bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amblyopia: Background to the special issue on stroke recovery
Authors: Maurer Daphne , Hensch Takao K.
Published: March 2012

In this introductory article, we summarize the evidence from humans and animal models on the shaping of postnatal visual development by focused binocular input. When balanced input is missing during a sensitive period, deficits emerge, including seemingly permanent impairments in visual acuity that are labeled amblyopia. Rodent models have identified neurochemical changes that control the onset of such sensitive periods and molecular and structural brakes that lead to the diminution of the plasticity thereafter. Both animal and human studies of amblyopia have recently identified exciting ways to remediate vision in adulthood that bear some similarity to the interventions that have proved successful in promoting recovery from stroke. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 54:224‐238, 2012.
Floodplain woodland structure and condition: the relative influence of flood history and surrounding irrigation land use intensity in contrasting regions of a dryland river
Authors: McGinness Heather M. , Arthur Anthony D. , Davies Micah , McIntyre Sue
Published: March 2012

Forecast changes in irrigation practices and climate are likely to result in changes to surface and ground water availability for floodplain woodland remnants; however, the potential effects of such changes are poorly understood, with implications for management of woodland remnants for long‐term biodiversity persistence. This paper examines Eucalyptus largiflorens floodplain woodland structure and condition in two contrasting regions within the same catchment. It assesses the effects of varying levels of irrigation land use intensity surrounding woodland sites and of flood history within sites, testing the following propositions: (i) floodplain woodlands with greater intensity of surrounding irrigation land use will be in worse condition and have less structural complexity than other floodplain woodlands; (ii) floodplain woodlands with flood histories closer to ‘natural’ regimes will be in better condition and will have greater structural complexity than other floodplain woodlands. This paper demonstrates that where groundwater tables have fallen, rainfall is in deficit and surface flooding occurs less than once every two years, E. largiflorens trees will be in poor condition and are more likely to die. In the absence of sufficient rainfall and groundwater, more frequent flooding is required to maintain E. largiflorens in good condition (less crown death and greater crown density) than would normally be required. Irrigation land use intensity affects variables that create habitat complexity in woodlands, such as the presence of old and young trees, and the abundance of shrubs such as lignum and Sclerolaena. Flow regimes (particularly prior wetting frequency) affect both structure and condition. These results have implications for understanding and management of elements of biodiversity dependent upon the resources provided by floodplain woodlands. They emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy black box remnants in irrigation areas for biodiversity persistence, and suggest that rehabilitation of black box communities in the Lowbidgee using managed flooding could bring significant biodiversity benefits to the region. Copyright © 2012 CSIRO
Multi‐century reconstructions of Pacific salmon abundance from climate‐sensitive tree rings in west central British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Starheim Colette C. A. , Smith Dan J. , Prowse Terry D.
Published: March 2012

Short records of naturally fluctuating Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations elicit challenges for the long‐term management of North American fisheries. A dendrochronologic approach was used to reconstruct long proxy histories of regional Pacific salmon populations returning to streams along west central British Columbia coastlines. Tree rings from five tree species collected at 18 sites were found to be sensitive to interannual fluctuations in large‐scale ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns. Using a regional network of climate‐sensitive ring‐width and ring‐density tree‐ring chronologies in linear regression models, multi‐century long‐term abundance records for populations of sockeye, chinook, chum and pink salmon were generated. Models explained between 27% and 39% of the variability in escapement records and were more proficient at capturing trends than annual magnitudes. The reconstructions vary in length, dating from 1400, 1536 and 1638 ad and extending to 2009 ad. Notable fluctuations in salmon abundance over the past six centuries are described, with significant population collapses shown to occur during the early 1400s, the late 1500s, the mid‐1600s, the early 1700s, the early 1800s and parts of the 1900s. These models are the first to utilize climate‐sensitive tree‐ring records to reconstruct regional abundance histories and thus contribute potentially valuable information for salmon fisheries managers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of Chlorosulfolipids (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 9/2012)
Authors: Nilewski Christian , Carreira Erick M.
Published: March 2012

The cover picture shows a painting of Philippus von Hohenheim, also known as Paracelsus, by the Flemish painter Quentin Massys (1466–1529). Paracelsus (1493–1541) was the first to note that the dose alone makes a substance a poison. Little is known about the biology, the biochemistry and, importantly, the toxicology of chlorosulfolipids, which constitute a class of polychlorinated natural products that are originally produced by certain fresh‐ and seawater microalgae species and that have been detected in and isolated from certain edible mussels. To date, the lack of sufficient material has hampered in‐depth studies to address these issues. Details are presented in the Microreview by C. Nilewski and E. M. Carreira on p. 1685 ff, which summarizes the impressive progress made in the total synthesis of the chlorosulfolipids in recent years, which in turn should enable approaches that address numerous interdisciplinary questions.

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Needs instigate positive fantasies of idealized futures
Authors: Kappes Heather Barry , Schwörer Bettina , Oettingen Gabriele
Published: March 2012

One form that mental time travel takes is fantasies about the future. Research to date has not established when people generate fantasies that depict an imagined future as particularly positive. We identify need state as a variable promoting positive fantasies about relevant stimuli (i.e., those that could address the need). In four studies, people with an aroused need (or with a stronger need) generated more positive fantasies depicting idealized future scenarios that were relevant to addressing the need, compared with people without this need (or with a weaker need). These results held for a variety of needs (meaning in life, drinking, relatedness, and power) and whether needs were manipulated (Studies 1–3) or measured (Study 4). The findings shed light on when and why people depict imagined futures as particularly positive. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temporal distance as a determinant of just world strategy
Authors: Warner Ruth H. , VanDeursen Molly J. , Pope Anna R. D.
Published: March 2012

The authors investigated the impact of temporal distance on just world maintenance strategy. Across four studies, it was found that participants blamed the victim's actions more when victimization was temporally near (i.e., occurred within the last year, seemed to have occurred just yesterday, focused on how the abuse occurred). In contrast, perceivers blamed the victim's character more and expected the victim to find benefits for his or her suffering more when victimization was temporally distant (i.e., occurred five years ago, seemed to have occurred long ago, focused on why the abuse occurred). The effects of temporal distance on just world maintenance strategy were only found when just world threat was high. Implications for the study of just world theory and construal level theory are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The future weighs heavier than the past: Collective guilt, perceived control and the influence of time
Authors: Caouette Julie , Wohl Michael J. A. , Peetz Johanna
Published: March 2012

The present research examines whether people can experience collective guilt for harmful events that have yet to be committed. In two experiments, we show that people not only experience collective guilt for future harm but feel it to a greater extent than for an identical event that occurred in the past. In Experiment 1, Canadians felt more collective guilt for flooding Aboriginal lands in 1 month's time than 1 month ago. This time effect was mediated by increased levels of perceived control over the harm inflicted. In Experiment 2, the same pattern was found among Germans for the decision by a German company to use suppliers that subject their Bangladeshi employees to inhumane working conditions. Moreover, they were also willing to compensate future harm more than past harm. Implications for groups seeking reparation are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Learning from yesterday's mistakes to fix tomorrow's problems: When functional counterfactual thinking and psychological distance collide
Authors: Smallman Rachel , McCulloch Kathleen C.
Published: March 2012

Functional counterfactual thinking involves a unique set of circumstances where one can both reflect on past events and imagine future possibilities. A key aspect of a counterfactual's functionality is that insight about past mistakes is converted into plans for future action, thereby improving self‐regulatory success. If counterfactual thinking is a self‐regulatory tool, then it should be similarly impacted by psychological mechanisms that influence peoples' ability to improve future outcomes. The current research tested one such mechanism, psychological distance. Using a sequential priming paradigm, Experiment 1 showed that functional counterfactual thinking is sensitive to changes in temporal distance. Negative events in the recent versus distant past facilitated relevant behavioral intention judgments. Additionally, functional counterfactual thinking was sensitive to changes in the relevant behavioral intention's temporal distance, such that counterfactual judgments facilitated behavioral intentions set to occur in the near but not distant future (Experiment 2). Together, this research creates new connections between functional counterfactual thinking and psychological distance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construing counterfactual worlds: The role of abstraction
Authors: Gilead Michael , Liberman Nira , Maril Anat
Published: March 2012

The present article conceptualizes mental time travel as a special case of transcending psychological distance, which rests on the uniquely human ability to consider counterfactual and hypothetical worlds. We discuss the possible challenges that counterfactuality and futurity present before our cognitive system, which include severing the real from imagined worlds and dealing with uncertainty. We suggest, similar to extant approaches to theory of mind, that the use of abstract–symbolic mental representations helps overcome these difficulties. We present empirical evidence to support the claim that counterfactual and hypothetical objects are encoded in a more abstract manner than ascertained objects. Finally, we discuss the possible advantages of linguistic/disembodied representation over the embodied–experiential form. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mental travel into the past: Differentiating recollections of nostalgic, ordinary, and positive events
Authors: Stephan Elena , Sedikides Constantine , Wildschut Tim
Published: March 2012

This research examined construal differences evoked by mental travel to nostalgic, ordinary, or positive autobiographical events. According to the Construal Level Theory, psychologically distant events are construed with abstract terms, proximal events with concrete terms. We argue that nostalgic recollections are characterized by a unique construal pattern. Nostalgia refers to unusual and meaningful memories that are preserved, if not idealized, across time. As such, nostalgic events involve psychological distance and will be construed with abstract terms. Secondarily, they will also be construed with concrete terms as they reflect relevance to the present or psychological proximity. Two experiments confirmed the hypotheses. The experiments compared narratives of nostalgic, ordinary, and positive recollections, as well as distance of pertinent events in time and location. Recollections of nostalgic (compared with ordinary) events included a greater number of abstract terms and higher‐level construal while entailing concrete elements linking past to present. The experiments also identified unique consequences of nostalgic recollections in terms of affect, including a sense of authenticity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depth‐integrated free‐surface flow with parameterized non‐hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Bai Yefei , Cheung Kwok Fai
Published: March 2012

Non‐hydrostatic free‐surface models can provide better descriptions of dispersive waves by increasing the number of layers at the expense of computational efficiency. This paper proposes a parameterized non‐hydrostatic pressure distribution in a depth‐integrated two‐layer formulation to reduce computational costs and to maintain essential dispersion properties for modeling of coastal processes. The non‐hydrostatic pressure at mid flow depth is expressed in terms of the bottom pressure with a free parameter, which is determined to match the exact linear dispersion relation for the water depth parameter up to kd = 3. This reduces the depth‐integrated two‐layer formulation to a hybrid system with a tridiagonal matrix in the pressure Poisson equation. Linear dispersion relations and shoaling gradients derived from the present model as well as conventional one‐layer and two‐layer models provide a baseline for performance evaluation. Results from these three models are compared with previous laboratory experiments for wave transformation over a submerged bar, a plane beach, and a fringing reef. The present model provides comparable results as the two‐layer model but at the computational requirements of a one‐layer model. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The socs box—adapting proteins for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation
Authors: Linossi Edmond M. , Nicholson Sandra E.
Published: March 2012

The suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) box was first identified in the SH2‐containing SOCS box family (cytokine‐inducible SH2‐containing protein, SOCS1–7) and is a 40‐amino acid motif, which functions to recruit an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex consisting of the adapter proteins elongins B and C, Rbx2 and the scaffold protein Cullin5. The SOCS box is found in a diverse array of intracellular signalling molecules, many of which contain different protein interaction domains such as SPRY and WD40 domains, leucine and ankyrin repeats or other functional domains such as GTPases. In general, the SOCS box‐containing proteins are thought to act as substrate‐recognition modules to mediate the polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation of substrate proteins by the 26S proteasome. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2012
Genetic variation in the beta‐2 adrenergic receptor is associated with chronic musculoskeletal complaints in adolescents
Authors: Skouen J.S. , Smith A.J. , Warrington N.M. , O’ Sullivan P.B , McKenzie L. , Pennell C.E. , Straker L.M.
Published: March 2012

Background

There is significant evidence to suggest that psychological and stress‐related factors are important predictors of the onset of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia (FM). The hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis, together with the efferent sympathetic/adrenomedullary system, influence all body organs (including muscles) during short‐ and long‐term threatening stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between genetic variants in adrenergic candidate genes and chronic musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) in adolescents.

Methods

Adolescents from the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort attending the 17‐year cohort review completed a questionnaire containing a broad range of psychosocial factors and pain assessment (n = 1004). Blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and genotyping. Genotype data was obtained for 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two candidate genes – beta‐2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) and catecholamine‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT). Haplotypes were reconstructed for all individuals with genotype data.

Results and Conclusion

Both female gender and poor mental health were associated with (1) an increased risk for chronic, disabling comorbid neck and low back pain (CDCP); and (2) an increase in the number of areas of pain. Of the 14 SNPs evaluated, only SNP rs2053044 (ADRB2, recessive model) displayed an association with CDCP [odds ratio (OR) = 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25, 4.98; p = 0.01] and pain in three to four pain areas in the last month (OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.06; p = 0.02). These data suggest that genetic variants in ADRB2 may be involved in chronic MSCs.
Structural evolution and functional diversification analyses of argonaute protein
Authors: Wei Kai‐Fa , Wu Ling‐Juan , Chen Juan , Chen Yan‐feng , Xie Dao‐xin
Published: March 2012

Argonaute (AGO) proteins are highly specialized small‐RNA‐binding modules and small RNAs are anchored to their specific binding pockets guiding AGO proteins to target mRNA molecules for silencing or destruction. The 135 full‐length AGO protein sequences derived from 36 species covering prokaryote, archaea, and eukaryote are chosen for structural and functional analyses. The results show that bacteria and archaeal AGO proteins are clustered in the same clade and there exist multiple AGO proteins in most eukaryotic species, demonstrating that the increase of AGO gene copy number and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) have been the main evolutionary driving forces for adaptability and biodiversity. And the emergence of PAZ domain in AGO proteins is the unique evolutionary event. The analysis of middle domain (MID)‐nucleotide contaction shows that either the position of sulfate I bond in Nc_QDE2 or the site of phosphate I bond in Hs_AGO2 represents the 5′‐nucleotide binding site of miRNA. Also, H334, T335, and Y336 of Hs_AGO1 can form hydrogen bonds with 3′‐overhanging ends of miRNAs and the same situation exists in Hs_AGO2, Hs_AGO3, Hs_AGO4, Dm_AGO1, and Ce_Alg1. Some PIWI domains containing conserved DDH motif have no slicer activity, and post‐translational modifications may be associated with the endonucleolytic activities of AGOs. With the numbers of AGO genes increasing and fewer crystal structures available, the evolutionary and functional analyses of AGO proteins can help clarify the molecular mechanism of function diversification in response to environmental changes, and solve major issues including host defense mechanism against virus infection and molecular basis of disease. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2576–2585, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sp1, acetylated histone‐3 and p300 regulate TRAIL transcription: Mechanisms of PDGF‐BB‐mediated VSMC proliferation and migration
Authors: Azahri Nor Saadah M. , Di Bartolo Belinda A. , Khachigian Levon M. , Kavurma Mary M.
Published: March 2012

We recently reported that TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is important in atherogenesis, since it can induce vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and arterial thickening following injury. Here we show the first demonstrate that TRAIL siRNA reduces platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB (PDGF‐BB)‐stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration. PDGF‐BB‐inducible VSMC proliferation was completely inhibited in VSMCs isolated from aortas of TRAIL−/− mice; whereas inducible migration was blocked compared to control VSMCs. TRAIL transcriptional control mediating this response is not established. TRAIL mRNA, protein and promoter activity was increased by PDGF‐BB and subsequently inhibited by dominant‐negative Sp1, suggesting that the transcription factor Sp1 plays a role. Sp1 bound multiple Sp1 sites on the TRAIL promoter, including two established (Sp1‐1 and ‐2) and two novel Sp1‐5/6 and ‐7 sites. PDGF‐BB‐inducible TRAIL promoter activity by Sp1 was mediated through these sites, since transverse mutations to each abolished inducible activity. PDGF‐BB stimulation increased acetylation of histone‐3 (ac‐H3) and expression of the transcriptional co‐activator p300, implicating chromatin remodelling. p300 overexpression increased TRAIL promoter activity, which was blocked by dominant‐negative Sp1. Furthermore, PDGF‐BB treatment increased the physical interaction of Sp1, p300 and ac‐H3, while chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed Sp1, p300 and ac‐H3 enrichment on the TRAIL promoter. Taken together, our studies demonstrate for the first time that PDGF‐BB‐induced TRAIL transcriptional activity requires the cooperation of Sp1, ac‐H3 and p300, mediating increased expression of TRAIL which is important for VSMC proliferation and migration. Our findings have the promising potential for targeting TRAIL as a new therapeutic for vascular proliferative disorders. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 2597–2606, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bayesian Regularized Artificial Neural Network Modeling of the Anti‐protozoal Activities of 1‐Methylbenzimidazole Derivatives Against T. Vaginalis Infection
Authors: Chamjangali Mansour Arab , Mohammadrezaei Mahdi , Kalantar Zahra , Amin Amir Hossein
Published: March 2012

In this work, we propose a quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) approach in order to model the anti‐protozoal activities of 24 derivatives of 1‐methylbenzimidazole against trichomoniasis vaginalis. A QSAR model was built using the Bayesian regularized artificial neural network (BR‐ANN). A total of 7 molecular descriptors, as the most feasible ones, were selected to build the QSAR model. Some of the selected descriptors seem to relate to the presence of ester group and chlorine atoms at the inner atmosphere of the compounds to increase the anti‐protozoal activity. The robustness and predictability of the proposed model were verified by the test data set and leave‐one‐out cross‐validation methods. The mean square errors (MSEs) and mean relative errors (MREs) for the test data set are 0.0049 and 0.82%, respectively, and for the leave‐one‐out method, they are 0.0031 and 0.75%, respectively. Finally, it was proved that the QSAR model is a useful tool in prediction of the anti‐protozoal activities of 1‐methylbenzimidazole compounds, and that it could be used to guide the synthesis of new 1‐methylbenzimidazole derivatives with better activities.
Synthesis of Chiral Pyridylphenols for the Enantioselective Addition of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes
Authors: Wu Pei‐Shan , Chen Chinpiao
Published: March 2012

Chiral 8‐substituted 2‐(8,10,10‐trimethyl‐6‐aza‐tricyclo[7.1.1.02,7]undeca‐2(7),3,5‐trien‐5‐yl)‐phenols were prepared from a high enantiopurity (>97% ee) of (1R)‐(+)‐α‐pinene, and assessed in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to substituted benzaldehydes, giving the (S)‐alcohols with enantiomeric excess ranging from 33% to 89%. Interestingly, in all cases, except for those of ortho‐chlorobenzaldehyde, ortho‐ and para‐methoxybenzaldehydes, the ee was >71%. The plot of the Hammett substitution constants vs. enantiomeric excess of the diethylzinc addition to either the ortho‐ or para‐substituted benzaldehydes shows a linear correlation.
Markedly Enhanced Purge‐and‐Trap Performance and Efficiency for the Determination of Ammonium Ion in High‐Salinity Water Samples
Authors: Lin Tzung‐Yi , Pan Yi‐Ta , Lee Hsin‐Ying , Wang Po‐Yen , Wu Chien‐Hou
Published: March 2012

We have previously developed a purge‐and‐trap (P&T) preconcentrator, useful for the determination of trace amounts of ammonium ion in high‐salinity water samples by ion chromatography (IC). In this study, we succeeded in improving the P&T system to markedly enhance performance and efficiency for the determination of ammonium in high‐salinity water samples. Compared to the previous work, the background signal was reduced by a factor of 9. The maximum overall collection efficiency increased greatly from 64% to 97%. With the modified P&T system, this method can be applied to a wide ammonium concentration range of 5 orders of magnitude. These were attributed to the substitution of polypropylene vessels for glass ones, the improvement of the gastight of the P&T system, the increase of the liquid depth in the purge vessel, and the use of 10 mM sulfuric acid as the trapping solution for high ammonium concentration samples. Interferences of 20 native amino acids to the ammonium determination are slightly positive, but also negligible except asparagine and glutamine. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the accurate determination of wide levels of ammonium in seawater and sweat samples.
Long‐term occurrence, variability and tracks of deep cyclones over Krakow (Central Europe) during the period 1900–2010
Authors: Bielec‐Bąkowska Zuzanna , Piotrowicz Katarzyna
Published: March 2012

This article discusses patterns in the long‐term and seasonal occurrence of deep cyclones over Krakow. This study analysed the frequency of occurrence of air pressure values equal to or lower than the 1st percentile (equivalent to ≤995.3 hPa) of all air pressure values recorded at 12:00 UTC over a period of 110 years (1900/1901–2009/2010). Special attention was devoted to the tracks of deep cyclones. No distinct changes were found in the frequency of occurrence of deep cyclones during the study period. Overall the frequency peaked in December, but in recent years there has been an increase in frequency towards the end of winter and beginning of spring. A similar general lack of noticeable change in the number of days with deep cyclones can also be found in specific tracks. There were minor increases in the frequency of occurrence of cyclones from the Norwegian Sea (T1), the Atlantic (T3), Bay of Biscay (T6) and the Mediterranean (T7) after 1950. The study also found confirmation of the theory that cyclone tracks had shortened at their northeastern extremities. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
New natural antioxidants for protecting omega‐3 rich products
Authors: Sabeena Farvin K. H. , Jacobsen Charlotte
Published: March 2012

The long‐chain (LC) highly unsaturated omega‐3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6) are vital for a wide range of biological functions and are implicated in the prevention of numerous diseases. However, these fatty acids are highly susceptible to oxidation because of their unsaturated nature. Addition of antioxidants is one method to prevent lipid oxidation. As synthetic antioxidants may have carcinogenic effects at higher levels, the replacement of synthetic antioxidants with natural antioxidants is now in demand. We have isolated natural antioxidants from yoghurt, potato peel, fish protein hydrolysates and seaweed, which were able to protect highly unsaturated fish oil from oxidation. These antioxidant extracts may have potential for commercial exploitation.
Narrow band imaging of squamous cell carcinoma tumors using topically delivered anti‐EGFR antibody conjugated gold nanorods
Authors: Puvanakrishnan Priyaveena , Diagaradjane Parmeswaran , Kazmi S.M. Shams , Dunn Andrew K. , Krishnan Sunil , Tunnell James W.
Published: March 2012

Background

Nanoparticles have recently gained interest as exogenous contrast agents in a variety of biomedical applications related to cancer detection and treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the potential of topically administered antibody conjugated gold nanorods (GNRs) for imaging squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin using near‐infrared narrowband imaging (NBI). Near‐infrared (NIR) NBI images narrow wavelength bands to enhance contrast from plasmonic particles in a wide field portable and noncontact device that is clinically compatible for real‐time tumor imaging and tumor margin demarcation.

Study design

We conjugated GNRs to Cetuximab, a clinically approved humanized antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is overexpressed on the surface of many tumor cells, especially SCCs. We excised subcutaneous xenografts of SCCs (A431) from Swiss nu/nu mice and divided the tumors into two groups: (1) the targeted group (Cetuximab conjugated GNRs) and (2) the control group (polyethylene glycol‐conjugated GNRs). After topical application of particles and incubation for 30 minutes, the tumors were washed and imaged using NBI. In addition, we performed two‐photon imaging to quantify the binding of EGFR targeted GNRs in tumors and their depth profile.

Results

The NBI images showed a visual increase in contrast from tumors after topical administration of targeted GNR. Targeted GNR tumors showed increased contrast compared to tumors administered with the control GNR. There was a statistically significant increase in mean pixel intensity (∼2.5×) from targeted GNR tumors (n = 6). Two‐photon microscopy images of targeted GNRs confirmed their binding affinity to the EGF receptors over expressed in the A431 tumors.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that a topical application of gold nanorods targeted specifically to tumor growth factor receptors results in a significantly higher image contrast compared to nontargeted gold nanorods. These results demonstrate the feasibility of near‐infrared NBI to image and demarcate tumor margins during surgical resection using topical administration of targeted GNR. Lasers Surg. Med. 44:310–317, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Towards Rationally Designed Graphene‐Based Materials and Devices
Authors: Liang Yu Teng , Hersam Mark C.
Published: March 2012

With its exceptional charge transport properties, graphene has emerged as a potential replacement material in the electronics industry. For these applications, much effort has been devoted towards the synthesis of large defect‐free graphene sheets. However, recent developments have enabled the efficient production of micrometer‐ and nanometer‐sized graphene sheets in the solution phase. These suspensions have stimulated the development of novel materials and devices that more fully exploit the tunability and large specific surface area of pristine graphene. This review highlights advances in the understanding of the defect structure and properties of as‐produced graphene as well as strategies for its chemical selection and modification that facilitates its use in functional materials and devices.
In Situ Modification of Unmodified Montmorillonite in Polypropylene by Electron‐Induced Reactive Processing
Authors: Thakur Varun , Gohs Uwe , Wagenknecht Udo , Heinrich Gert
Published: March 2012

The potential of electron‐induced reactive processing for the in situ modification of unmodified montmorillonite (MMT) is described. During melt mixing process, energy and negative electron charges are absorbed in the polypropylene‐unmodified MMT composite in the presence of a chemical coupling agent. The total amount of absorbed electron charges, the absorbed dose, and the pH‐dependent charges developed on the MMT edges play a significant role in the in situ modification of MMT. The proposed chemical mechanism behind the in situ modification of MMT in the presence of vinyl silane as coupling additive is described in detail. Finally, a speculative sketch is described to explain the influence of pH‐dependent charges on the modification of MMT.
Functionalization of Poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) via Lithiation of the Cyclopentadienyl Rings
Authors: Presa Soto Alejandro , Chabanne Laurent , Zhou Jiawen , Gilroy Joe B. , Manners Ian
Published: March 2012

The metallation of the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligands of poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS) can be performed by reaction with the Schlosser's base pair t‐BuLi/KOt‐Bu in THF. Subsequent treatment with a series of electrophiles affords a range of Cp‐substituted polymers with up to an average of 1.8 new substituents per repeating unit. NMR studies on polymers containing trimethylsilyl groups and deuterium on the Cp rings are indicative of high regioselectivity with selective metallation at the β‐carbon.
Miniature bandpass filter with a wide stopband up to 40F0
Authors: Belyaev B. A. , Serzhantov A. M. , Tyurnev V. V. , Leksikov A.A.
Published: March 2012

A 243‐MHz narrowband filter with high selectivity performance has been designed. The filter comprises two electromagnetically coupled quasi‐lumped resonators placed into a metal case. Each resonator consists of a tubular capacitor connected in series between two tubular conductors. The measured frequency response of the fabricated filter is presented. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1117–1118, 2012
Design methodology for wireless sensor network working with radio over fiber
Authors: Assumpção Raphael M. , Branquinho Omar C.
Published: March 2012

We propose a design methodology for predicting the coverage of a wireless sensor network (WSN) when operating on a radio over fiber (RoF) backhaul.We analyze the RoF consequences in the WSN radio coverage even for multiple cells and the impact of new cells insertion. An analytical approach identifies the main parameters permitting to determine the range where it is possible to install sensors. Laboratory experiments validate the analytical expression for different scenarios. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1277–1281, 2012
Demonstration of a 5 Gb/s × 24 interchip optical interconnect system
Authors: Feng Quanyou , Sang Xinzhu , Dou Wenhua
Published: March 2012

An 850 nm 12‐channel vertical cavity surface emitting laser array, a photodiode array, microprocessor chips, embedded fiber‐optic waveguides, and microlens optical coupling elements are integrated onto the printed circuit board. The bidirectional 5 Gb/s × 24 optical interconnect system is successfully demonstrated for interprocessor communication through optical I/O pins. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1176–1179, 2012
Dielectric thickness and ground width effect on multilayer coplanar components and circuits for ceramic multichip modules
Authors: Samanta K. K. , Robertson I. D.
Published: March 2012

This article investigates the effect of dielectric thickness and ground width on the performance of multilayer conductor backed coplanar waveguide lumped elements and circuits fabricated on advanced multilayer photoimageable thick‐film ceramic multichip module (MCM) technology. From the S‐parameters, the effective dielectric constant is extracted to investigate the effect of dielectric thickness and ground‐width on transmission line dispersion. The equivalent circuit parameters for multilayer ceramic‐based capacitors and inductors are investigated for various dielectric thicknesses and ground‐plane widths. Finally, the practical effect of dielectric thickness and ground width are investigated for a highly compact and high performance lumped element low pass filter at 3 GHz, developed for cost‐effective MCM applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1127–1132, 2012
Efficient miniaturization technique for wire patch antennas
Authors: Addaci Rafik , Diallo Aliou , Thuc Philippe Le , Staraj Robert
Published: March 2012

In this article, a new miniaturization technique for a circular wire patch antenna is presented. This technique consists in adding cylindrical skirts to the two metallic circular plates. A parametric study carried out for this new design shows that this new shape gives one more degree of freedom to control the resonance frequency and allows us to optimize the matching of this smaller radiating element in the desired operation band. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1325–1327, 2012
A fingerprinting‐based indoor localization system using intensity modulation of light emitting diodes
Authors: Vongkulbhisal Jayakorn , Chantaramolee Bhume , Zhao Yan , Mohammed Waleed S.
Published: March 2012

In this article, we propose a two‐dimensional indoor localization system using fingerprinting of received optical signals emitted from light emitting diodes (LEDs).The transmitters and receiver are designed and constructed to use visible light as the signal for localization. At the transmitter side, the input voltage/current is modulated with continuous waves before being sent to the LEDs, where each transmitter is assigned with a different frequency. At the receiver side, the power spectral density of the received signal is calculated and the location is estimated as one of the fingerprint locations using a novel but yet simple algorithm. Both the simulation and experiment have been conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the system in a controlled environment. We demonstrate that the system has the potential to estimate locations in the level of centimeters. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1218–1227, 2012
Band‐notched low profile monopole antenna with enhanced bandwidth by using an inverted T‐shaped parasitic structure and a pair of G‐shaped slots
Authors: Ojaroudi M. , Ojaroudi Y.
Published: March 2012

In this letter, a novel printed monopole antenna for ultra wideband applications with variable frequency band‐notch characteristic is presented.The proposed antenna consists of a forked‐shaped radiating patch with an inverted T‐shaped parasitic structure and a ground plane with a pair of G‐shaped slots, which provides a wide usable fractional bandwidth of more than 130% (2.9–14.1 GHz). To generate frequency band‐stop performance, the forked‐shaped strips are folded back and result in a pair of coupled lines on the radiating patch that we can control band‐stop performance characteristics such as band‐notch frequency. By inserting an inverted T‐shaped parasitic structure on the radiating patch and also by cutting a pair of G‐shaped slots with variable dimensions on the ground plane, additional resonances are excited and hence much wider impedance bandwidth can be produced, especially at the higher band. The designed antenna has a small size of 10 × 16 mm2 while showing the band rejection performance in the frequency band of 5–6 GHz. Simulated and experimental results obtained for this antenna show that it exhibits good radiation behavior within the UWB frequency range. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1123–1127, 2012
Millimeter‐wave photonic active integrated antennas using hybrid mode‐locked lasers
Authors: Khawaja Bilal A. , Cryan Martin J.
Published: March 2012

This article introduces a novel low‐cost scheme for implementing in‐building/campus wide remote antenna units for next generation radio‐over‐fiber systems using the photonic active integrated antenna concept, whereby photonic devices can be integrated directly with planar antennas. De‐embedded input impedance of a state‐of‐the‐art 40‐GHz mode‐locked laser is measured, and the device is matched directly to the nonradiating edge of a rectangular‐microstrip‐patch antenna. Wireless hybrid mode locking is then demonstrated for a maximum wireless range of 15 cm. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1200–1203, 2012
Printed dual ring loop antenna for wide‐dual‐frequency band of wireless applications
Authors: Lee Hyeonjin , Lim Yong‐Moo
Published: March 2012

In this article, a wide and dual band printed dual ring antenna is presented for a wide local area network (WLAN)(2.4/5.4/5.8) applications.The proposed antenna consists of a dual ring loop, which is misaligned array. A printed dual ring loops antenna is fed by a coplanar waveguide. This provides wideband performance and relatively good matching. As result the antenna is operated frequency bands of 1.98–3.55 GHz, 3.82–6.0 GHz, criterion of less than 10 dB. The operating frequency bands of proposed antenna are able to support WLAN communications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1317–1318, 2012
Highly capacity RFID generated by a soliton pulse within a panda ring resonator
Authors: Mitatha S. , Udomariyasap P. , Noppanakeepong S. , Yupapin P. P.
Published: March 2012

A new design of THz frequency carrier generation for radio frequency identification (RFID) application is presented. The dense wavelength division multiplexing can be generated and obtained by using a Gaussian or soliton pulses propagating within a modified add–drop filter known as a PANDA ring resonator. A system is consisted of a serial nonlinear microring resonator system. The broad bandwidth of THz signals can be obtained and available for useful applications. The selected signals can be filtered and obtained by using the add/drop filter. Results obtained have shown that the increasing in channel capacity can be obtained and useful for the large demand of RFID applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1339–1342, 2012
50–60 GHz local oscillator transmission over fiber using optical frequency multiplication
Authors: Llopis O. , Martinet P. , Merrer P. H. , Saleh K.
Published: March 2012

The main parameters of a local oscillator distribution in the millimeter wave range are described. The link is based on optical frequency multiplication taking benefit of the modulator nonlinearity. It is modeled using an original computer aided design (CAD) approach. Then, various practical solutions are compared and their phase noise floor is measured. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1313–1316, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26780
Enhancement of pattern directivity for the open slot antenna by utilizing array topology
Authors: Wang Chien‐Jen , Dai Yang
Published: March 2012

In this article, a new design for the open slot antenna with a high front‐to‐back gain ratio is proposed and presented. By utilizing a two‐element array topology, a power combination is achieved and a unidirectional radiation pattern is derived. To suppress the backward radiating power, a pair of symmetrical notched slits with uniform width is etched such that the currents distributing along two longitudinal edges of the ground plane cannot flow backward. In addition, three arrays of eight‐element metal strips are utilized as a power director to increase the forward power and improve the front‐to‐back ratio of the antenna. From the measured results, the proposed antenna topology demonstrates a front‐to‐back (F/B) ratio of 22.3 dB and possesses superior end‐fire radiating characteristics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1273–1277, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26782
2 × 10 Gbit/s nonreturn‐to‐zero‐ook to 10 Gbaud quasicontinuous phase modulation all‐optical conversion using cascaded mach–zehnder interferometer‐semiconductor optical amplifiers
Authors: Dionísio Rogerio P. , Parca Giorgia , Reis Claudia , Nogueira Rogério , Teixeira António L.
Published: March 2012

An optical format conversion from nonreturn‐to‐zero (NRZ) to quasicontinuous phase modulation (Qu‐CPM) using two Mach–Zehnder interferometer‐semiconductor optical amplifiers in serial is presented, and its feasibility is demonstrated in a 2 × 10 Gb/s NRZ‐OOK to one 10 Gbaud Qu‐CPM conversion experiment.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1240–1242, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26783
Compact wideband LTCC bandstop filter using vertical coupled‐line units
Authors: Qian Kewei , Tang Xiao‐Hong
Published: March 2012

A novel compact bandstop filter (BSF) using vertical coupled striplines is presented. Stopband rejection depth and bandwidth can be easily controlled by the coupling factor of the coupled‐line section. A lossless transmission line model analysis is used for filter analysis. To validate the proposed topology, a multilayer BSF centered at 5.8 GHz with bandwidth of 75% is designed and built. Good agreement between measured and simulated results is obtained. With the assistance of vertical coupling structure and LTCC technology, the filter occupies an area of only 4.7 mm × 3.8 mm. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1173–1176, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26787
Internal WWAN/LTE handset antenna integrated with USB connector
Authors: Wong Kin‐Lu , Chang Yu‐Wei
Published: March 2012

A new internal eight‐band wireless wide area network (WWAN)/long‐term evolution (LTE) handset antenna comprising a small antenna ground and two coupled‐fed 0.25‐wavelength loop antennas disposed on two sides of the antenna ground is presented.In one loop antenna, a chip inductor is embedded to result in dual‐resonance excitation of its 0.25‐wavelength loop mode and also to adjust the antenna's loading effects on the excited resonant modes at higher frequencies contributed by the other loop antenna. The chip inductor loading greatly helps the proposed antenna in achieving two wide operating bands for the desired WWAN/LTE operation in the 704–960 and 1710–2690 MHz bands. The proposed antenna is especially suitable to be mounted on top of a protruded ground extended from the main ground of the handset to accommodate a universal series bus connector, which serves as a data port of the handset. Details of the proposed antenna are described. Radiation characteristics and specific absorption rate of the antenna are also presented and discussed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1154–1159, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26788
Bandpass and bandstop filters based on open stubs with ground plane slots
Authors: Fernández‐Prieto A. , Martel J. , Medina F. , Mesa F.
Published: March 2012

This work reports on a modified version of λ/2 open stubs bandpass filters (λ/2‐OSBPFs) and λ/4 open stubs bandstop filters (λ/4‐OSBSFs) for wide/narrow bandwidth operation. When wide bandwidths (for λ/2‐OSBPF) or narrow bandwidths (for λ/4‐OSBSF) are required, conventional microstrip implementation of this kind of filters is not possible owing to unattainable high stub characteristic impedance values, which lead to extremely narrow strips. To overcome this drawback, we propose the introduction of slots under the stubs along the grounded backside of the substrate. This provides additional flexibility for the width of the strips printed on the upper side of the substrate, which can be much wider than without the slots. To avoid undesired resonances of the slot mode and radiation problems, printed narrow strip short circuits are distributed along the slotted regions. It is shown that the presence of these strips does not meaningfully affect the filter performance while suppresses the undesired slot mode effects. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1242–1246, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26792
Novel method of detecting cholesterol using microwaves
Authors: Lonappan Anil
Published: March 2012

This article reports a novel method of detecting cholesterol in blood based on the measurement of the dielectric properties at microwave frequencies.The measurements were made using rectangular cavity perturbation technique at the S‐band of microwave frequency with the different samples of blood obtained from healthy donors as well as from patients having cholesterol in their blood stream. It is observed that an appreciably change in the dielectric properties of patient samples with the normal healthy samples and this measurements were in good agreement with clinical analysis. These results indicate an alternate novel method of detecting the presence of cholesterol in blood using microwaves whereby can diagnose the onset of cardiovascular diseases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1212–1215, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26794