bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Importance of Tissue Morphology Relative to Patient Reports of Symptoms and Functional Limitations Resulting From Median Nerve Pathology
Authors: Roll Shawn C. , Evans Kevin D. , Li Xiaobai , Sommerich Carolyn M. , Case-Smith Jane
Published: December 2012

Significant data exist for the personal, environmental, and occupational risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome. Few data, however, explain the interrelationship of tissue morphology to these factors among patients with clinical presentation of median nerve pathology. Therefore, our primary objective was to examine the relationship of various risk factors that may be predictive of subjective reports of symptoms or functional deficits accounting for median nerve morphology. Using diagnostic ultrasonography, we observed real-time median nerve morphology among 88 participants with varying reports of symptoms or functional limitations resulting from median nerve pathology. Body mass index, educational level, and nerve morphology were the primary predictive factors. Monitoring median nerve morphology with ultrasonography may provide valuable information for clinicians treating patients with symptoms of median nerve pathology. Sonographic measurements may be a useful clinical tool for improving treatment planning and provision, documenting patient status, or measuring clinical outcomes of prevention and rehabilitation interventions.
Effect of sampling variation on error of rainfall variables measured by optical disdrometer
Authors: Liu X. C. , Gao T. C. , Liu L.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. During the sampling process of precipitation particles by optical disdrometers, the randomness of particles and sampling variability has great impact on the accuracy of precipitation variables. Based on a marked point model of raindrop size distribution, the effect of sampling variation on drop size distribution and velocity distribution measurement using optical disdrometers are analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that the samples number, rain rate, drop size distribution, and sampling size have different influences on the accuracy of rainfall variables. The relative errors of rainfall variables caused by sampling variation in a descending order as: water concentration, mean diameter, mass weighed mean diameter, mean volume diameter, radar reflectivity factor, and number density, which are independent with samples number basically; the relative error of rain variables are positively correlated with the margin probability, which is also positively correlated with the rain rate and the mean diameter of raindrops; the sampling size is one of the main factors that influence the margin probability, with the decreasing of sampling area, especially the decreasing of short side of sample size, the probability of margin raindrops is getting greater, hence the error of rain variables are getting greater, and the variables of median size raindrops have the maximum error. To ensure the relative error of rainfall variables measured by optical disdrometer less than 1%, the width of light beam should be at least 40 mm.
Physical transport properties of marine microplastic pollution
Authors: Ballent A. , Purser A. , de Jesus Mendes P. , Pando S. , Thomsen L.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Given the complexity of quantitative collection, knowledge of the distribution of microplastic pollution in many regions of the world ocean is patchy, both spatially and temporally, especially for the subsurface environment. However, with knowledge of typical hydrodynamic behavior of waste plastic material, models predicting the dispersal of pelagic and benthic plastics from land sources into the ocean are possible. Here we investigate three aspects of plastic distribution and transport in European waters. Firstly, we assess patterns in the distribution of plastics found in fluvial strandlines of the North Sea and how distribution may be related to flow velocities and distance from source. Second, we model transport of non-buoyant preproduction pellets in the Nazaré Canyon of Portugal using the MOHID system after assessing the density, settling velocity, critical and depositional shear stress characteristics of such waste plastics. Thirdly, we investigate the effect of surface turbulences and high pressures on a range of marine plastic debris categories (various densities, degradation states and shapes tested) in an experimental water column simulator tank and pressure laboratory. Plastics deposited on North Sea strandlines varied greatly spatially, as a function of material composition and distance from source. Model outputs indicated that such dense production pellets are likely transported up and down canyon as a function of tidal forces, with only very minor net down canyon movement. Behaviour of plastic fragments under turbulence varied greatly, with the dimensions of the material, as well as density, playing major determining roles. Pressure was shown to affect hydrodynamic behaviours of only low density foam plastics at pressures ≥ 60 bar.
Tide-surge interaction in the English Channel
Authors: Idier D. , Dumas F. , Muller H.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. The English Channel is characterised by strong tidal currents and a wide tidal range, such that their influence on surges is expected to be non-negligible. In order to better assess storm surges in this zone, tide-surge interactions are investigated. A preliminary data analysis on hourly surges indicates some preferential times of occurrence of large storm surges at rising tide, especially in Dunkerque. To examine this further, a numerical modelling approach is chosen, based on the 2DH shallow-water model (MARS). The surges are computed both with and without tide interaction. For the two selected events (the November 2007 North Sea and March 2008 Atlantic storms), it appears that the instantaneous tide-surge interaction is seen to be non-negligible in the eastern half of the English Channel, reaching values of 74 cm (i.e. 50% of the same event maximal storm surge) in the Dover Strait for the studied cases. This interaction decreases in westerly direction. In the risk-analysis community in France, extreme water levels have been determined assuming skew surges and tide as independent. The same hydrodynamic model is used to investigate this dependence in the English Channel. Simple computations are performed with the same meteorological forcing, while varying the tidal amplitude, and the skew surge differences DSS are analysed. Skew surges appear to be tide-dependent, with negligible values of DSS (<0.05 m) over a large portion of the English Channel, although reaching several tens of centimetres in some locations (e.g. the Isle of Wight and Dover Strait).
Improving probabilistic flood forecasting through a data assimilation scheme based on genetic programming
Authors: Mediero L. , Garrote L. , Chavez-Jimenez A.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Opportunities offered by high performance computing provide a significant degree of promise in the enhancement of the performance of real-time flood forecasting systems. In this paper, a real-time framework for probabilistic flood forecasting through data assimilation is presented. The distributed rainfall-runoff real-time interactive basin simulator (RIBS) model is selected to simulate the hydrological process in the basin. Although the RIBS model is deterministic, it is run in a probabilistic way through the results of calibration developed in a previous work performed by the authors that identifies the probability distribution functions that best characterise the most relevant model parameters. Adaptive techniques improve the result of flood forecasts because the model can be adapted to observations in real time as new information is available. The new adaptive forecast model based on genetic programming as a data assimilation technique is compared with the previously developed flood forecast model based on the calibration results. Both models are probabilistic as they generate an ensemble of hydrographs, taking the different uncertainties inherent in any forecast process into account. The Manzanares River basin was selected as a case study, with the process being computationally intensive as it requires simulation of many replicas of the ensemble in real time.
Comparative flood damage model assessment: towards a European approach
Authors: Jongman B. , Kreibich H. , Apel H. , Barredo J. I. , Bates P. D. , Feyen L. , Gericke A. , Neal J. , Aerts J. C. J. H. , Ward P. J.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. There is a wide variety of flood damage models in use internationally, differing substantially in their approaches and economic estimates. Since these models are being used more and more as a basis for investment and planning decisions on an increasingly large scale, there is a need to reduce the uncertainties involved and develop a harmonised European approach, in particular with respect to the EU Flood Risks Directive. In this paper we present a qualitative and quantitative assessment of seven flood damage models, using two case studies of past flood events in Germany and the United Kingdom. The qualitative analysis shows that modelling approaches vary strongly, and that current methodologies for estimating infrastructural damage are not as well developed as methodologies for the estimation of damage to buildings. The quantitative results show that the model outcomes are very sensitive to uncertainty in both vulnerability (i.e. depth–damage functions) and exposure (i.e. asset values), whereby the first has a larger effect than the latter. We conclude that care needs to be taken when using aggregated land use data for flood risk assessment, and that it is essential to adjust asset values to the regional economic situation and property characteristics. We call for the development of a flexible but consistent European framework that applies best practice from existing models while providing room for including necessary regional adjustments.
Thrombin stimulation of inflammatory breast cancer cells leads to aggressiveness via the EGFR-PAR1-Pak1 pathway
Authors: Ohshiro Kazufumi , Bui-Nguyen Tri M. , Natha Reddy S. Divijendra , Schwartz Arnold M. , Levine Paul , Kumar Rakesh
Published: December 2012

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) accounts for a small fraction but aggressive form of epithelial breast cancer. Although the role of thrombin in cancer is beginning to be unfolded, its impact on the biology of IBC remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to establish the role of thrombin on the invasiveness of IBC cells. The IBC SUM149 cell line was treated with thrombin in the absence or presence of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) inhibitor. The effects of pharmacological inhibitors on the ability of thrombin to stimulate the growth rate and invasiveness were examined. We found that the inhibition of putative cellular targets of thrombin action suppresses both the growth and invasiveness of SUM149 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, thrombin-mediated increased invasion of SUM149 cells was routed through EGFR phosphorylation, and in turn, stimulation of the p21-activated kinase (Pak1) activity in a EGFR-sensitive manner. Interestingly, thrombin-mediated activation of the Pak1 pathway stimulation was blocked by erlotinib and PAR1 inhibitor. For proof-of-principle studies, we found immunohistochemical evidence of Pak1 activation as well as expression of PAR1 in IBC. Thrombin utilizes EGFR to relay signals promoting SUM149 cell growth and invasion via the Pak1 pathway. The study provides the rationale for future therapeutic approaches in mitigating the invasive nature of IBC by targeting Pak1 and/or EGFR.
Telling the Girls from the Boys and Children: Interpreting Παȋδεϛ in the Sexual Violence of Populace-Ravaging Ancient Warfare
Authors: Gaca Kathy L.
Published: December 2012

In andrapodizing or populace-ravaging ancient warfare, important Greek evidence discloses norms of martial rape meted out to girls and women in the attacked communities. This practice is unambiguously communicated when the sexually assaulted girls are designated in a female-specific way (e.g., as daughters) and they are said to be not yet ready for marriage. My main concern here is to clarify a presently ambiguous area in this regard. I show the critical import of recognizing when παȋδεϛ καί γυναȋκεϛ means that "girls and women" are subjected to this martial sexual aggression, not, as hitherto understood, "(boy and girl) children and women" or "women" alone with the παȋδεϛ set aside unscathed.
Lucretius 3.978-1023 and the Hellenistic Philosophical Polemics against the Grammarians
Authors: Marković Daniel
Published: December 2012

The paper examines closely the technique of recontextualization in Lucretius 3.978-1023 and sheds further light on the problems of its source and complex rhetorical goals. In order to prove erroneous the belief in the Underworld punishments described in Homer, which according to Epicurean teaching exist in real life, Lucretius uses a technique of careful selection and repetition of keywords in two different, juxtaposed contexts. The same technique is found in Seneca’s Letter 88, where Seneca seeks to show that typical school questions are worthless in comparison with their philosophical counterparts, oriented toward the realm of real life. The similarity is not only formal: both Seneca and Lucretius believe that the study of traditional poetry cannot offer adequate guidance for living. Seneca borrows his technique from the Hellenistic philosophical polemics against the grammarians, and Lucretius’s passage was most likely modeled after a similar one in Epicurus.
A Coptic Transfer of Home Ownership in Exchange for Elderly Care
Authors: Bay Stephen M.
Published: December 2012

Edition of a late 7th-century Fayumic Coptic and Greek papyrus that documents a transfer of home ownership from a man to a woman in exchange for an agreement for personal maintenance.
Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Danish hospitals as reported by charge nurses at department level
Authors: Skovgaard Lasse , La Cour Søren , Kristensen Mette
Published: December 2012

This study has investigated the use of complementary and alternative treatment (CAM) at Danish hospitals as reported by department nurses. A questionnaire was sent to department nurses at 669 hospital departments, distributed among 130 hospitals. The study shows that CAM was offered at 20.6 % of the hospital departments, distributed among 41.5 % of the Danish hospitals. 23 different CAM modalities were reported in use of which acupuncture, massage and art therapy had highest prevalence. Studies that have shown effect and experienced effect within the department were most often reported as motives for offering CAM. Compared to a similar study with chief physicians as respondents, the prevalence of CAM in use was slightly higher and the variation of CAM modalities in use was significantly higher.
Avaliação da qualidade da ESF em Curitiba: estudo transversal com base no AMQ
Authors: Kami Maria Terumi Maruyama , Volpi Ademar Cezar , Franco Camila Ament Giuliani dos Santos , Faoro Nilza Terezinha
Published: December 2012

Atualmente a qualidade da atenção apresenta-se como um dos desafios ao Sistema Único de Saúde, devendo ser compreendida à luz dos princípios da integralidade, universalidade, equidade e participação social. Visando a melhoria da qualidade da atenção, o Ministério da Saúde desenvolveu a proposta “Avaliação para Melhoria da Qualidade da Estratégia Saúde da Família”, instrumento específico que busca o aprimoramento gerencial, técnico e científico. A Secretaria Municipal da Saúde de Curitiba aderiu de maneira voluntária e participativa a esta proposta, situando a avaliação como instrumento permanente para tomada de decisões e a qualidade como um atributo fundamental a ser alcançado no SUS-Curitiba, ambas apropriadas pelos profissionais envolvidos na Estratégia. Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar a qualidade autorreferida da ESF no município de Curitiba por meio do AMQ, identificando o estágio de qualidade alcançado pelos atores da SF no município. Para tal utilizou-se um estudo transversal e descritivo. No terceiro momento avaliativo, Curitiba contava com 49 Unidades Básicas de Saúde com Estratégia de Saúde da Família respondentes (instrumento 3), 153 equipes de saúde respondentes (instrumentos 4 e 5), um gestor municipal (instrumento 1) e uma Coordenação Municipal da Estratégia Saúde da Família (instrumento 2). Os resultados dos estágios de qualidade encontrados foram: qualidade Elementar (93,98%), qualidade em Desenvolvimento (90,79%), qualidade Consolidada (89,71%), qualidade Boa (88,25%) e qualidade Avançada (78,23%). Na perspectiva de melhoria contínua da qualidade, observou-se um incremento processual, com maior percentual em elementos dos padrões do estágio E, que abordam as condições elementares de estrutura e infraestrutura (qualidade E). A grande positividade das avaliações apresentadas, superior a 65% em todas as avaliações, indica o alto padrão de qualidade encontrado no município em todos os estágios de qualidade da AMQ. A forma de resposta dicotômica da AMQ não possibilita ver a evolução do trabalho realizado, devendo ser revista.
Using Prior Information on Parameters to Eliminate Dependence on Initial Values in Fitting Coxian Phase Type Distributions to Length of Stay Data in Healthcare Settings
Authors: Xie Bin
Published: December 2012

Background: Modeling length of stay (LOS) data in healthcare settings using Coxian phase type (PH) distributions is becoming increasingly popular. However, dependence on initial values is a persistent difficulty in parameter estimations. This paper explores the utility of prior information on the parameters to address this difficulty.
Methods: Maximum likelihood methods were used to estimate parameters of PH distributions that best fit simulated datasets with various sample sizes arising from PH distributions of various numbers of phases and parameters, using randomly generated initial values. Estimated values for the parameters resulting from different initial values were compared to the known values to assess the extent to which estimates depend on initial values; the impacts of sample sizes, existence of prior information, as well as the number of parameters with prior information were assessed.
Results: Without prior information, parameter estimates depend on initial values for all PH distributions and all sample sizes. Prior information on one or more parameters led to more concentrated estimates, with higher number of parameters with prior information or larger sample sizes leading to more concentrated estimates. For example, with a sample size of 500, the estimates for a parameter with known value of 0.706 without prior information had a wide range of 1.523; using prior information for two parameters narrowed that range down to 0.156. For 3-phase PH distributions, prior information on 3 parameters appeared to be sufficient to eliminate dependence on initial values, even for small sample sizes. For 4-phase PH distributions, prior information on 5 parameters and a moderate sample size were needed to eliminate such dependence.
Conclusions: Combination of prior information on parameters and sufficient sample sizes can eliminate dependence on initial values in fitting PH distributions to LOS data.
Bayesian Analysis of Transition Model for Longitudinal Ordinal Response Data: Application to Insomnia Data
Authors: Noorian S. , Ganjali M.
Published: December 2012

In this paper, we present a Bayesian framework for analyzing longitudinal ordinal response data. In analyzing longitudinal data, the possibility of correlations between responses given by the same individual needs to be taken into account. Various models can be used to handle such correlations such as marginal modeling, random effect modeling and transition (Markov) modeling. Here a transition modeling is used and a Bayesian approach is presented for analyzing longitudinal data. A cumulative logistic regression model and the Bayesian method, using MCMC, are implemented for obtaining the parameters estimates. Our approach is applied on a two-period longitudinal Insomnia data where the Bayesian estimate for measure of association, , between the initial and follow-up ordinal responses is obtained in each level of a treatment variable. Then, the sensitivity of posterior summaries to changes of prior hyperparameters is investigated. We also use Bayes factor criterion for testing some important hypotheses
The Neuropathology of Autism
Authors: Blatt Gene J.
Published: December 2012

Autism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder that affects over 1% of new births in the United States and about 2% of boys. The etiologies are unknown and they are genetically complex. There may be epigenetic effects, environmental influences, and other factors that contribute to the mechanisms and affected neural pathway(s). The underlying neuropathology of the disorder has been evolving in the literature to include specific brain areas in the cerebellum, limbic system, and cortex. Part(s) of structures appear to be affected most rather than the entire structure, for example, select nuclei of the amygdala, the fusiform face area, and so forth. Altered cortical organization characterized by more frequent and narrower minicolumns and early overgrowth of the frontal portion of the brain, affects connectivity. Abnormalities include cytoarchitectonic laminar differences, excess white matter neurons, decreased numbers of GABAergic cerebellar Purkinje cells, and other events that can be traced developmentally and cause anomalies in circuitry. Problems with neurotransmission are evident by recent receptor and binding site studies especially in the inhibitory GABA system likely contributing to an imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory transmission. As postmortem findings are related to core behavior symptoms, and technology improves, researchers are gaining a much better perspective of contributing factors to the disorder.
Politiques familiales municipales : l’émergence de nouvelles formes de gouvernance locale ?
Authors: Rochman Juliette , Tremblay Diane-Gabrielle
Published: December 2012

Au cours des dernières années, on assiste à une modification des modes d’intervention et de gouvernance dans de nombreux États. Qu’il s’agisse de processus de décentralisation ou de déconcentration, la tendance est à l’augmentation des responsabilités et des tâches incombant aux collectivités locales, sans que celles-ci ne bénéficient nécessairement de transferts de ressources équivalents. Afin d’être en mesure d’assumer pleinement leurs responsabilités envers leurs citoyens, les collectivités locales ont adopté diverses stratégies parmi lesquelles les politiques transversales jouent un rôle prépondérant. Nous analyserons donc dans quelle mesure la mise en oeuvre des politiques familiales municipales contribue au renforcement de la marge de manoeuvre des collectivités locales et favorise l’émergence de nouvelles formes de gouvernance locale.
Synthesis of Oligodeoxynucleotides with 5′‐Caps Binding RNA Targets
Authors: Egetenmeyer Simone , Richert Clemens
Published: December 2012

Protocols for the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides with a short peptidyl substituent linked to the 5′‐O‐terminus through a phosphodiester bond are presented. The example given is a peptidyl cap consisting of the residues of L‐prolinol, glycine, and the acyl residue of oxolinic acid. DNA probes with this cap, also known as ogOA cap, give melting point increases for duplexes with RNA targets and improve mismatch discrimination at the terminus. The cap is either introduced in one step, using a newly developed phosphoramidite reagent, or assembled on the DNA chain. The step‐wise assembly of the peptidyl chain is advantageous for combinatorial studies aimed at the optimization of a cap structure. The block coupling method, introducing the preassembled cap in one step, is attractive for routine use of a cap already optimized for a given application. Cap‐bearing probes can increase fidelity of hybridization in a genomic context. They can be synthesized by automated DNA synthesis. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 51:4.53.1‐4.53.21. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Binding to the DNA Minor Groove by Heterocyclic Dications: From AT‐Specific Monomers to GC Recognition with Dimers
Authors: Nanjunda Rupesh , Wilson W. David
Published: December 2012

Compounds that bind in the DNA minor groove have provided critical information on DNA molecular recognition, have found extensive uses in biotechnology, and are providing clinically useful drugs against diseases as diverse as cancer and sleeping sickness. This review focuses on the development of clinically useful heterocyclic diamidine minor groove binders. These compounds have shown us that the classical model for minor groove binding in AT DNA sequences must be expanded in several ways: compounds with nonstandard shapes can bind strongly to the groove, water can be directly incorporated into the minor groove complex in an interfacial interaction, and the compounds can form cooperative stacked dimers to recognize GC and mixed AT/GC base pair sequences. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 51:8.8.1‐8.8.20. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The UCSC Genome Browser
Authors: Karolchik Donna , Hinrichs Angie S. , Kent W. James
Published: December 2012

The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Genome Browser is a popular Web‐based tool for quickly displaying a requested portion of a genome at any scale, accompanied by a series of aligned annotation “tracks.” The annotations generated by the UCSC Genome Bioinformatics Group and external collaborators include gene predictions, mRNA and expressed sequence tag alignments, simple nucleotide polymorphisms, expression and regulatory data, phenotype and variation data, and pairwise and multiple‐species comparative genomics data. All information relevant to a region is presented in one window, facilitating biological analysis and interpretation. The database tables underlying the Genome Browser tracks can be viewed, downloaded, and manipulated using another Web‐based application, the UCSC Table Browser. Users can upload personal datasets in a wide variety of formats as custom annotation tracks in both browsers for research or educational purposes. This unit describes how to use the Genome Browser and Table Browser for genome analysis, download the underlying database tables, and create and display custom annotation tracks. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 40:1.4.1‐1.4.33. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Using the Wash U Epigenome Browser to Examine Genome‐Wide Sequencing Data
Authors: Zhou Xin , Wang Ting
Published: December 2012

This unit describes the Wash U Epigenome Browser, a next‐generation genomic data visualization system. The Browser currently hosts ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics data for human and model organisms. The Browser displays many sequencing‐based data sets across all or part of the genome, on specific gene sets or pathways, and in the context of their metadata. Investigators can order, filter, aggregate, classify, and display data interactively based on given feature sets including metadata features, annotated biological pathways, and user‐defined collections of genes or genomic coordinates. Further, statistical tests can be performed on selected data. Individual labs can upload their sequencing or array‐based data as custom tracks and display them in the context of consortium data, allowing for direct comparisons. The Browser is an increasingly important and widely accessible tool for deriving biological insights from unprecedented amounts of high‐quality genomic, epigenomic, and expression data. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 40:10.10.1‐10.10.14. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PatternLab: From Mass Spectra to Label‐Free Differential Shotgun Proteomics
Authors: Carvalho Paulo C. , Fischer Juliana S. G. , Xu Tao , Yates John R. , Barbosa Valmir C.
Published: December 2012

PatternLab for proteomics is a self‐contained computational environment for analyzing shotgun proteomic data. Recent improvements incorporate modules to facilitate the computational analysis, such as FastaDBXtractor for sequence database preparation and ProLuCID runner for simplifying and managing the protein identification search engine; modules for pushing the limits on proteomics standards, such as SEPro, which relies on a semi‐labeled decoy approach for increasing confidence in filtering and organizing peptide spectrum matches; and modules with novel features, such as SEProQ for enabling label‐free quantitation by extracted ion chromatograms according to a distributed normalized ion abundance factor approach (dNIAF). Existing modules were also improved, such as the TFold module for pinpointing differentially expressed proteins. These new modules are integrated into the previously described arsenal of tools for further data analysis. Here we provide detailed instructions for operating and understanding them. Curr. Protoc. Bioinform. 40:13.19.1‐13.19.18. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Polyester Separators for Lithium‐Ion Cells: Improving Thermal Stability and Abuse Tolerance
Authors: Orendorff Christopher J. , Lambert Timothy N. , Chavez Carlos A. , Bencomo Marlene , Fenton Kyle R.
Published: December 2012

This report describes the preparation and performance of electro‐spun polyester‐based separators for lithium‐ion batteries. Polyester fibers (200–500 nm) are electro‐spun into nonwoven mats and pressed into separator sheets ∼55 μm thick. The resulting polyester separators are 75% porous, highly permeable (Gurley number (s/100 mL) = 6), and have good wettability with conventional carbonate‐based electrolyte. In NMC/graphite lithium‐ion cells, results show comparable performance to commercially available polyolefin separators (rate, capacity fade, and reactivity) but with improved thermal stability to >200 °C. The use of this higher melting temperature polymer separator is one approach to close the gap between potential thermal instabilities (softening, shrinking, melting, etc.) of separators and the onset of thermal runaway reactions of commonly used cathode materials.
Cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas: 2013 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management
Authors: Wilcox Ryan A.
Published: December 2012

Disease overview: Approximately one‐fourth of cutaneous lymphomas are B‐cell derived and are generally classified into three distinct subgroups: primary cutaneous follicle‐center lymphoma (PCFCL), primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma (PCMZL), and primary cutaneous diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, leg type (PCLBCL, LT). Diagnosis: Diagnosis and disease classification is based on histologic review and immunohistochemical staining of an appropriate skin biopsy. Pathologic review and an appropriate staging evaluation are necessary to distinguish primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas from systemic B‐cell lymphomas with secondary skin involvement. Risk‐stratification: Disease histology remains the most important prognostic determinant. Both PCFCL and PCMZL are indolent lymphomas that infrequently disseminate to extracutaneous sites and are associated with an excellent long‐term prognosis. In contrast, PCLBCL, LT is an aggressive lymphoma with an inferior prognosis. Risk‐adapted therapy: PCFCL and PCMZL patients with solitary or relatively few skin lesions may be affectively managed with local radiation therapy. Although single‐agent rituximab may be employed for patients with more widespread skin involvement, multiagent chemotherapy is rarely appropriate. In contrast, management of patients with PCLBCL, LT is comparable to the management of patients with systemic DLBCL. © Am. J. Hematol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enzyme replacement therapy with velaglucerase alfa in Gaucher disease: Results from a randomized, double‐blind, multinational, Phase 3 study
Authors: Gonzalez Derlis E. , Turkia Hadhami Ben , Lukina Elena A. , Kisinovsky Isaac , Dridi Marie‐Françoise Ben , Elstein Deborah , Zahrieh David , Crombez Eric , Bhirangi Kiran , Barton Norman W. , Zimran Ari
Published: December 2012

Type 1 Gaucher disease (GD1), resulting from glucocerebrosidase deficiency, leads to splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and bone involvement. Current standard treatment is enzyme replacement therapy. Velaglucerase alfa is an enzyme replacement product for GD1, with the same amino acid sequence as naturally occurring human glucocerebrosidase. This multinational, Phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of two doses of velaglucerase alfa in 25 treatment‐naïve, anemic patients with GD1 (4–62 years of age), randomized to intravenous velaglucerase alfa 60 U/kg (n=12) or 45 U/kg body weight (n=13) every other week for 12 months. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in hemoglobin concentration in the 60 U/kg arm. At 12 months, mean hemoglobin concentrations increased from baseline [60 U/kg: +23.3%; +2.43 g/dL (P<0.001); 45 U/kg: +23.8%; +2.44 g/dL (P<0.001)], as did mean platelet counts [60 U/kg: +65.9%; +50.9 × 109/L (P=0.002); 45 U/kg: +66.4%; +40.9 × 109/L(P=0.01)]. Mean splenic volume decreased from baseline [60 U/kg: −50.4%, from 14.0 to 5.8 multiples of normal (MN) (P=0.003); 45 U/kg: −39.9%, from 14.5 to 9.5 MN (P=0.009)]. No drug‐related serious adverse events or withdrawals were observed. One patient developed antibodies. Velaglucerase alfa was generally well tolerated and effective for adults and children with GD1 in this study. All disease‐specific parameters measured demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements after 12 months. Am. J. Hematol. 88:166–171, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stroboskopgemische: pyrotechnische Mischungen mit oszillierendem Verbrennungsverhalten
Authors: Corbel Justine M. L. , van Lingen Joost N. J. , Zevenbergen John F. Z. , Gijzeman Onno L. J. , Meijerink Andries
Published: December 2012

Stroboskopgemische sind pyrotechnische Zusammensetzungen, die ein oszillierendes Verbrennungsverhalten zeigen; eine Dunkel‐ und eine Leuchtphase alternieren periodisch. Der Stroboskopeffekt wird in verschiedenen Bereichen, aber hauptsächlich in der Feuerwerksindustrie und im militärischen Bereich angewendet. Alle Stroboskopgemische, die in der Literatur beschrieben werden, wurden durch systematisches Ausprobieren entdeckt und die zugrundeliegenden Mechanismen bleiben ungeklärt. Viele oszillierende Systeme wurden beobachtet, und es wurden Theorien entwickelt, die auf chemischen Prozessen oder physikalischen Prozessen beruhen, um ihr instabiles Verhalten aufzuklären. Diese Systeme werden mit experimentellen Beobachtungen an Stroboskopgemischen verglichen.
Chemotaxonomic and Micromorphological Traits of Satureja montana L. and S. subspicataVis. (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Dunkić Valerija , Kremer Dario , Dragojević Müller Ivna , Stabentheiner Edith , Kuzmić Sunčica , Jurišić Grubešić Renata , Vujić Lovorka , Kosalec Ivan , Randić Marko , Srečec Siniša , Bezić Nada
Published: December 2012

Satureja montana and S. subspicata are used as spice, pepper substitute, for preparing tea, juice, and as a medicine. Fourteen populations (seven per species) of Satureja montana L. and S. subspicata Vis. growing in Croatia were examined to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil (analyzed by GC‐FID and GC/MS), the content of macroelements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (B, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Al, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Hg, As) analyzed by ICP‐AES, antioxidant compounds (analyzed by UV/VIS spectrophotometer), and the types and distribution of trichomes (analyzed by scanning electron microscopy). The main constituents of the essential oil were carvacrol and thymol in S. montana (all populations belong to one phenol chemotype), while α‐eudesmol, β‐eudesmol, and spathulenol dominated in S. subspicata (three chemotypes could be distinguished). Both species possess considerably higher quantities of Ca and Mg, and moderate concentrations of K and Na, while Hg and As levels were below the limit of quantification. Non‐glandular trichomes, peltate trichomes, and three types of capitate trichomes were observed on leaves, stem, calyx, and corolla.
Essential‐Oil and Fatty‐Acid Composition, and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts of Ficaria kochii
Authors: Tavakoli Rahmatollah , Mohadjerani Maryam , Hosseinzadeh Rahman , Tajbakhsh Mahmood , Naqinezhad Alireza
Published: December 2012

The essential‐oil and fatty‐acid composition of the aerial parts of Ficaria kochii (Ledeb.) Iranshahr & Rech.f. native to Iran, and the antioxidant activity of various extracts of this plant were examined. The study by GC‐FID and GC/MS analysis of the essential oil resulted in the identification of 61 compounds, representing 86.01% of the total oil composition. Phytol (10.49%), farnesol (7.72%), methyl linoleate (5.57%), and α‐farnesene (4.96%) were the main components. The fatty‐acid composition of the aerial parts of F. kochii was also analyzed by GC/MS. The major components were palmitic acid (25.9%), linolenic acid (25.3%), and linoleic acid (17.5%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found in higher amounts than saturated fatty acids. The possible antioxidant activity of various extracts (prepared by using solvents with different polarity) of the F. kochii aerial parts was evaluated by screening for their 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activity, FeIII‐reducing power, total antioxidant activity, and inhibitory activity in the linoleic acid‐peroxidation system. H2O proved to be the most efficient solvent for the extraction of antioxidants, as the H2O extract contained the highest amount of phenolic compounds (2.78±0.23 GAE/g dry matter) and also exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity in all the assays used. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that the aerial parts of F. kochii can be used as natural and safe nutrition supplement in place of synthetic ones.
Chemical Variability of the Leaf Essential Oil of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A.Rich. from Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Yapi Thierry Acafou , Boti Jean Brice , Ahibo Coffy Antoine , Bighelli Ange , Castola Vincent , Casanova Joseph , Tomi Félix
Published: December 2012

The chemical composition of 48 essential‐oil samples isolated from the leaves of Xylopia aethiopica harvested in six Ivoirian forests was investigated by GC‐FID and 13C‐NMR analyses. In total, 23 components accounting for 82.5–96.1% of the oil composition were identified. The composition was dominated by the monoterpene hydrocarbons β‐pinene (up to 61.1%) and α‐pinene (up to 18.6%) and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon germacrene D (up to 28.7%). Hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses allowed the distinction of two groups on the basis of the β‐pinene and germacrene D contents. The chemical composition of the oils of Group I (38 oil samples) was clearly dominated by β‐pinene, while those of Group II (10 samples) were characterized by the association of β‐pinene and germacrene D. The leaves collected in the four inland forests produced β‐pinene‐rich oils (Group I), while the oil samples belonging to Group II were isolated from leaves harvested in forests located near the littoral.
Dipeptides as Leaving Group in the Enzyme‐Catalyzed DNA Synthesis
Authors: Song Xiao‐Ping , Bouillon Camille , Lescrinier Eveline , Herdewijn Piet
Published: December 2012

Conjugates of 2′‐deoxyadenosine monophosphate with dipeptides have been synthesized and tested as substrates for several polymerases. Although the incorporation efficiency is not very high, it demonstrates that some of these dipeptides can be accommodated in the active site of polymerases and function as leaving groups in the enzymatic synthesis of DNA.
On 3LEZ, a Deep‐Sea Halophilic Protein with in vitro Class‐A β‐Lactamase Activity: Molecular‐Dynamics, Docking, and Reactivity Simulations
Authors: Pietra Francesco
Published: December 2012

This work shows that a deep‐sea protein, 3LEZ, with known in vitro β‐lactamase activity, proved stable, substantially in the conformation detected by X‐ray diffraction of the crystal, when subjected to molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations under conditions compatible with shallow seas. Docking simulations showed that the β‐lactamase active site S85 of 3LEZ (S70 in Ambler numbering) is the preferential binding pocket for not only β‐lactam antibiotics and inhibitors, but, surprisingly, also for a wide variety of other biologically active compounds in various chemical classes, including marine metabolites. In line with the in vitro β‐lactamase activity, a) affinities on docking β‐lactam antibiotics and inhibitors onto 3LEZ were found to roughly parallel published Km and Ki values, obtained from MichaelisMenten kinetics under room conditions, and b) DFT calculations agreed with experiments that the irreversible reaction of the β‐lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid with the whole S85 catalytic center of 3LEZ is spontaneous. These observations must be viewed in the light that a) the compounds in other chemical classes showed comparable affinities, and, in some cases, even higher than β‐lactams, for the S85 active site, b) Km and Ki data are not available at the high hydrostatic pressure of the deep sea, where 3LEZ is believed to have evolved, c) an inverse order of affinities for the β‐lactams, with respect to both experimentation and simulations at room conditions, was observed from comparative docking simulations with 3LEZ derived from MD under high hydrostatic pressure. Although MD requires a general assessment for high hydrostatic pressure before c) above is given the same weight as all other observations, this work questions the conclusion that the in vitro determined β‐lactamase activity represents the ecological role of 3LEZ.
Sonication‐Induced Coiled Fibrous Architectures of Boc‐L‐Phe‐L‐Lys(Z)‐OMe
Authors: Afrasiabi Rouzbeh , Kraatz Heinz‐Bernhard
Published: December 2012

An ultra‐short peptide Boc‐L‐Phe‐L‐Lys(Z)‐OMe (Z=carbobenzyloxy) was shown to act as a highly efficient and versatile low molecular weight gelator (LMWG) for a variety of aliphatic and aromatic solvents under sonication. Remarkably, this simple dipeptide is not only able to form coiled fibres but also demonstrates self‐healing and thermal chiroptical switching behaviour. The formation of coiled assemblies was found to be influenced by the nature of the solvent and the presence of an additive. By exploiting these properties it was possible to modulate the macroscopic and microscopic properties of the organogels of this ultra‐short peptide, allowing the formation of highly ordered single‐domain networks of helical fibres with dimeric or alternatively fibre‐bundle morphology. The organogels were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Interestingly, CD experiments showed that the organogels of Boc‐L‐Phe‐L‐Lys(Z)‐OMe in aromatic solvents exhibit thermal chiroptical switching. This behaviour was hypothesized to stem from changes in the morphology of the gel accompanied by conformational transformation of the gelling agent. The fact that such a small peptide can demonstrate hierarchical assemblies and the possibility of controlling the self‐association is rather intriguing. The self‐healing ability, chiroptical switching and more importantly the formation of helical assemblies by Boc‐L‐Phe‐L‐Lys(Z)‐OMe under sonication, make this dipeptide an interesting example of the self‐assembly ability of ultra‐short peptides.
Mapping the Metal Positions inside Spherical C80 Cages: Crystallographic and Theoretical Studies of Ce2@D5h‐C80 and Ce2@Ih‐C80
Authors: Feng Lai , Suzuki Mitsuaki , Mizorogi Naomi , Lu Xing , Yamada Michio , Akasaka Takeshi , Nagase Shigeru
Published: December 2012

The dynamic positions of the dimetallic cluster inside the mid‐sized spherical cages of C80–C82 have been seldom studied, despite the high abundance of M2@C2n (2n=80, 82) species among various endohedral metallofullerenes. Herein, using crystallographic methods, we first unambiguously map the metal positions for both Ce2@D5h‐C80 and Ce2@Ih‐C80, showing how the symmetry or geometrical change in cage structure can influence the motional behavior of the cluster. Inside the D5h cage, the primary cerium sites have been identified along a cage belt of the contiguous hexagons, which suggests the significant influence of such a cage motif on endohedral cluster motion. Further analysis revealed a distorted D5h cage owing to the “punch‐out” effect of cerium atoms. The consequence is the presence of two localized electrostatic potential minima inside the cage of (D5h‐C80)6−, thus reflecting the primary ionic cerium–cage interaction. In contrast, a different motional behavior of Ce2 cluster was observed inside the Ih cage. With the major cerium sites, the molecule of Ce2@Ih‐C80 presented an approximate D2h configuration. With the combined theoretical study, we propose that the additional unidentified influence of NiII(OEP) (OEP=octaethylporphyrin) might be also relevant for the location of cerium sites inside the Ih cage.
A Resin‐Linker‐Vector Approach to Radiopharmaceuticals Containing 18F: Application in the Synthesis of O‐(2‐[18F]‐Fluoroethyl)‐L‐tyrosine
Authors: Topley Amy C. , Isoni Valerio , Logothetis Thomas A. , Wynn Duncan , Wadsworth Harry , Gibson Alex M. R. , Khan Imtiaz , Wells Neil J. , Perrio Cécile , Brown Richard C. D.
Published: December 2012

A Resin‐linker‐vector (RLV) strategy is described for the radiosynthesis of tracer molecules containing the radionuclide 18F, which releases the labelled vector into solution upon nucleophilic substitution of a polystyrene‐bound arylsulfonate linker with [18F]‐fluoride ion. Three model linker‐vector molecules 7 a–c containing different alkyl spacer groups were assembled in solution from (4‐chlorosulfonylphenyl)alkanoate esters, exploiting a lipase‐catalysed chemoselective carboxylic ester hydrolysis in the presence of the sulfonate ester as a key step. The linker‐vector systems were attached to aminomethyl polystyrene resin through amide bond formation to give RLVs 8 a–c with acetate, butyrate and hexanoate spacers, which were characterised by using magic‐angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. On fluoridolysis, the RLVs 8 a, b containing the longer spacers were shown to be more effective in the release of the fluorinated model vector (4‐fluorobutyl)phenylcarbamic acid tert‐butyl ester (9) in NMR kinetic studies and gave superior radiochemical yields (RCY≈60 %) of the 18F‐labelled vector. The approach was applied to the synthesis of the radiopharmaceutical O‐(2‐[18F]‐fluoroethyl)‐L‐tyrosine ([18F]‐FET), delivering protected [18F]‐FET in >90 % RCY. Acid deprotection gave [18F]‐FET in an overall RCY of 41 % from the RLV.
A New Access Route to Functionalized Cispentacins from Norbornene β‐Amino Acids
Authors: Kiss Loránd , Cherepanova Maria , Forró Enikő , Fülöp Ferenc
Published: December 2012

An efficient and simple new stereocontrolled access route to novel disubstituted cispentacin derivatives with multiple stereogenic centers from norbornene β‐lactam has been developed. The synthesis involves olefinic bond functionalization by dihydroxylation followed by oxidative ring cleavage and transformation of the dialdehyde intermediate through a Wittig reaction.