bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand cooperates with NSAIDs via activated Wnt signalling in (pre)malignant colon cells
Authors: Heijink Dianne M , Jalving Mathilde , Oosterhuis Dorenda , Sloots Ineke A , Koster Roelof , Hollema Harry , Kleibeuker Jan H , Koornstra Jan J , de Vries Elisabeth GE , de Jong Steven
Published: September 2010

TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor agonistic agents and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are interesting agents for the chemoprevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. We investigated whether NSAIDs sensitize colon cancer and adenoma cell lines and ex vivo cultured human adenomas to recombinant human (rh)TRAIL. Involvement of the crucial Wnt signalling pathway in the sensitization of colon cancer cells was examined. Five colon cancer and two adenoma cell lines, human ex vivo adenomas and normal colonic epithelium were treated with aspirin or sulindac combined with rhTRAIL. Apoptosis levels, expression of intracellular proteins and TRAIL receptor membrane expression were assessed. Ls174T cells stably transfected with an inducible dominant negative TCF‐4 (dnTCF‐4) construct served to analyse the role of Wnt pathway activation. Both rhTRAIL‐sensitive and ‐resistant colon cancer cell lines were strongly sensitized to rhTRAIL by aspirin (maximum enhancement ratio, 7.1). Remarkably, in adenoma cell lines sulindac enhanced rhTRAIL‐induced apoptosis most effectively (maximum enhancement ratio, 2.5). Although membrane TRAIL receptor expression was not affected by NSAIDs, caspase‐8 activation was enhanced by combinational treatment. Several proteins from different biological pathways were affected by NSAIDs, indicating complex mechanisms of sensitization. Elimination of TCF‐4 completely blocked the sensitizing effect in colon cancer cells. In ex vivo adenomas the combination of sulindac and rhTRAIL increased apoptosis from 18.4% (sulindac) and 17.8% (rhTRAIL) to 28.0% (p = 0.003 and p = 0.005, respectively). It was concluded that NSAID‐induced sensitization to rhTRAIL requires TCF‐4 activity. Thus, the combination of TRAIL‐receptor agonistic agents and NSAIDs is a potentially attractive treatment option for (pre)malignant tumours with constitutively active Wnt signalling, such as colorectal tumours. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The GIST paradigm: lessons for other kinase‐driven cancers
Authors: Antonescu Cristina R
Published: September 2010

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the most common sarcoma of the intestinal tract, known to be notoriously refractory to conventional chemotherapy or radiation. It is an ideal solid tumour model to apply our understanding from aberrant signal transduction to drug development, since nearly all tumours have a mutation in the KIT or, less often, the PDGFRA or BRAF genes. The constitutively activated KIT and PDGFRA oncoproteins serve as crucial diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The discovery of oncogenic KIT activation as a central mechanism of GIST pathogenesis suggested that inhibiting or blocking KIT signalling might be the milestone in the targeted therapy of GISTs. Indeed, imatinib mesylate inhibits KIT kinase activity and represents the front‐line drug for the treatment of unresectable and advanced GISTs, achieving a partial response or stable disease in about 80% of patients with metastatic GIST. KIT mutation status has a significant impact on treatment response, emerging in recent years as a leading paradigm for genotype‐driven targeted therapy. In this review, parallels with other models in oncology that share their addiction to a particular mutationally activated kinase are contrasted. A better understanding of oncogene addiction as a common theme across tumours of diverse histologies underlies the clinical success of targeting such kinases with several selective kinase inhibitors. Also remarkable is the similarity displayed in the mechanisms of drug failure after a successful but temporary clinical response to kinase inhibition. Reactivation of the same oncogenic kinase, often by acquisition of second site mutations, is another emerging paradigm of secondary resistance in these tumour models. The complexity of polyclonal resistance in imatinib‐resistant patients argues that single next‐generation kinase inhibitors will not be beneficial in all mutant clones. Other broad therapeutic strategies could include combination of kinase inhibitors with targeting KIT downstream targets, such as PI3‐K or MAPK/MEK inhibitors. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Origin of the bubble defect in the extrusion coating process
Authors: Sollogoub C. , Montmitonnet P. , Demay Y. , Agassant J.F. , Deparis P.
Published: September 2010

During the extrusion coating process, a polymer film is extruded through a flat die, stretched in air, then coated on a substrate (steel sheet in our case) in a laminator consisting of a chill roll and a flexible pressure roll. The nip, i.e., the area formed by the contact between the pressure and the chill rolls, constitutes the very heart of the extrusion coating process. Indeed, in this region, some of the most critical properties, such as adhesion, barrier properties, optical properties, are achieved. The thermomechanical analysis of Sollogoub et al., Polym. Eng. Sci., 48, 1634 (2008), was used to study the origin of the bubble defect appearing during the extrusion coating process. First, we investigate the influence of process parameters on the bubble defect. Then, we compute the thermomechanical parameters of the process, and finally, we derive a realistic bubble defect appearance criterion. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Cold‐cured epoxy‐silica hybrids: Effects of large variation in specimen thickness on the evolution of the Tg and related properties
Authors: Lettieri M. , Lionetto F. , Frigione M. , Prezzi L. , Mascia L.
Published: September 2010

Experimental organic–inorganic hybrid systems, based on silane functionalized difunctional and trifunctional epoxy resins and an alkoxysilane precursor mixture, containing small amounts of ammonium molybdate, are evaluated for potential use as adhesives cured at ambient temperatures. The precursor resin mixtures are found to exhibit a large increase in viscosity with a pseudoplastic behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows the existence of siloxane domains with nanometric dimensions, except for the presence of microscopic molybdate particles. By monitoring the evolution of the glass transition temperature (Tg) during curing, varying the thickness of the specimens between 0.2 and 4.5 mm, it is found that the organic–inorganic hybrids display a significant increase in the final Tg over the parent unmodified epoxy resins, particularly in thin specimens and when ammonium molybdate is added. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) spectra show that the dimensions and typographic features of thick and thin specimens are similar, both containing an agglomeration of primary particles of 5–6 nm. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Improving the sensitivity of MASCOT search results validation by combining new features with Bayesian nonparametric model
Authors: Ma Jie , Zhang Jiyang , Wu Songfeng , Li Dong , Zhu Yunping , He Fuchu
Published: September 2010

The probability‐based search engine MASCOT has been widely used to identify peptides and proteins in shotgun proteomic research. Most subsequent quality control methods filter out ambiguous assignments according to the ion score and thresholds provided by MASCOT. On the basis of target‐decoy database search strategy, we evaluated the performance of several filter methods on MASCOT search results and demonstrated that using filter boundaries on two‐dimensional feature spaces, the MASCOT ion score and its relative score can improve the sensitivity of the filter process. Furthermore, using a linear combination of several characteristics of the assigned peptides, including the MASCOT scores, 15 previously employed features, and some newly introduced features, we applied a Bayesian nonparametric model to MASCOT search results and validated more correctly identified peptides in control and complex data sets than those could be validated by empirical score thresholds.
Finding new posttranslational modifications in salivary proline‐rich proteins
Authors: Vitorino Rui , Alves Renato , Barros António , Caseiro Armando , Ferreira Rita , Lobo Maria Calheiros , Bastos Ana , Duarte José , Carvalho Davide , Santos Lúcio Lara , Amado Francisco L.
Published: September 2010

Proline‐rich proteins (PRPs) are the most complex family of salivary peptides with distinct isoforms and PTMs. Up to date, only the serine phosphorylation at positions 8, 17, and 22 have been experimentally observed on acidic PRP (aPRPs), and at position 8 on basic PRP1 and 2. The presence of a glucoronyl group at Ser17 was also noticed on aPRP. The main goal of this study was to identify new PTMs and distinct isoforms of salivary PRPs using LC‐MALDI‐TOF/TOF. Through the salivary peptidome characterization of 20 different subjects from Control, Diabetic, and Head and Neck Cancer groups, it was possible to identify the following species: (i) N‐glycosylation sites: two in basic proline‐rich protein 2 (bPRP2), one in bPRP3 and one in bPRP4; (ii) O‐glycosylation sites: two in bPRP2 and one in aPRP; (iii) other terminal monosaccharide sites: six in bPRP1, two in bPRP2 and two in bPRP3; (iv) other modifications such as N‐terminal pyro‐Glu (two in bPRP1, six in bPRP2, eight in bPRP3 and nine in bPRP4); (v) phosphorylation in serine, three in bPRP1, one in bPRP2, one in bPRP3 and one in aPRP1; (vi) bPRP1 (allele S, allele M and variant CP5) and bPRP4 (allele M). In summary, salivary peptidome data analysis allowed the identification of 45 new PRP‐modified residues, mainly due to glycosylation, phosphorylation and conversion of Gln to pyro‐Glu. Moreover, comparing all subject groups, it was noticed a predominance of N‐acetyl hexosamine modification on bPRPs in the Head and Neck Cancer patients.
The spliceosomal proteome: At the heart of the largest cellular ribonucleoprotein machine
Authors: Valadkhan Saba , Jaladat Yasaman
Published: September 2010

Almost all primary transcripts in higher eukaryotes undergo several splicing events and alternative splicing is a major factor in generating proteomic diversity. Thus, the spliceosome, the ribonucleoprotein assembly that performs splicing, is a highly critical cellular machine and as expected, a very complex one. Indeed, the spliceosome is one of the largest, if not the largest, molecular machine in the cell with over 150 different components in human. A large fraction of the spliceosomal proteome is organized into small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles by associating with one of the small nuclear RNAs, and the function of many spliceosomal proteins revolve around their association or interaction with the spliceosomal RNAs or the substrate pre‐messenger RNAs. In addition to the complex web of protein‐RNA interactions, an equally complex network of protein–protein interactions exists in the spliceosome, which includes a number of large, conserved proteins with critical functions in the spliceosomal catalytic core. These include the largest conserved nuclear protein, Prp8, which plays a critical role in spliceosomal function in a hitherto unknown manner. Taken together, the large spliceosomal proteome and its dynamic nature has made it a highly challenging system to study, and at the same time, provides an exciting example of the evolution of a proteome around a backbone of primordial RNAs likely dating from the RNA World.
Acceleration effect of N‐allyl group on thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐benzoxazine
Authors: Oie Hiroaki , Sudo Atsushi , Endo Takeshi
Published: September 2010

Thermally induced ring‐opening polymerization of monofunctional N‐allyl‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1a was compared with that of N‐(n‐propyl)‐1,3‐benzoxazine 1b to clarify an unexpected effect of allyl group to promote the polymerization, that is, in spite of the comparable bulkiness of allyl group to n‐propyl group, the polymerization of 1a was much faster than that of 1b. Such a difference in polymerization rate was also observed similarly in the comparison of thermally induced polymerization of a bifunctional N‐allyl‐benzoxazine 2a with that of a bifunctional N‐(n‐propyl) analogue 2b. These observations implied a certain contribution of an electron‐rich CC double bond of the N‐ally group to promotion of the ring‐opening reaction of 1,3‐benzoxazine into the corresponding zwitterionic species, which would involve a mechanism to stabilize the cationic part of the zwitterionic species based on “neighboring group participation” of the CC double bond. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010
Sample‐to‐sample fluctuations in heterogeneous DNA
Authors: Gevorkian Zh. S. , Li Mai Suan , Hu Chin‐Kun
Published: September 2010

We studied the structure of heterogenous DNA in the native state. There are two different regimes in the sample‐to‐sample fluctuations of the free energy in the native state, which can be interpreted via the concept of local free energy of base pairs. In the first low‐temperature frozen regime, local free energies are random and there are large sample‐to‐sample fluctuations for short DNAs. In the high‐temperature molten regime, the weakly bounded base pairs are opened and do not give random contribution to the free energy of native DNA. As a result, sample‐to‐sample fluctuations are suppressed in the molten regime. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010
Validation of the Chinese version of the Short‐form Supportive Care Needs Survey Questionnaire (SCNS‐SF34‐C)
Authors: Au A. , Lam W. W. T. , Kwong A. , Suen D. , Tsang J. , Yeo W. , Suen J. , Ho W. M. , Yau T. K. , Soong I. , Wong K. Y. , Sze W. K. , Ng A. , Girgis A. , Fielding R.
Published: September 2010

Background: There is no instrument available in Chinese for assessing psychosocial needs. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey short form (SCNS‐SF34‐C) in Chinese women with breast cancer (BC).

Methods: The Chinese version of the 34‐item SCNS‐SF34‐C, a self‐report measure for assessing psychosocial unmet needs, was administered to 348 Chinese women with BC at the outpatient oncology unit. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) tested the factor structure. The internal consistency, convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity of the identified factor structure were assessed.

Results: In contrast to the five‐factor structure identified in the original 34‐item SCNS‐SF34, our EFA produced a 33‐item solution accounting for 54% of score variance comprising four‐factors: (1) Health system, information, and patient support, (2) Psychological needs, (3) Physical and daily living, and (4) Sexuality needs. Separate dimensions for Health system and information, and the Patient care and support domains were not supported. Cronbach alphas ranged from 0.75 to 0.92. Correlations of psychological and physical symptom distress measures indicated acceptable convergent validity. No correlation with optimism and positive affect measures indicated divergent validity. Discriminant validity was demonstrated by effective differentiation between clinically distinct patient groups (no active treatment versus active treatment; advanced BC versus localized BC).

Discussion: The Chinese version of the Supportive Care Needs Survey has suitable factor structure and psychometric properties for use in assessing psychosocial needs among Chinese women with BC. Further validation is needed for other cancer types. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics of Decomposition of Energetic Ionic Liquids
Authors: Chowdhury Arindrajit , Thynell Stefan T.
Published: September 2010

The Arrhenius‐type reaction rate parameters for the initiation reactions governing the thermal decomposition of several energetic ionic liquids (EILs) were determined by numerical techniques. The compounds chosen for this purpose were the energetic 4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazolium nitrate (4ATN) and 1‐hydroxyethyl‐hydrazinium nitrate (HEHN). The supplementary compounds studied for comparison were 4‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazolium chloride (4ATCl) and ammonium nitrate (AN). The reaction rate parameters were obtained by an evolutionary genetic algorithm (GA) that compared the difference between the experimental and simulated species evolution profiles from the decomposition process. The experimental data were generated by confined rapid thermolysis (CRT). The decomposition process was simulated by applying conservation equations to the condensed and gas phases individually. The optimization module recovered the experimental species profiles with reasonable accuracy for all the compounds studied. The processes governing the decomposition of these energetic compounds were found to be autocatalytic in nature, and the autocatalytic agents were the strong acids generated by the initial decomposition step. The activation energy and pre‐exponential factor for the unimolecular decomposition step for 4ATN, HEHN, and 4ATCl were 167–188 kJ mol−1 and 1016 s−1, respectively, similar to previously determined values for AN.
Internal duplications in α‐helical membrane protein topologies are common but the nonduplicated forms are rare
Authors: Hennerdal Aron , Falk Jenny , Lindahl Erik , Elofsson Arne
Published: September 2010

Many α‐helical membrane proteins contain internal symmetries, indicating that they might have evolved through a gene duplication and fusion event. Here, we have characterized internal duplications among membrane proteins of known structure and in three complete genomes. We found that the majority of large transmembrane (TM) proteins contain an internal duplication. The duplications found showed a large variability both in the number of TM‐segments included and in their orientation. Surprisingly, an approximately equal number of antiparallel duplications and parallel duplications were found. However, of all 11 superfamilies with an internal duplication, only for one, the AcrB Multidrug Efflux Pump, the duplicated unit could be found in its nonduplicated form. An evolutionary analysis of the AcrB homologs indicates that several independent fusions have occurred, including the fusion of the SecD and SecF proteins into the 12‐TM‐protein SecDF in Brucella and Staphylococcus aureus. In one additional case, the Vitamin B12 transporter‐like ABC transporters, the protein had undergone an additional fusion to form protein with 20 TM‐helices in several bacterial genomes. Finally, homologs to all human membrane proteins were used to detect the presence of duplicated and nonduplicated proteins. This confirmed that only in rare cases can homologs with different duplication status be found, although internal symmetry is frequent among these proteins. One possible explanation is that it is frequent that duplication and fusion events happen simultaneously and that there is almost always a strong selective advantage for the fused form.
CD4 T‐Cell‐mediated immune response to prostatic proteins in HLA‐DRB1*1503 transgenic mice and identification of a novel HLA‐DRB1*1503‐restricted T‐cell epitope from human prostatic acid phosphatase
Authors: Klyushnenkova Elena N. , Alexander Richard B.
Published: September 2010

BACKGROUND

Transgenic mice engineered to express human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are widely used for identification of immunogenic and naturally processed epitopes. Using HLA‐DRB1*1501 (DR2b) transgenic mice, we have previously identified epitopes from two prostatic antigens, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). These antigens are implicated in the development of autoimmunity in the prostate and also are considered promising targets for prostate cancer immunotherapy. HLA‐DRB1*1501 is the most common DR15 allele in Caucasians, while HLA‐DRB1*1503 is the most common in African Americans. Hence characterization of peptide immunogenicity for these alleles is important for the development of prostate cancer immunotherapy in white and black patients.

METHODS

HLA‐DRB1*1501 or HLA‐DRB1*1503 transgenic mice were immunized with human PSA or PAP. Libraries of overlapping 20‐mer peptides spanning the entire sequences of these proteins were screened by IFN‐γ ELISPOT assay.

RESULTS

PSA and PAP peptides that were previously identified in HLA‐DRB1*1501 tg mice were immunogenic in HLA‐DR1503 tg mice and induced CD4 T‐cell response against whole processed PSA or PAP respectively. However, the hierarchy of the immunodominance among the peptides differed significantly between strains. Using HLA‐DRB1*1503 tg mice, a novel immunogenic and naturally processed 20‐mer peptide, PAP (233‐252) has been identified that showed no reactivity in HLA‐DRB1*1501 tg mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate a disparity in CD4 T‐cell immune reactivity to PSA and PAP between HLA‐DRB1*1501 and ‐DRB1*1503 alleles in HLA transgenic mouse models. It is possible that such immunological differences could contribute to racial disparity in prostate cancer outcome. Prostate 71:561–566, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combodart: combined therapy for moderate to severe BPH
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Kirby Roger
Published: September 2010

Combodart is a combination of tamsulosin and dutasteride licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe BPH. In our New products review Steve Chaplin presents the trial data relating to its efficacy and side‐effects, and Professor Roger Kirby considers its advantages over an alpha‐blocker or 5‐alpha‐reductase inhibitor taken alone. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Interface Ltd
Effect of contact spreading layer on photovoltaic response of InGaN‐based solar cells
Authors: Zheng Xinhe , Tang Longjuan , Zhang Dongyan , Dong Jianrong , Yang Hui
Published: September 2010

Different conductive films are used as p‐GaN current spreading layers in order to explore photovoltaic action of InGaN/GaN double heterojunction solar cells. It is found that the devices with the 200‐nm thick indium‐tin oxide (ITO) transparent spreading layers shows a very small decrease in fill factor compared to those with the 3‐nm Ni/3‐nm Au semitransparent metal, but the former demonstrates an enhancement of short‐circuit current density by 24% due to the increased amount of light that reaches the solar cell. This improvement in usable light is shown by the increase in transmission and external quantum efficiency.
Calculating the second‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of 3‐methyl‐4‐nitropyridine N‐oxide, 2‐carboxylic acid‐4‐nitropyridine‐1‐oxide, 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline, and m‐nitroaniline crystals
Authors: Kanoun Mohammed Benali , Champagne Benoît
Published: September 2010

The static and the second harmonic generation second‐order nonlinear susceptibilities, χ(2), of 3‐methyl‐4‐nitropyridine N‐oxide, 2‐carboxylic acid‐4‐nitropyridine‐1‐oxide, 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline, and m‐nitroaniline crystals are calculated using a model that combines accurate ab initio molecular properties with an electrostatic interaction approach to account for the crystal packing effects. The impact of the way to distribute the molecular polarizabilities on the final second‐order nonlinear susceptibilities is highlighted, whereas the frequency dispersion of the macroscopic and molecular responses is addressed. This approach is shown to reproduce experimental data, at least in what concerns the relative amplitude of χ(2). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Is there a role for robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass in HIV positive patients?
Authors: van Wagenberg Frans S. , Lehr Eric J. , Rehman Atiq , Bonatti Johannes
Published: September 2010

Background

Performing cardiac surgery on HIV positive patients represents a significant risk of occupational exposure to surgeons and their support staff. In addition, the immunocompromized state of these patients may be a factor which could adversely influence the results. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB) in HIV patients has not been reported.

Methods

A male patient with HIV and Hepatitis C presented with three vessel coronary artery disease requiring surgical revascularization. Totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Using the da Vinci (R) surgical robot, the left and right internal mammary arteries were harvested and sutured to the second obtuse marginal branch and the left anterior descending artery respectively.

Results

The patient was discharged home on postoperative day six. At one month following the operation, the patient was asymptomatic and had returned to full activity without the need for sternal precautions.

Conclusions

We describe the first case of completely endoscopic coronary surgery using the da Vinci (R) system in an HIV patient. Double internal mammary artery grafting to the left coronary artery system was carried out successfully. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
System dynamics modelling for examining knowledge transfer during crises
Authors: Wang Wei‐Tsong
Published: September 2010

The threat of organizational crises cannot be overlooked in today's complex business environment. During crises, organizations encounter unique, threatening and stress‐inducing situations in which critical decisions must be made constantly in a timely manner based on limited information. Nevertheless, there have been very few studies engaging in exploring the theme of knowledge transfer in the context of managing organizational crises. Consequently, this study attempts to explore this issue with reference to a product recall crisis of a motorcycle manufacturer using the method of system dynamics modelling. The research findings illustrate the multiple knowledge transfer mechanisms used and their influence on organizational performance during crises as a means of distributing critical knowledge and facilitating the development of collective understanding within organizations. Future studies which aim to explore the dynamics of different types of knowledge being processed by means of various knowledge transfer mechanisms during crises are encouraged. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling of DRI Processes with Two Simultaneously Active Reducing Gases
Authors: Kolbeinsen L.
Published: September 2010

The concept of DRI is understood as reduction of iron ore (oxide) without the occurrence of a liquid phase, and where the means of reduction is either coal or natural gas. This method for making iron has existed since the Iron Age, but had its renaissance in the 1960s. Today's DRI production is of a magnitude of 60 million metric tons a year, and is rapidly growing. The MIDREX® and HyL® processes are based on reduction in a packed bed (shaft furnace), something that requires the ore to be pelletized. The reduction of fine grain ore directly, typically fluidized beds with multiple reactors in series like in the FINMET® process, constitutes another process family. In both cases the gas doing the reduction‐work will be a synthesis‐gas (SynGas/SG), but with variations in the H2/CO‐ratio from process to process. Use of the top‐gas from the reduction as an oxygen source in the SynGas generation is common. Mathematical modelling is considered essential for development and optimization of such processes.

Reduction of single pellets can be described using various models, e.g. the well known Shrinking Core Model (SCM). The classical SCM needs to be modified both with respect to the solids to include the intermediate products magnetite and wüstite that exist between hematite and metallic iron, but also with respect to the gas to handle two different reactants; hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and should also include the possible internal gas reactions like the water gas shift reaction (WGSR). The use of oxygen potentials can replace gas compositions in modelling of such systems. In this paper a model for the reduction of a single iron ore pellet is described; and further a description is given of how such a model is incorporated into a full process model as well as experimental methods of how to determine model parameters.
Reduction and Carburization of Iron Oxide by Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Satoh K. , Noguchi T. , Hino M.
Published: September 2010

The iron nugget making process, where mixtures of iron ore powder and pulverized coal are made to heat rapidly, is regarded as a new ironmaking process. Since the iron carburization reaction is an especially important step from the viewpoint of energy saving in this process, the purpose of this study is to reveal the carburization mechanism of reduced iron formed during the heating process of the mixtures. Fe2O3 and H2‐CO‐CO2 gas mixture were made react with each other to simulate the formation of iron ore and the generation of coal gas from coal during the heating process. An electric resistance furnace was used to heat the samples. A cut surface of the quenched iron product was observed by microscopy. Carbon content in the iron was analyzed after reduction and carburization of Fe2O3. It is considered that there are many possibilities in the real process to carburize the reduced iron during the heating process, such as carburization with CO formed by coal combustion, solution loss reaction, and direct carburization with coal. It was observed in the present work that the carbon content in the reduced iron became the highest as Fe3C was formed during the heating process. Therefore, it became clear that the key technology for production of pig iron containing high carbon was to control the formation of Fe3C in the heating period of the mixture. The carburization mechanism was discussed in this study based on these experimental results.
Research for Using Iron & Steelmaking Zinc Laden Dust to Desulphurisze Hot Metal
Authors: Kumar R.V. , Liu J.
Published: September 2010

In order to promote recycling of zinc laden dust, desulphurizing hot metal using the dust has been researched on a laboratory scale and the possibility of developing a new desulphurization (De‐S) method has been evaluated. The thermodynamic data of the Zn‐O‐S system has been determined with an electrochemical cell. The results indicate that ZnS sublimes at a temperature between 1450 and 1460 K. Directly as a result of this phase change the driving force for desulphurization with Zn or ZnO increases with increasing temperature beyond this sublimation temperature, thus potentially making Zn based reagents useful for high temperature desulphurization reactions. Feasibility reactions were also performed to confirm that ZnO can effectively react with FeS (1473 to 1653 K) or with Fe‐Csat‐S (1473‐1673K) to remove S. There is therefore potential for the utilization of ZnO laden waste dust or granular zinc as additional or alternative reagents for desulphurization. This paper provides a theoretical basis and the feasibility for granular Zn (and/or ZnO) replacing granular Mg for desulphurizing hot metal.
Assessment of the fetal thymus by two‐ and three‐dimensional ultrasound during normal human gestation and in fetuses with congenital heart defects
Authors: Li L. , Bahtiyar M. O. , Buhimschi C. S. , Zou L. , Zhou Q.‐C. , Copel J. A.
Published: September 2010

Objectives

Our objectives were to compare the size and volume of the developing fetal thymus obtained by two‐dimensional ultrasound (2D‐US) and three‐dimensional ultrasound (3D‐US), develop normative data for thymus volume (TV), and investigate TV in fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) and normal twin gestations.

Methods

We studied 321 fetuses (gestational age (GA): 17–39 weeks) including 238 normal singletons, 64 normal twins and 19 singleton fetuses with CHD. We used 2D‐US to assess fetal thymus maximum transverse diameter (MTD), maximum transverse area (MTA), anteroposterior diameter (APD) and superoinferior diameter (SID). TV was obtained by 3D‐US using virtual organ computer‐aided analysis. Measurements were adjusted for estimated fetal weight where appropriate. Linear regression analysis, general linear models and Fisher's Z‐transformation were used where appropriate. A nomogram of fetal TV based on singleton gestations was produced according to previously published methods.

Results

Ultrasound assessment of the fetal thymus was possible in 95.3% (306/321) of cases. Both 3D‐US and 2D‐US measurements were significantly correlated with GA (TV r = 0.989; MTA r = 0.918; MTD r = 0.884; APD r = 0.849; and SID r = 0.816; all P < 0.05). After Fisher's Z‐transformation, the correlation between the TV and GA was significantly stronger than that between any individual 2D‐US measurement and GA (P < 0.05). Normal twin fetuses had TVs similar to those of singletons adjusted for estimated fetal weight and GA (P = 0.85). TV adjusted for estimated fetal weight and GA was significantly lower in fetuses with CHD than in normal singletons (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

2D‐US and 3D‐US are useful tools for evaluation of the size and volume of the human fetal thymus through gestation. Fetal TV by 3D‐US seems to reflect normal development of the thymus in utero better than do 2D‐US measurements. Lower TV should be expected in association with CHDs. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Auger‐Elektronenspektroskopie an Festkörperoberflächen Teil 1: Generelle Betrachtungen
Authors: Viefhaus Helmut
Published: September 2010

Im Verlauf der letzten 20 Jahre hat sich die Augerelektronenspektroskopie (AES) als gängigste Methode zur Bestimmung der chemischen Zusammensetzung von Festkörpergrenzflächen durchgesetzt. Im ersten Teil dieses Artikels werden die notwendigen Voraussetzungen und theoreti‐schen Grundlagen der AES an Festkörperoberflächen beschrieben. Hierzu gehören der Anregungsprozeß zur Emission und die begrenzte Reichweite der Auger‐elektronen in Festkörpern, die die Oberflächenempfindlichkeit dieser Methode bedingt. Neben einigen Bemerkungen zur quantitativen Analyse, zu chemischen und Kristalleffekten, werden die notwendigen instrumentellen Voraussetzungen, wie Analysatoren und Nachweissysteme kurz erläutert. Die wichtigsten heute zur Verfügung stehenden Weiterentwicklungen sind ebenso genannt, wie nützliche Ergänzungen zur AES‐Methode.
Buckling analysis of a cylindrical panel under axial stress using perturbation technique
Authors: Eipakchi H.R. , Shariati M.
Published: September 2010

In this paper, a combination of the series method and the perturbation theory has been proposed to calculate the elastic buckling stresses of panels with two edges simply supported subjected to the uniform axial stress by considering the linear theory of Donnell as the governing equation. As a parametric study, the effects of changing the radius, length, and sector angles of the panels on the buckling stresses have been investigated and the results have been compared with the finite elements method. Also, to find the buckling stress, a correction factor for the Lorenz formula has been proposed.
Mutations in the promoter region of the aldolase B gene that cause hereditary fructose intolerance
Authors: Coffee Erin M. , Tolan Dean R.
Published: September 2010

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a potentially fatal inherited metabolic disease caused by a deficiency of aldolase B activity in the liver and kidney. Over 40 disease‐causing mutations are known in the protein‐coding region of ALDOB. Mutations upstream of the protein‐coding portion of ALDOB are reported here for the first time. DNA sequence analysis of 61 HFI patients revealed single base mutations in the promoter, intronic enhancer, and the first exon, which is entirely untranslated. One mutation, g.−132G>A, is located within the promoter at an evolutionarily conserved nucleotide within a transcription factor‐binding site. A second mutation, IVS1+1G>C, is at the donor splice site of the first exon. In vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assays show a decrease in nuclear extract‐protein binding at the g.−132G>A mutant site. The promoter mutation results in decreased transcription using luciferase reporter plasmids. Analysis of cDNA from cells transfected with plasmids harboring the IVS1+1G>C mutation results in aberrant splicing leading to complete retention of the first intron (~5 kb). The IVS1+1G>C splicing mutation results in loss of luciferase activity from a reporter plasmid. These novel mutations in ALDOB represent 2% of alleles in American HFI patients, with IVS1+1G>C representing a significantly higher allele frequency (6%) among HFI patients of Hispanic and African‐American ethnicity.
Quantitative in vivo brain magnetic resonance spectroscopic monitoring of neurological involvement in mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter Syndrome)
Authors: Davison James E. , Hendriksz Christian J. , Sun Yu , Davies Nigel P. , Gissen Paul , Peet Andrew C.
Published: September 2010

Neurological involvement in X‐linked mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) is indicative of more severe disease, but is not attenuated by current enzyme replacement therapy which does not significantly penetrate the blood–brain barrier. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is an objective method of determining brain metabolites and has the potential to identify disease biomarkers with utility in evaluating current and novel therapies. MRS studies from seven patients with MPSII all receiving enzyme replacement therapy were compared with a large cohort of children with various neurocognitive disorders with normal MR imaging. All studies were completed on 1.5Tesla clinical MR scanners. Brain metabolite concentrations were determined from basal ganglia and parieto‐occipital white matter using LCModel quantification. Serial trends in brain metabolites were analysed. Examination of mean spectra and quantitative metabolite concentrations demonstrated significantly decreased white matter N‐acetylaspartate (a neuronal marker), total choline and glutamate, and elevated myo‐inositol (glial marker) in MPSII patients. Analysis of serial determinations of white matter N‐acetylaspartate demonstrated no change in two patients with stable MR imaging features but decreasing N‐acetylaspartate in two patients more severely affected or deteriorating. These data demonstrate the utility of MRS to monitor serial alterations in brain metabolites including N‐acetylaspartate which could be used as biomarkers of progressive neurological disease in MPSII. Integrated as an adjunct to MRI, such an approach could aid the evaluation of the efficacy of current ERT and also novel CNS‐targeted therapies in MPSII.
Dielectric Relaxation of La-Doped Zirconia Caused by Annealing Ambient
Authors: Zhao C Z , Werner M , Taylor S , Chalker P R , Jones A C , Zhao Chun
Published: September 2010

La-doped zirconia films, deposited by ALD at 300°C, were found to be amorphous with dielectric constants (k-values) up to 19. A tetragonal or cubic phase was induced by post-deposition annealing (PDA) at 900°C in both nitrogen and air. Higher k-values (~32) were measured following PDA in air, but not after PDA in nitrogen. However, a significant dielectric relaxation was observed in the air-annealed film, and this is attributed to the formation of nano-crystallites. The relaxation behavior was modeled using the Curie–von Schweidler (CS) and Havriliak–Negami (HN) relationships. The k-value of the as-deposited films clearly shows a mixed CS and HN dependence on frequency. The CS dependence vanished after annealing in air, while the HN dependence disappeared after annealing in nitrogen.
Anisotropic Confinement, Electronic Coupling and Strain Induced Effects Detected by Valence-Band Anisotropy in Self-Assembled Quantum Dots
Authors: Villegas-Lelovsky L , Teodoro MD , Lopez-Richard V , Calseverino C , Malachias A , Marega E , Liang BL , Mazur Yu I , Marques GE , Trallero-Giner C , Salamo GJ
Published: September 2010

A method to determine the effects of the geometry and lateral ordering on the electronic properties of an array of one-dimensional self-assembled quantum dots is discussed. A model that takes into account the valence-band anisotropic effective masses and strain effects must be used to describe the behavior of the photoluminescence emission, proposed as a clean tool for the characterization of dot anisotropy and/or inter-dot coupling. Under special growth conditions, such as substrate temperature and Arsenic background, 1D chains of In0.4Ga0.6 As quantum dots were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction measurements directly evidence the strong strain anisotropy due to the formation of quantum dot chains, probed by polarization-resolved low-temperature photoluminescence. The results are in fair good agreement with the proposed model.
Determination of InN/Diamond Heterojunction Band Offset by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
Authors: Shi K , Li DB , Song HP , Guo Y , Wang J , Xu XQ , Liu JM , Yang AL , Wei HY , Zhang B , Yang SY , Liu XL , Zhu QS , Wang ZG
Published: September 2010

Diamond is not only a free standing highly transparent window but also a promising carrier confinement layer for InN based devices, yet little is known of the band offsets in InN/diamond system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to measure the energy discontinuity in the valence band offset (VBO) of InN/diamond heterostructure. The value of VBO was determined to be 0.39 ± 0.08 eV and a type-I heterojunction with a conduction band offset (CBO) of 4.42 ± 0.08 eV was obtained. The accurate determination of VBO and CBO is important for the application of III-N alloys based electronic devices.
Template-free Synthesis of One-dimensional Cobalt Nanostructures by Hydrazine Reduction Route
Authors: Zhang Liying , Lan Tianmin , Wang Jian , Wei Liangmin , Yang Zhi , Zhang Yafei
Published: September 2010

One-dimensional cobalt nanostructures with large aspect ratio up to 450 have been prepared via a template-free hydrazine reduction route under external magnetic field assistance. The morphology and properties of cobalt nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The roles of the reaction conditions such as temperature, concentration, and pH value on morphology and magnetic properties of fabricated Co nanostructures were investigated. This work presents a simple, low-cost, environment-friendly, and large-scale production approach to fabricate one-dimensional magnetic Co materials. The resulting materials may have potential applications in nanodevice, catalytic agent, and magnetic recording.
Triarachidonoyl Glycerol Purification Process
Authors: Venegas‐Venegas E. , Rincón‐Cervera M. A. , Guil‐Guerrero J. L.
Published: September 2010

Purification of arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n‐6) from different sources has been previously reported, but in most cases AA is obtained after triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolysis. In this work, gravimetric normal‐phase chromatography with gradient elution has been used to purify an AA‐enriched fraction of TAG from the commercial single cell oil named ARASCO (38–44% AA content). A TAG fraction with more than 90% AA content was obtained, employing appropriate solvents for alimentary processing. The process was scaled up with satisfactory results. Due to the use of food‐safe solvents in the whole process, it could be applied with alimentary or pharmaceutical purposes.
Imaging of pancreas transplantation and its complications
Authors: França Manuela , Certo Manuela , Martins Lasalete , Varzim Pedro , Teixeira Manuel , Henriques António Castro , Ribeiro António Manuel , Alves Filipe Caseiro
Published: September 2010

Pancreas transplantation is an effective treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus and is being increasingly performed worldwide. Early recognition of graft-related complications is fundamental for graft survival; thus, radiologists must be aware of the transplantation technique, pancreas-graft imaging and postoperative complications. We present normal pancreas-graft imaging appearances and the imaging features of postoperative complications.
Bibliometrics and the Modern Commercial Regime
Authors: Mirowski Philip
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the role of bibliometrics in exploring the question of the effect of commercialization upon the health of American science. It approaches the problem through the question: What would constitute relevant evidence documenting decline in the number of scientific articles published by American authors in the last two decades? Because even the data have been privatized recently, it begins by criticizing article counts used in other venues. It concludes by demonstrating that the problem of decline is not merely in relative shares between countries, but also an absolute decline in American-authored articles across the board. We close with some proposed causes of the decline.
Les sciences sociales françaises entre ancrage local et visibilité internationale
Authors: Gingras Yves , Mosbah-Natanson Sébastien
Published: September 2010

In the current context of a growing internationalization of scientific exchanges, the issue of the language of scientific publications – settled in the natural sciences since the 1980s – has now become a central issue for the Social Sciences. Our paper discusses this topical issue through a detailed analysis of the linguistic strategies adopted by two major French social science journals, Population and Revue française de sociologie (RFS), which have chosen to translate into English a selection (RFS) or all (Population) of their articles. In view of the measured effects in terms of visibility in the international scientific field – increasing visibility for the journal Population at the expense of its French edition and a marginal effect for the RFS – we raise questions about the role of national social sciences journals and recall that the specific intellectual mission of these journals lies beyond the pursuit of internationalization.
Improvements in LDL particle size and distribution by short-term alternate day modified fasting in obese adults
Authors: Varady Krista A. , Bhutani Surabhi , Klempel Monica C. , Lamarche Benoît
Published: September 2010

Alternate day modified fasting (ADMF) beneficially modulates several indicators of CHD risk, but its effects on LDL particle size have never been tested. Accordingly, we examined the effects of ADMF on LDL particle size and distribution in obese adults. Sixteen obese subjects participated in a 10-week trial with three consecutive phases: (1) 2-week control phase; (2) 4-week ADMF controlled feeding phase; (3) 4-week ADMF self-selected feeding phase. After 8 weeks of diet, body weight and waist circumference were reduced (P < 0·05) by 5·6 (sem0·9) kg and 4·0 (sem0·9) cm, respectively. LDL-cholesterol and TAG concentrations decreased (P < 0·05) by 25 (sem10) % and 32 (sem6) %, respectively. Peak LDL particle size increased (P < 0·05) from 266 (sem1) to 268 (sem1) Å. Additionally, the proportion of small LDL particles decreased (P < 0·05) from 13 (sem2) % to 9 (sem3) %, while the proportion of large LDL particles increased (P < 0·05) from 68 (sem4) % to 76 (sem4) % post-treatment. These findings suggest that ADMF is an effective diet strategy for increasing LDL particle size and decreasing the proportion of small, dense LDL particles in obese adults.