bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On CIPA Research Tradition
Authors: Elwazani S.
Published: October 2012

Considering the CIPA research agenda, this paper recognizes shortcomings in the biannual symposium scholarship in the areas of documentation represented in the research and in the robustness of the scholarly outcome. The purpose of this study was to assess and-as applicable-make recommendations on the research associated with CIPA's symposium from the viewpoint of the areas of documentation researched (topical affinity) and the level of scholarly robustness (research thoroughness). Symposia proceedings were utilized as a primary source of data; Excel statistical functions were used for data analysis. The research design involves: a) selecting representative symposia out of past symposia population, b) reducing the number of symposium proceedings papers through random-selection sampling, and, c) evaluating sampled papers through devised measures and procedure. The results pointed to a working premise of the study. Recommendations for improving CIPA research program were made in light of this conclusion.
A New Monoplotting Tool to Extract Georeferenced Vector Data and Orthorectified Raster Data from Oblique Non-Metric Photographs
Authors: Bozzini C. , Conedera M. , Krebs P.
Published: October 2012

Since its invention in the first half of the nineteenth century, photography has assumed a leading role as a means for documenting the real world. With the improvement of technology, photography developed into photogrammetry, enabling the mapping and georeferencing of landscape elements beginning with stereo photographs. With the introduction of aerial photography, terrestrial oblique photography became obsolete for cartographic purposes and was nearly forgotten by most specialists in photogrammetry. In recent times, the improvement of computing power and the production of high resolution Digital Elevation Models has made the spatial georeferincing of single oblique pictures (monoplotting) more approachable. In this paper, we focus on a new monoplotting tool developed by our research group and we illustrate the basic concept, the solutions implemented and options as well as the results of a case study on land-use and vegetation evolution over a 100-year period. The tool has been conceived to georeference ordinary individual photographs in order to orthorectify the visible landscape or to produce and export map layers (e.g. georeferenced vector data) by drawing them directly on these pictures. The basic requirements of the system are the digital version of the historical picture, the DEM of the depicted landscape, the real-world coordinates of a suitable number of control points unambiguously recognizable on the picture, and – suitable but not mandatory – the real-world coordinates of the precise shooting point and of the centre of the picture.
Calibration of Raman Spectroscopy in the Stress Measurement of Air-Plasma-Sprayed Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia
Authors: Liu Dong , Lord Oliver , Flewitt Peter E.J.
Published: October 2012

Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) are used widely on a range of components that operate at high temperatures. We report measurement of the factor that is required to convert the Raman shift to stress for air plasma sprayed yttria (7 wt %) stabilized tetragonal zirconia (ZrO2) (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings. The factor is evaluated for the as-coated condition and also following a heat treatment at 1000 °C for 1050 h. Two Raman bands at 608 cm−1 and 640 cm−1 have been investigated in a diamond anvil cell under hydrostatic pressure up to ~24 GPa. In the range of zero to ~1.6 GPa, a linear behavior was observed in terms of the shifts of these two Raman bands with a gradient similar to dense bulk tetragonal ZrO2. From these measurements the factors to convert wavenumber shift to stress have been derived. The application of these conversion factors to stress measurement in TBC coated test specimens and components is discussed.
Keynote address by John A. Lent at "Centennial Reflections on Chinese Cinema: A Generational Dialogue," Film Festival and International Symposium, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, October 7, 2000
Authors: Lent John A.
Published: October 2012

In light of China's entry into the World Trade Organization, Chinese cinema is on the brink of a new horizon-some say, on its way to going out to the world and winning global audiences; others, on its way to Armageddon or, almost extinction.

If one thing is clear, it is that both
the optimists and pessimists have had much to say about negotiations for China's entry into the World Trade Organization. At issue has been the impending competition from Hollywood that would engulf Chinese film once trade restrictions are loosened.
Dead Man Gazing: Posthumous Voyeurism in 12 Storeys, or "Splacing" Singapore's Official and Unofficial Discourses
Authors: Lee Michael
Published: October 2012

At first, a spirit is earthbound. Gradually, he goes on and becomes acclimatized to the unseen. After learning he goes on until at last he becomes a leader and teacher. Spiritualism is a science, not a speculation.

This is an excerpt of a sermon delivered by the husband of the late
actress Anny Ahlers, expressing his belief in life after death.2 Though speaking in a context temporally and culturally different from the focus of my paper, his remark about a ghost's ability to become "leader" and "teacher" suggests that, instead of treating spirits as
phenomena outside intellectual discourse, we may learn a thing or two from them by using some humility.
On the Hessian geometry of a real polynomial hyperbolic near infinity
Authors: Hernández Martínez Lucía Ivonne , Ortiz Rodríguez Adriana , Sánchez-Bringas Federico
Published: October 2012

Consider a polynomial f∊R[x; y] whose Hessian curve is compact and the unbounded connected component of its complement is hyperbolic. We study the fields of asymptotic directions on this component. Thus, we determine an index formula for the field of asymptotic directions involving the number of connected components of the Hessian curve constituting the boundary of this component, and the number of the corresponding Gaussian cusps. As an application of this study we show an example of a polynomial of degree 4 with 10 Gaussian cusps. Moreover, we determine the parity of the Gaussian cusps on the boundary of the unbounded region of a graph of a polynomial.
Integer Subsets with High Volume and Low Perimeter
Authors: Devlin Patrick
Published: October 2012

We explore a variation of the isoperimetric problem in which integer subsets take the role of geometric figures. More specifically, we consider the sequence
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Role of emotional stress in the pathophysiology of Graves' disease
Authors: Falgarone Géraldine , Heshmati Hassan M , Cohen Régis , Reach Gérard
Published: October 2012

The role of stress in the pathophysiology of Graves' disease is suggested by several clinical observations, by recent advances in immunology and by better understanding of autoimmune diseases which provides new insights into potential effects of stress hormones on T helper cell imbalance involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Stress management should therefore be an important part of the treatment of Graves' disease, as stress reduction may improve the effect of therapy. However, this field still requires interventional data to support stress management in the treatment of Graves' disease.
Na+/K+-ATPase α1 isoform mediates ouabain-induced expression of cyclin D1 and proliferation of rat Sertoli cells
Authors: Lucas Thaís F G , Amaral Luciana S , Porto Catarina S , Quintas Luis E M
Published: October 2012

Novel roles for the interaction of cardiotonic steroids to Na+/K+-ATPase have been established in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the intracellular signaling events downstream the action of ouabain on Na+/K+-ATPase in Sertoli cell obtained from immature rats. Treatment of Sertoli cells with ouabain (1 μM) induced a rapid and transient increase in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2 or MAPK3/1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine–threonine protein kinase (AKT) phosphorylation. Also, ouabain upregulated the expression of cyclin D1 and incorporation of [methyl-3H]thymidine, both of which were dependent on MAPK3/1 but not AKT intracellular cascade, as shown by pretreatment with MEK (MAP2K1/2) inhibitor U0126 and PI3K inhibitor wortmannin respectively. Moreover, the effect of ouabain on these proliferation parameters was completely prevented by phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/CREB-binding protein complex inhibitor KG501 and only partially by nuclear factor κB nuclear translocation inhibitor SN50. Pretreatment with estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182 780 showed that MAPK3/1 activation by ouabain does not involve this receptor. The Na+/K+-ATPase α1 isoform, but not α4, was detected in Sertoli cells, suggesting that ouabain effects in Sertoli cells are mediated via α1. Taken together, these results show a rapid ouabain action in the Sertoli cells, which in turn can modulate nuclear transcriptional events essential for Sertoli cell proliferation in a critical period of testicular development. Our findings are important to understand the role of ouabain in the testis and its possible implications in male infertility.
Improvement in Adolescent Screening and Counseling Rates for Risk Behaviors and Developmental Tasks
Authors: Duncan Paula , Frankowski Barbara , Carey Peggy , Kallock Emily , Delaney Thomas , Dixon Rebecca , Garcia Ana , Shaw Judith S.
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND:

High-quality preventive services for youth aged 11 to 18 include assessment and counseling regarding health behavior risks and developmental tasks/strengths of adolescence. Nationally, primary care health behavior risk screening and counseling rates lag consid-erably behind other preventive health services. The purpose of this project was to assist pediatric and family medicine practices to make office systems–based changes that promote comprehensive screening and counseling for risks and developmental tasks/strengths during adolescent preventive services visits.

METHODS:

Over a 9-month period, 7 pediatric and 1 family medicine primary care practices (13 physicians and 3 nurse practitioners) participated in a modified Breakthrough Series Collaborative. This project was designed to support primary care practitioner efforts to implement comprehensive screening and counseling for risk behaviors and developmental tasks/strengths for their adolescent patients and increase the rate of brief office intervention and referral. Composite variables were designed to reflect whether screening and counseling were documented for risks and developmental tasks. Statistical comparisons were made by using the nonparametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test.

RESULTS:

There were increases in the composite measures of screening and counseling for risk behaviors (all 6 risks: 26%–50%, P = .01) and 3 of 4 developmental tasks/strengths (32%–66%, P = .01). Documentation of office interventions for identified risks and out-of office referral rates did not change.

CONCLUSIONS:

With the use of an office systems–based approach, screening and counseling for all critical risk behaviors and developmental tasks/strengths during adolescent preventive services visits can be improved in primary care practices.
Depressive Symptoms and Neurocardiogenic Syncope in Children: A 2-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Hyphantis Thomas N. , Pappas Argiro-Irene , Vlahos Antonios P. , Carvalho André F. , Levenson James L. , Kolettis Theofilos M.
Published: October 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate prospectively the relationship between neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) and depressive symptoms in pediatric patients.

METHODS:

Forty-five patients (aged 12.3 ± 2.9 years) with NCS (diagnosed as ≥1 syncopal episodes with typical symptoms, reproduced by tilt-table testing, in the absence of structural or primary electrical heart disease) were compared with 45 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Assessment was performed at baseline and 2 years thereafter. Depressive symptoms and self-perception profile of participants were evaluated, along with their parents’ psychological distress, defensive profile and hostility. Family cohesion and adaptability, as well as the opinion of parents and teachers on children's strengths and difficulties, were also examined.

RESULTS:

At baseline, patients showed more (P = .008) depressive symptoms than controls, correlating with the number of syncopal episodes, impaired relationship with parents and poor family cohesion. A conservative management strategy of NCS was adopted and psychological counseling was offered, focusing on patients with clinically significant depressive symptoms and their families. During follow-up, depressive symptoms decreased in patients (P < .001), but remained stable in controls. Child-parent relationship, family cohesion and family adaptability improved at follow-up in patients. No recurrent syncope was noted during follow-up and this along with improvement in child-parent relationship were associated with depressive symptoms improvement.

CONCLUSIONS:

Depressive symptomatology is common in pediatric patients with NCS. Our findings call for additional investigation in larger controlled clinical interventional studies that will enhance understanding of the possible pathophysiological association between depressive symptomatology and NCS in pediatric populations.
Causal Attributions of Cleft Lip and Palate across Cultures
Authors: Mednick Lauren , Snyder Julie , Schook Carolyn , Blood Emily A. , Brown Shan-Estelle , Weatherley-White R.C.A.
Published: October 2012

Objective

To describe and compare the causal beliefs associated with cleft lips and/or palates across several different countries.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Operation Smile surgery screenings in six developing countries.

Participants

Two hundred seventy-nine adult patients and parents of children with cleft lips and/or palates in Kenya, Russia, Cambodia, India, Egypt, and Peru.

Interventions

In person interviews were conducted with interpreters.

Main Outcome Measure

As part of a larger study, a semistructured questionnaire was created to explore cleft perceptions, belief systems that affect these perceptions, and social reactions to individuals with clefts.

Results

Causal attributions were grouped by category (environment, self-blame, supernatural, chance, unknown, or other) and type of locus of control (external, internal, or unknown). Results indicate significant difference by country for both causal attribution category ( P < .001) and type ( P < .001). This difference was maintained in multivariate analyses, which controlled for differences by demographic variables between countries.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that causal attributions for clefts are influenced by culture. As harmful beliefs about cause may continue to impact affected individuals and their families even after a repair, it is insufficient to provide surgical care alone. Care of the entire person must include attempts to change misinformed cultural beliefs through educating the broader community.
A National Study on Craniosynostosis Surgical Repair
Authors: Nguyen Christine , Hernandez-Boussard Tina , Khosla Rohit K. , Curtin Catherine M.
Published: October 2012

Objective

Our study aimed to use national data to assess the perioperative outcomes of craniosynostosis surgical repair.

Design

Data were obtained from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids Inpatient Database from 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006.

Setting

Community hospitals in the United States.

Patients

The cohort was identified using the ICD-9-CM procedure codes for craniosynostosis surgical repair (2.01, 2.03, 2.04, 2.06).

Main Outcome Measures(s)

We determined patient and hospital characteristics. We clustered patients by age group (7 months, 7 to 12 months, 1 to 3 years) and assessed mortality, comorbidities, mean length of stay (LOS), and total charge. We performed logistic regression with our dependent variable being longer average hospital stay: LOS > 4.2 days.

Results

We found 3426 patients. Average age at the time of surgery was 181 days (SD 84). Average length of stay was 4.2 days. The majority of the patients were boys (66%), white (71%), and insured (93%). Nearly all patients underwent surgery in a teaching hospital (98%) in urban centers (99%). Approximately 10% of patients experienced an acute complication, most commonly hemorrhages or hematomas and airway or respiratory failure. Patients ages 1 to 3 years had the highest rates of comorbidities and a longer LOS. Mortality rate was <1%.

Conclusions

Craniosynostosis surgery is safe with low rates of mortality and acute complications. LOS >4.2 appears to be associated more with comorbidities than with complications. Higher rates of comorbidities and LOS >4.2 days for patients age 1 to 3 years warrant addition research to assess potential barriers to care.
Patient with Hypertriglyceridemia, Type 2 Diabetes, and Chronic Kidney Disease Treated with Atorvastatin and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters
Authors: Athyros Vasilios G , Mikhailidis Dimitri P
Published: October 2012

This is a case report that describes a 67-year-old woman with mixed hyperlipidemia and diabetic nephropathy. She was initially prescribed a combination of simvastatin plus gemfibrozil by her general practitioner (GP). When referred to our cardiovascular unit, we further diagnosed the patient to have mixed hyperlipidemia and rhabdomyolysis. Because of concerns with her chronic kidney disease (CKD), we temporarily stopped all her drug treatments and started insulin treatment for her type 2 diabetes (T2D). A month later when her T2D was stabilised, we prescribed atorvastatin and an omega-3 fatty acid ethyl ester supplement to treat her hypertriglyceridemia. Within two months her blood lipids were within the recommended range. In patients with stage 3–5 CKD, it is not advisable to prescribe the fibrate gemfibrozil, particularly in combination with a statin that is metabolised predominantly in the kidneys. To minimise adverse events without compromise on efficacy, we used a combination of omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters, which are not metabolised in the kidneys, with a statin that is minimally metabolised in the kidneys for the treatment of her hyperlipidemia.
Portal Vein Glucose Entry Triggers a Coordinated Cellular Response That Potentiates Hepatic Glucose Uptake and Storage in Normal but Not High-Fat/High-Fructose–Fed Dogs
Authors: Coate Katie C. , Kraft Guillaume , Irimia Jose M. , Smith Marta S. , Farmer Ben , Neal Doss W. , Roach Peter J. , Shiota Masakazu , Cherrington Alan D.
Published: October 2012

The cellular events mediating the pleiotropic actions of portal vein glucose (PoG) delivery on hepatic glucose disposition have not been clearly defined. Likewise, the molecular defects associated with postprandial hyperglycemia and impaired hepatic glucose uptake (HGU) following consumption of a high-fat, high-fructose diet (HFFD) are unknown. Our goal was to identify hepatocellular changes elicited by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and PoG signaling in normal chow-fed (CTR) and HFFD-fed dogs. In CTR dogs, we demonstrated that PoG infusion in the presence of hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia triggered an increase in the activity of hepatic glucokinase (GK) and glycogen synthase (GS), which occurred in association with further augmentation in HGU and glycogen synthesis (GSYN) in vivo. In contrast, 4 weeks of HFFD feeding markedly reduced GK protein content and impaired the activation of GS in association with diminished HGU and GSYN in vivo. Furthermore, the enzymatic changes associated with PoG sensing in chow-fed animals were abolished in HFFD-fed animals, consistent with loss of the stimulatory effects of PoG delivery. These data reveal new insight into the molecular physiology of the portal glucose signaling mechanism under normal conditions and to the pathophysiology of aberrant postprandial hepatic glucose disposition evident under a diet-induced glucose-intolerant condition.
Selective Alkyne Hydrogenation over Nano-metal Systems: Closing the Gap between Model and Real Catalysts for Industrial Applications
Authors: Cárdenas-Lizana Fernando , Crespo-Quesada Micaela , Kiwi-Minsker Lioubov
Published: October 2012

The relationship between catalytic response and properties of the active phase is difficult to establish in classical heterogeneous catalysis due to the number of variables that can affect catalytic performance. Ultrahigh-vacuum surface methods applied to model catalyst surfaces are
useful tools to assess fundamental issues related to catalytic processes but they are limited by the significant differences with catalysts in the working state. In an attempt to overcome this issue, (unsupported) nano-metal systems with controlled size and shape have been synthesized and
tested in selective alkyne hydrogenation. The results revealed a dependency of nano-particles (NPs) morphology (size and shape) and allowed the identification of the active sites for this type of reaction. The nature of the stabilizer (steric and electrostatic stabilization) used in the NPs
preparation has been shown to influence catalytic performance. The tailored active phase was subsequently immobilized on suitable nano- and micro-structured inorganic (e.g. 3D sintered metal fibers) supports with controlled surface properties in order to corroborate if the results obtained
on the optimized nano-metal systems could be extrapolated to real catalysts. This article highlights the advantages and limitations of the analysis of selective alkyne hydrogenation over nano-metal systems that close the gap between model and real catalysts where the main challenges that lie
ahead are summarized.
Scientific Opportunities for Heterogeneous Catalysis Research at the SuperXAS and SNBL Beam Lines
Authors: Abdala Paula M. , Safonova Olga V. , Wiker Geir , Van Beek Wouter , Emerich Herman , Van Bokhoven Jeroen A. , Sá Jacinto , Szlachetko Jakub , Nachtegaal Maarten
Published: October 2012

In this short review, we describe the complementary experimental capabilities for catalysis research at two beam lines available to the Swiss community, SuperXAS at SLS (Swiss Light Source, Villigen) and SNBL (Swiss Norwegian Beam lines) at ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility,
Grenoble). Over the years, these two facilities have been developed to provide powerful techniques for structural studies under in situ and operando conditions. These techniques, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) in combination
with Raman or infrared spectroscopy provide new avenues for structure–performance studies of catalysts. Several exemplary studies are used to demonstrate the capability of these facilities.
Study of macro- and micro-segregation of iridium in molybdenum single crystals after electron beam zone melting
Authors: Drápala Jaromír , Skotnicová Kateřina
Published: October 2012

The aim of the work was to study the creation of micro- and macro-segregation of iridium in low-alloyed molybdenum single crystals after electron beam zone melting (floating zone technique) depending on various conditions of crystallization. In order to evaluate relations between the chemical inhomogeneity and structural defects and their influence on properties of single crystals, the dependence of concentration and character of distribution of admixtures under various crystallization conditions on the origin of concentration undercooling and dislocation substructure of molybdenum single crystals prepared by electron beam floating zone melting was experimentally investigated.
Fabrication of transparent Nd:YAG ceramic by vacuum sintering with CaF2 additive
Authors: Meng Qingxin , Liang Baoyan , Li HaiYun , Su Chunhui , Jin Songze
Published: October 2012

Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) ceramics were fabricated via a solid-state reaction method using high-purity Y2O3, Al2O3 and Nd2O3 powders as the raw materials. The mixed powder compacts were sintered at 1 750 °C for 5 h under vacuum. The Nd:YAG bulk without doped CaF2 was opaque. A transparent Nd:YAG ceramic was obtained with tiny amounts of CaF2 addition. The bulk had a uniform microstructure containing grains with an average size of 20 μm. No porosity could be detected in the sintered bulk. The maximum optical transmittance of the sample is 44 % in the visible range.
Response to acute concussive injury in soccer players: is gender a modifying factor?
Authors: Zuckerman Scott L. , Solomon Gary S. , Forbes Jonathan A. , Haase Richard F. , Sills Allen K. , Lovell Mark R.
Published: October 2012

Object

Several studies have suggested a gender difference in response to sports-related concussion (SRC). The Concussion in Sport group did not include gender as a modifying factor in SRC, concluding that the evidence at that point was equivocal. In the present study the authors endeavored to assess acute neurocognitive and symptom responses to an SRC in equivalent cohorts of male and female soccer players. The authors hypothesized that female athletes would experience greater levels of acute symptoms and neurocognitive impairment than males.

Methods

Baseline symptom and neurocognitive scores were determined in 40 male and 40 female soccer players by using the Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) scale prior to any SRC. After sustaining an SRC, each athlete completed postconcussion ImPACT tests and was carefully matched on a wide array of biopsychosocial variables. Baseline symptom and neurocognitive test scores were compared, and their acute symptoms and neurocognitive responses to concussive injury were assessed.

Results

Specific a priori hypotheses about differences between males and females at baseline and at postconcussion measurements of verbal and visual memory ImPACT scores were evaluated according to simple main effects of the gender variable and according to baseline-to-postconcussion main effect and interaction of 2 × 2 split-plot ANOVA. Neither the interaction nor the main effects nor the simple main effects for either ImPACT variable were found to be statistically significant. Exploratory ANOVAs applied to the remaining ImPACT variables of visualmotor speed, reaction time, impulse control, and symptom total scores revealed only a single statistically significant baseline-to-postconcussion main effect for the symptom total.

Conclusions

The results failed to replicate prior findings of gender-specific baseline neurocognitive differences in verbal and visual memory. The findings also indicated no differential gender-based acute response to concussion (symptoms or neurocognitive scores) among high school soccer players. The implications of these findings for the inclusion of gender as a modifying factor in this tightly matched cohort are addressed. Potential explanations for the null findings are discussed.
Transformation of Levofloxacin during Water Chlorination Process: Kinetics and Pathways
Authors: Gudaganatti Mahadev S. , Hanagadakar Manjunath S. , Kulkarni Raviraj M. , Malladi Ramesh S. , Nagarale Rajaram K.
Published: October 2012

The kinetics and mechanism of removal of the fluoroquinolone antibacterial levofloxacin (LFC) by free available chlorine (FAC) during water chlorination processes have been investigated for the first time between pH values 4.2 and 8.5. The pH-dependent second-order rate constants were found to decrease with increase in pH ( e.g. apparent second order rate constant; k″app = 20 dm3 mol −1 s −1 at pH 4.2 and k″app = 1dm3 mol −1 s −1 at pH 8.5 and at 25°C). The products of the reaction were determined by liquid chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry. There are two plausible pathways for the LFC chlorination. The major channel is electrophilic halodecarboxylation of the quinolone moiety in which HOCl reacts at tertiary N(4) amine to form a reactive chlorammonium intermediate (R3N(4)Cl+) that can catalytically halogenate LFC, and the minor channel is chlorination at the piperazinyl moiety in which HOCl reacts at tertiary N(4) amine to form a reactive chlorammonium intermediate (R3N(4)Cl+) followed by intermediate degradation both at the piperazinyl and quinolone moieties with successive chlorination. The effect of temperature on the rate of the reaction was studied at four different temperatures and rate constants were found to increase with increase in temperature and the thermodynamic activation parameters Ea, DL H≠, DL S≠ and Δ G≠ were evaluated and discussed.
Gas Phase Pyrolysis Reaction of 1-pyrazoline: A Theoretical Kinetic Study
Authors: Izadyar Mohammad , Harati Mohammad
Published: October 2012

We report kinetic and mechanistic studies of nitrogen elimination from 1-pyrazoline and its deuterated derivatives. This study was carried out for the gas phase employing 6-311 + G(d,p) basis sets with B3LYP, MPW1PW91 and PBEPBE methods. This reaction may proceed through two different mechanisms, molecular and radical. The molecular mechanism advances via two different paths and corresponding intermediates. There are either a four-centred cyclic or a six-centred cyclic intermediate as transition states in the molecular mechanism. The calculated kinetic parameters and isotope effects for the molecular mechanism are consistent with experimental results for cyclopropane formation. However, from the kinetic isotope effects point of view, the fit is better for the radical mechanism for propene formation. Considering activation energies, theoretical calculations suggest that the radical mechanism is the less suitable. The B3LYP method results are in a better agreement with the experimental results when considering only computational data.
Computational Protein Engineering: Bridging the Gap between Rational Design and Laboratory Evolution
Authors: Barrozo Alexandre , Borstnar Rok , Marloie Gaël , Kamerlin Shina Caroline Lynn
Published: October 2012

Enzymes are tremendously proficient catalysts, which can be used as extracellular catalysts for a whole host of processes, from chemical synthesis to the generation of novel biofuels. For them to be more amenable to the needs of biotechnology, however, it is often necessary to be able to manipulate their physico-chemical properties in an efficient and streamlined manner, and, ideally, to be able to train them to catalyze completely new reactions. Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in different approaches to achieve this, both in the laboratory, and in silico. There remains, however, a gap between current approaches to computational enzyme design, which have primarily focused on the early stages of the design process, and laboratory evolution, which is an extremely powerful tool for enzyme redesign, but will always be limited by the vastness of sequence space combined with the low frequency for desirable mutations. This review discusses different approaches towards computational enzyme design and demonstrates how combining newly developed screening approaches that can rapidly predict potential mutation “hotspots” with approaches that can quantitatively and reliably dissect the catalytic step can bridge the gap that currently exists between computational enzyme design and laboratory evolution studies.
Implication of Posttranslational Histone Modifications in Nucleotide Excision Repair
Authors: Li Shisheng
Published: October 2012

Histones are highly alkaline proteins that package and order the DNA into chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a conserved multistep reaction that removes a wide range of generally bulky and/or helix-distorting DNA lesions. Although the core biochemical mechanism of NER is relatively well known, how cells detect and repair lesions in diverse chromatin environments is still under intensive research. As with all DNA-related processes, the NER machinery must deal with the presence of organized chromatin and the physical obstacles it presents. A huge catalogue of posttranslational histone modifications has been documented. Although a comprehensive understanding of most of these modifications is still lacking, they are believed to be important regulatory elements for many biological processes, including DNA replication and repair, transcription and cell cycle control. Some of these modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitination on the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) or the histone H2A variant H2AX, have been found to be implicated in different stages of the NER process. This review will summarize our recent understanding in this area.
Design and Synthesis of an 18F-Labeled Version of Phenylethyl Orvinol ([18F]FE-PEO) for PET-Imaging of Opioid Receptors
Authors: Marton János , Henriksen Gjermund
Published: October 2012

The semisynthetic oripavine derivative phenethyl orvinol (PEO), a full agonist at opioid receptors (OR), is an attractive structural motif for developing 18F-labeled PET tracers with a high degree of sensitivity for competition between endogenous and exogenous OR-ligands. The target cold reference compound 6-O-(2-fluoroethyl)-6-O-desmethylphenylethyl orvinol (FE-PEO) was obtained via two separate reaction routes. A three-step synthesis was developed for the preparation of a tosyloxyethyl precursor (TE-TDPEO), the key precursor for a direct, nucleophilic radiofluorination to yield [18F]FE-PEO. The developed radiosynthesis provides the target compound in relevantly high yield and purity, and is adaptable to routine production.
E- and Z-Isomers of New Phytoecdysteroid Conjugates from French Polynesian Microsorum membranifolium (Polypodiaceae) Fronds
Authors: Ho Raimana , Girault Jean-Pierre , Raharivelomanana Phila , Lafont René
Published: October 2012

Phytochemical investigation of the fronds of Microsorum membranifolium resulted in the isolation of a new phytoecdysteroid, E-2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone 3-[4-(1-b-D-glucopyranosyl)]-caffeate (1), together with two known phytoecdysteroids, E-2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone 3-[4-(1-b-D-glucopyranosyl)]-ferulate (2), E-2-deoxyecdysone 3-[4-(1-b-D-glucopyranosyl)]-ferulate (3). Their respective Z-isomers 4–6 were also observed and identified for the first time. The new structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis (1D, 2D-NMR and HR-MS techniques).
Matsuno, A., et al., Molecular Morphology of Pituitary Cells, from Conventional Immunohistochemistry to Fluorescence Imaging. Molecules 2011, 16, 3618-3635
Authors: Matsuno Akira , Mizutani Akiko , Okinaga Hiroko , Takano Koji , Yamada So , Yamada Shoko M. , Nakaguchi Hiroshi , Hoya Katsumi , Murakami Mineko , Takeuchi Masato , Sugaya Mutsumi , Itoh Johbu , Takekoshi Susumu , Osamura R. Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2012

In the original manuscript, the word “fluorescein” was erroneously used indistinctly for “fluorescence” and “fluorescent”. Furthermore, “cyan fluorescent protein” was misspelled. These errors have been amended in an amended version of the manuscript, which is available from the Molecules website. The authors and publisher apologize for the inconvenience. [...]
A New Saponin from Tea Seed Pomace (Camellia oleifera Abel) and Its Protective Effect on PC12 Cells
Authors: Zhang Xin-Fu , Han Ying-Ying , Bao Guan-Hu , Ling Tie-Jun , Zhang Liang , Gao Li-Ping , Xia Tao
Published: October 2012

A new triterpenoid saponin, oleiferasaponin A1, was isolated from tea seed pomace (Camellia oleifera Abel). The structure of oleiferasaponin A1 was elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence and was found to be 22-O-cis-2-hexenoyl-A1-barrigenol 3-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl(1→2)] [β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid. PC12 cells injured with H2O2 were used as the model to test the protective effects of oleiferasaponin A1. The results indicated that oleiferasaponin A1 can potentially prevent the H2O2-induced cell death of PC12 cells.
Theoretical Analysis of the Performance of Glucose Sensors with Layer-by-Layer Assembled Outer Membranes
Authors: Croce Robert A. , Vaddiraju Santhisagar , Papadimitrakopoulos Fotios , Jain Faquir C.
Published: October 2012

The performance of implantable electrochemical glucose sensors is highly dependent on the flux-limiting (glucose, H2O2, O2) properties of their outer membranes. A careful understanding of the diffusion profiles of the participating species throughout the sensor architecture (enzyme and membrane layer) plays a crucial role in designing a robust sensor for both in vitro and in vivo operation. This paper reports the results from the mathematical modeling of Clark’s first generation amperometric glucose sensor coated with layer-by-layer assembled outer membranes in order to obtain and compare the diffusion profiles of various participating species and their effect on sensor performance. Devices coated with highly glucose permeable (HAs/Fe3+) membranes were compared with devices coated with PSS/PDDA membranes, which have an order of magnitude lower permeability. The simulation showed that the low glucose permeable membrane (PSS/PDDA) sensors exhibited a 27% higher amperometric response than the high glucose permeable (HAs/Fe3+) sensors. Upon closer inspection of H2O2 diffusion profiles, this non-typical higher response from PSS/PDDA is not due to either a larger glucose flux or comparatively larger O2 concentrations within the sensor geometry, but rather is attributed to a 48% higher H2O2 concentration in the glucose oxidase enzyme layer of PSS/PDDA coated sensors as compared to HAs/Fe3+ coated ones. These simulated results corroborate our experimental findings reported previously. The high concentration of H2O2 in the PSS/PDDA coated sensors is due to the low permeability of H2O2 through the PSS/PDDA membrane, which also led to an undesired increase in sensor response time. Additionally, it was found that this phenomenon occurs for all enzyme thicknesses investigated (15, 20 and 25 nm), signifying the need for a holistic approach in designing outer membranes for amperometric biosensors.
Differentiation of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells into Aggregates of Insulin-Producing Cells through the Overexpression of Pancreatic and Duodenal Homeobox Gene-1
Authors: Lee Jiyeon , Kim Song Cheol , Kim Sung Jin , Lee Heuiran , Jung Eun Jung , Jung Seong Hee , Han Duck Jong
Published: October 2012

The pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene 1 (Pdx-1) plays a key role in normal pancreas development and is required for maintaining the normal function of islets. In this study, we examined whether human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) could differentiate into insulin-producing cells by exogenously expressed Pdx-1. hASCs were infected with recombinant adenovirus encoding the mouse Pdx-1 gene and differentiated under high-glucose conditions. Insulin transcript levels and the expression of key transcription factors required for pancreatic development including FoxA2, Nkx2.2, and NeuroD were significantly increased by exogenous Pdx-1 overexpression. The expression of Nkx6.1 was found only in Pdx-1-induced hASCs. In addition to transcripts for transcription factors involved in pancreatic development, transcripts for the GLP-1 receptor, glucokinase, and glucose transporter, which are required for maintaining the function of pancreatic β-cells, were observed only in Pdx-1-induced hASCs. Pdx-1-induced hASCs exhibited insulin secretion in response to glucose challenge in vitro. When Pdx-1-induced hASCs were transplanted into streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, they reduced blood glucose levels, although they did not restore normoglycemia. These results demonstrate that the expression of exogenous Pdx-1 is sufficient to induce pancreatic differentiation in vitro but does not induce the fully functional, mature insulin-producing cells that are required for restoring normoglycemia in vivo.
Administration of a Negative Vaccination Induces Hyporesponsiveness to Islet Allografts
Authors: Sklavos M. M. , Coudriet G. M. , Delmastro M. , Bertera S. , Coneybeer J. T. , He J. , Trucco M. , Piganelli J. D.
Published: October 2012

As a result of less than optimal outcomes the use of islet allografts as a standard insulin replacement therapy is limited to adults with a history of extreme glucose dysregulation and hypoglycemia unawareness. In this study, we examined the use of prophylactic immunotherapy to prevent islet allograft rejection in the absence of antirejection drugs. Our protocol to achieve allograft acceptance used a negative vaccination strategy that is comprised of apoptotic donor cells delivered in Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA) 1 week prior to islet transplantation. The goal of this new protocol is to elicit hyporesponsiveness to alloantigen prior to islet transplantation. First, we examined our protocol without islet allograft transplants and determined that the negative vaccination was not globally immunosuppressive or immunostimulatory. Islet allograft experiments using fully MHC-mismatched islet donors and recipients demonstrated that the negative vaccination strategy induced long-term islet allograft acceptance. Upon rechallenge with alloantigen, the negative vaccination protocol successfully achieved hyporesponsiveness. In addition, the microenvironment at the site of the tolerant allograft revealed a decrease in proinflammatory mediators (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and an increase in the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10, as well as increased expression of the master regulator of T-regulatory cells, FOXP3. Our data suggest that pretreating allograft recipients with apoptotic donor alloantigen delivered in IFA induced long-term islet allograft acceptance and glycemic control by introducing alloantigen to the recipient immune system in a nonimmunostimulatory manner prior to transplant.
Development of 161 novel EST‐SSR markers from Lathyrus sativus (Fabaceae)
Authors: Sun Xue‐Lian , Yang Tao , Guan Jian‐Ping , Ma Yu , Jiang Jun‐Ye , Cao Rui , Burlyaeva Marina , Vishnyakova Margarita , Semenova Elena , Bulyntsev Sergey , Zong Xu‐Xiao
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: Expressed sequence tag (ESTs)–derived microsatellite markers were developed in Lathyrus sativus by screening the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The usefulness of these novel markers was validated for size polymorphism among grasspea accessions.

• Methods and Results: Three hundred EST–simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs were identified and loci characterized for size polymorphism among 24 grasspea accessions from worldwide sources. Among them 139 SSR loci produced no PCR product, 117 SSR loci were monomorphic, and 44 SSR loci were polymorphic. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 11. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.042 to 0.836, respectively.

• Conclusions: These novel markers will be useful and convenient to study genetic mapping and molecular breeding in grasspea.
Development and characterization of 110 novel EST‐SSR markers for Dendrobium officinale (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Lu Jiang‐Jie , Suo Na‐Na , Hu Xu , Wang Shang , Liu Jun‐Jun , Wang Hui‐Zhong
Published: October 2012

• Premise of the study: Expressed sequence tag (EST)–derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed in Dendrobium officinale by screening a cDNA library. The loci were verified by sequencing and explored for polymorphism among 19 genotypes and transferability among 30 other distantly related Dendrobium species.

• Methods and Results: One hundred ten EST‐SSRs were developed, and a set of 20 amplified two to six nucleotide repeats with a mean number of 2.5 alleles per locus and with an observed heterozygosity and polymorphism information content per locus ranging from 0.3463 to 0.9003 and 0.0997 to 0.6537 in 19 D. officinale genotypes, respectively. Furthermore, 92 of these markers have cross‐taxa transferability, ranging from 6.45% to 100% among 30 other distantly related Dendrobium species.

• Conclusions: The developed markers have potential for application in germplasm appraisal, genetic diversity study, genetic mapping, and molecular breeding in D. officinale and other congeneric species.
AIRPLANES WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR
Authors: Jurecka Radek , Bencalik Karol
Published: October 2012

With the decreasing supply of fossil fuel, we can see more and more attempts to substitute combustion engines with other sources of propulsion. This article deals with the possibility of using alternative sources of energy in aviation. Namely, it describes the possibilities of the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen fuel cells in aviation.
MITIGATION OF SLIVERS USING A NEW PROPELLANT GRAIN DESIGN TO IMPROVE PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Authors: Farrukh Sarah , Khan M. Bilal
Published: October 2012

The research work addresses mathematical modelling and computational analysis of novel solid propellant grain configuration. The aviation industry is working on propulsion systems as well. For high thrust in rockets, space ships, and even in aircraft, solid propellant grains can be used as fuel. Grain design is a vital and integral part of solid propellant design. The designer has many options available for selecting grain configuration. Several design parameters – volumetric loading fractions, web fraction, length to diameter ratio, and port area – are normally tailored to mission demands. The star grain configuration has been a mainstay in this industry since 1935. The star grain configuration does however have a long-standing drawback, namely the formation of slivers. In this paper we present a new grain configuration, the “rose petal”, which overcomes the drawback of the traditional star grain design. The configuration is modelled using relevant internal ballistic relations. The design computation is executed in MATLAB. Thrust and time and burn area time curves are generated for a prescribed port area. Comparisons are drawn between the two configurations, clearly revealing that the new configuration obviates the occurrence of unwanted slivers otherwise generated in the old star design, which lowers the efficiency of all those propulsion systems in which solid propellants are used.
A HYBRID MCDM MODEL ENCOMPASSING AHP AND COPRAS-G METHODS FOR SELECTING COMPANY SUPPLIER IN IRAN
Authors: Zolfani Sarfaraz Hashemkhani , Chen I-Shuo , Rezaeiniya Nahid , Tamošaitienė Jolanta
Published: October 2012

This paper is aimed at utilizing a hybrid multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model for selecting a supplier. First, eight evaluation criteria, including cost, quality, distance, delivery reliability, reputation, technology level, compatibility and development ability are identified. The A nalytic H ierarchical P rocess (AHP) is initially used for calculating the weight of each criterion. The CO mplex PR oportional AS sessment of alternatives to G rey relations (COPRAS-G method) is adopted for ranking and selecting suppliers. In order to illustrate the functional ability of the developed model, Kalleh Company is chosen as a case study and can be used as a pattern for supplier selection and future researches.