bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A distributed mobility management scheme in networks with the locator/identifier separation
Authors: Qiu Feng , Zhou HuaChun , Li Xiaoqian , Wang Gongpu , Zhang Hongke
Published: October 2012

In traditional Internet architectures, current centralized mobility management schemes face scalability issues because of the creation of network bottlenecks and a single mobility agent of failures. To address these issues, we propose a distributed mobility management scheme in locator/identifier separation networks (DMMLIS). We divide the network into many domains according to the area of autonomous systems. Each domain consists of a mapping server and several tunnel routers (xTRs). The mapping server stores global mappings between endpoint identifier (EID) prefixes and autonomous system numbers (ASNs) to lookup the mobile nodes' (MNs') home domain. Meanwhile, the mapping server also contains ASN‐to‐xTR mappings so that it can forward Map‐Register and Map‐Request messages to any xTR of the MN's home domain, thus enhancing reliability. In addition, the xTRs in each domain constitute one‐hop distributed hash table ring. Moreover, any xTR in the MN's home domain may be the home agent of MNs, and the MNs' EID‐to‐RLOC (routing locator) mapping is stored in two xTRs using two hash functions. In this way, it not only supports quick lookup but also improves scalability and survivability. To evaluate the survivability and the efficiency of DMMLIS, we analyze the service blocking probability, the system response time, and the total protocol cost. We also present numerical results to demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How does a newly born mouse get to the nipple? odor substrates eliciting first nipple grasping and sucking responses
Authors: Al Aïn Syrina , Belin Laurine , Schaal Benoist , Patris Bruno
Published: October 2012

It is a mammalian female strategy to emit odor cues and signals that direct their inexperienced newborns to the nipple, and optimize their initial sucking success and, hence, viability. Here, natural odorous substrates that contribute to nipple grasping were investigated in mice, a species that has not been much scrutinized on this topic. The response of pups toward the nipples of lactating females (LF) versus nonlactating females (NLF) were first assessed right after watched birth, before and after the first suckling experience, and at 1 day old, after more extended suckling experience. It appeared that only nipples of LF induced grasping at these early ages, leading to take NLF as the baseline setting to present various odor substrates sampled from LF, viz. amniotic fluid, murine milk, LF saliva, pup saliva, LF urine, and an odorless control stimulus (water). Results indicate that: (1) only amniotic fluid and fresh milk induced nipple grasping before the first suckling experience; (2) LF saliva started inducing grasping after the first suckling experience; (3) pup saliva released grasping after 24–36 hr of suckling experience; finally (4) neither LF urine, nor water induced any nipple grasping. In conclusion, the activity of amniotic fluid and murine milk on neonatal pup behavior before any postnatal suckling experience suggests that either prenatal learning and/or predisposed olfactory mechanisms do operate, while the behavioral activation due to maternal and infantile salivas clearly depends on postnatal exposure. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 55: 888–901, 2013.
The Influence of Arylene and Alkylene Units on the Structuring of Urea‐Based Bridged Silsesquioxanes
Authors: Pichon Benoît P. , Scampini Sylvana , Bied Catherine , Moreau Joël J. E. , Wong Chi Man Michel
Published: October 2012

The influence of the intrinsic self‐assembling properties of rigid or semirigid aromatic units as the main substructures combined with the effect of the alkylene side chains as linkers on the nanostructure of bridged silsesquioxanes was studied. The symmetry of the organic units was found to control the dimensionality of the hybrid nanostructure. Bis(silylated) aromatic units lead to lamellar hybrids, whereas tris(silylated) aromatic units tend to form hexagonal structures. The ordering of each type of structure depends directly on the conformation of the organic units, which determines the self‐assembling of precursors through intermolecular interactions.
Effect of the extraction solvent polarity on the sesame seeds oil composition
Authors: Tir Rachid , Dutta Paresh C. , Badjah‐Hadj‐Ahmed Ahmed Yacine
Published: October 2012

This study highlights the effect of solvent polarity on the yield (Y%) and properties of oil extracted from Algerian sesame seeds. Extractions were carried out under Soxhlet conditions with the following solvents: hexane (Hx), ethanol (Eth), acetone (Ac), dichloromethane (Di), isopropanol (Iso), hexane:isopropanol (Hx:Iso), and chloroform:methanol (Chf:Me). The sesame oil yield obtained using different solvents ranged from 28.86 to 52.83%. Fatty acids and sterols analyses were performed by GC on capillary column. γ‐Tocopherol was the major tocochromanol compound detected by HPLC‐fluorescence. Fourteen fatty acids were identified, with the predominance of oleic and linoleic acids. The main sterol in sesame oil was β‐sitosterol, followed by stigmasterol, campesterol, and Δ5‐avenasterol which were present in lower concentrations. High correlations were found between arachidic, gadoleic, behenic, and lignoceric acids concentrations; these results were explained by the metabolic biosynthesis pathway of the biologically active long‐chain PUFA by successive elongation and desaturation. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the data obtained from sesame oil composition enabled an easy comparison of the different extraction solvents, and correlated their properties with the most characteristic components of the extracted oils with a view to understand solvent–oil interaction, and to establish the effects of extracting solvent on such oil composition.

Practical applications: This study showed that the choice of solvent depends largely on the desired fraction to be extracted. Sesame oil was better extracted with less‐polar solvents but membrane‐associated lipids are more polar and require polar solvents capable of breaking hydrogen bonds or electrostatic forces. Owing to the differences in solvent capacity, the fatty acids, sterols, and tocopherols extracted along with the oil vary, leading to differences in the quality of the extracted oil. The results obtained in this study could be applied in industrial extraction to encourage the use of alternative extraction solvents.
Soybean oil‐based shape‐memory polyurethanes: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Miao Shida , Wang Ping , Su Zhiguo , Liu Youyan , Zhang Songping
Published: October 2012

Shape‐memory polymers (SMPs) have wide range of applications due to their ability to sense environmental stimuli and reshape from a temporary shape to a permanent shape. Plant oil‐based polymeric materials are highly concerned in recent years in consideration of petroleum depletion and environmental pollution. However, plant oil‐based polymers are rarely investigated regarding their shape‐memory characteristics though bio‐based SMPs are highly desired nowadays. In this study, a series of soybean oil‐based shape‐memory polyurethanes (SSMPUs) are prepared through a mild chemo‐enzymatic synthetic route, and their properties are fully characterized with tensile testing, DSC, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and shape‐memory testing. Results show that SSMPUs are soft rubbers with tensile strength in the range of 1.9–2.2 MPa and glass transition temperature in the range of 2–5°C, and possess good shape recoveries at RT when stretching ratio is 10, 20, and 30%, respectively. This work would promote the development of high‐value‐added plant oil‐based shape‐memory polyurethanes.

Practical applications: Using annual renewable plant oil as feedstock, the synthesized SSMPUs show good shape recovery properties, which will make them applicable as potential alternatives to petroleum‐based shape‐memory materials. The simple and mild preparation process also contributes to the further exploration of plant oil to value‐added functional materials.
Chlorinated BODIPYs: Surprisingly Efficient and Highly Photostable Laser Dyes
Authors: Duran‐Sampedro Gonzalo , Agarrabeitia Antonia R. , Garcia‐Moreno Inmaculada , Costela Angel , Bañuelos Jorge , Arbeloa Teresa , López Arbeloa Iñigo , Chiara Jose Luis , Ortiz María J.
Published: October 2012

A series of mono‐ to hexachlorinated BODIPY dyes have been prepared in good to excellent yields through the use of N‐chlorosuccinimide as an inexpensive halogenating reagent. This library of chlorinated dyes allowed analysis in detail, from the experimental and theoretical points of view, of the dependency of the photophysical and optical properties of the dyes on the number and positions of the chlorine substituents on their BODIPY cores. Quantum mechanical calculations predict the regioselectivity of the halogenation reaction and explain why some positions are less prone to chlorination. The new chlorinated BODIPYs exhibit enhanced laser action with respect to their non‐halogenated analogues, both in liquid solution and in the solid phase. In addition, chlorination is a facile and essentially costless protocol for overcoming important shortcomings exhibited by commercially available BODIPYs, which should favor their practical applications in optical and sensing fields.
Effects of non‐catalytic, distal amino acid residues on activity of E. coli DinB (DNA polymerase IV)
Authors: Walsh Jason M. , Parasuram Ramya , Rajput Pradyumna R. , Rozners Eriks , Ondrechen Mary Jo , Beuning Penny J.
Published: October 2012

DinB is one of two Y family polymerases in E. coli and is involved in copying damaged DNA. DinB is specialized to bypass deoxyguanosine adducts that occur at the N2 position, with its cognate lesion being the furfuryl adduct. Active site residues have been identified that make contact with the substrate and carry out deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) addition to the growing DNA strand. In DNA polymerases, these include negatively charged aspartate and glutamate residues (D8, D103, and E104 in E. coli DNA polymerase IV DinB). These residues position the essential magnesium ions correctly to facilitate nucleophilic attack by the primer hydroxyl group on the α‐phosphate group of the incoming dNTP. To study the contribution of DinB residues to lesion bypass, the computational methods THEMATICS and POOL were employed. These methods correctly predict the known active site residues, as well as other residues known to be important for activity. In addition, these methods predict other residues involved in substrate binding as well as more remote residues. DinB variants with mutations at the predicted positions were constructed and assayed for bypass of the N2‐furfuryl‐dG lesion. We find a wide range of effects of predicted residues, including some mutations that abolish damage bypass. Moreover, most of the DinB variants constructed are unable to carry out the extension step of lesion bypass. The use of computational prediction methods represents another tool that will lead to a more complete understanding of translesion DNA synthesis. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Germline variation in TP53 regulatory network genes associates with breast cancer survival and treatment outcome
Authors: Jamshidi Maral , Schmidt Marjanka K. , Dörk Thilo , Garcia‐Closas Montserrat , Heikkinen Tuomas , Cornelissen Sten , van den Broek Alexandra J. , Schürmann Peter , Meyer Andreas , Park‐Simon Tjoung‐Won , Figueroa Jonine , Sherman Mark , Lissowska Jolanta , Keong Garrett Teoh Hor , Irwanto Astrid , Laakso Marko , Hautaniemi Sampsa , Aittomäki Kristiina , Blomqvist Carl , Liu Jianjun , Nevanlinna Heli
Published: October 2012

Germline variation in the TP53 network genes PRKAG2, PPP2R2B, CCNG1, PIAS1 and YWHAQ was previously suggested to have an impact on drug response in vitro. Here, we investigated the effect on breast cancer survival of germline variation in these genes in 925 Finnish breast cancer patients and further analyzed five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PRKAG2 (rs1029946, rs4726050, rs6464153, rs7789699) and PPP2R2B (rs10477313) for 10‐year survival in breast cancer patients, interaction with TP53 R72P and MDM2‐SNP309, outcome after specific adjuvant therapy and correlation to tumor characteristics in 4,701 invasive cases from four data sets. We found evidence for carriers of PRKAG2‐rs1029946 and PRKAG2‐rs4726050 having improved survival in the pooled data (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.3–0.9; p = 0.023 for homozygous carriers of the rare G‐allele and HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.7–0.9; p = 0.049 for carriers of the rare G allele, respectively). PRKAG2‐rs4726050 showed a significant interaction with MDM2‐SNP309, with PRKAG2‐rs4726050 rare G‐allele having a dose‐dependent effect for better breast cancer survival confined only to MDM2 SNP309 rare G‐allele carriers (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.2–0.7; p = 0.001). This interaction also emerged as an independent predictor of better survival (p = 0.047). PPP2R2B‐rs10477313 rare A‐allele was found to predict better survival (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.6–0.9; p = 0.018), especially after hormonal therapy (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.5–0.9; p = 0.048). These findings warrant further studies and suggest that genetic markers in TP53 network genes such as PRKAG2 and PPP2R2B might affect prognosis and treatment outcome in breast cancer patients.
Falling From Grace: Understanding an Ethical Sanctioning Experience
Authors: Warren Jane , Douglas Kristin Isabella
Published: October 2012

Although an ethical sanction is viewed as an incredibly stressful event for professional counselors, the experience of being sanctioned is not well known. This article provides an overview of the sanctioning process, a discussion of professional silence, and a case example of a sanctioning experience for a counselor. The sanctioning experience is described in a 3‐stage response sequence and is illustrated with journal entries from a sanctioned counselor. Response interventions for each stage are suggested, and implications for the counseling profession are offered.
Chinese Christians in America: Attachment to God, Stress, and Well‐Being
Authors: Wei Meifen , Ku Tsun‐Yao , Chen Hwei‐Jane , Wade Nathaniel , Liao Kelly Yu‐Hsin , Guo Gwo‐Jen
Published: October 2012

This study examined whether attachment to God moderated the relation between perceived stress and well‐being (i.e., life satisfaction and positive affect) among 183 Chinese Christian international students and immigrants. Results showed significant main effects of (a) perceived stress on life satisfaction and (b) secure attachment to God and avoidant attachment to God on life satisfaction and positive affect. There was a significant interaction of perceived stress and avoidant attachment to God on life satisfaction. Specifically, high avoidant attachment to God exacerbated the association between perceived stress and life satisfaction, whereas low avoidant attachment to God buffered the association between perceived stress and life satisfaction.
An Ethical Decision‐Making Model to Determine Authorship Credit in Published Faculty–Student Collaborations
Authors: Foster Ryan D. , Ray Dee C.
Published: October 2012

Publishing research is imperative to both counselor educators and students in counseling programs. Furthermore, faculty–student publication collaborations can often be a mutually beneficial professional endeavor. However, determining order of authorship can be a complex ethical issue. The authors review prior research to illustrate the complexities of authorship and suggest a decision‐making model and considerations for preventing and resolving these ethical dilemmas. Implications for counselors include future research studies on complex issues regarding authorship of faculty–student collaborations, future incidence studies investigating occurrence of ethics violations, and incorporation of publication ethics into course work in counselor education programs.
Using Drama Therapy to Explore Religion and Spirituality in Counselor Education
Authors: Meyer Dixie D.
Published: October 2012

Exploring spirituality and religion continues to be an important component when considering multicultural issues. However, understanding how to incorporate spiritual and religious diversity into counseling courses continues to be a challenge for educators. An exercise using drama therapy was developed to explore religion and spirituality.
Wellness Factors Decrease the Odds of Drinking and Driving Among College Students
Authors: Lewis Todd F. , Myers Jane E.
Published: October 2012

The authors examined holistic wellness factors and drinking and driving behaviors among undergraduate students. Two factors of the Indivisible Self Wellness Model, the Coping Self and the Physical Self, decreased the odds of engaging in drinking and driving behavior.
CovalentDock: Automated covalent docking with parameterized covalent linkage energy estimation and molecular geometry constraints
Authors: Ouyang Xuchang , Zhou Shuo , Su Chinh Tran To , Ge Zemei , Li Runtao , Kwoh Chee Keong
Published: October 2012

Covalent linkage formation is a very important mechanism for many covalent drugs to work. However, partly due to the limitations of proper computational tools for covalent docking, most covalent drugs are not discovered systematically. In this article, we present a new covalent docking package, the CovalentDock, built on the top of the source code of Autodock. We developed an empirical model of free energy change estimation for covalent linkage formation, which is compatible with existing scoring functions used in docking, while handling the molecular geometry constrains of the covalent linkage with special atom types and directional grid maps. Integrated preparation scripts are also written for the automation of the whole covalent docking workflow. The result tested on existing crystal structures with covalent linkage shows that CovalentDock can reproduce the native covalent complexes with significant improved accuracy when compared with the default covalent docking method in Autodock. Experiments also suggest that CovalentDock is capable of covalent virtual screening with satisfactory enrichment performance. In addition, the investigation on the results also shows that the chirality and target selectivity along with the molecular geometry constrains are well preserved by CovalentDock, showing great capability of this method in the application for covalent drug discovery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of Nano‐porous TiO2 Film Prepared by Sol‐gel Process and Its Application to Dye‐sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Chiou Brandon , Yang Ru‐Yuan , Chuang Hui‐Ju , Chu Cheng‐Jye
Published: October 2012

In this paper, effects of ethylene glycol (EG) and indium tin oxide (ITO) solution on the morphology, porosity, and roughness of TiO2 film prepared by sol‐gel process were investigated and discussed. Initially, the addition of EG were used to control the viscosity of the solution and it was found to increase the pore size of TiO2 film. The various TiO2 films were investigated and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and then assembled to dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) to measure the photoelectric conversion efficiency. The optimum efficiencies of 1.32% with Jsc and Voc of 2.99 mA/cm2 and 0.80 V, respectively, were obtained by the TiO2 film prepared from a solution containing 20 wt% EG.
A New, Fast and Easy Strategy for One‐pot Synthesis of Full Substituted Cyclopropanes: Direct Transformation of Aldehydes to 3‐Aryl‐1,1,2,2‐tetracyanocyclopropanes
Authors: Pesyan Nader Noroozi , Kimia Mohammad Ali , Jalilzadeh Mohammad , Şahin Ertan
Published: October 2012

A new, fast and easy method for one‐pot reaction of aromatic aldehydes and dialdehydes with malononitrile and cyanogen bromide has been developed to afford full substituted 3‐arylcyclopropane‐1,1,2,2‐tetracarbonitriles in excellent yields in very short time (about 5 seconds). The structures elucidations werev characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectrometry and X‐ray crystallography techniques. For vthese compounds the crystallographic data showed two structures in mirror image in solid case and one distinct structure in solution. The reaction mechanism was discussed.
MRT letter: Quantum noise removal and classification of breast mammogram images
Authors: Naseem M. Talha , Sulong Ghazali Bin , Jaffar M. Arfan
Published: October 2012

Because of the limitations of the X‐ray hardware systems in mammogram machines, the quality of the breast mammogram images may undergo from poor resolution or low contrast. Quantum noise occurs in the mammogram images during acquisition due to low‐count X‐ray photons. In this work, an adaptive frost filter has been used to remove quantum noise. Local binary patterns have been extracted to classify breast mammograms into benign and malignant using different classifiers. Results show the superiority of the proposed algorithm in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Mammographic Institute Society Analysis database of mammography has been used for experimentation. Peak signal‐to‐noise ratio and structural similarity index measure are used to test the validity of adaptive frost filter. Experiment results show that proposed technique produces better results. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A template‐based automatic skull‐stripping approach for mouse brain MR microscopy
Authors: Lin Lan , Wu Shuicai , Yang Chunlan
Published: October 2012

Small animal magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) has been widely used today in computational neuroanatomy. Accurate identification of brain tissue in a mouse MRM is a critical fundamental step in neuroimaging processing, which is given less attention. This study presents an automatic skull‐stripping technique based on template models and histogram analysis. Results were evaluated by calculating the Jaccard similarity index (JSI) and boundary concordance ratio (BCR) between the automatically segmented and manually traced brain volumes. Results demonstrate that this technique accurately extracts the brain volume (mean JSI = 97.1%, BC = 94.4%). The brain extraction method presented in this study will greatly facilitate analysis of neuroimaging studies of rodent animals in neurodegenerative diseases. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of treatment of the fat body trophocytes of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides nurse workers and virgin queens in culture by juvenile hormone III and ecdysterone (20‐HE)
Authors: Paes‐De‐Oliveira Vagner Tadeu , Berger Bruno , Poiani Silvana Beani , Paulino Simões Zilá Luz , Da Cruz‐Landim Carminda
Published: October 2012

The fat body (FB) consists of two types of cells: throphocytes and oenocytes. Throphocytes are related to intermediary metabolism storing lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins while oenocytes play role in the lipids and lipoproteins production. The vitellogenin is the precursor of egg yolk (vitelline) and is synthesized on FB. The aim of this work was to analyze the effects of hormones acting in bee reproduction, as juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdisteroids (20 HE) on FB cells, where vitellogenin is synthesized. For the study were chose nurse workers that in Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides present activated ovaries and produce eggs, and virgin queens whose ovaries are not yet activated, presenting only previtellogenic follicles. FB trophocytes from these classes of bees were cultivated in media containing different amounts of JH and 20‐HE. The effects on trophocytes cytoplasm reserves of lipids, proteins, and activity of acid phosphatase were compared by observing preparations from cultured FB, treated and control, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the hormones effects are related to the bee's caste and functional ovary stage. The role of acid phosphatase on mobilization of the trophocyte reserves was also determined. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An asynchronous regional regression model for statistical downscaling of daily climate variables
Authors: Stoner Anne M. K. , Hayhoe Katharine , Yang Xiaohui , Wuebbles Donald J.
Published: October 2012

The asynchronous regional regression model (ARRM) is a flexible and computationally efficient statistical model that can downscale station‐based or gridded daily values of any variable that can be transformed into an approximately symmetric distribution and for which a large‐scale predictor exists. This technique was developed to bridge the gap between large‐scale outputs from atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) and the fine‐scale output required for local and regional climate impact assessments. ARRM uses piecewise regression to quantify the relationship between observed and modelled quantiles and then downscale future projections. Here, we evaluate the performance of three successive versions of the model in downscaling daily minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation for 20 stations in North America from diverse climate zones. Using cross‐validation to maximize the independent comparison period, historical downscaled simulations are evaluated relative to observations in terms of three different quantities: the probability distributions, giving a visual image of the skill of each model; root‐mean‐square errors; and bias in nine quantiles that represent both means and extremes. Successive versions of the model show improved accuracy in simulating extremes, where AOGCMs are often most biased and which are frequently the focus of impact studies. Overall, the quantile regression‐based technique is shown to be efficient, robust, and highly generalizable across multiple variables, regions, and climate model inputs.
Contribution of dogs to white‐tailed deer hunting success
Authors: Godwin Christopher , Schaefer James A. , Patterson Brent R. , Pond Bruce A.
Published: October 2012

Dogs (Canis familiaris) are used in hunting white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 10 North American jurisdictions. Although the practice is longstanding and controversial, the effects of dogs on the outcome of the hunt have rarely been studied. We evaluated the influence of dogs on recreational hunting of white‐tailed deer based on long‐term data from southeastern Ontario, Canada. Over 25 years, annual surveys of hunters were used to collect data on hunting effort and deer harvest from approximately 85 camps, roughly half of which had dogs. We investigated the relationship between harvest and 3 treatments (i.e., 0 dogs, 1 dog, and ≥2 dogs in camp), interactions with weather and deer density, and effects of neighboring camps. Dogs enhanced hunter success. We found no difference in deer encounter rates but, per unit effort, camps with ≥2 dogs harvested 0.013 (26%) more deer per hunter‐day, missed 0.010 (23%) more deer per hunter‐day, and wounded 0.002 (40%) more deer per hunter‐day than camps without dogs. Conversely, camps without dogs saw, without shooting at, 0.033 (23%) more deer per hunter‐day than camps with ≥2 dogs. These results are consistent with the idea that hunters with dogs are less selective. Hunters with dogs harvested more fawns per unit effort, but we found no difference in the harvest rate of older female deer. More precipitation, greater wind speed, lower temperatures and greater deer density improved harvest success but had no differential effect among dog treatments. Hunter success at camps with ≥2 dogs was less when neighboring camps also had ≥2 dogs. Because antlerless deer quotas are the principal means to control populations, increasing use of hunting dogs is unlikely to have substantial effects in managing overabundant deer. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Synthesis and Photovoltaic Properties of a Donor‐Acceptor Copolymer of Dithienosilole and 5,6‐Bis(octyloxy)benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole
Authors: Huang Youguang , Zhang Maojie , Jing Yan , Fan Huili , Guo Xia , Li Yongfang
Published: October 2012

A donor‐acceptor (D‐A) copolymer, PDTSDOBT, based on dithienosilole and 5,6‐bis(octyloxy)benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole is synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed Stille coupling reaction for application as a donor material in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The polymer shows good thermal stability, strong absorption in the visible region, and a relatively low bandgap of 1.63 eV. The hole mobility of PDTSDOBT as measured by SCLC is 5.58 × 10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1. The power conversion efficiency of a PSC based on PDTSDOBT: PC70BM (1:2 w/w) is 3.51% with a short‐circuit current density of 8.96 mA cm−2, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.69 V, and a fill factor of 0.568, under the 100 mW cm−2 AM1.5G illumination.
Photomechanical Response of Pre‐strained Azobenzene‐Functionalized Polyimide Materials
Authors: Lee Kyung Min , Wang David H. , Koerner Hilmar , Vaia Richard A. , Tan Loon‐Seng , White Timothy J.
Published: October 2012

Recently, we have reported that azobenzene‐functionalized polyimide materials exhibit a substantial increase in photogenerated stress in comparison to azobenzene‐functionalized acrylate‐based liquid crystal polymer networks. Here, we show that pre‐straining the azo‐CP2‐20 material further increases the magnitude of the photomechanical response visualized as bending in the cantilever geometry as well as in direct measurements of photogenerated stress. Additionally, we also report on the ability to optically fix both optically and mechanically generated shapes in azo‐CP2‐20. The optically fixable shape memory of azo‐CP2‐20 is enabled by the introduction of excess free volume during thermal processing as the material was pre‐strained.

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The Scaling Law between Molecular Mass and Diffusivity and its Influence on the Molecular Weight Distribution as Derived from a Stretched Exponential PGSTE NMR Response Curve
Authors: Gong Xiaoliang , Hansen E. W. , Chen Qun
Published: October 2012

The molecular weight distribution characteristics derived from an inverse Laplace transformation (ILT) of a stretched exponential PGSTE NMR response function (SEF) is discussed with reference to the scaling law between diffusivity (D) and molecular mass (M) (D = KM−α). Two general equations are presented, enabling the polydispersity index (PDI) and the average molecular weights (Mw, Mn, and Mmed) to be determined from α and the two characteristic parameters β and D0 of the (normalized) SEF (= exp [(−D0t)β]). A detailed discussion regarding the derivation of the two equations is presented.
Proteindynamik webbasiert analysieren
Authors: Krüger Dennis M. , Gohlke Holger
Published: October 2012

Der NMSim‐Webserver ist ein Online‐Service, der dabei hilft, biologisch relevante Bewegungen von Proteinen vorherzusagen und zu visualisieren.
Interplay between protein carbonylation and nitrosylation in plants
Authors: Lounifi Imen , Arc Erwann , Molassiotis Athanassios , Job Dominique , Rajjou Loïc , Tanou Georgia
Published: October 2012

ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are key regulators of redox homeostasis in living organisms including plants. As control of redox homeostasis plays a central function in plant biology, redox proteomics could help in characterizing the potential roles played by ROS/RNS‐induced posttranslational modification in plant cells. In this review, we focus on two posttranslational modifications: protein carbonylation (a marker of protein oxidation) and protein S‐nitrosylation, both of which having recently emerged as important regulatory mechanisms during numerous fundamental biological processes. Here, we describe the recent progress in proteomic analysis of carbonylated and nitrosylated proteins and highlight the achievements made in understanding the physiological basis of these oxy/nitro modifications in plants. In addition, we document the existence of a relationship between ROS‐based carbonylation and RNS‐based nitrosylation thus supporting the finding that crosstalk between cellular signaling stress pathways induced by ROS and RNS could be mediated by specific protein modifications.
Nuclear factor‐kappa B and interleukin‐6 related docetaxel resistance in castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Codony‐Servat Jordi , Marín‐Aguilera Mercedes , Visa Laura , García‐Albéniz Xabier , Pineda Estela , Fernández Pedro L. , Filella Xavier , Gascón Pere , Mellado Begoña
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND

Previous work showed that the NF‐κB survival pathway is activated by docetaxel (D) and contributes to D resistance in prostate cancer. In this study we aimed to investigate the dynamics of the relationship between NF‐κB and IL‐6 in the shift from D‐naive castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) to D‐resistance in patients and cell lines.

METHODS

CRPC tumor samples were tested for NF‐κB/p65 and IL‐6 by immunohistochemistry. CRPC patients treated with D were also tested for serum IL‐6 (ELISA). Two D‐resistant cell lines, PC‐3R and DU‐145R, derived from the CRPC cells PC‐3 and DU‐145, respectively, were tested for NF‐κB activation (EMSA), NF‐κB‐related genes expression (RT‐PCR), NF‐κB inhibition (p65 siRNA) and IL‐6 and IL‐8 soluble levels (ELISA).

RESULTS

In CRPC patients treated with D (n = 72), pre‐treatment IL‐6 level correlated with nuclear NF‐κB/p65 tumor staining and response to D, and was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. However, IL‐6 level changes under treatment did not correlate with clinical outcome. In PC‐3 and DU‐145 parental CRPC cells, as well as in D‐resistant counterparts, D treatment induced NF‐κB activation. In fact, NF‐κB inhibition was sufficient to re‐sensitize DU‐145R cells to D. Despite enhanced NF‐κB activity, IL‐6 secretion in D‐resistant cell lines was reduced and not induced by D treatment. The same occurred with IL‐8 cytokine.

CONCLUSIONS

These preclinical and clinical results support a role of NF‐κB and IL‐6 in the resistance to D in CRPC, and support the investigation of targeted therapies to enhance the antitumor activity of D in this patient population. Prostate 73: 512–521, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Regulation of androgen receptor expression by Z‐isochaihulactone mediated by the JNK signaling pathway and might be related to cytotoxicity in prostate cancer
Authors: Liu Po‐Yen , Lin Shinn‐Zong , Sheu Jim Jinn‐Chyuan , Lin Cheng‐Tung , Lin Po‐Cheng , Chou Yi‐Wen , Huang Mao‐Hsuan , Chiou Tzyy‐Wen , Harn Horng‐Jyh
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND

The androgen receptor (AR) is a main therapeutic target for treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). The natural compound isochaihulactone (K8), which has a chiral center ring and two racemic forms (E‐K8 and Z‐K8), has anti‐tumor effects on multiple cancer types both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we determined which form of K8 contains significant tumor cytotoxicity and examined how this form regulates AR expression in PCa cells and xenografts.

METHODS

We chose the androgen‐dependent human PCa cell line LNCaP and the androgen‐independent cell lines DU145 and PC‐3 to study the anti‐tumor potency and AR regulation mediated by Z‐K8. We measured cell viability and used flow cytometry, RT‐PCR, and Western blotting. Growth inhibition in vivo was evaluated with an LNCaP xenograft animal model.

RESULTS

In LNCaP cells, Z‐K8 significantly repressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, repressed AR mRNA and protein expression in a time‐dependent manner, and induced JNK phosphorylation. Furthermore, treatment with a JNK inhibitor significantly abolished Z‐K8‐induced AR downregulation. Z‐K8 did not significantly inhibit reporter gene expression of constructs containing the AR promoter when it contained a mutated Sp1 binding site. Z‐K8 also showed anti‐tumor effects in the xenograft animal model.

CONCLUSION

Z‐K8 not only induced LNCaP apoptosis but also reduced AR expression. These results indicate that Z‐K8 may be a potential anti‐tumor drug for PCa therapy. Prostate 73: 531–541, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Positive correlation between PEDF expression levels and macrophage density in the human prostate
Authors: Nelius Thomas , Samathanam Christina , Martinez‐Marin Dalia , Gaines Natalie , Stevens Jessica , Hickson Johnny , de Riese Werner , Filleur Stéphanie
Published: October 2012

BACKGROUND

In this study, we investigated the capacity of pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF) to modulate the recruitment and the differentiation of monocytes/macrophages both in vitro and in human prostate.

METHODS

Using Boyden chambers, we assessed PEDF effect on the migration of monocytes and chemically activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Normal, prostatitis, and prostate cancer specimens were retrospectively selected and examined by immunohistochemistry for PEDF expression and infiltration of immune CD68 + macrophagic cells. PEDF expression and macrophage density were then correlated with each other and clinicopathological parameters. M1 and M2 differentiation markers were quantified by qRT‐PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA.

RESULTS

In chemotaxis, PEDF induced the migration of monocytes/macrophages. In immunohistochemistry, macrophages were markedly increased in prostatitis and malignant compared to normal tissues. PEDF was expressed at variable levels in the stroma and epithelium. PEDF mRNA was down‐regulated in both prostate cancer and prostatitis compared to normal tissues. In correlation studies, macrophage density and PEDF expression were respectively positively and negatively associated with prostate size. Most importantly, PEDF expression positively correlated with macrophage density. Finally, PEDF stimulated the expression of iNOS, IL12, and TNFα; and inhibited IL10 and arginase 1 in mouse and human macrophages confirming a M1‐type differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that PEDF acts directly on monocytes/macrophages by inducing their migration and differentiation into M1‐type cells. These findings suggest a possible role of macrophages in PEDF anti‐tumor properties and may support further development of PEDF‐based anti‐cancer therapy. Prostate 73: 549–561, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemical Imaging Beyond the Diffraction Limit: Experimental Validation of the PTIR Technique
Authors: Lahiri Basudev , Holland Glenn , Centrone Andrea
Published: October 2012

Photothermal induced resonance (PTIR) has recently attracted great interest for enabling chemical identification and imaging with nanoscale resolution. In this work, electron beam nanopatterned polymer samples are fabricated directly on 3D zinc selenide prisms and used to experimentally evaluate the PTIR lateral resolution, sensitivity and linearity. It is shown that PTIR lateral resolution for chemical imaging is comparable to the lateral resolution obtained in the atomic force microscopy height images, up to the smallest feature measured (100 nm). Spectra and chemical maps are produced from the thinnest sample analyzed (40 nm). More importantly, experiments show for the first time that the PTIR signal increases linearly with thickness for samples up to ≈ 1 μm (linearity limit); a necessary requirement towards the use of the PTIR technique for quantitative chemical analysis at the nanoscale. Finally, the analysis of thicker samples provides the first evidence that the previously developed PTIR signal generation theory is correct. It is believed that the findings of this work will foster nanotechnology development in disparate applications by proving the basis for quantitative chemical analysis with nanoscale resolution.
Synthesis of Few‐Layer MoS2 Nanosheet‐Coated TiO2 Nanobelt Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities
Authors: Zhou Weijia , Yin Zongyou , Du Yaping , Huang Xiao , Zeng Zhiyuan , Fan Zhanxi , Liu Hong , Wang Jiyang , Zhang Hua
Published: October 2012

MoS2 nanosheet‐coated TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures—referred to as TiO2@MoS2—with a 3D hierarchical configuration are prepared via a hydrothermal reaction. The TiO2 nanobelts used as a synthetic template inhibit the growth of MoS2 crystals along the c‐axis, resulting in a few‐layer MoS2 nanosheet coating on the TiO2 nanobelts. The as‐prepared TiO2@MoS2 heterostructure shows a high photocatalytic hydrogen production even without the Pt co‐catalyst. Importantly, the TiO2@MoS2 heterostructure with 50 wt% of MoS2 exhibits the highest hydrogen production rate of 1.6 mmol h−1g−1. Moreover, such a heterostructure possesses a strong adsorption ability towards organic dyes and shows high performance in photocatalytic degradation of the dye molecules.
Micro process analysis of maintenance effort: an open source software case study using metrics based on program slicing
Authors: Kula Raula Gaikovina , Fushida Kyohei , Yoshida Norihiro , Iida Hajimu
Published: October 2012

For any software project, most experts regard the maintenance phase as the most effort and cost intensive of all phases in the software development life cycle. This is due to the high maintenance effort, time, and resources needed to effectively address issues during software maintenance (maintenance activities). Mismanagement of these efforts can lead to the degradation of software maintainability. Understanding the assessment of the related software processes can help sustain or improve maintainability during these maintenance activities. Recent studies have shown that current software process assessments are expensive, generic, and complex, especially for smaller organizations. In this paper, we investigate an alternative software process assessment approach performed by analyzing fine‐grained processes (micro processes) of maintenance activities. This approach assesses maintenance efforts based on micro processes in relation to their impact on source code. The approach derives maintenance effort from the complexity and duration of micro processes and uses proposed metrics based on program slicing to measure change impact. In this paper, we investigate an alternative software process assessment approach by analysing fine‐grained processes (micro processes) of maintenance activities. At statistically significant levels, results suggest that the level of the maintenance efforts correlates with its impact on source code. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementing Sustainable Business Strategies
Authors: Strohhecker Jürgen , Größler Andreas
Published: October 2012

Boom and bust patterns are omnipresent in the development of enterprises. An abundance of examples for businesses that grow at first and then collapse can be found. Although evolutionary economists tend to welcome the rising and vanishing of companies and believe in the survival of the fittest (based on competitive market forces), owners and managers of firms have a different concern: they strive for a sustainable business model. However, designing as well as implementing sustainable business strategies is a major challenge. Analysing data from a dynamic decision making experiment, we are able to show that participants struggle with successfully implementing a business growth strategy without either falling into the trap of overshoot and collapse or heavily underperforming in relation to potential success. We relate participants’ sub‐optimal performance to the way they invest in and manage relevant business resources in a simulation‐based experiment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduction in cholinergic interneuron density in the nucleus accumbens attenuates local extracellular dopamine release in response to stress or amphetamine
Authors: Laplante François , Dufresne Marc M. , Ouboudinar Jugurtha , Ochoa‐sanchez Rafael , Sullivan Ron M.
Published: October 2012

Depletion of cholinergic interneurons in the ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens or N.Acc.) in adult rats increases the locomotor activating effects of amphetamine. It also impairs sensorimotor gating processes, an effect reversed by the antipsychotic haloperidol. These behavioral effects are suggestive of pronounced hyper‐responsiveness of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) projection to the N.Acc. However, it is unclear whether local cholinergic depletion results predominantly in exaggerated presynaptic DA release or a postsynaptic upregulation of DAergic function. The purpose of the present study is to test the former possibility by employing in vivo voltammetry to examine changes in the levels of extracellular DA within the N.Acc. in response to either mild tail pinch stress or amphetamine administration. While both cholinergic‐lesioned and control rats showed reliable stress‐induced increases in extracellular DA on two consecutive test days, those in the lesioned rats were significantly less pronounced. In response to amphetamine, a separate cohort of lesioned rats also exhibited smaller increases in extracellular DA release than controls, despite showing greater locomotor activity. Moreover, the increased behavioral response to amphetamine in lesioned rats coincided temporally with decreasing levels of DA in the N.Acc. The results confirm that cholinergic depletion within the N.Acc. suppresses presynaptic DA release and suggest that lesion‐induced behavioral effects are more likely due to postsynaptic DA receptor upregulation. The results are also discussed in the context of schizophrenia, where post mortem studies have revealed a selective loss of cholinergic interneurons within the ventral striatum. Synapse, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cognitive aspects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Authors: Davis Krista M. , Gagnier Karina Royer , Moore Timothy E. , Todorow Michelle
Published: October 2012

Nearly four decades have passed since a link was first established between alcohol consumption during pregnancy and a particular pattern of birth defects. Since then, autopsy, longitudinal, structural imaging, and functional imaging studies have revealed a great deal about the teratogenic effects of alcohol. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the findings from the neurocognitive and behavioral literature on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and outlines the unique profile of cognitive deficits associated with it. We describe diagnostic issues as well as factors contributing to the heterogeneity of the FASD cognitive presentation. Next, we review research on the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on intellectual functioning, attention, executive functioning, learning and memory, language, quantitative reasoning, and social cognition. In our opinion, future research can now begin to focus on FASD‐specific interventions directly informed by the rich body of neurocognitive findings accumulated thus far. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:81–92. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1202

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction