bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical challenges and solutions in representing lakes when using WRF in downscaling applications
Authors: Mallard M. S. , Nolte C. G. , Spero T. L. , Bullock O. R. , Alapaty K. , Herwehe J. A. , Gula J. , Bowden J. H.
Published: April 2015

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is commonly used to make high-resolution future projections of regional climate by downscaling global climate model (GCM) outputs. Because the GCM fields are typically at a much coarser spatial resolution than the target regional downscaled fields, lakes are often poorly resolved in the driving global fields, if they are resolved at all. In such an application, using WRF's default interpolation methods can result in unrealistic lake temperatures and ice cover at inland water points. Prior studies have shown that lake temperatures and ice cover impact the simulation of other surface variables, such as air temperatures and precipitation, two fields that are often used in regional climate applications to understand the impacts of climate change on human health and the environment. Here, alternative methods for setting lake surface variables in WRF for downscaling simulations are presented and contrasted.
The Cross-Border Freedom of Form Principle Under Reservation: The Role of Articles 12 and 96 CISG in Theory and Practice
Authors: Schroeter Ulrich G.
Published: April 2015

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Effect of Burdock Root and the Fermented Product on Alloxan-Induced Mouse Hyperglycemia
Authors: Doi Wakana , Asada Yumi , Ohno Ayaka , Okuda Yoshiko , Masuda Shota , Matsumoto Ayano , Mori Chihiro , Agarie Takaya , Ishihara Kohji , Murakami Takayuki , Masuoka Noriyoshi
Published: April 2015

Backgrounds: We reported that feeding 5% Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root diet was effective in preventing mouse hyperglycemia caused by alloxan.

Methods: Diets containing 5% burdock roots were prepared from raw and Asperagillus awamori-fermented burdock root powders. Acatalasemic mice, having a quite low catalase activity in blood, and normal mice were fed these diets for 14 weeks, separately. Then, alloxan (200 mg/ kg of body weight) or PBS was intraperitoneally administrated to each mouse. After 5 day from the administration, blood glucose assay and glucose tolerance test were carried out, and then insulin, C-peptide and lipid peroxide in plasma were examined.

Results: Incidences of hyperglycemia in normal mice fed control, raw and fermented burdock root diets were 25, 20 and 11 %, respectively, and these in acatalasemic mice were 73, 80 and 27%. Insulin and C-peptide in plasma of mice fed raw burdock root diet or control diet were low compared to mice fed the fermented diet.

Conclusions: Intake of raw burdock root does not suppress the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia but the fermented burdock root does. It is suggested that Asperagillus awamori plays an important role for the prevention.
Autonomie: geen recht zonder verantwoordelijkheid
Authors: Santos do Nascimento R.R.
Published: April 2015

Autonomie: geen recht zonder verantwoordelijkheid

In de 21ste eeuw blijkt meer dan ooit dat verzorging van het algemeen welzijn een verantwoordelijkheid is die staten niet onafhankelijk kunnen dragen. Dit brengt de noodzaak van steeds meer onderlinge afstemming en samenwerking met zich. Tegen deze achtergrond onderzoekt de auteur hoe de autonomie van de Caribische Landen binnen het Koninkrijk moet worden opgevat, waarbij hij tot de conclusie komt dat de belangen van burger en Koninkrijk met zich brengen dat autonomie begrepen moet worden als meer dan enkel een recht dat Nederland dient te eerbiedigen: autonomie is ook en vooral een plicht met de daaraan noodzakelijk gekoppelde verantwoordelijkheden.
Het Arubaanse voorstel met betrekking tot de koop van een onroerende zaak: weg met de bedenktijd, schakel de notaris in!
Authors: Bollen C.
Published: April 2015

Het Arubaanse voorstel met betrekking tot de koop van een onroerende zaak: weg met de bedenktijd, schakel de notaris in!

In Aruba ligt het ontwerp van de Landsverordening aanvulling Burgerlijk Wetboek van Aruba bij de Staten. In dit ontwerp is artikel 7:2 opgenomen, dat voor de koop van een woning door een particulier een schriftelijke overeenkomst voorschrijft, met daaraan gekoppeld een bedenktijd van drie dagen. Doel hiervan is bescherming van de koper. Dit is in lijn met de wetgeving hierover in Nederland en Curaçao. De schrijver betoogt dat op deze manier deze bescherming niet wordt gerealiseerd. Volgens hem moet de bedenktijd worden geschrapt en, mede gelet op de praktijk in Aruba, de notaris verplicht worden ingeschakeld bij het sluiten van de koopovereenkomst. Zo kan de beoogde bescherming wel worden geboden.
Post‐treatment Optimization to Enhance Groundwater Recharge Operations
Authors: Wang Sunny , Patel Mehul , Dunivin Bill , Clark James , Foellmi Steven , Dipietro Catherine (Spencer)
Published: April 2015

A recent expansion of Orange County (Calif.) Water District's advanced water purification facility allowed the enhancement of energy‐recovery devices on new reverse osmosis units, secondary effluent flow equalization, and alternative treated water quality targets.
Sight Communities: The Social Significance of Shared Visual Landmarks
Authors: Bernardini Wesley , Peeples Matthew A.
Published: April 2015

Research in psychology has established that humans organize spatial information into “cognitive maps” oriented around visual landmarks. Much of this research focuses on individual cognitive processes such as orienteering and wayfinding. We extend this research to the level of social groups, exploring the degree to which cognitive maps are shared among near and distant neighbors and the social implications of common, overlapping, or discrete cognitive maps. We develop the concept of “sight communities” —populations which shared similar cognitive maps—and then propose methodologies to (1) identify visual anchors and quantify their visual prominence from different vantage points, and (2) detect and analyze connections among the populations which were able to see visual anchors, with a special focus on tools from social network analysis.
Reflections on Technological Continuities: Manuscripts Copied from Printed Books
Authors: Blair Ann
Published: April 2015

In our time of increasing reliance on digital media the history of the book has a
special role to play in studying the codex form and the persistence of old media
alongside the growth of new ones. As a contribution to recent work on the
continued use of manuscript in the handpress era, I focus on some examples of
manuscripts copied from printed books in the Rylands Library and discuss the
motivations for making them. Some of these manuscripts were luxury items
signalling wealth and prestige, others were made for practical reasons – to own
a copy of a book that was hard to buy, or a copy that could be customized in the
process of copying. The act of copying itself was also considered to have
devotional and/or pedagogical value.
The mucosal adjuvant cyclic di-GMP enhances antigen uptake and selectively activates pinocytosis-efficient cells in vivo
Authors: Blaauboer Steven M , Mansouri Samira , Tucker Heidi R , Wang Hatti L , Gabrielle Vincent D , Jin Lei
Published: April 2015

Effective mucosal adjuvants enhance the magnitude and quality of the vaccine response. Cyclic di-GMP (CDG) is a promising mucosal vaccine adjuvant. However, its in vivo mechanisms are unclear. Here, we showed, in mice, that CDG elicits stronger Ab and TH responses than the mammalian 2′3′-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), and generated better protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection than 2′3′-cGAMP adjuvanted vaccine. We identified two in vivo mechanisms of CDG. First, intranasally administered CDG greatly enhances Ag uptake, including pinocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis in vivo. The enhancement depends on MPYS (STING, MITA) expression in CD11C+ cells. Second, we found that CDG selectively activated pinocytosis-efficient-DCs, leading to TH polarizing cytokines IL-12p70, IFNγ, IL-5, IL-13, IL-23, and IL-6 production in vivo. Notably, CDG induces IFNλ, but not IFNβ, in vivo. Our study revealed previously unrecognized in vivo functions of MPYS and advanced our understanding of CDG as a mucosal vaccine adjuvant.
An opioid-like system regulating feeding behavior in C. elegans
Authors: Cheong Mi Cheong , Artyukhin Alexander B , You Young-Jai , Avery Leon
Published: April 2015

Neuropeptides are essential for the regulation of appetite. Here we show that neuropeptides could regulate feeding in mutants that lack neurotransmission from the motor neurons that stimulate feeding muscles. We identified nlp-24 by an RNAi screen of 115 neuropeptide genes, testing whether they affected growth. NLP-24 peptides have a conserved YGGXX sequence, similar to mammalian opioid neuropeptides. In addition, morphine and naloxone respectively stimulated and inhibited feeding in starved worms, but not in worms lacking NPR-17, which encodes a protein with sequence similarity to opioid receptors. Opioid agonists activated heterologously expressed NPR-17, as did at least one NLP-24 peptide. Worms lacking the ASI neurons, which express npr-17, did not response to naloxone. Thus, we suggest that Caenorhabditis elegans has an endogenous opioid system that acts through NPR-17, and that opioids regulate feeding via ASI neurons. Together, these results suggest C. elegans may be the first genetically tractable invertebrate opioid model.
New specific bioelectrical impedance vector reference values for assessing body composition in the Italian‐Spanish young adult population
Authors: Ibáñez Maria E. , Mereu Elena , Buffa Roberto , Gualdi‐Russo Emanuela , Zaccagni Luciana , Cossu Stefano , Rebato Esther , Marini Elisabetta
Published: April 2015

Objective

Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (spBIVA) is a recently proposed technique for the analysis of body composition. The aim of this study was to apply spBIVA to a sample of Italian and Spanish young adults and to define the new bioelectrical references for this Western Mediterranean population.

Methods

A sample of 440 individuals (220 from Italy, 220 from Spain; 213 men, 227 women) aged 18–30 years was considered. Anthropometric (height, weight, relaxed upper arm, waist, and calf girths) and bioelectrical (resistance, reactance; 50 kHz, 800 μA) measurements were taken. In order to verify the need for new references, specific bioelectrical values were compared to the reference values for U.S. adults and Italian elderly by tolerance ellipses and Student's t test.

Results

The mean specific bioelectrical values (resistivity, Rsp, and reactivity, Xcsp, Ohm·cm) were: Rsp (332.7 ± 41.7 Ω·cm), Xcsp (44.4 ± 6.8 Ω·cm), Zsp (335.6 ± 41.9 Ω·cm) and phase (7.6 ± 0.8°) in men; Rsp (388.6 ± 60 Ω·cm), Xcsp (43.7 ± 7.5 Ω·cm), Zsp (391.0 ± 60.3 Ω·cm) and phase (6.4 ± 0.7°) in women. Italo‐Spanish bioelectrical vectors were mainly distributed (>90%) in the lower part of the tolerance ellipses for U.S. young adults, due to a shorter impedance (P < 0.001), indicative of a lower percent fat mass. Compared to Italian elders, they were mainly located in the left side (>90%), due to a higher phase (P < 0.001), indicative of higher body cell mass.

Conclusions

These population and age‐related differences indicate the need for new specific tolerance ellipses that can be used as references for assessing body composition in young adults from Western Mediterranean populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 27:871–876, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of citric acid on the properties and stability of starch‐polycaprolactone based films
Authors: Ortega‐Toro Rodrigo , Collazo‐Bigliardi Sofía , Talens Pau , Chiralt Amparo
Published: April 2015

The influence of citric acid (CA) on structural and physicochemical properties of blend films based on corn starch and polycaprolactone (PCL) was studied. Films were obtained by melt blending of starch and PCL and compression molding. Phase separation of polymers observed by scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope was reduced by CA incorporation. CA affected both starch and PCL crystallization as deduced from the X‐ray diffraction patterns and values of melting enthalpy. Glass transition of starch was reduced by PCL incorporation, while this occurred to a greater extent in films containing CA. Obtained results point to enhanced interactions between PCL and starch chains in films with CA, although this only quantitatively benefits the film properties at a low PCL ratio. Compounding starch with small amounts of PCL, using glycerol and CA, can supply films with better functional properties than net starch films. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42220.
Preparation and characterization of novel chitosan‐based mixed matrix membranes resistant in alkaline media
Authors: García‐Cruz Leticia , Casado‐Coterillo Clara , Iniesta Jesús , Montiel Vicente , Irabien Ángel
Published: April 2015

In this work, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) based on chitosan (CS) and different fillers (room temperature ionic liquid [emim][OAc] (IL), metallic Sn powder, layered titanosilicate AM‐4 and layered stannosilicate UZAR‐S3) were prepared by solution casting. The room temperature electrical conductivity and electrochemical response in strong alkaline medium were measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The ionic conductivity of pure CS membranes was enhanced, from 0.070 to 0.126 mS cm−1, for the pristine CS and Sn/CS membranes, respectively, as a function of the hydrophilic nature of the membrane and the coordination state of Sn. This hydrophilic and charge nature was corroborated by water uptake measurements, where only the introduction of IL in the CS membrane led to a water uptake of 3.96 wt %, 20 or 30 times lower than the other membranes. Good thermal and chemical stability in alkaline media were observed by thermogravimetric analyses and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, respectively, and good interaction between CS and the fillers observed by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and CV. Thus, thin CS‐based MMMs (40–139 µm), resistant in high alkaline media, show higher conductivity than pure CS membranes, especially those fillers containing tin, and although the electrochemical performance is lower than commercially available anion‐exchange membranes they have potential in pervaporation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42240.
Evaluation of typical rheological models fitting for polycarbonate squeeze flow
Authors: Cao Wei , Wang Tao , Yan Yue , Qi Yanhui , Zhang Shixun , Li Qian , Shen Changyu
Published: April 2015

High viscous polycarbonate melt exhibits some special rheological characters different from generalized Newtonian fluid during squeezing. It is necessary to evaluate whether the typical rheological models are suitable for polycarbonate squeeze. To avoid the difficult of measuring the inner melt rheological behavior directly, this study presents a method of measuring the compressing force applied on the upper disc of the rheometer to reveal the melt rheology indirectly. The finite difference method (FDM) was employed to discretize the governing equations and constitutive equations established on cylinder coordinate system and to simulate the compressing force. The experiments were carried out under four temperatures and three compressing velocities to test the validations of Leonov, Phan‐Thien–Tanner (PTT), eXtended Pom‐Pom (XPP), and Cross Williams‐Landel‐Ferry (Cross‐WLF) models. The experimental results show the unique character of compressing force evolution as ‘steep—steady—steep—steady’ pattern. Comparison between experiments and simulations reveals that both viscoelastic and viscous models can predict the two steady regions correctly, but only viscoelastic models can simulate the steep increase and decrease of the compressing force. Among the evaluated viscoelastic models, XPP is the most suitable to describe polycarbonate melt compression flow. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42279.
Alaska Airline's Kris Kutchera advocates for STEM education
Authors: Hardin Steve
Published: April 2015

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Kris Kutchera, vice president for information technology for Air Alaska Group, shared her passion for education in a plenary session at the ASIS&T 2014 Annual Meeting. Kutchera learned early that study and preparation lead to competence, and she shares her values through Air Alaska's commitment to youth and education. Her concentration in STEM subjects led her to information technology, applied to airline operations in a variety of ways from equipment weight reduction for fuel efficiency to passenger kiosks with virtual assistants and biometric finger scanning. Such innovative changes rise from understanding of business drivers and goals. Alaska Airlines trains all personnel in business basics and seeks out those with leadership and technical skills. Kutchera applauded ASIS&T members for promoting education that puts knowledge and information in action in STEM careers.
Intensive care admission of cancer patients: a comparative analysis
Authors: Bos Monique M. E. M. , Verburg Ilona W. M. , Dumaij Ineke , Stouthard Jacqueline , Nortier Johannes W. R. , Richel Dick , van der Zwan Eric P.A. , de Keizer Nicolette F. , de Jonge Evert
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to obtain insight into which proportion of cancer patients is admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and how their survival, demographic, and clinical characteristics relate to cancer patients not admitted to the ICU. Data from patients registered with cancer between 2006 and 2011 in four hospitals in the Netherlands were linked to the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation registry. About 36,860 patients with cancer were identified, of whom 2,374 (6.4%) were admitted to the ICU. Fifty‐six percent of ICU admissions were after surgery, whereas 44% were for medical reasons. The risk for ICU admission was highest among cancer patients treated with surgery either alone or combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Only 80 of 1,073 medical ICU admissions (3.3%) were for cancer‐specific reasons. Although more women (54.0%) than men were registered with cancer, the proportion of male cancer patients admitted to an ICU was much higher (9.3 vs. 4.0%, P < 0.001). Five‐year survival of cancer patients admitted to the ICU was substantial (41%) although median survival was much lower (1,104 days) than in patients not admitted to the ICU (median survival time not reached, P < 0.001). These results show that one out of 16 cancer patients was admitted to an ICU and that ICU support for this group should not be considered futile.
Prognostic factors and sites of metastasis in unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Peixoto Renata D'Alpino , Speers Caroline , McGahan Colleen E. , Renouf Daniel J. , Schaeffer David F. , Kennecke Hagen F.
Published: April 2015

Due to differences in natural history and therapy, clinical trials of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer have recently been subdivided into unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and metastatic disease. We aimed to evaluate prognostic factors in LAPC patients who were treated with first‐line chemotherapy and describe patterns of disease progression. Patients with LAPC who initiated first‐line palliative chemotherapy, 2001–2011 at the BC Cancer Agency were included. A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify clinicopathologic variables, treatment, and subsequent sites of metastasis. Kaplan–Meier and Cox‐regression survival analyses were performed. A total of 244 patients were included in this study. For the majority of patients (94.3%), first‐line therapy was single‐agent gemcitabine. About 144 (59%) patients developed distant metastatic disease and the most frequent metastatic sites included peritoneum/omentum (42.3%), liver (41%), lungs (13.9%), and distant lymph nodes (9%). Median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 11.7 months (95% CI, 10.6–12.8). Development of distant metastases was associated with significantly inferior survival (HR 3.56, 95% CI 2.57–4.93), as was ECOG 2/3 versus 0/1 (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.28–2.23), CA 19.9 > 1000 versus ≤1000 (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.19–2.14) and female gender, (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.19–2.08). In this population‐based study, 41% of LAPC patients treated with first‐line chemotherapy died without evidence of distant metastases. Prognostic factors for LAPC were baseline performance status, elevated CA 19.9, gender, and development of distant metastasis. Results highlight the heterogeneity of LAPC and the importance of locoregional tumor control.
Corticalization of motor control in humans is a consequence of brain scaling in primate evolution
Authors: Herculano‐Houzel Suzana , Kaas Jon H. , de Oliveira‐Souza Ricardo
Published: April 2015

Control over spinal and brainstem somatomotor neurons is exerted by two sets of descending fibers, corticospinal/pyramidal and extrapyramidal. Although in nonhuman primates the effect of bilateral pyramidal lesions is mostly limited to an impairment of the independent use of digits in skilled manual actions, similar injuries in humans result in the locked‐in syndrome, a state of mutism and quadriplegia in which communication can be established only by residual vertical eye movements. This behavioral contrast makes humans appear to be outliers compared with other primates because of our almost total dependence on the corticospinal/pyramidal system for the effectuation of movement. Here we propose, instead, that an increasing preponderance of the corticospinal/pyramidal system over motor control is an expected consequence of increasing brain size in primates because of the faster scaling of the number of neurons in the primary motor cortex over the brainstem and spinal cord motor neuron pools, explaining the apparent uniqueness of the corticalization of motor control in humans. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:448–455, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using cytochrome P4501A1 expression in liver and blubber to understand effects of persistent organic pollutant exposure in stranded Pacific Island cetaceans
Authors: Bachman Melannie J. , Foltz Kerry M. , Lynch Jennifer M. , West Kristi L. , Jensen Brenda A.
Published: April 2015

Elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been reported in tropical Pacific Island cetaceans and their environment. In addition, recent health concerns in cetacean populations have warranted investigation into potential physiological effects from POP exposure for this region. Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is a candidate for examining such effects. This well-studied biomarker of exposure and effect was examined in stranded cetacean liver using immunoblot (n = 39, 16 species) and blubber using immunohistochemistry (n = 23, 10 species). Paired tissue samples allowed for CYP1A1 comparisons not only between species but also within each individual animal to examine differences between tissue types. Liver CYP1A1 expression correlated positively and significantly with blubber concentrations of all POP categories (n = 39, p < 0.050) except octachlorostyrene and pentachlorobenzene (p > 0.100). Among Stenella species, liver CYP1A1 tissue expression was correlated negatively with the sum of all blubber layer endothelial cell CYP1A1 expression (n = 14, p = 0.049). Overall, elevated expression of liver CYP1A1 confirms its use as a biomarker of POP exposure to cetaceans stranded in the tropical Pacific basin. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1989–1995. © 2015 SETAC
Ecotoxicity of bare and coated silver nanoparticles in the aquatic midge, Chironomus riparius
Authors: Park Sun-Young , Chung Jiwoong , Colman Benjamin P. , Matson Cole W. , Kim Younghun , Lee Byung-Cheon , Kim Phil-Je , Choi Kyunghee , Choi Jinhee
Published: April 2015

Although sediment is generally considered to be the major sink for nanomaterials in aquatic environments, few studies have addressed the ecotoxicity of nanomaterials in the presence of sediment. In the present study, the ecotoxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a range of organic coatings was examined in a freshwater sediment-dwelling organism, Chironomus riparius, using acute and chronic ecotoxicity endpoints, including molecular indicators. The toxicity of AgNPs coated with different organic materials, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum arabic, and citrate, to C. riparius was compared with that of bare-AgNPs and AgNO3 (ionic silver). Total silver concentration was also measured to monitor the behavior of the AgNPs in water and sediment and to determine how ion dissolution affects the toxicity of all AgNPs. The coated- and bare-AgNPs caused DNA damage and oxidative stress-related gene expression. In addition, the bare-AgNPs and AgNO3 had a significant effect on development and reproduction. The surface coatings generally mitigated the toxicity of AgNPs to C. riparius, which can be explained by the reduced number of ions released from coated-AgNPs. Citrate-AgNPs caused the most significant alteration at the molecular level, but this did not translate to higher-level effects. Finally, comparing previously conducted studies on AgNP-induced gene expression without sediments, the authors show that the presence of sediment appears to mitigate the toxicity of AgNPs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2023–2032. © 2015 SETAC
Routes of uptake of diclofenac, fluoxetine, and triclosan into sediment-dwelling worms
Authors: Karlsson Maja V. , Marshall Stuart , Gouin Todd , Boxall Alistair B.A.
Published: April 2015

The present study investigated the route and degree of uptake of 2 ionizable pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and fluoxetine) and 1 ionizable compound used in personal care products (triclosan) into the sediment-dwelling worm Lumbriculus variegatus. Studies were done on complete worms (“feeding”) and worms where the head was absent (“nonfeeding”) using 14C-labeled ingredients. Biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAF), based on uptake of 14C, for feeding worms increased in the order fluoxetine (0.3) < diclofenac (0.5) < triclosan (9), which is correlated with a corresponding increase in log octanol–water partition coefficient. Biota sediment accumulation factor estimates are representative of maximum values because the degree of biotransformation in the worms was not quantified. Although no significant differences were seen between the uptake of diclofenac and that of fluoxetine in feeding and nonfeeding worms, uptake of the more hydrophobic antimicrobial, triclosan, into the feeding worms was significantly greater than that in the nonfeeding worms, with the 48-h BSAF for feeding worms being 36% higher than that for the nonfeeding worms. The results imply that dietary uptake contributes to the uptake of triclosan, which may be a result of the high hydrophobicity of the compound. Models that estimate exposure of ionizable substances may need to consider uptake from both the water column and food, particularly when assessing risks from dynamic exposures to organic contaminants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:836–842. © 2015 SETAC
Identification of ester metabolites from petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in groundwater using GC×GC-TOFMS
Authors: O'Reilly Kirk T. , Mohler Rachel E. , Zemo Dawn A. , Ahn Sungwoo , Tiwary Asheesh K. , Magaw Renae I. , Espino Devine Catalina , Synowiec Karen A.
Published: April 2015

In an effort to understand the nature and toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation metabolites, 2-dimensional gas chromatography linked to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC×GC-TOFMS) was used to conduct nontargeted analysis of the extracts of 61 groundwater samples collected from 10 fuel release sites. An unexpected result was the tentative identification of 197 unique esters. Although esters are known to be part of specific hydrocarbon degradative pathways, they are not commonly considered or evaluated in field studies of petroleum biodegradation. In addition to describing the compounds identified, the present study discusses the role for nontargeted analysis in environmental studies. Overall, the low toxicological profile of the identified esters, along with the limited potential for exposure, renders them unlikely to pose any significant health risk. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:1959–1961. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of SETAC.
A meta‐analysis of neuroimaging studies on divergent thinking using activation likelihood estimation
Authors: Wu Xin , Yang Wenjing , Tong Dandan , Sun Jiangzhou , Chen Qunlin , Wei Dongtao , Zhang Qinglin , Zhang Meng , Qiu Jiang
Published: April 2015

In this study, an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta‐analysis was used to conduct a quantitative investigation of neuroimaging studies on divergent thinking. Based on the ALE results, the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies showed that distributed brain regions were more active under divergent thinking tasks (DTTs) than those under control tasks, but a large portion of the brain regions were deactivated. The ALE results indicated that the brain networks of the creative idea generation in DTTs may be composed of the lateral prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex [such as the inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and precuneus (BA 7)], anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (BA 32), and several regions in the temporal cortex [such as the left middle temporal gyrus (BA 39), and left fusiform gyrus (BA 37)]. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46) was related to selecting the loosely and remotely associated concepts and organizing them into creative ideas, whereas the ACC (BA 32) was related to observing and forming distant semantic associations in performing DTTs. The posterior parietal cortex may be involved in the semantic information related to the retrieval and buffering of the formed creative ideas, and several regions in the temporal cortex may be related to the stored long‐term memory. In addition, the ALE results of the structural studies showed that divergent thinking was related to the dopaminergic system (e.g., left caudate and claustrum). Based on the ALE results, both fMRI and structural MRI studies could uncover the neural basis of divergent thinking from different aspects (e.g., specific cognitive processing and stable individual difference of cognitive capability). Hum Brain Mapp 36:2703–2718, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Circulating Kidney Injury Molecule 1 Predicts Prognosis and Poor Outcome in Patients With Acetaminophen‐Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Antoine Daniel J. , Sabbisetti Venkata S. , Francis Ben , Jorgensen Andrea L. , Craig Darren G.N. , Simpson Kenneth J. , Bonventre Joseph V. , Park B. Kevin , Dear James W.
Published: April 2015

Acute kidney injury in the context of acetaminophen (APAP; paracetamol)‐induced liver injury is an important predictor of the requirement for urgent liver transplantation (LT) to avoid death. However, the prognostic biomarker used to report kidney dysfunction (serum creatinine concentration) has suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. Kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM‐1) can be quantified in plasma as a sensitive and specific biomarker of kidney injury in both clinical and preclinical studies. Therefore, plasma KIM‐1 has potential as a sensitive prognostic biomarker of patient outcome post‐APAP overdose. In a cohort of APAP overdose patients (N = 74) with and without established liver injury, we quantified plasma KIM‐1 by immunoassay on the first day of admission to a LT unit and assessed its diagnostic performance to predict outcome compared with serum creatinine concentration. Day 1 plasma KIM‐1 was significantly elevated in patients that died or required LT, compared to spontaneous survivors (1,182 ± 251 vs. 214 ± 45 pg/mL; P < 0.005). Receiver operator characteristic analysis demonstrated the superiority of KIM‐1 (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78‐0.95; 0.56 sensitivity at 0.95 specificity), compared with serum creatinine (AUC, 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64‐0.87; 0.08 sensitivity at 0.95 specificity) and other current prognostic indicators, when measured on the first day of enrollment into the study. Furthermore, KIM‐1 was found to be a statistically significant independent predictor of outcome at the 5% level (P < 0.0386) in a multivariable logistic regression model that considered all measured factors (pseudo‐R^2 = 0.895). Conclusion: Early measurement of plasma KIM‐1 represents a more sensitive predictor of patient outcome than serum creatinine concentration post‐APAP overdose. With further development, plasma KIM‐1 could significantly improve prognostic stratification. (Hepatology 2015;62:591–599
The transfer of Cfunc contextual control through equivalence relations
Authors: Perez William F. , Fidalgo Adriana P. , Kovac Roberta , Nico Yara C.
Published: April 2015

Derived relational responding is affected by contextual stimuli (Cfunc) that select specific stimulus functions. The present study investigated the transfer of Cfunc contextual control through equivalence relations by evaluating both (a) the maintenance of Cfunc contextual control after the expansion of a relational network, and (b) the establishment of novel contextual stimuli by the transfer of Cfunc contextual control through equivalence relations. Initially, equivalence relations were established and contingencies were arranged so that colors functioned as Cfunc stimuli controlling participants' key‐pressing responses in the presence of any stimulus from a three‐member equivalence network. To investigate the first research question, the three‐member equivalence relations were expanded to five members and the novel members were presented with the Cfunc stimuli in the key‐pressing task. To address the second goal of this study, the colors (Cfunc) were established as equivalent to certain line patterns. The transfer of contextual cue function (Cfunc) was tested replacing the colored backgrounds with line patterns in the key‐pressing task. Results suggest that the Cfunc contextual control was transferred to novel stimuli that were added to the relational network. In addition, the line patterns indirectly acquired the contextual cue function (Cfunc) initially established for the colored backgrounds. The conceptual and applied implications of Cfunc contextual control are discussed.
Promising PLA‐functionalized MWCNT composites to use in nanotechnology
Authors: Seligra Paula González , Lamanna Melisa , Famá Lucía
Published: April 2015

Films based on polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were developed after using an excellent methodology to ensure an optimum dispersion of the filler in the matrix. The functionalization of MWCNT was carried out through a Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl (OH) and carboxyl (COOH) groups on their walls. After that, COOH groups were lengthened by reacting with thionyl chloride and then with triethylene glycol to achieve a terminal OH distanced from the wall of the MWCNT. Nanocomposites based on PLA containing different concentrations of functionalized filler (fMWCNT: 0.026, 0.10, and 0.18 wt%) were prepared by casting. The influence of filler concentration was investigated using some techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water vapor permeability (WVP) and uniaxial tensile mechanical properties. Excellent dispersion of fMWCNT was observed suggesting that the technique of functionalization used was appropriate. All nanocomposites presented great stability, allowing them to be processed to temperatures reaching 300°C. Furthermore, an increasing trend of ultimate tensile strength (σu) up to 20% and a decrease of WVP around 40% with the addition of only 0.10 wt% of fMWCNT were obtained. Considering these results, the new biodegradable nanocomposites developed in this work could be very promising to replace synthetic plastics that currently are used in different areas such as nanotechnology, packaging and biomedicine. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3066–3072, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effects of halloysite nanotubes on the performance of plasticized poly(lactic acid)‐based composites
Authors: Yeniova Erpek Canan Esma , Ozkoc Guralp , Yilmazer Ulku
Published: April 2015

The objective of this study is processing and characterization of Halloysite nanotube (HNT)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites. As HNT filler, a domestic source was used (ESAN HNT). The results obtained from this HNT were compared with a well‐known reference HNT (Nanoclay HNT). To achieve the desired physical properties and clay dispersion, composites were compounded via direct melt mixing in a laboratory twin‐screw compounder. However, the constituents were observed to be incompatible without a compatibilizer. To improve the flexibility of nanocomposites and provide compatibilization between PLA and HNT, two types of blends were prepared: PLA plasticized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) denoted as P‐PLA and PLA toughened with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) denoted as T‐PLA. Despite the limited improvement in the P‐PLA blends, TPU addition improved the flexibility of PLA/HNT without deteriorating the tensile strength in a great manner. This was attributed to the relatively better compatibilization effect of TPU and the role of nanotubes acting as bridges between the TPU and PLA phases. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3134–3148, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
The effect of MWNTs concentration and nanofiber orientation on mechanical properties of PAA nanocomposite nanofibrous web
Authors: Ebadi Seyed Vahid , Fakhrali Aref , Gharehaghaji Ali Akbar , Mazinani Saeedeh , Ranaei‐Siadat Seyed Omid
Published: April 2015

In this research, nanocomposite nanofibrous webs of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were obtained via electrospinning. The effect of MWNTs concentration on the morphology and mechanical properties of PAA/MWNTs nanofibers was investigated by changing the MWNTs content from 0 to 5 wt%. The results showed that average diameter of nanofibers increased with increasing the MWNTs concentration and presence of MWNTs led to the enhancement of mechanical properties. Also, the results revealed that the strength, modulus, and elongation at break of samples increased 3.22, 2.70, and 4.27 fold, respectively, after adding 3 wt% of MWNTs. In addition, the effect of rotating speed of collector on the orientation of PAA nanofibers and its effect on mechanical properties was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies demonstrated that the degree of nanofibers orientation increased with the augmentation of drum speed to 25 rps. Moreover, the average nanofibers diameter decreased with the increase of drum speed. Improvement of nanofiber orientation resulted in superior mechanical properties that is, higher strength and modulus of aligned nanofiber layers were obtained in comparison to nonaligned layers (12.6 and 26.6 fold, respectively). POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3149–3159, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Role of chain dynamics and topological confinements in cold crystallization of PLA‐clay nanocomposites
Authors: Karami Shahir , Lafleur Pierre G.
Published: April 2015

The effects of the addition of organically modified nanoparticles on molecular dynamics, and subsequently, crystallization parameters were investigated using temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheological measurements. Cold crystallization was observed to occur, at higher temperatures compared to the pure sample, due to the formation of topological constraints and the increase of the rigid fraction of amorphous chains, trapped in the polymer‐particle interphase. It was also found that in the nanocomposites, the competition between the heterogeneous nucleating role of the nanoparticles and the restricted morphology effect on crystallization kinetics depends on devitrification of the rigid amorphous chains, at the isothermal crystallization temperature, and during nonisothermal crystallization. It was illustrated that the fraction of rigid amorphous chains, extended at the crystal‐amorphous interphase, was enhanced by the increase of the overall crystallization rate. Moreover, the internal structure of the crystalline domains was revealed through small angle X‐ray scattering. A correlation function was applied to SAXS data to estimate the long period and the thickness of alternatively stacked lamellae. It was demonstrated that the long period depends on the overall crystallization rate, which was found to be influenced by nanoparticle content. In contrast, the lamellae thickness did not show a noticeable variation with the addition of the nanoparticles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1310–1320, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Hyperbranched polytriazine grafted reduced graphene oxide and its application
Authors: Liu Chao , Yan Hongxia , Yuan Lingxia , Chen Zhengyan , Zhang Mengmeng
Published: April 2015

In this article, cyanuric chloride (CC) and hexamethylenediamine (HMD) as raw material, the grafting of hyperbranched polytriazine onto reduced graphene oxide surface (HBP‐RGO) was achieved by the repeated nucleophilic substitution between chlorine groups of CC and amino groups of HMD, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic, Raman, transmission electron microscopic, thermogravimetric, and atomic force microscopic analysis showed that HBP‐RGO had been successfully prepared and the HBP had a dendritic structure on the surface of RGO. And then, the HBP‐RGO was added into polystyrene (PS) and the HBP‐RGO/PS composite was prepared by solution mixing. The micro‐morphology, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity of RGO/PS and HBP‐RGO/PS composites were characterized and compared. The scanning electron microscopic analysis showed that the HBP‐RGO can uniformly disperse in PS. Meanwhile, the HBP‐RGO/PS composite showed good thermal stability and electrical conductivity, the percolation threshold of the composites is low as 0.32 vol %. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2132–2140
The role of LARP1 in translation and beyond
Authors: Deragon Jean‐Marc , Bousquet‐Antonelli Cécile
Published: April 2015

The LARP1 proteins form an evolutionarily homogeneous subgroup of the eukaryotic superfamily of La‐Motif (LAM) containing factors. Members of the LARP1 family are found in most protists, fungi, plants, and animals. We review here evidence suggesting that LARP1 are key versatile messenger RNA (mRNA)‐binding proteins involved in regulating important biological processes such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, sex determination, and cell division in animals, as well as acclimation to stress in yeasts and plants. LARP1 proteins perform all these essential tasks likely by binding to key mRNAs and regulating their stability and/or translation. In human, the impact of LARP1 over cell division and proliferation is potentially under the control of the TORC1 complex. We review data suggesting that LARP1 is a direct target of this master signaling hub. TOR‐dependent LARP1 phosphorylation could specifically enhance the translation of TOP mRNAs providing a way to promote translation, growth, and proliferation. Consequently, LARP1 is found to be significantly upregulated in many malignant cell types. In plants, LARP1 was found to act as a cofactor of the heat‐induced mRNA degradation process, an essential acclimation strategy leading to the degradation of more than 4500 mRNAs coding for growth and development housekeeping functions. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the LARP1 proteins (Slf1p and Sro9p) are important, among other things, for copper resistance and oxidative stress survival. LARP1 proteins are therefore emerging as critical ancient mRNA‐binding factors that evolved common as well as specific targets and regulatory functions in all eukaryotic lineages. WIREs RNA 2015, 6:399–417. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1282

This article is categorized under:

Translation > Translation Mechanisms

RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability
Targeting cancer with sesterterpenoids: the new potential antitumor drugs
Authors: Zhang Caiguo , Liu Yan
Published: April 2015

Cancer remains a major cause of death in the world to date. A variety of anticancer drugs have been used in clinical chemotherapy, acting on the particular oncogenic abnormalities that are responsible for malignant transformation and progression. Interestingly, some of these anticancer drugs are developed from natural sources such as plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms. Over the past decades, a family of naturally occuring molecules, namely sesterterpenoids, has been isolated from different organisms and they exhibit significant potential in the inhibition of tumor cells in vitro, while the molecular targets of these compounds and their functional mechanisms are still obscure. In this review, we summarize and discuss the functions of these sesterterpenoids in the inhibition of cancer cells. Moreover, we also highlight and discuss chemical structure–activity relationships of some compounds, demonstrating their pervasiveness and importance in cancer therapy.
Cryo-electron microscopy for structural biology: current status and future perspectives
Authors: Wang HongWei
Published: April 2015

Recently, significant technical breakthroughs in both hardware equipment and software algorithms have enabled cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to become one of the most important techniques in biological structural analysis. The technical aspects of cryo-EM define its unique advantages and the direction of development. As a rapidly emerging field, cryo-EM has benefitted from highly interdisciplinary research efforts. Here we review the current status of cryo-EM in the context of structural biology and discuss the technical challenges. It may eventually merge structural and cell biology at multiple scales.
Depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors among Hispanic immigrant adolescents: Examining longitudinal effects of cultural stress
Authors: Cano Miguel Ángel , Schwartz Seth J. , Castillo Linda G. , Romero Andrea J. , Huang Shi , Lorenzo‐Blanco Elma I. , Unger Jennifer B. , Zamboanga Byron L. , Des Rosiers Sabrina E. , Baezconde‐Garbanati Lourdes , Lizzi Karina M. , Soto Daniel W. , Oshri Assaf , Villamar Juan Andres , Pattarroyo Monica , Szapocznik José
Published: April 2015

This study examined longitudinal effects of cultural stress (a latent factor comprised of bicultural stress, ethnic discrimination, and negative context of reception) on depressive symptoms and a range of externalizing behaviors among recently (≤5 years in the U.S. at baseline) immigrated Hispanic adolescents. A sample of 302 adolescents (53% boys; mean age 14.51 years) completed baseline measures of perceived ethnic discrimination, bicultural stress, and perceived negative context of reception; and outcome measures of depressive symptoms, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, aggressive behavior, and rule‐breaking behavior six months post‐baseline. A path analysis indicated that higher cultural stress scores predicted higher levels of all outcomes. These effects were consistent across genders, but varied by study site. Specifically, higher cultural stress scores increased depressive symptoms among participants in Miami, but not in Los Angeles. Findings suggest that cultural stress is a clinically relevant predictor of depressive symptoms and externalizing behaviors among Hispanic immigrant adolescents.
Distribution of Sec24 isoforms to each ER exit site is dynamically regulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Iwasaki Hirohiko , Yorimitsu Tomohiro , Sato Ken
Published: April 2015

COPII vesicles are formed at specific subdomains of the ER, termed ER exit sites (ERESs). Depending on the cell type, ERESs number from a few to several hundred per cell. However, whether these ERESs are functionally and compositionally identical at the cellular level remains unclear. Our live cell‐imaging analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that the isoforms of cargo‐adaptor subunits are unequally distributed to each ERES at steady state, whereas this distribution is altered in response to UPR activation. These results suggest that in S. cerevisiae cargo loading to ERES is dynamically controlled in response to environmental changes.