bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemistry/liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to demonstrate irreversible binding of the skin allergen p‐phenylenediamine to proteins
Authors: Jahn Sandra , Faber Helene , Zazzeroni Raniero , Karst Uwe
Published: May 2012

RATIONALE

para‐Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a potent and well‐known allergen, which is commonly used in hair or fur dyes and can cause severe allergic contact dermatitis. In this work, the skin‐sensitizing potential of PPD with respect to the conjugation of proteins was evaluated using an approach without animal testing.

METHODS

Electrochemistry (EC) coupled offline to liquid chromatography (LC) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) was employed to convert the pre‐hapten PPD into its reactive hapten analogs. A previous study had already shown that this purely instrumental method is suitable for accelerating and simulating the various oxidation processes, which PPD may undergo, and that the emerging products are prone to react with soft thiol groups of small nucleophiles like glutathione and cysteine.

RESULTS

This investigation was extended by successfully demonstrating adduct formation between EC‐generated PPD oxidation products and the three proteins β‐lactoglobulin A (β‐LGA), human serum albumin and human hemoglobin. A tryptic digest of modified β‐LGA provided evidence for irreversible protein binding of monomeric PPD, a PPD dimer and the PPD trimer known as Bandrowski's Base. It was shown that the main oxidation product p‐phenylene quinone diimine, and the reactive oligomerized species, primarily attack the free thiol function of proteins rather than other nucleophilic amino acid residues.

CONCLUSIONS

The pre‐hapten PPD was efficiently activated upon EC oxidation and the resulting species were further reacted with different proteins leading to diverse hapten‐protein complexes. Thereby, problems related to the complex matrix present in conventional in vitro or in vivo methods could effectively be avoided. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrochemistry/mass spectrometry as a tool in the investigation of the potent skin sensitizer p‐phenylenediamine and its reactivity toward nucleophiles
Authors: Jahn Sandra , Faber Helene , Zazzeroni Raniero , Karst Uwe
Published: May 2012

RATIONALE

Although para‐phenylenediamine (PPD) is known to cause severe allergic contact dermatitis in consequence of autoxidation and/or skin metabolism pathways, it is commonly utilized as an ingredient in permanent hair dyes. The aim of this work was to simultaneously accelerate the autoxidation process and to simulate the metabolic activation of PPD using a purely instrumental system.

METHODS

Electrochemistry (EC) in combination with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) was used in this study to assess the skin‐sensitizing potential of PPD. Online and offline coupled EC/ESI‐MS experiments were carried out and the emerging oxidation products were investigated. In a second approach, these primary species were allowed to react with the nucleophiles glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), potassium cyanide (KCN) and lysine (Lys) in order to evaluate their reactivity.

RESULTS

The reactive p‐phenylene quinone diimine (PPQD), which can form upon autoxidation and/or skin metabolism of PPD, was effectively generated in a simple EC cell next to further oxidation products, including the trimeric product Bandrowski's Base (BB). Conjugation with GSH and Cys was successfully proven, but no adducts with KCN or Lys were observed. Furthermore, the application of different concentration ratios between PPD and nucleophile was shown to play a crucial role concerning the type of oxidation products and adducts being formed.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that EC/MS is a well‐suited approach for the targeted generation of reactive haptens such as PPQD while avoiding detection problems due to the complexity of matrices encountered when conducting conventional in vitro or in vivo experiments. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictive control: a historical perspective
Authors: Goodwin G.C. , Carrasco D.S. , Seron M.M.
Published: May 2012

Predictive control is one of the major success stories in modern industrial control. It has been successfully used in hundreds of real‐world applications, and there is a rich associated theory. The goal of this paper is to provide a historical perspective of predictive control. In view of the breadth of predictive control, we will restrict the discussion to certain specific aspects. In particular, we give emphasis to the seminal work of David Clarke. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fully parameterized tube model predictive control
Authors: Raković Saša V. , Kouvaritakis Basil , Cannon Mark , Panos Christos
Published: May 2012

The recently proposed parameterized tube model predictive control (MPC) exploited linearity to separate the treatment of future disturbances in robust model predictive control, thereby gaining significant computational advantages while superseding the state‐of‐the‐art closed‐loop strategies. The approach used an upper triangular parameterized tube prediction structure and a linear cost. The current paper proposes an extension of the tube prediction structure, which is fully parameterized and allows for the use of more general cost functions. The introduced parameterization generalizes the one associated with parameterized tube MPC (PTMPC), while it shares its strong system theoretic properties as well as its computational tractability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On parameterized dissipation inequalities and receding horizon robust control
Authors: Lazar M. , Gielen R. H.
Published: May 2012

This paper considers the standard input‐to‐state stability (ISS) inequality for discrete‐time nonlinear systems, which involves a candidate Lyapunov function and a supply function that dictates the ISS gain of the system. In order to reduce conservatism, a set of parameters is assigned to both the Lyapunov and the supply function, respectively. A set‐valued map, which generates admissible sets of parameters for each state and input, is defined such that the corresponding parameterized Lyapunov and supply functions enjoy the standard ISS inequality. It is demonstrated that the so‐obtained parameterized ISS inequality offers nonconservative analysis conditions, even when Lyapunov functions with a particular structure, such as quadratic forms, are considered. For bounded inputs, it is then shown how parameterized ISS inequalities can be used to synthesize a closed‐loop system with an optimized envelope of trajectories. An implementation method based on receding horizon optimization is proposed, along with a recursive feasibility and complexity analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed synthesis methodology is illustrated for a benchmark test case for model predictive control, that is, a continuous stirred tank reactor.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust characterizations of k‐wise independence over product spaces and related testing results
Authors: Rubinfeld Ronitt , Xie Ning
Published: May 2012

A discrete distribution D over Σ1 ×··· ×Σn is called (non‐uniform) k ‐wise independent if for any subset of k indices {i1,…,ik} and for any z1∈Σ,…,zk∈Σ, PrX∼D[X···X = z1···zk] = PrX∼D[X = z1]···PrX∼D[X = zk]. We study the problem of testing (non‐uniform) k ‐wise independent distributions over product spaces. For the uniform case we show an upper bound on the distance between a distribution D from k ‐wise independent distributions in terms of the sum of Fourier coefficients of D at vectors of weight at most k. Such a bound was previously known only when the underlying domain is {0,1}n. For the non‐uniform case, we give a new characterization of distributions being k ‐wise independent and further show that such a characterization is robust based on our results for the uniform case. These results greatly generalize those of Alon et al. (STOC'07, pp. 496–505) on uniform k ‐wise independence over the Boolean cubes to non‐uniform k ‐wise independence over product spaces. Our results yield natural testing algorithms for k ‐wise independence with time and sample complexity sublinear in terms of the support size of the distribution when k is a constant. The main technical tools employed include discrete Fourier transform and the theory of linear systems of congruences.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2013
Maximum matchings in random bipartite graphs and the space utilization of Cuckoo Hash tables
Authors: Frieze Alan , Melsted Páll
Published: May 2012

We study the the following question in Random Graphs. We are given two disjoint sets L,R with |L| = n and |R| = m. We construct a random graph G by allowing each x∈L to choose d random neighbours in R. The question discussed is as to the size μ(G) of the largest matching in G. When considered in the context of Cuckoo Hashing, one key question is as to when is μ(G) = n whp? We answer this question exactly when d is at least three. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2012
Preparation of high‐substituted cationic starch in presence of organic bases
Authors: Bendoraitienė Joana , Klimaviciute Rima , Zemaitaitis Algirdas
Published: May 2012

Cross‐linked N‐(hydroxypropyl)–N,N,N–trimethylammonium starch chlorides (CQS) with preserved microgranules, degree of substitution (DS) from 0.18 to 1.05 are prepared by reaction of starch with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTAC) accelerated by benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (BTMAOH) or tertiary amines–triethylamine (TEA) and dimethylbenzylamine (DMBA). When BTMAOH instead of NaOH is used as a catalyst, the reaction of cross‐linked starch (CS) with GTAC proceeds slightly slower and with a lower efficiency (RE). DMBA unexpectedly showed similar catalyst efficiency as BTMAOH. It is suggested that the reason for such phenomena is the reaction of GTAC with tertiary amines and the formation of strong bases – quaternary ammonium hydroxides. They actually catalyse starch cationization. DMBA is more active in this reaction in comparison with TEA. It is shown that, due to a higher amount of quaternary ammonium hydroxides in the liquid phase of the reaction mixture, the yield of starch cationization decreases. Cationization in the presence of organic bases provides higher sorption capabilities to the modified polysaccharide.
More than a Façade: Somatic and Structural Determinants in Erving Goffman's Theory of the Perduring Self
Authors: Sahni Isher‐Paul
Published: May 2012

This paper argues that Erving Goffman endorses the veracity of a perduring self. Culling the corpus of his work, recent findings in neurophysiology and cognitive science surrounding the autonomy and mutual determination of emotion, cognition, and social structure are drawn upon when unpacking his highly composite theory. Isolating Goffman's claims about the psychobiological underpinning of the emotionally sentient body and those pertaining to macro and micro‐structural determinants, the former, it is argued, champion the coherence of the self insofar as they link cathected feelings to individual desires and inclinations. The latter, conversely, complicate the picture by accentuating the social construction of emotions and the relationship between episodic cognitive operations and multifarious interpretive frames. In the end, however, it is shown that Goffman's macro‐structural account, far from being residual, discloses the consistency, and unity of the self occasioned by social proximity and general social norms.
Maternal hemodynamics at 11–13 weeks' gestation and risk of pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Khalil A. , Akolekar R. , Syngelaki A. , Elkhouli M. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: May 2012

Objective

Women who develop pre‐eclampsia are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in the subsequent decades. Individuals with cardiovascular disorders have increased central aortic systolic blood pressure (SBPAo) and arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx). The aim of this study was to examine the potential value of assessment of SBPAo, PWV and AIx at 11–13 weeks' gestation in identifying women who subsequently develop pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

This was a screening study for pre‐eclampsia in singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. Maternal history and characteristics were recorded and PWV, AIx (adjusted to a heart rate of 75 beats per min (AIx‐75)) and SBPAo measured. We compared these parameters in women who developed pre‐eclampsia (n = 181) with those in unaffected controls (n = 6766) and examined their performance in screening for pre‐eclampsia.

Results

In the pre‐eclampsia group, compared to unaffected controls, there was an increase in AIx‐75 (1.13 vs. 1.00 multiples of the median (MoM); P < 0.0001), PWV (1.06 vs. 1.00 MoM; P < 0.0001) and SBPAo (1.09 vs. 1.00 MoM; P < 0.0001). In screening for pre‐eclampsia by a combination of maternal variables and log10AIx‐75 MoM, log10PWV MoM and log10SBPAo MoM, the estimated detection rate was 56.9% at a false‐positive rate of 10%.

Conclusion

Compared with women who remain normotensive, women who develop pre‐eclampsia have higher SBPAo and arterial stiffness, which is apparent from the first trimester of pregnancy. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How and to what extent are free radicals involved in the nonoxidative thermal dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride)?
Authors: Starnes William H.
Published: May 2012

Kinetic analyses based on the resonance delocalization energies of polyenes and polyenyl radicals are used to rule out the free‐radical mechanisms of Arlman and of Winkler and Stromberg for the growth of conjugated polyenes during the thermolysis of poly(vinyl chloride) under nonoxidizing conditions. Possible sources of radicals during the thermolysis are described, and the radicals that cause the greatest reduction in thermal stability are identified as those that result from the reaction of polyenes with HCl. The way in which these radicals accelerate dehydrochlorination is discussed. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Language and music: sound, structure, and meaning
Authors: Slevc L. Robert
Published: May 2012

Language and music are the most impressive examples of humans' capacity to process complex sound and structure. Though interest in the relationship between these two abilities has a long history, only recently has cognitive and neuroscientific research started to illuminate both what is shared and what is distinct between linguistic and musical processing. This review considers evidence for a link between language and music at three levels of analysis: sound, structure, and meaning. These links not only inform our understanding of language and music, but also add to a more basic understanding of our processing of complex auditory stimuli, structure, meaning, and emotion. WIREs Cogn Sci 2012, 3:483–492. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1186

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Language in Mind and Brain
Protein–RNA footprinting: an evolving tool
Authors: Fourmy Dominique , Yoshizawa Satoko
Published: May 2012

As more RNA molecules with important cellular functions are discovered, there is a strong need to characterize their structures, functions, and interactions. Chemical and enzymatic footprinting methods are used to map RNA secondary and tertiary structure, to monitor ligand interactions and conformational changes, and in the study of protein–RNA interactions. These methods provide data at single‐nucleotide resolution that nicely complements the structural information available from X‐ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), or cryo‐electron microscopy. Footprinting methods also complement the dynamic information derived from single‐molecule Förster resonance energy transfer. RNA footprinting tools have been used for decades, but we have recently seen spectacular advances, for instance, the use in combination with massive parallel sequencing techniques. Large libraries of RNA molecules (small or large in size) can now be probed in high‐throughput manner when RNA footprinting methods are combined with fluorescent probe technologies and automation. In this article, after a brief historical overview, we summarize recent advances in RNA–protein footprinting methodologies that now integrate tools for massive parallel analysis. WIREs RNA 2011, 3:557–566. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1119

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses In Vitro and In Silico
Potential pitfalls in microRNA profiling
Authors: Chugh Pauline , Dittmer Dirk P.
Published: May 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that post‐transcriptionally influence a wide range of cellular processes such as the host response to viral infection, innate immunity, cell cycle progression, migration, and apoptosis through the inhibition of target mRNA translation. Owing to the growing number of miRNAs and identification of their functional roles, miRNA profiling of many different sample types has become more expansive, especially with relevance to disease signatures. In this review, we address some of the advantages and potential pitfalls of the currently available methods for miRNA expression profiling. Some of the topics discussed include isomiRNAs, comparison of different profiling platforms, normalization strategies, and issues with regard to sample preparation and experimental analyses. WIREs RNA 2011 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1120

This article is categorized under:

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs

Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Economical Oxygenation of Olefins and Sulfides Catalyzed by New Molybdenum(VI) Tridentate Schiff Base Complexes: Synthesis and Crystal Structure
Authors: Rezaeifard Abdolreza , Jafarpour Maasoumeh , Raissi Heidar , Alipour Mahboubeh , Stoeckli‐Evans Helen
Published: May 2012

Abstract. New cis‐dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes (MoO2YxCH3OH) were synthesized using MoO2(acac)2 and 2[(1‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpropane‐2‐ylimino)methyl]phenol derivatives as tridentate ONO donor Schiff base ligands (H2Yx). MoY1 was crystallized in orthorhombic space group Pbca. The epoxidation of olefins using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide and oxidation of sulfides to the sulfoxides by hydrogen peroxide were efficiently enhanced by the catalytic activity of title MoVI complexes with excellent selectivity. The high efficiency and relative stability of the catalysts was observed by turnover number and UV/Vis investigations. The electron‐rich and bulky ligands promoted the effectiveness of the catalysts.
Structural Aspects of Copper‐Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization with a Novel Tetradentate Bisguanidine Ligand
Authors: Bienemann Olga , Froin Ann‐Kathrin , dos Santos Vieira Ines , Wortmann Ramona , Hoffmann Alexander , Herres‐Pawlis Sonja
Published: May 2012

This contribution reports the synthesis of the novel tetradentate bisguanidine ligand 2′,2′‐[ethane‐1, 2‐diylbis(methylazanediyl)]bis(ethane‐2, 1‐diyl)bis(1, 1, 3, 3‐tetramethylguanidine) (L1, TMG2dmtrien), which combines two weak amine and two strong guanidine donor functions. Two new copper(II) complexes were isolated and structurally characterized as complexes [Cu(TMG2dmtrien)][Br]2·3MeCN (C1[Br]2·3MeCN) and [Cu(TMG2dmtrien)][Cl]2·3MeCN (C2[Cl]2·3MeCN). The cations C1 and C2 [Cu(TMG2dmtrien)]2+ show a square‐planar coordination environment and are chiral with both enantiomers being observed in the unit cell. We investigated the application of L1 in copper‐mediated styrene ATRP. L1 shows with CuBr and PEBr as initiator a high polymerization activity according to the polymerization rate. First order kinetics confirm the living character of the polymerization. However, the deviation of molecular weights from theoretical molecular weights and the broad molecular weight distributions hint for a low controlled ATRP. The ATRP with further copper(I) salts {CuCl, [Cu(MeCN)4]BF4 and [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6} and PECl and PEBr as initiators were investigated as well. Herein the use of [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 with PECl led to promising results.
Cyclopentadienyl Dicarbonyl Iron‐Bismuth Compounds – Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity
Authors: Wójcik Katarzyna , Ecorchard Petra , Schaarschmidt Dieter , Rüffer Tobias , Lang Heinrich , Mehring Michael
Published: May 2012

Abstract. The cyclopentadienyl‐substituted iron‐bismuth complexes [{Cp(CO)2Fe}BiCl2] (1), [{Cp(CO)2Fe}BiBr2] (2), [{Cp′′(CO)2Fe}BiBr2] (3) and [{Cp*(CO)2Fe}BiBr2] (4) were prepared with high yields starting from [Cpx(CO)2Fe]2 [Cpx = C5H5 (Cp), C5H3‐1, 3‐tBu2 (Cp′′), C5Me5 (Cp*)] and the corresponding bismuth halides. The single crystal X‐ray structure analyses of compounds 2–4 are reported. Comparison of their solubility demonstrates that the steric hindrance in this type of compounds is only slightly higher for compound 3 compared with compound 2 but significantly lower compared with the Cp* derivative 4. Compounds 1–4 react with nucleophililic reagents such as KOtBu, NaOCH2CH2OCH3, and NaOSiMe3 as well as with water in the presence of an amine to give a mixture of [{Cpx(CO)2Fe}BiX] (X = Cl, Br) and [{Cpx(CO)2Fe}3Bi]. In case of a reaction with nBu4NCl and DMAP (dimethylaminopyridine) no such dismutation is observed. Instead the complexes [{Cp(CO)2Fe}BiBr2(DMAP)2] (5), [NnBu4]2[{{Cp(CO)2Fe}BiBr3}2] (6) and [NnBu4]2[{{Cp(CO)2Fe}BiCl3}2] (7) were isolated and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, DFT Calculations, and Dynamic Behavior of Mononuclear Macrocyclic Diorganotin(IV) Bis‐Dithiocarbamate Complexes
Authors: Tlahuext‐Aca Adrian , Höpfl Herbert , Medrano‐Valenzuela Felipe , Guerrero‐Alvarez Jorge , Tlahuext Hugo , Ochoa Lara Karen , Reyes‐Márquez Viviana , Tlahuextl Margarita
Published: May 2012

Nine mononuclear diorganotin(IV) dithiocarbamate complexes 1–9 with 19‐, 20‐ and 21‐membered macrocyclic structures were synthesized from dimethyl, di‐n‐butyl, and diphenyltin(IV) dichloride and three bis‐dithiocarbamate ligands derived from secondary bis‐amines having aromatic spacer groups. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic methods (IR and 1H, 13C, and 119Sn NMR). Additionally, quantum chemical DFT calculations were performed for the dimethyltin(IV) derivatives in order to model the molecular structures. For one compound series the NMR spectra showed a concentration‐dependent behavior in solution, which was analyzed in detail and permitted to postulate the existence of an equilibrium with the corresponding [2+2] macrocycles.
Primary carnitine deficiency and pivalic acid exposure causing encephalopathy and fatal cardiac events
Authors: Rasmussen Jan , Nielsen Olav W. , Lund Allan M. , Køber Lars , Djurhuus Høgni
Published: May 2012

Background

Several episodes of sudden death among young Faroese individuals have been associated with primary carnitine deficiency (PCD). Patients suffering from PCD have low carnitine levels and can present with metabolic and/or cardiac complications. Pivalic acid exposure decreases carnitine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the association and pathophysiology of exposure to antibiotics containing pivalic acid and severe neurological and cardiac complications in six identified subjects suffering from PCD.

Methods and materials

Six cases of PCD were identified and studied through medical records and family interview. Stored biomaterial was analyzed for mutations causing PCD.

Results

Five patients (two children, three adults) died suddenly while one adult patient survived sudden cardiac arrest. Lethal cardiac arrhythmia was documented in five patients, while one patient was not monitored at time of death, but had signs of cardiac arrhythmia a few days earlier. All patients suffered encephalopathy before cardiac arrhythmia. Autopsy showed severe hepatic steatosis and signs of cerebral edema in four out of five. One subject had a dilated heart. All patients were homozygous for the c.95A>G (p.N32S) mutation in SLC22A5 causing PCD. All patients had been treated with antibiotics containing pivalic acid prior to the episode.

Conclusion

Exposure to antibiotics containing pivalic acid was associated with encephalopathy and progression to lethal cardiac arrhythmia in patients suffering from PCD.
Transient lymphocyte decrease due to adhesion and migration following catumaxomab (anti-EpCAM x anti-CD3) treatment in vivo
Authors: Dettmar Kirsten , Seitz-Merwald Isabell , Lindemann Carsten , Schroeder Petra , Seimetz Diane , Atz Judith
Published: May 2012

Introduction

In patients, a transient decrease in peripheral blood lymphocyte counts was observed following intraperitoneal administration of the trifunctional monoclonal antibody catumaxomab (anti-human EpCAM x anti-human CD3). The aim of this study was to clarify the observed effect in a preclinical mouse model and to analyse the related mechanism of actionin vitro.

Materials and methods

A related antibody, BiLu (antihuman EpCAM x anti-mouse CD3), was administered to mice and blood leukocytes were analysed.In vitrostudies measured activation and cytokine secretion from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). For the analysis of T cell adhesion, PBMC were preincubated with catumaxomab and then co-cultured with human endothelial cells (HUVEC); T cell adhesion was assessed in the presence or absence of endothelial cell preactivation by TNFα. Adherent T cells were determined by flow cytometry.

Results

Treatment of mice with BiLu resulted in a dosedependent transient decrease in CD3+ T cells (both CD4+ and CD8+) that returned to the normal range within 48 h. Catumaxomab physiologically activated T cellsin vitro(increased CD69 expression) and induced cytokine release (TNFα, IFNγ). TNFα increased expression of adhesion molecules CD54 and CD62E on endothelial cells. Furthermore, catumaxomab dose-dependently enhanced adhesion of T cells to endothelial cells. Adhesion was further increased when endothelial cells were preactivated with TNFα.

Conclusions

Catumaxomab increases adhesion of T cells to endothelial cells due to antibody-mediated activation of T cells and production of T cell cytokines that up-regulate endothelial cell adhesion molecules. These results provide a mechanistic rationale for the transient, reversible decrease in lymphocyte counts observed following catumaxomab administration in patients, which is likely to be due to redistribution of lymphocytes.
Explaining the 2004 Decrease in Minority Stock Ownership
Authors: Loving Ajamu C. , Finke Michael S. , Salter John R.
Published: May 2012

Prior literature has examined minority stock market participation and found that it increased rapidly throughout the 1990's and into the early 2000's. However, in 2004 after stock prices had suffered decline, Black and Hispanic market participation fell off sharply. This paper uses the NLSY 79 a panel data set to examine whether the diminished likelihood of Black and Hispanic 2004 market participation is due to race or variation in cognitive ability and investor experience. We find that IQ and investor experience subsume all racial effects in the likelihood of 2004 market participation.
Are there any benefits of exercise training in cancer cachexia?
Authors: Argilés Josep M. , Busquets Sílvia , López‐Soriano Francisco J. , Costelli Paola , Penna Fabio
Published: May 2012

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome characterized by inflammation, body weight loss, muscle, and adipose tissue wasting that is responsible for the death of a considerable percentage of cancer patients. In addition, during cachexia muscle strength and endurance are dramatically reduced, limiting the ability to perform daily activities and severely affecting the patient's quality of life. Different studies have emphasized that a single therapy may not be completely successful in the treatment of cachexia. Beyond pharmacological strategies, exercise training has been suggested as a promising countermeasure to prevent cachexia, in order to restore both strength and endurance, depending on the type of exercise. Unfortunately, a small number of studies, in both clinical and experimental settings, have been performed to date. Moreover, when considering exercise in cancer, several factors have to be taken into consideration, in particular those alterations that could limit the capacity to perform exercise and consequently the resulting beneficial or detrimental effects. This editorial is aimed at stimulating the debate on the suitability of including exercise training in a multi‐functional approach against cachexia taking into consideration both limitations and advantages.
From modules to medicine: How modular domains and their associated networks can enable personalized medicine
Authors: Haura Eric B.
Published: May 2012

Unveiling of cancer genomes is unleashing new therapeutic strategies for cancer. With cancer parts lists in hand, new approaches to personalized medicine can be developed by understanding the assembly of cancer machines using modular domains in proteins and their associated networks. Using the Src‐homology‐2 (SH2) domain as an example, new profiling approaches can discern global patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation in cancer cells that can enable molecular cancer medicine. Identifying and quantifying protein–protein interactions also has the potential to subtype tumors and guide clinical decision making. These approaches should extend the impact of genomics through viewing the architecture of cancer systems and improve predictions of patient outcome and therapeutic response, as well as guide combination therapy approaches that attack cancer systems.
Respiration and bacterial carbon dynamics in the Amundsen Gulf, western Canadian Arctic
Authors: Nguyen Dan , Maranger Roxane , Tremblay Jean‐Éric , Gosselin Michel
Published: May 2012

Respiration rates are fundamental to understanding ecosystem C flux; however, respiration remains poorly characterized in polar oceans. The Circumpolar Flaw Lead (CFL) study provided a unique opportunity to sample the Amundsen Gulf, from November 2007 to July 2008 and follow microbial C dynamics. This study shows that bacterial production (BP) was highly variable, ranging from 0.01 to 2.14 μg C L−1 d−1 (CV = 192%), whereas the range in community respiration (CR) was more conservative from 3.8 to 44.2 μg C L−1 d−1 (CV = 55%), with measurable rates throughout the year. The spring‐summer peak in BP preceded the peak in CR suggesting differential predominant control. From May until July, BP was more related to chlorophyll a concentration (r = 0.68) whereas CR was not. Given the observed high variability, BP was the main driver of bacterial growth efficiency (BGE) (r2 = 0.86). The overall average BGE was low at 4.6%, ranging from 0.20 in winter to a peak of 18.6% during the spring bloom. This study confirms that respiration is an important fate for C in the Amundsen Gulf, and our rate‐based estimates of ecosystem scale CR suggests that considerably more C is respired than could be accounted for by gross primary production (GPP). One of the most plausible explanations for this observed discrepancy is that regenerated primary production is currently underestimated.
Numerical study of the effects of mangrove areas and tidal flats on tides: A case study of Darwin Harbour, Australia
Authors: Li Li , Wang Xiao Hua , Williams David , Sidhu Harvinder , Song Dehai
Published: May 2012

The tidal dynamics of Darwin Harbour, Australia, are simulated using a finite volume coastal ocean model. The calibrated model agreed well with the observed sea surface elevation and current velocity. Results indicate that the harbor's hydrodynamics are driven mainly by the tides, with wind and river inputs playing only small roles. The M2 tide is dominant, with amplitude 1.7 m and peak current speed 3.0 m s−1. Sensitivity tests using the model indicate that the mangrove areas and tidal flats play crucial roles in modulating tidal amplitudes and phases in the embayments, especially for the shallow water tides such as M4. Removal of the mangrove areas and tidal flats from Darwin Harbour would dampen the M2 amplitude due to decreased shoaling effects but generate a 75.0% greater M4 amplitude in parts of the harbor. Mangrove areas and tidal flats also affect tidal asymmetry through the changing amplitudes and phases of mainly the M2 and M4 tides. In Darwin Harbour, tidal asymmetry, measured by elevation and current skewness, would increase by up to 100% if the mangrove areas were removed. If the tidal flats were removed as well, the increase would be 120%. Therefore, reclamation of the mangrove areas and tidal flats may cause sediment siltation as a result of increased flood dominance. Although this study is site‐specific, the model and our findings have a wider applicability to the effects of mangrove areas and tidal flats on tides and sediment transport in harbors and estuaries.
Swiss prealpine Rietholzbach research catchment and lysimeter: 32 year time series and 2003 drought event
Authors: Seneviratne Sonia I. , Lehner Irene , Gurtz Joachim , Teuling Adriaan J. , Lang Herbert , Moser Ulrich , Grebner Dietmar , Menzel Lucas , Schroff Karl , Vitvar Tomas , Zappa Massimiliano
Published: May 2012

The prealpine Rietholzbach research catchment provides long‐term continuous hydroclimatological measurements in northeastern Switzerland, including lysimeter evapotranspiration measurements since 1976, and soil moisture measurements since 1994. We analyze here the monthly data record over 32 years (1976–2007), with a focus on the extreme 2003 European drought. In particular, we assess whether the well‐established hypothesis that the 2003 event was due to spring precipitation deficits is valid at the site. The Rietholzbach measurements are found to be internally consistent and representative for a larger region in Switzerland. Despite the scale discrepancy (3.14 m2 versus 3.31 km2), the lysimeter seepage and catchment‐wide streamflow show similar monthly dynamics. High correlations are further found with other streamflow measurements within the Thur river basin (1750 km2) and—for interannual anomalies—also in most of northern Switzerland. Analyses for 2003 confirm the occurrence of extreme heat and drought conditions at Rietholzbach. However, unlike findings from regional‐scale modeling studies, they reveal a late onset of the soil moisture deficit (from June onward), despite large precipitation deficits from mid‐February to mid‐April. These early spring deficits were mostly compensated for by decreased runoff during this period and excess precipitation in the preceding weeks to months (including in the 2002 fall). Our results show that evapotranspiration excess in June 2003 was the main driver initiating the 2003 summer drought conditions in Rietholzbach, contributing 60% of the June 2003 water storage deficit. Finally, long‐lasting drought effects on the lysimeter water storage due to rewetting inhibition were recorded until spring 2004.
Tsunami hazards to U.S. coasts from giant earthquakes in Alaska
Authors: Ryan Holly , von Huene Roland , Scholl Dave , Kirby Steve
Published: May 2012

In the aftermath of Japan's devastating 11 March 2011Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, scientists are considering whether and how a similar tsunami could be generated along the Alaskan‐Aleutian subduction zone (AASZ). A tsunami triggered by an earthquake along the AASZ would cross the Pacific Ocean and cause extensive damage along highly populated U.S. coasts, with ports being particularly vulnerable. For example, a tsunami in 1946 generated by a Mw 8.6 earthquake near Unimak Pass, Alaska (Figure 1a), caused signifcant damage along the U.S. West Coast, took 150 lives in Hawaii, and inundated shorelines of South Pacific islands and Antarctica [Fryer et al., 2004; Lopez and Okal, 2006]. The 1946 tsunami occurred before modern broadband seismometers were in place, and the mechanisms that created it remain poorly understood.
Global Change Research Program releases new strategic plan
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: May 2012

Global Change Research Program releases new strategic plan A new 10‐year strategic plan released by the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) on 27 April calls for the federal interagency program to focus on four key goals during 2012–2021 to coordinate federal research efforts related to global change. The goals include advancing scientific knowledge of the integrated natural and human components of the Earth system; providing the scientific basis to inform and enable timely decisions on adaptation and mitigation; building sustained assessment capacity that improves the nation's ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to global change impacts and vulnerabilities; and advancing communications and education to broaden understanding of global change and develop the scientific workforce of the future. The goals and related objectives “recognize that to respond effectively to global change will require a deep understanding of the integrated Earth system—an understanding that incorporates physical, chemical, biological and behavioral information,” the plan states. “It is no longer enough to study the isolated physical, chemical, and biological factors affecting global change,” said USGCRP executive director Tom Armstrong.
Moving the science data quality dialogue forward
Authors: Robinson Erin , Meyer Carol B. , Lenhardt W. Christopher
Published: May 2012

Federation of Earth Science Information Partners Summer 2011 Meeting; Santa Fe, New Mexico, 12–15 July 2011 Scientific data quality is important to scientists, archivists, decision makers, and the public. Uncertain quality costs valuable research dollars and has impacts beyond the initial science. The Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) is a consortium of Earth science data and technology professionals spanning the government (NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Science Foundation), academia, and private sectors (both commercial and nonprofit). The organization is dedicated to transforming research data and information into useful and usable data and information products for decision makers, policy makers, and the public.
Resonant mode coupling theory: Fifty years of progress in space plasma physics
Authors: Fujita Shigeru , Glassmeier Karl‐Heinz , Nishida Atsuhiro
Published: May 2012

Workshop on Physical Processes in Non‐Uniform Finite Magnetospheric Systems: Fifty Years of Tamao's Resonant Mode Coupling Theory; Fukuoka, Japan, 12–15 September 2011 Three basic physical processes are important to space plasma physics studies: magnetic reconnection, collisionless shock waves, and field line resonances. Magnetic reconnection is a universal process whereby magnetic energy is converted into kinetic energy as the magnetic topology is rearranged. The idea of collisonless shock waves in highly conducting plasmas opened up a whole new field of physics on the interaction between charged particles and plasma waves.
Second annual AGU Take Your Child to Work Day
Authors: Asher Pranoti , Adamec Bethany Holm , Panning Jeannette
Published: May 2012

The second annual Take Your Child to Work Day was held 26 April at AGU headquarters. Nearly 25 children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews of AGU staff members participated in the daylong activities. Jill Treby, assistant director of member services, began the day by welcoming the children and telling them about what many AGU Earth and space scientists do. AGU blogger Callan Bentley and his Northern Virginia Community College colleagues provided mineral samples and an ultraviolet light; these allowed AGU staff to demonstrate fluorescence in minerals from Franklin, N. J., and other localities.
Seesaw does not explain Antarctic climate change
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: May 2012

The Arctic has warmed rapidly in the past 3 decades, but temperature records show that the Antarctic on average has warmed less. This observation hints at a bipolar seesaw mechanism, in which changes in ocean circulation result in changes in heat transport between the hemispheres, linking the warming Arctic to a lack of warming in the Antarctic. However, a new analysis by Schneider and Noone shows that this mechanism cannot explain Antarctic temperature variability or trends. The authors reviewed the data set used as the basis of the bipolar seesaw hypotheses and note that for the Antarctic region the data come from only one station prior to the mid‐1940s and include only a few stations until the late 1950s. They estimated Antarctic climate variability using a variety of independent data, including the long station time series, a reconstruction of the Southern Annular Mode index (a measure of Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation variability), and an ice core–based temperature reconstruction.
Fossilized plant matter indicates more recent Asian desertification
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: May 2012

Two hypotheses attempt to explain the formation of desert in central Asia. One explanation holds that roughly 22 million years ago, at the onset of the Miocene, the Tibetan Plateau started to lift upward. The rising land curbed the flow of moist air from the south, sparking the onset of central Asian desertification. An alternative explanation is that the supposedly arid region to the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau actually harbored shallow lakes or wetlands until as recently as 8 million years ago, at which point the historical desertification was initiated by some other mechanism. The current debate between these two proposals—either a 22‐ or an 8‐millionyear‐ old onset of desertification—hinges, to a sizable degree, on the history of the fine sediments of the Tianshui Basin in central China.
Stochastic and scaling climate sensitivities: Solar, volcanic and orbital forcings
Authors: Lovejoy S. , Schertzer D.
Published: May 2012

Climate sensitivity (λ) is usually defined as a deterministic quantity relating climate forcings and responses. While this may be appropriate for evaluating the outputs of (deterministic) GCM's it is problematic for estimating sensitivities from empirical data. We introduce a stochastic definition where it is only a statistical link between the forcing and response, an upper bound on the deterministic sensitivities. Over the range ≈30 yrs to 100 kyrs we estimate this λusing temperature data from instruments, reanalyses, multiproxies and paleo spources; the forcings include several solar, volcanic and orbital series. With the exception of the latter ‐ we find thatλ is roughly a scaling function of resolution Δt: λ ≈ with exponent 0 ≈ < Hλ ≈ < 0.7. Since most have Hλ > 0, the implied feedbacks must generally increase with scale and this may be difficult to achieve with existing GCM's.
A tool for characterizing and evaluating Type II auroral arcs
Authors: Haerendel Gerhard
Published: May 2012

The paper is intended as a tool for describing or analyzing auroral arcs embedded in a Type II current system. The physics has been extensively described by analytical models in recent papers of the author. Here it is only briefly summarized to the extent needed to explain the set of relations describing the gross properties of embedded arcs. The equations are fully consistent with those derived in the earlier papers, but more general. A new element is the consideration of what determines the width of an auroral arc. Two solutions are presented depending on the relative contributions of the auroral acceleration process and ionospheric dissipation to the total energy conversion rate. It is argued that nature chooses the solution of optimum energy conversion. The equations are best suited to describe structured arcs in the evening auroral oval with inverted‐V particle signature, even when they appear more dynamic than a quasi‐static approach seems to allow. In spite of the inherent idealizations, the presented relations may prove to be useful for analyzing data from satellite transits through auroral current sheets.
Three‐dimensional ray tracing of fast magnetosonic waves
Authors: Xiao Fuliang , Zhou Qinghua , He Zhaoguo , Tang Lijun
Published: May 2012

A three dimensional ray tracing of fast magnetosonic (MS) waves is first performed by using a global core density model and a field‐aligned density model. Simulating results show that MS waves are primarily confined within a few degrees of the geomagnetic equator due to magnetospheric reflection. MS waves originating from different L‐shells on the dayside can propagate either into or out of the plasmasphere through the plasmapause. In particular, MS waves can propagate eastward (later MLT) or westward (earlier MLT) over a broad region of MLT. The current results further reveal a variety of propagation characteristics, particularly important for the MLT distribution of MS waves.
The occurrence and phylogenetic implications of wing interference patterns in Cynipoidea (Insecta:Hymenoptera)
Authors: Buffington Matthew L. , Sandler Robert J.
Published: May 2012

Wing interference patterns (WIPs) are a potentially rich source of taxonomic data. We surveyed a broad range of Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera) for the presence of these patterns. Further, we used phylogeny to investigate the evolutionary patterns of WIPs throughout the superfamily. We also documented that WIPs occur across nearly all species sampled, in both the hindwing and forewing; in many instances, the forewing WIP is carried over to the hindwing. Only Austrocynips mirabilis Riek lacked WIPs. Among species that possess WIPs, we were able to recognise four distinct categories: radiform (radiating), striatiform (longitudinally striate), campiform (continuous field) and galactiform (amorphous mixture of colours). Wing interference patterns are not found in infuscate wings or areas of infuscation on otherwise hyaline wings, and are reduced on large wings. Within Figitidae, WIPs are more phylogenetically conservative, especially at the tribal level: within Cynipidae the phylogenetic conservatism of WIPs is somewhat less clear, though all Synergini sampled had a very consistent WIPs. For certain genera, such as Ganaspidium and Andricus, WIPs may prove useful for species-level discrimination.
Contrastive linguistics and language change
Authors: Harbert Wayne
Published: May 2012

Contrastive linguistic studies have focused almost exclusively on contrasting the synchronic grammars of modern standard language varieties. There may be some merit in expanding the scope of the enterprise to include contrastive investigations of grammatical systems with respect to how they change over time. Full understanding of some contrasts between grammars requires reference to the diachronic axis. This paper illustrates the point with one particular case in the Germanic languages, involving parallel instances of reanalysis of relative pronouns as relative complementizers in Yiddish, Afrikaans and Gothic. These parallel changes, operating on grammatical systems with slight differences in initial conditions, yield sharply different outcomes.
Contrastive linguistics and micro-variation
Authors: Poletto Cecilia
Published: May 2012

This article deals with a very general problem, namely the origin of the well-known distinction between dialectal and typological variation. It is argued that the fact that the possible grammatical choices are more restricted within a dialectal domain is not due to a supposed principled difference in the parameters that rule variation. Rather, they are a function of the originally unitary lexicon dialects share. If language variation is essentially located in the functional items, and they are derived from the same lexicon, then they will share some core properties that make dialectal variation so restricted. I propose that the fact that the lexicon is similar can give us clues about the internal structure of syntactically complex elements which are represented by a single word, like quantifiers, wh-items, modal verbs, etc. Within a homogenous domain, structural complexity correlates with a higher number of lexical roots: the higher the number of the lexical roots found, the more complex internal structure the functional item will display.