bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of the Mediterranean Diet: Results of a Systematic Review
Authors: Saulle Rosella , Semyonov Leda , La Torre Giuseppe
Published: November 2013

The growing impact of chronic degenerative pathologies (such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease) requires and pushes towards the development of new preventive strategies to reduce the incidence and prevalence of these diseases. Lifestyle changes, especially related to the Mediterranean diet, have the potential to modify disease outcomes and ultimately costs related to their management. The objective of the study was to perform a systematic review of the scientific literature, to gauge the economic performance and the cost-effectiveness of the adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a prevention strategy against degenerative pathologies. We investigated the monetary costs of adopting Mediterranean dietary patterns by determining cost differences between low and high adherence. Research was conducted using the PubMed and Scopus databases. Eight articles met the pre-determined inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Quality assessment and data extraction was performed. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been extensively reported to be associated with a favorable health outcome and a better quality of life. The implementation of a Mediterranean dietary pattern may lead to the prevention of degenerative pathologies and to an improvement in life expectancy, a net gain in health and a reduction in total lifetime costs.
Structure and Morphology Control in Thin Films of Conjugated Polymers for an Improved Charge Transport
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Xu Yaozhuo , Yu Xinhong , Xing Rubo , Liu Jiangang , Han Yanchun
Published: November 2013

The morphological and structural features of the conjugated polymer films play an important role in the charge transport and the final performance of organic optoelectronics devices [such as organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) and organic photovoltaic cell (OPV), etc.] in terms of crystallinity, packing of polymer chains and connection between crystal domains. This review will discuss how the conjugated polymer solidify into, for instance, thin-film structures, and how to control the molecular arrangement of such functional polymer architectures by controlling the polymer chain rigidity, polymer solution aggregation, suitable processing procedures, etc. These basic elements in intrinsic properties and processing strategy described here would be helpful to understand the correlation between morphology and charge transport properties and guide the preparation of efficient functional conjugated polymer films correspondingly.
Transparent Conductive Films Fabricated from Polythiophene Nanofibers Composited with Conventional Polymers
Authors: Aronggaowa Borjigin , Toda Yuriko , Ito Noriyuki , Shikinaka Kazuhiro , Shimomura Takeshi
Published: November 2013

Transparent, conductive films were prepared by compositing poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibers with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The transparency, conductivity, atmospheric stability, and mechanical strength of the resulting nanofiber composite films when doped with AuCl3 were evaluated and compared with those of P3HT nanofiber mats. The conductivity of the nanofiber composite films was 4.1 S∙cm−1, which is about seven times less than that which was previously reported for a nanofiber mat with the same optical transmittance (~80%) reported by Aronggaowa et al. The time dependence of the transmittance, however, showed that the doping state of the nanofiber composite films in air was more stable than that of the nanofiber mats. The fracture stress of the nanofiber composite film was determined to be 12.3 MPa at 3.8% strain.
Spectral Properties of ENVISAT ASAR and QuikSCAT Surface Winds in the North Sea
Authors: Karagali Ioanna , Larsén Xiaoli , Badger Merete , Peña Alfredo , Hasager Charlotte
Published: November 2013

Spectra derived from ENVISAT Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) and QuikSCAT near-surface ocean winds are investigated over the North Sea. The two sensors offer a wide range of spatial resolutions, from 600 m to 25 km, with different spatial coverage over the area of interest. This provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of the spatial resolution on the spectral properties of the wind over a wide range of length scales. Initially, a sub-domain in the North Sea is chosen, due to the overlap of 87 wind scenes from both sensors. The impact of the spatial resolution is manifested as an increase in spectral density over similar wavenumber ranges as the spatial resolution increases. The 600-m SAR wind product reveals a range of wavenumbers in which the exchange processes between micro- and meso-scales occur; this range is not captured by the wind products with a resolution of 1.5 km or lower. The lower power levels of coarser resolution wind products, particularly when comparing QuikSCAT to ENVISAT ASAR, strongly suggest that the effective resolution of the wind products should be high enough to resolve the spectral properties. Spectra computed from 87 wind maps are consistent with those obtained from several thousands of samples. Long-term spectra from QuikSCAT show that during the winter, slightly higher energy content is identified compared to the other seasons.
Relations between metamorphism and magmatism near cheticamp, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Authors: Currie K L
Published: November 2013

The oldest rocks of the Chéticamp region form nebulous schlieren and zones of retrograded granulites within granitoid gneisses (Pleasant Bay complex). The complex contains a tectonically bounded lenticle of anorthosite. The Pleasant Bay complex had been
migmatized and intruded by basic dykes prior to emplacement of the granodioritic Cheticamp pluton about 550 Ma at the culmination of deformation and metamorphism with peak conditions near 650 °C, 900 MPa (9.0 kilobars) At about 440 Ma aider rocks were unconformably overlain by a bimodal
basalt-rhyolite suite, and younger sedimentary rocks of the Jumping Brook complex. This complex was metamorphosed and deformed during Silurian and Devonian time reaching temperature-pressure conditions up ta 650 °C, 350 MPa (3.5 kilobars). Magmatic activity accompanied metamorphism, terminated
by emplacement of high level granite plutons and correlative bimodal basalt-rhyolite volcanics of the Late Devonian Fisset Brook Formation. Immediately following magmatic activity, talus, fanglomerate and arkosic sand of the Horton Group collected at the foot of scarps. Carbonates and evaporites of
the Mississippian Windsor Group accumulated in closed basins. Renewed clastic sedimentation in Pennsylvanian time produced sandstones of the Canso and Riversdale groups. The Chéticamp region forms part of an unusual Avalonian terrane with a Grenvillian basement. The association of Grenvillian
basement with Avalonian magmatism can be recoriciled if the Late Precambrian-Early Paleozoic history of this region involved repeated breakup and re-assembly of the continental margin. The association of mylonites, thrusts and transcurrent faults with an intricate sequence of sedimentary facies
suggests major transcurrent motion during Carboniferous time.
Near-surface diurnal warming simulations: validation with high resolution profile measurements
Authors: Scanlon B. , Wick G. A. , Ward B.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Sea surface temperature (SST) is an important property for governing the exchange of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. Common in situ methods of measuring SST often require a cool-skin and warm-layer adjustment in the presence of diurnal warming effects. A critical requirement for an ocean submodel is that it can simulate the change in SST over diurnal, seasonal and annual cycles. In this paper we use high-resolution near-surface profiles of SST to validate simulated near-surface temperature profiles from a modified version of the Kantha and Clayson 1-D mixed-layer model. Additional model enhancements such as the incorporation of a more recent parameterization of turbulence generated by wave breaking and a recent solar absorption model are also validated. The model simulations show a strong variability in highly stratified conditions, with different models providing the best results depending on the specific criteria and conditions. In general, the models with enhanced wave breaking effects provided underestimated temperature profiles while the more coarse baseline and blended approaches produced the most accurate SST estimates.
Mapping Mobile Learning in Space and Time
Authors: Parsons David , Ahn Jae Lim , Lee Ahreum , Song Kiburm , Yoon Miyoung
Published: November 2013

Mobile learning has been a topic of research and development for 20 years. Over that time it has encompassed a wide range of concepts, theories, designs, experiments and evaluations. With increasing interest in the subject from researchers and practitioners, a comprehensive, yet accessible, overview of mobile learning that encompasses its many facets and features can provide a useful snapshot of the field. Although there have been many reviews of the mobile learning literature, these have tended to focus mostly on the nature of the work from a research perspective. Further, they have focused on a specific subset of the overall literature. Some review articles have, for example, confined themselves to a particular type of mobile learning, such as mobile language learning (e.g. Viberg & Gronlund, 2012). Others have focused on a specific conference series (e.g. Wingkvist & Ericsson, 2011) or subset of journals (e.g. Pollara &Broussard, 2011). In contrast, we have attempted to provide a more generic overview, and analyzed a large number of articles on mobile learning according to their main themes, concepts and concerns. These articles have come from a representative range of journals, books and conference proceedings. This poster provides a full-landscape view of the field of mobile learning in the form of a mind map. Whilst this approach to visualization is relatively subjective, it is a qualitative approach that allows us to find creative associations between ideas, as opposed to some other approaches that simply present quantitative data (Davies, 2011). It also potentially supports additional services such as certain types of information search (Beel &Gipp, 2010). Through an iterative process of refinement, we have applied the main analysis categories of research, learner, learning, content, design and technology, with a range of subcategories and representative exemplars. In addition, we contextualize the key developments in mobile learning in a timeline, in order to trace its evolution as a field of research.
Expansion and conversion of human pancreatic ductal cells into insulin-secreting endocrine cells
Authors: Lee Jonghyeob , Sugiyama Takuya , Liu Yinghua , Wang Jing , Gu Xueying , Lei Ji , Markmann James F , Miyazaki Satsuki , Miyazaki Jun-ichi , Szot Gregory L , Bottino Rita , Kim Seung K
Published: November 2013

Pancreatic islet β-cell insufficiency underlies pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus; thus, functional β-cell replacement from renewable sources is the focus of intensive worldwide effort. However, in vitro production of progeny that secrete insulin in response to physiological cues from primary human cells has proven elusive. Here we describe fractionation, expansion and conversion of primary adult human pancreatic ductal cells into progeny resembling native β-cells. FACS-sorted adult human ductal cells clonally expanded as spheres in culture, while retaining ductal characteristics. Expression of the cardinal islet developmental regulators Neurog3, MafA, Pdx1 and Pax6 converted exocrine duct cells into endocrine progeny with hallmark β-cell properties, including the ability to synthesize, process and store insulin, and secrete it in response to glucose or other depolarizing stimuli. These studies provide evidence that genetic reprogramming of expandable human pancreatic cells with defined factors may serve as a general strategy for islet replacement in diabetes.
Two Students Win AGU Scholarships
Authors: Howard Claire
Published: November 2013

AGU is pleased to announce the winners of two scholarships. Marc Neveu is the recipient of the 2013 David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship, which recognizes a student of the Earth sciences whose academic work exhibits interest and promise. Hima Hassenruck‐Gudipati is the 2013 recipient of the David E. Lumley Scholarship, which recognizes a high‐achieving student who is working on problems of global importance in the energy and environmental sectors of industry and academia.
Integrated Photo‐supercapacitor Based on Bi‐polar TiO2 Nanotube Arrays with Selective One‐Side Plasma‐Assisted Hydrogenation
Authors: Xu Jing , Wu Hui , Lu Linfeng , Leung Siu‐Fung , Chen Di , Chen Xiaoyuan , Fan Zhiyong , Shen Guozhen , Li Dongdong
Published: November 2013

One‐dimensional anodic titanium oxide (ATO) nanotube arrays hold great potential as electrode materials for both dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and electrochemical supercapacitors (SCs). In this work, a novel stack‐integrated photo‐supercapacitor (PSC) thin‐film device is presented, composed of a DSSC and a SC built on bi‐polar ATO nanotube arrays, where an improved SC performance is achieved through selective plasma‐assisted hydrogenation treatment. At a high current density of 1 mA/cm2 in charge/discharge measurements, the areal capacitance of selective hydrogenated ATO two‐electrode sub‐device is substantially increased ∼5.1 times, with the value as high as 1.100 mF/cm2. The optimized PSC exhibits a remarkable overall photoelectric conversion and storage efficiency up to 1.64%, with fast response and superior cycling capability for more than 100 photocharge/galvanostatic discharge cycles without any decay. To meet applicable demands with a larger output voltage, a tandem PSC system is constructed, serving as the self‐driven power source for an LED.
Gene Associated With Retinoid‐Interferon‐Induced Mortality 19 Attenuates Murine Autoimmune Arthritis by Regulation of Th17 and Treg Cells
Authors: Moon Young‐Mee , Lee Jennifer , Lee Seon‐Yeong , Her Yang‐Mi , Ryu Jun‐Geol , Kim Eun‐Kyung , Son Hea‐Jin , Kwok Seung‐Ki , Ju Ji Hyeon , Yang Chul‐Woo , Park Sung‐Hwan , Kim Ho‐Youn , Cho Mi‐La
Published: November 2013

Objective

STAT‐3 is a key transcriptional factor in the interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)–mediated differentiation of Th17 cells. Because Th17 is believed to be a central player in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we sought to evaluate whether an endogenous inhibitor of the STAT3 gene, GRIM‐19 (gene associated with retinoid–interferon–induced mortality 19), could attenuate the progression and severity of murine collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) through suppression of Th17 cells and, reciprocally, could increase expression of Treg cells.

Methods

Overexpression of GRIM‐19 was produced either by intravenous/intramuscular administration of a GRIM‐19 overexpression vector in DBA1/J mice or by development of GRIM‐19–transgenic (Tg) mice on a C57BL/6 background. Clinical signs were scored for arthritis severity, and mouse splenocytes, serum, and joint tissue were obtained for immunostaining and histologic analyses.

Results

The numbers of CD4+IL‐17+ cells and CD4+pSTAT3+ cells were decreased, while the numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells and CD4+pSTAT5+ cells were increased, in both GRIM‐19 vector–transfected and GRIM‐19–Tg mice. Administration of the GRIM‐19 overexpression vector into mice with CIA markedly suppressed the clinical and histologic signs of arthritis in the affected joints. Similarly, when CIA was induced in GRIM‐19–Tg mice, the arthritis phenotype was markedly attenuated and the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor α, and IL‐17) in the arthritic joints was also significantly reduced. Moreover, bone marrow–derived monocyte/macrophages obtained from GRIM‐19–Tg mice showed attenuated RANKL–induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro.

Conclusion

GRIM‐19 improved the clinical and histologic features of CIA and also inhibited osteoclast formation. These findings suggest that GRIM‐19 may be a novel treatment agent for RA.
Distinct Phenotype Clusters in Childhood Inflammatory Brain Diseases: Implications for Diagnostic Evaluation
Authors: Cellucci Tania , Tyrrell Pascal N. , Twilt Marinka , Sheikh Shehla , Benseler Susanne M.
Published: November 2013

Objective

To identify distinct clusters of children with inflammatory brain diseases based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging features at presentation, to assess which features contribute strongly to the development of clusters, and to compare additional features between the identified clusters.

Methods

A single‐center cohort study was performed with children who had been diagnosed as having an inflammatory brain disease between June 1, 1989 and December 31, 2010. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and histologic data at diagnosis were collected. K‐means cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters of patients based on their presenting features. Associations between the clusters and patient variables, such as diagnoses, were determined.

Results

A total of 147 children (50% female; median age 8.8 years) were identified: 105 with primary central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis, 11 with secondary CNS vasculitis, 8 with neuronal antibody syndromes, 6 with postinfectious syndromes, and 17 with other inflammatory brain diseases. Three distinct clusters were identified. Paresis and speech deficits were the most common presenting features in cluster 1. Children in cluster 2 were likely to present with behavior changes, cognitive dysfunction, and seizures, while those in cluster 3 experienced ataxia, vision abnormalities, and seizures. Lesions seen on T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery sequences of magnetic resonance imaging were common in all clusters, but unilateral ischemic lesions were more prominent in cluster 1. The clusters were associated with specific diagnoses and diagnostic test results.

Conclusion

Children with inflammatory brain diseases presented with distinct phenotypical patterns that are associated with specific diagnoses. This information may inform the development of a diagnostic classification of childhood inflammatory brain diseases and suggest that specific pathways of diagnostic evaluation are warranted.
Are elite journals declining?
Authors: Larivière Vincent , Lozano George A. , Gingras Yves
Published: November 2013

Previous research indicates that during the past 20 years, the highest‐quality work has been published in an increasingly diverse and larger group of journals. In this article, we examine whether this diversification has also affected the handful of elite journals that are traditionally considered to be the best. We examine citation patterns during the past 40 years of seven long‐standing traditionally elite journals and six journals that have been increasing in importance during the past 20 years. To be among the top 5% or 1% cited papers, papers now need about twice as many citations as they did 40 years ago. Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, elite journals have been publishing a decreasing proportion of these top‐cited papers. This also applies to the two journals that are typically considered as the top venues and often used as bibliometric indicators of “excellence”: Science and Nature. On the other hand, several new and established journals are publishing an increasing proportion of the most‐cited papers. These changes bring new challenges and opportunities for all parties. Journals can enact policies to increase or maintain their relative position in the journal hierarchy. Researchers now have the option to publish in more diverse venues knowing that their work can still reach the same audiences. Finally, evaluators and administrators need to know that although there will always be a certain prestige associated with publishing in “elite” journals, journal hierarchies are in constant flux.
Evidence for Interaction Between Markers in GABA(A) Receptor Subunit Genes in an Argentinean Autism Spectrum Disorder Population
Authors: Sesarini Carla V. , Costa Lucas , Naymark Muriel , Grañana Nora , Cajal Andrea R. , García Coto Miguel , Pallia Roberto C. , Argibay Pablo F.
Published: November 2013

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be conceptualized as a genetic dysfunction that disrupts development and function of brain circuits mediating social cognition and language. At least some forms of ASD may be associated with high level of excitation in neural circuits, and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been implicated in its etiology.

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) located within the GABA receptor (GABAR) subunit genes GABRA1, GABRG2, GABRB3, and GABRD were screened. A hundred and thirty‐six Argentinean ASD patients and 150 controls were studied, and the contribution of the SNPs in the etiology of ASD was evaluated independently and/or through gene–gene interaction using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method.

From the 18 SNP studied, 11 were not present in our Argentinean population (patients and controls) and 1 SNP had minor allele frequency < 0.1%. For the remaining six SNPs, none provided statistical significant association with ASD when considering allelic or genotypic frequencies. Non‐significant association with ASD was found for the haplotype analysis. MDR identified evidence for synergy between markers in GABRB3 (chromosome 15) and GABRD (chromosome 1), suggesting potential gene–gene interaction across chromosomes associated with increased risk for autism (testing balanced accuracy: 0.6081 and cross‐validation consistency: 10/10, P < 0.001).

Considering our Argentinean ASD sample, it can be inferred that GABRB3 would be involved in the etiology of autism through interaction with GABRD. These results support the hypothesis that GABAR subunit genes are involved in autism, most likely via complex gene–gene interactions. Autism Res 2014, 7: 162–166. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lipid evaluation of farmed and wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
Authors: Sinanoglou Vassilia J. , Proestos Charalampos , Lantzouraki Dimitra Z. , Calokerinos Antony C. , Miniadis‐Meimaroglou Sofia
Published: November 2013

Proximate, lipid, and fatty acid composition of farmed and wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius) muscle, head, skin, and liver, were comparatively studied. Distinct differences were evident in the lipid and fatty acid composition among different tissues of farmed and wild meagre. Total lipid content of the farmed fish parts was significantly higher than that of the wild fish. Neutral lipids, mainly triglycerides, predominated in muscle, head, and skin for both fish. The fact that muscle fat was found significantly lower in triglycerides (TG) concentration than head and skin indicates that muscle consumption after head and skin removal may contribute to a healthy diet. Wild fish muscle, head, and skin fat was found to have significant contribution to the phosphatidylcholine daily intake in the human diet. A. regius liver was also found to be an excellent source of glycerophospholipids. Fatty acid patterns of muscle, head and skin of farmed fish were found to be affected by the feed. MUFA/saturated fatty acid (SFA), PUFA/SFA, and DHA/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratios were found significantly higher in muscle, head, and skin TL of wild fish compared to the farmed one. Farmed fish muscle could provide similar amount of EPA + DHA and significantly higher amount of ω‐3 PUFA compared to wild fish muscle.

Practical applications: Argyrosomus regius is considered a promising fish species for aquaculture due to its tasty meat and great market acceptance in the Mediterranean countries. Hence it is important to determine its lipid and fatty acid content of both farmed and wild fish edible parts (muscle, head, and skin) for nutritional purposes. Remaining parts (such as liver) could still be interesting to analyze for possible use in other food or nutraceutical applications. Here we compare the distribution pattern of lipids and fatty acids of muscles, heads, skin, and liver in wild and farmed A. regius, fed a commercial diet. Furthermore, the present study is a novel comparison between cultured and wild fish species A. regius in terms of their proximate and fatty acid composition.
Development of a Benzimidazole‐Derived Bidentate P,N‐Ligand for Enantioselective Iridium‐Catalyzed Hydrogenations
Authors: Weemers Jarno J. M. , Sypaseuth Fanni D. , Bäuerlein Patrick S. , van der Graaff William N. P. , Filot Ivo A. W. , Lutz Martin , Müller Christian
Published: November 2013

The development of a novel benzimidazole‐derived bidentate P,N‐ligand and its application in Ir‐catalyzed hydrogenation is described. The ligand backbone was obtained through a one‐pot tandem hydroformylation–cyclization sequence and the enantiomers of the generated alcohol were separated by chiral HPLC. By comparing the experimentally obtained CD spectra of the enantiomers with the simulated spectra generated from time‐dependent DFT calculations, the absolute configuration could be obtained. The chiral alcohols could further be isolated on a larger scale after transesterification by using Candida Antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435) and could subsequently be converted into the corresponding chiral P,N‐ligand by reaction with ClPPh2. The coordination properties of the racemic P,N‐ligand were investigated and the molecular structure of the RhI complex [(P,N)Rh(CO)Cl] was determined by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. The corresponding chiral cationic IrI complex was used as catalyst for the enantioselective hydrogenation of prochiral N‐phenyl‐(1‐phenylethylidene)amine and trans‐α‐methylstilbene. For the N‐aryl‐substituted imine, enantiomeric excesses of only 10 % were obtained, whereas the unfunctionalized olefin could be hydrogenated with enantiomeric excesses of up to 90 %. Interestingly, the modular synthetic access to the P,N‐hybrid system described here allows facile modification of the ligand structure, which should extend the scope of such novel P,N‐ligands for asymmetric catalytic conversions to a large extent in the future.
A comparison of wetness indices for the prediction of observed connected saturated areas under contrasting conditions
Authors: Ali Geneviève , Birkel Christian , Tetzlaff Doerthe , Soulsby Chris , McDonnell Jeffrey J. , Tarolli Paolo
Published: November 2013

For lack of other widely available spatial information, topography is often used to predict water fluxes and water quality in mesoscale watersheds. Such data have however proven to be misleading in many environments where large and flat valley bottoms and/or highly conducive soil covers determine water storage and water transport mechanisms. Also, the focus is generally on the prediction of saturation areas regardless of whether they are connected to the catchment hydrographic network or rather present in isolated topographic depressions. Here soil information was coupled with terrain data towards the targeted prediction of connected saturated areas. The focus was on the 30 km2 Girnock catchment (Cairngorm Mountains, northeast Scotland) and its 3 km2 sub‐catchment, Bruntland Burn in which seven field surveys were done to capture actual maps of connected saturated areas in both dry and humid conditions. The 1 km2 resolution UK Hydrology of Soil Types (HOST) classification was used to extract relevant, spatially variable, soil parameters. Results show that connected saturated areas were fairly well predicted by wetness indices but only in wet conditions when they covered more than 30% of the whole catchment area. Geomorphic indices including information on terrain shape, steepness, aspect, soil texture and soil depth showed potential but generally performed poorly. Indices based on soil and topographic data did not have more predictive power than those based on topographic information only: this was attributed to the coarse resolution of the HOST classification. Nevertheless, analyses provided interesting insights into the scale‐dependent water storage and transport mechanisms in both study catchments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy identifies oncolytic adenovirus responders
Authors: Hemminki O. , Immonen R. , Närväinen J. , Kipar A. , Paasonen J. , Jokivarsi K.T. , Yli‐Ollila H. , Soininen P. , Partanen K. , Joensuu T. , Parvianen S. , Pesonen S.K. , Koski A. , Vähä‐Koskela M. , Cerullo V. , Pesonen S. , Gröhn O.H. , Hemminki A.
Published: November 2013

At present, it is not possible to reliably identify patients who will benefit from oncolytic virus treatments. Conventional modalities such as computed tomography (CT), which measure tumor size, are unreliable owing to inflammation‐induced tumor swelling. We hypothesized that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) might be useful in this regard. However, little previous data exist and neither oncolytic adenovirus nor immunocompetent models have been assessed by MRS. Here, we provide evidence that in T2‐weighted MRI a hypointense core area, consistent with coagulative necrosis, develops in immunocompetent Syrian hamster carcinomas that respond to oncolytic adenovirus treatment. The same phenomenon was observed in a neuroblastoma patient while he responded to the treatment. With relapse at a later stage, however, the tumor of this patient became moderately hyperintense. We found that MRS of taurine, choline and unsaturated fatty acids can be useful early indicators of response and provide detailed information about tumor growth and degeneration. In hamsters, calprotectin‐positive inflammatory cells (heterophils and macrophages) were found in abundance; particularly surrounding necrotic areas in carcinomas and T cells were significantly increased in sarcomas, when these had been treated with a granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐producing virus, suggesting a possible link between oncolysis, necrosis (seen as a hypointense core in MRI) and/or immune response. Our study indicates that both MRI and MRS could be useful in the estimation of oncolytic adenovirus efficacy at early time points after treatment.
Fluorescence quenching and time‐resolved fluorescence studies on Momordica Charantia (Bitter Gourd) seed lectin
Authors: Padma P. , Komath Sneha Sudha , Swamy Musti J.
Published: November 2013

Chemical modification studies implicated tryptophan (Trp) residues in the sugar binding activity of Momordica charantia lectin (MCL) [Mazumdar, T., Gaur, N. & Surolia, A. (1981) Eur. J. Biochem. 113, 463–470]. In the present study, the accessibility and environment of Trp residues in MCL were investigated by intrinsic fluorescence quenching and time‐resolved fluorescence. The emission λmm of native MCL in the absence as well as in the presence of 0.1 M lactose was around 335nm, which shifted to 365nm in the presence of 8 M urea, suggesting that the Trp residues which are predominantly buried in the hydrophobic core of the native lectin get exposed to the aqueous environment upon denaturation. At a quencher concentration of 0.5 M, the extent of quenching observed for the native MCL with acrylamide, I and Cs+ was 46%, 17% and 12%, respectively. In the presence of 0.1 M lactose this quenching was smaller, suggesting that the sugar ligand provides a partial protection to the Trp residues. In time‐resolved fluorescence measurements, the decay curves could be fitted well to a biexponential function with the estimated life times 0.92 ns and 4.64 ns for the native protein and 1.15 ns and 5.1 ns in the presence of 0.1 M lactose. All these results are consistent with the involvement of Trp residues in the sugar‐binding activity of MCL.
The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives Are Excelling as Leaders … and What Every Manager Needs to Know
Authors: Stein Irene F.
Published: November 2013

By Kirk Snyder

San Francisco, CA: Jossey‐Bass, 2006. 240 pp. ISBN 978‐1‐118‐43898‐5. $24.95

Reviewed by Irene F. Stein, PhD
MRI analysis of cerebellar and vestibular developmental phenotypes in Gbx2 conditional knockout mice
Authors: Szulc Kamila U. , Nieman Brian J. , Houston Edward J. , Bartelle Benjamin B. , Lerch Jason P. , Joyner Alexandra L. , Turnbull Daniel H.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

Our aim in this study was to apply three‐dimensional MRI methods to analyze early postnatal morphological phenotypes in a Gbx2 conditional knockout (Gbx2‐CKO) mouse that has variable midline deletions in the central cerebellum, reminiscent of many human cerebellar hypoplasia syndromes.

Methods

In vivo three‐dimensional manganese‐enhanced MRI at 100‐µm isotropic resolution was used to visualize mouse brains between postnatal days 3 and 11, when cerebellum morphology undergoes dramatic changes. Deformation‐based morphometry and volumetric analysis of manganese‐enhanced MRI images were used to, respectively, detect and quantify morphological phenotypes in Gbx2‐CKO mice. Ex vivo micro‐MRI was performed after perfusion‐fixation with supplemented gadolinium for higher resolution (50‐µm) analysis.

Results

In vivo manganese‐enhanced MRI and deformation‐based morphometry correctly identified known cerebellar defects in Gbx2‐CKO mice, and novel phenotypes were discovered in the deep cerebellar nuclei and the vestibulo‐cerebellum, both validated using histology. Ex vivo micro‐MRI revealed subtle phenotypes in both the vestibulo‐cerebellum and the vestibulo‐cochlear organ, providing an interesting example of complementary phenotypes in a sensory organ and its associated brain region.

Conclusion

These results show the potential of three‐dimensional MRI for detecting and analyzing developmental defects in mouse models of neurodevelopmental diseases. Magn Reson Med 70:1707–1717, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variational formulation of rate‐ and state‐dependent friction problems
Authors: Pipping Elias , Sander Oliver , Kornhuber Ralf
Published: November 2013

We propose a variational formulation of rate‐ and state‐dependent models for the dynamic sliding of a linearly elastic block on a rigid surface in terms of two coupled variational inequalities. Classical Dieterich–Ruina models are covered as special cases. We show existence and uniqueness of solutions for the two spatial subproblems arising from time discretisation. Existence of solutions to the coupled spatial problems is established for Dieterich's state equation through a fixed point argument. We conclude with some numerical experiments that suggest mesh independent convergence of the underlying fixed point iteration, and illustrate quasiperiodic occurrence of stick/slip events.
Actinidin from kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosacv. Hayward) increases the digestion and rate of gastric emptying of meat proteins in the growing pig
Authors: Montoya Carlos A. , Rutherfurd Shane M. , Olson Trent D. , Purba Ajitpal S. , Drummond Lynley N. , Boland Mike J. , Moughan Paul J.
Published: November 2013

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary actinidin on the kinetics of gastric digestion of beef muscle proteins and on the rate of stomach emptying in growing pigs. For this purpose, 120 pigs (mean body weight 28 (sd2·9) kg) were fed beef muscle protein-based diets containing either actinidin (fresh green kiwifruit pulp or gold kiwifruit pulp supplemented with purified actinidin) or no actinidin (fresh gold kiwifruit pulp or green kiwifruit pulp with inactivated actinidin). Additionally, fifteen pigs were fed with a protein-free diet to determine the endogenous protein flow. Pigs were euthanised at exactly 0·5, 1, 3, 5 and 7 h postprandially (n6 per time point for each kiwifruit diet andn3 for protein-free diet). Stomach chyme was collected for measuring gastric retention, actinidin activity, individual beef muscle protein digestion based on SDS–PAGE and the degree of hydrolysis based on the appearance of free amino groups. The stomach emptying of DM and N was faster when actinidin was present in the diet (P< 0·05): the half gastric emptying time of DM was 137v. 172 min ( ± 7·4 min pooled standard error) for the diets with and without actinidin, respectively. The presence of dietary actinidin in the stomach chyme increased the digestion of beef muscle protein (P< 0·05) and, more specifically, those proteins with a high molecular weight (>34 kDa;P< 0·05). In conclusion, dietary actinidin fed in the form of fresh green kiwifruit increased the rate of gastric emptying and the digestion of several beef muscle proteins.
COMPARISONS OF SERIES AND PARALLEL SYSTEMS WITH HETEROGENEOUS COMPONENTS
Authors: Ding Weiyong , Da Gaofeng , Li Xiaohu
Published: November 2013

This paper carries out stochastic comparisons of series and parallel systems with independent and heterogeneous components in the sense of the hazard rate order, the reversed hazard rate order, and the likelihood ratio order. The main results extend and strengthen the corresponding ones by Misra and Misra [18] and by Ding, Zhang, and Zhao [8]. Meanwhile, the results on the hazard rate order of parallel systems and the reversed hazard order of series systems serve as nice supplements to Theorem 16.B.1 of Boland and Proschan [4] and Theorem 3.2 of Nanda and Shaked [20], respectively.
An Overview of Recent Research in Mainland Greece
Authors: Archibald Zosia
Published: November 2013

The selection of sites below reflects some of the most distinctive additions of 2012, arranged according to a number of themes, which reflect a dominant and continuing interest in sites that illuminate the urban and civic characteristics of archaeological locations in mainland Greece.

Among the important discoveries of 2012 was the prehistoric stone pile and chamber tomb cut into bedrock at the Early Helladic cemetery of Asteria (ID3306), near Glyphada, Attica, which is discussed by David Smith below. The tomb was repeatedly reused: it contained one strongly contracted skeleton in front of the door and a pile of bones in the east half of the chamber representing at least 20 individuals (17 adults and three children). M. Pantelidou Gofa (ASA) reports on the 2012 season at Tsepi, Marathon, where a new deposit was investigated outside tomb 39, as well as two new tombs, 56 and 58 (ID3311), noting that Tomb 56 has all the known characteristics of the Tsepi tombs: rectangular with a built chamber, walls and threshold.

In the Athenian Agora, investigations continued in 2012 of the Hellenistic and Classical road levels of the Panathenaic Way. John Camp reports the following on behalf of the ASCSA (ID2893, cf. ID2471).
Effects of mGluR6-deficiency on photoreceptor ribbon synapse formation: Comparison of electron microscopic analysis of serial sections with random sections
Authors: TSUKAMOTO YOSHIHIKO , OMI NAOKO
Published: November 2013

This study examined the effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (mGluR6) deficiency on ribbon synapse formation in rod spherules and cone pedicles using serial-section electron microscopy. In a wild-type (WT) mouse, only 3% of spherules had one invaginating bipolar dendrite (1B-type) and 97% of spherules were 2B-type. In contrast, in an mGluR6-knockout (KO) mouse, 29% of spherules were 1B-type and 71% of spherules were 2B-type. Spherules without bipolar invagination were not observed in either genotype. The single invaginating dendrites in 1B-type spherules were larger and the surface areas of synaptic ribbons were 23% smaller in the mGluR6-KO mouse than in the WT mouse. In cones, the number of invaginating bipolar dendrites decreased from 12 in the WT mouse to 9.5 in the mGluR6-KO mouse. This decrease correlated with a decrease in the number of cone synaptic ribbons from 10 in the WT mouse to 8 in the mGluR6-KO mouse. The mGluR6-KO phenotype showed negative effects on ribbon synapse formation. This negativity was similar to those in mGluR6-nob4, Gβ3-KO, Gβ5-KO, and RGS-7:RGS-11 double-KO mice, but the detailed manners and degrees of alterations appeared to vary depending on different missing components. Two published morphological assessments of the RGS-7:RGS-11 double-KO phenotype reported conflicting data; therefore, we tested the statistical techniques used in the two analyses. One statistical evaluation measure was effective in identifying a significant difference in structure between the mutant and WT phenotypes, whereas the other measure was ineffective. Conventional random section analysis using the effective measure provided sufficient data for a statistical test of the occurrence of structural changes. However, serial section analysis was required to determine the absolute numbers of ribbons and invaginating dendrites and to estimate structural parameters such as ribbon surface area.
LawSync: Collaboration in Action
Authors: Griffith Peter , Smith Pete
Published: November 2013

A presentation about collaboration, itself the product of a collaboration, looking at a collaborative project as an example of the value of people from different teams working together! That was Peter Griffith and Pete Smith at the BIALL Conference 2014 in Glasgow, a conference which took as its theme ‘law as a business.’ They discuss the challenges with reference to the LawSync project.
Quantum Limit of Quality Factor in Silicon Micro and Nano Mechanical Resonators
Authors: Ghaffari Shirin , Chandorkar Saurabh A. , Wang Shasha , Ng Eldwin J. , Ahn Chae H. , Hong Vu , Yang Yushi , Kenny Thomas W.
Published: November 2013

Micromechanical resonators are promising replacements for quartz crystals for timing and frequency references owing to potential for compactness, integrability with CMOS fabrication processes, low cost and low power consumption. To be used in high performance reference application, resonators should obtain a high quality factor. The limit of the quality factor achieved by a resonator is set by the material properties, geometry and operating condition. Some recent resonators properly designed for exploiting bulk-acoustic resonance have been demonstrated to operate close to the quantum mechanical limit for the quality factor and frequency product (Q-f). Here, we describe the physics that gives rise to the quantum limit to the Q-f product, explain design strategies for minimizing other dissipation sources and present new results from several different resonators that approach the limit.
Binuclear ruthenium η6-arene complexes with tetradentate N,S-ligands containing the ortho-aminothiophenol motif
Authors: Acosta-Ramirez Alberto , Cross Edward D. , McDonald Robert , Bierenstiel Matthias
Published: November 2013

Xylylene bridged N2S2-ligands are an excellent ligand platform for tunable metal–metal distances in hinged binuclear p-cymene ruthenium complexes.
A 3D easily-assembled Micro-Cross for droplet generation
Authors: Wu Ping , Wang Yong , Luo Zhaofeng , Li Yuting , Li Minfei , He Liqun
Published: November 2013

We present a cheap, high pressure-resisting and easily-assembled device to produce micro W/O or O/W droplets at a high frequency.
Interactions between quantum dots and dopamine coupled via a peptide bridge
Authors: Qin Lixia , Ji Congcong , He Luwei , Li Xiangqing , Kang Shizhao , Mu Jin
Published: November 2013

DA–CDGR efficiently quenched the fluorescence of CdSe/ZnS QDs and the fluorescence intensity of DA–CDGR–QDs system was restored by trypsin activity.
Origin and spectral degradation of the photoluminescence from a-SiOx
Authors: Kistner J. , Schubert M. B.
Published: November 2013

This paper reports for the first time on a spectral degradation of photoluminescence from a-SiOx that occurs due to the storage of the samples in ambient atmosphere. The spectra of samples with an initial emission peak EPL,ini > 2.16 eV shift to lower energies. The degraded spectra have a common maximum at EPL,deg ≈ 2.16 eV. In the spectra of samples with EPL,ini < 2.16 eV, a high-energetic shoulder around EPL ≈ 2.16 eV develops. The initial photoluminescence spectra result from radiative recombination between tail states. The degraded luminescence is dominated by two effects. On the one hand, band tail luminescence still occurs. On the other hand, the prevalent emission around EPL,deg ≈ 2.16 eV originates from recombination attributed to Si = O bonds.
Feasibility study of electron transfer quantum well infrared photodetectors for spectral tuning in the long-wave infrared band
Authors: Jolley Greg , Dehdashti Akhavan Nima , Umana-Membreno Gilberto , Antoszewski Jarek , Faraone Lorenzo
Published: November 2013

An electron transfer quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) consisting of repeating units of two coupled quantum wells (QWs) is capable of exhibiting a two color voltage dependent spectral response. However, significant electron transfer between the coupled QWs is required for spectral tuning, which may require the application of relatively high electric fields. Also, the band structure of coupled quantum wells is more complicated in comparison to a regular quantum well and, therefore, it is not always obvious if an electron transfer QWIP can be designed such that it meets specific performance characteristics. This paper presents a feasibility study of the electron transfer QWIP and its suitability for spectral tuning. Self consistent calculations have been performed of the bandstructure and the electric field that results from electron population within the quantum wells, from which the optical characteristics have been obtained. The band structure, spectral response, and the resonant final state energy locations have been compared with standard QWIPs. It is shown that spectral tuning in the long-wave infrared band can be achieved over a wide wavelength range of several microns while maintaining a relatively narrow spectral response FWHM. However, the total absorption strength is more limited in comparison to a standard QWIP, since the higher QW doping densities require much higher electric fields for electron transfer.
Non-ultraviolet-based patterning of polymer structures by optically induced electrohydrodynamic instability
Authors: Wang Feifei , Yu Haibo , Liu Na , Mai John D. , Liu Lianqing , Lee Gwo-Bin , Jung Li Wen
Published: November 2013

We report here an approach to rapidly construct organized formations of micron-scale pillars from a thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film by optically induced electrohydrodynamic instability (OEHI). In OEHI, a heterogeneous electric field is induced across two thin fluidic layers by stimulating a photoconductive thin film in a parallel-plate capacitor configuration with visible light. We demonstrated that this OEHI method could control nucleation sites of pillars formed by electrohydrodynamic instability. To investigate this phenomenon, a tangential electric force component is assumed to have arisen from the surface polarization charge and is introduced into the traditional perfect dielectric model for PDMS films. Numerical simulation results showed that this tangential electric force played an important role in OEHI.
Density of states for Gaussian unitary ensemble, Gaussian orthogonal ensemble, and interpolating ensembles through supersymmetric approach
Authors: Shamis Mira
Published: November 2013

We use the supersymmetric formalism to derive an integral formula for the density of states of the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble, and then apply saddle-point analysis to give a new derivation of the 1/N-correction to Wigner's law. This extends the work of Disertori on the Gaussian Unitary Ensemble. We also apply our method to the interpolating ensembles of Mehta–Pandey.
New method for measuring time-resolved spectra of lanthanide emission using square-wave excitation
Authors: Qin Feng , Zhao Hua , Duan Qianqian , Cai Wei , Zhang Zhiguo , Cao Wenwu
Published: November 2013

A method using modulated continuous wave (CW) visible laser to measure time-resolved fluorescence spectra of trivalent rare-earth ions has been developed. Electro-optic modulator was used to modulate the CW pumping laser with a rise time of 2 μs. CW Nd3+ lasers were used as examples to present the method. Upconversion dynamic process of Ho3+ was studied utilizing a 532 nm CW laser. Quantum cutting dynamic process from Tb3+ to Yb3+ was analyzed by a 473 nm CW laser. This method can be applied to any CW laser such as He-Ne laser, Ar+ laser, Kr+ laser, Ti:sapphire laser, etc.