bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sampled‐Data Approach to State Estimation Performance for Heterogeneous Distributed System with Fault
Authors: Chen Shun , Ho Daniel W. C.
Published: November 2014

This paper considers the state estimation performance for heterogeneous distributed system with fault based on sampled‐data measurement. Firstly, a performance index for distributed state estimation is proposed. Based on the sampled‐data measurement of the heterogeneous distributed system, distributed state estimators are constructed. It is proved that by analyzing the distributed state estimation error systems, the required performance index for overall state estimation can be obtained using linear matrix inequality method. Finally, a simulation example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical scheme.
Globally Stable Adaptive Tracking Control for Uncertain Strict‐Feedback Systems Based on Neural Network Approximation
Authors: Zhao Dong , Chen Weisheng , Wu Jian , Li Jing
Published: November 2014

This paper addresses the problem of globally stable adaptive neural tracking control for a class of strict‐feedback nonlinear systems. Compared with the existing works, the salient properties of the proposed scheme are given as follows. First, a novel switching controller is developed, which consists of a traditional adaptive neural controller and an extra robust controller to pull back the transient outside of the approximation domain. Second, only two adaptive parameters need to be tuned online, and the computational burden is considerably alleviated in practice. Third, to design the desired switching controller via the backstepping technique, a novel switching function, which has continuous derivatives up to the nth order, is constructed. It is shown that the system output converges to a small neighborhood of the reference signal and the closed‐loop system is globally stable. Finally, an example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Upregulation of Nanog and Sox‐2 genes following ectopic expression of Oct‐4 in amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Wang Kai‐Hung , Kao An‐Pei , Chang Chia‐Cheng , Lin Ta‐Chin , Kuo Tsung‐Cheng
Published: November 2014

Octamer‐binding transcription factor 4 (Oct‐4), an important gene regulating stem cell pluripotency, is well‐known for its ability to reprogram somatic cells in vitro, either alone or in concert with other factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ectopic expression of Oct human amniotic fluid stem cells. We developed a novel method for isolation of putative human amniotic fluid‐derived multipotent stem cells. These cells showing mesenchymal stem cell phenotypes (human amniotic fluid‐derived mesenchymal stem cells, hAFMSCs) were transfected with a plasmid carrying genes for Oct‐4 and the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The stably transfected cells, hAFMSCs‐Oct4/GFP, were selected by using G418 and found to express the GFP reporter gene under the control of Oct‐4 promoter. We found that hAFMSCs developed by our method possess very high self‐renewal ability (about 78 cumulative population doublings) and multilineage differentiation potency. Significantly, the hAFMSCs‐Oct4/GFP cells showed enhanced expression of the three major pluripotency genes Oct‐4, Nanog, and Sox‐2, and increased colony‐forming ability and growth rate compared with the parental hAFMSCs. We demonstrated that the ectopic expression of Oct‐4 gene in hAFMSCs with high self‐renewal ability could upregulate Nanog and Sox‐2 gene expression and enhance cell growth rate and colony‐forming efficiency. Therefore, the ectopic expression of Oct‐4 could be a strategy to develop pluripotency in hAFMSCs for clinical applications.
Cell growth behaviors of Clostridium acetobutylicum in a pervaporation membrane bioreactor for butanol fermentation
Authors: Yao Peina , Xiao Zeyi , Chen Chunyan , Li Weijia , Deng Qing
Published: November 2014

Acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum was studied in the continuous and closed‐circulating fermentation (CCCF) system. The experiment lasting for 192 H was carried out by integrating fermentation with in situ pervaporation. In the entire process, the cell growth profile took place in the following two phases: the logarithmic phase during early 28 H and the linear phase from 130 to 150 H. This was a unique characteristic compared with the curve of traditional fermentation, and the fitting equations of two growth phases were obtained by Origin software according to the kinetic model of cell growth. Besides, the kinetic parameters that include the butanol yield, maximum specific growth rate, average specific formation rate, and volumetric productivity of butanol were measured as 0.19 g g−1, 0.345 H−1, 0.134 H−1 and 0.23 g L−1 H−1, respectively. The C. acetobutylicum in the CCCF system showed good adaptability and fermentation performance, and the prolonged fermentation period and high production were also the main advantages of CCCF technology.
3D bioprinting of biomimetic aortic vascular constructs with self‐supporting cells
Authors: Kucukgul Can , Ozler S. Burce , Inci Ilyas , Karakas Ezgi , Irmak Ster , Gozuacik Devrim , Taralp Alpay , Koc Bahattin
Published: November 2014

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths throughout the world. Vascular diseases are mostly treated with autografts and blood vessel transplantations. However, traditional grafting methods have several problems including lack of suitable harvest sites, additional surgical costs for harvesting procedure, pain, infection, lack of donors, and even no substitutes at all. Recently, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches are used to regenerate damaged or diseased tissues. Most of the tissue engineering investigations have been based on the cell seeding into scaffolds by providing a suitable environment for cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Because of the challenges such as difficulties in seeding cells spatially, rejection, and inflammation of biomaterials used, the recent tissue engineering studies focus on scaffold‐free techniques. In this paper, the development of novel computer aided algorithms and methods are developed for 3D bioprinting of scaffold‐free biomimetic macrovascular structures. Computer model mimicking a real human aorta is generated using imaging techniques and the proposed computational algorithms. An optimized three‐dimensional bioprinting path planning are developed with the proposed self‐supported model. Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell aggregates and support structures (hydrogels) are 3D bioprinted layer‐by‐layer according to the proposed self‐supported method to form an aortic tissue construct. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 811–821. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Air sparging for prevention of antibody disulfide bond reduction in harvested CHO cell culture fluid
Authors: Mun Melissa , Khoo Stefanie , Do Minh Aline , Dvornicky James , Trexler‐Schmidt Melody , Kao Yung‐Hsiang , Laird Michael W.
Published: November 2014

During the scale‐up of several Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell monoclonal antibody production processes, significant reduction of the antibody interchain disulfide bonds was observed. The reduction was correlated with excessive mechanical cell shear during the harvest operations. These antibody reduction events resulted in failed product specifications and the subsequent loss of the drug substance batches. Several methods were recently developed to prevent antibody reduction, including modifying the cell culture media, using pre‐ and post‐harvest chemical additions to the cell culture fluid (CCF), lowering the pH, and air sparging of the harvested CCF (HCCF). The work described in this paper further explores the option of HCCF air sparging for preventing antibody reduction. Here, a small‐scale model was developed using a 3‐L bioreactor to mimic the conditions of a manufacturing‐scale harvest vessel and was subsequently employed to evaluate several air sparging strategies. In addition, these studies enabled further understanding of the relationships between cell lysis levels, oxygen consumption, and antibody reduction. Finally, the effectiveness of air sparging for several CHO cell lines and the potential impact on product quality were assessed to demonstrate that air sparging is an effective method in preventing antibody reduction. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 734–742. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Percutaneous paravalvular leak closure for symptomatic aortic regurgitation after CoreValve transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Arri Satpal S. , Poliacikova P. , Hildick‐Smith D.
Published: November 2014

Objectives

We present a case series of five patients in whom percutaneous paravalvular leak closure with the AVP4 device has been undertaken for symptomatic aortic regurgitation after CoreValve TAVI.

Background

Significant post‐procedure aortic regurgitation (AR) is often difficult to assess, and is an important predictor of adverse outcome following TAVI. Paravalvular leak closure is an established procedure for surgical aortic prostheses, and has been undertaken for Edwards TAVIs, but has not been described for closure of CoreValve paravalvular leaks.

Methods and Results

Five patients were treated (mean age 81 ± 4 years) with residual grade 3–4 AR following placement of a single CoreValve (n = 2), double CoreValve (n = 2) or CoreValve within a bioprosthetic AVR (n = 1). The mean time post TAVI implantation was 308 ± 269 days. All patients were symptomatic with persistent NYHA Grade III dyspnoea. 6 devices were deployed successfully, with mean procedure time of 109 ± 23 min. There were no procedural complications and all patients were discharged home by Day 2. Residual AR after treatment was grade 0 (n = 2), grade 1 (n = 1), grade 2 (n = 1) and grade 3 (n = 1). Symptomatic improvement was noted in all 4 patients who have been reviewed in clinic since.

Conclusions

This small series demonstrates the feasibility of paravalvular leak closure with the CoreValve TAVI, despite the adverse aortic lattice. The AVP4 device is ideally suited to this situation as it will pass through a 0.038' lumen and can therefore be delivered down standard diagnostic catheters. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of Unique Xanthene–Cyanine Fused Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Fluorophores with Superior Chemical Stability for Biological Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Chen Hua , Lin Weiying , Cui Haijun , Jiang Wenqing
Published: November 2014

The development of near‐infrared (NIR) functional fluorescent dyes has gained increasing attention over the last few decades. Herein, we describe the development of a unique type of xanthene–cyanine fused NIR fluorophores, XC dyes, formed by reacting chloro‐substituted cyanine with resorcin or its analogues under anhydrous conditions. XC dyes are a hybrid of cyanine and xanthene. The preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the formation of XC compounds likely includes a sequence of cyclization and oxidation. XC dyes have absorption and emission in the NIR region, and their fluorescence properties can be controlled by modifications of the key hydroxyl and amine groups. The novel XC NIR dyes are advantageous over previously developed merocyanine dyes NIR dyes in their chemical stability against strong nucleophiles. Quantum chemical calculations reveal that the distinct properties of XC and HD dyes can be attributed to their structural differences. By taking advantage of the superior properties of XC dyes, we have further constructed a new NIR fluorescent probe, XC‐H2S, which is capable of monitoring both the concentration‐ and time‐dependent variations of H2S in living animals, highlighting the value of XC NIR dyes. We expect that the unique XC NIR dyes developed herein will find broader applications than HD NIR dyes as fluorescent platforms for the development of a wide variety of NIR fluorescent probes, in particular, those suitable for targets of interest that have strong nucleophilic character.
Systemic levels of neuropeptide Y and dipeptidyl peptidase activity in patients with Ewing sarcoma—Associations with tumor phenotype and survival
Authors: Tilan Jason U. , Krailo Mark , Barkauskas Donald A. , Galli Susana , Mtaweh Haifa , Long Jessica , Wang Hongkun , Hawkins Kirsten , Lu Congyi , Jeha Dima , Izycka‐Swieszewska Ewa , Lawlor Elizabeth R. , Toretsky Jeffrey A. , Kitlinska Joanna B.
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is driven by fusion of the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 gene (EWSR1) with an E26 transformation‐specific (ETS) transcription factor (EWS‐ETS), most often the Friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI1). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an EWS‐FLI1 transcriptional target; it is highly expressed in ES and exerts opposing effects, ranging from ES cell death to angiogenesis and cancer stem cell propagation. The functions of NPY are regulated by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), a hypoxia‐inducible enzyme that cleaves the peptide and activates its growth‐promoting actions. The objective of this study was to determine the clinically relevant functions of NPY by identifying the associations between patients' ES phenotype and their NPY concentrations and DPP activity.

METHODS

NPY concentrations and DPP activity were measured in serum samples from 223 patients with localized ES and 9 patients with metastatic ES provided by the Children's Oncology Group.

RESULTS

Serum NPY levels were elevated in ES patients compared with the levels in a healthy control group and an osteosarcoma patient population, and the elevated levels were independent of EWS‐ETS translocation type. Significantly higher NPY concentrations were detected in patients with ES who had tumors of pelvic and bone origin. A similar trend was observed in patients with metastatic ES. There was no effect of NPY on survival in patients with localized ES. DPP activity in sera from patients with ES did not differ significantly from that in healthy controls and patients with osteosarcoma. However, high DPP levels were associated with improved survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic NPY levels are elevated in patients with ES, and these high levels are associated with unfavorable disease features. DPPIV in serum samples from patients with ES is derived from nontumor sources, and its high activity is correlated with improved survival. Cancer 2015;121:697–707. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Cancer survivors' disclosure of complementary health approaches to physicians: The role of patient‐centered communication
Authors: Sohl Stephanie J. , Borowski Laurel A. , Kent Erin E. , Smith Ashley Wilder , Oakley‐Girvan Ingrid , Rothman Russell L. , Arora Neeraj K.
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors' disclosure of complementary health approaches (CHAs) to their follow‐up care physicians is necessary to ensure the safe and optimal use of such approaches. Rates of disclosure of CHAs are variable and may be facilitated by patient‐centered communication.

METHODS

This cross‐sectional study conducted in 2003‐2004 examined a population‐based sample of leukemia, colorectal, and bladder cancer survivors (n=623) who were 2 to 5 years after their diagnosis. A subset of participants who reported using CHAs (n=196) was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between patients' perceptions of their physician's patient‐centered communication (ie, information exchange, affective behavior, knowledge of patients as persons) and patients' disclosure of CHA use to their physician with adjustments for physician, patient, and patient‐physician relationship factors.

RESULTS

Thirty‐one percent of the full sample used CHAs, and 47.6% of CHA users disclosed their use to their physicians. Disclosure was significantly associated with patient‐centered communication even with adjustments for hypothesized covariates (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09‐1.71). Perceived physician knowledge of the patient as a person (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.48) and information exchange (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02‐1.60) were the aspects of patient‐centered communication that contributed to this association. The main reason for nondisclosure assessed in the survey was that survivors did not think that it was important to discuss CHAs (67.0%). A majority of physicians encouraged continued use of CHAs when they were disclosed (64.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

Results support the idea that improving the overall patient centeredness of cancer follow‐up care and improving the disclosure of CHA use are potentially synergistic clinical goals. Cancer 2015;121:900–907. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Hybrid Polymer Electrolytes Based on a Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Poly(acrylic acid) Blend and a Pyrrolidinium‐Based Ionic Liquid for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Thayumanasundaram Savitha , Rangasamy Vijay Shankar , De Greef Niels , Seo Jin Won , Locquet Jean‐Pierre
Published: November 2014

Polymer blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared with different molar ratios by a solvent‐casting technique. The XRD patterns of the blends show that the degree of crystallinity of the PVA membranes decreases with the addition of PAA owing to the formation of interpenetrating polymer chains. The vibrational spectra of the blend membranes reveal the formation of strong hydrogen bonding between PVA and PAA. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals that the storage modulus of a 25 mol‐% PAA sample is comparable to that of pure PVA and, therefore, confirms the mechanical stability of the blend membranes. Significant changes in the peak areas and chemical shifts of the PVA hydroxyl signal (δ = 4–5 ppm) in the 1H NMR spectra of the blend membranes confirm the strong hydrogen bonding between the OH groups of PVA and PAA. The ionic liquid (IL) 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI) with 0.2 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) was added to the polymer blend to prepare flexible, nonvolatile hybrid polymer electrolytes for lithium‐ion batteries. A maximum ionic conductivity of 1 mS cm–1 is observed at 90 °C for the membrane with 70 mol‐% IL.
Multi‐temporal UAV data for automatic measurement of rill and interrill erosion on loess soil
Authors: Eltner Anette , Baumgart Philipp , Maas Hans‐Gerd , Faust Dominik
Published: November 2014

The fragile landscape of the north European loess belt is prone to soil erosion due to soil properties and intense land use of the fertile region. Exact measurement of surface changes with high temporal and spatial resolution over large areas is necessary to quantify and understand rill and interrill erosion processes. High resolution aerial imagery, acquired by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is used to automatically generate precise digital surface models (DSMs) of high spatial resolution by applying structure‐from‐motion image processing tools. During an investigation period of ten months, a 600 m2 field plot is observed during four field campaigns. A stable reference system is established for multi‐temporal comparison. The overall accuracy of the DSMs generated from UAV images is less than 1 cm, verified by comparison with terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) data. Furthermore, a method for automatic rill extraction and rill parameter calculation is developed, which enables objective rill description with cm‐accuracy and ‐resolution. Soil surface roughness and rill development as well as volumetric quantifications are analysed for multi‐temporal change detection. Surface changes during winter season are controlled by soil consolidation, crusting and sheet erosion. During rainy spring season sheet erosion and rill incision occur. Two thunderstorms in summer season cause dominant rill erosion. Erosion rills are more dominantly deepening than widening (from to 2 to 4 cm depth and from 17 to 23 cm width), resulting in average per rill erosion values of 0.03 and 0.07 m3 respectively. An orientation dependent lateral rill shift is revealed, implying rill widening in eastern direction due to dominant winds from the West. Volumetric quantifications indicate high erosion volumes, reaching up to 121 tha‐1 during the summer events. Highest erosion volumes are due to rill erosion rather than interrill erosion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can Payers Use Prices to Improve Quality? Evidence from English Hospitals
Authors: Allen Thomas , Fichera Eleonora , Sutton Matt
Published: November 2014

In most activity‐based financing systems, payers set prices reactively based on historical averages of hospital reported costs. If hospitals respond to prices, payers might set prices proactively to affect the volume of particular treatments or clinical practice. We evaluate the effects of a unique initiative in England in which the price offered to hospitals for discharging patients on the same day as a particular procedure was increased by 24%, while the price for inpatient treatment remained unchanged. Using national hospital records for 205 784 patients admitted for the incentivised procedure and 838 369 patients admitted for a range of non‐incentivised procedures between 1 December 2007 and 31 March 2011, we consider whether this price change had the intended effect and/or produced unintended effects. We find that the price change led to an almost six percentage point increase in the daycase rate and an 11 percentage point increase in the planned daycase rate. Patients benefited from a lower proportion of procedures reverted to open surgery during a planned laparoscopic procedure and from a reduction in long stays. There was no evidence that readmission and death rates were affected. The results suggest that payers can set prices proactively to incentivise hospitals to improve quality. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Vitro Effects of Some Flavones on Human Pyruvate Kinase Isoenzyme M2
Authors: Aslan Erdem , Adem Sevki
Published: November 2014

PKM2 is an important target for designing anticancer drug. Inhibitors and activators of this enzyme are suitable molecules for use in treating cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of certain flavones on PKM2. Apigenin, wogonin, flavone, 3‐hydroxyflavone, 5‐hydroxyflavone, 6‐hydroxyflavone, and 7‐hydroxyflavone effectively inhibited PKM2, with IC50 in the range of 0.99–2.120 μM. The kinetic study indicated that these compounds acted as noncompetitive with Ki values of 3.53–5.67 μM toward phosphoenolpyruvate. Scutellarin and tangeritin demonstrated strong activation effect with AC50 values < 2 μM. Diosmetin, baicalin, baicalein, and luteolin showed an intermediate‐level activator effect. These results demonstrate that flavone and their analogs could serve as leading compounds to develop new potent and selective inhibitor and activator for PKM2.
Superoxide Anion Production and Expression of gp91phoxand p47phoxAre Increased in Glomeruli and Proximal Tubules of Cisplatin‐Treated Rats
Authors: Trujillo Joyce , Molina‐Jijón Eduardo , Medina‐Campos Omar Noel , Rodríguez‐Muñoz Rafael , Reyes José Luis , Barrera Diana , Pedraza‐Chaverri José
Published: November 2014

The chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin has some side effects including nephrotoxicity that has been associated with reactive oxygen species production, particularly superoxide anion. The major source of superoxide anion is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase. However, the specific segment of the nephron in which superoxide anion is produced has not been identified. Rats were sacrificed 72 h after cisplatin injection (7.5 mg/kg), and kidneys were obtained to isolate glomeruli and proximal and distal tubules. Cisplatin induced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules but not in distal tubules. This enhanced superoxide anion production was prevented by diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Consistently, this effect was associated with the increased expression of gp91phoxand p47phox, subunits of NADPH oxidase. The enhanced superoxide anion production in glomeruli and proximal tubules, associated with the increased expression of gp91phoxand p47phox, is involved in the oxidative stress in cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity.
Icariin Inhibits Foam Cell Formation by Down‐Regulating the Expression of CD36 and Up‐Regulating the Expression of SR‐BI
Authors: Yang Haitao , Yan Lijie , Qian Peng , Duan Hongyan , Wu Jintao , Li Bing , Wang Shanling
Published: November 2014

Icariin is an important pharmacologically active flavonol diglycoside that can inhibit inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated macrophages. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of Icariin in the formation of foam cells. In this study, macrophages were cultured with LPS and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL) in the presence or absence of Icariin. RT‐PCR and western blot were used to detect the levels of mRNA and protein expression of CD36, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR‐BI) and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK. It was demonstrated that 4 µM or 20 µM Icariin treatment significantly inhibited the cholesterol ester (CE)/total cholesterol (TC) and oxLDL‐mediated foam cell formation (P < 0.05). The binding of oxLDL to LPS‐activated macrophages was also significantly hindered by Icariin (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Icariin down‐regulated the expression of CD36 in LPS‐activated macrophages in a dose‐dependent manner and CD36 over‐expression restored the inhibitory effect of Icariin on foam cell formation. The phosphorylation of p38MAPK was reduced by Icariin, indicating that Icariin reduced the expression of CD36 through the p38MAPK pathway. In addition, Icariin up‐regulated SR‐BI protein expression in a dose‐dependent manner, and SR‐BI gene silencing restored the inhibitory effect of Icariin on foam cell formation. These data demonstrate that Icariin inhibited foam cell formation by down‐regulating the expression of CD36 and up‐regulating the expression of SR‐BI. Therefore, our findings provide a new explanation as to why Icariin could inhibit atherosclerosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 9999:1–9, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 580–588, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extreme tolerance and developmental buffering of UV‐C induced DNA damage in embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus
Authors: Wagner Josiah T. , Podrabsky Jason E.
Published: November 2014

Free‐living aquatic embryos are often at risk of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV‐R). Successful completion of embryonic development depends on efficient removal of DNA lesions, and thus many aquatic embryos have mechanisms to reverse DNA lesions induced by UV‐R. However, little is known of how embryos that are able to enter embryonic dormancy may respond to UV‐R exposure and subsequent DNA damage. Embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus are unique among vertebrates because their normal embryonic development includes (1) a complete dispersion of embryonic blastomeres prior to formation of the definitive embryonic axis, and (2) entry into a state of metabolic depression and developmental arrest termed diapause. Here, we show that developing and diapausing embryos of A. limnaeus have exceptional tolerance of UV‐C radiation and can successfully complete embryonic development after receiving substantial doses of UV‐C, especially if allowed to recover in full‐spectrum light. Recovery in full‐spectrum light permits efficient removal of the most common type of DNA lesion induced by UV‐R: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Interestingly, whole‐mount embryo TUNEL assays suggest that apoptosis may not be a major contributor to cell death in embryos UV‐C irradiated during dispersion/reaggregation or diapause. We also observed embryo mortality to be significantly delayed by several weeks in diapausing embryos irradiated and allowed to recover in the dark. These atypical responses to UV‐R induced DNA damage may be due to the unique annual killifish life history and provide insight into DNA damage repair and recognition mechanisms during embryonic dormancy. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 10–30, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of plasmid pXL100 from Amycolatopsis orientalis HCCB10007 and construction of a shuttle vector
Authors: Xu Li , Li Yanmei , Zhu Li , Zhao Wei , Chen Daijie , Huang Weiyi , Yang Sheng
Published: November 2014

Many strains of Amycolatopsis, such as Amycolatopsis orientalis, A. balhimycina, and A. mediterranei, are important antibiotic producers. Three indigenous plasmids, pMEA100, pMEA300, and pA387, found in this genus have been sequenced. However, only some vectors based on pA387 have been widely applied in Amycolatopsis research. An indigenous plasmid, pXL100, was isolated from the vancomycin producer A. orientalis HCCB10007. Sequence analysis of pXL100 revealed its total length to be 33,499 bp and GC content to be 68.9%. A 2830‐bp fragment containing three ORFs has been identified as essential for replication in A. orientalis, but it has no significant similarity to any known replicons. A vector, pLYZW7‐3, was constructed based on the pXL100 replicon and could be transferred into A. mediterranei and A. orientalis by electroporation or conjugation with high frequency. A mutant with a disrupted gene was successfully complemented with the pLYZW7‐3 vector, indicating that the vector is potentially useful in Amycolatopsis research.
The regional features of temperature variation trends over Xinjiang in China by the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method
Authors: Bai Ling , Xu Jianhua , Chen Zhongsheng , Li Weihong , Liu Zuhan , Zhao Benfu , Wang Zujing
Published: November 2014

Based on a temperature anomaly time series from 16 international exchange stations in Xinjiang from 1957 to 2012, the multi‐scale characteristics of temperature variability were analysed using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) method. Regional differences in variation trends and change‐points were also preliminarily discussed. The results indicated that in the past 50+ years, the overall temperature in Xinjiang has exhibited a significant nonlinear upward trend, and its changes have clearly exhibited an inter‐annual scale (quasi‐3 and quasi‐6‐year) and inter‐decadal scale (quasi‐10 and quasi‐30‐year). The variance contribution rates of each component demonstrated that the inter‐annual change had a strong influence on the overall temperature change in Xinjiang, and the reconstructed inter‐annual variation trend could describe the fluctuation state of the original temperature anomaly during the study period. The reconstructed inter‐decadal variability revealed that the climate mode in Xinjiang had a significant transformation before and after 1995, namely the temperature anomaly shift from a negative phase to a positive one. Furthermore, there were regional differences in the nonlinear changes and change‐points of temperature. At the same time, the results also suggested that the EEMD method can effectively reveal variations in long‐term temperature sequences at different time scales and can be used for the complex diagnosis of nonlinear and non‐stationary signal changes.
Differentiation with Raman spectroscopy among several natural ultramarine blues and the synthetic ultramarine blue used by the Catalonian modernist painter Ramon Casas i Carbó
Authors: De Torres A. R. , Ruiz‐Moreno S. , López‐Gil A. , Ferrer P. , Chillón M. C.
Published: November 2014

This paper investigates, using only Raman spectroscopy, the spectral differences among the synthetic ultramarine blue (J. B. Guimet) and three natural ultramarine blues (lazurites) corresponding to three lapis lazulis from different geographical sources (Chile, Afghanistan and Siberia). The synthetic ultramarine blue used as reference pigment is the identified in an artwork created around 1917 by the Catalonian modernist painter Ramon Casas i Carbó. This synthetic pigment is compared with the three natural ultramarine blues and, in his turn, the latter are also compared each other. In order to quantify the spectral differences, a rigorous methodology based on the Euclidean distance between homologue spectral segments (or intervals) has been developed and presented here. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Online background cleanup followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of perfluorinated compounds in human blood
Authors: Liu Liangpo , She Jianwen , Zhang Xueqin , Zhang Jie , Tian Meiping , Huang Qingyu , Shah Eqani Syed Ali Musstjab Akber , Shen Heqing
Published: November 2014

In this study, a novel method for the analysis of perfluorinated compounds in whole blood has been developed and validated. The method was developed by using a conventional reversed‐phase C18 column as a trapping column for the elimination of background contamination and high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for the target compounds analysis. The trapping column provided fast online separation of the background contamination of perfluorinated compounds. In this developed method, the limits of detection for different perfluorinated compounds ranged from 0.06 to 0.14 ng/mL. It is notable that the limit of detection (0.07 ng/mL) for perfluorooctanoic acid was improved significantly after the elimination of background contamination. The method was also validated in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The recoveries ranged from 66.8 to 111.9%, with relative standard deviations from 2.1 to 15.3%. Our preliminary data suggest that the novel method based on trapping column cleanup followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry could be applied in studies on the human exposure to perfluorinated compounds.
Development and validation of a liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method to determine resveratrol and piceid isomers in beeswax
Authors: Ares Ana M. , González Yolanda , Nozal María J. , Bernal José L. , Higes Mariano , Bernal José
Published: November 2014

This paper represents the first report of a liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method for simultaneously analyzing resveratrol and piceid isomers (cis and trans) in beeswax. An efficient extraction procedure has been proposed (average analyte recoveries were between 89 and 95%); this involved a solid–liquid extraction using a mixture of ethanol and water (80:20, v/v) and a concentration step in a rotary evaporator. The separation of all the compounds was achieved using a C18 column and a mobile phase composed of ammonium formate 0.03 M in water and acetonitrile in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, limits of detection and quantification, linearity, precision, and accuracy. The limits of detection and quantification ranged from 1.0 to 1.7 and 3.5 to 5.5 μg/kg, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was applied to analyze beeswax samples collected from experimental and organic apiaries.
Dietary squalene supplementation improves DSS‐induced acute colitis by downregulating p38 MAPK and NFkB signaling pathways
Authors: Sánchez‐Fidalgo Susana , Villegas Isabel , Rosillo Maria Ángeles , Aparicio‐Soto Marina , de la Lastra Catalina Alarcón
Published: November 2014

Scope

Squalene is a polyunsaturated triterpene, which has exhibited anticancer and antioxidant activities among others. We investigated dietary squalene supplementation effect on an acute colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice.

Methods and results

Mice were fed from weaning with squalene at 0.02% and 0.1%. After 4 weeks, mice were exposed to 3% DSS for 5 days developing acute colitis. After DSS removal (5 days), colons were histological and biochemically processed. Our results showed that dietary squalene treatment exerts anti‐inflammatory action in DSS‐induced acute colitis. Western blot revealed that squalene downregulated COX‐2 (where COX is cyclooxygenase) and inducible nitric oxide synthase system by inhibition of mitogen‐activated protein kinase p38 and the nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling pathways, preventing an increase in the cytokines levels. Under our experimental conditions, STAT3 and FOXP3 (where FOXP3 is forkhead box P3) were not modified and the transcriptional regulation of antioxidant and/or detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 (where Nrf2 is nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2), was reduced in DSS‐induced colitis. However, any change could be observed after squalene supplementation.

Conclusion

Squalene was able to improve the oxidative events and returned proinflammatory proteins expression to basal levels probably through p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase and nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling pathways. However, supplementary studies are needed in order to provide a basis for developing a new dietary supplementation strategy.
A stable X‐FEM in cohesive transition from closed to open crack
Authors: Sadaba Sergio , Romero Ignacio , Gonzalez Carlos , Llorca Javier
Published: November 2014

Ignoring crack tip effects, the stability of the X‐FEM discretizations is trivial for open cracks but remains a challenge if we constrain the crack to be closed (i.e., the bi‐material problem). Here, we develop a formulation for general cohesive interactions between crack faces within the X‐FEM framework. The stability of the new formulation is demonstrated for any cohesive crack stiffness (including the closed crack) and illustrated for a nonlinear cohesive softening law. A benchmark of the new model is carried out with simpler approaches for a closed crack (i.e., Lagrange multipliers) and for a cohesive crack (i.e., penalty approach). Due to the analogies between stable cohesive X‐FEM and Nitsche's methods, the new method simplifies the implementation and is attractive in dynamic explicit codes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The alteration of protein prenylation induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through Rheb–mTORC1 signalling and leads to chronic heart failure
Authors: Xu Na , Guan Shan , Chen Zhong , Yu Yang , Xie Jun , Pan Fei‐Yan , Zhao Ning‐Wei , Liu Li , Yang Zhong‐Zhou , Gao Xiang , Xu Biao , Li Chao‐Jun
Published: November 2014

G protein‐regulated cell function is crucial for cardiomyocytes, and any deregulation of its gene expression or protein modification can lead to pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Herein, we report that protein prenylation, a lipidic modification of G proteins that facilitates their association with the cell membrane, might control the process of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We found that geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), a key enzyme involved in protein prenylation, played a critical role in postnatal heart growth by regulating cardiomyocyte size. Cardiac‐specific knockout of GGPPS in mice led to spontaneous cardiac hypertrophy, beginning from week 4, accompanied by the persistent enlargement of cardiomyocytes. This hypertrophic effect occurred by altered prenylation of G proteins. Evaluation of the prenylation, membrane association and hydrophobicity showed that Rheb was hyperactivated and increased mTORC1 signalling pathway after GGPPS deletion. Protein farnesylation or mTORC1 inhibition blocked GGPPS knockdown‐induced mTORC1 activation and suppressed the larger neonatal rat ventricle myocyte size and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vivo, demonstrating a central role of the FPP–Rheb–mTORC1 axis for GGPPS deficiency‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The sustained cardiomyocyte hypertrophy progressively provoked cardiac decompensation and dysfunction, ultimately causing heart failure and adult death. Importantly, GGPPS was down‐regulated in the hypertrophic hearts of mice subjected to transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and in failing human hearts. Moreover, HPLC–MS/MS detection revealed that the myocardial farnesyl diphosphate (FPP):geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) ratio was enhanced after pressure overload. Our observations conclude that the alteration of protein prenylation promotes cardiomyocyte hypertrophic growth, which acts as a potential cause for pathogenesis of heart failure and may provide a new molecular target for hypertrophic heart disease clinical therapy. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sustained β‐catenin activity in dermal fibroblasts promotes fibrosis by up‐regulating expression of extracellular matrix protein‐coding genes
Authors: Hamburg‐Shields Emily , DiNuoscio Gregg J , Mullin Nathaniel K , Lafyatis Robert , Atit Radhika P
Published: November 2014

Fibrosis is an end‐stage response to tissue injury that is associated with loss of organ function as a result of excess extracellular matrix (ECM) production by fibroblasts. In skin, pathological fibrosis is evident during keloid scar formation, systemic sclerosis (SSc) and morphea. Dermal fibroblasts in these fibrotic diseases exhibit increased Wnt/β‐catenin signalling, a pathway that is sufficient to cause fibrosis in mice. However, in the context of this complex pathology, the precise pro‐fibrotic consequences of Wnt/β‐catenin signalling are not known. We found that expression of stabilized β‐catenin in mouse dermal fibroblasts resulted in spontaneous, progressive skin fibrosis with thickened collagen fibres and altered collagen fibril morphology. The fibrotic phenotype was predominated by resident dermal fibroblasts. Genome‐wide profiling of the fibrotic mouse dermis revealed elevated expression of matrix‐encoding genes, and the promoter regions of these genes were enriched for Tcf/Lef family transcription factor binding sites. Additionally, we identified 32 β‐catenin‐responsive genes in our mouse model that are also over‐expressed in human fibrotic tissues and poised for regulation by Tcf/Lef family transcription factors. Therefore, we have uncovered a matrix‐regulatory role for stabilized β‐catenin in fibroblasts in vivo and have defined a set of β‐catenin‐responsive genes with relevance to fibrotic disease. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design, polymerization, and properties of polyurethane elastomers from miscible, immiscible, and hybridized seed‐oil derived soft segment blends
Authors: Sonnenschein Mark F. , Ginzburg Valeriy V. , Grzesiak Adam L. , Schiller Klaus , Wendt Benjamin L.
Published: November 2014

Polyester seed‐oil derived polyols have been prepared and blended with conventional polyols for making polyurethane elastomers. Miscibility was complete for polypropylene oxide/polyethylene oxide and polytetramethylene oxide (PTMEG). Blends of polyester seed‐oil derived polyols with conventional polyester polyols (polybutylene adipate and ɛ‐polycaprolactone) were immiscible or nearly so. Furthermore, the phase behavior (miscible vs. immiscible) did not change appreciably for each blend composition explored as a function of temperature at relevant ranges (up to the polyether ceiling temperature). This counter‐intuitive result is found to be actually consistent with calculated solubility parameters for each polyol type and the phase diagrams computed on their basis. The phase behavior of the polyols is shown to have significant effects on the properties of polyurethane elastomers where immiscible polyols cause broadening of the glass transition distribution and significant reduction of ultimate tensile properties. However, here it is shown that immiscible systems containing polyester seed‐oil derived polyols can be transesterified with the appropriate polyol partner of interest to create a new single phase polyol or that the polyester polyol monomers can also be copolymerized to make new single phase polyols, both of which result in improved polyurethane elastomer properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 93–102
Monte Carlo morphological modelling of a P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction organic solar cell
Authors: Yap Jing Han , To Tran Thinh , Adams Stefan
Published: November 2014

To deepen the understanding of morphology evolution in bulk heterojunction P3HT:PCBM organic photovoltaics system by thermal treatment, domain‐size‐dependent interfacial energies were first determined by coarse‐grained molecular dynamics modelling and then used in Monte Carlo simulations of the morphology evolution. Thereby initial conditions associated with optimal interfacial surface area, continuous volume, as well as domain sizes, and spatial distributions of the phase separated domains were identified. In line with earlier studies, a 1:1 P3HT:PCBM blend ratio is found to exhibit the most efficient morphology for exciton dissociation and charge transport. Our simulations reveal that preseeding of P3HT crystal at the anode side prior to the annealing process will be instrumental to pin the formation of P3HT at the favorable electrode especially when seeding exceeds a threshold of 10% surface coverage, whereas denser seeding patterns beyond the threshold did not improve the active layer morphology further. The observed trilayer depth profile (in the absence of preseeded P3HT crystals) implies that the commonly used thickness 100 nm of the active layer is not ideal for ensuring that donor and acceptor phases dominate at opposite ends of the active layer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 270–279
Application of quantum calculations in the chemical industry—An overview
Authors: Deglmann Peter , Schäfer Ansgar , Lennartz Christian
Published: November 2014

The field of quantum chemistry experienced huge progress in the past two decades. The drivers for this have been the availability of more and more powerful computer hardware, the development and implementation of improved methods with a better balanced compromise between accuracy and efficiency, as well as pioneering work how these methods are successfully applied to real‐world problems. Thus, quantum calculations, in particular via density functional theory, became an essential tool in many branches of chemical research. This article tries to give an overview how quantum chemical modeling is used in chemical industry, which is done by reviewing papers written by authors from chemical companies. Various topics of particular industrial relevance are introduced together with strategies how to address them via quantum calculations. Examples are the computation of reaction thermodynamics and kinetics as the key ingredients to understand and predict chemical reactivity, but also solvation models as well as methods to describe electronically excited states. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In silico based virtual screening and mixed mode QM/MM calculation identifies caffeine scaffold for designing potential inhibitors for tyrosyl tRNA synthetase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Sathya Rajendran , Thamotharan Subbiah
Published: November 2014

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are novel antibacterial drug target because of their important role in protein synthesis. In this study, we performed high throughput virtual screening of 205883 compounds from Asinex ligand database to identify potential specific inhibitors for Tyrosyl tRNA synthetase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtbTyrRS). Compounds are ranked based on the glide extra precision docking score. It is noted that the top ranked compounds have caffeine scaffold. The top five caffeine analogs are further evaluated for other drug‐like properties. The binding energies of caffeine analogs are estimated using mixed mode quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculation. The results show that these caffeine analogs have good absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties and high binding affinity to the MtbTyrRS. This suggests that caffeine could be a new scaffold for designing inhibitors against Tyrosyl tRNA synthetase of M. tuberculosis. The top five caffeine analogs are also subjected to docking calculations with human cytosolic and mitochondrial Tyrosyl tRNA synthetases to ascertain their specificities toward MtbTyrRS. The comparative docking studies indicate that the top five caffeine analogs are specific for MtbTyrRS. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.