bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The anticonvulsant actions of carisbamate associate with alterations in astrocyte glutamine metabolism in the lithium–pilocarpine epilepsy model
Authors: Hadera Mussie Ghezu , Faure Jean‐Baptiste , Berggaard Nina , Tefera Tesfaye Wolde , Nehlig Astrid , Sonnewald Ursula
Published: October 2014

As reported previously, in the lithium–pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), carisbamate (CRS) produces strong neuroprotection, leads to milder absence‐like seizures, and prevents behavioral impairments in a subpopulation of rats. To understand the metabolic basis of these effects, here we injected 90 mg/kg CRS or vehicle twice daily for 7 days starting 1 h after status epilepticus (SE) induction in rats. Two months later, we injected [1‐13C]glucose and [1,2‐13C]acetate followed by head microwave fixation after 15 min. 13C incorporation into metabolites was analyzed using 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We found that SE reduced neuronal mitochondrial metabolism in the absence but not in the presence of CRS. Reduction in glutamate level was prevented by CRS and aspartate levels were similar to controls only in rats displaying absence‐like seizures after treatment [CRS‐absence‐like epilepsy (ALE)]. Glutamine levels in CRS‐ALE rats were higher compared to controls in hippocampal formation and limbic structures while unchanged in rats displaying motor spontaneous recurrent seizures after treatment (CRS‐TLE). Astrocytic mitochondrial metabolism was reduced in CRS‐TLE, and either enhanced or unaffected in CRS‐ALE rats, which did not affect the transfer of glutamine from astrocytes to neurons. In conclusion, CRS prevents reduction in neuronal mitochondrial metabolism but its effect on astrocytes is likely key in determining outcome of treatment in this model.

image

To understand the metabolic basis of the strong neuroprotection and reduction in seizure severity caused by carisbamate (CRS) in the lithium–pilocarpine (Li‐Pilo) model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), we injected CRS for 7 days starting 1 h after status epilepticus and 2 months later [1‐13C]glucose and [1,2‐13C]acetate. 13C Magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis was performed on brain extracts and we found that CRS prevented reduction in neuronal mitochondrial metabolism but its effect on astrocytes was likely key in determining outcome of treatment in this model. ALE = absence like epilepsy; acetyl CoA = acetyl coenzyme A; GS = glutamine synthetase; PAG = phosphate activated glutaminase; PC = pyruvate carboxylase; OAA = oxaloacetate; TCA cycle = tricarboxylic acid cycle.
Inositol synthesis regulates the activation of GSK‐3α in neuronal cells
Authors: Ye Cunqi , Greenberg Miriam L.
Published: October 2014

The synthesis of inositol provides precursors of inositol lipids and inositol phosphates that are pivotal for cell signaling. Mood stabilizers lithium and valproic acid, used for treating bipolar disorder, cause cellular inositol depletion, which has been proposed as a therapeutic mechanism of action of both drugs. Despite the importance of inositol, the requirement for inositol synthesis in neuronal cells is not well understood. Here, we examined inositol effects on proliferation of SK‐N‐SH neuroblastoma cells. The essential role of inositol synthesis in proliferation is underscored by the findings that exogenous inositol was dispensable for proliferation, and inhibition of inositol synthesis decreased proliferation. Interestingly, the inhibition of inositol synthesis by knocking down INO1, which encodes inositol‐3‐phosphate synthase, the rate‐limiting enzyme of inositol synthesis, led to the inactivation of GSK‐3α by increasing the inhibitory phosphorylation of this kinase. Similarly, the mood stabilizer valproic acid effected transient decreases in intracellular inositol, leading to inactivation of GSK‐3α. As GSK‐3 inhibition has been proposed as a likely therapeutic mechanism of action, the finding that inhibition of inositol synthesis results in the inactivation of GSK‐3α suggests a unifying hypothesis for mechanism of mood‐stabilizing drugs.

image

Inositol is an essential metabolite that serves as a precursor for inositol lipids and inositol phosphates. We report that inhibition of the rate‐limiting enzyme of inositol synthesis leads to the inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3α by increasing inhibitory phosphorylation of this kinase. These findings have implications for the therapeutic mechanisms of mood stabilizers and suggest that inositol synthesis and GSK 3α activity are intrinsically related.
Route learning in Korsakoff's syndrome: Residual acquisition of spatial memory despite profound amnesia
Authors: Oudman Erik , Van der Stigchel Stefan , Nijboer Tanja C.W. , Wijnia Jan W. , Seekles Maaike L. , Postma Albert
Published: October 2014

Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) is characterized by explicit amnesia, but relatively spared implicit memory. The aim of this study was to assess to what extent KS patients can acquire spatial information while performing a spatial navigation task. Furthermore, we examined whether residual spatial acquisition in KS was based on automatic or effortful coding processes. Therefore, 20 KS patients and 20 matched healthy controls performed six tasks on spatial navigation after they navigated through a residential area. Ten participants per group were instructed to pay close attention (intentional condition), while 10 received mock instructions (incidental condition). KS patients showed hampered performance on a majority of tasks, yet their performance was superior to chance level on a route time and distance estimation tasks, a map drawing task and a route walking task. Performance was relatively spared on the route distance estimation task, but there were large variations between participants. Acquisition in KS was automatic rather than effortful, since no significant differences were obtained between the intentional and incidental condition on any task, whereas for the healthy controls, the intention to learn was beneficial for the map drawing task and the route walking task. The results of this study suggest that KS patients are still able to acquire spatial information during navigation on multiple domains despite the presence of the explicit amnesia. Residual acquisition is most likely based on automatic coding processes.
Role of OATP1B3 in the transport of bile acids assessed using first‐trimester trophoblasts
Authors: Yan Ziru , Li Eqiong , He Lingfei , Wang Jianhua , Zhu Xiaojun , Wang Hanzhi , Wang Zhengping
Published: October 2014

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the transport of two kinds of bile acids by organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) using first‐trimester trophoblasts. The mechanisms of damage to fetuses with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy were investigated, providing new potential strategies for targeted therapies aimed at reducing fetal risk.

Material and Methods

The expression of OATP1B3 was knocked down by lentiviral vector‐mediated RNA interference, and silencing efficiency was assessed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The cytotoxicity of two bile acids (glycocholic acid [GCA] and glycochenodeoxycholic acid [GCDCA]) was assessed using the MTT method. Transport of bile acids was assessed by establishing an in vitro trophoblast monolayer model using polyester Transwell‐clear inserts, and the concentration of bile acids in the upper compartment was assessed using high‐pressure liquid chromatography.

Results

GCA and GCDCA (10 and 20 μM) were not cytotoxic to the SWAN cell line (P > 0.05). RNAi treatment decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of OATP1B3 by 94.42% and 49.51%, respectively (P < 0.05). The bile acid transport curves were similar in the control and negative RNAi groups, whereas those in the RNAi group differed significantly from those in the control and negative RNAi groups. The concentration of GCA and GCDCA in the upper compartment was significantly lower in the RNAi group than in the control and negative RNAi groups.

Conclusions

OATP1B3 expression in trophoblasts was confirmed indirectly by its ability to transport the bile acids GCA and GCDCA.
Evaluation of Valsalva Sinus Wall Deformation Due to Compression by the Amplatzer Septal Occluder and the Potential for Erosion Development
Authors: KITANO MASATAKA , YAZAKI SATOSHI , ABE TADAAKI , OSAMU YAMADA
Published: October 2014

Objectives

We studied whether the pressure exerted by the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) disk on the Valsalva sinus wall (VW) is a risk factor for erosion and attempted to determine the pressure that may trigger erosion.

Background

The causes and mechanisms of erosion after ASO placement remain unclear.

Methods

We reviewed 665 consecutive patients with atrial septal defects who underwent ASO closure at our hospital from 2005 to 2012. We used transesophageal echocardiography and other tests to evaluate disk‐related VW deformation as a risk factor for erosion.

Results

Immediately after ASO placement, intermittent VW deformation from either disk was determined in 54 of the 665 patients (8%). Of these 54 patients, only 1 exhibited late erosion (0.15%) during a follow‐up of more than 4 years (0.035% a year). The maximum VW deformation depth relative to the standard curve, or dent, was 2.6 mm in this patient, whereas that in the remaining patients ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mm. The dent values were significantly deeper in patients with contact between the left atrial disk and posterior atrial wall than in those without contact (P = 0.03). There was a significant negative correlation between dent and the aortic side‐maximum device thickness (DT)/middle part‐DT ratio (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Although VW deformation, particularly deep VW deformation caused by pressure from either disk after ASO placement must be a recognized risk for erosion, which deformation level carries a stronger risk for erosion could not be concluded.
BIOSIMILAR ESAS: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW
Authors: Wilson Paul , Wood Cheryl
Published: October 2014

Background

The management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease has been transformed by development of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs). Following expiry of the patent of the originator epoetin alfa in Europe, a number of biosimilar ESAs have been licensed for use in the nephrology setting. Biosimilars are biological medicines that are approved via stringently defined regulatory pathways on the basis that they have demonstrated comparable safety, efficacy and quality to their reference product.

Objectives

As nurses have a pivotal role in patient care, not only administering medications but also educating patients about their treatment options, it is important that nurses understand the differences between biosimilar medicines and their reference products and appreciate the stringent regulatory requirements for approval of biosimilars.

Methods

In this review, we use epoetin zeta as a case study to highlight practical considerations of using biosimilar ESAs in the management of patients with kidney disease.

Results and Conclusion

Biosimilar products, such as epoetin zeta, may offer a range of features to patients, nurses and physicians, such as greater flexibility over dose and route of administration, in addition to greater access to biological medicines through cost savings.

Application to Practice

Renal nurses play a significant role in the management of patients with kidney disease and anaemia, not only having an important role in the delivery of medicine but also in the education of patients. This review discusses some of the practical aspects associated with the use of biosimilar medicines to assist nurses in making informed decisions over their use.
Surgical Correction of Persistent Peyronie’s Disease Following Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Treatment
Authors: Levine Laurence A. , Larsen Stephen M.
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is an Food and Drug Administration-approved intralesional injection for treatment of Peyronie’s disease (PD) that has been shown to reduce penile curvature deformity and PD symptom bother in phase 2b and phase 3 placebo-controlled clinical trials. For some patients, nonsurgical treatment with CCH may not sufficiently improve penile curvature, and surgical correction may be pursued following CCH therapy.

Aim

This study aims to examine intraoperative and postsurgical outcomes of surgical correction of persistent penile curvature in patients with PD who had previously received CCH.

Methods

Retrospective chart review was used to identify patients with PD who had received CCH intralesional injection within either the phase 2b or phase 3 CCH clinical trials and then underwent surgical correction due to remaining penile curvature. Surgical techniques used were partial plaque excision and grafting (PEG) and/or tunica albuginea plication (TAP).

Main Outcome Measures

Primary assessments included pre- and postsurgery penile curvature, erectile rigidity, stretched penile length, intraoperative time, and occurrence of adverse events.

Results

Seven men were identified who underwent surgical straightening with TAP or PEG following CCH treatment. Mean number of days from the final CCH injection to surgery was 182 (standard deviation 118; median 127 days). Average penile curvature prior to surgical straightening was 58°. No anatomical difficulties or complications secondary to the effects of prior CCH treatment occurred during surgery. Intraoperative time was representative of standard TAP and PEG surgeries (range 88–146 minutes). All men reported penile curvature <20° postsurgery. One patient experienced a postsurgery subgraft hematoma that required aspiration. There were no postsurgery reports of decreased penile sexual sensation and no occurrence of vascular compromise or decreased penile rigidity.

Conclusion

This initial case series supports the hypothesis that prior CCH treatment is not a contraindication to PEG or TAP surgery in the treatment of penile curvature in patients with PD.
Gender and the Emotional Experience of Relationship Conflict: The Differential Effectiveness of Avoidant Conflict Management
Authors: Bear Julia B. , Weingart Laurie R. , Todorova Gergana
Published: October 2014

Conflict research has shown that managing relationship conflict via avoidance is beneficial for team performance, but it is unclear whether avoidant conflict management benefits individuals on an affective level. Drawing on theories of gender roles, we proposed that gender is an important factor that influences whether avoidant conflict management mitigates the negative affective effects of relationship conflict. In a field study of a healthcare organization, we found that relationship conflict resulted in negative emotions, which, in turn, were positively associated with emotional exhaustion two months later. Avoidant conflict management attenuated the relationship between negative emotions engendered by relationship conflict and emotional exhaustion, but this effect depended on gender. Among men, the extent to which they used an avoidant conflict management style mitigated the association between negative emotions and emotional exhaustion, whereas among women, avoidant conflict management did not attenuate this relationship. Findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.
Corporate Communication and Worker Perceptions of Conflict Management and Justice
Authors: Kugler Katharina G. , Brodbeck Felix C.
Published: October 2014

Organizations are well advised to develop a conflict culture promoting constructive conflict management and cooperation. But what does such a culture look like? Research from international and political relations has demonstrated that the level of integrative complexity (IC) as disseminated in political messages is an important factor in the context of conflict management. In our research, we hypothesize that, similar to political messages, corporate communication, which emphasizes a complex (i.e., differentiated and integrated) way of understanding multidimensional issues, is connected to cooperative conflict management and related variables like perceptions of organizational justice. Results of a multilevel field study support this proposition. Whereas the level of organizational IC was assessed by rating organizations’ communication (specifically their vision or mission statements published on the Internet), perceptions of conflict management and justice were assessed by asking employees. The study emphasizes the utility of addressing organizational level variables in relation to organizational members’ perceptions.
Integration of trap‐ and root‐derived nitrogen nutrition of carnivorous Dionaea muscipula
Authors: Gao Peng , Loeffler Theresa Sofi , Honsel Anne , Kruse Jörg , Krol Elzbieta , Scherzer Sönke , Kreuzer Ines , Bemm Felix , Buegger Franz , Burzlaff Tim , Hedrich Rainer , Rennenberg Heinz
Published: October 2014

Carnivorous Dionaea muscipula operates active snap traps for nutrient acquisition from prey; so what is the role of D. muscipula's reduced root system?

We studied the capacity for nitrogen (N) acquisition via traps, and its effect on plant allometry; the capacity of roots to absorb NO3−, NH4+ and glutamine from the soil solution; and the fate and interaction of foliar‐ and root‐acquired N.

Feeding D. muscipula snap traps with insects had little effect on the root : shoot ratio, but promoted petiole relative to trap growth. Large amounts of NH4+ and glutamine were absorbed upon root feeding. The high capacity for root N uptake was maintained upon feeding traps with glutamine. High root acquisition of NH4+ was mediated by 2.5‐fold higher expression of the NH4+ transporter DmAMT1 in the roots compared with the traps. Electrophysiological studies confirmed a high constitutive capacity for NH4+ uptake by roots. Glutamine feeding of traps inhibited the influx of 15N from root‐absorbed 15N/13C‐glutamine into these traps, but not that of 13C. Apparently, fed traps turned into carbon sinks that even acquired organic carbon from roots.

N acquisition at the whole‐plant level is fundamentally different in D. muscipula compared with noncarnivorous species, where foliar N influx down‐regulates N uptake by roots.
Practical Application of the New Classification Scheme for Congenital Melanocytic Nevi
Authors: Price Harper N. , O'Haver Judith , Marghoob Ashfaq , Badger Kellie , Etchevers Heather , Krengel Sven
Published: October 2014

A new consensus‐based classification of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) has recently been proposed. It includes categories for projected adult size (PAS) and location, satellite nevi counts, and morphologic characteristics (color heterogeneity, rugosity, nodularity, and hypertrichosis). The objective of the current study was to test the applicability of the new categorization scheme and to correlate classification outcome with the patient's history of melanoma and neurocutaneous melanocytosis (NCM). Children and adults with CMN attending a patient conference in Dallas, Texas, in 2012 were invited to participate in the study. Anamnestical data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Two dermatologists performed clinical examinations. Of 45 patients enrolled, 33 had a giant CMN (G1 [>40 cm PAS], n = 13; G2 [>60 cm PAS], n = 20), 12 had an NCM (5 symptomatic, 7 asymptomatic), and 1 had a history of melanoma. CMN size was positively correlated with NCM (p < 0.05). The classification system allowed an easy and detailed phenotypic characterization of each individual CMN. CMN size and morphology were difficult to assess in patients after surgical removal, and the number of satellite nevi at birth or during infancy was not always known. Our report provides practical aids for the application of the newly proposed CMN classification. Prospective evaluation of accurately classified patients in CMN registries will reveal the predictive value of the scheme. The small study sample limits meaningful conclusions regarding the correlation between CMN parameters and the risk of NCM and melanoma.
Effective Photoprotection of Human Skin against Infrared A Radiation by Topically Applied Antioxidants: Results from a Vehicle Controlled, Double‐Blind, Randomized Study
Authors: Grether‐Beck Susanne , Marini Alessandra , Jaenicke Thomas , Krutmann Jean
Published: October 2014

Infrared A radiation (IRA) from solar sunlight contributes to photoaging of human skin, e.g. by upregulating MMP‐1 expression in dermal fibroblasts, indicating the need for photoprotection of human skin against IRA. Up to now, however, there has been no controlled study to show that effective protection of human skin against IRA radiation is possible. Here, we have conducted a randomized, controlled, double‐blinded prospective study in 30 healthy volunteers to assess the capacity of an SPF 30 sunscreen versus the same sunscreen supplemented with an antioxidant cocktail containing grape seed extract, vitamin E, ubiquinone and vitamin C to protect human skin against IRA radiation‐induced MMP‐1 upregulation. As expected, exposure to IRA radiation significantly upregulated MMP‐1 expression, as compared to unirradiated skin, and this response was significantly reduced, if the SPF30 sunscreen plus the antioxidant cocktail had been applied prior to IRA radiation. In contrast, treatment of human skin with the SPF30 sunscreen alone did not provide significant protection. These results indicate that topically applied antioxidants effectively protect human skin against IRA radiation and that regular sunscreens need to be supplemented with specific antioxidants in order to achieve IRA photoprotection.
Polls and Elections Public Perceptions Regarding the Authenticity of the 2012 Presidential Candidates
Authors: Brewer Paul R. , Hoffman Lindsay H. , Harrington Ruby , Jones Philip Edward , Lambe Jennifer L.
Published: October 2014

Public perceptions of candidates' personality traits play important roles in shaping vote choice. Previous accounts point to authenticity as one key trait, but little research has systematically investigated perceptions regarding candidate authenticity. This study uses data from a telephone survey to show that political predispositions (trust, external efficacy, interest, partisanship, and ideology), and television news use (broadcast and cable) predicted perceptions of candidate authenticity in the context of the 2012 presidential campaign. A question‐wording experiment also showed that perceptions regarding the authenticity of political messages varied across source (Obama or Romney), substance (working for “the middle class” or “job creators”), and the receiver's partisanship.
An Examination of Local Climate Change Policies in the Great Plains
Authors: Wood Robert S. , Hultquist Andy , Romsdahl Rebecca J.
Published: October 2014

As the United States struggles with national solutions to address climate change, state and local governments have become leaders in both mitigation and adaptation policy. Although a significant and growing body of research targets these policies, most studies have assumed common factors motivating both adaptation and mitigation policy adoption. There remains a need for more research on cities of all sizes, their adoption of specific local policies, the factors motivating those choices, and whether the influences for mitigation differ from those that motivate adaptation.

The paper uses data from a new survey of over 200 local governments in eleven states of the Great Plains region, including measures distinguishing between mitigation and adaptation policies. These data are employed to test the relative influence of factors from three areas: the policy environment, the attitudes of governmental actors, and community atmosphere, in explaining observed variation in the adoption of climate change policies.
Being modest makes you feel bad: Effects of the modesty norm and mortality salience on self‐esteem in a collectivistic culture
Authors: Du Hongfei , Jonas Eva
Published: October 2014

Terror management research shows that existential terror motivates people to live up to social norms. According to terror management theory (TMT), people can achieve a sense of self‐worth through compliance with social norms. However, this has not yet been empirically tested. Modesty has long been known as an important social norm in Eastern cultures, such as China, Japan, and Korea. The current research examined whether conforming to the modesty norm in response to reminders of death concerns increases self‐esteem for Chinese. In Study 1, following the modesty norm (i.e., explicit self‐effacement) led to decreased implicit self‐esteem, however, this was only the case if mortality was salient. In Study 2, violating the modesty norm (i.e., explicit self‐enhancement) increased implicit self‐esteem – however – again, this was only the case when mortality was salient. These findings indicate that self‐esteem cannot be maintained through compliance with the modesty norm. Implications of this research for understanding the interplay between self‐esteem and social norms in terror management processes are discussed.
(In)Formal memoryscapes and the unma(s)king of a Malaysian war heroine
Authors: Muzaini Hamzah
Published: October 2014

The geographical literature on the politics tied to formal commemorations of the past is a burgeoning one. Yet, there has been less attention paid to similar practices undertaken by nonstate agents seeking to ensure that what is written out of official history is not forgotten. This paper explores how and why the story of Sybil Kathigasu, a woman who played a salient role in the resistance movement against the Japanese during the Second World War in Perak, Malaysia, has been peripheralized within formal memory making even as it has been informally revived elsewhere. It specifically suggests that, while the sidelining of her story may be the product of the tendency of the state of Perak to downplay its war past, Sybil's gender, race and political ideologies have also made it more difficult for her to be embraced as a ‘national’ heroine. Drawing on a private museum that was set up in her honor in Papan, the paper also reveals how factors impeding her formal remembrance also have implications for alternative efforts to recover her story. More broadly, the paper offers insights into women's absences in Malaysian public memory, and argues the need for more emphasis on memoryscapes ‘from below’ as a means of nuancing local remembrance politics.
Large‐scale molecular phylogeny of metallic wood‐boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestoidea) provides new insights into relationships and reveals multiple evolutionary origins of the larval leaf‐mining habit
Authors: EVANS AMANDA M. , MCKENNA DUANE D. , BELLAMY CHARLES L. , FARRELL BRIAN D.
Published: October 2014

The family Buprestidae (jewel beetles or metallic wood‐boring beetles), contains nearly 15 000 species in 522 genera. Together with the small family Schizopodidae (seven species, three genera), they form the superfamily Buprestoidea. Adult Buprestoidea feed on flowers or foliage, whereas larvae are mostly internal feeders, boring in roots or stems, or mining the leaves of woody or herbaceous plants. The subfamilial and tribal classification of Buprestoidea remains unsettled, with substantially different schemes proposed by different workers based on morphology. Here we report the first large‐scale molecular phylogenetic study of the superfamily Buprestoidea based on data from four genes for 141 ingroup species. We used these data to reconstruct higher‐level relationships and to assess the current classification and the origins of the larval leaf‐mining habit within Buprestoidea. In our analyses, the monophyly of Buprestoidea was strongly supported, as was the monophyly of Schizopodidae and its placement sister to Buprestidae. Our results are largely consistent with the generally accepted major lineages of buprestoids, including clearly‐defined agrilines, buprestines–chrysochroines and early‐branching julodines–polycestines. In addition to Schizopodidae, three of the six subfamilies were monophyletic in our study: Agrilinae, Julodinae and the monogeneric Galbellinae (Galbella). Polycestinae was monophyletic with the exception of the enigmatic Haplostethini. Chrysochroinae and Buprestinae were not monophyletic, but were recovered together in a large mixed clade along with Galbella. The interrelationships of Chrysochroinae and Buprestinae were not well resolved; however they were clearly polyphyletic, with chrysochroine genera falling into several different well‐supported clades otherwise comprising buprestine genera. All Agrilinae were contained in a single strongly supported clade. Coraebini were dispersed throughout Agrilinae, with strong nodal support for several clades representing subtribes. Neither Agrilini nor Tracheini were monophyletic. The leaf‐mining genus Paratrachys (Paratracheini) was recovered within the Acmaeoderioid clade, consistent with the current classification, and confirming the independent origins of leaf‐mining within Polycestinae and Agrilinae. Additionally, our results strongly suggest that the leaf‐mining agriline tribe Tracheini is polyphyletic, as are several of its constituent subtribes. External root feeding was likely the ancestral larval feeding habit in Buprestoidea. The apparent evolutionary transitions to internal feeding allowed access to a variety of additional plant tissues, including leaves. Interestingly, the several genera of leaf‐mining agrilines do not form a monophyletic group. Many of these genera are diverse and highly specialized, possibly indicating adaptive radiations.
Isolation of full‐length genomic sequences of the KIR3DL1*0040103 allele from African donors using sequence‐based techniques
Authors: Yindom L.‐M. , James K. , de Silva T. I. , Rowland‐Jones S. L.
Published: October 2014

The full‐length genomic sequence of KIR3DL1*0040103 differs from KIR3DL1*0040101 at three nucleotide positions.
HLA‐C*07:375, a variant of HLA‐C*07, detected in a Taiwanese unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lee S. K. , Hung J. H. , Lin P. Y.
Published: October 2014

One nucleotide exchange in codon 20 of HLA‐A*07:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐C*07:375.
Description of a novel KIR3DL1*0150211 allele isolated using molecular techniques
Authors: Yindom L.‐M. , de Silva T. I , Rowland‐Jones S. L.
Published: October 2014

KIR3DL1*0150211 differs from KIR3DL1*0150201 with six single nucleotide polymorphisms in introns 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The miR156‐SPL9‐DFR pathway coordinates the relationship between development and abiotic stress tolerance in plants
Authors: Cui Long‐Gang , Shan Jun‐Xiang , Shi Min , Gao Ji‐Ping , Lin Hong‐Xuan
Published: October 2014

Young organisms have relatively strong resistance to diseases and adverse conditions. When confronted with adversity, the process of development is delayed in plants. This phenomenon is thought to result from the rebalancing of energy, which helps plants to coordinate the relationship between development and stress tolerance; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains mysterious. In this study, we found that miR156 integrates environmental signals to ensure timely flowering, thus enabling the completion of breeding. Under stress conditions, miR156 is induced to maintain the plant in the juvenile state for a relatively long period of time, whereas under favorable conditions, miR156 is suppressed to accelerate the developmental transition. Blocking the miR156 signaling pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana with 35S::MIM156 (via target mimicry) increased the sensitivity of the plant to stress treatment, whereas overexpression of miR156 increased stress tolerance. In fact, this mechanism is also conserved in Oryza sativa (rice). We also identified downstream genes of miR156, i.e. SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN‐LIKE 9 (SPL9) and DIHYDROFLAVONOL‐4‐REDUCTASE (DFR), which take part in this process by influencing the metabolism of anthocyanin. Our results uncover a molecular mechanism for plant adaptation to the environment through the miR156‐SPLs‐DFR pathway, which coordinates development and abiotic stress tolerance.
Metabolomics profile comparisons of irradiated and nonirradiated stored donor red blood cells
Authors: Patel Ravi M. , Roback John D. , Uppal Karan , Yu Tianwei , Jones Dean P. , Josephson Cassandra D.
Published: October 2014

Background

Understanding the metabolites that are altered by donor red blood cell (RBC) storage and irradiation may provide insight into the metabolic pathways disrupted by the RBC storage lesion.

Study Design and Methods

Patterns of metabolites, representing more than 11,000 distinct mass‐to‐charge ratio (m/z) features, were compared between gamma‐irradiated and nonirradiated CPDA‐1–split RBCs from six human donors over 35 days of storage using multilevel sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (msPLSDA), hierarchical clustering, pathway enrichment analysis, and network analysis.

Results

In msPLSDA analysis, RBC units stored 7 days or fewer (irradiated or nonirradiated) showed similar metabolomic profiles. By contrast, donor RBCs stored 10 days or more demonstrated distinct clustering as a function of storage time and irradiation. Irradiation shifted metabolic features to those seen in older units. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified at least two clusters of metabolites that differentiated between RBC units based on storage time and irradiation exposure, confirming results of the msPLSDA analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis, used to map the discriminatory biochemical features to specific metabolic pathways, identified four pathways significantly affected by irradiation and/or storage including arachidonic acid (p = 3.3 × 10−33) and linoleic acid (p = 1.61 × 10−11) metabolism.

Conclusion

RBC storage under blood bank conditions produces numerous metabolic alterations. Gamma irradiation accentuates these differences as the age of blood increases, indicating that at the biochemical level irradiation accelerates metabolic aging of stored RBCs. Metabolites involved in the cellular membrane are prominently affected and may be useful biomarkers of the RBC storage lesion.
Buffy coat volume reduction for optimization of leucapheresis harvests produced by the autoMNC program
Authors: Burk S. , Erdmann M. , Weiss D. , Eckstein R. , Strasser E. F.
Published: October 2014

Background and Objectives

Buffy coat (BC) volume reduction was evaluated in leucapheresis (LA) harvests due to the target monocyte yield and the red blood cell (RBC) content. A packed erythrocyte volume (PEV) of 7·5 ml should not be exceeded to avoid RBC debulking with loss of leucocytes (WBCs) and the monocyte fraction during monocyte counterflow elutriation, a next step of monocyte enrichment prior to cell culture.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred and fifty‐three 5‐l leucaphereses (autoMNC program) performed in 102 healthy blood donors (24 female and 78 male donors) were retrospectively analysed. Different categories of BC volumes were compared due to the quality of the LA products measured by blood counts and flow cytometry.

Results

Collection of maximum BC volume of 10 ml and more each collection cycle (product volume: 169 ± 21 ml) resulted in 1·58 ± 0·41 × 10e9 CD14+ monocytes and high volume of packed erythrocyte (18·4 ± 8·8 ml). Low BC volume collection below 6 ml each collection cycle produced only 1·07 ± 0·40 × 10e9 CD14+ monocytes but reduced PEV significantly by 64% (6·7 ± 4·1 ml).

Conclusion

By reduction of the BC volume, the PEV in LA products could be reduced, which is a precondition for counterflow elutriation of monocytes. A BC volume between 7 and 8 ml per collection cycle should be adjusted to reduce PEV to 7·5 ml without relevant monocyte loss.
Fine‐tuning of a mowing regime, a method for the management of the invasive plant, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, at different population densities
Authors: Milakovic Ivana , Fiedler Konrad , Karrer Gerhard
Published: October 2014

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is an invasive annual plant with highly allergenic pollen. Its spread in introduced and native ranges often occurs on roadsides, where it builds stable and rapidly growing populations. The most sustainable way of controlling the population size of this species is to prevent seed production in order to deplete the soil seed bank. Populations on roadsides are submitted to regular mowing management, which can even exacerbate the situation by inducing resprouting after cutting or by accidentally spreading seeds along the road. The population density in the juvenile stages of development could play an important role in the success of cutting regimes, as it might influence the resprouting capacity of this plant. The influence of the juvenile population density and of seven cutting regimes, differing in the timing and frequency of cuts, on easily measurable reproductive traits was investigated in a glasshouse experiment. The cutting regimes had a strong influence on the reproductive success and on the phenology of the development stages of ragweed. The population density in the juvenile stages did not play a role in further phenological development, but did influence the reproductive traits. The reproduction of ragweed can be lowered by locally adapted combinations of the timing and frequency of mowing. As the optimal management option for the reduction of both the male and female flowers, the authors suggest a first cut just before the start of male flowering, followed by subsequent cuts every 3–4 weeks.
Relationship between the temperature and the overwintering of water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) at Kowataike, a branch of Yodogawa River, Japan
Authors: Tamada Katsuya , Itoh Kazuyuki , Uchida Yuko , Higuchi Shunsuke , Sasayama Daisuke , Azuma Tetsushi
Published: October 2014

The successful overwintering of water lettuce (Araceae, Pistia stratiotes L.) is reported in Kowataike, a pond in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, in the temperate climate zone. Overwintering was observed in the northern zone of Kowataike, where warm water discharge flows from an upstream electrical appliance factory. From December 2007 to January 2008, several overwintering water lettuce plants were observed in the northern zone where the water temperature was abnormally high (average: 21.9°C; low: 19.5°C). Water in the central zone of Kowataike was isolated from the warm water discharge. The temperatures here were much lower (average: 8.2°C; low: 4.2°C) and no water lettuce plant survived here. The overwintering in the northern zone fluctuated annually. This fluctuation appeared to be correlated with the period of warm water discharge, which varied from year to year and resulted in higher water temperatures most, but not all, of the winter. The results suggest that artificial environmental factors, such as anthropogenic warm water discharge, could enable water lettuce to overwinter. In the northern zone of Kowataike under the influence of the warm water discharge, only small water lettuce plants overwintered. This may be attributed to the presence of older plants with larger leaves that seemed to protect the small rosettes from frost. Second, the air warmed by the warm discharge accumulated in the space under the piles of dead large leaves, which created conditions similar to those of a greenhouse. These two mechanisms apparently allow the small water lettuce plants to be surrounded by moderate atmospheric conditions.
Comparative Analysis of a Redundant Pentapod Parallel Kinematic Machine
Authors: Alagheband Arta , Mahmoodi Masih , Mills James K. , Benhabib Beno
Published: October 2014

Parallel kinematic mechanisms (PKMs) provide high stiffness and compact structures that are suitable for a large number of applications, including 5-axis milling. This paper presents a new pentapod-based PKM with an additional redundant degree-of-freedom (DOF) capable of reaching platform tilt angles of at least 90 deg over a large workspace. The proposed new PKM has a 6DOF 4 × SPRR + 1 × PSPR architecture. It is compared herein to Metrom® Pentapod as well as to several other pertinent PKMs in terms of workspace and dynamic stiffness. It is shown that the proposed mechanism can yield a tangibly larger workspace volume, when compared to those PKMs, while maintaining its high stiffness characteristics.
Serviceability Assessment of Creep Strength Enhanced Ferritic Steels
Authors: Arnold John L.
Published: October 2014

The metallurgical advancements exhibited in creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels have changed the dynamics of boiler design and operation by improving the fatigue life of thick-walled components and improving cycle efficiency by increasing operating temperatures. These advancements have a similar effect on the assessment of these materials. No longer can a serviceability evaluation be based on a general assumption of metallurgical properties. Instead, condition assessment protocols, examination methods, and flaw assessment approaches must reflect the metallurgical nuances of these high temperature alloy steels. This paper will provide guidance on new issues to be considered when developing a serviceability program.
3-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC) Steam Electrolysis Operation for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Kang Juhyun , Park Joonguen , Bae Joongmyeon
Published: October 2014

Hydrogen is a resource that provides energy and forms water only after reacting with oxygen. Because there are no emissions such as greenhouse gases when hydrogen is converted to produce energy, it is considered one of the most important energy resources for addressing the problems of global warming and air pollution. Additionally, hydrogen can be useful for constructing “smart grid” infrastructure because electrical energy from other renewable energy sources can be stored in the form of chemical energy by electrolyzing water, creating hydrogen.

Among the many hydrogen generation systems, solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) have attracted considerable attention as advanced water electrolysis systems because of their high energy conversion efficiency and low use of electrical energy. To find the relationship between operating conditions and the performance of SOECs, research has been conducted both experimentally, using actual SOEC cells, and numerically, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this investigation, we developed a 3-D simulation model to analyze the relationship between the operating conditions and the overall behavior of SOECs due to different contributions to the over-potential.

All SOECs involve the transfer of mass, momentum, species, and energy, and these properties are correlated. Furthermore, all of these properties have a direct influence on the concentration of the gases in the electrodes, the pressure, the temperature and the current density. Therefore, the conservation equations for mass, momentum, species, and energy should be included in the simulation model to calculate all terms in the transfer of mass, heat and fluid. In this simulation model, the transient term was neglected because the steady state was assumed.

All governing equations were calculated using Star-CD (CD Adapco, U.S). The source terms in the governing equations were calculated with in-house code, i.e., user defined functions (UDF), written in FORTRAN 77, and these were linked to the Star-CD solver to calculate the transfer processes. Simulations were performed with various cathode inlet gas compositions, anode inlet gas compositions, cathode thickness, and electrode porosity to identify the main parameters related to performance.
Modeling of Polarization Losses of a Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Zhao Li , Brouwer Jacob , Naviaux John , Hochbaum Allon
Published: October 2014

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are promising for simultaneous treatment of wastewater and energy production. In this study, a mathematical model for microbial fuel cells with air cathodes was developed and demonstrated by integrating biochemical reactions, Butler–Volmer expressions and mass/charge balances. The model developed is focused on describing and understanding the steady-state polarization curves of the microbial fuel cells with various levels and methods of anode-biofilm growth with air cathodes. This polarization model combines enzyme kinetics and electrochemical kinetics, and is able to describe measured polarization curves for microbial fuel cells with different anode-biofilm growth. The MFC model developed has been verified with the experimental data collected. The simulation results provide insights into the limiting physical, chemical and electrochemical phenomena and their effects on cell performance. For example, the current MFC data demonstrated performance primarily limited by cathode electrochemical kinetics.
Performance Modeling of a DMFC Fueled With Methanol and Ethanol
Authors: Mohan Sujith , Bade Shrestha S. O.
Published: October 2014

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) are becoming a choice of a power source in the field of power electronics, and portable devices because of their high energy density. The benefits of using a fuel cell towards the environment will be enhanced if the fuel used for its application comes from renewable sources such as ethanol. A method of modeling of the performance of DMFC was developed and validated with the experimental data obtained from a passive DMFC operated under varying methanol and ethanol concentrations. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to measure ohmic, activation and mass transport losses for all concentrations. Improved performance of the cell was observed when the concentrations of the solutions were closer to stoichiometric values. The model predicted results were compared to the corresponding experimental values and found satisfactory.
Advanced Integrated Flow Field (IFF) Design for High Performance Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer
Authors: Pien Michael , Lis Steven , Jalan Radha , Warshay Marvin , Pahwa Suresh
Published: October 2014

Higher efficiency operation of PEM fuel cells needs an advanced passive way to remove product water. Water flooding in gas flow channels reduces efficiency and needs to be mitigated by a support of balance of plant design and components which results in parasitic power losses. ElectroChem’s Integrated Flow Field (IFF) design with the integration of hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix has been proven to solve these challenges with no impact on the performance. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix facilitates two phase (gas and liquid) flow to and away from the interface between the electrode membrane assembly and the flow field. A phase-separation feature of the IFF allowed the fuel cells to operate on a flow rate at its consumption rate. The IFF fuel cell has demonstrated operation at the ideal one stoichiometric ratio with 100% gas utilization and orientation independent. The IFF also served as gas humidifier through the creation of simultaneous distribution of gas and water within the cell. The self-humidification capability keeps the cell operating without the humidity of the input gas. The IFF design also enhanced the performance of water electrolysis which is a reverse process of fuel cell. The IFF supported the passive water feed to the cell and gas separation from the cell.