bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Xylem Structure and Function
Authors: Myburg Alexander A , Lev‐Yadun Simcha , Sederoff Ronald R
Published: October 2013

Xylem is the specialised tissue of vascular plants that transports water and nutrients from the plant–soil interface to stems and leaves, and provides mechanical support and storage. The water‐conducting function of xylem is one of the major distinguishing features of vascular plants. Water is the primary solvent for plant nutrition and metabolism, and is essential for photosynthesis, turgor and for transport of minerals, hormones and other signalling molecules. The water‐conducting xylem cells provide an internal hydrophobic surface facilitating water transport as well as mechanical strength. The xylem cells also support the weight of the water transported upward in the plant and the weight of the plant itself. For many trees, xylem is wood, which has been an essential raw material for human societies since antiquity, providing structural material, fuel and fibre. Modification of xylem by genetic engineering may lead to better energy sources, improved raw materials and wood products.

Key Concepts:

Xylem is the tissue of vascular plants that transports water and nutrients from the soil to the stems and leaves.

Xylem plays an essential ‘supporting’ role providing strength to tissues and organs, to maintain plant architecture and resistance to bending.

The water‐transporting cells of mature xylem are dead, and therefore the transport of water is mostly a passive process with a very small active root pressure component.

In most woody plants, xylem grows by the division and differentiation of cells of a bifacial lateral meristem, the vascular cambium, which produces secondary xylem and phloem.

Xylem is wood, one of the world's most abundant and valuable renewable raw materials.

The morphology, frequency and distribution of xylem cell types determine its biological, physical and chemical properties, and the resulting properties of wood.

The chemical and physical properties of wood determine its role in the carbon cycle through its carbon storing capacity and its resistance to decay when alive or dead, and in various sediments.

The chemical and physical properties of wood are themselves determined by the composition and interactions of the three polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

The difference between a woody and herbaceous plant depends on the expression of a small number of regulatory genes controlling the duration and quantity of xylem formation.

Genetic engineering has great potential to develop xylem with desired qualities for specific purposes.
Absolute Pitch: Genetics
Authors: Gregersen Peter K
Published: October 2013

Absolute pitch (AP) is a cognitive trait characterised by the ability to identify or name the pitch of a musical note or ambient sound without the use of a reference pitch. It is rare in the general population, and relatively uncommon even in musicians. AP displays familial aggregation and has recently been shown to be strongly associated with synaesthesia. Genetic linkage analysis has identified regions on several chromosomes that contain genes involved in both AP and synaesthesia.

Key Concepts:

Absolute pitch is an example of a discrete and easily measurable cognitive trait that has a strong genetic component.

Absolute pitch ability is not restricted to musicians.

Absolute pitch is associated with other distinctive cognitive traits such as synaesthesia.

The genes for absolute pitch are likely to be involved in brain development and cortical connectivity.

The elucidation of the genetic basis for absolute pitch will provide insight into general aspects of brain development and biology.
Gene Clustering in Eukaryotes
Authors: Tarailo‐Graovac Maja , Chen Nansheng
Published: October 2013

Recent advances in genomics have provided us with better understanding of genomes from many different species, their architectures and evolutionary relationships. Genome architecture (a nonrandom arrangement of functional elements in the genome, such as genes and regulatory regions) is different in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes. Although in prokaryotes, many genes are organised into linearly positioned cotranscribed groups (operons), eukaryotic genomes possess very small number of genes organised into operons. The acquisition of the nuclear membrane, decoupling of transcription and translation and adoption of the ribosome‐scanning mechanism for translation initiation (necessitating monocistronic
messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs)
) are possible reasons for the loss of operon structure in eukaryotes. Despite the general trend of low level of gene clustering within operon structures in eukaryotes, there is an evidence for nonrandom linear and spatial organisation of eukaryotic genomes, as a result of multiple mechanisms that can lead to the proximity of coexpressed genes.

Key Concepts:

Albeit not as common as the gene clustering within operons observed in bacteria, linear gene clustering does occur in eukaryotes.

In eukaryotes, linear gene clusters form predominantly by partially adaptive, but largely neutral processes, such as genome rearrangements.

In natal clusters, genes occupy adjacent positions on chromosomes as a result of a tandem duplication and consequent divergence.

In embedded clusters, coding sequence of one gene may be entirely positioned within an intron of another gene, or one gene may have exons that interweave with the exons of other genes.

In coregulated clusters, genes could be either linearly clustered on chromosomes to share regulatory sequences, or genes could be spatially colocalised within the nucleus forming transcription factories.

Linearly coregulated clusters in eukaryotes include: alternatively spliced transcripts, polycistronic messages, uORFs and genes regulated by bidirectional promoters.

Spatial sequestration of genes positioned distantly on the same chromosome or even on different chromosomes can modulate coregulated gene expression.
Dictionaries and Technology
Authors: Lew Robert
Published: October 2013

Lexicographers have always understood the importance of working with authentic language data in describing language. Before the advent of computers, serious dictionary‐making involved an arduous process of manually collecting millions of citations from literature. Dictionary‐makers were sometimes assisted in this task by the educated public through special reading programs. The resulting citations were placed on citation slips and painstakingly arranged in voluminous files. This method was laborious in the extreme, and it also had a major methodological flaw: Human readers naturally focus on the unusual. As a result, any database of manual citations tends to emphasize instances of creative use of language, but the uninspiring everyday uses of common words remain unnoted, as those seem too trivial to be worth recording.
Ethics in Qualitative Research
Authors: Lazaraton Anne
Published: October 2013

In simplest terms qualitative researchers attempt to understand people's lived experiences, patterns of discourse, and observable behaviors as they occur in natural settings. Such inquiry rarely results in numerical tallies, instead generating textual descriptions of unstructured data that are thought to represent phenomena of interest. These qualitative research data are analyzed in terms of data‐generated themes that point to one or more interpretations of the findings. As a cyclical and iterative process, qualitative research does not proceed in a linear fashion, and this flexibility can make it hard to predict what will come up in terms of ethical issues as the research progresses. It may also be relatively intrusive because it often delves into the private realm and it is inherently interested in people's personal views. As a result of these and other factors, “qualitative inquiry raises distinctive ethical issues” that should be understood on their own, not just in comparison to quantitative research.
Grammar and Corpora
Authors: Xiao Richard , McEnery Tony
Published: October 2013

The rapid development of corpus linguistics since the early 1990s has revolutionized virtually all areas of linguistic research. Research in grammar has probably been influenced most profoundly by the corpus‐based approach. It has helped to redefine what a grammar is. Indeed, corpora have had such a strong impact on recently published reference grammars of English that “even people who have never heard of a corpus are using the product of corpus‐based investigation”. Hunston summarizes the changes brought about by corpora in reference grammars and dictionaries in terms of five emphases, namely an emphasis on frequency, an emphasis on collocation and phraseology, an emphasis on variation, an emphasis on lexis in grammar, and an emphasis on authenticity. These five features illustrate the roles of corpora in grammar: enabling investigations of grammatical frequency, providing authentic examples of attested language use, facilitating research of grammatical variations in different usage contexts, and integrating lexis and grammar. In addition, as
McEnery
and Xiao's study of infinitival complementation of help demonstrates, non‐corpus‐based grammars are likely to contain biased descriptions that do not accord with attested language use. Hence corpora play a crucial role in achieving improved grammatical descriptions.
Standards and Varieties of English
Authors: Shaw Philip M.
Published: October 2013

Within a set of texts or interactions in any language there is always variation in linguistic form (pronunciation/spelling, syntax, lexis). Some of this variation is random, but much depends on the topic, the medium of production, and the situation in which the sample was produced. Furthermore, much can be related to the status, class, ethnicity, and local origin of the speaker (or writer). This latter type of variation is captured by the terms
norm
,
standard
, and
variety
.
Rewritable, Moldable, and Flexible Sticker‐Type Organic Memory on Arbitrary Substrates
Authors: Lai Ying‐Chih , Wang Yi‐Xiang , Huang Yi‐Chuan , Lin Tai‐Yuan , Hsieh Ya‐Ping , Yang Ying‐Jay , Chen Yang‐Fang
Published: October 2013

Fabrication of functional devices on arbitrary non‐conventional substrates has significant advantages for broadening devices applications and the development of soft electronic systems such as flexible, stretchable, wearable, and epidermal electronic modules. Information storage device is one of crucial electronic elements in modern digital circuitries. Herein, a re‐writable, transferable, and flexible sticker‐type organic memory on universal substrates is demonstrated through a facile and cost‐effective one‐step strategy. The organic memory sticker based on the graphene electrode grown by chemical vapor deposition consists of a blending composite of polymer (poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA):poly (3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in chlorobenzene (CB) fabricated by mature solution processes and facilities. By combining with the mechanical elastic of organic material and graphene electrode, the sticker‐type organic memory can be easily tagged on non‐planar or flexible substrates after etching away the supporting metal. Particularly, the new attachable sticker‐type memory processes a unique feature of re‐programmable capability. It is believed that the universal substrate selectivity of the sticker‐type organic memory with re‐writable characteristic revealed here may greatly enlarge information storage devices in immense areas and advance the future functional soft circuitries.
Selective Bromination of sp3 CH Bonds by Organophotoredox Catalysis
Authors: Kee Choon Wee , Chan Ke Min , Wong Ming Wah , Tan Choon‐Hong
Published: October 2013

We report that bromination of aliphatic and benzylic sp3 CH bonds can be achieved with visible light photoredox catalysis by using a low loading of Eosin Y disodium salt, an inexpensive organic dye, as a photoredox catalyst. The light source is a low‐power household lamp and the reaction can be performed without the need of an inert atmosphere and anhydrous solvent. Easy‐to‐handle CBr4 is the source of bromine and morpholine is necessary for the reaction. Preliminary experimental and computational studies on the mechanism strongly suggest that an N‐morpholino radical is responsible for the CH activation step. This led us to propose that this is a radical relay reaction, in which a longer‐lived morpholine radical is generated from a CBr3 radical, which is relatively more transient, by a thermodynamically favorable reaction. Additional evidence for the existence of such an N‐radical was obtained from radical trapping experiments. The strong preference of this reaction for electron‐rich hydrogen atoms, and the high sensitivity to the steric environment around the CH bond enables bromination to occur on the relatively stronger CH bond (as quantified by bond dissociation enthalpy) on the same molecule. The potential for utilizing this reaction to achieve mild and regioselective bromination of sp3 CH bonds in complex molecules is exemplified by the bromination of (+)‐sclareolide and acetate‐protected estrone.
Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Functionally Separated D‐π‐A Dyes with 2‐Cyanopyridine as an Electron‐Accepting and Anchoring Group
Authors: Mao Jiangyi , Wang Dan , Liu Shih‐Hung , Hang Yandi , Xu Yaoyao , Zhang Qiong , Wu Wenjun , Chou Pi‐Tai , Hua Jianli
Published: October 2013

Three functionally separated donor‐π‐acceptor (D‐π‐A) sensitizers CP‐I–III with a cyano group as the electron‐accepting group and a pyridine as the anchoring group have been developed for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Significantly, the Jsc of CP‐II, which contains a benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole moiety, is much higher than those of CP‐I and CP‐III, which contain quinoxaline and [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐c]pyridine groups, respectively. This is not only a result of the good photon absorption, but also effective intramolecular charge transfer. The conversion efficiency (η) for CP‐II‐based DSSCs is 4.02 %, which is far better than that of CP‐I and CP‐III. Also, the η value for CP‐II is much higher than that for the reference dye P‐II with pyridine as anchoring group.
Bridging classification for injury diagnoses that can be converted to both the International Classification of Diseases and the Abbreviated Injury Scale
Authors: Nakahara Shinji , Uchida Yasuyuki , Oda Jun , Yokota Junichiro
Published: October 2013

Background

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is currently undergoing a revision process to develop the Eleventh Revision (ICD‐11), but substantial modification of chapter 19 has not been proposed despite its known problems in describing injury severity and multiple injuries. Many facilities treating trauma patients perform duplicate coding for trauma diagnoses using two different classification systems, the ICD for administrative purposes and the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for trauma registry, because unambiguous conversion of codes between the ICD and AIS is not always possible due to structural differences.

Aim

We developed a new bridging classification system which can be unambiguously converted to both ICD and AIS.

Methods and Results

The bridging classification adopted multidimensional coding and addressed differences in granularity and classification boundaries by adopting the more detailed categorizations whenever the granularity and classification boundaries differed between the ICD and AIS. Then we showed that the bridging classification codes could unambiguously converted to both ICD and AIS.

Conclusion

Once injuries are coded using the bridging classification, the ICD and AIS codes are readily available. Integrating the new bridging classification into the ICD‐11, possibly as a clinical modification, would eliminate the necessity of complicated procedures for code conversion and duplicate coding, and benefit users by building on the strengths of both the ICD and AIS.
Estimation of the biobased carbon content of polypropylene resin in composites on the basis of the carbon 14 concentration
Authors: Taguchi Kazuhiro , Kunioka Masao , Funabashi Masahiro , Ninomiya Fumi
Published: October 2013

The aim of this study was to estimate a procedure for the biobased carbon content of polypropylene (PP) resin isolated from composites containing additives or fillers on the basis of the carbon 14 concentration ratio, as measured by accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS). To reliably estimate the biobased carbon content of plastics, additives and fillers in the composites had to be removed because they often contain significant amounts of biobased carbon. To obtain specimens with purity suitable for estimation, an isolation procedure for PP from the composites was devised. The dissolution of the composites in 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydronaphthalene at 150°C, followed by immediate centrifugation of the hot solution, yielded PP as semicrystalline precipitates by allowing the hot solution to cool during centrifugation. The recovery of the resin through the scooping off of the precipitates was typically 90%. This simple procedure provided a suitable specimen for the estimation of biobased carbon content by AMS on the basis of ASTM D 6866. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014, 131, 39978.
Enhanced swelling and methylene blue adsorption of polyacrylamide‐based superabsorbents using alginate modified montmorillonite
Authors: Qiu Haixia , Qiu Zhaoxia , Wang Jialing , Zhang Ruobing , Zheng Fuyuan
Published: October 2013

Polyacrylamide/sodium alginate modified montmorillonite (PAM/SA‐MMT) superabsorbent composites were synthesized by free‐radical polymerization under normal atmospheric conditions. They were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Their water absorbency and methylene blue (MB) adsorption behaviors were studied. Compared with PAM/MMT composites, PAM/SA‐MMT composites demonstrated greater water absorbency (863 g g−1 in distilled water and 101 g g−1 in 0.9 wt % NaCl solution) and higher adsorption capacity of 2639 mg g−1 for MB. The adsorption behaviors of the composites showed that the isotherms and adsorption kinetics were in good agreement with the Langmuir equation and pseudo‐second‐order equation, respectively. FTIR analysis suggested that the MB adsorption of PAM/SA‐MMT composites via a mechanism combined electrostatic, H‐bonding and hydrophobic interaction. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014, 131, 40013.
The intellectual characteristics of the information field: Heritage and substance
Authors: Zhang Ping , Yan Jasy Liew Suet , Hassman Katie DeVries
Published: October 2013

As the information field (IField) becomes more recognized by different constituencies for education and research, the need to better understand its intellectual characteristics becomes more compelling. Although there are various conceptualizations of the IField, to date, in‐depth studies based on empirical evidence are scarce. This article reports a study that fills this gap. We focus on the first five ISchools in the ICaucus as a proxy to represent the IField. The intellectual characteristics are depicted by two independent sets of data on tenure track faculty as knowledge contributors: their intellectual heritages and the intellectual substance in their journal publications. We use a critical analysis method to examine doctoral training areas and 3 years of journal publications. Our results indicate that (a) the IField can be better conceptualized with empirical support by a four‐component model that includes People, Information, Technology, and Management, as predicted by the I‐Model (Zhang & Benjamin, 2007); (b) the ISchools' faculty members are diverse, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary as shown by their intellectual heritages, by their research foci, by journals in which they publish, by the contexts within which they conduct research, and by the levels of analysis in research investigations; (c) the five ISchools share similarities while evincing differences in both faculty heritages and intellectual substances; (d) ISchool tenure track faculty members do not collaborate much with each other within or across schools although there is great potential; and (e) intellectual heritages are not good predictors of scholars' intellectual substance. We conclude by discussing the implications of the findings on IField identity, IField development, new ISchool formation and existing ISchool evolution, faculty career development, and collaboration within the IField.
The classification of financial products
Authors: Loehrlein Aaron J. , Lemieux Victoria L. , Bennett Michael
Published: October 2013

In the wake of the global financial crisis, the U.S. Dodd‐ Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd‐Frank) was enacted to provide increased transparency in financial markets. In response to Dodd‐Frank, a series of rules relating to swaps record keeping have been issued, and one such rule calls for the creation of a financial products classification system. The manner in which financial products are classified will have a profound effect on data integration and analysis in the financial industry. This article considers various approaches that can be taken when classifying financial products and recommends the use of facet analysis. The article argues that this type of analysis is flexible enough to accommodate multiple viewpoints and rigorous enough to facilitate inferences that are based on the hierarchical structure. Various use cases are examined that pertain to the organization of financial products. The use cases confirm the practical utility of taxonomies that are designed according to faceted principles.
Superhydrogels of Nanotubes Capable of Capturing Heavy‐Metal Ions
Authors: Song Shasha , Wang Haiqiao , Song Aixin , Hao Jingcheng
Published: October 2013

Self‐assembly regulated by hydrogen bonds was successfully achieved in the system of lithocholic acid (LCA) mixed with three organic amines, ethanolamine (EA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA), in aqueous solutions. The mixtures of DEA/LCA exhibit supergelation capability and the hydrogels consist of plenty of network nanotubes with uniform diameters of about 60 nm determined by cryogenic TEM. Interestingly, the sample with the same concentration in a system of EA and LCA is a birefringent solution, in which spherical vesicles and can be transformed into nanotubes as the amount of LCA increases. The formation of hydrogels could be driven by the delicate balance of diverse noncovalent interactions, including electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, steric effects, van der Waals forces, and mainly hydrogen bonds. The mechanism of self‐assembly from spherical bilayer vesicles into nanotubes was proposed. The dried hydrogels with nanotubes were explored to exhibit the excellent capability for capturing heavy‐metal ions, for example, Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+. The superhydrogels of nanotubes from the self‐assembly of low‐molecular‐weight gelators mainly regulated by hydrogen bonds used for the removal of heavy‐metal ions is simple, green, and high efficiency, and provide a strategic approach to removing heavy‐metal ions from industrial sewage.
Hydrophobic Particle Effects on Hydrate Crystal Growth at the Water–Oil Interface
Authors: Cha Minjun , Baek Seungjun , Morris Jeffrey , Lee Jae W.
Published: October 2013

This study introduced hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) into an interface of aqueous and hydrate‐forming oil phases and analyzed the inhibition of hydrate crystal growth after seeding the hydrate slurry. The hydrate inhibition performance was quantitatively identified by micro‐differential scanning calorimetry (micro‐DSC) experiments. Through the addition of 1.0 wt % of SiNPs into the water–oil interface, the hydrate crystal growth only occurred around the seeding position of cyclopentane (CP) hydrate slurry, and the growth of hydrate crystals was retarded. Upon a further increase in the SiNP concentration up to 2.0 wt %, the SiNP‐laden interface completely prevented hydrate growth. We observed a hollow conical shape of hydrate crystals with 0.0 and 1.0 wt % of SiNPs, respectively, but the size and shape of the conical crystals was shrunken at 1.0 wt % of silica nanoparticles. However, the conical shape did not appear with an increased nanoparticle concentration of 2 wt %. These findings can provide insight into hydrate inhibition in oil and gas delivery lines, possibly with nanoparticles.
Estimate of the potential impact of folic acid fortification of corn masa flour on the prevention of neural tube defects
Authors: Tinker Sarah C. , Devine Owen , Mai Cara , Hamner Heather C. , Reefhuis Jennita , Gilboa Suzanne M. , Dowling Nicole F. , Honein Margaret A.
Published: October 2013

BACKGROUND

Hispanics in the US have a higher prevalence of neural tube defect (NTD) ‐affected pregnancies than non‐Hispanic whites, and lower median total folic acid (FA) intake. FA fortification of corn masa flour (CMF) is a policy‐level intervention for NTD prevention; however, the impact on NTD prevalence has not been estimated.

METHODS

We developed a model to estimate the percentage reduction in prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly (NTDs) that could occur with FA fortification of CMF. Model inputs included estimates of the percentage reduction in United States NTD prevalence attributed to FA fortification of enriched cereal grain products (1995–1996 vs. 1998–2002), the increase in median FA intake after enriched cereal grain product fortification, and the estimated increase in median FA intake that could occur with CMF fortification at the same level as enriched cereal grain products (140 μg/100 g). We used Monte Carlo simulation to quantify uncertainty. We stratified analyses by racial/ethnic group and rounded results to the nearest 10.

RESULTS

We estimated CMF fortification could prevent 30 Hispanic infants from having spina bifida (95% uncertainty interval: 0, 80) and 10 infants from having anencephaly (95% uncertainty interval: 0, 40) annually. The estimated impact among non‐Hispanic whites and blacks was smaller.

CONCLUSION

CMF fortification with FA could prevent from 0 to 120 infants, with the most likely value of approximately 40, from having spina bifida or anencephaly among Hispanics, the population most likely to benefit from the proposed intervention. While this estimated reduction is unlikely to be discernible using current birth defect surveillance methods, it still suggests an important benefit to the target population. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 97:649–657, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Materials‐based strategies for multi‐enzyme immobilization and co‐localization: A review
Authors: Jia Feng , Narasimhan Balaji , Mallapragada Surya
Published: October 2013

Immobilized enzymes as biocatalysts have great potential both scientifically and industrially because of their technological and economic importance. Their highly efficient catalytic mechanisms and reusability have made them excellent candidates for green and sustainable applications. Previous studies have primarily focused on single enzyme immobilization. However, there are many situations where a single enzyme cannot completely catalyze reactions and multiple enzymes working together in a cascade are needed. It is very challenging to efficiently drive the multi‐step reaction toward the desired direction, which is especially true when reactive intermediates are present. Nature overcomes this limitation through the use of multi‐enzyme complexes (MECs) to promote the overall catalytic efficiency, which has inspired researchers to synthesize artificial MECs to controllably enhance the production of the desired compounds in multi‐step reaction cascades in vitro. The most common approaches to synthesize artificial MECs are to use genetic engineering techniques to create fusion proteins or to co‐localize multiple enzymes on suitable carriers. This review focuses on the latter with a particular emphasis on materials‐based approaches to enzyme co‐localization, which builds on techniques developed for single enzyme immobilization. The attachment techniques used in single enzyme immobilization are also effective in multiple enzyme co‐localization, which has a direct impact on the overall enzyme orientation and activity. For carrier‐based strategies, the platforms developed for single enzyme immobilization are also appropriate for attaching and co‐localizing multiple enzymes. However, the involvement of multiple components in co‐localization brings many challenges. The properties of different enzymes makes co‐localization complicated when selecting attachment techniques and platforms to preserve enzymatic activity, because the structure and function of each component enzyme needs to be taken into consideration to preserve the overall enzyme activity. In addition, the relative position of the multiple enzymes in a confined space plays a significant role in the interactions between different enzymes, which makes spatial control important for co‐localization. This review focuses on the potential of materials‐based approaches for multiple enzyme co‐localization for the design of sustainable multi‐enzyme biocatalysts. A critical analysis of the attachment techniques and carriers platforms that have been used in enzyme immobilization and multi‐enzyme co‐localization in vitro is provided. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 209–222. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reappraisal of field dynamics of motor cortex during self‐paced finger movements
Authors: Suzuki Masataka , Wasaka Toshiaki , Inui Koji , Kakigi Ryusuke
Published: October 2013

Background

The exact origin of neuronal responses in the human sensorimotor cortex subserving the generation of voluntary movements remains unclear, despite the presence of characteristic but robust waveforms in the records of electroencephalography or magnetoencephalography (MEG).

Aims

To clarify this fundamental and important problem, we analyzed MEG in more detail using a multidipole model during pulsatile extension of the index finger, and made some important new findings.

Results

Movement‐related cerebral fields (MRCFs) were confirmed over the sensorimotor region contralateral to the movement, consisting of a temporal succession of the first premovement component termed motor field, followed by two or three postmovement components termed movement evoked fields. A source analysis was applied to separately model each of these field components. Equivalent current diploes of all components of MRCFs were estimated to be located in the same precentral motor region, and did not differ with respect to their locations and orientations. The somatosensory evoked fields following median nerve stimulation were used to validate these findings through comparisons of the location and orientation of composite sources with those specified in MRCFs. The sources for the earliest components were evoked in Brodmann's area 3b located lateral to the sources of MRCFs, and those for subsequent components in area 5 and the secondary somatosensory area were located posterior to and inferior to the sources of MRCFs, respectively. Another component peaking at a comparable latency with the area 3b source was identified in the precentral motor region where all sources of MRCFs were located.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the MRCF waveform reflects a series of responses originating in the precentral motor area.
Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation is a frequent event in osteosarcoma detected by a multi‐specific monoclonal antibody MsMab‐1
Authors: Liu Xing , Kato Yukinari , Kaneko Mika Kato , Sugawara Masato , Ogasawara Satoshi , Tsujimoto Yuta , Naganuma Yasushi , Yamakawa Mitsunori , Tsuchiya Takashi , Takagi Michiaki
Published: October 2013

Somatic mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and IDH2 occur in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemia, and cartilaginous tumors. Somatic mosaic IDH1/2 mutations are also reported in Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome, which are characterized by multiple central cartilaginous tumors. Although IDH1/2 mutation analysis against osteosarcoma has been performed in several studies, no IDH1/2 mutation has been reported. Herein, we newly report the IDH2‐R172S mutation in three of 12 (25%) osteosarcoma patients, which was detected by direct DNA sequencing. No monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been reported against IDH2‐R172S mutation. However, we demonstrate that the IDH2‐R172S peptide was recognized by our established multi‐specific anti‐mutated IDH1/2 mAb, MsMab‐1, in enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis revealed that MsMab‐1 reacts with PA tag combined recombinant proteins of IDH2‐R172S. Furthermore, MsMab‐1 stained IDH2‐R172S‐expressing osteosarcoma tissues in immunohistochemistry. The MsMab‐1 stained nine of 32 (28.1%) osteosarcomas in a tissue microarray. This report is the first describing IDH2 mutations in osteosarcoma, which can be detected by MsMab‐1 mAb. Taken together, these results show that MsMab‐1 can be anticipated for use in immunohistochemical determination of IDH1/2 mutation‐bearing osteosarcoma.
EasyHome: an online virtual home decoration system
Authors: Zhang Mingmin , Pan Zhigeng , Huang Xixi , Xiang Nan , Wang Shuwen , Zhu Pengyu
Published: October 2013

This paper provides an online virtual 7home decoration system, which integrates web interaction technique into virtual home decoration. The main functions of this system include house design, house decoration, and data management. For the house design, an automatic joint method of the walls is proposed, in order to design various house. For the house decoration, we introduce the wall decoration principle corresponding to the algorithm of discretization on the walls, which contains doors or windows, and triangularization on the irregular floors. To variety of different textures and collage regulations, we provide a new texture collage mapping method. Technology of rendering to texture is used to generate a small geometry texture, which will be mapped into a large target object on the basis of the texture's structural properties. As a result, the whole texture continuity is also maintained. In data management aspect, we embed a browser into this system so that users can conveniently obtain decoration models on the basis of web interaction. After these models have been downloaded, they can be shown in virtual scene according to guide information. In addition, some quotation lists can be generated automatically. Experimental results show that an authentic house can be easily presented in our system. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiscale Entropy Analysis of Instantaneous Pressure Fluctuation in a Novel Jet Tank
Authors: Meng H. , Wang F. , Yu Y. , Wang Y. , Wu J.
Published: October 2013

Sample entropy (SampEn) and intrinsic mode entropy (IMEn) are used to evaluate the fluctuation characteristics in a novel circulating jet tank (CJT). SampEn analysis indicates that the fluctuation complexity of intrinsic mode functions (IMF) reaches a maximum in the first scale and then decreases with the increase of the decomposed scales. When the frequency bands are less than 36.25 Hz, the fluctuation complexity of the IMF gradually increases with increasing Reynolds numbers. The IMEn of IMF with different cumulative scales decreases and then increases with increasing Re. The IMEn of pressure fluctuations is dominated by the functions IMF1 to IMF4. IMF5 to IMF7 start to play a more important role in the fluctuation characteristics for Re > 29 280.
The Electronic Nature of the 1,4‐β‐Glycosidic Bond and Its Chemical Environment: DFT Insights into Cellulose Chemistry
Authors: Loerbroks Claudia , Rinaldi Roberto , Thiel Walter
Published: October 2013

The molecular understanding of the chemistry of 1,4‐β‐glucans is essential for designing new approaches to the conversion of cellulose into platform chemicals and biofuels. In this endeavor, much attention has been paid to the role of hydrogen bonding occurring in the cellulose structure. So far, however, there has been little discussion about the implications of the electronic nature of the 1,4‐β‐glycosidic bond and its chemical environment for the activation of 1,4‐β‐glucans toward acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis. This report sheds light on these central issues and addresses their influence on the acid hydrolysis of cellobiose and, by analogy, cellulose. The electronic structure of cellobiose was explored by DFT at the BB1 K/6‐31++G(d,p) level. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis was performed to grasp the key bonding concepts. Conformations, protonation sites, and hydrolysis mechanisms were examined. The results for cellobiose indicate that cellulose is protected against hydrolysis not only by its supramolecular structure, as currently accepted, but also by its electronic structure, in which the anomeric effect plays a key role.
Sustainability, Governance and Time: Exploring ‘Critical Junctures’ in the Governance of Genetically Modified Organisms in France
Authors: McCauley Darren
Published: October 2013

The issue of time, most associated with intergenerational justice, is an integral component of the sustainable development agenda. And yet, research in this area from a governance perspective remains strangely cross‐sectional in nature. This paper seeks to contribute to our understanding of time by analysing the impact of transformative events across the development of governance practices. Sustainable development is conceptualized in this paper as a serious challenge for governance structures and processes in nation states over time. Global and European agreements have placed the inclusion of civil society actors in policy‐making at the heart of the sustainability agenda. In contrast, there is a clear mismatch between these principles of civil society inclusion and policy‐making in France. This paper assesses the implementation of sustainable development as civil society inclusion with reference to the French experience in dealing with genetically modified organisms policy. It is argued that ‘sustainable governance’ must embrace a more comprehensive understanding of ‘change over time’. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Amino‐Containing Ultrafine Organosilica‐Nanoparticle‐Modified Au Electrode for the Determination of Cu(II) Ions
Authors: Wu Zhongwei , Liao Jinjin , Xiao Jianlin , Liu Jianyun , Yang Jianmao , Zhou Xin , Xin Meng
Published: October 2013

Using 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES) as a single silica source, an amino‐rich ultrafine organosilica‐nanoparticle‐modified Au electrode was fabricated, following the formation of (3‐mercaptopropyl)‐trimethoxysilane (MPTS) monolayer on Au surface (MPTS/Au). With cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as an additive, APTES‐based gel particles on the electrode have a narrow particle size distribution of 4–7 nm and “crystal‐like” structure. AFM and electrochemical characterization confirmed the successful grafting of APTES nanoparticles on MPTS/Au. The APTES/MPTS/Au electrode is highly sensitive for the detection of copper(II) ions with a detection limit as low as 1.6×10−12 mol L−1 (S/N>3) by square wave voltammetry. The current is linear to copper(II) concentration between 1.6×10−12 and 6.25×10−10 mol L−1.
Inhaled formaldehyde induces DNA–protein crosslinks and oxidative stress in bone marrow and other distant organs of exposed mice
Authors: Ye Xin , Ji Zhiying , Wei Chenxi , McHale Cliona M. , Ding Shumao , Thomas Reuben , Yang Xu , Zhang Luoping
Published: October 2013

Formaldehyde (FA), a major industrial chemical and ubiquitous environmental pollutant, has been classified as a leukemogen. The causal relationship remains unclear, however, due to limited evidence that FA induces toxicity in bone marrow, the site of leukemia induction, and in other distal organs. Although induction of DNA–protein crosslinks (DPC), a hallmark of FA toxicity, was not previously detected in the bone marrow of FA‐exposed rats and monkeys in studies published in the 1980s, our recent studies showed increased DPC in the bone marrow, liver, kidney, and testes of exposed Kunming mice. To confirm these preliminary results, in the current study we exposed BALB/c mice to 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 mg m−3 FA (8 hr per day, for 7 consecutive days) by nose‐only inhalation and measured DPC levels in bone marrow and other organs of exposed mice. As oxidative stress is a potential mechanism of FA toxicity, we also measured glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA), in the bone marrow, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, lung, liver, spleen, and testes of exposed mice. Significant dose‐dependent increases in DPC, decreases in GSH, and increases in ROS and MDA were observed in all organs examined (except for DPC in lung). Bone marrow was among the organs with the strongest effects for DPC, GSH, and ROS. In conclusion, exposure of mice to FA by inhalation induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in bone marrow and other organs. These findings strengthen the biological plausibility of FA‐induced leukemogenesis and systemic toxicity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 54:705–718, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transient sediment supply in a high‐altitude Alpine environment evidenced through a 10Be budget of the Etages catchment (French Western Alps)
Authors: Delunel Romain , van der Beek Peter A. , Bourlès Didier L. , Carcaillet Julien , Schlunegger Fritz
Published: October 2013

Although beryllium‐10 (10Be) concentrations in stream sediments provide useful synoptic views of catchment‐wide erosion rates, little is known on the relative contributions of different sediment supply mechanisms to the acquisition of their initial signature in the headwaters. Here we address this issue by conducting a 10Be‐budget of detrital materials that characterize the morphogenetic domains representative of high‐altitude environments of the European Alps. We focus on the Etages catchment, located in the Ecrins‐Pelvoux massif (southeast France), and illustrate how in situ 10Be concentrations can be used for tracing the origin of the sand fraction from the bedload in the trunk stream. The landscape of the Etages catchment is characterized by a geomorphic transient state, high topographic gradients, and a large variety of modern geomorphic domains ranging from glacial environments to scarcely vegetated alluvial plains. Beryllium‐10 concentrations measured in the Etages catchment vary from ~1 × 104 to 4.5 × 105 atoms per gram quartz, while displaying consistent 10Be signatures within each representative morphogenetic unit. We show that the basic requirements for inferring catchment‐wide denudation from 10Be concentration measurements are not satisfied in this small, dynamic catchment. However, the distinct 10Be signature observed for the geomorphic domains can be used as a tracer. We suggest that a terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) budget approach provides a valuable tool for the tracing of material origin in basins where the ‘let nature do the averaging’ principles may be violated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced rock‐slope failure following ice‐sheet deglaciation: timing and causes
Authors: Ballantyne Colin K. , Wilson Peter , Gheorghiu Delia , Rodés Àngel
Published: October 2013

The temporal pattern of rock‐slope failures (RSFs) following Late Pleistocene deglaciation on tectonically stable terrains is controversial: previous studies variously suggest (1) a rapid response due to removal of supporting ice (‘debuttressing’), (2) a progressive decline in RSF frequency, and (3) a millennial‐scale delay before peak RSF activity. We test these competing models through beryllium‐10 (10Be) exposure dating of five closely‐spaced quartzite RSFs on the Isle of Jura, Scotland, to establish the relationship between timing of failure and those of deglaciation, episodes of rapid warming and periods of rapid glacio‐isostatic uplift. All five dated RSFs occurred at least 720–2240 years after deglaciation, with the probability of failure peaking ~2 ka after deglaciation, consistent with millennial‐scale delay model (3). This excludes debuttressing as an immediate cause of failure, though it is likely that time‐dependent stress release due to deglacial unloading resulted in progressive development of failure planes within the rock. Thaw of permafrost ice in joints is unlikely to have been a prime trigger of failure as some RSFs occurred several centuries after the onset of interstadial warming. Conversely, the timespan of the RSFs coincides with the period of maximum glacio‐isostatic crustal uplift, suggesting that failure was triggered by uplift‐driven seismic events acting on fractured rock masses. Implications of this and related research are: (1) that retreat of the last Pleistocene ice sheets across tectonically‐stable mountainous terrains was succeeded by a period of enhanced rock‐slope failure due to deglacial unloading and probably uplift‐driven seismicity; (2) that the great majority of RSFs in the British Isles outside the limits of Loch Lomond Stadial (= Younger Dryas) glaciation are of Lateglacial (pre‐Holocene) age; and (3) numerous RSFs must also have occurred inside Loch Lomond Stadial (LLS) glacial limits, but that runout debris was removed by LLS glaciers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the use of Attribute‐Based Encryption for multimedia content protection over Information‐Centric Networks
Authors: Papanis John P. , Papapanagiotou Stavros I. , Mousas Aziz S. , Lioudakis Georgios V. , Kaklamani Dimitra I. , Venieris Iakovos S.
Published: October 2013

Video streaming dominates the Internet traffic, a trend that is expected to increase in the next years. End users expect to access video content, regardless of their device, connection type and location. On the other hand, content providers set strict security requirements regarding the protection of their content, making up an overall difficult and challenging context for Over‐the‐Top service providers. A miscellany of proprietary approaches tries to address these issues, providing, however, only partial solutions, and composing a domain, highly fragmented by non‐interoperable products. In this paper, we propose an architecture that utilises Information‐Centric Networking (ICN) in order to provide scalable and efficient video distribution, and Attribute‐Based Encryption (ABE) to securely distribute this content in the ICN environment. ABE is incorporated into Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes. We present the video license acquisition process, with a focus on orchestrating multiple authorities; subsequently, the video distribution over ICN is demonstrated, and finally, we investigate user revocation techniques in the ABE and ICN context and adopt the most appropriate one. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NERC Matters: NERC's Quest for Steady‐State Standards
Authors: Carpentier Deborah A.
Published: October 2013

Since the implementation of mandatory electric reliability standards in 2005, a common and widespread criticism is that the resources of the industry are severely strained in efforts to comply with the reliability standards, many of which do not materially affect the reliability of the bulk power system (BPS).
Plasma‐exchange treatment for severe carbamazepine intoxication: A case study
Authors: Kozanoglu Ilknur , Kahveci Suat , Asma Suheyl , Yeral Mahmut , Noyan Aytul , Boga Can , Ozdogu Hakan
Published: October 2013

Acute poisoning is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during childhood. This manuscript reports the positive outcome of a pediatric case with a history of accidental carbamazepine intake treated using plasma exchange. A 3‐year‐old male presented with severe carbamazepine intoxication. He was comatose and had generalized tonic clonic seizure, ventricular tachycardia, and hypotension. Although he did not respond to classical therapies, we performed two sessions of plasma exchange. The patient recovered rapidly and was discharged from the hospital six days from the time of carbamazepine ingestion with no complication or neurologic impairment. Plasma exchange can be performed safely in very small children, and it might be the first line treatment, particularly for intoxication with drugs that have high plasma‐protein‐binding properties. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:178–180, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.