bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lactoferrin during lactation protects the immature hypoxic‐ischemic rat brain
Authors: van de Looij Yohan , Ginet Vanessa , Chatagner Alexandra , Toulotte Audrey , Somm Emmanuel , Hüppi Petra S. , Sizonenko Stéphane V.
Published: December 2014

Objective

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron‐binding glycoprotein secreted in maternal milk presenting anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It shows efficient absorption into the brain from nutritional source. Brain injury frequently resulting from cerebral hypoxia‐ischemia (HI) has a high incidence in premature infants with ensuing neurodevelopmental disabilities. We investigated the neuroprotective effect of maternal nutritional supplementation with Lf during lactation in a rat model of preterm HI brain injury using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), brain gene, and protein expression.

Methods

Moderate brain HI was induced using unilateral common carotid artery occlusion combined with hypoxia (6%, 30 min) in the postnatal day 3 (P3) rat brain (24–28 weeks human equivalent). High‐field multimodal MRI techniques were used to investigate the effect of maternal Lf supplementation through lactation. Expression of cytokine coding genes (TNF‐α and IL‐6), the prosurvival/antiapoptotic AKT protein and caspase‐3 activation were also analyzed in the acute phase after HI.

Results

MRI analysis demonstrated reduced cortical injury in Lf rats few hours post‐HI and in long‐term outcome (P25). Lf reduced HI‐induced modifications of the cortical metabolism and altered white matter microstructure was recovered in Lf‐supplemented rats at P25. Lf supplementation significantly decreased brain TNF‐α and IL‐6 gene transcription, increased phosphorylated AKT levels and reduced activation of caspase‐3 at 24 h post‐injury.

Interpretation

Lf given through lactation to rat pups with cerebral HI injury shows neuroprotective effects on brain metabolism, and cerebral gray and white matter recovery. This nutritional intervention may be of high interest for the clinical field of preterm brain neuroprotection.
Ultrafiltration Membranes with Structure‐Optimized Graphene‐Oxide Coatings for Antifouling Oil/Water Separation
Authors: Huang Yi , Li Hang , Wang Lei , Qiao Yali , Tang Chuanbing , Jung Chanil , Yoon Yeomin , Li Shiguang , Yu Miao
Published: December 2014

Fouling of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes in oil/water separation is a long‐standing issue and a major economic barrier to their use in a broad range of applications. Currently reported membranes typically show severe fouling, resulting from the strong oil adhesion on the membrane surface and/or oil penetration inside the membranes. This greatly degrades their performance and shortens service lifetime. Here, the use of graphene oxide (GO) as a novel coating material for the fabrication of fully recoverable, UF membranes with desired hierarchical surface roughness is accomplished by a facile vacuum filtration method for antifouling oil/water separation. The combination of ultrathin, “water‐locking” GO coatings with the optimized hierarchical surface roughness, provided by the inherent roughness of the porous supports and the corrugation of the GO coatings, minimizes underwater oil adhesion on the membrane surface. Cyclic membrane performance evaluation tests revealed approximately 100% membrane recovery by facile surface water flushing, establishing their excellent easy‐to‐recover capability. The novel GO functional coatings with optimized hierarchical structures may have broad applications in oil‐polluted environments.
Evaluation of Mechanical, Friction, and Wear Characteristics of Nano‐SiC Filled Ortho Cresol Novalac Epoxy Composites under Dry Sliding Condition
Authors: Dass Kali , Chauhan S. R. , Gaur Bharti
Published: December 2014

In this work, ortho cresol novalac resin was synthesized in the laboratory and this synthesized resin was further reacted with epichlorohydrin to obtain ortho cresol novalac epoxy resin (OCNE). The obtained resin can be characterized by FTIR analysis. The OCNE‐based composites were produced by filling the nano‐SiC particulates. To explore the mechanical and tribological characteristics of these composites under dry sliding conditions, the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical, friction, and wear properties of the OCNE composites filled with 1–4 wt% of SiC particulates (40 nm) were evaluated using a pin‐on‐disk apparatus. The improvement in the mechanical and wear properties was attributed to high strength, high hardness, and good dispersion of nano‐SiC particulates, which can enhance the interfacial properties of nanofiller and the epoxy matrix. The lowest coefficient of friction and the specific wear rate of composites were 0.27 and 2.18 × 10−08 mm3/Nm, respectively. A positive synergetic effect was also found, and the proposed quaternary composites might be applicable in practice. The wear mechanisms of these composite specimens were examined with the help of a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive x‐ray analyzer and an x‐ray diffractometer .
Effect of obesity on the reliability of age‐at‐death indicators of the pelvis
Authors: Wescott Daniel J. , Drew Jessica L.
Published: December 2014

During medicolegal investigations, forensic anthropologists commonly use morphological changes in the auricular surface of the ilium and the symphyseal face of the pubis to estimate age. However, obesity may impact the reliability of age estimations based on pelvic joints. Over the past several decades, the prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased in the United States (US). Since the rate of progression through age‐related stages of weight‐bearing joints may be influenced by excessive body mass, it is important that anthropologists understand how obesity affects age‐related morphological changes in the skeleton. This study investigates the effects of obesity on the validity of the estimated age‐at‐death based on the Buckberry–Chamberlin and Suchey–Brooks methods by comparing US adults considered normal BMI (BMI 18.5–24.9) and obese (BMI ≥ 30). The obese group exhibits overall greater bias (overestimation of age) and inaccuracy, less precision, and lower correlations between estimated and known age than the normal BMI group using both methods, although differences in the pubic symphysis are not statistically significant. For the auricular surface the age of transition from one phase to the next is lower and the standard deviations are greater for the obese as compared to normal weight individuals. This study helps to elucidate how obesity affects the rate of age‐related skeletal change of the human pelvis, and shows that the pubic symphysis may be a more reliable indicator of age in obese individuals and that greater standard deviations are needed for obese individuals when estimating age‐at‐death from the pelvis. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:595–605, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New insights into the history of the C‐14010 lactase persistence variant in Eastern and Southern Africa
Authors: Macholdt Enrico , Slatkin Montgomery , Pakendorf Brigitte , Stoneking Mark
Published: December 2014

Lactase persistence (LP), the ability to digest lactose into adulthood, is strongly associated with the cultural traits of pastoralism and milk‐drinking among human populations, and several different genetic variants are known that confer LP. Recent studies of LP variants in Southern African populations, with a focus on Khoisan‐speaking groups, found high frequencies of an LP variant (the C‐14010 allele) that also occurs in Eastern Africa, and concluded that the C‐14010 allele was brought to Southern Africa via a migration of pastoralists from Eastern Africa. However, this conclusion was based on indirect evidence; to date no study has jointly analyzed data on the C‐14010 allele from both Southern African Khoisan‐speaking groups and Eastern Africa. Here, we combine and analyze published data on the C‐14010 allele in Southern and Eastern African populations, consisting of haplotypes with the C‐14010 allele and four closely‐linked short tandem repeat loci. Our results provide direct evidence for the previously‐hypothesized Eastern African origin of the C‐14010 allele in Southern African Khoisan‐speaking groups. In addition, we find evidence for a separate introduction of the C‐14010 allele into the Bantu‐speaking Xhosa. The estimated selection intensity on the C‐14010 allele in Eastern Africa is lower than that in Southern Africa, which suggests that in Eastern Africa the dietary changes conferring the fitness advantage associated with LP occurred some time after the origin of the C‐14010 allele. Conversely, in Southern Africa the fitness advantage was present when the allele was introduced, as would be expected if pastoralism was introduced concomitantly. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:661–664, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Technology adoption decisions in the household: A seven‐model comparison
Authors: Brown Susan A. , Venkatesh Viswanath , Hoehle Hartmut
Published: December 2014

We identified 7 theoretical models that have been used to explain technology adoption and use. We then examined the boundary conditions of these models of technology adoption when applied to the household context using longitudinal empirical data from households regarding their purchase and use decisions related to household technologies. We conducted 2 studies and collected 1,247 responses from U.S. households for the first study and 2,064 responses from U.S. households for the second study. Those households that had adopted household technologies were surveyed regarding their use behavior. Potential adopters (i.e., those who had currently not adopted) were surveyed regarding their purchase intentions. This allowed us to identify the most influential factors affecting a household's decision to adopt and use technologies. The results show that the model of adoption of technology in the household provided the richest explanation and explained best why households purchase and use technologies.
Enhanced self‐citation detection by fuzzy author name matching and complementary error estimates
Authors: Donner Paul
Published: December 2014

In this article I investigate the shortcomings of exact string match‐based author self‐citation detection methods. The contributions of this study are twofold. First, I apply a fuzzy string matching algorithm for self‐citation detection and benchmark this approach and other common methods of exclusively author name‐based self‐citation detection against a manually curated ground truth sample. Near full recall can be achieved with the proposed method while incurring only negligible precision loss. Second, I report some important observations from the results about the extent of latent self‐citations and their characteristics and give an example of the effect of improved self‐citation detection on the document level self‐citation rate of real data.
Orbital parameters of the high‐mass X‐ray binary 4U 2206+54
Authors: Stoyanov K. A. , Zamanov R. K. , Latev G. Y. , Abedin A. Y. , Tomov N. A.
Published: December 2014

We present new radial velocities of the high‐mass X‐ray binary star 4U 2206+54 based on optical spectra obtained with the Coudé spectrograph at the 2 m RCC telescope of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgaria in the period November 2011–July 2013. The radial velocity curve of the He I δ6678 Å line is modeled with an orbital period Porb = 9.568 d and an eccentricity of e = 0.3. These new measurements of the radial velocity resolve the disagreements of the orbital period discussions. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Constructing a synthetic metabolic pathway in Escherichia coli to produce the enantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol
Authors: Ji Xiao‐Jun , Liu Lu‐Gang , Shen Meng‐Qiu , Nie Zhi‐Kui , Tong Ying‐Jia , Huang He
Published: December 2014

Enantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol has unique applications due to its special chiral group and spatial configuration. Currently, its chemical production route has many limitations. In addition, no native microorganisms can accumulate (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol with an enantio‐purity over 99%. Herein, we constructed a synthetic metabolic pathway for enantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. The fermentation results suggested that introduction of the synthetic metabolic pathway redistributed the carbon fluxes to the neutral (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol, and thus protected the strain against the acetic acid inhibition. Additionally, it showed that the traditionally used isopropyl beta‐D‐thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction displayed negative effect on (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol biosynthesis in the recombinant E. coli, which was probably due to the protein burden. With no IPTG addition, the (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol concentration reached 115 g/L by fed‐batch culturing of the recombinant E. coli, with an enantio‐purity over 99%, which is suitable for the pilot‐scale production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1056–1059. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous determination of 14 constituents of Radix polygoni multiflori from different geographical areas by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Lin Longfei , Ni Boran , Lin Hongmei , Zhang Miao , Yan Lei , Qu Changhai , Ni Jian
Published: December 2014

Radix polygoni multiflori (RPM) has antioxidative, anti‐aging, liver‐protective and antihuman cytomegalovirus activity. It has been proved to be hepatotoxic. Considering multiple ingredients to control RPM quality is essential. The aim of this study was to establish a simple, rapid method using resolution liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadruple mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the major bioactive constituents in RPM. The method was applied to analyze 14 marker batches from manufacturers from the same province. The ultrasonic extracts of all samples were determined by LC‐MS/MS, and assessed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The proposed method was applied to analyze 21 batches of samples with acceptable linearity (R2, 0.9930–0.9998), precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, 0.45–4.73%) repeatability (RSD, 1.14–9.41%), stability (RSD, 1.29–12.88%) and recovery (RSD, 1.80–12.15%) of the 14 compounds. Furthermore, the hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to classify 21 samples on the basis of characteristics of the 14 compound markers. The developed method was demonstrated to be simple, sensitive and reproducible, and has significant importance and comprehensive evaluation for quality control of RPM and related preparations. Hierarchical cluster analysis clearly indicated that the RPM from the same province was similar, whereas samples of RPM from different provinces were significantly different. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metachronous pancreatic cancer originating from disseminated founder pancreatic intraductal neoplasias (PanINs)
Authors: Imai Koji , Karasaki Hidenori , Ono Yusuke , Sasajima Junpei , Chiba Shin‐ichi , Funakoshi Hiroshi , Muraki Miho , Hanaoka Hideki , Furukawa Takahisa , Furukawa Hiroyuki , Kono Toru , Nagashima Kazuo , Mizukami Yusuke
Published: December 2014

Clonal populations originated from benign‐looking ‘founder cells' may spread widely within pancreas instead of being localized in situ before frank pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) can be detected. Metachronous PDA is not common event, and we here sought to define potent origin of multiple PDAs developed in a woman using advanced genetics technologies. Curative resection of pancreatic head tumour was performed; however, ‘recurrent' lesions in the remnant pancreas were found 3.5 years later and total pancreatectomy was subsequently performed. The metachronous lesions were morphologically similar to the primary PDA. Using a next‐generation sequencing and digital PCR, all three PDAs were shown to possess rare somatic mutations in KRAS (p.T58I & p.Q61H). Curiously, identical KRAS mutations were found in low‐grade ‘intraepithelial' lesions, which localized in normal area of the pancreas and one of them possessed p53 mutation, which was also found in the PDAs. The footprint of the tumour evolution marked by mutational profiling supports a human correlate to the mouse models of ‘dissemination' occurring at the earliest stages of pancreatic neoplasia.
Topology control‐based collaborative multicast routing algorithm with minimum energy consumption
Authors: Jiang Dingde , Xu Zhengzheng , Li Wenpan , Chen Zhenhua
Published: December 2014

This paper studies the multicast routing problem in the multi‐hop wireless network. We exploit topology control to put forward a multicast routing algorithm with minimum energy consumption. First, network nodes are classified as different clusters. Then, the end‐to‐end multicast routing is appropriately built by using the cooperation among clusters and in each cluster and by minimizing the energy consumption. Unlike previous methods, we employ the appropriate cooperation among/in clusters and the optimal cross‐layer design to attain the information from the different layers and the different nodes. In a result, on the basis of the information, the needed clusters of nodes are correctly created. This is helpful to avoid clustering blindly network nodes and to reduce computational overheads. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is promising and effective. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maintaining microendemic primate species along an environmental gradient – parasites as drivers for species differentiation
Authors: Sommer Simone , Rakotondranary Solofomalla Jacques , Ganzhorn Jörg U.
Published: December 2014

Understanding the drivers of species adaptations to changing environments on the one hand and the limits for hybridization on the other hand is among the hottest questions in evolutionary biology. Parasites represent one of the major selective forces driving host evolution and at least those with free‐living stages are at the same time dependent on the ecological conditions of their host's habitat. Local immunological adaptations of host species to varying parasite pressure are therefore expected and might represent the genetic basis for ecological speciation and the maintenance of recently diverged species. Madagascar provides one of the rare examples where two partially sympatric primate species (Microcebus griseorufus, M. murinus) and their hybrids, as well as an allopatric species (M. cfrufus) live in close proximity along a very steep environmental gradient ranging from southern dry spiny bush to gallery forest to evergreen eastern humid rain forest, thus mimicking the situation encountered during extensions and retreats of vegetation formations under changing climatic conditions. This system was used to study parasite infection and immune gene (MHC) adaptations to varying parasite pressure that might provide selective advantages to pure species over hybrids. Parasite burdens increased with increasing humidity.M. griseorufus,M. murinus,and their hybrids but notM. rufusshared the sameMHCalleles, indicating either retention of ancestral polymorphism or recent gene flow. The hybrids had much higher prevalence of intestinal parasites than either of the parent species living under identical environmental conditions. The different representation of parasites can indicate a handicap for hybrids that maintains species identities.
Disturbance, neutral theory, and patterns of beta diversity in soil communities
Authors: Maaß Stefanie , Migliorini Massimo , Rillig Matthias C. , Caruso Tancredi
Published: December 2014

Beta diversity describes how local communities within an area or region differ in species composition/abundance. There have been attempts to use changes in beta diversity as a biotic indicator of disturbance, but lack of theory and methodological caveats have hampered progress. We here propose that the neutral theory of biodiversity plus the definition of beta diversity as the total variance of a community matrix provide a suitable, novel, starting point for ecological applications. Observed levels of beta diversity (BD) can be compared to neutral predictions with three possible outcomes: Observed BD equals neutral prediction or is larger (divergence) or smaller (convergence) than the neutral prediction. Disturbance might lead to either divergence or convergence, depending on type and strength. We here apply these ideas to datasets collected on oribatid mites (a key, very diverse soil taxon) under several regimes of disturbances. When disturbance is expected to increase the heterogeneity of soil spatial properties or the sampling strategy encompassed a range of diverging environmental conditions, we observed diverging assemblages. On the contrary, we observed patterns consistent with neutrality when disturbance could determine homogenization of soil properties in space or the sampling strategy encompassed fairly homogeneous areas. With our method, spatial and temporal changes in beta diversity can be directly and easily monitored to detect significant changes in community dynamics, although the method itself cannot inform on underlying mechanisms. However, human‐driven disturbances and the spatial scales at which they operate are usually known. In this case, our approach allows the formulation of testable predictions in terms of expected changes in beta diversity, thereby offering a promising monitoring tool.
Solvent‐Free Hydrosilylation of Terminal Alkynes by Reaction with a Nonclassical Ruthenium Hydride Pincer Complex
Authors: Conifer Christopher , Gunanathan Chidambaram , Rinesch Torsten , Hölscher Markus , Leitner Walter
Published: December 2014

Upon the simple addition of substrates, the ruthenium pincer complex [Ru(tBuPNP)(H2)(H)2] [1; tBuPNP = 2,6‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine] is an active and selective catalyst system for the hydrosilylation of terminal alkyl alkynes under mild, solvent‐free conditions. The reactivity of this system for other functionalized terminal alkynes was also investigated, and we observed competing catalytic cycles that produce both alkyne dimers and dehydrogenative silylation products. Kinetic measurements for the hydrosilylation of 1‐octyne show that the catalyst has an initial turnover frequency of 121 h–1 at room temperature. The stoichiometric reaction between 1 and H2SiPh2 yields [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)2(H2SiPh2)], which undergoes Si–H bond activation to yield the catalytically active species [Ru(tBuPNP)(HSiPh2)(H)]. The reaction of 1 with phenylacetylene yielded [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)2(HC≡CPh)] and [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)(C≡CPh)(HC≡CPh)], and we propose that the latter is the active species in the dimerization reaction.
CD146 mediates VEGF‐induced melanoma cell extravasation through FAK activation
Authors: Jouve Nathalie , Bachelier Richard , Despoix Nicolas , Blin Muriel G. , Matinzadeh Maryam Khalili , Poitevin Stéphane , Aurrand‐Lions Michel , Fallague Karim , Bardin Nathalie , Blot‐Chabaud Marcel , Vely Frédéric , Dignat‐George Françoise , Leroyer Aurélie S.
Published: December 2014

CD146 is an adhesion molecule expressed by both melanoma and endothelial cells and thus is well positioned to control melanoma extravasation. Nevertheless, during melanoma metastasis, the involvement of CD146 expressed within tumor microenvironment has never been analyzed. To investigate whether host CD146 mediates the extravasation of melanoma cells across the endothelium, we generated CD146 KO mice. We demonstrated that host CD146 did not affect melanoma growth or tumor angiogenesis but promoted hematogenous melanoma metastasis to the lung. Accordingly, the survival of CD146‐deficient mice was markedly prolonged during melanoma metastasis. Interestingly, vascular endothelial growth factor‐induced vascular permeability was significantly decreased in CD146 KO mice. We also provided evidence that VEGF‐induced transendothelial migration of melanoma cells was significantly reduced across CD146 KO lung microvascular endothelial cells (LMEC). CD146 deficiency decreased the expression of VEGFR‐2/Ve‐cadherin and altered focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation in response to VEGF. In addition, inhibition of FAK phosphorylation reduced transmigration of B16 melanoma cells across WT LMEC at the same level that across CD146 KO LMEC. Altogether, we propose a novel mechanism involving the VEGF/CD146/FAK/Ve‐cadherin network in melanoma extravasation across the vessel barrier that identifies CD146‐targeted therapy as a potential strategy for the treatment of melanoma metastasis.
Late psychiatric morbidity in survivors of cancer at a young age: A nationwide registry‐based study
Authors: Ahomäki Ritva , Gunn Mirja E. , Madanat‐Harjuoja Laura M. , Matomäki Jaakko , Malila Nea , Lähteenmäki Päivi M.
Published: December 2014

Childhood cancer survivors have been shown to be prone to psychosocial adverse outcomes. Data on young adults and their psychiatric late effects are still scarce. In a nationwide, registry‐based study, we explored the risk (HR) of new psychiatric diagnoses in 5‐year survivors of childhood and young adulthood (YA) cancer (n = 13,860) compared with a sibling cohort (n = 43,392). Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox regression models. Patients and siblings were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry and Central Population Registry, respectively. Outcome diagnoses were retrieved from the national hospital discharge register. The risk of organic memory/brain disorders was significantly increased in both childhood (HR 4.9; 95%CI 2.7–8.9) and YA (HR 2.1; 95%CI 1.4–3.1) cancer survivors compared with siblings. Mood disorders were also more common in childhood (HR 1.3; 95%CI 1.1–1.7) and YA survivors (1.3; 95%CI 1.1–1.5) than in siblings. Radiotherapy did not explain the differences. Female childhood cancer survivors had significantly increased HRs for mood disorders, psychotic disorders, neurotic/anxiety disorders, somatization/eating disorders and personality disorders. In survivors of YA cancers, females had significantly increased HR for neurotic/anxiety disorders, and the difference between female survivors and siblings was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that between male survivors and male siblings. The effect of treatment era was also analyzed, and the risk of organic memory and brain disorders in childhood cancer survivors did not diminish over time. Despite the trend of decreased use of cranial irradiation in children, the risk of organic memory/brain disorders was elevated, even during the most recent era. Thus, additional research on chemotherapy‐only protocols and their impact on mental health, is warranted.
The Iterative Protein Redesign and Optimization (IPRO) suite of programs
Authors: Pantazes Robert J. , Grisewood Matthew J. , Li Tong , Gifford Nathanael P. , Maranas Costas D.
Published: December 2014

Proteins are an important class of biomolecules with applications spanning across biotechnology and medicine. In many cases, native proteins must be redesigned to improve various performance metrics by changing their amino acid sequences. Algorithms can help sharpen protein library design by focusing the library on sequences that optimize computationally accessible proxies. The Iterative Protein Redesign and Optimization (IPRO) suite of programs offers an integrated environment for (1) altering protein binding affinity and specificity, (2) grafting a binding pocket into an existing protein scaffold, (3) predicting an antibody's tertiary structure based on its sequence, (4) enhancing enzymatic activity, and (5) assessing the structure and binding energetics for a specific mutant. This manuscript provides an overview of the methods involved in IPRO, input language terminology, algorithmic details, software implementation specifics and application highlights. IPRO can be downloaded at http://maranas.che.psu.edu. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Why the spring North Pacific Oscillation is a predictor of typhoon activity over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Chen Dong , Wang Huijun , Liu Jiping , Li Guoping
Published: December 2014

In this study, we investigated the impact of the spring North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) on typhoon frequency over the Western North Pacific (WNP, north of the equator and west of dateline). To reduce the statistical uncertainty, all the data we used have been excluded the El Nino/Southern Oscillation signals. We found that the spring NPO positively correlated with the annual typhoon number over the WNP (hereafter TNWNP) during the period 1968–2010, with a correlation coefficient of 0.62 (above the 99% significance level). When the Northern Low and Southern High pattern over the north Pacific weakens, the TNWNP tends to increase. A positive phase of spring NPO is associated with the tropical circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Pacific, which may lead to unfavorable dynamical and thermal conditions for typhoon genesis over the WNP during JJAS. The negative anomaly of SST over the WNP, associated with the positive spring NPO anomaly, is connected to the tropical atmospheric circulations from spring to summer via good oceanic seasonal persistence and air–sea interaction. Thus, the spring NPO‐related variability of the tropical atmospheric circulation as well as the SST can affect typhoon activity over the WNP. In addition, the spring NPO can also be adopted as a predictor for the summer rainfall in South China, since the spring NPO can modulate the WNP SST and western Pacific subtropical high from spring to summer.
Dietary iron depletion at weaning imprints low microbiome diversity and this is not recovered with oral nano Fe(III)
Authors: Pereira Dora I. A. , Aslam Mohamad F. , Frazer David M. , Schmidt Annemarie , Walton Gemma E. , McCartney Anne L. , Gibson Glenn R. , Anderson Greg J. , Powell Jonathan J.
Published: December 2014

Alterations in the gut microbiota have been recently linked to oral iron. We conducted two feeding studies including an initial diet‐induced iron‐depletion period followed by supplementation with nanoparticulate tartrate‐modified ferrihydrite (Nano Fe(III): considered bioavailable to host but not bacteria) or soluble ferrous sulfate (FeSO4: considered bioavailable to both host and bacteria). We applied denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and fluorescence in situ hybridization for study‐1 and 454‐pyrosequencing of fecal 16S rRNA in study‐2. In study‐1, the within‐community microbial diversity increased with FeSO4 (P = 0.0009) but not with Nano Fe(III) supplementation. This was confirmed in study‐2, where we also showed that iron depletion at weaning imprinted significantly lower within‐ and between‐community microbial diversity compared to mice weaned onto the iron‐sufficient reference diet (P < 0.0001). Subsequent supplementation with FeSO4 partially restored the within‐community diversity (P = 0.006 in relation to the continuously iron‐depleted group) but not the between‐community diversity, whereas Nano Fe(III) had no effect. We conclude that (1) dietary iron depletion at weaning imprints low diversity in the microbiota that is not, subsequently, easily recovered; (2) in the absence of gastrointestinal disease iron supplementation does not negatively impact the microbiota; and (3) Nano Fe(III) is less available to the gut microbiota.
Anisotropic Wilson element with conforming finite element approximation for a coupled continuum pipe‐flow/Darcy model in Karst aquifers
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Qingli , Li Xindong , Li Jin
Published: December 2014

Numerical method for a coupled continuum pipe‐flow/Darcy model describing flow in porous media with an embedded conduit pipe is considered. Wilson element on anisotropic mesh is used to solve the Darcy equation on porous matrix. The existence and uniqueness of the approximation solution are obtained. Optimal error estimates in L2 and H1 norms are established independent of the regularity condition on the mesh. Numerical examples show the efficiency of the presented scheme. With the same number of nodal points, the results using Wilson element on anisotropic mesh are much better than those of the same element and Q1 element on regular mesh. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On initial boundary value problems for planar magnetohydrodynamics with large data
Authors: Hu Yuxi
Published: December 2014

We consider initial boundary value problems, including boundary damping, for planar magnetohydrodynamics. We show that global strong solutions exist with large data and no shock wave, mass concentration, or vacuum appear for general equations of state. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Qualitative analysis of a time‐delayed free boundary problem for tumor growth under the action of external inhibitors
Authors: Xu Shihe , Zhou Qinghua , Bai Meng
Published: December 2014

In this paper, a time‐delayed free boundary problem for tumor growth under the action of external inhibitors is studied. It is assumed that the process of proliferation is delayed compared with apoptosis. By Lp theory of parabolic equations, the Banach fixed point theorem and the continuation theorem, the existence and uniqueness of a global solution is proved. The asymptotic behavior of the solution is also studied. The proof uses the comparison principle and the iteration method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile fabrication of highly flexible poly(lactic acid) film using alternate multilayers of poly[(butylene adipate)‐co‐terephthalate]
Authors: Lee Deuk‐Young , Lee Sang Ha , Cho Mi Suk , Nam Jae Do , Lee Youngkwan
Published: December 2014

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly[(butylene adipate)‐co‐terephthalate] (PBAT) are both commonly used biodegradable polymers. In this study, co‐extrusion of PLA and PBAT was used to create alternately multilayered films in order to obtain high‐flexibility PLA film. The incorporation of PBAT provides enhanced flexibility to PLA and the effect is more distinct in the PLA/PBAT multilayer film as the number of layers increases. Through differential scanning calorimetric and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering analyses, the crystallinity of PLA is shown to decrease more in the multilayer film than in the blended film. Transparency is also enhanced in the multilayer film. The fabrication of alternate multilayered film by co‐extrusion of PLA and PBAT shows a new method of preparing a flexible, transparent and fully biodegradable film, which is impossible through a blending process. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Self‐assembly of a triblock terpolymer mediated by hydrogen‐bonded complexes
Authors: Guerlain Claire , Piogé Sandie , Detrembleur Christophe , Fustin Charles‐André , Gohy Jean‐François
Published: December 2014

A poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine)‐block‐polystyrene (PMMA‐b‐P4VP‐b‐PS) triblock terpolymer is synthesized by ATRP to study its self‐assembly with PAA in organic solvents. The self‐assembly behavior of this system is compared with the one of a mixture of two diblocks, namely polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) and poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methacrylic acid) (PMMA‐b‐PMAA). For both systems, formation of hydrogen‐bonded complexes between the P4VP and PMAA or PAA blocks occurs. These complexes become insoluble in the solvent used and micelles with a P4VP/P(M)AA complexes core surrounded by PS and PMMA coronal chains are obtained in both cases. These micelles are analyzed by DLS and TEM. Spherical micelles are formed for both systems but the hydrodynamic radii obtained for the two types of micelles are different. Indeed, the micelles formed by the PMMA‐b‐P4VP‐b‐PS + PAA system are smaller than those observed for the PS‐b‐P4VP + PMMA‐b‐PMAA system. Finally, the effect of the molar ratio of the P4VP/PMAA complexing blocks is investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 459–467
Effects of 12 Weeks of Supervised Exercise After Endovascular Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Bø Elisabeth , Bergland Astrid , Stranden Einar , Jørgensen Jørgen J. , Sandbæk Gunnar , Grøtta Ole Jørgen , Hisdal Jonny
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose

This study aimed to assess the effects of supervised exercise training (SET) after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) compared with PTA alone on physical function, limb hemodynamics and health‐related quality of life in patients with intermittent claudication.

Methods

Fifty patients who all underwent PTA for intermittent claudication were included in the study. Both groups received usual post‐operative care. In addition, the intervention group performed two sessions of hospital‐based SET and one home‐based exercise session per week for 12 weeks after PTA. The control group did not receive any additional follow‐up regarding exercise. The primary outcome was the result of a standardized 6‐minute walk test. Secondary outcomes were the treadmill maximum walking distance, treadmill pain‐free walking distance, ankle‐brachial index, pulse volume recording on the leg and ultrasound scanning. Health‐related quality of life was measured using the Short Form 36 and the Claudication Scale.

Results

All measures, except for the Short Form 36 domain of mental health, showed statistically significant positive changes from baseline to 3 months for both groups (p < 0.05). At 3 months, there was a trend towards better results for the intervention group compared with the control group. The median improvement from baseline to 3 months for the 6‐minute walk test was 66 m for the intervention group and 45 m for the control group. For maximum walking distance, the median improvement was 251 m for the intervention group and 93 m for the control group.

Discussion

Supervised exercise training after endovascular treatment for patients with intermittent claudication led to greater positive changes after 3 months in the intervention group compared with the control group. The present study's trends of better results with SET after PTA add to the emerging existing evidence, which should encourage physiotherapy practice to offer SET for this patient group. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid detection and isotopic measurement of discrete inorganic samples using acoustically actuated droplet ejection and extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Forbes Thomas P.
Published: December 2014

RATIONALE

The rapid detection, screening, and isotopic signature analysis of inorganics provide invaluable information for a variety of applications including explosive device detection, nuclear forensics, and environmental monitoring. The coupling of ultrasonic nebulization and extractive electrospray ionization (EESI) enabled the mass spectrometric (MS) detection and analysis of inorganics from microliter sample solution aliquots.

METHODS

Ultrasonic nebulization and acoustic pressure wave focusing within an array of exponential horn structures were utilized for the efficient atomization of discrete liquid samples ranging in volume from 3 μL to 10 μL pipetted aliquots. In conjunction with an electro‐flow focusing source for extractive electrospray ionization (EESI), in‐source collision‐induced dissociation (CID) was utilized to enhance inorganic detection through fragmentation of adducts and reduction in chemical noise from organic compounds.

RESULTS

The investigated system enhanced detection of the singly charged elemental cation species and provided accurate measurements of isotopic distributions for a number of metal ions. The extent of CID demonstrated the competition between ligand loss from hydrate clusters and charge reduction from the doubly charged to singly charged cations for the alkaline earth metal ions of strontium and barium. Inorganics were also detected from complex matrices, including synthetic fingerprint material and sediment, without detriment to device operation.

CONCLUSIONS

The described system provides a versatile tool for the rapid detection, speciation, and isotopic identification of inorganic compounds at nanogram to sub‐nanogram levels from microliter aliquots. Published in 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Remote laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for non‐proximate analysis of biological tissues
Authors: Compton Laine R. , Reschke Brent , Friend Jordan , Powell Matthew , Vertes Akos
Published: December 2014

RATIONALE

We introduce remote laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI), a novel, non‐proximate ambient sampling technique. Remote LAESI allows additional analytical instrumentation to be incorporated during sample analysis. This work demonstrates the utility of remote LAESI and, when combined with optical microscopy, allows for the microscopy‐guided sampling of biological tissues.

METHODS

Rapid prototyping using a 3D printer was applied to produce various ablation chamber geometries. A focused 5 ns, 2.94 µm laser pulse kept at 10 Hz ablated the sample within the chamber, remote to the mass spectrometer inlet. Ablated particulates were carried through a transfer tube by N2 gas, delivered to the electrospray plume and ionized. A long‐distance microscope was used to capture images of tissues before, during and after ablation.

RESULTS

Optimized remote LAESI was found to have a 27% transport efficiency compared with conventional LAESI, sufficient for many applications. A comparable molecular coverage was obtained with remote LAESI for the analysis of plant tissue. Proof‐of‐principle experiments using a pansy flower and a maple leaf indicated the functionality of this approach for selecting domains of interest for analysis by optical microscopy and obtaining chemical information from those selected regions by remote LAESI‐MS.

CONCLUSIONS

Remote LAESI is an ambient non‐proximate sampling technique, proven to detect metabolites in biological tissues. When combined with optical microscopy, remote LAESI allows for the simultaneous acquisition of morphological and chemical information. This technique has important implications for histology, where chemical information for specific locations within a tissue is critical. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of data‐dependent exclusion list based mass spectrometry on label‐free proteomic quantification
Authors: Yeom Jeonghun , Kabir Mohammad Humayun , Lee Cheolju
Published: December 2014

RATIONALE

Spectral count analysis via data‐dependent acquisition (DDA) mode mass spectrometry is used as label‐free protein quantification. However, combination of the DDA mode with exclusion list based DDA (DDA‐EL) for the similar purpose has not yet been tested. Therefore, we have taken the initiative to check the protein abundance using DDA‐EL and measured their suitability.

METHODS

To check the protein abundance correlation between different samples, multiple replicates of mass spectrometric analysis of peptides were conducted primarily in DDA mode. Subsequently, peptides were analyzed in multiple replicates in DDA‐EL mode with an exclusion mass list prepared from the previous DDA analyses. The normalized spectral abundance factor (NSAF) for each identified protein was compared among replicated datasets of single DDA, DDA‐EL, merged two DDAs, and merged DDA + DDA‐EL or between different types of datasets.

RESULTS

A strong and linear NSAF correlation with an average correlation coefficient of 0.939 was observed in the comparison between each pair of DDA data. Similar connotation was also monitored in the comparison among DDA‐EL data (r =0.928) or among merged DDA + DDA‐EL data (r =0.960) while a reduced correlation coefficient (r =0.892) with increased deviation was marked between DDA and DDA‐EL data.

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of protein abundance patterns from different cellular states can successfully be conducted by DDA‐EL‐based mass spectrometric analysis. Therefore, the new workflow, DDA‐EL merged to DDA mode, is a potential alternative to protein identification and quantification method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactive paper spray mass spectrometry for in situ identification of quinones
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Pei Jiying , Huang Guangming
Published: December 2014

RATIONALE

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons quinones are reported to be harmful and could cause mutations and cancer via the generation of reactive oxygen species through their redox cycle in human body. For detection by gas chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (MS), sample pretreatments and chromatographic separation prior to MS are generally required, which makes the whole analytical process laborious and time‐consuming, resulting in difficulties for fast screening targets from complicated matrices. Thus facile, rapid and reliable MS methods for detection of quinones in complicated matrices are in great demand.

METHODS

Reactive paper spray mass spectrometry is reported for rapid identification and quantification of quinones in complicated matrices. The method is based on an in situ derivatization reaction between cysteamine and quinones prior to analysis with paper spray mass spectrometry. With the addition of an easily charged chemical tag, the ionization efficiency of analysts is greatly improved. Due to the high ionization efficiency of the drivatives, quinones in complicated matrices could be detected rapidly without any pretreatment.

RESULTS

Under the optimized experimental conditions, the linear dynamic ranges for both 1,4‐benzoquinone and 1,4‐naphthoquinone are 0.4–40 ng and that for 1,4‐anthraquinone is 0.4–20 ng. Limits of detection for these three analytes were measured to be 160, 40 and 200 pg using methyl‐p‐benzoquinone as internal standard. The capability to conduct MS analysis under ambient pressure is illustrated by identification of 1,4‐naphthoquinone and 1,4‐anthraquinone in raw urine, raw serum and cell culture medium.

CONCLUSIONS

Reactive paper spray could be applied to fast screening of quinones from complicated matrices. Therefore, we believe that reactive paper spray mass spectrometry might be potentially useful in the fields of environmental sciences, metabolomics and clinic analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated annotation and quantitation of glycans by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis using the MultiGlycan‐ESI computational tool
Authors: Hu Yunli , Zhou Shiyue , Yu Chuan‐Yih , Tang Haixu , Mechref Yehia
Published: December 2014

RATIONALE

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is currently considered to be a conventional glycomics analysis strategy due to the high sensitivity and ability to handle complex biological samples. Interpretation of LC/MS data is a major bottleneck in high‐throughput glycomics LC/MS‐based analysis. The complexity of LC/MS data associated with biological samples prompts the needs to develop computational tools capable of facilitating automated data annotation and quantitation.

METHODS

An LC/MS‐based automated data annotation and quantitation software, MultiGlycan‐ESI, was developed and utilized for glycan quantitation. Data generated by the software from LC/MS analysis of permethylated N‐glycans derived from fetuin were initially validated by manual integration to assess the performance of the software. The performance of MultiGlycan‐ESI was then assessed for the quantitation of permethylated fetuin N‐glycans analyzed at different concentrations or spiked with permethylated N‐glycans derived from human blood serum.

RESULTS

The relative abundance differences between data generated by the software and those generated by manual integration were less than 5%, indicating the reliability of MultiGlycan‐ESI in quantitation of permethylated glycans analyzed by LC/MS. Automated quantitation resulted in a linear relationship for all six N‐glycans derived from 50 ng to 400 ng fetuin with correlation coefficients (R2) greater than 0.93. Spiking of permethylated fetuin N‐glycans at different concentrations in permethylated N‐glycan samples derived from a 0.02 μL of HBS also exhibited linear agreement with R2 values greater than 0.9.

CONCLUSIONS

With a variety of options, including mass accuracy, merged adducts, and filtering criteria, MultiGlycan‐ESI allows automated annotation and quantitation of LC/ESI‐MS N‐glycan data. The software allows the reliable quantitation of glycan LC/MS data. The software is reliable for automated glycan quantitation, thus facilitating rapid and reliable high‐throughput glycomics studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.