bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entwicklungen des Hamburger Hafens heute und morgen anhand von ausgewählten Beispielen
Authors: Schüller Jan , Pröpping Karlheinz
Published: March 2012

Der Hamburger Hafen bietet, im europäischen Maßstab gesehen, die besten Voraussetzungen für den seewärtigen Handel mit den Wachstumsregionen in Ost und Fernost. Die Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) hat die schwere Weltwirtschaftskrise als Chance genutzt, die projektierten Entwicklungsvorhaben zur Anpassung von Umschlags‐ und Verkehrsinfrastruktur rechtzeitig zu realisieren, dass die Kunden des Hamburger Hafens im kommenden Aufschwung unter optimalen Bedingungen durchstarten können.

Aufgrund seiner wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung und zur Sicherung dieser stehen auf der Agenda der HPA diverse Maßnahmen, die in Summe gesehen den prognostizierten Aufschwung bewältigen sollen. Neben einer Vielzahl von Maßnahmen, welche sich dahinter verbergen, seien hier stellvertretend nur einige herausragende ingenieurtechnische Projekte genannt. Diese sollen einen kleinen Einblick in die Entwicklung des Hamburger Hafens heute und morgen geben.

Selected examples of current and future developments of the port of Hamburg

From a European perspective, the port of Hamburg offers the best conditions for sea trade with the growth regions in the East and Far East. The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has taken the serious worldwide economic crisis as an opportunity to implement its planned developments for the adaptation of handling and transport infrastructure facilities in good time, so that customers of the port of Hamburg can benefit from ideal conditions in the future upturn.

Owing to its important commercial position, and in order to secure this position, the HPA is pursuing a number of measures which are intended to cope with the projected upturn. The overall plan includes a multitude of individual measures; here we want to elaborate on just a few outstanding engineering projects. The idea is to offer a small insight into current and future developments of the port of Hamburg.
Erneuerung der Umschlagufer im Rheinhafen Bendorf
Authors: Dormann Michael , Herbort Johannes
Published: March 2012

Im Rahmen der Erneuerung der Umschlagufer wird der Rheinhafen Bendorf zu einem modernen und leistungsfähigen Binnenhafen ausgebaut. Auf einer Länge von 430 m werden die über 80 bis 110 Jahre alten, teilweise geböschten Uferwände durch neue Stahlspundwände ersetzt, des Weiteren wird die Hafensohle vertieft. Zur Lagerung hochwertiger Güter wird eine neue ca. 12.000 m2 große hochwassersichere Betriebsfläche geschaffen. Gefahrgutliegeplätze zum Umschlag von Mineralölprodukten werden um zusätzliche Dalben erweitert.

Renewal of the bank reinforcement of the Rhine‐Port Bendorf

In the course of the renewal of its bank reinforcement, the Rhine port of Bendorf will be developed to a modern and efficient inland port. New sheet piling walls will be built for a length of 430 m, and the water depth in the harbour will be increased. A new storage area of 12,000 m2 will then be protected even at the highest water levels. The situation for tankers will be improved by the erection of new steel piles
Die Hafentechnische Gesellschaft e.V. (HTG)
Authors: Stielau Meike , Schüller Jan , Kaschel Guido
Published: March 2012

Die HTG wurde vor fast 100 Jahren unter dem Namen “Hafenbautechnische Gesellschaft e.V.” als technische Vereinigung von Fachleuten des Hafen‐ und Wasserbaus gegründet. Sinn und Zweck der Gesellschaft war und ist es, Fachwissen weiterzugeben, die bisherigen technischen Kenntnisse fortzuentwickeln sowie den interdisziplinären Austausch zwischen den verschiedenen Fachgebieten zu pflegen. Die HTG stellt damit auf nationaler Ebene viele Felder dar, die die PIANC international vertritt. Heute befasst sich die HTG auf gemeinnütziger Basis mit allen wissenschaftlichen und praktischen Fragen technischer und wirtschaftlicher Natur aus den Bereichen Hafen, Schifffahrt und Logistik sowie deren Anforderung an die Verkehrsträger und den Küstenschutz.

German Port Technology Association

The HTG was formed almost 100 years ago as a technical association of experts in port and hydraulic engineering, initially under the name “Hafenbautechnische Gesellschaft e.V.” The purpose of the association was, and still is, to disseminate expert knowledge, to develop existing technical expertise and to promote interdisciplinary exchange. The HTG is involved in many fields at a national level which, internationally, are represented by the PIANC. Today, the HTG works on a non‐profit basis and deals with all scientific and practical issues of a technical and commercial nature relating to ports, shipping and logistics as well as their respective requirements regarding transport links and coastal protection. The article provides an overview.
Analysis of the sensory innervations of the greater trochanter for improving the treatment of greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Authors: Genth Birthe , Von Düring Monika , Von Engelhardt Lars Victor , Ludwig Jörn , Teske Wolfram , Von Schulze‐Pellengahr Christoph
Published: February 2012

In medical practice, greater trochanteric pain syndrome has an incidence of 5.6 per 1,000 adults per year, and affects up to 25% of patients with knee osteoarthritis and low back pain in industrialized nations. It also occurs as a complication after total hip arthroplasty. Different etiologies of the pain syndrome have been discussed, but an exact cause remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the sensory innervations of the greater trochanter in attempt to improve the treatment of this syndrome. Therefore, we dissected the gluteal region of seven adult and one fetal formalin fixed cadavers, and both macroscopic and microscopic examination was performed. We found a small sensory nerve supply to the periosteum and bursae of the greater trochanter. This nerve is a branch of the n. femoralis and accompanies the arteria and vena circumflexa femoris medialis and their trochanteric branches to the greater trochanter. This nerve enters the periosteum of the greater trochanter directly caudal to the tendon of the inferior gemellus muscle. This new anatomical information may be helpful in improving therapy, such as interventional denervation of the greater trochanter or anatomically guided injections with corticosteroids and local anesthetics. Clin. Anat. 25:1080–1086, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
miRNAs expressed differently in cancer stem cells and cancer cells of human gastric cancer cell line MKN‐45
Authors: Golestaneh Azadeh Fahim , Atashi Amir , Langroudi Lida , Shafiee Abbas , Ghaemi Nasser , Soleimani Masoud
Published: February 2012

Recent studies show that cancers may originate from special cells named cancer stem cells (CSCs). As miRNAs have a prominent role in regulating cell activities, a question arise, that is, if there is any difference in miRNA expression level between CSC and other cancer cells of human gastric cancer cell line MKN‐45. In this study, CSCs were isolated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter based on the expression level of cell surface marker CD44. CSC characteristics were checked using spheroid formation assay and soft agar assay. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), the expression level of some stemness genes was studied. Real‐time q‐PCR was used for analysis of the expression level of miRNAs. CSCs were able to make spheroids and colonies, whereas other cancer cells failed to show aforementioned features. In addition, RT‐PCR resulted in a difference in the expression levels of Nanog, Sox2, Lin28 and Oct‐4 between these two kinds of cells. Real‐time RT‐PCR analysis demonstrated an increase in mir‐21 and mir‐302 expression level in CSCs, relative to cancer cells, whereas let‐7a expression level was decreased in CSC in comparison with cancer cells, which may be due to their different differentiation level. On the other hand, mir‐372, mir‐373 and mir‐520c‐5p were markedly increased in cancer cells in comparison with CSCs. This study shows that there is a difference in miRNA expression level between CSCs and other cancer cells, which reflects dissimilar molecular pathways in these cells. These miRNAs may be promising objects for targeting CSCs specifically and efficiently. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gold‐ and Silver‐Catalyzed Reactions of Propargylic Alcohols in the Presence of Protic Additives
Authors: Pennell Matthew N. , Turner Peter G. , Sheppard Tom D.
Published: February 2012

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols undergo a Meyer–Schuster rearrangement to give enones at room temperature in the presence of a gold(I) catalyst and small quantities of MeOH or 4‐methoxyphenylboronic acid. The syntheses of the enone natural products isoegomaketone and daphenone were achieved using this reaction as the key step. The rearrangement of primary propargylic alcohols can readily be combined in a one‐pot procedure with the addition of a nucleophile to the resulting terminal enone, to give β‐aryl, β‐alkoxy, β‐amino or β‐sulfido ketones. Propargylic alcohols bearing an adjacent electron‐rich aryl group can also undergo silver‐catalyzed substitution of the alcohol with oxygen, nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. This latter reaction was initially observed with a batch of gold catalyst that was probably contaminated with small quantities of silver salt.
Directed Remote Aromatic Metalations: Mechanisms and Driving Forces
Authors: Tilly David , Magolan Jakob , Mortier Jacques
Published: February 2012

Directed remote aromatic metalations are useful synthetic transformations allowing for rapid regioselective access to elaborate highly substituted carbocyclic aromatic and heteroaromatic systems. This review unravels the tangle of data reported on directed remote aromatic metalations. Through a careful analysis of critically selected examples, advanced rationalizations of remote metalation regioselectivities are presented. These extend beyond the complex‐induced proximity effect (CIPE). Mechanisms, driving forces, and parameters influencing remote metalations are discussed. An understanding of these metalation mechanisms enables more accurate predictability of justification of regiochemical outcomes of these useful synthetic transformations.
Combining MFD and PIE for Accurate Single‐Pair Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Measurements
Authors: Kudryavtsev Volodymyr , Sikor Martin , Kalinin Stanislav , Mokranjac Dejana , Seidel Claus A. M. , Lamb Don C.
Published: March 2012

Single‐pair Förster resonance energy transfer (spFRET) experiments using single‐molecule burst analysis on a confocal microscope are an ideal tool to measure inter‐ and intramolecular distances and dynamics on the nanoscale. Different techniques have been developed to maximize the amount of information available in spFRET burst analysis experiments. Multiparameter fluorescence detection (MFD) is used to monitor a variety of fluorescence parameters simultaneously and pulsed interleaved excitation (PIE) employs direct excitation of the acceptor to probe its presence and photoactivity. To calculate accurate FRET efficiencies from spFRET experiments with MFD or PIE, several calibration measurements are usually required. Herein, we demonstrate that by combining MFD with PIE information regarding all calibration factors as well as an accurate determination of spFRET histograms can be performed in a single measurement. In addition, the quality of overlap of the different detection volumes as well as the detection of acceptor photophysics can be investigated with MFD‐PIE. Bursts containing acceptor photobleaching can be identified and excluded from further investigation while bursts that contain FRET dynamics are unaffected by this analysis. We have employed MFD‐PIE to accurately analyze the effects of nucleotides and substrate on the interdomain separation in DnaK, the major bacterial heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). The interdomain distance increases from 47 Å in the ATP‐bound state to 84 Å in the ADP‐bound state and slightly contracts to 77 Å when a substrate is bound. This is in contrast to what was observed for the mitochondrial member of the Hsp70s, Ssc1, supporting the notion of evolutionary specialization of Hsp70s for different cellular functions in different organisms and cell organelles.
A Simple Approach to the Design and Functionalization of Fe3O4–Au Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Reddy A. Narsi , Anjaneyulu K. , Basak Pratyay , Rao N. Madhusudhana , Manorama Sunkara V.
Published: March 2012

Chitosan‐stabilized Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4–CHI NPs) are synthesized at room temperature in an aqueous medium and gold NPs are decorated on the surface of these nanoparticles by the deposition/precipitation method. The synthesis of Fe3O4/Au NPs is followed by biofunctionalization with lipoic acid and thereafter the carboxy terminated groups of the Fe3O4/Au–lipoic acid composite NPs are coupled to multidentate iminodiacetic acid (IDA) by adopting (1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylamino propyl) carbodiimide and N‐hydroxysulfosuccinimide chemistry. These Fe3O4/Au–LA–IDA particles are finally allowed to complex with Cu2+ ions resulting in a net positive surface charge. Detailed physicochemical properties of the synthesized NPs have been carried out by XRD, TEM, FT‐IR, XPS, TOC, AAS, TG‐DTA, and zeta‐potential measurements. The super paramagnetic response is investigated by vibrating sample magnetometry and feasibility of these materials as an efficient MRI contrast agent (r2=(124.3±13.6) mM−1 s−1) have been also demonstrated in a phosphate‐buffered saline suspension. Finally, the Fe3O4/Au–LA–IDA–Cu2+ composite NPs are used as an immobilized metal affinity matrix to separate expressed His6‐tagged protein (>95 % purity) from bacterial lysates and also from a large excess of bovine serum albumin to demonstrate the convenience of using this matrix for rapid purification of heterologously expressed proteins from biological mixtures.
Mechanically Interlocked Molecules Assembled by π–π Recognition
Authors: Barin Gokhan , Coskun Ali , Fouda Moustafa M. G. , Stoddart J. Fraser
Published: February 2012

The beauty and utility of interlocked architectures have been making their way relentlessly into chemistry in the form of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) for almost half a century now. Few would challenge the assertion that the emergence of template‐directed synthetic protocols has aided and abetted the facile and efficient construction of MIMs compared with the statistical approaches employed while the field was still in its infancy. To date, a panoply of MIMs has been created in the wake of emerging recognition motifs and the template‐directed synthetic protocols they have forged. Among these motifs, those dependent on π–π stacking in the form of donor–acceptor interactions have played an important role in the increasingly rapid development of the field. The few integrated systems that have so far emerged based on this class of MIMs demonstrate their ability to act as active components in many potential applications. This review focuses on the progress which has been accomplished during the past decade involving MIMs comprising aromatic π–π stacking interactions. While progress has been remarkable, opportunities still abound for MIMs assembled by π–π recognition.
Cross‐Cultural Opening in German Outpatient Mental Healthcare Service: An Exploratory Study of Structural and Procedural Aspects
Authors: Mösko Mike‐Oliver , Gil‐Martinez Fernanda , Schulz Holger
Published: February 2012

Mental healthcare services need to be sensitive towards the cultural needs of patients. Cross‐cultural opening is an organizational process to fulfil these needs. This study aims to provide representative structural and procedural data regarding the use of German outpatient mental healthcare services by allochthonous patients, the diversity of psychotherapists in outpatient mental healthcare service, the cross‐cultural encounters of therapists and the cross‐cultural sensitivity of psychotherapists working in this healthcare area.

Of all public outpatient psychotherapists in Hamburg, 81% (n = 485) participated in this survey. Regarding the distribution of the population in this metropolis, allochthonous therapists were underrepresented. Unlike the overall distribution of foreign inhabitants, the largest groups of immigrant therapists came from England, German‐speaking countries and other countries within the European Union. The proportion of allochthonous patients in outpatient mental healthcare service was almost half of the proportion of the allochthonous in the general population.

Psychotherapists with a migration background regarded themselves as having a higher level of cross‐cultural sensitivity than their native colleagues, especially those who have had fewer cross‐cultural encounters. Overall, psychotherapists named different challenges in providing cross‐cultural treatment. For the German outpatient mental healthcare service to be more accessible to immigrants and their descendants, a greater number of bilingual psychotherapists must gain access to the mental healthcare service, and more advanced cross‐cultural sensitivity training and supervision should be provided. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message

German outpatient psychotherapists are culturally and linguistically diverse. Nevertheless, psychotherapists with a migration background are underrepresented in outpatient mental healthcare services.

Patients with a migration background are also underrepresented in the German outpatient mental healthcare system. Because mental healthcare services must be sensitive and respectful towards patients' cultural and linguistic needs, the mental healthcare outpatient service must be more accessible to therapists who speak languages other than German and English.

Psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with a migration background can be tremendously challenging because of other cultures' differing value systems.

Prospective, advanced training in cross‐cultural sensitivity and cross‐cultural supervision should be provided.
Attachment and Socio‐Emotional Skills: A Comparison of Depressed Inpatients, Institutionalized Delinquents and Control Adolescents
Authors: Delhaye Marie , Kempenaers Chantal , Stroobants Rob , Goossens Luc , Linkowski Paul
Published: February 2012

This study compared 50 depressed inpatients, 51 institutionalized delinquents and 51 control adolescents (total n = 152) regarding attachment and associated socio‐emotional skills. All of the participants took an individual interview (i.e., anamnesis, diagnostic interview and intelligence test) and completed the attachment measure and self‐report measures of socio‐emotional skills (i.e., emotional intelligence, empathy and resilience). Results showed that controls scored higher on secure attachment, whereas both of the other groups scored higher on preoccupied attachment. Depressed adolescents had lower scores on emotional intelligence than did controls. Finally, depressed adolescents had lower scores than the other two groups on resilience. The anxious or preoccupied attachment in both clinical groups, the overall frailty of depressive adolescents and the apparent resilience of delinquent adolescents despite their cognitive limitations should inform the respective treatment plans for these groups of adolescents. Suggestions for future research into differences between depressed and delinquent adolescents are outlined. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Message

Both depressed and delinquent adolescents show more anxious attachment.

Depressed adolescents are less resilient than delinquent adolescents.

Delinquent adolescents are less intelligent than the other two groups but well‐adjusted overall.

These differences should inform treatment plans for these two clinical groups.
Crystal growth of PZN‐PT single crystals and critical issues for higher piezoelectric coefficient
Authors: Srimathy B. , Jayavel R. , Ganesamoorthy S. , Bhaumik I. , Karnal A. K. , Natarajan V. , Varadarajan E. , Kumar J.
Published: February 2012

Single crystals of lead zinc niobate‐lead titanate (1‐x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 for x = 8% and 9% have been grown by flux method using Lead Oxide (PbO) as flux. Low scan rate XRD has been carried out to investigate on the structural influence of the compositional variations in the grown crystals. Transmission spectra in the range of UV‐Vis‐Near IR and mid IR regions have been carried out to understand the distortions caused in the BO6 octahedral lattice. Morphological aspects of as‐grown PZN‐PT crystals have also been investigated. Dielectric measurements clearly explained the dependence of Tc and diffusiveness with PT content. The values of Pr and Ecobtained from P‐E loops suggest the presence of ordered domain state in these PZN‐PT single crystals. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Durabiity of Neutron Star Crust
Authors: Chugunov A. I. , Horowitz C. J.
Published: February 2012

How long do neutron star mountains last? The durability of elastically deformed crust is important for neutron star physics including pulsar glitches, emission of gravitational waves from static mountains, and flares from star quakes. The durability is defined by the strength properties of the Yukawa crystals of ions, which make up the crust. In this paper we extend our previous results [Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 407, L54 (2010)] and accurately describe the dependence of the durability on crust composition (which can be reduced to the dependence on the screening length λ of the Yukawa potential). We perform several molecular dynamics simulations of crust breaking and describe their results with a phenomenological model based on the kinetic theory of strength. We provide an analytical expression for the durability of neutron star crust matter for different densities, temperatures, stresses, and compositions. This expression can also be applied to estimate durability of Yukawa crystals in other systems, such as dusty plasmas in the laboratory (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Performance study of wireless sensor and actuator networks in forest fire scenarios
Authors: Kułakowski Paweł , Calle Eusebi , Marzo Jose L.
Published: March 2012

Wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs) for environmental disaster scenarios are considered in this paper. A fully independent and autonomous WSAN system that is able to detect and extinguish a fire in a burning wildland area is proposed. Although forest fire detection is a classical application for sensor networks, in this paper, this research area is extended, taking into account actuators and their ability to put out fire in the presence of measurement inaccuracy and network degradation. A system architecture is proposed, modelled and discussed. An extensive set of computer simulations analysing the system performance is reported. The presented results show the efficiency of fire‐fighting actions depending on the sensors' density and the actuators' mobility. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Commentary on ‘Interventions for infantile haemangiomas (strawberry birthmarks) of the skin’
Authors: Maguiness Sheilagh
Published: March 2012

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Leonardi‐Bee J, Batta K, O'Brien C, Bath‐Hextall FJ. Interventions for infantile haemangiomas (strawberry birthmarks) of the skin. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD006545. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006545.pub2.

Further information for this Cochrane review is available in this issue of EBCH in the accompanying Summary article. Copyright © 2012 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The Cochrane Collaboration
Projected changes in distributions of Australian tropical savanna birds under climate change using three dispersal scenarios
Authors: Reside April E. , VanDerWal Jeremy , Kutt Alex S.
Published: February 2012

Identifying the species most vulnerable to extinction as a result of climate change is a necessary first step in mitigating biodiversity decline. Species distribution modeling (SDM) is a commonly used tool to assess potential climate change impacts on distributions of species. We use SDMs to predict geographic ranges for 243 birds of Australian tropical savannas, and to project changes in species richness and ranges under a future climate scenario between 1990 and 2080. Realistic predictions require recognition of the variability in species capacity to track climatically suitable environments. Here we assess the effect of dispersal on model results by using three approaches: full dispersal, no dispersal and a partial‐dispersal scenario permitting species to track climate change at a rate of 30 km per decade. As expected, the projected distributions and richness patterns are highly sensitive to the dispersal scenario. Projected future range sizes decreased for 66% of species if full dispersal was assumed, but for 89% of species when no dispersal was assumed. However, realistic future predictions should not assume a single dispersal scenario for all species and as such, we assigned each species to the most appropriate dispersal category based on individual mobility and habitat specificity; this permitted the best estimates of where species will be in the future. Under this “realistic” dispersal scenario, projected ranges sizes decreased for 67% of species but showed that migratory and tropical‐endemic birds are predicted to benefit from climate change with increasing distributional area. Richness hotspots of tropical savanna birds are expected to move, increasing in southern savannas and southward along the east coast of Australia, but decreasing in the arid zone. Understanding the complexity of effects of climate change on species’ range sizes by incorporating dispersal capacities is a crucial step toward developing adaptation policies for the conservation of vulnerable species.
Triazole‐Linked Oligonucleotides with Mixed‐Base Sequences: Synthesis and Hybridization Properties
Authors: Varizhuk Anna , Chizhov Alexandr , Smirnov Igor , Kaluzhny Dmitry , Florentiev Vladimir
Published: February 2012

A new class of backbone‐modified oligonucleotide analogs has emerged since the discovery of the CuI‐catalyzed [3+2] azide/alkyne cycloaddition reaction. These are oligonucleotide analogs with 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles as the internucleotide linkages. Of all such analogs known, only the triazole‐linked deoxythymidine decamer [(dT)10] has been reported to show enhanced binding affinity to complementary DNA. Importantly, it is a fully modified (dT)10 analog. To date, sequentially heterogeneous oligonucleotides bearing the same backbone modification have not been described. With the goal of investigating sequence and regularity dependence of the effect of this modification on duplex stability, we have designed partially modified mixed‐base oligonucleotides, which can be prepared by using a modified dinucleoside block. In this paper we report the synthesis of a dithymidine phosphoramidite analog with a triazole linker, its use in oligonucleotide synthesis and hybridization data of the resulting oligonucleotide analogs. The effect of single and multiple modifications on stability of mixed‐base duplexes is assessed and compared with published data for the oligo(T)/oligo(A) duplex. We also compared the effect of the linker concerned with that of a shorter triazole linker.
The impaired immune regulation of autoimmune hepatitis is linked to a defective galectin-9/tim-3 pathway
Authors: Liberal Rodrigo , Grant Charlotte R. , Holder Beth S. , Ma Yun , Mieli-Vergani Giorgina , Vergani Diego , Longhi Maria Serena
Published: February 2012

In autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), liver-damaging CD4 T cell responses are associated with defective CD4posCD25pos regulatory T cells (T-regs). Galectin-9 (Gal9), a β-galactosidase–binding protein expressed by T-regs, is key to their function, inhibiting T helper 1 immune responses by binding T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) on CD4 effector cells. We investigated whether impaired immunoregulation in AIH results from reduced expression of Gal9 in T-regs and/or Tim-3 on CD4 effector cells. Circulating Gal9posCD4posCD25pos and Tim-3posCD4posCD25neg T cell phenotype was assessed by flow cytometry in 75 AIH patients. To evaluate whether Tim-3 expression renders CD4posCD25neg T cells amenable to T-reg control, purified CD4posCD25negTim-3pos (Tim-3pos) and CD4posCD25negTim-3neg (Tim-3neg) cells were cocultured with T-regs. To determine whether Gal9 expression is essential to function, T-regs were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to repress Gal-9 translation; T-reg suppressor function was assessed by proliferation. In AIH, Tim-3pos cells within CD4posCD25neg cells and their T-betpos and RORCpos subsets were fewer and contained higher numbers of interferon-γ (IFNγ)pos and interleukin (IL)-17pos cells than healthy subjects (HS). In AIH and HS, Tim-3pos cells proliferated less vigorously and were more susceptible to T-reg control than Tim-3neg cells. In AIH, Gal9posT-regs were fewer and contained less FOXP3pos, IL-10pos, and transforming growth factor βpos and more IFNγpos and IL-17pos cells than HS. siRNA treatment of Gal-9pos T-regs drastically reduced T-reg ability to suppress CD4posCD25neg and Tim-3pos cell proliferation in AIH and HS. Tim-3pos cell percentage correlated inversely with aminotransferase and CD25negT-betpos cell values.

Conclusion

: Reduced levels of Tim-3 on CD4posCD25neg effector cells and of Gal9 in T-regs contribute to impaired immunoregulation in AIH by rendering effector cells less prone to T-reg control and T-regs less capable of suppressing. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)
High‐ and low‐flow variations in annual runoff and their response to climate change in the headstreams of the Tarim River, Xinjiang, China
Authors: Ling Hongbo , Xu Hailiang , Fu Jinyi
Published: February 2012

Based on the hydrological and meteorological data recorded for the northern and southern headstreams of the Tarim River over the last 50 years, this paper analyses the variation characteristics of high‐flow and low‐flow indexes of annual runoff, air temperature and precipitation using a non‐parametric test. Additionally, this paper also studies the correlations between these three time series on multiple time scales for both northern and southern headstreams employing wavelet analysis. The results show the following: (i) the annual runoff and air temperature had significant increasing trends, whereas precipitation had a non‐significant increasing trend for the northern and southern headstreams. (ii) Abrupt changes appeared in precipitation in the north and south in 1990 and 1986, as well as in high‐flow and low‐flow indexes of annual runoff in 1993 and in air temperature in 1996. (iii) In the case of the northern headstreams, there was significant periodicity of 6 years in both high‐flow and low‐flow indexes and air temperature and of 3 and 8 years in precipitation. In the case of the southern headstreams, there was significant periodicity of 3 and 9 years in high‐flow and low‐flow indexes, 5 years in air temperature, and 5 and 8 years in precipitation. (iv) The high‐flow and low‐flow indexes in the headstreams of the Tarim River are closely related to the air temperature and precipitation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facilitating the mineralization of oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) hydrogel by incorporation of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles
Authors: Nejadnik M. Reza , Mikos Antonios G. , Jansen John A. , Leeuwenburgh Sander C. G.
Published: February 2012

Exploring strategies to induce the mineralization of hydrogels is an important step toward the development of hydrogel‐based materials for bone regeneration. In the current study, the effect of incorporating hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles on the mineralization capacity of an inert poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based hydrogel was investigated. HA nanoparticles were either directly loaded into oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF) hydrogel or loaded into commonly used gelatin microsphere porogens that were subsequently integrated in the OPF matrix. Mineralization of composites after immersion of the samples in simulated body fluid up to 28 days was assessed. In contrast to the blank OPF hydrogel, the HA‐containing constructs strongly mineralized such that the average rate of calcium uptake by the material was enhanced by orders of magnitude. The mineral formed was observed to be apatitic and needle shaped. The presented method allows modification of inert PEG‐based hydrogels into bioactive biomaterials for applications in bone regeneration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 2012.
Flexible protein‐ligand docking using the Fleksy protocol
Authors: Wagener Markus , Vlieg Jacob de , Nabuurs Sander B.
Published: February 2012

Considering protein plasticity is important in accurately predicting the three‐dimensional geometry of protein‐ligand complexes. Here, we present the first public release of our flexible docking tool Fleksy, which is able to consider both ligand and protein flexibility in the docking process. We describe the workflow and different features of the software and present its performance on two cross‐docking benchmark datasets. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of folic acid in milk, milk powder and energy drink by an indirect immunoassay
Authors: Zhang Taichang , Xue Huyin , Zhang Bo , Zhang Yu , Song Pei , Tian Xi , Xing Yue , Wang Peng , Meng Meng , Xi Rimo
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: Folic acid (FA) is essential for healthy people (reference daily intake 400 µg day−1) and pregnant women (600 µg day−1). Insufficient intake of FA will increase the risk of neural tube defects in newborns. In this study an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was developed for rapid and convenient detection of FA in vitamin‐fortified foods.

RESULTS: A carbodiimide‐modified active ester method was used to synthesise the immunogen (FA–bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugate) to raise polyclonal antibodies for FA. The coupling ratio of FA with BSA was determined to be 14:1 (molar ratio). The detection limit of the immunoassay was 3.0 ng mL−1 in buffer, 3.52 ng mL−1 in energy drink, 11.91 ng mL−1 in milk and 16.50 ng mL−1 in milk powder. Intra‐ and inter‐assay variability ranged from 6.6 to 15.1%. Analytical recoveries of FA‐spiked samples were 88.3–108.9%.

CONCLUSION: The immunoassay developed in this study can be used as a simple, rapid and accurate method for fast semi‐quantitative and quantitative on‐site analysis of FA in food products. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of military activity on breeding birds
Authors: Barron Douglas G. , Brawn Jeffrey D. , Butler Luke K. , Romero L. Michael , Weatherhead Patrick J.
Published: February 2012

United States military bases provide habitat for a diverse suite of wildlife species despite intense anthropogenic disturbance inherent in training activities. Little research has examined how military activity affects wildlife reproduction. We compared parental investment, reproductive success, offspring and adult quality, and stress hormone concentrations of northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) breeding in areas that differed 10‐fold in levels of on‐ground military activity. We found no evidence of direct impacts of military activity on cardinals, nor did the reproductive success of several other passerine species appear to be affected. However, we observed American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) much less frequently in areas of high military activity, and cardinals nesting in those areas were less responsive to crow models. The apparent displacement of this nest predator suggests that military activity could indirectly benefit some wildlife. Although these results are promising for the conservation of birds that depend on military bases for breeding habitat, further assessment of direct and indirect effects of military training on a wider array of species is required before concluding that such activity is benign. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Levothyroxine dose following thyroidectomy is affected by more than just body weight
Authors: Baehr Kara Meinke , Lyden Elizabeth , Treude Kelly , Erickson Judi , Goldner Whitney
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To determine the factors that affect levothyroxine (LT4) requirements following thyroidectomy.

Study Design:

Retrospective study.

Methods:

This study evaluated 246 participants who had undergone total thyroidectomy and were on a stable dose of LT4. Actual weight–based (AWB) and ideal body weight–based (IBWB) LT4 dose requirements were analyzed, and other confounders including adherence, concurrent medications, comorbidities, female menopausal status, and hormone replacement therapy were examined.

Results:

A total of 205 women and 41 men were evaluated, with 48 (20%) benign and 198 (80%) malignant pathology findings. The mean AWB LT4 doses for men and premenopausal women were similar among members of the benign groups and similar among members of the malignant groups. There was a trend for lower dose LT4 in postmenopausal women off hormonal therapy (PM/NH) and on hormonal therapy (PM/H) in the benign group (1.4 and 1.6 μg/kg vs. 1.8 μg/kg in the men and premenopausal women) and a trend for lower dose LT4 in the PM/H women in the malignant group (1.9 μg/kgvs. 2.1 and 2.2 μg/kg in the men and premenopausal women), but they were not significant. However, PM/NH women required significantly less LT4 (1.7 μg/kg) than both the men (2.2 μg/kg) and premenopausal women (2.1 μg/kg) in the malignant group (P=.0006). The IBWB LT4 dosage was not statistically different between groups.

Conclusions:

LT4 dosage following thyroidectomy, calculated using actual body weight, can range from 1.4 to 2.2 μg/kg and is dependent on diagnosis (benign vs. malignant), goal TSH, sex, and menopausal status. Laryngoscope, 2012
Pharyngeal pouch surgery: A combined open and endoscopic approach
Authors: Dale Oliver T. , Burgess Christopher A. , Corbridge Rogan J.
Published: February 2012

Pharyngeal pouches are common, particularly in the elderly population, in whom they can cause significant morbidity. The advanced age of many patients and existing comorbidities mean that in some cases neither open nor endoscopic pouch stapling is possible. We present a technique of combined open and endoscopic pharyngeal pouch surgery, which may be used when other therapeutic options are limited. Laryngoscope, 2012
Prediction of nonrecovery in Bell's palsy using sunnybrook grading
Authors: Marsk Elin , Bylund Nina , Jonsson Lars , Hammarstedt Lalle , Engström Mats , Hadziosmanovic Nermin , Berg Thomas , Hultcrantz Malou
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To develop a clinical prognostic model to identify Bell's palsy patients with risk for nonrecovery at 12 months.

Study Design:

Data from a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter study.

Methods:

There were 829 patients with Bell's palsy randomized in a factorial fashion to treatment with prednisolone or no prednisolone. Facial function was assessed with the Sunnybrook grading scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses at different time points were used to identify factors predicting nonrecovery, defined as Sunnybrook <70 at 12 months. Variables studied were age, gender, time to inclusion, prednisolone treatment, side of palsy, pain at inclusion, and Sunnybrook scores. Factors of predictable significance were used to construct prognostic models at baseline, days 11 to 17, and at 1 month. Receiver operating characteristics curves were created to test the predictive capacity of the models.

Results:

At baseline, treatment with prednisolone or no prednisolone (P = .0005), age (P = .04) and the Sunnybrook score (P = .0002) were significant factors for predicting nonrecovery. The receiver operating characteristics area under the curve at baseline for these three variables was 0.74 (sensitivity 0.83, specificity 0.57). At days 11 to 17 and at 1 month, the Sunnybrook score was the only significant predictive variable. The respective areas under the curves for the Sunnybrook score at these time points were 0.83 (sensitivity 0.81, specificity 0.75) and 0.94 (sensitivity 0.91, specificity 0.85).

Conclusions:

Sunnybrook grading at 1 month most accurately predicts nonrecovery at 12 months in Bell's palsy. Laryngoscope, 2012
Animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus: II. Neurochemical, pathologic, and pharmacologic characterization
Authors: Kanthasamy Anumantha G. , Nguyen Bang Q. , Truong Daniel D.
Published: February 2012

The sudden, brief, shock‐like, involuntary movements caused by active muscular contractions or inhibitions characterize myoclonus. It is manifested in a wide variety of pathologic conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, and is thought to be related to neuronal hyper‐excitability. The pathology, physiology, and pharmacology of myoclonus are not well understood as a result of the rarity of the disorder in people and the lack of a suitable animal model. Posthypoxic myoclonus is a major myoclonus syndrome which occurs as a result of severe cerebral ischemia/hypoxia. There has been tremendous interest in the development of a suitable animal model that reflects the etiology and clinical pathology of posthypoxic myoclonus. Recently, we have developed a new animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus in which rats were subjected to a mechanically induced cardiac arrest procedure. Herein, we describe the neurochemical, pharmacologic, and pathologic characteristics of this animal model of posthypoxic myoclonus.
Blind estimation of the arterial input function in dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI using purity maximization
Authors: Lin Yu‐Chun , Chan Tsung‐Han , Chi Chong‐Yung , Ng Shu‐Hang , Liu Hao‐Li , Wei Kuo‐Chen , Wai Yau‐Yau , Wang Chun‐Chieh , Wang Jiun‐Jie
Published: March 2012

Uncertainty in arterial input function (AIF) estimation is one of the major errors in the quantification of dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI. A blind source separation algorithm was proposed to determine the AIF by selecting the voxel time course with maximum purity, which represents a minimal contamination from partial volume effects. Simulations were performed to assess the partial volume effect on the purity of AIF, the estimation accuracy of the AIF, and the influence of purity on the derived kinetic parameters. In vivo data were acquired from six patients with hypopharyngeal cancer and eight rats with brain tumor. Results showed that in simulation the AIF with the highest purity is closest to the true AIF. In patients, the manually selection had reduced purity, which could lead to underestimations of Ktrans and Ve and an overestimation of Vp when compared with those obtained by the proposed blind source separation algorithm. The derived kinetic parameters in the tumor were more susceptible to the changes in purity when compared with those in the muscle. The animal experiment demonstrated good reproducibility in blind source separation‐AIF derived parameters. In conclusion, the blind source separation method is feasible and reproducible to identify the voxel with the tracer concentration time course closest to the true AIF. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cell motility of neural stem cells is reduced after SPIO‐labeling, which is mitigated after exocytosis
Authors: Cromer Berman Stacey M. , Kshitiz  , Wang C. Joanne , Orukari Inema , Levchenko Andre , Bulte Jeff W. M. , Walczak Piotr
Published: February 2012

MRI is used for tracking of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)‐labeled neural stem cells. Studies have shown that long‐term MR tracking of rapidly dividing cells underestimates their migration distance. Time‐lapse microscopy of random cellular motility and cell division was performed to evaluate the effects of SPIO‐labeling on neural stem cell migration. Labeled cells divided symmetrically and exhibited no changes in cell viability, proliferation, or apoptosis. However, SPIO‐labeling resulted in decreased motility of neural stem cells as compared with unlabeled controls. When SPIO‐labeled neural stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells were transplanted into mouse brain, rapid exocytosis of SPIO by live cells was observed as early as 48 h postengraftment, with SPIO‐depleted cells showing the farthest migration distance. As label dilution is negligible at this early time point, we conclude that MRI underestimation of cell migration can also occur as a result of reduced cell motility, which appears to be mitigated following SPIO exocytosis. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metabolic Fingerprinting of Tussilago farfara L. Using 1H‐NMR Spectroscopy and Multivariate Data Analysis
Authors: Zhi Hai‐Juan , Qin Xue‐Mei , Sun Hai‐Feng , Zhang Li‐Zeng , Guo Xiao‐Qing , Li Zhen‐Yu
Published: February 2012

Introduction

The flower bud of Tussilago farfara L. is widely used for the treatment of coughs, bronchitis and asthmatic disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. In Europe, the plant has been used as herbal remedies for virtually the same applications, but the leaves are preferred over flowers.

Objective

To systematically evaluate the chemical profiles of Tusssilago farfara leaves and flowers along with the identification of the polar and non‐polar metabolites.

Methodology

Metabolic profiling carried out by means of 1H‐NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis was applied to crude extracts from flowers and leaves. Metabolites were identified directly from the crude extracts through one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional NMR spectra.

Results

A broad range of metabolites were detected without any chromatographic separation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) of 1H‐NMR data provided a clear separation between the samples. The corresponding loadings plot indicated that higher levels of phenylpropanoids, amino acids, organic acids and fatty acids, as well as lower levels of sugars, terpenoids and sterols were present in the leaves, as compared with flowers. For the flowers, more phenylpropanoids were present in fully open flowers, while more sugars and fatty acids were present in flower buds.

Conclusion

NMR spectra (one‐ and two‐dimensional) are useful for identifying metabolites, especially for the overlapped signals. The NMR‐based metabolomics approach has great potential for chemical comparison study of the metabolome of herbal drugs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Connected Life Courses: Influences on and Experiences of ‘Midlife’ In‐Migration to Rural Areas
Authors: Stockdale Aileen , MacLeod Marsaili , Philip Lorna
Published: March 2012

This paper aims to contribute to the theorisation of midlife migration into rural areas. Although the factors influencing migration are known to be variable at different stages of a person's life, much less well understood is how migration decisions at different stages of the life course are connected and how post‐migration experiences may be influenced by an earlier life course stage. We argue that midlife migration decisions are the product of the migrant's lifetime experiences and influences up until that stage in their life alongside their expectations and aspirations for future life course stages. Using a case study of the Glens of Antrim (Northern Ireland), this paper specifically demonstrates the role of childhood memories to explain midlife migration to a rural area. In doing so, it argues that some findings more commonly associated with second‐generation transnational migration are also equally relevant to migration within the UK. Roots migration and place attachment alongside the midlife migrant's post‐migration sense of belonging and permanency are found to be influenced by the migrant's earlier memories, behaviours, and experiences. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.