bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tayside’s contribution to the early development of cardiology
Authors: Lowe G
Published: March 2012

This paper gives a brief account of how doctors who were either native to or actively working in Tayside helped to shape the early development of cardiology. It exemplifies how important contributions to the understanding and practice of medicine can be made by an exceptional individual or an inspired team, no matter how unlikely the initial setting for their work might appear. The remarkable role that Sir James Mackenzie played in the understanding and fostering of this speciality in its infancy is outlined. The paper also describes the transformation of Dundee Royal Infirmary’s meagre facilities after the Second World War into a dynamic centre of excellence in cardiology services in the 1960s, becoming in effect a prototype for the highly acclaimed ‘embedding’ of clinical care, teaching and research at the new Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee.
Glycoprotein electrophoretic patterns have potential to monitor changes associated with neoplastic transformation in oral cancer
Authors: Vajaria Bhairavi N. , Patel Kinjal R. , Begum Rasheedunnisa , Patel Jayendra B. , Shah Franky D. , Shukla Shilin N. , Patel Prabhudas S.
Published: March 2012

Alterations in glycoproteins, important cell surface constituents, have long been associated with various malignancies. The present investigation therefore explored the clinical significance of a glycoproteomics approach in patients with oral precancerous conditions (OPC) and patients with oral cancer. The study included 80 oral cancer patients, 50 patients with OPC, and 84 controls. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Schiff's staining was carried out to study the alterations in glycoproteins. The results showed significant elevation (p<0.0001) of 192 kDa, 170 kDa, 116 kDa and 44 kDa glycoproteins in oral cancer patients and patients with OPC compared with controls. The odds ratio indicated a significantly higher risk for oral cancer among users and especially chewers of tobacco. The levels of all the glycoprotein bands (192 kDa, 170 kDa, 116 kDa and 44 kDa) were higher in patients with a habit of tobacco use (WHT) than in patients with no habit of tobacco (NHT) and were also higher in WHT controls than in NHT controls. Moreover, a 230 kDa glycoprotein consistently appeared only in individuals with tobacco habits and an increasing trend was observed from WHT controls to patients with OPC to WHT oral cancer patients. In conclusion, the results indicated the potential utility of glycoprotein alterations in monitoring sequential changes occurring due to tobacco consumption during neoplastic transformation.
Unusual Effects of Nicotine as a Psychostimulant on Ambulatory Activity in Mice
Authors: Umezu Toyoshi
Published: March 2012

The present study examined the effect of nicotine, alone and in combination with various drugs that act on the CNS, on ambulatory activity, a behavioral index for locomotion, in ICR (CD-1) strain mice. Nicotine at 0.25–2 mg/kg acutely reduced ambulatory activity of ICR mice. The effect of nicotine was similar to that of haloperidol and fluphenazine but distinct from that of bupropion and methylphenidate. ICR mice developed tolerance against the inhibitory effect of nicotine on ambulatory activity when nicotine was repeatedly administered. This effect was also distinct from bupropion and methylphenidate as they produced augmentation of their ambulation-stimulating effects in ICR mice. Nicotine reduced the ambulation-stimulating effects of bupropion and methylphenidate as well as haloperidol and fluphenazine. Taken together, nicotine exhibited unusual effects as a psychostimulant on ambulatory activity in ICR mice.
Mechanism of Protein-Z-Mediated Inhibition of Coagulation Factor Xa by Z-Protein-Dependent Inhibitor: A Molecular Dynamic Approach
Authors: Dayer Mohammad Reza , Ghayour Omid , Dayer Mohammad Saaid
Published: March 2012

Protein Z is a plasma protein functioning as a carrier for ZPI. Protein Z also accelerates inhibitory effect of ZPI on factor Xa by 1000-fold. Inhibition of coagulation cascade via FXa by ZPI and other serpins is very important safety factor for normal homeostasis protecting human life against unwanted thrombosis. In the present work using native structure of PZ, ZPI, FXa and in a dynamic simulation, using NAMD software, the ternary complex was studied in an up to 10 nanoseconds protocol. Rely on trajectory analyses, we postulated that PZ binds ZPI by using its SP-like domain and through noncovalent forces. PZ then transfers ZPI through-out the blood, and by using its GLA domain and a bivalent cation of calcium, PZ binds to phospholipid bilayers (e.g., platelet) where the FXa is preallocated. In case of PZ-ZPI binding to plasma membrane, a series of complementary interactions take place between FXa, and PZ-ZPI complex including interactions between RCL loop of ZPI and catalytic site of FXa and some take place between long arm of PZ (composed of GLA, EGF1, and EGF2 domains) and GLA domain of FXa. In our claim these complementary interactions lead PZ to bind correctly to prelocated FXa.
Gain Improvement of Dual Band Antenna Based on Complementary Rectangular Split-Ring Resonator
Authors: Ortiz Noelia , Falcone Francisco , Sorolla Mario
Published: March 2012

A simple and successful dual band patch linear polarized rectangular antenna design is presented. The dual band antenna is designed etching a complementary rectangular split-ring resonator in the patch of a conventional rectangular patch antenna. Furthermore, a parametric study shows the influence of the location of the CSRR particle on the radiation characteristics of the dual band antenna. Going further, a miniaturization of the conventional rectangular patch antenna and an enhancement of the complementary split-ring resonator resonance gain versus the location of the CSRR on the patch are achieved. The dual band antenna design has been made feasible due to the quasistatic resonance property of the complementary split-ring resonators. The simulated results are compared with measured data and good agreement is reported.
An Investigation of an RFID-based Patient-Tracking and Mobile Alert System
Authors: Yeung C.L. , Kwok S.K. , Mui H.C.
Published: March 2012

In the modern era, patient health is no longer the only concern for hospitals. Hospitals have to bear the responsibility of the patient safety and the patient comfort. However, due to the overcrowded and understaffed clinical areas with complex workflow patterns, there are different forms of medical care errors arisen in the healthcare system. According to recent statistic from World Health Organization, ten of milions of patient around the world are injured or dead every yearas a result of incorrect medical care. Rroughly 10% patients admitted to hospital in developed countries suffered some forms of medical care errors or medical adverse events. It is about 1.4 million of world population.

In order to enhance the patient safety and patient comfort in the current medical service system, an RFID-based Patient Tracking and Mobile Alert System integrated with information communications technology was designed and developed. Apart from identifying different patient's whereabouts, instant alerts are generated through mobile devices so as to enhance patients' safety and comfort. With a view of investigating the feasibility of RFID and mobile technology in the healthcare environment, a pilot study was conducted in Mindset Club in the Castle Peak Hospital in Hong Kong.
Design of RFID Cloud Services in a Low Bandwidth Network Environment
Authors: Mo John P.T. , Lorchirachoonkul William
Published: March 2012

The use of Information and Communication Technologies has significantly improved the efficiency of modern supply chains. Existing IT architecture is too rigid to allow new technologies such as RFID technologies to be implemented. With the aid of virtualisation and integrated with cloud services, infrastructure hardware and network devices can be consolidated into a physical device, reducing the cost of ownership. However, for such cloud services model to work correctly, a high speed network is required between each site and the cloud service provider. This poses huge challenges for real-time system such as RFID-enabled supply chains. Since modern supply chains operate on a global platform, it is almost impossible to assure availability of high speed networks across the global supply chain. This paper proposes two solutions to supplement the virtualisation and cloud services model. A sub-cloud services solution, where each service is distributed across multiple hosts across different countries and regions is proposed to enhance accessibility to higher bandwidth networks. The second solution is the Queued Burst Device Compression system incorporates a compression service that compresses RFID data sets into much smaller packages. This solution is proved to work by a multiple-in-single-out queuing model and is suitable for low bandwidth networks such as GPRS and 3G wireless environmenst.
Applications of Fast-Moving RFID Tags in High-Speed Railway Systems
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Tentzeris Manos
Published: March 2012

RFID technology has been widely utilized for the tracking and identification of numerous stationary and moving objects. One of the most challenging RFID applications has to do with the improvement in reliability, scheduling and efficiency of large-scale transportation infrastructure. As an example, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in Ultra High Friency (UHF) frequencies (840–845MHz and 920–925MHz) is one of several technologies currently being utilized in China to monitor and regulate the railway system. Despite the very successful performance of ATIS RFID-based system for conventional trains with speeds up to 150kph, numerous challenges have to be resolved for the extension of this technology to modern high-speed and ultra high-speed railway systems with speeds up to 500kph. This paper identifies these issues, such as collision and insufficient reading time, and proposes various ways to alleviate their effect in UHF-RFID enabled railway systems
Building Distributed E-Healthcare for Elderly Using RFID and Multi-Agent
Authors: Su Chuan-Jun , Shih Stephen Chingyu
Published: March 2012

With the advancement of living standards and healthcare systems, there have been significant improvements in life preservation worldwide over this century which are reflected in prolonged life expectancy and are enlarging the aging population. In the foreseeable future, the home care environment is recognized as the first line of defense for health and medical care via proper implementation of state-of-the-art information technologies. For instance, in the home care environment, the tracking of physiological information not only circumvents the high-cost medical manpower and resources, but the signs of abnormal health can also be detected further by long-term and sustaining health records.

In this paper the development of an intelligent home healthcare system based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and the mobile agent technologies is described. The system enables the RFID home care service and physiological assessment based on the concept of Location-based Service (LBS). Additionally, by coupling the technologies of dynamic detection and motion detection, a home care system for real-time safety has been designed to prevent the elderly from accidental falling.
Design and Development of an RFID-based HIS – A Case Study
Authors: Wu C.H. , Ip W.H. , Kwok S.K. , Ho G.T.S. , Chan C.Y.
Published: March 2012

The Healthcare industry involves critical activities where small mistakes could cause huge loss of life and incur massive financial losses. Improving operational efficiency and enhancing data correctness of patients are the prime targets of using hospital information system (HIS). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, with a unique ability to perform automatic data collection without any human intervention, has gained great interest in the healthcare industry. In this research, an RFID-enabled HIS is proposed for improving operations in a hospital. This research presents the fundamentals of RFID, the benefits and its challenges, and also demonstrates three improved signature applications. It aims at providing the healthcare industry with a comprehensive understanding of RFID and its suitability for healthcare applications. The proposed system is considered to be suitably operational, practical, and affordable for healthcare organizations not only in China and Hong Kong, but also in other countries.
An Aircraft Service Staff Rostering Using a Hybrid GRASP Algorithm
Authors: Cho Vincent , Wu Gene Pak Kit , Ip W.H.
Published: March 2012

The aircraft ground service company is responsible for carrying out the regular tasks to aircraft maintenace between their arrival at and departure from the airport. This paper presents the application of a hybrid approach based upon greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) for rostering technical staff such that they are assigned predefined shift patterns. The rostering of staff is posed as an optimization problem with an aim of minimizing the violations of hard and soft constraints. The proposed algorithm iteratively constructs a set of solutions by GRASP. Furthermore, with multi-agent techniques, we efficiently identify an optimal roster with minimal constraint violations and fair to employees. Experimental results are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Development of an OLAP Based Fuzzy Logic System for Supporting Put Away Decision
Authors: Lam C.H.Y. , Chung S.H. , Lee C.K.M. , Ho G.T.S. , Yip T.K.T.
Published: March 2012

In today's rapidly changing and globally volatile world, manufacturers pay strong efforts on conducting lean production, outsourcing their components, and management on the complex supply chain. Warehouse management plays a vital role to be a successful player in the any kinds of industry which put-away process is a key activity that brings significant influence and challenges to warehouse performance. In this dynamic operating environment, minimizing the operation mistakes and providing accurate real time inventory information to stakeholder become the basic requirements to be an order qualifier. An OLAP based intelligent system called Fuzzy Storage Assignment System (FSAS) is proposed to increase availability of decision support data and convert the human knowledge into system for tackling the storage location assignment problem (SLAP). To validate the feasibility of this proposed system, a prototype will be worked out for a third party logistics company.
Enterprise System Design for RFID Enabled Supply Chains from Experience in Two National Projects
Authors: Mo John P.T. , Lorchirachoonkul Weerayut , Gajzer Slavica
Published: March 2012

Two national demonstrator projects have been developed using global RFID standards to explore the suitability of this pervasive technology to the fast moving consumer goods supply chain. The projects show that RFID technology is still not reliable enough to produce advantages over traditional tracking technologies. This paper reviews the processes and gaps in these experiences, and assesses future research opportunities in this area. A system modelling approach is used to understand the relationships between different sub-systems in the enterprises of the supply chain and examine the enterprise processes that drive the activities in the national projects. Based on these analyses, an enterprise system model is proposed for designing future development of RFID based supply chains.
Solving Complex Logistics Problems with Multi-Artificial Intelligent System
Authors: Tse Y.K. , Chan T.M. , Lie R.H.
Published: March 2012

The economy, which has become more information intensive, more global and more technologically dependent, is undergoing dramatic changes. The role of logistics is also becoming more and more important. In logistics, the objective of service providers is to fulfill all customers' demands while adapting to the dynamic changes of logistics networks so as to achieve a higher degree of customer satisfaction and therefore a higher return on investment. In order to provide high quality service, knowledge and information sharing among departments becomes a must in this fast changing market environment. In particular, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have achieved significant attention for enhancing the agility of supply chain management, as well as logistics operations.

In this research, a multi-artificial intelligence system, named Integrated Intelligent Logistics System (IILS) is proposed. The objective of IILS is to provide quality logistics solutions to achieve high levels of service performance in the logistics industry. The new feature of this agile intelligence system is characterized by the incorporation of intelligence modules through the capabilities of the case-based reasoning, multi-agent, fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks, achieving the optimization of the performance of organizations.
Hybrid Risk Management Methodology: A Case Study
Authors: Ting Jacky Siu-Lun , Kwok Siu-Keung , Tsang Albert Hing-Choi
Published: March 2012

Risk management is a decision-making process involving considerations of political, social, economic and engineering factors with relevant risk assessments relating to a potential hazard. In the last decade, a number of risk management tools are introduced and employed to manage and minimize the uncertainty and threats realization to the organizations. However, the focus of these methodologies are different; in which companies need to adopt various risk management principles to visualize a full picture of the organizational risk level. Regarding to this, this paper presents a new approach of risk management that integrates Hierarchical Holographic Modeling (HHM), Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Business Recovery Planning (BCP) for identifying and assessing risks as well as managing the consequences of realized residual risks. To illustrate the procedures of the proposed methodology, a logistic company ABC Limited is chosen to serve as a case study Through applying HHM and ERM to investigate and assess the risk, ABC Limited can be better evaluated the potential risks and then took the responsive actions (e.g. BCP) to handle the risks and crisis in near future.
An ARIMA-Intervention Analysis Model for the Financial Crisis in China's Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Chung Roy C.P. , Ip W.H. , Chan S.L.
Published: March 2012

Triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States (U.S.), a financial tsunami has spread rapidly around the globe, from the U.S. to Europe and the rest of the world, causing the world economy to enter a recession. China is no exception, and has suffered a sharp reduction in the growth of its export and manufacturing sectors. In this paper, we attempt to model and analyze the impact of financial crisis on the manufacturing industry in China using data collected from March 2005 to November 2008 by the China Statistical Databases of the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The results indicate that China's manufacturing industry may have to tolerate a significant negative effect caused by the global financial crisis over a period of time, with its gross industrial output value declining continually throughout 2008 and 2009 before reaching a state of equilibrium. The intervention effect is described in this study as temporary but immediate and abrupt. It is found that the ARIMA-Intervention model is more precise at explaining and analyzing the intervention effects of the financial tsunami.
Modelling a Global EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) Enterprise
Authors: Chattopadhyay Sekhar , Mo John P.T.
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the applicability of enterprise architectures in the context of current business environment by examining the application of Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture to WorleyParsons, a global engineering, procurement and construction management enterprise, under the backdrop of a similar study carried out on Fluor Daniel during mid-nineties of the last century. The outcome of this study recommends the need for new enterprise architecture, the People-Centric Enterprise Architecture that not only focuses on human dimension in modern enterprises as the central thread, but also includes more business characteristics of the enterprise other than engineerings.
Analysing Trust Transitivity and the Effects of Unknown Dependence
Authors: Bhuiyan Touhid , Josang Audun
Published: March 2012

Trust can be used to improve online automated recommendation within a given domain. Trust transitivity is used to make it successful. But trust transitivity has different interpretations. Trust and trust transitivity; both are the human mental phenomenon and for this reason, there is no such thing as objective transitivity. Trust transitivity and trust fusion both are important elements in computational trust. This paper analyses the parameter dependence problem in trust transitivity and proposes some definitions considering the effects of base rate. In addition, it also proposes belief functions based on subjective logic to analyse trust transitivity of three specified cases with sensitive and insensitive based rate. Then it presents a quantitative analysis of the effects of unknown dependence problem in an interconnected network environment; such Internet.
A Multi Agent Based Model for Airport Service Planning
Authors: Ip W.H. , Cho Vincent , Chung Nick , Ho George
Published: March 2012

Aviation industry is highly dynamic and demanding in nature that time and safety are the two most important factors while one of the major sources of delay is aircraft on ground because of it complexity, a lot of machinery like vehicles are involved and lots of communication are involved. As one of the aircraft ground services providers in Hong Kong International Airport, China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL) aims to increase competitiveness by better its service provided while minimizing cost is also needed. One of the ways is to optimize the number of maintenance vehicles allocated in order to minimize chance of delay and also operating costs. In the paper, an agent-based model is proposed for support decision making in vehicle allocation. The overview of the aircrafts ground services procedures is firstly mentioned with different optimization methods suggested by researchers. Then, the agent-based approach is introduced and in the latter part of report and a multi-agent system is built and proposed which is decision supportive for CASL in optimizing the maintenance vehicles' allocation. The application provides flexibility for inputting number of different kinds of vehicles, simulation duration and aircraft arrival rate in order to simulation different scenarios which occurs in HKIA.
System Dynamics Modelling in CRM: Window Fashions Gallery
Authors: Yuen F.T. , Chan S.L.
Published: March 2012

The core research issue on which this study focuses is customer relationship management (CRM) in a designated window fashions firm. A system dynamics-based CRM model is developed to help evaluate the effectiveness of CRM in the firm and examine factors affecting customer satisfaction. Different relationships and linkages between the firm, its employees, and its customers are identified to establish feedback loops that analyze the system over time. The analysis of the CRM model shows that employee satisfaction is the key leverage point affecting customer satisfaction, number of customers, and sales volume of the firm. Product attractiveness and service quality also play an important role in influencing the level of customer satisfaction. On the other hand, advertising and employee training have only minor effects on customer satisfaction.
A Process Re-Engineering Framework for Reverse Logistics Based on a Case Study
Authors: Chan Hing Kai
Published: March 2012

Reverse logistics has gained increasing attention in recent years as a channel for companies to achieve operational excellence. The process involves manipulation of returned materials, or even products, which forms a pivotal role in sustainable development throughout the whole supply chains. To make reverse logistics possible, process re-engineering may need to be carried out. However, the processes involved in re-engineering are practically complicated. Objectives, benefits, and applicability of any process re-engineering require a careful and detailed strategic planning. This paper aims to propose an easy-to-follow step-by-step framework for practitioners to perform process re-engineering, to learn and identify the critical issues in each step, and to be successful in applying process re-engineering in order to enhance reverse logistics performance. A learner-centred approach is adopted based on a case study of process re-engineering, which is demonstrated in the paper for explanation.
Boron in Radical Chemistry
Authors: Renaud Philippe
Published: March 2012

This article focuses on the main synthetic applications of boron derivatives in radical‐mediated reactions. Organoboranes represent a unique source of alkyl radicals that are commonly used for radical initiation, for stoichiometric generation of radicals, and as a reagent to sustain radical chain processes. The use of boron derivatives in reductive processes has exploded during the last years. This chemistry takes advantage of the Lewis acidic character of boron derivatives and its unique reactivity toward heteroatom‐centered radicals. Finally, boron‐containing moieties represent useful functional groups that activate radicals and radical traps and offer opportunities for further elaboration of complex molecular architectures.
Organic Synthesis Using Samarium Diiodide
Authors: Coote Susannah C. , Flowers Robert A. , Skrydstrup Troels , Procter David J.
Published: March 2012

Samarium diiodide (SmI
2
)
is a one‐electron reducing agent that is employed extensively in organic synthesis to bring about a wide variety of transformations. Its ability to mediate both radical and anionic processes as well as cascade reactions involving both types of reactivity is central to its status as one of the most versatile reducing agents available to the organic chemist. This article reviews the use of SmI
2
in organic chemistry, including the preparation of the reagent, the influence of additives, and mechanistic considerations. A discussion of the varied functional group transformations effected by SmI
2
is supplemented by examples chosen from the literature to highlight synthetically valuable processes and emphasize the scope of the reagent. Finally, a wide range of carbon–carbon bond‐forming processes mediated by SmI
2
is presented, including pinacol couplings, carbonyl–alkene couplings, radical alkene–alkyne additions, Barbier and Grignard reactions, Reformatsky and aldol‐type reactions, as well as sequential carbon–carbon bond‐forming reactions.
Transition Metals and Radicals
Authors: Yorimitsu Hideki
Published: March 2012

Transition‐metal‐controlled radical reactions have provided unprecedented transformations that the standard free‐radical technology and the conventional transition‐metal catalysis could not realize. Cross‐coupling reactions of alkyl halides and Mizoroki‐Heck‐type alkylation of styrenes are representative. Such catalytic reactions utilize oxidative addition that instead of, which proceeds by radical processes.
Silicon Radical Surface Chemistry
Authors: Rijksen Bart , Caipa Campos Mabel A. , Paulusse Jos M. J. , Zuilhof Han
Published: March 2012

Over the past two decades, covalently attached self‐assembled organic monolayers on silicon (Si) surfaces have gained much interest, because of their potential use in electronic devices. The formation of these layers is commonly accepted to proceed mainly via a radical chain mechanism at the Si surface. This article deals with relevant issues regarding the preparation and the functionalization of such monolayers on Si, with emphasis on the involved radical chemistry. The attachment modes of olefins, and mechanisms thereof, depend largely on the surface geometry. Section 1 deals with the different surface geometries and the required surface pretreatment prior to monolayer formation (etching steps). Monolayer formation finds itself in competition with oxidation of the surface. Both the oxidation and monolayer attachment are described by surface radical chain reactions. The hydrosilylation reaction at the surface is explained in detail in Section 2. Surface radicals were typically initiated by direct cleavage of the Si‐H bonds at the Si surface (at high temperatures or under UV irradiation). However, as reaction conditions have become milder, the radical mechanism has also been shown to be in effect under mild initiation conditions that do not allow direct cleavage of Si‐H bonds. Several mechanisms are discussed in Section 3, which range from initiation by adventitious oxygen and reactive species to exciton‐mediated mechanisms. To support these theories, many theoretical and experimental modeling studies are reported in the literature. Those relevant to the initiation routes presented here are discussed in detail in Section 4. Monolayers on Si form an ideal scaffold for further surface functionalization and patterning. Section 5 gives an overview of the recent progress that has been made in expanding the versatility of ω‐functionalizations (mostly after 2005). Finally, Section 6 presents perspectives for further research and new applications.
Persistent and Stable Silyl Radicals
Authors: Tumanskii Boris , Karni Miriam , Apeloig Yitzhak
Published: March 2012

Recent developments in the study of silyl radicals have been spectacular. Two decades ago, only short‐lived silyl radicals were known and only a few were spectroscopically characterized. Since then, many new types of persistent and stable silyl radicals were synthesized, isolated, and characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and several also by X‐ray crystallography. These exciting developments are reviewed in this article.

The review consist of five sections: 1. Introduction; 2. Tris(silyl) substituted silyl radicals; 3. Bis(silyl) silicon‐centered radicals X(R3Si)2Si·, where X is a nonsilyl substituent; 4. Anion radicals and metal‐substituted silyl radicals; 5. Conclusions and outlook. The article overviews the methods for the generation and synthesis of silyl radicals, the factors that control their stability and structure, and their EPR parameters. The isolation of stable silyl radicals, anion radicals, and diradicals opens new opportunities for their application as new materials with unique chemical, photophysical, and magnetic properties.
Unusual Radical Acceptors
Authors: Spagnolo Piero , Nanni Daniele
Published: March 2012

This article deals with three particular classes of unusual radical traps, namely, azides, isonitriles, and heterocumulenes. It aims at showing that not only are these compounds easily accessible and much more stable and hazard‐free than expected, contrary to many prejudices, but they allow outstanding radical synthetic procedures that can give access to an extensive assortment of compounds. Azides are easy‐to‐make, extraordinarily versatile products for assembly of both cyclic and acyclic nitrogen compounds through the intermediacy of a variety of nitrogen‐centered radicals (triazenyl, aminyl, and even iminyl radicals). Likewise, isonitriles are key intermediates for the synthesis of assorted nitrogen heterocycles and other remarkable derivatives via generation of imidoyl radicals, often through multicomponent procedures. Even the more unusual heterocumulenes have shown their potential in free‐radical‐mediated organic synthesis, especially as a route to cyclic and polycyclic compounds. The employment of the above moieties as radical acceptors in organic synthesis shows once more that radical reactions can be applied to a really huge range of substrates and are definitely one of the most widespread tools in organic chemists' hands.
A novel template‐based automatic rigging algorithm for articulated‐character animation
Authors: Pantuwong Natapon , Sugimoto Masanori
Published: March 2012

Rigging is a process for creating skeletons used to animate articulated characters. In conventional computer‐animation software, this process must be performed manually. Although several automatic rigging algorithms have been proposed, these methods still require user intervention. This paper proposes an automatic algorithm that generates an inverse kinematic skeleton for a character by locating an appropriate template skeleton on the extracted curve skeleton of the input 3D character model. After the curve skeleton is extracted, it is analyzed and classified into an appropriate category. The classification conditions are developed from the characteristics of each kind of real animal. We also develop an algorithm to extract the anatomical meaning of each skeleton segment. On the basis of the classification result, a suitable template skeleton is retrieved from the database. Each bone of the template skeleton can then be located on the appropriate skeleton segment of the input skeleton graph by using the extracted anatomical meanings. In contrast to previous methods, the algorithm does not require the input 3D character models to have certain poses or orientations. Moreover, all processes can be completed without user intervention. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biciliated ependymal cell proliferation contributes to spinal cord growth
Authors: Alfaro‐Cervello Clara , Soriano‐Navarro Mario , Mirzadeh Zaman , Alvarez‐Buylla Arturo , Garcia‐Verdugo Jose Manuel
Published: March 2012

Two neurogenic regions have been described in the adult brain, the lateral ventricle subventricular zone and the dentate gyrus subgranular zone. It has been suggested that neural stem cells also line the central canal of the adult spinal cord. Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and immunostaining, we describe here the organization and cell types of the central canal epithelium in adult mice. The identity of dividing cells was determined by 3D ultrastructural reconstructions of [3H]thymidine‐labeled cells and confocal analysis of bromodeoxyuridine labeling. The most common cell type lining the central canal had two long motile (9+2) cilia and was vimentin+, CD24+, FoxJ1+, Sox2+, and CD133+, but nestin‐ and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)−. These biciliated ependymal cells of the central canal (Ecc) resembled E2 cells of the lateral ventricles, but their basal bodies were different from those of E2 or E1 cells. Interestingly, we frequently found Ecc cells with two nuclei and four cilia, suggesting they are formed by incomplete cytokinesis or cell fusion. GFAP+ astrocytes with a single cilium and an orthogonally oriented centriole were also observed. The majority of dividing cells corresponded to biciliated Ecc cells. Central canal proliferation was most common during the active period of spinal cord growth. Pairs of labeled Ecc cells were observed within the central canal in adult mice 2.5 weeks post labeling. Our work suggests that the vast majority of postnatal dividing cells in the central canal are Ecc cells and their proliferation is associated with the growth of the spinal cord. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:3528–3552, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A simple multicolor flow cytometry protocol for detection and molecular characterization of circulating tumor cells in epithelial cancers
Authors: Hristozova Tsvetana , Konschak Robert , Budach Volker , Tinhofer Ingeborg
Published: March 2012

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) might not only serve as prognostic marker but could also be useful for monitoring treatment efficacy. A multicolor flow cytometry protocol for their detection and molecular characterization in peripheral blood was developed which consisted of erythrocyte lysis followed by staining of cells with fluorochrome‐labeled antibodies against CD45 and the epithelial markers EpCam and cytokeratin 7/8. For reducing the number of events acquired by flow cytometry, an electronic threshold for the fluorescent signals from the epithelial markers was applied. After establishment of the protocol by using spiking experiments, its suitability to determine the absolute number of CTCs as well as their expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its phosphorylated form (phospho‐EGFR) in blood samples from patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) was validated. Spiking experiments demonstrated an excellent recovery (mean 85%) and a linear performance (R2 = 0.98) of the protocol. Sensitivity and specificity were comparable to our former protocol using immunomagnetic CTC pre‐enrichment. The analysis of 33 SCCHN patient samples revealed the presence of CTCs in 33.3% of cases with a mean ± SD of 1.5 ± 0.5 CTCs per 3.75 ml blood. EGFR was expressed in 100% and phospho‐EGFR in 36.4% of the CTC+ cases. We have established a simple and sensitive multicolor flow cytometry protocol for detection of CTCs in patients with epithelial cancers including SCCHN which will allow their detailed molecular characterization. © 2012 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Anodic bonding between LTCC wafer and Si wafer with Sn‐Cu‐based electrical connection
Authors: Matsuzaki Sakae , Tanaka Shuji , Esashi Masayoshi
Published: March 2012

This paper describes electrical connection simultaneously established with anodic bonding between an LTCC (low‐temperature co‐fired ceramic) wafer and a Si wafer. The metal bonding pads were composed of Sn on Cu. Sn melts during anodic bonding, absorbing the height margin of the bonding pads to ensure entire contact between the LTCC and Si surfaces. This study first investigated formic acid vapor pretreatment before anodic bonding to remove Sn surface oxide on the bonding pads. The removal of the surface oxide proceeds at a process temperature of 150 °C or higher. By pretreatment at 250 °C, the Sn surface is smoothed due to the reflow effect, but the metal multilayer structure of the bonding pads does not significantly change after 5 minutes of pretreatment. The bonded metal pad was almost entirely uniform in both structure and composition throughout the thickness. The composition of the bonded pads was approximately Sn:Cu = 1:1 in atomic ratio, and might have a remelting temperature of ca. 415 °C, which is much higher than the solder reflow temperature in the device mounting process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 95(4): 49–56, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10401
Block of Kv1.7 potassium currents increases glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion
Authors: Finol‐Urdaneta Rocio K. , Remedi Maria S. , Raasch Walter , Becker Stefan , Clark Robert B. , Strüver Nina , Pavlov Evgeny , Nichols Colin G. , French Robert J. , Terlau Heinrich
Published: March 2012

Glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) relies on repetitive, electrical spiking activity of the beta cell membrane. Cyclic activation of voltage‐gated potassium channels (Kv) generates an outward, ‘delayed rectifier’ potassium current, which drives the repolarizing phase of each spike and modulates insulin release. Although several Kv channels are expressed in pancreatic islets, their individual contributions to GSIS remain incompletely understood. We take advantage of a naturally occurring cone‐snail peptide toxin, Conkunitzin‐S1 (Conk‐S1), which selectively blocks Kv1.7 channels to provide an intrinsically limited, finely graded control of total beta cell delayed rectifier current and hence of GSIS. Conk‐S1 increases GSIS in isolated rat islets, likely by reducing Kv1.7‐mediated delayed rectifier currents in beta cells, which yields increases in action potential firing and cytoplasmic free calcium. In rats, Conk‐S1 increases glucose‐dependent insulin secretion without decreasing basal glucose. Thus, we conclude that Kv1.7 contributes to the membrane‐repolarizing current of beta cells during GSIS and that block of this specific component of beta cell Kv current offers a potential strategy for enhancing GSIS with minimal risk of hypoglycaemia during metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes.
Daily patterns of clock and cognition‐related factors are modified in the hippocampus of vitamin A‐deficient rats
Authors: Golini Rebeca S. , Delgado Silvia M. , Navigatore Fonzo Lorena S. , Ponce Ivana T. , Lacoste María G. , Anzulovich Ana C.
Published: March 2012

The circadian expression of clock and clock‐controlled cognition‐related genes in the hippocampus would be essential to achieve an optimal daily cognitive performance. There is some evidence that retinoid nuclear receptors (RARs and RXRs) can regulate circadian gene expression in different tissues. In this study, Holtzman male rats from control and vitamin A‐deficient groups were sacrificed throughout a 24‐h period and hippocampus samples were isolated every 4 or 5 h. RARα and RXRβ expression level was quantified and daily expression patterns of clock BMAL1, PER1, RORα, and REVERB genes, RORα and REVERB proteins, as well as temporal expression of cognition‐related RC3 and BDNF genes were determined in the hippocampus of the two groups of rats. Our results show significant daily variations of BMAL1, PER1, RORα, and REVERB genes, RORα and REVERB proteins and, consequently, daily oscillating expression of RC3 and BDNF genes in the rat hippocampus. Vitamin A deficiency reduced RXRβ mRNA level as well as the amplitude of PER1, REVERB gene, and REVERB protein rhythms, and phase‐shifted the daily peaks of BMAL1 and RORα mRNA, RORα protein, and RC3 and BDNF mRNA levels. Thus, nutritional factors, such as vitamin A and its derivatives the retinoids, might modulate daily patterns of BDNF and RC3 expression in the hippocampus, and they could be essential to maintain an optimal daily performance at molecular level in this learning‐and‐memory‐related brain area. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Breast hemangiomas: Correlation between imaging and pathologic findings
Authors: Tilve Amara , Mallo Rosa , Pérez Alberto , Santiago Paz
Published: March 2012

Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that are rare in the breast. A high percentage of hemangiomas are diagnosed incidentally during imaging examinations. They have mammographic, sonographic, and pathologic characteristics that allow radiologists and pathologists to diagnose them. We present four different cases of breast hemangiomas showing their mammographic and sonographic features. Two were diagnosed with an 18‐gauge core needle biopsy and they underwent surgical excision. The other two cases were diagnosed with a 14‐gauge core needle biopsy and their radiologic and pathologic appearances were concordant with breast hemangiomas, so they did not need surgical excision and are being followed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 40:512–517, 2012
Axillary nerve neurotization with the anterior deltopectoral approach in brachial plexus injuries
Authors: Jerome J. Terrence Jose , Rajmohan Bennet
Published: March 2012

Combined neurotization of both axillary and suprascapular nerves in shoulder reanimation has been widely accepted in brachial plexus injuries, and the functional outcome is much superior to single nerve transfer. This study describes the surgical anatomy for axillary nerve relative to the available donor nerves and emphasize the salient technical aspects of anterior deltopectoral approach in brachial plexus injuries. Fifteen patients with brachial plexus injury who had axillary nerve neurotizations were evaluated. Five patients had complete avulsion, 9 patients had C5, six patients had brachial plexus injury pattern, and one patient had combined axillary and suprascapular nerve injury. The long head of triceps branch was the donor in C5,6 injuries; nerve to brachialis in combined nerve injury and intercostals for C5‐T1 avulsion injuries. All these donors were identified through the anterior approach, and the nerve transfer was done. The recovery of deltoid was found excellent (M5) in C5,6 brachial plexus injuries with an average of 134.4° abduction at follow up of average 34.6 months. The shoulder recovery was good with 130° abduction in a case of combined axillary and suprascapular nerve injury. The deltoid recovery was good (M3) in C5‐T1 avulsion injuries patients with an average of 64° shoulder abduction at follow up of 35 months. We believe that anterior approach is simple and easy for all axillary nerve transfers in brachial plexus injuries. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Structure, nonisothermal crystallization behavior, and thermal property study of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/cellulose acetate butyrate blends
Authors: Wang Liyan , Li Guang , Chen Yanming , Li Shan
Published: March 2012

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT)/cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) blends were prepared by melting blending through a co‐rotating twin screw extruder. The structures of PTT/CAB blends were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and the results showed that CAB phase dispersed homogeneously in the PTT matrix and there existed evident phase interface between PTT and CAB. The nonisothermal crystallization behavior was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and was described with modified Avrami equation of Jeziorny and Mo equation, respectively. The results indicated that the half crystallization time (t1/
2) is much shorter, the nonisothermal crystallization kinetic rate constant (Zc) is bigger at a given cooling rate, the cooling rate [Fz(T)] is smaller at a given relative crystallinity (X
t) of PTT/CAB blends than those of PTT, which proved that the addition of CAB improved the crystallization of PTT and made PTT crystallize more perfect and faster than pure PTT. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves of PTT and PTT/CAB blends showed that effects of CAB content on the thermal decomposition of PTT/CAB blends were little. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Beta phase in polypropylene induced by shear in a single‐screw extruder
Authors: Lozano T. , Laria J. , Lafleur P.G. , Sánchez‐Valdés S. , Rodríguez‐González F. , Morales‐Cepeda A.B.
Published: March 2012

The β‐phase in polypropylene (PP) induced by shear rate in a single‐screw extruder was studied. PP samples were extruded with and without a breaker plate at the exit of the extruder at five different screw rotational speeds: 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 rpm. Differential scanning calorimeter was used to observe the melting behavior of the samples. The β‐phase was quantified by wide angle X‐ray diffraction. Extruded samples with a breaker plate showed higher values of β‐phase of PP than those extruded without a breaker plate. With a breaker plate, the maximum percentage of β‐phase was observed at 60 rpm (19.9%), whereas the maximum β‐phase content without breaker plate was observed at 40 rpm (13.6%). The higher level of β‐phase with the breaker plate was attributed to the shear rate induction and to the orientation by shear of the polymer chains through the orifices of the breaker plate. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers