bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of ivabradine in patients with chronic systolic heart failure and diabetes: an analysis from the SHIFT trial
Authors: Komajda Michel , Tavazzi Luigi , Francq Bernard G. , Böhm Michael , Borer Jeffrey S. , Ford Ian , Swedberg Karl ,   on behalf of the SHIFT Investigators
Published: September 2015

AimsTo evaluate clinical profiles and outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure (HF) with or without diabetes, and the efficacy and safety of ivabradine (heart rate‐lowering agent) with respect to diabetic status.Methods and resultsThis is a post hoc analysis on patients in SHIFT, a randomized controlled trial in adults in sinus rhythm with systolic HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, and resting heart rate ≥70 b.p.m. Patients were randomized to ivabradine (titrated to 7.5 mg bid) or placebo. Diabetic status was established by medical history at baseline. The primary composite endpoint (PCE) was cardiovascular death or hospitalisation for worsening HF. Of 6505 patients, 30% had diabetes, 32% of whom used insulin. The PCE was more frequent in patients with diabetes [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.31; p = 0.001], as was hospitalization for worsening HF (adjusted HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13–1.44; P < 0.001), and was increased in patients treated with insulin (adjusted HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.23–1.66; P < 0.01 vs. non‐diabetics). Ivabradine significantly reduced the PCE in patients with and without diabetes (adjusted HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.94 and HR 0.84, 95% CI, 0.75–0.95, respectively; interaction P was non‐significant) vs. placebo. Adverse events were significantly more frequent in patients with diabetes (78%) than without (74%) (P < 0.001). Regardless of diabetic status, the incidence of serious adverse events was not significantly different between ivabradine and placebo.ConclusionsComorbid diabetes in chronic HF worsens the prognosis of systolic HF patients. Irrespective of diabetic status, ivabradine is effective and safe in these patients.
Aza‐Henry Reaction with CF3‐Ketimines: An Efficient Approach to Trifluoromethylated β‐Nitroamines, 1,2‐Diamines, α‐­Aminooximes, and Imidazolidinones
Authors: Kutovaya Irina V. , Shmatova Olga I. , Tkachuk Viktor M. , Melnichenko Nina V. , Vovk Mikhail V. , Nenajdenko Valentine G. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCF3‐Substituted ketimines synthesized from trifluoroacetone, hexafluoroacetone, and trifluoroacetophenones were studied in aza‐Henry reactions with nitroalkanes. We found that nitromethane and nitropropane react with CF3‐substituted ketimines to form the target β‐nitroamines in high yield. The aza‐Henry reaction proceeded under mild conditions in the presence of an appropriate base. A new simple method for the synthesis of β‐nitroamines bearing CF3 group was developed. α‐CF3‐β‐nitroamines can easily be converted into trifluoromethylated 1,2‐diamines, α‐aminooximes, and imidazolidinones.
Conjugation of Hydroxytyrosol with Other Natural Phenolic Fragments: From Waste to Antioxidants and Antitumour Compounds
Authors: Tassano Erika , Alama Angela , Basso Andrea , Dondo Giancarlo , Galatini Andrea , Riva Renata , Banfi Luca 
Published: September 2015

AbstractHydroxytyrosol, a natural polyphenol that can be extracted from olive mill waste waters, was converted into a series of more complex and lipophilic analogues by conjugation with other naturally derived (poly)phenolic fragments. Ether and triazole linkers were employed. A small library of compounds was prepared, stressing step economy and operational simplicity. Some of these substances were proven to have activity equal or superior to that of the parent hydroxytyrosol in radical scavenging assays as well as in cytotoxicity tests against tumour cells.
A Sterically Congested α‐Cyanoamine as a Cyanating Reagent: Cyanation of Acetals and Orthoesters
Authors: Kotani Shunsuke , Sakamoto Midori , Osakama Kazuki , Nakajima Makoto 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe cyanation of acetals and orthoesters by using a sterically congested α‐cyanoamine as a cyanating reagent was investigated. The α‐cyanoamine effectively facilitated cyanation in the presence of trichlorosilyl triflate to produce a variety of cyanated adducts in excellent yields. Analysis of the reaction mixture by 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that trichlorosilyl triflate produced an oxocarbenium cation species as an intermediate.
Combination of high‐frequency ultrasound and UV radiation of excilamp for surface disinfection
Authors: Tsenter Irina , Matafonova Galina , Batoev Valeriy 
Published: September 2015

The combination of high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and UV represents a new approach to disinfecting surfaces. This study aimed to examine the inactivation efficiency of HFUS (1.7 MHz) and monochromatic UV radiation of KrCl excilamp (222 nm) in a single and a sequential mode against Bacillus cereus cells and spores added to glass surfaces. When treated by UV only, cells at populations of 103, 104, and 105 colony‐forming units (CFU)/cm2 showed 100% disinfection at high doses up to 1760 mJ/cm2. Spores at 104 CFU/cm2 were completely inactivated at a dose of 1170 mJ/cm2. Treatment with aqueous aerosol (produced by HFUS) reduced cell counts by 100% within a 40‐min exposure, whereas it was ineffective in inactivating spores under these conditions. In a sequential mode, the contaminated surface was pretreated with the sonicated aqueous aerosol and subsequently irradiated with the excilamp. It was found that HFUS exposure times and UV doses for complete inactivation decreased by a factor of 2 and 6–7, respectively, compared to sole HFUS or UV. A portable apparatus for surface disinfection was designed. The combined HFUS/UV method may be a promising technique for rapid disinfection of microbially contaminated surfaces.
Sensitivity analysis of energy inputs and cost assessment for almond production in Iran
Authors: Beigi Mohsen , Torki‐Harchegani Mehdi , Ebrahimi Rahim 
Published: September 2015

The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationships between energy inputs and yield, and to perform cost analysis for almond production. Data were collected by administering questionnaire in face‐to‐face interviews from procedures. The results showed that total energy input was 59,542.61 MJ ha−1 and the output was 25,190.13 MJ ha−1. The most important energy consuming inputs were electricity and chemical fertilizers with 55.98% and 17.72% of total energy input, respectively. The energy use efficiency and energy cost ratio values were estimated to be 0.42 and 0.19, respectively. The econometric model was developed using Cobb‐Douglas production function and the results revealed that human labor, machinery, chemical fertilizer, and farmyard manure energy inputs contributed significantly to yield. The results of sensitivity analysis of energy inputs showed the high impact of chemical fertilizers, and farmyard manure inputs on the yield. Economic analysis showed that the total production cost, total gross value, and net return of almond production were 5344.48 $ ha−1, 27,241.29 $ ha−1, and 21,896.81 $ ha−1, respectively. Also, productivity and the benefit to cost ratio were obtained to be 0.16 kg $−1 and 5.10, respectively. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 582–588, 2016
Nonsuicidal Self‐injury as a Risk Factor for Purging Onset: Negatively Reinforced Behaviours that Reduce Emotional Distress
Authors: Riley Elizabeth N. , Davis Heather A. , Combs Jessica L. , Jordan Carol E. , Smith Gregory T. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBoth nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and purging behaviour are thought to involve harm to the self. The acquired capability for self‐harm model holds that engaging in one self‐harming behaviour increases the capability to tolerate harm to the self, thus increasing risk for engaging on other such behaviours. In addition, both behaviours are thought to serve the similar function of relief from distress. We thus tested whether engagement in one of these behaviours predicts the subsequent onset of the other. In a longitudinal design, 1158 first‐year college women were assessed for purging and NSSI at two time points. Engagement in NSSI at time 1 predicted the college onset of purging behaviour 9 months later (OR = 2.20, p < .04, CI = 1.07–4.19) beyond prediction from time 1 binge behaviour, and purging behaviour at time 1 predicted the subsequent onset of NSSI (OR = 6.54, p < .01, CI = 1.71–25.04). These findings are consistent with the acquired capability for harm model and with the possibility that the two behaviours serve a similar function. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
An Actor‐Oriented and Context‐Specific Framework for Evaluating Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: Krause Dunja , Schwab Maria , Birkmann Jörn 
Published: September 2015

AbstractResponding to recently identified challenges in the comprehensive evaluation of climate change adaptation, we suggest an assessment framework that incorporates a multidisciplinary viewpoint on adaptation. The framework combines three major components to link system‐oriented concepts of risk and vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change with actor‐oriented approaches of decision‐making: the risk context, individual decision‐making, and adaptation assessment. We have thereby developed an approach that is embedded in context and scale, takes an actor‐oriented perspective, and is applicable to multiple evaluation approaches. We tested the framework empirically with a mixed‐methods approach to assess adaptation in flood‐exposed areas of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. This has shown the distinct meanings of good adaptation and uncovered mismatches in choices for adaptation strategies and evaluations of those strategies across different actors hindering sustainable development.
Exploring Program Theory to Enhance Monitoring and Evaluation in Ecosystem‐Based Adaptation Projects
Authors: McKinnon Madeleine C. , Hole David G. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMonitoring and evaluation (M&E) for ecosystem‐based adaptation (EbA) projects is in its infancy. Specific M&E challenges lend EbA projects to the use of program theory. In this article, we will examine how two theory‐based tools—theory‐of‐change models and evidence synthesis—can be used to instruct informative EbA M&E through characterizing pathways to impact, identifying causal mechanisms, distinguishing relevant indicators, and recognizing areas of uncertainty, particularly in data‐poor environments where intuition and anecdote often substitute for evidence. It will be framed in the context of two EbA case studies, implemented by our organization, in which we will bring together elements from the development of theory‐of‐change models and provide examples of evidence synthesis underpinning a causal linkage. We argue that such an approach is essential for EbA projects to enable rapid learning and foster a culture of adaptive management.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Evidence‐Based Learning in the Climate Investment Funds' Pilot Program for Climate Resilience
Authors: Roehrer Christine , Kouadio Kouassi Emmanuel 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMonitoring and evaluation of funded activities is essential to improve the effectiveness of spending and accountability of climate finance, as well as for transparency and learning. This chapter shares early experiences and emerging lessons from developing the Climate Investment Funds' (CIF) Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) participatory results‐based monitoring and reporting system. It describes the process of developing the PPCR results framework and takes a critical look at its five core indicators. It then discusses the iterative and participatory development process of the PPCR Monitoring and Reporting Toolkit, as well as progress made and challenges encountered in operationalizing the monitoring and reporting system. The purpose of this system is to track progress toward climate‐resilient development at the national level and to monitor, report, and learn from the implementation of PPCR activities at country and project level. The chapter also highlights opportunities to complement monitoring and reporting with evidence‐based learning. A summary of lessons learned concludes the chapter.
EB‐crosslinked Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Based on Highly Sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) and Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Triallyl Isocyanurate
Authors: Woo H.‐S. , Song J.‐M. , Lee S.‐Y. , Cho D. H. , Sohn J.‐Y. , Lee Y. M. , Choi J.‐H. , Shin J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn this study, crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications are prepared using electron beam irradiation with a mixture of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) at a dose of 300 kGy. The gel‐fraction of the irradiated SPEEK/PVDF/TAIC (95/4.5/0.5) membrane is 87% while the unirradiated membrane completely dissolves in DMAc solvent. In addition, the water uptake of the irradiated membrane is 221% at 70 °C while that of the unirradiated membrane completely dissolves in water at above 70 °C. The ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity of the crosslinked membrane are 1.57 meq g−1, and 4.0 × 10−2 S cm−1 (at 80 °C and RH 90%), respectively. Furthermore, a morphology study of the membranes is conducted using differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffractometry. The cell performance study with the crosslinked membrane demonstrates that the maximum power density is 518 mW cm−2 at 1036 mA cm−2 and the maximum current density at applied voltage of 0.4 V is 1190 mA cm−2.
Gyrification brain abnormalities as predictors of outcome in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Favaro Angela , Tenconi Elena , Degortes Daniela , Manara Renzo , Santonastaso Paolo 
Published: September 2015

AbstractGyrification brain abnormalities are considered a marker of early deviations from normal developmental trajectories and a putative predictor of poor outcome in psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to explore cortical folding morphology in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). A MRI brain study was conducted on 38 patients with AN, 20 fully recovered patients, and 38 healthy women. Local gyrification was measured with procedures implemented in FreeSurfer. Vertex‐wise comparisons were carried out to compare: (1) AN patients and healthy women; (2) patients with a full remission at a 3‐year longitudinal follow‐up assessment and patients who did not recover. AN patients exhibited significantly lower gyrification when compared with healthy controls. Patients with a poor 3‐year outcome had significantly lower baseline gyrification when compared to both healthy women and patients with full recovery at follow‐up, even after controlling for the effects of duration of illness and gray matter volume. No significant correlation has been found between gyrification, body mass index, amount of weight loss, onset age, and duration of illness. Brain gyrification significantly predicted outcome at follow‐up even after controlling for the effects of duration of illness and other clinical prognostic factors. Although the role of starvation in determining our findings cannot be excluded, our study showed that brain gyrification might be a predictor of outcome in AN. Further studies are needed to understand if brain gyrification abnormalities are indices of early neurodevelopmental alterations, the consequence of starvation, or the interaction between both factors. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5113–5122, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quorum‐sensing Cascades Governing Bacterial Multicellular Communities
Authors: Bloom‐Ackermann Zohar , Ganin Hadas , Kolodkin‐Gal Ilana 
Published: September 2015

AbstractQuorum sensing (QS) is an efficient mode of intercellular communication between bacteria. This mode is regulated by self‐produced small chemical signals, activating dedicated receptors once accumulated. Numerous architecturally complex QS cascades are cardinal for governing bacterial behaviors, such as pathogenicity, luminescence, and bacterial competence. Importantly, QS cascades are essential for the formation of bacterial multicellular communities. Once informed via QS cascades, motile cells often organize themselves into conspicuous multicellular structures that carry out specialized tasks. This review focuses on the major QS systems, playing an active role in the rise of complex bacterial communities in different bacterial models.
Twitter Mining for Discovery, Prediction and Causality: Applications and Methodologies
Authors: O'Leary Daniel E. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryTwitter has found substantial use in a number of settings. For example, Twitter played a major role in the ‘Arab Spring’ and has been adopted by a large number of the Fortune 100. All of these and other events have led to a large database of Twitter tweets that has attracted the attention of a number of companies and researchers through what has become known as ‘Twitter mining’ (also known as ‘TwitterMining’). This paper analyses some of the approaches used to gather information and knowledge from Twitter for Twitter mining. In addition, this paper reviews a number of the applications that employ Twitter Mining, investigating Twitter information for prediction, discovery and as an informational basis of causation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scattering based hyperspectral imaging of plasmonic nanoplate clusters towards biomedical applications
Authors: Ray Aniruddha , Kopelman Raoul , Chon Bonghwan , Briggman Kimberly , Hwang Jeeseong 
Published: September 2015

A new optical scattering contrast‐agent based on polymer‐nanoparticle encapsulated silver nanoplates (PESNs) is presented. Silver nanoplates were chosen due to the flexibility of tuning their plasmon frequencies. The polymer coating preserves their physical and optical properties and confers other advantages such as controlled contrast agent delivery. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations model the interaction of light with the nanoplates in different orientations in the cluster. Hyperspectral dark field microscopy (HYDFM) observes the scattering spectra of the PESNs. An unsupervised sequential maximum angle convex cone (SMACC) image analysis resolves spectral endmembers corresponding to different stacking orientations of the nanoplates. The orientation‐dependent endmembers qualitatively agree with the FDTD results. For contrast enhancement, the uptake and spatial distribution of PESNs are demonstrated by an HYDFM study of single melanoma cells to result in an enhanced contrast of up to 400%. A supervised spatial mapping of the endmembers obtained by the unsupervised SMACC algorithm reveals spatial distributions of PESNs with various clustering orientations of encapsulated nanoplates. Our study demonstrates tunability in plasmonics properties in clustered metal nanoparticles and its utility for the development of scatter‐based imaging contrast agents for a broad range of applications, including studies of single cells and other biomedical systems.
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Impaired regulation of portal venous flow in response to a meal challenge as quantified by 4D flow MRI
Authors: Roldán‐Alzate Alejandro , Frydrychowicz Alex , Said Adnan , Johnson Kevin M. , Francois Christopher J. , Wieben Oliver , Reeder Scott B. 
Published: September 2015

PurposePortal and mesenteric hemodynamics is greatly altered in portal hypertension patients. This study utilizes 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize and quantify changes in abdominal hemodynamics in patients with portal hypertension undergoing meal challenge.Materials and MethodsTwelve portal hypertension patients and six healthy subjects participated in the study. Baseline MRI was acquired after 5 hours of fasting. Postmeal MRI was obtained 20 minutes after subjects ingested EnSure Plus (574 mL). Imaging was performed at 3T using 4D flow MRI with an undersampled radial acquisition. Flow measurements were performed blinded to subject status (fasting/meal). Flow values for each vessel were compared before and after the meal challenge using paired Student's t‐tests (P < 0.05).ResultsAfter meal challenge, significant increases in blood flow were observed in supraceliac aorta, portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, and artery in both groups (P < 0.05). In patients, hepatic artery (P = 0.001) and splenic vein (P = 0.045) flow decreased while azygos vein flow (P = 0.002) increased.ConclusionPortal venous flow regulation to adjust the increasing mesenteric venous flow after a meal challenge may be impaired in patients with cirrhosis. The ability to comprehensively quantify the hemodynamic response of the abdominal vasculature to a meal challenge using 4D flow MRI reveals the potential of this technique to noninvasively characterize portal hypertension hemodynamics. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:1009–1017.
Efficient modeling of GaN HEMTs for linear and nonlinear circuits design
Authors: Jarndal Anwar , Kouki Ammar 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn this paper, a nonlinear modeling approach for gallium nitride high‐electron mobility transistor (GaN HEMT) on Si substrate is proposed. A reliable method has been developed to extract the extrinsic elements of the model. Its main advantage is its accuracy and dependency on only pinched‐off and unbiased S‐parameter measurements. The extrinsic elements are de‐embedded from multi‐bias S‐parameters to characterize the transistor intrinsic and construct a large‐signal model. The validity of the developed modeling approach is verified by comparing its small‐signal and large‐signal (single‐tone and two‐tone) simulations with measured data of a 2‐mm GaN HEMT on Si substrate. The model has been employed for designing a class‐AB power amplifier. A very good agreement between the amplifier simulation and measurement shows the validity of the model. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial and temporal characteristics of summer precipitation events spanning different numbers of days over Asia
Authors: Liu Ge , Wu Renguang 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTConsidering the physical connections with circulation systems of different life cycles, precipitation events are classified based on their durations (the number of consecutive days with significant precipitation). By analysing spatial and temporal characteristics of summer precipitation events of different types over Asia, the present study indicates that weather systems with different life cycles predominate over different regions of Asia and control the occurrence of precipitation events of different types and their respective contributions to precipitation days and amount. Mid‐high latitude blockings govern the North Asian region and result in more long duration (over‐8‐day) events contributing a non‐negligible part to total number of precipitation days (NOPDs) and precipitation amount. Synoptic weather processes induce more short duration events and increase the fractional contribution of short duration events over the central Asian region. Persistent Asian monsoon‐related circulations and intermittent intrusions of cold air flows from the north produce long (over‐14‐day) and short (3‐to 5‐day) duration events, respectively, which contribute a high percentage over southern China. The Indian summer monsoon and the topographic effect jointly cause more over‐14‐day events and make a larger contribution over the west coast of the Indian Peninsula. The mean intensity of different events, as well as intense precipitation events, has obvious regional dependence and is affected by different weather systems and topographic effects. The interdecadal changes in total NOPDs and the regrouping of events with different durations and intensities are both responsible for the interdecadal increases in total precipitation amount over Northeast China and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River valley around the late 1970s and that over southern China around 1993.The interdecadal decrease in precipitation over southern China around the late 1970s is primarily attributed to the regrouping of different events rather than the changing NOPDs.