bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Antennae for Luminescent Lanthanide Cations Emitting in the Visible and in the Near-Infrared: From Small Molecules to Polymetallic Lanthanide Containing Nanocrystals
Authors: Petoud Stéphane
Published: December 2009

Lanthanide cations have advantageous luminescence properties in the visible and in the near-infrared, such as high resistance to photobleaching which is a desirable property allowing long exposure of lanthanide compounds to excitation light without loss of luminescence intensity, and
sharp emission bands whose wavelengths are not affected by experimental conditions, enabling efficient spectral discrimination from background fluorescence. Lanthanide cations also have long luminescence lifetimes that allow for temporal discrimination between sample and background. Due to
these unique properties, lanthanide compounds could fulfill the requirements of luminescent reporters and sensors to be used in a broad range of applications, including biological analysis and biologic imaging. Free luminescent lanthanide cations have very limited absorption since f–f
transitions are forbidden. To overcome this limitation and to take advantage of their luminescence properties, lanthanide cations need to be located at close proximity to a sensitizer in order to generate an 'antenna' effect. In this review, we present and discuss different strategies and
chemical systems that have been created and studied in the Petoud group in the Department of Chemistry of the University of Pittsburgh in order to develop novel antennae for lanthanide cations emitting in the visible and in the near-infrared. Two main avenues have been tested: a) The formation
of luminescent monometallic lanthanide complexes using sensitizers based on derivatives of i) tropolonate, ii) azulene, iii) pyridine and iv) fluorene oligomers. b) The synthesis of systems where the number of lanthanide cations and the absorbance are maximized in order to enhance the number
of photons per unit of volume in order to promote detection sensitivity. Different chemical approaches have been used to explore this strategy: i) polymetallic dendrimer complexes, ii) lanthanide containing semi-conductor CdSe nanocrystals, iii) tropolonate coated Ln3+-Doped NaYF4
nanocrystals and iv) metal-organic frameworks for polymetallic lanthanide complexes.
Structure-Specific Endonucleases in DNA Repair
Authors: Schärer Orlando D.
Published: December 2009

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is an essential DNA repair pathway that addresses a variety of DNA lesions formed by UV light, environmental mutagens and agents used in cancer chemotherapy. NER involves the concerted action of over 30 proteins and operates by the sequential assembly
of the involved factors at sites of damage. NER culminates in the removal of an oligonucleotide containing the damage by two incision reactions 5' to the lesion by ERCC1-XPF and 3' to the lesion by XPG. ERCC1-XPF and XPG are structure-specific endonucleases, a large class of enzymes involved
in a variety of DNA repair, recombination and replication pathways. This review focuses on some of our recent work on how the activities of the ERCC1-XPF and XPG proteins are regulated to incise DNA only at defined times during the NER pathway, thereby preventing the formation of unwanted
and cytotoxic DNA breaks by random incision of DNA. The implications of this work for our understanding of endonuclease enzymology, carcinogenesis and anti-tumor therapy are discussed.
Functional Polymer Blends and Nanocomposites
Authors: Weder Christoph
Published: December 2009

The broad class of (multi)functional polymers with unusual combinations of optical, electronic, mechanical and other properties is attracting significant interest, because it conceptually combines the advantages of polymers – low cost, ease of processing and a range of attractive
mechanical characteristics – with the specific, tailorable properties of functional organic molecules. The caveat is that the synthesis of functional polymers is frequently complex and involves many steps, which makes the technological exploitation of new materials difficult. One alternative
strategy is the fabrication of functional polymer blends and nanocomposites. Rather than synthesizing new, complex functional macromolecules, minor fractions of a 'functional additive' are mixed with a matrix polymer in order to create, often after using rather specific processing protocols,
new materials with unique or unusual property matrices. This review discusses three specific examples – chameleon polymers with integrated sensing capabilities, optically upconverting polymers, and mechanically adaptive nanocomposites – to showcase the conceptual simplicity, elegance,
and broad applicability of this general design approach.
Peptide-Like Molecules (PLMs): A Journey from Peptide Bond Isosteres to Gramicidin S Mimetics and Mitochondrial Targeting Agents
Authors: Wipf Peter , Xiao Jingbo , Stephenson Corey R. J.
Published: December 2009

Peptides are natural ligands and substrates for receptors and enzymes and exhibit broad physiological effects. However, their use as therapeutic agents often suffers from poor bioavailability and insufficient membrane permeability. The success of peptide mimicry hinges on the ability
of bioisosteres, in particular peptide bond replacements, to adopt suitable secondary structures relevant to peptide strands and position functional groups in equivalent space. This perspective highlights past and ongoing studies in our group that involve new methods development as well as
specific synthetic library preparations and applications in chemical biology, with the goal to enhance the use of alkene and cyclopropane peptide bond isosteres.
Lord Dacre and the Politics of the Scottish Enlightenment
Authors: Kidd Colin
Published: December 2009

Hugh Trevor-Roper (Lord Dacre) made several iconoclastic interventions in the field of Scottish history. These earned him a notoriety in Scottish circles which, while not undeserved, has led to the reductive dismissal of Trevor-Roper's ideas, particularly his controversial interpretation of the Scottish Enlightenment, as the product of Scotophobia. In their indignation Scottish historians have missed the wider issues which prompted Trevor-Roper's investigation of the Scottish Enlightenment as a fascinating case study in European cultural history. Notably, Trevor-Roper used the example of Scotland to challenge Weberian-inspired notions of Puritan progressivism, arguing instead that the Arminian culture of north-east Scotland had played a disproportionate role in the rise of the Scottish Enlightenment. Indeed, working on the assumption that the essence of Enlightenment was its assault on clerical bigotry, Trevor-Roper sought the roots of the Scottish Enlightenment in Jacobitism, the counter-cultural alternative to post-1690 Scotland's Calvinist Kirk establishment. Though easily misconstrued as a dogmatic conservative, Trevor-Roper flirted with Marxisant sociology, not least in his account of the social underpinnings of the Scottish Enlightenment. Trevor-Roper argued that it was the rapidity of eighteenth-century Scotland's social and economic transformation which had produced in one generation a remarkable body of political economy conceptualising social change, and in the next a romantic movement whose powers of nostalgic enchantment were felt across the breadth of Europe.
Reconsidering the Roots of Event Management: Leisure in Ancient Rome
Authors: Korstanje Maximilliano E.
Published: December 2009

The present research note is aimed at describing scientifically how citizens practiced leisure in Ancient Rome ranging from 100 BC to 100 AD, almost 123 years of history that merit being uncovered. Readers who wish a clear description of how leisure conformed in the High Empire should
refer to classical biographers such as Cornelius Tacitus and Caius Suetonius. In different manners, both have contributed to understand further regarding how Romans lived. Like in Greece, Rome mythology encouraged conflicts, confronting sons against their fathers due to the glory, fame, and
power, which were values a child learned from the cradle. As a result, in the space of a few decades, Rome transformed into a military and economic Empire that subdued and indexed to known world for more than four centuries. Under such a circumstance, leisure worked as a vehicle towards hegemony
and ideology, preventing social fragmentation as well as encouraging a rural migration to urban cities.
A Critical Comparative Study of Visitor Motivations for Attending Music Festivals: A Case Study of Glastonbury and V Festival
Authors: Gelder Gemma , Robinson Peter
Published: December 2009

A global industry of festivals and events has evolved and developed rapidly since the early 1900s. This phenomenal growth, coupled with increased consumer awareness and choice, requires sustained development and growth in the future. Music festivals are unique events that attract audiences
for a variety of reasons; however, while music-based events are an extremely popular form of entertainment, research exploring the motivations of music festival audiences is sparse, especially from a UK perspective. Crompton and McKay contend that event managers should strive to better understand
the motives of festival attendance in order to design better products and services for them and because motives are a precursor of satisfaction and a factor in decision making, this in turn can lead to greater attendance. This study critically compares the visitor motivations for attending
two UK-based music festivals to challenge and ultimately support existing ideas developed from similar research overseas. The article establishes some of the first research into this area within the UK and challenges common assumptions from those in industry. A range of secondary research
was considered and a review of existing literature on the subject was undertaken. Although the sample size was relatively small, the results showed that socializing with friends and family was a primary motive. Most importantly, the article supported the notion that multiple motivations come
into play and it suggests that it is risky for festival managers to rely solely on the theme of the event itself. It is equally important to create a fun and festive atmosphere that offers ample opportunity to socialize and have new and nonmusical experiences. Several recommendations were
made for existing and future managers including focusing on realigning marketing and service strategies. Recommendations were also made for future research in terms of adopting new methodological approaches including the use of multiple means of analysis. The article finally challenges the
nature of the underpinning theory and questions the reason that so much of what is understood is still based in the field of sociology in tourism, with very little underpinning theory dedicated to the events industry, despite its emergence as an academic field over a decade ago.
The Direct and Indirect Influences of Sporting Event Organization's Reputation on Volunteer Commitment
Authors: Bang Hyejin
Published: December 2009

Volunteers have been recognized as one of the most crucial stakeholders in producing successful sporting events. Brand management research provides implications for a potential relationship between reputation of a sporting event organization and volunteer commitment to the event. The purpose of the study was to examine a proposed model integrating both the direct and indirect effects of a sporting event organization's reputation on the volunteer commitment in a sporting event. The data came from 205 individuals who volunteered at an annual sporting event held in a Midwestern state in north central US. The findings indicate that an organization's reputation has a direct effect on the level of volunteer commitment, as well as an indirect effect through volunteer satisfaction. The study illustrates the importance of sporting event organization's reputation in volunteer commitment and helps sporting event organizations or volunteer managers develop effective volunteer management strategies.
The Successful Conference Venue: Perceptions of Conference Organizers and Hotel Managers
Authors: Lee Timothy Jeonglyeol
Published: December 2009

Withinthe conference industry there are differences in the needs and requirements of those who organize conferences and those who provide venues for them. Focusing on the situation in Korea, this article investigates the prior attributes required of a venue by Conference Organizers,
the demand side of the industry, and by Hotel Managers, the supply side. This research is also aimed at identifying the common operational problems in hotels used as conference venues, and investigating if there is any correlation between these problems and the hotel attributes highly valued
by the buyers in the conference industry. According to the results of this study, there are significant disparities between the attributes and common problems in the hotel conference industry from the perspectives of Conference Organizers and Hotel Managers.
Risk Management Strategies by Stakeholders in Canadian Major Sporting Events
Authors: Leopkey Becca , Parent Milena M.
Published: December 2009

The purpose of this article is to identify and characterize the use of risk management strategies in major sporting events from the perspective of the organizing committee members and other stakeholders. Two Canadian sporting events—the ISU (International Skating Union) 2006 World
Figure Skating Championships and the U-20 FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup Canada 2007—provided the platform for a comparative case study that was built using archival material and interviews. Key findings included a breakdown of
risk management strategy types and an analysis of common strategies used across the various stakeholder groups. Seven risk strategy categories were identified by the various stakeholder groups: reduction, avoidance, reallocation, diffusion, prevention, legal, and relationship management. As
a result, a strategic framework for dealing with risk management issues experienced at sporting events is provided.
Determining the Psychological Involvement in Multimedia Interactions
Authors: Ekanayake Hiran B , Karunarathna Damitha D , Hewagamage Kamalanth P
Published: December 2009

Human computer interaction (HCI) is currently aimed at the design of interactive computer applications for human use while preventing user frustration. When considering the nature of modern computer applications, such as e-learning systems and computer games, it appears that human involvement cannot be improved only by using traditional approaches, such as nice user interfaces. For a pleasant human involvement, these computer applications require that the computers should have the ability to naturally adapt to their users and this requires the computers to have the ability to recognize user emotions. For recognizing emotions currently most preferred research approach is aimed at facial expression based emotion recognition, which seems to have many limitations. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a method to determine the psychological involvement of a human during a multimedia interaction session using the eye movement activity and arousal evaluation. In our approach we use a low cost hardware/software combination, which determines eye movement activity based on electrooculogram (EOG) signals and the level of arousal using galvanic skin response (GSR) signals. The results obtained using six individuals show that the nature of involvement can be recognized using these affect signals as optimal levels and distracted conditions. Index Terms: Arousal, Attention, Cognition, Emotion, EOG, Eye Movement Activity, GSR, HCI, Human Involvement, Multimedia Interactions. DOI: 10.4038/icter.v2i1.1400 The International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2009 02 (01): 11-20
Inhibition of Th2 Adaptive Immune Responses and Pulmonary Inflammation by Leukocyte Ig-Like Receptor B4 on Dendritic Cells
Authors: Breslow Rebecca G. , Rao Jayanti J. , Xing Wei , Hong David I. , Barrett Nora A. , Katz Howard R.
Published: December 2009

We previously established that the inhibitory receptor LILRB4 mitigates LPS-induced, neutrophil-dependent pathologic effector mechanisms in inflammation. We now report that LILRB4 on dendritic cells (DCs) counterregulates development of an adaptive Th2 immune response and ensuing inflammation in a model of allergic pulmonary inflammation, initiated by inhalation sensitization with OVA and LPS followed by airway challenge with OVA. We found that Lilrb4−/− mice had significantly exacerbated eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation, as assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue, as well as elevated levels of OVA-specific IgE and Th2 cytokines produced by OVA-restimulated lymph node cells. LILRB4 was preferentially expressed on MHC class IIhighCD86high OVA-bearing DCs in lung-draining lymph nodes after sensitization or challenge. Moreover, the lymph nodes of Lilrb4−/− mice had significantly more of these mature DCs after challenge with OVA, which was accompanied by significantly more IL-4–producing lymphocytes, compared with Lilrb4+/+ mice. Sensitization of naive Lilrb4+/+ mice by transfer of OVA-LPS-pulsed Lilrb4−/− bone marrow-derived DCs was sufficient to confer exacerbated allergic lung pathology upon challenge with OVA, compared with mice that received Lilrb4+/+ bone marrow-derived DCs. Our findings establish that maturation and migration of pulmonary DCs to lymph nodes in response to Ag and an innate immune stimulus is associated with upregulated expression of LILRB4. In addition, this receptor attenuates the number of these mature DCs and attendant IL-4–producing lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, and accordingly, the ability of DCs to elicit pathologic Th2 pulmonary inflammation.
Regulatory B Cells Shape the Development of Th2 Immune Responses in BALB/c Mice Infected with Leishmania major Through IL-10 Production
Authors: Ronet Catherine , Torre Yazmin Hauyon-La , Revaz-Breton Mélanie , Mastelic Béatris , Tacchini-Cottier Fabienne , Louis Jacques , Launois Pascal
Published: December 2009

Recent evidence indicates that B cells are required for susceptibility to infection with Leishmania major in BALB/c mice. In this study, we analyzed the role of the IL-10 produced by B cells in this process. We showed that B cells purified from the spleen of BALB/c mice produced IL-10 in response to stimulation with L. major in vitro. In vivo, early IL-10 mRNA expression is detected after L. major infection in B cells from draining lymph nodes of susceptible BALB/c, but not of resistant C57BL/6 mice. Although adoptive transfer of naive wild-type B cells prior to infection in B cell-deficient BALB/c mice restored Th2 cell development and susceptibility to infection with L. major of these otherwise resistant mice, adoptive transfer of IL-10−/− B cells mice did not. B cells stimulated by L. major, following in vitro or in vivo encounter, express the CD1d and CD5 molecules and the IL-10 produced by these cells downregulate IL-12 production by L. major-stimulated dendritic cells. These observations indicate that IL-10 secreting B cells are phenotypically and functionally regulatory B cells. Altogether these results demonstrate that the IL-10 produced by regulatory CD1d+ CD5+ B cells in response to L. major is critical for Th2 cell development in BALB/c mice.
Immunostimulatory RNA Blocks Suppression by Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Anz David , Koelzer Viktor H. , Moder Stefan , Thaler Raffael , Schwerd Tobias , Lahl Katharina , Sparwasser Tim , Besch Robert , Poeck Hendrik , Hornung Veit , Hartmann Gunther , Rothenfusser Simon , Bourquin Carole , Endres Stefan
Published: December 2009

The role of immune suppression by regulatory T (Treg) cells in the maintenance of immune homeostasis is well established. However, little is known about how Treg cell function is inhibited on viral infection to allow the development of a protective immune response. As viral RNA is a crucial mediator for activation of antiviral immunity, we examined the effects of immunostimulatory RNA and infection with RNA viruses on Treg cell function. We show that synthetic RNA oligonucleotides potently inhibit Treg cell-induced suppression in a sequence-dependent manner. This effect is entirely dependent on TLR7 activation of APCs and subsequent IL-6 production. In addition, stimulation with the RNA viruses encephalomyocarditis virus and Sendai virus that specifically activate the RNA-sensing helicases melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA-5) and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) also blocks Treg cell function. Interestingly, this effect is seen even in the absence of APCs. Consistent with this, both Treg and T effector cells express RIG-I and MDA-5. Using MDA-5–deficient mice, we demonstrate that the loss of Treg cell function on infection with encephalomyocarditis virus is strictly dependent on MDA-5 expression by Treg cells. Thus, we show in this study for the first time that activation of a RIG-I–like helicase on Treg cells blocks their suppressive function.
Neuroprotective Activities of CEP-1347 in Models of NeuroAIDS
Authors: Eggert Dawn , Dash Prasanta K. , Gorantla Santhi , Dou Huanyu , Schifitto Giovanni , Maggirwar Sanjay B. , Dewhurst Stephen , Poluektova Larisa , Gelbard Harris A. , Gendelman Howard E.
Published: December 2009

When the nervous system is infected with HIV-1, it commonly results in neuroinflammation leading to overt neuronal dysfunction and subsequent cognitive and behavioral impairments. The multifaceted disease process, now referred to as HIV-1–associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), provides a range of molecular targets for adjunctive therapies. One is CEP-1347, an inhibitor of mixed lineage kinases that elicits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory responses in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Since HAND is associated with inflammatory encephalopathy induced by virus infection and mononuclear phagocytes (perivascular macrophages and microglia) immune activation, we investigated whether CEP-1347 could ameliorate disease in laboratory models of HAND. We now demonstrate that CEP-1347 reduces the levels of secreted proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in HIV-1–infected human macrophages and attenuates dose-dependent neurotoxicity in rodent cortical neurons. CEP-1347–treated mice readily achieve therapeutic drug levels in peripheral blood. HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) mice, where human virus-infected monocyte-derived macrophages are stereotactically injected into the basal ganglia of CB17 severe combined immunodeficient mice, received daily intraperitoneal injections of CEP-1347. Here, CEP-1347 treatment of HIVE mice showed a dose-dependent reduction in microgliosis. Dendritic integrity and neuronal loss were sustained and prevented, respectively. These results demonstrate that CEP-1347 elicits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective responses in an HIVE model of human disease and as such warrants further study as an adjunctive therapy for human disease.
Ins2 Deficiency Augments Spontaneous HLA-A*0201–Restricted T Cell Responses to Insulin
Authors: Jarchum Irene , DiLorenzo Teresa P.
Published: December 2009

Type 1 diabetes results from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β cells by T cells specific for β cell Ags, including insulin. In humans, the non-MHC locus conferring the strongest disease susceptibility is the insulin gene, and alleles yielding lower thymic insulin expression are predisposing. We sought to incorporate this characteristic into an HLA-transgenic model of the disease and to determine the influence of reduced thymic insulin expression on CD8+ T cell responses to preproinsulin. We examined NOD.Ins2−/− mice, which do not express insulin in the thymus and show accelerated disease, to determine whether they exhibit quantitative or qualitative differences in CD8+ T cell responses to preproinsulin. We also generated NOD.Ins2−/− mice expressing type 1 diabetes-associated HLA-A*0201 (designated NOD.β2m−/−.HHD.Ins2−/−) in an effort to obtain an improved humanized disease model. We found that CD8+ T cell reactivity to certain insulin peptides was more readily detected in NOD.Ins2−/− mice than in NOD mice. Furthermore, the proportion of insulin-reactive CD8+ T cells infiltrating the islets of NOD.Ins2−/− mice was increased. NOD.β2m−/−.HHD.Ins2−/− mice exhibited rapid onset of disease and had an increased proportion of HLA-A*0201–restricted insulin-reactive T cells, including those targeting the clinically relevant epitope Ins B10-18. Our results suggest that insulin alleles that predispose to type 1 diabetes in humans do so, at least in part, by facilitating CD8+ T cell responses to the protein. We propose the NOD.β2m−/−.HHD.Ins2−/− strain as an improved humanized disease model, in particular for studies seeking to develop therapeutic strategies targeting insulin-specific T cells.
Effects of Melatonin on Adrenal Cortical Functions of Indian Goats under Thermal Stress
Authors: Sejian Veerasamy , Srivastava Rajendra Swaroop
Published: December 2009

The study was conducted with the primary objective to establish the influence of melatonin on adrenocortical functions to ameliorate thermal stress in goats. Endocrine secretions and several other blood biochemical parameters reflecting the animals adrenocortical stress response were determined over a one-week period after goats had been exposed to40C∘and 60%RH for 10 days. The study was conducted for a period of 17 days in psychrometric chamber. The animals served as self-controls prior to start of the experiment. Blood samples were drawn on day 10 to establish effect of thermal stress. Chemical adrenalectomy was achieved using metyrapone followed by exogenous melatonin treatment.40C∘of thermal stress which is quite normal in tropical zone significantly(P≤.05)influenced all parameters except plasma insulin. Metyrapone treatment significantly(P≤.05)affected plasma levels of glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, cortisol, and aldosterone. Metyrapone aggravated thermal stress by decreasing cortisol level in goats. Melatonin treatment at 11:00 AM significantly(P≤.05)influenced plasma levels of glucose, total protein, total cholesterol, cortisol, aldosterone and insulin. Metyrapone treatment aggravated thermal stress although administration of melatonin could ameliorate the condition. This establishes the role of melatonin in relieving thermal stress in goats.
Enzyme Inhibition by Molluscicidal Components ofMyristica fragransHoutt. in the Nervous Tissue of SnailLymnaea acuminata
Authors: Jaiswal Preetee , Kumar Pradeep , Singh V. K. , Singh D. K.
Published: December 2009

This study was designed to investigate the effects of molluscicidal components ofMyristica fragransHoutt. (Myristicaceae) on certain enzymes in the nervous tissue of freshwater snailLymnaea acuminataLamarck (Lymnaeidae).In vivoandin vitrotreatments of trimyristin and myristicin (active molluscicidal components ofMyristica fragransHoutt.) significantly inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acid and alkaline phosphatase (ACP/ALP) activities in the nervous tissue ofLymnaea acuminata. The inhibition kinetics of these enzymes indicates that both the trimyristin and myristicin caused competitive noncompetitive inhibition of AChE. Trimyristin caused uncompetitive and competitive/noncompetitive inhibitions of ACP and ALP, respectively whereas the myristicin caused competitive and uncompetitive inhibition of ACP and ALP, respectively. Thus results from the present study suggest that inhibition of AChE, ACP, and ALP by trimyristin and myristicin in the snailLymnaea acuminatamay be the cause of the molluscicidal activity ofMyristica fragrans.
Nanotube Surfactant Design: The Versatility of Water‐Soluble Perylene Bisimides
Authors: Backes Claudia , Schmidt Cordula D. , Rosenlehner Karin , Hauke Frank , Coleman Jonathan N. , Hirsch Andreas
Published: December 2009

The synthesis of perylene‐based single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) surfactants and the dispersion and exfoliation of SWCNTs in water by a variety of designed surfactants is investigated. The quality of the nanotube dispersions is evaluated by optical absorption and emission spectroscopy, zeta‐potential measurements and statistical atomic force microscopy (AFM). Significantly the dispersion efficiency can be increased at higher pH, as water solubility of the surfactants is ensured by peripheral derivatization with carboxyl‐functionalized first‐ and second‐order Newkome dendrimers. Even at very low perylene concentrations of 0.1 g L−1 and a nanotube‐to‐surfactant ratio of 1:1, the nanotube supernatant after centrifugation contains up to 73% of the pristine material with exfoliation degrees (the number of fractions of individualized nanotubes NI/NT) of up to 76%. The adsorption of the perylene core to the nanotube scaffold is indicated by red‐shifted perylene‐absorption and SWCNT‐emission features except for the smallest perylene amphiphile, where solubilization is presumably based on a micellar arrangement. The nanotube fluorescence is significantly altered and reduced in intensity compared to nanotubes dispersed in sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) being strongly dependent on the structure of the perylene surfactant. We attribute this observation to the homogeneity of the surfactant coverage, e.g., the supramolecular arrangement onto the nanotube backbone. This study represents a step forward in understanding the structure–property relationship of nanotube surfactants. Furthermore high‐quality nanotube dispersions with increased degrees of exfoliation are highly desirable, as the efficiency of nanotube separation techniques relies on highly individualized samples.
Suggestive synergy between genetic variants in TF and HFE as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Kauwe J.S.K. , Bertelsen S. , Mayo K. , Cruchaga C. , Abraham R. , Hollingworth P. , Harold D. , Owen M.J. , Williams J. , Lovestone S. , Morris J.C. , Goate A.M. ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: December 2009

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex disease that is likely influenced by many genetic and environmental factors. Citing evidence that iron may play a role in AD pathology, Robson et al. [Robson et al. (2004); J Med Genet 41:261–265] reported that epistatic interaction between rs1049296 (P589S) in the transferrin gene (TF) and rs1800562 (C282Y) in the hemochromatosis gene (HFE) results in significant association with risk for AD. In this study we attempted to replicate their findings in a total of 1,166 cases and 1,404 controls from three European and European American populations. Allele and genotype frequencies were consistent across the three populations. Using synergy factor analysis (SFA) and Logistic Regression analysis we tested each population and the combined sample for interactions between these two SNPs and risk for AD. We observed significant association between bi‐carriers of the minor alleles of rs1049296 and rs1800562 in the combined sample using SFA (P = 0.0016, synergy factor = 2.71) and adjusted SFA adjusting for age and presence of the APOE epsilon 4 allele (P = 0.002, OR = 2.4). These results validate those of the previous report and support the hypothesis that iron transport and regulation play a role in AD pathology. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interval Estimation of the Effective Population Size from Heterozygote‐Excess in SNP Markers
Authors: Nomura Tetsuro
Published: December 2009

The effective population size Ne is an important parameter in population genetics and conservation biology. In recent years, there has been great interest in the use of molecular markers to estimate Ne. Although the point estimates from molecular markers in general suffer from a low reliability, the use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers over a wide range of genome is expected to remarkably improve the reliability. In this study, expressions were derived for interval estimates of Ne from one published method, the heterozygote‐excess method, when it is applied to SNP markers. The conditional variance theory is applied to the derivation of a confidence interval for Ne under random union of gametes, monogamy and polygyny. Stochastic simulation shows that the obtained confidence interval is slightly conservative, but fairly useful for practical applications. The result is illustrated with real data on SNP markers in a pig strain.
Binary Au/MWCNT and Ternary Au/ZnO/MWCNT Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterisation and Catalytic Performance
Authors: Khanderi Jayaprakash , Hoffmann Rudolf C. , Engstler Jörg , Schneider Jörg J. , Arras Jürgen , Claus Peter , Cherkashinin Gennady
Published: December 2009

Gold nanoparticles of 10–24 and 5–8 nm in size were obtained by chemical citrate reduction and UV photoreduction, respectively, on acid‐treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and on ZnO/MWCNT composites. The shape and size of the deposited Au nanoparticles were found to be dependent upon the synthetic method used. Single‐crystalline, hexagonal gold particles were produced in the case of UV photoreduction on ZnO/MWCNT, whereas spherical Au particles were deposited on MWCNT when the chemical citrate reduction method was used. In the UV photoreduction route, n‐doped ZnO serves as the e− donor, whereas the solvent is the hole trap. All materials were fully characterised by UV/Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and BET surface analysis. The catalytic activity of the composites was studied for the selective hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compound 3,7‐dimethyl‐2,6‐octadienal (citral). The Au/ZnO/MWCNT composite favours the formation of unsaturated alcohols (selectivity=50 % at a citral conversion of 20 %) due to the presence of single‐crystalline, hexagonal gold particles, whereas saturated aldehyde formation is favoured in the case of the Au/MWCNT nanocomposite that contains spherical gold particles.
Antithyroid Drugs and their Analogues Protect Against Peroxynitrite‐Mediated Protein Tyrosine Nitration—A Mechanistic Study
Authors: Bhabak Krishna P. , Mugesh Govindasamy
Published: December 2009

In this paper, the effect of some commonly used antithyroid drugs and their analogues on peroxynitrite‐mediated nitration of proteins is described. The nitration of tyrosine residues in bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cytochrome c was studied by Western blot analysis. These studies reveal that the antithyroid drugs methimazole (MMI), 6‐n‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil (PTU), and 6‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil (MTU), which contain thione moieties, significantly reduce the tyrosine nitration of both BSA and cytochrome c. While MMI exhibits good peroxynitrite (PN) scavenging activity, the thiouracil compounds PTU and MTU are slightly less effective than MMI. The S‐ and Se‐ methylated compounds show a weak inhibitory effect in the nitration of tyrosine, indicating that the presence of a thione or selone moiety is important for an efficient inhibition. Similarly, the replacement of NH moiety in MMI by N‐methyl or N‐m‐methoxybenzyl substituents dramatically reduces the antioxidant activity of the parent compound. Theoretical studies indicate that the substitution of NH moiety by NMe significantly increases the energy required for the oxidation of sulfur center by PN. However, such substitution in the selenium analogue of MMI increases the activity of parent compound. This is due to the facile oxidation of the selone moiety to the corresponding selenenic and seleninic acids. Unlike N,N′‐disubstituted thiones, the corresponding selones efficiently scavenge PN, as they predominantly exist in their zwitterionic forms in which the selenium atom carries a large negative charge.
Adaptable cache service and application to grid caching
Authors: d'Orazio Laurent , Roncancio Claudia , Labbé Cyril
Published: December 2009

Caching is an important element to tackle performance issues in largely distributed data management. However, caches are efficient only if they are well configured according to the context of use. As a consequence, they are usually built from scratch. Such an approach appears to be expensive and time consuming in grids where the various characteristics lead to many heterogeneous cache requirements. This paper proposes a framework facilitating the construction of sophisticated and dynamically adaptable caches for heterogeneous applications. Such a framework has enabled the evaluation of several configurations for distributed data querying systems and leads us to propose innovative approaches for semantic and cooperative caching. This paper also reports the results obtained in bioinformatics data management on grids showing the relevance of our proposals. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phenotypic plasticity in number of glomeruli and sensory innervation of the antennal lobe in leaf‐cutting ant workers (A. vollenweideri)
Authors: Kelber Christina , Rössler Wolfgang , Kleineidam Christoph Johannes
Published: December 2009

In the leaf‐cutting ant Atta vollenweideri, the worker caste exhibits a pronounced size‐polymorphism, and division of labor is dependent on worker size (alloethism). Behavior is largely guided by olfaction, and the olfactory system is highly developed. In a recent study, two different phenotypes of the antennal lobe of Atta vollenweideri workers were found: MG‐ and RG‐phenotype (with/without a macroglomerulus). Here we ask whether the glomerular numbers are related to worker size. We found that the antennal lobes of small workers contain ∼390 glomeruli (low‐number; LN‐phenotype), and in large workers we found a substantially higher number of ∼440 glomeruli (high‐number; HN‐phenotype). All LN‐phenotype workers and some small HN‐phenotype workers do not possess an MG (LN‐RG‐phenotype and HN‐RG‐phenotype), and the remaining majority of HN‐phenotype workers do possess an MG (HN‐MG‐phenotype). Using mass‐staining of antennal olfactory receptor neurons we found that the sensory tracts divide the antennal lobe into six clusters of glomeruli (T1–T6). In LN‐phenotype workers, ∼50 glomeruli are missing in the T4‐cluster. Selective staining of single sensilla and their associated receptor neurons revealed that T4‐glomeruli are innervated by receptor neurons from the main type of olfactory sensilla, the Sensilla trichodea curvata. The other type of olfactory sensilla (Sensilla basiconica) exclusively innervates T6‐glomeruli. Quantitative analyses of differently sized workers revealed that the volume of T6 glomeruli scales with the power of 2.54 to the number of Sensilla basiconica. The results suggest that developmental plasticity leading to antennal‐lobe phenotypes promotes differences in olfactory‐guided behavior and may underlie task specialization within ant colonies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70: 222–234, 2010.
Enrichment and immunoprecipitation of 22 kDa human growth hormone spiked into human urine
Authors: Bane T. K. , Timmons M. S. , Kauffman S. J. , Catlin D. H.
Published: December 2009

Approaches to detect whether an athlete has used growth hormone have been intensely investigated by sport organizations for 20 years. This effort has led to a human growth hormone (hGH) isoform ratio test in serum that has been approved by WADA and deployed at three Olympic Games, although a positive case has yet to be reported. We set out to determine whether the ratio test could be applied to urine. First we investigated various ways to extract hGH from spiked urine. We were able to recover 95% using selective centrifugal concentration. This fraction was then subjected to four different commercially available immunoprecipitation kits. The highest yield was obtained with the Invitrogen Dynabeads Protein G kit. Nevertheless it is apparent that these methods do not recover enough hGH for subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry. With further effort greater recovery of the 22 kDa isoform might be achieved, however it is very unlikely that the 20 kDa isoform could be detected. This method may be significantly improved by the application of both nanoparticle and aptamer technology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of Amino‐Bridged Oligosaccharide Mimetics
Authors: Neumann Janna , Thiem Joachim
Published: December 2009

Synthesis of amino‐bridged oligosaccharides using reductive amination opens rapid access to novel glycomimetic target structures as potential ligands for the receptor protein NKR P1 of natural killer cells. Emphasis was laid on fast and facile synthetic routes. The carbonyl building blocks were easily obtained by oxidation with Dess–Martin periodinane or iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX). For the required amino‐functionalized units, reduction of azide precursors was advantageous, and generation of the novel oligosaccharides was achieved by subsequent reductive amination. The target saccharide structures feature a bridging nitrogen atom inserted between two non‐anomeric positions as well as including one anomeric position.
HPV status‐independent association of alcohol and tobacco exposure or prior radiation therapy with promoter methylation of FUSSEL18, EBF3, IRX1, and SEPT9, but not SLC5A8, in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Bennett Kristi L. , Lee Walter , Lamarre Eric , Zhang Xiatong , Seth Rahul , Scharpf Joseph , Hunt Jennifer , Eng Charis
Published: December 2009

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive malignancy with more than half a million people being diagnosed with the disease annually. Within the last 2 decades, the human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be associated with this malignancy. More recently, HPV‐infected HNSCC has been found to exhibit higher levels of global DNA methylation. In a recent study, we identified five tumor suppressive genes (IRX1, EBF3, SLC5A8, SEPT9, and FUSSEL18) as frequently methylated in HNSCC biopsies using a global methylation analysis via restriction landmark genomic scanning. In this study, we verify these genes as valid methylation markers in two separate sets of HNSCC specimens. By using the available clinical information linked to the patient specimens, we found a strong association between promoter methylation of FUSSEL18, IRX1, and EBF3 and prior radiation therapy (P < 0.0001) irrespective of HPV status. Also, promoter methylation of FUSSEL18 and SEPTIN9 was found to correlate significantly with exposure to alcohol and tobacco (P = 0.021). Importantly, in this study, we preliminarily show a trend between HPV16 positivity and specific target gene hypermethylation of IRX1, EBF3, SLC5A8, and SEPT9. If replicated in a larger study, the HPV status may be a patient selection biomarker when determining the most efficacious treatment modality for these different subsets of patients (e.g., inclusion or exclusion of epigenetic therapies). Equally notable and independent of HPV status, hypermethylation of the promoters of a subset of these genes in recurrences especially in the setting of prior radiation or in the setting of alcohol and tobacco use might help guide adjunctive inclusion or exclusion or epigenetic therapy. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
M&A Outlook
Authors: Gaughan Patrick A.
Published: December 2009

The current economic recovery is fragile. But we are starting to see the initial signs of improvement in the merger‐and‐acquisition (M&A) market. The author takes an analytical look at where we've been and where we're going. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Your vanishing vendors: Lessons from bank M&As
Authors: Sagner James S.
Published: December 2009

What should corporate clients of banks do during the current period of bank consolidations? The author of this article—a treasury consultant—says that lessons from bank mergers and acquisitions (M&As) can be used by firms whose other vendors are also undergoing mergers. That includes vendors who provide information processing, financial transactions, accounting, tax preparation, and other services. Clients are facing the very real prospect of their long‐term vendor relationships vanishing—to be replaced by unknown firms from another part of the globe. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Gas‐phase pyrolysis in organic synthesis: A route for synthesis of cyanamides
Authors: Al‐Awadi Nouria A. , Abdelkhalik Mervat Mohammed , El‐Dusouqui Osman M. E. , Elnagdi Mohammad H.
Published: December 2009

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Pyrolysis of 1,7‐di‐[(E)‐1‐morpholinomethylidene]‐ and 1,7‐di‐[(E)‐1‐piperidino‐methylidene]‐4,6,10,12‐tetramethylamino‐2,8‐dioxo‐1,7‐diaza‐3,5,9,11‐cyclododecatetraene‐3,9‐dicarbonitrile 6a, 6b afforded pyridone 10 in addition to cyanamides 11a, 11b. On the other hand, pyrolysis of 1‐[E‐(4‐(E‐3‐cyano‐4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxopyridin‐1(2H)‐ylimino) methylpiperazin‐1‐yl] methylenamino‐4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyridine‐3‐carbonitrile 8 gave 1‐amino‐4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydropyridine‐3‐carbonitrile 13 as well as piperazine. The mechanism of pyrolysis and the effect of stereochemistry of pyrolyzed substrates on the nature of the pyrolysates are discussed. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).
Prediction of response to treatment of chronic hepatitis B with pegylated interferon in the Philippines
Authors: Agdamag Dorothy M. , Kageyama Seiji , Leaño Prisca S. , Solante Rontgene M. , Telan Elizabeth F. , Que Ernesto R. , Ichimura Hiroshi
Published: December 2009

The response marker for interferon has not been investigated fully for hepatitis B viruses (HBVs) in the Philippines where novel subtypes B5 and C5 were recognized recently. The prediction parameters for interferon treatment were assessed, with emphasis on the mutation patterns in the basal core promoter and precore regions in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Seventeen HBeAg‐positive patients were stratified according to response to treatment with pegylated interferon based on HBe seroconversion and HBV load. Intra‐patient distributions of wild‐type strains (A1762, G1764) and variants (T1762, A1764) were analyzed using HBV‐DNA amplification and subsequent molecular cloning. The rate of variants (T1762, A1764) harbored by a patient was higher among responders (41.2% and 31% per person on average) than among non‐responders (2.4% and 2.4%) to treatment with pegylated interferon at the baseline, respectively (P < 0.05). The rate of variants (T1762, A1764) harbored by responders (41.2% and 31%) decreased to 1.7% and 1.7%, and wild‐type strains (A1762, G1764) conversely became majority (98.3% and 98.3%) after treatment with pegylated interferon, respectively. HBV strains harbored by two of six responders and a patient with lower baseline load (1.0 × 104 copies/ml) showed genotype shift from A to other genotypes, where genotype A disappeared preferentially after the loss of HBeAg and genotypes B and C formed a major population. These results suggest that the HBV variants (T1762, A1764) and HBV genotype A in the Philippines have an advantage in the response to pegylated interferon. These results warrant a large‐scale examination for further precise prediction of the response to treatment with interferon. J. Med. Virol. 82:213–219, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Institutional outbreak of rubella in a healthcare center in Chandigarh, North India
Authors: Singh Mini P. , Diddi Kavita , Dogra Sunil , Suri Vikas , Varma Subhash , Ratho Radha K.
Published: December 2009

Rubella is traditionally considered a childhood disease but it has the potential to cause outbreaks in closed communities when a susceptible population accumulates. The present study reports an outbreak of rubella among healthcare workers in the pediatric center of a tertiary care North Indian hospital. The cases of rubella were identified by clinical features and confirmed by the detection of anti‐rubella IgM antibodies in blood by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 23 cases of rubella occurred over a period of one and a half month, out of which 9 (39%) were males. All the patients were in the age group of 21–35 years. None of the patients gave a history of rubella vaccination. This outbreak of rubella occurred due to the accumulation of a susceptible population in a closed hospital environment. There is need for the introduction of rubella vaccination in healthcare workers to prevent outbreaks at work place. J. Med. Virol. 82:341–344, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.