bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for vitamin D insufficiency in pediatric cancer survivors
Authors: Esbenshade Adam J. , Sopfe Jenna , Zhao Zhiguo , Li Zeda , Campbell Kristin , Simmons Jill H. , Friedman Debra L.
Published: November 2013

Background

Corticosteroids increase risk for decreased bone mineral density, which can be worsened by vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) or deficiency (VDD).

Procedure

In the Vanderbilt cancer survivorship clinic, we obtained screening total 25‐hydroxy vitamin D levels (VDL) in 171 cancer survivors <23 years old who were treated with prolonged corticosteroids for their cancer, and compared this group to a control group of 97 healthy pediatric patients.

Results

VDD was diagnosed in 15.8% and VDI in 34.5% of cancer survivors and VDD/VDI combined was associated with body mass index (BMI) >85th percentile (Odds ratio [OR] = 5.4; P < 0.001), older age (OR = 2.2; P = 0.012), non‐Caucasian or Hispanic race (OR = 4.5; P = 0.008) and summer versus winter season (OR = 0.12; P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, VDI/VDD prevalence did not differ from the control group (VDI/VDD (43.3%)). In the combined survivor/control group multivariable analysis, cancer diagnosis did not increase VDI/VDD risk, but significant associations persisted with elevated BMI (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.004), non‐Caucasian or Hispanic race (P < 0.001), and seasonality (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

VDD/VDI is equally common in pediatric cancer survivors treated with corticosteroids and healthy children. The impact of VDD/VDI in cancer survivors may be greater due to risk for impaired bone health superimposed on that conferred from corticosteroid exposure. Thus, screening VDLs should be obtained in pediatric cancer survivors treated with corticosteroids, particularly in those with elevated BMI, older age, or non‐Caucasian race. Prospective studies evaluating the impact of interventions to minimize VDD/VDI on long‐term bone health in survivors are required. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:723–728. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A review on electrically conductive polypropylene and polyethylene
Authors: Gulrez Syed K.H. , Ali Mohsin M.E. , Shaikh Hamid , Anis Arfat , Pulose Anesh Manjaly , Yadav Mukesh K. , Qua Eng Hau P. , Al‐Zahrani S.M.
Published: November 2013

Conductive plastics are new generation functional materials with potential application in electronics, space and aviation industries. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) being most common, widely available and cheapest thermoplastic, if made conductive, can be revolutionary in the field of engineering thermoplastics. The article deals with the fabrication of electrically conductive PP and PE for electromagnetic interference/radio frequency (EMI/RF) shielding applications and protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD). It reviews different fillers used by researchers to fabricate conductive PP and PE, several factors that affect the electrical conductivity of thermoplastic composites and various processing methods that can be adopted to prepare such composites. It exhaustively covers the preparation of such conductive composites, the processing methods involved therein, and the electrical properties of the end material. Emphasis has been given to comprehend the percolation threshold and means to reduce the latter in order to achieve high electrical conductivity in PP‐ and PE‐based composites at relatively low filler loading. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:900–914, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Transport and electrical properties of natural rubber/nitrile rubber blend composites reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotube and modified nano zinc oxide
Authors: Thomas Shaji P. , Thomas Saliney , Mathew E.J. , Marykutty C.V.
Published: November 2013

As a surface modified zinc oxide, stearic acid‐coated nano zinc oxide (ZOS) has been prepared by sol‐gel method and was used along with N‐benzylimine aminothioformamide‐N‐cyclohexyl benzthiazyl sulfonamide binary accelerator system, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and sulfur for vulcanizing 20/80 natural rubber/nitrile rubber (NR/NBR) blend. Different formulations have been prepared by using 1–7 phr of MWCNT. Solvent transport and electrical properties of the rubber compounds have been investigated. The equilibrium solvent uptake (Q∞) decreased with increase in concentration of the filler due to the decrease in the free volume and the increase in tortuousity. The conductivities of the vulcanizates increased with increase in the dosage of MWCNT from 1 phr in NBCNT1 to 7 phr in NBCNT4 indicating the formation of percolating network of MWCNTs in the NBR/NR matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:956–963, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of TEP content in cooling bath on porous structure, crystalline and mechanical properties of PVDF hollow fiber membranes
Authors: Zhang Zhaocai , Guo Chungang , Liu Guochang , Li Xiaoming , Guan Yipeng , Lv Jinglie
Published: November 2013

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) hollow fiber membranes were prepared by adding triethyl phosphate (TEP) to the cooling water bath in a modified thermally induced phase separation process. The effect of TEP content in the cooling bath on the porous structure, crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties of PVDF hollow fiber membranes was investigated. The melting temperature and crystallinity of the membranes were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The crystalline and cross‐section morphology of the hollow fiber membranes were investigated using wide angle X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The resulting membrane exhibited a nearly symmetric structure. The results showed that the TEP content in the cooling bath had a crucial role on the membrane formation, which was also confirmed from the morphology and mechanical properties of the hollow fibers. The porosity, average pore size, crystallinity, Young's modulus, max stress, and elongation at breakage of the hollow fiber membranes can be related to the amount of TEP in the cooling bath. Better pore connectivity was obtained in hollow fiber membranes when the weight ratio of TEP to water was 40:60. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2207–2214, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Risk of Acute Liver Injury Associated with the Use of Moxifloxacin and Other Oral Antimicrobials: A Retrospective, Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kaye James A. , Castellsague Jordi , Bui Christine L. , Calingaert Brian , McQuay Lisa J. , Riera‐Guardia Nuria , Saltus Catherine W. , Quinlan Scott , Holick Crystal N. , Wahl Peter M. , Suzart Kiliana , Rothman Kenneth J. , Wallander Mari‐Ann , Perez‐Gutthann Susana
Published: November 2013

Study Objective

To estimate the incidence and relative risk of a hospitalization or emergency visit for noninfectious liver injury in users of eight oral antimicrobials—amoxicillin, amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid, clarithromycin, cefuroxime, doxycycline, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, telithromycin—compared with nonusers of these antimicrobials.

Design

Retrospective, observational cohort study with a nested case‐control analysis.

Data Source

HealthCore Integrated Research Database.

Patients

Adults with continuous health plan enrollment for at least 6 months before study entry who had a new dispensing of a study antimicrobial between July 1, 2001, and March 31, 2009. Cases had diagnoses indicating noninfectious liver injury during follow‐up. To control for potentially confounding risk factors, 10 controls at risk for liver injury during follow‐up were matched to each case by age, sex, and event date (liver injury date of the case), and analyses were adjusted for medical history, concomitant drugs, and health care service use.

Measurements and Main Results

Two physician reviewers (blind to exposure) validated the cases. Among 1.3 million antimicrobial users, we identified 607 cases of liver injury, including 82 cases of severe hepatocellular injury and 11 cases of liver failure. Liver injury incidence in nonusers of study antimicrobials was 35/100,000 person‐years (95% confidence interval [CI] 29–42/100,000 person‐years). For valid cases, the adjusted relative risk among current users of multiple antimicrobials was 3.2 (95% CI 1.6–6.7). Levofloxacin had the highest relative risk for current single use (3.2, 95% CI 1.8–5.8). Relative risks were also elevated for amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid (2.5, 95% CI 1.3–5.0), doxycycline (2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.2), moxifloxacin (2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.7), and amoxicillin (2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.7).

Conclusion

The results support a comparatively high adjusted relative risk of liver injury among patients exposed concurrently to multiple antimicrobials and modest elevations in the risk for several antimicrobials used alone; however, we found little evidence of any strong effect of commonly used antimicrobials on the risk of liver injury.
Charge‐transfer‐induced doping at an electron donor (α‐sexithiophene)/acceptor (C60) interface and mobility improvement
Authors: Park Byoungnam , Park Jonghoo
Published: November 2013

We studied various aspects relating to surface charge‐transfer‐induced doping at an organic/organic interface using in situ electrical measurements with a field‐effect transistor (FET) during the formation of the electron donor/acceptor interface. Adsorption of the electron‐accepting molecules (C60) on top of the electron donating molecules (α‐6T) led to an increase in the FET hole mobility in an α‐6T film. Under illumination, the FET hole mobility in the α‐6T film with C60 deposition was significantly increased in comparison with that in the dark due to exciton dissociation at the C60/α‐6T interface, resulting in a large threshold voltage shift. The origin of the mobility increase is explained by the multiple trapping and release (MTR) model in which the mobility is determined by the carrier density. Various phenomena relevant to charge transfer and charge transport at the organic/organic interface are reported and their origins are discussed. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of Mg2+ co‐doping on the scintillation performance of LuAG:Ce ceramics
Authors: Liu Shuping , Feng Xiqi , Zhou Zhiwei , Nikl Martin , Shi Yun , Pan Yubai
Published: November 2013

Ce‐doped Lu3Al5O12 optical ceramics co‐doped with Mg2+ are fabricated by solid‐state reaction method and further optimized by an air‐annealing process. Mg2+ co‐doping leads to a significant decrease of thermoluminescence intensity above room temperature and an increase of scintillation light yield (LY) value and fast component content even if the overall scintillation efficiency decreases. Scintillation LY of ∼21900 ph/MeV has been achieved with a short shaping time of 1 μs, and the ratio of LY values for 1 μs and 10 μs shaping times was as high as 79%. The acceleration of scintillation response induced by Mg2+ co‐doping and the role of Ce4+ ions in the scintillation mechanism are discussed.

magnified image

(© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Enhanced two‐photon luminescence from nanoporous gold capped with microcontact‐printed salts
Authors: Wi Jung‐Sub , Park Joo Hyun , Tominaka Satoshi , Lee Jae Yong
Published: November 2013

We report that a nanoporous Au film capped with a dielectric surface layer enables the effective absorption of near‐infrared light and intense emission of two‐photon luminescence. In this approach, nanoscale pores in Au are incorporated by chemical dissolution and microscale surface patterns are added on the nanoporous Au by microcontact print lithography. Electromagnetic simulation shows that the strong local electric fields are concentrated in the vicinity of nanopores in the Au film and are further increased by the surface dielectric patterns, which leads to a 40‐fold increase in the intensity of the two‐photon luminescence, as verified by photoemission measurement. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A specific method of 34S labelling provides evidence that sulphate assimilation occurs in developing seeds and pod walls of Brassica napus L. subjected to ample or limited S nutrition
Authors: D'Hooghe Philippe , Bataillé Marie‐Paule , Trouverie Jacques , Avice Jean‐Christophe
Published: November 2013

RATIONALE

Seeds from different species actively assimilate sulphur (S) from sulphate. This has never been proved for Brassica napus L., a high S demanding plant, especially with regard to S limitation. The role of pod walls in the assimilation and allocation of S in well‐fed and sulphate‐limited conditions also needs to be clarified.

METHODS

Freshly harvested seeds and pod walls from plants well‐supplied (HS) or limited with sulphate (LS) from the 'visible buds' stage were subjected to a nutrient solution containing 34S‐sulphate (10 atom% excess) for 24 h. The 34S labelling of the sulphate and protein fractions was determined with an elemental analyser connected to a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The amino acid profiles of seeds and pod walls were also determined by ion‐exchange chromatography.

RESULTS

The 24 h of 34S‐sulphate feeding treatment leads to an important production of proteins in HS and LS seeds, associated with a decrease in numerous amino acid contents. The treatment also leads to an incorporation of 34S in seeds and pod walls proteins in both HS and LS conditions. The incorporation of 34S in proteins was not different between HS and LS seeds, but was lower in LS than in HS pod walls, related to a higher incorporation in the other organic S compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that Brassica napus seeds and pod walls are able to assimilate sulphate in HS and LS conditions, and that the LS condition leads to enhancement of the sulphate assimilation capacity of pod walls, which may be of crucial importance for the allocation of S to developing seeds. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined phospho‐ and glycoproteome enrichment in nephrocalcinosis tissues of phytate‐fed rats
Authors: Tran TrangHuyen , Park Jong‐Moon , Kim Ok‐Hee , Kim Bora , Choi Do‐young , Lee JeongHwa , Kim KwangPyo , Oh Byung‐Chul , Lee Hookeun
Published: November 2013

RATIONALE

Protein post‐translational modifications (PTMs) are directly involved in protein function and cellular activities. Among them, glycosylation and phosphorylation are particularly important modifications on proteins located at extracellular and intracellular domains, respectively. However, the combined detection using phospho‐ and glycoproteomics is limited mainly due to protocol differences.

METHODS

In this study, we developed a novel method for both phospho‐ and glycoproteome detection from a single sample batch, in which a titanium dioxide cartridge was used to capture the phosphoproteome, and the flow‐through solution was processed for capturing N‐linked glycopeptides using hydrazide resin.

RESULTS

By using 1 mg of protein from kidney tissue lysates from normal and diseased rats, we concurrently identified 437 glycosites/358 phosphosites and 468 glycosites/369 phosphosites in normal and disease kidneys, respectively, by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with individual PTM analyses, the combined PTM analysis clearly provides more broad implications for PTMs related to the pathological status and discovery of biomarker candidates. Furthermore, the combined protocol thoroughly showed its advantages in enrichment efficiency and biological interpretation compared with current methods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative analysis of polysorbates 20 and 40 by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Qi , Meng Yang , Yang Huaxin , Xiao Xinyue , Li Xiaodong
Published: November 2013

RATIONALE

Polysorbates are nonionic surfactants that consist primarily of fatty acid esters of polyethoxy sorbitan. This study proved that polysorbates can be quantitatively analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS). Using MALDI‐TOF MS, relative intensity and concentration ratios were correlated, and extensive research was conducted to understand the influencing factors.

METHODS

Polysorbate 20 and 40 were mixed in the desired ratios and irradiated with a N2 laser. MALDI‐TOF mass spectra were recorded in positive ion mode to test the linearity. All commercial polysorbates were analyzed to determine the relative concentration of the components using the same method.

RESULTS

The relative peak intensity ratio as a function of the relative concentration ratio was analyzed, and a reasonably good linearity (R2 = 0.987 for polysorbate 20) was obtained. This study illustrates the process of converting the analyte signal response into the concentration, supporting the notion that quantitative MALDI‐TOF MS can be used to analyze polymers. MALDI‐TOF MS analysis of commercial polysorbate formulations revealed a complex mixture of oligomers that was related to the fatty acid composition.

CONCLUSIONS

Polysorbates 20 and 40 were characterized, and the simultaneous quantitative analysis of polysorbate 20 was reported. This method requires no tedious sample pretreatment. Therefore, it is a promising method for the rapid simultaneous quantitation of polysorbates 20 and 40. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reagent assessment for detection of ammonium ion‐molecule complexes
Authors: Gregory Kerin E. , Ostrinskaya Alla , Kunz Roderick R.
Published: November 2013

RATIONALE

Ammonia (NH3) is an important chemical target in sensor applications such as trace explosives detection of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) and environmental monitoring. Ion‐molecule reagent chemistries show potential to increase sensitivity in detection systems relying on atmospheric pressure ionization (API) of reagent‐ammonium (M + NH4+) complexes. Gas‐phase reagent selection assessment is based on mass spectrometric (MS) determination of binding constants relative to competitive ions and critical energies for ion‐molecule complex dissociation.

METHODS

Eight ammonium complexation reagents were identified and gas‐phase ion‐molecule interactions were studied using electrospray ionization. Binding constants were determined, in Log(K), using the competition method for one host molecule with three guests (NH4+, Na+, and K+) in single quadrupole MS. Critical energy determination was based on calibration of threshold activation voltage using collision‐induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

RESULTS

This assessment informs selective binding affinity and intrinsic ion‐molecule critical energy for dissociation. Relative NH4+ binding affinity was highest for sucrose and 4‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene, while 4‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene and methyl acetoacetate showed the highest preferential binding of NH4+ versus Na+ and K+. The intrinsic critical energy for NH4+ binding was highest for crown ethers, tetraglyme and methyl acetoacetate.

CONCLUSIONS

An MS‐based framework was developed to quantitatively assess API ion‐molecule reagent chemistries based on ammonium selectivity versus competing ions, and intrinsic ammonium binding strength and complex survivability for detection. Methyl acetoacetate is an attractive ammonium reagent for vapor‐phase API techniques given its high vapor pressure, preferential selectivity, and high critical energy for dissociation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stabilisierung von Bauteilen durch Sandwichelemente – Kopplung mit quasi‐starren Auflagern
Authors: Käpplein Saskia , Misiek Thomas
Published: November 2013

Die Kopplung von stabilitätsgefährdeten Bauteilen wie Pfetten und Wandriegel mit quasi‐starren Auflagern über Sandwichelemente führt zu einer deutlichen Erhöhung der zur Stabilisierung ansetzbaren Schubsteifigkeit. Die rechnerische Ermittlung des zusätzlichen Anteils der Schubsteifigkeit sowie der Nachweis der zugehörigen Verbindungen werden eingeführt und an einem Beispiel verdeutlicht.

Stabilization of the supporting structure by sandwich panels – Coupling with quasi‐rigid supports. Coupling purlins and side rails prone to stability failure with quasi‐rigid supports via sandwich panels leads to a distinct increase in shear stiffness. The determination of the additional part of the shear stiffness and the corresponding proofs for the connections are introduced and explained with an example.
Revision 1 zur EN 14509: Selbsttragende Sandwichelemente – Änderungen und Neuerungen
Authors: Berner Klaus , Pfaff Ute
Published: November 2013

Für Sandwichelemente mit beidseitigen Metalldeckschichten und zwischenliegender Dämmschicht besteht die europäische Norm EN 14509. Es handelt sich hierbei um eine Produktnorm mit Vorgaben für die Bemessung. Aufgrund der Erfahrungen bei der Anwendung der bestehenden EN 14509 wurden, insbesondere bei der Durchführung der Prüfungen und dem Erstellen von CE‐Zeichen, eine Reihe von Änderungen, Ergänzungen und zusätzlichen Angaben als erforderlich erachtet. Es wurde eine erste Revision der EN 14509 in Abstimmung mit den Herstellern von Sandwichelementen erarbeitet. Im Folgenden wird auf die Änderungen und Neuerungen eingegangen und diese kommentiert sowie teilweise mit Beispielen erläutert.

Revision 1 to EN 14509 – Changes and news. There is the European standard EN 14509 that covers sandwich panels with metal faces on both sides and an insulation core in between. It is a product standard with requirements for the design. Due to experience in the application of the existing EN 14509, especially with testing and making CE‐labels there raised the need for changings, amendments and additional information. The first revision of EN 14509 was made with participation of the producer of sandwich panels. In the following the changings and new parts will be described, comments are given, partly with examples.
Optimierung von Sandwichwandbauteilen
Authors: Kurpiela Aneta , Lange Jörg
Published: November 2013

Das Ziel der durchgeführten Optimierung liegt darin, die mechanischen und geometrischen Eigenschaften der Sandwichbauteile so auf einander anzupassen, dass sich eine möglichst hohe Tragfähigkeit der Elemente ergibt. Gleichzeitig werden die entstehenden Materialkosten berücksichtigt. Eine parallele Berücksichtigung der Tragfähigkeit und der Materialkosten führt zu einer Mehrzieloptimierung mit zwei konkurrierenden Zielen. Zusätzlich fließen die Gegebenheiten, die aus den Produktionsprozessen und der Anwendung der Paneele resultieren, in die Berechnungen als Randbedingungen ein. Der Aufsatz basiert auf [1], wobei es sich um eine Optimierung von Sandwichwandbauteilen mit einem PUR‐Kern und Stahldeckschichten handelt.

Optimization of wall sandwich panels. The aim of the conducted optimization is an adjustment of the mechanical und geometrical properties of sandwich panels in a way that a high load bearing capacity of the elements can be achieved. At the same time the emerging material costs shall be considered. A simultaneous consideration of load bearing capacity and material costs causes an optimization problem with two competitive objectives. Conditions coming from the production processes and the use of the panels are intergraded in the optimization calculations as constraints. This article is based on [1], where an optimization of wall sandwich panels with a PUR‐core and steel cover sheets is done.
Neue Überdachungen für die Eingangstore der Messe Frankfurt – adaptive Geometrie und ortspezifische Tragwerke
Authors: Schrader Ingo , Weilandt Agnes
Published: November 2013

Die Messe Frankfurt lobte im Jahr 2008 einen Architekturwettbewerb für den Entwurf der Neugestaltung der Eingangssituation zum Messegelände aus. Für die Tore Süd und Nord sollten jeweils ein Wachgebäude und eine Überdachung als Ersatz für die bisherigen provisorischen Wachcontainer entworfen werden. Ziel war es, zum einen das Wachpersonal besser vor Wind und Wetter zu schützen und zum anderen die neuen Zufahrten als ein weithin sichtbares Zeichen zu akzentuieren.

Der Siegerentwurf des Architekten Ingo Schrader, Berlin, der in enger Zusammenarbeit mit den Tragwerksplanern Bollinger Grohmann entstand, sah für die beiden Standorte jeweils ein kreisförmiges Dach von ca. 25 m Durchmesser vor, das auf pyramidenförmigen Stützen ruhte (s. Bild 3). Ein Kreis bietet eine maßstabslose, signifikante Form. Innerhalb der Rechteckbauten der Messe hebt sie sich ab und harmoniert mit der Vielzahl von unregelmäßigen geometrischen Formen der Verkehrsbauwerke und den unterschiedlichen Richtungen, die an den Standorten der Messetore zusammenlaufen.

So bildet die Dachform Orientierung und ein Zeichen für das Messegelände, das sowohl auf dem Lageplan als auch räumlich funktioniert. Daher wurde für beide Standorte die gleiche Dachform gewählt, die sich jedoch in ihrem Tragwerk sichtbar individuell an die jeweilige Situation anpasst. Die Tragstruktur des Daches wurde mithilfe eines Rechenmodells generiert, das die Anordnung und Bauhöhe der Träger ausgehend von den möglichen Stützenstandorten und dem sich daraus ergebenden Kräfteverlauf ermittelte.

Der Entwurf für ein weiteres Dach mit einem rechteckigen Grundriss für das Tor West folgte unmittelbar im Anschluss an den Wettbewerbsgewinn. Im weiteren Verlauf wurde die Realisierung der Dächer der Tore West und Süd zurückgestellt und zunächst nur der Entwurf für Tor Nord weiterentwickelt.
Transitioning Research to Operations: Transforming the “Valley of Death” Into a “Valley of Opportunity”
Authors: Merceret Francis J. , O'Brien T. P. , Roeder William P. , Huddleston Lisa L. , Bauman William H. , Jedlovec Gary J.
Published: November 2013

Key Points

R2O succeeds with budget and management independent of research and operations

R2O flourishes when scope and staffing are limited to R2O

R2O benefits from direct tasking by and teaming with customers
Effects of chlorpyrifos on the transcription of CYP3A cDNA, activity of acetylcholinesterase, and oxidative stress response of goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Ma Junguo , Liu Yang , Niu Daichun , Li Xiaoyu
Published: November 2013

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is the widely used organophosphate pesticide in agriculture throughout the world. It has been found that CPF is relatively safe to human but highly toxic to fish. In this study, acute toxicity of CPF on goldfish was determined and then the transcription of goldfish cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A was evaluated after 96 h of CPF exposure at concentrations of 15.3 [1/10 50% lethal concentration (LC50)] or 51 μg L−1 (1/3 LC50) of CPF. Meanwhile, the enzymatic activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), total antioxidant activity (T‐AOC), and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver or brain of goldfish were also determined. The results of acute toxicity testing showed that the 96‐h LC50 of CPF to the goldfish was 153 μg L−1. Moreover, a length sequence of 1243 bp CYP3A cDNA encoding for 413 amino acids from goldfish liver was cloned. Polymerase chain reaction results reveal that CPF exposure downregulates CYP 3A transcription in goldfish liver, suggesting that goldfish CYP 3A may be not involved in CPF bioactivation. Finally, the results of biochemical assays indicate that 96 h of CPF exposure remarkably inhibits AChE activity in fish liver or brain, alters hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, decreases brain T‐AOC, and causes lipid peroxidation in fish liver. These results suggest that oxidative stress might be involved in CPF toxicity on goldfish. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 422–429, 2015.
Lithium‐cyclopropylethinylamidinates
Authors: Sroor Farid M. A. , Hrib Cristian G. , Hilfert Liane , Edelmann Frank T.
Published: November 2013

A series of six new lithium‐cyclopropylethinylamidinates, Li[c‐C3H5–C≡C–C(NR)2]·S (R = iPr, S = Et2O (2a), THF (2b), DME (2c); R = cyclohexyl (Cy), S = Et2O (3a), THF (3b), DME (3c)) were prepared and fully characterized. The synthetic protocol involves in situ‐deprotonation of commercially available cyclopropylacetylene followed by treatment with either N,N′‐diisopropylcarbodiimide or N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The cyclopropyl substituent exerts a significant influence on the 13C NMR spectroscopic shift of the acetylenic carbon atom to which it is bound. X‐ray diffraction studies of 2b and 3b revealed that in the solid state the new lithium amidinates adopt ladder‐type dimeric molecular structures.
Co‐crystals based on 1,2,4,5‐Benzenetetracarboxylic Acid: Synthesis, Supramolecular Frameworks and Optical Properties
Authors: Wang Jun‐Jie , Zhang Dao‐Jun , Zhang Ren‐Chun , Jin Huan‐Huan , Gao Xiao‐Fang
Published: November 2013

Two new co‐crystals based on 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid, (H2BETC)(H4tpim)](NO3) (1) and [(H4BETC)0.5(H2BETC)0.5(HVB4)](H2O) (2) [H4BETC = 1,2,4,5‐benzenetetracarboxylic acid, Htpim = 2,4,5‐tri(4‐pyridyl)‐imidazole, and VB4 = adenine], were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray powder diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were further assembled to form 3D supramolecular frameworks with 1D channels by intermolecular C–H···O, O–H···O, and N–H···O hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The results reveal that the structural differences of 1 and 2 may be attributed to different molecular components. Moreover, the UV/Vis and luminescent spectra of ligands and corresponding compounds were briefly investigated.
Bayesian reweighting of nuclear PDFs and constraints from proton-lead collisions at the LHC
Authors: Armesto Nestor , Rojo Juan , Salgado Carlos A. , Zurita Pia
Published: November 2013

Abstract

New hard-scattering measurements from the LHC proton-lead run have the potential to provide important constraints on the nuclear parton distributions and thus contributing to a better understanding of the initial state in heavy ion collisions. In order to quantify these constraints, as well as to assess the compatibility with available nuclear data from fixed target experiments and from RHIC, the traditional strategy is to perform a global fit of nuclear PDFs. This procedure is however time consuming and technically challenging, and moreover can only be performed by the PDF fitters themselves. In the case of proton PDFs, an alternative approach has been suggested that uses Bayesian inference to propagate the effects of new data into the PDFs without the need of refitting. In this work, we apply this reweighting procedure to study the impact on nuclear PDFs of low-mass Drell-Yan and single-inclusive hadroproduction pseudo-data from proton-lead collisions at the LHC as representative examples. In the hadroproduction case, in addition we assess the possibility of discriminating between the DGLAP and CGC production frameworks. We find that LHC proton-lead data could lead to a substantial reduction of the uncertainties on nuclear PDFs, in particular for the small-x gluon PDFs where uncertainties could decrease by up to a factor two. The Monte Carlo replicas of EPS09 used in the analysis are released as a public code for general use. It can be directly used, in particular, by the experimental collaborations to check, in a straightforward manner, the degree of compatibility of the new data with the global nPDF analyses.
On periodically driven AdS/CFT
Authors: Auzzi Roberto , Elitzur Shmuel , Gudnason Sven Bjarke , Rabinovici Eliezer
Published: November 2013

Abstract

We use the AdS/CFT correspondence to study a thermally isolated conformal field theory in four dimensions which undergoes a repeated deformation by an external periodic time-dependent source coupled to an operator of dimension Δ. The initial state of the theory is taken to be at a finite temperature. We compute the energy dissipated in the system as a function of the frequency and of the dimension Δ of the perturbing operator. This is done in the linear response regime. In order to study the details of thermalization in the dual field theory, the leading-order backreaction on the AdS black brane metric is computed. The evolution of the event and the apparent horizons is monitored; the increase of area in each cycle coincides with the increase in the equilibrium entropy corresponding to the amount of energy dissipated. The time evolution of the entanglement entropy of a spherical region and that of the two-points function of a probe operator with a large dimension are also inspected; we find a delay in the thermalization of these quantities which is proportional to the size of the region which is being probed. Thus, the delay is more pronounced in the infrared. We comment on a possible transition in the time evolution of the energy fluctuations.
Evaluation and Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infection–an International, Multicenter Study
Authors: Shanmugasundaram Saseendar , Ricciardi Benjamin F. , Briggs Timothy W. R. , Sussmann Patrick S. , Bostrom Mathias P.
Published: November 2013

Background

Controversies still exist regarding the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in patients with prosthetic joint infections (PJI).

Questions/Purposes

How effective are preoperative and intraoperative cultures in isolating organisms and how do these culture results compare to one another? What are the results of surgical treatment of PJI in the hip and knee in an international, tertiary referral center cohort?

Patients and Methods

One hundred sixteen patients ( N = 59 hip PJI, N = 57 knee PJI) were recruited prospectively to registries at three international, tertiary referral centers between December 2008 to November 2011. Retrospective review of prospective registry data including demographics, microbiology results, and operative reports was performed.

Results

Preoperative synovial fluid aspiration yielded an organism in only 45.2% and 44.4% of cases, respectively, for knee and hip PJI. False-negative rates of preoperative aspiration relative to intraoperative culture were 56% and 46% in hip and knee PJI, respectively, with discordance rates of 25% and 21.4%, respectively. Rates of negative intraoperative cultures were 15% in hip PJI and 20.7% in knee PJI. Open debridement with prosthetic retention was the most common initial revision procedure performed (48.3% of hip PJI and 63.8% of knee PJI). This method of revision was successful in 41.3% of hip PJI and 59.4% of knee PJI. Initial failure rates for prosthetic revision was lower than debridement with prosthetic retention but remained substantial in both hip PJI (initial success of one-stage exchange 60% and two-stage exchange 70%) and knee PJI (initial success of one-stage exchange 80% and two-stage exchange 75%).

Conclusion

Diagnosis and treatment of PJI remains challenging with difficulty in isolating the offending organism and with high rates of prosthetic revision and initial treatment failures. Future advances in organism isolation and international standardization of treatment protocols may improve patient outcomes.
Measuring the Value of Program Adaptation: A Comparative Effectiveness Study of the Standard and a Culturally Adapted Version of the Arthritis Self-Help Program
Authors: Reid M. Carrington , Chen Emily K. , Parker Samantha J. , Henderson Charles R. , Pillemer Karl
Published: November 2013

Background

Arthritis remains an important public health problem.

Questions/Purposes

This study aims to determine the effects of an adapted (vs. the original) Arthritis Self-Help Program (ASHP) among older adults. Specifically, this study sought to determine (1) whether the adapted ASHP improved attendance, retention, and adherence with the use of self-management exercises, and (2) if the original ASHP's beneficial outcomes were maintained following program adaptation.

Patient and Methods

Individuals age ≥60 with self-reported arthritis were recruited from eight New York City senior centers. Participants were assessed at baseline to assess their demographic and clinical status and at 6 and 24 weeks to ascertain study outcomes using validated measures.

Results

Two-hundred-one participants (64 non-Hispanic African Americans, 86 Hispanics, and 51 non-Hispanic Whites) enrolled. Participants in the adapted (vs. original) ASHP had better average attendance in the six session program (4.7 vs. 3.2 classes attended, p < 0.01) and program retention (93% vs. 74%, p < 0.01). Adherence with use of the self-management exercises (number of days using endurance, stretching, and relaxation exercises) was similar in both groups. Significant positive physical/psychosocial outcomes were documented in both the adapted and original program.

Conclusion

The adapted ASHP improved program attendance and retention while maintaining improvements in physical and psychosocial functions. These results support future efforts to employ controlled designs to quantify the benefits of adapted evidence-based programs to ensure that adaptation maintains program effectiveness.
A Reversal in the Relationship of Human Development With Fertility?
Authors: Harttgen Kenneth , Vollmer Sebastian
Published: November 2013

Myrskylä et al. (2009) found that the relationship between the human development index (HDI) and the total fertility rate (TFR) reverses from negative (i.e., increases in HDI are associated with decreases in TFR) to positive (i.e., increases in HDI are associated with increases in TFR) at an HDI level of 0.86. In this article, we show that the reversal in the HDI-TFR relationship is robust to neither the UNDP’s recent revision in the HDI calculation method nor thedecomposition of the HDI into its education, standard-of-living, and health subindices.
Solution NMR studies of the plant peptide hormone CEP inform function
Authors: Bobay Benjamin G. , DiGennaro Peter , Scholl Elizabeth , Imin Nijat , Djordjevic Michael A. , Mck Bird David
Published: November 2013

The C‐terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP) family of regulatory peptides controls root development in vascular plants. Here, we present the first NMR structures of CEP. We show that root‐knot nematode (RKN: Meloidogyne spp.) also encodes CEP, presumably to mimic plant CEP as part of their stereotypic, parasitic interaction with vascular plants. Molecular dynamics simulations of plant‐ and nematode‐encoded CEP displaying known posttranslational modifications (PTM) provided insight into the structural effects of PTM and the conformational plasticity and rigidity of CEP. Potential mechanisms of action are discussed with respect to the structure and sampling of conformational space.
Mutations of Asp540 and the domain‐connecting residues synergistically enhance Pyrococcus furiosus DNA ligase activity
Authors: Tanabe Maiko , Ishino Sonoko , Ishino Yoshizumi , Nishida Hirokazu
Published: November 2013

The structure of Pyrococcus furiosus DNA ligase (PfuLig), which architecturally resembles human DNA ligase I (hLigI), revealed that the C‐terminal helix stabilizes the closed conformation through several ionic interactions between two domains (adenylylation domain (AdD) and C‐terminal OB‐fold domain (OBD)). This helix is oriented differently in DNA‐bound hLigI, suggesting that the disruption of its interactions with AdD facilitates DNA binding. Previously, we demonstrated that the replacement of Asp540 with arginine improves the ligation activity. Here we report that the combination of the Asp540‐replacement and the elimination of ionic residues in the helix, forming interactions with AdD, effectively enhanced the activity.
Chromatin insulators and long‐distance interactions in Drosophila
Authors: Kyrchanova Olga , Georgiev Pavel
Published: November 2013

Data on long‐distance enhancer‐mediated activation of gene promoters and complex regulation of gene expression by multiple enhancers have prompted the hypothesis that the action of enhancers is restricted by insulators. Studies with transgenic lines have shown that insulators are responsible for establishing proper local interactions between regulatory elements, but not for defining independent transcriptional domains that restrict the activity of enhancers. It has also become apparent that enhancer blocking is only one of several functional activities of known insulator proteins, which also contribute to the organization of chromosome architecture and the integrity of regulatory elements.
Directed polymerase evolution
Authors: Chen Tingjian , Romesberg Floyd E.
Published: November 2013

Polymerases evolved in nature to synthesize DNA and RNA, and they underlie the storage and flow of genetic information in all cells. The availability of these enzymes for use at the bench has driven a revolution in biotechnology and medicinal research; however, polymerases did not evolve to function efficiently under the conditions required for some applications and their high substrate fidelity precludes their use for most applications that involve modified substrates. To circumvent these limitations, researchers have turned to directed evolution to tailor the properties and/or substrate repertoire of polymerases for different applications, and several systems have been developed for this purpose. These systems draw on different methods of creating a pool of randomly mutated polymerases and are differentiated by the process used to isolate the most fit members. A variety of polymerases have been evolved, providing new or improved functionality, as well as interesting new insight into the factors governing activity.
Predictors of unknown HIV serostatus at the time of labor and delivery in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Ononge Sam , Karamagi Charles , Nakabiito Clemensia , Wandabwa Julius , Mirembe Florence , Rukundo Godfrey Z. , Jennings Larissa
Published: November 2013

Objective

To determine factors associated with an unknown HIV serostatus among pregnant women admitted in labor to Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

Methods

In total, 665 pregnant women admitted to Mulago Hospital were interviewed about their sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, access to prenatal care, fears regarding HIV testing, and knowledge about modes of mother‐to‐child‐transmission (MTCT). Knowledge of the HIV serostatus was assessed by self‐report and verified by prenatal card review.

Results

The prevalence of unknown HIV serostatus at the time of labor was 27.1%. Factors associated with an unknown HIV serostatus included high parity (odds ratio [OR] 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–3.14), preterm delivery (OR 2.60; 95% CI, 1.06–6.34), prenatal care at a private clinic (OR 12.87; 95% CI, 5.68–29.14), residence more than 5 km from the nearest prenatal clinic (OR 2.86; 95% CI, 1.18–17.9), high knowledge about MTCT (OR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07–0.86), and fears related to disclosing the test result to the partner (OR 3.60; 95% CI, 1.84–7.06).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of unknown HIV serostatus among women in labor highlights the need to improve accessibility to HIV testing services early during pregnancy to be able to take advantage of antiretroviral therapy.
A case of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in which left ventricular remodeling and reverse remodeling were seen with pacing on and off
Authors: Matsui Taiju , Kayano Hiroyuki , Nishimura Hideki , Toshida Tsutomu , Asano Taku , Hamazaki Yuji , Tanno Kaoru , Kobayashi Youichi
Published: November 2013

A 77‐year‐old woman with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy was admitted to the hospital in March 2005 with a chief complaint of chest discomfort, and a left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was seen. After starting apical dual chamber (DDD) pacing and oral cibenzoline 300 mg/day to relieve the stenosis, the pressure gradient and subjective symptoms disappeared. The patient was then followed as an outpatient. In January 2008, cibenzoline was discontinued because the patient experienced a hypoglycemic attack. Plain chest radiographs showed an increased cardiothoracic ratio from May 2009 and ventricular remodeling was suspected, although there were no changes in chest symptoms. Therefore, pacing off was considered. Acute changes in the LVOT gradient were evaluated with echocardiography before and after pacing on–off, but no changes were seen, so the course was observed in the pacing‐off state. The LVOT gradient gradually increased again from 7 months after pacing off, and the pressure gradient decreased again after pacing was restarted. On the electrocardiogram, a deep negative T wave was seen in V4–6 immediately after pacing off, but with time, it became positive, similar to before an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was inserted. Reverse remodeling was judged to occur after pacing off, and pacing therapy was restarted. The patient is currently under observation.
Seeking Human Rights Justice in Latin America
Authors: Davis Jeffrey
Published: November 2013

This book studies how victims of human rights violations in Latin America, their families, and their advocates work to overcome entrenched impunity and seek legal justice. Their struggles show that legal justice is a multifaceted process, the overarching purpose of which is to restore human dignity and prevent further violence. Uncovering, revealing, and proving the truth are essential elements of legal justice, and are also powerful tools to activate the process. When faced with stubborn impunity at home, victims, families, and advocates can carry on their work for legal justice by bringing cases in courts in other countries or in the inter-American human rights system. These extra-territorial courts can jump-start the process of legal justice at home. Seeking Human Rights Justice in Latin America examines the political and legal struggle through the lens of the human story at the heart of these cases.
Shaping Immigration News
Authors: Benson Rodney
Published: November 2013

This book offers a comprehensive portrait of French and American journalists in action as they grapple with how to report and comment on one of the most important issues of our era. Drawing on interviews with leading journalists and analyses of an extensive sample of newspaper and television coverage since the early 1970s, Rodney Benson shows how the immigration debate has become increasingly focused on the dramatic, emotion-laden frames of humanitarianism and public order. In both countries, less commercialized media tend to offer the most in-depth, multi-perspective and critical news. Benson challenges classic liberalism's assumptions about state intervention's chilling effects on the press, suggests costs as well as benefits to the current vogue in personalized narrative news, and calls attention to journalistic practices that can help empower civil society. This book offers new theories and methods for sociologists and media scholars and fresh insights for journalists, policy makers and concerned citizens.
Srebrenica in the Aftermath of Genocide
Authors: Nettelfield Lara J. , Wagner Sarah E.
Published: November 2013

The fall of the United Nations 'safe area' of Srebrenica in July 1995 to Bosnian Serb and Serbian forces stands out as the international community's most egregious failure to intervene during the Bosnian war. It led to genocide, forced displacement and a legacy of loss. But wartime inaction has since spurred numerous postwar attempts to address the atrocities' effects on Bosnian society and its diaspora. Srebrenica in the Aftermath of Genocide reveals how interactions between local, national and international interventions - from refugee return and resettlement to commemorations, war crimes trials, immigration proceedings and election reform - have led to subtle, positive effects of social repair, despite persistent attempts at denial. Using an interdisciplinary approach, diverse research methods, and more than a decade of fieldwork in five countries, Lara J. Nettelfield and Sarah E. Wagner trace the genocide's reverberations in Bosnia and abroad. The findings of this study have implications for research on post-conflict societies around the world.