bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow‐Injection Pulsed‐Amperometric Determination of Free Glycerol in Biodiesel at a Gold Electrode
Authors: Barbosa Tatielli G. G. , Richter Eduardo M. , Muñoz Rodrigo A. A.
Published: March 2012

This work reports the highly‐sensitive amperometric determination of free glycerol in biodiesel at a gold electrode adapted in a flow‐injection analysis (FIA) cell. The amperometric method involved the continuous application of three sequential pulses to the working electrode (+250 mV, +700 mV, and −200 mV, for 100 ms each). This sequence of potential pulses eliminated electrode passivation and dramatically increased the analytical signal. The proposed FIA‐amperometric method presented low relative standard deviation between injections (1.5 %, n=15), high analytical frequency (85 h−1), satisfactory recovery values (93–118 %) for spiked samples, wide linear range (from 1 to 300 µmol L−1), and low detection limit (0.5 µmol L−1).
LEAD TIME TTO: LEADING TO BETTER HEALTH STATE VALUATIONS?
Authors: Attema Arthur E. , Versteegh Matthijs M. , Oppe Mark , Brouwer Werner B. F. , Stolk Elly A.
Published: March 2012

Preference elicitation tasks for better than dead (BTD) and worse than dead (WTD) health states vary in the conventional time trade‐off (TTO) procedure, casting doubt on uniformity of scale. ‘Lead time TTO’ (LT‐TTO) was recently introduced to overcome the problem. We tested different specifications of LT‐TTO in comparison with TTO in a within‐subject design. We elicited preferences for six health states and employed an intertemporal ranking task as a benchmark to test the validity of the two methods. We also tested constant proportional trade‐offs (CPTO), while correcting for discounting, and the effect of extending the lead time if a health state is considered substantially WTD. LT‐TTO produced lower values for BTD states and higher values for WTD states. The validity of CPTO varied across tasks, but it was higher for LT‐TTO than for TTO. Results indicate that the ratio of lead time to disease time has a greater impact on results than the total duration of the time frame. The intertemporal ranking task could not discriminate between TTO and LT‐TTO. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing the influence of topography and material properties on catchment‐scale soil moisture patterns using remotely sensed vegetation patterns in a humid temperate catchment, northern Britain
Authors: Graham Milledge David , Warburton Jeff , N. Lane Stuart , J. Stevens Carly
Published: March 2012

In order to evaluate the relationship between the apparent complexity of hillslope soil moisture and the emergent patterns of catchment hydrological behaviour and water quality, we need fine‐resolution catchment‐wide data on soil moisture characteristics. This study proposes a methodology whereby vegetation patterns obtained from high‐resolution orthorectified aerial photographs are used as an indicator of soil moisture characteristics. This enables us to examine a set of hypotheses regarding what drives the spatial patterns of soil moisture at the catchment scale (material properties or topography). We find that the pattern of Juncus effusus vegetation is controlled largely by topography and mediated by the catchment's material properties. Characterizing topography using the topographic index adds value to the soil moisture predictions relative to slope or upslope contributing area (UCA). However, these predictions depart from the observed soil moisture patterns at very steep slopes or low UCAs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogeochemical evolution of Ordovician limestone groundwater in Yanzhou, North China
Authors: Han Yong , Wang Guangcai , Cravotta Charles A , Hu Weiyue , Bian Yueyue , Zhang Zongwen , Liu Yuanyuan
Published: March 2012

Major‐ion compositions of groundwater are employed in this study of the water–rock interactions and hydrogeochemical evolution within a carbonate aquifer system. The groundwater samples were collected from boreholes or underground tunnels in the Ordovician limestone of Yanzhou Coalfield where catastrophic groundwater inflows can be hazardous to mining and impact use of the groundwater as a water supply. The concentration of total dissolved solid (TDS) ranged from 961 to 3555 mg/l and indicates moderately to highly mineralized water. The main water‐type of the middle Ordovician limestone groundwater is Ca‐Mg‐SO4, with SO42‐ ranging from 537 to 2297 mg/l, and average values of Ca2+ and Mg2+ of 455.7 and 116.6 mg/l, respectively. The water samples were supersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite and undersaturated or saturated with respect to gypsum. Along the general flow direction, deduced from increases of TDS and Cl‐, the main water–rock interactions that caused hydrogeochemical evolution of the groundwater within the aquifer were the dissolution of gypsum, the precipitation of calcite, the dissolution or precipitation of dolomite, and ion exchange. Ion exchange is the major cause for the lower mole concentration of Ca2+ than that of SO42‐. The groundwater level of Ordovician aquifer is much higher than that of C‐P coal‐bearing aquifers, so the potential flow direction is upward, and the pyrite in coal is not a possible source of sulfate; additional data on the stable sulfur and oxygen isotopic composition of the sulfate may be helpful to identify its origin. Although ion exchange probably accounts for the higher mole concentration of Na+ than that of Cl‐, the dissolution of aluminosilicate cannot be ruled out. The data evaluation methods and results of this study could be useful in other areas to understand flow paths in aquifers and to provide information needed to identify the origin of groundwater. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative assessment of the impact of climate variability and human activities on runoff changes: a case study in four catchments of the Haihe River basin, China
Authors: Wang Weiguang , Shao Quanxi , Yang Tao , Peng Shizhang , Xing Wanqiu , Sun Fengchao , Luo Yufeng
Published: March 2012

Quantitative evaluation of the effect of climate variability and human activities on runoff is of great importance for water resources planning and management in terms of maintaining the ecosystem integrity and sustaining the society development. In this paper, hydro‐climatic data from four catchments (i.e. Luanhe River catchment, Chaohe River catchment, Hutuo River catchment and Zhanghe River catchment) in the Haihe River basin from 1957 to 2000 were used to quantitatively attribute the hydrological response (i.e. runoff) to climate change and human activities separately. To separate the attributes, the temporal trends of annual precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET) and runoff during 1957–2000 were first explored by the Mann–Kendall test. Despite that only Hutuo River catchment was dominated by a significant negative trend in annual precipitation, all four catchments presented significant negative trend in annual runoff varying from −0.859 (Chaohe River) to −1.996 mm a−1 (Zhanghe River). Change points in 1977 and 1979 are detected by precipitation–runoff double cumulative curves method and Pettitt's test for Zhanghe River and the other three rivers, respectively, and are adopted to divide data set into two study periods as the pre‐change period and post‐change period. Three methods including hydrological model method, hydrological sensitivity analysis method and climate elasticity method were calibrated with the hydro‐climatic data during the pre‐change period. Then, hydrological runoff response to climate variability and human activities was quantitatively evaluated with the help of the three methods and based on the assumption that climate and human activities are the only drivers for streamflow and are independent of each other. Similar estimates of anthropogenic and climatic effects on runoff for catchments considered can be obtained from the three methods. We found that human activities were the main driving factors for the decline in annual runoff in Luanhe River catchment, Chaohe River catchment and Zhanghe River catchment, accounting for over 50% of runoff reduction. However, climate variability should be responsible for the decrease in annual runoff in the Hutuo River catchment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Removal of Pathogens by River Bank Filtration at Haridwar, India
Authors: Thakur A. K. , Ojha C. S. P. , Singh V. P. , Gurjar B. R. , Sandhu C.
Published: March 2012

Measurements of river water quality at Haridwar, India, taken during 2005–2006 show that the river water does not meet the World Health Organization and Bureau of Indian Standards criteria of drinking water quality, especially with respect to total coliform and fecal coliform. This study investigates the removal of pathogens at a river bank filtration site in Haridwar. Using the quality of river water and the quality of abstracted water from a nearby production well, semi‐empirical models based on the concept of filtration coefficient are developed and tested for their effectiveness in removing pathogens under varying bacteriological quality of source water. A two‐tier model, which includes the effect of clogged layer, is developed to obtain an equivalent filtration coefficient. This coefficient is found to be linearly related with natural logarithm of the concentration of pathogens in the source water. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pesticide use, immunologic conditions, and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in Canadian men in six provinces
Authors: Pahwa Manisha , Harris Shelley A. , Hohenadel Karin , McLaughlin John R. , Spinelli John J. , Pahwa Punam , Dosman James A. , Blair Aaron
Published: March 2012

Pesticide exposures and immune suppression have been independently associated with the risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but their joint effect has not been well explored. Data from a case–control study of men from six Canadian provinces were used to evaluate the potential effect modification of asthma, allergies, or asthma and allergies and hay fever combined on NHL risk from use of: (i) any pesticide; (ii) any organochlorine insecticide; (iii) any organophosphate insecticide; (iv) any phenoxy herbicide; (v) selected individual pesticides [1,1′‐(2,2,2‐trichloroethylidene)bis[4‐chlorobenzene]; 1,1,1‐trichloro‐2,2‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT), malathion, (4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), mecoprop, and (2,4‐dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4‐D); and (vi) from the number of potentially carcinogenic pesticides. Incident NHL cases (n = 513) diagnosed between 1991 and 1994 were recruited from provincial cancer registries and hospitalization records and compared to 1,506 controls. A stratified analysis was conducted to calculate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, province, proxy respondent, and diesel oil exposure. Subjects with asthma, allergies, or hay fever had non‐significantly elevated risks of NHL associated with use of MCPA (OR = 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90–7.93) compared to subjects without any of these conditions (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.39–1.70). Conversely, those with asthma, allergies, or hay fever who reported use of malathion had lower risks of NHL (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.69–2.26) versus subjects with none of these conditions (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.65–3.61). Similar effects were observed for asthma and allergies evaluated individually. Although there were some leads regarding effect modification by these immunologic conditions on the association between pesticide use and NHL, small numbers, measurement error and possible recall bias limit interpretation of these results.
Examining realized volatility regimes under a threshold stochastic volatility model
Authors: Xu Dinghai
Published: March 2012

This paper examines the realized volatility regimes under a threshold stochastic volatility (SV) model framework. Due to the availability of the volatility proxy, the estimation of the models' parameters can be easily implemented via standard maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) rather than using simulated Bayesian methods. In addition, the proposed model accommodates state‐dependent correlations between the return and volatility processes. This new feature can not only explain the so‐called leverage effect under the threshold SV framework, but also increase the flexibility of the model structure. Several mis‐specification and sensitivity experiments are conducted using Monte Carlo methods. In the empirical study, we apply the threshold SV structure to three stock indices. The results show that in different regimes, the returns and volatilities exhibit asymmetric behavior. In addition, this paper allows the threshold in the model to be flexible (or data driven) and uses a sequential optimization based on MLE to search for the ‘optimal'threshold value. We find that the model with a flexible threshold is always preferred to the traditional model with a fixed threshold according to the standard log‐likelihood measure. Interestingly, the ‘optimal’ threshold is found to be stable across different sampling realized volatility measures. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Welfare States Facing HIV/AIDS. Organizational Responses in Western Europe (1981–91)
Authors: Panchaud Christine
Published: March 2012

In this article the author analyzes comparatively several organizational models which were introduced in a dozen West European countries to address the problem of HIV/AIDS. Analyzing some aspects of the organizational design, the logic of intervention (sectorial or global), the type of actors (public or private) and the type of relations between actors, she elaborates a typology of responses. Three types are identified, presenting unexpected variants in respect to general typologies of the western welfare state. The author also notes that a form of social regulation based on private actors has been adopted in all countries under consideration. These results lead her to the hypothesis that the factors of innovation or modernization in administrations facing the management of such problems are grounded in new forms of collaboration between actors of different legal status.
Problèmes de mise en œuvre de la politique sociale en milieu urbain: l'exemple des services médico‐sociaux pour consommateurs de drogues
Authors: Kübler Daniel
Published: March 2012

Peut‐on parler de spécificités locales en matière de politique sociale? Le but de cet article est de démontrer qu'au niveau local, le champ de la politique sociale est structuré par une problématique spécifique de coexistence territoriale entre “exclus” et “intégrés”, qui se superpose au débat politique plus global sur l'organisation de la solidarité sociale. A cette fin, l'auteur analyse les enjeux liés à la mise en oeuvre de services médico‐sociaux pour consommateurs de drogues illégales en Suisse. Les conflits relatifs au choix de sites pour ces services révèlent des dynamiques diverses. D'une part, les processus d'urbanisation sous‐tendent une problématique concernant la “place légitime” dans la ville des populations stigmatisées, et d'autre part, la mise en oeuvre de ces services s'expose à des oppositions de principe, provenant d'acteurs qui exploi‐tent leurs ressources locales de pouvoir. Les dispositifs de médiation à Bâle et à Genève témoignent pourtant qu'il est possible de surmonter ces conflits. En permettant l'implication des parties concernées, la médiation confère alors au local un caractère pleinement politique.
Ethanol consumption modifies the body turnover of cadmium: a study in a rat model of human exposure
Authors: Brzóska Malgorzata M. , Galażyn‐Sidorczuk Malgorzata , Dzwilewska Ilona
Published: March 2012

Ethanol (Et) abusers may also be exposed to excessive amounts of cadmium (Cd). Thus, the study was aimed at estimating the influence of Et on the body turnover of Cd in a rat model reflecting excessive alcohol consumption in humans chronically exposed to moderate and relatively high levels of this metal. For this purpose, Cd apparent absorption, retention in the body and concentration in the blood, stomach, duodenum, liver, kidney, spleen, brain, heart, testis and femur as well as its fecal and urinary excretion in the rats exposed to 5 and 50mg Cd l−1 (in drinking water; for 16 weeks from the fifth week of the animal's life) and/or Et (5 g kg−1 b.w. per 24 h, by oral gavage; for 12 weeks from the ninth week of life) were estimated. Moreover, the duodenal, liver and kidney pool of the nonmetallothionein (Mt)‐bound Cd was evaluated. The administration of Et during the exposure to 5 or 50mg Cd l−1 increased Cd accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract and its urinary excretion, and decreased Cd concentration in the blood, femur and numerous soft tissues (including liver and kidney) as well as the total pool of this metal in internal organs. Et modified or not the pool of the non‐Mt‐bound Cd, depending on the level of treatment with this metal. The results show that excessive Et consumption during Cd exposure may decrease the body burden of this metal, at least partly, by its lower absorption and increased urinary excretion. Based on this study, it can be concluded that Cd concentration in the blood and tissues of alcohol abusers chronically exposed to moderate and relatively high levels of this metal may be lower, whereas its urinary excretion is higher than in their nondrinking counterparts. However, since Et is toxic itself, the decreased body burden of Cd owing to alcohol consumption does not allow for the conclusion that the risk of health damage may be lower at co‐exposure to these xenobiotics. In a further study, it will be investigated how the Et‐induced changes in the body status of Cd influence the effects of its toxic action. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New biodegradable small‐diameter artificial vascular prosthesis: A feasibility study
Authors: Kong Xiaoying , Han Baoqin , Li Hui , Liang Ye , Shao Kai , Liu Wanshun
Published: March 2012

An in‐house built instrument was used to fabricate a small internal diameter (2 mm) artificial vascular prosthesis from biodegradable chitosan. This new artificial vascular prosthesis has shown a good biocompatibility based on the studies of its cell compatibility, inflammatory reaction, and platelet adhesion. In an animal test, the prosthesis was used to replace a 4‐cm‐long section of femoral artery in each of the seven tested dogs. The patency of the replacement was monitored at regular intervals using Doppler ultrasound diagnostics. Nine months after the implantation, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical study, and scanning electron microscope observation were carried out. Complete decomposition of the prosthesis and replacement by a natural blood vessel were observed. The results suggests that the artificial vascular prosthesis displays many characteristics of the “ideal” small‐diameter artificial vascular, and have the biocompatibility that can be tailored to match those desired in vascular replacement application. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
A semiempirical approach to ligand‐binding affinities: Dependence on the Hamiltonian and corrections
Authors: Mikulskis Paulius , Genheden Samuel , Wichmann Karin , Ryde Ulf
Published: March 2012

We present a combination of semiempirical quantum‐mechanical (SQM) calculations in the conductor‐like screening model with the MM/GBSA (molecular‐mechanics with generalized Born and surface‐area solvation) method for ligand‐binding affinity calculations. We test three SQM Hamiltonians, AM1, RM1, and PM6, as well as hydrogen‐bond corrections and two different dispersion corrections. As test cases, we use the binding of seven biotin analogues to avidin, nine inhibitors to factor Xa, and nine phenol‐derivatives to ferritin. The results vary somewhat for the three test cases, but a dispersion correction is mandatory to reproduce experimental estimates. On average, AM1 with the DH2 hydrogen‐bond and dispersion corrections gives the best results, which are similar to those of standard MM/GBSA calculations for the same systems. The total time consumption is only 1.3–1.6 times larger than for MM/GBSA. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beta‐decomposition for the volume and area of the union of three‐dimensional balls and their offsets
Authors: Kim Deok‐Soo , Ryu Joonghyun , Shin Hayong , Cho Youngsong
Published: March 2012

Given a set of spherical balls, called atoms, in three‐dimensional space, its mass properties such as the volume and the boundary area of the union of the atoms are important for many disciplines, particularly for computational chemistry/biology and structural molecular biology. Despite many previous studies, this seemingly easy problem of computing mass properties has not been well‐solved. If the mass properties of the union of the offset of the atoms are to be computed as well, the problem gets even harder. In this article, we propose algorithms that compute the mass properties of both the union of atoms and their offsets both correctly and efficiently. The proposed algorithms employ an approach, called the Beta‐decomposition, based on the recent theory of the beta‐complex. Given the beta‐complex of an atom set, these algorithms decompose the target mass property into a set of primitives using the simplexes of the beta‐complex. Then, the molecular mass property is computed by appropriately summing up the mass property corresponding to each simplex. The time complexity of the proposed algorithm is O(m) in the worst case where m is the number of simplexes in the beta‐complex that can be efficiently computed from the Voronoi diagram of the atoms. It is known in ℝ3 that m = O(n) on average for biomolecules and m = O(n2) in the worst case for general spheres where n is the number of atoms. The theory is first introduced in ℝ2 and extended to ℝ3. The proposed algorithms were implemented into the software BetaMass and thoroughly tested using molecular structures available in the Protein Data Bank. BetaMass is freely available at the Voronoi Diagram Research Center web site. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Concise Synthesis of Yashabushidiol A and (±)‐Diospongin A
Authors: Ho Tse‐Lok , Tang Bin , Ma Guohua , Xu Pengfei
Published: March 2012

Synthesis of (±)‐diospongin A has been achieved from the (2SR,4RS)‐pentane‐1,2,4,5‐tetraol in six steps. An intermediate has also been converted into yashabushidiol A. This work features a desymmetric cyclization and reduction of a meso‐1,7‐diarylheptanoid precursor to furnish the desired cis‐2,6‐disubstituted tetrahydropyran.
SEYMOUR SARASON AND THE CREATION OF SETTINGS
Authors: Cherniss Cary
Published: March 2012

One of Seymour Sarason's most original and important works was his book, The Creation of Settings and the Future Societies (Sarason, 1972). In it, he offered numerous insights about what goes wrong when “two or more people come together in new relationships over a sustained period of time in order to achieve certain goals.” His hope in writing the book was that greater knowledge and understanding of the setting‐creation process would help people create more effective and humane settings and prevent “organizational craziness.” This article first describes how and why Sarason became interested in the problem. It then summarizes a few of his most important insights about the process. The article concludes by considering the impact and legacy of Sarason's work on the creation of settings.
A novel MRI‐compatible brain ventricle phantom for validation of segmentation and volumetry methods
Authors: Khan Amanda F. , Drozd John J. , Moreland Robert K. , Ta Robert M. , Borrie Michael J. , Bartha Robert ,   and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2012

Purpose:

To create a standardized, MRI‐compatible, life‐sized phantom of the brain ventricles to evaluate ventricle segmentation methods using T1‐weighted MRI. An objective phantom is needed to test the many different segmentation programs currently used to measure ventricle volumes in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Materials and Methods:

A ventricle model was constructed from polycarbonate using a digital mesh of the ventricles created from the 3 Tesla (T) MRI of a subject with Alzheimer's disease. The ventricle was placed in a brain mold and surrounded with material composed of 2% agar in water, 0.01% NaCl and 0.0375 mM gadopentetate dimeglumine to match the signal intensity properties of brain tissue in 3T T1‐weighted MRI. The 3T T1‐weighted images of the phantom were acquired and ventricle segmentation software was used to measure ventricle volume.

Results:

The images acquired of the phantom successfully replicated in vivo signal intensity differences between the ventricle and surrounding tissue in T1‐weighted images and were robust to segmentation. The ventricle volume was quantified to 99% accuracy at 1‐mm voxel size.

Conclusion:

The phantom represents a simple, realistic and objective method to test the accuracy of lateral ventricle segmentation methods and we project it can be extended to other anatomical structures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:476–482. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Uniaxial compression of SiO2 glass cylinders: Analysis using stress‐dependent material coefficients
Authors: Richter F. , Hoffmann H.‐J.
Published: March 2012

The present publication extends the prior analysis and discussion of data from the uniaxial compression (upsetting) of hot glass cylinders of vitreous silica that clearly revealed nonlinearity in viscoelastic parameters, i. e., Young's modulus and viscosity. While the simple Maxwell model is retained, the assumption of constant material coefficients in the course of an experiment is dropped. Two approaches, supported by both numerical integration and FEM simulations are applied to unravel the stress dependence of Young's modulus and the viscosity. Thus, nonlinearities are manifested by a non‐Hookean elasticity and a non‐Newtonian viscosity. The stress relaxation behaviour has also been analyzed disregarding any particular model. The relaxation ability is characterized by thermorheological simplicity depending on both the temperature and the stress attained.
Establishment and clinical application of a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay for determination of N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐lysyl‐proline
Authors: Suzuki Yosuke , Itoh Hiroki , Katagiri Fumihiko , Sato Fuminori , Kawasaki Kanako , Sato Yuhki , Mimata Hiromitsu , Takeyama Masaharu
Published: March 2012

N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐lysyl‐proline (AcSDKP) is a natural inhibitor of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and is normally found in human plasma. Because AcSDKP is hydrolyzed by the N‐terminal active site of angiotensin converting enzyme and partially eliminated in urine, its plasma level is a result of a complex balance between its production, hydrolysis by ACE, and renal elimination. In this study, we attempted to establish an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for quantifying AcSDKP‐like immunoreactive substance (IS), which is applicable for monitoring plasma AcSDKP levels in healthy subjects and patients with chronic renal failure. Using β‐ d‐galactosidase‐labeled Gly‐γAbu‐SDKP as a marker antigen, an anti‐rabbit IgG‐coated immunoplate as a bound/free separator and 4‐methylumbelliferyl‐β‐ d‐galactopyranoside as a fluorogenic substrate, a highly sensitive and specific EIA was developed for the quantification of AcSDKP‐IS in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 0.32 fmol/well, and the sharp inhibition competitive EIA calibration curve obtained was linear between 8.0 and 513 fmol/ml. This EIA was so sensitive that only 10 µl plasma sample was required for a single assay. The coefficients of variation (reproducibility) for human plasma concentrations of 0.2 and 2.1 pmol/ml were 7.2 and 7.7%, respectively, for inter‐assay and 13.3 and 7.8% for intra‐assay comparisons. Plasma AcSDKP‐IS level was significantly higher in patients with chronic renal failure (0.92 ± 0.39 pmol/ml) compared with healthy subjects (0.29 ± 0.07 pmol/ml). These results suggest that our EIA may be useful to evaluate plasma AcSDKP level as a biomarker in various patients. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Magnetotransport in organic Dirac fermion system at the quantum limit: Interlayer Hall effect and surface transport via helical edge states
Authors: Osada Toshihito
Published: March 2012

We discuss two anomalous features of interlayer magnetotransport observed in α‐(BEDT‐TTF)2I3 in terms of massless Dirac fermions: the interlayer Hall effect and high‐field interlayer magnetoresistance (MR). The former is the anomalous Hall effect, which does not depend on magnetic field strength. It depends only on field orientation showing cotθ‐type angle dependence. We have derived the lowest order contribution of interlayer coupling to conductivity and successfully reproduced the interlayer Hall effect as a transport phenomenon in the massless Dirac fermion system at the quantum limit. The latter is an exponential increase of interlayer MR and its follow‐on saturation in higher magnetic fields. The exponential increase is evidence of the existence of a mobility gap at the Fermi level. It strongly suggests that the ν = 0 quantum Hall state is realized by spin splitting. In this case, two edge states with opposite spin and chirality are formed on the edge surface. The surface transport via edge states becomes dominant in interlayer transport in high enough fields, where bulk transport becomes exponentially small. The observed saturation of interlayer MR is well explained with this scenario.
High‐temperature thermoelectric properties of Cu2In4Te7
Authors: Plirdpring Theerayuth , Kurosaki Ken , Kosuga Atsuko , Ishimaru Manabu , Ohishi Yuji , Muta Hiroaki , Yamanaka Shinsuke
Published: March 2012

Cu2Ga4Te7 has recently been reported to have a relatively high thermoelectric (TE) figure of merit (ZT). However, the TE properties of Cu2In4Te7, which has the same defect zinc‐blende structure as Cu2Ga4Te7, have been hardly investigated. Here, we demonstrate that Cu2In4Te7 has relatively high ZT values that are similar to those of Cu2Ga4Te7. High‐density polycrystalline bulk samples of Cu2In4Te7 were prepared and their electrical resistivity (ϱ), Seebeck coefficient (S), and thermal conductivity (κ) were measured. Cu2In4Te7 has a maximum ZT of 0.3 at 700 K, with ϱ, S, and κ values of 62.1 × 10–5 Ω m, 394 μV K–1, and 0.61 W m–1 K–1, respectively. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Stable isotope switching (SIS): a new stable isotope probing (SIP) approach to determine carbon flow in the soil food web and dynamics in organic matter pools
Authors: Maxfield P. J. , Dildar N. , Hornibrook E. R. C. , Stott A. W. , Evershed R. P.
Published: March 2012

RATIONALE

Recent advances in stable isotope probing (SIP) have allowed direct linkage of microbial population structure and function. This paper details a new development of SIP, Stable Isotope Switching (SIS), which allows the simultaneous assessment of carbon (C) uptake, turnover and decay, and the elucidation of soil food webs within complex soils or sedimentary matrices.

METHODS

SIS utilises a stable isotope labelling approach whereby the 13C‐labelled substrate is switched part way through the incubation to a natural abundance substrate. A 13CH4 SIS study of landfill cover soils from Odcombe (Somerset, UK) was conducted. Carbon assimilation and dissimilation processes were monitored through bulk elemental analysis isotope ratio mass spectrometry and compound‐specific gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry, targeting a wide range of biomolecular components including: lipids, proteins and carbohydrates.

RESULTS

Carbon assimilation by primary consumers (methanotrophs) and sequential assimilation into secondary (Gram‐negative and ‐positive bacteria) and tertiary consumers (Eukaryotes) was observed. Up to 45% of the bacterial membrane lipid C was determined to be directly derived from CH4 and at the conclusion of the experiment ca. 50% of the bulk soil C derived directly from CH4 was retained within the soil.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first estimate of soil organic carbon derived from CH4 and it is comparable with levels observed in lakes that have high levels of benthic methanogenesis. SIS opens the way for a new generation of SIP studies aimed at elucidating total C dynamics (incorporation, turnover and decay) at the molecular level in a wide range of complex environmental and biological matrices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The ongoing pursuit of a prophylactic HSV vaccine
Authors: Chung Erin , Sen Jonathan
Published: March 2012

HSV is among the most common human pathogens in the world. It is known to cause painful, persistent skin lesions, while also being the most common cause of fatal non‐epidemic encephalitis as well as the leading cause of corneal blindness. The development of prophylactic vaccines could substantially reduce global health problems associated with HSV. So far, HSV vaccine strategies have shown noticeable efficacy in early development during preclinical phases but remained unsuccessful or unproven in human trials. New understanding of how the immune system mounts a defence against HSV offers practical strategies for vaccine development. A number of promising vaccine candidates are currently awaiting clinical development or already undergoing clinical testing. Therefore, this is a suitable time to assess the progress of HSV vaccine development and consider existing challenges and future improvements needed to achieve an effective prophylactic HSV vaccine. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining qualitative information and semi‐quantitative data for guaranteed invalidation of biochemical network models
Authors: Rumschinski Philipp , Streif Stefan , Findeisen Rolf
Published: March 2012

Mathematical models of complex biological networks are valuable to make predictions on system properties and to identify therapeutic targets. However, development, validation and analysis of predictive models is often hampered as absolute and quantitative measurement data are rarely available. Instead, the data are typically uncertain with respect to the measured variable or time, relational due to normalization, or data are given as conditional if‐then observations. Many common approaches for model development and validation cannot deal with such semi‐quantitative data and qualitative information. We present a framework for the guaranteed invalidation and parameter estimation of dynamical models using such data. For this purpose, the data are formally expressed by sets of equalities and inequalities containing binary variables. Then a mixed‐integer nonlinear feasibility problem is constructed, which is subsequently relaxed into a mixed‐integer linear program that can be solved efficiently. A model can be proved inconsistent, that is, invalid with the uncertain and semi‐quantitative/qualitative data, if the solution set of the mixed‐integer linear program is empty. To exemplify the approach, we analyze different models whether they can show adaptation to a step‐input. First, we invalidate all but one model and, second, derive outer‐bounds for those regions in the parameter space of the non‐invalidated model that contain parameterizations for which it is consistent with the data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effective method of database server forensics on the enterprise environment
Authors: Son Namheun , Lee Keungi , Jeon SangJun , Lee Sangjin , Lee Changhoon
Published: March 2012

When a forensic investigation is carried out in the enterprise environment, most of the important data are stored in database servers, and data stored in them are very important elements for a forensic investigation. As for database servers with such data stored, there are over 10 various kinds, such as SQL Server and Oracle. All the methods of investigating a database system are important, but this study suggests a single methodology likely to investigate all the database systems while considering the unique characteristics of each database system. A method of detecting a server and acquiring and investigating data in the server can be effectively used for such an investigation on the enterprise environment. For the existing investigation on server systems, severs should be shut down, and disc imaging should be conducted first. However, such a method may inflict great losses on the company in some cases. That is why we need a method to acquire data of a server in on‐line state, and this study discusses this method. Besides, on the basis of methodology, this study attempts to determine a possibility that this new forensic investigation method can be practically used by directly applying this method to SQL Server and MySQL databases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ToF‐SIMS and Laser‐SNMS analysis of macrophages after exposure to silver nanoparticles
Authors: Draude F. , Galla S. , Pelster A. , Tentschert J. , Jungnickel H. , Haase A. , Mantion A. , Thünemann A. F. , Taubert A. , Luch A. , Arlinghaus H. F.
Published: March 2012

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are among the most commercialized nanoparticles because of their antibacterial effects. Besides being employed, e.g. as a coating material for sterile surfaces in household articles and appliances, the particles are also used in a broad range of medical applications. Their antibacterial properties make SNPs especially useful for wound disinfection or as a coating material for prostheses and surgical instruments. Because of their optical characteristics, the particles are of increasing interest in biodetection as well. Despite the widespread use of SNPs, there is little knowledge of their toxicity. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) and laser post‐ionization secondary neutral mass spectrometry (Laser‐SNMS) were used to investigate the effects of SNPs on human macrophages derived from THP‐1 cells in vitro. For this purpose, macrophages were exposed to SNPs. The SNP concentration ranges were chosen with regard to functional impairments of the macrophages. To optimize the analysis of the macrophages, a special silicon wafer sandwich preparation technique was employed; ToF‐SIMS was employed to characterize fragments originating from macrophage cell membranes. With the use of this optimized sample preparation method, the SNP‐exposed macrophages were analyzed with ToF‐SIMS and with Laser‐SNMS. With Laser‐SNMS, the three‐dimensional distribution of SNPs in cells could be readily detected with very high efficiency, sensitivity, and submicron lateral resolution. We found an accumulation of SNPs directly beneath the cell membrane in a nanoparticular state as well as agglomerations of SNPs inside the cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Virtual autopsy by computed tomographic angiography of the fetal heart: a feasibility study
Authors: Votino C. , Cannie M. , Segers V. , Dobrescu O. , Dessy H. , Gallo V. , Cos T. , Damry N. , Jani J.
Published: March 2012

Objective

To determine the feasibility of postmortem computed tomographic (pm‐CT) angiography for fetal heart evaluation.

Methods

Following termination of pregnancy (TOP) or intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) beyond 18 weeks' gestation, 33 fetuses were examined by pm‐CT; in eight contrast medium was injected through the umbilical cord and in 25 contrast medium was injected directly into the heart. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the effect on the ability to visualize cardiac structures on pm‐CT angiography of gestational age at TOP or delivery following IUFD, the time delay between fetal death and examination, the technique used for contrast‐medium injection, the presence of cardiac abnormalities and whether or not there was IUFD. The diagnostic accuracy of pm‐CT angiography for the evaluation of fetal cardiac structures was also evaluated.

Results

Cardiac anatomy including heart situs, the four‐chamber view and great vessels could be visualized on pm‐CT angiography in 29 out of 33 fetuses (87.9%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the ability to visualize cardiac structures on pm‐CT angiography was positively correlated only with contrast medium injected directly into the heart. Twenty‐five out of the 33 fetuses underwent conventional autopsy. There were five cases with suspected major cardiac abnormality at prenatal ultrasound and one with a minor cardiac abnormality. In one of these cases, severe leakage into the pleural cavity did not allow for visualization of any heart structure on pm‐CT angiography and in another invasive autopsy was declined. In two of the remaining four cases, the findings on pm‐CT angiography and invasive autopsy were in agreement, while in two a ventricular septal defect was found on invasive autopsy but not on pm‐CT. None of the 27 cases with normal hearts was falsely classified as abnormal using pm‐CT angiography.

Conclusion

Pm‐CT angiography by direct injection into the heart seems to be a feasible method for its evaluation. The extent to which such a technique could be used for the evaluation of congenital heart disease as an alternative to classical postmortem autopsy remains to be determined. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of concomitant anterior vaginal reconstructive surgery on transobturator suburethral tape procedures
Authors: Huang W.‐C. , Yang S.‐H. , Yang J.‐M. , Tzeng C.‐R.
Published: March 2012

Objective

To explore the functional and morphological impact of concomitant anterior vaginal reconstructive surgery on outcome of transobturator suburethral tape (TOT) procedures.

Methods

This was a retrospective review and analysis of data from 196 women who had undergone a TOT procedure with or without concomitant anterior vaginal reconstructive surgery during a 30‐month period. Retrieved data included clinical information and ultrasound findings. Ultrasound examinations assessed the tape location and tape tension at rest, on straining and during coughing. Ultrasound parameters representing tape location comprised the sagittal tape–symphysis pubis distance, sagittal tape–symphysis pubis angle and tape percentile (an indication of tape position along the urethra with respect to urethral length); those representing tape tension included urethral encroachment, sagittal tape–urethra distances at the upper end, central point and lower end of the tape and axial urethral central echolucent area at the center of the tape.

Results

Of the 196 women, 117 had undergone a TOT procedure without concomitant anterior vaginal surgery (Group 1), 44 had undergone TOT placement with anterior colporrhaphy (Group 2) and 35 had undergone TOT placement with a transobturator vaginal mesh procedure (Group 3). At the 3‐month follow‐up, functional outcomes as well as resting and dynamic ultrasound findings were similar between women following TOT procedures without (Group 1) and with (Groups 2 and 3) concomitant anterior vaginal surgery. However, a significantly higher rate of urethral encroachment at rest was noted in Group 2.

Conclusions

Concomitant anterior vaginal reconstructive surgery neither aggravates the functional outcome nor affects the ultrasound findings of TOT procedures.
Improvement of FISH–FCM enumeration performance in filamentous yeast species in activated sludge by snailase partial digestion
Authors: Cui Cancan , Zhang Yanyan , Han Hui , Zheng Shaokui
Published: March 2012

This paper developed a novel strategy to improve the fluorescence in situ hybridization–flow cytometry (FISH–FCM) enumeration performance in filamentous yeast species in activated sludge by snailase partial digestion to fully disaggregate filamentous yeast chains into single cells. A 2 h 2% snailase partial digestion liberated more rod‐shaped yeast single cells from intertwined filamentous yeast samples than did sonication disaggregation, based on an optical microscopic observation and the forward‐light‐scatter frequency histogram of FCM analysis. However, adding snailase resulted in a fluorescence‐quenching phenomenon of the hybridized filamentous yeast cells, which was minimized by lowering the snailase concentration. An approximately 3 h 0.5% snailase partial digestion conducted between sonication and hybridization significantly improved the FISH–FCM enumeration performance for filamentous yeast species by 37%. The results presented here will facilitate the rapid detection, identification and exact enumeration of specific filamentous fungal species in environmental samples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dinuclear Five‐Coordinate Copper(II) Complexes with Chelating Diphosphonic Acid Ligands: Hydrothermal Synthesis, Structure, and Thermal Properties
Authors: Dehghanpour Saeed , Asadizadeh Saeedeh , Assoud Jalil
Published: March 2012

The synthesis of two new diphosphonic acid ligands,[ethane‐1, 2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]bis[(4‐chlorophenyl)methylene]diphosphonic acid (L1P), [ethane‐1, 2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]bis[(4‐bromophenyl)methylene]diphosphonic acid (L2P), and their corresponding copper complexes, Cu2(L1P)2 (1) and Cu2(L2P)2 (2) are described herein. Complex 2 was structurally characterized with X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The structure of 2 consists of five‐coordinatecopper(II) ions with a distorted square pyramidal arrangement doubly bridged by OPO from phosphonate groups. The Cu–Cu distance is 4.7810(2) Å. The crystal packing is determined by interdinuclear hydrogen bonds, which lead to one‐dimensional chains. The results of thermogravimetric investigations (TG‐DTA), UV/Vis diffuse reflectance, infrared and (1H and 13C) NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analyses of compounds 1 and 2 are also presented.
New Borate‐citrate: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Sr[B(C6H5O7)2](H2O)4·3H2O
Authors: Wu Hongping , Pan Shilie , Jia Dianzeng , Yu Hongwei , Chen Zhaohui
Published: March 2012

Single crystals of Sr[B(C6H5O7)2](H2O)4·3H2O, a new borate‐citrate material, were grown with sizes up to 8 × 6 × 2 mm by slow evaporation of water at room temperature. The structure of Sr[B(C6H5O7)2](H2O)4·3H2O was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with a = 11.363(3) Å, b = 18.829(4) Å, c = 11.976(3) Å, β = 110.736(3)°, and Z = 4. The SrO8 dodecahedra, BO4 tetrahedra and citrate groups are linked together to form chains. The compound was characterized by IR and UV/Vis/NIR transmittance spectroscopy as well as thermal analysis.