bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seismic performance improvement of Special Truss Moment Frames using damage and energy concepts
Authors: Heidari Ahmad , Gharehbaghi Sadjad 
Published: October 2014

SummaryNowadays, one of the most important methodologies to reduce the destructive effects of severe earthquakes on structures is the use of energy dissipation devices (EDDs). In this paper, a new configuration of special truss moment frame (STMF) systems including EDDs is theoretically proposed to improve their seismic performance. Such an improvement is achieved by provision of bending performance in these frames. For this purpose, the devices called buckling resistant braces (BRBs) are located at the side of beam‐column connections as the top and bottom members of truss‐girders. In this context, a five‐bay nine‐story STMF is designed using the damage and energy concepts recently proposed in the literature. To show the effectiveness of the proposed system with respect to the similar recently presented STMFs, this frame is then subjected to non‐linear static and non‐linear time‐history analyses under several ground motion records in order to survey on its seismic performance. Subsequently, such engineering demand parameters as lateral displacement, inter‐story drift ratio, overturning moment and shearing forces of stories, residual deformations and maximum time‐history displacement at roof level, as well as the process of plastic hinges formation are investigated. The results show the effectiveness of proposed configuration of EDDs used to improve the seismic safety of STMFs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Urban wastewater effluent increases antibiotic resistance gene concentrations in a receiving northern European river
Authors: Berglund Björn , Fick Jerker , Lindgren Per-Eric 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an emerging global problem that threatens to undermine important advances in modern medicine. The environment is likely to play an important role in the dissemination of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) among both environmental and pathogenic bacteria. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) accumulate both chemical and biological waste from the surrounding urban milieu and have therefore been viewed as potential hotspots for dissemination and development of antibiotic resistance. To assess the effect of wastewater effluent on a river that flows through a Swedish city, sediment and water samples were collected from Stångån River, both upstream and downstream of an adjacent WWTP over 3 mo. Seven ARGs and the integrase gene on class 1 integrons were quantified in the collected sediment using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to assess the abundance of 10 different antibiotics in the water phase of the samples. The results showed an increase in ARGs and integrons downstream of the WWTP. The measured concentrations of antibiotics were low in the water samples from the Stångån River, suggesting that selection for ARGs did not occur in the surface water. Instead, the downstream increase in ARGs is likely to be attributable to accumulation of genes present in the treated effluent discharged from the WWTP. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:192–196. © 2014 SETAC
Effects of benzo[a]pyrene on growth, the antioxidant system, and DNA damage in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in 2 different soil types under laboratory conditions
Authors: Duan Xiaochen , Xu Li , Song Jing , Jiao Jiaguo , Liu Manqiang , Hu feng , Li Huixin 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to compare the toxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and to screen for rapid and sensitive biomarkers that can be used to assess the environmental risks of BaP in earthworms in different natural soil types. The authors exposed Eisenia fetida to 2 types of soil (red soil and fluvo-aquic soil) spiked with different concentrations (0 mg kg−1, 1 mg kg−1, 10 mg kg−1, 100 mg kg−1, and 500 mg kg−1) of BaP for 7 d or 14 d. Benzo[a]pyrene-induced weight variation altered the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD]; catalase [CAT]; and guaiacol peroxidase [POD]) and changed the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, using the comet assay, the authors determined the DNA damage in earthworms. The results revealed that the comet assay was suitable for evaluating the genotoxicity of BaP in the soil, even at the lowest examined concentration. The MDA content was the least sensitive indicator of BaP toxicity. A 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether the soil type, exposure concentration, and duration affected the BaP toxicity. The antioxidant enzyme activities and the MDA content were shown to be significantly correlated with the exposure concentration. The percentage of weight variation (p &lt; 0.001), CAT activity (p &lt; 0.05), and SOD activity (p &lt; 0.01) were significantly affected by the soil type, and the POD activity (p &lt; 0.01), CAT activity (p &lt; 0.001), and SOD activity (p &lt; 0.001) were significantly affected by the exposure duration. Therefore, measuring DNA damage in earthworms is a simple and efficient means of assessing BaP genotoxicity in a terrestrial environment, and the effects of the soil type and exposure time on the other parameters that were investigated in E. fetida, which were used as responsive biomarkers, should be considered. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;9999:1–8. © 2014 SETAC
Assessing the fate and effects of an insecticidal formulation
Authors: de Perre Chloé , Williard Karl W. J. , Schoonover Jon E. , Young Bryan G. , Murphy Tracye M. , Lydy Michael J. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract

A 3-yr study was conducted on a corn field in central Illinois, USA, to understand the fate and effects of an insecticidal formulation containing the active ingredients phostebupirim and cyfluthrin. The objectives were to determine the best tillage practice (conventional vs conservation tillage) in terms of grain yields and potential environmental risk, to assess insecticidal exposure using concentrations measured in soil and runoff water and sediments, to compare measured insecticidal concentrations with predicted concentrations from selected risk assessment exposure models, and to calculate toxicity benchmarks from laboratory bioassays performed on reference aquatic and terrestrial nontarget organisms, using individual active ingredients and the formulation. Corn grain yields were not significantly different based on tillage treatment. Similarly, field concentrations of insecticides were not significantly (p &gt; 0.05) different in strip tillage versus conventional tillage, suggesting that neither of the tillage systems would enable greater environmental risk from the insecticidal formulation. Risk quotients were calculated from field concentrations and toxicity data to determine potential risk to nontarget species. The insecticidal formulation used at the recommended rate resulted in soil, sediment, and water concentrations that were potentially harmful to aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, if exposure occurred, with risk quotients up to 34. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:197–207. © 2014 SETAC
Forecasting Stock Returns: Do Commodity Prices Help?
Authors: Black Angela J. , Klinkowska Olga , McMillan David G. , McMillan Fiona J. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the relationship between stock prices and commodity prices and whether this can be used to forecast stock returns. As both prices are linked to expected future economic performance they should exhibit a long‐run relationship. Moreover, changes in sentiment towards commodity investing may affect the nature of the response to disequilibrium. Results support cointegration between stock and commodity prices, while Bai–Perron tests identify breaks in the forecast regression. Forecasts are computed using a standard fixed (static) in‐sample/out‐of‐sample approach and by both recursive and rolling regressions, which incorporate the effects of changing forecast parameter values. A range of model specifications and forecast metrics are used. The historical mean model outperforms the forecast models in both the static and recursive approaches. However, in the rolling forecasts, those models that incorporate information from the long‐run stock price/commodity price relationship outperform both the historical mean and other forecast models. Of note, the historical mean still performs relatively well compared to standard forecast models that include the dividend yield and short‐term interest rates but not the stock/commodity price ratio. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Examination of rhythmicity of extracellularly recorded neurons in the entorhinal cortex
Authors: Climer Jason R. , DiTullio Ronald , Newman Ehren L. , Hasselmo Michael E. , Eden Uri T. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTA number of studies have examined the theta‐rhythmic modulation of neuronal firing in the hippocampal circuit. For extracellular recordings, this is often done by examining spectral properties of the spike‐time autocorrelogram, most significantly, for validating the presence or absence of theta modulation across species. These techniques can show significant rhythmicity for high firing rate, highly rhythmic neurons; however, they are substantially biased by several factors including the peak firing rate of the neuron, the amount of time spent in the neuron's receptive field, and other temporal properties of the rhythmicity such as cycle‐skipping. These limitations make it difficult to examine rhythmic modulation in neurons with low firing rates or when an animal has short dwell times within the firing field and difficult to compare rhythmicity under disparate experimental conditions when these factors frequently differ. Here, we describe in detail the challenges that researchers face when using these techniques and apply our findings to recent recordings from bat entorhinal grid cells, suggesting that they may have lacked enough data to examine theta rhythmicity robustly. We describe a more sensitive and statistically rigorous method using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of a parametric model of the lags within the autocorrelation window, which helps to alleviate some of the problems of traditional methods and was also unable to detect rhythmicity in bat grid cells. Using large batteries of simulated data, we explored the boundaries for which the MLE technique and the theta index can detect rhythmicity. The MLE technique is less sensitive to many features of the autocorrelogram and provides a framework for statistical testing to detect rhythmicity as well as changes in rhythmicity in individual sessions providing a substantial improvement over previous methods. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of 4‐Aryl‐8‐fluoro‐3a,4,5,9b‐tetrahydro‐3H‐cyclopenta[c]quinolines and Their Ozonides
Authors: Tolstikov Alexander G. , Savchenko Rimma G. , Lukina Elena S. , Nedopekin Denis V. , Limantceva Regina M. , Khalilov Leonard M. , Mescheryakova Ekaterina S. , Odinokov Victor N. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract4‐Aryl‐8‐fluoro‐3a,4,5,9b‐tetrahydro‐3H‐cyclopenta[c]quinolines are synthesized by acid‐catalyzed (CF3CO2H) three‐component cyclocondensation of 4‐fluoroaniline with aromatic aldehydes and cyclopentadiene. Stable ozonides with (1R*,4S*,5aR*,6S*,11bS*)‐configurations are obtained by ozonolysis of corresponding trifluoroacetyl derivatives.
Formation of the Compounds with an Epoxychromene Framework: Role of the Methoxy Groups
Authors: Mikhalchenko Oksana S. , Korchagina Dina V. , Volcho Konstantin P. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractEarlier, it was found that the reaction of para‐mentha‐6,8‐diene‐2,3‐diol with 2,4,5‐trimethoxybenzaldehyde in the presence of Montmorillonite K 10 clay led to the formation of a compound with an unusual epoxychromene framework among other products. In the current work, systematic studies of the effect of the number and position of MeO groups in the aromatic ring of the aldehyde on the reaction route were performed to reveal the structural parameters, which favor the formation of compounds with an epoxychromene framework. Compounds with an epoxychromene framework were shown to be formed if the benzaldehyde contained MeO substituents in o‐ and p‐position. The highest yield was achieved in the case of 2,4,5‐trimethoxybenzaldehyde.
Tetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐Fused Calix[4]pyrrole
Authors: Aydogan Abdullah , Akar Ahmet 
Published: October 2014

AbstractTetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐fused calix[4]pyrrole, 5, was obtained starting from (E)‐1,2‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene. This new calixpyrrole derivative is the prospective precursor of tetrabenzocalix[4]pyrrole, a potential ion‐pair receptor and an attractive species as a possible deep‐walled ‘molecular container’.
Velutinalide C, a New Polycyclic Phragmalin Limonoid from the Leaves of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina
Authors: Liu Hai‐Li , Chen Xue‐Lian , Xiao Wei , Guo Yue‐Wei 
Published: October 2014

AbstractVelutinalide C (4), a new polycyclic phragmalin limonoid featuring a C(15)–C(21) linkage and a C4 unit at C(15), together with two known related compounds, chukfuransins C and D (2 and 3, resp.), was isolated from the leaves of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina. The structure of the new compound 4 was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data.
Addition of an NK1 receptor antagonist to an SSRI did not enhance the antidepressant effects of SSRI monotherapy: results from a randomized clinical trial in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Ball William A. , Snavely Duane B. , Hargreaves Richard J. , Szegedi Armin , Lines Christopher , Reines Scott A. 
Published: October 2014

ObjectiveAprepitant is a neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist approved for prevention of chemotherapy‐induced and post‐operative nausea and vomiting. Early studies demonstrated promising antidepressant activity as monotherapy, although this was unsupported by subsequent phase 3 trials. This phase 2 study evaluated whether aprepitant potentiated the antidepressant effects of paroxetine.MethodsOutpatients with major depressive disorder were randomized to aprepitant 200 mg + paroxetine 20 mg, paroxetine + placebo, or aprepitant + placebo for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in HAMD‐17 total score. Secondary/exploratory endpoints included changes in HAMA, CGI‐S, CGI‐I, and HAMD Item‐1 scores at week 6.ResultsA total of 79, 78, and 79 patients received aprepitant + paroxetine, paroxetine + placebo, and aprepitant + placebo, respectively. At week 6, mean changes in HAMD‐17 were −11.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −12.7, −9.4), −11.7 (95% CI: −13.3, −10.0), and −9.5 (95% CI: −10.9, −8.1), respectively. Pairwise comparisons of HAMD‐17 change with combination therapy versus paroxetine alone demonstrated no significant difference (p = 0.567). Changes in CGI‐S, CGI‐I, and HAMD Item‐1 scores were also comparable, although there was a greater reduction in anxiety (HAMA) with paroxetine alone than aprepitant + paroxetine (p = 0.045). Adverse events were generally more common with the combination than either monotherapy.ConclusionConcomitant use of aprepitant + paroxetine for 6 weeks did not provide greater antidepressant benefit compared with paroxetine + placebo in patients with major depression. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of climate change on overland flow generation: a case study in central Germany
Authors: Anis Muhammad Rehan , Rode Michael 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe impact of global climate change on runoff components, especially on the type of overland flow, is of utmost significance. High‐resolution temporal rainfall plays an important role in determining the hydrological response of quick runoff components. However, hydrological climate change scenario analyses with high temporal resolution are rare. This study investigates the impact of climate change on discharge peak events generated by rainfall, snowmelt, and soil‐frost induced runoff using high‐resolution hydrological modelling. The study area is Schäfertal catchment (1.44 km2) in the lower Harz Mountains in central Germany. The WaSiM‐ETH hydrological model is used to investigate the rainfall response of runoff components under near future (2021–2050) and far‐distant future (2071–2100) climatic conditions. Disaggregated daily climate variables of WETTREG2010 SRES scenario A1B are used on a temporal resolution of 10 min. Hydrological model parameter optimization and uncertainty analysis was conducted using the Differential Evolution Adaptive Metropolis (DREAM_(ZS)) uncertainty tool. The scenario results show that total runoff and interflow will increase by 3.8% and 3.5% in the near future and decrease by 32.85% and 31% in the far‐distant future compared to the baseline scenario. In contrast, overland flow and the number and size of peak runoff will decrease moderately for the near future and drastically for the far‐distant future compared to the baseline scenario. We found the strongest decrease for soil‐frost induced discharge peaks at 79.6% in the near future and at 98.2% in the far‐distant future scenario. It can be concluded that high‐resolution hydrological modelling can provide detailed predictions of future hydrological regimes and discharge peak events of the catchment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preoperative CA 19‐9 kinetics as a prognostic variable in radiographically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Brown Erin G. , Canter Robert J. , Bold Richard J. 
Published: October 2014

Background and ObjectivesSerial levels of CA 19‐9 are correlated with treatment response and survival; however, little is known about CA 19‐9 kinetics in the absence of therapy. We hypothesize that preoperative CA 19‐9 kinetics predict rate of resectability as well as survival.MethodsRetrospective review of 72 patients with radiographically resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma with two pre‐operative CA 19‐9 levels prior to planned pancreaticoduodenectomy. Primary outcome measures were resectability and overall survival.ResultsForty‐seven out of 72 patients (65%) had resectable disease. Unresectable patients had higher absolute change in CA 19‐9 than patients with resectable disease (97 U/ml vs. −34 U/ml) as well as higher rate of change (4 U/ml/day vs. −1 U/ml/day). Receiver operating characteristic curves identified predictive thresholds for absolute (≥50 U/ml) and rate of CA 19‐9 change (≥1 U/ml/day) that accurately identified unresectable patients. Survival analysis revealed that a change in CA 19‐9 <50 U/ml and a rate of change <1 U/ml/day predicted improved survival (P = 0.04, P = 0.02); however, for patients with resectable disease, CA 19‐9 changes did not predict survival.ConclusionsPreoperative kinetics of CA 19‐9 predict resectable disease for pancreatic cancer. These variables also predict overall survival; however, these do not predict survival for those with resectable disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:293–298. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermally Reduced Graphite Oxide and Mechanochemically Functionalized Graphene as Functional Fillers for Epoxy Nanocomposites
Authors: Tschoppe Katrin , Beckert Fabian , Beckert Michaela , Mülhaupt Rolf 
Published: October 2014

AbstractIn this study we examine graphene with different shape, size, functionality and electrical conductivity as carbon nanofiller for epoxy (EP) composites. Thermally reduced graphite oxide (TRGO) and a nitrogen doped derivative (N‐TRGO) are compared with multilayer graphene (MLG) derived from milling of graphite. Whereas wet grinding of graphite forms stable non‐functionalized MLG dispersions, solvent free dry grinding of graphite under N2 and CO2 pressure allows for mechanochemical functionalization of graphite. TRGO and N‐TRGO show best exfoliation, highest electrical conductivity and efficient matrix reinforcement at low percolation threshold. As compared to TRGO, wet and dry grinding represent cost‐effective routes to MLG and afford EP composites with improved stiffness at higher filler content. These fillers offer great promise for application in carbon/polymer composites going well beyond the scope of epoxy resins.
Differential prooxidative effects of the green tea polyphenol, (–)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate, in normal and oral cancer cells are related to differences in sirtuin 3 signaling
Authors: Tao Ling , Park Jong‐Yung , Lambert Joshua D. 
Published: October 2014

ScopeWe have previously reported that the green tea catechin, (–)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), can induce oxidative stress in oral cancer cells but exerts antioxidant effects in normal cells. Here, we report that these differential prooxidative effects are associated with sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), an important mitochondrial redox modulator.Methods and resultsEGCG rapidly induced mitochondria‐localized reactive oxygen species in human oral squamous carcinoma cells (SCC‐25, SCC‐9) and premalignant leukoplakia cells (MSK‐Leuk1), but not in normal human gingival fibroblast cells (HGF‐1). EGCG suppressed SIRT3 mRNA and protein expression, as well as, SIRT3 activity in SCC‐25 cells, whereas it increased SIRT3 activity in HGF‐1 cells. EGCG selectively decreased the nuclear localization of the estrogen‐related receptor α (ERRα), the transcription factor regulating SIRT3 expression, in SCC‐25 cells. This indicates that EGCG may regulate SIRT3 transcription in oral cancer cells via ERRα. EGCG also differentially modulated the mRNA expressions of SIRT3‐associated downstream targets including glutathione peroxidase 1 and superoxide dismutase 2 in normal and oral cancer cells.ConclusionSIRT3 represents a novel potential target through which EGCG exerts differential prooxidant effects in cancer and normal cells. Our results provide new biomarkers to be further explored in animal studies.
Mathematical models for diffusion‐weighted imaging of prostate cancer using b values up to 2000 s/mm2: Correlation with Gleason score and repeatability of region of interest analysis
Authors: Toivonen Jussi , Merisaari Harri , Pesola Marko , Taimen Pekka , Boström Peter J. , Pahikkala Tapio , Aronen Hannu J. , Jambor Ivan 
Published: October 2014

PurposeTo evaluate four mathematical models for diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) of prostate cancer (PCa) in terms of PCa detection and characterization.MethodsFifty patients with histologically confirmed PCa underwent two repeated 3 Tesla DWI examinations using 12 equally distributed b values, the highest b value of 2000 s/mm2. Normalized mean signal intensities of regions‐of‐interest were fitted using monoexponential, kurtosis, stretched exponential, and biexponential models. Tumors were classified into low, intermediate, and high Gleason score groups. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) were estimated to evaluate performance in PCa detection and Gleason score classifications. The fitted parameters were correlated with Gleason score groups by using the Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ). Coefficient of repeatability and intraclass correlation coefficient [specifically ICC(3,1)], were calculated to evaluate repeatability of the fitted parameters.ResultsThe AUC and ρ values were similar between parameters of monoexponential, kurtosis, and stretched exponential (with the exception of the α parameter) models. The absolute ρ values for ADCm, ADCk, K, and ADCs were in the range from 0.31 to 0.53 (P < 0.01). Parameters of the biexponential model demonstrated low repeatability.ConclusionIn region‐of‐interest based analysis, the monoexponential model for DWI of PCa using b values up to 2000 s/mm2 was sufficient for PCa detection and characterization. Magn Reson Med 74:1116–1124, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.