio Giovanni , Fanchenko Sergey
Published: March 2014

Measured reflection electron energy loss spectra excited by 2 keV electrons in Si are simulated by a Monte Carlo approach using the Chen–Kwei theory to calculate the position‐dependent inverse inelastic mean free path. By comparing measured and calculated spectra, several prescriptions concerning the momentum transfer dependence of the material dielectric function are discussed. Our results lend support to the approximation (often taken with the only justification of making relations simpler) of neglecting the momentum transfer component normal to the surface in the surface region. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Permutation tests for centre effect on survival endpoints with application in an acute myeloid leukaemia multicentre study
Authors: Biard L. , Porcher R. , Resche‐Rigon M.
Published: March 2014

When analysing multicentre data, it may be of interest to test whether the distribution of the endpoint varies among centres. In a mixed‐effect model, testing for such a centre effect consists in testing to zero a random centre effect variance component. It has been shown that the usual asymptoticχ2distribution of the likelihood ratio and score statistics under the null does not necessarily hold. In the case of censored data, mixed‐effects Cox models have been used to account for random effects, but few works have concentrated on testing to zero the variance component of the random effects. We propose a permutation test, using random permutation of the cluster indices, to test for a centre effect in multilevel censored data. Results from a simulation study indicate that the permutation tests have correct type I error rates, contrary to standard likelihood ratio tests, and are more powerful. The proposed tests are illustrated using data of a multicentre clinical trial of induction therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia patients. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dissolution of Soap Scum by Surfactant. Part II: Effects of NaCl and Added Chelant on Equilibrium Solubility and Dissolution Rate of Calcium Soap Scum in Amphoteric Surfactant Solutions
Authors: Itsadanont Sawwalak , Ratanalert Darunrat , Soontravanich Sukhwan , Scamehorn John F. , Sabatini David A. , Chavadej Sumaeth
Published: March 2014

The effects of solution pH and NaCl on the equilibrium solubility and dissolution rate of a model soap scum (calcium octadecanoate or calcium stearate) in aqueous solutions of dimethyldodecylamine oxide surfactant (DDAO) with and without chelant disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate are reported. The equilibrium solubility and dissolution rate of soap scum increased with increasing solution pH when the chelant was added in the DDAO system while in the chelant‐free systems the opposite trend was observed. The added NaCl has an ambiguous effect on the solubility and dissolution rate of soap scum in the absence of chelant, but a small level of added NaCl reduces both solubility and the dissolution rate constant in the presence of chelant. Both equilibrium and kinetics of dissolution are maximized at high pH with DDAO/chelant and no added salt.
Solvent‐Assisted Crystallization of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters from Animal Fat
Authors: Strohmeier Katharina , Schober Sigurd , Mittelbach Martin
Published: March 2014

An easy and efficient method for the separation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid mono alkyl esters, prepared from animal fat, was developed. The most efficient separation was achieved by the use of solvents such as methanol and acetone at low temperatures. The dilution of the alkyl esters with 10 times the amount of solvent (10:1 v/w) and storage of the mixture for 4 h at −22 °C could be defined as optimum conditions. After filtration of the saturated fraction at the corresponding temperature very pure fractions were obtained. For fatty acid methyl esters deriving from tallow, with an initial content of saturated fatty acids of almost 50 %, a saturated ester fraction with only 5 % unsaturated fatty acids and an unsaturated ester fraction with about 9 % of saturated fatty acids could be obtained. The solvent easily could be recovered by distillation. In addition fatty acid ethyl, 1‐propyl, 2‐propyl, 1‐butyl, tert‐butyl and 3‐methyl‐1‐butyl esters were prepared and separated into saturated and unsaturated fractions. All fractions were analyzed according to the fatty acid compositions and showed similar or slightly worse results compared to the methyl esters. The cold filter plugging points of the unsaturated fractions were measured, showing the lowest value for the unsaturated methyl ester fraction at −26 °C. The fractionation with the use of solvents is an easy tool in order to obtain fatty acid alkyl esters with excellent cold temperature behavior out of animal fat.
High expression of long non‐coding RNA H19 is required for efficient tumorigenesis induced by Bcr‐Abl oncogene
Authors: Guo Guijie , Kang Qingzheng , Chen Qinghuang , Chen Zhilong , Wang Jun , Tan Li , Chen Ji-Long
Published: March 2014

Dysregulation of non‐coding RNA H19 has been observed in various tumors. However, it remains unknown whether H19 is involved in Bcr‐Abl‐induced leukemia. Here, we demonstrate a critical requirement for H19 in Bcr‐Abl‐mediated tumorigenesis. H19 was highly expressed in Bcr‐Abl‐transformed cell lines and primary cells derived from patients in a Bcr‐Abl kinase‐dependent manner. Silencing H19 expression sensitized leukemic cells to undergo imatinib‐induced apoptosis and inhibited Bcr‐Abl‐induced tumor growth. Furthermore, H19 was shown to be regulated by c‐Myc in Bcr‐Abl‐expressing cells. These results reveal an important role H19 plays in Bcr‐Abl‐mediated transformation and provide novel insights into complex mechanisms underlying Bcr‐Abl‐induced cancers.
Contribution of obstetrics and gynecology societies in East, Central, and Southern Africa to the prevention of unsafe abortion in the region
Authors: Jaldesa Guyo W.
Published: March 2014

Maternal mortality and morbidity rates are very high in Africa. A large proportion of these deaths is attributed to unsafe abortion. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, in collaboration with its member societies in each participating country, their respective Ministries of Health, and various non‐governmental agencies, has developed an initiative to prevent unsafe abortion and the morbidity and mortality attributed to it. Over the past 5 years, these teams undertook situational analyses, and developed and implemented plans of action. The progress achieved in this region is described in this article.
The temperature spectrum generated by frictional heating in isotropic turbulence
Authors: Bos Wouter J. T.
Published: March 2014

In every turbulent flow with non-zero viscosity, heat is generated by viscous friction. This heat is then mixed by the velocity field. We consider how heat fluctuations generated in this way are injected and distributed over length scales in isotropic turbulence. A triadic closure is derived and numerically integrated. It is shown how the heat fluctuation spectrum depends on the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers.
New scaling laws for turbulent Poiseuille flow with wall transpiration
Authors: Avsarkisov V. , Oberlack M. , Hoyas S.
Published: March 2014

A fully developed, turbulent Poiseuille flow with wall transpiration, i.e. uniform blowing and suction on the lower and upper walls correspondingly, is investigated by both direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the three-dimensional, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and Lie symmetry analysis. The latter is used to find symmetry transformations and in turn to derive invariant solutions of the set of two- and multi-point correlation equations. We show that the transpiration velocity is a symmetry breaking which implies a logarithmic scaling law in the core of the channel. DNS validates this result of Lie symmetry analysis and hence aids establishing a new logarithmic law of deficit type. The region of validity of the new logarithmic law is very different from the usual near-wall log law and the slope constant in the core region differs from the von Kármán constant and is equal to 0.3. Further, extended forms of the linear viscous sublayer law and the near-wall log law are also derived, which, as a particular case, include these laws for the classical non-transpiring case. The viscous sublayer at the suction side has an asymptotic suction profile. The thickness of the sublayer increase at high Reynolds and transpiration numbers. For the near-wall log law we see an indication that it appears at the moderate transpiration rates ($\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}0.05<v_0/u_{\tau }<0.1$) and only at the blowing wall. Finally, from the DNS data we establish a relation between the friction velocity$u_{\tau }$and the transpiration$v_0$which turns out to be linear at moderate transpiration rates.
Preface to the special issue on developments of the concepts of randomness, statistics and probability
Authors: LONGO GIUSEPPE , MUGUR-SCHÄCHTER MIOARA
Published: March 2014

Under a variety of names, and in a more or less explicit form, the concept that we now call ‘probability’ must have taken shape in the mind of human beings since the dawn of thought, as a nuance added to the idea of chance (randomness) or unpredictability, though chance may not be exactly the right word. Some time later, the concepts of what we now describe as ‘statistics’ and ‘statistically stable’, moved away from the idea of ‘chance’ and came closer to something else, which was called ‘probability’ and has been fuzzily conceived as being, in some sense, abstract and ‘ideal’. Throughout history it has been felt that unpredictability can have degrees, and that it can be measured using probabilities.
Barriers and facilitators to following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans reported by rural, Northern Plains American-Indian children
Authors: Jahns Lisa , McDonald Leander , Wadsworth Ann , Morin Charles , Liu Yan , Nicklas Theresa
Published: March 2014

Objective

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) promote healthy dietary choices for all Americans aged 2 years and older; however, the majority of Americans do not meet recommendations. The goal of the present study was to identify both barriers and facilitators to adherence to DGA recommendations for consumption of five recommended food groups: grains (specifically whole grains), vegetables, fruits, meat/beans and milk (specifically reduced-fat/non-fat), among American-Indian children.

Design

Nominal group technique sessions were conducted to identify and prioritize children’s perceived barriers and facilitators to following the DGA, as presented in the ‘MyPyramid’ consumer education icon. After response generation to a single question about each food group (e.g. ‘What sorts of things make it harder (or easier) for kids to follow the MyPyramid recommendation for vegetables?’), children individually ranked their top five most salient responses. Ranked responses are presented verbatim.

Setting

A rural Northern Plains American-Indian reservation, USA.

Subjects

Sixty-one self-selected fifth-grade children.

Results

Core barriers for all food groups studied included personal preference (i.e. ‘don’t like’) and environmental (i.e. ‘cost too much’; ‘store is too far to get them’; ‘grandma don’t have’). Core facilitators included suggestions, i.e. ‘make a garden and plant vegetables’; ‘tell your friends to eat healthy’.

Conclusions

Barriers and facilitators are dissimilar for individual food groups, suggesting that dietary interventions should target reduction of barriers and promotion of facilitators specific to individual food groups recommended by the DGA.