bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pollination by Animals
Authors: Waser Nickolas M , Forrest Jessica RK
Published: April 2014

Most species of flowering plants depend on animals, such as bees, to move their pollen and enable sexual reproduction, and most animal pollinators, in turn, depend on flowers as sources of food or other materials. Although the interaction is mutualistic, benefitting both plants and animals, it is not cooperation, because the best ‘interests’ of the two partners differ. Animal pollination is critical for crop and natural ecosystems and plays central roles in plant ecology and evolution. In particular, selection imposed by animal pollinators is thought to have driven the evolution of much of the floral diversity we see today. Most plant–pollinator relationships are not specialised, one‐to‐one mutualisms – a fact that should make pollination networks somewhat resilient to species extinctions. Nevertheless, recent pollinator declines have given rise to concerns about loss of pollination services to crops and wild plant populations.

Key Concepts:

Most flowering plant species depend on animals to transfer pollen from anthers (the male organs of flowers) to stigmas (the female organs) in order to produce seeds.

Pollinating animals visit flowers to obtain resources: usually nectar or pollen, but sometimes oils, fragrances, resins or oviposition sites.

The divergent ‘interests’ of plants and pollinators in the interaction explain such phenomena as unrewarding flowers and nectar‐robbing insects.

Recent pollinator declines are causing concern about the maintenance of pollination services to crops and wild plants.

Pollination webs illustrating the linkages among plants and pollinators within a community show that reciprocally specialised interactions are rare.

Numerous studies show that pollinators can exert selection on plant traits, but selection by plants on pollinator traits has been harder to demonstrate.

Pollinators play an important role in the process of reproductive isolation and speciation in flowering plants.
FASTA
Search Programs
Authors: Pearson William R
Published: April 2014

The FASTA programs search protein and
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
databases for sequences with statistically significant similarity. The programs compare proteins, DNA and short peptides and oligonucleotides, and run on most popular computers. FASTA and BLAST both seek to identify homologous proteins or DNA sequences. BLAST is faster, but FASTA is more flexible, providing both rigorous (SSEARCH, LALIGN, GGSEARCH and GLSEARCH) and heuristic (FASTA, FASTX/Y, TFASTX/Y and FASTS/M/F) algorithms, a wider range of scoring matrices and different approaches for estimating statistical significance. In addition, the FASTA programs offer options to search a small, representative database, but then the report results from a larger sequence set linked to the initial significant hits. The FASTA programs can also annotate the alignments to include the conservation state of aligned functional residues, such as active sites, and subalignment scores associated with domain boundaries. The FASTA programs provide flexible and rigorous alternatives to BLAST for protein, translated‐DNA and DNA alignment.

Key Concepts:

The FASTA program uses a heuristic (approximate) strategy for finding similar sequences, but the FASTA package includes SSEARCH and GGSEARCH, which provide rigorous algorithms.

Homologs can be identified because they share excess (statistically significant) sequence similarity.

E()‐values (expect‐values) report the significance (expectation) of a sequence similarity score.

Sequence alignments are more accurate when the scoring matrix matches the evolutionary distance of the aligned sequences.

The FASTA programs can align against sequences not included in the initial search using library expansion.

The FASTA programs can use external annotations to modify aligned sequences and to partition similarity scores.
High‐throughput ‘On Chip’ Protein and Nucleic Acid Transfection
Authors: Herrmann Frank , Isalan Mark
Published: April 2014

Transfection describes the nonviral introduction of exogenous molecules into eukaryotic cells. Numerous transfection methods have been developed to transfer nucleic acids, proteins and other macromolecules across the plasma membrane efficiently. These include physical methods, such as electroporation, magnetofection and microinjection, as well as a chemical or biological carrier‐mediated methods. Chemical transfection reagents such as cationic lipids or polymers are widely used, either alone or in combination with scaffolds. Biological methods include delivery with cell‐penetrating protein domain fusions such as trans‐activator of transcription protein from human immunodeficiency virus, VP22 or Antennapedia peptides. Certain proteins such as zinc‐finger nucleases, which are used for targeted genome modification, even appear to have intrinsic cell‐penetrating properties. To facilitate large‐scale genomic and proteomic studies there is an increasing need for automated high‐throughput transfection platforms. Several such platforms have been developed, including multiwell plates, transfection microarrays and microfluidic chip formats. Overall, the different advantages and applications of these diverse methods to deliver cargo into cells are discussed.

Key Concepts:

Cell membranes are a barrier to the delivery of proteins and nucleic acids into cells.

Mechanical, chemical and biological methods of transfection have been developed to cross the cell membrane barrier.

Positively charged molecules, such as cationic lipids, polymers or peptides, can help to penetrate the negatively‐charged surface of cell membranes.

Various automatable high‐throughput technologies have been developed, including transfection microarrays.

Reverse transfection is a scalable, potentially high‐throughput process where cells are added to transfectable molecules, preimmobilised on a scaffold.
Genetics of Nicotine Addiction
Authors: Bloom A Joseph , Goate Alison M
Published: April 2014

Diseases associated with addiction to nicotine, the key reinforcing constituent of tobacco, remain the largest cause of preventable death worldwide. Although twin studies indicate a large genetic contribution to the variation in smoking‐related behaviours, the polymorphisms underlying this heritability remain largely unidentified. Candidate gene studies have investigated several pathways, but thus far only those few genetic loci identified in unbiased genome‐wide association studies have been consistently replicated; these are the direct targets of nicotine in the nervous system, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genesCHRNA5–CHRNA3–CHRNB4and the primary nicotine metabolism geneCYP2A6. These variants may differ in their influences regarding different aspects of smoking behaviour, and their frequencies vary widely among different ethnic populations. Use of more‐targeted phenotypes including biomarkers of smoke exposure such as cotinine, nicotine's major metabolite, and exhaled carbon monoxide, may provide the key to detecting further genetic correlates of nicotine dependence and related diseases.

Key Concepts:

Variation in nicotine addiction‐related traits have large genetic components.

Genetic studies of nicotine addiction seek to identify drug targets for smoking cessation treatment and to improve treatments using genotype‐based personalised medicine.

Candidate gene studies have focussed on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and genes in the nicotine metabolism, dopaminergic, serotonergic, GABAergic, and opioid pathways, but few associations have been convincingly replicated.

Unbiased genome‐wide studies have identified very few consistent genetic associations with smoking‐related phenotypes.

A functional variant in theCHRNA5–CHRNA3–CHRNB4gene cluster is robustly associated with multiple smoking behaviours and related disease risk.

Functional variation in theCYP2A6nicotine metabolism gene is associated with cigarette consumption and related disease risk.

Genetic factors contributing to nicotine addiction vary by ethnic population.

Genotype–environment and genotype–treatment interactions are important factors determining smoking initiation, dependence and cessation outcomes.

Use of biomarkers and other endophenotypes may provide greater power to identify genetic correlates of nicotine dependence.
Vavilov, Nikolai Ivanovich
Authors: Roll‐Hansen Nils
Published: April 2014

Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov (1887–1943) was a Russian botanist, plant geographer, breeder and geneticist. A charismatic scientific leader of the rapid expansion of Soviet agricultural science in the 1920s and early 1930s, his most important scientific contribution was the theory of centres of origin of cultivated plants, which guided the development of the ‘World collection of cultivated plant’. This was the world's first large scale gene bank and a major benchmark in the history of modern plant breeding and conservation of genetic heritage. Vavilov was arrested in 1940 on characteristic Stalinist charges of counter‐revolutionary activities, wrecking of Soviet economy and espionage for Western powers. The real reason was his defence of classical genetics against the politically supported pseudoscientific theories of ‘agrobiology’ promoted by T.D. Lysenko and his followers. Vavilov had a central role in the international ideological and political controversies over science in the middle decades of the twentieth century. First, in the turbulent 1930s, as an active leader in Soviet science; and then, after his arrest in 1940 and death in 1943, as a symbol of scientific freedom and autonomy on the intellectual front of the Cold War.
Gould, Stephen Jay
Authors: Ruse Michael
Published: April 2014

Stephen Jay Gould (1941–2002) was a Harvard‐based American palaeontologist (‘paleobiologist’) and popular science writer who was known for his theory of ‘punctuated equilibrium’, evolution by jumps, as well as his fights against creationism and human sociobiology. He saw evolutionary theory as hierarchical and believed that at the top levels there was a process he called ‘species selection’, something that palaeontologists uniquely are able to discern and understand. Although his work was much appreciated by the general public, he could irritate his fellow scientists. No one, however, denied the deep moral passions that drove his thinking and writing.
Assessing Genetic Variants of Uncertain Significance: The Example of Lynch Syndrome
Authors: Rasmussen Lene Juel , Heinen Christopher D
Published: April 2014

A significant fraction of cancer is the result of genetic predisposition. Frequently, in patients with suspected cancer predisposition, subtle variations are found in predisposing genes. Currently, it is often not possible to determine whether such variants are pathogenic, thus they are termed variants of uncertain significance (VUS). This leads to anxiety in carriers and noncarrying relatives alike, as well as to an unnecessary burden to preventive healthcare. The establishment of procedures that enable the diagnostic assessment of VUSs in individuals are discussed and hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome, is used as an example. This challenge is addressed by illustrating the importance of combining genetic and functional data in future strategies to assess VUS. The proposed strategies combine clinical genetic, analytical, functional and
in silico
approaches.

Key Concepts:

Biological knowledge is essential for functional characterisation of variants of uncertain significance (VUS).

Diagnosis of inherited cancer disorders requires integration of clinical and biological data.

DNA mismatch repair is defective in Lynch syndrome.

Deficient DNA mismatch repair causes genomic instability including microsatellite instability.

Classification of variants of uncertain significance is important for implementation of cancer prevention strategies.
Gene Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: McCarty Douglas M , Fu Haiyan
Published: April 2014

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a heterogeneous group of devastating conditions characterised by impairments of the central nervous system early during course of development and maturation. Although common NDDs tend to have complex aetiology, other major NDDs are inherited disorders with a known single‐gene or chromosomal abnormality. Effective treatments are rare for these diseases. The most critical challenges in therapeutic development are the broad, complex neuropathology and circumventing the blood–brain barrier. Gene therapy has been a promising approach for treating NDDs, especially monogenic disorders. With recent progress in understanding the disease mechanisms, and improvements to gene delivery vectors and strategies, the clinical potential of gene therapy for NDDs is being realised. This is particularly true for the neuropathic lysosomal storage diseases, in which multiple promising vector administration approaches are under development.

Key Concepts:

Gene therapy provides therapeutics by delivery of targeted genes.

Monogenic NDDs are good candidates for gene therapies that target the root causes.

Neuropathology of NDDs is usually broad or global in the CNS.

The blood–brain barrier poses a major challenge for CNS gene delivery.

Adeno‐associated virus serotype 9 vector has the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier.
Genetics of Pheochromocytoma
Authors: Martucci Victoria L , Pacak Karel
Published: April 2014

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL) are closely related neuroendocrine tumours of the chromaffin tissues of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. These rare tumours have a strong genetic component, with underlying germline and somatic mutations in one of 17 genes found in approximately 50%. Clinical presentations of PHEO/PGL vary based on the affected gene, and understanding these differences can help guide genetic testing, an important part of PHEO/PGL patient management. Despite the differences in presentation and gene function, all 17 genes may affect a single pathway. Particularly, recent proposals have focused on hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIFs) as key players in PHEO/PGL, due to the known pseudohypoxic environment found in these tumours and the central role played by HIFs in cellular processes. By linking the susceptibility genes to a central potential therapeutic target like HIF, new treatment methods could soon be introduced to improve the outcomes of PHEO/PGL patients.

Key Concepts:

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas have the strongest genetic component of any endocrine tumour; half or more are linked to germline and somatic mutations in 17 genes.

The clinical presentations associated with each gene vary, particularly with regard to tumour location, multiplicity, biochemical phenotype, average patient age at diagnosis and risk of metastases.

Genetic testing is an essential component of PHEO/PGL management, but can be costly and time‐consuming; newer techniques to resolve these limitations are being explored.

Messenger RNA expression profiles can help broadly classify PHEO/PGL into two well‐established clusters based on their broader mechanistic errors.

Additional clustering mechanisms are being proposed based on other analyses, including miRNA, transcriptomic, metabolomic and proteomic studies.

Beyond clustering, unifying theories to link PHEO/PGL susceptibility genes have been proposed to link all 17 genes to a common signalling pathway, focusing particularly on the processes of apoptosis and hypoxia response.

Identifying common targets between the genes could aid in the identification of novel treatment strategies for patients with these rare neuroendocrine tumours.
Integrating Robotic Fabrication in the Design Process
Authors: Budig Michael , Lim Jason , Petrovic Raffael
Published: April 2014

Does the application of robotic technologies in Southeast Asian cities, where the residential high‐rise is pre‐eminent, provide a unique opportunity to introduce bespoke design elements and liberate the high‐rise from serial production and standardisation? Michael Budig, Jason Lim and Raffael Petrovic of the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) at the Singapore‐ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability (SEC) introduce the research project ‘Design of Robotic Fabricated High Rises’ (2012‐13) led by Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Kohler, exploring high‐rise typologies and architectural scenarios for future vertical cities.
Computation or Revolution
Authors: Morel Philippe
Published: April 2014

The connection between technology and society today remains as compelling as in Le Corbusier's time, with views from social commentators, scientists and economists habitually polarising around the adverse or positive impact of technological change. Tracing the roots of computation and robotics back to the Second World War, Philippe Morel of EZCT Architecture & Design Research redefines the position of artificial intelligence, robots and computation in architecture, highlighting the potential of computers to perform precise calculations – and outperform human intelligence in almost every way.
Ultrathin Polymer Films with Intrinsic Microporosity: Anomalous Solvent Permeation and High Flux Membranes
Authors: Gorgojo Patricia , Karan Santanu , Wong Him Cheng , Jimenez‐Solomon Maria F. , Cabral João T , Livingston Andrew G.
Published: April 2014

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes with ultrathin separation layers down to 35 nm in thickness fabricated from a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) are presented. These membranes exhibit exceptionally fast permeation of n‐heptane with a rejection for hexaphenylbenzene of about 90%. A 35 nm thick PIM‐1 membrane possesses a Young's modulus of 222 MPa, and shows excellent stability under hydraulic pressures of up to 15 bar in OSN. A maximum permeance for n‐heptane of 18 Lm−2h−1bar−1 is achieved with a 140 nm thick membrane, which is about two orders of magnitude higher than Starmem240 (a commercial polyimide‐based OSN membrane). Unexpectedly, decreasing the film thickness below 140 nm results in an anomalous decrease in permeance, which appears to be related to a packing enhancement of PIM‐1, as measured by light interferometry. Further, thermal annealing of the membranes formed from PIM‐1 reveals that their permeance is preserved up to temperatures in excess of 150 °C, whereas the permeance of conventional, integrally skinned, asymmetric polyimide OSN membranes decreases significantly when they are annealed under the same conditions. To rationalize this key difference in response of functional performance to annealing, the concept of membranes with intrinsic microporosity (MIMs) versus membranes with extrinsic microporosity (MEMs) is introduced.
The Influence of Nanocrystal Aggregates on Photovoltaic Performance in Nanocrystal–Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells
Authors: Böhm Marcus L. , Kist René J. P. , Morgenstern Frederik S. F. , Ehrler Bruno , Zarra Salvatore , Kumar Abhishek , Vaynzof Yana , Greenham Neil C.
Published: April 2014

CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) can be used as an electron acceptor in solar cells, employing organic ligands to passivate their surface and make them processable from solution. The nature and abundance of impurities present after NC ligand exchange from oleic acid to n‐butylamine are identified. A further purification step using hexane as a selective solvent is described, which excludes NC aggregates from solution. The influence of NC aggregates on photovoltaic device performance is studied in a CdSe:poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] (MDMO‐PPV) bulk heterojunction solar cell. The exclusion of NC aggregates leads to a four‐fold increase in device power conversion efficiency (PCE) in optimized devices. A superior blend morphology leading to improved charge generation and a better NC percolation network is identified as the main causes of this increased solar cell performance.
Tripodal Fluorescent Sensor for Encapsulation‐Based Detection of Picric Acid in Water
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Sandhu Sana , Singh Prabhpreet , Hundal Geeta , Hundal Maninder Singh , Kumar Subodh
Published: April 2014

The combination of steric gearing in substituted triethylbenzene and linear structures of 1‐(4‐biphenyl)(benz)imidazolium moieties have been used to design and synthesize tripodal chemosensors with preorganized cavities for detection of picric acid (PA) in (4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1‐piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer. The two chemosensors undergo highly selective fluorescence quenching with PA and lead an approximate tenfold increase in KSV values (3.57×105 M−1 and 2.67×105 M−1) and greater than 2000 times higher sensitivity than earlier reported benzimidazolium‐based chemosensors. The upfield shift of PA protons (Δδ≈0.8) in 1H NMR titration studies reveals encapsulation of PA in the cavity of the sensors. In water, one of the sensors can detect 1.0 nM PA as the lowest detection limit and TLC strips doped with the same sensor can detect 137 ag cm‐2 of PA under UV illumination. Thin films of this sensor undergo fluorescence quenching in the presence of PA vapor in less than 120 seconds.
Temperaturgesteuerte Wasserfiltration mit Mikrogel‐modifizierten Hohlfasermembranen
Authors: Menne Daniel , Pitsch Fee , Wong John E. , Pich Andrij , Wessling Matthias
Published: April 2014

In dieser Studie wird das Potential wässriger polymerbasierter Mikrogele als Funktionselement in der Membranfiltration untersucht, wobei das Hauptaugenmerk auf schaltbaren Filtrationsanwendungen liegt. Zur Funktionalisierung von Mikro‐ und Ultrafiltrationshohlfasermembranen verwendeten wir Mikrogele, die auf Poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) basieren und ein thermoresponsives Verhalten aufweisen. Die Mikrogel‐modifizierten Membranen werden mittels “inside‐out”‐ und “outside‐in”‐Filtration im Dead‐End‐Modus bei konstantem Flux hergestellt. Die Reinwasserpermeabilität und die Stabilität dieser Membranen werden nicht nur in Abhängigkeit der Zeit dargestellt, sondern auch in Abhängigkeit der Temperatur. Die Mikrogel‐modifizierte Membran weist ein reversibles thermoresponsives Verhalten auf, wobei der viskositätskorrigierte Permeationswiderstand sowie auch der Rückhalt mit sinkender Temperatur ansteigt.
DNA‐Templated Assembly of a Heterobivalent Quantum Dot Nanoprobe For Extra‐ and Intracellular Dual‐Targeting and Imaging of Live Cancer Cells
Authors: Wei Wei , He Xuewen , Ma Nan
Published: April 2014

Quantum dots (QDs) hold great promise for the molecular imaging of cancer because of their superior optical properties. Although cell‐surface biomarkers can be readily imaged with QDs, non‐invasive live‐cell imaging of critical intracellular cancer markers with QDs is a great challenge because of the difficulties in the automatic delivery of QD probes to the cytosol and the ambiguity of intracellular targeting signals. Herein, we report a new type of DNA‐templated heterobivalent QD nanoprobes with the ability to target and image two spatially isolated cancer markers (nucleolin and mRNA) present on the cell surface and in the cell cytosol. Bypassing endolysosomal sequestration, this type of QD nanoprobes undergo macropinocytosis following the nucleolin targeting and then translocate to the cytosol for mRNA targeting. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based confocal microscopy enables unambiguous signal deconvolution of mRNA‐targeted QD nanoprobes inside cancer cells.
Sequential Intra‐Intercellular Nanoparticle Delivery System for Deep Tumor Penetration
Authors: Ju Caoyun , Mo Ran , Xue Jingwei , Zhang Lei , Zhao Zekai , Xue Lingjing , Ping Qineng , Zhang Can
Published: April 2014

To achieve deep tumor penetration of large‐sized nanoparticles (NPs), we have developed a reversible swelling–shrinking nanogel in response to pH variation for a sequential intra‐intercellular NP delivery. The nanogel had a crosslinked polyelectrolyte core, consisting of N‐lysinal‐N′‐succinyl chitosan and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), and a crosslinked bovine serum albumin shell, which was able to swell in an acidic environment and shrink back under neutral conditions. The swelling resulted in a rapid release of the encapsulated chemotherapeutics in the cancer cells for efficient cytotoxicity. After being liberated from the dead cells, the contractive nanogel could infect neighboring cancer cells closer to the center of the tumor tissue.
Chemoselective Intermolecular α‐Arylation of Amides
Authors: Peng Bo , Geerdink Danny , Farès Christophe , Maulide Nuno
Published: April 2014

A new approach for the fully chemoselective α‐arylation of amides is presented. By means of electrophilic amide activation, aryl groups can be regioselectively introduced α‐ to amides, even in the presence of esters and alkyl ketones. Mechanistic studies reveal key reaction intermediates and emphasize a remarkably subtle base effect in this transformation.
Ending Aging in Super Glassy Polymer Membranes
Authors: Lau Cher Hon , Nguyen Phuc Tien , Hill Matthew R. , Thornton Aaron W. , Konstas Kristina , Doherty Cara M. , Mulder Roger J. , Bourgeois Laure , Liu Amelia C. Y. , Sprouster David J. , Sullivan James P. , Bastow Timothy J. , Hill Anita J. , Gin Douglas L. , Noble Richard D.
Published: April 2014

Aging in super glassy polymers such as poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) (PTMSP), poly(4‐methyl‐2‐pentyne) (PMP), and polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIM‐1) reduces gas permeabilities and limits their application as gas‐separation membranes. While super glassy polymers are initially very porous, and ultra‐permeable, they quickly pack into a denser phase becoming less porous and permeable. This age‐old problem has been solved by adding an ultraporous additive that maintains the low density, porous, initial stage of super glassy polymers through absorbing a portion of the polymer chains within its pores thereby holding the chains in their open position. This result is the first time that aging in super glassy polymers is inhibited whilst maintaining enhanced CO2 permeability for one year and improving CO2/N2 selectivity. This approach could allow super glassy polymers to be revisited for commercial application in gas separations.
Enhanced gas separation properties of metal organic frameworks/polyetherimide mixed matrix membranes
Authors: Duan Cuijia , Kang Guodong , Liu Dandan , Wang Lina , Jiang Can , Cao Yiming , Yuan Quan
Published: April 2014

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are supposed to be ideal additives for mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). In this article one kind of MOFs, Cu3(BTC)2, is synthesized, then directly incorporated into a model polymer (Ultem®1000) using N,N‐dimethylacetamide as solvent. Cu3(BTC)2 particles are uniformly dispersed and there are no interfacial defects in the prepared MMMs when Cu3(BTC)2 loading is not more than 35 wt %, seen in SEM images. Pure gas permeation tests show that gas permeability increases obviously with Cu3(BTC)2 loading increase, while ideal selectivities of CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 are almost unchanged. For MMM with the best separation property, CO2 permeability increases about 2.6 times and CO2/N2 selectivity remains almost unchanged. Results about gas diffusivity and solubility indicate that gas diffusivity and solubility make contribution to gas permeability increase at the same time but in different ways. Gas permeation properties of MMMs are well predicted by Maxwell or Bruggeman model. © 2014 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40719.
Recent advances in molecularly imprinted polymers in food analysis
Authors: Song Xingliang , Xu Shoufang , Chen Lingxin , Wei Yingqin , Xiong Hua
Published: April 2014

Food security as a world issue has received increasing concern, and therefore, effective analytical methods and technologies have been continuously developed. However, the matrix complexity of food samples and the trace/ultratrace presence of targeted analytes require highly efficient cleanup and enrichment materials and procedures. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with specific recognition abilities as versatile materials are being increasingly developed for diverse species in various fields, especially in food analysis. In this review, we mainly summarize the recent advances in MIPs used for food matrices over the last 5 years. We focus on toxic and harmful substances, such as pesticide/drug residues, heavy metals, microbial toxins, and additives. Some relatively new preparation methods involving surface imprinting, composites, and stimuli responsiveness are reviewed. Different MIPs as solid‐phase adsorbents in solid‐phase extraction, solid‐phase microextraction, matrix solid‐phase dispersion, stirring bar sorptive extraction, and magnetic material extraction and as stationary phases in chromatographic separation for foodstuff have been comprehensively summarized. MIP‐based biomimetic sensing and enzymelike catalysis receive special attention. Moreover, some limitations and comparisons related to MIPs performances are also discussed. Finally, some significant attempts to further promote MIP properties and applications to ensure food safety are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40766.
Release mechanisms of semipolar solutes from poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers: Effect of a hydrophilic additive
Authors: Panou Athanasia I. , Papadokostaki Kyriaki G. , Sanopoulou Merope
Published: April 2014

The release profiles of three xanthine derivatives from matrices of pure poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), and the effect of incorporating 10% w/w polyethylene glycol (PEG)−3000 in the matrix are presented. Theobromine (TBR), theophylline (TPL), and caffeine (CAF), although structurally very similar, are characterized by different physicochemical properties. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy measurements indicate different physical interactions with the polymeric matrices. The observed rates of release from pure PDMS matrices loaded at 0.065 g/g with each one of the drugs increase in the order TBR < TPL < CAF. The same order holds for the corresponding permeabilities derived from the release kinetic data. The slopes of the release curves versus the square root of time were linearly correlated to the square root of calculated solubilities in the polymer, as expected by the Higuchi equation for diffusive transport of solutes of the same diffusivity. The incorporation of 10% w/w PEG in the PDMS matrix accelerates the release rate of each drug, because of the concurrent water uptake induced by the hydrophilic additive. The extent of the corresponding permeability enhancement for theophylline was close to that predicted by the Maxwell equation for a composite two‐phase system, consisting of a PDMS continuous phase characterized by a much lower permeability than that of the fully swollen PEG dispersed phase. The corresponding enhancement of permeability was higher for TBR and lower for CAF. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40782.
Propensity to Imitate in Autism Is Not Modulated by the Model's Gaze Direction: An Eye‐Tracking Study
Authors: Vivanti Giacomo , Dissanayake Cheryl
Published: April 2014

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show a diminished propensity to imitate others' actions, as well as a diminished sensitivity and responsivity to others' communicative cues, such as a direct gaze. However, it is not known whether failure to appreciate the communicative value of a direct gaze is associated with imitation abnormalities in this population. In this eye‐tracking study, we investigated how 25 preschoolers with ASD, compared with 25 developmental and chronological age‐matched children, imitate actions that are associated with a model's direct gaze versus averted gaze. We found that the model's direct gaze immediately prior to the demonstration increased the attention to the model and the propensity to imitate the demonstrated action in children without ASD. In contrast, preschoolers with ASD showed a similar propensity to look at the model's face and to imitate the demonstrated actions across the direct gaze and the averted gaze conditions. These data indicate that atypical imitation in ASD might be linked to abnormal processing of the model's communicative signals (such as a direct gaze) that modulate imitative behaviours in individuals without ASD. Autism Res 2014, 7: 392–399. © 2014 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Controlling enantioselectivity of esterase in asymmetric hydrolysis of aryl prochiral diesters by introducing aromatic interactions
Authors: Guo Fei , Franzen Stefan , Ye Lidan , Gu Jiali , Yu Hongwei
Published: April 2014

Aromatic interactions specific to aryl radicals were introduced into two esterases, BioH from Escherichia coli and RspE from Rhodobacter sphaeroides to control their enantioselectivity in the asymmetric hydrolysis of prochiral aryl glutaric acid diesters. As a result, the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the S‐product of dimethyl 3‐phenylglutarate was increased from 25% (BioH wild type) to 96% (B_L83F/L86F) and from 13% (RspE wild type) to >99% (R_Y27R), respectively, while another variant of RspE R_M121F gave a reversed ee of 50% (R‐product). Similar enhancement or reversion of enantioselectivity were also observed in the hydrolysis of three other prochiral aryl diesters (dimethyl 3‐(4‐flouro)‐phenylglutarate, dimethyl 3‐(4‐cholo)‐phenylglutarate and dimethyl 3‐(3,4‐dicholo)‐phenylglutarate). Especially, the mutant R_Y27R was shown to be an excellent S‐selective hydrolase for prochiral aryl diesters, with ee of all S‐products >99%. In the mutants with altered enantioselectivity, the successful introduction of designed aromatic interactions was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analysis. These results demonstrate that aromatic interaction is one of the origins of enzyme enantioselectivity, the tuning of which leads to dramatic change in enantioselectivity. Besides, the successful engineering of the enantioselectivity in two different proteins toward four different substrates suggests that the introduction of aromatic interactions is a generally applicable strategy in the control of enantioselectivity toward aryl substrates. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 1729–1739. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Paternal Filicide in the Context of Domestic Violence: Challenges in Risk Assessment and Risk Management for Community and Justice Professionals
Authors: Jaffe Peter G. , Campbell Marcie , Olszowy Laura , Hamilton Leslie Hazel Anne
Published: April 2014

Paternal filicide in the context of domestic violence is a rare event that is often hard to predict and prevent. However, the results from current research with domestic homicide review committees suggest that warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children. Even in cases where the dangers to adult victims were recognised, the potential harm to the children was not seen. Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge against the mother for leaving the abusive relationship. The findings suggest that adult homicides and child homicides, which take place in the context of domestic violence, have similar warning signs. The findings have implications for all professionals working in the healthcare, social service, education and justice sectors. In particular, there is a need for close coordination among family and criminal courts, professionals to ensure that the safety plan for a parent in these circumstances extends to the children as well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge’

Key Practitioner Messages

Paternal filicide is a rare event that is often hard to predict and prevent.

Current research with domestic homicide review committees suggests that warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children.

Child homicides in the context of domestic violence are often motivated by revenge against the mother for leaving the abusive relationship.

There is a need for close coordination amongst family and criminal Court professionals to ensure that the safety plan for a parent in these circumstances extends to the children as well.

‘Warning signs may be overlooked by some professionals and agencies that do not foresee the direct harm to children’
Child Death Reviews: Developing CLEAR Recommendations
Authors: Buckley Helen , O'Nolan Caroline
Published: April 2014

This paper is based on a study commissioned by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in Ireland. It addresses the topic of recommendations emanating from child death inquiries and reviews; it looks at the factors which privilege some recommendations over others when it comes to implementation and explores whether a more collaborative approach to development might be more beneficial. As part of the study, the researchers to propose a new model for developing recommendations which will address the complexity of child protection practice, reflect its core principles and promote learning.

‘New model for developing recommendations which will address the complexity of child protection practice, reflect its core principles and promote learning’

The study found that recommendations were generally implemented when they fitted with social norms and aspiration of the time and particularly when they synchronised with policy developments that had already been initiated and required increased investment and public support to reach completion. The research drew a distinction between addressing and implementing recommendations, and overall found that a type of ‘recommendation fatigue’ had evolved following the succession if inquiries. It proposed that in the future, recommendations should be drafted in collaboration with key stakeholders which would provide the team with a range of expert knowledge strengthen the methodological rigour of the process and promote the likelihood that they would be feasible and realistic. The study proposed a new model of CLEAR recommendations (Case for change; Learning orientated: Evidence based; Assigning responsibility and easy to Review). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Key Practitioner Messages

When inquiry or review recommendations are too numerous, impractical, expensive, lack relevance and are too far out of step with social norms, they are unlikely to be implemented

A collaborative approach can ensure that recommendations are informed by relevant sources of information, knowledge and expertise.

Recommendations should be framed in a way that illustrates the rationale for change, promotes learning, cites evidence and identifies the organisations responsible for implementation.
Exosomes and Microvesicles: Identification and Targeting By Particle Size and Lipid Chemical Probes
Authors: Kastelowitz Noah , Yin Hang
Published: April 2014

Exosomes and microvesicles are two classes of submicroscopic vesicle released by cells into the extracellular space. Collectively referred to as extracellular vesicles, these membrane containers facilitate important cell–cell communication by carrying a diverse array of signaling molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Recently, the role of extracellular vesicle signaling in cancer progression has become a topic of significant interest. Methods to detect and target exosomes and microvesicles are needed to realize applications of extracellular vesicles as biomarkers and, perhaps, therapeutic targets. Detection of exosomes and microvesicles is a complex problem as they are both submicroscopic and of heterogeneous cellular origins. In this Minireview, we highlight the basic biology of extracellular vesicles, and address available biochemical and biophysical detection methods. Detectible characteristics described here include lipid and protein composition, and physical properties such as the vesicle membrane shape and diffusion coefficient. In particular, we propose that detection of exosome and microvesicle membrane curvature with lipid chemical probes that sense membrane shape is a distinctly promising method for identifying and targeting these vesicles.
12‐month primary patency rates of contemporary endovascular device therapy for femoro‐popliteal occlusive disease in 6,024 patients: Beyond balloon angioplasty
Authors: Marmagkiolis Konstantinos , Hakeem Abdul , Choksi Nishit , Al‐Hawwas Malek , Edupuganti Mohan Mallikarjuna Rao , Leesar Massoud A. , Cilingiroglu Mehmet
Published: April 2014

Background

Endovascular approach to superficial femoral artery (SFA) disease, the most common cause of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, remains fraught with high failure rates. Newer devices including second‐generation nitinol stents, drug‐coated stents, drug‐coated balloons, covered stents, cryo‐therapy, LASER, and directional atherectomy have shown promising results. Clinical equipoise still persists regarding the optimal selection of devices, largely attributable to the different inclusion criteria, study population, length of lesions treated, definition of “patency” and “restenosis,” and follow‐up methods in the pivotal trials.

Methods

A prospective protocol was developed. We performed a literature search using PubMed from January 2006 to November 2013. Published articles including endovascular interventions in SFA or popliteal arteries with reported 12‐month “primary patency” or “binary restenosis” rates as endpoints were included.

Results

We identified 6,024 patients in 61 trials reporting 12‐month primary patency rates in patients with femoropoliteal disease. Primary patency rates were (weighted average) 77.2% for nitinol stents, 68.8% for covered stents, 84% for drug eluting stents, 78.2% for drug eluting/coated balloon, 60.7% for cryoballoon, 51.1% for LASER atherectomy, 63.5% for directional atherectomy and 70.2% with a combination of endovascular devices.

Conclusion

The most frequently used endovascular devices yielded various 12‐month primary patency rates ranging from 51% to 85%. The increased variation in inclusion criteria, length, and complexity of lesions between studies does not allow direct comparison between them. Larger randomized trials in specific patient populations comparing those modalities is needed before we can make safe recommendation of the superiority of one device over the other. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unjailing of the septal perforator using a rotational atherectomy device prior to alcohol septal ablation in a patient with symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Authors: Basir Mir Babar , Greenbaum Adam , O'Neill William
Published: April 2014

We report a novel approach in which successful unjailing of the septal perforator was performed through the side branch of a coronary stent using a rotational atherectomy device for the purpose of alcohol septal ablation in a patient with symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical usefulness and cost effectiveness of fractional flow reserve among Indian patients (FIND study)
Authors: Sengottuvelu G. , Chakravarthy Babu , Rajendran Ravindran , Ravi Sreyes
Published: April 2014

Objectives

To study the clinical usefulness, cost benefit, and medium term outcome of fractional flow reserve (FFR) based management of coronary artery disease of intermediate severity.

Background

In spite of the advantages of FFR there is paucity of data in Indian population who have frequent diffuse, small and multivessel disease where it would probably be more beneficial in terms of cost and outcome.

Methods

The treating cardiologist's management decision with both FFR and angiographic data was compared with that of a reviewing cardiologist decision based on a retrospective analysis of angiogram alone.

Results

Eighty‐one vessels with intermediate lesions in 59 patients required 26 stents lesser when FFR data was added to the angiogram. The concordance of management decision was about 58% which means that >40% of intermediate lesions would be misclassified as significant based on angiography alone. There were no major events at a mean follow up of 11 ± 5 months. The net cost benefit in favor of FFR based management was INR 8,57,600 (USD 15,600) in our centre.

Conclusion

Indians with more severe form of CAD benefit from a FFR based management plan for intermediate lesions, both clinically and economically. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phase Transition of [2,2]‐Paracyclophane – An End to an Apparently Endless Story
Authors: Wolf Hilke , Leusser Dirk , Jørgensen Mads R. V. , Herbst‐Irmer Regine , Chen Yu‐Sheng , Scheidt Ernst‐Wilhelm , Scherer Wolfgang , Iversen Bo B. , Stalke Dietmar
Published: April 2014

In this contribution, the solid‐state low‐temperature phase structure of [2,2]‐paracyclophane is unambiguously characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Additionally, a heat capacity measurement was undertaken, which proves the existence of a λ‐type phase transition at 45 K, a transition that is connected with the formation of a secondary Cp/T feature at 60 K. The low‐temperature phase (<45 K) crystallises in the lower symmetry space group P$\bar 4$n2, whereas the high‐temperature phase (>60 K) crystallises in space group P42/mnm. This proves what has been postulated both by experimental and theoretical chemists but has repeatedly been dismissed as speculation many times.
Self‐organization of neural tissue architectures from pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Karus Michael , Blaess Sandra , Brüstle Oliver
Published: April 2014

Despite being a subject of intensive research, the mechanisms underlying the formation of neural tissue architectures during development of the central nervous system remain largely enigmatic. So far, studies into neural pattern formation have been restricted mainly to animal experiments. With the advent of pluripotent stem cells it has become possible to explore early steps of nervous system development in vitro. These studies have unraveled a remarkable propensity of primitive neural cells to self‐organize into primitive patterns such as neural tube‐like rosettes in vitro. Data from more advanced 3D culture systems indicate that this intrinsic propensity for self‐organization can even extend to the formation of complex architectures such as a multilayered cortical neuroepithelium or an entire optic cup. These novel experimental paradigms not only demonstrate the enormous self‐organization capacity of neural stem cells, they also provide exciting prospects for studying the earliest steps of human neural tissue development and the pathogenesis of brain malformations in reductionist in vitro paradigms. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:2831–2844, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
0.5‐V fractional‐order companding filters
Authors: Tsirimokou Georgia , Laoudias Costas , Psychalinos Costas
Published: April 2014

Novel configurations of fractional‐order filter topologies, realized through the employment of the concept of companding filtering, are introduced in this paper. As a first step, the design procedure is presented in a systematic algorithmic way, while in the next step, the basic building blocks of sinh‐domain and log‐domain integrators are presented. Because of the employment of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) transistors operated in the subthreshold region, the derived filter structures offer the capability for operation in an ultra‐low‐voltage environment. In addition, because of the offered resistorless realizations, the proposed topologies are reconfigurable, in the sense that the order of the filter could be chosen through appropriate bias current sources. The performance of the derived fractional‐order filters has been evaluated through simulation and comparison results using the Analog Design Environment of the Cadence software and MOS transistor parameters provided by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 180‐nm complementary MOS (CMOS) process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.