bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical evaluation scheme on technology sourcing for advanced public transport systems
Authors: Chung Ming‐Chih , Wei Chien‐Hung , Chen Chung‐Jen
Published: January 2010

Advanced public transport system (APTS) technologies have received much attention from industry researchers in recent years for their evident importance to economic growth. The development of critical APTS technology, such as the contact‐less smart card (CSC), in newly industrialized areas receives its impetus from the experience of developed countries. The evaluation of technology sourcing with a higher growth potential in CSC technology has become a critical issue for Taiwanese firms. However, past research rarely emphasized it. This paper utilizes the grey statistical method with survey techniques and the analytic hierarchy process to develop an integrated evaluation model for solving the technology‐sourcing problem. An empirical case of the CSC technology sourcing in Taiwan was chosen to demonstrate the application of the proposed model on this issue. The research results suggest that the application of the model provides a sensible path for company policy makers to effectively cope with the technology‐sourcing evaluation problem.
Multiple criteria optimization method for the vehicle assignment problem in a bus transportation company
Authors: Zak Jacek , Jaszkiewicz Andrzej , Redmer Adam
Published: January 2010

A vehicle assignment problem (VAP) in a road, long‐haul, passenger transportation company with heterogeneous fleet of buses is considered in the paper. The mathematical model of the VAP is formulated in terms of multiobjective, combinatorial optimization. It has a strategic, long‐term character and takes into account four criteria that represent interests of both passengers and the company's management. The decision consists in the definition of weekly operating frequency (number of rides per week) of buses on international routes between Polish and Western European cities. The VAP is solved in a step‐wise procedure. In the first step a sample of efficient (Pareto‐optimal) solutions is generated using an original metaheuristic method called Pareto Memetic Algorithm (PMA). In the second step this sample is reviewed and evaluated by the Decision Maker (DM). In this phase an interactive, multiple criteria analysis method with graphical facilities, called Light Beam Search (LBS), is applied. The method helps the DM to define his/her preferences, direct the search process and select the most satisfactory solution.
Multi‐criteria analysis for evaluating the impacts of intelligent speed adaptation
Authors: Agusdinata D. B. , van der Pas J. W. G. M. , Walker W. E. , Marchau V. A. W. J.
Published: January 2010

Road safety is a policy priority due to the high casualties and costs associated with road accidents. Since speed is a major cause of road accidents, in‐vehicle speed limiters or Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA), seems a promising solution. ISA implementation, however, is hindered by large uncertainties, for example about the impacts of ISA, the way users might respond to ISA, and the relationship between speed and accidents. Traditional Multi‐Criteria Analysis (MCA) has limitations in handling these uncertainties. We present an MCA approach based on exploratory modeling, which uses computational experiments to explore the multiple outcomes of ISA policies (safety, emissions, throughput, and cost) across a range of future demand scenarios, functional relationships for performance criteria, and user responses to ISA. As an illustration, by testing the impacts of different ISA penetration levels on two driver groups, we show that when compliance with ISA is expected to be low, a policy aimed only at novice drivers outperforms other ISA policies on safety improvement.
A novel Method for the selective recovery and purification of γ‐polyglutamic acid from Bacillus licheniformis fermentation broth
Authors: Manocha Bhavik , Margaritis Argyrios
Published: January 2010

Microbially produced gamma‐polyglutamic acid (γ‐PGA) is a commercially important biopolymer with many applications in biopharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and waste‐water treatment industries. Owing to its increasing demand in various industries, production of γ‐PGA is well documented in the literature, however very few methods have been reported for its recovery.

In this paper, we report a novel method for the selective recovery and purification of γ‐PGA from cell‐free fermentation broth of Bacillus licheniformis. The cell‐free fermentation broth was treated with divalent copper ions, resulting in the precipitation of γ‐PGA, which was collected as a pellet by centrifugation. The pellet was resolubilized and dialyzed against de‐ionized water to obtain the purified γ‐PGA biopolymer. The efficiency and selectivity of γ‐PGA recovery was compared with ethanol precipitation method. We found that 85% of the original γ‐PGA content in the broth was recovered by copper sulfate‐induced precipitation, compared to 82% recovery by ethanol precipitation method. Since ethanol is a commonly used solvent for protein precipitation, the purity of γ‐PGA precipitate was analyzed by measuring proteins that co‐precipitated with γ‐PGA. Of the total proteins present in the broth, 48% proteins were found to be co‐precipitated with γ‐PGA by ethanol precipitation, whereas in copper sulfate‐induced precipitation, only 3% of proteins were detected in the final purified γ‐PGA, suggesting that copper sulfate‐induced precipitation offers better selectivity than ethanol precipitation method. Total metal content analysis of the purified γ‐PGA revealed the undetectable amount of copper ions, whereas other metal ions detected were in low concentration range. The purified γ‐PGA was characterized using infrared spectroscopy. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Development and optimization of a process for automated recovery of single cells identified by microengraving
Authors: Choi Jae Hyeok , Ogunniyi Adebola O. , Du Mindy , Du Minna , Kretschmann Marcel , Eberhardt Jens , Love J. Christopher
Published: January 2010

Microfabricated devices are useful tools for manipulating and interrogating large numbers of single cells in a rapid and cost‐effective manner, but connecting these systems to the existing platforms used in routine high‐throughput screening of libraries of cells remains challenging. Methods to sort individual cells of interest from custom microscale devices to standardized culture dishes in an efficient and automated manner without affecting the viability of the cells are critical. Combining a commercially available instrument for colony picking (CellCelector, AVISO GmbH) and a customized software module, we have established an optimized process for the automated retrieval of individual antibody‐producing cells, secreting desirable antibodies, from dense arrays of subnanoliter containers. The selection of cells for retrieval is guided by data obtained from a high‐throughput, single‐cell screening method called microengraving. Using this system, 100 clones from a mixed population of two cell lines secreting different antibodies (12CA5 and HYB099‐01) were sorted with 100% accuracy (50 clones of each) in ∼2 h, and the cells retained viability. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Pure component spectral recovery and constrained matrix factorizations: concepts and applications
Authors: Neymeyr Klaus , Sawall Mathias , Hess Dieter
Published: January 2010

We present new ideas underlying a self‐modelling factor analytical method which allows to extract pure component spectra and the associated concentration profiles from a set of spectroscopic measurements. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated and compared with established tools for model problems and for a system from catalytic hydroformylation by Rhodium complexes both with overlapping component spectra. Self‐modelling methods tend to minimize the overlap of the recovered spectra, which can result in an unwanted distortion of the spectra and concentration profiles. For strongly overlapping spectra a penalty condition on a specific singular value of the absorptivity matrix factor and a global decomposition approach are appropriate tools to construct improved factorizations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Implications of Thrombocytopenia Among Patients Undergoing Intra‐aortic Balloon Pump Counterpulsation in the Coronary Care Unit
Authors: Roy Sion K. , Howard Edward W. , Panza Julio A. , Cooper Howard A.
Published: January 2010

Background

Thrombocytopenia Hypothesis: intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP)‐associated thrombocytopenia is not associated with an increased risk of major bleeding or in‐hospital death. Thrombocytopenia is a common adverse effect of the IABP. However, the clinical implications of IABP‐associated thrombocytopenia are unknown.

Methods

We assessed the incidence and predictors of thrombocytopenia, and the association between thrombocytopenia and relevant clinical end points, using prospectively collected data on 252 consecutive patients undergoing IABP in a single coronary care unit (CCU).

Results

Anticoagulation with intravenous heparin was administered to 182 patients (72%). Baseline platelet counts were 232 000 ± 96 000 mL, decreased to 154 000 ± 74 000 mL at day 3, and recovered to baseline by day 8. Thrombocytopenia (nadir < 150 000 mL or > 50% reduction from baseline) occurred in 109 patients (43%), with a similar incidence among patients who received heparin and those who did not (45% vs 40%, P = 0.5). Independent predictors of thrombocytopenia were lower body weight, cardiogenic shock, and duration of IABP support. The incidence of both major bleeding and in‐hospital death were higher among patients who developed thrombocytopenia than among those who did not (13.8% vs 4.2%, P = 0.01 and 28% vs 16%, P = 0.02, respectively). However, after controlling for confounding variables, thrombocytopenia was not an independent predictor of either major bleeding (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8–6.4, P = 0.1) or in‐hospital death (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.8–2.9, P = 0.3).

Conclusions

Among patients undergoing IABP in the CCU, thrombocytopenia is generally mild, appears to be unrelated to concomitant heparin use, and is not associated with an increased risk of major bleeding or in‐hospital death. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dyslipidemia in the Elderly: Should it Be Treated?
Authors: Shanmugasundaram Madhan , Rough Steven J. , Alpert Joseph S.
Published: January 2010

Elderly or older adults constitute a rapidly growing segment of the United States population, thus resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease—an increase that is reaching epidemic proportions. Dyslipidemia is a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is estimated to account for more than half of the global cases of coronary artery disease. Despite the increased prevalence of dyslipidemia in the older adult population, controversy persists regarding the benefits of treatment in this group. Epidemiologic studies have shown that dyslipidemia is often underdiagnosed and under treated in this population probably as a result of a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of treatment in delaying the progression of atherosclerotic disease, concerns involving increased likelihood of adverse events or drug interactions, or doubts regarding the cost effectiveness of lipid‐lowering therapy in older adults. In conclusion, despite the proven efficacy of lipid‐lowering therapy in decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, these therapies have been underutilized in older patients. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Pro‐oxidant Properties of AZT and other Thymidine Analogues in Macrophages: Implication of the Azido Moiety in Oxidative Stress
Authors: Amatore Christian , Arbault Stéphane , Jaouen Gérard , Koh Alaric C. W. , Leong Weng Kee , Top Siden , Valleron Marie‐Alice , Woo Chang Hong
Published: January 2010

Zidovudine (azidothymidine, AZT) was the first drug approved for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment. Unfortunately, AZT is known to lead to severe side effects, many of which are generally thought to result from increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this work, the pro‐oxidative properties of AZT and other thymidine analogues were investigated electrochemically at microelectrodes. Macrophages pre‐incubated with AZT were found to release significant amounts of reactive species, including H2O2, ONOO−, NO. and NO2−. Interestingly, the total amounts of released species were the greatest when cells were incubated with azido‐containing analogues. The pro‐oxidative effect of these compounds decreased significantly when the free azide terminal group was modified by reaction with a triosmium cluster. As expected, thymidine incubation did not lead to any increase in overall ROS levels. This work implicates the azido moiety in AZT‐induced oxidative stress.
88‐Element solution to Schneiders' pyramid hex‐meshing problem
Authors: Yamakawa Soji , Shimada Kenji
Published: January 2010

This paper presents a solution to a hex‐meshing problem known as Schneiders' problem, which was introduced by Robert Schneiders in 1996. Consider a pyramid enclosed by a square and four equilateral triangles. The exterior of the pyramid can be subdivided into an all‐quadrilateral mesh by (1) inserting a node at the middle of each edge and at the center of each face and (2) connecting a node inserted at the center of the face with the nodes inserted on the edges of the face. The goal of Schneiders' problem is to find an all‐hex mesh that conforms to this quadrilateral mesh. The solution should consist of as few elements as possible, and as well‐shaped elements as possible. Since a solution to this problem could contribute to a fully automatic unstructured all‐hex mesh generation scheme, the problem has been studied for years. However, no practically usable solution has been found. The smallest known solution has been a hexahedral mesh consisting of 118 elements. This paper presents a new solution to the problem that consists of 88 elements. All elements included in the mesh are positive, and no two neighboring elements share more than one face. Although it is unknown whether 88‐element solution is the smallest possible solution, it is one step advance from the previously known 118‐element solution. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Basic displacement functions for centrifugally stiffened tapered beams
Authors: Attarnejad Reza , Shahba Ahmad
Published: January 2010

Introducing the concept of basic displacement functions (BDFs), free vibration analysis of rotating tapered beams is studied from a mechanical point of view. Holding pure structural/mechanical interpretations, BDFs are obtained by solving the governing static differential equation of flapwise motion of rotating Euler–Bernoulli beams and imposing appropriate boundary conditions. Following the principles of structural mechanics, it is shown that exact shape functions and consequently structural matrices could be derived in terms of BDFs. The new shape functions capture the effects of variation of both cross‐sectional area and moment of inertia along the element and the stiffening effect of centrifugal force. The method is employed to determine the natural frequencies of tapered rotating beams with different variations of cross‐sectional dimensions and the results are in good agreement with those in the literature. Finally, the effects of rotational speed and taper ratio on the natural frequencies are investigated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Zebrafish cardiac enhancer trap lines: New tools for in vivo studies of cardiovascular development and disease
Authors: Poon Kar‐Lai , Liebling Michael , Kondrychyn Igor , Garcia‐Lecea Marta , Korzh Vladimir
Published: January 2010

Using the transposon‐mediated enhancer trap (ET), we generated 18 cardiac enhancer trap (CET) transgenic zebrafish lines. They exhibit EGFP expression in defined cell types—the endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium—or in anatomical regions of the heart—the atrium, ventricle, valves, or bulbus arteriosus. Most of these expression domains are maintained into adulthood. The genomic locations of the transposon insertions were determined by thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL‐PCR). The expression pattern of EGFP in some CETs is unique and recapitulates expression of genes flanking the transposon insertion site. The CETs enabled us to capture the dynamics of the embryonic heart beating in vivo using fast scanning confocal microscopy coupled with image reconstruction, producing three‐dimensional movies in time (4D) illustrating region‐specific features of heart contraction. This collection of CET lines represents a toolbox of markers for in vivo studies of heart development, physiology, and drug screening. Developmental Dynamics 239:914–926, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanisms of ligand‐mediated inhibition in Notch signaling activity in Drosophila
Authors: Fiuza Ulla‐Maj , Klein Thomas , Martinez Arias Alfonso , Hayward Penelope
Published: January 2010

The transmembrane proteins Delta and Serrate act as ligands for the signaling receptor Notch. In addition to this activating role, Delta and Serrate can also inhibit Notch signaling activity. This inhibitory effect is concentration‐dependent and appears to be evolutionarily conserved. In characterizing the underlying cellular mechanisms of the ligand inhibitory effect, we can confirm that ligand‐mediated inhibition of Notch signaling can occur as a cell autonomous process (cis‐inhibition) and that ligand‐mediated inhibition prevents a step in Notch signaling activation early enough to suppress Notch ectodomain shedding. Developmental Dynamics 239:798–805, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mesenchyme cells can function to induce epithelial cell proliferation in starfish embryos
Authors: Hamanaka Gen , Matsumoto Midori , Imoto Masaya , Kaneko Hiroyuki
Published: January 2010

Here, we show that mesenchyme cells have a novel morphogenetic function in epithelial cell proliferation in starfish embryos. Blastula embryos were injected with pure populations of mesenchyme cells and the total cell numbers in the treated embryos were subsequently determined at different developmental stages. When a total of 40–50 mesenchyme cells was injected, total cells numbers in mid‐gastrula embryos and 3‐day‐old bipinnaria larvae increased significantly (by 1.3‐fold) compared with controls, with no indication of any mitotic activity in the injected mesenchyme cells. However, injection of more than 150 mesenchyme cells failed to induce proliferation of the epithelial cells and, moreover, interfered with normal morphogenesis. These developmental abnormalities occurred concomitantly with a severe condensation of the fibrous component of the extracellular matrix. Our data suggest that epithelial cell proliferation is induced by an appropriate number of mesenchyme cells in concert with the fibrous component of the extracellular matrix. Developmental Dynamics 239:818–827, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Startle as an objective measure of distress related to teasing and body image
Authors: Spresser Carrie D. , Keune Kristen M. , Filion Diane L. , Lundgren Jennifer D.
Published: January 2010

Objective:

The startle reflex was used to assess negative emotion in response to body image cues in persons with and without body‐related teasing histories.

Method:

Fifty‐three female college students viewed photos of themselves both unaltered and morphed to look heavier and thinner. Participants with a teasing history were compared to participants without a teasing history on self‐report measures and the affect modulated startle paradigm when viewing the photos.

Results:

All participants, regardless of teasing history, self‐reported that the photo morphed to look heaviest was more unpleasant than the neutral photo. When assessed by the affect modulated startle paradigm, a significant teasing history by photo interaction was found between the neutral and morphed to look heaviest photos and the neutral and morphed to look smallest photo. Those with a teasing history had greater startle response to the morphed images in comparison to the neutral images than did those without a teasing history.

Discussion:

College‐aged women with weight‐related teasing histories may have negative emotional reactions to personally relevant body image cues, as measured by the startle reflex, even when they subjectively report no distress. Objective measures, such as the startle reflex should be considered when assessing emotional reactions to body image cues. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011; 44:58–64)
An investigation of weight suppression in a population‐based sample of female twins
Authors: Mitchell Karen S. , Neale Michael C. , Bulik Cynthia M. , Lowe Michael , Maes Hermine H. , Kendler Kenneth S. , Mazzeo Suzanne E.
Published: January 2010

Objective:

Weight suppression (WS), maintaining a body weight below one's maximum adult weight, is associated with bingeing, purging, and weight gain in clinical samples.

Method:

We investigated associations between eating disorder‐related variables and WS and additive genetic (A), common (C), and unique (E) environmental contributions to WS in a population‐based sample of 1,503 female adult twins.

Results:

Modeling results were similar for participants reporting no binge eating (NBE) and those reporting binge eating plus loss of control (BE + LOC): 20–25% of the variance in WS was due to A and 70–75% due to E. Among NBE participants, restraint, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and dieting during child/adulthood were related to WS. Restraint, disinhibition, and dieting during childhood were significantly associated with WS in the BE + LOC subsample.

Discussion:

Although maintaining lower body weight could be advantageous, interventionists should take care when addressing weight suppression in individuals vulnerable to eating disorder symptomatology. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011; 44:44–49)
The effectiveness of a day program for the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa
Authors: Goldstein Mandy , Peters Lorna , Baillie Andrew , McVeagh Patricia , Minshall Gerri , Fitzjames Dianne
Published: January 2010

Objective:

The risks of anorexia nervosa (AN) are well established. Despite its severity, little certainty exists for practitioners, with ethical and financial limitations yielding few controlled studies establishing effective treatments. Thus, other methods of establishing treatment effectiveness are necessary. This study presents preliminary results of an open clinical trial of a day program for adolescents with AN.

Method:

Participants were 26 anorectic females, 12–18 years, who completed the “Transition Program.”

Results:

Significant change emerged on measures of weight gain, and behavioral and attitudinal measures of eating pathology. Large effect sizes were evident for weight gain at 6 month follow‐up. Preliminary trends suggest that treatment gains on these and other measures of eating pathology were maintained at 6 month follow‐up.

Discussion:

Preliminary results support day program treatment for adolescents with mild‐moderately severe eating disorders. Present outcomes are discussed with respect to the dearth of efficacious treatment options for adolescents. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011; 44:29–38)
Feeding and eating disorders in childhood
Authors: Bryant‐Waugh Rachel , Markham Laura , Kreipe Richard E. , Walsh B. Timothy
Published: January 2010

Objective:

To review the literature related to the current DSM‐IV‐TR diagnostic criteria for feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood; pica; rumination disorder; and other childhood presentations that are characterized by avoidance of food or restricted food intake, with the purpose of informing options for DSM‐V.

Method:

Articles were identified by computerized and manual searches and reviewed to evaluate the evidence supporting possible options for revision of criteria.

Results:

The study of childhood feeding and eating disturbances has been hampered by inconsistencies in classification and use of terminology. Greater clarity around subtypes of feeding and eating problems in children would benefit clinicians and patients alike.

Discussion:

A number of suggestions supported by existing evidence are made that provide clearer descriptions of subtypes to improve clinical utility and to promote research. © 2010 American Psychiatric Association. (Int J Eat Disord 2010)
Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Gas Sorption Properties of Prussian Blue Analogues Constructed from [Cr(CN)6]3– Building Blocks
Authors: Yuan Ai‐Hua , Chu Chao‐Xia , Zhou Hu , Yuan Peng , Liu Kang‐Kang , Li Li , Zhang Qing‐Feng , Chen Xin , Li Yi‐Zhi
Published: January 2010

Three isostructural porous Prussian blue analogues KM[Cr(CN)6]·H2O (M = Zn, Mn, Fe) with alkali metal cations K+ located within the pores of the frameworks have been constructed and characterized structurally. Thermal gravimetric analysis and variable‐temperature powder XRD results indicate that the three porous materials are stable at high temperatures, and their frameworks are still retained after dehydration. The permanent porosities have been confirmed by nitrogen and hydrogen sorption measurements at 77 K. Sorption studies show that the framework of FeCr with just 289 m2 g–1 BET surface area can take up a moderate amount of H2 at 77 K and 860 Torr [112 cm3(STP) g–1, 0.71 wt.‐%], which indicates that the guest alkali metal cation K+ located in the pores can enhance the H2 binding affinity within the dehydrated porous framework.
PCR, sequencing and PCR–RFLP of the 5S‐rRNA‐NTS region as a tool for the DNA fingerprinting of medicinal and aromatic plants
Authors: Gnavi Giorgio , Bertea Cinzia M. , Maffei Massimo E.
Published: January 2010

Molecular genetic methods have several advantages over classical morphological and chemical analyses. For instance, the genetic method requires genotype instead of phenotype, therefore DNA‐based techniques have been widely used for rapid identification of herbal medicine and aromatic plants. Using PCR approaches, nanogram quantities of DNA are required to amplify and yield sufficient amounts of template DNA for molecular genetic analysis. Recently, the molecular discrimination of some higher plant species has been evaluated using sequences of a 5S‐rRNA gene spacer region. The variation in the non‐transcribed sequence (NTS) region has been used in a number of plant species for studying intraspecific variation, mapping 5S rDNA arrays, genome evolution and phylogenetic reconstruction. In this minireview we summarize the potential use of the 5S‐rRNA‐NTS region as a tool for the DNA fingerprinting of medicinal and aromatic plants. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Common and distinct neural substrates for the perception of speech rhythm and intonation
Authors: Zhang Linjun , Shu Hua , Zhou Fengying , Wang Xiaoyi , Li Ping
Published: January 2010

The present study examines the neural substrates for the perception of speech rhythm and intonation. Subjects listened passively to synthesized speech stimuli that contained no semantic and phonological information, in three conditions: (1) continuous speech stimuli with fixed syllable duration and fundamental frequency in the standard condition, (2) stimuli with varying vocalic durations of syllables in the speech rhythm condition, and (3) stimuli with varying fundamental frequency in the intonation condition. Compared to the standard condition, speech rhythm activated the right middle superior temporal gyrus (mSTG), whereas intonation activated the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and sulcus (STG/STS) and the right posterior STS. Conjunction analysis further revealed that rhythm and intonation activated a common area in the right mSTG but compared to speech rhythm, intonation elicited additional activations in the right anterior STS. Findings from the current study reveal that the right mSTG plays an important role in prosodic processing. Implications of our findings are discussed with respect to neurocognitive theories of auditory processing. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of the cingulate cortex as neural generator of the N200 and P300 in a tactile response inhibition task
Authors: Huster R.J. , Westerhausen R. , Pantev C. , Konrad C.
Published: January 2010

Both the N200 and P300, which are, for example, evoked by Go/Nogo or Stop‐Signal tasks, have long been interpreted as indicators for inhibition processes. Such interpretations have recently been challenged, and interest in the exact neural generators of these brain responses is continuously growing. Using recent methodological advancements, source estimations for the N200 and P300 as evoked by a tactile response inhibition task were computed. Current density reconstructions were also calculated accounting for interindividual differences in head geometry by incorporating information from T1‐weighted magnetic resonance images. To ease comparability with relevant paradigms, the task was designed to mimic important characteristics of both Go/Nogo and Stop‐Signal tasks as prototypes for a larger set of paradigms probing response inhibition. A network of neural generators was revealed, which has previously been shown to act in concert with executive control processes and thus is in full agreement with observations from other modalities. Importantly, a spatial segregation of midcingulate sources was observed. Our experimental data indicate that a left anterior region of the midcingulate cortex (MCC) is a major neural generator of the N200, whereas the midcingulate generator of the P300 is located in the right posterior MCC. Analyses of the P300 also revealed several areas, which have previously been associated with motor functions, for example, the precentral region. Our data clearly suggest a neuroanatomical and therefore also functional dissociation of the N200 and P300, a finding that cannot easily be provided by other imaging techniques. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessing damaged road verges as a suspended sediment source in the Hampshire Avon catchment, southern United Kingdom
Authors: Collins A. L. , Walling D. E. , Stroud R. W. , Robson M. , Peet L. M.
Published: January 2010

Diffuse sediment pollution impairs water quality, exerts a key control on the transfer and fate of nutrients and contaminants and causes deleterious impacts on freshwater ecology. A variety of catchment sediment sources can contribute to such problems. Sediment control strategies and effective targeting of mitigation options therefore require robust quantitative information on the key sources of the sediment problem at catchment scale. Recent observations by Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers (CSFO's) in England have highlighted road verges damaged and eroded by passing vehicles, particularly large farm machinery, and livestock herd movement as visually important potential sources of local sediment problems. A study was therefore undertaken to assess the relative importance of damaged road verges as a suspended sediment source in three sub‐catchments of the Hampshire Avon drainage basin, southern UK. Road verge sediment contributions were apportioned in conjunction with those from agricultural topsoils and channel banks/subsurface sources. Time‐integrating isokinetic samplers were deployed to sample suspended sediment fluxes at the outlets of two control sub‐catchments drained by the Rivers Chitterne and Till selected to characterize areas with a low road network density and limited visual evidence of verge damage, as well as the River Sem sub‐catchment used to represent areas where road verge damage is more prevalent. The findings of a sediment source fingerprinting investigation based on a combination of intermittent sampling campaigns spanning the period 22/5/02–27/4/08 suggested that the respective overall mean relative sediment contributions from damaged road verges were 5 ± 3%, 4 ± 2% and 20 ± 2%. Relative inputs from damaged road verges for any specific sampling period in the River Sem sub‐catchment were as high as 33 ± 2%. Reconstruction of historical sources in the same sub‐catchment, based on the geochemical record stored in a floodplain depth profile, suggested that the significance of damaged road verges as a sediment source has increased over the past 15–20 years. The findings provide important information on damaged road verges as a primary source of suspended sediment and imply that catchment sediment control strategies and mitigation plans should consider such verges in addition to those agricultural and channel sources traditionally taken into account when attempting to reduce sediment pressures on aquatic resources. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Controls on snowmelt water mean transit times in northern boreal catchments
Authors: Lyon Steve W. , Laudon Hjalmar , Seibert Jan , Mörth Magnus , Tetzlaff Doerthe , Bishop Kevin H.
Published: January 2010

Catchment‐scale transit times for water are increasingly being recognized as an important control on geochemical processes. In this study, snowmelt water mean transit times (MTTs) were estimated for the 15 Krycklan research catchments in northern boreal Sweden. The snowmelt water MTTs were assumed to be representative of the catchment‐scale hydrologic response during the spring thaw period and, as such, may be considered to be a component of the catchment's overall MTT. These snowmelt water MTTs were empirically related to catchment characteristics and landscape structure represented by using different indices of soil cover, topography and catchment similarity. Mire wetlands were shown to be significantly correlated to snowmelt MTTs for the studied catchments. In these wetlands, shallow ice layers form that have been shown to serve as impervious boundaries to vertical infiltration during snowmelt periods and, thus, alter the flow pathways of water in the landscape. Using a simple thought experiment, we could estimate the potential effect of thawing of ice layers on snowmelt hydrologic response using the empirical relationship between landscape structure (represented using a catchment‐scale Pe number) and hydrologic response. The result of this thought experiment was that there could be a potential increase of 20–45% in catchment snowmelt water MTTs for the Krycklan experimental catchments. It is therefore possible that climatic changes present competing influences on the hydrologic response of northern boreal catchments that need to be considered. For example, MTTs may tend to decrease during some times of the year due to an acceleration in the hydrologic cycle, while they tend to increase MTTs during other times of the year due to shifts in hydrologic flow pathways. The balance between the competing influences on a catchment's MTT has consequences on climatic feedbacks as it could influence hydrological and biogeochemical cycles at the catchment scale for northern latitude boreal catchments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of SPARC as a candidate target antigen for immunotherapy of various cancers
Authors: Inoue Mitsuhiro , Senju Satoru , Hirata Shinya , Ikuta Yoshiaki , Hayashida Yuki , Irie Atsushi , Harao Michiko , Imai Katsunori , Tomita Yusuke , Tsunoda Takuya , Furukawa Yoichi , Ito Takaaki , Nakamura Yusuke , Baba Hideo , Nishimura Yasuharu
Published: January 2010

To establish efficient anticancer immunotherary, it is important to identify tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs) directing the immune system to attack cancer. A genome‐wide cDNA microarray analysis identified that secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene is overexpressed in the gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancer tissues but not in their noncancerous counterparts. This study attempted to identify HLA‐A24 (A*2402)‐restricted and SPARC‐derived CTL epitopes. We previously identified H‐2Kd‐restricted and SPARC‐derived CTL epitope peptides in BALB/c mice, of which H‐2Kd‐binding peptide motif is comparable with that of HLA‐A24 binding peptides. By using these peptides, we tried to induce HLA‐A24 (A*2402)‐restricted and SPARC‐reactive human CTLs and demonstrated an antitumor immune response. The SPARC‐A24‐1143–151 (DYIGPCKYI) and SPARC‐A24‐4225–234 (MYIFPVHWQF) peptides‐reactive CTLs were successfully induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by in vitro stimulation with these two peptides in HLA‐A24 (A*2402) positive healthy donors and cancer patients, and these CTLs exhibited cytotoxicity specific to cancer cells expressing both SPARC and HLA‐A24 (A*2402). Furthermore, the adoptive transfer of the SPARC‐specific CTLs could inhibit the tumor growth in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing human cancer cells expressing both HLA‐A24 (A*2402) and SPARC. These findings suggest that SPARC is a potentially useful target candidate for cancer immunotherapy.
Assessment of linear finite‐difference Poisson–Boltzmann solvers
Authors: Wang Jun , Luo Ray
Published: January 2010

CPU time and memory usage are two vital issues that any numerical solvers for the Poisson–Boltzmann equation have to face in biomolecular applications. In this study, we systematically analyzed the CPU time and memory usage of five commonly used finite‐difference solvers with a large and diversified set of biomolecular structures. Our comparative analysis shows that modified incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient and geometric multigrid are the most efficient in the diversified test set. For the two efficient solvers, our test shows that their CPU times increase approximately linearly with the numbers of grids. Their CPU times also increase almost linearly with the negative logarithm of the convergence criterion at very similar rate. Our comparison further shows that geometric multigrid performs better in the large set of tested biomolecules. However, modified incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient is superior to geometric multigrid in molecular dynamics simulations of tested molecules. We also investigated other significant components in numerical solutions of the Poisson–Boltzmann equation. It turns out that the time‐limiting step is the free boundary condition setup for the linear systems for the selected proteins if the electrostatic focusing is not used. Thus, development of future numerical solvers for the Poisson–Boltzmann equation should balance all aspects of the numerical procedures in realistic biomolecular applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
The synthesis and characterization of solvatochromic maleimide‐fused N‐allyl‐ and N‐alkyl‐substituted 1,4‐dithiines and Diels–Alder reactions with anthracene
Authors: Gülten Şirin
Published: January 2010

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A simple and facile access to new solvatochromic maleimide‐fused N‐allyl‐ and N‐alkyl‐substituted 1,4‐dithiines from the corresponding N‐substituted succinamic acid derivatives in one‐pot with oxidation by thionyl chloride is described. The Diels–Alder reaction of these 1,4‐dithiines with anthracene has been investigated. The 1,4‐dithiine derivatives react smoothly with anthracene via charge‐transfer complexes to form the Diels–Alder adducts in excellent yields. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).
Solvent‐dependent fluorescence emission in heterocyclic compounds having isoquinoline backbone
Authors: Singh Devendra , Ghosh Subrata Kumar , Baruah Jubaraj B.
Published: January 2010

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Few amino derivatives of benzo[de]benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinolin‐7‐one having amino groups at different positions of the rings are prepared and characterized. Solvent‐dependent emission and changes in emission properties on protonation of amine group are observed. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: What the hospitalist needs to know
Authors: Fine Derek M. , Perazella Mark A.
Published: January 2010

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) has now been linked to gadolinium‐based contrast (GBC) exposure in those with compromised kidney function, particularly those with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). When ESRD is present, symptoms can be quite devastating for the patient including severe pain and immobility and even death. For those at risk, avoidance of GBC exposure, whenever possible, is absolutely essential to prevent this potentially devastating complication. Identifying those at risk depends in some circumstances on appropriate recognition of renal dysfunction and understanding appropriate use of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation formulas. Although hemodialysis (but not peritoneal dialysis) removes gadolinium, the availability of dialysis should never be used as a justification for GBC use in this high‐risk population. Unfortunately there is a lack of a universally effective therapy. Resolution of acute kidney injury (AKI) appears to attenuate disease in most cases, while kidney transplantation has been associated with variable success. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:46–50. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Characteristics of intensive care units in Michigan: Not an open and closed case
Authors: Hyzy Robert C. , Flanders Scott A. , Pronovost Peter J. , Berenholtz Sean M. , Watson Sam , George Chris , Goeschel Christine A. , Maselli Judith , Auerbach Andrew D.
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Delivery of critical care by intensivists has been recommended by several groups. Our objective was to understand the delivery of critical care physician services in Michigan and the role of intensivists and nonintensivist providers in providing care.

DESIGN:

Descriptive questionnaire.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING:

Intensive care unit (ICU) directors and nurse managers at 96 sites, representing 115 ICUs from 72 hospitals in Michigan.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS:

The primary outcome measure was the percentage of sites utilizing a closed vs. an open model of ICU care. Secondary outcome measures included the percentage of ICUs utilizing a high‐intensity service model, hospital size, ICU size, type of clinician providing care, and clinical activities performed. Twenty‐four (25%) sites used a closed model of intensive care, while 72 (75%) had an open model of care. Hospitals with closed ICUs were larger and had larger ICUs than sites with open ICUs (P < 0.05). Hospitalists serving as attending physicians were strongly associated with an open ICU (odds ratio [OR] = 12.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.5‐60.2), as was the absence of intensivists in the group (OR = 12.2; 95%CI = 1.4‐105.8), while ICU and hospital size were not associated. At 18 sites (20%) all attendings were board certified in Critical Care. Sixty sites had less than 50% board‐certified attending physicians.

CONCLUSIONS:

The closed intensivist‐led model of intensive care delivery is not in widespread use in Michigan. In the absence of intensivists, alternate models of care, including the hospitalist model, are frequently used. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:4–9. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Solution structure of the C‐terminal X domain of the measles virus phosphoprotein and interaction with the intrinsically disordered C‐terminal domain of the nucleoprotein
Authors: Gely Stéphane , Lowry David F. , Bernard Cédric , Jensen Malene R. , Blackledge Martin , Costanzo Stéphanie , Bourhis Jean‐Marie , Darbon Hervé , Daughdrill Gary , Longhi Sonia
Published: January 2010

In this report, the solution structure of the nucleocapsid‐binding domain of the measles virus phosphoprotein (XD, aa 459–507) is described. A dynamic description of the interaction between XD and the disordered C‐terminal domain of the nucleocapsid protein, (NTAIL, aa 401–525), is also presented. XD is an all α protein consisting of a three‐helix bundle with an up‐down‐up arrangement of the helices. The solution structure of XD is very similar to the crystal structures of both the free and bound form of XD. One exception is the presence of a highly dynamic loop encompassing XD residues 489–491, which is involved in the embedding of the α‐helical XD‐binding region of NTAIL. Secondary chemical shift values for full‐length NTAIL were used to define the precise boundaries of a transient helical segment that coincides with the XD‐binding domain, thus shedding light on the pre‐recognition state of NTAIL. Titration experiments with unlabeled XD showed that the transient α‐helical conformation of NTAIL is stabilized upon binding. Lineshape analysis of NMR resonances revealed that residues 483–506 of NTAIL are in intermediate exchange with XD, while the 475–482 and 507–525 regions are in fast exchange. The NTAIL resonance behavior in the titration experiments is consistent with a complex binding model with more than two states. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of climate change on surface winds in France using a statistical‐dynamical downscaling method with mesoscale modelling
Authors: Najac Julien , Lac Christine , Terray Laurent
Published: January 2010

A statistical‐dynamical downscaling method is presented to estimate 10 m wind speed and direction distributions at high spatial resolutions using a weather type based approach combined with a mesoscale model. Daily 850 hPa wind fields (predictors) from ERA40 reanalysis and daily 10 m wind speeds and directions (predictands) measured at 78 meteorological stations over France are used to build and validate the downscaling algorithm over the period 1974–2002. First of all, the daily 850 hPa wind fields are classified into a large number of wind classes and one day is randomly chosen inside each wind class. Simulations with a non‐hydrostatic mesoscale atmospheric model are then performed for the selected days over three interactively nested domains over France, with finest horizontal mesh size of 3 km over the Mediterranean area. The initial and coupling fields are derived from the ERA40 reanalysis. Finally, the 10 m wind distributions are reconstructed by weighting each simulation by the corresponding wind class frequency. Evaluation and uncertainty assessment of each step of the procedure is performed. This method is then applied for a climate change impact study: daily 850 hPa wind fields from 14 general circulation models of the CMIP3 multimodel dataset are used to determine evolutions in the frequency of occurrence of the wind classes and to assess the potential evolution of the wind resources in France. Two time periods are focused on: a historical period (1971–2000) from the climate of the twentieth century experiment and a future period (2046–2065) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) experiment. Evolution of the 10 m winds in France and associated uncertainties are discussed. Significant changes are depicted, in particular a decrease of the wind speed in the Mediterranean area. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society