bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vocal Signature in Wild Infant Chimpanzees
Authors: LEVRÉRO FLORENCE , MATHEVON NICOLAS
Published: December 2012

A large array of communication signals supports the fission/fusion social organization in chimpanzees, and among them the acoustic channel plays a large part because of their forest habitat. Adult vocalizations convey social and ecological information to their recipients allowing them to obtain cues about an ongoing event from calls only. In contrast to adult vocalizations, information encoded in infant calls had been hardly investigated. Studies mainly focused on vocal development. The present article aims at assessing the acoustic cues that support individual identity coding in infant chimpanzees. By analyzing recordings performed in the wild from seven 3‐year‐old infant chimpanzees, we showed that their calls support a well‐defined individual vocal signature relying on spectral cues. To assess the reliability of the signature across the calls of an individual, we defined two subsets of recordings on the basis of the characteristics of the frequency modulation (whimpers and screams) and showed that both call types present a reliable vocal signature. Early vocal signature may allow the mother and other individuals in the group to identify the infant caller when visual contact is broken. Chimpanzee mothers may have developed abilities to cope with changing vocal signatures while their infant, still vulnerable, gains in independence in close habitat. Am. J. Primatol. 75:324‐332, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Host‐derived CD4+ T cells attenuate stem cell–mediated transfer of autoimmune arthritis in lethally irradiated C57BL/6.g7 mice
Authors: Rajasekaran Narendiran , Wang Nan , Truong Phi , Rinderknecht Cornelia , Macaubas Claudia , Beilhack Georg F. , Shizuru Judith A. , Mellins Elizabeth D.
Published: December 2012

Objective

In the K/BxN mouse model of inflammatory arthritis, T cells carrying a transgenic T cell receptor initiate disease by helping B cells to produce arthritogenic anti–glucose‐6‐phosphate isomerase (anti‐GPI) autoantibodies. We found that lethally‐ irradiated lymphocyte‐deficient C57BL/6 (B6).g7 (I‐Ag7+) recombinase‐activating gene–deficient (Rag−/−) mice reconstituted with K/BxN hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells exhibit arthritis by week 4. In contrast, healthy B6.g7 recipients of K/BxN hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells show only mild arthritis, with limited extent and duration. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors responsible for the attenuation of arthritis in B6.g7 recipients.

Methods

Antibody responses were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Fluorescence‐activated cell sorting analyses were performed for testing chimerism, expression of markers of activation and suppression, tetramer binding, and intracellular cytokines in CD4+ T cells. Suppressive activity of CD4+ T cells was studied by adoptive transfer.

Results

Titers of anti‐GPI antibodies in reconstituted B6.g7 mice were ∼60‐fold lower than in reconstituted B6.g7 Rag−/−mice. Examination of chimerism in the reconstituted B6.g7 mice showed that B cells and myeloid cells in these mice were donor derived, but CD4+ T cells were primarily host derived and enriched for cells expressing the conventional regulatory markers CD25 and FoxP3. Notably, CD4+CD25−FoxP3− T cells expressed markers of suppressive function (CD73 and folate receptor 4), and delayed disease after adoptive transfer. Activation of donor‐derived CD4+ T cells was reduced, and thymic deletion of these cells appeared increased.

Conclusion

Despite myeloablation, host CD4+ T cells having a regulatory phenotype emerge in these mice and attenuate autoimmunity.
Association of an activity‐enhancing variant of IRAK1 and an MECP2–IRAK1 haplotype with increased susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Han Tae‐Un , Cho Soo‐Kyung , Kim Taehyeung , Joo Young Bin , Bae Sang‐Cheol , Kang Changwon
Published: December 2012

Objective

To investigate whether a human X chromosome locus of IRAK1 and MECP2 is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women.

Methods

A total of 2,334 unrelated Korean participants (including 1,318 patients with RA) were genotyped for 5 tag single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 3 additional SNPs in an Xq28 region harboring MECP2 and IRAK1. Twenty‐nine additional neighboring SNPs were imputed using the Korean HapMap Project data. All 37 SNPs were statistically tested for association with RA susceptibility, and 2 SNPs associated with RA were examined for their functional effects.

Results

RA susceptibility was associated with multiple SNPs in a 79‐kb linkage disequilibrium block harboring both MECP2 and IRAK1. The most significant association was for MECP2 SNP rs1734792 (P = 0.00089), but 2 nonsynonymous IRAK1 SNPs, rs1059702 (P = 0.0034) and rs1059703 (P = 0.0042), which were in strong linkage disequilibrium with the MECP2 SNP (D′ = 0.87 and 0.91, respectively) affected IRAK1 protein activity. The major haplotype of the 2 nonsynonymous SNPs was associated with a 1.7‐fold increase in RA susceptibility versus the minor haplotype (P = 0.0082), and with increased IRAK1 activity, which was demonstrated by a 1.7‐fold increase in the intracellular activity of transcription factor NF‐κB.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that RA susceptibility is associated with multiple SNPs in MECP2 and IRAK1, but high linkage disequilibrium between them does not allow for further localization. Therefore, both genes remain candidates. Nevertheless, the major haplotype of the 2 nonsynonymous IRAK1 SNPs encoding for pPhe196Ser and pSer532Leu confers enhanced IRAK1 activity and, consequently, enhanced susceptibility to RA, as compared to the minor haplotype.
Commitment Strategies for Sustainability: How Business Firms Can Transform Trade‐Offs Into Win–Win Outcomes
Authors: Beckmann Markus , Hielscher Stefan , Pies Ingo
Published: December 2012

This paper addresses a fundamental problem in corporate sustainability: How can corporations transform trade‐offs through win–win‐oriented governance strategies aimed at creating value? Drawing on new strands of research in business ethics, we employ an ‘ordonomic’ perspective and proceed in four steps. First, we sketch how sustainability semantics has evolved historically from a societal searchlight to a heuristics for business practice. Second, we discuss how business firms can make strategic use of moral commitments as governance contributions by deploying individual or collective self‐commitments as well as commitment services in their stakeholder relations. Third, we combine these four governance strategies with the three ESG (‘ecological, social and governance’) criteria of sustainability. We derive and illustrate with real‐life examples a 12‐box matrix as a tool for the strategic management of corporate sustainability. Fourth, we discuss the specific contribution of our ordonomic approach to the literature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Enantioresolution of Chiral Derivatives of Xanthones on (S,S)‐Whelk‐O1 and l‐Phenylglycine Stationary Phases and Chiral Recognition Mechanism by Docking Approach for (S,S)‐Whelk‐O1
Authors: Fernandes Carla , Palmeira Andreia , Santos Alexandre , Tiritan Maria Elizabeth , Afonso Carlos , Pinto Madalena M.
Published: December 2012

The resolution of seven enantiomeric pairs of chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) on (S,S)‐Whelk‐O1 and l‐phenylglycine chiral stationary phases (CSPs) was systematically investigated using multimodal elution conditions (normal‐phase, polar‐organic, and reversed‐phase). The (S,S)‐Whelk‐O1 CSP, under polar‐organic conditions, demonstrated a very good power of resolution for the CDXs possessing an aromatic moiety linked to the stereogenic center with separation factor and resolution factor ranging from 1.91 to 7.55 and from 6.71 to 24.16, respectively. The chiral recognition mechanisms were also investigated for (S,S)‐Whelk‐O1 CSP by molecular docking technique. Data regarding the CSP–CDX molecular conformations and interactions were retrieved. These results were in accordance with the experimental chromatographic parameters regarding enantioselectivity and enantiomer elution order. The results of the present study fulfilled the initial objectives of enantioselective studies of CDXs and elucidation of intermolecular CSP–CDX interactions. Chirality 25:89–100, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effects of Tricyclazole Treatment on Aquatic Invertebrates in a Rice Paddy Field
Authors: Rossaro Bruno , Marziali Laura , Cortesi Paolo
Published: December 2012

The benthic macro‐invertebrate community response to tricyclazole treatments in an experimental rice paddy field was analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. The observed community presented low species diversity, dominated by the gastropods Gyraulus albus and Physa fontinalis, the oligochaetes Branchyura sowerbyi, and the hirudinea Alboglossiphonia heteroclita. No significant effect was detected following tricyclazole treatments, while a moderate shift in community composition was observed during the sampling period, with gastropods prevailing at the end of the experiment. Multivariate classification tree analysis emphasized the importance of sampling date over tricyclazole treatments. The limited period of submersion of the rice paddy field, the low oxygen content and the high water temperatures are supposed to be the reasons of the low community diversity observed.
Removal of Basic Textile Dyes in Single and Multi‐Dye Solutions by Adsorption: Statistical Optimization and Equilibrium Isotherm Studies
Authors: Turabık Meral , Gozmen Belgin
Published: December 2012

The removal of three basic dyes by adsorption onto bentonite was investigated for single, binary, and ternary solutions in a batch system. Before and after dye adsorption, bentonite samples were analyzed by using X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer, SEM, and Fourier transform IR spectrometry. The D‐optimal design and response surface methodology were applied in designing the experiments for evaluating the interactive effects of each initial concentrations variable of the dyes in binary systems. Predicted values were found to be in good agreement with experimental values, which defined propriety of the model and the achievement of D‐optimal in optimization of adsorption of binary dye systems. The competitive adsorption results showed that the adsorption amount of a dye was suppressed in the presence and increasing concentrations of second or third dye. For mono‐component isotherm modeling, Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to equilibrium data of single, binary, and ternary dye solutions, while modified Langmuir, Sheindrof–Rebhun–Sheintuch and modified extended Freundlich models were also applied to equilibrium data of binary dye solutions for multi‐component isotherm modeling. The results showed that the Langmuir was the more suitable model for single dye systems while extended Freundlich model fitted best to the experimental data with the lowest error values for multi‐dye systems.
A scalable parallel minimum spanning tree algorithm for catchment basin delimitation in large digital elevation models
Authors: Do Hiep‐Thuan , Limet Sébastien , Melin Emmanuel
Published: December 2012

This paper describes a new fast and scalable parallel algorithm to automatically determine catchment basin of rivers in large digital elevation models (DEMs). This algorithm is based on the construction of a minimal spanning tree, via a hierarchy of graphs, modeling the water route on the DEM. It combines different techniques used in hydrogeology, image processing and graph theory to obtain the most accurate results in terms of geomorphology without any preprocessing. The method tends to exploit the most of the DEMs, avoiding misleading inconsistencies DEMs contain. It has been designed to be entirely parallel and scalable for architectures such as PC clusters. Some experiments are presented to show accuracy, efficiency and scalability on huge DEMs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Systematic Survey of Carbonic Anhydrase mRNA Expression During Mammalian Inner Ear Development
Authors: Wu Ling , Sagong Borum , Choi Jae Young , Kim Un‐Kyung , Bok Jinwoong
Published: December 2012

Background: Carbonic anhydrases (CAs), which catalyze CO2 hydration to bicarbonate and protons, have been suggested to regulate potassium homeostasis and endocochlear potential in the mammalian cochlea. Sixteen mammalian CA isozymes are currently known. To understand the specific roles of CA isozymes in the inner ear, a systematic survey was conducted to reveal temporal and spatial expression patterns of all 16 CA isozymes during inner ear development. Results: Our quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction results showed that different tissues express unique combinations of CA isozymes. During inner ear development, transcripts of four cytosolic isozymes (Car1, Car2, Car3, and Car13), two membrane‐bound isozymes (Car12 and Car14), and two CA‐related proteins (Car8 and Car11) were expressed at higher levels than other isozymes. Spatial expression patterns of these isozymes within developing inner ears were determined by in situ hybridization. Each isozyme showed a unique expression pattern during development. For example, Car12 and Car13 expression closely overlapped with Pendrin, an anion exchanger, while Car2 overlapped with Na‐K‐ATPase in type II and IV otic fibrocytes, suggesting functional relationships in the inner ear. Conclusions: The temporal and spatial expression patterns of each CA isozyme suggest unique and differential roles in inner ear development and function. Developmental Dynamics 242:269–280, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Why no cognitive body image feature such as overvaluation of shape/weight in the binge eating disorder diagnosis?
Authors: Grilo Carlos M.
Published: December 2012

Objective:

Undue influence of body shape or weight on self‐evaluation—referred to as overvaluation—is considered a core feature across eating disorders, but is not a diagnostic requirement for binge eating disorder (BED). This article addresses the relevance of a feature reflecting disturbance in body image for the diagnosis of BED.

Method:

The distinction between overvaluation of shape/weight and body dissatisfaction is discussed, and empirical research regarding the concurrent and predictive significance of overvaluation of shape/weight for BED is reviewed.

Results:

The literature suggests that overvaluation does not simply reflect concern or distress commensurate with excess weight, is reliably associated with greater severity of eating‐related psychopathology and psychological distress, and has reliably shown negative prognostic significance.

Discussion:

Overvaluation of shape/weight warrants consideration as a diagnostic specifier for BED. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013)
Indiana bat summer maternity distribution: effects of current and future climates
Authors: Loeb Susan C. , Winters Eric A.
Published: December 2012

Temperate zone bats may be more sensitive to climate change than other groups of mammals because many aspects of their ecology are closely linked to temperature. However, few studies have tried to predict the responses of bats to climate change. The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a federally listed endangered species that is found in the eastern United States. The northerly distribution of Indiana bat summer maternity colonies relative to their winter distributions suggests that warmer climates may result in a shift in their summer distribution. Our objectives were to determine the climatic factors associated with Indiana bat maternity range and forecast changes in the amount and distribution of the range under future climates. We used Maxent to model the suitable climatic habitat of Indiana bats under current conditions and four future climate forecasts for 2021–30, 2031–40, 2041–50, and 2051–60. Average maximum temperature across the maternity season (May–August) was the most important variable in the model of current distribution of Indiana bat maternity colonies with suitability decreasing considerably above 28ºC. The areal extent of the summer maternity distribution of Indiana bats was forecasted to decline and be concentrated in the northeastern United States and Appalachian Mountains; the western part of the current maternity range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio) was forecasted to become climatically unsuitable under most future climates. Our models suggest that high temperatures may be a factor in roost‐site selection at the regional scale and in the future, may also be an important variable at the microhabitat scale. When behavioral changes fail to mitigate the effects of high temperature, range shifts are likely to occur. Thus, habitat management for Indiana bat maternity colonies in the northeastern United States and Appalachian Mountains of the Southeast is critical as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refugia.
Phosphogenesis in the 2460 and 2728 million‐year‐old banded iron formations as evidence for biological cycling of phosphate in the early biosphere
Authors: Li Yi‐Liang , Sun Si , Chan Lung S.
Published: December 2012

The banded iron formation deposited during the first 2 billion years of Earth's history holds the key to understanding the interplay between the geosphere and the early biosphere at large geological timescales. The earliest ore‐scale phosphorite depositions formed almost at ~2.0–2.2 billion years ago bear evidence for the earliest bloom of aerobic life. The cycling of nutrient phosphorus and how it constrained primary productivity in the anaerobic world of Archean–Palaeoproterozoic eons are still open questions. The controversy centers about whether the precipitation of ultrafine ferric oxyhydroxide due to the microbial Fe(II) oxidation in oceans earlier than 1.9 billion years substantially sequestrated phosphate, and whether this process significantly limited the primary productivity of the early biosphere. In this study, we report apatite radial flowers of a few micrometers in the 2728 million‐year‐old Abitibi banded iron formation and the 2460 million‐year‐old Kuruman banded iron formation and their similarities to those in the 535 million‐year‐old Lower Cambrian phosphorite. The lithology of the 535 Million‐year‐old phosphorite as a biosignature bears abundant biomarkers that reveal the possible similar biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus in the Later Archean and Palaeoproterozoic oceans. These apatite radial flowers represent the primary precipitation of phosphate derived from the phytoplankton blooms in the euphotic zones of Neoarchean and Palaoeproterozoic oceans. The unbiased distributions of the apatite radial flowers within sub‐millimeter bands do not support the idea of an Archean Crisis of Phosphate. This is the first report of the microbial mediated mineralization of phosphorus before the Great Oxidation Event when the whole biosphere was still dominated by anaerobic microorganisms.
Donor Abilities of Heterocyclic Neutral Lewis Bases in a Nickel(II) Salicylaldehyde 4‐Phenylthiosemicarbazonato Coordination Environment
Authors: Cindrić Marina , Pavlović Gordana , Hrenar Tomica , Uzelac Marina , Ćurić Manda
Published: December 2012

Eight mononuclear [Ni(sal 4‐Phtsc)·D] thiosemicarbazonato complexes [sal 4‐Phtsc = salicylaldehyde 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazonato ligand; D = imidazole (1), methylimidazole (2), pyridine (3), 4‐aminopyridine (4), 4‐methylpyridine (6), morpholine (7), thiomorpholine (8), 2‐aminophenol (9)] and one dinuclear {[Ni(sal 4‐Phtsc)]2·D}·2DMSO [D = 4,4′‐bipyridine (5)] complex have been prepared by adding the corresponding Lewis base to the methanol suspension of the parent complex [Ni(sal 4‐Phtsc)(H2sal 4‐Phtsc)]·CH3OH. The exchange of the neutral salicylaldehyde 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazone (H2sal 4‐Phtsc) ligand in the parent complex for the appropriate Lewis base has been confirmed by IR spectroscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) in the solid state. The single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of seven complexes 1 and 3–8 confirmed the formation of the complexes with the NiII ion, coordinated through O,N,S‐donor atoms from the dibasic salicylaldehyde 4‐phenylthiosemicarbazonato ligand and endocyclic N‐donor atom from the neutral ligand D in the form of a distorted square‐planar coordination. NMR spectroscopy in DMF or DMSO and quantum mechanical calculations have been performed in order to explain and compare the stability of the complexes in solution, depending on the polarity of solvents in the context of donor properties and the nucleophilicity of the heterocyclic Lewis base. The single‐crystal X‐ray data enables a comparison with calculated standard Gibbs energies of binding in the context of crystal packing forces, leading to a general conclusion that the stability of the mononuclear complexes results in the formation of more stable hydrogen‐bonded cyclic dimers as a crystal packing pattern.
Structure and Magnetism of the Iron(III) Spin‐Crossover Complex [FeIII{N‐ethyl‐N‐(2‐aminoethyl)salicylaldiminate}2]ClO4
Authors: Sheu Chou‐Fu , Chen Szu‐Miao , Lee Gene‐Hsiang , Liu Yi‐Hung , Wen Yuh‐Sheng , Lee Jey‐Jau , Chuang Yu‐Chun , Wang Yu
Published: December 2012

A water‐containing iron(III) complex, [FeIII(SalEen)2]ClO4·0.5H2O [1, SalEen = N‐ethyl‐N‐(2‐aminoethyl)salicylaldiminate], and an unsolvated complex, [FeIII(SalEen)2]ClO4 (2), are synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 crystallizes in a polar orthorhombic space group Fdd2, whereas 2 crystallizes in a monoclinic space group P21/c. The presence or absence of water molecules results in different molecular packings, which give rise to different magnetic properties. The temperature dependent magnetic measurements show very gradual spin transitions for both 1 and 2; the iron(III) center is in the high‐spin (HS) state with S = 5/2 at 350 K and is in the low‐spin (LS) state with S = 1/2 below 30 K for 1 (T1/2 = 155 K) and at 120 K for 2 (T1/2 = 230 K). The crystal structures of the HS and LS states for both 1 and 2 are characterized. In addition, the structure of 1 at 150 K is also investigated. The Fe–N and Fe–O bond lengths are 0.14 and 0.03 Å shorter in the LS state than those in the HS state. The octahedral distortion in the iron(III) coordination geometry, expressed as Σ and Θ parameters, is slightly larger in the HS than in the LS state.
Tin‐Mediated Route to Polytungstates of RhII and PdII
Authors: Sokolov Maxim N. , Kalinina Irina V. , Peresypkina Eugenia V. , Moroz Nikolay K. , Naumov Dmitry Yu. , Fedin Vladimir P.
Published: December 2012

Three polyoxotungstates of SnII, PdII, and RhII, Na8[H2SnW12O42]·nH2O [1, n = 22.75 (1a) and n = 31.10 (1b)], Na2K(H)[Pd(H2O)4][H2W12O48{Pd(H2O)3}2]·10H2O (2), and Na8[Rh2(H2O)2(W5O18)2]·21.25H2O (3) were obtained. The complexes were characterized by X‐ray analysis, solid‐state 1H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis.
Synthesis of 2‐Ethyl‐19‐nor Analogs of 1α,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3
Authors: Laplace Duchan R. , Van Overschelde Michel , De Clercq Pierre J. , Verstuyf Annemieke , Winne Johan M.
Published: December 2012

The synthesis of two new A‐ring precursors, useful for the convergent assembly of 2α‐ethyl and 2β‐ethyl derivatives of 19‐nor‐1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, is described. These building blocks were prepared in 14 steps from quinic acid, which led to a new and practical synthesis of 2α‐ethyl‐14‐epi‐19‐nor‐20‐epi‐23‐yne‐1,25(OH)2D3, an analog that shows a remarkably low calcemic effect in mice, while retaining the ability to promote cell differentiation and to inhibit cell proliferation in a number of human cancer cell lines.
Modeling of protein electrophoresis in silica colloidal crystals having brush layers of polyacrylamide
Authors: Birdsall Robert E. , Koshel Brooke M. , Hua Yimin , Ratnayaka Saliya N. , Wirth Mary J.
Published: December 2012

Sieving of proteins in silica colloidal crystals of millimeter dimensions is characterized for particle diameters of nominally 350 and 500 nm, where the colloidal crystals are chemically modified with a brush layer of polyacrylamide. A model is developed that relates the reduced electrophoretic mobility to the experimentally measurable porosity. The model fits the data with no adjustable parameters for the case of silica colloidal crystals packed in capillaries, for which independent measurements of the pore radii were made from flow data. The model also fits the data for electrophoresis in a highly ordered colloidal crystal formed in a channel, where the unknown pore radius was used as a fitting parameter. Plate heights as small as 0.4 μm point to the potential for miniaturized separations. Band broadening increases as the pore radius approaches the protein radius, indicating that the main contribution to broadening is the spatial heterogeneity of the pore radius. The results quantitatively support the notion that sieving occurs for proteins in silica colloidal crystals, and facilitate design of new separations that would benefit from miniaturization.
Cell‐free microRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for lung cancer
Authors: Zandberga Elīna , Kozirovskis Viktors , Ābols Artūrs , Andrējeva Diāna , Purkalne Gunta , Linē Aija
Published: December 2012

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for over 1.37 million deaths annually. The clinical outcome and management of lung cancer patients could be substantially improved by the implementation of non‐invasive biomarker assays for the early detection, prognosis as well as prediction and monitoring of treatment response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of virtually all signaling circuits within a cell and their dysregulation has been shown to play an essential role in the development and progression of cancer. Recently, miRNAs were found to be released into the circulation and to exist there in a remarkably stable form. Furthermore, various cancers were shown to leave specific miRNA fingerprints in the blood of patients suggesting that cell‐free miRNAs could serve as non‐invasive biomarkers for the detection or monitoring of cancer and putative therapeutic targets. Since that, a considerable effort has been devoted to decode the information carried by circulating miRNAs. In the current review, we give an insight into the mechanisms of miRNA release into the bloodstream, their putative functional significance and systematically review the studies focused on the identification of cell‐free miRNAs with the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive significance in lung cancer and discuss their potential clinical utility. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
the 11q13‐q14 amplicon: Clinicopathological correlations and potential drivers
Authors: Wilkerson Paul M. , Reis‐Filho Jorge S.
Published: December 2012

Amplification at 11q13‐q14 is a common event in cancers from multiple anatomical sites. This complex amplicon has multiple cores and several genes have been put forward as potential “drivers.” In this review, based on the technical advancements of the last decade, which resulted in methods allowing for a deeper genomic and functional genomic characterization of amplicons and their drivers, we discuss the current definitions of amplicons and driver genes, the clinical and biological significance of the 11q13‐q14 amplicon in distinct types of human cancer, its coamplification partners, and the roles of various genes located within the amplicon as potential “drivers.” Finally, we appraise the available data for novel therapies targeting genes mapping to this amplicon. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mesoporous Silica‐coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Mixed Hemimicelles Solid‐phase Extraction of Phthalate Esters in Environmental Water Samples with Liquid Chromatographic Analysis
Authors: Liu Pei‐Lu , Xu Ye‐Ping , Zheng Ping , Tong Hong‐Wu , Liu Yu‐Xin , Zha Zheng‐Gen , Su Qing‐De , Liu Shao‐Min
Published: December 2012

To extract, preconcentrate and determine the trace level of environmental contaminants, a novel mixed hemimicelles solid‐phase extraction (MHSPE) method based on mesoporous silica‐coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4/meso‐SiO2 NPs) as adsorbent was developed for extraction of phthalate esters from water samples. The Fe3O4/meso‐SiO2 NPs were synthesized by using a combination of hydrothermal method and sol‐gel method. The obtained Fe3O4/meso‐SiO2 NPs possessed a large surface area (570 m2/g), superparamagnetism, and uniform mesopores (2.8 nm). MHSPE parameters, such as the amount of surfactant, pH of sample, shaking and separation time, eluent and breakthrough volume that may influence the extraction of analytes greatly, were further investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction was completed in 20 min and a concentration factor of 500 was achieved by extracting 250 mL water sample. Detection limits obtained of butyl‐benzyl phthalate (BBP), di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DnBP), di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di‐n‐cotyl phthalate (DnOP) were 12, 21, 12, and 32 ng/L, respectively. The proposed method exhibited high extraction efficiency and relatively short time for extracting the target compounds.
Determination of Organophosphorus Pesticides Based on BDD Electrode Modified with Au/chitosan Fiber
Authors: Jin Huali , Liu Yong , Wei Min
Published: December 2012

The Au/chitosan fiber was firstly prepared by electrospinning and chemical reduction method and used to modify BDD electrode for the detection of methyl parathion. The results indicated that Au/chitosan fiber‐modified BDD electrode could improve the electrocatalytic activity, accelerate response, enhance the sensitivity, and reduce the detection limit, as compared with the bare BDD electrode. The repeatability and stability of Au/chitosan fiber‐modified BDD electrode was also studied. For the detection of methyl parathion in the apple juice samples, Au/chitosan fiber‐modified BDD electrode obtained favorable results and ideal recovery rate.
Photo‐physical Properties of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine and Its Derivatives: A DFT and TD‐DFT Investigation
Authors: Tai Chin‐Kuen , Hsieh Wei‐Yi , Yeh Pao‐Ling , Chiu Houn‐Lin , Wang Bo‐Cheng
Published: December 2012

A series of N‐methyl‐3,4‐fulleropyrrolidine (NMFP) derivatives were designed by selecting different π‐conjugated linkers and electron‐donating groups as D‐π‐A and D‐A systems. The optimised structures and photo‐physical properties of NMFP and its derivatives have been determined using density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6‐31G basis set. According to the computation analysis, both the π‐conjugated linkers and the electron‐donating groups can influence the electronic and photo‐physical properties of the NMFP derivatives. Our calculated results demonstrated that the electron‐donating groups, with significant electron‐donating ability, had the tendency to increase the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. The π‐conjugated linkers with lower resonance energy decreased the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy and caused a significant decrease in the energy gap (Eg) between the EHOMO and ELUMO. A Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis examines the effect of the electron‐donating group, π conjugated linker, and electron‐withdrawing group for these NMFP derivatives. For the NMFP derivatives, a projected density of state (PDOS) analysis demonstrated that the electron density of HOMO and LUMO are concentrated on the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker, respectively. A TD‐DFT/B3LYP calculation was performed to calculate the electronic absorption spectra of these NMFP derivatives. Both the electron‐donating group and the π‐conjugated linker contribute to the major absorption peaks, which are assigned as HOMO to LUMO transitions and are red‐shifted relative to those of non‐substituted NMFP.
Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Determination of Nitrite at Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Carbon Ceramic Electrode
Authors: Majidi Mir Reza , Naseri Abdolhossein , Panahian Sajjad , Baj Reza Fadakar Bajeh
Published: December 2012

In the present work, the electrochemical oxidation of nitrite on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The modified electrode exhibited catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of nitrite. Experimental parameters such as solution pH, scan rate, concentration of nitrite and nanotubes amount were studied. It was shown nitrite can be determined by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and hydrodynamic amperometry (HA) using the modified electrode. Under the optimized conditions the calibration plots are linear in the concentration ranges of 15‐220 and 50‐3000 μM with limit of detections of 4.74 and 35.8 μM for DPV and HA, respectively. The modified electrode was successfully applied for analysis of nitrite in spinach sample. The results were favorbly compared to those obtained by UV‐Visible spectrophotometric method. The results of the analysis suggest that the proposed method has promise for the routine determination of nitrite in the examined products.
A Simple, Efficient and Green Procedure for Knoevenagel Condensation in Water or under Solvent‐free Conditions
Authors: Yu Ya‐Qin , Wang Zhong‐Liang
Published: December 2012

1,4‐Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane was used as an efficient catalyst in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction of various kinds of aromatic/aliphatic/heterocyclic/αβ‐unsaturated aldehydes and ketones with active methylene compounds. This is a convenient and rapid method for Knoevenagel condensation, which affords the corresponding substituted electrophilic alkenes in excellent yields. The reaction condition is mild and the method is operationally simple. The products, only E‐isomers were detected, did not need to be purified. The use of water as the reaction medium makes the process environmentally benign. The catalysts can be recycled six times without activity loss.
Simultaneous determination of quinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxides in feeds using molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction coupled with HPLC
Authors: He Qianqian , Fang Binghu , Su Yijuan , Zeng Zhenling , Yang Jianwen , He Limin , Zeng Dongping
Published: December 2012

A simple, selective, and reproducible molecularly imprinted SPE coupled with HPLC method was developed for monitoring quinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxides in feeds. Molecularly imprinted polymers were synthesized in methanol using mequindox (MEQ) as template molecule and acrylamide as functional monomer by bulk polymerization. Under the optimum SPE conditions, the novel polymer sorbents can selectively extract and enrich carbadox, MEQ, quinocetone, and cyadox from a variety of feeds. The molecularly imprinted SPE cartridge was better than nonimprinted, C18, and HLB cartridges in terms of both recovery and precision. Mean recoveries of four quinoxaline‐1,4‐dioxides from six kinds of feeds spiked at 1.0, 10, and 100 mg/kg ranged between 75.2 and 94.7% with RSDs of less than 10%. The decision limits (CCαs) and the detection capabilities (CCβs) of four analytes were 0.15–0.20 mg/kg and 0.44–0.56 mg/kg, respectively. The class selectivity of the polymers was evaluated by checking three drugs with different molecular structures to that of MEQ.
Quantitative comparison of post‐processing methods for reduction of frequency modulation sidebands in non‐water suppression 1H MRS
Authors: Lin Jyh‐Miin , Chuang Tzu‐Chao , Chung Hsiao‐Wen , Tsai Shang‐Yueh
Published: December 2012

Non‐water suppression MRS (NWS MRS) has several advantages. First, the unsuppressed water signal can be used as internal calibration for metabolite quantification and as a reliable frequency/phase reference for retrospective motion correction. Second, it avoids the potential artifacts caused by incomplete water suppression (WS) and extra radiofrequency deposition from WS pulses. However, the frequency modulation (FM) sidebands originating from a large water signal will distort the spectrum. Among the methods proposed to solve the problems caused by FM sidebands, post‐acquisition processing methods are superior in flexibility for general use compared with experimental methods. In this study, we propose two algorithms based on advanced matrix decomposition to remove the FM sidebands. These methods, the simultaneous diagonalization (QZ) algorithm and its subsequent variant, the simultaneously generalized Schur decomposition (SGSD) algorithm, were numerically evaluated using computer simulations. In addition, we quantitatively compared the performance of these methods and the modulus method in an in vitro experiment and in vivo NWS MRS against conventional WS data. Our results show that the proposed SGSD algorithm can reduce the FM sidebands to achieve superior estimation of concentration on three major metabolites. This method can be applied directly to spectra pre‐acquired under various experimental conditions without modifying the acquisition sequences. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diffusion of hyperpolarized 13C‐metabolites in tumor cell spheroids using real‐time NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Schilling Franz , Düwel Stephan , Köllisch Ulrich , Durst Markus , Schulte Rolf F. , Glaser Steffen J. , Haase Axel , Otto Angela M. , Menzel Marion I.
Published: December 2012

The detection of tumors noninvasively, the characterization of their progression by defined markers and the monitoring of response to treatment are goals of medical imaging techniques. In this article, a method which measures the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of metabolites using hyperpolarized 13C diffusion‐weighted spectroscopy is presented. A pulse sequence based on the pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) was developed that encodes both kinetics and diffusion information. In experiments with MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells, we detected an ADC of intracellularly produced lactate of 1.06 ± 0.15 µm2/ms, which is about one‐half of the value measured with pyruvate in extracellular culture medium. When monitoring tumor cell spheroids during progressive membrane permeabilization with Triton X‐100, the ratio of lactate ADC to pyruvate ADC increases as the fraction of dead cells increases. Therefore, 13C ADC detection can yield sensitive information on changes in membrane permeability and subsequent cell death. Our results suggest that both metabolic label exchange and 13C ADCs can be acquired simultaneously, and may potentially serve as noninvasive biomarkers for pathological changes in tumor cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in human fetal oxygenation during maternal hyperoxia as estimated by BOLD MRI
Authors: Sørensen Anne , Peters David , Simonsen Carsten , Pedersen Michael , Stausbøl‐Grøn Brian , Christiansen Ole Bjarne , Lingman Göran , Uldbjerg Niels
Published: December 2012

Objective

Changes in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal are closely related to changes in fetal oxygenation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in human fetal oxygenation during maternal hyperoxia by using the non‐invasive BOLD MRI technique.

Method

Eight healthy pregnant women in gestational week 28 to 34 were included. With the use of a facial oxygen mask, we induced maternal hyperoxia and measured changes in the BOLD MRI signal of selected fetal organs.

Results

In a number of fetal organs, the BOLD MRI signal increased significantly (P < 0.01) during maternal hyperoxia (mean change in % ± SEM): liver (14.3 ± 3.7%), spleen (15.2 ± 3.5%) and kidney (6.2 ± 1.8%) as well as the placenta (6.5 ± 1.6%). In the fetal brain, however, the BOLD MRI signal remained constant (0.3 ± 0.2%).

Conclusion

During maternal hyperoxia, we demonstrated an increased oxygenation in a number of human fetal organs by using the non‐invasive BOLD technique. The oxygenation of the fetal brain remained constant, thus a ‘reversed’ brain sparing mechanism could be considered in healthy fetuses subjected to hyperoxia. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dominant ion transport processes of ionic liquid electrolyte in poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)
Authors: Irvin Jennifer A. , Carberry Jamie R.
Published: December 2012

Electrochemical quartz crystal microgravimetry was used to study movement of the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMIBTI) into and out of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). In 0.1M EMIBTI/acetonitrile, anionic transport predominates, as is typical of solution‐based electrolytes. In pure EMIBTI, on the other hand, the minimal mass change observed during polymer oxidation/reduction was observed to be cation‐dominant. PEDOT deposition from dilute EMIBTI solution followed by cycling in neat EMIBTI resulted in rapid decrease of electroactivity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013
Exploring the binding diversity of intrinsically disordered proteins involved in one‐to‐many binding
Authors: Hsu Wei‐Lun , Oldfield Christopher J. , Xue Bin , Meng Jingwei , Huang Fei , Romero Pedro , Uversky Vladimir N. , Dunker A. Keith
Published: December 2012

Molecular recognition features (MoRFs) are intrinsically disordered protein regions that bind to partners via disorder‐to‐order transitions. In one‐to‐many binding, a single MoRF binds to two or more different partners individually. MoRF‐based one‐to‐many protein–protein interaction (PPI) examples were collected from the Protein Data Bank, yielding 23 MoRFs bound to 2–9 partners, with all pairs of same‐MoRF partners having less than 25% sequence identity. Of these, 8 MoRFs were bound to 2–9 partners having completely different folds, whereas 15 MoRFs were bound to 2–5 partners having the same folds but with low sequence identities. For both types of partner variation, backbone and side chain torsion angle rotations were used to bring about the conformational changes needed to enable close fits between a single MoRF and distinct partners. Alternative splicing events (ASEs) and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) were also found to contribute to distinct partner binding. Because ASEs and PTMs both commonly occur in disordered regions, and because both ASEs and PTMs are often tissue‐specific, these data suggest that MoRFs, ASEs, and PTMs may collaborate to alter PPI networks in different cell types. These data enlarge the set of carefully studied MoRFs that use inherent flexibility and that also use ASE‐based and/or PTM‐based surface modifications to enable the same disordered segment to selectively associate with two or more partners. The small number of residues involved in MoRFs and in their modifications by ASEs or PTMs may simplify the evolvability of signaling network diversity.
Effects of Gaussian disorder on charge carrier transport and recombination in organic semiconductors
Authors: Coehoorn R. , Bobbert P. A.
Published: December 2012

In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of charge transport and exciton generation in disordered organic semiconductors with a Gaussian DOS, with a focus on applications to organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Three‐dimensional (3D) modeling shows that the actual current density in OLEDs based on materials with a Gaussian electron and hole DOS is filamentary. However, it is possible to accurately calculate the average current density by solving a one‐dimensional (1D) drift‐diffusion equation, making use of compact expressions for the temperature, electric field, and carrier density dependent mobility which have been derived from 3D‐modeling. For the cases of spatially uncorrelated energetic disorder and spatially correlated disorder due to random dipole fields, these models are called the extended Gaussian disorder model (EGDM) and extended correlated disorder model (ECDM), respectively. We discuss how the effects of trapping on guest molecules can be included, and how exciton generation is described. The application of these models to hole and electron transporting polymer and small molecule materials is discussed, with an emphasis on the modeling of the transport and emission of blue‐emitting OLEDs based on a polyfluorene‐derivative.
Deep level transient spectroscopy characterisation of defects in AlGaN/Si dual‐band (UV/IR) detectors grown by MBE
Authors: Aziz M. , Mari R. H. , Felix J. F. , Mesli A. , Taylor D. , Lemine M. O. , Henini M. , Pillai R. , Starikov D. , Boney C. , Bensaoula A.
Published: December 2012

This paper is based on the investigation of electrically active defects in dual band UV/IR photodiodes using Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS). The UV/IR photodiodes were fabricated by growing Al0.7Ga0.3N layers on silicon substrate to obtain UV‐ sensitive photodiode structures on the front side, whereas on the back side of silicon IR‐sensitive photodiode structures were fabricated. Our studies reveal the existence of two defect levels in each detector. In order to determine accurately the position of these levels within the band gap of the respective layers, Laplace DLTS has been employed. The activation energies of defects in the UV photodetectors are 0.11±0.01 eV, and 0.31±0.01 eV, whereas, those in the IR detector are 0.25±0.01 eV and 0.47±0.02 eV. These energies are with respect to the conduction band energy of each detector. The effect of the junction electric field on the carrier emission rates of the deep traps was investigated by applying the double pulse Laplace DLTS technique. In particular it is found that the activation energy of the defect in the IR detector (0.47±0.02 eV) changes with electric field. Therefore, in this paper we will present detailed DLTS and Laplace DLTS investigations of deep traps in detectors based on AlGaN/Si (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Structural and electronic properties of InGaN/GaN nanowires by the use of EELS
Authors: Soumelidou Maria‐Marianna , Kioseoglou Joseph , Kirmse Holm , Komninou Philomela , Karakostas Theodoros
Published: December 2012

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), in both the low loss and the core loss regions of the spectra, have been used to study local alloys composition, electronic transitions and bonding environment of different species in nanowires consisted of a GaN base‐part and a superlattice upper part of InxGa1–xN nanodisks (NDs)/GaN barriers. Experimental valence (low loss) electron energy loss spectroscopy (VEELS) spectra were taken from the GaN base‐part, the GaN barriers and the InxGa1–xN disks. Electron energy loss near edge structure (ELNES) spectra presenting the C K‐edge, the N K‐edge, the In M4,5‐edge were obtained from the GaN base‐part and spacer and the InxGa1–xN NDs. Variation of In concentration as well as different strain states change the intensity and result in the broadening and shifting of the edges in the spectra. The TELNES.2 program of the WIEN2k code (Blaha et al., Comp. Phys. Commun. 59, 399 (1990) [1]) was implemented in order to study the electronic properties of InxGa1–xN. The N K‐edge that represents the energy loss of the electron transition from the 2p to the 1s state is unique for each structure. Details on the bonding environment of the structure were extracted from the simulations of the ELNES spectra. Moreover, the influence of the In content in the InxGa1–xN NDs on the N‐K edge was interpreted. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Diffusion of implanted nitrogen in germanium
Authors: Skarlatos Dimitrios , Barozzi Mario , Bersani Massimo , Vouroutzis Nikos Z. , Ioannou‐Sougleridis Vassilios
Published: December 2012

In the present work diffusion of implanted nitrogen in germanium is studied as a function of implantation energy and post‐implantation annealing temperature. Implantations have been performed at a constant dose and energies leading to the amorphization of the substrate. Nitrogen diffusion in Ge is anomalous (not obeying the 2nd Fick's law) towards the substrate surface on which an Al2O3 layer has been deposited before annealing for protection. There is evidence that N diffusion in Ge is interstitial‐assisted and takes place in the presence of Ge interstitials gradients between the Al2O3/Ge and the former amorphous/crystalline (a/c) interface of the substrate during annealing. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)