bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anger and assaultiveness of male forensic patients with developmental disabilities: links to volatile parents
Authors: Novaco Raymond W. , Taylor John L.
Published: March 2008

This study with 107 male forensic patients with developmental disabilities investigated whether exposure to parental anger and aggression was related to anger and assaultiveness in a hospital, controlling for background variables. Patient anger and aggression were assessed by self‐report, staff‐ratings, and archival records. Exposure to parental anger/aggression, assessed by a clinical interview, was significantly related to patient self‐reported anger, staff‐rated anger and aggression, and physical assaults in hospital, controlling for age, intelligence quotient, length of hospital stay, violent offense history, and childhood physical abuse. Results are consonant with previous findings concerning detrimental effects of witnessing parental violence and with the theory on acquisition of cognitive scripts for aggression. Implications for clinical assessment and cognitive restructuring in anger treatment are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 34:380–393, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Repeated partial eyewitness questioning causes confidence inflation but not retrieval‐induced forgetting
Authors: Odinot Geralda , Wolters Gezinus , Lavender Tristan
Published: March 2008

During a crime investigation eyewitnesses are often interviewed more than once. Repeated post‐event questioning offers an opportunity for retrieval practice. Practicing retrieval of a subset of memories may suppress access to related memories, a phenomenon known as retrieval‐induced forgetting. In this short report we investigated the generalization of retrieval‐induced forgetting to episodic eyewitness memory of a complex event. The results indicated that repeated retrieval improves future recall of practiced information, but does not induce forgetting of related information. Retrieval practice, however, did result in higher confidence ratings, both for correct and incorrect answers. The practical consequence of this study is that repeated questioning should be avoided if possible. Not because it may induce retrieval‐induced forgetting, but because it may lead to confidence inflation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Engineering motility as a phenotypic response to LuxI/R‐dependent quorum sensing in Escherichia coli
Authors: Weiss Lucien E. , Badalamenti Jonathan P. , Weaver Lane J. , Tascone Anthony R. , Weiss Paul S. , Richard Tom L. , Cirino Patrick C.
Published: March 2008

The repertoire of functional outputs interfaced with the LuxI/LuxR quorum sensing system in engineered Escherichia coli has been expanded to include motility via inducible expression of motB. Appropriate choice of ribosome binding site controlling MotB translation was crucial to achieving control over motility. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 1251–1255. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distinctive microbial ecology and biokinetics of autotrophic ammonia and nitrite oxidation in a partial nitrification bioreactor
Authors: Ahn Joon Ho , Yu Ran , Chandran Kartik
Published: March 2008

Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) based on partial nitrification and denitrification via nitrite is a cost‐effective alternate to conventional nitrification and denitrification (via nitrate). The goal of this study was to investigate the microbial ecology, biokinetics, and stability of partial nitrification. Stable long‐term partial nitrification resulting in 82.1 ± 17.2% ammonia oxidation, primarily to nitrite (77.3 ± 19.5% of the ammonia oxidized) was achieved in a lab‐scale bioreactor by operation at a pH, dissolved oxygen and solids retention time of 7.5 ± 0.1, 1.54 ± 0.87 mg O2/L, and 3.0 days, respectively. Bioreactor ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) populations were most closely related to Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter spp., respectively. The AOB population fraction varied in the range 61 ± 45% and was much higher than the NOB fraction, 0.71 ± 1.1%. Using direct measures of bacterial concentrations in conjunction with independent activity measures and mass balances, the maximum specific growth rate (µmax), specific decay (b) and observed biomass yield coefficients (Yobs) for AOB were 1.08 ± 1.03 day−1, 0.32 ± 0.34 day−1, and 0.15 ± 0.06 mg biomass COD/mg N oxidized, respectively. Corresponding µmax, b, and Yobs values for NOB were 2.6 ± 2.05 day−1, 1.7 ± 1.9 day−1, and 0.04 ± 0.02 mg biomass COD/mg N oxidized, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that the highly selective partial nitrification operating conditions enriched for a narrow diversity of rapidly growing AOB and NOB populations unlike conventional BNR reactors, which host a broader diversity of nitrifying bacteria. Further, direct measures of microbial abundance enabled not only elucidation of mixed community microbial ecology but also estimation of key engineering parameters describing bioreactor systems supporting these communities. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;100: 1078–1087. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inhibitory effects of the macrolide antimicrobial tylosin on anaerobic treatment
Authors: Shimada Toshio , Zilles Julie L. , Morgenroth Eberhard , Raskin Lutgarde
Published: March 2008

A laboratory‐scale anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) was operated using a glucose‐based synthetic wastewater to study the effects of tylosin, a macrolide antimicrobial commonly used in swine production, on treatment performance. The experimental period was divided into three consecutive phases with different influent tylosin concentrations (0, 1.67, and 167 mg/L). The addition of 1.67 mg/L tylosin to the reactor had negligible effects on the overall treatment performance, that is, total methane production and effluent chemical oxygen demand did not change significantly (P < 0.05), yet analyses of individual ASBR cycles revealed a decrease in the rates of both methane production and propionate uptake after tylosin was added. The addition of 167 mg/L tylosin to the reactor resulted in a gradual decrease in methane production and the accumulation of propionate and acetate. Subsequent inhibition of methanogenesis was attributed to a decrease in the pH of the reactor. After the addition of 167 mg/L tylosin to the reactor, an initial decrease in the rate of glucose uptake during the ASBR cycle followed by a gradual recovery was observed. In batch tests, the specific biogas production with the substrate butyrate was completely inhibited in the presence of tylosin. This study indicated that tylosin inhibited propionate‐ and butyrate‐oxidizing syntrophic bacteria and fermenting bacteria resulting in unfavorable effects on methanogenesis. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 73–82. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the calculation of the elastic modulus of a biofilm streamer
Authors: Aravas N. , Laspidou C.S.
Published: March 2008

Biofilm mechanical properties are essential in quantifying the rate of microbial detachment, a key process in determining the function and structure of biofilm systems. Although properties such as biofilm elastic moduli, yield stress and cohesive strength have been studied before, a wide range of values for the biofilm Young's modulus that differ by several orders of magnitude are reported in the literature. In this article, we use experimental data reported in Stoodley et al. [Stoodley et al., Biotechnol Bioeng (1999): 65(1):83–92] and present a methodology for the calculation of Young's modulus, which partially explains the large difference between the values reported in the literature. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 196–200. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ionic liquids as alternative co‐solvents for laccase: Study of enzyme activity and stability
Authors: Tavares Ana Paula Mora , Rodriguez Oscar , Macedo Eugénia A.
Published: March 2008

The activity and stability of commercial laccase (DeniLite base) in three different water soluble ionic liquids (ILs) (1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethylsulfate, [emim][MDEGSO4], 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ethylsulfate, [emim][EtSO4], and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methanesulfonate, [emim][MeSO3]) have been studied and compared to that in two organic solvents (acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide). Initial enzyme activities were similar among the ILs if the same conditions were used. A high reduction on initial enzyme activity was found with acidic pH (5.0). The effect of pH and solvent concentration on enzyme stability were investigated in more detail for 1 week. The enzyme maintained a high stability at pH 9.0 for all ILs tested. [emim][MDEGSO4] was the most promising IL for laccase with an activity loss of about 10% after 7 days of incubation. The kinetic studies in the presence of ABTS as substrate allowed to calculate the Michaelis– Menten parameters. Good agreement was found between experimental data and calculated values using the Michaelis–Menten mechanism, with a total average relative deviation of 2.1%. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 201–207. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mechanistic kinetic model for symmetric carboligations using benzaldehyde lyase
Authors: Zavrel Michael , Schmidt Thomas , Michalik Claas , Ansorge‐Schumacher Marion , Marquardt Wolfgang , Büchs Jochen , Spiess Antje C.
Published: March 2008

For reactions using thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)‐dependent enzymes many empirically‐derived kinetic models exist. However, there is a lack of mechanistic kinetic models. This is especially true for the synthesis of symmetric 2‐hydroxy ketones from two identical aldehydes, with one substrate acting as the donor and the other as the acceptor. In this contribution, a systematic approach for deriving such a kinetic model for thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)‐dependent enzymes is presented. The derived mechanistic kinetic model takes this donor–acceptor principle into account by containing two Km‐values even for identical substrate molecules. As example the stereoselective carbon–carbon coupling of two 3,5‐dimethoxy‐benzaldehyde molecules to (R)‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethoxy‐benzoin using benzaldehyde lyase (EC 4.1.2.38) from Pseudomonas fluorescens is studied. The model is derived using a model‐based experimental analysis method which includes parameter estimation, model analysis, optimal experimental design, in silico experiments, sensitivity analysis and model revision. It is shown that this approach leads to a robust kinetic model with accurate parameter estimates and an excellent prediction capability. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 27–38. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amphiphilic conetworks as activating carriers for the enhancement of enzymatic activity in supercritical CO2
Authors: Bruns Nico , Bannwarth Willi , Tiller Joerg C.
Published: March 2008

Enzymatic reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) represent a way of combining the advantages of biocatalysis with the environmental benign nature of scCO2 as a solvent. Here we demonstrate that activities of enzymes in scCO2 can be greatly enhanced by incorporating them into amphiphilic conetworks (APCNs), a novel type of enzyme support. Two sets of hydrophilic/scCO2‐philic APCNs, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)‐linked by‐poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PHEA‐l‐PDMS) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)‐linked by‐perfluoropolyether (PHEA‐l‐PFPE), were prepared and loaded with the synthetically relevant lipase from Rhizomucor miehei. The effect of the APCNs' composition on the amount of the absorbed lipase was studied. It is observed that both sets of lipase‐loaded APCNs enhance the catalytic activity of the enzyme in scCO2. The chemical nature of the scCO2‐philic phase as well as the conetworks composition greatly influences the activity of the lipase in the conetworks. Activities obtained with PFPE‐based APCNS were up to 10‐fold higher than those obtained with PDMS‐based conetworks. The highest specific activity measured corresponds to a 2,000‐fold activation compared to the lyophilized enzyme powder. This activity is 10 times higher than the specific activity of the lipase immobilized on an optimized commercial carrier. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 19–26. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Matrix notation for efficient development of first‐principles models within PAT applications: Integrated modeling of antibiotic production with Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Sin Gürkan , Ödman Peter , Petersen Nanna , Lantz Anna Eliasson , Gernaey Krist V.
Published: March 2008

A matrix notation coupled to macroscopic principles is introduced as a means to develop first‐ principles models in an efficient and structured way within PAT applications. The notation was evaluated for developing an integrated biological, chemical (pH modeling) and physical (gas–liquid exchange) model for describing antibiotic production with Streptomyces coelicolor in batch fermentations. The model provided statistically adequate fits to all the monitored macroscopic biological, chemical and physical data of the process, except the phosphate uptake dynamics. This phosphate discrepancy is hypothesized to result from the internal storage of phosphate as polyphosphate prior to the exponential growth phase. The antibiotic production was associated with the stationary phase and its kinetics was adequately described using a modified Luedeking–Piret equation. Further, the maintenance was best described by employing a combination of Pirt and Herbert models, a result that was supported by a model‐based hypothesis testing. Overall the process knowledge currently incorporated in the model is believed to be useful both for process optimization purposes and for further testing of hypotheses aiming at improving the mechanistic understanding of antibiotic production with S. coelicolor. Last but not least, the matrix notation is believed to be a promising supporting tool for efficient development and communication of complex dynamic models within a PAT framework. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 153–171. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metabolic flux model for an anchorage‐dependent MDCK cell line: Characteristic growth phases and minimum substrate consumption flux distribution
Authors: Wahl Aljoscha , Sidorenko Yury , Dauner Michael , Genzel Yvonne , Reichl Udo
Published: March 2008

Up to now cell‐culture based vaccine production processes only reach low productivities. The reasons are: (i) slow cell growth and (ii) low cell concentrations. To address these shortcomings, a quantitative analysis of the process conditions, especially the cell growth and the metabolic capabilities of the host cell line is required. For this purpose a MDCK cell based influenza vaccine production process was investigated. With a segregated growth model four distinct cell growth phases are distinguished in the batch process. In the first phase the cells attach to the surface of the microcarriers and show low metabolic activity. The second phase is characterized by exponential cell growth. In the third phase, preceded by a change in oxygen consumption, contact inhibition leads to a decrease in cell growth. Finally, the last phase before infection shows no further increase in cell numbers. To gain insight into the metabolic activity during these phases, a detailed metabolic model of MDCK cell was developed based on genome information and experimental analysis. The MDCK model was also used to calculate a theoretical flux distribution representing an optimized cell that only consumes a minimum of carbon sources. Comparing this minimum substrate consumption flux distribution to the fluxes estimated from experiments unveiled high overflow metabolism under the applied process conditions. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 135–152. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Opportunities for renewable bioenergy using microorganisms
Authors: Rittmann Bruce E.
Published: March 2008

Global warming can be slowed, and perhaps reversed, only when society replaces fossil fuels with renewable, carbon‐neutral alternatives. The best option is bioenergy: the sun's energy is captured in biomass and converted to energy forms useful to modern society. To make a dent in global warming, bioenergy must be generated at a very high rate, since the world today uses ∼10 TW of fossil‐fuel energy. And, it must do so without inflicting serious damage on the environment or disrupting our food supply. While most bioenergy options fail on both counts, several microorganism‐based options have the potential to produce large amounts of renewable energy without disruptions. In one approach, microbial communities convert the energy value of various biomass residuals to socially useful energy. Biomass residuals come from agricultural, animal, and a variety of industrial operations, as well as from human wastes. Microorganisms can convert almost all of the energy in these wastes to methane, hydrogen, and electricity. In a second approach, photosynthetic microorganisms convert sunlight into biodiesel. Certain algae (eukaryotes) or cyanobacteria (prokaryotes) have high lipid contents. Under proper conditions, these photosynthetic microorganisms can produce lipids for biodiesel with yields per unit area 100 times or more than possible with any plant system. In addition, the non‐lipid biomass can be converted to methane, hydrogen, or electricity. Photosynthetic microorganisms do not require arable land, an advantage because our arable land must be used to produce food. Algae or cyanobacteria may be the best option to produce bioenergy at rates high enough to replace a substantial fraction of our society's use of fossil fuels. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;99: 203–212. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Process considerations related to the microencapsulation of plasmid DNA via ultrasonic atomization
Authors: Ho Jenny , Wang Huanting , Forde Gareth M.
Published: March 2008

An effective means of facilitating DNA vaccine delivery to antigen presenting cells is through biodegradable microspheres. Microspheres offer distinct advantages over other delivery technologies by providing release of DNA vaccine in its bioactive form in a controlled fashion. In this study, biodegradable poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres containing polyethylenimine (PEI) condensed plasmid DNA (pDNA) were prepared using a 40 kHz ultrasonic atomization system. Process synthesis parameters, which are important to the scale‐up of microspheres that are suitable for nasal delivery (i.e., less than 20 µm), were studied. These parameters include polymer concentration; feed flowrate; volumetric ratio of polymer and pDNA‐PEI (plasmid DNA‐polyethylenimine) complexes; and nitrogen to phosphorous (N/P) ratio. PDNA encapsulation efficiencies were predominantly in the range 82–96%, and the mean sizes of the particle were between 6 and 15 µm. The ultrasonic synthesis method was shown to have excellent reproducibility. PEI affected morphology of the microspheres, as it induced the formation of porous particles that accelerate the release rate of pDNA. The PLGA microspheres displayed an in vitro release of pDNA of 95–99% within 30 days and demonstrated zero order release kinetics without an initial spike of pDNA. Agarose electrophoresis confirmed conservation of the supercoiled form of pDNA throughout the synthesis and in vitro release stages. It was concluded that ultrasonic atomization is an efficient technique to overcome the key obstacles in scaling‐up the manufacture of encapsulated vaccine for clinical trials and ultimately, commercial applications. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 172–181. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A fast cell loading and high‐throughput microfluidic system for long‐term cell culture in zero‐flow environments
Authors: Luo Chunxiong , Zhu Xuejun , Yu Tao , Luo Xianjia , Ouyang Qi , Ji Hang , Chen Yong
Published: March 2008

We present a simple technique for cell loading, culturing, and phenotypic study in a multi‐chamber microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This technique is based on the use of degassing induced aspiration of PDMS which allows loading cells into micro‐cavities within 1 min. A large number of triangle cavities are patterned aside main flow channels with narrow connections so that cells can be loaded by aspirating into each cavity. In our device, high throughput and long‐term monitoring can be done with minimum shear force of the flow. As a demonstration, we show a controlled loading at single cell level and the phenotypic variation of gene expression of the yeast strain w303 as a function of copper ion concentration of the medium. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 190–195. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of initial biofilm growth on the anode impedance of microbial fuel cells
Authors: Ramasamy Ramaraja P. , Ren Zhiyong , Mench Matthew M. , Regan John M.
Published: March 2008

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to study the behavior of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) during initial biofilm growth in an acetate‐fed, two‐chamber MFC system with ferricyanide in the cathode. EIS experiments were performed both on the full cell (between cathode and anode) as well as on individual electrodes. The Nyquist plots of the EIS data were fitted with an equivalent electrical circuit to estimate the contributions of various intrinsic resistances to the overall internal MFC impedance. During initial development of the anode biofilm, the anode polarization resistance was found to decrease by over 70% at open circuit and by over 45% at 27 µA/cm2, and a simultaneous increase in power density by about 120% was observed. The exchange current density for the bio‐electrochemical reaction on the anode was estimated to be in the range of 40–60 nA/cm2 for an immature biofilm after 5 days of closed circuit operation, which increased to around 182 nA/cm2 after more than 3 weeks of operation and stable performance in an identical parallel system. The polarization resistance of the anode was 30–40 times higher than that of the ferricyanide cathode for the conditions tested, even with an established biofilm. For a two‐chamber MFC system with a Nafion® 117 membrane and an inter‐electrode spacing of 15 cm, the membrane and electrolyte solution dominate the ohmic resistance and contribute to over 95% of the MFC internal impedance. Detailed EIS analyses provide new insights into the dominant kinetic resistance of the anode bio‐electrochemical reaction and its influence on the overall power output of the MFC system, even in the high internal resistance system used in this study. These results suggest that new strategies to address this kinetic constraint of the anode bio‐electrochemical reactions are needed to complement the reduction of ohmic resistance in modern designs. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 101–108. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Biodiesel production from high acid value waste frying oil catalyzed by superacid heteropolyacid
Authors: Cao Fenghua , Chen Yang , Zhai Fengying , Li Jing , Wang Jianghua , Wang Xiaohong , Wang Shengtian , Zhu Weimin
Published: March 2008

Transesterification of waste cooking oil with high acid value and high water contents using heteropolyacid H3PW12O40·6H2O (PW12) as catalyst was investigated. The hexahydrate form of PW12 was found to be the most promising catalyst which exhibited highest ester yield 87% for transesterification of waste cooking oil and ester yield 97% for esterification of long‐chain palmitic acid, respectively. The PW12 acid catalyst shows higher activity under the optimized reaction conditions compared with conventional homogeneous catalyst sulfuric acid, and can easily be separated from the products by distillation of the excess methanol and can be reused more times. The most important feature of this catalyst is that the catalytic activity is not affected by the content of free fatty acids (FFAs) and the content of water in the waste cooking oil and the transesterification can occur at a lower temperature (65°C), a lower methanol oil ratio (70:1) and be finished within a shorter time. The results illustrate that PW12 acid is an excellent water‐tolerant and environmentally benign acid catalyst for production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 93–100. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nitrous oxide monitoring for nitrifying activated sludge aeration control: A simulation study
Authors: Sivret Eric C. , Peirson William L. , Stuetz Richard M.
Published: March 2008

An activated sludge aeration control concept was developed utilizing off‐gas nitrous oxide concentrations as a surrogate for autotrophic nitrifying bacterial inhibition and aeration air as a master control variable. The control concept was evaluated using a simulated pilot scale bioreactor (mathematically calibrated liquid phase process model and a model to link off‐gas nitrous oxide generation to liquid phase conditions) as a data generator. When applied to the simulated system, the process controller was successful at maintaining the process at the desired operating setpoint and promoting stable operation by minimizing periods of significant inhibition. Furthermore, it provided a more efficient use of the air supplied to the bioreactor during periods of varying feed loading by matching the air supply to the metabolic demands, substantially reducing periods of over and under‐aeration. The findings of this research demonstrate the potential for off‐gas nitrous oxide monitoring as a completely non‐invasive alternative to liquid phase monitoring used in conventional dissolved oxygen control. Investigations are currently underway at the laboratory scale to evaluate the benefits and limitations associated with this control concept, with particular emphasis on implementation issues and the quantification of potential aeration and cost savings. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 109–118. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improving the corn‐ethanol industry: Studying protein separation techniques to obtain higher value‐added product options for distillers grains
Authors: Brehmer Ben , Bals Bryan , Sanders Johan , Dale Bruce
Published: March 2008

Currently in America the biofuel ethanol is primarily being produced by the dry grind technique to obtain the starch contained in the corn grains and subsequently subjected to fermentation. This so‐called 1st generation technology has two setbacks; first the lingering debate whether its life cycle contributes to a reduction of fossil fuels and the animal feed sectors future supply/demand imbalance caused by the co‐product dry distillers grains (DDGS). Additional utilization of the cellulosic components and separation of the proteins for use as chemical precursors have the potential to alleviate both setbacks. Several different corn feedstock layouts were treated with 2nd generation ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) pre‐treatment technology and tested for protein separation options (protease solubilization). The resulting system has the potential to greatly improve ethanol yields with lower bioprocessing energy costs and satisfy a significant portion of the organic chemical industry. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 49–61. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Valproic acid: A viable alternative to sodium butyrate for enhancing protein expression in mammalian cell cultures
Authors: Backliwal Gaurav , Hildinger Markus , Kuettel Ivan , Delegrange Fanny , Hacker David L. , Wurm Florian M.
Published: March 2008

Various DNA methyl transferase inhibitors (iDNMTs) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (iHDACs) were screened for their ability to enhance transient gene expression (TGE) in Human Embryonic Kidney 293‐EBNA (HEK293E) cells. The effects in HEK293E cells were compared to those in Chinese Hamster Ovary DG44 (CHO‐DG44) cells. The iDNMTs and iHDACs were chosen based on their different cellular activities and mechanisms of action. For each inhibitor tested, the optimum concentration was determined for both cell lines, and these conditions were used to evaluate the effect of each compound using a recombinant monoclonal antibody as a reporter protein. All the iHDACs increased transient antibody yield at least 4‐fold in HEK293E and at least 1.5‐fold in CHO‐DG44. By comparison, the iDNMTs increased antibody yields by a maximum of ∼2‐fold. Pairwise combinations of iDNMTs and iHDACs had a linearly additive effect on TGE in CHO‐DG44 but not in HEK293E. With valproic acid (VPA), volumetric and specific productivities of 200 mg/L and 20 pg/cell/day, respectively, were achieved in HEK293E cells with a 10‐day process. As VPA is both FDA‐approved and 5‐fold less expensive than sodium butyrate (NaBut), we recommend it as a cost‐effective alternative to this widely used enhancer of recombinant protein production from mammalian cells. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 182–189. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The bioconversion of mountain pine beetle‐killed lodgepole pine to fuel ethanol using the organosolv process
Authors: Pan Xuejun , Xie Dan , Yu Richard W. , Saddler Jack N.
Published: March 2008

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) killed by mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) (BLP) was compared with healthy lodgepole pine (HLP) for bioconversion to ethanol and high‐value co‐products. The BLP and HLP chips were pretreated using an ethanol organosolv process at a variety of severities. It was shown that the BLP was easier to pretreat and delignify than were the HLP chips. The resulting pretreated BLP substrate had a lower residual lignin, lower degree of polymerization of cellulose, lower cellulose crystallinity, smaller fiber size and thereby a better enzymatic hydrolysability than did the HLP substrates. However, under the same conditions, the BLP showed lower substrate yield and cellulose recovery than did the HLP, which likely resulted from the excessive hydrolysis and subsequent decomposition of the cellulose and hemicellulose during the pretreatment. The BLP wood yielded more ethanol organosolv lignin than was obtained with the HLP material. The HLP lignin had a lower molecular weight and narrower distribution than did the BLP lignin. It appears that the beetle killed LP is more receptive to organosolv pretreatment other than a slightly lower recovery of carbohydrates. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 39–48. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tuning the expression level of recombinant proteins by modulating mRNA stability in a cell‐free protein synthesis system
Authors: Ahn Jin‐Ho , Kang Taek‐Jin , Kim Dong‐Myung
Published: March 2008

In this work, it was discovered that the stability of mRNA in a cell‐free extract could be controlled by using engineered T7 terminator sequences. Specifically, it was found that mRNA stability gradually decreased as the length of the stem structure of the T7 terminator was reduced sequentially. As a result of the controlled abundance of mRNA species, it was possible to manipulate the relative expression level of target proteins by employing the T7 terminator of adjusted stem lengths. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 422–427. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neural correlates of deficient response inhibition in mentally disordered violent individuals
Authors: Barkataki Ian , Kumari Veena , Das Mrigen , Sumich Alex , Taylor Pamela , Sharma Tonmoy
Published: March 2008

In this study, response inhibition and associated neural activation during a motor inhibition paradigm were investigated in (i) men with antisocial personality disorder (APD) with a history of violence (n = 14), (ii) men with schizophrenia with a history of violence (n = 12), (iii) men with schizophrenia without a history of violence (n = 12), and (iv) healthy control subjects (n = 14) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). At the behavioural level, individuals with schizophrenia showed impaired performance across all conditions, whereas an increased error rate was seen in the APD group only during the conditions requiring inhibition. At the neural level, both violent groups showed reduced thalamic activity, compared with controls, in association with modulation of inhibition by task demands. In addition, the violent schizophrenia group, compared with controls, showed reduced activity in the caudate nucleus during the condition requiring inhibition. It is concluded that violence may not be specifically associated with impaired voluntary inhibition in schizophrenia but this is likely in APD. Reduced thalamic function, perhaps due to its known association with sensorimotor disturbances, is implicated in violent behaviour across both disorders. In addition, caudate dysfunction may contribute, given its role in timing and temporal processing as well as suppression of motor actions, to deficient inhibition and violent behaviour in schizophrenia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brain abnormalities in antisocial individuals: implications for the law
Authors: Yang Yaling , Glenn Andrea L. , Raine Adrian
Published: March 2008

With the increasing popularity in the use of brain imaging on antisocial individuals, an increasing number of brain imaging studies have revealed structural and functional impairments in antisocial, psychopathic, and violent individuals. This review summarizes key findings from brain imaging studies on antisocial/aggressive behavior. Key regions commonly found to be impaired in antisocial populations include the prefrontal cortex (particularly orbitofrontal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), superior temporal gyrus, amygdala–hippocampal complex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Key functions of these regions are reviewed to provide a better understanding on how deficits in these regions may predispose to antisocial behavior. Objections to the use of imaging findings in a legal context are outlined, and alternative perspectives raised. It is argued that brain dysfunction is a risk factor for antisocial behavior and that it is likely that imaging will play an increasing (albeit limited) role in legal decision‐making. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and functional MRI‐ findings in children and adolescents with antisocial behavior
Authors: Vloet Timo D. , Konrad Kerstin , Huebner Thomas , Herpertz Sabine , Herpertz‐Dahlmann Beate
Published: March 2008

Background. The developmental course of children with conduct disorder (CD) is heterogeneous. Especially children who exhibit symptoms early in their lifetimes are characterized by a negative outcome. Neurobiological aspects of CD have been investigated in these children but little is known about structural and functional brain aberrations. Methods. We describe the developmental taxonomy of children with CD and focus on those with the early onset subtype. Structural MRI data of these children and antisocial adults are recapitulated. The impact of investigating neurobiological underpinnings of antisocial behavior and how this might contribute to future forensic and psychiatric assessments is discussed. Results/ conclusion. Children display similar structural aberrations of fronto‐limbic structures to adults with antisocial behavior, and amygdala dysfunction might be closely related to dysregulated emotions. Though the investigation of biological factors in antisocial subjects has made great progress in recent years, today MRI is still a rather complex, expensive and indistinct method for forensic assessment. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flickering admissibility: neuroimaging evidence in the U.S. courts
Authors: Moriarty Jane Campbell
Published: March 2008

This article explores the admissibility of neuroimaging evidence in U.S. courts, recognizing various trends in decisions about such evidence.

While courts have routinely admitted some neuroimages, such as CT scans and MRI, as proof of trauma and disease, they have been more circumspect about admitting the PET and SPECT scans and fMRI evidence. With the latter technologies, courts have often expressed reservations about what can be inferred from the images. Moreover, courts seem unwilling to find neuroimaging sufficient to prove either insanity or incompetency, but are relatively lenient about admitting neuroimages in death penalty hearings.

Some claim that fMRI and “brain fingerprinting” are able to detect deception. Other scholars argue that brain fingerprinting is a dubious concept and that fMRI is not yet sufficiently reliable. Moreover, there are substantial concerns about privacy and the perils of mind reading implicit in such technology. Yet, there is a movement to try to make these new technologies “courtroom ready” in the near future, raising a host of legal, policy, and ethical questions to be answered. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Disturbed prefrontal and temporal brain function during emotion and cognition interaction in criminal psychopathy
Authors: Müller Jürgen L. , Sommer Monika , Döhnel Katrin , Weber Tatjana , Schmidt‐Wilcke Tobias , Hajak Göran
Published: March 2008

Impaired emotional responsiveness has been revealed as a hallmark of psychopathy. In spite of an increasing database on emotion processing, studies on cognitive function and in particular on the impact of emotion on cognition in psychopathy are rare. We used pictures from the International Affective Picture Set (IAPS) and a Simon Paradigm to address emotion–cognition interaction while functional and structural imaging data were obtained in 12 healthy controls and 10 psychopaths. We found an impaired emotion–cognition interaction in psychopaths that correlated with a changed prefrontal and temporal brain activation. With regard to the temporal cortex, it is shown that structure and function of the right superior temporal gyrus is disturbed in psychopathy, supporting a neurobiological approach to psychopathy, in which structure and function of the right STG may be important. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of neuroimaging and brain injury on insanity defenses
Authors: Gurley Jessica R. , Marcus David K.
Published: March 2008

Although neurological evidence is used with increasing frequency in criminal trials, there is limited research examining the effects that this evidence has on juror decision‐making in insanity trials. Participants (396) were presented with a case summary and psychological testimony and asked to render either a verdict of guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2 (psychosis or psychopathy) × (presence or absence of an MRI indicating a brain lesion) × (presence or absence of testimony describing a car accident that caused injury to the brain) factorial design. Defendants diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, defendants who could demonstrate the existence of a brain lesion via MRI, and defendants who had a history of brain injury were more likely to be found not guilty by reason of insanity than those defendants who did not present any neurological testimony. Participants who reported they were more influenced by the psychological and neurological testimony were almost six times more likely to render a verdict of NGRI than those participants who reported that the psychological and neurological testimony and evidence did not influence their decision regarding verdict. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neurophilosophical perspectives of neuroimaging in forensic psychiatry—giving way to a paradigm shift?
Authors: Witzel Joachim , Walter Martin , Bogerts Bernhard , Northoff Georg
Published: March 2008

Forensic psychiatry is concerned with the relationship between psychiatric abnormalities and legal violations and crimes. Due to the lack of available biological criteria, evaluation and therapy in forensic psychiatry have so far been restricted to psychosocial and mental criteria of offenders' personalities. Recent advances in neurosciences allow a closer approach to the neural correlates of personality, moral judgments and decision‐making. We propose to discuss the introduction of biological criteria in the field of forensic psychiatry and to establish rules as to what extent such biological criteria will be a better and more reliable choice in judging mentally ill criminals by using all available information that can be obtained by biological means.

Psychosocial and subjective criteria in forensic evaluation will be more and more accomplished by biopsychosocial and objective criteria. The responsibility of having committed a criminal act will no longer be exclusively defined by judging free and voluntary decision‐making, but rather by brain–behavior relationships. What is often referred to as psychosocially determined mental processes thus could be complemented by estimating the degree of biopsychosocially determined neural processes. We conclude that such a process could contribute to a paradigm shift in forensic psychiatry, which will have profound implications for offenders, forensic psychologists and psychiatrists, the law and society in general. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural brain abnormalities in psychopaths—a review
Authors: Weber Sabrina , Habel Ute , Amunts Katrin , Schneider Frank
Published: March 2008

The biological basis of psychopathy has not yet been fully elucidated. Few studies deal with structural neuroimaging in psychopaths. The aim of this article is to review these studies in order to contribute to our understanding of the biological basis of psychopathy. Data in the literature report a reduction in prefrontal gray matter volume, gray matter loss in the right superior temporal gyrus, amygdala volume loss, a decrease in posterior hippocampal volume, an exaggerated structural hippocampal asymmetry, and an increase in callosal white matter volume in psychopathic individuals. These findings suggest that psychopathy is associated with brain abnormalities in a prefrontal–temporo‐limbic circuit—i.e. regions that are involved, among others, in emotional and learning processes. Additionally, data indicate that psychopathic individuals cannot be seen as a homogeneous group.

The associations between structural changes and psychopathic characteristics do not enable causal conclusions to be drawn, but point rather to the important role of biological brain abnormalities in psychopathy. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this, psychopathy must be viewed as a multifactorial process involving neurobiological, genetic, epidemiological and sociobiographical factors. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A multifunctional androgen receptor screening assay using the high‐throughput Hypercyt® flow cytometry system
Authors: Dennis Megan K. , Bowles Harmony J.C. , MacKenzie Debra A. , Burchiel Scott W. , Edwards Bruce S. , Sklar Larry A. , Prossnitz Eric R. , Thompson Todd A.
Published: March 2008

The androgen receptor (AR) is a steroid hormone receptor which regulates transcription of androgen‐sensitive genes and is responsible for the development and maintenance of male secondary sexual characteristics. Chemicals that interfere with AR activity may lead to pathological conditions in androgen‐sensitive tissues. A variety of reporter systems have been developed, driven by androgen‐sensitive promoters, which screen for chemicals that modulate androgenic activity. We have developed a flexible, high‐throughput AR transcriptional activation assay, designated the Multifunctional Androgen Receptor Screening (MARS) assay, to facilitate the identification of novel modulators of AR transcriptional activity using flow cytometry. Androgen‐independent human prostate cancer‐derived PC3 cells were transiently cotransfected with an expression vector for the wild‐type human AR and an androgen‐sensitive promoter regulating the expression of destabilized enhanced GFP (dsEGFP). The transfected cells were stimulated with established androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds and assessed for increased or decreased dsEGFP expression. To screen for antagonists of AR transcription, the AR agonist R1881 was coadministered at submaximal concentrations with potential AR antagonists. The assay was formatted for high‐throughput screening using the HyperCyt® flow cytometry system. Agents with established androgenic and antiandrogenic activity were used for validation of the MARS assay. AR agonists were found to potently induce dsEGFP. Furthermore, AR agonists induced dsEGFP expression in a dose‐dependent manner. Alternatively, AR antagonists blocked dsEGFP expression when coadministered with low‐dose R1881, which also occurred in a dose‐dependent manner. Modulators of AR transcriptional activity can be successfully identified by the MARS assay, utilizing a rapid, flexible, sensitive, and high‐throughput format. Dose–response curves can be successfully generated for these compounds, allowing for an assessment of potency. Because of its simplicity and high‐throughput compatibility, the MARS assay and HyperCyt® system combined with flow cytometric analysis represents a valuable and novel addition to the current repertoire of AR transcriptional activation screening assays. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Orally disintegrating olanzapine and potential differences in treatment‐emergent weight gain
Authors: Karagianis Jamie , Hoffmann Vicki Poole , Arranz Belen , Treuer Tamás , Maguire Gerald A. , de Haan Lieuwe , Chawla Bharat
Published: March 2008

Several papers and communications have reported possible weight reduction or less weight gain when patients start or switch to orally disintegrating olanzapine, as contrasted with standard oral olanzapine tablets. In this paper, the current literature is reviewed and hypothesized mechanisms of action are discussed. The data are still preliminary and mechanisms of action are not well understood. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate change in weight during treatment with orally disintegrating olanzapine. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
X‐inactivation reveals epigenetic anomalies in most hESC but identifies sublines that initiate as expected
Authors: Hall Lisa L. , Byron Meg , Butler John , Becker Klaus A. , Nelson Angel , Amit Michal , Itskovitz‐Eldor Joseph , Stein Janet , Stein Gary , Ware Carol , Lawrence Jeanne B.
Published: March 2008

The clinical and research value of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) depends upon maintaining their epigenetically naïve, fully undifferentiated state. Inactivation of one X chromosome in each cell of mammalian female embryos is a paradigm for one of the earliest steps in cell specialization through formation of facultative heterochromatin. Mouse ES cells are derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocyst stage embryos prior to X‐inactivation, and cultured murine ES cells initiate this process only upon differentiation. Less is known about human X‐inactivation during early development. To identify a human ES cell model for X‐inactivation and study differences in the epigenetic state of hESC lines, we investigated X‐inactivation in all growth competent, karyotypically normal, NIH approved, female hESC lines and several sublines. In the vast majority of undifferentiated cultures of nine lines examined, essentially all cells exhibit hallmarks of X‐inactivation. However, subcultures of any hESC line can vary in X‐inactivation status, comprising distinct sublines. Importantly, we identified rare sublines that have not yet inactivated Xi and retain competence to undergo X‐inactivation upon differentiation. Other sublines exhibit defects in counting or maintenance of XIST expression on Xi. The few hESC sublines identified that have not yet inactivated Xi may reflect the earlier epigenetic state of the human ICM and represent the most promising source of NIH hESC for study of human X‐inactivation. The many epigenetic anomalies seen indicate that maintenance of fully unspecialized cells, which have not formed Xi facultative heterochromatin, is a delicate epigenetic balance difficult to maintain in culture. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 445–452, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.