bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Segmented Tetrasulfonated Copoly(Arylene Ether Sulfone)s: Improving Proton Transport Properties by Extending the Ionic Sequence
Authors: Takamuku Shogo , Weiber E. Annika , Jannasch Patric 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe morphologies and proton‐transport efficiencies of segmented copoly(arylene ether sulfone) ionomers that contain tetrasulfonated sequences are compared with the corresponding copolymers with disulfonated sequences. Tetrasulfonated 4,4′‐bis[(4‐chlorophenyl)sulfonyl]‐1,1′‐biphenyl (sBCPSBP) is synthesized by metalation and sulfination. This new monomer is then used in K2CO3‐mediated polycondensations of mixtures with 4,4′‐dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (DCDPS) and 4,4′‐dihydroxybiphenyl in dimethyl sulfoxide at 110 °C to prepare segmented copolymers with tetrasulfonated units. The corresponding disulfonated copolymers are prepared by using disulfonated DCDPS instead of sBCPSBP. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements of the fully aromatic copolymer membranes show ionomer peaks that indicate significantly larger characteristic separation lengths of the tetrasulfonated copolymers compared to those of the corresponding disulfonated copolymers with similar ionic contents. This implies a much more efficient phase separation of the ionic groups in the segmented tetrasulfonated copolymer membranes, especially at low‐to‐medium ionic contents. The enhanced phase separation has a pronounced positive effect on water uptake characteristics and proton transport properties. Under a reduced relative humidity (RH), the tetrasulfonated copolymer membranes show a significantly higher conductivity than the disulfonated ones, particularly at low‐to‐medium ionic contents. At an ion‐exchange capacity of 1 meq g−1, the conductivity of the tetrasulfonated copolymer membrane at 30 % RH is higher than that of the disulfonated membrane at 90 % RH. Because of their relative ease of synthesis, segmented copolymers based on well‐designed multisulfonated monomers may provide a viable alternative to the more complex sulfonated block and graft copolymers for use as fuel‐cell membranes.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation Reactions
Authors: Wu Xiao‐Feng , Neumann Helfried , Beller Matthias 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPalladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions have become a powerful tool for advanced organic synthesis. This type of reaction is of significant value for the preparation of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, as well as advanced materials. Both, academic as well as industrial laboratories continuously investigate new applications of the different methodologies. Clearly, this area constitutes one of the major topics in homogeneous catalysis and organic synthesis. Among the different palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions, several carbonylations have been developed and widely used in organic syntheses and are even applied in the pharmaceutical industry on ton‐scale. Furthermore, methodologies such as the carbonylative Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions allow for the preparation of interesting building blocks, which can be easily refined further on. Although carbonylative coupling reactions of aryl halides have been well established, palladium‐catalyzed oxidative carbonylation reactions are also interesting. Compared with the reactions of aryl halides, oxidative carbonylation reactions offer an interesting pathway. The oxidative addition step could be potentially avoided in oxidative reactions, but only few reviews exist in this area. In this Minireview, we summarize the recent development in the oxidative carbonylation reactions.
Enhancing automated micrograph‐based evaluation of LPS‐stimulated macrophage spreading
Authors: Held Christian , Wenzel Jens , Wiesmann Veit , Palmisano Ralf , Lang Roland , Wittenberg Thomas 
Published: January 2013

AbstractTo evaluate macrophage spreading in immunofluorescence images of macrophages for surface protein CD11b and nuclear counterstaining with DAPI, it is necessary to measure the size of the macrophages at different time points after stimulation. Manual evaluation of fluorescent micrographs is usually a time‐consuming and error‐prone task, with poor reproducibility. Automatic image analysis methods can be used to improve the results. The quality of the analysis with these methods mainly depends on the quality of the image segmentation. A segmentation and quantification scheme based on shading correction, k‐means clustering, and fast marching level sets has been developed for the purpose. An initial application of this approach showed that separating touching and overlapping cells in particular suffers severely in the inevitably blurred conditions, leading to partly erroneous measurements of macrophage spreading. An alternative method of segmentation in fluorescent micrographs was therefore investigated and evaluated in this study. The proposed approach uses a methodology that separates foreground objects from background objects on the basis of Boykov's graph cuts. In this process, a rough estimation of background pixels is used for background seeds. To identify foreground seeds, a difference of Gaussian band pass filter based workflow is developed. Information on foreground and background seeds is then used for a gradient magnitude based graph cut resulting in a robust figure–ground separation method. In addition, a fast marching level set approach is used in the post‐processing step, which makes it possible to split touching cells by incorporating information about the cell nuclei. An evaluation based on a total of 553 manually labeled macrophages depicted in 21 micrographs showed that the proposed method significantly improves segmentation and splitting performance for fluorescent micrographs of LPS‐stimulated macrophages and reduces the rate of error in automated analysis of macrophage spreading in comparison with alternative methods. © 2013 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
A novel signal separation algorithm based on compressed sensing for wideband spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks
Authors: Lv Shoutao , Liu Jian 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYIn cognitive radio networks, since cognitive terminals use a shared wideband frequency spectrum for data transmissions, they are susceptible to malicious denial‐of‐service attacks, where adversaries try to corrupt communication by actively transmitting interference signals. To address this issue, in this paper, we propose a novel signal separation algorithm based on compressed sensing, which can not only recover the entire spectrum but also separate mixed occupying signals. Specifically, the proposed algorithm is executed following three steps: (i) each cognitive terminal attempts to recover all signals over an entire wideband spectrum employing the compressed sensing technique; (ii) all cognitive terminals send their recovered signals to the fusion center where a wavelet edge detection method is adopted to locate the spectrum edges of these signals and then divide the entire spectrum into several sub‐bands; (iii) the fusion center separates its received signals on each spectrum sub‐band into different categories according to their features. Both analytical and simulation results indicate that this novel compressed‐sensing‐based algorithm can effectively separate wideband signals at a low cost and combat interference of the malicious terminals in cognitive radio networks as well. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seismic analyses of conventional and improved marginal wharves
Authors: Chiaramonte Maurizio M. , Arduino Pedro , Lehman Dawn E. , Roeder Charles W. 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYMarginal wharves are key components in providing functionality of port facilities. Ports are central components of the US economy. Earthquake damage to a port can disrupt the economic stability. Therefore, port facilities must be able to quickly return to full operation shortly after a seismic event. Prior studies have shown that integrity of marginal wharves may be compromised by excessive soil movement and structural damage. The latter is often localized at pile‐to‐wharf connections and in the pile body buried within the soil. Recent research has resulted in an improved connection design that mitigates damage. This study was undertaken to evaluate the full seismic performance of marginal wharves including both conventional and damage‐resisting connections. A series of finite element models of a representative pile‐supported wharf facility were created. The models varied in their moment‐resisting pile‐to‐wharf connections. A total‐stress analysis approach was used to capture the soil response along with p–y, t–z, and Q–z soil–structure interaction springs. Validated connection interface elements were integrated with non‐linear frame elements to simulate the marginal wharf structure and substructure. Non‐linear static pushover and dynamic time history analyses, for three different hazard levels, were performed. The results of the numerical simulations were used to assess the performance of the marginal wharf including estimates of crane damage and port downtime. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE DETERMINANTS OF PRICING IN PHARMACEUTICALS: ARE US PRICES REALLY SO HIGH?
Authors: Cabrales Antonio , Jiménez‐Martín Sergi 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYThis paper studies price determination in pharmaceutical markets using data for 25 countries, 6 years, and a comprehensive list of products from the MIDAS IMS database. A key finding is that the USA has prices that are not significantly higher than those of countries with similar income levels, especially those that are ‘lightly regulated’. More importantly, price differences to the US levels increase for ‘branded’, world top selling, or innovative products, and decrease, regardless of the level of regulation for mature or widely diffused molecules. Because prices for top selling molecules may be easier to perceive and recollect and more important for companies, they may bias the public discussion about international price differences. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CAN PRICE GET THE MONKEY OFF OUR BACK? A META‐ANALYSIS OF ILLICIT DRUG DEMAND
Authors: Gallet Craig A. 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYBecause of the increased availability of price data over the past 15 years, several studies have estimated the demand for illicit drugs, providing 462 estimates of the price elasticity. Results from estimating several meta‐regressions reveal that these price elasticity estimates are influenced by a number of study characteristics. For instance, the price elasticity differs across drugs, with its absolute value being smallest for marijuana, compared with cocaine and heroin. Furthermore, price elasticity estimates are sensitive to whether demand is modeled in the short‐run or the long‐run, measures of quantity and price, whether or not alcohol and other illicit drugs are included in the specification of demand, and the location of demand. However, a number of other factors, including the functional form of demand, several specification issues, the type of data and method used to estimate demand, and the quality of the publication outlet, have less influence on the price elasticity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expert opinion on toxicity profiling—report from a NORMAN expert group meeting
Authors: Hamers Timo , Legler Juliette , Blaha Ludek , Hylland Ketil , Marigomez Ionan , Schipper Cor A , Segner Helmut , Vethaak A Dick , Witters Hilda , de Zwart Dick , Leonards Pim EG 
Published: January 2013

Abstract
This article describes the outcome and follow-up discussions of an expert group meeting (Amsterdam, October 9, 2009) on the applicability of toxicity profiling for diagnostic environmental risk assessment. A toxicity profile was defined as a toxicological “fingerprint” of a sample, ranging from a pure compound to a complex mixture, obtained by testing the sample or its extract for its activity toward a battery of biological endpoints. The expert group concluded that toxicity profiling is an effective first tier tool for screening the integrated hazard of complex environmental mixtures with known and unknown toxicologically active constituents. In addition, toxicity profiles can be used for prioritization of sampling locations, for identification of hot spots, and—in combination with effect-directed analysis (EDA) or toxicity identification and evaluation (TIE) approaches—for establishing cause–effect relationships by identifying emerging pollutants responsible for the observed toxic potency. Small volume in vitro bioassays are especially applicable for these purposes, as they are relatively cheap and fast with costs comparable to chemical analyses, and the results are toxicologically more relevant and more suitable for realistic risk assessment. For regulatory acceptance in the European Union, toxicity profiling terminology should keep as close as possible to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) terminology, and validation, standardization, statistical analyses, and other quality aspects of toxicity profiling should be further elaborated. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013; 9: 185–191. © 2013 SETAC
Solution‐Focused Therapy as a Culturally Acknowledging Approach With American Indians
Authors: Meyer Dixie D. , Cottone R. Rocco 
Published: January 2013

Limited literature is available applying specific theoretical orientations with American Indians. Solution‐focused therapy may be appropriate, given the client‐identified solutions, the egalitarian counselor/client relationship, the use of relationships, and the view that change is inevitable. However, adaption of scaling questions and the miracle question may be necessary.Hay una limitada cantidad de literatura disponible que aplique orientaciones teóricas específicas con indios americanos. La terapia centrada en soluciones puede ser apropiada, dadas las soluciones identificadas por los clientes, la relación igualitaria entre consejero y cliente, el uso de relaciones y la visión de que el cambio es inevitable. Sin embargo, puede que sea necesario adaptar las preguntas de escala y la pregunta del milagro.
The Victim as a Means to an End: Detective Decision Making in a Simulated Investigation of Attempted Rape
Authors: Barrett Emma C. , Hamilton‐Giachritsis Catherine 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPolice decision making in rape cases is poorly understood, despite high levels of attrition for rape and sexual assault cases, with up to 75% lost at the investigation stage. A qualitative analysis was undertaken of the comments of 22 British detectives as they conducted a ‘virtual investigation’ of an allegation of attempted rape of an adult woman. Material was ‘drip fed’ to detectives in a simulation exercise, and officers were asked to express their thoughts as they processed each document in the ‘investigation’ to evaluate detective decision making. It was anticipated that this method would shed light both on the dynamic nature of detectives' thinking during an investigation and on variations in perception of the same material by different officers. It was found that the alleged rape victim was perceived primarily as a source of information to progress enquiries, with her welfare needs taking second place. Although some police officers revealed sceptical attitudes to rape allegations, the investigative approach that all took was professional and pragmatic, ‘investigating’ the report as true and focusing on corroborating the victim's account. The balance between the needs of the victim and the needs of the investigation is discussed, with implications for rape survivor support. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
More ‘crop per drop’: constraints and opportunities for precision irrigation in European agriculture
Authors: Monaghan James M , Daccache Andre , Vickers Laura H , Hess Tim M , Weatherhead E Keith , Grove Ivan G , Knox Jerry W 
Published: January 2013

AbstractDwindling water supplies, increasing drought frequency and uncertainties associated with a changing climate mean Europe's irrigated agriculture sector needs to improve water efficiency and produce more 'crop per drop'. This paper summarizes the drivers for change, and the constraints and opportunities for improving agricultural water management through uptake of precision irrigation technologies. A multi‐disciplinary and integrated approach involving irrigation engineers, soil scientists, agronomists and plant physiologists will be needed if the potential for precision irrigation within the field crop sector is to be realized. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Proteomic analysis of the enzymes involved in the starch biosynthesis of maize with different endosperm type and characterization of the starch
Authors: Juárez‐García Erika , Agama‐Acevedo Edith , Gómez‐Montiel Noel Orlando , Pando‐Robles Victoria , Bello‐Pérez Luis Arturo 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe characterization of starch maize with different endosperm type and the proteomic analysis of its biosynthetic enzymes at 20 and 50 days after pollination (DAP) was carried out.RESULTSThere were differences between both endosperm types at 20 DAP, mainly in starch accumulation, amylose content, granule size and crystallinity percentage, whereas at 50 DAP the differences found were not relevant in the case of starch content, granule size, chain length distribution and thermal properties. SSSI, SBEIIb and GBSSI enzymes were identified; however, SBEIIb was only identified in two samples: floury endosperm at 20 DAP and vitreous at 50 DAP.ConclusionStarch did not show differences in its morphological or structural characteristics in either endosperm on reaching maturity. Starch biosynthetic enzymes identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight did not show a relationship to starch structure. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Psychosocial Influences on Children's Food Consumption
Authors: Roberts Michele , Pettigrew Simone 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study generated a grounded theory of factors influencing children's diets, particularly those that contribute to suboptimal eating and ultimately child obesity. The study involved 124 children (aged 6–12 years) and 39 of their parents from three separate junior schools (including a lower, middle, and higher socioeconomic school). Research methods included (i) interviews with children and parents and (ii) observations, drawings, and lunchbox audits with children. The findings suggest that children and parents prioritize psychosocial needs over physiological needs during food selection and consumption. This tendency toward psychosocial eating appears to be strongly reinforced by food advertising.
“Made in Country” Versus “Made in County”: Effects of Local Manufacturing Origins on Price Perceptions
Authors: Suri Rajneesh , Thakor Mrugank V. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTConsumers often use an array of extrinsic and intrinsic attributes to infer product quality and to assess monetary sacrifice. However, literature reveals little about how and if consumers would use information on product's manufacturing origins differently if it was national rather than local. In two studies, the role played by uncertainty in judgments of the quality of locally made products is examined. It is shown that when consumers are motivated to process information and quality ratings are high, local identity effects are elicited and monetary sacrifice perceptions are diminished. These results suggest that favorable quality ratings need to be prominently featured when promoting locally made products, and that locally made products are preferred to national ones only when quality is not a concern.
In situ formation of silver nanoparticles in poly(methacrylic acid) hydrogel for antibacterial applications
Authors: Bajpai S.K. , Chand Navin , Mahendra Manika 
Published: January 2013

AbstractIn this study, silver nanoparticles‐loaded poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAAc) hydrogels (HGs) have been produced by using a novel approach that involves equilibration of PMAAc HGs in aqueous solution of Ag(I) ions, followed by their reduction with borohydride. The AgNP/PMAAc composite, so produced, was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared, surface plasmon resonance, and differential scanning colorimetry analysis. The composite demonstrated pH‐dependent swelling behavior. The AgNP/PMAAc composites demonstrated fair antibacterial action against Escherichia coli. Their biocidal action was found to depend on the concentration of silver present within the HG and degree of crosslinking of HGs. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Neurologic Adverse Effects of Ranolazine in an Elderly Patient with Renal Impairment
Authors: Southard Robert A. , M. Blum Rachel , Bui An H. , Blankstein Ron 
Published: January 2013

Ranolazine, an antianginal agent, has activity at muscle and neuronal sodium channels. Congenital genetic mutations to sodium channels in humans and supratherapeutic ranolazine concentrations in animal models have produced similar neurologic adverse reactions. We describe a case of neurologic adverse effects in an 81‐year‐old woman with coronary artery disease, renal impairment, and mild neurologic disease who received ranolazine for symptomatic control of a non–ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction. Just over 48 hours after a dose increase, she experienced new‐onset dysarthia, dysmetria, hallucinations, worse tremors, and difficulty with word finding. Her workup for acute stroke and infectious causes was negative. Her symptoms abated 2 days after ranolazine was discontinued. The patient was at risk for ranolazine adverse effects due to the high dose administered and her advanced age, renal impairment, and baseline mild neurologic disease. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a probable relationship (score of 5) between the patient's neurologic adverse events and the ranolazine therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case report illustrating rare but debilitating neurologic adverse effects of ranolazine. Health care practitioners should be aware of the adverse effects of ranolazine and avoid doses greater than 500 mg twice/day in patients older than 80 years or those with a creatinine clearance of less than 30 ml/minute.