bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti‐HIV‐1 antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by hyperimmune bovine colostrum IgG
Authors: Kramski Marit , Lichtfuss Gregor F. , Navis Marjon , Isitman Gamze , Wren Leia , Rawlin Grant , Center Rob J. , Jaworowski Anthony , Kent Stephen J. , Purcell Damian F. J.
Published: June 2012

Antibodies with antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity play an important role in protection against HIV‐1 infection, but generating sufficient amounts of antibodies to study their protective efficacy is difficult. HIV‐specific IgG can be easily and inexpensively produced in large quantities using bovine colostrum. We previously vaccinated cows with HIV‐1 envelope gp140 and elicited high titers of anti‐gp140‐binding IgG in colostrum. In the present study, we determined whether bovine antibodies would also demonstrate specific cytotoxic activity. We found that bovine IgG bind to Fcγ‐receptors (FcγRs) on human neutrophils, monocytes, and NK cells in a dose‐dependent manner. Antibody‐dependent killing was observed in the presence of anti‐HIV‐1 colostrum IgG but not nonimmune colostrum IgG. Killing was dependent on Fc and FcγR interaction since ADDC activity was not seen with F(ab’)2 fragments. ADCC activity was primarily mediated by CD14+ monocytes with FcγRIIa (CD32a) as the major receptor responsible for monocyte‐mediated ADCC in response to bovine IgG. In conclusion, we demonstrate that bovine anti‐HIV colostrum IgG have robust HIV‐1‐specific ADCC activity and therefore offer a useful source of antibodies able to provide a rapid and potent response against HIV‐1 infection. This could assist the development of novel Ab‐mediated approaches for prevention of HIV‐1 transmission.
T‐follicular helper cells survive as long‐term memory cells
Authors: Weber Jan P. , Fuhrmann Franziska , Hutloff Andreas
Published: June 2012

T‐follicular helper (TFH) cells represent the subpopulation of CD4+ T cells that provides help for antigen‐specific B cells in the GC response. They are generated from naïve T cells during an immune response and are imprinted by their master transcription factor Bcl‐6. It has been a long‐standing question if TFH cells contribute to the CD4+ memory pool after the GC response has been terminated. To answer this question, we sorted antigen‐specific TFH and non‐TFH effector cells from an ongoing GC response and transferred them into naïve mice. Without further signals via the TCR, transferred cells rapidly contracted with a small population of both TFH and non‐TFH cells surviving as memory cells in peripheral lymphoid organs for at least 4 weeks in the absence of antigen. TFH cells strongly downregulated their signature genes Bcl‐6, CXCR5, and PD‐1 in the memory phase. Upon rechallenge with antigen they rapidly upregulated these markers again. An enhanced potential to produce IL‐21, paired with higher expression of CXCR5 and lower expression of CCR7, should enable TFH memory cells to provide more efficient help for antigen‐specific B cells than their non‐TFH counterparts.
Copper(I) Siloxides – Aggregated Solid‐State Structures, Cu–Cu Interactions and Dynamic Solution Behavior
Authors: Schax Fabian , Limberg Christian , Mügge Clemens
Published: June 2012

Reaction of the siloxane‐diols HO(Ph2SiO)2H, 1,1,3,3‐tetraphenyldisiloxane‐1,3‐diol (L1H2), HO(iPr2SiO)2H, 1,1,3,3‐tetraisopropyldisiloxane‐1,3‐diol (L2H2), and HO(Ph2SiO)3H, 1,1,3,3,5,5‐hexaphenyltrisiloxane‐1,5‐diol (L3H2) with two equivalents of CunMesn led to octanuclear compounds [Cu8L14] (1), [Cu8L24] (2), and [Cu8L12L*2] [L* = O(Ph2SiO)4] (3), which were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis as well as by solution NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures revealed that all the compounds are composed of Cu4O4 moieties featuring short Cu–Cu distances that can be discussed in terms of cuprophilic interactions. Two such units are linked via four disiloxane units in 1 and 2, in 3 they are connected by two equivalents of (L1)2–. Formation of 3 required disproportion of a trisiloxane‐1,5‐diolate to give a disiloxane‐1,3‐diolate and a tetrasiloxane‐1,7‐diolate, and thus indicates that siloxane units are not inert under the synthetic conditions employed. NMR spectroscopic investigations of the structure of 1 in solution revealed an equilibrium, presumably with [Cu4L22] fragments. Crystallization of a structural isomer of 3 indicates a shallow potential energy surface for this compound.
Nitrate‐Templated 1D EE‐Azide‐Cobalt Chain Exhibits Canted Antiferromagnetism and Slow Magnetic Relaxation
Authors: Li Zuo‐Xi , Jie Wanqi , Zha Gangqiang , Wang Tao , Xu Yadong
Published: June 2012

A single‐chain magnet (SCM) with 1D EO‐azide‐cobalt chains has been previously synthesized from a solvothermal reaction of Co(NO3)2, NaN3, and 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (bib). Herein the template HNO3 is introduced into the above reaction system and another new coordination polymer (1) is obtained, which exhibits an α‐Po framework with 1D EE‐azide‐cobalt chains. The magnetic property of 1 has been well studied, and the results show spin‐canted antiferromagnetism and slow relaxation of magnetization.
Solid‐Phase Synthesis of 5‐Arylhistidine‐Containing Peptides with Antimicrobial Activity Through a Microwave‐Assisted Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling
Authors: Ng‐Choi Iteng , Soler Marta , Cerezo Vanessa , Badosa Esther , Montesinos Emilio , Planas Marta , Feliu Lidia
Published: June 2012

A microwave‐assisted solid‐phase Suzuki–Miyaura reaction has been employed for the synthesis of 5‐arylhistidine‐containing peptides. In particular, sequences containing a 5‐arylhistidine at the 1‐ or 4‐positions have been designed based on lead antimicrobial peptides. The cross‐coupling involved the arylation of a resin‐bound 5‐bromohistidine with an arylboronic acid in solution under microwave irradiation. This protocol is compatible with common protecting groups used in peptide chemistry. The resulting biaryl linear undecapeptides were screened for their antibacterial, antifungal and hemolytic activities. The results showed that the presence of an imidazole ring significantly decreases the cytotoxicity.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Reaction of Arylamine and Diarylacetylene: Solvent‐Controlled Construction of 2,3‐Diarylindoles and Pentaarylpyrroles
Authors: Chen Xiaopeng , Li Xihui , Wang Ningning , Jin Jisong , Lu Ping , Wang Yanguang
Published: June 2012

By choosing DMF and dioxane as solvent, skeletons of indoles and pyrroles were constructed from alkynes and amines in the presence of PdCl2, respectively. These Pd‐catalyzed reactions were phosphane‐free with high atom efficiency and could be conducted under mild basic conditions. The proposed mechanism for the selective formation of indoles and pyrroles in different solvents is also discussed in this paper.
Antifungal Diterpene Alkaloids from the Caribbean Sponge Agelas citrina: Unified Configurational Assignments of Agelasidines and Agelasines
Authors: Stout E. Paige , Yu Lily C. , Molinski Tadeusz F.
Published: June 2012

Three new diterpene alkaloids – the hypotaurocyamines, (–)‐agelasidines E and F (5, 6), and an adeninium salt, agelasine N (9) – were isolated from the Caribbean sponge Agelas citrina along with six known natural products: agelasines B–E (7, 10–12), 2‐oxo‐agelasine B (8), and (–)‐agelasidine C (3). The chemical structures of 5, 6, and 9 were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. This represents the first report of natural products from the sponge A. citrina. Unified assignment of the absolute configurations of the new compounds and known compounds was achieved by chemical correlation, quantitative measurements of molar rotations, and comparative analysis by van't Hoff's principle of optical superposition. (–)‐Agelasidine C (3) exhibited potent antifungal and modest cytotoxic activity against human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells.
Desktop near‐field thermal‐lens microscope for thermo‐optical detection in microfluidics
Authors: Smirnova Adelina , Proskurnin Mikhail A. , Mawatari Kazuma , Kitamori Takehiko
Published: June 2012

A new compact near‐field desktop‐sized diode laser thermal‐lens microscope for analysis in microfluidics was proposed. A novel beam‐alignment and detection systems provided high signal stability and, along with reduced number of optical elements rendered the instrument portable. The detection of nonfluorescent model species (Fe(II)‐bathophenanthroline chelate) in water showed good linearity in the range of 5 × 10−9 to 1 × 10−4 M, and the limit of detection was 3.5 × 10−9 M, which corresponded to 3.5 × 10−7 absorbance units and provided a 20‐fold enhancement in sensitivity compared with existing schematic.
In situ particle zeta potential evaluation in electroosmotic flows from time‐resolved microPIV measurements
Authors: Sureda Miquel , Miller Andrew , Diez Francisco J.
Published: June 2012

A time‐resolved microPIV method is presented to measure in an EOF the particles zeta potential in situ during the transient start‐up of a microdevice. The method resolves the electrophoretic velocity of fluoro‐spheres used as tracer particles in microPIV. This approach exploits the short transient regime of the EOF generated after a potential drop is imposed across a microchannel and before reaching quasisteady state. During the starting of the transient regime, the electrophoretic effect is dominant in the center of the channel and the EOF is negligible. By measuring the velocity of the tracer particles with a microPIV system during that starting period, their electrophoretic velocity is obtained. The technique also resolves the temporal evolution of the EOF with three regions identified. The first region occurs before the electroosmotic effect reaches the center of the channel, the second region extends until the EOF reaches steady state, and thereafter is the third region. The two time constants separating these regions are also obtained and compared to the theory. The zeta potential of 860 nm diameter polystyrene particles is calculated for different solutions including borate buffer, sodium chloride, and deionized water. Results show that the magnitudes of the electrophoretic and electroosmotic velocities are in the range of |300| to |700| μm/s for these measurements. The zeta potential values are compared to the well‐established closed cell technique showing improved accuracy. The method also resolves the characteristic response time of the EOF, showing small but important deviations from current analytical predictions. Additionally, the measurements can be performed in situ in microfluidic devices under actual working EOF conditions and without the need for calibrations.
Comparative microRNA detection from precursor‐microRNA‐transfected hepatocellular carcinoma cells by capillary electrophoresis with dual‐color laser‐induced fluorescence
Authors: Yang Tzu‐Hsueh , Ou Da‐Liang , Hsu Chiun , Huang Shih‐Hua , Chang Po‐Ling
Published: June 2012

A dual‐LIF (dLIF) setup combined with CE for microRNA (miRNA) detection is proposed in this study. An argon ion laser (488 nm) and a solid state laser (640 nm) were chosen to excite the fluorescent dye‐labeled DNA probe after splinted ligation of miRNA. The crosstalk of emission spectrum of Alex Fluor 488 and Alex Fluor 647 is minimized with a zero crosstalk matrix for Alex Fluor 647 to 488 channels. The linear ranges of the device for the fluorescent dye‐labeled DNA probe were both from 1.0 nM to 0.1 pM. The limits of detection for Alexa Fluor 488‐labeled DNA and Alex Fluor 647‐labeled DNA were 9.3 and 31 fM, respectively. The detection of specific miRNA has been accomplished by combining splinted ligation with the fluorescent dye‐labeled oligonucleotides. The linear range for the synthetic miRNA is from 1.0 nM to 1.0 pM. Without PCR amplification, CE‐dLIF was applied to discriminate a pre‐miR‐10b*‐transfected cells (contains precursor miR‐10b*) from hepatocellular carcinoma cell (control cells). Therefore, this result indicates CE‐dLIF has great potential to provide a rapid comparative assay for miRNAs detection.
Unmanned platform for long‐range remote analysis of volatile compounds in air samples
Authors: da Costa Eric T. , Neves Carlos A. , Hotta Guilherme M. , Vidal Denis T. R. , Barros Marcelo F. , Ayon Arturo A. , Garcia Carlos D. , do Lago Claudimir Lucio
Published: June 2012

This paper describes a long‐range remotely controlled CE system built on an all‐terrain vehicle. A four‐stroke engine and a set of 12‐V batteries were used to provide power to a series of subsystems that include drivers, communication, computers, and a capillary electrophoresis module. This dedicated instrument allows air sampling using a polypropylene porous tube, coupled to a flow system that transports the sample to the inlet of a fused‐silica capillary. A hybrid approach was used for the construction of the analytical subsystem combining a conventional fused‐silica capillary (used for separation) and a laser machined microfluidic block, made of PMMA. A solid‐state cooling approach was also integrated in the CE module to enable controlling the temperature and therefore increasing the useful range of the robot. Although ultimately intended for detection of chemical warfare agents, the proposed system was used to analyze a series of volatile organic acids. As such, the system allowed the separation and detection of formic, acetic, and propionic acids with signal‐to‐noise ratios of 414, 150, and 115, respectively, after sampling by only 30 s and performing an electrokinetic injection during 2.0 s at 1.0 kV.
Micellar affinity gradient focusing in a microfluidic chip with integrated bilinear temperature gradients
Authors: Shameli Seyed Mostafa , Glawdel Tomasz , Fernand Vivian E. , Ren Carolyn L.
Published: June 2012

Micellar affinity gradient focusing (MAGF) is a microfluidic counterflow gradient focusing technique that combines the favorable features of MEKC and temperature gradient focusing. MAGF separates analytes on the basis of a combination of electrophoretic mobility and partitioning with the micellar phase. A temperature gradient is produced along the separation channel containing an analyte/micellar system to create a gradient in interaction strength (retention factor) between the analytes and micelles. Combined with a bulk counterflow, species concentrate at a unique point where their total velocity sums to zero. MAGF can be used in scanning mode by varying the bulk flow so that a large number of analytes can be sequentially focused and passed by a single detection point. In this work, we develop a bilinear temperature gradient along the separation channel that improves separation performance over the conventional linear designs. The temperature profile along the channel consists of a very sharp gradient used to preconcentrate the sample followed by a shallow gradient that increases resolution. We fabricated a hybrid PDMS/glass microfluidic chip with integrated micro heaters that generate the bilinear profile. Performance is characterized by separating several different samples including fluorescent dyes using SDS surfactant and pI markers using both SDS and poly‐SUS surfactants as the micellar phase. The new design shows a nearly two times improvement in peak capacity and resolution in comparison to the standard linear temperature gradient.
Galanthamine production by Leucojum aestivumL. shoot culture in a modified bubble column bioreactor with internal sections
Authors: Georgiev Vasil , Ivanov Ivan , Berkov Strahil , Ilieva Mladenka , Georgiev Milen , Gocheva Tatiana , Pavlov Atanas
Published: June 2012

Shoot culture of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum L.) was successfully cultivated in an advanced modified glass‐column bioreactor with internal sections for production of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The highest amounts of dry biomass (20.8 g/L) and galanthamine (1.7 mg/L) were achieved when shoots were cultured at 22°C and 18 L/(L·h) flow rate of inlet air. At these conditions, the L. aestivum shoot culture possessed mixotrophic‐type nutrition, synthesizing the highest amounts of chlorophyll (0.24 mg/g DW (dry weight) chlorophyll A and 0.13 mg/g DW chlorophyll B). The alkaloids extract of shoot biomass showed high acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 4.6 mg). The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) profiling of biosynthesized alkaloids revealed that galanthamine and related compounds were presented in higher extracellular proportions while lycorine and hemanthamine‐type compounds had higher intracellular proportions. The developed modified bubble‐column bioreactor with internal sections provided conditions ensuring the growth and galanthamine production by L. aestivum shoot culture.
Effect of salinity on growth, biochemical composition, and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis oculataCS 179
Authors: Gu Na , Lin Qiang , Li Gang , Tan Yehui , Huang Liangmin , Lin Junda
Published: June 2012

Effect of salinity (15, 25, 35, 45, and 55‰) on growth, biochemical composition, and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis oculata CS 179 was investigated under controlled cultivation in a 19‐day study. The results demonstrate that the dry biomass of N. oculata was the highest at a salinity of 25‰ among the treatments in the first 10‐day cultivation (P<0.05). During days 14–19 (stage III), the dry biomass productivity was the highest at a salinity of 35‰ (P<0.05). The algae had the highest chlorophyll a content (26.47 mg g−1) at 25‰ in stage I, and it decreased continuously at stage III. Protein content (as% of dry biomass) of algae reached the highest value of 42.25 ± 2.10% at 15‰, and the lipid content was the highest of 32.11 ± 1.30% of dry biomass at 25‰. However, the lipid productivity of these algae was the highest at 35‰ (64.71 mg L−1 d−1; P<0.001). C16 series content was the highest among the total fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and eicosapentaenoic acid C20:5n‐3 (EPA) content was high at the low salinity. Fatty acid profiles of N. oculata varied significantly under different salinities.
High‐level production of soluble pyrroloquinoline quinone‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli
Authors: Yu Yi , Wei Peilian , Zhu Xiangcheng , Huang Lei , Cai Jin , Xu Zhinan
Published: June 2012

Pyrroloquinoline quinone‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase (EC1.1.5.2, PQQGDH) has attracted progressive attention due to its application in glucose detection in clinic diagnosis and industrial bioprocess controls. To satisfy its increasing demand, improvement of PQQGDH production derived from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus L.M.D. 79.41 in recombinant Escherichia coli is necessary and is therefore the focus of the current study. Different carbon sources as well as induction conditions were investigated for overexpression of soluble PQQGDH. The results indicate that the target protein was optimally produced with 20 g/L glucose as the substrate. Moreover, the highest expression level (1530 kU/L) was achieved by a novel two‐temperature cultivation strategy in the 10‐L fermentor. This presents a sixfold improvement over previously reported values. After Ni‐NTA affinity chromatography purification, high‐purity enzyme with the specific activity of 5811 U/mg was obtained with a purification yield of 55%. The purified recombinant PQQGDH showed thermal stability and substrate specificity as the native enzyme. In summary, this work provides an alternative production process to overexpress PQQGDH and shows high applicability for large‐scale production of this important glucose dehydrogenase.
Parental diet and risk of retinoblastoma resulting from new germline RB1 mutation
Authors: Bunin Greta R. , Tseng Marilyn , Li Yimei , Meadows Anna T. , Ganguly Arupa
Published: June 2012

We conducted a case–control study of sporadic bilateral retinoblastoma, which results from a new germline RB1 mutation, to investigate the role of parents' diet before their child's conception. Parents of 206 cases from nine North American institutions and 269 controls participated; of these, fathers of 184 cases and 223 controls and mothers of 204 cases and 260 controls answered a food frequency questionnaire administered by phone about their diet in the year before the child's conception. Cases provided DNA for RB1 mutation testing. We assessed parents' diet by examining 19 food groups. Father's intake of dairy products and fruit was associated with decreased risk and cured meats and sweets with increased risk. Mother's intake was not associated with disease for any food group. Considering analyses adjusted for the other food groups significantly associated with disease, energy intake, and demographic characteristics as well as more fully adjusted models, the associations with father's dairy products and cured meat intake were the most robust. In the fully adjusted, matched analysis, the odds ratios per daily serving were 0.70 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–1.00, P = 0.047) for dairy products and 5.05 (CI 1.46–17.51, P = 0.01) for cured meat. The pattern of associations with paternal but not maternal diet is consistent with the fact that 85% of new germline RB1 mutations occur on the father's allele. As few human data exist on the role of diet in any condition resulting from new germ‐cell mutation, additional studies will be needed to replicate or refute our findings. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bone marrow genotoxicity of 2,5‐dimethylfuran, a green biofuel candidate
Authors: Fromowitz Michele , Shuga Joe , Wlassowsky Antonio Yip , Ji Zhiying , North Matthew , Vulpe Chris D. , Smith Martyn T. , Zhang Luoping
Published: June 2012

2,5‐Dimethylfuran (DMF) is being considered as a potential green transportation biofuel, but there is limited information about its toxicity and safety. We examined DMF toxicity in the bone marrow using a murine in vitro erythropoietic micronucleus assay and found that exposure to DMF (0.1 mM, 1 hr) induced an increase in micronuclei frequency compared with controls. These data suggest that DMF may be genotoxic to hematopoietic cells and that more thorough toxicological studies on DMF should be conducted to ensure public and occupational safety before it is considered a viable biofuel and produced in mass quantities. As well as specific data on DMF, our study further validates an in vitro cell culture system that captures the essential features of the in vivo mammalian micronucleus genotoxicity assay, enabling increased throughput and controlled studies on hematopoietic DNA damage response, while reducing animal sacrifice. In vitro assays, such as the in vitro micronucleus assay, will be essential as international chemical policy is increasingly utilizing green chemistry principles that require more toxicological testing. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alterations of GSH and MDA levels and their association with bee venom‐induced DNA damage in human peripheral blood leukocytes
Authors: Gajski Goran , Domijan Ana‐Marija , Garaj‐Vrhovac Vera
Published: June 2012

Bee venom (BV) has toxic effects in a variety of cell systems and oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism of its toxicity. This study investigated the in vitro effect of BV on glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and their association with BV‐induced DNA strand breaks and oxidative DNA damage in human peripheral blood leukocytes (HPBLs). Blood samples were treated with BV at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 μg/ml over different lengths of time, and DNA damage in HPBLs was monitored with the alkaline and formamidopyrimidine glycoslyase (FPG)‐modified comet assays, while GSH and MDA levels were determined in whole blood. Results showed a significant increase in overall DNA damage and FPG‐sensitive sites in DNA of HPBLs exposed to BV compared with HPBLs from controls. An increase in DNA damage (assessed with both comet assays) was significantly associated with changes in MDA and GSH levels. When pretreated with N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, a source of cysteine for the synthesis of the endogenous antioxidant GSH, a significant reduction of the DNA damaging effects of BV in HPBLs was noted. This suggests that oxidative stress is at least partly responsible for the DNA damaging effects of BV. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of intratumoural heterogeneity in cancer drug resistance: molecular and clinical perspectives
Authors: Saunders Nicholas A. , Simpson Fiona , Thompson Erik W. , Hill Michelle M. , Endo‐Munoz Liliana , Leggatt Graham , Minchin Rodney F. , Guminski Alexander
Published: June 2012

Drug resistance continues to be a major barrier to the delivery of curative therapies in cancer. Historically, drug resistance has been associated with over‐expression of drug transporters, changes in drug kinetics or amplification of drug targets. However, the emergence of resistance in patients treated with new‐targeted therapies has provided new insight into the complexities underlying cancer drug resistance. Recent data now implicate intratumoural heterogeneity as a major driver of drug resistance. Single cell sequencing studies that identified multiple genetically distinct variants within human tumours clearly demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of human tumours. The major contributors to intratumoural heterogeneity are (i) genetic variation, (ii) stochastic processes, (iii) the microenvironment and (iv) cell and tissue plasticity. Each of these factors impacts on drug sensitivity. To deliver curative therapies to patients, modification of current therapeutic strategies to include methods that estimate intratumoural heterogeneity and plasticity will be essential.
Seismic loss estimation of non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings
Authors: Baradaran Shoraka M. , Yang T. Y. , Elwood K. J.
Published: June 2012

Non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings represent a prevalent construction type found in many parts of the world. Due to the seismic vulnerability of such buildings, in areas of high seismic activity non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings pose a significant threat to the safety of the occupants and damage to such structures can result in large financial losses. This paper introduces advanced analytical models that can be used to simulate the nonlinear dynamic response of these structural systems, including collapse. The state‐of‐the‐art loss simulation procedure developed for new buildings is extended to estimate the expected losses of existing non‐ductile concrete buildings considering their vulnerability to collapse. Three criteria for collapse, namely first component failure, side‐sway collapse, and gravity‐load collapse, are considered in determining the probability of collapse and the assessment of financial losses. A detailed example is presented using a seven‐story non‐ductile reinforced concrete frame building located in the Los Angeles, California. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward two decades of plant biotechnology: successes, failures, and prospects
Authors: Halford Nigel G.
Published: June 2012

The use of plant biotechnology in agriculture approaches the end of its second decade. While it is now a maturing industry in the Americas, Asia, and Australasia in particular, in some parts of the world, no more so than in Europe, it remains a highly controversial issue. European authorities have responded to the controversy by establishing a regulatory framework so impenetrable that development of the technology in Europe has effectively ground to a halt and the United Kingdom, for example, is no nearer to the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops than it was when the first GM varieties went on the market in the United States of America in the mid‐1990s. This review covers the GM crop varieties and traits that have been launched in the last 18 years, including the failures as well as successes, and considers the prospects for the technology.
Which is the by‐product: caffeine or decaf coffee?
Authors: Mazzafera Paulo
Published: June 2012

The popularity of coffee as a beverage has its origin in the stimulant effect of caffeine. However, a market for decaffeinated (decaf) coffee developed when a variety of health problems appeared to be related with caffeine consumption. The caffeine obtained from the decaffeination is mainly used by pharmaceutical, cola‐type soft drinks and cosmetic industries and although decaf coffee amounts to about 10% of the global coffee market, the need for caffeine by these industries is much bigger than is produced. With the increasing consumer appeal for natural products, which is related to a healthier life style, natural caffeine is missing in the market and is being replaced by the synthetic molecule, as has been shown by modern detection techniques. Here, I briefly discuss that while much attention has been paid on decaf coffee, perhaps natural caffeine has become more important and the by‐product may now be decaf coffee.
Modeling of the Area‐specific Resistance of SOFC Cathodes by Application of a Square Grain Model Involving Grain Boundaries
Authors: Preis W. , Bucher E. , Sitte W.
Published: June 2012

A square grain model is proposed for the calculation of the area‐specific resistance (ASR) of porous cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) by means of the finite element approach. The grains and pores are represented by squares of equal side length. The grain boundaries are assumed to be thin slabs of uniform thickness. Both blocking conditions for the ionic current and fast transport of oxide ions along the grain boundaries have been taken into account. The results of the simulation suggest that highly active cathode materials could be developed by increasing the grain boundary ionic conductivity. In the case of an average grain size of 0.1 μm, a remarkable decrease of the ASR is predicted, if the ionic conductivity of the grain boundaries exceeds that of the bulk by a factor of 100. The model has been applied to simulate the increase of the ASR due to degradation of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3–δ in dry and humid atmospheres at 600 °C. A rapid increase of the ASR is predicted in H2O‐containing atmospheres. The effect of Cr‐poisoning on the ASR has been modeled for dry and humid atmospheres at 600 °C. The degradation owing to Cr‐poisoning is most pronounced in atmospheres containing water vapor.
Investigating the Information Content of the Model‐Free Volatility Expectation by Monte Carlo Methods
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Taylor Stephen J. , Wang Lili
Published: June 2012

We explore the impact of both the number of option prices and the measurement errors in option prices upon the information content of the model‐free volatility expectation, and compare it with the Black–Scholes at‐the‐money (ATM) implied volatility. We simulate the realized volatility process and option prices using Heston's price dynamics and option valuation formula. The results show that the model‐free volatility expectation always contains important information about future realized volatilities. When the option prices contain random measurement noise, the informational efficiency of the model‐free volatility expectation increases monotonically with the number of out‐of‐the‐money options. The model‐free volatility expectation outperforms the ATM implied volatility, except when there are only a few option price observations. For the traded strikes for S&P 500 index options, we further show that fitting implied volatility curves before applying the current CBOE procedure for constructing the VIX index can improve the VIX's efficiency when forecasting future realized volatilities.
Motivation as a predictor of speech intelligibility after total laryngectomy
Authors: Singer Susanne , Meyer Alexandra , Fuchs Michael , Schock Juliane , Pabst Friedemann , Vogel Hans–Joachim , Oeken Jens , Sandner Annett , Koscielny Sven , Hormes Karl , Breitenstein Kerstin , Dietz Andreas
Published: June 2012

Background

It has often been argued that if patients' success with speech rehabilitation after laryngectomy is limited, it is the result of lacking motivation on their part. This project investigated the role of motivation in speech rehabilitation.

Methods

In a multicenter prospective cohort study, 141 laryngectomees were interviewed at the beginning of rehabilitation and 1 year after laryngectomy. Speech intelligibility was measured with a standardized test, and patients self‐assessed their own motivation shortly after the surgery. Logistic regression, adjusted for several theory‐based confounding factors, was used to assess the impact of motivation on speech intelligibility.

Results

Speech intelligibility 1 year after laryngectomy was not significantly associated with the level of motivation at the beginning of rehabilitation (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7–2.3; p = .43) after adjusting for the effect of potential confounders (implantation of a voice prosthesis, patient's cognitive abilities, frustration tolerance, physical functioning, and type of rehabilitation).

Conclusions

Motivation is not a strong predictor of speech intelligibility 1 year after laryngectomy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Outcomes of free flap reconstruction in the elderly
Authors: Vaz Jason A. , Côté David W. J. , Harris Jeffrey R. , Seikaly Hadi
Published: June 2012

Background

The reconstructive surgeon is often faced with the dilemma of offering free flap reconstruction to the elderly after surgical extirpation in the head and neck due to the perception that this population tolerates these procedures poorly.

Methods

A 42‐month retrospective review of all microvascular free flap reconstruction cases from a large head and neck oncology program was reviewed. A series of 278 patients met inclusion criteria and were stratified into 2 age groups: 45 to 64.9 years (n = 177) and ≥65 years (n = 101).

Results

There was no significant difference in primary outcomes, anastomotic compromise (p = .36), unsalvageable flaps (p = .46), secondary outcomes, complicated recoveries (p = .29), or deaths within 30 days of surgery (p = .14) between the 2 groups. However, the length of postoperative recovery was increased in the elderly cohort (p = .029).

Conclusions

Given that outcomes were similar between young and elderly patients, surgeons should not restrict the use of free flaps based on their patients' age. Head Neck, 2012
Outcome of patients with early T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the base of tongue managed by conventional surgery with adjuvant postoperative radiation
Authors: Iyer N. Gopalakrishna , Kim Leslie , Nixon Iain J. , Palmer Frank , Shah Jatin P. , Patel Snehal G. , Ganly Ian
Published: June 2012

Background

Existing treatment regimens for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the base of tongue (BOT) favor chemoradiation. However, there is a shifting paradigm toward minimally invasive surgery with adjuvant radiatiotherapy for select tumors. The aim was to report our experience in conventional surgical management with particular focus on T1/T2 tumors, which may be candidates for minimally invasive techniques.

Methods

Between 1985 and 2005, 128 patients were treated with primary surgery. Overall survival (OS), disease‐specific survival (DSS), and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier method, and predictive factors analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Five‐year OS, DSS, and RFS rates were 60%, 70%, and 61%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed pathologic T classification and extracapsular extension (ECE) were significant predictors for DSS, whereas T classification remained significant for local recurrence. DSS for T1/T2 tumors ranged from 77% (node‐positive) to 84% (node‐negative).

Conclusion

T classification and ECE are independent predictors of outcome for BOT SCC. Patients with cT1/T2 tumors had excellent outcome and may be suitable for transoral robotic or endoscopic surgical procedures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Systematic review of treatment and prognosis of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma
Authors: Duval Melanie , Hwang Euna , Kilty Shaun J.
Published: June 2012

Background

This study was undertaken to determine the recurrence rate for open and endoscopic surgery and the clinical prognosis of this sinonasal tumor.

Methods

A systematic review of individual cases of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma was performed. A total of 97 articles were included in the study and reviewed to extract the relevant information about each case.

Results

In all, 194 cases of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma were identified. There were 53 recurrences (27.3%), 6 tumor‐related deaths (3.1%), and 4 cases of metastases (2.1%). There was no significant difference between rate of recurrence for endoscopic or open resection (p = .06). Incomplete excision was the most important predictor of recurrence (odds ratio = 11.50, 95% confidence interval 3.76–36.82, p < .001). Radiotherapy may be advantageous in cases of incomplete surgical resection (p = .03).

Conclusions

Complete excision is essential to minimize tumor recurrence and radiotherapy may decrease the rate of recurrence in the case of incomplete resection. Current evidence does not suggest that open resection is superior to endoscopic resection. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Retracted: The Relationship between Personality Traits and Sales Force Automation Usage: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Chen Cheng‐Wu , Lee King‐Ling , Tseng Chun‐Pin , Yang Han‐Chung , Liu. Chia‐Chi
Published: June 2012

Sales force automation (SFA) came to cognition and officially gained momentum in the 1990s (Taylor, 1993). SFA provides salespeople with speedy information access, diminishing the time needed to prepare for calls and cutting down on the number of follow‐ups, particularly for urgent need of further information support (Taylor, 1993). This study attempts to look specifically at the “utilization–individual impact” link. In particular, the close link of the personality type of the sales representative to the individual performance usage of the sales forces automation systems in the pharmaceutical industry in Taiwan. This study provides insight into how the personality traits of the individual medical representatives of pharmaceutical companies in Taiwan could influence the adoption of innovative technology, the sales force automation system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluating Bar Coding‐Aided Medication Administration through Identification of Nursing Work Deficiencies
Authors: Tian Renran , Lee Byung Cheol , Yucel Gulcin , Abel Steven R. , Hultgren Kyle E. , Duffy Vincent G.
Published: June 2012

Health care information technology (IT) systems manage administrative and clinical processes more accurately and efficiently. However, their effects on clinical work flow are still not fully understood. In this article, we investigate the bar‐coded medication administration (BCMA) system for its effect on nurses working in inpatient departments. Evaluation is applied by examining work deficiencies before and after the IT system implementation based on a proposed nursing work model. A list of nurse‐perceived risks of work deficiencies related to the current BCMA system has been identified. Results show five main deficiencies that are mainly related to aspects of the IT environment and work schedule/process, including increased workload, IT systems downtime, unclear orders/task schedules, reduced time for patient‐care tasks, and redundant documentation. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the reciprocal relationship between IT implementation and health care work system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Designing a web‐based behavior motivation tool for healthcare compliance
Authors: Lin Raymund J. , Ramakrishnan Sreeram , Chang Henry , Spraragen Susan , Zhu Xinxin
Published: June 2012

As one of the causes of increasing population with chronic diseases, low compliance with healthy lifestyle has been a major challenge in the healthcare industry. Not seeing immediate positive outcomes, many people became frustrated and stopped adhering to health plans that offer long‐term benefits. Studies have suggested that peer supports are effective to improve compliance, and social cognitive theories have indicated that personal realization and confidence enhanced through entertaining gaming elements could encourage behavior change. In this study, we propose a web‐based behavior motivation tool to help improve patients' health compliance based on previous work and theories. Key components in our service design are illustrated through a case study, including a social gaming and learning portal, an engineering approach to support different application scenarios, and information interventions based on predefined rules to achieve effective compliance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Scale, assessment components, and reference conditions: Issues for cumulative effects assessment in Canadian watersheds
Authors: Ball Murray , Somers Gila , Wilson Julie E , Tanna Rajiv , Chung Cecilia , Duro Dennis C , Seitz Nicole
Published: June 2012

Recent years have witnessed an increase in the use of watershed-based cumulative effects assessment (WCEA) in Canada; however, several challenges remain regarding its effective implementation and execution. Fundamental to WCEA is the establishment of linkages between environmental stressors and particular and measurable components of the aquatic environment. Dynamic and often synergistic relationships between the multiple physicochemical stressors in the landscape can affect water quantity, quality, and the health of aquatic species. Essential decisions must be made about what to measure to characterize both stressors and aquatic effects, what scale is appropriate for measurement, and to what the measurements should be referenced. This review presents lessons learned from case studies conducted in 6 different watersheds across Canada, each focused on advancing the science behind WCEA, but with varied objectives and approaches. Issues of scale, selection of aquatic environmental components or indicators for assessment, and reference conditions were compared and contrasted to highlight common challenges that can affect the implementation and outcome of a WCEA. The lack of long-term monitoring data and data inconsistencies were identified as frequently limiting factors for the advancement of WCEA science and the application of WCEA. Recommendations were made for developing a comprehensive and integrated methodology for WCEA in Canada. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2013;9:370–379. © 2013 SETAC
The role of endothelial–mesenchymal transition in development and pathological process
Authors: Lin Feng , Wang Nan , Zhang Tong‐Cun
Published: June 2012

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is an important developmental process, participates in tumor's formation, invasion, and metastasis and has been extensively studied. Recently, endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a newly recognized type of cellular transdifferentiation, has been demonstrated to participate in a number of diseases by causing morphology changes and pathological processes. Previous studies showed that EndMT was a critical process of embryonic cardiac development. Not only that recent advances also suggested that EndMT occurred postnatally in cancer and cardiac fibrosis and emerged as a possible source of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs were found to acquire properties that promoted tumor development and metastasis formation. Resident endothelial cells undergoing EndMT lose their endothelial markers, acquire a mesenchymal or myofibroblastic phenotype, express mesenchymal cell products such as α‐smooth muscle actin and type I collagen and develop invasive and migratory abilities. EndMT‐derived cells are believed to function as fibroblasts in damaged tissue and may therefore have an important role in pathological process. However, little is known about the signaling mechanisms that cause endothelial cells to transform into mesenchymal cells. Transforming growth factor‐β, Notch, or other signaling pathways could direct or interact to mediate EndMT. Therefore, to explore the signaling mechanisms of EndMT may provide novel therapeutic strategies for treating cancer. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 64(9): 717–723, 2012.
iTRAQ: a method to elucidate cellular responses to mycotoxin zearalenone
Authors: Gazzah Amel Chatti , Camoin Luc , Abid Salwa , Bacha Hassen , Ladjimi Moncef
Published: June 2012

Mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) is a secondary metabolite produced by some Fusarium species that contaminate a large variety of grains and feedstuffs worldwide. ZEN has been associated with a wide variety of adverse health effects including hepatotoxic, hematologic, immunotoxic and genotoxic. In order to better understand the mechanism of ZEN toxicity, a proteomic approach was applied to characterize cellular responses of hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2) to ZEN exposure. Protein extracts from cultured HepG2 cells treated with 100 µm ZEN for 8 h, as well as extracts from control cells. The screening method applied to compare the proteome was based on the stable isotope approach of isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). This study identified 982 proteins, among which peptides and their corresponding proteins were identified and quantified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. Ingenuity pathways analysis software was then used to determine the biological functions and canonical pathways associated with the ZEN‐responsive proteins. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term arsenic exposure induces histone H3 Lys9 dimethylation without altering DNA methylation in the promoter region of p16INK4a and down‐regulates its expression in the liver of mice
Authors: Suzuki Takehiro , Nohara Keiko
Published: June 2012

Long‐term exposure of humans to high concentrations of arsenic is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Previous studies have suggested that arsenic exposure promotes tumorigenesis by inducing changes in the expression of tumor‐related genes by dysregulating DNA methylation at tumor‐related gene loci. However, the causal relationships between epigenetic changes and both arsenic exposure and tumorigenesis are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether arsenic can change the expression of tumor‐related genes by inducing epigenetic modifications before tumorigenesis. We did so by investigating the effects of long‐term arsenic exposure on representative epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation and histone modifications, in the tumor‐free normal liver of C57Bl/6 mice. We focused on the tumor‐related genes, p16INK4a, RASSF1A, Ha‐ras and ER‐α as target genes, because their expression and promoter methylation status in mice have been reported to be affected by long‐term arsenic exposure. The results showed that long‐term arsenic exposure induced a significant decrease in expression of p16INK4a associated with an increase in level of dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9), a transcription‐suppressive histone modification, in the promoter region, but that DNA methylation of the promoter region was unaffected. The results also showed a significant increase in recruitment of H3K9 histone methyltransferase G9a to the promoter after arsenic exposure. These findings suggest that long‐term arsenic exposure may induce down‐regulation of p16INK4a by targeting recruitment of G9a and H3K9 dimethylation without altering DNA methylation before tumorigenesis in the liver. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.