bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant health challenges for a sustainable land use and rural economy.
Authors: Pautasso M. , Dehnen-Schmutz K. , Ilbery B. , Jeger M. J. , Jones G. , Little R. , MacLeod A. , Maye D. , Parker S. , Pietravalle S. , Mills P.
Published: January 2013

Plant health is a key condition for a sustainable land use and rural economy. Drawing on a Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU)-funded project on the growing risk of plant diseases in the UK, current and future challenges to plant health are discussed. It is well recognized that farmers have an important role in shaping plant health policies at a time of major structural changes in agricultural industries. However, the role of consumers has also much potential to improve sustainability of plant disease management options. The phytosanitary legislation is catching up with the many recent developments in plant health, but needs to be integrated with policies aimed at achieving animal and human health. Interdisciplinary approaches in research on plant health, as well as an increasing involvement of stakeholders in the management of plant epidemics, are to be welcomed. Plant diseases also influence (and are influenced by) land use and environmental regulations in general. Climate change is likely to increase the frequency and magnitude of new plant disease outbreaks, particularly when combined with globalization of trade, intensification of land use and structural evolution of the agricultural sector. To tackle the many challenges to plant health, it is mandatory to ensure long-term funding for interdisciplinary plant health research and management.
Recombinant vaccines and infectious bursal disease virus.
Authors: Lucero M. S. , Gómez E. , Carballeda J. M. , Gravisaco M. J. , Chimeno Zoth S. , Berinstein A.
Published: January 2013

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the aetiological agent of infectious bursal disease (IBD), an immunosuppressive and highly contagious disease that affects young birds causing important economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Currently, vaccination programmes with inactivated and live-attenuated viruses have been used to prevent IBD. However, these vaccines present a number of disadvantages, mainly because of their viral nature. Consequently, in the last two decades, many studies have been conducted in order to replace conventional virus-based vaccines by new, rationally designed vaccines that are safer as well as effective. In this review, we will present a background on the disease and its causative agent, and focus on the development of new generation vaccines against this significant poultry disease.
Flagging Turkishness: the reproduction of banal nationalism in the Turkish press
Authors: Köse Aynur , Yılmaz Mustafa
Published: January 2013

This article explores banal nationalist themes and symbols in the Turkish media on the basis of the study by Michael Billig titled “Banal Nationalism”. In this study, we used content analysis method to reveal how the key concepts that encompass the idea of the nationhood have been propagated within presentations of the daily news. The research sampling consisted of 36 daily newspapers of the mainstream Turkish media dated 3th February 2010. Our analysis revealed that even in an ordinary day when nationalist themes or developments were not intensely situated in the newspapers, nationhood was reproduced via both nationalist language forms and classifications of “us” and “them”, praise of the nation/country, and the emphasis on common interest or common history. This further highlights the constant transformation of nationalism, underlining its allusions and evocations not as a forgotten ideology but as something that is being reproduced in an unnoticed way every day and survives as a principal determinant of daily life activities. In addition, although it is not possible to see overt dichotomies or expressions of feeling within each part of the news or in every column, we found that the nation was implied or the national sentiments were presented.
Towards a new past: Some reflections on nationalism in post-socialist Slovakia
Authors: Burzova Petra
Published: January 2013

By analysing two commemorative events organized shortly before and after the 2010 parliamentary elections in Slovakia, this article demonstrates how the Prime Minister Robert Fico and his collaborators exploited these ceremonies to promote a more inclusive definition of political community than their right-wing counterparts. Although commentators have interpreted the continuous political success of the political party Smer-SD in terms of negatively connotated nationalism and national populism, Fico's discursive framework allows him to address those who have been stigmatized by post-1989 neoliberalism, especially former communists and people unable or unwilling to adapt to the rapid changes brought about by post-socialist social, economic, political as well as cultural transition(s). Instead of backwardness, Fico's anti-elitist and anti-capitalist rhetoric opened a new symbolic universe to these groups. The history narratives that formed an important part of this universe were not used to exclude the Other, but rather to create a meaningful future for those who have been ignored by (neo-)liberal ideals. This paper argues for an interpretation of post-socialist populist parties that would take into account culturally relevant symbolic structures advanced by these parties.
In search of a democratic cultural “alternative”: Serbia's European heritage from Dositej Obradović to OTPOR
Authors: Rossi Michael
Published: January 2013

Developments in Serbia's democratic consolidation over the past six years have been both ongoing and progressive. Yet the establishment of a widely shared and collectively accepted political culture that has departed from the ethnocentric and euroskeptic narratives of the Milošević era remains incomplete. Additionally, the failure by Serbian socio-political elites in appropriating alternative narratives of Serbian history and culture that demonstrate a tradition of shared values and identities with other European communities has stymied public acceptance of Serbia's European integration and public trust among its leaders. This paper argues that Serbian socio-political elites can appropriate narratives and symbols of Serbian collective identity that have been either sidelined or neglected by previously established ethnocentric narratives, and ascribe new systems of meaning and codes of behavior that qualify European liberal democratic values. I argue that a plentiful reservoir of democratic capital can be found in the histories of Serbian communities in Vojvodina over the past three centuries, and the urban cosmopolitanism of Belgrade from the late 1860s up to the present period.
The Modulation of Stimulus Structure on Visual Field Asymmetry Effects: The Case of Chinese Character Recognition
Authors: Hsiao Janet H. , Cheng Liao
Published: January 2013

Recent research suggests that visual field (VF) asymmetry effects in visual recognition may be influenced by information distribution within the stimuli for the recognition task in addition to hemispheric processing differences: Stimuli with more information on the left have a right VF (RVF) advantage because the left part is closer to the centre, where the highest visual acuity is obtained. It remains unclear whether visual complexity distribution of the stimuli also has similar modulation effects. Here we used Chinese characters with contrasting structures—left-heavy, symmetric, and right-heavy, in terms of either visual complexity of components or information distribution defined by location of the phonetic component—and examined participants' naming performance. We found that left-heavy characters had the largest RVF advantage, followed by symmetric and right-heavy characters; this effect was only observed in characters that contrasted in information distribution, in which information for pronunciation was skewed to the phonetic component, but not in those that contrasted only in visual complexity distribution and had no phonetic component. This result provides strong evidence for the influence of information distribution within the stimuli on VF asymmetry effects; in contrast, visual complexity distribution within the stimuli does not have similar modulation effects.
Knot concordance and homology cobordism
Authors: Cochran Tim , Franklin Bridget , Hedden Matthew , Horn Peter
Published: January 2013

We consider the question: “If the zero-framed surgeries on two oriented knots in

S
3

S^3

are

Z

\mathbb {Z}

-homology cobordant, preserving the homology class of the positive meridians, are the knots themselves concordant?” We show that this question has a negative answer in the smooth category, even for topologically slice knots. To show this we first prove that the zero-framed surgery on

K
K

is

Z

\mathbb {Z}

-homology cobordant to the zero-framed surgery on many of its winding number one satellites

P
(
K
)

P(K)

. Then we prove that in many cases the

τ
\tau

and

s
s

-invariants of

K
K

and

P
(
K
)

P(K)

differ. Consequently neither

τ
\tau

nor

s
s

is an invariant of the smooth homology cobordism class of the zero-framed surgery. We also show that a natural rational version of this question has a negative answer in both the topological and smooth categories by proving similar results for

K
K

and its

(
p
,
1
)

(p,1)

-cables.
Transversality theorems for the weak topology
Authors: Trivedi Saurabh
Published: January 2013

In 1979, Trotman proved, using the techniques of the Thom transversality theorem, that under some conditions on the dimensions of the manifolds under consideration, openness of the set of maps transverse to a stratification in the strong (Whitney) topology implies that the stratification is(a)(a)-regular. Here we first discuss the Thom transversality theorem for the weak topology and then give a similiar kind of result for the weak topology under very weak hypotheses. Recently, several transversality theorems have been proved for complex manifolds and holomorphic maps. In view of these transversality theorems we also prove a result analogous to Trotman’s result in the complex case.
Rivalry in Price and Location by Differentiated Product Manufacturers
Authors: Richards Timothy J. , Allender William J. , Hamilton Stephen F.
Published: January 2013

In this article, we estimate a model of strategic rivalry between food manufacturers in product design and pricing. We derive a spatial structural model in which food manufacturers jointly select prices and the optimal attribute composition of their product lines. We find that manufacturers have an incentive to locate yogurt products nearby others in attribute space and that products with the most similar attribute compositions enjoy the widest price‐cost margins. Our findings explain the observation that most consumer package goods tend to be very similar, yet manufacturers appear to earn above‐normal profits.
NucleoFinder: a statistical approach for the detection of nucleosome positions
Authors: Becker Jeremie , Yau Christopher , Hancock John M. , Holmes Christopher C.
Published: January 2013

Motivation: The identification of nucleosomes along the chromatin is key to understanding their role in the regulation of gene expression and other DNA-related processes. However, current experimental methods (MNase-ChIP, MNase-Seq) sample nucleosome positions from a cell population and contain biases, making thus the precise identification of individual nucleosomes not straightforward. Recent works have only focused on the first point, where noise reduction approaches have been developed to identify nucleosome positions.

Results: In this article, we propose a new approach, termed NucleoFinder, that addresses both the positional heterogeneity across cells and experimental biases by seeking nucleosomes consistently positioned in a cell population and showing a significant enrichment relative to a control sample. Despite the absence of validated dataset, we show that our approach (i) detects fewer false positives than two other nucleosome calling methods and (ii) identifies two important features of the nucleosome organization (the nucleosome spacing downstream of active promoters and the enrichment/depletion of GC/AT dinucleotides at the centre of in vitro nucleosomes) with equal or greater ability than the other two methods.

Availability: The R code of NucleoFinder, an example datafile and instructions are available for download from https://sites.google.com/site/beckerjeremie/

Contact: cholmes@stats.ox.ac.uk

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Detecting and understanding genetic and structural features in HIV-1 B subtype V3 underlying HIV-1 co-receptor usage
Authors: Chen Mengjie , Svicher Valentina , Artese Anna , Costa Giosuè , Alteri Claudia , Ortuso Francesco , Parrotta Lucia , Liu Yang , Liu Chang , Perno Carlo Federico , Alcaro Stefano , Zhang Jing
Published: January 2013

Motivation: To define V3 genetic elements and structural features underlying different HIV-1 co-receptor usage in vivo.

Results: By probabilistically modeling mutations in the viruses isolated from HIV-1 B subtype patients, we present a unique statistical procedure that would first identify V3 determinants associated with the usage of different co-receptors cooperatively or independently, and then delineate the complicated interactions among mutations functioning cooperatively. We built a model based on dual usage of CXCR4 and CCR5 co-receptors. The molecular basis of our statistical predictions is further confirmed by phenotypic and molecular modeling analyses. Our results provide new insights on molecular basis of different HIV-1 co-receptor usage. This is critical to optimize the use of genotypic tropism testing in clinical practice and to obtain molecular-implication for design of vaccine and new entry-inhibitors.

Contact:  jing.zhang.jz349@yale.edu or cf.perno@uniroma2.it

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
First Report of Pod and Stem Blight of Lima Bean Caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae in Malaysia
Authors: Mahmodi F. , Kadir J. B. , Puteh A. , Wong M. Y. , Nasehi A.
Published: January 2013

In July 2011, a severe outbreak of pod and stem blight was observed on lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants grown in the Cameron Highlands, located in Pahang State, Malaysia. Disease incidence varied from 33 to 75% in different fields. Pods and stems exhibited withered, light brown to reddish brown necrotic areas. Sub-circular and brown lesions were produced on the leaves. These lesions varied in size, often reaching a diameter of 1 to 2 cm. After tissue death, numerous pycnidia were observed on the surface of the pod or stem. The pycnidia diameter varied from 155 to 495 μm, averaging 265.45 μm, and on the surface of the pod or stem, pycnidia were often arranged concentrically or linearly, respectively. Pycnidiospores were hyaline, 1-celled, usually straight, and rarely, slightly curved. The α-spores varied from 5.5 to 9.0 × 2.5 to 4.0 μm; averaging 7.3 × 3.5 μm. The β-spores found either alone or with pycnidiospores in pycnidia were slender, hyaline, nonseptate, and straight or curved. Size varied from 15.8 to 38.0 × 1.3 to 2.1 μm; averaging 25.86 × 1.8 μm. The colony characteristics were recorded from pure cultures grown on potato dextrose agar plates, and incubated in darkness for 7 days at 25 °C, then exposed to 16/8 h light and dark periods at 25°C for a further 14 to 21 days. Morphological characteristics of the colonies and spores on PDA matched those described for P. phaseolorum var. sojae (2). Colonies were white, compact, with wavy mycelium and stromata with pycnidia that contained abundant β-spores. Sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer obtained from the Malaysian isolate FM1 (GenBank Accession No. JQ514150) using primers ITS5 and ITS4 (1) aligned with deposited sequences from GenBank confirmed identity and revealed 99% to 100% DNA similarity with P. phaseolorum strains (AY577815, AF001020, HM012819, JQ936148). The isolate FM1 was used for pathogenicity testing. Five non-infected detached leaves and pods of 4-week-old lima bean were surface sterilized and inoculated by placing 10 μl of conidial suspension (106 conidia ml–1) on the surface of leaves and pods using either the wound/drop or non-wound/drop method and distilled water used as control (3). The inoculated leaves and pods were incubated at 25 °C and 98% RH, and the experiment was performed twice. Disease reactions and symptoms were evaluated after inoculation. After one week, typical symptoms of pod and stem blight appeared with formation of pycnidia on the surface of the tissues, but not on non-inoculated controls. P. phaseolorum var. sojae was consistently reisolated from symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. phaseolorum var. sojae causing pod and stem blight of lima bean in Malaysia.

References: (1) R. Ford et al. Aust. Plant Pathol. 33:559, 2004. (2) G. L. Hartman et al. Compendium of Soybean Diseases. 4th ed. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1999. (3) P. P. Than et al. Plant Pathol. 57:562, 2008.
Unusual properties of the cytochrome P450 superfamily
Authors: Lamb David C. , Waterman Michael R.
Published: January 2013

During the early years of cytochrome P450 research, a picture of conserved properties arose from studies of mammalian forms of these monooxygenases. They included the protohaem prosthetic group, the cysteine residue that coordinates to the haem iron and the reduced CO difference spectrum. Alternatively, the most variable feature of P450s was the enzymatic activities, which led to the conclusion that there are a large number of these enzymes, most of which have yet to be discovered. More recently, studies of these enzymes in other eukaryotes and in prokaryotes have led to the discovery of unexpected P450 properties. Many are variations of the original properties, whereas others are difficult to explain because of their unique nature relative to the rest of the known members of the superfamily. These novel properties expand our appreciation of the broad view of P450 structure and function, and generate curiosity concerning the evolution of P450s. In some cases, structural properties, previously not found in P450s, can lead to enzymatic activities impacting the biological function of organisms containing these enzymes; whereas, in other cases, the biological reason for the variations are not easily understood. Herein, we present particularly interesting examples in detail rather than cataloguing them all.
β-Galactosyl Yariv Reagent Binds to the β-1,3-Galactan of Arabinogalactan Proteins
Authors: Kitazawa Kiminari , Tryfona Theodora , Yoshimi Yoshihisa , Hayashi Yoshihiro , Kawauchi Susumu , Antonov Liudmil , Tanaka Hiroshi , Takahashi Takashi , Kaneko Satoshi , Dupree Paul , Tsumuraya Yoichi , Kotake Toshihisa
Published: January 2013

Yariv phenylglycosides [1,3,5-tri(p-glycosyloxyphenylazo)-2,4,6-trihydroxybenzene] are a group of chemical compounds that selectively bind to arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), a type of plant proteoglycan. Yariv phenylglycosides are widely used as cytochemical reagents to perturb the molecular functions of AGPs as well as for the detection, quantification, purification, and staining of AGPs. However, the target structure in AGPs to which Yariv phenylglycosides bind has not been determined. Here, we identify the structural element of AGPs required for the interaction with Yariv phenylglycosides by stepwise trimming of the arabinogalactan moieties using combinations of specific glycoside hydrolases. Whereas the precipitation with Yariv phenylglycosides (Yariv reactivity) of radish (Raphanus sativus) root AGP was not reduced after enzyme treatment to remove α-l-arabinofuranosyl and β-glucuronosyl residues and β-1,6-galactan side chains, it was completely lost after degradation of the β-1,3-galactan main chains. In addition, Yariv reactivity of gum arabic, a commercial product of acacia (Acacia senegal) AGPs, increased rather than decreased during the repeated degradation of β-1,6-galactan side chains by Smith degradation. Among various oligosaccharides corresponding to partial structures of AGPs, β-1,3-galactooligosaccharides longer than β-1,3-galactoheptaose exhibited significant precipitation with Yariv in a radial diffusion assay on agar. A pull-down assay using oligosaccharides cross linked to hydrazine beads detected an interaction of β-1,3-galactooligosaccharides longer than β-1,3-galactopentaose with Yariv phenylglycoside. To the contrary, no interaction with Yariv was detected for β-1,6-galactooligosaccharides of any length. Therefore, we conclude that Yariv phenylglycosides should be considered specific binding reagents for β-1,3-galactan chains longer than five residues, and seven residues are sufficient for cross linking, leading to precipitation of the Yariv phenylglycosides.
Iron Is Involved in the Maintenance of Circadian Period Length in Arabidopsis
Authors: Chen Yong-Yi , Wang Ying , Shin Lung-Jiun , Wu Jing-Fen , Shanmugam Varanavasiappan , Tsednee Munkhtsetseg , Lo Jing-Chi , Chen Chyi-Chuann , Wu Shu-Hsing , Yeh Kuo-Chen
Published: January 2013

The homeostasis of iron (Fe) in plants is strictly regulated to maintain an optimal level for plant growth and development but not cause oxidative stress. About 30% of arable land is considered Fe deficient because of calcareous soil that renders Fe unavailable to plants. Under Fe-deficient conditions, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) shows retarded growth, disordered chloroplast development, and delayed flowering time. In this study, we explored the possible connection between Fe availability and the circadian clock in growth and development. Circadian period length in Arabidopsis was longer under Fe-deficient conditions, but the lengthened period was not regulated by the canonical Fe-deficiency signaling pathway involving nitric oxide. However, plants with impaired chloroplast function showed long circadian periods. Fe deficiency and impaired chloroplast function combined did not show additive effects on the circadian period, which suggests that plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling is involved in the lengthening of circadian period under Fe deficiency. Expression pattern analyses of the central oscillator genes in mutants defective in CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED1/LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL or GIGANTEA demonstrated their requirement for Fe deficiency-induced long circadian period. In conclusion, Fe is involved in maintaining the period length of circadian rhythm, possibly by acting on specific central oscillators through a retrograde signaling pathway.
Enhanced Proton Translocating Pyrophosphatase Activity Improves Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Romaine Lettuce
Authors: Paez-Valencia Julio , Sanchez-Lares Jonathan , Marsh Ellen , Dorneles Liane T. , Santos Mirella P. , Sanchez Diego , Winter Alexander , Murphy Sean , Cox Jennifer , Trzaska Marcin , Metler Jason , Kozic Alex , Facanha Arnoldo R. , Schachtman Daniel , Sanchez Charles A. , Gaxiola Roberto A.
Published: January 2013

Plant nitrate (NO3  −) acquisition depends on the combined activities of root high- and low-affinity NO3  − transporters and the proton gradient generated by the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. These processes are coordinated with photosynthesis and the carbon status of the plant. Here, we present the characterization of romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Conquistador’) plants engineered to overexpress an intragenic gain-of-function allele of the type I proton translocating pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase) of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The proton-pumping and inorganic pyrophosphate hydrolytic activities of these plants are augmented compared with control plants. Immunohistochemical data show a conspicuous increase in H+-PPase protein abundance at the vasculature of the transgenic plants. Transgenic plants displayed an enhanced rhizosphere acidification capacity consistent with the augmented plasma membrane H+-ATPase proton transport values, and ATP hydrolytic capacities evaluated in vitro. These transgenic lines outperform control plants when challenged with NO3  − limitations in laboratory, greenhouse, and field scenarios. Furthermore, we report the characterization of a lettuce LsNRT2.1 gene that is constitutive up-regulated in the transgenic plants. Of note, the expression of the LsNRT2.1 gene in control plants is regulated by NO3  − and sugars. Enhanced accumulation of 15N-labeled fertilizer by transgenic lettuce compared with control plants was observed in greenhouse experiments. A negative correlation between the level of root soluble sugars and biomass is consistent with the strong root growth that characterizes these transgenic plants.
5-Methyl-N-[2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-amine: a chain of hydrogen-bondedR22(6) andR22(16) rings
Authors: Portilla Jaime , Ontiveros Ina , Cobo Justo , Glidewell Christopher
Published: January 2013

The molecular skeleton of the title compound, C11H9F3N4O2, is almost planar and exhibits a polarized (charge-separated) electronic structure in the nitroaniline portion. Molecules are linked by N—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds to form a chain in which centrosymmetricR22(6) andR22(16) rings alternate.
3-Methyl-1-tosyl-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde
Authors: Pradeep Priyamvada , Khorasani Sanaz , de Koning Charles B. , Fernandes Manuel A.
Published: January 2013

The title indole derivative, C17H15NO3S, crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The benzene ring of the tosyl group is almost perpedicular to the indole ring in both molecules, with interplanar angles of 82.60 (5)° and 81.82 (6)°. The two molecules are, as a consequence, able to form an almost centrosymmetric non-bonded dimer, in which the molecules are linked by pairs of C—H...π interactions. The crystal structure displays a three-dimensional network of C—H...O interactions. A π–π interaction occurs between inversion-related indole rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.6774 (16) Å and an interplanar angle of 1.53 (15)°. This interaction leads to a stacking of molecules along theaaxis.
[μ-6,9-Bis(carboxylatomethyl)-3,12-bis(carboxymethyl)-3,6,9,12-tetraazatetradecanedioato]bis[aquacobalt(II)] tetrahydrate
Authors: Qian Qi-feng , Wu Jin-hui , Qian Jin-liang
Published: January 2013

The binuclear title complex, [Co2(C18H26N4O12)(H2O)2]·4H2O, lies about a centre of inversion, the CoIIatom being coordinated in a distorted octahedral arrangement defined by one water molecule and N2O3donors derived from one end of a 6,9-bis(carboxylatomethyl)-3,12-bis(carboxymethyl)-3,6,9,12-tetraazatetradecanedioate (H2TTHA4−) tetraanion. In the crystal, numerous O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three-dimensional network.
(4-Chloroacetanilido-κ2N,O)bis[2-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl-κ2C1,N]iridium(III)
Authors: Sun Lijun , Zhang Songlin , Song Qijun
Published: January 2013

In the neutral mononuclear iridium(III) title compound, [Ir(C8H7ClNO)(C11H8N)2], the IrIIIatom adopts an octahedral geometry, and is coordinated by two 2-phenylpyridyl ligands and one anionic 4-chloroacetanilide ligand. The 2-phenylpyridyl ligands are arranged in acis-C,C′ andcis-N,N′ fashion. Each 2-phenylpyridyl ligand forms a five-membered ring with the IrIIIatom. The 2-phenylpyridyl planes are perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle = 89.9 (1)°]. The Ir—C and Ir—N bond lengths are comparable to those reported for related iridium(III) 2-phenylpyridyl complexes. The remaining two coordination sites are occupied by the amidate N and O atoms, which form a four-membered ring with the iridium atom (Ir—N—C—O). The amidate plane is nearly perpendicular to both 2-phenylpyridyl ligands [dihedral angles = 87.8 (2) and 88.3 (2)°].
rac-Methyl (1R,3′S)-1′,1′′-dimethyl-2,2′′-dioxo-2H-dispiro[acenaphthylene-1,2′-pyrrolidine-3′,3′′-indoline]-4′-carboxylate
Authors: Ganesh G. , Yuvaraj Panneer Selvam , Divakara Chinthalapuri , Reddy Boreddy S. R. , SubbiahPandi A.
Published: January 2013

In the title compound, C26H22N2O4, the pyrrolidine ring adopts a twisted conformation and the other five-membered rings adopt envelope conformations with the spiro C atoms as the flap atoms. The naphthalene ring system of the dihydroacenaphthylene group forms dihedral angles of 89.2 (9) and 75.5 (6)° with the pyrrolidine and indole rings, respectively. The pyrrolidine ring makes a dihedral angle of 80.1 (9)° with the indole ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along theb-axis direction.
catena-Poly[(acetatochloridozinc)-μ-1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]di-1H-imidazole]
Authors: Wang Liang
Published: January 2013

The title compound, [Zn(CH3CO2)Cl(C14H14N4)]n, is a one-dimensional coordination polymer in which the ZnIIion is tetrahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of a bridging 1,1′-[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]di-1H-imidazole ligand, an acetate O atom and a Cl atom. The Cl atom, two acetate O atoms and two acetate C atoms are located on a mirror plane. The coordination of the diimidazole ligand to the ZnIIion gives an infinite one-dimensional zigzag structure along theb-axis direction with the charge balanced by the chloride and acetate ions.
(2-Amino-7-methyl-4-oxidopteridine-6-carboxylato-κ3O4,N5,O6)aqua(ethane-1,2-diamine-κ2N,N′)nickel(II) dihydrate
Authors: Baisya Siddhartha S. , Roy Parag S.
Published: January 2013

The NiIIatom in the title complex, [Ni(C8H5N5O3)(C2H8N2)(H2O)]·2H2O, is six-coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by a tridentate 2-amino-7-methyl-4-oxidopteridine-6-carboxylate (pterin) ligand, a bidentate ancillary ethane-1,2-diamine (en) ligand and a water molecule. The pterin ligand forms two chelate rings. The en and pterin ligands are arranged nearly orthogonally [dihedral angle between the mean plane of the en molecule and the pterin ring = 77.1 (1)°]. N—H...O, O—H...N and O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the complex molecules and lattice water molecules into a three-dimensional network. π–π interactions are observed between the pyrazine and pyrimidine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.437 (2) Å].
Buyer Groups, Antitrust and Outsiders
Authors: King Stephen P.
Published: January 2013

A buyer group is a subset of downstream firms that pool their demand for an upstream input to negotiate a better deal with suppliers. This study develops a simple model that shows how a buyer group changes market behaviour, focusing on the impact on downstream firms outside the buyer group. This impact critically depends on whether or not the buyer group and the supplier can write a contract contingent on the market price paid by outsiders. With contingent contracts, the price paid by firms outside the buyer group rises and their profits fall. If such contracts are infeasible, possibly due to legal concerns, the market price is lower after the buyer group forms. These results raise issues for antitrust authorities in Australia, Europe, the USA and elsewhere who evaluate buyer‐group agreements. We extend the model to consider the situation where a supplier can commit in advance to the market price. In this situation, the bargaining power of the buyer group becomes relevant with the market price inversely related to this bargaining power. We illustrate our results with a simple example.
Ecological consequences of a group fission event in the Tana River mangabey (Cercocebus galeritus)
Authors: Wieczkowski Julie
Published: January 2013

A group of Tana River mangabeys Cercocebus galeritus studied in 2000–2001 fissioned into two daughter groups in 2004, the first reported case of fission in Cercocebus. Data were collected on each daughter group in 2005–2006 to investigate how the groups divided the parent group's range, the quality of habitat used by each group, and if fruit abundance was correlated with the spatial relationships between the groups. Six days of ranging data were collected each month and input into ArcView GIS 3.3 to measure home ranges and core areas. Phenological data were collected from nine important food species. Habitat quality was measured by counting all reproductive‐sized individuals of those nine food species in the ranges. The daughter groups shared the parent group's home range and core area, although the larger group used more of those areas than the smaller group. The two groups got equal quality home ranges and core areas as measured by per capita food trees, but the larger group had access to a larger and richer exclusive area. Proximity of the groups to each other was not correlated with fruit abundance. This study contributes to the small body of literature that addresses ecological consequences of primate group fission.
History of Foreign Embryonic IsoAntigens
Authors: Rodríguez‐Burgos Antonio
Published: January 2013

After defining the term ‘foreign embryonic isoantigens’, the author describes the experimental sequence which has allowed this new fetoprotein class to be identified. Experiments have followed three different directions, namely (i) passive immunization, by which conceptus antibodies raised in another animal species are transferred to the female animal, the effects on the offspring becoming apparent after pregnancy; (ii) laboratory techniques, where the presence of conceptus antibodies in serum from aborting women has been demonstrated by use of analytical techniques or by testing the serum on cultured embryos; and (iii) active isoimmunization, by which the female animal is immunized against a conceptus extract from the same species, and the effects on the offspring are observed after pregnancy. The immunologic basis for autoantigenicity in these fetoproteins, and its significance to materno–fetal medicine, are explained. Finally, some fetoproteins not yet unambiguously classed as foreign embryonic isoantigens are presented.
Role of NKp46 Expression in Cytokine Production by CD56‐Positive NK Cells in the Peripheral Blood and the Uterine Endometrium
Authors: Yokota Megumi , Fukui Atushi , Funamizu Ayano , Nakamura Rika , Kamoi Mai , Fuchinoue Kohei , Sasaki Yukie , Fukuhara Rie , Mizunuma Hideki
Published: January 2013

Problem

To investigate the role of natural cytotoxicity receptor, NKp46 expression in cytokine‐producing NK cells.

Method of Study

CD56+/NKp46+ NK cells from the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium were magnetically separated. IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐4, IL‐10, and TGF‐β1 expressions on NK cells were investigated using multicolor flow cytometry.

Results

Peripheral blood and uterine endometrial NK cells were grouped into 4 subpopulations based upon the degree of CD56 and NKp46 expressions. NKp46 expression was associated with higher frequency of cytokine‐producing NK cells, including CD56dimNK cells. The percentage of TNF‐α+ and IL‐10+ NK cells per total CD56+/NKp46+ NK cells in the uterine endometrium showed a significant correlation with those of the peripheral blood in all subpopulations, but that of IFN‐γ+, IL‐4+, and TGF‐β1+ NK cells showed partial correlation.

Conclusion

Expression of NKp46 is involved in cytokine production of CD56+ NK cells in the peripheral blood and the uterine endometrium.
Insufficient pain relief in vacuum extraction deliveries: a population‐based study
Authors: Ahlberg Mia , Saltvedt Sissel , Ekéus Cecilia
Published: January 2013

Objective

To investigate the pain relief used in association with vacuum extraction assisted deliveries and to identify risk factors for not receiving pain relief during the procedure.

Design

Retrospective birth register study.

Setting

Nationwide study in Sweden.

Population

The study population consisted of all women (n = 62 568) with a singleton pregnancy who gave birth in gestational weeks 37+0 to 41+6 between 1999 and 2008 and were delivered by vacuum extraction.

Method

Register study with data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register.

Main outcome measures

Epidural blockade, spinal blockade, pudendal nerve blockade, infiltration of the perineum, no pain relief.

Results

In all, 32.4% primiparas and 51.4% multiparas who had a vacuum‐assisted delivery had this without potent pain relief such as epidural blockade, spinal blockade or pudendal nerve block. When infiltration was added as a method for pain relief, 18% were still delivered without pain relief. Multiparas were more likely than primiparas to be delivered without potent pain relief, odds ratio (OR) 2.29 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.20–2.38). Compared with women delivered by vacuum extraction due to prolonged labor, those with signs of fetal distress were more likely to be delivered without potent pain relief (OR) 1.74, 95% (CI) (1.68–1.81).

Conclusion

A considerable number of women are delivered by vacuum extraction without pain relief. The high proportion might reflect that clinical staff do not always consider pain relief to be of high priority in vacuum extraction deliveries or that they fear impaired pushing forces.
Novel Fenestration Designs for Controlled Venous Flow Shunting in Failing Fontans With Systemic Venous Hypertension
Authors: Albal Priti G. , Menon Prahlad G. , Kowalski William , Undar Akif , Turkoz Riza , Pekkan Kerem
Published: January 2013

The Fontan procedure is employed as the final‐stage palliation in single‐ventricle congenital heart patients and results in diversion of venous blood directly to the pulmonary arteries. Fontan patients have been known to suffer from postoperative systemic venous hypertension, which in turn is associated with pleural effusions and protein losing enteropathy, leading to a decreased duration and quality of life. Despite the ongoing debate on its benefits, a circular fenestration hole (typically 4 mm) establishing a venous shunt to the common atrium is traditionally employed to relieve venous pressure in the Fontan conduit and improve early postoperative Fontan hemodynamics. However, these improvements come at the cost of reduced oxygen saturation due to excessive right‐to‐left shunting if the fenestration is permanent. The ideal “selective” fenestration would therefore limit or eliminate shunt flow at tolerable systemic venous pressures and allow increased flow at high pressures. The objective of this study is to introduce new fenestration designs that exhibit these desirable pressure‐flow characteristics. Novel plus‐shaped and S‐shaped fenestration designs with leaflets are introduced as alternatives to the traditional circular fenestration, each having identical effective orifice areas at the fully open states. In vitro steady leakage flow tests were performed for physiological flow‐driving pressures in order to obtain pressure‐drop versus flow‐rate characteristics. In addition, the leaflet opening kinematics of the plus‐shaped fenestration was investigated computationally using finite element simulation. Fluid‐structure interaction analysis was performed to determine leaflet displacements and pressure‐flow characteristics at low pressures. Further, a lumped parameter model of the single‐ventricle circuit was created to simulate pulsatile flow conditions For the plus‐shaped fenestration, the flow rate was found to increase nonlinearly with increased driving systemic venous pressures at high physiological‐pressure drops which did not cause the leaflets to fully open, and linearly for low driving pressures. These results indicate that leaflets of the plus‐shaped fenestration design activated passively after a critical systemic venous pressure threshold. This feature is ideal for minimizing undesirable excessive venous shunting. A large variability in shunting flow rate may be obtained by changing the shape, thickness, size, and material of the fenestration to suit requirements of the patient, which can further limit shunt flow in a controlled manner.
Carotid Doppler Flow After Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Mild Hypothermia in Neonatal Piglets
Authors: Tirilomis Theodor , Malliarou Stella , Bensch Marc , Coskun K. Oguz , Popov Aron F. , Schoendube Friedrich A.
Published: January 2013

Although the mechanisms of neurological disorders after cardiac surgery in neonates are still not fully understood, alterations in blood flow after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may lead to cerebral injury. The aim of the study was the analysis of flow changes in the carotid artery of neonatal piglets after CPB. Ten neonatal piglets (younger than 7 days) were connected to the CPB and further management underwent three steps: (i) cooling to 32°C core temperature within 30 min; (ii) cardiac arrest under cardioplegic myocardial protection for 90 min; and (iii) rewarming to 37°C after cross‐clamp release (60 min of reperfusion). In summary, piglets were separated from CPB after a total duration time of 180 min. The blood flow was measured in the left carotid artery by an ultrasonic flow probe before CPB (baseline), immediately after CPB, 30 min, and 60 min after CPB. Additionally, the pulsatility index and the resistance index were calculated and compared. Finally, the relation of the carotid artery flow data with the corresponding pressure data at each time point was compared. After termination of CPB, the carotid artery mean flow was reduced from 28.34 ± 13.79 mL/min at baseline to 20.91 ± 10.61 mL/min and remained reduced 30 and 60 min after CPB termination (19.71 ± 11.11 and 17.64 ± 15.31 mL/min, respectively). Both the pulsatility and the resistance index were reduced immediately after CPB termination and increased thereafter. Nevertheless, values did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, the carotid Doppler flow immediately after CPB and mild hypothermia in neonatal piglets was lower than before CPB due to reduced vascular resistance. Additionally, the pressure–flow relation revealed that immediately after CPB, a higher pressure is required to obtain adequate flow.
Comparison Between D901 Lilliput 1 and Kids D100 Neonatal Oxygenators: Toward Bypass Circuit Miniaturization
Authors: De Rita Fabrizio , Marchi Diego , Lucchese Gianluca , Barozzi Luca , Dissegna Roberta , Menon Tiziano , Faggian Giuseppe , Mazzucco Alessandro , Luciani Giovanni Battista
Published: January 2013

Progress in biomaterial technology and improvements in surgical and perfusion strategy ameliorated morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac surgery. In this study, we describe our clinical experience comparing performance of two neonatal oxygenators. From January 2002 to March 2011, 159 infants with less than 5 kg body weight underwent heart surgery. Ninety‐four patients received a D901 Lilliput 1 oxygenator with standard bypass circuit (group A), while 65 received a D100 Kids with miniaturized bypass circuit (group B). Miniaturization consisted in shortened arterial, venous, cardioplegia, and pump‐master lines. Priming composition consisted in Ringer's acetate solution with addition of albumin and blood, with target hematocrit of 24% or greater. In group B cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was vacuum‐assisted and started with an empty venous line. Modified ultrafiltration and Cell‐Saver blood infusion was routinely applied in both groups. Average ± standard deviation (SD) age at repair was 37 ± 38 days in group A and 59 ± 60 days in group B (P = 0.005). Average ± SD weight, height, and body surface area were 3.5 ± 0.7 kg, 52 ± 4 cm, and 0.22 ± 0.03 m2, respectively, in group A, and 3.7 ± 1 kg, 53 ± 5 cm, and 0.23 ± 0.02 m2, respectively, in group B (P = not significant [NS]). Male sex was predominant (55 vs. 58%, P = NS). Priming volume was 524 ± 67 mL (group A) and 337 ± 53 mL (group B) (P = 0.001). There were no statistical differences in hemoglobin at the start, during, and at the end of CPB, but group A required higher blood volume added to the prime (111 ± 33 vs. 93 ± 31 mL, P = 0.001). In group B, two surgical procedures were completed in total hemodilution. In group B, CPB time and aortic cross‐clamp time were shorter than in group A (106 ± 52 vs. 142 ± 78 min and 44 ± 31 vs. 64 ± 31 min, respectively, P = 0.001). There were 16 hospital deaths in group A and 4 in group B (P = 0.04). Durations of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay were 5.3 ± 3.2 vs. 4.1 ± 3.2 days (P = 0.02) and 6.5 ± 4.9 vs. 5.1 ± 3 days (P = 0.03), respectively. There were significant differences in inotropic score (1083 ± 1175 vs. 682 ± 938, P = 0.04) and blood postoperative transfusion (153 ± 226 vs. 90 ± 61 mL, P = 0.04). Twenty‐seven patients in group A and 10 in group B presented with major adverse postoperative complications (P = 0.04). Use of neonatal oxygenators with low priming volume, associated with a miniaturized bypass circuit, seems to be a favorable strategy to decrease postoperative morbidity after cardiac surgery in neonates and infants.
Extracorporeal Life Support Experiences of a New Congenital Heart Center in Turkey
Authors: Erek Ersin , Haydin Sertac , Onan Burak , Onan Ismihan Selen , Yazici Pinar , Kocyigit Ozgen , Tanidir Cansaran , Yivli Perihan , Odemis Ender , Yeniterzi Mehmet , Bakir Ihsan
Published: January 2013

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provides mechanical support following cardiac surgery when respiratory and cardiac failure occurs. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who needed ECLS at a new congenital heart center in Turkey. Between December 2009 and February 2012, 616 congenital heart operations were performed. A total of 13 patients (seven female) underwent ECLS. The ages of the patients ranged between 16 days and 33 years. There were two neonatal, seven infant, three pediatric, and one adult congenital cases. Medos DPII ECLS system was used in all patients. Mean duration of ECLS was 6.2 ± 5.8 days (ranged from 29 h to 24 days). While central vascular access with aorta and right atrial cannulation was used in 11 patients, neck vessels were used in the other patients. Four patients (30.7%) weaned successfully from ECLS (two infant, two pediatric cases). Three of them had ECLS intraoperatively. In all patients, two (15.4%) were discharged from the hospital. One of them had mild neurologic deficit. Bleeding from the surgical and cannulation sites was the most common complication. Thrombus was detected in pump head and changed uneventfully in three patients. Arterial pH and lactate levels at the beginning of ECLS were significantly lower in patients who were successfully weaned from ECLS than nonsurvivors (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). ECLS can be a lifesaving modality in the perioperative period. It may be more beneficial if ECLS is used before the development of severe acidosis and high lactate levels.
Evolution of Technology, Establishment of Program, and Clinical Outcomes in Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: The “SickKids” Experience
Authors: Kotani Yasuhiro , Honjo Osami , Davey Lisa , Chetan Devin , Guerguerian Anne‐Marie , Gruenwald Colleen
Published: January 2013

Technological development has had a tremendous impact on the management of patients who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Team development and education are a vital component of a successful extracorporeal life support (ECLS) Program to reduce complications and subsequently improve clinical outcomes. We sought to review the evolution in technology, importance of team development and training, and report our experience at The Hospital for Sick Children,Toronto. There were a total of 576ECMOruns in 534 patients (42 repeatECMOruns) betweenJanuary 1988 andJune 2012. The use ofECMOfor cardiac disease has increased in the last decade due to an expanded indication forECMOin patients with single‐ventricle physiology. CardiacECMOstill remains a challenge in terms of survival (177/392, 45%). Although development of anECLSprogram and team education facilitated extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, clinical outcomes were not satisfactory (survival, 33%). The most common complications were hemorrhagic (13.8%), followed by renal (10.6%) and pulmonary dysfunction (6.9%). Advances in technology made management duringECMOsafer, and the mechanical complications related to theECMOsystem were 6.1%, including circuit changes due to thrombus formation, cannula repositioning, or optimization of size.