bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activity of α‐Aminoadipate Reductase Depends on the N‐Terminally Extending Domain
Authors: Kalb Daniel , Lackner Gerald , Rappe Marcus , Hoffmeister Dirk
Published: May 2015

L‐α‐Aminoadipic acid reductases catalyze the ATP‐ and NADPH‐dependent reduction of L‐α‐aminoadipic acid to the corresponding 6‐semialdehyde during fungal L‐lysine biosynthesis. These reductases resemble peptide synthetases with regard to their multidomain composition but feature a unique domain of elusive function—now referred to as an adenylation activating (ADA) domain—that extends the reductase N‐terminally. Truncated enzymes based on NPS3, the L‐α‐aminoadipic acid reductase of the basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, lacking the ADA domain either partially or entirely were tested for activity in vitro, together with an ADA‐adenylation didomain and the ADA domainless adenylation domain. We provide evidence that the ADA domain is required for substrate adenylation: that is, the initial step of the catalytic turnover. Our biochemical data are supported by in silico modeling that identified the ADA domain as a partial peptide synthetase condensation domain.
Structural Integrity of the A147T Polymorph of Mammalian TSPO
Authors: Jaremko Mariusz , Jaremko Łukasz , Giller Karin , Becker Stefan , Zweckstetter Markus
Published: May 2015

Ligands of the transmembrane protein TSPO are used for imaging of brain inflammation, but a common polymorphism in TSPO complicates their application to humans. Here we determined the three‐dimensional structure and side‐chain dynamics of the A147T polymorph of mammalian TSPO in complex with the first‐generation ligand PK11195. We show that A147T TSPO is able to retain the same structural and dynamic profile as the wild‐type protein and thus binds PK11195 with comparable affinity. Our study is important for the design of more potent diagnostic and therapeutic ligands of TSPO.
Visible‐Light‐Assisted Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide with Ammonia over Dye‐Modified Titania Photocatalysts
Authors: Yamamoto Akira , Teramura Kentaro , Hosokawa Saburo , Shishido Tetsuya , Tanaka Tsunehiro
Published: May 2015

Dye‐modified TiO2 photocatalysts showed a high photocatalytic activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 in the presence of O2 under visible‐light irradiation. Among the 15 dyes investigated, the maximum conversion was achieved using a Ru(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐4,4′‐dicarboxylic acid)2(NCS)2 complex (N3‐dye) for the modification of TiO2 (NO conversion >99 %, N2 selectivity >99 %). Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy showed that nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−) species were generated on the N3‐TiO2 surface under visible‐light irradiation. In gas‐switching reactions, NO2− on the N3‐TiO2 surface became N2 by a reaction with adsorbed NH3 under visible‐light irradiation, although NO3− reacted with NH3 to form N2 and N2O. Based on the reactivity with NH3, we concluded that the NO2− species is an intermediate in the selective photocatalytic reduction and reacts with NH3 adsorbed on the surface of N3‐TiO2 under visible‐light irradiation to form N2 selectively.
Green Synthesis of Rice Bran Microsphere Catalysts Containing Natural Biopromoters
Authors: Sun Jian , Xu Hengyong , Liu Guoguo , Zhu Pengfei , Fan Ronggang , Yoneyama Yoshiharu , Tsubaki Noritatsu
Published: May 2015

The application of rice‐bran catalysts containing “biopromoters”, from rice bran, in the production of synthetic oil was investigated. Trace minerals such as K, Mg, and Mn from rice bran were successfully incorporated into Fe@C microspherical cores and played a cooperative promotional role on the iron species. The yield of the hydrocarbons was strikingly higher than that obtained with the unpromoted catalyst. Further, rice bran is a natural carbon source, not a chemical carbon source, that can be used to fabricate the carbon microsphere support. This concept opens a new avenue for recycling and boosts the value of abundant waste biomass in nature.
N‐way modeling for wavelet filter determination in multivariate image analysis
Authors: Prats‐Montalbán José Manuel , Cocchi Marina , Ferrer Alberto
Published: May 2015

When trying to analyze spatial relationships in image analysis, wavelets appear as one of the state‐of‐the‐art tools. However, image analysis is a problem‐dependent issue, and different applications might require different wavelets in order to gather the main sources of variation in the acquired images with respect to the specific task to be performed. This paper provides a methodology based on N‐way modeling for properly selecting the best wavelet choice to use or at least to provide a range of possible wavelet choices (in terms of families, filters, and decomposition levels), for each image and problem at hand. The methodology has been applied on two different data sets with exploratory and monitoring objectives. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Luminescent Di‐ and Trinuclear Boron Complexes Based on Aromatic Iminopyrrolyl Spacer Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in OLEDs
Authors: Suresh D. , Gomes Clara S. B. , Lopes Patrícia S. , Figueira Cláudia A. , Ferreira Bruno , Gomes Pedro T. , Di Paolo Roberto E. , Maçanita António L. , Duarte M. Teresa , Charas Ana , Morgado Jorge , Vila‐Viçosa Diogo , Calhorda Maria José
Published: May 2015

New bis‐ and tris(iminopyrrole)‐functionalized linear (1,2‐(HNC4H3‐C(H)N)2‐C6H4 (2), 1,3‐(HNC4H3‐C(H)N)2‐C6H4 (3), 1,4‐(HNC4H3‐C(H)N)2‐C6H4 (4), 4,4′‐(HNC4H3‐C(H)N)2‐(C6H4‐C6H4) (5), 1,5‐(HNC4H3C‐(H)N)2‐C10H6 (6), 2,6‐(HNC4H3C‐(H)N)2‐C10H6 (7), 2,6‐(HNC4H3C‐(H)N)2‐C14H8 (8)) and star‐shaped (1,3,5‐(HNC4H3‐C(H)N‐1,4‐C6H4)3‐C6H3 (9)) π‐conjugated molecules were synthesized by the condensation reactions of 2‐formylpyrrole (1) with several aromatic di‐ and triamines. The corresponding linear diboron chelate complexes (Ph2B[1,3‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐phenyl]BPh2 (10), Ph2B[1,4‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐phenyl]BPh2 (11), Ph2B[4,4′‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐biphenyl]BPh2 (12), Ph2B[1,5‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐naphthyl]BPh2 (13), Ph2B[2,6‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐naphthyl]BPh2 (14), Ph2B[2,6‐bis(iminopyrrolyl)‐anthracenyl]BPh2 (15)) and the star‐shaped triboron complex ([4′,4′′,4′′′‐tris(iminopyrrolyl)‐1,3,5‐triphenylbenzene](BPh2)3 (16)) were obtained in moderate to good yields, by the treatment of 3–9 with B(C6H5)3. The ligand precursors are non‐emissive, whereas most of their boron complexes are highly fluorescent; their emission color depends on the π‐conjugation length. The photophysical properties of the luminescent polyboron compounds were measured, showing good solution fluorescence quantum yields ranging from 0.15 to 0.69. DFT and time‐dependent DFT calculations confirmed that molecules 10 and 16 are blue emitters, because only one of the iminopyrrolyl groups becomes planar in the singlet excited state, whereas the second (and third) keeps the same geometry. Compound 13, in which planarity is not achieved in any of the groups, is poorly emissive. In the other examples (11, 12, 14, and 15), the LUMO is stabilized, narrowing the gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO), and the two iminopyrrolyl groups become planar, extending the size of the π‐system, to afford green to yellow emissions. Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated by using the new polyboron complexes and their luminance was found to be in the order of 2400 cd m−2, for single layer devices, increasing to 4400 cd m−2 when a hole‐transporting layer is used.
Protonation and Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer at S‐Ligated [4Fe‐4S] Clusters
Authors: Saouma Caroline T. , Morris Wesley D. , Darcy Julia W. , Mayer James M.
Published: May 2015

Biological [Fe‐S] clusters are increasingly recognized to undergo proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET), but the site of protonation, mechanism, and role for PCET remains largely unknown. Here we explore this reactivity with synthetic model clusters. Protonation of the arylthiolate‐ligated [4Fe‐4S] cluster [Fe4S4(SAr)4]2− (1, SAr=S‐2,4‐6‐(iPr)3C6H2) leads to thiol dissociation, reversibly forming [Fe4S4(SAr)3L]1− (2) and ArSH (L=solvent, and/or conjugate base). Solutions of 2+ArSH react with the nitroxyl radical TEMPO to give [Fe4S4(SAr)4]1− (1ox) and TEMPOH. This reaction involves PCET coupled to thiolate association and may proceed via the unobserved protonated cluster [Fe4S4(SAr)3(HSAr)]1− (1‐H). Similar reactions with this and related clusters proceed comparably. An understanding of the PCET thermochemistry of this cluster system has been developed, encompassing three different redox levels and two protonation states.
Labeling Strategy and Signal Broadening Mechanism of Protein NMR Spectroscopy in Xenopus laevis Oocytes
Authors: Ye Yansheng , Liu Xiaoli , Chen Yanhua , Xu Guohua , Wu Qiong , Zhang Zeting , Yao Chendie , Liu Maili , Li Conggang
Published: May 2015

We used Xenopus laevis oocytes, a paradigm for a variety of biological studies, as a eukaryotic model system for in‐cell protein NMR spectroscopy. The small globular protein GB1 was one of the first studied in Xenopus oocytes, but there have been few reports since then of high‐resolution spectra in oocytes. The scarcity of data is at least partly due to the lack of good labeling strategies and the paucity of information on resonance broadening mechanisms. Here, we systematically evaluate isotope enrichment and labeling methods in oocytes injected with five different proteins with molecular masses of 6 to 54 kDa. 19F labeling is more promising than 15N, 13C, and 2H enrichment. We also used 19F NMR spectroscopy to quantify the contribution of viscosity, weak interactions, and sample inhomogeneity to resonance broadening in cells. We found that the viscosity in oocytes is only about 1.2 times that of water, and that inhomogeneous broadening is a major factor in determining line width in these cells.
Guapsidial A and Guadials B and C: Three New Meroterpenoids with Unusual Skeletons from the Leaves of Psidium guajava
Authors: Jian Yu‐Qing , Huang Xiao‐Jun , Zhang Dong‐Mei , Jiang Ren‐Wang , Chen Min‐Feng , Zhao Bing‐Xin , Wang Ying , Ye Wen‐Cai
Published: May 2015

A novel sesquiterpene‐based Psidium meroterpenoid, possessing an unusual coupling pattern, and two new monoterpene‐based meroterpenoids with unprecedented skeletons were isolated from the leaves of Psidium guajava. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic, X‐ray diffraction, and computational methods. The plausible biosynthetic pathway of these meroterpenoids as well as their cytotoxicities toward HepG2 and HepG2/ADM cells were also discussed.
Synthesis of Peptide‐Based Hybrid Nanobelts with Enhanced Color Emission by Heat Treatment or Water Induction
Authors: Liu Xingcen , Zhu Pengli , Fei Jinbo , Zhao Jie , Yan Xuehai , Li Junbai
Published: May 2015

We demonstrate that an inorganic lanthanide ion (Tb3+) or organic dye molecules were encapsulated in situ into diphenylalanine (FF) organogels by a general, simple, and efficient co‐assembly process, which generated peptide‐based hybrid nanobelts with a range of colored emissions. In the presence of a photosensitizer (salicylic acid), the organogel can serve as an excellent molecular‐donor scaffold to investigate FRET to Tb3+. More importantly, heat treatment or water induction instigated a morphology transition from nanofibers to nanobelts, after which the participation of guest molecules in the FF assembly was promoted and the stability and photoluminescence emission of the composite organogels were enhanced.
Carbon‐11 Radiolabelling of Organosulfur Compounds: 11C Synthesis of the Progesterone Receptor Agonist Tanaproget
Authors: Haywood Tom , Kealey Steven , Sánchez‐Cabezas Santiago , Hall James J. , Allott Louis , Smith Graham , Plisson Christophe , Miller Philip W.
Published: May 2015

Herein a new 11C radiolabelling strategy for the fast and efficient synthesis of thioureas and related derivatives using the novel synthon, 11CS2, is reported. This approach has enabled the facile labelling of a potent progesterone receptor (PR) agonist, [11C]Tanaproget, by the intramolecular reaction of the acyclic aminohydroxyl precursor with 11CS2, which has potential applications as a positron emission tomography radioligand for cancer imaging.
Stereoselective Peterson Olefinations from Bench‐Stable Reagents and N‐Phenyl Imines
Authors: Das Manas , Manvar Atul , Jacolot Maïwenn , Blangetti Marco , Jones Roderick C. , O'Shea Donal F.
Published: May 2015

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Donal F. O’Shea at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The image depicts the facade of the original building of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which has housed the chemistry department since its foundation in 1828. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201500475.
A Helical Polyphenylacetylene Having Amino Alcohol Moieties Without Chiral Side Groups as a Chiral Ligand for the Asymmetric Addition of Diethylzinc to Benzaldehyde
Authors: Liu Lijia , Long Qing , Aoki Toshiki , Zhang Geng , Kaneko Takashi , Teraguchi Masahiro , Zhang Chunhong , Wang Yudan
Published: May 2015

One‐handed helical polyphenylacetylenes having achiral amino alcohol moieties, but no chiral side groups, were synthesized by the helix‐sense‐selective copolymerization of an achiral phenylacetylene having an amino alcohol side group with a phenylacetylene having two hydroxyl groups. Since the resulting helical copolymers were successfully utilized as chiral ligands for the enantioselective alkylation of benzaldehyde with diethylzinc, we can conclude that the main‐chain chirality based on the one‐handed helical conformation is useful for the chiral catalysis of an asymmetric reaction for the first time. The enantioselectivities of the reaction were controlled by the optical purities of the helical polymer ligands. In addition, the polymer ligands could be easily recovered by precipitation after the reaction. Chirality 27:454–458, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
User cooperation effects on firm's innovation outputs
Authors: Sánchez‐González Gloria , Herrera Liliana
Published: May 2015

We analyzed the effects of R&D cooperation with users and the intensity/continuity of such cooperation on firms' innovation output—whether radical or incremental. We also examined the moderating effect of firm size on these relationships. Results show that cooperation with users favours the development of both radical and incremental product innovations. In addition, we found that the higher the intensity/continuity of the relationship with users, the more likely radical innovations are to develop when compared with incremental innovations. We note that the positive effect of cooperation on the development of innovation is especially significant for small firms. Copyright © 2015 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beneficial Effects of Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Sleep‐Disordered Breathing in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Yoshihisa Akiomi , Suzuki Satoshi , Yamauchi Hiroyuki , Sato Takamasa , Oikawa Masayoshi , Kobayashi Atsushi , Yamaki Takayoshi , Sugimoto Koichi , Kunii Hiroyuki , Nakazato Kazuhiko , Suzuki Hitoshi , Saitoh Shu‐Ichi , Takeishi Yasuchika
Published: May 2015

Background

Right‐heart dysfunction is associated with poor prognosis in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF). It remains unclear whether sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) treatment using positive airway pressure (PAP) improves right‐heart and pulmonary function and exercise capacity and reduces mortality rates of HFpEF patients.

Hypothesis

PAP may improve right‐heart and pulmonary function, exercise capacity and prognosis in HFpEF patients with SDB.

Methods

One hundred nine consecutive patients with HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction >50%) and moderate to severe SDB (apnea‐hypopnea index ≥15/h) treated with medications were divided into 2 groups: 31 patients with PAP (PAP group) and 78 patients without PAP (non‐PAP group). Right ventricular fractional area change (RV‐FAC), tricuspid valve regurgitation pressure gradient (TR‐PG), tricuspid valve E/E′, forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), percentage of vital capacity, and peak VO2 were determined before and 6 months later, and all‐cause mortality was followed up for 916 days.

Results

All parameters improved in the PAP group (RV‐FAC, 36.0% –46.5%; TR‐PG, 31.1 mm Hg–22.4 mm Hg; tricuspid valve E/E′, 7.8–5.1; FEV1/FVC, 83.9%–89.8%; percentage of vital capacity, 83.5%–89.9%; and peak VO2, 16.6 mL/kg/min–19.6 mL/kg/min; P <0.05, respectively) but not in the non‐PAP group. Importantly, all‐cause mortality was significantly lower in the PAP group than in the non‐PAP group (0% vs 12.8%; log‐rank P = 0.014).

Conclusions

Positive airway pressure improves right‐heart and pulmonary function and exercise capacity and may reduce all‐cause mortality in patients with HFpEF and SDB.
The Biological Applications of Inorganic Nanoparticle Drug Carriers
Authors: Zhao Mei‐Xia , Zeng Er‐Zao , Zhu Bing‐Jie
Published: May 2015

Inorganic nanoparticle drug carriers have potential applications in drug targeting, improving the release and bioavailability of drugs, and reducing the secondary effects of drugs. In recent years, a hot topic in the field of nanoparticle‐based drug delivery research has been to develop inorganic nanoparticle drug carriers that are capable of concomitant detection, monitoring, and localized treatment of specific disease sites. Such an inorganic carrier system would have great potential to improve early detection for therapeutic interventions, thereby enhancing the possibility of curing diseases. This could be achievable because of the possibility to detect abnormal cells before the appearance of diseased tissues or tumors. In this paper, we review the characteristics and advantages of various inorganic nanoparticle drug carriers, such as quantum dots (QDs), nanoscale magnetic particles, and nanoscale gold and silica, and discuss a selection of recent examples from this broad field.
Sn‐Beta Zeolite Catalysts with High Sn Contents Prepared from Sn–Si Mixed Oxide Composites
Authors: Iida Takayuki , Takagaki Atsushi , Kohara Shinji , Okubo Tatsuya , Wakihara Toru
Published: May 2015

The hydrothermal preparation of Sn‐beta zeolites with high Sn contents is an eminent issue in zeolite syntheses, since these zeolites are some of the most anticipated materials for industrial catalysis. In this work, first, mechanochemical treatment was utilized to obtain a Sn–Si mixed oxide composite, in which the Sn was found to be homogeneously distributed inside the silica network. The composite was further used as the reactant for the crystallization of Sn‐beta zeolite catalysts. Incorporation of Sn into the framework was achieved up to Sn/(Sn+Si)=1.6 mol %, which is the highest value reported by far using conventional hydrothermal treatment. A high catalytic performance for glucose isomerization was also confirmed. These results suggest that the utilization of a mixed oxide composite is a critical method for the preparation of stannosilicate zeolites with high Sn contents through hydrothermal treatment.
Influence of Dopant Loading on the Photo‐ and Electrochemical Properties of (N, O)‐Co‐doped Graphene.
Authors: Baldoví Hermenegildo G. , Albarracín Ferran , Álvaro Mercedes , Ferrer Belén , García Hermenegildo
Published: May 2015

A series of (N, O)‐co‐doped graphenes with different N and O loadings are prepared by the pyrolysis of natural chitosan. When the percentage of dopant increases, the conduction‐band potential and charge‐separation quantum yield increase, whereas the charge‐separation lifetime decreases.
Metacognition in First Episode Psychosis: Item Level Analysis of Associations with Symptoms and Engagement
Authors: MacBeth Angus , Gumley Andrew , Schwannauer Matthias , Carcione Antonino , McLeod Hamish J. , Dimaggio Giancarlo
Published: May 2015

Significant metacognitive impairments are observed in first episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic psychosis samples. There is evidence of associations between metacognition and presentation in FEP, but the relative contribution of metacognitive understanding of the self and the other is as yet unclear. The current study is a secondary analysis of date on metacognition, symptoms and engagement with treatment (help‐seeking) in an FEP sample. In a cross‐sectional cohort study, individuals in the first 12 months of treatment metacognition were assessed with the Metacognition Assessment Scale‐Revised version (MAS‐R). Psychotic symptomatology and help‐seeking within treatment (clinician‐rated service engagement) were also measured. An item level analysis of the MAS‐R was conducted exploring associations between symptoms and cognitive, emotional, differentiation, integration and decentration aspects of metacognition. We report that associations between negative symptoms and deficits in the understanding of other's mental states extend across cognitive, emotional, integrative and decentration aspects of metacognition. We also report associations between negative symptoms and understanding one's own mind. We also note that cognitive and decentration aspects of metacognition were significantly associated with help‐seeking once in treatment. Our findings suggest that an appreciation of metacognitive processes may inform treatment frameworks for FEP. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Messages

Individual components of metacognition including the capacity to relate cognitive and emotional variables are important in first episode phychosis.

Impaired metacognitive understanding of both one's own and others' mental states is associated with increased negative symptoms.

Metacognitive variables may be important in understanding how different individuals seek help or engage with services after the initiation of treatment.
Energy‐efficient error coding and transmission for cognitive wireless body area network
Authors: ul Hasan Najam , Ejaz Waleed , Atiq Mahin K. , Kim Hyung Seok
Published: May 2015

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) have been developed as human body monitoring systems to predict, diagnose and treat diseases. The two important concerns for WBAN are sensor lifetime and latency. Because the signal transmission in WBAN takes place in or around the human body, the fading and collision of the channel due to other existing wireless devices affect the packet error rate significantly. Hence, the lifetime and latency of the sensor are crucial. To mitigate these problems, a cognitive radio (CR) based WBAN can be a promising solution. In this paper, a cognitive forward error control mechanism for CR‐based WBAN has been presented. Several issues in CR‐based networks have been addressed so far to cope with energy and latency issues. However, the error control mechanism has not been investigated for CR networks. Furthermore, existing studies of the error control mechanism for wireless sensor networks cannot be applied to the CR network because of the opportunistic spectrum access mechanism (i.e. the intermittent availability of spectrum resources). The method presented in this paper adaptively selects the number of hops to the sink and adjusts the redundancy to minimize the expected latency and energy consumption. The mathematical analysis and numerical comparison show that the proposed method achieves better performance in terms of latency and energy efficiency in the multihop CR sensor network. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diffuse pulmonary meningotheliomatosis: A diagnostically challenging entity on fine‐needle aspiration cytology
Authors: Huang Eric C. , Zhang Yanhong , Bishop John W. , Gandour‐Edwards Regina F. , Afify Alaa M.
Published: May 2015

Diffuse pulmonary meningotheliomatosis (DPM) is an exceedingly rare entity consisting of multiple minute pulmonary meningothelial‐like nodules profusely involving the lungs. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first cytologic description of this uncommon lesion from a 57‐year‐old nonsmoking woman. Computerized tomographic‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology from a left upper lobe nodule showed whorled/nested clusters of elongated cells with oval nuclei, clear pseudonuclear inclusions, nuclear grooves/indentations, smooth nuclear contours, fine granular chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and abundant fibrillary cytoplasm with indistinct cell borders. The subsequent pulmonary wedge resections confirmed the diagnosis of DPM. As this condition is exceptionally rare, familiarity with these cytologic features is of the essence to accurately establish this challenging diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2015;43:727–730. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evidence for two distinct waves of epidermal ionocyte differentiation during medaka embryonic development
Authors: Trayer Vincent , Séjourné Nina , Gay Stéphanie , Thermes Violette
Published: May 2015

Background: The fish epidermis contains specific cells, or ionocytes, that are specialized in ion transport and contribute to the osmoregulatory function. Besides the zebrafish model, the medaka (Oryzias latipes) has recently emerged as an important model for osmoregulation studies because it possesses a particularly high adaptability to salinity changes. However, hindering the progress of research on embryonic ionocytes is the lack of a comprehensive view of their developmental dynamic. Results: Using EdU integrations and the foxi3 and NKA markers, we characterized the proliferating progenitors of ionocytes (here called ionoblastes) and we quantified them, along with ionocytes, during embryogenesis. While progenitors of the vitellin zone promptly differentiate in a synchronous manner, progenitors of the lateral zone differentiate progressively and asynchronously. Furthermore, we evidenced that nhe3 is expressed in differentiated ionocytes of both zones, whereas ecac, ncc, and gcm2 are strictly specific of the lateral zone. We also evidenced that the two zones are differentially regulated in distilled water and seawater. Conclusions: Our data led us to propose a model timeline, which provides evidence for the expansion of two successive and distinct populations of ionocytes. This model opens the way for new studies related to epidermal development, plasticity and osmoregulation ontogeny. Developmental Dynamics 244:888–902, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heteroskedasticity as a leading indicator of desertification in spatially explicit data
Authors: Seekell David A. , Dakos Vasilis
Published: May 2015

Regime shifts are abrupt transitions between alternate ecosystem states including desertification in arid regions due to drought or overgrazing. Regime shifts may be preceded by statistical anomalies such as increased autocorrelation, indicating declining resilience and warning of an impending shift. Tests for conditional heteroskedasticity, a type of clustered variance, have proven powerful leading indicators for regime shifts in time series data, but an analogous indicator for spatial data has not been evaluated. A spatial analog for conditional heteroskedasticity might be especially useful in arid environments where spatial interactions are critical in structuring ecosystem pattern and process. We tested the efficacy of a test for spatial heteroskedasticity as a leading indicator of regime shifts with simulated data from spatially extended vegetation models with regular and scale‐free patterning. These models simulate shifts from extensive vegetative cover to bare, desert‐like conditions. The magnitude of spatial heteroskedasticity increased consistently as the modeled systems approached a regime shift from vegetated to desert state. Relative spatial autocorrelation, spatial heteroskedasticity increased earlier and more consistently. We conclude that tests for spatial heteroskedasticity can contribute to the growing toolbox of early warning indicators for regime shifts analyzed with spatially explicit data.
Mouse pancreatic beta cells express MHC class II and stimulate CD4+ T cells to proliferate
Authors: Zhao Yuxing , Scott Nicholas A. , Quah Hong Sheng , Krishnamurthy Balasubramanian , Bond Francene , Loudovaris Thomas , Mannering Stuart I. , Kay Thomas W. H. , Thomas Helen E.
Published: May 2015

Type 1 diabetes results from destruction of pancreatic beta cells by autoreactive T cells. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells have been shown to mediate beta‐cell killing. While CD8+ T cells can directly recognize MHC class I on beta cells, the interaction between CD4+ T cells and beta cells remains unclear. Genetic association studies have strongly implicated HLA‐DQ alleles in human type 1 diabetes. Here we studied MHC class II expression on beta cells in nonobese diabetic mice that were induced to develop diabetes by diabetogenic CD4+ T cells with T‐cell receptors that recognize beta‐cell antigens. Acute infiltration of CD4+ T cells in islets occurred with rapid onset of diabetes. Beta cells from islets with immune infiltration expressed MHC class II mRNA and protein. Exposure of beta cells to IFN‐γ increased MHC class II gene expression, and blocking IFN‐γ signaling in beta cells inhibited MHC class II upregulation. IFN‐γ also increased HLA‐DR expression in human islets. MHC class II+ beta cells stimulated the proliferation of beta‐cell‐specific CD4+ T cells. Our study indicates that MHC class II molecules may play an important role in beta‐cell interaction with CD4+ T cells in the development of type 1 diabetes.
The power of regression to the mean: A social norm study revisited
Authors: Verkooijen Kirsten T. , Stok F. Marijn , Mollen Saar
Published: May 2015

This research follows up on a study by Schultz et al. (), in which the effect of a social norm intervention on energy consumption was examined. The present studies included control groups to examine whether social norm effects would persist beyond regression to the mean. Both studies had a 2 (baseline consumption: below mean versus above mean) × 2 (message condition: no‐message control versus norm message) design. Based on baseline fruit (Study 1) or unhealthy snack (Study 2) consumption, students were classified as above mean or below mean for consumption. One week later, half of the students in the above‐mean and below‐mean groups received normative feedback; control groups did not. Neither study showed an effect of norm messages on behavior relative to control, providing evidence for regression to the mean as an alternative explanation. Findings highlight the importance of control groups to distinguish social norm intervention effects from mere regression to the mean.
Microchip‐based forensic short tandem repeat genotyping
Authors: Kim Yong Tae , Heo Hyun Young , Oh Shin Hye , Lee Seung Hwan , Kim Do Hyun , Seo Tae Seok
Published: May 2015

Micro total analysis system (μTAS) or lab‐on‐a‐chip (LOC) technology has advanced over decades, and the high performance for chemical and biological analysis has been well demonstrated with advantages of low sample consumption, rapid analysis time, high‐throughput screening, and portability. In particular, μTAS or LOC based genetic applications have been extensively explored, and the short tandem repeat (STR) typing on a chip has garnered attention in the forensic community due to its special use for human identification in the field of mass disaster and missing person investigation, paternity testing, and perpetrator identification. The STR typing process consists of sample collection, DNA extraction, DNA quantitation, STR loci amplification, capillary electrophoretic separation, and STR profiling. Recent progress of microtechnology shows its ability to substitute the conventional analytical tools, and furthermore demonstrates total integration of the whole STR processes on a single wafer for on‐site STR typing. In this review article, we highlighted some representative results for fluorescence labeling techniques, microchip‐based DNA purification, on‐chip polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a capillary electrophoretic microdevice, and a fully integrated microdevice for STR typing.
Continuous dielectrophoretic particle separation using a microfluidic device with 3D electrodes and vaulted obstacles
Authors: Jia Yankai , Ren Yukun , Jiang Hongyuan
Published: May 2015

This paper reports a microfluidic separation device combining 3D electrodes and vaulted obstacles to continuously separate particles experiencing strong positive dielectrophoresis (DEP) from particles experiencing weak positive DEP, or from particles experiencing negative DEP. The separation is achieved by first focusing the particle mixture into a narrow stream by a hydrodynamic focusing flow, and then deviating them into different outlets by AC DEP. The vaulted obstacles facilitate the separation by both increasing the non‐uniformity of the electric field, and influencing the particles to move in regions strongly affected by DEP. The 3D electrodes give rise to a spatially non‐uniform electric field and extend DEP effect to the channel height. Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effects of the obstacles on electric field distribution and particle trajectories so as to optimize the obstacle height and compare with the experimental results. The performance of the device is assessed by separating 25 μm gold‐coated particles from 10 μm particles in different flow rates by positive DEP and negative DEP, and also separating 25 μm gold‐coated particles from yeast cells using only positive DEP. The experimental observation shows a reasonable agreement with numerical simulation results.
CE‐MS‐based serum fingerprinting to track evolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ciborowski Michal , Adamska Edyta , Rusak Magdalena , Godzien Joanna , Wilk Juliusz , Citko Anna , Bauer Witold , Gorska Maria , Kretowski Adam
Published: May 2015

Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is preceded by insulin resistance (IR), which may evolve to impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG and IGT are considered as prediabetic states (PD). Prediabetes indicates the high risk for the future development of diabetes, it is estimated that up to 70% of prediabetics eventually develop T2DM. The risk of T2DM development is increased in overweight (OW) and obese (OB) people; however normal weight (NW) individuals also suffer from T2DM. The present study was designed to evaluate whether changes in polar metabolites induced by T2DM evolution are different between NW, overweight and obese individuals. CE‐MS serum fingerprinting was performed on 197 serum samples obtained from OW, OB, and NW humans whom were IR, prediabetics, diabetics or with normal glucose homeostasis. Metabolic changes evoked by the progression of T2DM differ between obese, overweight, and normal weight subjects. Based on obtained results several metabolites can be proposed as a promising target to track T2DM evolution; BCAA in OW and NW humans, lysine in OB, while acetylcarnitine and methionine independently on body mass index. Validation of obtained results on larger population is required.
Development and validation of a generic stability‐indicating MEEKC method for five fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Authors: Kaale Eliangiringa , Höllein Ludwig , Holzgrabe Ulrike
Published: May 2015

In this paper, a reliable stability‐indicating generic MEEKC method for the analysis of five commonly used fluoroquinolones (FQs) has been developed and optimized by a central composite circumscribed experimental design. The separation was carried out using a fused silica capillary (60.2 cm total length) and a microemulsion (ME) composed of 81.75% (w/w) of a 125 mM NaH2PO4 solution having a pH of 2.75, 2.65% (w/w) SDS, 1.00% (w/w) n‐octanol, 6.60% (w/w) n‐butanol and 8.00% (w/w) 2‐propanol. A voltage of 28 kV was applied in a reverse polarity mode. A linear relationship was established from 0.04 to 0.48 mg/ml with R2 values higher than 0.98 for all five FQs. Both repeatability and intermediate precision were less than 3% and accuracy ranging from 97 to 100%. Of note, ciprofloxacin impurity A and ofloxacin impurity A could be separated from the respective drug substance in a single run which cannot be achieved using the official HPLC method from the European Pharmacopoeia. Forced degradation of all FQs under heat, in acidic and alkaline medium, in the presence of oxidizing agents and under neutral hydrolysis conditions was investigated. The highest yield of degradation products was observed using oxidative hydrogen peroxide. Hence, the proposed MEEKC method can be used for the quantitative determination of the five FQs and their potential impurities within a total runtime of 20 min.
Joule heating monitoring in a microfluidic channel by observing the Brownian motion of an optically trapped microsphere
Authors: Brans Toon , Strubbe Filip , Schreuer Caspar , Vandewiele Stijn , Neyts Kristiaan , Beunis Filip
Published: May 2015

Electric fields offer a variety of functionalities to Lab‐on‐a‐Chip devices. The use of these fields often results in significant Joule heating, affecting the overall performance of the system. Precise knowledge of the temperature profile inside a microfluidic device is necessary to evaluate the implications of heat dissipation. This article demonstrates how an optically trapped microsphere can be used as a temperature probe to monitor Joule heating in these devices. The Brownian motion of the bead at room temperature is compared with the motion when power is dissipated in the system. This gives an estimate of the temperature increase at a specific location in a microfluidic channel. We demonstrate this method with solutions of different ionic strengths, and establish a precision of 0.9 K and an accuracy of 15%. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that transient heating processes can be monitored with this technique, albeit with a limited time resolution.
Geomorphological impact and morphodynamic effects on flow conveyance of the 1999 jökulhlaup at sólheimajökull, Iceland
Authors: Staines Kate E. H. , Carrivick Jonathan L.
Published: May 2015

The 1999 jökulhlaup at Sólheimajökull was the first major flood to be routed through the proglacial system in over 600 years. This study reconstructed the flood using hydrodynamic, sediment transport and morphodynamic numerical modelling informed by field surveys, aerial photograph and digital elevation model analysis. Total modelled sediment transport was 469 800 m3 (+/‐ 20%). Maximum erosion of 8.2 m occurred along the ice margin. Modelled net landscape change was –86 400 m3 (+/‐ 40%) resulting from –275 400 m3 (+/‐ 20%) proglacial erosion and 194 400 m3 (+/‐ 20%) proglacial deposition. Peak erosion rate and peak deposition rate were 650 m3 s‐1 (+/‐ 20%) and 595 m3 s‐1 (+/‐ 20%), respectively, and coincided with peak discharge of water at 1.5 h after flood initiation. The pattern of bed elevation change during the rising limb suggested widespread activation of the bed, whereas more organisation, perhaps primitive bedform development, occurred during the falling limb. Contrary to simplistic conceptual models, deposition occurred on the rising stage and erosion occurred on the falling limb. Comparison of the morphodynamic results with a hydrodynamic simulation illustrated effects of sediment transport and bed elevation change on flow conveyance. The morphodynamic model advanced flood arrival and peak discharge timings by 100% and 19%, respectively. However, peak flow depth and peak flow velocity were not significantly affected. We suggest that morphodynamic processes not only increase flow mass and momentum but that they also introduce a feedback process whereby flood conveyance becomes more efficient via erosion of minor bed protrusions and deposition that infills or subdues minor bed hollows. A major implication of this study is that reconstructions of outburst floods that ignore sediment transport, such as those used in interpretation of long‐term hydrological record and flood risk assessments, may need considerable refinement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reactive astrocytes as neural stem or progenitor cells: In vivo lineage, In vitro potential, and Genome‐wide expression analysis
Authors: Götz Magdalena , Sirko Swetlana , Beckers Johannes , Irmler Martin
Published: May 2015

Here, we review the stem cell hallmarks of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) during development and in some niches of the adult mammalian brain to then compare these with reactive astrocytes acquiring stem cell hallmarks after traumatic and ischemic brain injury. Notably, even endogenous NSCs including the earliest NSCs, the neuroepithelial cells, generate in most cases only a single type of progeny and self‐renew only for a rather short time in vivo. In vitro, however, especially cells cultured under neurosphere conditions reveal a larger potential and long‐term self‐renewal under the influence of growth factors. This is rather well comparable to reactive astrocytes in the traumatic or ischemic brain some of which acquire neurosphere‐forming capacity including multipotency and long‐term self‐renewal in vitro, while they remain within their astrocyte lineage in vivo. Both reactive astrocytes and endogenous NSCs exhibit stem cell hallmarks largely in vitro, but their lineage differs in vivo. Both populations generate largely a single cell type in vivo, but endogenous NSCs generate neurons and reactive astrocytes remain in the astrocyte lineage. However, at some early postnatal stages or in some brain regions reactive astrocytes can be released from this fate restriction, demonstrating that they can also enact neurogenesis. Thus, reactive astrocytes and NSCs share many characteristic hallmarks, but also exhibit key differences. This conclusion is further substantiated by genome‐wide expression analysis comparing NSCs at different stages with astrocytes from the intact and injured brain parenchyma. GLIA 2015;63:1452–1468
High prevalence of discordant human papillomavirus and p16 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in an African American cohort
Authors: Liu Jeffrey C. , Parajuli Shobha , Blackman Elizabeth , Gibbs Denise , Ellis Ashley , Hull Anna , Beck J. Robert , Giri Veda , Iherjirka Patrick , Khurana Jasvir S. , Ragin Camille R.
Published: May 2015

Background

Most studies on human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have been performed on white Americans. Our study examined the incidence of HPV in an African American oropharyngeal SCC cohort and its survival.

Methods

African American patients with oropharyngeal SCC in a combined tumor registry were identified. HPV16 testing was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA extracted from tumor blocks. The p16 staining was performed using standard immunohistochemistry.

Results

Forty‐four patients were identified for analysis. Seventy‐three percent of the tumors were HPV‐positive. Only 39% of the patients who were HPV‐positive were also p16‐positive. Survival between all 3 tumor types, patients who tested HPV‐positive/p16, HPV‐positive/p16‐positive, and HPV‐negative/p16‐negative was significantly different (p = .03). HPV/p16 status was significant on univariate and multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

HPV oropharyngeal SCC is strongly present in this African American cohort. Two thirds of the patients who were HPV‐positive were p16‐negative. Greater study is needed to explain the high p16 negativity among this HPV‐positive oropharyngeal SCC African American cohort. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E867–E872, 2016
Prospective study of sentinel node biopsy for high‐risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Gore Sinclair M. , Shaw Douglas , Martin Richard C. W. , Kelder Wendy , Roth Kathryn , Uren Roger , Gao Kan , Davies Sarah , Ashford Bruce G. , Ngo Quan , Shannon Kerwin , Clark Jonathan R.
Published: May 2015

Background

Nodal metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is poorly predicted clinically and is associated with a high mortality rate.

Methods

From 2010 to 2013, patients with high‐risk cutaneous SCC were assessed with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) either at the time of primary cutaneous tumor resection or at secondary wide local excision.

Results

Of 57 patients, 8 (14%) had nodal metastasis. Significant predictors of metastasis are the number of high‐risk factors (p = .008), perineural invasion (PNI; p = .05), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p = .05). During a mean of 19.4 months, 9 patients developed recurrence and 6 died of cutaneous SCC, indicating that over 1300 patients would be required for a randomized controlled trial with 80% power to detect a significant difference in disease‐free survival.

Conclusion

Lymph node metastasis occurs in 14% of patients with high‐risk cutaneous SCC. Larger studies will be required to identify which “high‐risk” factors should be considered as an indication for surgical assessment of the nodal basin. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E884–E889, 2016
Assessment of Silting Degree and Usable Lifetime of Small Reservoirs
Authors: Bogusław Michalec , Andrzej Wałęga
Published: May 2015

Statistical analysis of the parameters describing the silting process in 53 small reservoirs, located in 4 catchments in different geographical regions, yielded a model explaining general relationships between mean annual silting ratio (SA) and silting intensity (Si), as defined by Ŝamov. The silting intensity (Si) depends mainly on the regional hydrological conditions and the capability of a drainage system to transport the sediment, and it was defined by Ŝamov as the ratio of the initial reservoir capacity (V0) to the mean annual volume of sediment flowing into the reservoir (R). Regional relationships between SA and capacity–watershed area ratio were also developed for water reservoirs located in four climatic regions, i.e. in the Upper Vistula Basin, in the Rio Grande Basin in North America, in Puerto Rico and in the North Caucasus. It was found that the usable lifetime, determined for reservoirs in the Upper Vistula Basin, where SA was from 0.06 to 5.08%, ranged from a few dozen to over 100 years. It was also discovered that determining the usable lifetime for small reservoirs using the Pitt and Thompson nomogram is impossible or subject to considerable error. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tolerance Of Faba Bean, Chickpea And Lentil To Salinity: Accessions' Salinity Response Functions
Authors: Rameshwaran Ponnambalam , Qadir Manzoor , Ragab Ragab , Arslan Awadis , Majid Ghalia Abdul , Abdallah Khalaf
Published: May 2015

The productivity of crops irrigated with saline water or grown on salt‐affected soils depends on the salt tolerance of the crops, their accessions, and various environmental and cultural conditions such as soil properties, climate and irrigation methods. The level and ability of plants to tolerate salt stress is the most critical information for the successful management of salt‐affected agricultural lands and saline irrigation waters. In this paper, responses of three food legume crops (faba bean, chickpea and lentil) to salinity stress were analysed using the threshold‐slope linear response function and modified discount function. The response functions are calibrated using the 2009–2010 season data and validated using the 2010–2011 season data from faba bean, chickpea and lentil experiments conducted in Raqqa, Syria. The comparison was also made through SALTMED model predictions. The results of this study show that the salinity response functions and productivity of grain yield are highly variable within the accessions of the same crop. For optimum outcome, practitioners need to consider salinity response functions and also the productivity of different accessions and their response to salinity in relation to the soil and available irrigation water salinity levels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.