bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zur Durchstanzbemessung von Einzelfundamenten
Authors: Siburg Carsten , Ricker Marcus
Published: September 2013

Seit 2012 liegt Eurocode 2 zusammen mit dem nationalen Anhang in Deutschland vor. Die größtenteils aus dem Model Code 1990 übernommene Durchstanzbemessung regelt das Durchstanzen von Einzelfundamenten und Bodenplatten neu. Mit dem Model Code 2010 wurde das Bemessungskonzept zum Durchstanzen überarbeitet und in die zum 01.01.2013 eingeführte schweizerische Norm SIA 262:2013 übernommen. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Bemessungsgleichungen zur Bestimmung der Durchstanztragfähigkeit nach Eurocode 2, dem deutschen Anhang zu Eurocode 2, Model Code 2010 und SIA 262 ausführlich vorgestellt. Durch Parameterrechnungen werden die Haupteinflüsse aus Schubschlankheit, statischer Nutzhöhe, Längsbewehrungsgrad und Betondruckfestigkeit auf die Durchstanztragfähigkeit von Einzelfundamenten näher untersucht und den rechnerischen Durchstanzwiderständen gegenübergestellt. Durch Vergleiche mit den Ergebnissen systematischer Versuchsserien werden das Sicherheitsniveau und die Wirtschaftlichkeit der Bemessungsgleichungen überprüft.

Punching shear design of footings – present code provisions: parametric study and comparison with test results

Since 2012, Eurocode 2 and the corresponding National Annex have been introduced in Germany. Most design provisions were adopted from Model Code 1990 and provide a new design approach for ground slabs and footings. For Model Code 2010, the design concept was again revised and introduced in the Swiss standard SIA262:2013. In this paper, the design equations for the determination of the punching capacity according to Eurocode 2, the German annex to Eurocode 2, Model Code 2010, and SIA 262:2013 are presented in detail.

Parameter studies are used to examine the influence of the main punching parameters (shear span depth‐ratio, effective depth, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, and concrete compressive strength) on the punching shear resistance of footings. To quantify the safety level and the efficiency, the design provisions are compared to systematic test series.
Beyond growth rate 0.6: What drives Corynebacterium glutamicum to higher growth rates in defined medium
Authors: Unthan Simon , Grünberger Alexander , van Ooyen Jan , Gätgens Jochem , Heinrich Johanna , Paczia Nicole , Wiechert Wolfgang , Kohlheyer Dietrich , Noack Stephan
Published: August 2013

In a former study we showed that Corynebacterium glutamicum grows much faster in defined CGXII glucose medium when growth was initiated in highly diluted environments [Grünberger et al. (2013b) Biotechnol Bioeng]. Here we studied the batch growth of C. glutamicum in CGXII at a comparable low starting biomass concentration of OD ≈ 0.005 in more detail. During bioreactor cultivations a bi‐phasic growth behavior with changing growth rates was observed. Initially the culture grew with before the growth rate dropped to . We were able to confirm the elevated growth rate for C. glutamicum in CGXII and showed for the first time a growth rate beyond 0.6 in lab‐scale bioreactor cultivations on defined medium. Advanced growth studies combining well‐designed bioreactor and microfluidic single‐cell cultivations (MSCC) with quantitative transcriptomics, metabolomics and integrative in silico analysis revealed protocatechuic acid as a hidden co‐substrate for accelerated growth within CGXII. The presented approach proves the general applicability of MSCC to investigate and validate the effect of single medium components on microorganism growth during cultivation in liquid media, and therefore might be of interest for any kind of basic growth study. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 359–371. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mass transfer studies of Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms on rotating disk electrodes
Authors: Babauta Jerome T. , Beyenal Haluk
Published: August 2013

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has received significant attention recently as a method to measure electrochemical parameters of Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms. Here, we use electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to demonstrate the effect of mass transfer processes on electron transfer by G. sulfurreducens biofilms grown in situ on an electrode that was subsequently rotated. By rotating the biofilms up to 530 rpm, we could control the microscale gradients formed inside G. sulfurreducens biofilms. A 24% increase above a baseline of 82 µA could be achieved with a rotation rate of 530 rpm. By comparison, we observed a 340% increase using a soluble redox mediator (ferrocyanide) limited by mass transfer. Control of mass transfer processes was also used to quantify the change in biofilm impedance during the transition from turnover to non‐turnover. We found that only one element of the biofilm impedance, the interfacial resistance, changed significantly from 900 to 4,200 Ω under turnover and non‐turnover conditions, respectively. We ascribed this change to the electron transfer resistance overcome by the biofilm metabolism and estimate this value as 3,300 Ω. Additionally, under non‐turnover, the biofilm impedance developed pseudocapacitive behavior indicative of bound redox mediators. Pseudocapacitance of the biofilm was estimated at 740 µF and was unresponsive to rotation of the electrode. The increase in electron transfer resistance and pseudocapacitive behavior under non‐turnover could be used as indicators of acetate limitations inside G. sulfurreducens biofilms. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 285–294. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Demonstration of in situ product recovery of butyric acid via CO2‐facilitated pH swings and medium development in two‐phase partitioning bioreactors
Authors: Peterson Eric C. , Daugulis Andrew J.
Published: August 2013

Production of organic acids in solid–liquid two‐phase partitioning bioreactors (TPPBs) is challenging, and highly pH‐dependent, as cell growth occurs near neutral pH, while acid sorption occurs only at low pH conditions. CO2 sparging was used to achieve acidic pH swings, facilitating undissociated organic acid uptake without generating osmotic stress inherent in traditional acid/base pH control. A modified cultivation medium was formulated to permit greater pH reduction by CO2 sparging (pH 4.8) compared to typical media (pH 5.3), while still possessing adequate nutrients for extensive cell growth. In situ product recovery (ISPR) of butyric acid (pKa = 4.8) produced by Clostridium tyrobutyricum was achieved through intermittent CO2 sparging while recycling reactor contents through a column packed with absorptive polymer Hytrel® 3078. This polymer was selected on the basis of its composition as a polyether copolymer, and the use of solubility parameters for predicting solute polymer affinity, and was found to have a partition coefficient for butyric acid of 3. Total polymeric extraction of 3.2 g butyric acid with no CO2 mediated pH swings was increased to 4.5 g via CO2‐facilitated pH shifting, despite the buffering capacity of butyric acid, which resists pH shifting. This work shows that CO2‐mediated pH swings have an observable positive effect on organic acid extraction, with improvements well over 150% under optimal conditions in early stage fermentation compared to CO2‐free controls, and this technique can be applied other organic acid fermentations to achieve or improve ISPR. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 537–544. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous HPLC determination of ergosterol and 22,23‐dihydroergosterol in Flammulina velutipes sterol‐loaded microemulsion
Authors: Tong Shanshan , Zhong Hui , Yi Chengxue , Cao Xia , Firempong Caleb Kesse , Zheng Qianfeng , Feng Yingshu , Yu Jiangnan , Xu Ximing
Published: September 2013

An efficient HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of ergosterol and 22,23‐dihydroergosterol in Flammulina velutipes sterol‐loaded microemulsions (FVSMs). The different chromatographic conditions for in vitro and in vivo determinations were investigated, with the application examined by tissue distribution. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS‐SP (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) analytical column using a mobile phase of 98% methanol (in vitro), and 93% methanol for stomach samples and 96% methanol for other samples (in vivo) at 1.0 mL/min. The sterol content was detected at 282 nm. The established in vitro linearity ranges for ergosterol and 22,23‐dihydroergosterol were 0.58–72.77 µg/mL (r1 = 0.9999) and 0.59–73.25 µg/mL (r2 = 0.9999), respectively, with the biological (in vivo) samples following the same trend. The accuracy of the method was >99% (in vitro) and between 93%–108% (in vivo). The LOQ was 2.15 µg/L for ergosterol and 2.41 µg/L for 22,23‐dihydroergosterol in the in vitro studies. Also, the precisions met the acceptance criterion. These results indicate that the established HPLC method was specific, linear, accurate, precise and sensitive for the separation and simultaneous determination of ergosterol and 22,23‐dihydroergosterol. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The anatomy of the aortic root
Authors: Loukas Marios , Bilinsky Esther , Bilinsky Samuel , Blaak Christa , Tubbs R. Shane , Anderson Robert H.
Published: September 2013

The aortic root is the anatomical bridge between the left ventricle and the ascending aorta. It is made up of the aortic valve leaflets, which are supported by the aortic sinuses (of Valsalva), and the interleaflet triangles interposed between the basal attachments of the leaflets. As such, it possesses significant length, and because of the semilunar attachment of the leaflets, there is no discrete proximal border to the root. It is limited distally, nonetheless, by the supravalvar ridge, or sinutubular junction. Descriptions of the aortic root over the years have been bedeviled by accounts of a valve anulus. There are at least two rings within the root, but neither serves to support the valve leaflets, each leaflets being attached in semilunar fashion from the sinutubular junction to a basal ventricular attachment Two leaflets are supported by muscle, and the third has an exclusively fibrous attachment. The root acts as a bridging structure not only anatomically, separating the myocardial and arterial components of the left ventricular pathway, but also functionally, since its proximal and distal components can withstand considerable changes in ventricular and arterial pressures. In this review, we describe the anatomy of this crucial cardiac component, emphasizing the current problems which have arisen due to indiscriminate descriptions of a nonexistent anulus. Clin. Anat. 27:748–756, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transfer RNA Misidentification Scrambles Sense Codon Recoding
Authors: Krishnakumar Radha , Prat Laure , Aerni Hans‐Rudolf , Ling Jiqiang , Merryman Chuck , Glass John I. , Rinehart Jesse , Söll Dieter
Published: September 2013

Sense codon recoding is the basis for genetic code expansion with more than two different noncanonical amino acids. It requires an unused (or rarely used) codon, and an orthogonal tRNA synthetase:tRNA pair with the complementary anticodon. The Mycoplasma capricolum genome contains just six CGG arginine codons, without a dedicated tRNAArg. We wanted to reassign this codon to pyrrolysine by providing M. capricolum with pyrrolysyl‐tRNA synthetase, a synthetic tRNA with a CCG anticodon (${{\rm tRNA}{{{\rm Pyl}\hfill \atop {\rm CCG}\hfill}}}$), and the genes for pyrrolysine biosynthesis. Here we show that ${{\rm tRNA}{{{\rm Pyl}\hfill \atop {\rm CCG}\hfill}}}$ is efficiently recognized by the endogenous arginyl‐tRNA synthetase, presumably at the anticodon. Mass spectrometry revealed that in the presence of ${{\rm tRNA}{{{\rm Pyl}\hfill \atop {\rm CCG}\hfill}}}$, CGG codons are translated as arginine. This result is not unexpected as most tRNA synthetases use the anticodon as a recognition element. The data suggest that tRNA misidentification by endogenous aminoacyl‐tRNA synthetases needs to be overcome for sense codon recoding.
Factor structure of the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema measure of social climate in a UK medium‐security setting
Authors: Milsom Sophia A. , Freestone Mark , Duller Rachel , Bouman Marisa , Taylor Celia
Published: August 2013

Background

Social climate has an influence on a number of treatment‐related factors, including service users' behaviour, staff morale and treatment outcomes. Reliable assessment of social climate is, therefore, beneficial within forensic mental health settings. The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) has been validated in forensic mental health services in the UK and Germany. Preliminary normative data have been produced for UK high‐security national health services and German medium‐security and high‐security services.

Aims

We aim to validate the use of the EssenCES scale (English version) and provide preliminary normative data in UK medium‐security hospital settings.

Methods

The EssenCES scale was completed in a medium‐security mental health service as part of a service‐wide audit. A total of 89 patients and 112 staff completed the EssenCES.

Results

The three‐factor structure of the EssenCES and its internal construct validity were maintained within the sample. Scores from this medium‐security hospital sample were significantly higher than those from earlier high‐security hospital data, with three exceptions – ‘patient cohesion’ according to the patients and ‘therapeutic hold’ according to staff and patients.

Conclusion

Our data support the use of the EssenCES scale as a valid measure for assessing social climate within medium‐security hospital settings. Significant differences between the means of high‐security and medium‐security service samples imply that degree of security is a relevant factor affecting the ward climate and that in monitoring quality of secure services, it is likely to be important to apply different scores to reflect standards. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of a paclitaxel coated balloon in combination with a bare metal stent on restenosis and endothelial function: Comparison with a drug eluting stent and a bare metal stent
Authors: Clever Yvonne P. , Cremers Bodo , Speck Ulrich , Dietz Ulrich , Böhm Michael , Scheller Bruno
Published: September 2013

Aims

Different approaches of local intravascular drug delivery may influence endothelial and microvascular function. The aim of this trial was to study the influence of a paclitaxel coated balloon in combination with a bare metal stent (DCB + BMS) versus a bare metal stent (BMS) or a sirolimus‐eluting stent (DES) on coronary restenosis and endothelial function.

Methods and Results

This prospective trial included 77 patients with coronary de novo lesions. The patients were assigned to either one of the treatment groups. After 9 months, patients underwent angiographic follow‐up including invasive measurement of coronary endothelial function. After 9 months, late lumen loss in‐stent was highest in the BMS group (0.85 ± 0.73 mm), lower in DCB + BMS (0.36 ± 0.46 mm); and lowest in the DES group (0.25 ± 0.34 mm; P = 0.001 [ANOVA]). When compared to the BMS group, in‐segment late lumen loss was significantly reduced in the DCB + BMS group (0.27 ± 0.43 mm vs. 0.60 ± 0.55 mm, P = 0.029) and the DES group (0.28 ± 0.40 mm, P = 0.045). Coronary flow reserve was significantly higher with the DCB + BMS treatment (3.16 ± 0.97 vs. 2.42 ± 0.99 [BMS], P = 0.036) whereas the increase in the DES group did not reach the significance level (3.06 ± 1.39, P = 0.144 vs. BMS). Parameters of endothelial function like intracoronary flow velocity and vessel diameter distal to the stented area showed similar patterns of response to adenosine, acetylcholine, and nitro in all groups.

Conclusion

DES and the combination of DCB + BMS showed a significant reduction of late lumen loss as compared to a BMS alone. Furthermore, both types of local drug delivery were not associated with a deterioration of microvascular function at 9 months [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00473499]. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gold Nanoclusters Confined in a Supercage of Y Zeolite for Aerobic Oxidation of HMF under Mild Conditions
Authors: Cai Jiaying , Ma Hong , Zhang Junjie , Song Qi , Du Zhongtian , Huang Yizheng , Xu Jie
Published: September 2013

Au nanoclusters with an average size of approximately 1 nm size supported on HY zeolite exhibit a superior catalytic performance for the selective oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐furfural (HMF) into 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). It achieved >99 % yield of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid in water under mild conditions (60 °C, 0.3 MPa oxygen), which is much higher than that of Au supported on metal oxides/hydroxide (TiO2, CeO2, and Mg(OH)2) and channel‐type zeolites (ZSM‐5 and H‐MOR). Detailed characterizations, such as X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N2‐physisorption, and H2‐temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR), revealed that the Au nanoclusters are well encapsulated in the HY zeolite supercage, which is considered to restrict and avoid further growing of the Au nanoclusters into large particles. The acidic hydroxyl groups of the supercage were proven to be responsible for the formation and stabilization of the gold nanoclusters. Moreover, the interaction between the hydroxyl groups in the supercage and the Au nanoclusters leads to electronic modification of the Au nanoparticles, which is supposed to contribute to the high efficiency in the catalytic oxidation of HMF to FDCA.
Excited State Tuning of Bis(tridentate) Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Chromophores by Push–Pull Effects and Bite Angle Optimization: A Comprehensive Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Breivogel Aaron , Meister Michael , Förster Christoph , Laquai Frédéric , Heinze Katja
Published: September 2013

The synergy of push–pull substitution and enlarged ligand bite angles has been used in functionalized heteroleptic bis(tridentate) polypyridine complexes of ruthenium(II) to shift the 1MLCT absorption and the 3MLCT emission to lower energy, enhance the emission quantum yield, and to prolong the 3MLCT excited‐state lifetime. In these complexes, that is, [Ru(ddpd)(EtOOC‐tpy)][PF6]2, [Ru(ddpd‐NH2)(EtOOC‐tpy)][PF6]2, [Ru(ddpd){(MeOOC)3‐tpy}][PF6]2, and [Ru(ddpd‐NH2){(EtOOC)3‐tpy}][PF6]2 the combination of the electron‐accepting 2,2′;6′,2′′‐terpyridine (tpy) ligand equipped with one or three COOR substituents with the electron‐donating N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐dipyridin‐2‐ylpyridine‐2,6‐diamine (ddpd) ligand decorated with none or one NH2 group enforces spatially separated and orthogonal frontier orbitals with a small HOMO–LUMO gap resulting in low‐energy 1MLCT and 3MLCT states. The extended bite angle of the ddpd ligand increases the ligand field splitting and pushes the deactivating 3MC state to higher energy. The properties of the new isomerically pure mixed ligand complexes have been studied by using electrochemistry, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, static and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy, and transient absorption spectroscopy. The experimental data were rationalized by using density functional calculations on differently charged species (charge n=0–4) and on triplet excited states (3MLCT and 3MC) as well as by time‐dependent density functional calculations (excited singlet states).
Strategy for clinical setting in intramuscular and subcutaneous islet transplantation
Authors: Sakata Naoaki , Aoki Takeshi , Yoshimatsu Gumpei , Tsuchiya Haruyuki , Hata Tatsuo , Katayose Yu , Egawa Shinichi , Unno Michiaki
Published: September 2013

Intraportal islet transplantation has a long history as a procedure for clinical islet transplantation. However, many recent studies revealed that the intraportal procedure has some disadvantages in transplant efficiency and safety. Many candidates as an optimal transplant site for islets have been assessed, but further studies and clinical trials are still necessary. Intramuscular and subcutaneous spaces are important candidates, because the transplant and biopsy procedures are simple approaches with minimal invasion and few complications. Although they are sites with hypovascularity and hypoxia, which contribute to the poor transplant efficiency, many experimental trials for improving the outcome in intramuscular and subcutaneous islet transplantations have been performed, focusing on early angiogenesis and scaffolds for engrafting transplanted islets. We review current progress in intramuscular and subcutaneous islet transplantations and discuss ways to develop them as optimal transplant sites for islets. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of 4‐bromo‐2,5‐dimethoxy‐N‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)methyl]‐benzeneethanamine (25B‐NBOMe) in serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in a case of severe intoxication
Authors: Poklis Justin L. , Nanco Carol R. , Troendle Michelle M. , Wolf Carl E. , Poklis Alphonse
Published: September 2013

We present a case of 4‐bromo‐2,5‐dimethoxy‐N‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)methyl]‐benzeneethanamine (25B‐NBOMe), an N‐benzyl phenethylamines derivative, intoxication and a high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) method for detection and quantification of 25B‐NBOMe. A 19‐year‐old male was found unresponsive with generalized grand mal seizure activity. On the second day of hospitalization, a friend admitted that the patient used ‘some unknown drug’ called 25B. Serum and urine collected were sent to the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Toxicology Laboratory for analysis. An HPLC‐MS/MS method for the identification and quantification of 25B‐NBOMe using 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐N‐(2‐methoxybenzyl)ethanamine (25H‐NBOMe) as the internal standard (ISTD) was developed. As this is a novel, single‐case presentation, an assay validation was performed prior to testing to ensure the reliability of the analytical results. The serum and urine specimens were determined to contain 180 pg/ml and1900 pg/ml of 25B‐NBOMe, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hox genes and region‐specific sensorimotor circuit formation in the hindbrain and spinal cord
Authors: Di Bonito Maria , Glover Joel C. , Studer Michèle
Published: September 2013

Homeobox (Hox) genes were originally discovered in the fruit fly Drosophila, where they function through a conserved homeodomain as transcriptional regulators to control embryonic morphogenesis. In vertebrates, 39 Hox genes have been identified and like their Drosophila counterparts they are organized within chromosomal clusters. Hox genes interact with various cofactors, such as the TALE homeodomain proteins, in recognition of consensus sequences within regulatory elements of their target genes. In vertebrates, Hox genes display spatially restricted patterns of expression within the developing hindbrain and spinal cord, and are considered crucial determinants of segmental identity and cell specification along the anterioposterior and dorsoventral axes of the embryo. Here, we review their later roles in the assembly of neuronal circuitry, in stereotypic neuronal migration, axon pathfinding, and topographic connectivity. Importantly, we will put some emphasis on how their early‐segmented expression patterns can influence the formation of complex vital hindbrain and spinal cord circuitries. Developmental Dynamics 242:1348–1368, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
n‐3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance the antitumor effect of 5‐fluorouracil by inhibiting bcl‐2 and mutant‐p53
Authors: Tan Yao‐Zong , Huang Wen‐Ge , Chen Feng‐Ying , Li Jie , Zhou Jing‐Ya , Wang Li‐Jun , Chen Li , Zhu Hui‐Lian
Published: September 2013

The study determined whether n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFAs) enhance the chemotherapeutic ability of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) to affect bcl‐2 and mutant‐p53 (mt‐p53). Thirty‐two BalbC/c mice bearing SW480 colorectal cancer (CRC) xenografts were randomly divided into four groups and fed with basic diet (5% of fat) and diets (20% of fat) with 0.69, 14.84, and 24.27% of n‐3 PUFAs, while all mice received 5‐FU injections (35 mg/kg) every 3 days. After 21 days' treatment, tumors were subjected to HE staining, TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemical analyses for bcl‐2 and mt‐p53, and serum n‐3 PUFAs composition were determined by GC‐FID. The proportion of serum n‐3 PUFAs increased in the high (17.1%) and low (12.3%) n‐3 groups (vs. 3.1% in control). The high n‐3 group showed slower tumor growth (Δvolume: 370.3 mm3 vs. 556.9 mm3, p < 0.05), larger tumor necrosis areas with more loosely arranged cells, and greater tumor cell apoptosis (positive rate: 9.4% vs. 2.2%, p < 0.05) compared to the control. Both Bcl‐2 and mt‐p53 expressions were inversely and dose‐dependently correlated to dietary n‐3 PUFAs (all p < 0.05). n‐3 PUFAs enhance the antitumor effect of 5‐FU on SW480 xenografts probably through promoting tumor apoptosis via inhibiting bcl‐2 and mt‐p53.

Practical applications: n‐3 PUFAs have distinct anti‐cancer capacity and combination of n‐3 PUFAs and 5‐FU was considered as a potential approach for cancer chemotherapy, but the exact mechanism of the co‐anticancer effect of n‐3 PUFAs is still not clarified. Our present study demonstrated that n‐3 PUFAs increase the apoptosis of CRC cells by inhibiting the expression of bcl‐2 and mt‐p53. These results highlight the pro‐apoptosis effect of n‐3 PUFAs and reveal the possible mechanism of this effect. The main strategy of chemotherapy regimens is to enhance the pro‐apoptosis capacity of drugs against malignancy and n‐3 PUFAs, as a kind of dietary nutrient, are easy to be obtained and cause no toxicity compared with other anti‐cancer drugs. In this context, n‐3 PUFAs may be developed as adjuvant anti‐cancer agent combining with 5‐FU or even other drugs.
Warm or competent? Improving intergroup relations by addressing threatened identities of advantaged and disadvantaged groups
Authors: Shnabel Nurit , Ullrich Johannes , Nadler Arie , Dovidio John F. , Aydin Anna Lisa
Published: August 2013

Applying the Needs‐Based Model of Reconciliation to contexts of group disparity, two studies examined how messages from outgroup representatives that affirmed the warmth or competence of advantaged or disadvantaged groups influenced their members' intergroup attitudes. Study 1 involved natural groups differing in status; Study 2 experimentally manipulated status. In both studies, advantaged‐group members responded more favorably, reporting more positive outgroup attitudes and willingness to change the status quo toward equality, to messages reassuring their group's warmth. Disadvantaged‐group members responded more favorably to messages affirming their group's competence. Study 2 further demonstrated that the effectiveness of reassuring a disadvantaged group's competence stemmed from restoring its threatened dimension of identity, irrespective of a change of the status quo. In line with Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), these results indicate that beyond the competition over tangible resources, groups are concerned with restoring threatened dimensions of their identities. Exchanging messages that remove identity‐related threats may promote not only positive intergroup attitudes but also greater willingness to act collectively for intergroup equality. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A perspective on algae, the environment, and energy
Authors: Savage Phillip E. , Hestekin Jamie A.
Published: September 2013

Aquatic biomass, in general, and algae, in particular, are gaining attention for wastewater treatment and as a feedstock for renewable fuels. Research into algae biofuels is receiving significant attention because of the potential for providing high amounts of fuel with low land use. Several obstacles still remain especially in the area of algae selection, bioreactor choice, conversion to fuel precursors, and ultimate fuel production. This special issue of Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy focuses on these issues and recent work that moves the field toward environmentally sustainable algae production. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 877–883, 2013
Pyrolysis of mixtures of palm shell and polystyrene: An optional method to produce a high‐grade of pyrolysis oil
Authors: Abnisa Faisal , Daud W.M.A. Wan , Sahu J.N.
Published: September 2013

This research attempted to demonstrate a simple method to produce high‐grade pyrolysis oil by maximizing the use of biomass wastes. In this study, the results of pyrolysis of palm shell alone are compared with pyrolysis of palm shell/polystyrene mixtures (1:1 weight ratios). Pyrolysis was carried out in a fixed‐bed reactor under the following conditions: a temperature of 500°C, a nitrogen flow rate of 2 L/min, and reaction time of 60 min. The results showed that the final oil yield of palm shell pyrolysis was about 46.13 wt %. By mixing the palm shell with polystyrene, the yield of oil increased to about 61.63%. In these experiments, the high heating value was low (11.94 MJ/kg) for oil from pyrolysis of palm shell. By contrast, the high heating value was a high 38.01 MJ/kg for oil from pyrolysis of material mixtures. In addition, by using this method, more waste matter can be consumed as raw material for pyrolysis oil production, which also benefits waste management and energy security in Malaysia. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 1026–1033, 2014
An in situ assessment of selenium bioaccumulation from water-, sediment-, and dietary-exposure pathways using caged chironomus dilutus larvae
Authors: Franz Eric D. , Wiramanaden Cheryl I. E. , Gallego-Gallegos Mercedes , Tse Justin J. , Phibbs James , Janz David M. , Pickering Ingrid J. , Liber Karsten
Published: September 2013

An in situ caging study was conducted downstream of a metal mine in northern Canada to determine the significance of surface water versus sediment exposure on selenium (Se) bioaccumulation in the benthic invertebrate Chironomus dilutus. Laboratory-reared C. dilutus larvae were exposed to either site-specific whole-sediment and surface water or surface water only for 10 d at sites with differing sediment and Se characteristics. Results showed elevated whole-body Se concentrations in C. dilutus larvae when exposed to sediment and water, compared with larvae exposed to Se in the surface water only at concentrations ranging from <1 µg Se/L to 12 µg Se/L. In response to these findings, a second in situ experiment was conducted to investigate the importance of dietary Se (biofilm and detritus) versus whole-sediment-exposure pathways. Larvae exposed to sediment detritus had the highest Se concentrations after 10 d of exposure (15.6 ± 1.9 µg/g dry wt) compared with larvae exposed to whole-sediment (12.9 ± 1.7 µg/g dry wt) or biofilm (9.9 ± 1.6 µg/g dry wt). Detritus and biofilm appear to be enriched sources of organic Se, which are more bioaccumulative than inorganic Se. Midge larvae from the reference treatment contained elevated concentrations of diselenides (i.e., selenocystine), while larvae from the biofilm treatment had the highest concentrations of selenomethionine-like compounds, which may be a biomarker of elevated Se exposures derived from anthropogenic sources. Whenever possible, Se concentrations in the organic fraction of sediment should be measured separately from whole-sediment Se and used for more accurate ecological risk assessments of potential Se impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2836–2848. © 2013 SETAC
Sensing as a service model for smart cities supported by Internet of Things
Authors: Perera Charith , Zaslavsky Arkady , Christen Peter , Georgakopoulos Dimitrios
Published: September 2013

The world population is growing at a rapid pace. Towns and cities are accommodating half of the world's population thereby creating tremendous pressure on every aspect of urban living. Cities are known to have large concentration of resources and facilities. Such environments attract people from rural areas. However, unprecedented attraction has now become an overwhelming issue for city governance and politics. The enormous pressure towards efficient city management has triggered various Smart City initiatives by both government and private sector businesses to invest in information and communication technologies to find sustainable solutions to the growing issues. The Internet of Things (IoT) has also gained significant attention over the past decade. IoT envisions to connect billions of sensors to the Internet and expects to use them for efficient and effective resource management in Smart Cities. Today, infrastructure, platforms and software applications are offered as services using cloud technologies. In this paper, we explore the concept of sensing as a service and how it fits with the IoT. Our objective is to investigate the concept of sensing as a service model in technological, economical and social perspectives and identify the major open challenges and issues. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A diagnostic algorithm to identify paired tumors with clonal origin
Authors: Nemes Szilárd , Danielsson Anna , Parris Toshima Z. , Jonasson Junmei Miao , Bülow Erik , Karlsson Per , Steineck Gunnar , Helou Khalil
Published: September 2013

Despite practical implications we still lack standardized methods for clonality testing of tumor pairs. Each tumor is characterized by a set of chromosomal abnormalities, nonrandom changes preferentially involving specific chromosomes and chromosomal regions. Although tumors accumulate chromosomal abnormalities during their development, the majority of these alterations is specific and characteristic for each individual tumor is not exhibited at the population level. Assumingly, secondary tumors that develop from disseminated cells from the primary tumor inherit not only chromosomal changes specific for the cancerous process but also random chromosomal changes that accumulate during tumor development. Based on this assumption, we adopted an intuitive index for genomic similarities of paired tumors, which ranges between zero (completely different genomic profiles) and one (identical genomic profiles). To test the assumption that two tumors have clonal origins if they share a higher degree of genomic similarity than two randomly paired tumors, we built a permutation‐based null‐hypothesis procedure. The procedure is demonstrated using two publicly available data sets. The article highlights the complexities of clonality testing and aims to offer an easy to follow blueprint that will allow researchers to test genomic similarities of paired tumors, with the proposed index or any other index that fits their need. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NUP98‐NSD1 fusion in association with FLT3‐ITD mutation identifies a prognostically relevant subgroup of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients suitable for monitoring by real time quantitative PCR
Authors: Akiki Susanna , Dyer Sara A. , Grimwade David , Ivey Adam , Abou‐Zeid Nervana , Borrow Julian , Jeffries Sally , Caddick Judith , Newell Hayley , Begum Suriya , Tawana Kiran , Mason Joanne , Velangi Mark , Griffiths Michael
Published: September 2013

The cytogenetically cryptic t(5;11)(q35;p15) leading to the NUP98‐NSD1 fusion is a rare but recurrent gene rearrangement recently reported to identify a group of young AML patients with poor prognosis. We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen retrospectively diagnostic samples from 54 unselected pediatric AML patients and designed a real time quantitative PCR assay to track individual patient response to treatment. Four positive cases (7%) were identified; three arising de novo and one therapy related AML. All had intermediate risk cytogenetic markers and a concurrent FLT3‐ITD but lacked NPM1 and CEBPA mutations. The patients had a poor response to therapy and all proceeded to hematopoietic stem cell transplant. These data lend support to the adoption of screening for NUP98‐NSD1 in pediatric AML without otherwise favorable genetic markers. The role of quantitative PCR is also highlighted as a potential tool for managing NUP98‐NSD1 positive patients post‐treatment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Experimentelle Erkenntnisse zum zyklisch axialen Pfahltragverhalten
Authors: Thomas Sebastian , Kempfert Hans‐Georg
Published: September 2013

Zyklisch axiale Einwirkungen auf Pfähle können bekanntlich zur Akkumulation der plastischen Verschiebung des Pfahls und zur Änderung der postzyklischen Tragfähigkeit führen. Zu den Ursachen dieser Phänomene bestehen aber noch erhebliche Kenntnisdefizite. Im Rahmen eines DFG‐Forschungsprojekts sind neue Erkenntnisse zum zyklischen und postzyklischen Pfahltragverhalten erzielt worden. Dieser Beitrag berichtet von der Methodik und den wesentlichen Ergebnissen dieser Untersuchungen: In insgesamt 77 Probebelastungen an Modellpfählen konnten durch die Variation der Belastungsparameter und der Bodenkenngrößen verschiedene Einflussfaktoren für die Akkumulation der plastischen Verschiebung des Pfahls und die Änderung der Tragfähigkeit identifiziert werden. Auf Grundlage von Spannungsmessungen im Pfahlnahbereich und der Beobachtung von bodenmechanischen Vorgängen mithilfe der Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) konnten Hypothesen zum zyklischen und postzyklischen Tragverhalten abgeleitet werden. Schließlich wird ein neuartiges Interaktionsdiagramm vorgestellt, mit dem das zu erwartende Verschiebungsverhalten des Pfahls qualitativ abgeschätzt werden kann.

Experimental findings on pile behaviour under cyclic axial loading. It is known that cyclic axial loads may lead to the accumulation of plastic pile displacement and to the change in post‐cyclic pile capacity, but the causative mechanisms of cyclic pile behaviour are not completely understood. Thus, within the framework of a project supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the cyclic and post‐cyclic pile behaviour was systematically investigated using three experimental concepts. This paper reports about the investigation techniques and the significant findings of test results: In 77 model tests loading parameters and soil properties were modified. In this way it was possible to identify key influence factors for the accumulation of plastic pile displacement and for the change in post‐cyclic pile capacity. Based on stress measurements and observation of soil mechanical mechanisms using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) different hypothesis for cyclic and post‐cyclic pile behaviour could be derived. Finally, in order to forecast the plastic pile displacements from a qualitative viewpoint, a novel interaction diagram is presented.
A four‐miRNA signature identified from genome‐wide serum miRNA profiling predicts survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Liu Na , Cui Rui‐Xue , Sun Ying , Guo Rui , Mao Yan‐Ping , Tang Ling‐Long , Jiang Wei , Liu Xu , Cheng Yi‐Kan , He Qing‐Mei , Cho William C.S. , Liu Li‐Zhi , Li Li , Ma Jun
Published: September 2013

Recent findings have reported that human serum microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in various cancers. We aimed to explore the prognostic value of serum miRNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. The level of serum miRNA was retrospectively analyzed in 512 NPC patients recruited between January 2001 and December 2006. In the discovery stage, a microarray followed by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to identify differentially altered miRNAs in eight patients with shorter survival and eight patients with longer survival who were well matched by age, sex and clinical stage. The identified serum miRNAs were then validated in all 512 samples, which were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set. Four serum miRNAs (miR‐22, miR‐572, miR‐638 and miR‐1234) were found to be differentially altered and were used to construct a miRNA signature. Risk scores were calculated to classify the patients into high‐ or low‐risk groups. Patients with high‐risk scores had poorer overall survival [hazard ratio (HR), 2.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57–4.12; p < 0.001] and distant metastasis‐free survival (HR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.82–5.94; p < 0.001) than those with low‐risk scores in the training set; these results were confirmed in the validation and combined sets. The miRNA signature and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors. The combination of the miRNA signature and TNM stage had a better prognostic value than the TNM stage or miRNA signature alone. The four‐serum miRNA signature may add prognostic value to the TNM staging system and provide information for personalized therapy in NPC.
Collagen hydrogel as an immunomodulatory scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Yuan Tun , Zhang Li , Li Kuifeng , Fan Hongsong , Fan Yujiang , Liang Jie , Zhang Xingdong
Published: September 2013

A collagen type I hydrogel was constructed and used as the scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Neonatal rabbit chondrocytes were seeded into the hydrogel, and the constructs were culturedin vitrofor 7, 14, and 28 days. The immunomodulatory effect of the hydrogel on seeded chondrocytes was carefully investigated. The expressions of major histocompatibility complex classes I and II of seeded chondrocytes increased with the time, which indicated that the immunogenicity also increased with the time. Meanwhile, the properly designed collagen type I hydrogel could prompt the chondrogenesis of engineered cartilage. The extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis ability of seeded chondrocytes and the accumulated ECM in the constructs continuously increased with the culture time. Both the isolation and protection, which come from formed ECM and hydrogel scaffold, can effectively control the adverse immunogenicity of seeded chondrocytes and even help to lessen the immunogenicity of the whole engineered cartilage. As the result, the levels of mixed lymphocyte chondrocyte reactions of seed cells and the constructs decreased gradually. The stimulation on allogeneic lymphocytes of the whole constructs was obviously lower than that of the retrieved cells from the constructs. Therefore, properly designed collagen type I hydrogel can give certain immunogenicity‐reducing effects on engineered cartilage based on chondrocytes, and it may be a potential immunomodulatory biomaterial in tissue engineering. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 102B: 337–344, 2014.
A recurrent de novo FAM111A mutation causes kenny–caffey syndrome type 2
Authors: Isojima Tsuyoshi , Doi Koichiro , Mitsui Jun , Oda Yoichiro , Tokuhiro Etsuro , Yasoda Akihiro , Yorifuji Tohru , Horikawa Reiko , Yoshimura Jun , Ishiura Hiroyuki , Morishita Shinichi , Tsuji Shoji , Kitanaka Sachiko
Published: August 2013

Kenny–Caffey syndrome (KCS) is a rare dysmorphologic syndrome characterized by proportionate short stature, cortical thickening and medullary stenosis of tubular bones, delayed closure of anterior fontanelle, eye abnormalities, and hypoparathyroidism. The autosomal dominant form of KCS (KCS type 2 [KCS2]) is distinguished from the autosomal recessive form of KCS (KCS type 1 [KCS1]), which is caused by mutations of the tubulin-folding cofactor E (TBCE) gene, by the absence of mental retardation. In this study, we recruited four unrelated Japanese patients with typical sporadic KCS2, and performed exome sequencing in three patients and their parents to elucidate the molecular basis of KCS2. The possible candidate genes were explored by a de novo mutation detection method. A single gene, FAM111A (NM_001142519.1), was shared among three families. An identical missense mutation, R569H, was heterozygously detected in all three patients but not in the unaffected family members. This mutation was also found in an additional unrelated patient. These findings are in accordance with those of a recent independent report by a Swiss group that KCS2 is caused by a de novo mutation of FAM111A, and R569H is a hot spot mutation for KCS2. Although the function of FAM111A is not known, this study would provide evidence that FAM111A is a key molecule for normal bone development, height gain, and parathyroid hormone development and/or regulation. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Erythrocyte‐exchange with the OPTIA™ cell separator in patients with sickle‐cell disease
Authors: Perseghin Paolo , Incontri Arianna , Capra Manietta , Pichler Herbert , Witt Volker
Published: September 2013

Erythrocyte–exchange (EEX) has proven to be a very useful tool in sickle‐cell disease (SCD) patients either during acute painful crisis unresponsive to hydration and/or analgesia or as a prophylactic treatment in high risk patients in those who do not tolerate hydroxyurea (HU), with the aim of lowering HbS levels. EEX may be performed either by using continuous‐ or discontinuous flow devices, the former being of choice in children or in low‐weight patients. Thus, a low extracorporeal blood volume (EBV) could allow for a better and safer procedure management. In this study we compared EEX procedure performed with the recently released OPTIA device with EEX procedures performed using the COBE Spectra device (EBV 185 vs 270 mL, respectively). Twenty‐one EEX (4 as emergency treatment) were performed in 12 patients with the Spectra device and 25 (9 as emergency treatment) in 15 patients with the OPTIA device. All the procedures were well tolerated and uneventful. We did not observe significant differences between the two devices as to pre‐ and post‐EEX parameters, namely in target hematocrit and in HbS reduction. Noteworthy, due to the lowest EBV allowed by the OPTIA device, an EEX procedure performed in a 13 Kg‐ child did not require a preliminary priming of the circuit. In conclusion, the OPTIA device proved to be as effective as the Spectra device in treating SCD patients either during sickling crisis or as prophylactic therapy. The OPTIA device can be safely used in the pediatric setting since it allows a lower EBV. J. Clin. Apheresis, 28:411–415, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Atomic force microscope tip cleaning by using gratings as micro‐washboards
Authors: Shi Bin , Zhang Dongxian , Zhang Haijun , Sang Qing
Published: September 2013

The sharpness of atomic force microscope (AFM) tips is essential for acquiring high quality AFM images. However, AFM tips would easily get contaminated during scanning and storage at ambient condition, which influences image resolution and causes image distortion. Replacing the probe frequently is a solution, but uneconomical. To solve this problem, several tip cleaning methods have been proposed but there is space for further improvement. Therefore, this article developed a method of tip cleaning by using a one‐dimensional grating (600 lines/mm) as a micro‐washboard to “wash” contaminated tips. We demonstrate that the contaminants can be scrubbed away by rapidly scanning such micro‐washboard against the tip in the aids of Z‐dithering (10–20 Hz) exerted on the washboard. This method is highly efficient and proved to be superior to traditional ones. Experiments show that AFM images acquired with “washed” tips have higher resolution and less distortion compared with images acquired using contaminated tips, even comparable to those scanned by new ones. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:1131–1134, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.