bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A protease substrate profiling method that links site‐specific proteolysis with antibiotic resistance
Authors: Sandersjöö Lisa , Kostallas George , Löfblom John , Samuelson Patrik
Published: October 2013

Proteases are involved in many biological processes and have become important tools in biomedical research and industry. Technologies for engineering and characterization of, for example, proteolytic activity and specificity are essential in protease research. Here, we present a novel method for assessment of site‐specific proteolysis. The assay utilizes plasmid‐encoded reporters that, upon processing by a co‐expressed protease, confer antibiotic resistance to bacteria in proportion to the cleavage efficiency. We have demonstrated that cells co‐expressing cleavable reporters together with tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp) could be discriminated from cells with non‐cleavable reporters by growth in selective media. Importantly, the resistance to antibiotics proved to correlate with the substrate processing efficiency. Thus, by applying competitive growth of a mock library in antibiotic‐containing medium, we could show that the substrate preferred by TEVp was enriched relative to less‐efficient substrates. We believe that this simple methodology will facilitate protease substrate identification, and hold great promise for directed evolution of proteases and protease recognition sequences towards improved or even new functionality.
Therapeutic potential and adverse events of everolimus for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma – systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yamanaka Kenya , Petrulionis Marius , Lin Shibo , Gao Chao , Galli Uwe , Richter Susanne , Winkler Susanne , Houben Philipp , Schultze Daniel , Hatano Etsuro , Schemmer Peter
Published: October 2013

Everolimus is an orally administrated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. Several large‐scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the survival benefits of everolimus at the dose of 10 mg/day for solid cancers. Furthermore, mTOR‐inhibitor‐based immunosuppression is associated with survival benefits for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received liver transplantation. However, a low rate of tumor reduction and some adverse events have been pointed out. This review summarizes the antitumor effects and adverse events of everolimus and evaluates its possible application in advanced HCC. For the meta‐analysis of adverse events, we used the RCTs for solid cancers. The odds ratios of adverse events were calculated using the Peto method. Manypreclinical studies demonstrated that everolimus had antitumor effects such as antiproliferation and antiangiogenesis. However, some differences in the effects were observed among in vivo animal studies for HCC treatment. Meanwhile, clinical studies demonstrated that the response rate of single‐agent everolimus was low, though survival benefits could be expected. The meta‐analysis revealed the odds ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of stomatitis: 5.42 [4.31–6.73], hyperglycemia: 3.22 [2.37–4.39], anemia: 3.34 [2.37–4.67], pneumonitis: 6.02 [3.95–9.16], aspartate aminotransferase levels: 2.22 [1.37–3.62], and serum alanine aminotransferase levels: 2.94 [1.72–5.02], respectively. Everolimus at the dose of 10 mg/day significantly increased the risk of the adverse events. In order to enable its application to the standard conventional therapies of HCC, further studies are required to enhance the antitumor effects and manage the adverse events of everolimus.
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet treatment evokes transient oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes and influences cell physiology
Authors: Wende Kristian , Straßenburg Susanne , Haertel Beate , Harms Manuela , Holtz Sarah , Barton Annemarie , Masur Kai , von Woedtke Thomas , Lindequist Ulrike
Published: October 2013

Modern non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma sources enable controllable interaction with biological systems. Their future applications – e.g. wound management – are based on their unique mixture of reactive components sparking both stimulatory as well as inhibitory processes. To gain detailed understanding of plasma–cell interaction and with respect to risk awareness, key mechanisms need to be identified. This study focuses on the impact of an argon non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (kINPen 09) on human HaCaT keratinocytes. With increasing duration, cell viability decreased. In accordance, cells accumulated in G2/M phase within the following 24 h. DNA single‐strand breaks were detected immediately after treatment and receded in the aftermath, returning to control levels after 24 h. No directly plasma‐related DNA double‐strand breaks were detected over the same time. Concurrently, DNA synthesis decreased. Coincident with treatment time, an increase in intracellular 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) conversion increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The radical scavenging activity of culture medium crucially influenced these effects. Thus, ROS changed DNA integrity, and the effectiveness of cellular defence mechanisms characterises the interaction of non‐thermal plasma and eukaryotic cells. Effects were time‐dependent, indicating an active response of the eukaryotic cells. Hence, a stimulation of eukaryotic cells using short‐term non‐thermal plasma treatment seems possible, eg in the context of chronic wound care. Long‐term plasma treatments stopped in cell proliferation and apoptosis, which might be relevant in controlling neoplastic conditions.
Biodegradation of Basic Violet 3 and Acid Blue 93 by Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Khan S. Sudheer , Arunarani A. , Chandran Preethy
Published: October 2013

Basic violet 3 (BV) and acid blue 93 (AB) belong to the most important group of synthetic colorants. These dyes are used extensively in textile, paper, and leather industries. It is considered as xenobiotic compound, which is recalcitrant to biodegradation. Pseudomonas putida MTCC 4910 was able to utilize BV and AB as a carbon source in liquid media. Effects of pH, temperature, NaCl concentrations, nitrogen sources, initial inoculum size, and initial dye concentration on degradation were studied. The optimum pH and temperature for the degradation of BV and AB were pH 7 and 6, and 37 and 45°C, respectively. Addition of yeast extract enhanced the degradation process. Gas chromatography–MS analysis confirmed the biodegradation of BV and AB. The products formed during the reduction of BV were N,N‐dimethyl‐N′,N′‐dimethyl‐N″‐methyl parasoaniline, N,N‐dimethyl‐N′,N′‐dimethyl‐parasoaniline, N,N‐dimethyl‐N′,N′‐methyl parasoaniline, N,N‐dimethylparasoaniline, N‐methyl parasoaniline and parasoaniline, and three intermediate compounds were oberved during the reduction of AB. The present study highlighted the importance of using P. putida in textile effluent for the effective treatment of textile dyes.
Different Biomass Allocation, Soil Enzyme Activities and Microbial Characteristics between Diesel‐Degrading Plants
Authors: Wei Jing , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Qian , Chen Xueping , Li Hongbing , Li Xin , Deng Kaifang
Published: October 2013

Though phytoremediation of petroleum pollution has been studied widely, rare literature has expounded the physiological and microecological distinctions among diesel‐degrading plants. A pot experiment was conducted to detect the diesel‐degrading potential of six flowering plants. At the end of the experiment, Chlorophytum comosum, Pericallis hybrida, Altemanthera ficoidea, Oxalis corymbosa, Calendula officinalis, and Viola tricolor removed 54.3–55.0, 54.1–67.7, 57.3–62.0, 57.4–62.0, 58.8–69.0, and 64.5–76.3% of diesel hydrocarbons, respectively. Therefore, C. comosum was chosen as an incompetent diesel‐degrading plant, and V. tricolor as a competent one. Both root and shoot biomass of the two chosen plants decreased sharply when subjected to diesel pollutants. However, V. tricolor rather than C. comosum succeeded to adjust carbon allocation from shoots to roots. Fluorescein diacetate hydrolase and polyphenoloxidase were more active in the V. tricolor rhizosphere than those in the C. comosum rhizosphere. Contrarily, activities of invertase and alkaline phosphatase were much higher in the rhizosphere of C. comosum. In the V. tricolor rhizosphere, microbial community was dominated by 15:0, i15:0, cy17:0, 16:1ω5c, and 18:1ω5c indicators. However, 18:1ω7c, 18:0, 10Me18:0, i13:0 and a14:0 were predominant in the rhizosphere of C. comosum. These results provide valuable information for us to understand the mechanism of phytoremediation.
Flexible Polyester Cellulose Paper Supercapacitor with a Gel Electrolyte
Authors: Karthika Prasannan , Rajalakshmi Natarajan , Dhathathreyan Kaveripatnam S.
Published: October 2013

A low‐cost polyester cellulose paper has been used as a substrate for a flexible supercapacitor device that contains aqueous carbon nanotube ink as the electrodes and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐based gel as the electrolyte. Gel electrolytes have attracted much interest due to their solvent‐holding capacity and good film‐forming capability. The electrodes are characterized for their conductivity and morphology. Because of its high conductivity, the conductive paper is studied in supercapacitor applications as active electrodes and as separators after coating with polyvinylidene fluoride. Carbon nanotubes deposited on porous paper are more accessible to ions in the electrolyte than those on flat substrates, which results in higher power density. A simple fabrication process is achieved and paper supercapacitors are tested for their performance in both aqueous and PVA gel electrolytes by using galvanostatic and cyclic voltammetry methods. A high specific capacitance of 270 F g−1 and an energy density value of 37 W h kg−1 are achieved for devices with PVA gel electrolytes. Furthermore, this device can maintain excellent specific capacitance even under high currents. This is also confirmed by another counter experiment with aqueous sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. The cycle life, one of the most critical parameters in supercapacitor operations, is found to be excellent (6000 cycles) and less than 0.5 % capacitance loss is observed. Moreover, the supercapacitor device is flexible and even after twisting does not show any cracks or evidence of breakage, and shows almost the same specific capacitance of 267 F g−1and energy density of 37 W h kg−1. This work suggests that a paper substrate can be a highly scalable and low‐cost solution for high‐performance supercapacitors.
“Clicking” Porphyrins to Magnetic Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Thandu Merlyn , Rapozzi Valentina , Xodo Luigi , Albericio Fernando , Comuzzi Clara , Cavalli Silvia
Published: October 2013

A method for the preparation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle–porphyrin (SPION‐TPP) conjugates through click chemistry, which can be used as novel theranostic nanoagents for photodynamic therapy is developed. The synthesis, characterisation, and evaluation of the photocytotoxicity profiles of the nanoconjugates prepared is reported. Upon light irradiation, SPION‐TPP nanoconstructs promote a photodynamic effect in vitro in murine amelanotic melanoma B78‐H1 cells, with IC50 values in the region of 800 nM, similarly to unbound TPP, whereas they remain non‐cytotoxic in the dark. However, these nanoconstructs show poor cellular uptake, which influences a linear dose–response effect. Therefore, the improvement of delivery to cells has also been studied by conjugating a well‐known cell‐penetrating peptide (TAT peptide) to the SPION‐TPP nanoparticles. The new nanoconstructs show lower IC50 values (in the region of 500 nM) and a clear dose–response effect. Our results suggest that TAT‐conjugated SPION‐TPP nanoparticles are efficient nanodevices both for tracking drugs by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based techniques and for treating cancer cells through photodynamic therapy, thus functioning as promising theranostic nanoagents.
Does Mediation Make Us Better? Exploring the Capacity‐Building Potential of Community Mediation
Authors: Pincock Heather
Published: October 2013

The prevailing measures of the success of mediation have largely focused on rates of settlement and satisfaction while overlooking the capacity‐building goals expressed by many mediation advocates. I address this through empirical study of the effects of mediation on participant capacity at two community mediation organizations in Toronto. I find that mediation has the potential to build participant capacity, but in the majority of cases, it does not have these lasting effects on participants. Based on these findings I conclude that mediation advocates should scale back and reconceptualize, though not entirely abandon, their claims about the capacity‐building potential of mediation.
Styles and Goals: Clarifying the Professional Identity of Divorce Mediation
Authors: Baitar Rachid , Buysse Ann , Brondeel Ruben , De Mol Jan , Rober Peter
Published: October 2013

In contrast to mediation outcome studies, there is a lack of research on mediation processes. In response, this article explores mediators' styles and goals and their determinants, such as the mediators' professional background and client characteristics. Survey data of 359 divorce professionals were analyzed with the use of multiple regression analyses. Results showed that styles and goals are predominantly determined by professional‐related characteristics. Lawyer mediators and mental health mediators diverged in advisory and interest‐based styles but were unified in all goals we studied. The goals, self‐determination, advocacy, and processing emotions differentiated mediation from law and mental health practice. Implications are discussed.
Practice Note: Marital Mediation: A Psychological Perspective
Authors: Boardman Susan K.
Published: October 2013

This article describes marital mediation, a process that uses established mediation techniques to improve relationships, and its similarities to and differences from marital counseling. It also looks at the process from a psychological perspective, exploring aspects of the methodology that may explain its effectiveness in cases where counseling has failed. Finally, the need for marital mediation is discussed.
Testing for intraspecific postzygotic isolation between cryptic lineages ofPseudacris crucifer
Authors: Stewart Kathryn A. , Lougheed Stephen C.
Published: October 2013

Phenotypically cryptic lineages appear common in nature, yet little is known about the mechanisms that initiate and/or maintain barriers to gene flow, or how secondary contact between them might influence evolutionary trajectories. The consequences of such contact between diverging lineages depend on hybrid fitness, highlighting the potential for postzygotic isolating barriers to play a role in the origins of biological species. Previous research shows that two cryptic, deeply diverged intraspecific mitochondrial lineages of a North American chorus frog, the spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer), meet in secondary contact inSouthwesternOntario,Canada. Our study quantified hatching success, tadpole survival, size at metamorphosis, and development time for experimentally generated pure lineage and hybrid tadpoles. Results suggest that lineages differ in tadpole survival and thatF1hybrids may have equal fitness and higher than average mass at metamorphosis compared with pure parental crosses. These findings imply hybrid early life viability may not be the pivotal reproductive isolation barrier helping to maintain lineage boundaries. However, we observed instances of tadpole gigantism, failure to metamorphose, and bent tails in some tadpoles from hybrid families. We also speculate and provide some evidence that apparent advantages or similarities of hybrids compared with pure lineage tadpoles may disappear when tadpoles are raised with competitors of different genetic makeup. This pilot study implies that ecological context and consideration of extrinsic factors may be a key to revealing mechanisms causing negative hybrid fitness during early life stages, a provocative avenue for future investigations on barriers to gene flow among these intraspecific lineages.
Work Satisfaction, Causes, and Sources of Job Stress and Specific Ways of Coping: A Case Study of White‐Collar Outsourcing Service Employees
Authors: Seklecka Luiza , Marek Tadeusz , Lacala Zofia
Published: October 2013

This study investigated work‐related stresses in the business outsourcing service environment. Eighty‐six white‐collar professionals who occupied low‐level managerial positions in a business accounting outsourcing company took part in the field study. The derived scales for the sources of stress, work satisfaction, and coping with stress had different structure than those contained in the original occupational stress indicator scale of Cooper, Sloan, and Williams (1988). The study results also illustrate that the observed sources of work stress perceived by white‐collar employees of the outsourcing firm are unique to this occupational group and specific to this sector of business activity. Future research efforts will focus on comparative analysis of work stress in outsourcing companies across different cultures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effects of 3 Years of Calcium Supplementation on Common Carotid Artery Intimal Medial Thickness and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Older Women: An Ancillary Study of the CAIFOS Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lewis Joshua R , Zhu Kun , Thompson Peter L , Prince Richard L
Published: October 2013

Calcium is an essential nutrient for skeletal health; however, it has been suggested that supplemental calcium may be associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, raising widespread concern about their use. One suggested mechanism is via increasing carotid atherosclerosis, however few randomized controlled trials (RCT) of calcium supplements have assessed these mechanisms. The calcium intake fracture outcome study (CAIFOS) was a 5-year RCT (1998 to 2003) of 1.2 g of elemental calcium in the form of calcium carbonate in 1460 elderly women. An ancillary study of 1103 women assessed common carotid artery intimal medial thickness (CCA-IMT) and carotid atherosclerosis at year 3 (2001). The effects of supplementation were studied in intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses before and after adjustment for baseline cardiovascular risk factors. The mean age of participants at baseline was 75.2 ± 2.7 years. In ITT analyses, women randomized to calcium supplementation had no difference in multivariable-adjusted mean CCA-IMT (calcium 0.778 ± 0.006 mm, placebo 0.783 ± 0.006 mm, p = 0.491) and maximum CCA-IMT (calcium 0.921 ± 0.007 mm, placebo 0.929 ± 0.006 mm, p = 0.404). Women randomized to calcium did not have increased carotid atherosclerosis (calcium 47.2%, placebo 52.7%, p = 0.066). However, in women taking at least 80% of the supplements, a significant reduction in carotid atherosclerosis was observed in unadjusted but not in multivariate-adjusted models (p = 0.033 and p = 0.064, respectively). Participants in the highest tertile of total calcium (diet and supplements) had reduced carotid atherosclerosis in unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted analyses compared with participants in the lowest tertile (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.90], p = 0.008, and OR = 0.70 [95% CI 0.51–0.96], p = 0.028, respectively). In conclusion, these findings do not support the hypothesis that calcium supplementation increases carotid artery intimal medial thickness or carotid atherosclerosis, and high calcium intake may reduce this surrogate cardiovascular risk factor. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The Images of the Clique Operator and Its Square are Different
Authors: De Caria Pablo
Published: October 2013

Let be the class of all graphs and K be the clique operator. The validity of the equality has been an open question for several years. A graph in but not in is exhibited here.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Some Triazole, Thiadiazole, and Oxadiazole Substituted Coumarins
Authors: Reddy K. Rajasekhar , Mamatha R. , Babu M. S. Surendra , Shiva Kumar K. , Jayaveera K. N. , Narayanaswamy G.
Published: October 2013

Ethyl‐2‐(4‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐2‐coumarin‐7‐yloxy)acetate 1 has been prepared from 7‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐coumarin, which on further treatment with hydrazine hydrate in boiling ethanol gave the hydrazide compound 2. The resulting hydrazide was reacted with substituted aryl isothiocyanates to form thiosemicarbazides compounds 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e. 1‐(2‐(4‐Methyl‐2‐oxo‐2‐coumarin‐7‐yloxy)acetyl)‐4‐aryl thiosemicarbazides 3 underwent cyclization with different reagents under different reaction conditions to furnish coumarin derivatives possessing triazoles 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, thiadiazoles 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, and oxadiazoles 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, respectively. The structures of all the compounds have been assigned by elemental analysis and spectral studies. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial analgesic activities. The nonconventional controlled microwave irradiation synthesis is carried out at (200 W) at 70°C. This approach offers a number of advantages in terms of methodology, high‐product yield, short reaction time, mild reaction conditions, environmentally benign, and easy workup.
Arylspiroborates Derived from 4‐tert‐Butylcatechol and 3,5‐Di‐tert‐butylcatechol and Their Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Webb Michael I. , Halcovitch Nathan R. , Bowes Eric G. , Lee Graham M. , Geier Michael J. , Vogels Christopher M. , O'Neill Taryn , Li Haoxin , Flewelling Andrew , Decken Andreas , Gray Christopher A. , Westcott Stephen A.
Published: October 2013

A family of arylspiroborates has been prepared by the addition of either 4‐tert‐butylcatechol or 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol to boric acid and an alkali metal hydroxide. All compounds were characterized fully using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by elemental analyses. A single crystal X‐ray diffraction was carried out on potassium (bis‐(3,5‐di‐tertbutyl[1,2‐benzenediolato(2‐)‐O,O′]borate)) (8). All compounds displayed appreciable anti‐microbial activities.
Numerical assessment of the combination of subgridding and the perfectly matched layer grid termination in the finite difference time domain method
Authors: Cuyckens Thomas , Rogier Hendrik , De Zutter Daniel
Published: October 2013

The finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method is one of the well‐established numerical techniques to model electromagnetic problems. In order to be able to efficiently include the finer geometrical details, subgridding is used to avoid the use of a fine mesh over the whole region of interest. Our work builds on and extends the systematic framework provided by Chilton in his PhD (H‐refinement, P‐refinement, and T‐refinement strategies for the FDTD method developed via finite element principles, Ohio State University, 2008).

A crucial element of the FDTD method is the termination of the grid in an absorbing boundary condition. With the invention of the perfectly matched layer (PML) by Bérenger, this PML is now the standard absorbing boundary condition allowing very low reflection, even when positioned close to scatterers.

In this contribution, the PML is first included into the earlier mentioned subgridding framework. Next, the interaction between the subgridded problem and the (subgridded) PMLs is studied. Therefore, different (geometrical) subgridding strategies for the PML are considered. We numerically investigate the effect of these strategies by determining the reflection of a point source caused by the PML. It becomes possible to not only determine the general reflection level, but also to pinpoint the precise source of the reflections. The conclusion of this study is that important reflections are found originating from the corner points of the PML (as expected) but these reflections worsen when grid nonuniformities are present because of subgridding. Hence, the combination of subgridding and PML should be handled with great care. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid prediction of fatty acid composition of vegetable oil by Raman spectroscopy coupled with least squares support vector machines
Authors: Dong Wei , Zhang Yingqiang , Zhang Bing , Wang Xiaoping
Published: October 2013

The fatty acid composition of vegetable oil plays a significant role in a nutrition‐balanced diet, which makes this industry more quality conscious. A set of store‐purchased vegetable oils and their binary mixtures were characterized by Raman spectra in a region of 800–2000 cm−1. The obtained Raman spectral data were pretreated, and intensities of eight characteristic peaks were extracted as the eigenvalues of an entire spectrum. A prediction model of fatty acid content based on least squares support vector machines (LS‐SVM) were established for multivariate analysis between the Raman spectral eigenvalues and the fatty acid composition measured by gas chromatography (GC) method. The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing the predicted values to the reference values from GC analysis. The correlation coefficient for the prediction of oleic acid, linoleic acid and α‐linolenic acid was 0.9972, 0.9982 and 0.9854, respectively. Raman spectroscopy based on LS‐SVM can be a promising technique for predicting the fatty acid composition of vegetable oil with the advantages of being simple and time‐effective while not requiring any sample preprocessing. In particular, a portable Raman system is suitable for on‐site detection in practical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical simulation of impact behaviour of structures with response adapted to the intensity of shock
Authors: Noversa M. , Peixinho N.
Published: October 2013

This study presents an alternative approach for the absorption of impact energy that uses the internal pressurization of structures in the framework of a crash‐adaptive response. Numerical simulations were conducted on axial impact of thin‐walled tubular structures with circular cross section that serve as an approximation to a front crash box of a motor vehicle. The main objective of this work consists in studying the effect of internal pressurization of tubular structures in a crashworthiness application, as well as the possibility to obtain a reduction in wall thickness thus improving weight efficiency. A numerical study is presented for an internal pressure of 20 bar and tubular structures of circular section and 1.14 mm thickness. Numerical simulations were performed recurring to LS‐DYNA explicit dynamics software while considering for the material a stainless steel alloy that is a material with interest for crashworthiness applications and manufacturing requisites due to its balance between strength, ductility and energy absorption. The results obtained allow concluding that recurring to internal pressurization it is feasible to reduce the wall thickness and have an impact resistance identical to the original while improving overall efficiency.
Effect of As, Cu and Sb impurities on performance of Pb‐Ca‐Sn grids of lead‐acid batteries
Authors: Gad‐Allah A. G. , Salih S. A. , Mokhtar A. A. , Abd El‐Rahman H. A.
Published: October 2013

The performance of Pb‐Ca‐Sn grids of lead‐acid batteries made from recycled lead in 4 M H2SO4 in the absence and presence of traces of Cu, As and Sb, as potential impurities in the recycling process at 0.1% level, is investigated by electrochemical methods. The study includes the effect of each impurity and impurities combined on the alloy corrodibility, the efficiency of PbO2 formation, the rate of the self‐discharge and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The results show that individual impurity enhances the corrosion resistance but increases the anode corrosion and the self‐discharge rate. Impurities play opposite effects on hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction either individually or combined. Concerning water loss problem, the harmful effect of individual impurity on increasing oxygen evolution reaction is compensated by their suppression of hydrogen evolution reaction. The impurities combined suppress effectively both hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction relative to alloy without any impurity. Sb has the highest harmful effects on oxygen evolution reaction and the self‐discharge but it is the best in the suppression of hydrogen evolution reaction. The impurities combined relatively improve the general corrosion resistance, the anode corrosion resistance and the self‐discharge. The study supports higher tolerance levels of Cu, As and Sb in Pb‐Ca‐Sn grids, especially when present combined, than the recommended levels in the industry standards.
Rapid ex vivo imaging of PAIII prostate to bone tumor with SWIFT‐MRI
Authors: Luhach Ihor , Idiyatullin Djaudat , Lynch Conor C. , Corum Curt , Martinez Gary V. , Garwood Michael , Gillies Robert J.
Published: October 2013

Purpose

The limiting factor for MRI of skeletal/mineralized tissue is fast transverse relaxation. A recent advancement in MRI technology, SWIFT (Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transform), is emerging as a new approach to overcome this difficulty. Among other techniques like UTE, ZTE, and WASPI, the application of SWIFT technology has the strong potential to impact preclinical and clinical imaging, particularly in the context of primary or metastatic bone cancers because it has the added advantage of imaging water in mineralized tissues of bone allowing MRI images to be obtained of tissues previously visible only with modalities such as computed tomography (CT). The goal of the current study is to examine the feasibility of SWIFT for the assessment of the prostate cancer induced changes in bone formation (osteogenesis) and destruction (osteolysis) in ex vivo specimens.

Methods

A luciferase expressing prostate cancer cell line (PAIII) or saline control was inoculated directly into the tibia of 6‐week‐old immunocompromised male mice. Tumor growth was assessed weekly for 3 weeks before euthanasia and dissection of the tumor bearing and sham tibias. The ex vivo mouse tibia specimens were imaged with a 9.4 Tesla (T) and 7T MRI systems. SWIFT images are compared with traditional gradient‐echo and spin‐echo MRI images as well as CT and histological sections.

Results

SWIFT images with nominal resolution of 78 μm are obtained with the tumor and different bone structures identified. Prostate cancer induced changes in the bone microstructure are visible in SWIFT images, which is supported by spin‐echo, high resolution CT and histological analysis.

Conclusion

SWIFT MRI is capable of high‐quality high‐resolution ex vivo imaging of bone tumor and surrounding bone and soft tissues. Furthermore, SWIFT MRI shows promise for in vivo bone tumor imaging, with the added benefits of nonexposure to ionizing radiation, quietness, and speed. Magn Reson Med 72:858–863, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Targeted next‐generation sequencing and non‐coding RNA expression analysis of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma suggests distinct pathological mechanisms from other renal tumour subtypes
Authors: Lawrie Charles H , Larrea Erika , Larrinaga Gorka , Goicoechea Ibai , Arestin María , Fernandez‐Mercado Marta , Hes Ondrej , Cáceres Francisco , Manterola Lorea , López José I
Published: October 2013

Clear cell tubulopapillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC) is a recently described rare renal malignancy that displays characteristic gross, microscopic and immunohistochemical differences from other renal tumour types. However, CCPRCC remains a very poorly understood entity. We therefore sought to elucidate some of the molecular mechanisms involved in this neoplasm by carrying out targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) to identify associated mutations, and in addition examined the expression of non‐coding (nc) RNAs. We identified multiple somatic mutations in CCPRCC cases, including a recurrent [3/14 cases (21%)] non‐synonymous T992I mutation in the MET proto‐oncogene, a gene associated with epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Using a microarray approach, we found that the expression of mature (n = 1105) and pre‐miRNAs (n = 1105), as well as snoRNA and scaRNAs (n = 2214), in CCPRCC cases differed from that of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) or papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) tumours. Surprisingly, and unlike other renal tumour subtypes, we found that all five members of the miR‐200 family were over‐expressed in CCPRCC cases. As these miRNAs are intimately involved with EMT, we stained CCPRCC cases for E‐cadherin, vimentin and β‐catenin and found that the tumour cells of all cases were positive for all three markers, a combination rarely reported in other renal tumours that could have diagnostic implications. Taken together with the mutational analysis, these data suggest that EMT in CCPRCC tumour cells is incomplete or blocked, consistent with the indolent clinical course typical of this malignancy. In summary, as well as describing a novel pathological mechanism in renal carcinomas, this study adds to the mounting evidence that CCPRCC should be formally considered a distinct entity. Microarray data have been deposited in the GEO database [GEO accession number (GSE51554)]. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of bis(4‐nitrophenyl) carbonate and O‐(4‐nitropheny) S‐(4‐nitrophenyl) thio and dithiocarbonate
Authors: Castro Enrique A. , Aliaga Margarita E. , Gazitúa Marcela , Pavez Paulina , Santos José G.
Published: October 2013

The kinetics of the reactions of secondary alicyclic amines with bis(4‐nitrophenyl) carbonate (1), S‐(4‐nitrophenyl) O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) thiocarbonate (2) and S‐(4‐nitrophenyl) O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) dithiocarbonate (3) were studied at 25.0 °C. The reactions of 1 were studied in water and those of 2 and 3 in 44 wt% ethanol–water. These reactions are concerted. The HPLC analyses of the reactions of 2 and 3 with morpholine show that both 4‐nitrophenoxide and 4‐nitrobenzenethiolate ions are the nucleofuges. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel polymer gel electrolyte: Direct polymerization of ionic liquid from surface of silica nanoparticles
Authors: Hu Heyi , Yuan Wen , Zhao Hui , Baker Gregory L.
Published: October 2013

A novel polymer electrolyte is synthesized by directly grafting poly ionic liquids onto silica nanoparticles. The kinetic study of this surface‐initiated polymerization has also been included. A gel‐state electrolyte is formed by mixing this type of polymer/silica nanocomposite with ionic liquids under 60 °C, which exhibits an excellent conductivity of 0.8 mS/cm at room temperature and 14.7 mS/cm at 90 °C. In addition, the mechanism of gel formation has also been discussed in this article. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 121–127
S‐band transmit/receive antenna systems for automotive satellite applications
Authors: Zamberlan Daniel , Pannozzo Massimo , Drioli Luca Salghetti
Published: October 2013

It happened over a hundred years ago that Henry Ford introduced his famous Model T passenger car. At that time, variants and extra features were presumably rather irrelevant compared with the automobile itself, which represented the suitable response to the need of millions of new customers. Since then, a vast range of changes, functions, improvements, and so on were designed and eventually taken into mass production. Among those, in particular since the 1920s, car radios were introduced for commercial (broadcast) and professional (communications) purposes [2]. Wireless communications nowadays represent an important area for the car industry, for infotainment (information and entertainment), comfort, environmental and safety‐related services.

In the field of connectivity, and specifically in the context of antennas for wireless functions, it may be of particular relevance to consider the proposition of a new European satellite technology based on S band, namely, the Digital Video Broadcasting‐Satellite Handheld standard for the forward link and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute S‐band Mobile Interactive Multimedia standard for the return link, both in S‐Band.

The mentioned standards are able to provide new satellite services for mobile terminals, such as broadcasting of radio, TV, and data contents, by using Digital Video Broadcasting‐Satellite Handheld and interactive services on the return link.

This paper describes the activities related to the mentioned S‐band system carried out by Calearo in the frame of the COSTARS (low COst S‐band receive/Transmit Antenna for vehiculaR applicationS) project, co‐funded by ESA‐ESTEC. In particular, the authors first briefly analyze the state of the art of the services present in the car industry from the perspective of automotive antennas, analyzing the current wireless applications and considering the amount of highly integrated functionalities already present, or being proposed. Then, the design and performances of a switchable dual polarized automotive transmission/reception antenna (COSTARS project) and usable for S‐band automotive applications are introduced. The paper also includes a description of the antenna industrialization and production line and the related measurements performed during the project. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma and chromic acid treatments of polycarbonate surface to improve coating–substrate adhesion
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Zhong Yanli , Zhang Xiaofeng , Li Lei , Yan Yue
Published: October 2013

The influence of Ar/O2 plasma activation and chromic acid etching of polycarbonate (PC) surface on the adhesion of coating to substrate was systematically studied by cross‐cut and tape peel methods through temperature‐shock aging tests. The differences between the wettabilities and elemental compositions of plasma‐treated and chromic acid‐treated PC surfaces prior to coating deposition were evaluated by contact angle measurements and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. To elucidate the adhesion failure of the coatings, nanoindentation technique was employed for the quantitative assessment of the nanomechanical changes of coating depositions on PCs after temperature‐shock aging tests. The two surface treatments can significantly improve the hydrophilicity and polarity of the PC surface, resulting in excellent adhesion of the coating on the PC substrate. Temperature‐shock aging tests reveal that the adhesion of coating on plasma‐modified substrates is superior to that of chromic acid‐etched substrates. We propose that the improved adhesion of the coating on the plasma‐modified PC can be attributed to the higher wettability and more cross‐linking of C–O–Si bonds at the coating–substrate interface. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The P2Y receptors and thrombosis
Authors: Gachet Christian , Hechler Béatrice
Published: October 2013

Blood platelets play a key role in arterial thrombosis which is one of the leading causes of mortality in western countries. They may also be involved in the pathogenesis of deep vein thrombosis. Adenosine 5′‐diphosphate (ADP) is one of the most important mediators of platelet activation. Two G protein‐coupled ADP receptors, P2Y1 and P2Y12, selectively contribute to platelet aggregation and formation of a thrombus. Playing a central role in platelet activation and in growth and stabilization of a thrombus, the P2Y12 receptor is an established target of antithrombotic drugs like the thienopyridines clopidogrel or prasugrel, or direct reversible antagonists such as ticagrelor or cangrelor. Each of these drugs has proven efficacy in large clinical trials. At a preclinical stage, studies in P2Y1 deficient mice and using selective P2Y1 antagonists in experimental models of thrombosis and inflammation have shown that this receptor is also an attractive target for new antithrombotic compounds. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2013. doi: 10.1002/wmts.97

Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.

For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Re‐Validating the Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery Tool (OTAS‐D): Cultural Adaptation, Refinement, and Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Passauer‐Baierl Stefanie , Hull Louise , Miskovic Danilo , Russ Stephanie , Sevdalis Nick , Weigl Matthias
Published: October 2013

Background

The nontechnical and team skills of surgical teams are critical for safety and efficiency in the operating room. Assessment of nontechnical and team skills can facilitate improvement by encouraging both self‐reflection and team reflection, identifying training needs, and informing operating room (OR) team training approaches. The observational teamwork assessment for surgery (OTAS) tool is a well‐validated and robust tool for capturing teamwork in the operating room. The aims of the present study were to systematically adapt and refine the OTAS for German‐speaking OR staff and to test the adapted assessment tool (OTAS‐D) for psychometric properties and metric equivalence.

Methods

The study was carried out in three stages: at stage 1, OTAS was translated into German. At stage 2, experienced German OR experts (surgeons, OR nurses, anesthetists) were interviewed. At stage 3, two blinded assessors observed 11 general surgical operations (general surgical and vascular procedures) and interrater reliability was tested for refined OTAS‐D behavioral exemplars and scorings.

Results

The German OR experts confirmed the applicability and content validity of the vast majority of translated behavioral exemplars. After their evaluation, 32 items were changed slightly, six were changed substantially, and one item was added. During observations, perfect and substantial interobserver agreement was found for 77 behavioral exemplars (67.1 % of the items, kappa coefficient >0.60). Rating at all OTAS behaviors showed acceptable levels of reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.72).

Conclusions

The OTAS‐D is a tool for valid and reliable assessment of nontechnical skills that contribute to safe and effective surgical performance in ORs staffed by German‐speaking professionals. Furthermore, our study serves as an example for systematically adapting and customizing well‐established observational tools across different healthcare environments.
Holocene climate change inferred from stratigraphy and OSL chronology of aeolian sediments in the Qaidam Basin, northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yu LuPeng , Lai ZhongPing
Published: October 2013

Paleoclimatic reconstruction based on aeolian sediments in the eastern Qaidam Basin (QB) has been hindered by the limited chronological data. Here we present 61 Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) ages. On the basis of these OSL ages and the lithologic stratigraphy, we propose the ‘effective moisture index (EMI)’ for aeolian sediments to reconstruct the effective moisture change. Based on the EMI from twelve sections, the effective moisture change, moisture sources and relevant mechanisms for paleoclimatic change in the eastern QB are discussed. The results indicate that (1) aeolian deposition started at least before 12.4 ± 0.7 ka during the deglaciation, the paleosols developed at the early and mid-Holocene, and aeolian sand and loess accumulated at mid- and late Holocene; (2) effective moisture history was: hyper-arid at 12.8–11.6 ka, humid and variable at 11.6–8.3 ka, moderately humid and stable at 8.3–3.5 ka, and increasingly arid at 3.5–0 ka; (3) the effective moisture change was mainly controlled by the Asian summer monsoon (ASM), which mainly followed the change of Northern Hemispheric summer insolation, and the westerlies strengthened and increased the aridity in the QB when the ASM shrank.
Cyclic flame propagation in premixed combustion
Authors: Boettcher Philipp A. , Menon Shyam K. , Ventura Brian L. , Blanquart Guillaume , Shepherd Joseph E.
Published: October 2013

In experiments of hot surface ignition and subsequent flame propagation, a puffing flame instability is observed in mixtures that are stagnant and premixed prior to ignition. By varying the size of the hot surface, power input, and combustion vessel volume, it was determined that the instability is a function of the interaction of the flame, with the fluid flow induced by the combustion products rather than the initial plume established by the hot surface. Pressure ranges from 25 to 100 kPa and mixtures of n-hexane/air with equivalence ratios between $\phi = 0. 58$ and 3.0 at room temperature were investigated. Equivalence ratios between $\phi = 2. 15$ and 2.5 exhibited multiple flame and equivalence ratios above $\phi = 2. 5$ resulted in puffing flames at atmospheric pressure. The phenomenon is accurately reproduced in numerical simulations and a detailed flow field analysis revealed competition between the inflow velocity at the base of the flame and the flame propagation speed. The increasing inflow velocity, which exceeds the flame propagation speed, is ultimately responsible for creating a puff. The puff is then accelerated upward, allowing for the creation of the subsequent instabilities. The frequency of the puff is proportional to the gravitational acceleration and inversely proportional to the flame speed. A scaling relationship describes the dependence of the frequency on gravitational acceleration, hot surface diameter, and flame speed. This relation shows good agreement for rich n-hexane/air and lean hydrogen/air flames, as well as lean hexane/hydrogen/air mixtures.
Land usage classification: a hierarchical neural network approach
Authors: PALOMO E. J. , ELIZONDO D. , BRUNSCHWIG G.
Published: October 2013

The classification of land usage in mountain grassland bovine areas is important for the management of forage production and grazing in grass-based livestock systems. The present paper proposes a novel, hierarchical neural network-based approach towards the classification of land usage in these areas. A survey of 72 farms was conducted in the Massif Central (France). Information was gathered on geographical characteristics and cutting and/or grazing practices on three general groups of fields: cut only, cut and grazed and grazed only fields. To classify land usage, the data were clustered and visualized in a hierarchical fashion. This was done by using a novel method for the analysis and classification of data based on growing hierarchical self-organizing maps (GHSOM). Self-organizing maps (SOM) have been shown to be successful for the analysis of highly dimensional input data in data mining applications as well as for data visualization. Moreover, the hierarchical architecture of the GHSOM is more flexible than a single SOM in the adaptation process to input data, capturing inherent hierarchical relationships among them. Experimental results show the utility of this approach.
Bruce Lee: A visual poetics of postwar Japanese manliness
Authors: MACKINTOSH JONATHAN D.
Published: October 2013

Fist of Fury, starring Bruce Lee, debuted in Japan in 1974. Whilst its critical reception reflected its box-office success, a complex emotional reaction is nevertheless detectable towards the film's unsympathetic portrayal of the Japanese. This paper will explore this reaction and suggest that a post-colonial angst was piqued, one that betrayed fundamental shifts in current racial, erotic, cultural, moral, and historical understandings of Japanese manliness. At one level, the response to Lee is a hermeneutic cue into the manifold ways that this angst was constructed through contesting understandings of an emergent China and unresolved memories concerning failed imperial Japanese adventure. At another level, the phenomenon of Lee's Japanese reception points to longer-term shifts in the visual-cultural representation of masculinity: vulnerability as articulated in the cinema's ‘new man’, male nudity as ‘discovered’ in women's magazines, and most potently, modern Japanese manliness to challenge American neo-colonial hegemony. It is this panorama of masculinity that this paper seeks to open through an inter-disciplinary survey of a variety of media—film, pulp fiction, women's magazines, andhomoporn; a panorama into which Bruce Lee exploded on screen, alerting us to the images and contradictory aspirations that script a visual poetry of Japanese manliness.