bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Two‐stage active learning method for learning to rank
Authors: Silva Rodrigo M. , Gonçalves Marcos A. , Veloso Adriano
Published: October 2013

Learning to rank (L2R) algorithms use a labeled training set to generate a ranking model that can later be used to rank new query results. These training sets are costly and laborious to produce, requiring human annotators to assess the relevance or order of the documents in relation to a query. Active learning algorithms are able to reduce the labeling effort by selectively sampling an unlabeled set and choosing data instances that maximize a learning function's effectiveness. In this article, we propose a novel two‐stage active learning method for L2R that combines and exploits interesting properties of its constituent parts, thus being effective and practical. In the first stage, an association rule active sampling algorithm is used to select a very small but effective initial training set. In the second stage, a query‐by‐committee strategy trained with the first‐stage set is used to iteratively select more examples until a preset labeling budget is met or a target effectiveness is achieved. We test our method with various LETOR benchmarking data sets and compare it with several baselines to show that it achieves good results using only a small portion of the original training sets.
No such thing as society? On the individuality of information behavior
Authors: Bawden David , Robinson Lyn
Published: October 2013

This opinion piece considers the relative importance of individual and social factors in determining information behavior. It concludes that individual factors are more central and fundamental, although they may certainly be qualified by social and cultural factors and even though there are good reasons for studying and analyzing information behavior in terms of social groups. More studies of interesting emergent factors and behaviors in social settings would be valuable.
First Isomers of Pristine C104 Fullerene Structurally Confirmed as Chlorides, C104(258)Cl16 and C104(812)Cl24
Authors: Yang Shangfeng , Wei Tao , Kemnitz Erhard , Troyanov Sergey I.
Published: October 2013

Isolation and characterization of very large fullerenes is hampered by a drastic decrease of their content in fullerene soot with increasing fullerene size and a simultaneous increase of the number of possible IPR (Isolated Pentagon Rule) isomers. In the present work, fractions containing mixtures of C102 and C104 were isolated in very small quantities (several dozens of micrograms) by multi‐step recycling HPLC from an arc‐discharge fullerene soot. Two such fractions were used for chlorination with a VCl4/SbCl5 mixture in glass ampoules at 350–360 °C. The resulting chlorides were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. By this means, two IPR isomers of C104, numbers 258 and 812 (of 823 topologically possible isomers), have been confirmed for the first time as chlorides, C1‐C104(258)Cl16 and D2‐C104(812)Cl24, respectively, while an admixture of C2‐C104(811)Cl24 was assumed to be present in the latter chloride. DFT calculations showed that pristine C104(812) belongs to rather stable C104 cages, whereas C104(258) is much less stable.
Adaptive Nonlinear Actuator Fault Diagnosis for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Time‐Varying Delays
Authors: Yao Lina , Wang Hong , Cocquempot Vincent
Published: October 2013

An actuator fault diagnosis method is presented in this paper for a class of time‐delayed nonlinear systems via the use of adaptive updating rules. The considered system is represented by a dynamic state space model where the time delays are embedded into the state vector. Model parameters are not perfectly known, which lead us to consider norm bounded uncertainties. An adaptive fault diagnosis observer is designed where the Lyapunov stability theory is used to obtain the required adaptive tuning rule for estimation of the nonlinear actuator fault. A simulated numerical example is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Robustness of Exact p‐Controllability and Exact p‐Observability to q‐Type of Perturbations of the Generator
Authors: Mei Zhan‐Dong , Peng Ji‐Gen
Published: October 2013

In Mei and Peng, Systems & Control Letters, 59 (2010) 470–475, the authors have proved in general setting that p‐admissibilities of control operators and observation operators are invariant to any q‐type of perturbations of generator of C0‐semigroups on Banach space. In this paper, under the p‐admissibility invariance premise, the robustness of the exact p‐controllability as well as the exact p‐observability to q‐type of perturbations is verified.
Do CMIP5 simulations of Indian summer monsoon rainfall differ from those of CMIP3?
Authors: Shashikanth K. , Salvi Kaustubh , Ghosh Subimal , Rajendran K.
Published: October 2013

To understand the improvements in the simulations of Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) by Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) over CMIP3, a comparative study is performed with the original and statistically downscaled outputs of five General Circulation Models (GCMs). We observe that multi‐model average of original CMIP5 simulations do not show visible improvements in bias, over CMIP3. We also observe that CMIP5 original simulations have more multi‐model uncertainty than those of CMIP3. The statistically downscaled simulations show similar results in terms of bias; however, the uncertainty in CMIP5 downscaled rainfall projections is lower than that of CMIP3.
A Specific Deficit of Imitation in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Stewart Hannah J. , McIntosh Rob D. , Williams Justin H. G.
Published: October 2013

Imitation is a potentially crucial aspect of social cognitive development. Although deficits in imitation ability have been widely demonstrated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the specificity and significance of the findings is unclear, due largely to methodological limitations. We developed a novel assessment of imitation ability, using objective movement parameters (path length and action duration) derived from a touch‐sensitive tablet laptop during drawing actions on an identical tablet. By direct comparison of the kinematics of a model's actions with those of the participant who observed them, measures of imitation accuracy were obtained. By replaying the end‐point of the movement as a spot on the screen, imitation accuracy was compared against a “ghost control” condition, with no human actor but only the end‐point of the movement seen [object movement reenactment (OMR)]. Hence, demands of the control task were closely matched to the experimental task with respect to motor, memory, and attentional abilities. Adolescents with ASD showed poorer accuracy for copying object size and action duration on both the imitation and OMR tasks, but were significantly more impaired for imitation of object size. Our results provide evidence that some of the imitation deficit in ASD is specific to a self‐other mapping problem, and cannot be explained by general factors such as memory, spatial reasoning, motor control, or attention, nor related to the social demands of the testing situation. Autism Res 2013, 6: 522–530. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Minimally Verbal School‐Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Neglected End of the Spectrum
Authors: Tager‐Flusberg Helen , Kasari Connie
Published: October 2013

It is currently estimated that about 30% of children with autism spectrum disorder remain minimally verbal, even after receiving years of interventions and a range of educational opportunities. Very little is known about the individuals at this end of the autism spectrum, in part because this is a highly variable population with no single set of defining characteristics or patterns of skills or deficits, and in part because it is extremely challenging to provide reliable or valid assessments of their developmental functioning. In this paper, we summarize current knowledge based on research including minimally verbal children. We review promising new novel methods for assessing the verbal and nonverbal abilities of minimally verbal school‐aged children, including eye‐tracking and brain‐imaging methods that do not require overt responses. We then review what is known about interventions that may be effective in improving language and communication skills, including discussion of both nonaugmentative and augmentative methods. In the final section of the paper, we discuss the gaps in the literature and needs for future research. Autism Res 2013, 6: 468–478. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increased Prepulse Inhibition and Sensitization of the Startle Reflex in Autistic Children
Authors: Madsen Gitte Falcher , Bilenberg Niels , Cantio Cathriona , Oranje Bob
Published: October 2013

The relation between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia is a subject of intense debate and research due to evidence of common neurobiological pathways in the two disorders. The objective of this study was to explore whether deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex, as usually seen in schizophrenic patients, can be replicated in a group of children with ASD in comparison with a group of matched neuro‐typically developed (NTD) controls. An additional aim was to explore possible psychophysiological subgroups within our ASD sample. In a case‐control design, 35 ASD patients and 40 matched NTD controls were tested in a psychophysiological test battery. The PPI of the acoustic startle reflex was analyzed in 18 ASD subjects and 34 NTD controls. Habituation and sensitization were analyzed in 23 ASD subjects and 39 NTD controls. In trials with less intense prestimuli (76 dB), patients with ASD did not display the drop in percentage PPI normally found in healthy controls. In addition, ASD patients showed significantly increased sensitization compared with NTD controls. Combined, our results may reflect the hypersensitivity to sensory information in children with ASD. The relation to PPI deficits observed in schizophrenia is not apparent. Future research should study the developmental course of PPI deficits in ASD patients in a longitudinal design. Autism Res 2014, 7: 94–103. © 2013 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Autocatalytic growth of biofunctionalized antibacterial silver nanoparticles
Authors: Dhas Sindhu Priya , John Shiny Punalur , Mukherjee Amitava , Chandrasekaran Natarajan
Published: October 2013

Development of eco‐friendly processes for nanosynthesis is gaining importance owing to the widespread application of nanoparticles (NPs). In the present study, we have explained the mechanism and kinetics of bioreduction in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Rhizophora apiculata. Spectrophotometric methods were employed to quantify the bioactive molecules present before and after the reduction process. The results showed that the polyphenols were the main components responsible for the biosynthesis of AgNPs, which was further confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The kinetics of formation of AgNPs were monitored by time‐resolved spectrophotometric and X‐ray diffraction studies, which revealed that the NP formation is an autocatalytic process with a rate constant of 1.9 × 10−2 Min−1. The NPs were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques like ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The biogenic AgNPs showed substantial inhibitory activity to Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 2.5, 12.5, 2.5, and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively. The current research provides an insight into the mechanistic aspects of bioreduction and formation of AgNPs.
Monitoring sustainable biomass flows: General methodology development
Authors: Goh Chun Sheng , Junginger Martin , Faaij André
Published: October 2013

Transition to a bio‐based economy will create new demand for biomass, e.g. the increasing use of bioenergy, but the impacts on existing markets are unclear. Furthermore, there is a growing public concern on the sustainability of biomass. This study proposes a methodological framework for mapping national biomass flows based on domestic production‐consumption and cross‐border trade, and respective share of sustainably‐certified biomass. A case study was performed on the Netherlands for 2010‐2011, focusing on three categories: (i) woody biomass, (ii) oils and fats, and (iii) carbohydrates. Between 2010‐2011 few major shifts were found, besides the increasing biofuel production. The share of sustainably‐certified feedstock is growing in many categories. Woody biomass used for energy amounted to 3.45 MT, including 1.3 MT imported wood pellets ( >85% certified). About 0.6 MT of oils and fats and 1.2 MT (estimation) of carbohydrates were used for biofuel production. It is assumed that only certified materials were used for biofuel production. For non‐energy purpose, more than 50% of woody biomass used was either certified or derived from recycled streams. Certified oils has entered the Dutch food sector since 2011, accounted for 7% of total vegetable oils consumption. It is expected that carbohydrates will also be certified in the near future. Methodological challenges encountered are: inconsistency in data definitions, lack of coherent cross‐sectorial reporting systems, low reliability of bilateral trade statistics, lack of transparency in biomass supply chains, and disparity in sustainability requirements. The methodology may be expanded for future projection in different scenarios. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Effects of co‐produced biochar on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of pyrolysis‐derived renewable fuels
Authors: Wang Zhichao , Dunn Jennifer B. , Han Jeongwoo , Wang Michael Q.
Published: October 2013

Biochar is a co‐product from biomass pyrolysis that can sequester carbon when applied to soils. It may also reduce N2O and CH4 emissions from soils, increase fertilizer efficiency, increase soil organic carbon, and increase crop yields. Treatment of these additional agricultural effects in life cycle analyses (LCAs) of pyrolysis‐based liquid fuels could significantly influence LCA results. In this study, we include these effects in analyses of fast and slow pyrolysis. We also consider scenarios in which biochar is combusted to produce electricity. Probability distribution functions are developed for biochar yield and carbon content whereas average, minimum, and maximum values for biochar's stability factor and agricultural effects are developed from a thorough literature review and used in baseline and sensitivity analyses. Overall, life‐cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for pyrolysis‐based gasoline are lower when biochar is applied to soil than when it is combusted. Carbon abatement (CA) values of fast and slow pyrolysis fuel production systems are comparable. CA is reduced for an alternative fast pyrolysis system in which the pyrolysis oil is combusted for heat and electricity generation rather than upgraded to a hydrocarbon fuel. In the baseline case with biochar soil application, inclusion of agricultural effects reduces GHG emissions by 2.1 g CO2e/MJ from 16 g CO2e/MJ. Biochar carbon content and yield exert the strongest influence on GHG emissions results. Results are also sensitive to biochar's ability to suppress N2O emissions and increase soil organic carbon, which are subject to high uncertainty. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Chimeric mice transplanted with human hepatocytes as a model for prediction of human drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
Authors: Sanoh Seigo , Ohta Shigeru
Published: October 2013

Preclinical studies in animal models are used routinely during drug development, but species differences of pharmacokinetics (PK) between animals and humans have to be taken into account in interpreting the results. Human hepatocytes are also widely used to examine metabolic activities mediated by cytochrome P450 (P450) and other enzymes, but such in vitro metabolic studies also have limitations. Recently, chimeric mice with humanized liver (h‐chimeric mice), generated by transplantation of human donor hepatocytes, have been developed as a model for the prediction of metabolism and PK in humans, using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. The expression of human‐specific metabolic enzymes and metabolic activities was confirmed in humanized liver of h‐chimeric mice with high replacement ratios, and several reports indicate that the profiles of P450 and non‐P450 metabolism in these mice adequately reflect those in humans. Further, the combined use of h‐chimeric mice and r‐chimeric mice, in which endogenous hepatocytes are replaced with rat hepatocytes, is a promising approach for evaluation of species differences in drug metabolism. Recent work has shown that data obtained in h‐chimeric mice enable the semi‐quantitative prediction of not only metabolites, but also PK parameters, such as hepatic clearance, of drug candidates in humans, although some limitations remain because of differences in the metabolic activities, hepatic blood flow and liver structure between humans and mice. In addition, fresh h‐hepatocytes can be isolated reproducibly from h‐chimeric mice for metabolic studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sonodynamic antitumor effect of a novel sonosensitizer on S180 solid tumor
Authors: Li Caifeng , Zhang Kun , Wang Pan , Hu Jianmin , Liu Quanhong , Wang Xiaobing
Published: October 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sonodynamically induced antitumor effect of a novel sonosensitizer (DVDMS) in mice bearing sarcoma 180 solid tumors. Methods: In order to determine the optimum timing of ultrasound exposure after administration of DVDMS, a three‐dimensional optical imaging system (IVIS spectrum) was used to observe the biodistribution of DVDMS in S180 tumor. The antitumor effects were estimated by the tumor inhibition ratio (volume and weight) after sonodynamic therapy. Results: The experiments suggested that DVDMS has a preferential localization in tumors, but a low accumulation in most normal tissues. A significant synergistic effect of ultrasound combined with DVDMS was obtained when the load power indicated 4 W and DVDMS dose was above 2 mg/kg. At day 14 after DVDMS‐SDT, the tumor volume inhibition ratio was 56.27%. In addition, the tumor weight inhibition ratio after the synergistic treatment was 55.37%, which was obviously stronger than ultrasound treatment alone (23.85%) and DVDMS alone (23.15%). Moreover, no metastasis occurred to the tumors in the SDT‐treated mice compared with the control group. Conclusions: DVDMS is a potential sensitizer for sonodynamic cancer therapy. The antitumor effect of ultrasound could be enhanced in the presence of DVDMS, which might be involved in a sonochemical mechanism. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maternal reporting of prenatal ultrasounds among women in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Authors: Weedn Ashley E. , Mosley Bridget S. , Cleves Mario A. , Waller D. Kim , Canfield Mark A. , Correa Adolfo , Hobbs Charlotte A. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: October 2013

Background

Increased availability and usage of ultrasound screening have led to improved identification of fetal structural abnormalities prenatally. Few population‐based studies have been published on prenatal detection for structural birth defects in the United States. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of maternal reporting of abnormal prenatal ultrasounds for selected birth defects and to investigate associated maternal characteristics.

Methods

Participants included 4013 mothers enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study who carried a fetus with at least one of 14 structural birth defects between 1997 and 2004. Frequencies of abnormal prenatal ultrasounds were based on maternal report and computed for isolated and multiple defects. Associations between maternal characteristics and abnormal prenatal ultrasounds were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Overall, 46% of participants reported an abnormal ultrasound. Infants with omphalocele, anencephaly, gastroschisis, and renal agenesis were more likely to have abnormal prenatal ultrasounds than those with cleft and limb abnormalities. Hispanic women were less likely to report abnormal prenatal ultrasounds of birth defects than Caucasians, as were women who had a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2compared with those with a normal body mass index.

CONCLUSION

Of the 14 selected birth defects in this study, less than half were reported by mothers of affected infants to have had an abnormal ultrasound during pregnancy. The frequency of reporting abnormal prenatal ultrasounds varies by type of defect, maternal race/ethnicity, and maternal body mass index status.Birth Defects Research (Part A) 100:4–12, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Establishment and Assessment of a New Human Embryonic Stem Cell‐Based Biomarker Assay for Developmental Toxicity Screening
Authors: Palmer Jessica A. , Smith Alan M. , Egnash Laura A. , Conard Kevin R. , West Paul R. , Burrier Robert E. , Donley Elizabeth L.R. , Kirchner Fred R.
Published: October 2013

A metabolic biomarker‐based in vitro assay utilizing human embryonic stem (hES) cells was developed to identify the concentration of test compounds that perturbs cellular metabolism in a manner indicative of teratogenicity. This assay is designed to aid the early discovery‐phase detection of potential human developmental toxicants. In this study, metabolomic data from hES cell culture media were used to assess potential biomarkers for development of a rapid in vitro teratogenicity assay. hES cells were treated with pharmaceuticals of known human teratogenicity at a concentration equivalent to their published human peak therapeutic plasma concentration. Two metabolite biomarkers (ornithine and cystine) were identified as indicators of developmental toxicity. A targeted exposure‐based biomarker assay using these metabolites, along with a cytotoxicity endpoint, was then developed using a 9‐point dose–response curve. The predictivity of the new assay was evaluated using a separate set of test compounds. To illustrate how the assay could be applied to compounds of unknown potential for developmental toxicity, an additional 10 compounds were evaluated that do not have data on human exposure during pregnancy, but have shown positive results in animal developmental toxicity studies. The new assay identified the potential developmental toxicants in the test set with 77% accuracy (57% sensitivity, 100% specificity). The assay had a high concordance (≥75%) with existing in vivo models, demonstrating that the new assay can predict the developmental toxicity potential of new compounds as part of discovery phase testing and provide a signal as to the likely outcome of required in vivo tests.
Assessment of electric field distribution in anisotropic cortical and subcortical regions under the influence of tDCS
Authors: Shahid Salman , Wen Peng , Ahfock Tony
Published: October 2013

The focus of this study is to estimate the contribution of regional anisotropic conductivity on the spatial distribution of an induced electric field across gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and subcortical regions under transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The assessment was conducted using a passive high‐resolution finite element head model with inhomogeneous and variable anisotropic conductivities derived from the diffusion tensor data. Electric field distribution was evaluated across different cortical as well as subcortical regions under four bicephalic electrode configurations. Results indicate that regional tissue heterogeneity and anisotropy cause the pattern of induced fields to vary in orientation and strength when compared to the isotropic scenario. Different electrode montages resulted in distinct distribution patterns with noticeable variations in field strengths. The effect of anisotropy is highly montage dependent and directional conductivity has a more profound effect in defining the strength of the induced field. The inclusion of anisotropy in the GM and subcortical regions has a significant effect on the strength and spatial distribution of the induced electric field. Under the (C3–Fp2) montage, the inclusion of GM and subcortical anisotropy increased the average percentage difference in the electric field strength of brain from 5% to 34% (WM anisotropy only). In terms of patterns distribution, the topographic errors increased from 9.9% to 40% (WM anisotropy only) across the brain. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:41–57, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Occupational exposure levels of static magnetic field during routine MRI examination in 3 T MR system
Authors: Yamaguchi‐Sekino Sachiko , Nakai Toshiharu , Imai Shinya , Izawa Shuhei , Okuno Tsutomu
Published: October 2013

Occupational exposure to the high static magnetic fields (SMFs) during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations raises concerns of adverse health effects. In this study, personal exposure monitoring of the magnetic fields during routine examinations in two 3 T MRI systems was carried out. A three‐axis Hall magnetometer was attached to a subject's chest during monitoring. Data acquisition started every time the subject entered the scanner room and ended when the subject exited the room. Four radiologic technologists from two different institutes participated in this study. The maximum exposed field ranged from 0 to 1250 mT and the average peak magnetic field (B) was 428 ± 231 mT (mean ± standard deviation (SD): number of samples (N) = 103). Then, the relationship between exposure levels and work duties was analyzed. The MRI examination of the head or neck showed the highest average peak B among four work categories. These results provide information of real exposure levels for 3 T MRI system operators and can also improve the current practical training advice for preventing extra occupational field exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:70–75, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lipid utilization in radish seedlings as affected by weak horizontal extremely low frequency magnetic field
Authors: Novitskii Yurii I. , Novitskaya Galina V. , Serdyukov Yurii A.
Published: October 2013

Composition and content of lipids were studied in 5‐day‐old radish seedlings (Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula DC.) grown in lowlight and darkness in an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field characterized by 50 Hz frequency and ∼500 µT flux density. The control seedlings were grown under the same conditions, but without exposure to the magnetic field. The products of lipid metabolism were compared with lipid composition in seeds. In control seedlings, reserve neutral lipids, mostly triacylglycerides, were utilized for the formation of polar lipids (PL). As a result, the amount of the latter doubled, particularly due to glycolipids (GL) and phospholipids (PhL) compared to their content in seeds. At 20–22 °C in light, magnetic field exposure increased the production of PL by threefold specifically, GL content increased fourfold and PhL content rose 2.5 times, compared to seeds. In darkness, the effect of magnetic field on lipids was weaker. At the lower temperature of 13–16 °C in light, the effect of the magnetic field was weak, but in the darkness, no magnetic field action was recorded. It is concluded that ELF magnetic field stimulated lipid synthesis in chloroplast, mitochondrial, and other cell membranes in radish seedlings grown in light at 20–22 °C and 13–16 °C. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:91–99, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Continuous exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields induces duration‐ and dose‐dependent apoptosis of testicular germ cells
Authors: Kim Hee‐Sung , Park Byung‐Jae , Jang Hye‐Jin , Ipper Nagesh S. , Kim Seung‐Han , Kim Young‐Jin , Jeon Sung‐Ho , Lee Kwang‐Soo , Lee Sang‐Kon , Kim Nam , Ju Young‐Jun , Gimm Yoon‐Myoung , Kim Yoon‐Won
Published: October 2013

To evaluate duration‐ and dose‐dependent effects of continuous exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field (MF) on the testes in mice, BALB/c male mice were exposed to a 60 Hz MF at 100 μT for 24 h a day for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, and at 2, 20, or 200 μT for 24 h a day for 8 weeks. Any exposures to MF did not significantly affect body or testicular masses. However, the apoptotic cells among testicular germ cells were increased duration‐dependent at exposures of 100 μT for 6 and 8 weeks and dose‐dependent at exposures of 20 and 200 μT for 8 weeks. The number of sperm in epididymis and the diameter of seminiferous tubule decreased in mice exposed to 100 and 200 μT for 8 weeks, respectively. To induce the apoptosis of testicular germ cell in mice, the minimum dose is 20 μT at continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF for 8 weeks and the minimum duration is 6 weeks at continuous exposure of 100 μT. Taken together, these results suggest that continuous exposure to a 60 Hz MF might affect, duration‐ and dose‐dependent biological processes including apoptotic cell death and spermatogenesis in the male reproductive system of mice. Bioelectromagnetics. 35:100–107, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multiple actions of Lucilia sericata larvae in hard‐to‐heal wounds
Authors: Cazander Gwendolyn , Pritchard David I. , Nigam Yamni , Jung Willi , Nibbering Peter H.
Published: October 2013

In Europe ≈15,000 patients receive larval therapy for wound treatment annually. Over the past few years, clinical studies have demonstrated the success of larvae of Lucilia sericata as debridement agents. This is based on a combination of physical and biochemical actions. Laboratory investigations have advanced our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of larval secretions, including removal of dead tissue, reduction of the bacterial burden, and promotion of tissue regeneration. The present article summarizes our current understanding of the microbiological, immunological, and wound healing actions of larval therapy, and the molecules involved in these beneficial effects. Future studies will focus on the isolation, identification, and (pre)clinical testing of the effective molecules of L. sericata larvae. These molecules may be candidates for the development of new agents for the treatment of several infectious and inflammatory diseases, including chronic wounds.
Marginal analysis of longitudinal ordinal data with misclassification in both response and covariates
Authors: Chen Zhijian , Yi Grace Y. , Wu Changbao
Published: October 2013

Marginal methods have been widely used for the analysis of longitudinal ordinal and categorical data. These models do not require full parametric assumptions on the joint distribution of repeated response measurements but only specify the marginal or even association structures. However, inference results obtained from these methods often incur serious bias when variables are subject to error. In this paper, we tackle the problem that misclassification exists in both response and categorical covariate variables. We develop a marginal method for misclassification adjustment, which utilizes second‐order estimating functions and a functional modeling approach, and can yield consistent estimates and valid inference for mean and association parameters. We propose a two‐stage estimation approach for cases in which validation data are available. Our simulation studies show good performance of the proposed method under a variety of settings. Although the proposed method is phrased to data with a longitudinal design, it also applies to correlated data arising from clustered and family studies, in which association parameters may be of scientific interest. The proposed method is applied to analyze a dataset from the Framingham Heart Study as an illustration.
LIQUID TO BABY FOOD FADING IN THE TREATMENT OF FOOD REFUSAL
Authors: Bachmeyer Melanie H. , Gulotta Charles S. , Piazza Cathleen C.
Published: October 2013

In the current investigation, we identified two young children who consistently consumed liquids, but not baby food, after treatment with positive reinforcement for mouth clean (an indirect measure of swallowing) and physical guidance with re‐presentation of food. We examined the effects of an 11‐step stimulus fading procedure that involved gradually altering the concentration of liquid by adding baby food to the liquid. High levels of mouth clean were maintained in both children throughout fading, and increased mouth clean during probes of 100% baby food was obtained after conducting all 11 fading steps with one child and 6 of 11 fading steps with the second child. Negative vocalizations decreased during probes of 100% baby food after conducting the remaining fading steps with the second child. Gram intake of 100% baby food increased with both children after we completed all fading steps. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Swift heavy ion induced structural and luminescence characterization of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor: a comparative study
Authors: Som S , Sharma S K , Lochab S P
Published: October 2013

We report a comparative study on structural and thermoluminescence modifications of Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor induced by 150 MeV Ni7+, 120 MeV Ag9+ and 110 MeV Au8+ swift heavy ions (SHI) in the fluence range 1 × 1011 to 1 × 1013 ions/cm2. X‐Ray diffraction and transition electron microscopy studies confirm the loss of crystallinity of the phosphors after ion irradiation, which is greater in the case of Au ion irradiation. Structural refinement using the Rietveld method yields the various structural parameters of ion‐irradiated phosphors. Thermoluminescence glow curves of ion‐irradiated phosphors show a small shift in the position of the peaks, along with an increase in intensity with ion fluence. Stopping range of ions in Matter (SRIM) calculations were performed to correlate the change in thermoluminescence properties of various ion‐irradiated phosphors. It shows that the defects created by 110 MeV Au8+ ions are greater in number. Trapping parameters of ion‐irradiated phosphors were calculated from thermoluminescence data using various glow curve analysis methods. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of intermolecular interaction between cyanidin‐3‐glucoside and bovine serum albumin: Spectroscopic and molecular docking methods
Authors: Shi Jie‐hua , Wang Jing , Zhu Ying‐yao , Chen Jun
Published: October 2013

The intermolecular interaction between cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (Cy‐3‐G) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism and molecular docking methods. The experimental results revealed that the fluorescence quenching of BSA at 338 nm by Cy‐3‐G resulted from the formation of Cy‐3‐G–BSA complex. The number of binding sites (n) for Cy‐3‐G binding on BSA was approximately equal to 1. The experimental and molecular docking results revealed that after binding Cy‐3‐G to BSA, Cy‐3‐G is closer to the Tyr residue than the Trp residue, the secondary structure of BSA almost not change, the binding process of Cy‐3‐G with BSA is spontaneous, and Cy‐3‐G can be inserted into the hydrophobic cavity of BSA (site II′) in the binding process of Cy‐3‐G with BSA. Moreover, based on the sign and magnitude of the enthalpy and entropy changes (ΔH0 = – 29.64 kcal/mol and ΔS0 = – 69.51 cal/mol K) and the molecular docking results, it can be suggested that the main interaction forces of Cy‐3‐G with BSA are Van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of some novel quinone diimine derivatives of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 for application in Hg2+ recognition
Authors: Jagadale S. D. , Sawant A. D. , Patil P. P. , Patil D. R. , Mulik A. G. , Chandam D. R. , Sankpal S. A. , Deshmukh M. B.
Published: October 2013

A series of novel fluoroionophore bearing derivatives of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 were synthesized by the amination of benzo‐15‐crown‐5 followed by condensation with different quinones in the presence of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) and 1,4‐diazabicyclo‐[2.2.2]octane. The compounds were characterized by infrared, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of these compounds were studied. It was observed that the anthraquinone derivative was acting as an Hg2+ ion sensor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Size‐dependent temperature sensitivity of photoluminescence peak position of CdTe quantum dots
Authors: Vyhnan N. , Khalavka Y.
Published: October 2013

The size dependence of the temperature coefficient (sensitivity) of the photoluminescence (PL) peak position of CdTe quantum dots stabilized by thioglycolic acid in aqueous solution has been investigated. Temperature sensitivity increases as the average radius of CdTe quantum dots decraeases. This must be taken into account in the design of solar light concentrators and light‐emmiting diode‐monitors as well as other technologies in which a fine tuning of the light emission is important. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Current developments in high‐throughput analysis for microalgae cellular contents
Authors: Lee Tsung‐Hua , Chang Jo‐Shu , Wang Hsiang‐Yu
Published: October 2013

Microalgae have emerged as one of the most promising feedstocks for biofuels and bio‐based chemical production. However, due to the lack of effective tools enabling rapid and high‐throughput analysis of the content of microalgae biomass, the efficiency of screening and identification of microalgae with desired functional components from the natural environment is usually quite low. Moreover, the real‐time monitoring of the production of target components from microalgae is also difficult. Recently, research efforts focusing on overcoming this limitation have started. In this review, the recent development of high‐throughput methods for analyzing microalgae cellular contents is summarized. The future prospects and impacts of these detection methods in microalgae‐related processing and industries are also addressed.
The centrality of RNA for engineering gene expression
Authors: Chappell James , Takahashi Melissa K. , Meyer Sarai , Loughrey David , Watters Kyle E. , Lucks Julius
Published: October 2013

Synthetic biology holds promise as both a framework for rationally engineering biological systems and a way to revolutionize how we fundamentally understand them. Essential to realizing this promise is the development of strategies and tools to reliably and predictably control and characterize sophisticated patterns of gene expression. Here we review the role that RNA can play towards this goal and make a case for why this versatile, designable, and increasingly characterizable molecule is one of the most powerful substrates for engineering gene expression at our disposal. We discuss current natural and synthetic RNA regulators of gene expression acting at key points of control – transcription, mRNA degradation, and translation. We also consider RNA structural probing and computational RNA structure predication tools as a way to study RNA structure and ultimately function. Finally, we discuss how next‐generation sequencing methods are being applied to the study of RNA and to the characterization of RNA's many properties throughout the cell.
An assay for the bacterial sweet spot
Authors: Tullman‐Ercek Danielle
Published: October 2013

Glycosylation is critical for the proper folding and function of many eukaryotic proteins. A lack of native asparagine‐linked glycosylation machinery has hampered production of eukaryotic proteins in Escherichia coli. This commentary by Danielle Tullman‐Ercek discusses the work of Matt Delisa's group on an assay using beta‐lactamase activity as a reporter for successful glycoprotein folding in the periplasm of E. coli.

See accompanying article by Mansell et al. DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300026
DNA detection and cell adhesion on plasma‐polymerized pyrrole
Authors: Zhang Zhihong , Liu Shunli , Shi Yu , Dou Jun , Fang Shaoming
Published: October 2013

This study investigates the application of Plasma‐polymerized pyrrole (ppPY) as bioactive platform for DNA immobilization and cell adhesion based on the fundamental properties of ppPY, such as chemical structure, electrochemical property, and protein adsorption. Variations in electrochemical properties of the ppPY film deposited under different plasma conditions before and after DNA immobilization were measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The equilibrium concentration of the probe DNA immobilized on the ppPY surface was deduced by detecting the variations in the surface charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the ppPY films after DNA immobilization with different concentrations. In addition, the detection limit of the target DNA hybridization with probe DNA, the association constant, Ka, and the dissociation constant were deduced from Langmuir isotherm equations simulated using the experimental data collected by EIS. Moreover, inverted microscope was used to observe the cell adhesions onto the surface of the ppPY films prepared under different plasma conditions. Different adhesive behaviors of cells were observed, demonstrating that ppPY films could be an alternative biomaterial used as the sensitive layer for DNA sensor or cell adhesion. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 496–503, 2014.
Unmethylated and methylated CpG dinucleotides distinctively regulate the physical properties of DNA
Authors: Jimenez‐Useche Isabel , Shim Daphne , Yu Jianger , Yuan Chongli
Published: October 2013

In eukaryotic cells, DNA has to bend significantly to pack inside the nucleus. Physical properties of DNA such as bending flexibility and curvature are expected to affect DNA packaging and partially determine the nucleosome positioning patterns inside a cell. DNA CpG methylation, the most common epigenetic modification found in DNA, is known to affect the physical properties of DNA. However, its detailed role in nucleosome formation is less well‐established. In this study, we evaluated the effect of defined CpG patterns (unmethylated and methylated) on DNA structure and their respective nucleosome‐forming ability. Our results suggest that the addition of CpG dinucleotides, either as a (CG)n stretch or (CGX8)n repeats at 10 bp intervals, lead to reduced hydrodynamic radius and decreased nucleosome‐forming ability of DNA. This effect is more predominant for a DNA stretch ((CG)5) located in the middle of a DNA fragment. Methylation of CpG sites, surprisingly, seems to reduce the difference in DNA structure and nucleosome‐forming ability among DNA constructs with different CpG patterns. Our results suggest that unmethylated and methylated CpG patterns can play very different roles in regulating the physical properties of DNA. CpG methylation seems to reduce the DNA conformational variations affiliated with defined CpG patterns. Our results can have significant bearings in understanding the nucleosome positioning pattern in living organisms modulated by DNA sequences and epigenetic features. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 517–524, 2014.
Antimicrobial hydrogels for the treatment of infection
Authors: Salomé Veiga Ana , Schneider Joel P.
Published: October 2013

The increasing prevalence of microbial infections, especially those associated with impaired wound healing and biomedical implant failure has spurred the development of new materials having antimicrobial activity. Hydrogels are a class of highly hydrated material finding use in diverse medical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, as wound fillers, and as implant coatings, to name a few. The biocompatible nature of many gels make them a convenient starting platform to develop selectively active antimicrobial materials. Hydrogels with antimicrobial properties can be obtained through the encapsulation or covalent immobilization of known antimicrobial agents, or the material itself can be designed to possess inherent antimicrobial activity. In this review we present an overview of antimicrobial hydrogels that have recently been developed and when possible provide a discussion relevant to their mechanism of action. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 100: 637–644, 2013.
Design and synthesis of α‐conotoxin GID analogues as selective α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists
Authors: Banerjee Jayati , Yongye Austin B. , Chang Yi‐Pin , Gyanda Reena , Medina‐Franco José L. , Armishaw Christopher J.
Published: October 2013

The α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is an important target for currently approved smoking cessation therapeutics. However, the development of highly selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists remains a significant challenge. α‐Conotoxin GID is an antagonist of α4β2 nAChRs, though it is significantly more potent toward the α3β2 and α7 subtypes. With the goal of obtaining further insights into α‐conotoxin GID/nAChR interactions that could lead to the design of GID analogues with improved affinity for α4β2 nAChRs, we built a homology model of the GID/α4β2 complex using an X‐ray co‐crystal structure of an α‐conotoxin/acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) complex. Several additional interactions that could potentially enhance the affinity of GID for α4β2 nAChRs were observed in our model, which led to the design and synthesis of 22 GID analogues. Seven analogues displayed inhibitory activity toward α4β2 nAChRs that was comparable to GID. Significantly, both GID[A10S] and GID[V13I] demonstrated moderately improved selectivity toward α4β2 over α3β2 when compared with GID, while GID[V18N] exhibited no measurable inhibitory activity for the α3β2 subtype, yet retained inhibitory activity for α4β2. In this regard, GID[V18N] is the most α4β2 nAChR selective α‐conotoxin analogue identified to date. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 78–87, 2014.
Structural adaptation of tooth enamel protein amelogenin in the presence of SDS micelles
Authors: Chandrababu Karthik Balakrishna , Dutta Kaushik , Lokappa Sowmya Bekshe , Ndao Moise , Evans John Spencer , Moradian‐Oldak Janet
Published: October 2013

Amelogenin, the major extracellular matrix protein of developing tooth enamel is intrinsically disordered. Through its interaction with other proteins and mineral, amelogenin assists enamel biomineralization by controlling the formation of highly organized enamel crystal arrays. We used circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy to investigate the folding propensity of recombinant porcine amelogenin rP172 following its interaction with SDS, at levels above critical micelle concentration. The rP172‐SDS complex formation was confirmed by DLS, while an increase in the structure moiety of rP172 was noted through CD and fluorescence experiments. Fluorescence quenching analyses performed on several rP172 mutants where all but one Trp was replaced by Tyr at different sequence regions confirmed that the interaction of amelogenin with SDS micelles occurs via the N‐terminal region close to Trp25 where helical segments can be detected by NMR. NMR spectroscopy and structural refinement calculations using CS‐Rosetta modeling confirm that the highly conserved N‐terminal domain is prone to form helical structure when bound to SDS micelles. Our findings reported here reveal interactions leading to significant changes in the secondary structure of rP172 upon treatment with SDS. These interactions may reflect the physiological relevance of the flexible nature of amelogenin and its sequence specific helical propensity that might enable it to structurally adapt with charged and potential targets such as cell surface, mineral, and other proteins during enamel biomineralization. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 101: 525–535, 2014.