bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explosive Spalling of Concrete Columns with Steel and Polypropylene Fibres Subjected To Severe Fire
Authors: Doherty P. , Ali F. , Nadjai A. , Choi S.
Published: March 2012

The exposure of concrete elements to high temperatures during fire can cause major risk to life safety and to the serviceability of a building. One of the main reasons for this is due to concrete spalling which caused by pore pressure and thermal stresses. Previous research has indicated that the inclusion of polypropylene fibres to concrete reduces explosive spalling. However, concrete containing polypropylene fibre can still be vulnerable to explosive spalling during fire. This paper presents the outcomes of a research investigating the effect of using steel fibres in addition to polypropylene fibres to reduce explosive spalling of concrete. The experimental part of this study evaluates the performance of six normal strength columns under a loading ratio = 60% of the design capacity and subjected to severe heating rate higher than ISO 834. The columns were cast using various dosages of steel and polypropylene fibres. Analyses of the main findings included evaluation of the measured concrete temperatures along with axial displacement recordings. The analysis demonstrates a clear assessment of the spalling levels of the various representative specimens. The study also compares the experimental axial displacement with theoretical predictions using DIANA. Conclusions drawn from the study indicate that adding steel fibresalong with polypropylene fibres can reduce the degree and severity of spalling if compared with concrete containing polypropylene fibres only. The spalling degree was reduced from 22.03% to 12.41% in best case and from 14.95% to 10.49% in average when steel fibres were used with polypropylene fibres.
Correlation between grain nutritional content and pasting properties of pre-gelatinized red rice flour
Authors: Ascheri Diego Palmiro Ramirez , Boêno Josianny Alvez , Bassinello Priscila Zaczuk , Ascheri José Luís Ramírez
Published: March 2012

As with any variety of rice, red rice characteristics are subject to varietal differences, growing conditions, types of processing, and nutritional and rheological properties. This study determined the nutritional characteristics (centesimal composition and minerals) and paste viscosity properties of raw grains of four red rice genotypes (Tradicional MNAPB0405, MNACE0501 and MNACH0501) and the paste viscosity properties of pre-gelatinized flours obtained at different cooking times (20, 30 and 40 min). The main nutritional properties were correlated with the pasting properties of the pre-gelatinized flours. The samples showed differences in nutritional properties and paste viscosity. MNAPB0405 and MNACE0501 showed higher levels of fiber and fat and provided higher caloric energy than Tradicional and MNACH0501, which, in turn, showed higher levels of amylose. MNACH0501 showed higher peak viscosity (2402 cP), higher breakdown viscosity (696 cP) and a greater tendency to retrogradation (1510 cP), while Tradicional, MNAPB0405 and MNACE0501 had pasting profiles with peak viscosities varying between 855 and 1093 cP, breaking viscosity below 85 cP and retrogradation tendency between 376 and 1206 cP. The factors genotype and cooking time influenced the rheological behavior of pre-gelatinized flours, decreasing their pasting properties. The protein and amylose levels are correlated with the pasting properties and can be used as indicators of these properties in different genotypes of red rice, whether raw or processed into pre-gelatinized flours.
Conservação de grãos de pólen de mamoneira a baixas temperaturas
Authors: Cuchiara Cristina Copstein , Silva Sérgio Delmar dos Anjos e , Bobrowski Vera Lucia
Published: March 2012

A finalidade do armazenamento do grão de pólen é conservar material para futura utilização, proporcionando-lhe condições ótimas, de forma a manter seu poder germinativo, vigor e integridade genética originais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o poder germinativo dos grãos de pólen de mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.), após armazenamento a baixas temperaturas. Para tanto, grãos de pólen dos cultivares IAC 80 e AL Guarany 2002 foram utilizados e armazenados em quatro temperaturas: -196, -72, -18 e 4 ºC, durante um período de oito semanas. A avaliação da viabilidade deste pólen foi realizada semanalmente, até completar cinco semanas, sendo realizada uma última avaliação após a oitava semana de armazenamento, por meio do teste de germinação in vitro. Meio de cultura, contendo 10 gL-1 de ágar, 100 gL-1 de sacarose, 0,004 gL-1 de ácido bórico e pH 6,0, foi preparado e depositado em placas de lâmina escavada, onde o pólen foi distribuído sobre a superfície do meio. As placas foram incubadas a 20 ºC em BOD. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 4 (2 cultivares x 4 temperaturas) para cada tempo de armazenamento, sendo analisados 100 grãos de pólen por repetição, totalizando seis de cada tratamento. Verificou-se diferença significativa entre os tratamentos para a interação cultivar x temperatura na quinta semana de observação (p < 0,05). Demais interações foram altamente significativas em todas as épocas de observação (p < 0,01). Portanto, a utilização de ultrabaixas temperaturas permite a manutenção da viabilidade de grãos de pólen de mamoneira, até a quinta semana de armazenamento.
Análise do processo de preparação da produção no desenvolvimento de novos produtos por meio de um estudo de caso em uma empresa do setor siderúrgico
Authors: Varandas Junior Angelo , Miguel Paulo Augusto Cauchick
Published: March 2012

A demanda por novos produtos tem aumentado em algumas empresas do setor siderúrgico, indicando uma crescente preocupação com o desempenho do processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP), que depende de vários elementos conceituais importantes apontados na literatura. Em uma empresa siderúrgica, um fator relevante é o projeto do processo de produção, devido à característica de ser um processo de fabricação contínuo e por, geralmente, envolver investimentos significativos na fase de preparação da produção. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho busca realizar uma análise desta fase em uma empresa siderúrgica. Pretende-se, por meio da abordagem metodológica de estudo de caso, identificar práticas organizacionais, focando nos aspectos operacionais e suas interfaces, envolvendo as áreas funcionais de marketing, engenharia do produto e manufatura. Também é tratada no trabalho a integração dos times multidisciplinares, a tomada de decisão e os critérios para avaliação dos resultados do PDP. O trabalho conclui que a empresa analisada utiliza-se de práticas que estruturam a preparação da produção e que a integração interfuncional das áreas é o que se destaca para o sucesso do PDP.
Desempenho mental de bebês pré-termo de muito baixo peso ao nascer: avaliação da estabilidade nos dois primeiros anos de vida e fatores associados ao desempenho mental
Authors: Reis Ana Beatriz Rodrigues , Mello Rosane Reis de , Morsch Denise Streit , Meio Maria Dalva Barbosa Baker , Silva Kátia Silveira da
Published: March 2012

O objetivo do estudo foi investigar a estabilidade do desempenho mental de bebês prematuros de muito baixo peso ao nascer ao longo dos dois primeiros anos de vida e identificar os fatores associados ao seu desempenho mental. Estudo de coorte com 109 crianças. A Escala Mental da Bayley Scales of Infant Development - Second Edition foi aplicada aos 6, aos 12 e entre 18-24 meses de idade corrigida. A estabilidade dos escores entre as avaliações foi investigada através de análise de variância para medidas repetidas. A associação entre as características neonatais e sociais no desenvolvimento mental foi verificada por análise multivariada através de regressão linear, considerando como desfechos os Índices de Desenvolvimento Mental aos 6 meses, 12 meses e entre 18-24 meses de idade corrigida. A média do Índice de Desenvolvimento Mental aos 6 meses foi 83,4 (DP: 12,4), aos 12 meses foi 86,4 (DP: 13,9) e aos 18-24 meses foi 73,4 (DP: 14,5). Observou-se uma diminuição significativa de 13 pontos no escore aos 18-24 meses de idade corrigida. O Índice de Desenvolvimento Mental não apresentou estabilidade ao longo dos dois primeiros anos de vida nesta população de prematuros, exceto para as crianças que tiveram pneumonia neonatal, cujo desempenho foi insatisfatório em todas as avaliações. Dos fatores de risco investigados, apenas o sexo masculino e a pneumonia neonatal estiveram associados aos desfechos.
Prevalência e características de mulheres com aborto provocado - Favela México 70, São Vicente - São Paulo
Authors: Santos Tássia Ferreira , Andreoni Solange , Silva Rebeca de Souza e
Published: March 2012

No Brasil, o aborto está entre as principais causas de mortalidade materna. Pesquisas mostram que o aborto é praticado clandestinamente por mulheres de todas as classes sociais; no entanto, tem consequências desiguais, dependendo da inserção social, produzindo riscos à vida de mulheres pobres. Embora o tema venha sendo amplamente explorado nos últimos 20 anos, observou-se escassez de dados sobre mulheres de baixa renda. Desta forma, o presente estudo tem por objetivo estimar a prevalência de mulheres com aborto provocado. Arrolaram-se mulheres por inquérito domiciliar de base populacional em setores de baixa renda de São Vicente, São Paulo. Eram elegíveis as mulheres em idade fértil de 15 a 49 anos. A avaliação das razões de prevalência de mulheres com aborto provocado foi realizada por meio de modelos lineares generalizados, usando-se a regressão de Poisson com função de ligação logarítmica e variância robusta para aproximar a binomial. As variáveis que demonstraram ter maior influência no relato de aborto foram: "aceitar sempre esta prática" (IC95% 2,98 - 11,02), seguida de "não ter filho nascido vivo" (IC95% 1,35 - 19,78), ter de "dois a cinco nascidos vivos" (IC95% 1,42 - 14,40) e ter de "seis ou mais nascidos vivos" (IC 95% 1,35 - 19,78), "idade no momento da entrevista" (IC 95% 1,01 - 1,07) e "renda" < R$ 484,97 (IC 95% 1,04 - 2,96). É necessário campanha de grande abrangência sobre a prática do aborto, que consiga sensibilizar para esta causa todas as mulheres, sobretudo as de baixa renda, evitando assim mortes desnecessárias.
Zinc Transporter-8 Autoantibodies Improve Prediction of Type 1 Diabetes in Relatives Positive for the Standard Biochemical Autoantibodies
Authors: Yu Liping , Boulware David C. , Beam Craig A. , Hutton John C. , Wenzlau Janet M. , Greenbaum Carla J. , Bingley Polly J. , Krischer Jeffrey P. , Sosenko Jay M. , Skyler Jay S. , Eisenbarth George S. , Mahon Jeffrey L. ,   for the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Study Group
Published: March 2012

OBJECTIVE

We assessed diabetes risk associated with zinc transporter-8 antibodies (ZnT8A), islet cell antibodies (ICA), and HLA type and age in relatives of people with type 1 diabetes with the standard biochemical autoantibodies (BAA) to insulin (IAA), GAD65 (GAD65A), and/or insulinoma-associated protein 2 antigen (IA-2A).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

For this analysis, 2,256 relatives positive for at least one BAA, of whom 142 developed diabetes, were tested for ZnT8A, ICA, and HLA genotype followed by biannual oral glucose tolerance tests. ZnT8A were also tested in 911 randomly chosen antibody-negative relatives.

RESULTS

ZnT8A were associated with the other BAA (548 of 2,256 [24.3%] BAA+ vs. 8 of 911 [0.8%] BAA−, P < 0.001) and BAA number (177 of 1,683 [10.5%] single-, 221 of 384 [57.6%] double-, and 150 of 189 [79.4%] triple-BAA positivity, P < 0.001). The 4-year diabetes risk was higher in single BAA+ relatives with ZnT8A than ZnT8A− relatives (31 vs. 7%, P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, age ≤20 years (hazard ratio 2.13, P = 0.03), IA-2A (2.15, P = 0.005), IAA (1.73, P = 0.01), ICA (2.37, P = 0.002), and ZnT8A (1.87, P = 0.03) independently predicted diabetes, whereas HLA type (high and moderate vs. low risk) and GAD65A did not (P = 0.81 and 0.86, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In relatives with one standard BAA, ZnT8A identified a subset at higher diabetes risk. ZnT8A predicted diabetes independently of ICA, the standard BAA, age, and HLA type. ZnT8A should be included in type 1 diabetes prediction and prevention studies.
Lateral approach to nephrotomy in the management of unilateral renal calculi in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Martorell Jaime , Bailon Diego , Majó Natalia , Andaluz Anna
Published: March 2012

Case Description—A 5-year-old 2.23-kg (4.91-lb) spayed female Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated because of a history of lethargy, polyuria, and polydipsia of 1 month's duration. The referring veterinarian made a presumptive diagnosis of hypercalcemia of unknown etiology on the basis of a plasma total calcium concentration of 14.0 mg/dL.

Clinical Findings—Physical examination findings were unremarkable. Hematologic and plasma biochemical analysis revealed nonregenerative, normocytic, normochromic anemia (PCV, 28%) with heteropenia (23%; 1,334 heterophils/mL) and a total plasma calcium concentration of 16 mg/dL. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination revealed radiodense and hyperechoic structures in both renal pelves and right unilateral nephrolithiasis.

Treatment and Outcome—Nephrotomy was performed via laparotomy with a right lateral approach. A nephrolith composed of calcium carbonate and carbonate apatite was removed from the right renal pelvis. The rabbit's plasma tested positive for antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi by means of an indirect immunofluorescence assay, and fenbendazole (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) was administered for 28 days. Although plasma calcium concentration was not substantially decreased after treatment (values were 14.1 and 15.1 mg/dL 1 week and 3 months after surgery, respectively), the patient did not have clinical signs of hypercalcemia and died of unrelated causes approximately 1 year after surgery.

Clinical Relevance—To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a nephrotomy performed in a rabbit via a lateral abdominal approach. This approach allowed easy location of the kidney and also reduced manipulation, thus decreasing the risk of damaging the abdominal viscera and potentially decreasing postoperative pain.
Emancipated Spectatorship in Adrienne Kennedy's Plays
Authors: Spencer Jenny
Published: March 2012

This article takes up recent theories of French political theorist Jacques Rancière to reassess the radical nature of Adrienne Kennedy's address to both viewing and reading audiences of her work. According to Rancière, the political promise of art rests in both its unpredictable effects on an always active spectator and its ability to reorder the sensible world, the partitioning of which determines and polices what can and cannot be said, seen, heard, and understood. I argue that Kennedy's radical contribution is located not only in her racially charged subject matter and technical innovations but in the model of spectatorship she presents to her audiences and invites them to take up – a model that breaks down boundaries between watching and acting (reading and writing) in ways that hold liberating promise for her characters, and by extension, the audience as well. Kennedy's audience address is one that does not, in Rancière's words, “anticipate its effects” but rather invites consideration and complicity from a community of equally “emancipated spectators” made all the more aware of their own identity positions in the reception of her work.
A Journal for Adrienne Kennedy (after People Who Led to My Plays)
Authors: Jefferson Margo
Published: March 2012

To make oneself an artist is difficult in any society. But when your society's cultural traditions actively discourage and devalue you, the challenge is enormous and the emotional cost is great. Adrienne Kennedy wanted to be a major writer at a time when America's literary culture took little or no interest in African-American writers of either sex or in women of any race. This essay explores the strategies Kennedy used to make herself into an original and important writer. She refused to turn her back on cultures and canons that ignored or belittled her. She took a passionate, even voracious interest in multiple traditions: English literature; American movies; classical music, spirituals, and jazz; European painting and African sculpture. She created her own artistic and personal legacies, writing stories and plays that brought these divergent genres and traditions into the same imaginative space. She explored the emotional cost without being silenced by it. In the process, she created new literary worlds and forms.
Individual Behavior of Workers of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on Consecutive Days of Tunnel Construction
Authors: Cornelius Mary L.
Published: March 2012

This study examines the individual behavior of workers of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shirkai, on two consecutive days of tunnel construction. In each trial, a group of 30 termite workers was observed continuously during the first 60 min of construction of a new tunnel on two consecutive days. On each day, an average of 68% of individuals did not participate in tunnel construction, 19% spent < 25 min tunneling, and 13% spent ≥ 25 min tunneling. There were specific individuals that did most of the work in the construction of new tunnels on both days. An individual that spent at least 25 min tunneling on Day 1 was significantly more likely to spend at least 25 min tunneling on Day 2 than individuals that spent < 25 min tunneling on Day 1. When individuals were ranked based on the time spent tunneling on Day 1 and Day 2, there were individuals ranked as one of the top four excavators on both days in three of the four groups. These results indicate that there is evidence of task allocation by termite workers during the construction of a new tunnel.
Differences in Immune Defense Evasion of Selected Inbred Lines of Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora in Two White Grub Species
Authors: An Ruisheng , Voss Marcio , Jagdale Ganpati B. , Grewal Parwinder S.
Published: March 2012

We determined virulence of seven Heterorhabditis bacteriophora strain GPS11 inbred lines possessing superior infective juvenile longevity, and heat and ultra violet radiation tolerance against white grubs Popillia japonica and Cyclocephala borealis. At 1 and 2 weeks after treatment, inbred line A2 was significantly more virulent towards P. japonica compared to the parent strain GPS11 and inbred lines A7, A8, A12 and A21; and line A2 caused significantly higher C. borealis mortality than lines A6 and A12. Penetration, encapsulation and survival of two inbred lines, A2 and A12, that showed the highest and lowest virulence against both grub species were then assessed. There were no differences between the two lines for the total number of nematodes penetrated in either P. japonica or C. borealis within the first 24 h, but a significantly higher percentage of penetrated nematodes were alive in line A2 compared to the line A12 in both grub species. P. japonica immune response over time to hemocoel-injected nematodes of A2, A12 and the parent strain was further investigated. While all injected nematodes were encapsulated at 6 h post injection, non-encapsulated living nematodes were detected at 12 and 24 h post injection, showing the breakage out of encapsulation. A higher percentage of non-encapsulated living nematodes and a lower percentage of dead nematodes were found in line A2 as compared to the line A12 after 12 h post injection. These data suggest that virulence differences in the studied H. bacteriophora inbred lines are not due to differences in nematode penetration or recognition by the grub immune system, but are related to the ability of the infective juveniles to break out of encapsulation.
Temporal Trends in the Secondary Metabolite Production of the Sponge Aplysina aerophoba
Authors: Sacristán-Soriano Oriol , Banaigs Bernard , Becerro Mikel A.
Published: March 2012

Temporal changes in the production of secondary metabolites are far from being fully understood. Our study quantified, over a two-year period, the concentrations of brominated alkaloids in the ectosome and the choanosome of Aplysina aerophoba, and examined the temporal patterns of these natural products. Based on standard curves, we quantified the concentrations of aerophobin-2, aplysinamisin-1, and isofistularin-3: three of the four major peaks obtained through chemical profiling with high-performance liquid chromatography. Our results showed a striking variation in compound abundance between the outer and inner layers of the sponge. The ectosome showed high concentrations of bromocompounds during the summer months, while the choanosome followed no pattern. Additionally, we found that, from the outer layer of the sponge, aerophobin-2 and isofistularin-3 were significantly correlated with water temperature. The present study is one of the first to document quantitative seasonal variations in individual compounds over multiple years. Further studies will clarify the role of environmental, biological, and physiological factors in determining the seasonal patterns in the concentration of brominated alkaloids.
Effect of the Molecular Mass of Tremella Polysaccharides on Accelerated Recovery from Cyclophosphamide-Induced Leucopenia in Rats
Authors: Jiang Rui-Zhi , Wang Ying , Luo Hao-Ming , Cheng Yan-Qiu , Chen Ying-Hong , Gao Yang , Gao Qi-Pin
Published: March 2012

The body of tremella were decocted with water, and hydrolyzed with 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid for different times, giving tremella polysaccharides with six molecular mass values. The structures of all the tremella polysaccharides had non-reducing terminals of β-D-pyranglucuronide, the backbone was composed of (1→3)-linked β-D-manno-pyranoside, and the side chain composed of (1→6)-linked β-D-xylopyranoside was attached to the C2 of the backbone mannopyranoside. Immunomodulatory effect studies indicated that tremella polysaccharides increased the counts of leukocytes in the peripheral blood which were significantly lowered by cyclophosphamide, and the lower the molecular mass of the tremella polysaccharide, the better this effect was.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in the lichen Buellia frigida (Physciaceae), an Antarctic endemic
Authors: Jones Tracey C. , Green T. G. A. , Hogg Ian D. , Wilkins Richard J.
Published: March 2012

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were characterized for an Antarctic endemic, Buellia frigida, to investigate population structure and origin of Antarctic lichens.

• Methods and Results: Five primer sets were characterized. All loci were polymorphic with eight to 16 alleles per locus in a sample of 59 lichens.

• Conclusions: The microsatellite markers potentially provide insight into population structure and gene flow of B. frigida.
Isolation and characterization of 15 microsatellite loci in four endangered Amentotaxus species (Taxaceae)
Authors: Ho Chin‐Shang , Chen Chaur‐Tzuhn , Ko Ya‐Zhu , Ge Xue‐Jun , Hung Kuo‐Hsiang , Hsu Tsai‐Wen , Chiang Yu‐Chung
Published: March 2012

• Premise of the study: Fifteen microsatellite loci were developed in an endangered species, Amentotaxus formosana, and were tested in an additional three species, A. argotaenia, A. yunnanensis, and A. poilanei, to evaluate the population structure for conservation efforts and reconstruct the phylogeographic patterns of this ancient lineage.

• Methods and Results: Polymorphic primer sets were developed from A. formosana; the number of alleles ranged from two to 10, with an observed heterozygosity ranging from 0 to 0.60. All of the loci were found to be interspecifically amplifiable.

• Conclusions: These polymorphic and transferable loci will be potentially useful for future studies that will focus on identifying distinct genetic units within species and establishing the phylogeographic patterns and the process of speciation among closely related species.
Investigation of drug–drug interaction via mechanism‐based inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A by macrolides in dexamethasone‐treated female rats
Authors: Kanazu Takushi , Sato Norihito , Kadono Kyoko , Touchi Akira , Takeda Yuri , Yamaguchi Yoshitaka , Baba Takahiko
Published: March 2012

The in vitro and in vivo inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A with mechanism‐based inhibition (MBI) by macrolides was investigated using dexamethasone‐treated female rats (DEX‐female rats). In the in vitro CYP inhibition studies using erythromycin (ERM) and clarithromycin (CAM), similar inhibition responses were observed between human and DEX‐female rat liver microsomes, however, there were fewer effects in intact male rats. The ex vivo study showed that midazolam (MDZ) metabolism in liver microsomes of DEX‐female rats was reduced by ERM administration and the inhibitory effect was increased with increasing ERM doses, indicating that metabolite intermediate complex formation caused irreversible inhibition of CYP3A activity in DEX‐female rats as well as in humans. In the in vivo studies, ERM and CAM significantly increased the area under the plasma concentration–time curve of MDZ and decreased the total clearance in DEX‐female rats. It was concluded that the DDIs via MBI of CYP3A following macrolide administration in humans could be reproduced in female rats, suggesting that DEX‐female rats can serve as an in vivo model for assessing this DDI in humans. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gender differences in pharmacokinetics of lumefantrine and its metabolite desbutyl‐lumefantrine in rats
Authors:   Wahajuddin, Singh Sheelendra Pratap , Jain Girish Kumar
Published: March 2012

Lumefantrine has been reported to be mainly bio‐transformed by cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4 to desbutyl‐lumefantrine (DLF) in human liver microsomes. Since CYP3A is expressed in a sex specific manner in rats, it could be expected that the pharmacokinetics of lumefantrine would be changed in male rats compared with those in female rats. The pharmacokinetics of lumefantrine and its active metabolite DLF were evaluated after intravenous (0.5 mg/kg) and oral (20 mg/kg) administration of lumefantrine to male and female Sprague–Dawley rats. The quantitative bioanalysis was carried out by the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. After intravenous and oral administration of lumefantrine the area under the curve (AUC) of lumefantrine was significantly higher in female rats than that in male rats, whereas the AUC of DLF was significantly lower in female rats in comparison with male rats. This lower AUC of DLF in female rats could have been due to reduced metabolism of lumefantrine in female rats. The bioavailability (%F) of lumefantrine was 1.66 times higher in male rats than that in female rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of probe peptides for coiled‐coil labeling by introducing phosphoserines
Authors: Ono Satoshi , Yano Yoshiaki , Matsuzaki Katsumi
Published: March 2012

We have developed a method of rapidly labeling membrane proteins in living cells using a high‐affinity heterodimeric coiled‐coil construct containing an E3 tag (EIAALEK)3 genetically fused to the target protein and a K4 probe (KIAALKE)4 labeled with a fluorophore such as tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) at its N‐terminus (TMR‐K4). However, coiled‐coil labeling cannot be applied to highly negatively charged cell lines such as HEK293, because of the nonspecific adsorption of the positively charged K4 probes to cell membranes. To reduce the net positive charge, we synthesized new probes that include phosphoserine residues (pSer) between the K4 sequence and TMR fluorophore (TMR‐(pSer)n‐K4, [n = 1–3]). The affinity of the pSer‐introduced probes was comparable to that of the TMR‐K4 probe. However, the TMR‐(pSer)2‐K4 and TMR‐(pSer)3‐K4 probes tended to aggregate during labeling. In contrast, TMR‐pSer‐K4, which was as soluble as TMR‐K4, achieved higher signal/background ratios (30–100) for four host cell lines (HEK293, HeLa, SH‐SY5Y, and PC12) than did TMR‐K4 (∼10 for HEK293 cells), demonstrating that the improved probe can be used for various types of cells. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 98: 234–238, 2012.
Watching Nanoparticles Form: An In Situ (Small‐/Wide‐Angle X‐ray Scattering/Total Scattering) Study of the Growth of Yttria‐Stabilised Zirconia in Supercritical Fluids
Authors: Tyrsted Christoffer , Pauw Brian Richard , Jensen Kirsten Marie Ørnsbjerg , Becker Jacob , Christensen Mogens , Iversen Bo Brummerstedt
Published: March 2012

Understanding nanoparticle‐formation reactions requires multi‐technique in situ characterisation, since no single characterisation technique provides adequate information. Here, the first combined small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS)/wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS)/total‐scattering study of nanoparticle formation is presented. We report on the formation and growth of yttria‐stabilised zirconia (YSZ) under the extreme conditions of supercritical methanol for particles with Y2O3 equivalent molar fractions of 0, 4, 8, 12 and 25 %. Simultaneous in situ SAXS and WAXS reveals a quick formation (seconds) of sub‐nanometre amorphous material forming larger agglomerates with subsequent slow crystallisation (minutes) into nanocrystallites. The amount of yttria dopant is shown to strongly affect the crystallite size and unit‐cell dimensions. At yttria‐doping levels larger than 8 %, which is known to be the stoichiometry with maximum ionic conductivity, the strain on the crystal lattice is significantly increased. Time‐resolved nanoparticle size distributions are calculated based on whole‐powder‐pattern modelling of the WAXS data, which reveals that concurrent with increasing average particle sizes, a broadening of the particle‐size distributions occur. In situ total scattering provides structural insight into the sub‐nanometre amorphous phase prior to crystallite growth, and the data reveal an atomic rearrangement from six‐coordinated zirconium atoms in the initial amorphous clusters to eight‐coordinated zirconia atoms in stable crystallites. Representative samples prepared ex situ and investigated by transmission electron microscopy confirm a transformation from an amorphous material to crystalline nanoparticles upon increased synthesis duration.
Desmotropy, Polymorphism, and Solid‐State Proton Transfer: Four Solid Forms of an Aromatic o‐Hydroxy Schiff Base
Authors: Rubčić Mirta , Užarević Krunoslav , Halasz Ivan , Bregović Nikola , Mališ Momir , Đilović Ivica , Kokan Zoran , Stein Robin S. , Dinnebier Robert E. , Tomišić Vladislav
Published: March 2012

The Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine affords a diversity of solid forms, two polymorphic pairs of the enol‐imino (D1 a and D1 b) and keto‐amino (D2 a and D2 b) desmotropes. The isolated phases, identified by IR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, and 13C cross‐polarization/magnetic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy, display essentially planar molecular conformations characterized by strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the OH⋅⋅⋅N (D1) or NH⋅⋅⋅O (D2) type. A change in the position of the proton within this O⋅⋅⋅H⋅⋅⋅N system is accompanied by substantially different molecular conformations and, subsequently, by divergent supramolecular architectures. The appearance and interconversion conditions for each of the four phases have been established on the basis of a number of solution and solvent‐free experiments, and evaluated against the results of computational studies. Solid phases readily convert into the most stable form (D1 a) upon exposure to methanol vapor, heating, or by mechanical treatment, and these transformations are accompanied by a change in the color of the sample. The course of thermally induced transformations has been monitored in detail by means of temperature‐resolved powder X‐ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Upon dissolution, all forms equilibrate immediately, as confirmed by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy in several solvents, with the equilibrium shifted far towards the enol tautomer. This study reveals the significance of peripheral groups in the stabilization of metastable tautomers in the solid state.
Some Evidence for the Formation of an Azo Bond during the Electroreduction of Diazonium Salts on Au Substrates
Authors: Ricci Alejandra M. , Méndez De Leo Lucila P. , Williams Federico J. , Calvo Ernesto J.
Published: March 2012

Molecular films obtained by electrochemical reduction of diazoniuim tetrafluoroborate salts [4‐carboxybenzene (PhCOOH) and 4‐amino‐(2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoro)‐carboxybenzene (PhF4COOH)] on Au substrates and post‐functionalization with an osmium pyridil‐bipyridine complex are studied by a combination of X‐ray photoelectron (XPS) and polarization‐modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM‐IRRAS). The spectroscopic evidence suggests the formation of NN bonds tethering the complexes to Au. The surface coverage of the azo‐bonded osmium complexes strongly depends on the electrode potential. The resulting tethered osmium redox centres were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Similar electron transfer‐rate constants were measured for both fluorinated and non fluorinated benzene‐linked Os complexes.
Rationalization of Solvation and Stabilization of Palladium Nanoparticles in Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids by DFT and Vibrational Spectroscopy
Authors: Katsyuba Sergey A. , Zvereva Elena E. , Yan Ning , Yuan Xiao , Kou Yuan , Dyson Paul J.
Published: March 2012

A combined DFT/vibrational spectroscopy approach is used to determine the interactions of the 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium ([Mmim]+) and 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ([Emim]+) cations and [BF4]− anions with each other in the liquid state and with Pd nanoparticles (NPs) immersed in ionic liquids (ILs) composed of these ions. Formation of aggregates of the counter‐ions in the liquid does not have a strong influence on the interaction energy of the IL components with the palladium clusters used to model NPs, which is smaller than the energy of addition of a Pd atom to the cluster. Stronger Pd–Pd interactions in comparison to the interactions of the palladium cluster with the IL suggest kinetic stabilisation of Pd‐NPs in 1,3‐dialkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates rather than thermodynamic stabilisation. Moreover, the palladium clusters interact more strongly with the anions than with the cations, and this suggests an important role of the anions in formation and stabilisation of Pd‐NP in ILs. At the same time, binding between an isolated Pd atom and [Mmim]+ cation is stronger than Pd–[BF4]− binding. IR and Raman spectral simulations reveal that surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy is much less sensitive to interactions of Pd‐NPs with the [BF4]− anion compared to interactions with [Mmim]+ cations. In contrast, IR spectroscopy is better suited to study the anion–metal interactions, whereas IR spectral manifestations of the cation–metal interactions are rather modest. The splitting of the strong νas(BF4−) IR band into three components appears to be a convenient spectroscopic marker for Pd–[BF4]− interactions, which is confirmed by actual spectra of Pd‐NPs stabilised by [Emim][BF4]. The IR spectra and their assignment with quantum chemical computations suggest that both the anions and cations of [Emim][BF4] interact with the Pd‐NP surface in the IL. The cation ring orientation close to the surface normal appears to be the dominant interaction. The anion is bound to the surface through either two or three fluorine atoms.
Electrochemical Evaluation of Binding Affinity for Aptamer Selection Using the Microarray Chip
Authors: Zhu Ye , Chandra Pranjal , Ban Changill , Shim Yoon‐Bo
Published: March 2012

Simultaneous evaluation of the binding affinity of a series of aptamers toward a target molecule was investigated using an electrochemical microarray chip. The chip was modified by immobilizing seven aptamers obtained from the SELEX process and a control sequence onto gold nanoparticle‐comprised conducting polymer‐coated microarray electrodes. The chip was then incubated with the target molecule, kanamycin. The electrochemical response of the captured kanamycin was studied to evaluate the binding affinity of the aptamers, which showed the same trend with the fluorescence spectroscopic results. The lowest dissociation constant between a selected aptamer and kanamycin was determined to be 38.06±0.73 nM.
Antimony Film Electrode Prepared In Situ in Hydrogen Potassium Tartrate in Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Trace Detection of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Tl(I), In(III) and Cu(II)
Authors: Bobrowski A. , Putek M. , Zarębski J.
Published: March 2012

An antimony film electrode (SbFE) was prepared in situ on a glassy carbon support and in a new supporting electrolyte, a saturated solution of hydrogen potassium tartrate in which Sb(III) ions were complexed using tartrate. Its performance in anodic stripping voltammetric (ASV) determination of Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Tl(I), In(III) and Cu(II) traces was examined. It was found that 1.2 mg/L of Sb(III) yields the finest quality SbFE for analytical purposes. The procedure with in situ SbFE ensures well‐defined anodic stripping voltammetric curves of the investigated elements, low detection limits (0.5–3.8 µg/L), good reproducibility (1–5 %) and satisfactory sensitivity (32–184 nA/(µg/L)).
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Oxidation Studies at Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes
Authors: Pelster Lindsey N. , Meredith Matthew T. , Minteer Shelley D.
Published: March 2012

NADH oxidation has previously been investigated at carbon nanotube surfaces, although studies into the effect of the polymer binders are needed to fully understand whether the polymer binder affects the electrochemistry. This work details NADH oxidation at glassy carbon electrodes modified with composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes and selected polymer binders. NADH is shown to be oxidized at a lower potential than at glassy carbon electrodes and the oxidation potential is a function of the polymer binder. Hydrophobically modified Nafion, Nafion, linear poly(ethylenimine) (LPEI), octyl‐modified LPEI, and poly(vinylpyridine) binders were studied. Experiments showed the peak current and electrochemically assessible electrode area are dependent on the polymer binder. Overall, this paper shows that polymer binders affect NADH oxidation potential at carbon nanotube modified electrodes.
Simulations of spatial variability in particle‐size emissions during wind erosion events
Authors: Butler Harry J. , McTainsh Grant H. , Hogarth William L.
Published: March 2012

This study simulates how spatial variations in particle‐size emissions from a playa affect bulk and size‐resolved dust concentration profiles during two contrasting wind erosion events (a small local and a large regional event) in the Channel Country, Lake Eyre Basin, Australia. The regional event had higher dust concentration as a result of stronger frontal winds and higher erodibility across the playa. For each event, two emission scenarios are simulated to determine if measured size‐resolved dust concentration profiles can be explained by spatial variability in source area emissions. The first scenario assumes that particle‐size emissions from source areas occur at a uniform rate, while the second scenario assumes that particle‐size emissions vary between and within source areas. The uniform emission scenario, reproduced measured bulk dust concentration profiles (R2 = 0·93 regional and R2 = 0·81 local), however simulated size‐resolved dust concentration profiles had poor statistical fits to measured size‐resolved profiles for each size class (the highest were R2 = 0·5 regional and R2 = 0·3 local). For the differential particle‐size emission scenario, the fit to the measured bulk dust concentration profiles is improved (R2 = 0·97 regional and R2 = 0·83 local). However, the fit to the size‐resolved profiles improved dramatically, with the lowest being R2 = 0·89 (regional) and R2 = 0·80 (local). Particle‐size emission models should therefore be tested against both bulk and size‐resolved dust concentration profiles, since if only bulk dust concentration profiles are used model performance may be over‐stated. As the source areas in the first 90 m upwind of the tower were similar for both events, the percentage contributions of each particle‐size class to total emissions can be compared. The contribution of each particle‐size class was similar even though the wind speed, turbulence and dust concentrations were significantly different; suggesting that the contribution of each particle‐size to the total emitted dusts is not related to wind speed and turbulence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surfactant effects on the water‐stable aggregation of wettable soils from the continental USA
Authors: Lehrsch G. A.
Published: March 2012

Surfactants may affect soil structure differently depending upon the soil or the quality of rainfall or irrigation water. This study examined whether the water‐stable aggregation of 11 wettable soils was affected by surfactants and the water in which the soils were sieved. The study also examined whether the wettable soils' water drop penetration time (WDPT) was affected by surfactants, water drop quality, and elapsed time since the surfactants were applied. Two nonionic surfactants and a surfactant‐free water control were sprayed (by misting) upon air‐dry soil, then WDPT was measured 1 and 72 h thereafter. Subsequently, this treated soil was slowly wetted with an aerosol to its water content at a matric potential of −3 kPa, then immediately sieved for 600 s in water that contained either appreciable or few electrolytes. Water‐stable aggregation, quantified as mean weight diameter (MWD), varied widely among soils, ranging from 0.10 to 1.36 mm. The MWDs were affected (at p = 0.06) by surfactant treatments, depending upon the soil but not sieving water quality. Surfactants affected the MWD of an Adkins loamy sand and Feltham sand, two of the three coarsest‐textured soils. Although WDPTs never exceeded 5 s, depending upon the soil WDPTs were affected by surfactant treatments but not by water drop quality. After surfactant application, WDPTs generally decreased with time for three soils but increased with time for one soil. Findings suggested that surfactants interacted (1) with clay mineralogy to affect MWD and (2) with soluble calcium to affect WDPT for certain soils. Surfactant treatments but not water quality affected both MWD and WDPT for some but not all of 11 wettable, US soils. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Smooth muscle actin‐expressing stromal fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Increased expression of galectin‐1 and induction of poor prognosis factors
Authors: Valach Jaroslav , Fík Zdeněk , Strnad Hynek , Chovanec Martin , Plzák Jan , Čada Zdeněk , Szabo Pavol , Šáchová Jana , Hroudová Miluše , Urbanová Markéta , Šteffl Martin , Pačes Jan , Mazánek Jiří , Vlček Čestmír , Betka Jan , Kaltner Herbert , André Sabine , Gabius Hans‐Joachim , Kodet Roman , Smetana Karel , Gál Peter , Kolář Michal
Published: March 2012

Tumor stroma is an active part influencing the biological properties of malignancies via molecular cross‐talk. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts play a significant role in this interaction. These cells frequently express smooth muscle actin and can be classified as myofibroblasts. The adhesion/growth‐regulatory lectin galectin‐1 is an effector for their generation. In our study, we set the presence of smooth muscle actin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts in relation to this endogenous lectin and an in vivo competitor (galectin‐3). In squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck, upregulation of galectin‐1 presence was highly significantly correlated to presence of smooth muscle actin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts in the tumor (p = 4 × 10−8). To pinpoint further correlations on the molecular level, we applied microarray analyses to the transcription profiles of the corresponding tumors. Significant correlations of several transcripts were detected with the protein level of galectin‐1 in the cancer‐associated fibroblasts. These activated genes (MAP3K2, TRIM23, PTPLAD1, FUSIP1, SLC25A40 and SPIN1) are related to known squamous‐cell‐carcinoma poor‐prognosis factors, NF‐κB upregulation and splicing downregulation. These results provide new insights into the significance of presence of myofibroblasts in squamous cell carcinoma.
Preparation, characterization, and release behavior of aspirin‐loaded poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate)/silica hydrogels
Authors: Lin Mei , Xu Peng , Zhong Wei
Published: March 2012

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) is a polymer hydrogel that can be used as a biomaterial. In this study, PHEA/silica composites containing aspirin as a model drug were prepared, and their drug release behaviors were tested. 2‐Hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) was first copolymerized with 3‐(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (MSMA) in the presence of ammonium persulphate and then condensed with silicic acid oligomer. The composites were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, water uptake and matrix erosion of PHEA/silica of different weight ratios were also investigated. The results indicated that the silica particles were well dispersed in PHEA hydrogels. The in vitro drug release test revealed that the release rate of aspirin decreased with the increasing content of silica. The drug release behaviors were analyzed by employing the power law, which showed that the release profiles were governed either by Case II diffusion or by anomalous diffusion. The 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay of rabbit chondrocytes revealed that adding silica can improve the biocompatibility of PHEA to some extent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.
Videolaryngoscopic assessment of laryngeal edema after arytenoid adduction
Authors: Narajos Nena , Toya Yutaka , Kumai Yoshihiko , Sanuki Tetsuji , Yumoto Eiji
Published: March 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Arytenoid adduction (AA) as surgical treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is associated with higher morbidity from airway complications due to postoperative laryngeal edema compared with other laryngeal framework surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative laryngeal edema after AA using a new videolaryngoscopic (VL) scoring assessment.

Study Design:

Prospective case series.

Methods:

Nineteen patients with UVFP (14 males and five females; mean age, 56 years) who were treated with AA alone or combined with ansa cervicalis (AA/AC) nerve anastomosis or nerve‐muscle pedicle (AA/NMP) flap implantation were evaluated. Laryngeal edema was assessed by VL scoring for 10 days postoperatively. Degree of edema was scored in three subsites: the membranous vocal fold, arytenoid mound, and pyriform sinus on the operated side. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05.

Results:

No patient experienced postoperative airway compromise. Interexaminer reliability was generally high (Spearman r > 0.75). The mean degree of edema increased steadily from postoperative day (POD) 1 to 3, peaking on POD 3 at all subsites. It then declined significantly from POD 3 to 7 (P < .05) and gradually through POD 10. The maximum degree of edema, maximum edema time, and operative time were not correlated significantly at any subsite. Maximum edema time and surgery type (AA vs. AA/AC or AA/NMP) were not correlated at any subsite.

Conclusions:

Inter‐rater reliability for the proposed VL scoring was significant at all subsites. The VL findings suggest that AA alone or AA combined with reinnervation showed maximum laryngeal edema on POD 3 but added no significant morbidity.