bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Black Work, Green Money: Remittances, Ritual, and Domestic Economies in Southern Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Reeves Madeleine
Published: March 2012

Drawing on ethnographic and survey data, Madeleine Reeves explores the meanings and impact of large-scale seasonal labor migration to Russia on a group of four kin-related villages in southern Kyrgyzstan. Although remittances have come to figure centrally in domestic budgets of migrant families, it is to questions of political economy that we must turn to understand the shift away from small-scale farming toward migrant work. Reeves examines a range of factors mediating decisions to migrate, including the role of social networks and sibling hierarchies; the emergence of growing economic differentials between migrant and nonmigrant households, and the growing importance for young men of a period of work “in town” (shaarda) in proving their eligibility for marriage. Although patterns of economic activity in southern Kyrgyzstan have changed dramatically in recent years, Reeves argues that new forms of engagement in distant labor markets are also being used to sustain patterns of ritual gifting and expressions of ethnic and religious identity that are imagined and articulated precisely as expressions of social continuity.
The Common Good of the Firm in the Aristotelian-Thomistic Tradition
Authors: Sison Alejo José G. , Fontrodona Joan
Published: March 2012

This article proposes a theory of the firm based on the common good. It clarifies the meaning of the term “common good” tracing its historical development. Next, an analogous sense applicable to the firm is derived from its original context in political theory. Put simply, the common good of the firm is the production of goods and services needed for flourishing, in which different members participate through work. This is linked to the political common good through subsidiarity. Lastly, implications and challenges arising from the positing of work as the common good of the firm are explored.
The Possibility of Virtue
Authors: Alzola Miguel
Published: March 2012

To have a virtue is to possess a certain kind of trait of character that is appropriate in pursuing the moral good at which the virtue aims. Human beings are assumed to be capable of attaining those traits. Yet, a number of scholars are skeptical about the very existence of such character traits. They claim a sizable amount of empirical evidence in their support. This article is concerned with the existence and explanatory power of character as a way to assess the possibility of achieving moral virtue, with particular attention paid to business context. I aim to unsettle the so-called situationist challenge to virtue ethics. In the course of this article, I shall defend four claims, namely, that virtues are more than just behavioral dispositions, that at least some virtues may not be unitary traits, that psychologists cannot infer virtues from overt behavior, and that the situationist data do not account for the observational equivalence of traits. Since it rests on a misconception of what virtue is, the situationist objection remains unconvincing.
Patient adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Jabbour Elias J. , Kantarjian Hagop , Eliasson Lina , Megan Cornelison A. , Marin David
Published: March 2012

Dramatically improved survival associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy has transformed the disease model for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) to one of long‐term management, but treatment success is challenged with poor medication adherence. Many risk factors associated with poor adherence can be ameliorated by close monitoring, dose modification, and supportive care. Controlling risk factors for poor adherence in combination with patient education that includes direct communication between the health care team and the patient are essential components for maximizing the benefits of TKI therapy. Am. J. Hematol. 87:687–691, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does iron overload really matter in stem cell transplantation?
Authors: Armand Philippe , Sainvil Marie‐Michele , Kim Haesook T. , Rhodes Joanna , Cutler Corey , Ho Vincent T. , Koreth John , Alyea Edwin P. , Neufeld Ellis J. , Kwong Raymond Y. , Soiffer Robert J. , Antin Joseph H.
Published: March 2012

A growing body of evidence suggests that iron overload is associated with inferior outcomes after myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, all of those studies used surrogate markers of iron overload, especially serum ferritin, and most had a retrospective design. We conducted a prospective observational study in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or acute leukemia undergoing myeloablative HSCT. Forty‐five patients who were followed for over 1 year, with serial measurements of serum iron parameters, as well as liver and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. There was no significant increase in ferritin, liver or cardiac iron content in the 12 months following HSCT. Although serum ferritin still appeared to have prognostic significance, as previously reported, pre‐HSCT iron overload (as reflected in liver iron content) was not associated with increased mortality, relapse, or graft‐versus‐host disease. These results raise the possibility that the adverse prognostic impact of pre‐HSCT hyperferritinemia may be related to factors independent of iron overload. Am. J. Hematol. 87:569–572, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Association of PPAR‐γ gene polymorphisms with obesity and obesity‐associated phenotypes in north indian population
Authors: Prakash Jai , Srivastava Neena , Awasthi Shally , Agarwal C. , Natu S. , Rajpal Naresh , Mittal Balraj
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

The worldwide increasing prevalence of obesity is considered as a major health problem. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPAR‐γ) controls adipocyte differentiation and regulates a number of genes associated with energy homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the association of PPAR‐γ gene Pro12Ala (rs1801282) and C1431T (rs3856806) polymorphisms with morbid obesity and related phenotypes, in north Indian population.

Methods:

A total of 6,42 subjects, 309, obese and 333 nonobese individuals were included in this case–control study. Insulin, adiponectin, glucose, and lipid levels were estimated using standard protocols. All subjects were genotyped by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) method.

Results:

The ProAla+AlaAla genotypes of PPAR‐γ Pro12Ala were significantly associated with higher risk of obesity while C1431T polymorphism did not show any significant association. None of the haplotypes showed association with morbid obesity. However, a strong association of variant genotypes was observed with higher levels of insulin, HOMA‐IR, and lower serum adiponectin concentrations.

Conclusion:

PPAR‐γ gene polymorphisms influence obesity and obesity phenotype in a complex manner, probably involving insulin resistance in north Indian population. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A negative relationship between leg length and leg cross‐sectional areas in adults
Authors: Burton Richard F. , Nevill Alan M. , Stewart Arthur D. , Daniell Nathan , Olds Timothy
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

These were to examine the relationship between leg cross‐sectional areas (CSAs) and leg length while making allowance for other factors, such as fatness and the load on the legs.

Methods:

Body mass, stature, and sitting height were directly measured and volumes and leg CSAs were obtained by 3D scanning for 155 men and 162 women. Leg CSAs were regressed simultaneously on upper body mass and leg length.

Results:

With allowance made for positive correlations with upper body mass, leg CSAs showed a negative correlation with leg length (P = 0.00006–0.027).

Conclusion:

There is a negative correlation between leg lengths and CSAs that is largely obscured by other influences. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sensitivity and specificity of C‐reactive protein and α1‐acid glycoprotein for episodes of acute infection among children in kilimanjaro, tanzania
Authors: Wander Katherine , Brindle Eleanor , O'connor Kathleen A.
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

Biomarkers of inflammation, including C‐reactive protein (CRP) and α1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP), have tremendous potential in anthropological, public health, and nutrition research as objective indicators of acute infection; however, their usage is limited by the lack of widely agreed upon, reliable cutpoints to define infection. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of CRP and AGP for identifying acute infectious disease (ID) episodes among children in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.

Methods:

Data were available from 43 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children. CRP and AGP were measured in capillary whole dried blood spots (DBS). Two‐week morbidity history interviews with children's primary caregivers were used to detect recent episodes of acute ID. Specimens and morbidity history interviews were collected from each child on one (n = 13) or two (n = 30) occasions for 73 paired interviews and specimens.

Results:

We evaluated CRP and AGP for identifying acute infection (report of fever, diarrhea, or vomiting in the last week): CRP ≥ 1.1 mg/l had sensitivity of 57.14% and specificity of 86.44%; AGP ≥ 0.76 g/l had sensitivity of 57.14% and specificity of 72.41%. The combined definition (AGP ≥ 0.76 g/l or CRP ≥ 1.1 mg/l) had sensitivity of 71.43% and specificity of 70.69%.

Conclusions:

Among children in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, assessed in whole blood stored as DBS, AGP ≥ 0.76 g/l or CRP ≥ 1.1 mg/l provided the best definition of acute infection. Whether this definition is appropriate for use in other populations remains to be determined. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting homo pigmentation phenotype through genomic data: From neanderthal to James Watson
Authors: Cerqueira Caio C S , Paixão‐Côrtes Vanessa R , Zambra Francis M B , Salzano Francisco M , Hünemeier Tábita , Bortolini Maria‐Cátira
Published: March 2012

Background:

Human pigmentation is regulated by several genes acting at different stages of melanin formation. Functional and association studies have elucidated the role of several of these genes in pigmentation phenotypes. Forensic and evolutionary studies can benefit from this knowledge.

Objectives:

To evaluate the reliability of the prediction of pigmentation phenotypes using a large database of genetic markers in individuals with known phenotypes; and from this try to predict the pigmentation phenotype of prehistoric Homo specimens and of contemporary individuals whose visible phenotypes are not known.

Methods:

We compared predicted and observed phenotypic data through an analysis of 124 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 33 genic and seven intergenic regions of 30 subjects, five of them prehistoric, whose complete nuclear genomes are available in UCSC and PSU UCSC public databases.

Results:

For the molecular predicted versus observed phenotypes, the percentage of agreement was as follows: freckles: 91; skin: 64; hair: 44; eyes: 36; total: 59; while the molecular predicted versus probable (no visible observation available; inferences based on ethnic population characteristics) it was, respectively, 83, 60, 42, 67, and 63. The difference between two sets is statistically nonsignificant (P = 0.75).

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first article to examine the effect of a large number of genetics markers for phenotype prediction. The approach could be useful for forensic applications, as well as for the determination of possible phenotypes of extinct prehistoric individuals. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hormonal evidence supports the theory of selection in utero
Authors: Catalano R.A. , Saxton K.B. , Bruckner T.A. , Pearl M. , Anderson E. , Goldman‐Mellor S. , Margerison‐Zilko C. , Subbaraman M. , Currier R.J. , Kharrazi M.
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

Antagonists in the debate over whether the maternal stress response during pregnancy damages or culls fetuses have invoked the theory of selection in utero to support opposing positions. We describe how these opposing arguments arise from the same theory and offer a novel test to discriminate between them. Our test, rooted in reports from population endocrinology that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) signals fetal fitness, contributes not only to the debate over the fetal origins of illness, but also to the more basic literature concerned with whether and how natural selection in utero affects contemporary human populations.

Methods:

We linked maternal serum hCG measurements from prenatal screening tests with data from the California Department of Public Health birth registry for the years 2001–2007. We used time series analysis to test the association between the number of live‐born male singletons and median hCG concentration among males in monthly gestational cohorts.

Results:

Among the 1.56 million gestations in our analysis, we find that median hCG levels among male survivors of monthly conception cohorts rise as the number of male survivors falls.

Results:

Elevated median hCG among relatively small male birth cohorts supports the theory of selection in utero and suggests that the maternal stress response culls cohorts in gestation by raising the fitness criterion for survival to birth. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Email pragmatics and automatic classification: A study in the organizational context
Authors: Alberts Inge , Forest Dominic
Published: March 2012

This paper presents a two‐phased research project aiming to improve email triage for public administration managers. The first phase developed a typology of email classification patterns through a qualitative study involving 34 participants. Inspired by the fields of pragmatics and speech act theory, this typology comprising four top level categories and 13 subcategories represents the typical email triage behaviors of managers in an organizational context. The second study phase was conducted on a corpus of 1,703 messages using email samples of two managers. Using the k‐NN (k‐nearest neighbor) algorithm, statistical treatments automatically classified the email according to lexical and nonlexical features representative of managers' triage patterns. The automatic classification of email according to the lexicon of the messages was found to be substantially more efficient when k = 2 and n = 2,000. For four categories, the average recall rate was 94.32%, the average precision rate was 94.50%, and the accuracy rate was 94.54%. For 13 categories, the average recall rate was 91.09%, the average precision rate was 84.18%, and the accuracy rate was 88.70%. It appears that a message's nonlexical features are also deeply influenced by email pragmatics. Features related to the recipient and the sender were the most relevant for characterizing email.
Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) of Nitrothiophenol Isomers Chemisorbed on TiO2
Authors: Teguh Jefri S. , Liu Fang , Xing Bengang , Yeow Edwin K. L.
Published: March 2012

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the nature of the charge‐transfer (CT) process between nitrothiophenol (NTP) isomers and the n‐type semiconductor, TiO2. The Raman signals of p‐NTP and m‐NTP that were chemisorbed onto TiO2 were significantly enhanced with respect to their corresponding neat compounds. In particular, an enhancement factor (EF) of 102–103 was observed for both p‐NTP and m‐NTP, with m‐NTP displaying a larger EF compared to p‐NTP. The Raman signal of o‐NTP on TiO2 was not detectable, owing to interference from fluorescence emissions. A molecule‐to‐TiO2 charge‐transfer mechanism was responsible for the enhanced Raman signals observed in p‐NTP and m‐NTP. This transfer was due to a strong coupling between the adsorbate and the metal oxide, which led to an optically driven CT transition from the HOMO of NTP into the conduction band of TiO2. Based on the mesomeric effect, the NO2 group para to the thiol had a stronger electron‐withdrawing ability than the NO2 group at the meta position. A less‐efficient CT transition from p‐NTP to TiO2 in the surface complex resulted in a weaker Raman‐signal enhancement for p‐NTP compared to m‐NTP. The DFT calculation determined that the HOMO and the LUMO of NTP bound to TiO2 were located entirely on the adsorbate and the semiconductor, respectively, thereby supporting the experimental findings that a molecule‐to‐TiO2 mechanism was the driving force behind the observed SERS effect.
Stabilization of Water Droplets in an Oily Matrix Exclusively by Gel Formation
Authors: Wolf F. , Gmoser F. , Schuchmann H. P.
Published: March 2012

As droplets in emulsions are thermodynamically unstable, surfactants are required for their stabilization. However, these additives often are unwanted due to legal restrictions and possible health threats. Gelling of the aqueous phase poses one promising alternative. Only droplet‐forming processes like microfluidic devices are known to successfully work so far for stabilization by gelling. As these processes are hard to scale‐up and tend to foul, a technical alternative based on commonly used high‐pressure homogenization is investigated. A nozzle was adapted by adding a micromixer directly behind the orifice outlet. This allowed gelling and stabilizing the droplets by feeding a cold oil stream immediately after droplet breakup. Up to 40 wt‐% droplets with Sauter mean diameters down to the micrometer range could be successfully stabilized.
Highlights of Photochemical Reactions in Microflow Reactors
Authors: Oelgemoeller M.
Published: March 2012

This review highlights selected examples of photochemical transformations in microflow reactors. The main advantages of microflow reactors over conventional batch systems are superior light penetrations, controlled reaction times, precise temperature control and removal of photoproducts from the irradiated area. These features typically result in higher conversions or yields, improved selectivity, enhanced energy efficiencies and reductions of solvent volumes and consequently waste. Different types of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions are presented, showing the superiority of microflow photochemistry over batch processes.
Isoguanine Formation from Adenine
Authors: Cheng Qianyi , Gu Jiande , Compaan Katherine R. , Schaefer Henry F.
Published: March 2012

Several possible mechanisms underlying isoguanine formation when OH radical attacks the C2 position of adenine (A) are investigated theoretically for the first time. Two steps are involved in this process. In the first step, one of two low‐lying A⋅⋅⋅OH reactant complexes is formed, leading to C2H2 bond cleavage. Between the two reactant complexes there is a small isomerization barrier, which lies well below separated adenine plus OH radical. The complex dissociates to free molecular hydrogen and an isoguanine tautomer (isoG 1 or isoG 2). The local and activation barriers for the two pathways are very similar. This evidence suggests that the two pathways are competitive. After dehydrogenation, there are two possible routes for the second step of the reaction. One is direct hydrogen transfer, via enol–keto tautomerization, which has high local barriers for both tautomers and is not favored. The other option is indirect hydrogen transfer involving microsolvation by one water molecule. The water lowers the reaction barrier by over 20 kcal mol−1, indicating that water‐mediated hydrogen transfer is much more favorable. Both A+OH.→isoG+H. reactions are exothermic and spontaneous. Among four isoguanine tautomers, isoG 1 has the lowest energy. Our findings explain why only the N1H and O2H tautomers of isolated isoguanine and isoguanosine have been observed experimentally.
Reversible Phase Transformation and Mechanochromic Luminescence of ZnII‐Dipyridylamide‐Based Coordination Frameworks
Authors: Tzeng Biing‐Chiau , Chang Tsung‐Yi , Wei Sheng‐Luen , Sheu Hwo‐Shuenn
Published: March 2012

A 1D double‐zigzag framework, {[Zn(paps)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2}n (1; paps=N,N′‐bis(pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl thioether), was synthesized by the reaction of Zn(ClO4)2 with paps. However, a similar reaction, except that dry solvents were used, led to the formation of a novel 2D polyrotaxane framework, [Zn(paps)2(ClO4)2]n (2). This difference relies on the fact that water coordinates to the ZnII ion in 1, but ClO4− ion coordination is found in 2. Notably, the structures can be interconverted by heating and grinding in the presence of moisture, and such a structural transformation can also be proven experimentally by powder and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The related N,N′‐bis‐ (pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (papo) and N,N′‐(methylenedi‐para‐phenylene)bispyridine‐4‐carboxamide (papc) ligands were reacted with ZnII ions as well. When a similar reaction was performed with dry solvents, except that papo was used instead of paps, the product mixture contained mononuclear [Zn(papo)(CH3OH)4](ClO4)2 (5) and the polyrotaxane [Zn(papo)2(ClO4)2]n (4). From the powder XRD data, grinding this mixture in the presence of moisture resulted in total conversion to the pure double‐zigzag {[Zn(papo)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2}n (3) immediately. Upon heating 3, the polyrotaxane framework of 4 was recovered. The double‐zigzag {[Zn(papc)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2}n (6) and polyrotaxane [Zn(papc)2(ClO4)2]n (7) were synthesized in a similar reaction. Although upon heating the double‐zigzag 6 undergoes structural transformation to give the polyrotaxane 7, grinding solid 7 in the presence of moisture does not lead to the formation of 6. Significantly, the bright emissions for double‐zigzag frameworks of 1 and 3 and weak ones for polyrotaxane frameworks of 2 and 4 also show interesting mechanochromic luminescence.
Synthesis of Aromatic Compounds by Catalytic CC Bond Activation of Biphenylene or Angular [3]Phenylene
Authors: Korotvička Aleš , Císařová Ivana , Roithová Jana , Kotora Martin
Published: March 2012

Substituted phenanthrenes and picenes were easily prepared by reaction of biphenylene or angular [3]phenylene with various alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of [IrCl(cod)]2/dppe (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane). The reaction is based on CC bond activation of the cyclobutane ring. The reaction tolerates the presence of bulky groups on the alkyne, such as the ferrocene moiety. In addition, a catalytic system based on [RhCl(cod)]2/dppe enabled the, hitherto unreported, reaction of biphenylene with nitriles to provide phenanthridines.
Temperature Dependence of Surface Nanobubbles
Authors: Berkelaar Robin P. , Seddon James R. T. , Zandvliet Harold J. W. , Lohse Detlef
Published: March 2012

The temperature dependence of nanobubbles was investigated experimentally using atomic force microscopy. By scanning the same area of the surface at temperatures from 51 °C to 25 °C it was possible to track geometrical changes of individual nanobubbles as the temperature was decreased. Interestingly, nanobubbles of the same size react differently to this temperature change; some grow whilst others shrink. This effect cannot be attributed to Ostwald ripening, since the growth and shrinkage of nanobubbles appears to occur in distinct patches on the substrate. The total nanobubble volume per unit area shows a maximum around 33 °C, which is comparable with literature where experiments were carried out with increasing temperature. This underlines the stability of surface nanobubbles.
Mass Transport at Microband Electrodes: Transient, Quasi‐Steady‐State, and Convective Regimes
Authors: Amatore Christian , Pebay Cécile , Sella Catherine , Thouin Laurent
Published: March 2012

Mass transport at microband electrodes is investigated theoretically and experimentally in unstirred solutions by chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry. Because natural convection limits the convection‐free domain up to which diffusion layers may only expand, several regimes of mass transport are identified through simulation by means of a previous model. A zone diagram is established which allows all relative contributions to mass transport to be delineated according to the electrode dimension, timescale of experiment, and amplitude of natural convection. In opposition to the quasi‐steady‐state regime usually expected at microband electrodes under diffusion control, a steady‐state regime always occurs at long enough times. By comparison to microdisk electrodes, a greater influence of natural convection is predicted. These results are validated experimentally by monitoring current responses and mapping steady‐state concentration profiles at microband electrodes.
Engineering the Atomic Structure of Carbon Nanotubes by a Focused Electron Beam: New Morphologies at the Sub‐Nanometer Scale
Authors: Rodríguez‐Manzo Julio A. , Krasheninnikov Arkady V. , Banhart Florian
Published: March 2012

Carbon atoms are displaced in pre‐selected locations of carbon nanotubes by using a focused electron beam in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Sub‐nanometer‐sized holes are created that change the morphology of double and triple‐walled carbon nanotubes and connect the shells in a unique way. By combining in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments with atomistic simulations, we study the bonding between defective shells in the new structures which are reminiscent of the shape of a flute. We demonstrate that in double‐walled nanotubes the shells locally merge by forming nanoarches while atoms with dangling bonds can be preserved in triple‐walled carbon nanotubes. In the latter system, nanoarches are formed between the inner‐ and outermost shells, shielding small graphenic islands with open edges between the neighboring shells. Our results indicate that arrays of quantum dots may be produced in carbon nanotubes by spatially localized electron irradiation, generating atoms with dangling bonds that may give rise to localized magnetic moments.
Benign Catalysis with Iron: Unique Selectivity in Catalytic Isomerization Reactions of Olefins
Authors: Jennerjahn Reiko , Jackstell Ralf , Piras Irene , Franke Robert , Jiao Haijun , Bauer Matthias , Beller Matthias
Published: March 2012

The use of noble metal catalysts in homogeneous catalysis has been well established. Due to their price and limited availability, there is growing interest in the substitution of such precious metal complexes with readily available and bio‐relevant catalysts. In particular, iron is a “rising star” in catalysis. Herein, we present a general and selective iron‐catalyzed monoisomerization of olefins, which allows for the selective generation of 2‐olefins. Typically, common metal complexes give mixtures of various internal olefins. Both bulk‐scale terminal olefins and functionalized terminal olefins give the corresponding products under mild conditions in good to excellent yields. The proposed reaction mechanism was elucidated by in situ NMR studies and supported by DFT calculations and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements.
A One‐Pot Method for the Selective Conversion of Hemicellulose from Crop Waste into C5 Sugars and Furfural by Using Solid Acid Catalysts
Authors: Sahu Ramakanta , Dhepe Paresh Laxmikant
Published: March 2012

We present a solid‐acid catalyzed one‐pot method for the selective conversion of solid hemicellulose without its separation from other lignocellulosic components, such as cellulose and lignin. The reactions were carried out in aqueous and biphasic media to yield xylose, arabinose, and furfural. To overcome the drawbacks posed by mineral acid methods in converting hemicelllulose, we used heterogeneous catalysts that work at neutral pH. In a batch reactor, these heterogeneous catalysts, such as solid acids (zeolites, clays, metal oxides etc.), resulted in >90 % conversion of hemicellulose. It has been shown that the selectivity for the products can be tuned by changing the reaction conditions, for example, a reaction carried out in water at 170 °C for 1 h with HBeta (Si/Al=19) and HUSY (Si/Al=15) catalysts gave yields of 62 and 56 % for xylose and arabinose, respectively. With increased reaction time (6 h) and in presence of only water, HUSY resulted in yields of 30 % xylose + arabinose and 18 % furfural. However, in a biphasic reaction system (water + p‐xylene, 170 °C, 6 h) yields of 56 % furfural with 17 % xylose+arabinose could be achieved. It was shown that with the addition of organic solvent the furfural yield could be increased from 18 to 56 %. Under optimized reaction conditions, >90 % carbon balance was observed. The study revealed that catalysts were recyclable with a 20 % drop in activity for each subsequent run. It was observed that temperature, pressure, reaction time, substrate to catalyst ratio, solvent, and so forth had an effect on product formation. The catalysts were characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction, temperature‐programmed desorption of NH3, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and solid‐state NMR (29Si, 27Al) spectroscopy techniques.
Exploring Aligned‐Carbon‐Nanotubes@Polyaniline Arrays on Household Al as Supercapacitors
Authors: Huang Fan , Lou Fengliu , Chen De
Published: March 2012

Herein, we demonstrate a new approach towards the construction of supercapacitors consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and conducting polymers (ECPs) with high specific power, high specific energy, and stable cycling performance through a 3D design of a thin film of polyaniline (PANI) on an aligned small carbon nanotube (ACNT) array on household Al foils. The thin‐film strategy is used to fully exploit the specific capacitance of PANI, and obtain regular pores, strong interaction between PANI and CNTs, and reduced electrical resistance for the electrodes. A facile process is developed to fabricate a highly flexible supercapacitor using this binder‐free composite on household Al foil as the current collector. It exhibits high specific energy of 18.9 Wh kg−1, high maximum specific power of 11.3 kW kg−1 of the active material in an aqueous electrolyte at 1.0 A g−1, and excellent rate performance and cycling stability. A high specific energy of 72.4 Wh kg−1, a high maximum specific power of 24.9 kW kg−1, and a good cycling performance of the active material are obtained in an organic electrolyte.
Enhanced Light Harvesting in Plasmonic Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells by Using a Topologically Ordered Gold Light‐Trapping Layer
Authors: Yang Nailiang , Yuan Qi , Zhai Jin , Wei Tianxin , Wang Dan , Jiang Lei
Published: March 2012

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are promising low‐cost, high‐efficiency devices with low environmental impact. One of the important methods to improve their efficiencies involves increasing the light‐harvesting efficiency. Earlier work has focused on varying the morphology of the photoanode. With such a hierarchical structured photoanode in hand, we modify herein the structure of the counter electrode to enhance the optical path length through the plasmonic and reflecttion effects. With the introduced topological gold layer, the photocurrent and efficiency are increased by 16 % and 18 %, respectively, due to the increased light collection. Besides, this effect is effective at both high and low levels of solar irradiation.
A novel multicarrier CDMA transmission scheme for cognitive radios with sidelobe suppression
Authors: Rajabzadeh Morteza , Khoshbin Hossein
Published: March 2012

Noncontiguous multicarrier code division multiple access (MC‐CDMA) is an effective multiple access method for cognitive radio systems that can deploy the noncontiguous vacant parts of a certain spectrum shared with the users of a primary system. However, the large spectral sidelobes of the Fourier transform based implementation of the MC‐CDMA interfere with the adjacent primary transmission. In this paper, a novel complex signature sequence set is proposed for synchronous downlink MC‐CDMA based cognitive radio networks to suppress the sidelobes. To do so, the minimization of the sidelobes power is developed as an eigen‐optimization problem that is optimally solved by using the eigenvalue decomposition method. The optimal complex signature sequences are chosen as the eigenvectors attained by the eigenvalue decomposition of a symmetric matrix that is dependent of the spectral characteristics of the primary users. Simulation results show that by a slight decrease in the maximum number of active users compared with full load, the sidelobes can be considerably suppressed. The effect of cyclic prefix length, the bandwidth of the primary system and the number of active users on the sidelobe suppression performance is analyzed through numerical simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immunophenotypic characterization of enteric neural crest cells in the developing avian colorectum
Authors: Nagy Nandor , Burns Alan J. , Goldstein Allan M.
Published: March 2012

Background: The enteric nervous system (ENS) develops from neural crest‐derived cells that migrate along the intestine to form two plexuses of neurons and glia. While the major features of ENS development are conserved across species, minor differences exist, especially in the colorectum. Given the embryologic and disease‐related importance of the distal ENS, the aim of this study was to characterize the migration and differentiation of enteric neural crest‐derived cells (ENCCs) in the colorectum of avian embryos. Results: Using normal chick embryos and vagal neural tube transplants from green fluorescent protein (GFP) ‐transgenic chick embryos, we find ENCCs entering the colon at embryonic day (E) 6.5, with colonization complete by E8. Undifferentiated ENCCs at the wavefront express HNK‐1, N‐cadherin, Sox10, p75, and L1CAM. By E7, differentiation begins in the proximal colon, with L1CAM and Sox10 becoming restricted to neuronal and glial lineages, respectively. By E8, multiple markers of differentiation are expressed along the entire colorectum. Conclusions: Our results establish the pattern of ENCC migration and differentiation in the chick colorectum, demonstrate the conservation of marker expression across species, highlight a range of markers, including neuronal cell adhesion molecules, which label cells at the wavefront, and provide a framework for future studies in avian ENS development. Developmental Dynamics 241:842–851, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Inhibitory morphogens and monopodial branching of the embryonic chicken lung
Authors: Gleghorn Jason P. , Kwak Jiyong , Pavlovich Amira L. , Nelson Celeste M.
Published: March 2012

Background: Branching morphogenesis generates a diverse array of epithelial patterns, including dichotomous and monopodial geometries. Dichotomous branching can be instructed by concentration gradients of epithelial‐derived inhibitory morphogens, including transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ), which is responsible for ramification of the pubertal mammary gland. Here, we investigated the role of autocrine inhibitory morphogens in monopodial branching morphogenesis of the embryonic chicken lung. Results: Computational modeling and experiments using cultured organ explants each separately revealed that monopodial branching patterns cannot be specified by a single epithelial‐derived autocrine morphogen gradient. Instead, signaling by means of TGFβ1 and bone morphogenetic protein‐4 (BMP4) differentially affect the rates of branching and growth of the airways. Allometric analysis revealed that development of the epithelial tree obeys power‐law dynamics; TGFβ1 and BMP4 have distinct but reversible effects on the scaling coefficient of the power law. Conclusions: These data suggest that although autocrine inhibition cannot specify monopodial branching, inhibitory morphogens define the dynamics of lung morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 241:852–862, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Airway epithelial cell differentiation during lung organogenesis requires C/EBPα and C/EBPβ
Authors: Roos Abraham B. , Berg Tove , Barton Jenny L. , Didon Lukas , Nord Magnus
Published: March 2012

Background: CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP)α is crucial for lung development and differentiation of the pulmonary epithelium. Conversely, no lung defects have been observed in C/EBPβ‐deficient mice, although C/EBPβ trans‐activate pulmonary genes by binding to virtually identical DNA‐sequences as C/EBPα. Thus, the pulmonary phenotype of mice lacking C/EBPβ could be explained by functional replacement with C/EBPα. We investigated whether C/EBPα and C/EBPβ have overlapping functions in regulating lung epithelial differentiation during organogenesis. Epithelial differentiation was assessed in mice with a lung epithelial–specific (SFTPC‐Cre‐mediated) deletion of C/EBPα (CebpaΔLE), C/EBPβ (CebpbΔLE), or both genes (CebpaΔLE; CebpbΔLE). Results: Both CebpaΔLE mice and CebpaΔLE; CebpbΔLE mice demonstrated severe pulmonary immaturity compared to wild‐type littermates, while no differences in lung histology or epithelial differentiation were observed in CebpbΔLE mice. In contrast to CebpaΔLE mice, CebpaΔLE; CebpbΔLE mice also displayed undifferentiated Clara cells with markedly impaired protein and mRNA expression of Clara cell secretory protein (SCGB1A1), compared to wild‐type littermates. In addition, ectopic mucus‐producing cells were observed in the conducting airways of CebpaΔLE; CebpbΔLE mice. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that C/EBPα and C/EBPβ play pivotal, and partly overlapping roles in determining airway epithelial differentiation, with possible implications for tissue regeneration in lung homeostasis and disease. Developmental Dynamics 241:911–923, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Lissencephaly‐1 homologue is essential for mitotic progression in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
Authors: Cowles Martis W. , Hubert Amy , Zayas Ricardo M.
Published: March 2012

Background: Planarians are renowned for their capacity to replace lost tissues from adult pluripotent stem cells (neoblasts). Here we report that Lissencephaly‐1 (lis1), which has roles in cellular processes such as mitotic spindle apparatus orientation and in signal regulation required for stem cell self‐renewal, is required for stem cell maintenance in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Results: In planarians, lis1 is expressed in differentiated tissues and stem cells. lis1 RNAi leads to head regression, ventral curling, and death by lysis. By labeling the neoblasts and proliferating cells, we found lis1 knockdown animals show a dramatic increase in the number of mitotic cells, followed by depletion of the stem cell pool. Analysis of the mitotic spindles in dividing neoblasts revealed that defective spindle positioning is correlated with cells arrested at metaphase. In addition, we show that inhibiting a planarian homologue of nudE, predicted to encode a LIS‐1 interacting protein, also leads to cell cycle progression defects. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence for a conserved role of LIS1 and NUDE in regulating the function of the mitotic spindle apparatus in a representative Lophotrochozoan and that planarians will be useful organisms in which to investigate LIS1 regulation of signaling events underlying stem cell self‐renewal. Developmental Dynamics 241:901–910, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Specific inactivation ofTwist1in the mandibular arch neural crest cells affects the development of the ramus and reveals interactions with hand2
Authors: Zhang Yanping , Blackwell Evan L. , McKnight Mitchell T. , Knutsen Gregory R. , Vu Wendy T. , Ruest L. Bruno
Published: March 2012

Background: The basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) transcription factorTwist1fulfills an essential function in neural crest cell formation, migration, and survival and is associated with the craniosynostic Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome in humans. However, its functions during mandibular development, when it may interact with other bHLH transcription factors like Hand2, are unknown because mice homozygous for theTwist1null mutation die in early embryogenesis. To determine the role ofTwist1during mandibular development, we used theHand2‐Cretransgene to conditionally inactivate the gene in the neural crest cells populating the mandibular pharyngeal arch.Results: The mutant mice exhibited a spectrum of craniofacial anomalies, including mandibular hypoplasia, altered middle ear development, and cleft palate. It appears thatTwist1is essential for the survival of the neural crest cells involved in the development of the mandibular ramal elements.Twist1plays a role in molar development and cusp formation by participating in the reciprocal signaling needed for the formation of the enamel knot. This gene is also needed to control the ossification of the mandible, a redundant role shared withHand2.Conclusion: Twist1, along with Hand2, is essential for the proximodistal patterning and development of the mandible and ossification. Developmental Dynamics, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ophthalmic changes in severe anorexia nervosa: A case series
Authors: Gaudiani Jennifer L. , Braverman Jon M. , Mascolo Margherita , Mehler Philip S.
Published: March 2012

Objective:

We describe the diagnosis and management of lagophthalmos, or failure of eyelid closure, in five patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) who complained of dry, irritated eyes and photophobia.

Method:

Five patients with these findings are described retrospectively.

Results:

Examination revealed lagopthalmos in the setting of ptosis and enophthalmos, with multiple other starvation‐mediated medical complications.

Discussion:

These eye findings, as complications of AN, have not been described in the literature. With careful protective measures, initiation of nutritional rehabilitation, and intensively monitored early refeeding, these patients' ocular abnormalities and associated symptoms resolved completely. Recognition of this pathology and appropriate management can prevent long‐term morbidity in the form of permanent loss of visual acuity due to corneal abrasions and improve the outcomes for these patients with severe AN. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2012.
Longitudinal stability of binge‐eating type in eating disorders
Authors: Peterson Carol B. , Swanson Sonja A. , Crow Scott J. , Mitchell James E. , Agras W. Stewart , Halmi Katherine A. , Crosby Ross D. , Wonderlich Stephen A. , Berg Kelly C.
Published: March 2012

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine the 2‐year longitudinal stability of objective bulimic (binge eating) episodes (OBEs) and subjective bulimic (binge eating) episodes (SBEs) in a multisite eating disorders sample.

Method:

Participants included 288 females with eating disorder symptoms who were assessed every 6 months using the Eating Disorder Examination.

Results:

Markov modeling revealed considerable longitudinal variability between types of binge eating over 6‐month time intervals with relatively higher probability estimates for consistency between OBEs and SBEs than specific transitions between types for the overall sample as well as for eating disorder diagnostic groups. Transition patterns examining all five time points indicated notable variability in binge‐eating patterns among participants.

Discussion:

These findings suggest that although longitudinal patterns of binge types are variable among individuals with eating disorders, consistency in OBEs and SBEs was the most common pattern observed. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2012.
Manganese‐Enhanced MRI Contrast Agents: From Small Chelates to Nanosized Hybrids
Authors: Kueny‐Stotz Marie , Garofalo Antonio , Felder‐Flesch Delphine
Published: March 2012

During the last decades, a wide range of molecular and cellular imaging techniques have been developed and optimized, resulting in important progress in the understanding of diagnostic and biological processes. Among these techniques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is certainly one of the most popular, because of its high spatial resolution and the fact that it does not require the use of radioisotopes. Although gadolinium has long been the most commonly used paramagnetic metal to design efficient MRI contrast agents, the discovery of its potential toxicity has driven researchers to give priority to other paramagnetic metals, as, for example, manganese. With this microreview we would like to highlight the state of the art of manganese‐based MRI contrast agents with a particular focus on the chemical structures of these agents and on their chronological evolution from simple chelates to complex nanohybrid systems.
Towards the Sequence‐Selective Recognition of Double‐Stranded DNA Containing Pyrimidine‐Purine Interruptions by Triplex‐Forming Oligonucleotides
Authors: Hari Yoshiyuki , Obika Satoshi , Imanishi Takeshi
Published: March 2012

Triplex formation with double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) by oligonucleotides has potential for applications in attractive technologies such as gene therapy and genetic diagnosis. However, triplex‐forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) can only recognize homopurine strands in homopurine‐homopyrimidine regions in dsDNA, either through Hoogsteen or through reverse‐Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds. A straightforward and powerful approach to overcoming this sequence limitation is the development of artificial nucleic acids capable of recognizing specific pyrimidine‐purine interruptions (i.e., a CG or TA base pair) in triplex formation. This review describes artificial nucleic acids, especially those containing non‐natural nucleobases, developed to recognize CG or TA base pairs in dsDNA targets.
Zwitterionic Aza‐Claisen Rearrangements Controlled by Pyrrolidine Auxiliaries – Useful Key Steps in Convergent Enantioselective Syntheses
Authors: Friedemann Nora M. , Härter Alice , Brandes Sebastian , Groß Steffen , Gerlach Dorothea , Münch Winfried , Schollmeyer Dieter , Nubbemeyer Udo
Published: March 2012

Chiral pyrrolidine substituents served as efficient auxiliaries in diastereoselective zwitterionic ketene aza‐Claisen rearrangements. Palladium‐catalysed N‐allylation starting from optically active proline and prolinol derivatives, as well as from (2S,5S)‐2,5‐dimethoxymethylpyrrolidine, gave various allylamines bearing trisubstituted olefin moieties. Treatment with complex carboxylic acid fluorides in the presence of trimethylaluminium induced activated ketene addition to the nitrogen and subsequent [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement to give γ,δ‐unsaturated amides with excellent simple diastereoselectivities and up to 11:1 auxiliary‐induced diastereomeric ratios. Cleavage of the pyrrolidine amide was achieved through iodolactonization, with the option for recovery of the auxiliary pyrrolidine. The stereochemical outcomes of the rearrangements and the iodocyclizations were established by X‐ray and NOEDS analyses of suitable amides and lactones. Overall, both enantiomers were accessible selectively. The optically active amides and lactones of defined configurations formed in this way should be useful as key intermediates in convergent steroidal natural and pharmaceutically important product synthesis.