bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A selfish constraint satisfaction genetic algorithm for planning a long‐distance transportation network
Authors: Onoyama Takashi , Maekawa Takuya , Kubota Sen , Tsuruta Setsuo , Komoda Norihisa
Published: January 2009

To build a cooperative logistics network covering multiple enterprises, a planning method that can build a long‐distance transportation network is required. Many strict constraints are imposed on this type of problem. To solve these strict‐constraint problems, a selfish constraint satisfaction genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed. In this GA, each gene of an individual satisfies only its constraint selfishly, disregarding the constraints of other genes in the same individuals. Moreover, a constraint prechecking method is also applied to improve the GA convergence speed. The experimental result shows the proposed method can obtain an accurate solution in a practical response time. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(9): 1– 10, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10042
A parallel multigrid solver for high‐frequency electromagnetic field analyses with small‐scale PC cluster
Authors: Yosui Kuniaki , Iwashita Takeshi , Mori Michiya , Kobayashi Eiichi
Published: January 2009

Finite element analyses of electromagnetic fields are commonly used for designing various electronic devices. The scale of the analyses becomes larger and larger, therefore, a fast linear solver is needed to solve linear equations arising from the finite element method. Since a multigrid solver is the fastest linear solver for these problems, parallelization of a multigrid solver is quite a useful approach. From the viewpoint of industrial applications, an effective usage of a small‐scale PC cluster is important due to initial cost for introducing parallel computers. In this paper, a distributed parallel multigrid solver for a small‐scale PC cluster is developed. In high‐frequency electromagnetic analyses, a special block Gauss– Seidel smoother is used for the multigrid solver instead of general smoothers such as a Gauss– Seidel or Jacobi smoother in order to improve the convergence rate. The block multicolor ordering technique is applied to parallelize the smoother. A numerical example shows that a 3.7‐fold speed‐up in computational time and a 3.0‐fold increase in the scale of the analysis were attained when the number of CPUs was increased from one to five. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(9): 28– 36, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10160
The Effect of Steric Crowding on Porphyrin Conformation and Ring Orientations in a Series of Iron(III) μ‐Oxo Dimers Containing meso‐Nitrooctaethylporphyrins
Authors: Patra Ranjan , Bhowmik Susovan , Ghosh Sudip Kumar , Rath Sankar Prasad
Published: January 2009

We have examined the electronic and geometrical effects of the progressive addition of bulky electron‐withdrawing NO2 groups at the adjacent meso positions of FeIII‐μ‐oxo octaethylporphyrin dimers. The successive addition of mono‐, di‐, tri‐, and tetranitro substituents at the meso positions increases the steric congestion at the periphery, which leads to distortion of the porphyrin macrocycle. The X‐ray structures of four such molecules [Fe(din‐OEP)]2O, [Fe(trn‐OEP)]2O, [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O (triclinic), and [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O (monoclinic) have been determined; [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O authenticates the first structurally characterized oxo‐bridged dimer with a dodecasubstituted and most‐distorted porphyrin reported so far and also shows a significant increase in the Fe–Np and Fe–O distances and the displacement of Fe from mean porphyrin plane. The most important structural feature of the molecules is the very different torsional angles. As the number of nitro group increases, the torsional angles also increase from [Fe(OEP)]2O to [Fe(din‐OEP)]2O and to [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O. However, in the case of [Fe(trn‐OEP)]2O, the torsional angle is zero, while the angles are very different for both molecules present in the asymmetric unit of [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O (triclinic). Our study suggests that ruffling accommodates steric congestion at the periphery and thus reduces inter‐ring interactions, which leads to smaller torsional angles. Spectroscopic studies are indicative of strong antiferromagnetic coupling between two high‐spin iron(III) centers. The addition of NO2 groups in the porphyrin macrocycle serves both to protect the reactive meso positions from rapid oxidative attack and also to stabilize both porphyrin and metal against any oxidative degradation during catalysis. [Fe(tn‐OEP)]2O therefore ranks amongst the most‐effective catalyst in the oxygenation process. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Influence of Surface Chemistry on Dehydrogenation in Carbon Cryogel Ammonia Borane Nanocomposites
Authors: Sepehri Saghar , García Betzaida Batalla , Cao Guozhong
Published: January 2009

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of boron‐ and nitrogen‐modified carbon cryogel (CC) ammonia borane (AB) nanocomposites (BNCC‐AB) for hydrogen storage. Resorcinol–formaldehyde (RF) derived CCs were modified by homogeneous dispersion of AB in RF hydrogel prior to pyrolysis. Nanocomposites were fabricated by immersing CC in the AB solution. Nitrogen sorption analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry at multiple heating rates were used to study the structure and dehydrogenation properties of the nanocomposites. The results demonstrated lower dehydrogenation temperatures and reduced activation energies for AB when confined inside pores of B‐ and N‐modified CCs relative to AB when confined in the unmodified CC with the same pore size.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Valence‐Tautomeric RbMnFe Prussian Blue Analogues: Composition and Time Stability Investigation
Authors: Salmon Lionel , Vertelman Esther J. M. , Murgui Carlos Bartual , Cobo Saioa , Molnár Gábor , van Koningsbruggen Petra J. , Bousseksou Azzedine
Published: January 2009

Three different stoichiometric forms of RbxMn[Fe(CN)6]y·zH2O [x = 0.96, y = 0.98, z = 0.75 (1); x = 0.94, y = 0.88, z = 2.17 (2); x = 0.61, y = 0.86, z = 2.71 (3)] Prussian blue analogues were synthesized and investigated by magnetic, calorimetric, Raman spectroscopic, X‐ray diffraction, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 show a hysteresis loop between the high‐temperature (HT) FeIII(S = 1/2)–CN–MnII(S = 5/2) and the low‐temperature (LT) FeII(S = 0)–CN–MnIII(S = 2) forms of 61 and 135 K width centered at 273 and 215 K, respectively, whereas the third compound remains in the HT phase down to 5 K. The splitting of the quadrupolar doublets in the 57Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal the electron‐transfer‐active centers. Refinement of the X‐ray powder diffraction profiles shows that electron‐transfer‐active materials have the majority of the Rb ions on only one of the two possible interstitial sites, whereas nonelectron‐transfer‐active materials have the Rb ions equally distributed. Moreover, the stability of the compounds with time and following heat treatment is also discussed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Hydron‐Transfer Processes Involving an Organotitanium Oxide and Alcohols
Authors: Carbó Jorge J. , González‐del Moral Octavio , Martín Avelino , Mena Miguel , Poblet J.‐M. , Santamaría Cristina
Published: January 2009

Thermal treatment of the μ3‐alkylidyne complexes [{Ti(η5‐C5Me5)(μ‐O)}3(μ3‐CR)] [R = H (1), Me (2)] with alcohols (Ph3COH, Ph2CHOH, PhCH2OH, Ph2CMeOH, tBuOH,Me2CHOH and MeCH2OH) leads to partial hydronation of the alkylidyne moiety supported on the organometallic oxide [Ti3(η5‐C5Me5)3O3] and formation of the new oxo derivatives [{Ti(η5‐C5Me5)(μ‐O)}3(μ‐CHR)(OR′)] [R = H, R′ = Ph3C (3), Ph2CH (4), Ph2CMe (5), tBu (6); R = Me, R′ = Ph3C (7), Ph2CH (8), Ph2CMe (9), tBu (10), Me2CH (11), MeCH2 (12)]. The μ‐CHR group in these species lies above the Ti3O3 ring while the alkoxide ligand is located below it. To gain insight into the mechanism of these reactions, density functional calculations have been performed on the incorporation of alcohols into the model complexes [{Ti(η5‐C5H5)(μ‐O)}3(μ3‐CR)] [R = H (1H), Me (2H)]. Irradiation of solutions containing 1 and the alcohols leads to the compounds [{Ti(η5‐C5Me5)(μ‐O)}3(μ‐CH2)(OR′)] [R′ = Ph3C (13), Ph2CH (14), Ph2CMe (15), tBu (16)] where the methylene (μ‐CH2) and OR′ ligands are located cis with respect to the Ti3O3 unit. Finally, irradiation of solutions of 1 or 2 and Ph3COH in a 1:2 ratio gives the compounds [{Ti(μ3‐O)}3(η5‐C5Me5)2(μ‐CHR)(OCPh3)2] [R = H (19), Me (20)]. The molecular structures of 3, 5, 10, 11, 15 and 20 have been established by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Pyrazole and Pyrazolyl Complexes of cis‐Bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)chlororuthenium(II): Synthesis, Structural and Electronic Characterization, and Acid‐Base Chemistry
Authors: Jude Hershel , Rein Francisca N. , Chen Weizhong , Scott Brian L. , Dattelbaum Dana M. , Rocha Reginaldo C.
Published: January 2009

Complexes of the type cis‐[Ru(bpy)2(Cl)(L)]+ [bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine; with L = pyrazole (1H), 4‐methylpyrazole (2H), and 3,5‐dimethylpyrazole (3H)] were synthesized and isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts. The molecular structures of these new complexes were fully characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry, and the crystal structure of 3H·PF6 was determined by X‐ray crystallography. Compound 3H·PF6 (C25H24ClF6N6PRu) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 12.102(2) Å, b = 16.826(3) Å, c = 13.016(2) Å, β = 92.606(2)°, V = 2647.6(8) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure of 3H reveals the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond (2.562 Å) between the pyrazole N(2)–H site and the chloride ligand. The redox and electronic absorption properties of 1H, 2H, and 3H, as well as their deprotonated counterparts [L = pyrazolate (1), 4‐methylpyrazolate (2), and 3,5‐dimethylpyrazolate (3)], were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis spectroscopy. For detailed analysis of the electronic nature of this series of pyrazolyl ligands, the results are discussed along with other relevant cis‐[Ru(bpy)2(X)(Y)]n+ complexes. From spectrophotometric pH titrations, the basicity associated with the coordinated pyrazole/pyrazolate couple in water was found in all three cases to be unusually high, partly owing to the N–H···Cl hydrogen bond that stabilizes the protonated, azole state. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Total Synthesis of (±)‐Quebrachamine via [3+2] Cycloaddition and Efficient Chloroacetamide Photocyclization
Authors: Bajtos Barbora , Pagenkopf Brian L.
Published: January 2009

The total synthesis of (±)‐quebrachamine has been completed in 13 linear steps and 17.8 % overall yield. The indole core was constructed via a formal [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition between a functionalized nitrile and donor‐acceptor cyclopropane, and the synthetically challenging nine‐membered ring was secured by an efficient chloroacetamide photocyclization.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Assessment of CE for the identification of microorganisms
Authors: Petr Jan , Ryparová Olga , Ranc Václav , Hinnerová Petra , Znaleziona Joanna , Kowalska Marta , Knob Radim , Maier Vítězslav , Frébort Ivo , Lemr Karel , Ševčík Juraj
Published: January 2009

The assessment of capillary electrophoresis for separation and identification of microorganisms is described in this article. The work brings a comparison of the application of uncoated capillaries modified with poly(ethylene oxide) and coated capillaries for the separation of model microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli with Tris–borate–EDTA and Tris–citrate–fructose as electrolytes. The best separation was achieved in the coated capillary using 1 mM Tris–citrate–fructose buffer, pH 6.9. A simple identification based on the migration time and UV spectrum was found unsatisfactory and thus a method based on a post‐separation cultivation and sequential analysis was developed. Off‐line combination with mass spectrometric analysis with the use of desorption electrospray was shown to be an interesting alternative in a study of microorganisms. Mass spectra allowed distinguishing among analyzed cells.
Depletion of high molecular weight dextran from the red cell surface measured by particle electrophoresis
Authors: Rad Samar , Gao Jie , Meiselman Herbert J. , Baskurt Oguz K. , Neu Björn
Published: January 2009

The reversible aggregation of human red blood cells (RBC) by proteins or polymers continues to be of biological and biophysical interest, yet the mechanistic details governing the process are still being explored. A depletion model has been proposed for aggregation by the neutral polyglucose dextran and its applicability at high molecular weights has been recently documented. In the present study the depletion of high molecular weight dextrans on the red cell surface was measured as a function of polymer molecular mass (40 kDa–28 MDa), ionic strength (5 and 15 mM NaCl) and polymer concentration (≤0.9 g/dL). The experimental data clearly indicate an increasing depletion effect with increasing molecular weight: the effects of medium viscosity on RBC mobility were markedly overestimated by the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski relation, with the difference increasing with dextran molecular mass. These results agree with the concept of polymer depletion near the RBC surface and lend strong support to a “depletion model” mechanism for dextran‐mediated RBC aggregation. Our findings provide important new insight into polymer–RBC interactions and suggest the usefulness of this model for fundamental studies of cell–cell affinity and for the development of new agents to stabilize or destabilize specific bio‐fluids.
Assessment of suspended sediment transport in four alpine watersheds (France): influence of the climatic regime
Authors: Mano Vincent , Nemery Julien , Belleudy Philippe , Poirel Alain
Published: January 2009

High‐frequency water discharge and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) databases were collected for 3 years on four contrasted watersheds: the Asse and the Bléone (two Mediterranean rainfall regime watersheds) and the Romanche and the Ferrand (two rainfall–snowmelt regime watersheds). SSCs were calculated from turbidity recordings (1‐h time step), converted into SSC values. The rating curve was calculated by means of simultaneous SSC measurement taken by water sampling and turbidity recording. Violent storms during springtime and autumn were responsible for suspended sediment transport on the Asse and the Bléone rivers. On the Ferrand and the Romanche, a large share of suspended sediment transport was also caused by local storms, but 30% of annual fluxes results from snowmelt or icemelt which occurred from April to October. On each watershed, SSC up to 50 g l−1 were observed. Annual specific fluxes ranged from 450 to 800 t km−2 year−1 and 40–80% of annual suspended sediment fluxes occurred within 2% of the time. These general indicators clearly demonstrate the intensity of suspended sediment transport on these types of watersheds. Suspended sediment fluxes proved to be highly variable at the annual scale (inter‐annual variability of specific fluxes) as well as at the event scale (through a hysteresis loop in the SSC/Q relationship) on these watersheds. In both cases, water discharge and precipitations were the main processes involved in suspended sediment production and transport. The temporal and spatial variability of hydro‐meteorological processes on the watershed provides a better understanding of suspended sediment dynamics. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining the dissipation method and surface renewal analysis to estimate scalar fluxes from the time traces over rangeland grass near Ione (California)
Authors: Castellví F. , Snyder R. L.
Published: January 2009

The dissipation method, the method preferred for estimating scalar surface fluxes over open water has not traditionally been used by agronomists, whereas the surface renewal (SR) theory in conjunction with the analysis of the scalar time trace offers tremendous advantages for estimating fluxes over agronomic crops. For a steady and horizontally homogeneous flow, it is shown that the dissipation method and SR analysis are closely related. As a consequence, a new dissipation–SR analysis expression for estimating scalar surface fluxes was derived. The new equation requires no calibration, and the scalar time trace measured at a frequency capable of identifying canopy‐scale coherent structures (typically 4–10 Hz in agriculture) is the only input required. Sensible and latent heat flux estimates obtained from 10 Hz air temperature and water vapour concentration measurements in the inertial sub‐layer (2 m height) over short, homogeneous rangeland grass at a site where similarity does not hold gave similar results to those measured with the eddy covariance (EC) method. For unstable cases, the new equation provided a root mean square error of 57 W m−2 for the surface energy‐balance closure. For stable cases, the performance was difficult to evaluate because the EC fluxes were similar in magnitude to the sensor error. It is concluded that the proposed method can contribute to a better understanding of hydrological processes and water requirements by providing an accurate, less costly, alternative method to indirectly estimate evapotranspiration as the residual of the energy balance equation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Snow ablation energy balance in a dead forest stand
Authors: Boon Sarah
Published: January 2009

Forest disturbance has a significant impact on hydrology due to its effect on the forest canopy, which is important for precipitation interception, transpiration, site micrometeorology, and snow accumulation and ablation. This study examines the impact of mountain pine beetle infestation and subsequent forest death on snow ablation. Dead stands experience needle loss and canopy reduction due mainly to the loss of small branches and stems, which has a subsequent impact on micrometeorological conditions. Ablation is driven largely by incoming short‐wave radiation, which in dead stands is greater than in alive stands, but does not reach that available in clearcuts. Long‐wave radiation emission in dead stands is lower than that in alive stands, reducing its contribution to snowpack warming and ablation. Turbulent flux contributions to snow ablation are limited in forest stands relative to clearcuts, although they are slightly greater in dead than alive stands due to the more open forest structure. Additional studies are required to refine the basic energy balance model and incorporate all processes affecting the snow ablation energy balance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biocompatibility and in vivo evaluation of oligochitosans as cationic modifiers of alginate/Ca microcapsules
Authors: De Castro Maria , Orive Gorka , Hernández Rosa M. , Bartkowiak Artur , Brylak W. , Pedraz José L.
Published: January 2009

The present article investigates the substitution of poly‐L‐lysine by two different oligochitosans as membrane‐coating capsule, and its effect on different functionality parameters of cell microencapsulation. To address this issue, initially the biocompatibility of the two types of oligochitosan solutions was evaluated using erythropoietin secreting C2C12 myoblast cell line as model. In a second step, we encapsulated the cells within alginate microcapsules coated with each oligochitosan and a complete morphological and mechanical evaluation was performed. Finally, the in vivo functionality of the enclosed cells in the alginate‐oligochitosan microcapsules was studied in Balb/c mice. Results show that both oligochitosans were biocompatible, not detecting statistical differences between them. The alginate‐oligochitosan microcapsules were totally spherical and uniform and resulted in high hematocrit levels after subcutaneous implantation in mice. In fact, significantly higher hematocrit levels were found in the animals transplanted with the encapsulated cells compared with the control group. Finally, the histological analysis showed a mild fibroblastic reaction around the capsule membrane. These results suggest that alginate‐oligochitosan capsules may be an interesting alternative to conventional alginate‐ poly‐L‐lysine capsules. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009
Long‐term therapeutic effect of novel calcium phosphate‐based compounds injected in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Tokudome Yoshihiro , Otsuka Makoto , Ito Atsuo , LeGeros Racquel Z.
Published: January 2009

The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of well‐characterized Mg/Zn/F‐CaP preparations (administered by injection) in preventing bone mineral deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Donryu rats (4 weeks old, average weight 70 g) were divided into six experimental groups: GN (normal), GC (control, OVX), and OVX rats injected with suspensions of MZF‐CaPs (G2, G3, and G4) or with Zn‐containing tricalcium phosphate (ZnTCP, G1). The composition of the preparations was G1: 34.1 wt % Ca; 19.5 wt % P; and 6.17 wt % Zn; G2 (#51): 23.7 wt % Ca; 13.6 wt % P; 1.1 wt % Mg; 2.9 wt % Zn, and 1.1 wt % F; G3 (#68): 22.4 wt % Ca; 14.1 wt % P; 2.6 wt % Mg, 2.6 wt % Zn, and 2.3 wt % F; G4 (#76): 28.5 wt % Ca; 15.5 wt % P; 1.9 wt % Mg, 1.8 wt % Zn, and 3.0 wt % F. The suspensions (10 mg/0.2 mL) were injected into the right thigh once a week for 12 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by X‐ray computed tomography and bone mechanical strength (BMS) was measured as femoral three‐point bending strength. BMD and BMS were significantly higher in the femurs from groups G1, G2, G3, and G4 than from GC. No significant difference was observed in BMD or BMS between the left and right femurs for any group. The results indicate that the injected Mg/Zn/F‐CaP compounds were effective in preventing bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats and suggest that these compounds have potential use for treating osteoporosis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Physically crosslinked composite hydrogels of PVA with natural macromolecules: Structure, mechanical properties, and endothelial cell compatibility
Authors: Liu Y. , Vrana N. E. , Cahill P. A. , McGuinness G. B.
Published: January 2009

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have been considered potentially suitable for applications as engineered blood vessels because of their structure and mechanical properties. However, PVA's hydrophilicity hinders its capacity to act as a substrate for cell attachment. As a remedy, PVA was blended with chitosan, gelatin, or starch, and hydrogels were formed by subjecting the solutions to freeze‐thaw cycles followed by coagulation bath immersion. The structure‐property relationships for these hydrogels were examined by measurement of their swelling, rehydration, degradation, and mechanical properties. For the case of pure PVA hydrogels, the equilibrium swelling ratio was used to predict the effect of freeze thaw cycles and coagulation bath on average molecular weights between crosslinks and on mesh size. For all hydrogels, trends for the reswelling ratio, which is indicative of the crosslinked polymer fraction, were consistent with relative tensile properties. The coagulation bath treatment increased the degradation resistance of the hydrogels significantly. The suitability of each hydrogel for cell attachment and proliferation was examined by protein adsorption and bovine vascular endothelial cell culture experiments. Protein adsorption and cell proliferation was highest on the PVA/gelatin hydrogels. This study demonstrates that the potential of PVA hydrogels for artificial blood vessel applications can be improved by the addition of natural polymers, and that freeze‐thawing and coagulation bath treatment can be utilized for fine adjustment of the physical characteristics. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Novel fabrication of PCL porous beads for use as an injectable cell carrier system
Authors: Lim Sung Mook , Lee Hyo Jung , Oh Se Heang , Kim Jin Man , Lee Jin Ho
Published: January 2009

Injectable polycaprolactone (PCL) porous beads were fabricated for use as cell carriers by a novel isolated particle‐melting method (for nonporous beads) and the following melt‐molding particulate‐leaching method (for porous beads). The prepared beads showed highly porous and uniform pore structures with almost the same surface and interior porosities (porosity, over 90%). The PCL porous beads (bead size, 400–550 μm) with different pore sizes (25–50 and 50–100 μm) were compared for their in vitro cell (human chondrocyte) growth behavior with the nonporous beads. The porous beads showed higher cell seeding density and growth than the nonporous beads. The pore size effect between the porous beads was not significant up to 7 days, but after that time the beads with pore sizes of 50–100 μm showed significantly higher cell growth than those of 25–50 μm. To evaluate the tissue compatibility of the PCL porous beads, the beads were dispersed, uniformly, in cold Pluronic F127 solution and injected into hairless mice, subcutaneously, in the gel state of Pluronic F127 at room temperature, leading to the homogeneous bead delivery. The histological findings confirmed that the PCL porous beads in Pluronic F127 gel are biocompatible: surrounding tissues gradually infiltrated into the porous beads for up to 4 weeks with little inflammatory response. The PCL porous beads with highly porous and uniform pore structures fabricated in this study can be widely applicable as cell carriers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
A new model for competitive warfare and sustained advantage
Authors: Barat Somjit
Published: January 2009

Past attempts to design competitive strategies suffer from measurement and theoretical disagreements.

Some strategies look good on paper, but lack feasibility and applicability.

Author suggests a taxonomy of strategic offensive that is unique because the model is

— scalable based on the size and relative competitive position of the firm in the industry and

— feasible, because the taxonomy is based on matrices that are simpler and easier to follow than extant literature.

Model handy for strategists and market planners who want to consolidate their market position.

Interesting implications and ideas for future study provided for interested readers.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Folate is higher in developmentally younger potato tubers
Authors: Goyer Aymeric , Navarre Duroy A
Published: January 2009

BACKGROUND: Folate deficiency is a global nutritional problem and is problematic even in the developed world. Several studies have shown that, because of their high consumption, potatoes are an important source of dietary folate. New or baby potatoes constitute a valuable niche market that has been expanding in recent years. In this study, folate concentrations were measured throughout tuber development, including the new potato stage.

RESULTS: Folate concentrations were determined in tubers from three cultivars harvested at regular intervals throughout the growing season. Folate was higher in young tubers and dropped 2.6‐ to 3.4‐fold by the time of harvest. Analysis of the transcription of 11 genes involved in folate metabolism suggested that developmental changes in folate concentrations may be controlled primarily at the post‐transcriptional level.

CONCLUSION: Folate concentrations were higher in younger tubers and substantially higher in some cultivars. New potatoes can be a significant source of folate, and new potato characteristics such as this are likely to be valued by consumers. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Chip‐mass spectrometry for glycomic studies
Authors: Bindila Laura , Peter‐Katalinić Jasna
Published: January 2009

The introduction of micro‐ and nanochip front end technologies for electrospray mass spectrometry addressed a major challenge in carbohydrate analysis: high sensitivity structural determination and heterogeneity assessment in high dynamic range mixtures of biological origin. Chip‐enhanced electrospray ionization was demonstrated to provide reproducible performance irrespective of the type of carbohydrate, while the amenability of chip systems for coupling with different mass spectrometers greatly advance the chip/MS technique as a versatile key tool in glycomic studies. A more accurate representation of the glycan repertoire to include novel biologically‐relevant information was achieved in different biological sources, asserting this technique as a valuable tool in glycan biomarker discovery and monitoring. Additionally, the integration of various analytical functions onto chip devices and direct hyphenation to MS proved its potential for glycan analysis during the recent years, whereby a new analytical tool is on the verge of maturation: lab‐on‐chip MS glycomics. The achievements until early beginning of 2007 on the implementation of chip‐ and functional integrated chip/MS in systems glycobiology studies are reviewed here. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:223–253, 2009
Is the bedside timed vibration test reliable?
Authors: Botez Stephan A. , Liu George , Logigian Eric , Herrmann David N.
Published: January 2009

The timed vibration test (TVT) is an easy‐to‐perform bedside sensory test; however, its reliability is not well established at sites commonly used for clinical testing. We evaluated intra‐ and interrater reliability of the TVT in a healthy control cohort of 25 adult volunteers and assessed the influence of neurologic training on TVT. Intrarater [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range 0.79–0.92] and interrater (ICC range 0.0.82–0.95) reliability of TVT was high at different sites, which suggests that TVT is a reliable bedside examination when performed using a standardized protocol. Muscle Nerve 39: 221–223, 2009
Sensory loss in multifocal motor neuropathy: A clinical and electrophysiological study
Authors: Lambrecq Virginie , Krim Elsa , Rouanet‐Larrivière Marie , Lagueny Alain
Published: January 2009

Some patients fulfilling the criteria for the diagnosis of multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block (MMN‐CB) at the onset of disease may subsequently develop a sensory loss associated with electrophysiological sensory abnormalities. The latter could represent an overlap between MMN‐CB and multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor (MADSAM) neuropathy. The objective was to specify the features of MMN‐CB with sensory loss (MMN‐CB‐Se). Five patients in a series of 11 consecutive patients who fulfilled the criteria of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine for MMN‐CB at the first examination and were treated periodically with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) developed sensory loss in the course of the disease. In these five patients we compared the clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological features found after the development of sensory loss with those at the first examination. The mean time to appearance of objective sensory signs was 7.2 years. In three of the five patients the sensory loss was preceded by intermittent paresthesias in the same nerve territories as the motor involvement. The most frequent electrophysiological abnormality was amplitude reduction of sensory nerve action potentials. There were no bilateral or symmetrical clinical and electrophysiological sensory abnormalities. Anti‐GM1 IgM antibodies were positive in four patients. MMN‐CB‐Se could be an overlap between MMN‐CB and MADSAM. It shares the distribution of the sensory disorders encountered in MADSAM, but it is closer to MMN‐CB on clinical and therapeutic levels. Study of more patients would be useful to classify this subgroup more accurately. Muscle Nerve, 2009
Preparing network configurations for IPv6 renumbering
Authors: Leroy Damien , Bonaventure Olivier
Published: January 2009

The difficulty of renumbering a network—i.e., adding and removing an Internet Protocol (IP) prefix due to a provider change or a network merger—is a real issue for most network administrators. In this paper, we propose a set of macros that can be used in configuration files. These allow network administrators to write generic configurations that are independent of the public IPv6 prefixes allocated to their network. We explain how to apply our macros to key configuration files, namely firewall access lists, Domain Name Service and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, and how to use this mechanism in a full renumbering process. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School‐based counseling of abused children
Authors: Brassard Marla R. , Rivelis Erin , Diaz Vielka
Published: January 2009

Abused children experience high rates of behavior, emotional, and learning problems but infrequently receive treatment. Most services provided to abused children and their families are not based on any clear evidence that they work. A number of evidence‐based treatments (EBTs), demonstrated to be safe and effective in treating a range of difficulties that present in children exposed to family violence, are appropriate for schools. We briefly review forms of abuse, describe EBTs appropriate for schools, and present a decision tree for deciding who to treat and how. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conceptual frame for selecting individual psychotherapy in the schools
Authors: Hughes Tammy L. , Theodore Lea A.
Published: January 2009

Psychotherapy is a service‐delivery that is provided for both general and special education students. This manuscript examines a conceptual framework for determing when to employ psychotherapy within the school‐based setting. Decisions are informed by the relationship between problem behavior, therapeutic techniques, short‐term outcomes, and overall child development. Both the individual needs of students and the cumulative body of evidence regarding treatment effectiveness are required for intervention selection. The school psychologists' unique training in psychology and education affords the opportunity to effectively use psychotherapy to enhance the academic and social development of children. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of the leaving group solvation on solvolytic behavior of benzhydryl derivatives
Authors: Denegri Bernard , Kronja Olga
Published: January 2009

An effect of the leaving group (LG) solvation on reactivity of benzhydryl derivatives in SN1 reactions has been investigated by using X,Y‐substituted benzhydryl phenyl carbonates, methyl carbonates, 3,5‐dinitrobenzoates (DNB), and the corresponding benzhydryl chlorides as reference compounds. Reaction constants (sf) derived from LFER equation log k (25 °C) = sf(Nf + Ef) indicate that sf parameters of carbonates and DNBs decrease as the fraction of the water in a given solvent/water mixture increases, while those of chlorides remain unchanged. This phenomenon is due to less important solvation and less charge separation in the TS. Effects of the solvents on the reaction rates were analyzed by Grunwald–Winstein correlations using various solvent‐ionizing power scales. The m values obtained for carbonates and DNBs are considerably smaller than the m values for chlorides. Also, the solvolysis rate constants of substrates that have stronger electrofuges are less influenced by solvent (lower m) than those with weaker electrofuges. Values of m parameters obtained for a given substrate in a given binary solvent system correlate well with the electrofugality of the generated benzhydrylium ion. Abscissa at which m = 0 represents the extrapolated critical electrofugality E of the substrates whose solvolysis rates should not depend on the water fraction in the aqueous/organic solvent mixtures. Similar values for the critical electrofugality have also been obtained from extrapolated logk versus Ef plots. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation, Characterization, and Sensitivity Data of Some Azidomethyl Nitramines
Authors: Klapötke Thomas M. , Krumm Burkhard , Steemann F. Xaver
Published: January 2009

1,3‐Diazido‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane (DANP) and 1,7‐diazido‐2,4,6‐trinitro‐2,4,6‐triazaheptane (DATH) were synthesized, thoroughly analyzed, and their explosive properties and sensitivities toward friction and impact were measured. The precursors 1,3‐diacetoxy‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane (1), 1,3‐dichloro‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane (3), and 1,7‐dichloro‐2,4,6‐trinitro‐2,4,6‐triazaheptane (4) – as well as DATH – were furthermore characterized by X‐ray diffraction.
A proposed interaction mechanism between elastin‐derived peptides and the elastin/laminin receptor‐binding domain
Authors: Moroy G. , Ostuni A. , Pepe A. , Tamburro A. M. , Alix A. J. P. , Héry‐Huynh S.
Published: January 2009

Elastin‐derived peptides (EDPs) have been intensively studied in view of their widely diverse biological activities. These are triggered both in normal and tumor cells, through peptide anchoring at the surface of the elastin‐binding protein (EBP), a subunit of the elastin/laminin receptor. In this study, we investigated both the structure of the Sgal peptide, representing the elastin‐binding domain of EBP, and its interaction with EDPs, through a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. Although the conformation of the Sgal peptide is highly flexible, we detected a type I β‐turn at the QDEA sequence. This represents the best structured motif in the entire Sgal peptide, which might therefore contribute to its binding activity. We further propose a novel three‐dimensional model for the interaction between the Sgal peptide and EDPs; folding of the EDPs at the GXXP motif, in a conformation close to a type VIII β‐turn, provides the efficient contact of the protein with the Q residue of the Sgal peptide. This residue is exposed to the peptide surface, because of the β‐turn structure of the QDEA residues in the peptide sequence. We further show that this complex is stabilized by three hydrogen bonds involving EDPs backbone atoms. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combined computational and biochemical study reveals the importance of electrostatic interactions between the “pH sensor” and the cation binding site of the sodium/proton antiporter NhaA of Escherichia coli
Authors: Olkhova Elena , Kozachkov Lena , Padan Etana , Michel Hartmut
Published: January 2009

Sodium proton antiporters are essential enzymes that catalyze the exchange of sodium ions for protons across biological membranes. The crystal structure of NhaA has provided a basis to explore the mechanism of ion exchange and its unique regulation by pH. Here, the mechanism of the pH activation of the antiporter is investigated through functional and computational studies of several variants with mutations in the ion‐binding site (D163, D164). The most significant difference found computationally between the wild type antiporter and the active site variants, D163E and D164N, are low pKa values of Glu78 making them insensitive to pH. Although in the variant D163N the pKa of Glu78 is comparable to the physiological one, this variant cannot demonstrate the long‐range electrostatic effect of Glu78 on the pH‐dependent structural reorganization of trans‐membrane helix X and, hence, is proposed to be inactive. In marked contrast, variant D164E remains sensitive to pH and can be activated by alkaline pH shift. Remarkably, as expected computationally and discovered here biochemically, D164E is viable and active in Na+/H+ exchange albeit with increased apparent KM. Our results unravel the unique electrostatic network of NhaA that connect the coupled clusters of the “pH sensor” with the binding site, which is crucial for pH activation of NhaA. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impacts of nano‐structures in p‐ and i‐layer on the performances of amorphous silicon solar cells
Authors: Liao Xianbo , Du Wenhui , Cao Xinmin , Yang Xiesen , Xiang Xianbi , Zhang Shibin , Fan Qihua , Sun Kai , Deng Xunming
Published: January 2009

Fine‐grained nano‐structures were introduced in p‐ and i‐layers of n‐i‐p type hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) based solar cells deposited on stainless steel substrate, and their impacts on the cell performances were characterized. It is found that the hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc‐Si:H) p‐layer with a certain nanocrystalline volume fraction leads to a higher Voc of 1.042 V. For the intrinsic layer, introducing a middle‐range ordered‐like structure and a small amount of nanosized silicon crystallites may decrease the light‐induced degradation and increase the stabilized efficiency of n‐i‐p a‐Si:H based solar cells up to 10% for single junction nano‐structured a‐Si:H solar cells with an area of 0.25 cm2, AM1.5, 100 mW/cm2. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Research status of silicon‐based thin film solar cells in Nankai University
Authors: Zhao Ying , Zhang Xiaodan , Xue Junming , Zhang Jianjun , Hou Guofu , Cai Ning , Chen Xinliang , Wei Changchun , Sun Jian , Zhang Dekun , Ren Huizhi , Xiong Shaozhen , Geng Xinhua
Published: January 2009

This paper reviews the development of silicon‐based thin films in Nankai University. It can be divided into the following research areas: (1) light arrangement for wide utilizing the solar energy: textural transparent conductive oxide (TCO) including p‐type ZnO; (2) silicon‐based thin film solar cells including amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon; (3) plasma diagnostic and simulation for effectively controlling deposition conditions; (4) one example explored on new concept of next generation solar cells: up‐conversion for a‐Si solar cells. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Modeling and simulation of Si crystal growth from melt
Authors: Liu Lijun , Miyazawa Hiroaki , Nakano Satoshi , Liu Xin , Li Zaoyang , Kakimoto Koichi
Published: January 2009

A numerical simulator was developed with a global model of heat transfer for any crystal growth taking place at high temperature. Convective, conductive and radiative heat transfers in the furnace are solved together in a conjugated way by a finite volume method. A three‐dimensional (3D) global model was especially developed for simulation of heat transfer in any crystal growth with 3D features. The model enables 3D global simulation be conducted with moderate requirement of computer resources. The application of this numerical simulator to a CZ growth and a directional solidification process for Si crystals, the two major production methods for crystalline Si for solar cells, was introduced. Some typical results were presented, showing the importance and effectiveness of numerical simulation in analyzing and improving these kinds of Si crystal growth processes from melt. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Neutron irradiation defects in Czochralski silicon
Authors: Chen Guifeng , Li Yangxian , Liu Caichi
Published: January 2009

In this paper the influence of neutron irradiated on the defects and oxygen precipitation in Czochralski silicon were investigated. The vacancy‐oxygen complex (VO, A‐center) is one of the main defects formed in neutron‐irradiated Czochralski silicon (CZ‐Si). In this defect, the oxygen atom shares a vacancy, it is bonded to two silicon neighbours. Annealing of the A‐center in varied neutron‐irradiated CZ‐Si consists of two processes. The first is trapping of VO by interstitial oxygen (Oi) in low‐dose neutron‐irradiated CZ‐Si and the second is capturing of the wandering vacancy by VO, etc, in high‐dose neutron‐irradiated CZ‐Si. With the increase of the irradiation dose, the annealing behavior of the A‐center is changed and the formation of the VO2 is depressed. It is found that V2 and V4 abound in high‐dose irradiated CZ‐Si. With the increase of the annealing temperature the monovacancy type defect is annihilated. The results show that the formation of V4 is enhanced when the annealing temperature ran up to 400‐600 °C and with the FTIR absorption peak at the wave number of 829 cm–1 (VO) disappearing, five absorption peaks appear. It can be concluded that these defect‐impurity complexes prolong the lifetime of positrons. It is found that the high‐dose irradiated greatly accelerates the oxygen precipitation which leads to a sharp decrease of the interstitial oxygen with the increase of the annealing time. At room temperature, the 1107 cm–1 infrared absorption band of interstitial oxygen becomes weak and broadens to low energy side. The bulk micro‐defects, including stacking faults, dislocations and dislocation loops, were observed by the optical microscopy. New or large stacking faults grow up when the silicon self‐interstitial atoms are created and aggregate with oxygen precipitation. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Single crystal silicon micro mirrors
Authors: Schenk Harald , Sandner Thilo , Drabe Christian , Klose Thomas , Conrad Holger
Published: January 2009

A single crystal silicon mirror technology based on BSOI (Bonded Silicon on Insulator) wafers is presented to fabricate 1D and 2D scanning mirrors. An in‐plane electrode configuration is used to resonantly drive the mirror. The optical, mechanical and sensorial requirements are discussed in particular for projection applications. The Image quality of dynamically deformed mirrors is treated by the modulation transfer function. A design approach for the mirror suspension is presented to achieve a lower degree of dynamic deformation and thus to minimize image quality degradation. The fracture probability of torsional springs is treated by a Weibull statistic. A separation approach is used to compare springs of various shape and load. For amplitude and phase control a novel integrated piezoresistive transducer is presented which can be fabricated without any additional implantations. The potential of the single crystal silicon micro mirrors is demonstrated by an ultra compact VGA projector and a micro laser camera for endoscopes. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)