bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lanthanide‐Containing Photoluminescent Materials: From Hybrid Hydrogel to Inorganic Nanotubes
Authors: Qiao Yan , Lin Yiyang , Zhang Shaofei , Huang Jianbin
Published: March 2011

Functional photoluminescent materials are emerging as a fascinating subject with versatile applicability. In this work, luminescent organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels are facilely designed through supramolecular self‐assembly of sodium cholate, and lanthanide ions such as Eu3+, Tb3+, and Eu3+/Tb3+. Fluorescence microscopy and TEM visualization demonstrates the existence of spontaneously self‐assembled nanofibers and 3D networks in hybrid hydrogel. Photoluminescence enhancement of lanthanide ions is realized through coordination with cholate and co‐assembly into 1D nanofibers, which can successfully shield the Eu3+ from being quenched by water. The photoluminescence emission intensity of a hybrid hydrogel exhibits strong dependence on europium/cholate molar ratio, with maximum emission appearing at a stoichiometry of 1:3. Furthermore, the emission color of a lanthanide–cholate hydrogel can be tuned by utilizing different lanthanide ions or co‐doping ions. Moreover, photoluminescent lanthanide oxysulfide inorganic nanotubes are synthesized by means of a self‐templating approach based on lanthanide–cholate supramolecular hydrogels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the lanthanide oxysulfide inorganic nanotubes are prepared in solution under mild conditions.
Synthesis of Redox‐Active, Intramolecular Charge‐Transfer Chromophores by the [2+2] Cycloaddition of Ethynylated 2H‐Cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐ones with Tetracyanoethylene
Authors: Shoji Taku , Higashi Junya , Ito Shunji , Okujima Tetsuo , Yasunami Masafumi , Morita Noboru
Published: March 2011

Ethynylated 2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐ones 5–15 have been prepared by Pd‐catalyzed alkynylation of 3‐iodo‐5‐isopropyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one (2) with the corresponding ethynylarenes or the reaction of 2‐iodothiophene with 3‐ethynyl‐5‐isopropyl‐2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one (4) under Sonogashira–Hagihara conditions. Compounds 5–15 reacted with tetracyanoethylene in a formal [2+2] cycloaddition reaction, followed by ring opening of the initially formed [2+2] cycloadducts, cyclobutenes, to afford the corresponding 1,1,4,4‐tetracyanobutadienyl (TCBD) chromophores 16–26 in excellent yields. The intramolecular charge‐transfer interactions between the 2H‐cyclohepta[b]furan‐2‐one ring and TCBD acceptor moiety were investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The redox behavior of the novel TCBD derivatives 16–26 was examined by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, which revealed multistep electrochemical reduction properties, depending on the number of TCBD units in the molecule. Moreover, a significant color change was observed by UV/Vis spectroscopy under electrochemical reduction conditions.
Enhancement of the performance of kinetic inhibitors in the presence of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide for binary mixtures during gas hydrate formation in a flow mini‐loop apparatus
Authors: Talaghat Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2011

The objective of this work is to demonstrate the impact of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polypropylene oxide (PPO) on the performance of gas hydrate kinetic inhibitors for binary mixtures during gas hydrate formation in a flow mini‐loop apparatus. PEO and PPO are commercially available polymers that they have been considered to be unable to exhibit kinetic hydrate inhibition (KHI) by their self. Prevention of gas hydrate formation experiments in the presence of the KHIs solutions were conducted in a flow mini‐loop apparatus manner under suitable pressures and temperature conditions for binary gaseous mixtures including 70% CH4/30% C3H8, 30% CH4/70% C3H8, 70% CH4/30% i‐C4H10, and 30% CH4/70% i‐C4H10. In the experiments, induction time for crystallisation of gas hydrate formation and gas consumption rate are investigated in systems without KHI, containing KHI only (such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and L‐tyrosine) and PEO or PPO together with KHI. Pressure is maintained at a constant value during experimental runs by means of required gas make‐up. The addition of a KHI into system delayed the onset of hydrate crystal nucleation. Furthermore, addition of the PEO or PPO to a KHI solution was found to enhance the performance of KHI. In addition, under the same pressure temperature hydrate formation conditions the induction time is longer when the PPO is present. Thus, inclusion of PPO into a KHI solution shows a higher enhancement in its inhibiting performance compare to PEO. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Neuropeptide S Receptor: Recent Updates on Nonpeptide Antagonist Discovery
Authors: Dal Ben Diego , Antonini Ippolito , Buccioni Michela , Lambertucci Catia , Marucci Gabriella , Thomas Ajiroghene , Volpini Rosaria , Cristalli Gloria
Published: March 2011

Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a 20‐amino acid peptide of great interest due to its possible involvement in several biological processes, including food intake, locomotion, wakefulness, arousal, and anxiety. Structure–activity relationship studies of NPS have identified key points for structural modifications with the goal of modulating NPS receptor (NPSR) agonist activity or achieving antagonism at the same receptor. Only limited information is available for nonpeptide NPSR antagonists. In the last year, several studies have been reported in literature which present various series of small molecules as antagonists of this receptor. The results allow a comparison of the structures and activities of these molecules, leading to the design of new ligands with increased potency and improved pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles. This work presents a brief overview of the available information regarding structural features and pharmacological characterization of published nonpeptide NPSR antagonists.
Establishing composite SLAs through concurrent QoS negotiation with surplus redistribution
Authors: Richter J. , Baruwal Chhetri M. , Kowalczyk R. , Bao Vo Q.
Published: March 2011

The end‐to‐end QoS negotiation for service level agreement establishment for composite services involves compound multi‐party negotiations in which the composite service provider concurrently negotiates with multiple candidates for each atomic service, selecting the one that best satisfies the atomic service QoS preferences while ensuring that the end‐to‐end QoS requirements are also fulfilled. In order to be able to negotiate with potential candidates, it is necessary to derive the atomic utility boundaries from the global utility boundary. Additionally, there has to be a mechanism for updating these boundaries in subsequent negotiation rounds based on the individual negotiation outcomes. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for the decomposition of global utility boundary into atomic service utility boundaries, and the surplus redistribution from successful negotiation outcomes among the remaining negotiations. The proposed mechanism is a practical approach to efficiently coordinate concurrent service negotiations within complex workflows, enabling the iterative and interactive adjustment of the negotiation boundaries for each atomic service in a composition based on the performance of other atomic negotiations. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach by evaluating it with some popular negotiation strategies using the Specialized Property Search Scenario. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intermolecular Interactions in Photodamaged DNA from Density Functional Theory Symmetry‐Adapted Perturbation Theory
Authors: Sadeghian Keyarash , Bocola Marco , Schütz Martin
Published: March 2011

The intermolecular interactions of the photodamaged cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) lesion with adjacent nucleobases in the native intrahelical DNA double strand are investigated at the level of density functional theory symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory (DFT‐SAPT) and compared to the original (or repaired) case with pyrimidines (TpT) instead of CPD. The CPD aggregation is on average destabilized by about 6 kcal mol−1 relative to that involving TpT. The effect of destabilization is asymmetric, that is, it involves a single H‐bonding (Watson–Crick (WC) type) base‐pair interaction.
Analysis and design of a half‐bridge LLC series resonant converter employing two transformers
Authors: Lo Yu‐Kang , Lin Jing‐Yuan , Lin Chung‐Yi
Published: March 2011

This paper presents a two‐transformer LLC series resonant converter (SRC), which is derived from incorporating two identical converters. The proposed converter allows a low‐profile power supply design for liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs and servers. The presented converter can equally share the total load current between two transformers and the output rectifier modules. Therefore, the heat problem can be effectively relieved. The steady‐state analysis and design of this new two‐transformer LLC SRC are described. The experimental results are recorded for a prototype converter with an output voltage of 12thinspaceV, an output power of 300 W, and a resonant frequency of 74 kHz. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple catastrophic fault diagnosis of analog circuits considering the component tolerances
Authors: Tadeusiewicz Michał , Hałgas Stanisław , Korzybski Marek
Published: March 2011

This paper deals with the diagnosis of multiple catastrophic faults, being cuts (open‐circuits) of some connecting paths and/or short‐circuits of some pairs of points in analog circuits. A method enabling us to detect and identify the faults, taking into account the deviations of the circuit parameters within their tolerance ranges, is developed. The method exploits an appropriate fault dictionary. The fault dictionary is used only for preliminary identification of the faults, because it is based on the analysis of the circuits with nominal parameters. The crucial point of the method is a verification procedure, proposed in this paper, based on the linear programming approach. It leads to the results considering the component variations within their tolerance ranges. In addition, a procedure for selecting appropriate test points, employing some evolutionary techniques, is developed. Although the approach presented in this paper is described in detail for linear circuits, it can be directly generalized to nonlinear circuits. Three numerical examples, including two linear and one nonlinear circuits, illustrate the proposed method and show its efficiency. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On global asymptotic stability for a class of delayed neural networks
Authors: Lam James , Xu Shengyuan , Ho Daniel W. C. , Zou Yun
Published: March 2011

This paper deals with the problem of stability analysis for a class of delayed neural networks described by nonlinear delay differential equations of the neutral type. A new and simple sufficient condition guaranteeing the existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of an equilibrium point of such a kind of delayed neural networks is developed by the Lyapunov–Krasovskii method. The condition is expressed in terms of a linear matrix inequality, and thus can be checked easily by recently developed standard algorithms. When the stability condition is applied to the more commonly encountered delayed neural networks, it is shown that our result can be less conservative. Examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed criteria. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Breaking symmetry: The zebrafish as a model for understanding left‐right asymmetry in the developing brain
Authors: Roussigné Myriam , Blader Patrick , Wilson Stephen W.
Published: March 2011

How does left‐right asymmetry develop in the brain and how does the resultant asymmetric circuitry impact on brain function and lateralized behaviors? By enabling scientists to address these questions at the levels of genes, neurons, circuitry and behavior, the zebrafish model system provides a route to resolve the complexity of brain lateralization. In this review, we present the progress made towards characterizing the nature of the gene networks and the sequence of morphogenetic events involved in the asymmetric development of zebrafish epithalamus. In an attempt to integrate the recent extensive knowledge into a working model and to identify the future challenges, we discuss how insights gained at a cellular/developmental level can be linked to the data obtained at a molecular/genetic level. Finally, we present some evolutionary thoughts and discuss how significant discoveries made in zebrafish should provide entry points to better understand the evolutionary origins of brain lateralization. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 269–281, 2012
In‐situ Synchrotron X‐ray Diffraction Study of the Formation of Cubic Li2TiO3 Under Hydrothermal Conditions
Authors: Laumann Andreas , Ørnsbjerg Jensen Kirsten Marie , Tyrsted Christoffer , Bremholm Martin , Fehr Karl Thomas , Holzapfel Michael , Iversen Bo Brummerstedt
Published: March 2011

Synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) has been used to study in‐situ the hydrothermal intercalation of lithium ions in titania powder following the reaction TiO2 + 2 LiOH → Li2TiO3 + H2O. Syntheses were performed in a sapphire capillary at temperatures between 133 and 230 °C. By sequential Rietveld refinement of the PXRD data, the particle growth of the metastable cubic α‐Li2TiO3 compound was determined as a function of the reaction time, as well as the transformation of the cubic α‐phase to its stable monoclinic β‐modifications at a temperature above the critical point of water. The reactions were presumed to be controlled by nucleation and crystal growth, and therefore the Avrami‐Erofe'ef equation was applied to model the reaction mechanisms of this intercalation process and an activation energy of 66(7) kJ/mol was determined.
Ring‐Opening of Epoxides in Water
Authors: Bonollo Simona , Lanari Daniela , Vaccaro Luigi
Published: March 2011

Epoxides and water mix well together. The use of water represents an intriguing alternative to organic solvents, not only for developing green processes but also for exploring a totally new and peculiar reactivity. Epoxides react very efficiently in water with several nucleophiles, and several examples in the literature report that the use of water as reaction medium is essential for realizing processes that cannot be performed alternatively in other reaction media. This contribution is devoted to highlight the unique role of water in the ring‐opening reactions of epoxides.
β‐Lactam‐Synthon‐Interceded, Facile, One‐Pot, Diastereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized Tetra/Octahydroisoquinolone Derivatives
Authors: Raj Raghu , Mehra Vishu , Singh Pardeep , Kumar Vipan , Bhargava Gaurav , Mahajan Mohinder P. , Handa Sachin , Slaughter LeGrande M.
Published: March 2011

The convenient and facile synthesis of tetra/octahydroisoquinolones has been developed and validated by using inter/intramolecular amidolysis of racemic N‐aryl‐β‐lactams followed by intramolecular iodocyclization protocols. Thesingle‐pot synthetic version of the desired conversion was successfully developed. The single‐pot synthesis of tetrahydro‐4H‐isoquinoline‐1,3‐diones invariably resulted in aromatic electrophilic iodination rather than the desired iodocyclization in cases where N‐phenyl‐2‐azetidinones were employed as the synthetic precursors.
Cancer biomarker discovery: Opportunities and pitfalls in analytical methods
Authors: Issaq Haleem J. , Waybright Timothy J. , Veenstra Timothy D.
Published: March 2011

Many diseases result in specific and characteristic changes in the chemical and biochemical profiles of biological fluids and tissues prior to development of clinical symptoms. These changes are often useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Identifying biomarkers that can be used for the early detection of cancer will result in more efficient treatments, reduction in suffering, and lower mortality rates. An ideal screening test should be non‐invasive with high sensitivity and specificity. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses of biological samples can reveal changes in abundance levels of metabolites and proteins that when validated and confirmed through clinical trials can function as clinical tests for early detection, diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and predicting therapeutic response. While the past decade has seen great advancements in proteomics and metabolomics research producing potential biomarkers for cancer, most of the identified biomarkers have failed to replace existing clinical tests. To become a clinically approved test, a potential biomarker should be confirmed and validated using hundreds of specimens and should be reproducible, specific, and sensitive. A search of the scientific and medical literature indicates that many studies report the discovery of potential biomarkers without proper validation and/or they do not meet the above criteria. In this manuscript, we will discuss the successes and the pitfalls of biomarker research and comment on study and experimental design, which in most cases is lacking, resulting in suboptimal biomarkers.
Concurrent use of finite element and finite volume methods for shallow water flows in locally 1‐D channel networks
Authors: Unami K. , Alam A. H. M. Badiul
Published: March 2011

A numerical model is developed for shallow water equation in locally 1‐D channel networks. The model concurrently uses the standard Galerkin finite element method for the continuity equation and the finite volume method with an upwind scheme for the momentum equation. The surface gradient method is consistently employed. A minimum treatment is given for channel junctions so that application to multiply connected channels do not require any special consideration The model is capable of computing different types of transcritical flows, wet and dry flows, and flows with complex source terms. Standardized test problems and laboratory experimental data are used for verifying the model. Applicability of the models is validated in a multiply connected channel network draining hydromorphic farmlands located in a West African savanna, and Manning's roughness coefficient is identified, so that the steady solution is consistent with field observations. Unsteady simulation demonstrates that the model is capable of stably reproducing shifts of hydraulic jumps in flows of sub‐millimeter water depths. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multivariate GARCH Models with Correlation Clustering
Authors: So Mike K. P. , Yip Iris W. H.
Published: March 2011

A new clustered correlation multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (CC‐MGARCH) model that allows conditional correlations to form clusters is proposed. This model generalizes the time‐varying correlation structure of Tse and Tsui (2002, Journal of Business and Economic Statistics 20: 351–361) by classifying the correlations among the series into groups. To estimate the proposed model, Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are adopted. Two efficient sampling schemes for drawing discrete indicators are also developed. Simulations show that these efficient sampling schemes can lead to substantial savings in computation time in Monte Carlo procedures involving discrete indicators. Empirical examples using stock market and exchange rate data are presented in which two‐cluster and three‐cluster models are selected using posterior probabilities. This implies that the conditional correlation equation is likely to be governed by more than one set of decaying parameters. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of outcome of pharmacological and psychological treatment of late‐life panic disorder with agoraphobia
Authors: Hendriks Gert‐Jan , Keijsers Ger P. J. , Kampman Mirjam , Hoogduin Cees A. L. , Oude Voshaar Richard C.
Published: March 2011

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the differential predictive values of age, age of onset and duration of illness on paroxetine and cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) outcome in late‐life panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Method

Patients 60 years and older with a confirmed diagnosis of panic disorder with agoraphobia (n = 49) were randomly assigned to paroxetine (40 mg/day) treatment, individual CBT or a waiting‐list control condition. Multiple regression analyses were conducted per treatment arm with post‐treatment avoidance behaviour and agoraphobic cognitions as the dependent variables.

Results

Higher age at onset and shorter duration of illness were predictors of superior outcomes following CBT, although these variables did not influence the treatment effects of paroxetine.

Conclusions

In late‐life agoraphobic panic disorder, chronological age has no impact on treatment modality outcome. In older patients with a late disease onset or shorter duration of illness, CBT is to be preferred over paroxetine, whereas paroxetine might be the treatment of choice for older people with an early onset and short duration of illness. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microglia activation in hepatic encephalopathy in rats and humans
Authors: Zemtsova Irina , Görg Boris , Keitel Verena , Bidmon Hans-Jürgen , Schrör Karsten , Häussinger Dieter
Published: March 2011

Abstract:

Astrocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and ammonia toxicity, whereas little is known about microglia and neuroinflammation under these conditions. We therefore studied the effects of ammonia on rat microglia in vitro and in vivo and analyzed markers of neuroinflammation in post mortem brain tissue from patients with cirrhosis with and without HE and non-cirrhotic controls. In cultured rat microglia, ammonia stimulated cell migration and induced oxidative stress and an up-regulation of the microglial activation marker ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1). Up-regulation of Iba-1 was also found in the cerebral cortex from acutely ammonia-intoxicated rats and in the cerebral cortex from patients with cirrhosis who have HE, but not from patients with cirrhosis who do not have HE. However, ammonia had no effect on microglial glutamate release, prostaglandin synthesis, and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α/β, tumor necrosis factor α, or IL-6, whereas in cultured astrocytes ammonia induced the release of glutamate, prostaglandins, and increased IL-1β mRNA. mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 or mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine monocyte chemoattractive protein-1 in cerebral cortex from patients with liver cirrhosis and HE were not different from those found in patients with cirrhosis who did not have HE or control patients without cirrhosis. Conclusion: These data suggest that microglia become activated in experimental hyperammonemia and HE in humans and may contribute to the generation of oxidative stress. However, HE in patients with liver cirrhosis is not associated with an up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines in cerebral cortex, despite microglia activation. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)
Modeling sharp wave‐ripple complexes through a CA3‐CA1 network model with chemical synapses
Authors: Taxidis Jiannis , Coombes Stephen , Mason Robert , Owen Markus R.
Published: March 2011

The hippocampus, and particularly the CA3 and CA1 areas, exhibit a variety of oscillatory rhythms that span frequencies from the slow theta range (4–10 Hz) up to fast ripples (˜200 Hz). Various computational models of different complexities have been developed in an effort to simulate such population oscillations. Nevertheless the mechanism that underlies the so called Sharp Wave‐Ripple complex (SPWR), observed in extracellular recordings in CA1, still remains elusive. We present here, the combination of two simple but realistic models of the rat CA3 and CA1 areas, connected together in a feedforward scheme mimicking Schaffer collaterals. Both network models are computationally simple one‐dimensional arrays of excitatory and inhibitory populations interacting only via fast chemical synapses. Connectivity schemes and postsynaptic potentials are based on physiological data, yielding a realistic network topology. The CA3 model exhibits quasi‐synchronous population bursts, which give rise to sharp wave‐like deep depolarizations in the CA1 dendritic layer accompanied by transient field oscillations at ∼150–200 Hz in the somatic layer. The frequency and synchrony of these oscillations is based on interneuronal activity and fast‐decaying recurrent inhibition in CA1. Pyramidal cell spikes are sparse and come from a subset of cells receiving stronger than average excitatory input from CA3. The model is shown to accurately reproduce a large number of basic characteristics of SPWRs and yields a new mechanism for the generation of ripples, offering an interpretation to a range of neurophysiological observations, such as the ripple disruption by halothane and the selective firing of pyramidal cells during ripples, which may have implications for memory consolidation during SPWRs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NMR‐based metabonomic approach on the toxicological effects of a Cimicifuga triterpenoid
Authors: He Cui‐Cui , Dai Yun‐Qing , Hui Rong‐Rong , Hua Jia , Chen Hong‐Juan , Luo Qiao‐Yun , Li Jian‐Xin
Published: March 2011

Cimicifugae Rhizoma, a well‐known botanical dietary supplement, has been the subject of intense interest due to its potential application for alleviating menopausal symptom. Although there are clinic data that the Cimicifuga extract should have hepatotoxicity, no evidence on the main chemical components has been reported. Cimicidol‐3‐O‐β ‐d‐xyloside (CX) is one of the main triterpenoids of the rhizome. This work studies the toxicological effects of CX after oral administration (50 mg kg−1 per day) over a 7‐day period in female SD rats using metabonomic analyses of 1H NMR spectra of urine, serum and liver tissue extracts. Histopathological studies of liver and analyses of blood biochemical parameter, such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine revealed that CX had no negative impacts on liver and kidney. However, the metabolic signature of 1H NMR‐based urinalysis of daily samples displayed an increment in the levels of taurine, trimethylamine‐N‐oxide (TMAO), betaine and acetate. Elevated serum levels of creatinine, glucose, alanine, TMAO and betaine and lower levels of lactate were observed. Metabolic profiling on aqueous soluble extracts of liver showed simultaneously increases in succinate, glycogen, choline, glycerophosphorylcholine, TMAO and betaine levels and reduction in valine, glucose and lactate levels. Nevertheless, no changes in any metabonomic level were found in lipid‐soluble extracts of liver. These findings indicate that CX has a slight toxicity in liver and kidney via disturbance of the metabolisms of energy and amino acids. The present study provides a reasonable explanation for the clinical hepatotoxicity of Cimicifuga extract. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Molecular disease map of bone characterizing the postmenopausal osteoporosis phenotype
Authors: Jemtland Rune , Holden Marit , Reppe Sjur , Olstad Ole K , Reinholt Finn P , Gautvik Vigdis T , Refvem Hilde , Frigessi Arnoldo , Houston Brian , Gautvik Kaare M
Published: March 2011

Genome-wide gene expressions in bone biopsies from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and healthy controls were profiled, to identify osteoporosis candidate genes. All osteoporotic patients (n = 27) in an unbiased cohort of Norwegian women presented with bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores of less than −2.5 SD and one or more confirmed low-energy fracture(s). A validation group (n = 18) had clinical and laboratory parameters intermediate to the control (n = 39) and osteoporosis groups. RNA from iliac crest bone biopsies were analyzed by Affymetrix microarrays and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Differentially expressed genes in osteoporosis versus control groups were identified using the Bayesian ANOVA for microarrays (BAMarray) method, whereas the R-package Limma (Linear Models for Microarray Data) was used to determine whether these transcripts were explained by disease, age, body mass index (BMI), or combinations thereof. Laboratory tests showed normal ranges for the cohort. A total of 609 transcripts were differentially expressed in osteoporotic patients relative to controls; 256 transcripts were confirmed for disease when controlling for age or BMI. Most of the osteoporosis susceptibility genes (80%) also were confirmed to be regulated in the same direction in the validation group. Furthermore, 217 of 256 transcripts were correlated with BMD (adjusted for age and BMI) at various skeletal sites (|r| > 0.2, p < .05). Among the most distinctly expressed genes were Wnt antagonists DKK1 and SOST, the transcription factor SOX4, and the bone matrix proteins MMP13 and MEPE, all reduced in osteoporosis versus control groups. Our results identify potential osteoporosis susceptibility candidate genes adjusted for confounding factors (ie, age and BMI) with or without a significant correlation with BMD. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Nfat1 regulates adult articular chondrocyte function through its age-dependent expression mediated by epigenetic histone methylation
Authors: Rodova Marianna , Lu Qinghua , Li Ye , Woodbury Brent G , Crist Jamie D , Gardner Brian M , Yost John G , Zhong Xiao-bo , Anderson H Clarke , Wang Jinxi
Published: March 2011

The development of disease-modifying pharmacologic therapy for osteoarthritis (OA) currently faces major obstacles largely because the regulatory mechanisms for the function of adult articular chondrocytes remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that lack of Nfat1, one of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors, causes OA-like changes in adult mice. This study aimed to identify whether Nfat1 specifically regulates adult articular chondrocyte function and its age-dependent regulatory mechanism using both Nfat1-deficient and wild-type mice. Deletion of Nfat1 did not induce OA-like articular chondrocyte dysfunction (e.g., overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix-degrading proteinases) until the adult stage. RNAi-mediated Nfat1 knockdown caused dysfunction of wild-type adult articular chondrocytes. Nfat1 expression in wild-type articular chondrocytes was low in the embryonic but high in the adult stage. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that an increase in Nfat1 expression in articular chondrocytes was associated with increased H3K4me2 (a histone modification linked to transcriptional activation), whereas a decrease in Nfat1 expression in articular chondrocytes was correlated with increased H3K9me2 (a histone modification linked to transcriptional repression). Knockdown of lysine-specific demethylase-1 (Lsd1) in embryonic articular chondrocytes upregulated Nfat1 expression concomitant with increased H3K4me2 at the Nfat1 promoter. Knockdown of Jmjc-containing histone demethylase-2a (Jhdm2a) in 6-month articular chondrocytes downregulated Nfat1 expression concomitant with increased H3K9me2 at the Nfat1 promoter. These results suggest that Nfat1 is an essential transcriptional regulator of chondrocyte homeostasis in adult articular cartilage. Age-dependent Nfat1 expression in articular chondrocytes is regulated by dynamic histone methylation, one of the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene transcription. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Evaluation of nonbiomedical and biomedical grade alginates for the transplantation of genetically modified articular chondrocytes to cartilage defects in a large animal model in vivo
Authors: Heiligenstein Susanne , Cucchiarini Magali , Laschke Matthias W. , Bohle Rainer M. , Kohn Dieter , Menger Michael D. , Madry Henning
Published: March 2011

Background

Genetically modified chondrocytes embedded in alginate improve cartilage repair in experimental models, and alginates are clinically used for articular chondrocyte transplantation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the alginate system allows for sustained transgene expression in cartilage defects in a preclinical large animal model in vivo.

Methods

Primary cultures of ovine articular chondrocytes were transfected with the Photinus pyralis luc or the Escherichia coli lacZ genes in monolayer culture in vitro using eight different nonviral compounds. Optimally transfected chondrocytes were encapsulated in spheres composed of nonbiomedical or biomedical grade alginates for evaluation of luciferase expression, cell numbers and viabilities in vitro. Transfected chondrocytes encapsulated in spheres comprised of the different alginates were then implanted into osteochondral defects in the knee joints of sheep to examine the profiles of transgene expression in vivo.

Results

Ovine articular chondrocytes were efficiently transfected with FuGENE 6. Transgene expression was detectable after encapsulation in the alginates over 21 days in vitro. Transplantation of genetically modified chondrocytes to cartilage defects in vivo resulted in maximal transgene expression on day 1 after transfection, with a decrease by day 21, the longest time point evaluated. Remarkably, the reduction in luciferase activity was less pronounced when biomedical grade alginates were employed, compared to nonbiomedical grade alginates, suggesting that such alginates might be better suited to support elevated transgene expression after transplantation of genetically modified chondrocytes.

Conclusions

This approach may be of value to study the effects of potential therapeutic genes upon cartilage repair in a clinically relevant setting. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytokine expression in muscle following traumatic injury
Authors: Jackson Wesley M. , Aragon Amber B. , Onodera Jun , Koehler Steven M. , Ji Youngmi , Bulken‐Hoover Jamie D. , Vogler Jared A. , Tuan Rocky S. , Nesti Leon J.
Published: March 2011

Heterotopic ossification (HO) occurs at a high frequency in severe orthopaedic extremity injuries; however, the etiology of traumatic HO is virtually unknown. Osteogenic progenitor cells have previously been identified within traumatized muscle. Although the signaling mechanisms that lead to this dysregulated differentiation pathway have not been identified, it is assumed that inflammation and fibrosis, which contribute to an osteoinductive environment, are necessary for the development of HO. The hypothesis of this study was that cytokines related to chronic inflammation, fibrogenesis, and osteogenesis become up‐regulated following severe muscle trauma where HO forms. Classification of these cytokines by their differential expression relative to control muscle will provide guidance for further study of the mechanisms leading to HO. Real‐time RT‐PCR analysis revealed no significant up‐regulation of cytokines typically associated with HO (e.g., BMP‐4, as observed in the genetic form of HO, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva). Instead, the cytokine gene expression profile associated with the traumatized muscle included up‐regulation of cytokines associated with osteogenesis and fibrosis (i.e., BMP‐1 and TGF‐β1). Using immunohistochemistry, these cytokines were localized to fibroproliferative lesions, which have previously been implicated in HO. This study identifies other cell and tissue‐level interactions in traumatized muscle that should be investigated further to better define the etiology of HO. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1613–1620, 2011.
In‐Vivo knee kinematics in rotationally unconstrained total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Catani Fabio , Belvedere Claudio , Ensini Andrea , Feliciangeli Alessandro , Giannini Sandro , Leardini Alberto
Published: March 2011

Total knee replacement designs claim characteristic kinematic performance that is rarely assessed in patients. In the present study, in vivo kinematics of a new prosthesis design was measured during activities of daily living. This design is posterior stabilized for which spine–cam interaction coordinates free axial rotation throughout the flexion–extension arc by means of a single radius of curvature for the femoral condyles in the sagittal and frontal planes. Fifteen knees were implanted with this prosthesis, and 3D video‐fluoroscopic analysis was performed at 6‐month follow‐up for three motor tasks. The average range of flexion was 70.1° (range: 60.1–80.2°) during stair‐climbing, 74.7° (64.6–84.8°) during chair‐rising, and 64.1° (52.9–74.3°) during step‐up. The corresponding average rotation on the tibial base‐plate of the lines between the medial and lateral contact points was 9.4° (4.0–22.4°), 11.4° (4.6–22.7°), and 11.3° (5.1–18.0°), respectively. The pivot point for these lines was found mostly in the central area of the base‐plate. Nearly physiological range of axial rotation can be achieved at the replaced knee during activities of daily living. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1484–1490, 2011
TRENDS IN RECOVERY OF MEDITERRANEAN SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES AFTER INFREQUENT AND FREQUENT WILDFIRES
Authors: Guénon R. , Vennetier M. , Dupuy N. , Roussos S. , Pailler A. , Gros R.
Published: March 2011

Since the 1970s, increase in fire frequency has been observed in all European Mediterranean regions. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of wildfire frequency on the recovery at short‐ and long‐term of soil chemical and microbial properties and (2) to identify the mechanisms underlying the recovery of these sites properties. Soils from 17 plots (Maures mountains range, Var, France) were classified into 5 wildfire regimes (i.e. not burned since at least 57 years ago, infrequently and frequently burned‐with time since fire between 4 and 17 years). Soil samples from these plots were analysed for their nutrient content, chemical functions of soil organic matter (SOM) using FT‐MIR spectroscopy and microbial mineralising activities. Our results showed that the frequent wildfire regime slowed down the recovery in the short term of SOM spectroscopic properties and nutrient availability. Both low quantity and low quality (i.e. high percentage of aromatic and phenolic organic forms) of soil organic matter were found to be related to soil microbial recovery at 4 years after frequent wildfires. The frequent wildfires improved the recovery in net nitrification and nitrate content, leading to an increase in catabolic evenness and a recovery in microbial C‐substrate utilisation profiles between 4 and 17 years. However, frequent wildfires slowed down the recovery of hydrolytic enzyme pool (i.e. FDA hydrolases) and phenol oxidase activity, both involved in soil C cycling. Overall, our observations suggest that 4 fires in 50 years is a threshold beyond which soil quality may be endangered. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the tamagawa number conjecture for hecke characters
Authors: Bars Francesc
Published: March 2011

In this paper, we prove the weak p‐part of the Tamagawa number conjecture in all non‐critical cases for the motives associated to Hecke characters of the form $\varphi ^a\overline{\varphi }^b$ where φ is the Hecke character of a CM elliptic curve E defined over an imaginary quadratic field K, under certain restrictions which originate mainly from the Iwasawa theory of imaginary quadratic fields. © 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
T1‐corrected fat quantification using chemical shift‐based water/fat separation: Application to skeletal muscle
Authors: Karampinos Dimitrios C. , Yu Huanzhou , Shimakawa Ann , Link Thomas M. , Majumdar Sharmila
Published: March 2011

Chemical shift‐based water/fat separation, like iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least‐squares estimation, has been proposed for quantifying intermuscular adipose tissue. An important confounding factor in iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least‐squares estimation‐based intermuscular adipose tissue quantification is the large difference in T1 between muscle and fat, which can cause significant overestimation in the fat fraction. This T1 bias effect is usually reduced by using small flip angles. T1‐correction can be performed by using at least two different flip angles and fitting for T1 of water and fat. In this work, a novel approach for the water/fat separation problem in a dual flip angle experiment is introduced and a new approach for the selection of the two flip angles, labeled as the unequal small flip angle approach, is developed, aiming to improve the noise efficiency of the T1‐correction step relative to existing approaches. It is shown that the use of flip angles, selected such the muscle water signal is assumed to be T1‐independent for the first flip angle and the fat signal is assumed to be T1‐independent for the second flip angle, has superior noise performance to the use of equal small flip angles (no T1 estimation required) and the use of large flip angles (T1 estimation required). Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Verification of three‐dimensional anisotropic adaptive processes
Authors: Labbé Paul , Dompierre Julien , Vallet Marie‐Gabrielle , Guibault François
Published: March 2011

A verification methodology for adaptive processes is devised. The mathematical claims made during the process are identified and measures are presented in order to verify that the mathematical equations are solved correctly. The analysis is based on a formal definition of the optimality of the adaptive process in the case of the control of the L∞‐norm of the interpolation error. The process requires a reconstruction that is verified using a proper norm. The process also depends on mesh adaptation toolkits in order to generate adapted meshes. In this case, the non‐conformity measure is used to evaluate how well the adapted meshes conform to the size specification map at each iteration. Finally, the adaptive process should converge toward an optimal mesh. The optimality of the mesh is measured using the standard deviation of the element‐wise value of the L∞‐norm of the interpolation error. The results compare the optimality of an anisotropic process to an isotropic process and to uniform refinement on highly anisotropic 2D and 3D test cases. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cholesky decomposition with fixing nodes to stable computation of a generalized inverse of the stiffness matrix of a floating structure
Authors: Brzobohatý T. , Dostál Z. , Kozubek T. , Kovář P. , Markopoulos A.
Published: March 2011

The direct methods for the solution of systems of linear equations with a symmetric positive‐semidefinite (SPS) matrix A usually comprise the Cholesky decomposition of a nonsingular diagonal block A𝒥𝒥 of A and effective evaluation of the action of a generalized inverse of the corresponding Schur complement. In this note we deal with both problems, paying special attention to the stiffness matrices of floating structures without mechanisms. We present a procedure which first identifies a well‐conditioned positive‐definite diagonal block A𝒥𝒥 of A, then decomposes A𝒥𝒥 by the Cholesky decomposition, and finally evaluates a generalized inverse of the Schur complement S of A𝒥𝒥. The Schur complement S is typically very small, so the generalized inverse can be effectively evaluated by the singular value decomposition (SVD). If the rank of A or a lower bound on the nonzero eigenvalues of A are known, then the SVD can be implemented without any ‘epsilon’. Moreover, if the kernel of A is known, then the SVD can be replaced by effective regularization. The results of numerical experiments show that the proposed method is useful for effective implementation of the FETI‐based domain decomposition methods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Marketing intangible services in a nonprofit environment
Authors: Vivian Sheryl
Published: March 2011

Marketing the intangible is generally perceived to be a difficult and expensive undertaking. The new BMW and the hamburger, or alternatively, the aerobics session and infant immunisations all result in an end product; albeit in the case of the hamburger and the aerobics session, the product may be shortlived! But what about the product which cannot be seen, tasted, felt or physically taken away? What if the product is simply a change in behaviour? What if it is necessary to convince people of the worth of an idea before even hoping to change behaviour?

The same rules for marketing the intangible apply to marketing the tangible, that is, the rules of identifying the target market and its current beliefs and actions, establishing a proposition and its supports, and finally, establishing the desired beliefs and action.

This paper, through the analysis of a case study, explores the process by which a multi‐award winning adult community awareness campaign was initiated, developed and implemented. It was completed on a budget of A$35,000, but the same principles apply to a budget of A$100.
Is fundraising with a tailor‐made information system effective?: The Insead experience with CAFE — the major gifts tracking system
Authors: Talandier Géraud , Rodd John
Published: March 2011

The purpose of this article is to describe INSEAD'S major gift‐tracking system, the rationale for the Dean's decision for a tailor‐made system, and the outcome of this choice.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) is highly expressed in liposarcoma and promotes migration and proliferation
Authors: Wagner Kay‐Dietrich , Benchetrit Maxime , Bianchini Laurence , Michiels Jean‐François , Wagner Nicole
Published: March 2011

Aberrations of specialized metabolic pathways might be implicated in the development of neoplasias. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand‐activated transcription factors with important functions in metabolism. PPARβ/δ and PPARγ act in the proliferation and differentiation of adipose tissue progenitor cells. Thus, a potential use of PPARγ agonists for the treatment of liposarcoma had been suggested, but clinical trials failed to detect beneficial effects. We show here that PPARδ is highly expressed in liposarcoma compared to lipoma and correlates with proliferation. Stimulation of liposarcoma cell lines with a specific PPARδ agonist increases proliferation, which is abolished by a PPARδ–siRNA or a specific PPARδ antagonist. Expression of the adipose tissue secretory factor leptin is lower in liposarcoma compared to lipoma and leptin reduces proliferation of liposarcoma cell lines. PPARδ activation stimulates cell migration whereas leptin diminishes it. We demonstrate that PPARδ directly represses leptin as: (a) leptin becomes down‐regulated upon PPARδ activation; (b) PPARδ represses leptin promoter activity in different sarcoma cell lines; (c) deletion of a PPAR/RxR binding element in the leptin promoter abolishes repression by PPARδ; and (d) in chromatin immunoprecipitation we confirm in vivo binding of PPARδ to the leptin promoter. Our data suggest inhibition of PPARδ as a potential novel strategy to reduce liposarcoma cell proliferation. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lower critical solution temperature in superheated water: the highest in the poly(N,N‐dialkylacrylamide) series
Authors: Fischer Fabian , Zufferey Daniel , Tahoces Raul
Published: March 2011

Microcalorimetry and cloud point extrapolation indicate a lower critical solution temperature of 216 °C for poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA). This is the highest phase‐transition temperature in the poly(N,N‐dialkylacrylamide) series. Cloud points were recorded from electrolyte solutions made of Na3PO4, CaCO3, (NH4)2SO4 and KOH. These measurements were realized below and beyond the boiling point of water. The hydrolytic properties of PDMA in superheated water (200 °C) were examined and verified using 1H NMR analysis. The knowledge of the phase‐transition temperature of pure PDMA is of interest, as it is often a constituent of smart copolymers, to adjust the responsiveness to a desired temperature threshold. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry