bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulfur Dioxide Gas Sensor Based on Tetravalent Zr4+-conducting Solid Electrolyte
Authors: Uneme Yasuhisa , Tamura Shinji , Imanaka Nobuhito
Published: December 2012

A solid electrolyte-type SO2 gas sensor was fabricated by the combination of the tetravalent Zr4+-conducting Zr39/40TaP2.9W0.1O12 and the O2−-conducting (ZrO2)0.92(Y2O3)0.08 solid electrolytes with the 0.6La2O2SO4–0.4Li2SO4 auxiliary sensing electrode. Since the present sensor showed a continuous, quantitative, and reproducible response, which obeys the theoretical Nernst relationship, over a month, it is expected to be a suitable candidate as a practical SO2 gas-monitoring tool.
Graphene–Gold Nanoparticle Composite Counter Electrode for Cobalt-electrolyte-based Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Al-Mamun Mohammad , Lim Jung-Hyurk , Sung Yung-Eun , Kim Sung-Ryong
Published: December 2012

Composites of a few layers of graphene (G) with different loadings of Au nanoparticles (NPs) were used as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Simple solution coating followed by a post thermal treatment was employed for the preparation of the counter electrodes. The graphene composite electrode with 30 nM Au NPs showed a 6.55% higher conversion efficiency (η = 1.79%) and 200 mV higher open-circuit voltage (0.60 V) than cells fabricated with sputtered Pt electrodes. The better electrocatalytic activity of the composite electrode was also reflected in the sharp reduction peaks observed in the cyclic voltammogram.
Oriented Pyrazine Dye Films on Aligned Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Layers
Authors: Tanaka Toshihiko , Ishitobi Masamitsu , Matsumoto Shinya
Published: December 2012

Molecular thin films have been prepared by depositing 6 pyrazine dyes separately through evaporation on aligned poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) layers. An asymmetric dye having an indolinylidene group provides oriented films in which the transition moments are parallel to the PTFE chains. A symmetric dye with four end alkyl chains in turn provides oriented films in which the moment is perpendicular to the chains. The directions of dye molecules in those films are discussed according to their calculated molecular orbitals. Three other symmetric dyes provide slightly oriented films.
Synthesis of Chiral Bis-MOP-type Diphosphines. Chelating Effect in Nickel-catalyzed Phosphination
Authors: Abreu Artur R , Peixoto Andreia F , Almeida Ana R , Lourenço Mirtha A O , Neves Ângela C B , Bayón J Carles , Pereira Mariette M
Published: December 2012

Chiral bis-MOP-type diphosphines with alkyl and pyridyl bridges connecting the two binaphthyl units have been synthesized via [NiCl2(dppe)]-assisted phosphination of the corresponding aryl triflates. The effect of the amount of the nickel complex on the reaction yield was investigated. Catalytic and even stoichiometric amounts of the complex proved to be insufficient to promote an efficient phosphination, but the use of an excess of the metal complex provides good yields.
β-Amination of Saturated Nitriles through Palladium-catalyzed Dehydrogenation, 1,4-Addition, and Re-dehydrogenation
Authors: Ueno Satoshi , Maeda Ryohei , Yasuoka Shohei , Kuwano Ryoichi
Published: December 2012

Amination at the β-position of 2-arylpropionitriles through catalytic dehydrogenation occurred by using [PdCl2(PMe3)2] catalyst and bromobenzene. This is the first catalytic reaction involving the direct dehydrogenation of saturated nitriles.
Optimization of Monopod Offshore Tower under Uncertainties with Gradient-Based and Gradient-Free Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Toğan Vedat
Published: December 2012

In the RBDO applications which include a reliability analysis and an optimization algorithm, Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) is frequently used for the optimization. In this work, in addition to SQP, some heuristic algorithms such as Simulating Annealing (SA), Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Harmony Search (HS) are employed as optimization methods to demonstrate the performance, accuracy and efficiency of the corresponding methods in the RBDO process. The probabilistic constraints are evaluated by using Reliability Index Approach (RIA). The optimum design of a monopod offshore tower is presented as a numerical example to show the applicability of the proposed algorithm. Graphical and tabular forms are proposed to compare the efficiency of the optimization methods used in the Reliability Based Design Optimization (RBDO) process. As a result, heuristic algorithms exhibit good performance although they call many function evaluations including constraints and objective functions.
The Tension Stiffening Mechanism in Reinforced Concrete Prisms
Authors: Muhamad Rahimah , Ali M.S. Mohamed , Oehlers Deric John , Griffith Michael
Published: December 2012

Tension stiffening is an important phenomenon in reinforced concrete because it controls not only deflections but also crack spacings, crack widths and the formation of multiple cracks. It is now common practice to study the effects of tension stiffening in concentrically loaded prisms, which is the subject of this paper, and use these behaviours as guidance for the effects of tension stiffening in reinforced concrete beams. As tension stiffening is a mechanism for stress transfer between the concrete and reinforcement, the interface bond stress-slip ( τ–δ) properties are of utmost importance. In this paper, partial interaction theory is used to develop generic closed form solutions for crack spacings and widths, the load to cause primary, secondary cracks and subsequent cracks. Four different types of interface bond characteristics ( τ–δ) are considered: a linear ascending bond slip which is useful at serviceability; a linear descending bond slip which is useful at the ultimate limit state; a nonlinear bond slip characteristic which closely resembles material bond slip behavior at all limits; and the CEB-FIP Model Code 90 (CEB 1992).
Shear Strength of Simply- or Rigidly-Supported RC Beams with Various Design Variables
Authors: Park Hong-Gun , Oh Dong-Hyun , Yi Seong-Tae , Kim Sang-Chel , Kim Jae-Yo
Published: December 2012

An experimental study was performed to systematically investigate the variation of shear strength of simply- or rigidly-supported RC beams with various design variables. In this study, the tensile reinforcement ratio, load applying condition, end supporting condition, shear span to depth ratio, and prestressing force were selected as the main variables. Twenty RC beams without shear reinforcement were tested under monotonic loading, and the influences of the main variables on shear strength were analyzed with shear force-displacement relationships and failure modes. The test results indicated that the shear strength of RC beams increased as the tensile reinforcement ratio, the number of loading points, the compressive force, or the initial prestressing force increased. However, it decreased as the shear span to depth ratio increased. The influence of the end supporting condition on the shear strength of specimens was not significant. The test results were compared with the predicted values provided by design codes and existing model equations.
A Polynomial Chaos Expansion Based Reliability Method for Linear Random Structures
Authors: Yu H. , Gillot F. , Ichchou M.
Published: December 2012

Within the framework of mechanical engineering, reliability assessment is usually involved in the procedure of finite element analysis (FEA) combined with Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Unfortunately, such approaches require high computational effort. To improve efficiency, we propose a polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) based MCS method for linear random structures, in which the time consuming repeated FEA is avoided in manner of approximating the random response by PCE. However, applications of PCE are always restricted for the first passage problem due to the curse of high dimensionality. To overcome this, we use the convolution form to compute the dynamic response, in which PCE is raised to approximate the modal properties so that the dimension of uncertainties is reduced since only structural random parameters are considered. Four examples are studied to show the effectiveness and relevancy of the proposed method.
Axial Behavior and Strength of yLC Composite Columns
Authors: Kim Hyung-Geun , Kim Myeong-Han , Kim Sang-Dae
Published: December 2012

Experimental studies were performed on the proposed yLC (Concrete with y-shaped steel sheets and L-shaped steel angles) composite column whose external surface was made of y-shaped steel sheets and steel angles, into which concrete was poured. This composite column has the sectional capacity developed by the composite action of steel and concrete, while efficiently reducing the construction work time due to the abridged form work. A total of eleven stub column specimens were prepared and tested under concentrically axial loading. The axial behavior and compressive strength of the proposed composite column were investigated, and modified equations from ANSI/AISC 360–05 Specifications for predicting axial-load capacity were proposed. The post-peak behavior of the tested specimens was considerably affected by the width-thickness ratios of the steel angles and by the welding method between the steel sheets and steel angles. Some recommendations were given to make the proposed composite column more ductile.
Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Frames Retrofitted with Self-Centering Hybrid Wall
Authors: Hu Xiaobin , Zhang Yunfeng , Moghaddasi B. Nasim S.
Published: December 2012

This paper presents the results of a parametric study on the seismic behavior of self-centering hybrid walls as a new seismic retrofit method for reinforced concrete (RC) frames. A special base connection that isolates the wall from its foundation ensures the controlled rocking behavior of the self-centering hybrid wall. This seismic retrofit scheme is very appealing because of its relatively low cost, substantially large stiffness and reasonably low base shear demand. A parametric study has been carried out to investigate the effects of several factors including strength and initial stiffness of hysteretic dampers, and others pertaining to PT tendons on the seismic behavior of the self-centering hybrid wall as the primary lateral force resisting system in a retrofitted RC frame structure. The results from a nonlinear time history analysis of a three-bay, three-story RC frame structure subjected to selected earthquake ground motions, reveal that the self-centering shear wall is fairly effective in controlling the seismic response of the retrofitted RC frame while having negligible residual story drift.
Across-Wind Equivalent Static Wind Loads and Responses of Super-High-Rise Buildings
Authors: Quan Yong , Gu Ming
Published: December 2012

Using several formulas of across-wind aerodynamic forces and aerodynamic damping of rectangular super-high-rise buildings with side ratios smaller than 2 proposed previously by the authors, across-wind equivalent static loads and responses of super-high-rise buildings are evaluated through a proper combination of resonant and background components. The resonant component is computed according to the power spectral density of the base moment and the aerodynamic damping. The background component, whose vertical distribution is derived from background moment responses at different heights and then expressed as a cubic equation of the relative height, is computed using the base moment coefficients. Furthermore, comparisons are made for the equivalent static wind loads and responses of a hypothetical typical building between the present method and the AIJ (1996) method, which indicate the applicability of the present method. Finally, the effects of background component and aerodynamic damping on the equivalent wind loads and responses are also discussed.
Post-Tensioning High-Hardness Rubber Damper System for Vibration Control of Residential Houses and Building Structures
Authors: Kim Hyeong Gook , Yoshitomi Shinta , Tsuji Masaaki , Takewaki Izuru
Published: December 2012

A new vibration control system including viscoelastic or viscoplastic rubber dampers is proposed for residential houses. This system consists of braces and a damper unit including a high-hardness rubber damper or a linear rubber damper. The high-hardness rubber damper possesses many unprecedented properties such as large stiffness, small temperature and frequency dependencies compared to most of usual viscoelastic dampers. Post tensioning forces are introduced into the braces to reduce small gap in joint parts and this system has high damping performance for micro-vibration. The control system can absorb sufficient energy through the high-rubber damper and post tensioning braces. A concept is introduced called an effective deformation ratio, i.e. the ratio of the actual damper deformation to the interstory drift of the frame, as a criterion to measure the damping performance and effectiveness of this system. To find out principal parameters that affect greatly the effective deformation ratio of the proposed new vibration control system, an incremental analysis method taking into account the geometrical and material nonlinearities is developed to simulate the main characteristics of this vibration control system. The accuracy of the analysis method is investigated through the comparison with the results by two simple analysis methods. The comparison with the experimental result is also conducted for further investigation.
Evaluation of Flexible Performance of Reinforced Concrete Structures Using a Nonlinear Static Procedure Provided by Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Pakdamar F. , Güler K.
Published: December 2012

The performance assessment is usually carried out by using plastic hinge rotations at the ends of beam and column sections in the nonlinear structural analysis. The guidelines and requirements are given in some recommended documents (FEMA356, ATC40) and in Turkish Earthquake Resistant Design Code 2007 (TERDC 2007). The rules and the boundaries in various recommended documents and codes are defined within strict intervals, i.e. crisply. Approximations in structural system modeling and numerical analysis make the accuracy of those limitations questionable. This paper deals with an efficient approach for the performance evaluation of existing structural systems. It is shown that the performance levels can be flexible by using certain weighted values depending on the number and deformation levels of the elements (flexible performance). Herein, fuzzy set theory is used with fuzzy inputs, a set of corresponding rules (rule base) and a defuzzification of the outputs for the performance level of structural systems. In the numerical treatment of the method, the damages and the corresponding performance levels in FEMA356 are considered and MATLAB Fuzzy Toolbox and Simulink software options are used. The methodology can be tested by use of real data (obtained from non-linear analysis of structural systems) or generated data. The method is tested with a frame system building and a bridge pier data and the necessary performance levels are determined and finally the results are discussed comparatively in tables and graphs.
Threshold Value Method and its Application in Dynamic Analysis of Spatial Latticed Structures
Authors: Luo Y.F. , Wang L. , Guo X.N.
Published: December 2012

In traditional mode superposition method, vibration modes are truncated based on an accumulation criterion of mass participation factors. This proves to be efficient for the seismic analysis of multi-storey buildings but not so much for spatial latticed structures. This paper analyzes the mechanical differences between multi-storey buildings and spatial latticed structures under dynamic loads and develops two new types of structures, namely Member Shear Resistance Structures (MSRS) and Member Axial Resistance Structures (MARS), with which the application of the mass participation factor is clarified. This paper further introduces Dynamic Work Participation Factor (DPF) and Static Work Participation Factor (SPF) based on vibration mode energy contribution, and proposes Threshold Value Method (TVM) for dominant vibration mode selection. Numerical examples attest that TVM is both efficient and accurate in linear dynamic analysis of spatial latticed structures.
Ars⪚ne Didn't See It: Coaching, Research and the Promise of a Discursive Psychology
Authors: Miller Paul K.
Published: December 2012

For twenty five years the discursive psychological perspective has been at the vanguard of innovative research in social psychology, producing highdetail systematic analyses of dynamic, constructive language use in a wide range of practical settings. To date, it has found applications in the study of medical communication, racism, political discourse, emotion and accounts of success and failure in sport, to highlight but a few. Its lack of headway in the specific study of coaching is perhaps, therefore, somewhat surprising given the transparently task-focused character of many naturally-occurring verbal activities in the domain. This article draws on salient literature and two brief case studies in illustrating some of the ways that the perspective can inform an approach to coaching interaction that does not draw on ontologically-problematic cognitivist assumptions regarding the relationship between thought and action. A foundational argument is then made for greater engagement with discursive psychology within the broader realm of coaching science.
Turn Characteristics of a Top World Class Athlete in Giant Slalom: A Case Study Assessing Current Performance Prediction Concepts
Authors: Spörri Jörg , Kröll Josef , Schwameder Hermann , Müller Erich
Published: December 2012

Recently, four concepts explaining time differences in alpine ski racing have been suggested. Since the demands on a “well performed” turn are contradicting among these concepts, it is unclear which turn characteristics a skier should aim for in a specific giant slalom situation. During a video-based 3D-kinematic field measurement, single repetitive runs of a world class athlete were compared regarding section times over one turn and variables explaining time differences. None of the existing concepts was able to entirely explain time differences between different performed turns. However, it was found that the skier's line and timing played an important role for time over short sections. Hence, for both science and coaching, there is a need for more comprehensive approaches that include all variables influencing performance in one concept. In coaching, one such approach could be the training of implicit adaptation mechanisms in terms of situation-dependent line and/or timing strategies.
Comparison of Physical Activity in Small-Sided Basketball Games versus Full-Sided Games
Authors: McCormick Brian T. , Hannon James C. , Newton Maria , Shultz Barry , Miller Nicole , Young Warren
Published: December 2012

Organized youth sports leagues attempt to meet many goals. Three primary needs for a youth sports league are to meet the participants' desires, provide quality learning experiences, and develop the competencies needed for continued participation. Possessing the ball, shooting more, and being more involved with a team's offense lead to more enjoyment and feelings of competence. Therefore, increasing the involvement of each player through more ball contacts should be a goal of youth sports leagues. Twelve male basketball players (age=15) from one high-school basketball team participated in this study. This study used paired t-tests to examine the differences between three-on-three basketball games and five-on-five basketball games that lasted for eight minutes in terms of average heart rate, moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, vigorous intensity activity, and ball contacts. There were no significant differences between average heart rate, moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, or vigorous intensity activity in the two conditions, but there were significantly more ball contacts on average in the three-on-three games. These results suggest that three-on-three leagues may be an appropriate sport for the initial exposure to basketball for youth players.
Performance Test Differences and Paralympic Team Selection: Pilot Study of the United States National Wheelchair Rugby Team
Authors: Barfield Jean-Paul , Malone Laurie A.
Published: December 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences existed on performance tests between wheelchair rugby players who were and were not selected for a national team. The sample was selected from prospective national wheelchair rugby team members (n = 27) and delimited to match selected and non-selected team members on functional rugby classification. Performance tests consisted of mile-pushes, endurance sprints, slaloms with and without a ball, full-court sprints, up & backs, and short and long passing for accuracy. Selected team members had significantly better mean scores on several performance tests (p < .05) with the greatest effect sizes realized on physical fitness components (e.g., mile push). Distinctions between athletes selected for a national wheelchair rugby team and those not selected were noted for performance tests with physical fitness components (e.g., mile push). Coaches are encouraged to include fitness-related tests as part of their regular training strategies.
Transverse to Longitudinal Acoustic Coupling Processes in Annular Combustion Chambers
Authors: Blimbaum J. , Zanchetta M. , Akin T. , Acharya V. , O'Connor J. , Noble D. R. , Lieuwen T.
Published: December 2012

Combustion instability is a major issue facing lean, premixed combustion approaches in modern gas turbine applications. This paper specifically focuses on instabilities that excite transverse acoustic modes of the combustion chamber. Recent simulation and experimental studies have shown that much of the flame response during transverse instabilities is due to the longitudinal fluid motions induced by the fluctuating pressure field above a nozzle. In this study, we analyze the multi-dimensional acoustic field excited by transverse acoustic disturbances interacting with an annular side branch, emulating a fuel/air mixing nozzle. Key findings of this work show that the resultant velocity fields are critically dependent upon the structure of the transverse acoustic field and the nozzle impedance. Significantly, we also show that certain cases can be understood from relatively simple quasi one-dimensional considerations, but that other cases are intrinsically three-dimensional.
Numerical Prediction of the Intracellular ICE Formation Zone during Cryosurgery on a Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma Using Liquid Nitrogen Spray
Authors: Sun F. , Martínez-Suástegui L. , Wang G.-X. , Kelly K.M. , Aguilar G.
Published: December 2012

Cryosurgery is a surgical technique that employs freezing to destroy target tumor tissue. While the main objective during a cryosurgical procedure is to ensure tissue destruction within the cryolesion, the greatest challenge is how to spare the surrounding healthy tissues from cryoablation. In this work, a historical review of the field of cryosurgery is presented followed by a theoretical study where a mathematical model is developed for cryosurgery on a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using liquid nitrogen ( LN2) spray. The model takes into consideration the anatomic structure of skin tissue and the irregular geometry of BCC. In particular, a methodology for quantitatively determining the extent of the intracellular ice formation ( IIF) zone based on the tissue temperature and cooling rate (CR) is proposed, which can directly relate to the necrosis of the cancer cells after cryosurgery. The model is then used to analyze formation of the IIF zone during cryosurgery on a BCC and quantification is provided for the volume of the final IIF zone. A parametric study is also carried out to investigate the effect of various protocol parameters on the final IIF zone. The results should be useful for dermatologists for pre-treatment surgery planning.
Innovation Management: Part 1 A Breakthrough Approach to Organizational Excellence
Authors: Harrington James , Voehl Frank
Published: December 2012

There is an ongoing need to explore opportunities and build a healthy and prosperous future, create new revenue streams and wealth, discover new solutions, and transform our organizations, industries, and societies. This need leads us to focus on innovation management. Through innovation management, order can be found in chaos, while nations, industries and economies can be pulled out of crisis. This will lead to a new foundation for growth and prosperity, which may be realized sooner rather than later.

Despite the growing awareness that innovation is the only sustainable source of growth, competitive advantage, and new wealth, the Council on Competitive Report [1] and a recent Arthur D. Little survey of 700 global companies and their executives found fewer than 25 percent of the companies believe innovation performance is where it needs to be if they are to be successful in the competitive global marketplace. Having tried endless alternatives, company leaders are now ready to accept innovation management as a key operational discipline, just as in the past they adopted the disciplines of quality, strategic planning, and performance management systems [2]. Innovation management is not a new concept in most organizations. However, the old tried and true ways, even those that may have worked in the past, are no longer adequate for the organizations of tomorrow. Across the board, organizations are engaged in new and exciting experiments to reinvent the way they conceptualise and create the future, because the old business-as-usual approaches have not produced the desired results [3].
A Novel Innovation Management Process: For Applications in Fields such as Food Innovation
Authors: Skalkos Dimitris
Published: December 2012

The sustained competitive advantage of a company today requires the management of internal and external knowledge and leveraging it to create innovation. The 21st century is rapidly moving into what is being called the "global knowledge economy," marked by the increased turbulence, uncertainty, and ambiguity of the current economic climate. Managing innovation requires research methods which evaluate: a) the technological abilities, b) the procedures, and c) the needs of a company/organization and propose specific actions for improvements, progress, and development. This paper proposes a process for managing innovation in small to medium size enterprise (SME). In order to support this process, this article elaborates on the innovation management techniques through a directory, which organizes techniques and tools into four generic types and 36 sub categories. Finally, to demonstrate this process a fictitious case example is presented.
Innovation Trajectories within the Support of Decisions: Insights about S-Curve and Dominant Design Models
Authors: Borgianni Yuri , Rotini Federico
Published: December 2012

The research about the patterns of technology evolution is populated by descriptive models, explaining quite regular trends of product development processes. The most popular schemes share the idea of long innovation periods characterized by incremental improvements and punctuated by technological turmoil events. Within the engineering field, such pattern can be described by S-shaped curves depicting the growth of performances in charge of technological paradigms, which approach their natural limit after entering their maturity stage. The birth of a novel S-curve symbolizes the emergence of a new breakthrough technology, which is followed by the choice of a preferred paradigm in the industry, generally designated as Dominant Design. However, new exigencies expressed by practitioners have remarked the limitations of qualitative models. Whereas some contributions openly question the general validity of the described models, a remarkable amount of literature claims that certain conditions related to the innovation processes have to be respected to make the outlined frameworks be valid. A deeper understanding about the open issues raised by the paper would result in more conscious innovation practices. Indeed, the exploitation of reliable models pertaining innovation trajectories could result in assessing the advantages arising by introducing new product functions or characteristics, enhancing performances on which industry is currently competing, reengineering manufacturing processes.
Conference Review: Can You Learn Innovation & New Product Development by Attending a Conference?
Authors: Glassman Brian
Published: December 2012

This is not an advertisement for a conference; it is serious analysis and critique of a new product development and innovation conference from a learning perspective to determine if one could ‘learn new product development and innovation in a conference setting. The author attended the product innovation management annual conference in Orlando in October 2012 [1, 2] and audited the academic forum, workshop series, and general conference sessions with special attention paid to the format and content. Participant's ratings of "value" and "the amount they learned" were captured from "beginners" and "experts". The results show that individuals who prefer learning through auditory and reading/writing reported, "absorbing" the most; while kinesthetic learners and those who required all inputs (auditory, visual, written/reading, and kinesthetic) wanted a greater variety of formats namely more exercises, demonstrations, case examples, and videos examples. The author tentatively concluded that "yes" one can learn NPD and innovation practices effectively at a conference setting where content and quality of materials and speakers are high. Importantly, the content quality appears to be highly dependent on the conference organizer's depth of knowledge in the topic areas. Suggested improvements to future conferences to help individuals learn more would include providing handouts and summaries after each session for the read/write learners, to increase the number of charts, graphs, diagrams, and videos for visual learners, and to increase the Q&A time allotments and included moderated discussions sessions for auditory/ learners.
The Size and Shape of "Idea Space" Figure 1 & 2 updated
Authors: Spencer Robin
Published: December 2012

Due to a misprint Figure 1 & 2 were incorrectly displayed in the original manuscript published in volume 4 issue 2; the following presents the corrected figures.
Students as Co-Curators in the Virtual Museum of Folk Musical Instruments for Children: Roles, Rules and Realities
Authors: Papaioannou Georgios , Stergiaki Athanasia
Published: December 2012

The Virtual Museum of Folk Musical Instruments for Children (VMuFoMIC) originated in late 2010– early 2011 from the joint efforts of the authors (lead curators) and a number of secondary school students (co-curators) from the Paradeisi High School on the island of Rhodes, Greece. It was a participatory museum project using digital tools according to the students' educational/curricular requirements. The process involved: (1) the definition of digital co-curatorial objectives, rules and roles; (2) the input of the co-curators (students); and (3) meetings, discussions, co-decisions and continuous feedback on the VMuFoMIC interface, content and applications. In conclusion, the digital co-curatorial process that led to VMuFoMIC was a demanding undertaking with a well-received outcome, since all parties involved enjoyed and benefited from it.
Neurodegenerative diseases: Quantitative predictions of protein–RNA interactions
Authors: Cirillo Davide , Agostini Federico , Klus Petr , Marchese Domenica , Rodriguez Silvia , Bolognesi Benedetta , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano
Published: December 2012

Increasing evidence indicates that RNA plays an active role in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. We recently introduced a theoretical framework, catRAPID, to predict the binding ability of protein and RNA molecules. Here, we use catRAPID to investigate ribonucleoprotein interactions linked to inherited intellectual disability, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Creutzfeuld-Jakob, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. We specifically focus on (1) RNA interactions with fragile X mental retardation protein FMRP; (2) protein sequestration caused by CGG repeats; (3) noncoding transcripts regulated by TAR DNA-binding protein 43 TDP-43; (4) autogenous regulation of TDP-43 and FMRP; (5) iron-mediated expression of amyloid precursor protein APP and α-synuclein; (6) interactions between prions and RNA aptamers. Our results are in striking agreement with experimental evidence and provide new insights in processes associated with neuronal function and misfunction.
Transcriptome-wide identification of A > I RNA editing sites by inosine specific cleavage
Authors: Cattenoz Pierre B. , Taft Ryan J. , Westhof Eric , Mattick John S.
Published: December 2012

Adenosine to inosine (A > I) RNA editing, which is catalyzed by the ADAR family of proteins, is one of the fundamental mechanisms by which transcriptomic diversity is generated. Indeed, a number of genome-wide analyses have shown that A > I editing is not limited to a few mRNAs, as originally thought, but occurs widely across the transcriptome, especially in the brain. Importantly, there is increasing evidence that A > I editing is essential for animal development and nervous system function. To more efficiently characterize the complete catalog of ADAR events in the mammalian transcriptome we developed a high-throughput protocol to identify A > I editing sites, which exploits the capacity of glyoxal to protect guanosine, but not inosine, from RNAse T1 treatment, thus facilitating extraction of RNA fragments with inosine bases at their termini for high-throughput sequencing. Using this method we identified 665 editing sites in mouse brain RNA, including most known sites and suite of novel sites that include nonsynonymous changes to protein-coding genes, hyperediting of genes known to regulate p53, and alterations to non-protein-coding RNAs. This method is applicable to any biological system for the de novo discovery of A > I editing sites, and avoids the complicated informatic and practical issues associated with editing site identification using traditional RNA sequencing data. This approach has the potential to substantially increase our understanding of the extent and function of RNA editing, and thereby to shed light on the role of transcriptional plasticity in evolution, development, and cognition.
Molecular mimicry of human tRNALys anti-codon domain by HIV-1 RNA genome facilitates tRNA primer annealing
Authors: Jones Christopher P. , Saadatmand Jenan , Kleiman Lawrence , Musier-Forsyth Karin
Published: December 2012

The primer for initiating reverse transcription in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is tRNALys3. Host cell tRNALys is selectively packaged into HIV-1 through a specific interaction between the major tRNALys-binding protein, human lysyl-tRNA synthetase (hLysRS), and the viral proteins Gag and GagPol. Annealing of the tRNA primer onto the complementary primer-binding site (PBS) in viral RNA is mediated by the nucleocapsid domain of Gag. The mechanism by which tRNALys3 is targeted to the PBS and released from hLysRS prior to annealing is unknown. Here, we show that hLysRS specifically binds to a tRNA anti-codon-like element (TLE) in the HIV-1 genome, which mimics the anti-codon loop of tRNALys and is located proximal to the PBS. Mutation of the U-rich sequence within the TLE attenuates binding of hLysRS in vitro and reduces the amount of annealed tRNALys3 in virions. Thus, LysRS binds specifically to the TLE, which is part of a larger LysRS binding domain in the viral RNA that includes elements of the Psi packaging signal. Our results suggest that HIV-1 uses molecular mimicry of the anti-codon of tRNALys to increase the efficiency of tRNALys3 annealing to viral RNA.
Low prevalence of hypopituitarism after subarachnoid haemorrhage using confirmatory testing and with BMI-specific GH cut-off levels
Authors: Gardner Chris J , Javadpour Mohsen , Stoneley Catherine , Purthuran Mani , Biswas Shubhabrata , Daousi Christina , MacFarlane Ian A , Cuthbertson Daniel J
Published: December 2012

Objective

Hypopituitarism following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) has been reported to be a frequent occurrence. However, there is considerable heterogeneity between studies with differing patient populations and treatment modalities and most importantly employing differing endocrine protocols and (normal) reference ranges of GH. We aimed to examine prospectively a cohort of SAH survivors for development of hypopituitarism post-SAH using rigorous endocrine testing and compare GH response to glucagon stimulation with a cohort of healthy controls of a similar BMI.

Design and methods

Sixty-four patients were investigated for evidence of hypopituitarism 3 months post-SAH with 50 patients tested again at 12 months. Glucagon stimulation testing (GST), with confirmation of deficiencies by GHRH/arginine testing for GH deficiency (GHD) and short synacthen testing for ACTH deficiency, was used. Basal testing of other hormonal axes was undertaken.

Results

Mean age of patients was 53±11.7 years and mean BMI was 27.5±5.7 kg/m2. After confirmatory testing, the prevalence of hypopituitarism was 12% (GHD 10%, asymptomatic hypocortisolaemia 2%). There was no association between hypopituitarism and post-SAH vasospasm, presence of cerebral infarction, Fisher grade, or clinical grading at presentation. There was a significant correlation between BMI and peak GH to glucagon stimulation in both patients and controls.

Conclusions

Identification of ‘true’ GHD after SAH requires confirmatory testing with an alternative stimulation test and application of BMI-specific cut-offs. Using such stringent criteria, we found a prevalence of hypopituitarism of 12% in our population.
Nocturnal oxytocin secretion is lower in amenorrheic athletes than nonathletes and associated with bone microarchitecture and finite element analysis parameters
Authors: Lawson Elizabeth A , Ackerman Kathryn E , Estella Nara Mendes , Guereca Gabriela , Pierce Lisa , Sluss Patrick M , Bouxsein Mary L , Klibanski Anne , Misra Madhusmita
Published: December 2012

Objective

Preclinical data indicate that oxytocin, a hormone produced in the hypothalamus and secreted into the peripheral circulation, is anabolic to bone. Oxytocin knockout mice have severe osteoporosis, and administration of oxytocin improves bone microarchitecture in these mice. Data suggest that exercise may modify oxytocin secretion, but this has not been studied in athletes in relation to bone. We therefore investigated oxytocin secretion and its association with bone microarchitecture and strength in young female athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study of 45 females, 14–21 years (15 amenorrheic athletes (AA), 15 eumenorrheic athletes (EA), and 15 nonathletes (NA)), of comparable bone age and BMI.

Methods

We used high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT to assess bone microarchitecture and finite element analysis to estimate bone strength at the weight-bearing distal tibia and non-weight-bearing ultradistal radius. Serum samples were obtained every 60 min, 2300–0700 h, and pooled for an integrated measure of nocturnal oxytocin secretion. Midnight and 0700 h samples were used to assess diurnal variation of oxytocin.

Results

Nocturnal oxytocin levels were lower in AA and EA than in NA. After controlling for estradiol, the difference in nocturnal oxytocin between AA and NA remained significant. Midnight and 0700 h oxytocin levels did not differ between groups. At the tibia and radius, AA had impaired microarchitecture compared with NA. In AA, nocturnal oxytocin correlated strongly with trabecular and cortical microarchitecture, particularly at the non-weight-bearing radius. In regression models that include known predictors of microarchitecture in AA, oxytocin accounted for a substantial portion of the variability in microarchitectural and strength parameters.

Conclusions

Nocturnal oxytocin secretion is low in AA compared with NA and associated with site-dependent microarchitectural parameters. Oxytocin may contribute to hypoestrogenemic bone loss in AA.
Endocrine health conditions in adult survivors of childhood cancer: the need for specialized adult-focused follow-up clinics
Authors: Brignardello E , Felicetti F , Castiglione A , Chiabotto P , Corrias A , Fagioli F , Ciccone G , Boccuzzi G
Published: December 2012

Background

Survival rates among childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have enormously increased in the last 40 years. However, this improvement has been achieved at the expense of serious late effects that frequently involve the endocrine system.

Aim

To evaluate the cumulative incidence of endocrine diseases in a cohort of long-term CCS.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the clinical data of 310 adults, followed for a median time of 16.0 years after the first cancer diagnosis. The monitoring protocols applied to each patient were personalized on the basis of cancer diagnosis and previous treatments, according to the Children's Oncology Group guidelines.

Results

The cumulative incidence of endocrine late effects steadily increased over time. At the last follow-up visit available, 48.46% of females and 62.78% of males were affected by at least one endocrine disease. The most common disorders were gonadal dysfunction, primary hypothyroidism, and GH deficiency (GHD). The main risk factors for endocrine disease were male sex (hazard ratio (HR)=1.45, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.05–1.99), radiotherapy (HR=1.91, 95% CI 1.28–2.84), hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HR=3.11, 95% CI 2.23–4.34), and older age at cancer diagnosis (HR=1.89, 95% CI 1.25–2.85). Male sex was associated with a higher risk of gonadal disorders, whereas radiotherapy specifically increased the risk of GHD and thyroid dysfunction.

Conclusions

Endocrine disorders among CCS have a high prevalence and increase over time. Thus, endocrinologists need to cope with an increasing demand for health care in a field that is still little developed and that, in perspective, could also be extended to some selected types of adult cancer survivors.
hCG-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress triggers apoptosis and reduces steroidogenic enzyme expression through activating transcription factor 6 in Leydig cells of the testis
Authors: Park Sun-Ji , Kim Tae-Shin , Park Choon-Keun , Lee Sang-Hee , Kim Jin-Man , Lee Kyu-Sun , Lee In-kyu , Park Jeen-Woo , Lawson Mark A , Lee Dong-Seok
Published: December 2012

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress generally occurs in secretory cell types. It has been reported that Leydig cells, which produce testosterone in response to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), express key steroidogenic enzymes for the regulation of testosterone synthesis. In this study, we analyzed whether hCG induces ER stress via three unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in mouse Leydig tumor (mLTC-1) cells and the testis. Treatment with hCG induced ER stress in mLTC-1 cells via the ATF6, IRE1a/XBP1, and eIF2α/GADD34/ATF4 UPR pathways, and transient expression of 50 kDa protein activating transcription factor 6 (p50ATF6) reduced the expression level of steroidogenic 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase △5-△4-isomerase (3β-HSD) enzyme. In an in vivo model, high-level hCG treatment induced expression of p50ATF6 while that of steroidogenic enzymes, especially 3β-HSD, 17α-hydroxylase/C17–20 lyase (CYP17), and 17β-hydrozysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), was reduced. Expression levels of steroidogenic enzymes were restored by the ER stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). Furthermore, lentivirus-mediated transient expression of p50ATF6 reduced the expression level of 3β-HSD in the testis. Protein expression levels of phospho-JNK, CHOP, and cleaved caspases-12 and -3 as markers of ER stress-mediated apoptosis markedly increased in response to high-level hCG treatment in mLTC-1 cells and the testis. Based on transmission electron microscopy and H&E staining of the testis, it was shown that abnormal ER morphology and destruction of testicular histology induced by high-level hCG treatment were reversed by the addition of TUDCA. These findings suggest that hCG-induced ER stress plays important roles in steroidogenic enzyme expression via modulation of the ATF6 pathway as well as ER stress-mediated apoptosis in Leydig cells.
Expression of tachykinin receptors (tacr1a and tacr1b) in zebrafish: influence of cocaine and opioid receptors
Authors: López-Bellido Roger , Barreto-Valer Katherine , Rodríguez Raquel E
Published: December 2012

Opioid and tachykinin receptors (TACRs) are closely related in addiction and pain processes. In zebrafish, opioid receptors have been cloned and characterized both biochemically and pharmacologically. However, thetacr1gene has not yet been described in zebrafish. The aim of this research was to identify thetacr1gene, study the effects of cocaine ontacr1, and analyze the interaction betweentacr1and opioid receptors. We have identified a duplicate oftacr1gene in zebrafish, designated astacr1aandtacr1b. Phylogenetic analyses revealed an alignment of these receptors in the Tacr1 fish cluster, with a clear distinction from other TACR1s of amphibians, birds, and mammals. Our qPCR results showed thattacr1aandtacr1bmRNAs are expressed during embryonic development. Whole-mountin situhybridization showedtacr1expression in the CNS and in the peripheral tissues. Cocaine (1.5 μM) induced an upregulation oftacr1aandtacr1bat 24 and 48 h post-fertilization (hpf; except fortacr1aat 48 hpf, which was downregulated). By contrast, HEK-293 cells transfected withtacr1aandtacr1band exposed to cocaine showed a downregulation oftacr1s. The knockdown of ZfDOR2 and ZfMOR, opioid receptors, induced a down- and upregulation oftacr1aandtacr1brespectively. In conclusion,tacr1aandtacr1bin zebrafish are widely expressed throughout the CNS and peripherally, suggesting a critical role of thesetacr1sduring embryogenesis.tacr1aandtacr1bmRNA expression is altered by cocaine exposure and by the knockdown of opioid receptors. Thus, zebrafish can provide clues for a better understanding of the relationship between tachykinin and opioid receptors in pain and addiction during embryonic development.
Exendin-4 inhibits glucolipotoxic ER stress in pancreatic β cells via regulation of SREBP1c and C/EBPβ transcription factors
Authors: Oh Yoon Sin , Lee Youn-Jung , Kang Yup , Han Jaeseok , Lim Oh-Kyung , Jun Hee-Sook
Published: December 2012

Prolonged exposure to high glucose (HG) and palmitate (PA) results in increased ER stress and subsequently induces β-cell apoptosis. Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist, is known to protect β cells from toxicity induced by cytokines, HG, or fatty acids by reducing ER stress. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms for this protective effect are still not known. In this study, we investigated the role of exendin-4 in the inhibition of glucolipotoxicity-induced ER stress and β-cell apoptosis. Exendin-4 treatment protected INS-1 β cells from apoptosis in response to HG/PA (25 mM glucose+400 μM PA). HG/PA treatment increased cleaved caspase-3 and induced ER stress maker proteins such as PERK (EIF2AK3), ATF6, and phosphorylated forms of PERK, eIF2α, IRE1α (ERN1), and JNK (MAPK8), and these increases were significantly inhibited by exendin-4 treatment. HG/PA treatment of INS-1 cells increased SREBP1 (SREBF1) protein and induced its nuclear translocation and subsequently increased C/EBPβ (CEBPB) protein and its nuclear translocation. Exendin-4 treatment attenuated this increase. Knockdown ofSREBP1creduced the activation ofC/EBPβand also blocked the expression of ER stress markers induced by HG/PA treatment. Our results indicate that exendin-4 inhibits the activation of SREBP1c and C/EBPβ, which, in turn, may reduce glucolipotoxicity-induced ER stress and β-cell apoptosis.