bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavior of cellulose liquefaction after pretreatment using ionic liquids with water mixtures
Authors: Wang Qingyue , Chen Qiyu , Mitsumura Naoki , Animesh Sarkar
Published: January 2014

Ionic liquid (IL)‐water mixtures were applied in cellulose pretreatment experiment and the pretreated cellulose was used in subsequent phenol liquefaction process as a new application method. Cellulose recovery rate and the average molecular weight (Mw) of pretreated cellulose were investigated to understand the influence of these mixtures on cellulose structure. X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatograph, and scanning electron microscope were used to clarify the changes of pretreated cellulose. The liquefied residues from untreated cellulose and pretreated cellulose were considered as significant index to determine the effect of IL‐water mixtures on cellulose. Moreover, liquefied residues were initially characterized by the variation of the average Mw. It was suggested that the lower Mw of cellulose obtained in IL‐water mixtures, and the crystalline structure was disrupted. So, some cracks were found on the cellulose surface obviously. The liquefied residues result suggested that the pretreated cellulose obtained the lower residues at the same time or the same amount of residues by using the less time. The behavior of cellulose liquefaction efficiency using IL‐water mixture pretreatment was discussed. The lower Mw of cellulose was the major factor, which accelerates the cellulose phenol liquefaction process efficiency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40255.
Surface modifying oligomers used to functionalize polymeric surfaces: Consideration of blood contact applications
Authors: Lopez‐Donaire M. Luisa , Santerre J. Paul
Published: January 2014

The surface modification of existing polymeric biomaterials represents a key strategy for improving the hemocompatibility in long‐ and short‐term biomedical materials without altering their bulk properties. Several techniques have been widely explored to generate surfaces that can prevent the activation of the coagulation system and lead to subsequent clot formation on the surfaces of polymeric blood contacting devices. In particular, strategies whereby the base polymer is blended with surface additives (SMAs) and surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) are now recognized as practical and effective methods to improve surface polymeric materials. This review highlights the more recent advances in the synthesis of such additives and their blending with base polymers, with a specific focus on SMAs and SMMs with a molecular weight in the oligomeric range (<Mn ∼12 kDa). The surface characterization of these modified materials is discussed in terms of water contact angle, X‐ray photoelectron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and the blood compatibility behavior, with specific attention to coagulation proteins and platelet adhesion. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40328.
Crystallization and melting properties of poly(butylene succinate) composites with titanium dioxide nanotubes or hydroxyapatite nanorods
Authors: Zhan Jing , Chen Yangjuan , Tang Gang , Pan Haifeng , Zhang Qiangjun , Song Lei , Hu Yuan
Published: January 2014

Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites with titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) or hydroxyapatite nanorods (HAP) were prepared, and the effect of the nano‐inorganics on the nonisothermal crystallization and melting properties of PBS were studied in detail by differential scanning calorimeter. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PBS and its nanocomposites were analyzed by the Avrami, Ozawa, and Mo methods. It is found that the presence of TNTs increases the crystallization temperature and rate of PBS composites, but decreases the crystallization activation energy and crystallinity. By comparison, the crystallization rate of the PBS composite is decreased with the addition of HAP. The melting, recrystallization, and remelting mechanism results in the formation of two melting endothermic peaks during the melting process of neat PBS and its nanocomposites. The model proposed by Mo could successfully describe the nonisothermal crystallization process of PBS and its nanocomposites. At a given crystallinity, the F(t) values decrease in the order of PBS/HAP, PBS, and PBS/TNTs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40335.
Human cadavers Vs. multimedia simulation: A study of student learning in anatomy
Authors: Saltarelli Andrew J. , Roseth Cary J. , Saltarelli William A.
Published: January 2014

Multimedia and simulation programs are increasingly being used for anatomy instruction, yet it remains unclear how learning with these technologies compares with learning with actual human cadavers. Using a multilevel, quasi‐experimental‐control design, this study compared the effects of “Anatomy and Physiology Revealed” (APR) multimedia learning system with a traditional undergraduate human cadaver laboratory. APR is a model‐based multimedia simulation tool that uses high‐resolution pictures to construct a prosected cadaver. APR also provides animations showing the function of specific anatomical structures. Results showed that the human cadaver laboratory offered a significant advantage over the multimedia simulation program on cadaver‐based measures of identification and explanatory knowledge. These findings reinforce concerns that incorporating multimedia simulation into anatomy instruction requires careful alignment between learning tasks and performance measures. Findings also imply that additional pedagogical strategies are needed to support transfer from simulated to real‐world application of anatomical knowledge. Anat Sci Educ 7: 331–339. © 2014 American Association of Anatomists.
Parallel worlds of citable documents and others: Inflated commissioned opinion articles enhance scientometric indicators
Authors: Heneberg Petr
Published: January 2014

Scientometric indicators influence the standing of journals among peers, thus affecting decisions regarding manuscript submissions, scholars' careers, and funding. Here we hypothesize that impact‐factor boosting (unethical behavior documented previously in several underperforming journals) should not be considered as exceptional, but that it affects even the top‐tier journals. We performed a citation analysis of documents recently published in 11 prominent general science and biomedical journals. In these journals, only 12 to 79% of what they publish was considered original research, whereas editorial materials alone constituted 11 to 44% of the total document types published. Citations to commissioned opinion articles comprised 3 to 15% of the total citations to the journals within 3 postpublication years, with even a higher share occurring during the first postpublication year. An additional 4 to 15% of the citations were received by the journals from commissioned opinion articles published in other journals. Combined, the parallel world of uncitable documents was responsible for up to 30% of the total citations to the top‐tier journals, with the highest values found for medical science journals (New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and the Lancet) and lower values found for the Science, Nature, and Cell series journals. Self‐citations to some of the top‐tier journals reach values higher than the total citation counts accumulated by papers in most of the Web of Science‐indexed journals. Most of the self‐citations were generated by commissioned opinion articles. The parallel world of supposedly uncitable documents flourishes and severely distorts the commonly used scientometric indicators.
Framing serendipitous information‐seeking behavior for facilitating literature‐based discovery: A proposed model
Authors: Workman T. Elizabeth , Fiszman Marcelo , Rindflesch Thomas C. , Nahl Diane
Published: January 2014

Several researchers have studied serendipitous knowledge discovery in information‐seeking behavior. Electronic data in the form of semantic predications have a potential role in literature‐based discovery, which can be guided by serendipitous knowledge discovery research findings. We sought to model information‐seeking behavior within the context of serendipitous knowledge discovery by leveraging existing research. These efforts were done with an eye for a potential literature‐based discovery application that utilizes semantic predications. We performed a literature search, reviewed the results, and applied the findings in developing a model for serendipitous knowledge discovery as an information‐seeking behavior. The literature review indicated four important themes in serendipitous knowledge discovery: iteration, change or clarification, a seeker's prior knowledge, and the role of information organization and presentation. The Interaction Flow in Serendipitous Knowledge Discovery (IF‐SKD) model includes these themes, and accommodates iterative, evolving search interests. Output can be presented in a manner to enhance short‐term memory conceptualization and connections with prior knowledge. Although the IF‐SKD model is currently a theoretical structure, its utility is demonstrated through replicating a literature‐based discovery event, using a documented search method within the model's steps. The IF‐SKD model can potentially serve as the foundation for future literature‐based discovery applications.
The knowledge base and research front of information science 2006–2010: An author cocitation and bibliographic coupling analysis
Authors: Zhao Dangzhi , Strotmann Andreas
Published: January 2014

This study continues a long history of author cocitation analysis (and more recently, author bibliographic coupling analysis) of the intellectual structure of information science (IS) into the time period 2006 to 2010 (IS 2006–2010). We find that web technologies continue to drive developments, especially at the research front, although perhaps more indirectly than before. A broadening of perspectives is visible in IS 2006–2010, where network science becomes influential and where full‐text analysis methods complement traditional computer science influences. Research in the areas of the h‐index and mapping of science appears to have been highlights of IS 2006–2011. This study tests and confirms a forecast made previously by comparing knowledge‐base and research‐front findings for IS 2001–2005, which expected both the information retrieval (IR) systems and webometrics specialties to shrink in 2006 to 2010. A corresponding comparison of the knowledge base and research front of IS 2006–2010 suggests a continuing decline of the IR systems specialty in the near future, but also a considerable (re)growth of the webometrics area after a period of decline from 2001 to 2005 and 2006 to 2010, with the latter due perhaps in part to its contribution to an emerging web science.
Identification of Staphylococcus aureus α‐hemolysin as a protein drug that is secreted by anticancer bacteria and rapidly kills cancer cells
Authors: Swofford Charles A. , St. Jean Adam T. , Panteli Jan T. , Brentzel Zachary J. , Forbes Neil S.
Published: January 2014

Targeted bacterial delivery of anticancer proteins has the ability to overcome therapeutic resistance in tumors that limits the efficacy of chemotherapeutics. The ability of bacteria to specifically target tumors allows for delivery of aggressive proteins that directly kill cancer cells and cannot be administered systemically. However, few proteins have been tested for this purpose. To identify effective molecules, we systematically sorted proteins that have been shown to cause mammalian cell death. The genes for five proteins were selected and cloned into Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Supernatant from cultures of the transformed bacteria was applied to flasks of MCF‐7 mammary carcinoma cells to identify proteins that (1) were expressed, (2) secreted, and (3) rapidly killed cancer cells. Time‐lapse images were taken to visualize mammalian cell morphology. Of the investigated proteins, α‐hemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus (SAH) was the most promising because it was secreted, caused trauma to cellular membranes, and induced oncosis in 18 min. After exposure for 6 h, SAH decreased cell viability by 90%. In comparison, the positive control, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PEA), required 11 days to achieve a similar effect, when administered at 3,000 times its LC50. The maximum death rate induced by SAH was calculated to be a reduction in cell viability of 7.1% per min, which was 200‐fold faster than the PEA control. Two proteins, Dermonecrotic Toxin and Phospholipase C were active when extracted from the bacterial cytoplasm but were not secreted. This investigation revealed for the first time SAH as a potent anticancer drug for delivery by bacteria because of its ability to be secreted in a fully functional form and aggressively kill cancer cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1233–1245. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pressurized water extraction of β‐glucan enriched fractions with bile acids‐binding capacities obtained from edible mushrooms
Authors: Palanisamy Marimuthu , Aldars‐García Laila , Gil‐Ramírez Alicia , Ruiz‐Rodríguez Alejandro , Marín Francisco R. , Reglero Guillermo , Soler‐Rivas Cristina
Published: January 2014

A pressurized water extraction (PWE) method was developed in order to extract β‐glucans with bile acids‐binding capacities from cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus) to be used as supplements to design novel foods with hypocholesterolemic properties. Extraction yields were higher in individual than sequential extractions being the optimal extraction parameters: 200°C, 5 cycles of 5 min each at 10.3 MPa. The crude polysaccharide (PSC) fractions, isolated from the PWE extracts contained mainly β‐glucans (including chitooligosaccharides deriving from chitin hydrolysis), α‐glucans, and other PSCs (hetero‐/proteo‐glucans) depending on the extraction temperature and mushroom strain considered. The observed bile acids‐binding capacities of some extracts were similar to a β‐glucan enriched fraction obtained from cereals. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:391–400, 2014
A variant upstream of HLA‐DRB1 and multiple variants in MICA influence susceptibility to cervical cancer in a Swedish population
Authors: Chen Dan , Hammer Joanna , Lindquist David , Idahl Annika , Gyllensten Ulf
Published: January 2014

In a genome‐wide association study, we have previously identified and performed the initial replication of three novel susceptibility loci for cervical cancer: rs9272143 upstream of HLA‐DRB1, rs2516448 adjacent to MHC class I polypeptide‐related sequence A gene (MICA), and rs3117027 at HLA‐DPB2. The risk allele T of rs2516448 is in perfect linkage disequilibrium with a frameshift mutation (A5.1) in MICA exon 5, which results in a truncated protein. To validate these associations in an independent study and extend our prior work to MICA exon 5, we genotyped the single‐nucleotide polymorphisms at rs9272143, rs2516448, rs3117027 and the MICA exon 5 microsatellite in a nested case–control study of 961 cervical cancer patients (827 carcinoma in situ and 134 invasive carcinoma) and 1725 controls from northern Sweden. The C allele of rs9272143 conferred protection against cervical cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.65–0.82; P = 1.6 × 10−7), which is associated with higher expression level of HLA‐DRB1, whereas the T allele of rs2516448 increased the susceptibility to cervical cancer (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.19–1.49; P = 5.8 × 10−7), with the same association shown with MICA‐A5.1. The direction and the magnitude of these associations were consistent with our previous findings. We also identified protective effects of the MICA‐A4 (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68–0.94; P = 6.7 × 10−3) and MICA‐A5 (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.50–0.72; P = 3.0 × 10−8) alleles. The associations with these variants are unlikely to be driven by the nearby human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. No association was observed between rs3117027 and risk of cervical cancer. Our results support the role of HLA‐DRB1 and MICA in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.
Access, excess, and overdiagnosis: the case for thyroid cancer
Authors: Hall Stephen F. , Irish Jonathan , Groome Patti , Griffiths Rebecca
Published: January 2014

The incidence of thyroid cancer in women is increasing at an epidemic rate. Numerous studies have proposed that the cause is increasing detection due to availability and use of medical diagnostic ultrasound. Our objective was to compare rates of diagnosis across different health‐care regions to rates of diagnostic tests and to features of both health and access of the regional populations. This is a population‐based retrospective ecological observational study of 12,959 patients with thyroid cancer between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2008 in Ontario Canada based on the health‐care utilization regions (Local Health Integration Networks) of the province of Ontario Canada. We found that some regions of Ontario had four times the rates of diagnosis of thyroid cancer compared to other regions. The regions with the highest use of discretionary medical tests (pelvic ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound, neck ultrasound, echocardiogram, resting electrocardiogram, cardiac nuclear perfusion tests, and bone scan), highest population density, and better education had the highest rates of thyroid cancer diagnoses. Differences in the rates of the ordering of discretionary diagnostic medical tests, such as diagnostic ultrasound, in different geographic regions of Ontario lead to differences in the rates of diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
Hybrid Photopatterned Enzymatic Reaction (HyPER) for in Situ Cell Manipulation
Authors: Griffin Donald R. , Borrajo Jacob , Soon Allyson , Acosta‐Vélez Giovanny F. , Oshita Victor , Darling Nicole , Mack Julia , Barker Thomas , Iruela‐Arispe M. Luisa , Segura Tatiana
Published: January 2014

The ability to design artificial extracellular matrices as cell‐instructive scaffolds has opened the door to technologies capable of studying the fate of cells in vitro and to guiding tissue repair in vivo. One main component of the design of artificial extracellular matrices is the incorporation of biochemical cues to guide cell phenotype and multicellular organization. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a heterogeneous mixture of proteins that present a variety of spatially discrete signals to residing cell populations. In contrast, most engineered ECMs do not mimic this heterogeneity. In recent years, photo‐deprotection has been used to spatially immobilize signals. However, this approach has been limited mostly to small peptides. Here we combine photo‐deprotection with enzymatic reaction to achieve spatially controlled immobilization of active bioactive signals that range from small molecules to large proteins. A peptide substrate for transglutaminase factor XIII (FXIIIa) was caged with a photo‐deprotectable group, which was then immobilized to the bulk of a cell‐compatible hydrogel. With focused light, the substrate can be deprotected and used to immobilize patterned bioactive signals. This approach offers an innovative strategy to immobilize delicate bioactive signals, such as growth factors, without loss of activity and enables in situ cell manipulation of encapsulated cells.
Hedycaryol Synthase in Complex with Nerolidol Reveals Terpene Cyclase Mechanism
Authors: Baer Philipp , Rabe Patrick , Citron Christian A. , de Oliveira Mann Carina C. , Kaufmann Norman , Groll Michael , Dickschat Jeroen S.
Published: January 2014

The biosynthesis of terpenes is catalysed by class I and II terpene cyclases. Here we present structural data from a class I hedycaryol synthase in complex with nerolidol, serving as a surrogate for the reaction intermediate nerolidyl diphosphate. This prefolded ligand allows mapping of the active site and hence the identification of a key carbonyl oxygen of Val179, a highly conserved helix break (G1/2) and its corresponding helix dipole. Stabilising the carbocation at the substrate's C1 position, these elements act in concert to catalyse the 1,10 ring closure, thereby exclusively generating the anti‐Markovnikov product. The delineation of a general mechanistic scaffold was confirmed by site‐specific mutations. This work serves as a basis for understanding carbocation chemistry in enzymatic reactions and should contribute to future application of these enzymes in organic synthesis.
Genetic predisposition to breast cancer: The next chapters
Authors: Boyd Jeff
Published: January 2014

In the study by Fernandes et al in this issue, the largest cohort of patients with breast cancer studied to date was examined for mutations in the PALB gene, including all 13 coding exons and intron/exon junctions, using traditional Sanger sequencing. Future advances in our ability to develop primary and secondary approaches to breast cancer prevention will depend on new tools to test for polygenic determinants of breast cancer risk.
Acoustic Alignment of a Supramolecular Nanofiber in Harmony with the Sound of Music
Authors: Miura Ryosuke , Ando Yasunari , Hotta Yasuhisa , Nagatani Yoshiki , Tsuda Akihiko
Published: January 2014

Audible sound with a low‐frequency vibration brings about hydrodynamic alignment of a supramolecular nanofiber in solution. Design of the nanoscale molecules and molecular assemblies, which can sense a wide range of frequencies of the audible sound wave with high sensitivity, develops sound‐driven molecular machines and sound‐responsive nanomaterials, and is also interesting for investigation of unknown physical interactions between the molecules and audible sound vibrations. In this study, it was found that a supramolecular nanofiber, composed of an anthracene derivative AN, in an n‐hexane solution aligned upon exposure to an audible sound wave at frequencies up to 1000 Hz, with quick responses to the sound and silence, and to amplitude and frequency changes of the sound wave. These properties are of great advantage to sense dynamic changes of fluid flows, such as those induced by the sound of music. Music is composed of multiple complex sounds and silence, which characteristically change in the course of its playing time. When classical music was playing, the AN nanofiber aligned itself in harmony with the sound of the music. Time course linear dichroism spectroscopy revealed the dynamic acoustic alignments of the AN nanofiber in the solution upon playing the music. The sound vibrations of music, which generate acoustic streaming flows in liquid media, allowed shear‐induced alignments of the nanofiber.
Toxicity of Ionic Liquids: Eco(cyto)activity as Complicated, but Unavoidable Parameter for Task‐Specific Optimization
Authors: Egorova Ksenia S. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: January 2014

Rapid progress in the field of ionic liquids in recent decades led to the development of many outstanding energy‐conversion processes, catalytic systems, synthetic procedures, and important practical applications. Task‐specific optimization emerged as a sharpening stone for the fine‐tuning of structure of ionic liquids, which resulted in unprecedented efficiency at the molecular level. Ionic‐liquid systems showed promising opportunities in the development of green and sustainable technologies; however, the chemical nature of ionic liquids is not intrinsically green. Many ionic liquids were found to be toxic or even highly toxic towards cells and living organisms. In this Review, we show that biological activity and cytotoxicity of ionic liquids dramatically depend on the nature of a biological system. An ionic liquid may be not toxic for particular cells or organisms, but may demonstrate high toxicity towards another target present in the environment. Thus, a careful selection of biological activity data is a must for the correct assessment of chemical technologies involving ionic liquids. In addition to the direct biological activity (immediate response), several indirect effects and aftereffects are of primary importance. The following principal factors were revealed to modulate toxicity of ionic liquids: i) length of an alkyl chain in the cation; ii) degree of functionalization in the side chain of the cation; iii) anion nature; iv) cation nature; and v) mutual influence of anion and cation.
Enhanced Performance of Supported HfO2 Counter Electrodes for Redox Couples Used in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Yun Sining , Pu Haihui , Chen Junhong , Hagfeldt Anders , Ma Tingli
Published: January 2014

Mesoporous‐graphitic‐carbon‐supported HfO2 (HfO2‐MGC) nanohybrids were synthesized by using a soft‐template route. Characterization and a systematic investigation of the catalytic properties, stability, and catalytic mechanism were performed for HfO2‐MGC counter electrodes (CEs) in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The new HfO2‐MGC as a CE in DSSCs showed a surprisingly high efficiency of 7.75 % for the triiodide/iodide redox couple and 3.69 % for the disulfide/thiolate redox couple, greater than the Pt electrode in the corresponding electrolyte system, which opens up a possibility for its practical application.
Content‐based image retrieval over IEEE 802.11b noisy wireless networks
Authors: Chatzistavros Evaggelos , Chatzichristofis Savvas A. , Zagoris Konstatinos , Stamatelos George
Published: January 2014

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are widely used in everyday life to perform a variety of operations, such as e‐mail exchange, connection to social media, bank/financial transactions, and so on. Moreover, because of the large growth of multimedia applications, video and image transferring and sharing via a wireless network is becoming increasingly popular. Several modern mobile applications perform information retrieval and image recognition. For example, Google Goggles is an image recognition application that is used for searches based on pictures taken by handheld devices. In most of the cases, image recognition procedure is an image retrieval procedure. The captured images or a low‐level description of them are uploaded online, and the system recognizes their content by retrieving visually similar pictures. Taking into account the last comment, our goal in this paper is to evaluate the process of image retrieval/recognition over an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11b network, operating at 2.4 GHz. Our evaluation is performed through a simulated network configuration, which consists of a number of mobile nodes communicating with an access point. Throughout our simulations, we examine the impact of several factors, such as the existence of a strong line of sight during the communication between wireless devices. Strong line of sight depends on the fading model used for the simulations and has an effect on BER. We have used a large number of image descriptors and a variety of scenarios, reported in the relative literature, in order to comprehensively evaluate our system. To reinforce our results, experiments were conducted on two well‐known images databases by using 10 descriptors from the literature. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amplify‐and‐forward‐based cooperative jamming strategy with power allocation for secure communication
Authors: Li An , Xu Yizhu , Wang Yuhao , Sun Lihua
Published: January 2014

This paper deals with the use of jamming transmission for secure amplify‐and‐forward‐based relay networks with total power constraints. An approach that the source and the relay use some of their available power to transmit jamming signals in order to create interference at the eavesdropper is investigated. Assume that the relay and destination have an a priori knowledge of the jamming signals. A power allocation policy that defines how the available power is distributed between the message signal and that of the jamming signal is presented. The results show that the proposed approach can increase the secrecy level and that a positive secrecy rate can be achieved even when the eavesdropper may be near the source. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emotion acceptance behavior therapy for anorexia nervosa: A pilot study
Authors: Wildes Jennifer E. , Marcus Marsha D. , Cheng Yu , McCabe Elizabeth B. , Gaskill Jill A.
Published: January 2014

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of Emotion Acceptance Behavior Therapy (EABT), an outpatient psychotherapeutic intervention for anorexia nervosa (AN) based on a disorder‐specific model of symptom maintenance that emphasizes emotion avoidance. EABT combines standard behavioral interventions that are central to the clinical management of AN with evidence‐supported strategies to increase emotion awareness, decrease emotion avoidance, and encourage resumption of valued activities and relationships outside the eating disorder.

Method

Twenty‐four individuals aged ≥17 years with AN were treated using the EABT manual. EABT was delivered in 33–58 individual sessions provided over 38–53 weeks. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment, and at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐ups.

Results

Thirteen patients (54.2%) completed EABT; 11 (45.8%) dropped out or were withdrawn. EABT was associated with significant improvements in weight, disordered eating symptoms, and emotion avoidance that were maintained over 6‐month follow‐up. The majority of EABT completers achieved a body mass index >18.5 (n = 9/13) or had a normal Eating Disorder Examination Global score (n = 10/13) at post‐treatment.

Discussion

Preliminary data suggest that EABT may have utility for a subset of adults with AN. Future research will focus on improving outcomes in EABT nonresponders and identifying of mechanisms that drive treatment response. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:870–873)
Phylogeography of Liquidambar styraciflua (Altingiaceae) in Mesoamerica: survivors of a Neogene widespread temperate forest (or cloud forest) in North America?
Authors: Ruiz‐Sanchez Eduardo , Ornelas Juan Francisco
Published: January 2014

We investigate the genetic variation between populations of the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), a tree species with a disjunct distribution between northeastern Texas and Mexico, by analyzing sequences of two chloroplast DNA plastid regions in Mesoamerica. Our results revealed phylogeographical structure, with private haplotypes distributed in unique environmental space at either side of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt, and a split in the absence of gene flow dating back ca. 4.2–1.4 million years ago (MYA). Species distribution modeling results fit a model of refugia along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts but the present ranges of US and Mesoamerican populations persisted disjunct during glacial/interglacial cycles. Divergence between the US and Mesoamerican (ca. 8.4–2.8 MYA) populations of L. styraciflua and asymmetrical gene flow patterns support the hypothesis of a long‐distance dispersal during the Pliocene, with fragmentation since the most recent glacial advance (120,000 years BP) according to coalescent simulations and high effective migration rates from Mesoamerica to the USA and close to zero in the opposite direction. Our findings implicate the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt as a porous barrier driving genetic divergence of L. styraciflua, corresponding with environmental niche differences, during the Pliocene to Quaternary volcanic arc episode 3.6 MYA, and a Mesoamerican origin of populations in the USA.
Development of a family of unconditionally stable explicit direct integration algorithms with controllable numerical energy dissipation
Authors: Kolay Chinmoy , Ricles James M.
Published: January 2014

The implicit dissipative generalized‐ α method is analyzed using discrete control theory. Based on this analysis, a one‐parameter family of explicit direct integration algorithms with controllable numerical energy dissipation, referred to as the explicit KR‐α method, is developed for linear and nonlinear structural dynamic numerical analysis applications. Stability, numerical dispersion, and energy dissipation characteristics of the proposed algorithms are studied. It is shown that the algorithms are unconditionally stable for linear elastic and stiffness softening‐type nonlinear systems, where the latter indicates a reduction in post yield stiffness in the force–deformation response. The amount of numerical damping is controlled by a single parameter, which provides a measure of the numerical energy dissipation at higher frequencies. Thus, for a specific value of this parameter, the resulting algorithm is shown to produce no numerical energy dissipation. Furthermore, it is shown that the influence of the numerical damping on the lower mode response is negligible. It is further shown that the numerical dispersion and energy dissipation characteristics of the proposed explicit algorithms are the same as that of the implicit generalized‐ α method. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the potential of the proposed algorithms in reducing participation of undesired higher modes by using numerical energy dissipation to damp out these modes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding river dune splitting through flume experiments and analysis of a dune evolution model
Authors: Warmink Jord J. , Dohmen‐Janssen C. Marjolein , Lansink Joost , Naqshband Suleyman , van Duin Olav J. M. , Paarlberg Andries J. , Termes Paul , Hulscher Suzanne J. M. H.
Published: January 2014

Forecasts of water level during river floods require accurate predictions of the evolution of river dune dimensions, because the hydraulic roughness of the main channel is largely determined by the bed morphology. River dune dimensions are controlled by processes like merging and splitting of dunes. Particularly the process of dune splitting is still poorly understood and – as a result – not yet included in operational dune evolution models. In the current paper, the process of dune splitting is investigated by carrying out laboratory experiments and by means of a sensitivity analysis using a numerical dune evolution model. In the numerical model, we introduced superimposed TRIAS ripples (i.e. triangular asymmetric stoss side‐ripples) on the stoss sides of underlying dunes as soon as these stoss sides exceed a certain critical length. Simulations with the model including dune splitting showed that predictions of equilibrium dune characteristics were significantly improved compared to the model without dune splitting. As dune splitting is implemented in a parameterized way, the computational cost remains low which means that dune evolution can be calculated on the timescale of a flood wave. Subsequently, we used this model to study the mechanism of dune splitting.

Literature showed that the initiation of a strong flow separation zone behind a superimposed bedform is one of the main mechanisms behind dune splitting. The flume experiments indicated that besides its height also the lee side slope of the superimposed bedform is an important factor to determine the strength of the flow separation zone and therefore is an important aspect in dune splitting. The sensitivity analysis of the dune evolution model showed that a minimum stoss side length was required to develop a strong flow separation zone. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OPTIMIZATION OF IRRIGATION WATER USE, YIELD, AND QUALITY OF 'NABBUT‐SAIF' DATE PALM UNDER DRY LAND CONDITIONS
Authors: Ismail Saleh M. , Al‐Qurashi Adel D. , Awad Mohamed A.
Published: January 2014

A field experiment was conducted in the western part of Saudi Arabia to optimize irrigation water use (IWU), yields and quality of the 'Nabbut‐Saif' date palm grown in sandy loam soil under arid conditions. Four water regimes were investigated. The supplied amounts of irrigation water were 50, 65, 82 and 100% of date palm water requirements to the first (W1), second (W2), third (W3) and fourth (W4) water regimes, respectively. The daily water requirement was calculated using the Penman–Montieth equation for dry climates and applied to the trees three times a week through a drip irrigation system.

Results indicated that giving 65% of total date palm water requirement maximized date yield by producing 46.1 kg per tree and resulted in the best IWU (0.8 m3 kg−1 per tree). Increasing the water regime to 82 and 100% of total water requirement produced only 45.5 and 46 kg per tree respectively and reduced IWU. Generally, fruit quality characteristics were insignificantly affected by the water regimes investigated. The results suggested that supplying 34 m3 yr−1 per tree for date palms grown under the conditions of the western part of Saudi Arabia is enough to maximize IWU, yield and quality of the 'Nabbut‐Saif' date palm cultivar. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facial affect perception and mentalizing abilities in female patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder
Authors: Schönenberg M. , Mares L. , Smolka R. , Jusyte A. , Zipfel S. , Hautzinger M.
Published: January 2014

Background

Numerous studies have demonstrated a robust link between alexithymic traits and somatic complaints in patients suffering from psychosomatic disorders, while less is known about disease‐related impairments in the processing of affective social information. Deficits in emotion recognition can lead to misinterpretations of social signals and induce distress in interpersonal interactions. This, in turn, might contribute to somatoform symptomatology in affected individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate basal facial affect recognition as well as higher‐order cognitive mind‐reading skills in order to further clarify the association between alexithymia and the processing of social affective information in a homogenous sample of patients suffering from somatoform pain.

Methods

We employed a series of animated morph clips that gradually displayed the onset and development of the six basic emotional expressions to investigate facial affect perception in a female sample of patients diagnosed with persistent somatoform pain disorder (PSPD) and matched healthy controls. In addition, all participants were presented with the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition to explore mind‐reading abilities.

Results

Specifically impaired mentalizing skills and increased alexithymic traits were observed in PSPD, while emotional facial expression recognition appeared to be intact in these patients.

Conclusions

PSPD subjects tend to overattribute inappropriate affective states to others, which could be the consequence of the inability to adequately experience and express their own emotional reactions. This cognitive bias might lead to the experience of poor psychosocial functioning and has the potential to negatively impact the course and outcome of this psychopathology.
Professional Counseling in Hong Kong
Authors: Yuen Mantak , Leung S. Alvin , Chan Ryder T. H.
Published: January 2014

The authors provide an overview of recent developments in professional counseling as related to schools, career counseling, and community services in Hong Kong. The strategic position of counseling professionals, counseling associations, and counselor certification is discussed. The future development of counseling in Hong Kong is also considered.
Toxic effects of colloidal nanosilver in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Olasagasti Maider , Gatti Antonietta M. , Capitani Federico , Barranco Alejandro , Pardo Miguel Angel , Escuredo Kepa , Rainieri Sandra
Published: January 2014

A variety of consumer products containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are currently marketed. However, their safety for humans and for the environment has not yet been established and no standard method to assess their toxicity is currently available. The objective of this work was to develop an effective method to test Ag NP toxicity and to evaluate the effects of ion release and Ag NP size on a vertebrate model. To this aim, the zebrafish animal model was exposed to a solution of commercial nanosilver. While the exposure of embryos still surrounded by the chorion did not allow a definite estimation of the toxic effects exerted by the compound, the exposure for 48 h of 3‐day‐old zebrafish hatched embryos afforded a reliable evaluation of the effects of Ag NPs. The effects of the exposure were detected especially at molecular level; in fact, some selected genes expressed differentially after the exposure. The Ag NP toxic performance was due to the combined effect of Ag+ ion release and Ag NP size. However, the effect of NP size was particularly detectable at the lowest concentration of nanosilver tested (0.01 mg l–1) and depended on the solubilization media. The results obtained indicate that in vivo toxicity studies of nanosilver should be performed with ad hoc methods (in this case using hatched embryos) that might be different depending on the type of nanosilver. Moreover, the addition of this compound to commercial products should take into consideration the Ag NP solubilization media. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fetal Liver Stromal Cells Support Blast Growth in Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis in Down Syndrome Through GM‐CSF
Authors: Miyauchi Jun , Kawaguchi Hiroyuki
Published: January 2014

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) in neonates with Down syndrome, which spontaneously resolves within several weeks or months after birth, may represent a very special form of leukemia arising in the fetal liver (FL). To explore the role of the fetal hematopoietic microenvironment in the pathogenesis of TAM, we examined the in vitro influences of stromal cells of human FL and fetal bone marrow (FBM) on the growth of TAM blasts. Both FL and FBM stromal cells expressed mesenchymal cell antigens (vimentin, α‐smooth muscle actin, CD146, and nestin), being consistent with perivascular cells/mesenchymal stem cells that support hematopoietic stem cells. In addition, a small fraction of the FL stromal cells expressed an epithelial marker, cytokeratin 8, indicating that they could be cells in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the coculture system, stromal cells of the FL, but not FBM, potently supported the growth of TAM blast progenitors, mainly through humoral factors. High concentrations of hematopoietic growth factors were detected in culture supernatants of the FL stromal cells and a neutralizing antibody against granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) almost completely inhibited the growth‐supportive activity of the culture supernatants. These results indicate that FL stromal cells with unique characteristics of EMT cells provide a pivotal hematopoietic microenvironment for TAM blasts and that GM‐CSF produced by FL stromal cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TAM. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 1176–1186, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A QM/MM study on the reaction pathway leading to 2‐Aceto‐2‐hydroxybutyrate in the catalytic cycle of AHAS
Authors: Sánchez Leslie , Jaña Gonzalo A. , Delgado Eduardo J.
Published: January 2014

The reaction between the intermediate 2‐hydroxyethyl‐thiamin diphosphate (HEThDP−) and 2‐ketobutyrate, in the third step of the catalytic cycle of acetodydroxy acid synthase, is addressed from a theoretical point of view by means of hybrid quantum/molecular mechanical calculations. The QM region includes one molecule of 2‐ketobutyrate, the HEThDP− intermediate, and the residues Arg 380 y Glu 139; whereas the MM region includes the rest of the protein. The study includes potential energy surface scans to identify and characterize critical points on it, transition state search and activation barrier calculations. The results show that the reaction occurs via a two‐step mechanism corresponding to the carboligation and proton transfer in the first stage; and the product release in the second step. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Imaging the inside of a tumour: a review of radionuclide imaging and theranostics targeting intracellular epitopes
Authors: Cornelissen Bart
Published: January 2014

Molecular imaging of tumour tissue focusses mainly on extracellular epitopes such as tumour angiogenesis or signal transduction receptors expressed on the cell membrane. However, most biological processes that define tumour phenotype occur within the cell. In this mini‐review, an overview is given of the various techniques to interrogate intracellular events using molecular imaging with radiolabelled compounds. Additionally, similar targeting techniques can be employed for radionuclide therapy using Auger electron emitters, and recent advances in Auger electron therapy are discussed.
Application of serologic assays for diagnosing acute hepatitis E in national surveillance of a nonendemic area
Authors: Wu Wen‐Chieh , Su Chien‐Wei , Yang Jyh‐Yuan , Lin Szu‐Fong , Chen Jen‐Yu , Wu Jaw‐Ching
Published: January 2014

Variant performance of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) hepatitis E virus (HEV) assays may impact the diagnosis. The present study aimed to evaluate four different IgM/IgG assays for HEV infection for application in national surveillance in nonendemic areas. Sera from 300 patients that were stored in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of Taiwan for suspected acute HEV infection from 2004 to 2008, and 18 serum samples from acute cases of HEV infection in Taipei Veteran General Hospital were evaluated. Performances of EIAgen HEV IgG/M (Adaltis, Bologna, Italy), recomWell HEV IgG/M (Mikrogen, Neuried, Germany), MP HEV IgG/M (MP Biomedicals, Singapore), and in‐house kits, HEVLPs (HEV virus‐like particles) IgG/M were compared. Positive results of serum RNA detected by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction were defined as the definite diagnosis. There were five genotype 1, one genotype 3, and nine genotype 4 HEV samples. The four different IgM/IgG assays had excellent performance in terms of negative predictive value (98.4–100%) and varying performance in relation to sensitivity (66.7–93.3%) and specificity (62.9–95.6%). RecomWell IgM had the best overall performance. In addition, the combination of anti‐HEV IgM ELISA with anti‐HEV IgG or another anti‐HEV IgM ELISA provided better screening performance, especially the recomWell IgM and HEVLPs IgM combination (area under the receiver operating curve: 0.94; sensitivity: 100%, specificity 88.1%). In conclusion, anti‐HEV IgM ELISA is a good screening test for the national surveillance of acute HEV infection in nonendemic areas and not limited by inconsistent performances of sensitivity and specificity among different assays. J. Med. Virol. 86:720–728, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.