bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex‐specific association of the reelin gene with bipolar disorder
Authors: Goes F.S. , Willour V.L. , Zandi P.P. , Belmonte P.L. , MacKinnon D.F. , Mondimore F.M. , Schweizer B. ,   National Institute of Mental Health Genetics Initiative Bipolar Disorder Consortium, DePaulo J.R. , Gershon E.S. , McMahon F.J. , Potash J.B.
Published: August 2009

The Reelin gene (RELN) encodes a secretory glycoprotein critical for brain development and synaptic plasticity. Post‐mortem studies have shown lower Reelin protein levels in the brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BP) compared with controls. In a recent genome‐wide association study of schizophrenia, the strongest association was found in a marker within RELN, although this association was seen only in women. In this study, we investigated whether genetic variation in RELN is associated with BP in a large family sample. We genotyped 75 tagSNPs and 6 coding SNPs in 1,188 individuals from 318 nuclear families, including 554 affected offspring. Quality control measures, transmission‐disequilibrium tests (TDTs), and empirical simulations were performed in PLINK. We found a significant overtransmission of the C allele of rs362719 to BP offspring (OR = 1.47, P = 5.9 × 10−4); this withstood empirical correction for testing of multiple markers (empirical P = 0.048). In a hypothesis‐driven secondary analysis, we found that the association with rs362719 was almost entirely accounted for by overtransmission of the putative risk allele to affected females (ORFemale = 1.79, P = 8.9 × 10−5 vs. ORMale = 1.12, P = 0.63). These results provide preliminary evidence that genetic variation in RELN is associated with susceptibility to BP and, in particular, to BP in females. However, our findings should be interpreted with caution until further replication and functional assays provide convergent support. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Geographic distribution and demography ofPithecia aequatorialis(pitheciidae) in Peruvian Amazonia
Authors: Aquino Rolando , Cornejo Fanny M. , Pezo Lozano Etersit , Heymann Eckhard W.
Published: August 2009

To study the geographic distribution and demographic characteristics ofPithecia aequatorialisin Peruvian Amazonia, we undertook surveys and transect census in three river basins (Río Itaya, Río Tigre and Río Curaray) between 2004 and 2008. A total of 123 groups ofP. aequatorialiswas encountered during 1623 km of transect walks. Group size was uniform among the three areas (3.4–3.6 individuals), but surprisingly, population densities were higher in the area with strong hunting pressure (Río Itaya: 7.8 ind./km2, vs. 5.6 and 5.9 km2in the Río Tigre and Río Curaray basins, respectively). The most common group composition included an adult pair with one offspring. Groups with more than one adult male and/or female accounted for 35% of sightings. Our observations extendP. aequatorialisrange in Peru further south to the area between the Río Tigre and Río Corrientes, but exclude the area to the north between the Río Curaray and Río Napo. These findings are in contrast to previous distribution maps.P. aequatorialiswas rarely seen in interspecific association during our censuses. Am. J. Primatol. 71:964–968, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metall‐organische Gerüste für die Katalyse
Authors: Farrusseng David , Aguado Sonia , Pinel Catherine
Published: August 2009

Die Vorzüge und Einschränkungen von Metall‐organischen Gerüsten (MOFs) auf dem Gebiet der Katalyse und der “grünen Chemie” bilden das Thema dieses Kurzaufsatzes. Struktur und Dynamik der MOFs werden im Zusammenhang katalytischer Funktionen betrachtet, und es wird diskutiert, wie durch das Design solcher Materialien die Lücke zwischen Zeolithen und Enzymen zu schließen ist. Arbeiten über MOFs auf dem Gebiet der Katalyse werden umfassend dargestellt, und als Ergänzung wurde eine Liste mit potenziell katalytisch aktiven MOFs zusammengetragen. Das Thema wird von einem multidisziplinären Standpunkt aus betrachtet, der die Festkörperchemie, die Materialwissenschaften und die Katalyse umfasst.
Luminescent organo‐polysiloxanes containing complexed lanthanide ions
Authors: Liu Lei , Lu Haifeng , Wang Hua , Bei Yiling , Feng Shengyu
Published: August 2009

In this study, a type of polysiloxane with the ester as the functional side group was prepared via a hydrosilylation reaction. The functionalized polysiloxane was then allowed to complex with Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions. Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet absorption spectra and 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR and 29Si‐NMR spectra were used to confirm the modification. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravity analysis were used to study the polysiloxane's thermal properties. The complexes' luminescence spectra were recorded, and narrow‐width green and red emissions were achieved. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, structural characterization, biological activity and thermal study of tri‐ and diorganotin(IV) complexes of Schiff base derived from 2‐aminomethylbenzimidazole
Authors: Nath Mala , Saini Pramendra Kumar , Kumar Ashok
Published: August 2009

This report deals with the synthesis and structural features of tri‐ and diorganotin(IV) complexes of the general formulae, RnSn(L)m [n = 3, m = 1, R = Me, n‐Bu and Ph; n = 2, m = 2, R = Me, n‐Bu, n‐Oct and Ph; HL = Schiff base derived from the condensation of 2‐aminomethylbenzimidazole (ambmz) and salicylaldehyde (abbreviated as HL or Hsal‐ambmz)]. The newly synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, electronic, infrared, far‐infrared, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 119Sn NMR and 119Sn Mössbauer spectral studies. Thermal studies of all of the synthesized complexes were also carried out using thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis‐derivative thermogravimetric (TG‐DTA‐DTG) techniques. The residues thus obtained were characterized by infrared and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis. The bioassay results of anti‐inflammatory activity (using the carrageenan‐induced paw edema bioassay in rats) and acute toxicity (LD50) of the synthesized derivatives indicated that diorganotin(IV) derivatives (19.75–22.23% inhibition) show better activity as compared with triorganotin(IV) derivatives (10.32–17.86% inhibition). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Equilibrium of benzidine inclusion adsorption on cyclodextrin copolymer
Authors: Sun Zhao‐Yang , Cao Gui‐Ping , Lv Hui , Zhao Ling , Liu Tao , Montastruc Ludovic , Iordan Nikov
Published: August 2009

Insoluble β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) copolymer was prepared by reacting β‐CD with hexamethylene diisocyanate, and its inclusion adsorption behavior was investigated. The physical and chemical properties of CD copolymer were characterized by SEM, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XRD, and BET N2 adsorption. The effects that shaking time and temperature exerted on the inclusion adsorption of benzidine on CD copolymer have been studied at relative low initial benzidine concentration. The procedure of the inclusion adsorption could be described by the Freundlich equation, and the thermodynamic constants ΔHθ, ΔSθ and ΔGθ were obtained simultaneously. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Miniemulsions using static mixers: A feasibility study using simple in‐line static mixers
Authors: Farzi Gholamali , Bourgeat‐Lami Elodie , McKenna Timothy F. L.
Published: August 2009

The feasibility of using simple static mixers (SM) to produce polymerisable miniemulsion dispersions, and the influence of the emulsification conditions on the diameter of the resulting methylmethacrylate droplets were examined. It was shown that these simple mixers could be used to generate droplets with diameters on the order of 150–300 nm, and that these droplets could be successfully polymerised. As expected, increasing the flow rate through the mixers led to a decrease in the average droplet size. Doubling the number of mixers in series did not have a significant influence on the droplet size but did decrease the time needed to achieve a steady final value of the average diameter. On the contrary, changing the surfactant concentration had an observable effect on the droplet sizes obtained, with higher surfactant concentrations yielding smaller droplets. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Library‐directed Solution‐ and Solid‐phase Synthesis of 2,4‐Disubstituted Pyridines: One‐pot Approach through 6 π‐Azaelectrocyclization
Authors: Sakaguchi Taku , Kobayashi Toyoharu , Hatano Sho , Tsuchikawa Hiroshi , Fukase Koichi , Tanaka Katsunori , Katsumura Shigeo
Published: August 2009

An efficient one‐pot synthetic procedure for the synthesis of 2,4‐disubstituted pyridines has been successfully established. The method proceeds through a 6π‐azaelectrocyclization‐aromatization sequence. Using this method, a wide variety of pyridine structures substituted at the 2‐position have been rapidly constructed from vinyl stannanes, vinyl iodide, sulfonamide, and a palladium catalyst. The method was further applied to the solid‐phase synthesis wherein the use of a “traceless” sulfonamide linker enabled the rapid preparation of a small library of pyridines with high purity, without any chromatographic separation.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a disorder of dysplasia: The importance of distinguishing features, consequences, and complications
Authors: Riccardi Vincent Michael
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND: The disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene, which influences the availability of activated Ras and the latter's control of cellular proliferation. Emphasis on this aspect of NF1 has focused attention on the tumor suppression function of NF1 and thereby displaced attention from the gene's role in initial normal tissue formation, maintenance, and repair. METHODS: Clinical and neuroimaging data systematically compiled over more than 30 years are analyzed to document the involvement of multiple organs and tissues, often with an embryonic origin. In addition, recent literature based on selective knockout mouse experiments is cited to corroborate embryonic dysplasia as an element of NF1 pathogenesis. RESULTS: Tissue dysplasia, both ab initio and as part of tissue maintenance and wound healing, is a key clinical and pathogenetic aspect of NF1 and thereby provides a rationale for differentiating the elements of NF1 into features, consequences, and complications. CONCLUSIONS: NF1 is a histogenesis control gene that also has properties that overlap with those of a tumor suppressor gene. Both its neoplastic and dysplastic manifestations become more amenable to understanding and treatment if they are differentiated at three levels—specifically, features, consequences and complications. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of ethyl gallate and its major metabolite in rat plasma
Authors: Gao Shouhong , Zhan Qin , Li Jingxian , Yang Qi , Li Xia , Chen Wansheng , Sun Lianna
Published: August 2009

A simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of ethyl gallate, a pharmacologically active constituent isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa (Linn.) Pers. This method was used to examine the pharmacokinetics of ethyl gallate and its major metabolite gallic acid in rat plasma using propyl gallate as an internal standard. After precipitation of the plasma proteins with acetonitrile, the analytes were separated on a Zorbax SB‐C18 column (3.5 μm, 2.1 × 50 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol–acetonitrile–10 mM ammonium acetate (10 : 25 : 65, v/v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The Agilent G6410A triple quadrupole LC/MS system was operated under the multiple‐reaction monitoring mode using the electrospray ionization technique in negative mode. The lower limits of quantification of gallic acid and ethyl gallate of the method were 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL. The intra‐day and inter‐day accuracy and precision of the assay were less than 8.0%. This method has been applied successfully to a pharmacokinetic study involving the intragastric administration of ethyl gallate to rats. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of the major chemical constituents and their metabolites in rat plasma and various organs after oral administration of effective Erxian Decoction (EXD) fraction by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry
Authors: Hu Yong Mei , Wang Yi Tao , Sze Stephen C. W. , Tsang K. W. , Wong H. K. , Liu Qing , Zhong Li Dan , Tong Yao
Published: August 2009

A simple and specific LC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS method has been developed and applied for the primary investigation of the chemical constituents absorbed or metabolized in vivo, after the rat oral administration of Erxian Decoction (EXD), a Chinese medicine prescription for menopausal syndromes. Through the online ESI‐MSn analysis, a total of 35 compounds have been identified or tentatively characterized from the seven tested samples, and 13 of them were unambiguously identified through a direct comparison of the retention time, UV spectra and MSn fragmentation patterns with the authentic ones. The results showed that 21 compounds were detected from rat plasma, 20 compounds were detected from rat kidneys and adrenal glands, 19 compounds were detected from rat ovaries, 12 compounds were found in rat intestines, nine compounds were identified from rat livers and nine compounds were detected from rat brains at certain time points after oral administration of the effective EXD fraction. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of different magnetites on properties of magnetic Pseudomonas aeruginosa immobilizates used for biosurfactant production
Authors: Heyd M. , Weigold P. , Franzreb M. , Berensmeier S.
Published: August 2009

During the last decades, whole‐cell immobilization has been used successfully in many bioprocesses. In particular, it is aimed at implementing continuous production processes, reaching higher production rates, and reusing the biocatalyst. In some cases, effective retention of immobilizates in the bioprocess is not feasible by membranes or sieves due to pore plugging or undesired losses of immobilizates. In the present publication, it is reported about the investigation of magnetic immobilizates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for application in continuous biosurfactant production of rhamnolipids by foam fractionation and retention of entrained immobilizates by high‐gradient magnetic separation from foam. Different materials and methods were tested with respect to important parameters, such as stability, diffusion properties or magnetic separation. Good magnetic separation of immobilizates was achieved at 5% (w/w) magnetite loading. Best results in terms of homogeneous embedding, good diffusion properties, and stability enhancement vis‐à‐vis pure alginate beads was achieved with alginate beads with embedded Bayoxide® magnetite or MagPrep® silica particles. Although polyurethane immobilizates showed higher stabilities compared with alginate beads, rhamnolipid diffusion in immobilizates was superior in magnetic alginate beads. Regarding bead production, smaller immobilizates were achieved with suspension polymerization compared to droplet extrusion by the JetCutting® technology. In total, magnetic immobilizates are a promising tool for an easier handling of biocatalysts in a continuous biological production process, but they have to be adapted to the current production task.© 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Modeling and optimization of microbial hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus using radial basis function neural network coupling quantum‐behaved particle swarm optimization algorithm
Authors: Liu Long , Sun Jun , Xu Wenbo , Du Guocheng , Chen Jian
Published: August 2009

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural biopolymer with unique physiochemical and biological properties and finds a wide range of applications in biomedical and cosmetic fields. It is important to increase HA production to meet the increasing HA market demand. This work is aimed to model and optimize the amino acids addition to enhance HA production of Streptococcus zooepidemicus with radial basis function (RBF) neural network coupling quantum‐behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm. In the RBF‐QPSO approach, RBF neural network is used as a bioprocess modeling tool and QPSO algorithm is applied to conduct the optimization with the established RBF neural network black model as the objective function. The predicted maximum HA yield was 6.92 g/L under the following conditions: arginine 0.062 g/L, cysteine 0.036 g/L, and lysine 0.043 g/L. The optimal amino acids addition allowed HA yield increased from 5.0 g/L of the control to 6.7 g/L in the validation experiments. Moreover, the modeling and optimization capacity of the RBF‐QPSO approach was compared with that of response surface methodology (RSM). It was indicated that the RBF‐QPSO approach gave a slightly better modeling and optimization result compared with RSM. The developed RBF‐QPSO approach in this work may be helpful for the modeling and optimization of the other multivariable, nonlinear, time‐variant bioprocesses. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009
Chiral Salan Aluminium Ethyl Complexes and Their Application in Lactide Polymerization
Authors: Du Hongzhi , Velders Aldrik H. , Dijkstra Pieter J. , Sun Jingru , Zhong Zhiyuan , Chen Xuesi , Feijen Jan
Published: August 2009

Synthetic routes to aluminium ethyl complexes supported by chiral tetradentate phenoxyamine (salan‐type) ligands [Al(OC6H2(R‐6‐R‐4)CH2)2{CH3N(C6H10)NCH3}‐C2H5] (4, 7: R=H; 5, 8: R=Cl; 6, 9: R=CH3) are reported. Enantiomerically pure salan ligands 1–3 with (R,R) configurations at their cyclohexane rings afforded the complexes 4, 5, and 6 as mixtures of two diastereoisomers (a and b). Each diastereoisomer a was, as determined by X‐ray analysis, monomeric with a five‐coordinated aluminium central core in the solid state, adopting a cis‐(O,O) and cis‐(Me,Me) ligand geometry. From the results of variable‐temperature (VT) 1H NMR in the temperature range of 220–335 K, 1H–1H NOESY at 220 K, and diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), it is concluded that each diastereoisomer b is also monomeric with a five‐coordinated aluminium central core. The geometry is intermediate between square pyramidal with a cis‐(O,O), trans‐(Me,Me) ligand disposition and trigonal bipyramidal with a trans‐(O,O) and trans‐(Me,Me) disposition. A slow exchange between these two geometries at 220 K was indicated by 1H–1H NOESY NMR. In the presence of propan‐2‐ol as an initiator, enantiomerically pure (R,R) complexes 4–6 and their racemic mixtures 7–9 were efficient catalysts in the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide (LA). Polylactide materials ranging from isotactically biased (Pm up to 0.66) to medium heterotactic (Pr up to 0.73) were obtained from rac‐lactide, and syndiotactically biased polylactide (Pr up to 0.70) from meso‐lactide. Kinetic studies revealed that the polymerization of (S,S)‐LA in the presence of 4/propan‐2‐ol had a much higher polymerization rate than (R,R)‐LA polymerization (kSS/kRR=10.1).
Amino Acid Ionic Liquids as Chiral Ligands in Ligand‐Exchange Chiral Separations
Authors: Liu Qian , Wu Kangkang , Tang Fei , Yao Lihua , Yang Fei , Nie Zhou , Yao Shouzhuo
Published: August 2009

Recently, amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) have attracted much research interest. In this paper, we present the first application of AAILs in chiral separation based on the chiral ligand exchange principle. By using 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium L‐proline (L‐Pro) as a chiral ligand coordinated with copper(II), four pairs of underivatized amino acid enantiomers—dl‐phenylalanine (dl‐Phe), dl‐histidine (dl‐His), dl‐tryptophane (dl‐Trp), and dl‐tyrosine (dl‐Tyr)—were successfully separated in two major chiral separation techniques, HPLC and capillary electrophoresis (CE), with higher enantioselectivity than conventionally used amino acid ligands (resolution (Rs)=3.26–10.81 for HPLC; Rs=1.34–4.27 for CE). Interestingly, increasing the alkyl chain length of the AAIL cation remarkably enhanced the enantioselectivity. It was inferred that the alkylmethylimidazolium cations and L‐Pro form ion pairs on the surface of the stationary phase or on the inner surface of the capillary. The ternary copper complexes with L‐Pro are consequently attached to the support surface, thus inducing an ion‐exchange type of retention for the dl‐enantiomers. Therefore, the AAIL cation plays an essential role in the separation. This work demonstrates that AAILs are good alternatives to conventional amino acid ligands for ligand‐exchange‐based chiral separation. It also reveals the tremendous application potential of this new type of task‐specific ILs.
Bonding in Endohedral Metallofullerenes as Studied by Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules
Authors: Popov Alexey A. , Dunsch Lothar
Published: August 2009

Metal–cage and intracluster bonding was studied in detail by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) for the four major classes of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs), including monometallofullerenes Ca@C72, La@C72, M@C82(M=Ca, Sc, Y, La), dimetallofullerenes Sc2@C76, Y2@C82, Y2@C79N, La2@C78, La2@C80, metal nitride clusterfullerenes Sc3N@C2n(2n=68, 70, 78, 80), Y3N@C2n(2n=78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88), La3N@C2n(2n=88, 92, 96), metal carbide clusterfullerenes Sc2C2@C68, Sc2C2@C82, Sc2C2@C84, Ti2C2@C78, Y2C2@C82, Sc3C2@C80, as well as Sc3CH@C80and Sc4Ox@C80(x=2, 3), that is, 42 EMF molecules and ions in total. Analysis of the delocalization indices and bond critical point (BCP) indicators such asGbcp/ρbcp,Hbcp/ρbcp, and|Vbcp|/Gbcp, revealed that all types of bonding in EMFs exhibit a high degree of covalency, and the ionic model is reasonable only for the Ca‐based EMFs. Metal–metal bonds with negative values of the electron‐density Laplacian were found in Y2@C82, Y2@C79N, Sc4O2@C80, and anionic forms of La2@C80. A delocalized nature of the metal–cage bonding results in a topological instability of the electron density in EMFs with an unpredictable number of metal–cage bond paths and large elipticity values.
Synthesis of (−)‐Cubebol by Face‐Selective Platinum‐, Gold‐, or Copper‐Catalyzed Cycloisomerization: Evidence of Chirality Transfer and Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Fehr Charles , Winter Beat , Magpantay Iris
Published: August 2009

We describe in detail a direct, stereoselective synthesis of (−)‐cubebol based on a Pt‐, Au‐, or Cu‐catalyzed cycloisomerization in which control of the configuration of the propargylic center is essential for the facial selectivity. In addition, we show that cycloisomerization reactions of enantioenriched propargyl pivalates occur with substantial chirality transfer. We confirm a mechanism by means of cyclization followed by an [1,2]‐acyl migration for the Pt‐ and the Au‐catalyzed cycloisomerization. So far, no evidence supports that the Cu‐catalyzed cycloisomerization follows the same reaction course.
Assessment of factors that contribute to decreased quality of life in Gynecologic Oncology Group ovarian cancer trials
Authors: von Gruenigen Vivian E. , Huang Helen Q. , Gil Karen M. , Gibbons Heidi E. , Monk Bradley J. , Rose Peter G. , Armstrong Deborah K. , Cella David , Wenzel Lari
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to assess which quality‐of‐life (QOL) line items on the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Ovarian (FACT‐O) were associated with low QOL in women who were receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

METHODS:

Patients with stage III or IV ovarian cancer on Gynecologic Oncology Group Protocols 152 and 172 who underwent primary surgery followed by intravenous paclitaxel and cisplatin completed the FACT‐O. The FACT scale includes the 4 domains of physical, functional, social, and emotional well being (PWB, FWB, SWB, EWB, respectively). Women who had overall FACT‐O scores in the lowest quartile (Q1) were compared with women in the upper 3 quartiles (Q2‐Q4). The proportions of women in each group that selected the 2 worst categories for each item were compared. The level of significance was set at P < .005.

RESULTS:

Before Cycle 4, 361 patients (86.4%) provided valid QOL assessments. For PWB, a significantly greater proportion of women in Q1 versus Q2 through Q4 selected the 2 worst categories of several physical symptoms (nausea, pain, feeling ill, and being bothered by the side effects of treatment). For FWB, significant differences included being able to work, being content with the quality of their life, and sleeping well. For EWB, there were significant differences in feeling nervous and worrying about dying. There were virtually no differences between groups in SWB. Low interest in sex was reported by 56% to 88% of all patients (Q1‐Q4).

CONCLUSIONS:

A large proportion of women with FACT‐O scores in the lowest quartile reported problems that potentially were amenable to clinical interventions, such as symptom management and psychosocial support. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
The heterogeneous prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and chromosome 5 abnormalities
Authors: Kantarjian Hagop , O'Brien Susan , Ravandi Farhad , Borthakur Gautam , Faderl Stefan , Bueso‐Ramos Carlos , Abruzzo Lynne , Pierce Sherry , Shan Jianqin , Issa Jean‐Pierre , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND:

To define the prognosis in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and deletion 5q with or without other cytogenetic abnormalities.

METHODS:

Patients with MDS (<20% blasts) and evaluable cytogenetic studies (1966‐present) were reviewed. Outcome of patients with deletion 5q or with loss of chromosome 5 (monosomy 5) was analyzed.

RESULTS:

Of 2743 patients analyzed, 287 (10%) had deletion 5q and 216 (8%) had monosomy 5 abnormalities. The median survival was 9 months with deletion 5q, 6 months with monosomy 5, and 17 months without a chromosome 5 abnormality. Considering patients with deletion 5q, the median survival was 33 months with deletion 5q alone, 17 months with deletion 5q and 1 additional abnormality, but only 6 months to 12 months with deletion 5q and ≥2 abnormalities or chromosome 7 abnormality. Only 93 patients (3.4% of total) had lower risk MDS (international prognostic scoring system low or intermediate 1) and deletion 5q; their median survival was 29 months (2‐year survival 60%), and ranged from 13‐41 months depending on the presence or absence of additional chromosomal abnormalities. Among 198 patients with MDS with deletion 5q and <10% blasts (a subset now often offered lenalidomide), the median survival was 12 months. Monosomy 5 was significantly more frequently associated with advanced MDS and with other chromosomal abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provided baseline expectations of outcome in different MDS subsets and deletion 5q. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic role of pregnancy occurring before or after treatment of early breast cancer patients aged <35 years
Authors: Largillier Rémy , Savignoni Alexia , Gligorov Joseph , Chollet Philippe , Guilhaume Marie‐Noëlle , Spielmann Marc , Luporsi Elisabeth , Asselain Bernard , Coudert Bruno , Namer Moïse ,   on behalf of the GET(N)A Group
Published: August 2009

BACKGROUND:

Usual practices recommend waiting at least 2 years between diagnosis of early breast cancer (EBC) and pregnancy. Few data highlighted a harmful effect of an early pregnancy for low‐risk patients. The authors analyzed retrospectively data from women younger than 35 years who became pregnant before or after treatment of EBC.

METHODS:

Between 1990 and 1999, 908 consecutive EBC patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint was to compare overall survival (OS) between pregnant and nonpregnant patients. The secondary endpoint was to establish a score index laying down the risk of distant recurrence.

RESULTS:

Within the year before the diagnosis, 105 (11.6%) patients became pregnant and 118 (13%) were pregnant after treatment. In a multivariate model, a pregnancy before the diagnosis was not predictive of death but of local relapse. A pregnancy subsequent to breast cancer therapy resulted in a 77% decrease of death (P < .001). In good‐prognosis score index patients, the annual risk of relapse remained low. In patients having the higher score, recurrences occurred mainly during the first years after the treatment. Beyond 80 months, the annual risk of relapse seemed to be similar to those of lower‐risk subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS:

In women aged younger than 35 years, a pregnancy occurring before or after the diagnosis of breast cancer was not an independent prognostic factor of death. In the subset of patients having a high risk of relapse, it may be preferable to postpone a pregnancy beyond 5 years after the breast cancer therapy. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
A rigidity result for a perturbation of the geometrically linear three‐well problem
Authors: Capella Antonio , Otto Felix
Published: August 2009

We study a three‐dimensional model for alloys that undergo a cubic‐to‐tetragonal phase transition in the martensitic phase. Any pair of the three martensitic variants can form a stress‐free laminate. However, this laminate is only compatible on average with the remaining variant. The resulting local stresses favor a microstructure if all three variants are present (for instance, because of an externally imposed average strain).

Next to the linearized elastic energy, the variational model features an interfacial energy between the three variants. This introduces a material length scale, which together with the sample size (which we mimic by periodic boundary conditions) gives rise to a nondimensional parameter η.

We rigorously establish the scaling of the minimal energy e per volume in case of externally imposed volume fractions of the martensitic variants in η. More precisely, we show e ∼ η2/3. The upper bound construction is achieved by a few patches of branched laminates; the lower bound relies on suitable interpolation inequalities. This is in the spirit of a celebrated work by Kohn and Müller and relies on techniques developed for domain branching in micromagnetics.

We also prove a rigidity result in the sense that if the energy per volume e of a configuration is much smaller than η2/3, the configuration is approximately a simple unbranched laminate. In particular, one of the three volume fractions has to be small. This is related to similar rigidity results by Dolzmann and Müller and by Kirchheim. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimizing execution path of scientific workflow by gradual removal of QoS constraint violations in Reverse Order
Authors: Ren Kaijun , Chen Jinjun
Published: August 2009

A service‐based scientific workflow can be exposed as a composite service that consists of a set of logically connected sub‐services. A critical issue in this area is how to achieve overall optimized end‐to‐end QoS requirements by effectively coordinating individual QoS constraints of single service. Unfortunately, this issue has not been well addressed. In this paper, we propose a Reverse Order‐based approach to gradually remove QoS Constraint violations for building an optimized path to execute a scientific workflow. With our approach, an initial execution path for a scientific workflow is first built by employing the local optimization policy without considering user‐defined end‐to‐end QoS constraints. Based on this path, global QoS computing models can be used to calculate the global QoS values for each quality attribute. Then, QoS constraint violations can be detected by comparing global QoS values with end‐to‐end user‐defined QoS constraints. For each violation, a Reverse Order‐based correction algorithm by gradually removing QoS constraint violations is proposed to recursively correct it by reselecting critical service execution instances. As a result, an optimized execution path can be rebuilt to meet overall end‐to‐end QoS requirements. Comparison and simulation further demonstrate the feasibility and performance of our approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Resource use pattern analysis for predicting resource availability in opportunistic grids
Authors: Finger Marcelo , Bezerra Germano C. , Conde Danilo R.
Published: August 2009

This work presents a method for predicting resource availability in opportunistic grids by means of use pattern analysis (UPA), a technique based on non‐supervised learning methods. This prediction method is based on the assumption of the existence of several classes of computational resource use patterns, which can be used to predict the resource availability. Trace‐driven simulations validate this basic assumptions, which also provide the parameter settings for the accurate learning of resource use patterns. Experiments made with an implementation of the UPA method show the feasibility of its use in the scheduling of grid tasks with very little overhead. The experiments also demonstrate the method's superiority over other predictive and non‐predictive methods. An adaptative prediction method is suggested to deal with the lack of training data at initialization. Further adaptative behaviour is motivated by experiments which show that, in some special environments, reliable resource use patterns may not always be detected. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brightening, Blinking, Bluing and Bleaching in the Life of a Quantum Dot: Friend or Foe?
Authors: Lee Steven F. , Osborne Mark A.
Published: August 2009

Semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) are highly photoluminescent materials with unique optical attributes that are being exploited in an ever‐increasing array of applications. However, the complex surface chemistry of these finite‐sized fluorophores gives rise to a number of photophysical phenomena that can complicate their use in imaging applications. Fluorescence intermittency (FI), photoluminescence enhancement (PLE) and spectral bluing are properties of QD emission that would appear, at first sight, detrimental to quantitative measurement. Fortunately, developments in rational QD synthesis and surface modification are promising to minimize the effects of these fluorescence instabilities, while applications that exploit them are now coming to the fore. We review recent experimental and theoretical studies of FI, PLE and bluing, highlighting the benefits, as well as complications, they bring to key applications.
Characterization of compensation and trapping in CdTe and CdZnTe: Recent advances
Authors: Babentsov V. , Franc J. , Höschl P. , Fiederle M. , Benz K. W. , Sochinskii N. V. , Dieguez E. , James R. B.
Published: August 2009

Results on the properties of the known impurities, Ge, Sn, V and Bi, and the lattice imperfections, VCd and TeCd are summarized. We discuss their role in compensation, and in buffering the variations in shallow electronic levels in the grown ingot. We demonstrate that (∼2÷3 kT) variations of the Fermi energy increases carrier trapping to the deep levels. Trapping is manifest in a photoconductivity signal that can be studied by photoconductivity methods, thus allowing to monitor the spectroscopic‐grade material before fabricating the detectors. Our approach could be important in preventing the after‐glow effect and polarization. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Generation and classification of Kerwin–Huelsman–Newcomb circuits using the DVCC
Authors: Soliman Ahmed M.
Published: August 2009

New circuits realizing the Kerwin–Huelsman–Newcomb (KHN) and using three or four differential voltage current conveyor (DVCC) are generated from the basic KHN and inverted KHN block diagrams. The circuits are classified into two types, type A employs three DVCC and type B employs four DVCC. Each type includes four classes of circuits depending on the four possible integrator polarities. Each class can be realized by several circuits as will be demonstrated in the paper. All the eight possible sign combinations of the output voltages polarities are obtainable from the two types; four sign combinations from each type. The eight block diagrams are included to demonstrate the difference between each class of circuits. Spice simulation results demonstrating the practicality of the proposed filters are included. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An application and characteristic analysis of MOGA for bi‐objective optimal component allocation problem in series‐parallel redundant system
Authors: Yamachi Hidemi , Tsujimura Yasuhiro , Yamamoto Hisashi , Kambayashi Yasushi
Published: August 2009

We discuss a solution method based on evolutionary technology for the optimal component allocation problem in a series‐parallel redundant system. A series‐parallel system consists of subsystems that are connected in series and each subsystem consists of interchangeable components in parallel. There are some heuristic methods to approximately solve the optimal component allocation problem for series‐parallel systems. We have formulated this problem as a multi‐objective optimization problem minimizing the system cost and maximizing the system reliability, and proposed an algorithm that obtains the exact solutions (Pareto solutions) of the problems in an efficient way. Because this problem is one of the NP‐complete problems, it is difficult to obtain the optimal solution for the large‐scale problems and methods that obtain the exact solutions are not known. The algorithm utilizes the depth‐first search method to eliminate useless searches and employs the branch‐and‐bound method to obtain the Pareto solutions. According to the results of our numerical experiments, the algorithm searches the Pareto solutions in practical execution time for not‐so‐large‐scale problems. In order to solve larger‐scale problems, we propose a multi‐objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). We evaluate the ability of the MOGA by comparison with the exact solution method by using various scale problems. Through those experiments, we discuss the characteristics of this problem and analyze the effectiveness of our method. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 92(9): 7–16, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10100
Ericaceous shrubs on abandoned block‐cut peatlands: implications for soil water availability and Sphagnum restoration
Authors: Farrick Kegan K , Price Jonathan S
Published: August 2009

Following harvesting by manual block‐cut methods and subsequent abandonment, Cacouna bog has undergone a natural vegetation succession, with ericaceous shrubs covering more than 90% of the surface. The abundance of shrubs plays a major role in the soil water flux and availability at the site, impacting Sphagnum regeneration. From June 1 to August 22, 2007, field measurements indicate that transpiration represented the largest water loss from the shrubs at 1·7 mm day−1, comprising 142 mm (42%) of rainfall, compared to 93 mm of evaporation (28%) from bare soil. The rainfall interception from the canopy (62 mm) and litter (15 mm) accounted for 23% of seasonal rainfall. Thus after transpiration and interception losses are accounted for, only 115 mm of the 334 mm of rain (34%) remained available for other processes (recharge/soil evaporation). In the field, the litter layer prevented 17 mm from being lost over the summer as it reduced evaporation by 18%. Laboratory experiments using intact soil monoliths with and without shrubs and litter indicate that at depths below 10 cm the water content from the shrub monoliths decreased 27% versus 20% in the bare peat monoliths because of root water uptake. As a management prescription, raising the water table within 20 cm of the surface would provide water to the most active root uptake zones, reducing the need for extraction from the upper 10 cm of the peat. At this level sufficient water can be supplied to the surface through capillary rise, providing adequate water for the reestablishment/survival of Sphagnum. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation and discussion of disturbance observer‐based anti‐slip/skip readhesion control for electric train
Authors: Shimizu Yosuke , Kadowaki Satoshi , Ohishi Kiyoshi , Hata Tadashi , Sano Takashi , Yasukawa Shinobu
Published: August 2009

The improvement of adhesion characteristics is very important for electric trains. The drive system of electric trains must have fine anti‐slip and anti‐skid readhesion controls. In order to achieve the required adhesion, we have already proposed an anti‐slip/skid readhesion control system based on disturbance observer and sensorless vector control. Moreover, we have already applied the proposed method to actual electric multiple unit trains Series 205‐5000. In this paper, using the experimental results of Series 205‐5000 and the numerical simulation results, we evaluate the proposed anti‐slip/skid readhesion control system and confirm that the system has the desired driving wheel torque response. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 169(4): 55–64, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20834
Supply and demand control of distributed generators in a microgrid for new energy
Authors: Shimakage Toyonari , Sumita Jiro , Uchiyama Noriyuki , Kato Takeyoshi , Suzuoki Yasuo
Published: August 2009

We report the operational results of distributed generators (DGs) in a microgrid and present the effects after photovoltaic power generation (PV) systems were incorporated into the microgrid for an electric power system. The microgrid was constructed at the Expo 2005 Aichi site as part of a demonstration promoted by NEDO. A solution is needed for problems in which instability in DGs that utilize natural energy such as solar light and wind force negatively influences existing electric power systems. Consequently, we developed an energy‐control system and controlled the output of the DGs to reduce fluctuations at the grid‐connection point caused by unstable PV‐system output. Our microgrid consisted of DGs such as PV systems, fuel cells, and NaS batteries, and these DGs were controlled by an energy‐control system. We tested and then verified the practical effectiveness of installing the microgrid as follows. We found that (1) 99.5% of the power imbalance in supply and demand over a period of 30 min was within a range of ±3% under normal operating conditions, (2) the microgrid contributed to load leveling, (3) the energy‐control system smoothed the power‐flow fluctuations of PV‐system output at the grid connection point, and (4) installing microgrids should help reduce additional Load Frequency Control (LFC) capacity in the future. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 169(4): 1–8, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20872
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Rhodium and Iridium: Steric Effects on Molecular Conformation
Authors: Nichol Gary S. , Rajaseelan Jonathan , Anna Laura J. , Rajaseelan Edward
Published: August 2009

A series of new RhI triazole‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [(cod)Rh(NHC)Cl] 2a–c were obtained by transmetallation from AgI complexes using n‐butyl, benzyl and neopentyl NHC wing tip substituents. The corresponding new RhI ionic complexes (3a‐c) were synthesized bytreating compounds 2a–c with triphenylphosphane and AgBF4. These complexes were characterized by nmr spectroscopy and the structures of 2c, 3a, 3b, and 3c were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 3b formed two polymorphs, the first reported incidence of polymorphism in this type of NHC. Ir analogues, 4, of complexes 3a–c were also synthesized; two complexes are isomorphous with the Rh analogues 4b and 4c while 4a has a different structure. Differences in syn and anti molecular conformation of the NHC ligands is rationalized in terms of stabilizing intramolecular C–H···π interactions and steric crowding of the PPh3 ligand.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
A Mild Approach to the Synthesis of 4‐Amino‐8‐(arylamino)pyrimido[5,4‐d]pyrimidine 3‐Oxides
Authors: Ribeiro Alexandra , Carvalho M. Alice , Proença M. Fernanda
Published: August 2009

The reaction of benzylhydroxylamine with 6‐cyanopurines leads to the formation of 7‐benzyloxy‐8‐imino‐7,8‐dihydropyrimido[5,4‐d]pyrimidines. The hydrochloride of these compounds, isolated upon addition of aqueous hydrochloric acid, is a convenient precursor of the pyrimido[5,4‐d]pyrimidine N‐oxides when a suspension of the salt is refluxed in ethanol or acetonitrile. Refluxing a solution of the same salt in ethanol, leads to the Dimroth‐rearranged product.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Enantiospecific binding of Rotigotine and its antipode to serum albumins: Investigation of binding constants and binding sites by partial‐filling ACE
Authors: Chu Bao‐Lin , Lin Jin‐Ming , Wang Zhihua , Guo Baoyuan
Published: August 2009

Enantiospecific binding of antiparkinsonian medication Rotigotine (S‐enantiomer) and its antipode to HSA or BSA was demonstrated employing partial‐filling ACE (PF‐ACE) under near‐physiological conditions (50 mM phosphate, pH 7.4, 37°C). The enantioseparation of the enantiomers was achieved by PF‐ACE. Subsequently, the binding characteristics of the enantiomers to the serum albumins were investigated. Based on the PF‐ACE data, the following binding constants were obtained:Kb,HSA,S=8884±255 M−1,Kb,HSA,R=17648±587 M−1,Kb,BSA,S=7348±237 M−1,Kb,BSA,R=9353±352 M−1. It revealed that Rotigotine had weaker affinity for the two serum albumins, and both enantiomers showed stronger affinity for HSA than BSA. The presence of either site marker (warfarin or ketoprofen) had adverse effect on the enantioseparation due to the competitive binding, or even eliminated the enantioselective binding of the enantiomers to the albumin when the molar ratio of the site marker to the albumin was at certain level. Although there might be a synergistic binding between the drug and the albumin, it was suggested that site II and I were the preferential binding site of the drug on HSA and BSA, respectively.
CEC enantioseparations of carboxylic acids on silica‐based monoliths modified with ergot alkaloid derivative
Authors: Messina Antonella , Moroni Sara , Flieger Miroslav , Sinibaldi Massimo , Ursini Ornella
Published: August 2009

The enantioseparation of carboxylic acids, including amino acid dansyl‐derivatives, 2‐arylpropionic acids and 2‐aryloxypropionic acids, was tested by CEC on a porous silica sol‐gel monolithic column that was prepared by polycondensation of tetramethoxysilane in acidic conditions and post‐gelation heat treatment (120°C for 3 h) in the presence of urea, and successively, by anchoring to the silica (+)‐1‐allyl‐(5R,8S,10R)‐terguride as the chiral selector. The bimodal structure of the sorbent showed through pores with a median value of 1.39 μm and a mesopore size distribution ranging between 6 and 12 nm (average pore size of 9.9 nm). To attain optimum separation conditions, the influence of the pH and the concentration of the buffer solution in the mobile phase on resolution were investigated. The monolithic column showed: (i) for the compounds studied resolution values two or three times higher in comparison with previously developed separation systems where the same chiral selector was used. For example, on the monolithic column Dns‐serine enantiomers were much better separated (8 min with a selectivity factor of 1.34) than by HPLC (20 min, α=1.17); (ii) high chemical and mechanical stability as demonstrated by the use of such column for hundreds of analysis along about 1 year without significant variations of the resolution and the retention parameters.