bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer of two motor branches of the anterior obturator nerve to the motor portion of the femoral nerve: An anatomical feasibility study
Authors: Goubier Jean‐Noël , Teboul Frederic , Yeo Sitienehin
Published: July 2012

Femoral nerve lesions are uncommon, but very distressing at the functional level because of the absence of knee locking mechanism by the quadriceps muscle. We propose here a new neurotization procedure of obturator nerve motor branches to the motor portion of the femoral nerve in the thigh. This study was conducted on five cadavers. The motor portion of the femoral nerve and the motor branches of the obturator nerve, supplying the gracilis and adductor longus muscles, were isolated. The distance between nerve endings and diameter were measured to determine if a direct neurorrhaphy was possible between the femoral nerve and the two united branches of the obturator nerve. The overlap between the two nerve endings was 26 mm on average, and the mean diameter of the two nerve endings was 3.6 mm for the united branches of the obturator nerve and 3.7 mm for the femoral nerve. Thus, a direct suture was possible in all cases. In this anatomical study, access to the femoral nerve and two united branches of the obturator nerve was easy, in contrast to transfer in the pelvis. Moreover, direct suture without tension was possible in all cases. Thus, this transfer is simple and perfectly reproducible and may have a clinical application in proximal femoral nerve injuries. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Vascular endothelial growth factor‐loaded poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) microspheres‐induced lateral axonal sprouting into the vein graft bridging two healthy nerves: Nerve graft prefabrication using controlled release system
Authors: Karagoz Huseyin , Ulkur Ersin , Kerimoglu Oya , Alarcin Emine , Sahin Cihan , Akakin Dilek , Dortunc Betul
Published: July 2012

The most commonly used surgical technique for repairing segmental nerve defects is autogenous nerve grafting; however, this method causes donor site morbidity. In this study, we sought to produce prefabricated nerve grafts that can serve as a conduit instead of autologous nerve using a controlled release system created with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐loaded poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. The study was performed in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro studies, VEGF‐loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared. Thirty rats were used for the in vivo studies. Vein grafts were sutured between the tibial and peroneal nerves in all animals. Three groups were created, and an epineural window, partial incision, and microsphere application were performed, respectively. Walking track analysis, morphologic, and electron microscopic assessment were performed at the end of the eight weeks. Microspheres were produced in spherical shapes as required. Controlled release of VEGF was achieved during a 30‐days period. Although signs of nerve injury occurred initially in the partial incision groups according to the indexes of peroneal and tibial function, it improved gradually. The index values were not affected in the other groups. There were many myelinated fibers with large diameters in the partial incision and controlled release groups, while a few myelinated fibers that passed through vein graft in the epineural window group. Thereby, prefabrication was carried out for the second and third groups. It was demonstrated that nerve graft can be prefabricated by the controlled delivery of VEGF. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Anti‐inflammatory effects of anthocyanins from black soybean seed coat on the keratinocytes and ischemia‐reperfusion injury in rat skin flaps
Authors: Kim Hye Jung , Xu Lianji , Chang Ki Churl , Shin Sung Chul , Chung Jong Il , Kang Dawon , Kim Sang‐Hyon , Hur Ji An , Choi Tae Hyun , Kim Sukwha , Choi Jaehoon
Published: July 2012

Ischemia‐reperfusion injury is a phenomenon that occurs when tissues are subjected to ischemia for a variable period of time, and then reperfused. Inflammatory reaction has been implicated as one of the most important mechanism of ischemia‐reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effects of anthocyanins from black soybean seed coat on keratinocytes in vitro and ischemia‐reperfusion injury in vivo. We investigated the inhibition, by anthocyanins, of the expression of various inflammatory genes associated with ischemia‐reperfusion injury in the tumor necrosis factor‐alpha‐treated (TNF‐α) immortalized epidermal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). We also investigated the effects of anthocyanins on the survival of skin flaps after ischemia‐reperfusion injury in the rats. According to Western blot analysis and a luciferase activity assay, anthocyanins inhibited TNF‐α‐induced intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) levels through the NF‐κB‐dependent pathway. Administration of anthocyanins (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly improved the flap area survival in the 10‐hour ischemic model from 62% to 74.5% and 83%, respectively (P = 0.001). The related cytokines in skin flap also changed as the same pattern as in vitro. Our results indicate that anthocyanins from black soybean seed coat had anti‐inflammatory effects on the HaCaT cell line and increase the survival of skin flaps through anti‐inflammatory properties against ischemia‐reperfusion injury. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
A three‐dimensional stereoscopic monitor system in microscopic vascular anastomosis
Authors: Cheng Hsiu‐Ting , MA Hsu , Tsai Chao‐Hsu , Hsu Wei‐Liang , WANG TIEN‐HSIANG
Published: July 2012

Microvascular procedures not only demand precise movements but also usually require a long operation time. Using a conventional surgical microscope, microvascular surgeons need to keep the neck in a fixed flexion posture, which can lead to physical fatigue. Thus, our aim was to develop a three‐dimensional (3D) monitoring system to improve the microsurgery environment. It consists of four main parts: the surgical microscope, the charge‐coupled devices, the 3D multiplexer, and the 3D monitor. Two patients with head and neck cancers who underwent tumor resections were reconstructed with free flap microsurgeries. Both artery anastomoses were completed successfully and the postoperative courses of the two patients were smooth. Vascular anastomosis can be performed successfully with the help of the new 3D display system. Although the artery anastomosis procedures took longer than under a surgical microscope, the 3D system offers another option to improve the working environment for surgeons. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Impulsive control for differential systems with delay
Authors: Wang Huali , Ding Changming
Published: July 2012

This paper deals with the impulsive control for a class of differential systems with delay. Using Lyapunov functions and the comparison principle, we present some sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability and exponential stability of impulsive control systems with delay. Moreover, we give an estimate of the upper bound of impulse interval. The results in this paper extend and improve the earlier publications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Technical and practical aspects of 19F NMR‐based screening: toward sensitive high‐throughput screening with rapid deconvolution
Authors: Dalvit Claudio , Vulpetti Anna
Published: July 2012

The technical and practical aspects of 19F NMR‐based screening against a macromolecular target are analyzed in detail. A novel method utilizing the relaxation of 19F homonuclear double quantum coherence is proposed for performing NMR‐based binding assays in a direct‐ or competition‐mode format. A combined strategy based on 19F NMR chemical shift prediction, 2D 19F NMR DOSY, and 2D 19F–1H NMR long‐range COSY experiments is presented for the deconvolution of complex mixtures of fluorinated molecules generated by either addition of single compounds or by chemical synthesis. The approaches presented here allow the screening of complex mixtures, even in the case where the exact composition is not known, and the rapid identification of the binders contained in the mixtures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An algorithm for the calculation of three‐dimensional collagen fiber orientation in ligaments using angle‐sensitive MRI
Authors: Seidel Thomas , Hammer Niels , Garnov Nikita , Schneider Grace , Steinke Hanno
Published: July 2012

A method based on angle‐sensitive magnetic resonance imaging for determining unknown orientations of collagen fibers in ligaments is presented. Collagen fibers were stepwise rotated around two independent axes within a 3T magnetic resonance tomograph (from 0° to 180°, step size = 10°). Analyzing the magnetic resonance signal intensity of each voxel as a function of the rotation angle, directions were calculated by means of a computational algorithm. The accuracy of the algorithm was validated using 1000 random test directions, revealing an average deviation of 4.4° (median ± standard deviation: 2.7° ± 9°). Subsequently, the presented method was applied to three specimens of the human iliotibial tract mounted in different directions in a rotatable plastic box. Polarized light microscopy was used to verify parallel alignment of the collagen fibers in the three specimens. The calculated directions were compared with the directions of the specimens. Analyzing each voxel separately, average deviations (median ± standard deviation) in the three specimens were: 11.2° (3.6° ± 20.4°), 12° (5° ± 24.1°), and 20.4° (8.7° ± 27°). If the magnetic resonance signal intensity of each voxel was averaged with the intensity of immediately neighboring voxels, average deviations (median ± standard deviation) were 8.5° (3.6° ± 17.4°), 6.2° (0° ± 18°), and 9.2° (5° ± 19.2°). The presented method has the potential to be applied in situ to anatomical structures like cartilage, ligaments, tendons and fascia. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fetal ductal constriction caused by maternal ingestion of green tea in late pregnancy: an experimental study
Authors: Zielinsky Paulo , Manica João L. L. , Piccoli Antonio L. , Nicoloso Luiz Henrique S. , Barra Marinez , Alievi Marcelo M. , Vian Izabele , Zilio Ana , Pizzato Patrícia E. , Silva Júlia S. , Bender Luciano P. , Pizzato Marcelo , Menezes Honório S. , Garcia Solange C.
Published: July 2012

Objectives

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that experimental maternal intake of green tea in late pregnancy causes fetal ductus arteriosus constriction, probably because of prostaglandin inhibition.

Methods and Results

Twelve fetal lambs (pregnancy > 120 days) were assessed before and after maternal administration of green tea (n = 8) or water (n = 4; controls) as the only source of liquid. After 1 week, echocardiography showed signs of constriction of the ductus arteriosus in all fetuses from mothers ingesting green tea, with increase in mean systolic velocity(from 0.70 ± 0.19 m/s to 0.92 ± 0.15 m/s, 31.4%, p = 0.001) and mean diastolic velocity (0.19 ± 0.05 m/s to 0.31 ± 0.01 m/s, 63.1%, p < 0.001), decrease of pulsatility index (2.2 ± 0.4 to 1.8 ± 0.3, 22.2%, p = 0.003) and increase of mean right ventricular/left ventricular diameter ratio (0.89 ± 0.14 to 1.43 ± 0.23, 60.6%, p < 0.001). In the four control fetuses, there were no significant changes. All lambs exposed to green tea also showed at autopsy dilated and hypertrophic right ventricles, which was not present in control fetuses. Histological analysis showed a significantly larger mean thickness of the medial avascular zone of the ductus arteriosus in fetuses exposed to green tea than in controls (747.6 ± 214.6 µm vs 255.3 ± 97.9 µm, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study in fetal lambs shows a cause and effect relationship between experimental maternal exposure of green tea and fetal ductus arteriosus constriction in late pregnancy. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solvatochromism of catechol derivatives – solute/solvent interactions
Authors: Riedel Franziska , Spange Stefan
Published: July 2012

The solvatochromism of nine push–pull substituted catechol derivatives has been studied in a set of 39 various solvents. The influence of successive methyl substitution at the catechol OH groups on the extent of the solvatochromic shift has been investigated. The positive solvatochromism of 2‐(3,4‐dihydroxybenzylidene)‐2H‐indene‐1,3‐dione amounts 4360 cm–1, which ranges from toluene to hexamethyl‐phosphoric triamide. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of the largest positive solvatochromic extent measured for a positive solvatochromic dye, comparable with Brooker's thiobarbituric acid with an extent of 4400 cm–1. The detailed analyses of the solvatochromism were carried out by alternatively using the Kamlet–Taft and Catalán solvent parameters to achieve information of dipolarity versus polarizability effects of solvent upon solvatochromic properties. In solvents with high β values such as alcohols (0.66 < β < 0.90), amides (0.48 < β < 0.80), dimethyl sulfoxide (β = 0.76), tetramethyl urea (β = 0.80) and hexamethyl‐phosphoric triamide (β = 1.05) UV–Vis absorption spectra show two separate λmax, which are caused by a deprotonation reaction. The solvatochromic behaviour of the anionic species is compared with those of the catechol derivatives. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Processing and characterization of oriented electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) mats
Authors: Gasparini Thiago Manha , Suman Bretas Rosário Elida , da Silva Aline Bruna , Gregorio Rinaldo
Published: July 2012

Mats of highly oriented poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers were electrospun by means of a conventional electrospinning equipment; the orientation, however, was obtained using a disk collector rotating at a speed of 4000 rpm and a device that reduced the influence of air displacement during nanofiber orientation. Thermal transitions of the mats were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, the predominant crystalline phase by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and the nanofiber orientation and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Relative permittivity, loss index, stable remnant polarization, and coercive field of the mats were also determined and compared with those obtained for a mat electrospun at 2000 rpm and an oriented commercial film. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 000: 000–000, 2012
Effect of HFNC flow rate, cannula size, and nares diameter on generated airway pressures: An in vitro study
Authors: Sivieri Emidio M. , Gerdes Jeffrey S. , Abbasi Soraya
Published: July 2012

Increased use of non‐invasive forms of respiratory support such as CPAP and HFNC in premature infants has generated a need for further investigation of the pulmonary effects of such therapies. In a series of in vitro tests, we measured delivered proximal airway pressures from a HFNC system while varying both the cannula flow and the ratio of nasal prong to simulated nares diameters. Neonatal and infant sized nasal prongs (3.0 and 3.7 mm O.D.) were inserted into seven sizes of simulated nares (range: 3–7 mm I.D. from anatomical measurements in 1–3 kg infants) for nasal prong‐to‐nares ratios ranging from 0.43 to 1.06. The nares were connected to an active test lung set at: TV 10 ml, 60 breaths/min, Ti 0.35 sec, compliance 1.6 ml/cm H2O and airway resistance 70 cm H2O/(L/sec), simulating a 1–3 kg infant with moderately affected lungs. A Fisher & Paykel Healthcare HFNC system with integrated pressure relief valve was set to flow rates of 1–6 L/min while cannula and airway pressures and cannula and mouth leak flows were measured during simulated mouth open, partially closed and fully closed conditions.

Airway pressure progressively increased with both increasing HFNC flow rate and nasal prong‐to‐nares ratio. At 6 L/min HFNC flow with mouth open, airway pressures remained <1.7 cm H2O for all ratios; and <10 cm H2O with mouth closed for ratios <0.9. For ratios >0.9 and 50% mouth leak, airway pressures rapidly increased to 18 cm H2O at 2 L/min HFNC flow followed by a pressure relief valve limited increase to 24 cm H2O at 6 L/min.

Safe and effective use of HFNC requires careful selection of an appropriate nasal prong‐to‐nares ratio even with an integrated pressure relief valve. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:506–514. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nebulized Hyaluronan Ameliorates lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis mice
Authors: Gavina Manuela , Luciani Alessandro , Villella Valeria R. , Esposito Speranza , Ferrari Eleonora , Bressani Ilaria , Casale Alida , Bruscia Emanuela M. , Maiuri Luigi , Raia Valeria
Published: July 2012

Rationale

Chronic lung inflammation with increased susceptibility to bacterial infections cause much of the morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common severe, autosomal recessively inherited disease in the Caucasian population. Exogenous inhaled hyaluronan (HA) can exert a protective effect against injury and beneficial effects of HA have been shown in experimental models of chronic respiratory diseases. Our objective was to examine whether exogenous administration of nebulized HA might interfere with lung inflammation in CF.

Study design/methods

F508del homozygous mice (CftrF508del) and transgenic mice overexpressing the ENaC channel β‐subunit (Scnn1b‐Tg) were treated with nebulized HA (0.5 mg/mouse/day for 7 days). Tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFα), macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2), myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, and macrophage infiltration were assessed on lung tissues. IB3‐1 and CFBE41o‐epithelial cell lines were cultured with HA (24 hr, 100 µg/ml) and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Tissue Transglutaminase (TG2) SUMOylation and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ) and phospho‐p42/p44 levels were measured by dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay, or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy or immunoblots.

Results

Nebulized HA reduced TNFα expression (P < 0.005); TNFα, MIP‐2, and MPO protein levels (P < 0.05); MPO activity (P < 0.05); and CD68+ cells counts (P < 0.005) in lung tissues of CftrF508del and Scnn1b‐Tg mice, compared with saline‐treated mice. HA reduced ROS, TG2 SUMOylation, TG2 activity, phospho‐p42‐44, and increased PPARγ protein in both IB3‐1 and CFBE41o cells (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Nebulized HA is effective in controlling inflammation in vivo in mice CF airways and in vitro in human airway epithelial cells. We provide the proof of concept for the use of inhaled HA as a potential anti‐inflammatory drug in CF therapy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:761–771. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New insights into the functions and localization of nuclear CCT protein complex in K562 leukemia cells
Authors: Huang Rui , Yu Miao , Li Chang‐Yan , Zhan Yi‐Qun , Xu Wang‐Xiang , Xu Feifei , Ge Chang‐hui , Li Wei , Yang Xiao‐Ming
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The eukaryotic cytosolic chaperonin containing TCP‐1 (CCT) plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by assisting the folding of many proteins and is also well known for the critical roles in disease. However, the functions of CCT complex have not been established globally, especially when translocating into nuclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the function of CCT in nuclear and present a strategy in clinical proteomics studies.

Experimental design

Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN‐PAGE) combined with mass spectrometry was applied to separate and identify CCT protein complexes.

Results

We isolated the CCT complex in K562 nucleus and identified a novel CCT complex containing 40 protein components involved in protein folding, RNA processing, apoptosis, and cell metabolism. The interactions between four candidate proteins and CCT were confirmed by immunoblotting. Computational biological analyses and independent biochemical assays validated the overall quality of interactions.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Our results support clues that CCT might play an unexpected role in various biological processes including RNA processing. And we envision future applications for this system searching for new clues of CCT in disease and readily be applied to the clinic.
A fast and simple method for probing the interaction of peptides and proteins with lipids and membrane‐mimetics using GB1 fusion proteins and NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Sommer Lisa A. M. , Meier Melanie A. , Dames Sonja A.
Published: July 2012

The expression of peptides and proteins as fusions to the B1 domain of streptococcal protein G (GB1) is very popular since GB1 often improves the solubility of the target protein and because the first purification step using IgG affinity chromatography is simple and efficient. However, the following protease digest is not always complete or can result in a digest of the target protein. In addition, a further purification step such as RP‐HPLC has to be used to get rid of the GB1 tag and undigested fusion protein. Because the protease digest and the following purification step are not only time‐consuming but generally also expensive, we tested if GB1 fusion proteins can directly be used for NMR interaction studies using lipids or membrane‐mimetics. Based on NMR binding studies using only the GB1 part, this fusion tag does not significantly interact with different membrane‐mimetics such as micelles, bicelles, or liposomes. Thus spectral changes observed using GB1‐fusion proteins indicate lipid‐ and membrane interactions of the target protein. The method was initially established to probe membrane interactions of a large number of mutants of the FATC domain of the ser/thr kinase TOR. To demonstrate the usefulness of the approach, we show NMR binding data for the wild type protein and a leucine to alanine mutant.
Quorum sensing: How bacteria can coordinate activity and synchronize their response to external signals?
Authors: Li Zhi , Nair Satish K.
Published: July 2012

Quorum sensing is used by a large variety of bacteria to regulate gene expression in a cell‐density‐dependent manner. Bacteria can synchronize population behavior using small molecules called autoinducers that are produced by cognate synthases and recognized by specific receptors. Quorum sensing plays critical roles in regulating diverse cellular functions in bacteria, including bioluminescence, virulence gene expression, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. The best‐studied autoinducers are acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules, which are the primary quorum sensing signals used by Gram‐negative bacteria. In this review we focus on the AHL‐dependent quorum sensing system and highlight recent progress on structural and mechanistic studies of AHL synthases and the corresponding receptors. Crystal structures of LuxI‐type AHL synthases provide insights into acyl‐substrate specificity, but the current knowledge is still greatly limited. Structural studies of AHL receptors have facilitated a more thorough understanding of signal perception and established the molecular framework for the development of quorum sensing inhibitors.
Generation of superfluorescent bursts from a fully tunable semiconductor magneto‐plasma
Authors: Noe G.T. , Kim J.‐H. , Lee J. , Jho Y.‐D. , Wang Y. , Wójcik A.K. , McGill S.A. , Reitze D.H. , Belyanin A.A. , Kono J.
Published: July 2012

Quantum particles sometimes cooperate to develop a macroscopically ordered state with extraordinary properties. Superconductivity and Bose‐Einstein condensation are examples of such cooperative phenomena where macroscopic order appears spontaneously. Here, we demonstrate that such an ordered state can also be obtained in an optically excited semiconductor quantum well in a high magnetic field. When we create a dense electron‐hole plasma with an intense laser pulse, after a certain delay, an ultrashort burst of coherent radiation emerges. We interpret this striking phenomenon as a manifestation of superfluorescence (SF), in which a macroscopic polarization spontaneously builds up from an initially incoherent ensemble of excited quantum oscillators and then decays abruptly producing giant pulses of coherent radiation. SF has been observed in atomic gases, but the present work represents the first observation of SF in a solid‐state setting. While there is an analogy between the recombination of electron‐hole pairs and radiative transitions in atoms, there is no a priori reason for SF in semiconductors to be similar to atomic SF. This is a complex many‐body system with a variety of ultrafast interactions, where the decoherence rates are at least 1,000 times faster than the radiative decay rate, an unusual situation totally unexplored in previous atomic SF studies. We show, nonetheless, that collective many‐body coupling via a common radiation field does develop under certain conditions and leads to SF bursts. The solid‐state realization of SF resulted in an unprecedented degree of controllability in the generation of SF, opening up opportunities for both fundamental many‐body studies and device applications. We demonstrate that the intensity and delay time of SF bursts are fully tunable through an external magnetic field, temperature, and pump laser power.
Effect of high temperature annealing on defects and optical properties of ZnO single crystals
Authors: Jiang M. , Wang D. D. , Zou B. , Chen Z. Q. , Kawasuso A. , Sekiguchi T.
Published: July 2012

Hydrothermal grown ZnO single crystals were annealed in N2 or O2 between 900 and 1300 °C. Positron lifetime measurements reveal a single lifetime in all the ZnO samples before and after annealing. The positron lifetime is about 181 ps after annealing at 900 °C in either N2 or O2 atmosphere. However, increase of the positron lifetime is observed after further annealing the sample at higher temperatures up to 1300 °C, and it has a faster increase in O2 ambient. Temperature dependence measurements show that the positron lifetime has very slight increase with temperature for the 900 °C annealed sample, while it shows notable variation for the sample annealed at 1300 °C. This implied that annealing at high temperature introduces additional defects. These defects are supposed to be Zn vacancy‐related defects. Cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements indicates enhancement of both UV and green emission after annealing, and the enhancement of green emission is much stronger for the samples annealed in O2 ambient. The possible origin of green emission is tentatively discussed.
Assimilation of overcast cloudy infrared radiances of the geostationary MTSAT‐1R imager
Authors: Okamoto Kozo
Published: July 2012

Infrared radiances from the Multi‐functional Transport Satellite (MTSAT)‐1R satellite were assimilated in cloudy conditions where effective cloud fractions were greater than 0.8. These cloudy radiances provide new information that currently assimilated clear‐sky radiances from geostationary satellites and microwave sounders do not have.

The radiance data to be assimilated were created by averaging pixels from the original radiances. We investigated how the characteristics of spatially averaged observations (super‐observations or super‐obs) vary with the super‐ob size. The cloudy super‐ob radiances were simulated by using a simple radiative transfer model with cloud‐top pressure (Pc) and effective cloud fraction (Ne). The model assumed a single‐layer cloud and that cloud emissivity does not depend on spectral wavelength. These two parameters were estimated by a minimum residual method with the infrared channel 1 (10.8 µm) and channel 2 (12.0 µm). To further ensure the validity of these assumptions, we limited use of super‐ob radiances to almost completely overcast (Ne ≥ 0.8) conditions with homogeneous, middle to relatively high clouds (160 ≤ Pc ≤ 650 hPa).

These overcast super‐ob radiances (OSRs) from geostationary satellites have the advantages of (i) providing temperature information that is highly vertically resolved at the cloud top, (ii) providing frequent measurements, and (iii) being available in cloudy areas where clear radiances are often rejected by cloud quality‐control procedures. Data assimilation experiments revealed that OSRs generally had a small impact on analyses and forecasts but provided a slightly improved forecast of temperatures in the upper troposphere and winds in the low troposphere. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
The role of ion‐bound cluster formation in negative ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Derpmann Valerie , Albrecht Sascha , Benter Thorsten
Published: July 2012

RATIONALE

The ionization mechanisms operative in negative ion atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry are far from being properly understood. In an excess of oxygen superoxide (O2–) is generally the primary charge‐carrying species that is generated. However, subsequent reactions leading to the finally detected ion signals remain obscure.

METHODS

Since adiabatic expansion induced cluster growth and collision‐induced dissociation (CID) processes rendered a representative sampling of ion distributions present in the source difficult, a custom‐built thermally sampling time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer was used for the investigations. Using atmospheric pressure laser ionization of toluene as the reagent gas, high yields of thermal electrons were observed, but only negligible amounts of by‐products. Ab initio calculations for individual ion/molecule reaction pathways were performed.

RESULTS

Electron capture by molecular oxygen resulted in the formation of subsequent superoxide water clusters as well as distinct analyte‐adduct ions. By adjusting the extent of CID within the ion optical stages of the mass spectrometer, the cluster distribution changes to smaller cluster sizes and the analyte signals strongly shifted towards M– or [M–H]–. The observed superoxide water cluster distribution was close to thermal. The theoretical results confirmed the experimental findings.

CONCLUSIONS

In negative atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry the water concentration in the ion source (determining the ionization efficiency) and the CID energy provided through electrical fields (determining the ion distribution) are primary, critical parameters for the observed overall ionization mechanism and efficiency. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low‐energy electron interactions with tungsten hexacarbonyl – W(CO)6
Authors: Wnorowski K. , Stano M. , Matias C. , Denifl S. , Barszczewska W. , Matejčík Š.
Published: July 2012

RATIONALE

Low‐energy secondary electrons are formed when energetic particles interact with matter. High‐energy electrons or ions are used to form metallic structures from adsorbed organometallic molecules like W(CO)6 on surfaces. We investigated low‐energy electron attachment to W(CO)6 in the gas phase to elucidate possible reactions during surface modification.

METHODS

Two crossed electron/molecular beam setups were utilised: (i) a high‐resolution electron monochromator combined with a quadrupole mass spectrometer which was used for the measurement of relative cross sections as a function of the electron energy, and (ii) a double focusing mass spectrometer used for measurements of metastable decays of anions.

RESULTS

The study was performed in the electron energy range between ~0 and 14 eV. W(CO)6 efficiently decomposed upon attachment of a low‐energy electron and no stable W(CO)6– anion was observed on mass spectrometric time scales. The transient negative ion formed lost instead sequentially CO ligands. The fragment anions W(CO)5–, W(CO)4–, W(CO)3–, and W(CO)2– were observed. However, no W– was detectable.

CONCLUSIONS

Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to W(CO)6 led to strong dissociation but a complete loss of all CO ligands was not observed in DEA. Deposit contaminations might be a direct result of DEA reactions close to the irradiation spot in beam deposition techniques. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fatigue‐Free, Electrically Reliable Copper Electrode with Nanohole Array
Authors: Kim Byoung‐Joon , Cho Yigil , Jung Min‐Suk , Shin Hae‐A‐Seul , Moon Myoung‐Woon , Han Heung Nam , Nam Ki Tae , Joo Young‐Chang , Choi In‐Suk
Published: July 2012

Design and fabrication of reliable electrodes is one of the most important challenges in flexible devices, which undergo repeated deformation. In conventional approaches, mechanical and electrical properties of continuous metal films degrade gradually because of the fatigue damage. The designed incorporation of nanoholes into Cu electrodes can enhance the reliability. In this study, the electrode shows extremely low electrical resistance change during bending fatigue because the nanoholes suppress crack initiation by preventing protrusion formation and damage propagation by crack tip blunting. This concept provides a key guideline for developing fatigue‐free flexible electrodes.
The history and enduring contributions of planarians to the study of animal regeneration
Authors: Elliott Sarah A. , Sánchez Alvarado Alejandro
Published: July 2012

Having an almost unlimited capacity to regenerate tissues lost to age and injury, planarians have long fascinated naturalists. In the Western hemisphere alone, their documented history spans more than 200 years. Planarians were described in the early 19th century as being ‘immortal under the edge of the knife’, and initial investigation of these remarkable animals was significantly influenced by studies of regeneration in other organisms and from the flourishing field of experimental embryology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This review strives to place the study of planarian regeneration into a broader historical context by focusing on the significance and evolution of knowledge in this field. It also synthesizes our current molecular understanding of the mechanisms of planarian regeneration uncovered since this animal's relatively recent entrance into the molecular‐genetic age.WIREs Dev Biol2013, 2:301–326. doi: 10.1002/wdev.82

For further resources related to this article, please visit theWIREs website.

Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.
Marketable job skills for high school students: What we learned from an evaluation of After School Matters
Authors: Alexander Kendra P. , Hirsch Barton J.
Published: July 2012

This article summarizes findings from an experimental evaluation of After School Matters (ASM), a paid, apprenticeship‐based, after‐school program in Chicago for high school students. Analysis of quantitative data from a mock job interview revealed that ASM participants did not demonstrate more marketable job skills than youth in the control group. Qualitative data suggested that the nature of interpersonal interactions and the degree of professional orientation in apprenticeships contributed to variation in marketable job skills across apprenticeships. The article considers the perspective of human resource professionals who participated in the evaluation and describes an interviewing skills curriculum developed in response to the evaluation findings.
Development in youth enterprises
Authors: Hamilton Stephen F. , Hamilton Mary Agnes
Published: July 2012

Business enterprises run by youth can create jobs and teach the principles of free enterprise but also convey skills that can be used by employees in large companies, as well as political activists and entrepreneurs. Research is needed to test the efficacy of this approach and identify its key components.
Building business‐community partnerships to support youth development
Authors: Klein Donna
Published: July 2012

A confluence of social, economic, and demographic trends has left a generation of young Americans facing an uncertain future in the workforce. If we are to improve their prospects and prepare them for rewarding careers, disparate stakeholders—employers, educators, youth advocates, and others—must work in common purpose. This article suggests ways to build community partnerships, with a special focus on engaging private employers in the effort.
Prognostic factors of acute cholangitis in cases managed using the Tokyo Guidelines
Authors: Tsuyuguchi Toshio , Sugiyama Harutoshi , Sakai Yuji , Nishikawa Takao , Yokosuka Osamu , Mayumi Toshihiko , Kiriyama Seiki , Yokoe Masamichi , Takada Tadahiro
Published: July 2012

Background/purpose

In 2007, the Tokyo Guidelines (TG07) working group established diagnostic criteria for assessment of the severity of acute cholangitis. This study aimed to analyze outcomes and identify predictors of mortality in patients with acute cholangitis managed according to the TG07.

Methods

In this study, 215 consecutive cases of acute cholangitis were reviewed. Risk factors associated with mortality or refractory cholangitis, which is defined on the basis of prolonged hospitalization (>28 days) or disease resulting in fatality, were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

There were 52, 133, and 30 cases of mild, moderate, and severe cholangitis, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 4.2 % (9/215). Mortality rates in patients with mild, moderate, and severe cholangitis were 0, 2.3, and 20.0 %, respectively (moderate vs. severe,p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that serum albumin levels ≤2.8 g/dl and PT‐INR >1.5 were significant predictors of mortality. There were 57 patients (26.5 %) with refractory cholangitis. Multivariate analysis showed that serum albumin level ≤2.8 g/dl, PT‐INR >1.5, etiology and inpatient status were significant predictors of refractory cholangitis.

Conclusions

The TG07 severity assessment criteria for acute cholangitis were significantly predictive of mortality. Hypoalbuminemia is an important risk factor in addition to organ dysfunction.
Dynamics of the Lipid Content and Biomass of Calanus finmarchicus (copepodite V) in a Norwegian Fjord
Authors: Bergvik Maria , Leiknes Øystein , Altin Dag , Dahl Kjersti Rennan , Olsen Yngvar
Published: July 2012

Calanus finmarchicus is the dominant zooplankton species in the North Atlantic. This zooplankton is also of interest for commercial harvesting due to its high abundance and biochemical contents. In the present study, copepodite stage V of C. finmarchicus was sampled at different depths from January to June in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in the Trondheimsfjord (63°29′N 10°18′E). The fatty acid composition was analyzed in individual copepods and in the seston. It was found that the fatty acid profile of copepods was related to the fatty acid profile of potential food sources. This study indicates that the onset of vertical migration of stage V, which was observed in May, has a strong link to the production of phytoplankton and lipid accumulation in C. finmarchicus. The content of 14:0 and 16:0 fatty acids in the specimens did not increase from February to May in surface waters. This suggests that these fatty acids in the diet were used as precursors for the biosynthesis of 20:1n‐9 and 22:1n‐11 fatty acids and fatty alcohols. A potential harvesting season of C. finmarchicus could be when the species is abundant in surface waters; the content of n‐3 fatty acids will vary throughout this season. The peak abundance of C. finmarchicus in the spring varied substantially between the years studied.
Surgical treatment of hip dislocation in Kabuki syndrome: Use of incomplete periacetabular osteotomy for posterior acetabular wall deficiency
Authors: Wada Akifusa , Nakamura Tomoyuki , Yamaguchi Toru , Yanagida Haruhisa , Takamura Kazuyuki , Oketani Yutaka , Kubota Hideaki , Fujii Toshio
Published: July 2012

Purpose

Kabuki syndrome is characterized by distinctive facial features, skeletal anomalies, persisting fingertip pads with dermatoglyphic abnormalities, postnatal growth deficiency and mental retardation. This report reviews our results in the operative treatment of hip dislocations in patients with Kabuki syndrome.

Methods

Between 2001 and 2009, seven dislocated hips (three unilateral and two bilateral hips) in five patients (all girls) were operatively treated at our institution. The operative treatment consists of open reduction, femoral derotation varus osteotomy, pelvic osteotomy (Salter in one and incomplete periacetabular osteotomy in six hips) and capsular plication. The age of the patients at the time of surgery ranged from 2.4 to 5.7 years, with an average of 3.6 years.

Results

The follow-up postoperative period ranged from 3.2 to 6.3 years, with an average of 5.0 years. At the final follow-up, all patients reported no click and no pain, and showed well-contained hips by radiographs. All seven hips were graded as Severin class I-II. One patient presented as having habitual dislocation of the hip 4.4 years after surgery. Computed tomographic (CT) scans revealed posterior acetabular wall deficiency, which was not corrected by the anterolaterally directed Salter osteotomy. The incomplete periacetabular osteotomy provided sufficient posterolateral coverage of the acetabulum.

Conclusion

Operative treatment combining open reduction, femoral derotation varus and incomplete periacetabular osteotomies, and capsular plication provided successful results in patients with Kabuki syndrome who had the characteristics of hip instability such as ligamentous laxity, muscular hypotonia and posterior acetabular wall deficiency.
Measuring Cohabitation and Family Structure in the United States: Assessing the Impact of New Data From the Current Population Survey
Authors: Kennedy Sheela , Fitch Catherine A.
Published: July 2012

In 2007, the Current Population Survey (CPS) introduced a measure that identifies all cohabiting partners in a household, regardless of whether they describe themselves as “unmarried partners” in the relationship to householder question. The CPS now also links children to their biological, step-, and adoptive parents. Using these new variables, we analyze the prevalence of cohabitation as well as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of different-sex cohabiting couples during the years 2007–2009. Estimates of cohabitation produced using only unmarried partnerships miss 18 % of all cohabiting unions and 12 % of children residing with cohabiting parents. Although differences between unmarried partners and most newly identified cohabitors are small, newly identified cohabitors are older, on average, and are less likely to be raising shared biological or adopted children. These new measures also allow us to identify a small number of young, disadvantaged couples who primarily reside in households of other family members, most commonly with parents. We conclude with an examination of the complex living arrangements and poverty status of American children, demonstrating the broader value of these new measures for research on American family and household structure.
Replacement of charged and polar residues in the coiled‐coiled interface of huntingtin‐interacting protein 1 (HIP1) causes aggregation and cell death
Authors: Fontaine Sarah N. , Bauer Scott P. , Lin Xiaoyan , Poorfarahani Sara , Ybe Joel A.
Published: July 2012

HIP1
physically interacts with
23QHtt
by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (View interaction.)
The will to give: charitable bequests, inter vivos gifts and community building in the Dutch Republic, c. 1600–1800
Authors: VAN NEDERVEEN MEERKERK ELISE
Published: July 2012

This article explores the role of different social groups in early modern Dutch towns in organising and financing poor relief. Examining both the income structure of Dutch urban poor relief organisations and voluntary donations and bequests by citizens reveals what motivations lay behind their involvement, and how and why these changed over time. In the seventeenth century, ‘middle groups’ donated more often and higher mean amounts, reflecting their efforts to contribute to urban community building. In the eighteenth century, the elite became relatively more involved in charitable giving. Also, the urge to give to one's own religious group seems to have increased in this period.
Live Cell Super-Resolution Imaging with N-SIM
Authors: O'Connell Christopher B.
Published: July 2012

The ability to visualize the distributions of specific proteins with a light microscope and fluorescent probes is largely responsible for our current understanding of cellular structure. A major limitation of this approach arises from the blurring effects of diffraction, which decreases resolution and limits the ability to obtain information at the nanoscale. There has been a tremendous drive to develop optical and computational methods that improve the resolution of the light microscope, and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is one solution. This method uses patterned illumination to double both lateral and axial resolution. Nikon's N-SIM is a commercial system that integrates the most desirable features of light microscopy, specific labeling of molecules, and live cell imaging, with structured illumination. This provides the ability to achieve super resolution suitable for a range of biological applications.
Pioneers in Optics: William Rowan Hamilton and John Kerr
Authors: Davidson Michael W.
Published: July 2012

Considered a child prodigy, William Rowan Hamilton could read Hebrew, Latin, and Greek at the tender age of five and had undertaken the study of at least six other languages before his twelfth birthday. The native of Dublin, Ireland, lived with and was educated by an uncle who was an Anglican priest, because his father's legal career required him to spend much of his time in England. In his youth, Hamilton was introduced to Zerah Colburn, an American mathematical prodigy who exhibited his amazing calculating dexterity for entertainment. Competitive bouts of computations between the young men apparently inspired Hamilton to increase his knowledge of mathematics, and he embarked on a course of study that included the works of Euclid, Clairaut, Lloyd, Newton, Lagrange, and Laplace. By 1822, his mathematical abilities had advanced to such an extent that he discovered an important error in Laplace's treatise Celestial Mechanics, a feat that garnered him the attention of the Royal Astronomer of Ireland, John Brinkley, who he would shortly thereafter replace.
Two-Photon Microscopy for Deep Tissue Imaging of Living Specimens
Authors: Franke Tilman , Rhode Sebastian
Published: July 2012

Two-photon microscopy (2PM) provides three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) (x, y, z, t) imaging in living specimens or under experimental physiological conditions very close to live. In conjunction with fluorescent labels, 2PM provides a powerful means of investigating the relationships between structure and function at the microscopic level that are key to understanding biological systems. This technique is able to provide time-resolved, 3D images of dynamic systems with near-diffraction-limited resolution and highly specific structural contrast.