bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: Towards the Development of Functionalized Polypyridine Ligands for Ru(II) Complexes as Photosensitizers in Dye‐sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)
Authors: Adeloye Adewale O. , Ajibade Peter A.
Published: January 2015

Review: 148 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Approaches to the Total Synthesis of Natural Quinolizidine Alkaloid (+)‐Epiquinamide and Its Isomers: An Overview
Authors: Rajesh U. Chinna , Gupta Archana , Rawat Diwan S.
Published: January 2015

Review: 39 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Biomass Pyrolysis
Authors: Nachenius R. W. , Ronsse F. , Venderbosch R. H. , Prins W.
Published: January 2015

Review: 112 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
Authors: Robertson Jeremy , Stevens Kiri
Published: January 2015

Review: 266 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole‐based Compounds: Emerging Targets in Material Science, Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics
Authors: Zani Lorenzo , Calamante Massimo , Mordini Alessandro , Reginato Gianna
Published: January 2015

Review: 127 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: 1,3,4‐Thiadiazoles of Pharmacological Interest: Recent Trends in Their Synthesis via Tandem 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition: Review
Authors: Shawali Ahmad S.
Published: January 2015

Review: 86 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Review on Benzothiazoles: Synthesis and Diverse Biological Activities
Authors: Sompalle Rajesh , Roopan S. Mohana
Published: January 2015

Review: 31 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Diazirine‐Based Multifunctional Photo‐Probes for Affinity‐Based Elucidation of Protein‐Ligand Interaction
Authors: Tomohiro Takenori , Hatanaka Yasumaru
Published: January 2015

Review: 93 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Characterization of Membrane Protein Function by Solid‐state NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Baker Lindsay A. , Baldus Marc
Published: January 2015

Review: 38 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: A Helicopter View of Microwave Application to Chemical Processes: Reactions, Separations, and Equipment Concepts
Authors: Stefanidis Georgios D. , Munoz Alexander Navarrete , Sturm Guido S. J. , Stankiewicz Andrzej
Published: January 2015

Review: 215 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Mechanochemistry and Sonochemistry: Concluding Remarks
Authors: Suslick Kenneth S.
Published: January 2015

Review: 63 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: Microemulsion Systems for Catalytic Reactions and Processes
Authors: Schwarze M. , Pogrzeba T. , Volovych I. , Schomaecker R.
Published: January 2015

Review: 57 refs.
ChemInform Abstract: New Challenges in Gold Catalysis: Bimetallic Systems
Authors: Villa Alberto , Wang Di , Su Dang Sheng , Prati Laura
Published: January 2015

Review: 105 refs.
The Use of hiTRAN Wire Matrix Elements to Improve the Thermal Efficiency of Tubular Heat Exchangers in Single and Two‐Phase Flow
Authors: Drögemüller Peter
Published: January 2015

Over the past decades, innovations in the design of heat exchangers have improved thermal process efficiency. hiTRAN wire matrix technology is applied on the tube side of tubular heat exchangers and has been successfully used in a wide range of application, ranging from sensible heating and cooling to condensing and boiling services. The technology is used for both new designs and in revamp situations where it can increase the effectiveness of existing equipment. This review gives the required information to determine the process conditions for the most efficient use of this technology.
Distribution and Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Bank Soils and River Sediments From the Middle Reaches of the Huaihe River, China
Authors: Zhang Jiamei , Liu Guijian , Wang Ruwei , Liu Jingjing
Published: January 2015

Bank surface soil and river sediment samples from the middle reaches of the Huaihe River were analyzed by GC‐MS for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total PAHs concentrations ranged from104 to 947 ng/g in bank soils and from 83 to 2599 ng/g in river sediments. The PAHs levels of the studied samples are relatively higher as compared to those from other world regions, which suggest an enhanced deposition of atmospheric PAHs derived from the emissions of fossil fuel combustion in this area. Possible sources from soil and sediments were diagnosed by the paired PAHs isomer ratios and principal components analysis, and the results indicate that the PAHs in the soils mainly came from coal combustion (74%) followed by combustion of refined petroleum products (26%), and in the sediments mainly from pyrogenic sources (89%) followed by petroleum sources of oil spill emissions (11%). The PAHs exposure risk assessments show that PAHs in majority of the sediments did not pose threats to the ambient ecosystem. However, the calculated total toxic benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalent of PAHs in soil and sediment indicate that BaP is the most potentially carcinogenic individual PAH.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Simplified Side Chain Hybrids of the Potent Actin Binding Polyketides Rhizopodin and Bistramide
Authors: Herkommer Daniel , Dreisigacker Sandra , Sergeev Galina , Sasse Florenz , Gohlke Holger , Menche Dirk
Published: January 2015

The natural products rhizopodin and bistramide belong to an elite class of highly potent actin binding agents. They show powerful antiproliferative activities against a range of tumor cell lines, with IC50 values in the low‐nanomolar range. At the molecular level they disrupt the actin cytoskeleton by binding specifically to a few critical sites of G‐actin, resulting in actin filament stabilization. The important biological properties of rhizopodin and bistramide, coupled with their unique and intriguing molecular architectures, render them attractive compounds for further development. However, this is severely hampered by the structural complexity of these metabolites. We initiated an interdisciplinary approach at the interface between molecular modeling, organic synthesis, and chemical biology to support further biological applications. We also wanted to expand structure–activity relationship studies with the goal of accessing simplified analogues with potent biological properties. We report computational analyses of actin–inhibitor interactions involving molecular docking, validated on known actin binding ligands, that show a close match between the crystal and modeled structures. Based on these results, the ligand shape was simplified, and more readily accessible rhizopodin–bistramide mimetics were designed. A flexible and modular strategy was applied for the synthesis of these compounds, enabling diverse access to dramatically simplified rhizopodin–bistramide hybrids. This novel analogue class was analyzed for its antiproliferative and actin binding properties.
Phenotypic changes in dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord in the collagen antibody‐induced arthritis mouse model
Authors: Su Jie , Gao Tianle , Shi Tiejun , Xiang Qiong , Xu Xiaojun , Wiesenfeld‐Hallin Zsuzsanna , Hökfelt Tomas , Svensson Camilla I.
Published: January 2015

The mechanisms underlying rheumatoid arthritis (RA)‐induced pain are still not fully elucidated, and accumulating data indicate that peripheral inflammation is not the only factor driving pain in these patients. The focus of our work is to investigate the molecular basis for long‐term alterations in nociceptive pathways induced by polyarthritis using the collagen antibody‐induced arthritis (CAIA) mouse model. In this model, mechanical hypersensitivity outlasts the joint inflammation by weeks. Here we examined expression levels of neuropeptides, ion channels, and nerve injury markers associated with neuropathic and/or inflammatory pain in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord both during the peak of inflammation (day 15) and when the inflammation has resolved but the hypersensitivity persists (days 45–47). No apparent differences were observed in substance P, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, or neuropeptide Y protein expression in DRGs and spinal cord of CAIA mice. However, the neuropeptide galanin, the ATP‐gated ion channel P2X3, and calcium channel subunit α2δ1 were significantly increased in the CAIA DRGs as compared to controls, both 15 and 47 days after induction of arthritis. On day 15 there was an increase in expression of two factors associated with nerve injury and cell stress, activating transcription factor 3 and growth‐associated protein 43 in DRGs, whereby the latter was still dramatically upregulated after 47 days. In conclusion, this study suggests that long‐term joint inflammation has an impact on DRG neurons that resembles both inflammation and nerve injury‐induced pain states. Thus, antibody‐driven inflammation generates a pain state with a unique neurochemical profile. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1505–1528, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expression and cellular localization of the voltage‐gated calcium channel α2δ3 in the rodent retina
Authors: Pérez de Sevilla Müller Luis , Sargoy Allison , Fernández‐Sánchez Laura , Rodriguez Allen , Liu Janelle , Cuenca Nicolás , Brecha Nicholas
Published: January 2015

High‐voltage‐activated calcium channels are hetero‐oligomeric protein complexes that mediate multiple cellular processes, including the influx of extracellular Ca2+, neurotransmitter release, gene transcription, and synaptic plasticity. These channels consist of a primary α1 pore‐forming subunit, which is associated with an extracellular α2δ subunit and an intracellular β auxiliary subunit, which alter the gating properties and trafficking of the calcium channel. The cellular localization of the α2δ3 subunit in the mouse and rat retina is unknown. In this study using RT‐PCR, a single band at ∼305 bp corresponding to the predicted size of the α2δ3 subunit fragment was found in mouse and rat retina and brain homogenates. Western blotting of rodent retina and brain homogenates showed a single 123‐kDa band. Immunohistochemistry with an affinity‐purified antibody to the α2δ3 subunit revealed immunoreactive cell bodies in the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer and immunoreactive processes in the inner plexiform layer and the outer plexiform layer. α2δ3 immunoreactivity was localized to multiple cell types, including ganglion, amacrine, and bipolar cells and photoreceptors, but not horizontal cells. The expression of the α2δ3 calcium channel subunit to multiple cell types suggests that this subunit participates widely in Ca‐channel‐mediated signaling in the retina. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1443–1460, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Morphology and connectivity of the small bistratified A8 amacrine cell in the mouse retina
Authors: Lee Sammy C.S. , Meyer Arndt , Schubert Timm , Hüser Laura , Dedek Karin , Haverkamp Silke
Published: January 2015

Amacrine cells comprise ∼30 morphological types in the mammalian retina. The synaptic connectivity and function of a few γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic wide‐field amacrine cells have recently been studied; however, with the exception of the rod pathway‐specific AII amacrine cell, the connectivity of glycinergic small‐field amacrine cells has not been investigated in the mouse retina. Here, we studied the morphology and connectivity pattern of the small‐field A8 amacrine cell. A8 cells in mouse retina are bistratified with lobular processes in the ON sublamina and arboreal dendrites in the OFF sublamina of the inner plexiform layer. The distinct bistratified morphology was first visible at postnatal day 8, reaching the adult shape at P13, around eye opening. The connectivity of A8 cells to bipolar cells and ganglion cells was studied by double and triple immunolabeling experiments by using various cell markers combined with synaptic markers. Our data suggest that A8 amacrine cells receive glutamatergic input from both OFF and ON cone bipolar cells. Furthermore, A8 cells are coupled to ON cone bipolar cells by gap junctions, and provide inhibitory input via glycine receptor (GlyR) subunit α1 to OFF cone bipolar cells and to ON A‐type ganglion cells. Measurements of spontaneous glycinergic postsynaptic currents and GlyR immunolabeling revealed that A8 cells express GlyRs containing the α2 subunit. The results show that the bistratified A8 cell makes very similar synaptic contacts with cone bipolar cells as the rod pathway‐specific AII amacrine cell. However, unlike AII cells, A8 amacrine cells provide glycinergic input to ON A‐type ganglion cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1529–1547, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroplastic changes in the sensorimotor cortex associated with orthodontic tooth movement in rats
Authors: Sood Mandeep , Lee Jye‐Chang , Avivi‐Arber Limor , Bhatt Poolak , Sessle Barry J.
Published: January 2015

Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) causes transient pain and changes in the dental occlusion that may lead to altered somatosensory inputs and patterns of mastication. This study used intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings to test whether neuroplastic changes occur in the ICMS‐defined motor representations of left and right anterior digastric (LAD, RAD), masseter, buccinator, and genioglossus (GG) muscles within the rat's face primary motor cortex (face‐M1) and adjacent face primary somatosensory cortex (face‐S1) during OTM. Analyses included any changes in the number of ICMS sites representing these muscles and in the onset latencies of ICMS‐evoked responses in the muscles. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into experimental (E), sham (S), and naive (N) groups; OTM was induced in the E group. Statistical analyses involved a mixed model repeated‐measures analysis of variance (MMRM ANOVA). OTM resulted in significant neuroplastic changes in the number of positive sites in the E group for LAD, RAD, and GG muscles in face‐M1 and face‐S1 at days 1, 7, and 28 of continuous orthodontic force application, and in the number of sites in face‐M1 from which ICMS could simultaneously evoke EMG responses in different combinations of LAD, RAD, and GG muscles. However, the onset latencies of ICMS‐evoked responses were not significantly different between groups or between face‐M1 and face‐S1. The neuroplastic changes documented in this study may reflect adaptive sensorimotor changes in response to the altered environment in the oral cavity induced by OTM. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1548–1568, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The α2‐subunit of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor is specifically expressed in medial subpallium‐derived cells of mammalian amygdala
Authors: Pombero Ana , Martinez Salvador
Published: January 2015

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes are expressed in specific neuronal populations, which are involved in numerous neural functions such as sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and cognition, as well as the central processing of pain and food intake. Moreover, mutations in nAChRs subunits have been related to frontal lobe epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have shown that the α2‐subunit of the AChR (Chrna2) is expressed in the basal forebrain, in the septum, and in some amygdalar nuclei in the adult rodent brain. However, although the importance of this amygdalar expression in emotion‐related behavior and the physiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders has been accepted, a detailed study of the Chrna2 expression pattern during development has been lacking. In this study we found that Chrna2 is specifically expressed in medial subpallium‐derived amygdalar nuclei from early developmental stages to adult. This finding could help us to better understand the role of Chrna2 in the differentiation and functional maturation of amygdalar neurons involved in cholinergic‐regulated emotional behavior. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:1608–1621, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Geometrical features assessment of liver's tumor with application of artificial neural network evolved by imperialist competitive algorithm
Authors: Keshavarz M. , Mojra A.
Published: January 2015

Geometrical features of a cancerous tumor embedded in biological soft tissue, including tumor size and depth, are a necessity in the follow‐up procedure and making suitable therapeutic decisions. In this paper, a new socio‐politically motivated global search strategy which is called imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) is implemented to train a feed forward neural network (FFNN) to estimate the tumor's geometrical characteristics (FFNNICA). First, a viscoelastic model of liver tissue is constructed by using a series of in vitro uniaxial and relaxation test data. Then, 163 samples of the tissue including a tumor with different depths and diameters are generated by making use of PYTHON programming to link the ABAQUS and MATLAB together. Next, the samples are divided into 123 samples as training dataset and 40 samples as testing dataset. Training inputs of the network are mechanical parameters extracted from palpation of the tissue through a developing noninvasive technology called artificial tactile sensing (ATS). Last, to evaluate the FFNNICA performance, outputs of the network including tumor's depth and diameter are compared with desired values for both training and testing datasets. Deviations of the outputs from desired values are calculated by a regression analysis. Statistical analysis is also performed by measuring Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Efficiency (E). RMSE in diameter and depth estimations are 0.50 mm and 1.49, respectively, for the testing dataset. Results affirm that the proposed optimization algorithm for training neural network can be useful to characterize soft tissue tumors accurately by employing an artificial palpation approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A finite element parametric study of clavicle fixation plates
Authors: Pendergast Megan , Rusovici Razvan
Published: January 2015

A finite element simulation on a fracture fixated clavicle was performed to study the effects of different fracture fixation parameters on the callus region. Specifically, parameters such as plate material, thickness, plate/bone gap, screw length, and locking vs. non‐locking screws were explored. Plate thickness and locking vs. non‐locking screws were found to be influential to construct stiffness where plate/bone gap and number of screws were not as sensitive. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local Propagation of Impulsive GravitationalWaves
Authors: Luk Jonathan , Rodnianski Igor
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we initiate the rigorous mathematical study of the problem of impulsive gravitational spacetime waves. We construct such spacetimes as solutions to the characteristic initial value problem of the Einstein vacuum equations with a data curvature delta singularity. We show that in the resulting spacetime, the delta singularity propagates along a characteristic hypersurface, while away from that hypersurface the spacetime remains smooth. Unlike the known explicit examples of impulsive gravitational spacetimes, this work in particular provides the first construction of an impulsive gravitational wave of compact extent and does not require any symmetry assumptions. The arguments in the present paper also extend to the problem of existence and uniqueness of solutions to a larger class of nonregular characteristic data. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Self‐Assembled Cage‐Like Protein Structures
Authors: Putri Rindia M. , Cornelissen Jeroen J. L. M. , Koay Melissa S. T.
Published: January 2015

Proteins and protein‐based assemblies represent the most structurally and functionally diverse molecules found in nature. Protein cages, viruses and bacterial microcompartments are highly organized structures that are composed primarily of protein building blocks and play important roles in molecular ion storage, nucleic acid packaging and catalysis. The outer and inner surface of protein cages can be modified, either chemically or genetically, and the internal cavity can be used to template, store and arrange molecular cargo within a defined space. Owing to their structural, morphological, chemical and thermal diversity, protein cages have been investigated extensively for applications in nanotechnology, nanomedicine and materials science. Here we provide a concise overview of the most common icosahedral viral and nonviral assemblies, their role in nature, and why they are highly attractive scaffolds for the encapsulation of functional materials.
Enhancement of Photophysical and Photosensitizing Properties of Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide by Mutagenesis of the C‐Terminal Extension of a Bacterial Flavodoxin Reductase
Authors: Valle Lorena , Abatedaga Inés , Vieyra Faustino E. Morán , Bortolotti Ana , Cortez Néstor , Borsarelli Claudio D.
Published: January 2015

The role of the mobile C‐terminal extension present in Rhodobacter capsulatus ferredoxin–NADP(H) reductase (RcFPR) was evaluated using steady‐state and dynamic spectroscopies for both intrinsic Trp and FAD in a series of mutants in the absence of NADP(H). Deletion of the six C‐terminal amino acids beyond Ala266 was combined with the replacement A266Y to emulate the structure of plastidic reductases. Our results show that these modifications of the wild‐type RcFPR produce subtle global conformational changes, but strongly reduce the local rigidity of the FAD‐binding pocket, exposing the isoalloxazine ring to the solvent. Thus, the ultrafast charge‐transfer quenching of 1FAD* by the conserved Tyr66 residue was absent in the mutant series, producing enhancement of the excited singlet‐ and triplet‐state properties of FAD. This work highlights the delicate balance of the specific interactions between FAD and the surrounding amino acids, and how the functionality and/or photostability of redox flavoproteins can be modified.
Photophysics of a Ruthenium 4H‐Imidazole Panchromatic Dye in Interaction with Titanium Dioxide
Authors: Schindler Julian , Kupfer Stephan , Wächtler Maria , Guthmuller Julien , Rau Sven , Dietzek Benjamin
Published: January 2015

The photophysics of bis(4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ2N,N′)[2‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,5‐bis(p‐tolylimino‐κN)imidazolato]ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate is investigated, both in solution and attached to a nanocrystalline TiO2 film. The studied substitution pattern of the 4H‐imidazole ligand is observed to block a photoinduced structural reorganization pathway within the 4H‐imidazole ligand that has been previously investigated. Protonation at the 4H‐imidazole ring decreases the excited‐state lifetime in solution. When the unprotonated dye is anchored to TiO2, photoinduced electron injection occurs from thermally nonrelaxed triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) states with a characteristic time constant of 0.5 ps and an injection efficiency of roughly 25 %. Electron injection from the subsequently populated thermalized 3MLCT state of the dye does not take place. The energy of this state seems to be lower than the conduction band edge of TiO2.
Processing and rejection of novel items in childhood: Event‐related potential study of similar lures and novel foils
Authors: Rollins Leslie , Riggins Tracy
Published: January 2015

The ability to correctly identify novel items improves during childhood. Failures to correctly identify novel items are most likely to occur when novel items are similar to previously encountered items (i.e., similar lures) than when they are distinct (i.e., novel foils). Age‐related improvements in the correct rejection of novel items are important for children's learning and in applied settings, such as participation in legal proceedings (e.g., lineup identification). However, research has not assessed what processes support children's ability to reliably reject similar lures. The current study examined the rejection of similar lures and novel foils in thirty‐eight 5‐ and 6‐year‐old children using behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Following a week delay, children were less proficient at rejecting similar lures than novel foils and elicited a larger amplitude Nc response (i.e., 350–500 ms) to similar lures. This finding, taken in conjunction with previous studies demonstrating the role of the Nc in attentional processes [see de Haan, M. (2007). Visual attention and recognition memory in infancy. In M. de Haan (Ed.), Infant EEG and event‐related potentials (pp. 101–144). New York, NY: Psychology Press], suggests that children allocate greater attention toward similar lures, compared to novel foils, when accurately rejecting them. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 263–270, 2015.
NFAT1 deficit and NFAT2 deficit attenuate EAE via different mechanisms
Authors: Dietz Lena , Frommer Friederike , Vogel Anna‐Lena , Vaeth Martin , Serfling Edgar , Waisman Ari , Buttmann Mathias , Berberich‐Siebelt Friederike
Published: January 2015

EAE serves as an animal model for multiple sclerosis and is initiated by autoreactive T cells that infiltrate the CNS. Recognition of myelin‐associated Ags within the CNS leads to activation of the transcription factor family NFAT. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for NFAT in disease induction, as the combined lack of NFAT1 (NFATc2) and NFAT2 (NFATc1) completely protected mice. Single deficiency of either NFAT1 or NFAT2 ameliorated the course of EAE, and NFAT2 ablation resulted in an obstructed proinflammatory reaction. However, NFAT1 deficit led to an anti‐inflammatory response with nonpathogenic Th17 and Th2 cells concurrently secreting IL‐17, IL‐4, and IL‐10. Both IL‐4 and IL‐10 contributed to disease protection. In Nfat1−/− CD4+ T cells, the expression of anti‐inflammatory lymphokines was mediated by NFAT2, thus directly enabling protective IL expression. Consequently, blocking NFAT in toto may be an option for immunosuppressive therapy. More importantly, selective NFAT1 blockade could represent a safe long‐term immunomodulatory treatment approach for multiple sclerosis patients, potentially avoiding the adverse effects of global immunosuppression.
Differential control of CD4+ T‐cell subsets by the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis in a mouse model of allergic asthma
Authors: McAlees Jaclyn W. , Lajoie Stephane , Dienger Krista , Sproles Alyssa A. , Richgels Phoebe K. , Yang Yanfen , Khodoun Marat , Azuma Miyuki , Yagita Hideo , Fulkerson Patricia C. , Wills‐Karp Marsha , Lewkowich Ian P.
Published: January 2015

Studies examining the role of PD‐1 family members in allergic asthma have yielded conflicting results. Using a mouse model of allergic asthma, we demonstrate that blockade of PD‐1/PD‐L1 has distinct influences on different CD4+ T‐cell subsets. PD‐1/PD‐L1 blockade enhances airway hyperreactivity (AHR), not by altering the magnitude of the underlying Th2‐type immune response, but by allowing the development of a concomitant Th17‐type immune response. Supporting differential CD4+ T‐cell responsiveness to PD‐1‐mediated inhibition, naïve PD‐1−/− mice displayed elevated Th1 and Th17 levels, but diminished Th2 cytokine levels, and ligation of PD‐1 in WT cells limited cytokine production by in vitro polarized Th1 and Th17 cells, but slightly enhanced cytokine production by in vitro polarized Th2 cells. Furthermore, PD‐1 ligation enhanced Th2 cytokine production by naïve T cells cultured under nonpolarizing conditions. These data demonstrate that different CD4+ T‐cell subsets respond differentially to PD‐1 ligation and may explain some of the variable results observed in control of allergic asthma by the PD‐1 family members. As the PD‐1/PD‐L1 axis limits asthma severity by constraining Th17 cell activity, this suggests that severe allergic asthma may be associated with a defective PD‐1/PD‐L1 regulatory axis in some individuals.
Macrophage dynamics are regulated by local macrophage proliferation and monocyte recruitment in injured pancreas
Authors: Van Gassen Naomi , Van Overmeire Eva , Leuckx Gunter , Heremans Yves , De Groef Sofie , Cai Ying , Elkrim Yvon , Gysemans Conny , Stijlemans Benoît , Van de Casteele Mark , De Baetselier Patrick , De Leu Nico , Heimberg Harry , Van Ginderachter Jo A.
Published: January 2015

Pancreas injury by partial duct ligation (PDL) activates a healing response, encompassing β‐cell neogenesis and proliferation. Macrophages (MΦs) were recently shown to promote β‐cell proliferation after PDL, but they remain poorly characterized. We assessed myeloid cell diversity and the factors driving myeloid cell dynamics following acute pancreas injury by PDL. In naive and sham‐operated pancreas, the myeloid cell compartment consisted mainly of two distinct tissue‐resident MΦ types, designated MHC‐IIlo and MHC‐IIhi MΦs, the latter being predominant. MHC‐IIlo and MHC‐IIhi pancreas MΦs differed at the molecular level, with MHC‐IIlo MΦs being more M2‐activated. After PDL, there was an early surge of Ly6Chi monocyte infiltration in the pancreas, followed by a transient MHC‐IIlo MΦ peak and ultimately a restoration of the MHC‐IIhi MΦ‐dominated steady‐state equilibrium. These intricate MΦ dynamics in PDL pancreas depended on monocyte recruitment by C‐C chemokine receptor 2 and macrophage‐colony stimulating factor receptor as well as on macrophage‐colony stimulating factor receptor‐dependent local MΦ proliferation. Functionally, MHC‐IIlo MΦs were more angiogenic. We further demonstrated that, at least in C‐C chemokine receptor 2‐KO mice, tissue MΦs, rather than Ly6Chi monocyte‐derived MΦs, contributed to β‐cell proliferation. Together, our study fully characterizes the MΦ subsets in the pancreas and clarifies the complex dynamics of MΦs after PDL injury.
Uranyl Ion Complexes with trans‐3‐(3‐Pyridyl)acrylic Acid Including a Uranyl–Copper(II) Heterometallic Framework
Authors: Thuéry Pierre , Harrowfield Jack
Published: January 2015

As a heterofunctional pro‐ligand with both hard and soft coordination sites, trans‐3‐(3‐pyridyl)acrylic acid (LH) is of potential interest for the design of heterometallic complexes of f‐ and d‐block cations, as previously shown in the case of lanthanides. The reaction of LH with uranyl nitrate in water/acetonitrile at 180 °C yields the complex [(UO2)3(L)(HL)(O)(OH)3]·2.5H2O·CH3CN (2), which is different from the previously reported complex [UO2(L)(OH)] (1). Complex 2 crystallizes as a ribbon‐like 1D coordination polymer with a skeleton bridged by oxido and hydroxido ligands, in which the uranyl cation is bound to the bridging bidentate carboxylato groups, and the pyridyl groups (one of them protonated) are directed sideways. In the presence of copper nitrate, the reaction affords the heterometallic complex [(UO2)2Cu(L)3(O)(H2O)](NO3) (3), in which the harder uranium atom is bound to two μ3‐oxido anions and to chelating and bridging carboxylato groups to generate a tetranuclear secondary building unit, whereas the softer copper cations are bound to three pyridyl groups and only one carboxylato donor. The copper atoms are further involved in cation–cation interactions with uranyl oxido groups, and the Cu–O(oxido) bond lengths of 2.162(13) and 2.248(16) Å are among the shortest measured to date. 3 crystallizes as a 3D assembly, which displays narrow channels, and it illustrates the ability of copper cations, in combination with a ditopic ligand, to assemble discrete uranyl‐containing units into a framework structure. The emission spectra of complexes 1 and 2 in the solid state display the usual vibronic progression of the uranyl ion in the range 450–650 nm, and the width of the bands indicates that they may be the superposition of slightly different series, due to the inequivalent uranyl centres in the lattices.
Nitric Oxide and Nitroxyl Products from the Reaction of L‐Cysteine with trans‐[RuNO(NH3)4P(OEt)3](PF6)3
Authors: Pereira José Clayston Melo , Souza Maykon Lima , Franco Douglas Wagner
Published: January 2015

The reaction between the trans‐[RuNO(NH3)4P(OEt)3](PF6)3 and L‐cysteine (RS–) was studied over a pH range of 2.0–7.4. In this reaction, the concentrations of NO and HNO produced varied as a function of the pH of the solution. The first step of this reaction proceeded quickly [k1 = (3.5 ± 0.3) × 103 M–1 s–1, pH = 3.5, 25 °C] and resulted in the formation of trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3N(O)SR]2+, which dissociated to yield trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3NO·]2+ and RS·. However, trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3N(O)SR]n–1 can react with a second L‐cysteine, yielding trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3N(O)(SR)2]+ [k2 = (3.6 ± 0.1) M–1 s–1, pH = 3.5, 25 °C]. Therefore, the trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3NO·]2+ species released NO and the trans‐[Ru(NH3)4P(OEt)3N(O)(SR)2]n–2 species released HNO.
Covalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes with Xanthates and Peroxides
Authors: Pennetreau Florence , Vriamont Charles , Vanhorenbeke Béatrice , Riant Olivier , Hermans Sophie
Published: January 2015

The covalent grafting of xanthates onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by using peroxides as radical initiators was studied. Carbon nanotubes were functionalized with seven different xanthates by employing dilauroyl peroxide as a radical initiator. This allowed for the concomitant double functionalization by both xanthate and peroxide moieties. This one‐step double functionalization was demonstrated by the use of a heteroatom‐containing peroxide, and optimization reactions were performed to determine the maximum grafting yields of each component. The maximum grafting yield of the xanthate occurred when the xanthate and peroxide were introduced in stoichiometric amounts, whereas the grafting yield of the peroxide was simply a function of the quantity of peroxide introduced to the reaction. On the basis of these results, a mechanism for this double functionalization is proposed. Finally, some postfunctionalization reactions of the grafted moieties were performed as proof that their chemical integrity was retained after being anchored to the CNT surface.
Visible‐Light‐Photocatalyzed Metal‐Free C–H Heteroarylation of Heteroarenes at Room Temperature: A Sustainable Synthesis of Biheteroaryls
Authors: Maity Pintu , Kundu Debasish , Ranu Brindaban C.
Published: January 2015

An efficient C–H heteroarylation of heteroarenes is achieved through visible‐light photoredox‐catalyzed diazotization of heteroarylamines in situ by tBuONO at room temperature. A library of functionalized biheteroaryls is obtained by using this protocol. The reaction avoids the use of transition‐metal catalysts, additives, and acidic reaction medium.
Photo‐crosslinkable hydrogel‐based 3D microfluidic culture device
Authors: Lee Youlee , Lee Jong Min , Bae Pan‐Kee , Chung Il Yup , Chung Bong Hyun , Chung Bong Geun
Published: January 2015

We developed the photo‐crosslinkable hydrogel‐based 3D microfluidic device to culture neural stem cells (NSCs) and tumors. The photo‐crosslinkable gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) polymer was used as a physical barrier in the microfluidic device and collagen type I gel was employed to culture NSCs in a 3D manner. We demonstrated that the pore size was inversely proportional to concentrations of GelMA hydrogels, showing the pore sizes of 5 and 25 w/v% GelMA hydrogels were 34 and 4 μm, respectively. It also revealed that the morphology of pores in 5 w/v% GelMA hydrogels was elliptical shape, whereas we observed circular‐shaped pores in 25 w/v% GelMA hydrogels. To culture NSCs and tumors in the 3D microfluidic device, we investigated the molecular diffusion properties across GelMA hydrogels, indicating that 25 w/v% GelMA hydrogels inhibited the molecular diffusion for 6 days in the 3D microfluidic device. In contrast, the chemicals were diffused in 5 w/v% GelMA hydrogels. Finally, we cultured NSCs and tumors in the hydrogel‐based 3D microfluidic device, showing that 53–75% NSCs differentiated into neurons, while tumors were cultured in the collagen gels. Therefore, this photo‐crosslinkable hydrogel‐based 3D microfluidic culture device could be a potentially powerful tool for regenerative tissue engineering applications.
Monitoring the permeabilization of a single cell in a microfluidic device, through the estimation of its dielectric properties based on combined dielectrophoresis and electrorotation in situ experiments
Authors: Trainito Claudia Irene , Français Olivier , Le Pioufle Bruno
Published: January 2015

The electric field is commonly used in microdevices to handle, treat, or monitor living cells for various biological or biomedical applications (cells electrofusion, gene electrotransfer, drugs injection, cell sorting, …). Dielectrophoresis (DEP) forces, using stationary waves (conventional DEP) or traveling waves, are widely used for the cell handling or sorting. Electrorotation, which is induced by a rotating electrical field, is used for the determination of cell dielectric parameters. The application of pulsed electric field (PEF) results in the cell membrane permeabilization that might allow the transfer of various molecules in the cytoplasm. In this paper, we propose a method to monitor in situ the level of electropermeabilization induced by PEF application on a single cell, by combining the dielectrophoresis force and the electrorotation torque within a microfluidic device. The method was experimented on two different cell lines (human leukemic T‐cell lymphoblast and murine melanoma cell): a single cell is captured by dielectrophoresis while its dielectric properties (both permittivity and conductivity of cytoplasm and membrane) are estimated thanks to a rotating electric field, which is applied simultaneously. The permeabilization effect of PEF, applied to the single cell trapped in such conditions in the biodevice, could be monitored by the estimation of its dielectric properties before and after pulse application.
High throughput multiorgan metabolomics in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: González‐Domínguez Raúl , García‐Barrera Tamara , Vitorica Javier , Gómez‐Ariza José Luis
Published: January 2015

Metabolomics has demonstrated a great potential for the study of pathological mechanisms occurring in brain from Alzheimer's disease patients and transgenic models. However, its application to peripheral samples is not so common, although it can provide interesting information about systemic abnormalities underlying to disease. This work represents the first metabolomic investigation of multiple peripheral organs (liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus) from the APP/PS1 mice by using a high‐throughput approach based on direct infusion MS. Our findings demonstrated that these organs suffer significant metabolic impairments related to energy metabolism (e.g. glycolysis, Krebs cycle, β‐oxidation), lipid homeostasis (e.g. cellular membrane breakdown and fatty acid metabolism), degradation of nucleotides, oxidative stress, hyperammonemia, and metabolism of amino acids. It is noteworthy that many of these alterations have been previously described in brain, confirming the systemic character of this neurodegenerative disorder and the utility of peripheral samples to understand its pathogenesis.
Orange IV stabilizes silk fibroin microemulsions
Authors: Ferreira Ana V. , Volkov Vadim , Abreu Ana S. , Azoia Nuno , Botelho Cláudia M. , Cavaco‐Paulo Artur
Published: January 2015

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural biopolymer that has been extensively studied in various applications due to its impressive mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Recently, SF‐based particles have been proposed as controlled drug delivery systems. A new and efficient method to prepare SF microemulsions (SF‐MEs) was developed by oil‐in‐water emulsions using high‐pressure homogenization to promote emulsification. During SF‐ME production, the secondary structure of SF changed to a more stable conformation (from random coil to β‐sheets), thus allowing the formation of small and stable (140.7 ± 1.9 nm; polydispersity index, 0.25) SF microparticles (SF‐MPs). The efficiency of SF‐MP formation was 60%. Orange IV was used as a model compound for incorporation and release studies, although its incorporation into the SF‐MEs significantly improved particle size and size distribution over at least 4 wk compared to traditional stabilizers (e.g., poloxamer 407, transcutol, Tween 80, and SDS). This should be a call of attention when using dyes as model compounds since they can influence particle properties and lead to misinterpretation of the results. Orange IV showed an incorporation efficiency of 91% and a controlled release over time. Stable SF‐MP formulations, further enhanced by orange IV incorporation, provide an innovative method with potential application in pharmaceutical development due to its associated high biocompatibility and release profile.
Enhanced Electrocaloric Effect in Pre‐stressed Ferroelectric Materials
Authors: Chauhan Aditya , Patel Satyanarayan , Vaish Rahul
Published: January 2015

The effect of mechanical uniaxial stress on the electrocaloric behavior of ferroelectric materials has been analyzed. The magnitude of the electrocaloric effect was enhanced using controlled uniaxial stress. This study was performed for two classes of ferroelectric materials: 94(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3–6BaTiO3 (BNT–BT) bulk ceramics and Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3–32PbTiO3 (PMN–32PT) single crystals. Indirect measurements were made for pre‐stressed materials by using ferroelectric hysteresis loops and Maxwell’s relations. Peak adiabatic temperature changes of approximately 3 K and 0.65 K were obtained for BNT–BT and PMN–32PT materials, respectively. These values represent significant improvements (73 % and 200 %) over those obtained under unstressed conditions. The electrocaloric effect (ECE) could be harnessed in these materials for environmentally friendly refrigeration systems.
Inelastic spectra to predict period elongation of structures under earthquake loading
Authors: Katsanos E. I. , Sextos A. G.
Published: January 2015

Period lengthening, exhibited by structures when subjected to strong ground motions, constitutes an implicit proxy of structural inelasticity and associated damage. However, the reliable prediction of the inelastic period is tedious and a multi‐parametric task, which is related to both epistemic and aleatory uncertainty. Along these lines, the objective of this paper is to investigate and quantify the elongated fundamental period of reinforced concrete structures using inelastic response spectra defined on the basis of the period shift ratio (Tin/Tel). Nonlinear oscillators of varying yield strength (expressed by the force reduction factor, Ry), post‐yield stiffness (ay) and hysteretic laws are examined for a large number of strong motions. Constant‐strength, inelastic spectra in terms of Tin/Tel are calculated to assess the extent of period elongation for various levels of structural inelasticity. Moreover, the influence that structural characteristics (Ry, ay and degrading level) and strong‐motion parameters (epicentral distance, frequency content and duration) exert on period lengthening are studied. Determined by regression analyses of the data obtained, simplified equations are proposed for period lengthening as a function of Ry and Tel. These equations may be used in the framework of the earthquake record selection and scaling. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seismic fragility of lightly reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills
Authors: Jeon Jong‐Su , Park Ji‐Hun , DesRoches Reginald
Published: January 2015

Seismic fragility of lightly reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills is assessed through numerical simulations considering uncertainty in ground motion and building materials. To achieve this aim, a numerical model of the components is developed, a rational approach to proportion and locate individual struts in the equivalent three‐strut model is proposed, and an explicit nonlinear column shear response model accounting for the infill–column interaction and soft‐story mechanism is employed. The proposed numerical model is used to (1) generate probabilistic seismic demand models accounting for a wide range of ground motion intensities with different frequency content and (2) determine limit state models obtained from nonlinear pushover analysis and incremental dynamic analysis. Using the demand and limit state model, fragility curves for the masonry‐infilled frames are developed to investigate the impact of various infill properties on the frame vulnerability. It is observed that the beneficial effect of the masonry infill diminishes at more severe limit states because of the interaction with the boundary frame. In some cases, this effect almost vanishes or switches to an adverse effect beyond a threshold of ground motion intensities. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A swept intersection‐based remapping method for axisymmetric ReALE computation
Authors: Breil Jérôme , Alcin Hubert , Maire Pierre‐Henri
Published: January 2015

We use here a reconnection ALE (ReALE) strategy to solve hydrodynamic compressible flows in cylindrical geometries. The main difference between the classical ALE and the ReALE method is the rezoning step where we allow change in the topology. This leads for ReALE to a polygonal mesh, which follows more efficiently the flow. We present here a new displacement of generators in order to keep the Lagrangian features, which are usually lost using ALE with fixed topology. The reconnection capability allows to deal with complex geometries and high‐vorticity problems contrary to ALE method. The main difficulty of ReALE is the remapping step where we have to remap physical variables on a mesh with a different topology. For this step, a new remapping method based on a swept intersection algorithm has been developed in the case of planar geometries. We present here the extension of the swept intersection‐based remapping method to cylindrical geometries. We demonstrate that our method can be applied to several numerical examples up to problem representative of hydrodynamic experiments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the brink: micromammals from the latest Villanyian from Bıçakçı (Anatolia)
Authors: van den Hoek Ostende Lars W. , Diepeveen Flemming , Tesakov Alexey , Saraç Gerçek , Mayhew David , Alçiçek M. Cihat
Published: January 2015

The locality of Bıçakçı (Çameli basin, Anatolia) has yielded a diverse fauna of micromammals. The arvicolines are the most diverse and abundant group. Their stage in evolution shows that the fauna is late Villanyian in age and can be placed in the lower part of the zone P of the Anatolian Neogene biozonation. Thus, it is on the brink of the important Villanyian/Biharian transition. The presence of three species of hamster, in combination with the occurrence of Borsodia, a high abundance of Kalymnomys and a near absence of insectivores, suggests a dry, open landscape. However, the important contribution of Clethrionomys in the vole fauna indicates the nearby presence of woodlands. Overall, the environment at the time of deposition appears to have been similar to that of the area today. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.