bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EPA guidance on the role and responsibilities of psychiatrists
Authors: Bhugra D. , Ventriglio A. , Kuzman M.R. , Ikkos G. , Hermans M.H.-M. , Falkai P. , Fiorillo A. , Musalek M. , Hoschl C. , Dales J. , Beezhold J. , Rössler W. , Racetovic G. , Gaebel W.
Published: February 2015

Psychiatry is that branch of the medical profession, which deals with the origin, diagnosis, prevention, and management of mental disorders or mental illness, emotional and behavioural disturbances. Thus, a psychiatrist is a trained doctor who has received further training in the field of diagnosing and managing mental illnesses, mental disorders and emotional and behavioural disturbances. This EPA Guidance document was developed following consultation and literature searches as well as grey literature and was approved by the EPA Guidance Committee. The role and responsibilities of the psychiatrist include planning and delivering high quality services within the resources available and to advocate for the patients and the services. The European Psychiatric Association seeks to rise to the challenge of articulating these roles and responsibilities. This EPA Guidance is directed towards psychiatrists and the medical profession as a whole, towards other members of the multidisciplinary teams as well as to employers and other stakeholders such as policy makers and patients and their families.
Phosphorylation of Serine422 increases the stability and transactivation activities of human Osterix
Authors: Xu Yuexin , Yao Bing , Shi Kaikai , Lu Jianlei , Jin Yucui , Qi Bing , Li Hongwei , Pan Shiyang , Chen Li , Ma Changyan
Published: February 2015

Osterix (Osx) is an essential regulator for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Although phosphorylation has been reported to be involved in the regulation of Osx activity, the precise underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here we identified S422 as a novel phosphorylation site of Osx and demonstrated that GSK‐3β interacted and co‐localized with Osx. GSK‐3β increased the stability and transactivation activity of Osx through phosphorylation of the newly identified site. These findings expanded our understanding of the mechanisms of posttranslational regulation of Osx and the role of GSK‐3β in the control of Osx transactivation activity.
Cancer of the cervix: Early detection and cost‐effective solutions
Authors: Denny Lynette , Prendiville Walter
Published: February 2015

Cervical cancer is known to be a preventable disease through the detection of cervical cancer precursors, historically using cytology of the cervix as the primary screening test. Over 85% of cervical cancer cases and deaths occur in low‐resource countries. Alternatives to cytology have been investigated with the strongest possibilities being visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and HPV DNA testing. HPV DNA testing has been shown in randomized trials to be significantly more sensitive for the detection of cervical cancer precursors than either cytology or VIA. In this paper we argue that prevention really does cost less than cure, or that prevention and treatment of cancer costs less than no prevention, in effect just treatment, of cancer. The true cost savings of prevention will include a more difficult assessment of the socioeconomic savings associated with longer, healthier lives for women in their prime who have a major role in supporting their families.
Food, Obesity Discourses and the Subjugation of Environmental Knowledge
Authors: O’Flynn Gabrielle
Published: February 2015

In this article, I critically analyse how meanings of health and food, tied to obesity reduction, ‘subjugate’ environmental priorities and knowledges of food. To do this, I explore the meanings of health and food constructed in the NSW Health Munch & Move program. I examine the use of language to construct notions of food and health that are not only difficult to challenge, but difficult to think otherwise, including in relation to environmental perspectives of food. I argue that as calculative and individualised conceptualisations of food and health become more and more ‘common sense’ (Mudry, 2009), there is a ‘closing off’ of what is thinkable and doable in relation to food and health. The subjugation of environmental priorities of food takes place both through their marginalisation and through how we are invited to define the place of food in our lives.
Optimal control of energy extraction in wind-farm boundary layers
Authors: Goit Jay P. , Meyers Johan
Published: February 2015

In very large wind farms, the vertical interaction with the atmospheric boundary layer plays an important role, i.e. the total energy extraction is governed by the vertical transport of kinetic energy from higher regions in the boundary layer towards the turbine level. In the current study, we investigate optimal control of wind-farm boundary layers, considering the individual wind turbines as flow actuators, whose energy extraction can be dynamically regulated in time so as to optimally influence the flow field and the vertical energy transport. To this end, we use large-eddy simulations of a fully developed pressure-driven wind-farm boundary layer in a receding-horizon optimal control framework. For the optimization of the wind-turbine controls, a conjugate-gradient optimization method is used in combination with adjoint large-eddy simulations for the determination of the gradients of the cost functional. In a first control study, wind-farm energy extraction is optimized in an aligned wind farm. Results are accumulated over one hour of operation. We find that the energy extraction is increased by 16 % compared to the uncontrolled reference. This is directly related to an increase of the vertical fluxes of energy towards the wind turbines, and vertical shear stresses increase considerably. A further analysis, decomposing the total stresses into dispersive and Reynolds stresses, shows that the dispersive stresses increase drastically, and that the Reynolds stresses decrease on average, but increase in the wake region, leading to better wake recovery. We further observe also that turbulent dissipation levels in the boundary layer increase, and overall the outer layer of the boundary layer enters into a transient decelerating regime, while the inner layer and the turbine region attain a new statistically steady equilibrium within approximately one wind-farm through-flow time. Two additional optimal control cases study penalization of turbulent dissipation. For the current wind-farm geometry, it is found that the ratio between wind-farm energy extraction and turbulent boundary-layer dissipation remains roughly around 70 %, but can be slightly increased by a few per cent by penalizing the dissipation in the optimization objective. For a pressure-driven boundary layer in equilibrium, we estimate that such a shift can lead to an increase in wind-farm energy extraction of 6 %.
The High Time and Frequency Resolution Capabilities of the Murchison Widefield Array
Authors: Tremblay S. E. , Ord S. M. , Bhat N. D. R. , Tingay S. J. , Crosse B. , Pallot D. , Oronsaye S. I. , Bernardi G. , Bowman J. D. , Briggs F. , Cappallo R. J. , Corey B. E. , Deshpande A. A. , Emrich D. , Goeke R. , Greenhill L. J. , Hazelton B. J. , Johnston-Hollitt M. , Kaplan D. L. , Kasper J. C. , Kratzenberg E. , Lonsdale C. J. , Lynch M. J. , McWhirter S. R. , Mitchell D. A. , Morales M. F. , Morgan E. , Oberoi D. , Prabu T. , Rogers A. E. E. , Roshi A. , Udaya Shankar N. , Srivani K. S. , Subrahmanyan R. , Waterson M. , Wayth R. B. , Webster R. L. , Whitney A. R. , Williams A. , Williams C. L.
Published: February 2015

The science cases for incorporating high time resolution capabilities into modern radio telescopes are as numerous as they are compelling. Science targets range from exotic sources such as pulsars, to our Sun, to recently detected possible extragalactic bursts of radio emission, the so-called fast radio bursts (FRBs). Originally conceived purely as an imaging telescope, the initial design of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) did not include the ability to access high time and frequency resolution voltage data. However, the flexibility of the MWA’s software correlator allowed an off-the-shelf solution for adding this capability. This paper describes the system that records the 100 μs and 10 kHz resolution voltage data from the MWA. Example science applications, where this capability is critical, are presented, as well as accompanying commissioning results from this mode to demonstrate verification.
Microbiological bioassay usingBacillus pumilusto detect tetracycline in milk
Authors: Tumini Melisa , Nagel Orlando Guillermo , Althaus Rafael Lisandro
Published: February 2015

The tetracyclines (TCs) are widely used in the treatment of several diseases of cattle and their residues may be present in milk. To control these residues it is necessary to have available inexpensive screening methods, user-friendly and capable of analysing a high number of samples. The purpose of this study was to design a bioassay of microbiological inhibition in microtiter plates with spores ofBacillus pumilusto detect TCs at concentrations corresponding to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). Several complementary experiments were performed to design the bioassay. In the first study, we determined the concentration of spores that produce a change in the bioassay's relative absorbance in a short time period. Subsequently, we assessed the concentration of chloramphenicol required to decrease the detection limit (DL) of TCs at MRLs levels. Thereafter, specificity, DL and cross-specificity of the bioassay were estimated. The most appropriate microbiological inhibition assay had aB. pumilusconcentration of 1·6 × 109 spores/ml, fortified with 2500 μg chloramphenicol/l (CAP) in Mueller Hinton culture medium using brilliant black and toluidine blue as redox indicator. This bioassay detected 117 μg chlortetracycline/l, 142 μg oxytetracycline/l and 105 μg tetracycline/l by means of a change in the indicator's colour in a period of 5 h. The method showed good specificity (97·9%) which decreased slightly (93·3%) in milk samples with high somatic cell counts (>250 000 cells/ml). Furthermore, other antimicrobials studied (except neomycin) must be present in milk at high concentrations (from >5 to >100 MRLs) to produce positive results in this assay, indicating a low cross specificity.
Acute neonatal respiratory distress caused by a lingual thyroid: the role of nasendoscopy and medical treatment
Authors: Lane L , Prudon S , Cheetham T , Powell S
Published: February 2015

Background:

A lingual thyroid is a known cause of oropharyngeal obstruction in the neonate. It can be asymptomatic, or present as stridor, dysphonia, dysphagia or dyspnoea with faltering growth. The therapeutic options include surgical resection.

Case report:

A 6-day-old female neonate, born at 36 weeks gestation, presented with stridulous breathing and poor feeding. Although the cause was initially thought to be laryngomalacia, nasendoscopy revealed a lingual thyroid. The baby had deranged thyroid function, as detected on neonatal screening, but this result was not available until a later date. Despite being symptomatic, the patient was managed medically; thyroxine therapy was associated with resolution of the respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion:

Nasendoscopy provides valuable information about an ectopic thyroid gland. Thyroid replacement therapy may help to suppress the size of the ectopic gland and ultimately prevent an unnecessary surgical procedure.
Collisional behaviors of astrophysical collisionless plasmas
Authors: Bret Antoine
Published: February 2015

In collisional fluids, a number of key processes rely on the frequency of binary collisions. Collisions seem necessary to generate a shock wave when two fluids collide fast enough, to fulfill the Rankine–Hugoniot (RH) relations, to establish an equation of state or a Maxwellian distribution. Yet, these seemingly collisional features are routinely either observed or assumed, in relation with collisionlessastrophysical plasmas. This article will review our current answers to the following questions: How do colliding collisionless plasmas end-up generating a shock as if they were fluids? To which extent are the RH relations fulfilled in this case? Do collisionless shocks propagate like fluid ones? Can we use an equation of state to describe collisionless plasmas, like MHD codes for astrophysics do? Why are Maxwellian distributions ubiquitous in particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless shocks? Time and length scales defining the border between the collisional and the collisionless behavior will be given when relevant. In general, when the time and length scales involved in the collisionless processes responsible for the fluid-like behavior may be neglected, the system may be treated like a fluid.
Ethics of Nature in Indian Environmental History: A Review Article
Authors: SIVARAMAKRISHNAN K.
Published: February 2015

This article considers the formation of moral and ethical worlds in India, drawing largely on cases reporting on modern times, as people interact with or imagine the landscapes in which they live. Questions of ethics, and how they are animated in practical existence through the experience of emotional ties and affective attachments to nature, near and far, have not always informed the writing of environmental history in India. In contrast, scholars in disciplines other than history have often paid attention to ethical and religious ideas about landscape and nature. This review argues that ethics of nature are developed in historical processes of community formation and identity-expression or self-making that occur in and through the imagination and experience of the natural world in religious and political action. Historical perspectives on these topics are useful and necessary, even as careful examination of how affect and worship shape attitudes to being in particular landscapes can enrich the understanding of meaningful relations to landscape and nature in environmental history. The argument is developed by a close examination of a handful of recent studies that have provided an empirical basis for this synthesis, review, and conceptual elaboration of the ethics of nature in India. The article considers the formation of ethical ideas and practical values of nature in realms of worship, natural resources management, rural development, conservation science, natural resources policy, and legal disputes relating to nature protection in India.
Very young infants' responses to human and nonhuman primate vocalizations
Authors: Ferguson Brock , Perszyk Danielle R. , Waxman Sandra R.
Published: February 2015

Recent evidence from very young human infants' responses to human and nonhuman primate vocalizations offers new insights – and brings new questions – to the forefront for those who seek to integrate primate-general and human-specific mechanisms of acoustic communication with theories of language acquisition.
Mobile Versus Fixed Deployment of Automated External Defibrillators in Rural EMS
Authors: Nelson R. Darrell , Bozeman William , Collins Greg , Booe Brian , Baker Todd , Alson Roy
Published: February 2015

Introduction

There is no consensus on where automated external defibrillators (AEDs) should be placed in rural communities to maximize impact on survival from cardiac arrest. In the community of Stokes County, North Carolina (USA) the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system promotes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) public education and AED use with public access defibrillators (PADs) placed mainly in public schools, churches, and government buildings.

Hypothesis/Problem

This study tested the utilization of AEDs assigned to first responders (FRs) in their private-owned-vehicle (POV) compared to AEDs in fixed locations.

Methods

The authors performed a prospective, observational study measuring utilization of AEDs carried by FRs in their POV compared to utilization of AEDs in fixed locations. Automated external defibrillator utilization is activation with pads placed on the patient and analysis of heart rhythm to determine if shock/no-shock is indicated. The Institutional Review Board of Wake Forest University Baptist Health System approved the study and written informed consent was waived. The study began on December 01, 2012 at midnight and ended on December 01, 2013 at midnight.

Results

During the 12-month study period, 81 community AEDs were in place, 66 in fixed locations and 15 assigned to FRs in their POVs. No utilizations of the 66 fixed location AEDs were reported (0.0 utilizations/AED/year) while 19 utilizations occurred in the FR POV AED study group (1.27 utilizations/AED/year; P<.0001). Odds ratio of using a FR POV located AED was 172 times more likely than using a community fixed-location AED in this rural community.

Discussion

Placing AEDs in a rural community poses many challenges for optimal utilization in terms of cardiac arrest occurrences. Few studies exist to direct rural community efforts in placing AEDs where they can be most effective, and it has been postulated that placing them directly with FRs may be advantageous.

Conclusions

In this rural community, the authors found that placing AED devices with FRs in their POVs resulted in a statistically significant increase in utilizations over AED fixed locations.

NelsonRD, BozemanW, CollinsG, BooeB, BakerT, AlsonR. Mobile versus fixed deployment of automated external defibrillators in rural EMS. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(2):1-3.
Pauciimmune Glomerulonephritis, ANCA-Vaskulitis
Authors: Koneth Irene
Published: February 2015

Die pauciimmune Glomerulonephritis und ANCA-Vaskulitiden (AAV) sind chronische Autoimmunerkrankungen mit nekrotisierender Vaskulitis kleiner bis mittlerer Gefäße, meist mit multipler, vielfältiger Organbeteiligung, seltener isoliertem Nierenbefall. Pauciimmun bezeichnet die fehlende Ablagerung von Immunkomplexen im Gewebe. Pathogenetisch und diagnostisch wichtig sind zirkulierende antineutrophile zytoplasmatische Antikörper (ANCA). Die typische renale Manifestation ist die rasch progrediente Glomerulonephritis, welche unbehandelt innert einiger Wochen zur Dialysepflichtigkeit führt mit schlechter Gesamtprognose für den Patienten. Um diagnostische Verzögerungen zu vermeiden, sollte auch in der Praxis die Hemmschwelle zur Bestimmung der ANCA bei akuter Niereninsuffizienz mit Hämaturie tief sein. Die immunsuppressive Medikation hat zwar die Sterberate stark reduziert und die Nierenprognose verbessert, die Therapie ist aber komplex, nebenwirkungsreich und bei anhaltend hoher Rezidivrate noch zu verbessern.
Membranöse Glomerulopathie – eine Autoimmunerkrankung
Authors: Mani Laila-Yasmin , Huynh-Do Uyen , Horn Michael Peter
Published: February 2015

Die membranöse Glomerulopathie stellt eine der häufigsten glomerulären Erkrankungen und eine der führenden Ursachen für ein nephrotisches Syndrom beim Erwachsenen in hiesigen Breiten dar. Bekannt seit über 50 Jahren, ist sie histologisch durch eine Verdickung der glomerulären Kapillarmembran mit Ablagerung von subepithelialen Immunkomplexen definiert. Sekundäre Formen (bei Hepatitis B, Autoimmunerkrankungen oder Medikamenten-assoziiert) werden idiopathischen Formen gegenübergestellt. Trotz spontaner Remission in ca. 30 % der Fälle, verläuft ca. ein Drittel der idiopathischen Formen progredient mit Erreichen einer terminalen Niereninsuffizienz nach 10 Jahren. Bahnbrechende Fortschritte in der Forschung haben im letzten Jahrzehnt die Identifikation von Autoantikörpern, welche gegen podozytäre Strukturen gerichtet sind und zu einer sekundären Schädigung der Podozyten und glomerulären Basalmembran führen, ermöglicht. Die sog. idiopathische membranöse Glomerulopathie ist damit zum Prototyp einer Autoimmunerkrankung avanciert. Die am häufigsten vorkommenden Autoantikörper, welche in ca. 70 – 80 % der Fälle von idiopathischer membranöser Glomerulopathie nachweisbar sind, richten sich gegen den Phospholipase A2-Rezeptor an der Podozytenmembran und korrelieren mit der Krankheitsaktivität. Diese epochalen Erkenntnisse haben Einfluss auf diagnostische und therapeutische Strategien und schaffen neben einer optimierten supportiven Therapie einen pathophysiologischen Hintergrund für die Verwendung spezifischer B-Zell-gerichteter Therapien.
Die fokal-segmentale Glomerulosklerose (FSGS): Im Jahr 2015 immer noch eine Herausforderung für die Nephrologen
Authors: Helmuth Annette , Huynh-Do Uyen
Published: February 2015

Die fokal-segmentale Glomerulosklerose (FSGS) ist eine häufige histologische Diagnose beim Erwachsenen mit nephrotischer Proteinurie und einer der häufigsten Gründe für eine terminale Niereninsuffizienz unter den primären Glomerulonephritiden. Das histologische Bild entspricht der histopathologischen Endstrecke vieler Glomerulopathien, bei denen es zum Nephronverlust mit funktioneller Überlastung der übrigen Nephrone kommt. Darüber hinaus tritt es bei angeborenen oder erworbenen Podozytenschädigungen auf. Die sekundäre Form der FSGS ist weitaus häufiger als die primäre idiopathische Form. Die Diagnose wird im klinisch pathologischen Kontext gestellt. Während die sekundäre FSGS sich klinisch meist mit über Jahren nur langsam progredienter Proteinurie und Nierenfunktionsverlust präsentiert, besteht bei der idiopathischen FSGS zum Zeitpunkt der Erstdiagnose meist eine manifeste Niereninsuffizienz und nephrotische Proteinurie, die rasch zur terminalen Niereninsuffizienz führt. Eine ätiologische Differenzierung der FSGS ist für die Therapie unabdingbar, da sich die Therapie der sekundären Form rein symptomatisch und wenn möglich kausal gestaltet, während bei der idiopathischen Form Immunsuppressiva zum Einsatz kommen. Nach einer Nierentransplantation besteht bei der idiopathischen FSGS eine hohe Rezidivneigung.
The Psychometric Properties of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire in	Adolescents
Authors: Solé Ester , Racine Mélanie , Castarlenas Elena , de la Vega Rocío , Tomé-Pires Catarina , Jensen Mark , Miró Jordi
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Cognitive fusion can be defined as the inability to view thoughts as just thoughts, which is hypothesized to increase the impact of those thoughts on behavior. Cognitive fusion is a core concept of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a therapeutic approach that is being increasingly studied as a treatment for a plethora of chronic health problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) in a sample of adolescents. Three hundred eight adolescents (11–20 years) completed the Catalan version of the questionnaire (CFQ-C) as well as measures assessing anxiety sensitivity and acceptance. The results supported a one-factor solution for the CFQ-C, and indicated an adequate level of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.79). The validity of the CFQ-C was supported by a significant positive association between the CFQ-C total score and the measure of anxiety sensitivity and by a significant negative association with the measure of acceptance. The findings support the psychometric properties of the CFQ to study the role that cognitive fusion may play in functioning among adolescents.
Impacts of the Three Gorges Dam on microbial structure and potential function
Authors: Yan Qingyun , Bi Yonghong , Deng Ye , He Zhili , Wu Liyou , Van Nostrand Joy D. , Shi Zhou , Li Jinjin , Wang Xi , Hu Zhengyu , Yu Yuhe , Zhou Jizhong
Published: February 2015

The Three Gorges Dam has significantly altered ecological and environmental conditions within the reservoir region, but how these changes affect bacterioplankton structure and function is unknown. Here, three widely accepted metagenomic tools were employed to study the impact of damming on the bacterioplankton community in the Xiangxi River. Our results indicated that bacterioplankton communities were both taxonomically and functionally different between backwater and riverine sites, which represent communities with and without direct dam effects, respectively. There were many more nitrogen cycling Betaproteobacteria (e.g., Limnohabitans) and a higher abundance of functional genes and KEGG orthology (KO) groups involved in nitrogen cycling in the riverine sites, suggesting a higher level of bacterial activity involved in generating more nitrogenous nutrients for the growth of phytoplankton. Additionally, the KO categories involved in carbon and sulfur metabolism, as well as most of the detected functional genes also showed clear backwater and riverine patterns. As expected, these diversity patterns all significantly correlated with environmental characteristics, confirming that the bacterioplankton communities in the Xiangxi River were really affected by environmental changes from the Three Gorges Dam. This study provides a first comparative metagenomic insight for evaluating the impacts of the large dam on microbial function.
Analysis of the effects of evaporative cooling on the evaporation of liquid droplets using a combined field approach
Authors: Xu Xuefeng , Ma Liran
Published: February 2015

During liquid evaporation, the equations for the vapor concentration in the atmosphere and for the temperature in the liquid are coupled and must be solved in an iterative manner. In the present paper, a combined field approach which unifies the coupled fields into one single hybrid field and thus makes the iteration unnecessary is proposed. By using this approach, the influences of the evaporative cooling on the evaporation of pinned sessile droplets are investigated and its predictions are found in good agreement with the previous theoretical and experimental results. A dimensionless number Ec which can evaluate the strength of the evaporative cooling is then introduced and the results show that both the evaporation flux along the droplet surface and the total evaporation rate of the droplet decrease as the evaporative cooling number Ec increases. For drying droplets, there exists a critical value EcCrit below which the evaporative cooling effect can be neglected and above which the significance of the effect increases dramatically. The present work may also have more general applications to coupled field problems in which all the fields have the same governing equation.
Proteomic identification of early salicylate- and flg22-responsive redox-sensitive proteins in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liu Pei , Zhang Huoming , Yu Boying , Xiong Liming , Xia Yiji
Published: February 2015

Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the early defense responses against pathogen infection in plants. The mechanism about the initial and direct regulation of the defense signaling pathway by ROS remains elusive. Perturbation of cellular redox homeostasis by ROS is believed to alter functions of redox-sensitive proteins through their oxidative modifications. Here we report an OxiTRAQ-based proteomic study in identifying proteins whose cysteines underwent oxidative modifications in Arabidopsis cells during the early response to salicylate or flg22, two defense pathway elicitors that are known to disturb cellular redox homeostasis. Among the salicylate- and/or flg22-responsive redox-sensitive proteins are those involved in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, RNA processing, post-translational modifications and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. The identification of the salicylate-/flg22-responsive redox-sensitive proteins provides a foundation from which further study can be conducted toward understanding biological significance of their oxidative modifications during the plant defense response.
Regulation of Primary Metabolic Pathways in Oyster Mushroom Mycelia Induced by Blue Light Stimulation: Accumulation of Shikimic Acid
Authors: Kojima Masanobu , Kimura Ninako , Miura Ryuhei
Published: February 2015

Shikimic acid is a key intermediate in the aromatic amino acid pathway as well as an important starting material for the synthesis of Tamiflu, a potent and selective inhibitor of the neuraminidase enzyme of influenza viruses A and B. Here we report that in oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) mycelia cultivated in the dark, stimulation with blue light-emitting diodes induces the accumulation of shikimic acid. An integrated analysis of primary metabolites, gene expression and protein expression suggests that the accumulation of shikimic acid caused by blue light stimulation is due to an increase in 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS, EC2.5.1.54), the rate-determining enzyme in the shikimic acid pathway, as well as phosphofructokinase (PFK, EC2.7.1.11) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, EC1.1.1.49), the rate-determining enzymes in the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, respectively. This stimulation results in increased levels of phosphoenolpyruvic acid (PEP) and erythrose-4-phosphate (E4P), the starting materials of shikimic acid biosynthesis.
A Si–MnOOH composite with superior lithium storage properties
Authors: Zhong Hai , Yang Yanbo , Ding Fei , Wang Donghai , Zhou Yunhong , Zhan Hui
Published: February 2015

The Si–MnOOH composite electrode shows excellent rate capability, which can be attributed to the γ-MnOOH component that significantly promotes the catalyzing effect.
Combining a sensor and a pH-gated nanopore based on an avidin–biotin system
Authors: Lepoitevin Mathilde , Nguyen Gael , Bechelany Mikhael , Balanzat Emmanuel , Janot Jean-Marc , Balme Sebastien
Published: February 2015

Here we propose a new approach to tailor nanopores, which combines both pH gating and sensing properties.
Hydrotrope accumulation around the drug: the driving force for solubilization and minimum hydrotrope concentration for nicotinamide and urea
Authors: Booth Jonathan J. , Omar Muhiadin , Abbott Steven , Shimizu Seishi
Published: February 2015

A rigorous statistical thermodynamic theory explains how urea and nicotinamide can solubilize hydrophobic drugs in water.
A post-oxidation strategy for the synthesis of graphene/carbon nanotube-supported polyaniline nanocomposites as advanced supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Lv Dechao , Shen Jiali , Wang Gengchao
Published: February 2015

A post-oxidation strategy was proposed to synthesize sulfonated graphene nanosheets/carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube-supported PANI (sGNS/cMWCNT@PANI) hierarchical nanocomposites by an interfacial polymerization as advanced supercapacitor electrodes.
Controlled levels of protein modification through a chromatography-mediated bioconjugation
Authors: Kwant Richard L. , Jaffe Jake , Palmere Peter J. , Francis Matthew B.
Published: February 2015

This article introduces a method to control levels of protein modification through a chromatography-mediated bioconjugation.
Dielectric properties and magnetoresistance behavior of polyaniline coated carbon fabrics
Authors: Qiu Bin , Guo Jiang , Wang Yiran , Wei Xin , Wang Qiang , Sun Dezhi , Khan Mojammel A. , Young David P. , O'Connor Ryan , Huang Xiaohua , Zhang Xin , Weeks Brandon L. , Wei Suying , Guo Zhanhu
Published: February 2015

A maximum negative MR value of −7.5% and −3.5% was detected for the PANI–CFs in vertical and diagonal directions, respectively.
Pre-processing of Fourier transform infrared spectra by means of multivariate analysis implemented in the R environment
Authors: Banas Krzysztof , Banas Agnieszka , Gajda Mariusz , Pawlicki Bohdan , Kwiatek Wojciech M. , Breese Mark B. H.
Published: February 2015

Segmentation of the hyperspectral dataset by using hierarchical cluster analysis shows its advantage over the traditional approach based on the average intensity.
Fabrication of three dimensional (3D) hierarchical Ag/WO3 flower-like catalyst materials for the selective oxidation of m-xylene to isophthalic acid
Authors: Acharyya Shankha S. , Ghosh Shilpi , Bal Rajaram
Published: February 2015

A three dimensional (3D) hierarchical silver supported tungsten oxide flower-like microsphere catalyst has been fabricated using a cationic surfactant CTAB.
Crossover among structural motifs in Pd–Au nanoalloys
Authors: Zhu Beien , Guesmi Hazar , Creuze Jérôme , Legrand Bernard , Mottet Christine
Published: February 2015

The crossovers among the most abundant structural motifs (icosahedra, decahedra and truncated octahedra) of Pd–Au nanoalloys are determined theoretically in a size range between 2 and 7 nm and for three compositions equivalent to Pd3Au, PdAu and PdAu3.
Construction of multiferrocenyl metallacycles and metallacages via coordination-driven self-assembly: from structure to functions
Authors: Xu Lin , Wang Yu-Xuan , Chen Li-Jun , Yang Hai-Bo
Published: February 2015

This review summarizes the recent progress in the construction of multiferrocenyl metallacycles and metallacages via coordination-driven self-assembly.
Iron oxide nanorods as high-performance magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
Authors: Mohapatra Jeotikanta , Mitra Arijit , Tyagi Himanshu , Bahadur D. , Aslam M.
Published: February 2015

An efficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent with a highR2relaxivity value is achieved by controlling the shape of iron oxide to rod like morphology with a length of 30–70 nm and diameter of 4–12 nm.
Asphaltene: structural characterization, molecular functionalization, and application as a low-cost filler in epoxy composites
Authors: Wu Hongchao , Kessler Michael R.
Published: February 2015

First comprehensive study focuses on extraction, characterization and functionalization of asphaltene as novel low-cost carbonaceous filler in epoxy resin.
Functional properties of ZnCo2O4 nano-particles obtained by thermal decomposition of a solution of binary metal nitrates
Authors: Mariappan C. R. , Kumar R. , Vijaya Prakash G.
Published: February 2015

A simple and inexpensive synthesis route at relatively low temperatures (100 °C) and improved functional properties are reported for ZnCo2O4 nano-particles.
Silica capsules enclosing P123 triblock copolymer micelles for flurbiprofen storage and release
Authors: Kerkhofs Stef , Saïdi Fadila , Vandervoort Niels , Van den Mooter Guy , Martineau Charlotte , Taulelle Francis , Martens Johan A.
Published: February 2015

Flurbiprofen was incorporated in the hydrophobic core of triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 and wrapped with silica, forming Flurbiprofen–Pluronic–Silica capsules from which flurbiprofen could be released.
Defining the cytosolic pathway of glutathione degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana: role of the ChaC/GCG family of γ-glutamyl cyclotransferases as glutathione-degrading enzymes and AtLAP1 as the Cys-Gly peptidase
Authors: Kumar Shailesh , Kaur Amandeep , Chattopadhyay Banani , Bachhawat Anand K.
Published: February 2015

Glutathione homoeostasis is critical to plant life and its adaptation to stress. The γ-glutamyl cycle of glutathione biosynthesis and degradation plays a pre-eminent role in glutathione homoeostasis. The genes encoding two enzymatic steps of glutathione degradation, the γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase (GGCT; acting on γ-glutamyl amino acids) and the Cys-Gly dipeptidase, have, however, lacked identification. We have investigated the family of GGCTs in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show through in vivo functional assays in yeast that all three members of the ChaC/GCG subfamily show significant activity towards glutathione but no detectable activity towards γ-glutamyl methionine. Biochemical characterization of the purified recombinant enzymes GGCT2;2 and GGCT2;3 further confirmed that they act specifically to degrade glutathione to yield 5-oxoproline and Cys-Gly peptide and show no significant activity towards γ-glutamyl cysteine. The Km for glutathione was 1.7 and 4.96 mM for GGCT2;2 and GGCT2;3 respectively and was physiologically relevant. Evaluation of representative members of other subfamilies indicates the absence of GGCTs from plants showing significant activity towards γ-glutamyl-amino acids as envisaged in the classical γ-glutamyl cycle. To identify the Cys-Gly peptidase, we evaluated leucine aminopeptidases (LAPs) as candidate enzymes. The cytosolic AtLAP1 (A. thaliana leucine aminopeptidase 1) and the putative chloroplastic AtLAP3 displayed activity towards Cys-Gly peptide through in vivo functional assays in yeast. Biochemical characterization of the in vitro purified hexameric AtLAP1 enzyme revealed a Km for Cys-Gly of 1.3 mM that was physiologically relevant and indicated that AtLAP1 represents a cytosolic Cys-Gly peptidase activity of A. thaliana. The studies provide new insights into the functioning of the γ-glutamyl cycle in plants.
G-protein coupled receptor solubilization and purification for biophysical analysis and functional studies, in the total absence of detergent
Authors: Jamshad Mohammed , Charlton Jack , Lin Yu-Pin , Routledge Sarah J. , Bawa Zharain , Knowles Timothy J. , Overduin Michael , Dekker Niek , Dafforn Tim R. , Bill Roslyn M. , Poyner David R. , Wheatley Mark
Published: February 2015

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest class of membrane proteins and are a major drug target. A serious obstacle to studying GPCR structure/function characteristics is the requirement to extract the receptors from their native environment in the plasma membrane, coupled with the inherent instability of GPCRs in the detergents required for their solubilization. In the present study, we report the first solubilization and purification of a functional GPCR [human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)], in the total absence of detergent at any stage, by exploiting spontaneous encapsulation by styrene maleic acid (SMA) co-polymer direct from the membrane into a nanoscale SMA lipid particle (SMALP). Furthermore, the A2AR–SMALP, generated from yeast (Pichia pastoris) or mammalian cells, exhibited increased thermostability (∼5°C) compared with detergent [DDM (n-dodecyl-β-D-maltopyranoside)]-solubilized A2AR controls. The A2AR–SMALP was also stable when stored for prolonged periods at 4°C and was resistant to multiple freeze-thaw cycles, in marked contrast with the detergent-solubilized receptor. These properties establish the potential for using GPCR–SMALP in receptor-based drug discovery assays. Moreover, in contrast with nanodiscs stabilized by scaffold proteins, the non-proteinaceous nature of the SMA polymer allowed unobscured biophysical characterization of the embedded receptor. Consequently, CD spectroscopy was used to relate changes in secondary structure to loss of ligand binding ([3H]ZM241385) capability. SMALP-solubilization of GPCRs, retaining the annular lipid environment, will enable a wide range of therapeutic targets to be prepared in native-like state to aid drug discovery and understanding of GPCR molecular mechanisms.
Shikonin causes cell-cycle arrest and induces apoptosis by regulating the EGFR–NF-κB signalling pathway in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells
Authors: Tian Rong , Li You , Gao Mei
Published: February 2015

Shikonin, a naphthoquinone pigment isolated from the Chinese herbal Zicao, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anticancer effects. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of shikonin on A431 cells and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. In the present study, our results showed that shikonin significantly inhibited the growth of A431 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and caused cell cycle arrest by upregulation of p21 and p27, and downregulation of cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. In addition, shikonin evidently induced apoptosis due to decreasing Bcl-2 expression, increasing Bax expression, activating caspase and inactivating NF-κB, while pretreatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor Z-Asp-CH2-DCB abrogated shikonin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, EGF could significantly increase the NF-κB DNA-binding activity and reversed the shikonin-induced inactivation of NF-κB. As anticipated AG1478 (EGFR inhibitor) and Bay11-7082 (NF-κB inhibitor) blocked EGF-reversed the inactivation of NF-κB induced by shikonin. Our data also showed that EGF could evidently reverse the shikonin-induced decreases in cell viability and increases in apoptosis. Then, the NF-κB inhibitors such as Bay11-7082, SN50, Helenalin and the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 and its downstream inhibitor such as PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and STAT3 inhibitor Stattic dramatically blocked EGF-reversed decreases in cell viability and increases in apoptosis induced by shikonin. Collectively, our findings indicated that shikonin inhibited cell growth and caused cell cycle arrest of the A431 cells through the regulation of apoptosis. Moreover, these effects were mediated at least partially by suppressing the activation of the EGFR–NF-κB signaling pathways.
Applications and data of generalised dynamic wake theory of the flow in a rotor wake
Authors: Fei Zhongyang , Peters David A.
Published: February 2015

A new co‐state method with a finite number of states was recently expanded to be able to calculate the inflow below the rotor disk. The expanded model is derived in a mathematically rigorous way from the potential flow equations. It offers an efficient mean of doing real‐time simulation of rotary wing systems and generating the data for design and control purpose. In this study, as an important application of the generalised dynamic wake theory, the new method is used to compute inflow in the wake of a rotor with a finite number of blades. The three velocity components are calculated in the time domain for axial flow. The velocities are plotted at different distances from the rotor disk and compared with the Glauert prediction for axial flow and wake swirl. In the finite‐state model, the angular momentum does not jump instantaneously across the disk (as predicted by Glauert), but it does transit rapidly across the disk to correct Glauert value.
Linear primary permanent magnet vernier machine for wave energy conversion
Authors: Du Yi , Cheng Ming , Chau Kwok Tong , Liu Xianxing , Xiao Feng , Zhao Wenxiang
Published: February 2015

In this paper, a new linear primary permanent magnet vernier (LPPMV) machine is developed for direct‐drive wave energy conversion. Owing to the magnetic gearing effect, the LPPMV machine possesses the advantages of high thrust force and low speed motion. After describing the machine structure, the operation principle of the machine is analysed and compared using two methods, namely, the magnetic gearing principle and the straightforward magnetic path. Then the characteristics are analysed by using the finite element method. Considering the unbalance of the no‐load flux linkage and the inductance among the three phases, the mathematical model of the proposed machine is established, which is significantly different to that of the traditional permanent magnet machine. Finally, the machine is prototyped and tested so as to experimentally verify the theoretical analysis.
Dynamic operation and control of a hybrid nanogrid system for future community houses
Authors: Chandrasena Ruwan P.S. , Shahnia Farhad , Rajakaruna Sumedha , Ghosh Arindam
Published: February 2015

A hybrid NanoGrid (NG) can be considered as the power supply system, for future community houses. In this study, the operation and control of an NG are presented. The NG consists of an AC bus and a DC bus, interconnected through a tie‐converter (TC). All AC loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) of the community houses are connected to the AC bus while all their DC loads and DERs are connected to the DC bus. The NG has an adequate generation capacity to supply its loads in off‐grid status as well as the capability to exchange power with the grid. The TC exchanges the power between two buses and regulates the voltage in both buses, in the case of off‐grid operation. The NG dynamics, with the proposed structure and developed primary and secondary control algorithms are validated through extensive computer simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC.
Evaluating harmonic voltage distortion in load‐variating unbalanced networks using Monte Carlo simulations
Authors: Silva Márcio Melquíades , Gonzalez Manuel Losada y , Uturbey Wadaed , Carrano Eduardo G. , Silva Selênio Rocha
Published: February 2015

This study presents a new methodology for modelling and handling with aggregated harmonic loads and linear loads in the harmonic power flow analysis. This method, so‐called variable load method, can be used in balanced and unbalanced systems and for deterministic and stochastic studies. The main types of harmonic loads and their participation coefficients inside the facility are estimated by inspection or based on usual values. In addition, a new type of load model that represents the load variation and minor loads is also defined based on field measurements, in order to build a more adherent harmonic load representation. A stochastic analysis, based on Monte Carlo simulations, is also performed. This sequence of steps makes possible to evaluate if the harmonic distortion has a significant probability of exceeding the limits set by standards because of load variations. This analysis is performed jointly with the bootstrapping method for obtaining the probability density functions of the voltage harmonic distortions. Tests on a real plant show that the proposed approach is able to represent measured data with high precision.
Bildgebung der Tränendrüse und der Tränenwege
Authors: Pieper C. , Thomas D.
Published: February 2015

Die Tränendrüse kann von einer Vielzahl neoplastischer, infektiöser und autoimmunologischer Erkrankungen betroffen sein. Eine radiologische Charakterisierung der Veränderungen kann Hinweise für die differenzialdiagnostische Einordnung liefern. Erkrankungen der ableitenden Tränenwege, insbesondere Tränenwegsverschlüsse, verursachen durch dauerhaftes Tränenträufeln häufig einen ausgeprägten Leidensdruck. Auch hier können radiologische Verfahren die Einleitung einer adäquaten Therapie in interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit leiten bzw. durch minimalinvasive interventionell-radiologische Methoden (z. B. Ballon-Dakryozystoplastie) das Spektrum der Therapieoptionen erweitern.
Zinc and Trimethylsilyl Chloride Mediated Synthesis of 2,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrrole Diesters from Nitriles and Ethyl Bromoacetate
Authors: Rao H. , Desai Avinash
Published: February 2015

An efficient, zinc-mediated, single-pot and CN+3C type pseudo-four-component synthesis of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrrole diesters was achieved from readily available aromatic/benzylic/aliphatic nitriles and ethyl bromoacetate under trimethylsilyl chloride catalysis.
Defektdeckungsoptionen nach Eviszeration
Authors: Ring A. , Behr B. , Kolbenschlag J. , Goertz O. , Hirsch T. , Lehnhardt M. , Daigeler A.
Published: February 2015

Weichteildefekte nach Eviszeration bei onkologischen Eingriffen stellen nach wie vor ein signifikantes Problem dar. Aufgrund der anatomischen und funktionellen Besonderheiten stellt die Rekonstruktion dieser Defekte im Beckenbereich eine Herausforderung dar und erfordert eine differenzierte Vorgehensweise. In diesem Beitrag werden aktuelle Strategien und Optionen der rekonstruktiven Verfahren unter Berücksichtigung präoperativer Gegebenheiten und plastisch-chirurgisch relevanter Faktoren vorgestellt. Auf die Relevanz der interdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit und den hieraus resultierenden Nutzen wird hingewiesen. Die Einbeziehung des plastischen Chirurgen bereits in die präoperative Planung der Tumorresektion wird empfohlen.
Implementation of a spark plasma sintering facility in a hermetic glovebox for compaction of toxic, radiotoxic, and air sensitive materials
Authors: Tyrpekl V. , Berkmann C. , Holzhäuser M. , Köpp F. , Cologna M. , Wangle T. , Somers J.
Published: February 2015

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a rapidly developing method for densification of powders into compacts. It belongs to the so-called “field assisted sintering techniques” that enable rapid sintering at much lower temperatures than the classical approaches of pressureless sintering of green pellets or hot isostatic pressing. In this paper, we report the successful integration of a SPS device into a hermetic glovebox for the handling of highly radioactive material containing radioisotopes of U, Th, Pu, Np, and Am. The glovebox implantation has been facilitated by the replacement of the hydraulic system to apply pressure with a compact electromechanical unit. The facility has been successfully tested using UO2 powder. Pellets with 97% of the theoretical density were obtained at 1000 °C for 5 min, significantly lower than the ∼1600 °C for 5-10 h used in conventional pellet sintering.