bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, In Vitro Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Some New 4,5‐Dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one Derivatives
Authors: Yüksek Haydar , Akyıldırım Onur , Yola Mehmet L. , Gürsoy‐Kol Özlem , Çelebier Mustafa , Kart Didem
Published: May 2013

A series of compounds derived from 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one were synthesized and characterized by spectral data. The 12 new compounds were analyzed for their potential in vitro antioxidant activities by three different methods. Compound 4f showed the best activity for the iron binding. In addition, the compounds 4 were titrated potentiometrically with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in non‐aqueous solvents. The RP‐HPLC capacity factors (k′) of the series were also determined on a C18 column, with methanol/water as the mobile phase. The correlation between log k′ with the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase was used for the determination of the log kw values for these compounds. The antimicrobial activities of these compounds were also screened against bacteria and yeast.
Meta-analysis of contemporary short- and long-term mortality rates in patients diagnosed with critical leg ischaemia
Authors: Rollins K E , Jackson D , Coughlin P A
Published: May 2013

Background

Critical leg ischaemia (CLI) has been associated with high mortality rates. There is a lack of contemporary data on both short- and long-term mortality rates in patients diagnosed with CLI.

Methods

This was a systematic literature search for studies prospectively reporting mortality in patients diagnosed with CLI. Meta-analysis and meta-regression models were developed to determine overall mortality rates and specific patient-related factors that were associated with death.

Results

A total of 50 studies were included in the analysis The estimated probability of all-cause mortality in patients with CLI was 3·7 per cent at 30 days, 17·5 per cent at 1 year, 35·1 per cent at 3 years and 46·2 per cent at 5 years. Men had a statistically significant survival benefit at 30 days and 3 years. The presence of ischaemic heart disease, tissue loss and older age resulted in a higher probability of death at 3 years.

Conclusion

Early mortality rates in patients diagnosed with CLI have improved slightly compared with previous historical data, but long-term mortality rates are still high.
Expertise-based randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic versus small-incision open cholecystectomy
Authors: Rosenmüller M H , Thorén Örnberg M , Myrnäs T , Lundberg O , Nilsson E , Haapamäki M M
Published: May 2013

Background

Several randomized clinical trials have compared laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and small-incision open cholecystectomy (SIOC). Most have had wide exclusion criteria and none was expertise-based. The aim of this expertise-based randomized trial was to compare healthcare costs, quality of life (QoL), pain and clinical outcomes after LC and SIOC.

Methods

Patients scheduled for cholecystectomy were randomized to treatment by one of two teams of surgeons with a preference for either LC or SIOC. Each team performed their specific method (SIOC or LC) as a first-choice operation, but converted to open cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration when necessary. Intraoperative cholangiography was carried out routinely. The intention was to include all patients undergoing cholecystectomy, including emergency operations and procedures involving surgical training for residents.

Results

Some 74·9 per cent of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy were included. Of 355 patients randomized, 333 were analysed. Self-estimated QoL scores in 258 patients, analysed by the area under the curve method, were significantly lower in the SIOC group at 1 month after surgery: median 2326 (95 per cent confidence interval 2187 to 2391) compared with 2411 (2334 to 2502) for the LC group (P = 0·030). The mean(s.d.) duration of operation was shorter for SIOC: 97(41) versus 120(48) min (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences between the groups in conversion rate, pain, complications, length of hospital stay or readmissions.

Conclusion

SIOC had comparable surgical results but slightly worse short-term QoL compared with LC. Registration number: NCT00370344 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Rigid‐motion‐inspired liquid character animation
Authors: Zhang Guijuan , Lu Dianjie , Zhu Dengming , Lv Lei , Liu Hong , Meng Xiangxu
Published: May 2013

We present a rigid‐motion‐inspired method for animating liquid characters in this paper. Our method allows an animator to control the motion of liquid characters with motion capture data that is widely used in rigid body animation. It animates the most visual interesting part of liquid character, that is, to preserve character's shape as well as produce enough liquid details. To this end, we build a two‐layer model to represent the character by two coaxial layers: the rigid kernel and the liquid shell. Different control paradigms are used for the two layers instead of applying homogeneous force that is common in previous approaches. By embedding the control algorithm to the Navier–Stokes equations, we compute the fluid velocity that drives the motion of the liquid character. Results show that the method is easy and intuitive to use while incurring little additional cost.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Draft‐space warping: grading of clothes based on parametrized draft
Authors: Jeong Moon‐Hwan , Ko Hyeong‐Seok
Published: May 2013

This paper presents a novel framework for garment grading. In CG, an extensive amount of study has been carried out to clothe human characters, but little attention has been taken to the grading problem itself. For the development of a grading technique, we obtained the insight from the process of drawing the patternmaking draft (sloper) in the clothing field. Noting that the draft can be completely determined by supplying the primary body sizes, we abstract the draft construction process as a computer procedure, which we call the parametrized draft. With the parametrized draft, we develop a grading method based on the draft‐space warping, which takes three steps: (i) draft‐space encoding, (ii) target draft construction, then (iii) draft‐space decoding. The proposed grading method can be performed instantly for any given body without calling for the user's intervention. With experimental results, we show that the new grading framework can bring an improvement to garment grading. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simulating realistic crowd based on agent trajectories
Authors: Sun Libo , Li Xiaona , Qin Wenhu
Published: May 2013

This paper presents a model for simulating realistic crowd behaviors at low computation cost. The proposed model is inspired by video data. In our approach, we first classify the crowd into two categories: main and background characters. Whether the agents are main characters or not is influenced by two factors, one is the agent's trajectories and the other one is the change of the environment. In the second stage, we adopt two approaches to simulate the behaviors of main and background characters. Main characters are intelligent agents with the perception, the memory, the planning, and the psychology so that they can make decisions themselves. Background characters are informed of the behavior options for execution by the “smart environment.” Finally, we simulate the road‐crossing scenario in a three‐dimensional virtual environment. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach not only well reflects the characteristics of agent behaviors but also reduces the computation complexity of simulating realistic crowd. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Live accurate and dense reconstruction from a handheld camera
Authors: Chen Yadang , Hao Chuanyan , Cai Zhongmou , Wu Wen , Wu Enhua
Published: May 2013

We present a method to make an accurate and dense reconstruction from the input of video captured by a free moving handheld camera in real time. By the method firstly, the positions of the camera and sparse 3D points are estimated by simultaneous localization mapping. Then the depth maps of selected reference frames are computed from corresponding camera bundles. Lastly a novel linear algorithm is also proposed to integrate all the depth maps into dense meshes partially. The main contributions of this paper are in the following points: the reference frames and corresponding camera bundles are able to be selected automatically, then accurate and smooth depth maps are generated in real time, and the depth maps are merged into a dense mesh by using a linear algorithm based on the error clouds optimization. Our algorithm is implemented on dual CPU and graphics processing unit in a parallel framework for improving the performance. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flexible and rapid animation of brittle fracture using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics formulation
Authors: Chen Feibin , Wang Changbo , Xie Buying , Qin Hong
Published: May 2013

This paper presents a hybrid animation approach to the flexible and rapid crack simulation of brittle material. At the physical level, the local stress tensors induced by collision are analyzed by using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) formulation. Specifically, in order to determine the internal stress when rigid bodies collide with each other or neighboring environments, we treat all of them as completely rigid body that has infinite stiffness and then evaluate virtual displacement for colliding particles. At the geometric level, in order to faithfully maintain the fracture interface during the crack simulation, we utilize an efficient shape representation of solid based on the tetrahedral decomposition of the original solid geometry. This novel hybrid approach resorts to local particle models, whose goal is to avoid heavy computational burden during crack interface updating and topological changing, and meanwhile, it facilitates the user‐initiated interactive control during the crack generation and propagation. Our animation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our novel particle‐based method to simulate the crack of brittle material. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relighting abstracted image via salient edge‐guided luminance field optimization
Authors: Liu Chunxiao , Li Hong , Peng Qunsheng , Wang Xun , Wu Enhua
Published: May 2013

Because existing image abstraction systems can hardly incorporate with the changing light, we present an integrated image abstraction and relighting rendering system, which is based on a salient edge‐guided luminance field optimization approach. For an input image, we first adopt a sparsity prior‐based illumination decomposition method to remove its original illumination and have an intrinsic image. Meanwhile, we iteratively extract the salient edge inside by employing a message‐passing strategy. Then, we simplify this image with a proposed salient edge‐guided image abstraction optimization algorithm in the luminance field. Finally, we put forward a salient edge‐guided image relighting optimization method to simulate the effect of dynamic lighting along different directions. Experiment results show that our system can artistically adjust the illumination of the abstracted image and makes it more vivid. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facial performance illumination transfer from a single video using interpolation in non‐skin region
Authors: Wu Hongyu , Chen Xiaowu , Yang Mengxia , Fang Zhihong
Published: May 2013

This paper proposes a novel video‐based method to transfer the illumination from a single reference facial performance video to a target one taken under nearly uniform illumination. We first filter the key frames of the reference and the target face videos with an edge‐preserving filter. Then, the illumination component of reference key frame is extracted through dividing the filtered reference key frames by the corresponding filtered target key frames in skin region. The differences in non‐skin region caused by different expressions between the reference and target face may bring about artifacts. Therefore, we interpolate the illumination component of the non‐skin region by that of the surrounded skin region to ensure the spatial smoothness and consistency. After that, the illumination components of key frames are propagated to non‐key frames to ensure the temporal consistency between the two adjacent frames. We obtain convincing results by transferring the illumination effects of a single reference facial performance video to a target one with the spatial and temporal consistencies preserved. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multisociety consensus quality improvement guidelines for intraarterial catheter‐directed treatment of acute ischemic stroke, from the American Society of Neuroradiology, Canadian Interventional Radiology Association, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy, and Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Authors: Sacks David , Black Carl M. , Cognard Christophe , Connors John J. , Frei Donald , Gupta Rishi , Jovin Tudor G. , Kluck Bryan , Meyers Philip M. , Murphy Kieran J. , Ramee Stephen , Rüfenacht Daniel A. , Stallmeyer M.J. Bernadette , Vorwerk Dierk
Published: May 2013

Purpose

In this international multispecialty document, quality benchmarks for processes of care and clinical outcomes are defined. It is intended that these benchmarks be used in a quality assurance program to assess and improve processes and outcomes in acute stroke revascularization.

Materials and Methods

Members of the writing group were appointed by the American Society of Neuroradiology, Canadian Interventional Radiology Association, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery, European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy, and Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. The writing group reviewed the relevant literature from 1986 through February 2012 to create an evidence table summarizing processes and outcomes of care. Performance metrics and thresholds were then created by consensus. The guideline was approved by the sponsoring societies. It is intended that this guideline be fully updated in 3 years.

Results

In this international multispecialty document, quality benchmarks for processes of care and clinical outcomes are defined. These include process measures of time to imaging, arterial puncture, and revascularization and measures of clinical outcome up to 90 days.

Conclusions

Quality improvement guidelines are provided for endovascular acute ischemic stroke revascularization procedures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
1,2,3,4‐Tetrasubstituted Cyclopentadienes and Their Applications for Metallocenes: Efficient Synthesis through Zirconocene‐ and CuCl‐Mediated Intermolecular Coupling of Two Alkynes and One Diiodomethane
Authors: Geng Weizhi , Wang Chao , Guang Jie , Hao Wei , Zhang Wen‐Xiong , Xi Zhenfeng
Published: May 2013

1,2,3,4‐Tetrasubstituted cyclopentadienes and indene derivatives with identical or different substituents were obtained in good to excellent isolated yields through a zirconocene‐ and CuCl‐mediated intermolecular coupling process. This synthetic procedure involved three organic partners, including one CH2I2, and two different or identical alkynes. Two alkynes or one diyne undergo Cp2ZrII‐mediated (Cp=η5‐C5H5) pair‐selective reductive coupling to afford the corresponding zirconacyclopentadiene derivatives, which react, in the presence of CuCl and 1,3‐dimethyl‐3,4,5,6‐tetrahydro‐2(1 H)‐pyrimidinone (DMPU), with CH2I2 through intermolecular followed by intramolecular coupling to afford the cyclopentadiene derivatives. An application of the prepared tetrasubstituted cyclopentadiene derivatives was demonstrated by the facile synthesis of the corresponding zirconocene complexes [(4RCp)2ZrCl2] and [(4RCp)2ZrR′2] (R′=Me, Et, or nBu). The unique 1,2,3,4‐tetrasubstituted cyclopentadiene ligands and the corresponding metallocenes are expected to have further applications in organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis.
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Blennolide A
Authors: Tietze Lutz F. , Ma Ling , Reiner Johannes R. , Jackenkroll Stefan , Heidemann Sven
Published: May 2013

Blennolide A can be synthesized through an enantioselective domino‐Wacker/carbonylation/methoxylation reaction of 7 a with 96 % ee and an enantioselective Wacker oxidation of 7 b with 89 % ee. Further transformations led to the α,β‐unsaturated ester (E)‐17, which was subjected to a highly selective Michael addition, introducing a methyl group to give 18 a. After a threefold oxidation and an intramolecular acylation, the tetrahydroxanthenone 4 was obtained, which could be transformed into (−)‐blennolide A (ent‐1) in a few steps.
Four‐dimensional analysis of nucleogenesis of the pontine nucleus in the hindbrain
Authors: Shinohara Masaki , Zhu Yan , Murakami Fujio
Published: May 2013

Nuclei in the central nervous system are 3D aggregates of neurons that have common physiological properties, functionalities, and connectivities. To form specific nuclei, neurons migrate from their birthplace towards the presumptive nuclear region where they change their dynamics to aggregate and rearrange into a distinct 3D structure, a process that we term nucleogenesis. Nuclei, together with the laminar structure, form the basic cytoarchitectonic unit for information processing. However, in contrast to much‐studied laminar structures, the neuronal dynamics that contribute to the aggregation process to form nuclei are poorly understood. Here, we analyze nucleogenesis by observing the mouse precerebellar pontine nucleus (PN), and provide the first 4D view of nucleogenesis by tracking neuronal behaviors along the three spatial axes over time. Early‐ and late‐born PN neurons were labeled by in utero electroporation and their behaviors on cultured brain slices were recorded by time‐lapse imaging. We find that when PN neurons migrate medially into the nuclear region, many of them switch to migrate radially and laterally, to populate the dorsal and lateral PN regions, respectively. The tendency to switch to radial migration is much less in later‐born neurons, whereas that to switch to lateral migration is comparable between the two groups. In contrast to the radial and mediolateral axes, very few PN neurons switch to migrate rostrocaudally. These results could thus provide a framework for understanding the mechanisms that regulate this complex yet important process. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3340–3357, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organization of multisynaptic circuits within and between the medial and the central extended amygdala
Authors: Bienkowski Michael S. , Wendel Elizabeth S. , Rinaman Linda
Published: May 2013

The central and medial extended amygdala comprises the central (CEA) and medial nuclei of the amygdala (MEA), respectively, together with anatomically connected regions of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). To reveal direct and multisynaptic connections within the central and medial extended amygdala, monosynaptic and transneuronal viral tracing experiments were performed in adult male rats. In the first set of experiments, a cocktail of anterograde and retrograde tracers was iontophoretically delivered into the medial CEA (CEAm), anterodorsal MEA (MEAad), or posterodorsal MEA (MEApd), revealing direct, topographically organized projections between distinct amygdalar and BST subnuclei. In the second set of experiments, the retrograde transneuronal tracer pseudorabies virus (PRV) was microinjected into the CEAm or MEAad. After 48 hours of survival, there were no significant differences between monosynaptic and PRV cases in the subnuclear distribution or proportions of retrogradely labeled BST neurons. However, after 60 hours of survival, CEAm‐injected cases displayed an increased proportion of labeled neurons within the anteromedial group of BST subnuclei (amgBST) and within the posterior BST, which do not directly innervate the CEA. MEApd‐injected 60‐hour cases displayed a significantly increased proportion of retrograde labeling in the amgBST compared with monosynaptic and 48‐hour cases, whereas MEAad‐injected cases displayed no proportional changes over time. Thus, multisynaptic circuits within the medial extended amygdala overlap the direct connections making up this anatomical unit, whereas the multisynaptic boundaries of the central extended amygdala extend into BST subnuclei previously identified as part of the medial extended amygdala. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:3406‐3431, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcomes of myocardial infarction hydrogel injection therapy in the human left ventricle dependent on injectate distribution
Authors: Miller Renee , Davies Neil H. , Kortsmit Jeroen , Zilla Peter , Franz Thomas
Published: May 2013

Myocardial infarction therapies involving biomaterial injections have shown benefits in inhibiting progression towards heart failure. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. A finite element model of the human left ventricle was developed from magnetic resonance images. An anteroapical infarct was represented at acute (AI) and fibrotic (FI) stage. Hydrogel injections in the infarct region were modelled with layered (L) and bulk (B) distribution. In the FI, injectates reduced end‐systolic myofibre stresses from 291.6% to 117.6% (FI‐L) and 115.3% (FI‐B) of the healthy value, whereas all AI models exhibited sub‐healthy stress levels (AI: 90.9%, AI‐L: 20.9%, AI‐B: 30.5%). Reduction in end‐diastolic infarct stress were less pronounced for both FI (FI: 294.1%, FI‐L: 176.5%, FI‐B: 188.2%) and AI (AI: 94.1%, AI‐L: 35.3%, AI‐B: 41.2%). In the border zone, injectates reduced end‐systolic fibre stress by 8–10% and strain from positive (AI) and zero (FI) to negative. Layered and bulk injectates increased ejection fraction by 7.4% and 8.4% in AI and 14.1% and 13.7% in FI. The layered injectate had a greater impact on infarct stress and strain at acute stage, whereas the bulk injectate exhibited greater benefits at FI stage. These findings were confirmed by our previous in vivo results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of the Chirality and Curvature of Carbon Nanostructures on Their Interaction with Aromatics and Amino Acids
Authors: Umadevi Deivasigamani , Sastry G. Narahari
Published: May 2013

Understanding noncovalent interactions on the surfaces of carbon nanostructures (CNSs) is of fundamental importance and also has implications in nano‐ and biotechnology. The interactions of aromatic compounds such as benzene, naphthalene, and aromatic amino acids with CNSs of varying diameter, chirality, and curvature were systematically explored by using density functional theory. Planar graphene exhibits stronger binding affinity than curved carbon nanotubes (CNTs), whereas zigzag CNTs appear to show stronger binding affinity than armchair CNTs. For hydrocarbons, there exist two competing modes, namely, π–π stacking interactions and CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions, which bring the aromatic motifs into parallel and perpendicular dispositions with respect to the CNSs, respectively. Our results reveal that π–π stacking interactions override CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions in such cases. However, in the case of aromatic amino acids, π–π interactions can exist simultaneously along with a range of other interactions, including CH⋅⋅⋅π. The polarizability and HOMO energy of the CNSs were found to be the key factors that determine the binding energies. The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps of the CNSs were found to be undisturbed by the noncovalent functionalization of the aromatic molecules.
Fast Ion Transport and Phase Separation in a Mechanically Driven Flow of Electrolytes through Tortuous Sub‐Nanometer Nanochannels
Authors: Liu Ling , Chen Xi
Published: May 2013

Both nanostructured materials and nanotubes hold tremendous promises for separation and purification applications, such as water desalination. By using molecular dynamics, herein, we compare the transport of aqueous electrolyte solutions through a Y‐zeolite, which features interconnected, tortuous sub‐nanometer nanopores, and a model silica nanotube, which has the same composition but is straight and has much lower surface complexity. In the Y‐zeolite, ion transport is faster than the transport of water molecules, thus leading to a phenomenon of phase separation in which a gradient of salt concentration is generated along the flow direction. However, similar transport characteristics and phase separation are not found in the model silica nanotube. Detailed analysis suggests that, in nanochannels with complicated geometries, such as those of the Y‐zeolite, the structural and flow characteristics of confined nanofluids are highly coupled, thus influencing the transport of ions and solvents and causing the phenomenon of phase separation.
Large‐Scale Production of Nanographene Sheets with a Controlled Mesoporous Architecture as High‐Performance Electrochemical Electrode Materials
Authors: Zhang Haitao , Zhang Xiong , Sun Xianzhong , Zhang Dacheng , Lin He , Wang Changhui , Wang Hongjin , Ma Yanwei
Published: May 2013

Graphene is considered as a rising‐star material because of its unique properties and it is a promising material for applications in many fields. In recent years, experiments on graphene fabricated by using versatile methods have shed light on the crucial problem of aggregation and restacking, which is induced by strong π–π stacking and van der Waals forces, but preparation methods for real‐world applications are still a great challenge. Here we report a facile, rapid, and environmentally friendly process, the burn–quench method, that allows large‐scale and controlled synthesis of ordered mesoporous nanographene with 1–5 layers, which has a high surface area and electric conductivity. Electrodes composed of nanographene with a mesoporous architecture used both in electrochemical capacitors and lithium‐ion batteries have a high specific capacitance, rate capability, energy density, and cyclic stability. Our results represent an important step toward large‐scale graphene synthesis based on this new burn–quench method for applications in high‐performance electrochemical energy storage devices.
A group strategy‐proof incentive approach for eliminating selfish behaviors in peer‐to‐peer file allocation
Authors: Zuo Fang , Zhang Wei
Published: May 2013

In this paper, we formulate and solve the selfish allocation problem by using game theory, which is different from the previously studied researches in three ways that make it more accurately reflective of real world peer‐to‐peer (P2P) allocation: (i) we treat the nodes as strategic agents and treat the replica allocation as a deliberate auction where node is incentivized to give his true quality of service for obtaining the replica; (ii) our mechanism computes node utility for all possible replica destination and payments for those destination nodes, and the best appropriate node can be selected as the final placement destination; and (iii) we show how to carry out our scheme with a distributed algorithm that is a straightforward extension to P2P allocation method and causes an overhead in convergence time. Our design and analysis of a strategy proof, feasible, Vickrey–Clarke–Groves‐based auction scheme provides a new, promising direction in distributed algorithmic mechanism design, which has heretofore been focused mainly on P2P application. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lack of adiponectin leads to increased lymphocyte activation and increased disease severity in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Piccio Laura , Cantoni Claudia , Henderson Jacob G. , Hawiger Daniel , Ramsbottom Michael , Mikesell Robert , Ryu Jiyoon , Hsieh Chyi‐Song , Cremasco Viviana , Haynes Wesley , Dong Lily Q. , Chan Lawrence , Galimberti Daniela , Cross Anne H.
Published: May 2013

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a presumed autoimmune disease directed against central nervous system (CNS) myelin, in which diet and obesity are implicated as risk factors. Immune responses can be influenced by molecules produced by fat cells, called adipokines. Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti‐inflammatory effects. We tested the hypothesis that adiponectin has a protective role in the EAE model for MS, that can be induced by immunization with myelin antigens or transfer of myelin‐specific T lymphocytes. Adiponectin deficient (ADPKO) mice developed worse EAE with greater CNS inflammation, demyelination, and axon injury. Lymphocytes from myelin‐immunized ADPKO mice proliferated more, produced higher amounts of IFN‐γ, IL‐17, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and transferred more severe EAE than wild type (WT) lymphocytes. At EAE peak, the spleen and CNS of ADPKO had fewer regulatory T (Treg) cells than WT mice and during EAE recovery, Foxp3, IL‐10 and TGF‐β expression levels in the CNS were reduced in ADPKO compared with WT mice. Treatment with globular adiponectin in vivo ameliorated EAE, and was associated with an increase in Treg cells. These data indicate that adiponectin is an important regulator of T‐cell functions during EAE, suggesting a new avenue of investigation for MS treatment.
4–1BB signal stimulates the activation, expansion, and effector functions of γδ T cells in mice and humans
Authors: Lee Seung J. , Kim Young H. , Hwang Sun H. , Kim Yu. I. , Han In S. , Vinay Dass S. , Kwon Byoung S.
Published: May 2013

We show here that the expression of 4–1BB is rapidly induced in γδ T cells following antigenic stimulation in both mice and humans, and ligation of the newly acquired 4–1BB with an agonistic anti‐4–1BB augments cell division and cytokine production. We further demonstrate that γδ rather than αβ T cells protect mice from Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection and 4–1BB stimulation enhances the γδ T‐cell activities in the acute phase of LM infection. IFN‐γ produced from γδ T cells was the major soluble factor regulating LM infection. Vγ1+ T cells were expanded in LM‐infected mice and 4–1BB signal triggered an exclusive expansion of Vγ1+ T cells and induced IFN‐γ in these Vγ1+ T cells. Similarly, 4–1BB was induced on human γδ T cells and shown to be fully functional. Combination treatment with human γδ T cells and anti‐hu4–1BB effectively protected against LM infection in human γδ T cell‐transferred NOD‐SCID mice. Taken together, these data provide evidence that the 4–1BB signal is an important regulator of γδ T cells and induces robust host defense against LM infection.
Catalase has a key role in protecting cells from the genotoxic effects of monomethylarsonous acid: A highly active metabolite of arsenic
Authors: Muñiz Ortiz Jorge G. , Wallace Kathleen A. , Leinisch Fabian , Kadiiska Maria B. , Mason Ronald P. , Kligerman Andrew D.
Published: May 2013

Although it is widely known that arsenic‐contaminated drinking water causes many diseases, arsenic's exact mode of action (MOA) is not fully understood. Induction of oxidative stress has been proposed as an important key event in the toxic MOA of arsenic. The authors' studies are centered on identifying a reactive species involved in the genotoxicity of arsenic using a catalase (CAT) knockout mouse model that is impaired in its ability to breakdown hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The authors assessed the induction of DNA damage using the Comet assay following exposure of mouse Cat+/+ and Cat−/− primary splenic lymphocytes to monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII) to identify the potential role of H2O2 in mediating cellular effects of this metalloid. The results showed that the Cat−/− lymphocytes are more susceptible to MMAIII than the Cat+/+ lymphocytes by a small (1.5‐fold) but statistically significant difference. CAT activity assays demonstrated that liver tissue has approximately three times more CAT activity than lymphocytes. Therefore, Comet assays were performed on primary Cat+/+, Cat+/−, and Cat−/− hepatocytes to determine if the Cat−/− cells were more susceptible to MMAIII than lymphocytes. The results showed that the Cat−/− hepatocytes exhibit higher levels of DNA strand breakage than the Cat+/+ (approximately fivefold) and Cat+/− (approximately twofold) hepatocytes exposed to MMAIII. Electron spin resonance using 5,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrroline‐N‐oxide as the spin‐trap agent detected the generation of ·OH via MMAIII when H2O2 was present. These experiments suggest that CAT is involved in protecting cells against the genotoxic effects of the ·OH generated by MMAIII. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 54:317–326, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Order Splitting Behavior by Different Types of Traders in the Taiwan Index Futures Markets Under Diverse Market Conditions
Authors: Wang Yun‐Yi
Published: May 2013

We set out in this study to empirically investigate the intraday pattern of order splitting behavior, along with the impacts of market conditions on the order splitting behavior of different types of traders. Our results indicate an intraday pattern in order splitting trading, which is found to be at its highest during the first hour of the trading day. We also present consistent evidence to show that order splitting behavior varies with market conditions, with a clear increase in such behavior when volume is at a high level, and when returns and volatility are at low levels. These results are particularly evident for foreign institutions and proprietary firms, although less so for domestic institutions and individual traders; this is possibly due to the greater sophistication of foreign institutional and proprietary firm traders, which enables them to dynamically alter their order submission strategies, depending upon the prevailing market conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 34:883–910, 2014
Evidence for changes in carbon isotopic fractionation by phytoplankton between 1960 and 2010
Authors: Young J. N. , Bruggeman J. , Rickaby R. E. M. , Erez J. , Conte M.
Published: May 2013

Rising CO2 is expected to drive a myriad of environmental changes in the surface ocean. Deciphering the phytoplankton response to this complex change is difficult. Here we determine whether a trend in the biological fractionation of stable carbon isotopes (εp) has occurred over the past 50 years. εp is primarily controlled by the acquisition and intracellular transport of inorganic carbon and the rate of carbon fixation. In turn, these processes are sensitive to phytoplankton physiology, community composition, and notably inorganic carbon availability. εp may therefore carry a signal of biological response to climate change. Temporal and spatial records of εp can be deciphered from the difference between the stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate organic matter (δ13CPOC) and that of the ambient inorganic carbon pool (δ13CCO2). Here we establish a global record of εp extending from the 1960s to today, extracted from a newly compiled data set of global measured δ13CPOC and part measured/part climatology δ13CCO2. We find that εp has changed significantly since the 1960s in the low‐ to mid‐latitude surface ocean. The increase is most pronounced in the subtropics, where it is estimated at > 0.015‰ per year. Our findings of such rates of change are further supported by a high resolution temporal record from a single sediment trap near Bermuda. Our results are consistent with the idea that εp is affected by increased inorganic carbon availability driven by the rise in atmospheric CO2.
Tubal ligation, hysterectomy and epithelial ovarian cancer in the New England Case–Control Study
Authors: Rice Megan S. , Murphy Megan A. , Vitonis Allison F. , Cramer Daniel W. , Titus Linda J. , Tworoger Shelley S. , Terry Kathryn L.
Published: May 2013

Previous studies have observed that tubal ligation and hysterectomy are associated with a decreased risk of ovarian cancer; however, little is known about whether these associations vary by surgical characteristics, individual characteristics or tumor histology. We used logistic regression to examine tubal ligation, simple hysterectomy and hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy in relation to risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in the New England Case–Control Study. Our primary analysis included 2,265 cases and 2,333 controls. Overall, tubal ligation was associated with a lower risk of epithelial ovarian cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68–0.97], especially for endometrioid tumors (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.29–0.69). The inverse association between tubal ligation and ovarian cancer risk was stronger for women who had undergone the procedure at the time of last delivery (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42–0.84) rather than at a later time (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.75–1.15). Overall, simple hysterectomy was not associated with ovarian cancer risk (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.83–1.42), although it was associated with a nonsignificant decreased risk of ovarian cancer among women who underwent the procedure at age 45 or older (RR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.40–1.02) or within the last 10 years (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.38–1.13). Overall, women who had a hysterectomy with a unilateral oophorectomy had significantly lower risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45–0.94). In summary, tubal ligation and hysterectomy with unilateral oophorectomy were inversely associated with ovarian cancer risk in a large population‐based case–control study. Additional research is necessary to understand the potential biologic mechanisms by which these procedures may reduce ovarian cancer risk.
Characterization of CACNA2D3 as a putative tumor suppressor gene in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wong Alissa Michelle Go , Kong Kar Lok , Chen Leilei , Liu Ming , Wong Aikha Melissa Go , Zhu Cailei , Tsang Janice Wing‐hang , Guan Xin‐Yuan
Published: May 2013

Apart from β‐catenin accumulation, loss of 3p21 is one of the most frequent genetic alterations in numerous malignancies including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Herein, we characterized a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene (TSG) CACNA2D3, a voltage‐dependent subunit alpha 2 delta 3 of a calcium channel complex. Downregulation of CACNA2D3 was frequently detected in primary NPCs and NPC cell lines compared with their nontumorigenic counterparts. Attenuated CACNA2D3 expression may be associated with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at intragenic single‐nucleotide polymorphism sites (rs589281, rs1449325 and rs6797113) and/or epigenetic silencing by methylation and histone deacetylation. Given the extensive effects of calcium in cancer, we then investigated the tumor suppressive role and underlying mechanism of CACNA2D3 in the development and progression of NPC. CACNA2D3 was stably transfected into NPC cell lines (C666 and SUNE1) at levels comparative with the normal nasopharynx, alongside siRNA‐mediated silencing in an immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line (NP69) to conduct in vivo and in vitro functional assays. Our findings show that CACNA2D3‐mediated increase in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) can induce mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis and activation of NLK (through the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway) to antagonize Wnt signaling‐mediated anchorage‐dependent and independent cell proliferation (via CCND1 and CMYC), invasion (via MMP7) and epithelial‐to‐mesynchemal transition (via SNAIL). As the expression pattern of calcium channels and their degree of functionality can change with the progression of cancer, CACNA2D3 may indeed be a promising biomarker for NPC. Our study also warrants further exploration in the potential therapeutic use of existing epigenetic targeting drugs (e.g., 5‐azacytidine, SAHA) to reconstitute CACNA2D3‐associated tumor suppression in NPC.
PTH(1-84) replacement therapy in hypoparathyroidism: A randomized controlled trial on pharmacokinetic and dynamic effects after 6 months of treatment
Authors: Sikjaer Tanja , Amstrup Anne Kristine , Rolighed Lars , Kjaer Soren Geill , Mosekilde Leif , Rejnmark Lars
Published: May 2013

Untreated, hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) is a state of hypocalcemia with inappropriately low plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and hyperphosphatemia. PTH administration normalizes plasma calcium and phosphate levels and reduces the doses of calcium and active vitamin D analogues needed. To develop an evidence-based clinical algorithm to monitor hypoPT patients treated with recombinant human PTH (rhPTH[1-84]) injected subcutaneously in the thigh, we performed a 24-hour monitoring study of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in a group of 38 patients who had completed a 6-month randomized study on effects of treatment with a fixed rhPTH(1-84) dose of 100 µg/d or similar placebo as an add-on to conventional treatment. PTH levels rose immediately, reaching a median peak level of 26.5 (interquartile range [IQR], 20.1–42.5) pmol/L 15 minutes following injection. Thereafter, levels gradually decreased until reaching predosing levels after 16 hours, with a plasma half-life of 2.2 (1.7–2.5) hours. rhPTH(1-84) changed the diurnal rhythms of ionized calcium levels and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) levels, with rising levels following injection. Ionized calcium peaked after 7.0 (5.0–10.0) hours. Asymptomatic hypercalcemia was present in 71% of the rhPTH(1-84)-treated patients. Compared with placebo, 24-hour urinary calcium, phosphate, and magnesium did not change, although the diurnal variation in renal excretion rates changed significantly in response to treatment. In conclusion, as a safety precaution, we recommend occasionally measuring calcium levels at approximately 7 hours after administration in order to reveal episodes of hypercalcemia. A 100-µg daily dose of rhPTH(1-84) appears to be too high in some patients, suggesting a need for a device allowing for individual dose adjustments. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Development of a solid‐phase microextraction fiber coated with poly(methacrylic acid‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and its application for the determination of chlorophenols in water coupled with GC
Authors: Li Yongqiang , Li Wenchao , Wang Yonghua , Zhou Haolin , Hu Guanjiu , Zhang Ninghong , Sun Cheng
Published: May 2013

A solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coated with poly(methacrylic acid‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) coupled to GC with a micro electron‐capture detector was developed for the determination of four chlorphenols in water samples for the first time. A novel and simple method for the preparation of this novel SPME fiber was proposed by copolymerization of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in an appropriate solvent using a glass capillary as a “mold”. The factors affecting the polymerization were optimized in detail. Furthermore, the extraction performance of the poly(methacrylic acid‐ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) fiber was evaluated. Moreover, experimental headspace‐SPME parameters, such as extraction temperature, extraction time, salt concentration, stirring speed, and pH, were optimized by orthogonal array experimental designs. Under the optimized conditions, the target analytes were linear in the range of 0.2–50 ng/mL, and the correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.99. RSD was less than 8.9%, and the detection limits were in the range of 0.1–10 ng/L. Four cholorphenols were detected from tap and lake water samples using the proposed method, with the recoveries of spiked natural water samples were ranged from 91.8 to 110.8, and 90.6 to 111.4% for tap and lake water samples, respectively.
Comparative Kinetic Monte Carlo study of the Sulfinyl and Dithiocarbamate Precursor Route toward Highly Regioregular MDMO‐PPV
Authors: Van Steenberge Paul H. M. , D'hooge Dagmar R. , Vandenbergh Joke , Reyniers Marie‐Françoise , Adriaensens Peter J. , Vanderzande Dirk J. M. , Marin Guy B.
Published: May 2013

A comparative kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) modeling study is presented for the synthesis of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MDMO‐PPV) via the sulfinyl and dithiocarbamate (DTC) precursor route. The sulfinyl precursor route allows a much faster polymerization toward highly regioregular and high molar mass MDMO‐PPV starting from non‐equimolar amounts of the isomeric sulfinyl premonomers. In the DTC precursor route, the polymerization can be started from a single dithiocarbamate premonomer and a higher yield can be reached. In contrast, synthesis of highly regioregular MDMO‐PPV via the sulfinyl precursor route requires separation of the isomeric premonomers after their synthesis and before polymerization.

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Conventional radical polymerization and iodine‐transfer polymerization of 4′‐nonafluorobutyl styrene: Surface and thermal characterizations of the resulting poly(fluorostyrene)s
Authors: Ceretta Flavio , Zaggia Alessandro , Conte Lino , Ameduri Bruno
Published: May 2013

4′‐Nonafluorobutylstyrene (3) was synthesized and polymerized by conventional and controlled radical polymerization (iodine transfer polymerization (ITP)). Such an aromatic fluoromonomer was prepared from Ullmann coupling between 1‐iodoperfluorobutane and 4‐bromoacetophenone followed by a reduction and a dehydration in 50% overall yield. Two radical polymerizations of (3) were initiated by AIBN either under conventional or controlled conditions, with 1‐iodoperfluorohexane in 84% monomer conversion and in 50% yield. ITP of (3) featured a fast monomer conversion and a linear evolution of the ln([M]0/[M]) versus time. The kinetics of radical homopolymerization of (3) enabled one to assess its square of the propagation rate to the termination rate (kp2/kt) in ITP conditions (36.2·10−2 l·mol−2·sec−2 at 80 °C) from the Tobolsky's kinetic law. Polydispersity index (Đ) of the fluoropolymer achieved by conventional polymerization was 1.30 while it worthed 1.15 when synthesized by ITP. Thermal stabilities of these oligomers were satisfactory (10% weight loss under air occurred from 305 °C) whereas the melting point was 47 °C. Contact angles and surface energies assessed from spin‐coated poly(3) films obtained by conventional (hysteresis = 18°, surface energy 18 mN.m−1) and ITP (hysteresis = 47°, surface energy 15 mN.m−1) evidenced Đ values' influence onto surface properties of the synthesized polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3202–3212
Free Movement? The Impact of Legislation, Benefit Generosity and Wages on the Pensions of European Migrants
Authors: Meyer Traute , Bridgen Paul , Andow Caroline
Published: May 2013

European (EU) economic integration has always involved a commitment to the free movement of labour, services and capital. However, the development by EU institutions of specific rights with respect to labour mobility has been slow. This paper explores this issue from the perspective of pension rights, among the most long‐lasting for citizens. It shows that the literature on this topic has focussed mainly on EU regulations, their scope and limitations. The paper argues that, although important, this work has led to the neglect of a more fundamental issue: the potential impact on mobility of the relative generosity of pension schemes and large national wealth variations, an increasingly salient issue since the expansion of the EU into Eastern and Central Europe. Thus, on the basis of a detailed review of dominant intra‐EU migratory patterns, the paper investigates the impact on pension rights of movement between Beveridgean and Bismarckian pension systems and between countries of substantially different wealth. It shows that lower income workers who move from Beveridgean to Bismarckian countries would be most at risk of pension losses. However, such movement is unusual; instead, the majority of intra‐EU migrants move from Bismarckian systems of low generosity in the poorer east to Beveridgean and more generous Bismarckian in the richer west. Workers who make this move are more likely to experience pension gains than losses. For them, free movement is achieved. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.