bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Aluminium Systems
Authors: Efthymiou Evangelos , Cöcen Öget N. , Ermolli Sergio R.
Published: September 2010

In the present paper, an analytical presentation of some popular aluminium systems that contribute to sustainability of structures is presented. Special emphasis has been given to the properties of aluminium, while the influence of these systems in the overall performance of the structure regarding environment and economy is described. In particular, characteristics of aluminium elements such as high reflectivity and recyclability and their role in life cycle analysis (LCA) are analyzed. The connections between energy efficiency and conservation of buildings and aluminium application are also discussed. Building applications such as curtain walls, window frames and facade sheets are presented and thoroughly investigated, considering their environmental and economic aspects. Furthermore, many innovative techniques that use aluminium elements in collaboration with other systems in order to produce renewable energy, such as solar panels and photovoltaics, are introduced. Finally, environmental innovations such as optimized ventilation mechanisms and light and shade management systems based on aluminium members are presented.
Staphylococcal Superantigen (TSST-1) Mutant Analysis Reveals that T Cell Activation Is Required for Biological Effects in the Rabbit Including the Cytokine Storm
Authors: Stich Norbert , Waclavicek Martina , Model Nina , Eibl Martha M.
Published: September 2010

Staphylococcal superantigens (sAgs), such as toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1), induce massive cytokine production, which may result in toxic shock syndrome (TSS) and sepsis. Recently, we reported that in vitro studies in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) do not reflect the immunological situation of the host, because after exposure to superantigens (sAgs) in vivo, mononuclear cells (MNC) leave the circulation and migrate to organs, e.g., the spleen, liver and lung. Our experimental model of choice is the rabbit because it is comparable to humans in its sensitivity to sAg. T cell activation has been assessed by lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 gene expression after in vivo challenge with TSST-1 and the mutant antigens; expression of the genes of proinflammatory cytokines were taken as indicators for the inflammatory reaction after the combined treatment with TSST-1 and LPS. The question as to whether the biological activities of TSST-1, e.g., lymphocyte extravasation, toxicity and increased sensitivity to LPS, are mediated by T cell activation or activation by MHC II-only, are unresolved and results are contradictory. We have addressed this question by studying these reactions in vivo, with two TSST-1 mutants: one mutated at the MHC binding site (G31R) with reduced MHC binding with residual activity still present, and the other at the T cell binding site (H135A) with no residual function detectable. Here, we report that the mutant G31R induced all the biological effects of the wild type sAg, while the mutant with non-functional TCR binding did not retain any of the toxic effects, proving the pivotal role of T cells in this system.
JaPaFi: A Novel Program for the Identification of Highly Conserved DNA Sequences
Authors: Sadeque Aliya , Barsky Marina , Marass Francesco , Kruczkiewicz Peter , Upton Chris
Published: September 2010

We describe the use of Java Pattern Finder (JaPaFi) to identify short (
Gene Therapy with Helper-Dependent Adenoviral Vectors: Current Advances and Future Perspectives
Authors: Vetrini Francesco , Ng Philip
Published: September 2010

Recombinant Adenoviral vectors represent one of the best gene transfer platforms due to their ability to efficiently transduce a wide range of quiescent and proliferating cell types from various tissues and species. The activation of an adaptive immune response against the transduced cells is one of the major drawbacks of first generation Adenovirus vectors and has been overcome by the latest generation of recombinant Adenovirus, the Helper-Dependent Adenoviral (HDAd) vectors. HDAds have innovative features including the complete absence of viral coding sequences and the ability to mediate high level transgene expression with negligible chronic toxicity. This review summarizes the many aspects of HDAd biology and structure with a major focus on in vivo gene therapy application and with an emphasis on the unsolved issues that these vectors still presents toward clinical application.
Ectromelia Virus Infections of Mice as a Model to Support the Licensure of Anti-Orthopoxvirus Therapeutics
Authors: Parker Scott , Siddiqui Akbar M. , Painter George , Schriewer Jill , Buller R. Mark
Published: September 2010

The absence of herd immunity to orthopoxviruses and the concern that variola or monkeypox viruses could be used for bioterroristic activities has stimulated the development of therapeutics and safer prophylactics. One major limitation in this process is the lack of accessible human orthopoxvirus infections for clinical efficacy trials; however, drug licensure can be based on orthopoxvirus animal challenge models as described in the “Animal Efficacy Rule”. One such challenge model uses ectromelia virus, an orthopoxvirus, whose natural host is the mouse and is the etiological agent of mousepox. The genetic similarity of ectromelia virus to variola and monkeypox viruses, the common features of the resulting disease, and the convenience of the mouse as a laboratory animal underscores its utility in the study of orthopoxvirus pathogenesis and in the development of therapeutics and prophylactics. In this review we outline how mousepox has been used as a model for smallpox. We also discuss mousepox in the context of mouse strain, route of infection, infectious dose, disease progression, and recovery from infection.
Orthopoxvirus Genome Evolution: The Role of Gene Loss
Authors: Hendrickson Robert Curtis , Wang Chunlin , Hatcher Eneida L. , Lefkowitz Elliot J.
Published: September 2010

Poxviruses are highly successful pathogens, known to infect a variety of hosts. The family Poxviridae includes Variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, which has been eradicated as a public health threat but could potentially reemerge as a bioterrorist threat. The risk scenario includes other animal poxviruses and genetically engineered manipulations of poxviruses. Studies of orthologous gene sets have established the evolutionary relationships of members within the Poxviridae family. It is not clear, however, how variations between family members arose in the past, an important issue in understanding how these viruses may vary and possibly produce future threats. Using a newly developed poxvirus-specific tool, we predicted accurate gene sets for viruses with completely sequenced genomes in the genus Orthopoxvirus. Employing sensitive sequence comparison techniques together with comparison of syntenic gene maps, we established the relationships between all viral gene sets. These techniques allowed us to unambiguously identify the gene loss/gain events that have occurred over the course of orthopoxvirus evolution. It is clear that for all existing Orthopoxvirus species, no individual species has acquired protein-coding genes unique to that species. All existing species contain genes that are all present in members of the species Cowpox virus and that cowpox virus strains contain every gene present in any other orthopoxvirus strain. These results support a theory of reductive evolution in which the reduction in size of the core gene set of a putative ancestral virus played a critical role in speciation and confining any newly emerging virus species to a particular environmental (host or tissue) niche.
Antiviral Activity of 4'-thioIDU and Thymidine Analogs against Orthopoxviruses
Authors: Prichard Mark N. , Kern Earl R.
Published: September 2010

The search for effective therapies for orthopoxvirus infections has identified diverse classes of molecules with antiviral activity. Pyrimidine analogs, such as 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (idoxuridine, IDU) were among the first compounds identified with antiviral activity against a number of orthopoxviruses and have been reported to be active both in vitro and in animal models of infection. More recently, additional analogs have been reported to have improved antiviral activity against orthopoxviruses including several derivatives of deoxyuridine with large substituents in the 5 position, as well as analogs with modifications in the deoxyribose moiety including (north)-methanocarbathymidine, and 5-iodo-4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine (4'-thioIDU). The latter molecule has proven to have good antiviral activity against the orthopoxviruses both in vitro and in vivo and has the potential to be an effective therapy in humans.
Fungal Biosorption, An Innovative Treatment for the Decolourisation and Detoxification of Textile Effluents
Authors: Tigini Valeria , Prigione Valeria , Giansanti Pietro , Mangiavillano Antonella , Pannocchia Antonella , Varese Giovanna Cristina
Published: September 2010

Textile effluents are among the most difficult-to-treat wastewaters, due to their considerable amount of recalcitrant and toxic substances. Fungal biosorption is viewed as a valuable additional treatment for removing pollutants from textile wastewaters. In this study the efficiency of Cunninghamella elegans biomass in terms of contaminants, COD and toxicity reduction was tested against textile effluents sampled in different points of wastewater treatment plants. The results showed that C. elegans is a promising candidate for the decolourisation and detoxification of textile wastewaters and its versatility makes it very competitive compared with conventional sorbents adopted in industrial processes.
Water Dynamics at the Root of Metamorphosis in Living Organisms
Authors: Giudice Emilio Del , Spinetti Paola Rosa , Tedeschi Alberto
Published: September 2010

Liquid water has been recognized long ago to be the matrix of many processes, including life and also rock dynamics. Interactions among biomolecules occur very differently in a non-aqueous system and are unable to produce life. This ability to make living processes possible implies a very peculiar structure of liquid water. According to modern Quantum Field Theory (QFT), a complementary principle (in the sense of Niels Bohr) holds between the number N of field quanta (including the matter field whose quanta are just the atoms/molecules) and the phase Ф. This means that when we focus on the atomic structure of matter it loses its coherence properties and, vice versa, when we examine the phase dynamics of the system its atomic structure becomes undefined. Superfluid liquid Helium is the first example of this peculiar quantum dynamics. In the present paper we show how consideration of the phase dynamics of liquid water makes the understanding of its peculiar role in the onset of self-organization in living organisms and in ecosystems possible.
Microbial Source Tracking in a Watershed Dominated by Swine
Authors: Liwimbi Lloyd , Graves Alexandria K. , Israel Daniel W. , Heugten Eric van , Robinson Bradford , Cahoon Charles W. , Lubbers Joice F.
Published: September 2010

The high concentration of swine production in southeastern North Carolina generates public health concerns regarding the potential transport of pathogens from these production systems to nearby surface waters. The microbial source tracking (MST) tool, antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA), was used to identify sources of E. coli in a segment of Six Runs Creek in Sampson County, North Carolina. Among 52 water samples, fecal coliform (FC) counts averaged 272.1 ± 181.6 CFU/100 mL. Comparisons of isolates from water samples to an ARA library with an average rate of correct classification (ARCC) of 94.3% indicated an average of 64% and 27.1% of 1,961 isolates from Six Runs Creek were associated with lagoon effluent and cattle manure respectively. The potential for aerosol transport of bacteria during lagoon spray events, as well as, the potential for wildlife to serve as a vehicle of transport for bacteria from fields and lagoons to nearby surface waters should be investigated further.
Urbanization Effects on Watershed Hydrology and In-Stream Processes in the Southern United States
Authors: O’Driscoll Michael , Clinton Sandra , Jefferson Anne , Manda Alex , McMillan Sara
Published: September 2010

The southern United States is characterized by a humid, subtropical climate and consists of 16 states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland) and Washington DC. Currently this region is experiencing the largest net population growth in the U.S. Over the last century, the expansion of large urban centers and impervious area in the region has altered the hydrologic cycle. This review synthesizes regional research that shows how watershed hydrology, groundwater recharge, stream geomorphology, climate, biogeochemistry, and stream ecology have been affected by urbanization and the expansion of watershed impervious area.
Attac : un tournant écolo
Authors: Haeringer Nicolas
Published: September 2010

Résumé Fondée en 1998, Attac s’est donné pour objectif de « désarmer les marchés ». Plus de dix ans après, l’association, qui entend articuler éducation populaire et action n’a pas délaissé son travail des ressorts du néolibéralisme, et poursuit ses campagnes pour la taxation des transactions financières, contre les « plans de relance » et de soutien aux économies les plus touchées par la crise. Mais Attac s’est très largement ouverte aux questions environnementales et climatiques, qu’elle ne cesse de relier aux questions sociales et économiques. Dans cet entretien, Geneviève Azam revient sur ce « tournant écolo » dont elle est l’une des initiatrices.
« Changer le système, pas le climat » : la construction du mouvement pour la justice climatique
Authors: Haeringer Nicolas
Published: September 2010

Résumé En décembre 2007, des mouvements sociaux et environnementaux, présents à Bali pour le sommet de l’Onu sur le changement climatique ont décidé de créer la coalition « Climate Justice Now ! » (CJN !). Deux ans après, ce réseau a été l’un des piliers des mobilisations organisés en marge du sommet de Copenhague - mobilisations que leurs organisateurs ont décrites comme marquant l’ouverture d’un « nouveau cycle de luttes ». Dans cet entretien, Nicola Bullard? ** revient pour Mouvements sur la naissance de CJN ! et sur les liens que la coalition entretient avec la dynamique altermondialiste.
Penser le passage du social au politique
Authors: Adamovsky Ezequiel
Published: September 2010

Résumé L’un des débats les plus vifs dans lequel se sont engagés les militants altermondialistes porte sur leur rapport au politique - distance critique (et affirmation des forums sociaux comme espaces de la société civile) ou volonté d’appuyer les processus politiques proches pour tenter de construire des passerelles directes entre les revendications que portent les militants et leur mise en œuvre politique ? Entre les deux, les options et positionnements sont nombreux. Dans cet article, Ezequiel Adamosky plaide pour l’invention d’interfaces qui permettent le « passage du social au politique ». Il ne s’agit pas pour lui d’étudier un passage indispensable d’un stade de lutte à la prise de pouvoir. Adamosky propose en fait de renverser la perspective : les expériences sociales (les luttes) devraient venir irriguer le politique, et le « coloniser ». Pour cela, il est nécessaire de penser des formes d’organisations « anticipatrices ».
Faire entendre sa voix
Authors: Érard Yves
Published: September 2010

Résumé Dans une société du consentement, chacun devrait pouvoir exprimer sa voix. Mais tout enfant apprend à parler en faisant usage de la parole des autres. Dans quelle mesure ce que dit le nouveau venu n’est-il pas une pure reproduction de ce que disent ses aînés ? Si chacun a la voix de sa communauté, qu’est-ce que peut bien vouloir dire «liberté d’expression» ? J’aimerais montrer qu’une voix n’est pas quelque chose que l’on a, mais quelque chose que l’on fait entendre au cours d’un apprentissage. Le problème est politique : ma voix est liée à ma place dans une communauté.
Grésillements
Authors: Indermuhle Christian
Published: September 2010

Résumé La philosophie contemporaine multiplie les dispositifs de repérage, de notification, de mobilisation par lesquels les voix sont continuellement mises en (im)puissance sur un horizon politique. Avec Spinoza, Karkowski et Jupitter-Larsen, les traditions matérialistes montrent que d’autres phonalisations sont là – fragiles et innombrables ; pour autant qu’on ne transforme pas la physique du « bruit » et de ses grésillements en fond d’absurdité nihiliste duquel des voix seraient chargées d’émerger.
Les transactions partenariales dans les interstices de l'action sociale
Authors: Lyet Philippe
Published: September 2010

Résumé Cet article présente une analyse de projets partenariaux qui se caractérisent par le fait qu’ils sont coconstruits. Leur mise en œuvre conduit les acteurs à mettre en place un collectif régulateur qui se voit reconnaître une légitimité par les acteurs les plus proches de l’action. On peut parler ici d’un processus instituant de type endogène-ascendant. Celui-ci se fonde prioritairement sur l’engagement des individus les uns vis-à-vis des autres et sur la conscience de leur interdépendance. Si cette forme d’institution (au sens de processus) est minimale et précaire sous certains aspects, elle n’en est pas moins forte pour ses membres et sa force s’ancre dans la force des liens qui unissent différents partenaires et qui tient à leur identité plurielle et à leur capacité à métisser leur logique avec celles d’autres intervenants. Ces processus sont analysés à l’aide du concept de transaction sociale, proposé par Jean Remy (in Freynet, 1998). Celui-ci permet en particulier de comprendre comment des acteurs peuvent : 1. Pallier l’absence de cadre institué par la construction d’un cadre procédural minimal qui construit et garantit la transaction et qui se manifeste par des règles négociées et stabilisées sur la base d’une articulation des intérêts des membres du collectif. 2. Procéder à la mise en équivalence de « richesses symboliques » initialement incomparables parce que produites dans des segments sociaux différents et qui conduisent à la formulation d’un accord sur les valeurs et les conceptions qui fondent l’action et à l’émergence d’une situation de confiance réciproque. 3. Redéfinir d’une manière mutuellement acceptée leurs identités sociales dans le cadre de la construction de ce nouvel espace d’interactions sociales.
Monstruosité et transversalité. Figures contemporaines du monstrueux
Authors: Foucart Jean
Published: September 2010

Résumé L’auteur argumente l’hypothèse selon laquelle la monstruosité correspond à une absence de transversalité. Inversement, cette dernière est constitutive de culture et de réalisation de soi. Sous des modalités multiples, le transversal relie deux univers, deux mondes que sont le « dedans » et le « dehors ». Ces deux mondes sont comme deux parallèles. La rencontre brute, « frontale », est constitutive du monstrueux. Après avoir cerné les notions de monstre et de monstruosité, l’auteur met en évidence divers modes d’approche sociologique de cette tension. Il traite également l’hypothèse selon laquelle nos sociétés s’ordonnent ou mettent en scène deux figures du monstrueux : l’excès et l’insuffisance.
De la pratique à l'enseignement d'un métier en formation professionnelle au Québec : un passage volontaire
Authors: Deschenaux Frédéric , Roussel Chantal
Published: September 2010

Résumé Au Québec, peu d’enseignants de la formation professionnelle au secondaire avaient déjà envisagé faire carrière en enseignement. Ce n’est généralement qu’après plusieurs années d’exercice d’un métier qu’une occasion d’enseigner peut se présenter. Ces personnes se voient alors « plongées » dans un important mouvement de transition entre leur métier et l’enseignement. Cet article vise à décrire ce qui caractérise le passage de la pratique à l’enseignement d’un métier en formation professionnelle au secondaire au Québec. L’analyse thématique de 32 entretiens montre que la transition entre la pratique du métier et l’enseignement est un passage volontaire, dans toutes les acceptions du mot, c’est-à-dire qu’ils ont agi de manière volontaire, mais ont également fait preuve de volonté dans cette nouvelle aventure.
Interoperability of Remote Laboratories Systems
Authors: Yeung Herbert , Lowe David , Murray Steve
Published: September 2010

There has been growing interest in, and development of, remotely accessible laboratories as a mechanism for improving access and flexibility, and enabling sharing of facilities. Differences in focus, philosophy, approach or domain have led to quite different technical solutions in supporting remote laboratories. Whilst this diversity represents a significant strength in terms of the ability to explore different issues and support diverse applications, it does however potentially hamper the sharing of labs between different institutions. Investigation into interoperability between two remote lab platforms has realized a need for a common application protocol to achieve the goals remote labs aims to provide. We describe our approach to providing a bridge between two current remote laboratory architectures â?? Labshareâ??s Sahara and MITâ??s iLabs â?? and report on the issues that arise with regard to the protocol translations.
Early Steps in the DNA Base Excision Repair Pathway of a Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Kanamitsu Kyoichiro , Ikeda Shogo
Published: September 2010

DNA base excision repair (BER) accounts for maintaining genomic integrity by removing damaged bases that are generated endogenously or induced by genotoxic agents. In this paper, we describe the roles of enzymes functioning in the early steps of BER in fission yeast. Although BER is an evolutionarily conserved process, some unique features of the yeast repair pathway were revealed by genetic and biochemical approaches. AP sites generated by monofunctional DNA glycosylases are incised mainly by AP lyase activity of Nth1p, a sole bifunctional glycosylase in yeast, to leave a blocked 3′ end. The major AP endonuclease Apn2p functions predominantly in removing the 3′ block. Finally, a DNA polymerase fills the gap, and a DNA ligase seals the nick (Nth1p‐dependent or short patch BER). Apn1p backs up Apn2p. In long patch BER, Rad2p endonuclease removes flap DNA containing a lesion after DNA synthesis. A UV‐specific endonuclease Uve1p engages in an alternative pathway by nicking DNA on the 5′ side of oxidative damage. Nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination are involved in repair of BER intermediates including the AP site and single‐strand break with the 3′ block. Other enzymes working in 3′ end processing are also discussed.
cNEUPRO: Novel Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Spitzer Philipp , Klafki Hans Wolfgang , Blennow Kaj , Buée Luc , Esselmann Hermann , Herruka Sanna-Kaisa , Jimenez Connie , Klivenyi Peter , Lewczuk Piotr , Maler Juan Manuel , Markus Katrin , Meyer Helmut E. , Morris Chris , Müller Thorsten , Otto Markus , Parnetti Lucilla , Soininen Hilkka , Schraen Susanna , Teunissen Charlotte , Vecsei Laszlo , Zetterberg Henrik , Wiltfang Jens
Published: September 2010

“clinical NEUroPROteomics of neurodegenerative diseases” (cNEUPRO) is a Specific Targeted Research Project (STREP) within the sixth framework program of the European Commission dedicated to the search for novel biomarker candidates for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. The ultimate goal of cNEUPRO is to identify one or more valid biomarker(s) in blood and CSF applicable to support the early and differential diagnosis of dementia disorders. The consortium covers all steps required for the discovery of novel biomarker candidates such as acquisition of high quality CSF and blood samples from relevant patient groups and controls, analysis of body fluids by various methods, and finally assay development and assay validation. Here we report the standardized procedures for diagnosis and preanalytical sample-handling within the project, as well as the status of the ongoing research activities and some first results.
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Shoukat Sana , Gowani Saqib A. , Jafferani Asif , Dhakam Sajid H.
Published: September 2010

Contrast Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is a feared complication of numerous radiological procedures that expose patients to contrast media. The most notorious of these procedures is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Not only is this a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, but it also adds to increased costs in high risk patients undergoing PCI. It is thought to result from direct cytotoxicity and hemodynamic challenge to renal tissue. CIN is defined as an increase in serum creatinine by either 0.5 mg/dL or by 25% from baseline within the first 2-3 days after contrast administration, after other causes of renal impairment have been excluded. The incidence is considerably higher in diabetics, elderly and patients with pre-existing renal disease when compared to the general population. The nephrotoxic potential of various contrast agents must be evaluated completely, with prevention as the mainstay of focus as no effective treatment exists. The purpose of this article is to examine the pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical course of CIN, as well as the most recent studies dealing with its prevention and potential therapeutic interventions, especially during PCI. The role of gadolinium as an alternative to iodinated contrast is also discussed.
Architecture of Y‐Family DNA Polymerases Relevant to Translesion DNA Synthesis as Revealed in Structural and Molecular Modeling Studies
Authors: Chandani Sushil , Jacobs Christopher , Loechler Edward L.
Published: September 2010

DNA adducts, which block replicative DNA polymerases (DNAPs), are often bypassed by lesion‐bypass DNAPs, which are mostly in the Y‐Family. Y‐Family DNAPs can do non‐mutagenic or mutagenic dNTP insertion, and understanding this difference is important, because mutations transform normal into tumorigenic cells. Y‐Family DNAP architecture that dictates mechanism, as revealed in structural and modeling studies, is considered. Steps from adduct blockage of replicative DNAPs, to bypass by a lesion‐bypass DNAP, to resumption of synthesis by a replicative DNAP are described. Catalytic steps and protein conformational changes are considered. One adduct is analyzed in greater detail: the major benzo[a]pyrene adduct (B[a]P‐N2‐dG), which is bypassed non‐mutagenically (dCTP insertion) by Y‐family DNAPs in the IV/κ‐class and mutagenically (dATP insertion) by V/η‐class Y‐Family DNAPs. Important architectural differences between IV/κ‐class versus V/η‐class DNAPs are discussed, including insights gained by analyzing ~400 sequences each for bacterial DNAPs IV and V, along with sequences from eukaryotic DNAPs kappa, eta and iota. The little finger domains of Y‐Family DNAPs do not show sequence conservation; however, their structures are remarkably similar due to the presence of a core of hydrophobic amino acids, whose exact identity is less important than the hydrophobic amino acid spacing.
Peyer's Patches: The Immune Sensors of the Intestine
Authors: Jung Camille , Hugot Jean-Pierre , Barreau Frédérick
Published: September 2010

The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) consists of isolated or aggregated lymphoid follicles forming Peyer's patches (PPs). By their ability to transport luminal antigens and bacteria, PPs can be considered as the immune sensors of the intestine. PPs functions like induction of immune tolerance or defense against pathogens result from the complex interplay between immune cells located in the lymphoid follicles and the follicle-associated epithelium. This crosstalk seems to be regulated by pathogen recognition receptors, especially Nod2. Although TLR exerts a limited role in PP homeotasis, Nod2 regulates the number, size, and T-cell composition of PPs, in response to the gut flora. In turn, CD T-cells present in the PP are able to modulate the paracellular and transcellular permeabilities. Two human disorders, Crohn's disease and graft-versus-host disease are thought to be driven by an abnormal response toward the commensal flora. They have been associated with NOD2 mutations and PP dysfunction.
In Silico Characterization of Pectate Lyase Protein Sequences from Different Source Organisms
Authors: Dubey Amit Kumar , Yadav Sangeeta , Kumar Manish , Singh Vinay Kumar , Sarangi Bijaya Ketan , Yadav Dinesh
Published: September 2010

A total of 121 protein sequences of pectate lyases were subjected to homology search, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree construction, and motif analysis. The phylogenetic tree constructed revealed different clusters based on different source organisms representing bacterial, fungal, plant, and nematode pectate lyases. The multiple accessions of bacterial, fungal, nematode, and plant pectate lyase protein sequences were placed closely revealing a sequence level similarity. The multiple sequence alignment of these pectate lyase protein sequences from different source organisms showed conserved regions at different stretches with maximum homology from amino acid residues 439–467, 715–816, and 829–910 which could be used for designing degenerate primers or probes specific for pectate lyases. The motif analysis revealed a conserved Pec_Lyase_C domain uniformly observed in all pectate lyases irrespective of variable sources suggesting its possible role in structural and enzymatic functions.
Scanning Probe Microscopy as a Tool for the Fabrication of Structured Surfaces
Authors: Haensch Claudia , Herzer Nicole , Hoeppener Stephanie , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: September 2010

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Structuring with Self‐Assembled Monolayers

Dip‐Pen Nanolithography

Thermal Dip‐Pen Nanolithography

DPN
with Biomolecules

DPN
with Polymers

DPN
with Fluorescent Dyes

DPN
in the Field of Electrolytes

DPN
with Nanomaterials

Chemical
DPN

Structuring of Self‐Assembled Monolayers

Nanoshaving

Nanografting

Electro‐Oxidative Lithography

Local Anodic Oxidation

Chemical Activation of Self‐Assembled Monolayers

Catalytic Lithography

Surface Chemical Reactions for Structured Surfaces

Molecular Overlayers – Functionalization – Precursors

Surface Chemistry

Substitution

Click Chemistry

Esterification/Amidation

Schiff Base Reactions

Formation of Thioureas and Ureas

Oxidation

Photochemistry

Polymer Brushes

Others

Multifunctionality

Summary and Outlook
Physical, Chemical, and Biological Surface Patterning by Microcontact Printing
Authors: Mehlich Jan , Ravoo Bart Jan
Published: September 2010

The sections in this article are

Introduction

What is Microcontact Printing?

The “Master”

The Stamp

Inks and Stamps for Microcontact Printing

Supramolecular µ
CP

Microcontact Printing and Soft Lithography

Nanotransfer Printing

Microcontact Printing and Biological Arrays

µ
CP
of
DNA

Affinity Contact Printing

Microcontact Printing and Surface Chemistry

From Micro to Nano: Increasing the Resolution of Microcontact Printing

Conclusions and Outlook
Advances in Nanoimprint Lithography: 2‐
D
and 3‐
D
Nanopatterning of Surfaces by Nanoimoprint Lithography, Morphological Characterization, and Photonic Applications
Authors: Reboud Vincent , Kehoe Timothy , Kehagias Nikolaos , Sotomayor Torres Clivia M.
Published: September 2010

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Three‐Dimensional, Nanoimprint‐Based Lithography

Background

Reverse
NIL

Reverse‐Contact
UVNIL

The Prospects for 3‐
D
NIL

Metrology for Nanoimprinting

Introduction

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy

Transmission Electron Microscopy

Optical Critical Dimension Metrology: Scatterometry

Other Methods

Physical Properties

Residual Layer Thickness in
NIL

Towards An Integrated Metrology

Two‐Dimensional Nanopatterned Polymer Components for Photonic Applications

Overview on Applications Realized by
NIL

Nanoimprinted Optical Resonators

Nanoimprinted Polymeric Band‐Edge Lasers

Patterning in Functionalized Polymers

Outlook on Nanoimprinted Polymer Devices

Conclusions

Acknowledgments
Diblock Copolymer Micelle Nanolithography: Characteristics and Applications
Authors: Lohmueller Theobald , Spatz Joachim P.
Published: September 2010

The sections in this article are

Introduction

Block Copolymer Micelle Nanolithography

Introduction

Characterization on Nanoparticle Arrays

Scanning Electron Microscopy (
SEM
)

Atomic Force Microscopy (
AFM
)

Spacing and Order of Nanoparticle Arrays

Tuning the Pattern Properties

Controlling the Nanoparticle Spacing

Controlling the Particle Size

Micro‐Nanopatterned Interfaces

Applications of Nanopatterned Materials

Moth Eye Antireflective Surfaces

Cells on Nanostructured Interfaces

Conclusions
The Evolution of Langmuir–Blodgett Patterning
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Chi Lifeng
Published: September 2010

The sections in this article are

Introduction

The
LB
Technique in Retrospect: From Homogeneous Film to Lateral Features

LB
Patterning of Organic Molecules

Direct Transfer of Featured Structures Onto Solid Substrates

Pattern Formation During
LB
Transfer

LB
Patterning of Nanomaterials

LB
Patterning of Nanoparticles

LB
Patterning of Nanowires

Application of Structures Formed by
LB
Patterning

Templated Self‐Assembly of Molecules and Nanoparticles

Pattern Transfer: From Chemical to Topographic Patterns

Integration of Nanomaterial Patterning in Nanodevice Fabrication

Conclusions and Outlook
Cultural institutions and adult education
Authors: Taylor Edward W.
Published: September 2010

This chapter explores cultural institutions (libraries, museums, zoos, natural places) as sites of adult education. As places of learning outside formal educational settings, they have long been overlooked as teaching resources and as viable sites for fostering civil societies and social change.
Promoting adult learning through civil discourse in the public library
Authors: Kranich Nancy
Published: September 2010

This chapter investigates adult learning through civil discourse within public library settings. Crucial to the success of a working democracy, the author traces the history of libraries as locations for the development of an engaged and knowledgeable citizenry.
The role of zoos and aquariums in education for a sustainable future
Authors: Packer Jan , Ballantyne Roy
Published: September 2010

This chapter explores visitors' environmental learning in zoos and aquariums, inclusive of narrative accounts that demonstrate the impact of such experiences in the lives of visitors regarding the process and outcomes.
Museums: Adult education as cultural politics
Authors: Borg Carmel , Mayo Peter
Published: September 2010

This chapter explores the potential of museums as sites for critical “public pedagogy.” It foregrounds the role of adult educators as co‐interrogators with adult learners of what is generally perceived as politically innocent and neutral knowledge.
(Re)membering: Excavating and performing uncommon narratives found in archives and historical societies
Authors: Kemp Amanda , Parrish Marilyn McKinley
Published: September 2010

This chapter explores the engagement of adult learners with dramatic works based on primary source materials found in local archives and historical societies, a creative process that reclaims overlooked individual and community stories.
Adult learning in free‐choice, environmental settings: What makes it different?
Authors: Heimlich Joe E. , Horr E. Elaine T.
Published: September 2010

Environmental learning in adults is a continuous, lifelong process. Institutions focused on environmental learning need to channel a portion of their effort into a better understanding of how people learn.
Literacies, narratives, and adult learning in libraries
Authors: Elmborg Jim
Published: September 2010

This chapter explores the multiple literacies adult learners bring to the learning process within libraries, the changing narratives of libraries, and the importance of helping learners develop skills in critical information literacy.
Reflections on adult learning in cultural institutions
Authors: Parrish Marilyn McKinley
Published: September 2010

This chapter reviews the themes that have emerged throughout the volume, including the role of the learner and the role of the educator within these settings, the importance of context, and cultural institutions as sites that engage the emotions and that can foster social change.
Factors Determining the Selection of Organic Reactions by Medicinal Chemists and the Use of These Reactions in Arrays (Small Focused Libraries)
Authors: Cooper Tony W. J. , Campbell Ian B. , Macdonald Simon J. F.
Published: September 2010

Synthetic organic reactions are a fundamental enabler of small‐molecule drug discovery, and the vast majority of medicinal chemists are initially trained—either at universities or within industry—as synthetic organic chemists. The sheer breadth of synthetic methodology available to the medicinal chemist represents an almost endless source of innovation. But what reactions do medicinal chemists use in drug discovery? And what criteria do they use in selecting synthetic methodology? Why are arrays (small focused libraries) so powerful in the lead‐optimization process? In this Minireview, we suggest some answers to these questions and also describe how we have tried to expand the number of robust reactions available to the medicinal chemist.
Error analysis of proper motions in decination obtained for 807 Hipparcos stars from PZT observations over many decades
Authors: Damljanović G. , Pejović N.
Published: September 2010

After publication of the Hipparcos catalogue (in 1997), a few new astrometric catalogues have appeared (TYCHO‐2, ARIHIP, etc.), as a good combination of the Hipparcos satellite and ground‐based data, to get more accurate coordinates and proper motions of stars than the Hipparcos catalogue ones. There are also investigations on improving the Hipparcos coordinates and proper motions by using the astrometric observations of latitude and universal time variations (via observed stars referred to Hipparcos catalogue), together with Hipparcos data, carried out during the last few years. These kind of ground‐based data were collected at the end of the last century by J. Vondrák. There are about 4.4 million optical observations made worldwide at 33 observatories and with 47 instruments during 1899.7–1992.0; our Belgrade visual zenith telescope data (for the period 1949.0‐1986.0) were included. First of all, these data were used to determine the Earth Orientation Parameters – EOP, but they are also useful for the opposite task – to check the accuracy of coordinates and proper motions of Hipparcos stars which were observed from the ground over many decades. Here, we use the latitude part of ten Photographic Zenith Tubes – PZT data (more than 0.9 million observations made at 6 observatories during the time interval 1915.8–1992.0), and combine them with the Hipparcos catalogue ones, with suitable weights, in order to check the proper motions in declination for 807 common PZT/Hipparcos stars (and to construct the PZT catalogue of μδ for 807 stars). Our standard errors in proper motions in declination of these stars are less than or equal to the Hipparcos ones for 423 stars. The mean value of standard errors of 313 stars observed over more than 20 years by PZT is 0.40 mas/yr. This is 53% of 0.75 mas/yr (the suitable value from the Hipparcos catalogue). We used the Least Squares Method – LSM with the linear model. Our results are in good agreement with the Earth Orientation Catalogue – EOC‐2 and the new Hipparcos ones. The main steps of the method and the investigations of systematic errors in determined proper motions (the proper motion differences with respect to the Hipparcos values, the EOC‐2 ones and the new Hipparcos ones, as a function of α, δ, and magnitude) are presented here. A comparison of the four catalogues by pairs shows that there is no significant relationship between the differences of their μδ values and magnitudes and color indices of the common 807 stars. All catalogues have relatively small random and systematic errors which are close to each other. However, the comparison shows that our formal errors are too small. They are underestimated by a factor of nearly 1.7 (for EOC‐2, it is 2.0) if we take the new Hipparcos (or Hipparcos) data as reference (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Measuring ΩM and ΩΛ with long‐duration gamma‐ray bursts
Authors: Balastegui A. , Canal R. , Ruiz‐Lapuente P.
Published: September 2010

Gamma‐ray bursts (GRBs) are one of the most luminous events in the Universe. In addition, the Universe itself is almost transparent to γ ‐rays, making GRBs detectable up to very high redshifts. As a result, GRBs are very suitable to probe the cosmological parameters. This work shows the potential of long‐duration GRBs for measuring the cosmological parameters ΩM and ΩΛ by comparing the observed log N ‐log P distribution with the theoretical one. Provided that the GRBs rate and luminosity function are well determined, the best values and 1σ confidence intervals obtained are ΩM = 0.22+0.05–0.03 and ΩΛ = 1.06+0.05–0.10. Finally, a set of simulations show the ability of the method to measure ΩM and ΩΛ (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Secular variation of hemispheric phase differences in the solar cycle
Authors: Zolotova N.V. , Ponyavin D.I. , Arlt R. , Tuominen I.
Published: September 2010

We investigate the phase difference of the sunspot cycles in the two hemispheres and compare it with the latitudinal sunspot distribution. If the north‐south phase difference exhibits a long‐term tendency, it should not be regarded as a stochastic phenomenon. We use datasets of historical sunspot records and drawings made by Staudacher, Hamilton, Gimingham, Carrington, Spörer, and Greenwich observers, as well as the sunspot activity during the Maunder minimum reconstructed by Ribes and Nesme‐Ribes. We employ cross‐recurrence plots to analyse north‐south phase differences. We show that during the last 300 years, the persistence of phase‐leading in one of the hemispheres exhibits a secular variation. Changes from one hemisphere to the other leading in phase were registered near 1928 and 1968 as well as two historical ones near 1783 and 1875. A long‐term anticorrelation between the hemispheric phase differences in the sunspot cycles and the latitudinal distribution of sunspots was traced since 1750 (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Syntheses and Photophysical Properties of N‐Pyridylimidazol‐2‐ylidene Tetracyanoruthenates(II) and Photochromic Studies of Their Dithienylethene‐Containing Derivatives
Authors: Duan Gongping , Yam Vivian Wing‐Wah
Published: September 2010

A series of tetracyanoruthenate(II) with chelating pyridyl N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC‐py) was synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties as well as the photochromic behavior of their dithienylethene‐containing complexes were studied. Photocyclization was found to take place upon irradiation into the metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands of these complexes, and evidence is provided to support the triplet‐sensitizing reaction pathway.
Solution Structure, Mechanism of Replication, and Optimization of an Unnatural Base Pair
Authors: Malyshev Denis A. , Pfaff Danielle A. , Ippoliti Shannon I. , Hwang Gil Tae , Dwyer Tammy J. , Romesberg Floyd E.
Published: September 2010

As part of an ongoing effort to expand the genetic alphabet for in vitro and eventual in vivo applications, we have synthesized a wide variety of predominantly hydrophobic unnatural base pairs and evaluated their replication in DNA. Collectively, the results have led us to propose that these base pairs, which lack stabilizing edge‐on interactions, are replicated by means of a unique intercalative mechanism. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of three novel derivatives of the nucleotide analogue dMMO2, which forms an unnatural base pair with the nucleotide analogue d5SICS. Replacing the para‐methyl substituent of dMMO2 with an annulated furan ring (yielding dFMO) has a dramatically negative effect on replication, while replacing it with a methoxy (dDMO) or with a thiomethyl group (dTMO) improves replication in both steady‐state assays and during PCR amplification. Thus, dTMO–d5SICS, and especially dDMO–d5SICS, represent significant progress toward the expansion of the genetic alphabet. To elucidate the structure–activity relationships governing unnatural base pair replication, we determined the solution structure of duplex DNA containing the parental dMMO2–d5SICS pair, and also used this structure to generate models of the derivative base pairs. The results strongly support the intercalative mechanism of replication, reveal a surprisingly high level of specificity that may be achieved by optimizing packing interactions, and should prove invaluable for the further optimization of the unnatural base pair.
The Total Synthesis of (±)‐Fumimycin
Authors: Gross Patrick J. , Bräse Stefan
Published: September 2010

The antibiotic agent fumimycin has been synthesized for the first time. This natural product was found to inhibit the bacterial peptide deformylase and may represent a lead structure to a class of novel antibacterials. Our synthetic strategy towards fumimycin involved the following steps: Dakin oxidation of an aldehyde functionality, conversion of an oxime through radical fragmentation to form an N‐diphenylphosphoryl group, construction of an α‐trisubstituted amine by 1,2‐addition to a ketimine, a Claisen rearrangement with subsequent transition‐metal‐catalyzed olefin isomerization to install a propenyl chain and final amidation.
Glyco‐pseudopolyrotaxanes: Carbohydrate Wheels Threaded on a Polymer String and Their Inhibition of Bacterial Adhesion
Authors: Kim Jeeyeon , Ahn Youngjoo , Park Kyeng Min , Lee Don‐Wook , Kim Kimoon
Published: September 2010

We report glyco‐pseudopolyrotaxanes composed of cucurbit[6]uril‐based mannose wheels (ManCB[6]) threaded on polyviologen (PV), which not only effectively induce bacterial aggregation, but also exhibit high inhibitory activity against bacterial binding to host cells. Three glyco‐pseudopolyrotaxanes (1–3), which have 10, 5, and 3 ManCB[6] wheels, respectively, on a PV string, were prepared and characterized. Bacterial aggregation assays and hemagglutination inhibition assays illustrated the specific and multivalent interaction between the glyco‐pseudopolyrotaxanes and E. coli ORN178. Compound 3 was especially effective at inducing bacterial aggregation and showed 300 times higher inhibitory potency than monomeric methyl‐α‐mannoside (Me‐αMan) for ORN178‐induced hemagglutination. Furthermore, we demonstrated their inhibitory activities for the adhesion of ORN178 bacteria to urinary epithelial cells as a model of urinary tract infection. Our findings suggest that these supramolecular carbohydrate clusters are potentially useful in antiadhesion therapy.