bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crop Plants: Evolution
Authors: Hancock James F , Miller Allison J
Published: April 2014

Agriculture arose independently in several locations across the world, beginning approximately 13 000 years ago in the Near East. All crop plants originated from wild plant populations. At the beginning of the domestication process, a number of changes began to appear in the genetic and physiological makeup of many crop species. Some of these changes were due to conscious selection such as increases in palatability and colour, but many of the others were the unconscious byproduct of planting and harvesting. Changes in crop species during domestication were gradual, likely taking thousands of years. Many of the traits associated with plant domestication are regulated by only a few genes, and in many cases these genes have pleiotropic effects, where they affect a number of traits simultaneously. Many of the genes associated with domestication are also clustered close together on the same chromosome. The process of domestication severely limited the amount of genetic variation in crop species.

Key Concepts:

The most potent force influencing variation in cultivated populations is artificial selection, a specialised case of directional selection with humans acting as the agents of selection.

The morphology and physiology of crop species were gradually changed through both conscious and unconscious selection by humans.

Many of the traits associated with plant domestication are regulated by only a few genes that are close together on chromosomes.

A high percentage of crop species are polyploid, with more than one set of chromosomes.

Agriculture probably first emerged in the hills above the Tigris River on the western edge of what is now called Iran approximately 13 000 years ago, but it also appeared independently in Mesoamerica, South America, China, Africa, Asia and Eastern North America.

Until recently, it was thought that once humans began cultivation, selection for the domestication genes would be rapid; however, new archaeological evidence indicates that predomestication cultivation may have actually taken 1000 years.

During the process of crop domestication, genetic variability was greatly restricted by the selection of a limited number of desirable individuals.
Cystic Fibrosis: Gene Therapy
Authors: Sumner‐Jones Stephanie G , Gill Deborah R
Published: April 2014

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations of theCFTRgene, which encodes a member of the adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette superfamily of transmembrane proteins. CFTR normally acts as a cyclic adenosine monophosphate‐activated chloride channel and as a regulator of other ion channels. The main cause of morbidity and mortality is the effect of CFTR dysfunction on the lung, which reduces life expectancy of CF patients (current median approximately 40 years according to UK and US national patient registries). There has been some progress in the identification of pharmacological agents that can correct the CFTR defect in patients carrying some classes of mutation, but with nearly 2000 different disease‐causing mutations reported, gene therapy remains the most likely option for the amelioration of lung disease in the majority of CF sufferers. The progress achieved and the hurdles identified as a result of the clinical trials of gene therapy vectors in CF patients are reviewed.

Key Concepts:

CF is a monogenic recessive disease with an incidence of 1:2500 in populations of Caucasian descent in particular, caused by mutations in theCFTRgene.

It is a life‐limiting condition and disease management involves a heavy therapeutic burden with no definitive cure.

Disruption of theCFTRgene leads to incorrect or insufficient transport of chloride ions across the epithelial cells of the body with a range of consequences in different organs, crucially inadequate clearance of bacteria from the lungs due to ineffective mucociliary clearance, resulting in progressive fibrosis and clogging of the lung with mucus, and eventually respiratory failure.

Discovery of the genetic basis for CF quickly led to evaluation of gene therapy as a therapeutic option, with a range of viral and nonviral vectors.

Although the vectors tested showed some efficacy in terms of correcting the fundamental chloride transport defect, no CF gene therapy trial has so far been able to demonstrate long‐term clinical improvement.
DNA
Damage Response: From Tumourigenesis to Therapy
Authors: Bain Amanda L , Mastrocola Adam S , Tibbetts Randal S , Khanna Kum Kum
Published: April 2014

The
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
damage response (DDR) pathway is a surveillance network, whereby lesions are eliminated from DNA to ensure genomic integrity. The DDR detects aberrant DNA and chromosomal structures and elicits a multifaceted response network to coordinate multiple cellular processes, including regulation of the cell cycle, DNA repair, replication and, under certain circumstances, the triggering of programmed cell death. However, when the DDR is dysregulated, genomic integrity is not ensured, which may lead to tumourigenesis. Paradoxically, although genomic instability is a hallmark of many cancers, many conventional cancer treatments elicit the generation of additional DNA damage to exploit inherent DDR faults present in tumour cells. In addition, new‐targeted DDR inhibitors are currently being developed to enhance therapeutic indexes, including those that are synthetically lethal in particular tumour cell types, providing exciting new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. The challenge is how to identify the patients most receptive to these treatments.

Key Concepts:

Genome stability is critical to prevent tumourigenesis.

Cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair exist to prevent faulty genetic information from passing onto daughter cells.

Many cancer types exhibit defective DNA repair pathways.

DNA repair is an ideal therapeutic target for cancer.

Cancers exhibit multiple chromosomal alterations.

Inherited mutations in DNA repair genes can cause chromosomal instability disorders.
Stochastic and Deterministic Decision in Cell Fate
Authors: Menn David J , Wang Xiao
Published: April 2014

From bacteria to mammals, individual cells from an isogenic population are able to assume roles resulting in phenotypic heterogeneity. The mechanisms used to make these cell fate decisions range from highly deterministic to essentially random. This wide range of behaviour springs from the interplay of intracellular molecular kinetics, the topologies of underlying gene regulator networks, epigenetic control mechanisms and cell–environment interactions. Cells utilise these factors to implement differentiation strategies such as developmental rigidity, which ensures the development of key structures in multicellular organisms, and bet hedging, the introduction of nongenetic variability to promote population fitness. Because decision‐making genes in natural systems are integrated with myriad other pathways, they can be difficult to study on their own. Synthetic biology offers a means to study cell differentiation
in vivo
in a manner separated from normal cellular functions.

Key Concepts:

Gene expression is an inherently stochastic process.

Despite stochastic gene expression, differentiation can proceed deterministically.

Other cell fate decisions are random due to stochastic gene expression.

Gene network topologies are employed to attenuate or increase the effects of noise.

The field of synthetic biology is uniquely suited for exploring the complex interactions that inform cell decisions.
Genetic Influences on Male Homosexuality
Authors: Camperio Ciani Andrea S
Published: April 2014

Sexual orientation, identity and desire is the final product of complex interactions between factors such as genetic influences, epigenetic, developmental pathways, both prenatal such as sex hormones, including the maternal factors acting on the foetus, and postnatal factors including shared environmental influences such as family education, social and cultural influences, and nonshared environmental influence such as unique personal experiences. Male homosexuality poses an evolutionary dilemma as it entails reduced fitness but is nevertheless, in part, influenced by genetic factors. Examining the causes of homosexuality the author investigates the Darwinian dilemma as to why genetic factors that influence homosexual nonreproductive behaviour can be maintained in the population without disappearing as expected. Sexually antagonistic selection can explain male homosexuality. A sexually antagonistic model with genetic factors partially linked to X chromosome by increasing fecundity in females and influencing homosexuality in males could be selectively balanced in the population and explain all the peculiarity of male homosexuality.

Key Concepts:

Homosexuality is a volatile concept that varies with culture, history and traditions. Besides a difficulty in its definition even assessing its distribution across populations poses problems of reliability still unresolved. Basically, we still cannot claim that we know the actual distribution of human homosexuality.

The homosexual phenotype is a complex set of emotion, behaviour and feelings influenced by a multiplicity of factors, environmental, developmental and genetic. The search of a single cause to explain the whole complexity of human homosexual phenotype seems arrived to an end.

In homosexuals, genetic influence interacts with a multitude of environmental, familiar, early experiences or prenatal effects such as hormonal influences, stress or immune reactions by the mother, and other biological factors such as genomic, zygotic drive and epigenetics.

Kin selection and avuncularity is a possibility that could compensate for the reduced fecundity of homosexuals, but most researches did not find any evidence of specific homosexual behaviour in modern society, which could promote close kin fecundity.

The partial influence of genetic factors on homosexuality poses an interesting Darwinian conundrum which might be resolved by a sexually antagonistic selection mechanism.

A sexually antagonistic selection mechanism suggests that the reduced fecundity of male homosexuals is balanced by the effect of the same genetic factors that promote fecundity in the maternal line females, thus balancing the effects on fitness and maintaining male homosexuality in the population.
Changing Building Sites: Industrialisation and Automation of the Building Process
Authors: Bock Thomas , Langenberg Silke
Published: April 2014

The introduction of robotics in construction is part of a much longer history of industrialisation and automation on the building site. Thomas Bock of the Technical University of Munich and Silke Langenberg of the University of Applied Sciences, Munich, highlight how the Industrial Revolution and the development of a transport infrastructure in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe first triggered the shift in the building trade from a largely localised industry into a national and mechanised one, leading to the highly advanced automated construction techniques that continue to be developed in Japan and other Asian countries to this day.
In‐Situ Fabrication: Mobile Robotic Units on Construction Sites
Authors: Helm Volker
Published: April 2014

Enabling the robotic fabrication of building elements directly on a construction site, in‐situ fabrication is a radical and novel approach to the application of digital fabrication in architecture. Volker Helm of ETH Zurich describes how an on‐site unit, developed with Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler in the Architecture and Digital Fabrication department at the university, offers the first‐ever generic robot with applications in a wide range of processes, providing the means of investigating the requirements and capacities involved in non‐standardised fabrication.
Machines for Rent: Experiments by New‐Territories
Authors: Roche François , Lacadée Camille
Published: April 2014

Robots have captured the popular imagination like no other technology, fuelling science‐fiction narratives in novels, art and film. Here, in a text by François Roche and Camille Lacadée of New‐Territories, ‘Machines for Rent’ are explored as a phenomenon that inhabits its own visionary realm, becoming a fertile field for experimentation. These fantastical mechanical creatures are visualised in exquisite drawings by François Roche and Stephan Henrich of New‐Territories.
Low Temperature Processing of Reaction‐Bonded Boron Carbide Composites
Authors: Frage Nachum , Hayun Shmuel , Dilman Helen , Dariel Moshe P.
Published: April 2014

The present paper is concerned with the fabrication of fully dense B4C‐Mg, B4C‐AZ91 alloy, and B4C‐Mg,Si (eutectic) composites at a significantly lower (750–1000 °C) temperature range. The key feature of the novel approach is based on the Mg‐vapor atmosphere, under which the infiltration process is carried out. This approach has also been used to fabricate B4C‐Al composites at a low temperature. The microstructure and the mechanical properties of the composites are described and discussed. It was concluded that the formation of the deleterious aluminum carbide (Al4C3) depends on the presence of free carbon in the boron carbide powders. The suggested approach for low temperature fabrication of reaction bonded composites under Mg vapor can be further expanded to other boride and carbide phases.
Dynamic Electrochemical Membranes for Continuous Affinity Protein Separation
Authors: Chen Zhiqiang , Chen Tao , Sun Xinghua , Hinds Bruce. J.
Published: April 2014

A membrane system with nanometer‐scale thick electrodes is able to selectively bind genetically modified proteins and pump them across the membrane with sequential voltage pulses. The electrodes are located at the first 20 nm of pore entrances to specifically capture targeted proteins and block non‐specific protein transport through the pores during the binding cycle. During the release cycle, concentration of imidazole is controlled to keep the pore blocked while releasing proteins at the bottom edge of the electrode. A separation factor for GFP:BSA of 16 was achieved with observed GFP electrophoretic mobility of 2.54 × 10−6 cm2 V−1 s−1. This non‐optimized system with a membrane area of 0.75 cm2 has the same throughput as 1 mL of commercially available chromatography columns showing viability as a continuous process. This system will enable continuous separation of expressed proteins directly from fermentation broths dramatically simplifying the separation process as well as reducing bio‐pharmaceutical production costs.
Photocatalytic Evidence of the Rutile‐to‐Anatase Electron Transfer in Titania
Authors: Quesada‐Cabrera Raul , Sotelo‐Vazquez Carlos , Bear Joseph C. , Darr Jawwad A. , Parkin Ivan P.
Published: April 2014

Layered anatase‐rutile titania thin‐films were synthesized via atmospheric‐pressure chemical vapor deposition and characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The interposition of an amorphous TiO2‐based interlayer allowed direct vapor deposition of anatase on a rutile substrate, which is otherwise hindered by templating. This resourceful approach and the subsequent crystallization of the amorphous layer after annealing of the films allowed investigation on the impact of an efficient interface of the two anatase‐rutile phases in the photodegradation of a model organic pollutant. Clear evidence is presented on the synergy between the two polymorphs and more importantly, on the charge flow across the interface, which, against much conventional understanding, it involves electron transfer from rutile to anatase and is in agreement with a recent theoretical model and electron paramagnetic resonance data. Here, an increasing density of trapped electrons on the anatase surface of the A/R film is confirmed by photoreduction of silver. This observation is attributed to a defect‐free efficient contact between the two phases and the presence of small rutile particles that promote rapid electron transfer at the A‐R interface of the films.
Nucleophilic Reactivity of a Copper(II)–Superoxide Complex
Authors: Pirovano Paolo , Magherusan Adriana M. , McGlynn Ciara , Ure Andrew , Lynes Amy , McDonald Aidan R.
Published: April 2014

Metal‐bound superoxide intermediates are often implicated as electrophilic oxidants in dioxygen‐activating metalloenzymes. In the nonheme iron α‐ketoglutarate dependent oxygenases and pterin‐dependent hydroxylases, however, FeIII–superoxide intermediates are postulated to react by nucleophilic attack on electrophilic carbon atoms. By reacting a CuII–superoxide complex (1) with acyl chloride substrates, we have found that a metal–superoxide complex can be a very reactive nucleophile. Furthermore, 1 was found to be an efficient nucleophilic deformylating reagent, capable of Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of a number of aldehyde substrates. The observed nucleophilic chemistry represents a new domain for metal–superoxide reactivity. Our observations provide support for the postulated role of metal–superoxide intermediates in nonheme iron α‐ketoglutarate dependent and pterin‐dependent enzymes.
Aza[6]helicene Platinum Complexes: Chirality Control of cis–trans Isomerism
Authors: Mendola Daniele , Saleh Nidal , Vanthuyne Nicolas , Roussel Christian , Toupet Loïc , Castiglione Franca , Caronna Tullio , Mele Andrea , Crassous Jeanne
Published: April 2014

It was serendipitously observed that cis‐[PtCl2(NCEt)PPh3] reacted differently with either racemic or enantiopure 4‐aza[6]helicene, giving respectively cis (racemic) and trans (enantiopure) [PtIICl2(4‐aza[6]helicene)PPh3] complexes. This unexpected reactivity is explained through a dynamic process (crystallization‐induced diastereoselective transformation) and enables a new aspect of reactivity in chiral transition‐metal complexes to be addressed.
Enhancing the air impermeability of a biobased poly(di‐isoamyl itaconate‐co‐isoprene) elastomer via the cocoagulation of latex and natural layered silicates
Authors: Yao Hui , Qiao He , Xing Qingyu , Gao Ning , Chu Junfeng , Zhang Liqun , Hua Kuo‐Chih , Kulig Joseph , Wang Runguo
Published: April 2014

The gas‐barrier properties of elastomer are of particular importance, especially for airtight applications. Poly(di‐isoamyl itaconate‐co‐isoprene) (PDII) is a newly invented and respectable biobased elastomer, but the barrier properties of PDII and its composites with carbon black and silica are not satisfying at all. Because there are abundant ester groups in PDII macromolecules and these groups can contribute to the homogeneous dispersion of layer silicates, we applied layered silicates, including montmorillonite (MMT) and rectorite (REC), into the PDII matrix to improve the air impermeability. MMT/PDII and REC/PDII composites were prepared by a cocoagulation method, and the air impermeability of the PDII elastomer was highly improved. The smallest gas permeability index reached 1.7 × 10−17 m2 Pa−1 s−1 at an REC content of 80 phr; this implied a reduction of 85.5%. A comparison of the two types of silicate/PDII composites showed that the MMT/PDII composites had better properties at low filler contents, whereas the REC/PDII composites had better mechanical and gas‐barrier properties at high filler contents. Other structures and properties of the composites were investigated by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical rheology. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40682.
Conductive polymer‐coated mesh films with tunable surface wettability for separation of oils and organics from water
Authors: An Jin , Cui Jin‐Feng , Zhu Zhao‐Qi , Liang Wei‐Dong , Pei Chun‐Juan , Sun Han‐Xue , Yang Bao‐Ping , Li An
Published: April 2014

Here, we reported the preparation of hydrophobic mesh films by coating conductive polymers including polyaniline and polypyrrole (PPy) onto stainless steel grid through a simple electrodepositing process by combination with modification of hydrophobic materials. The hydrophobic mesh films can be used for continual separation of oils and organics from water with high selectivity. Furthermore, mesh film with reversible switching wettability from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity can be obtained by electrodepositing of PPy in the presence of perfluorooctanesulfonate dopants at different electric potential, which makes it possible to prepare functional mesh materials with remotely controllable surface wettability for selective absorption and purification. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40759.
Blends of poly(d,l‐lactide) with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes‐based biodegradable polyester: Synthesis, morphology, miscibility, and mechanical property
Authors: Wang Tianqiang , Ding Jing , Li Jiamin , Liu Yu , Hao Jianyuan
Published: April 2014

A highly branched hybrid copolymer based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was designed to improve the brittleness of poly(d,l‐lactide) (PDLLA). The toughening material was synthesized using POSS‐OH as the core, which initiated the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and d,l‐lactide sequentially to form the highly branched POSS‐g‐poly (ε‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(d,l‐lactide) (POSS‐g‐PCL‐b‐PLA) copolymer with eight PCL‐b‐PLA arms. The POSS‐g‐PCL‐b‐PLA copolymer had a very good dispersion in the PDLLA matrix with the size of microdomains smaller than 1 µm when added at a low content below 10 wt %. In related to the nano‐scale size of microdomains in the blends, the crystallinity of PCL blocks was significantly suppressed. Thus, the addition of POSS‐g‐PCL‐b‐PLA is very effective to improve the roughness of the matrix polymer when added at a low content. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40776.
Processing of multilayered filament composites by melt blown spinning
Authors: Hassounah Ibrahim A. , Rowland William C. , Sparks Stephanie A. , Orler Edward B. , Joseph Eugene G. , Camelio Jaime A , Mahajan Roop L.
Published: April 2014

Newly designed layer multiplying blocks are introduced in the process line of a melt blown spinning machine. The layer multiplying blocks have the capability to produce filament composites up to 1025 layers. Multilayer filament composites of polypropylene (PP) with poly(caprolactone) (PCL), a water soluble polyester or poly(l‐lactic acid) are successfully produced in the form of nonwovens. Selected samples of PP/PCL are delaminated using the following methods: semi‐crystalline PP/PCL samples are soaked in chloroform and agitated, and amorphous PP/PCL samples are subjected to mechanical stress in the axial spinning direction. Results show the possibility to create thin ribbons with extremely high surface area. The produced nonwovens and ribbons are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and by differential scanning calorimetry. The extremely high surface area ribbons can be applied in different fields where high surface area is required, such as filtration, energy applications, catalysis, or tissue engineering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40786.
Novel electrically conducting polyurethanes with oligoanilines: Synthesis, conductivity, and electrochemical properties
Authors: Arukula Ravi , Thota Appa Rao , Rao Chepuri R. K. , Narayan Ramanuj , Sreedhar B.
Published: April 2014

New class of conducting polyurethanes (CPUs) containing oligoanilines, namely tetraaniline (TAni) or trianiline (TriAni), in the backbone have been synthesized and characterized by formal spectral techniques. The unique properties of these CPUs, viz., electronic conductivity and electrochemical activity arising from the presence of oligoaniline units have been evaluated. The basic polyurethane backbone is derived from toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate or hexamethylene diisocyanate, and polypropylene glycols of molecular weight 425 and 2000. In the first category of polyurethanes, the prepolymers obtained from the above reactants were chain terminated by TAni in emeraldine base oxidation state. The conductivity of these CPUs films ranged from 1.2 × 10−5 to 1.77 × 10−3 S cm−1. These polymers showed lower conductivity due to the presence of nonconjugated polyurethane segments. These CPUs exhibited slightly different electrochemical activity than that of TAni. The second category of CPUs is obtained from prepolymers by chain extension with TriAni. The conductivity of these polymers is similar to the TAni analogues but are electrochemically inactive. The anticorrosion properties of two of these polymers have also been evaluated in this study. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40794.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLUBLE AND MEMBRANE‐BOUND TREHALASES IN THE COTTON MIRID BUG, Apolygus lucorum
Authors: Tan Yongan , Xiao Liubin , Sun Yang , Zhao Jing , Bai Lixin , Xiao Yingfang
Published: April 2014

Trehalose, a major hemolymph sugar in insects, is hydrolyzed by trehalase. We identified a soluble and a membrane‐bound form of trehalase and isolated the corresponding mRNA, ALTre‐1, and ALTre‐2 in the cotton mirid bug, Apolygus lucorum. The deduced amino acid sequences of ALTre‐1 and ALTre‐2 revealed mature proteins with 643 and 617 amino acids, respectively. ALTre‐1 and ALTre‐2 contained trehalase signature motifs, and ALTre‐2 contained a putative transmembrane domain near the C‐terminus, suggesting that ALTre‐1 and ALTre‐2 encoded a soluble trehalase and a membrane‐bound trehalase, respectively. Comparison of trehalase activity at different developmental stages and in six tissues indicated that soluble trehalase activity accounted for the majority of total trehalase activity in A. lucorum. ALTre‐1 and ALTre‐2 were expressed in all tissues and stages, with the highest expression of both in the second instar nymphs, ALTre‐1 in the ovary and malpighian tubules, ALTre‐2 in the flight muscles and fat body. Following the exposure of second instar nymph to 20‐E, the soluble trehalase activity increased gradually while the membrane‐bound trehalase activity remained at its initial level. Similarly, 20‐E upregulated ALTre‐1 expression but had no effect on ALTre‐2 expression. These results suggest that an increase of this soluble trehalase activity was upregulated by ALTre‐1 gene.
Antecedents and effects of social network fatigue
Authors: Ravindran Thara , Yeow Kuan Alton Chua , Hoe Lian Dion Goh
Published: April 2014

Guided by literature on “fatigue” from within the domains of clinical and occupational studies, the present article seeks to define the phenomenon termed social network fatigue in the context of one of the popular uses of social networks, namely, to stay socially connected. This is achieved through an identification of the antecedents and effects of experiences that contribute to negative emotions or to a reduction in interest in using social networks with the help of a mixed‐methods study. Five generic antecedents and varying effects of these antecedents on individual user activities have been identified. Fatigue experiences could result from social dynamics or social interactions of the members of the community, content made available on social networks, unwanted changes to the platform that hosts the network, self‐detected immersive tendencies of the users themselves, or a natural maturing of the life cycle of the community to which the user belongs. The intensity of the fatigue experience varies along a continuum ranging from a mild or transient experience to a more severe experience, which may eventually result in the user's decision to quit the environment that causes stress. Thus, users were found to take short rest breaks from the environment, moderate their activities downward, or suspend their social network activities altogether as a result of fatigue experiences.
A classifier to determine which Wikipedia biographies will be accepted
Authors: Ofek Nir , Rokach Lior
Published: April 2014

Wikipedia, like other encyclopedias, includes biographies of notable people. However, because it is jointly written by many contributors, it is subject to constant manipulation by contributors attempting to add biographies of non‐notable people. Over time, Wikipedia has developed inclusion criteria for notable people (e.g., receiving a significant award) based on which newly contributed biographies are evaluated. In this paper we present and analyze a set of simple indicators that can be used to predict which article will eventually be accepted. These indicators do not refer to the content itself, but to meta‐content features (such as the number of categories that the biography is associated with) and to author‐based features (such as if it is a first‐time author). By training a classifier on these features, we successfully reached a high predictive performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve [AUC] of 0.97) even though we overlooked the actual biography text.
Rejoinder
Authors: Ziegler Andreas
Published: April 2014

This is the reply to the discussion of the two companion articles on the theory and application of “probability estimation with machine learning methods for dichotomous and multicategory outcome” by Kruppa et al. (2014; 534–563 and 564–583). The five discussion papers are Binder (2014; 584–587), Boulesteix and Schmid (2014; 588–593), Shin and Wu (2014; 594–596), Simon (2014; 597–600), and Steyerberg et al. (2014; 601–606).
Synthesis of a Glycopeptide Vaccine Conjugate for Induction of Antibodies Recognizing O‐Mannosyl Glycopeptides
Authors: Yu Jin , Westerlind Ulrika
Published: April 2014

In spite of the clear importance of protein O‐mannosylation in brain glycobiology, tools are lacking for specific detection, enrichment, and identification of proteins containing these modifycations. We envisioned inducing antibodies that specifically recognize O‐mannose glycans on proteins and peptides. With this in mind, we prepared a glycopeptide vaccine construct containing the N‐acetyllactosamine‐extended mannose motif Galβ1‐4GlcNAcβ1‐2ManαThr, found as a common core structure on almost all mammalian O‐mannosyl glycoproteins identified. O‐mannose glycosylated amino acid building blocks and the corresponding glycopeptides were prepared by chemical synthesis and then conjugated to an immune carrier protein. After administration of the synthetic vaccine into rabbits, strong immune responses were obtained. Further evaluation by ELISA neutralization experiments and glycopeptide microarrays showed that the induced antibodies were highly specific to the glycopeptide antigen.
Feasibility and safety of transradial coronary interventions using a 6.5‐F sheathless guiding catheter in patients with small radial arteries
Authors: Cheaito Radi , Benamer Hakim , Hovasse Thomas , Tritar Amine , Hage Fouad , Garot Philippe , Lefèvre Thierry , Unterseeh Thierry , Chevalier Bernard , Morice Marie‐Claude , Louvard Yves
Published: April 2014

Objectives

This study investigated the feasibility and the safety of using a 6.5‐French sheathless guide catheter in patients with small radial arteries.

Background

The small size of radial arteries is a limitation of transradial coronary intervention. A new sheathless guiding catheter with a diameter almost 2‐Fr smaller than conventional sheaths and a full‐length hydrophilic coating has been introduced.

Methods

A total of 148 patients from three French hospitals were consecutively enrolled from March 2009 to February 2012. They underwent transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) using the 6.5‐F ASAHI sheathless Eaucath guiding catheter system.

Results

Among the 148 patients enrolled, 95 were females (64%), and 183 lesions were treated. Procedural success rate was 100%. Thirteen patients (9%) underwent same‐procedure multivessel interventions for the right and left coronary artery. Among the group of 46 patients undergoing bifurcation PCI, 35 (76%) bifurcated lesions were treated with a kissing balloon technique, one patient had a saphenous vein bypass graft lesion requiring filter wire placement prior to intervention, nine (6.1%) patients required rotational atherectomy, thrombus‐aspiration catheters were used in 19 (12.8%) patients, fractional flow reserve (FFR)‐guided PCI in 10 (6.7%) patients, alcohol septal ablation in three (2%) patients. Ten (6.7%) cases of chronic total occlusion were successfully treated in nine (6.1%) patients using the hydrophilic catheter. No radial artery site complications was noted.

Conclusion

The use of sheathless guiding catheters is a safe, effective method for PCI via TRA in small radial arteries without catheter‐related complications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The predictors of successful percutaneous coronary intervention in ostial left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusion
Authors: Fang Hsiu‐Yu , Lu Shang‐Yeh , Lee Wei‐Chieh , Lin Yu‐Sheng , Cheng Cheng‐I , Chen Chien‐Jen , Yang Cheng‐Hsu , Yip Hon‐Kan , Hang Chi‐Ling , Fang Chih‐Yuan , Wu Chiung‐Jen
Published: April 2014

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to chronic total occlusion (CTO) has become one of the treatment strategies in recent era. The ostium of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) is one of the most difficult positions for CTO revascularization. Until now, limited data has been made available for the prediction of successful ostial LAD CTO PCI. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the differences between ostial LAD and all other CTOs and to identify the predictors of successful ostial LAD CTO PCI. Methods: This retrospective analysis included consecutive patients referred for CTO PCI between January 2001 and September 2013. Ostial LAD CTO was defined as CTO at the position whose distance between lesion and left main bifurcation was less than 1 mm. Baseline demographics, lesion characteristics, interventional procedure details, and devices were compared between the ostial LAD group and the all other CTOs group. The predictors of successful ostial LAD CTO PCI were also evaluated. Results: 621 patients who underwent CTO PCI were enrolled retrospectively to this study. A total of 70 patients of ostial LAD CTO were compared with 551 patients of all other CTOs group in this study. Ostial LAD CTO was found to have more bridging and better collaterals than all other CTOs. Procedure time, fluoroscopic time, contrast volumes, the use of contralateral injection, and the use of the retrograde approach were significantly greater in the ostial LAD CTO group. The ostial LAD CTO group also had significantly higher J‐CTO scores (2.7 ± 0.8 vs. 2.2 ± 1.1, P = 0.011) and higher Syntax Scores (28.3 ± 6.5 vs. 20.9 ± 9.7, P < 0.001). A slightly lower final success rate, but statistically non‐significant, was observed in the ostial LAD CTO group (80.0% vs. 81.9%, P = 0.706). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed that without antegrade failure and with retrograde success were predictors of the success of ostial LAD CTO PCI. Syntax Score was also capable of predicting the ostial LAD CTO PCI outcome. J‐CTO score was not found to be associated with final success for ostial LAD CTO patients. Conclusions: Ostial LAD CTO resulted in higher lesion complexity in J‐CTO scores and Syntax Scores. Ostial LAD CTO PCI had a slightly lower final success rate than that of all other CTOs PCI with longer procedure duration, fluoroscopic time and larger contrast volume. Without antegrade failure, with retrograde success, and lower Syntax Score were found to predict the success of ostial LAD CTO PCI. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Palladium(II)/Polyoxometalate‐Catalyzed Direct Alkenylation of Benzofurans under Atmospheric Dioxygen
Authors: Huang Qiufeng , Ke Shaojia , Qiu Lin , Zhang Xiaofeng , Lin Shen
Published: April 2014

An efficient and selective C2 alkenylation of benzofurans was performed by using Pd(OAc)2 combined with a catalytic amount of 11‐molybdovanadophosphoric acid (H4PMo11VO40) under an atmosphere of dioxygen. N‐Acetylglycine (Ac‐Gly‐OH) was observed to be an effective additive for the olefination reaction.
Highly Efficient Reversible Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Formates Using a Ruthenium PNP‐Pincer Catalyst
Authors: Filonenko Georgy A. , van Putten Robbert , Schulpen Erik N. , Hensen Emiel J. M. , Pidko Evgeny A.
Published: April 2014

The use of hydrogen as a fuel requires both safe and robust technologies for its storage and transportation. Formic acid (FA) produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 is recognized as a potential intermediate H2 carrier. Herein, we present the development of a formate‐based H2 storage system that employs a Ru PNP‐pincer catalyst. The high stability of this system allows cyclic operation with an exceptionally fast loading and liberation of H2. Kinetic studies highlight the crucial role of the base promoter, which controls the rate‐determining step in FA dehydrogenation and defines the total H2 capacity attainable from the hydrogenation of CO2. The reported findings show promise for the development of practical technologies that use formic acid as a hydrogen carrier.
Rational Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Tetrahydroxamic Acid Chelators for Stable Complexation of Zirconium(IV)
Authors: Guérard François , Lee Yong‐Sok , Brechbiel Martin W.
Published: April 2014

Metals of interest for biomedical applications often need to be complexed and associated in a stable manner with a targeting agent before use. Whereas the fundamentals of most transition‐metal complexation processes have been thoroughly studied, the complexation of ZrIV has been somewhat neglected. This metal has received growing attention in recent years, especially in nuclear medicine, with the use of 89Zr, which a β+‐emitter with near ideal characteristics for cancer imaging. However, the best chelating agent known for this radionuclide is the trishydroxamate desferrioxamine B (DFB), the ZrIV complex of which exhibits suboptimal stability, resulting in the progressive release of 89Zr in vivo. Based on a recent report demonstrating the higher thermodynamic stability of the tetrahydroxamate complexes of ZrIV compared with the trishydroxamate complexes analogues to DFB, we designed a series of tetrahydroxamic acids of varying geometries for improved complexation of this metal. Three macrocycles differing in their cavity size (28 to 36‐membered rings) were synthesized by using a ring‐closing metathesis strategy, as well as their acyclic analogues. A solution study with 89Zr showed the complexation to be more effective with increasing cavity size. Evaluation of the kinetic inertness of these new complexes in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution showed significantly improved stabilities of the larger chelates compared with 89Zr‐DFB, whereas the smaller complexes suffered from insufficient stabilities. These results were rationalized by a quantum chemical study. The lower stability of the smaller chelates was attributed to ring strain, whereas the better stability of the larger cyclic complexes was explained by the macrocyclic effect and by the structural rigidity. Overall, these new chelating agents open new perspectives for the safe and efficient use of 89Zr in nuclear imaging, with the best chelators providing dramatically improved stabilities compared with the reference DFB.
Chemical and Toxicological Investigations of a Previously Unknown Poisonous European Mushroom Tricholoma terreum
Authors: Yin Xia , Feng Tao , Shang Jian‐Hua , Zhao Yun‐Li , Wang Fang , Li Zheng‐Hui , Dong Ze‐Jun , Luo Xiao‐Dong , Liu Ji‐Kai
Published: April 2014

The established tradition of consuming and marketing wild mushrooms has focused attention on mycotoxicity, which has become a global issue. In the present study, we describe the toxins found in a previously unknown poisonous European mushroom Tricholoma terreum. Fifteen new triterpenoids terreolides A–F (1–6) and saponaceolides H–P (8–16) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the toxic mushroom T. terreum. Terreolides A–C (1–3) possessed a unique 5/6/7 trioxaspiroketal system, whereas terreolides D–F (4–6) possessed an unprecedented carbon skeleton. Two abundant compounds in the mushroom, saponaceolide B (7) and saponaceolide M (13), displayed acute toxicity, with LD50 values of 88.3 and 63.7 mg kg−1 when administered orally in mice. Both compounds were found to increase serum creatine kinase levels in mice, indicating that T. terreum may be the cause of mushroom poisoning ultimately leading to rhabdomyolysis.
Photoreceptor topography and spectral sensitivity in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Authors: Vlahos Lisa M. , Knott Ben , Valter Krisztina , Hemmi Jan M.
Published: April 2014

Marsupials are believed to be the only non‐primate mammals with both trichromatic and dichromatic color vision. The diversity of color vision systems present in marsupials remains mostly unexplored. Marsupials occupy a diverse range of habitats, which may have led to considerable variation in the presence, density, distribution, and spectral sensitivity of retinal photoreceptors. In this study we analyzed the distribution of photoreceptors in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Immunohistochemistry in wholemounts revealed three cone subpopulations recognized within two spectrally distinct cone classes. Long‐wavelength sensitive (LWS) single cones were the largest cone subgroup (67–86%), and formed a weak horizontal visual streak (peak density 2,106 ± 435/mm2) across the central retina. LWS double cones were strongly concentrated ventrally (569 ± 66/mm2), and created a “negative” visual streak (134 ± 45/mm2) in the central retina. The strong regionalization between LWS cone topographies suggests differing visual functions. Short‐wavelength sensitive (SWS) cones were present in much lower densities (3–10%), mostly located ventrally (179 ± 101/mm2). A minority population of cones (0–2.4%) remained unlabeled by both SWS‐ and LWS‐specific antibodies, and may represent another cone population. Microspectrophotometry of LWS cone and rod visual pigments shows peak spectral sensitivities at 544 nm and 500 nm, respectively. Cone to ganglion cell convergences remain low and constant across the retina, thereby maintaining good visual acuity, but poor contrast sensitivity during photopic vision. Given that brushtail possums are so strongly nocturnal, we hypothesize that their acuity is set by the scotopic visual system, and have minimized the number of cones necessary to serve the ganglion cells for photopic vision. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3423–3436, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A data‐centric neuroscience gateway: design, implementation, and experiences
Authors: Shahand Shayan , Benabdelkader Ammar , Jaghoori Mohammad Mahdi , Mourabit Mostapha al , Huguet Jordi , Caan Matthan W.A. , van Kampen Antoine H.C. , Olabarriaga Sílvia D.
Published: April 2014

Science gateways provide UIs and high‐level services to access and manage applications and data collections on distributed resources. They facilitate users to perform data analysis on distributed computing infrastructures without getting involved into the technical details. The e‐BioInfra Gateway is a science gateway for biomedical data analysis on a national grid infrastructure, which has been successfully adopted for neuroscience research. This paper describes the motivation, requirements, and design of a new generation of e‐BioInfra Gateway, which is based on the grid and cloud user support environment (also known as WS‐PGRADE/gUSE framework) and supports heterogeneous infrastructures. The new gateway has been designed to have additional data and meta‐data management facilities to access and manage (biomedical) data servers, and to provide data‐centric user interaction. We have implemented and deployed the new gateway for the computational neuroscience research community of the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam. This paper presents the system architecture of the new gateway, highlights the improvements that have been achieved, discusses the choices that we have made, and reflects on those based on initial user feedback. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterojunction Ag–TiO2 Nanopillars for Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic H2 Production
Authors: Qu Yang , Zhou Wei , Ren Zhiyu , Tian Chungui , Li Jialin , Fu Honggang
Published: April 2014

Silver–titanium dioxide (Ag–TiO2) heterojunction nanopillars were fabricated by a facile one‐pot method coupled with further calcinations. The results showed that Ag nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of TiO2 nanopillars. The heterojunction composite nanopillars were uniform, approximately 10–20 μm in length and 500–800 nm in diameter. The nanojunctions and surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag–TiO2 heterojunction nanopillars were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The heterojunction Ag–TiO2 nanopillars showed good photocatalytic H2 production activities under visible‐light irradiation without costly platinum, owing to the good dispersion and closely contacted junctions, as well as the surface plasmon resonance effect and the porous one‐dimensional structure.
Fractionation of Hemp Hurds by Organosolv Pretreatment and its Effect on Production of Lignin and Sugars
Authors: Gandolfi Stefano , Ottolina Gianluca , Consonni Roberto , Riva Sergio , Patel Ilabahen
Published: April 2014

Fractionation of hemp hurds into its three main components, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, was carried out using organosolv pretreatment. The effect of processing parameters, such as temperature, catalyst concentration, reaction time, and methanol (MeOH) concentration, on the dissolution and recovery of hemicellulose and lignin was determined. More than 75 % of total hemicellulose and 75 % of total lignin was removed in a single step with low amounts of degradation products under the following conditions: 165 °C, 3 % H2SO4, 20 min reaction time, and 45 % MeOH. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the residual pretreated biomass yielded up to 60 % of cellulose‐to‐glucose conversion. The maximum recovery of the main components was obtained at a combined severity factor value of around one. Characterization of pretreated biomass and isolated lignin was carried out with FTIR and 2D 13C–1H correlation HSQC NMR spectroscopy, the latter technique providing detailed structural information about the obtained methanol organosolv lignin (MOSL). Results suggested that xylopyranoside is the major carbohydrate associated with hemp lignin. The chemical properties of MOSL samples in terms of their phenolic group content and antioxidant capacity were also investigated. The results showed that MOSL samples have a high phenolic group content and antioxidant capacity relative to Klason lignin.
Low‐noise low‐power front‐end logarithmic amplifier for neural recording system
Authors: Derafshi Zahra Haddad , Frounchi Javad
Published: April 2014

In this work, a low‐power, low‐noise logarithmic preamplifier for biopotential and neural recording application is presented. The amplifier is based on a linear limit logarithmic amplifier technique, and an active filter as a DC cancellation filter has been included to its input in order to eliminate DC offsets, which are produced at the electrode–tissue interface. This system has been simulated in a UMC standard 90‐nm 1P9M CMOS process. Five dual gain stages are used to produce the required linear limit logarithmic amplifier. The dynamic range of the amplifier is measured to be 48 dB which covers the signals with amplitude from 20 μV to 5 mV. The amplifier consumes 23.5 μW from a 1.2‐V power supply and has a maximum gain of 69.8 dB. The simulated input referred noise is 5.3 μV over 0.1 Hz to 20 kHz. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.