bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of ultrasonic dispersion in dilute polysaccharide solution
Authors: Chen Didi , Liu Min , Chen Sha , Guo Pei , Huang Xueying , Lian Mengting , Cao Yu , Qi Chao , Sun Renqiang
Published: May 2014

In order to evaluate the relationship between dispersion and ultrasonic time, dynamic light scattering experiment was carried out on both 0.20 g/L xyloglucan solution and 0.20 g/L β‐galactosidase‐degraded xyloglucan solution with different time intervals. Data showed that the variation trends of particle size in xyloglucan and enzyme‐degraded xyloglucan solution were similar: decreased first and then increased with the incremental time. Thus, there should be an optimum time interval during which the smallest particle size can be obtained if experimental conditions were excluded in theoretically. In addition, the optimum time interval varies in different polysaccharides since it may be associated with molecular conformation, based on the results of our work. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40973.
Australian–Indonesian Live Cattle Trade—What Future?
Authors: Trewin Ray
Published: May 2014

Australian live cattle exports were a growing $1 billion trade from northern Australia to Indonesia for finishing and slaughter for Indonesian consumers. This all changed in recent years with the trade being disrupted by a series of constraints which have shrunk the trade and raised uncertainty. Will it ever get back on trend or continue to shrink and disappear? Greater integration between Australia's live cattle trade and Indonesia's cattle feeding and processing industries through investment and technological transfer offers the potential of not only better meeting Indonesia's beef security but also strong processed meat opportunities in rich neighbours to the benefit of both countries. A continuation of the recent volatile and uncertain trade will be detrimental to both countries, with Indonesia losing a food‐secure, reliable livestock supply to which value was added, and Australia a significant industry for one more dependent on costlier markets.
Generation of aminoterminally truncated, stable types of bioactive bovine and porcine fibroblast growth factor 4 in Escherichia coli
Authors: Sugawara Saiko , Ito Toshihiko , Sato Shiori , Sato Yuki , Sasaki Akira , Fukuda Tomokazu , Yamanaka Ken‐ichi , Sakatani Miki , Takahashi Masashi , Kobayashi Masayuki
Published: May 2014

Fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) is a crucial growth factor for the development of mammalian embryos. We previously produced hexahistidine‐tagged, bovine and porcine FGF4 (Pro32 to Leu206) proteins without a secretory signal peptide at the aminoterminus in Escherichia coli. Here, we found that these were unstable; site‐specific cleavage between Ser54 and Leu55 in both FGF4 derivatives was identified. In order to generate stable FGF4 derivatives and to investigate their biological activities, aminoterminally truncated and hexahistidine‐tagged bovine and porcine FGF4 (Leu55 to Leu206) proteins, termed HisbFGF4L and HispFGF4L, respectively, were produced in E. coli. These FGF4 derivatives were sufficiently stable and exerted mitogenic activities in fibroblasts. Treatment with the FGF4 derivatives promoted the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which are crucial kinases in the FGF signaling pathway. In the presence of PD173074, an FGF receptor inhibitor, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was inhibited and resulted in abolition of the growth‐promoting activity of FGF4 derivatives. Taken together, we demonstrate that HisbFGF4L and HispFGF4L are capable of promoting the proliferation of bovine‐ and porcine‐derived cells, respectively, via an authentic FGF signaling pathway. These FGF4 derivatives may be applicable for dissecting the roles of FGF4 during embryogenesis in cattle and pigs.
Constrained kernelized partial least squares
Authors: Salari Sharif Siamak , Reilly James P. , MacGregor John F.
Published: May 2014

Nonlinear kernel methods have been widely used to deal with nonlinear problems in latent variable methods. However, in the presence of structured noise, these methods have reduced efficacy. We have previously introduced constrained latent variable methods that make use of any available additional knowledge about the structured noise. These methods improve performance by introducing additional constraints into the algorithm. In this paper, we build upon our previous work and introduce hard‐constrained and soft‐constrained nonlinear partial least squares methods using nonlinear kernels. The addition of nonlinear kernels reduces the effects of structured noise in nonlinear spaces and improves the regression performance between the input and response variables. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Parameter Estimation for the Flowsheet Simulation of Solids Processes
Authors: Dosta Maksym , Antonyuk Sergiy , Hartge Ernst‐Ulrich , Heinrich Stefan
Published: May 2014

Flowsheet modeling of processes with liquid, vapor, and solid phases is a very challenging task, since the description of granular materials is complicated by their disparity. On the other hand, the functional models of different apparatuses often contain a large set of empirical parameters which strongly depend on material properties and apparatus geometry. In this contribution the main problems related to the flowsheet simulation of solids processes are discussed and the usage of additional scales in the process description is proposed to estimate model parameters.
Correlation of CD4 counts with the FNAC patterns of tubercular lymphadenitis in patients with HIV: A cross sectional pilot study
Authors: Rao Joseph Sushil , Kumari S Jaya , Kini Usha
Published: May 2014

Background

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of TB lymphadenitis (TBL) in HIV shows four different patterns, which may be reflective of immune status. We hypothesize that the CD4 counts, a marker of immunologic status, correlates with FNAC morphology of TBL. This study was undertaken to compare the mean CD4 counts across the different cytology patterns and to correlate the CD4 counts with FNAC patterns in these patients.

Methods

Forty newly diagnosed HIV patients with TBL on FNAC (10 in each pattern) were selected by convenient sampling based on inclusion exclusion criteria. The CD4 counts were obtained in these patients. Its correlation with different FNAC patterns was assessed using SPSS version 16.

Results

Analysis of covariance showed significant difference in the mean CD4 counts between all the four patterns [F (374), df (3), P‐value = 0.000]. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significant correlation of CD4 counts with the FNAC patterns (correlation coefficient of 0.967; P‐value of 0.01) with pattern 1 having low CD4 counts and pattern 4 having high CD4 counts.

Conclusion

CD4 counts show significant correlation with FNAC patterns of TBL in HIV patients. Pattern 1, suggestive of poor immunological response (chiefly necrosis, occasional ill defined granuloma, AFB 3+) had low CD4 counts, while pattern 4, suggestive of good immunological response (well defined granuloma, no necrosis and AFB 1+), had high CD4 counts. Thus FNAC patterns may be used to predict the CD4 counts in HIV patients where CD4 facilities are not available or vice versa. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:16–20. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of Water‐Dispersible Boron Nitride Nanoparticles
Authors: Xiong Chengjia , Tu Weixia
Published: May 2014

Spherical boron nitride nanoparticles with good aqueous dispersibility were synthesized by means of a direct reaction of boric acid and ammonium chloride. The X‐ray powder diffraction pattern confirmed the hexagonal BN structure (h‐BN) with d002 = 3.33 Å. Copper oxide (CuO) was found to affect the morphology and surface properties of the BN nanoparticles. The average size of the spherical h‐BN nanoparticles synthesized with the addition of CuO was about 30 nm. The h‐BN had a high surface area of 75 m2 g–1 and a mesoporous volume of 0.32 cm3 g–1. The presence of CuO during the synthesis could enhance the surface electronegativity of the h‐BN nanoparticles and change their isoelectric point to pH = 2.7. The zeta potentials of BN were between –30 and –50 mV in the pH range of 4–10. The h‐BN nanoparticles were well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution.
The VF rat with abnormal myelinogenesis has a mutation in Dopey1
Authors: Tanaka Miyuu , Izawa Takeshi , Yamate Jyoji , Franklin Robin J. M. , Kuramoto Takashi , Serikawa Tadao , Kuwamura Mitsuru
Published: May 2014

The vacuole formation (VF) rat is an autosomal recessive myelin mutant characterized by generalized tremor, hypomyelination, and periaxonal vacuole formation of the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we report the most likely causative gene for neurological disease in the VF rat and pursue its roles in the development and maintenance of the CNS myelin. We identified a nonsense mutation in the dopey family member 1 (Dopey1) located on rat chromosome 8. Expression level of Dopey1 mRNA was decreased and DOPEY1 protein was undetectable both in the white and gray matter of the spinal cords in the VF rats. Double immunohistochemistry demonstrated that DOPEY1 was mainly expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes in the wild‐type rats, whereas no positive cells were detected in the VF rats. We also demonstrated a marked reduction in myelin components both at mRNA and protein levels during myelinogenesis in the VF rats. In addition, proteolipid protein and myelin‐associated glycoprotein accumulated in oligodendrocyte cell body, suggesting that Dopey1 is likely to be involved in the traffic of myelin components. Our results highlighted the importance of Dopey1 for the development and maintenance of the CNS myelin. GLIA 2014;62:1530–1542
Assessment of whole brain white matter integrity in youths and young adults with a family history of substance‐use disorders
Authors: Acheson Ashley , Wijtenburg S. Andrea , Rowland Laura M. , Winkler Anderson M. , Gaston Frank , Mathias Charles W. , Fox Peter T. , Lovallo William R. , Wright Susan N. , Hong L. Elliot , Dougherty Donald M. , Kochunov Peter
Published: May 2014

Individuals with a family history of substance use disorders (FH+) are at a greater risk of developing substance use disorders than their peers with no such family histories (FH−) and this vulnerability is proportional to the number of affected relatives (FH density). The risk for developing substance use disorders peaks during adolescence to early adulthood in the general population, and that is thought to be related to delayed maturation of frontocortical and frontostriatal functional circuits. We hypothesized that FH+ youth and young adults have impaired myelination of frontocortical and frontostriatal white matter tracts. We examined fractional anisotropy (FA) data in 80 FH+ and 34 FH− youths (12.9 ± 1.0 years) and in 25 FH+ and 30 FH− young adults (24.3 ± 3.4 years). FH+ youths had lower FA values in both frontocortical and frontostriatal tracts as well as parietocortical tracts including the anterior, superior and posterior corona radiata and the superior frontal‐occipital fasciculus. Moreover, FA values in these tracts were negatively correlated with FH density. FH+ adults had lower FA values in two frontocortical tracts: the genu of the corpus callosum and anterior corona radiata and also significant negative correlations between FA and FH density in these same tracts. In both groups, lower FA values corresponded to higher radial diffusivity suggesting reduced axonal myelination. We interpreted our findings as evidence for impaired myelination of frontal white matter that was proportional to FH density. Our data suggest that deficits may partially resolve with age, paralleling an age‐related decline in risk for developing substance use disorders. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5401–5413, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Modelled and satellite‐derived surface albedo of lake ice – Part I: evaluation of the albedo parameterization scheme of the Canadian Lake Ice Model
Authors: Svacina N. A. , Duguay C. R. , Brown L. C.
Published: May 2014

Accurate simulations of freshwater lake ice are integral for the study of climatic variability in northern environments. Surface albedo, a component often parameterized in lake ice models, has been shown to affect the timing of ice break‐up during the melt season. In situ snow and ice albedo measurements were taken over a partially snow‐covered freshwater lake near Churchill, Manitoba for the evaluation of the albedo parameterization of the Canadian Lake Ice Model (CLIMo) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) albedo products (MOD10A1/MYD10A1 and MCD43A3). The albedo simulations using CLIMo were performed with and without snow integrated into the model and evaluated against in situ albedo measurements recorded over clear ice, snow ice and snow‐covered ice. The simulated snow albedo from CLIMo for the entire ice growth season evaluated against snow albedo observations had a root mean square error of 0.07, a mean absolute error of 0.06, and a mean bias error (MBE) of −0.01. With snow removed from CLIMo, the albedo parameterization overestimated albedo values measured in the field over snow‐free clear ice and snow ice with MBE values of 0.13 and 0.10, respectively. These findings suggest that CLIMo's bare ice albedo parameterization needs to be revised to account for albedo differences between ice types.

The evaluation of the MODIS albedo products with in situ snow and ice albedo observations and the comparison of these satellite products with CLIMo's albedo parameterization during the melt period, when in situ radiation measurement stations needed to be removed from the lake‐ice surface, are addressed in paper Part II (this issue). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelled and satellite‐derived surface albedo of lake ice – part II: evaluation of MODIS albedo products
Authors: Svacina N. A. , Duguay C. R. , King J. M. L.
Published: May 2014

Albedo products (MOD10A1, MYD10A1, and MCD43A3) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) have the potential to be integrated directly into lake ice models such as the Canadian lake ice model (CLIMo) to improve the simulation of freshwater break‐up (ice‐off). The high albedo of snow and lake ice has been shown to affect the timing of break‐up. Therefore, the surface energy balance parameterization of CLIMo requires accurate estimates of albedo when modelling phenology. MOD10A1, MYD10A1, and MCD43A3 were evaluated against in situ snow and ice albedo observations taken over a partially snow‐covered freshwater lake (Malcolm Ramsay Lake) near Churchill, Manitoba, during the ice growth period (15 February 2012 to 25 April 2012). The MODIS albedo products were then compared with the CLIMo's albedo parameterization during the ice break‐up period.

The MODIS albedo products MOD10A1, MYD10A1, and MCD43A3 retrieved snow and ice albedo with root mean square error values of 0.07, 0.08, and 0.06, respectively, compared with spatially averaged in situ albedo measurements during ice growth. MODIS albedo products compared with CLIMo's melting ice parameterization during the melt season indicate that CLIMo's albedo estimates have a mean difference of at least 0.14 compared with the MODIS retrievals during melt. The quality of the albedo retrievals over lake ice from MODIS and the need for more accurate albedo simulations during the melt season suggest that the assimilation of MODIS albedo products into CLIMo could be beneficial for the determination of break‐up (ice‐off) dates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of postcranial ossification and sequence heterochrony in bats: Life histories and developmental trade‐offs
Authors: Koyabu Daisuke , Son Nguyen Truong
Published: May 2014

The recently increased interest in studies on sequence heterochrony has uncovered developmental variation between species. However, how changes in developmental program are related to shifts in life‐history parameters remains largely unsolved. Here we provide the most comprehensive data to date on postcranial ossification sequence of bats and compare them to various boreoeutherian mammals with different locomotive modes. Given that bats are equipped with an elongated manus, we expected to detect characteristic heterochronies particularly related to wing development. Although heterochronies related to wing development were confirmed as predicted, unexpected heterochronies regarding the pedal digits were also found. The timing of ossification onset of pedal phalanges is earlier than other mammals. Particularly, bats deviate from others in that pedal phalanges initiate ossification earlier than manual phalanges. It is known that the foot size of new born bats is close to that of adults, and that it takes several weeks to month until the wing is developed for flight. Given that the foot is required to be firm and stable enough at the time of birth to allow continued attachment to the mother and/or cave walls, we suggest that the accelerated development of the hind foot is linked to their unique life history. Since the forelimb is not mature enough for flight at birth and requires extended postnatal time to be large enough to be fully functional, we postulate that bats invest in earlier development of the hindlimb. We conclud that energy allocation trade‐offs can play a significant role in shaping the evolution of development. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 322B: 607–618, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Methoxypyrazine composition of Coccinellidae‐tainted Riesling and Pinot noir wine from Germany
Authors: Kögel Susanne , Botezatu Andreea , Hoffmann Christoph , Pickering Gary
Published: May 2014

BACKGROUND

Harmonia axyridis (multicolored Asian ladybeetle) and Coccinella septempunctata (seven‐spot ladybeetle) (Coccinellidae) are found in many wine regions in Europe and the Americas, where they are responsible for a pronounced wine fault known as ‘ladybug taint’ when incorporated with grapes during harvest operations. Methoxypyrazines have been proposed in the literature as the compounds responsible for the taint. This study sought to expand on this identification and also determine the effectiveness of heating Coccinellidae‐affected grape must prior to fermentation as a possible remedial intervention. Riesling and Pinot noir grapes were infested with H. axyridis or C. septempunctata at different densities and fermented to dryness. The Pinot noir was either must heated prior to fermentation or processed without heating (control). All wines were analyzed for 2‐isopropyl‐, 2‐sec‐butyl‐, 2‐isobutyl‐ and 2,5‐dimethyl‐3‐methoxypyrazine using headspace solid phase microextraction/multidimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Concentrations of 2‐isopropyl‐3‐methoxypyrazine increased with beetle density for both Coccinellidae species, while other methoxypyrazines showed inconsistent or no variation with infestations levels. Heating of Pinot noir grapes prior to fermentation resulted in a moderate decrease in all methoxypyrazines.

CONCLUSION

These results provide direction for more targeted treatments aimed at remediating musts/wines affected by Coccinellidae and indicate that winegrowers do not need to differentiate between H. axyridis and C. septempunctata when making action threshold decisions in the vineyard or winery. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Investigating the interaction of sunset yellow aggregates and 6‐fluoro‐2‐naphthoic acid: increasing probe molecule complexity
Authors: Katz Jonathan R. , Day Iain J.
Published: May 2014

The interaction of small molecules with non‐covalent assemblies is of wide interest. The use of a magnetically active reporter nucleus allows information to be obtained in the presence of spectral overlap or in cases of high dynamic range. In this paper, we explore the interaction of a larger probe molecule, 6‐fluoro‐2‐naphthoic acid with assemblies of sunset yellow using 19F chemical shifts and diffusion NMR methods. Comparing the observations with previous studies using fluorophenols, 6‐fluoro‐2‐naphthoic acid prefers to associate as clusters at the ends of the sunset yellow stacks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability analysis of tunnels driven in jointed rocks by means of a homogenized limit analysis approach
Authors: Maghous Samir , Winiawer José E. B. , Pasa Dutra Vanessa F.
Published: May 2014

Conceived as a potential alternative to the classical design methods employed for analyzing the stability of underground structures driven in jointed rocks, the homogenization approach stems from the heuristic idea that, from a macroscopic point of view, a rock mass cut by a network of joints may be perceived as a homogenized continuum. The strength properties of the latter can be theoretically obtained from the failure conditions of its individual constituents: rock matrix and joint interfaces.

At the material level, the limit analysis reasoning is used in the context of homogenization to formulate the homogenized strength criterion of a jointed rock mass in the particular situation of a single set of parallel joints. As it could be expected, the obtained closed‐form expressions show the strength anisotropy induced by joint preferential orientation. The support functions (π functions) associated with the homogenized strength criterion are also determined in both plane strain and three‐dimensional cases. This criterion is then applied to the investigation of stability analysis of a tunnel excavated in a jointed rock mass. Upper bounds estimated of the stability factor are derived from the implementation of the kinematic approach directly on the homogenized underground structure. Finally, the approach is applied to analyze and discuss the collapse of the Pinheiros subway station (São Paulo, Brazil). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Second‐trimester prediction of delivery of a small‐for‐gestational‐age neonate: integrating sequential Doppler information, fetal biometry, and maternal characteristics
Authors: Seravalli Viola , Block‐Abraham Dana M. , Turan Ozhan M. , Doyle Lauren E. , Blitzer Miriam G. , Baschat Ahmet A.
Published: May 2014

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive accuracy of second‐trimester ultrasound parameters, maternal characteristics, and sequential Doppler changes between first and second trimesters for the prediction of small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) infants (birth weight < 10th percentile).

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of singleton pregnancies enrolled in the first trimester with subsequent second‐trimester follow‐up. Maternal characteristics, uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI), fetal biometry, and umbilical artery (UA)‐PI were ascertained. UtA and UA‐PI change from first to second trimester was calculated (ΔUtA‐PI and ΔUA‐PI). These parameters were tested for their ability to predict delivery of an SGA infant.

Results

Among 1982 women, 172 delivered an SGA neonate. African‐American ethnicity, nulliparity, tobacco use, and low abdominal circumference (AC) z‐score were independent predictors of SGA. No difference was found in the magnitude of ΔUtA‐PI and ΔUA‐PI between SGA and no‐SGA. Receiver–operating characteristics curve analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.700 for AC z‐score. The combination of low AC and bilateral notching had high specificity (99%) but low sensitivity (7%) for SGA prediction.

Conclusions

A small second‐trimester fetal AC is a specific marker for SGA when found with bilateral UtA notching. Only a small proportion is predicted by the factors studied, suggesting a small contributory role or later evolution of SGA. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers from modified oleic acid
Authors: Yemul Omprakash S , Petrović Zoran S
Published: May 2014

Two novel potentially biodegradable thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers with unique structure and morphology were prepared from modified oleic acid. The hardness and mechanical properties were controlled by adjusting the soft segment concentration (SSC). Epoxidized methyl oleate was converted to methyl‐9‐ or −10‐hydroxystearate (hydroxystearate) by catalytic hydrogenation. The formed hydroxystearate was transesterified with 1,6‐hexanediol to obtain polyesterpolyol with molar mass 2500. Segmented polyurethanes with 50% and 70% SSC were prepared using the prepolymer method by reacting polyesterpolyol with diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,4‐butanediol as chain extender. Thermal and mechanical properties of the polymers indicated good micro‐phase separation. Both soft and hard segments displayed a certain degree of crystallization. Tensile strengths were 18 and 2.4 MPa for samples with 50% and 70% SSC, respectively. Elongations of 130% (50% SSC) and 43% (70% SSC) were somewhat lower than in comparable materials, presumably due to lower molar mass. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Susceptibility of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Brazilian populations to ryanodine receptor modulators
Authors: Campos Mateus R , Silva Tadeu BM , Silva Wellington M , Silva Jefferson E , Siqueira Herbert AA
Published: May 2014

BACKGROUND

Phthalic and anthranilic diamides comprise a new insecticide class recently registered in Brazil to control Lepidoptera such as Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Therefore, the baseline of susceptibility was determined for eight representative field populations of this species to establish a resistance monitoring programme. The potential for cross‐resistance as well as detoxification metabolism was assessed in order to fine‐tune the resistance management programme.

RESULTS

Brazilian populations were very susceptible to chlorantraniliprole (LC50 values varied from 3.17 to 29.64 µg AI L−1), cyantraniliprole (LC50 values varied from 8.61 to 28.95 µg AI L−1) and flubendiamide (LC50 values varied from 94 to 230 µg AI L−1), with respective resistance ratios of 9.33‐, 3.36‐ and 2.45‐fold between most susceptible and tolerant populations. Anthranilic diamides showed significant correlations between log LC50 values among themselves, suggesting a high risk of cross‐resistance. However, the log LC50 values of T. absoluta to phthalic diamide did not show any correlation with anthranilic diamides. Cytochrome‐ P450‐dependent monooxygenase activity showed a weak correlation with log LC50 values of T. absoluta populations to anthranilic diamides, which suggests a potential route for evolving resistance to anthranilic diamides.

CONCLUSION

The diamides were highly effective against T. absoluta, with populations showing a homogeneous response to them. Cross‐resistance is very likely between anthranilic diamides in T. absoluta. Populations of this pest may evolve resistance by increasing cytochrome‐ P450‐dependent monooxygenases. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
A methodology for simultaneous retrieval of ice and liquid water cloud properties. Part I: Information content and case study
Authors: Sourdeval Odran , C.‐Labonnote Laurent , Baran Anthony J. , Brogniez Gérard
Published: May 2014

This article presents a novel methodology dedicated to retrieving the optical and microphysical properties of ice and liquid water clouds simultaneously. An optimal estimation method is used to retrieve the ice water path of one ice‐cloud layer and the optical thickness and droplet effective radius of up to two liquid‐water cloud layers, along with rigorous uncertainties. In order to perform the retrievals, radiometric measurements in five channels ranging from the visible to the thermal infrared are utilized. The position of cloud layers is currently provided by lidar information, which narrows the retrievals to its track. In the first part of this article, theoretical information content analyses are performed under different atmospheric conditions, over an oceanic surface. This type of analysis quantifies prior to the retrievals the amount of information that should be available regarding each parameter to be retrieved and helps to identify which set of channels provides this information. It is observed that strong information can be expected for retrieving each parameter in double‐layer cases, while yet stronger limitations appear in triple‐layer cases. In the second part of this article, our methodology is applied to a case study. In agreement with a priori expectations, accurate retrievals of ice and liquid cloud properties are obtained. These results are later compared with the products of a single‐layer retrieval method, Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) operational products and in situ estimates. We show that a much better consistency with the latter two is found when retrieving the properties of each layer simultaneously. However, further statistical analyses and comparisons with various operational products should be undertaken for validation of the methodology. Such results will be presented in the second part of this study.
Investigation of ptsG gene in response to xylose utilization in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Wang Chen , Cai Heng , Zhou Zhihui , Zhang Kai , Chen Zhongjun , Chen Yali , Wan Honggui , Ouyang Pingkai
Published: May 2014

Corynebacterium glutamicum strains NC-2 were able to grow on xylose as sole carbon sources in our previous work. Nevertheless, it exhibited the major shortcoming that the xylose consumption was repressed in the presence of glucose. So far, regarding C. glutamicum, there are a number of reports on ptsG gene, the glucose-specific transporter, involved in glucose metabolism. Recently, we found ptsG had influence on xylose utilization and investigated the ptsG gene in response to xylose utilization in C. glutamicum with the aim to improve xylose consumption and simultaneously utilized glucose and xylose. The ptsG-deficient mutant could grow on xylose, while exhibiting noticeably reduced growth on xylose as sole carbon source. A mutant deficient in ptsH, a general PTS gene, exhibited a similar phenomenon. When complementing ptsG gene, the mutant ΔptsG-ptsG restored the ability to grow on xylose similarly to NC-2. These indicate that ptsG gene is not only essential for metabolism on glucose but also important in xylose utilization. A ptsG-overexpressing recombinant strain could not accelerate glucose or xylose metabolism. When strains were aerobically cultured in a sugar mixture of glucose and xylose, glucose and xylose could not be utilized simultaneously. Interestingly, the ΔptsG strain could co-utilize glucose and xylose under oxygen-deprived conditions, though the consumption rate of glucose and xylose dramatically declined. It was the first report of ptsG gene in response to xylose utilization in C. glutamicum.
Efficient strategy for maintaining and enhancing the huperzine A production of Shiraia sp. Slf14 through inducer elicitation
Authors: Yan Riming , Zhang Zhibin , Wang Ya , Yang Huilin , Zeng Qinggui , Zhu Du
Published: May 2014

Huperzine A (HupA), a naturally occurring lycopodium alkaloid, is a potent, highly specific and reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and is a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. However, isolating HupA from Huperziaceae plants is inefficient; thus, extracting this compound from endophytic fungi may be more controllable and sustainable. However, the large-scale production of this chemical from endophytes is limited by the innate instability of endophytic fungi. In this study, we maintained the stability and viability of the HupA-producing endophytic fungus Shiraia sp. Slf14 and enhanced the HupA titers during fermentation by adding Huperzia serrata extracts (HSE), l-lysine, and acetic acid into the culture as inducers. Adding trace amounts of HupA clearly improved the HupA production of Shiraia sp. Slf14, reaching a maximum content of approximately 40 μg g−1. Moreover, the addition of HSE and l-lysine promoted HupA production in the flask fermentation. The aforementioned bioprocessing strategy may be potentially applied to other endophytic fungal culture systems for the efficient production of plant secondary metabolites.
Mitochondrial protein translocases for survival and wellbeing
Authors: Sokol Anna Magdalena , Sztolsztener Malgorzata Eliza , Wasilewski Michal , Heinz Eva , Chacinska Agnieszka
Published: May 2014

Mitochondria are involved in many essential cellular activities. These broad functions explicate the need for the well‐orchestrated biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins to avoid death and pathological consequences, both in unicellular and more complex organisms. Yeast as a model organism has been pivotal in identifying components and mechanisms that drive the transport and sorting of nuclear‐encoded mitochondrial proteins. The machinery components that are involved in the import of mitochondrial proteins are generally evolutionarily conserved within the eukaryotic kingdom. However, topological and functional differences have been observed. We review the similarities and differences in mitochondrial translocases from yeast to human. Additionally, we provide a systematic overview of the contribution of mitochondrial import machineries to human pathologies, including cancer, mitochondrial diseases, and neurodegeneration.
Steering tumor progression through the transcriptional response to growth factors and stroma
Authors: Feldman Morris E. , Yarden Yosef
Published: May 2014

Tumor progression can be understood as a collaborative effort of mutations and growth factors, which propels cell proliferation and matrix invasion, and also enables evasion of drug‐induced apoptosis. Concentrating on EGFR, we discuss downstream signaling and the initiation of transcriptional events in response to growth factors. Specifically, we portray a wave‐like program, which initiates by rapid disappearance of two‐dozen microRNAs, followed by an abrupt rise of immediate early genes (IEGs), relatively short transcripts encoding transcriptional regulators. Concurrent with the fall of IEGs, some 30–60 min after stimulation, a larger group, the delayed early genes, is up‐regulated and its own fall overlaps the rise of the final wave of late response genes. This late wave persists and determines long‐term phenotype acquisition, such as invasiveness. Key regulatory steps in the orderly response to growth factors provide a trove of potential oncogenes and tumor suppressors.
From Matterhorn to Mt Everest: Empowering Rescuers and Improving Medical Care in Nepal
Authors: Brodmann Maeder Monika M. , Basnyat Buddha , Stuart Harris N.
Published: May 2014

This article describes a private initiative in which professional Swiss rescuers, based at the foot of the Matterhorn, trained Nepalese colleagues in advanced high altitude helicopter rescue and medical care techniques. What started as a limited program focused on mountain safety has rapidly developed into a comprehensive project to improve rescue and medical care in the Mt Everest area for both foreign travelers and the local Nepalese people.
Farmers’ Suicides as Public Death: Politics, Agency and Statistics in a Suicide-Prone District (South India)
Authors: MÜNSTER DANIEL N.
Published: May 2014

This paper argues that Indian farmers’ suicides may fruitfully be described as public deaths. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the South Indian district of Wayanad (Kerala), it shows that farmers’ suicides become ‘public deaths’ only via the enumerative and statistical practices of the Indian state and their scandalization in the media. The political nature of suicide as public death thus depends entirely on suicide rates and their production by the state itself. But the power of representations complicates the ethnographic critique of statistical knowledge about suicide. In a context like Wayanad, which had been declared a suicide-prone district by the Indian state, public representations of suicides have taken on a life of their own; statistical categories and the media interpretations of these statistics have had a curious feedback—mediated by development encounters—onto the situated meanings of individual suicides. Local interpretations of individual suicides mostly commented on personal failures of the suicide and on the perils of speculative smallholder agriculture. Ethnography of farmers’ suicide based on case studies alone, however, would soon encounter limitations equally grave as the limitations of statistical analysis. Not only is the meaning of suicide (intentions, causes, motives) at the actor level off limits for ethnography, but in addition to that the (public) meaning of suicide is co-determined by state practice including statistical accounting.
Informed Consent in Croatia
Authors: VUČEMILO LUKA , BOROVEČKI ANA
Published: May 2014

As Croatia makes the transition from one political system and type of economy to another, there are inevitable social and political changes that have a profound affect on the healthcare system. This article charts some of the progress of change with respect to patients’ rights and informed consent.
A rational approach to employing high plasma levels of antipsychotics for violence associated with schizophrenia: case vignettes
Authors: Meyer Jonathan M.
Published: May 2014

Forensic psychiatric settings contain a high prevalence of treatment-resistant violent schizophrenia patients. Clozapine therapy has the most robust data for the management of violence in patients with schizophrenia, but for those who cannot tolerate or refuse clozapine, high-dose antipsychotic treatment to high achieve high plasma levels remains a viable option despite limited evidence for efficacy in controlled trials. This article enumerates rational guidelines for employing high plasma level strategies, emphasizing the appropriate interpretation of, and reaction to high plasma antipsychotic levels in these treatment resistant patients, and the need to push treatment to the limits of tolerability or clinical response.
Maternal perception of malnutrition among infants using verbal and pictorial methods in Kenya
Authors: Mwangome Martha K , Fegan Gregory , Prentice Andrew M , Berkley James A
Published: May 2014

Objective

To compare mothers’ perceptions of their own infants’ nutritional status with anthropometric indicators of undernutrition.

Design

A qualitative study and cross-sectional quantitative survey. The qualitative study involved developing tools to assess mother’s perception. Two methods of verbal description and a pictorial scale were developed. The quantitative survey involved measuring maternal perception and comparing it with the anthropometric measures of weight-for-ageZ-score (WAZ) and mid-upper arm circumference-for-ageZ-score (MUACZ).

Setting

A rural community setting in Kenya.

Subjects

Seventy-four infants aged between 4 and 6 months, and their mothers, living in rural Kenya were enrolled.

Results

Using verbal description, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3·57 (95 % CI 1·44, 9·98) and 0·69 (95 % CI 0·50, 0·96) respectively for MUACZ<−2; and 4·60 (95 % CI 1·60, 13·3) and 0·67 (95 % CI 0·49, 0·92) respectively for WAZ<−2. Using the pictorial scale, the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 8·30 (95 % CI 1·91, 36·3) and 0·69 (95 % CI 0·52, 0·93) respectively for MUACZ<−2; and 4·31 (95 % CI 1·22, 15·0) and 0·78 (95 % CI 0·61, 1·00) respectively for WAZ<−2.

Conclusions

In a rural community, mothers better identify undernutrition in their infants using a pictorial scale than verbal description. However, neither can replace formal anthropometric assessment. Objective anthropometric tools should be validated for identification of severe acute malnutrition among infants aged less than 6 months.
Interessenkonflikte mit der Industrie – eine Befragung von Pflegenden im Bereich der Wundversorgung in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz
Authors: Panfil Eva-Maria , Zima Karoline , Lins Sabine , Köpke Sascha , Langer Gero , Meyer Gabriele
Published: May 2014

Hintergrund: Pflegende werden zunehmend von der Industrie umworben. Ziel: Erfassung der Einstellungen und des Verhaltens von pflegerischen Wundexpert(inn)en gegenüber der Industrie. Methode: Auf Basis bestehender Instrumente wurde ein standardisierter Fragebogen (39 Items; 5-stufige Likert-Skala) entwickelt, der elektronisch und postalisch an alle pflegerischen Mitglieder der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für vaskuläre Pflege (ÖGvP), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Wundheilung und Wundbehandlung e. V. (DGfW e. V.) und der Swiss Association for Wound Care (SAfW) versandt wurde. Ergebnisse: Die Stichprobe umfasste 178 Pflegende (75 % Frauen; Alter 27 – 70 Jahre [Median 45]; 0 – 40 Jahre [Median 9] tätig im Wundbereich). Nur etwa jeder vierte der Befragten (23,0 %) hat im vergangenen Jahr nicht am Pharmamarketing teilgenommen. Allgemein wurden kleine Geschenke häufiger angenommen als teure Geschenke. Mehrheitlich werden preiswerte Geschenke, Geschenke zu Ausbildungszwecken und solche, die den Patienten nutzen können, als positiv bewertet. Die Befragten betrachten sich, im Vergleich zu Ärzt(inn)en, mehrheitlich als eher weniger beeinflussbar in ihrem Entscheidungsvermögen. Schlussfolgerungen: Das Verhalten und die Einstellung der Pflegenden sind ambivalent. Das Auftreten von Interessenkonflikten wird teilweise mit dem Wohl der Patient(inn)en begründet. Mangelhafte Kenntnisse über diese Thematik und soziale Erwünschtheit könnten die Ursache für eine unkritische Haltung sein. Für einen kritischeren Umgang mit der Industrie sind Bildungsmaßnahmen und berufsethische Standards notwendig.
Chemical–genetic attenuation of focal neocortical seizures
Authors: Kätzel Dennis , Nicholson Elizabeth , Schorge Stephanie , Walker Matthew C. , Kullmann Dimitri M.
Published: May 2014

Focal epilepsy is commonly pharmacoresistant, and resective surgery is often contraindicated by proximity to eloquent cortex. Many patients have no effective treatment options. Gene therapy allows cell-type specific inhibition of neuronal excitability, but on-demand seizure suppression has only been achieved with optogenetics, which requires invasive light delivery. Here we test a combined chemical–genetic approach to achieve localized suppression of neuronal excitability in a seizure focus, using viral expression of the modified muscarinic receptor hM4Di. hM4Di has no effect in the absence of its selective, normally inactive and orally bioavailable agonist clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). Systemic administration of CNO suppresses focal seizures evoked by two different chemoconvulsants, pilocarpine and picrotoxin. CNO also has a robust anti-seizure effect in a chronic model of focal neocortical epilepsy. Chemical–genetic seizure attenuation holds promise as a novel approach to treat intractable focal epilepsy while minimizing disruption of normal circuit function in untransduced brain regions or in the absence of the specific ligand.
Structural, dynamic and photophysical properties of a fluorescent dye incorporated in an amorphous hydrophobic polymer bundle
Authors: De Mitri N. , Prampolini G. , Monti S. , Barone V.
Published: May 2014

The effect of complex embedding on the structural, dynamic and photophysical properties of an organic dye were investigated using multi-layered computational methodology.
Hierarchical multiple peeling simulations
Authors: Bosia F. , Colella S. , Mattoli V. , Mazzolai B. , Pugno N. M.
Published: May 2014

We model hierarchical multiple peeling through finite element simulations, quantifying how hierarchy optimizes the strength of the bioinspired attachment.
Revisiting single photon avalanche diode current-voltage modeling and transient characteristics
Authors: Javitt M. , Savuskan V. , Merhav T. , Nemirovsky Y.
Published: May 2014

A model for the current-voltage and transient behavior of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) based on device physics is presented. The results of the model are compared to actual measurements and a reasonable fit is seen. Additionally, the model provides a useful tool for designing quenching circuitry and determining optimal operation conditions of the SPAD.
An experimental comparison of proportional-integral, sliding mode, and robust adaptive control for piezo-actuated nanopositioning stages
Authors: Gu Guo-Ying , Zhu Li-Min
Published: May 2014

This paper presents a comparative study of the proportional-integral (PI) control, sliding mode control (SMC), and robust adaptive control (RAC) for applications to piezo-actuated nanopositioning stages without the inverse hysteresis construction. For a fair comparison, the control parameters of the SMC and RAC are selected on the basis of the well-tuned parameters of the PI controller under same desired trajectories and sampling frequencies. The comparative results show that the RAC improves the tracking performance by 17 and 37 times than the PI controller in terms of the maximum tracking error em and the root mean tracking error erms, respectively, while the RAC improves the tracking performance by 7 and 9 times than the SMC in terms of em and erms, respectively.
Binding energy and mechanical stability of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotube serpentines
Authors: Zhao Junhua , Lu Lixin , Rabczuk Timon
Published: May 2014

Recently, Geblinger et al. [Nat. Nanotechnol. 3, 195 (2008)] and Machado et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 105502 (2013)] reported the experimental and molecular dynamics realization of S-like shaped single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the so-called CNT serpentines. We reported here results from continuum modeling of the binding energy γ between different single- and multi-walled CNT serpentines and substrates as well as the mechanical stability of the CNT serpentine formation. The critical length for the mechanical stability and adhesion of different CNT serpentines are determined in dependence of EiIi, d, and γ, where EiIi and d are the CNT bending stiffness and distance of the CNT translation period. Our continuum model is validated by comparing its solution to full-atom molecular dynamics calculations. The derived analytical solutions are of great importance for understanding the interaction mechanism between different single- and multi-walled CNT serpentines and substrates.
Impact of total ionizing dose irradiation on electrical property of ferroelectric-gate field-effect transistor
Authors: Yan S. A. , Xiong Y. , Tang M. H. , Li Z. , Xiao Y. G. , Zhang W. L. , Zhao W. , Guo H. X. , Ding H. , Chen J. W. , Zhou Y. C.
Published: May 2014

P-type channel metal-ferroelectric-insulator-silicon field-effect transistors (FETs) with a 300 nm thick SrBi2Ta2O9 ferroelectric film and a 10 nm thick HfTaO layer on silicon substrate were fabricated and characterized. The prepared FeFETs were then subjected to 60Co gamma irradiation in steps of three dose levels. Irradiation-induced degradation on electrical characteristics of the fabricated FeFETs was observed after 1 week annealing at room temperature. The possible irradiation-induced degradation mechanisms were discussed and simulated. All the irradiation experiment results indicated that the stability and reliability of the fabricated FeFETs for nonvolatile memory applications will become uncontrollable under strong irradiation dose and/or long irradiation time.
Enhanced ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) with addition of graphene oxides
Authors: Jiang Z. Y. , Zheng G. P. , Han Z. , Liu Y. Z. , Yang J. H.
Published: May 2014

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/graphene oxide (PVDF/GO) nanocomposites are synthesized and their structural, ferroelectric, and pyroelectric properties are investigated. The dielectric spectrum analysis and P-E loop tests indicate that the nanocomposites exhibit enhanced ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties compared with those of poly(vinylidene fluoride) samples. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of PVDF/GO nanocomposites quantitatively determined by differential scanning calorimetry demonstrates that GOs facilitate the crystallization of the PVDF. Dynamic mechanical analyses on the PVDF/GO reveal that the amorphous and crystalline phases of PVDF are modified by the addition of GO sheets. The GO-enhanced formation of crystalline β phase in PVDF could result from the strong interaction between the –C = O groups in GO and the –CF2 groups in PVDF, and the GO-induced ordering of the microstructures of amorphous and crystalline phases. The results suggest that PVDF/GO nanocomposites could be promising dielectric materials used in sensors, transducers, and actuators.