bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrogen Peroxide as a Damage Signal in Tissue Injury and Inflammation: Murderer, Mediator, or Messenger?
Authors: van der Vliet Albert , Janssen‐Heininger Yvonne M.W.
Published: October 2013

Tissue injury and inflammation are associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have the ability to induce oxidative injury to various biomolecules resulting in protein dysfunction, genetic instability, or cell death. However, recent observations indicate that formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during tissue injury is also an essential feature of the ensuing wound healing response, and functions as an early damage signal to control several critical aspects of the wound healing process. Because innate oxidative wound responses must be tightly coordinated to avoid chronic inflammation or tissue injury, a more complete understanding is needed regarding the origins and dynamics of ROS production, and their critical biological targets. This prospect highlights the current experimental evidence implicating H2O2 in early epithelial wound responses, and summarizes technical advances and approaches that may help distinguish its beneficial actions from its more deleterious actions in conditions of chronic tissue injury or inflammation. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 427–435, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ErbB2 Activation Upregulates Glutaminase 1 Expression Which Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
Authors: Qie Shuo , Chu Clarissa , Li Weihua , Wang Chenguang , Sang Nianli
Published: October 2013

Active glutamine utilization is critical for tumor cell proliferation. Glutaminolysis represents the first and rate‐limiting step of glutamine utilization and is catalyzed by glutaminase (GLS). Activation of ErbB2 is one of the major causes of breast cancers, the second most common cause of death for women in many countries. However, it remains unclear whether ErbB2 signaling affects glutaminase expression in breast cancer cells. In this study, we show that MCF10A‐NeuT cell line has higher GLS1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels than its parental line MCF10A, and knockdown of ErbB2 decreases GLS1 expression in MCF10A‐NeuT cells. We further show that in these cells, ErbB2‐mediated upregulation of GLS1 is not correlated to c‐Myc expression. Moreover, activation of neither PI3K‐Akt nor MAPK pathway is sufficient to upregulate GLS1 expression. Interestingly, inhibition of NF‐κB blocks ErbB2‐stimulated GLS1 expression, whereas stimulation of NF‐κB is sufficient to enhance GLS1 levels in MCF10A cells, suggesting a PI3K‐Akt‐independent activation of NF‐κB upregulates GLS1 in ErbB2‐positive breast cancer cells. Finally, knockdown or inhibition of GLS1 significantly decreased the proliferation of breast cancer cells with high GLS1 levels. Taken together, our data indicate that ErbB2 activation promotes GLS1 expression via a PI3K‐Akt‐independent NF‐κB pathway in breast cancer cells, identifying another oncogenic signaling pathway which stimulates GLS1 expression, and thus promoting glutamine utilization in cancer cells. These findings, if validated by in vivo model, may facilitate the identification of novel biochemical targets for cancer prevention and therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 498–509, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dab2, Megalin, Cubilin and Amnionless Receptor Complex Might Mediate Intestinal Endocytosis in the Suckling Rat
Authors: Vázquez‐Carretero María D. , Palomo Marta , García‐Miranda Pablo , Sánchez‐Aguayo Inmaculada , Peral María J. , Calonge María L. , Ilundain Anunciación A.
Published: October 2013

We previously proposed that Dab2 participates in the endocytosis of milk macromolecules in rat small intestine. Here we investigate the receptors that may mediate this endocytosis by studying the effects of age and diet on megalin, VLDLR, and ApoER2 expression, and that of age on the expression of cubilin and amnionless. Of megalin, VLDLR and ApoER2, only the megalin expression pattern resembles that of Dab2 previously reported. Thus the mRNA and protein levels of megalin and Dab2 are high in the intestine of the suckling rat, down‐regulated by age and up‐regulated by milk diet, mainly in the ileum. Neither age nor diet affect ApoER2 mRNA levels. The effect of age on VLDLR mRNA levels depends on the epithelial cell tested but they are down‐regulated by milk diet. In the suckling rat, the intestinal expressions of both cubilin and amnionless are similar to that of megalin and megalin, cubilin, amnionless and Dab2 co‐localize at the microvilli and in the apical endocytic apparatus. Co‐localization of Dab2 with ApoER2 and VLDLR at the microvilli and in the apical endocytic apparatus is also observed. This is the first report showing intestinal co‐localization of: megalin/cubilin/amnionless/Dab2, VLDLR/Dab2 and ApoER2/Dab2. We conclude that the megalin/cubilin/amnionless/Dab2 complex/es participate in intestinal processes, mainly during the lactation period and that Dab2 may act as an adaptor in intestinal processes mediated by ApoER2 and VLDLR. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 510–522, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nanotopography Drives Stem Cell Fate Toward Osteoblast Differentiation Through α1β1 Integrin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Rosa A.L. , Kato R.B. , Castro Raucci L.M.S. , Teixeira L.N. , de Oliveira F.S. , Bellesini L.S. , de Oliveira P.T. , Hassan M.Q. , Beloti M.M.
Published: October 2013

The aim of our study was to investigate the osteoinductive potential of a titanium (Ti) surface with nanotopography, using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the mechanism involved in this phenomenon. Polished Ti discs were chemically treated with H2SO4/H2O2 to yield nanotopography and rat MSCs were cultured under osteogenic and non‐osteogenic conditions on both nanotopography and untreated polished (control) Ti surfaces. The nanotopography increased cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (Alp) activity and upregulated the gene expression of key bone markers of cells grown under both osteogenic and non‐osteogenic conditions. Additionally, the gene expression of α1 and β1 integrins was higher in cells grown on Ti with nanotopography under non‐osteogeneic condition compared with control Ti surface. The higher gene expression of bone markers and Alp activity induced by Ti with nanotopography was reduced by obtustatin, an α1β1 integrin inhibitor. These results indicate that α1β1 integrin signaling pathway determines the osteoinductive effect of nanotopography on MSCs. This finding highlights a novel mechanism involved in nanosurface‐mediated MSCs fate and may contribute to the development of new surface modifications aiming to accelerate and/or enhance the process of osseointegration. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 540–548, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Monte carlo simulations of proteins at constant pH with generalized born solvent, flexible sidechains, and an effective dielectric boundary
Authors: Polydorides Savvas , Simonson Thomas
Published: October 2013

Titratable residues determine the acid/base behavior of proteins, strongly influencing their function; in addition, proton binding is a valuable reporter on electrostatic interactions. We describe a method for pKa calculations, using constant‐pH Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to explore the space of sidechain conformations and protonation states, with an efficient and accurate generalized Born model (GB) for the solvent effects. To overcome the many‐body dependency of the GB model, we use a “Native Environment” approximation, whose accuracy is shown to be good. It allows the precalculation and storage of interactions between all sidechain pairs, a strategy borrowed from computational protein design, which makes the MC simulations themselves very fast. The method is tested for 12 proteins and 167 titratable sidechains. It gives an rms error of 1.1 pH units, similar to the trivial “Null” model. The only adjustable parameter is the protein dielectric constant. The best accuracy is achieved for values between 4 and 8, a range that is physically plausible for a protein interior. For sidechains with large pKa shifts, ≥2, the rms error is 1.6, compared to 2.5 with the Null model and 1.5 with the empirical PROPKA method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Nano‐crystalline In2O3
Authors: Dai Yong‐Ming , Lee Wen‐lian William , Lin Wei‐Chieh , Chen Chiing‐Chang
Published: October 2013

A nano‐crystalline In2O3 was synthesized using calcinations methods and was used as a photocatalyst to degrade sulfan blue (SB) dye. In addition, this study addresses the conditions of the degradation and the factors that influenced the catalysis. In2O3 was prepared by calcining In(OH)3 at heat ranges of 100–700 °C for 24 h. The In2O3 was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), an X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR‐XPS). The activities of these samples were tested for the photocatalytic degradation of SB dye. The results indicated that the In(OH)3 that was calcined at 300 °C for 24 h had the best performance.
Development of Voltammetric Sensor for Determination of Tryptophan Using MWCNTs‐modified Sol‐gel Electrode
Authors: Majidi Mir Reza , Salimi Arezu , Alipour Esmaeel
Published: October 2013

In the present work, an electrochemical sensor was developed for simple and sensitive determination of tryptophan (Trp) using multi‐walled carbon nanotubes modified sol‐gel electrode (MWCNTs/SGE). The electrocatalytic oxidation of tryptophan was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). It was found that the oxidation peak current of Trp at the MWCNTs/SGE was greatly improved compared with that of the bare SGE. Furthermore, at the MWCNTs/SGE, the anodic peak potential of Trp is shifted about 220 mV to more negative value indicated that modified electrode has better electrocatalytic activity for electro‐oxidation of Trp. The anodic peak currents increased linearly with the concentration of tryptophan in the range of 0.2 × 10−6 to 15 × 10−6 M with a detection limit of 0.139 × 10−6 M (at an S/N = 3).
Orientable Hamilton Cycle Embeddings of Complete Tripartite Graphs I: Latin Square Constructions
Authors: Ellingham M. N. , Schroeder Justin Z.
Published: October 2013

In an earlier paper the authors constructed a hamilton cycle embedding of in a nonorientable surface for all and then used these embeddings to determine the genus of some large families of graphs. In this two‐part series, we extend those results to orientable surfaces for all . In part I, we explore a connection between orthogonal latin squares and embeddings. A product construction is presented for building pairs of orthogonal latin squares such that one member of the pair has a certain hamiltonian property. These hamiltonian squares are then used to construct embeddings of the complete tripartite graph on an orientable surface such that the boundary of every face is a hamilton cycle. This construction works for all such that and for every prime p. Moreover, it is shown that the latin square construction utilized to get hamilton cycle embeddings of can also be used to obtain triangulations of . Part II of this series covers the case for every prime p and applies these embeddings to obtain some genus results.
Mental Health Professionals’ Natural Taxonomies of Mental Disorders: Implications for the Clinical Utility of the ICD‐11 and the DSM‐5
Authors: Reed Geoffrey M. , Roberts Michael C. , Keeley Jared , Hooppell Catherine , Matsumoto Chihiro , Sharan Pratap , Robles Rebeca , Carvalho Hudson , Wu Chunyan , Gureje Oye , Leal‐Leturia Itzear , Flanagan Elizabeth H. , Correia João Mendonça , Maruta Toshimasa , Ayuso‐Mateos José Luís , de Jesus Mari Jair , Xiao Zeping , Evans Spencer C. , Saxena Shekhar , Medina‐Mora María Elena
Published: October 2013

Objective

To examine the conceptualizations held by psychiatrists and psychologists around the world of the relationships among mental disorders in order to inform decisions about the structure of the classification of mental and behavioral disorders in World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 11th Revision (ICD‐11).

Method

517 mental health professionals in 8 countries sorted 60 cards containing the names of mental disorders into groups of similar disorders, and then formed a hierarchical structure by aggregating and disaggregating these groupings. Distance matrices were created from the sorting data and used in cluster and correlation analyses.

Results

Clinicians’ taxonomies were rational, interpretable, and extremely stable across countries, diagnostic system used, and profession. Clinicians’ consensus classification structure was different from ICD‐10 and the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM‐IV), but in many respects consistent with ICD‐11 proposals.

Conclusions

The clinical utility of the ICD‐11 may be improved by making its structure more compatible with the common conceptual organization of mental disorders observed across diverse global clinicians.
Hypoxia Simultaneously Alters Satellite Cell‐Mediated Angiogenesis and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Expression
Authors: Flann K.L. , Rathbone C.R. , Cole L.C. , Liu X. , Allen R.E. , Rhoads R.P.
Published: October 2013

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a multifaceted process requiring the spatial and temporal coordination of myogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a pivotal role in myogenesis by activating satellite cells (SC) in regenerating muscle and likely plays a role as a contributor to revascularization. Moreover, repair of a functional blood supply is critical to ameliorate tissue ischemia and restore skeletal muscle function, however effects of hypoxia on satellite cell‐mediated angiogenesis remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the role of HGF and effect of hypoxia on the capacity of satellite cells to promote angiogenesis. To characterize the role of HGF, a microvascular fragment (MVF) culture model coupled with satellite cell conditioned media (CM) was employed. The activity of HGF was specifically blocked in SC CM reducing sprout length compared to control CM. In contrast, MVF sprout number did not differ between control or HGF‐deficient SC CM media. Next, we cultured MVF in the presence of CM from satellite cells exposed to normoxic (20% O2) or hypoxic (1% O2) conditions. Hypoxic CM recapitulated a MVF angiogenic response identical to HGF deficient satellite cell CM. Hypoxic conditions increased satellite cell HIF‐1α protein abundance and VEGF mRNA abundance but decreased HGF mRNA abundance compared to normoxic satellite cells. Consistent with reduced HGF gene expression, HGF promoter activity decreased during hypoxia. Taken together, this data indicates that hypoxic modulation of satellite cell‐mediated angiogenesis involves a reduction in satellite cell HGF expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 572–579, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amsacrine suppresses matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2)/MMP‐9 expression in human leukemia cells
Authors: Liu Wen‐Hsin , Chen Ying‐Jung , Chien Jen‐Hung , Chang Long‐Sen
Published: October 2013

This study explores the suppression mechanism of amsacrine (4‐(9‐Acridinylamino)‐N‐(methanesulfonyl)‐m‐anisidine hydrochloride) on matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) and MMP‐9 expression in human leukemia cells. Amsacrine attenuated cell invasion with decreased MMP‐2/MMP‐9 protein expression and mRNA levels in U937, Jurkat, HL‐60, K562, KU812, and MEG‐01 cells. Moreover, amsacrine reduced both MMP‐2/MMP‐9 promoter luciferase activity and MMP‐2/MMP‐9 mRNA stability in leukemia cells. Studies on amsacrine‐treated U937 cells revealed that amsacrine‐elicited ROS generation induced JNK and p38 MAPK activation but reduced the phospho‐ERK level. Amsacrine‐induced ERK inactivation and p38 MAPK/JNK activation were demonstrated to suppress MMP‐2/MMP‐9 promoter luciferase activity and promote MMP‐2/MMP‐9 mRNA decay, respectively. p38 MAPK/JNK activation led to up‐regulation of protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit α (PP2Acα) in amsacrine‐treated U937 cells. Okadaic acid (PP2A inhibitor) treatment increased MMP‐2/MMP‐9 mRNA stability in amsacrine‐treated cells, whereas PP2Acα over‐expression increased MMP‐2/MMP‐9 mRNA decay. Amsacrine‐induced MMP‐2/MMP‐9 down‐regulation was also related to PP2Acα up‐regulation on Jurkat, HL‐60, K562, KU812, and MEG‐01 cells. Collectively, our data indicate that amsacrine induces MMP‐2/MMP‐9 down‐regulation via simultaneous suppression of genetic transcription and mRNA stability in human leukemia cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 588–598, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Many Lives of CTIP2: From AIDS to Cancer and Cardiac Hypertrophy
Authors: Le Douce Valentin , Cherrier Thomas , Riclet Raphael , Rohr Olivier , Schwartz Christian
Published: October 2013

CTIP2 is a key transcriptional regulator involved in numerous physiological functions. Initial works have shown the importance of CTIP2 in the establishment and persistence of HIV latency in microglial cells, the main latent/quiescent viral reservoir in the brain. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of CTIP2 in several other pathologies, such as cardiac hypertrophy and various types of human malignancies. Targeting CTIP2 may therefore constitute a new approach in the treatment of these pathologies. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 533–537, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pharmacokinetics of dalfampridine extended release 7.5‐mg tablets in healthy subjects and individuals with mild and moderate renal impairment: An open‐label study
Authors: Samara Emil , Winkle Peter , Pardo Patricia , Henney Herbert R. , Way Susan L. , Brown Eppie , Lee Angela , Blight Andrew R.
Published: October 2013

Dalfampridine extended release tablets (D‐ER; prolonged‐release fampridine in Europe) are available to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). D‐ER is mainly renally eliminated; the approved 10‐mg twice daily dose is contraindicated in the United States in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment. This study evaluated single‐dose and steady‐state pharmacokinetics of a 7.5‐mg dose of D‐ER in healthy subjects (n = 13) and subjects with mild (n = 17) and moderate (n = 12) renal impairment. D‐ER plasma concentrations were consistently higher in subjects with renal impairment relative to healthy individuals with a significant (P < .0001) inverse linear relationship between creatinine clearance and drug exposure. Steady‐state AUC0–12 among healthy subjects, 167.0 ± 55.3 ng h/mL, increased 74% and 151% with mild and moderate renal impairment, respectively. The overall incidence of adverse events was 61.5%, 47.1%, and 33.3% in healthy subjects, and subjects with mild and moderate renal impairment, respectively, and for treatment‐related adverse events the rates were 0%, 17.6%, and 8.3%, respectively. The most common adverse events were headache, dizziness, and arthralgia. The pharmacokinetics of D‐ER 7.5‐mg twice daily in subjects with mild renal impairment was comparable to 10‐mg twice daily in patients with MS who had normal renal function. Exposure was significantly higher in moderate renal impairment.
Prediction of overall survival or progression free survival by disease control rate at week 8 is independent of ethnicity: Western versus Chinese patients with first‐line non‐small cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab
Authors: Claret Laurent , Gupta Manish , Han Kelong , Joshi Amita , Sarapa Nenad , He Jing , Powell Bob , Bruno René
Published: October 2013

Categorizations of best response observed at week 8 (between week 3 and 14) of first‐line treatment in two studies of bevacizumab plus chemotherapy in Western (878 patients) and Chinese (198 patients) patients with non‐small cell lung cancer were assessed together with baseline prognostic factors in multivariate parametric models to predict overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Predictive performances of the models were assessed by simulating multiple replicates of the studies. Disease control rate (DCR) was the best response categorization to predict OS and PFS. In the OS model, DCR fully captured bevacizumab effect. For PFS, DCR did not fully capture bevacizumab treatment effect. The models adequately predicted OS and PFS distributions in each arm as well as bevacizumab hazard ratio (HR) for OS and PFS, for example, in Western patients (model prediction [95% prediction interval]: 0.84 [0.71–0.98] vs. observed: 0.77 for OS and 0.59 [0.49–0.72] vs. observed: 0.58 for PFS). Covariates in the models captured endpoint differences seen in Chinese patients. There was no impact of Chinese ethnicity on the DCR relationship to OS or PFS. DCR predicted OS benefit with bevacizumab in first‐line NSCLC patients. Western data can be used to inform design of studies in Chinese patients.
Effect of dosing schemes of amoxicillin on eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori with amoxicillin‐based triple therapy
Authors: Furuta Takahisa , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Yamade Mihoko , Uotani Takahiro , Sahara Shu , Ichikawa Hitomi , Yamada Takanori , Osawa Satoshi , Sugimoto Ken , Watanabe Hiroshi , Umemura Kazuo
Published: October 2013

Objectives

In standard regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection, amoxicillin is dosed twice daily, although the bactericidal effect of amoxicillin depends on the %time‐above‐MIC. We aimed to examine whether dosing schemes of amoxicillin influenced eradication rates of amoxicillin‐based regimens.

Methods

One hundred eighty‐seven patients infected with clarithromycin‐sensitive strains of H. pylori were treated with PPI, clarithromycin 200 mg bid and amoxicillin 750 mg bid, 500 mg tid or 500 mg qid for 1 week and 125 infected with clarithromycin‐resistant strains were treated with PPI, metronidazole 250 mg bid and amoxicillin 750 mg bid, 500 mg tid or 500 mg qid for 1 week.

Results

Eradication rates (ITT) of the triple PPI/amoxicillin/clarithromycin therapy with bid, tid and qid dosings of amoxicillin were 77.8% (49/63), 93.5% (58/62), and 91.9% (57/62), respectively. Those of the triple PPI/amoxicillin/metronidazole therapy were 80.5% (33/41), 90.5% (38/42), and 95.2% (40/42), respectively. Eradication rates in regimens with tid and qid dosing of amoxicillin were higher than those of regimens with the bid dosing of amoxicillin.

Conclusions

The dosing scheme of amoxicillin significantly influenced eradication rates of triple therapies. Although amoxicillin is empirically dosed twice daily, amoxicillin should be dosed at least three times daily in amoxicillin‐based triple therapies.
Esterification of renewable levulinic acid to ethyl levulinate biodiesel catalyzed by highly active and reusable desilicated H‐ZSM‐5
Authors: Nandiwale Kakasaheb Y. , Niphadkar Prashant S. , Deshpande Shilpa S. , Bokade Vijay V.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

In the near future, fossil fuel will have limitations in terms of availability and also great concerns over its environmental impact. New routes and related technologies based on renewable feedstocks can overcome most of these problems associated with fossil fuel. Among current biodiesel sources, ethyl levulinate (EL) biodiesel obtained from catalytic esterification of renewable levulinic acid (LA) with ethanol has received a great deal of attention. The use of desilicated H‐ZSM‐5 (DH‐ZSM‐5) as heterogeneous acid catalyst for EL biodiesel production in a closed system (under autogeneous pressure) was studied.

RESULTS

The effect of reaction parameters such as ethanol to LA molar ratio (4:1 to 10:1), catalyst to LA ratio (0.10–0.25), speed of agitation (100–400 rpm), particle size (53–355 µm), reaction temperature (363–403 K) and reaction time (7 h) was investigated to maximize LA conversion.

CONCLUSION

Levulinic acid conversion reached 95% over DH‐ZSM‐5 and the catalyst was reusable for up to six cycles. This LA conversion and the catalyst reusability values are higher than others reported in the literature. A pseudo‐homogeneous (P‐H) kinetic model indicated that reaction rate constants increased with increasing molar ratio, catalyst to LA ratio and reaction temperature. The activation energy decreased from 73.14 to 21.08 kJ mol‐1 when increasing the catalyst to LA ratio from 0.10 to 0.25, which implies a kinetically controlled reaction. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Use of carbon dioxide as feedstock for chemicals and fuels: homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Dibenedetto Angela , Angelini Antonella , Stufano Paolo
Published: October 2013

CO2is considered to play a key role in an eventual climate change, due to its accumulation in the atmosphere. The control of its emission represents a challenging task that requires new ideas and new technologies. The use of perennial energy sources and renewable fuels instead of fossil fuels and the conversion ofCO2into useful products are receiving increased attention. The utilization ofCO2as a raw material for the synthesis of chemicals and fuels is an area in which scientists and industrialists are much involved: the implementation of such technology on a large scale would allow a change from a linear use of fossil carbon to its cyclic use, mimicking Nature. In this paper the use ofCO2as building block is discussed.CO2can replace toxic species such as phosgene in low energy processes, or can be used as source of carbon for the synthesis of energy products. The reactions with dihydrogen, alcohols, epoxides, amines, olefins, dienes, and other unsaturated hydrocarbons are discussed, under various reaction conditions, using metal systems or enzymes as catalysts. The formation of products such as formic acid and its esters, formamides, methanol, dimethyl carbonate, alkylene carbonates, carbamic acid esters, lactones, carboxylic acids, and polycarbonates, is described.

The factors that have limited so far the conversion of large volumes ofCO2are analyzed and options for large‐scaleCO2catalytic conversion into chemicals and fuels are discussed. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are considered and the pros and cons of their use highlighted. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of crystal habit modifiers on the morphology of calcium sulfate dihydrate grown in strong CaCl2‐HCl solutions
Authors: Feldmann Thomas , Demopoulos George P.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

This work deals with the effect of several additives on the morphology of calcium sulfate dihydrate (DH) crystals, produced by reactive crystallization involving strong CaCl2–HCl solutions. Experiments were conducted at 40 °C under various conditions, namely homogeneous and seeded (heterogeneous) crystallization in CaCl2/HCl solutions ranging from very dilute (0.42 mol L−1/0.04 mol L−1) to very concentrated (1.8 mol L−1/6.3 mol L−1).

RESULTS

In the absence of additives a distinct difference in crystal morphology was observed depending on solution composition. Homogeneously formed DH crystals from dilute solution were in the form of needles. DH crystals formed in concentrated acid solution were thick elongated plates. The most influential additives in concentrated solutions were CTAB (cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide), PAA (polyacrylic acid) and PVS (polyvinyl sulfonic acid). CTAB favoured formation of industrially interesting thick slab crystals. In contrast PAA favoured the formation of elongated and thinner crystals as a result of preferential crystal plane adsorption. PVS had a detrimental effect on DH crystal nucleation and growth explained by its polymeric structure.

CONCLUSION

Apart from PVS, CTAB and PAA no influence was seen for the majority of additives tested. This was attributed to lack of ionization caused by the highly acidic solutions. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Changing manufacturing paradigms in downstream processing and the role of alternative bioseparation technologies
Authors: Tran Richard , Lacki Karol , Davidson Andrew , Sharma Bhumika , Titchener‐Hooker Nigel
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

This study ascertains the degree to which bioseparation techniques, considered as alternatives to packed bed chromatography, have been adopted for large‐scale biomanufacturing. Such information will be useful to process engineers interested in investigating the potential of these technologies.

RESULTS

The results are based on three international industrial surveys distributed to individuals in biomanufacturing in 2006, 2009 and 2012. It yields significant insight to the trends downstream and provides information on which alternative technologies are the most widely adopted as well as those that are the subject of most investigation. The reasons for why particular alternatives have been disregarded for use at scale provide indications of the perceived limitations of these technologies.

Details on overall trends in the biopharmaceutical industry, including the types of bioproducts in development and manufacture, the number and size of chromatography steps in downstream processing trains as well as opinions on where the future challenges in biomanufacturing lie are given.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from the surveys provide insight into how attitudes towards the adoption of alternative purification techniques have changed. There has been an increase in the level of interest and subsequent adoption of alternative technologies encompassing an increasingly wide range of different techniques. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel natural and biomimetic ligands to enhance selectivity of membrane processes for solute‐solute separations: beyond nature's logistic legacy
Authors: Vanneste Johan , Peumans Willy J. , Van Damme Els J.M. , Darvishmanesh Siavash , Bernaerts Kristel , Geuns Jan M. C. , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: October 2013

The integration of natural or biomimetic ligands in membrane processes was explored, focusing on simplicity and originality, with an eye to increasing the often moderate selectivity. Due to their simple structure, selection and manufacturing procedure, aptamers could dramatically increase the cost effectiveness of ligand‐based membrane processes. Proteins are distinctly more complex than aptamers, but many excel in organizing selective transmembrane transport. The channel geometry of aquaporins was also found to be tailored for high fluxes by minimizing vortex formation. Incorporation of bacterial porins could tremendously increase the performance of nanofiltration membranes by increasing the rejection of apolar often more toxic compounds. Sugar‐selective porins on the other hand, could be used to manufacture the first chemical‐free membrane adsorber. Ultimately, bacterial strains could be selected, through multiple evolution cycles, which express porins tailored to recognize specific molecules. Lectins are definitely better suited than porins for high resolution carbohydrate purification. Lectins could be used to effectively separate different sugar isomers in one bind and elution step. The potential of Concanavalin A for the purification of the natural sweetener stevioside was explored. A discrimination factor in dissociation constant of a factor 6 and 23 was obtained in silico relative to glucose and mannose respectively. Finally, a new method was discussed from the field of drug design that can determine the selectivity in silico, independent of other competing ligands or targets. The intrinsic selectivity ratio seems to solve an age‐old problem and another possible impediment to swift industrial application of ligand‐based membrane processes. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Migrated Essure permanent birth control device: Sonographic findings
Authors: Khati Nadia Juliet , Gorodenker Joseph , Brindle Kathleen Ann
Published: October 2013

We report a case of a migrated Essure permanent birth control device. The correct diagnosis was made on conventional two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional pelvic sonography 7 years after placement of the device when the patient presented with persistent right‐sided pain. The 3‐month post placement hysterosalpingogram had shown an appropriately occluded right fallopian tube but had overlooked the abnormal position of the right Essure device, which was too proximal and extending slightly in the uterine cavity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42:223–226, 2014
Effects of reinforcer magnitude on reinforced behavioral variability
Authors: Doughty Adam H. , Giorno Kenneth G. , Miller Hannah L.
Published: October 2013

Eight pigeons were exposed to a two‐component multiple schedule. In each component, four‐peck sequences across left and right keys were reinforced according to a variability threshold contingency. In one condition, only infrequently occurring response sequences were reinforced in each component, thereby generating highly variable sequences. In a separate condition, when the variability threshold contingency was lenient in each component, sequences were much less variable. In each condition, reinforcer magnitude was manipulated across components, and the larger reinforcer magnitude produced less variability than the smaller reinforcer magnitude. These results suggest that larger reinforcers hinder the reinforcement of behavioral variability. The results are interpretable in terms of the larger reinforcer inducing a greater level of behavioral repetition, particularly as the time to reinforcement was approached. This effect may have implications for reinforcing behavioral variability in humans.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator‐mRNA delivery: a novel alternative for cystic fibrosis gene therapy
Authors: Bangel‐Ruland Nadine , Tomczak Katja , Fernández Fernández Elena , Leier Geraldine , Leciejewski Barbara , Rudolph Carsten , Rosenecker Joseph , Weber Wolf‐Michael
Published: October 2013

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent lethal genetic disease in the Caucasian population. CF is caused by a defective gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP‐ and ATP‐dependent Cl– channel and central regulatory protein in epithelia. CFTR influences the fluid composition of the mucus in the respiratory tract. The most common mutation inducing CF, ΔF508, impairs CFTR processing within the cell and thus prevents functional CFTR expression in the apical membrane. The present study aimed to investigate the functional restoration of CFTR in human CF airway epithelia after transfection with optimized wild‐type (wt)CFTR‐mRNA.

Methods

We used primary cultured human nasal epithelial (HNE) cells and the human bronchial epithelial cell line CFBE41o– that stably expresses ΔF508‐CFTR and carried out transepithelial Ussing chamber measurements after transfection with optimized wtCFTR‐mRNA. We confirmed the data obtained using immunofluorescence and protein biochemical approaches.

Results

Transfection of the CFBE41o– cells with wtCFTR‐mRNA restored cAMP‐induced CFTR currents similar to the values seen in control cells (16HBE14o–). Using immunofluorescence approaches, we demonstrated that a considerable amount of CFTR is located at the apical surface in the CF cells after transfection. Western blot analyses of wtCFTR‐mRNA transfected CFBE41o– cells confirmed these findings. Furthermore, we demonstrated physiological relevance by using primary cultured HNE cells and showed an almost two‐fold increase in the cAMP‐stimulated CFTR current after transfection.

Conclusions

From these data, we conclude that CFTR‐mRNA transfection could comprise a novel alternative for gene therapy to restore impaired CFTR function. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nighttime ionosphere caused by meteoroid ablation and solar wind electron‐proton‐hydrogen impact on Mars: MEX observation and modeling
Authors: Haider S. A. , Pandya B. M. , Molina‐Cuberos G. J.
Published: October 2013

We report that radio science (RS) experiment onboard Mars Express (MEX) has observed three plasma layers in the nighttime ionosphere of Mars at altitudes ~80–100 km, ~120 km, and ~160 km, which are reproduced by model calculation due to impact of meteoroid, solar wind proton, and electron, respectively. The densities of 21 ions (Mg+, Fe+, Si+, MgO+, MgCO2+, MgO2+, MgN2+, FeO+, FeO2+, FeN2+, FeCO2+, SiO+, SiCO2+, SiN2+, SiO2+, CO2+, N2+, O+, O2+, CO+, and NO+) have been computed between altitude 50 km and 200 km. The model shows that all atmospheric ions (CO2+, N2+, O+, CO+, O2+, and NO+) are produced above 100 km due to solar wind electron and proton impact ionizations. The metallic ions are formed between 50 km and 100 km due to ablation of micrometeoroids. It is found that mass ~3.0 × 10−4 g of incoming meteoroid is sufficient for meteor ablation and its characteristic flux ~4.0 × 10−15 cm−2s−1 could produce the nighttime metallic layer observed by MEX. The calculated electron densities are also compared with the occultation measurements made by Mars 4/5 in the nighttime ionosphere of Mars.
Empirical reconstruction of storm time steady magnetospheric convection events
Authors: Stephens G. K. , Sitnov M. I. , Kissinger J. , Tsyganenko N. A. , McPherron R. L. , Korth H. , Anderson B. J.
Published: October 2013

We investigate the storm‐scale morphology of the magnetospheric magnetic field as well as underlying distributions of electric currents, equatorial plasma pressure, and entropy for four steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) events that occurred during the May 2000 and October 2011 magnetic storms. The analysis is made using the empirical geomagnetic field model TS07D, in which the structure of equatorial currents is not predefined and it is dictated by data. The model also combines the strengths of statistical and event‐oriented approaches in mining data for the reconstruction of the magnetic field. The formation of a near‐Earth minimum of the equatorial magnetic field in the midnight sector is inferred from data without ad hoc assumptions of a special current system postulated in earlier empirical reconstructions. In addition, a new SMC class is discovered where the minimum equatorial field is substantially larger and located closer to Earth. The magnetic field tailward of the minimum is also much larger, and the corresponding area of accumulated magnetic flux may occupy a very short tail region. The equatorial current and plasma pressure are found to be strongly enhanced far beyond geosynchronous orbit and in a broad local time interval covering the whole nightside region. This picture is consistent with independent recent statistical studies of the SMC pressure distributions, global MHD, and kinetic Rice Convection Model‐Equilibrium (RCM‐E) simulations. Distributions of the flux tube volume and entropy inferred from data reveal different mechanisms of the magnetotail convection crisis resolution for two classes of SMC events.
Empirically modeled global distribution of magnetospheric chorus amplitude using an artificial neural network
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Chan , Shprits Yuri , Lee Jaejin , Hwang Junga
Published: October 2013

Accurate knowledge of the global distribution of magnetospheric chorus waves is essential for radiation belt modeling because it provides a direct link to understanding radiation belt losses and acceleration processes. In this paper, we report on newly developed models of the global distribution of chorus amplitudes based on in situ measurements of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind parameters as well as geomagnetic indices using an artificial neural network technique. We find that solar wind speed and IMFBZare the most influential parameters that affect the evolution of the magnetospheric chorus. The variations of chorus amplitudes in the outer (L≥ 7) and in the inner (5 ≤L< 7) regions, respectively, are well correlated with the variations of solar wind speed and IMFBZ. In addition, the solar wind parameter‐based chorus model generally results in a slightly higher correlation between measured and modeled chorus amplitudes than any other models including geomagnetic indices AE,Kp, andDst. The developed model shows that the chorus is amplified near the prenoon sector during the geomagnetically disturbed conditions. With increasing southward IMFBZthe location of peak chorus amplitude moves from the prenoon sector to the midnight sector, which is due to the enhanced electron injection near midnight. We also present a comparison of diffusive transport simulations for radiation belt electrons interacting with two newly developed chorus models, solar wind parameter‐based and geomagnetic index‐based chorus models. The comparison between two models shows that the modeling outside the plasmapause can affect the dynamic even inside the plasmasphere because the populations outside the plasmapause can act as seed population to radiation belt particles inside the plasmapause. One weakness of our chorus modeling is that it is trained during the early phase of solar cycle 24 where very few strong storms occurred. Therefore, our model might not be valid in reproducing the chorus activity under extremely disturbed conditions, which should be updated in the future once chorus measurements for such conditions become available.
Space climate implications from substorm frequency
Authors: Newell P. T. , Gjerloev J. W. , Mitchell E. J.
Published: October 2013

The solar wind impacting the Earth varies over a wide range of time scales, driving a corresponding range of geomagnetic activity. Past work has strongly indicated that the rate of merging on the frontside magnetosphere is the most important predictor for magnetospheric activity, especially over a few hours. However, the magnetosphere exhibits variations on other time scales, including UT, seasonal, and solar cycle variations. Much of this geomagnetic variation cannot be reasonably attributed to changes in the solar wind driving—that is, it is not created by the original Russell‐McPherron effect or any generalization thereof. In this paper we examine the solar cycle, seasonal, and diurnal effects based upon the frequency of substorm onsets, using a data set of 53,000 substorm onsets. These were identified through the SuperMAG collaboration and span three decades with continuous coverage. Solar cycle variations include a profound minimum in 2009 (448 substorms) and peak in 2003 (3727). The magnitude of this variation (a factor of 8.3) is not explained through variations in estimators of the frontside merging rate (such as dΦMP/dt), even when the more detailed probability distribution functions are examined. Instead, v, or better, n1/2v2 seems to be implicated in the dramatic difference between active and quiet years, even beyond the role of velocity in modulating merging. Moreover, we find that although most substorms are preceded by flux loading (78.5% are above the mean and 83.8% above median solar wind driving), a high solar wind v is almost as important (68.3% above mean, 74.8% above median). This and other evidence suggest that either v or n1/2v2 (but probably not p) plays a strong secondary role in substorm onset. As for the seasonal and diurnal effects, the elliptical nature of the Earth's orbit, which is closest to the Sun in January, leads to a larger solar wind driving (measured by Bs, vBs, or dΦMP/dt) in November, as is confirmed by 22 years of solar wind observations. However, substorms peak in October and March and have a UT dependence best explained by whether a conducting path established by solar illumination exists in at least one hemisphere in the region where substorm onsets typically occur.
Dominance of chemical heating over dynamics in causing a few large mesospheric inversion layer events during January–February 2011
Authors: Ramesh K. , Sridharan S. , Vijaya Bhaskara Rao S.
Published: October 2013

Using mesospheric temperature information obtained by Rayleigh lidar observations over Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) and temperature, chemical constituents, and their exothermic chemical reaction heating rates obtained by Sounding of Atmosphere by Broadband Emission Radiometry instrument onboard Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite over and near to Gadanki location, the dominant role of chemical heating for the occurrence of a few large mesospheric inversion layer (MIL) events during January–February 2011 is demonstrated. The heating rates due to exothermic chemical reactions among atomic oxygen (O), atomic hydrogen (H), molecular oxygen (O2), ozone (O3), and hydroxyl (OH) species are the key factors involved in the MIL formation. As relatively larger (lower) ozone mixing ratios are observed at the top (bottom) of the inversion layers, large heating rate (~ 15 K/day) is found to occur between 80 and 85 km due to the exothermic reaction between atomic hydrogen and ozone H + O3 → OH + O2, which dominates all other important exothermic chemical reactions during these MIL events, and the large volume emission rates of energy of O2 and OH are found to be mostly due to the reaction between H and O3. It is also demonstrated that dynamics plays a negligible role in the formation of these MILs as conditions for the convective and dynamic instability are found to be not satisfied during these MIL events.
Deep structure and tectonics of the northern‐central Apennines as seen by regional‐scale tomography and 3‐D located earthquakes
Authors: Carannante S. , Monachesi G. , Cattaneo M. , Amato A. , Chiarabba C.
Published: October 2013

In this study we present new high‐resolution, regional‐scale, Vp and Vp/Vs models of the northern‐central Apennines along with accurate 3‐D locations of a large set of local earthquakes. The main velocity anomalies are consistent with the surface geology in the shallow layers and present evidence for fluids stored within the basement at greater depths beneath the extensional belt. The Adria and Tyrrhenian mantle are defined by positive velocity anomalies below 30 km depth, while a low‐Vp, high‐Vp/Vs region in between indicates the existence of a hydrated wedge. The results yield new constraints on active processes in the Apennines and more generally envisage the evolution of a postcollisional belt. Velocity anomalies and earthquakes are consistent with a complex system of delamination and sinking of the Adria continental lithosphere, with the peeling of the crust identified by intermediate‐depth seismicity. Change of seismicity and structural patterns along the belt indicates that this tectonic process is diachronous and that fluids, released by sunken lithosphere, are stored within the crust, conditioning the occurrence of seismicity and the onset of extension.
Effective thermal conductivity of heterogeneous rocks from laboratory experiments and numerical modeling
Authors: Jorand R. , Vogt C. , Marquart G. , Clauser C.
Published: October 2013

Studying heat transfer processes in sedimentary crustal rocks requires the correct thermal conductivity of the respective rock type. Often a single value is used for a given rock type, obtained from the measurements on homogenous samples. We demonstrate how variations in rock layering and microfractures on the subcentimeter scale may influence thermal conductivity values at much larger scale. We obtain thermal conductivity images from lab measurements on two different, heterogeneous samples performed with an optical thermal conductivity scanner in two directions. We study different spatial averaging methods for parameterizing the structural heterogeneities and the associated variation of thermal conductivity within the samples. For each of these structural simplifications, we set up a numerical model for a numerical heat transfer experiment in order to determine effective thermal conductivity values in two directions. We compare these values and the mean thermal conductivities obtained from different mixing laws and find that, in heterogeneous rocks, effective and mean thermal conductivity may differ substantially. This may cause significant errors in reservoir‐scale simulations of heat transfer with associated severe consequences for estimated heat flow and temperatures.