bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poröse Materialien zur CO2‐Abtrennung und ‐Abscheidung – Entwicklung und Bewertung
Authors: Bae Youn‐Sang , Snurr Randall Q.
Published: October 2011

Vor dem Hintergrund möglicher Anwendungen bei der Abscheidung und Lagerung von CO2 und der Reinigung von rückstandsfrei verbrennendem Erdgas hat die Entwicklung von mikroporösen Materialien für adsorptive Trennprozesse ein rasantes Wachstum erfahren. Dies gilt in besonderem Maße für Metall‐organische Gerüste (metal‐organic frameworks, MOFs) und andere poröse Koordinationspolymere. Wir beschäftigen uns hier mit der Frage, wie die Eignung dieser vielen Materialien für eine praktische Anwendung in Kohlendioxid‐Trennprozessen schnell beurteilt werden kann. Fünf Bewertungskriterien für Adsorber aus der Literatur der Verfahrenstechnik werden beschrieben und auf mehr als 40 MOFs für CO2‐Abtrennprozesse der Erdgasreinigung, Deponiegastrennung und CO2‐Abscheidung aus dem Rauchgas von Kraftwerken angewendet. Es werden Vergleiche mit anderen Materialien wie Zeolithen angestellt, und anhand einer großen Datenmenge wird der Zusammenhang zwischen den Eigenschaften der MOFs und ihrer Eignung für die CO2‐Abtrennung untersucht. Schließlich werden für das Design und die Modifizierung von MOFs kurz Strategien zusammengefasst, die zu einer besseren CO2‐Adsorption führen sollen.
Rheological behavior of concentrated silica suspension and its application to soft armor
Authors: Kang Tae Jin , Kim Chang Youn , Hong Kyung Hwa
Published: October 2011

The objective of this study is to develop an advanced stab and/or ballistic proof material composed of shear thickening fluid (STF) and Kevlar composite fabric. In this study, we prepared STF using sphere silica and fumed silica as silica particles and ethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol (PEG 200) as medium fluid, respectively. And the rheological properties of the STF were investigated under different conditions. Also, we impregnated Kevlar fabrics with the STF, and investigated the stab and ballistic resistances of the targets layered by the STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics. From the results, we observed that the STF significantly showed the reversible liquid–solid transition at a certain shear rate, and the STF treatment significantly improved the stab and ballistic resistance of Kevlar fabric. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effect of molecular weight on crystallization of semirigid poly(phenylene sulfide) under shear flow
Authors: Zhang Ri‐Chao , Lu Ai , Xu Zhong‐Bin
Published: October 2011

Isothermal crystallization of poly(phenylene sulfide) with three molecular weights (Mw = 22k, 48k, and 52k, respectively) under shear condition has been investigated. It appears that shear can induce all these three PPS samples to form a thread‐like crystal structure which consists of the numerous stable nuclei that align tightly in the direction of shear. Crystallization kinetics of PPS has been greatly influenced by shear flow. Higher shear rate and long shear time can lead to decrease of spherulite growth rate of PPS. Also, the spherulite growth rate of PPS is affected by supercoolings and molecular weight. For the lower molecular weight (Mw = 22k), the spherulite growth rate is independent on the shear rate and shear time; while for the higher ones (Mw = 48k and 52k), with the increasing of shear rate, the spherulite growth rate of PPS increases to reach maximum at first, and then decreases. The lower the crystallization temperature is, the more the spherulite growth rate changes, showing that higher orientation of molecular chains can be obtained more easily with increased supercooling. A model has been proposed to explain the mechanism of thread‐like crystal formation under shear flow. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Use of artificial neural networks to determine parameters controlling the nanofibers diameter in electrospinning of nylon‐6,6
Authors: Faridi‐Majidi Reza , Ziyadi Hakimeh , Naderi Nader , Amani Amir
Published: October 2011

This study aimed to find out the primary factors influencing the diameter of electrospun nanofibers of nylon‐6,6 using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Four variables, namely, polymer concentration, working distance, injection rate, and applied voltage were considered as input parameters and the nanofibers diameter measured by scanning electron microscopy was taken as the output. The data were modeled and validated against a set of unseen data. The generated model was used to study the interactions occurring between the input variables and their effect on the diameter. Results show that the injection rate and the polymer concentration are major factors affecting the nanofibers diameter with inverse and direct relations with the diameter, respectively, while the working distance and the applied voltage have direct but minor effects on nanofibers diameter. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 124:1589–1597, 2011
Crystallization kinetics modeling of high density and linear low density polyethylene resins
Authors: Patel Rajen M.
Published: October 2011

This paper describes isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of a Ziegler‐Natta catalyzed high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resins. Standard techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and light depolarization microscopy (LDM) techniques were used to measure isothermal kinetics at low supercoolings. DSC was also used to measure nonisothermal crystallization kinetics at low cooling rates. Extrapolation of isothermal crystallization half‐times of Z‐N catalyzed LLDPE resin using the isothermal half‐time analysis led to erroneous predictions, possibly due to Z‐N LLDPE consisting of a mixture of molecules having different amounts of short chain branching (comonomer). However, predicted reciprocal half‐times at high supercoolings, using isothermal half‐time analysis and using nonlinear regression of nonisothermal crystallization kinetics measured at low cooling rates using the differential Nakamura model, of the HDPE were similar to measured reciprocal half times at high supercoolings of a similar HDPE by Patki and Phillips. It is also shown that the differential Nakamura model can be effectively used to model nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of HDPE resins. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Improved transfection efficiency of chitosan‐DNA complexes employing reverse transfection
Authors: Nimesh Surendra , Saxena Amit , Kumar Ajeet , Chandra Ramesh
Published: October 2011

The present study was designed to systematically compare the conventional and reverse transfection methodologies for chitosan/DNA complexes using a low molecular weight (MW) chitosan. The hydrodynamic diameter of the complexes, measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) was found to be ∼ 216 nm and TEM investigations showed spherical and compact complexes with an average size of 200 nm. The transfection efficiency of chitosan using the two methodologies was assessed by employing reporter gene coding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) and luciferase. More than 50% of HEK 293 cells were transfected when transfection done using reverse transfection strategy at pH 6.5 with 10% serum for 24 h followed by media replenishment with pH 7.4 with 10% serum for an additional 24 h period. Also, the cytotoxicity of chitosan/DNA complexes was also considerably lower than the commercially available transfection reagent lipofectamine. Our investigation concludes that maximal transgene expression levels could be achieved using reverse transfection where the chitosan/DNA complexes are pre‐incubated on the plate surface followed by plating of cells at pH 6.5 with 10% serum for 24h and media resupplemented with pH 7.4 with 10% serum for an additional 24 h period. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
A facile approach toward surface sulfonation of natural cotton fibers through epoxy reaction
Authors: Song Junlong , Jin Yongcan , Fu Guangshuai , He Aijian , Fu Wenjia
Published: October 2011

This manuscript describes a facile approach to modify the surface of natural cotton fibers with sulfonate groups through epoxy reaction. Sodium 1‐chloro‐2‐hydroxylpropyl sulfonate (SCHPS) was chosen as the sulfonation agent for cotton fibers since it contains a Cl group at one end, a hydroxyl group in the adjacent position, and a sulfonate group at the other end. Epoxy was formed when it was treated with concentrated alkali. Then, the formed epoxy groups reacted with the hydroxyl groups on cellulose backbone. As the consequence, sulfonate groups were introduced over the cellulosic fiber surface. In this investigation, orthogonal experimental design was employed to study the relationships between sulfonate densities on fiber surface and the influencing variables, i.e., concentration of NaOH, molar ratio of NaOH to sulfonation agent, and duration of reaction. Under the optimal condition, up to 4.6 mmol surface sulfonate groups/100 g fiber were achieved. The resulted fibers exhibited a strong affinity to silver ions and therefore were used as the substrate of antibacterial composite of silver nanoparticles and cotton fabric which fabricated via an in situ method. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
In vitro efficacy and toxicology evaluation of silver nanoparticle‐loaded gelatin hydrogel pads as antibacterial wound dressings
Authors: Rattanaruengsrikul Vichayarat , Pimpha Nuttaporn , Supaphol Pitt
Published: October 2011

The silver nanoparticle (nAg)‐loaded gelatin hydrogel pads were prepared from 10 wt % gelatin aqueous solution containing silver nitrate (AgNO3) at 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 wt % by solvent‐casting technique. These AgNO3‐containing gelatin solutions, that had been aged for 15, 12, 8, 8, and 8 h, respectively, showed noticeable amounts of the as‐formed nAgs, the size of which increased with an increase in the AgNO3 concentration (i.e., from 7.7 to 10.8 nm, on average). The hydrogels were crosslinked with a glutaraldehyde aqueous solution (50 wt %, at 1 μL mL−1). At 24 h of submersion in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) or simulated body fluid buffer (SBF) solution, about 40.5–56.4% or 44.4–79.6% of the as‐loaded amounts of silver was released. Based on the colony count method, these nAg‐loaded hydrogels were effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with at least about 99.7% of bacterial growth inhibition. Unless they had been treated with a sodium metabisulfite aqueous solution, these hydrogels were proven, based on the indirect cytotoxicity evaluation, to be toxic to human's normal skin fibroblasts. Lastly, only the hydrogels that contained AgNO3 at 0.75 and 1.0 wt % were not detrimental to the skin cells that had been cultured directly on them. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Extraction and in vitro antioxidant activity of mopan persimmon polysaccharide
Authors: Chen Yilun , Zhang Jianjun , Li Chunmei , Chen Zhiqiang , Jia Le
Published: October 2011

The optimal extraction parameters of Mopan persimmon polysaccharide (MPP) were ultrasonic power 900 W, ultrasonic treatment time 3 min, and water addition 2000%. Four subfractions (MPP‐1, MPP‐2b, MPP‐3, and MPP‐4b) were separated by DEAE–52 cellulose anion‐exchange column chromatography and then Sephadex G‐200 gel column chromatography. The in vitro scavenging effects of MPP and MPP‐4b at a dosage of 10 g/L on hydroxyl radical were 94.15 ± 8.27% and 96.61 ± 8.06%, respectively. The 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl inhibition percentages of two polysaccharides fractions were 93.37 ± 7.66% and 70.79 ± 6.15%, respectively. The reducing power (absorbance at 700 nm) of MPP and MPP‐4b were 4.31 ± 0.26 and 5.09 ± 0.33, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and characterization of saccharide‐functionalized polymer–gemcitabine conjugates based on chemoenzymatic selective strategy
Authors: Zhou Guo‐Jun , Li Xia , Teng Ming‐Xing , Chu Guo‐Hai , Lin Xian‐Fu
Published: October 2011

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of polymer–gemcitabine conjugates with variable composition and potential hepatoma‐targeting property was achieved by combining selectively enzymatic transesterification with radical polymerization. Four polymerizable vinyl gemcitabine esters were first prepared by highly selective transesterification of gemcitabine with divinyl dicarboxylates using CAL‐B as catalyst in acetone and characterized by IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and ESI‐MS. The effects of enzyme sources, organic solvents, and molar ratio of substrates on the enzymatic transesterification were investigated in detail. Then α,α′‐azobis‐(isobutyronitrile)‐initiated homopolymerization of the resultant gemcitabine monomers was performed and three polymer–gemcitabine conjugates with high gemcitabine content (>55 wt %) were synthesized. Moreover, radical copolymerization of the gemcitabine monomer 5′‐O‐vinyladipyl‐gemcitabine with different saccharide comonomers was performed, and three saccharide‐functionalized polymer–gemcitabine conjugates with 5.7–15.3 wt % gemcitabine content were obtained, among which the conjugates with galactose or lactose as pendants had potential hepatoma‐targeting function. All the resultant polymer–gemcitabine conjugates were characterized by IR, NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Interphasial viscoelastic behavior of CNT reinforced nanocomposites studied by means of the concept of the hybrid viscoelastic interphase
Authors: Papanicolaou G. C. , Xepapadaki A. G. , Drakopoulos E. D. , Papaefthymiou K. P. , Portan D. V.
Published: October 2011

In this study the effect of carbon nanotubes content as well as of the tensile stress level applied upon the linear viscoelastic creep response of carbon nanotube polymer nanocomposites was investigated. Experimental findings were modeled by means of the newly developed hybrid viscoelastic interphase model, which constitutes an extension of the previously developed hybrid interphase model. According to this model, the viscoelastic interphase thickness has not of constant value but is dependent upon the property considered at the time as well as on the creep time. In addition, the parameter of imperfect bonding is introduced through the degree of adhesion. Experimental findings combined with analytical results gave a better understanding of the viscoelastic response of epoxy resin carbon nanotubes nanocomposites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Flame retardant mechanisms of phosphorus‐containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (DOPO‐POSS) in polycarbonate composites
Authors: Zhang Wenchao , Li Xiangmei , Yang Rongjie
Published: October 2011

The flame retardancy mechanisms of a novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane containing 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide (DOPO‐POSS) in polycarbonate (PC) composites are discussed. A nice flame retardancy performance of 6 wt % DOPO‐POSS/PC is detected from cone calorimeter testing. The peak heat release rate and total heat released of 6 wt % DOPO‐POSS/PC decrease obviously compared with that of PC. The major pyrolysis products detected from the decomposition process of PC and 6 wt % DOPO‐POSS/PC are investigated by TGA coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and mass spectrum (TGA‐FTIR and TGA‐MS), respectively. It is confirmed that DOPO‐POSS catalyzes thermal decomposition of PC, however, reduces the release of flammable volatiles during the decomposition of PC. The condensed phase products after decomposition of PC and 6 wt % DOPO‐POSS/PC are investigated by FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations. They indicated that DOPO‐POSS can accelerate the formation of char during the decomposition of PC composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Anatomy, medical education, and human ancestral variation
Authors: Štrkalj Goran , Spocter Muhammad A. , Wilkinson A. Tracey
Published: October 2011

It is argued in this article that the human body both in health and disease cannot be fully understood without adequately accounting for the different levels of human variation. The article focuses on variation due to ancestry, arguing that the inclusion of information pertaining to ancestry in human anatomy teaching materials and courses should be carried out and implemented with care and in line with latest developments in biological anthropology and related sciences. This seems to be of particular importance in the education of health professionals, as recent research suggests that better knowledge of human variation can improve clinical skills. It is also argued that relatively small curricular changes relating to the teaching of human variation can produce significant educational gains. Anat Sci Educ. © 2011 American Association of Anatomists.
Multi‐stage transitional models with random effects and their application to the Einstein aging study
Authors: Song Changhong , Kuo Lynn , Derby Carol A. , Lipton Richard B. , Hall Charles B.
Published: October 2011

Longitudinal studies of aging often gather repeated observations of cognitive status to describe the development of dementia and to assess the influence of risk factors. Clinical progression to dementia is often conceptualized by a multi‐stage model of several transitions that synthesizes time‐varying effects. In this study, we assess the influence of risk factors on the transitions among three cognitive status: cognitive stability (normal cognition for age), memory impairment, and clinical dementia. We have developed a shared random effects model that not only links the propensity of transitions and to the probability of informative missingness due to death, but also incorporates heterogeneous transition between subjects. We evaluate four approaches using generalized logit and four using proportional odds models to the first‐order Markov transition probabilities as a function of covariates. Random effects were incorporated into these models to account for within‐subject correlations. Data from the Einstein Aging Study are used to evaluate the goodness‐of‐fit of these models using the Akaike information criterion. The best fitting model for each type (generalized logit and proportional odds) is recommended and their results are discussed in more details.
Direct assembling methodologies for high‐throughput bioscreening
Authors: Rodríguez‐Dévora Jorge I. , Shi Zhi‐dong , Xu Tao
Published: October 2011

Over the last few decades, high‐throughput (HT) bioscreening, a technique that allows rapid screening of biochemical compound libraries against biological targets, has been widely used in drug discovery, stem cell research, development of new biomaterials, and genomics research. To achieve these ambitions, scaffold‐free (or direct) assembly of biological entities of interest has become critical. Appropriate assembling methodologies are required to build an efficient HT bioscreening platform. The development of contact and non‐contact assembling systems as a practical solution has been driven by a variety of essential attributes of the bioscreening system, such as miniaturization, high throughput, and high precision. The present article reviews recent progress on these assembling technologies utilized for the construction of HT bioscreening platforms.
Metabolic engineering for the production of clinically important molecules: Omega‐3 fatty acids, artemisinin, and taxol
Authors: Ye Victor M. , Bhatia Sujata K.
Published: October 2011

Driven by requirements for sustainability as well as affordability and efficiency, metabolic engineering of plants and microorganisms is increasingly being pursued to produce compounds for clinical applications. This review discusses three such examples of the clinical relevance of metabolic engineering: the production of omega‐3 fatty acids for the prevention of cardiovascular disease; the biosynthesis of artemisinic acid, an anti‐malarial drug precursor, for the treatment of malaria; and the production of the complex natural molecule taxol, an anti‐cancer agent. In terms of omega‐3 fatty acids, bioengineering of fatty acid metabolism by expressing desaturases and elongases, both in soybeans and oleaginous yeast, has resulted in commercial‐scale production of these beneficial molecules. Equal success has been achieved with the biosynthesis of artemisinic acid at low cost for developing countries. This is accomplished through channeling the flux of the isoprenoid pathway to the specific genes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis. Efficient coupling of the isoprenoid pathway also leads to the construction of an Escherichia coli strain that produces a high titer of taxadiene‐the first committed intermediate for taxol biosynthesis. These examples of synthetic biology demonstrate the versatility of metabolic engineering to bring new solutions to our health needs.
Randomized clinical trial of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, supervised exercise and combined treatment for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease
Authors: Mazari F A K , Khan J A , Carradice D , Samuel N , Abdul Rahman M N A , Gulati S , Lee H L D , Mehta T A , McCollum P T , Chetter I C
Published: October 2011

Background

The aim was to compare percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervised exercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA plus SEP) for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease.

Methods

Consenting patients with femoropopliteal arterial lesions were randomized to one of three treatment arms: PTA, SEP, or PTA plus SEP. All patients received optimal medical treatment. Patients were assessed at baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after intervention. Clinical (ankle pressures, walking distances, symptoms) and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes (Short Form 36, VascuQol) were analysed.

Results

A total of 178 patients (108 men, median age 70 years) were included. All three treatment groups demonstrated significant clinical and QoL improvements. One year after PTA (60 patients, 8 withdrew), 37 patients (71 per cent) had improved (16 mild, 16 moderate, 5 marked), nine (17 per cent) showed no improvement and six (12 per cent) had deteriorated. After SEP (60 patients, 14 withdrew), 32 patients (70 per cent) had improved (19 mild, 10 moderate, 3 marked), six (13 per cent) showed no improvement and eight (17 per cent) had deteriorated. After PTA plus SEP (58 patients, 11 withdrew), 40 patients (85 per cent) had improved (18 mild, 20 moderate, 2 marked), seven (15 per cent) showed no improvement and none had deteriorated. On intergroup analysis, PTA and SEP alone were equally effective in improving clinical outcomes, although the effect was short-lived. PTA plus SEP produced a more sustained clinical improvement, but there was no significant QoL advantage.

Conclusion

For patients with intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal disease, PTA, SEP, and PTA plus SEP were all equally effective in improving walking distance and QoL after 12 months. Registration number: NCT00798850 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov). Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vinylgallium and Alkyllithium Compounds: Transmetalation and Generation of Oligolithium Cages
Authors: Uhl Werner , Kovert Dirk , Layh Marcus , Hepp Alexander
Published: October 2011

Vinylgallium compounds [C6H6−n{(H)CC(SiR2R′)GaR′′2}n] (3, R=Ph, Me; R′=Ph, Me; R′′=tBu, Et; n=1, 2) are easily accessible by hydrogallation of the corresponding alkynylbenzene derivatives with HGaCl2 and subsequent reaction with alkyllithium derivatives. Treatment of 3 with an excess amount of tert‐butyl‐ or ethyllithium yielded by transmetalation and ortho‐deprotonation of the aromatic rings the unprecedented solvent‐free oligolithium cluster compounds [{(C6H4Li)HCC(SiPh3)Li}2(tBuLi)2] (4), [{(C6H4Li)HCC(SiPh2Me)Li}4] (5) and [{(C6H3Li){HCC(SiMe3)Li}2}3] (6) in moderate yields. Their solid‐state structures revealed the presence of unique molecular lithium clusters with 6, 8, or 9 lithium atoms that may be derived from two edge‐sharing Li4 tetrahedra (4), three Li4 tetrahedra in a chain joined by two common edges (5) or a tricapped trigonal prism of lithium atoms (6).
Preoperative Treatment With an Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Has No Beneficial Effect on the Development of New‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Off‐Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Chin Ji‐Hyun , Lee Eun‐Ho , Son Hyo Jung , Kim Wook‐Jong , Choi Dae‐Kee , Park Soo‐Kyoung , Sim Ji‐Yeon , Choi In‐Cheol , Hahm Kyung‐Don
Published: October 2011

Background:

The present study investigated whether preoperative angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use affected the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing off‐pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB).

Hypothesis:

Preoperative use of ACEI or ARB was related to POAF in patients undergoing OPCAB.

Methods:

This retrospective, observational, cohort study involved 1050 patients who underwent OPCAB from January 2006 to December 2009.

Results:

ACEI or ARB, ACEI alone, and ARB alone did not exert beneficial effect on the occurrence of POAF, and ACEI or ARB use was rather associated with an increased incidence of POAF (ACEI or ARB: odds ratio [OR]: 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–2.62, P = 0.03; ACEI alone: OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.57–2.97, P = 0.53; ARB alone: OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.93–2.64, P = 0.09).

Conclusions:

ACEI or ARB, ACEI alone, and ARB alone did not favorably influence the occurrence of POAF in patients undergoing OPCAB. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Loss of ASP but not ROPN1 reduces mammalian ciliary motility
Authors: Fiedler Sarah E. , Sisson Joseph H. , Wyatt Todd A. , Pavlik Jacqueline A. , Gambling Todd M. , Carson Johnny L. , Carr Daniel W.
Published: October 2011

Protein kinase A (PKA) signaling is targeted by interactions with A‐kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) via a dimerization/docking domain on the regulatory (R) subunit of PKA. Four other mammalian proteins [AKAP‐associated sperm protein (ASP), ropporin (ROPN1), sperm protein 17 (SP17) and calcium binding tyrosine‐(Y)‐phosphorylation regulated protein (CABYR)] share this highly conserved RII dimerization/docking (R2D2) domain. ASP and ROPN1 are 41% identical in sequence, interact with a variety of AKAPs in a manner similar to PKA, and are expressed in ciliated and flagellated human cells. To test the hypothesis that these proteins regulate motility, we developed mutant mouse lines lacking ASP or ROPN1. Both mutant lines produced normal numbers of cilia with intact ciliary ultrastructure. Lack of ROPN1 had no effect on ciliary motility. However, the beat frequency of cilia from mice lacking ASP is significantly slower than wild type, indicating that ASP signaling may regulate ciliary motility. This is the first demonstration of in vivo function for ASP. Similar localization of ASP in mice and humans indicates that these findings may translate to human physiology, and that these mice will be an excellent model for future studies related to the pathogenesis of human disease. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative and cost‐effectiveness of oxaliplatin‐based or irinotecan‐based regimens compared with 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin alone among US elderly stage IV colon cancer patients
Authors: Mullins C. Daniel , Hsiao Fei‐Yuan , Onukwugha Eberechukwu , Pandya Naimish B. , Hanna Nader
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Clinical trials have shown a statistically significant disease‐free survival benefit of oxaliplatin‐based or irinotecan‐based combination regimens for stage IV colon cancer. Less is known regarding the comparative effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of these agents among elderly patients. Whether the benefits of these agents justify the additional costs for elderly Medicare recipients is particularly policy relevant after US health care reform.

METHODS:

A cost‐effectiveness analysis of oxaliplatin‐based or irinotecan‐based combination therapy versus 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin alone in elderly stage IV colon cancer patients was performed from a US Medicare perspective. Survival and direct medical costs were estimated using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare data sets for patients diagnosed from 2002 to 2005 with follow‐up through 2007. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated as costs per life‐year gained, with sensitivity analysis estimating the cost per quality‐adjusted life‐year (QALY).

RESULTS:

Median improved overall survival with 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin alone, or irinotecan‐based or oxaliplatin‐based combination therapy was 0.99, 1.07, and 1.47 life‐years, respectively. Costs per life‐year gained for oxaliplatin‐based or irinotecan‐based combination regimens compared with 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin alone were $78,181 and $267,938, respectively. ICERs comparing oxaliplatin‐based to irinotecan‐based regimens were $40,230 per life‐year gained or $160,920 per QALY.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oxaliplatin‐based or irinotecan‐based combination therapy improves overall survival but also substantially increases direct medical costs compared with 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin alone when used in elderly US patients with stage IV colon cancer. Oxaliplatin‐based regimens are more cost‐effective than irinotecan‐based regimens for treatment of elderly stage IV colon cancer patients in terms of cost per life‐year gained, but not in terms of cost per QALY. Cancer 2012;118: 3173–81. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Long‐term outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before chemoradiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Arvold Nils D. , Ryan David P. , Niemierko Andrzej , Blaszkowsky Lawrence S. , Kwak Eunice L. , Wo Jennifer Y. , Allen Jill N. , Clark Jeffrey W. , Wadlow Raymond C. , Zhu Andrew X. , Fernandez‐del Castillo Carlos , Hong Theodore S.
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy before chemoradiation therapy (CRT) may improve outcomes for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, but optimal management remains controversial, and prior reports have limited follow‐up.

METHODS:

Seventy consecutive patients with unresectable (n = 46) or borderline resectable (n = 24) locally advanced pancreatic cancer were treated with CRT from 2005 to 2009. Patients typically received 50.4 grays in 28 fractions (91%) with concurrent 5‐fluorouracil (84%) or capecitabine (14%). Forty patients received CRT alone, and 30 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy before CRT for a median of 4 months, typically gemcitabine (93%). All patients without progression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were offered CRT.

RESULTS:

Median follow‐up was 14.2 months (range, 3‐57 months). Fifty‐three percent of patients in the CRT group versus 83% in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy before CRT group had unresectable tumors at diagnosis; after completion of CRT, 20% of patients in both groups underwent resection. Compared with CRT alone, the neoadjuvant chemotherapy before CRT group demonstrated improved median overall survival (OS; 18.7 vs 12.4 months; P = .02) and progression‐free survival (11.4 vs 6.7 months; P = .02). On multivariate analysis, receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28‐0.87; P = .02) and surgical resection (adjusted HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17‐0.85; P = .02) were associated with increased OS.

CONCLUSIONS:

Gemcitabine‐based neoadjuvant chemotherapy confers a significant OS advantage by allowing the selection of patients who will derive greatest benefit from CRT. Median survival with this approach was similar to that seen with surgical resection. Cancer 2012;118: 3026–35. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Melatonin receptors are anatomically organized to modulate transmission specifically to cone pathways in the retina of Xenopus laevis
Authors: Wiechmann Allan F. , Sherry David M.
Published: October 2011

Melatonin receptors have been identified in several retinal cell types, including photoreceptors, horizontal cells, amacrine cells, and ganglion cells. Recent reports suggest that melatonin potentiates signaling from rods to inner retinal neurons. However, the organization of the melatonin receptors mediating this action in the outer plexiform layer (OPL) is not clear. To assess melatonin receptor localization in the OPL, double‐label confocal immunohistochemistry for Mel1a or Mel1b melatonin receptors was performed in combination with markers for cone photoreceptors (calbindin, XAP‐1) and ON bipolar cells (guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha, Goα) on the retina of Xenopus laevis. Both Mel1a and Mel1b receptors were specifically associated with processes contacting the pedicles of cones, but localized to processes from different sets of second‐order neurons. Mel1a receptors localized to the large axonal processes of horizontal cells, while Mel1b receptors localized to the dendrites of OFF bipolar cells. Both receptors also localized to third‐order amacrine and ganglion cells and their processes in the inner plexiform layer. This study indicates that Mel1a and Mel1b melatonin receptors are expressed specifically in the Xenopus OPL to modulate transmission from cones to horizontal cells and OFF bipolar cells, respectively; they are second‐order neurons that predominantly contact ribbon synapses and display OFF responses to light. When combined with results from recent physiological studies, the current results suggest a conserved function for melatonin in enhancing transmission from rods to second‐order neurons across species, although the precise mechanisms by which melatonin enhances this transmission are likely to vary in a species‐dependent manner. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:1115–1127, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Myoinhibitory peptides in the brain of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae and colocalization with pigment‐dispersing factor in circadian pacemaker cells
Authors: Schulze Julia , Neupert Susanne , Schmidt Lilia , Predel Reinhard , Lamkemeyer Tobias , Homberg Uwe , Stengl Monika
Published: October 2011

Myoinhibitory peptides (MIPs) are a family of insect W(X6)Wamides with inhibitory effects on visceral muscles and juvenile hormone synthesis. Although MIPs are widely distributed within the nervous system, a detailed analysis of their distribution and function in insect brains is still missing. We analyzed the distribution of MIPs in the brain of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. We focused on the accessory medulla (AMe), a small neuropil near the medulla that acts as the master circadian clock. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) and Nano‐LC electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry revealed five Lem‐MIPs in preparations of the AMe and corpora cardiaca. The complete sequences of two of these peptides were identified. Immunocytochemistry revealed wide distribution of MIP‐related peptides in the cockroach brain. The superior median protocerebrum, parts of the central complex, and the tritocerebrum showed particularly dense immunostaining. In contrast, only a few local interneurons were stained in the antennal lobe and a few extrinsic neurons in the mushroom body, including a giant neuron innervating the calyces. The noduli of the AMe showed dense immunostaining, and neurons in all AMe cell groups except the anterior neurons were labeled. Pigment‐dispersing factor‐ (PDF) and MIP immunostaining was colocalized in two neurons of the AMe. No colocalization of MIP‐ and PDF immunostaining was detected in the anterior optic commissure, but two small PDF‐immunoreactive commissural fibers near the posterior optic commissure showed colocalized MIP immunostaining. The results suggest that several MIPs participate in different functional circuits of the circadian system and are involved in multiple brain circuits of the Madeira cockroach. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:1078–1097, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Astrocyte‐secreted factors modulate the developmental distribution of inhibitory synapses in nucleus laminaris of the avian auditory brainstem
Authors: Korn Matthew J. , Koppel Scott J. , Li Lan H. , Mehta Divya , Mehta Sonia B. , Seidl Armin H. , Cramer Karina S.
Published: October 2011

Nucleus laminaris (NL) neurons in the avian auditory brainstem are coincidence detectors necessary for the computation of interaural time differences used in sound localization. In addition to their excitatory inputs from nucleus magnocellularis, NL neurons receive inhibitory inputs from the superior olivary nucleus (SON) that greatly improve coincidence detection in mature animals. The mechanisms that establish mature distributions of inhibitory inputs to NL are not known. We used the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) as a marker for inhibitory presynaptic terminals to study the development of inhibitory inputs to NL between embryonic day 9 (E9) and E17. VGAT immunofluorescent puncta were first seen sparsely in NL at E9. The density of VGAT puncta increased with development, first within the ventral NL neuropil region and subsequently throughout both the ventral and dorsal dendritic neuropil, with significantly fewer terminals in the cell body region. A large increase in density occurred between E13–15 and E16–17, at a developmental stage when astrocytes that express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) become mature. We cultured E13 brainstem slices together with astrocyte‐conditioned medium (ACM) obtained from E16 brainstems and found that ACM, but not control medium, increased the density of VGAT puncta. This increase was similar to that observed during normal development. Astrocyte‐secreted factors interact with the terminal ends of SON axons to increase the number of GABAergic terminals. These data suggest that factors secreted from GFAP‐positive astrocytes promote maturation of inhibitory pathways in the auditory brainstem. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:1262–1277, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The lateral hypothalamic parvalbumin‐immunoreactive (PV1) nucleus in rodents
Authors: Mészár Zoltán , Girard Franck , Saper Clifford B. , Celio Marco R.
Published: October 2011

In the lateral hypothalamus, groups of functionally related cells tend to be widely scattered rather than confined to discrete, anatomically distinct units. However, by using parvalbumin (PV)‐specific antibodies, a solitary, compact cord of PV‐immunoreactive cells (the PV1‐nucleus) has been identified in the ventrolateral tuberal hypothalamus in various species. Here we describe the topography, the chemo‐, cyto‐, and myeloarchitectonics, and the ultrastructure of this PV1‐nucleus in rodents. The PV1‐nucleus is located within the ventrolateral division of the medial forebrain bundle. In the horizontal plane, it has a length of 1 mm in mice and 2 mm in rats. PV‐immunoreactive perikarya fall into two distinct size categories and number (∼800 in rats and ∼400 in mice). They are intermingled with PV‐negative neurons and coarse axons of the medial forebrain bundle, some of which are PV‐positive. Symmetric and asymmetric synapses, as well as PV‐positive and PV‐negative fiber endings, terminate on the perikarya of both PV‐positive and PV‐negative neurons. PV‐positive neurons of the PV1‐nucleus express glutamate, not γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurotransmitter that is usually associated with PV‐containing nerve cells. Although we could not find evidence that PV1 neurons express either catecholamines or known neuropeptides, they sometimes are interspersed with the fibers and terminals of such cells. From its analogous topographical situation, the PV1‐nucleus could correspond to the lateral tuberal nucleus in humans. We anticipate that the presence of the marker protein PV in the PV1‐nucleus of the rodent hypothalamus will facilitate future studies relating to the connectivity, transcriptomics, and function of this entity. J. Comp. Neurol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of axo‐axonic synapses in the piriform cortex of Mus musculus
Authors: Wang Xinjun , Sun Qian‐Quan
Published: October 2011

Previous anatomical and physiological studies have established major glutamatergic and GABAergic neuronal subtypes within the piriform cortical circuits. However, quantitative information regarding axo‐axonic inhibitory synapses mediated by chandelier cells across major cortical subdivisions of piriform cortex is lacking. Therefore, we examined the properties of these synapses across the entire piriform cortex. Our results show the following. 1) γ‐Aminobutyric acid membrane transporter 1‐positive varicosities, whose appearance resembles chandelier cartridges, are found around the initial segments of axons of glutamatergic cells across layers II and III. 2) Both the density of axo‐axonic cartridges and the degree of γ‐aminobutyric acid membrane transporter 1 innervation in each axo‐axonic synapse are significantly higher in the piriform cortex than in the neocortex. 3) Glutamate decarboxylase 67, vesicular GABA transporter, and parvalbumin, but not calbindin, are colocalized with the presynaptic varicosities, whereas gephyrin, Na‐K‐2Cl cotransporter 1, and GABAA receptor α1 subunit, but not K‐Cl cotransporter 2, are colocalized at the presumed postsynaptic sites. 4) The axo‐axonic cartridges innervate the majority of excitatory neurons and are distributed more frequently in putative centrifugal cells and posterior piriform cortex. We further describe the morphology of chandelier cells by using parvalbumin‐immunoreactivity and single‐cell labeling. In summary, our results demonstrate that a small population of chandelier cells mediates abundant axo‐axonic synapses across the entire piriform cortex. Because of the critical location of these inhibitory synapses in relation to action potential regulation, our results highlight a critical role of axo‐axonic synapses in regulating information flow and olfactory‐related oscillations within the piriform cortex in vivo. J. Comp. Neurol., 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiple‐channel streaming delivery for omnidirectional vision system
Authors: Iwai Yoshio , Nagahara Hajime , Yachida Masahiko
Published: October 2011

An omnidirectional vision system is an imaging system that can capture a surrounding image in all directions by using a hyperbolic mirror and a conventional CCD camera. This paper proposes a streaming server that can efficiently transfer movies captured by an omnidirectional vision system over the Internet. The proposed system uses multiple channels to deliver multiple movies synchronously. Through this method, the system enables clients to view different directions of omnidirectional movies and also supports the function of changing the view area during the playback period. Evaluation experiments show that our proposed streaming server can effectively deliver multiple movies via multiple channels. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 94(11): 41–54, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10375
Development of two‐axis electromagnetic driving MEMS mirror
Authors: Iizuka Akiko , Choe Seong‐Hun , Hashizume Jiro , Itou Yasuhiro , Okada Ryoji
Published: October 2011

We propose a new two‐axis electromagnetic scanning mirror that utilizes radial magnetic fields. By positioning magnets under the mirror, we were able to develop a greatly miniaturized mirror device. This device's volume is 300 mm3. Moreover, the mirror driving magnetic induction can be enlarged by forming a closed magnetic field with the yoke and the magnets. To assemble it easily, the upper part of all magnets was assumed to be the N pole. To optimize the composition of the yoke and the magnets, the magnetic induction of the space was calculated by magnetic simulation. We made the mirror by the bulk micromachining process, and performed a drive experiment. The mirror scanning angle was 10° at 100 mAP‐P for a resonant frequency of 6 kHz, and the frame scanning angle was 1 degree at 100 mAP‐P for a nonresonant frequency of 60 Hz. The calculation and measurement results were almost the same. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 94(11): 18–23, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10378
Optimal control problem via self‐adaptation sliding mode controller with neural network
Authors: Sakamoto Noriaki
Published: October 2011

This paper proposes the author's new Self‐Adaptation Sliding Mode Controller which added a Neural Network (SA‐SMC+NN) for the optimal control problem. The controlled system is the linear time‐invariant system and the system parameter and the disturbance are unknown. In minimizing the quadratic cost function, the neural network gives the coefficients of the switching function of the sliding mode control. According to this proposed technique, we do not have to tune the parameters of the controller when applying SA‐SMC+NN. Furthermore, we are able to get constant feedback gain such as the optimal control regulator for an uncertain system based on the control results by SA‐SMC+NN. A differential game is simulated to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 94(11): 1–8, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10390
Plasma‐quenching efficiency of ablated vapor of polymer containing nitrogen atoms using inductively coupled thermal plasma technique
Authors: Sakuyama Toshiaki , Tanaka Yasunori , Uesugi Yoshihiko , Kaneko Shuhei , Okabe Shigemitsu
Published: October 2011

The plasma‐quenching efficiency of the ablated vapor of polymers containing nitrogen atoms was numerically investigated by the inductively coupled thermal plasma technique. Polyamide66 (PA66), which contains nitrogen atoms, was used as a polymer material, and was injected into Ar thermal plasma in a numerical simulation. The simulation model considered heating, melting, and evaporation of polymer powders, and then plasma‐quenching phenomena due to polymer ablation. The thermodynamic and transport properties of the ablated vapor were also taken into account. It was found that PA66 vapor has a greater plasma‐quenching efficiency than other polymer materials of PTFE, POM, PMMA, and PE. The calculated results were confirmed to be valid by comparison with experimental results in terms of the ablated vapor distribution and powder velocities. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(2): 11–20, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21185
Calculation of equivalent circuit constants of synchronous machines considering field transient characteristics using DC decay testing method with open and shorted field windings
Authors: Kano Takashi , Watanabe Yasutoshi , Ara Takahiro , Matsumura Toshiro
Published: October 2011

It has been reported that the calculated values of field transient behavior in a synchronous machine differ considerably from the measured values. This discrepancy is caused by the use of equivalent circuit constants in the standardized tests provided by JEC‐2130 and IEC‐60034‐4, in which the mutual leakage reactance between the damper and field windings is not accounted for. The authors have been studying a method for calculating equivalent circuit constants for the accurate simulation of transient behavior including the field winding side, by means of a standstill test with a small‐capacity DC power supply (DC decay testing method). The authors have previously presented a calculation method using operational impedances with the field windings opened, shorted, and shorted with an external resistance, obtained by the DC decay test. This paper presents a new method in which the external resistance used in our previous method is no longer needed. Instead, the field winding impedance is determined on the basis of its invariability against slip. The validity of the new method is demonstrated by comparing the calculated and measured values of the armature and field currents during a sudden three‐phase short‐circuit using 10 kVA/200 V/31.9 A/4 P/50 Hz test machines. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(2): 39–46, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21207