bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computed Tomography (CT)-guided Interstitial Permanent Implantation of 125I Seeds for Refractory Chest Wall Metastasis or Recurrence
Authors: Jiang Ping , Liu Chen , Wang Junjie , Yang Ruijie , Jiang Yuliang , Tian Suqing
Published: February 2014

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 125I seeds implantation for refractory chest wall (CW) metastasis or recurrence under CT guidance. In addition we assessed initial data obtained on the therapeutic response for refractory CW metastasis or recurrence. Twenty consecutive patients underwent permanent implantation of 125I seeds (from Jul. 2004 to Jan. 2011) under computed tomography (CT) guidance. Postoperative dosimetry was routinely performed for all patients. The actuarial D90 of the implanted 125I seeds ranged from 100 Gy to 160 Gy (median: 130 Gy). The activity of 125I seeds ranged from 0.5 mCi to 0.78 mCi (median: 0.71 mCi). The total number of seeds implanted ranged from 8 to 269 (median: 53). The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 54 months (median: 11.5 months). The survival and local control probabilities were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Among all the 20 patients, 3 patients had complete remission CR (15%), 12 patients had partial remission PR (60%), 5 patients had stable disease SD. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year tumor control rates were all 88.7% respectively. The 1- and 2-, 3-, 4-year cancer specific survival rates were 56.5% and 47.1%, 47.1%, 47.1% respectively. The 1- and 2-, 3-, 4-year overall survival rates were 53.3% and 35.6%, 35.6%, 35.6% respectively, with a median survival of 15 months (95% CI, 7.0-22.9). Mild brachial plexus injury was seen in one patient; grade 1 or 2 skin reactions were seen in 6 patients (30%) who had received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) before. No grade 3 and 4 skin side effects were found. Rib fracture, ulceration, pneumothorax or hemopneumothorax were not seen. Interstitial permanent implantation of 125I seeds under CT guidance is feasible, efficacious and safe for refractory CW metastasis or recurrence.
Flow Cytometry Method Analysis of Apoptosis
Authors: Xu Xiao-yan , Nie Xiao-cui , Ma Hai-ying , Song Guo-qing , Zhang Xiao-tong , Jin Yu-nan , Yu Yan-qiu
Published: February 2014

Flow cytometry method (FCM) is a generally accepted tool to analyze apoptosis. Although apoptosis assay kit was applied by many companies, the manufacturers were not consistent with whether using Trypsin with EDTA to collect the adherent cells. In another words, the influence of EDTA on apoptotic ratio is not clear. In this work, we compared the proportion of apoptotic cells with EDTA or EDTA-free Trypsin treatment by FCM. We concluded that Trypsin with or without EDTA has little influence on the proportion of apoptotic cells. In addition, we found that the ratio of necrosis and apoptosis was different in cells collected by scraping. WAVE2 protein was analyzed as a typical example for movement related protein. WAVE2 expression is elevated in the EDTA Trypsin treated group, compared with EDTA-free Trypsin treatment and scrapping group.
Diffusion-weighted MRI Before and After Robotic Radiosurgery (Cyberknife®) in Primary and Secondary Liver Malignancies
Authors: Schmid-Tannwald Christine , Strobl Frederik F. , Theisen Daniel , Muacevic Alexander , Stintzing Sebastian , Reiser Maximilian F. , Trumm Christoph G.
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) in the assessment of treatment response of primary or secondary liver malignancies after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using robotic radiosurgery. All patients who underwent SRS therapy for hepatic malignancies who had pre- and post-interventional MR examinations including DW-MRI at our hospital between 02/2010 and 02/2012 were included. A retrospective analysis of the institutional imaging database identified 13 patients (4 men, 9 women, mean age: 66 years) with a total of 14 primary or secondary liver malignancies. Criteria of tumor response to treatment were a decrease in size and/or loss of contrast enhancement as assessed with respect to RECIST criteria. Mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for normal liver parenchyma and hepatic masses in each MR examination were calculated and compared using two-tailed, paired t-test with a significance level of 0.05. Mean ADC values of liver malignancies were 1.10 ± 0.30 x 10-3 mm2/s, 1.48 ± 0.35 x 10-3 mm2/s and 1.56 ± 0.40 x 10-3 mm2/s on pre-interventional, the first post-interventional, and the second post-interventional DW-MRI. There was a significant increase of ADC values between the pre-interventional examination and the first and second post-interventional follow-up exams ( p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). However, there was no statistical difference between the ADC values of the first and second post-interventional MRI. ADC values of normal liver parenchyma did not show significant changes in ADC values during pre- and post-interventional MRI. ADC measurements may allow the evaluation of response to treatment of hepatic malignancies by SRS. ADC values of liver malignancies increase significantly after SRS treatment.
Marine‐based multiproxy reconstruction of Atlantic multidecadal variability
Authors: Svendsen Lea , Hetzinger Steffen , Keenlyside Noel , Gao Yongqi
Published: February 2014

Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) is known to impact climate globally, and knowledge about the persistence of AMV is important for understanding past and future climate variability, as well as modeling and assessing climate impacts. The short observational data do not significantly resolve multidecadal variability, but recent paleoproxy reconstructions show multidecadal variability in North Atlantic temperature prior to the instrumental record. However, most of these reconstructions are land‐based, not necessarily representing sea surface temperature. Proxy records are also subject to dating errors and microenvironmental effects. We extend the record of AMV 90 years past the instrumental record using principle component analysis of five marine‐based proxy records to identify the leading mode of variability. The first principal component is consistent with the observed AMV, and multidecadal variability seems to persist prior to the instrumental record. Thus, we demonstrate that reconstructions of past Atlantic low‐frequency variability can be improved by combining marine‐based proxies.
Observed linkages between the northern annular mode/North Atlantic Oscillation, cloud incidence, and cloud radiative forcing
Authors: Li Ying , Thompson David W. J. , Huang Yi , Zhang Minghong
Published: February 2014

The signature of the northern annular mode/North Atlantic Oscillation (NAM/NAO) in the vertical and horizontal distribution of tropospheric cloudiness is investigated in CloudSat and CALIPSO data from June 2006 to April 2011. During the Northern Hemisphere winter, the positive polarity of the NAM/NAO is marked by increases in zonally averaged cloud incidence north of ~60°N, decreases between ~25 and 50°N, and increases in the subtropics. The tripolar‐like anomalies in cloud incidence associated with the NAM/NAO are largest over the North Atlantic Ocean basin/Middle East and are physically consistent with the NAM/NAO‐related anomalies in vertical motion. Importantly, the NAM/NAO‐related anomalies in tropospheric cloud incidence lead to significant top of atmosphere cloud radiative forcing anomalies that are comparable in amplitude to those associated with the NAM/NAO‐related temperature anomalies. The results provide observational evidence that the most prominent pattern of Northern Hemisphere climate variability is significantly linked to variations in cloud radiative forcing. Implications for two‐way feedback between extratropical dynamics and cloud radiative forcing are discussed.
Observations of static Coulomb stress triggering of the November 2011M5.7 Oklahoma earthquake sequence
Authors: Sumy Danielle F. , Cochran Elizabeth S. , Keranen Katie M. , Wei Maya , Abers Geoffrey A.
Published: February 2014

In November 2011, aM5.0 earthquake occurred less than a day before aM5.7 earthquake near Prague, Oklahoma, which may have promoted failure of the mainshock and thousands of aftershocks along the Wilzetta fault, including aM5.0 aftershock. TheM5.0 foreshock occurred in close proximity to active fluid injection wells; fluid injection can cause a buildup of pore fluid pressure, decrease the fault strength, and may induce earthquakes.Keranen et al. [] links theM5.0 foreshock with fluid injection, but the relationship between the foreshock and successive events has not been investigated. Here we examine the role of coseismic Coulomb stress transfer on earthquakes that follow theM5.0 foreshock, including theM5.7 mainshock. We resolve the static Coulomb stress change onto the focal mechanism nodal plane that is most consistent with the rupture geometry of the threeM ≥ 5.0 earthquakes, as well as specified receiver fault planes that reflect the regional stress orientation. We find that Coulomb stress is increased, e.g., fault failure is promoted, on the nodal planes of ~60% of the events that have focal mechanism solutions, and more specifically, that theM5.0 foreshock promoted failure on the rupture plane of theM5.7 mainshock. We test our results over a range of effective coefficient of friction values. Hence, we argue that theM5.0 foreshock, induced by fluid injection, potentially triggered a cascading failure of earthquakes along the complex Wilzetta fault system.
Modeled interaction between the subseasonal evolving of the East Asian summer monsoon and the direct effect of anthropogenic sulfate
Authors: Zhou Yang , Huang Anning , Jiang Jing , La Mengke
Published: February 2014

A regional climate model is used to conduct four experiments to reveal the interaction between the subseasonal evolving of the East Asia summer monsoon (EASM) and the direct effect of anthropogenic sulfate. One of the experiments is conducted without the emission of anthropogenic SO2. The other three are carried out with the 1, 1.5, and 2 multiples of the SO2 emission of 2000, respectively. The model results suggest that in the rainfall, wind, and circulation of the EASM, the changes caused by the direct effect of anthropogenic sulfate on subseasonal time scale are within the model variability. The change of the EASM rainfall is not sensitive to sulfate forcing on subseasonal time scale but sensitive to the forcing on seasonal time scale. Moreover, rainfall change in the forcing experiments is significantly less (greater) than zero to the south (north) of the EASM rainfall centers on subseasonal time scale, but the EASM rainfall phase is not changed. The rainfall change associates with the correspondingly significant increase (decrease) of the atmospheric stability induced by the forcing of sulfate direct effect. The direct effect of sulfate plays different roles in different stages of the EASM subseasonal evolving. In the early stage, the EASM is significantly enhanced in terms of the interaction between tropical and midlatitude atmosphere. In the late stage, the EASM is weakened in terms of the large‐scale atmospheric circulation. Lastly, the responses of the rainfall, wind, and circulation of the EASM to the linear changes in the SO2 emission are nonlinear.
Consequences of giant impacts in early Mars: Core merging and Martian dynamo evolution
Authors: Monteux Julien , Arkani‐Hamed Jafar
Published: February 2014

A giant impact is an increasingly popular explanation for the formation of the northern lowland on Mars. It is plausible that at the impact time both Mars and the impactor were differentiated with solid silicate mantles and liquid iron cores. Such a large impact likely resulted in merging of the cores of both bodies, a process which will have implications on the thermal state of the planet. We model the evolution of the Martian mantle following a giant impact and characterize the thermochemical consequences of the sinking of an impactor's core as a single diapir. The impact heating and the viscous heating induced during the core merging may affect the early thermal state of Mars during several tens of million years. Our results show that large viscosity contrasts between the impactor's core and the surrounding mantle silicates can reduce the duration of the merging down to 1 kyr but do not modify the merging temperature. When the viscosity contrast between the diapir and the surrounding silicates is larger than a factor of 1000, the descent of the diapir can lead to some entrainment of the relatively shallow silicates to deepest regions close to the core‐mantle boundary. Finally, the direct impact heating of Martian core leads to thermal stratification of the core and kills the core dynamo. It takes on the order of 150–200 Myr to reinitiate a strong dynamo anew. The merging of the impactor's core with the Martian core only delays the reinitiation of the dynamo for a very short time.
Species differences in the seasonality of evergreen tree transpiration in a Mediterranean climate: Analysis of multiyear, half‐hourly sap flow observations
Authors: Link Percy , Simonin Kevin , Maness Holly , Oshun Jasper , Dawson Todd , Fung Inez
Published: February 2014

In Mediterranean climates, the season of water availability (winter) is out of phase with the season of light availability and atmospheric moisture demand (summer). We investigate the seasonality of evergreen tree transpiration in a Mediterranean climate, using observations from a small (4000 m2), forested, steep (32°) hillslope, in the northern California Coast Range. We analyze 3 years of half‐hourly measurements from 39 sap flow sensors in 26 trees, six depth profiles of soil moisture measured by TDR, and spatially distributed measurements of micrometeorology from five locations. The sap flow measurements show that two common evergreen tree species have different seasons of peak transpiration. Douglas‐firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) maintain significant transpiration through the winter rainy season and transpire maximally in the spring, followed by a sharp decline in transpiration in the summer dry season. Pacific madrones (Arbutus menziesii), and to a lesser extent other broadleaf evergreen species (Quercus wislizeni,Notholithocarpus densiflorus,Umbellularia californica), in contrast, transpire maximally in the summer dry season. The seasonal patterns are quantified using principal component analysis. Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation of response to environmental variables shows that the difference in transpiration seasonality arises from different sensitivities to atmospheric evaporative demand and root‐zone moisture. The different sensitivities to atmospheric evaporative demand also create species differences in transpiration variability at synoptic time scales. Using the sap flow measurements and a regional forest inventory, a bottom‐up regional transpiration estimate is constructed. The estimate suggests that sensitivity of Douglas‐fir transpiration to water stress suppresses dry season evapotranspiration at the regional scale.
Gene Identification in Prokaryotic Genomes, Phages, Metagenomes, and EST Sequences with GeneMarkS Suite
Authors: Borodovsky Mark , Lomsadze Alex
Published: February 2014

This unit describes how to use several gene‐finding programs from the GeneMark line developed for finding protein‐coding ORFs in genomic DNA of prokaryotic species, in genomic DNA of eukaryotic species with intronless genes, in genomes of viruses and phages, and in prokaryotic metagenomic sequences, as well as in EST sequences with spliced‐out introns. These bioinformatics tools were demonstrated to have state‐of‐the‐art accuracy, and have been frequently used for gene annotation in novel nucleotide sequences. An additional advantage of these sequence‐analysis tools is that the problem of algorithm parameterization is solved automatically, with parameters estimated by iterative self‐training (unsupervised training). Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 32:1E.7.1‐1E.7.17. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Laboratory Culture and Maintenance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Mahdi Osama , Eklund Bridget , Fisher Nathan
Published: February 2014

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a ubiquitous soil bacterium that is increasingly recognized as an emerging nosocomial pathogen. This unit includes protocols for the in vitro growth and maintenance of S. maltophilia. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 32:6F.1.1‐6F.1.6. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Genetic Manipulation of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Schneewind Olaf , Missiakas Dominique
Published: February 2014

Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram‐positive coccus and a member of the normal skin flora, as well as that of the nasal passages of humans. However, S. aureus can also gain entry into the host and cause life‐threatening infections or persist as disease foci that develop into suppurative abscesses. While genetically tractable, the manipulation of S. aureus remains challenging. This unit describes methods developed in our laboratory for gene disruption by allelic replacement and transposition. We also provide a protocol for bacteriophage‐mediated transduction of mutants marked with selectable alleles and describe plasmid utilization for complementation studies. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 32:9C.3.1‐9C.3.19. © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Experimentally verified point‐to‐point iterative learning control for highly coupled systems
Authors: Freeman C.T. , Dinh Thanh V.
Published: February 2014

Iterative learning control (ILC) is a well‐established approach for precision tracking control of systems, which perform a repeated tracking task defined over a fixed time interval. Despite a rich theoretical framework accompanied by a wide array of application studies, comparatively little attention has been paid to the case of multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems. Here, the presence of interacting dynamics often correlates with reduced performance. This article focuses on a general class of linear ILC algorithms and establishes links between interaction dynamics and reduced robustness to modeling uncertainty, and slower convergence. It then shows how these and other limitations can be addressed by relaxing the tracking requirement to include only a subset of time points along the time duration. This is the first analysis to show how so‐called ‘point‐to‐point’ ILC can address performance limitations associated with highly coupled systems. Theoretical observations are tested using a novel MIMO experimental test facility, which permits both exogenous disturbance injection and a variable level of coupling between input and output pairs. Results compare experimental observations with theoretical predictions over a wide range of interaction levels and with varying levels of injected noise. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wide‐Area Strain Sensors based upon Graphene‐Polymer Composite Coatings Probed by Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Raju Arun Prakash Aranga , Lewis Amanda , Derby Brian , Young Robert J. , Kinloch Ian A. , Zan Recep , Novoselov Kostya S.
Published: February 2014

Functional graphene optical sensors are now viable due to the recent developments in hand‐held Raman spectroscopy and the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of graphene films. Herein, the strain in graphene/poly (methyl methacrylate) sensor coatings is followed using Raman band shifts. The performance of an “ideal” mechanically‐exfoliated single crystal graphene flake is compared to a scalable CVD graphene film. The dry‐transferred mechanically exfoliated sample has no residual stresses, whereas the CVD sample is in compression following the solvent evaporation during its transfer. The behavior of the sensors under cyclic deformation shows an initial breakdown of the graphene‐polymer interface with the interface then stabilizing after several cycles. The Raman 2D band shift rates per unit strain of the exfoliated graphene are ≈35% higher than CVD graphene making the former more strain sensitive. However, for practical wide‐area applications, CVD graphene coatings are still viable candidates as a Raman system can be used to read the strain in any 5 μm diameter spot in the coating to an absolute accuracy of ≈0.01% strain and resolution of ≈27 microstrains (μs), which compares favorably to commercial photoelastic systems.
Scaling up the Production of Colloidal Nanocrystals: Should We Increase or Decrease the Reaction Volume?
Authors: Zhang Lei , Xia Younan
Published: February 2014

Recent progress in facet‐controlled syntheses has started to produce nanocrystals with great promise as the next‐generation catalysts for a variety of applications. To move from academic studies to industrial applications, however, one has to address the issue of scaling up a synthesis that has been commonly conducted in a batch format. There are two opposite approaches to scaling up the production of colloidal nanocrystals: increasing and decreasing the reaction volume. Contrary to conventional wisdom, continuous flow synthesis based on droplets is expected to provide a more practical platform for scaling up the synthesis. Here we highlight recent progress in using droplet reactors for the synthesis of colloidal noble‐metal nanocrystals with controlled sizes and shapes, with an aim towards high‐volume production.
The Iron(II) Complex [Fe(CF3SO3)2(mcp)] as a Convenient, Readily Available Catalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Methylenic Sites in Alkanes
Authors: Canta Mercè , Font David , Gómez Laura , Ribas Xavi , Costas Miquel
Published: February 2014

The efficient and selective oxidation of secondary CH sites of alkanes is achieved by using low catalyst loadings of a non‐expensive, readily available iron catalyst [Fe(II)(CF3SO3)2(mcp)], {Fe‐mcp, [mcp=N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)cyclohexane‐trans‐1,2‐diamine]}, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidant, via a simple reaction protocol. Natural products are selectively oxidized and isolated in synthetically amenable yields. The easy access to large quantities of the catalyst and the simplicity of the CH oxidation procedure make this system a particularly convenient tool to carry out alkane CH oxidation reactions on the preparative scale, and in short reaction times.

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Studies on Electrophilic Cyclization of N‐(Buta‐2,3‐dienyl)amides with N‐Bromosuccinimide and its Applications
Authors: Wang Nan , Chen Bo , Ma Shengming
Published: February 2014

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of oxazoline and bisoxazoline derivatives via electrophilic cyclization of N‐(buta‐2,3‐dienyl)amides with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) at room temperature has been developed. Synthetic transformations of the obtained oxazolines have been successfully performed due to the presence of vinyl bromide units comprising an elimination reaction and a copper(I)‐catalyzed CN coupling reaction using diethylamine (Et2NH) as the ligand.

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Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Chiral 2‐Nitrocyclohexanecarboxylic Esters via Catalytic Dienamine Addition to β‐Substituted β‐Nitroacrylates
Authors: Massolo Elisabetta , Benaglia Maurizio , Annunziata Rita , Palmieri Alessandro , Celentano Giuseppe , Forni Alessandra
Published: February 2014

A metal‐free stereoselective catalytic addition of in situ generated dienamine to β‐nitroacrylates has been developed. Starting from simple α,β‐unsaturated ketones, highly functionalized chiral β‐nitrocyclohexanecarboxylic esters were obtained in a single step, in good yields and up to 98% ee. By an unprecedented mechanistic pathway, starting from the synthetically readily available E‐nitroacrylate, the present methodology allowed us to obtain as major product the isomer bearing a cis relative disposition between the nitro and the ester groups, which is not accessible via a classical Diels–Alder reaction.

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The Effect of Farmer Market Power on the Degree of Farm Retail Price Transmission: A Simulation Model with an Application to the Dutch Ware Potato Supply Chain
Authors: Assefa Tsion Taye , Kuiper W. Erno , Meuwissen Miranda P.M.
Published: February 2014

A classic oligopoly/oligopsony model is developed to assess the degree of price transmission in a two‐stage farmer–retailer supply chain. A simulation experiment based on data of the Dutch ware potato sector illustrates how price transmission may become imperfect and asymmetric as a consequence of retailer oligopsony power in the sense that farm price decreases are only partially passed on to consumers whereas farm price increases are more than fully transmitted. Oligopoly power by farmers to level their bargaining power vis‐à‐vis the retailers may even make the degree of price transmission worse.
Cardiac manifestations of Pallister–Killian syndrome
Authors: Tilton Richard K. , Wilkens Alisha , Krantz Ian D. , Izumi Kosuke
Published: February 2014

Pallister–Killian syndrome (PKS) is a sporadic multisystem genetic diagnosis characterized by facial dysmorphia, variable developmental delay and intellectual impairment, hypotonia, hearing loss, seizures, differences in skin pigmentation, temporal alopecia, diaphragmatic hernia, congenital heart defects, and other systemic abnormalities. Although congenital heart defects have been described in association with PKS, the full spectrum of heart disease is still not entirely known. Here, we describe the pattern of cardiac findings of 81 probands with PKS who have had at least one cardiac evaluation, demonstrating structural heart difference in 37% of our cohort (n = 30). Septal defects such as atrial or ventricular septal defects (n = 12) were the most commonly seen congenital heart differences. Additional findings included the occasional occurrence of bicuspid aortic valve, aortic dilatation, and cardiac hypertrophy/cardiomyopathy. We suggest cardiac evaluation for all individuals with PKS at the time of diagnosis as well as subsequent longitudinal follow‐up to monitor for the development of cardiomyopathy and aortic dilatation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variation in perikymata counts between repetitive episodes of linear enamel hypoplasia among orangutans from Sumatra and Borneo
Authors: Skinner Mark F.
Published: February 2014

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether repetitive linear enamel hypoplasia (rLEH) in apes is ecologically informative. LEH, which appears as grooves of thinner enamel often caused by malnutrition and/or disease, is a permanent record of departures from developmental homeostasis in infant and juvenile apes. Orangutans were selected for the study as they are a threatened species, have a remarkably high prevalence of rLEH, and because Sumatra is deemed a better habitat for orangutans than is Borneo, facilitating an ecological comparison. Objectives are to determine: a) whether periodicity of rLEH in orangutans corresponds to monsoon‐mediated cycles in precipitation or food; and b) whether patterning of rLEH supports the view that Borneo is an inferior habitat. This study compares the counts of perikymata between adjacent LEH from 9 Sumatran and 26 Bornean orangutans to estimate the periodicity of rLEH. A total of 131 nonredundant inter‐LEH perikymata counts were transformed to natural log values to reveal clusters of counts in a multiplicative series. Using a value of 10 days to form one perikyma, rLEH tends to recur semiannually in both populations. However, Sumatran orangutans show significantly fewer semiannual intervals and more annually recurring episodes. Bornean orangutans show mostly semiannual intervals and are more variable in inter‐LEH perikymata counts. It is concluded that: a) developmental conditions for infant orangutans in Sumatra protect them somewhat from seasonal and environmental variation; b) temporal patterning of rLEH indicates that Borneo is the poorer habitat for orangutans; and c) the study of rLEH can be ecologically informative. Am J Phys Anthropol 154:125–139, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organelle‐Specific Activity‐Based Protein Profiling in Living Cells
Authors: Wiedner Susan D. , Anderson Lindsey N. , Sadler Natalie C. , Chrisler William B. , Kodali Vamsi K. , Smith Richard D. , Wright Aaron T.
Published: February 2014

A multimodal activity‐based probe for targeting acidic organelles was developed to measure subcellular native enzymatic activity in cells by fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry. A cathepsin‐reactive warhead conjugated to a weakly basic amine and a clickable alkyne, for subsequent appendage of a fluorophore or biotin reporter tag, accumulated in lysosomes as observed by structured illumination microscopy (SIM) in J774 mouse macrophage cells. Analysis of in vivo labeled J774 cells by mass spectrometry showed that the probe was very selective for cathepsins B and Z, two lysosomal cysteine proteases. Analysis of starvation‐induced autophagy, a catabolic pathway involving lysosomes, showed a large increase in the number of tagged proteins and an increase in cathepsin activity. The organelle‐targeting of activity‐based probes holds great promise for the characterization of enzyme activities in the myriad diseases linked to specific subcellular locations, particularly the lysosome.
Luminescence Enhancement after Adding Stoppers to Europium(III) Nanozeolite L
Authors: Li Peng , Wang Yige , Li Huanrong , Calzaferri Gion
Published: February 2014

Stopper molecules attached to nanozeolite L (NZL) boost the luminescence of confined Eu3+‐β‐diketonate complexes. The mechanism that is responsible was elucidated by comparing two diketonate ligands of different pKa and two aromatic imines, and by applying stationary and time resolved spectroscopy. The result is that the presence of the imidazolium based stopper is favorable to the sustainable formation of Eu3+‐β‐diketonate complexes with high coordination by decreasing the proton strength inside the channels of NZL. A consequence is that strongly luminescent transparent films can be prepared using aqueous suspension of the stopper modified composites.
Highly Chemo‐, Regio‐, and Enantioselective Rhodium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Cyclotrimerization of Two Different Alkynes with Alkenes
Authors: Hara Jun , Ishida Mana , Kobayashi Masayuki , Noguchi Keiichi , Tanaka Ken
Published: February 2014

It has been established that a cationic rhodium(I)/(R)‐tol‐binap complex catalyzes the cross‐cyclotrimerization of silylacetylenes, di‐tert‐butyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and acrylamides with excellent chemo‐, regio‐, and enantioselectivities. Unsymmetrical alkynoates can also be employed in place of di‐tert‐butyl acetylenedicarboxylate for this process, but with reduced chemoselectivity.
Asymmetric Vinylogous Diels–Alder Reactions Catalyzed by a Chiral Phosphoric Acid
Authors: Tian Xu , Hofmann Nora , Melchiorre Paolo
Published: February 2014

An unprecedented way to extend the synthetic utility of the Diels–Alder reaction to include a vinylogous reactivity space is described. A commercially available chiral phosphoric acid catalyst effectively activates cyclic 2,4‐dienones towards a vinylogous [4+2] cycloaddition with 2‐vinylindoles, which leads to stereochemically dense tetrahydrocarbazoles. The reaction proceeds with a high level of remote stereocontrol and exclusive chemoselectivity for the more distant double bond of the dienone.
Asymmetric Henry reaction catalysed by L‐proline derivatives in the presence of Cu(OAc)2: isolation and characterization of an in situ formed Cu(II) complex
Authors: Atoholi Sema H. , Bez Ghanashyam , Karmakar Sanjib
Published: February 2014

Synthesis of asymmetric β‐nitroalcohols by the Henry reaction is one of the most exploited carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions owing to the versatility of both functional groups for synthetic manipulation by functional group interconversion. Here we report synthesis of a series of proline‐derived compounds to study their catalytic activities for asymmetric Henry reaction in the presence of Cu(OAc)2.H2O. The proline derivative, 2‐((E)‐(((S)‐1‐benzylpyrrolidinyl)diphenylmethylimino)methyl)phenol 1 showed optimum catalytic activity. The catalytic species Cu(II)–1 complex, formed in situ, was isolated and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and X‐ray crystallography to show a cis‐N2O2 coordination geometry. Asymmetric β‐nitroalcohols were achieved without the use of added base, unlike most of the reported protocols. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyamide nanofiber membranes functionalized with zinc phthalocyanines
Authors: Goethals Annelies , Mugadza Tawanda , Arslanoglu Yasin , Zugle Ruphino , Antunes Edith , Van Hulle Stijn W. H. , Nyokong Tebello , De Clerck Karen
Published: February 2014

Electrospinning is an efficient method for the production of polyamide nanofiber membranes that are suitable for water filtration. Previous studies have shown that nanofiber membranes have high clean water permeability. The pathogen removal efficiency can be improved by functionalization with (organic) biocides. However, these membranes, like other membranes, are vulnerable to fouling which reduces the filtration efficiency. Therefore the present article investigates the potential of zinc phthalocyanines, which can produce singlet oxygen in the presence of visible light, as a functionalizing agent. The polyamide nanofiber membranes were functionalized with phthalocyanines using both a pre‐functionalizing and post‐functionalizing method. Only the post‐functionalization method shows to result in nanofiber membranes capable of producing singlet oxygen. After 30 min 45% of 1,2‐diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), used as an oxygen quencher, was removed by reaction with singlet oxygen. This resulted in a removal rate of 0.33 mol DBPF mol−1Zn min−1. During short term leaching tests, phthalocyanines could not be detected. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40486.
Aromatic liquid crystalline copolyesters with low Tm and high Tg: Synthesis, characterization, and properties
Authors: Wei Peng , Cakmak Miko , Chen Yuwei , Wang Xinhang , Wang Yanping , Wang Yimin
Published: February 2014

In this study, a series of aromatic copolyesters P‐BPAx with lower melting temperature and higher glass transition temperature derived from hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), 6‐hydroxy‐2‐naphthoic acid (HNA), bisphenol A (BPA) and terephthalic acid (TA) were synthesized via melt polymerization. The copolyesters were characterized by FTIR, solid state 13C NMR, DSC, TGA, polarized optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and rheometry measurements. With addition of BPA, the resulting copolyester's melting temperature decreased from 260 to 221°C and its glass transition temperature increased from 70 to 135°C, compared with the parent copolyester P‐HBA70 (HBA/HNA copolymer). With exception of copolyester P‐BPA5.0 (225–280°C), the copolyesters could maintain liquid crystalline behavior in a broad temperature range from 230°C to higher than 410°C. The ability to form nematic liquid crystalline phase disappeared when BPA concentration became higher than 15 mol %. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed crystallinity decreased as the BPA content increased. A slightly distorted O" and a substantially distorted O′ orthorhombic phase was observed for P‐BPA2.5. Upon annealing at 220°C, the O" phase disappeared and the O′ phase became stronger gradually. Rheology study data showed the ability to process the copolyesters improved in those compositions containing <2.5 mol % BPA. Continuing to increase concentrations of BPA, they became intractable. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40487.
Synthesis and characterization of bio‐based thermosetting resins from lactic acid and glycerol
Authors: Bakare Fatimat Oluwatoyin , Skrifvars Mikael , Åkesson Dan , Wang Yanfei , Afshar Shahrzad Javanshir , Esmaeili Nima
Published: February 2014

A bio‐based thermoset resin has been synthesized from glycerol reacted with lactic acid oligomers of three different chain lengths (n): 3, 7, and 10. Lactic acid was first reacted with glycerol by direct condensation and the resulting branched molecule was then end‐functionalized with methacrylic anhydride. The resins were characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), by 13C‐NMR spectroscopy to confirm the chemical structure of the resin, and by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) to obtain the thermal properties. The resin flow viscosities were also measured using a rheometer with different stress levels for each temperature used, as this is an important characteristic of resins that are intended to be used as a matrix in composite applications. The resin with a chain length of three had better mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties than the resins with chain lengths of seven and 10. Also, its bio‐based content of 78% and glass transition temperature of 97°C makes this resin comparable to commercial unsaturated polyester resins. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40488.
Water‐compatible imprinted polymers based on CS@SiO2 particles for selective recognition of naringin
Authors: Ma Xiuling , Zhang Zhangjing , Zheng Ying , Chen Zhen , Xiang Shengchang
Published: February 2014

Molecularly imprinted polymers are being proposed for the development of novel biorecognition elements for active components. In this study, an imprinted chitosan coated silica nanoparticles (I‐CS@SiO2) polymer was prepared by a simple procedure, in which, naringin (NG) with antioxidant activity, acted as a template, silica as a matrix and CS as a functional polymer. The binding properties were discussed by the equilibrium binding experiment method. Experiments show that the adsorption characteristics of I‐CS@SiO2 are better than that of nonimprinted polymer. It exhibited high selectivity for NG when compared with the nonimprinted polymer, with an imprinting factor α of 1.74. Scatchard analysis of the I‐CS@SiO2 indicated that there was a class of binding sites during the I‐CS@SiO2 recognizing NG: The dissociation constant of KD is 0.016 mmol L−1, the maximum apparent binding capacity of Bmax is 6.56 μmol g−1. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40491.
An overview of George Box's contributions to process monitoring and feedback adjustment
Authors: Woodall William H. , del Castillo Enrique
Published: February 2014

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the contributions of George Box in the area of process monitoring and control. We give a historical context and then describe his ideas and methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring suitable traffic conditions for intermittent bus lanes
Authors: Qiu Feng , Li Wenquan , Zhang Jian , Zhang Xuechi , Xie Qiufeng
Published: February 2014

As one of the most promising bus priority techniques, the innovative intermittent bus lane (IBL) strategy has drawn more attention in the past few years. In this paper, some improvements on the operation of the IBL strategy are proposed, and two cellular automaton models for a roadway section with two lanes, one with no bus priority and the other with an intermittent bus lane, are built to study the characteristics of urban traffic flow. Computer simulations and analytical models are developed to conduct quantitative research on the influence of IBL on the traffic density distribution, traffic velocity, and traffic capacity of the roadway section. By comparing the average paces in the two cases, this paper proposes a methodology to determine suitable traffic conditions for the IBL strategy implementation. The results indicate that for the designed scenarios, the IBL strategy is effective only when the traffic density is in the range of 25 to 74 pcu/km, which suggests that level of service C is the inflection point for implementing the IBL strategy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐throughput biosensor discriminates between different algal H2‐photoproducing strains
Authors: Wecker Matt S.A. , Ghirardi Maria L.
Published: February 2014

A number of species of microalgae and cyanobacteria photosynthetically produce H2 gas by coupling water oxidation with the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen, generating renewable energy from sunlight and water. Photosynthetic H2 production, however, is transitory, and there is considerable interest in increasing and extending it for commercial applications. Here we report a Petri‐plate version of our previous, microplate‐based assay that detects photosynthetic H2 production by algae. The assay consists of an agar overlay of H2‐sensing Rhodobacter capsulatus bacteria carrying a green fluorescent protein that responds to H2 produced by single algal colonies in the bottom agar layer. The assay distinguishes between algal strains that photoproduce H2 at different levels under high light intensities, and it does so in a simple, inexpensive, and high‐throughput manner. The assay will be useful for screening both natural populations and mutant libraries for strains having increased H2 production, and useful for identifying various genetic factors that physiologically or genetically alter algal hydrogen production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1332–1340. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Manufacturing of bioreactive nanofibers for bioremediation
Authors: Tong Ho‐Wang , Mutlu Baris R. , Wackett Lawrence P. , Aksan Alptekin
Published: February 2014

Recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells were successfully encapsulated in reactive membranes comprised of electrospun nanofibers that have biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based cores entrapping the E. coli and silica‐based, mechanically sturdy porous shells. The reactive membranes were produced in a continuous fashion using a coaxial electrospinning system coupled to a microfluidic timer that mixed and regulated the reaction time of the silica precursor and the PVA solution streams. A factorial design method was employed to investigate the effects of the three critical design parameters of the system (the flow rate of the core solution, protrusion of the core needle, and the viscosity of the core solution) and to optimize these parameters for reproducibly and continuously producing high‐quality core/shell nanofibers. The feasibility of using the reactive membranes manufactured in this fashion for bioremediation of atrazine, a herbicide, was also investigated. The atrazine degradation rate (0.24 µmol/g of E. coli/min) of the encapsulated E. coli cells expressing the atrazine‐dechlorinating enzyme AtzA was measured to be relatively close to that measured with the free cells in solution (0.64 µmol/g of E. coli/min). We show here that the low cost, high flexibility, water insolubility, and high degradation efficiency of the bioreactive membranes manufactured with electrospinning makes it feasible for their wide‐spread use in industrial scale bioremediation of contaminated waters. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1483–1493. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimization of liquid overlay technique to formulate heterogenic 3D co‐cultures models
Authors: Costa Elisabete C. , Gaspar Vítor M. , Coutinho Paula , Correia Ilídio J.
Published: February 2014

Three‐dimensional (3D) cell culture models of solid tumors are currently having a tremendous impact in the in vitro screening of candidate anti‐tumoral therapies. These 3D models provide more reliable results than those provided by standard 2D in vitro cell cultures. However, 3D manufacturing techniques need to be further optimized in order to increase the robustness of these models and provide data that can be properly correlated with the in vivo situation. Therefore, in the present study the parameters used for producing multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) by liquid overlay technique (LOT) were optimized in order to produce heterogeneous cellular agglomerates comprised of cancer cells and stromal cells, during long periods. Spheroids were produced under highly controlled conditions, namely: (i) agarose coatings; (ii) horizontal stirring, and (iii) a known initial cell number. The simultaneous optimization of these parameters promoted the assembly of 3D characteristic cellular organization similar to that found in the in vivo solid tumors. Such improvements in the LOT technique promoted the assembly of highly reproducible, individual 3D spheroids, with a low cost of production and that can be used for future in vitro drug screening assays. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1672–1685. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HPLC‐fluorescence determination of thiol compounds in the serum of human male and female subjects using HILIC‐mode column
Authors: Kono Yumiko , Iizuka Hideaki , Isokawa Muneki , Tsunoda Makoto , Ichiba Hideaki , Sadamoto Kiyomi , Fukushima Takeshi
Published: February 2014

High‐performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection using a hydrophilic interaction chromatography‐mode column (ZIC®‐HILIC) was used to determine four kinds of thiol compounds in human serum. Sera were obtained from 34 subjects for this study (17 male subjects aged 22–38 years and 17 female subjects aged 18–38 years). Serum cysteine, cysteinylglycine, glutathione, and γ‐glutamylcysteine, derivatized with ammonium 7‐fluoro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole‐4‐sulfonate, were separated on the ZIC®‐HILIC column and quantified. The serum concentrations of cysteine, cysteinylglycine, glutathione and γ‐glutamylcysteine were 226 ± 4.7, 23.4 ± 1.3, 3.7 ± 0.2 and 3.2 ± 0.1 μm, respectively. In addition, the concentrations of serum thiol compounds from male subjects were significantly higher than those of the female subjects (p < 0.05). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tri‐cobalt Carboxylate as a Catalyst and Catalyst Precursor in the Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Fischer N. , van Steen E. , Claeys M.
Published: February 2014

In recent years, several groups have invested significant research capacity to investigate the effect of the metal crystallite size on the various primary and secondary reactions taking place during the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Most publications agree that with decreasing crystallite size (dcryst<10 nm) the surface‐specific CO hydrogenation activity (turnover frequency) decreases. In parallel, an increased selectivity to the undesired methane was observed. In the present study we combined and extended previously published data on alumina‐supported cobalt nanocrystallites with observations on an alumina‐supported cobalt carbonyl complex ((CO)9Co3CCOOH) and its decomposition products under Fischer–Tropsch reaction conditions. We could show that with an increased degree of sintering of the complex, that is, a larger cobalt crystallite size, the turnover frequency increased and the tendency to form methane decreased. The results connect seamlessly with those obtained for the nanocrystallites suggesting that the catalyst performance features extend into the sub‐2 nm range.
A New Application of Acetate‐Based Ionic Liquids: Potential Usage as Drying Materials
Authors: Chen Yu , Cao Yuanyuan , Mu Tiancheng
Published: February 2014

Acetate‐based ionic liquids (AcILs) are green and designable solvents applied in many fields. However, AcILs are found to be highly hygroscopic. On the one hand, the high hygroscopicity of AcILs influences their properties and structures. On the other hand, this hygroscopic property renders AcILs, and especially [EMIM][Ac], potentially useful as drying materials, a new application of AcILs proposed in this paper. These two traits could be interconnected, interdependent, and interconvertible, which implies that a shortcoming of AcILs, i.e., their hygroscopicity, leading to changes in their physical properties, could be turned into a useful feature, e.g., the potential usage as drying material, if it is dealt with properly.