bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endlagerung radioaktiver Abfälle
Authors: Mengel Kurt , Röhlig Klaus‐Jürgen , Geckeis Horst
Published: June 2012

Als Wirtsgesteine für die Entsorgung radioaktiver Abfälle in tiefen geologischen Formationen werden weltweit Tonstein, Granit und Steinsalz untersucht. Diese Gesteinstypen weisen sehr unterschiedliche Eigenschaften hinsichtlich ihres mechanischen und chemischen Verhaltens auf, insbesondere bei der Einlagerung von wärmeentwickelnden Abfällen. Diese Unterschiede beruhen auf den jeweiligen Bildungsbedingungen: Langsame Sedimentation feinkörniger Minerale aus der Meerwassersäule im Bereich großer Flussmündungen mit anschließender Diagenese (Tonsteine); Kristallisation silikatischer Magmen in den oberen 20 km der kontinentalen Erdkruste bei 700 bis 850°C (Granit) und chemische Fällung von Chloriden und Sulfaten aus eindunstendem Meerwasser in isolierten ozeanischen Randbecken unter ariden Bedingungen der geologischen Vergangenheit (Steinsalz). Granit reagiert vergleichsweise wenig mit wässrigen Lösungen, wenn das Gestein durch radiogene Wärmeentwicklung im Endlager Temperaturerhöhungen ausgesetzt wird. Solche Temperaturveränderung beeinflussen dagegen die mechanischen und die chemischen Eigenschaften von Tonstein und von Steinsalz in erheblichem Maße: In Tonsteinen können die Rückhalteeigenschaften der Schichtsilikate gegenüber potentiell ausgetretenen Radionukliden leiden (Illitisierungsreaktionen), die Plastizität von Steinsalz korreliert mit der Temperatur, was zu einem schnelleren Umschließen von Abfallbehältern führt. Von großer Bedeutung für die Auswahl von einschlusswirksamen Gebirgsbereichen im Steinsalz ist aus chemischer Sicht die Abwesenheit reaktionsfähiger hochsalinarer Lösungen, die je nach Zusammensetzung bei erhöhten Temperaturen mit Teilen der Salzformation wie z.B. Kali‐Flözen reagieren können.
Amyloid‐Plaques – wie sie entstehen und wie man sie wieder los wird
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: June 2012

Amyloid‐Plaques, Ablagerungen von verklumpten Proteinfasern, werden schon seit langem mit der Alzheimer‐Demenz und anderen Krankheiten in Verbindung gebracht. Erst jetzt beginnt man allerdings zu verstehen, wie sich diese Fasern bilden, und auch für die Therapie der Amyloid‐Krankheiten gibt es einen Hoffnungsschimmer.
Gezinkte Abwehr: Antimikrobieller Schweiß
Authors: Feil Sylvia
Published: June 2012

Wenn Schweiß aus den Poren dringt, verteilt er antimikrobiell wirksame Peptide auf der Haut. Zu den beim Menschen seltenen anionischen Vertretern zählt das Peptid Dermcidin. Es ist im salzigen Milieu des Schweißes stabil – ja, braucht es sogar zur optimalen Wirksamkeit. Forscher aus Tübingen und Karlsruhe untersuchten die Sekundärstruktur und den Abwehrmechanismus gegen Bakterien.
Eine intermolekulare Ritter‐Reaktion an Alkanen
Authors: Doye Sven
Published: June 2012

Die Ritter‐Reaktion ist eine etablierte und synthetisch äußerst nützliche Methode zur Herstellung von Carbonsäureamiden, bei der Nitrile in einem stark sauren Medium mit Alkenen oder Alkoholen umgesetzt werden (Abbildung 1). Nun gelang es, die Substratpalette um normalerweise völlig unreaktive, nicht funktionalisierte Alkane zu erweitern.
Kein Müßiggang am Montag
Authors: Bützer Peter
Published: June 2012

Eine populäre Theorie vom “Blaumachen” am Montag im Zusammenhang mit der Küpenfärberei von Indigo scheint ein Irrtum zu sein. Der Montag war keineswegs ein bequemer Tag für die Blaufärber.
An investigation into the effect of biomass particle size on its torrefaction
Authors: Basu Prabir , Rao Shailendra , Dhungana Alok
Published: June 2012

Present work examines an important practical aspect of torrefaction that is, the effect of size and shape of biomass on torrefaction. Experiments were conducted on different sizes of Poplar and Oak wood in directly heated torrefaction reactors. Experiments were conducted with 13, 19 and 25 mm diameter Poplar wood with lengths varying from 8 to 65 mm long. Most of the experiments were conducted at 250°C for 60 min in a directly heated convective reactor with limited few in a fluidised bed reactor. Results showed increase in mass and energy yield with increasing particle length but opposite with particle diameter. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Numerical treatment of boundary conditions to replace lateral branches in hemodynamics
Authors: Porpora A. , Zunino P. , Vergara C. , Piccinelli M.
Published: June 2012

In this paper, we discuss a technique for weakly enforcing flow rate conditions in computational hemodynamics. In particular, we study the effectiveness of cutting lateral branches from the computational domain and replacing them with non‐perturbing boundary conditions to simplify the geometrical reconstruction and the numerical simulation. All these features are investigated both in the case of rigid and compliant walls. Several numerical results are presented to discuss the reliability of the proposed method.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Taxonomic identity of Cardamine leucantha (Brassicaceae) in Korea
Authors: Song Imgeun , Park Seonjoo
Published: June 2012

We reevaluated two taxa of Cardamine leucantha (Tausch) O. E. Schulz in Korea. The morphological characteristics and molecular datasets of individuals collected were compared with those of herbarium specimens, including type specimens in TI. The results indicated that C. leucantha var. toensis T. Lee (invalid name) and C. koreana Nakai were characterized by a continuous distribution of morphological data, such as those for leaf margin or hairy ovary. Furthermore, molecular datasets (including internal transcriber spacer (ITS) and trn L‐F region) did not support the view that these are separate taxa based on the hairy ovary or fruit valve. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Sleep spindles predict neural and behavioral changes in motor sequence consolidation
Authors: Barakat Marc , Carrier Julie , Debas Karen , Lungu Ovidiu , Fogel Stuart , Vandewalle Gilles , Hoge Richard D. , Bellec Pierre , Karni Avi , Ungerleider Leslie G. , Benali Habib , Doyon Julien
Published: June 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive function of sleep spindles in motor sequence consolidation. BOLD responses were acquired in 10 young healthy subjects who were trained on an explicitly known 5‐item sequence using their left nondominant hand, scanned at 9:00 pm while performing that same task and then were retested and scanned 12 h later after a night of sleep during which polysomnographic measures were recorded. An automatic algorithm was used to detect sleep spindles and to quantify their characteristics (i.e., density, amplitude, and duration). Analyses revealed significant positive correlations between gains in performance and the amplitude of spindles. Moreover, significant increases in BOLD signal were observed in several motor‐related areas, most of which were localized in the right hemisphere, particularly in the right cortico‐striatal system. Such increases in BOLD signal also correlated positively with the amplitude of spindles at several derivations. Taken together, our results show that sleep spindles predict neural and behavioral changes in overnight motor sequence consolidation. Hum Brain Mapp 34:2918–2928, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protein Nanofibrils Balance Colours in Organic White‐Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Solin Niclas , Inganäs Olle
Published: June 2012

In this review we discuss our efforts in using protein nanowires (amyloid fibrils) as structural templates for use in organic electronics applications, mainly focusing on organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). We discuss different ways of functionalising amyloid fibrils. In one method, the amyloid fibril is used to organise luminescent polymers. We also discuss an alternative preparative method, resulting in amyloid‐like materials functionalised with phosphorescent organometallic complexes. We discuss the incorporation of such materials in organic electronics devices, such as OLEDs. When amyloid fibrils are integrated into the OLED active layer, consisting of an electroluminescent blue‐emitting polyfluorene, the efficiency of the device increases by a factor of 10. Furthermore, when amyloid fibrils incorporating phosphorescent metal complexes are used, the phosphorescent guest functions more efficiently than in the corresponding case where naked metal complexes are used. By preparing amyloid fibrils incorporating green‐ and red‐emitting phosphorescent complexes, and combining these with blue‐emitting polyfluorene, we can fabricate devices for white‐light emission. The origin of the effects of the biomaterial on device performance is discussed.
Vocational Training in Juvenile Detention: A Call for Action
Authors: Ameen Edward J. , Lee Debbiesiu L.
Published: June 2012

Given high recidivism rates and the vulnerability of detained youth, the authors posit that juvenile detention centers may be most efficacious by serving as both place and process to create career opportunity through vocational training. The authors review the psychosocial factors contributing to delinquency and the primary theories of rehabilitation that extend to detained youth. They highlight key ingredients to effective vocational programming in juvenile detention, such as integration of traditional career theories with constructs pertinent to this population (emerging adulthood, sociopolitical development, social cognitive career theory). Considerations for successful implementation of vocational programs in juvenile detention are also offered.
Professional School Counselors' Career Development Practices and Continuing Education Needs
Authors: Anctil Tina M. , Smith Carol Klose , Schenck Paulette , Dahir Carol
Published: June 2012

This study explored the practices of professional school counselors in their delivery of career counseling. School counselors were found to spend significantly less time on career development than on personal–social and academic development. In addition, new professionals placed more priority on career counseling compared with their more experienced counterparts. Continuing education opportunities, future research directions, and implications for school counselors are presented.
School‐to‐Work Transition of Career and Technical Education Graduates
Authors: Packard Becky Wai‐Ling , Leach Miki , Ruiz Yedalis , Nelson Consuelo , DiCocco Hannah
Published: June 2012

This study analyzed the career development of career and technical education (CTE) high school graduates during their school‐to‐work transition, specifically their adaptability in the face of barriers. Forty graduates (22 men, 18 women) from working‐class backgrounds participated in baseline surveys at graduation and phenomenological interviews 1 year postgraduation. Primary themes were job loss altered career plans, whereas relevant jobs propelled career development; limited access to college constrained options, whereas college experience expanded options; graduates experienced the loss of education‐related support, and CTE served as a backup plan. Teachers and school counselors emphasized organizational barriers including limited staffing for upper level math courses and inconsistent workplace partnerships.
Counselors' Perceived Person–Environment Fit and Career Satisfaction
Authors: Rehfuss Mark C. , Gambrell Crista E. , Meyer Dixie
Published: June 2012

This correlational study examined the relationship between career satisfaction and person–organization, demands–abilities, and needs–supplies fit with counselors (N= 464) using the Perceived Job Fit instrument (Cable & DeRue, 2002) and a scale of career satisfaction adapted from the Adult Career Concerns Inventory (Super, Thompson, Lindeman, Myers, & Jordaan, 1988). Using a linear, multiple regression analysis, the authors found that person–organization fit (p= .01) and needs–supplies fit (p= .00) were both positively related to career satisfaction and that there was no relationship between demands–abilities fit and career satisfaction.
Explaining Entrepreneurial Behavior: Dispositional Personality Traits, Growth of Personal Entrepreneurial Resources, and Business Idea Generation
Authors: Obschonka Martin , Silbereisen Rainer K. , Schmitt‐Rodermund Eva
Published: June 2012

Applying a life‐span approach of human development and using the example of science‐based business idea generation, the authors used structural equation modeling to test a mediation model for predicting entrepreneurial behavior in a sample of German scientists (2 measurement occasions; Time 1, N= 488). It was found that recalled early entrepreneurial competence in adolescence predicted business idea generation. This link was mediated by entrepreneurial human and social capital. Moreover, an entrepreneurial Big Five profile was associated with early entrepreneurial competence and predicted entrepreneurial human and social capital. Results underscore the relevance of the long‐neglected developmental approach to entrepreneurship.
Heart‐beat‐phase‐coherent Doppler optical coherence tomography for measuring pulsatile ocular blood flow
Authors: Schmoll Tilman , Leitgeb Rainer A.
Published: June 2012

We introduce a Doppler OCT (DOCT) platform that is fully synchronized with the heart‐beat via a pulse oximeter. The system allows reconstructing heart‐beat‐phase‐coherent quantitative DOCT volumes. The method is to acquire a series of DOCT volumes and to record the pulse in parallel. The heartbeat data is used for triggering the start of each DOCT volume acquisition. The recorded volume series is registered to the level of capillaries using a cross‐volume registration. The information of the pulse phase is used to rearrange the tomograms in time, to obtain a series of phase coherent DOCT volumes over a pulse. We present Doppler angle independent quantitative evaluation of the absolute pulsatile blood flow within individual retinal vessels as well as of the total retinal blood flow over a full heartbeat cycle. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
VARYING TREATMENT INTENSITY IN A HOME‐BASED PARENT AND CHILD THERAPY PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY: A RANDOMIZED CLINIC TRIAL
Authors: Carrasco Jennifer M. , Fox Robert A.
Published: June 2012

This study addressed the question of whether increasing the intensity of a parent and child therapy program would improve results for young children with significant behavior problems from families living in poverty. Children were randomly assigned to either a standard condition or an intensity condition that provided 50% more treatment over a standard 8‐week treatment period. Based on multiple parent‐report, direct observation, and clinician‐report measures of the children and their caregivers, both groups improved on all measures from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow‐up. No differences in outcomes were found between the standard and intensity groups at posttest or follow‐up. These counterintuitive results are discussed within the parent and child intervention literature. Also, the heuristic potential of this study to encourage continued research with this challenging population is addressed.
Olfactory dysfunctions in neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Ruan Yang , Zheng Xiang‐Yu , Zhang Hong‐Liang , Zhu Wei , Zhu Jie
Published: June 2012

Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom in the patients with neurodegenerative disorders, particularly in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, studies of olfactory dysfunction have focused on its potential as a medication‐independent biomarker for disease progression and as an early indicator for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. In the past decades, great achievements have been obtained in elucidating the neuroanatomy and the function of olfactory system, yet the pathogenesis of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders remains elusive. The neuropathologic changes of olfactory dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases may involve the olfactory epithelium, olfactory bulb, primary olfactory cortices, and their secondary targets changes. This article summarizes the up‐to‐date knowledge on pathophysiological changes of the olfactory system in neurodegenerative disorders and attempts to find the association between olfactory dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorders. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress in optic nerve degeneration following N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐induced retinal damage in mice
Authors: Shimazawa Masamitsu , Miwa Akinori , Ito Yasushi , Tsuruma Kazuhiro , Aihara Makoto , Hara Hideaki
Published: June 2012

We evaluated time‐dependent optic nerve degeneration and the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in this process following retinal ganglion cell death in mice. Retinal damage was induced by intravitreal injection of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA). Neurofilament heavy (NFH)‐ and phosphorylated NFH (pNFH)‐positive axons were time‐dependently decreased in optic nerves at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after NMDA injection. Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐positive astroglial cells and ionized calcium‐binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1)‐positive microglial cells showed a significant increase in the optic nerve at 7, 14, and 28 days after NMDA injection. In contrast, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP)‐positive oligodendrocytes showed a significant decrease in the optic nerve at 7, 14, and 28 days after NMDA injection. In quantitative RT‐PCR analysis, expressions of glucose‐regulated protein 78 (Grp78)/BiP, Grp94, Calreticulin, C/EBP homologous protein (Chop), and the ER degradation enhancer mannosidase alpha‐like 1 (Edem1) genes were increased in the optic nerve at 14 days after NMDA injection. In addition, the Grp94 gene was increased at 7 days after NMDA injection, and the Edem1 gene was increased at 3, 7, and 28 days after NMDA injection. GRP78 and CHOP proteins were colocalized with MBP in the optic nerve after NMDA injection. These findings suggest that the axonal degeneration is dramatic until 7 days after NMDA injection and that glial cells may play some role in the degeneration of the optic nerve. Furthermore, ER stress may play a pivotal role in the decrease of MBP‐positive oligodendrocytes after NMDA‐induced retinal damage. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
p62/sequestosome 1 binds to TDP‐43 in brains with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43 inclusions
Authors: Tanji Kunikazu , Zhang Hai‐Xin , Mori Fumiaki , Kakita Akiyoshi , Takahashi Hitoshi , Wakabayashi Koichi
Published: June 2012

Ubiquitin‐positive cytoplasmic inclusions are consistently found in various neurodegenerative diseases. As with ubiquitin, anti‐p62/SQSTM1 (referred to as p62) antibody clearly immunostains these inclusions. p62 has a ubiquitin‐associated domain at the carboxyl terminus and thereby interacts with ubiquitinated and misfolded proteins. Here we immunoprecipitated endogenous p62 in the cerebral cortex from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43 inclusions (FTLD‐TDP) and found that p62 coimmunoprecipitated several proteins, including TDP‐43, which is a major disease protein in FTLD‐TDP. Unexpectedly, p62 immunoprecipitated a smaller amount of TDP‐43 in FTLD‐TDP compared with controls. Further analyses showed that p62 physiologically binds to TDP‐43 and likely is involved in degradation of TDP‐43 with 35‐kDa, but not full‐length TDP‐43. Our results suggest that the interaction of TDP‐43 and p62 is disrupted and may participate in the pathogenesis of TDP‐43 proteinopathy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inducible immortality in hTERT‐human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Piper Samantha L. , Wang Miqi , Yamamoto Akira , Malek Farbod , Luu Andrew , Kuo Alfred C. , Kim Hubert T.
Published: June 2012

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are attractive candidates for tissue engineering and cell‐based therapy because of their multipotentiality and availability in adult donors. However, in vitro expansion and differentiation of these cells is limited by replicative senescence. The proliferative capacity of hMSCs can be enhanced by ectopic expression of telomerase, allowing for long‐term culture. However, hMSCs with constitutive telomerase expression demonstrate unregulated growth and even tumor formation. To address this problem, we used an inducible Tet‐On gene expression system to create hMSCs in which ectopic telomerase expression can be induced selectively by the addition of doxycycline (i‐hTERT hMSCs). i‐hTERT hMSCs have inducible hTERT expression and telomerase activity, and are able to proliferate significantly longer than wild type hMSCs when hTERT expression is induced. They stop proliferating when hTERT expression is turned off and can be rescued when expression is re‐induced. They retain multipotentiality in vitro even at an advanced age. We also used a selective inhibitor of telomere elongation to show that the mechanism driving immortalization of hMSCs by hTERT is dependent upon maintenance of telomere length. Thanks to their extended lifespan, preserved multipotentiality and controlled growth, i‐hTERT hMSCs may prove to be a useful tool for the development and testing of novel stem cell therapies. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1879–1885, 2012
Selecting the best scale for measuring treatment effect in a network meta‐analysis: a case study in childhood nocturnal enuresis
Authors: Caldwell Deborah M. , Welton Nicky J. , Dias Sofia , Ades AE
Published: June 2012

Dichotomous outcomes in pairwise meta‐analysis are typically summarised using the odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR) or risk difference (RD). The hazard ratio (HR) may also be used where events occur over time. Choice of scale is often determined by ease of interpretation or mathematical properties of a measure, as there is frequently insufficient power to compare goodness‐of‐fit across different scales. Network meta‐analysis (NMA) combines evidence across a network of treatment comparisons. NMA allows the combination of a greater numbers of trials, so there is greater potential to use goodness‐of‐fit statistics to determine an appropriate scale on which the effects of treatments are additive. In this paper, we explore choice of scale in an NMA of childhood nocturnal enuresis for the outcome ‘failure to achieve 14 days consecutive dry nights’. We compare OR, RR of both the harmful (RRH) and the beneficial (RRB) outcomes, RD and HR. Using a Bayesian framework, the posterior mean residual deviance and deviance information criterion are used to evaluate model fit and selection between the different summary effect measures. We use I2 to examine within‐comparison heterogeneity for the pairwise analyses. The results suggest that the HR and RRB provide the best fit. We conclude that choice of scale should be based on physiological and epidemiological understanding of the disease process, together with an empirical assessment of model adequacy. HR should be given greater consideration where there is an underlying time‐to‐event process. We demonstrate how results can be transformed to an alternative scale to aid interpretability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enantioselective analysis of ofloxacin enantiomers by partial‐filling capillary electrophoresis with bacteria as chiral selectors
Authors: Li Lixian , Xia Zhining , Yang Fengqing , Chen Hua , Zhang Yonglan
Published: June 2012

The enantiomeric separation of ofloxacin enantiomers (OFLX) was achieved by using capillary electrophoresis partial‐filled with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram‐negative), and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram‐positive) as chiral selectors. Experimental parameters, including the concentration of background electrolyte, applied voltage, length of the filled bacteria plug, and pH of the buffer, were intensively investigated. Baseline separation of OFLX could be achieved within 7 min by using E. coli and P. aeruginosa as chiral selectors under the following conditions: electrophoretic buffer composed of 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, applied voltage at 15 kV, and the bacteria (6.0 × 108 cells/mL) were injected into the capillary by gravity with injection height of 17.5 cm for 180 s (E. coli), 300 s (P. aeruginosa), and 300 s (S. aureus), respectively. E. coli and P. aeruginosa had better chiral selectivity for OFLX than S. aureus, which was in good agreement with OFLX having better antimicrobial activity on Gram‐negative rather than Gram‐positive bacteria. A novel method was developed for the enantioselective separation of enantiomers using bacteria as chiral selectors, which provides a new approach for antimicrobials enantioselective analysis, chiral pharmacodynamics, and chiral pharmacokinetics studies.
Correlation among abrasive wear tests
Authors: Almeida Dutra Leandro , de Mello José Daniel Biasoli , Camargo Severo de Macêdo Marcelo , Scandian Cherlio
Published: June 2012

The study of wear is generally focused on reproducing micromechanisms that are identified on industrial applications in the laboratory. To do so, many tribometers have been developed, but not much attention has been given to the correlation among the variety of abrasive test results. This study aims to compare four different abrasive wear tests: pin‐on‐disc, single pass pendulum, linear scratch and the laboratory of tribology and materials test. High chromium white cast irons were tested in different conditions. It was observed that the wear resistance classification offered by the pendulum scratch and the laboratory of tribology and materials test was the same and was the opposite of the classification offered by the scratch and pin‐on‐disc tests. The wear rate behaviour verifies the existing constant depth and constant load models regarding the force transferred to the contact region. For the latter, the wear behaviour is better explained by the product k*q, parameters that are obtained from the pendulum test. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frictional power loss in solid‐grease‐lubricated needle roller bearing
Authors: Iqbal Shoaib , Al‐Bender Farid , Croes Jan , Pluymers Bert , Desmet Wim
Published: June 2012

The use of solid grease as a lubricant, in comparison with standard grease or oil, is a pre‐requisite when needle roller bearings undergo a high‐speed oscillating motion and when access to the bearing is difficult for maintenance purposes. This paper examines the frictional power loss of a solid‐grease‐lubricated needle roller bearing. First set of measurement result reveals that the test bearing has higher frictional power loss as compared with other bearings with conventional lubrications, due to the high viscosity of the solid grease. Furthermore, measurements are compared with the Palmgren and SKF models. For improving these models, the parameters of the models are updated on the basis of the measurement data. A second set of measurement result shows that the use of oil (kept at higher temperature) in addition to solid grease significantly reduces the frictional power loss. The reduction is due to the decrease in operational viscosity of the solid grease. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Superoxide Dismutase Binding and Release Behaviors of Dodecylated Poly(allylamine)s: Effects of Self‐Aggregation and Organic Solvents
Authors: Yan Yunfeng , Liu Jingjing , Xiong Yubing , Cheng Ye , Yao Ping
Published: June 2012

pH sensitive dodecyl‐modified poly(allylamine)s associate with superoxide dismutase (SOD) in aqueous solutions at pH 5.5 and 7.4. The bound SOD can be released completely at pH 10.0 due to the self‐aggregation of the polymers. In a mixture of water and organic solvent, the hydrophobic groups of the polymers are exposed. During the process of removing the organic solvent, the polymers increase their hydrophobic interactions with SOD. As a result, the SOD binding of the polymers increases; the release of SOD from the complexes is remarkably extended. The released SOD molecules have full activity. The knowledge gained in this study will be beneficial to the applications of hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes as delivery carriers for protein/peptide drugs.
Wettability and Surface Tension of Amphiphilic Polymer Films: Time‐Dependent Measurements of the Most Stable Contact Angle
Authors: Martinelli Elisa , Galli Giancarlo , Cwikel Dory , Marmur Abraham
Published: June 2012

The wettability of new amphiphilic block copolymer films is studied by measuring different types of water contact angles (static, receding, advancing, and most stable). The most stable contact angles are used to calculate the surface tensions of the films following the recently developed Marmur–Valal correlation. Most stable contact angles of water in an air‐in‐water system are also measured to study the changes in surface tension over relatively long periods of immersion time. The new approach yields surface tension values that are higher than those calculated by previous methods. The results suggest that reconstruction of the surface takes place at short time scale and continues to occur at long time scale. The responsive character of the polymer films can have implications for their use as biofouling release coatings.
Molecular imaging of p53 signal pathway in lung cancer cell cycle arrest induced by cisplatin
Authors: Wang Shenxu , Li Weijie , Xue Zengfu , Lu Yuanyuan , Narsinh Kazim , Fan Weiwei , Li Xiujuan , Bu Qingting , Wang Fu , Liang Jimin , Wu Kaichun , Cao Feng
Published: June 2012

Cisplatin is a commonly employed chemotherapy drug for lung malignancy. However its efficacy is limited by acquired drug resistance and lacking of an in vivo real‐time monitoring approach. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cisplatin on lung adenocarcinoma cell line p53‐RE‐Fluc/A549 in vivo via non‐invasive reporter gene by molecular imaging. For this study, we employed p53‐RE‐Fluc/A549 cells that overexpressed a vector with three tandem repeats of p53 response element followed by the luciferase reporter gene. P53 activity was evaluated by optical imaging and verified by Western blot after cells were exposed to 10 µM cisplatin for 72 h. The cell cycle was mainly blocked at the S‐ and G2/M‐phases after cisplatin treatment, whereas no significant change was observed in cell apoptotic index. Increased expression of p21 and Bcl‐2 as well as decreased expression of Bax were observed after cisplatin treatment by Western blotting. Longitudinal in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) revealed that the p53 activity was increased from 24 to 48 h after transient cisplatin treatment in p53‐RE‐Fluc/A549‐bearing nude mice. RNA sequencing further revealed that cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway genes, such as E2F1, CCNA2, CDK1, and CCNE2 were significantly downregulated after long‐term cisplatin treatment. Thus, our study showed that cisplatin exerts its cytotoxic effect through blockage of the cell cycle and may be partly regulated by the p53 signaling pathway. Furthermore, molecular imaging is a useful tool to investigate the mechanism and evaluate the effect of chemotherapy drugs both in vivo and in vitro. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Blood plasma flow past a red blood cell: mathematical modelling and analytical treatment
Authors: Dassios G. , Hadjinicolaou M. , Protopapas E.
Published: June 2012

A detailed mathematical analysis of Stokes flow past a rigid biconcave disc shape, motivated by the flow of blood plasma past a fixed red blood cell (RBC) is developed in the present manuscript. The main objective is to provide a new insight in the theoretical investigation of the flow behaviour of RBCs in pathological situations for which the rheological characteristics of the RBCs change or in medical tests like the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Here, the RBC is described mathematically by an inverted prolate spheroid having its axis of symmetry along the direction of a uniform flow. The method of Kelvin transformation for Stokes flows and the concept of semiseparable spectral decomposition of Stokes flows in spheroidal geometry are employed to obtain an analytical solution. More specifically, by employing Kelvin's inversion, the exterior boundary value problem in the inverse prolate spheroidal system is mapped to a related problem in the interior of the corresponding prolate spheroid. The obtained interior solution is then mapped back to the original domain, under the Kelvin inversion. This procedure leads to a series solution in terms of Gegenbauer functions, which converge fast. Sample streamlines for various values of the geometrical parameters are depicted allowing a better understanding of the flow close to the RBC. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bifurcated periodic solutions in an amensalism system with strong generic delay kernel
Authors: Zhang Jia‐Fang
Published: June 2012

The dynamics of an amensalism system with strong generic delay kernel is considered. From a careful analysis of characteristic equation, the local asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium and the existence of Hopf bifurcation from the positive equilibrium are investigated, where the time delay is used as the bifurcation parameter. Moreover, we apply the normal form theory and the center manifold theorem to study the direction of these Hopf bifurcations and the stability of bifurcated periodic orbits. Finally, numerical simulations supporting the theoretical analysis are also included. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global properties of a class of HIV infection models with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response
Authors: Elaiw A. M. , Azoz S. A.
Published: June 2012

In this paper, the global properties of a class of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) models with Beddington–DeAngelis functional response are investigated. Lyapunov functions are constructed to establish the global asymptotic stability of the uninfected and infected steady states of three HIV infection models. The first model considers the interaction process of the HIV and the CD4 + T cells and takes into account the latently and actively infected cells. The second model describes two co‐circulation populations of target cells, representing CD4 + T cells and macrophages. The third model is a two‐target‐cell model taking into account the latently and actively infected cells. We have proven that if the basic reproduction numberR0is less than unity, then the uninfected steady state is globally asymptotically stable, and ifR0 > 1, then the infected steady state is globally asymptotically stable. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of a differential suction electrode for improved intravaginal recordings of pelvic floor muscle activity: Reliability and motion artifact assessment
Authors: Keshwani Nadia , McLean Linda
Published: June 2012

Aim

The purposes of this study were to compare: (i) the reliability of electromyography (EMG) activity recorded from the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) using a new differential suction electrode (DSE) to the reliability of EMG data recorded using other common electrodes, and (ii) motion artifact contamination of EMG activity recorded from the PFMs using the DSE and the Femiscan™ electrode.

Methods

With the DSE and the Femiscan™ in situ, at two separate sessions, each of 20 participants performed three repetitions of a maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of their PFMs, and 10 repetitions of a maximal effort cough. With Delsys® electrodes located over the biceps brachii, each participant performed three repetitions of a MVC. Between‐trial and between‐day reliability were assessed using several methods. Motion artifact was assessed by comparing the proportion of contaminated files recorded by each electrode during coughing.

Result

The DSE was found to have excellent between‐trial reliability, as were the Femiscan™ and Delsys® electrodes. Between‐day reliability was good for the DSE, but reliability was higher for the Delsys® electrode and the Femiscan™ electrode. The DSE performed better than the Femiscan™ electrode in terms of motion artifact contamination.

Conclusions

The DSE has excellent between‐trial reliability and performs better than the Femiscan™ electrode in terms of motion artifact contamination. It does not perform as well as the Femiscan™ electrode in terms of between‐day reliability—a result that is not unexpected given the localized region from which the DSE records activity. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:1272–1278, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
LUTS patient reported outcomes tool: Linguistic validation in 10 European languages
Authors: Brandt Barbara A. , Angün Çolpan , Coyne Karin S. , Doshi Sameepa , Bavendam Tamara , Kopp Zoe S.
Published: June 2012

Aim

To linguistically validate the translation of the Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) Tool from

English to 10 European languages and assess whether the translations adequately reflected the concepts in the original version and if urological terms and the individual items were readily understood.

Methods

Residents of the target countries who spoke the native language and had LUTS were asked to evaluate a harmonized translation of the LUTS Tool, which was developed in 10 languages: Danish (Denmark), Dutch (Belgium, Netherlands), Finnish (Finland), French (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Switzerland), German (Germany, Switzerland), Greek (Greece), Icelandic (Iceland), Italian (Italy), Norwegian (Norway), and Spanish (Spain). After reviewing the language‐appropriate version, participants were asked to explain why any words were difficult to understand and to paraphrase each sentence during a standardized cognitive debriefing interview. Linguistic validation teams (original translators, back translator, project manager, interviewer, and survey research expert) conducted a qualitative analysis of the cognitive debriefing findings.

Results

The terminology and concepts in the English‐language version of the LUTS Tool were adequately captured in all language translations. The overall item comprehension rate, across languages, was 98.5%. Terms related to storage, voiding, and post‐micturition LUTS were comprehensible. Minor difficulties with comprehension were identified in 9 of 10 translations, and those changes were made to improve clarity.

Conclusions

Individuals with LUTS from 10 countries understood the individual items captured in translated versions of the LUTS Tool. The overall comprehension rate was high. Most changes were made to improve conceptual clarity based on country‐specific linguistic and cultural nuances. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 75–81, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sustained therapeutic effects of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation: 24‐month results of the STEP study
Authors: Peters Kenneth M. , Carrico Donna J. , MacDiarmid Scott A. , Wooldridge Leslie S. , Khan Ansar U. , McCoy Craig E. , Franco Nicholas , Bennett Jason B.
Published: June 2012

Aims

To evaluate the safety, sustained effectiveness, and treatment interval for percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for overactive bladder (OAB) therapy through 24 months.

Methods

A prospective study following treatment success after 12 weekly PTNS treatments, subjects were prescribed a 14‐week tapering protocol, followed by ongoing therapy with a Personal Treatment Plan determined by the investigator and subject to sustain subject OAB symptom improvement. Questionnaires were completed every 3 months, voiding diaries every 6 months; adverse events were reported throughout.

Results

Of 50 subjects enrolled, 35 remained in the study at 24 months. During the 24 months following initial treatment success and a 14‐week tapering protocol, mean treatments per month was 1.3. Voiding diary and OAB‐q data demonstrate sustained improvement reported at 13 weeks through 24 months. Improvements in frequency, urge incontinence episodes, night‐time voids and moderate‐to‐severe urgency episodes from voiding diaries at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were statistically significant compared to baseline (prior to initial 12 weekly treatments). Compared to baseline, OAB‐q symptom severity scores and health related quality of life scores were statistically significant for improvement at each tested time point. Five mild adverse events of unknown relation to treatment were reported.

Conclusion

Sustained safety and efficacy of PTNS were demonstrated over 24 months with initial success after 12 weekly treatments, followed by a 14‐week prescribed tapering protocol and a Personalized Treatment Plan. With an average of 1.3 treatments per month, PTNS therapy is a safe, durable, and valuable long‐term OAB treatment option to sustain clinically significant OAB symptom control. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 24–29, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Motor cortex stimulation in refractory pelvic and perineal pain: Report of two successful cases
Authors: Louppe Jean‐Marie , Nguyen Jean‐Paul , Robert Roger , Buffenoir Kevin , de Chauvigny Edwige , Riant Thibault , Péréon Yann , Labat Jean‐Jacques , Nizard Julien
Published: June 2012

Aims

In some patients, with refractory chronic pelvic and perineal pain, pain and quality of life are barely alleviated despite optimal medical treatment, infiltrations and surgical release of the pudendal nerve. The management of these patients is complex, especially after failure of neuromodulation techniques (spinal cord stimulation. S3 nerve root stimulation and direct stimulation of the pudendal nerve). We report the first two cases illustrating the value of motor cortex stimulation (MCS), in this new indication.

Methods

The history, decision‐making process, intraoperative findings and results of this technique are presented. The perineal cortical area was identified by intraoperative motor evoked potentials in the external anal sphincter, confirming its location in the primary motor cortex between the inferior and superior limb positions. As predictive value of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in the identification of responders to MCS for pain is now established, we performed pre‐operative rTMS sessions for both patients.

Results

The first patient was a 74‐years‐old woman who reported an 11‐year history of left lateral perineal pain. The second patient was a 45‐year‐old woman who reported a 4‐year history of perineal pain following hysterectomy with ovariectomy. After respectively 40 months and 19 months of follow up, both patients reported an improvement of pain ranging from 40 to 50%. Time to onset of pain on sitting was markedly improved from a few minutes to 90 minutes, and largely contributing to improvement of activities of daily living and of quality of life.

Conclusion

These two first cases suggest that motor cortex stimulation constitutes a new treatment for refractory pelvic and perineal pain, and should be considered after failure of conventional neuromodulation techniques, especially spinal cord stimulation. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 53–57, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
“Meningitis‐retention syndrome”: A review
Authors: Sakakibara Ryuji , Kishi Masahiko , Tsuyusaki Yohei , Tateno Akihiko , Tateno Fuyuki , Uchiyama Tomoyuki , Yamamoto Tatsuya , Yamanishi Tomonori , Yano Masashi
Published: June 2012

Aims

A peculiar combination of acute urinary retention and aseptic meningitis has been described. This combination is referred to as meningitis‐retention syndrome (MRS), since patients with this syndrome exhibited no other abnormalities, except for mild pyramidal involvement. We aimed to delineate this syndrome by reviewing literatures.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of the literature to identify the frequency, clinical symptoms, urodynamic findings, putrative underlying pathology, and management of this syndrome.

Results

Patients with MRS have typical symptoms of fever, headache, stiff neck, and minor pyramidal signs, together with acute urinary retention. The bladder is initially areflexic, but soon becomes either normal or overactive in the repeated urodynamics during the course of the disorder. MRS is thought to be a very mild form of acute disseminated encephalomyelopathy (ADEM), with increased cell count, total protein, and occasional myelin basic protein in the cerebrospinal fluid. Proper management of the acute urinary retention is necessary to avoid bladder injury due to overdistension. The effectiveness of immune treatments (e.g., steroid pulse therapy) in shortening the urinary retention period awaits further study.

Conclusions

Although rare, MRS is a disorder that both urologists and neurologists may encounter. MRS should be listed in the differential diagnosis of acute urinary retention. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 19–23, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model reduction for dynamical systems with quadratic output
Authors: Van Beeumen R. , Van Nimmen K. , Lombaert G. , Meerbergen K.
Published: June 2012

Finite element models for structures and vibrations often lead to second order dynamical systems with large sparse matrices. For large‐scale finite element models, the computation of the frequency response function and the structural response to dynamic loads may present a considerable computational cost. Padé via Krylov methods are widely used and are appreciated projection‐based model reduction techniques for linear dynamical systems with linear output. This paper extends the framework of the Krylov methods to systems with a quadratic output arising in linear quadratic optimal control or random vibration problems. Three different two‐sided model reduction approaches are formulated based on the Krylov methods. For all methods, the control (or right) Krylov space is the same. The difference between the approaches lies, thus, in the choice of the observation (or left) Krylov space. The algorithms and theory are developed for the particularly important case of structural damping. We also give numerical examples for large‐scale systems corresponding to the forced vibration of a simply supported plate and of an existing footbridge. In this case, a block form of the Padé via Krylov method is used. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An element‐free Galerkin method for 3D crack propagation simulation under complicated stress conditions
Authors: Hu Yunjin , Yang Zhenjun
Published: June 2012

This study develops an element‐free Galerkin method based on the moving least‐squares approximation to trace three‐dimensional crack propagation under complicated stress conditions. The crack surfaces are modelled by a collection of planar triangles that are added when cracks propagate. The visibility criterion is adopted to treat the screening effect of the cracks on the influenced domain of a Gaussian point. Cracks are assumed to propagate in the perpendicular planes at crack front points when the strain energy release rates reach the material fracture toughness. This method is unique in that it uses a nonlinear contact iterative algorithm to consider contributions of crack surface interaction to the global equilibrium equations, so that crack opening, sliding and closing under complicated stress states can be efficiently modelled. Two numerical examples of three‐dimensional quasi‐static crack propagation were modelled with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High resolution digital image correlation using proper generalized decomposition: PGD‐DIC
Authors: Passieux J.‐C. , Périé J.‐N.
Published: June 2012

A new method is proposed to measure the finite element (FE) displacement field from a deformed image in comparison with a reference one. In opposition to standard FE approaches, the unknown displacement is sought as a sum of products of separated dimension functions. With the problems in each dimension being uncoupled, the method involves only one‐dimensional meshes and one‐dimensional problems. An algorithm that builds successive best rank‐one approximations is proposed and integrated into the nonlinear iterations of the correlation problem. Although the method can be applied to spaces of any dimension, this paper focuses on two‐dimensional images. Many synthetic examples are provided to evaluate the performance of the method. In addition, it is shown that, even with this separated representation, the introduction of a regularization operator is convenient. The latter makes it possible to perform a pixel‐wise measure with huge computational savings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.