bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracellular metabolic flux analysis of CHO cells supplemented with wheat hydrolysates for improved mAb production and cell‐growth
Authors: Lee Hae Woo , Christie Andrew , Starkey Jason A. , Read Erik K. , Yoon Seongkyu
Published: August 2014

BACKGROUND

In the production of therapeutic proteins using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture, the compositional variability in raw materials is often poorly understood. To elucidate the effects of raw material variability in regulating the intracellular metabolic pathways, plant‐derived supplements of wheat hydrolysates were employed as a model system of raw materials having high compositional variability. The intracellular metabolic fluxes of antibody‐producing GS‐CHO cells supplemented with different lots of wheat hydrolysates were quantified using the techniques of flux balance analysis (FBA).

RESULTS

The examination of the metabolic flux clearly illustrated several unique metabolic features. Specifically, under the given environmental conditions induced by the variability of the different wheat hydrolysate lots, the serine and glycine metabolism could be linked to improved cell growth, while the elevated levels of the anaplerotic reaction and the TCA cycle could be related to the increased specific antibody production. Multivariate data analysis revealed the detailed metabolic regulations of a GS‐CHO cell line in response to the compositional variability of the given raw materials. The study result can be used for targeted optimization of cell growth and monoclonal antibody production.

CONCLUSION

Metabolic flux analysis coupled with multivariate data analytics unravel the complicated effects of raw material variability on the cellular metabolism, and hence improve the overall productivity of an antibody‐producing CHO cell culture. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Non‐isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Biobased Poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) Synthesized via the Direct Esterification Process
Authors: Codou Amandine , Guigo Nathanael , van Berkel Jesper , de Jong Ed , Sbirrazzuoli Nicolas
Published: August 2014

Poly(ethylene 2,5‐furandicarboxylate) (PEF) is an emergent biobased polyester whose chemical structure is analogous to poly(ethylene terephthalate). Pilot‐scale PEF is synthesized through the direct esterification process from 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid and bio‐ethylene glycol. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) measurements reveal similar crystallinities and unit cell structures for melt‐crystallized and glass‐crystallized samples. The non‐isothermal crystallization of PEF sample is investigated by means of DSC experiments both from the glass and the melt. The temperature dependence of the effective activation energy of the growth rate is obtained from these data, and the results show that the glass and early stage of the melt crystallization share common dynamics. Hoffman–Lauritzen parameters and the temperature at maximum crystallization rate are evaluated. It is found that the melt‐crystallization kinetics undergo a transition from regime I to II; however, the crystal growth rate from the melt shows an atypical depression at T < 171 °C compared with the predicted Hoffman–Lauritzen theory.

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Proteomics of Fusobacterium nucleatum within a model developing oral microbial community
Authors: Hendrickson Erik L. , Wang Tiansong , Beck David A. C. , Dickinson Brittany C. , Wright Christopher J. , J. Lamont Richard , Hackett Murray
Published: August 2014

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common oral organism that can provide adhesive and metabolic support to developing periodontal bacterial communities. It is within the context of these communities that disease occurs. We have previously reported whole cell proteomics analyses of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus gordonii in early‐stage communities with each other and with F. nucleatum, modeled using 18 h pellets. Here, we report the adaptation of F. nucleatum to the same experimental conditions as measured by differential protein expression. About 1210 F. nucleatum proteins were detected in single species F. nucleatum control samples, 1192 in communities with P. gingivalis, 1224 with S. gordonii, and 1135 with all three species. Quantitative comparisons among the proteomes revealed important changes in all mixed samples with distinct responses to P. gingivalis or S. gordonii alone and in combination. The results were inspected manually and an ontology analysis conducted using DAVID (Database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery). Extensive changes were detected in energy metabolism. All multispecies comparisons showed reductions in amino acid fermentation and a shift toward butanoate as a metabolic byproduct, although the two organism model community with S. gordonii showed increases in alanine, threonine, methionine, and cysteine pathways, and in the three species samples there were increases in lysine and methionine. The communities with P. gingivalis or all three organisms showed reduced glycolysis proteins, but F. nucleatum paired with S. gordonii displayed increased glycolysis/gluconeogenesis proteins. The S. gordonii containing two organism model also showed increases in the ethanolamine pathway while the three species sample showed decreases relative to the F. nucleatum single organism control. All of the nascent model communities displayed reduced translation, lipopolysaccharide, and cell wall biosynthesis, DNA replication and DNA repair.
Equipment for underground mining: Projects and new developments at Deilmann‐Haniel Mining Systems GmbH
Authors: Maas Michael
Published: August 2014

With a company history that can be traced back more than 125 years, Deilmann‐Haniel Mining Systems GmbH (dhms) has developed from a repairs and steel construction business into a fully independent manufacturer of high quality equipment for mining, shaft sinking and tunnelling applications. In recent years the company's core product range of drill rigs, loaders, excavators and shaft sinking equipment has been continuously extended as a result of technical innovation. This includes the introduction of a new roadheader family in 2010 that has made dhms a recognised solution provider for both types of roadway development – drilling‐blasting and mechanised cutting. This paper presents the new roadheader family as well as latest dhms developments in the field of multi‐purpose loading and dinting machines and gas‐/long‐hole drilling technology.

Ausrüstungen für den untertägigen Bergbau: Projekte und neue Entwicklungen der Deilmann‐Haniel Mining Systems GmbH

Deilmann‐Haniel Mining Systems GmbH (dhms) mit Hauptsitz in Dortmund, Deutschland, ist ein führender Hersteller von Spezialmaschinen und Anlagen für die internationale Bergbauindustrie mit dem Schwerpunkt auf Bohr‐, Lade‐ und Schachtteufausrüstungen. In einer mehr als 125‐jährigen Unternehmensgeschichte hat sich dhms von einem ursprünglichen Reparatur‐ und Stahlbaubetrieb hin zu einem eigenständigen Hersteller hochwertiger Investitionsgüter und kompletter Maschinensysteme entwickelt. In den vergangenen Jahren wurde die Produktpalette kontinuierlich erweitert. Dies beinhaltet die Einführung einer neuen Serie von niedrigbauenden Teilschnittmaschinen im Jahre 2010, die es dhms nun ermöglicht, Ausrüstungen für beide Vortriebsverfahren – Sprengvortrieb und Schneidvortrieb – anzubieten. Dieser Beitrag stellt neben den neuen Teilschnittmaschinensystemen auch die jüngsten Entwicklungen aus den Bereichen Lade‐ und Multifunktionsgeräte sowie Langlochbohrtechnik vor.
Fibre‐reinforced plastic (FRP) – an innovative approach to further development of rock bolt technology and the development of new outlets in tunnel and structural engineering
Authors: Borgmeier Erich
Published: August 2014

Fibre‐reinforced plastics, known as CFRP or GRP, are used as securing elements in the form of rock bolts or concrete reinforcement in mining and tunnel engineering, civil engineering and geotechnics. Applications according to exposure classes following Eurocode 2 in the ground, in rock and concrete, which are exposed to enhanced chemical attack by groundwater and pollutant loading, mine water flow, alkalinity of the concrete, frost and thaw conditions and de‐icing salt exposure, seawater and other moist‐warm changeover conditions, also place the highest demands on permanent chemical resistance, quite apart from the high mechanical demands on the composite material.

The applications discussed here require the lowest possible elastic expansion and long‐term resistance, apart from high service loads as well as good composite behavior, slight creeping, self‐extinguishing and a series of other properties. A somewhat more precise consideration of these requirements, the state of the art and other development trends show that several products are now available that for the most part meet all of these requirements.

In the medium term material and product development will facilitate quite new application possibilities like pre‐ and post‐stressing technology or combinations of primary and secondary support construction, which in technical and commercial respects will open up new perspectives in mining, but in particular also in tunnel engineering and as before in civil engineering.
Network pricing: can both ISP and P2P benefit?
Authors: Li Zhen , Liao Qi
Published: August 2014

Internet service providers are facing increasing back pressure from rising access demand by users, especially peer‐to‐peer (P2P)‐based applications that greatly enhance the large‐scale distribution of content into and out of their networks. With the ever increasing consumption pressure on scarce bandwidth resources, ISPs have been forced to reconsider their business model of overselling ‘all‐you‐can‐eat’ broadband at flat rates. Technical solutions such as traffic differentiation or blocking violate the principle of network neutrality; traffic shaping and deep packet analysis fall short in the presence of encryption; and P4P (localized P2P)‐based solutions are difficult to achieve in a heterogeneous environment. Economically, various usage‐based pricing schemes have been proposed and discussed. While they can improve efficiency in bandwidth consumption, they tend to face strong customer resistance as users have strong preference in favour of simple flat rates. We argue that any feasible pricing reforms cannot deviate much from the current flat rates while providing financial incentives for bandwidth hogs to limit their bandwidth access. In contrast to normal usage‐based pricing models that charge by volume, we propose a temporal‐based pricing model that may generate a mutually beneficial solution that can not only increase the profitability of ISPs but also accommodate P2P, rather than killing it, without changing the software, protocols or hardware that clients or ISPs use on the network.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Exact algorithms for solving a Euclidean maximum flow network interdiction problem
Authors: Sullivan Kelly M. , Cole Smith J.
Published: August 2014

We consider an interdiction problem that involves an operator (or defender) whose goal is to maximize flow from a source node to a sink node in some network that resides in Euclidean space. The problem we examine takes the perspective of an interdictor, who seeks to minimize the defender's maximum flow by locating a set of attacks that diminish arc capacities in accordance with the distance from the arc to the attack. Attacks are not restricted to node or arc locations, and can occur anywhere on the region in which the network is located. We refer to this problem as the Euclidean maximum flow network interdiction problem (E‐MFNIP). We show that E‐MFNIP is NP‐hard, as it generalizes the maximum flow interdiction problem studied by Wood . This article contributes two approaches to solving E‐MFNIP based on solving a sequence of lower‐bounding integer programs from which upper bounds can be readily obtained, and shows that these bounds are convergent. Computations on a set of test instances indicate that an approach based on space‐discretization tends to converge much faster than one based on linearizing the nonlinear capacity functions. We demonstrate the application of our space‐discretization approach on a real geographical network. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 64(2), 109–124 2014
Positive numerical splitting method for the Hull and White 2D Black–Scholes equation
Authors: Chernogorova Tatiana , Valkov Radoslav
Published: August 2014

We consider the locally one‐dimensional backward Euler splitting method to solve numerically the Hull and White problem for pricing European options with stochastic volatility in the presence of a mixed derivative term. We prove the first‐order convergence of the time‐splitting. The parabolic equation degenerates on the boundary x = 0 and we apply a fitted finite volume scheme to the equation to resolve the degeneracy and derive the fully discrete problem as we also investigate the discrete maximum principle. Numerical experiments illustrate the efficiency of our difference scheme. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 31: 822–846, 2015
Probing microphase separation and proton transport cooperativity in polymer‐tethered 1H‐tetrazoles
Authors: Chaloux Brian L. , Ricks‐Laskoski Holly L. , Miller Joel B. , Saunders Kaitlin M. , Hickner Michael A.
Published: August 2014

To elucidate the driving forces for phase separation and proton conductivity in polystyrenic alkoxy 1H‐tetrazole (PS‐Tet), an analogous polystyrenic alkoxy carboxylic acid (PS‐HA) was synthesized and the conductivity and chain dynamics of both materials measured. Proton and polymer motions illustrate dramatic differences in the nonaqueous behavior of carboxylic acids and 1H‐tetrazoles, belying similarities in their aqueous properties. Exceptional interactions between 1H‐tetrazoles drive phase separation not observed in PS‐HA or reported for other azole‐containing homopolymers. PS‐HA and PS‐Tet exhibit both dry (0% relative humidity) and hydrated proton dissociations proportional to their aqueous pKas, with residual water acting as the proton acceptor in both polymers. While water is the sole contributor to mobility in PS‐HA, PS‐Tet exhibits dynamic interactions with water allowing 1H‐tetrazole moieties to contribute to proton conduction even in the hydrated state. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 1375–1387
Efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease: A case control study
Authors: Ozyurt Abdullah , Narin Nazmi , Baykan Ali , Argun Mustafa , Pamukcu Ozge , Zararsiz Gokmen , Sunkak Suleyman , Uzum Kazim
Published: August 2014

Background

Palivizumab prophylaxis for RSV has been consistently reported to reduce the risk of hospital admissions related to RSV infection in children with symptomatic cardiac disease. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) in Turkey.

Methods

A total of 91 infants with CHD who received palivizumab prophylaxis and 96 infants with CHD without prophylaxis (0–12 months:52; 12–24 months:44) were included in this single‐center retrospective case control study. Data on patient characteristics, household environment, and LRTIs were evaluated.

Results

In patients without prophylaxis, the rate of overall lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) (P < 0.001), complicated LRTIs (P = 0.006), LRTI‐related hospitalization (P < 0.001) and ICU admission (P = 0.008) were significantly higher than control patients. Weight <10th percentile (odds ratio (OR) 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.37; 24.4, P < 0.001) and concomitant chromosome abnormality (OR 4.01, 95% CI:1.01;16.45, P < 0.001) in patients with prophylaxis, while presence of a sibling <11 years of age (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.21; 9.46, P < 0.001) and congestive heart failure (OR 8.63, 95% CI: 2.81; 26.6, P < 0.001) in the control group were the significant correlates of LRTI‐related hospitalization.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed significantly lower rate of overall and complicated LRTIs, LRTI‐related hospitalization and ICU admissions in infants with CHD via palivizumab prophylaxis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:1025–1032. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Secure publish/subscribe‐based certificate status validations in mobile ad hoc networks
Authors: Masdari Mohammad , Jabbehdari Sam , Bagherzadeh Jamshid
Published: August 2014

Freshness of certificate status information is very important in validating public key certificates. However, existing certificate validation schemes suffer from high inconsistency, which makes network vulnerable to various security attacks. In this paper, we propose a new publish/subscribe‐based certificate validation scheme that provides fresh certificate status information in the mobile ad hoc networks. This scheme increases the security of public key infrastructure‐based security systems and improves the scalability of certificate validation systems. Also, according to the simulation results, our solution effectively decreases the processing overheads on responder nodes and reduces the messaging overhead of certificate status validations in mobile ad hoc networks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Langevin power curve analysis for numerical wind energy converter models with new insights on high frequency power performance
Authors: Mücke Tanja A. , Wächter Matthias , Milan Patrick , Peinke Joachim
Published: August 2014

Based on the Langevin equation, it has been proposed to obtain power curves for wind turbines from high‐frequency data of wind speed measurements u(t) and power output P(t). The two parts of the Langevin approach, power curve and drift field, give a comprehensive description of the conversion dynamic over the whole operating range of the wind turbine. The method deals with high‐ frequent data instead of 10 min means. It is therefore possible to gain a reliable power curve already from a small amount of data per wind speed. Furthermore, the method is able to visualize multiple fixed points, which is, e.g. characteristic for the transition from partial to full load or in case the conversion process deviates from the standard procedures. In order to gain a deeper knowledge, it is essential that the method works not only for measured data but also for numerical wind turbine models and synthetic wind fields. Here, we characterize the dynamics of a detailed numerical wind turbine model and calculate the Langevin power curve for different data samplings. We show how to obtain reliable results from synthetic data and verify the applicability of the method for field measurements with ultra‐sonic, cup, and Lidar measurements. The independence of the fixed points on site‐ specific turbulence effects is also confirmed with the numerical model. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of the Langevin approach to detect failures in the conversion process and thus show the potential of the Langevin approach for a condition monitoring system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizing the importance of habitat patches in maintaining landscape connectivity for Tibetan antelope in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, China
Authors: Zhao Haidi , Liu Shiliang , Dong Shikui , Su Xukun , Liu Qi , Deng Li
Published: August 2014

Connectivity of habitat patches is crucial for wildlife dispersal and survival, and identifying patches with high importance for maintaining connectivity can aid effective wildlife management. Knowledge of the habitat distribution of the Tibetan antelope in the Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, which is essential for connectivity analysis, remains limited. We analyzed potential habitat distribution and priority patches using GIS‐based habitat suitability modeling with three weighting factors and evaluated the connectivity of habitat patches under four dispersal distance scenarios. Patches with high habitat suitability covered 25.39 % of the total area, and these patches were selected for connectivity analysis as resource patches. Connectivity analysis indicated that, although the overall probability of connectivity (PC) showed an upward trend with increasing dispersal distance, the importance of each patch varied considerably under different dispersal distance scenarios. Transfer analysis of patch numbers between different importance levels revealed that the number of patches becoming less important was higher than the number of patches becoming more important when dispersal distance increased. In addition, nine patches covering 38.49 % of the suitable habitat area were identified as priority patches, in particular the patches near the Kardun and the Karchuka inspection stations. We also found that the habitat distribution of the Tibetan antelope obtained from the suitability model matched the population distribution determined by a field survey. Correlation analysis between patch area and the percentage of PC index value loss (dPC) revealed that the larger patches in this region were more likely to be important for maintaining connectivity.
Assessment of Trans Fatty Acid Level in French Fries from Various Fast Food Outlets in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Karim Zahida , Khan Khalid Mohammed , Ahmed Shakeel , Karim Aneela
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this study is to determine the trans fat level in French fries sold in different fast food outlets in Karachi. In the present study, attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy was used for the quantification of trans fatty acid (TFA). A number of studies have been reported on trans fat in different regions of the world, but no categorical study has yet discussed the trans fat in fast food products in Karachi. Amongst the samples examined, the total trans fatty acid content was in the range of 0.11 ± 0.01–24.00 ± 0.25 %. Most of the samples contain a high percentage of TFA. There is an urgent need to monitor and regulate the level of trans fat in order to reduce the health risk to the consumers of fast food items in Karachi, Pakistan.
Tumeur testiculaire bilatérale synchrone à cellules de Leydig: à propos d’un cas
Authors: Tazi M. F. , Ahallal Y. , Znati K. , El Fassi M. J. , Farih M. H.
Published: August 2014

Les tumeurs testiculaires à cellules de Leydig sont rares, elles représentent entre 1 et 3 % de l’ensemble des tumeurs testiculaires. L’atteinte bilatérale synchrone est exceptionnelle. Découverte dans 20 % des cas lors de la première décennie, elle peut être retrouvée dans toutes les tranches d’âge, le diagnostic étant effectué après 50 ans dans 25 % des cas. Le diagnostic est classiquement suspecté devant une anomalie sécrétoire intéressant les hormones sexuelles et seule l’histologie confirme le diagnostic. Nous rapportons le cas d’un patient âgé de 25 ans qui présente une tumeur bilatérale synchrone à cellules de Leydig traité par orchidectomie unilatérale et tumorectomie controlatérale.
Electron-spin excitation by implanting hydrogen into metallofullerene: the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of Sc4C2H@Ih-C80
Authors: Feng Yongqiang , Wang Taishan , Wu Jingyi , Zhang Zhuxia , Jiang Li , Han Hongbin , Wang Chunru
Published: August 2014

A spin-active hydrogen-containing metallofullerene, Sc4C2H@C80, with a nested structure was synthesized and investigated.
Laser rapid thermal annealing enables tunable plasmonics in nanoporous gold nanoparticles
Authors: Arnob Md Masud Parvez , Zhao Fusheng , Zeng Jianbo , Santos Greggy M. , Li Ming , Shih Wei-Chuan
Published: August 2014

A novel laser rapid thermal annealing (LRTA) technique is reported to tune the plasmonic resonance of disk-shaped nanoporous gold (NPG) nanoparticles for the first time.
Changes in timing of water uptake and phenology favours yield gain in terminal water stressed chickpea AtDREB1A transgenics
Authors: Anbazhagan Krithika , Bhatnagar-Mathur Pooja , Sharma Kiran K. , Baddam Rekha , Kishor P. B. Kavi , Vadez Vincent
Published: August 2014

Terminal drought causes major yield loss in chickpea, so it is imperative to identify genotypes with best suited adaptive traits to secure yield in terminal drought-prone environments. Here, we evaluated chickpea (At) rd29A:: (At) DREB1A transgenic events (RD2, RD7, RD9 and RD10) and their untransformed C235 genotype for growth, water use and yield under terminal water-stress (WS) and well-watered (WW) conditions. The assessment was made across three lysimetric trials conducted in contained environments in the greenhouse (2009GH and 2010GH) and the field (2010F). Results from the greenhouse trials showed genotypic variation for harvest index (HI), yield, temporal pattern of flowering and seed filling, temporal pattern of water uptake across crop cycle, and transpiration efficiency (TE) under terminal WS conditions. The mechanisms underlying the yield gain in the WS transgenic events under 2009GH trial was related to conserving water for the reproductive stage in RD7, and setting seeds early in RD10. Water conservation also led to a lower percentage of flower and pod abortion in both RD7 and RD10. Similarly, in the 2010GH trial, reduced water extraction during vegetative stage in events RD2, RD7 and RD9 was critical for better seed filling in the pods produced from late flowers in RD2, and reduced percentage of flower and pod abortion in RD2 and RD9. However, in the 2010F trial, the increased seed yield and HI in RD9 compared with C235 came along only with small changes in water uptake and podding pattern, probably not causal. Events RD2 (2010GH), RD7 (2010GH) and RD10 (2009GH) with higher seed yield also had higher TE than C235. The results suggest that DREB1A, a transcription factor involved in the regulation of several genes of abiotic stress response cascade, influenced the pattern of water uptake and flowering across the crop cycle, leading to reduction in the percentage of flower and pod abortion in the glasshouse trials.
Knitting and splitting information
Authors: Lenker Ursula
Published: August 2014

After the fixation of English word order to SVO, adverbials have come to be the only flexible sentence constituent in unmarked sentences. So far, however, there has only been little research into the specific discourse functions of the different positions of adverbials. In an earlier study on the diachrony of English adverbial connectors (Lenker 2010), it emerged that medial instead of initial placement of connectors such as however or therefore is a relatively recent phenomenon, becoming more frequent in the Late Modern English period. In a pilot study on the discourse functions of linking and stance adverbials, the present chapter suggests that two different medial positions should be distinguished: in “post-initial position”, these adverbials focus attention on the preceding elements (a frame-setting adverbial or a subject), similar to focus adverbs such as only or particularly. In the other medial positions, they function as discourse partitioners, highlighting the partition of topic and comment/focus material. This variation will here be seen as a response to the loss of verb-second in English, similar to other syntactic innovations such as unusual passives and stressed-focus clefts.
Tracing uses of will and would in Late Modern British and Irish English
Authors: Ronan Patricia
Published: August 2014

The present qualitative and quantitative study investigates the use of Late Modern English would on the basis of corpus data from Late Modern Irish English and of data from the Archer Corpus for Late Modern British English. It is the aim of the paper to show to what extent differences observed in the use of would in contemporary Irish and British English are already observable in data from the Late Modern period. For comparison with contemporary varieties, data from ICE Ireland is investigated and compared to previous findings on ICE-GB. It is found that the well-documented differences between the categories in the present day varieties are only partly in evidence in the corpus material from the Late Modern period. While will is found more frequently both overall and in contexts expressing prediction in the Irish English than in the British English data, would does not show any significant differences in the corpus texts. These partial differences are argued to be due to the as yet incomplete variety formation processes of Irish English in the period in question.
ExpTreeDB: Web-based query and visualization of manually annotated gene expression profiling experiments of human and mouse from GEO
Authors: Ni Ming , Ye Fuqiang , Zhu Juanjuan , Li Zongwei , Yang Shuai , Yang Bite , Han Lu , Wu Yongge , Chen Ying , Li Fei , Wang Shengqi , Bo Xiaochen
Published: August 2014

Motivation: Numerous public microarray datasets are valuable resources for the scientific communities. Several online tools have made great steps to use these data by querying related datasets with users’ own gene signatures or expression profiles. However, dataset annotation and result exhibition still need to be improved.

Results: ExpTreeDB is a database that allows for queries on human and mouse microarray experiments from Gene Expression Omnibus with gene signatures or profiles. Compared with similar applications, ExpTreeDB pays more attention to dataset annotations and result visualization. We introduced a multiple-level annotation system to depict and organize original experiments. For example, a tamoxifen-treated cell line experiment is hierarchically annotated as ‘agent→drug→estrogen receptor antagonist→tamoxifen’. Consequently, retrieved results are exhibited by an interactive tree-structured graphics, which provide an overview for related experiments and might enlighten users on key items of interest.

Availability and implementation: The database is freely available at http://biotech.bmi.ac.cn/ExpTreeDB. Web site is implemented in Perl, PHP, R, MySQL and Apache.

Contact:  boxc@bmi.ac.cn

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Maternal haemoglobin levels and cardio‐metabolic risk factors in childhood: the Generation R Study
Authors: Welten M , Gaillard R , Hofman A , de Jonge LL , Jaddoe VWV
Published: August 2014

Objective

To assess whether variations in maternal haemoglobin levels during pregnancy are associated with cardio‐metabolic risk factors in school age children.

Design

Population‐based prospective cohort study.

Setting

Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2002–2012.

Population

Mothers and children (n = 5002) participating in the Generation R Study.

Methods

We obtained maternal haemoglobin levels during early pregnancy (median gestational age 14.6 weeks [95% range 10.3, 25.3]) from venous blood samples. Maternal anaemia and elevated haemoglobin levels were based on World Health Organization criteria. We measured childhood cardio‐metabolic risk factors at age 6 years.

Main outcome measures

Cardio‐metabolic risk factors included body mass index, total fat mass percentage, android/gynoid fat mass ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular mass, and blood levels of cholesterol, insulin and C‐peptide.

Results

Maternal haemoglobin levels were not associated with childhood body mass index, total fat mass percentage, android/gynoid fat mass ratio, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol or insulin levels. Compared with children with normal maternal haemoglobin levels, children from anaemic mothers had slightly higher diastolic blood pressures (difference 0.70 mmHg, 95% CI 0.12, 1.29) and lower C‐peptide levels (difference factor 0.93, 95% CI 0.88, 0.98), and children of mothers with elevated haemoglobin levels had lower left ventricular masses (difference −1.08 g, 95% CI −1.88, −0.29). These associations attenuated after adjustment for multiple testing and were not consistent within linear models.

Conclusion

These results do not strongly support the hypothesis that variations in maternal haemoglobin levels during pregnancy influence cardio‐metabolic risk factors in childhood.
Consumer Acceptability and Sensory Profile of Cooked Broccoli with Mustard Seeds Added to Improve Chemoprotective Properties
Authors: Ghawi Sameer Khalil , Shen Yuchi , Niranjan Keshavan , Methven Lisa
Published: August 2014

Broccoli, a rich source of glucosinolates, is a commonly consumed vegetable of the Brassica family. Hydrolysis products of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, have been associated with health benefits and contribute to the flavor of Brassica. However, boiling broccoli causes the myrosinase enzyme needed for hydrolysis to denature. In order to ensure hydrolysis, broccoli must either be mildly cooked or active sources of myrosinase, such as mustard seed powder, can be added postcooking. In this study, samples of broccoli were prepared in 6 different ways; standard boiling, standard boiling followed by the addition of mustard seeds, sous vide cooking at low temperature (70 °C) and sous vide cooking at higher temperature (100 °C) and sous vide cooking at higher temperature followed by the addition of mustard seeds at 2 different concentrations. The majority of consumers disliked the mildly cooked broccoli samples (70 °C, 12 min, sous vide) which had a hard and stringy texture. The highest mean consumer liking was for standard boiled samples (100 °C, 7 min). Addition of 1% mustard seed powder developed sensory attributes, such as pungency, burning sensation, mustard odor, and flavor. One cluster of consumers (32%) found mustard seeds to be a good complement to cooked broccoli; however, the majority disliked the mustard‐derived sensory attributes. Where the mustard seeds were partially processed, doubling the addition to 2% led to only the same level of mustard and pungent flavors as 1% unprocessed seeds, and mean consumer liking remained unaltered. This suggests that optimization of the addition level of partially processed mustard seeds may be a route to enhance bioactivity of cooked broccoli without compromising consumer acceptability.
Long‐term allergic dermatitis caused by sevoflurane: a clinical report
Authors: LLORÉNS HERRERIAS J. , DELGADO NAVARRO C. , BALLESTER LUJÁN M. T. , IZQUIERDO PALOMARES A.
Published: August 2014

Background

Allergy to volatile anaesthetics is extremely rare, but capable of damaging the professional career.

Methods

This article presents the case of a 60‐year‐old surgeon who developed a skin rash on the reverse of hands, which progressively worsened and extended to distant fold areas. Blood tests were normal but for eosinophilia and risen total IgE, with normal specific globulins and skin prick tests for common allergens. After 8 years, a malfunction in the anaesthetic gas scavenging system was found, and symptoms remitted within a week following its replacement. Repeated open application test with sevoflurane led to the appearance of the same lesions in the tested areas and in distant body folds.

Results

We hypothesize that the most probable mechanism for the reaction in our patient is systemic allergic contact dermatitis, which is caused by repeated systemic exposure to a hapten that reaches the skin through haematogenous transport in a sensitized patient.

Conclusions

The report aims to warn about the potential aetiological relationship between exposure to inhaled anaesthetics and allergic manifestations with cutaneous symptoms.
Valuation of Long‐Maturity KIKO Options Under the Stochastic Volatility Model
Authors: Lee Joon‐Haeng , Song Junmo
Published: August 2014

This paper explores the valuation of KIKO currency options under the stochastic volatility (SV) model. In particular, Heston's (Review of Financial Studies, 6, 1993, 327) SV model is adopted to price two types of KIKO options. The paper proposes the iterated feasible two‐step estimation method, a technique for estimating the parameters in Heston's (Review of Financial Studies, 6, 1993, 327) model. Given constant fluctuations in volatility over time and the relatively long maturity of KIKO options, the SV model is more appropriate for evaluating long‐maturity KIKO options, the value of which depends heavily on volatility estimates for the constant‐volatility (CV) model. The results indicate that KIKO options considered in this paper are less attractive under the SV model than under the CV model, although it remains unclear whether the options are significantly overpriced.
Evaluation of a copro‐antigenELISAto detectFasciola hepaticainfection in sheep, cattle and horses
Authors: Palmer DG , Lyon J , Palmer MA , Forshaw D
Published: August 2014

Objective

To determine the specificity and sensitivity of a commercial copro‐antigenELISAfor the detection ofFasciola hepaticainfection in cattle and sheep and to assess the suitability of the test for use in horses.

Methods

Testing was done on more than 100 negative faecal samples from each of sheep, cattle and horses and on at least 40 positive faecal samples from each species. Positive samples were selected based on a positive sedimentation test for liver fluke eggs. Faecal samples of animals fromWesternAustralia, which is free of liver fluke infection, served as negative controls. Specificity and sensitivity were assessed for each species using the recommended kit cut‐off and also custom cut‐offs specific for each species based on the mean plus 3‐fold standard deviation of the mean of the negative samples for each species.

Results

Using the cut‐off recommended by the kit manufacturer, the specificity was 100% for all species and the sensitivity was 88%, 80% and 9% for sheep, cattle and horses, respectively. Using the lower custom cut‐offs for each species improved the sensitivity to 100% for sheep, 87% for cattle and 28% for horses, while maintaining the specificity above 99% for all species.

Conclusions

The sensitivity of the commercial copro‐antigenELISAcan be improved by using custom cut‐off values for each species. With this modification, it is a suitable alternative screening test to the currently used sedimentation test for border control of sheep and cattle movement. The test is not suitable for use in horses.
FERMT1 promoter mutations in patients with Kindler syndrome
Authors: Has C. , Chmel N. , Levati L. , Neri I. , Sonnenwald T. , Pigors M. , Godbole K. , Dudhbhate A. , Bruckner‐Tuderman L. , Zambruno G. , Castiglia D.
Published: August 2014

Mutations in the FERMT1 gene, encoding the focal adhesion protein kindlin‐1 underlie the Kindler syndrome (KS), an autosomal recessive skin disorder with a phenotype comprising skin blistering, photosensitivity, progressive poikiloderma with extensive skin atrophy, and propensity to skin cancer. The FERMT1 mutational spectrum comprises gross genomic deletions, splice site, nonsense, and frameshift mutations, which are scattered over the coding region spanning exon 2–15. We now report three KS families with mutations affecting the promoter region of FERMT1. Two of these mutations are large deletions (∼38.0 and 1.9 kb in size) and one is a single nucleotide variant (c.‐20A>G) within the 5′ untranslated region (UTR). Each mutation resulted in loss of gene expression in patient skin or cultured keratinocytes. Reporter assays showed the functional relevance of the genomic regions deleted in our patients for FERMT1 gene transcription and proved the causal role of the c.‐20A>G variant in reducing transcriptional activity.
The first mutation in CNGA2 in two brothers with anosmia
Authors: Karstensen H.G. , Mang Y. , Fark T. , Hummel T. , Tommerup N.
Published: August 2014

Isolated congenital anosmia (ICA) is a rare disorder, where otherwise healthy individuals present with an inability to smell since birth. A list of studies have described the genes involved in syndromic anosmia; however, the genetics of ICA is still in its infancy. Studies in mice show that the cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel subunit CNGA2, expressed in the olfactory epithelium has a crucial role in olfactory signal transduction. We have identified a novel X‐linked stop mutation in CNGA2 (c.634C>T, p.R212*) in two brothers with ICA using exome sequencing. No additional mutations in CNGA2 were identified in a cohort of 31 non‐related ICA individuals. Magnetic resonance brain imaging revealed diminished olfactory bulbs and flattened olfactory sulci. This is the first report of a mutation in the cyclic nucleotide‐gated gene CNGA2 and supports the critical role of this gene in human olfaction.
Patient‐specific determinants of responsiveness to robot‐enhanced treadmill therapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Authors: Schroeder Andreas Sebastian , Von Kries Rüdiger , Riedel Christina , Homburg Maria , Auffermann Helene , Blaschek Astrid , Jahn Klaus , Heinen Florian , Borggraefe Ingo , Berweck Steffen
Published: August 2014

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate patient‐specific determinants of responsiveness to robot‐enhanced repetitive treadmill therapy (ROBERT) in patients with early‐developed movement disorders.

Method

Patients were treated over 12 sessions during a 3‐week period. Gross Motor Function Measure‐66 (GMFM‐66) scores 1 day before ROBERT were compared with scores recorded 1 day after ROBERT. The association of GMFM‐66 baseline score, age, sex, aetiology, and add‐on botulinum toxin therapy to response to treatment was assessed.

Results

Eighty‐three patients aged between 4 and 18 years (48 males, 35 females; mean age 10y 8mo, SD 6y 1mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I [n=12], II [n=21], III [n=35], IV [n=10], and V [n=1]) were each treated for a total of 7.2 (SD 1.9) treadmill walking hours. Aetiology was bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BS‐CP; n=69), unilateral CP (n=3), ataxic CP (n=3), hereditary spastic paraparesis (n=6), and genetic syndrome including spasticity (n=2). Meaningful improvements were observed in GMFM‐66 (+2.5; 95% CI 2.0–3.0), GMFM‐D (+5.2; 95% CI 3.6–6.8), and GMFM‐E (+4.0; 95% CI 2.8–5.3). There was a high inter‐individual variability in treatment response. After multivariable adjustment, the improvements in GMFM‐66 and GMFM‐E scores were positively associated with the GMFM‐66 baseline score. The effect on GMFM‐D improvement was inversely associated with age.

Interpretation

Gross motor abilities at baseline and age were identified as relevant determinants for the high degree of interpersonal variability in response to ROBERT.
Endocrine function over time in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1
Authors: Dahlqvist J. R. , Ørngreen M. C. , Witting N. , Vissing J.
Published: August 2014

Background and purpose

Patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) have an increased incidence of endocrine dysfunction. In this study, the temporal evolution of endocrine dysfunction in patients withDM1 was investigated.

Methods

Endocrine function was assessed in 68 patients withDM1, in whom endocrine function had been followed, on average, for 8 years. The endocrine function was assessed by measuring the concentration of hormones and metabolites in blood and by validating libido with questionnaires.

Results

At baseline, 30 of the 68 patients presented with at least one hormonal dysfunction. When re‐evaluated after 8 years, 57 of 68 patients had endocrine dysfunction. Diabetic patients had increased from one to four. At follow‐up, hyperparathyroidism occurred in 25% and abnormal thyroid‐stimulating hormone in 21%, compared with 14% and 9% at baseline. Sixteen of 33 men had increased luteinizing hormone levels compared with seven at baseline.

Conclusions

Our findings show that endocrine abnormalities amongst patients withDM1 increase over time. Based on these findings it is suggested that correctable endocrine abnormalities should be monitored periodically in this patient group.
Associations of chronic heart failure with outcome in acute ischaemic stroke patients who received systemic thrombolysis: analysis from VISTA
Authors: Abdul‐Rahim A. H. , Fulton R. L. , Frank B. , McMurray J. J. V. , Lees K. R. ,   the VISTA collaborators
Published: August 2014

Background and purpose

There are concerns that systemic thrombolysis might not achieve clinically important outcome amongst chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Our aim was to investigate the relevance of CHF on the outcome of acute stroke patients who received thrombolysis.

Methods

A non‐randomized cohort analysis was conducted using data obtained from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive. The association of outcome amongst CHF patients with thrombolysis treatment was described using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) distribution at day 90, stratified by the presence of atrial fibrillation. Dichotomized outcomes were considered as a secondary end‐point.

Results

5677 patients were identified, of whom 2366 (41.7%) received thombolysis. Five hundred and three (8.9%) patients had CHF, of whom 209 (41.6%) received thrombolysis. The presence of CHF was associated with a negative impact on overall stroke outcome [odds ratio (OR) 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.87), P < 0.001]. However, thrombolysis treatment was associated with favourable functional outcome using ordinal mRS, irrespective of CHF status, after adjustment for age and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [OR 1.44 (95% CI 1.04–2.01, P = 0.029) for CHF patients versus OR 1.50 (95% CI 1.36–1.66, P < 0.001) for non‐CHF patients]. CHF patients had higher mortality at day 90 than non‐CHF patients. There was no significant difference for recurrent stroke or symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage within 7 days of the initial stroke between CHF and thrombolysis groups.

Conclusions

Chronic heart failure was associated with a worse outcome with or without thrombolysis. However, acute stroke patients who received thrombolysis had more favourable outcome regardless of CHF status, compared with their untreated peers. Our findings should reassure clinicians considering systemic thrombolysis treatment in hyperacute ischaemic stroke patients with CHF.
A big‐microsite framework for soil carbon modeling
Authors: Davidson Eric A. , Savage Kathleen E. , Finzi Adrien C.
Published: August 2014

Soil carbon cycling processes potentially play a large role in biotic feedbacks to climate change, but little agreement exists at present on what the core of numerical soil C cycling models should look like. In contrast, most canopy models of photosynthesis and leaf gas exchange share a common ‘Farquhaur‐model’ core structure. Here, we explore why a similar core model structure for heterotrophic soil respiration remains elusive and how a pathway to that goal might be envisioned. The spatial and temporal variation in soil microsite conditions greatly complicates modeling efforts, but we believe it is possible to develop a tractable number of parameterizable equations that are organized into a coherent, modular, numerical model structure. First, we show parallels in insights gleaned from linking Arrhenius and Michaelis–Menten kinetics for both photosynthesis and soil respiration. Additional equations and layers of complexity are then added to simulate substrate supply. For soils, model modules that simulate carbon stabilization processes will be key to estimating the fraction of soil C that is accessible to enzymes. Potential modules for dynamic photosynthate input, wetting‐event inputs, freeze–thaw impacts on substrate diffusion, aggregate turnover, soluble‐C sorption, gas transport, methane respiration, and microbial dynamics are described for conceptually and numerically linking our understanding of fast‐response processes of soil gas exchange with longer‐term dynamics of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks.