bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of global terrestrial carbon cycle dynamics to variability in satellite‐observed burned area
Authors: Poulter Benjamin , Cadule Patricia , Cheiney Audrey , Ciais Philippe , Hodson Elke , Peylin Philippe , Plummer Stephen , Spessa Allan , Saatchi Sassan , Yue Chao , Zimmermann Niklaus E.
Published: January 2015

Fire plays an important role in terrestrial ecosystems by regulating biogeochemistry, biogeography, and energy budgets, yet despite the importance of fire as an integral ecosystem process, significant advances remain to improve its prognostic representation in carbon cycle models. To recommend and to help prioritize model improvements, this study investigates the sensitivity of a coupled global biogeography and biogeochemistry model, LPJ, to observed burned area measured by three independent satellite‐derived products, GFED v3.1, L3JRC, and GlobCarbon. Model variables are compared with benchmarks that include pantropical aboveground biomass, global tree cover, and CO2 and CO trace gas concentrations. Depending on prescribed burned area product, global aboveground carbon stocks varied by 300 Pg C, and woody cover ranged from 50 to 73 Mkm2. Tree cover and biomass were both reduced linearly with increasing burned area, i.e., at regional scales, a 10% reduction in tree cover per 1000 km2, and 0.04‐to‐0.40 Mg C reduction per 1000 km2. In boreal regions, satellite burned area improved simulated tree cover and biomass distributions, but in savanna regions, model‐data correlations decreased. Global net biome production was relatively insensitive to burned area, and the long‐term land carbon sink was robust, ~2.5 Pg C yr−1, suggesting that feedbacks from ecosystem respiration compensated for reductions in fuel consumption via fire. CO2 transport provided further evidence that heterotrophic respiration compensated any emission reductions in the absence of fire, with minor differences in modeled CO2 fluxes among burned area products. CO was a more sensitive indicator for evaluating fire emissions, with MODIS‐GFED burned area producing CO concentrations largely in agreement with independent observations in high latitudes. This study illustrates how ensembles of burned area data sets can be used to diagnose model structures and parameters for further improvement and also highlights the importance in considering uncertainties and variability in observed burned area data products for model applications.
Ocean Basalt Simulator version 1 (OBS1): Trace element mass balance in adiabatic melting of a pyroxenite‐bearing peridotite
Authors: Kimura Jun‐Ichi , Kawabata Hiroshi
Published: January 2015

We present a new numerical trace element mass balance model for adiabatic melting of a pyroxenite‐bearing peridotite for estimating mantle potential temperature, depth of melting column, and pyroxenite fraction in the source mantle for a primary ocean basalt/picrite. The Ocean Basalt Simulator version 1 (OBS1) uses a thermodynamic model of adiabatic melting of a pyroxenite‐bearing peridotite with experimentally/thermodynamically parameterized liquidus‐solidus intervals and source mineralogy. OBS1 can be used to calculate a sequence of adiabatic melting with two melting models, including (1) melting of peridotite and pyroxenite sources with simple mixing of their fractional melts (melt‐melt mixing model), and (2) pyroxenite melting, melt metasomatism in the host peridotite, and melting of the metasomatized peridotite (source‐metasomatism model). OBS1 can be used to explore (1) the fractions of peridotite and pyroxenite, (2) mantle potential temperature, (3) pressure of termination of melting, (4) degree of melting, and (5) residual mode of the sources. In order to constrain these parameters, the model calculates a mass balance for 26 incompatible trace elements in the sources and in the generated basalt/picrite. OBS1 is coded in an Excel spreadsheet and runs with VBA macros. Using OBS1, we examine the source compositions and conditions of the mid‐oceanic ridge basalts, Loihi‐Koolau basalts in the Hawaiian hot spot, and Jurassic Shatsky Rise and Mikabu oceanic plateau basalts and picrites. The OBS1 model shows the physical conditions, chemical mass balance, and amount of pyroxenite in the source peridotite, which are keys to global mantle recycling.
Survey of ULF wave signatures seen in the Tasman International Geospace Environment Radars data
Authors: Norouzi‐Sedeh L. , Waters C. L. , Menk F. W.
Published: January 2015

Ultralow frequency (ULF) plasma waves propagate through the magnetosphere and ionosphere where they can alter the Doppler velocity of HF radar echoes. Data from the two Tasman International Geospace Environment Radars and the fluxgate and induction coil magnetometers located on Macquarie Island (54.5°S, 158.95°E geographic) over 2006–2009 show that ULF wave signatures are common. Using coincident radar and magnetometer data selection criteria, 194 events representing a total of 233.4 h were identified. The majority of ULF signatures seen in the radar data were detected between 06 and 12 UT (15 and 21 LT). Using the Maximum Entropy Method, the spectral content showed favored frequencies of 1.6, 2.1, 2.9, and 3.3 mHz but no obvious variation of frequency with latitude. Most of the observed frequencies were in the range 1–4 mHz. A class of Doppler velocity signatures that appeared as a zigzag shape in the radar range:time plots were identified and may be related to the expected plasmapause latitudes. Regularly spaced, favored frequencies appeared in the ground magnetometer data during the afternoon, night, and morning sectors for those days where ULF wave events were observed in the radar data.
Seismicity and structure of Akutan and Makushin Volcanoes, Alaska, using joint body and surface wave tomography
Authors: Syracuse E. M. , Maceira M. , Zhang H. , Thurber C. H.
Published: January 2015

Joint inversions of seismic data recover models that simultaneously fit multiple constraints while playing upon the strengths of each data type. Here we jointly invert 14 years of local earthquake body wave arrival times from the Alaska Volcano Observatory catalog and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves based upon ambient noise measurements for local Vp, Vs, and hypocentral locations at Akutan and Makushin Volcanoes using a new joint inversion algorithm. The velocity structure and relocated seismicity of both volcanoes are significantly more complex than many other volcanoes studied using similar techniques. Seismicity is distributed among several areas beneath or beyond the flanks of both volcanoes, illuminating a variety of volcanic and tectonic features. The velocity structures of the two volcanoes are exemplified by the presence of narrow high‐Vp features in the near surface, indicating likely current or remnant pathways of magma to the surface. A single broad low‐Vp region beneath each volcano is slightly offset from each summit and centered at approximately 7 km depth, indicating a potential magma chamber, where magma is stored over longer time periods. Differing recovery capabilities of the Vp and Vs data sets indicate that the results of these types of joint inversions must be interpreted carefully.
Novel Biocompatible Polysaccharide‐Based Self‐Healing Hydrogel
Authors: Wei Zhao , Yang Jian Hai , Liu Zhen Qi , Xu Feng , Zhou Jin Xiong , Zrínyi Miklós , Osada Yoshihito , Chen Yong Mei
Published: January 2015

A novel biocompatible polysaccharide‐based self‐healing hydrogel, CEC‐l‐OSA‐l‐ADH hydrogel (“l” means “linked‐by”), is developed by exploiting the dynamic reaction of N‐carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) and adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) with oxidized sodium alginate (OSA). The self‐healing ability, as demonstrated by rheological recovery, macroscopic observation, and beam‐shaped strain compression measurement, is attributed to the coexistence of dynamic imine and acylhydrazone bonds in the hydrogel networks. The CEC‐l‐OSA‐l‐ADH hydrogel shows excellent self‐healing ability under physiological conditions with a high healing efficiency (up to 95%) without need for any external stimuli. In addition, the CEC‐l‐OSA‐l‐ADH hydrogel exhibits good cytocompatibility and cell release as demonstrated by three‐dimensional cell encapsulation. With these superior properties, the developed hydrogel holds great potential for applications in various biomedical fields, e.g., as cell or drug delivery carriers.
High Performance 3D Si/Ge Nanorods Array Anode Buffered by TiN/Ti Interlayer for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yue Chuang , Yu Yingjian , Sun Shibo , He Xu , Chen Binbin , Lin Wei , Xu Binbin , Zheng Mingsen , Wu Suntao , Li Jing , Kang Junyong , Lin Liwei
Published: January 2015

3D micro/nanobatteries in high energy and power densities are drawing more and more interest due to the urgent demand of them in integrating with numerous micro/nanoscale electronic devices, such as smart dust, miniaturized sensors, actuators, BioMEMS chips, and so on. In this study, the electrochemical performances of 3D hexagonal match‐like Si/Ge nanorod (NR) arrays buffered by TiN/Ti interlayer, which are fabricated on Si substrates by a cost‐effective, wafer scale, and Si‐compatible process are demonstrated and systematically investigated as the anode in sodium‐ion batteries. The optimized Si/TiN/Ti/Ge composite NR array anode displays superior areal/specific capacities and cycling stability by reason of their favorable 3D nanostructures and the effective conductive layers of TiN/Ti thin films. Sodium‐ion insertion behaviors are experimentally investigated in postmorphologies and elemental information of the cycled composite anode, and theoretically studied by the first principles calculation upon the adsorption and diffusion energies of sodium in Ge unit cell. The preferential diffusion of sodium in Ge structure over in Si lattice is evidently proved. The successful configuration of these distinctive wafer‐scale Si‐based Na‐ion micro/nanobattery anodes can provide insight into exploring and designing new Si/Ge‐based electrode materials, which can be integrated into micro‐electronic devices as on chip power systems in the future.
Hydrophilic Nanotube Supported Graphene–Water Dispersible Carbon Superstructure with Excellent Conductivity
Authors: Georgakilas Vasilios , Demeslis Athanasios , Ntararas Evangelos , Kouloumpis Antonios , Dimos Konstantinos , Gournis Dimitrios , Kocman Mikuláš , Otyepka Michal , Zbořil Radek
Published: January 2015

In this work, it is shown that the hydrophilic functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNs) can stabilize a large amount of pristine graphene nanosheets in pure water without the assistance of surfactants, ionic liquids, or hydrophilic polymers. Role of stabilizer is conveyed by highly hydrophilic carbon nanotubes, functionalized by dihydroxy phenyl groups, affording a stable dispersion at concentrations as high as 15 mg mL−1. Such multidimensional (2D/1D) graphene/MWCN hybrid is found to be dispersible also in other polar organic solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol, N,N‐dimethylformamide, ethylene glycol, and their mixtures. High‐resolution transmission microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) including a liquid mode AFM manifest several types of interaction including trapping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes between the graphene sheets or the modification of graphene edges. Molecular dynamic simulations show that formation of an assembly is kinetically controlled. Importantly, the hybrid can be deposited on the paper by drop casting or dispersed in water‐soluble polymers resulting in record values of electrical conductivity (sheet resistance up to Rs ≈ 25 Ω sq−1 for free hybrid material and Rs ≈ 1300 Ω sq−1 for a polyvinilalcohol/hybrid composite film). Thus, these novel water dispersible carbon superstructures reveal a high application potential as conductive inks for inkjet printing or as highly conductive polymers.
Non‐equilibrium dynamics in dissipative Bose‐Hubbard chains
Authors: Kordas Georgios , Witthaut Dirk , Wimberger Sandro
Published: January 2015

Open many‐body quantum systems have recently gained renewed interest in the context of quantum information science and quantum transport with biological clusters and ultracold atomic gases. A series of results in diverse setups is presented, based on a Master equation approach to describe the dissipative dynamics of ultracold bosons in a one‐dimensional lattice. The creation of mesoscopic stable many‐body structures in the lattice is predicted and the non‐equilibrium transport of neutral atoms in the regime of strong and weak interactions is studied.
An Engineered Old Yellow Enzyme that Enables Efficient Synthesis of (4R,6R)‐Actinol in a One‐Pot Reduction System
Authors: Horita Shoichiro , Kataoka Michihiko , Kitamura Nahoko , Nakagawa Takuya , Miyakawa Takuya , Ohtsuka Jun , Nagata Koji , Shimizu Sakayu , Tanokura Masaru
Published: January 2015

(4R,6R)‐Actinol can be stereo‐selectively synthesized from ketoisophorone by a two‐step conversion using a mixture of two enzymes: Candida macedoniensis old yellow enzyme (CmOYE) and Corynebacterium aquaticum (6R)‐levodione reductase. However, (4S)‐phorenol, an intermediate, accumulates because of the limited substrate range of CmOYE. To address this issue, we solved crystal structures of CmOYE in the presence and absence of a substrate analogue p‐HBA, and introduced point mutations into the substrate‐recognition loop. The most effective mutant (P295G) showed two‐ and 12‐fold higher catalytic activities toward ketoisophorone and (4S)‐phorenol, respectively, than the wild‐type, and improved the yield of the two‐step conversion from 67.2 to 90.1 %. Our results demonstrate that the substrate range of an enzyme can be changed by introducing mutation(s) into a substrate‐recognition loop. This method can be applied to the development of other favorable OYEs with different substrate preferences.
Worm‐like micelles: A new approach for heavy oil recovery from fractured systems
Authors: Kianinejad Amir , Saidian Milad , Mavaddat Marzieh , Ghazanfari Mohammad Hossein , Kharrat Riyaz , Rashtchian Davood
Published: January 2015

In this work, a new type of flooding system, “worm‐like micelles”, in enhanced heavy oil recovery (EOR) has been introduced. Application of these types of surfactants, because of their intriguing and surprising behaviour, is attractive for EOR studies. Fundamental understanding of the sweep efficiencies as well as displacement mechanisms of this flooding system in heterogeneous systems especially for heavy oils remains a topic of debate in the literature. Worm‐like micellar surfactant solutions are made up of highly flexible cylindrical aggregates. Such micellar solutions display high surface activity and high viscoelasticity, making them attractive in practical applications for EOR. In this study, worm‐like micellar solutions were used for flooding experiments in micromodels, initially saturated with heavy crude oil. The fractured micromodels with different fracture geometrical properties, different orientation angles and length, were used in the tests under oil‐wet condition. During experiments, high quality pictures of injection processes were recorded. Oil recoveries as a function of injected pore volumes and microscopic mechanisms during displacements were investigated from precise analyses of the provided pictures. It was observed that three mechanisms govern the EOR process during worm‐like micellar solution flooding: ultra‐low interfacial tension, high viscosity of the injecting fluid and in situ formation of macro‐emulsion. Considering these mechanisms, worm‐like micellar surfactants solutions are potentially good choices for EOR in heterogeneous systems such as fractured reservoirs. This study illustrates that the application of worm‐like micelles for heavy oil recovery in heterogeneous systems can reduce the risks involved with heterogeneity on flooding performance in such reservoirs.
Fabrication of Pyrene and Tetraphenylethylene Nanostructures by a Hydrolysis‐Assisted Co‐Assembly
Authors: Wang Tianxiang , Wang Haisheng , Xing Lingbo , Zhang Wenbo , Gao Changyou
Published: January 2015

The poly(allylamine hydrochloride)‐g‐pyrene‐tetraphenylethylene (PAH‐g‐Py‐g‐TPE) copolymers with different ratios of Py and TPE are synthesized by grafting 1‐pyrenecarboxaldehyde (Py‐CHO) and tetraphenylethylenecarboxaldehyde (TPE‐CHO) to PAH via a Schiff base reaction in methanol. The PAH‐g‐Py‐g‐TPE forms spherical micelles in water regardless of the ratios of Py and TPE, which can transform into different nanostructures after being incubated in pH 0 and pH 2 solutions, respectively. These nanomaterials including nanoparticles (NPs), nanorods (NRs), nanotubes (NTs) and nanoribbons (NBs) are composed of Py‐CHO and TPE‐CHO with different ratios, and emit fluorescence with colors different from the pure Py NRs and NTs, and TPE NPs.
Primer Extension Reaction Assays for Incorporation of Deoxynucleotide Analogue into DNA
Authors: Wang Xilong , Chen Xun , Liu Yonghui , Zhu Jin
Published: January 2015

Incorporation of deoxynucleotide analogues into DNA is important for the expansion of DNA functions. Primer extension reactions are commonly used for the assay of such reaction events. However, current assay protocols generally rely on radiolabeling, fluorescence reporter labeling, or removal of specific deoxynucleotide triphosphate in the reaction mixture. Herein we report on the design of two novel assay protocols that utilize a dideoxynucleotide‐terminated template strand and a phosphorothiolate‐modified deoxynucleotide‐terminated template strand. We designed and synthesized a deoxyuridine triphosphate analogue (dU*TP) containing 2‐bromoisobutyryl group and demonstrated that it could be well recognized by ϕ29DNA polymerase, E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow Fragment, Bst DNA polymerase Large Fragment, and E. coli DNA polymerase I Klenow Fragment (exo(), which translated to effective incorporation of dU*TP into DNA. dU*TP was also successfully incorporated into extremely long single‐stranded DNA at high‐density using ϕ29 DNA polymerase by rolling circle amplification.
Identification of olive pollen allergens using a fluorescence‐based 2D multiplex method
Authors: Zienkiewicz Krzysztof , Alché Juan de Dios , Zienkiewicz Agnieszka , Tormo Alejandro , Castro Antonio Jesús
Published: January 2015

Olive (Olea europaea L.) pollen is a major health concern in the Mediterranean countries and some olive growing regions in America and Australia. The molecular variability of pollen allergens constitutes a handicap for commercial extract standardization, which is the base of current diagnosis and vaccination procedures. In this paper, we report a time‐saving and plant material saving multiplex detection method for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of Ole e 1, Ole e 2, and Ole e 5 allergen polymorphism on a single blot. This method combines high‐resolution 2DE techniques with high‐sensitive fluorescence‐based detection methods. Using this strategy, we were capable to identify a higher number of allergen forms compared with classical 1D approach. The use of fluorescent probes and the increased resolution of 2D blots avoided overlapping effects, and allow estimating the amount of individual allergen forms. In addition, the pattern and identity of the IgE‐reactive proteins of either a population or individual patients allergic to olive pollen was also effortlessly determined in a single additional step. This flexible method might be extended to a higher number of olive allergens and cultivars, and is also applicable to other allergogenic plant species and sources.
Measuring Preschoolers' Inhibitory Control Using the Black/White Stroop
Authors: Vendetti Corrie , Kamawar Deepthi , Podjarny Gal , Astle Andrea
Published: January 2015

The Day/Night Stroop is a widely used measure of inhibitory control with preschoolers that requires them to respond ‘day’ to a picture of a moon and ‘night’ to a picture of a sun (Gerstadt, Hong, & Diamond, 1994). However, we argue that the nature of the relation between the stimuli and required responses requires more than inhibitory control. In the present study we compared 51 three‐ to five‐year‐olds' performance on the Day/Night and the Black/White Stroop alongside other measures of Executive Function and language. As predicted, we found that children make inhibitory errors on the Black/White, while they make both inhibitory and memory errors on the Day/Night. As a result, the Day/Night Stroop underestimates the inhibitory control abilities of some children. Further, we also found that performance on the Black/White task was strongly related to performance on another inhibitory control task, while performance on the Day/Night was not. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developmental effects of economic and educational change: Cognitive representation in three generations across 43 years in a Maya community
Authors: Maynard Ashley E. , Greenfield Patricia M. , Childs Carla P.
Published: January 2015

We studied the implications of social change for cognitive development in a Maya community in Chiapas, Mexico, over 43 years. The same procedures were used to collect data in 1969–1970, 1991, and 2012—once in each generation. The goal was to understand the implications of weaving, schooling and participation in a commercial economy for the development of visual pattern representation. In 2012, our participants consisted of 133 boys and girls descended from participants in the prior two generations. Procedures consisted of placing colored sticks in a wooden frame to make striped patterns, some familiar (Zinacantec woven patterns) and some novel (created by the investigators). Following Greenfield (2009), we hypothesised that the development of commerce and the expansion of formal schooling would influence children's representations. Her theory postulates that these factors move human development towards cognitive abstraction and skill in dealing with novelty. Furthermore, the theory posits that whatever sociodemographic variable is changing most rapidly functions as the primary motor for developmental change. From 1969 to 1991, the rapid development of a commercial economy drove visual representation in the hypothesised directions. From 1991 to 2012, the rapid expansion of schooling drove visual representation in the hypothesised directions.
Perturbation of nutrient source–sink relationships by post‐anthesis stresses results in differential accumulation of nutrients in wheat grain
Authors: Rose Terry J. , Raymond Carolyn A. , Bloomfield Camilla , King Graham J.
Published: January 2015

Mineral nutrients in grains act as a source of nutrients in human diets, in which deficiencies of key minerals including calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc have prompted efforts to increase their concentrations in the edible portions of staple grain crops. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in many regions often suffer abiotic stresses such as drought, extreme heat or frost during grain filling, which affect mineral source–sink relationships. We hypothesized that these stresses would have nutrient‐specific impacts on grain nutrient concentrations due to differences among nutrients in phloem mobility, post‐anthesis uptake and grain loading patterns. Nutrient loading patterns into wheat grains were investigated in two wheat cultivars in the field by sequentially harvesting tagged ears and analyzing tissues for key nutrients. In addition, the impact of perturbed source–sink relations during grain filling on nutrient loading was investigated by inducing post‐anthesis drought /floret abortion in a glasshouse study. Over 90% of Ca and around 70% of Na, K, and Mg accumulated in both wheat cultivars in the field during the first 14 d of grain development. The concentrations of micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn), Mg and P in grains generally increased when florets were aborted, and were unchanged under drought stress, while concentrations of Ca and K were highest under drought stress and lowest under the 66% floret abortion treatment. The observed changes in grain nutrient concentrations from post‐anthesis drought/floret abortion could not be fully explained by nutrient‐specific differences in phloem mobility, post‐anthesis uptake and grain loading patterns. This study will inform future research to define the precise roles of individual nutrients within developing grains and to fully understand the observed variations in grain nutrient concentrations due to source/sink modifications.
Phosphorus buffering capacity of substrate clays and its significance for plant cultivation
Authors: Binner Inga , Dultz Stefan , Schenk Manfred K.
Published: January 2015

Peat is commonly used as the main component of horticultural substrates, but it has a very low buffering capacity for the anionic macronutrient phosphorus (P), which can be increased by the addition of clays. The aim of this study was to characterize the P adsorption capacity of different substrate clays and to evaluate its significance for plant P uptake. Substrate clays were characterized with a single‐point batch experiment and adsorption and desorption isotherms. The data were fitted to the Langmuir equation for a calculation of the maximum adsorption capacity. Additionally, the contents of oxalate extractable Fe and Al (ΣFeox + Alox) were determined. The influence of a varying P adsorption capacity of the clays on the P availability to plants in the respective peat–clay substrates and pure peat was investigated in a growth experiment with Impatiens walleriana fertigated with 0, 17, and 35 mg P L−1 solution, respectively.

The observed and calculated (Langmuir) P adsorption capacity of the clays could be well‐characterized by both the batch experiment and the adsorption isotherms and was highly correlated with the ΣFeox+Alox. A higher P adsorption capacity of the clay amendment in mixed substrates resulted in a lower P concentration in the substrate solution, while the CAT extractable P concentration (PCAT) was the same. Plant growth and shoot P concentrations were enhanced in the substrates, showing a higher P adsorption capacity, since plants were able to take up the whole amount of PCAT, and also part of the non‐CAT extractable P. However, the release rate was too low to ensure optimal plant growth, which was in accordance with the result of the desorption experiment. The absolute extent of P release was increased with the increasing P adsorption capacity of the clays and higher degree of P saturation (DPS).
Application of Serratia marcescensRZ‐21 significantly enhances peanut yield and remediates continuously cropped peanut soil
Authors: Ma Hai‐Yan , Yang Bo , Wang Hong‐Wei , Yang Qi‐Yin , Dai Chuan‐Chao
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

Continuous cropping practices cause a severe decline in peanut yield. The aim of this study was to investigate the remediation effect of Serratia marcescens on continuously cropped peanut soil. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine peanut agronomic indices, soil microorganism characteristics, soil enzyme activities and antagonism ability to typical pathogens at different growth stages. Four treatments were applied to red soil as follows: an active fermentation liquor of S. marcescens (RZ‐21), an equivalent sterilized fermentation liquor (M), an equivalent fermentation medium (P) and distilled water (CK).

RESULTS

S. marcescens significantly inhibited the two typical plant pathogens Fusarium oxysporum A1 and Ralstonia solanacearum B1 and reduced their populations in rhizosphere soil. The RZ‐21 treatment significantly increased peanut yield, vine dry weight, root nodules and taproot length by 62.3, 33, 72 and 61.4% respectively, followed by the M treatment. The P treatment also increased root nodules and root length slightly. RZ‐21 also enhanced the activities of soil urease, sucrase and hydrogen peroxidase at various stages. In addition, RZ‐21 and M treatments increased the average population of soil bacteria and decreased the average population of fungi in the three critical peanut growth stages, except for M in the case of the fungal population at flowering, thus balancing the structure of the soil microorganism community.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of S. marcescens being applied to continuously cropped peanut soil. The results suggest that S. marcescens RZ‐21 has the potential to improve the soil environment and agricultural products and thus allow the development of sustainable management practices. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Enzymatic cell wall degradation of high‐pressure‐homogenized tomato puree and its effect on lycopene bioaccessibility
Authors: Palmero Paola , Colle Ines , Lemmens Lien , Panozzo Agnese , Nguyen Tuyen Thi My , Hendrickx Marc , Van Loey Ann
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUND

High‐pressure homogenization disrupts cell structures, assisting carotenoid release from the matrix and subsequent micellarization. However, lycopene bioaccessibility of tomato puree upon high‐pressure homogenization is limited by the formation of a process‐induced barrier. In this context, cell wall‐degrading enzymes were applied to hydrolyze the formed barrier and enhance lycopene bioaccessibility.

RESULTS

The effectiveness of the enzymes in degrading their corresponding substrates was evaluated (consistency, amount of reducing sugars, molar mass distribution and immunolabeling). An in vitro digestion procedure was applied to evaluate the effect of the enzymatic treatments on lycopene bioaccessibility. Enzymatic treatments with pectinases and cellulase were proved to effectively degrade their corresponding cell wall polymers; however, no further significant increase in lycopene bioaccessibility was obtained.

CONCLUSION

A process‐induced barrier consisting of cell wall material is not the only factor governing lycopene bioaccessibility upon high‐pressure homogenization. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Systematic chemical profiling of a multicomponent Chinese herbal formula Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupoletime‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Fenrong , Ai Yu , Wu Yun , Ma Wen , Bian Qiaoxia , Lee David Y.‐W. , Dai Ronghua
Published: January 2015

Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan, a Chinese herbal formula consisting of 11 different herbs, has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the chemical compositions of Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan are not completely characterized. In the present study, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method in positive and negative ion modes was employed to identify biochemical constitutes in Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan. As a result, a total of 76 compounds including alkaloids, monoterpene glycosides, iridoids, phenolic acids, and tanshinones, coumarins, lactones, flavones, and their glycosides, triterpenes, and triterpene saponins were characterized by comparing the retention time and mass spectrometry data with reference standards within 5 ppm error or by reference to the reference literature. These results would provide the basis for a further in vivo study of Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan and information for potential new drug candidates for treating arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.
Bacterial infections following non‐ablative fractional laser treatment: A case series and discussion
Authors: Xu Lisa Y. , Kilmer Suzanne L. , Ross E. Victor , Avram Mathew M.
Published: January 2015

Non‐ablative fractional laser procedures have become increasingly popular since their introduction in 2004. The fractional 1,927 nm thulium laser is a non‐ablative device that penetrates up to 300 μm in the skin and the 1,550 nm erbium:glass laser penetrates up to 1,400 μm. These procedures are considered minimally invasive with a high safety profile; therefore, infectious complications are exceedingly rare. However, we report five recent cases of bacterial infection with both gram‐positive and gram‐negative organisms following treatment with the fractional 1550/1927 nm laser approximately 1 day to 1 week post‐procedure. One patient had a rapidly progressing pustular eruption with symptoms of sepsis. These patients were seen immediately, cultures were obtained and empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated. They recovered without long‐term complications. Rapid‐onset bacterial infections following non‐ablative laser resurfacing with the 1550/1927 nm laser have not been previously reported in the literature. The infections can progress quickly and lead to serious sequelae, including systemic illness and severe scarring, if not identified and appropriately treated. We present these cases to highlight the importance of close surveillance and when appropriate, rapid intervention, following non‐ablative fractional procedures, especially when patients present with atypical symptoms and signs. Lasers Surg. Med. 47:128–132, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Examination of Emotional Information Management in Gift Giving and Receipt
Authors: Taute Harry A. , Sierra Jeremy J.
Published: January 2015

Gift giving is prominent in marketplace exchanges and has robust emotional implications for both the giver and recipient. For example, prior to and during the selection of a gift, the giver endures positive and negative emotions, as he/she grapples with selecting the perfect gift, and ponders if the recipient will actually cherish the purchased item. During this dynamic exchange process, emotional recognition, management of emotions, emotional empathy, and anticipated elation are oft experienced by both the giver and recipient. However, research examining such emotions quantitatively in a gifting context is scant and models of these faculties in the gift‐giving milieu are nonexistent. To help fill this research fissure, four studies are developed; they, in general, investigate determinants of feelings linked with the gestation, prestation, and reformulation stages of the gift‐giving event. Specifically, Study 1 (giver's perspective) and Study 2 (receiver's perspective) reveal a mediation void in the models tested. Heeding these results, Study 3 (gift given) and Study 4 (gift received) introduce anticipated elation as a key factor between the aforementioned emotive factors and the emotional responses inherent in the gift‐giving stages, among others. Managerial implications and future research directions are offered.
Improved inherited peripheral neuropathy genetic diagnosis by whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Drew Alexander P. , Zhu Danqing , Kidambi Aditi , Ly Carolyn , Tey Shelisa , Brewer Megan H. , Ahmad‐Annuar Azlina , Nicholson Garth A. , Kennerson Marina L.
Published: January 2015

Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs) are a group of related diseases primarily affecting the peripheral motor and sensory neurons. They include the hereditary sensory neuropathies (HSN), hereditary motor neuropathies (HMN), and Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease (CMT). Using whole‐exome sequencing (WES) to achieve a genetic diagnosis is particularly suited to IPNs, where over 80 genes are involved with weak genotype–phenotype correlations beyond the most common genes. We performed WES for 110 index patients with IPN where the genetic cause was undetermined after previous screening for mutations in common genes selected by phenotype and mode of inheritance. We identified 41 missense sequence variants in the known IPN genes in our cohort of 110 index patients. Nine variants (8%), identified in the genes MFN2, GJB1, BSCL2, and SETX, are previously reported mutations and considered to be pathogenic in these families. Twelve novel variants (11%) in the genes NEFL, TRPV4, KIF1B, BICD2, and SETX are implicated in the disease but require further evidence of pathogenicity. The remaining 20 variants were confirmed as polymorphisms (not causing the disease) and are detailed here to help interpret sequence variants identified in other family studies. Validation using segregation, normal controls, and bioinformatics tools was valuable as supporting evidence for sequence variants implicated in disease. In addition, we identified one SETX sequence variant (c.7640T>C), previously reported as a putative mutation, which we have confirmed as a nonpathogenic rare polymorphism. This study highlights the advantage of using WES for genetic diagnosis in highly heterogeneous diseases such as IPNs and has been particularly powerful in this cohort where genetic diagnosis could not be achieved due to phenotype and mode of inheritance not being previously obvious. However, first tier testing for common genes in clinically well‐defined cases remains important and will account for most positive results.
Quantifying the cumulative effect of low‐penetrance genetic variants on breast cancer risk
Authors: Smyth Conor , Špakulová Iva , Cotton‐Barratt Owen , Rafiq Sajjad , Tapper William , Upstill‐Goddard Rosanna , Hopper John L. , Makalic Enes , Schmidt Daniel F. , Kapuscinski Miroslav , Fliege Jörg , Collins Andrew , Brodzki Jacek , Eccles Diana M. , MacArthur Ben D.
Published: January 2015

Many common diseases have a complex genetic basis in which large numbers of genetic variations combine with environmental factors to determine risk. However, quantifying such polygenic effects has been challenging. In order to address these difficulties we developed a global measure of the information content of an individual's genome relative to a reference population, which may be used to assess differences in global genome structure between cases and appropriate controls. Informally this measure, which we call relative genome information (RGI), quantifies the relative “disorder” of an individual's genome. In order to test its ability to predict disease risk we used RGI to compare single‐nucleotide polymorphism genotypes from two independent samples of women with early‐onset breast cancer with three independent sets of controls. We found that RGI was significantly elevated in both sets of breast cancer cases in comparison with all three sets of controls, with disease risk rising sharply with RGI. Furthermore, these differences are not due to associations with common variants at a small number of disease‐associated loci, but rather are due to the combined associations of thousands of markers distributed throughout the genome. Our results indicate that the information content of an individual's genome may be used to measure the risk of a complex disease, and suggest that early‐onset breast cancer has a strongly polygenic component.
Fertility‐associated metabolites in bull seminal plasma and blood serum: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis
Authors: Kumar Ajeet , Kroetsch Tom , Blondin Patrick , Anzar Muhammad
Published: January 2015

Early estimation of bull fertility is highly desirable for the conservation of male genetics of endangered species and for the exploitation of genetically superior sires in artificial insemination programs. The present work was conducted as a proof‐of‐principle study to identify fertility‐associated metabolites in dairy bull seminal plasma and blood serum using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Semen and blood samples were collected from high‐ and low‐fertility breeding bulls (n = 5 each), stationed at Semex, Guelph, Canada. NMR spectra of serum and seminal plasma were recorded at a resonance frequency of 500.13 MHz on a Bruker Avance‐500 spectrometer equipped with an inverse triple resonance probe (TXI, 5 mm). Spectra were phased manually, baseline corrected, and calibrated against 3‐(trimethylsilyl) propionic‐2,2,3,3‐d4 acid at 0.0 parts per million (ppm). Spectra were converted to an appropriate format for analysis using Prometab software running within MATLAB. Principal component analysis was used to examine intrinsic variation in the NMR data set, and to identify trends and to exclude outliers. Partial least square‐discriminant analysis was performed to identify the significant features between fertility groups. The fertility‐associated metabolites with variable importance in projections (VIP) scores >2 were citrate (2.50 ppm), tryptamine/taurine (3.34–3.38 ppm), isoleucine (0.74 ppm), and leucine (0.78 ppm) in the seminal plasma; and isoleucine (1.14 ppm), asparagine (2.90–2.94 ppm), glycogen (3.98 ppm), and citrulline (1.54 ppm) in the serum. These metabolites showed identifiable peaks, and thus can be used as biomarkers of fertility in breeding bulls. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 123–131, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 in sperm function, derived from studies in transgenic mice
Authors: McDermott Jeffrey , Sánchez Gladis , Nangia Ajay K. , Blanco Gustavo
Published: January 2015

Most of our knowledge on the biological role of the testis‐specific Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 isoform derives from studies performed in non‐human species. Here, we studied the function of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 after its expression in transgenic mice. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct containing the human ATP1A4 gene locus, we obtained expression of the human α4 transgene specifically in mouse sperm testis and, in the sperm flagellum. The expressed human alpha 4 was active, and compared to wild‐type sperm, those from transgenic mice displayed higher Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 activity and greater binding of fluorescently labeled ouabain, which is typical of the alpha 4 isoform. The expression and activity of endogenous alpha 4 and the other Na,K‐ATPase alpha isoform present in sperm, alpha 1, remained unchanged. Male mice expressing the human ATP1A4 transgene exhibited similar testis size and morphology, normal sperm number and shape, and no changes in overall fertility compared to wild‐type mice. Sperm carrying the human transgene exhibited enhanced total motility and an increase in multiple parameters of sperm movement, including higher sperm hyperactive motility. In contrast, no statistically significant changes in sperm membrane potential, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, or spontaneous acrosome reaction were found between wild‐type and transgenic mice. Altogether, these results provide new genetic evidence for an important role of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 in sperm motility and hyperactivation, and establishes a new animal model for future studies of this isoform. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 167–181, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of lactate detection using selective multiple quantum coherence in phantoms and brain tumours
Authors: Harris L. M. , Tunariu N. , Messiou C. , Hughes J. , Wallace T. , DeSouza N. M. , Leach M. O. , Payne G. S.
Published: January 2015

Lactate is a product of glucose metabolism. In tumour tissues, which exhibit enhanced glycolytic metabolism, lactate signals may be elevated, making lactate a potential useful tumour biomarker. Methods of lactate quantitation are complicated because of overlap between the lactate methyl doublet CH3 resonance and a lipid resonance at 1.3 ppm. This study presents the use of a selective homonuclear multiple quantum coherence transfer sequence (SelMQC‐CSI), at 1.5 T, to better quantify lactate in the presence of lipids. Work performed on phantoms showed good lactate detection (49%) and lipid suppression (98%) efficiencies. To evaluate the method in the brain, the sequence was tested on a group of 23 patients with treated brain tumours, either glioma (N = 20) or secondary metastases in the brain (N = 3). Here it was proved to be of use in determining lactate concentrations in vivo. Lactate was clearly seen in SelMQC spectra of glioma, even in the presence of lipids, with high grade glioma (7.3 ± 1.9 mM, mean ± standard deviation) having higher concentrations than low grade glioma (1.9 ± 1.5 mM, p = 0.048). Lactate was not seen in secondary metastases in the brain. SelMQC‐CSI is shown to be a useful technique for measuring lactate in tumours whose signals are otherwise contaminated by lipid. © 2015 The Authors NMR in Biomedicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The role of chest computed tomography (CT) as a surveillance tool in children with high‐risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Federico Sara M. , Brady Samuel L. , Pappo Alberto , Wu Jianrong , Mao Shenghua , McPherson Valerie J. , Young Alison , Furman Wayne L. , Kaufman Robert , Kaste Sue
Published: January 2015

Background

Standardization of imaging obtained in children with neuroblastoma is not well established. This study examines chest CT in pediatric patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma.

Procedure

Medical records and imaging from 88 patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma, diagnosed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between January, 2002 and December, 2009, were reviewed. Surveillance imaging was conducted through 2013. Ten patients with thoracic disease at diagnosis were excluded. Event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. Size specific dose estimates for CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis were used to estimate absolute organ doses to 23 organs. Organ dosimetry was used to calculate cohort effective dose.

Results

The 5 year OS and EFS were 51.9% ± 6.5% and 42.6% ± 6.5%, respectively. Forty‐six (58.9%) patients progressed/recurred and 41 (52.6%) died of disease. Eleven patients (14%) developed thoracic disease progression/recurrence identified by chest CT (1 paraspinal mass, 1 pulmonary nodules, and 9 nodal). MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scans identified thoracic disease in six patients. Five of the 11 had normal chest MIBG scans; three were symptomatic and two were asymptomatic with normal chest MIBG scans but avid bone disease. The estimated radiation dose savings from surveillance without CT chest imaging was 42%, 34% when accounting for modern CT acquisition (2011–2013).

Conclusions

Neuroblastoma progression/recurrence in the chest is rare and often presents with symptoms or is identified using standard non‐CT imaging modalities. For patients with non‐thoracic high‐risk neuroblastoma at diagnosis, omission of surveillance chest CT imaging can save 35–42% of the radiation burden without compromising disease detection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:976–981. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status influence incidence of langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Ribeiro Karina Braga , Degar Barbara , Antoneli Célia Beatriz Gianotti , Rollins Barrett , Rodriguez‐Galindo Carlos
Published: January 2015

Background

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease, and its etiology is not well understood. Population‐based studies may contribute to etiologic research by defining incidence patterns. This study was designed to evaluate the descriptive epidemiology of disseminated LCH in the United States, using data from population‐based cancer registries.

Procedure

We analyzed the incidence and survival of disseminated LCH in children and adolescents (0–19 years) from 18 SEER registries during 2000–2009. Age‐standardized incidence rates (ASIR) per million and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by gender, race, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic variables (crowding, rural/urban, education, and poverty) using the SEER*Stat software 8.0.1. Relative survival (RS) estimates were calculated using Ederer II method.

Results

One hundred forty‐five cases of disseminated LCH were recorded; ASIR was 0.70/million per year. Lower ASIR was observed for blacks (vs. whites) (RR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.81), while higher ASIR was noted for Hispanics (vs. non‐Hispanics) (RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.15–2.29). Risk of LCH was higher in crowded counties (RR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.31–2.58) and also in areas with low educational level (RR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.02–2.22). Five‐year relative survival was 90.0% (95% CI 83.0–94.2). Important differences in survival were noted according to gender (male: RS = 96.0 vs. female: RS = 83.4%, P = 0.029) and age (<1 year: RS = 78.5, 1–4 years: RS = 95.6%, 5–19 years: RS = 100%, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

This population‐based study shows significant variations in the incidence of disseminated LCH by race and ethnic group, as well as the influence of socioeconomic factors. These data may provide clues to causation and point toward the need for analytical epidemiologic studies. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:982–987. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.