bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zur thermisch‐hydraulisch‐mechanisch gekoppelten Simulation eines Energiepfahls
Authors: Ma Xiaolong , Qiu Gang , Grabe Jürgen
Published: December 2011

Thermische Aktivierung von Pfählen bietet eine wirtschaftliche Möglichkeit, oberflächennahe Geothermie zu nutzen. Allerdings verursacht die Temperaturänderung in den Pfählen und im umliegenden Boden eine Wärmedehnung. Da die Temperaturänderungen nicht gleichmäßig und die Wärmeausdehnungskoeffizienten von Beton und Boden unterschiedlich sind, wird die Interaktion zwischen diesen dadurch beeinflusst. In diesem Artikel wird das thermisch‐hydraulisch‐mechanische (THM) Verhalten eines Energiepfahls mit numerischen Methoden untersucht. Ein visko‐hypoplastisches Stoffmodell wird verwendet, um das viskose Verhalten einschließlich Kriechen, Relaxation und Viskosität eines bindigen Bodens abzubilden. Die numerischen Ergebnisse werden mit Messergebnissen eines Feldtests verglichen.

Thermo‐hydro‐mechanical coupeld simulation of an energy pile. Thermal activation of piles provides a cost‐effective opportunity to use shallow geothermal energy. However, the temperature changes in piles and soils induce thermal expansion. As temperature changes and the thermal expansion coefficients of concrete and soils are not the same, the interaction between them will be affected. In this article the thermal‐hydro‐mechanical behaviour of an energy pile is simulated. A visco‐hypoplastic soil model is used to reproduce the viscose behaviour including creep, relaxation and rate dependency of fine grained soils. The numerical results will be compared with measurements of a field test.
Modeling the effects of riparian planting strategies on stream temperature: Increasing suitable habitat for endangered Formosan Landlocked Salmon in Shei‐Pa National Park, Taiwan
Authors: Lee T. Y. , Huang J. C. , Kao S. J. , Liao L. Y. , Tzeng C. S. , Yang C. H. , Kalita P. K. , Tung C. P.
Published: December 2011

Reducing or stabilizing the stream temperature of ChiChiaWan Creek is a crucial work for Formosan Landlocked Salmon because ChiChiaWan Creek is the only one habitat for this endangered species. Planting trees in the riparian zone would be one of the alternatives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of several planting strategies on daily maximum stream temperature along the river. The results showed the effective vegetative shading angles should be more than 50° along ChiChiaWan Creek to reduce the direct solar radiation heating effectively. Upstream planting with 70° vegetative shading angle could be the most effective way among all the scenarios. However, this planting strategy could not improve the worst situations in summer because of the large solar elevation angles. The upstream planting in ChiChiaWan Creek was strongly recommended because the canopies could be easier to extend to totally cover the narrow width of river producing the most effective shades. Practicing the upstream planting with 90° vegetative shading angle can increase more than 1 km long suitable habitats for the endangered Salmon in summer. Alternatively, the west‐side planting scenario was the second effective way for temperature reduction. Our result provided a useful suggestion for the authorities in charge of saving the Formosan Landlocked Salmon, particularly under the stress of global warming. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dan Shechtman’s Quasicrystal Discovery in Perspective
Authors: Hargittai Istvan
Published: December 2011

Dan Shechtman’s discovery of quasicrystals brought about a paradigm change in chemistry, physics, materials science, and other areas of science and engineering. Although superficially it could be looked at as a serendipitous event, Shechtman’s curiosity and drive played equal parts with serendipity in this discovery. Shechtman was a lonely discoverer, again, seemingly detached from the main stream of generalized crystallography for which his contribution was a milestone. Generalized crystallography is the science of structures without restrictions — “structures beyond crystals.”1 The discovery of quasicrystals can be seen as written into the history of ideas that have much extended our views about the tools of our scientific inquiry and the materials we aim at producing and utilizing. This review augments a recent Editorial in the August 2011 issue of Structural Chemistry about the lessons of the quasicrystal discovery2 and a book chapter about Dan Shechtman’s traits as a discoverer and about his road to the discovery.3
EFFECT OF GROUNDWATER LEVEL DEPTH AND IRRIGATION AMOUNT ON WATER FLUXES AT THE GROUNDWATER TABLE AND WATER USE OF WHEAT
Authors: Huo Zailin , Feng Shaoyuan , Huang Guanhua , Zheng Yanyan , Wang Yahui , Guo Ping
Published: December 2011

Three irrigation water regimes (90.0, 67.5, and 45.0 mm) and five groundwater table depths (1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 m) were considered in a lysimeter experiment to investigate the effect of groundwater level and irrigation amount on water fluxes at the groundwater table and water use of wheat. Results show that deep percolation (irrigation of 16–23%) occurred to a considerable extent in the present irrigation level at a shallow groundwater table of 1.5–2.0 m. Capillary rise comprised 29% of the water use of wheat, within the period from regreening to harvest, at 1.5 m groundwater table depth, and was reduced with an increase in table depth. A relationship between groundwater contribution and groundwater table depth was also found. In the present irrigation conditions, the water productivity (WPb) of wheat was enhanced from 3.59 kg m‐3 at a shallower groundwater level depth of 1.5 m, to 4.58 kg m‐3 at a deeper groundwater level depth of 3.5 m. WPb can be higher if deficit irrigation is enforced and can reach 3.93–6.03 kg m‐3. Similarly, a relationship between WPb and groundwater table depth was found. Hence, the irrigation amount per time for local wheat can be reduced to 45.0–67.5 mm, depending on the groundwater level depth, in order to use water resources effectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discovery of common urinary biomarkers for hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen and methotrexate by mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics
Authors: Kumar Bhowmik Salil , Chung Bong Chul , Kwon Oh‐Seung , Jung Byung Hwa
Published: December 2011

Liver toxicity represents an important healthcare issue because it causes significant morbidity and mortality and can be difficult to predict before symptoms appear owing to drug therapy or exposure to toxicants. Using metabolomic techniques, we discovered common biomarkers for the prediction of hepatotoxicity in rat urine using mass spectrometry. For this purpose, liver toxicity was induced by 5 days of oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (1 ml kg−1 per day), acetaminophen (1000 mg kg−1 per day) and methotrexate (50 mg kg−1 per day). Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and histopathology in liver tissue were then checked to demonstrate liver toxicity. Global metabolic profiling with UPLC‐TOF‐MS (ultraperformance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry), multivariate analysis (partial least square‐discriminant analysis, hierarchical analysis) and database searching were performed to discover common biomarkers for liver toxicity induced by these three compounds. Urinary concentrations of the newly discovered biomarkers were then quantified to confirm them as biomarkers of hepatotoxicity with targeted metabolic profiling using GC (gas chromatography)–MS and CE (capillary electrophoresis)–MS. In the results, steroids, amino acids and bile acids were metabolically changed between the control and drug‐treated groups in global metabolic profiling; 11β‐hydroxyandrosterone, epiandrosterone, estrone, 11‐dehydrocorticosterone, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, dl‐ornithine, 3‐methylhistidine, cholic acid and lithocholic acid were selected as liver toxicity biomarkers after performing targeted metabolic profiling. In conclusion, we discovered metabolite biomarkers belonging to three different metabolic pathways to check for liver toxicity with mass spectrometry from a metabolomics study that could be used to evaluate hepatotoxicity induced by drugs or other toxic compounds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic inhalation of biomass smoke is associated with DNA damage in airway cells: involvement of particulate pollutants and benzene
Authors: Mukherjee Bidisha , Dutta Anindita , Roychoudhury Sanghita , Ray Manas Ranjan
Published: December 2011

This study examined whether indoor air pollution from biomass fuel burning induces DNA damage in airway cells. For this, sputum cells were collected from 56 premenopausal rural women who cooked with biomass (wood, dung, crop residues) and 49 age‐matched controls who cooked with cleaner liquefied petroleum gas. The levels of particulate matters with diameters of less than 10 and 2.5 µm (PM10 and PM2.5) in indoor air were measured using a real‐time aerosol monitor. Benzene exposure was monitored by measuring trans,trans‐muconic acid (t,t‐MA) in urine by HPLC‐UV. DNA damage was examined by alkaline comet assay in sputum cells. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in sputum cells were measured by flow cytometry and spectrophotometry, respectively. Compared with controls, biomass users had 4 times higher tail percentage DNA, 37% more comet tail length and 5 times more Olive tail moment (p < 0.001) in inflammatory and epithelial cells in sputum, suggesting extensive DNA damage. In addition, women who cooked with biomass had 6 times higher levels of urinary t,t‐MA and 2‐fold higher levels of ROS generation concomitant with 28% depletion of SOD. Indoor air of biomass‐using households had 2–4 times more PM10 and PM2.5 than that of controls. After controlling potential confounders, positive association was found between DNA damage parameters, particulate pollution, urinary t,t‐MA and ROS. Thus, long‐term exposure to biomass smoke induces DNA damage in airway cells and the effect was probably mediated, at least in part, by oxidative stress generated by inhaled particulate matter and benzene. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bioluminescence imaging of energy depletion in vascular pathology: patent ductus arteriosus and atherosclerosis
Authors: Leppänen Olli , Ekstrand Matias , Bräsen Jan Hinrich , Levin Max
Published: December 2011

The artery wall may develop energy depletion due to insufficient nutritional supply. However, until recently it has not been possible to validate this hypothesis because no available technology has allowed assessment of energy metabolism with sufficient spatial resolution. We use high resolution bioluminescence metabolic imaging to study energy metabolism in two mechanistically different vascular pathologies: patent ductus arteriosus and atherosclerosis. Physiological energy depletion in postnatally constricting ductus arteriosus promotes permanent closure. Insufficient ductus energy depletion, common in preterm infants, is associated with persistent patent ductus arteriosus, a condition with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. In contrast, in atherosclerosis, energy depletion in the macrophage‐rich lesion core promotes cell death contributing to lesion instability and disease progression. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Beliefs and personality disorders: an overview of the personality beliefs questionnaire
Authors: Bhar Sunil S. , Beck Aaron T. , Butler Andrew C.
Published: December 2011

Objective: This article presents an overview of the Personality Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ)—a 126‐item self‐report measure of beliefs associated with 10 personality disorders. Design: It consolidates the literature on the PBQ over the last 20 years to provide a summary of the psychometric status, revisions and applications of the PBQ scales. Results: The PBQ scales are psychometrically reliable (α = 77–94, test‐retest stability r=.57–.93) and discriminate between individuals with and without a specific personality disorder. Two revisions have been made to the measure: A 14‐item subscale measuring beliefs central to borderline personality disorder has been identified, and a short form version of the PBQ has been validated. The PBQ has been used to measure cognitive mechanisms of treatment outcomes, and has been found to be sensitive to changes in beliefs. Conclusions: Given the proposed shift in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) to a dimensional conceptualization of psychological components of personality dysfunction, the PBQ is likely to remain relevant and useful for identifying such components in individuals with personality disorders. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 68:1–13, 2012.
Debris and smear removal in flattened root canals after use of different irrigant agitation protocols
Authors: Ribeiro Eduardo Milani , Silva‐Sousa Yara T.C. , Souza‐Gabriel Aline Evangelista , Sousa‐Neto Manoel DamiÃO , Lorencetti Karina Torales , Silva Silvio Rocha Correa
Published: December 2011

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be used to analyze the presence of debris and smear layer on the internal walls of root canal. This study evaluated the debris and smear removal in flattened root canals using SEM after use of different irrigant agitation protocols. Fifty mandibular incisors were distributed into five groups (n = 10) according to the irrigant agitation protocol used during chemomechanical preparation: conventional syringe irrigation with NaviTip needle (no activation), active scrubbing of irrigant with brush‐covered NaviTip FX needle, manual dynamic irrigation, continuous passive ultrasonic irrigation, and apical negative pressure irrigation (EndoVac system). Canals were irrigated with 5 mL of 2.5% NaOCl at each change of instrument and received a final flush with 17% EDTA for 1 min. After instrumentation, the roots were split longitudinally and SEM micrographs at ×100 and ×1,000 were taken to evaluate the amount of debris and smear layer, respectively, in each third. Data were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn's post‐hoc tests (α = 5%). Manual dynamic activation left significantly (p < 0.05) more debris inside the canals than the other protocols, while ultrasonic irrigation and EndoVac were the most effective (p < 0.05) for debris removal. Regarding the removal of smear layer, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) either among the irrigant agitation protocols or between the protocol–canal third interactions. Although none of the irrigant agitation protocols completely removed debris and smear layer from flattened root canals, the machine‐assisted agitation systems (ultrasound and EndoVac) removed more debris than the manual techniques. Microsc. Res. Tech. 75:781–790, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Disengagement coping as a mediator between trauma‐related guilt and PTSD severity
Authors: Held Philip , Owens Gina P. , Schumm Jeremiah A. , Chard Kathleen M. , Hansel Joseph E.
Published: December 2011

This study examined disengagement coping as a partial mediator between trauma‐related guilt and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of veterans (N = 175) entering residential PTSD treatment with either PTSD or subthreshold PTSD. Disengagement coping partially mediated the relationship between guilt and self‐reported PTSD severity (b = .07; 95% CI = [−.003, .13]; p = .06), but did not mediate the relationship when PTSD severity was based on clinicians' ratings. These findings bolster Street, Gibson, and Holohan's (2005) contention that higher guilt‐related cognitions are related to increases in the use of disengagement coping strategies, which can interfere with PTSD recovery. The findings support the importance of PTSD treatments that target reductions in guilt‐related cognitions and disengagement coping strategies.
Conformational Properties and Energetic Analysis of Aliskiren in Solution and Receptor Site
Authors: Politi Aggeliki , Leonis Georgios , Tzoupis Haralambos , Ntountaniotis Dimitrios , Papadopoulos Manthos G. , Grdadolnik Simona Golic , Mavromoustakos Thomas
Published: December 2011

Aliskiren is the first orally active, direct renin inhibitor to be approved for the treatment of hypertension. Its structure elucidation and conformational analysis were explored using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as well as random search and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For the first time, MD calculations have also been performed for aliskiren at the receptor site, in order to reveal its molecular basis of action. It is suggested that aliskiren binds in an extended conformation and is involved in several stabilizing hydrogen bonding interactions with binding cavity (Asp32/255, Gly34) and other binding‐cavity (Arg74, Ser76, Tyr14) residues. Of paramount importance is the finding of a loop consisting of residues around Ser76 that determines the entrapping of aliskiren into the active site of renin. The details of this mechanism will be the subject of a subsequent study. Additionally molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM–PBSA) free energy calculations for the aliskiren‐renin complex provided insight into the binding mode of aliskiren by identifying van der Waals and nonpolar contribution to solvation as the main components of favorable binding interactions.
T‐one insensitive steady state imaging: A framework for purely T2‐weighted TrueFISP
Authors: Schmitt Peter , Jakob Peter M. , Kotas Markus , Flentje Michael , Haase Axel , Griswold Mark A.
Published: December 2011

A new conceptual framework called T‐one insensitive steady state imaging is proposed for fast generation of MR images with pure T2 contrast. This is accomplished by imaging between nonequally spaced inversion pulses, with the magnetization vector alternatively residing in states parallel and antiparallel to B0 for durations TPi and TAi, respectively. With TPi and TAi adequately chosen, identical signal time evolution can be obtained for different T1 values, i.e., T1 contrast can efficiently be removed from resultant images. As a specific realization of this principle, T‐one insensitive steady state imaging sequences are presented which use True free induction steady precession readout blocks between the inversion pulses. While the conventional True free induction steady precession signal time course would be determined by both T2 and T1, a pure T2 dependence is realized with successfully suppressed influence of longitudinal relaxation, and images with essentially T2 contrast alone are obtained. Analytical expressions are provided for the description of the ideal signal behavior, which help in creating pathways for sequence parameter optimization. The performance of the technique is analyzed with Bloch equation simulations. In vivo results obtained in healthy volunteers and brain tumor patients are presented. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
SAR‐reduced spin‐echo‐based Bloch–Siegert B1+ mapping: BS‐SE‐BURST
Authors: Basse‐Lüsebrink Thomas Christian , Kampf Thomas , Fischer André , Sturm Volker Jörg Friedrich , Neumann Daniel , Köstler Herbert , Hahn Dietbert , Stoll Guido , Jakob Peter Michael
Published: December 2011

Fast and accurate B1+ mapping is possible using phase‐based Bloch–Siegert (BS) methods. Importantly, the off‐resonant pulses needed for BS B1+ mapping methods can easily be implemented in multiple MR sequences. BS‐based B1+ mapping has thus been introduced for gradient echo (BS‐FLASH), spin‐echo (BS‐SE), and Carr, Purcell, Meiboom, Gill (CPMG)‐based multi‐SE and turbo‐SE sequences. When using SE and multi‐SE/turbo‐SE‐based BS sequences, however, the high intrinsic specific absorption rates must be considered in clinical situations. This study introduces a fast BS B1+ mapping method based on a SE‐BURST sequence (BS‐SE‐BURST). With SE‐BURST sequences, multiple low‐magnitude excitation pulses are applied prior to the refocusing pulse. Thus, multiple and different phase‐encoded echoes can be acquired per excitation cycle. Compared with a SE sequence, this excitation strategy results in a similar signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) per unit time but with reduced specific absorption rate. The proposed BS‐SE‐BURST sequence was implemented on a conventional 3 T whole body MRI scanner and applied successfully. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Polymerized ionic liquids with guanidinium cations as host for gel polymer electrolytes in lithium metal batteries
Authors: Li Mingtao , Yang Li , Fang Shaohua , Dong Siming , Hirano Shin‐ichi , Tachibana Kazuhiro
Published: December 2011

Polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) having guanidinium cations with different counter‐anions, such as PF6− and N(CF3SO2)2− (TFSI−), were synthesized by copolymerization of a guanidinium ionic liquid monomer with methyl acrylate followed by an anion exchange reaction. Furthermore, incorporating a guanidinium ionic liquid, LiTFSI salt and nano‐size SiO2, a quaternary gel polymer electrolyte based on one of the PILs as the polymer host was prepared. The quaternary gel polymer electrolyte was chemically stable even at a higher temperature of 80 °C in contact with the lithium anode. In particular, the electrolyte exhibited high lithium ion conductivity, wide electrochemical stability window and good lithium stripping/plating performance. Li/LiFePO4 batteries with the quaternary gel polymer electrolyte at 80 °C had capacities of 140 and 130 mA h g−1 respectively at 0.1 and 0.2 C current rates. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Catalyst‐free growth of InN nanorods by metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Kim Min Hwa , Moon Dae Young , Park Jinsub , Nanishi Yasushi , Yi Gyu‐Chul , Yoon Euijoon
Published: December 2011

We demonstrated the growth of catalyst‐free InN nanostructures including nanorods on (0001) Al2O3 substrates using metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition. As the growth time increased, growth rate along c‐direction increased superlinearly with decreasing c‐plane area fractions and increasing side wall areas. It was also found that desorption from the sidewalls of InN nanostructures during the InN nanorods formation was one of essential key parameters of the growth mechanism. We propose a growth model to explain the InN nanostructure evolution by considering the side wall desorption and re‐deposition of indium at top c‐plane surfaces.
Connexin 43 Reverses Malignant Phenotypes of Glioma Stem Cells by Modulating E-Cadherin
Authors: Yu Shi-Cang , Xiao Hua-Liang , Jiang Xue-Feng , Wang Qing-Liang , Li Yan , Yang Xiao-Jun , Ping Yi-Fang , Duan Jiang Jie , Jiang Jian-Yong , Ye Xian-Zong , Xu Sen-Lin , Xin Yang-Hong , Yao Xiao-Hong , Chen Jian-Hong , Chu Wei-Hua , Sun Wei , Wang Bing , Wang Ji Ming , Zhang Xia , Bian Xiu-Wu
Published: December 2011

Malfunctioned gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) has been thought associated with malignant transformation of normal cells. However, the role of GJIC-related proteins such as connexins in sustaining the malignant behavior of cancer stem cells remains unclear. In this study, we obtained tumorspheres formed by glioma stem cells (GSCs) and adherent GSCs and then examined their GJIC. All GSCs showed reduced GJIC, and differentiated glioma cells had more gap junction-like structures than GSCs. GSCs expressed very low level of connexins, Cx43 in particular, which are key components of gap junction. We observed hypermethylation in the promoter of gap junction protein α1, which encodes Cx43 in GSCs. Reconstitution of Cx43 in GSCs inhibited their capacity of self-renewal, invasiveness, and tumorigenicity via influencing E-cadherin and its coding protein, which leads to changes in the expression of Wnt/β-catenin targeting genes. Our results suggest that GSCs require the low expression of Cx43 for maintaining their malignant phenotype, and upregulation of Cx43 might be a potential strategy for treatment of malignant glioma.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Electrochemistry of titanium dioxide: some aspects and highlights
Authors: Kavan Ladislav
Published: December 2011

Selected problems of electrochemical synthesis, characterization and applications of titanium dioxide are reviewed. These issues have attracted considerable attention from addressing purely academic questions up to promising applications in devices for energy storage and energy conversion. DOI 10.1002/tcr.201100012
Glycosylation defects underlying fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: a novel pathogenetic model
Authors: Binkhorst M. , Wortmann S. B. , Funke S. , Kozicz T. , Wevers R. A. , Morava E.
Published: December 2011

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the craniofacial dysmorphic features, malformations, and disturbances in growth, neurodevelopment and behavior occurring in individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) represents the severe end of this spectrum. Many pathophysiological mechanisms have hitherto been proposed to account for the disrupted growth and morphogenesis seen in FAS. These include impaired cholesterol‐modification of the Sonic hedgehog morphogen, retinoic acid deficiency, lipoperoxidative damage due to alcohol‐induced reactive oxygen species combined with reduced antioxidant defences, and malfunctioning cell adhesion molecules. In this report, we propose a completely novel concept regarding the pathogenesis of FAS. Based on our observation that transferrin isoelectric focusing (TIEF) – the most widely used screening tool for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) – was transiently abnormal in a newborn with FAS and a confirmed maternal history of gestational alcohol abuse, we came to believe that FAS exemplifies a congenital disorder of glycosylation secondary to alcohol‐inflicted disruption of (N‐linked) protein glycosylation. Various pieces of evidence were found in the literature to substantiate this hypothesis. This observation implies, among others, that one might need to consider the possibility of maternal alcohol consumption in newborns with transient glycosylation abnormalities. We also present an integrated pathophysiological model of FAS, which incorporates all existing theories mentioned above as well as our novel concept. This model highlights the pivotal role of disrupted isoprenoid metabolism in the origination of FAS.
Analysis and Formation of trans Fatty Acids in Corn Oil During the Heating Process
Authors: Yang Meiyan , Yang Ying , Nie Shaoping , Xie Mingyong , Chen Feng
Published: December 2011

Formation and composition of trans fatty acids (TFA) in corn oil during the frying process at different temperatures was investigated using an improved analytical gas chromatography (GC) method. At temperatures above 180 °C and heating times over 2 h there was a significantly increased TFA content, which increased further at higher temperatures. The amounts of trans C18:1 and trans C18:2 increased from 0.64 and 9.0 to 7.86 and 65.48 mg/g after heating at 260 °C for 12 h, while the total amount of TFA increased from 9.64 to 73.34 mg/g. However, the contents of linoleic acid and α‐linolenic acid under the same conditions reduced from 460.3 and 7.4 to 209.8 and 1.8 mg/g, respectively. These results show that heating can significantly induce cis to trans isomerization of unsaturated triglycerides, particularly at high temperatures.
The role of insulin resistance in the development of muscle wasting during cancer cachexia
Authors: Honors Mary A. , Kinzig Kimberly P.
Published: December 2011

Background

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities. Insulin resistance is present in many cancer patients and may be one mechanism through which muscle wasting occurs.

Methods and results

The present review examines evidence in support of a role for insulin resistance in the development of muscle wasting during cancer cachexia and identifies areas for future research. Patients suffering from cancer cachexia tend to exhibit insulin resistance and improvements in insulin resistance have the potential to improve cachexia symptoms. In addition, evidence suggests that insulin resistance may occur prior to the onset of cachexia symptoms.

Conclusions

Further investigation of the role of insulin resistance in cancer cachexia is needed. The use of translational research in this area is strongly encouraged, and has important implications for clinical research and the treatment and prevention of cancer cachexia.
Risk factors for cocaine-induced psychosis in cocaine-dependent patients
Authors: Roncero C. , Daigre C. , Gonzalvo B. , Valero S. , Castells X. , Grau-López L. , Eiroa-Orosa F.J. , Casas M.
Published: December 2011

Cocaine consumption can induce transient psychotic symptoms, expressed as paranoia or hallucinations. Cocaine induced psychosis (CIP) is common but not developed in all cases. This is the first European study on the relationship between CIP, consumption pattern variables and personality disorders. We evaluated 173 cocaine-dependent patients over 18 years; mostly males, whose average age was 33.6 years (SD = 7.8). Patients attending an outpatient addictions department were enrolled in the study and subsequently systematically evaluated using SCID I and SCID II interviews for comorbid disorders, a clinical interview for psychotic symptoms and EuropASI for severity of addiction. A high proportion of cocaine dependent patients reported psychotic symptoms under the influence of cocaine (53.8%), the most frequently reported being paranoid beliefs and suspiciousness (43.9%). A logistic regression analysis was performed, finding that a model consisting of amount of cocaine consumption, presence of an antisocial personality disorder and cannabis dependence history had 66.2% sensitivity 75.8% specificity predicting the presence of CIP. In our conclusions, we discuss the relevance of evaluating CIP in all cocaine dependent-patients, and particularly in those fulfilling the clinical profile derived from our results. These findings could be useful for a clinical approach to the risks of psychotic states in cocaine-dependent patients.
Bilateral simultaneous facial palsy following scrub typhus meningitis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Lin Wei‐Ru , Chen Tun‐Chieh , Lin Chun‐Yu , Lu Po‐Liang , Chen Yen‐Hsu
Published: December 2011

Scrub typhus is widely distributed across the Asia‐Pacific region, Taiwan included. The clinical manifestations and complications of scrub typhus vary and the illness ranges in severity from mild to fatal. The etiology of facial nerve palsy varies and infectious agents have been associated with this condition.Rickettsiaespecies have, however, rarely been reported as the causative agents. We report the case of a 49‐year‐old man who had fever, malaise, headache, oligouria and tea‐colored urine. Bilateral pneumonitis, acute renal failure, acalculous cholecystitis and aseptic meningitis were diagnosed after a series of examinations. The patient recovered after doxycycline treatment but he developed bilateral facial palsy during the convalescent phase, which improved after the administration of a steroid. The diagnosis of infection withOrientia tsutsugamushiwas confirmed by the Taiwan Center of Disease Control and the tests forLeptospira,Rickettsia typhiandCoxiella burnetiiwere all negative. This case indicates that scrub typhus needs to be included in the differential diagnoses of cases of bilateral and simultaneous facial nerve palsy, particularly in areas where the disease is endemic.
Lack of independent prognostic and predictive value of centromere 17 copy number changes in breast cancer patients with known HER2 and TOP2A status
Authors: Nielsen Kirsten Vang , Ejlertsen Bent , Møller Susanne , Jensen Maj-Britt , Balslev Eva , Müller Sven , Knoop Ann , Mouridsen Henning T.
Published: December 2011

The clinical benefit of anthracyclines has been connected to HER2 status, TOP2A status and centromere 17 copy numbers (CEN‐17). Data from a clinical trial randomizing patients to anthracyclines was used to assess whether the number of CEN‐17 in breast cancers may predict incremental responsiveness to anthracyclines besides what is obtained when used relatively to TOP2A and HER2. As cut sections of paraffin‐embedded tissue are prone to truncation of nuclei, strict definition of ploidy levels is lacking. We therefore used normal breast tissue to assist define ploidy levels in cut sections. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromere 17 (CEN‐17) and TOP2A was performed on 120 normal breast specimens. The diploid CEN‐17 copy number was reduced from the expected two signals in whole nuclei to an average of 1.68 signals per nucleus in cut sections of normal breast. Ploidy levels determined in normal breast were applied to data on 767 patients with known HER2 and TOP2A status randomized to anthracyclines in the DBCG 89D trial. CEN‐17 ploidy levels were in cut sections from the 767 breast cancer patients established as: Haploid: ≤1.25 (10%), diploid: 1.26–2.09 (60%), triploid: 2.10–2.93 (21%), tetraploid: 2.94–3.77 (5%) or higher ploidy: ≥3.78 (4%). Amplification of HER2 and deletion of TOP2A were frequently observed in tumors with a high ploidy level. In univariate analyses increasing ploidy was associated with decreased disease‐free survival (DFS) (P=0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.0001). However, in multivariate analysis CEN‐17 was not established as an independent prognostic factor and was neither a statistically significant predictor of benefit from CEF (Cyclophosphamide/Epirubicin/5‐Fluorouracil) compared to CMF (Cyclophosphamide/Methotrexate/5‐Fluorouracil) (PInteraction 0.39 for DFS and 0.67 for OS). In conclusion, CEN‐17 levels do not independently from TOP2A/CEN‐17 ratio identify breast cancer patients who achieve an incremental benefit from adjuvant anthracyclines.
Binary collisions of drops of immiscible liquids
Authors: Roisman Ilia V. , Planchette Carole , Lorenceau Elise , Brenn Günter
Published: December 2011

This experimental and theoretical study is devoted to the investigation of head-on collisions of two drops of immiscible liquids. In the experiments, pairs of drops are made to collide at well-defined kinetic and geometric conditions. The sizes and relative velocity of the colliding drops close to the point of impact are measured by means of image processing. The deformed states after the impact, their evolution with time, and their stability are studied by visualization. The theory considers the dynamics of the rim formed at the edge of a radially spreading lamella due to capillary forces at the free surfaces of the lamella and at the liquid/liquid interface. The equations of the rim formation and motion are obtained from the volume, mass and momentum balance equations which account for the inertial, viscous and capillary effects. The theory predicts the evolution of the main geometrical parameters of the liquid mass formed by the drop collision: thickness of the lamella, diameter, and size of the rim cross-section. The theoretical predictions agree well with the experimental data, although no adjustable parameters are used in the model.
A contact model for normal immersed collisions between a particle and a wall
Authors: Li Xiaobai , Hunt Melany L. , Colonius Tim
Published: December 2011

The incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are solved numerically to predict the coupled motion of a falling particle and the surrounding fluid as the particle impacts and rebounds from a planar wall. The method is validated by comparing the numerical simulations of a settling sphere with experimental measurements of the sphere trajectory and the accompanying flow field. The normal collision process is then studied for a range of impact Stokes numbers. A contact model of the liquid–solid interaction and elastic effect is developed that incorporates the elasticity of the solids to permit the rebound trajectory to be simulated accurately. The contact model is applied when the particle is sufficiently close to the wall that it becomes difficult to resolve the thin lubrication layer. The model is calibrated with new measurements of the particle trajectories and reproduces the observed coefficient of restitution over a range of impact Stokes numbers from 1 to 1000.
Inefficient Labor or Inefficient Capital? Corporate Diversification and Productivity around the World
Authors: Mitton Todd
Published: December 2011

I study the relation between corporate diversification and labor productivity in a sample of over 500,000 firms from 46 countries. Across the entire sample, greater diversification is associated with significantly lower labor productivity. The negative relation between diversification and labor productivity is not stronger in countries with more burdensome employment regulation, but it is significantly stronger in countries with better financial development. In addition, the negative relation is stronger in industries with high capital/labor ratios. Overall, the results suggest that the lower productivity in diversified firms is due more to the misallocation of capital than to the inefficient use of labor.
Floods and money: funding drainage and flood control in coastal Flanders from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries
Authors: SOENS TIM
Published: December 2011

From the High Middle Ages on, the coastal wetlands of the North Sea area have been intensively reclaimed and settled. In order to enable intensive agricultural production in these areas, a complex drainage and flood control system was gradually installed, one that demanded a permanent investment of huge amounts of capital and labour. As the maintenance of the water control system was vital for the coastal agro-system, the long-term evolution of investments is an important, yet rarely used, indicator of the economic, social and environmental fortunes of the coastlands. Based on new and very early serial data on water control funding in late medieval Flanders, this article argues that long-term fluctuations in the funding of drainage and flood control were first and foremost related to structural changes within the coastal economy, where an overall decline of investment levels ran parallel to the fourteenth-century crisis of the peasant smallholding economy in this region. Exogenous pressures on the other hand, such as storm surges, only provoked a short-term disruption of investments.
Molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of Japanese encephalitis virus in China
Authors: CHEN S. P.
Published: December 2011

We elucidated the molecular epidemiology and evolution of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strains isolated from 1949 to 2009 in China in this study. Three genotypes (I, III, V) were confirmed to be co-circulating in China in both high- and low-prevalence areas. Genotype III consisted of two clades (mainland clade and Taiwan clade). Compared to the mainland clade, genotype I and the Taiwan clade were newly introduced and evolved more rapidly. We also demonstrated that JEV strains in China, especially those in the mainland clade, were not only under purifying selection, but also probably under positive selection (aa 227 and 408 in the envelope protein).
Local diagnostics to estimate density‐induced sea level variations over topography and along coastlines
Authors: Bingham R. J. , Hughes C. W.
Published: December 2011

In the open ocean, sea level variability is primarily steric in origin. Steric sea level is given by the depth integral of the density field, raising the question of how tide gauges, which are situated in very shallow water, feel deep ocean variability. Here this question is examined in a high‐resolution global ocean model. By considering a series of assumptions we show that if we wish to reconstruct coastal sea level using only local density information, then the best assumption we can make is one of no horizontal pressure gradient, and therefore no geostrophic flow, at the seafloor. Coastal sea level can then be determined using density at the ocean's floor. When attempting to discriminate between mass and volume components of sea level measured by tide gauges, the conventional approach is to take steric height at deep‐ocean sites close to the tide gauges as an estimate of the steric component. We find that with steric height computed at 3000 m this approach only works well in the equatorial band of the Atlantic and Pacific eastern boundaries. In most cases the steric correction can be improved by calculating steric height closer to shore, with the best results obtained in the depth range 500–1000 m. Yet, for western boundaries, large discrepancies remain. Our results therefore suggest that on time scales up to about 5 years, and perhaps longer, the presence of boundary currents means that the conventional steric correction to tide gauges may not be valid in many places.
Spatial patterns of soil nitrification and nitrate export from forested headwaters in the northeastern United States
Authors: Ross Donald S. , Shanley James B. , Campbell John L. , Lawrence Gregory B. , Bailey Scott W. , Likens Gene E. , Wemple Beverley C. , Fredriksen Guinevere , Jamison Austin E.
Published: December 2011

Nitrogen export from small forested watersheds is known to be affected by N deposition but with high regional variability. We studied 10 headwater catchments in the northeastern United States across a gradient of N deposition (5.4 − 9.4 kg ha−1 yr−1) to determine if soil nitrification rates could explain differences in stream water NO3− export. Average annual export of two years (October 2002 through September 2004) varied from 0.1 kg NO3−‐N ha−1 yr−1 at Cone Pond watershed in New Hampshire to 5.1 kg ha−1 yr−1 at Buck Creek South in the western Adirondack Mountains of New York. Potential net nitrification rates and relative nitrification (fraction of inorganic N as NO3−) were measured in Oa or A soil horizons at 21–130 sampling points throughout each watershed. Stream NO3− export was positively related to nitrification rates (r2 = 0.34, p = 0.04) and the relative nitrification (r2 = 0.37, p = 0.04). These relationships were much improved by restricting consideration to the 6 watersheds with a higher number of rate measurements (59–130) taken in transects parallel to the streams (r2 of 0.84 and 0.70 for the nitrification rate and relative nitrification, respectively). Potential nitrification rates were also a better predictor of NO3− export when data were limited to either the 6 sampling points closest to the watershed outlet (r2 = 0.75) or sampling points <250 m from the watershed outlet (r2 = 0.68). The basal area of conifer species at the sampling plots was negatively related to NO3−export. These spatial relationships found here suggest a strong influence of near‐stream and near‐watershed‐outlet soils on measured stream NO3− export.
Effect of repeated deforestation on vegetation dynamics for phosphorus‐limited tropical forests
Authors: Runyan Christiane W. , D'Odorico Paolo , Lawrence Deborah
Published: December 2011

For some predominately phosphorus (P)‐limited ecosystems, vegetation can be sustained under steady state conditions by atmospheric P inputs. The structure of the canopy influences deposition via the ability of the canopy to trap airborne P. This dependence suggests that a positive feedback may exist, which would have important impacts on the process of forest regeneration. One source of disturbance in the tropics is shifting cultivation. Over multiple cycles, studies have shown that shifting cultivation can lead to a large net loss of soil P, with a concomitant decline in forest biomass. In this study a model was developed to assess how shifting cultivation affects vegetation and phosphorus dynamics. This model is applied as a case study to a dry tropical forest system in the Southern Yucatan that is primarily P limited and has experienced shifting cultivation over several decades. Results show that following the second cycle, recovery would only be achieved after 100 years or longer in comparison to ∼30 years after one cycle. Examining the stable states of the system suggests that two stable states exist and that state changes as brought about by repeated disturbance can cause a shift to the other “low vegetation” stable state. Thus, for predominately P‐limited ecosystems undergoing repeated disturbance, the depletion of soil P can significantly affect the long‐term ability of the forest vegetation to recover. Results from this study have widespread implications, as 400 million ha of forest are affected by shifting cultivation.
A real‐time run of the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics (CTIPe) model
Authors: Codrescu Mihail V. , Negrea Cătălin , Fedrizzi Mariangel , Fuller‐Rowell T. J. , Dobin Alison , Jakowsky Norbert , Khalsa Hargobind , Matsuo Tomoko , Maruyama Naomi
Published: December 2011

The availability of unprecedented amounts of real‐time data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems and ionosondes coupled with new and more stringent requirements for specification and forecast of the neutral and electron densities in the thermosphere‐ionosphere system are driving a new wave of development in data assimilation schemes for the thermosphere and ionosphere. However, such schemes require accurate knowledge of any biases affecting the state‐propagating models, and characterizing such biases involves significant effort. A first step in the estimation of the model biases, a steady state neutral temperature comparison with the empirical Mass Spectrometer Incoherent Scatter model, was published in Space Weather in 2008. Here we present another step in the validation of the Coupled Thermosphere Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics (CTIPe) general circulation model in preparation for its future inclusion in a data assimilation scheme. We describe an implementation of the model at the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and present real‐time comparisons between CTIPe and GPS total electron content and F2 layer ionosonde measurements. The CTIPe results are generated automatically about 20 min ahead of real time. The model inputs are based on NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer and F10.7 data available in the SWPC database. The results and the comparison with measurements for the current 2‐week period are available at http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ctipe/. The results are quite encouraging and offer hope that physics‐based models can compete with empirical models during quiet times and have tremendous potential to provide more reliable forecasts during periods of geomagnetic disturbance.
Is there a neurobiology of the free will?
Authors: Gerber Bertram
Published: December 2011

Do we have free will, or are our decisions a consequence of our brain's biochemistry or chance? Neurobiologists have set out to answer this question, but might ultimately be unable to do so.
Stem cells, morals and the courts
Authors: Garfinkel Michele
Published: December 2011

Earlier this year, the European Court of Justice revoked a patent on how to generate nerve cells from human embryonic stem cells. The decision raises intriguing questions about the freedom of research versus concerns about the morality of a technology.