bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Well Observed by the Poet”: Elias Brand and Richardson's British Ancients
Authors: Domingo Darryl P.
Published: June 2012

Although Elias Brand contributes only one letter to the first edition of Clarissa, and three letters to the revised third edition of 1751, he is considered by Samuel Richardson important enough to include in his list of the “Principal Characters.” This article accounts for Brand's complicated role by analyzing in detail the meaning of the forty-five quotations punctuating his letters, as well as the manner in which he quotes his tags and texts. Brand's marshalling of spurious evidence against Clarissa and his habit of quoting authors as authorities suggests that the latter may be a key to the credibility of the former. Brand represents himself as a confirmed “Ancient,” but taking the pedant at his own word is dangerous because of the extent of his surprising debt to the British “Moderns” and to the seventeenth-century Oxford scholar and Anglo-Latin poet, John Owen. This article concludes that Brand's letters are thematic and structurally integral to a novel that is, in many ways, about the consequences of right and wrong reading.
Isolated hypoglossal schwannoma in a 9-year-old child
Authors: Santarius Thomas , Dakoji Srikanth , Afshari Fardad T. , Raymond Frances L. , Firth Helen V. , Fernandes Helen M. , Garnett Matthew R.
Published: June 2012

The authors report a case of an isolated schwannoma of left hypoglossal nerve in a 9-year-old girl. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of hypoglossal nerve schwannoma in the pediatric population in the absence of neurofibromatosis Type 2.

The patient presented with a 2-month history of morning nausea and vomiting with occasional daytime headaches. Magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent CT scanning revealed a dumbbell tumor with a belly in the lower third of the posterior fossa and head underneath the left jugular foramen. Its neck protruded through an expanded hypoglossal canal. Although the lesion bore radiological characteristics of a hypoglossal schwannoma, the absence of hypoglossal palsy and the apparent lack of such tumors in the pediatric population the preoperative diagnosis was not certain.

The tumor was approached via a midline suboccipital craniotomy, and gross-total resection was achieved. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. Blood and tumor tests for mutations in the NF2 gene were negative. Postoperative mild hypoglossal palsy recovered by the 3-month follow-up, and an MRI study obtained at 1 year did not show recurrence.
Passive language mapping with magnetoencephalography in pediatric patients with epilepsy
Authors: Van Poppel Mark , Wheless James W. , Clarke Dave F. , McGregor Amy , McManis Mark H. , Perkins Freedom F. , Van Poppel Katherine , Fulton Stephen , Boop Frederick A.
Published: June 2012

Object

Functional mapping is important for determining surgical candidacy and also in epilepsy surgery planning. However, in young children and uncooperative patients, language mapping has been particularly challenging despite the advances in performing noninvasive functional studies. In this study the authors review a series of children with epilepsy who underwent language mapping with magnetoencephalography (MEG) while sedated or sleeping, to determine receptive language localization for presurgical evaluation.

Methods

The authors undertook a retrospective review of patients who underwent MEG between December 2007 and July 2009, and identified 15 individuals who underwent passive language testing as part of their presurgical evaluation because they were unable to participate in traditional language testing, such as Wada or functional MRI. Factors necessitating passive language testing included age and neurocognitive development.

Results

Three of the 15 patients were deemed candidates for epilepsy surgery based on the results from standard preoperative testing, including video electroencephalography, MRI, and passive receptive language testing using MEG technology. The MEG studies were used successfully to localize language in all 3 patients, creating opportunities for seizure freedom through surgery that would not otherwise have been available. All 3 patients then underwent resective epilepsy surgery without experiencing postoperative language deficits.

Conclusions

This case series is the first to look at language mapping during sleep (passive language mapping) in which MEG was used and is the first to evaluate passive language testing in a patient population with intracranial pathological entities. This case series demonstrates that MEG can provide an alternative method for receptive language localization in patients with barriers to more traditional language testing, and in these 3 cases surgery was performed safely based on the results.
Neuronal immunoexpression and a distinct subtype of adult primary supratentorial glioblastoma with a better prognosis
Authors: Pallud Johan , Dezamis Edouard , Audureau Etienne , Devaux Bertrand , Souillard-Scemama Raphaëlle , Sanai Nader , Page Philippe , Beuvon Frédéric , Koziak Maria , Oppenheim Catherine , Dhermain Frédéric , Schlienger Michel , Meder Jean-François , Roux François-Xavier , Varlet Pascale
Published: June 2012

Object

In this study, the authors address whether neurofilament protein (NFP) expression can be used as an independent prognostic factor in primary glioblastoma multiformes (GBMs).

Methods

Three hundred and two consecutive adult patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial primary GBMs were analyzed (January 2000–August 2008). Detailed data regarding clinical, imaging, and pathological findings, oncological treatments, and outcomes were recorded. Neurofilament protein immunoexpression served to identify NFP-positive tumor cells (normal entrapped neurons and mature ganglion-like cells excluded).

Results

Neurofilament-positive cells were identified in 177 GBMs (58.6%). Patients with NFP-positive GBMs were younger (p < 0.0001), and their GBMs presented with more temporal lobe tumor localization (p = 0.029) and more cortical involvement (p = 0.0003). Neurofilament-negative GBMs presented with more ventricular contact (p < 0.0001) and more tumor midline crossing (p = 0.03). Median overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were 13.0 and 7.6 months, respectively, for NFP-positive GBMs, and 7.0 and 5.1 months, respectively, for NFP-negative GBMs. Multivariate analysis revealed NFP immunoexpression, tumor midline crossing, complete resection, and radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy as independent factors associated with overall survival. Neurofilament protein–positive immunoexpression was associated with longer overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.54, 95% CI 0.40–0.74; p < 0.0001) and longer PFS (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53–0.96; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Neurofilament protein–positive immunoexpression represents a strong, therapeutically independent prognostic factor for primary supratentorial GBM clinical outcome among adult patients. Neurofilament protein–GBM's unique pathological features are not only associated with distinct clinical and anatomical behavior, but are also predictive of overall patient survival and PFS. Neurofilament protein immunoexpression may help identify a distinct subgroup of primary GBMs with a favorable prognosis, which should be considered in the design of future targeted therapies.
Deux générations de musiciens au xviiie siècle : la famille Dobet de Chartres à Châteaudun, 1713-1829
Authors: Caillou François , Granger Sylvie , Maillard Christophe
Published: June 2012

Résumé Un père, ses deux fils et sa fille : quatre musiciens sur deux générations du xviii e  siècle au début du xix e  siècle. Leurs destins s’entrecroisent dans un triangle Chartres/Blois/Orléans, dont Châteaudun serait le cœur. Leurs itinéraires déclinent les principales possibilités alors offertes aux professionnels de la musique. D’une part, la musique liturgique au service de l’Église, dès l’enfance grâce à la formation maîtrisienne, et sauf accident jusqu’au grand âge. D’autre part, la musique profane, par l’alliance de l’enseignement (clavecin), de la composition et du service des élites sociales. Ainsi que, pour la fille, une vie d’organiste tissée dans la discrétion, sans s’éloigner du foyer paternel. La Révolution fait dévier ces trajectoires, coupant net les carrières des deux fils, à l’Église pour l’un, dans les salons pour l’autre, et les ramenant à Châteaudun. Ils y tiennent l’orgue du temple de la Raison avant de participer activement à la reconstruction cultuelle postconcordataire. Une enquête « à six mains », dans des sources diversifiées, a reconstitué une famille de musiciens obscurs et pourtant actifs, représentatifs de ce qu’était le tissu culturel des provinces de la France moderne.
Le mythe de l'obéissance de la Moselle napoléonienne (1811-1814)
Authors: Horn Pierre
Published: June 2012

Résumé Si l’obéissance caractérisant la Moselle napoléonienne est un mythe sans fondement, c’est que de 1810 à 1814 la Lorraine allemande, région généralement connue comme l’une des plus soumises du Grand Empire, apparaît de plus en plus dissidente. Tous les ingrédients de la sédition sont réunis : résistance aux mesures d’un pouvoir discrédité, opposition à ses agents, révoltes populaires, contrebande et fraude galopantes, recours croissant à la violence. Jusque-là, le département de la Moselle était pourtant connu pour être, tout à la fois, soumis, obéissant, légaliste et fidèle : l’esprit des Mosellans était présenté comme « excellent », aussi bien par les administrateurs napoléoniens que par les historiens qui ont suivi. Depuis sa prise de fonction en 1805, le préfet de la Moselle, Viénot de Vaublanc, ne cessait d’assurer le pouvoir central de la docilité de son département et répondait même de la fidélité de ses administrés. Dans cette démonstration qui tendra à prouver que l’obéissance du département de la Moselle tient bien plus du mythe que de la réalité historique, la Lorraine allemande sera notre unique champ d’investigation. La dissidence de cette dernière, de 1811 à 1814, nous portera à remettre en question certains mythes particulièrement tenaces dans une région frontalière sarro-mosellane où la légende exerce, aujourd’hui encore, un certain empire.
Durability of fired clay bricks containing granite powder
Authors: Xavier G. C. , Saboya F. , Maia P. C. , Alexandre J.
Published: June 2012

Over the past few decades, hundreds of papers have been published on the benefits of including rock powder as a raw material in fired clay brick manufacture. Very little has been written, however, about the durability and long-term behaviour of the final product. As a rule, the ceramic bricks used in construction in developing countries are fired at low temperatures, which detracts from their mechanical performance. This is particularly visible in harsh environmental conditions, where weathering causes severe deterioration. The present paper describes the impact of weathering on clay bricks containing from 0 to 10% granite powder, an industrial by-product. The specimens were fired at 500, 700 or 900 ºC and subsequently exposed to natural environmental conditions or accelerated laboratory weathering. Their physical and mechanical properties were evaluated to determine the effect of the composition of raw materials on fired clay product durability.
A Notation for the Task-Oriented Modeling of Business Processes
Authors: Bruno Giorgio
Published: June 2012

Current notations for business processes are mainly technological tools and lack strong links with the ontological items, i.e., the tasks and the business entities that information systems consist of. In particular, the information flow is missing from process models and human decisions are not adequately represented. In order to overcome those drawbacks, this paper proposes a notation, called TOMP (Task-Oriented Modeling of business Processes), which considers tasks and decisions as first-class constructs in process models and provides the explicit representation of the information flow in connection with an information model. It also illustrates the structure of to-do lists, which are the major interface between the participants and their tasks.
Transcriptional Regulation of Cardiac Genes Balance Pro- and Anti-Hypertrophic Mechanisms in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Gennebäck Nina , Wikström Gerhard , Hellman Urban , Samuel Jane-Lise , Waldenström Anders , Mörner Stellan
Published: June 2012

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy. HCM is often hereditary, but our knowledge of the mechanisms leading from mutation to phenotype is incomplete. The transcriptional expression patterns in the myocar - dium of HCM patients may contribute to understanding the mechanisms that drive and stabilize the hypertrophy. Cardiac myectomies/biopsies from 8 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and 5 controls were studied with whole genome Illumina microarray gene expression (detecting 18 189 mRNA). When comparing HOCM myocardium to controls, there was significant transcriptional down-regulation of the MYH6, EGR1, APOB and FOS genes, and significant transcriptional up-regulation of the ACE2, JAK2, NPPA (ANP), APOA1 and HDAC5 genes. The transcriptional regulation revealed both pro- and anti-hypertrophic mechanisms. The pro-hypertrophic response was explained by the transcriptional down-regulation of MYH6, indicating that the switch to the fetal gene program is maintained, and the transcriptional up-regulation of JAK2 in the JAK-STAT pathway. The anti-hypertrophic response was seen as a transcriptional down-regulation of the immediate early genes (IEGs), FOS and EGR1, and a transcriptional up-regulation of ACE2 and HDAC5. This can be interpreted as a transcriptional endogenous protection system in the heart of the HOCM patients, neither growing nor suppressing the already hypertrophic myocardium.
Lidar observation and model simulation of a volcanic-ash-induced cirrus cloud during the Eyjafjallajökull eruption
Authors: Rolf C. , Krämer M. , Schiller C. , Hildebrandt M. , Riese M.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Heterogeneous ice formation induced by volcanic ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in April 2010 is investigated based on the combination of a cirrus cloud observed with a backscatter lidar over Jülich (Western Germany) and model simulations along backward trajectories. The microphysical properties of the cirrus cloud could only be represented by the microphysical model under the assumption of an enhanced number of efficient ice nuclei originating from the volcanic eruption. The ice nuclei (IN) concentration determined by lidar measurements directly before and after cirrus cloud occurrence implies a value of around 0.1 cm−3 (in comparison clean IN conditions: 0.01 cm−3). This leads to a cirrus cloud with rather small ice crystals having a mean radius of 12 μm and a modification of the ice particle number (0.08 cm−3 instead of 3 × 10−4 cm−3 under clean IN conditions). The effectiveness of ice nuclei was estimated by the use of the microphysical model and the backward trajectories based on ECMWF data, establishing a freezing threshold of around 105% relative humidity with respect to ice in a temperature range from −45 to −55 °C. Only with these highly efficient ice nuclei was it possible for the cirrus cloud to be formed in a slightly supersaturated environment.
The AACES field experiments: SMOS calibration and validation across the Murrumbidgee River catchment
Authors: Peischl S. , Walker J. P. , Rüdiger C. , Ye N. , Kerr Y. H. , Kim E. , Bandara R. , Allahmoradi M.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Following the launch of the European Space Agency's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission on 2 November 2009, SMOS soil moisture products need to be rigorously validated at the satellite's approximately 45 km scale and disaggregation techniques for producing maps with finer resolutions tested. The Australian Airborne Cal/val Experiments for SMOS (AACES) provide the basis for one of the most comprehensive assessments of SMOS data world-wide by covering a range of topographic, climatic and land surface variability within an approximately 500 × 100 km2 study area, located in South-East Australia. The AACES calibration and validation activities consisted of two extensive field experiments which were undertaken across the Murrumbidgee River catchment during the Australian summer and winter season of 2010, respectively. The datasets include airborne L-band brightness temperature, thermal infrared and multi-spectral observations at 1 km resolution, as well as extensive ground measurements of near-surface soil moisture and ancillary data, such as soil temperature, soil texture, surface roughness, vegetation water content, dew amount, leaf area index and spectral characteristics of the vegetation. This paper explains the design and data collection strategy of the airborne and ground component of the two AACES campaigns and presents a preliminary analysis of the field measurements including the application and performance of the SMOS core retrieval model on the diverse land surface conditions captured by the experiments. The data described in this paper are publicly available from the website: http://www.moisturemap.monash.edu.au/aaces.
Zachary Macaulay 1768-1838
Authors: Whyte Iain
Published: June 2012

In 1833 Thomas Fowell Buxton, the parliamentary successor to William Wilberforce, proposed a toast to the anti-slavery tutor of us all - Mr. Macaulay. Yet Zachary Macaulays considerable contribution to the ending of slavery in the British Empire has received scant recognition by historians. This book seeks to fill that gap, focussing on his involvement with slavery and anti-slavery but also examining the people and events that influenced him in his lifes work. It traces his Scottish roots and his torrid account of years as a young overseer on a Jamaican plantation. His accidental stumbling into the anti-slavery circle through a family marriage led to formative years in the government of the free colony of Sierra Leone dealing with settlers, slave traders, local chiefs and a French invasion. His return to Britain in 1799 began nearly forty years of research, writing, and reporting in the long campaign to get rid of what he described as this foul stain on the nation. James Stephen rated him as the most feared and hated foe of slave interests.His weaknesses and failures are explored alongside his unswerving commitment to the cause to which he gave his energy, sacrificed his business interests, and saw as a natural result of his strong religious faith. This book is a result of extensive research of Macaulays own prolific writings and seeks to illustrate the man behind them, his passions and his prejudices, his steely resolve and his personal shyness, above all his willingness to work unremittingly in the background, generating the power to drive the engine of anti-slavery to victory.
Conclusion et perspectives
Authors: Lemasson Jean-Pierre , Trubek Amy
Published: June 2012

La conclusion examine, en faisant la synthèse des divers articles de cette publication, les conditions spécifiques de production et de commercialisation des fromages, des raisins et du vin et du sirop d’érable tout particulièrement au Vermont et au Québec. Chaque catégorie de produits soulève des enjeux différenciés quant aux notions de localité, terroirs et circuits de commercialisation. Toutefois l’obstacle majeur réside surtout dans une véritable incompréhension de ce qu’est la notion de terroir et dans le manque de réflexion qui lui est accordée en Amérique du Nord comme outil potentiel de développement économique et culturel.
Traduction littéraire et diplomatie culturelle. Le cas de la fiction québécoise traduite en Espagne1
Authors: Córdoba Serrano María Sierra
Published: June 2012

Cet article montre que si la fiction québécoise réussit à franchir les frontières linguistiques et culturelles et à se créer un espace de réception dans les champs littéraires espagnol et catalan – et ce malgré les nombreux obstacles à la diffusion d’une littérature minoritaire – c’est grâce à l’action d’acteurs institutionnels associés au gouvernement fédéral canadien et au gouvernement provincial québécois. Un tel investissement est motivé par le fait que la traduction littéraire est considérée comme un outil au service de la diplomatie culturelle qui sert à construire une « image de marque » positive du Canada et du Québec à l’étranger, une image qui les rendrait compétitifs sur la scène internationale. Or, une fois hors de la portée des réseaux institutionnels, les textes sélectionnés pour être traduits entrent dans les réseaux des espaces cibles où ils se voient recontextualisés. Dans ce nouveau contexte, ils ne pourront pas échapper à leur resémantisation axio-idéologique par les agents issus des champs cibles, une resémantisation qui peut d’ailleurs être loin des représentations du Canada ou du Québec voulues par les acteurs institutionnels qui avaient encouragé le transfert littéraire. Ainsi, cet article dégage la portée, mais également les limites de l’action de ces acteurs institutionnels, ainsi que les rapports ambivalents qui s’établissent entre eux et les agents appartenant au champ littéraire, notamment les éditeurs québécois, mais aussi les éditeurs espagnols et catalans, qui ont le dernier mot en ce qui concerne la sélection des oeuvres à traduire.
Production of argon free oxygen by adsorptive air separation on Ag‐ETS‐10
Authors: Shi Meng , Kim Jihong , Sawada James A. , Lam Jade , Sarabadan Somayeh , Kuznicki Tetyana M. , Kuznicki Steven M.
Published: June 2012

The purification of different components of air, such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, is an important industrial process. Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) is surpassing the traditional cryogenic distillation for many air separation applications, because of its lower energy consumption. Unfortunately, the oxygen product purity in an industrial PSA process is typically limited to 95% due to the presence of argon which always shows the same adsorption equilibrium properties as oxygen on most molecular sieves. Recent work investigating the adsorption of nitrogen, oxygen and argon on the surface of silver‐exchanged Engelhard Titanosilicate‐10 (ETS‐10), indicates that this molecular sieve is promising as an adsorbent capable of producing high‐purity oxygen. High‐purity oxygen (99.7+%) was generated using a bed of Ag‐ETS‐10 granules to separate air (78% N2, 21% O2, 1% Ar) at 25°C and 100 kPa, with an O2 recovery rate greater than 30%. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 982–987, 2013
Bleeding and mortality outcomes in ITP clinical trials: A review of thrombopoietin mimetics data
Authors: Altomare Ivy , Wasser Jeffrey , Pullarkat Vinod
Published: June 2012

Patients with ITP may have severe thrombocytopenia, putting them at risk for serious bleeding. ITP trials of new treatments must allow use of standard‐of‐care therapies to prevent serious bleeding. Thrombopoietin mimetic trials used platelet counts and rescue/concomitant medication use as endpoints. These trials were of insufficient size and duration to measure mortality or serious bleeding, which are infrequent with appropriate treatment. A recent Cochrane review criticized the thrombopoietin mimetic registrational trials for inadequately assessing bleeding and survival. We discuss how these endpoints are difficult to measure in clinical trials designed to improve platelet counts and minimize bleeding, in accordance with ethical trial design. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organophosphine/phosphite‐stabilized silver(I) complexes bearing N‐acetylbenzamide ligand: synthesis, characterization and potential application in metal organic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Tao Xian , Shen Ke‐Cheng , Tang Qing‐Yun , Feng Meng , Fang Jiang‐Tao , Wang Yu‐Long , Shen Ying‐Zhong
Published: June 2012

New N‐silver(I) acetylbenzamide complexes of type Ln⋅AgNC9H8O2 (L = PPh3; n = 1, 2a; n = 2, 2b; n = 3, 2c; L = P(OEt)3; n = 1, 2d; n = 2, 2e; n = 3, 2f) were prepared. These complexes were obtained in high yields and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, 13C{H} NMR, 31P{H} NMR and IR spectroscopy, respectively. The molecular structure of 2b has been determined by X‐ray single‐crystal analysis in which the silver atom is in a distorted tetrahedral geometry and crystallizes as cis–trans. New N‐silver(I) acetylbenzamide complexes have a four‐membered ring, which could influence their chemical and physical properties and modulate volatility. Metal organic chemical vapor deposition experiments were carried out successfully at 400°C and 450°C using 2e as precursor for the deposition of silver films, respectively. The high‐purity silver film obtained at 400°C is dense and homogeneous. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of bis‐N‐alkyl imidazolium salts and their palladium(0)(NHC)(η2‐MA)2 complexes
Authors: Tromp Dorette S. , Hauwert Peter , Elsevier Cornelis J.
Published: June 2012

New N‐Alkyl‐substituted imidazolium salts as well as a series of their corresponding [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes have been obtained by three routes in good yield. The previously reported synthesis for the analogous N‐aryl substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes has been improved. The N‐alkyl‐substituted [Pd(NHC)(MA)2] complexes are thermally more labile than their N‐aryl counterparts. Catalytic transfer semi‐hydrogenation of phenylpropyne resulted in good to excellent chemo‐ and stereo‐ selectivity conversion into (Z)‐phenylpropene. The size of the alkyl substituents correlates with the rate of hydrogenation in the sense that more bulky substituents give rise to faster transfer hydrogenation rates. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel tetradentate diamine dioxime ligands: synthesis, characterization and in vivo behavior of their 99mTc‐complexes
Authors: Mirković Marija , Janković Drina , Vranješ‐Đurić Sanja , Radović Magdalena , Stanković Dragana , Mijin Dušan , Nikolić Nadežda
Published: June 2012

Two novel diamine dioxime ligands, 4,7‐diaza‐3,8‐diethyldecane‐2,9‐dione bis oxime (3) and 4,9‐diaza‐3,10‐diethyldodecane‐2,11‐dione bis oxime (5), were synthesized in order to develop new brain perfusion imaging agents, based on 99mTc(V)‐complexes. The synthesis involved condensation of 2‐hydroxyimino‐3‐pentanone with appropriate diamine in protic solvent which afforded the bis imine adducts. Subsequent reduction of imine functional groups yielded a diastereoisomeric mixture of 3 and 5. UV–visible, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analysis were used to characterize the structures of the synthesized compounds. 99mTc‐complexes of both diamine dioximes were prepared and radiolabeling conditions optimized to give the maximum yield. Physicochemical parameters of the labeled complexes as well as and their biodistribution in rats were investigated. Both compounds (3 and 5) formed 99mTc‐complexes with a net charge of zero, determined by electrophoresis. The resultant lipophilic 99mTc‐complexes of 3 and 5 were readily formed at pH ~9.0 within 10 min at room temperature with yields of 90% and 95%, respectively. The 99mTc‐3 complex was found to be stable within 1 h, while 99mTc‐5 was stable for a few hours. A significant brain uptake of 99mTc‐3 (2.1% injected dose) and 99mTc‐5 (1.8% injected dose) complexes, 2 min after injection, is in accordance with their lipophilicity. The present study suggests that both ligands are promising candidates as new 99mTc‐based brain‐imaging agents. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, characterization, biological studies and in vitro cytotoxicity on human cancer cell lines of titanium(IV) and tin(IV) derivatives with the α,α′‐dimercapto‐o‐xylene ligand
Authors: Gómez‐Ruiz Santiago , Stanojković Tatjana P. , Kaluđerović Goran N.
Published: June 2012

The reaction of α,α′‐dimercapto‐o‐xylene (H2dmox) with different precursors such as SnMe2Cl2, [Ti(η5‐C5H5)2Cl2] and [Ti(η5‐C5H4Me)2Cl2] (1:1) in the presence of two equivalents of NEt3 yielded the complexes [SnMe2(dmox)] (1), [Ti(η5‐C5H5)2(dmox)] (2) and [Ti(η5‐C5H4Me)2(dmox)] (3), respectively. 1–3 have been characterized by spectroscopic methods; in addition, complex 3 has been determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Furthermore, structural studies based on density functional theory calculations of 1 and 2 have been carried out. The cytotoxic activity of 1–3 was tested against the tumour cell lines human adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukaemia K562 and human malignant melanoma Fem‐x. The results of this study show a higher cytotoxicity of the tin(IV) complex (1) in comparison to their titanium(IV) counterparts (2 and 3) as well as an improvement in the cytotoxic activity of compounds 2 and 3 compared to their titanocene(IV) dichloride analogues [Ti(η5‐C5H5)2Cl2] and [Ti(η5‐C5H4Me)2Cl2]. In view of the relatively high cytotoxicity of compound 1, a detailed study on the effects of the in vitro treatment of cancer cell lines using this compound was carried out. Thus cell cycle experiments on all the studied cell lines treated with 1 show that this complex seems to cause disturbances in the G1 phase of HeLa, and in the G1 and G2/M phases of Fem‐x cell line, while almost no disturbances were observed in the cycle of K562 cells treated with 1. Finally, DNA laddering method showed that treatment of the HeLa and Fem‐x cell lines with IC90 doses of 1 resulted in the induction of apoptosis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biological activity of selected boronic acids and their derivatives
Authors: Adamczyk‐Woźniak Agnieszka , Komarovska‐Porokhnyavets Olena , Misterkiewicz Bogusław , Novikov Volodymyr P. , Sporzyński Andrzej
Published: June 2012

A series of substituted phenylboronic acids and benzoxaboroles were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Antibacterial and antifungal action activity of several compounds was tested against Escherichia coli 67, Staphylococcus aureus 209‐p, Mycobacterium luteum VCM B‐868, Aspergillus niger VCM F‐1119 and Candida tenuis VCM Y‐70. Substituted phenylboronic acids have low biological activity against all the investigated species. Benzoxaboroles reveal higher biological activity in comparison with the corresponding acids. The highest activity was observed for small benzoxaborole molecules, and the unsubstituted benzoxaborole has only slightly lower biological activity as compared with the 5‐fluoro‐substituted one (AN2690). The compound possessing two oxaborole fragments has very high biological activity towards Mycobacterium luteum and both investigated fungi. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemo‐selective copper‐catalyzed C‐O coupling reactions of phenols with aryl/vinyl halides using enaminone as efficient ligand
Authors: Wan Jie‐Ping , Wang Chunping , Liu Yunyun
Published: June 2012

The copper‐catalyzed Ullmann C‐O coupling reactions between phenols and aryl/vinyl halides have been efficiently performed by employing (E)‐3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one, an easily available enaminone, as ligand. This new ligand is advantageous for its easy availability, broad applicability and good efficiency. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Morphology, microstructure, and electrical properties of poly(D,L‐lactic acid)/carbon nanocapsule composite nanofibers
Authors: Chien Huan‐Sheng , Wang Chi
Published: June 2012

The morphologies and properties of poly(D,L‐lactic acid)/carbon nanocapsule (CNCs) electrospun fiber mats were studied. To determine the effect of filler, a solution without sufficient entanglement density was used. The rheological results showed that the solution entanglement density was enhanced by the addition of filler, which led to the formation of network between the polymer chains and filler particles. The findings can be used for further exploration of electrospinning in semidilute solutions. The electrical conductivities of electrospun fiber mats and cast films were determined and fitted using the percolation theory. When the CNC content was above the critical percolation concentration, a master curve was obtained provided that the conductivity curves were normalized with the level of percolation network. The porosity effect was investigated. In addition, the microstructure of as‐spun composite fiber was examined in detail. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation and characterization of polyaniline N‐grafted with poly(ethyl acrylate) synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization
Authors: Massoumi Bakhshali , Abdollahi Mahdi , Shabestari Somayyeh Jahed , Entezami Ali Akbar
Published: June 2012

Polyaniline (PANI) N‐grafted with poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) was synthesized by the grafting of bromo‐terminated poly (ethyl acrylate) (PEA‐Br) onto the leucoemeraldine form of PANI. PEA‐Br was synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization of ethyl acrylate in the presence of methyl‐2‐bromopropionate and copper(I) chloride/bipyridine as the initiator and catalyst systems, respectively. The leucoemeraldine form of PANI was deprotonated by butyl lithium and then reacted with PEA‐Br to prepare PEA‐g‐PANI graft copolymers containing different amounts of PEA via an N‐grafting reaction. The graft copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Solubility testing showed that the solubility of PANI in chloroform was increased by the grafting of PEA onto PANI. The morphology of the PEA‐g‐PANI graft copolymer films was observed by scanning electron microscopy to be homogeneous. The electrical conductivity of the graft copolymers was measured by the four‐probe method. The results show that the conductivity of the PANI decreased significantly with increasing grafting density of PEA onto the PANI backbone up to 7 wt % and then remained almost constant with further increases in the grafting percentage of PEA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Evaporation rate effect on starting point of shrinkage stress development during drying process in solvent cast polymer film
Authors: Katsumata Reika , Ata Seisuke , Kuboyama Keiichi , Ougizawa Toshiaki
Published: June 2012

To reveal the effect of drying conditions on shrinkage stress existing between a film and a substrate, a polystyrene/toluene solution was coated on a glass substrate, and the volume fraction of toluene at the time when the stress starts to grow (ϕS) was measured at various drying temperatures and evaporation rates. ϕS decreased with increase of drying temperature at a constant evaporation rate, while ϕS increased with increase of evaporation rate at a constant drying temperature. From these results, it was suggested that the dominant factors affecting the starting point of stress were both the chain mobility and the measurement time‐scale. Considering the two factors, the tendency of ϕS with the drying conditions is quite similar to that of the solvent content at glass transition point, and this fact indicates a strong correlation between the starting point of stress and the glass transition of coated solution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic study of polymeric metal complexes derived from divalent transition metal ions with 2,4‐dihydroxy benzophenone and 2,4‐dihydroxy acetophenone
Authors: Ingole Pravin G. , Bajaj Hari C. , Singh Kripal
Published: June 2012

The polymeric metal complexes of poly (3‐hydroxy‐4‐((Z)‐1‐(phenylimino)ethyl)phenyl‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enoate) designated as [poly(3H4‐1PEPMB)] and poly (3‐hydroxy‐4‐((Z)‐phenyl(phenylimino)methyl)phenyl‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enoate designated as [poly(3H4‐PPMPMB)] containing Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Ca(II), and Zn(II) ions were synthesized. The ploymer ligands and metal complexes were charcterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The XRD study of the complexes revealed highly crystalline nature of polychelates. The polymeric complexes were active for the oxidation of aldehyde group. The oxidation activity of Cu (II) complex of poly (3H4‐1PEPMB) was studied for the oxidation of benzaldehyde and its derivaties to corresponding carboxylic acids. The oxidation products were confirmed by GC‐MS analysis. The oxidation of aldehydes was quantitative with 100% selectivity for benzioc acid. Thermal analysis of complexes indicated reasonably good thermal stability. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Prediction of styrene conversion of polystyrene/natural rubber graft copolymerization using reaction conditions: Central composite design versus artificial neural networks
Authors: Aroonsingkarat Kittima , Hansupalak Nanthiya
Published: June 2012

Gross copolymer or the total product of graft copolymerization of polystyrene (PS) and rubber, prepared via emulsion polymerization using a redox initiator, is used to investigate the utilization of central composite design and artificial neural network (ANN) approaches in correlating the graft copolymerization conditions to the monomer conversion. The conditions were manipulated by changing four factors: reaction temperature and time, percentage of deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) in the rubber mixture also containing NR, and amount of chain transfer agent. For DPNR preparation, the incorporation of ultrasound energy into a deproteinizing method (i.e., urea treatment) was preexamined. A shorter reaction time, a lower total nitrogen content, and no agglomeration of rubber particles suggest the success of the incorporation. Results exhibit that the relationship between those factors and the response can be better described by the ANN model, which is further proved to be an excellent tool for the prediction of the conversion at other reaction conditions. In addition, the thermal behavior of gross copolymer is similar to its parents, the rubber and neat PS, but more to the former owing to the larger amount of rubber component. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
A systematic review of studies of quality of life in children and adults with selected congenital anomalies
Authors: Glinianaia Svetlana V. , Embleton Nicholas D. , Rankin Judith
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND Few studies have assessed quality of life (QOL) for children born with major structural congenital anomalies. We aimed to review studies reporting QOL in children and adults born with selected congenital anomalies involving the digestive system. METHODS Systematic review methods were applied to literature searches, development of the data extraction protocol, and the review process. We included studies published in English (1990–2010), which used validated instruments to assess QOL in individuals born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia or abdominal wall defects. RESULTS Of 200 papers identified through literature searches, 111 were excluded after applying restrictions and removing duplicates. After scanning 89 abstracts, 32 full‐text papers were reviewed (none on duodenal atresia), of which 18 (nine in children or adolescents and nine in adults) were included. Studies measured health‐related QOL, but did not assess subjective wellbeing. Instruments used to assess health‐related QOL in children varied considerably. In adults most studies used the Short Form 36. Many studies had methodological limitations, such as being from a single institution, retrospective cohorts, and low sample size. The summarized evidence suggests that health‐related QOL of these children is affected by associated anomalies and ongoing morbidity resulting in lower physical functioning and general health perception. In adults, health‐related QOL is comparable with the general population. CONCLUSIONS The reviewed studies considered health status and functioning as a major determinant of QOL. More studies assessing QOL in patients with major congenital anomalies are needed, and those involving children should use age‐adjusted, validated instruments to measure both health‐related QOL and self‐reported subjective wellbeing. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of storage on whole blood chemiluminescence measurement of equine neutrophils
Authors: Krumrych Wiesław , Skórzewski Radosław , Malinowski Edward
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of duration and temperature of sample storage on whole blood chemiluminescence measurement results. Venous blood from 18 clinically healthy Polish half‐bred horses aged 4 to 11 years were used in the study. Luminol dependent chemiluminescence (CL) was used to measure neutrophil oxygen metabolism in whole blood. Blood samples were examined for spontaneous CL and stimulated by a surface receptor stimulus as well as extra‐receptor stimulus. The assay was performed in two parallel experimental sets with samples stored at 4 and 22 °C, respectively. Whole blood CL was estimated at 2, 6, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after collection. The study demonstrated that temperature and duration of sample storage are factors that determine the quality of CL measurements of whole blood in horses. The study concluded that samples should be stored at 4 °C and the assay should be performed as early as possible. It was also shown that the viability period of horse blood for CL assays is relatively long. Material stored at room temperature for 24 h and even up to 48 h at 4 °C did not show any significant decrease in spontaneous or stimulated chemiluminescence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstracting knowledge from the protein data bank
Authors: Furnham Nicholas , Laskowski Roman A. , Thornton Janet M.
Published: June 2012

In the 40 years since its inception, the Protein Data Bank (PDB) has amassed over 80,000 experimentally determined structural models of proteins, plus many models of DNA and RNA fragments. The majority of the protein models have contributed, in some way, to an understanding of their particular protein's function, be it through the conformation of its catalytic residues, the details of its interactions with other proteins, substrate molecules, DNA, and so on. However, the totality of the data in the PDB provides a rich source of more generalized knowledge about proteins, their molecular biology, and evolution. Here, we describe how the focus of protein structural analysis has developed over the past 40 years. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 99: 183–188, 2013.
Challenges in mass spectrometry‐based quantification of bioactive peptides: A case study exploring the neuropeptide Y family
Authors: Xi Li , Jin Yaping , Parker Edward A. , Josh Peter , Jones Alun , Wijffels Gene , Colgrave Michelle L.
Published: June 2012

The study of biologically active peptides is critical to the understanding of physiological pathways, especially those involved in the development of disease. Historically, the measurement of biologically active endogenous peptides has been undertaken by radioimmunoassay, a highly sensitive and robust technique that permits the detection of physiological concentrations in different biofluid and tissue extracts. Over recent years, a range of mass spectrometric approaches have been applied to peptide quantification with limited degrees of success. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) belong to the NPY family exhibiting regulatory effects on appetite and feeding behavior. The physiological significance of these peptides depends on their molecular forms and in vivo concentrations systemically and at local sites within tissues. In this report, we describe an approach for quantification of individual peptides within mixtures using high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the NPY family peptides. Aspects of quantification including sample preparation, the use of matrix‐matched calibration curves, and internal standards will be discussed. This method for the simultaneous determination of NPY, PYY, and PP was accurate and reproducible but lacks the sensitivity required for measurement of their endogenous concentration in plasma. The advantages of mass spectrometric quantification will be discussed alongside the current obstacles and challenges. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 98: 357–366, 2012.
A short GC‐rich palindrome of human mannose receptor gene coding region displays a conformational switch
Authors: Bansal Aparna , Prasad Manoj , Roy Kapil , Kukreti Shrikant
Published: June 2012

Conformational switching in DNA is fundamental to biological processes. The structural status of a palindromic GC‐rich dodecamer DNA sequence, integral part of human MRC2 coding region, and a related sequence of opposite polarity from human FDX1 gene were characterized and compared. UV‐melting, circular dichroism, and gel electrophoresis experiments demonstrated the formation of intermolecular structures. Although stability and molecularity of both the oligomeric structures were found to be almost identical, their secondary structures differed remarkably as A1 MRC2 sequence showed A‐like and B‐like DNA conformation, whereas the A2 FDX1 sequence exhibited only the A‐like signatures. The study is relevant for understanding structural polymorphism at genomic locations depending on DNA sequence and solution environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97:950–962, 2012.
Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometric assay for the non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor rilpivirine in human plasma
Authors: Burugula Laxminarayana , Pilli Nageswara Rao , Makula Ajitha , Lodagala Durga Srinivas , Kandhagatla Rajnarayana
Published: June 2012

An analytical method based on liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) was developed for the determination of the non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor rilpivirine in human plasma using nevirapine as an internal standard. Analyte and the internal standard were extracted from human plasma by liquid–liquid extraction. The reconstituted samples were chromatographed on a C18 column using a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid buffer (80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The linearity was confirmed in the concentration range 0.51–200 ng/mL in human plasma. Multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification of ion transitions at m/z 367.2/195.1 and 267.1/226.1 for the drug and the internal standard, respectively. The results of the intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy studies were well within the acceptable limits. Extraction recoveries of drug from plasma were >69.5%. A run time of 2.50 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 300 plasma samples per day. The developed method is simple, rapid and sensitive for the determination of rilpivirine concentrations in real‐time plasma samples obtained from pharmacokinetic studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gene delivery using biodegradable polyelectrolyte microcapsules prepared through the layer‐by‐layer technique
Authors: Santos José L. , Nouri Alireza , Fernandes Tiago , Rodrigues João , Tomás Helena
Published: June 2012

Biodegradable and non‐biodegradable microcapsules were prepared via the layer‐by‐layer (LbL) technique consisting of the polyelectrolyte pairs of dextran sulphate/poly‐L‐arginine and poly(styrene sulfonate)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride), respectively, in an attempt to encapsulate plasmid DNA (pDNA) for efficient transfection into NIH 3T3 cells. Results indicated the retention of bioactivity in the encased pDNA, as well as a correlation between the level of in vitro gene expression and biodegradability properties of polyelectrolyte. Furthermore, the incorporation of iron oxide nanoparticles within the polyelectrolyte layers significantly improved the in vitro transfection efficiency of the microcapsules. As a novel pDNA delivery system, the reported biodegradable microcapsules provide useful insight into plasmid‐based vaccination and where there is a prerequisite to deliver genes into cells capable of phagocytosis. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 28: 1088–1094, 2012