bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Search of the In Vivo Identity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: da Silva Meirelles Lindolfo , Caplan Arnold I. , Nardi Nance Beyer
Published: June 2008

In spite of the advances in the knowledge of adult stem cells (ASCs) during the past few years, their natural activities in vivo are still poorly understood. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), one of the most promising types of ASCs for cell-based therapies, are defined mainly by functional assays using cultured cells. Defining MSCs in vitro adds complexity to their study because the artificial conditions may introduce experimental artifacts. Inserting these results in the context of the organism is difficult because the exact location and functions of MSCs in vivo remain elusive; the identification of the MSC niche is necessary to validate results obtained in vitro and to further the knowledge of the physiological functions of this ASC. Here we show an analysis of the evidence suggesting a perivascular location for MSCs, correlating these cells with pericytes, and present a model in which the perivascular zone is the MSC niche in vivo, where local cues coordinate the transition to progenitor and mature cell phenotypes. This model proposes that MSCs stabilize blood vessels and contribute to tissue and immune system homeostasis under physiological conditions and assume a more active role in the repair of focal tissue injury. The establishment of the perivascular compartment as the MSC niche provides a basis for the rational design of additional in vivo therapeutic approaches. This view connects the MSC to the immune and vascular systems, emphasizing its role as a physiological integrator and its importance in tissue repair/regeneration.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
The novel inosine analogue, INO-2002, protects against diabetes development in multiple low-dose streptozotocin and non-obese diabetic mouse models of type I diabetes
Authors: Mabley Jon G , Pacher Pal , Murthy Kanneganti G K , Williams William , Southan Garry J , Salzman Andrew L , Szabo Csaba
Published: June 2008

Endogenous purines including inosine have been shown to exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in a variety of disease models. The dosage of inosine required for protection is very high because of the rapid metabolism of inosine in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether a metabolic-resistant purine analogue, INO-2002, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in two animal models of type I diabetes. Type I diabetes was induced chemically with streptozotocin or genetically using the non-obese diabetic (NOD) female mouse model. Mice were treated with INO-2002 or inosine as required at 30, 100, or 200 mg/kg per day, while blood glucose and diabetes incidence were monitored. The effect of INO-2002 on the pancreatic cytokine profile was also determined. INO-2002 reduced both the hyperglycaemia and incidence of diabetes in both streptozotocin-induced and spontaneous diabetes in NOD mice. INO-2002 proved to be more effective in protecting against diabetes than the naturally occurring purine, inosine, when administered at the same dose. INO-2002 treatment decreased pancreatic levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and tumour necrosis factor-α, while increasing levels of IL-4 and IL-10. INO-2002 also reduced pancreatic levels of the chemokine MIP-1α. The inosine analogue, INO-2002, was protected more effectively than the naturally occurring purine, inosine, against development of diabetes in two separate animal models. INO-2002 exerts protective effects by changing the pancreatic cytokine expression from a destructive Th1 to a protective Th2 profile. The use of analogues of inosine such as INO-2002 should be considered as a potential preventative therapy in individuals susceptible to developing type I diabetes.
Reliability of Reservoir Parameters from History Matched Drill Stem Tests
Authors: Dixon Thomas N. , Seinfeld John H. , Startzman Richard A. , Chen W.H.
Published: June 2008

An important use of simulation is to determine reservoir properties by interpreting transient well tests. In general, this determination is carriedout by systematically varying reservoir properties until the pressures computed by the simulator match pressures measured during the well test â?" a procedure known as history matching. Reservoir properties determined by history matching are subject to error. Here we present a method of estimating this error. As an example, we studied the problem of estimating porosity and permeability in both a homogeneous reservoir and one in which damage is present in the vicinity of the well. Results presented indicate that the accuracy of calculated reservoir parameters depends on (1) the type of parameter estimated, (2) the number of parameters estimated, (3) the true value of the parameters and (4) the design of the well test.

Introduction

Research efforts in history-matching reservoir simulators have principally been directed toward improving and extending existing techniques with respect to decreasing computing time. Little attention has been paid, however, to the analysis of the accuracy of the parameter values from the history match. Without such an analysis, parameter estimates from history matching might be meaningless. The problem is to estimate errors in parameter values determined by history matching.

The theory that is presented in the Appendix is applicable in general to multiphase, two-dimensional simulators. However, as an illustration, we apply the theory to the well known radial form of the diffusion equation, describing the transient behavior of pressure in a radial, horizontal reservoir containing a single-phase fluid of small and constant compressibility. The equation allows for permeabilities to change with radial distance from a wellbore â?" a situation that might be encountered if damage is present. We assume that the reservoir is finite. Furthermore, we assume that the well produces at a constant rate for a certain time and then is shut in. Thus, both drawdown and buildup takes place. No wellbore storage effects are considered.
Fifteen Years of Progress in Catalytic Treating of Exhaust Gas
Authors: Barstow W.F. , Watt Gary W.
Published: June 2008

For over half a century, producers of petroleum products have been seeking an inexpensive gas to inject into subsurface formations for diverse applications. Natural gas has widely been used for this service, but its value has increased to the point where it is uneconomical to use in most instances. In many locations, the natural gas supply is diminishing or is completely nonexistent and a substitute must be found.

Stack or flue gases from steam boiler plants and the exhaust from gas-burning or oil-burning engines have long been considered as a potential source of cheap inert gas for this service. As early as 1924, a plant was built in Texas in an attempt to produce large quantities of inert gas from a mixture of boiler stack gas and engine exhaust. It was never successful because of severe corrosion incompression equipment. An inert gas installation that has become well-known to the industry is Amoco's Elk Basin Plant in Wyoming. It began operation in 1949injecting boiler stack gas into a reservoir. In early stages of operation, this plant encountered severe corrosion in compression and related equipment that was later alleviated, but not completely eliminated, through ammonia injection at several points within the system. The plant operated more or less continuously for over twenty years when injection into that field was abandoned.

Many other abortive attempts have been made over the years to produce a compressible inert gas from engine exhaust, from boiler stack gas or from combinations of the two. In most cases they were complete failures. Some did have limited success but all were short lived due to the corrosive qualities of the gas.

In the year 1959, the first successful system for producing noncorrosive inert gas from internal combustion engine exhaust was installed and put on-stream in a Louisiana oil-producing field.
Identification of Suspended Sediment Sources Using Soil Characteristics in a Semiarid Watershed
Authors: Rhoton F. E. , Emmerich W. E. , DiCarlo D. A. , McChesney D. S. , Nearing M. A. , Ritchie J. C.
Published: June 2008

Identification of primary sediment source areas in watersheds is necessary to ensure that best management practices are installed in areas that maximize reductions in sediment and chemical loadings of receiving waters. Our objectives were to use a soil geomorphology–erodibility approach to locate sediment sources in the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed (WGEW). Major soil mapping units were sampled along transects in six subwatersheds (SWs). At each sampling point, latitude–longitude, slope gradient, slope aspect, and hillslope position were recorded. Samples collected from the surface 5.0 cm were characterized for a range of basic soil characterization properties. Additionally,137Cs,40K,226Ra, and stable C isotope distributions were quantified as potential source area indicators. Suspended sediment samples collected from WGEW and SW flumes were characterized for the same properties. Relative to the SW soils, the suspended sediments were generally enriched in silt, clay, organic C, inorganic C, total N, extractable cations, extractable Fe and Mn,13C from C3 plants,40K, and226Ra. The suspended sediment from three SWs was enriched in137Cs. Eleven characterization parameters were used in a multivariate mixing model to identify the SWs contributing the greatest sediment loads in the WGEW. The mixing model results indicated that three SWs were contributing approximately 86% of the sediment, and that the greatest amount originated in the three SWs with the lowest soil aggregation index (highest erodibility).These results were supported by the δ13C data, which indicated that approximately 65% of the stable C isotopes leaving the WGEW during this period were derived from C3 plants (shrubs), the dominant vegetation on the three SWs.
Indications for Soil Carbon Saturation in a Temperate Agroecosystem
Authors: Chung Haegeun , Grove John H. , Six Johan
Published: June 2008

The soil C saturation concept postulates that there is an upper limit to the equilibrium soil C level of mineral soils even when soil C input is increased. To test this concept, we analyzed the relationship between steady‐state soil C input and soil organic C (SOC) concentration in a temperate corn (Zea mays L.) agroecosystem experiment located in Lexington, KY. In this experiment, a gradient in plant productivity and consequent C input to the soil was produced with four N application rates (0, 84, 168, and 336 kg N ha−1 yr−1) under two disturbance regimes, no‐till (NT) and moldboard plowing (MP). We examined whether physical protection of organic matter by soil aggregation and chemical protection by association with silt and clay particles led to SOC saturation. We used wet sieving to physically separate SOC pools that differ in C stabilization potential, and determined the C sequestration in each fraction. Total SOC was positively related to C input, and this was primarily due to C stabilization in small macroaggregates. In both tillage systems, however, microaggregate C and silt‐plus‐clay C did not increase with greater C input. Within the small macroaggregates, coarse particulate organic matter C and microaggregate C increased with C input, but there was no increase in silt‐plus‐clay C. Our results indicate that soil fractions with low C stabilization potential exhibit C saturation behavior. Apparent C saturation of some of the fractions indicates that SOC pools have a limited capacity to stabilize added C and that such a limit to C stabilization will constrain the ecosystem services provided by these SOC pools.
Nitrite Reduction by Siderite
Authors: Rakshit Sudipta , Matocha Christopher J. , Coyne Mark S.
Published: June 2008

Nitrate‐dependent Fe(II) oxidation is an important process in the inhibition of soil Fe(III) reduction, yet the mechanisms are poorly understood. One proposed pathway includes chemical reoxidation of mineral forms of Fe(II) such as siderite [FeCO3(s)] by NO2− Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate the reactivity of FeCO3(s) with NO2− Stirred‐batch reactions were performed in an anoxic chamber across a range of pH values (5.5, 6, 6.5, and 7.9), initial FeCO3(s) concentrations (5, 10, and 15 g L−1) and initial NO2− concentrations (0.83–9.3 mmol L−1) for kinetic and stoichiometric determinations. Solid‐phase products were characterized using x‐ray diffraction (XRD). Siderite abiotically reduced NO2− to N2O. During the process, FeCO3(s) was oxidized to lepidocrocite [γ‐FeOOH(s)] based on the appearance of XRD peaks located at 0.624, 0.329, and 0.247 nm. The rate of NO2− reduction was first order in total NO2− concentration and FeCO3(s), with a second‐order rate coefficient (k) of 0.55 ± 0.05 M−1 h−1 at pH 5.5 and 25°C. The reaction was proton assisted and k values increased threefold as pH decreased from 7.9 to 5.5. The influence of pH on NO2− reduction was rationalized in terms of the availability of FeCO3(s) surface sites (>FeHCO30, >FeOH2+, and >CO3Fe+) and HNO2 concentration. These findings indicate that if FeCO3(s) is present in an Fe(III)‐reducing soil where fertilizer NO3− is applied, it can participate in secondary chemical reactions with NO2− and lead to an inhibition in Fe(III) reduction. This process is relevant in soil environments where NO3−– and Fe(III)‐reducing zones overlap or across aerobic–anaerobic interfaces.
Face Verification Using Modeled Eigenspectrum
Authors: Manda Bappaditya , Jiang Xudong , Kot Alex
Published: June 2008

Face verification is different from face identification task. Some traditional subspace methods that work well in
face identification may suffer from severe over-fitting problem when applied for the verification task. Conventional discriminative
methods such as linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and its variants are highly sensitive to the training data,
which hinders them from achieving high verification accuracy. This work proposes an eigenspectrum model that alleviates
the over-fitting problems by replacing the unreliable small and zero eigenvalues with the model values. It also enables
the discriminant evaluation in the whole space to extract the low dimensional features effectively. The proposed approach
is evaluated and compared with 8 popular subspace based methods for a face verification task. Experimental results on
three face databases show that the proposed method consistently outperforms others.
Liberal Democracy and the Challenge of Ethical Diversity
Authors: Rossi Enzo
Published: June 2008

Liberal Democracy and the Challenge of Ethical Diversity

What do we talk about when we talk about ethical diversity as a challenge to the normative justifiability of liberal democracy? Many theorists claim that liberal democracy ought to be reformed or rejected for not being sufficiently ‘inclusive’ towards diversity; others argue that, on the contrary, liberalism is desirable because it accommodates (some level of) diversity. Moreover, it has been argued that concern for diversity should lead us to favour (say) neutralistic over perfectionist, universalistic over particularistic, participative over representative versions of liberal democracy. This paper provides a conceptual framework to situate those debates, and argues that there are two fundamental ways in which diversity constitutes a challenge to the justificatory status of liberal democracy: consistency (whereby diversity causes clashes between the prescriptions generated by normative political theories), and adequacy (whereby diversity generates a rift between our experience of what is considered valuable and what the theory treats as such).
Ethical, Religious and Legal Arguments in the Current Debate over Euthanasia in Spain
Authors: Siurana Juan , Tamarit Isabel , de Tienda Lidia
Published: June 2008

Ethical, Religious and Legal Arguments in the Current Debate over Euthanasia in Spain

In the last ten years, there have been several cases in Spain (Ramón Sampedro, Leganés, Jorge León that have led to an intense social debate on euthanasia. The recent case of Inmaculada Echevarría, a woman suffering from a serious disease that kept her immobilized in bed, has revived the debate on euthanasia in Spain. On 18 October 2006 she held a press conference and publicly asked to be disconnected from the ventilator that kept her alive. After a long ethical, religious, legal, and social debate, the patient was disconnected on 14 March 2007 after being adequately sedated. As a consequence, the patient died. In our paper we defend the need for a radical and intercultural democracy and present the main ethical, religious and legal arguments on euthanasia that are being posed in Spain and in Europe as a debate that should help to build a radical and intercultural democracy at a European level.
The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union: Challenges to Democracy?1
Authors: Malová Darina , Dolný Branislav
Published: June 2008

The Eastern Enlargement of the European Union: Challenges to Democracy?1

Recent scholarship assesses the impact of the European Union's conditionality on democracy in Central and Eastern Europe in a contradictory way. On one hand, the EU is perceived as a key agent of successful democratic consolidation and on other hand, the return of nationalist and populist politics in new member states has been explored in the context of the negative consequences of the hasty accession that undermined government accountability and constrained public debate over policy alternatives. This article explains this puzzle of the ambiguous effects of the EU's politics of conditionality, which promoted institutions stabilizing the horizontal division of powers, rule of law, human and minority rights protection, but which neglected norms and rules of participatory and/or popular democracy.
On Conditions of Participation: The Deficits of Public Reason
Authors: Hrubec Marek
Published: June 2008

On Conditions of Participation: The Deficits of Public Reason

The paper analyzes the conditions of civic participation that are elucidated by criticism of the deficits of public reason. The interpretation proceeds in three steps. First, the idea of public reason and discourse is analyzed, followed by an explanation of democratic deficit and of the social deficit in the second and third steps, respectively. These deficits are analyzed as an essential limit to political and social conditions of the participation of citizens. The analysis focuses thereby on the theory of public reason by one of the most influential political philosophers of the last decades, John Rawls. The paper identifies two main pitfalls in his theory: first, the deficit following from an inadequate integration of an individual into society, which, in this case, represents democratic deficit, second, the deficit linked with underrating the socio-distributive dimension of justice, which means a social deficit.
National Perceptions and Their Stereotypization
Authors: Pichler Tibor
Published: June 2008

National Perceptions and Their Stereotypization
Forecasting the pattern and pace of Fagus forest expansion in Majella National Park, Italy
Authors: van Gils Hein , Batsukh Orgil , Rossiter David , Munthali Wizaso , Liberatoscioli Elena
Published: June 2008

Question: Can the pattern and pace of spontaneous Fagus forest expansion from 1975 to 2003 be accurately detected with mid‐resolution satellite imagery? Can the historical Fagus expansion be modelled on the basis of environmental predictors? If so, where are the highest probabilities for future Fagus expansion? What are the implications for park management?

Location: Majella National Park, Italy, > 1000 m a.s.l.; municipalities of S. Eufemia and Pacentro.

Methods: Fagus cover change was detected by overlaying three classified sequential satellite images. Historical Fagus expansion was related to environmental variables using ordinary logistic and autologistic regression models. Fagus expansion probabilities were generated with the best predictive model.

Results: From 1975 to 2003 Fagus advanced into abandoned farmland and subalpine pastures from the contiguous, midaltitudinal Fagus forest and from Fagus outliers, at a rate of 1.2 % per year. Substantial spatial and temporal variations in expansion rates were detected. The ordinary and autologistic models based on the single predictor Distance‐from‐Fagus‐1975 forecasted the Fagus expansion well (AUC 0.81 resp. 0.88). Multiple logistic models, including the topo‐climatic and substrate predictors, improved prediction insignificantly. The strong predictive power of proximity to historical Fagus presence is explained by the dispersal biology of Fagus combined with the shading impact of the Fagus canopy at the forest fringe.

Conclusion: Decade‐long Fagus expansion patterns might be reliably forecasted by proximity to historical Fagus distribution. Consequences for park management options are outlined.
AIR POLLUTION BURNING DIFFERENT KINDS OF WOOD IN SMALL POWER BOILERS/APLINKOS ORO TARŠA DEGINANT SKIRTINGAS MEDIENOS KURO RŪŠIS MAŽO GALINGUMO KATILUOSE/ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЕ АТМОСФЕРНОГО ВОЗДУХА ГАЗОВЫМИ ВЫБРОСАМИ ПРИ СЖИГАНИИ РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ВИДОВ ДРЕВЕСНОГО ТОПЛИВА В КOТЛAX НEБOЛЬШOЙ МOЩНOCТИ
Authors: Gimbutaitė Inga , Venckus Zenonas
Published: June 2008

Experimental investigations have been performed, during which different kinds of wood have been burnt (firewood, wood granules, wood briquettes, sawdust) with the aim to determine the quantities of gases emitted in the air. For the investigation a water boiler burnt by solid fuel with a nominal capacity of 20 kW was applied. For testing gas analyser Testo‐350 was used to measure the quantity of gas dispersed into the air (in carbon monoxide ‐ CO and nitrogen oxides ‐NOx smoke, the quantity of oxygen ‐ O2, the smoke temperature of concentrations in the measurement spot). The quantities of harmful gaseous materials have been measured burning different kinds of wood. The smallest quantities of gaseous materials have been obtained in the process of burning wood granules. The possibility to regulate the combustion process diminishes the gas emission. Santrauka Eksperimentiniu tyrimu metu buvo deginamas ivairiu rūšiu medienos kuras ‐ malkos, granules, briketai ir pjuvenos, siekiant nustatyti degimo metu i aplinkos ora išsiskiriančiu duju kiekius. Tyrimams naudotas kietojo kuro vandens šildymo katilas, skirtas ivairioms patalpoms šildyti, kurio nominalusis galingumas 20 kW. Bandymo metu duju analizatoriumi Testo‐350 išmatuotos degimo metu i aplinkos ora išsiskiriančiu duju ‐ anglies monoksido (CO), azoto oksidu (NOx) koncentracijos dūmuose, deguonies (O2) kiekis, taip pat dūmu temperatūra koncentraciju matavimo vietoje. Išanalizuoti išsiskyrusiu degimo metu dujiniu teršalu kiekiai deginant skirtingas medienos kuro rūšis. Mažiausiai dujiniu medžiagu, palyginti su kitomis medienos kuro rūšimis, susidaro deginant granules. Galimybe reguliuoti granuliu degimo procesa sumažina išmetamu duju kieki. Резюме Проведены экспериментальные исследования сжигания различных видов древесного топлива – дров, гранул, брикетов, опилок – с целью установить количество попадающих в атмосферу газовых выбросов, образующихся во время сжигания. Для эксперимента использован водяной котел, подогреваемый твердым топливом. Мощность котла – 20 kW. Газовые выбросы, попадающие в атмосферу в процессе горения, измерялись газовым анализатором Testo-350. Установлены концентрации CO и NOx в дымовом потоке, количество O2 , температура дыма в местах измерения концентраций. Проанализированы количественные показатели газовых выбросов, образовавшихся при сжигании различных видов древесины. Наименьшее количество газовых выбросов по сравнению с другими видами древесного топлива образуется при сжигании древесных гранул. Возможность регулировать процесс сжигания гранул уменьшает эмисcию газов.
Synthetic Studies on (+)‐Biotin, Part 11: Application of Cinchona Alkaloid‐Mediated Asymmetric Alcoholysis of meso‐Cyclic Anhydride in the Total Synthesis of (+)‐Biotin
Authors: Dai Hui‐Fang , Chen Wen‐Xue , Zhao Lei , Xiong Fei , Sheng Hao , Chen Fen‐Er
Published: June 2008

A practical and asymmetric process for the total synthesis of (+)‐biotin (1) has been accomplished starting from cis‐1,3‐dibenzyl‐2‐oxoimidazolidine‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid (2). This approach features a highly enantioselective alcoholysis of meso‐cyclic anhydride 3 into (4S,5R)‐cinnamyl hemiester 4 mediated by Cinchona alkaloids. Another attractive feature of this synthesis involves the use of recyclable palladium nanoparticles‐catalyzed assembly of the 4‐carboxybutyl chain at C‐4 in (3aS,6aR)‐thiolactone 7 employing an improved Fukuyama‐type cross‐coupling reaction
Copper‐Catalyzed Four‐Component Coupling between Aldehydes, Amines, Alkynes, and Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Yoo Woo‐Jin , Li Chao‐Jun
Published: June 2008

A simple and efficient synthesis of oxazolidinones was developed through a copper‐catalyzed coupling of aldehydes, amines, and terminal alkynes under atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide.
Co‐occurring conditions associated with FMR1 gene variations: Findings from a national parent survey
Authors: Bailey Donald B. , Raspa Melissa , Olmsted Murrey , Holiday David B.
Published: June 2008

Parents enrolling in a national survey of families of children with fragile X (FX) reported whether each of their children had been diagnosed or treated for developmental delay or eight conditions frequently associated with FX: attention problems, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, self‐injury, autism, seizures, anxiety, or depression. This article reports results for 976 full mutation males, 259 full mutation females, 57 premutation males, and 199 premutation females. Co‐occurring conditions were frequently reported for all FMR1 gene variations. The number of co‐occurring conditions experienced was strongly associated with parent reports of their child's ability to learn, adaptability, and quality of life. Most individuals with the full mutation experienced multiple co‐occurring conditions, with a modal number of 4 for males and 2 for females. Most (>80%) full mutation males and females had been diagnosed or treated for attention problems. Premutation males, when compared with a matched group of non‐FX males, were more likely to have been diagnosed or treated for developmental delay, attention problems, aggression, seizures, autism, and anxiety. Premutation females were more likely to have been diagnosed or treated for attention problems, anxiety, depression, and developmental delay. Clusters of conditions were identified, seeming to occur in an additive fashion. Self‐injury, autism, and seizures rarely occurred in isolation, but were more likely in individuals who also had problems with attention, anxiety, and hyperactivity. The findings provide a reference point for future studies on the prevalence and nature of co‐occurring conditions in FX; suggest the possibility that certain conditions cluster together; provide evidence that male and female carriers experience elevated rates of co‐occurring conditions compared with matched groups of non‐carrier children; and emphasize the importance of including an assessment of co‐occurring conditions in any clinical evaluation of individuals with abnormal variation in the FMR1 gene. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of exposure to war stress on exacerbations of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Golan Daniel , Somer Eli , Dishon Sara , Cuzin‐Disegni Limor , Miller Ariel
Published: June 2008

Objective

To assess the relation between stress caused by the perils of rocket attack on civilian centers in northern Israel during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations.

Methods

Participants were 156 patients with relapsing‐remitting MS. We compared the number of relapses during and after the war with similar time periods at the preceding year. Exposure to war events and resulting subjective stress were evaluated by means of structured interviews using questionnaires previously validated.

Results

During the 33 days of the war, there were 18 relapses among our patients, compared with 1 to 6 relapses in similar time periods over the 12 months before the war (p < 0.001–0.02). There was no increase in relapse rate during the 3 months that followed the war (p = 0.58). The percentage of patients reporting the experience of intense subjective stress during the hostilities was significantly greater among patients with wartime relapse compared with the rest of the patients (44 vs 20%). The proportion of patients reporting high levels of distress associated with exposure to rocket attacks, displacement from home, and perceived life threat was greater in relapsing patients compared with those in remission (67 vs 42%, p = 0.05; 33 vs 11%, p = 0.02; and 33 vs 15%, p = 0.08, respectively).

Interpretation

Our data suggest that civilian exposure to war stress is associated with increased risk for MS relapse. These findings provide insight to stress‐related risk factors associated with relapses of MS. Ann Neurol 2008
Functional imaging: II. Prediction of epilepsy surgery outcome
Authors: Knowlton Robert C. , Elgavish Rotem A. , Bartolucci Al , Ojha Buddhiwardhan , Limdi Nita , Blount Jeffrey , Burneo Jorge G. , Ver Hoef Lawrence , Paige Lebron , Faught Edward , Kankirawatana Pongkiat , Riley Kristen , Kuzniecky Ruben
Published: June 2008

Objective

To gain information on the value of magnetic source imaging (MSI), 2‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET), and ictal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to predict seizure‐free outcome following epilepsy surgery in patients who require intracranial electroencephalography (ICEEG).

Methods

This work was part of a prospective observation study of epilepsy surgery candidates not sufficiently localized with scalp EEG and MRI. Of 160 patients enrolled 62 completed ICEEG and subsequent surgical resection. Sixty‐one percent resulted in an Engel I seizure‐free outcome at a minimum of one‐year follow‐up (mean = 3.4 years). Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were computed for each modality. Multivariate logistical regression was used to identify prediction of surgical outcome by imaging test.

Results

MSI sensitivity for a conclusively localized study was 55% with a positive predictive value of 78%. Eliminating non‐diagnostic MSI cases (no spikes captured during recording) yielded a corrected negative predictive value of 64%. With available comparison subgroups FDG‐PET and ictal SPECT values were similar to MSI. The OR (adjusted for epilepsy and MRI classification) for MSI prediction of seizure‐free outcome was 4.4 (p =0.01). In cases with both PET and MSI, the adjusted OR for PET was 7.1 (p <0.01) and for MSI was 6.4 (p = 0.01). In the cases with all three tests (n = 27), ictal SPECT had the highest OR of 9.1 (p = 0.05).

Interpretation

MSI, FDG‐PET, and ictal SPECT each have clinical value in predicting seizure‐free surgical outcome in epilepsy surgery candidates who typically require ICEEG. Ann Neurol 2008
Lewis Acid Catalyzed Benzylic Bromination
Authors: Shibatomi Kazutaka , Zhang Yanhua , Yamamoto Hisashi
Published: June 2008

The Lewis acid catalyzed bromination of aromatic side chains was achieved efficiently by using 1,3‐dibromo‐5,5‐dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH) as the bromination reagent under mild conditions. Zirconium(IV) chloride showed the highest catalytic activity for this benzylic bromination. It was revealed that the present Lewis acid catalysis proceeds by the radical‐generation pathway. In contrast, Brønsted acids promoted aromatic‐ring bromination without any benzylic bromination. Monobromination of tetramethylsilane was also demonstrated with zirconium(IV) chloride and DBDMH to provide the desired product in good yield.
Kinetic modeling analysis of maleic acid‐catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis in corn stover
Authors: Lu Yulin , Mosier Nathan S.
Published: June 2008

Maleic acid‐catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis reaction in corn stover was analyzed by kinetic modeling. Kinetic constants for Saeman and biphasic hydrolysis models were analyzed by an Arrhenius‐type expansion which include activation energy and catalyst concentration factors. The activation energy for hemicellulose hydrolysis by maleic acid was determined to be 83.3 ± 10.3 kJ/mol, which is significantly lower than the reported Ea values for sulfuric acid catalyzed hemicellulose hydrolysis reaction. Model analysis suggest that increasing maleic acid concentrations from 0.05 to 0.2 M facilitate improvement in xylose yields from 40% to 85%, while the extent of improvement flattens to near‐quantitative by increasing catalyst loading from 0.2 to 1 M. The model was confirmed for the hydrolysis of corn stover at 1 M maleic acid concentrations at 150°C, resulting in a xylose yield of 96% of theoretical. The refined Saeman model was used to evaluate the optimal condition for monomeric xylose yield in the maleic acid‐catalyzed reaction: low temperature reaction conditions were suggested, however, experimental results indicated that bi‐phasic behavior dominated at low temperatures, which may be due to the insufficient removal of acetyl groups. A combination of experimental data and model analysis suggests that around 80–90% xylose yields can be achieved at reaction temperatures between 100 and 150°C with 0.2 M maleic acid. Biotechnol. Bioeng. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of the Acid–Base Properties of Ribose and 2′‐Deoxyribose Nucleotides
Authors: Mucha Ariel , Knobloch Bernd , Jeżowska‐Bojczuk Małgorzata , Kozłowski Henryk , Sigel Roland K. O.
Published: June 2008

The extent to which the replacement of a ribose unit by a 2′‐deoxyribose unit influences the acid–base properties of nucleotides has not hitherto been determined in detail. In this study, by potentiometric pH titrations in aqueous solution, we have measured the acidity constants of the 5′‐di‐ and 5′‐triphosphates of 2′‐deoxyguanosine [i.e., of H2(dGDP)− and H2(dGTP)2−] as well as of the 5′‐mono‐, 5′‐di‐, and 5′‐triphosphates of 2′‐deoxyadenosine [i.e., of H2(dAMP)±, H2(dADP)−, and H2(dATP)2−]. These 12 acidity constants (of the 56 that are listed) are compared with those of the corresponding ribose derivatives (published data) measured under the same experimental conditions. The results show that all protonation sites in the 2′‐deoxynucleotides are more basic than those in their ribose counterparts. The influence of the 2′‐OH group is dependent on the number of 5′‐phosphate groups as well as on the nature of the purine nucleobase. The basicity of N7 in guanine nucleotides is most significantly enhanced (by about 0.2 pK units), while the effect on the phosphate groups and the N1H or N1H+ sites is less pronounced but clearly present. In addition, 1H NMR chemical shift change studies in dependence on pD in D2O have been carried out for the dAMP, dADP, and dATP systems, which confirmed the results from the potentiometric pH titrations and showed the nucleotides to be in their anti conformations. Overall, our results are not only of relevance for metal ion binding to nucleotides or nucleic acids, but also constitute an exact basis for the calculation, determination, and understanding of perturbed pKa values in DNAzymes and ribozymes, as needed for the delineation of acid–base mechanisms in catalysis.
A new definition of life
Authors: Carroll James D.
Published: June 2008

Chirality is often glossed over in theoretical or experimental discussions concerning the origin of life, but the ubiquity of homochiral building blocks in known biological systems demands explanation. Information theory can provide a quantitative framework for understanding the role of chirality in biology. Here I show how conclusions derived from information theory, in particular the concept of equivocation, can explain not only why chiral building blocks are necessary in living systems but also why a homochiral set of building blocks is necessary. These results lead to a new definition of life, and to the conclusion that the simplest form of life exists in the form of self‐amplifying, autocatalytic reactions such as the Soai reaction. Chirality, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Configurable 3D‐integrated focal‐plane cellular sensor–processor array architecture
Authors: Földesy Péter , Zarándy Ákos , Rekeczky Csaba
Published: June 2008

Mixed‐signal cellular visual microprocessor architecture with digital processors is described. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) implementation is also demonstrated. The architecture is composed of a regular sensor readout circuit array, prepared for 3D face‐to‐face‐type integration, and one or several cascaded array of mainly identical (single instruction multiple data, SIMD) processing elements. The individual array elements were derived from the same general Hardware Description Language (HDL) description and could be of different sizes, aspect ratio, and computing resources. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sonic hedgehog is required for the assembly and remodeling of branchial arch blood vessels
Authors: Kolesová Hana , Roelink Henk , Grim Miloš
Published: June 2008

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen involved in many developmental processes. Injection of cells (5E1) that produce a Shh‐blocking antibody causes an attenuation of the Shh response, and this causes vascular malformations and impaired remodeling characterized by hemorrhages and protrusions of the anterior cardinal vein and outflow tract, delayed fusion of the dorsal aortae, impaired branching of the internal carotid artery, and delayed remodeling of the aortic arches. Distribution of smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall is unchanged. In 5E1‐injected embryos, we also observed impaired assembly of endothelial cells into vascular tubes, particularly in the sixth branchial arch, around the anterior cardinal vein and around the dorsal aorta. In 5E1‐treated embryos, increased numbers of macrophage‐like cells, apoptotic cells, and a decreased level of proliferation were observed in head mesenchyme. Together, these observations show that Shh signaling is required at multiple stages for proper vessel formation and remodeling. Developmental Dynamics 237:1923–1934, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression patterns of the opsin 5–related genes in the developing chicken retina
Authors: Tomonari Sayuri , Migita Kyoichi , Takagi Akira , Noji Sumihare , Ohuchi Hideyo
Published: June 2008

The opsin gene family encodes G protein–coupled seven‐transmembrane proteins that bind to a retinaldehyde chromophore for photoreception. It has been reported that opsin 5 is expressed in mammalian neural tissue, but its function has been elusive. As a first step to understand the function for opsin 5 in the developing eye, we searched for chicken opsin 5‐related genes in the genome by a bioinformatic approach and isolated opsin 5 cDNA fragments from the embryonic retina by RT‐PCR. We found that there are three opsin 5–related genes, designated cOpn5m (chicken opsin 5, mammalian type), cOpn5L1 (chicken opsin 5‐like 1), and cOpn5L2 (chicken opsin 5‐like 2), in the chicken genome. Quantitative PCR analysis has revealed that cOpn5m is the most abundant in the developing and early posthatching neural retina. In situ hybridization analysis has shown that cOpn5m is specifically expressed in subsets of differentiating ganglion cells and amacrine cells. These results suggest that the mammalian type opsin 5 may contribute to the development of these retinal cells in the chicken. Developmental Dynamics 237:1910–1922, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hsp60C is required in follicle as well as germline cells during oogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sarkar Surajit , Lakhotia S.C.
Published: June 2008

This figure shows stage 10 (left) and stage 12 (right) wild type egg chambers stained for F‐actin (red) and hsp60 (green). See Sarkar and Lakhotia, Developmental Dynamics 237:1334‐1347. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tobacco use and comorbidity in bulimia nervosa
Authors: Sandager Nora , Peterson Carol B. , Allen Sharon , Henderson Katherine E. , Crow Scott , Thuras Paul
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE:

To compare comorbid psychopathology and substance use among women with bulimia nervosa (BN) based on smoking status.

METHOD:

Forty women diagnosed with BN (20 smokers, 20 nonsmokers) completed written self‐report measures of depressive symptoms, substance use, and alcohol abuse.

RESULTS:

Smokers reported more symptoms of depression and alcohol abuse and were more likely to use alcohol than nonsmokers, whereas caffeine consumption did not significantly differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSION:

Smokers with BN may represent a distinct subtype characterized by high rates of comorbid depression and alcohol abuse. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008
Evaluation of reduced rank semiparametric models to assess excess of risk in cluster analysis
Authors: Geraci Marco , Lawson Andrew B.
Published: June 2008

The existence of multiple environmental hazards is obviously a threat to human health and, from a statistical point of view, the modeling and the detection of disease clusters potentially related to those hazards offer challenging tasks. In this paper, we consider low rank thin plate spline (TPS) models within a semiparametric approach to focused clustering for small area health data. Both the distance from a putative source and a general, unspecified clustering process are modeled in the same fashion and they are entered log‐additively in mixed Poisson‐Normal models. Some issues related to the identification of the random effects arising from this approach are investigated. Under different simulated scenarios, we evaluate the proposed models using conditional Akaike's weights and tests for variance components, providing a comprehensive model selection methodology easy to implement. We examine observations of lung cancer deaths taken in Ohio between 1987 and 1988. These data were analyzed on several occasions to investigate the risk associated with a putative source in Hamilton county. In our analysis, we found a strong south‐eastward spatial trend which is confounded with a significant radial distance effect decreasing between 0 and 150 km from the point source. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Booming development of biofuels for transport: Is fire safety of concern?
Authors: Marlair Guy , Rotureau Patricia , Breulet Hervé , Brohez Sylvain
Published: June 2008

Three decades after the pioneering development of sugarcane ethanol in Brazil, the arrival of the new century has seen a worldwide boom in the automotive biofuel industry. Although fire safety of biofuels has not been perceived so far as a potential barrier to sustainability of their development, very limited scientific work can be found on the matter. This paper is a first contribution to the discussion of these issues within the fire safety community. It aims at identifying research needs from an initial overview based on existing safety data pertaining to currently available biofuels for transport. The paper comprises a first analysis of fire risk typology presented by such biofuel technologies, including first lessons from recent accidents. At first sight, when considering aspects of fire safety from a technical point of view, it seems a simple problem, but analysis shows that from the point of view of safety of biofuels, it is not correct to summarize the regulatory position by simply saying that fuel ethanol is a flammable product, whereas biodiesel is not. Clearly, a more in‐depth analysis of fire safety issues is needed that will also have to consider significant changes in biofuel technologies in the future. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The salient characteristics of the central effects of acupuncture needling: Limbic‐paralimbic‐neocortical network modulation
Authors: Fang Jiliang , Jin Zhen , Wang Yin , Li Ke , Kong Jian , Nixon Erika E. , Zeng Yawei , Ren Yanshuang , Tong Haibin , Wang Yinghui , Wang Ping , Hui Kathleen Kin‐Sang
Published: June 2008

Human and animal studies suggest that acupuncture produces many beneficial effects through the central nervous system. However, the neural substrates of acupuncture actions are not completely clear to date. fMRI studies at Hegu (LI4) and Zusanli (ST36) indicated that the limbic system may play an important role for acupuncture effects. To test if this finding applies to other major classical acupoints, fMRI was performed on 10 healthy adults during manual acupuncture at Taichong (LV3), Xingjian (LV2), Neiting (ST44), and a sham point on the dorsum of the left foot. Although certain differences could be observed between real and sham points, the hemodynamic response (BOLD signal changes) and psychophysical response (sensory experience) to acupuncture were generally similar for all four points. Acupuncture produced extensive deactivation of the limbic‐paralimbic‐neocortical system. Clusters of deactivated regions were seen in the medial prefrontal cortex (frontal pole, pregenual cingulate), the temporal lobe (amygdala, hippocampus, and parahippocampus) and the posterior medial cortex (precuneus, posterior cingulate). The sensorimotor cortices (somatosensory cortices, supplementary motor cortex), thalamus and occasional paralimbic structures such as the insula and anterior middle cingulate cortex showed activation. Our results provide additional evidence in support of previous reports that acupuncture modulates the limbic‐paralimbic‐neocortical network. We hypothesize that acupuncture may mediate its antipain, antianxiety, and other therapeutic effects via this intrinsic neural circuit that plays a central role in the affective and cognitive dimensions of pain as well as in the regulation and integration of emotion, memory processing, autonomic, endocrine, immunological, and sensorimotor functions. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Volumetric and shape analysis of the thalamus in first‐episode schizophrenia
Authors: Coscia Denise M. , Narr Katherine L. , Robinson Delbert G. , Hamilton Liberty S. , Sevy Serge , Burdick Katherine E. , Gunduz‐Bruce Handan , McCormack Joanne , Bilder Robert M. , Szeszko Philip R.
Published: June 2008

Thalamic abnormalities have been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, although the majority of studies used chronic samples treated extensively with antipsychotics. Moreover, the clinical and neuropsychological correlates of these abnormalities remain largely unknown. Using high‐resolution MR imaging and novel methods for shape analysis, we investigated thalamic subregions in 35 (25 M/10 F) first‐episode schizophrenia patients compared with 33 (23 M/10 F) healthy volunteers. The right and left thalami were traced bilaterally on coronal brain slices and volumes were compared between groups. In addition, regional abnormalities were identified by comparing distances, measured from homologous thalamic surface points to the central core of each individual's surface model, between groups in 3D space. Patients had significantly less total thalamic volume compared with healthy volunteers. Statistical mapping demonstrated most pronounced shape abnormalities in the pulvinar; however, estimated false discovery rates in these regions were sizable. Smaller thalamus volume was significantly correlated with worse overall neuropsychological functioning and specific deficits were observed in the language, motor, and executive domains. There were no significant associations between thalamus volume and positive or negative symptoms. Our findings suggest that thalamic abnormalities are evident at the onset of a first episode of schizophrenia prior to extensive pharmacologic intervention and that these abnormalities have neuropsychological correlates. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.