bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The design and function of birds' nests
Authors: Mainwaring Mark C. , Hartley Ian R. , Lambrechts Marcel M. , Deeming D. Charles
Published: September 2014

All birds construct nests in which to lay eggs and/or raise offspring. Traditionally, it was thought that natural selection and the requirement to minimize the risk of predation determined the design of completed nests. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that sexual selection also influences nest design. This is an important development as while species such as bowerbirds build structures that are extended phenotypic signals whose sole purpose is to attract a mate, nests contain eggs and/or offspring, thereby suggesting a direct trade‐off between the conflicting requirements of natural and sexual selection. Nest design also varies adaptively in order to both minimize the detrimental effects of parasites and to create a suitable microclimate for parents and developing offspring in relation to predictable variation in environmental conditions. Our understanding of the design and function of birds' nests has increased considerably in recent years, and the evidence suggests that nests have four nonmutually exclusive functions. Consequently, we conclude that the design of birds' nests is far more sophisticated than previously realized and that nests are multifunctional structures that have important fitness consequences for the builder/s.
Benefits and costs of ecological restoration: Rapid assessment of changing ecosystem service values at a U.K. wetland
Authors: Peh Kelvin S.‐H. , Balmford Andrew , Field Rob H. , Lamb Anthony , Birch Jennifer C. , Bradbury Richard B. , Brown Claire , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Lester Martin , Morrison Ross , Sedgwick Isabel , Soans Chris , Stattersfield Alison J. , Stroh Peter A. , Swetnam Ruth D. , Thomas David H. L. , Walpole Matt , Warrington Stuart , Hughes Francine M. R.
Published: September 2014

Restoration of degraded land is recognized by the international community as an important way of enhancing both biodiversity and ecosystem services, but more information is needed about its costs and benefits. In Cambridgeshire, U.K., a long‐term initiative to convert drained, intensively farmed arable land to a wetland habitat mosaic is driven by a desire both to prevent biodiversity loss from the nationally important Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve (Wicken Fen NNR) and to increase the provision of ecosystem services. We evaluated the changes in ecosystem service delivery resulting from this land conversion, using a new Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site‐based Assessment (TESSA) to estimate biophysical and monetary values of ecosystem services provided by the restored wetland mosaic compared with the former arable land. Overall results suggest that restoration is associated with a net gain to society as a whole of $199 ha−1y−1, for a one‐off investment in restoration of $2320 ha−1. Restoration has led to an estimated loss of arable production of $2040 ha−1y−1, but estimated gains of $671 ha−1y−1 in nature‐based recreation, $120 ha−1y−1 from grazing, $48 ha−1y−1 from flood protection, and a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worth an estimated $72 ha−1y−1. Management costs have also declined by an estimated $1325 ha−1y−1. Despite uncertainties associated with all measured values and the conservative assumptions used, we conclude that there was a substantial gain to society as a whole from this land‐use conversion. The beneficiaries also changed from local arable farmers under arable production to graziers, countryside users from towns and villages, and the global community, under restoration. We emphasize that the values reported here are not necessarily transferable to other sites.
Rapid evolutionary adaptation to elevated salt concentrations in pathogenic freshwater bacteria Serratia marcescens
Authors: Ketola Tarmo , Hiltunen Teppo
Published: September 2014

Rapid evolutionary adaptions to new and previously detrimental environmental conditions can increase the risk of invasion by novel pathogens. We tested this hypothesis with a 133‐day‐long evolutionary experiment studying the evolution of the pathogenic Serratia marcescens bacterium at salinity niche boundary and in fluctuating conditions. We found that S. marcescens evolved at harsh (80 g/L) and extreme (100 g/L) salt conditions had clearly improved salt tolerance than those evolved in the other three treatments (ancestral conditions, nonsaline conditions, and fluctuating salt conditions). Evolutionary theories suggest that fastest evolutionary changes could be observed in intermediate selection pressures. Therefore, we originally hypothesized that extreme conditions, such as our 100 g/L salinity treatment, could lead to slower adaptation due to low population sizes. However, no evolutionary differences were observed between populations evolved in harsh and extreme conditions. This suggests that in the study presented here, low population sizes did not prevent evolution in the long run. On the whole, the adaptive potential observed here could be important for the transition of pathogenic S. marcescens bacteria from human‐impacted freshwater environments, such as wastewater treatment plants, to marine habitats, where they are known to infect and kill corals (e.g., through white pox disease).
Adaptor regulation of LFA‐1 signaling in T lymphocyte migration: Potential druggable targets for immunotherapies?
Authors: Verma Navin K. , Kelleher Dermot
Published: September 2014

The integrin lymphocyte function associated antigen‐1 (LFA‐1) plays a key role in leukocyte trafficking and in adaptive immune responses through interactions with adhesive ligands, such as ICAM‐1. Specific blockade of these interactions has validated LFA‐1 as a therapeutic target in many chronic inflammatory diseases, however LFA‐1 antagonists have not been clinically successful due to the development of a general immunosuppression, causing fatal side effects. Growing evidence has now established that LFA‐1 mediates an array of intracellular signaling pathways by triggering a number of downstream molecules. In this context, a class of multimodular domain‐containing proteins capable of recruiting two or more effector molecules, collectively known as “adaptor proteins,” has emerged as important mediators in LFA‐1 signal transduction. Here, we provide an overview of the adaptor proteins involved in the intracellular signaling cascades by which LFA‐1 regulates T‐cell motility and immune responses. The complexity of the LFA‐1‐associated signaling delineated in this review suggests that it may be an important and challenging focus for future research, enabling the identification of “tunable” targets for the development of immunotherapies.
Human intestinal epithelial cells respond to β‐glucans via Dectin‐1 and Syk
Authors: Cohen‐Kedar Sarit , Baram Liran , Elad Hofit , Brazowski Eli , Guzner‐Gur Hanan , Dotan Iris
Published: September 2014

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are the first to encounter luminal antigens and may be involved in intestinal immune responses. Fungi are important components of the intestinal microflora. The potential role of fungi, and in particular their cell wall component β‐glucan, in modulating human intestinal epithelial responses is still unclear. Here we examined whether human IECs are capable of recognizing and responding to β‐glucans, and the potential mechanisms of their activation. We show that human IECs freshly isolated from surgical specimens, and the human IEC lines HT‐29 and SW480, express the β‐glucan receptor Dectin‐1. The β‐glucan‐consisting glycans curdlan and zymosan stimulated IL‐8 and CCL2 secretion by IEC lines. This was significantly inhibited by a Dectin‐1 blockade using its soluble antagonist laminarin. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a signaling mediator of Dectin‐1 activation, is expressed in human IECs. β‐glucans and Candida albicans induced Syk phosphorylation, and Syk inhibition significantly decreased β‐glucan‐induced chemokine secretion from IECs. Thus, IECs may respond to β‐glucans by the secretion of pro‐inflammatory chemokines in a Dectin‐1‐ and Syk‐dependent pathway, via receptors and a signaling pathway described to date only for myeloid cells. These findings highlight the importance of fungi–IEC interactions in intestinal inflammation.
Acid Treatment of Layered Double Hydroxides Containing Carbonate
Authors: Hibino Toshiyuki
Published: September 2014

Carbonate‐containing Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with two different crystallinities were treated with acidic solutions that contain Cl–. Upon treatment with an acetate buffer/NaCl aqueous solution, low‐crystallinity LDH consumed more protons for dissolution of the metal hydroxide layers than did high‐crystallinity LDH, and it showed a lower extent of exchange of interlayer anions for Cl– than high‐crystallinity LDH. Varying washing procedures also resulted in differences in the characteristics of the washed products, such as the presence of Al(OH)3 and the extent of exchange for Cl–. When chloride‐containing LDHs were dispersed in water, Mg hydroxide species in the LDHs were found to be dissolved to some extent even in water, and Cl– ions in the LDHs were replaced with OH– ions that were formed by the dissolution.
Metallic Few‐Layer Flowerlike VS2 Nanosheets as Field Emitters
Authors: Rout Chandra Sekhar , Khare Ruchita , Kashid Ranjit V. , Joag Dilip S. , More Mahendra A. , Lanzillo Nicholas A. , Washington Morris , Nayak Saroj K. , Late Dattatray J.
Published: September 2014

We report first‐principles DFT calculations of the single‐layer VS2 work function, the experimental synthesis of flower‐like few‐layer‐thick VS2 nanosheets by a simple one‐step hydrothermal method, and the investigation of their field emission properties. The turn‐on field required to draw emission current densities of 1 and 10 μA/cm2 were 4 and 5.01 V/μm, respectively. The observed turn‐on field values are attributed to the high field enhancement factor (ca. 2500), which is due to presence of sharp protrusions in the VS2 nanosheets. Furthermore, the field‐emission current stability of the VS2 emitter shows stable behavior over a period of 12 h. Further, DFT calculations show that the work function (f) of the single‐layer VS2 emitter is 6.01 eV.
Selective C–H Bond Activation of 1,2‐Dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane by the Donor‐Stabilized Silylene Bis[N,N′‐diisopropyl­benzamidinato(–)]silicon(II)
Authors: Junold Konstantin , Baus Johannes A. , Burschka Christian , Finze Maik , Tacke Reinhold
Published: September 2014

Reaction of donor‐stabilized silylene 1 (which is three‐coordinate in the solid state and four‐coordinate in solution) with 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane affords neutral six‐coordinate silicon(IV) complex 2 with a carboranyl ligand through selective Ccluster–H bond activation. Compound 2 undergoes selective Si–C bond cleavage with acetonitrile to form neutral six‐coordinate silicon(IV) complex 3 with a cyanomethyl ligand and 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by crystal structure analyses and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in the solid state and in solution. In addition, compound 2 was studied by DFT calculations.
A Glycal Approach to the Synthesis of Steviamine Analogues
Authors: Santhanam Venkatesan , Ramesh Namakkal G.
Published: September 2014

The synthesis of two new stereoisomers of steviamine, namely 1,8a‐di‐epi‐(+)‐steviamine and 2,3‐di‐epi‐(–)‐steviamine, is reported, starting from tri‐O‐benzyl‐D‐glucal. The key step in the synthesis was a modified Julia olefination of a 2‐formyl‐polyhydroxy‐pyrrolidine with a sulfone derived from ethyl acetoacetate. Glycosidase‐inhibition studies revealed that 2,3‐di‐epi‐(–)‐steviamine is a selective inhibitor of α‐galactosidase.
Synthesis of 2‐Alkylideneisochromans by Cyclocarbonylative Sonogashira Reactions
Authors: Aronica Laura Antonella , Giannotti Luca , Giuntini Stefano , Caporusso Anna Maria
Published: September 2014

In this study we used a tandem carbonylative Sonogashira reaction/cyclisation process to construct alkylidene‐functionalized isochromans in high yields with complete stereoselectivity (only Z isomers were formed). The reaction was performed in the absence of a CuI co‐catalyst with a small amount of PdCl2(PPh3)2 (0.2–0.5 mol‐%), and aryl iodides bearing both electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents were successfully employed.
First Microwave‐Assisted Catalytic Wittig Reaction
Authors: Werner Thomas , Hoffmann Marcel , Deshmukh Sunetra
Published: September 2014

We introduce a novel catalytic Wittig reaction based on an inexpensive and readily available phosphane oxide as a precatalyst. The performance of the reaction under microwave irradiation led to significantly improved yields and reaction rates relative to those obtained under conventional heating. Moreover, herein we enclose the first example of the asymmetric catalytic Wittig reaction based on a chiral phosphane as the catalyst.
Pelletizing of spinach and honewort plant parts, and analysis of their pellet inorganic components and combustion ash
Authors: Ikeura Hiromi , Sato Kanami
Published: September 2014

Recently, plant factory is becoming widespread and drumming up in Japan. Agricultural residues have generated from there, are disposed of as waste after harvesting. We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of honewort leaves, stems and roots, and spinach roots as a pellet material, and investigated combustion tests in order to pelletize honewort leaves, stems and roots and spinach roots. Moreover, inorganic component in their pellets and combustion ash of their pellets was analyzed. Honewort leaves, stems and roots, and spinach roots could be pelletized in 11% wet. Next, although honewort pellets could not be combusted continuously, spinach pellets could be combusted the same level as wood pellets. Inorganic contents in their pellets combustion ash were significantly higher than those in wood pellets. These results indicated that spinach pellets and its combustion ash can be utilized as an energy source and fertilizer. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 819–822, 2015
Improving Content Assessment for English Language Learners: Studies of the Linguistic Modification of Test Items
Authors: Young John W. , King Teresa C. , Hauck Maurice Cogan , Ginsburgh Mitchell , Kotloff Lauren , Cabrera Julio , Cavalie Carlos
Published: September 2014

This article describes two research studies conducted on the linguistic modification of test items from K–12 content assessments. In the first study, 120 linguistically modified test items in mathematics and science taken by fourth and sixth graders were found to have a wide range of outcomes for English language learners (ELLs) and non‐ELLs, with regard to performance on the original and modified versions of the same items. The original items were disclosed items from two states and were used in their standards‐based assessments. The modified versions of these items were developed by a team of Educational Testing Service (ETS) assessment developers and researchers. TheETSresearch team identified several kinds of modifications that appeared promising and applied the modifications systematically. Ideally, modifying items leads to improved performance byELLswhile having little to no impact on the performance of non‐ELLs. However, both groups of students performed better on some items, about the same on some other items, and worse on yet some other items. Cognitive interviews were conducted as a follow‐up study to investigate which features of the linguistically modified items produced the observed outcomes forELLsand non‐ELLs. The results from this study added little clarity with regards to which of the linguistic modifications were effective and how they improved the understanding and performance ofELLson these content items.
Impact of a paternal origin of germline BRCA1/2 mutations on the age at breast and ovarian cancer diagnosis in a Southern Swedish cohort
Authors: Ellberg Carolina , Jernström Helena , Broberg Per , Borg Åke , Olsson Håkan
Published: September 2014

Three studies have reported that BRCA1/2 mutations of paternal origin confer an earlier age at breast cancer diagnosis compared with maternal origin. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of parental origin of BRCA1/2 mutations on age at breast and ovarian cancer diagnosis. This study included 577 female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. All BRCA1/2 mutation carriers belonged to families registered between 1993 and 2011 at the Oncogenetic Clinic at Skånes University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Cox proportional hazard ratios were used to analyze time to breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis. A novel finding was that carriers of BRCA1 mutations of paternal origin were 4 years older at age of ovarian cancer (P = 0.009) compared with those carrying a BRCA1 mutation of maternal origin. BRCA1 carriers with mutations of paternal origin were 4 years younger at breast cancer diagnosis (P = 0.017) compared with those carrying a BRCA1 mutation of maternal origin, which is in agreement with three previous studies. Both findings were adjusted for of year of inclusion, birth date, and oral contraceptive pill use. No associations between parental origin of BRCA2 mutations and time to breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis were found. An attempt to handle a potential selection bias regarding use of oral contraceptives was made using multiple imputations by chained equations. The observed age difference may allow a greater understanding of mechanisms associated with the differences in cancer penetrance in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, some of which may depend on paternal origin. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intragenic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements: Translocations as a novel mechanism of ALK activation in neuroblastoma tumors
Authors: Fransson Susanne , Hansson Magnus , Ruuth Kristina , Djos Anna , Berbegall Ana , Javanmardi Niloufar , Abrahamsson Jonas , Palmer Ruth H. , Noguera Rosa , Hallberg Bengt , Kogner Per , Martinsson Tommy
Published: September 2014

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been demonstrated to be deregulated in sporadic as well as in familiar cases of neuroblastoma (NB). Whereas ALK‐fusion proteins are common in lymphoma and lung cancer, there are few reports of ALK rearrangements in NB indicating that ALK mainly exerts its oncogenic capacity via activating mutations and/or overexpression in this tumor type. In this study, 332 NB tumors and 13 cell lines were screened by high resolution single nucleotide polymorphism microarray. Gain of 2p was detected in 23% (60/332) of primary tumors and 46% (6/13) of cell lines, while breakpoints at the ALK locus were detected in four primary tumors and two cell lines. These were further analyzed by next generation sequencing and a targeted enrichment approach. Samples with both ALK and MYCN amplification displayed complex genomic rearrangements with multiple breakpoints within the amplicon. None of the translocations characterized in primary NB tumors are likely to result in a chimeric protein. However, immunohistochemical analysis reveals high levels of phosphorylated ALK in these samples despite lack of initial exons, possibly due to alternative transcription initiation sites. Both ALK proteins predicted to arise from such alterations and from the abnormal ALK exon 4–11 deletion observed in the CLB‐BAR cell line show strong activation of downstream targets STAT3 and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) when expressed in PC12 cells. Taken together, our data indicate a novel, although rare, mechanism of ALK activation with implications for NB tumorigenesis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Astrocyte‐neuron crosstalk regulates the expression and subcellular localization of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes
Authors: Mamczur Piotr , Borsuk Borys , Paszko Jadwiga , Sas Zuzanna , Mozrzymas Jerzy , Wiśniewski Jacek R. , Gizak Agnieszka , Rakus Dariusz
Published: September 2014

Astrocytes releasing glucose‐ and/or glycogen‐derived lactate and glutamine play a crucial role in shaping neuronal function and plasticity. Little is known, however, how metabolic functions of astrocytes, e.g., their ability to degrade glucosyl units, are affected by the presence of neurons. To address this issue we carried out experiments which demonstrated that co‐culturing of rat hippocampal astrocytes with neurons significantly elevates the level of mRNA and protein for crucial enzymes of glycolysis (phosphofructokinase, aldolase, and pyruvate kinase), glycogen metabolism (glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase), and glutamine synthetase in astrocytes. Simultaneously, the decrease of the capability of neurons to metabolize glucose and glutamine is observed. We provide evidence that neurons alter the expression of astrocytic enzymes by secretion of as yet unknown molecule(s) into the extracellular fluid. Moreover, our data demonstrate that almost all studied enzymes may localize in astrocytic nuclei and this localization is affected by the co‐culturing with neurons which also reduces proliferative activity of astrocytes. Our results provide the first experimental evidence that the astrocyte‐neuron crosstalk substantially affects the expression of basal metabolic enzymes in the both types of cells and influences their subcellular localization in astrocytes. GLIA 2015;63:328–340
Axl activates autocrine transforming growth factor‐β signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Reichl Patrick , Dengler Mirko , van Zijl Franziska , Huber Heidemarie , Führlinger Gerhard , Reichel Christian , Sieghart Wolfgang , Peck‐Radosavljevic Markus , Grubinger Markus , Mikulits Wolfgang
Published: September 2014

In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic metastasis frequently correlates with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of malignant hepatocytes. Several mechanisms have been identified to be essentially involved in hepatocellular EMT, among them transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β signaling. Here we show the up‐regulation and activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl in EMT‐transformed hepatoma cells. Knockdown of Axl expression resulted in abrogation of invasive and transendothelial migratory abilities of mesenchymal HCC cells in vitro and Axl overexpression‐induced metastatic colonization of epithelial hepatoma cells in vivo. Importantly, Axl knockdown severely impaired resistance to TGF‐β‐mediated growth inhibition. Analysis of the Axl interactome revealed binding of Axl to 14‐3‐3ζ, which is essentially required for Axl‐mediated cell invasion, transendothelial migration, and resistance against TGF‐β. Axl/14‐3‐3ζ signaling caused phosphorylation of Smad3 linker region (Smad3L) at Ser213, resulting in the up‐regulation of tumor‐progressive TGF‐β target genes such as PAI1, MMP9, and Snail as well as augmented TGF‐β1 secretion in mesenchymal HCC cells. Accordingly, high Axl expression in HCC patient samples correlated with elevated vessel invasion of HCC cells, higher risk of tumor recurrence after liver transplantation, strong phosphorylation of Smad3L, and lower survival. In addition, elevated expression of both Axl and 14‐3‐3ζ showed strongly reduced survival of HCC patients. Conclusion: Our data suggest that Axl/14‐3‐3ζ signaling is central for TGF‐β‐mediated HCC progression and a promising target for HCC therapy. (Hepatology 2015;61:930–941)
β2integrins (CD11/18) are essential for the chemosensory adhesion and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on bacterial cellulose
Authors: Kim Gun‐Dong , Lee Seung Eun , Yang Hana , Park Hye Rim , Son Gun Woo , Park Cheung‐Seog , Park Yong Seek
Published: September 2014

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been studied widely for applications in biomedical materials such as prosthetic artificial blood vessels owing to its unique characteristics, which include nontoxicity and nonimmunogenicity as compared with synthetic biopolymers such as expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE). However, to date, studies on the relative effect of leukocytes on BC as a prosthetic vascular graft are insufficient. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) play a pivotal role in early‐phase immune response to bacterial or periprosthetic infection. PMN recruitment at sites of infection or inflammation mediated by various integrins such as β2integrin family (CD11/CD18 family). Therefore, we discuss our investigations into the mechanisms by which β2integrins‐mediated chemosensory adhesion and migration of PMN on the vascular graft surface, BC. Our results show that CD11b/CD18 components mainly mediate PMN adherence on BC. CD11b/CD18 displays weak coordination with the other two α subunits (CD11a and CD11c). Furthermore, it was found that the β subunit (CD18) plays a critical role in both the adhesion and migration ofN‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐stimulated PMN on BC. The activity of CD18 contrasts with that of the individual α subunits. Among these, only CD11b displayed inhibition of PMN migration on BC surfaces. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1809–1817, 2015.
Impact of Mn on the solution enthalpy of hydrogen in austenitic Fe‐Mn alloys: A first‐principles study
Authors: von Appen Jörg , Dronskowski Richard , Chakrabarty Aurab , Hickel Tilmann , Spatschek Robert , Neugebauer Jörg
Published: September 2014

Hydrogen interstitials in austenitic Fe‐Mn alloys were studied using density‐functional theory to gain insights into the mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement in high‐strength Mn steels. The investigations reveal that H atoms at octahedral interstitial sites prefer a local environment containing Mn atoms rather than Fe atoms. This phenomenon is closely examined combining total energy calculations and crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis. Contributions from various electronic phenomena such as elastic, chemical, and magnetic effects are characterized. The primary reason for the environmental preference is a volumetric effect, which causes a linear dependence on the number of nearest‐neighbour Mn atoms. A secondary electronic/magnetic effect explains the deviations from this linearity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alpha‐Synuclein as a Pathological Link Between Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury and Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Acosta Sandra A. , Tajiri Naoki , de la Pena Ike , Bastawrous Marina , Sanberg Paul R. , Kaneko Yuji , Borlongan Cesar V.
Published: September 2014

The long‐term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are closely associated with the development of histopathological deficits. Notably, TBI may predispose long‐term survivors to age‐related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), which is characterized by a gradual degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. However, preclinical studies on the pathophysiological changes in substantia nigra (SN) after chronic TBI are lacking. In the present in vivo study, we examined the pathological link between PD‐associated dopaminergic neuronal loss and chronic TBI. Sixty days post‐TBI, rats were euthanized and brain tissues harvested. Immunostaining was performed using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), an enzyme required for the synthesis of dopamine in neurons, α‐synuclein, a presynaptic protein that plays a role in synaptic vesicle recycling, and major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII), a protein found in antigen presenting cells such as inflammatory microglia cells, all key players in PD pathology. Unbiased stereology analyses revealed significant decrease of TH‐positive expression in the surviving dopaminergic neurons of the SN pars compacta (SNpc) relative to sham control. In parallel, increased α‐synuclein accumulation was detected in the ipsilateral SN compared to the contralateral SN in TBI animals or sham control. In addition, exacerbation of MHCII+ cells was recognized in the SN and cerebral peduncle ipsilateral to injury relative to contralateral side and sham control. These results suggest α‐synuclein as a pathological link between chronic effects of TBI and PD symptoms as evidenced by significant overexpression and abnormal accumulation of α‐synuclein in inflammation‐infiltrated SN of rats exposed to chronic TBI. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1024–1032, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
LIGHT Is a Crucial Mediator of Airway Remodeling
Authors: Hung Jen‐Yu , Chiang Shyh‐Ren , Tsai Ming‐Ju , Tsai Ying‐Ming , Chong Inn‐Wen , Shieh Jiunn‐Min , Hsu Ya‐Ling
Published: September 2014

Chronic inflammatory airway diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are major health problems globally. Airway epithelial cells play important role in airway remodeling, which is a critical process in the pathogenesis of diseases. This study aimed to demonstrate that LIGHT, an inflammatory factor secreted by T cells after allergen exposure, is responsible for promoting airway remodeling. LIGHT increased primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) undergoing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and expressing MMP‐9. The induction of EMT was associated with increased NF‐κB activation and p300/NF‐κB association. The interaction of NF‐κB with p300 facilitated NF‐κB acetylation, which in turn, was bound to the promoter of ZEB1, resulting in E‐cadherin downregulation. LIGHT also stimulated HBECs to produce numerous cytokines/chemokines that could worsen airway inflammation. Furthermore, LIGHT enhanced HBECs to secrete activin A, which increased bronchial smooth muscle cell (BSMC) migration. In contrast, depletion of activin A decreased such migration. The findings suggest a new molecular determinant of LIGHT‐mediated pathogenic changes in HBECs and that the LIGHT‐related vicious cycle involving HBECs and BSMCs may be a potential target for the treatment of chronic inflammation airway diseases with airway remodeling. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1042–1053, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company
Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of Azomethine Ylides Generated by endocyclic‐exocyclic 1,3‐dipole Rearrangement
Authors: Margetić Davor , Warrener Ronald N. , Butler Douglas N. , Holland Craig M.
Published: September 2014

Dipolar cycloaddition of polycyclic azomethine ylides, in which the central nitrogen atom is part of a pyrrolidine ring and bears a methoxycarbonyl group with norbornenes has been shown to produce two main types of products featuring pyrrolizidine rings. In conjuction with results of quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP), mechanistic rationale was postulated. The key reaction step is unprecedented endocyclic to exocyclic azomethine ylide rearrangement by an intermolecular prototropic migration (formal [1,3] H‐shift).
Phenylarsine oxide as a redox modulator of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channel function
Authors: Carlin Kevin P. , Wu Gang , Patel Aniket , Crumley Gregg , Ilyin Victor I.
Published: September 2014

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channels are capable of detecting and integrating noxious stimuli and play an important role in nociceptor activation and sensitization. It has been demonstrated that oxidizing agents are capable of positively modulating (sensitizing) the TRPV1 channel. The present study investigates the ability of the thiol‐oxidizing agent phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to modulate TRPV1 currents under voltage‐clamp conditions. We assessed the ability of PAO to modulate both proton‐ and capsaicin‐activated currents mediated by recombinant human TRPV1 channels as well as native rat and human TRPV1 channels in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Experiments with other oxidizing and reducing agents having various membrane‐permeating properties supported the intracellular oxidizing mechanism of PAO modulation. The PAO modulation of proton‐activated currents was consistent across the cell types studied, with an increase in current across the proton concentrations studied. PAO modulation of the capsaicin‐activated current in hTRPV1/Chinese hamster ovary cells consisted of potentiation of the current elicited with low capsaicin concentrations and inhibition of the current at higher concentrations. This same effect was seen with these recombinant cells in calcium imaging experiments and with native TRPV1 channels in rat DRG neurons. Contrary to this, currents in human DRG neurons were potentiated at all capsaicin concentrations tested after PAO treatment. These results could indicate important differences in the reduction–oxidation modulation of human TRPV1 channels in a native cellular environment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A most‐recognized principle to define El Niño and La Niña years based on the K‐line diagram technique
Authors: Tan Jiqing
Published: September 2014

Despite the many improvements that have been achieved in prediction methods, considerable uncertainties in the models and the observing systems remain in El Niño Southern Oscillation predictions. One of the uncertainties is the definition of El Niño and La Niña years. Because academia has accepted too many indexes, there is much confusion among scientists regarding whether El Niño and La Niña events have occurred. In the view of this author, the oceans on this planet can be vividly called ‘ocean stabilization machines’ (OSMs). When some part of an OSM loses control for unknown reasons, other parts of the OSM function stabilize the atmospheric circulation. As a result, El Niño or La Niña events occur. In this study, we use a most‐recognized principle to determine El Niño (La Niña) years based on a K‐line diagram technique. This technique not only focuses on the anomaly of five accepted indexes, but also aims at the signals of an on‐going crash downward or a dramatic upward tendency of the sea‐surface temperature. To achieve this purpose, a new terminology, ‘suspected El Niño (La Niña) years’ and an Ocean Stabilization Index (OSI) expressing the state of the Pacific are proposed. The results indicate that there were only 10 El Niño years and 12 La Niña years from 1950 to 2012. Significant statistical relationships between the annual OSI and 14 indexes are also found.
Improving chemometric results by optimizing the dimension reduction for Raman spectral data sets
Authors: Schumacher Wilm , Stöckel Stephan , Rösch Petra , Popp Jürgen
Published: September 2014

In this contribution a new method for improving the accuracy of classification and identification experiments is presented. For this purpose the four most applied dimension reduction methods (principal component analysis, independent component analysis, partial least square dimension reduction and the linear discriminant analysis) are used as starting point for the optimization method. The optimization is done by a specially designed genetic algorithm, which is best suited for this kind of experiments. The presented multi‐level chemometric approach has been tested for a Raman dataset containing over 2200 Raman spectra of eight classes of bacteria species (Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus weihenstephanensis and Paenibacillus polymyxa). The optimization of the dimension reduction improved the accuracy for classification by 6% compared with the accuracy, if the standard dimension reduction is applied. The identification rate is improved by 14% compared with the dimension reduction. The testing in a classification and identification experiment showed the robustness of the algorithm. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shame and Guilt in the Aftermath of Terror: The Utøya Island Study
Authors: Aakvaag Helene Flood , Thoresen Siri , Wentzel‐Larsen Tore , Røysamb Espen , Dyb Grete
Published: September 2014

In recent years, there has been increased interest in trauma‐related shame and guilt and their relationship to mental health. Little is known, however, about shame and guilt following mass traumas, such as terrorism. This study investigates the potential associations of trauma‐related shame and guilt with posttraumatic stress (PTS) reactions after the terrorist attack of July 22, 2011 on Utøya Island in Norway. Interviews were conducted with 325 of the 490 survivors 4 to 5 months after the event. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to investigate associations. In the month previous to the interview, 44.1% (n = 143) of participants had experienced at least some guilt for what happened during the attack, and 30.5% (n = 99) had experienced at least some shame. Shame and guilt were both uniquely associated with PTS reactions after adjusting for terror exposure, gender, and other potential confounders (frequent shame: B = 0.54, frequent guilt: B = 0.33). We concluded that trauma‐related shame and guilt are related to mental health after mass trauma.
Ungated radial quiescent‐inflow single‐shot (UnQISS) magnetic resonance angiography using optimized azimuthal equidistant projections
Authors: Edelman Robert R. , Giri Shivraman , Murphy Ian G. , Flanagan Oisin , Speier Peter , Koktzoglou Ioannis
Published: September 2014

Purpose

We hypothesized that non–contrast‐enhanced MR angiography (NEMRA) could be performed without cardiac gating by using a variant of the quiescent‐inflow single‐shot (QISS) technique.

Methods

Ungated QISS (UnQISS) MRA was evaluated in eight patients with peripheral arterial disease at 1.5T. The radial acquisition used optimized azimuthal equidistant projections, a long quiescent inflow time (1200 ms) to ensure replenishment of saturated in‐plane spins irrespective of the cardiac phase, and a lengthy readout (1200 ms) so that a complete cardiac cycle was sampled for each slice. Venous and background tissue suppression was obtained using frequency‐offset–corrected inversion radiofrequency pulses.

Results

Scan time for UnQISS was 15.4 min for an eight‐station whole‐leg acquisition. The appearance of UnQISS MRA acquired using the body coil was comparable to electrocardiographic‐gated QISS MRA using phased array coils. A small radial view angle increment minimized eddy current–related artifacts, whereas image quality was inferior with a golden view angle radial increment or Cartesian trajectory. In patient studies, ≥50% stenoses were consistently detected.

Conclusion

Using UnQISS, peripheral NEMRA can be performed without the need for cardiac gating. The use of fixed imaging parameters and body coil for signal reception further simplifies the scan procedure. Magn Reson Med 72:1522–1529, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An interactive method of interface boundary elements and partitioned finite elements for local continuous/discontinuous deformation problems
Authors: Li Tongchun , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhao Lanhao
Published: September 2014

The interactive method of interface boundary elements (IBEs) and partitioned finite elements (PFEs) is proposed for solving such problems as local continuous/discontinuous deformation (i.e., landslide, concrete cracking, rock mass joints, and internal contraction joints) in concrete dams. The system is divided into continuous displacement bodies and continuous stress joints. The continuous displacement bodies are solved using PFE with the nodal displacements treated as variables, and the rigid displacements in each body and the constraining internal forces on the boundary interface are solved using IBE based on the continuous stress condition and the static force equilibrium condition in each body. Each IBE consists of all interface boundary nodes in a body, and the flexibility matrix is formed using PFE or theoretical analysis. Using this method, a nonlinear iteration procedure is carried out only on the possible discontinuous interface, an approach that greatly improves the computational efficiency. Three numerical examples are used to verify the correctness and validity of the proposed method. © 2014 The Authors. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The role of Epstein–Barr virus in epithelial malignancies
Authors: Tsao Sai‐Wah , Tsang Chi Man , To Ka‐Fai , Lo Kwok‐Wai
Published: September 2014

The close association of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection with non‐keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinomas and a subset of gastric carcinomas suggests that EBV infection is a crucial event in these cancers. The difficulties encountered in infecting and transforming primary epithelial cells in experimental systems suggest that the role of EBV in epithelial malignancies is complex and multifactorial in nature. Genetic alterations in the premalignant epithelium may support the establishment of latent EBV infection, which is believed to be an initiation event. Oncogenic properties have been reported in multiple EBV latent genes. The BamH1 A rightwards transcripts (BARTs) and the BART‐encoded microRNAs (miR‐BARTs) are highly expressed in EBV‐associated epithelial malignancies and may induce malignant transformation. However, enhanced proliferation may not be the crucial function of EBV infection in epithelial malignancies, at least in the early stages of cancer development. EBV‐encoded gene products may confer anti‐apoptotic properties and promote the survival of infected premalignant epithelial cells harbouring genetic alterations. Multiple EBV‐encoded microRNAs have been reported to have immune evasion functions. Genetic alterations in host cells, as well as inflammatory stroma, could modulate the expression of EBV genes and alter the growth properties of infected premalignant epithelial cells, encouraging their selection during carcinogenesis. © 2014 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Local and global inverse modelling strategies to estimate parameters for pesticide leaching from lysimeter studies
Authors: Kahl Gunnar M , Sidorenko Yury , Gottesbüren Bernhard
Published: September 2014

BACKGROUND

As an option for higher‐tier leaching assessment of pesticides in Europe according to FOCUS, pesticide properties can be estimated from lysimeter studies by inversely fitting parameter values (substance half‐life DT50 and sorption coefficient to organic matter kom). The aim of the study was to identify adequate methods for inverse modelling.

RESULTS

Model parameters for the PEARL (Pesticide Emission Assessment at Regional and Local scales) model were estimated with different inverse optimisation algorithms – the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM), PD_MS2 (PEST Driver Multiple Starting Points 2) and SCEM (Shuffled Complex Evolution Metropolis) algorithms. Optimisation of crop factors and hydraulic properties was found to be an ill‐posed problem, and all algorithms failed to identify reliable global minima for the hydrological parameters. All algorithms performed equally well in estimating pesticide sorption and degradation parameters. SCEM was in most cases the only algorithm that reliably calculated uncertainties.

CONCLUSION

The most reliable approach for finding the best parameter set in the stepwise approach of optimising evapotranspiration, soil hydrology and pesticide parameters was to run only SCEM or a combined approach with more than one algorithm using the best fit of each step for further processing. PD_MS2 was well suited to a quick parameter search. The linear parameter uncertainty intervals estimated by LM and PD_MS2 were usually larger than by the non‐linear method used by SCEM. With the suggested methods, parameter optimisation, together with reliable estimation of uncertainties, is possible also for relatively complex systems. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Stability of non‐parallel and parallel basic flows in the semi‐geostrophic model in isentropic coordinates
Authors: Ren Shuzhan
Published: September 2014

The energy‐Casimir method is employed to examine the stability of both non‐parallel and parallel basic flows in the semi‐geostrophic (SG) model in isentropic coordinates (ICs) based on the wave‐activity invariants. It is found that the stability criteria for non‐parallel basic flow under small‐amplitude disturbances are more complicated than those for parallel basic flow, and the spatial structure of basic flow at a horizontal boundary has a great impact on the stability of both parallel and non‐parallel basic flow. Results obtained in this work extend the stability results of Eliassen which are valid for parallel basic flow with non‐normal geostrophic flow as lateral boundary conditions. It is shown that, although there is a strong similarity between the SG model in ICs and the shallow‐water SG (SWSG) model, the finite‐amplitude stability theorems for the latter model cannot be extended to the SG model in ICs and the reasons for the failure are discussed.
PEARP, the Météo‐France short‐range ensemble prediction system
Authors: Descamps L. , Labadie C. , Joly A. , Bazile E. , Arbogast P. , Cébron P.
Published: September 2014

Météo‐France has implemented a short‐range ensemble prediction system known as Prévision d'Ensemble ARPEGE (PEARP). This system is a global ensemble performing forecasts up to 4.5 days. It uses the operational global numerical weather prediction model Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle (ARPEGE) and benefits from variable horizontal resolution, so that it is comparable to some limited‐area mesoscale systems over France. Perturbations to the initial conditions are computed by combining an ensemble data assimilation system with singular vectors. Model uncertainties are represented through a ‘multiphysics’ approach with ten different physical parametrization sets. The article describes the set‐up of the system and provides an assessment of the approaches used to represent initial conditions and model uncertainties. The positive impact of the variable horizontal resolution of PEARP is also illustrated. As a global ensemble forecast system (EFS), PEARP is also used to forecast cyclone tracks. It is shown that it has correctly predicted the landfall of hurricane Sandy. The performance of PEARP as run operationally with these features in 2014 is assessed objectively and compared with that of four operational global EFSs using classical probabilistic scores. This comparison is based on The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment (THORPEX) Interactive Grand Global Ensemble (TIGGE) data. This is one of the first evaluations of EFSs for short‐range forecasts. The reliability and global skill of the five EFSs are evaluated over a three‐month period with scores computed against observations. PEARP shows skill comparable to or better than the other EFSs.
Stabilization of linear discrete‐time networked control systems via protocol and controller co‐design
Authors: Zhang Wen‐An , Yu Li , Feng Gang
Published: September 2014

This paper investigates the stabilization problem for networked control systems (NCSs) with communication constraint and packet loss. The communication constraint considered is that only one network node is allowed to access a shared communication channel during one time‐slot, and a feedback control is performed with only partially available measurements and control inputs. By taking random packet loss into consideration, a stochastic switched system model is presented to describe the NCS. A sufficient condition is derived for the NCS to be mean‐square exponentially stable, and it is shown that the system performance specified by the exponential decay rate critically depends on the network accessing rates (NARs) of the network nodes and the packet loss probability. The state feedback controller and scheduling protocol, which allocates the NARs, are co‐designed such that the NCS achieves a minimal decay rate. Finally, an illustrative example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed design approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long cycles in random subgraphs of graphs with large minimum degree
Authors: Riordan Oliver
Published: September 2014

Let G be any graph of minimum degree at least k, and let Gp be the random subgraph of G obtained by keeping each edge independently with probability p. Recently, Krivelevich, Lee and Sudakov showed that if pk → ∞ then with probability tending to 1 Gp contains a cycle of length at least (1 – o(1))k. We give a much shorter proof of this result, also based on depth‐first search. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 45, 764–767, 2014
Research and Relationships
Authors: Swanson Karen Weller
Published: September 2014

This chapter provides the structure of a Community of Learners using a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning framework.