bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Immune Response in BALB/c Mice Induced by DNA Vaccine of the ROP8 gene of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Parthasarathy Sonaimuthu , Fong Mun Yik , Ramaswamy Kalyanasundaram , Lau Yee Ling
Published: March 2013

Toxoplasmosis in humans and other animals is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. During the process of host cell invasion and parasitophorous vacuole formation by the tachyzoites, the parasite secretes Rhoptry protein 8 (ROP8), an apical secretory organelle. Thus, ROP8 is an important protein for the pathogenesis of T. gondii. The ROP8 DNA was constructed into a pVAX-1 vaccine vector and used for immunizing BALB/c mice. Immunized mice developed immune response characterized by significant antibody responses, antigen-specific proliferation of spleen cells, and production of high levels of IFN-γ (816 ± 26.3 pg/mL). Challenge experiments showed significant levels of increase in the survival period (29 days compared with 9 days in control) in ROP8 DNA vaccinated mice after a lethal challenge with T. gondii. Results presented in this study suggest that ROP8 DNA is a promising and potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.
Semi-empirical models for chlorine activation and ozone depletion in the Antarctic stratosphere: proof of concept
Authors: Huck P. E. , Bodeker G. E. , Kremser S. , McDonald A. J. , Rex M. , Struthers H.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Two semi-empirical models were developed for the Antarctic stratosphere to relate the shift of species within total chlorine (Cly = HCl + ClONO2 + HOCl + 2 × Cl2 + 2×Cl2O2 + ClO + Cl) into the active forms (here: ClOx = 2×Cl2O2 + ClO), and to relate the rate of ozone destruction to ClOx. These two models provide a fast and computationally inexpensive way to describe the inter- and intra-annual evolution of ClOx and ozone mass deficit (OMD) in the Antarctic spring. The models are based on the underlying physics/chemistry of the system and capture the key chemical and physical processes in the Antarctic stratosphere that determine the interaction between climate change and Antarctic ozone depletion. They were developed considering bulk effects of chemical mechanisms for the duration of the Antarctic vortex period and quantities averaged over the vortex area. The model equations were regressed against observations of daytime ClO and OMD providing a set of empirical fit coefficients. Both semi-empirical models are able to explain much of the intra- and inter-annual variability observed in daily ClOx and OMD time series. This proof-of-concept paper outlines the semi-empirical approach to describing the evolution of Antarctic chlorine activation and ozone depletion.
Significance of Wave-Particle Interaction Analyzer for direct measurements of nonlinear wave-particle interactions
Authors: Katoh Y. , Kitahara M. , Kojima H. , Omura Y. , Kasahara S. , Hirahara M. , Miyoshi Y. , Seki K. , Asamura K. , Takashima T. , Ono T.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. In the upcoming JAXA/ERG satellite mission, Wave Particle Interaction Analyzer (WPIA) will be installed as an onboard software function. We study the statistical significance of the WPIA for measurement of the energy transfer process between energetic electrons and whistler-mode chorus emissions in the Earth's inner magnetosphere. The WPIA measures a relative phase angle between the wave vector E and velocity vector v of each electron and computes their inner product W, where W is the time variation of the kinetic energy of energetic electrons interacting with plasma waves. We evaluate the feasibility by applying the WPIA analysis to the simulation results of whistler-mode chorus generation. We compute W using both a wave electric field vector observed at a fixed point in the simulation system and a velocity vector of each energetic electron passing through this point. By summing up Wi of an individual particle i to give Wint, we obtain significant values of Wint as expected from the evolution of chorus emissions in the simulation result. We can discuss the efficiency of the energy exchange through wave-particle interactions by selecting the range of the kinetic energy and pitch angle of the electrons used in the computation of Wint. The statistical significance of the obtained Wint is evaluated by calculating the standard deviation σW of Wint. In the results of the analysis, positive or negative Wint is obtained at the different regions of velocity phase space, while at the specific regions the obtained Wint values are significantly greater than σW, indicating efficient wave-particle interactions. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of using the WPIA, which will be on board the upcoming ERG satellite, for direct measurement of wave-particle interactions.
Detecting an external influence on recent changes in oceanic oxygen using an optimal fingerprinting method
Authors: Andrews O. D. , Bindoff N. L. , Halloran P. R. , Ilyina T. , Le Quéré C.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Ocean deoxygenation has been observed in all major ocean basins over the past 50 yr. Although this signal is largely consistent with oxygen changes expected from anthropogenic climate change, the contribution of external forcing to recent deoxygenation trends relative to natural internal variability is yet to be established. Here we conduct a formal optimal fingerprinting analysis to investigate if external forcing has had a detectable influence on observed dissolved oxygen concentration ([O2]) changes between ∼1970 and ∼1992 using simulations from two Earth System Models (MPI-ESM-LR and HadGEM2-ES). We detect a response to external forcing at a 90% confidence level and find that observed [O2] changes are inconsistent with internal variability as simulated by models. This result is robust in the global ocean for depth-averaged (1-D) zonal mean patterns of [O2] change in both models. Further analysis with the MPI-ESM-LR model shows similar positive detection results for depth-resolved (2-D) zonal mean [O2] changes globally and for the Pacific Ocean individually. Observed oxygen changes in the Atlantic Ocean are indistinguishable from natural internal variability. Simulations from both models consistently underestimate the amplitude of historical [O2] changes in response to external forcing, suggesting that model projections for future ocean deoxygenation may also be underestimated.
Controls on the spatial distribution of oceanic δ13CDIC
Authors: Holden P. B. , Edwards N. R. , Müller S. A. , Oliver K. I. C. , Death R. M. , Ridgwell A.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. We describe the design and evaluation of a large ensemble of coupled climate–carbon cycle simulations with the Earth system model of intermediate complexity GENIE. This ensemble has been designed for application to a range of carbon cycle questions, including the causes of late-Quaternary fluctuations in atmospheric CO2. Here we evaluate the ensemble by applying it to a transient experiment over the recent industrial era (1858 to 2008 AD). We employ singular vector decomposition and principal component emulation to investigate the spatial modes of ensemble variability of oceanic dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) δ13C, considering both the spun-up pre-industrial state and the transient change. These analyses allow us to separate the natural (pre-industrial) and anthropogenic controls on the δ13CDIC distribution. We apply the same dimensionally-reduced emulation techniques to consider the drivers of the spatial uncertainty in anthropogenic DIC. We show that the sources of uncertainty related to the uptake of anthropogenic δ13CDIC and DIC are quite distinct. Uncertainty in anthropogenic δ13C uptake is controlled by air–sea gas exchange, which explains 63% of modelled variance. This mode of variability is largely absent from the ensemble variability in CO2 uptake, which is rather driven by uncertainties in thermocline ventilation rates. Although the need to account for air–sea gas exchange is well known, these results suggest that, to leading order, uncertainties in the ocean uptake of anthropogenic 13C and CO2 are governed by very different processes. This illustrates the difficulties in reconstructing one from the other, and furthermore highlights the need for careful targeting of both δ13CDIC and DIC observations to better constrain the ocean sink of anthropogenic CO2.
Cross-shore gradients of physical disturbance in mangroves: implications for seedling establishment
Authors: Balke T. , Bouma T. J. , Herman P. M. J. , Horstman E. M. , Sudtongkong C. , Webb E. L.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Mangroves grow in an active sedimentary environment and are therefore closely linked to physical coastal processes. Seedlings colonize dynamic tidal flats, after which mangroves have the potential to change their physical environment by attenuating hydrodynamic energy and trapping sediments. Disturbance from hydrodynamic energy of waves or currents and the resulting sediment dynamics appear to be a critical bottleneck for seedling establishment on tidal flats and at the forest fringe. However, knowledge about the mechanisms at the single plant level and the spatial pattern of disturbance is limited. By means of a flume study, we demonstrate that a surface erosion threshold of as little as 1–3 cm depth can lead to failure of young seedlings. By monitoring accretion/erosion for 8 months along cross-shore transects in southwest Thailand, we show that especially on the bare mudflat, the physical sediment disturbance regularly exceed the critical erosion thresholds derived from the flume study. Physical sediment parameters along the same transects were analysed to deduct patterns of hydrodynamic energy attenuation. Grain size analysis and erosion/accretion data showed only limited energy dissipation within the fringing Avicennia/Sonneratia zone, sediment dynamics only dropped below for seedlings lethal values within the denser Rhizophora zone. Overall, present results emphasize that (i) seedling survival is extremely sensitive to physical-driven sediment dynamics and (ii) that such physical disturbances are not only present on the idal flats but can penetrate a significant distance into the forest. Spatio-temporal patterns in sediment dynamics should hence be considered when conducting restoration of mangrove ecosystems.
The Subgrid Importance Latin Hypercube Sampler (SILHS): a multivariate subcolumn generator
Authors: Larson V. E. , Schanen D. P.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Coarse-resolution climate and weather forecast models cannot accurately parameterize small-scale, non-linear processes without accounting for subgrid-scale variability. To do so, some models integrate over the subgrid variability analytically. Although analytic integration methods are attractive, they can be used only with physical parameterizations that have a sufficiently simple functional form. Instead, this paper introduces a method to integrate subgrid variability using a type of Monte-Carlo integration. The method generates subcolumns with suitable vertical correlations and feeds them into a microphysics parameterization. The subcolumn methodology is non-intrusive and can be used with a wide variety of physical parameterizations. Our subcolumn generator is multivariate, which is important for physical processes that involve two or more hydrometeor species, such as accretion of cloud droplets by rain drops. In order to reduce sampling noise in the integrations, our subcolumn generator employs two variance reduction methods, namely importance and stratified (Latin hypercube) sampling. For this reason, we name the subcolumn generator the Subgrid Importance Latin Hypercube Sampler (SILHS). This paper tests SILHS in interactive, single-column simulations of a marine stratocumulus case and a shallow cumulus case. The paper then compares simulations that use SILHS with those that use analytic integration. Although the SILHS solutions exhibit considerable noise from time step to time step, the noise is greatly damped in most of the time-averaged profiles.
Local and global perspectives on the virtual water trade
Authors: Tamea S. , Allamano P. , Carr J. A. , Claps P. , Laio F. , Ridolfi L.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Recent studies on fluxes of virtual water are showing how the global food and goods trade interconnects the water resources of different and distant countries, conditioning the local water balances. This paper presents and discusses the assessment of virtual water fluxes between a single country and its network of trading partners, delineating a country's virtual water budget in space and time (years 1986–2010). The fluxes between the country under study and its importing/exporting partners are visualized with a geographical representation shaping the trade network as a virtual river/delta. Time variations of exchanged fluxes are quantified to show possible trends in the virtual water balance, while characterizing the time evolution of the trade network and its composition in terms of product categories (plant-based, animal-based, luxury food, and non-edible). The average distance traveled by virtual water to arrive to the place of consumption is also introduced as a new measure for the analysis of globalization of the virtual water trade. Using Italy as an example, we find that food trade has a steadily growing importance compared to domestic production, with a major component represented by plant-based products, and luxury products taking an increasingly larger share (26% in 2010). In 2010 Italy had an average net import of 55 km3 of virtual water (38 km3 in 1986), a value which poses the country among the top net importers in the world. On average each cubic meter of virtual water travels nearly 4000 km before entering Italy, while export goes to relatively closer countries (average distance: 2600 km), with increasing trends in time which are almost unique among the world countries. Analyses proposed for Italy are replicated for 10 other world countries, triggering similar investigations on different socio-economic actualities.
Calibration of a transient transport model to tritium data in streams and simulation of groundwater ages in the western Lake Taupo catchment, New Zealand
Authors: Gusyev M. A. , Toews M. , Morgenstern U. , Stewart M. , White P. , Daughney C. , Hadfield J.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. Here we present a general approach of calibrating transient transport models to tritium concentrations in river waters developed for the MT3DMS/MODFLOW model of the western Lake Taupo catchment, New Zealand. Tritium has a known pulse-shaped input to groundwater systems due to the bomb tritium in the early 1960s and, with its radioactive half-life of 12.32 yr, allows for the determination of the groundwater age. In the transport model, the tritium input (measured in rainfall) passes through the groundwater system, and the simulated tritium concentrations are matched to the measured tritium concentrations in the river and stream outlets for the Waihaha, Whanganui, Whareroa, Kuratau and Omori catchments from 2000–2007. For the Kuratau River, tritium was also measured between 1960 and 1970, which allowed us to fine-tune the transport model for the simulated bomb-peak tritium concentrations. In order to incorporate small surface water features in detail, an 80 m uniform grid cell size was selected in the steady-state MODFLOW model for the model area of 1072 km2. The groundwater flow model was first calibrated to groundwater levels and stream baseflow observations. Then, the transient tritium transport MT3DMS model was matched to the measured tritium concentrations in streams and rivers, which are the natural discharge of the groundwater system. The tritium concentrations in the rivers and streams correspond to the residence time of the water in the groundwater system (groundwater age) and mixing of water with different age. The transport model output showed a good agreement with the measured tritium values. Finally, the tritium-calibrated MT3DMS model is applied to simulate groundwater ages, which are used to obtain groundwater age distributions with mean residence times (MRTs) in streams and rivers for the five catchments. The effect of regional and local hydrogeology on the simulated groundwater ages is investigated by demonstrating groundwater ages at five model cross-sections to better understand MRTs simulated with tritium-calibrated MT3DMS and lumped parameter models.
Improving remote sensing flood assessment using volunteered geographical data
Authors: Schnebele E. , Cervone G.
Published: March 2013

Abstract. A new methodology for the generation of flood hazard maps is presented fusing remote sensing and volunteered geographical data. Water pixels are identified utilizing a machine learning classification of two Landsat remote sensing scenes, acquired before and during the flooding event as well as a digital elevation model paired with river gage data. A statistical model computes the probability of flooded areas as a function of the number of adjacent pixels classified as water. Volunteered data obtained through Google news, videos and photos are added to modify the contour regions. It is shown that even a small amount of volunteered ground data can dramatically improve results.
Consumer Awareness and Usage of Nutrition Information in Botswana
Authors: Themba Godfrey , Tanjo Joyce
Published: March 2013

Nutrition information enables consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing and consuming food products. Despite this, the issue of consumer awareness and usage of nutrition information has attracted little research attention in developing countries. This study presents findings of an empirical investigation of nutrition information awareness and usage in Botswana. The study is descriptive and data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 150 consumers in Gaborone, the Capital City of Botswana. A mall-intercept technique was used in the selection of the respondents. The main findings of the study indicate that the level of awareness of nutrition information among the sampled consumers is relatively high, and that the majority of them use nutrition information to inform food purchases. The study further finds that whereas nutrition information awareness does not significantly differ across the demographic segments, usage differs. Lack of knowledge and interest are the main factors that prevent consumers from using nutrition information. Nutrition information is mostly used when comparing products or when buying food products for the first time. These findings highlight the need to improve nutrition education in Botswana. The findings also suggest that food producers in Botswana need to use nutrition information to differentiate their products from competitors’. Similarly, the findings highlight the need for the food industry in Botswana to establish more effective nutrition information labeling standards. However, these findings need to be interpreted with caution as they are based on consumers’ self-report of nutrition information use, which is highly subjective.
Risk Factors of Treatment Failure in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients
Authors: Lee Kyung Mook , Kim Woon Hoe , Lee Jang Hyun , Choi Matthew Seung Suk
Published: March 2013

Background Some diabetic feet heal without complication, but others undergo amputation due to progressive wounds. This study investigates the risk factors for amputation of diabetic feet.

Methods A total of 55 patients who visited our institution from 2008 to 2012 were included in the study. The patients with abnormal fasting blood sugar levels, lower leg vascularity, and poor nutrition were excluded from the study group, and the wound states were unified. The patients were categorized into a treatment success group (n=47) and a treatment failure group (n=8), and their hemoglobin A1C (HgA1C), C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC), and serum creatinine levels were analyzed.

Results The initial CRP, WBC, and serum creatinine levels in the treatment failure group were significantly higher than that of the treatment success group, and the initial HgA1C level was significantly higher in the treatment success group. The CRP and WBC levels of both groups changed significantly as time passed, but their serum creatinine levels did not.

Conclusions The initial CRP, WBC, and serum creatinine levels were considered to be risk factors for amputation. Among them, the serum creatinine level was found to be the most important predictive risk factor. Because serum creatinine represents the renal function, thorough care is needed for the feet of diabetic patients with renal impairment.
Management of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Using Double Opposing Z-Plasty in Patients Undergoing Primary Two-Flap Palatoplasty
Authors: Koh Kyung Suk , Kim Sung Chan , Oh Tae Suk
Published: March 2013

Background Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) may persist after primary repair of the cleft palate, and surgical correction is necessary in many cases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of double opposing Z-plasty (DOZ) in cleft palate patients suffering from VPI after primary two-flap palatoplasty.

Methods Between March 1999 and August 2005, we identified 82 patients who underwent two-flap palatoplasty for cleft palate repair. After excluding the patients with congenital syndrome and mental retardation, 13 patients were included in the final study group. The average age of the patients who underwent DOZ at was 5 years and 1 month. Resonance, nasal emission, and articulation were evaluated by a speech pathologist. The velopharyngeal gaps were measured before and after surgery.

Results Six patients attained normal speech capabilities after DOZ. The hypernasality grade was significantly improved after surgery in all of the patients (P=0.0015). Whereas nasal emission disappeared in 8 patients (61.5%), it was diminished but still persisted in the remaining 5 patients. Articulation was improved in all of the cases. In two cases, the velopharyngeal gap was measured using a ruler. The gap decreased from 11.5 to 7 mm in one case, and from 12.5 to 8 mm in the second case.

Conclusions The use of DOZ as a surgical option to correct VPI has many advantages compared with other procedures. These include short surgery time, few troublesome complications, and no harmful effects on the dynamic physiological functioning of the pharynx. This study shows that DOZ can be another option for surgical treatment of patients with VPI after two-flap palatoplasty.
Non‐Nucleoside Phosphoramidites of Xanthene Dyes (FAM, JOE, and TAMRA) for Oligonucleotide Labeling
Authors: Kvach Maksim V. , Tsybulsky Dmitry A. , Shmanai Vadim V. , Prokhorenko Igor A. , Stepanova Irina A. , Korshun Vladimir A.
Published: March 2013

This unit describes the preparation of 5‐ and 6‐carboxy derivatives of the xanthene fluorescent dyes fluorescein (FAM), 4′,5′‐dichloro‐2′,7′‐dimethoxy‐fluorescein (JOE), and tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) as individual isomers, and their conversion to non‐nucleoside phosphoramidite reagents suitable for oligonucleotide labeling. The use of a cyclohexylcarbonyl (Chc) protecting group for blocking of phenolic hydroxyls facilitates the chromatographic separation of isomers of carboxy‐FAM and carboxy‐JOE as pentafluorophenyl esters. Acylation of 3‐dimethylaminophenol with 1,2,4‐benzenetricarboxylic anhydride gave a mixture of 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐hydroxy‐2′,4′(5′)‐dicarboxybenzophenones, easily separable into individual compounds upon fractional crystallization. Individual isomeric benzophenones are precursors of 5‐ or 6‐carboxytetramethylrhodamines. The dyes were converted into 6‐aminohexanol‐ (JOE), 4‐trans‐aminocyclohexanol‐ (FAM and JOE), and hydroxyprolinol‐based (TAMRA) phosphoramidite reagents. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 52:4.55.1‐4.55.33. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using Climate Predictions to Better Serve Society's Needs
Authors: Hewitt Chris , Buontempo Carlo , Newton Paula
Published: March 2013

Societies have always faced challenges and opportunities arising from variations in climate and have often flourished or collapsed, depending on their ability to adapt to such changes. In light of these challenges, there is a growing and urgent need to improve society's resilience to climate‐related hazards and better manage the risks and opportunities from climate variability and climate change. This situation was recognized by governments, scientists, and decision makers at the World Climate Conference‐3 in 2009, subsequently leading to the creation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) under the leadership of several United Nations agencies.
Ultrasound Learning Curve in Gout: A Disease‐Oriented Training Program
Authors: Gutiérrez Marwin , Di Geso Luca , Rovisco João , Di Carlo Marco , Ariani Alarico , Filippucci Emilio , Grassi Walter
Published: March 2013

Objective

To describe the learning curve of rheumatologists with limited experience using ultrasound (US) attending an intensive disease‐oriented training program focusing on the skills required to obtain and interpret US signs of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposits in joint and periarticular tissues.

Methods

Three investigators participated in a 7‐day training program involving 12 men with gout. The agreement between the expert and beginners was calculated in 4 sessions involving 8 patients with gout. The US assessment was performed at the second and third metacarpophalangeal joints, knee, tibiotalar and first metatarsophalangeal joints, second and third finger flexors, quadriceps and patellar posterior tibialis, peroneus longus and brevis, and Achilles tendons. The presence or absence of synovial fluid/synovial hypertrophy, double contour sign, intra‐ or periarticular and intratendinous tophi, bursitis, bone erosions, and tendon tears was recorded.

Results

A total of 416 anatomic sites were studied. Kappa values and overall agreement percentages of qualitative assessments of US gout findings at the end of the exercise both showed moderate to excellent agreement, while in the first session they showed poor/fair agreement. At the end of the training session, sensitivity, specificity, and capability of the beginners were also improved.

Conclusion

After 1 week of the disease‐oriented training program, rheumatologists with limited experience in US were satisfactorily able to detect and interpret the main US signs indicative of MSU crystal deposits at different tissues in patients with gout.
Micropatterning Alginate Substrates for In Vitro Cardiovascular Muscle on a Chip
Authors: Agarwal Ashutosh , Farouz Yohan , Nesmith Alexander Peyton , Deravi Leila F. , McCain Megan Laura , Parker Kevin Kit
Published: March 2013

Soft hydrogels such as alginate are ideal substrates for building muscle in vitro because they have structural and mechanical properties close to the in vivo extracellular matrix (ECM) network. However, hydrogels are generally not amenable to protein adhesion and patterning. Moreover, muscle structures and their underlying ECM are highly anisotropic, and it is imperative that in vitro models recapitulate the structural anisotropy in reconstructed tissues for in vivo relevance due to the tight coupling between sturcture and function in these systems. Two techniques to create chemical and structural heterogeneities within soft alginate substrates are presented and employed to engineer anisotropic muscle monolayers: i) microcontact printing lines of extracellular matrix proteins on flat alginate substrates to guide cellular processes with chemical cues and ii) micromolding of alginate surface into grooves and ridges to guide cellular processes with topographical cues. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes as well as human umbilical artery vascular smooth muscle cells successfully attach to both these micropatterned substrates leading to subsequent formation of anisotropic striated and smooth muscle tissues. Muscular thin film cantilevers cut from these constructs are then employed for functional characterization of engineered muscular tissues. Thus, micropatterned alginate is an ideal substrate for in vitro models of muscle tissue because it facilitates recapitulation of the anisotropic architecture of muscle, mimics the mechanical properties of the ECM microenvironment, and is amenable to evaluation of functional contractile properties.
Temperature‐Insensitive (K,Na)NbO3‐Based Lead‐Free Piezoactuator Ceramics
Authors: Wang Ke , Yao Fang‐Zhou , Jo Wook , Gobeljic Danka , Shvartsman Vladimir V. , Lupascu Doru C. , Li Jing‐Feng , Rödel Jürgen
Published: March 2013

The development of lead‐free piezoceramics has attracted great interest because of growing environmental concerns. A polymorphic phase transition (PPT) has been utilized in the past to tailor piezoelectric properties in lead‐free (K,Na)NbO3 (KNN)‐based materials accepting the drawback of large temperature sensitivity. Here a material concept is reported, which yields an average piezoelectric coefficientd33 of about 300 pC/N and a high level of unipolar strain up to 0.16% at room temperature. Most intriguingly, field‐induced strain varies less than 10% from room temperature to 175 °C. The temperature insensitivity of field‐induced strain is rationalized using an electrostrictive coupling to polarization amplitude while the temperature‐dependent piezoelectric coefficient is discussed using localized piezoresponse probed by piezoforce microscopy. This discovery opens a new development window for temperature‐insensitive piezoelectric actuators despite the presence of a polymorphic phase transition around room temperature.
Efficient Allylation of Nucleophiles Catalyzed by a Bifunctional Heterogeneous Palladium Complex‐Tertiary Amine System
Authors: Noda Hiroto , Motokura Ken , Miyaji Akimitsu , Baba Toshihide
Published: March 2013

We demonstrate the synergistic catalysis of a silica‐supported diaminopalladium complex and a tertiary amine (SiO2/diamine/Pd/NEt2) as well as synthetic scope of the Tsuji–Trost reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyls, phenols, and carboxylic acids with allyl carbonate and acetates. The synergistic catalysis of SiO2/diamine/Pd/NEt2 exhibited wide applicability and high activity for the Tsuji–Trost reaction. For example, the reaction of ethyl 3‐oxobutanate with allyl methyl carbonate afforded the allylated product in >99% yield at 70 °C for 5 h. The yield of allylated products was 26% for SiO2/diamine/Pd, without immobilization of the tertiary amine group. In the reaction of 1.0 mmol of ethyl 3‐oxobutanate using 0.60 μmol of Pd in SiO2/diamine/Pd/NEt2, the turnover number (TON) of Pd reached up to 1070 within 24 h. Phenols with electron‐withdrawing groups, such as nitro and chloro groups, on the para position resulted in high product yields. The SiO2/diamine/Pd/NEt2 catalyst was reusable at least 4 times without appreciable loss of its activity and selectivity in the reaction of p‐chlorophenol.
Pd2dba3/Bippyphos: A Robust Catalyst System for the Hydroxylation of Aryl Halides with Broad Substrate Scope
Authors: Lavery Christopher B. , Rotta‐Loria Nicolas L. , McDonald Robert , Stradiotto Mark
Published: March 2013

A mixture of tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) (Pd2dba3) and 5‐(di‐tert‐butylphosphino)‐1′,3′,5′‐triphenyl‐1′H‐[1,4′]bipyrazole (Bippyphos) is shown to be a robust and efficient catalyst system for the hydroxylation of structurally diverse (hetero)aryl halides under mild conditions and with broad substrate scope. Included in this reactivity survey is the successful synthesis of substituted benzofurans and related heteroatomic derivatives, which are formed via the hydroxylation of 2‐haloalkynylarenes. Notably, a significant number of the reactions reported herein proceed at room temperature, and we have demonstrated that it is possible to conduct reactions on the benchtop under air using unpurified solvents with negligible loss in reactivity versus related transformations conducted under inert atmosphere conditions. We also report herein the first crystallographically characterized (Bippyphos)Pd(II) complex, which confirms the ability of this synthetically useful ligand to adopt a bidentate binding motif in a manner similar to Buchwald’s biarylphosphine ligand class.
Optimal design and operation of a steel plant integrated with a polygeneration system
Authors: Ghanbari Hamid , Saxén Henrik , Grossmann Ignacio E.
Published: March 2013

A process integration approach has been applied to integrate a traditional steelmaking plant with a polygeneration system to increase energy efficiency and suppress carbon dioxide emissions from the system. Using short‐cut models and empirical equations for different units and available technologies for gas separation, methane gasification, and methanol synthesis, a mixed integer nonlinear model is applied to find the optimal design of the polygeneration plant and operational conditions of the system. Due to the complexity of the blast furnace (BF) operation, a surrogate model technique is chosen based on an existing BF model. The results show that from an economic perspective, the pressure swing adsorption process with gas‐phase methanol unit is preferred. The results demonstrate that integration of conventional steelmaking with a polygeneration system could decrease the specific emissions by more than 20 percent. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3659–3670, 2013
Observation of a Quadrupole Surface Plasmon Mode for Au Nanorods: Effects of Surface Roughness and Crystal Facets
Authors: Hong Soonchang , Shuford Kevin L. , Park Sungho
Published: March 2013

This paper describes how the surface roughness and synthetic methods of Au nanorods affect the optical properties that are often associated with localized surface plasmon resonances. We synthesized Au nanorods with different aspect ratios and surface roughness by using two different synthetic strategies to observe surface plasmon resonance bands. One set of nanorods was prepared in high yield by using a seed‐mediated dropwise‐addition method with a growth‐directing surfactant in aqueous solution (Au nanorods in aqueous phase, GNRA). The other set of Au nanorods were synthesized by the electrochemical deposition of Au onto an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template (Au nanorods by AAO template, GNRT). The length of the nanorods was controlled by changing the total charge that was passed through the cell and their diameter was monitored by changing the diameter of the template channel. The as‐prepared Au nanorods were optimized to observe a quadrupole mode, which is one of the higher‐order surface plasmon bands. Our results showed differences between the optical properties of GNRA and GNRT. The roughness and crystal structure of the Au nanorods affected their optical properties. Smooth and single‐crystal surface on GNRA had larger and sharper peaks than GNRT. The discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method was used to calculate the optical properties of the Au nanorods and these results were in good agreement with our experimental results.
Could Carbonaceous Impurities in Reduced Graphenes be Responsible for Some of Their Extraordinary Electrocatalytic Activities?
Authors: Wang Lu , Ambrosi Adriano , Pumera Martin
Published: March 2013

Thermally and chemically reduced graphene materials contain significant amounts of carbonaceous impurities that are similar in structure to amorphous carbon. Herein, we show that the claimed electrocatalytic activities of these materials for the oxidation of NADH, acetaminophen, and hydroquinone are mainly due to the presence of carbonaceous impurities.
Assessing the effect of stricter sustainability criteria on EU biomass crop potential
Authors: Elbersen Berien , Fritsche Uwe , Petersen Jan‐Erik , Lesschen Jan Peter , Böttcher Hannes , Overmars Koen
Published: March 2013

This paper investigates how different sustainability criteria restrict the supply of cropped biomass sources within the EU. There are already mandatory sustainability criteria formulated in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) at EU level for biomass feedstocks to be used for conversion into biofuels. For solid and gaseous biomass feedstock, however, there are only recommendations formulated by the European Commission (EC) to be adopted on a voluntary basis by the EU member states (MS). This paper specifically focuses on the potential supply of biomass from crops for all bioenergy sectors when applying stricter sustainability criteria. These criteria relate to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation targets, including indirect land‐use change (iLUC) related GHG emissions, and the introduction of no‐go areas, such as areas of high biodiversity value and high carbon stock. The results show that stricter criteria indeed reduce the cropping potential and change the crop mix significantly, as rotational arable crops for biofuels do no longer comply with the stricter mitigation criteria. This is because they usually compete with food and feed crops for higher quality land requiring a compensation for iLUC emissions. The stricter sustainability criteria can only be applied successfully if they are accompanied by a change in demand, in particular for lignocellulosic biomass for advanced biofuels and other bioenergy uses. Without stimulation of such pathways, it will be difficult to realize improved sustainability in the bio‐energy sector. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Expression of scFv‐Mel‐Gal4 triple fusion protein as a targeted DNA‐carrier in Escherichia Coli
Authors: Wang Weiyu , Luo Jian , Xu Lining , Zeng Jianping , Cao Limin , Dong Jiahong , Cai Shouwang
Published: March 2013

Liver‐directed gene therapy has become a promising treatment for many liver diseases. In this study, we constructed a multi‐functional targeting molecule, which maintains targeting, endosome‐escaping, and DNA‐binding abilities for gene delivery. Two single oligonucleotide chains of Melittin (M) were synthesized. The full‐length cDNA encoding anti‐hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor scFv C1 (C1) was purified from C1/pIT2. The GAL4 (G) gene was amplified from pSW50‐Gal4 by polymerase chain reaction. M, C1 and G were inserted into plasmid pGC4C26H to product the recombinant plasmid pGC‐C1MG. The fused gene C1MG was subsequently subcloned into plasmid pET32c to product the recombinant plasmid C1MG/pET32c and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The scFv‐Mel‐Gal4 triple fusion protein (C1MG) was purified with a Ni2+ chelating HiTrap HP column. The fusion protein C1MG of roughly 64 kD was expressed in inclusion bodies; 4.5 mg/ml C1MG was prepared with Ni2+ column purification. Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed the antigen‐binding ability of C1MG to the cell surface of the liver‐derived cell line and liver tissue slices. Hemolysis testing showed that C1MG maintained membrane‐disrupting activity. DNA‐binding capacity was substantiated by luciferase assay, suggesting that C1MG could deliver the DNA into cells efficiently on the basis of C1MG. Successful expression of C1MG was achieved in E. coli, and C1MG recombinant protein confers targeting, endosome‐escaping and DNA‐binding capacity, which makes it probable to further study its liver‐specific DNA delivery efficacy in vivo. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single‐Molecule Detection Reveals Knot Sliding in TrmD Denaturation
Authors: Wang Peng , Yang Lijiang , Liu Pengcheng , Gao Yi Qin , Zhao Xin Sheng
Published: March 2013

An increasing number of proteins are found to contain a knot in their polypeptide chain. Although some studies have looked into the folding mechanism of knotted proteins, why and how these complex topologies form are still far from being fully answered. Moreover, no experimental information about how the knot moves during the protein‐folding process is available. Herein, by combining single‐molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we performed a detailed study to characterize the knot in the denatured state of TrmD, a knotted tRNA (guanosine‐1) methyltransferase from Escherichia coli, as a model system. We found that the knot still existed in the unfolded state of TrmD, consistent with the results for two other knotted proteins, YibK and YbeA. More interestingly, both smFRET experiments and MD simulations revealed that the knot slid towards the C‐terminal during the unfolding process, which could be explained by the relatively strong interactions between the β‐sheet core at the N terminal of the native knot region. The size of the knot in the unfolded state is not larger than that in the native state. In addition, the knot slid in a “downhill” mode with simultaneous chain collapse in the denatured state.
Sequential chemoimmunotherapy of fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and cyclophosphamide induction followed by alemtuzumab consolidation is effective in T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Hopfinger Georg , Busch Raymonde , Pflug Natali , Weit Nicole , Westermann Anne , Fink Anna‐Maria , Cramer Paula , Reinart Nina , Winkler Dirk , Fingerle‐Rowson Günter , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Döhner Hartmut , Kandler Gabriele , Eichhorst Barbara , Hallek Michael , Herling Marco
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND

Scarce systematic trial data have prevented uniform therapeutic guidelines for T‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T‐PLL). A central need in this historically refractory tumor is the controlled evaluation of multiagent chemotherapy and its combination with the currently most active single agent, alemtuzumab.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter phase 2 trial assessed response, survival, and toxicity of a novel regimen in previously treated (n = 9) and treatment‐naive (n = 16) patients with T‐PLL. Induction by fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and cyclophosphamide (FMC), for up to 4 cycles, was followed by alemtuzumab (A) consolidation, up to 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Of the 25 patients treated with FMC, 21 subsequently received alemtuzumab. Overall response rate to FMC was 68%, comprising 6 complete remissions (all bone‐marrow confirmed) and 11 partial remissions. Alemtuzumab consolidation increased the intent‐to‐treat overall response rate to 92% (12 complete remissions; 11 partial remissions). Median overall survival after FMC‐A was 17.1 months and median progression‐free survival was 11.9 months. Progression‐free survival tended to be shorter for patients with high‐level T‐cell leukemia 1 oncoprotein expression. Hematologic toxicities were the most frequent grade 3/4 side effects under FMC‐A. Exclusively in the 21 alemtuzumab‐consolidated patients, 13 cytomegalovirus reactivations were observed; 9 of these 13 represented a clinically relevant infection.

CONCLUSIONS

FMC‐A is a safe and efficient protocol in T‐PLL, which compares favorably to published data. Cancer 2013;119:2258–2267. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
An Interplay of Cooperativity between Cation⋅⋅⋅π, Anion⋅⋅⋅π and CH⋅⋅⋅Anion Interactions
Authors: Mandal Tarun K. , Samanta Siddhartha , Chakraborty Sourav , Datta Ayan
Published: March 2013

Mixed cation (Li+, Na+and K+) and anion (F−, Cl−, Br−) complexes of the aromatic π‐surfaces (top and bottom) are studied by using dispersion‐corrected density functional theory. The selectivity of the aromatic surface to interact with a cation or an anion can be tuned and even reversed by the electron‐donating/electron‐accepting nature of the side groups. The presence of a methyl group in the OCH3, SCH3, OC2H5in the side groups of the aromatic ring leads to further cooperative stabilization of the otherwise unstable/weakly stable anion⋅⋅⋅π complexes by bending of the side groups towards the anion to facilitate CH⋅⋅⋅anion interactions. The cooperativity among the interactions is found to be as large as 100 kcal mol−1quantified by dissection of the three individual forces from the total interaction energy. The crystal structures of the fluoride binding tripodal and hexapodal ligands provide experimental evidence for such cooperative interactions.
Controllable Assembly and Dehydrogenation Catalysis Activity of Urchinlike FeNi–Ru(tips) Amorphous Alloy Hierarchical Nanostructures
Authors: Sun Yuzhen , Wen Ming , Wu Qingsheng , Wu Qingnan
Published: March 2013

Novel, urchinlike FeNi–Ru(tips) hierarchical‐structured nanospheres (≈9.17 µm) were constructed through a controllable assembly process. Offering large surface areas and macropores as well as more active sites, this special structured catalyst can greatly facilitate reactant diffusion and transport to promote reactivity. By combining the advantages of Ru and FeNi nanomaterials, the resultant urchinlike FeNi–Ru(tips) nanospheres exhibit excellent catalytic activity with the dehydrogenation rate of 2245.87 mL min−1 g−1 toward the hydrolytic dehydrogenation of aqueous NaBH4 under ambient atmosphere at room temperature, in which Fe19Ni76–Ru5 shows the best dehydrogenation reactivity with low activation energy (41.57 kJ mol−1). Additionally, these new structured nanoalloys present controllable ferromagnetic behavior by means of adjusting the molar content of Fe, Ni, and Ru.
Network mobility protocol for vehicular ad hoc networks
Authors: Chen Yuh‐Shyan , Hsu Chih‐Shun , Cheng Ching‐Hsueh
Published: March 2013

The goal of the network mobility management is to effectively reduce the complexity of handoff procedure and keep mobile devices connecting to the Internet. When users are going to leave an old subnet and enter a new subnet, the handoff procedure is executed on the mobile device, and it may break off the real‐time service, such as VoIP or mobile TV, because of the mobility of mobile devices. Because a vehicle is moving so fast, it may cause the handoff and packet loss problems. Both of the problems will lower down the throughput of the network. To overcome these problems, we propose a novel network mobility protocol for vehicular ad hoc networks. In a highway, because every car is moving in a fixed direction at a high speed, a car adopting our protocol can acquire an IP address from the vehicular ad hoc network through the vehicle‐to‐vehicle communications. The vehicle can rely on the assistance of a front vehicle to execute the prehandoff procedure, or it may acquire a new IP address through multihop relays from the car on the lanes of the same or opposite direction and thus may reduce the handoff delay and maintain the connectivity to the Internet. Simulation results have shown that the proposed scheme is able to reduce both the handoff delay and packet loss rate. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental associations with gene transcription inBabineLake rainbow trout: evidence for local adaptation
Authors: Wellband Kyle W. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: March 2013

The molecular genetic mechanisms facilitating local adaptation in salmonids continue to be poorly characterized. Gene transcription is a highly regulated step in the expression of a phenotype and it has been shown to respond to selection and thus may be one mechanism that facilitates the development of local adaptation. Advances in molecular genetic tools and an increased understanding of the functional roles of specific genes allow us to test hypotheses concerning the role of variable environments in shaping transcription at known‐function candidate loci. To address these hypotheses, wild rainbow trout were collected in their first summer and subjected to metabolic and immune challenges. We assayed gene transcription at candidate loci that play a role in the molecular genetic response to these stresses, and correlated transcription with temperature data from the streams and the abundance and diversity of bacteria as characterized by massively parallel pyrosequencing. Patterns of transcriptional regulation from resting to induced levels varied among populations for both treatments. Co‐inertia analysis demonstrated significant associations between resting levels of metabolic gene transcription and thermal regime (R2 = 0.19,P = 0.013) as well as in response to challenge (R2 = 0.39,P = 0.001) and resting state and challenged levels of cytokine gene transcription with relative abundances of bacteria (resting:R2 = 0.25,P = 0.009, challenged:R2 = 0.65,P = 0.001). These results show that variable environments, even within a small geographic range (<250 km), can drive divergent selection among populations for transcription of genes related to surviving stress.