bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the efficacy of an HIV stigma reduction intervention with medical students in Puerto Rico: the SPACES project
Authors: Varas‐Díaz Nelson , Neilands Torsten B , Cintrón‐Bou Francheska , Marzán‐Rodríguez Melissa , Santos‐Figueroa Axel , Santiago‐Negrón Salvador , Marques Domingo , Rodríguez‐Madera Sheilla
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Stigma associated with HIV has been documented as a barrier for accessing quality health‐related services. When the stigma manifests in the healthcare setting, people living with HIV receive substandard services or even be denied care altogether. Although the consequences of HIV stigma have been documented extensively, efforts to reduce these negative attitudes have been scarce. Interventions to reduce HIV stigma should be implemented as part of the formal training of future healthcare professionals. The interventions that have been tested with healthcare professionals and published have several limitations that must be surpassed (i.e., lack of comparison groups in research designs and longitudinal follow‐up data). Furthermore, Latino healthcare professionals have been absent from these intervention efforts even though the epidemic has affected this population disproportionately.

Methods

In this article, we describe an intervention developed to reduce HIV stigma among medical students in Puerto Rico. A total of 507 medical students were randomly introduced into our intervention and control conditions.

Results

The results show statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups; intervention group participants had lower HIV stigma levels than control participants after the intervention. In addition, differences in HIV stigma levels between the groups were sustained for a 12‐month period.

Conclusions

The results of our study demonstrate the efficacy of the modes of intervention developed by us and serve as a new training tool for future healthcare professionals with regard to stigma reduction.
A brief, standardized tool for measuring HIV‐related stigma among health facility staff: results of field testing in China, Dominica, Egypt, Kenya, Puerto Rico and St. Christopher & Nevis
Authors: Nyblade Laura , Jain Aparna , Benkirane Manal , Li Li , Lohiniva Anna‐Leena , McLean Roger , Turan Janet M , Varas‐Díaz Nelson , Cintrón‐Bou Francheska , Guan Jihui , Kwena Zachary , Thomas Wendell
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Within healthcare settings, HIV‐related stigma is a recognized barrier to access of HIV prevention and treatment services and yet, few efforts have been made to scale‐up stigma reduction programs in service delivery. This is in part due to the lack of a brief, simple, standardized tool for measuring stigma among all levels of health facility staff that works across diverse HIV prevalence, language and healthcare settings. In response, an international consortium led by the Health Policy Project, has developed and field tested a stigma measurement tool for use with health facility staff.

Methods

Experts participated in a content‐development workshop to review an item pool of existing measures, identify gaps and prioritize questions. The resulting questionnaire was field tested in six diverse sites (China, Dominica, Egypt, Kenya, Puerto Rico and St. Christopher & Nevis). Respondents included clinical and non‐clinical staff. Questionnaires were self‐ or interviewer‐administered. Analysis of item performance across sites examined both psychometric properties and contextual issues.

Results

The key outcome of the process was a substantially reduced questionnaire. Eighteen core questions measure three programmatically actionable drivers of stigma within health facilities (worry about HIV transmission, attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV), and health facility environment, including policies), and enacted stigma. The questionnaire also includes one short scale for attitudes towards PLHIV (5‐item scale, α = 0.78).

Conclusions

Stigma‐reduction programmes in healthcare facilities are urgently needed to improve the quality of care provided, uphold the human right to healthcare, increase access to health services, and maximize investments in HIV prevention and treatment. This brief, standardized tool will facilitate inclusion of stigma measurement in research studies and in routine facility data collection, allowing for the monitoring of stigma within healthcare facilities and evaluation of stigma‐reduction programmes. There is potential for wide use of the tool either as a stand‐alone survey or integrated within other studies of health facility staff.
Hydrocarbon ions in the lower ionosphere of Saturn
Authors: Kim Y. H. , Fox Jane L. , Black J. H. , Moses J. I.
Published: November 2013

Radio occultation measurements of the Saturn ionosphere have shown that persistent but variable electron density layers appear well below the major peaks. We model here the region of hydrocarbon ions that is below the main peak and is produced by absorption of solar photons in the wavelength range 842 to 1116 Å, which penetrate to altitudes below the methane homopause in the wings of the H2 absorption lines, and in the gaps between groups of lines. In this wavelength range, H2 absorbs photons in discrete transitions to rovibrational levels of electronically excited states, which then decay to a range of rovibrational levels of the electronic ground state, or to the continuum of the ground state. The cross sections for these discrete absorptions vary by several orders of magnitude from the peaks to the wings of the absorption lines. We find that the adoption of high resolution photoabsorption cross sections for the H2 bands leads to different photoionization profiles for both the hydrocarbons and H atoms, and to peak photoproduction profiles that are more than an order of magnitude larger than those computed with low resolution cross sections. For the present model, we find that ionization by energetic electrons that accompany the absorption of soft X‐rays appears in the same altitude range. We predict that a broad region of hydrocarbon ions appears well below the main peak, in the altitude range 600 to 1000 km above the 1 bar level (2–0.04 μbar) with a maximum electron density of ∼3×103cm−3 at low solar activity.
The thresholds of ionospheric plasma instabilities pumped by high‐frequency radio waves at EISCAT
Authors: Bryers C. J. , Kosch M. J. , Senior A. , Rietveld M. T. , Yeoman T. K.
Published: November 2013

We test the existing theories regarding the thresholds for the parametric decay instability (PDI), the oscillating two‐steam instability (OTSI), and the thermal parametric instability (TPI) using the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) facility's ionospheric heater. In these processes, the pump wave can couple to various electrostatic waves in the F layer ionosphere, which can be observed using the EISCAT UHF radar (PDI and OTSI) or by HF radar (TPI). On 19 October 2012, the heater power was stepped from ∼0.5 MW to ∼100 MW effective radiated power in seven steps using a 1 min on, 1 min off cycle. We use an electric field model, taking into account D region absorption, to compare theory with our observations. In all three cases, we find good agreement. In addition, the growth of striations formed during the TPI causes anomalous absorption of the heater wave, which we observe as decreased UHF ion line and plasma line backscatter power. We show evidence that heating for a prolonged period of time reduces the UHF ion line intensity throughout the experiment.
Preparation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Scaffold‐Free Mouse Adipose‐Derived Stromal Cell Microtissue Spheroids (ASC‐MT)
Authors: Mirsaidi Ali , Tiaden André N. , Richards Peter J.
Published: November 2013

In this unit, previously described methods are expanded upon, where procedures relating to the preparation, culturing, and osteogenic differentiation of scaffold‐free mouse adipose‐derived stromal cell microtissue spheroids (ASC‐MT) are outlined. Not only is a detailed methodology of how to engineer such spheroids are presented, but a full account of how to induce and analyze osteogenesis in these ASC‐MT constructs is given along with relevant figures to help better illustrate the methods described. Curr. Protoc. Stem Cell Biol. 27:2B.5.1‐2B.5.12. © 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Phase Relations in the A356 Alloy: Experimental Study and Thermodynamic Calculations
Authors: Zienert Tilo , Fabrichnaya Olga
Published: November 2013

A thermodynamic database of the Al‐rich side of the Al–Fe–Mg–Si system was derived and it was used to calculate phase transitions and solidification behavior of a commercial A356 alloy. The predicted phase transitions were examined by DTA experiments and micrograph investigations using SEM/EDX/EBSD. The experimental results are in a good agreement with the calculated Scheil‐solidification behavior.
Multiple Organolithium Generation in the Continuous Flow Synthesis of Amitriptyline
Authors: Kupracz Lukas , Kirschning Andreas
Published: November 2013

A continuous flow protocol for the preparation of the tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) amitriptyline is reported. The advantages of flow chemistry when handling organometallic agents as well as when performing reaction with gases are demonstrated. Continuous multilithiation combined with carboxylation and the Parham cyclization, a Grignard addition and thermolytic water elimination by inductive heating are key features of the multistep protocol.

magnified image
Stereocontrol in Palladium‐Catalyzed Propargylic Substitutions: Kinetic Resolution to give Enantioenriched 1,5‐Enynes and Propargyl Acetates
Authors: Ardolino Michael J. , Eno Meredith S. , Morken James P.
Published: November 2013

Kinetic resolution during the catalytic allyl‐propargyl cross‐coupling with chiral starting materials can be accomplished with a chiral palladium catalyst. These reactions offer ready access to enantiomerically enriched enyne products from simple, readily available starting materials.

magnified image
Synthesis and Properties of Diazapentacene Diimides
Authors: Li Cheng , Jiang Wei , Zhu Xiaozhang , Wang Zhaohui
Published: November 2013

Diazapentacene diimides were prepared by the double cross‐coupling of zirconacyclopentadienes with unilateral dibromonaphthalene diimide derivatives, and subsequent dehydrogenative aromatization of the resulting dihydrodiazapentacene diimides. The optical and electrical properties of this series of diazapentacene diimides have high electron affinity (up to 4.39 eV) and significantly smaller HOMO–LUMO gaps (as small as 1.26 eV). Those diimides with wide absorption bands and small band‐gaps are promising candidates for n‐type semiconductors and NIR dyes.
Electrophile‐Promoted Tandem Cyclization of α,β‐Diynyl Ketodiols: A Facile Synthesis of Tetrahalogenated Spiroketals
Authors: Zhu Hai‐Tao , Wang Jia , Qiu Zi‐Hang , Wang Li‐Jing , Zhong Mei‐Jin , Liu Xue‐Yuan , Liang Yong‐Min
Published: November 2013

An efficient synthetic approach to tetrahalogenated spiroketals has been developed through a tandem iodocyclization of various α,β‐diynyl ketodiols. The diastereoselective construction of a chiral spiroketal center induced by the chiral alkynol functional groups is possible. The obtained tetrahalogenated spiroketals can be applied in subsequent palladium‐catalyzed coupling reactions to produce compounds with multiple aromatic substituents.
Der Zugang zu gemischten PnAsm‐Ligandkomplexen
Authors: Schwarzmaier Christoph , Bodensteiner Michael , Timoshkin Alexey Y. , Scheer Manfred
Published: November 2013

Die Reaktion eines P4‐Butterfly‐Komplexes mit gelbem Arsen ergibt die größten bisher synthetisierten gemischten PnAsm‐Ligandkomplexe. [{Cp′′′Fe(CO)2}2(μ,η1:1‐P4)] reagiert mit As4 zu [{Cp′′′Fe}2(μ,η4:4‐PnAs4−n)] und [Cp′′′Fe(η5‐PnAs5−n)]. Massenspektrometrie liefert zusammen mit NMR‐Spektroskopie und Röntgenstrukturanalyse eindeutige Belege für die Anordnung der E‐Positionen in den cyclo‐E5‐ und E4‐Einheiten der Produkte. Weiterhin stimmen die Ergebnisse der DFT‐Rechnungen gut mit den experimentellen Befunden überein. Bei der Koordination des E4‐Komplexes [{Cp′′′Fe}2(μ,η4:4‐PnAs4−n)] mit CuCl erfolgt eine Umlagerung der E‐Positionen zugunsten einer bevorzugten Phosphorkoordination zu den Kupferatomen in der resultierenden 1D‐polymeren Kette.
Photonenergy‐Controlled Symmetry Breaking with Circularly Polarized Light
Authors: Meinert Cornelia , Hoffmann Søren V. , Cassam‐Chenaï Patrick , Evans Amanda C. , Giri Chaitanya , Nahon Laurent , Meierhenrich Uwe J.
Published: November 2013

Circularly polarized light (CPL) is known to be a true chiral entity capable of generating absolute molecular asymmetry. However, the degree of inducible optical activity depends on the λ of the incident CPL. Exposure of amorphous films of rac‐alanine to tunable CPL led to enantiomeric excesses (ee) which not only follow the helicity but also the energy of driving electromagnetic radiation. Postirradiation analyses using enantioselective multidimensional GC revealed energy‐controlled ee values of up to 4.2 %, which correlate with theoretical predictions based on newly recorded anisotropy spectra g(λ). The tunability of asymmetric photochemical induction implies that both magnitude and sign can be fully controlled by CPL. Such stereocontrol provides novel insights into the wavelength and polarization dependence of asymmetric photochemical reactions and are highly relevant for absolute asymmetric molecular synthesis and for understanding the origins of homochirality in living matter.
Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymer of polyacrylonitrile‐g‐polyethylene glycol‐maleic acid monoester macromonomer
Authors: Guo Jing , Xie Piao , Zhang Xin , Yu Chunfang , Guan Fucheng , Liu Yuanfa
Published: November 2013

A novel solid–solid phase‐change energy storage material was synthesized by the aqueous phase precipitation polymerization. The amphiphilic polyethylene glycol‐maleic acid monoester macromonomer (MAPEG) with a double bond and a terminal carboxyl was the side chain and the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was a skeleton. The chemical structure and thermal properties of the graft copolymer were investigated. The results indicated that the MAPEG chains were successfully grafted onto the PAN backbone. The graft copolymer possess good thermal reliability and the phase‐transition temperature is in the temperature range of human comfort, meanwhile, the melting enthalpy could reach 74.16 J/g and the crystallization enthalpy could reach 65.40 J/g, accounting for theoretical enthalpy value of 89 and 93%, respectively. Besides, optimum conditions of synthesizing the graft copolymer were determined by orthogonal experiment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40152.
Biogenic tellurium nanorods as a novel antivirulence agent inhibiting pyoverdine production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Mohanty Anee , Kathawala Mustafa Hussain , Zhang Jianhua , Chen Wei Ning , Loo Joachim Say Chye , Kjelleberg Staffan , Yang Liang , Cao Bin
Published: November 2013

While antibiotic resistance in bacteria is rapidly increasing, the development of new antibiotics has decreased in recent years. Antivirulence drugs disarming rather than killing pathogens have been proposed to alleviate the problem of resistance inherent to existing biocidal antibiotics. Here, we report a nontoxic biogenic nanomaterial as a novel antivirulence agent to combat bacterial infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We synthesized, in an environmentally benign fashion, tellurium nanorods (TeNRs) using the metal‐reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis, and found that the biogenic TeNRs could effectively inhibit the production of pyoverdine, one of the most important virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. Our results suggest that amyloids and extracellular polysaccharides Pel and Psl are not involved in the interactions between P. aeruginosa and the biogenic TeNRs, while flagellar movement plays an important role in the cell–TeNRs interaction. We further showed that the TeNRs (up to 100 µg/mL) did not exhibit cytotoxicity to human bronchial epithelial cells and murine macrophages. Thus, biogenic TeNRs hold promise as a novel antivirulence agent against P. aeruginosa. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 858–865. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Deletion of a dynamic surface loop improves stability and changes kinetic behavior of phosphatidylinositol‐synthesizing Streptomyces phospholipase D
Authors: Damnjanović Jasmina , Nakano Hideo , Iwasaki Yugo
Published: November 2013

Supplementary phosphatidylinositol (PI) was shown to improve lipid metabolism in animals, thus it is interesting for pharmaceutical and nutritional applications. Homogenous PI can be produced in transphosphatidylation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with myo‐inositol catalyzed by phospholipase D (PLD). Only bacterial enzymes able to catalyze PI synthesis are Streptomyces antibioticus PLD (SaPLD) variants, among which DYR (W187D/Y191Y/Y385R) has the best kinetic profile. Increase in PI yield is possible by providing excess of solvated myo‐inositol, which is achievable at high temperatures due to its highly temperature‐dependent solubility. However, high‐temperature PI synthesis requires the thermostable PLD. Previous site‐directed combinatorial mutagenesis at the residues of DYR having high B‐factor yielded the most improved variant, D40H/T291Y DYR, obtained by the combination of two selected mutations. D40 and T291 are located within dynamic surface loops, D37‐G45 (termed D40 loop) and G273‐T313. Thus, in this work, thermostabilization of DYR SaPLD was attempted by rational design based on deletion of the D40 loop, generating two variants, Δ37‐45 DYR and Δ38‐46 DYR PLD. Δ38‐46 DYR showed highest thermostability as its activity half‐life at 70°C proved 11.7 and 8.0 times longer than that of the DYR and Δ37‐45 DYR, respectively. Studies on molecular dynamics predicted Δ38‐46 DYR to have the least average RMSD change as temperature dramatically increases. At 60 and 70°C, both mutants synthesized PI in a twofold higher yield compared to the DYR, while at the same time produced less of the hydrolytic side‐product, phosphatidic acid. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 674–682. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantitative control of intracellular signaling activity through chimeric receptors incorporating multiple identical tyrosine motifs
Authors: Saka Koichiro , Kawahara Masahiro , Nagamune Teruyuki
Published: November 2013

Controlling activation levels and durations of native signaling molecules is important for efficiently controlling cellular fates. Previously we developed single‐chain Fv (scFv)/cytokine receptor chimeras incorporating tyrosine motifs in the intracellular domain, which artificially control the activation of specific intracellular signaling proteins. In this study, to quantitatively control the activation levels of signaling molecules with an extended dynamic range, we constructed scFv/receptor chimeras incorporating multiple identical motifs at the different positions in the intracellular domain. We used retroviral transduction to express chimeric receptors with multiple STAT3 binding motifs connected with or without flexible linkers in a murine IL‐3‐dependent pro‐B cell line, Ba/F3. Our results showed that the chimeric receptors can control the activation levels of STAT3 depending on ligand concentration and the number of motifs. The existence of linkers between the motifs also affected the signal intensity. Furthermore, the STAT3 activation levels significantly depended on the number of motifs rather than the distance from the JAK‐binding region to the tyrosine motif. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 948–955. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contextual Compound Screening for Improved Therapeutic Discovery
Authors: Evensen Lasse , Odlo Kristin , Micklem David R. , Littlewood‐Evans Amanda , Wood Jeanette , Kuzniewski Christian , Altmann Karl‐Heinz , Hansen Trond Vidar , Lorens James B.
Published: November 2013

Cellular behaviors are governed by combinations of systemic and microenvironmental factors; together, these regulate cell signaling responses to growth factors. This contextual microenvironmental influence also determines drug sensitivity. Hence using in vitro systems that model contextual cellular behavior is highly beneficial for effective therapeutic development. Angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels) is driven by a series of dynamic endothelial cell signaling responses to growth factors under the influence of the vascular extracellular matrix and adjacent pericytes. In vitro primary human vascular cell co‐cultures self‐assemble into capillary‐like structures through reciprocal heterotypic interactions that mimic angiogenic context dynamics. By using temporal live‐cell imaging‐based analysis, unique angiogenic microenvironments can be delineated to quantify the contextual activity of compound inhibitors. We used this in vitro organotypic contextual screening approach to conduct structure–activity relationship analysis on a combretastatin A‐4 analogue series to identify novel compounds with potent vascular disrupting activity in vivo.
Highly Asymmetrical Porphyrins with Enhanced Push–Pull Character for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Kurotobi Kei , Toude Yuuki , Kawamoto Kyosuke , Fujimori Yamato , Ito Seigo , Chabera Pavel , Sundström Villy , Imahori Hiroshi
Published: November 2013

A porphyrin π‐system has been modulated by enhancing the push–pull character with highly asymmetrical substitution for dye‐sensitized solar cells for the first time. Namely, both two diarylamino moieties as a strong electron‐donating group and one carboxyphenylethynyl moiety as a strong electron‐withdrawing, anchoring group were introduced into the meso‐positions of the porphyrin core in a lower symmetrical manner. As a result of the improved light‐harvesting property as well as high electron distribution in the anchoring group of LUMO, a push–pull‐enhanced, porphyrin‐sensitized solar cell exhibited more than 10 % power conversion efficiency, which exceeded that of a representative highly efficient porphyrin (i.e., YD2)‐sensitized solar cell under optimized conditions. The rational molecular design concept based on highly asymmetric, push–pull substitution will open the possibilities of further improving cell performance in organic solar cells.
Mitochondria‐Targeting Oxidovanadium(IV) Complex as a Near‐IR Light Photocytotoxic Agent
Authors: Prasad Puja , Khan Imran , Kondaiah Paturu , Chakravarty Akhil R.
Published: November 2013

Oxidovanadium(IV) complexes [VO(L1)(phen)]⋅Cl (1) and [VO(L2)(L3)]⋅Cl (2), in which HL1 is 2‐{[(benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methylimino]‐methyl}phenol (sal‐ambmz), HL2 is 2‐[({1‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methyl]‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl}methylimino)‐methyl]phenol (sal‐an‐ambmz), phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline and L3 is dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine (dppz) conjugated to a Gly‐Gly‐OMe dipeptide moiety, were prepared, characterized, and their DNA binding, photoinduced DNA‐cleavage, and photocytotoxic properties were studied. Fluorescence microscopy studies were performed by using complex 2 in HeLa and HaCaT cells. Complex 1, structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography, has a vanadyl group in VO2N4 core with the VO2+ moiety bonded to N,N‐donor phen and a N,N,O‐donor Schiff base. Complex 2, having an anthracenyl fluorophore, showed fluorescence emission bands at 397, 419, and 443 nm. The complexes are redox‐active exhibiting the V(IV)/V(III) redox couple near −0.85 V versus SCE in DMF 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). Complex 2, having a dipeptide moiety, showed specific binding towards poly(dAdT)2 sequence. The dppz‐Gly‐Gly‐OMe complex showed significant DNA photocleavage activity in red light of 705 nm through a hydroxyl radical (.OH) pathway. Complex 2 showed photocytotoxicity in HaCaT and HeLa cells in visible light (400–700 nm) and red light (620–700 nm), however, the complex was less toxic in the dark. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the localization of complex 2 primarily in mitochondria. Apoptosis was found to occur inside mitochondria (intrinsic pathway) caused by ROS generation.
CFD Simulation of the Flow Field Within Woven Structures by Using the Immersed Boundary Method
Authors: Rieger H. , Piesche M.
Published: November 2013

Gewebestrukturen werden oft zur Separation von Feststoffpartikeln eingesetzt. Bei der Gewebedurchströmung erfolgt die Phasentrennung durch Filtration. Die Kenntnis über den Charakter der Strömung kann gewinnbringend zur Optimierung dieser Filtrationsstrukturen bzw. zur Reduzierung des Druckverlustes und zur Vorhersage des Trennkorns eingesetzt werden. Eine CFD‐Simulation ermöglicht die Berechnung des Strömungsfeldes. Die hier vorgestellte Immersed‐boundary‐Methode reduziert den Aufwand bei der Modellbildung im Vergleich zu der gängigen, geometriekonformen Berechnungsmethode deutlich.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors with Enhanced Enzymatic Inhibition Effects and Potent in vitro and in vivo Antitumor Activities
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Yingjie , Chou C. James , Inks Elizabeth S. , Wang Xuejian , Li Xiaoguang , Hou Jinning , Xu Wenfang
Published: November 2013

In the present work, a series of small molecules were designed and synthesized based on structural optimization. A significant improvement in the enzyme inhibitory activity of these compounds was discovered. Moreover, the tested compounds have moderate preference for class I HDACs over HDAC6, as demonstrated by enzyme selectivity assays. In vitro antiproliferation assay results show that representative compounds can selectively inhibit the growth of non‐solid lymphoma and leukemic cells such as U937, K562, and HL60. In the in vivo antitumor assay, (S)‐4‐(2‐(5‐(dimethylamino)naphthalene‐1‐sulfonamido)‐2‐phenylacetamido)‐N‐hydroxybenzamide (D17) showed better performance than SAHA in blocking U937 tumor growth. Western blot analysis revealed that representative molecules can block the function of both class I HDACs and HDAC6. More importantly, our western blot results reveal that the levels of some oncogenic proteins (p‐Akt in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway, c‐Raf and p‐Erk in the MAPK signal pathway) were dramatically down‐regulated by our compounds in the U937 cell line rather than MDA‐MB‐231 cells. This distinction in cellular mechanism might be an important reason why the U937 cell line was found to more sensitive to our HDAC inhibitors than the MDA‐MB‐231 cell line.
Individual differences in negative affect and weekly variability in binge eating frequency
Authors: Zander Mary E. , De Young Kyle P.
Published: November 2013

Objective

To examine the relationship of neuroticism and negative affect (NA) lability with weekly binge eating fluctuations between binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN).

Method

Individuals with BED (n = 30) and BN (n = 54) from the community completed self‐report measures at baseline and prospectively for 12 consecutive weeks. Weekly data were analyzed by using (mean) squared successive deviation to account for fluctuations in NA and binge eating from week to week.

Results

Generalized estimating equations revealed the presence of a two‐way interaction between neuroticism and NA lability predicting binge eating fluctuations (Wald χ2 = 8.25; df = 1; p = .004), indicating that higher NA lability was only related to larger fluctuations in the frequency of binge eating episodes when present in individuals who were also high on neuroticism. An interaction was also detected between eating disorder diagnosis and NA lability, but this was accounted for by differences in average NA between the diagnoses.

Discussion

This study highlights the relevance of two traits and their interaction in understanding individual differences in binge eating fluctuations. Additionally, findings indicate that diagnostic differences in average NA may impact binge eating fluctuations and NA lability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:296–301)
Screening of impact factors on the enzymatic neutralization of Jatropha crude oil
Authors: Gofferjé Gabriele , Gebhardt Melanie , Stäbler Andreas , Schweiggert‐Weisz Ute , Flöter Eckhard
Published: November 2013

Due to the high oil content of the seeds, Jatropha curcas L. became a focus of interest in the last decades. In order to prepare the oil for technical applications a refining is essential. This study is concerned with the enzymatic neutralization of aqueous‐extracted Jatropha oil utilizing an immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. Free fatty acids were esterified with glycerol. Factors influencing the reaction were determined applying low acidic oil (acid number 4.2 mg KOH/g oil). Stirring rate of 300 rpm is adequate. The reaction rate was highest at 60°C. Free fatty acid content was reduced continuously with reaction time between 4 and 24 h. The variation of the free fatty acid content of Jatropha oil had only marginal influence on the reaction time. The amount of glycerol added to the reaction system was found to be optimal between 0.15 and 0.25 mol/L. Three percent w/w of immobilized lipase were enough to saturate the reaction system. A strong interaction between enzyme and glycerol content is likely and will be evaluated in an experimental design. The process designed after parameter screening yields acid numbers around 0.2 mg KOH/g oil. Remaining fatty acids are easily removed during the subsequent refining steps.

Practical applications: Enzymatic deacidification of Jatropha crude oil described in this study provides several advantages compared to the conventional alkaline process including lower oil losses, no wastewater generation and the avoidance of aggressive chemicals. On the basis of these benefits, an enzymatic approach holds potential to be applied industrially in the future since there is an increasing interest in more sustainable processes.
Striga indica (Orobanchaceae) – A new parasitic species from Southern Western Ghats of India
Authors: Jayanthi P. , Kumar K. M. Prabhu , Rajendran A. , Thomas Binu , Sabu M. , Pradeep A. K.
Published: November 2013

A new species of Striga Lour., S. indica K. M. Prabhu, P. Jayanthi, A. Rajendran & M. Sabu is described from the Western Ghats of India. This species is shows similarities to S. barthlottii Eb. Fisch. et al., a recently described species from Morocco, but differs in unequal calyx lobes, equal bracteoles, short corolla tube, corolla colour and shape, fruit shape, stem colour, branching pattern, and presence of pubescence in various parts and host specificity. A detailed description with keys, illustrations, photographs, comparison chart and tables, conservation status and distributional details are provided. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Fuzzy entropy‐based MR brain image segmentation using modified particle swarm optimization
Authors: Priya R. Krishna , Thangaraj C. , Kesavadas C. , Kannan S.
Published: November 2013

This article presents an image segmentation technique based on fuzzy entropy, which is applied to magnetic resonance (MR) brain images in order to detect brain tumors. The proposed method performs image segmentation based on adaptive thresholding of the input MR images. The image is classified into two membership functions (MFs) of the fuzzy region: Z‐function and S‐function. The optimal parameters of these fuzzy MFs are obtained using modified particle swarm optimization (MPSO) algorithm. The objective function for obtaining the optimal fuzzy MF parameters is considered to be the maximum fuzzy entropy. Through a number of examples, The performance is compared with existing entropy based object segmentation approaches and the superiority of the proposed method is demonstrated. The experimental results are compared with the exhaustive search method and Otsu's segmentation technique. The result shows the proposed fuzzy entropy‐based segmentation method optimized using MPSO achieves maximum entropy with proper segmentation of infected areas and with minimum computational time. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 281–288, 2013
Fast and robust symmetry detection for brain images based on parallel scale‐invariant feature transform matching and voting
Authors: Wu Huisi , Wang Defeng , Shi Lin , Wen Zhenkun , Ming Zhong
Published: November 2013

Symmetry analysis for brain images has been considered as a promising technique for automatically extracting the pathological brain slices in conventional scanning. In this article, we present a fast and robust symmetry detection method for automatically extracting symmetry axis (fissure line) from a brain image. Unlike the existing brain symmetry detection methods which mainly rely on the intensity or edges to determine the symmetry axis, our proposed method is based on a set of scale‐invariant feature transform (SIFT) features, where the symmetry axis is determined by parallel matching and voting of distinctive features within the brain image. By clustering and indexing the extracted SIFT features using a GPU KD‐tree, we can match multiple pairs of features in parallel based on a novel symmetric similarity metric, which combines the relative scales, orientations, and flipped descriptors to measure the magnitude of symmetry between each pair of features. Finally, the dominant symmetry axis presented in the brain image is determined using a parallel voting algorithm by accumulating the pair‐wise symmetry score in a Hough space. Our method was evaluated on both synthetic and in vivo datasets, including both normal and pathological cases. Comparisons with state‐of‐the‐art methods were also conducted to validate the proposed method. Experimental results demonstrated that our method achieves a real‐time performance and with a higher accuracy than previous methods, yielding an average polar angle error within 0.69° and an average radius error within 0.71 mm. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 314–326, 2013
Multiscale ICA for fundus image analysis
Authors: Nath Malaya Kumar , Dandapat Samarendra
Published: November 2013

Independent component analysis is a technique used for separation of statistically independent sources. It can estimate unknown sources from a mixture of sources without any prior knowledge about them. The sources should be non‐Gaussian and independent with each other. In this work, multiscale ICA is proposed for medical images (fundus images, MRI Images). The data matrix is formed by considering the higher sub‐bands of multiscale decompositions. Performance of multiscale ICA is evaluated and compared with the ICA algorithms using simulated signals and different medical images using Amari performance index and Comon test values. Results show that API and Comon test values are less for multiscale ICA for simulated signals. In case of pathological images, the features are separated correctly by multiscale ICA. Multiscale ICA performs better than simple ICA for separation and detection of independent components from medical images (fundus images), such as blood vessels and artifacts. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 327–337, 2013
Medical image registration‐based retrieval using distance metrics
Authors: Ayyachamy Swarnambiga , Manivannan Vasuki S.
Published: November 2013

In this article, registration and retrieval are carried out separately for medical images and then registration‐based retrieval is performed. It is aimed to provide a more thorough insight on the use of registration, retrieval, and registration‐based retrieval algorithm for medical images. The purpose of this work is to deal these techniques with anatomical imaging modalities for clinical diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and surgical planning in a more effective manner. Two steps are implemented. In the first step, the affine transformation‐based registration for medical image is processed. The second step is the retrieval of medical images processed by using seven distance metrics such as euclidean, manhattan, mahalanobis, canberra, bray‐curtis, squared chord, chi‐squared, and also by using the features like mean, standard deviation, skewness, energy, and entropy. Now images registered by affine transformation are applied for retrieval. In this work, both registration and retrieval techniques in medical domain share some common image processing steps and required to be integrated in a larger system to complement each other. Experimental results, it is evident that euclidean and manhattan produces 100% precision and 35% recall found to have higher performance in retrieval. From the four anatomical modalities considered (brain, chest, liver, and limbs) brain image has better registration. It is also found that though the registration of images changes the orientation, for better performance of images in clinical evaluation it does not widely affect the retrieval performance. In the medical domain the ultimate aim of this work is to provide diagnostic support to physicians and radiologists by displaying relevant past cases, along with proven pathologies as ground truth from experimental results. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 360–371, 2013
Design of a low cross‐talk micro‐coil array for micro‐scale MRI
Authors: Dehkhoda Fahimeh , Mohammadzadeh Mohammad , Frounchi Javad
Published: November 2013

Design of magnetic resonance micro‐coil arrays with low cross‐talk among the coils can be the main challenge to improve the effectiveness of magnetic resonance micro‐imaging because the electrical cross‐talk which is mainly due to the inductive coupling perturbs the sensitivity profile of the array and causes image artifacts. In this work, a capacitive decoupling network with N(M − 1) + (N − 1)(M − 2) capacitors is proposed to reduce the inductive coupling in an N × M array. A 3 × 3 array of optimized micro‐coils is designed using the finite element simulations and all the needed elements for the array equivalent circuit are extracted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed decoupling method by assessing the reduction of the coupled signals after employing the capacitive network on the circuit. The achieved results for the designed array show that the high cross‐talk level is reduced by the factor of 2.2–3.4 after employing the capacitive network. By employing this method of decoupling, the adjacent coils in each row and inner columns can be decoupled properly while the minimum decoupling belongs to the outer columns because of the lack of all necessary decoupling capacitances for these columns. The main advantages of the proposed decoupling method are its efficiency and design easiness which facilitates the design of dense arrays with the properly decoupled coils, especially the inner coils which are more coupled due to their neighbors. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 353–359, 2013
Multiscale simulation of pollution gases adsorption in porous organic cage CC3
Authors: Li Wenliang , Zhang Jingping
Published: November 2013

A general multiscale simulation procedure is proposed to accurately predict the uptakes of pollution gases such as CO2, SO2, H2S, and CO in one of the most investigated porous organic cages CC3 by using a sophisticated force fieldvdW3fitted by double hybrid functional (B2PLYP) with a dispersion correction (D3) separately for gas–gas and CC3‐gas interactions. The fittedvdW3was used in grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Good comparison with the coupled cluster single and double excitation and the perturbative triples (CCSD(T))/complete basis set (CBS) limit interaction energies make the B2PLYP‐D3 results reliable for our purpose. The good agreement of simulated CO2loading with experimental one and the low deviation in the fitting procedure for H2S and CO make our approach available in predicting gases in novel porous materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Segmentation of scanning electron microscopy images from natural rubber samples with gold nanoparticles using starlet wavelets
Authors: de Siqueira Alexandre Fioravante , Cabrera Flávio Camargo , Pagamisse Aylton , Job Aldo Eloizo
Published: November 2013

Electronic microscopy has been used for morphology evaluation of different materials structures. However, microscopy results may be affected by several factors. Image processing methods can be used to correct and improve the quality of these results. In this article, we propose an algorithm based on starlets to perform the segmentation of scanning electron microscopy images. An application is presented in order to locate gold nanoparticles in natural rubber membranes. In this application, our method showed accuracy greater than 85% for all test images. Results given by this method will be used in future studies, to computationally estimate the density distribution of gold nanoparticles in natural rubber samples and to predict reduction kinetics of gold nanoparticles at different time periods. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:71–78, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrastructural and three‐dimensional study of post‐LASIK ectasia cornea
Authors: Akhtar Saeed , Alkatan Hind , Kirat Omar , Almubrad Turki
Published: November 2013

INTRODUCTION: Post‐laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) corneal ectasia is a serious late postoperative complication. Here, we report the ultrastructural features of the post‐LASIK cornea of two patients. METHODS: Two normal corneas (age 24 and 37 years old) and two post‐LASIK ectaic corneas from two patients (A and B) were studied. The “patient A” (age 27 years) underwent penetrating keratoplasty and “patient B” (age 31 years) underwent deep‐anterior lamellar keratoplasty. The excised corneas were processed for light and electron microscopy. A total of 120 images for three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction were taken by using the software “Recorder” and using a bottom mounted camera “Quemesa” attached to a JOEL 1400 transmission electron microscope. The 3D images were constructed using “Visual Kai” software. RESULTS: In the post‐LASIK cornea, the hemidesmosomes, the basement membrane, and Bowman”s layer were abnormal. The stromal lamellae were thin and disorganized. The collagen fibrils (CFs) diameter and interfibrillar spacing had decreased. Aggregated microfibrils were present in the Bowman's layer and all parts of the stroma. A large number of microfilaments were present at the detachment end of the flap and residual stroma. The 3D images showed the presence of collagen microfibrils and proteoglycans (PGs) within the CF of the normal and post‐LASIK cornea. The collagen microfibrils and PGs within the CFs had degenerated in the post‐LASIK cornea. CONCLUSION: Collagen microfibrils and PGs within the CFs were degenerated, leading to the degeneration of CFs, followed by the disorganization of lamellae in post‐LASIK cornea. The CFs diameter and interfibrillar spacing decreased. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:91–98, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polycyclic N‐Heterocyclic Compounds. Part 78: Synthesis of N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide Oximes and Their Evaluation as Inhibitors of Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Okuda Kensuke , Zhang Ying‐Xue , Hirota Takashi , Sasaki Kenji
Published: November 2013

N‐[2‐([1,2,4]Oxadiazol‐5‐yl)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]formamide oximes were synthesized by fusion of (6,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐5H‐cyclohepta[1,2‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl)amidines with hydroxylamine hydrochloride through a subsequent rearrangement reaction. Effects of the products as well as the structurally related N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzoxepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes and N‐[4‐([1,2,4]oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro[1]benzothiepin‐5‐yl]formamide oximes on platelet aggregation were evaluated.
Ultrashort Echo Time (UTE) imaging of receptor targeted magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in mouse tumor models
Authors: Wang Liya , Zhong Xiaodong , Qian Weiping , Huang Jing , Cao Zehong , Yu Qiqi , Lipowska Malgorzata , Lin Run , Wang Andrew , Yang Lily , Mao Hui
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate an ultrashort echo time (UTE) imaging approach for improving the detection of receptor targeted magnetic nanoparticles in cancer xenograft models using positive contrast.

Materials and Methods

Iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP) conjugated with tumor targeting ligands were prepared. A 3D UTE gradient echo sequence with the shortest TE of 0.07 msec was evaluated on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner using IONP solution, cancer cells bound with targeted IONPs and orthotopic human pancreatic, and breast cancer mouse models administered tumor targeting IONPs. A simulation was performed to analyze contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) of UTE images and subtraction of the images obtained UTE and longer TE (SubUTE). T2‐weighted imaging and T2 relaxometry mapping were applied for comparison and validation.

Results

UTE and SubUTE images showed positive contrast in pancreatic tumors accumulated with EGFR targeted ScFvEGFR‐IONPs and mammary tumors accumulated with uPAR targeted ATF‐IONPs. The positive contrast observed in UTE images was consistent with the negative contrast observed in the T2‐weighted images. A flip angle of 10° and a maximal possible TE for the second echo are suitable for SubUTE imaging.

Conclusion

UTE imaging is capable of detecting tumor targeted IONPs in vivo with positive contrast in molecular MRI applications. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1071–1081. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cardiovascular magnetization transfer ratio imaging compared with histology: A postmortem study
Authors: Crooijmans Hendrikus J.A. , Ruder Thomas D. , Zech Wolf‐Dieter , Somaini Sandra , Scheffler Klaus , Thali Michael J. , Bieri Oliver
Published: November 2013

Cardiovascular magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) imaging by steady state free precession is a promising imaging method to assess microstructural changes within the myocardium. Hence, MTR imaging was correlated to histological analysis. Three postmortem cases were selected based on a suspicion of myocardial infarction. MTR and T2‐weighted (T2w) imaging was performed, followed by autopsy and histological analysis. All tissue abnormalities, identified by autopsy or histology, were retrospectively selected on visually matched MTR and T2w images, and corresponding MTR values compared with normal appearing tissue. Regions of elevated MTR (up to approximately 20%, as compared to normal tissue), appearing hypo‐intense in T2w‐images, revealed the presence of fibrous tissue in microscopic histological analysis. Macroscopic observation (autopsy) described scar tissue only in one case. Regions of reduced MTR (up to approximately 20%) corresponded either to (i) the presence of edema, appearing hyperintense in T2w‐images and confirmed by autopsy, or to (ii) inflammatory granulocyte infiltration at a microscopic level, appearing as hypo‐intense T2w‐signal, but not observed by autopsy. Findings from cardiovascular MTR imaging corresponded to histology results. In contrast to T2w‐imaging, MTR imaging discriminated between normal myocardium, scar tissue and regions of acute myocardial infarction in all three cases. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:915–919. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.