bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teleconnections and variability in observed rainfall over Saudi Arabia during 1978–2010
Authors: Athar H. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe analyses of monthly and annual variability, and the seasonal teleconnections with the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), El‐Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) circulation indices, for rainfall from 26 stations in Saudi Arabia (SA), for 33‐year period (1978–2010), are presented. High interannual variability with non‐monsoonal annual cycle characterizes the rainfall climate of SA in recent 33‐year period. Eight of 26 stations display statistically significant simultaneous teleconnections with IOD and ENSO in the September–October–November (SON) season. These eight stations are situated north of 21.50°N (nSA) and are located in northern and in southeastern regions of nSA.
Dinuclear Palladium Complexes with Two Ligand‐Centered Radicals and a Single Bridging Ligand: Subtle Tuning of Magnetic Properties
Authors: Broere Daniël L. J. , Demeshko Serhiy , de Bruin Bas , Pidko Evgeny A. , Reek Joost N. H. , Siegler Maxime A. , Lutz Martin , van der Vlugt Jarl Ivar 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe facile and tunable preparation of unique dinuclear [(L⋅)PdXPd(L⋅)] complexes (X=Cl or N3), bearing a ligand radical on each Pd, is disclosed, as well as their magnetochemistry in solution and solid state is reported. Chloride abstraction from [PdCl(NNOISQ)] (NNOISQ=iminosemiquinonato) with TlPF6 results in an unusual monochlorido‐bridged dinuclear open‐shell diradical species, [{Pd(NNOISQ)}2(μ‐Cl)]+, with an unusually small Pd‐Cl‐Pd angle (ca. 93°, determined by X‐ray). This suggests an intramolecular d8–d8 interaction, which is supported by DFT calculations. SQUID measurements indicate moderate antiferromagnetic spin exchange between the two ligand radicals and an overall singlet ground state in the solid state. VT EPR spectroscopy shows a transient signal corresponding to a triplet state between 20 and 60 K. Complex 2 reacts with PPh3 to generate [Pd(NNOISQ)(PPh3)]+ and one equivalent of [PdCl(NNOISQ)]. Reacting an 1:1 mixture of [PdCl(NNOISQ)] and [Pd(N3)(NNOISQ)] furnishes the 1,1‐azido‐bridged dinuclear diradical [{Pd(NNOISQ)}2(κ1‐N;μ‐N3]+, with a Pd‐N‐Pd angle close to 127° (X‐ray). Magnetic and EPR measurements indicate two independent S=1/2 spin carriers and no magnetic interaction in the solid state. The two diradical species both show no spin exchange in solution, likely because of unhindered rotation around the PdXPd core. This work demonstrates that a single bridging atom can induce subtle and tunable changes in structural and magnetic properties of novel dinuclear Pd complexes featuring two ligand‐based radicals.
Synthesis of Anionic Phosphorus‐Containing Heterocycles by Intramolecular Cyclizations Involving N‐Functionalized Phosphinecarboxamides
Authors: Robinson Thomas P. , Goicoechea Jose M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe report that the 2‐phosphaethynolate anion (PCO−) reacts with propargylamines in the presence of a proton source to afford novel N‐derivatized phosphinecarboxamides bearing alkyne functionalities. Deprotonation of these species gives rise to novel five‐ and six‐membered anionic heterocycles resulting from intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the resulting phosphide at the alkyne functionality (via 5‐exo‐dig or 6‐endo‐dig cyclizations, respectively). The nature of the substituents on the phosphinecarboxamide can be used to influence the outcome of these reactions. This strategy represents a unique approach to phosphorus‐containing heterocylic systems that are closely related to known organic molecules with interesting bio‐active properties.
Treatment decisional regret among men with prostate cancer: Racial differences and influential factors in the North Carolina Health Access and Prostate Cancer Treatment Project (HCaP‐NC)
Authors: Morris Bonny B. , Farnan Laura , Song Lixin , Addington Elizabeth L. , Chen Ronald C. , Nielsen Matthew E. , Mishel Merle , Mohler James L. , Bensen Jeannette T. 
Published: March 2015

BACKGROUNDIt has been demonstrated that treatment decisional regret affects quality of life in patients with prostate cancer (CaP); however, there are limited studies that identify factors associated with treatment decisional regret, particularly within a racially diverse patient population that has extended follow‐up.METHODSLogistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between decisional regret and potential predictors in a population‐based cohort of 348 African American men and 446 Caucasian American men approximately 3 years after CaP diagnosis.RESULTSOf 794 research participants, 12% experienced treatment decisional regret. Decisional regret was associated with androgen‐deprivation therapy (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐4.0), recent urinary bother (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.6‐7.3), satisfaction with understanding potential treatment side effects (very unsatisfied: OR, 13.3; 95% CI, 5.5‐32.2; somewhat unsatisfied: OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.3‐11.2; neutral: OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.9‐7.6), and CaP treatment effect on the spousal relationship (very affected: OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.0‐7.6; somewhat affected: OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4‐7.3; neutral: OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.9‐7.6). Younger African Americans were more likely to experience regret than older African Americans (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1‐8.1), and older African Americans were less likely to experience regret than older Caucasian Americans (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1‐0.7).CONCLUSIONSTreatment decisional regret remains an important issue in CaP survivors beyond initial treatment. Potential interventions should involve younger African Americans and patient spouses. Increased regret may reflect the unexpected influence of treatment side effects on the patient's everyday life; helping the patient relate potential side effects to his individual situation could improve patient satisfaction. Cancer 2015;121:2029–2035. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Efficient, Chemical‐Catalytic Approach to the Production of 3‐Hydroxypropanoic Acid by Oxidation of Biomass‐Derived Levulinic Acid With Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Wu Linglin , Dutta Saikat , Mascal Mark 
Published: March 2015

Abstract3‐Hydroxypropanoic acid (HPA), a precursor to acrylic acid, can be produced in high yield by oxidation of the biomass‐derived platform chemical levulinic acid. While treatment of levulinic acid with H2O2 under acidic conditions gives predominantly succinic acid, a remarkable reversal of selectivity is observed under basic conditions, leading either directly to HPA or, under modified conditions, initially to 3‐(hydroperoxy)propanoic acid, which can be quantitatively hydrogenated to HPA.
Generalized boundary condition memristor model
Authors: Ascoli Alon , Corinto Fernando , Tetzlaff Ronald 
Published: March 2015

SUMMARYA number of resistive switching memories exhibit activation‐based dynamical behavior, which makes them suitable for neuromorphic and programmable analog filtering applications. Because the Boundary Condition Memristor (BCM) model accounts for tunable activation thresholds only at the on and off boundary states, it is not quantitatively accurate in the description of these kinds of memristors and in the investigation of their circuit applications. This paper introduces the Generalized Boundary Condition Memristor (GBCM) model, preserving the features of the BCM model while allowing, further, an ad‐hoc tuning of activation‐based dynamics, which enables an appropriate modulation of the conditions under which memristors may operate as storage elements or data processors. A simple circuit implementation of the novel model is presented, and time‐efficient simulations confirming the improvement in modeling accuracy over the BCM model are shown. As a proof‐of‐concept for the suitability of the GBCM model in the exploration of the full potential of memristors in neuromorphic circuits and programmable analog filters, this paper adopts it to model fundamental synaptic rules governing the mechanisms of learning in neural systems and to gain some insight into key issues in the design of a couple of filters. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What is suspended sediment?
Authors: Parsons Anthony John , Cooper James , Wainwright John 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSuspended sediment is conventionally regarded as that sediment transported by a fluid that it is fine enough for turbulent eddies to outweigh settling of the particles through the fluid. Early work in the fluvial field attributed suspension to turbulence, and led to the notion of a critical threshold for maintaining sediment in suspension. However, research on both turbulence structures and the interactions between suspended sediment and bedforms in rivers has shown a more complex story and, although there appear to have been no studies of the impact of bedforms on aeolian suspended sediment concentrations, turbulent flow structures and transport rates of saltating particles have been shown to be affected. This research indicates that suspended sediment neither travels with the same velocity as the flow in which it is suspended, nor is it likely to remain in suspension in perpetuity, even under conditions of steady flow or in unsteady flow the where dimensionless critical threshold is permanently exceeded. Rather, like bedload, it travels in a series of hops, and is repeatedly deposited on the bed where it remains until it is re‐entrained. Is there, therefore, a qualitative difference between suspended and saltating sediment, or is it just a quantitative difference in the size of the jump length and the frequency of re‐entrainment? It is our contention that the distinction of suspension as a separate class of sediment transport is both arbitrary and an unhelpful anthropocentric artefact. If we recognize that sediment transport is a continuum and applies to any fluid medium rather than split into different “processes” based on arbitrary thresholds and fluids, then recognizing the continuity will enable development of an holistic approach sediment transport, and thus sediment‐transport models that are likely to be viable across a wider range of conditions than hitherto. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychopharmacologic treatment of children prenatally exposed to drugs of abuse
Authors: Hulvershorn Leslie A. , Schroeder Kristen M. , Wink Logan K. , Erickson Craig A. , McDougle Christopher J. 
Published: March 2015

ObjectiveThis pilot study compared the pharmacologic treatment history and clinical outcomes observed in pediatric outpatients with psychiatric disorders exposed to drugs of abuse in utero to those of an age‐matched, sex‐matched and psychiatric disorder‐matched, non‐drug‐exposed group.MethodsIn this matched cohort study, medical records of children treated at an academic, child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic were reviewed. Children with caregiver‐reported history of prenatal drug exposure were compared with a non‐drug‐exposed control group being cared for by the same providers. Patients were rated with the Clinical Global Impressions—Severity scale (CGI‐S) throughout treatment. The changes in pre‐treatment and post‐treatment CGI‐S scores and the total number of medication trials were determined between groups.ResultsThe drug‐exposed group (n = 30) had a higher total number of lifetime medication trials compared with the non‐drug‐exposed group (n = 28) and were taking significantly more total medications, at their final assessment. Unlike the non‐drug‐exposed group, the drug‐exposed group demonstrated a lack of clinical improvement.ConclusionsThese results suggest that in utero drug‐exposed children may be more treatment‐refractory to or experience greater side effects from the pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric disorders than controls, although we cannot determine if early environment or drugs exposure drives these findings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing Consensus Criteria for Sarcopenia: An Update
Authors: McLean Robert R , Kiel Douglas P 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACT

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is a major cause of impaired physical function, which contributes to mobility disability, falls and hospitalizations in older adults. Lower muscle mass and strength are also associated with lower bone mineral density and greater risk for osteoporotic fractures. Thus, identification of sarcopenia could be important for fracture prevention as it may help improve fracture risk assessment, and muscle mass and strength can be improved with exercise, even among the frailest older adults. Unfortunately, there are no consensus diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. Consequently there is no guidance to help clinicians identify older adults with clinically meaningful low muscle mass or weakness. Further, development of novel sarcopenia therapies is hindered not only due to the difficulty in identifying participants for clinical trials, and but also because there are no validated, clinically appropriate endpoints for assessment of treatment efficacy. There is currently a major push to establish a consensus definition of sarcopenia, and recent work holds promise that this goal may be within reach. This article discusses the evolution of the definition of sarcopenia, and focuses on the latest recommended diagnostic criteria proposed by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project. While these empirically-based cut-points for clinically important low muscle mass and weakness are a significant step forward for the sarcopenia field, important questions remain to be answered before consensus diagnostic criteria can be definitively established. Ongoing work to refine sarcopenia criteria will further advance the field and bring this important contributor to falls, fractures and disability into the mainstream of clinical care and ultimately lead to better quality of life with aging. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Oncostatin M Promotes Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Through JAK3‐STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Kakutani Yoshinori , Shioi Atsushi , Shoji Tetsuo , Okazaki Hirokazu , Koyama Hidenori , Emoto Masanori , Inaba Masaaki 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTVascular calcification is a clinically significant component of atherosclerosis and arises from chronic vascular inflammation. Oncostatin M (OSM) derived from plaque macrophages may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic calcification. Here, we investigated the stimulatory effects of OSM on osteoblastic differentiation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMC) derived from various arteries including umbilical artery, aorta, and coronary artery and its signaling pathway. Osteoblastic differentiation was induced by exposure of HVSMC to osteogenic differentiation medium (ODM) (10% fetal bovine serum, 0.1 μM dexamethasone, 10 mM β‐glycerophosphate and 50 μg/ml ascorbic acid 2‐phosphate in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM]). OSM significantly increased alkaline phosphate (ALP) activity and matrix mineralization in HVSMC from all sources. Osteoblast marker genes such as ALP and Runx2 were also up‐regulated by OSM in these cells. OSM treatment induced activation of STAT3 in HVSMC from umbilical artery as evidenced by immunoblot. Moreover, not only a JAK3 inhibitor, WHI‐P154, but also knockdown of JAK3 by siRNA prevented the OSM‐induced ALP activity and matrix mineralization in umbilical artery HVSMC. On the other hand, silencing of STAT3 almost completely suppressed OSM‐induced ALP expression and matrix mineralization in HVSMC from all sources. These data suggest that OSM promotes osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells through JAK3/STAT3 pathway and may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic calcification. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1325–1333, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lyar Is a New Ligand for Retinal Pigment Epithelial Phagocytosis
Authors: Guo Feiye , Ding Ying , Caberoy Nora B. , Alvarado Gabriela , Liu Robert , Shen Chen , Yu Jisu , Zhou Yixiong , Salero Enrique , LeBlanc Michelle E. , Wang Weiwen , Li Wei 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTPhagocytosis is critical to tissue homeostasis, as highlighted by phagocytosis defect of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with debris accumulation, photoreceptor degeneration and blindness. Phagocytosis ligands are the key to delineating molecular mechanisms and functional roles of phagocytes, but are traditionally identified in individual cases with technical challenges. We recently developed open reading frame phage display (OPD) for phagocytosis‐based functional cloning (PFC) to identify unknown ligands. One of the identified ligands was Ly‐1 antibody reactive clone (Lyar) with functions poorly defined. Herein, we characterized Lyar as a new ligand to stimulate RPE phagocytosis. In contrast to its reported nucleolar expression, immunohistochemistry showed that Lyar was highly expressed in photoreceptor outer segments (POSs) of the retina. Cytoplasmic Lyar was released from apoptotic cells, and selectively bound to shed POSs and apoptotic cells, but not healthy cells. POS vesicles engulfed through Lyar‐dependent pathway were targeted to phagosomes and colocalized with phagosome marker Rab7. These results suggest that Lyar is a genuine RPE phagocytosis ligand, which in turn supports the validity of OPD/PFC as the only available approach for unbiased identification of phagocytosis ligands with broad applicability to various phagocytes. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 2177–2187, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Methylene Blue Attenuates iNOS Induction Through Suppression of Transcriptional Factor Binding Amid iNOS mRNA Transcription
Authors: Huang Chao , Tong Lijuan , Lu Xu , Wang Jia , Yao Wenjuan , Jiang Bo , Zhang Wei 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTInducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) critically contributes to the development of endotoxin‐mediated inflammation. It can be induced by cytokines or endotoxins via distinct signaling pathways. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers iNOS expression through activation of the inhibitor of κB‐α (IκB‐α)‐nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) cascade, whereas interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) acts primarily through Janus kinase (JAK)‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). Methylene blue (MB), an agent used clinically to treat numerous ailments, has been shown to reduce NO accumulation through suppression of iNOS activity. But it remains unclear whether MB affects iNOS induction. This knowledge gap is addressed in the present study using cultured cells and endotoxemic mice. With mouse macrophages, MB treatment prevented the LPS‐ and/or IFN‐γ‐stimulated iNOS protein expression. Real‐time PCR experiments showed that iNOS mRNA transcription was robustly blocked by MB treatment. The inhibitory effect of MB on iNOS expression was confirmed in vivo in endotoxemic mice. Further analysis showed that MB had no significant effect on IκB‐α degradation and NF‐κB or STAT1 phosphorylation in LPS/IFN‐γ‐stimulated cells. The nuclear transport of active NF‐κB or STAT1 was also not affected by MB treatment. But MB treatment markedly reduced the binding of NF‐κB and STAT1 to their DNA elements. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that MB reduced NF‐κB and STAT1 bindings to iNOS promoter inside the cell. These studies show that MB attenuates transcriptional factor binding amid iNOS mRNA transcription, providing further insight into the molecular mechanism of MB in disease therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1730–1740, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protocadherin20 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor Gene: Epigenetic Inactivation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Tao , Long Biaoli , Ren Guosheng , Xiang Tingxiu , Li Lili , Wang Zhaohui , He Ya , Zeng Quan , Hong Suling , Hu Guohua 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTGenetic alterations of 13q21 (PCDH 8,9,17, and 20) are frequently observed in multiple tumors, suggesting the presence of critical tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Protocadherin20 (PCDH20), located at 13q21.2, belongs to the δ1‐protocadherins, which constitutes one of the largest subgroup within the adherin superfamily. Frequent downregulation/silencing of PCDH20 was found in NPC cell lines using semiquantitative PCR. PCDH20 mRNA was broadly expressed in normal nasopharyngeal tissues and cell lines. Promoter methylation of PCDH20 was observed in 80% (4/5) of NPC cell lines and 78.4% (40 of 51) of primary tumors by methylation‐specific PCR, but rarely in normal nasopharygeal tissues and nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line (NP69). The silencing of PCDH20 can be reversed by pharmacological demethylation, indicating an epigenetic mechanism. Restoration of PCDH20 expression in NPC cells strongly suppressed cell numbers and colony formation. Overexpression of PCDH20 antagonized Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway and promoted β‐catenin to translocate from nucleus to cytoplasm and membrane. PCDH20 significantly inhibited the migration and invasion ability of NPC cells. PCDH20 also inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) through enhanced expression of E‐cadherin. Our study identified PCDH20 as a functional tumor suppressor and an important antagonist of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and EMT, with frequent epigenetic inactivation in NPC. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1766–1775, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fabrication of Functional Nanofibers Through Post‐Nanoparticle Functionalization
Authors: Jeoung Eunhee , Yeh Yi‐Cheun , Nelson Tyler , Kushida Takashi , Wang Li‐Sheng , Mout Rubul , Li Xiaoning , Saha Krishnendu , Gupta Akash , Tonga Gülen Y. , Lannutti John J. , Rotello Vincent M. 
Published: March 2015

A facile method is developed to functionalize nanofiber surfaces with nanoparticles (NPs) through dithiocarbamate chemistry. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and quantum dots (QDs) are immobilized on the nanofiber surface. These surfaces provide scaffolds for further supramolecular functionalization, as demonstrated through the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pairing of QD‐decorated fibers and fluorescent proteins.
image
Synthesis and properties of renewable nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from dimethylcarbonate
Authors: Duval Charlotte , Kébir Nasreddine , Charvet Agathe , Martin Amélie , Burel Fabrice 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTNovel fully renewable AA‐BB type nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) were synthesized using the transurethanization approach. Dicarbamate monomers were prepared by the reaction of a diamine with an excess of dimethylcarbonate (DMC), in presence of 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene (TBD) as catalyst. Then, the dicarbamate was reacted with a diol to afford the polymer, in presence of TBD or K2CO3 as catalyst. Several renewable diamines and diols were tested. The two steps were conducted under neat conditions. The obtained materials exhibited Tg values varying from −38 to 42 °C, Tm values varying from 42 to 204 °C, and thermal stabilities above 200 °C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 1351–1359