bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The fire next time: the coming cost of capitalism, animal oppression and environmental ruin
Authors: Nibert David
Published: March 2012

Using a historical materialist approach, it is argued that elite control and oppression of cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other large social animals have both enabled and promoted large-scale violence and warfare for thousands of years. The primary factor that underlies this entangled oppression – material gain – has continued and expanded under corporate capitalism – especially the practice of treating other animals as food. This profitable enterprise, legitimated and promoted by elite control of the state and the hegemonically controlled mass media, makes the unspeakable treatment of ‘farm’ animals acceptable while disguising the resultant chronic diseases: a form of structural violence. The oppression stemming from corporate promotion of animals as food has contributed to vast environmental harm, including water and air pollution, rainforest destruction, desertification and global warming. Those who profit from this system through the abuse of finite resources and the constant pursuit of ever-growing numbers of consumers, and the state supporters of these industries, are among the leading perpetrators of contemporary ‘crimes of economic domination’. These corporate practices are vastly increasing the probability of regional warfare and international conflict as countries like the United States prepare military strategies for a world of scarce finite resources, climate change and global food shortages.
A multi-model assessment of the efficacy of sea spray geoengineering
Authors: Pringle K. J. , Carslaw K. S. , Fan T. , Mann G.W. , Hill A. , Stier P. , Zhang K. , Tost H.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Artificially increasing the albedo of marine clouds by the mechanical emission of sea spray aerosol has been proposed as a geoengineering technique to slow the warming caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases. A previous global model study found that only modest increases and sometimes even decreases in cloud drop number (CDN) concentrations would result from plausible emission scenarios. Here we extend that work to examine the conditions under which decreases in CDN can occur, and use three independent global models to quantify maximum achievable CDN changes. We find that decreases in CDN can occur when at least three of the following conditions are met: the injected particle number is <100 cm−3, the injected diameter is >250–300 nm, the background aerosol loading is large (≥150 cm−3) and the in-cloud updraught velocity is low (<0.2 ms−1). With lower background loadings and/or increased updraught velocity, significant increases in CDN can be achieved. None of the global models predict a decrease in CDN as a result of geoengineering, although there is considerable diversity in the calculated efficiency of geoengineering, which arises from the diversity in the simulated background aerosol distributions. All three models show a small dependence of geoengineering efficiency on the injected particle size and the geometric standard deviation of the injected mode. However, the achievability of significant cloud drop enhancements is strongly dependent on the cloud updraught speed. With an updraught speed of 0.1 ms−1 a global mean CDN of 375 cm−3 (previously estimated to cancel the forcing caused by CO2 doubling) is achievable in only about 50 % of cloudy grid boxes irrespective of the amount of aerosol injected. But at 0.2 ms−1 a CDN of 375−3 becomes achievable everywhere. Updraught speeds of less than 0.2 ms−1 are common in low-level clouds. Thus, a cloud drop concentration of 375 cm−3 cannot be attained uniformly, regardless of the number of injected particles.
On the representation of immersion and condensation freezing in cloud models using different nucleation schemes
Authors: Ervens B. , Feingold G.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Ice nucleation in clouds is often observed at temperatures >235 K, pointing to heterogeneous freezing as a predominant mechanism. Many models deterministically predict the number concentration of ice particles as a function of temperature and/or supersaturation. Laboratory experiments at constant temperature and/or supersaturation often report heterogeneous freezing as a stochastic, time-dependent process that follows classical nucleation theory which might appear to contradict singular freezing behavior. We explore the extent to which the choice of nucleation scheme (deterministic/stochastic, single/multiple contact angles θ) affects the prediction of the frozen ice nuclei (IN) fraction and cloud evolution. A box model with constant temperature and supersaturation is used to mimic published laboratory experiments of immersion freezing of kaolinite (~243 K), and the fitness of different nucleation schemes. Sensitivity studies show that agreement of all five schemes is restricted to the narrow parameter range (time, temperature, IN diameter) in the original laboratory studies. The schemes are implemented in an adiabatic parcel model that includes feedbacks of the formation and growth of drops and ice particles on supersaturation during the ascent of an air parcel. Model results show that feedbacks of droplets and ice on supersaturation limit ice nucleation events, often leading to smaller differences in number concentration of ice particles and ice water content (IWC) between stochastic and deterministic approaches than expected from the box model studies. However, the different parameterizations of θ distributions and time-dependencies are highly sensitive to IN size and can lead to great differences in predicted ice number concentrations and IWC between the different schemes. Finally, since the choice of nucleation scheme determines the temperature range over which nucleation occurs, at habit-prone temperatures (~253 K) different onset temperatures of freezing create variability in the initial inherent growth ratio of ice particles, which can lead to amplification or reduction in differences in predicted IWC.
The role of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in the cycling of trace elements
Authors: Sanz-Lázaro C. , Malea P. , Apostolaki E. T. , Kalantzi I. , Marín A. , Karakassis I.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. The aim of this work was to study the role of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica on the cycling of a wide set of trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Tl, V and Zn). We measured the concentration of these trace elements in the different compartments of P. oceanica (leaves, rhizomes, roots and epibiota) in a non-polluted seagrass meadow representative of the Mediterranean and calculated the annual budget from a mass balance. We provide novel data on accumulation dynamics of many trace elements in P. oceanica compartments and demonstrate that trace element accumulation patterns are mainly determined by plant compartment rather than by temporal variability. Epibiota was the compartment which showed the greatest concentrations for most trace elements. Thus, they constitute a key compartment when estimating trace element transfer to higher trophic levels by P. oceanica. For most trace elements, translocation seemed to be low and acropetal. Zn, Cd, Sr and Rb were the trace elements that showed the highest release rate through decomposition of plant detritus, while Cs, Tl and Bi the lowest. P. oceanica acts as a sink of potentially toxic trace elements (Ni, Cr, As and Ag), which can be sequestered, decreasing their bioavailability. P. oceanica may have a relevant role in the cycling of trace elements in the Mediterranean.
Effects of seawater pCO2 changes on the calcifying fluid of scleractinian corals
Authors: Hohn S. , Merico A.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations due to anthropogenic emissions induce changes in the ocean carbonate chemistry and a drop in ocean pH. This acidification process is expected to harm calcifying organisms like coccolithophores, molluscs, echinoderms, and corals. A severe decline in coral abundance is, for example, expected by the end of this century with associated disastrous effects on reef ecosystems. Despite the growing importance of the topic, little progress has been made with respect to modelling the impact of acidification on coral calcification. Here we present a model for a coral polyp that simulates the carbonate system in four different compartments: the seawater, the polyp tissue, the coelenteron, and the calicoblastic layer. Precipitation of calcium carbonate takes place in the metabolically controlled calicoblastic layer beneath the polyp tissue. The model is adjusted to a state of activity as observed by direct microsensor measurements in the calcifying fluid. Simulated CO2 perturbation experiments reveal decreasing calcification rates under elevated pCO2 despite strong metabolic control of the calcifying fluid. Diffusion of CO2 through the tissue into the calicoblastic layer increases with increasing seawater pCO2 leading to decreased aragonite saturation in the calcifying fluid of the coral polyp. Our modelling study provides important insights into the complexity of the calcification process at the organism level and helps to quantify the effect of ocean acidification on corals.
Exploring errors in paleoclimate proxy reconstructions using Monte Carlo simulations: paleotemperature from mollusk and coral geochemistry
Authors: Carré M. , Sachs J. P. , Wallace J. M. , Favier C.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Quantitative reconstructions of the past climate statistics from geochemical coral or mollusk records require quantified error bars in order to properly interpret the amplitude of the climate change and to perform meaningful comparisons with climate model outputs. We introduce here a more precise categorization of reconstruction errors, differentiating the error bar due to the proxy calibration uncertainty from the standard error due to sampling and variability in the proxy formation process. Then, we propose a numerical approach based on Monte Carlo simulations with surrogate proxy-derived climate records. These are produced by perturbing a known time series in a way that mimics the uncertainty sources in the proxy climate reconstruction. A freely available algorithm, MoCo, was designed to be parameterized by the user and to calculate realistic systematic and standard errors of the mean and the variance of the annual temperature, and of the mean and the variance of the temperature seasonality reconstructed from marine accretionary archive geochemistry. In this study, the algorithm is used for sensitivity experiments in a case study to characterize and quantitatively evaluate the sensitivity of systematic and standard errors to sampling size, stochastic uncertainty sources, archive-specific biological limitations, and climate non-stationarity. The results of the experiments yield an illustrative example of the range of variations of the standard error and the systematic error in the reconstruction of climate statistics in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Thus, we show that the sample size and the climate variability are the main sources of the standard error. The experiments allowed the identification and estimation of systematic bias that would not otherwise be detected because of limited modern datasets. Our study demonstrates that numerical simulations based on Monte Carlo analyses are a simple and powerful approach to improve the understanding of the proxy records. We show that the standard error for the climate statistics linearly increases with the climate variability, which means that the accuracy of the error estimated by MoCo is limited by the climate non-stationarity.
The relative roles of CO2 and palaeogeography in determining Late Miocene climate: results from a terrestrial model-data comparison
Authors: Bradshaw C. D. , Lunt D. J. , Flecker R. , Salzmann U. , Pound M. J. , Haywood A. M. , Eronen J. T.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. The Late Miocene (∼11.6–5.3 Ma) palaeorecord provides evidence for a warmer and wetter climate than that of today and there is uncertainty in the palaeo-CO2 record of at least 150 ppmv. We present results from fully coupled atmosphere-ocean-vegetation simulations for the Late Miocene that examine the relative roles of palaeogeography (topography and ice sheet geometry) and CO2 concentration in the determination of Late Miocene climate through comprehensive terrestrial model-data comparisons. Assuming that the data accurately reflects the Late Miocene climate, and that the Late Miocene palaeogeographic reconstruction used in the model is robust, then results indicate that the proxy-derived precipitation differences between the Late Miocene and modern can be largely accounted for by the palaeogeographic changes alone. However, the proxy-derived temperatures differences between the Late Miocene and modern can only begin to be accounted for if we assume a palaeo-CO2 concentration towards the higher end of the range of estimates.
Determination of naphthalen‐1‐yl‐(1‐pentylindol‐3‐yl)methanone (JWH‐018) in mouse blood and tissue after inhalation exposure to ‘buzz’ smoke by HPLC/MS/MS
Authors: Poklis Justin L. , Amira Dorra , Wise Laura E. , Wiebelhaus Jason M. , Haggerty Brenda J. , Lichtman Aron H. , Poklis Alphonse
Published: March 2012

The disposition of the cannabimimetic naphthalen‐1‐yl‐(1‐pentylindol‐3‐yl)methanone (JWH‐018) in mice following inhalation of the smoke of the herbal incense product (HIP) ‘Buzz’ is presented. A high‐pressure liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS/MS) method was validated for the analysis of JWH‐018 in the specimens using deuterated Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (d3‐THC) as the internal standard. JWH‐018 was isolated by cold acetonitrile liquid–liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbaz eclipse XDB‐C18 column. The assay was linear from 1 to 1000 ng/mL. Six C57BL6 mice were sacrificed 20 min after exposure to the smoke of 200 mg ‘Buzz’ containing 5.4% JWH‐018. Specimen concentrations of JWH‐018 were: blood, 54–166 ng/mL (mean 82 ± 42 ng/mL); brain, 316–708 ng/g (mean 510 ± 166 ng/g); and liver, 1370–3220 ng/mL (mean 1990 ± 752 ng/mL). The mean blood to brain ratio for JWH‐018 was 6.8 and ranged from 4.2 to 10.9. After exposure, the responses of the mice were consistent with cannabinoid receptor type 1 activity: body temperatures dropped 7.3 ± 1.1 °C, and catalepsy, hyperreflexia, straub tail and ptosis were observed. The brain concentrations and physiological responses are consistent with the hypothesis that the behavioral effects of ‘Buzz’ are attributable to JWH‐018. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization and validation of organochlorine compounds in adipose tissue by SPE‐gas chromatography
Authors: Fernandes Virgínia C. , Pestana Diogo , Monteiro Rosário , Faria Gil , Meireles Manuela , Correia‐Sá Luísa , Teixeira Diana , Faria Ana , Calhau Conceição , Domingues Valentina F. , Delerue‐Matos Cristina
Published: March 2012

Scientific evidence has shown an association between organochlorine compounds (OCC) exposure and human health hazards. Concerning this, OCC detection in human adipose samples has to be considered a public health priority. This study evaluated the efficacy of various solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and cleanup methods for OCC determination in human adipose tissue. Octadecylsilyl endcapped (C18‐E), benzenesulfonic acid modified silica cation exchanger (SA), poly(styrene‐divinylbenzene (EN) and EN/RP18 SPE sorbents were evaluated. The relative sample cleanup provided by these SPE columns was evaluated using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC–ECD). The C18‐E columns with strong homogenization were found to provide the most effective cleanup, removing the greatest amount of interfering substance, and simultaneously ensuring good analyte recoveries higher than 70%. Recoveries > 70% with standard deviations (SD) < 15% were obtained for all compounds under the selected conditions. Method detection limits were in the 0.003–0.009 mg/kg range. The positive samples were confirmed by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC‐MS/MS). The highest percentage found of the OCC in real samples corresponded to HCB, o,p′‐DDT and methoxychlor, which were detected in 80 and 95% of samples analyzed respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical Areas and Entry Points for Sustainability‐Related Strategies in the Sugarcane‐Based Ethanol Industry of Brazil
Authors: Spetic Wellington , Marquez Patricia , Kozak Robert
Published: March 2012

This study reveals five critical areas that Brazil's sugarcane‐based ethanol industry could capitalize on to incorporate sustainability into their firms' strategies. The emergent theoretical framework represents a starting point for further investigations aimed at integrating the sustainability construct and strategies for the industry. A growing body of literature calls for strategic management to adapt to complex and ever‐changing environments and sustainability trends. For many firms in developing economies, sustainability remains isolated from mainstream strategy, resulting in reactive approaches on the part of management. A qualitative research method – grounded theory – was used to induct from data. Five themes emerged from the analysis providing guidance on where sustainability‐related strategies ought to begin. This research posits that existing sectoral innovation systems could be used to channel sustainability‐driven innovations. In addition, a combination of public and private efforts to foster innovations based on the emergent themes could increase the value of industry under study, while lessening its social and environmental footprint. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Selective Isotopic Unlabeling of Proteins Using Metabolic Precursors: Application to NMR Assignment of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Authors: Rasia Rodolfo M. , Brutscher Bernhard , Plevin Michael J.
Published: March 2012

Selective isotopic unlabeling of proteins can provide important residue‐type information as well as reduce congestion of NMR spectra. However, metabolic scrambling often complicates the final isotope‐labeling pattern. Here, an array of metabolic precursors is used to perform robust, residue‐specific unlabeling of proteins. The resulting isotopic‐labeling patterns are predictable and nicely complement NMR experiments that differentiate residue types. This approach has widespread applications, but it is particularly relevant for proteins that lack sequence complexity or a defined tertiary structure.
Directed Evolution of Subtilisin E into a Highly Active and Guanidinium Chloride‐ and Sodium Dodecylsulfate‐Tolerant Protease
Authors: Li Zhenwei , Roccatano Danilo , Lorenz Michael , Schwaneberg Ulrich
Published: March 2012

Proteases have niche applications in diagnostic kits that use cell lysis and thereby require high resistance towards chaotropic salts and detergents, such as guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Subtilisin E, a well‐studied serine protease, was selected to be re‐engineered by directed evolution into a “chaophilic” protease that would be resistance to GdmCl and SDS, for application in diagnostic kits. In three iterative rounds of directed evolution, variant SeSaM1–5 (S62I/A153V/G166S/I205V) was generated, with improved activity (330 %) and increased half life in 1 M GdmCl (<2 min to 4.7 h) or in 0.5 % SDS (<2 min to 2.7 h). Saturation mutagenesis at each site in the wild‐type subtilisin E revealed that positions 62 and 166 were mainly responsible for increased activity and stability. A double mutant, M2 (S62I/G166M), generated by combination of the best single mutations showed significantly improved kinetic constants; in 2 M GdmCl the Km value decreased (29‐fold) from 7.31 to 0.25 mM, and the kcat values increased (fourfold) from 15 to 61 s−1. The catalytic efficiency, kcat/Km, improved dramatically (GdmCl: 247 mM−1 s−1 (118‐fold); SDS, 179 mM−1 s−1 (13‐fold)). In addition, the SeSaM1–5 variant showed higher stability in 2.0 % SDS when compared to the wild‐type (t1/2 54.8 min (>27‐fold)). Finally, molecular dynamics simulations of the wild‐type subtilisin E showed that Gdm+ ions could directly interact with active site residues, thereby probably limiting access of the substrate to the catalytic centre.
DNA Architectonics: towards the Next Generation of Bio‐inspired Materials
Authors: Stulz Eugen
Published: March 2012

The use of DNA in nanobiotechnology has advanced to a stage at which almost any two or three dimensional architecture can be designed with high precision. The choice of the DNA sequences is essential for successful self‐assembly, and opens new ways of making nanosized monomolecular assemblies with predictable structure and size. The inclusion of designer nucleoside analogues further adds functionality with addressable groups, which have an influence on the function of the DNA nano‐objects. This article highlights the recent achievements in this emerging field and gives an outlook on future perspectives and applications.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management: Evidence from Asian Economies
Authors: Scholtens Bert , Kang Feng‐Ching
Published: March 2012

We investigate how earnings management is associated with corporate social responsibility (CSR) and investor protection with 139 firms in ten Asian countries. In Asia, CSR is increasingly attracting attention but the legal system generally is perceived as being poor. We hypothesize that there is an inverse relationship between CSR and earnings management, as well as between investor protection and earnings management. Regarding earnings management, we investigate earnings smoothing and earnings aggressiveness. We find that Asian firms with relatively good CSR are engaged significantly less with earnings management. Investor protection also is negatively associated with earnings management. We find that this is very case sensitive and depends on the ways in which earnings management and investor protection are actually measured. In addition, we establish that CSR shows positive interaction with investor protection. We conclude that in Asian countries CSR moderates firms’ earnings management and that this is conditioned by the legal system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
An alternative methodology for designing tuned mass dampers to reduce seismic vibrations in building structures
Authors: Moutinho Carlos
Published: March 2012

It is well established that small tuned mass dampers (TMDs) attached to structures are very effective in reducing excessive harmonic vibrations induced by external loads but are not as interesting within the context of earthquake engineering problems. For this reason, large mass ratio TMDs have been proposed with the objective of adding a significant amount of damping to structures, thus constituting a good means of reducing structural response in these cases. This solution has other important and attractive dynamic features such as robustness to system uncertainties and reduction of the motion of the inertial mass. In this context, this paper aims to describe an alternative methodology to existing procedures used to tune these devices to earthquake loads and to present some additional considerations regarding its performance in controlling seismic vibrations. The main feature of the proposed method consists of establishing a direct proportion between the damping ratios of the structure's first two vibration modes and the adopted mass ratio. By equalizing the damping ratios of the system's main vibration modes, this proposal also facilitates the use of simplified methods, such as modal analysis based on response spectra. To demonstrate the usefulness of this alternative methodology, an application example is presented, which was also used to perform a parametric study involving other tuning methods and to estimate mass ratio values from which there is no significant advantage in increasing the TMD mass. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genomic profiling by whole‐genome single nucleotide polymorphism arrays in Wilms tumor and association with relapse
Authors: Perotti Daniela , Spreafico Filippo , Torri Federica , Gamba Beatrice , D'Adamo Pio , Pizzamiglio Sara , Terenziani Monica , Catania Serena , Collini Paola , Nantron Marilina , Pession Andrea , Bianchi Maurizio , Indolfi Paolo , D'Angelo Paolo , Fossati‐Bellani Franca , Verderio Paolo , Macciardi Fabio , Radice Paolo ,   on behalf of the Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica Wilms Tumor Working Group
Published: March 2012

Despite the excellent survival rate of Wilms tumor (WT) patients, only approximately one‐half of children who suffer tumor recurrence reach second durable remission. This underlines the need for novel markers to optimize initial treatment. We investigated 77 tumors using Illumina 370CNV‐QUAD genotyping BeadChip arrays and compared their genomic profiles to detect copy number (CN) abnormalities and allelic ratio anomalies associated with the following clinicopathological variables: relapse (yes vs. no), age at diagnosis (≤24 months vs. >24 months), and disease stage (low stage, I and II, vs. high stage, III and IV). We found that CN gains at chromosome region 1q21.1‐q31.3 were significantly associated with relapse. Additional genetic events, including allelic imbalances at chromosome arms 1p, 1q, 3p, 3q, and 14q were also found to occur at higher frequency in relapsing tumors. Interestingly, allelic imbalances at 1p and 14q also showed a borderline association with higher tumor stages. No genetic events were found to be associated with age at diagnosis. This is the first genome wide analysis with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays specifically investigating the role of genetic anomalies in predicting WT relapse on cases prospectively enrolled in the same clinical trial. Our study, besides confirming the role of 1q gains, identified a number of additional candidate genetic markers, warranting further molecular investigations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The dynamics of natural pipe hydrological behaviour in blanket peat
Authors: Smart R. P. , Holden J. , Dinsmore K. J. , Baird A. J. , Billett M. F. , Chapman P. J. , Grayson R.
Published: March 2012

Natural soil pipes are found in peatlands, but little is known about their hydrological role. This paper presents the most complete set of pipe discharge data to date from a deep blanket peatland in Northern England. In a 17.4‐ha catchment, we identified 24 perennially flowing and 60 ephemerally flowing pipe outlets. Eight pipe outlets along with the catchment outlet were continuously gauged over an 18‐month period. The pipes in the catchment were estimated to produce around 13.7% of annual streamflow, with individual pipes often producing large peak flows (maximum peak of 3.8 l s−1). Almost all pipes, whether ephemerally or perennially flowing, shallow or deep (outlets > 1 m below the peat surface), showed increased discharge within a mean of 3 h after rainfall commencement and were dominated by stormflow, indicating good connectivity between the peatland surface and the pipes. However, almost all pipes had a longer period between the hydrograph peak and the return to base flow compared with the stream (mean of 23.9 h for pipes, 19.7 h for stream). As a result, the proportion of streamflow produced by the pipes at any given time increased at low flows and formed the most important component of stream discharge for the lowest 10% of flows. Thus, a small number of perennially flowing pipes became more important to the stream system under low‐flow conditions and probably received water via matrix flow during periods between storms. Given the importance of pipes to streamflow in blanket peatlands, further research is required into their wider role in influencing stream water chemistry, water temperature and fluvial carbon fluxes, as well as their role in altering local hydrochemical cycling within the peat mass itself. Enhanced piping within peatlands caused by environmental change may lead to changes in the streamflow regime with larger low flows and more prolonged drainage of the peat. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of snow water equivalent over the eastern part of Turkey using passive microwave data
Authors: Sorman A. Unal , Beser Ozgur
Published: March 2012

Information on regional snow water equivalent (SWE) is required for the management of water generated from snowmelt. Modeling of SWE in the mountainous regions of eastern Turkey, one of the major headwaters of Euphrates–Tigris basin, has significant importance in forecasting snowmelt discharge, especially for optimum water usage. An assimilation process to produce daily SWE maps is developed based on Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) model and AMSR‐E passive microwave data. The characteristics of the HUT emission model are analyzed in depth and discussed with respect to the extinction coefficient function. A new extinction coefficient function for the HUT model is proposed to suit models for snow over mountainous areas. Performance of the modified model is checked against the original, other modified cases and ground truth data covering the 2003–2007 winter periods. A new approach to calculate grain size and density is integrated inside the developed data assimilation process. An extensive validation was successfully performed by means of snow data measured at ground stations during the 2008–2010 winter periods. The root mean square error of the data set for snow depth and SWE between January and March of the 2008–2010 periods compared with the respective AMSR‐E footprints indicated that errors for estimated snow depth and predicted SWE values were 16.92 cm and 40.91 mm, respectively, for the 3‐year period. Validation results were less satisfactory for SWE less than 75.0 mm and greater than 150.0 mm. An underestimation for SWE greater than 150 mm could not be resolved owing to the microwave signal saturation that is observed for dense snowpack. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reservoir storage for managing floods in urban areas: a case study of Dzorwulu basin in Accra
Authors: Owusu P. A. , Odai S. N. , Annor F. O. , Adjei K. A.
Published: March 2012

The study simulated the effect of using reservoir storage for reducing flood peaks and volumes in urban areas with the Dzorwulu basin in Accra, Ghana as case study. A triangulated irregular network surface of the floodplain was created using ArcGIS from ESRI by integrating digital elevation model and the map of the study area. The weighted curve number for the basin was obtained from the land use and soil type shape files using ArcGIS. The Soil Conservation Service curve number unit hydrograph procedure was used to obtain an inflow hydrograph based on the highest rainfall recorded in recent history (3–4 June 1995) in the study area and then routed through an existing reservoir to assess the impact of the reservoir on potential flood peak attenuation. The results from the analysis indicate that a total of 13.09 × 106 m3 of flood water was generated during this 10‐h rainstorm, inundating a total area of 6.89 km2 with a depth of 4.95 m at the deepest section of the basin stream. The routing results showed that the reservoir has capacity to store 34.52% of the flood hydrograph leading to 45% reduction in flood peak and subsequently 38.5% reduction in flood inundation depth downstream of the reservoir. From results of the study, the reservoir storage concept looks promising for urban flood management in Ghana, especially in communities that are over‐urbanized downstream but have some space upstream for creating the storage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Porous scaffold architecture guides tissue formation
Authors: Cipitria Amaia , Lange Claudia , Schell Hanna , Wagermaier Wolfgang , Reichert Johannes C , Hutmacher Dietmar W , Fratzl Peter , Duda Georg N
Published: March 2012

Critical-sized bone defect regeneration is a remaining clinical concern. Numerous scaffold-based strategies are currently being investigated to enable in vivo bone defect healing. However, a deeper understanding of how a scaffold influences the tissue formation process and how this compares to endogenous bone formation or to regular fracture healing is missing. It is hypothesized that the porous scaffold architecture can serve as a guiding substrate to enable the formation of a structured fibrous network as a prerequirement for later bone formation. An ovine, tibial, 30-mm critical-sized defect is used as a model system to better understand the effect of the scaffold architecture on cell organization, fibrous tissue, and mineralized tissue formation mechanisms in vivo. Tissue regeneration patterns within two geometrically distinct macroscopic regions of a specific scaffold design, the scaffold wall and the endosteal cavity, are compared with tissue formation in an empty defect (negative control) and with cortical bone (positive control). Histology, backscattered electron imaging, scanning small-angle X-ray scattering, and nanoindentation are used to assess the morphology of fibrous and mineralized tissue, to measure the average mineral particle thickness and the degree of alignment, and to map the local elastic indentation modulus. The scaffold proves to function as a guiding substrate to the tissue formation process. It enables the arrangement of a structured fibrous tissue across the entire defect, which acts as a secondary supporting network for cells. Mineralization can then initiate along the fibrous network, resulting in bone ingrowth into a critical-sized defect, although not in complete bridging of the defect. The fibrous network morphology, which in turn is guided by the scaffold architecture, influences the microstructure of the newly formed bone. These results allow a deeper understanding of the mode of mineral tissue formation and the way this is influenced by the scaffold architecture. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Characterization of a high‐affinity human antibody with a disulfide bridge in the third complementarity‐determining region of the heavy chain
Authors: Almagro Juan Carlos , Raghunathan Gopalan , Beil Eric , Janecki Dariusz J. , Chen Qiang , Dinh Thai , LaCombe Ann , Connor Judy , Ware Mark , Kim Paul H. , Swanson Ronald V. , Fransson Johan
Published: March 2012

Disulfide bridges are common in the antigen‐binding site from sharks (new antigen receptor) and camels (single variable heavy‐chain domain, VHH), in which they confer both structural diversity and domain stability. In human antibodies, cysteine residues in the third complementarity‐determining region of the heavy chain (CDR‐H3) are rare but naturally encoded in the IGHD germline genes. Here, by panning a phage display library designed based on human germline genes and synthetic CDR‐H3 regions against a human cytokine, we identified an antibody (M3) containing two cysteine residues in the CDR‐H3. It binds the cytokine with high affinity (0.4 nm), recognizes a unique epitope on the antigen, and has a distinct neutralization profile as compared with all other antibodies selected from the library. The two cysteine residues form a disulfide bridge as determined by mass spectrometric peptide mapping. Replacing the cysteines with alanines did not change the solubility and stability of the monoclonal antibody, but binding to the antigen was significantly impaired. Three‐dimensional modeling and dynamic simulations were employed to explore how the disulfide bridge influences the conformation of CDR‐H3 and binding to the antigen. On the basis of these results, we envision that designing human combinatorial antibody libraries to contain intra‐CDR or inter‐CDR disulfide bridges could lead to identification of human antibodies with unique binding profiles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probing the solution structure of tumor necrosis factor‐α homotrimer and heterotrimer after complex perturbation using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Beil Eric J. , Heavner George A. , Wu Sheng‐Jiun , Nemeth Jennifer F.
Published: March 2012

There are a number of proteins whose active forms are non‐covalent multichain complexes. Therapeutic intervention involving such complexes has been proposed through the use of muteins to form heterostructures. These resulting structures would either not be recognized by receptors or would be inactive competitive inhibitors to wild‐type (wt) proteins. We have used tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) to establish that it is possible to use mass spectrometry to monitor the non‐covalent solution structure of therapeutically relevant proteins and correlate the results with binding data. Mass spectrometry is shown to be able to directly monitor the state of the solution complexes to within 5 Da errors mass accuracy of theoretical mass at 50 kDa, as well as to resolve homocomplex from heterocomplex. Furthermore, it was determined that perturbation of the TNF‐α complex, at or below pH 4.0, results in monomers that cannot reform into the multimeric complex, and the resulting protein solution can no longer bind to an anti‐TNF‐α antibody. Dissociation and re‐association of the trimer was possible with the use of dimethyl sulfoxide at pH 5.5 and allowed for the resulting detection of both homotrimer and heterotrimer in solution with no impact on antibody binding. This work demonstrates that mass spectrometric techniques offer a means to monitor native solution interactions of non‐covalent complexes and to differentiate multiple complexes from each other in solution. This method has applicability in the biopharmaceutical arena for monitoring engineering non‐covalent drug complexes for the purpose of altering biological activity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The dimerization of glucagon‐like peptide‐2 MIMETIBODY™ is linked to leucine‐17 in the glucagon‐like peptide‐2 region
Authors: Baker Audrey E. , Sague Sarah , Grygiel Tami L. R. , Schmidt Albert , Rogers Alison , Jiang Haiyan , Kruszynski Marian , Nesspor Tom
Published: March 2012

Glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2) is a member of the glucagon multigene family that is produced by intestinal enteroendocrine cells in response to food intake. GLP‐2 stimulates growth of the intestinal epithelium, enhances its barrier functions, and increases nutrient uptake. Therefore, a GLP‐2 agonist may be efficacious in human diseases characterized by malabsorption or injury to the gastrointestinal epithelium. MIMETIBODY™ refers to a proprietary scaffold developed to extend the half‐life of rapidly cleared peptides. It consists of a peptide linked to a scaffold that contains sequence elements from a human immunoglobulin G including those that allow recycling through the FcRn. The GLP‐2 sequence was engineered into the MIMETIBODY™ scaffold. The primary state of both GLP‐2 and the GLP‐2 MIMETIBODY™ in DPBS was a noncovalently associated dimer indicative of self‐interaction. The increased heterogeneity and the decreased lot‐to‐lot reproducibility caused by the self‐interaction of therapeutic proteins are a challenge to drug development. A similar protein, GLP‐1 MIMETIBODY™, contains the related GLP‐1 peptide and does not form a dimer under similar conditions. Therefore, to minimize or abrogate dimerization, several variants were made by substituting GLP‐2 amino acids with the corresponding amino acids from GLP‐1. Molecular weight and secondary structure analyses reveal that substituting leucine for glutamine at position 17 (L17Q) reduces dimerization and α‐helix content yet retains bioactivity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Avidity confers FcγR binding and immune effector function to aglycosylated immunoglobulin G1
Authors: Nesspor Thomas C. , Raju T. Shantha , Chin Chen ‐Ni , Vafa Omid , Brezski Randall J.
Published: March 2012

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are an integral part of the adaptive immune response that provide a direct link between humoral and cellular components of the immune system. Insights into relationships between the structure and function of human IgGs have prompted molecular engineering efforts to enhance or eliminate specific properties, such as Fc‐mediated immune effector functions. Human IgGs have an N‐glycosylation site at Asn297, located in the second heavy chain constant region (CH2). The composition of the Fc glycan can have substantial impacts on Fc gamma receptor(FcγR) binding. The removal of the glycan through enzymatic deglycosylation or mutagenesis of the N‐linked glycosylation site has been reported to “silence” FcγR‐binding and effector functions, particularly with assays that measure monomeric binding. However, interactions between IgGs and FcγRs are not limited to monomeric interactions but can be influenced by avidity, which takes into account the sum of multimeric interactions between antigen‐engaged IgGs and FcγRs. We show here that under in vitro conditions, which allowed avidity binding, aglycosylated IgGs can bind to one of the FcγRs, FcγRI, and mediate effector functions. These studies highlight how the valency of a molecular interaction (monomeric binding versus avidity binding) can influence antibody/FcγR interactions such that avidity effects can translate very low intrinsic affinities into significant functional outcomes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antigen‐binding site anatomy and somatic mutations in antibodies that recognize different types of antigens
Authors: Raghunathan Gopalan , Smart Jason , Williams Joseph , Almagro Juan Carlos
Published: March 2012

The number of antibody structures co‐crystallized with their respective antigens has increased rapidly in the last few years, thus offering a formidable source of information to gain insight into the structure–function relationships of this family of proteins. We have analyzed here 140 unique middle‐resolution to high‐resolution (<3 Å) antibody structures, including 55 in complex with proteins, 39 with peptides, and 46 with haptens. We determined (i) length variations of the hypervariable loops, (ii) number of contacts with antigen, (iii) solvent accessible area buried upon binding, (iv) location and frequency of antigen contacting residues, (v) type of residues interacting with antigens, and (vi) putative somatic mutations. Except for somatic mutations, distinctive profiles were identified for all the variables analyzed. Compared with contacts, somatic mutations occurred with less abundance at any given position and extended beyond the regions in contact, with no clear difference among antibodies that recognize different types of antigens. This observation is consistent with the fact that although antigen recognition accomplished by shape and physicochemical complementarity is selective in nature, the somatic mutation process is stochastic and selection for mutations leading to improved affinity is not directly related to contact residues. Thus, the knowledge emerging from this study enhances our understanding of the structure–function relationship in antibodies while providing valuable guidance to design libraries for antibody discovery and optimization. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drivers of freelance career success
Authors: van den Born Arjan , van Witteloostuijn Arjen
Published: March 2012

Recent evidence shows that the frequently proclaimed collapse of the traditional career model is actually not supported by job tenure data. This paper argues that the observed stability of job tenure might be explained by an increasing number of shamrock organizations. This organizational form has three types of workers: core employees, professional freelancers, and routine workers. In such an organization, two very different career models coexist. The organization largely determines the career of the core employee, whereas the individual essentially shapes that of the professional freelancer. This paper studies extensively the career of this second group: the professional freelancer, a growing phenomenon in many developed countries but not yet the focus of many career studies. We develop a freelance career success model on basis of the intelligent career framework augmented by insights from literature on entrepreneurship. Data are from a web survey with responses from about 1600 independent professionals in the Netherlands, in combination with 51 in‐depth interviews. We provide two main contributions. First, we report findings from the first large‐scale quantitative study into freelance career success. Second, this study enhances our understanding of the success of the modern career by building bridges between career and entrepreneurship literatures. We conclude that the external environment in which an individual freelancer operates is the most important factor determining career success. The study therefore suggests that more work needs to be performed on the relationship between the environment and individual career success. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Creep behaviour of a casting titanium carbide reinforced AlSi12CuNiMg piston alloy at elevated temperatures
Authors: Zak H. , Michel S. , Tonn B. , Scholz A.
Published: March 2012

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird das Kriechverhalten der dispersionsverstärkten Legierung AlSi12CuNiMg bei 350°C untersucht und mit der konventionellen Kolbenlegierung AlSi12Cu4Ni2MgTiZr verglichen. Die dispersionsverstärkte Legierung zeichnet sich gegenüber der Legierung AlSi12Cu4Ni2MgTiZr durch einen geringeren Kupfer‐ und Nickelgehalt aus und wird in einem kostengünstigen schmelzmetallurgischen Verfahren durch Zugabe der TiC‐haltigen Vorlegierung zur Aluminiumschmelze hergestellt. Es zeigt sich, dass die neu entwickelte Kolbenlegierung über die gleiche Kriech‐ und Zeitstandfestigkeit wie die konventionelle Legierung AlSi12Cu4Ni2MgTiZr verfügt.
Atypical venous glomangioma causing chronic compression of the radial sensory nerve in the forearm. A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Jiga Lucian P. , Rata Andreea , Ignatiadis Ioannis , Geishauser Max , Ionac Mihai
Published: March 2012

Extrinsic chronic nerve compression induced by nonendothelium derived vascular tumors is a rare occurrence at the forearm level. We present a case of severe chronic compression of the radial sensory nerve (RSN) caused by an undiagnosed venous glomangioma. The tumor was excised with complete symptoms relief. In the presence of severe nerve compression syndromes in young age, without predisposing comorbidities, atypical extrinsic compression due to vascular tumors should be considered. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
A shape‐free 8‐node plane element unsymmetric analytical trial function method
Authors: Cen Song , Zhou Guo‐Hua , Fu Xiang‐Rong
Published: March 2012

The unsymmetric FEM is one of the effective techniques for developing finite element models immune to various mesh distortions. However, because of the inherent limitation of the metric shape functions, the resulting element models exhibit rotational frame dependence and interpolation failure under certain conditions. In this paper, by introducing the analytical trial function method used in the hybrid stress‐function element method, an effort was made to naturally eliminate these defects and improve accuracy. The key point of the new strategy is that the monomial terms (the trial functions) in the assumed metric displacement fields are replaced by the fundamental analytical solutions of plane problems. Furthermore, some rational conditions are imposed on the trial functions so that the assumed displacement fields possess fourth‐order completeness in Cartesian coordinates. The resulting element model, denoted by US‐ATFQ8, can still work well when interpolation failure modes for original unsymmetric element occur, and provide the invariance for the coordinate rotation. Numerical results show that the exact solutions for constant strain/stress, pure bending and linear bending problems can be obtained by the new element US‐ATFQ8 using arbitrary severely distorted meshes, and produce more accurate results for other more complicated problems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.