bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enzyme Entrapped in Polymer‐Modified Nanopores: The Effects of Macromolecular Crowding and Surface Hydrophobicity
Authors: Liu Jia , Peng Juan , Shen Shuai , Jin Qianru , Li Can , Yang Qihua
Published: January 2013

Macromolecular crowding is an ubiquitous phenomenon in living cells that significantly affects the function of enzymes in vivo. However, this effect has not been paid much attention in the research of the immobilization of enzymes onto mesoporous silica. Herein, we report the combined effects of macromolecular crowding and surface hydrophobicity on the performance of an immobilized enzyme by accommodating lipase molecules into a series of mesoporous silicas with different amounts of inert poly(methacrylate) (PMA) covalently anchored inside the nanopores. The incorporation of the PMA polymer into the nanopores of mesoporous silica enables the fabrication of a crowded and hydrophobic microenvironment for the immobilized enzyme and the variation in polymer content facilitates an adjustment of the degree of crowding and surface properties of this environment. Based on this system, the catalytic features of immobilized lipase were investigated as a function of polymer content in nanopores and the results indicated that the catalytic efficiency, thermostability, and reusability of immobilized lipase could all be improved by taking advantage of the macromolecular crowding effect and surface hydrophobicity. These findings provide insight into the possible functions of the macromolecular crowding effect, which should be considered and integrated into the fabrication of suitable mesoporous silicas to improve enzyme immobilization.
First Total Synthesis of the Proposed Structures of Orisuaveolines A and B
Authors: Zhang Jie , Da Shijun , Feng Xiaolin , Chen Xiaoyi , Jiang Jianhui , Li Ying
Published: January 2013

First total synthesis of the proposed structures of β‐indoloquinazoline alkaloids orisuaveolines A and B is reported. The key steps of the synthesis included a Pictet‐Spengler reaction to build a six‐member lactam which further transformed into target molecular by a one‐pot condensation. This synthesis provided an access to the proposed structures of orisuaveolines A and B in a short and convenient manner from inexpensive, commercially available starting materials. The structures of our synthesized products were confirmed by 2D‐NMR experiments.
Biomimetic Cationic Cyclization toward ent‐Kaurene‐type Diterpenoids
Authors: Zhu Lili , Hong Ran
Published: January 2013

Terpenoids comprise the largest family of natural products and include various structurally different genus which play important roles in living organisms. Biosynthetically, diterpenoids are derived from (E,E,E)‐geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). From GGPP, diterpene cyclase catalyzes a sequence of carbocation‐mediated cyclizations, rearrangements, and further oxidations, leading to a class of structurally unique ent‐kaurenes, such as cafestol, gibberellin A3 and oridonin. According to the biosynthesis pathway of ent‐kaurene, we designed a chiral acetal‐enabled and SnCl4‐promoted biomimetic polyene cationic cyclization. With a following Birch reduction/alkylation cascade, a core skeleton of representative ent‐kaurenes diterpenoids was completed.
Antibiotic Metabolites from the Coral‐Associated Actinomycete Streptomyces sp. OUCMDZ‐1703
Authors: Fu Peng , Kong Fandong , Wang Yuanfei , Wang Yi , Liu Peipei , Zuo Guoying , Zhu Weiming
Published: January 2013

From the oligotrophic culture of a soft coral‐associated actinomycetes strain, Streptomyces sp. OUCMDZ‐1703, we isolated and identified two new chlorinated polyketides that we named strepchloritides A and B (1 and 2), three thiazole derivatives known as watasemycin A (3), pulicatin G (4) and aerugine (5), along with pyrrole‐2‐carboxamide, furan‐2‐carboxamide and 1‐(3,5‐dihydroxyphenyl)ethanone. The new structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic studies such as 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR and MS analyses, while the known compounds were identified by comparison of the NMR data with those in literatures. The results showed that actinomycete strain OUCMDZ‐1703 could use the relative high ratio of chlorine in the oligotrophic medium to synthesize chlorinated natural products. New compounds 1 and 2 displayed cytotoxicity against the MCF‐7 cells with IC50 values of 9.9 and 20.2 µmol·L−1, respectively. Thiazole derivatives 3 and 5 were first found to be active against three clinical strains of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA082, MRSA111 and MRSA234) with the same MIC/MBC values of 7.81/7.81 µg·mL−1.
Rate of sodium chloride attrition fragment generation in a mixed‐suspension crystallizer
Authors: Mueansichai T. , Flood A. E. , Stelzer T. , Ulrich J.
Published: January 2013

Attrition of crystals in industrial crystallization is the major source of secondary nucleation and has strong effects on product quality. This work describes attrition in industrial crystallizers using an empirical engineering model based on dimensionless groups describing crystal properties, suspension properties, and crystallizer geometry and operating conditions. Here the attrition rate of sodium chloride crystals in a small scale mixed‐suspension crystallizer is studied, varying the following parameters: impeller speed, parent crystal size, suspension density, draft‐tube impeller clearance, off‐bottom impeller clearance, impeller type, and impeller material. It was found that the attrition rate depends on most of the variables investigated. The direction of the dependence is predictable based on intuitive modeling. An empirical power law model based on dimensionless groups predicted by Buckingham‐Pi theory (using variables mentioned above) gives a good fit to the data.
Sources of mercury in a contaminated stream—implications for the timescale of recovery
Authors: Southworth George , Mathews Teresa , Greeley Mark , Peterson Mark , Brooks Scott , Ketelle Dick
Published: January 2013

Mercury contamination in East Fork Poplar Creek in Tennessee arises from dissolved mercury exiting a headwater industrial complex and residual mercury in the streambed and soil throughout the watershed downstream. The headwater inputs generate chronic base flow concentrations of total mercury of about 1,000 ng/L, but most of the annual export of mercury from the system appears to originate farther downstream. Effective targeting of remedial efforts requires determining how long downstream sources might continue to contaminate the system following elimination of the headwater mercury inputs. The authors calculations suggest that (1) contaminated soils and sediments account for >80% of the annual mercury export from the entire watershed, with most export occurring during wet weather events; (2) bank erosion and resuspension of streambed particulates are the major mercury sources maintaining high annual mercury export rates; and (3) the inventory of particle-associated mercury in the streambed was not large enough to sustain the estimated export rates for more than a few years. The authors findings imply that to prevent waterborne mercury contamination in this system from continuing for decades, remedial actions will have to control the headwater mercury source that sustains day-to-day base flow mercury concentrations and the riparian stream-bank sources that generate most of the mercury export from the system. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:764–772. © 2013 SETAC
Ebullition rates and mercury concentrations in St. Lawrence river sediments and a benthic invertebrate
Authors: Razavi N. Roxanna , Ridal Jeffrey J. , de Wit William , Hickey M. Brian C. , Campbell Linda M. , Hodson Peter V.
Published: January 2013

Ebullition, the release of gas from anaerobic decomposition in sediments, was recorded in a mercury-contaminated depositional zone (Zone 1) of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. The aim of the present study was to test if this disturbance affected the bioavailability of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in surficial sediments to a benthic invertebrate (Echinogammarus ischnus). Ebullition rates ranged from <1 to 2,800 ml/m2 daily, with methane gas comprising 29 to 84% of the total. No direct effects of ebullition were found on either abiotic (sediment or pore water THg or MeHg concentrations) or biotic (amphipod THg or MeHg concentrations) variables measured. Instead, amphipod MeHg concentrations were best predicted by pore water THg and MeHg concentrations, organic matter of surficial sediments, and water depth and location. Trend surface analyses demonstrated that a shallow, southwestern part of Zone 1 was most contaminated with pore water mercury, which decreased in a gradient toward the northeast. Further study is needed to determine if the amount of sediment resuspended by ebullition affects the spatial distribution of mercury. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:857–865. © 2013 SETAC
Influence of gender and age on cognitive inhibition in late‐onset depression: a case‐control study
Authors: Richard‐Devantoy S. , Deguigne F. , Annweiler C. , Letourneau G. , Beauchet O.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To compare cognitive inhibition performance between people with early‐onset (EOD) or late‐onset depression (LOD) and controls, and between women and men with LOD.

Methods

On the basis of a case‐control design, global executive performance (Frontal Assessment Battery); verbal (Hayling), attention (Stroop), and motor (Go/No‐Go) components of cognitive inhibition; mental shifting (Trail Making Test parts A and B); and updating in working memory (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) were assessed in 40 participants (10 depressed women with LOD (i.e., ≥60 years old), 10 depressed women with EOD (i.e., <60 years old), 10 healthy women and 10 depressed men with LOD (i.e., ≥60 years old)).

Results

Older depressed women, irrespective of age of depression onset, had greater cognitive inhibition impairments (attention and verbal component) compared with healthy women. LOD was significantly associated with the attention component of cognitive inhibition impairment, unlike EOD (p = 0.026). No executive differences were found regarding age of first‐onset depression in older depressed women, and between women and men with LOD.

Conclusion

Cognitive inhibition impairment, and more specifically its attention component, was the main characteristic of depression in the studied sample of older adults, independently of gender and age of depression onset. It is essential to perform similar studies in both genders in view of future tailor‐made therapeutic modalities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating cumulative effects of anthropogenic inputs in Prince Edward Island estuaries using the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
Authors: Finley Megan A , Courtenay Simon C , Teather Kevin L , Hewitt L Mark , Holdway DA , Hogan Natacha S , van den Heuvel Michael R
Published: January 2013

Estuarine eutrophication as a result of agricultural land use, including the use of chemical fertilizers, is increasing worldwide. Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada has very high agricultural intensity by international standards with approximately 44% of the land area under production, and some watersheds in excess of 75% agricultural land-use. The type of agriculture is also intensive with primarily row crops that have high chemical fertilizer and pesticide usage. In light of these stressors, the hypothesis of this study was that mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) population parameters would change with point and nonpoint source pollution, and that multivariate statistics could be used to draw associations with specific stressors. Fish were sampled on a monthly basis from May through August at 7 estuaries spanning a range of land use, nutrient, and contaminant loadings. A suite of environmental variables were simplified into 3 principal components: PC1 representing agricultural land use, N loading, and plant habitat, PC2 being dominated by sediment sand and silt distribution, and PC3 largely reflecting P loading and sediment organic matter. There were significant differences in abundance of both adult and young-of-the-year mummichog, and these changes associated most strongly with PC1, the largely N-driven agricultural influences. In contrast, somatic variables such as liver and gonad size did not show strong association with the environmental quality principal component scores. The sand and silt PC2 appeared to have the opposite association with the biological data, with siltier environments correlating to older, larger, less dense populations of mummichog. Although pesticide residues were detected in estuarine sediment, there was no clear relationship between these and watershed agricultural intensity or biochemical indicators. There was, however, a strong relationship between agricultural environmental variables (PC1) and in vitro steroid production that is suggestive of a potential chemical effect. Eutrophication appeared to be a primary stressor affecting mummichog populations, as nutrient enrichment was associated with changes in habitat variables and these in turn were associated with high mummichog density. Thus, mummichog population demographics appear to have use as an indicator of adverse or worsening conditions in estuaries. We concluded that, based on the subset of environmental factors evaluated, the nonpoint–source inputs of sediments and nutrients exerted the greatest influence on mummichog populations in PEI estuaries. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013;9:496–507. © 2013 SETAC
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate as an endogenous modulator of the amyloid‐β precursor protein metabolism
Authors: Canepa Elisa , Domenicotti Cinzia , Marengo Barbara , Passalacqua Mario , Marinari Umberto M. , Pronzato Maria A. , Fedele Ernesto , Ricciarelli Roberta
Published: January 2013

Besides playing a pathogenic role in Alzheimer disease, amyloid‐beta peptides are normally produced in low amounts in the brain, and several lines of evidence suggest that they can modulate synaptic plasticity and memory. As cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is known to be involved in the same processes and the blockade of its degradation by phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors has consistently shown beneficial effects on cognition, we investigated the possible correlation between this second messenger and Aβ peptides in neuronal N2a cells overexpressing the amyloid‐β precursor protein (APP). We herein report that the elevation of endogenous cAMP by rolipram increased APP protein expression and both its amyloidogenic and nonamyloidogenic processing. The effects of rolipram were reproduced by both the cAMP membrane‐permeant analog 8Br‐cAMP and the forskolin‐induced activation of adenylyl cyclase but were not affected by the PKA inhibitor H‐89. Our results demonstrate that, in neuronal cells, APP metabolism is physiologically modulated by cAMP and suggest that this might represent an additional mechanism through which the second messenger could influence memory functions. © 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(2)127–133, 2013
DIVORCE LAW REFORMS AND DIVORCE RATES IN THE USA: AN INTERACTIVE FIXED‐EFFECTS APPROACH
Authors: Kim Dukpa , Oka Tatsushi
Published: January 2013

This paper estimates the effects of unilateral divorce laws on divorce rates in the USA from a panel of state‐level divorce rates. We use the interactive fixed‐effects model to address the issue of endogeneity due to the association between cross‐state unobserved heterogeneity and divorce law reforms. We document that earlier studies in the literature do not fully control for unobserved heterogeneity and result in mixed empirical evidence on the effects of divorce law reforms. While reconciling these conflicting results, our results suggest that divorce law reforms have temporal positive effects on divorce rates, thus confirming the 2006 findings of Wolfers. Via simulation experiments, we assess the degree to which faulty inclusion or faulty exclusion of interactive fixed effects affects the policy effect estimators. Our results suggest that faulty inclusion only results in efficiency loss whereas faulty exclusion causes bias. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of the α7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the acute toxicosis of methyllycaconitine in mice
Authors: Welch K. D. , Green B. T. , Panter K. E. , Pfister J. A. , Gardner D. R.
Published: January 2013

The adverse physiological effects of methyllycaconitine (MLA) have been attributed to its competitive antagonism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Recent research suggested a correlation between the lethal dose (LD50) of MLA and the amount of α7 nAChR in various mouse strains, suggesting that mice with more α7 nAChR require more MLA to be poisoned. The objective of this study was to characterize the role of the α7 subunit in the acute toxicosis of MLA by evaluating the acute toxicity of MLA in mice lacking the α7 subunit. The LD50 values for MLA were 4.2 ± 0.9, 3.7 ± 1.1 and 3.3 ± 0.9 mg kg–1 body weight (BW) for wild‐type, heterozygous knockout and homozygous knockout mice, respectively. We also evaluated the response of anabasine in these mice. The LD50 values for anabasine were 1.6 ± 0.3, 2.0 ± 0.4 and 1.8 ± 0.3 mg kg–1 BW for wild‐type, heterozygous knockout and homozygous knockout mice, respectively. The protein expresson of various nAChR subunits was compared to determine if mice lacking the α7 subunit compensate by over expressing other nAChR subunits. There were no significant differences in the protein expression of the α3, α4, α5, β2 and β4 subunits amongst the three genotypes of mice in brain or skeletal muscle. The results of this study suggest that α7 nAChR does not play an integral role in the acute toxicosis of MLA or anabasine. Consequently other nAChR subunits of nAChRs found in the neuromuscular junction are probably the primary target for MLA and anabasine resulting in acute toxicosis. Published 2013. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Novel synthetic protective compound, KR‐22335, against cisplatin‐induced auditory cell death
Authors: Shin Yoo Seob , Song Suk Jin , Kang SungUn , Hwang Hye Sook , Jung Young‐Sik , Kim Chul‐Ho
Published: January 2013

Cisplatin [cis‐diammine‐dichloroplatinum (II)] is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, and one of its most severe side effects is ototoxicity. In the course of developing a new protective agent against cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity, we have been interested in a novel synthetic compound, 3‐Amino‐3‐(4‐fluoro‐phenyl)‐1H‐quinoline‐2,4‐dione (KR‐22335). We evaluated the effectiveness of KR‐22335 as an otoprotective agent against cisplatin‐induced toxicity. The otoprotective effect of KR‐22335 against cisplatin was tested in vitro in cochlear organs of Corti‐derived cell lines, HEI‐OC1, and in vivo in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. Cisplatin‐induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were demonstrated in HEI‐OC1 cells. KR‐22335 inhibited cisplatin‐induced apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in HEI‐OC1 cells. KR‐22335 inhibited cisplatin‐induced activation of JNK, p‐38, caspase‐3 and PARP in HEI‐OC1 cells. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed that KR‐22335 prevented cisplatin‐induced destruction of kinocilium and stereocilia in zebrafish neuromasts. Tissue TUNEL of neuromasts in zebrafish demonstrated that KR‐22335 blocked cisplatin‐induced TUNEL positive hair cells in neuromasts. The results of this study suggest that KR‐22335 may prevent ototoxicity caused by the administration of cisplatin through the inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction and suppression of ROS generation. KR‐22335 may be considered as a potential candidate for protective agents against cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethylene oxide's role as a reactive agent during sterilization: Effects of polymer composition and device architecture
Authors: Phillip Edward , Murthy N. Sanjeeva , Bolikal Durgadas , Narayanan Pallassana , Kohn Joachim , Lavelle Linda , Bodnar Stanko , Pricer Kurt
Published: January 2013

magnified image Sterilization conditions need to be optimized to effectively neutralize the bioburden while using short exposure times for minimizing the changes in chemical composition, material properties and device architecture. Towards this goal, effects of ethylene oxide (EtO) exposure parameters such as time, temperature, humidity, and EtO concentration on the polymer properties were investigated by monitoring the changes in composition, and the morphology of different types of structures in a family of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐containing tyrosine‐derived polycarbonates. EtO was found to esterify the carboxyl groups present in the desaminotyrosyl‐tyrosine groups. Sterilization under conditions more severe than those normally used reduced the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the molecular weight of the polymers, and the presence of PEG in the polymer enhanced this effect. Furthermore, electron micrographs showed that EtO sterilization cycle conditions, even those considered “mild,” were found to damage the fragile structures such as those found in electrospun mats and porous scaffolds. Our study shows that the presence of EtO‐susceptible groups, fusible architecture, and surface morphology should be taken into account in choosing the appropriate EtO sterilization conditions. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2013.
Some case studies on application of “rm2” metrics for judging quality of quantitative structure–activity relationship predictions: Emphasis on scaling of response data
Authors: Roy Kunal , Chakraborty Pratim , Mitra Indrani , Ojha Probir Kumar , Kar Supratik , Das Rudra Narayan
Published: January 2013

Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) techniques have found wide application in the fields of drug design, property modeling, and toxicity prediction of untested chemicals. A rigorous validation of the developed models plays the key role for their successful application in prediction for new compounds. The rm2 metrics introduced by Roy et al. have been extensively used by different research groups for validation of regression‐based QSAR models. This concept has been further advanced here with introduction of scaling of response data prior to computation of rm2. Further, a web application (accessible from http://aptsoftware.co.in/rmsquare/ and http://203.200.173.43:8080/rmsquare/) for calculation of the rm2 metrics has been introduced here. The present study reports that the web application can be easily used for computation of rm2 metrics provided observed and QSAR‐predicted data for a set of compounds are available. Further, scaling of response data is recommended prior to rm2 calculation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Performance evaluation of a miniature laser ablation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer designed for in situ investigations in planetary space research
Authors: Riedo A. , Bieler A. , Neuland M. , Tulej M. , Wurz P.
Published: January 2013

Key performance features of a miniature laser ablation time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer designed for in situ investigations of the chemical composition of planetary surfaces are presented. This mass spectrometer is well suited for elemental and isotopic analysis of raw solid materials with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. In this study, ultraviolet laser radiation with irradiances suitable for ablation (< 1 GW/cm2) is used to achieve stable ion formation and low sample consumption. In comparison to our previous laser ablation studies at infrared wavelengths, several improvements to the experimental setup have been made, which allow accurate control over the experimental conditions and good reproducibility of measurements. Current performance evaluations indicate significant improvements to several instrumental figures of merit. Calibration of the mass scale is performed within a mass accuracy (Δm/m) in the range of 100 ppm, and a typical mass resolution (m/Δm) ~600 is achieved at the lead mass peaks. At lower laser irradiances, the mass resolution is better, about (m/Δm) ~900 for lead, and limited by the laser pulse duration of 3 ns. The effective dynamic range of the instrument was enhanced from about 6 decades determined in previous study up to more than 8 decades at present. Current studies show high sensitivity in detection of both metallic and non‐metallic elements. Their abundance down to tens of ppb can be measured together with their isotopic patterns. Due to strict control of the experimental parameters, e.g. laser characteristics, ion‐optical parameters and sample position, by computer control, measurements can be performed with high reproducibility. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epstein–barr virus associated acute hepatitis with cross‐reacting antibodies to other herpes viruses in immunocompetent patients: Report of two cases
Authors: Gupta Ekta , Bhatia Vikram , Choudhary Aashish , Rastogi Archana , Gupta Naveen L.
Published: January 2013

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) which is characterized by the triad of fever, sore throat, and lymphadenopathy. Self‐limited, mild liver function test abnormalities are seen in IM. Acute hepatitis in primary EBV infection is uncommon. Serum transaminases are elevated but are less than fivefold the normal levels in most cases and rarely exceed 10 times the normal levels in primary EBV infections especially in elderly. Laboratory diagnosis of acute EBV infection is by serological assays confirming the presence of EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM antibodies. Due to antigenic cross‐reactivity with Herpes viruses, serological assays lack specificity; hence specific molecular diagnostic methods are required for confirmation of the etiology. The present report describes two cases of acute hepatitis caused by infection with EBV which had indistinguishable clinical features and biochemical markers from acute hepatitis caused by hepatotropic viruses such as hepatitis viruses A–E. The diagnosis of infection by EBV was confirmed by detection of EBV DNA in blood of both the patients and EBV DNA in the liver tissue of one of the patients. J. Med. Virol. 85:519–523, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of and risk factors for penile infection by high‐risk human papillomavirus among men infected with HIV
Authors: Figliuolo Giuseppe , Maia Jusimara , Jalkh Alex P. , Miranda Angélica E. , Ferreira Luiz C.L.
Published: January 2013

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) genital infection and precursor lesions of penile cancer among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In total, 276 men with a mean age of 34.6 years were included. All participants were subjected to peniscopic examination under magnification, collection of genital exfoliated cells for detecting HPV types using Hybrid Capture, and biopsy surgery of clinically observable lesions and aceto‐white areas for histopathological studies. The prevalence of high‐risk HPV types was 43%. Peniscopicy showed clinically visible lesions or aceto‐white areas in 75/276 participants (27%), of which genital warts were the most common (22/75; 29%). HIV‐positive (HIV+) men with CD4+ T‐cell counts <200 cells/mm3 showed a higher prevalence of penile lesions. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify independent risk factors for high‐risk HPV types. The results showed that high‐risk HPV was associated with lower education level (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15–3.13), illicit drug use (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.03–3.14), mulatto ethnicity (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.38–4.54), heterosexual orientation (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.30–3.47) symptomatic AIDS (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.65–4.77), AIDS‐associated opportunistic infections (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.78–4.78), on HAART (OR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.78–4.77), and CD4+ T‐cell count <200 cells/mm3 (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.84–5.96). Immunocompromised men were more susceptible to developing penile lesions associated with high‐risk HPV types. J. Med. Virol. 85:413–418, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Maternal and neonatal anti‐cytomegalovirus IgG level and risk of postnatal cytomegalovirus transmission in preterm infants
Authors: Nijman Joppe , van Loon Anton M. , Krediet Tannette G. , Verboon‐Maciolek Malgorzata A.
Published: January 2013

Immunological mechanisms influencing the risk of mother‐to‐child cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in preterm infants have not been studied sufficiently. In this study, the correlation between maternal and neonatal serum anti‐CMV IgG levels and risk of postnatal CMV transmission in preterm infants was assessed. Anti‐CMV IgG levels of 79 CMV seropositive mothers and their 94 infants were determined in peripheral blood samples collected within 3 days after delivery. Postnatal CMV infection was detected in 39/94 (41%) infants by PCR on urine at term‐equivalent age (gestational age 40 weeks) after congenital infection was excluded. Maternal or infant anti‐CMV IgG levels were not significantly different between infants with and without postnatal CMV infection. The anti‐CMV IgG infant–mother ratio showed a significant positive correlation with gestational age (range 25–32 weeks, R2 = 0.218, P < 0.001), reaching 1.0 at 32 weeks of gestation. Anti‐CMV IgG infant–mother ratio was significantly lower in infants with postnatal CMV infection (P = 0.015). In conclusion, the risk of postnatal CMV transmission is related to low gestational age and low anti‐CMV IgG infant–mother ratio. J. Med. Virol. 85:689–695, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Raman spectroscopy as a probe of molecular order, orientation, and stacking of fluorinated copper‐phthalocyanine (F16CuPc) thin films
Authors: Cerdeira F. , Garriga M. , Alonso M. I. , Ossó J. O. , Schreiber F. , Dosch H. , Cardona M.
Published: January 2013

We report Raman scattering measurements on azimuthally ordered thin films of F16CuPc, prepared by organic molecular beam deposition on A‐plane sapphire substrates. The observed peak frequencies have been compared both to the results of a model calculation for the vibrational modes of the free molecule and to those reported by other authors in related materials. This analysis provides a plausible identification of the modes responsible for the strongest spectral features. Detailed evaluation of the spectra reveals that some observed modes, which correspond to vibrations of the macrocycle inner ring, largely retain the intramolecular character and their polarisation properties can be used to study the orientation and stacking configuration of the molecules. We provide structural parameters deduced either in molecular or crystal symmetry considering the simpler possibilities, i.e. a single column molecular stacking and a herringbone‐like structure. The results suggest that the thicker and most ordered film is structurally close to the recently reported crystal organisation of bulk ribbon samples of this compound. The crystalline quality of the ordered films is mainly reflected in some other Raman peaks which are related to the motion of peripheral atoms and dominate the high wavenumber part of the spectra. These modes are affected by intermolecular interactions inducing Davydov splittings that are unequivocally identified by the observed Raman selection rules. The performed analysis also provides quantitative estimates of the degree of in‐plane ordering. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study on chemical compositions and properties of protein isolates from mung bean, black bean and bambara groundnut
Authors: Kudre Tanaji G , Benjakul Soottawat , Kishimura Hideki
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

Different legume seeds may have different protein compositions and properties, thereby affecting applications in food systems. This study aimed to extract and characterize protein isolates from legumes grown in Thailand, including mung bean (MBPI), black bean (BBPI) and bambara groundnut (BGPI).

RESULTS

All protein isolates had a protein content in the range of 85.2–88.2%. The highest trypsin inhibitory activity was found in BGPI. All protein isolates exhibited satisfactory balanced amino acids with respect to the FAO/WHO pattern. MBPI and BBPI had three predominant proteins with a molecular weight (MW) range of 42–54 kDa, whereas BGPI had two dominant proteins with MW of 52 and 62 kDa. Based on differential scanning calorimetric analysis, MBPI and BGPI had two endothermic peaks, whereas three peaks were found for BBPI. All protein isolates exhibited similar FTIR spectra, indicating similarity in functional group and structure. All protein isolates showed a minimum protein solubility at around pH 4–5.

CONCLUSION

All protein isolates were important sources of proteins with high lysine content. Isolates from different legumes showed slight differences in physiochemical and thermal properties. Those isolates can be used as proteinaceous ingredients in a variety of food products such as salad dressing, meat products and desserts. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Separation, interconversion, and insecticidal activity of the cis‐ and trans‐isomers of novel hydrazone derivatives
Authors: Wu Jian , Huang Chaoqun , Wang Jian , Hu Deyu , Jin Linhong , Yang Song , Song Baoan
Published: January 2013

A series of cis‐ and trans‐isomers of hydrazone derivatives were separated and analyzed through HPLC with diode‐array detection and HPLC‐MS/MS using ESI and ion trap MS. Two single crystals (A‐5‐1 and C‐2‐1) of the trans‐isomers were obtained and determined using X‐ray crystallography data, and the cis‐ to trans‐isomerization under different conditions was discussed. Both of the cis‐ and trans‐isomers of A‐4 and A‐5 exhibited good insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella.
Repair of long type IV posterior laryngeal cleft through a cervical approach using cricotracheal separation
Authors: Propst Evan J. , Ida Jonathan B. , Rutter Michael J.
Published: January 2013

A female infant with CHARGE syndrome and a long type IV cleft extending to within 5 mm of the carina underwent transcervical repair at 5 weeks of age. The trachea was transected from the cricoid cartilage and was peeled off the esophagus. The front of the esophagus and the back of the trachea were repaired while still ventilating the patient. The trachea was reconnected to the cricoid cartilage. This technique obviated the need for a sternal split, thoracotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. It improved visibility, access, airway stability, and coverage of the anastomosis with periosteum permitting a three‐layer closure. Laryngoscope, 2013
Preparation of ultrafine fast‐dissolving cholecalciferol‐loaded poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) fiber mats via electrospinning
Authors: Li Xiaoqiang , Lin Lin , Zhu Yanan , Liu Wanwan , Yu Tianshi , Ge Mingqiao
Published: January 2013

This study presents a method for incorporating cholecalciferol of a poorly water‐soluble vitamin into poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) fibers by electrospinning. The poorly water‐soluble vitamin was incorporated into water‐soluble polymeric matrix of nanofibers with the rapid evaporation of solvent during the electrospinning process. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the diameter of nanofibers is range of 0.2‐2.9 μm. The physicochemical properties of the composite nanofibers were characterized by using Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). 82.1 % and 51.9 % of cholecalciferol was released in the first 20 s from the composite nanofibers with a drug‐to‐PVP ratio of 1:4 and 1:2, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013 © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Synthesis and oil absorption of poly(butylmethacrylate)/organo‐attapulgite nanocomposite by suspended emulsion polymerization
Authors: Wang Jintao , Wang Qin , Zheng Yian , Wang Aiqin
Published: January 2013

A series of polybutylmethacrylate/organo‐attapulgite (PBMA/organo‐APT) nanocomposites were prepared by suspended emulsion polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and organo‐APT treated by different quaternary ammonium salt (C12, C16, and C18) as an inorganic component. The nanocomposites were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showing that organo‐APT participated in polymerization by which a nanocomposite structure was formed. The effects of crosslinker and organo‐APT with different alkyl chain length on oil absorbency were investigated. The swelling kinetics in toluene, chloroform and gasoline were also systematically studied. The results reveal that introducing organo‐APT with moderate hydrophobic‐chain length into the PBMA polymeric network can improve oil absorption capability and swelling rate. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013 © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
pH‐responsive destabilization and facile bioconjugation of new hydroxyl‐terminated block copolymer micelles
Authors: Khorsand Behnoush , Oh Jung Kwon
Published: January 2013

New hydroxyl‐terminated amphiphilic block copolymers (HO‐ABPs) having pendant t‐butyl groups for pH‐responsiveness and terminal OH groups for bioconjugation are reported. These HO‐ABPs consist of hydrophilic poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether methacrylate) and hydrophobic poly(t‐butyl methacrylate) blocks and were synthesized by a consecutive atom transfer radical polymerization in the presence of an OH‐terminated bromine initiator. Aqueous self‐assembly of HO‐ABPs resulted in colloidally stable micellar aggregates being capable of encapsulating hydrophobic guest molecules. They were nontoxic to cells and destabilized in response to low pH. A facile bioconjugation of HO‐ABP micelles for active targeting is demonstrated by conjugation with biotin (vitamin H) and competitive assay exhibiting >93% ABP chains conjugated with biotin in each micelle. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013
Who Becomes an Unwed Mother in Greece? Sociodemographic and Geographical Aspects of an Emerging Phenomenon
Authors: Gavalas Vasilis S. , Rontos Kostas , Salvati Luca
Published: January 2013

Out of all European countries, the one with the lowest rate of childbearing outside marriage is Greece. However, it seems that the traditional attitudes towards family formation and childbearing have begun to change in Greece as well. Illegitimacy ratio has increased fourfold in less than 30 years. It is by using the vital statistics provided by the National Statistical Service of Greece that this paper answers to research questions regarding the sociodemographic profile of unwed mothers in Greece, in terms of educational level, age, and nationality. It also tries to find out what are the reasons of non‐marital childbearing in Greece and to investigate the geographical variation of this phenomenon within the country. A key finding is that the rise in the illegitimacy ratio from the 1990s onwards is largely due to the inflow of immigrants from other countries, mostly from the former Eastern Bloc. The social profile of these unwed mothers is totally different from their Greek counterparts, implying that foreign nationals who have children outside marriage do so by conviction and not because an unwanted pregnancy resulted to birth, which is mostly the case with Greek unwed mothers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From the adiabatic theorem of quantum mechanics to topological states of matter
Authors: Budich Jan Carl , Trauzettel Björn
Published: January 2013

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Owing to the enormous interest the rapidly growing field of topological states of matter (TSM) has attracted in recent years, the main focus of this review is on the theoretical foundations of TSM. Starting from the adiabatic theorem of quantum mechanics which we present from a geometrical perspective, the concept of TSM is introduced to distinguish gapped many body ground states that have representatives within the class of non‐interacting systems and mean field superconductors, respectively, regarding their global geometrical features. These classifying features are topological invariants defined in terms of the adiabatic curvature of these bulk insulating systems. We review the general classification of TSM in all symmetry classes in the framework of K‐Theory. Furthermore, we outline how interactions and disorder can be included into the theoretical framework of TSM by reformulating the relevant topological invariants in terms of the single particle Green's function and by introducing twisted boundary conditions, respectively. We finally integrate the field of TSM into a broader context by distinguishing TSM from the concept of topological order which has been introduced to study fractional quantum Hall systems. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Anti‐platelet Activity of Erythro‐(7S,8R)‐7‐acetoxy‐3,4,3′,5′‐tetramethoxy‐8‐O‐4′‐neolignan from Myristica fragrans
Authors: Kang Jung Won , Min Byung‐Sun , Lee Jeong‐Hyung
Published: January 2013

Platelets play a critical role in pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders and strokes. The inhibition of platelet function is beneficial for the treatment and prevention of these diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti‐platelet activity of erythro‐(7S,8R)‐7‐acetoxy‐3,4,3′,5′‐tetramethoxy‐8‐O‐4′‐neolignan (EATN), a neolignan isolated from Myristica fragrans, using human platelets. EATN preferentially inhibited thrombin‐ and platelet‐activating factor (PAF)‐induced platelet aggregation without affecting platelet damage in a concentration‐dependent manner with IC50 values of 3.2 ± 0.4 and 3.4 ± 0.3 μM, respectively. However, much higher concentrations of EATN were required to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid. EATN also inhibited thrombin‐induced serotonin and ATP release, and thromboxane B2 formation in human platelets. Moreover, EATN caused an increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and attenuated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in thrombin‐activated human platelets. Therefore, we conclude that the inhibitory mechanism of EATN on platelet aggregation may increase cAMP levels and subsequently inhibit intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by interfering with a common signaling pathway rather than by directly inhibiting the binding of thrombin or PAF to their receptors. This is the first report of the anti‐platelet activity of EATN isolated from M. fragrans. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of robustness to surface conditions of the target factor analysis method for determining the dielectric function from reflection electron energy loss spectra: Application to GaAs
Authors: Jin H. , Shinotsuka H. , Yoshikawa H. , Iwai H. , Arai M. , Tanuma S. , Tougaard S.
Published: January 2013

Target factor analysis (TFA) of a series of angle‐resolved reflection electron energy loss spectra (REELS) was recently demonstrated to be a useful method to determine bulk energy loss functions (ELFs), which by the TFA are separated from the surface‐loss structures of REELS. The dielectric function is then readily derived by Kramers–Kronig analysis of the ELF. The advantage of the method compared with other methods, which are also based on the analysis of REELS, is that the condition of the outermost surface region is unimportant because the excitations that occur there are removed by the TFA and ideally a pure bulk component is determined. Our method is thus particularly useful for determining the ELF from compound materials that are hard to clean without modifying the outermost atomic layers. In this paper, the robustness of the method was studied by applying it to three GaAs samples with different surface compositions caused by different surface cleaning methods. The results showed that when electrons of energy 3000–4500 eV were used, the resulting bulk ELFs were essentially identical except for small differences for the sample that had the largest thickness of the modified surface layer. It is concluded that this is a useful method, provided that the thickness of the modified layer is kept to a minimum by using shallow angle sputtering and by using REELS electrons at a sufficiently high energy that a major part of the electron trajectories are at a depth larger than the thickness of the modified surface layer. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of oxygen co‐doping on structural, magnetic and optical properties of Mn‐doped GaN
Authors: Hu B. , Man B. Y. , Liu M. , Yang C. , Chen C. S. , Gao X. G. , Xu S. C. , Wang C. C. , Sun Z. C.
Published: January 2013

The GaMnN and GaMnN: O films were obtained by annealing at different NH3 flow rates. When the NH3 flow rate was decreased to 20 sccm, the oxygen was co‐doped into GaMnN film and substituted the few host atoms, which were confirmed by the X‐ray Photoelectron Spectra. Moreover, the oxygen co‐doping in GaMnN film drastically enhanced the gain of the ferromagnetic (FM) state but oxygen as shallow donor in GaN offers little carriers. Hence, the enhanced FM state is not due to increase of carrier concentration. On optical properties, the oxygen co‐doping in GaMnN film will suppress the blue luminescence centered near 2.8 eV and make a blue shift of the photoluminescence spectra. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of covariance misspecification in multivariate Gaussian mixtures on estimation and inference: an application to longitudinal modeling
Authors: Heggeseth Brianna C. , Jewell Nicholas P.
Published: January 2013

Multivariate Gaussian mixtures are a class of models that provide a flexible parametric approach for the representation of heterogeneous multivariate outcomes. When the outcome is a vector of repeated measurements taken on the same subject, there is often inherent dependence between observations. However, a common covariance assumption is conditional independence—that is, given the mixture component label, the outcomes for subjects are independent. In this paper, we study, through asymptotic bias calculations and simulation, the impact of covariance misspecification in multivariate Gaussian mixtures. Although maximum likelihood estimators of regression and mixing probability parameters are not consistent under misspecification, they have little asymptotic bias when mixture components are well separated or if the assumed correlation is close to the truth even when the covariance is misspecified. We also present a robust standard error estimator and show that it outperforms conventional estimators in simulations and can indicate that the model is misspecified. Body mass index data from a national longitudinal study are used to demonstrate the effects of misspecification on potential inferences made in practice. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MDE‐based process tailoring strategy
Authors: Hurtado Alegría Julio A. , Bastarrica María Cecilia , Quispe Alcides , Ochoa Sergio F.
Published: January 2013

Defining organizational software processes is essential for enhancing maturity because they cannot be improved if they are not specified. However, software process definition is hard and still not good for assuring productivity because the best process depends on the project's particularities. The process engineer can define a specific process for each kind of project, but this is expensive, unrepeatable, and error prone. Moreover, it is difficult to foresee all project scenarios and therefore the appropriate processes. The most usual situation is to apply always the same software process, although it is known to be suboptimal. To deal with this challenge, we propose a model‐based approach to software process tailoring that automatically generates project‐specific processes on the basis of the organizational process and project contexts. We still require competent process engineers to define the company's process, but once done, our approach is systematic, repeatable, and easy to use. The proposal is applied for tailoring the requirements engineering process of a medium‐size Chilean company. Processes obtained matched those used in the company for planned project contexts, and they were also reasonable for nonexpected situations. The company's process and project engineers agreed that the approach was highly valuable. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.