bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of gas‐assisted injection molding parameters on the structure and thermomechanical properties of hollow parts
Authors: Gnatowski Adam , Stachowiak Tomasz
Published: July 2012

The purpose of the work was to estimate an influence of gas‐assisted injection conditions (the temperature of plastic material, switch time‐delay time, gas injection time) of shape, position and dimension of gas channel, and structure of injection molded parts. The change in the value of the dynamic Young modulus and the mechanical loss tangent in function of temperature and oscillation frequency by the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) method was determined. It was found that injection molding parameters: injection molding temperature, switching time and gas injection time influenced significantly mass, wall thickness, and thermomechanical properties of parts. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Core–shell nanogels by RAFT crosslinking polymerization: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Picos‐Corrales Lorenzo A. , Licea‐Claveríe Angel , Arndt Karl‐Friedrich
Published: July 2012

A synthetic methodology is described for the preparation of core–shell nanogels by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer. Well‐defined macro chain transfer agents (macro‐CTA's) were prepared in a first step using monomers that yield sensitive polymers. In the second step, a crosslinker alone or with the addition of a functionalized comonomer were used to form a crosslinked core. The ratio of crosslinker to macro‐CTA is crucial to yield nanogels. Furthermore, the polymerization time has an impact in the architecture of the nanomaterial obtained: it evolves from a core‐crosslinked star to a core–shell nanogel. Controlling the molecular weight of the macro‐CTA and the type of comonomer in the core forming step, core–shell nanogels with hydrodynamic diameters from 22 to 168 nm and a core that represents from 35 to 77% of the size, were prepared containing functional groups in the core which could be used as catalytic scaffolds. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012.
Comparison of designed and randomly generated catalysts for simple chemical reactions
Authors: Kipnis Yakov , Baker David
Published: July 2012

There has been recent success in designing enzymes for simple chemical reactions using a two‐step protocol. In the first step, a geometric matching algorithm is used to identify naturally occurring protein scaffolds at which predefined idealized active sites can be realized. In the second step, the residues surrounding the transition state model are optimized to increase transition state binding affinity and to bolster the primary catalytic side chains. To improve the design methodology, we investigated how the set of solutions identified by the design calculations relate to the overall set of solutions for two different chemical reactions. Using a TIM barrel scaffold in which catalytically active Kemp eliminase and retroaldolase designs were obtained previously, we carried out activity screens of random libraries made to be compositionally similar to active designs. A small number of active catalysts were found in screens of 103 variants for each of the two reactions, which differ from the computational designs in that they reuse charged residues already present in the native scaffold. The results suggest that computational design considerably increases the frequency of catalyst generation for active sites involving newly introduced catalytic residues, highlighting the importance of interaction cooperativity in enzyme active sites.
Impact of annealing on morphology and thermal stability of Bi2O3 nanotube‐based microarchitectures
Authors: Lu Hongbing , Dong Binghai , Wang Shimin , Zhao Li , Xu Zuxun , Wan Li , Li Jinchai
Published: July 2012

Bi2O3 nanostructures with high surface‐to‐volume ratio are attracting particular interest in catalysis, gas sensors, solar‐energy conversion, and so on. In this paper, we present the impact of annealing on morphology, structure, and optical properties of Bi2O3 nanotube‐based urchin‐like microarchitectures, which is very important to determine before their applications in many potential fields. Our results showed that below 400 °C, the microarchitectures possessed good thermal stability. While annealing at 500 °C, jointed nanoparticles with an average size of 350 nm were formed. On further increasing the annealing temperature to 600 °C, the microarchitectures were transformed into stable α‐Bi2O3 microcrystal film with a larger particle size of about 800 nm. The optical bandgaps of the annealed products were also changed according to their changes of morphology and structure.
Tinospora cordifolia, a Novel Source of Extracellular Disaccharidases, Useful for Human Disaccharidase Deficiency Therapy
Authors: Sengupta Subhasree , Mukherjee Abhishek , Ray Lalitagauri , Sengupta Subhabrata
Published: July 2012

Disaccharide intolerance is the inability to digest certain carbohydrates due to a lack of one or more intestinal disaccharidases (e.g., lactase, maltase, isomaltase and sucrase). Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal distention and flatulence. Management of the disorder by external enzymes supplementation has not yet been attempted. We report that the medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia contains substantial amounts of all disaccharidases required for intestinal digestion of carbohydrates. The plant is also a rich source of saccharifying amylase. We recovered (units/100 g fresh stem) amylase: 49,000 + 500, maltase: 400 + 50, isomaltase: 130 + 50, sucrase: 4500 + 500, acid lactase: 350 + 30, cellobiase: 35 + 10 and trehalase: 40 + 10 by buffer extraction of the blended stem. Crude enzymes in the forms of stem powder, lyophilized aqueous extract and ethanol precipitated protein were found to be stable. Disaccharidases were optimally active at 50 0C in the pH range of 4–5. Lactase was an acid lactase similar to the type linked with human lactose intolerance. Enzymes were catalytically stable in the pH range of 2–7 and temperature range of up to 40 0C. T. cordifolia enzyme was non‐toxic up to a dose of 200 mg protein/kg body weight. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Absolute or convective instability in the equatorial Pacific and implications for ENSO
Authors: Thual Sulian , Thual Olivier , Dewitte Boris
Published: July 2012

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is driven by ocean–atmosphere interactions in the equatorial Pacific, and this variability is often attributed to coupled modes that are evidenced by the temporal stability analysis of anomaly models. Here, the further diagnostic of absolute/convective instability is considered, which assesses whether small perturbations localized in space and time (e.g. random wind disturbances) lead to instabilities that develop in‐place or propagate away from the perturbed region. It is shown that boundary conditions play a secondary role for this approach and that the development of large‐scale wave packets in the equatorial Pacific basin is possible, as in the case of an infinite domain. As an illustration, two simple coupled models are diagnosed that rely either on thermocline processes or zonal advective processes. The model with thermocline processes is ‘absolutely unstable’ and therefore develops intrinsic oscillations, while the model with zonal advective processes is ‘convectively unstable’ and therefore acts as a noise amplifier. The identification of the two instability regimes may characterize different ENSO formation mechanisms as a response to random wind disturbances. For the absolutely unstable regime, a standing ENSO‐like oscillation can develop in the equatorial Pacific without involving boundary reflections, while for the convectively unstable regime boundary reflections are essential. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Aircraft observations of elevated pollution layers near the foothills of the Himalayas during CAIPEEX‐2009
Authors: Padmakumari B. , Maheskumar R. S. , Morwal S. B. , Harikishan G. , Konwar Mahen , Kulkarni J. R. , Goswami B. N.
Published: July 2012

Pre‐monsoon aerosols in the northern part of India may play an important role in the advancement of the monsoon. This study investigates the properties of aerosols and their spatial and vertical distribution near the foothills of the Himalayas using data from an instrumented aircraft during the Cloud Aerosol Interactions and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX), 2009. CAIPEEX was conducted over five days during May 2009 in the northern part of India near the foothills of the Himalayas. On all the flight days thick haze was observed, with elevated aerosol layers up to 4 km with varying concentrations. The sources are identified as being from local anthropogenic activities such as biomass burning, as inferred from MODIS fire maps and dust from local as well as from long‐range transport, as suggested by trajectory analysis. The aerosol size distributions depict the increases in both fine and coarse mode aerosols in polluted layers. This indicates that aerosols over this region are well mixed and the vertical distribution is a mixture of both biomass burning and dust aerosols at different altitudes, as also observed by CALIPSO and inferred from Mie calculations. Clouds observed above the elevated aerosol layers showed higher droplet concentrations (200–1400 cm−3) with small effective radii (3.5 to < 6 µm). Ice phase observed above 6 km at temperatures lower than −14°C might be due to the presence of dust aerosol acting as potential ice nuclei. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
A comparison of the effect of nanotube chirality and electronic properties on the π–π interaction of single‐wall carbon nanotubes with pyrazinamide antitubercular drug
Authors: Saikia Nabanita , Deka Ramesh C.
Published: July 2012

Theoretical investigation on local electronic structure and stability of the π–π stacking interaction of pyrazinamide (PZA) with armchair (5,5) and zigzag (9,0) single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is performed using density functional theory (DFT). PZA is physisorbed onto nanotube sidewall through interaction of π orbitals of PZA and SWCNT and the enhanced structural stability of PZA/SWCNT systems is due to weak side‐on rather than the head‐on π‐interactions. The physisorption of PZA onto SWCNT sidewall is thermodynamically favored; as a consequence, it modulates the electronic properties of pristine nanotube in the vicinity of Fermi region and π–π stacked interactions is stronger in (9,0) SWCNT compared to (5,5) SWCNT. The density of states (DOS) analysis show that PZA contributes toward the enhancement of electronic states. Projected DOS and frontier orbital analysis in the vicinity of Fermi level region suggest the electronic states to be contributed from SWCNT rather than PZA. In addition, hybrid DFT calculation which includes the dispersion correction is employed to explain the non‐covalent π–π stacking interaction between PZA and SWCNT. The local density approximation and GGA results are compared with DFT‐D to explain near about accurately the weak nonbonded van der Waals interactions between PZA and SWCNTs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The lefthanded local lemma characterizes chordal dependency graphs
Authors: Pegden Wesley
Published: July 2012

Shearer gave a general theorem characterizing the family
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal{L}$\end{document}
of dependency graphs labeled with probabilities pv which have the property that for any family of events with a dependency graph from \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal{L}$\end{document}
(whose vertex‐labels are upper bounds on the probabilities of the events), there is a positive probability that none of the events from the family occur.

We show that, unlike the standard Lovász Local Lemma—which is less powerful than Shearer's condition on every nonempty graph—a recently proved ‘Lefthanded’ version of the Local Lemma is equivalent to Shearer's condition for all chordal graphs. This also leads to a simple and efficient algorithm to check whether a given labeled chordal graph is in
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal{L}$\end{document}. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2012
Loose laplacian spectra of random hypergraphs
Authors: Lu Linyuan , Peng Xing
Published: July 2012

Let H = (V, E) be an r‐uniform hypergraph with the vertex set V and the edge set E. For 1 ≤ s ≤ r/2, we define a weighted graph G(s) on the vertex set
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${V\choose s}$\end{document}
as follows. Every pair of s‐sets I and J is associated with a weight w(I, J), which is the number of edges in H containing I and J if I ∩ J = ∅︁, and 0 if I ∩ J ≠ ∅︁. The s‐th Laplacian \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal L^{(s)}$\end{document}
of H is defined to be the normalized Laplacian of G(s). The eigenvalues of \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal L^{(s)}$\end{document}
are listed as \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\lambda^{(s)}_0, \lambda^{(s)}_1, \ldots, \lambda^{(s)}_{{n\choose s}-1}$\end{document}
in non‐decreasing order. Let \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar\lambda^{(s)}(H)=\max_{i\neq 0}\{|1-\lambda^{(s)}_i|\}$\end{document}. The parameters \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\bar\lambda^{(s)}(H)$\end{document}
and λ(H), which were introduced in our previous paper, have a number of connections to the mixing rate of high‐ordered random walks, the generalized distances/diameters, and the edge expansions.

For 0 < p < 1, let Hr(n, p) be a random r‐uniform hypergraph over [n] := {1, 2, …, n}, where each r‐set of [n] has probability p to be an edge independently. For 1 ≤ s ≤ r/2,
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$p(1-p)\gg \frac{\log^4 n}{n^{r-s}}$\end{document}, and \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$1-p\gg \frac{\log n}{n^2}$\end{document}, we prove that almost surely

We also prove that the empirical distribution of the eigenvalues of
\documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\mathcal L^{(s)}$\end{document}
for Hr(n, p) follows the Semicircle Law if \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$p(1-p)\gg \frac{\log^{1/3} n}{n^{r-s}}$\end{document}
and \documentclass{article}\usepackage{mathrsfs, amsmath, amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$1-p\gg \frac{\log n}{n^{2+2r-2s}}$\end{document}. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2012
A fully Bayesian application of the Copas selection model for publication bias extended to network meta‐analysis
Authors: Mavridis Dimitris , Sutton Alex , Cipriani Andrea , Salanti Georgia
Published: July 2012

The Copas parametric model is aimed at exploring the potential impact of publication bias via sensitivity analysis, by making assumptions regarding the probability of publication of individual studies related to the standard error of their effect sizes. Reviewers often have prior assumptions about the extent of selection in the set of studies included in a meta‐analysis. However, a Bayesian implementation of the Copas model has not been studied yet. We aim to present a Bayesian selection model for publication bias and to extend it to the case of network meta‐analysis where each treatment is compared either with placebo or with a reference treatment creating a star‐shaped network. We take advantage of the greater flexibility offered in the Bayesian context to incorporate in the model prior information on the extent and strength of selection. To derive prior distributions, we use both external data and an elicitation process of expert opinion. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flexibly modeling the baseline risk in meta‐analysis
Authors: Guolo A.
Published: July 2012

This paper investigates a likelihood‐based approach in meta‐analysis of clinical trials involving the baseline risk as explanatory variable. The approach takes account of the errors affecting the measure of either the treatment effect or the baseline risk, while facing the potential misspecification of the baseline risk distribution. To this aim, we suggest to model the baseline risk through a flexible family of distributions represented by the skew‐normal. We describe how to carry out inference within this framework and evaluate the performance of the approach through simulation. The method is compared with the routine likelihood approach based on the restrictive normality assumption for the baseline risk distribution and with the weighted least‐squares regression. We apply the competing approaches to the analysis of two published datasets. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Iodine‐123 labeled reboxetine analogues for imaging of noradrenaline transporter in brain using single photon emission computed tomography
Authors: Tavares Adriana Alexandre S. , Jobson Nicola K. , Dewar Deborah , Sutherland Andrew , Pimlott Sally L. , Batis Jeffery , Barret Olivier , Seibyl John , Tamagnan Gilles
Published: July 2012

Preliminary investigation of the radioiodinated (S,S)‐reboxetine analogue, 123I‐INER, in baboons showed this tracer to have promise for imaging the noradrenaline transporter (NAT) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). More recently, the radioiodinated (R,S)‐stereoisomer of 123I‐INER, 123I‐NKJ64, has been synthesized and preliminary evaluation in rats has been reported. This article reports the brain distribution and pharmacokinetic properties of 123I‐NKJ64 in baboons and compares results with 123I‐INER data in the same species. SPECT studies were conducted in two ovariectomized adult female baboons using two different protocols: (1) bolus of 123I‐INER or 123I‐NKJ64; and (2) bolus plus constant infusion of 123I‐NKJ64 with reboxetine (2.0 mg/kg) administration at equilibrium. Following bolus injection, both radiotracers rapidly and avidly entered the baboon brain. The regional brain accumulation of 123I‐NKJ64 did not match the known distribution of NAT in baboon brain, contrasting with previous results obtained in rats. Conversely, the regional distribution of 123I‐INER was consistent with known distribution of NAT in baboon brain. No displacement of 123I‐NKJ64 was observed following administration of reboxetine. This contrasts with previous data obtained for 123I‐INER, where 60% of specific binding was displaced by a lower dose of reboxetine. These data suggest that 123I‐NKJ64 may lack affinity and selectivity for NAT in baboon brain and 123I‐INER is the most promising iodinated reboxetine analogue developed to date for in vivo imaging of NAT in brain using SPECT. This study highlights the importance of species differences during radiotracer development and the stereochemical configuration of analogues of reboxetine in vivo. Synapse 66:923–930, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Correlation Between Clinical Nodal Status and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy False Negative Rate After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Takahashi Maiko , Jinno Hiromitsu , Hayashida Tetsu , Sakata Michio , Asakura Keiko , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: July 2012

Background

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer. It is now being used to treat operable breast cancer to facilitate breast‐conserving surgery, but the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer patients receiving NAC remains open to considerable debate.

Methods

We enrolled 96 patients with stage II–III breast cancer who received NAC from January 2001 to July 2010. All patients underwent breast surgery and SLNB, followed immediately by complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Sentinel lymph nodes were detected with blue dye and radiocolloid injected intradermally just above the tumor and then evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining.

Results

The overall identification rate for SLNB was 87.5 % (84/96); the false negative rate (FNR) was 24.5 % (12/49); and the accuracy rate was 85.7 % (72/84). The FNR was significantly lower in clinically node‐negative patients than in node‐positive patients before NAC (5.5 % vs. 35.5 %; p = 0.001). Accuracy was also significantly higher in clinically node‐negative patients than in node‐positive patients before NAC (97.2 % vs. 77.1 %; p = 0.009). The FNR was 27.3 % among 46 clinically node‐positive patients before NAC who were clinically node‐negative after NAC. Among 12 patients with a complete tumor response (CR), the FNR was 0 %, compared with 26.1 % for 83 patients with a partial response and stable disease (p = 0.404).

Conclusions

Although associated with a high FNR after NAC, SLNB would have successfully replaced ALND in clinically node‐negative patients before NAC and in patients with a CR after NAC.
The symbiotic recapture of nitrogen from dead mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots of tomato plants
Authors: Müller Anja , George Eckhard , Gabriel-Neumann Elke
Published: July 2012

Aims

The aim was to quantify the nitrogen (N) transferred via the extra-radical mycelium of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungusGlomus intraradicesfrom both a dead host and a dead non-host donor root to a receiver tomato plant. The effect of a physical disruption of the soil containing donor plant roots and fungal mycelium on the effectiveness of N transfer was also examined.

Methods

The root systems of the donor (wild type tomato plants or the mycorrhiza-defectivermcmutant tomato) and the receiver plants were separated by a 30 μm mesh, penetrable by hyphae but not by the roots. Both donor genotypes produced a similar quantity of biomass and had a similar nutrient status. Two weeks after the supply of15 N to a split-root part of donor plants, the shoots were removed to kill the plants. The quantity of N transferred from the dead roots into the receiver plants was measured after a further 2 weeks.

Results

Up to 10.6 % of donor-root15N was recovered in the receiver plants when inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). The quantity of15N derived from the mycorrhizal wild type roots clearly exceeded that from the only weakly surface-colonisedrmcroots. Hyphal length in the donorrmcroot compartments was only about half that in the wild type compartments. The disruption of the soil led to a significantly increased AMF-mediated transfer of N to the receiver plants.

Conclusions

The transfer of N from dead roots can be enhanced by AMF, especially when the donor roots have been formerly colonised by AMF. The transfer can be further increased with higher hyphae length densities, and the present data also suggest that a direct link between receiver mycelium and internal fungal structures in dead roots may in addition facilitate N transfer. The mechanical disruption of soil containing dead roots may increase the subsequent availability of nutrients, thus promoting mycorrhizal N uptake. When associated with a living plant, the external mycelium ofG. intraradicesis readily able to re-establish itself in the soil following disruption and functions as a transfer vessel.
Pregnancy despite ovarian insufficiency in a patient with breast cancer
Authors: Mahany Erica B. , Hershman Dawn L. , Sauer Mark V. , Choi Janet M.
Published: July 2012

Future fertility is a concern for many young breast cancer survivors. Secondary amenorrhea occurs frequently during or soon after oncologic treatment. Return of menstruation and serum biomarkers are not absolute predictors of future fertility. We report a case of a 28 year old gravida 0 with recurrent Stage IIB invasive ductal breast carcinoma who managed to conceive twice despite showing clinical and biochemical signs of decreased ovarian reserve following treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. This case illustrates the potential for fertility in a patient with breast cancer despite chemotherapy‐related amenorrhea and undetectable anti‐Müllerian hormone levels. It exemplifies the imprecise nature of all clinical tests used to predict future fertility in breast cancer patients post‐treatment. It should remind all providers to be careful in basing recommendations for childbearing on these surrogate endpoints.
The steady oblique path of buoyancy-driven disks and spheres
Authors: Fabre David , Tchoufag Joël , Magnaudet Jacques
Published: July 2012

We consider the steady motion of disks of various thicknesses in a weakly viscous flow, in the case where the angle of incidence $\ensuremath{\alpha} $ (defined as that between the disk axis and its velocity) is small. We derive the structure of the steady flow past the body and the associated hydrodynamic force and torque through a weakly nonlinear expansion of the flow with respect to $\ensuremath{\alpha} $. When buoyancy drives the body motion, we obtain a solution corresponding to an oblique path with a non-zero incidence by requiring the torque to vanish and the hydrodynamic and net buoyancy forces to balance each other. This oblique solution is shown to arise through a bifurcation at a critical Reynolds number ${\mathit{Re}}^{\mathit{SO}} $ which does not depend upon the body-to-fluid density ratio and is distinct from the critical Reynolds number ${\mathit{Re}}^{\mathit{SS}} $ corresponding to the steady bifurcation of the flow past the body held fixed with $\ensuremath{\alpha} = 0$. We then apply the same approach to the related problem of a sphere that weakly rotates about an axis perpendicular to its path and show that an oblique path sets in at a critical Reynolds number ${\mathit{Re}}^{\mathit{SO}} $ slightly lower than ${\mathit{Re}}^{\mathit{SS}} $, in agreement with available numerical studies.
Hospital in the Field: Prehospital Management of GHB Intoxication by Medical Assistance Teams
Authors: Dutch Martin J. , Austin Kristy B.
Published: July 2012

Introduction

Recreational use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is increasingly common at mass-gathering dance events in Australia. Overdose often occurs in clusters, and places a significant burden on the surrounding health care infrastructure.

Objective

To describe the clinical presentation, required interventions and disposition of patrons with GHB intoxication at dance events, when managed by dedicated medical assistance teams.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of all patrons attending St. John Ambulance medical assistance teams at dance events in the state of Victoria (Australia), from January 2010 through May 2011.

Main outcome measures

Clinical presentation, medical interventions and discharge destination.

Results

Sixty-one patients with GHB intoxication attended medical teams during the study period. The median age was 22 years, and 64% were male. Altered conscious state was present in 89% of attendances, and a GCS <9 in 44%. Hypotension, bradycardia and hypothermia were commonly encountered. Endotracheal intubation was required in three percent of patrons. Median length of stay onsite was 90 minutes. Ambulance transport to hospital was avoided in 65% of presentations.

Conclusions

The deployment of medical teams at dance events and music festivals successfully managed the majority of GHB intoxications onsite and avoided acute care ambulance transfer and emergency department attendance.

DutchMJ,AustinKB.Hospital in the field: prehospital management of GHB intoxication by medical assistance teams.Prehosp Disaster Med.2012;27(4):1-5.
Depth Modulation: Composing motion in immersive audiovisual spaces
Authors: Trębacz Ewa
Published: July 2012

The field of electroacoustic music has witnessed years of extensive exploration of aural spatial perception and an abundance of spatialisation techniques. Today the growing ubiquity of visual 3D technologies gives artists a similar opportunity in the realm of visual music. With the use of stereoscopic video we now have the ability to compose individual depth cues independently. The process of continuous change of the perceived depth of the audiovisual space over time is being referred to as depth modulation, and can only be fully appreciated through motion.

What can be achieved through the separation and manipulation of visual and sonic spatial cues? What can we learn about the way we perceive space if the basic components building our understanding of the surrounding environment are artificially split and re-arranged?

Visual music appears to be a perfect field for such experimentation. Strata of visual and aural depth cues can be used to create audiovisual counterpoints in three-dimensional spaces. The choice of abstract imagery and the lack of obvious narrative storylines allow us to focus our perception on the evolution of the immersive audiovisual space itself. A new language of an immersive audiovisual medium should emerge as a delicate, ever-changing balance between all previously separated and altered components.
Thiophosphate and selenite conversely modulate cell death induced by glutathione depletion or cisplatin: effects related to activity and Sec contents of thioredoxin reductase
Authors: Peng Xiaoxiao , Xu Jianqiang , Arnér Elias S. J.
Published: July 2012

Thiophosphate (SPO3) was recently shown to promote cysteine insertion at Sec (selenocysteine)-encoding UGA codons during selenoprotein synthesis. We reported previously that irreversible targeting by cDDP [cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) or cisplatin] of the Sec residue in TrxR1 (thioredoxin reductase 1) contributes to cDDP cytotoxicity. This effect could possibly be attenuated in cells expressing less reactive Sec-to-cysteine-substituted TrxR1 variants, or pronounced in cells with higher levels of Sec-containing TrxR1. To test this, we supplemented cells with either SPO3 or selenium and subsequently determined total as well as specific activities of cellular TrxR1, together with extent of drug-induced cell death. We found that cDDP became less cytotoxic after incubation of A549 or HCT116 cells with lower SPO3 concentrations (100–300 μM), whereas higher SPO3 (>300 μM) had pronounced direct cytotoxicity. NIH 3T3 cells showed low basal TrxR1 activity and high susceptibility to SPO3 cytotoxicity, or to glutathione depletion. Supplementing NIH 3T3 cells with selenite, however, gave increased cellular TrxR1 activity with concomitantly decreased dependence on glutathione, whereas the susceptibility to cDDP increased. The results suggest molecular mechanisms by which the selenium status of cells can affect their glutathione dependence while modulating the cytotoxicity of drugs that target TrxR1.
Mechanisms of bone anabolism regulated by statins
Authors: Ruan Feng , Zheng Qiang , Wang Jinfu
Published: July 2012

Osteoporosis is a common disease in the elderly population. The progress of this disease results in the reduction of bone mass and can increase the incidence of fractures. Drugs presently used clinically can block the aggravation of this disease. However, these drugs cannot increase the bone mass and may result in certain side effects. Statins, also known as HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA) reductase inhibitors, have been widely prescribed for CVD (cardiovascular disease) for decades. Nonetheless, several studies have demonstrated that statins exert bone anabolic effect and may be helpful for the treatment of osteoporosis. Several experiments have analysed the mechanisms of bone anabolism regulated by statins. In the present paper, we review the mechanisms of promoting osteogenesis, suppressing osteoblast apoptosis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.
Allosteric regulation of the biotin-dependent enzyme pyruvate carboxylase by acetyl-CoA
Authors: Adina-Zada Abdussalam , Zeczycki Tonya N. , St. Maurice Martin , Jitrapakdee Sarawut , Cleland W. Wallace , Attwood Paul V.
Published: July 2012

The activity of the biotin-dependent enzyme pyruvate carboxylase from many organisms is highly regulated by the allosteric activator acetyl-CoA. A number of X-ray crystallographic structures of the native pyruvate carboxylase tetramer are now available for the enzyme from Rhizobium etli and Staphylococcus aureus. Although all of these structures show that intersubunit catalysis occurs, in the case of the R. etli enzyme, only two of the four subunits have the allosteric activator bound to them and are optimally configured for catalysis of the overall reaction. However, it is apparent that acetyl-CoA binding does not induce the observed asymmetrical tetramer conformation and it is likely that, under normal reaction conditions, all of the subunits have acetyl-CoA bound to them. Thus the activation of the enzyme by acetyl-CoA involves more subtle structural effects, one of which may be to facilitate the correct positioning of Arg353 and biotin in the biotin carboxylase domain active site, thereby promoting biotin carboxylation and, at the same time, preventing abortive decarboxylation of carboxybiotin. It is also apparent from the crystal structures that there are allosteric interactions induced by acetyl-CoA binding in the pair of subunits not optimally configured for catalysis of the overall reaction.
Tryptophan oxygenation: mechanistic considerations
Authors: Naismith James H.
Published: July 2012

From a protein structural viewpoint, tryptophan is often considered an inert structural amino acid, playing a role as a hydrophobic anchor in membrane proteins or as part of the hydrophobic core of soluble proteins. However, tryptophan is the only polyaromatic amino acid and, from a chemical viewpoint, possesses unique reactivity owing to the electron-richness of the indole system. This reactivity is seen in the area of natural products and metabolites which have exquisite modifications of the indole ring system. Enzymes have evolved multiple strategies to break or modify the indole ring; one particular class is the IDO/TDO (indoleamine/tryptophan dioxygenase) superfamily. A new member of this family, PrnB, on the surface catalyses a very different reaction, but actually shares much of the early chemistry with the tryptophan dioxygenases. Studies on PrnB have contributed to our understanding of the wider superfamily. In the present mini-review, recent developments in our understanding of how the TDO class of enzymes use activated molecular oxygen to break the indole ring are discussed.
Human endometrial stem cell neurogenesis in response to NGF and bFGF
Authors: Noureddini Mahdi , Verdi Javad , Mortazavi‐Tabatabaei Seyed Abdolreza , Sharif Shiva , Azimi Alireza , Keyhanvar Peyman , Shoae‐Hassani Alireza
Published: July 2012

The potential of cell therapy is promising in nerve regeneration, but is limited by ethical considerations about the proper and technically safe source of stem cells. We report the successful differentiation of human EnSCs (endometrial stem cells) as a rich source of renewable and safe progenitors into high‐efficiency cholinergic neurons. The extracellular signals of NGF (nerve growth factor) and bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) could induce cholinergic neuron differentiation. ChAT (choline acetyltransferase), MAP2 (microtubule associated protein 2) and NF‐l (neurofilament L) increased after administration of bFGF and NGF to the EnSC cultures. trkC and FGFR2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 2), which belong to the NGF and bFGF receptors respectively, were determined in populations of EnSCs. NGF, bFGF and their combination differentially influenced human EnSCs high efficiency differentiation. By inducing cholinergic neurons from EnSCs in a chemically defined medium, we could produce human neural cells without resorting to primary culture of neurons. This in vitro method provides an unlimited source of human neural cells and facilitates clinical applications of EnSCs for neurological diseases.
Design and implementation of a multichannel millimeter wave interferometer for the Compact Toroidal Hybrid experiment
Authors: Miller M. C. , Hanson J. D. , Hartwell G. J. , Knowlton S. F. , Maurer D. A. , Stevenson B. A.
Published: July 2012

A three-channel 1 mm wave interferometer has been designed, assembled, and installed on the Compact Toroidal Hybrid torsatron (CTH). The interferometer design makes novel use of a subharmonic mixer for detection, which simplifies alignment. It employs a single electronically tunable source that is repetitively chirped using a sawtooth waveform of frequency up to 1 MHz. The 15.25 GHz drive oscillator is multiplied in two stages to 122 GHz before a final doubler stage brings it to 244 GHz. Local oscillator (LO) power at 122 GHz is directed through waveguide to the LO input of the subharmonic mixer of each viewing chord, simplifying alignment. Phase detection is performed by directly digitizing the amplified mixer outputs at 50 MHz and processing them with a software algorithm. Initial measurements made with the central chord of the new interferometer agree with those from the existing 4 mm system at low densities. The 1 mm system performs well in current-driven discharges reaching densities over 1019 m−3, whereas the lower frequency interferometer is found to be less reliable due to loss of fringes. This is a critical improvement for experiments studying the onset, avoidance, and vacuum magnetic transform dependence of disruptions in the CTH device.
Room temperature sub-bandgap photoluminescence from silicon containing oxide precipitates
Authors: Bothe K. , Falster R. J. , Murphy J. D.
Published: July 2012

Room temperature photoluminescence was measured from p-type Czochralski silicon processed to contain oxide precipitates. No detectable luminescence was associated with unstrained oxide precipitates. Strained oxide precipitates gave rise to a broad luminescence peak centred at ∼1600 nm. The intensity of the peak increased with the density of strained precipitates, with band-to-band luminescence being reduced correspondingly. Dislocations and stacking faults around the strained precipitates were found to introduce competing non-radiative recombination centres which reduced the sub-bandgap photoluminescence. A mechanism is proposed for the sub-bandgap luminescence due to strained precipitates in terms of a transition between defect bands.
Electronic excitation and isentropic coefficients of high temperature planetary atmosphere plasmas
Authors: Colonna Gianpiero , D’Angola Antonio , Capitelli Mario
Published: July 2012

In this paper, we have discussed the effects of electronically excited states of atomic species in affecting the isentropic coefficients of plasmas, focusing on mixtures representing the atmospheres of Jupiter, Mars, and Earth. General behaviors have been rationalized on the basis of simplified approaches. The contribution of the electronically excited states has been evidenced by comparing results obtained considering only the ground state and those obtained using either Fermi or Griem cutoff criteria.
Theoretical model of hardness anisotropy in brittle materials
Authors: Gao Faming
Published: July 2012

Anisotropy is prominent in the hardness test of single crystals. However, the anisotropic nature is not demonstrated quantitatively in previous hardness model. In this work, it is found that the electron transition energy per unit volume in the glide region and the orientation of glide region play critical roles in determining hardness value and hardness anisotropy for a single crystal material. We express the mathematical definition of hardness anisotropy through simple algebraic relations. The calculated Knoop hardnesses of the single crystals are in good agreement with observations. This theory, extended to polycrystalline materials by including hall-petch effect and quantum size effect, predicts that the polycrystalline diamond with low angle grain boundaries can be harder than single-crystal bulk diamond. Combining first-principles technique and the formula of hardness anisotropy the hardness of monoclinic M-carbon, orthorhombic W-carbon, Z-carbon, and T-carbon are predicted.
Measurement of thermodiffusion coefficient of hydrocarbon binary mixtures under pressure with the thermogravitational technique
Authors: Urteaga P. , Bou-Ali M. M. , Alonso de Mezquia D. , Santamaría J. , Santamaría C. , Madariaga J. A. , Bataller H.
Published: July 2012

It was designed and constructed a new thermogravitational column able to operate at high pressures (up to 50 MPa). This new thermogravitational column is of the cylindrical type with closed ends. It is made of stainless steel. The length of the column is 0.5 m and the gap between its two walls is variable. First, the column was validated at atmospheric pressure by means of measurements of the thermodiffusion coefficient of well-known binary mixtures. Then, this new thermogravitational column was used to measure the thermodiffusion coefficient of the binary mixtures 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtalene/isobutylbenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtalene/n-dodecane, and isobutylbenzene/n-dodecane at high pressures and within the pressure range between 0.1 and 20 MPa at a mean temperature of 25 °C. We have found a linear dependence between the thermodiffusion coefficient and the pressure.
Efficient, bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells based on boron subphthalocyanine chloride-C70
Authors: Pandey Richa , Zou Yunlong , Holmes Russell J.
Published: July 2012

In this work, we describe the performance of organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) based on the electron donor-acceptor pairing of boron subphthalocyanine chloride (SubPc) and C70. As an acceptor, C70 is a promising alternative to C60 due to its red-shifted absorption edge and large extinction coefficient, permitting increased photocurrent generation. In uniformly mixed OPVs based on SubPc:C70, peak power conversion efficiency is realized in devices containing 80 wt. % C70. Further enhancement in device performance can be realized through the use of a continuously graded donor-acceptor heterojunction. The optimized graded heterojunction OPV shows a power conversion efficiency of ηP = (5.4 ± 0.2)% under simulated AM1.5 G solar illumination at 100 mW/cm2. This efficiency is significantly larger than the value of ηP = (4.5 ± 0.1)% realized using C60 due to a substantial increase in the short-circuit current density.
Linear Trinuclear Copper(II) Complexes Derived from the Nucleophilic Addition Products of Dicyanonitrosomethanide [C(CN)2(NO)]–: Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Razali Mohd. R. , Urbatsch Aron , Langley Stuart K. , MacLellan Jonathan G. , Deacon Glen B. , Moubaraki Boujemaa , Murray Keith. S. , Batten Stuart R.
Published: July 2012

Two novel trinuclear CuII complexes have been synthesised from the nucleophilic addition derivatives of the small cyano anion, dicyanonitrosomethanide (dcnm). The reaction of CuII with the water adduct ligand, carbamoylcyanonitrosomethanide (ccnm) and teaH3 (triethanolamine) in a basic MeOH/MeCN solution results in the formation of [Cu3(acnm)2(teaH2)2]·2MeOH (1) (acnm = amidocarbonyl(cyano)nitrosomethanide and teaH2– = singly deprotonated triethanolamine). The reaction of CuII with dicyanonitrosomethanide (dcnm) and m-xylenediamine in a basic MeOH/MeCN solution results in the formation of [Cu3(cimm)2(a3acnm)2]·6MeCN (2) (cimm = cyano(imido(methoxy)methyl)nitrosomethanide and a3acnm = {amino(3-aminomethylphenyl)methylimino}methyl(cyanonitrosomethanide)). Both complexes display linear trinuclear CuII metallic cores. Solid state DC magnetic susceptibility studies were performed on 1 and 2. Compound 1 revealed very strong antiferromagnetic interactions between central and terminal Cu atoms, while compound 2 displayed ferromagnetic interactions because of the orthogonal relationship of the terminal and the central ‘magnetic’ orbitals, which contrasts with these orbitals being coplanar in 1 thus providing strong superexchange pathways involving Cu-N-O-Cu moieties.
Experimental and Theoretical Study on Pyrolysis of Isopsoralen
Authors: Yang Jiu-zhong , Zhang Feng , Jia Liang-yuan , Zhang Li-dong , Qi Fei , Fan Hai-yan , Cai Ji-bao
Published: July 2012

The pyrolysis of isopsoralen was studied by synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry at low pressure. The pyrolysis products were detected at different photon energies, the ratios of products to precursor were measured at various pyrolysis temperatures. The experimental results demonstrate that the main pyrolysis products are primary CO and sequential CO elimination products (C10H6O2 and C9H6O). The decomposition channels of isopsoralen were also studied by the density functional theory, then rate constants for competing pathways were calculated by the transition state theory. The dominant decomposition channels of isopsoralen and the molecular structures for corresponding products were identified by combined experimental and theoretical studies.
Defects Energetics and Electronic Properties of Li Doped ZnO: A Hybrid Hartree-Fock and Density Functional Study
Authors: Sun Xu , Gu You-song , Wang Xue-qiang , Zhang Yue
Published: July 2012

The electronic properties and stability of Li-doped ZnO with various defects have been studied by calculating the electronic structures and defect formation energies via first-principles calculations using hybrid Hartree-Fock and density functional methods. The results from formation energy calculations show that Li pair complexes have the lowest formation energy in most circumstances and they consume most of the Li content in Li doped ZnO, which make the p-type conductance hard to obtain. The formation of Li pair complexes is the main obstacle to realize p-type conductance in Li doped ZnO. However, the formation energy of LiZn decreases as environment changes from Zn-rich to O-rich and becomes more stable than that of Li-pair complexes at highly O-rich environment. Therefore, p-type conductance can be obtained by Li doped ZnO grown or post annealed in oxygen rich atmosphere.
Simulation Study on Translocation of Confined Chain Through Interacting Nanopore
Authors: Zhou Zi-bin , Li Hua-yu , Xie Yong-jun
Published: July 2012

The translocation of a confined polymer chain through an interacting nanopore has been studied using two-dimensional bond fluctuation model with Monte Carlo dynamics. For different pore-polymer interaction, the average escaping time 〈τesc〉 of the polymer chain through the nanopore, increases roughly linearly with the chain length and the nanopore length, respectively. However, the large repulsive and attractive pore-polymer interaction adds the difficulty of the monomers of the chain entering and leaving the nanopore, respectively, leading to the nonmonotonical dependence of 〈τesc〉 on the pore-polymer interaction. The detailed translocation dynamics of the chain through the interacting nanopore is investigated too.