bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound‐guided percutaneous laser ablation in treating symptomatic solid benign thyroid nodules: Our experience in 45 patients
Authors: Achille Gaetano , Zizzi Stefania , Di Stasio Enrico , Grammatica Alberto , Grammatica Luciano
Published: December 2014

Background

Laser ablation may be useful in debulking of benign thyroid nodules.

Methods

In order to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laser ablation, 45 patients with benign solid thyroid nodules, with a fluid component ≤20%, were included in our series between October 2009 and January 2011. All reported pressure and/or cosmetic complaints. Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm was used, with a fix‐power (3W), changing the application time. All patients were evaluated at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months and any complications were recorded.

Results

Mean nodule volume reduction decreased from 24.2 mL ± 19.4 to 4.5 ± 5.2 at 12 months (p < .001). Mean nodule volume reduction was 84% ± 13. Cosmetic signs were completely resolved in 87%, reduced in 9%, unchanged in 2%, and pressure symptoms were resolved in 88%. One patient experienced transient dysphonia.

Conclusion

Ultrasound‐guided laser ablation is an effective tool for treatment of symptomatic benign thyroid nodules in patients not eligible for surgery. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 677–682, 2016
Relative expression of vascular endothelial growth factor isoforms in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Wilkie Mark D. , Emmett Maxine S. , Santosh Shilpa , Lightbody Kathryn A. , Lane Steven , Goodyear Paul W. , Sheard Jon D. , Boyd Mark T. , Pritchard–Jones Rowan O. , Jones Terence M.
Published: December 2014

Background

Alternative splicing of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene results in a family of antiangiogenic isoforms (VEGFxxxb), not yet investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We examined, therefore, the prognostic value of the relative expression of VEGF isoforms in SCCHN.

Methods

A tissue microarray comprising 187 SCCHNs was studied by immunohistochemistry with total VEGF (panVEGF) and VEGFxxxb‐specific antibodies, and scored by 2 assessors for intensity and proportion. Scores were combined and expression ratios calculated.

Results

No meaningful significant differences were observed between panVEGF, VEGFxxxb, or expression ratio, and presence of lymphatic metastasis, or overall survival. This held true when tumor subsites were analyzed independently and when human papillomavirus (HPV) was accounted for in the oropharyngeal subgroup.

Conclusion

Differential VEGF isoform expression is not a reliable prognostic biomarker for either the clinically node negative/pathologically node‐positive neck or overall survival in pharyngeal and laryngeal SCCHNs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 775–781, 2016
Activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor promotes invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis and cigarette smoke
Authors: Ishida Masaru , Mikami Shuji , Shinojima Toshiaki , Kosaka Takeo , Mizuno Ryuichi , Kikuchi Eiji , Miyajima Akira , Okada Yasunori , Oya Mototsugu
Published: December 2014

Although exposure to environmental pollutants is one of the risk factors for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its relationship with carcinogenesis and the progression of RCC remains unknown. The present study was designed to elucidate the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a major mediator of carcinogenesis caused by environmental pollutants, in the progression of RCC. The expression of AhR was investigated in 120 patients with RCC using immunohistochemistry, and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters and prognoses was statistically analyzed. RCC cell lines were exposed to indirubin or 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD), AhR ligands, to activate the AhR pathway, or were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) for AhR. The expression of the AhR target genes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and invasion through MatrigelTM were then examined. AhR was predominantly expressed in the nuclei of high‐grade clear cell RCC (ccRCC) and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and its expression levels in cancer cells and TILs correlated with the pathological tumor stage and histological grade. A multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the strong expression of AhR in cancer cells was a significant and independent predictor of disease‐specific survival. AhR ligands up‐regulated the expression of AhR and CYPs and promoted invasion by up‐regulating MMPs. Furthermore, siRNA for AhR down‐regulated CYPs, and inhibited cancer cell invasion together with the down‐regulation of MMPs. These results suggest that AhR regulates the invasion of ccRCC and may be involved in tumor immunity. Therefore, inhibiting the activation of AhR may represent a potentially attractive therapeutic target for ccRCC patients.
Dispositional Mindfulness, Spirituality, and Substance Use in Predicting Depressive Symptoms in a Treatment‐Seeking Sample
Authors: Shorey Ryan C. , Gawrysiak Michael J. , Anderson Scott , Stuart Gregory L.
Published: December 2014

Objective

It is imperative that research identifies factors related to depression among individuals in substance use treatment, as depression is associated with substance use relapse. Dispositional mindfulness and spirituality may bear an important role in the relationship between depression and substance use.

Method

Using preexisting patient medical records (N = 105), the current study investigated dispositional mindfulness and spirituality in relation to depressive symptom clusters (affective, cognitive, and physiological) among men in residential substance use treatment. The mean age of the sample was 41.03 (standard deviation = 10.75).

Results

Findings demonstrated that dispositional mindfulness and spirituality were negatively associated with depressive symptoms. After controlling for age, alcohol use, and drug use, dispositional mindfulness remained negatively associated with all of the depression clusters. Spirituality only remained associated with the cognitive depression cluster.

Conclusion

Mindfulness‐based interventions may hold promise as an effective intervention for reducing substance use and concurrent depressive symptoms.
Hydro‐conversion of oleic acid in bio‐oil to liquid hydrocarbons: an experimental and modeling investigation
Authors: Forghani Amir Ahmad , Lewis David M
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

This study focused on understanding the reaction kinetics for the hydrocracking process. Oleic acid, as the main component of most bio‐oils, was selected as feedstock for the hydrocracking process. The hydrocracking of oleic acid was performed in a laboratory scale trickle‐bed reactor in the presence of a Ni–Zeolite β catalyst and hydrogen for hydrogenation. The concentrations of oleic acid and the three main components of jet fuel range hydrocarbons produced, which are nonane, decane and dodecane (C9, C10 and C12), were measured with GC analysis.

RESULTS

According to the aforementioned component concentrations, the rate of reaction and the related Arrhenius equation parameters were estimated. The reaction kinetic calculations were subjected to hydrocracking reactor modeling to gain a better understanding of hydrocracking. The concentrations of C9, C10 and C12 were assumed to be a separate lump of the hydrocarbons produced, namely middle hydrocarbon (MC). The reactant and MC lump concentrations throughout the reactor were measured and compared with experimental data. The modeling and experimental results are in reasonable agreement in terms of MC lump production and oleic acid conversion. The oleic acid and MC concentration profiles and reactor wall temperature profiles along the reactor were examined in this research.

CONCLUSION

The outcome of this study can be applied in simulation and commercialisation of hydrocracking as a potential process for biofuel production. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Insecticidal Evaluation and [4+2] Aza‐Diels‐Alder Synthesis of 3,7‐Diaryl‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐6‐substituted Thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5‐ones Under Coupled Ultrasonic Irradiation and PTC
Authors: Gupta Ragini , Sharma Deepti , Verma P. S. , Jain Anshu
Published: December 2014

A series of 3,7‐diaryl‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐6‐substituted‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyrimidin‐5‐ones (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j) were synthesized by the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of 2‐arylideneamino‐4‐arylthiazoles (2a–j) with in situ generated monosubstituted ketenes under PTC conditions coupled with ultrasonication in good to excellent yields. All the synthesized compounds were characterized on the basis of their spectral (IR, PMR, and Mass) and analytical data. The synthesized compounds were also screened for their insecticidal activity against Helicoverpa armigera and some of them showed promising activity.
Tourism‐led Growth Revisited for Spain: Causality, Business Cycles and Structural Breaks
Authors: Mérida Adrian , Golpe Antonio A.
Published: December 2014

This paper is aimed to test the causality relationship between the cycles of tourism and economic development for the case of Spain using quarterly time‐series data on gross domestic product, the number of nights spent in Spanish tourist accommodations and real exchange rates from 1980 to 2013. A distinction between nights spent by foreign and national tourists is also made. Although no evidence of causality is found on preliminary results, structural breaks affecting the relationships between the variables are detected. Causality from economic growth towards tourist activity is found until 1985. Results also confirm bidirectional causality from 2000 onwards. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ZTE imaging with long‐T2 suppression
Authors: Weiger Markus , Wu Mingming , Wurnig Moritz C. , Kenkel David , Boss Andreas , Andreisek Gustav , Pruessmann Klaas P.
Published: December 2014

Three‐dimensional radial zero echo time (ZTE) imaging enables efficient direct MRI of tissues with rapid transverse relaxation. Yet, the feature of capturing signals with a wide range of T2 and T2* values is accompanied by a lack of contrast between the corresponding tissues. In particular, the targeted short‐T2 tissues may not be easily identified, and various approaches have been proposed to generate T2 contrast by reducing the long‐T2 signal of water and/or fat. The aim of this work was to provide efficient long‐T2 suppression for selective direct MRI of short‐T2 tissues using the ZTE technique. For magnetization preparation, suppression pulses for water and fat were designed to provide both good T2 selectivity and off‐resonance performance. To obtain high efficiency at short TRs, the pulses were applied in a segmented sequence scheme with minimized timing overhead, thus leading to a quasi‐steady state of magnetization. The sequence timing was adjusted for optimal tissue contrast in musculoskeletal applications by means of simulations and experiments, incorporating both T2 and T1 of the involved tissues. The developed technique was employed for imaging of a lamb joint sample at 4.7 T. ZTE images were obtained with effective suppression of signals from tissues with long‐T2 water, such as muscle or articular spaces, and fat. Hence, primarily short‐T2 tissues were visible, such as bone and tendon. The MR image intensity of bone showed strong similarity with bone density imaged with micro‐computed tomography. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Manganese‐enhanced MRI detection of impaired calcium regulation in a mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: Andrews Martin , Giger Maryellen L. , Roman Brian B.
Published: December 2014

The aim of this study was to use manganese (Mn)‐enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to detect changes in calcium handling associated with cardiac hypertrophy in a mouse model, and to determine whether the impact of creatine kinase ablation is detectable using this method. Male C57BL/6 (C57, n = 11) and male creatine kinase double‐knockout (CK‐M/Mito–/–, DBKO, n = 12) mice were imaged using the saturation recovery Look–Locker T1 mapping sequence before and after the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertrophy was induced via subcutaneous continuous 3‐day infusion of isoproterenol, and sham mice not subjected to cardiac hypertrophy were also imaged. During each scan, the contrast agent Mn was administered and the resulting change in R1 (=1/T1) was calculated. Two anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) were considered, the left‐ventricular free wall (LVFW) and the septum, and one ROI in an Mn‐containing standard placed next to the mouse. We found statistically significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the uptake of Mn in both the LVFW and septum following the induction of cardiac hypertrophy. No statistically significant decreases were detected in the standard, and no statistically significant differences were found among the sham mice. Using a murine model, we successfully demonstrated that changes in Mn uptake as a result of cardiac hypertrophy are detectable using the functional contrast agent and calcium mimetic Mn. Our measurements showed a decrease in the relaxivity (R1) of the myocardium following cardiac hypertrophy compared with normal control mice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction and simulation of wear response of Linz–Donawitz (LD) slag filled glass–epoxy composites using neural computation
Authors: Pati Pravat Ranjan , Satapathy Alok
Published: December 2014

This article reports on the implementation of a soft computing technique based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) in analyzing the wear performance of a new class of hybrid composites filled with Linz–Donawitz slag (LDS). LDS is a major solid waste generated in huge quantities during steel making. It comes from slag formers such as burned lime/dolomite and from oxidizing of silica, iron etc. while refining the iron into steel in the LD furnace. In this work, hybrid composites consisting of short glass fiber (SGF) reinforced epoxy filled with different LDS content (0, 7.5, 15 and 22.5 wt%) are prepared by simple hand lay‐up technique. Solid particle erosion trials, as per ASTM G 76 test standards, are conducted on the composite samples following a well‐planned experimental schedule based on Taguchi design of experiments. Significant process parameters predominantly influencing the rate of erosion are identified. The study reveals that the LDS content is the most significant among various factors influencing the wear rate of these composites. Further, a model based on ANN for the prediction of erosion performance of these composites is implemented. The ANN prediction profiles for the characteristic wear properties exhibit very good agreement with the measured results demonstrating that a well‐trained network has been created. The simulated results explaining the effect of significant process variables on the wear rate indicate that the trained neural network possesses enough generalization capability of predicting wear rate even beyond the experimental range. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Carbazole‐based poly(aryl ether ketone) containing crosslinkable allyl groups on the side chains: synthesis, characterization and properties
Authors: Wang Feifei , Wang Zhipeng , Wang Honghua , Zhou Guangyuan
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a feasible method for introducing crosslinkable groups into a polymer to achieve excellent chemical resistance and improved thermal stability. Here, 3,6‐bi(4‐fluorobenzenzoyl)‐N‐allylcarbazole, a novel allyl‐containing difluoroketone monomer, is synthesized and characterized. The resulting monomer is polymerized with phenolphthalein through the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction at 160 °C to provide the soluble poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) with a pendant allyl group. The obtained PAEK is characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, NMR and gel permeation chromatography. The crosslinking reaction of the polymer occurs at 270 °C, and it imparts excellent solvent resistance. DSC analysis shows that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the cured polymer increases to 262–306 °C when the curing temperature is elevated or when the curing time is extended within certain limits. The rate of increase of Tg and the rate of the crosslinking reaction decrease as the curing time is extended under all of the investigated curing temperatures. The cured PAEKs possess good thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures up to 450 °C. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the polymer film cured at 300 °C for 2 h are 65 MPa and 1.4 GPa, respectively. In addition, the polymer films before and after curing exhibit similar UV−visible absorption and blue light emission. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
The structural basis for specificity in lipoxygenase catalysis
Authors: Newcomer Marcia E. , Brash Alan R.
Published: December 2014

Many intriguing facets of lipoxygenase (LOX) catalysis are open to a detailed structural analysis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids with two to six double bonds are oxygenated precisely on a particular carbon, typically forming a single chiral fatty acid hydroperoxide product. Molecular oxygen is not bound or liganded during catalysis, yet it is directed precisely to one position and one stereo configuration on the reacting fatty acid. The transformations proceed upon exposure of substrate to enzyme in the presence of O2 (RH + O2 → ROOH), so it has proved challenging to capture the precise mode of substrate binding in the LOX active site. Beginning with crystal structures with bound inhibitors or surrogate substrates, and most recently arachidonic acid bound under anaerobic conditions, a picture is consolidating of catalysis in a U‐shaped fatty acid binding channel in which individual LOX enzymes use distinct amino acids to control the head‐to‐tail orientation of the fatty acid and register of the selected pentadiene opposite the non‐heme iron, suitably positioned for the initial stereoselective hydrogen abstraction and subsequent reaction with O2. Drawing on the crystal structures available currently, this review features the roles of the N‐terminal β‐barrel (C2‐like, or PLAT domain) in substrate acquisition and sensitivity to cellular calcium, and the α‐helical catalytic domain in fatty acid binding and reactions with O2 that produce hydroperoxide products with regio and stereospecificity. LOX structures combine to explain how similar enzymes with conserved catalytic machinery differ in product, but not substrate, specificities.
Key mutations stabilize antigen‐binding conformation during affinity maturation of a broadly neutralizing influenza antibody lineage
Authors: Xu Huafeng , Schmidt Aaron G. , O'Donnell Timothy , Therkelsen Matthew D. , Kepler Thomas B. , Moody M. Anthony , Haynes Barton F. , Liao Hua‐Xin , Harrison Stephen C. , Shaw David E.
Published: December 2014

Affinity maturation, the process in which somatic hypermutation and positive selection generate antibodies with increasing affinity for an antigen, is pivotal in acquired humoral immunity. We have studied the mechanism of affinity gain in a human B‐cell lineage in which two main maturation pathways, diverging from a common ancestor, lead to three mature antibodies that neutralize a broad range of H1 influenza viruses. Previous work showed that increased affinity in the mature antibodies derives primarily from stabilization of the CDR H3 loop in the antigen‐binding conformation. We have now used molecular dynamics simulations and existing crystal structures to identify potentially key maturation mutations, and we have characterized their effects on the CDR H3 loop and on antigen binding using further simulations and experimental affinity measurements, respectively. In the two maturation pathways, different contacts between light and heavy chains stabilize the CDR H3 loop. As few as two single‐site mutations in each pathway can confer substantial loop stability, but none of them confers experimentally detectable stability on its own. Our results support models of the germinal center reaction in which two or more mutations can occur without concomitant selection and show how divergent pathways have yielded functionally equivalent antibodies. Proteins 2014; 83:771–780. © 2014 The Authors. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward the construction of parameter‐free doubly hybrid density functionals
Authors: Su Neil Qiang , Xu Xin
Published: December 2014

Doubly hybrid (DH) functionals present a new class of density functionals, which enfold the nonlocal orbital‐dependent components not only in the exchange part but also in the correlation part. Different types of DH functionals have been proposed according to different philosophies. DH functionals are shown to better fulfill certain physical conditions such as the linearity condition for fractional charges than other conventional functionals, which accounts for the generally improved performances of DH functionals in the description of thermochemistry and thermochemical kinetics for the main group chemistry. Efforts shall be made toward the construction of parameter‐free DH functionals and the proper description of the dissociation limit with strong static correlation. The latter is related to the fractional spin errors, the reduction of which is important for secure applications in transition metal chemistry. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Secure chaotic maps‐based authenticated key agreement protocol without smartcard for multi‐server environments
Authors: Tsai Jia‐Lun , Lo Nai‐Wei
Published: December 2014

Modern individuals heavily rely on the support of information systems. Various applications and information processing systems provide all kinds of assistance for people's lives such as information search, work scheduling, entertainment, and online shopping. For a user, in order to access an Internet‐connected system or an internal system within an enterprise, in general, a unique password is given to the user to log into the system. Therefore, how to conveniently maintain or remember multiple passwords has become a serious headache for people. In this study, a new chaotic maps‐based authenticated key agreement protocol is first proposed for multi‐server environments. A trusted third party, called the registration center (RC), is introduced in our protocol. Once a legal user has registered with the RC, this user can log into any server with only one memorable password in a multi‐server environment as long as the user has been granted access rights in advance. As security robustness of our protocol is built on randomly generated nonces and chaotic maps, there is no time synchronization issue. Security analyses and comparisons on performance efficiency and security features among existing protocols show that our protocol is computationally efficient, and withstands password‐guessing attacks and other well‐known security threats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sample size and robust marginal methods for cluster‐randomized trials with censored event times
Authors: Zhong Yujie , Cook Richard J.
Published: December 2014

In cluster‐randomized trials, intervention effects are often formulated by specifying marginal models, fitting them under a working independence assumption, and using robust variance estimates to address the association in the responses within clusters. We develop sample size criteria within this framework, with analyses based on semiparametric Cox regression models fitted with event times subject to right censoring. At the design stage, copula models are specified to enable derivation of the asymptotic variance of estimators from a marginal Cox regression model and to compute the number of clusters necessary to satisfy power requirements. Simulation studies demonstrate the validity of the sample size formula in finite samples for a range of cluster sizes, censoring rates, and degrees of within‐cluster association among event times. The power and relative efficiency implications of copula misspecification is studied, as well as the effect of within‐cluster dependence in the censoring times. Sample size criteria and other design issues are also addressed for the setting where the event status is only ascertained at periodic assessments and times are interval censored. Copyright © 2014 JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safety and Efficacy of a tCD25 Preselective Combination Anti-HIV Lentiviral Vector in Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Authors: Barclay Sharlie L. , Yang Yimin , Zhang Siruo , Fong Ryan , Barraza Alfonso , Nolta Jan A. , Torbett Bruce E. , Abedi Mehrdad , Bauer Gerhard , Anderson Joseph S.
Published: December 2014

The successful suppression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the “Berlin Patient” has highlighted the ability of HIV-resistant hematopoietic stem cells to offer a potential functional cure for HIV-infected patients. HIV stem cell gene therapy can mimic this result by genetically modifying a patient's own cells with anti-HIV genes. Previous attempts of HIV gene therapy have been hampered by a low percentage of transplanted HIV-resistant cells which has led to minimal clinical efficacy. In our current study, we have evaluated the in vitro and in vivo safety and efficacy of a truncated/mutated form of human CD25 preselective anti-HIV lentiviral vector in human hematopoietic stem cells. This preselective vector allows us to purify vector-transduced cells prior to transplantation so an increased percentage of gene-modified cells can be delivered. Here, we demonstrate the safety of this strategy with successful engraftment and multilineage hematopoiesis of transduced cells in a humanized NOD-RAG1−/−IL-2rγ−/− knockout mouse model. Efficacy was also demonstrated with significant protection from HIV-1 infection including maintenance of human CD4+ cell levels and a decrease in HIV-1 plasma viremia. Collectively, these results establish the utility of this HIV stem cell gene therapy strategy and bring it closer to providing a functional cure for HIV-infected patients. Stem Cells  2015;33:870–879
Isolation and Characterization of Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Purkinje Cells
Authors: Maass Karen , Shekhar Akshay , Lu Jia , Kang Guoxin , See Fiona , Kim Eugene E. , Delgado Camila , Shen Steven , Cohen Lisa , Fishman Glenn I.
Published: December 2014

The cardiac Purkinje fiber network is composed of highly specialized cardiomyocytes responsible for the synchronous excitation and contraction of the ventricles. Computational modeling, experimental animal studies, and intracardiac electrical recordings from patients with heritable and acquired forms of heart disease suggest that Purkinje cells (PCs) may also serve as critical triggers of life-threatening arrhythmias. Nonetheless, owing to the difficulty in isolating and studying this rare population of cells, the precise role of PC in arrhythmogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for their proarrhythmic behavior are not fully characterized. Conceptually, a stem cell-based model system might facilitate studies of PC-dependent arrhythmia mechanisms and serve as a platform to test novel therapeutics. Here, we describe the generation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESC) harboring pan-cardiomyocyte and PC-specific reporter genes. We demonstrate that the dual reporter gene strategy may be used to identify and isolate the rare ESC-derived PC (ESC-PC) from a mixed population of cardiogenic cells. ESC-PC display transcriptional signatures and functional properties, including action potentials, intracellular calcium cycling, and chronotropic behavior comparable to endogenous PC. Our results suggest that stem-cell derived PC are a feasible new platform for studies of developmental biology, disease pathogenesis, and screening for novel antiarrhythmic therapies. Stem Cells  2015;33:1102–1112
A survey of race bug detection techniques for multithreaded programmes
Authors: Hong Shin , Kim Moonzoo
Published: December 2014

As multithreaded programmes become popular to fully utilize multicore CPUs, many race bug detection techniques have been developed to find concurrency errors in multithreaded programmes effectively. Because these techniques have different views on target programme execution and detect race bugs of various types, it is difficult to characterize, compare and improve race bug detection techniques. This paper presents a formal execution model, which can uniformly represent various views of race bug detection techniques on target programme execution. Then, this paper classifies 43 race bug detection techniques according to their target race bugs. We classify race bugs on whether or not a bug violates operation block specification and/or data association specification. This survey provides researchers with a clear top‐down view of various race bug detection techniques. In addition, the concrete examples of various race bugs in this survey can help field engineers avoid race bugs in their multithreaded programmes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of the location of broken wire wraps on the failure pressure of prestressed concrete cylinder pipes
Authors: Hajali Masood , Alavinasab Ali , Shdid Caesar Abi
Published: December 2014

The effect of the location of broken prestressing wire wraps on the overall strength of prestressed concrete cylinder pipes (PCCP) is investigated here. An advanced computational model based on non‐linear finite element analysis is used to study three possible locations of broken wire wraps: at the spigot joint, at the bell joint and in the barrel of the pipe. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the cracking of the concrete core and the yielding of the prestressing wires and steel cylinder with increasing internal pressure and with an increasing number of broken wire wraps. Two classes of 2.44 m embedded cylinder pipe (ECP) were modelled with 5, 35, 70, and 100 wire wrap breaks. The results show that broken wire wraps at the joint, and especially the spigot joint, decrease the overall strength of PCCP more so than those at the bell joint or in the barrel of the pipe. The intensity of this effect increases with increasing internal pressure and with a larger number of broken wire wraps.
Virus‐based scaffolds for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Zhao Xia , Lin Yuan , Wang Qian
Published: December 2014

One of the major research directions of tissue engineering is to develop artificial scaffolds that can mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) and support the growth of functional cells for the repair of damaged tissues and organs. Recently, virus particles have expanded as nanosized building blocks for materials applications. Viruses represent monodispersed supramolecular assemblies with organized three‐dimensional architecture, which can be isolated in high yield and purity with batch‐to‐batch consistency. In addition, virus particles can be re‐engineered by chemical and genetic modification to incorporate multivalent functional ligands with high density and ordered arrangement. In this review, we highlight that the self‐assembly of the reengineered viruses can form two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional scaffolds, which can be employed to support cell growth and regulate cellular functions such as adhesion, spreading and proliferation. In particular, the application of virus‐based scaffolds for directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells for bone and neural regeneration is discussed. Finally, thein vivobehaviors of virus nanoparticles will be discussed for the consideration of tissue engineering applications.WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2015, 7:534–547. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1327

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Cells at the Nanoscale

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants

Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures
Case study: Short‐term response of greater sage‐grouse habitats to wildfire in mountain big sagebrush communities
Authors: Davis Dawn M. , Crawford John A.
Published: December 2014

Our case study evaluated the short‐term (≤11 yr) implications of wildfire on greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) breeding‐season habitat (i.e., nesting and brood‐rearing) and ground‐dwelling arthropod abundance on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Nevada, USA. Two different‐aged wildfire sites were sampled in mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) cover types in 1998 and 1999. Plant communities in burned and associated unburned areas did not differ appreciably in species composition and wildfire did not negatively impact arthropod abundance. Wildfires did not increase the frequency of exotic plant species, such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), nor did wildfire have a detrimental effect on native perennial bunchgrasses. Wildfires were effective at changing the mountain big sagebrush community structure from shrub‐dominated to one dominated by native grasses and forbs 2–3 yr post‐burn. However, the absence of shrub cover following 2–3 yr of post‐fire recovery indicates our overall estimates of vegetation structure were not consistent with published guideline requirements for managing sage‐grouse breeding‐season habitat. Although burning had little stimulatory effect on total forb cover 10–11 yr post‐burn, the vegetation and structural components needed to maintain suitable sage‐grouse nesting and brood‐rearing habitats were present in the burned site. The short‐term habitat response to wildfire suggests prescribed fire can be a useful tool to achieve management objectives by manipulating vegetation structure and composition of shrub‐dominated landscapes. However, land managers should be cautious using prescribed fire as a management tool in big sagebrush ecosystems if the goal is to improve sage‐grouse habitats. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Bi2S3Bipyramids in Layered SulfidesM2Bi2S3(AlCl4)2(M= Ag, Cu)
Authors: Groh Matthias F. , Knies Maximilian , Isaeva Anna , Ruck Michael
Published: December 2014

Black Cu2Bi2S3(AlCl4)2and orange Ag2Bi2S3(AlCl4)2were synthesized by solvent‐free reaction (polycrystalline powders) as well as in Lewis‐acidic ionic liquids (crystals) at temperatures of 200 °C or lower. X‐ray diffraction on single‐crystals of Cu2Bi2S3(AlCl4)2revealed two centrosymmetric polytypes: a rhombohedral one, space groupR$\bar{3}$c[a= 658.02(3) pm,c= 6794.3(3) pm], with six formula units in the unit cell (6R polytype), and a hexagonal one, space groupP63/m[a= 658.71(6) pm,c= 2265.5(3) pm], with two formula units (2H polytype). Ag2Bi2S3(AlCl4)2is homeotypic and crystallizes in the acentric hexagonal space groupP$\bar{3}$2cwitha= 691.65(3) pm,c= 2207.86(9) pm, and two formula units per unit cell (2H′ polytype). All structures consist of2∞[(M+)2Bi2S3] layers (M= Cu, Ag) separated by double layers of AlCl4–tetrahedra and differ mainly in their stacking sequences and the orientation of the AlCl4–groups. The sulfidometalate layer is a honeycomb‐like network withM+and S2–ions in plane, whereas pairs of Bi3+cations occupy positions above and below the plane. The analysis of chemical bonding reveals strong covalent two‐center two‐electron bonds in the five‐atomic bipyramidal Bi2S3unit (D3hsymmetry) and covalent bonding with much higher ionic component to the coin metal cations. The DFT‐optimized shape of an isolated hypothetical Bi2S3molecule differs only marginally from that in the layer. Hence, the compounds might be interpreted as Bi2S3molecules embedded inMAlCl4salts. Optical bandgaps of 1.6 eV (M= Cu) and 2.2 eV (M= Ag) were deduced from diffuse reflectance measurements. DFT‐based quantum chemical calculations indicate direct bandgaps of the same magnitude.
Heller Myotomy for Achalasia. From the Open to the Laparoscopic Approach
Authors: Allaix Marco E. , Patti Marco G.
Published: December 2014

The last three decades have witnessed a progressive evolution in the surgical treatment of esophageal achalasia, with a shift from open to a minimally invasive Heller myotomy. The laparoscopic approach is currently the standard of care with better short‐term outcomes and similar long‐term functional results when compared to open surgery. More recently, the laparoscopic single‐site approach and the use of the robot have been proposed to further improve the surgical outcome in achalasia patients.
Youth services: meeting the mental health needs of adolescents
Authors: Vyas N. S. , Birchwood M. , Singh S. P.
Published: December 2014

Objectives

Youth mental health services are poised for a paradigm shift. Recent epidemiological evidence confirms the seriousness of adolescence as a risk period for mental ill-health - 50% of all adult mental disorders begin before the age of 16% and 75% before the age of 25. Here, we identify issues with transition of care between CAMHS-AMHS service, and effectiveness of early intervention services.

Methods

We provide a selective review providing evidence of adolescence as a risk period, discuss CAMHS-AMHS service transition problems, and discuss avenues for change to implement the early intervention model across youth mental health.

Results

Traditional service structures,with paediatric -adult split at 16–18 years increasingly appear not fit for purpose. A radical redesign of youth mental health services is not only necessary, it is also feasible and achievable, as illustrated by a pilot Birmingham youth service – Youthspace.

Conclusions

Pilot youth mental projects currently underway can help radically redesign the existing child and adolescent services. This will in turn lead to an improvement in the young people's experience of engagement with the services so that they too have a positive future.
Elevating form and elevating modulation
Authors: Griffiths Dai
Published: December 2014

The device known as, among other terms, truck-driver modulation, arranger's modulation and pump-up modulation is an important procedure for popular music, and one that merits a place in the harmony textbook. Emerging from a discussion of nomenclature, this paper proposes the terms of its title, which distinguishes between modulation as part of the overall form of a track, and modulation as a technical device. Four models are presented for the modulation, with a final discussion of different models used in the one track.
Minimum Number of Monotone Subsequences of Length 4 in Permutations
Authors: BALOGH JÓZSEF , HU PING , LIDICKÝ BERNARD , PIKHURKO OLEG , UDVARI BALÁZS , VOLEC JAN
Published: December 2014

We show that for every sufficiently largen, the number of monotone subsequences of length four in a permutation onnpoints is at least\begin{equation*} \binom{\lfloor{n/3}\rfloor}{4} + \binom{\lfloor{(n+1)/3}\rfloor}{4} + \binom{\lfloor{(n+2)/3}\rfloor}{4}. \end{equation*}Furthermore, we characterize all permutations on [n] that attain this lower bound. The proof uses the flag algebra framework together with some additional stability arguments. This problem is equivalent to some specific type of edge colourings of complete graphs with two colours, where the number of monochromaticK4is minimized. We show that all the extremal colourings must contain monochromaticK4only in one of the two colours. This translates back to permutations, where all the monotone subsequences of length four are all either increasing, or decreasing only.
Relationship of prenatal depression and comorbidities to infant outcomes
Authors: Flynn Heather A. , McBride Nicole , Cely Aura , Wang Yuxia , DeCesare Julie
Published: December 2014

Objective

The purpose of this study was to provide information on the effect of prenatal depression and anxiety as assessed in the context of obstetrical care on key infant outcomes (gestational age at birth, birth weight, and APGAR scores), while simultaneously considering interactions with maternal medical conditions among primarily Medicaid enrollees.

Methods

Obstetrical medical records of 419 women presenting consecutively for prenatal care at a health system serving primarily Medicaid patients were examined. Information on maternal characteristics (age, race, education) and maternal medical health (BMI, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney problems), as well as mental health information, was extracted. Depression was assessed as part of routine care using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and any documentation of depression or anxiety by the obstetrics clinician was also used in the analyses.

Results

Approximately one-third of the sample showed some evidence of prenatal depression, either based on PHQ-9 score (≥10) or clinician documentation of depression, and close to 10% showed evidence of anxiety. Multivariate analyses showed significant interactions between depression and anxiety on gestational age and birth weight, between depression and high blood pressure on gestational age, and also between anxiety and kidney problems on gestational age.

Conclusion

Among this sample, the effect of maternal depression and anxiety on birth outcomes was more evident when considered along with maternal chronic medical conditions. This information may be used to assist prenatal care clinicians to develop risk assessment based on knowledge of multiple risk factors that may exert and additive influence on poor birth outcomes.
“A DEAF VARIETY OF THE HUMAN RACE”: HISTORICAL MEMORY, ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, AND EUGENICS
Authors: Greenwald Brian H. , Van Cleve John Vickrey
Published: December 2014

Alexander Graham Bell stood at the intersection of two late nineteenth-century American social developments. First, a nascent deaf community, threaded by residential schools and the use of a shared visual language, began to form by the 1850s, drawing deaf people into regular interaction and intermarriage. Second, the American eugenics movement, determined to eliminate perceived social problems through reproductive restrictions, came to prominence as the century neared its end. Bell's role in publicly connecting these two historical threads has earned him the approbation of the American deaf community and historians of disability.

This article examines Bell's words and actions closely over thirty years to argue that a combination of Bell's own hubris and historians' tendency to conflate two aspects of his complex attitude toward disability has distorted historical memory. Bell feared that difference alone led to inequality, and he hoped that society could be improved through informed reproductive decisions. Ultimately, Bell found himself entangled in an alarming eugenic environment and sought to thwart eugenicists who would interfere with deaf reproductive rights.
Political legitimacy between democracy and effectiveness: trade-offs, interdependencies, and discursive constructions by the EU institutions
Authors: Sternberg Claudia S.
Published: December 2014

This paper addresses the relationship between political legitimacy arising from a link with the ‘will of the people’, and political legitimacy arising from beneficial consequences for them. Questioning the common assumption of an inherent trade-off between ‘input’ and ‘output legitimacy’, it suggests that the two necessarily go together, and that their relationship is continuously reconstructed through discursive contestation. These claims are first substantiated conceptually, in reference to the legitimacy literature in European Union (EU) Studies, which is situated in the broader fields of Political Theory and Comparative Politics. In a second step, the argument is developed on the grounds of empirical case material: an interpretive, non-quantitative reconstruction of the changing discourses on EU legitimacy by the European institutions from the 1950s to the early 2000s.
The Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support and Affective Commitment
Authors: Caesens Gaëtane , Marique Géraldine , Stinglhamber Florence
Published: December 2014

Two distinct perspectives have emerged in the literature to explain the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and affective commitment (AC): a social exchange perspective and, more recently, a social identity perspective. However, these views have never been considered together. Filling this gap, our study aims to examine the conjoint role of felt obligation (i.e., the social exchange perspective) and organizational identification (i.e., the social identity perspective) in the relationship between POS and AC. Based on two different samples, our results indicate that both felt obligation and organizational identification partially mediate the relationship between POS and AC. In sum, this research shows that the two mechanisms play a concomitant role in the link between POS and AC.
Are Improvements in Assessment Center Construct-Related Validity Paralleled by Improvements in Criterion-Related Validity?
Authors: Wirz Andreja , Melchers Klaus G. , Schultheiss Stefan , Kleinmann Martin
Published: December 2014

Previous studies have found that factors that improved assessment center (AC) construct-related validity also had beneficial effects on criterion-related validity. However, some factors might have diverging effects on construct- and criterion-related validity. Accordingly, we followed recent calls to evaluate construct- and criterion-related validity of ACs simultaneously by examining the effects of exercise similarity on both aspects of validity within a single study. Data were collected in an AC (N = 92) that consisted of two different types of exercises. Convergent validity was better for similar exercises than it was for dissimilar exercises. However, regarding criterion-related validity, we did not find differences between similar and dissimilar exercises. Hence, this study revealed that improvements in AC construct-related validity are not necessarily paralleled by improvements in criterion-related validity.
Uncovering the Underlying Relationship Between Transformational Leaders and Followers’ Task Performance
Authors: Breevaart Kimberley , Bakker Arnold B. , Demerouti Evangelia , Sleebos Dominique M. , Maduro Véronique
Published: December 2014

The purpose of the present study was to unravel the mechanisms underlying the relationship between transformational leadership, follower work engagement, and follower job performance and to investigate a possible boundary condition of transformational leadership. We used structural equation modeling to test our model among 162 dyads consisting of one employee and their leader, who both filled out an online questionnaire. Followers reported more job resources and need fulfillment when their leader showed more transformational leadership behavior, and this contributed to followers’ engagement and job performance. Consistent with our hypothesis, transformational leaders mainly fulfilled followers’ needs when followers were high in need for leadership.
Preclinical screening for acute toxicity of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in a hu‐SCID model
Authors: Brady Jamie L , Harrison Leonard C , Goodman David J , Cowan Peter J , Hawthorne Wayne J , O'Connell Philip J , Sutherland Robyn M , Lew Andrew M
Published: December 2014

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been a spectacular clinical and commercial success in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Many of these mAbs (for example, OKT3, Campath‐1H, rituximab and infliximab) are against surface or secreted products of lymphocytes. However, mAbs can have a variety of adverse effects including fever, chills and nausea. This is probably a result of cytokine release, which is most seriously manifested as a ‘cytokine storm’ as highlighted by the TGN1412 (anti‐CD28) trial. Prediction of adverse effects of mAbs would be clinically advantageous and numerous in vitro assays attempting to predict adverse effects have been reported. Here, we report an in vivo humanized mouse model to detect adverse effects in response to OKT3, Campath‐1H or the polyclonal Ab preparation anti‐thymocyte globulin. We found that the administration of each of these Abs to humanized mice led to acute clinical symptoms such as piloerection, hypomotility and hypothermia, particularly when delivered via the intravenous route. A cytokine storm occurred in the humanized mice receiving OKT3. This model system is a potentially useful tool to predict adverse effects and select initial doses for first‐in‐human trials. We would advocate this in vivo model, in addition to current in vitro preclinical testing, as a more representative and robust means of assessing potential adverse effects of mAb before their human use.