bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase‐sensitive sodium B1 mapping
Authors: Allen Steven P. , Morrell Glen R. , Peterson Brock , Park Danny , Gold Garry E. , Kaggie Joshua D. , Bangerter Neal K.
Published: November 2010

Quantitative sodium MRI requires accurate knowledge of factors affecting the sodium signal. One important determinant of sodium signal level is the transmit B1 field strength. However, the low signal‐to‐noise ratio typical of sodium MRI makes accurate B1 mapping in reasonable scan times challenging. A new phase‐sensitive B1 mapping technique has recently been shown to work better than the widely used dual‐angle method in low‐signal‐to‐noise ratio situations and over a broader range of flip angles. In this work, the phase‐sensitive B1 mapping technique is applied to sodium, and its performance compared to the dual‐angle method through both simulation and phantom studies. The phase‐sensitive method is shown to yield higher quality B1 maps at low signal‐to‐noise ratio and greater consistency of measurement than the dual‐angle method. An in vivo sodium B1 map of the human breast is also shown, demonstrating the phase‐sensitive method's feasibility for human studies. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combined measurement of pulmonary inert gas washout and regional ventilation heterogeneity by MR of a single dose of hyperpolarized 3He
Authors: Deppe Martin H. , Parra‐Robles Juan , Ajraoui Salma , Wild Jim M.
Published: November 2010

Washout of inert gases is a measure of pulmonary function well‐known in lung physiology. This work presents a method combining inert gas washout and spatially resolved imaging using hyperpolarized 3He, thus providing complementary information on lung function and physiology. The nuclear magnetic resonance signal of intrapulmonary hyperpolarized 3He is used to track the total amount of gas present within the lungs during multiple‐breath washout via tidal breathing. Before the washout phase, 3D ventilation images are acquired using 3He magnetic resonance imaging from the same dose of inhaled gas. The measured washout signal is corrected for T1 relaxation and radiofrequency depletion, converting it into a quantity proportional to the apparent amount of gas within the lungs. The use of a pneumotachograph for acquisition of breathing volumes during washout, together with lung volumes derived from the magnetic resonance imaging data, permits assessment of the washout curves against physiological model predictions for healthy lungs. The shape of the resulting washout curves obtained from healthy volunteers matches the predictions, demonstrating the utility of the technique for the quantitative assessment of lung function. The proposed method can be readily integrated with a standard breath‐hold 3He ventilation imaging sequence, thus providing additional information from a single dose of gas. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polar modifizierte HPLC‐Umkehrphasen
Authors: Leinweber Felix
Published: November 2010

Eingebettete Amid‐, Carbamat‐ oder Ethergruppen erhöhen die Polarität von Umkehrphasen und steigern die Selektivität von polaren Analyten. Auch Analysen mit reinem Wasser als Eluent werden möglich. Besonders für Basen empfehlen sich solche Phasen.
Was Isotope verraten
Authors: Schmitt Axel K. , Wetzel Florian , Wörner Gerhard
Published: November 2010

Unmittelbar bevorstehende Vulkaneruptionen kündigen sich meist über Zeiträume von Wochen bis Monaten an, aber die Verweildauer von Magmen in der Tiefe vor der Eruption ist weitgehend unbekannt. Die isotopengeochemische Analyse von Kristallen des Laacher‐See‐Vulkans zeigt, dass dessen Eruption eine lange Vorgeschichte hatte.
Jede Metallspezies ist anders
Authors: Hollmann Markus
Published: November 2010

Während die eine Bismutverbindung ein Wirkstoff in Antihämorrhoidensalben ist, verursacht die andere möglicherweise Hirnschäden. Fatalerweise wandeln Leberzellen die harmlose Bismutverbindung in die potenziell gefährliche um. Eine Kopplung von Gaschromatographie mit zwei MS‐Techniken weist solche Umwandlungen nach.
Sicher arbeiten mit Nanopartikeln
Authors: Weber Gitta , Höres Ralf , Mück Oliver
Published: November 2010

Kritiker warnen vor den noch unbekannten gefährlichen Eigenschaften von Nanomaterialien. Bevor aber deren Anwendung von vorne herein in Frage steht, sind klassische Methoden nutzbar, um die Gefahren zu analysieren. Mit den passenden Schutzmaßnahmen lässt sich anschließend sicher mit Nanomaterialien arbeiten.
In vino Wissenschaft
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: November 2010

Vom Anbau der Reben bis zur Qualitätsanalyse des Produkts gibt es Berührungspunkte zwischen Weinbau und Wissenschaft. So macht die Genomforschung Terpensynthasen für das Aroma verantwortlich und Agrochemiker kümmern sich um den Pflanzenschutz.
Berliner Blau — ein Pigment aus dem frühen 18. Jahrhundert
Authors: Kraft Alexander
Published: November 2010

Vor dreihundert Jahren, im Jahr 1710, erschien die erste Veröffentlichung zum Berliner Blau. Die Geschichte seiner Entdeckung und Verbreitung zeigt, dass sich, schon lange bevor es die chemische Industrie im heutigen Sinne gab, mit Chemikalien gutes Geld verdienen ließ.
Biotechnologie in China: Ein Stimmungsbericht
Authors: Bengs Holger , Bai Lin
Published: November 2010

China ist nicht mehr nur die Werkbank der Welt. In der Telekommunikation, Solarenergie und Informationstechnik ist der Anschluss zum Westen längst erfolgt. In der Biotechnik stehen die Zeichen auf Innovation.
W oder V — welcher Form folgt die Wirtschaft?
Authors: Schneider Bernd W. , Kuschel Matthias
Published: November 2010

Die Kunststoffindustrie war von der Krise schwer getroffen. Zurzeit geht es wieder aufwärts, aber wie lange bleibt es so? Szenarien und Kennzahlen helfen Unternehmen, sich auf Kommendes vorzubereiten.
”Scientists don't usually throw eggs“
Authors: Remenyi Christian
Published: November 2010

In 2009 Ada Yonath was awarded with the Nobel Prize for her studies of the structure of the ribosome. To Nachrichten aus der Chemie she talked about science in small countries, what she would have done, if she had not become a scientist and why she doesn't want to be a pop star.
Reife macht erfolgreich
Authors: Spath Dieter , Rogowski Thorsten  , Artelt Dirk 
Published: November 2010

Für Ausgründungen aus öffentlichen Forschungseinrichtungen gilt: Je weiter entwickelt ein Produkt zum Ausgründungszeitpunkt ist, desto wahrscheinlicher ist der wirtschaftliche Erfolg des ausgegründeten Unternehmens. Ein Prototyp und ein funktionierendes Netzwerk helfen den Gründern.
Biotechnica 2010
Authors: Junk Christiane
Published: November 2010

Vom 5. bis zum 7. Oktober findet in Hannover die Biotechnica statt. Im Vergleich zu den Vorjahren ist die inhaltliche Übereinstimmung von Ausstellung und begleitenden Kongressen größer.
Life Science in Österreich
Authors: Hermann Kurt
Published: November 2010

Einige der größten Lizenz‐ und Finanzdeals der europäischen Biotechindustrie finden in Österreich statt. Einen wesentlichen Beitrag dazu leisten die Niederlassungen internationaler Pharmariesen.
Grandioser NSYCC‐JCF‐Austausch in Boston
Authors: Wehner Johannes , Küchenthal Christian‐H.
Published: November 2010

Zum 10‐jährigen Jubiläum des amerikanisch‐deutschen Austauschs zwischen den beiden Jugendorganisationen, dem Northeastern Younger Chemists Commitee der American Chemical Society und dem Jungchemikerforum der Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, reiste eine Delegation von Jungchemikern nach Boston/MA, um sich dort auf der ACS‐Herbst‐Tagung nicht nur wissenschaftlich weiterzubilden, sondern um auch neue Freunde zu finden.
”Our work showed how pretty damn good that material is“
Authors: Osterath Brigitte
Published: November 2010

Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics ”for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two‐dimensional material graphene“. Nachrichten aus der Chemie asked Andre Geim what he likes most about graphene and if he, too, believes that this new form of carbon could be the silicon of the future.
A large set of estrogen receptor β‐interacting proteins identified by tandem affinity purification in hormone‐responsive human breast cancer cell nuclei
Authors: Nassa Giovanni , Tarallo Roberta , Ambrosino Concetta , Bamundo Angela , Ferraro Lorenzo , Paris Ornella , Ravo Maria , Guzzi Pietro H. , Cannataro Mario , Baumann Marc , Nyman Tuula A. , Nola Ernesto , Weisz Alessandro
Published: November 2010

Estrogen receptors α (ER‐α) and β (ER‐β) play distinct biological roles in onset and progression of hormone‐responsive breast cancer, with ER‐β exerting a modulatory activity on ER‐α‐mediated estrogen signaling and stimulation of cell proliferation by mechanisms still not fully understood. We stably expressed human ER‐β fused to a tandem affinity purification‐tag in estrogen‐responsive MCF‐7 cells and applied tandem affinity purification and nanoLC‐MS/MS to identify the ER‐β interactome of this cell type. Functional annotation by bioinformatics analyses of the 303 proteins that co‐purify with ER‐β from nuclear extracts identify several new molecular partners of this receptor subtype that represents nodal points of a large protein network controlling multiple processes and functions in breast cancer cells.
Response of the Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Nebbiolo’ proteome to Flavescence dorée phytoplasma infection
Authors: Margaria Paolo , Palmano Sabrina
Published: November 2010

Flavescence dorée is a serious phytoplasma disease affecting grapevine in several European countries. We studied the interaction of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma with its natural plant host by monitoring the effects of infection on the protein expression profile. Among the 576 analyzed spots, 33 proteins were differentially regulated in infected grapevines. Grouping into MIPS functional categories showed proteins involved in metabolism (21%), energy processes (9%), protein synthesis (3%), protein fate (18%), cellular transport and transport routes (6%), cell defense and virulence (42%). Among the differentially regulated proteins, we selected six targets (thaumatin I, thaumatin II, osmotin‐like protein, plant basic secretory protein, AAA+ Rubisco activase and proteasome α5 subunit) and we analyzed their expression by quantitative RT‐PCR on samples collected in 2008 and 2009 in several vineyards in Piedmont region, Italy. There was a positive correlation between mRNA and protein expression for most of the genes in both the years. We discuss the involvement of these proteins in the specific response to phytoplasma infection. To our knowledge, this work is the first to investigate the response of the grapevine proteome to Flavescence dorée phytoplasma infection, and provides reference protein profiles for future comparative proteomic and genomic studies.
A QconCAT informatics pipeline for the analysis, visualization and sharing of absolute quantitative proteomics data
Authors: Swainston Neil , Jameson Daniel , Carroll Kathleen
Published: November 2010

Absolute protein concentration determination is becoming increasingly important in a number of fields including diagnostics, biomarker discovery and systems biology modeling. The recently introduced quantification concatamer methodology provides a novel approach to performing such determinations, and it has been applied to both microbial and mammalian systems. While a number of software tools exist for performing analyses of quantitative data generated by related methodologies such as SILAC, there is currently no analysis package dedicated to the quantification concatamer approach. Furthermore, most tools that are currently available in the field of quantitative proteomics do not manage storage and dissemination of such data sets.
Improved Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE under neutral pH conditions for advanced protein phosphorylation profiling
Authors: Kinoshita Eiji , Kinoshita‐Kikuta Emiko
Published: November 2010

We describe an improved Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE (Zn2+–Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE) using a dizinc(II) complex of Phos‐tag acrylamide in conjunction with a Bis‐tris‐buffered neutral‐pH gel system to detect shifts in the mobility of phosphoproteins. An existing technique (Mn2+–Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE) using a polyacrylamide‐bound Mn2+–Phos‐tag and a conventional Laemmli's buffer system under alkaline pH conditions has limitations for separating certain phosphoproteins. The major improvements were demonstrated by visualizing novel up‐shifted bands of commercially available pepsin, recombinant Tau treated in vitro with tyrosine kinases, and endogeneous β‐catenin in whole‐cell lysates. Additionally, the Zn2+–Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE gels showed better long‐term stability than the Mn2+–Phos‐tag SDS‐PAGE gels. We can therefore provide a simple, convenient, and more reliable homemade gel system for phosphate‐affinity SDS‐PAGE.
Proteomic analysis of mesenchymal stem‐like cells derived from ovarian teratoma: Potential role of glutathione S‐transferase M2 in ovarian teratoma
Authors: Han Ihn , Jeong Soo‐Jin , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Koh Wonil , Lee Hyo‐Jeong , Lee Eun‐Ok , Kim Hyun Seok , Lee Soo Jin , Chen Chang‐Yan , Jung Min‐Hyung , Kim Sung‐Hoon
Published: November 2010

Ovarian teratoma is a dermoid cyst in the ovary that contains mature tissues such as hair, teeth, bone, thyroid, etc. To understand the molecular mechanisms of ovarian teratoma growth, a comparative proteomic analysis was undertaken using mesenchymal stem cell‐like cells (MSCLCs) isolated from normal human ovarian or teratoma tissues. Both normal ovarian and teratoma MSCLCs expressed stem cell markers OCT4 and NANOG, and were negatively staining with the senescence‐associated (SA) β‐galactosidase. Furthermore, teratoma MSCLCs had higher proliferation and colony formation rates, with more angiogenic property than that of normal MSCLCs. Proteomic study revealed that 17 proteins had the expression changes over eightfold in ovarian teratoma MSCLCs compared with normal control. Interestingly, among them, GSTM2 was strongly expressed in teratoma MSCLCs. Moreover, overexpressed GSTM2 in the teratoma was associated with downregulation of p38 MAPK and activation of AKT and survivin. Taken together, these findings suggest that that ovarian teratoma MSCLCs have a higher potency for proliferation and angiogenesis and GSTM2 appears to be involved in the regulation of other survival genes.
Covariant decomposition and polarizational selection rules for interaction among photons in a moving medium
Authors: Ferrer E. , de la Incera V. , Shabad A. F.
Published: November 2010

Starting from the first principles we establish the symmetries under inversions and obtain relativistic tensorial decompositions for multiphoton amplitudes in moving isotropic homogeneous media. Basing on these decompositions we find universal selection rules with respect to polarizations for the processes of photon splitting and junction in a medium, as well as for photon‐photon application to nonlinear wave processes.
Poincaré gauge theory, gravitation, and transformation of matter fields
Authors: Drechsler Wolfgang
Published: November 2010

In the generalized Kaluza‐Klein theories a (4 + N)‐dimensional Riemannian space is used as a configuration space to unify gravitation with a nonabelien gauge symmetry characterized by a gauge group G of order N. The original metric space V4+N, however, is broken down in these theories to a local product structure M4 × VN (M4 being Minkowski space‐time) leading thereby to a description in terms of a fiber bundle over space‐time V4 with structural group G. In this paper we base the discussion from the very beginning on a bundle structure as the underlying geometric stratum and treat the quantum mechanical aspect of matter by representing it in the form of a generalized wave function, ϕ(x, X), defined as a section on a fiber bundle associated to a principal G‐bundle over space time having a homogeneous space of the group G as fiber. To make contact with gravitation we consider various soldered bundles possessing the Poincaré group, G = ISO(3, 1), as structural or gauge group and define Poincaré gauge fields as generalized matter fields on them. After reviewing the formulation of general relativity as a gauge theory of the Lorentz group we turn to the affine case and present a geometric formulation of a Poincaré gauge theory based on a Riemann‐Cartan space‐time U4 with axial vector torsion. Two sets of field equations are discussed relating the material source quantities to the geometric fields. Besides Einstein's equations coupling the metric to the classical distribution of energy and momentum of matter a second set of nonlinear field equations is set up relating a bilinear current in the Poincaré gauge fields to the axial vector torsion field of the underlying space‐time geometry. Finally, a breaking of the Poincaré symmetry is introduced in a manner involving the generalized matter field ϕ(x, X) freezing thereby the translational gauge degrees of freedom, however, leaving the Lorentz gauge symmetry unaffected.
QCD at finite temperature
Authors: Kalashnikov O. K.
Published: November 2010

Quantum chromodynamics is studied at finite temperatures and densities using the temperature Green functions method. For the Green functions the renormalized Schwinger‐Dyson equations are obtained and their qualitative properties are discussed. The equality of the renormalization constants for the equations obtained at T, μ ≠ 0 with those for quantum field theory is pointed out. General properties of the gluon polarization tensor are investigated at T, μ ≠ 0. The temperature Green functions are calculated within the one‐loop approximation using both relativistic and axial gauges. The fulfilment of the Slavnov‐Taylor identities is verified. The asymptotic behaviour of the polarization tensor at T, μ ≠ 0 is established and the excitation spectrum of quark‐gluon plasma is found. Both Fermi and Bose excitations are considered and the gauge invariance of the spectra is demonstrated. The renormalization group extension of the dispersion laws into the regions of high temperatures and densities is presented. The exact representation of the thermodynamical potential in QCD is found in terms of the temperature Green functions. For the quark‐gluon plasma the thermodynamical potential is calculated with the g3‐term taken into account. The equation of state of the hot quark‐gluon plasma is found and its properties are discussed. The complete evolutional diagram of the hadronic matter is outlined. The phase curve asymptotics, which put bounds on the quark‐gluon plasma domain, are found for the two limiting cases (μ = 0, T → T0; T = 0, μ → μ0). The phase transition of the hot quark‐gluon plasma placed in external Abelian field is studied. The instability of such plasma has been found and the program of its stabilization is indicated. The infrared behaviour of the non‐Abelian gauge theory is studied for finite temperatures when power divergencies are essential. The propagator of transverse gluons is shown to be singular for momenta |p| ˜ g2T and this cannot be avoided by summing the simplest bubble chains. The infrared asymptotic behaviour of the tree‐gluon vertex is found and the results obtained are checked using the Slavnov‐Taylor identities. The Green functions asymptotics found indicate either an instability of the quark‐gluon plasma in the infrared momentum domain or the inconsistency of the perturbational methods. A non‐perturbative approach to the infrared problem in QCD is developed within the axial gauge. The closed equations for the structure functions that determine the gluon polarization tensor are obtained by using the Slavnov‐Taylor identities to found approximately the three‐gluon vertex. It is shown that the solution of the equations obtained by iterations does not remove the infrared singularity from the temperature Green functions. The nonperturbative solution of such equations is discussed.
Phages recognizing the Indium Nitride semiconductor surface via their peptides
Authors: Estephan Elias , Saab Marie‐Belle , Martin Marta , Larroque Christian , Cuisinier Frédéric. J. G. , Briot Olivier , Ruffenach Sandra , Moret Matthieu , Gergely Csilla
Published: November 2010

Considerable advances in materials science are expected via the use of selected or designed peptides to recognize material, control their growth, or to assemble them into elaborate novel devices. Identifying specific peptides for a number of technologically useful materials has been the challenge of many research groups in recent years. This can be accomplished by using affinity‐based bio‐panning methods such as phage display technologies. In this work, a combinatorial library including billions of clones of genetically engineered M13 bacteriophage was used to select peptides that could recognize improved indium nitride (InN) semiconductor (SC) material. Several rounds of biopanning were necessary to select the phage with the higher affinity from the low variant library. The DNA of this specific phage was extracted and sequenced to set up the related specific adherent peptide. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to demonstrate the real affinity of a selected phage for the InN surface. Due to the possibility of its functionalization with biomolecules and its important physical properties, InN is a promising candidate for developing affinity‐based optical and electrical biosensors and/or for biomimetic applications. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Charge inversion at position 68 of the glucagon and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptors supports selectivity in hormone action
Authors: Day Jonathan W. , Li Pengyun , Patterson James T. , Chabenne Joe , Chabenne Maria DiMarchi , Gelfanov Vasily M. , DiMarchi Richard D.
Published: November 2010

Glucagon and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1)are two structurally related hormones that acutely regulate glucose control in opposite directions through homologous receptors. The molecular basis for selectivity between these two hormones and their receptors is of physiological and medicinal importance. The application of co‐agonists to enhance body weight reduction and correct multiple abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome has recently been reported. Substitution of amino acids 16, 18, and 20 in glucagon with those found in GLP‐1 and exendin‐4 were identified as partial contributors to balanced, high potency receptor action. The amidation of the C‐terminus was an additional glucagon‐based structural change observed to be of seminal importance to discriminate recognition by both receptors. In this work, the molecular basis for receptor selectivity associated with differences in C‐terminal peptide sequence has been determined. A single charge inversion in glucagon and GLP‐1 receptor sequence at position 68* was determined to significantly alter hormone action. Changing E68* in GLP‐1R to the corresponding Lys of GCGR reduced receptor activity for natural GLP‐1 hormones by eightfold. The enhanced C‐terminal positive charges in GLP‐1 peptides favor the native receptor's negative charge at position 68*, while the unfavorable interaction with the C‐terminal acid of native glucagon is minimized by amidation. The extension of these observations to other glucagon‐related hormones such as oxyntomodulin and exendin, as well as other related receptors such as GIPR, should assist in the assembly of additional hormones with broadened pharmacology. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding repatriation: refugee perspectives on the importance of safety, reintegration, and hope
Authors: Zimmermann Susan
Published: November 2010

This paper uses rich, empirical data to explore repatriation from refugee perspectives, which are widely overlooked within host state framings of this topic. Participants from two countries are compared within how they approached the prospect of repatriating differently or alike, whilst different background contexts to these cases affected the ways in which participants framed discussions. Both the Somalis and Afghans were concerned with issues of safety and reintegration prospects upon return, and revealed that these were key parts of what they had also sought while living in exile. In addition, hope for change – or its absence – affected whether they anticipated returning or staying away permanently, with proof more than promise of change sought, so suggesting a difference with the early expectations more preferred by host states. Policy and political discussions of repatriation tend to make claims about refugees without asking about their own priorities. This gap in perspectives is a source of tension and distrust, and emphasis can be misplaced to try to promote return without reference to such empirical understandings as this paper explores. This paper concludes by asking whether unless we can understand return on such refugee terms, then what is its actual meaning and whose perspective does it serve? Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seeing like a region: parliamentary discourses on asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland and South Australia
Authors: Schech Susanne
Published: November 2010

Although policy making on migrant, asylum seeker and refugee flows falls within the responsibilities of the State, there has been a growing recognition that sub‐state regions may have different perspectives on these matters. This paper looks at two regions threatened with population decline, Scotland and South Australia, and compare how their political representatives used demographic, human rights and sovereignty arguments to support or challenge the asylum policies adopted by the nation‐state. In both regions, politicians looked to international human rights instruments and regional devolved powers and responsibilities as platforms from which to fight for refugee entitlements. While regional demographic considerations are connected in both regions with representations of asylum seekers and refugees as potential contributors to the regional economy and society, in Scotland the integration of asylum seekers is considered in the national interest. The presence of the national factor is also responsible for a greater urge to assert the humanitarian qualities of Scottish society and institutions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of the ferromagnetic insulating phase in Pr0.8Ca0.2MnO3 by Co substitution
Authors: Harada T. , Ohkubo I. , Lippmaa M. , Matsumoto Y. , Sumiya M. , Koinuma H. , Oshima M.
Published: November 2010

Ferromagnetic insulator Pr0.8Ca0.2Mn1–yCoy O3 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.7) thin films were epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition on substrates of (LaAlO3)0.3(SrAl0.5Ta0.5O3)0.7 (100). To probe the ferromagnetic insulator state, the Co content dependences of the structural, magnetic, and transport properties were studied. Variation of lattice constant by the Co substitution is well reproduced considering that divalent and trivalent Co ions substitute for Mn ions at the perovskite B‐sites. For 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3, the Curie temperature, saturation magnetization, and magnetoresistance increase with increasing Co content, retaining the insulating properties. Detailed analyses of transport and magnetic properties indicate the contribution of both double exchange and superexchange interactions to the appearance of the ferromagnetic insulating phase. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical studies on the conformational change of adenosine kinase induced by inhibitors
Authors: Dong Lihua , Shi Junyou , Wang Jinhu , Liu Yongjun
Published: November 2010

Adenosine kinase (AK) is a two‐domain protein that catalyzes the phosphorylation of adenosine to adenosine monophosphate. Inhibitors of AK could increase adenosine to levels that activate nearby adenosine receptors and produce a wide variety of therapeutically beneficial activities. To get insight into the interaction mechanism between inhibitors and AK, we chose two kinds of novel inhibitors, alkynylpyrimidine inhibitor (APy) and aryl‐nucleoside inhibitor (AN), and used docking and molecular dynamics simulation methods to study the conformational changes of human AK on binding inhibitors. The calculation results revealed that both APy and AN could induce conformational changes of AK and stabilize AK at different semiopen conformations. On binding APy, the small lid‐domain rotated 14°, and the binding pocket rearranged after MD simulation. But in AK‐AN complex, the rotation of small domain is 22°, and the sugar ring of AN is mobile in the binding pocket. Further docking calculations on APy analogues indicate that the semiopen conformation could well explain the SAR of AK inhibitors. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Comprehensive framework for tracking control and thrust allocation for a highly overactuated autonomous surface vessel
Authors: Feemster Matthew G. , Esposito Joel M.
Published: November 2010

In this paper, we present a comprehensive trajectory tracking framework for cooperative manipulation scenarios involving marine surface ships. Our experimental platform is a small boat equipped with six thrusters, but the technique presented here can be applied to a multiship manipulation scenario such as a group of autonomous tugboats transporting a disabled ship or unactuated barge. The primary challenges of this undertaking are as follows: (1) the actuators are unidirectional and experience saturation; (2) the hydrodynamics of the system are difficult to characterize; and (3) obtaining acceptable performance under field conditions (i.e., global positioning system errors, wind, waves, etc.) is arduous. To address these issues, we present a framework that includes trajectory generation, tracking control, and force allocation that, despite actuator limitations, results in asymptotically convergent trajectory tracking. In addition, the controller employs an adaptive feedback law to compensate for unknown—difficult to measure—hydrodynamic parameters. Field trials are conducted utilizing a 3‐m vessel in a nearby estuary. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*

This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain of the United States of America.
Exploiting associations between word clusters and document classes for cross‐domain text categorization†
Authors: Zhuang Fuzhen , Luo Ping , Xiong Hui , He Qing , Xiong Yuhong , Shi Zhongzhi
Published: November 2010

Cross‐domain text categorization targets on adapting the knowledge learnt from a labeled source domain to an unlabeled target domain, where the documents from the source and target domains are drawn from different distributions. However, in spite of the different distributions in raw‐word features, the associations between word clusters (conceptual features) and document classes may remain stable across different domains. In this paper, we exploit these unchanged associations as the bridge of knowledge transformation from the source domain to the target domain by the non‐negative matrix tri‐factorization. Specifically, we formulate a joint optimization framework of the two matrix tri‐factorizations for the source‐ and target‐domain data, respectively, in which the associations between word clusters and document classes are shared between them. Then, we give an iterative algorithm for this optimization and theoretically show its convergence. The comprehensive experiments show the effectiveness of this method. In particular, we show that the proposed method can deal with some difficult scenarios where baseline methods usually do not perform well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 4: 100–114, 2011
Adaptive increase in sample size when interim results are promising: A practical guide with examples
Authors: Mehta Cyrus R. , Pocock Stuart J.
Published: November 2010

This paper discusses the benefits and limitations of adaptive sample size re‐estimation for phase 3 confirmatory clinical trials. Comparisons are made with more traditional fixed sample and group sequential designs. It is seen that the real benefit of the adaptive approach arises through the ability to invest sample size resources into the trial in stages. The trial starts with a small up‐front sample size commitment. Additional sample size resources are committed to the trial only if promising results are obtained at an interim analysis. This strategy is shown through examples of actual trials, one in neurology and one in cardiology, to be more advantageous than the fixed sample or group sequential approaches in certain settings. A major factor that has generated controversy and inhibited more widespread use of these methods has been their reliance on non‐standard tests and p‐values for preserving the type‐1 error. If, however, the sample size is only increased when interim results are promising, one can dispense with these non‐standard methods of inference. Therefore, in the spirit of making adaptive increases in trial size more widely appealing and readily implementable we here define those promising circumstances in which a conventional final inference can be performed while preserving the overall type‐1 error. Methodological, regulatory and operational issues are examined. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacogenetic interactions and their potential effects on genetic analyses of blood pressure
Authors: Masca Nicholas , Sheehan Nuala A. , Tobin Martin D.
Published: November 2010

Background: In observational studies, analyses of blood pressure (BP) typically require some correction for the use of antihypertensive medications by study participants. Different approaches to correcting for treatment have been compared, but the impact of pharmacogenetic interactions that influence the efficacy of antihypertensive treatments on estimates of genetic main effects has not been considered. This work demonstrates the potential influence of pharmacogenetic interactions in genetic analyses of BP.

Methods: A simulation study is conducted to test the influence of pharmacogenetic interactions on approaches to the analysis of BP. Results from three plausible scenarios are presented.

Results: Informative BP approaches (Fixed Treatment Effect, Non‐parametric adjustment, Censored Normal Regression) perform well when there is no pharmacogenetic interaction, but yield biased estimates of the main effects of particular genetic variants when pharmacogenetic interactions exist. Substitution approaches (Binary Trait, Fixed Substitution, Random Substitution, Median Method) are unaffected by pharmacogenetic interactions, but consistently perform sub‐optimally.

Conclusions: We recommend that the Informative BP approaches remain the most appropriate methods to use in practice, but stress that caution is required in the interpretation of their results—especially when an interaction between treatment and a genetic variant of interest is suspected. We make some suggestions as to how to check for possible interactions and confirm the results from genetic analyses of BP, but warn that these should be reviewed when data on real pharmacogenetic interactions become available. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics of fresh semen of captive‐bred capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L.
Authors: Łukaszewicz Ewa , Kowalczyk Artur , Rzońca Zenon
Published: November 2010

In Poland Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) is one of the most seriously endangered grouse species. The ability of semen collection and its utilization for Capercaillie female insemination would allow overcoming some fertility problems observed in captive‐bred populations and thus reduce the rate of loss of genetic diversity. The present experiment was carried out on 13 individuals: eight males were kept with females and five alone. From each male, semen was collected four times, every second day, and overall semen appearance (color, viscosity), ejaculate volume, spermatozoa concentration, motility and morphology were examined. Ejaculates suitable for artificial insemination (AI) were obtained from 11 individuals. The volume of ejaculates varied from one drop (noted as 0.010 ml) to 0.180 ml, whereas spermatozoa concentration varied from 100 × 106 ml−1 to 1950 × 106 ml−1. The total amount of live spermatozoa for males kept with females varied from 82.0 to 98.3% (92.9% on average) and among them, from 38.7 to 82.0% were morphologically normal (67.6% on average), whereas for solitary males these values were the following: from 93.7 to 98.7 of total live (96.3% on average) and from 45.0 to 85.3% live normal cells (65.7% on average). No significant group effect was observed for above traits. Semen from males kept with females contained significantly (P<0.01) fewer cells with bulb head (12.2% vs. 21.6%), but higher numbers of bent neck spermatozoa (3.0 vs. 2.1%) and with other deformities (10.0 vs. 6.8%); however, for last two forms existing differences were not significant. Results obtained indicate the possibility of collecting valuable ejaculates from captive‐bred Capercaillie, both kept with or without females, which makes possible the application of AI in order to increase the progeny number and gene exchange of this species across time and geographical distance. Zoo Biol 30:672–680, 2011. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Significance of serum β‐d‐glucan levels in recipients of living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Yamanouchi Kosho , Takatsuki Mitsuhisa , Hidaka Masaaki , Soyama Akihiko , Kanematsu Takashi , Eguchi Susumu
Published: November 2010

Background/purpose

Early identification and treatment of fungal infections is essential for recipients of liver transplants, but the sensitivity of surveillance culture is insufficient. Measurement of the serum level of β‐d‐glucan is a rapid diagnostic strategy for invasive fungal infection. We aimed to evaluate the significance of serum β‐d‐glucan levels in transplant recipients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and laboratory data of 100 consecutive adult transplant recipients after LDLT performed between August 1997 and August 2009.

Results

Seventy‐one had high serum β‐d‐glucan levels (>20 pg/ml) after LDLT. Nearly half (47.2%) of the episodes of increase occurred within the first 5 days after surgery. The mortality rate of the recipients with high serum β‐d‐glucan levels was similar to that of the recipients without high levels. However, in terms of the time line of increase, the recipients with high serum β‐d‐glucan levels from 15 days onward after surgery showed a significantly higher mortality rate than those with high levels before 15 days after surgery (33.3 and 4.3%, respectively;p < 0.001).

Conclusions

High serum levels of β‐d‐glucan at late time points after LDLT indicate established fungal infection and higher mortality.
“Outside Thinking” and “Horizontal Logic”
Authors: Jie SHANG
Published: November 2010

Metaphysics is a repeated act by way of “representation”; the instantaneous judgment is solidified, the inevitable conclusion is made, and at the same time other possibilities are excluded. “Outside thinking” is a blow to the spiritual tradition of metaphysics, which holds that “representation” will lead to a differential activity concerning the relationship between stranger things. Such relationship follows a kind of “horizontal logic,” the latter discards the presupposition on the “origin” of things, that is, it no longer presumes that this point or that point has greater privilege than “other points.” Things do not develop from a central point. Rather, things are the result of innumerable “points” in cooperative relationships between strangers. These cooperative relationships are arbitrary. In “horizontal logic,” many “starting points” or “spiritual T-points” are used as substitutes for a unique “origin.”
Conversation through Actions and the Changing of Epistemic States in a Game
Authors: Tianqun PAN
Published: November 2010

When a person performs a certain action, it signifies that he is causing a certain event to occur. Therefore the action is conveying a certain true sentence. Playing a game is a mutual activity, namely the listener and the speaker undertake an exchange through a linguistic dialogue or communicate through action. Because of the peculiar nature of the action, the actions in games belong to an activity where the speaker speaks “true words” and the listener hears “true words.” A static game is a process through which the participants are simultaneously “speaking” and “listening”; and a dynamic game is a process where speaking and listening take place in turn. Each step of a dynamic game is a “speaking-listening” exchange. Through “listening” and “speaking,” changes in the epistemic states of the participants occur. Of course, the degree of change depends on the type of game being played. In a dynamic game, each participant proceeds through a process of induction, and thus forms new epistemic states.
From Early Compilations to a Corpus: The Making of a Literary Talent
Authors: Zhenghong CHEN
Published: November 2010

Shuangliu xuan shiwen ji 双柳轩诗文集 (Anthology of sanctum with two willows) was an anthology of some early works of Yuan Mei (1716−1798), an eminent writer of the Qing dynasty, and had been published before he got famous. Taking the enormous differences found during collation of this anthology with Yuan Mei quan ji 袁枚全集 (Corpus of Yuan Mei), a contemporary collated edition of Xiaocangshan fang quan ji 小仓山房全集 (Complete works of Xiaocangshan villa) compiled in Yuan Mei’s senectitude, as an example, this paper is trying to reveal that a work may go through continuous revisions or even recomposition before they are finalized and taken into a corpus. Like burying a body, every compilation of one’s work is a layer on the first-hand work, and the latest layer is no doubt the farthest from the body. Thus the author suggests that researches attempting to trace diachronies of a renowned writer’s works should dig deep, and if the body itself has lost into dust, at least the early compilations could bring us much closer to how the works used to be.
Cervical priming with misoprostol before manual vacuum aspiration versus electric vacuum aspiration for first‐trimester surgical abortion
Authors: Mittal Suneeta , Sehgal Rohini , Aggarwal Sagarika , Aruna Janaki , Bahadur Anupama , Kumar Guresh
Published: November 2010

Objective

To compare the efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) with electric vacuum aspiration (EVA) and to evaluate whether cervical priming with misoprostol facilitates cervical dilation and reduces complications associated with first‐trimester medical abortion performed up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Methods

A total of 600 women who requested termination of pregnancy were randomized into 4 groups (150 women in each group). Group I and II received a vaginal placebo 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively. Group III and IV received 400 μg of vaginal misoprostol 3 hours before MVA or EVA, respectively.

Results

Complete abortion rates after MVA and EVA were both 97.9%; after cervical priming with misoprostol complete abortion rates were 98.6% versus 97.3% after cervical priming with placebo (P > 0.05). Administration of misoprostol into the vagina before MVA resulted in 99.3% complete abortions (P = 0.40), and the least operative blood loss, operating time, and need for cervical dilation (P < 0.05). Overall complications and adverse effects were similar in all groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

For surgical evacuation, EVA and MVA did not differ in efficacy. Cervical priming 3 hours before MVA for termination of pregnancy significantly reduced the need for cervical dilation and the operative time, and improved the efficacy of the procedure. Pretreatment with vaginal misoprostol before MVA is a safe and effective method for terminating pregnancies of up to 10 weeks of gestation.

Clinical Trials Registry: CTRI/2009/091/000008
Athletic Profile of Highly Accomplished Boulderers
Authors: Macdonald Jamie H. , Callender Nigel
Published: November 2010

Objective

Bouldering is a discipline of rock climbing completed at low height. Despite its popularity, scientific description of this sport remains sparse. This study aims to characterize the athletic profile of highly accomplished boulderers.

Methods

Twelve male highly accomplished boulderers (age 25.3 ± 4.9) were matched for age (± 5 yr), height (± 5 cm), and body mass (± 5 kg) to 12 nonclimbing aerobically trained controls. Body composition was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Handgrip and climbing specific finger strength were assessed by dynamometry. Shoulder girdle and abdominal muscle endurance were assessed by isometric tests. Data were mostly analyzed by t-tests with an adjusted alpha level for multiple comparisons. Ethical approval was received from the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.

Results

Body composition was similar between the groups, apart from increased bone mineral density in climbers' forearms (1.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 g  · cm2, t(22) = 2.798, p = 0.010). Hand grip strength and climbing specific finger strength were greater in climbers (eg, finger strength: 494 ± 64 vs. 383 ± 79 N, t(22) = 3.740, p = 0.001), but handgrip and abdominal endurance were similar between the groups. In contrast, endurance of the shoulder girdle was substantially greater in boulderers (58 ± 13 vs. 39 ± 9 s, t(22) = 4.044, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Highly accomplished boulderers were characterized by handgrip and finger strength better than that of nonclimbing controls and superior to that of previously investigated elite climbers. In contrast, boulderers' body composition and core endurance were similar to that of controls (who were aerobically trained). These characteristics provide an athletic profile of highly accomplished boulderers, and hence identify possible targets that with further investigation may aid athlete selection and training program design.
Solvability conditions for some non-Fredholm operators
Authors: Vougalter Vitali , Volpert Vitaly
Published: November 2010

We obtain solvability conditions for some elliptic equations involving non-Fredholm operators with the methods of spectral theory and scattering theory for Schrödinger-type operators. One of the main results of the paper concerns solvability conditions for the equation –Δu+V(x)u–au=fwhere a ≥ 0. The conditions are formulated in terms of orthogonality of the functionfto the solutions of the homogeneous adjoint equation.
William Graham Sumner and the Problem of Liberal Democracy
Authors: Byrne William F.
Published: November 2010

This paper examines problems of the liberal democratic order through an analysis of the political thought of a neglected American thinker, William Graham Sumner. Sumner argues that the liberal order is inextricably linked to laissez-faire, and is under siege from the closely interrelated threats of socialism, plutocracy, imperialism, and the degeneration of democracy. He recognizes that the liberal-democratic capitalist state has significant deficiencies, including atomization, “cold” economic relations, and a loss of “poetry.” It also seems to depend upon values which are not readily propagated by liberalism. But efforts to address deficiencies through government action amount to attempts to intermix philosophically incompatible elements and serve to hasten the system's collapse. Sumner's work unwittingly suggests that the usual “Lockean” liberal model may be so flawed that a revised public philosophy, with new language and paradigms, is needed for the effective pursuit of his goals of freedom, dignity, and human development.