bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine‐scale spatio‐temporal variation in tiger Panthera tigris diet: effect of study duration and extent on estimates of tiger diet in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Authors: Kapfer Paul M. , Streby Henry M. , Gurung Bhim , Simcharoen Achara , McDougal Charles C. , Smith James L. D.
Published: October 2011

Attempts to conserve declining tiger Panthera tigris populations and distributions have experienced limited success. The poaching of tiger prey is a key threat to tiger persistence; a clear understanding of tiger diet is a prerequisite to conserve dwindling populations. We used unpublished data on tiger diet in combination with two previously published studies to examine fine‐scale spatio‐temporal changes in tiger diet relative to prey abundance in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and aggregated data from the three studies to examine the effect that study duration and the size of the study area have on estimates of tiger diet. Our results correspond with those of previous studies: in all three studies, tiger diet was dominated by members of Cervidae; small to medium‐sized prey was important in one study. Tiger diet was unrelated to prey abundance, and the aggregation of studies indicates that increasing study duration and study area size both result in increased dietary diversity in terms of prey categories consumed, and increasing study duration changed which prey species contributed most to tiger diet. Based on our results, we suggest that managers focus their efforts on minimizing the poaching of all tiger prey, and that future studies of tiger diet be of long duration and large spatial extent to improve our understanding of spatio‐temporal variation in estimates of tiger diet.
Organizing Research and Development at the Intersection of Learning, Implementation, and Design
Authors: Penuel William R. , Fishman Barry J. , Haugan Cheng Britte , Sabelli Nora
Published: October 2011

This article describes elements of an approach to research and development called design-based implementation research. The approach represents an expansion of design research, which typically focuses on classrooms, to include development and testing of innovations that foster alignment and coordination of supports for improving teaching and learning. As in policy research, implementation is a key focus of theoretical development and analysis. What distinguishes this approach from both traditional design research and policy research is the presence of four key elements: (a) a focus on persistent problems of practice from multiple stakeholders’ perspectives; (b) a commitment to iterative, collaborative design; (c) a concern with developing theory related to both classroom learning and implementation through systematic inquiry; and (d) a concern with developing capacity for sustaining change in systems.
Molecular Identification of Fusarium Species in Gibberella fujikuroi Species Complex from Rice, Sugarcane and Maize from Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Hsuan Heng Mei , Salleh Baharuddin , Zakaria Latiffah
Published: October 2011

The objective of this study was to identify Fusarium species in the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex from rice, sugarcane and maize as most of the Fusarium species in the species complex are found on the three crops. Isolates used were collected from the field and obtained from culture collection. The Fusarium isolates were initially sorted based on morphology and identifications confirmed based on the DNA sequence of the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) gene. Based on the closest match of BLAST analysis, five species were recovered, namely, F. sacchari, F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, F. andiyazi and F. verticillioides. This is the first report regarding F. andiyazi from rice in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. The phylogenetic tree generated by using the neighbor joining method showed that isolates from the same species were grouped in the same clade. The present study indicated that Fusarium species in the G. fujikuroi species complex are widespread in rice, sugarcane and maize in Peninsular Malaysia. The findings also suggest that the use of morphological characters for identification of Fusarium species in the G. fujikuroi species complex from the three crops will lead to incorrect species designation.
Trust and Privacy in Our Networked World
Authors: Tavani Herman T. , Arnold Dieter
Published: October 2011

Remarking on the relationship between the concepts of trust and privacy, Charles Fried (1990, p. 56) [1] writes:
Trust is the attitude of expectation that another will behave according to the constraints of morality… There can be no trust where there is no possibility of error. More specifically, man cannot know that he is trusted unless he has the right to act without constant surveillance so that he knows he can betray the trust. Privacy confers that essential right… Without privacy and the possibility of error which it protects that aspect of his humanity is denied to him.
The important relationship between trust and privacy that Fried describes is often overlooked in the contemporary literature on privacy, as well in the recent publications that focus on trust and trust-related topics. The six essays included in this special issue of Information, however, give us some additional insights into certain conceptual and practical connections involving the notions of trust and privacy. In this respect, the contributing authors expand upon the insight in Fried’s classic work on the interconnection between the two concepts.[...]
A New Laboratory Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System for Behavioural Tracking of Marine Organisms
Authors: Aguzzi Jacopo , Sbragaglia Valerio , Sarriá David , García José Antonio , Costa Corrado , Río Joaquín del , Mànuel Antoni , Menesatti Paolo , Sardà Francesc
Published: October 2011

Radio frequency identification (RFID) devices are currently used to quantify several traits of animal behaviour with potential applications for the study of marine organisms. To date, behavioural studies with marine organisms are rare because of the technical difficulty of propagating radio waves within the saltwater medium. We present a novel RFID tracking system to study the burrowing behaviour of a valuable fishery resource, the Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.). The system consists of a network of six controllers, each handling a group of seven antennas. That network was placed below a microcosm tank that recreated important features typical of Nephrops’ grounds, such as the presence of multiple burrows. The animals carried a passive transponder attached to their telson, operating at 13.56 MHz. The tracking system was implemented to concurrently report the behaviour of up to three individuals, in terms of their travelled distances in a specified unit of time and their preferential positioning within the antenna network. To do so, the controllers worked in parallel to send the antenna data to a computer via a USB connection. The tracking accuracy of the system was evaluated by concurrently recording the animals’ behaviour with automated video imaging. During the two experiments, each lasting approximately one week, two different groups of three animals each showed a variable burrow occupancy and a nocturnal displacement under a standard photoperiod regime (12 h light:12 h dark), measured using the RFID method. Similar results were obtained with the video imaging. Our implemented RFID system was therefore capable of efficiently tracking the tested organisms and has a good potential for use on a wide variety of other marine organisms of commercial, aquaculture, and ecological interest.
Relating Financial and Energy Return on Investment
Authors: King Carey W. , Hall Charles A.S.
Published: October 2011

For many reasons, including environmental impacts and the peaking and depletion of the highest grades of fossil energy, it is very important to have sound methods for the evaluation of energy technologies and the profitability of the businesses that utilize them. In this paper we derive relations among the biophysical characteristic of an energy resource in relation to the businesses and technologies that exploit them. These relations include the energy return on energy investment (EROI), the price of energy, and the profit of an energy business. Our analyses show that EROI and the price of energy are inherently inversely related such that as EROI decreases for depleting fossil fuel production, the corresponding energy prices increase dramatically. Using energy and financial data for the oil and gas production sector, we demonstrate that the equations sufficiently describe the fundamental trends between profit, price, and EROI. For example, in 2002 an EROI of 11:1 for US oil and gas translates to an oil price of 24 $2005/barrel at a typical profit of 10%. This work sets the stage for proper EROI and price comparisons of individual fossil and renewable energy businesses as well as the electricity sector as a whole. Additionally, it presents a framework for incorporating EROI into larger economic systems models.
Intensifier l'agriculture en Afrique, réponse aux défis alimentaires et environnementaux ?
Authors: Vergez Antonin
Published: October 2011

Résumé Pour le continent africain, le secteur agricole se trouve à la confluence de débats alimentaires, économiques et environnementaux. L’agriculture africaine pourra-t-elle à la fois nourrir une population croissante et préserver les environnements local et global ? Quelle(s) trajectoire(s) privilégier ? Faut-il des politiques publiques favorisant l’augmentation des rendements (intensification) ou des superficies cultivées (extensification) pour minimiser l’impact environnemental des accroissements de productions agricoles à venir ? Présentation d’une controverse.
La libéralisation agricole post-apartheid en Afrique du Sud
Authors: Ducastel Antoine , Anseeuw Ward
Published: October 2011

Résumé Au lendemain de l’apartheid, le secteur agricole sud-africain a connu un processus de dérégulation sans précédent. Cette libéralisation agricole se traduit par la montée en puissance de « macro-acteurs » – entre autres des banques commerciales (ABSA, Standard), des entreprises d’ingénierie agricole et des fonds d’investissement. De nouveaux modèles de production et de financement apparaissent. On observe une mainmise par quelques macro-acteurs (souvent non agricoles, à structures capitalistes globalisées) sur la production agricole, considérée comme une denrée de spéculation sur les marchés financiers. Sont posés des enjeux sur le statut des producteurs agricoles, la souveraineté alimentaire et la régulation du secteur.
Les investissements agricoles de la Chine
Authors: Chaponnière Jean-Raphaël , Gabas Jean-Jacques , Qi Zheng
Published: October 2011

Résumé Les échanges agro-alimentaires entre la Chine et l’Afrique sont croissants depuis le début des années 2000, mais restent limités au regard des autres secteurs (produits manufacturés, notamment), à l’exception du coton. L’aide et les investissements dans l’agriculture (malgré une connaissance souvent approximative) restent eux aussi limités, tout en étant croissants depuis le milieu des années 2000. Mais ils concernent en priorité les marchés africains nationaux et régionaux et, dans une moindre mesure, les marchés internationaux. Toutefois, ces investissements, tant privés que publics, doivent être suivis car ils s’inscrivent dans une stratégie de coopération de la Chine qui dépasse très largement le cadre agricole.
La terre, objet et condition des investissements agricoles
Authors: Rochegude Alain
Published: October 2011

Résumé En Afrique, le droit sur le sol doit d’abord permettre l’accès à celui-ci. Pour l’agriculteur familial, ce droit est généralement celui des coutumes, que des procédures innovantes permettent de sécuriser. Les investisseurs préfèrent les titres de propriété ou les attributions du sol par l’État. Le droit foncier peut aussi être mobilisé pour garantir des crédits. Mais des contraintes limitent ce droit, résultant de l’existence de ressources naturelles renouvelables (ou non) dont l’exploitation concurrence celle de l’agriculture. La gouvernance doit pouvoir s’appuyer sur un droit du sol et des ressources naturelles cohérent.
Les nouveaux investissements dans les agrocarburants
Authors: Dabat Marie-Hélène
Published: October 2011

Résumé Les investissements dans les agrocarburants en Afrique constituent une véritable question de développement. Ils sont pleinement concernés par le débat sur les acquisitions de terres à grande échelle et exposent les populations et les agricultures africaines à plusieurs types de risques. Dans le même temps, ils représentent une opportunité dans des pays où l’accès à l’énergie est sans doute un des principaux facteurs de blocage au développement. Certaines formes d’investissement peuvent être encouragées, à condition qu’elles profitent aux économies locales.
Antibacterial activity of selected medicinal plants against multiple antibiotic resistant uropathogens: a study from Kolli Hills, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Narayanan A. , Raja S. , Ponmurugan K. , Kandekar S. , Natarajaseenivasan K. , Maripandi A. , Mandeel Q.
Published: October 2011

The increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens necessitates medicinal plants as an alternate therapy in restricting the resistant infectious organisms. In this primitive study, the antibiotic resistance of organisms isolated from urinary tract infected patients was evaluated using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) method and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index values, and the MAR values was also calculated for plant extracts. The 10 common medicinal plants collected from Kolli hills, Namakkal, south India were extracted using the chloroform, methanol, acetone, ethanol and saponification procedure. The efficacy of the extracts on the uropathogens was tested by agar disc diffusion method in order to analyse the inhibitory activity of plant extract on the organisms.Azadiracta indicaA. Juss.,Tinospora cordifolia(Wild.) andEuphorbia hirtaLinn. exhibited high inhibitory activity against most of the 11 tested organisms followed byCassia javanicaLinn. andPhyllanthus niruriLinn. The maximum zone size of 46.3 mm was exhibited by methanol extract ofP. niruriLinn. againstPseudomonas aeruginosa. Asparagus racemosus Willd.andEupatorium triplinerveVahl had the least activity against resistant pathogens. Saponified lipids of most of the plants exhibited maximum antibacterial activity. Among the tested organisms,P. aeruginosaandStaphylococcus epidermidiswere the most susceptible andSerratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloaceae, Citrobacter koseri, andCitrobacter freundiiwere the least inhibited by most of the extracts of medicinal plants. It is concluded that revised antibiotic policies and more importantly the development of herbal medicine as an alternative may be incorporated in urological practice.
Can and Should Social Competence be Taught to Engineers?
Authors: Lappalainen Pia Helena
Published: October 2011

The traditional focus in engineering syllabi on technical abilities has been well substantiated by the types of knowledge and skills required in industrial processes. However, the emerging requirements in industrial operating environments necessitate a more personal configuration of competencies facilitating both intrapersonal and interpersonal processes at workplace. The concomitant reform of engineering education to incorporate social competence into the technical education calls for a revision of pedagogy, as the traditional instruments applied in the dissemination of substance knowledge and technical skills provide little support for leveraging students’ social skills.

This article discusses the learnability of socio-emotional abilities and reviews their most fundamental and pertinent skills. The results from a quantitative, empirical research conducted in engineering industries to identify predictors of social competence are reported and the implications on engineering pedagogy examined. The proposed methodology for teaching social skills in the engineering classroom setup constitutes collaborative learning, self-management techniques, and teacher immediacy.
Regulatory Role of Vγ1 γδ T Cells in Tumor Immunity through IL-4 Production
Authors: Hao Jianlei , Dong Siyuan , Xia Siyuan , He Weifeng , Jia Hao , Zhang Song , Wei Jun , O’Brien Rebecca L. , Born Willi K. , Wu Zhenzhou , Wang Puyue , Han Jihong , Hong Zhangyong , Zhao Liqing , Yin Zhinan
Published: October 2011

It has been demonstrated that the two main subsets of peripheral γδ T cells, Vγ1 and Vγ4, have divergent functions in many diseases models. Recently, we reported that Vγ4 γδ T cells played a protective role in tumor immunity through eomesodermin-controlled mechanisms. However, the precise roles of Vγ1 γδ T cells in tumor immunity, especially whether Vγ1 γδ T cells have any interaction with Vγ4 γδ T cells, remain unknown. We demonstrated in this paper that Vγ1 γδ T cells suppressed Vγ4 γδ T cell-mediated antitumor function both in vitro and in vivo, and this suppression was cell contact independent. Using neutralizing anti–IL-4 Ab or IL-4−/− mice, we determined the suppressive factor derived from Vγ1 γδ T cells was IL-4. Indeed, treatment of Vγ4 γδ T cells with rIL-4 significantly reduced expression levels of NKG2D, perforin, and IFN-γ. Finally, Vγ1 γδ T cells produced more IL-4 and expressed significantly higher level of GATA-3 upon Th2 priming in comparison with Vγ4 γδ T cells. Therefore, to our knowledge, our results established for the first time a negative regulatory role of Vγ1 γδ T cells in Vγ4 γδ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity through cell contact-independent and IL-4–mediated mechanisms. Selective depletion of this suppressive subset of γδ T cells may be beneficial for tumor immune therapy.
Disruption of Nitric Oxide Signaling by Helicobacter pylori Results in Enhanced Inflammation by Inhibition of Heme Oxygenase-1
Authors: Gobert Alain P. , Asim Mohammad , Piazuelo M. Blanca , Verriere Thomas , Scull Brooks P. , de Sablet Thibaut , Glumac Ashley , Lewis Nuruddeen D. , Correa Pelayo , Peek Richard M. , Chaturvedi Rupesh , Wilson Keith T.
Published: October 2011

A strong cellular cross-talk exists between the pathogen Helicobacter pylori and high-output NO production. However, how NO and H. pylori interact to signal in gastric epithelial cells and modulate the innate immune response is unknown. We show that chemical or cellular sources of NO induce the anti-inflammatory effector heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in gastric epithelial cells through a pathway that requires NF-κB. However, H. pylori decreases NO-induced NF-κB activation, thereby inhibiting HO-1 expression. This inhibitory effect of H. pylori results from activation of the transcription factor heat shock factor-1 by the H. pylori virulence factor CagA and by the host signaling molecules ERK1/2 and JNK. Consistent with these findings, HO-1 is downregulated in gastric epithelial cells of patients infected with cagA+ H. pylori but not in gastric epithelial cells of patients infected with cagA– H. pylori. Enhancement of HO-1 activity in infected cells or in H. pylori-infected mice inhibits chemokine generation and reduces inflammation. These data define a mechanism by which H. pylori favors its own pathogenesis by inhibiting HO-1 induction through the action of CagA.
Technical Note: On the effect of water-soluble compounds removal on EC quantification by TOT analysis in urban aerosol samples
Authors: Piazzalunga A. , Bernardoni V. , Fermo P. , Valli G. , Vecchi R.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. In this work, three different thermal protocols were tested on untreated and water-washed aerosol samples to study the influence of soluble organic and inorganic compounds on EC measurements. Moreover, analyses on the water soluble extracts were carried out. The aim was to find out the most suitable protocol to analyse samples collected in a heavily polluted area. Indeed, the tests were performed on real samples collected at an urban background station in the Po Valley, which is one of the main pollution hot-spots in Europe. The main differences among the tested protocols were the maximum temperature of the He step (i.e. 870 °C, 650 °C, and 580 °C) and the duration of the plateaus during the heating procedure. Our measurements evidenced the presence of a significant amount of weakly light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosol evolving during the highest temperature step in He (i.e. 870 °C), which makes lower temperature protocols not suitable for EC determination in samples collected in heavily polluted areas like Milan.
Exploring the atmospheric chemistry of nitrous acid (HONO) at a rural site in Southern China
Authors: Li X. , Brauers T. , Häseler R. , Bohn B. , Hofzumahaus A. , Holland F. , Lu K. D. , Rohrer F. , Hu M. , Zeng L. M. , Zhang Y. H. , Garland R. , Su H. , Nowak A. , Takegawa N. , Shao M. , Wahner A.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. We performed measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) during the PRIDE-PRD2006 campaign in the Pearl River Delta region 60 km north of Guangzhou, China, for 4 weeks in June 2006. HONO was measured by a LOPAP in-situ instrument which was setup in one of the campaign supersites along with a variety of instruments measuring hydroxyl radicals, trace gases, aerosols, and meteorological parameters. Maximum diurnal HONO mixing ratios of 1–5 ppb were observed during the nights and are among the highest ever reported. We found that the nighttime build-up of HONO can be attributed to the heterogeneous NO2 to HONO conversion on ground surfaces and the OH + NO reaction. In addition to the high nighttime mixing ratios, measured noontime values of ≈200 ppt indicate the existence of a daytime source higher than the OH + NO → HONO reaction. Using the simultaneously recorded OH, NO, and HONO photolysis frequency, a daytime additional source strength of HONO (PM) was calculated to be 0.77 ppb h−1 on average. This value compares well to previous measurements in other environments. Our analysis of PM provides evidence that the photolysis of HNO3 adsorbed on ground surfaces contributes to the HONO formation.
The Level 2 research product algorithms for the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES)
Authors: Baron P. , Urban J. , Sagawa H. , Möller J. , Murtagh D. P. , Mendrok J. , Dupuy E. , Sato T. O. , Ochiai S. , Suzuki K. , Manabe T. , Nishibori T. , Kikuchi K. , Sato R. , Takayanagi M. , Murayama Y. , Shiotani M. , Kasai Y.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. This paper describes the algorithms of the level-2 research (L2r) processing chain developed for the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES). The chain has been developed in parallel to the operational chain for conducting researches on calibration and retrieval algorithms. L2r chain products are available to the scientific community. The objective of version 2 is the retrieval of the vertical distribution of trace gases in the altitude range of 18–90 km. A theoretical error analysis is conducted to estimate the retrieval feasibility of key parameters of the processing: line-of-sight elevation tangent altitudes (or angles), temperature and ozone profiles. While pointing information is often retrieved from molecular oxygen lines, there is no oxygen line in the SMILES spectra, so the strong ozone line at 625.371 GHz has been chosen. The pointing parameters and the ozone profiles are retrieved from the line wings which are measured with high signal to noise ratio, whereas the temperature profile is retrieved from the optically thick line center. The main systematic component of the retrieval error was found to be the neglect of the non-linearity of the radiometric gain in the calibration procedure. This causes a temperature retrieval error of 5–10 K. Because of these large temperature errors, it is not possible to construct a reliable hydrostatic pressure profile. However, as a consequence of the retrieval of pointing parameters, pressure induced errors are significantly reduced if the retrieved trace gas profiles are represented on pressure levels instead of geometric altitude levels. Further, various setups of trace gas retrievals have been tested. The error analysis for the retrieved HOCl profile demonstrates that best results for inverting weak lines can be obtained by using narrow spectral windows.
On the Feasibility of Using 802.11p for Communication of Electronic Toll Collection Systems
Authors: Li Mei-Wen , Wu Tsung-Hsun , Lin Wei-Yen , Lan Kun-Chan , Chou Chien-Ming , Hsu Chung-Hsien
Published: October 2011

In an 802.11p (the so-called DSRC) network, the WSMP protocol is used for the communication between OBU
and RSU. Unlike a wired network, an 802.11p wireless network is prone to fading, shadowing, and interferences, which might result in high error rates. However, there is no reliability mechanism embedded in the WSMP protocol, which can become an important issue for mission-critical ITS applications such as ETC (Electronic Toll Collection). In this work, we develop a protocol on top of WSMP to build a reliable session for the message exchanges between RSU and OBU. Our protocol uses a timer-based mechanism for the message retransmission in the case of message losses. In this paper, we first describe the design of our session protocol and evaluate its performance for ETC communication in simulations. We then discuss the implementation of our protocol on the ITRI WAVE box and evaluate its effectiveness on real roads.
Ethical Gerrymandering in Science
Authors: Marino Lori
Published: October 2011

Satz posed the term "legal gerrymandering for human interest," referring to the redrawing of the natural baseline of protections for other animals to further human use of them. One of the domains where this exists most clearly is in scientific research on animal models. An animal model is sufficiently like humans in anatomy, physiology, or psychology to be used in research considered too harmful or risky for humans. I argue that the use of animal models is, by its very nature, ethical gerrymandering and a corruption of the self-correcting component of the scientific process.
Strategies for Pathway Analysis from GWAS Data
Authors: Yaspan Brian L. , Veatch Olivia J.
Published: October 2011

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) are a standard approach for investigating the relationship of common variation within the human genome to a given phenotype of interest. However, single‐allele association results published for many GWAS studies represent only the tip of the iceberg for the information that can be extracted from these datasets. The primary analysis strategy for GWAS entails association analysis in which only the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the strongest p values are declared statistically significant due to issues arising from multiple testing and type I error concerns. Factors such as locus heterogeneity, epistasis, and multiple genes conferring small effects contribute to the complexity of the genetic models underlying phenotype expression. Thus, many biologically meaningful associations having lower effect sizes at individual genes are overlooked, as they are difficult to separate from a sea of false‐positive associations. Organizing these individual SNPs into biologically meaningful groups to look at overall effects of minor perturbations to genes and pathways is desirable. This pathway‐based approach provides researchers with insight into the functional foundations of the phenotype being studied and allows testing of various genetic scenarios. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 71:1.20.1‐1.20.15 © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The UCSC Genome Browser
Authors: Karolchik Donna , Hinrichs Angie S. , Kent W. James
Published: October 2011

The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser is a popular Web‐based tool for quickly displaying a requested portion of a genome at any scale, accompanied by a series of aligned annotation “tracks.” The annotations generated by the UCSC Genome Bioinformatics Group and external collaborators include gene predictions, mRNA and expressed sequence tag alignments, simple nucleotide polymorphisms, expression and regulatory data, phenotype and variation data, and pairwise and multiple‐species comparative genomics data. All information relevant to a region is presented in one window, facilitating biological analysis and interpretation. The database tables underlying the Genome Browser tracks can be viewed, downloaded, and manipulated using another Web‐based application, the UCSC Table Browser. Users can upload personal datasets in a wide variety of formats as custom annotation tracks in both browsers for research or educational purposes. This unit describes how to use the Genome Browser and Table Browser for genome analysis, download the underlying database tables, and create and display custom annotation tracks. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 71:18.6.1‐18.6.33 © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Network structure and methanol transport dynamics in poly(methyl methacrylate)
Authors: Ekenseair Adam K. , Peppas Nicholas A.
Published: October 2011

The effect of the polymer network structure on methanol transport dynamics in glassy polymers was investigated in both dry and plasticized disks of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) through gravimetric integral sorption studies. PMMA was synthesized by a controlled free radical polymerization mechanism, crosslinked in bulk with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and swollen in methanol under a variety of conditions. In the Case II transport regime, control over the transport rate was shown to depend on the glassy‐state properties of the polymer, and the Case II front velocity was found to be proportional to the square root of the crosslinking density. Similarities were observed in the penetrant transport behavior of both dry and plasticized samples at high degrees of crosslinking, and the activation energy of methanol transport at low degrees of crosslinking was found to be similar for both Fickian and Case II mechanisms. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
A deleterious founder mutation in the BMPER gene causes diaphanospondylodysostosis (DSD)
Authors: Ben‐Neriah Ziva , Michaelson‐Cohen Rachel , Inbar‐Feigenberg Michal , Nadjari Michael , Zeligson Sharon , Shaag Avraham , Zenvirt Shamir , Elpeleg Orly , Levy‐Lahad Ephrat
Published: October 2011

Diaphonospondylodysostosis (DSD) is a rare, recessively inherited, lethal skeletal dysplasia, characterized by severe spinal ossification, segmentation defects, and renal cystic dysplasia with nephrogenic rests. We hereby present three affected individuals: two children and a fetus from two unrelated East Jerusalem Arab‐Muslim families. Whereas most fetuses die in utero or perinatally, one of the children survived to 15 months. Homozygosity mapping in the two families demonstrated a single common 3.87 Mb region on chromosome 7, ruling out previously known spondylocostal/spondylothoracic dysostosis loci. The 15 protein coding genes in the region were prioritized, and some were sequenced. A single, novel deleterious mutation, Q104X, was detected in the bone morphogenetic protein‐binding endothelial regulator protein (BMPER) gene, recently reported to be mutated in other DSD patients [Funari et al., 2010]. The novel mutation we identified is an ancestral founder allele, as evidenced by a shared 440 SNP haplotype, and its frequency in the general Arab population is estimated to be <1:123. Our findings confirm loss of BMPER function as a cause of axial versus appendicular skeletal defects, and suggest that less deleterious mutations may be involved in milder axial skeleton abnormalities. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The impact of cardiac surgery in patients with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 in Japan
Authors: Maeda Jun , Yamagishi Hiroyuki , Furutani Yoshiyuki , Kamisago Mitsuhiro , Waragai Tadashi , Oana Shinji , Kajino Hiroki , Matsuura Hiroyuki , Mori Katsuhiko , Matsuoka Rumiko , Nakanishi Toshio
Published: October 2011

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are very common in patients with trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13). The surgical indication of CHD remains controversial since the natural history of these trisomies is documented to be poor. To investigate the outcome of CHD in patients with T18 and T13, we collected and evaluated clinical data from 134 patients with T18 and 27 patients with T13 through nationwide network of Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. In patients with T18, 23 (17%) of 134 were alive at this survey. One hundred twenty‐six (94%) of 134 patients had CHDs. The most common CHD was ventricular septal defect (VSD, 59%). Sixty‐five (52%) of 126 patients with CHD developed pulmonary hypertension (PH). Thirty‐two (25%) of 126 patients with CHD underwent cardiac surgery and 18 patients (56%) have survived beyond postoperative period. While palliative surgery was performed in most patients, six cases (19%) underwent intracardiac repair for VSD. Operated patients survived longer than those who did not have surgery (P < 0.01). In patients with T13, 5 (19%) of 27 patients were alive during study period. Twenty‐three (85%) of 27 patients had CHD and 13 (57%) of 27 patients had PH. Atrial septal defect was the most common form of CHD (22%). Cardiac surgery was done in 6 (26%) of 23 patients. In this study, approximately a quarter of patients underwent surgery for CHD in both trisomies. Cardiac surgery may improve survival in selected patients with T18. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ionische Flüssigkeiten – neue Perspektiven für die anorganische Synthesechemie?
Authors: Freudenmann Dominic , Wolf Silke , Wolff Michael , Feldmann Claus
Published: October 2011

Ionischen Flüssigkeiten wird eine Reihe an ungewöhnlichen Eigenschaften zugeschrieben. Hierzu zählen geringer Dampfdruck, weiter flüssiger Existenzbereich, schwach koordinierende Eigenschaften, hohe thermisch‐chemische Stabilität – Eigenschaften, die ohne Frage für die anorganische Synthese und die Herstellung neuartiger anorganischer Verbindungen von großem Interesse sind. Anderseits ist das Syntheserepertoire für anorganische Verbindungen seit jeher breit und reicht von Synthesen in Lösungen und Schmelzen bis zu Festkörperreaktionen und von der Kristallzüchtung aus der Gasphase bis zu Hochdrucksynthesen. Was also können ionische Flüssigkeiten für die Synthese anorganischer Verbindungen Neues bringen? Dieser Kurzaufsatz zeigt an ersten Beispielen, dass der Einsatz ionischer Flüssigkeiten tatsächlich einen Zugang zu ungewöhnlichen anorganischen Verbindungen eröffnet.
Homogenization in supercritical carbon dioxide enhances the diffusion of vitamin E in ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene
Authors: Oral Ebru , Beckos Christine Godleski , Muratoglu Orhun K.
Published: October 2011

Vitamin E stabilization of radiation‐crosslinked ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) joint implants was successfully introduced to improve long‐term oxidation resistance. Current clinically available vitamin E stabilized UHMWPE implants were prepared by the postirradiation diffusion of vitamin E into 100‐kGy‐irradiated UHMWPE by a two‐step process, which included doping in pure vitamin E at an elevated temperature below the melting point followed by an annealing step at an elevated temperature in inert gas to homogenize the antioxidant throughout components of desired thickness. We hypothesized that the diffusion of vitamin E could be enhanced with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) during homogenization without an increase in the surface vitamin E concentration, which would thus result in faster homogenization. Our hypothesis tested positive; crosslinked UHMWPE doped with vitamin E at 120°C and homogenized in SC‐CO2 at 10–12 MPa had a greater penetration of vitamin E than those homogenized in inert gas. We attributed the faster diffusion of vitamin E in irradiated UHMWPE in SC‐CO2 to the dissolution of vitamin E in the supercritical fluid and a rate of diffusion that was closer to that of the supercritical fluid in the polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Toughened and stiffened nanocomposites based on an amorphous polyamide modified with both styrene/ethylene‐co‐butylene/styrene triblock copolymer and an organoclay
Authors: González Imanol , Zabaleta Asier , Eguiazábal José I.
Published: October 2011

Polymer nanocomposites (PNs) based on an amorphous polyamide (aPA) modified with both a maleated rubber (mSEBS) for toughening, and with an organically modified organoclay for stiffening were obtained in the melt state. The PNs were highly dispersed and the organoclay was exclusively located in the aPA matrix. However, they showed a fine particle size that was larger than that of the corresponding blends. This indicates a lower compatibilization in the PNs that was attributed to a slight surfactant migration to the matrix during processing in the melt state. The increases in the modulus of elasticity upon organoclay (OMMT) addition were high enough to counteract the modulus decrease inherent to a 15% rubber addition. This allowed us to obtain a toughened aPA with a modulus similar to that of the unmodified aPA. The critical interparticle distance was lower in the PNs than in the corresponding blends. This decrease was attributed to the higher modulus of elasticity of the PNs matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effect of dispersion state of Cloisite15A® on the performance of SPEEK/Cloisite15A nanocomposite membrane for DMFC application
Authors: Jaafar Juhana , Ismail A. F. , Matsuura T.
Published: October 2011

The introduction of 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine (TAP) into sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK)/Cloisite15A® nanocomposite membranes were investigated for the purpose of maintaining low methanol permeability and suppressing swelling in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). SPEEK with 63% of degree of sulfonation (DS) was prepared by sulfonation of PEEK. Cloisite15A (7.5 wt %) along with various weight loading of TAP was incorporated into SPEEK matrix via solution intercalation method. The effect of TAP loading on the SPEEK/Cloisite15A/TAP morphology was studied. The beneficial impact of the SPEEK/Cloisite15A/TAP morphology on the physicochemical properties of the membrane was further discussed. Swelling behavior, ion exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of the resultant membranes were determined as a function of Cloisite15A and TAP loadings. Uniform distribution of Cloisite15A particles in the SPEEK polymer matrix in the homogenous SPEEK/Cloisite15A/TAP nanocomposite membranes was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The water uptake of the SPEEK nanocomposite membranes decreased dramatically in the presence of TAP. The significant selectivity of SP/7.5/7.5 nanocomposite membranes could indicate a potential feasibility as a promising electrolyte for DMFC. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and Anti‐Candida Potential of Certain Novel 1‐[(3‐Substituted‐3‐phenyl)propyl]‐1H‐imidazoles
Authors: Aboul‐Enein Mohamed Nabil , El‐Azzouny Aida Abd El‐Sattar , Attia Mohamed Ibrahim , Saleh Ola Ahmed , Kansoh Amany Lotfy
Published: October 2011

The synthesis and anti‐Candida activity of 1‐[(3‐aroyloxy‐3‐phenyl)propyl]‐1H‐imidazoles 5a–f and 1‐[(3‐alkyl/aralkyl/phenyl‐3‐phenyl)propan‐3‐ol]‐1H‐imidazoles 5g–j are reported. The influence of the ester formation and different substitutions on the anti‐Candida activity of the alcohol 4 was investigated. Among the newly developed bioactive chemical entities, compounds 5b and 5c displayed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Candida albicans and Candida pseudotropicales comparable to that of tioconazole and more potent than miconazole.
Retinal coenzyme Q in the bovine eye
Authors: Qu Jinfeng , Ma Li , Washington Ilyas
Published: October 2011

Coenzyme Q plays an integral role in oxygen metabolism and management, and there is a positive correlation between low tissue coenzyme Q concentrations and the progression of many degenerative diseases. Retinal oxidative damage plays a role in the pathogenesis of many degenerative eye diseases; nevertheless, despite the retina's high rate of oxygen metabolism, there is little data relating to retinal coenzyme Q concentrations. In this study, we quantified coenzyme Q in the model bovine eye and determined whether it could function as a retinal lipid antioxidant. We found that the neural retina's ubiquinone concentration exceeded those of the vitreous humor, lens, choroid, and extraocular muscle, but it was lower than those measured in heart, kidney, liver, and brain tissues. Ubiquinol was found to be as effective as vitamin E as a retinal lipid antioxidant. The overall relatively low levels of ubiquinone found in the retina, coupled with the retina's need for lipid antioxidants and oxidative metabolism, suggests that retinal function might be sensitive to changes in ubiquinone concentrations.
FATSIM‐A: An educational tool based on electrical analogy and the code PSPICE to simulate fluid flow and solute transport processes
Authors: Manteca Iván Alhama , Meca Antonio Soto , López Francisco Alhama
Published: October 2011

Based on the network simulation method, the educational software FATSIM‐A has been developed to simulate transient, non‐lineal, conjugate problems of fluid flow and solute transport in porous media. Darcy flow and conservation laws in the form of stream function formulation, as well as boundary conditions, provide the partial differential equations of the mathematical model. The network model, based on the spatial discretization of these equations following a few rules, is simulated in the electric circuit simulation code PSPICE. Time remains as a continuous variable in the model. Interface communication is user friendly and immediate through the window environment created in the visual C# source code. The resulting simulation data (concentration and stream function isolines), including animations, are graphically shown in the environment of FATSIM‐A itself or using MATLAB, due to the suitable routines implemented in the software. The power and reliability of FATSIM‐A have been verified by comparing its solution with standard benchmark problems such as those of Henry and Elder. The program can be used as a low cost laboratory educational tool for teaching groundwater flow with solute transport processes, such as saline intrusion, salt lake, and salt dome. Furthermore, the software can be used as a numerical tool for investigation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 22:516–528, 2014; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.10.1002/cae.20577
Impact of Co‐Components on the State of Pd and the Performance of Supported Pd/TiO2 Catalysts in the Gas‐Phase Acetoxylation of Toluene
Authors: Gatla Suresh , Madaan Neetika , Radnik Jörg , Kalevaru Venkata Narayana , Lücke Bernhard , Martin Andreas , Bentrup Ursula , Brückner Angelika
Published: October 2011

The effect of the co‐components Mn, Co, Au, and Sb with a wide range of standard reduction potentials (Mn2+/Mn: E°=−1.18 V; Co2+/Co: E°=−0.28 V; Sb3+/Sb: E°=+0.2 V; Au3+/Au: E°=+1.52 V) on the catalytic performance of 10 wt % Pd, 8 wt % M/TiO2 (M=Mn, Co, Sb, Au) catalysts in the gas‐phase acetoxylation of toluene to benzyl acetate has been studied. Co‐components with low E° are more active, but less selective than those with high E°. Co‐components with low E° (Mn, Co) stabilize Pd in its oxidized form, whereas those with high E° (Sb, Au) support the formation of metallic Pd. Sb and Au are incorporated into the Pd lattice, whereas Mn and Co are enriched at the surface during time on stream. Carbon is deposited on all catalysts during the reaction. However, for Mn‐ and Co‐containing catalysts, carbon is incorporated into the metal particles, whereas it is deposited on top of Pd particles modified with Sb and Au, which leads to faster deactivation.
High‐Nuclearity Ni‐Substituted Polyoxometalates: A Series of Poly(polyoxotungstate)s Containing 20–22 Nickel Centers
Authors: Li Xin‐Xiong , Zheng Shou‐Tian , Zhang Jie , Fang Wei‐Hui , Yang Guo‐Yu , Clemente‐Juan Juan Modesto
Published: October 2011

Three high‐nuclearity Ni‐substituted polyoxotungstates (POTs)—[Ni(enMe)2(H2O)2]2[Ni(H2O)6]2‐ [Ni(enMe)2][Ni(H2O)2]1.5[HNi20X4W34‐ (OH)4O136(H2O)6(enMe)8]⋅11 H2O (3), [Ni(en)2(H2O)]2[H8Ni21X4W34(OH)4‐ O136(en)10(H2O)5]⋅22 H2O (4), and [Ni‐(enMe)2]2[H6Ni22X4W34(OH)4O136(H2O)6(enMe)10]⋅18 H2O (5), in which en=ethylenediamine, enMe=1,2‐diaminopropane, X=0.5 P+0.5 Ge—were made under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structures of 3–5 can be viewed as novel derivatives of [H6Ni20P4W34(OH)4O136(enMe)8‐ (H2O)6]⋅12 H 2O (1) and [Ni(en)2‐ (H2O)]2[H8Ni20P4W34(OH)4O136(en)9‐ (H2O)4]⋅16 H 2O (2), which both contain 20 nickel ions per structural unit. Compound 3 is the first example of a 1D cluster chain constructed from Ni20‐substituted polyanions [HNi20X4‐ W34(OH)4O136(H2O)6(enMe)8]11− and [Ni(enMe)2]2+ bridges. Compound 4 is a novel cluster–organic chain built by Ni21‐substituted polyanions [H8Ni21X4W34(OH)4O136(en)10(H2O)5]4− and en molecule bridges. Compound 5 is a discrete POT with 22 Ni centers, and is not only the largest nickel‐substituted POT, but also contains the highest number of nickel ions in one polyanion to date. Magnetic measurements illustrate that overall ferromagnetic interactions exist in 1–5. The magnetic behavior of 1 and 2 was theoretically simulated by the MAGPACK magnetic program package.
Specifically and Reversibly Immobilizing Proteins/Enzymes to Nitriolotriacetic‐Acid‐Modified Mesoporous Silicas through Histidine Tags for Purification or Catalysis
Authors: Lin Yu‐Chung , Liang Ming‐Ren , Lin Yu‐Chen , Chen Chao‐Tsen
Published: October 2011

Six nitriolotriacetic‐acid‐modified ordered mesoporous silicas (NTA‐OMPSs) with different pore sizes and surface features for specific and reversible protein immobilization were fabricated and characterized. Specific immobilization of a genetically engineered undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPs) from cell lysate and a chemically modified His‐tagged horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in these Ni‐NTA‐OMPSs through histidine coordination to the nickelated NTA was demonstrated and confirmed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Negligible leakage of these enzymes over a wide range of acidic conditions was observed. Moreover, histidine tags with different lengths (His6, His4, His3, and His2) applied to HRP were evaluated to find the minimum length for effective complexation. Enzymatic assessment studies indicated that the pore size of the OMPSs has minimal influence on the enzymatic activity, whereas chemical entities such as unreacted mercapto groups tailored on the interior surfaces of the OMPSs played certain roles in inhibiting the enzymatic activity and stability. On MCF‐S‐NTA, SBA‐S‐NTA, and film‐S‐NTA, which contained unreacted mercaptopropyl groups on the interior surface, immobilized His‐tagged HRP showed lower catalytic activity and stability than on MCF‐NTA, film‐NTA, and SBA‐NTA. Selective hydroxylation of optically pure L‐tyrosine to (S)‐2‐amino‐3‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid (L‐DOPA) by the immobilized HRP was also demonstrated.
Investigating the Imidazolium–Anion Interaction through the Anion‐Templated Construction of Interpenetrated and Interlocked Assemblies
Authors: Spence Graeme T. , Serpell Christopher J. , Sardinha João , Costa Paulo J. , Félix Vítor , Beer Paul D.
Published: October 2011

The interaction between imidazolium cations and coordinating anions is investigated through the anion‐templated assembly of interpenetrated and interlocked structures. The orientation of the imidazolium motif with respect to anion binding, and hence the hydrogen bond donor arrangement, was varied in acyclic receptors, interpenetrated assemblies, and the first mono‐imidazolium interlocked systems. Their anion recognition properties and co‐conformations were studied by solution‐phase 1H NMR investigations, solid‐state structures, molecular dynamics simulations, and density functional theory calculations. Our findings suggest that the imidazolium‐anion binding interaction is dominated by electrostatics with hydrogen‐bonding contributions having weak orientational dependence.