bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wave normal angle and frequency characteristics of magnetosonic wave linear instability
Authors: Chen Lunjin 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMagnetosonic waves, also known as equatorial noise emission, can be unstable in the presence of ion ring velocity distribution of ring current population. Earlier studies have demonstrated that such instability can occur near proton harmonic frequencies and near perpendicular propagation with a narrow range of wave normal angle about 90° and that the waves may contribute significantly to electron acceleration in the radiation belt. However, this effect is sensitive to the values of wave normal angles. Instability characteristics in the regime of weak instability, in particular the dependence on the wave frequency and wave normal angle, is investigated for an ion ring distribution modeled by subtraction of two anisotropic Maxwellian distributions. It is found that two types of instabilities, resonant and nonresonant, occur near 90° wave normal angles. Physics of the two instabilities is explained and discussed. The resonant instability, occurring at a finite parallel wave number k∥, is caused by resonant protons near 90° pitch angle, while the nonresonant instability, occurring for a vanishing k∥, is driven by all thermal protons. A formula for the linear nonresonant instability is derived and generalized for an arbitrary ion distribution.
The matter‐antimatter interpretation of Kerr spacetime
Authors: Villata Massimo 
Published: May 2015

Repulsive gravity is not very popular in physics. However, one comes across it in at least two main occurrences in general relativity: in the negative‐r region of Kerr spacetime, and as the result of the gravitational interaction between matter and antimatter, when the latter is assumed to be CPT‐transformed matter. Here we show how these two independent developments of general relativity are perfectly consistent in predicting gravitational repulsion and how the above Kerr negative‐r region can be interpreted as the habitat of antimatter. As a consequence, matter particles traveling along vortical geodesics can pass through the throat of a rotating black hole and emerge as antimatter particles (and vice versa). An experimental definitive answer on the gravitational behavior of antimatter is awaited in the next few years.
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Simultaneous removal of CO, NOx, and HC emitted from gasoline engine in a nonthermal plasma‐driven catalysis system
Authors: He Chi , Xu Bitao , Jiang Zeyu , Xu Yang , Zhao Jinglian , Pan Hua 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe performances of nonthermal plasma‐driven catalysis system (NTP‐C) for real gasoline engine tail gas purification were studied with different supported catalysts (i.e. La0.8 K0.2MnOx/5A, La0.8 K0.2MnOx/γ‐Al2O3, La0.9 K0.1CoOx/5A, and La0.9 K0.1CoOx/γ‐Al2O3) prepared by a high‐temperature solid state reaction method. To clarify the effectiveness of the NTP‐C system, a NTP reactor was employed, which has the same inner structure as the NTP‐C but without catalyst. The removal efficiency of studied pollutants is following the order of HC > NOx > CO in all NTP‐C coupling system. Active phase component has crucial effects on the removal efficiency of pollutant. NTP coupled with La0.9 K0.1CoOx/5A catalyst shows the best pollutant removal efficiency with 65%, 75%, and 85% of CO, HC, and NOx converted at 1400 J/L, respectively. Oxygen content in the tail gas has significant influences on pollutant decomposition, and the active oxygen atom makes a vital contribution to the higher HC removal efficiency. It can be expected that lots of chemical reactions induced by multicomponent precursors in practical vehicle tail gas reduce the pollutant removal efficiency, especially for CO and NOx. © 2015 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new energy source from the anaerobic co‐digestion (acd) treatment of oleo chemical effluent with glycerin pitch
Authors: Chow Wei Ling , Chan Yi Jing , Chong Mei Fong 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe high‐strength wastes generated from the oleo chemical industry, namely oleo chemical effluent (OCE) and glycerin pitch (GP), have raised a serious disposal problem. An aerobic digestion after chemical pre‐treatment and costly incineration/landfill disposal is the only currently available treatment method for OCE and GP, respectively. Due to the high alkalinity and organic content of GP, there is a potential to anaerobically co‐digest OCE with GP, which can be used to neutralise OCE's acidity while providing the required organic strength for biogas production. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of anaerobic co‐digestion (ACD) of OCE and GP based on their maximum available energy potential. This study was evaluated based on 85% chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency. The study disclosed that GP is able to generate maximum potential methane production of 6716 m3/d and energy of 0.097 MW/h, which are two times higher than that in OCE. The cost benefit analysis also revealed that with the establishment of ACD, a cost saving of USD 1 693 716/year from disposal and an earning profit of USD 54 544/year from energy generation can be achieved. Therefore, it could be concluded that ACD of OCE and GP is feasible to produce a reduced strength of final effluent with enhanced methane production. © 2015 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of catalpol and acteoside in normal and chronic kidney disease rats after oral administration of Rehmannia glutinosa extract
Authors: Zhao Min , Qian Dawei , Liu Pei , Shang Er‐xin , Jiang Shu , Guo Jianming , Su Shu‐lan , Duan Jin‐ao , Du Leyue , Tao Jinhua 
Published: May 2015

AbstractIn this study, a sensitive and robust ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method with multiple‐reaction monitoring mode was developed, validated, and applied to determine pharmacokinetics of catalpol and acteoside in normal and doxorubicin‐induced chronic kidney disease rats after oral administration of Rehmannia glutinosa extract. The lower limits of quantification for catalpol and acteoside in rat plasma were 2.62 and 0.61 ng/mL, with a signal‐to‐noise ratio of ≥10. Precision and accuracy studies showed that catalpol and acteoside plasma concentrations were within the 10% range in all studies. The extraction recoveries of catalpol and acteoside were both >68.24% and the matrix effects ranged from 96.59 to 101.62%. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of catalpol and acteoside after oral administration of RG extract to normal and model rats, respectively. This study might further support the traditional use of RG to treat kidney diseases clinically. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of astragaloside III in rat plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a rat pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Zhai Yongsong , Li Pengyue , Wang Manyuan , Gong Muxin , Qiu Feng 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAstragaloside III (AST III), a naturally occurring saponin compound isolated from Radix Astragali, has been demonstrated to have anti‐gastric ulcer, immunomodulatory and antitumor effects. To evaluate its pharmacokinetics in rats, a rapid, sensitive and specific high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC‐MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the quantification of astragaloside III in rat plasma. Samples were pretreated using a simple protein precipitation with methanol–acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) and the chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column by a gradient elution using a mobile phase consisting of water containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid. Astragaloside III and the internal standard (buspirone) were detected using a tandem mass spectrometer in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. Method validation revealed excellent linearity over the range of 5.00–5000 ng/mL together with satisfactory intra‐ and inter‐day precision, accuracy and recovery. Stability testing showed that astragaloside III spiked into rat plasma was stable for 24 h at 20°C temperature, for up to 30 days at −80°C, and during three freeze–thaw cycles. The method was successfully used to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of AST III after oral (10 mg/kg) and intravenous (1.0 mg/kg) administration in rats. The oral absolute bioavailability of AST III was calculated to be 4.15 ± 0.67% with an elimination half‐life value of 2.13 ± 0.11 h, suggesting its poor absorption and/or strong metabolism in vivo. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PI3K/AKT pathway regulates E‐cadherin and Desmoglein 2 in aggressive prostate cancer
Authors: Barber Alison G. , Castillo‐Martin Mireia , Bonal Dennis M. , Jia Angela J. , Rybicki Benjamin A. , Christiano Angela M. , Cordon‐Cardo Carlos 
Published: May 2015

AbstractReduced expression of both classical and desmosomal cadherins has been associated with different types of carcinomas, including prostate cancer. This study aims to provide a comprehensive view of the role and regulation of cell–cell adhesion in prostate cancer aggressiveness by examining the functional implications of both E‐cadherin and Desmoglein 2 (DSG2). E‐cadherin expression was first examined using immunofluorescence in 50 normal prostate tissues and in a cohort of 414 prostate cancer patients. Correlation and survival analyses were performed to assess its clinical significance. In primary prostate cancer patients, reduced expression of both E‐cadherin and DSG2 is significantly associated with an earlier biochemical recurrence. Transgenic DU145 E‐cadherin knockdown and constitutively active AKT overexpression lines were generated. Functional implications of such genetic alterations were analyzed in vitro and in vivo, the latter by using tumorigenesis as well as extravasation and metastatic tumor formation assays. We observed that loss of E‐cadherin leads to impaired primary and metastatic tumor formation in vivo, suggesting a tumor promoter role for E‐cadherin in addition to its known role as a tumor suppressor. Activation of AKT leads to a significant reduction in E‐cadherin expression and nuclear localization of Snail, suggesting a role for the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the transient repression of E‐cadherin. This reduced expression may be regulated by separate mechanisms as neither the loss of E‐cadherin nor activation of AKT significantly affected DSG2 expression. In conclusion, these findings illustrate the critical role of cell–cell adhesion in the progression to aggressive prostate cancer, through regulation by the PI3K pathway.
Outcome in TAVI patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis not fulfilling PARTNER study inclusion criteria
Authors: Sedaghat Alexander , Al‐Rashid Fadi , Sinning Jan‐Malte , Wendt Daniel , Thielmann Matthias , Grube Eberhard , Nickenig Georg , Erbel Raimund , Werner Nikos , Kahlert Philipp 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundTranscatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has rapidly evolved to the standard‐of‐care for inoperable patients with severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis, and to an alternative treatment option for high‐risk patients. However, the randomized PARTNER trial excluded patients with conditions frequently encountered in daily clinical practice.MethodsFrom 2006 to 2011, 467 high‐risk patients, who underwent transfemoral TAVI (Edwards Sapien n = 166; Medtronic CoreValve n = 301) at two German centers were divided into a “PARTNER‐like” (n = 227) and a “Real‐World” cohort (n = 240), based on the original PARTNER trial in‐ and exclusion criteria. Differences in 30‐day and 2‐year mortality and morbidity were assessed.ResultsMean age of patients was 80 ± 8 years with a logistic EuroSCORE of 22 ± 16%. The most frequent exclusion criteria were previous PCI (15.4%), prior valve surgery (13.7%), chronic renal failure (12.0%), and severe mitral regurgitation (10.8%). Despite significant differences in baseline data, estimated perioperative mortality in terms of STS and logistic EuroScore was identical between both groups. However, patients in the “Real‐World” cohort had a non‐significant trend towards a higher 30‐day mortality (10.0% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.088) and a significantly higher 2‐year mortality (23.3% vs. 14.5%, P = 0.016) compared with patients of the “PARTNER‐like” cohort.ConclusionPatients meeting PARTNER study exclusion criteria had an acceptable outcome at 30 days and 2 years, however, with significant differences to “PARTNER‐like” patients. Still, our results indicate that also real‐life patients with relevant comorbidities, who would have been excluded from the randomized PARTNER trials, benefit from TAVI with acceptable short‐ and long‐term outcome. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transcatheter closure of postmyocardial infarction, iatrogenic, and postoperative ventricular septal defects: The Mayo Clinic experience
Authors: Egbe Alexander C. , Poterucha Joseph T. , Rihal Charanjit S. , Taggart Nathaniel W. , Cetta Frank , Cabalka Allison K. , Pollak Peter M. , Reeder Guy S. , Hagler Donald J. 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesTo determine event‐free survival after transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD), and to identify predictors of adverse events (AE) in post myocardial infarction VSD (post‐MI VSD) subgroup.BackgroundThere are limited data on mid‐term follow‐up after transcatheter VSD closure.MethodsRetrospective review of 27 cases of transcatheter VSD closure (post‐MI = 18 and non‐ischemic = 9) performed from 1999 to 2013. We defined AE as death, device embolization, hemolysis requiring blood transfusion, heart block and reintervention.ResultsIn the post‐MI VSD subgroup, mean age and follow‐up was 69 ± 11 and 7.3 ± 7 years, respectively. AE occurred in 8 (44%) patients (death‐3, device embolization‐1, hemolysis‐1, surgical VSD closure‐2, reintervention‐1). Event‐free survival was 56% at 1 month and 5 years, and all AE occurred in the periprocedural period. Cardiogenic shock (HR: 3.21, CI: 1.82–5.41, P = 0.002), and VSD closure in acute phase (HR: 2.14, CI: 1.12–4.31, P = 0.004) were independent predictors of AE. In the non‐ischemic VSD subgroup, mean age and follow‐up was 49 ± 15 and 8.7 ± 8 years, respectively. AE occurred in 3 (33%) patients (late death‐1, surgical VSD closure‐2). For the entire cohort, freedom from death was 89% and 85% at 1 month and 5 years, and event‐free survival was 70% and 61% at 1 month and 5 years.ConclusionsTranscatheter closure of post‐MI VSD carries a moderate risk of periprocedural complications but low event rates afterwards. By comparison, device closure of non‐ischemic VSD has lower periprocedural morbidity but some patients continued to experience AE during follow‐up. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Segmented Flow‐Based Multistep Synthesis of Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dots with Narrow Particle Size Distribution
Authors: Misuk Viktor , Schmidt Maxim , Braukmann Sandra , Giannopoulos Konstantinos , Karl Dominik , Loewe Holger 
Published: May 2015

AbstractA continuous‐flow microreactor was used to synthetize II–VI semiconductor quantum dots (CdSe). In order to improve the size distribution of the nanoparticles, the synthesis was carried out in a two‐step procedure. A seed solution was obtained in a separate nucleation step, followed by a controllable growth step. Quantum dots that are synthesized with the two‐step method show a much narrower size distribution in comparison to those obtained in a conventional batch synthesis.
Impact of aggressive management and palliative care on cancer costs in the final month of life
Authors: Cheung Matthew C. , Earle Craig C. , Rangrej Jagadish , Ho Thi H. , Liu Ning , Barbera Lisa , Saskin Refik , Porter Joan , Seung Soo Jin , Mittmann Nicole 
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUNDA significant share of the cost of cancer care is concentrated in the end‐of‐life period. Although quality measures of aggressive treatment may guide optimal care during this timeframe, little is known about whether these metrics affect costs of care.METHODSThis study used population data to identify a cohort of patients who died of cancer in Ontario, Canada (2005‐2009). Individuals were categorized as having received or having not received aggressive end‐of‐life care according to quality measures related to acute institutional care or chemotherapy administration in the end‐of‐life period. Costs (2009 Canadian dollars) were collected over the last month of life through the linkage of health system administrative databases. Multivariate quantile regression was used to identify predictors of increased costs.RESULTSAmong 107,253 patients, the mean per‐patient cost over the final month was $18,131 for patients receiving aggressive care and $12,678 for patients receiving nonaggressive care (P < .0001). Patients who received chemotherapy in the last 2 weeks of life also sustained higher costs than those who did not (P < .0001). For individuals receiving end‐of‐life care in the highest cost quintile, early and repeated palliative care consultation was associated with reduced mean per‐patient costs. In a multivariate analysis, chemotherapy in the 2 weeks of life remained predictive of increased costs (median increase, $536; P < .0001), whereas access to palliation remained predictive for lower costs (median decrease, $418; P < .0001).CONCLUSIONSCancer patients who receive aggressive end‐of‐life care incur 43% higher costs than those managed nonaggressively. Palliative consultation may partially offset these costs and offer resultant savings. Cancer 2015;121:3307–3315. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Performance of amplify forward and decode forward cooperative strategies for body surface communications in UWB Body Area Networks
Authors: Rout Deepak Kumar , Gurrala Kiran Kumar , Das Susmita 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBody area networks (BAN) are being developed for telemonitoring of patients. Ultra wideband (UWB) is the most preferred choice for the physical layer of the BAN as it provides high data rate at low power consumption along with a simple transceiver structure. But because of high fading characteristics of the human body channel, the range of UWB will be limited, and a reliable communication cannot be guaranteed. In that case, cooperative communications may be applied to BAN for improving system performance and link quality.The paper proposes a novel approach by applying amplify and forward, and decode and forward cooperative relaying strategies with maximal ratio combining for BAN. The performance of single relay AF and DF relaying have been compared with direct transmission. Further, the efficacy of the proposed strategies has been validated by transmitting electrocardiogram signals and magnetic resonance imaging images. Simulations and validations have been carried out on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers designated CM3 channel model for BAN designed from real time measurements data. A signal‐to‐noise ratio gain of at least 3 dB is clearly observed from simulation results. Thus, transmit power requirement can be minimized, which in turn improves the battery life of body sensor nodes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maternal effects and maternal selection arising from variation in allocation of free amino acid to eggs
Authors: Newcombe Devi , Hunt John , Mitchell Christopher , Moore Allen J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMaternal provisioning can have profound effects on offspring phenotypes, or maternal effects, especially early in life. One ubiquitous form of provisioning is in the makeup of egg. However, only a few studies examine the role of specific egg constituents in maternal effects, especially as they relate to maternal selection (a standardized selection gradient reflecting the covariance between maternal traits and offspring fitness). Here, we report on the evolutionary consequences of differences in maternal acquisition and allocation of amino acids to eggs. We manipulated acquisition by varying maternal diet (milkweed or sunflower) in the large milkweed bug,Oncopeltus fasciatus. Variation in allocation was detected by examining two source populations with different evolutionary histories and life‐history response to sunflower as food. We measured amino acids composition in eggs in this 2 × 2 design and found significant effects of source population and maternal diet on egg and nymph mass and of source population, maternal diet, and their interaction on amino acid composition of eggs. We measured significant linear and quadratic maternal selection on offspring mass associated with variation in amino acid allocation. Visualizing the performance surface along the major axes of nonlinear selection and plotting the mean amino acid profile of eggs from each treatment onto the surface revealed a saddle‐shaped fitness surface. While maternal selection appears to have influenced how females allocate amino acids, this maternal effect did not evolve equally in the two populations. Furthermore, none of the population means coincided with peak performance. Thus, we found that the composition of free amino acids in eggs was due to variation in both acquisition and allocation, which had significant fitness effects and created selection. However, although there can be an evolutionary response to novel food resources, females may be constrained from reaching phenotypic optima with regard to allocation of free amino acids.
New echocardiographic predictors of clinical outcome in patients presenting with heart failure and a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: a subanalysis of the Ka (Karolinska) Ren (Rennes) Study
Authors: Donal Erwan , Lund Lars H. , Oger Emmanuel , Hage Camilla , Persson Hans , Reynaud Amélie , Ennezat Pierre‐Vladimir , Bauer Fabrice , Drouet Elodie , Linde Cecilia , Daubert Claude ,   on behalf of the KaRen investigators
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesTo identify electrocardiographic and echocardiographic predictors of mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) in the KaRen study.BackgroundKaRen is a prospective, observational study of the long‐term outcomes of patients presenting with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).MethodWe identified 538 patients who presented with acute cardiac decompensation, a >100 pg/mL serum b‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or >300 pg/mL N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) concentration and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >45%. After 4–8 weeks of standard treatment, 413 patients (mean age = 76 ± 9 years, 55.9% women) returned for analyses of their clinical status, laboratory screen, and detailed electrocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic recordings. They were followed for a mean of 28 months thereafter. The primary study endpoint was time to death from all causes or first hospitalization for heart failure.ResultsMean LVEF was 62.4 ± 6.9% and median NT‐proBNP 1410 pmol/L. PR interval >200 ms was present in 11.2% of patients and 14.9% had a >120 ms QRS duration, with left bundle branch block in only 6.3%. Over a mean follow‐up of 28 months, 177 patients (42.9%) reached a primary study endpoint, including 61 deaths and 116 hospitalizations for heart failure. After adjustment for age, gender, New York Heart Association class, atrial fibrillation history, creatinine, sodium, BNP, ejection fraction, and right ventricular fractional shortening, only E/e′ remained as a predictor, with a hazard ratio = 1.49 and P = 0.0012.ConclusionThe incidence of hospitalizations for HF and deaths in KaRen was high and E/e′ predicted adverse clinical outcomes. These observations should help in the risk stratification and therapy of HFpEF.