bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Base Metal Complexes as Homogeneous Catalysts and Enzyme Mimics
Authors: Hu Xile
Published: October 2011

This article is a short overview of some recent research activity in the Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Catalysis (LSCI) at EPFL-ISIC. It summarizes the work on Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of non-activated alkyl halides. It then describes and discusses the work on the
bio-mimetic chemistry of [Fe]-hydrogenase.
Cyclopropanes and Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: High Energy Compounds for Applications in Synthesis and Catalysis
Authors: González Davinia Fernández , De Simone Filippo , Brand Jonathan P. , Nicolai Stefano , Waser Jérôme
Published: October 2011

One of the major challenges faced by organic chemistry is the efficient synthesis of increasingly complex molecules. Since October 2007, the Laboratory of Catalysis and Organic Synthesis (LCSO) at EPFL has been working on the development of catalytic reactions based on the Umpolung
of the innate reactivity of functional groups. Electrophilic acetylene synthons have been developed using the exceptional properties of ethynyl benziodoxolone (EBX) hypervalent iodine reagents for the alkynylation of heterocycles and olefins. The obtained acetylenes are important building
blocks for organic chemistry, material sciences and chemical biology. The ring-strain energy of donor–acceptor cyclopropanes was then used in the first catalytic formal homo-Nazarov cyclization. In the case of aminocyclopropanes, the method could be applied in the synthesis of the alkaloids
aspidospermidine and goniomitine. The developed methods are expected to have a broad potential for the synthesis and functionalization of complex organic molecules, including carbocycles and heterocycles.
Extending Timescales and Narrowing Linewidths in NMR
Authors: Segawa Takuya F. , Rey Martial , Vasos Paul R. , Ulzega Simone , Caporini Marc A. , Jannin Sami , Carnevale Diego , Vitzthum Veronika , Miéville Pascal , Salvi Nicola , Bornet Aurélien , Bodenhausen Geoffrey
Published: October 2011

Among the different fields of research in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) which are currently investigated in the Laboratory of Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (LRMB), two subjects that are closely related to each other are presented in this article. On the one hand, we show how to
populate long-lived states (LLS) that have long lifetimes TLLS which allow one to go beyond the usual limits imposed by the longitudinal relaxation time T1. This makes it possible to extend NMR experiments to longer time-scales. As an application, we demonstrate
the extension of the timescale of diffusion measurements by NMR spectroscopy. On the other hand, we review our work on long-lived coherences (LLC), a particular type of coherence between two spin states that oscillates with the frequency of the scalar coupling constant JIS
and decays with a time constant TLLC. Again, this time constant TLLC can be much longer than the transverse relaxation time T2. By extending the coherence lifetimes, we can narrow the linewidths to an unprecedented extent. J-couplings
and residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) in weakly-oriented phases can be measured with the highest precision.
Catalytic Asymmetric Functionalization of Inert Bonds and Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Products
Authors: Cramer Nicolai
Published: October 2011

The direct and enantioselective functionalization of inert bonds such as carbon–hydrogen and carbon–carbon is an emerging tool towards more sustainable and efficient synthetic methods. The individual activation pathways like concerted deprotonation metalations, directed
activations, ?-carbon eliminations or retro-allylations proceed by completely different mechanisms and therefore have complementary requirements and different associated challenges. A careful fine-tuning of the transition-metal complex is critical for each mechanism, but a very broad
structural space can be covered as well. These methods enhance the synthetic chemist's toolbox allowing more concise, efficient synthetic routes to be executed in target-oriented synthesis. This is illustrated by the examples of a synthesis of largazole and the core of stachyflin from our
group.
Built-in 5-Aminooxazole as an Internal Activator of the Terminal Carboxylic Acid: An Alternative Access to Macrocyclodepsipeptides
Authors: Zhu Jieping
Published: October 2011

A conceptually novel macrolactonization technology is described. A strategically positioned 5-aminooxazole served as an internal traceless activator of the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid allowing the occurrence of macrolactonization under mild acidic conditions. It is a domino
process involving a sequence of: a) protonation of 5-amino oxazole leading to an electrophilic iminium salt; b) trapping the iminium species by the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid leading to a putative spirolactone; c) intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the tethered alcohol
onto the spirolactone followed by fragmentation to afford the macrolactone. No coupling reagent is required and the entire sequence is triggered by trifluoroacetic acid under very mild conditions (MeCN, room temperature). By combining with a three-component synthesis of 5-aminooxazole, a two-step
synthesis of structurally complex cyclodepsipeptides from readily accessible starting materials is developed.
The Resilience of the Nation Sate:Cosmopolitanism, Holocaust Memory and German Identity
Authors: Welch Stephen , Wittlinger Ruth
Published: October 2011

The aim of this paper is to offer a critique of the proposal of “methodological cosmopolitanism“ in theoretical terms and to substantiate this critique by providing an account of the dynamics of collective memory and identity in postunification Germany. In the first part, we look at the arguments about methodological cosmopolitanism and their derivative, the idea of cosmopolitan memory, illustrated by the case of Holocaust memory. In the second part we look at the case of Germany: firstly at its postwar experience of the attempted construction of “postnational“ identity, and then at more recent trends, contemporaneous with the Berlin Republic, towards a “normalization“ of national identity in Germany. The Holocaust plays a crucial, but different, role in each phase, we suggest. In the conclusion we return to more general themes, asking what the German case tells us about the cosmopolitanization thesis more generally.
Reinventing the Banat: Cosmopolitanism as a German Cultural Export
Authors: Koranyi James
Published: October 2011

While Ulrich Beck and Natan Sznaider advocate cosmopolitanism as a way of freeing ourselves from grand narratives and putting the subject back on the agenda of research, this article illustrates that such uses of cosmopolitanism can create more problems than they propose to solve. In the case of the Romanian Banat, the recent revival of a cosmopolitan past based on the legacy of the German and other minorities has been intricately tied up with existing cultural hierarchies. Romania has therefore utilized this past as a way of showing its “western face.“ In the Serbian Banat, by contrast, such a development has not taken place due to the absence of a dialogue with the West. As such, this article demonstrates that cosmopolitanism has become normative in its use and has created problems for both Romanian and Serbian societies.
Re-crafting an Academic Literacies approach to pedagogic communication in higher education
Authors: Sutton Paul
Published: October 2011

The communicative relationship between learners and teachers in higher education, particularly as manifested in assessment and feedback, is often problematic. I begin from an Academic Literacies approach that positions academic literacy as requiring learners to acquire a complex set of literacy skills and abilities within specific discursive and institutional contexts. Whilst acknowledging the institutional dimension of academic literacy, I argue that the Academic Literacies approach tends to underestimate its significance. This shortcoming can be addressed by considering student speaking and writing as powerfully constrained by what Bourdieu refers to as the authority of pedagogic institutions, which function in what Sennett calls the culture of the new capitalism. Synthesising Bourdieu and Sennett, I argue, opens up possibilities for creating a pedagogy for itself: a pedagogy conscious of its reproductive function but able to provide both learners and teachers with what Canaan terms critical hope. Through this theoretical synthesis I seek to re-craft the Academic Literacies approach to pedagogic communication so that our understanding of the problems experienced by learners in acquiring academic literacy can be enhanced.
Synthesis and Characterization of a (CH=CH)6-Bridged Heterobimetallic Ferrocene–Ruthenium Complex
Authors: Zhu Xingxun , Liu Fang , Yin Jun , Yu Guang-Ao , Liu Sheng Hua
Published: October 2011

A heterobimetallic ferrocene–ruthenium complex with a conjugated vinyl (CH=CH)6 chain has been synthesised by treatment of the mononuclear complex Fc(CH=CH)C(CH3)=(CH)4=C(CH3)(CH)2C ≡ CH with [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3]. Its UV-Vis absorption spectrum showed an obvious redshift and its electrochemical behaviour confirmed the existence of an electronic interaction between ruthenium and ferrocene, although the organic bridging chain included such a long carbon–carbon double bond unit.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 3-[1-Hydroxy-3-Oxo-3-(4-Methylphenylpropyl)]Quinolin-2(1 H)-One Derivatives
Authors: Lobo Gricela , González Teresa , Briceño Alexander , Charris Jaime
Published: October 2011

An efficient cross-aldol reaction catalysed by L-proline in PBS-buffer SDS aqueous media provides a direct route to transform 2-chloroquinoline to 2-quinolone. The crystal structure of rac-(1S,1R)-3-[1-hydroxy-3-oxo-3-(4-methylphenylpropyl)-quinolin-2(1H)-one consists of molecules linked via N1-H1···O2i and O1-H1A···O3ii hydrogen bonding interactions (i: -x+2, y-1/2, -z+1/2; ii: -x+2, y+1/2, -z+1/2), forming infinite zigzag ribbons with graph set R22(8) along the b axis. The three-dimensional network is obtained through additional C–H···π and π···π (quinolone) interactions.
Four-Component Reaction between Trimethyl Phosphite, Aroyl Chlorides and Dialkyl Acetylenedicarboxylate with Benzoic Acid Hydrazide
Authors: Hassanabadi Alireza , Mosslemin Mohammad H. , Anary-Abbasinejad Mohammad , Ghazvininejad Farzaneh , Koocheki Somayeh
Published: October 2011

A four-component and one-pot reaction between trimethyl phosphite, a dialkyl acetylene dicarboxylate and an aroyl chloride with benzoic acid hydrazide is described as a simple and efficient route for the synthesis of functionalised pyrazoles in good yields.
A Simple Three-Component Synthesis of Spiro-Pyran Derivatives
Authors: He Yi , Guo Hongyun , Tian Jinjin
Published: October 2011

A series of spiro-pyran derivatives have been synthesised by a three-component reaction of ninhydrin or acenaphthenequinone, malononitrile and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as cyclohexane-1,3-dione, dimedone and barbituaric acid in ethanol with NaHCO3 as the catalyst. This method has the advantages of easy work-up, mild reaction condition, high yields and it is cheap.
Hexatriene Formation from the Regiospecific Alkene Cross-Metathesis of Trans-1-(Buta-1,3-Dien-1-yl)-2-Acryloyloxynaphthalene
Authors: Gabbutt Christopher D. , Heron B. Mark , Kilner Colin , Kolla Suresh B.
Published: October 2011

Wittig olefination of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with allylidenetriphenylphosphorane afforded trans-1-(buta-1,3-dien-1-yl)-2-naphthol in good yield. Subsequent O-acylation with acryloyl chloride provided the corresponding acrylate ester. Attempts to effect cyclisation of the latter by ring-closing metathesis with Grubbs’ 2nd generation catalyst failed to provide 5H-naphth[2,1-b]oxocin-5-one and instead induced a novel cross-metathesis reaction to generate trans,trans,trans-1,6-bis(2-acryloyloxynaphthalen-1-yl)hexa-1,3,5-triene, the structure of which was established by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography.
A Green Method for Selective Acetylation of Primary Alcohols using Ethyl Acetate and Solid Potassium Carbonate
Authors: Mallesha N. , Rao S. Prahlada , Suhas R. , Gowda D. Channe
Published: October 2011

A simple and selective acetylation of primary alcohols in the presence of other reactive functionalities such as secondary alcohol, phenol, acetonide and amine is described using mild ethyl acetate as the acetyl-transfer agent and solid potassium carbonate as the catalyst.
Aromatisation in Adducts of α-Terpinene: Influence of Hindered Internal Rotations
Authors: Kaya Afşin Ahmet , Şengül Mehmet Emin , Menzek Abdullah , Kayaardi İbrahim , Karakuş Murat , Şahin Ertan
Published: October 2011

Each adduct of α-terpinene with p-quinone and 1,4-naphthoquinone in Ac2O/Et3N at 180 °C gives two aromatic products, one of which had a distinctive smell formed by the loss of an ethylene group. Here, we report the crystal structure of (1RS, 4RS)-1-isopropyl-4-methyl-1,4-dihydro-1,4-ethanoanthracene-9,10-diyl diacetate. It is crystallised in an orthorhombic space group, Pbca, with cell dimensions a = 10.2899(7), b = 19.7804(9), c = 19.7519(8) Å and Z = 8. According to its NMR and X-ray diffraction data, the isopropyl and acetate groups slowly rotate.
Synthesis of a Chiral β-Amino Acid Derivative by a Cobalt-Catalysed Coupling Reaction
Authors: Pan Xianhua , Yu Wansheng , Ou Wenhua , Tao Xiaohu , Wan Jiaomei , Liu Feng
Published: October 2011

A chiral β-amino acid derivative was synthesised by a cobalt-catalysed alkylation of 2,4,5-trifluorophenyl magnesium bromide with the alkyl halide derivative of L-aspartic acid, using an efficient catalytic reagent: CoCl2/TMEDA. The halide derivative was synthesised from protected L-aspartic acid β-methyl ester and the Grignard reagent was made by bromine- magnesium exchange. The stereo-structure was well preserved from L-aspartic acid.
A Polymorphic Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Nitronyl Nitroxide Radical: PhNIT
Authors: Wang Xiao-Feng , Zhou Xin , Chen Ji-Hao , Luo Hong
Published: October 2011

Nitroxides radicals are attractive tools for study in biochemistry and materials science. A polymorphic crystal of a nitroxide radical, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-phenylimidazoline-1-oxyl 1-oxide was prepared and structurally characterised. The compound crystallised in the monoclinic, space group C2/c with a = 11.170(6) Å, b = 10.417(5) Å, c = 10.995(5) Å, β = 108.059(9)°, V = 1216.3(10) Å, C13H17N2O2, Mr = 233.29, Dc = 1.274 g cm−3, μ (MoKα) = 0.087 mm−1, Z = 4 and F(000) = 500. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares techniques to the final R1 = 0.0626 and wR2 = 0.1679 for 1070 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). The magnetic susceptibility was measured.
A Comparison of Plasma and Tissue Ascorbic Acid Levels in Turkeys, Quail and Chickens Using a Rapid, Modified Reduction-Based Colorimetric Assay
Authors: Hardy Chistopher G. , Larsen Calvert T. , Holladay Steven D. , Johnson Mark S. , Gogal Robert M.
Published: October 2011

Ascorbic acid (AA) enhances innate immunity, alters gene expression and functions as a co-factor in specific enzyme reactions. Birds are unique in that they can synthesise ascorbic acid whereas humans and rodents lack this ability. Diagnostic tests that currently exist to measure ascorbic acid levels in birds are time-consuming and expensive. In the present study, a modified and improved reduction-based colorimetric assay was evaluated in turkeys, quail and chickens. The assay was rapid for quantifying ascorbic acid in plasma and tissue samples, and generated values consistent with those obtained using HPLC. Five breeds of heritage turkeys were studied, showing significant plasma AA differences among breeds and, within breeds, by sex. Quail displayed plasma AA levels similar to the corresponding values that were highest in turkeys, which again were significantly greater in males than females. Chicken plasma AA levels were comparable to the turkeys and quail. However, the spleens of chickens had AA levels more than 12-fold higher than plasma, which increased significantly with a 150 mg/kg AA feed supplement. These collective results show a broad utility for the modified AA assay, and demonstrate differences in birds by breed, sex and diet.
Intermediate Egret Ardea Intermedia in the Neretva River Valley (Croatia): Evaluation of Historical and Recent Data on its Movements
Authors: Mužinić Jasmina
Published: October 2011

Two years after the first description of the heron species Intermediate Egret, in Manuel d'ornithologie (1840), the physician and natural historian Francesco Lanza observed several specimens of this species (under the name of Ardea egrettoides) in the valley of Neretva, just off the southern East Adriatic (Croatian) coast. Yet Lanza's observation remained unnoticed by the ornithological audience until the present day. An analysis of Lanza's description of the species, historical circumstances of this first record, as well as recent data on the appearance of this species outside its typical area of distribution speak in favour of the correct determination of specimens of this species in the valley of Neretva. Therefore, Lanza's description of Intermediate Egret in the valley of Neretva is the first record of this species in Europe. Sightings of this species outside its area of distribution confirm the existence of two distinct directions of movement: West African and Mediterranean.
Broiler Breeder Trace Mineral Nutrition and Feeding Practices on Embryo Progeny Development
Authors: Moraes Vera M.B. , Oviedo-Rondón Edgar O. , Leandro Nadja S.M. , Wineland Michael J. , Malheiros Ramon D. , Eusebio-Balcazar Pamela
Published: October 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of breeder feeding programme, feeder space change from rearing to lay, and trace mineral (TM) source on the development of embryo progeny. Cobb 500 broiler breeders were raised in a blackout pullet house. At 23 weeks, females that represented the body weight (BW) distribution from each pen were transferred to a laying house divided into pens with either same or more feeder space than in rearing. From 14 to 29 weeks, either a late fast or a late slow FP was used. Breeders were fed corn based diets during rearing and lay and from 56 to 62 weeks of age, these diets contained either 100% inorganic TM or an organic TM source to replace 30% of Cu, Zn, and Mn. Embryo BW, residual yolk, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development from 19 to 21 days of incubation were evaluated in 62-weeks-old breeder offspring. Allometric coefficients were determined for each GIT component. All possible interactions of this 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design were evaluated at each embryo age. Results indicated treatment effects on relative weights of GIT organs for only two-way and main effects. Allometric coefficients suggested that progeny of breeders fed diets with 100% inorganic TM or according to late fast (LF) had faster development of gizzard + proventriculus and gut, respectively. In breeder feeding practices and TM nutrition may affect GIT development of embryo progeny.
The Crosstalk of PTGS2 and EGF Signaling Pathways in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Dingzhi , Xia Dianren , DuBois Raymond N.
Published: October 2011

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the USA. Colorectal cancer progression and metastasis depends on the orchestration of the aberrant signaling pathways that control tumor cell proliferation, survival and migration/invasion. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies have demonstrated that prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and epithelial growth factor (EGF) signaling pathways play key roles in promoting colorectal cancer growth and metastasis. In this review, we highlight major advances in our understanding of the roles of PTGS2 and EGF signaling in colorectal cancer.
Nuclei of Tsuga canadensis: Role of Flavanols in Chromatin Organization
Authors: Feucht Walter , Schmid Markus , Treutter Dieter
Published: October 2011

Needle primordia of Tsuga canadensis (hemlock) arising from flank meristems of a shoot apex, form cell lineages consisting of four or eight cells. Within a recently established lineage there is striking uniformity in the pattern of nuclear flavanols. This fact points to an identical transcriptional expression of these flavanols during cell cycling. However two lineages, even if located close together within the same meristem, can be very different in the expression of both cell shape and nuclear flavanol pattern, indicating that epigenetic positional signals are operating in a collective specification of cell lineage development. There is a wide range of nuclear flavanol patterning from a mosaic-like distribution in an activated cell type to a homogenous appearance in silenced cell types. Single cells deriving from lineages are desynchronized because they underlie a signaling network at a higher tissue level which results in stronger epigenetic modifications of their nuclear flavanols. As an extreme case of epigenetic modulation, transient drought conditions caused a drastic reduction of nuclear flavanols. Upon treatment with sucrose or cytokinin, these nuclear flavanols could be fully restored. Analytical determination of the flavanols revealed 3.4 mg/g DW for newly sprouting needles and 19.6 mg/g DW for anthers during meiosis. The roughly 6-fold difference in flavanols is apparently a reflection of the highly diverging organogenetic processes. Collectively, the studies provide strong evidence for combinatorial interplay between cell fate and nuclear flavanols.
N-(4-Methylsulfonamido-3-phenoxyphenyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboximide
Authors: Kankanala Kavitha , Prakash Varsha , Mukkanti Khagga , Reddy Vangala Ranga , Pal Sarbani
Published: October 2011

The title compound, N-(4-methylsulfonamido-3-phenoxyphenyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboximide was synthesized in high yield by reaction of N-(4-amino-2-phenoxyphenyl)methanesulfonamide and 9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-endo-α,β-succinic anhydride in glacial acetic acid. The structure of the compound was fully characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectral analysis and elemental analysis.
The Journal Microarrays
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: October 2011

Our publishing company MDPI AG has its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland where there are thousands of scientists working in the laboratories of pharmaceutical companies and institutes including Novartis [1], F. Hoffmann-La Roche [2] and institutes affiliated with University of Basel [3]. In 1996, the first annual microplate conference MipTec was held in Basel, and the MipTec 2011 was held a few days ago in Basel [4]. I published a paper on microplate standardization presented at MipTec 1996 in MDPI’s longest-running journal Molecules [5-7]. [....]
A New Long Term Assessment of Energy Return on Investment (EROI) for U.S. Oil and Gas Discovery and Production
Authors: Guilford Megan C. , Hall Charles A.S. , O’Connor Peter , Cleveland Cutler J.
Published: October 2011

Oil and gas are the main sources of energy in the United States. Part of their appeal is the high Energy Return on Energy Investment (EROI) when procuring them. We assessed data from the United States Bureau of the Census of Mineral Industries, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Oil and Gas Journal for the years 1919–2007 and from oil analyst Jean Laherrere to derive EROI for both finding and producing oil and gas. We found two general patterns in the relation of energy gains compared to energy costs: a gradual secular decrease in EROI and an inverse relation to drilling effort. EROI for finding oil and gas decreased exponentially from 1200:1 in 1919 to 5:1 in 2007. The EROI for production of the oil and gas industry was about 20:1 from 1919 to 1972, declined to about 8:1 in 1982 when peak drilling occurred, recovered to about 17:1 from 1986–2002 and declined sharply to about 11:1 in the mid to late 2000s. The slowly declining secular trend has been partly masked by changing effort: the lower the intensity of drilling, the higher the EROI compared to the secular trend. Fuel consumption within the oil and gas industry grew continuously from 1919 through the early 1980s, declined in the mid-1990s, and has increased recently, not surprisingly linked to the increased cost of finding and extracting oil.
The Hepatitis C Virus Glycan Shield and Evasion of the Humoral Immune Response
Authors: Helle François , Duverlie Gilles , Dubuisson Jean
Published: October 2011

Despite the induction of effective immune responses, 80% of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals progress from acute to chronic hepatitis. In contrast to the cellular immune response, the role of the humoral immune response in HCV clearance is still subject to debate. Indeed, HCV escapes neutralizing antibodies in chronically infected patients and reinfection has been described in human and chimpanzee. Studies of antibody-mediated HCV neutralization have long been hampered by the lack of cell-culture-derived virus and the absence of a small animal model. However, the development of surrogate models and recent progress in HCV propagation in vitro now enable robust neutralization assays to be performed. These advances are beginning to shed some light on the mechanisms of HCV neutralization. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge of the viral targets of anti-HCV-neutralizing antibodies and the mechanisms that enable HCV to evade the humoral immune response. The recent description of the HCV glycan shield that reduces the immunogenicity of envelope proteins and masks conserved neutralizing epitopes at their surface constitutes the major focus of this review.
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Regulation in Anoxia Tolerance of the Freshwater Crayfish Orconectes virilis
Authors: Lant Benjamin , Storey Kenneth B.
Published: October 2011

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), the enzyme which catalyzes the rate determining step of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), controls the production of nucleotide precursor molecules (R5P) and powerful reducing molecules (NADPH) that support multiple biosynthetic functions, including antioxidant defense. G6PDH from hepatopancreas of the freshwater crayfish (Orconectes virilis) showed distinct kinetic changes in response to 20 h anoxic exposure. Km values for both substrates decreased significantly in anoxic crayfish; Km NADP+ dropped from 0.015±0.008 mM to 0.012±0.008 mM, and Km G6P decreased from 0.13±0.02 mM to 0.08±0.007 mM. Two lines of evidence indicate that the mechanism involved is reversible phosphorylation. In vitro incubations that stimulated protein kinase or protein phosphatase action mimicked the effects on anoxia on Km values, whereas DEAE-Sephadex chromatography showed the presence of two enzyme forms (low- and high-phosphate) whose proportions changed during anoxia. Incubation studies implicated protein kinase A and G in mediating the anoxia-responsive changes in G6PDH kinetic properties. In addition, the amount of G6PDH protein (measured by immunoblotting) increased by ∼60% in anoxic hepatopancreas. Anoxia-induced phosphorylation of G6PDH could contribute to modifying carbon flow through the PPP under anoxic conditions, potentially maintaining NADPH supply for antioxidant defense during prolonged anoxia-induced hypometabolism.
Technical Note: A novel approach to estimation of time-variable surface sources and sinks of carbon dioxide using empirical orthogonal functions and the Kalman filter
Authors: Zhuravlev R. , Khattatov B. , Kiryushov B. , Maksyutov S.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. In this work we propose an approach to solving a source estimation problem based on representation of carbon dioxide surface emissions as a linear combination of a finite number of pre-computed empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). We used National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) transport model for computing response functions and Kalman filter for estimating carbon dioxide emissions. Our approach produces results similar to these of other models participating in the TransCom3 experiment. Using the EOFs we can estimate surface fluxes at higher spatial resolution, while keeping the dimensionality of the problem comparable with that in the regions approach. This also allows us to avoid potentially artificial sharp gradients in the fluxes in between pre-defined regions. EOF results generally match observations more closely given the same error structure as the traditional method. Additionally, the proposed approach does not require additional effort of defining independent self-contained emission regions.
An Ode to Cimino
Authors: Ramanathan Anantha K. , Nowacki Jerzy , Hoffman Helen , McLaughlin Kay , Kelly Peta , Degnan James H.
Published: October 2011

Purpose

The aim of the study was to ascertain whether a Cimino First policy can be implemented successfully in tertiary practice using a standardized technique.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. All first radial-cephalic (Cimino) fistulas placed by a single surgeon in incident patients were studied. A standardized surgical technique was used paying attention to the dorsal cephalic branch. No balloon maturation or early surveillance was performed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using survfit function in R (Vienna) was applied.

Results

Fifty-seven (69%) of 83 new accesses were radial cephalic fistulas. Of these, 44 (77.2%) were men. The patients were aged 17 to 83 (mean 54.1; SD 14.6) years. Whites comprised of 21 (36.8%), maori 18 (31.6%), and pacific islanders 16 (28.1%). Comorbidities included diabetes in 32 (56.1%), hypertension in 47 (82.5%), and hyperlipidemia in 25 (46.3%; n=54). Twenty-six (45.6%) were pre-dialysis. Mean body mass index was 30.74 (SD 6.9) Kg/m2 (n=56). Mean vein diameter was 3.3 mm (range 2.1–6.2 mm; n=36). Twenty-six (45.6%) had had previous central lines. Forty-four (77.2%) fistulas matured. Mean maturation time was 14.0 weeks. Thirty-six (63.2%) were used for dialysis while eight patients remained pre-dialysis with patent fistulas. Primary patency at one year and 18 months was 69.2% and 57.4% respectively. The figures for assisted primary patency were 85.6% and 72.3% respectively. Secondary patency was 87.6% and 83.9% at one and two years.

Conclusions

Cimino fistulas can be performed in a majority of patients with good results using a standardized surgical technique. The importance of the dorsal cephalic branch needs to be studied.
Biomass to Bioethanol: Initiatives of the Future for Lignin
Authors: Brosse Nicolas , Mohamad Ibrahim Mohamad Nasir , Abdul Rahim Afidah
Published: October 2011

Lignin, which is one of the most abundant natural materials, represents a vastly underutilized natural polymer. With the emerging necessity to develop alternative sustainable transportation fuels, bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass is considered as a viable option to petroleum-derived fuels. The effective utilization of biomass feedstock necessitates the development of cost-effective pretreatment technologies that are necessary to separate the three main biopolymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). One of the key issues concerning the pretreatment process is the full recovery of the feedstock through optimum utilization of all lignocellulosic components, including nonsugar compounds, as marketable products. Thus, availability of high-quality lignin in large quantities should stimulate development in new lignin applications in the fields of fibres, biodegradable polymers, adhesives, and surface treatment (rust converter).
Psychometric characteristics of outcome measures in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A systematic review
Authors: van Mater Heather A. , Williams John W. , Coeytaux Remy R. , Sanders Gillian D. , Kemper Alex R.
Published: October 2011

Objective

To review the performance characteristics of the instruments most commonly used to measure clinical outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), including global assessments, articular indices, functional/disability assessments, and quality of life measures.

Methods

As part of an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality comparative effectiveness review of antirheumatic drugs, we explored the characteristics of commonly used outcome measures for JIA. English‐language studies of children with JIA were identified from Medline and Embase. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts, with subsequent full‐text review of studies selected based on predetermined criteria.

Results

We included 35 publications describing 34 unique studies and involving 14,831 patients. The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (C‐HAQ) was the most extensively studied instrument and had high reliability, but only moderate correlations with other indices of disease activity and poor responsiveness to change in disease status. The physician global assessment of disease activity (PGA) and articular indices had the strongest association with disease activity and were the most responsive to change. Measures of psychosocial function and quality of life were moderately associated with measures of disease activity, but were less responsive to changes in disease status.

Conclusion

In children with JIA, no single instrument was superior in reliability or validity or in describing the impact of JIA. Although the C‐HAQ has been extensively evaluated, the PGA and articular indices appear to have the highest responsiveness to change and, therefore, the highest potential for detecting important differences in treatment response.
Exploring occupational disruption among women after onset of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: McDonald Heather N. , Dietrich Tracy , Townsend Anne , Li Linda C. , Cox Susan , Backman Catherine L.
Published: October 2011

Objective

To portray experiences of women engaging in everyday tasks, activities, and occupations, from symptom onset to 12 months after diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to explore the meanings attributed to their activities and occupations.

Methods

A secondary analysis of qualitative data, guided by phenomenography, explored the stories of 37 women with early RA. The original study used in‐depth interviews to explore the help‐seeking process from first symptom to diagnosis, and results indicated unexplored impacts on activity, stimulating the present analysis. Transcripts were read and coded by 3 investigators and then debated by the full team with this new research objective in mind. Descriptive categories were formed through a systematic, iterative approach with a focus on how early RA impacted daily routines and participation in occupation.

Results

Participants recounted a range of experiences characterized by changes in the way they engaged in occupations as a result of RA symptoms. Four interrelated categories were identified: uncertainties associated with good days, bad days, and worse days; experiencing activity disruption; doing things differently, which was perceived both positively and negatively; and changing views of self, as participants developed identities as individuals living with RA.

Conclusion

Daily activities and occupational identity can be profoundly impacted in the first 12 months after diagnosis with RA, resulting in significant life changes. Health professionals are encouraged to identify disrupted activities, facilitate participation in valued occupations, and create environments that enable patients to explore changes in identity to prevent negative life consequences.
Longitudinal study of the impact of incident organ manifestations and increased disease activity on work loss among persons with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Yelin Edward , Tonner Chris , Trupin Laura , Gansky Stuart A. , Julian Laura , Katz Patricia , Yazdany Jinoos , Kaiser Rachel , Criswell Lindsey A.
Published: October 2011

Objective

There is increasing evidence of the impact of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on employment, but few studies have had sufficient sample size and longitudinal followup to estimate the impact of specific manifestations or of increasing disease activity on employment.

Methods

Data were derived from the University of California, San Francisco, Lupus Outcomes Study, a longitudinal cohort of 1,204 persons with SLE sampled between 2002 and 2009. Of the 1,204 persons, 484 were working at baseline and had at least 1 followup interview. We used the Kaplan‐Meier method to estimate the time between onset of thrombotic, neuropsychiatric, or musculoskeletal manifestations, or of increased disease activity, and work loss. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the risk of work loss associated with the onset of specific manifestations, the number of manifestations, and increased activity, with and without adjustment for sociodemographic, employment, and SLE duration characteristics.

Results

By 4 years of followup, 57%, 34%, and 38% of those with thrombotic, musculoskeletal, and neuropsychiatric manifestations, respectively, had stopped working, as had 42% of those with increased disease activity. On a bivariable basis, the risk of work loss was significantly higher among persons ages 55–64 years and those with increased disease activity and each kind of manifestation. In multivariable analysis, older age, shorter job tenure, thrombotic and musculoskeletal manifestations, greater number of manifestations, and high levels of activity increased the risk of work loss.

Conclusion

Incident thrombosis and musculoskeletal manifestations, multiple manifestations, and increased disease activity are associated with the risk of work loss in SLE.
Novel Composite Particles in Superconductor–Semiconductor–Superconductor Junction
Authors: Inoue Ryotaro , Takayanagi Hideaki
Published: October 2011

In superconductor–semiconductor–superconductor (Su–Sm–Su) junctions with superlattice structure, differential resistance as a function of voltage shows oscillatory behavior under the irradiation of radio‐frequency (rf) waves with specific frequency regardless of the superconducting materials and the junction geometries. We interpret quantitatively this newly discovered phenomenon in terms of the coupling of superconducting quasiparticles with long‐wavelength acoustic phonons indirectly excited by the rf waves. We propose that the strong coupling causes the formation of novel composite particles which we named Andreev polarons.
Linear solvation energy relationship and evaluation of mutual miscibility of polymers using inverse gas chromatography data
Authors: Huang Jan‐Chan
Published: October 2011

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) has been widely used to determine the Flory–Huggins parameters, χ, between solutes (probes) and polymers. In a previous study a multiparameter acid–base model, which included dispersion, polarity, acidity, and basicity components, was used to correlate the Flory–Huggins parameters of a series of probes obtained from IGC measurement. Using IGC data from two polymers the parameters of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) were calculated and used to estimate the interaction parameter between them. In the present study a modified linear method was proposed to obtain the parameter differences between the two polymers directly from their chromatographic retention data. This method offers a more convenient assessment on the mutual miscibility between the two polymers. This method is also related to the linear solvation energy relationship (LESR). Correlations between the descriptors of LESR and the parameters in this acid–base model are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Plasmatocyte‐spreading peptide influences hemocyte behavior via eicosanoids
Authors: Srikanth Koigoora , Park Junga , Stanley David W. , Kim Yonggyun
Published: October 2011

Hemocyte‐spreading behavior is required for expressing a cellular immune response, nodulation, which clears the vast majority of invading microbes from circulation. The nodulation response is completed by a layer of plasmatocytes, which spread over the nodule and initiate a malanization process leading to darkened nodules. Plasmatocyte‐spreading peptide (PSP), the first reported insect cytokine, is responsible for mediating the spreading and attachment of some subclasses of plasmatocytes to nodules. Prostaglandins (PGs), one group of eicosanoids formed from arachidonic acid (AA), also mediate plasmatocyte spreading (PS), although the potential interactions between the PSP and PG signal transduction pathways have not been investigated. We tested our hypothesis that PSP acts via biosynthesis of eicosanoids, specifically PGs, in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. In this study, we report that (1) PSP and PGE2 independently stimulated Ca++‐dependent PS, (2) inhibitors of PG biosynthesis reversibly blocked PS, (3) dsRNA silencing the gene encoding proPSP blocked PS, which was rescued by PSP and by AA, (4) PSP‐stimulated PS was reversibly impaired by inhibitors of PG biosynthesis, and (5) the inhibitor‐impaired spreading was rescued by AA. Taken together, these points strongly support our model showing that PSP acts via a plasmatocyte‐surface receptor, which stimulates biosynthesis of the PGs responsible for mediating plasmatocytes spreading. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficacy of etanercept in the tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated periodic syndrome: A prospective, open‐label, dose‐escalation study
Authors: Bulua Ariel C. , Mogul Douglas B. , Aksentijevich Ivona , Singh Harjot , He David Y. , Muenz Larry R. , Ward Michael M. , Yarboro Cheryl H. , Kastner Daniel L. , Siegel Richard M. , Hull Keith M.
Published: October 2011

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of etanercept in improving the symptoms and underlying inflammation in patients with tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS).

Methods

Fifteen patients with TRAPS were enrolled in a prospective, open‐label, dose‐escalation study. Patients recorded attacks, symptom severity, and use of ancillary medications in a daily diary. Blood samples were collected during each period and measured for levels of acute‐phase reactants. Between 7 years and 9 years after the conclusion of the initial study, patients completed a followup survey and were evaluated to determine the long‐term outcome of etanercept treatment.

Results

Etanercept treatment significantly attenuated the total symptom score and reduced the frequency of symptoms. Etanercept also reduced levels of acute‐phase reactants, particularly during asymptomatic periods. During a 10‐year followup period, patients continued to receive etanercept for a median of 3.3 years, with a number of patients switching to anti–interleukin‐1β receptor therapy or not receiving biologic agents, most frequently citing injection site reactions and lack of efficacy as reasons for discontinuation. However, patients continuing to receive etanercept had reduced symptoms at followup.

Conclusion

Etanercept reduces symptoms and serum levels of inflammatory markers of TRAPS in a dose‐dependent manner, but does not completely normalize symptoms or acute‐phase reactant levels. Although long‐term adherence to etanercept is poor, continuing to receive etanercept may provide continued symptomatic benefit.
Developmental Toxicity of the HMG‐CoA Reductase Inhibitor (PPD10558) in Rats and Rabbits
Authors: Faqi Ali S. , Prohaska David , Lopez Rocio , McIntyre Gail
Published: October 2011

PPD10558 is an orally active, lipid‐lowering 3–hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin) being developed as a treatment for hypercholesterolemia in patients who have not been able to tolerate statins because of statin‐associated myalgia. We have studied the potential developmental toxicity effects of PPD10558 in pregnant rats and rabbits given daily oral doses during the period of organogenesis. Rats were dosed with 0, 20, 80, or 320 mg/kg/day from Gestation Day (GD) 6 to 17 and rabbits received dose levels of 0, 12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day from GD 6 to 18. Additional groups in both studies served as toxicokinetic animals and received the PPD10558 in the same manner as the main study groups at the same dose levels. Blood samples were collected from toxicokinetic animals at designated time points on GD 6 and 17 in rats and GD 6 and 18 in rabbits. Fetal exposure in rats was assessed on GD 20. Maternal and developmental parameters were evaluated in rats and rabbits on GD 20 and GD 29, respectively. No maternal and developmental toxicity was observed at any of the dose levels used in the rat study. Evidence of fetal exposure was determined in fetal plasma with mean fetal concentrations of PPD10558 and the metabolite (PPD11901) found to be between 1 and 6% of the mean maternal concentrations. In rabbits, marked maternal toxicity including mortality (eight deaths; 1 dose at 25 and 7 at 50 mg/kg/day), abortions (2 at 25 mg/kg/day and 6 at 50 mg/kg/day) and reduction in gestation body weight, gestation body weight changes and decreased food consumption were observed. In addition, fetal body weights of the combined sexes were significantly reduced at 50 mg/kg/day in comparison with the controls. Mean peak exposure (Cmax) and total exposure (AUC(0–24)) of PPD11901 in both rats and rabbits were higher than that of PPD10558 on GD 6 and GD 17 at each of the three dose levels.. Based on the results of these studies, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for maternal and developmental toxicity in rats was considered to be ≥320 mg/kg/day, the highest dose level used in the study. The NOAEL for maternal and developmental toxicity in rabbits was 12.5 mg/kg/day and 25 mg/kg/day, respectively.
Syntrophic interactions improve power production in formic acid fed MFCs operated with set anode potentials or fixed resistances
Authors: Sun Dan , Call Douglas F. , Kiely Patrick D. , Wang Aijie , Logan Bruce E.
Published: October 2011

Formic acid is a highly energetic electron donor but it has previously resulted in low power densities in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Three different set anode potentials (−0.30, −0.15, and +0.15 V; vs. a standard hydrogen electrode, SHE) were used to evaluate syntrophic interactions in bacterial communities for formic acid degradation relative to a non‐controlled, high resistance system (1,000 Ω external resistance). No current was generated at −0.30 V, suggesting a lack of direct formic acid oxidation (standard reduction potential: −0.40 V). More positive potentials that allowed for acetic acid utilization all produced current, with the best performance at −0.15 V. The anode community in the −0.15 V reactor, based on 16S rDNA clone libraries, was 58% Geobacter sulfurreducens and 17% Acetobacterium, with lower proportions of these genera found in the other two MFCs. Acetic acid was detected in all MFCs suggesting that current generation by G. sulfurreducens was dependent on acetic acid production by Acetobacterium. When all MFCs were subsequently operated at an external resistance for maximum power production (100 Ω for MFCs originally set at −0.15 and +0.15 V; 150 Ω for the control), they produced similar power densities and exhibited the same midpoint potential of −0.15 V in first derivative cyclic voltammetry scans. All of the mixed communities converged to similar proportions of the two predominant genera (ca. 52% G. sulfurreducens and 22% Acetobacterium). These results show that syntrophic interactions can be enhanced through setting certain anode potentials, and that long‐term performance produces stable and convergent communities. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:405–414. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.