bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of exercise intensity on oxygen consumption kinetics in non‐exercising muscle during exercise
Authors: Nagasawa Takeshi
Published: December 2011

This study examined the effect of exercise intensity on the kinetics of muscle oxygen consumption in non‐exercising forearm flexor muscles () during exercise. Seven healthy male subjects performed cycling exercise for 60 min at 30% of maximal oxygen consumption (%) and 30 min at 50% on separate days. The values at rest and during exercise were measured by near‐infrared spectroscopy. The at 30% significantly increased to 1·2 ± 0·1‐fold over resting value at 20 min after the beginning of exercise (P<0·05) and remained constant within 1·2‐ to 1·3‐fold over resting value until 60 min during exercise. The at 50% significantly increased to 1·2 ± 0·1‐fold over resting value at 15 min after the beginning of exercise (P<0·05). Subsequently, the at 50% increased with time to 1·3 ± 0·1‐fold over resting value at 20 min after the beginning of exercise and to 1·5 ± 0·2‐fold over resting value at 30 min. The 15–30 min of exercise at 50% was significantly higher than that at 30% (P<0·05). These data suggest that the increase in has a time lag from the beginning of exercise, and the kinetics of during exercise differs with exercise intensity. Therefore, we conclude that the kinetics of during exercise is dependent on exercise intensity.
GLOBALIZATION, GENDER, AND GROWTH
Authors: REES RAY , RIEZMAN RAY
Published: December 2011

We consider the effect of globalization on fertility, human capital, and growth. We view globalization as creating market opportunities for employment in less developed countries. We construct a specific model of household decision making, drawing on empirical observations in the development economics literature, and show that if the market opportunities produced by globalization are for women, then globalization reduces fertility and increases human capital formation. If the opportunities are for men, then fertility increases and human capital formation falls. We then show that globalization that produces job opportunities for women increases growth and produces a long run steady state with higher per capita consumption than would prevail either without globalization, or with globalization that creates jobs only for men.
Telescopic Retainers: An Old or New Solution? A Second Chance to Have Normal Dental Function
Authors: Breitman Joseph B. , Nakamura Scott , Freedman Arnold L. , Yalisove Irving L.
Published: December 2011

This article is an overview of the biomechanics and advantages of telescopic retainers. Telescopic retainers offer more possibilities than any other treatment modality available in modern dentistry. Telescopic implant fixtures make the already versatile technique even more flexible. Telescopes should not be forgotten as a treatment modality, but should be embraced as a great option.
Climate Change Communication: A Provocative Inquiry into Motives, Meanings, and Means
Authors: Johnson Branden B.
Published: December 2011

The deliberately provocative theme of this article is that perceived difficulties in climate change communication (CCC)—e.g., indifference about or denial of climate change's reality, negative consequences, anthropogenic causes, or need to mitigate or adapt to it—are partly the fault of climate change communicators. Fischhoff's model of risk communication development is used to demonstrate that CCC to date has tended to stress persuasion, rather than social movement mobilization or deliberation, and with a focus on the model's early stages. Later stages are not necessarily better, but a more diverse strategy seems superior to a focus perhaps narrowed by empathic, ideological, psychological, and resource constraints. Furthermore, even within persuasion, emphasizing a wider set of values, consequences, and audiences could be fruitful. Social movement mobilization has its own set of weaknesses, but usefully complements persuasion with a focus on developing power, subverting mainstream assumptions, and engaging people in collective action. Deliberation similarly has its drawbacks, but unlike the other two approaches does not define the solution—or even, necessarily, the problem—in advance, and thus offers the chance for people of contending viewpoints to jointly develop concepts and action agendas hitherto unimagined. Simultaneous pursuit of all three strategies can to some degree offset their respective flaws, at the potential cost of diffusion of energies and contradictory messages. Success in CCC is by no means guaranteed by a more diverse set of strategies and self‐reflection by communicators, but their pursuit should better reveal CCC's limits.
Field‐Induced Orientation of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets Using Microscopic Mold for Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Fujihara Takeshi , Cho Hong‐Baek , Nakayama Tadachika , Suzuki Tsuneo , Jiang Weihua , Suematsu Hisayuki , Kim Hong Dae , Niihara Koichi
Published: December 2011

The orientation of hexagonal boron nitride (BN) nanosheets was controlled in polymer‐based nanocomposite film using microscopic molds while applying a dc electric field. The hexagonal BN nanosheets were dispersed by sonication in a prepolymer mixture of polysiloxane followed by high speed mixing. The homogeneous suspension was cast on a microscopic mold with different patterns, which was attached to a positive electrode during application of an electric field before it became cross‐linked. Analysis revealed that filament‐like linear assemblies of BN nanosheets (LABNs) were fabricated in polysiloxane/BN nanosheet composite films, and the LABNs were aligned perpendicular to the film plane with high anisotropy. The anisotropy of BN nanosheets and dimensions of LABNs were directly related with the thermal properties of the composite, and could be changed according to the type of microscopic mold used. LABN formation and the heat conduction mechanisms induced by the type of microscopic mold and the intensity of the applied electric fields are discussed.
Effects of the re‐innervation of organotypic skin explants on the epidermis
Authors: Lebonvallet Nicolas , Boulais Nicholas , Le Gall Christelle , Pereira Ulysse , Gauché Dominique , Gobin Eric , Pers Jacques‐Olivier , Jeanmaire Christine , Danoux Louis , Pauly Gilles , Misery Laurent
Published: December 2011

Abstract:  The nervous system takes part in skin homeostasis and interacts with skin cells. In in vitro organotypic skin models, these interactions are lost owing to the absence of nerve endings. We have developed an in vitro organotypic skin model based on a re‐innervated human skin explant using primary sensory neurons from the dorsal root ganglia of rats. After 10 days of co‐culture between skin explant and neurons, a dense network of nerve fibres was observed. The epidermis and dermis presented nerve fibres associated with cellular body from sensory neurons introduced in the co‐culture. Epidermal thickness, cell density and quality of re‐innervated skin explant were all higher when skin explants were re‐innervated by sensory neurons at 10 days of culture. Proliferation of epidermal cell was not modified, but the apoptosis was significantly diminished. Hence, this innovative model of co‐cultured skin explants and neurons allows better epidermal integrity and could be useful for studies concerning interactions between the skin and its peripheral nervous system.
Spectral analysis discerns pattern and feedback in natural‐ and anthropogenic‐disturbed boreal black spruce forests
Authors: Lorente Miren , Parsons William F. J. , Périé Catherine , Munson Alison D.
Published: December 2011

The two major disturbance types of boreal black spruce forest in north–central Quebec, Canada – natural disturbance by wildfire and anthropogenic disturbance by harvest – may affect processes of recovery differently and leave distinct post‐disturbance soil and vegetation spatial patterns. We tested whether 1) spatial patterns of physico‐chemical soil organic layer properties, black spruce diameter and density, and understory ericaceous shrub cover, differ between these two principal disturbance types; 2) operations associated with forest harvest result in distinct, regular spatial patterns of these same variables related to presence of machine trails; and 3) ericaceous shrub presence is a potential factor contributing to the legacy of spatial patterns after harvest. We explored these patterns on black spruce‐feathermoss forest stands, including fire‐origin stands (18 and 98 years) and stands originating from harvest (16 and 62 years) in central Quebec, Canada. We used two spatial analysis methods, spectral analysis and principal component analysis in the frequency domain, to characterize and relate spatial patterns of these soil and vegetation variables, measured along 50‐m transects on each site. Spatial patterns of distribution of soil and vegetation variables were different on the burned and the harvested forest sites. Wildfire gave rise to spatial patterns in soil and vegetation variables at multiple scales, reflecting the complexity generated by variable burn intensity. Patterns following forest harvest were mainly related to the regular structure defined by trails created by logging operations. In contrast to burned sites, ericaceous shrub patterns on harvested sites were strongly associated with spatial arrangements of spruce diameter and density, promoting absence of canopy closure and persistence of trails. Moreover, different spatial signatures did not converge in the long‐term (62–98 years) between the two disturbance types. The divergence in spatial structure between natural and anthropogenic disturbances has implications for ecosystem structure and function in the longer term.
South Australian Scleroderma Register: autoantibodies as predictive biomarkers of phenotype and outcome
Authors: GRAF Scott W. , HAKENDORF Paul , LESTER Sue , PATTERSON Karen , WALKER Jenny G. , SMITH Malcolm. D. , AHERN Michael J. , ROBERTS‐THOMSON Peter J.
Published: December 2011

Aim:  To investigate the relationship between scleroderma‐specific autoantibodies and clinical phenotype and survival in South Australian patients with scleroderma.

Method:  Two cohorts of patients were studied from the South Australian Scleroderma Register (SASR). In the first, the sera of 129 consecutive patients were analyzed for anticentromere (ACA), anti‐Scl70, anti‐RNA polymerase III, anti‐U1RNP, anti‐Th/To, anti‐Pm/Scl, anti‐Ku and anti‐fibrillarin antibodies using the Euroline immunoblot assay. Statistical analysis was performed to look for a significant association between specific antibodies and various clinical features. In the second cohort survival from first symptom onset was analyzed in 285 patients in whom the autoantibody profile was available, including ACA, Anti‐Scl70, anti‐U1RNP and anti‐RNA polymerase III measured using multiple methods. Survival analysis compared mortality between different groups of patients with specific antibodies.

Results:  ACA, Th/To and Ku antibodies were associated with limited scleroderma, Scl70 and RNA Pol III antibodies were associated with diffuse scleroderma and antibodies to U1RNP were associated with overlap syndrome. Significant associations between Scl70 and interstitial lung disease (P = 0.004), RNA Pol III and renal crisis (P = 0.002), U1RNP and pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.006) and Th/To and pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.034) were seen. Trends were observed with an increased frequency of lung disease with Pm/Scl and Th/To and an increased frequency of myositis with Ku. The presence of Scl70, RNA Pol III and U1RNP was associated with significantly reduced survival as compared with patients with ACA.

Conclusions:  Scleroderma‐specific autoantibodies are associated with clinical phenotype and survival.
Insulin‐secretion capacity in normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes in obese and non‐obese Japanese patients
Authors: Iwahashi Hiromi , Okauchi Yukiyoshi , Ryo Miwa , Noguchi Midori , Morita Sachiko , Kishida Ken , Okita Kohei , Ohira Tetsuya , Funahashi Tohru , Nakamura Tadashi , Imagawa Akihisa , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: December 2011

Aims/Introduction:  Pronounced reduction of insulin secretion in response to a rise in glucose level has been reported in Japanese patients compared with Caucasian patients, but the mean body mass index (BMI) is also lower in Japanese patients. As BMI is a determinant of insulin secretion, we examined insulin‐secretion capacity in obese and non‐obese Japanese patients.

Materials and Methods:  Using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), we estimated the insulin‐secreting capacity in obese (BMI ≥ 25) and non‐obese (BMI < 25) Japanese patients, including 1848 patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 321 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 69 diabetes (DM) patients.

Results:  The insulinogenic index (I.I.), calculated by dividing the increment in serum insulin by the increment in plasma glucose from 0 to 30 min during OGTT, decreased from NGT to IGT and to DM in patients with and without obesity. In patients with NGT, IGT and DM, the I.I. values of obese patients were higher than those of the non‐obese patients. The peak of insulin concentration in OGTT appeared at 60 min in NGT and at 120 min in IGT in both obese and non‐obese patients, but in DM it was observed at 120 min in obese patients and at 60 min in non‐obese patients.

Conclusions:  These results show that early‐phase insulin secretion in obese Japanese patients is higher than in non‐obese patients in all stages of glucose tolerance, and delayed insulin‐secretion capacity is also conserved in obese Japanese patients, even in IGT and DM, which is similar to Caucasian patients. (J Diabetes Invest, doi:10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2011.00180.x, 2011)
Retrospective study of neurological signs and management of seven English horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy
Authors: Palus V. , Bladon B. , Brazil T. , Cherubini G. B. , Powell S. E. , Greet T. R. C. , Marr C. M.
Published: December 2011

This retrospective study summarises the case details, presenting signs, management and outcome in cases of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) and describes the findings of diagnostic imaging modalities. The condition appears to be relatively rare in Europe and the objective of this study is to make clinicians aware that THO can have a range of various neurological and clinical presentations. The records of 2 referral equine practices in England were reviewed and 7 horses with THO diagnosed on guttural pouch endoscopy indentified. The clinical and neurological signs, diagnostic procedures, treatment and outcomes were reviewed. Although small, this group is the largest case series of THO from Europe. One horse was a yearling, whereas THO is generally considered usually to affect middle aged and older horses. Computed tomography was used to confirm the diagnosis and demonstrated stylohyoid bone fractures in 2 cases while there was mild increased radionuclide uptake in one of 2 cases undergoing nuclear scintigraphy. Treatment is still controversial, although ceratohyoidectomy led to complete resolution of signs in 2 of 5 cases thus treated and improvement in the other 3. One horse with mild signs treated with antimicrobials and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs made a full recovery while another, presented with head shaking and managed with a phased exercise programme, improved but did not resolve completely.
Direct Simulation of Thermal Transport Through Sintered Wick Microstructures
Authors: Bodla Karthik K. , Murthy Jayathi Y. , Garimella Suresh V.
Published: December 2011

Porous sintered microstructures are critical to the functioning of passive heat transport devices such as heat pipes. The topology and microstructure of the porous wick play a crucial role in determining the thermal performance of such devices. Three sintered copper wick samples employed in commercial heat pipes are characterized in this work in terms of their thermal transport properties––porosity, effective thermal conductivity, permeability, and interfacial heat transfer coefficient. The commercially available samples of nearly identical porosities (∼61% open volume) are CT scanned at 5.5 μm resolution, and the resulting image stack is reconstructed to produce high-quality finite volume meshes representing the solid and interstitial pore regions, with a conformal mesh at the interface separating these two regions. The resulting mesh is then employed for numerical analysis of thermal transport through fluid-saturated porous sintered beds. Multiple realizations are employed for statistically averaging out the randomness exhibited by the samples under consideration. The effective thermal conductivity and permeability data are compared with analytical models developed for spherical particle beds. The dependence of effective thermal conductivity of sintered samples on the extent of sintering is quantified. The interfacial heat transfer coefficient is compared against a correlation from the literature based on experimental data obtained with spherical particle beds. A modified correlation is proposed to match the results obtained.
Recent developments and design challenges in continuous roller micro- and nanoimprinting
Authors: Dumond Jarrett J. , Yee Low Hong
Published: December 2011

As an emerging technology for the manufacture of micro- and nano-scale patterns, continuous imprinting; otherwise known as roll-to-roll or roller imprinting, is attracting interest from researchers around the world because of its inherent advantages of low cost, high throughput, large area patterning. This technology is an evolutionary advance on the more traditional nanoimprint lithography developed in the 1990s, which is considered a batch mode, or dis-continuous patterning approach. In recent years, a number of commercial applications have been discovered which require low cost, large area patterning, particularly displays, optical coatings and films, and biological applications such as anti-fouling surfaces and micro-fluidic devices. This review covers a variety of continuous imprinting approaches, highlights challenges, and surveys progress towards high speed production of micro- and nanoscale features for these applications and others using this platform technology.
High temperature imaging using a thermally compensated cantilever resistive probe for scanning thermal microscopy
Authors: Zhang Y. , Dobson P. S. , Weaver J. M. R.
Published: December 2011

The authors have designed and fabricated AFM probes with an integrated resistive temperature sensor and a grooved cantilever structure. The grooved structure compensates for the bilayer thermal bending that normally occurs during scanning thermal microscopy of hot samples. These new probes show reduced bending at high temperatures when compared to commercial, conventional cantilever probes with a similar stiffness. This indicates that the mechanical balance introduced by the grooved structure plays a major role in reducing thermal bending. Successful temperature mapping is demonstrated on an active heater device reaching 108 °C, a sample that would be beyond the imaging capability of conventional probes.
Orbits of the Kepler problem via polar reciprocals
Authors: Davis E. D.
Published: December 2011

Polar reciprocals of trajectories are an elegant alternative to hodographs for motion in a central force field. Their principal advantage is that the transformation from a trajectory to its polar reciprocal is its own inverse. The form of the polar reciprocals of Kepler orbits is established, and a geometrical construction is presented for the orbits of the Kepler problem starting from their polar reciprocals. No obscure knowledge of conics is required to demonstrate the validity of the method. Unlike a graphical procedure suggested by Feynman and extended by Derbes, the method based on polar reciprocals works without changes for elliptical, parabolic, and hyperbolic trajectories.
Biosynthesis of the Metalloclusters of Molybdenum Nitrogenase
Authors: Hu Yilin , Ribbe Markus W.
Published: December 2011

Nitrogenase catalyzes a key step in the global nitrogen cycle, the nucleotide-dependent reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to bioavailable ammonia. There is a substantial amount of interest in elucidating the biosynthetic mechanisms of the FeMoco and the P-cluster of nitrogenase, because these clusters are not only biologically important but also chemically unprecedented. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in this research area, with an emphasis on our work that aims at providing structural and spectroscopic insights into the assembly of these complex metalloclusters.
Responses of seed germination and protocorm formation to light intensity and temperature in epiphytic and terrestrial Liparis (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Tsutsumi Chie , Miyoshi Kazumitsu , Yukawa Tomohisa , Kato Masahiro
Published: December 2011

Epiphytes begin their life history with seed germination on trees and live on the trees throughout the lives. In contrast, the seeds of terrestrial plants germinate on the ground. To clarify differences in early life history between epiphytes and terrestrial species, we compared the responses of in vitro asymbiotic seed germination and protocorm formation to various light intensities and temperatures between the epiphyte Liparis fujisanensis and two closely related terrestrial species, Liparis koreojaponica and Liparis kumokiri (Orchidaceae). Epiphytic germination was higher at low temperature and under high light intensity than that of the terrestrial species. Protocorms were formed only in the dark in the three species. Field measurements of temperature and photosynthetically active radiation in six natural habitats of the species from 2005 to 2006 showed that the habitats of the epiphyte were exposed to higher light intensities than those of the terrestrial species. The high germination capability of epiphyte seeds in wider ranges of light intensity and temperature may be beneficial to its seedling growth in the early growing season in exposed aboveground habitats.
Construction and Characterization of Lead Acid Negative Active Material+Carbon Paste Electrodes
Authors: Flores Laura , López de Lara Gabriela , García-Esparza Salvador , Flores Lira Ricardo , Videa Marcelo V.
Published: December 2011

The use of additives in the formulation of the active material of the negative plate (NAM) of lead-acid batteries has proven to be fundamental for their adequate performance and extended life-time. This research work presents a new methodology for evaluating additive effects using carbon paste composite electrodes. The performance of the composite electrodes was evaluated through cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. A protocol for the construction and evaluation of the NAM carbon paste electrodes was developed, which could be use to compare different commercial additives. The size of the working electrodes prepared in this work reduces in an important manner the evaluation time of such materials, opening the opportunity to perform testing and selection of additives in times which are much more in accordance to industry requirements.
Electrospinning Smart Polymeric Inhibitor Nanocontainer System for Copper Corrosion
Authors: Soto-Quintero Albanelly , Uruchurtu Chavarín Jorge , Cruz-Silva Rodolfo , Bahena Daniel , Menchaca-Campos Carmina
Published: December 2011

This work presents the electrochemical evaluation of a proposed copper corrosion protection coating acting as a smart system. This consists in nylon fibers acting as a diffusion barrier and inhibitor nanocontainer, under different conditions. These include nylon fibers/benzotriazole as inhibitor mixture using the electrospinning technique and/or painted with alkyd varnish. Also the varnish was applied over as a drop. Submicron diameter electrospun nylon 6,6 fiber nanocontainers were prepared from a polymeric solution containing benzotriazole (BTA) inhibitor at different concentrations. Cu samples were coated with the electrospun nylon fibers and a varnish drop as coating. Optical and SEM microscopy were used to characterize the nanocontainers. Cu samples immersed in a chloride ammonium sulfate solution were evaluated using electrochemical impedance and noise, for six weeks. Comparison was made with bare Cu and varnish coated samples. For long periods of immersion good corrosion protection performance was observed, for the Cu samples electrospun coated system
Corrosion Inhibition by Synthesized Oleic Chains Imidazoline of Coconut in 3% NaCl Solution and CO2(g) Saturated 3% NaCl Solution
Authors: Rivera Grau Lissette M. , Casales Maura , Martínez Lorenzo , Gonzalez-Rodriguez J.G. , Ortega-Toledo Dulce M. , Regla Ignacio , Cardosos Julio
Published: December 2011

The damage caused by corrosion on the pipelines used in transport of oil brings deterioration and important economics losses, besides the irreversible social loss that comes as a consequence. The aqueous solution that flows with the oil in the pipelines as like as the 3% NaCl solution, are which give the aggressiveness to it. The presence of gases, such as CO2, increases the aggressively of the environment. The use of inhibitors of corrosion is one of the most practical methods against corrosion phenomena. This work reports the results of some traditional electrochemical techniques on the corrosion inhibition of 1018 carbon steel in CO2(g) saturated 3% NaCl solution using an inhibitor composed of oleic coconut base. The electrochemical measures shown that the corrosion rate increases during the presence of gas prevailing in the microscopic studies the suddenly surge of pitting and the typical layers of inhibitor on the surface of the material.
Voltage Controlled Current Source for Atmospheric Corrosion Measurements
Authors: Larios López Marisol , Gutierrez-Gnecchi Jose Antonio , Ramírez Reyes José L. , Téllez Anguiano Adriana del Carmen , González-Hernández Juan Carlos
Published: December 2011

Although the effects of atmospheric corrosion may be the most evident of all corrosion processes, obtaining accurate in-situ measurements that can be used to predict corrosion rate accurately is a difficult task. The authors present the design and construction of an analogue circuit that can operate as a potentiostat / galvanostat and allow electrochemical noise measurements intended for a multimodal portable corrosion measurement system for remote monitoring. The actuator section was simulated and tested in the laboratory for galvanostat/potentiostat operation. The experimental results agreed with simulations. The circuit was also used for electrochemical noise measurements using galvanized steel and stainless steel electrodes. An increased electrochemical noise measurement was obtained for corroded electrodes compared to intact electrodes. The results suggest that the proposed circuit can be used to build portable, multimodal equipment, capable of producing ± 75 mA @ ± 5V (maximum) for in-situ monitoring of environmental corrosion levels.
Influence of the HClO4 Concentration over the Morphology and Growth of TiO2 Anodic Porous Films Formed in 5 mM HF/xM HClO4 (0.05 M ≤ x ≤ 1M)
Authors: Acevedo-Peña Próspero , González Ignacio
Published: December 2011

In the present work the effect of the HClO4 concentration over the morphology and growth of anodic Ti oxide films in fluoride containing electrolytes is studied. The voltammetric behavior of the Ti is not considerably affected by HClO4 concentration, showing a current plateau in a high potential range in which the anodic films were potentiostatically grown (6.5 V). Even when the SEM images evidenced a decrease in pore diameter with the increase of perchloric acid concentration, the recorded chronoamperograms did not show any considerable changes in the growing of the films. However, in the EIS spectra, it is observed a modification of the high frequency components, provoked by the detriment in the oxide film resistance and capacitance, allowing the correlation between the barrier layer thickness and resistance with the pore diameter of the external porous layer formed.
Detection of Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn in Mexican Spirituous Beverages by Differential Pulse Polarography (DPP)
Authors: Trujillo-Orozco Araceli , Gómez-Salazar Sergio , Bárcena-Soto Maximiliano , Carreon-Alvarez Alejandra , Estrada-Vargas Arturo , Prado-Ramírez Rogelio , Casillas Norberto
Published: December 2011

This work is aimed to investigate the metal content (i.e., Cu, Pb, Cd y Zn) present in Mexican spirituous beverages which include: Tequila, Raicilla, Sotol and Mezcal by using Differential Pulse Polarography (DPP). Metal content depends on the type of beverage, geographic region of origin, and aging stage. Noteworthy is metal removal, specifically copper, during the aging process of tequila, suggesting a copper capture by the oak wooden aging barrel. Metal content in aged beverages can be an alternative method to estimate both aging time and sneaky aged tequilas. Further, the results presented in this paper may provide a guide to establish metal regulations to improve quality control of spirituous Mexican beverages.
Amperometric Glucose Biosensor Electrode Modified with Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Gutiérrez Alejandro , Rodríguez Marcela C. , Galicia Laura , Rivas Gustavo A.
Published: December 2011

The construction of biosensors based on nanostructures is an attractive challenge, mainly due to the properties of these materials. New strategies involved in the design of biosensors include nanoparticles, nanowires and carbon nanotubes; which is expected to impact on clinic diagnosis, environmental and food analysis. Within the enzyme biosensors, glucose biosensors are further development, mainly due to the impact of diabetes on society. In this paper, we propose a platform for the immobilization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT), using nafion and polyethylenimine as dispersants and glucose oxidase, allowing a significant improvement in the quantification of glucose.
Electrochemical Characterization of Stable Nitroxyl Radical, Intermediaries in the Synthesis of 3-Methacryloylamin-PROXYL
Authors: Salinas Gerardo , Aguilar-Martínez Martha , González Ignacio
Published: December 2011

Nitroxyl radicals have suited into materials used as anodes in lithium secondary batteries due to their stability and reversibility during the redox process. In the literature there is a wide range of such compounds, where changes in the size of the molecule and the substituent, provide variation of the redox E°. This paper presents the electrochemical characterization of three compounds obtained during the synthesis of 3-methacryloylamin-PROXYL, 4-oxo-TEMPO (2), 3-bromo-4-oxo-TEMPO (4) and 3-carbamoyl-PROXYL (5). Cyclic voltammetry and direct and double pulse chronoamperometry were used, with a glassy carbon electrode in a 0.1M Bu4NPF6 solution in acetonitrile. The oxidation of these radicals is a quasireversible process in which the species involved are stable. The E1/2 and diffusion coefficients (D) for the three free radical species were evaluated.
Photoanodes Based on Carbon Nanotubes Deposited by Drop Casting and Filtration Methods: Photoelectrochemical Characterization
Authors: Alvarado Tenorio Germán , Rincón González Marina E. , Calva-Yáñez J C. , Solís de la Fuente Mauricio
Published: December 2011

Transparent titania (TiO2) photoanodes based on single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) deposited by drop casting and filtration were characterized in various electrolytes. Improved photoelectrochemical performance, up to a factor of three, was observed in the two types of transparent photoelectrodes relative to those without SWCNTs. For both SWCNT deposition methods, the best photoanode performance corresponds to those based on SWCNT films with 60% optical transmittance. Overall, the quality of SWCNT films obtained by filtration is superior to those obtained by drop casting, and the vertical alignment caused by the transfer method enhances the contact area between nanotubes and titania. This, however, causes a large sensitivity to TiO2/SWCNTs ratio and the electrolyte used in the characterization.
(Student Poster Award Winner) Sonochemical Preparation of PdCu as Oxygen Reduction NanoCatalyst for PEMFC
Authors: Martínez-Casillas Diana C. , Solorza-Feria Omar
Published: December 2011

The sonochemical synthesis of PdCu is presented. The electrocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The XRD result shows evidence of the alloy nanoparticles with 8 nm in average size. SEM image shows regular spherical agglomerates between 50 and 200 nm in size. Its catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating-disk electrode (RDE) in a 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte at 25 °C. Then the PdCu was tested as cathode in a PEMFC. The electrochemical activity and its performance in the PEM fuel cell were compared with the behavior of palladium. The bimetallic catalyst shows in both cases higher activity for the ORR than the Pd alone.
Multiparity leads to obesity and inflammation in mothers and obesity in male offspring
Authors: Rebholz Sandra L. , Jones Thomas , Burke Katie T. , Jaeschke Anja , Tso Patrick , D'Alessio David A. , Woollett Laura A.
Published: December 2011

Multiparity is an independent risk factor for obesity in parous females. In addition to being a health issue for the mother, offspring of multiparous females may also be at risk for obesity later in life. The aim of the current study was to establish a mouse model that mimics the human pathology of multiparity and determine the effects of multiparity-induced obesity (MIO) on offspring in adulthood. C57BL/6 mice were mated and studied when primiparous (1st pregnancy) or multiparous (4th pregnancy). Dams became obese with multiparity, an effect that was independent of the age of the dam. Multiparous dams also had increased markers of inflammation (JNK activation, cytokine expression) in adipose tissue and liver that was greater than inflammation in nulliparous females made obese with a high-fat diet. Placental inflammation was prevalent in multiparous vs. primiparous dams as well. Male offspring of the multiparous dams developed increased adiposity by 24 wk of age relative to the progeny of primiparous dams, although food consumption was similar in both groups. Lipid metabolism was altered in liver and fat in that mRNA levels of regulatory genes (PGC-1α) as well as metabolic genes (CPT I) and Akt phosphorylation were decreased in offspring of multiparous dams. Thus, in mice, as in humans, multiparity increases adiposity and is associated with hepatic and placental inflammation and abnormal glucose tolerance. Importantly, MIO leads to increased body fat and metabolic dysfunction in the offspring, suggesting a role in the propagation of obesity.
Inflammatory Mediators Release in Urine from Mice Injected withCrotalus durissus terrificusVenom
Authors: Hernández Cruz A. , Barbosa Navarro L. , Mendonça R. Z. , Petricevich V. L.
Published: December 2011

In this study, we investigated in groups of female BALB/c mice injected withCrotalus durissus terrificusvenom (Cdt) the renal function based on creatinine clearance, percentage of fractional excretion cytokines and histological examination of renal tissue.Cdtcaused renal alterations that induced proteinuria during the initial hours post-venom and reduced creatinine clearance 15 min. up to 2 hours post-venom administration. In urine from mice injected withCdtinduced a decrease in IL-4 levels. More pronounced increments of IL-5, IL-6 and IFN-γwere observed after 15 and 30 min, respectively. The highest levels of TNF and IL-10 were observed at 1 and 4 hs, respectively. The ratios of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in animals injected withCdt, which may be manifested in the inflammatory status during the envenoming. In groups of animals treated withCdtwere observed a decreasing in creatinine clearance and its effect on glomerular filtration rate was accompanied by decreased fractional excretion of cytokines and morphologic disturbances. This loss of change selectively in envenomation could thus explain why the relatively excretion of cytokines is reduced while of total proteins increases. In conclusion the fractional excretion of cytokines is significantly reduced in mice injected withCdt, despite proteinuria.
Proportional‐Derivative Observer‐Based Backstepping Control for an Underwater Manipulator
Authors: Santhakumar M.
Published: December 2011

This paper investigates the performance of a new robust tracking control on the basis of proportional‐derivative observer‐based backstepping control applied on a three degrees of freedom underwater spatial manipulator. Hydrodynamic forces and moments such as added mass effects, damping effects, and restoring effects can be large and have a significant effect on the dynamic performance of the underwater manipulator. In this paper, a detailed closed‐form dynamic model is derived using the recursive Newton‐Euler algorithm, which extended to include the most significant hydrodynamic effects. In the dynamic modeling and simulation, the actuator and sensor dynamics of the system are also incorporated. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated using numerical simulations along with comparative study between conventional proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controls. The results are confirmed that the actual states of joint trajectories of the underwater manipulator asymptotically follow the desired trajectories defined by the reference model even though the system is subjected to external disturbances and parameter uncertainties. Also, stability of the proposed (model reference control) control scheme is analyzed.
Antitumor Immunity Produced by the Liver Kupffer Cells, NK Cells, NKT Cells, and CD8+CD122+T Cells
Authors: Seki Shuhji , Nakashima Hiroyuki , Nakashima Masahiro , Kinoshita Manabu
Published: December 2011

Mouse and human livers contain innate immune leukocytes, NK cells, NKT cells, and macrophage-lineage Kupffer cells. Various bacterial components, including Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands and an NKT cell ligand (α-galactocylceramide), activate liver Kupffer cells, which produce IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF. IL-12 activates hepatic NK cells and NKT cells to produce IFN-γ, which further activates hepatic T cells, in turn activating phagocytosis and cytokine production by Kupffer cells in a positive feedback loop. These immunological events are essentially evoked to protect the host from bacterial and viral infections; however, these events also contribute to antitumor and antimetastatic immunity in the liver by activated liver NK cells and NKT cells. Bystander CD8+CD122+T cells, and tumor-specific memory CD8+T cells, are also induced in the liver byα-galactocylceramide. Furthermore, adoptive transfer experiments have revealed that activated liver lymphocytes may migrate to other organs to inhibit tumor growth, such as the lungs and kidneys. The immunological mechanism underlying the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic livers in hepatitis C patients and liver innate immunity as a double-edged sword (hepatocyte injury/regeneration, septic shock, autoimmune disease, etc.) are also discussed.
Seismic Analysis of the Transportation Portal by the Combined Asymptotic Method
Authors: Tyapin Alexander
Published: December 2011

The author extends the previously proposed combined asymptotic method (CAM) of seismic SSI analysis for the multi‐support systems and applies it to the transportation portal as a double‐support system (together with the reactor building). The key issue is the development of the structural dynamic stiffness matrix condensed to the supports by the modal approach. Then the condensed structural matrix is combined with the soil dynamic stiffness matrix also condensed to the rigid basements. As a result, a very simple linear system 12∗12 is solved in the frequency domain. This gives the transfer functions from the free‐field motion to the motion of the basements. The only important limitations are the linearity of the soil’s and structure’s properties and the rigidity of the basements. The results for the sample system are checked against the full SASSI solution. The results can be used to justify the further simplification of the system.
Blocking Type I Interferon Production: A New Therapeutic Option to Reduce the HIV-1-Induced Immune Activation
Authors: Ries Moritz , Pritschet Kathrin , Schmidt Barbara
Published: December 2011

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved the morbidity and mortality of HIV-1-infected individuals. A total of 25 licensed drugs provide the basis for an optimized virus-suppressive treatment of nearly each subject. The promises of immune reconstitution and normal life expectancy, however, fall short for a number of patients, either through inadequate recovery of CD4+ T-cell counts or the occurrence of non-AIDS defining malignancies. In this respect, the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus-associated Hodgkin lymphoma and human papillomavirus-related anal neoplasia is rising in aging HIV-1-infected individuals despite antiretroviral therapy. An important cause appears to be the HIV-1-induced chronic immune activation, propagated by inappropriate release of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferons. This immune dysregulation can be reducedin vitroby inhibitors blocking the endosomal acidification. Recent data suggest that this concept is also of relevancein vivo, which opens the door for adjuvant immunomodulatory therapies in HIV-1 infection.
Iniparib Nonselectively Modifies Cysteine-Containing Proteins in Tumor Cells and Is Not a Bona Fide PARP Inhibitor
Authors: Liu Xuesong , Shi Yan , Maag David X. , Palma Joann P. , Patterson Melanie J. , Ellis Paul A. , Surber Bruce W. , Ready Damien B. , Soni Niru B. , Ladror Uri S. , Xu Allison J. , Iyer Ramesh , Harlan John E. , Solomon Larry R. , Donawho Cherrie K. , Penning Thomas D. , Johnson Eric F. , Shoemaker Alexander R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose: PARP inhibitors are being developed as therapeutic agents for cancer. More than six compounds have entered clinical trials. The majority of these compounds are β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-competitive inhibitors. One exception is iniparib, which has been proposed to be a noncompetitive PARP inhibitor. In this study, we compare the biologic activities of two different structural classes of NAD+-competitive compounds with iniparib and its C-nitroso metabolite.

Experimental Design: Two chemical series of NAD+-competitive PARP inhibitors, iniparib and its C-nitroso metabolite, were analyzed in enzymatic and cellular assays. Viability assays were carried out in MDA-MB-436 (BRCA1-deficient) and DLD1−/− (BRCA2-deficient) cells together with BRCA-proficient MDA-MB-231 and DLD1+/+ cells. Capan-1 and B16F10 xenograft models were used to compare iniparib and veliparib in vivo. Mass spectrometry and the 3H-labeling method were used to monitor the covalent modification of proteins.

Results: All NAD+-competitive inhibitors show robust activity in a PARP cellular assay, strongly potentiate the activity of temozolomide, and elicit robust cell killing in BRCA-deficient tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Cell killing was associated with an induction of DNA damage. In contrast, neither iniparib nor its C-nitroso metabolite inhibited PARP enzymatic or cellular activity, potentiated temozolomide, or showed activity in a BRCA-deficient setting. We find that the nitroso metabolite of iniparib forms adducts with many cysteine-containing proteins. Furthermore, both iniparib and its nitroso metabolite form protein adducts nonspecifically in tumor cells.

Conclusions: Iniparib nonselectively modifies cysteine-containing proteins in tumor cells, and the primary mechanism of action for iniparib is likely not via inhibition of PARP activity. Clin Cancer Res; 18(2); 510–23. ©2011 AACR.
The Severity of Ischemia Determines and Predicts Malignant Brain Edema in Patients with Large Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction
Authors: Dohmen Christian , Galldiks Norbert , Bosche Bert , Kracht Lutz , Graf Rudolf
Published: December 2011

Background: In order to determine the impact of the severity of ischemia on malignant edema formation, we investigated various degrees of perfusional deficit by 11C-flumazenil PET in patients with large middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. Methods: 17 patients with large MCA stroke were included. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured 15.9 ± 6.4 h after the ictus. Patients were divided into a malignant (n = 9) and a benign group (n = 8) as a function of their clinical courses and edema. Edema was measured as maximal midline shift on follow-up CTs. Total hypoperfusion volume was divided into different subvolumes according to the degree of CBF reduction. Results: Subvolumes of severe ischemia relative to total ischemic area were significantly larger in the malignant group than in the benign group and were significantly correlated with edema formation. The highest correlation and best predictive values for edema formation with a sensitivity, specificity, and a positive and negative predictive value of 100% were found for subvolumes with severe ischemia. Correlation coefficients and prediction decreased for subvolumes with less severe perfusional deficit, pointing to the risk of misclassifying patients when relying on the volume of total perfusional deficit alone. Conclusions: Malignant MCA infarction seems to be determined more by the volume of severe perfusional deficit than that of total perfusional deficit. Assessment of severely ischemic areas allows prediction of malignant edema formation and might help to select candidates for hemicraniectomy.
Admission CT Perfusion Is an Independent Predictor of Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Stroke with Similar Accuracy to DWI
Authors: Souza Leticia C.S. , Payabvash Seyedmehdi , Wang Yifei , Kamalian Shervin , Schaefer Pamela , Gonzalez R. Gilberto , Furie Karen L. , Lev Michael H.
Published: December 2011

Background: The utility of admission CT perfusion (CTP) to that of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) as a predictor of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in acute stroke was compared. Methods: We analyzed the admission CTP and DWI scans of 96 consecutive stroke patients. HT was present in 22 patients (23%). Infarct core was manually segmented on the admission DWI. We determined the: (1) hypoperfused tissue volume in the ischemic hemisphere using a range of thresholds applied to multiple different CTP parameter maps, and (2) mean relative CTP (rCTP) voxel values within both the DWI-segmented lesions and the thresholded CTP parameter maps. Receiver operating characteristic area under curve (AUC) analysis and multivariate regression were used to evaluate the test characteristics of each set of volumes and mean rCTP parameter values as predictors of HT. Results: The hypoperfused tissue volumes with either relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) <0.48 (AUC = 0.73), or relative mean transit time (rMTT) >1.3 (AUC = 0.70), had similar accuracy to the DWI-segmented core volume (AUC = 0.68, p = 0.2 and p = 0.1, respectively) as predictors of HT. The mean rMTT voxel values within the rMTT >1.3 segmented lesion (AUC = 0.71) had similar accuracy to the mean rMTT voxel values (AUC = 0.65, p = 0.24) and mean rCBF voxel values (AUC = 0.64, p = 0.22) within the DWI-segmented lesion. The only independent predictors of HT were: (1) mean rMTT with rMTT >1.3, and (2) mechanical thrombectomy. Conclusion: Admission CTP-based hypoperfused tissue volumes and thresholded mean voxel values are markers of HT in acute stroke, with similar accuracy to DWI. This could be of value when MRI cannot be obtained.