bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time minimizing transportation problem with fractional bottleneck objective function
Authors: Jain Madhuri , Saksena P.K.
Published: February 2012

This paper is aimed at studying the Time Minimizing Transportation Problem
with Fractional Bottleneck Objective Function (TMTP-FBOF). TMTP-FBOF is
related to a Lexicographic Fractional Time Minimizing Transportation Problem
(LFTMTP), which will be solved by a lexicographic primal code. An algorithm
is also developed to determine an initial efficient basic solution to this
TMTP-FBOF. The developed TMTP-FBOF Algorithm is supported by a real life
example of Military Transportation Problem of Indian Army.
How Precise are Size-Based Age Estimations in the Sand Lizard (Lacerta Agilis)?
Authors: Borczyk Bartosz , Paśko Łukasz
Published: February 2012

How Precise are Size-Based Age Estimations in the Sand Lizard (Lacerta Agilis)?

Reptiles show a positive correlation between age and body size and it is common practice to infer the age of an animal from its size. However, the growth rate often differs between individuals, thus such practice may lead to false conclusions. Because age of an animal is a very important factor in many ecological studies, it should be determined with a minimum of error. Here, we compare the body size distribution among different age classes of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) to infer if it is possible to correctly determine their age on the basis of the body length. Our results show that the average error in age estimation on the basis of the lizard size is 1.36 year which is approximately 1/3 the average sand lizard life span.
The Use of Episodic Pools by Amphibians in Lowland Habitats of Southwestern Poland
Authors: Majtyka Tomasz
Published: February 2012

The Use of Episodic Pools by Amphibians in Lowland Habitats of Southwestern Poland

Episodic pools are one of the most unstable water habitats. They arise rarely, at least once every few years and last a relatively short period (in principle one vegetative season). They are characterized by a lack of water flora and fauna. Later, a few aquatic organisms inhabit them. Of the 15 amphibian taxa inhabiting Polish lowlands, six anurans use episodic pools for mating and larval development;Bombina bombina, Pelobates fuscus, Epidalea [=Bufo] calamita, Pseudepidalea [=Bufo] viridis, Hyla arborea, andPelophylax [=Rana] esculentuscomplex [probably onlyPelophylaxkl.esculentus].
Re-centring Geoinformation in Secondary Education: Toward a Spatial Citizenship Approach
Authors: Gryl Inga , Jekel Thomas
Published: February 2012

This article explores starting points for spatial citizenship education and discusses fields of competence needed for active spatial citizenship. The use of geoinformation (GI) systems at the secondary-school level has been considered mainly as preparation to join the geospatial workforce and as a support tool to encourage spatial thinking. While this approach definitely has benefits in arguing for a wider set of competencies acquired by GI-based learning, it has frequently been linked to instrumental knowledge, and misses out on the societal consequences of GI use. The concept of spatial citizenship attempts to address these shortcomings. Originating from the individual and collective appropriation of social space, it supports learners in acquiring competencies that will enable them to participate more actively in society through the critical use of GI. Spatial citizenship adds an explicitly spatial domain to citizenship education.
Making Maps That Matter: Situating GIS within Community Conversations about Changing Landscapes
Authors: Norwood Carla , Cumming Gabriel
Published: February 2012

Geospatial analysis and mapping has tremendous potential to inform community-scale deliberations about land use and growth management, but that potential is rarely realized. This article introduces an iterative, participatory research approach to generating maps about landscape change and development trends rooted in local experiences of place and therefore well positioned to contribute to civic dialogue and action. The research process involved collaboration with community partners; ethnographic interviews to identify salient local issues and perspectives; geospatial analysis, mapping, and visualizations of development trends; focus groups to refine information and imagery for local audiences; and deliberative meetings designed to encourage public discussion. Through a case study from a rapidly growing Southern Appalachian county, we show how this process aided the development of maps and visualizations that were relevant and accessible to local stakeholders, made visible local concerns about landscape change, and increased stakeholders' awareness of landscape-scale processes. We argue that this interdisciplinary approach can help to bridge between critical and analytic GIS traditions, provide a mechanism for integrating research agendas with local policy deliberations, and help foster successful civic dialogues and collective action in communities with histories of contentious debate about land-use planning.
Cartographic Memories of Slavery and Freedom: Examining John Washington's Map and Mapping of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Authors: Hanna Stephen P.
Published: February 2012

In 1873, former slave John Washington (1838–1918) wrote his memoir, Memorys of the Past. This account includes a remarkable map that locates Washington's experiences as a slave, his acts of resistance, and the route of his escape from bondage in 1862. Washington's map is both a work of memory and a rare example of a subaltern cartographic practice. The act of mapping his experiences in Fredericksburg, Virginia, challenges the long-dominant memory of the city as the colonial home of founding fathers and the site of a Confederate victory in the Civil War. At the same time, the formal style of this cartographic representation yields clues about the efforts John Washington and other slaves took after the war to achieve the full promise of emancipation through education. Finally, since Washington's memoir and map were published in 2007, the National Park Service and local government officials are remapping this remarkable man's memory as they inscribe narratives of slavery, resistance, and emancipation into Fredericksburg's memorial landscape.
Imaging of grain-level orientation and strain in thicker metallic polycrystals by high energy transmission micro-beam Laue (HETL) diffraction techniques
Authors: Hofmann Felix , Abbey Brian , Connor Leigh , Baimpas Nikolaos , Song Xu , Keegan Sinéad , Korsunsky Alexander M.
Published: February 2012

For high performance, safety-critical applications, such as aerospace components, in-depth understanding of the material's response to complex loading conditions is essential. Moreover, it is vital to know how the material behaviour may be modified as a consequence of fatigue loading and how its eventual failure occurs. Unlike bulk properties, such as stiffness, yield stress, etc. that depend on the average response of the grains in a polycrystal, material failure is determined by “weakest link” type mechanisms. These depend strongly on grain-level deformation behaviour and grain-to-grain interactions. Micro-beam Laue diffraction is a powerful tool to probe these phenomena. However, the classical setup is limited to the study of sample surface regions or thin sections, due to the limited penetration into the sample at photon energies of 5 – 25 keV. A much more useful tool for the material scientist and engineer would allow the probing of grain-level orientation and stress in thicker sections of engineering components. To this end, we have developed the high energy transmission Laue (HETL) technique, an extension of the micro-beam Laue technique to significantly higher photon energies (50 – 150 keV). For the imaging of lattice orientation and elastic strain in three dimensions, we propose two alternative approaches: Laue orientation tomography (LOT) and high energy differential aperture X-ray microscopy (HEDAXM). In this paper an overview of the recent progress in HETL, LOT and HEDAXM measurements will be given and some first results illustrating the potential of these techniques presented.
Beyond imaging: on the quantitative analysis of tomographic volume data
Authors: Redenbach Claudia , Rack Alexander , Schladitz Katja , Wirjadi Oliver , Godehardt Michael
Published: February 2012

Tomographic techniques are a valuable analytical tool as they deliver 3D spatial information on a given specimen. Both computed tomography with high spatial resolution and quantitative volume image analysis have made enormous progress during the last decade. In particular for materials and natural science applications the combination of high-resolution three-dimensional imaging and the subsequent image analysis exploiting the fully preserved spatial structural information yield new and exciting insights.

In this paper, field-tested and up-to-date methods for tomographic imaging of microstructures, for processing and for quantitatively analysing three-dimensional images are reviewed. By selected applications from materials research, we shall underline the importance of volume image analysis as a crucial step in order to go beyond the images: it allows determination of spatial cross-correlations between different constituents of a specimen, investigation of orientations or derivation of statistically relevant information such as object size distributions. The core part of this work consists, besides the exemple application scenarios, in the processing chain, the tools and methods used.
Neutron Bragg-edge mapping of weld seams
Authors: Kardjilov Nikolay , Manke Ingo , Hilger André , Williams Scott , Strobl Markus , Woracek Robin , Boin Mirko , Lehmann Eberhard , Penumadu Dayakar , Banhart John
Published: February 2012

Cold neutrons have a wavelength that is in the same range as the lattice spacings of most polycrystalline metallic materials. Imaging of such materials with monochromatic cold neutrons of different wavelengths provides a unique contrast due to coherent Bragg scattering. Additionally, the spectral positions of the Bragg edges can be mapped for each point of an image by using the transmission data of corresponding wavelength scans. We present investigations of welded components with such energy-selective neutron radiography around specific Bragg-edges in the transmission spectrum. Features in the local microstructure of the weld have been visualized.
Development of Low-Cost, Energy-Absorbing Bridge Rail
Authors: Thiele Jeffrey C. , Sicking Dean L. , Lechtenberg Karla A. , Reid John D. , Faller Ronald K. , Bielenberg Robert W. , Rosenbaugh Scott K.
Published: February 2012

A new, low-cost bridge railing was designed to be compatible with the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS). The barrier system was configured to reduce bridge deck width and its associated cost. Several concepts for an energy-absorbing bridge post were developed and tested; the concepts included strong-post designs with plastic hinges and weak-post designs with bending near the bridge deck attachment. The final railing concept incorporated S3 × 5.7 (S76 × 8.5) steel posts housed in a tubular bracket placed at the outside vertical edge of the deck and anchored to its top and bottom with one through-deck bolt. The W-beam rail section was attached to the posts with a bolt that was designed to fracture during an impact event. Two full-scale crash tests were performed in accordance with the Test Level 3 impact conditions provided in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware. The bridge rail system met all safety performance criteria for both the small car and pickup truck crash tests. Barrier VII computer simulations, in combination with the full-scale crash testing programs for the bridge railing and MGS, demonstrated that a special-approach guardrail transition was unnecessary.
Old Road, New Directions
Authors: Griswold Julia B. , Malinoff Aaron , Frick Karen Trapenberg , Deakin Elizabeth
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a plan for transforming a major arterial and a transit station that divide a low-income business and residential district into an economically healthy, context-sensitive, transit-oriented development. Adeline Street is a major point of entry into Berkeley, California, linking the city of Oakland on the south to the central districts of Berkeley. Formerly a major streetcar corridor, Adeline is now the location of a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and a surface parking lot, for which housing and businesses were removed in the 1960s. The street's 180-ft right-of-way, fast-moving traffic, and many uncontrolled intersections present an imposing barrier to pedestrians and bicyclists and detract from the retail uses that remain on portions of the street. The goal of this study was to redesign Adeline to be safer and more inviting. The design envisions Adeline as a balanced, multimodal link in the transportation network and a safe, attractive district for residents and visitors. The proposed redesign reconfigures the corridor, by reclaiming underutilized street and parking space for new housing, commercial uses, and parks. A road diet approach is used, with fewer travel lanes on some sections and redesigned intersections that shorten crossings and provides new pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities. A reconfiguration of the BART parking lot creates land for the development of new housing and open space. The proposed implementation plan includes a low-build alternative with initial basic improvements and more dramatic ones as funding becomes available.
Volatile Organic Compounds from Centaurium erythraea Rafn (Croatia) and the Antimicrobial Potential of Its Essential Oil
Authors: Jerković Igor , Gašo-Sokač Dajana , Pavlović Hrvoje , Marijanović Zvonimir , Gugić Mirko , Petrović Ivana , Kovač Spomenka
Published: February 2012

GC and MS were used for the analysis of Croatian Centaurium erythraea Rafn essential oil (obtained by hydrodistillation) and headspace (applying headspace solid-phase microextraction). The headspace contained numerous monoterpene hydrocarbons (the major ones were terpinene-4-ol, methone, p-cymene, γ-terpinene and limonene). Oxygenated monoterpenes were present in the headspace and oil, while 1,8-cineole, bornyl acetate and verbenone were present only in the headspace. High headspace percentages of toluene and naphthalene were found, followed by hemimellitene. Lot of similarities were observed with Serbian C. erythraea oil [neophytadiene (1.4%), thymol (2.6%), carvacrol (6.1%) and hexadecanoic acid (5.7%)], but different features were also noted such as the presence of menthol, menthone and phytone. The oil fractionation enabled identification of other minor compounds not found in total oil such as norisoprenoides, alk-1-enes or chromolaenin. The essential oil showed antimicrobial potential on Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. On the other hand, no antibacterial activity of the oil was observed on Pseudomonas fluorescens and Lysteria monocytogenes.
The Role of Water in Lanthanide-Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation
Authors: Averill Derek J. , Dissanayake Prabani , Allen Matthew J.
Published: February 2012

Luminescence-decay measurements in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography analyses were used to study the relationship between rates of catalysis and water-coordination numbers of europium-based precatalysts in the aqueous Mukaiyama aldol reaction. A correlation between reactivity and water-coordination number was observed and is reported here.
Design and Implementation of an Omni-Directional Underwater Acoustic Micro-Modem Based on a Low-Power Micro-Controller Unit
Authors: Won Tae-Hee , Park Sung-Joon
Published: February 2012

For decades, underwater acoustic communication has been restricted to the point-to-point long distance applications such as deep sea probes and offshore oil fields. For this reason, previous acoustic modems were typically characterized by high data rates and long working ranges at the expense of large size and high power consumption. Recently, as the need for underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) has increased, the research and development of compact and low-power consuming communication devices has become the focus. From the consideration that the requisites of acoustic modems for UWSNs are low power consumption, omni-directional beam pattern, low cost and so on, in this paper, we design and implement an omni-directional underwater acoustic micro-modem satisfying these requirements. In order to execute fast digital domain signal processing and support flexible interfaces with other peripherals, an ARM Cortex-M3 is embedded in the micro-modem. Also, for the realization of small and omni-directional properties, a spherical transducer having a resonant frequency of 70 kHz and a diameter of 34 mm is utilized for the implementation. Physical layer frame format and symbol structure for efficient packet-based underwater communication systems are also investigated. The developed acoustic micro-modem is verified analytically and experimentally in indoor and outdoor environments in terms of functionality and performance. Since the modem satisfies the requirements for use in UWSNs, it could be deployed in a wide range of applications requiring underwater acoustic communication.
The Importance of Knowing When to Stop
Authors: Hofner B. , Schmid M. , Mayr A.
Published: February 2012

Objectives: Component-wise boosting algorithms have evolved into a popular estimation scheme in biomedical regression settings. The iteration number of these algorithms is the most important tuning parameter to optimize their performance. To date, no fully automated strategy for determining the optimal stopping iteration of boosting algorithms has been proposed.

Methods: We propose a fully data-driven sequential stopping rule for boosting algorithms. It combines resampling methods with a modified version of an earlier stopping approach that depends on AIC-based information criteria. The new “subsampling after AIC” stopping rule is applied to component-wise gradient boosting algorithms.

Results: The newly developed sequential stopping rule outperformed earlier approaches if applied to both simulated and real data. Specifically, it improved purely AIC-based methods when used for the microarray-based prediction of the recurrence of meta-stases for stage II colon cancer patients.

Conclusions: The proposed sequential stopping rule for boosting algorithms can help to identify the optimal stopping iteration already during the fitting process of the algorithm, at least for the most common loss functions.
Synthesis of oleophilic electron-rich phenylhydrazines
Authors: Jankowiak Aleksandra , Kaszyński Piotr
Published: February 2012

Phenylhydrazines 1 substituted with two or three long-chain alkyl, alkoxy or alkylsulfanyl groups were successfully prepared by acid-induced removal of the Boc group in hydrazides 2. The reaction is carried out with 5 equivalents of TfOH in CF3CH2OH/CH2Cl2 at −40 °C for 1.5 min. Under these conditions, the deprotected hydrazine 1 is fully protonated, which increases its stability in the reaction medium. The hydrazines were isolated in 60–86% yields and purities >90%. The hydrazides 2 were obtained in 43–71% yields from aryl bromides 5, which were lithiated with t-BuLi and subsequently reacted with di-tert-butyl azodicarboxylate (DTBAD).
The First Android Client Application for the iLab Shared Architecture
Authors: Deaky Bogdan-Alexandru , Garbi Zutin Danilo , Bailey Philip
Published: February 2012

This paper presents the first Android client application developed for online laboratories based on the iLab Shared Architecture. An important challenge was to properly connect to the ISA Service Broker, because its current version was developed with browser-based client applications in mind. The application was successfully tested on a few real-world mobile devices and the experience gained represents the basis for future changes in the Service Broker and for future teleengineering applications that involve Android.
Characterization of a PIAS4 Homologue from Zebrafish: Insights into Its Conserved Negative Regulatory Mechanism in the TRIF, MAVS, and IFN Signaling Pathways during Vertebrate Evolution
Authors: Xiong Ran , Nie Li , Xiang Li-xin , Shao Jian-zhong
Published: February 2012

Members of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) family are key regulators of various human and mammalian signaling pathways, but data on their occurrence and functions in ancient vertebrates are limited. This study characterizes for the first time to our knowledge a PIAS4 homologue (PIAS4a) from zebrafish. Structurally, this zebrafish PIAS4a (zfPIAS4a) shares a number of conserved functional domains with mammalian PIAS4 proteins, including the scaffold attachment factor A/B/acinus/PIAS box, PINIT, and RING-finger–like zinc-binding domains and a highly acidic domain in the C-terminal region. Subcellular localization analysis shows that zfPIAS4a is a nuclear-localized protein and that the C terminus of the molecule harbors strict nuclear localization signals. Functionally, zfPIAS4a expression can be dramatically induced by the stimulation of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid and zebrafish IFNϕ1. It acts as a critical negative regulator of the TIR domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β, mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS), and IFN signaling pathways, and it is the first PIAS protein that plays a role in the MAVS-mediated pathway to be identified. The structure and functionality of PIAS4 seem highly conserved from zebrafish to mammals, making zebrafish an attractive model for screens designed to uncover genes involved in IFN- and inflammatory cytokine-induced signaling pathways. This study provides preliminary evidence that the PIAS regulatory mechanism already existed in fish during vertebrate evolution. It presents valuable clues for improving the understanding of not only the negative regulation of cytokine signaling in fish but also the evolutionary history of the PIAS family from fish to mammals as a whole.
Germline Deletion of Igh 3′ Regulatory Region Elements hs 5, 6, 7 (hs5–7) Affects B Cell-Specific Regulation, Rearrangement, and Insulation of the Igh Locus
Authors: Volpi Sabrina A. , Verma-Gaur Jiyoti , Hassan Rabih , Ju Zhongliang , Roa Sergio , Chatterjee Sanjukta , Werling Uwe , Hou Harry , Will Britta , Steidl Ulrich , Scharff Matthew , Edelman Winfried , Feeney Ann J. , Birshtein Barbara K.
Published: February 2012

Regulatory elements located within an ∼28-kb region 3′ of the Igh gene cluster (3′ regulatory region) are required for class switch recombination and for high levels of IgH expression in plasma cells. We previously defined novel DNase I hypersensitive sites (hs) 5, 6, 7 immediately downstream of this region. The hs 5–7 region (hs5–7) contains a high density of binding sites for CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), a zinc finger protein associated with mammalian insulator activity, and is an anchor for interactions with CTCF sites flanking the DH region. To test the function of hs5–7, we generated mice with an 8-kb deletion encompassing all three hs elements. B cells from hs5–7 knockout (KO) (hs5–7KO) mice showed a modest increase in expression of the nearest downstream gene. In addition, Igh alleles in hs5–7KO mice were in a less contracted configuration compared with wild-type Igh alleles and showed a 2-fold increase in the usage of proximal VH7183 gene families. Hs5–7KO mice were essentially indistinguishable from wild-type mice in B cell development, allelic regulation, class switch recombination, and chromosomal looping. We conclude that hs5–7, a high-density CTCF-binding region at the 3′ end of the Igh locus, impacts usage of VH regions as far as 500 kb away.
Inflammasome-Derived IL-1β Regulates the Production of GM-CSF by CD4+ T Cells and γδ T Cells
Authors: Lukens John R. , Barr Maggie J. , Chaplin David D. , Chi Hongbo , Kanneganti Thirumala-Devi
Published: February 2012

Recent findings have demonstrated an indispensable role for GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. However, the signaling pathways and cell populations that regulate GM-CSF production in vivo remain to be elucidated. Our work demonstrates that IL-1R is required for GM-CSF production after both TCR- and cytokine-induced stimulation of immune cells in vitro. Conventional αβ and γδ T cells were both identified to be potent producers of GM-CSF. Moreover, secretion of GM-CSF was dependent on IL-1R under both IL-12– and IL-23–induced stimulatory conditions. Deficiency in IL-1R conferred significant protection from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and this correlated with reduced production of GM-CSF and attenuated infiltration of inflammatory cells into the CNS. We also find that GM-CSF production in vivo is not restricted to a defined CD4+ T cell lineage but is rather heterogeneously expressed in the effector CD4+ T cell population. In addition, inflammasome-derived IL-1β upstream of IL-1R is a critical regulator of GM-CSF production by T cells during priming, and the adapter protein, MyD88, promotes GM-CSF production in both αβ and γδ T cells. These findings highlight the importance of inflammasome-derived IL-1β and the IL-1R/MyD88 signaling axis in the regulation of GM-CSF production.
Quantification of diesel exhaust gas phase organics by a thermal desorption proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer
Authors: Erickson M. H. , Wallace H. W. , Jobson B. T.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. A new approach was developed to measure the total abundance of long chain alkanes (C12 and above) in urban air using thermal desorption with a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). These species are emitted in diesel exhaust and may be important precursors to secondary organic aerosol production in urban areas. Long chain alkanes undergo dissociative proton transfer reactions forming a series of fragment ions with formula CnH2n+1. The yield of the fragment ions is a function of drift conditions. At a drift field strength of 80 Townsends, the most abundant ion fragments from C10 to C16 n-alkanes were m/z 57, 71 and 85. The PTR-MS is insensitive to n-alkanes less than C8 but displays an increasing sensitivity for larger alkanes. Higher drift field strengths yield greater normalized sensitivity implying that the proton affinity of the long chain n-alkanes is less than H2O. Analysis of diesel fuel shows the mass spectrum was dominated by alkanes (CnH2n+1), monocyclic aromatics, and an ion group with formula CnH2n−1 (m/z 97, 111, 125, 139). The PTR-MS was deployed in Sacramento, CA during the Carbonaceous Aerosols and Radiative Effects Study field experiment in June 2010. The ratio of the m/z 97 to 85 ion intensities in ambient air matched that found in diesel fuel. Total diesel exhaust alkane concentrations calculated from the measured abundance of m/z 85 ranged from the method detection limit of ~1 μg m−3 to 100 μg m−3 in several air pollution episodes. The total diesel exhaust alkane concentration determined by this method was on average a factor of 10 greater than the sum of alkylbenzenes associated with spark ignition vehicle exhaust.
Determination of Total Choline by Liquid Chromatography– Electrospray Ionization–Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Infant Formulas
Authors: Fu Shishan , Tao Baohua , Lai Shiyun , Zhang Jingshun , Yiping Ren
Published: February 2012

Choline is a water-soluble nutrient important for infants' brain and neural development. In infant formulas, choline is one of the important fortified nutrients. A single-laboratory validation study conducted an LC-electrospray ionization-MS/MS to determine total choline in infant formulas. Sample preparation was adopted from AOAC Official MethodSM 999.14, and instrumental running conditions were optimized. The LOQ was 0.2 μg/100 g, which is significant for measuring total choline in infant formulas. Average recoveries for milk-, rice-, soybean-, and hydrolyzed protein-based samples ranged from 86.45 ± 6.04% to 108.98 ± 3.68%, with RSD less than 7%. The repeatability RSD (RSDr) range was 0.24–3.59% in within-day evaluation and 1.16–3.24% in day-to-day evaluation. Matrix effect was also investigated, and can be effectively eliminated by using an internal standard. Therefore, this method has high credibility, and could be used as a routine method of quality control, or for clinical studies and other research areas.
Determination of Natural Pesticides in Fresh Fruits Using Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ruiz Irene , Morales Ascensión , Barba Alberto , Oliva José
Published: February 2012

An analytical procedure was developed for the determination of some natural pesticides (piperonyl butoxide, nicotine, rotenone, spinosad, and abamectin B1a) in fruit matrixes. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was used for extraction. Analysis of the extract was performed by LC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS. The ions prominent in the ESI spectra were [M+Na]+ for abamectin B1a, [M+NH4]+ for piperonyl butoxide, and [M+H]+ for the rest of the compounds. A Zorbax SB-C18 column was used with a programmed gradient mobile phase consisting of (A) water containing 0.1% formic acid and 5 mM ammonium formate, and (B) acetonitrile containing 2 mM sodium acetate. The method was linear within the investigated concentration range, displaying a calibration curve correlation factor of 0.99. The CVs obtained were below 20%, and recoveries were in the 70–110% range.
Determination of Total Iodine in Infant Formula and Nutritional Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry: Single-Laboratory Validation
Authors: Pacquette Lawrence H , Levenson Alan M , Thompson Joseph J
Published: February 2012

A single-laboratory validation by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was developed for the determination total iodine (m/z 127) in infant formula and adult nutritional products. All samples were digested in nitric acid using a closed vessel microwave oven system; Te (m/z 130) was used as an internal standard. To prevent loss of iodine, ammonium hydroxide solution was added to the samples immediately after digestion. The method quantitation limit for total iodine was 0.3 ng/mL, but a practical LOQ was used at 1.0 ng/mL, a concentration at which there was a negligible bias due to nonlinearity. The total iodine concentrations (112–1900 ng/g) in 14 out of 15 nutritional products were within specification limits. Within-day and day-to-day (6 independent days) precision values were <10% RSD. The observed precision for the overall mean (18 independent days) of a control sample was approximately 4% RSD. In two National Institute of Standards and Technology standard reference materials, total iodine results were within certified limits. Sample spike recoveries for all 15 nutritional products were 92–105%. The data show that a conventional microwave oven digestion procedure can be used to prepare samples for iodine determination. Therefore, this technique is very compatible with other methods being proposed as modern official methods for the analysis of minerals in nutritional products.
New Role of Antibody in Bacterial Isolation
Authors: Xiao Xizhi , Chen Yu , Deng Mingjun , Gao Hongwei , Wu Zhenxing , Zhu Laihua , Yuan Fei , Xu Biao , Liang Chengzhu , Zhang Yanming
Published: February 2012

To eliminate the interference caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the isolation of Salmonella, a rabbit polyclonal antibody against P. aeruginosa was prepared by inoculating four New Zealand rabbits with the pathogen. The antiserum was purified using saturated ammonium sulfate and added into Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium with soya (RVS) broth and Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate novobiocin broth (MKTTn broth) to evaluate whether it could inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa. Observations by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that P. aeruginosa was attacked and destroyed by the antibody when incubated for 10 min at 37°C. The activity of the antibody was also effective against 11 other strains of P. aeruginosa. Twenty-six strains of Salmonella were mixed with P. aeruginosa in RVS and MKTTn broth at 37°C for 12 h, respectively, and the cultures were plated on Salmonella chromogenic medium (SCM; Oxoid, Basingstoke, UK). Only Salmonella grew on SCM; five colonies were randomly selected for identification by VITEK 2 (bioMérieux, Lyon, France). Additionally, when mixed with two strains of Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC 700323 and YG001), the prepared antibody did not affect the growth of E. cloacae. The results demonstrated that the microbicidal activity of the antibody did not affect the tested Salmonella sp. or E. cloacae strains. Therefore, the antibody generated could be used to increase the accuracy of Salmonella isolation.
Evaluation of Microwave-Assisted Extraction for the Analysis of Organophosphorus and Pyrethroid Pesticides in Green Onions
Authors: Otake Takamitsu , Kuroda Youko , Aoyagi Yoshie , Yarita Takashi
Published: February 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for the analysis of organophosphorus (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) pesticides in green onions by GC/MS. We optimized MAE extraction solvent, temperature, and time by using a certified reference material. As a result, the concentrations of two OP and two PYR target pesticides obtained by MAE with acetonitrile at 110°C for 10 min were in good agreement with certified concentrations and comparable to the results by homogenization used as reference extraction technique. When the recovery test, performed by spiking the target pesticides into blank samples (5.0 g), was carried out with our optimized MAE conditions, mean recoveries of 16 OP and 10 PYR pesticides were 72–108% for a 1.0 μg spiking level and 70–119% for a 0.2 μg level. These results were acceptable according to the validation guideline for testing method of agricultural chemicals in food by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare in Japan. The results suggested that MAE can be used for the analysis of OP and PYR pesticides in green onions.
Detection of Salmonella in Meat: Comparative and Interlaboratory Validation of a Noncomplex and Cost-Effective Pre-PCR Protocol
Authors: Löfström Charlotta , Hansen Flemming , Mansdal Susanne , Hoorfar Jeffrey
Published: February 2012

Cost-effective and rapid monitoring of Salmonella in the meat production chain can contribute to food safety. The objective of this study was to validate an easy-to-use pre-PCR sample preparation method based on a simple boiling protocol for screening of Salmonella in meat and carcass swab samples using a real-time PCR method. The protocol included incubation in buffered peptone water, centrifugation of an aliquot, and a boiling procedure. The validation study included comparative and interlaboratory trials recommended by the Nordic Organization for Validation of Alternative Microbiological Methods (NordVal). The comparative trial was performed against a reference method (NMKL 187, 2007) and a PCR method previously approved by NordVal with a semiautomated magnetic bead-based DNA extraction step using 122 artificially contaminated samples. The LOD was found to be 3.0, 3.2, and 3.4 CFU/sample for the boiling, magnetic bead-based, and NMKL 187 methods, respectively. When comparing the boiling method with the magnetic beads, the relative accuracy (AC), relative sensitivity (SE), and relative specificity (SP) were 98, 102, and 98%, respectively (Cohen's kappa index 0.95). When comparing results obtained by the boiling to the culture-based method, the AC, SE, and SP were found to be 98, 102, and 98%, respectively (kappa index 0.93). In the interlaboratory trial including valid results from 11 laboratories, apart from two false-positive samples by the boiling method combined with PCR, no deviating results were obtained (SP, SE, and AC were 100, 95, and 97%, respectively). This test is under implementation by the Danish meat industry, and can be useful for screening of large number of samples in the meat production, especially for fast release of minced meat with a short shelf life.
Differentiating the Gum Resins of Two Closely Related Indian Gardenia Species, G. gummifera and G. lucida, and Establishing the Source of Dikamali Gum Resin Using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-UV/MS
Authors: Lakavath Suryanarayana , Avula Bharathi , Wang Yan-Hong , Rumalla Chidananda Swamy , Gandhe Sreekanth , Venkatrao Adavi Rao Belvotagi , Satishchandra Prabhakar Achanta , Bobbala Ravi Kumar , Khan Ikhlas A , Narasimha Appa Rao Achanta Venkata
Published: February 2012

Dikamali is a gum resin obtained from the leaf buds of Gardenia lucida or G. gummifera. There is controversy regarding the botanical source of this gum resin with some stating it to be from G. lucida while others claim it to be from G. gummifera. Analytical methods including UPLC and HPTLC were developed for the qualitative analysis of Gardenia species and various commercial samples. The separation using a UPLC method was achieved within 12.0 min by using C18 column material, a water/acetonitrile mobile phase, both containing formic acid, a gradient system, and a temperature of 40°C. Extensive studies of dikamali collected from various parts of India in comparison with the gum resins collected from G. lucida and G. gummifera clearly indicated that the botanical source of commercially available dikamali is G. lucida, not G. gummifera. The marker compounds isolated from a market sample of dikamali were present only in the gum resin of G. lucida and the compounds isolated from G. gummifera were not present in any of the dikamali samples, confirming the botanical source of dikamali. This work is of utmost importance, given the ambiguity regarding the botanical source of the gum resin dikamali. LC/MS coupled with electrospray ionization is described for the identification and confirmation of nine compounds from various samples of the gum resin. An HPTLC method was also developed for the fast chemical fingerprint analysis of Gardenia samples.
Evaluating potential quagga mussel control measures in Colorado River water
Authors: Takeguchi Wade , Liang Sljn , Yates Richard
Published: February 2012

This research evaluated the efficacy of selected oxidants (chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide, and ozone) and coagulants and coagulant aids (alum, ferric chloride, and polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride [polyDADMAC]) as potential molluscicides for juvenile and adult quagga mussels. Tests were conducted using bench‐ and pilot‐scale flow‐through systems supplied with Colorado River water. The efficacy of each quagga mussel control measure was evaluated in terms of mortality rate, closure‐response, and dose‐response, if applicable. Chlorine, chloramines, chlorine dioxide, and ozone were found to be effective molluscicides. Alum and ferric chloride at the moderate dosages studied here were not effective molluscicides. Although polyDADMAC alone was shown to be an effective molluscicide, combining alum and polyDADMAC resulted in no quagga mussel mortality.
Influence of Thiol Self‐Assembled Monolayer Processing on Bottom‐Contact Thin‐Film Transistors Based on n‐Type Organic Semiconductors
Authors: Youn Jangdae , Dholakia Geetha R. , Huang Hui , Hennek Jonnathan W. , Facchetti Antonio , Marks Tobin J.
Published: February 2012

The performance of bottom‐contact thin‐film transistor (TFT) structures lags behind that of top‐contact structures owing to the far greater contact resistance. The major sources of the contact resistance in bottom‐contact TFTs are believed to reflect a combination of non‐optimal semiconductor growth morphology on the metallic contact surface and the limited available charge injection area versus top‐contact geometries. As a part of an effort to understand the sources of high charge injection barriers in n‐channel TFTs, the influence of thiol metal contact treatment on the molecular‐level structures of such interfaces is investigated using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)‐treated SiO2 gate dielectrics. The focus is on the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) contact surface treatment methods for bottom‐contact TFTs based on two archetypical n‐type semiconductors, α,ω‐diperfluorohexylquarterthiophene (DFH‐4T) and N,N′bis(n‐octyl)‐dicyanoperylene‐3,4:9,10‐bis(dicarboximide) (PDI‐8CN2). TFT performance can be greatly enhanced, to the level of the top contact device performance in terms of mobility, on/off ratio, and contact resistance. To analyze the molecular‐level film structural changes arising from the contact surface treatment, surface morphologies are characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The high‐resolution STM images show that the growth orientation of the semiconductor molecules at the gold/SAM/semiconductor interface preserves the molecular long axis orientation along the substrate normal. As a result, the film microstructure is well‐organized for charge transport in the interfacial region.
Travel demand estimation risk for high‐speed railway transport considering travel price competition
Authors: Uchida Kenetsu , Sugiki Nao
Published: February 2012

The Hokkaido Shinkansen (HS) bullet train line is under consideration to open in 2020. In this study, travel demand is estimated for the HS. Because some explanatory variables that are used for such estimation can have estimation errors, travel demand estimation risk is also calculated. In addition, because the HS can compete with airlines for modal share, the impacts of travel price competition (TPC) on the travel demand and the demand estimation risk are also estimated. In this study, the travel demand estimation risk is measured as the variance or the SD of the stochastic travel demand. The analysis reveals the following: the modal share of HS is 16% less when TPC is considered than when it is not considered; TPC causes the travel demand estimation risk to decrease; the probabilities of the HS operating at a deficit with and without consideration of TPC are calculated as 31.2% and 1.25%, respectively, and the increase in the mean consumer surplus accruing from the HS is calculated as JPY 47bn/year ($US588m/year) without TPC and as JPY 66bn/year ($US825m/year) with TPC. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alternate capacity reliability measures for transportation networks
Authors: Chen Anthony , Kasikitwiwat Panatda , Yang Chao
Published: February 2012

Capacity reliability is defined as the probability that the network capacity can accommodate a certain volume of traffic demand at a required service level. It is a supply‐side reliability measure for assessing the adequacy of a degradable transportation network. The network capacity model used to calculate the capacity reliability measure is based on the concept of reserve capacity, which requires preserving a pre‐determined origin–destination (O–D) demand pattern. In this paper, we relax this assumption by allowing a non‐uniform growth in the spatial distribution of the O–D demand pattern. By using this non‐uniform O–D growth approach, two network capacity models related to the concepts of ultimate capacity and practical capacity are developed to estimate alternate capacity reliability measures. Numerical results are provided to analyze the features of three capacity reliability measures for transportation networks. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study on altered hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates in rats with glycerol‐induced acute renal failure
Authors: Kusaba Jun‐ichi , Kajikawa Noriko , Kawasaki Hiromu , Kurosaki Yuji , Aiba Tetsuya
Published: February 2012

To examine the mechanism accounting for the diverse alteration of hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates observed with renal function being severely impaired, the hepatic drug metabolizing activity was evaluated using liver microsomes prepared from rats with glycerol‐induced acute renal failure (ARF). Midazolam, nifedipine and rifabutin were employed as representative CYP3A substrates. When the Michaelis‐Menten parameters, Km and Vmax, were examined in the incubation study, the Km values of midazolam and nifedipine in ARF rats were shown to decrease by 50.9% and 29.9% compared with the normal value, respectively. The Vmax values of midazolam and nifedipine in ARF rats also decreased by 49.3% and 28.0%, respectively, showing that their decreased Km values accompanied the decreased Vmax values. The parameters of nifedipine seemed to alter to a lesser extent than those of midazolam. As for rifabutin metabolism, the decrease in the Km value was observed in ARF rats, but it did not accompany the decrease in the Vmax value. Then, the hepatic expressions of the CYP3A subfamily were examined with western blotting using anti‐CYP3A1 and anti‐CYP3A2 antibodies. It was revealed that the hepatic expression of CYP3A2 decreased, while that of CYP3A1 was unaffected. Additionally, a band signal deduced to originate from CYP3A9 was clearly detected in ARF, but not in normal rats. Considering each substrate having different specificities for CYP3A subfamily member proteins, individual alterations of hepatic CYP3A subfamily expression seem to underlie the diverse alterations of hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates in ARF rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organization and metamorphosis of glia in the Drosophila visual system
Authors: Edwards Tara N. , Nuschke Andrea C. , Nern Aljoscha , Meinertzhagen Ian A.
Published: February 2012

The visual system of Drosophila is an excellent model for determining the interactions that direct the differentiation of the nervous system's many unique cell types. Glia are essential not only in the development of the nervous system, but also in the function of those neurons with which they become associated in the adult. Given their role in visual system development and adult function we need to both accurately and reliably identify the different subtypes of glia, and to relate the glial subtypes in the larval brain to those previously described for the adult. We viewed driver expression in subsets of larval eye disc glia through the earliest stages of pupal development to reveal the counterparts of these cells in the adult. Two populations of glia exist in the lamina, the first neuropil of the adult optic lobe: those that arise from precursors in the eye‐disc/optic stalk and those that arise from precursors in the brain. In both cases, a single larval source gives rise to at least three different types of adult glia. Furthermore, analysis of glial cell types in the second neuropil, the medulla, has identified at least four types of astrocyte‐like (reticular) glia. Our clarification of the lamina's adult glia and identification of their larval origins, particularly the respective eye disc and larval brain contributions, begin to define developmental interactions which establish the different subtypes of glia. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2067–2085, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.