bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Floral biology of Senecio macrophyllus M. BIEB. (Asteraceae), a rare Central European steppe plant
Authors: Czarnecka Bożenna , Denisow Bożena
Published: March 2014

Knowledge of the flowering phase and plant pollination ecology is very important for understanding the life history of long-lived perennials. In the case of rare species, the information may have implications for conservation practices. Our studies on flower morphology and blooming biology of the vulnerable plant Senecio macrophyllus M. BIEB. were conducted in situ (flowering, activity of insect visitors) in the largest population in SE Poland and in laboratory (light and scanning electron microscopy). The disc florets open diurnally with most intensive anthesis in the early afternoon and attract insect visitors with nectar and pollen. In highly protandrous disc florets, pollen viability decreases in time, whereas stigma receptivity increases. The upper part of the pistil forms a brush-like pollen presenter, covered with unicellular trichomes with chromoplasts. Pollen presentation lasts 4–11 hours per floret, and 8 days in a single head, the main function of which is to extend the availability of male gamets for reproduction. The number of florets per head, the head size, and the number of pollen grains produced per anther, and the pollen grain viability differed significantly between microsites. The finding indicates that, apart from the biotic factors, abiotic conditions may considerably influence generative reproduction of the species. In the study area, the principal visitors of S. macrophyllus flowers were Hymenoptera, with predominance of Apis mellifera (53.4% of visits). The remarkable share of butterflies (13.9%) recognized as the long-distance moving insects may improve the genetic variability of individuals within a fragmented population. A more detailed study is necessary to explain the role of insect visitors in effective pollination and in gene transfer between patches. The assessment of optimal conditions for the generative reproduction is fundamental for the in situ conservation of this rare species.
Niche conservatism of Eulophia alta, a trans-Atlantic orchid species
Authors: Kolanowska Marta , Szlachetko Dariusz L.
Published: March 2014

The genus Eulophia embraces over 230 species distributed through the tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. In Neotropics it is represented by a sole species – E. alta. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the difference between ecological niches occupied by American and African populations of this species based on the ecological niche modeling. The similarity between the glacial and present niches occupied by E. alta was calculated and the factors limiting the species occurrence were identified. Areas of seasonal tropical forest, tropical savanna and woodland served as refugia for the studied species during last glacial maximum and they were more widespread in Neotropics than in Africa. No significant niche shift after last glacial maximum was observed. The distribution of E. alta in its whole range is restricted mainly by temperature seasonality. The differences in the niches occupied by African and Neotropical populations of E. alta suggest preglacial disjunction of the species range and independent adaptation of both groups. Despite the significant range disjunction of E. alta the species is characterized by relatively high degree of niche conservatism.
Impact of supervised drug consumption services on access to and engagement with care at a palliative and supportive care facility for people living with HIV/AIDS: a qualitative study
Authors: McNeil Ryan , Dilley Laura B , Guirguis‐Younger Manal , Hwang Stephen W , Small Will
Published: March 2014

Introduction

Improvements in the availability and effectiveness of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have prolonged the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, mortality rates have remained high among populations that encounter barriers to accessing and adhering to HAART, notably people who use drugs. This population consequently has a high burden of illness and complex palliative and supportive care needs, but is often unable to access these services due to anti‐drug policies and discrimination. In Vancouver, Canada, the Dr. Peter Centre (DPC), which operates a 24‐bed residential HIV/AIDS care facility, has sought to improve access to palliative and supportive care services by adopting a comprehensive harm reduction strategy, including supervised injection services. We undertook this study to explore how the integration of comprehensive harm reduction services into this setting shapes access to and engagement with care.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 DPC residents between November 2010 and August 2011. Interviews made use of a semistructured interview guide which facilitated discussion regarding how the DPC Residence's model of care (a) shaped healthcare access, (b) influenced healthcare interactions and (c) impacted drug use practices and overall health. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results

Participant accounts highlight how the harm reduction policy altered the structural‐environmental context of healthcare services and thus mediated access to palliative and supportive care services. Furthermore, this approach fostered an atmosphere in which drug use could be discussed without the risk of punitive action, and thus increased openness between residents and staff. Finally, participants reported that the environmental supports provided by the DPC Residence decreased drug‐related risks and improved health outcomes, including HAART adherence and survival.

Conclusions

This study highlights how adopting comprehensive harm reduction services can serve to improve access and equity in palliative and supportive care for drug‐using populations.
Measuring Instruments for Optical Transfer Function
Authors: Kubota Hiroshi
Published: March 2014

This report is presented on the results of research works conducted in the past ten years by the group of “the Subcommittee of the lens performance in the Japanese Optical Engineering Research Association,” with the purpose of making the Optical transfer function efficient in the evaluation of optical instruments in the optical industry. In particular, six instruments made by this group for measuring the optical transfer function are taken up and explained in detail. The best way is also suggested of dealing with the measured values of optical transfer function of a lens.
Measurement of OTF Using Large Test Pattern of Single Frequency
Authors: Tatuoka Sizuo
Published: March 2014

So as to evaluate TV lenses, large test pattern (2 m×2 m) was constructed. Throughout the pattern, the period of sine charts is 5 mm and the direction of stripes is vertical. Imaged by 1/50, its spatial frequency is 10 lines/mm. By adjusting the uniformity of brightness, the decrease of mean illumination at the corner of the image plane can be measured simultaneously. By scanning the intensity distribution of the image horizontally, OTF at the cut off frequency of TV cameras were measured on a image plane. A temporary standard was obtained by using an area weighted average of OTF, R̄, and a distortion factor, K, which is the rms value of the variation of OTF devided by R̄. That is; R̄ should be larger than 90%, or if R̄ is between 80 and 90%, K should be smaller than 10%.
The Application of Optical Transfer Function in Radiography
Authors: Doi K. , Kaji A. , Takizawa T. , Sayanagi K.
Published: March 2014

The image transfer systems in radiography are classified into four stages corresponding to the tone reproduction characteristics of each element. The optical transfer treatment can be applied to imaging elements at the linear stages effectively. The optical transfer functions of the x ray fluorescent screen, the x ray tube focus and the x ray intensifying screen are obtained experimentally using a direct scanning apparatus which acts as a Fourier transformer.
The optical transfer function of the x ray tube focus measured and the line spread function calculated are qualitatively corresponding to the photographs of the Siemens' star and the pin-hole respectively. The optical transfer function of the intensifying screen can be obtained by additive combination of front and back screen. Over-all Optical transfer functions in radiophotography, radiography and fluoroscopy at the linear stage are calculated as an imaging property of image transfer systems.
Evaluation of Light-Scattering Images
Authors: Urbach J. C.
Published: March 2014

Image recording processes which yield non-absorbing, light-scattering images exhibit characteristics not encountered in conventional photographic processes. Some of these characteristics must be considered in any evaluation of the quality of light-scattering images. One such characteristic is the dependence of the projected image of a light-scattering transparency upon the relative aperture of the projector lens. This effect is examined in the case of a conventional projection system.
The detail-recording characteristics of the Frost thermoplastic xerography process have been examined. A tentative model for this process is proposed, and the usefulness of this model is discussed on the basis of experimental data on the recording of sinusoidal test patterns. An unusual characteristic of the process has been observed and has been elucidated further by measurement of noise spectra.
Versatile Far Infrared Spectrophotometer
Authors: Kudo K. , Mochida Y.
Published: March 2014

A far infrared Spectrophotometer for examining optical properties of various materials and for testing new infrared detectors in the wavelength range from 2 to 1000 µ is described. The instrument consists of two monochromators; one (A) is for the wavelength shorter and the other (B) longer than 50µ. Order separation of grating is performed by a fore monochromator using NaCl, KBr and CsI prisms in (A) and by filter combinations in (B). 6 gratings in (A) monochromator and 5 in (B) are used and they are interchanged by a turret device. The spectrometer is designed so as to make such various kinds of measurement as double beam, single beam and reflection measurements possible. Single beam spectra of H2O vapor, double beam spectrum of H2S and reflectance of NaCl are obtained.
Instruments et techniques pour l'ultraviolet lointain au C. N. R. S. -Bellevue
Authors: Vodar B.
Published: March 2014

This paper describes the work done recently at the C. N. R. S. Bellevue on instrumentation problems and techniques in the vacuum ultraviolet.
The application of the vacuum spark emission spectrum in the far ultraviolet to the spectrochemical analysis of metalloids in steel samples has been developed, and presently the direct reading instrument is able to measure the concentration of C, S, P, Si, As, and also of nitrogen and oxygen.
A refined calculation of a focalisation mechanism for a normal incidence grating monochromator has led to an instrument of very compact design.
Attempts were directed towards the study of polarized light in far U. V. and results have been obtained using stacked fluorite plates. A linear dichroïsm effect has been observed on thin samples of calcite in the region 1660–1900 Å.
The study of absorption spectra in the extreme ultraviolet, using the continuous spectrum emitted by the vacuum spark as a background, allowed the observation of a particular transition mechanism in the case of xenon: the electron jump occurs between a level from an internal shell to upper levels beyond the external shell.
On the Ruling Errors of a Diffraction Grating and Their Effects on the Spectral Lines
Authors: Shimizu Kajuro
Published: March 2014

Three kinds of the ruling errors of a diffraction grating and their effects on the shape of a spectral line are described.
Firstly, periodic errors, secondly, the error caused by the curved ruled lines like many parallel hooks, and thirdly, fanning error are considered in relation to the intensity distribution of the spectral line based upon the calculated results of a point source image. All these calculations have been made by using an electronic computer.
Spectroscopy of He-Ne Laser Discharge
Authors: Suzuki Norihito
Published: March 2014

In pulse operations 'of helium neon laser, an infrared laser 1.15 µ oscillation is enhanced in afterglow period. However, a visible laser oscillation is not enhanced in the afterglow period. To investigate these phenomena, measurements and analysis of decay rates of metastable helium atoms and afterglow emission are attempted. A 600 Å band emission of helium molecule is also measured to investigate the decay of the visible laser oscillation.
Triple Helix and Innovation in the Life-Science Industry
Authors: Giustiniano Luca , D’Alise Chiara
Published: March 2014

The paper analyses the impact of the “Triple Helix” on innovation by assuming a network theory approach. The aim is to build a theoretical framework to improve the understanding of the effect of clusters involving industrial, academic and institutional players on the cluster’s innovation. In particular the work is focused on intra-cluster and inter-cluster structural and nodal characteristics in the life-science industry.
Sustainable Tourism: A Case Study on Salt Spring Island
Authors: OuYang Huixuan , Liu Sixin
Published: March 2014

Over the past few decades, tourism has become one of the mainstay industries for many communities. Salt Spring Island, an island the south of Vancouver Island, is no exception to the benefits of tourism. Sustainable tourism is a necessary and useful pattern to Salt Spring Island. Under this perspective, there are some challenges that exist on Salt Spring Island regarding the tourism industry. Seasonality and inconvenient transportation are the major challenges, for seasonality will cause unstable revenue and under-or unemployment issues, which will affect residents’ quality of life; the inconvenient transportation will not only influence the locals’ daily life, but also reduce tourists’ interest in travelling. The paper contains three sections: the challenges that exist on Salt Spring Island tourism industries, the measures are using on Salt Spring Island, and innovative approaches from outside the region to help Salt Spring Island to improve its tourism development and sustainability. Despite the local people’s efforts to come up with solutions to the issues, these solutions cannot solve the problems because these solutions do not address the root of the problems. Therefore, the authors suggest three innovations to solve these two problems, including building greenways and automatic rental bicycle system, creating a theme for events, and developing wellness tourism.
“Adaptive Expectations” of Milton Friedman and Monetarists and Phillips Curve; And the Comparison of them with Other Macroeconomic Schools
Authors: Birol Özlen Hiç
Published: March 2014

The focus of this article is the “adaptive expectations hypothesis” of Milton Friedman and his analysis of short-run and long-run Phillips Curve. In order to analyze these contributions of M. Friedman more clearly, discussions about the Phillips Curve and different views about this issue according to various macroeconomic schools and information about the evolution of the Phillips Curve Analysis are given. In this sense, apart from Milton Friedman and Monetarists, Phillips Curve was analyzed in a successive order compatible with the history of discussion within Keynes and Keynesian economics, New Keynesian Economics and New Classical School operating with “rational expectations hypothesis”.
In Vivo Diagnosis of Esophageal Cancer Using Image-Guided Raman Endoscopy and Biomolecular Modeling
Authors: Bergholt M. S. , Zheng W. , Lin K. , Ho K. Y. , Teh M. , Yeoh K. G. , So J. B. Y. , Huang Z.
Published: March 2014

The aim of this work was to evaluate the biochemical foundation and clinical merit of multimodal image-guided Raman endoscopy technique for real-time in vivo diagnosis of cancer in the esophagus during clinical endoscopic examinations. A novel fiber-optic Raman endoscopy system was utilized for in vivo esophageal Raman measurements at 785 nm laser excitation within 0.5 second under the multimodal wide-field endoscopic imaging (white light reflectance (WLR) imaging, narrow-band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) guidance. A total of 75 esophageal tissue sites from 27 patients were measured, in which 42 in vivo Raman spectra were from normal tissues and 33 in vivo Raman spectra were from malignant tumors as confirmed by histopathology. The biomolecular modeling (non-negativity-constrained least-squares minimization (NNCLSM) utilizing six basis reference spectra from the representative biochemicals ( i.e., actin, collagen, DNA, histones, triolein and glycogen) were employed to estimate the biochemical compositions of esophageal tissue. The resulting diagnostically significant fit coefficients were further utilized through linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and leave-one tissue site-out, cross validation method to develop diagnostic algorithms for esophageal cancer diagnosis. High-quality in vivo Raman spectra in the range of 800–1800 cm−1 can be acquired from normal and cancerous esophageal mucosa in real-time under multimodal endoscopic imaging guidance. Esophageal cancer tissue showed distinct Raman signals mainly associated with cell proliferation, lipid reduction, abnormal nuclear activity and neovasculation. The fit coefficients for actin, DNA, histones, triolein, and glycogen were found to be most significant for construction of the LDA diagnostic model, giving rise to an accuracy of 96.0% ( i.e., sensitivity of 97.0% and specificity of 95.2%) for in vivo diagnosis of esophageal cancer. This study demonstrates that multimodal image-guided Raman endoscopy technique in conjunction with biomolecular modeling has promising potential for the real-time, in vivo diagnosis and detection of esophageal cancer during clinical endoscopic examination.
Diagnostic Potential of Stokes Shift Spectroscopy of Breast and Prostate Tissues — A Preliminary Pilot Study
Authors: Ebenezar J. , Pu Y. , Liu C. H. , Wang W. B. , Alfano R. R.
Published: March 2014

Stokes Shift (SS) Spectroscopy (SSS) of normal and abnormal breast and prostate tissues were studied. SS spectra is measured by simultaneously scanning both the excitation and emission wavelengths while keeping a fixed wavelength interval of Δλ = 20 nm. Characteristic, highly resolved peaks and significant spectral differences between normal and different pathological tissues of breast and prostate tissues were observed. The SS spectra of normal and different pathological breast and prostate tissues show the distinct peaks around 300, 350, 450, 500 and 600 nm may be attributed to tryptophan, collagen, NADH, flavin and porphyrin, respectively. Results of the current study demonstrate that the SS spectral changes due to tryptophan, collagen, hemoglobin, NADH, FAD and porphyrin have good diagnostic potential; therefore can be targeted as native tumor markers.
Comparison of IMRT Techniques in the Radiotherapeutic Management of Head and Neck Cancer: Is Tomotherapy “Better” than Step-and-Shoot IMRT?
Authors: Chen A. M. , Marsano J. , Perks J. , Farwell G. , Luu Q. , Donald P. J. , Purdy J. A.
Published: March 2014

Currently, the most common method of delivering intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is through step-and-shoot, segmental multi-leaf collimator (SMLC)-based techniques. Although rotational delivery methods such as helical tomotherapy (HT) have been proposed as offering advantages in the treatment of head and neck cancer, a lack of clinical data exists on its potential utility. This study compared dosimetric, clinical, and quality-of-life endpoints among 149 patients treated by HT and SMLC-IMRT for head and neck cancer. Dosimetric analysis revealed that the use of HT resulted in significant improvements with respect to mean dose (23.5 versus 27.9 Gy, p = 0.03) and V30 (30.1 versus 43.9 Gy, p = 0.01) to the contralateral (spared) parotid gland. However, the incidence of grade 3+ xerostomia in the late setting was 10% and 8% among patients treated by HT and SMLC-IMRT, respectively (p = 0.46). There were no significant differences in any of the quality of life endpoints among patients treated by HT and SMLC-IMRT (p > 0.05, for all). Acknowledging the biases inherent in this retrospective analysis, we found that the dosimetric advantages observed with HT compared to SMLC-IMRT failed to translate into significant improvements in clinical outcome. Prospective studies are needed to further evaluate how HT may affect the therapeutic ratio.
Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidative Potentials of “Beach Morning Glory” Ipomoea pes- caprae (Linn.) Roth Leaves Extract
Authors: Matunog Victoria E. , Bajo Lydia M.
Published: March 2014

Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) Roth, or beach morning glory, is a mangrove associate medicinal plant species of Convolvulaceae family that favorably grows in tropical and subtropical countries. Previous phytochemical screening revealed the presence of pharmacologically active components which could differ according to environmental conditions. In the Philippines, evidences on extensive investigation of the plant are not yet available. This study aimed to conduct phytochemical screening, and antioxidative potential determination of the dried leaves aqueous ethanol extract of I. pes-caprae (Linn.) Roth. Exhaustive serial extraction apportioned the crude ethanol extract (CEE) into hexane extract (HE); ethyl acetate extract (EAE); methanol extract (ME) and aqueous extract (AE). Ferric thiocyanate (FTC) assay determined the antioxidative potentials of CEE and the four serial extracts. The positive controls used in FTC assay were Vitamin E and butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). Phytochemical screening of CEE showed the presence of alkaloids; flavonoids; steroids and triterpenes; and tannins and phenolic compounds. FTC assay on CEE showed antioxidative activity but of lower extent than vitamin E and BHT. For serial extracts, FTC assay revealed that ME and AE possessed antioxidative activity comparable to vitamin E and BHT. These results showed that the wildly grown I. pescaprae is a potential source of pharmacologically active phytochemicals specifically the antioxidants.

Keywords : Convolvulaceae, ferric thiocynate assay, mangrove, pharmacologically active, serial extraction.
Soil Quality of Kapatagan Watershed, Lanao del Norte
Authors: Matunog Victoria E. , Yap Al Jether P. , Gonzaga Hannah E. , Buhi-an Jendelou H.
Published: March 2014

Kapatagan watershed had once provided abounding natural resources to the community but is now degraded due to natural and anthropogenic activities. A rapid site assessment was conducted to determine soil quality of Kapatagan watershed. Seven representative barangays were selected as sampling sites. Moisture, texture, drainage, color and slope, pH, potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus content were the physicochemical properties of soil assessed. Results showed that most of these physicochemical qualities were within the standards while some were already at the borderline and few were outside the standard limit. Soil quality in Curvada was still good and suitable for plant growth. Phosphorus in soil of Mahayahay, Bel-is and Cathedral was already depleted. Mahayahay soil was slightly degraded as indicated further by the color and the surface pH value. These results can be used to evaluate past practices to determine their impact to watershed soil quality and to formulate policy direction towards sustainability. However, further investigation on various chemical, physical, and biological properties is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the current status on soil quality of the area.

Keywords : anthropogenic, natural resources, physicochemical properties, rapid site assessment, sustainability.
Distribution of buried hydrothermal alteration deduced from high‐resolution magnetic surveys in Yellowstone National Park
Authors: Bouligand Claire , Glen Jonathan M.G. , Blakely Richard J.
Published: March 2014

Yellowstone National Park (YNP) displays numerous and extensive hydrothermal features. Although hydrothermal alteration in YNP has been extensively studied, the volume, geometry, and type of rock alteration at depth remain poorly constrained. In this study, we use high‐resolution airborne and ground magnetic surveys and measurements of remanent and induced magnetization of field and drill core samples to provide constraints on the geometry of hydrothermal alteration within the subsurface of three thermal areas in YNP (Firehole River, Smoke Jumper Hot Springs, and Norris Geyser Basin). We observe that hydrothermal zones from both liquid‐ and vapor‐dominated systems coincide with magnetic lows observed in aeromagnetic surveys and with a decrease of the amplitude of short‐wavelength anomalies seen in ground magnetic surveys. This suggests a strong demagnetization of both the shallow and deep substratum within these areas associated with the removal of magnetic minerals by hydrothermal alteration processes. Such demagnetization is confirmed by measurements of rock samples from hydrothermal areas which display significantly decreased total magnetization. A pronounced negative anomaly is observed over the Lone Star Geyser and suggests a significant demagnetization of the substratum associated with areas displaying large‐scale fluid flow. The ground and airborne magnetic surveys are used to evaluate the distribution of magnetization in the subsurface. This study shows that significant demagnetization occurs over a thickness of at least a few hundred meters in hydrothermal areas at YNP and that the maximum degree or maximum thickness of demagnetization correlates closely with the location of hydrothermal activity and mapped alteration.
White House Proposes Modest Increases for Many Science Program Budgets
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2014

The proposed federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2015, released by the White House on 4 March, would provide small increases for a number of science agencies, although some, including NASA, would see a dip in funding. Overall, the budget proposes $135.4 billion for federal research and development (R&D) activities, an increase of $1.7 billion (1.2%) over the FY 2014 enacted levels.
Vladimir I. Keilis‐Borok (1921–2013)
Authors: Gabrielov Andrei , Levshin Anatoli , Newman William I.
Published: March 2014

Vladimir Isaakovich Keilis‐Borok, emeritus Professor in Residence of Geophysics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), passed away on 19 October 2013, following a long illness. He was born on 31 July 1921 in Moscow.
The BLS survey of occupational injuries and illnesses: A primer
Authors: Wiatrowski William J.
Published: March 2014

The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) is the nation's primary surveillance vehicle for nonfatal injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace. Based on recordable injuries and illnesses as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the SOII provides annual counts and rates by industry and state for workers in private industry and state and local government. In addition, the SOII provides details about the most severe injuries and illnesses, including characteristics of the workers involved and details of the circumstances surrounding the incident. To accompany articles that discuss research into the completeness of SOII data, this commentary provides an overview of the SOII. Included is information about the history of capturing data on workplace injuries and illnesses, current survey processes, annual outputs, and an introduction to the current concerns about underreporting. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1085–1089, 2014. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Reduktive Aminierung ohne externe Wasserstoffquelle
Authors: Chusov Denis , List Benjamin
Published: March 2014

Die reduktive Aminierung ohne Wasserstoffquelle wurde entwickelt. Kohlenmonoxid wirkt hierbei als Reduktionsmittel. Die Reaktion läuft mit einer Vielzahl von Carbonylverbindungen und Aminen mit niedrigen Katalysatorladungen effektiv ab und ist mechanistisch interessant, da kein molekularer Wasserstoff beteiligt ist.
Facile Chemoenzymatic Strategies for the Synthesis and Utilization of S‐Adenosyl‐L‐Methionine Analogues
Authors: Singh Shanteri , Zhang Jianjun , Huber Tyler D. , Sunkara Manjula , Hurley Katherine , Goff Randal D. , Wang Guojun , Zhang Wen , Liu Chunming , Rohr Jürgen , Van Lanen Steven G. , Morris Andrew J. , Thorson Jon S.
Published: March 2014

A chemoenzymatic platform for the synthesis of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine (SAM) analogues compatible with downstream SAM‐utilizing enzymes is reported. Forty‐four non‐native S/Se‐alkylated Met analogues were synthesized and applied to probing the substrate specificity of five diverse methionine adenosyltransferases (MATs). Human MAT II was among the most permissive of the MATs analyzed and enabled the chemoenzymatic synthesis of 29 non‐native SAM analogues. As a proof of concept for the feasibility of natural product “alkylrandomization”, a small set of differentially‐alkylated indolocarbazole analogues was generated by using a coupled hMAT2–RebM system (RebM is the sugar C4′‐O‐methyltransferase that is involved in rebeccamycin biosynthesis). The ability to couple SAM synthesis and utilization in a single vessel circumvents issues associated with the rapid decomposition of SAM analogues and thereby opens the door for the further interrogation of a wide range of SAM utilizing enzymes.
The Role of Ligand‐Field States in the Ultrafast Photophysical Cycle of the Prototypical Iron(II) Spin‐Crossover Compound [Fe(ptz)6](BF4)2
Authors: Marino Andrea , Chakraborty Pradip , Servol Marina , Lorenc Maciej , Collet Eric , Hauser Andreas
Published: March 2014

Light‐induced excited spin‐state trapping (LIESST) in iron(II) spin‐crossover compounds, that is, the light‐induced population of the high‐spin (S=2) state below the thermal transition temperature, was discovered thirty years ago. For irradiation into metal–ligand charge transfer (MLCT) bands of the low‐spin (S=0) species the acknowledged sequence takes the system from the initially excited 1MLCT to the high‐spin state via the 3MLCT state within ca. 150 fs, thereby bypassing low‐lying ligand‐field (LF) states. Nevertheless, these play a role, as borne out by the observation of LIESST and reverse‐LIESST on irradiation directly into the LF bands for systems with only high‐energy MLCT states. Herein we elucidate the ultrafast reverse‐LIESST pathway by identifying the lowest energy S=1 LF state as an intermediate state with a lifetime of 39 ps for the light‐induced high‐spin to low‐spin conversion on irradiation into the spin‐allowed LF transition of the high‐spin species in the NIR.
Hexafluoroantimonic Acid Catalysis: Formal [3+2+2] Cycloaddition of Aziridines with Two Alkynes
Authors: Zhou Ming‐Bo , Song Ren‐Jie , Li Jin‐Heng
Published: March 2014

A practical method for the synthesis of azepine derivatives, a typical seven‐membered heterocyclic ring system, was developed and involves the use of hexafluoroantimonic acid to catalyze a formal [3+2+2] cycloaddition of aziridines with two alkynes. This method was applicable to two of the same or different terminal alkynes for the [3+2+2] cycloaddition with unactivated aziridines, and furnished the corresponding azepine derivatives in good yields with good levels of chemo‐ and regioselectivity. The mechanism was also discussed according to the results of the in situ HRMS and 1H NMR analysis.
Functionalized polysiloxane coatings on hot‐rolled and high‐strength Fe 430 B steel: Analysis of mechanical response and resistance to chemicals
Authors: Barletta Massimiliano , Vesco Silvia , Rubino Gianluca , Puopolo Michela , Venettacci Simone
Published: March 2014

Hybrid organic‐inorganic coatings can be extremely beneficial to improve the performance of steel substrates as their outstanding adhesion strength, scratch resistance, and chemical endurance. However, the design and manufacture of the appropriate coating systems on the different metal alloys can be troublesome. Defective coatings can cause the deterioration of their performance, especially the resistance to aggressive chemicals. In this work, the deposition of functionalized methyl phenyl polysiloxane resins on hot rolled and high strength Fe 430 B steel substrates with and without an intermediate layer of a hybrid organic‐inorganic grafting polymer (vinyltriethoxysilane) is comparatively evaluated. Visual appearance, scratch and wear resistance of the coatings as well as their attitude to act as chemical proof barriers are investigated. Proper functionalization of methyl phenyl polysiloxane resins with hydroxyl and alkoxy groups can lead to coatings that are well adhered to the underlying substrates, thus exploiting all the performance they were designed for. In this case, the use of an organo‐silane interlayer can further increment the final properties of the overall coating systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40624.
Rapid prototyping of a miniaturized Electrospinning setup for the production of polymer nanofibers
Authors: Vanderfleet Oriana M. , Gabardo Christine M. , Naeem Fahim M. , Moran‐Mirabal Jose M. , Soleymani Leyla
Published: March 2014

Fabrication of polymeric micro/nanofibers with controllable size, density, orientation, and composition is required for their translation into functional devices and materials. Electrospinning (ES) is a frequently used fiber fabrication technique, where ES parameters such as the applied electric field strength, architecture of the setup, and solution composition are manipulated to control the fiber properties. Here, we present a bench‐top method for fabricating miniaturized, integrated, and highly tunable ES setups based on shrinkable polymer substrates. We show that using a combination of numerical modeling and controlling different parameters in the ES setup, including the spinneret to collector distance, and spinneret and collector designs, it is possible to tune the density, alignment, and orientation of electrospun fibers. In this way, we have produced 300–600 nm wide poly(ethylene oxide) fibers arranged as nonwoven mats on planar electrodes, aligned fibers on electrode edges, and individual suspended fibers spanning gaps between collector electrodes. The ability to rapidly prototype ES setups should enable us to study the effects of spinneret–collector configurations on fiber morphology, distribution, and conformation and to aid in the development of miniaturized ES setups designed to serve specific applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40629.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLUBLE AND MEMBRANE‐BOUND TREHALASES OF THE WHITEFLY, Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Wang Jia , He Wen‐Bo , Su Yun‐Lin , Bing Xiao‐Li , Liu Shu‐Sheng
Published: March 2014

Trehalases (Tres) have been demonstrated to be the key enzymes that are involved in various trehalose‐associated physiological processes in insects. However, little attention has been devoted to the Tres in the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. In this study, a soluble Tre (BtTre‐1) and a membrane‐bound Tre (BtTre‐2) were cloned in the invasive cryptic species Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) of the whitefly B. tabaci complex. Alignment of deduced amino acids sequences of both BtTres revealed that they share common consensus regions and residues with Tres of other insect species. Levels of BtTres expression in various stages and tissues of the whitefly suggested that BtTre‐2 may play a key role in trehalose catabolism during development of the whitefly, especially for oocyte development, while BtTre‐1 may prevent trehalose in salivary gland from leaking and entering into plants along with saliva. Potential roles of trehalose catabolism in response to direct and/or plant‐mediated indirect effects of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl China Virus (TYLCCNV) were also detected. Whiteflies feeding on virus‐infected tobacco plants showed higher BtTres expressions and accordingly higher BtTres activity but lower trehalose content than those feeding on uninfected plants. The enhanced trehalose catabolism may be beneficial to oocyte development in ovary and attenuate plant defensive responses induced by trehalose in saliva. Viruliferous and nonviruliferous whiteflies feeding on cotton, a nonhost plant for TYLCCNV, differed significantly only in trehalose content. The higher trehalose content in viruliferous whiteflies may be conducive to resisting the stress inflicted by TYLCCNV.
Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in arab populations: Genetic analysis of 15 risk loci in a novel case–control sample recruited in Yemen
Authors: Aldhorae Khalid Ahmed , Böhmer Anne C. , Ludwig Kerstin U. , Esmail Ahlam Hibatulla Ali , Al‐Hebshi Nezar Noor , Lippke Bärbel , Gölz Lina , Nöthen Markus M. , Daratsianos Nikolaos , Knapp Michael , Jäger Andreas , Mangold Elisabeth
Published: March 2014

Background

Nonsyndromic orofacial clefting (nsOFC) is among the most common of all congenital disorders and has a genetically complex etiology. Based on embryological and epidemiological data, the phenotype can be differentiated into nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) and nonsyndromic cleft palate only, with nsCL/P being the most frequent form. Recent genetic research, predominantly performed in populations from Europe and Asia, has identified numerous genetic susceptibility loci for nsCL/P. As only few data are available concerning genetic susceptibility to nsCL/P in Arab populations, we investigated a newly recruited nsOFC sample from Yemen.

Methods

For each of the 15 currently known nsCL/P risk loci, the top single‐nucleotide polymorphism (plus nine back‐up variants) were genotyped in 242 nsCL/P cases and 420 healthy controls.

Results

Single‐marker association analysis revealed significant associations for four loci (8q24, 9q22, 10q25, 13q31). The strongest association was for the European high risk locus at 8q24 (Pcorrected = 5.09 × 10−4; heterozygous odds ratio = 1.74 (1.22–2.47), homozygous odds ratio = 2.47 (1.55–3.93). Five additional loci (1q32.2, 3q12, 8q21, 17q22, 20q12) showed nominal significance that did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Although the six remaining loci (1p22, 1p36, 2p21, 3p11, 15q22, 17p13) failed to reach nominal significance, the risk alleles were in the same direction as in the discovery studies.

Conclusion

The results suggest that four of the 15 analyzed nsCL/P risk loci which were identified in European and Asian ethnicities significantly confer risk for nsCL/P in Arab populations. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:307–313, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of wound drains after thyroid surgery
Authors: Woods R S R , Woods J F C , Duignan E S , Timon C
Published: March 2014

Background

Drainage after routine thyroid and parathyroid surgery remains controversial. However, there is increasing evidence from a number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) suggesting no benefit from the use of drains.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was carried out, and RCTs comparing the use of drains versus no drains in patients who underwent thyroid or parathyroid surgery were included. Trials including patients who underwent lateral neck dissection were excluded. Methodological quality was graded and data were extracted by independent reviewers. Risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) was calculated and heterogeneity was assessed.

Results

Twenty-five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis comprising 2939 patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in rate of reoperation for neck haematoma (RR 1·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·87 to 4·14), ultrasound-assessed fluid volume on day 1 after surgery (MD 2·30 (95 per cent c.i. –0·73 to 5·34) ml), wound collection requiring intervention (RR 0·64, 0·38 to 1·09) or not (RR 0·93, 0·66 to 1·30), transient voice change (RR 2·33, 0·91 to 5·96) and persistent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RR 1·67, 0·22 to 12·51). Length of hospital stay was significantly greater in the drain group (MD 1·25 (0·83 to 1·68) days), as were wound infection rates (RR 2·53, 1·23 to 5·21) and pain score measure using a visual analogue scale from 1 to 10 on day 1 after surgery (MD 1·46 (0·67 to 2·26) units).

Conclusion

The results indicate that drain use after routine thyroid surgery does not confer a benefit to patients.
Anterior retroperitoneal rami: Until now unnamed direct branches of the abdominal aorta
Authors: Turyna R. , Kachlik D. , Feyreisl J. , Stingl J. , Baca V.
Published: March 2014

The aim of the study was to gain a thorough knowledge of the topography and distribution of until now officially unnamed minute direct branches from abdominal aorta, stemming from its ventral and lateral aspects, supplying surrounding tissue, and to comprise it to the existing studies. The study was performed in fixed cadaverous material collected from India ink injections of abdominal aorta samples with large surrounding retroperitoneal tissue. The 25 samples were dissected under magnifying binocular glass, followed by graphic reconstruction; statistical analysis, and the study was preceded with detailed review of branches from abdominal aorta. For systematization of the segmental anatomy of the abdominal aorta and infrarenal segment of inferior vena cava, we defined three levels in this area. The retroperitoneal branches were most frequently situated simultaneously within all three predefined levels according to renal and inferior mesenteric arteries origin. There were 18% of retroperitoneal branches within Level 1, 39% within Level 2 and 43% within Level 3. They were branches not only from the abdominal aorta, but also from the testicular/ovarian artery, common iliac artery and in one case from the right accessory renal artery. Paired arrangement was recorded mainly cranially to the origin of inferior mesenteric artery, unpaired branches were more frequently found caudally. In conclusion, due to the terminological disunity of these arteries in the clinical literature and total absence in the anatomical literature, we propose to denominate them as anterior retroperitoneal branches of abdominal aorta (rami retroperitoneales anteriores aortae abdominalis). Clin. Anat. 27:894–899, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inhibition of palmitate‐induced GADD34 expression augments apoptosis in mouse insulinoma cells (MIN6)
Authors: Fransson Liselotte , Sjöholm Åke , Ortsäter Henrik
Published: March 2014

Saturated fatty acids like palmitate induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in pancreatic beta‐cells, an event linked to apoptotic loss of β‐cells in type 2 diabetes. Sustained activation of the ER stress response leads to expression of growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible protein 34 (GADD34), a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1. In the present study, we have used small interfering RNA in order to knockdown GADD34 expression in insulin‐producing MIN6 cells prior to induction of ER stress by palmitate and evaluated its consequences on RNA‐activated protein kinase‐like ER‐localized eIF2alpha kinase (PERK) signalling and apoptosis. Salubrinal, a specific inhibitor of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) dephosphorylation, was used as a comparison. Salubrinal treatment augmented palmitate‐induced ER stress and increased GADD34 levels. Both GADD34 knockdown and salubrinal treatment potentiated the cytotoxic effects of palmitate as evidenced by increased DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase 3, with the fundamental difference that the former did not involve enhanced levels of GADD34. The data from this study suggest that sustained activation of PERK signalling and eIF2α phosphorylation sensitizes insulin‐producing MIN6 cells to lipoapoptosis independently of GADD34 expression levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Four Derivatives of Substituted Aryl Hydrazones of 1,8‐Naphthalimide
Authors: Gu Peiyang , Xu Xufeng , Zhou Feng , Zhao Tingting , Ye Gaojie , Liu Gaoyan , Xu Qinghua , Ge Jianfeng , Xu Qingfeng , Lu Jianmei
Published: March 2014

Four 1,8‐naphthalimide hydrazone molecules with different electron‐donating groups have been applied in the study of linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. These compounds showed strong green emission in solution. Their NLO properties such as two‐photon absorption (TPA) behavior with femtosecond laser pulses ca. 800 nm and excited‐state absorption (ESA) behavior with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm were investigated. Compound 4 presented the largest two‐photon cross section (550 GM) among them due to two factors: the conjugated length of compound 4 is the longest and the electron‐donating ability of compound 4 is the strongest. Different from TPA behavior, compound 2 showed the best nonlinear absorption properties at 532 nm and its nonlinear absorption coefficient and third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities χ(3) were up to 1.41×10−10 MKS and 4.65×10−12 esu, respectively. Through the modification of the structure, the nonlinear optical properties of these compounds at different wavelengths (532 and 800 nm) were well tuned. The great broad‐band nonlinear optical properties indicate hydrazones are good candidates for organic nonlinear optical absorption materials.
Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl, Butyl: Futile But Not for Water, as the Correlation of Structure and Thermodynamic Signature Shows in a Congeneric Series of Thermolysin Inhibitors
Authors: Krimmer Stefan G. , Betz Michael , Heine Andreas , Klebe Gerhard
Published: March 2014

Water is ubiquitously present in any biological system and has therefore to be regarded as an additional binding partner in the protein–ligand binding process. Upon complex formation, a new solvent‐exposed surface is generated and water molecules from the first solvation layer will arrange around this newly formed surface. So far, the influence of such water arrangements on the ligand binding properties is unknown. In this study, the binding modes of nine congeneric phosphonamidate‐type inhibitors with systematically varied, size‐increasing hydrophobic P2′ substituents (from methyl to phenylethyl) addressing the hydrophobic, solvent‐exposed S2′ pocket of thermolysin were analyzed by high‐resolution crystal structures and correlated with their thermodynamic binding profiles as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. Overall, ΔΔG spreads over 7.0 kJ mol−1, ΔΔH varies by 15.8 kJ mol−1, and −TΔΔS by 12.1 kJ mol−1. Throughout the series, these changes correlate remarkably well with the geometric differences of water molecules arranged adjacent to the P2′ substituents. Ligands with medium‐sized P2′ substituents exhibit highest affinities, presumably because of their optimal solvation patterns around these complexes. The addition, removal, or rearrangement of even a single methyl group can result in a strong modulation of the adjacent water network pattern shifting from enthalpy to entropy‐driven binding. In conclusion, the quality of a water network assembled around a protein–ligand complex influences the enthalpy/entropy signature and can even modulate affinity to a surprising extent.