bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biorefining: Heterogeneously Catalyzed Reactions of Carbohydrates for the Production of Furfural and Hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Karinen Reetta , Vilonen Kati , Niemelä Marita
Published: July 2011

Furfurals are important intermediates in the chemical industry. They are typically produced by homogeneous catalysis in aqueous solutions. However, heterogeneously catalyzed processes would be beneficial in view of the principles of green chemistry: the elimination of homogeneous mineral acids makes the reaction mixtures less corrosive, produces less waste, and facilitates easy separation and recovery of the catalyst. Finding an active and stable water‐tolerant solid acid catalyst still poses a challenge for the production of furfural (furan‐2‐carbaldehyde) and 5‐(hydroxymethyl)‐2‐furaldehyde (HMF). Furfural is produced in the dehydration of xylose, and HMF is formed from glucose and fructose in the presence of an acidic catalyst. Bases are not active in dehydration reaction but do catalyze the isomerization of monosaccharides, which is favorable when using glucose as a raw material. In addition to the desired dehydration of monosaccharides, many undesired side reactions take place, reducing the selectivity and deactivating the catalyst. In addition, the catalyst properties play an important role in the selectivity. In this Review, catalytic conversion approaches are summarized, focusing on the heterogeneously catalyzed formation of furfural. The attractiveness of catalytic concepts is evaluated, keeping in mind productivity, sustainability, and environmental footprint.
Busy tone contention protocol: a new high‐throughput and energy‐efficient wireless local area network medium access control protocol using busy tone
Authors: Jibukumar M. G. , Datta Raja , Biswas Prabir Kumar
Published: July 2011

Design of an efficient wireless medium access control (MAC) protocol is a challenging task due to the time‐varying characteristics of wireless communication channel and different delay requirements in diverse applications. To support variable number of active stations and varying network load conditions, random access MAC protocols are employed. Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol (IEEE 802.11) is found to be inefficient at high data rates because of the overhead associated with the contention resolution mechanism employed. The new amendments of IEEE 802.11 that support multimedia traffic (IEEE 802.11e) are at the expense of reduced data traffic network efficiency. In this paper, we propose a random access MAC protocol called busy tone contention protocol (BTCP) that uses out‐of‐band signals for contention resolution in WLANs. A few variants of this protocol are also proposed to meet the challenges in WLAN environments and application requirements. The proposed BTCP isolate multimedia traffics from background data transmissions and gives high throughput irrespective of the number of contending stations in the network. As a result, in BTCP, admission control of multimedia flows becomes simple and well defined. Studies of the protocol, both analytically and through simulations under various network conditions, have shown to give better performance in comparison with the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolution and plasticity of anuran larval development in response to desiccation. A comparative analysis
Authors: Richter‐Boix Alex , Tejedo Miguel , Rezende Enrico L.
Published: July 2011

Anurans breed in a variety of aquatic habitats with contrasting levels of desiccation risk, which may result in selection for faster development during larval stages. Previous studies suggest that species in ephemeral ponds reduce their developmental times to minimize desiccation risks, although it is not clear how variation in desiccation risk affects developmental strategies in different species. Employing a comparative phylogenetic approach including data from published and unpublished studies encompassing 62 observations across 30 species, we tested if species breeding in ephemeral ponds (High risk) develop faster than those from permanent ponds (Low risk) and/or show increased developmental plasticity in response to drying conditions. Our analyses support shorter developmental times inHigh risk, primarily by decreasing body mass at metamorphosis. Plasticity in developmental times was small and did not differ between groups. However, accelerated development inHigh riskspecies generally resulted in reduced sizes at metamorphosis, while someLow riskspecies were able compensate this effect by increasing mean growth rates. Taken together, our results suggest that plastic responses in species breeding in ephemeral ponds are constrained by a general trade‐off between development and growth rates.
Ecohydrological controls on soil erosion and landscape evolution
Authors: Hancock G. R. , Evans K. G. , McDonnell J. , Hopp L.
Published: July 2011

The ecohydrological controls on soil erosion and landscape evolution are difficult to quantify and poorly understood. In many parts of the world, cyclone‐induced tree throw is a major source of disturbance. Tree throw may increase sediment transport by exposing a mound of fresh soil as well as providing a pit which may act as a knickpoint triggering gully erosion. Alternatively, while tree throw provides characteristic pit–mound topography, the amount of soil disturbed or exposed in a mound is relatively small on the hillslope and catchment scale and the effects may be minimal. The April 2006 tropical cyclone Monica that impacted the coast of northern Australia with winds' speeds > 100 m s−1 uprooted approximately 50% of the trees in the study catchment. We use a landscape evolution model with repeated occurrence of the cyclone over a 1000‐year simulated period to quantify the effect of pit–mound topography distributions on both sediment transport and landscape evolution by including the fallen trees into the digital elevation model both as a pit–mound and also as a pit–mound and tree trunk. The results show that the inclusion of pit–mound topography substantially reduced erosion for the first 10–15 years of its introduction and adding pit–mound–trunk topography reduced erosion rates even further. The pit–mound and pit–mound–trunk acted as sediment traps, capturing sediment from upslope and storing it in debris dams reducing hillslope connectivity. Model simulations predict average denudation rates for the catchment approximating field measured data. These findings suggest that any tree throw is unlikely to result in landscape instability. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of mTOR on T helper cell differentiation and dendritic cell function
Authors: Salmond Robert J. , Zamoyska Rose
Published: July 2011

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates signalling responses to growth factors and nutrients. The macrolide rapamycin inhibits mTOR function and has been used extensively to demonstrate a critical role for mTOR in immune responses. This mini‐review summarizes recent evidence demonstrating an integral role for mTOR in the differentiation of T helper cell subsets and the development, maturation and antigen‐presenting capacity of DCs in both mice and humans.
Fine tuning of IRF‐4 expression by SWAP‐70 controls the initiation of plasma cell development
Authors: Chopin Michaël , Chacón‐Martínez Carlos Andrés , Jessberger Rolf
Published: July 2011

The generation of plasma cells (PCs) is key for proper humoral immune responses. The transcription factors IRF‐4 and BLIMP‐1 (B‐lymphocyte induce maturation protein‐1) control PC commitment, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we have identified SWAP‐70 as being critically involved in Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐triggered PC differentiation. Upon activation through various TLRs, Swap‐70−/− B cells were activated and proliferated normally. However, expression of BLIMP‐1 was markedly reduced and PC differentiation was impaired. Four hours of LPS stimulation were sufficient to drive PC differentiation, and SWAP‐70 was required during this initial period. Swap‐70−/− B cells pre‐activated in vitro failed to efficiently differentiate into PCs upon adoptive transfer into recipient mice. Re‐introduction of SWAP‐70 into Swap‐70−/− B cells rescued their development into PCs, and SWAP‐70 over‐expression in wild‐type (WT) B cells increased PC generation. In the absence of SWAP‐70, IRF‐4 protein levels were reduced and the IRF‐4high B220+ CD138− compartment, including PC precursors, was strongly diminished. Ectopic expression of SWAP‐70 increases IRF‐4 protein levels and PC differentiation in WT and Swap‐70−/− B cells, and IRF‐4 over‐expression in Swap‐70−/− B cells elevates PC differentiation to WT levels. Thus, in a dose‐dependent manner, SWAP‐70 controls IRF‐4 protein expression and thereby regulates the initiation of PC differentiation.
New Pyridazine‐Bridged NHC/Pyrazole Ligands and Their Sequential Silver(I) Coordination
Authors: Wimberg Jan , Scheele Ulrich J. , Dechert Sebastian , Meyer Franc
Published: July 2011

A family of new pyridazine‐bridged NHC/pyrazole ligand precursors HL1–5 were prepared and fully characterized including analysis by XRD {HL1 = 3‐[3‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐3H‐imidazolium‐1‐yl]‐6‐(3‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridazine, HL2 = 3‐[3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3H‐imidazolium‐1‐yl]‐6‐(3‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridazine, HL3 = 3‐[3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3H‐imidazolium‐1‐yl]‐6‐(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridazine, HL4 = 3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐3H‐imidazolium‐1‐yl)‐6‐(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridazine, HL5 = 3‐[3‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)‐3H‐imidazolium‐1‐yl]‐6‐(3‐methyl‐5‐phenylpyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridazine, X = PF6– or BF4–}. Reaction of the ligand precursors with Ag2O yielded various silver(I) complexes whose structures have been elucidated crystallographically. In complexes [(L3)2Ag](PF6) (4) and[(L4)2Ag](PF6) (4′) the single silver(I) ion is coordinated in a linear fashion by the NHC moieties of the two ligand strands. An NMR titration with AgBF4 reveals that 4 can bind two more silver(I) ions. The complex [(L5)2Ag2](PF6)2 (5′) features an additional silver(I) centre bound to the two pyrazole rings, whereas in [(L3)2Ag2](BF4)2 (6) ligand reshuffling has occurred to give antiparallel ligand strands with {CNHCNpyrazole} coordination of each metal ion. Secondary interactions with the pyridazine N‐atom are observed in some cases. An additional third silver(I) ion can be accommodated between the central pyridazine bridges, as shown in [(L3)2Ag3](PF6)2(BF4) (7). The sequence of binding events and the identity of the species in solution have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry.
Multi‐objective optimization of a rotating cooling channel with staggered pin‐fins for heat transfer augmentation
Authors: Moon Mi‐Ae , Husain Afzal , Kim Kwang‐Yong
Published: July 2011

A rotating channel with staggered pin‐fins is formulated numerically and optimized for performance (heat transfer/required pumping power) using a Kriging meta‐model and hybrid multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm. Two design variables related to cooling channel height, pin diameter, and spacing between the pins are selected for optimization, and two‐objective functions related to the heat transfer and friction loss are employed. A design of experiment is performed, and 20 designs are generated by Latin hypercube sampling. The objective function values are evaluated using a Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes solver, and a Kriging model is constructed to obtain a Pareto‐optimal front through a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm. Rotation in a cooling channel with staggered pin‐fins induces Coriolis force that causes a heat transfer discrepancy between the trailing (pressure) and leading (suction) surfaces, with a higher Nusselt number on the trailing surface. The tradeoff between the two competing objective functions is determined, and the distribution of the Pareto‐optimal solutions in the design space is discussed through k‐means clustering. In the optimal designs, with a decrease in spacing between the pins, heat transfer is enhanced whereas friction loss is increased. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interview: „Ohne Forschung keine Energiewende”︁
Authors: Finetti Marco
Published: July 2011

Als Vorsitzender der „Ethikkommission Sichere Energieversorgung”︁ stand Matthias Kleiner seit Ende März im Blick der Öffentlichkeit. Ein Interview mit dem DFG‐Präsidenten über eine überraschende Aufgabe – und über die Rolle der Wissenschaft beim Atomausstieg
Wo der Juckreiz herkommt
Authors: Novak Natalija
Published: July 2011

Neurodermitis ist eine der häufigsten Hautkrankheiten – und eine der quälendsten. Entstehung und Verlauf des chronischen Leidens werden von zahlreichen Faktoren bestimmt. Besonders bedeutsam sind molekulare Mechanismen, die wie die Teile eines Puzzles ineinandergreifen.
Workplace smoking ban effects on unhappy smokers
Authors: de Chaisemartin Clément , Geoffard Pierre‐Yves , le Faou Anne‐Laurence
Published: July 2011

Economists usually draw a distinction between smokers. They distinguish ‘happy addicts’ à la Becker–Murphy from ‘unhappy addicts’ who state that smoking is a mistake and call for some help to quit. When evaluating tobacco control policies, it might be important to distinguish their effects on those two types of population. Indeed, such policies are welfare improving only if they help unhappy addicts to quit. We investigate the effect of the French workplace smoking ban on a sample of presumably ‘unhappy addicts’, smokers who consult tobacco cessation services. We show that the ban caused an increase in the demand for such services, and that this increase was larger in cold and rainy areas. It also induced an increase in the percentage of successful attempts to quit. Workplace smoking bans might be welfare improving since they seem to help ‘unhappy addicts’ to reconcile their behavior with their preferences. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inflammation-associated interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation ameliorates alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in interleukin-10–deficient mice
Authors: Miller Andrew M. , Wang Hua , Bertola Adeline , Park Ogyi , Horiguchi Norio , Ki Sung Hwan , Yin Shi , Lafdil Fouad , Gao Bin
Published: July 2011

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are characterized by fatty liver plus inflammation. It is generally believed that steatosis promotes inflammation, whereas inflammation in turn aggregates steatosis. Thus, we hypothesized the deletion of interleukin (IL)-10, a key anti-inflammatory cytokine, exacerbates liver inflammation, steatosis, and hepatocellular damage in alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease models that were achieved via feeding mice with a liquid diet containing 5% ethanol for 4 weeks or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, respectively. IL-10 knockout (IL-10−/−) mice and several other strains of genetically modified mice were generated and used. Compared with wild-type mice, IL-10−/− mice had greater liver inflammatory response with higher levels of IL-6 and hepatic signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation, but less steatosis and hepatocellular damage after alcohol or HFD feeding. An additional deletion of IL-6 or hepatic STAT3 restored steatosis and hepatocellular damage but further enhanced liver inflammatory response in IL-10−/− mice. In addition, the hepatic expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and key downstream lipogenic proteins and enzymes in fatty acid synthesis were down-regulated in IL-10−/− mice. Conversely, IL-10−/− mice displayed enhanced levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and its downstream targets including phosphorylated acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in the liver. Such dysregulations were corrected in IL-10−/−IL-6−/− or IL-10−/−STAT3Hep−/− double knockout mice.

Conclusion:

IL-10−/− mice are prone to liver inflammatory response but are resistant to steatosis and hepatocellular damage induced by ethanol or HFD feeding. Resistance to steatosis in these mice is attributable to elevation of inflammation-associated hepatic IL-6/STAT3 activation that subsequently down-regulates lipogenic genes but up-regulates fatty acid oxidation-associated genes in the liver. (HEPATOLOGY 2011; 54:846–856)
The influence of regional and global climatic oscillations on Croatian climate
Authors: Bice David , Montanari Alessandro , Vučetić Višnja , Vučetić Marko
Published: July 2011

We apply spectral analysis and sliding window correlations to monthly, seasonal, and annual climatological data from station records throughout Croatia going back to 1859 in order to investigate the potential influences of a set of important climatic drivers, including solar variability, and ocean–atmosphere oscillations in both the Pacific realm (El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, ENSO and Pacific Decadal Oscillation, PDO) and the Atlantic realm (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, AMO and North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO). In addition to a general long‐term warming and drying, there are significant interannual to decadal scale variations. Positive phases of AMO correspond to higher Croatian temperatures and also times of greater interannual temperature variability. Higher frequency variations in NAO are positively correlated with temperature such that a negative phase of NAO is associated with lower Croatian temperatures. The strength of NAO's influence is modulated by the long‐term cycles of AMO; stronger during positive decadal‐scale phases of AMO. ENSO exerts a weaker influence on temperatures, and is only significant during positive phases of the PDO. NAO has a strong influence on Croatian winter precipitation, with negative NAO phases corresponding to higher precipitation, modulated by the longer term phases of AMO. Although weaker and less consistent, ENSO also influences Croatian winter precipitation, modulated by longer term cycles of the PDO. Both NAO and ENSO show signs of frequency‐dependent correlation; NAO is influential at cycles of 8–9 and 2.4 yr in the Adriatic–Dinaric part of Croatia, while ENSO is especially influential at a 3.6 yr cycle in the Pannonian region. The influence of solar variability is apparently much weaker than that of NAO and ENSO, yet there is a remarkably coherent correlation between amplitude modulation of winter precipitation in the Pannonian region and the sunspot record. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
The effectiveness of extreme rainfall alerts in predicting surface water flooding in England and Wales
Authors: Hurford, A. P. , Priest S. J. , Parker D. J. , Lumbroso D. M.
Published: July 2011

The extreme rainfall alert (ERA) pilot was a response to the Pitt Review's recommendation that ‘the Met Office and Environment Agency (EA) provide an early assessment of the costs, benefits and feasibility of techniques which can predict where rain will fall and where surface water flooding will occur’. In April 2009, the ERA became an operational service provided to the EA professional partners and Category 1 and 2 responders—organizations with legal responsibilities to respond to flooding. ERAs are intended as a first step towards warnings for surface water flooding (SWF). This article assesses the effectiveness of the ERA pilot at predicting SWF. ERAs relating to three case study areas and issued during the pilot were compared with reports of SWF, identified from the data available relating to all sources of flooding. While data were found to be lacking in quality and consistency, it is possible to provide an initial assessment of the effectiveness of the ERA pilot. The existing ERA rainfall thresholds do not relate directly to SWF in all areas. As the ERA service specifically intends to warn for rainfall likely to cause severe SWF in urban areas, it is impossible to draw strong conclusions without further investigating the magnitude of flooding which occurred both when an ERA was and was not issued. As SWF magnitude and extent data were extremely sparse, it is recommended that systematic collection of comprehensive data relating to flood events should be implemented nationally. This will facilitate more accurate investigations of the links between rainfall intensity and SWF, which it is vital to understand in order to provide the most effective surface water flood warnings possible. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Genome‐wide transcriptional profiling analysis of all trans retinoic acid‐treated tongue carcinoma SCC‐9 cells
Authors: Dai Yaohui , Wang Juan , Xia Juan , Hong Yun , Chen Na , Cheng Bin
Published: July 2011

Background

All trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is used as standard of care in promyelocytic leukemia. Not much is known about the gene expression profile in ATRA‐treated tongue cancer cells. We performed a genome‐wide transcriptional profiling of ATRA‐treated tongue cancer cells to understand the pathways that mediate ATRA action in tongue cancer.

Methods

We measured the effects of ATRA on the proliferation of SCC‐9 human tongue carcinoma cells. The differential gene expression profile was measured by microarray analysis of untreated and ATRA‐treated cells and expression of key genes was validated by real‐time RT‐PCR.

Results

ATRA treatment (24 and 48 hr) significantly inhibited SCC‐9 cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner. SCC‐9 cells treated for 48 hr with ATRA showed upregulation of 276 genes, including ANGPTL4, GDF15, ICAM1 and TUSC4, and downregulation of 43 genes, including CXCL10. Validation by real‐time PCR showed a significant upregulation of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and downregulation of CXCL10 and IL32.

Conclusions

ATRA had an anti‐tumor effect in tongue cancer cells. This effect is likely mediated via upregulation of ICAM1 and downregulation of CXCL10 and IL32. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:830–835. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In vitro Characterization of an Electroactive Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Nanofiber Scaffold for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Mackle Joseph N. , Blond David J.‐P. , Mooney Emma , McDonnell Caitlin , Blau Werner J. , Shaw Georgina , Barry Frank P. , Murphy J. Mary , Barron Valerie
Published: July 2011

In an effort to reduce organ replacement and enhance tissue repair, there has been a tremendous effort to create biomechanically optimized scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. In contrast, the development and characterization of electroactive scaffolds has attracted little attention. Consequently, the creation and characterization of a carbon nanotube based poly(lactic acid) nanofiber scaffold is described herein. After 28 d in physiological solution at 37 °C, a change in the mass, chemical properties and polymer morphology is seen, while the mechanical properties and physical integrity are unaltered. No adverse cytotoxic affects are seen when mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in the presence of the scaffold. Taken together, these data auger well for electroactive tissue engineering.

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Covalent Heparin Modification of a Polysulfone Flat Sheet Membrane for Selective Removal of Low‐Density Lipoproteins: A Simple and Versatile Method
Authors: Li Jing , Huang Xiao‐Jun , Ji Jing , Lan Ping , Vienken Jörg , Groth Thomas , Xu Zhi‐Kang
Published: July 2011

A simple, convenient and economical method for the heparinization of PSf membranes is described, with the aim of preparing an LDL adsorber for simultaneous LDL apheresis and hemodialysis. An atmospheric pressure glow discharge generator is used to activate the PSf membrane surface, with subsequent chemical binding of heparin in the presence of EDC and NHS. ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy and XPS measurements confirm successful surface modification. The PSf‐Hep membrane shows good blood compatibility, with a relatively low amount and normal morphology of adherent platelets. ELISA results indicate that the PSf‐Hep membrane exhibits excellent selective affinity for LDL in single and binary protein solutions, suggesting potential applications in hemodialysis with simultaneous LDL removal.

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Truly Nonionic Polymer Shells for the Encapsulation of Living Cells
Authors: Carter Jessica L. , Drachuk Irina , Harbaugh Svetlana , Kelley‐Loughnane Nancy , Stone Morley , Tsukruk Vladimir V.
Published: July 2011

Engineering surfaces of living cells with natural or synthetic compounds can mediate intercellular communication and provide a protective barrier from hostile agents. We report on truly nonionic hydrogen‐bonded LbL coatings for cell surface engineering. These ultrathin, highly permeable polymer membranes are constructed on living cells without the cationic component typically employed to increase the stability of LbL coatings. Without the cytotoxic cationic PEI pre‐layer, the viability of encapsulated cells drastically increases to 94%, in contrast to 20% viability in electrostatically‐bonded LbL shells. Moreover, the long‐term growth of encapsulated cells is not affected, thus facilitating efficient function of protected cells in hostile environment.

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Synthesis and Characterization of an Amphiphilic Blue‐Light‐Emitting Glycosylated Poly(naphthalene/phenylene) Copolymer
Authors: Nagy Miklós , Rácz Dávid , Daróczi Lajos , Lukács Balázs , Jóna István , Zsuga Miklós , Kéki Sándor
Published: July 2011

The preparation and self‐assembly of poly(2‐glucopyranosyl‐1,6‐naphthalene‐1,4‐phenylene), P16NP2Glu, an amphiphilic, blue‐light‐emitting copolymer, is reported. The copolymer is soluble in polar solvents such as methanol/THF mixtures and even in water. The emission spectrum of P16NP2Glu shows a maximum at ≈400 nm for solutions containing the above solvents. Owing to the highly polar nature of the glucopyranose rings of P16NP2Glu, the formation of aggregates is observed. Uniform‐size nanospheres capable of emitting blue light are prepared in the solid phase. The critical micelle concentration and micelle sizes are determined by light‐scattering measurements. It is found that the emission maximum and fluorescence quantum yields depend on the aggregate formation of the copolymer.

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A Fully Polymeric Mouldable Microfluidic Device. Part 1: The Process of Design
Authors: Neerincx Peter E. , Denteneer Roel P. J. , Meijer Han E. H.
Published: July 2011

Microfluidic devices as used, e.g., in lab‐on‐a‐chip and micro‐total‐analysis systems, are frequently fabricated using silicon or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based technologies, both with their known disadvantages. Here, we design a fully polymeric, multifunctional microfluidic reactor device, using an alternative fabrication method, the two‐component co‐injection moulding technology, in which different polymer combinations—generally a flexible and a rigid thermoplastic polymer—can be applied. The prototype device is based on an ambi‐symmetrical design, combining two identical shells, that are each folded to occupy a 160 × 90 mm2 space and subsequently stacked into a 4 (double) layer system. One microfluidic reactor unit includes six different in‐ and output connections, six peristaltic pumps (built up from three membranes each), eighteen volume‐neutral, recoverable control valves, two fluid storages, and two efficient, flow splitting, rotating and recombining, serpentine mixers. The mixers realize an almost perfect baker's transformation and possess ten elements that create 2 × 410 layers with an individual striation thickness of 0.5 nm in 10 s. The total reactor volume amounts 7 mL. The capacity of the peristaltic pumps, with their stroke of 0.5 mm, equals about 35 µL · s−1 at an actuation frequency of 5 Hz. Actuation occurs by air pressure. One microfluidic device can be endlessly connected to its replicas.

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Predicting the Thermal Stability of Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Chemoinformatic Tools
Authors: Fayet Guillaume , Del Rio Alberto , Rotureau Patricia , Joubert Laurent , Adamo Carlo
Published: July 2011

In the framework of the European REACH regulation major attention was recently devoted to toxicological and ecotoxicological problems while little attention has been dedicated to other important applications concerning chemical hazards, for instance, explosive properties. In this work different chemoinformatic tools such as partial least squares, multilinear regressions, and decision trees have been used for the development of a novel quantitative structure‐property relationships to predict the heat of decomposition of a series of nitroaromatic compounds. Models were conceived in order to follow the regulatory requirements according to OECD principles for the validation of QSAR methods. Three models derived with MLR, PLS and decision tree techniques were developed, validated (internally and externally) and their applicability domains have been defined and analyzed. All models proved to be reliable with remarkable robustness in terms of full cross‐validation scheme and showed good predictive power toward the external validation set. These models also present a large applicability domain within nitrobenzene derivatives and are easy to implement and interpret in terms of subjacent mechanisms.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using Graphics Processing Units
Authors: Baker John A. , Hirst Jonathan D.
Published: July 2011

It is increasingly easy to develop software that exploits Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The molecular dynamics simulation community has embraced this recent opportunity. Herein, we outline the current approaches that exploit this technology. In the context of biomolecular simulations, we discuss some of the algorithms that have been implemented and some of the aspects that distinguish the GPU from previous parallel environments. The ubiquity of GPUs and the ingenuity of the simulation community augur well for the scale and scope of future computational studies of biomolecules.
Neue Polymere gegen multiresistente Bakterien
Authors: Lienkamp Karen
Published: July 2011

Polymere, die antimikrobielle Peptide nachahmen, wirken gegen antibiotikaresistente Keime. Solche Materialien können sowohl als Wirkstoffe als auch für Medizinprodukte dienen.
Plasma nucleic acid analysis by massively parallel sequencing: pathological insights and diagnostic implications
Authors: Lo YM , Chiu Rossa WK
Published: July 2011

Over the past 15 years there has been increasing interest in the biology and diagnostic applications of circulating DNA in the plasma of human subjects. In particular, DNA from a fetus, a tumour, a transplanted organ and injured tissues has been found in the plasma of pregnant women, cancer patients, transplant recipients and patients suffering from multiple pathologies, respectively. The advent of massively parallel sequencing has given us a quantitative and powerful tool for studying circulating DNA on a genome‐wide level. Using this approach, fetal chromosomal aneuploidies can be robustly detected using maternal plasma. Furthermore, a genome‐wide genetic map of a fetus can also be constructed using this approach. This method has also allowed one to identify tumour‐associated chromosomal translocations, which can then be detected in plasma. The direct application of massively parallel sequencing to the serum of cancer patients has also allowed quantitative aberrations that are associated with malignancy to be detected in serum. The use of massively parallel sequencing on the plasma of transplantation recipients has opened up an approach for detecting rejection. The application of circulating DNA sequencing has also opened up a new method for elucidating the quantitative aberration of circulating DNA in many pathological conditions. Such developments would provide new modalities for molecular diagnostics and would improve our understanding of the biology of circulating nucleic acids. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low‐dose paclitaxel ameliorates fibrosis in the remnant kidney model by down‐regulating miR‐192
Authors: Sun Lin , Zhang Dongshan , Liu Fuyou , Xiang Xudong , Ling Guanghui , Xiao Li , Liu Yinghong , Zhu Xuejing , Zhan Ming , Yang Yeyi , Kondeti Vinay K , Kanwar Yashpal S
Published: July 2011

Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β has been shown to play a central role in the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, which can be corrected via treatment with paclitaxel. The biology of microRNA (miR) can be modulated by paclitaxel. We hypothesized that paclitaxel may attenuate renal fibrosis in a rat model of remnant kidney disease by inhibiting TGF‐β induced‐miRs. Rats in groups of 12 were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and received low‐dose intraperitoneal injection of paclitaxel. Renal functions were assessed at 8 weeks. The TGF‐β signalling cascade and ECM proteins were evaluated by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (TRT–PCR) and immunofluorescence microscopy. Animals with remnant kidneys developed hypertension, which was not relieved with paclitaxel treatment. However, paclitaxel treatment resulted in dampening the proteinuric response, reduction in serum BUN, creatinine levels and urine protein : creatinine ratio and normalization of creatinine clearance. These effects were accompanied by the inhibition of Smad2/3 activation, attenuation of renal fibrosis and normalization of integrin‐linked kinase (ILK), COL(I)A1, COL(IV)A2 and α‐SMA expression. Also, paclitaxel down‐regulated the expression of miR‐192, miR‐217 and miR ‐377, while miR‐15 was up‐regulated in the remnant kidney. In vitro, in tubular epithelial cells (NRK‐52E), paclitaxel also inhibited TGF‐β1‐induced Smad2/3 activation and normalized ILK, COL(I)A1, COL(IV)A2 and α‐SMA expression. Furthermore, ChIP analyses indicated that Taxol suppressed Smad3‐mediated miR‐192 transcriptional activity. Over‐expression of miR‐192 in NRK‐52E mimicked the changes seen in the remnant kidney, while inclusion of miR‐192 inhibitor in the culture medium blocked TGF‐β1‐induced COL(I)A1 and COL(IV)A2 expression, while ILK and α‐SMA were unaffected. These data suggest that low‐dose paclitaxel ameliorates renal fibrosis via modulating miR‐192 pathobiology and TGF‐β/Smad signalling. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hypoxia‐inhibited dual‐specificity phosphatase‐2 expression in endometriotic cells regulates cyclooxygenase‐2 expression
Authors: Wu Meng‐Hsing , Lin Shih‐Chieh , Hsiao Kuei‐Yang , Tsai Shaw‐Jenq
Published: July 2011

Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological diseases that significantly reduces the life qualify of affected women and their families. Aberrant expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), and thus over‐production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been shown to play critical roles in the development of this disease. However, the mechanism responsible for COX‐2 over‐expression remains obscure. Here, we provide evidence for what we believe is a novel mechanism in regulating COX‐2 expression in endometriotic stromal cells. Dual‐specificity phosphatase‐2 (DUSP2), a nuclear phosphatase that inactivates mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), is markedly down‐regulated in stromal cells of ectopic endometriotic tissues, which results in prolonged activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK and increased COX‐2 expression. Expression of DUSP2 is inhibited by hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) at the transcriptional level. Treatment of normal endometrial stromal cells with hypoxia, or chemicals that cause HIF‐1α accumulation, results in DUSP2 down‐regulation, prolonged ERK phosphorylation and COX‐2 over‐expression. In contrast, forced expression of DUSP2 under hypoxia abolishes HIF‐1α‐induced ERK phosphorylation and COX‐2 expression. Furthermore, suppression of DUSP2 by HIF‐1α in eutopic endometrial stromal cells increases sensitivity of cox‐2 gene to interleukin‐1β stimulation, a phenomenon resembling endometriotic stromal cell characteristics. Taken together, these data suggest that DUSP2 is an important molecule in endometrial physiology and that hypoxia‐inhibited DUSP2 expression is a critical factor for the development of endometriosis. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mass spectrometric immunoassay for quantitative determination of transthyretin and its variants
Authors: Trenchevska Olgica , Kamcheva Elena , Nedelkov Dobrin
Published: July 2011

Transthyretin (TTR, or prealbumin) is a tetrameric protein found in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Its major role is to transport thyroid hormones (thyroxin‐T4) and retinol (through association with retinol‐binding protein). TTR has been studied extensively due to the great number of point mutations that result in sequence heterogeneity. Many of these variants are associated with pathological conditions that result in extracellular deposition of amyloid fibers in tissues. In this work, we have developed a rapid mass spectrometric immunoassay for determination and quantification of TTR and its variants from human serum and plasma samples. The assay was fully characterized in terms of its precision, linearity and recovery characteristics. The new assay was also compared with a conventional TTR ELISA. Furthermore, we have applied the optimized method to analyze TTR and its modifications in 44 human plasma samples, and in the process optimized a method for TTR proteolytic digestion and identification of point mutations.
Reactome pathway analysis to enrich biological discovery in proteomics data sets
Authors: Haw Robin , Hermjakob Henning , D'Eustachio Peter , Stein Lincoln
Published: July 2011

Reactome (http://www.reactome.org) is an open‐source, expert‐authored, peer‐reviewed, manually curated database of reactions, pathways and biological processes. We provide an intuitive web‐based user interface to pathway knowledge and a suite of data analysis tools. The Pathway Browser is a Systems Biology Graphical Notation‐like visualization system that supports manual navigation of pathways by zooming, scrolling and event highlighting, and that exploits PSI Common Query Interface web services to overlay pathways with molecular interaction data from the Reactome Functional Interaction Network and interaction databases such as IntAct, ChEMBL and BioGRID. Pathway and expression analysis tools employ web services to provide ID mapping, pathway assignment and over‐representation analysis of user‐supplied data sets. By applying Ensembl Compara to curated human proteins and reactions, Reactome generates pathway inferences for 20 other species. The Species Comparison tool provides a summary of results for each of these species as a table showing numbers of orthologous proteins found by pathway from which users can navigate to inferred details for specific proteins and reactions. Reactome's diverse pathway knowledge and suite of data analysis tools provide a platform for data mining, modeling and analysis of large‐scale proteomics data sets. This Tutorial is part of the International Proteomics Tutorial Programme (IPTP 8).
Facile Construction of Nanofibers as a Functional Template for Surface Boron Coordination Reaction
Authors: Xu Xiao‐Ding , Chu Yan‐Feng , Chen Chang‐Sheng , Chen Jing‐Xiao , Cheng Si‐Xue , Zhang Xian‐Zheng , Zhuo Ren‐Xi
Published: July 2011

A facile strategy to perform the boron coordination reaction on a template of nanofibers is developed. Peptides with phenylboronic acid tails (peptidyl boronic acids) are designed and prepared as building blocks that can self‐assemble into nanofibers. After the addition of vicinal diol structural motifs to the self‐assembling system, matrix‐assisted laser desorption–ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry indicates that the boron coordination reaction occurs on the template of nanofibers, which results in the increase of the width and roughness of the nanofibers as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements. Because the surface‐bound vicinal diol structural motifs have an ability to form hydrogen bonds with the peptide segments on the nanofibers, which restrain and disturb the hydrogen‐bonding interaction among the nanofibers, the network structure formed based on the entanglement of nanofibers via hydrogen‐bonding interaction is destroyed, which leads to a gel–sol transition. The novel concept of post‐self‐assembly modification demonstrated here could lead to a new technique for using self‐assembled nanostructures in the emerging fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
Pubic bone injuries in primiparous women: magnetic resonance imaging in detection and differential diagnosis of structural injury
Authors: Brandon C. , Jacobson J. A. , Low L. K. , Park L. , DeLancey J. , Miller J.
Published: July 2011

Objective

To evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing structural injury in primiparous women at risk for pelvic floor injury.

Methods

This was an observational study of 77 women who underwent 3T MRI after delivery. Women were operationally defined as high risk (n = 45) for levator ani muscle tears (risk factors: second‐stage labor > 150 min or < 30 min, anal sphincter tear, forceps, maternal age > 35 years and birth weight > 4000 g) or low risk (n = 32): vaginally delivered without these risk factors (n = 12); delivered by Cesarean section after second‐stage labor > 150 min (n = 14) or delivered by Cesarean section without labor (n = 6). All women were imaged using fluid‐sensitive MRI sequences. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed images for bone marrow edema, fracture, pubic symphysis measurements and levator ani tear.

Results

MRI showed pubic bone fractures in 38% of women at high risk for pelvic floor injury and in 13% of women at low risk for pelvic floor injury (χ2(3) = 9.27, P = 0.03). Levator ani muscle tears were present in 44% of the high‐risk women and in 9% of the low‐risk women (χ2(3) = 11.57, P = 0.010). Bone marrow edema in the pubic bones was present in 61% of women studied across delivery categories. Complex patterns of injury included combinations of bone marrow edema, fractures, levator ani tears and pubic symphysis injuries. No MRI‐documented injuries were present in 18% of women at high risk and 44% at low risk for pelvic floor injury (χ2(1) = 6.2, P = 0.013).

Conclusions

Criteria identifying primiparous women at risk for pelvic floor injury can predict increased risk of bone and soft tissue changes at the pubic symphysis. Fluid‐sensitive MRI has utility for differential diagnosis of structural injury in postpartum women. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A prospective analysis of pain experience, beliefs and attitudes, and pain management of a cohort of Danish surgical patients
Authors: Lorentzen V. , Hermansen I.L. , Botti M.
Published: July 2011

Background

Adequacy of pain management is a process indicator of health care quality with consequences for patient outcomes and satisfaction. The reported incidence of moderate to severe postoperative pain worldwide is between 20% and 80%.

Objectives

The purpose was to assess the quality of pain management in a cohort of Danish postoperative patients by examining their pain experience, beliefs about pain and pain treatment, and relationships between pain intensity, its effect on function, and pharmacological pain management.

Methods

The American Pain Society's Patient Outcome Questionnaire was administered to a consecutive cohort of Danish patients who had undergone gastrointestinal, gynaecological, orthopaedic or urological surgery within 24 and 72 h of surgery.

Results

Findings indicated uncontrolled pain in 45.5% of patients. These patients reported moderate to severe intensity average pain in the previous 24 h, however, 88.4% of the cohort overall stated they were satisfied or very satisfied with pain treatment. Patients who experienced severe pain only received 50% of available strong opioids, 73.3% of available weak opioids, 100% of available non‐steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and paracetamol. Further, analgesics prescribed to be administered at fixed intervals were administered 99% of the time; in contrast, all Pro Re Nata (PRN) orders irrespective of analgesic categories, were administered only 25% of the time.

Conclusions

A number of patients experienced significant pain postoperatively. Although multi‐modal analgesics were available, analgesic administration practices did not consistently reflect management responsive to patient needs. Despite this, patients were largely satisfied with the care received suggesting the need for further research to understand how patients perceive the efficacy of pain management.
Maternal low-protein diet-induced delayed reflex ontogeny is attenuated by moderate physical training during gestation in rats
Authors: Falcão-Tebas Filippe , Bento-Santos Adriano , Antônio Fidalgo Marco , de Almeida Marcelus Brito , Antônio dos Santos José , Lopes de Souza Sandra , Manhães-de-Castro Raul , Góis Leandro Carol
Published: July 2011

We evaluated the effects of moderate- to low-intensity physical training during gestation on reflex ontogeny in neonate rats whose mothers were undernourished. Virgin female Wistar rats were divided into four groups as follows: untrained (NT, n 7); trained (T, n 7); untrained with a low-protein diet (NT+LP, n 7); trained with a low-protein diet (T+LP, n 4). Trained rats were subjected to a protocol of moderate physical training on a treadmill over a period of 4 weeks (5 d/week and 60 min/d, at 65 % of VO2max). After confirming the pregnancy, the intensity and duration of the exercise were reduced. Low-protein groups were provided with an 8 % casein diet, and controls were provided with a 17 % casein diet. Their respective offspring were evaluated (during the 10th–17th days of postnatal life) in terms of physical feature maturation, somatic growth and reflex ontogeny. Pups born to mothers provided with the low-protein diet during gestation and lactation showed delayed physical feature and reflex maturation and a deficit in somatic growth when compared with controls. However, most of these deficiencies were attenuated in pups of undernourished mothers undergoing training. In conclusion, physical training during gestation attenuates the effects of perinatal undernutrition on some patterns of maturation in the central nervous system during development.
Comparison of novel and standard methods for analysing patterns of plant death in designed field experiments
Authors: SURIYAGODA L. D. B. , RYAN M. H. , LAMBERS H. , RENTON M.
Published: July 2011

The present paper compares standard and novel methods for analysing aggregated patterns of plant death in designed field experiments; these methods include binomial (BN), beta-binomial (BBN), logistic-normal-binomial (LNB), BN models with random blocks, BN models with smooth-scale spatial components and principal coordinates of neighbour matrices (PCNM). PCNM is a relatively new technique used in ecology to determine how much observed variability can be explained by spatial and environmental variables, and has not yet been applied to agricultural studies. The survival data of two pasture species, collected from a designed field experiment that was replicated at multiple locations, were used. First, the occurrence of overdispersion was tested using the BN and BBN distributions. Goodness-of-fit tests proved that the BBN model provided a better description (better fit) of the observed data in some cases than did the BN distribution, indicating overdispersion was present. When overdispersion was not present, the BN distribution was adequate to describe the data, and the use of the BBN distribution was superfluous. It is then shown that the PCNM approach, the BN model with smooth-scale spatial components and the LNB model were able to account for some of the variation as spatial variability, thus reducing the species effect compared with that explained under the standard BN model. The amount of variation among species according to the BN model and the BN model with random blocks was similar. Therefore, it is argued that the novel PCNM approach warrants further testing when exploring the spatial variability in designed experiments in agriculture and using LNB, PCNM and BN with smooth-scale spatial components may provide better predictions of species effects than do other, more conventional, approaches.