bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Germanium recovery by catechol complexation and subsequent flow through membrane and bead‐packed bed column
Authors: Takemura Hiroaki , Morisada Shintaro , Ohto Keisuke , Kawakita Hidetaka , Matsuo Yoshiyasu , Fukuda Daisuke
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND

Ion‐exchange has been a powerful tool for metal recovery. Germanium has been recovered using the commercially available N‐methylglucamine resin. To treat waste‐water from solar panel displays a method to separate selectively germanium from silicate ion was required. A novel recovery of germanium is proposed in which germanium is complexed with catechol in solution and the complex solution flowed through a membrane or bead‐packed bed.

RESULTS

By changing pH, germanium was complexed with catechol, 3‐methylcatechol and 4‐nitrocatechol in solution and the solution was adsorbed on the membrane in a batch mode, demonstrating that catechol exhibited a high adsorption performance in neutral pH. In a continuous system, the membrane achieved faster adsorption of the germanium complex than a bead‐packed bed.

CONCLUSION

The high‐speed recovery of germanium was due to the transport to the vicinity of quaternary amino group in the membrane via convection. A germanium solution containing silicate ions was passed through the membrane system, resulting in highly selective recovery of germanium ion. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Different fate of Pb and Cu at varied peroxide concentrations during the modified Fenton reaction in soil and its effect on the degradation of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene
Authors: Jho Eun Hea , Jung Jae‐Woong , Nam Kyoungphile
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND

Military areas such as firing ranges have serious contamination problems due to both heavy metals and nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). The feasibility of modified Fenton reactions for remediation of NACs is studied by investigating the fate of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) during the modified Fenton reactions and its effect on the degradation of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT) in soils at various hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations.

RESULTS

During the reactions, the Pb fate was not affected at ≤0.2 mol L−1 H2O2, but final aqueous phase Pb was higher in the samples than in the controls at >0.2 mol L−1 H2O2. These changes in the Pb fate resulted in interference with 2,4‐DNT degradation at ≥0.2 mol L−1 H2O2. Similarly, aqueous phase Cu was higher in samples with >0.2 mol L−1 H2O2 than in the controls; however, unlike Pb, these changes did not have adverse effects on 2,4‐DNT degradation.

CONCLUSION

The different effects of heavy metals such as Pb and Cu on 2,4‐DNT degradation in soils during modified Fenton reactions need to be understood to optimize 2,4‐DNT degradation performance. The results help to advance the Fenton reaction applications for the remediation of soils contaminated with Pb or Cu and 2,4‐DNT mixtures. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Larval development of japanese “conchostracans”: Part 3, larval development of lynceus biformis (crustacea, branchiopoda, laevicaudata) based on scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy
Authors: Olesen Jørgen , Fritsch Martin , Grygier Mark J.
Published: December 2012

For comparison with the remarkable larvae of the laevicaudatan (clam shrimp) Lynceus brachyurus, a basic description of the larval sequence of another laevicaudatan branchiopod, the Japanese Lynceus biformis, is provided. Four larval stages have been identified, ranging in size from 258 to 560 μm in length. The first stage has no flattened dorsal shield, in contrast to the three following stages, in which such a shield is present. During development, the only significant changes to the naupliar appendages occur in the antenna at the molt from stage 1 to 2, with the addition of a fourth apical seta to the endopod and a change in the form of the naupliar process, used for food manipulation, from a long, unbranched, pointed spine to a bifid structure. In addition, buds of trunk limbs (five pairs) first appear externally in stage 4 but can be recognized through the cuticle in the previous stage. The larval sequence and larval morphology of L. biformis differ from those of L. brachyurus in at least two respects. L. brachyurus has a dorsal shield in the earliest known stages, but such a shield is lacking in the first stage of L. biformis. Another difference is that L. brachyurus has a huge, flattened, kidney‐shaped labrum, whereas that of L. biformis is smaller and bears four robust, denticulate spines on the distal margin. Based on out‐group comparison, the morphology of L. biformis, at least in these respects, is likely to represent the ancestral morphology. Despite the partly peculiar morphology of the larvae of Lynceus species, they share many similarities with other branchiopod larvae, at least two of which, the naupliar swimming/feeding apparatus and the mode of development of the trunk limbs, could be considered synapomorphies for the Branchiopoda. J. Morphol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
We're all in this together…except for you: The effects of workload, performance feedback, and racial distance on helping behavior in teams
Authors: del Carmen Triana María , Porter Christopher O. L. H. , DeGrassi Sandra W. , Bergman Mindy
Published: December 2012

We draw from social categorization theory and the actor–observer hypothesis to extend previous research regarding receiving high levels of help from team members. Specifically, we explore how a team member's performance feedback on how they handled a disproportionately heavy share of the team's workload and how their racial distance from the rest of their teammates affect the amount of helping that person receives from their teammates. Results from a laboratory study in which 79 teams worked on a computerized, decision‐making task demonstrated a three‐way interaction between workload, performance feedback, and the racial distance between the feedback recipient and the rest of their teammates. Racially distant negative feedback recipients who had a disproportionately heavy share of their team's workload received less help from teammates than their racially similar counterparts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The interactive effects of conscientiousness, openness to experience, and political skill on job performance in complex jobs: The importance of context
Authors: Blickle Gerhard , Meurs James A. , Wihler Andreas , Ewen Christian , Plies Andrea , Günther Susann
Published: December 2012

Caveats concerning the ability of personality to predict job performance have been raised because of seemingly modest criterion‐related validity. The goal of the present research was to test whether narrowing the context via the type of job (i.e., jobs with complex task demands) and adding a social skill‐related moderator (i.e., political skill) would improve performance prediction. Further, along with political skill, the broad factor of personality demonstrated in prior research to have the strongest criterion validity (i.e., conscientiousness) was joined with a narrow construct closely related to openness to experience (i.e., learning approach) in a three‐way interactive prediction of supervisor‐rated task performance. With the employee–supervisor dyads among professionals, but not with the control group of non‐professional employees, task performance was predicted by the three‐way interaction, such that those high on all three received the highest performance ratings. Implications, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influences of extratropical water masses on equatorial Pacific cold tongue variability during the past 160 ka as revealed by faunal evidence of planktic foraminifers
Authors: Yu Pai‐Sen , Kienast Markus , Chen Min‐Te , Cacho Isabel , Flores Jos Abel , Mohtadi Mahyar , Mix Alan C.
Published: December 2012

Glacial cooling (∼1–5°C) in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) cold tongue is often attributed to increased equatorial upwelling, stronger advection from the Peru–Chile Current (PCC), and to the more remote subpolar southeastern Pacific water mass. However, evidence is scarce for identifying unambiguously which process plays a more important role in driving the large glacial cooling in the EEP. To address this question, here we adopt a faunal calibration approach using planktic foraminifers with a new compilation of coretop data from the eastern Pacific, and present new downcore variation data of fauna assemblage and estimated sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the past 160 ka (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6) from ODP Site 1240 in the EEP. With significant improvement achieved by adding more coretop data from the eastern boundary current, our downcore calibration results indicate that most of the glacial cooling episodes over the past 160 ka in the EEP are attributable to increased influence from the subpolar water mass from high latitudes of the southern Pacific. By applying this new calibration of the fauna SST transfer function to a latitudinal transect of eastern Pacific (EP) cores, we find that the subpolar water mass has been a major dynamic contributor to EEP cold tongue cooling since MIS 6. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paleoenvironmental changes in the East/Japan Sea during the last 48 ka: indications from high‐resolution X‐ray fluorescence core scanning
Authors: Yao Zhengquan , Liu Yanguang , Shi Xuefa , Suk Bong‐Chool
Published: December 2012

Paleoceanographic changes in the East/Japan Sea during the late Quaternary based on high‐resolution elemental variations, particularly correlations between dark–light laminations and millennial‐scale climatic changes, have remained poorly understood because of the lack of the high‐resolution proxies. The recent application of micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning provides the potential for high‐resolution study on the laminations deposited in the East/Japan Sea. In this study, we present a geochemical study by using micro‐XRF core scanning on a 730 cm core recovered from the East/Japan Sea. Elemental variations and factor analysis indicate that the sedimentary environment changed from anoxic to suboxic conditions from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2–3 to MIS 1, which is induced by increased contribution of high‐salinity sea water from the open ocean due to the rising sea level. The dark and light laminations during MIS 2–3 were correlated with Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles and summer monsoon proxy, with dark‐colored sediments related to higher terrigenous concentration, corresponding to warm–moist and enhanced summer monsoon period. During the interstadial period, more terrigenous sediments were transported to the East/Japan Sea via the strengthened fluvial discharge from the surrounding continents, caused by enhanced monsoon rainfall. Thus the development of the East Asian summer monsoon and consequent variations in fluvial discharge would have significantly affected the paleoceanographic conditions in the East/Japan Sea during the MIS 2–3 sea‐level lowstand. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sea level at the last glacial maximum, constrained by oxygen isotopic curves of planktonic foraminifera in the Japan Sea
Authors: Oba Tadamichi , Irino Tomohisa
Published: December 2012

The Japan Sea is connected with the Okhotsk Sea and Northwest Pacific through three straits, viz. Mamiya (Tartarskiy), Soya and Tsugaru, and with the East China Sea through Tsushima Strait, all having sill depths of <140 m. Therefore, the Japan Sea was almost isolated from the surrounding seas during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ca. 20 ka). As a result of nearly broken communication with the surrounding seas and strengthened surface stratification due to locked fresh water in the basin during the LGM, it became an anoxic basin. This major shift in the surface water properties of the basin left its imprint in the oxygen isotopic composition (δ18OPF) of the planktonic foraminifera. The δ18OPF exhibits extremely low values (∼0.5‰ vs. Belemnite from Pedee formation, South Carolina: PDB) during the last two glacial maxima, ca. 20 ka (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2.2) and ca. 140 ka (MIS 6.2). These decreases are in contrast to the expected generally high glacial values of >3‰ recorded in the MIS 3–4 sections of the studied cores. This observation indicates nearly similar surface water conditions in the Japan Sea during both the previous glacial maxima, and hence suggests negligible effect of strait tectonics on the sea level since the last 140 ka. Low δ18OPF values with small amplitude are also observed at the cold stage MIS 6.4, but not observed at another cold stage MIS 4.2. This observation suggests that the low‐salinity surface water in the Japan Sea started to develop at the sea level between MIS 4.2 and 6.4. Judging from the cross‐section of the Tsushima Strait and the sea floor topography of the East China Sea, the sea level between MIS 4.2 and 6.4 must have been between 90 m and 100 m below the present. From a proportional relationship between the standard δ18O curve (LR04) in deep‐sea cores and globally averaged sea‐level change, the eustatic sea level obtained for the LGM is 120 ± 7 m below the present. Thus the Japan Sea, in a far‐field location from the continental ice sheets, provides an important clue for estimation of the eustatic sea level at the LGM. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Centennial‐scale winter monsoon variability in the northern East China Sea during the Holocene
Authors: Nakanishi Takahiro , Yamamoto Masanobu , Tada Ryuji , Oda Hirokuni
Published: December 2012

The East China Sea (ECS) responds to changes in the strength of the Kuroshio and East Asian monsoon activity. Multidecadal resolution records of the palaeotemperature indices ${\rm TEX}_{{\rm 86}}^{{\rm H}} $ and $U_{37}^{K'} $ from core KY07‐04 PC‐1 show that the hydrology of the ECS responded to variability in the East Asian winter monsoon. Unlike Mg/Ca‐derived sea surface temperatures, which show neither warming nor cooling trends during the Holocene, the ${\rm TEX}_{{\rm 86}}^{{\rm H}} $ record showed a general warming trend at a rate of 0.2°C ka−1. This warming was attributable to shrinkage of the Yellow Sea Central Cold Water and/or weaker winter cooling of the surface water. The ${\rm TEX}_{{\rm 86}}^{{\rm H}} $ record indicated a centennial‐scale variability with an ∼1°C amplitude superimposed on the warming trend that reflected changes in the East Asian winter monsoon and/or the Kuroshio. Temperature minima appeared at ca. 3.0, 4.7, 6.2, 7.9 and 9.0 ka, and spectral analysis of the last 7 ka revealed significant peaks with periodicities of approximately 210, 250, and 440 years that were close to those observed in solar radiation. The reconstructed winter monsoon variability is consistent with Chinese documentary records for the last two millennia. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chiral determination of a novel acaricide cyflumetofen enantiomers in cucumber, tomato, and apple by HPLC
Authors: Chen Xiu , Dong Fengshou , Liu Xingang , Xu Jun , Li Jing , Li Yuanbo , Li Minmin , Wang Yunhao , Zheng Yongquan
Published: December 2012

A simple chiral analytical method was developed for the enantiomeric determination of cyflumetofen in cucumber, tomato, and apple by normal‐phase HPLC. The effects of mobile phase composition and column temperature on the enantioseparation were evaluated. Excellent separation was achieved at 25°C on a Chiralpak AD‐H column, with a mixture of n‐hexane and 2‐propanol (95:5, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min detecting at 234 nm. The resolution of cyflumetofen enantiomers was up to 5.5. The elution order of the enantiomers was determined by an online OR‐2090 detector, which was performed under the same chromatographic conditions. The first eluted enantiomer was (–)‐cyflumetofen and the second eluted one was (+)‐cyflumetofen. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, accuracy, LOD, and LOQ. LOD ranged from 0.1 to 0.15 mg/kg, with the LOD varying from 0.33 to 0.5 mg/kg for each enantiomer, respectively. The average recoveries of the pesticide ranged from 71.4 to 102.0% at all fortification levels. The precision values associated with the analytical method, expressed as RSD values, were below 14.8% in all matrices. The method was then successfully applied to detect cyflumetofen enantiomers in real samples.
Ontogenetic changes in innate immune function in captive and wild subspecies of prairie‐chickens (Tympanuchus cupido spp.)
Authors: Meier Samuel A. , Fassbinder‐Orth Carol A. , Karasov William H.
Published: December 2012

The Attwater's prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri), a federally endangered grouse species, is currently experiencing high chick mortality in wild populations and the causes are unknown. We tested 3 indicators of innate immunity (hemaggluttination, serum lysozyme, and total immunoglobulin [IgY] levels) in the Attwater's prairie‐chicken and a closely related sub‐species, the greater prairie‐chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus). Agglutination titers were approximately 25% higher in the juvenile and adult Attwater's prairie‐chickens compared to equivalently aged greater prairie‐chickens. Additionally, total IgY levels in wild‐collected Attwater's prairie‐chicken egg samples were 34% higher than IgY levels in captive greater prairie‐chickens or Attwater's prairie‐chicken eggs. These results suggest that differences in innate immune function exist between these sub‐species and also among Attwater's prairie‐chicken subpopulations that are exposed to different environmental conditions. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Innovative technologies in the control of lipid oxidation
Authors: Goddard Julie M. , McClements D. Julian , Decker Eric A.
Published: December 2012

Transition metal promoted oxidative degradation reactions impact quality, shelf‐life, and nutritional content of many packaged foods. When trace metals are present in packaged foods, they can initiate degradation of nutritional compounds such as unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, antioxidants, phytosterols, and many vitamins. These reactions occur at metal concentrations naturally occurring in foods (often in the low parts per billion range) therefore complete metal removal is not a practical solution to inhibit these reactions. Chelators such as EDTA can be added to inhibit metal‐promoted oxidation, however there is significant consumer and industry demand to eliminate EDTA from product formulations. Other natural chelators such as citric acid are ineffective in many foods and in some cases can actually increase oxidation rates by increasing metal solubility. An alternate approached to control transition metal reactivity is to utilize active packaging technologies. However, current approaches to antioxidant active packaging can impact packaging film mechanical properties and often exhibit low antioxidant activity. This review article surveys and critically reviews advances in the control of lipid oxidation, paying particular attention to novel advances in both food product formulation (e. g. additives, food microstructure) as well as food packaging. We introduce a new concept of active packaging in which metal ion chelation by non‐migratory active packaging materials may enable removal of synthetic food additives from product formulations while maintaining product quality and shelf‐life.
Quantitation of MRI sensitivity to Quasi‐monodisperse microbubble contrast agents for spatially resolved manometry
Authors: Bencsik Martin , Al‐Rwaili Amgad , Morris Robert , Fairhurst David J. , Mundell Victoria , Cave Gareth , McKendry Jonathan , Evans Stephen
Published: December 2012

Purpose

The direct in‐vivo measurement of fluid pressure cannot be achieved with MRI unless it is done with the contribution of a contrast agent. No such contrast agents are currently available commercially, whilst those demonstrated previously only produced qualitative results due to their broad size distribution. Our aim is to quantitate then model the MR sensitivity to the presence of quasi‐monodisperse microbubble populations.

Methods

Lipid stabilised microbubble populations with mean radius 1.2 ± 0.8 μm have been produced by mechanical agitation. Contrast agents with increasing volume fraction of bubbles up to 4% were formed and the contribution the bubbles bring to the relaxation rate was quantitated. A periodic pressure change was also continuously applied to the same contrast agent, until MR signal changes were only due to bubble radius change and not due to a change in bubble density.

Results

The MR data compared favourably with the prediction of an improved numerical simulation. An excellent MR sensitivity of 23 % bar‐1 has been demonstrated.

Conclusion

This work opens up the possibility of generating microbubble preparations tailored to specific applications with optimised MR sensitivity, in particular MRI based in‐vivo manometry. Magn Reson Med 70:1409–1418, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Responsive Polymersome
Authors: Gaitzsch Jens , Appelhans Dietmar , Voit Brigitte
Published: December 2012

Polymersome sind artifizielle Strukturen, die das Bauprinzip der Liposomen nutzen. Sie eignen sich unter anderem als Wirkstofftransporter und als Nanoreaktoren für Biomedizin und Biotechnik.
Vom Mineral lernen
Authors: Hoch Constantin
Published: December 2012

Systematisches Datamining basierend auf Struktur‐Eigenschaft‐Beziehungen könnte bei der Suche nach besonders langlebigen Elektrodenmaterialien für Lithiumionenbatterien und Superkondensatoren helfen. Die Inspiration dazu lieferte ein natürliches Phosphatmineral.
Ein Mann und seine Reaktion
Authors: Meinel Christoph
Published: December 2012

Industriechemiker machen dem Biographen die Arbeit nicht leicht. Sie publizieren in Patenten und internen Berichten und nicht in Fachzeitschriften. Sie haben kaum Teil an den Ritualen akademischer Erinnerungskultur. Deshalb ist auch wenig über den Mann bekannt, der hinter der Reaktion steht, der er seinen Namen gab: Anton Vilsmeier (1894 — 1962).
Wohlfühlchemie
Authors: Rupp Severine
Published: December 2012

Chemie als Alltagshilfe: Gartenstühle reinigen sich selbst, Glas reduziert Schlafstörungen und steigert das Wohlbefinden, Matratzen regeln die Schlaftemperatur.
Peptidsynthese ohne Ribosomen
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: December 2012

Im Allgemeinen entstehen Eiweißstoffe in der Proteinfabrik der Zelle, im Ribosom. Manchmal jedoch stellen spezialisierte Enzymkomplexe die Peptide her. Einige dieser nichtribosomalen Peptide eignen sich als pharmakologische Wirkstoffe.
Krankheitserreger im Wasser — anreichern und nachweisen
Authors: Lengger Sandra , Nießner Reinhard , Seidel Michael
Published: December 2012

Trinkwasser darf keine Krankheitserreger enthalten. Diese gelangen aber ins Abwasser, und vor allem Viren sind oft widerstandsfähig gegen Abwasserbehandlung und Trinkwasseraufbereitung. Wasseranalytische Methoden können solche Keime innerhalb von Stunden mit Mikroarrays parallel nachweisen. Dies erfordert allerdings Verfahren, die Wassermengen von mehr als zehn Litern auf weniger als einen Milliliter einengen und die Mikroorganismen sowie Viren dabei konzentrieren.
Mehr Naturwissenschaftlerinnen
Authors: Schwarze Barbara
Published: December 2012

Der Anteil der Beschäftigten in Naturwissenschaft und Technik ist gestiegen. Frauen sind überproportional daran beteiligt. Nun geht es darum, dass Berufseinsteigerinnen mit naturwissenschaftlichem oder technischem Abschluss Karrierechancen erhalten und diese nutzen.
Spillover Effects of Voluntary Environmental Programs on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Lessons from Mexico
Authors: Henriques Irene , Husted Bryan W. , Montiel Ivan
Published: December 2012

We compare the environmental performance of voluntary environmental programs (VEPs) with different attributes. Using club theory, we argue that the differential performance of VEPs is due in part to their specific design attributes that will either enhance or diminish their ability to improve both targeted and untargeted environmental impacts. We analyze two VEPs in Mexico, the global standard ISO 14001 and the local standard Clean Industry. These two VEPs differ in the stringency of the standards and in their ability to sanction noncompliant facilities. These differences ensure that firms adopting the local standard are less likely to shirk their responsibilities and enhance potential spillover effects on untargeted environmental emissions. Our empirical results support our hypotheses and show that the local Clean Industry program is more effective in improving both targeted (toxic emissions) and untargeted environmental impacts (greenhouse gas emissions).
Maternal‐fetal medicine fellowship obstetrical ultrasound experience: results from a fellowship survey
Authors: Blumenfeld Yair J. , Ness Amen , Platt Lawrence D.
Published: December 2012

Objective

To assess maternal‐fetal medicine (MFM) fellowship obstetrical ultrasound training, scope of practice and research.

Methods

A 52‐item prenatal diagnosis survey was e‐mailed to 458 associate members of the Society for Maternal‐Fetal Medicine on two separate occasions. Associate members include both MFM fellows and recent graduates who are not yet board certified in MFM.

Results

A total of 148 associate members completed the survey (32% response rate), 92% of whom were at least in their second year of fellowship. A total of 58% of fellows spend at least 20% of their fellowship time performing prenatal ultrasounds, and most begin their ultrasound training in their first year. Most fellows describe being comfortable performing routine fetal anatomy surveys, growth ultrasounds and umbilical artery Doppler measurements, but only 48% are nuchal translucency (NT) certified, most through Nuchal Translucency Quality Review. A total of 7% of fellows do not receive structured training in 2D ultrasound, 39% receive no structured training in 3D/4D ultrasound, and 28% receive no structured training in fetal echocardiography. Only 38% can identify an ultrasound mentor during fellowship.

Conclusion

Most fellows are trained in ultrasound during their first year of fellowship and feel comfortable performing routine exams. However, ultrasound mentorship, structured training and research in prenatal ultrasound are limited in some programs. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrolytic reactions of cyclic bis(3′‐5′)diadenylic acid (c‐di‐AMP)
Authors: Ora Mikko , Martikainen Kaisa , Lautkoski Kristian
Published: December 2012

Hydrolytic reactions of cyclic bis(3′‐5′)diadenylic acid (c‐di‐AMP) have been followed by Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) over a wide pH range at 90 °C. Under neutral and basic conditions (pH ≥ 7), disappearance of the starting material (first‐order in [OH−]) was accompanied by formation of a mixture of adenosine 2′‐monophosphate and 3′‐monophosphate (2′‐AMP and 3′‐AMP). Under very acidic conditions (from H0 = −0.7 to 0.2), c‐di‐AMP undergoes two parallel reactions (first‐order in [H+]): the starting material is cleaved to 2′‐AMP and 3′‐AMP and depurinated to adenine (i.e., cleavage of the N‐glycosidic bond), the former reaction being slightly faster than the latter one. At pH 1–3, isomerization to cyclic bis(2′‐5′)diadenylic acid competes with the depurination. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cyflumetofen, a novel acaricide – its mode of action and selectivity
Authors: Hayashi Naotaka , Sasama Yasuhiro , Takahashi Nobuyoshi , Ikemi Naoki
Published: December 2012

Background

Cyflumetofen is a novel acaricide developed by Otsuka AgriTechno Co., Ltd. It affects only spider mites and has no effect on insects, crustaceans or vertebrates under conditions of practical use. The mode of action of cyflumetofen, its selectivity for mites and its safety for insects and vertebrates were investigated.

Results

The research showed that cyflumetofen inhibited mitochondria complex II in mites. In addition, the de‐esterified form (AB‐1) of cyflumetofen inhibited mitochondria complex II at extremely low concentrations. AB‐1 was also detected as the main metabolite in mites.

Conclusion

The mode of action of cyflumetofen is to inhibit mitochondria complex II by affecting its action site after being metabolised to AB‐1. However, inhibition by cyflumetofen and AB‐1 in other organisms was very weak. Selectivity for other organisms has contributed to differences in action site activities. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Asian corn borer (ACB) and non‐ACB pests in GM corn (Zea mays L.) in the Philippines
Authors: Afidchao Miladis M , Musters CJM , de Snoo Geert R
Published: December 2012

Background

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), has become the most damaging pest in corn in south‐east Asia. Corn farmers in the Philippines have incurred great yield losses in the past decades because of ACB infestation. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Bt herbicide‐tolerant (BtHT) corns have been developed to reduce borer attacks worldwide. This study assessed the extent of ACB and non‐ACB pest infestations in both GM and non‐GM corn in Isabela Province, the Philippines. Specific aims were to reinvestigate the efficacy of Bt corn in controlling ACB, to evaluate what parts of Bt corn plants are susceptible to ACB, to monitor the potential development of ACB resistance and to evaluate whether secondary pests dominate in an ACB‐free Bt corn environment. The study involved preparatory interviews with farmers, site selection, field scouting and visual inspection of 200 plants along 200 m transect lines through 198 cornfields.

Results

Bt corn can efficiently reduce the ACB pest problem and reduce borer damage by 44%, to damage levels in Bt and BtHT corn of 6.8 and 7% respectively. The leaves of Bt corn were more susceptible, while cobs of Bt corn were less affected by ACB. Non‐ACB pests were common in Bt toxin‐free cornfields and reduced in non‐GM cornfields where ACB was abundant. No secondary pest outbreaks were found in ACB‐free Bt cornfields.

Conclusion

Bt and BtHT corn hybrids containing the Cry1Ab protein performed well in Isabela Province. Reduced cob damage by ACB on Bt fields could mean smaller economic losses even with ACB infestation. The occurrence of ACB in Bt and BtHT cornfields, although at a moderate and insignificant level, could imply the potential development of resistance to Bt toxin. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Bayesian indirect and mixed treatment comparisons across longitudinal time points
Authors: Ding Ying , Fu Haoda
Published: December 2012

Meta‐analysis has become an acceptable and powerful tool for pooling quantitative results from multiple studies addressing the same question. It estimates the effect difference between two treatments when they have been compared head‐to‐head. However, limitations occur when there are more than two treatments of interest, and some of them have not been compared in the same study. Indirect and mixed treatment modeling extends meta‐analysis methods to enable data from different treatments and trials to be synthesized, without requiring head‐to‐head comparisons among all treatments; thus, allowing different treatments to be compared. Traditional indirect and mixed treatment comparison methods consider a single endpoint for each trial. We extend the current methods and propose a Bayesian indirect and mixed treatment comparison longitudinal model that incorporates multiple time points and allows indirect comparisons of treatment effects across different longitudinal studies. The proposed model only uses summary level longitudinal data. This model is particularly useful when a meta‐analysis is performed on studies with different durations. It enables the borrowing of information from shorter studies even in the situation where the primary interest is in a time point beyond the duration of some of these shorter studies. We performed simulation studies, which demonstrate that the proposed method performs well and yields better estimations compared with other single time point meta‐analysis methods. We apply our method to a set of studies from patients with type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical Design of Biocompatible Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Medical Applications
Authors: Ling Daishun , Hyeon Taeghwan
Published: December 2012

Iron oxide nanoparticles are one of the most versatile and safe nanomaterials used in medicine. Recent progress in nanochemistry enables fine control of the size, crystallinity, uniformity, and surface properties of iron oxide nanoparticles. In this review, the synthesis of chemically designed biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles with improved quality and reduced toxicity is discussed for use in diverse biomedical applications.
Expectant management of adnexal masses in selected premenopausal women: a prospective observational study
Authors: Alcázar J. L. , Olartecoechea B. , Guerriero S. , Jurado M.
Published: December 2012

Objective

To evaluate the results of expectant management of ovarian cysts with benign ultrasound morphology in selected asymptomatic premenopausal women.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of premenopausal women diagnosed with a persistent adnexal cyst. Patients were selected according to symptoms (asymptomatic), the cyst's appearance on ultrasound (benign) and size (< 8 cm). Patients underwent a follow‐up protocol with transvaginal ultrasound examination at 6‐monthly intervals for 2 years and then annually for at least 3 years.

Results

The study comprised 166 women (mean age, 40 years) with 192 masses present at inclusion. Twenty‐two women (with 29 masses) were lost to follow‐up. Seventy‐four masses (38.5%) resolved spontaneously (median time from diagnosis to resolution, 40 months). Forty‐nine masses (25.5%) persisted without change (median follow‐up time, 88 (range, 36–192) months). Forty masses (20.8%) were surgically removed; 12 because of increase in size, four because a second lesion appeared during follow‐up, three because of change in appearance and increase in size, five because of surgery for uterine benign or malignant disease, two because of change in appearance without increase in size, one because of clinical suspicion of ovarian torsion and 13 because of the patient's decision in spite of there being no change in the mass. Histology was benign in all but two cases (Stage Ia mucinous ovarian carcinoma and Stage Ia mucinous borderline tumor). During follow‐up 40 new masses in 31 women were diagnosed, of which 21 resolved spontaneously, five (all with benign histology) were surgically removed and 14 were still present at the time of writing.

Conclusions

Expectant management of cysts with benign ultrasound morphology is a management option in selected asymptomatic premenopausal women. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Intestinal Bowel Lengthening in Children with Short Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review of the Bianchi and STEP Procedures
Authors: King Bobbie , Carlson Gordon , Khalil Basem A. , Morabito Antonino
Published: December 2012

Background:

It has been thirty years since Bianchi introduced the technique that made intestinal lengthening possible. The last three decades have seen lengthening procedures established as vital components of intestinal rehabilitation programs. The goal of the present study was to use a systematic literature review to determine patient outcomes for the two most commonly used lengthening procedures, the Bianchi procedure and the serial transverse enteroplasty procedure (STEP).

Methods:

Pubmed and Embase were searched using the terms “intestinal lengthening” and “bowel lengthening.” Patient outcomes were extracted from each relevant journal article on the basis of a set proforma. The results were combined to create overall mean outcomes. Mean outcomes were also calculated separately for the Bianchi procedure and STEP. Significance was tested with the independent t‐test.

Results:

Overall survival for the last thirty years is 83 %. However, survival for the last fifteen years has been 89 %, with no significant difference between the two procedures. The Bianchi procedure has a higher rate of weaning patients who were static on parenteral nutrition with conservative measures: 55 % versus 48 %. In addition, the Bianchi procedure was associated with a higher rate of patients receiving transplants: 10 % versus 6 %. The STEP has a higher rate of complication. Length of follow‐up is significantly longer for the Bianchi procedure: 76 versus 22 months. The impact that this differential could have had on our results must be considered.

Conclusions:

Outcomes for intestinal lengthening procedures are very good, and increasingly so. However, further analysis is required in order to fully understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of each procedure.
Linking feeding ecology and population abundance: a review of food resource limitation on primates
Authors: Hanya Goro , Chapman Colin A.
Published: December 2012

We review studies that consider how food affects primate population abundance. In order to explain spatial variation in primate abundance, various correlates that parameterize quality and quantity of food in the habitat have been examined. We propose two hypotheses concerning how resource availability and its seasonality determine animal abundance. When the quality of fallback foods (foods eaten during the scarcity of preferred foods) is too low to satisfy nutritional requirement, total annual food quantity should determine population size, but this relationship can be modified by the quality or the quantity of fallback foods. This mechanism has been established for Japanese macaques and sportive lemurs that survive lean seasons by fat storage or extremely low metabolism. Second, when fallback food quality is high enough to satisfy nutritional requirement but quantity is limited, quantity of fallback food should be a limiting factor of animal abundance. This is supported by the correlation between fig density, which is a high‐quality fallback food, and gibbon and orangutan abundance. For a direct test of these hypotheses, we need more research that determines both the quality of food that animals require to satisfy their nutritional requirement and the quantity of food production. Leaves are often regarded as superabundant, but this assumption needs careful examination.
Solid Fat Content Estimation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry: Prior Treatment and Proposed Correction
Authors: Márquez Andrés L. , Pérez María P. , Wagner Jorge R.
Published: December 2012

The objective of this work was to develop a corrected method for solid fat content estimation by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as important differences are usually observed between the results given by DSC and pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Cold storage after full melting of fats was necessary to avoid the appearance of exothermic peaks in the modulated temperature DSC thermograms, in order to make an appropriate estimation of melting energy. Different fats were analyzed by NMR and DSC, obtaining considerably higher solid fat content values with the latter, uncorrected method. These differences were attributed to the fact that consumed energy per unit of melted mass tends to increase with the increase of the melting temperature of each fraction of the fats. A linear correlation between melting enthalpy and melting point of different triglycerides was used to estimate the energy per unit of mass consumed at each temperature. From these data, an estimated transformation of melting energy into melted mass was performed and new solid fat content values were calculated. The results obtained from this correction were much closer to the measurements made by NMR, in comparison to the uncorrected DSC method.
Commutator length of annulus diffeomorphisms
Authors: MILITON E.
Published: December 2012

We study the group Diffr0(𝔸) of Cr-diffeomorphisms of the closed annulus that are isotopic to the identity. We show that, for r≠2,3, the linear space of homogeneous quasi-morphisms on the group Diffr0(𝔸) is one-dimensional. Therefore, the commutator length on this group is (stably) unbounded. In particular, this provides an example of a manifold whose diffeomorphism group is unbounded in the sense of Burago, Ivanov and Polterovich.
Amelioration of chronic fluoride toxicity by calcium and fluoride-free water in rats
Authors: Shankar Priyanka , Ghosh Sudip , Bhaskarachary K. , Venkaiah K. , Khandare Arjun L.
Published: December 2012

The study was undertaken to explore the amelioration of chronic fluoride (F) toxicity (with low and normal Ca) in rats. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase I (6 months), seventy-six Wistar, weanling male rats were assigned to four treatment groups: normal-Ca (0·5 %) diet (NCD), Ca+F − ; low-Ca (0·25 %) diet (LCD), Ca − F − ; NCD +100 parts per million (ppm) F water, Ca+F+; LCD +100 ppm F water, Ca − F+. In phase II (reversal experiment, 3 months), LCD was replaced with the NCD. Treatment groups Ca+F+ and Ca − F+ were divided into two subgroups to compare the effect of continuationv. discontinuation along with Ca supplementation on reversal of chronic F toxicity. In phase I, significantly reduced food efficiency ratio (FER), body weight gain (BWG), faecal F excretion, serum Ca and increased bone F deposition were observed in the treatment group Ca − F+. Reduced serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3, increased 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3and up-regulation of Ca-sensing receptor, vitamin D receptor and S100 Ca-binding protein G (S100G) were observed in treatment groups Ca − F −  and Ca − F+. In phase II (reversal phase), FER, BWG and serum Ca in treatment groups Ca − F+/Ca+F −  and Ca − F+/Ca+F+ were still lower, as compared with other groups. However, other variables were comparable. Down-regulation of S100G was observed in F-fed groups (Ca+F+/Ca+F+ and Ca − F+/Ca+F+) in phase II. It is concluded that low Ca aggravates F toxicity, which can be ameliorated after providing adequate Ca and F-free water. However, chronic F toxicity can interfere with Ca absorption by down-regulating S100G expression irrespective of Ca nutrition.
Effect of type of TAG fatty acids on lutein and zeaxanthin bioavailability
Authors: Gleize Béatrice , Tourniaire Franck , Depezay Laurence , Bott Romain , Nowicki Marion , Albino Lionel , Lairon Denis , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Galan Pilar , Hercberg Serge , Borel Patrick
Published: December 2012

The xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin probably play a role in visual function and may participate in the prevention of age-related eye diseases. Although a minimum amount of TAG is required for an optimal bioavailability of these carotenoids, the effect of the type of TAG fatty acids (FA) is less clear. The aim was to assess the effect of the type of TAG FA on bioavailability of these xanthophylls. A total of three complementary models were used: anin vitrodigestion model to study bioaccessibility, Caco-2 cells to study uptake efficiency and orally administered rats to studyin vivobioavailability. Results showed that lutein and zeaxanthin bioaccessibility was greater (about 20–30 %, P< 0·05) with butter and palm oil than with olive and fish oils. Mixed micelle size, which was significantly lower (about 8 %,P< 0·05) with SFA than with unsaturated FA, was inversely related to lutein and zeaxanthin bioaccessibility. There was no significant effect of the type of TAG FA on xanthophyll uptake by Caco-2 cells, but some compounds present in natural oils significantly affected xanthophyll uptake. Oral administration of rats with spinach and butter over 3 d led to a higher fasting plasma lutein concentration than oral administration with olive or fish oils. In conclusion, dietary fats rich in SFA lead to a higher bioavailability of lutein and zeaxanthin, as compared with fats rich in MUFA and PUFA. This is due partly to the higher bioaccessibility of these xanthophylls in the smaller mixed micelles produced when SFA are incorporated into mixed micelles.
Where Two Crosses Met: Religious Accommodation between a Reformed Protestant Community and a Commandery of the Order of Malta (Loudun, circa 1560–1660)
Authors: Bezzina Edwin
Published: December 2012

This article represents a local study investigating the relations between the commandery of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a Reformed Protestant community from about 1560 to 1660. The chosen locality is the French provincial town of Loudun and the article spans the French Wars of Religion and the period of recovery and reconstruction beyond. The relationship between Loudun's commandery and Reformed community manifests the sometimes astonishing interplay of conflict, accommodation, and necessity. The Protestant use of the commandery's church enabled the Reformed community to entrench itself in Loudun and remain there until the Crown revoked all the civil and religious prerogatives that it had granted to this religious minority. For its part, the commandery's fortunes and misfortunes became tied to that Reformed Protestant presence. The commandery's recovery in the first half of the seventeenth century in part drew upon the momentum of the Catholic resurgence, but the earlier Protestant use of the commandery's church and the repairs that the Protestants effectuated on the edifice gave the commandery a foothold in that process of recovery. This at times begrudged interdependence between commandery and Reformed community allowed for something resembling cross-confessional relations where one would least expect to find them.
A rabbit eye model for in vivo transformation of progenetic metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum into ovigerous adult worms
Authors: Rizvi A. , Zaidi Z.A. , Alam M.M. , Zafar A. , Shareef P.A.A. , Saifullah M.K. , Saleemuddin M. , Abidi S.M.A.
Published: December 2012

Clinostomum complanatum is a digenetic trematode that causes yellow grub disease in some fish species and also shows zoonotic potential by sporadically infecting humans. In this study, progenetic metacercariae of C. complanatum were obtained from the fish Trichogaster fasciatus, and were aseptically placed in conjunctival incisions made in the superior and inferior fornices of the eye of rabbits, which served as the experimental hosts. Worms were harvested without necropsy of the host on days 4 and 8 post infection, to observe in vivo transformation of the progenetic metacercariae into ovigerous adult worms. The worms appeared to cause minimal damage to the host although they were tenaciously attached. In vivo maturation was evident by the development of the vitellaria, enlargement of gonads, the presence of a large number of shelled eggs in a distended uterus and ramifications of the intestinal caeca. Obtaining mature ovigerous worms without sacrificing the host clearly gives the rabbit eye model an advantage over those described previously. Due to the relative advantage of the short time required for maturation and the prolific egg production by C. complanatum, it is suggested that this host–parasite system could be used as an excellent model for classroom teaching of trematode biology and to investigate the cues involved in in vivo transformation and host–parasite interactions.