bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural basis for a hand-like site in the calcium sensor CatchER with fast kinetics
Authors: Zhang Ying , Reddish Florence , Tang Shen , Zhuo You , Wang Yuan-Fang , Yang Jenny J. , Weber Irene T.
Published: November 2013

Calcium ions, which are important signaling molecules, can be detected in the endoplasmic reticulum by an engineered mutant of green fluorescent protein (GFP) designated CatchER with a fast off-rate. High resolution (1.78–1.20 Å) crystal structures were analyzed for CatchER in the apo form and in complexes with calcium or gadolinium to probe the binding site for metal ions. While CatchER exhibits a 1:1 binding stoichiometry in solution, two positions were observed for each of the metal ions bound within the hand-like site formed by the carboxylate side chains of the mutated residues S147E, S202D, Q204E, F223E and T225E that may be responsible for its fast kinetic properties. Comparison of the structures of CatchER, wild-type GFP and enhanced GFP confirmed that different conformations of Thr203 and Glu222 are associated with the two forms of Tyr66 of the chromophore which are responsible for the absorbance wavelengths of the different proteins. Calcium binding to CatchER may shift the equilibrium for conformational population of the Glu222 side chain and lead to further changes in its optical properties.
Staphylococcus aureusthiaminase II: oligomerization warrants proteolytic protection against serine proteases
Authors: Begum Afshan , Drebes Julia , Kikhney Alexey , Müller Ingrid B. , Perbandt Markus , Svergun Dmitri , Wrenger Carsten , Betzel Christian
Published: November 2013

Staphylococcus aureusTenA (SaTenA) is a thiaminase type II enzyme that catalyzes the deamination of aminopyrimidine, as well as the cleavage of thiamine into 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine (HMP) and 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazole (THZ), within thiamine (vitamin B1) metabolism. Further, by analogy with studies ofBacillus subtilisTenA,SaTenA may act as a regulator controlling the secretion of extracellular proteases such as the subtilisin type of enzymes in bacteria. Thiamine biosynthesis has been identified as a potential drug target of the multi-resistant pathogenS. aureusand therefore all enzymes involved in theS. aureusthiamine pathway are presently being investigated in detail. Here, the structure ofSaTenA, determined by molecular replacement and refined at 2.7 Å resolution to anRfactor of 21.6% with one homotetramer in the asymmetric unit in the orthorhombic space groupP212121, is presented. The tetrameric state of wild-type (WT)SaTenA was postulated to be the functional biological unit and was confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments in solution. To obtain insights into structural and functional features of the oligomericSaTenA, comparative kinetic investigations as well as experiments analyzing the structural stability of the WTSaTenA tetramerversusa monomericSaTenA mutant were performed.
Structural insight intoL-ribulose 3-epimerase fromMesorhizobium loti
Authors: Uechi Keiko , Sakuraba Haruhiko , Yoshihara Akihide , Morimoto Kenji , Takata Goro
Published: November 2013

L-Ribulose 3-epimerase (L-RE) fromMesorhizobium lotihas been identified as the first ketose 3-epimerase that shows the highest observed activity towards ketopentoses. In the present study, the crystal structure of the enzyme was determined to 2.7 Å resolution. The asymmetric unit contained two homotetramers with the monomer folded into an (α/β)8-barrel carrying four additional short α-helices. The overall structure ofM. lotiL-RE showed significant similarity to the structures of ketose 3-epimerases fromPseudomonas cichorii,Agrobacterium tumefaciensandClostridium cellulolyticum, which use ketohexoses as preferred substrates. However, the size of the C-terminal helix (α8) was much larger inM. lotiL-RE than the corresponding helices in the other enzymes. InM. lotiL-RE theα8 helix and the following C-terminal tail possessed a unique subunit–subunit interface which promoted the formation of additional intermolecular interactions and strengthened the enzyme stability. Structural comparisons revealed that the relatively small hydrophobic pocket of the enzyme around the substrate was likely to be the main factor responsible for the marked specificity for ketopentoses shown byM. lotiL-RE.
Structure of the prolyl-acyl carrier protein oxidase involved in the biosynthesis of the cyanotoxin anatoxin-a
Authors: Moncoq Karine , Regad Leslie , Mann Stéphane , Méjean Annick , Ploux Olivier
Published: November 2013

Anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a are two potent cyanobacterial neurotoxins biosynthesized from L-proline by a short pathway involving polyketide synthases. Proline is first loaded onto AnaD, an acyl carrier protein, and prolyl-AnaD is then oxidized to 1-pyrroline-5-carboxyl-AnaD by a flavoprotein, AnaB. Three polyketide synthases then transform this imine into anatoxin-a or homoanatoxin-a. AnaB was crystallized in its holo form and its three-dimensional structure was determined by X-ray diffraction at 2.8 Å resolution. AnaB is a homotetramer and its fold is very similar to that of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (ACADs). The active-site base of AnaB, Glu244, superimposed very well with that of human isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase, confirming previous site-directed mutagenesis experiments and mechanistic proposals. The substrate-binding site of AnaB is small and is likely to be fitted for the pyrrolidine ring of proline. However, in contrast to ACADs, which use an electron-transport protein, AnaB uses molecular oxygen as the electron acceptor, as in acyl-CoA oxidases. Calculation of the solvent-accessible surface area around the FAD in AnaB and in several homologues showed that it is significantly larger in AnaB than in its homologues. A protonated histidine near the FAD in AnaB is likely to participate in oxygen activation. Furthermore, an array of water molecules detected in the AnaB structure suggests a possible path for molecular oxygen towards FAD. This is consistent with AnaB being an oxidase rather than a dehydrogenase. The structure of AnaB is the first to be described for a prolyl-ACP oxidase and it will contribute to defining the structural basis responsible for oxygen reactivity in flavoenzymes.
Structural insights into the role of the Chl4–Iml3 complex in kinetochore assembly
Authors: Guo Qiong , Tao Yuyong , Liu Hejun , Teng Maikun , Li Xu
Published: November 2013

Human CENP-N and CENP-L have been reported to selectively recognize the CENP-A nucleosome and to contribute to recruiting other constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN) complexes involved in assembly of the inner kinetochore. As their homologues, Chl4 and Iml3 from budding yeast function in a similar way inde novoassembly of the kinetochore. A lack of biochemical and structural information precludes further understanding of their exact role at the molecular level. Here, the crystal structure of Iml3 is presented and the structure shows that Iml3 adopts an elongated conformation with a series of intramolecular interactions. Pull-down assays revealed that the C-terminal domain of Chl4, which forms a dimer in solution, is responsible for Iml3 binding. Acting as a heterodimer, the Chl4–Iml3 complex exhibits a low-affinity nonspecific DNA-binding activity which may play an important role in the kinetochore-assembly process.
Structural basis for type VI secreted peptidoglycanDL-endopeptidase function, specificity and neutralization inSerratia marcescens
Authors: Srikannathasan Velupillai , English Grant , Bui Nhat Khai , Trunk Katharina , O'Rourke Patrick E. F. , Rao Vincenzo A. , Vollmer Waldemar , Coulthurst Sarah J. , Hunter William N.
Published: November 2013

Some Gram-negative bacteria target their competitors by exploiting the type VI secretion system to extrude toxic effector proteins. To prevent self-harm, these bacteria also produce highly specific immunity proteins that neutralize these antagonistic effectors. Here, the peptidoglycan endopeptidase specificity of two type VI secretion-system-associated effectors fromSerratia marcescensis characterized. These small secreted proteins, Ssp1 and Ssp2, cleave between γ-D-glutamic acid and L-meso-diaminopimelic acid with different specificities. Ssp2 degrades the acceptor part of cross-linked tetratetrapeptides. Ssp1 displays greater promiscuity and cleaves monomeric tripeptides, tetrapeptides and pentapeptides and dimeric tetratetra and tetrapenta muropeptides on both the acceptor and donor strands. Functional assays confirm the identity of a catalytic cysteine in these endopeptidases and crystal structures provide information on the structure–activity relationships of Ssp1 and, by comparison, of related effectors. Functional assays also reveal that neutralization of these effectors by their cognate immunity proteins, which are called resistance-associated proteins (Raps), contributes an essential role to cell fitness. The structures of two immunity proteins, Rap1a and Rap2a, responsible for the neutralization of Ssp1 and Ssp2-like endopeptidases, respectively, revealed two distinct folds, with that of Rap1a not having previously been observed. The structure of the Ssp1–Rap1a complex revealed a tightly bound heteromeric assembly with two effector molecules flanking a Rap1a dimer. A highly effective steric block of the Ssp1 active site forms the basis of effector neutralization. Comparisons with Ssp2–Rap2a orthologues suggest that the specificity of these immunity proteins for neutralizing effectors is fold-dependent and that in cases where the fold is conserved sequence differences contribute to the specificity of effector–immunity protein interactions.
The structure of Rv3717 reveals a novel amidase fromMycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Kumar Atul , Kumar Sanjiv , Kumar Dilip , Mishra Arpit , Dewangan Rikeshwer P. , Shrivastava Priyanka , Ramachandran Srinivasan , Taneja Bhupesh
Published: November 2013

BacterialN-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidases are cell-wall hydrolases that hydrolyze the bond betweenN-acetylmuramic acid and L-alanine in cell-wall glycopeptides. Rv3717 ofMycobacterium tuberculosishas been identified as a unique autolysin that lacks a cell-wall-binding domain (CBD) and its structure has been determined to 1.7 Å resolution by the Pt-SAD phasing method. Rv3717 possesses an α/β-fold and is a zinc-dependent hydrolase. The structure reveals a short flexible hairpin turn that partially occludes the active site and may be involved in autoregulation. This type of autoregulation of activity of PG hydrolases has been observed inBartonella henselaeamidase (AmiB) and may be a general mechanism used by some of the redundant amidases to regulate cell-wall hydrolase activity in bacteria. Rv3717 utilizes its net positive charge for substrate binding and exhibits activity towards a broad spectrum of substrate cell walls. The enzymatic activity of Rv3717 was confirmed by isolation and identification of its enzymatic products by LC/MS. These studies indicate that Rv3717, anN-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase fromM. tuberculosis, represents a new family of lytic amidases that do not have a separate CBD and are regulated conformationally.
Structure of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 with the essential Mg2+cofactor
Authors: Manvilla Brittney A. , Pozharski Edwin , Toth Eric A. , Drohat Alexander C.
Published: November 2013

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) mediates the repair of abasic sites and other DNA lesions and is essential for base-excision repair and strand-break repair pathways. APE1 hydrolyzes the phosphodiester bond at abasic sites, producing 5′-deoxyribose phosphate and the 3′-OH primer needed for repair synthesis. It also has additional repair activities, including the removal of 3′-blocking groups. APE1 is a powerful enzyme that absolutely requires Mg2+, but the stoichiometry and catalytic function of the divalent cation remain unresolved for APE1 and for other enzymes in the DNase I superfamily. Previously reported structures of DNA-free APE1 contained either Sm3+or Pb2+in the active site. However, these are poor surrogates for Mg2+because Sm3+is not a cofactor and Pb2+inhibits APE1, and their coordination geometry is expected to differ from that of Mg2+. A crystal structure of human APE1 was solved at 1.92 Å resolution with a single Mg2+ion in the active site. The structure reveals ideal octahedral coordination of Mg2+viatwo carboxylate groups and four water molecules. One residue that coordinates Mg2+directly and two that bind inner-sphere water molecules are strictly conserved in the DNase I superfamily. This structure, together with a recent structure of the enzyme–product complex, inform on the stoichiometry and the role of Mg2+in APE1-catalyzed reactions.
Structure analysis of geranyl pyrophosphate methyltransferase and the proposed reaction mechanism of SAM-dependentC-methylation. Corrigendum
Authors: Ariyawutthiphan Orapin , Ose Toyoyuki , Minami Atsushi , Shinde Sandip , Tsuda Muneya , Gao Yong-Gui , Yao Min , Oikawa Hideaki , Tanaka Isao
Published: November 2013

The name of one of the authors in the article by Ariyawutthiphanet al.[(2012),Acta Cryst.D68, 1558–1569] is corrected.
Ethyl 8-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-7-carboxylate
Authors: Li Yang , Sun Chen , Zhang Ran
Published: November 2013

In the title compound, C16H13Cl2N3O2, the carboxylate group and the benzene ring attached to the central 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine bicycle are twisted from its mean plane by 55.6 (1) and 72.6 (1)°, respectively. In the crystal, weak C—H...O interactions link the molecules into zigzag chains propagating in [100].
Oral Toxicological Studies of Pueraria Flower Extract: Acute Toxicity Study in Mice and Subchronic Toxicity Study in Rats
Authors: Takano Akira , Kamiya Tomoyasu , Tsubata Masahito , Ikeguchi Motoya , Takagaki Kinya , Kinjo Junei
Published: November 2013

Kudzu has been widely used as an herbal medicine in China. The root of the kudzu is also well known as an antipyretic and analgesic in treatment of the common cold, while its flower has been used to treat alcohol intoxication, alcohol abuse, and dysentery. Pueraria flower extract (PFE) is a hot water extract derived from the flower of the kudzu, Pueraria thomsonii Benth. (Fabaceae), oral intake of which exhibits anti‐obesity properties in mice and humans. In this study, we conducted acute and subchronic toxicity studies for an evaluation of safety. In the acute study, PFE (5 g/kg body weight) was orally administered to ddY mice. For 14 d after administration, no deaths or abnormal changes were observed in general signs, body weight (BW), or food consumption, and no abnormal findings were observed in the major organs and tissues of either males or females at necropsy. The oral LD50 of PFE was therefore estimated to be higher than 5 g/kg BW. In the subchronic study, PFE was mixed into the diet in place of powdered CRF‐1 and administered at concentrations of 0% (control), 0.5%, 1.5%, and 5.0% to male and female Sprague–Dawley rats for 90 d. No mortality or toxicological changes were observed during the experimental period. Blood biochemical, hematological, and urinary parameters revealed no toxicologically significant changes. Furthermore, no anatomical or histopathological changes due to PFE were observed. The no‐observed adverse‐effect‐level of PFE was thus estimated to be 5.0% in the diet (male: 3.0 g/kg BW/d; female: 3.5 g/kg BW/d).
Total polyphenol of Anemarrhena asphodeloides ameliorates advanced glycation end products‐induced endothelial dysfunction by regulation of AMP‐Kinase (知母多酚通过激活AMP‐激酶来缓解糖基化终末产物引起的内皮损伤)
Authors: Zhao Qianwen , Sun Yan , Ji Yu , Xu Lihua , Liu Kang , Liu Baolin , Huang Fang
Published: November 2013

Objective

Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge is widely used in China for the treatment of diabetes and the polyphenol components are responsible for its anti‐diabetic action. This study aimed to investigate the effect of total polyphenol of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (TPAA) on endothelial dysfunction and to elucidate underlying mechanisms.

Methods

We stimulated endothelial cells with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to establish the model of endothelial dysfunction in vitro and observed the effect of TPAA (10, 30, or 100 μg/mL) on AMP‐Kinase (AMPK) activation implicated in regulation of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) production. Meanwhile, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and eNOS expression were investigated by western blot, fluorescence microscopy and real time‐quantitative PCR analysis, respectively.

Results

Total polyphenol of Anemarrhena asphodeloides enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and promoted the basal NO production along with the inhibition of ET‐1 secretion in endothelial cells. TPAA inhibited NF‐κB activation by attenuating p65 phosphorylation and suppressed ROS production, well demonstrating its action in inhibition of ROS‐associated inflammation in the endothelium. Meanwhile, TPAA protected mitochondrial function and endothelial homeostasis against AGEs insult by restoring ΔΨm and mRNA expression of eNOS. AGEs stimulation inhibited AMPK activation and induced the loss of NO production together with increased secretion of ET‐1, but these changes were reversed by TPAA in a concentration‐dependent manner. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, attenuated the effects of TPAA mentioned above, indicating the involvement of AMPK.

Conclusions

Total polyphenol of Anemarrhena asphodeloides inhibited AGEs‐induced ROS‐associated inflammation and ameliorated endothelial dysfunction through beneficial regulation of AMPK activation.
Pilot study of 3D image correlation photogrammetry to assess strain and deformation of mouthguard materials
Authors: McGlumphy Kellye C. , Mendel Deborah A. , Yilmaz Burak , Seidt Jeremy D.
Published: November 2013

Background/Aim

The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the use of 3D image correlation photogrammetry (3DIC) in comparing strain characteristics of three commercially available mouthguard materials in the actual form of a mouthguard.

Material and methods

3DIC was used to measure strain and deformation on the surface of a mouthguard and a resin model. A computed tomographic scan of a maxilla of a patient was used to fabricate a resin test model. Three mouthguard materials were tested: conventional ethylene vinyl acetate; Proform TM, a thermoplastic material; and Polyshok TM, an EVA product containing polyurethane. Three mouthguards of each of the three materials were fabricated and fitted to the acrylic model for testing. A speckle pattern was applied to the external surfaces of each of the mouthguards. Static mechanical tests using a servohydraulic load frame at 10, 25, and 50 pounds of force were applied to the mouthguards while on the resin model. Strains were measured in both the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) axes using (3DIC). Measured strains were analysed by 4‐way anova.

Results

For all three materials tested, the difference in strain between two measured directions (X and Y) was found to be statistically significant for all regions evaluated. The analysis indicated that each direction, region, and load was involved in a statistically significant effect (P < 0.001). Statistical differences in the strain were noted with the highest strain region being closest to the applied load for all three materials. Differences in strains in two directions were found to be significant for the materials studied (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

3DIC is useful in evaluation of mouthguard materials in the actual form of a mouthguard. Materials, along with larger sample sizes, may improve confidence levels of the results. Further testing is indicated before clinical claims can be made.
Comparison of rice bran oil and wax yields; a systematic approach to wax ester analysis
Authors: Kim Junghong , Godber James Samuel
Published: November 2013

Rice bran oil (RBO) comprises 2–4% of rice bran wax (RBW) which contains wax esters (WE), hydrocarbons and other minor constituents, and there is still a lack of information on the RBW yields by various extraction methods and the WE contents in RBW. In this study, the yields of RBO and RBW extracted with Soxhlet and microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) were compared with establish suitable RBW preparation methods. HPLC methods were also developed to determine the WE contents in RBW. MAE with hexane was the most efficient method for higher RBW yields as well as higher WE contents. The HPLC analysis proved that around half of the refined RBW consists of WE. The results established an efficient procedure for RBW preparation, which includes MAE with hexane, RBO refinement, winterisation, solvent fractionation and HPLC separation.
Effects of calcium chloride and calcium lactate applications with osmotic pretreatment on physicochemical aspects and consumer acceptances of dried papaya
Authors: Udomkun Patchimaporn , Mahayothee Busarakorn , Nagle Marcus , Müller Joachim
Published: November 2013

This study explored the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium lactate (Ca‐L) pretreatments prior to osmotic dehydration on physicochemical characteristics and consumer acceptance of dried papaya. Three different calcium concentrations [0.5, 1.5 and 2.5% (w/v)] were applied to samples before they were soaked in a 30 °Brix sucrose solution and subsequently dried at 70 °C. The results showed that the dried samples treated with calcium exhibited significantly lower moisture content, water activity, apparent density and shrinkage, while volume was higher when compared to the control. Calcium applications did not obviously influence sugar content of samples and maintained the quality of dried papaya in terms of colour and textural characteristics. Calcium chloride at 2.5% (w/v) was found to particularly impart undesirable bitterness to the dried papaya. In contrast, using 2.5% (w/v) Ca‐L provided the best acceptance scores. Thus, the use of Ca‐L could be an alternative to CaCl2 in the pretreatment of fruits prior to drying as it offers improved quality.
On the Positives of Peripheral Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Yates Mariah , Hollensbe Elaine
Published: November 2013

Although we support the primary embedded–peripheral categorization proposed by the focal article authors, (Aguinis & Glavas, 2013), in this commentary, we explore the implications of privileging embedded over peripheral corporate social responsibility (CSR) and identify benefits of the latter that we believe have been overlooked or underplayed. The benefits of peripheral CSR that we outline below can, in fact, contribute substantially to overall CSR efforts over and above those of embedded CSR.
Making Corporate Social Responsibility Work: Recommendations for Utilizing the Power of a Shared Purpose
Authors: Linnabery Eileen , Cottone Dominic , West Karen
Published: November 2013

Aguinis and Glavas (2013) provide a framework for understanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and their outcomes. They suggest that embedding CSR within the strategy and everyday practices of an organization will help employees find meaning and purpose in their work. However, successfully implementing a large-scale organizational change—such as embedding CSR in all aspects of strategy and day-to-day business practices—brings many challenges. For example, in order for organizational change initiatives to succeed, organizational members must buy into the change, those at the top must drive the change, organizational members must be held accountable for implementing the change, and rewards should be tied to the behaviors that align with the change (Austin & Bartunek, 2003). In this article, we will expand upon Aguinis and Glavas to provide recommendations of how to uncover a shared purpose to inform CSR initiatives. Herein we provide recommendations for how to increase the likelihood of success when embedding CSR by first achieving the necessary understanding of what drives the organizational members' purpose and meaning before implementing the change.
Film and Video
Authors: Pedersen Lene , Barrett Ron
Published: November 2013

Film reviewed in this issue.

The Waiting Room (2012). 62 minutes & 82 minutes. Directed and shot by Peter Nicks. Edited by Lawrence Lerew.
The associations among the ethical climate, the professional practice environment and individualized care in care settings for older people
Authors: Suhonen Riitta , Stolt Minna , Gustafsson Marja‐Liisa , Katajisto Jouko , Charalambous Andreas
Published: November 2013

Aim

To investigate the associations among the ethical climate, professional practice environment and individualized nursing care in care settings for older people.

Background

The quality of care provision is affected by organizational environments, such as ethical climate and professional practice environment. Although, the association between professional practice environment and individualized nursing care has been pointed out, we know that little is known about how ethical climate is associated with the level of individualized nursing care delivery.

Design

A cross‐sectional explorative and correlational survey design.

Methods

The study was conducted in 62 units in the vicinity of a Finnish city using a sample of nurses (N = 874, response rate 58%) who worked clinically with older people in different care settings in 2012. Survey data were collected using the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey, Revised Professional Practice Environment scale and Individualised Care Scale‐B. Data were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients (Pearson) and multiple stepwise regression analyses.

Results

Statistically significant correlations were found among the variables, ethical climate and individualized care and between individualized care and all professional practice environment sub‐scales. Multiple stepwise regression showed associations among individualized care, ethical climate and internal work motivation, control over practice and leadership and autonomy.

Conclusions

The study provided better understanding of the complex concept of individualized care by taking into consideration the ethical climate and the practice environment and their associations. To increase individualization in care provision, efforts need to be directed towards organizational aspects requiring the support of nursing leaders.
A Cooperative Approach to Reduce Water Pollution Abatement Cost in an Interjurisdictional Lake Basin
Authors: Zhao Laijun , Huang Wei , Gao H. Oliver , Xue Jian , Li Changmin , Hu Yue
Published: November 2013

A cooperative approach via transfer fee was developed to improve the cost‐effectiveness of water pollution control in interjurisdictional lake basin management in China. Different from the existing literature that studies water quality trading and pollution reduction at micro levels (i.e., focusing on enterprises and firms), this article explores cooperative pollution reduction strategies from a macro level, targeting multiple jurisdictional regions. The merits of this new approach include: (1) improving the cost‐effectiveness of pollution reduction by making use of the cost differentiation in pollution reduction between industries and municipal sewage plants, and between different administrative areas; (2) managing payments for ecosystem services by horizontal transfer payment; and (3) incorporating the concepts of game, cooperation, coordination, and watershed‐based management in implementation. For empirical demonstration, a bilevel optimization model was built and calibrated using the 2005 data of the Lake Tai basin to work out the optimal solutions for cooperative chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction. Results show that policies based on this new approach can significantly reduce the overall COD abatement costs for the basin as well as the individual jurisdictional regions compared to the current practice.
Load Estimation Method Using Distributions with Covariates: A Comparison with Commonly Used Estimation Methods
Authors: Raymond Sébastien , Mailhot Alain , Talbot Guillaume , Gagnon Patrick , Rousseau Alain N. , Moatar Florentina
Published: November 2013

Load estimates obtained using an approach based on statistical distributions with parameters expressed as a function of covariates (e.g., streamflow) (distribution with covariates hereafter called DC method) were compared to four load estimation methods: (1) flow‐weighted mean concentration; (2) integral regression; (3) segmented regression (the last two with Ferguson's correction factor); and (4) hydrograph separation methods. A total of 25 datasets (from 19 stations) of daily concentrations of total dissolved solids, nutrients, or suspended particulate matter were used. The selected stations represented a wide range of hydrological conditions. Annual flux errors were determined by randomly generating 50 monthly sample series from daily series. Annual and interannual biases and dispersions were evaluated and compared. The impact of sampling frequency was investigated through the generation of bimonthly and weekly surveys. Interannual uncertainty analysis showed that the performance of the DC method was comparable with those of the other methods, except for stations showing high hydrological variability. In this case, the DC method performed better, with annual biases lower than those characterizing the other methods. Results show that the DC method generated the smallest pollutant load errors when considering a monthly sampling frequency for rivers showing high variability in hydrological conditions and contaminant concentrations.
Time–place learning and leader–follower relationships in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus
Authors: Brännäs E.
Published: November 2013

Feeding activity from a larger refuge site into two visually separated feeding sites with temporally restricted food availability, one in the morning and one in the evening was studied in duplicate groups of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus. A passive integrated transponder (PIT) system enabled continuous monitoring of individual movements between the sites. Both groups synchronized their diel pattern of visit activity to the two feeding sites when food was available. One group showed significant anticipatory visit activity into both feeding sites during the hours before the feed was available, suggesting a time and place learning of resource availability. The anticipatory activity of the other group was, however, less pronounced and only occurred into one of the feeding sites. Individual S. alpinus entered the feeding sites independently and no obvious patterns of leaders and followers were identified. All S. alpinus gained mass and moved between a refuge and the feeding sites. Different strategies of how individual S. alpinus utilized the feeding sites were not correlated with growth.
Compact non‐contact total emission detection for in vivo multiphoton excitation microscopy
Authors: COMBS C.A. , SMIRNOV A. , GLANCY B. , KARAMZADEH N.S. , GANDJBAKHCHE A.H. , REDFORD G. , KILBORN K. , KNUTSON J.R. , BALABAN R.S.
Published: November 2013

We describe a compact, non‐contact design for a total emission detection (c‐TED) system for intra‐vital multiphoton imaging. To conform to a standard upright two‐photon microscope design, this system uses a parabolic mirror surrounding a standard microscope objective in concert with an optical path that does not interfere with normal microscope operation. The non‐contact design of this device allows for maximal light collection without disrupting the physiology of the specimen being examined. Tests were conducted on exposed tissues in live animals to examine the emission collection enhancement of the c‐TED device compared to heavily optimized objective‐based emission collection. The best light collection enhancement was seen from murine fat (5×–2× gains as a function of depth), whereas murine skeletal muscle and rat kidney showed gains of over two and just under twofold near the surface, respectively. Gains decreased with imaging depth (particularly in the kidney). Zebrafish imaging on a reflective substrate showed close to a twofold gain throughout the entire volume of an intact embryo (approximately 150 μm deep). Direct measurement of bleaching rates confirmed that the lower laser powers, enabled by greater light collection efficiency, yielded reduced photobleaching in vivo. The potential benefits of increased light collection in terms of speed of imaging and reduced photo‐damage, as well as the applicability of this device to other multiphoton imaging methods is discussed.
Independent uterine contractions in simultaneous twin pregnancy in each horn of the uterus didelphys
Authors: Maki Yohei , Furukawa Seishi , Sameshima Hiroshi , Ikenoue Tsuyomu
Published: November 2013

The mechanism of synchronizing uterine contractions is not fully understood. We present a case of twin pregnancy in a uterus didelphys and objectively analyze the synchrony of bilateral uterine contractions. A 32‐year‐old woman, with a history of vaginal septal resection during her previous vaginal delivery, became pregnant with twins in a uterus didelphys in which each uterine horn had one fetus. At 37 weeks and 6 days, the first baby was delivered vaginally. The second baby was delivered by cesarean section due to recurrent late decelerations. Operative findings confirmed the didelphys uterus. We retrospectively reviewed the timing of contractions of both uteruses. The timing was determined by visual analysis as synchronous if both uteruses contracted within 5 s. Otherwise, contractions were considered solitary. Both uterine horns contracted independently in 90% of the incidence throughout labor and delivery. From this rare case of an ‘experiment by nature’, we speculated that the myometrium must be histologically connected in order to synchronize uterine contractions.
Brain Expansion in Patients With Type II Diabetes Following Insulin Therapy: A Preliminary Study With Longitudinal Voxel‐Based Morphometry
Authors: Chen Zhiye , Li Jinfeng , Sun Jie , Ma Lin
Published: November 2013

OBJECTIVE

We performed a longitudinal analysis based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to investigate the brain structural and perfusion changes caused by insulin therapy in patients with type II diabetes.

METHODS

High resolution three‐dimensional T1‐weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo images and flow‐sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) images were obtained from 11 patients with type II diabetes before and 1 year after initiation of insulin therapy and 11 normal controls. Brain volume changes were investigated by a longitudinal voxel‐based morphometry (VBM), and perfusion changes were evaluated by FAIR imaging between baseline and follow‐up data.

RESULTS

Significant regional gray matter (GM) expansion located in bilateral frontal, parietal, and left occipital lobes, and regional white matter (WM) expansion was shown in left precentral subcortical WM and right angular subcortical WM after insulin therapy (P < .05 with FDR correction). Brain hyperperfusion was detected in bilateral frontal cortex, left occipital cortex, and right temporal cortex after insulin therapy (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with type II diabetes, brain expansion and hyperperfusion were demonstrated 1 year after initiation of insulin therapy, and insulin therapy could contribute to the brain volume gainment in the patients with type II diabetes.
Privatization, Underpricing, and Welfare in the Presence of Foreign Competition
Authors: GHOSH ARGHYA , MITRA MANIPUSHPAK , SAHA BIBHAS
Published: November 2013

We analyze privatization in a differentiated oligopoly setting with a domestic public firm and foreign profit‐maximizing firms. In particular, we examine pricing below marginal cost by the public firm, the optimal degree of privatization, and the relationship between privatization and foreign ownership restrictions. When market structure is exogenous, partial privatization of the public firm improves welfare by reducing public sector losses. Surprisingly, even at the optimal level of privatization, the public firm's price lies strictly below marginal cost, resulting in losses. Our analysis also reveals a potential conflict between privatization and investment liberalization (i.e., relaxing restrictions on foreign ownership) in the short run. With endogenous market structure (i.e., free entry of foreign firms), partial privatization improves welfare through an additional channel: more foreign varieties. Furthermore, at the optimal level of privatization, the public firm's price lies strictly above marginal cost and earns positive profits.
ATremadocian (EarlyOrdovician) palaeoscolecidan worm from graptolitic shales inHunanProvince,SouthChina
Authors: Wang Wenhui , Muir Lucy A. , Botting Joseph P. , Feng Hongzhen , Servais Thomas , Li Lixia
Published: November 2013

A new locality exposingTremadocian (EarlyOrdovician) graptolitic shales inHunanProvince,SouthChina, has yielded an exceptionally well‐preserved annulated worm. This palaeoscolecidan is described asWaflascolex changdensisgen. et sp. nov. and reveals extremely fine detail of the cuticle organization and plating array. The new taxon is characterized by three critical characters: incomplete plate rows that occur only on the posterior end of the worm (except in the posterior‐most area) and do not extend over the entire circumference or along the entire trunk; a regular rhomboidal array of platelets around intercalations; and reduced cuticular organization at the posterior termination. The unique cuticular organization and platelet ornamentation in the new taxon offer insight into functional differentiation of plates in the scleritome. Palaeoscolecid distribution through the earlyPalaeozoic is reviewed, showing that the worms were widespread in theCambrian andOrdovician, but became more restricted during theSilurian. Ordovician palaeoscolecidans are diverse in scleritome architecture, and strikingly different fromCambrian taxa, indicating that this group diversified as part of theGreatOrdovicianBiodiversificationEvent.
Evolution of tag-based cooperation on Erdős–Rényi random graphs
Authors: Lima F. W. S. , Hadzibeganovic Tarik , Stauffer Dietrich
Published: November 2013

Here, we study an agent-based model of the evolution of tag-mediated cooperation on Erdős–Rényi random graphs. In our model, agents with heritable phenotypic traits play pairwise Prisoner's Dilemma-like games and follow one of the four possible strategies: Ethnocentric, altruistic, egoistic and cosmopolitan. Ethnocentric and cosmopolitan strategies are conditional, i.e. their selection depends upon the shared phenotypic similarity among interacting agents. The remaining two strategies are always unconditional, meaning that egoists always defect while altruists always cooperate. Our simulations revealed that ethnocentrism can win in both early and later evolutionary stages on directed random graphs when reproduction of artificial agents was asexual; however, under the sexual mode of reproduction on a directed random graph, we found that altruists dominate initially for a rather short period of time, whereas ethnocentrics and egoists suppress other strategists and compete for dominance in the intermediate and later evolutionary stages. Among our results, we also find surprisingly regular oscillations which are not damped in the course of time even after half a million Monte Carlo steps. Unlike most previous studies, our findings highlight conditions under which ethnocentrism is less stable or suppressed by other competing strategies.
COMPATIBILITY JSJ DECOMPOSITION OF GRAPHS OF FREE ABELIAN GROUPS
Authors: BEEKER BENJAMIN
Published: November 2013

A group G is a v GBS group if it admits a decomposition as a finite graph of groups with all edge and vertex groups finitely generated and free abelian. We describe the compatibility JSJ decomposition over abelian groups. We prove that in general this decomposition is not algorithmically computable.
COVARIANT GNS REPRESENTATION FOR OPEN C*-DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
Authors: PANDISCIA CARLO
Published: November 2013

An open C*-dynamical systems is a triple {𝔄, Φ, φ} where 𝔄 is a C* algebra with unit, φ as its state, Φ : 𝔄 → 𝔄 a unital completely positive map with φ ◦ Φ = φ. Such system is called purely implementable if there exists a representation π of 𝔄 in the bounded operators on Hilbert spaces [Formula: see text], an isometry [Formula: see text] and a V-invariant vector [Formula: see text] such that π(Φ(a)) = V*π(a)V and φ(a) = 〈Ω, π(a)Ω〉 for all a ∈ 𝔄, with Ω cyclic vector for the algebra generated by π(𝔄) and V. The quadruple [Formula: see text] is said be a covariant GNS representation of the open C*-dynamical system. We prove that every open C*-dynamical system is purely implementable. In the case when the dynamics Φ is a *-homomorphism this result was obtained by Niculescu Ströh and Zsidó. Moreover we prove that, in the case of *-homomorphisms, the above-mentioned construction provides an alternative construction of a minimal dilation in the sense of Kümmerer in which the dilation of the dynamics Φ has the same ergodic properties as Φ.
An Efficient and Self‐Adapted Approach to the Sharpening of Color Images
Authors: Kau Lih-Jen , Lee Tien-Lin
Published: November 2013

An efficient approach to the sharpening of color images is proposed in this paper. For this, the image to be sharpened is first transformed to the HSV color model, and then only the channel of Value will be used for the process of sharpening while the other channels are left unchanged. We then apply a proposed edge detector and low‐pass filter to the channel of Value to pick out pixels around boundaries. After that, those pixels detected as around edges or boundaries are adjusted so that the boundary can be sharpened, and those nonedge pixels are kept unaltered. The increment or decrement magnitude that is to be added to those edge pixels is determined in an adaptive manner based on global statistics of the image and local statistics of the pixel to be sharpened. With the proposed approach, the discontinuities can be highlighted while most of the original information contained in the image can be retained. Finally, the adjusted channel of Value and that of Hue and Saturation will be integrated to get the sharpened color image. Extensive experiments on natural images will be given in this paper to highlight the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach.
Pyrolytic and Kinetic Analysis of Two Coastal Plant Species:Artemisia annuaandChenopodium glaucum
Authors: Li Lili , Wang Xiaoning , Sun Jinsheng , Zhang Yichen , Qin Song
Published: November 2013

The large amount of coastal plant species available makes them ideal candidates for energy production. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis was used to evaluate the fuel properties of two coastal plant species, and the distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was employed in kinetic analysis. The major mass loss due to devolatilization started at 154 and 162°C at the heating rate of 10°C min−1forArtemisia annuaandChenopodium glaucum, respectively. The results showed that the average activation energies ofArtemisia annuaandChenopodium glaucumwere 169.69 and 170.48 kJ mol−1, respectively. Furthermore, the activation energy changed while the conversion rate increased, and the frequency factork0decreased greatly while the activation energy decreased. The results also indicated that the devolatilization of the two coastal plant species underwent a set of first-order reactions and could be expressed by the DAEM. Additionally, a simplified mathematical model was proposed to facilitate the prediction of devolatilization curves.
Quantification of the Dental Morphology of Orangutans
Authors: Nambiar P. , John J. , Al-Amery Samah M. , Purmal K. , Chai W. L. , Ngeow W. C. , Mohamed N. H. , Vellayan S.
Published: November 2013

Orangutans are believed to have close biological affinities to humans. Teeth being the hardest tissue provide useful information on primate evolution. Furthermore, knowledge of the pulp chamber and root canal morphology is important for dental treatment. A female Bornean orangutan and a Sumatran male orangutan skull were available for this study. Both of their dentitions, comprising 50 teeth, were scanned employing the cone‐beam computed tomography for both metrical and nonmetrical analyses. Measurements included tooth and crown length, root length, enamel covered crown height, root canal length (posterior teeth), length of pulpal space (anterior teeth), and root canal width. Nonmetrical parameters included number of canals per root, number of foramina in each root, and root canal morphology according to Vertucci’s classification. It was found that the enamel covered crown height was the longest in the upper central incisors although the canine was the longest amongst the anterior teeth. Both the upper premolars were three‐rooted while the lower second premolar of the Sumatran orangutan was two‐rooted, with two foramina. The mandibular lateral incisors of the Bornean orangutan were longer than the central incisors, a feature similar to humans. In addition, secondary dentine deposition was noticed, a feature consistent with aged humans.
A Dual-Cycle Architecture in Cognitive M2M Wireless Networks
Authors: Li Ying , Dong Xu , Wang Lifeng , Guo Xiaobo , Bai Lin
Published: November 2013

Dual-cycle cognitive model (DCCM) is an effective means to develop the future large-scale cognitive wireless networks. In this paper, the DCCM is considered to construct cognitive wireless netwroks, in which the structure and implementation of service-oriented radio architecture (SORA) are expounded. Using SORA, a DCCM-based wireless resource management is considered in design and implementation of cognitive wireless networks. It shows that our proposed DCCM-based SORA is able to provide loosely coupled, reusable, and scalable implementations in machine-to-machine (M2M) heteogeneous wireless networking environment, while the intelligence of network can be improved.
Rapidly Progressing Osteomyelitis of the Mandible
Authors: Kusuyama Yukiko , Matsumoto Ken , Okada Shino , Wakabayashi Ken , Takeuchi Noritami , Yura Yoshiaki
Published: November 2013

Acute osteomyelitis exists as a refractory disease even now, which usually exhibits systemic symptoms such as fever or malaise and local redness or swelling. The present paper describes a case of acute osteomyelitis of the mandible that was rapidly progressing without typical symptoms. The patient had liver cirrhosis, which should be one of the systemic factors that affect immune surveillance and metabolism. Actinomycotic druses and filaments were detected from the sequestrum. These were considered to play a role in the rapid progression of osteomyelitis without typical symptoms. There has been no evidence of local recurrence 24 months after surgery.
Dynamic Modeling and Fuzzy Self-Tuning Disturbance Decoupling Control for a 3-DOF Serial-Parallel Hybrid Humanoid Arm
Authors: Wang Yueling , Shi Runjie , Wang Hongbin
Published: November 2013

A unique fuzzy self-tuning disturbance decoupling controller (FSDDC) is designed for a serial-parallel hybrid humanoid arm (HHA) to implement the throwing trajectory-tracking mission. Firstly, the dynamic model of the HHA is established and the input signal of the throwing process is obtained by studying the throwing process of human's arm. Secondly, the FSDDC, incorporating the disturbance decoupling controller (DDC) and the fuzzy logic controller (FLC), is designed to ensure trajectory tracking of the HHA in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances. With the FSDDC method, the HHA system can be decoupled by actively estimating and rejecting the effects of both the internal plant dynamics and external disturbances. The self-tuning parameters are adapted online to improve the performance of the FSDDC; thus, it does not require detailed system parameters of the presented FSDDC. Finally, the controller introduced is compared with a PD controller which is commonly used for the robot manipulators control in industry. The effectiveness of the designed FSDDC is illustrated by simulations.