bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive quantification of human brain antioxidant concentrations after an intravenous bolus of vitamin C
Authors: Terpstra Melissa , Torkelson Carolyn , Emir Uzay , Hodges James S. , Raatz Susan
Published: November 2010

Until now, the lack of a means to detect a deficiency or to measure the pharmacologic effect in the human brain in situ has been a hindrance to the development of antioxidant‐based prevention and treatment of dementia. In this study, a recently developed 1H MRS approach was applied to quantify key human brain antioxidant concentrations throughout the course of an aggressive antioxidant‐based intervention. The concentrations of the two most abundant central nervous system chemical antioxidants, vitamin C and glutathione, were quantified noninvasively in the human occipital cortex prior to and throughout 24 h after bolus intravenous delivery of 3 g of vitamin C. Although the kinetics of the sodium‐dependent vitamin C transporter and physiologic blood vitamin C concentrations predict theoretically that brain vitamin C concentration will not increase above its homeostatically maintained level, this theory has never been tested experimentally in the living human brain. Therefore, human brain vitamin C and glutathione concentrations were quantified noninvasively using MEGA‐PRESS double‐edited 1H MRS and LCModel. Healthy subjects (age, 19–63 years) with typical dietary consumption, who did not take vitamin supplements, fasted overnight and then reported for the measurement of baseline antioxidant concentrations. They then began controlled feeding which they adhered to until after vitamin C and glutathione concentrations had been measured at 2, 6, 10 and 24 h after receiving intravenous vitamin C. Two of the twelve studies were sham controls in which no vitamin C was administered. The main finding was that human brain vitamin C and glutathione concentrations remained constant throughout the protocol, even though blood serum vitamin C concentrations spanned from the low end of the normal range to very high. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Studies of modification of HDPE and interfacial interaction of its composites with sericite
Authors: Li Shuya , Chen Qiang , Wu Shishan , Shen Jian
Published: December 2010

Ultraviolet irradiation, which is environment friendly and without any chemical pollution, was used to functionalize high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and to improve the interfacial interaction of its composites with sericite in this study. The oxygen‐containing groups of CO, C‐O, and C(O)O were quickly introduced onto molecular chains of HDPE by ultraviolet irradiation in ozone atmosphere and the contents of the introduced oxygen‐containing groups increased with increasing the modification time. It is important to note that the irradiation time greatly decreased compared to that in air or oxygen atmosphere. After modification, the molecular weight of the irradiated HDPE decreased and its distribution became wider. The irradiated HDPE in ozone was not crosslinked, which is an advantage over the same reaction in air or oxygen atmosphere. With increasing the irradiation time, the melting temperature of the irradiated HDPE lightly decreased, while its crystallinity, hydrophilicity, and fluidity increased. The composites of HDPE/sericite were prepared. The results showed that the dispersion of sericite in the matrix and the interfacial interaction of sericite with the matrix were markedly improved for the irradiated HDPE/sericite composites. As a result, the irradiated HDPE/sericite composites showed significantly increased tensile yield strength and notched impact strength. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation and properties of Nafion/SiO2 composite membrane derived via in situ sol–gel reaction: size controlling and size effects of SiO2 nano‐particles
Authors: Ke Chang‐Chun , Li Xiao‐Jin , Qu Shu‐Guo , Shao Zhi‐Gang , Yi Bao‐Lian
Published: December 2010

A novel technique in controlling the size of SiO2 nano‐particles in the preparation of Nafion/SiO2 composite membranes via in situ sol–gel method, as well as the effects of nano‐particle size on membrane properties and cell performance, is reported in this paper. Nafion/SiO2 composite membranes containing SiO2 nano‐particles with four different diameters (5 ± 0.5, 7 ± 0.5, 10 ± 1, and 15 ± 2 nm) are fabricated by altering the reactant concentrations during in situ sol–gel reaction. Sequentially, size effects of SiO2 nano‐particles on membrane properties and cell performance are investigated by SEM/EDAX, TEM, TGA, mechanical tensile, and single cell tests, etc. The results suggest that 10 nm is a critical diameter for SiO2 incorporated into Nafion matrix, exhibiting desirable physico‐chemical properties for operation at elevated temperature and low humidity. At 110°C and 59% RH, the output voltage of the cell equipped with Nafion/SiO2 (10 nm) obtains an output voltage of 0.625 V at 600 mA/cm2, which is 50 mV higher than that of unmodified Nafion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Helical opposition in poly(2‐methoxyaniline) doped with beta‐cyclodextrin sulfate: electrochemical polymerization and chiroptical properties
Authors: Yuan Guo‐Li , Liu Chen , Xie Wei , Han Peng , Kuramoto Noriyuki
Published: December 2010

Excess one‐handed helical poly(2‐methoxyaniline) (PMOA) was synthesized by electrochemical polymerization of 2‐methyoxy aniline in the presence of CDS. PMOA prepared at strong acidic condition shared an opposite excess one‐handed helicity against to that prepared at weak acidic condition. Through studying helix‐inducing dynamic, mechanism for helical opposition was found originating from the dynamic transfer. While predominant dynamic transferred from electrostatic interaction to H‐bonding, PMOA selectively adsorbing the opposite excess one‐handed helix. Dynamic‐transferring tests were carried out by adjusting acid and salt concentration in reaction solution, respectively. Dedoping and redoping cycle was also performed in order to study the chiroptical properties of PMOA after dedoping. The electroactivity of PMOA was checked by cyclic voltammetry. At the same time, PMOA showed interesting chiroptical properties in the states of reduction and oxidation, respectively. ICD spectra indicated that helicity and handedness were well remained in PMOA backbone after redox cycle. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PVC formulation study for the manufacturing of a skin smart structure based in optical fiber elements
Authors: Ferreira da Silva Alexandre , Goncalves Filipe , Mateus Mendes Paulo , Higino Correia Jose
Published: December 2010

The development of smart solutions based on optical fiber technology for any kind of structure such as buildings, aircrafts, or even for human body kinematics, is becoming more and more common. The ability to provide coverings for different structures that can enable monitoring functions beside the esthetic purpose of the covering is an important add‐value characteristic. Nevertheless, an open issue is to find an effective solution for the fabrication and application procedure, preferably that scales at a production level. This article explores the insertion of optical fibers into polymeric PVC foils based on the spread‐coating fabrication process. The success of this integration approach allows the use of photonic technology in different fields with minor application issues. The material choice for the substrate is a crucial step when choosing integrated solution. Three PVC paste formulations were explored in order to guarantee the optimal integration of optical fiber. A high‐viscosity and not monolithic paste formulation emerged as the best choice. This formulation provided the best adhesion, reducing in great scale the surface undulation and paste displacement that the optical fiber tends to do and, its 362% stretch capability is sufficient for special applications, as strain sensitive one. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Organofunctionalized montmorillonite/epoxy nanocomposites: The effect of interlayer cation distribution on mechanical properties
Authors: Richardson Mickey C. , Kim Jaehyun , Ho Derek , Snyder Chad R. , D'souza Nandika A. , Holmes Gale A.
Published: November 2010

The present study indicates that a distribution of alkylammonium chain lengths in the interlayer of montmorillonite (MM) results in a greater degree of dispersion into an epoxy matrix (or possibly different polymer matrices) and improved ultimate tensile strengths. This hypothesis is supported by x‐ray diffraction (XRD) data from the modified MM clays, which clearly shows that an increase in d‐spacing does not result in an improvement in tensile strengths. Additional support is obtained from DSC analyses of the first and second heats of the treated clays which indicate that the C6 alkyl amine in a deposited (C18 + C6) alkyl ammonium mixture results in intercalation pathways for the epoxy resin. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Behavior of sandwich structures and spaced plates subjected to high‐velocity impacts
Authors: García‐Castillo Shirley K. , Buitrago Brenda L. , Barbero Enrique
Published: November 2010

This work evaluates the behavior of sandwich and spaced plates subjected to high‐velocity impacts. The sandwich structures were made of glass/polyester face‐sheet and a PVC foam core. The spaced plates were made of two plates of the same material of the sandwich face‐sheet at a distance equal to the core thickness. The residual velocity, the ballistic limit, and the damage area were selected to compare the response of both structures. The residual velocity and ballistic limit was very similar in both cases. Nevertheless, the damage area of sandwich structures and spaced plates differed due to the dissimilar properties between the sandwich core and the air inside of the spaced plates. An analytical model, based on energy criteria, was applied to estimate the residual velocity of the projectile, the absorbed energy by each face‐sheet, and the ballistic limit in the spaced plates. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of modified carbon black on the UV/IR screening ability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) transparent films
Authors: Zhou Qilin , Zhang Yue , Li Qiuying , Wu Chifei
Published: November 2010

The mixed solution of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/carbon black (CB) and PET/modified CB (m‐CB) were coated on glass substrates to fabricate light screening films. m‐CB was prepared using a solid phase modification method through mechanical blending of CB and 2‐(2′‐Hydroxy‐5′‐methylphenyl)‐benzotriazole (UV‐P) in weight composition of 50 : 50. The results of dynamic light scattering (DLS), optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the modification of CB obviously reduced the particle and aggregate sizes of CB, leading to better dispersion of m‐CB in PET films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) proved that UV‐P was grafted on CB after blending and changed the molecular structure of CB. Ultraviolet‐visible‐Infrared (UV‐vis‐IR) spectrophotometer tests showed that the UV/IR absorption property of the films improved obviously while the visible light transmittance reduced gradually with the increase of m‐CB content from 0.5 to 6 wt%. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results showed the addition of 4 wt% m‐CB decreased the crystallinity of PET matrix, which effectively inhibited the destruction of the film transparency with the addition of more CB. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Dynamic proteomic analysis reveals diurnal homeostasis of key pathways in rice leaves
Authors: Wang Zizhang , Wang Tai
Published: November 2010

Diurnal physiological acclimation regulated by a circadian system is an advantage for plant fitness. The circadian system is composed of a signal input, the clock and output pathways. Understanding the regulation mechanism of the output pathways remains a major challenge. Diurnal proteomic change reflects the state of circadian organization. We found the content of glucose, fructose, sucrose and starch diurnally changed in leaves of rice seedlings grown under a 12‐h light/12‐h dark condition with constant temperature. Dynamic proteomics analysis revealed 140 protein spots with diurnally changed levels at six times of the light/dark cycle; 132 spots were identified by MS, and 119 spots were of a single protein each with functional annotation. These proteins are involved in regulation of carbohydrate flow, redox, protein folding, nitrogen and protein metabolism, energy conversion, photorespiration and photosynthesis. Of these proteins, 81.5% were upregulated during the light phase, overlappingly, 41.2% showed behavior of circadian anticipation to dawn. Pattern analysis showed that the diurnal regulation involved pathways of allocation of carbohydrates between temporary reserves and consumption, maintenance of redox homeostasis, diurnal protein reassembly and nitrogen assimilation. These pathways reflect biochemical phenotypes of the circadian change linking the oscillator and circadian outputs.
The general form of nonlinear evolution equations integrable by matrix gelfand‐dikij spectral problem and their group‐theoretical and hamiltonian structures
Authors: Dubrovsky V. G. , Konopelchenko B. G.
Published: November 2010

The Gelfand‐Dikij spectral problem is considered in the AKNS‐technique framework. The general form of nonlinear evolution equations connected with matrix Gelfand‐Dikij spectral problem is found. The infinitedimensional abelian group of general Backlund transformations is constructed. The infinite family of Hamiltonian structures connected with the nonlinear equations under consideration is found.
Dynamical semigroups in the algebraic formulation of statistical mechanics
Authors: Majewski W. A.
Published: November 2010

The paper summarizing the recent results of the author is devoted to a detailed analysis of positive semigroups appearing in dynamical description of non‐equilibrium statistical mechanics. The first part of paper has a review character (this goes especially to sections 1 and 2). Novel aspects are contained in sections 3, 4 and 5. Section 4 contains the formulation and relatively complete discussion of detailed balance condition. In particular, the representation theorem for dynamical semigroups satisfying detailed balance is given. Section 5 contains new results from the theory of strongly and strictly positive semigroups.
Magnetic monopoles — a brief review
Authors: Bandyopadhyay B. K. , Gupta A. N. Sen
Published: November 2010

Magnetic monopoles were first considered in detail by DIRAC in a 1931 paper, where he proved a charge‐quantization theorem. The experimental searches which followed proved fruitless. Recently there has been a rapid increase in theoretical and experimental work in this field. A highly controversial detection claim was made by PRICE, SHIRK, OSBORNE and PINSKY in 1975. Report has also come of a possible monopole detection at Stanford university in February, 1982.
The thermodynamical history of the universe
Authors: Marx George
Published: November 2010

A predestrian walk is offered in the early universe. It is argued that the universe has departed from its original thermal equilibrium as a consequence of its mechanical instability. This transient deviation from the state of maximum entropy has made the creation of protons and galaxies possible. It is shown that several puzzling astrophysical phenomena can be explained by assuming a nonvanishing rest mass for the heaviest stable neutrino in the region of 30 eV.
Theoretical analysis of quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Manoukian Edward B.
Published: November 2010

A study is carried out of some of the important developments made in quantum electrodynamics (QED) during this past decade. Basic problems and recent attempts are considered which are expected to be of importance not only for further developments in QED, but also to our further understanding of quantum field theory, in general and of its unique role played in describing the dynamics of elementary particles.
Physical charged sectors in quantum electrodynamics. I. Infra‐red asymptotics
Authors: d'Emilio Emilio , Mintchev Mihail
Published: November 2010

The infra‐red asymptotic behaviour of the physical charged sectors of quantum electrodynamics is investigated. Properly defined locally gauge‐invariant charged fields (nonlocal with respect to the electromagnetic field and different, in nature, from the string variables) are found to have vanishing infra‐red anomalous dimension. The corresponding Lehman‐Symanzik‐Zimmermann limits admit a Fock representation and the Poincaré group is implementable on the asymptotic physical Hubert spaces. The scattering matrix is the well known one, but for the fact it admits a representation in which the usual logarithms of the “vanishing photon mass” are substituted by the logarithms of a finite mass scale. The latter is furtherly replaced by the finite energy resolution of the measuring apparatus when cross sections are computed according to the prescription of Bloch and Nordsieck.
Dynamic communication between androgen and coactivator: Mutually induced conformational perturbations in androgen receptor ligand‐binding domain
Authors: Xu Xue , Yang Wei , Wang Xia , Li Yan , Wang Yonghua , Ai Chunzhi
Published: November 2010

The transcriptional activity of androgen receptor (AR) is regulated by the sequential binding of various ligands (e.g., dihydrotestosterone, DHT) and coactivators (e.g., SRC/p160) to the AR ligand binding domain (LBD) (Askew et al., J Biol Chem 2007;282:25801–25816, Lee and Chang, Cell Mol Life Sci 2003;60:1613–1622). However, the synergism between the recruitments of coactivator (SRC 2–3) and ligand (such as DHT) to AR at atomic level remains unclear. Thus, in this work, extensive explicit‐solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on four independent trajectories, that is, AR‐apo (unbound), DHT·AR, AR·SRC, and DHT·AR·SRC, are performed to investigate the potential communications between the two events in the AR transcriptional process. The MD simulations, analysis of the dynamical cross‐correlation maps, comparisons of the binding energy, and thermodynamic analysis reveal a definite structural and functional link between Activation Function‐2 (AF‐2) surface and the ligand binding site influenced by the binding of ligand and coactivator to the LBD: (I) The DHT binding can increase the LBD volume to 753.0 Å3 from its compact ligand‐free state (372.1 Å3), resulting in a group of helices (1, 2, 8, and loop 2′) to move outward and exert added traction on the ligand binding pathway, which subsequently leads to rearrange the AF‐2 region to well recruit the SRC; (II) Similarly, the SRC recruitment is also found to facilitate the ligand binding through transmitting a concomitant push‐pull effort from the AF‐2 surface to the DHT binding site, leading to the opening of entrance to the LBD formed by Val684, Met745, and Arg752, increase of the volume of binding pocket (896.4 Å3) and stabilization of the dynamic structure of the LBD. These results, in a dynamic form, initially show a bidirectional structural and functional relay between the bound DHT and SRC that establishes AR functional potency. Proteins 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the evolutionary origin of the chaperonins
Authors: Dekker Carien , Willison Keith R. , Taylor William R.
Published: November 2010

An analysis of the apical domain of the Group‐I and Group‐II chaperonins shows that they have structural similarities to two different protein folds: a “swivel‐domain” phosphotransferase and a thioredoxin‐like peroxiredoxin. There is no significant sequence similarity that supports either similarity and the degree of similarity based on structure is comparable but weak for both relationships. Based on possible evolutionary transitions, we deduced that a phosphotransferase origin would require both a large insertion and deletion of structure whereas a peroxiredoxin origin requires only a peripheral rearrangement, similar to an internal domain‐swap. We postulate that this change could have been triggered by the insertion of a peroxiredoxin into the ATPase domain that led to the modern chaperonin domain arrangement. The peroxidoxin fold is the most highly embellished member of the thioredoxin super‐family and the insertion event may have “overloaded” the core, leading to a rearrangement. A peroxiredoxin origin for the domain also provides a functional explanation, as the peroxiredoxins can act as chaperones when they adopt a multimeric ring complex, similar to the chaperonin subunit configuration. In addition, several of the GroEL apical domain hydrophobic residues which interact with the unfolded protein are located in a position that corresponds to the protein substrate binding region of the peroxiredoxin fold. We suggest that the origin of the ur‐chaperonin from a thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin fold might also account for the number of thioredoxin‐fold containing proteins that interact with chaperonins, such as tubulin and phosducin‐like proteins. Proteins 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influenza virus H5N1 hemagglutinin (HA) T‐cell epitope conjugates: design, synthesis and immunogenicity
Authors: Skarlas Theodore , Zevgiti Stella , Droebner Karoline , Panou‐Pomonis Eugenia , Planz Oliver , Sakarellos‐Daitsiotis Maria
Published: November 2010

The influenza virus, major surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) is one of the principal targets for the development of protective immunity. Aiming at contributing to the development of a vaccine that remains the first choice for prophylactic intervention, a reconstituted model of HA, mimicking its antigenic properties was designed, synthesized and tested in mice for the induction of protective immunity. Four helper T lymphocyte [HTL (T1, T3, T7 and T8)] and four cytotoxic lymphocyte [CTL (T2, T4, T5 and T6)] epitopes were coupled in two copies each to an artificial carrier, SOC4, which was formed by the repeating tripeptide Lys‐Aib‐Gly. The helical conformation of the SOC4‐conjugates preserves the initial topology of the attached epitopes, which is critical for their immunogenic properties. Survival of immunized animals, ranged from 30 to 50%, points out the induction of protective immunity by using the SOC4‐conjugates. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ferromagnetic and metallic properties of the semihydrogenated GaN sheet
Authors: Xiao Wen‐Zhi , Wang Ling‐Ling , Xu Liang , Wan Qing , Pan An‐Lian , Deng Hui‐Qiu
Published: December 2010

Based on first‐principles spin‐polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the geometric, electronic structures, and magnetic properties of semihydrogenated gallium nitride (GaN) sheet are investigated. The HGaN conformation exhibits ferromagnetic (FM) ground state with a magnetic moment of about 1.0 µB per unit cell. The ferromagnetism is mainly attributed to the decrease in the charge transfer from Ga to N atoms after hydrogenated, which leads to the partial occupancy of the N‐2pz orbitals. The half‐boat conformation is predicted to be the most stable structure with an indirect bandgap of 2.34 eV. While the GaNH conformation shows metallic behavior without magnetism.
Competing energy scales in high‐temperature superconductors: Ultrafast pump–probe studies
Authors: Chia Elbert E. M. , Zhu Jian‐Xin , Talbayev D. , Taylor A. J.
Published: November 2010

We present a review of photoexcited quasiparticle dynamics of cuprate and pnictide high‐temperature superconductors in regimes (temperature, doping) where different phases such as superconductivity, spin‐density‐wave (SDW) and pseudogap phases coexist or compete with one another. We start with the overdoped cuprate superconductor Y1–xCax Ba2Cu3O7–δ, where the superconducting gap and pseudogap coexist in the superconducting state. In another cuprate Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3Oy, we ob‐ serve a competition between SDW and superconducting orders deep in the superconducting state. Finally, in the underdoped iron pnictide superconductor (Ba,K)Fe2As2, SDW order forms at 85 K, followed by superconductivity at 28 K. We also find the emergence of a normal‐state order that suppresses SDW at a temperature T * ∼ 60 K and argue that this normal‐state order is a precursor to superconductivity. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Applications of automatic differentiation to the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation
Authors: Chou Chia‐Chun , Wyatt Robert E.
Published: November 2010

A new approach based upon the Taylor series method is proposed for propagating solutions of the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation. Replacing the spatial derivative of the wave function with finite difference formulas, we derive a recursive formula for the evaluation of Taylor coefficients. The automatic differentiation technique is used to recursively calculate the required Taylor coefficients. We also develop an implicit scheme for the recursive evaluation of these coefficients. We then advance the solution in time using a Taylor series expansion. Excellent computational results are obtained when this method is applied to a one‐dimensional reflectionless potential and a two‐dimensional barrier transmission problem. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Fragmentation investigation of brassinosteroid compounds by ion trap and quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Huo Feifeng , Bai Yu , Liu Huwei
Published: November 2010

The fragmentation mechanisms of three types of brassinosteroids (BRs), 23,24‐tris‐epicastasterone, epicastasterone, tris–epicastasterone, 24‐epibrassinolide and 6‐deoxo‐24‐epicastasterone, have been extensively investigated by tandem mass spectrometry (MSn, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) with the assistance of high mass accuracy quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (QToF MS). The electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric fragmentation pathways of these five BRs were comprehensively elucidated for the first time. Cleavages of side chains, neutral losses of water or other molecules and opening of a ring induce the main fragmentation patterns. The results from the present study can potentially afford important guidance for the structural elucidation of different BRs and provide some fundamental data for metabolomic analysis of BRs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple imputation using chained equations: Issues and guidance for practice
Authors: White Ian R. , Royston Patrick , Wood Angela M.
Published: November 2010

Multiple imputation by chained equations is a flexible and practical approach to handling missing data. We describe the principles of the method and show how to impute categorical and quantitative variables, including skewed variables. We give guidance on how to specify the imputation model and how many imputations are needed. We describe the practical analysis of multiply imputed data, including model building and model checking. We stress the limitations of the method and discuss the possible pitfalls. We illustrate the ideas using a data set in mental health, giving Stata code fragments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Where can capabilities come from? network ties and capability acquisition in business groups
Authors: Mahmood Ishtiaq P. , Zhu Hongjin , Zajac Edward J.
Published: December 2010

While strategy researchers have devoted considerable attention to the role of firm‐specific capabilities in the pursuit of competitive advantage, less attention has been directed at how firms obtain these capabilities from outside their boundaries. In this study, we examine how firms' multiplex network ties in business groups represent one important source of capability acquisition. Our focus allows us to go beyond the traditional focus on network structure and offer a novel contingency model that specifies how different types of network ties (e.g., buyer‐supplier, equity, and director), individually and in complementary combination, will differentially affect the process of R&D capability acquisition. We also offer an original analysis of how other aspects of network structure (i.e., network density) in business groups affect the efficacy of network ties on R&D capability. Empirically, we provide an original contribution to the capabilities literature by utilizing a stochastic frontier estimation to rigorously measure firm capabilities, and we demonstrate the value of this approach using longitudinal data on business groups in emerging economies. We close by discussing the implications of our supportive results for future research on firm capabilities, organizational networks, and business groups. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Compatibility of the endurance time method with codified seismic analysis approaches on three‐dimensional analysis of steel frames
Authors: Valamanesh V. , Estekanchi H. E.
Published: December 2010

The endurance time (ET) method is a time history‐based dynamic pushover analysis procedure that utilizes special intensifying acceleration functions for estimating the seismic performance of structures at different excitation levels. One of the potential applications of the ET method is in the three‐dimensional analysis of buildings considering multidirectional excitation. In this paper, a procedure for multi‐component analysis by the ET method has been developed. Several steel moment frames with heights from 9.6 to 48 m were designed according to the Iranian National Building Code. By applying the proposed algorithm for three‐dimensional analysis of structures by the ET method, these frames were analyzed, and results have been compared with static, response spectrum and response history methods considering typical code recommendations. Results show that for all studied models, even when irregularity and height of structure increase, the ET method estimates the seismic response of steel frames with reasonable accuracy compared with other investigated approaches. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enantioselective epoxidation of electron‐deficient olefins: an organocatalytic approach
Authors: Weiß Katharina M. , Tsogoeva Svetlana B.
Published: November 2010

Versatile synthetic intermediates—α,β‐epoxyketones and α,β‐epoxyaldehydes—can be obtained through asymmetric organocatalytic epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated ketones and aldehydes. This Review focuses on some recent advances in these epoxidation reactions with respect to scope and limitations with polyamino acids, phase‐transfer catalysts (PTCs), amines, and guanidines as chiral organocatalysts. Furthermore, recent results obtained with chiral peroxides are discussed. © 2010 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.201000006
HuR's role in gemcitabine efficacy: an exception or opportunity?
Authors: Brody Jonathan R. , Gonye Gregory E.
Published: November 2010

Over the next few years, research teams will focus on, and millions of dollars will be spent on, sorting through cancer genomes. Undoubtedly, ‘druggable’ targets and events will be discovered that will improve our understanding and, hopefully, treatment of cancer. Highlighting an alternative to this ‘genome‐centric’ approach, this review will further explore an underappreciated mechanism of gene expression regulation, posttranscription mRNA:protein interactions. A key molecule involved in this mode of gene regulation is HuR and we have shown that HuR levels and HuR cellular distribution can predict how pancreatic cancer patients responded to the standard of care chemotherapy (i.e., gemcitabine). HuR regulates post‐transcriptional processes through: (1) association with specific mRNA cargos with ARE‐rich sequences and (2) stress‐induced increased cytoplasmic protein levels. Over multiple laboratories and diverse tumor types, it has been shown that HuR supports tumor survival through its regulation of tumor‐promoting transcripts such as VEGF. In this article, we will highlight a recent discovery that this potent post‐transcriptional gene regulatory mechanism has an impact on a common chemotherapeutic, gemcitabine. Specifically, we have identified the mechanism by which HuR can regulate a key gemcitabine metabolic enzyme, deoxycytidine kinase. We will use this example to explore and hypothesize the functional roles that HuR may have on anticancer drug therapies. We will survey novel high throughput global gene expression analysis tools to discover novel HuR targets. Future multidisciplinary approaches focused on HuR biology will provide critical events and ‘druggable’ targets in cancer that large‐scale genomic sequencing efforts will miss. WIREs RNA 2011 2 435–444 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.62

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Methods > RNA Analyses In Vitro and In Silico
The Source of the Idea of Equality in Confucian Thought
Authors: Ruiquan GAO
Published: November 2010

Although the traditional society in China was not necessarily a society of equality, and the classical Confucianism did not speak much about the principle of universal equality, in modern times, in the midst of a transformation of value systems, people still find correlating sources within the Confucian tradition that is connected to the modern idea of equality. This essay makes a detailed study on this correlation and points out that ancient Chinese society and the western feudal society are different in terms of social systems and education systems. For example, China has the imperial examination but no patrimonial aristocracy. Confucianism opposed the huge gap between the poor and the rich, and this idea has become a modern tradition in the ideal of “great harmony under the sky,” especially in Kang Youwei’s 康有为Datong Shu大同书 (Book of Great Harmony). There were also some elements of agricultural socialism and equalitarianism in traditional Confucianism. The potential idea of equality (or reciprocity) in “friendship,” embodied in the principle of Confucian ethics of the Three Bonds and the Five Relations, is explored and explained in a modern way. The theory that the sages are equal with the masses, which originated from the theory of human being’s intrinsic goodness, may be directly connected with modern principle of equality. The modern transformation of equality is both political and ethical. The former is to struggle for individual rights; the latter is to establish moral subjectivity. Therefore, equality between sages and the masses manifests modernity. Like the epistemic subjectivity, which could not be discussed without referring to group-individual relationship, the moral subjectivity also contains a consciousness of equality.
A Preliminary Discussion of Dai Zhen’s Philosophy of Language
Authors: Genyou WU
Published: November 2010

Dai Zhen’s philosophy of language took the opportunity of a transition in Chinese philosophy to develop a form of humanist positivism, which was different from both the Song and Ming dynasties’ School of Principles and the early Qing dynasty’s philosophical forms. His philosophy of language had four primary manifestations: (1) It differentiated between “names pointing at entities and real events” and “names describing summum bonum and perfection”; (2) In discussing the metaphysical issue of “the Dao,” it was the first to introduce a syntax analysis of linguistics, clearly differentiating between the different roles of predicate verbs “zhi wei” and “wei zhi” in Classical Chinese; (3) In criticizing Confucian thought during the Song and Ming dynasties, it adopted specific philological skills such as the analysis of phraseology, the meaning of sentences and the thread of words in texts; and (4) It re-interpreted the meaning of Confucian classics by studying characters and language, adopting a positivist and philological manner to seek metaphysical sense in philosophy. In this way, his philosophy was different from the scholars of the School of Principles during the Song and Ming dynasties and from the goal of Western linguistic philosophy in the 20th century, which refuted metaphysics. Accordingly, it helped to develop 18th century Chinese philosophy as it turned towards linguistic philology.
How Does Downward Causation Exist?—A Comment on Kim’s Elimination of Downward Causation
Authors: Xiaoping CHEN
Published: November 2010

The importance of downward causation lies in showing that it shows that functional properties such as mental properties are real, although they cannot be reduced to physical properties. Kim rejects nonreductive physicalism, which includes leading functionalism, by eliminating downward causation, and thereby returns to reductionism. In this paper, I make a distinction between two aspects of function—functional meaning and functional structure and argue that functional meaning cannot be reduced to the physical level whereas functional structure can. On this basis, I further distinguish between the integer of the function, which includes the functional meaning and the functional structure, and the whole of the functional realization, and also among the strong, medial, and weak supervenience relations. So-called downward causation is indeed the relationship between the whole of the functional realization and its physical realizer, which is a whole-part relation instead of a relation between levels. As a result of understanding downward causation in this way and abandoning the principle of the causal closure of the physical world, Kim’s argument becomes invalid and nonreductive functionalism, justified.
A Study into the Incident of the Hongdumen Academy
Authors: Zhixi QIAN
Published: November 2010

In the late E. Han, Emperor Ling founded the Hongdumen Academy so that political favors were bestowed upon the literati to reshape the policy of personnel placement, which aroused violent remonstrations lodged by the ministers. And this became a significant event in the contemporary politics and in the literary history of the late E. Han as well. Scholars through the ages have dealt with the contentious issue, but the realm does not abound with in-depth and profound research studies. Beginning with the viewing angle of the complicated relationship between Confucianism and literature, where the background to the establishment of the Academy is painted in a great variety of academicism; this article analyzes the normal practice of the Han System of the Personnel Recommendation with a view to pinpointing the underlying cause of the Incident of the Hongdumen Academy. The cause is that the Han System of the Personnel Recommendation was bucked, which was grounded upon the Confucian moral integrity as the content, and upon xiangju lixuan as the norm. This article states that the Incident was, in relation with the danggu zhihuo, interconnected with the political structure based upon such social strata as shizu and shuzu, which had gradually been created since the E. Han. By means of the investigation and debate on the Incident, this article is written to demonstrate the relationship between literature and Confucianism of the Han dynasty, the literary conditions under development, and the complex political and ideological background against which the literary conditions existed by the end of the E. Han.
The Development of Poetry Helped by Ancient Postal Service in the Tang Dynasty
Authors: Shuling WU
Published: November 2010

The spread of poetry by way of ancient postal service in Tang dynasty is an important subject in studying the development of Tang poetry. The ancient postal system in Tang dynasty included both water route and land route which covered every corner of the country, formed a highly developed and strict system. Besides transmitting government decrees and transporting officials and goods, the ancient postal service also helped the development of Tang poetry. Many historical documents proved that ancient postal service in Tang dynasty ensured an immediate transportation between poets and contributed to the wide-spread of the poetry, and it also served as a bridge between the poets who were in great distance and then helped to form different poetry schools and fashion.
On the Theatricality of the Ci-Poetry in Tang and Song Dynasties
Authors: Wenpeng TAO , Xuepei ZHAO
Published: November 2010

Ci-poetry and drama are both genres of musical literature and the theatricality of the ci-poetry is demonstrated from many different aspects, such as the first-person narration, the emotional lyrics with unique features, the musical dialogues between two people or among many people, the dramatic conflict presented in the lyrics, the dramatic actions and the dramatic situations, etc. There are all kinds of plays in the ci-poetry, namely the serious drama, the comedy, the tragedy, the comedy with tears, the fantasy and the allegorical play. The ci-poetry of the Tang and Song dynasties exerted great influence on drama and on the other hand, the army-joining drama of the Tang dynasty and the miscellaneous drama of the Song dynasty to some extent inspired the creation of ci-poetry. The relationship between ci-poetry and drama confirms the mutual infiltration and cross reference among different literary genres in the Song dynasty.
The Changes of Literary Thoughts after Jingtai Era in Ming Dynasty
Authors: Zongqiang LUO
Published: November 2010

With politics as its driving force, the cabinet-style literature came into full bloom in the early Ming dynasty. After Emperor Jingtai’s reign, the literary thoughts started to change, which was also related to the political situation. After Tumu Crisis, the cabinet-style literature lost its political foundation, the cabinet-style practitioners gradually gave up their literary views and the core people of the cabinet-style literature were deprived of their influence as the political leaders. The scholars lost their confidence in the imperial government and the subjects of their literary creation were changed from the celebrating the prosperity of the country to the description of their personal life and interests. More importantly, the emergence of Baisha philosophy of mind broke the dominance of Cheng and Zhu’s idealist philosophy over the country. The focus was shifted from the ideal to the heart and the literary creation aimed at expressing the sincere feelings and representing the true human nature. In terms of the aesthetic interest, the classical and the standard gradually gave way to the natural and the pristine. The emergence of Baisha philosophy of mind and its related literary concepts to some extent led to the emotion-oriented literary thoughts in the late Ming dynasty.
Of Tubs and Toil: Kohler Workers in an Empire of Hygiene, 1920–2000
Authors: Oberdeck Kathryn J.
Published: December 2010

This paper examines contests over the intimate and global geographies of domestic hygiene advanced by the Kohler Company, a plumbing-ware manufacturer that promoted “American” standards living in its welfare-capitalist industrial village of Kohler, Wisconsin. Drawing from the approaches of labor history, cultural history, and critical geography, it demonstrates the value of combining these methodologies. The perspectives of Kohler workers on “American” living standards, it reveals, complicate cultural histories that cast such workers as uncritical audiences for imperializing claims about the superiority of American sanitation. The paper argues that workers who struggled to unionize the Kohler plant challenged company definitions of “American” standards and generated alternative, laborite maps of domestic hygiene and the labor associated with it among local immigrant workers and laborers elsewhere in the world. It considers the legacy of those maps in the context of the company’s changing global networks of production and consumption.
The Mid-Atlantic Islands: A Theatre of Early Modern Ecocide?
Authors: Halikowski Smith Stefan
Published: December 2010

The Iberian rediscovery of the mid-Atlantic islands in the late Middle Ages was accompanied by all kinds of utopian projections. However, within a hundred years, both human and animal populations were made extinct, and the rich forest cover was rapidly depleted for cash-cropping industries, primarily sugar. Historians view the migration of the international sugar industry from the mid-Atlantic islands to Brazil as an example of expanding economies of scale, but contemporary accounts indicate what now might be called widespread ecocide as a major contributing factor. This essay looks at the environmental ramifications of the sugar industry as well as other cultures, and assesses whether it is indeed appropriate to speak of ecocide in the context of the mid-Atlantic islands in the early modern period.
The Colonial Famine Plot: Slavery, Free Trade, and Empire in the French Atlantic, 1763–1791
Authors: Horan Joseph
Published: December 2010

This essay examines the use of famine-plot rhetoric in the course of disputes over free trade in the French Atlantic during the late eighteenth century. Seeking to discredit officially sanctioned trade monopolies, French plantation owners frequently suggested that the control exercised by metropolitan merchants over transatlantic commerce was responsible for food shortages among the enslaved population of the colonies. In reality, the planters themselves bore primary responsibility for malnutrition in the French Caribbean, thanks to their reliance on the slave trade and support for the expansion of plantation agriculture. While proponents of the colonial famine plot accepted that plantation slavery had made it impossible for the resources available in the colonies to sustain the growing enslaved population, they remained committed to the plantation system. In advocating expanded free trade as the best means to ensure the continued growth of the colonies, French planters anticipated a response to the environmental problems caused by colonial expansion that became increasingly prevalent among proponents of European imperialism during the nineteenth century.
A coagulase-negative variant ofStaphylococcus aureusfrom bovine mastitis milk
Authors: Akineden Ömer , Hassan Abdulwahed Ahmed , Schneider Elisabeth , Usleber Ewald
Published: December 2010

Bacteriological analysis of milk samples from quarters of a dairy cow suffering from subclinical mastitis yielded two isolates ofStaphylococcus aureuswhich gave a negative reaction in the standard coagulase test. Both isolates were also clumping factor and thermonuclease negative, and gave a negative reaction in the Staphaurex®test. The isolates were identified by using commercial biochemical systems, and by PCR analysis of different staphylococcal cell surface protein and exoprotein genes. Further molecular identification of the isolates, which included sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and RT-PCR of coagulase (coa), clumping-factor (clfA) and thermonuclease (nuc) genes, was consistent with the diagnosis phenotypically ‘coagulase-negative variant ofStaph. aureus’. The fact that coagulase-negativeStaph. aureusvariants can occur in the context of intramammary infections in cattle may result in the incorrect diagnosis ‘coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS)’ in routine mastitis diagnostic, at least in rare cases. To fully ensure correct species diagnosis, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and amplification of specific genes such ascoais necessary in these cases.