bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modification of hydrophilic channels in Nafion membranes by DMBA: Mechanism and effects on proton conductivity
Authors: Wang Rujie , Yan Xiaoming , Wu Xuemei , He Gaohong , Du Lin , Hu Zhengwen , Tan Ming
Published: June 2014

Modification of proton conductive channels (PCCs) in Nafion has been achieved with the assistance of 3, 4‐dimethylbenzaldehyde (DMBA). During annealing, ionic clusters develop from small isolated spheres (1.72 nm) to wide continuous channels (5.15 nm), and the crystallinity of Nafion/DMBA membranes is also improved from 17% to 32% as shown by X‐ray diffraction. Molecular dynamic simulation reveals that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction between DMBA and Nafion work synergistically to achieve better phase separation. The morphology–property relationship shows that, versus various PCCs width, the corresponding proton conductivities vary greatly from 0.079 to 0.139 S/cm at 80 °C. By carefully tuning the width of PCCs, the proton conductivity shows an improvement of 22–34% as compared with pristine Nafion. A significant enhancement on the maximum power density is achieved for the membrane electrode assembly on Nafion/DMBA‐8h (as high as 1018 mW/cm−2), yielding an enhancement of 39% on pristine Nafion‐8h (730 mW/cm−2). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 52, 1107–1117
A maximum entropy approach to the study of residue‐specific backbone angle distributions in α‐synuclein, an intrinsically disordered protein
Authors: Mantsyzov Alexey B. , Maltsev Alexander S. , Ying Jinfa , Shen Yang , Hummer Gerhard , Bax Ad
Published: June 2014

α‐Synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein of 140 residues that switches to an α‐helical conformation upon binding phospholipid membranes. We characterize its residue‐specific backbone structure in free solution with a novel maximum entropy procedure that integrates an extensive set of NMR data. These data include intraresidue and sequential HNHα and HNHN NOEs, values for 3JHNHα, 1JHαCα, 2JCαN, and 1JCαN, as well as chemical shifts of 15N, 13Cα, and 13C′ nuclei, which are sensitive to backbone torsion angles. Distributions of these torsion angles were identified that yield best agreement to the experimental data, while using an entropy term to minimize the deviation from statistical distributions seen in a large protein coil library. Results indicate that although at the individual residue level considerable deviations from the coil library distribution are seen, on average the fitted distributions agree fairly well with this library, yielding a moderate population (20–30%) of the PPII region and a somewhat higher population of the potentially aggregation‐prone β region (20–40%) than seen in the database. A generally lower population of the αR region (10–20%) is found. Analysis of 1H1H NOE data required consideration of the considerable backbone diffusion anisotropy of a disordered protein.
Induced resistance by oxidative shifts in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) following Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) herbivory
Authors: Kaur Rimaljeet , Gupta Anil K , Taggar Gaurav K
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND

Oxidative responses in leaves, developing seeds and the pod wall of nine pigeonpea genotypes were investigated against Helicoverpa armigera feeding. Out of nine genotypes, four were moderately resistant, three were intermediate and two were moderately susceptible genotypes.

RESULTS

A significant shift in the oxidative status of pigeonpea following herbivory was depicted by the upregulation of diamine oxidase (DAO), polyamine oxidase (PAO) and lipoxygenase 2 (LOX 2) activities. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was significantly higher in the infested pod wall and leaves of moderately resistant genotypes than in those of moderately susceptible genotypes. H. armigera infestation markedly enhanced phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) activities in wounded tissues. The decline in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity and ascorbate content was lower in moderately resistant genotypes than in moderately susceptible genotypes. A significant decrease in LOX 3 activity was also observed in the infested pod wall of moderately resistant and intermediate genotypes. A lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and higher proline content of the infested pod wall and developing seeds was observed. Higher activities of PPO, PAL and proline content in leaves of uninfested moderately resistant genotypes could either be an unrelated observation or alternatively could help in identifying H. armigera‐resistant genotypes.

CONCLUSION

The increase in activities of PPO, DAO, PAO, PAL and TAL and higher proline and lower MDA content upon herbivory suggested their integrated contribution in providing resistance to pigeonpea against H. armigera. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Study of simulation method of time evolution of atomic and molecular systems by quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Ichikawa Kazuhide , Fukuda Masahiro , Tachibana Akitomo
Published: June 2014

We discuss a method to follow step‐by‐step time evolution of atomic and molecular systems based on quantum electrodynamics. Our strategy includes expanding the electron field operator by localized wavepackets to define creation and annihilation operators and following the time evolution using the equations of motion of the field operator in the Heisenberg picture. We first derive a time evolution equation for the excitation operator, the product of two creation or annihilation operators, which is necessary for constructing operators of physical quantities such as the electronic charge density operator. We, then, describe our approximation methods to obtain time differential equations of the electronic density matrix, which is defined as the expectation value of the excitation operator. By solving the equations numerically, we show “electron‐positron oscillations,” the fluctuations originated from virtual electron‐positron pair creations and annihilations, appear in the charge density of a hydrogen atom and molecule. We also show that the period of the electron‐positron oscillations becomes shorter by including the self‐energy process, in which the electron emits a photon and then absorbs it again, and it can be interpreted as the increase in the electron mass due to the self‐energy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simplified box orbitals: A spatially restricted alternative to the slater‐type orbitals
Authors: García Victor , Zorrilla David , Fernández Manuel
Published: June 2014

We introduce a new type of spatially restricted basis function (zero beyond a characteristic r0 value of the radial coordinate) that makes it possible to obtain, in nonconfined systems, similar results to STO functions. This is important because the use of this kind of functions enables the exact application a sort of zero differential overlap approximation to calculate properties of large systems. Our functions are a modification of the BO‐xZ box orbitals introduced by Lepetit et al. First, we replaced these orbitals by a function that is easier to obtain and generalize, that we named “simplified box orbital” (SBO), and we have shown some advantages of the SBO over BO and standard STO functions. Second, we obtained Gaussian developments for both the original BO orbitals and the new SBO orbitals. In this way, it becomes possible to manage our SBO orbitals with standard quantum chemistry software like GAUSSIAN or similar programs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Automated data analysis
Authors: Shyr Jing , Spisic Damir
Published: June 2014

What do the data say? Why should we care? The insights of the data are our guiding angels for the decision‐making process. Organizations that are successfully able to embrace and evangelize analytics have been able to differentiate themselves from their competition. Where do the insights come from? Insights are extracted from the data through analytics. Did you know that 1.5 million data savvy managers and analysts will be needed in the next 5 years to drive decisions? With a lot of discussion about big data in the past few years, we know that data volume is increasing, the speed of data collection is faster than ever, data types can be really different, and that data veracity is a concern. Companies are already feeling the growing talent gap of people who can manage and manipulate big data to generate valuable business insights. Automated data analysis is the initial step to relieve the burden from humans. It provides a systematic process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, suggesting conclusions and supporting decision making for further analysis. In this article, we will use examples to demonstrate how automated data analysis can be done and what values it will bring to the knowledge consumers. We will also discuss why automated data analysis is important to big data analytics. In the summary, we will discuss the possibility of further research directions. WIREs Comput Stat 2014, 6:359–366. doi: 10.1002/wics.1318

This article is categorized under:

Software for Computational Statistics > Software/Statistical Software

Software for Computational Statistics > Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems
Identification and characterization of the spiruchostatin biosynthetic gene cluster enable yield improvement by overexpressing a transcriptional activator
Authors: Potharla Vishwakanth Y , Wang Cheng , Cheng Yi-Qiang
Published: June 2014

Spiruchostatins A and B are members of the FK228-family of natural products with potent histone deacetylase inhibitory activities and antineoplastic activities. However, their production in the wild-type strain of Pseudomonas sp. Q71576 is low. To improve the yield, the spiruchostatin biosynthetic gene cluster (spi) was first identified by rapid genome sequencing and characterized by genetic mutations. This spi gene cluster encodes a hybrid biosynthetic pathway similar to that encoded by the FK228 biosynthetic gene cluster (dep) in Chromobacterium violaceum No. 968. Each gene cluster contains a pathway regulatory gene (spiR vs. depR), but these two genes encode transcriptional activators of different classes. Overexpression of native spiR or heterologous depR in the wild-type strain of Pseudomonas sp. Q71576 resulted in 268 or 1,285 % increase of the combined titer of spiruchostatins A and B, respectively. RT-PCR analysis indicates that overexpression of heterologous depR upregulates the expression of native spiR.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Scanning and Expression of the Pig PPARGC1A Gene in Different Breeds
Authors: Li Qinggang , Wang Zhixiu , Zhang Bo , Lu Yunfeng , Yang Yuzeng , Ban Dongmei , Wu Changxin , Zhang Hao
Published: July 2014

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PPARGC1A) is a candidate gene for lean meat production because it plays a key role in lipid metabolism. In this study, SNPs within the porcine PPARGC1A gene were investigated using PCR‐sequencing and PCR‐RFLP. Quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blot were then used to analyze mRNA and protein expression in longissimus dorsi muscle (LM), liver, and backfat tissues of Dianna small‐ear pigs (DSP, n = 6), Tibetan pigs (TP, n = 6), and large white pigs (LW, n = 6). Five novel SNPs (g.−1269A>G in the 5′‐upstream regulatory region; g.190C>T, g.218C>A and g.234C>A in exon 8; and g.20C>T in intron 10) and three previously identified SNPs (g.417A>T in exon 8; g.56C>A in exon 9; and g.34G>A in intron 9) were found. Of these, only two, g.−1269A>G and g.234C>A, had three different genotypes in the three breeds (DSP, n = 63; TP, n = 51; and LW, n = 52). Expression was highest in LM, modest in the liver, and minimal in backfat. In LM tissue, LW had higher mRNA and protein levels than DSP and TP (P < 0.05), and there was a negative correlation between gene expression and intramuscular fat (IMF) content. LW had numerically higher expression in liver and backfat tissues than DSP and TP, and the differences in protein levels were significant (P < 0.05 in liver, P < 0.01 in backfat). In conclusion, PPARGC1A may play a key role in down‐regulating lipid deposition, and the SNPs with differential genotype distribution among the three pig breeds may be related to gene expression and fat deposition.
Effects of Phosphatidylcholine on Interaction of α‐Tocopherol and β‐Carotene in Photosensitized Oxidation of Emulsions
Authors: Lee Yoosung , Lee Edwald , Choe Eunok
Published: June 2014

The interaction between α‐tocopherol (500 mg/kg) and β‐carotene (10 mg/kg) during chlorophyll‐photosensitized oxidation of a sunflower oil emulsion was studied in the presence or absence of phosphatidylcholine (PC, 250 mg/kg) by determining peroxide (POV) and conjugated dienoic acid (CDA) values. Chlorophyll, α‐tocopherol, β‐carotene, and PC contents in the emulsion were also monitored. α‐Tocopherol and β‐carotene individually and interactively decreased the POV and CDA values of oil in the emulsion by singlet oxygen quenching. PC decreased the POV and CDA values of oil, however, the values of the emulsion with added α‐tocopherol, β‐carotene, and PC were not significantly different from those of the emulsion with added α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene without PC. Contents of α‐tocopherol did not change during 24‐h oxidation, whereas co‐present PC significantly caused α‐tocopherol and chlorophyll degradation. β‐Carotene and PC contents significantly decreased to 45.5 and 51.3 %, respectively, after 24 h, and α‐tocopherol protected β‐carotene from degradation. The results suggest that PC had no net effects on the interactive antioxidant activity of α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene during chlorophyll‐photosensitized oxidation of the emulsion through free radical generation, chlorophyll degradation, and lessening the potency of α‐tocopherol as a singlet oxygen quencher.
Black-White Differences in Consumption: An Update and Some Policy Implications
Authors: Betsey Charles L.
Published: June 2014

Marcus Alexis, in his Ph. D. dissertation and in later published work, conducted pioneering work in the area of black-white differences in consumption behavior and thereby influenced our understanding of household behavior and significantly impacted the field of marketing. This paper recapitulates his findings and reviews some contemporary work on black-white differences in consumption and some implications for future work on differences in consumption behavior.
Risk of herpes zoster among diabetics: a matched cohort study in a US insurance claim database before introduction of vaccination, 1997–2006
Authors: Guignard A. P. , Greenberg M. , Lu C. , Rosillon D. , Vannappagari V.
Published: June 2014

Purpose

To assess whether diabetes is a risk factor for herpes zoster (HZ).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Integrated Health Care Information Services database, during the period 1997–2006. A type I diabetes cohort, a type II diabetes cohort and two non-diabetic cohorts matched for date of enrolment and duration of follow-up were defined. HZ and diabetes were defined using a combination of ICD-9 and prescription drug codes. Individuals with immunosuppressive conditions or treatments were excluded. Cox Proportional Hazards regression analysis using a stepwise method with backward elimination was applied to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) of HZ, including age, gender and co-morbidities as covariates.

Results

The study population comprised 380,401 and 20,397 type II and type I diabetic subjects respectively, as well as 1,521,604 and 81,588 matched controls. The median ages were 55, 35, 33 and 29 years, respectively. HZ incidence was 4.59, 2.13, 1.97, and 1.82 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. There was no evidence of an impact of type I diabetes on the risk of HZ. Type II diabetes was associated with an increased risk for HZ in subjects ≥65 (HR 3.12; 95 % CI 2.77–3.52, adjusted for gender) and in subjects between 40 and 64 (HR 1.51; 95 % CI 1.42–1.61) years of age. Cardiac disease and chronic pulmonary disease were also risk factors (HR 1.92; 95 % CI 1.73–2.13 and HR 1.52; 95 % CI 1.38–1.67) in non-diabetic subjects.

Conclusions

This study suggests that type II diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing HZ, which was particularly high in adults 65 years and older and moderately increased in adults under 65 years of age.
A feedback regulatory loop between HIF‐1α and miR‐21 in response to hypoxia in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Liu Yang , Nie Honggang , Zhang Kuikui , Ma Dan , Yang Guang , Zheng Zhilei , Liu Kai , Yu Bo , Zhai Changlin , Yang Shuang
Published: June 2014

Accumulating evidence suggests that hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) regulates numerous miRNAs and is crucial for cellular response to hypoxia. However, the relationship between HIF‐1α and miR‐21 in hypoxic cardiomyocytes is little known. We found that hypoxia induced HIF‐1α and miR‐21 expression. HIF‐1α knockdown increased cell apoptosis and reduced miR‐21 expression. Furthermore, we found that HIF‐1α transcriptionally enhanced miR‐21 promoter activity by binding to its promoter, which required the recruitment of CBP/p300. In addition, we found that miR‐21 inhibition increased cell apoptosis and reduced HIF‐1α expression, and modulated the PTEN/Akt pathway. Our results indicate that HIF‐1α‐miR‐21 feedback contributes to the adaptation of cardiomyocytes to hypoxia, and has potential as therapeutic target for myocardial ischemia.
Transient adult microbiota, gut homeostasis and longevity: Novel insights from the Drosophila model
Authors: Erkosar Berra , Leulier François
Published: June 2014

In the last decade, Drosophila has emerged as a useful model to study host–microbiota interactions, creating an active research field with prolific publications. In the last 2 years, several studies contributed to a better understanding of the dynamic nature of microbiota composition and its impact on gut immunity and intestinal tissue homeostasis. These studies depicted the mechanisms by which microbiota regulates gut homeostasis to modulate host fitness and lifespan. Moreover, the latest findings demonstrating that the gut is a physiologically and histologically compartmentalized organ brought fresh perspectives to study the region‐specific nature of the interactions between the commensal microbes and the intestinal tissue, and consequences of these interactions on overall host biology.
Phosphorylation of flotillin‐1 by mitochondrial c‐Src is required to prevent the production of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Ogura Masato , Yamaki Junko , Homma Miwako K. , Homma Yoshimi
Published: June 2014

We have shown that mitochondrial c‐Src regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by phosphorylating the succinate dehydrogenase A of respiratory complex II (CxII). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ROS production regulated by c‐Src in the CxII, we investigated the CxII protein complex derived from cells treated with Src family kinase inhibitor PP2. We identified flotillin‐1 as a c‐Src target that prevents ROS production from CxII. Phosphorylation‐site analysis suggests Tyr56 and Tyr149 on flotillin‐1 as sites for phosphorylation by c‐Src. A comparison of cells expressing flotillin‐1 and its phosphorylation defective mutants confirms the requirement for flotillin‐1 phosphorylation for its interaction with CxII and subsequent reduction in ROS production. Our findings suggest a critical role of flotillin‐1 in ROS production mediated by c‐Src.
Food entrains clock genes but not metabolic genes in the liver of suprachiasmatic nucleus lesioned rats
Authors: Sabath Elizabeth , Salgado-Delgado Roberto , Guerrero-Vargas Natali N. , Guzman-Ruiz Mara A. , del Carmen Basualdo Maria , Escobar Carolina , Buijs Ruud M.
Published: June 2014

Hepatic circadian transcription, considered to be driven by the liver clock, is largely influenced by food even uncoupling it from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). In SCN lesioned rats (SCNx) we determined the influence of a physiological feeding schedule on the entrainment of clock and clock‐controlled (CCG) genes in the liver. We show that clock genes and the CCG Rev‐erbα and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in food‐scheduled intact and SCNx have a robust diurnal differential expression persisting after a 24 h fast. However, hepatic nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (Nampt) shows time dependent changes that are lost in intact animals under fasting; moreover, it is unresponsive to the nutrient status in SCNx, indicating a poor reliance on liver clock genes and highlighting the relevance of SCN‐derived signals for its metabolic status‐related expression.
TP63 and TP73 in cancer, an unresolved “family” puzzle of complexity, redundancy and hierarchy
Authors: Costanzo Antonio , Pediconi Natalia , Narcisi Alessandra , Guerrieri Francesca , Belloni Laura , Fausti Francesca , Botti Elisabetta , Levrero Massimo
Published: June 2014

TP53 belongs to a small gene family that includes, in mammals, two additional paralogs, TP63 and TP73. The p63 and p73 proteins are structurally and functionally similar to p53 and their activity as transcription factors is regulated by a wide repertoire of shared and unique post‐translational modifications and interactions with regulatory cofactors. p63 and p73 have important functions in embryonic development and differentiation but are also involved in tumor suppression. The biology of p63 and p73 is complex since both TP63 and TP73 genes are transcribed into a variety of different isoforms that give rise to proteins with antagonistic properties, the TA‐isoforms that act as tumor‐suppressors and DN‐isoforms that behave as proto‐oncogenes. The p53 family as a whole behaves as a signaling “network” that integrates developmental, metabolic and stress signals to control cell metabolism, differentiation, longevity, proliferation and death. Despite the progress of our knowledge, the unresolved puzzle of complexity, redundancy and hierarchy in the p53 family continues to represent a formidable challenge.
Transcriptional activation of OCT4 by the ETS transcription factor PEA3 in NCCIT human embryonic carcinoma cells
Authors: Park Sung-Won , Do Hyun-Jin , Ha Woo Tae , Han Mi-Hee , Park Keun-Hong , Song Hyuk , Kim Nam-Hyung , Kim Jae-Hwan
Published: June 2014

We examined the molecular mechanism of OCT4 gene regulation by polyomavirus enhancer activator 3 (PEA3) in NCCIT cells. Endogenous PEA3 and OCT4 were significantly elevated in undifferentiated cells and reduced upon differentiation. PEA3 knockdown led to a reduction in OCT4 levels. OCT4 promoter activity was significantly up‐regulated by dose‐dependent PEA3 overexpression. Deletion and site‐directed mutagenesis of the OCT4 promoter revealed a putative binding site within the conserved region 2 (CR2). PEA3 interacted with the binding element within CR2 in NCCIT cells. This study reveals the molecular details of the mechanism by which the oncogenic factor PEA3 regulates OCT4 gene expression as a transcriptional activator.
Study of quality of life in epilepsy patients with psychiatric co-morbidities using QOLIE-31
Authors: Amruth Gujjar , Srikanteswara Praveen-kumar , Nataraju Boraiah , Kasturi Pandiyan
Published: June 2014

Background Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting both the sexes in all age groups and is associated with psychiatric co-morbid conditions. There is a paucity of available published data regarding psychiatric co-morbid conditions and quality of life in patients with Epilepsy (PWE) from developing countries.

Methods We evaluated the quality of life in 80 PWE, 80 with asthma (asthma control subjects: AC) and 80 normal healthy patients (normal control subjects: NC) using the QOLIE-31 item inventory.

Results Psychiatric co-morbid conditions are more common in PWE (32.50%) as compared to the AC (17.5%) and NC (7.5%). The quality of life in PWE was significantly lower when compared to control subjects and it was further low in the presence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion Co-morbid psychiatric disorders should be identified and documented in PWE and treating these disorders apart from the control of seizures may significantly improve their quality of life.
Coalition Against Major Diseases/European Medicines Agency biomarker qualification of hippocampal volume for enrichment of clinical trials in predementia stages of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Hill Derek L.G. , Schwarz Adam J. , Isaac Maria , Pani Luca , Vamvakas Spiros , Hemmings Robert , Carrillo Maria C. , Yu Peng , Sun Jia , Beckett Laurel , Boccardi Marina , Brewer James , Brumfield Martha , Cantillon Marc , Cole Patricia E. , Fox Nick , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Jack Clifford , Kelleher Thomas , Luo Feng , Novak Gerald , Maguire Paul , Meibach Richard , Patterson Patricia , Bain Lisa , Sampaio Cristina , Raunig David , Soares Holly , Suhy Joyce , Wang Huanli , Wolz Robin , Stephenson Diane
Published: June 2014

Background

Regulatory qualification of a biomarker for a defined context of use provides scientifically robust assurances to sponsors and regulators that accelerate appropriate adoption of biomarkers into drug development.

Methods

The Coalition Against Major Diseases submitted a dossier to the Scientific Advice Working Party of the European Medicines Agency requesting a qualification opinion on the use of hippocampal volume as a biomarker for enriching clinical trials in subjects with mild cognitive impairment, incorporating a scientific rationale, a literature review and a de novo analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data.

Results

The literature review and de novo analysis were consistent with the proposed context of use, and the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use released an opinion in November 2011.

Conclusions

We summarize the scientific rationale and the data that supported the first qualification of an imaging biomarker by the European Medicines Agency.
APOE ε4 influences β‐amyloid deposition in primary progressive aphasia and speech apraxia
Authors: Josephs Keith A. , Duffy Joseph R. , Strand Edythe A. , Machulda Mary M. , Senjem Matthew L. , Lowe Val J. , Jack Clifford R. , Whitwell Jennifer L.
Published: June 2014

Background

Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) is a risk factor for β‐amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease dementia. Its influence on β‐amyloid deposition in speech and language disorders, including primary progressive aphasia (PPA), is unclear.

Methods

One hundred thirty subjects with PPA or progressive speech apraxia underwent APOE genotyping and Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET scanning. The relationship between APOE ε4 and PiB status, as well as severity and regional distribution of PiB, was assessed.

Results

Forty‐five subjects had an APOE ε4 allele and 60 subjects were PiB‐positive. The odds ratio for a subject with APOE ε4 being PiB‐positive compared with a subject without APOE ε4 being PiB‐positive was 10.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.4–25.5; P < .0001). The APOE ε4 allele did not influence regional PiB distribution or severity.

Conclusion

APOE ε4 increases the risk of β‐amyloid deposition in PPA and progressive speech apraxia but does not influence regional β‐amyloid distribution or severity.
Justifying reimbursement for Alzheimer's diagnostics and treatments: Seeking alignment on evidence
Authors: Foster Norman L. , Hackett Judith S.M. , White Greg , Chenevert Sherri , Svarvar Patrick , Bain Lisa , Carrillo Maria C.
Published: June 2014

The increasing cost of health care combined with expensive new drugs and diagnostics is leading to more frequent gaps between regulatory and subsequent reimbursement approval decisions. As a result, persons with Alzheimer's disease may have difficulty accessing the benefit of medical advances. In contrast to the long history and established structure for drug approval, payer decision making is dispersed, not standardized, and perspectives on necessary evidence and the evaluation of this evidence differ and are often poorly defined. Particularly challenging is how to demonstrate the value of drugs and diagnostics for patients who do not yet have significant functional decline. Although discussions to develop consensus continue, clinical trials should begin to incorporate health system and patient‐oriented outcomes. In some situations, additional studies designed to demonstrate value and comparative effectiveness will be needed. Such studies should examine outcomes of representative populations in community settings. To assure scientific advances in diagnosis and treatment benefit in patients, developing evidence to support reimbursement will become as important as obtaining regulatory approval.
A continuous stable isotope record from the penultimate glacial maximum to the Last Interglacial (159–121 ka) from Tana Che Urla Cave (Apuan Alps, central Italy)
Authors: Regattieri Eleonora , Zanchetta Giovanni , Drysdale Russell N. , Isola Ilaria , Hellstrom John C. , Roncioni Adriano
Published: June 2014

Relatively few radiometrically dated records are available for the central Mediterranean spanning the marine oxygen isotope stage 6–5 (MIS 6–5) transition and the first part of the Last Interglacial. Two flowstone cores from Tana che Urla Cave (TCU, central Italy), constrained by 19 U/Th ages, preserve an interval of continuous speleothem deposition between ca. 159 and 121 ka. A multiproxy record (δ18O, δ13C, growth rate and petrographic changes) obtained from this flowstone preserves significant regional-scale hydrological changes through the glacial/interglacial transition and multi-centennial variability (interpreted as alternations between wetter and drier periods) within both glacial and interglacial stages. The glacial stage shows a wetter period between ca. 154 and 152 ka, while the early to middle Last Interglacial period shows several drying events at ca. 129, 126 and 122 ka, which can be placed in the wider context of climatic instability emerging from North Atlantic marine and NW European terrestrial records. The TCU record also provides important insights into the evolution of local environmental conditions (i.e. soil development) in response to regional and global-scale climate events.
Mortgages for machinery: credit and industrial investment in pre-World War I Brazil
Authors: Cortes Gustavo S. , Marcondes Renato L. , Diaz Maria Dolores M.
Published: July 2014

How could a primitive credit market finance the early industrialisation of an underdeveloped economy? To answer this question, we use a hand-collected data set of mortgage loans raised by industrial firms in the city of São Paulo during the period 1866-1914. These mortgages were debt obligations collateralised by land, improvements, machinery and equipment. We argue that the mortgage credit market was a key source of funding for early industrial investments in Brazil. We find that industries were mainly funded by non-banking and domestic agents. The empirical evidence suggests that mortgages were an important proxy for industrial investment.
Revolutioniert Kollagenase die Chirurgie?
Authors: Frueh Florian Samuel , Calcagni Maurizio
Published: June 2014

Die Dupuytren'sche Erkrankung ist trotz intensiver Grundlagenforschung sowie vielfältiger chirurgischer Therapiekonzepte zum heutigen Zeitpunkt nicht heilbar. Die seit bald 20 Jahren bekannte enzymatische Strangdegradation mittels clostridialer Kollagenase hat sich zu einer wichtigen zusätzlichen Therapieoption entwickelt. War vor wenigen Jahren noch die limitierte Fasziektomie die Therapie der Wahl für die meisten Patienten, kann heute oft primär eine enzymatische Therapie erfolgen mit gegebenenfalls sekundärer Chirurgie bei Rezidiven. Die Injektion von Xiapex® ist – korrekt ausgeführt – eine effektive und sichere Behandlung mit einer Erfolgsrate von 85 % (MCP-Gelenk) resp. 65 % (PIP-Gelenk) nach 3 Jahren. Im folgenden Artikel wird die Therapie des Morbus Dupuytren mit Xiapex®-Injektionen zusammengefasst.
Wann, welche Behandlung bei scapho-lunären Bandverletzungen?
Authors: Papaloïzos Michaël
Published: June 2014

Verletzungen des scapho-lunären Bandes zählen zu den häufigsten Läsionen des Handgelenks. Unbehandelt folgt auf eine komplette Ruptur des Ligaments eine degenerative Arthrose des Handgelenks. Die Verletzungen werden in Stadien im Hinblick auf die Rekonstruktionsmöglichkeiten eingeteilt. Die Stadien werden durch zusätzliche Untersuchungen oder eine Arthroskopie und anhand der Entwicklungsdauer ermittelt. Diese Faktoren erlauben eine mögliche Behandlung und Festlegung einer Prognose. Die Chancen für Heilung der Bandverletzung nehmen nämlich nach sechs Wochen rapide ab, weswegen eine frühzeitige Erkennung der akuten Verletzung wichtig ist. Die therapeutischen Optionen nehmen beachtlich ab und verändern sich in palliativer Lösungen, wenn die Verletzung chronisch wird und mit sekundären Läsionen einhergeht.
3D kontrollierte Planung und Durchführung von Osteotomien an Vorderarm und Hand
Authors: Schweizer Andreas , Fürnstahl Philipp , Nagy Ladislav
Published: June 2014

Neue 3-dimensionale (3D) unterstützte Techniken erlauben es, das seit Jahrzehnten unveränderte Vorgehen bei Korrekturosteotomie wesentlich zu verbessern sowie komplexe Schnittführungen durchzuführen, die zuvor nur schwierig zu kontrollieren waren. Die Einführung von leicht bedienbarer Software ermöglicht auch Benutzern ohne spezielle Vorkenntnisse CT-Daten am Computer zu segmentieren, 3D Modelle von Knochen herzustellen und diese mit der gespiegelten Gegenseite zu vergleichen. Erst dieses Vorgehen erlaubt eine exakte Fehlstellungsanalyse, das Erstellen eines Operationsplanes und die virtuelle Durchführung der Operation in 3D. Das Herstellen von individualisierten Bohr- und Sägelehren mit dem Laser-Sinterverfahren (3D Drucker), welche in eindeutiger und bestimmter Position auf der jeweiligen Knochenoberfläche angelegt werden können, ermöglicht die exakte Umsetzung der Planung in der Operation. Die Technik soll anhand von Fallbeispielen an Vorderarm und Hand vorgestellt werden.
Funktionieren Kunstgelenke an der Hand?
Authors: Krefter Caroline , Herren Daniel
Published: June 2014

Funktionieren Kunstgelenke an der Hand? Bei ausgewählter Indikationsstellung und Implantation durch einen erfahrenen Handchirurgen können wir diese Frage mit „im Prinzip: Ja“ beantworten. Durch Kunstgelenke an der Hand, vor allem an den Fingergelenken, lässt sich meist eine deutliche Schmerzlinderung bis zur Beschwerdefreiheit erreichen. Kompromisse müssen bezüglich der Beweglichkeit eingegangen werden. Alter, Allgemeinzustand, Grunderkrankung, Anforderungen und Erwartungen müssen bei der Indikation berücksichtigt werden. Bei geeigneter Patientenselektion haben wir gute Erfahrungen mit hoher Patientenzufriedenheit nach Implantation von Kunstgelenken an der Hand.
Muss das Vieleckbein bei der Sattelgelenksarthrose immer entfernt werden?
Authors: Tröster Birgit , Fusetti Cesare
Published: June 2014

Die Sattelgelenksarthrose des Daumens ist ein häufiges Problem für Hausarztkonsultationen. Die degenerativen Veränderungen können zu signifikanter funktioneller Einschränkung führen und mit Schmerzen einhergehen, so dass viele Patienten schlussendlich nach erfolgloser konservativer Therapie eine chirurgische Behandlung benötigen. Bis vor kurzem war die chirurgische Behandlung die Resektion des Os trapeziums in verschiedenen Modifikationen. In dieser Übersicht werden mini-invasive Behandlungsmöglichkeiten bei der Sattelgelenksarthrose vorgestellt. Je nach Stadium der Arthrose gibt es verschiedene Behandlungsoptionen.
„Top ten“-Indikationen zur Ultraschalldiagnostik an der Hand
Authors: Hennecke Bernd , Umbricht Regula , Vögelin Esther
Published: June 2014

In zahlreichen chirurgischen Disziplinen wird die Ultraschalluntersuchung vom behandelnden Chirurgen selbst durchgeführt. Durch die Entwicklung hochauflösender Ultraschallsonden verwenden auch immer mehr Handchirurgen dieses diagnostische Instrument zur nichtinvasiven Darstellung der Anatomie der Patientenhand. Dieser Artikel gibt eine Einführung in die Durchführung der Ultraschalluntersuchung an der Hand und die korrekte Interpretation der erhobenen Befunde. Zudem werden die „top ten“ Indikationen zur Ultraschalluntersuchung an der Hand illustriert.
Handtherapie zur Beeinflussung des neuropathischen Schmerzgeschehens
Authors: Oberfeld Elisabeth , Ammann Bernadette , Vögelin Esther
Published: June 2014

In dieser Übersichtsarbeit werden diverse Behandlungsmöglichkeiten vorgestellt, welche in der Handtherapie bei Patienten mit neuropathischen Schmerzen in der oberen Extremität angewendet werden können. Anhand eines Patientenbeispiels werden die therapeutischen Ansätze und ihre Evidenz aufgezeigt. Wichtig sind neben einer frühzeitigen Diagnosestellung und einer genauen Erfassung eine sorgfältige Dokumentation der Wirksamkeit der individuell angepassten Maßnahmen.
Asymmetric Michael addition of α-fluoro-α-nitroalkanes to nitroolefins: facile preparation of fluorinated amines and tetrahydropyrimidines
Authors: Kwiatkowski Jacek , Lu Yixin
Published: June 2014

An asymmetric Michael addition of α-fluoro-α-nitroalkanes to nitroolefins was developed, and the products were obtained in good chemical yields and with high stereoselectivities.
Alternating stereoselective self-assembly of SSSS/RRRR or RSSR isomers of tetrakisphosphines in the row of 14-, 16-, 18- and 20-membered macrocycles
Authors: Naumov Roman N. , Musina Elvira I. , Kanunnikov Kirill B. , Fesenko Tatiana I. , Krivolapov Dmitry B. , Litvinov Igor A. , Lönnecke Peter , Hey-Hawkins Evamarie , Karasik Andrey A. , Sinyashin Oleg G.
Published: June 2014

Covalent self-assembly of novel 18- and 20-membered P,N-corands as single stereoisomer is described.
Selective conversion of alcohols in water to carboxylic acids by in situ generated ruthenium trans dihydrido carbonyl PNP complexes
Authors: Choi Jong-Hoo , Heim Leo E. , Ahrens Mike , Prechtl Martin H. G.
Published: June 2014

In this work, we present a mild method for direct conversion of primary alcohols into carboxylic acids with the use of water as an oxygen source.
Reduced graphene oxide and graphene composite materials for improved gas sensing at low temperature
Authors: Zöpfl Alexander , Lemberger Michael-Maximilian , König Matthias , Ruhl Guenther , Matysik Frank-Michael , Hirsch Thomas
Published: June 2014

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was investigated as a material for use in chemiresistive gas sensors. The carbon nanomaterial was transferred onto a silicon wafer with interdigital gold electrodes. Spin coating turned out to be the most reliable transfer technique, resulting in consistent rGO layers of reproducible quality. Fast changes in the electrical resistance at a low operating temperature of 85 °C could be detected for the gases NO2, CH4 and H2. Especially upon adsorption of NO2 the high signal changes allowed a minimum detection of 0.3 ppm (S/N = 3). To overcome the poor selectivity, rGO was chemically functionalized with octadecylamine, or modified by doping with metal nanoparticles such as Pd and Pt, and also metal oxides such as MnO2, and TiO2. The different response patterns for six different materials allowed the discrimination of all of the test gases by pattern recognition based on principal component analysis.
Biological monitoring of arsenic pollution based on whole blood arsenic atomic absorption assessment with in situ hydride trapping
Authors: Ivanenko Natalya B. , Solovyev Nikolay D. , Ivanenko Anatoly A. , Navolotskii Denis V.
Published: June 2014

A direct hydride generation GFAAS method of blood arsenic determination and its application for arsenic biomonitoring in infants is presented.
Single-crystalline Bi2Fe4O9 synthesized by low-temperature co-precipitation: performance as photo- and Fenton catalysts
Authors: Hu Zhong-Ting , Chen Bo , Lim Teik-Thye
Published: June 2014

A multi-functional self-assembled (001) Bi2Fe4O9 nanopad was firstly synthesized by co-precipitation at 95 °C, which can drive hybrid advanced oxidation processes (HAOPs) under visible-light irradiation for the efficient degradation of bisphenol A.
Nonlinear theory of classical cylindrical Richtmyer-Meshkov instability for arbitrary Atwood numbers
Authors: Liu Wan Hai , Ping Yu Chang , Hua Ye Wen , Feng Wang Li , Tu He Xian
Published: June 2014

A nonlinear theory is developed to describe the cylindrical Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) of an impulsively accelerated interface between incompressible fluids, which is based on both a technique of Padé approximation and an approach of perturbation expansion directly on the perturbed interface rather than the unperturbed interface. When cylindrical effect vanishes (i.e., in the large initial radius of the interface), our explicit results reproduce those [Q. Zhang and S.-I. Sohn, Phys. Fluids 9, 1106 (1996)] related to the planar RMI. The present prediction in agreement with previous simulations [C. Matsuoka and K. Nishihara, Phys. Rev. E 73, 055304(R) (2006)] leads us to better understand the cylindrical RMI at arbitrary Atwood numbers for the whole nonlinear regime. The asymptotic growth rate of the cylindrical interface finger (bubble or spike) tends to its initial value or zero, depending upon mode number of the initial cylindrical interface and Atwood number. The explicit conditions, directly affecting asymptotic behavior of the cylindrical interface finger, are investigated in this paper. This theory allows a straightforward extension to other nonlinear problems related closely to an instable interface.
Curvature-correction-based time-domain CMOS smart temperature sensor with an inaccuracy of −0.8 °C–1.2 °C after one-point calibration from −40 °C to 120 °C
Authors: Chen Chun-Chi , Lin Shih-Hao , Lin Yi
Published: June 2014

This paper proposes a time-domain CMOS smart temperature sensor featuring on-chip curvature correction and one-point calibration support for thermal management systems. Time-domain inverter-based temperature sensors, which exhibit the advantages of low power and low cost, have been proposed for on-chip thermal monitoring. However, the curvature is large for the thermal transfer curve, which substantially affects the accuracy as the temperature range increases. Another problem is that the inverter is sensitive to process variations, resulting in difficulty for the sensors to achieve an acceptable accuracy for one-point calibration. To overcome these two problems, a temperature-dependent oscillator with curvature correction is proposed to increase the linearity of the oscillatory width, thereby resolving the drawback caused by a costly off-chip second-order master curve fitting. For one-point calibration support, an adjustable-gain time amplifier was adopted to eliminate the effect of process variations, with the assistance of a calibration circuit. The proposed circuit occupied a small area of 0.073 mm2 and was fabricated in a TSMC CMOS 0.35-μm 2P4M digital process. The linearization of the oscillator and the effect cancellation of process variations enabled the sensor, which featured a fixed resolution of 0.049 °C/LSB, to achieve an optimal inaccuracy of −0.8 °C to 1.2 °C after one-point calibration of 12 test chips from −40 °C to 120 °C. The power consumption was 35 μW at a sample rate of 10 samples/s.
A low energy ion source for electron capture spectroscopy
Authors: Tusche C. , Kirschner J.
Published: June 2014

We report on the design of an ion source for the production of single and double charged Helium ions with kinetic energies in the range from 300 eV down to 5 eV. The construction is based on a commercial sputter ion gun equipped with a Wien-filter for mass/charge separation. Retardation of the ions from the ionizer potential (2 keV) takes place completely within the lens system of the sputter gun, without modification of original parts. For 15 eV He+ ions, the design allows for beam currents up to 30 nA, limited by the space charge repulsion in the beam. For He2 + operation, we obtain a beam current of 320 pA at 30 eV, and 46 pA at 5 eV beam energy, respectively. In addition, operating parameters can be optimized for a significant contribution of metastable He*+ (2s) ions.
Comparative analysis of low- and high-swirl confined flames and jets by proper orthogonal and dynamic mode decompositions
Authors: Markovich D. M. , Abdurakipov S. S. , Chikishev L. M. , Dulin V. M. , Hanjalić K.
Published: June 2014

Low-order coherent structures of non-reacting and combusting low- and high-swirl (swirl rates S = 0.41 and S = 1.0) jet flows in an open-ended cylindrical model combustor have been studied using the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) of high-repetition stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) velocity measurements. Lean methane-air mixture with the equivalence ratio of 0.6 was chosen for the reacting case as lean flames are generally less stable and more receptive to active control. The nonreacting and reacting flows at the same swirl rates exhibit qualitatively similar overall features characterized by highly turbulent annular jets enveloping the central retarding zone (for S = 0.41) or a recirculating bubble (for S = 1.0). At low swirl the dominant coherent structures appeared in the form of tilted ring vortices, evolving into helices as the swirl rate increases. The high-swirl flows are characterized by a pair of well-organized counter-rotating co-winding helical vortices originating in the inner and outer jet shear layers. Vortex cores were detected in both cases, but at low swirl it was less energetic and not associated with a distinct precession frequency. The core region of the low-swirl flame shows intermittent mild flow reversal without permanent central recirculation zone. The thermal expansion enhances the spreading of the reacting flow, especially at the high swirl number. Here the helices pitch is smaller and some neighbouring vortices merge into vortical sheets that act as shear shield confining the flame within the inner shear layer. Despite the significant effects of combustion on the time-averaged characteristics for the high-swirl, the dynamics of both flows were dominated by the global inviscid helical instability mode with a DMD detected conspicuous frequencies of 223 Hz for the nonreacting jet and 257 Hz for the flame.
An exploration of the ozone dimer potential energy surface
Authors: Azofra Luis Miguel , Alkorta Ibon , Scheiner Steve
Published: June 2014

The (O3)2 dimer potential energy surface is thoroughly explored at the ab initio CCSD(T) computational level. Five minima are characterized with binding energies between 0.35 and 2.24 kcal/mol. The most stable may be characterized as slipped parallel, with the two O3 monomers situated in parallel planes. Partitioning of the interaction energy points to dispersion and exchange as the prime contributors to the stability, with varying contributions from electrostatic energy, which is repulsive in one case. Atoms in Molecules analysis of the wavefunction presents specific O⋯O bonding interactions, whose number is related to the overall stability of each dimer. All internal vibrational frequencies are shifted to the red by dimerization, particularly the antisymmetric stretching mode whose shift is as high as 111 cm−1. In addition to the five minima, 11 higher-order stationary points are identified.