bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative Contrast‐Enhanced Sonographic Portography Combined With Indigo Carmine Dye Injection for Anatomic Liver Resection in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Park Yang Shin , Lee Chang Hee , Park Pyoung-Jae , Kim Kyeong Ah , Park Cheol Min
Published: June 2014

We present a method of intraoperative contrast‐enhanced sonographic portography combined with indigo carmine dye injection for anatomic liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma. During surgery, before dye infusion into the feeding portal vein, the targeted portal vein branch was directly punctured, and a microbubble contrast agent was administered under sonographic guidance. Simultaneous enhancement of the resected hepatic parenchyma with a microbubble contrast agent and blue dye improved estimation of the segmental border in the cutting plane and the tumor resection margin during liver surgery.
Middle Cerebral Artery Dissection
Authors: Barroso Bruno , Demasles Stéphanie , Bertandeau Eric , Bonnan Mikael , Miquel Marie , Krim Elsa
Published: June 2014

We report 2 patients with ischemic stroke related to an initial severe focal narrowed middle cerebral artery caused by a dissection mechanism, a presentation that has received little attention to date. Diagnostic modalities and follow‐up using transcranial color‐coded sonography are reported and discussed. Results with transcranial color‐coded sonography were correlated with computed tomographic angiography, showing the great value of this radiation‐free arterial monitoring process in this setting, especially in young adults.
Coexistence of Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Hashimoto Thyroiditis in Children
Authors: Koibuchi Harumi , Omoto Kiyoka , Fukushima Noriyoshi , Toyotsuji Tomonori , Taniguchi Nobuyuki , Kawano Mikihiko
Published: June 2014

This report documents 3 pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma cases with associated Hashimoto thyroiditis. In all 3 cases, hypoechoic nodules accompanied by multiple echogenic spots were noted on sonography of the thyroid. Hashimoto thyroiditis was suspected on the basis of positive thyroid autoantibody test results and pathologic examinations of thyroidectomy specimens, which revealed chronic thyroiditis with lymphocytic infiltration as the background of papillary thyroid carcinoma development. The potential for papillary carcinoma development warrants close follow‐up, and meticulous sonographic examinations must be performed in children with Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Temperature, grain size, and chemical controls on polycrystal anelasticity over a broad frequency range extending into the seismic range
Authors: Takei Yasuko , Karasawa Fumiya , Yamauchi Hatsuki
Published: June 2014

Recent experimental studies have shown that anelasticity of polycrystalline materials is subject to the Maxwell frequency (fM) scaling: Q−1(f/fM). However, the applicability of this scaling to the seismic waves has not been guaranteed because experimental frequencies normalized to fM of the laboratory samples are usually much lower than the seismic frequencies normalized to fM in the upper mantle (106≤f/fM≤109). In this study, by using polycrystalline organic borneol as an analogue to mantle rock, we measured anelasticity up to f/fM≃108 and found that the Maxwell frequency scaling is not fully applicable at f/fM>104. A closer examination showed that each of the relaxation spectra obtained under various temperature, grain size, and chemical composition can be represented by the superposition of a background dissipation subject to the Maxwell frequency scaling and a peak dissipation centered at f/fM≃103. Significant increases of the peak amplitude and width with increasing temperature, grain size, and impurity content result in failure of the Maxwell frequency scaling at f/fM>104, where the peak dissipation dominates over the background dissipation. The peak is significantly broadened near the solidus temperature (T/Tmelt=0.93), producing an absorption band toward the normalized seismic frequencies. The absorption band suggested by the present data is characterized by variable amplitude and width, indicating a nonlinear reduction of seismic velocity near the solidus.
Selection, Identification and Collection of Plants for Analysis
Authors: Simmonds Monique S. J.
Published: June 2014

This short review aims to highlight the importance of checking the identification of plants that are going to be used in a natural product or medicinal plant research projects as well as checking that the accepted Latin scientific binomial for the species are used. Medicinal plants play an important part in the primary care of many people and are often overharvested and thus need to be conserved. This chapter provides a review of some of the international policies that support plant conservation. It suggests that authors consider how the identification and validation of the medicinal properties of plants can assist highlight the importance of biodiversity and thus the importance of plant conservation. Plants are important to the health of many communities and it is therefore important that information about these plants is correctly documented and researched.
Microscopic Analysis of Plants
Authors: Saukel Johannes , Ginko Elisabeth
Published: June 2014

Light microscopy is an important method for identity and purity control of biological crude drugs. This chapter gives an introduction in the necessary techniques starting with some background information of physical optics used in microscopy, and an instruction in the equipment being needed for accurate analyzes.

Besides the technical knowhow, a detailed knowledge of plant anatomy is crucial for evaluating the identity and quality of botanical raw material. Without familiarity of histology, tissue elements and cell forms, a proper microscopic analyzes is impossible. Thus, a description of important anatomical structures is given, along with some guidance concerning the examination of crude drug materials and their preparation for microscopic analyzes: What are the standard criteria for the characterization of drugs? How can one recognize the correct type of the plant organ in hand? And how does one get accurate microscopic slides resp. pictures from the drug in question? These questions and others are attempted to be answered.
Thin‐layer Chromatography of Plants, with Chemical and Biological Detection Methods
Authors: Urbain Aurélie , Simões‐Pires Claudia Avello
Published: June 2014

Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) is a widespread separation technique in the field of plant analysis and offers multiple advantages. This versatile technique can provide useful information about the qualitative or semiquantitative chemical composition of a mixture, thanks to coupling, with the detection and spectroscopic techniques and devices for image treatment. Moreover, it can contribute to the detection of biological activity by combining chromatography with bioassays, such as antimicrobial or enzyme inhibition tests. This procedure, providing simultaneous chromatographic separation andin situassessment of a given biological activity, is namedTLCbioautography. The major advantage of this technique is the ability to locate active substances from a complex mixture without prior sample purification. This avoids time‐consuming and tedious isolation of already‐known or inactive compounds. As this method is simple and cost effective, it is suitable for preliminary rapid screening to detect potential activity, as well as being a useful monitoring tool to track the bioguided isolation of active components. In this chapter, we focus on up‐to‐dateTLCbioautographic assays, detail their mechanisms and applications in the field of natural drug discovery, and discuss the recent advances of this method that might appear at first glance to be a trivial approach.
On‐line and At‐line Liquid Chromatography Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Related Micro‐Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Methods in Natural Product Analysis
Authors: Bohni Nadine , Queiroz Emerson F. , Wolfender Jean‐Luc
Published: June 2014

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) is essential for thede novostructure identification of natural products. This technique can be directly or indirectly hyphenated to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) leading to efficientLC‐NMRplatforms.NMRis, however, a very insensitive detection method compared to mass spectrometry and several strategies for its efficient hyphenation withHPLChave been developed. This includes on‐lineLC‐NMR,SPE‐NMR, or other at‐line approaches involving microflow probes or microtubes in combination with cryoprobes. All of these various technologies and their potentials and limitations in the field of natural product research are described. Recent applications involving other complementary detection methods such asLC‐MSor biologicalHPLCprofiling illustrate its utilization.
Mycotoxins Contamination in Food: Alternative Plant Preservatives, Legislation and Detection Methods
Authors: Zuzarte Monica R. , Martins Ana P. , Gonçalves Maria J. , Salgueiro Lígia R.
Published: June 2014

Crops, foods, and raw materials are vulnerable to contamination by many fungi. Besides reduction in crop yield and loss of quality, some fungi are a source of mycotoxins. The major types of mycotoxins include aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, patulin, trichothecenes, and zearalenone. The economic consequences of contamination by mycotoxins are profound, representing a common health hazard for humans and animals because of both chronic and acute toxicological manifestations.

As it is nearly impossible to prevent contamination by mycotoxins, the food industry has established internal monitoring methods to comply with the legal regulatory limits, leading to the exploitation of alternative food processing and preservation techniques. As secondary plant metabolites are biodegradable to nontoxic products, they are potentially useful in integrated pest management programs and could allow the development of a new class of safer disease‐control substances.

This chapter aims to update the knowledge on contamination of food and storage products by mycotoxins. A summary of the main types of mycotoxins present in food and crop products, plant metabolites that could be potentially applied because of their antifungal properties, food safety legislation on this matter, and analytical methods used to detect mycotoxins are presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Catalysis of Organic Transformations by Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Metal Oxides
Authors: Stratakis Manolis , Garcia Hermenegildo
Published: June 2014

Supported gold nanoparticles on metal oxides surfaces are powerful catalysts applicable to a variety of organic transformations. Following the first observation that they activate molecular oxygen towards oxidation of CO or organic compounds (e.g. alcohols) under mild conditions, it was uncovered during the past decade that Au nanoparticles activate alkynes, silanes, dihydrogen, exhibit oxophilic activity, catalyze CC bond forming cross‐coupling reactions and transfer hydrogenation processes, thus mimicking the catalytic activity of Pd, Pt, and other late transition metals.
Organic tetroxides and mechanism of peroxy radical recombination
Authors: Khursan Sergey L.
Published: June 2014

The chemical properties of organic tetroxides, that is, compounds of a general formula ROOOOR (R = H or organic radical) are discussed. The following tetroxides are considered: hydrogen tetroxide HOOOOH, dialkyl tetroxides ROOOOR, hydrotetroxides ROOOOH, and five‐membered cyclic tetroxides—tetroxolanes. Hydrogen tetroxide is formedviaself‐reaction of HOO·radicals on singlet PES; hydroperoxy radical interaction plays an important role in the chemistry of atmosphere. The formation and subsequent decay of tetroxides are discussed in detail. Similar self‐reaction of alkylperoxy radicals leads to organic tetroxides. Its irreversible transformation occurs in two directions depending on the tetroxide structure: the facile homolysis of ROOOOR bond or the induced by αCH bond radical decomposition of tetroxide into hydroperoxy, alkoxy radicals, and carbonyl compound. The latter interaction is the key step in the new mechanism of peroxy radical recombination suggested on the base of extensive analysis of available literature. Hydrotetroxides show properties similar to both HOOOOH and dialkyl tetroxides. A possibility of tetroxolane generation in the reaction of ozone with carbonyl compounds is discussed.
Public Health Issues in Disaster Management
Authors: Burkle Frederick M.
Published: June 2014

Public health issues are critical elements of disaster management, especially large‐scale disasters where the essential public health infrastructure and social protections are destroyed or compromised. Public health consequences usually lead to indirect, preventable, or excess mortality. If basic prevention and preparedness responsibilities are not met, indirect consequences may exceed the direct consequences, especially in war, post‐conflict situations, and large‐scale natural and man‐made disasters.
Screening
Authors: Pinell Patrice
Published: June 2014

This paper analyzes from a sociohistorical perspective the evolution of screening policies. The analysis focuses first on the role of screening in social hygiene policies that underpin the fight against infectious diseases. The question of the social conditions of compulsory screening is discussed. Second, the changes in screening policies are analyzed, in particular those linked to the decline of infectious diseases and the rise of chronic diseases. Third, the entry focuses on the AIDS epidemic and the renewal of mass screening.
Disability
Authors: Watson Nick
Published: June 2014

Disability is part of the human condition and disabled people make up the world's largest minority group. According to the World Health Survey, around 15 percent of the world's population (just over one billion people) have some form of impairment and of these between 110 million and 190 million have significant difficulties in functioning. It is something that will affect almost everyone; everybody will at some point in their life have an impairment, which may be either temporary or permanent; almost every family will have a disabled member; and many non‐disabled people will take responsibility for supporting and caring for a disabled relative or friend. The numbers of disabled people are increasing, largely, although not solely, due to demographic changes, with increases in the prevalence of chronic conditions associated with aging, coupled with advances in medical science and new medical interventions which can prolong life.
Coherent X‐Ray Diffraction Imaging and Characterization of Strain in Silicon‐on‐Insulator Nanostructures
Authors: Xiong Gang , Moutanabbir Oussama , Reiche Manfred , Harder Ross , Robinson Ian
Published: June 2014

Coherent X‐ray diffraction imaging (CDI) has emerged in the last decade as a promising high resolution lens‐less imaging approach for the characterization of various samples. It has made significant technical progress through developments in source, algorithm and imaging methodologies thus enabling important scientific breakthroughs in a broad range of disciplines. In this report, we will introduce the principles of forward scattering CDI and Bragg geometry CDI (BCDI), with an emphasis on the latter. BCDI exploits the ultra‐high sensitivity of the diffraction pattern to the distortions of crystalline lattice. Its ability of imaging strain on the nanometer scale in three dimensions is highly novel. We will present the latest progress on the application of BCDI in investigating the strain relaxation behavior in nanoscale patterned strained silicon‐on‐insulator (sSOI) materials, aiming to understand and engineer strain for the design and implementation of new generation semiconductor devices.
Atomic‐Layer‐Deposited Aluminum and Zirconium Oxides for Surface Passivation of TiO2 in High‐Efficiency Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Vasilopoulou Maria , Georgiadou Dimitra G. , Soultati Anastasia , Boukos Nikos , Gardelis Spyros , Palilis Leonidas C. , Fakis Mihalis , Skoulatakis Georgios , Kennou Stella , Botzakaki Martha , Georga Stavroula , Krontiras Christoforos A. , Auras Florian , Fattakhova‐Rohlfing Dina , Bein Thomas , Papadopoulos Theodoros A. , Davazoglou Dimitrios , Argitis Panagiotis
Published: June 2014

The reduction in electronic recombination losses by the passivation of surfaces is a key factor enabling high‐efficiency solar cells. Here a strategy to passivate surface trap states of TiO2 films used as cathode interlayers in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) through applying alumina (Al2O3) or zirconia (ZrO2) insulating nanolayers by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) is investigated. The results suggest that the surface traps in TiO2 are oxygen vacancies, which cause undesirable recombination and high electron extraction barrier, reducing the open‐circuit voltage and the short‐circuit current of the complete OPV device. It is found that the ALD metal oxides enable excellent passivation of the TiO2 surface followed by a downward shift of the conduction band minimum. OPV devices based on different photoactive layers and using the passivated TiO2 electron extraction layers exhibit a significant enhancement of more than 30% in their power conversion efficiencies compared to their reference devices without the insulating metal oxide nanolayers. This is a result of significant suppression of charge recombination and enhanced electron extraction rates at the TiO2/ALD metal oxide/organic interface.
A Novel Surface Treatment Method and New Insight into Discharge Voltage Deterioration for High‐Performance 0.4Li2MnO3–0.6LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 Cathode Materials
Authors: Oh Pilgun , Ko Minseong , Myeong Seungjun , Kim Youngsik , Cho Jaephil
Published: June 2014

The Li‐rich cathode materials have been considered as one of the most promising cathodes for high energy Li‐ion batteries. However, realization of these materials for use in Li‐ion batteries is currently limited by their intrinsic problems. To overcome this barrier, a new surface treatment concept is proposed in which a hybrid surface layer composed of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coating and a chemically activated layer is created. A few layers of GO are first coated on the surface of the Li‐rich cathode material, followed by a hydrazine treatment to produce the reducing agent of GO and the chemical activator of the Li2MnO3 phase. Compared to previous studies, this surface treatment provides substantially improved electrochemical performance in terms of initial Coulombic effiency and retention of discharge voltage. As a result, the surface‐treated 0.4Li­2MnO3–0.6LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 exhibits a high capacity efficiency of 99.5% during the first cycle a the discharge capacity of 250 mAh g−1 (2.0–4.6 V under 0.1C), 94.6% discharge voltage retention during 100 cycles (1C) and the superior capacity retention of 60% at 12C at 24 °C.
β‐cyclodextrin‐capped palladium nanoparticle‐catalyzed ligand‐free Suzuki and Heck couplings in low‐melting β‐cyclodextrin/NMU mixtures
Authors: Zhao Xiaohua , Liu Xiang , Lu Ming
Published: June 2014

Low‐melting β‐cyclodextrin/N‐methylurea (NMU) mixture, an efficient catalytic system for ligand‐free Suzuki and Heck couplings in the presence of fresh native β‐CD‐capped Pd0 nanoparticles, has been successfully reported. This natural and convenient system can be performed in air and could afford the corresponding cross‐coupled products in good to excellent isolated yields after a simple workup under every low Pd loading (0.05 mol%). Remarkably, the catalytic system can be recycled and reused without loss of catalytic activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Micro‐computed tomography assessment of vertebral column defects in retinoic acid‐Induced rat model of myelomeningocele
Authors: Barbe Mary F. , Adiga Radhika , Gordiienko Oleg , Pleshko Nancy , Selzer Michael E. , Krynska Barbara
Published: June 2014

Background

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a common congenital malformation and the most severe form of spina bifida characterized by the protrusion of spinal cord and meninges through the spinal defect. Our objective was to improve the assessment of congenital vertebral defects in animal models of MMC using three‐dimensional high resolution micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) imaging and quantitative digital analyses methods.

Methods

Lumbosacral MMC was induced in fetal rats by exposure of pregnant mothers at embryonic day 10 (E10) to all‐trans retinoic acid, and rats were examined at term (embryonic day 22). The axial skeleton was examined in an MMC model for the first time using ex vivo micro‐CT at 10 μm voxel resolution to allow high resolution two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional characterization of anomalies in lumbosacral vertebrae, and quantitative assessment of distances between dorsal vertebral arches in lumbosacral regions in MMC rats, compared with normal controls.

Results

We observed, in detail, skeletal defects in lumbosacral vertebra of MMC rats, including in the morphology of individual dorsal vertebral arches. Use of high resolution micro‐CT has also enabled us to identify the delayed (nonfused) or absent ossification in vertebral bodies, increased fusion of adjacent lateral vertebral elements, and quantify the extent of dorsal arch widening. Distances between dorsal vertebral arches showed statistically significant increases from L5 through S4 in MMC rats, compared with normal controls.

Conclusion

High‐resolution micro‐CT combined with digital quantification methods is a powerful technique ideally suited for precise assessment of complex congenital skeletal abnormalities such as examined in this rodent model of MMC. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:453–462, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermoluminescence of mercaptoethanol‐capped ZnS:Mn nanoparticles
Authors: Sharma Ravi , Bisen D. P.
Published: June 2014

The thermoluminescence (TL) of nanoparticles has become a matter of keen interest in recent times but is rarely reported. This article reports the synthesis of ZnS:Mn nanocrystals using a chemical route, with mercaptoethanol (ME) as the capping agent. The particle sizes for the nanocrystals were measured by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and also by studying transmission electron microscopy (TEM) patterns. The particle sizes of the synthesized samples were found to be between 1 and 3 nm. For samples with different concentrations of the capping agent, it was found that the TL intensity of the ZnS:Mn nanoparticles increased as the particle size decreased. A shift in the peak position of the TL glow curve was also seen with decreasing particle size. The TL intensity was found to be maximal for samples with 1.2% of Mn. A change in the peak position was not found for samples with different concentrations of Mn. The half‐width glow peak curve method was used to determine the trap‐depth. The frequency factor of the synthesized samples was also calculated. The stability of the charge carriers in the traps increases with decreasing nanoparticle size. The higher stability may be attributed to the higher surface/volume ratio and also to the increase in the trap‐depth with decreasing particle size. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anatomical eponyms, part 1: To look on the bright side
Authors: Olry Regis
Published: June 2014

The use of eponyms in medical sciences generally, and in anatomy specifically, remains controversial. In principle, this discussion should have been concluded as far back as 1895 (publication of the first Nomina anatomica): all eponyms should have been removed from the anatomical vocabulary then. In practice, what was believed to be a mere formality proved much more difficult to apply. Most eponyms remain in current use; moreover, their number goes on increasing. Assuming that there's no smoke without fire, we wondered why it seems impossible to get rid of a specific kind of term. The aim of this article and its successor is to weigh up the pros and cons. Clin. Anat. 27:1142–1144, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The prevalence of the extensor digitorum communis tendon and its insertion variants: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yammine Kaissar
Published: June 2014

The tendons of the Extensor Digitorum Communis (EDC) are frequently injured in hand trauma. Dislocation and spontaneous rupture can also occur during the course of wrist osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The EDC exhibits many variations including splitting of its individual slips to the medial four fingers or their absence. The aim of this systematic review is to assemble evidence about the prevalence of the EDC and its variants on the dorsum of the hand. Twenty‐four cadaveric studies met the inclusion criteria, providing data from a total of 2,005 hands. Meta‐analysis yielded the following results: (a) for EDC‐II (Index), the pooled prevalence estimates (PPEs) were 99.8, 98, 1.8, and 0.2% for the total, single, double, and triple slips, respectively; (b) for EDC‐III (Middle), the PPEs were 100, 67.7, 24.2, 6, and 0.42% for the total, single, double, triple, and quadruple slips, respectively; (c) for EDC‐IV (Ring), the PPEs were 100, 58.6, 29.1, 7.1, and 1.3% for the total, single, double, triple, and quadruple slips, respectively; (d) for EDC‐V (Little), the PPEs were 63.2, 58.5, 10.4, 0.94, and 25% for the total, single, double, triple, and common 4th–5th slips, respectively. There were no significant differences in relation to hand side. Many EDC slip variants demonstrated some interaction with ancestry. A sound knowledge of EDC variants and their prevalences is paramount for assessing and treating hand injuries and disorders. Clin. Anat. 27:1284–1290, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Elucidation of the metabolites of the novel psychoactive substance 4‐methyl‐N‐ethyl‐cathinone (4‐MEC) in human urine and pooled liver microsomes by GC‐MS and LC‐HR‐MS/MS techniques and of its detectability by GC‐MS or LC‐MSn standard screening approaches
Authors: Helfer Andreas G. , Turcant Alain , Boels David , Ferec Séverine , Lelièvre Bénédicte , Welter Jessica , Meyer Markus R. , Maurer Hans H.
Published: June 2014

4‐methyl‐N‐ethcathinone (4‐MEC), the N‐ethyl homologue of mephedrone, is a novel psychoactive substance of the beta‐keto amphetamine (cathinone) group. The aim of the present work was to study the phase I and phase II metabolism of 4‐MEC in human urine as well as in pooled human liver microsome (pHLM) incubations. The urine samples were worked up with and without enzymatic cleavage, the pHLM incubations by simple deproteinization. The metabolites were separated and identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and liquid chromatography‐high resolution‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐HR‐MS/MS). Based on the metabolites identified in urine and/or pHLM, the following metabolic pathways could be proposed: reduction of the keto group, N‐deethylation, hydroxylation of the 4‐methyl group followed by further oxidation to the corresponding 4‐carboxy metabolite, and combinations of these steps. Glucuronidation could only be observed for the hydroxy metabolite. These pathways were similar to those described for the N‐methyl homologue mephedrone and other related drugs. In pHLM, all phase I metabolites with the exception of the N‐deethyl‐dihydro isomers and the 4‐carboxy‐dihydro metabolite could be confirmed. Glucuronides could not be formed under the applied conditions. Although the taken dose was not clear, an intake of 4‐MEC should be detectable in urine by the GC‐MS and LC‐MSn standard urine screening approaches at least after overdose. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interactions between a pollinating seed predator and its host plant: the role of environmental context within a population
Authors: Kula Abigail A. R. , Castillo Dean M. , Dudash Michele R. , Fenster Charles B.
Published: June 2014

Plant–insect interactions often are important for plant reproduction, but the outcome of these interactions may vary with environmental context. Pollinating seed predators have positive and negative effects on host plant reproduction, and the interaction outcome is predicted to vary with density or abundance of the partners. We studied the interaction between Silene stellata, an herbaceous perennial, and Hadena ectypa, its specialized pollinating seed predator. Silene stellata is only facultatively dependent upon H. ectypa for pollination because other nocturnal moth co‐pollinators are equally effective at pollen transfer. We hypothesized that for plants without conspecific neighbors, H. ectypa would have higher visitation rates compared to co‐pollinators, and the plants would experience lower levels of H. ectypa pollen deposition. We predicted similar oviposition throughout the study site but greater H. ectypa predation in the area without conspecific neighbors compared to plants embedded in a naturally high density area. We found that H. ectypa had consistently higher visitation than moth co‐pollinators in all host plant contexts. However, H. ectypa pollinator importance declined in areas with low conspecific density because of reduced pollen deposition, resulting in lower seed set. Conversely, oviposition was similar across the study site independent of host plant density. Greater likelihood of very high fruit predation combined with lower pollination by H. ectypa resulted in reduced S. stellata female reproductive success in areas with low conspecific density. Our results demonstrate local context dependency of the outcomes of pollinating seed predator interactions with conspecific host plant density within a population.
Metallo‐β‐lactamases and Their Biomimetic Complexes
Authors: Daumann Lena J. , Schenk Gerhard , Gahan Lawrence R.
Published: June 2014

IInvited for the cover of this issue are researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia, and the University of California, Berkeley, USA. The cover image shows a Petri dish with colonies of E. coli – a structure of penicillin is depicted in the middle. Metallo‐β‐lactamase structures bound to the hydrolyzed antibiotic ampicillin and the inhibitor captopril are shown on the left.
Morphological changes of bacterial model membrane vesicles
Authors: Meister Annette , Finger Sebastian , Hause Gerd , Blume Alfred
Published: June 2014

Unilamellar vesicles frequently serve as model membrane systems to study membrane‐peptide and membrane‐protein interactions. They are formed either from natural lipid extracts that contain complex lipid mixtures, or from synthetic one‐, two‐, or multi‐component lipid mixtures mimicking the lipid composition of biological membranes. Unilamellar vesicles can be prepared by extrusion of aqueous multilamellar phospholipid suspensions and they can have limited stability due to aggregation and fusion processes. We used cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) to study the morphology of vesicles of phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), phosphatidylglycerols (PGs), and cardiolipins (CLs) that represent the major lipid components of cytoplasmic membranes of Gram‐negative bacteria. Our results show that single‐component vesicles of PE and PG stored at RT are stable in shape and size for at least 1 wk. In contrast, two‐component vesicles of PE/PG and PE/CL transform into lamellar sheets already several hours after preparation, which is probably due to a compensation of different spontaneous curvatures of PG lipids compared to PE and CL. With this investigation we intend to alert researchers working with model membranes to scrutinize the shape and stability of vesicles before using them in protein‐vesicle interaction studies.

Practical applications: Liposomes represent widely‐used model membrane systems that are applied to mimic natural membranes. Usually, these liposomes are composed of one or two lipid components representing the major lipid constituents of the respective natural membrane. Their long‐term shape, aggregation, and fusion stability is an important prerequisite for the study of peptide‐liposome and protein‐liposome interactions, where the binding of peptides or proteins can have serious impacts on the liposomal shape and size. Furthermore, shape and size stability is of outstanding importance for the application of liposomes as drug‐delivery system. We showed that single‐component liposomes composed of the major lipid components of cytoplasmic membranes of Gram‐negative bacteria (PE and PG) are stable in shape and size for at least 1 wk, whereas the corresponding two‐component liposomes become unstable within hours and transform into discs and sheets. This knowledge will be indispensable for future studies on interactions of liposomes with peptides and proteins.

Cryo‐transmission electron microscopy is the method of choice to study the size, morphology, and shape stability of liposomes being composed of the phospholipids PE, PG, and CL that represent the major lipid components of cytoplasmic membranes of Gram‐negative bacteria.
Influence of industrial physical refining on tocopherol, chlorophyll and beta‐carotene content in sunflower and rapeseed oil
Authors: Kreps František , Vrbiková Lenka , Schmidt Štefan
Published: June 2014

The main purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of individual processes in physical refining on tocopherol content in sunflower and rapeseed oils. During refining some chemical parameters, the oxidative stability of oils and some minor compounds such as chlorophyll and beta‐carotene, were determined. Those analytical data with explained chemical backgrounds gave more qualitative overview of what happened to the same lot of oils being processed in a continuous operation. Some processes were compared with a laboratory oil refining. Crude rapeseed oil contained 656 mg/kg of total tocopherols, followed by high oleic sunflower with 373 mg/kg of tocopherols and classic sunflower oil with 332 mg/kg of tocopherols. The most serious refining processes were bleaching and physical deodorization process, the tocopherol losses being 14.9–17.4% and 20.2–27.1%, respectively. In the refined oils, chlorophylls and FFAs were almost completely removed and the oxidative stability increased 2–3 times. Vegetable oil refining process caused relatively great losses of minor compounds but this, in turn, prolonged the shelf life of edible oils.

Practical applications: It was proved that refining of sunflower and rapeseed oils in the oil refinery improves their basic chemical parameters. The loss of tocopherols can be minimized by shortening the time and lowering the temperature during the final step of physical refining, but it has to remain within requirements on quality of refined edible oils.

The refining processes of sunflower and rapeseed oils lead to 39.0–45.5 % loss of total tocopherol content. The most serious refining processes were bleaching and physical deodorization process, the tocopherol losses being 14.9–17.4 % and 20.2–27.1 %, respectively. Degumming process can caused 6.6–8.4 % decrease of tocopherols in sunflower and rapeseed oil. Most gentle process was winterization of sunflower oils which caused only 2.9–5.8 % tocopherols decrease.
Molecular distillation and characterization of diacylglycerol‐enriched palm olein
Authors: Yeoh Chiou Moi , Phuah Eng Tong , Tang Teck Kim , Siew Wai Lin , Abdullah Luqman Chuah , Choong Thomas Shean Yaw
Published: June 2014

Lipase‐catalyzed glycerolysis of palm olein was used to produce a mixture of acylglycerols with ∼34‐wt% of DAG. The reaction conditions were 5‐wt% of Lipozyme TLIM at 55°C and 8 h of reaction time. For commercial purposes, it is required to purify the product up to 80‐wt% DAG and with free fatty acids (FFA) content below 0.1‐wt%. A single‐step distillation process was not sufficient to meet this product requirement. Two distinct 2‐step short path distillation approaches were then studied. First scheme involved the removal of TAG by initial distillation step at 250°C, followed by separation of the MAG and FFA from distillate obtained at 180°C during second distillation step at vacuum pressure of 0.1 Pa. Second scheme involved the removal of MAG and FFA in first step at 180°C prior to purification of DAG from residue at 250°C during second distillation step at vacuum achieved up to 0.1 Pa. The results suggested that the first scheme of 2‐step distillation operation was able to achieve 89.9‐wt% of DAG purity without exceeding the limit of 0.1‐wt% of FFA. A final yield of 21.5‐wt% and DAG recovery of 47.8% were obtained using the first scheme. A detailed DAG profile was identified and product characterizations such as fatty acid composition, slip melting point, and solid fat content profile were also investigated. It was observed that purified‐DAG product showed lower iodine value and higher slip melting point than raw material palm olein. The final product had 1134 ± 10 ppm tocols content.

Practical applications: This paper has two main practical applications: (i) Enables production of highly purified DAG‐based palm olein via appropriate processing method and processing conditions. (ii) Provide knowledge and understanding of the physicochemical properties of DAG‐enriched palm olein fraction, which is a crucial aspect in food applications.

The purpose of this study was to develop an effective distillation process for purification of diacylglycerol (DAG)‐oil. Two distinct 2‐stage short path distillation approaches were proposed and evaluated for their efficacy of operations. It was concluded that first scheme, which involved the removal of TAG in the first distillation stage at 250°C, followed by separation of the MAG and free fatty acid (FFA) from distillate at 180°C in second distillation step, was able to meet product specifications with more than 80‐wt% of DAG purity without exceeding the limit of 0.1‐wt% FFA.
Kinetic analysis for the esterification of high free fatty acid feedstocks with a structural identifiability approach
Authors: Aguilar‐Garnica Efrén , Silva‐Romero Yadira E. , Hernández‐Montelongo Rosaura , García‐Sandoval Juan Paulo , Aceves‐Lara César‐Arturo
Published: June 2014

Esterification is the first step in the biodiesel production process from low cost feedstock, which is typically characterized by its high content (>5%) of free fatty acids (FFAs). Although multiple attempts have been made to describe the kinetics of the esterification process for this feedstock, there is no consensus regarding which model is the most suitable. In this paper, two models were evaluated as candidates to describe the esterification of grease trap wastes, a synthetic mixture of tallow fat and canola oil, and oleic acid, which all have a high degree of acidity. The first model considers a pseudo‐first order reaction, whereas the second model considers the reversibility of the reaction. All parameters involved in these models are structurally identifiable and are estimated with the Levenberg–Marquardt method. A statistical analysis based on Akaike's weights show that the reversible model provides the best fit for all experimental runs compared to the first order model. This result was obtained from variations in catalyst loading and moisture content.

Practical applications: The design and implementation of monitoring algorithms or robust control laws for a process carried out in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) require the knowledge of its dynamical mathematical model that contains a kinetic term. In the particular case of the esterification reactions for feedstock with high content of FFAs developed in the presence of homogeneous acid catalyst, there exists a discrepancy on the mathematical structure of such kinetic term. In this study we perform some batch experiments, considering industrial reagent grade alcohols, to deduce which model (among the two simplest kinetic models) better describes the esterification of oleic acid, grease trap wastes and a mixture of tallow fat and canola oil. Then, the results obtained from this basic research could be applied if monitoring‐regulation tasks are required for the esterification of the feedstock considered herein when such esterification be carried out in a CSTR under industrial conditions.

Low cost feedstock has been esterified under variations in catalyst loading and initial moisture content. Two kinetic models were used to fit experimental data and a structural identifiability analysis has been conducted for each parameter contained in these models. According with Akaike's weights, the kinetic model that considers the reversibility of the esterification reaction provides the best fit for all experimental runs.
Understanding the glycerol market
Authors: Ciriminna Rosaria , Pina Cristina Della , Rossi Michele , Pagliaro Mario
Published: June 2014

As a result of the booming biodiesel and oleochemicals manufacturing taking place worldwide since more than a decade, 2 million tonnes of glycerol consistently reach the market every year, even though after a decade of growth the total glycerol supply is expected to slightly decrease in 2014. Today the supply of glycerol is entirely independent of its demand, as there is as much glycerol as the amount of vegetable oils and animal fats are hydrolyzed to make oleochemicals, or transesterified to produce biodiesel. This unique situation has led to consistently low glycerol prices, which initiated both the market penetration of glycerol in countries where it was not used due to traditional high price, as well as new uses of glycerol as raw material for the production of value added chemicals. This article sheds light on the market of this uniquely versatile chemical whose number of applications is unique amid all existing chemicals.

About 2 million tonnes of glycerol consistently reach the market every year, even though after a decade of growth the total glycerol supply is expected to slightly decrease in 2014. Today the supply of glycerol is entirely independent of its demand, as there is as much glycerol as the amount of vegetable oils and animal fats are hydrolyzed to make oleochemicals, or transesterified to produce biodiesel. This article sheds light on the market of this uniquely versatile chemical whose number of applications is unique amid all existing chemicals.
Seismic design and testing of the bottom vertical boundary elements in steel plate shear walls. Part 1: design methodology
Authors: Tsai Keh‐Chyuan , Li Chao‐Hsien , Lee Hung‐Chi
Published: June 2014

This research investigates the seismic design method and the cyclic inelastic behavior of the bottom column, also called the vertical boundary element (VBE), in steel plate shear walls (SPSWs). This study consists of two parts. This Part 1 paper discusses the anticipated pushover responses for properly designed SPSWs and the possible inelastic responses of the bottom VBE at various levels of inter‐story drift. Considering both the tension field action of the infill panel and the sway action of the boundary frame, this study develops a simplified method to compute the flexural and shear demands in the bottom VBE. Based on the superposition method, this approach considers various plastic hinge forming locations at different levels of inter‐story drift. One of the key performance‐based design objectives is to ensure that the top ends of the bottom VBEs remain elastic when the SPSWs are subjected to the maximum considered earthquake. This paper presents the comprehensive design procedures for the bottom VBE. Furthermore, this study conducted cyclic performance evaluation tests of three full‐scale two‐story SPSWs at the Taiwan National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in 2011 to validate the effectiveness of the proposed design methods. The experimental program, cyclic inelastic responses of the SPSWs and bottom VBEs, and numerical simulations are presented in Part 2. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physico‐chemical, sensory, and microbiological assessments of wheat‐based biscuit improved with beniseed and unripe plantain
Authors: Agu Helen Obioma , Okoli Ndidiamaka Azuka
Published: June 2014

The consumption of cereal foods such as biscuit has become very popular globally. Partial replacement of wheat flour with beniseed and unripe plantain flours rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals will increase nutrient, diversify utilization of beniseed and unripe plantain, and increase biscuit variety. Wheat composite biscuit was produced from wheat, beniseed, and unripe plantain flours. The composite flour was mixed in the proportion of 100:0:0, 80:10:10, 70:20:10, 60:30:10, and 50:40:10% of wheat, beniseed, and unripe plantain, respectively. The physical, sensory, chemical, and microbial properties of the biscuits were determined. The physical properties ranged from 6.80 g to 8.30 g for weight, spread ratio 6.93–7.38, and break strength 500–690 g. There was no significant difference (P < 0.05) in taste, crispness, flavor and texture of the biscuits while significant differences (P < 0.05) existed in color and overall acceptability. The proximate composition of the biscuits ranged from 1.84% to 2.55% for moisture, protein 8.03–9.26%, fat 30.07–35.81%, ash 2.94–3.68%, crude fiber 0.47–0.80%, carbohydrate 48.74–55.96%, and energy 526.53–554.21 kcal/100 g. The microbial count of the best biscuit after 20 days of storage was 4.0 × 103 cfu/g for bacteria and mould contained 5.0 × 104 cfu/g. This study forms a basis for new product development for the biscuit food industry.
In acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, infiltrating macrophages are immune activated, whereas microglia remain immune suppressed
Authors: Vainchtein I. D. , Vinet J. , Brouwer N. , Brendecke S. , Biagini G. , Biber K. , Boddeke H. W. G. M. , Eggen B. J. L.
Published: June 2014

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by loss of myelin accompanied by infiltration of T‐lymphocytes and monocytes. Although it has been shown that these infiltrates are important for the progression of MS, the role of microglia, the resident macrophages of the CNS, remains ambiguous. Therefore, we have compared the phenotypes of microglia and macrophages in a mouse model for MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In order to properly discriminate between these two cell types, microglia were defined as CD11bpos CD45int Ly‐6Cneg, and infiltrated macrophages as CD11bpos CD45high Ly‐6Cpos. During clinical EAE, microglia displayed a weakly immune‐activated phenotype, based on the expression of MHCII, co‐stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, and CD40) and proinflammatory genes [interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumour necrosis factor‐ α (TNF‐α)]. In contrast, CD11bpos CD45high Ly‐6Cpos infiltrated macrophages were strongly activated and could be divided into two populations Ly‐6Cint and Ly‐6Chigh, respectively. Ly‐6Chigh macrophages contained less myelin than Ly‐6Cint macrophages and expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and TNF‐α were higher in Ly‐6Cint macrophages. Together, our data show that during clinical EAE, microglia are only weakly activated whereas infiltrated macrophages are highly immune reactive. GLIA 2014;62:1724–1735
Flexible establishment of functional brain networks supports attentional modulation of unconscious cognition
Authors: Ulrich Martin , Adams Sarah C. , Kiefer Markus
Published: June 2014

In classical theories of attention, unconscious automatic processes are thought to be independent of higher‐level attentional influences. Here, we propose that unconscious processing depends on attentional enhancement of task‐congruent processing pathways implemented by a dynamic modulation of the functional communication between brain regions. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we tested our model with a subliminally primed lexical decision task preceded by an induction task preparing either a semantic or a perceptual task set. Subliminal semantic priming was significantly greater after semantic compared to perceptual induction in ventral occipito‐temporal (vOT) and inferior frontal cortex, brain areas known to be involved in semantic processing. The functional connectivity pattern of vOT varied depending on the induction task and successfully predicted the magnitude of behavioral and neural priming. Together, these findings support the proposal that dynamic establishment of functional networks by task sets is an important mechanism in the attentional control of unconscious processing. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5500–5516, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.