bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological changes in vero cells postinfection with dengue virus type‐2
Authors: Zargar Seema , Wani Tanveer A. , Jain S. K.
Published: August 2010

Although no specific antiviral tablets or injections that can kill the dengue virus are currently available, adequate care and treatment could control its morbidity. Interaction of dengue virus to target cells could be an important feature for virus propagation. Ultrastructural analysis of this interaction was studied with vero cells. Vero cells were treated with Dengue virus type‐2 at different time intervals at multiplicity of infection (m.o.i) < 10, m.o.i > 10, and m.o.i = 100. It was found that m.o.i < 10 is best to study morphological changes. At an m.o.i > 10 apoptosis occurs and at m.o.i. = 100, cell necrosis occurs. While studying morphological changes, it was found that at 30 min postinfection cells have morphology very similar to that of the control cells although some have irregular outline and show cytoplasmic projections and intense cytoplasmic vacuolization. After 1–12 hours postinfection (h.p.i), the nuclei ran from normal looking to diffuse. Nuclear membrane begins to disintegrate. Some nucleoli are difficult to be seen. The cytoplasm appears as a mottled, lumps diffuse mass distributed throughout the cytosol, with dense lysosomes and myelin figures, also in the mitochondria. In later hours (24 h.p.i), the intranuclear euchromatin is dispersed and heterochromatin forms peripheral clumps. The cytoplasmic processes are short and few in numbers. A proportion of damaged mitochondria with disrupted cristae appear, suggesting that dengue virus may induce mitochondrial dysfunction and nucleus and mitochondria may be the primary organelles helping in dissemination of virus. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of substituted [11C]ureas and [11C]sulphonylureas by Rh(I)‐mediated carbonylation
Authors: Åberg Ola , Långström Bengt
Published: August 2010

The urea moiety is present in many biologically active compounds and thus an attractive target for 11C‐labelling. To extend the scope of the rhodium(I)‐mediated carbonylative cross‐coupling reaction between an azide and an amine and investigate its tolerance for functional groups, we have synthesized eight ureas and two sulphonylureas that were 11C‐labelled in the carbonyl position. The decay‐corrected analytical radiochemical yields were in the range of 14–96% (from [11C]carbon monoxide). For example: starting from 1.33 GBq [11C]carbon monoxide, 0.237 GBq (66%) of the cytotoxic sulphonylurea [11C]LY‐181984 11 was isolated within 60 min from end of bombardment. The mild reaction conditions and generality regarding functional groups of this method make it an attractive alternative to the [11C]phosgene method for the synthesis of 11C‐labelled ureas. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phenilpropanoate identification in young wheat plants by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry: monomeric and dimeric compounds
Authors: Callipo Luciano , Cavaliere Chiara , Fuscoletti Valentina , Gubbiotti Riccardo , Samperi Roberto , Laganà Aldo
Published: August 2010

Metabolomic approach has become a very important tool for determining the actual gene expression and protein activity. Metabolism via the shikimate pathway in plant gives rise to a large number of aromatic compounds, including p‐hydroxycinnamates, which are mainly associated with their cell walls in complex structures, ester‐linked to heteroxilans. In this work, ferulate dehydrodimers and related compounds were extracted from the cell walls of young lyophilized wheat plants with 2 mol/l NaOH for 4 h at 25 °C under N2. After solid phase extraction, samples were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry with the electrospray source operating in negative mode. Nineteen dehydrodiferulates, 2 hydrate forms, 3 oxo‐ forms, 2 decarboxilated forms and 1 dihydroxysinapate, were identified by mass spectra interpretation. In addition, five mixed dehydrodimers of ferulic‐sinapic, ferulic‐coumaric and ferulic‐syringic acids were also identified. Reproducibility of peak areas was usually better than 10% but some minor components which may be procedural artefacts, although relatively mild conditions were used. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hyperbranched PEG by Random Copolymerization of Ethylene Oxide and Glycidol
Authors: Wilms Daniel , Schömer Martina , Wurm Frederik , Hermanns M. Iris , Kirkpatrick C. James , Frey Holger
Published: August 2010

The synthesis of hyperbranched poly(ethylene glycol) (hbPEG) in one step was realized by random copolymerization of ethylene oxide and glycidol, leading to a biocompatible, amorphous material with multiple hydroxyl functionalities. A series of copolymers with moderate polydispersity ($\overline {M} _{{\rm w}} /\overline {M} _{{\rm n}} $ < 1.8) was obtained with varying glycidol content (3–40 mol‐%) and molecular weights up to 49 800 g mol−1. The randomly branched structure of the copolymers was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry). MTS assay demonstrated low cell toxicity of the hyperbranched PEG, comparable to the highly established linear PEG.

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Synthesis and characterization of hydrophilic polyester‐PEO networks with shape‐memory properties
Authors: Feng Yakai , Zhang Shifeng , Zhang Li , Guo Jintang , Xu Yongshen
Published: August 2010

Shape‐memory polyester‐polyethylene oxide networks are synthesized through photopolymerization of hydrophobic poly[(D,L‐lactide)‐co‐glycolide]tetraacrylate (PLGATA) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA). The materials can recover their original shape either quickly by heating stimulus or slowly upon immersion in water. The wettability, mechanical properties, and transition temperature of the polymer networks could be conveniently adjusted by variation of the compositions of PLGATA and PEGDMA. The hydrophilicity of PEGDMA could prospectively improve blood compatibility of polymer networks. They offer a high potential for biomedical applications such as smart implants, drug delivery systems, or medical devices. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyurea nanocapsules obtained from nano‐emulsions prepared by the phase inversion temperature method
Authors: Spernath Liat , Magdassi Shlomo
Published: August 2010

We describe here a new and simple method for preparation of polyurea nanocapsules from nanodroplets that were obtained by the phase inversion temperature (PIT) method. In the first stage, a nano‐emulsion was prepared, by a heating–cooling cycle, in which the oil phase contained an oil soluble monomer (toluene 2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI)). In the second stage, a water‐soluble monomer and crosslinker (diethylenetriamine (DETA)) was added, leading to formation of a polymeric shell by an interfacial polycondensation reaction. The new method was demonstrated for obtaining nanocapsules of about 100 nm, in which hexadecane, dodecane, or decane were the core materials, without using any special equipment. The morphology and structure of the nanocapsules were evaluated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) measurements and electron microscopy. The thermal behavior of the nanocapsules containing hexadecane was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements, indicating that such nanocapsules can be utilized in thermal energy storage. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and ceramic conversion of a new oligomeric precursor to boron nitride
Authors: Dong Shaohua , Zhao Tong , Xu Caihong
Published: August 2010

A new polyaminoborazine with good solubility was synthesized by ammonolysis reaction of a mixture of B‐chloroborazine, B‐bischloroborazine, and B‐trichloroborazine under mild condition. The oligomer was easily cured at 250°C. The pyrolytic residue of the cured oligomer was investigated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that crystalline h‐BN with B/N ratio of 1:1.01 is main in the residue pyrolyzed at 1500°C. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optically high transparency and light color of organosoluble fluorinated polyamides with bulky xanthene pendent groups
Authors: Sheng Shou‐Ri , Ma Chun‐Xin , Jiang Jian‐Wen , Li Quan , Song Cai‐Sheng
Published: August 2010

New fluorinated polyamides were prepared directly from a diamine, 9,9‐bis[4‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]xanthene (BTFAPX) with various aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides by low‐temperature polycondensation. The polymers were produced with moderate‐to‐high inherent viscosities of 0.65–1.01 dl/g while the weight‐average molecular weight and number‐average molecular weight were in the range of 69,000–82,000 and 39,000–43,000, respectively. Nearly all the polymers were readily soluble in amide‐type polar aprotic solvents [e.g. N, N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone], and even in less polar solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and pyridine, and afforded transparent, light‐colored, and flexible films upon casting from DMAc solvent. The polymers showed glass transition temperatures between 235 and 284°C, and 10% weight loss temperatures ranging from 495 to 532°C and 476 to 510°C in nitrogen and air, respectively, and char yields higher than 55% at 800°C in nitrogen. All polymers were amorphous and their films exhibited tensile strengths of 64–95 MPa, elongations at break of 6–9%, and tensile moduli of 1.9–2.5 GPa. These polymers had dielectric constants ranging from 3.65 to 4.03 (100 Hz), low‐moisture absorption in the range of 0.56–1.14%, and high transparency with an ultraviolet–visible absorption cut‐off wavelength in the 334–372 nm range. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure‐controlled synthesis of novel soluble and thermally stable poly (aryl ether nitrile ether ketone ketone)/poly (aryl ether nitrile ether ketone biphenyl ketone) copolymers by electrophilic polycondensation
Authors: Yu Yikai , Zhang Yuejun , Cai Mingzhong
Published: August 2010

One new synthesis route was first designed to synthesize the biphenyl acid chloride (BPACl), and then a series of novel poly (aryl ether nitrile ether ketone ketone) (PENEKK)/poly (aryl ether nitrile ether ketone biphenyl ketone) (PENEKBK) copolymers with different controlled structure compositions were synthesized by electrophilic polycondensation and varying the molar ratio of BPACl to terephthaloyl chloride (TPC). The obtained PENEKK/PENEKBK copolymers were characterized by different physical and chemical techniques. The results showed, the copolymers with 10–50% molar contents of biphenyl moities exhibited good thermal properties with glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of 184–196°C, decomposition temperatures (Tds) of 498–515°C, and good solubility in organic solvents (N‐Methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), and DMSO), indicating that they would have good potential for solvent processing. The thin films of the polymers had tensile strengths of 93.6–101.5 MPa, Young's moduli of 3.03–3.32 GPa, elongations at break of 9–14%, indicating they were strong materials. The densities of the obtained polymers were 1.31–1.40 g/cm−3, which were far lower than those of some main inorganic materials (such as Fe, nearly 7.8 g/cm−3), indicating that they would have possible potential for substituting some inorganic materials used as high temperature materials in some areas due to the merits of lightweight. Thus, the copolymers with 10–50% molar contents of biphenyl moities were promising polymer materials. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns in nursing home medication errors: disproportionality analysis as a novel method to identify quality improvement opportunities
Authors: Hansen Richard A. , Cornell Portia Y. , Ryan Patrick B. , Williams Charlotte E. , Pierson Stephanie , Greene Sandra B.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

To explore the use of disproportionality analysis of medication error data as a novel method to identify relationships that might not be obvious through traditional analyses. This approach can supplement descriptive data and target quality improvement efforts.

Methods

Data came from the Medication Error Quality Initiative (MEQI) individual event reporting system. Participants were North Carolina nursing homes who submitted incident reports to the Web‐based MEQI data repository during the 2006 and 2007 reporting years. Data from 206 nursing homes were summarized descriptively and then disproportionality analysis was applied. Associations between medication type and possible causes at the state level were explored. A single nursing home was selected to illustrate how the method might inform quality improvement at the facility level. Disproportionality analysis of drug errors in this home was compared with benchmarking.

Results

Statewide, 59 drug‐cause pairs met the disproportionality signal and 11 occurred in 10 or more reports. Among these, warfarin was co‐reported with communication errors; esomeprazole, risperidone, and nitrofurantoin were disproportionately associated with transcription error; and oxycodone and morphine were disproportionately reported with name confusion. Facility‐level analyses illustrate how descriptive frequencies and disproportionality analysis are complementary, but also identify different safety targets.

Conclusions

Exploratory analysis tools can help identify medication error types that occur at disproportionate rates. Candidate associations might be used to target patient safety work, although further evaluation is needed to determine the value of this information. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal unfolding studies show the disease causing F508del mutation in CFTR thermodynamically destabilizes nucleotide‐binding domain 1
Authors: Protasevich Irina , Yang Zhengrong , Wang Chi , Atwell Shane , Zhao Xun , Emtage Spencer , Wetmore Diana , Hunt John F. , Brouillette Christie G.
Published: August 2010

Misfolding and degradation of CFTR is the cause of disease in patients with the most prevalent CFTR mutation, an in‐frame deletion of phenylalanine (F508del), located in the first nucleotide‐binding domain of human CFTR (hNBD1). Studies of (F508del)CFTR cellular folding suggest that both intra‐ and inter‐domain folding is impaired. (F508del)CFTR is a temperature‐sensitive mutant, that is, lowering growth temperature, improves both export, and plasma membrane residence times. Yet, paradoxically, F508del does not alter the fold of isolated hNBD1 nor did it seem to perturb its unfolding transition in previous isothermal chemical denaturation studies. We therefore studied the in vitro thermal unfolding of matched hNBD1 constructs ±F508del to shed light on the defective folding mechanism and the basis for the thermal instability of (F508del)CFTR. Using primarily differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichroism, we show for all hNBD1 pairs studied, that F508del lowers the unfolding transition temperature (Tm) by 6–7°C and that unfolding occurs via a kinetically‐controlled, irreversible transition in isolated monomers. A thermal unfolding mechanism is derived from nonlinear least squares fitting of comprehensive DSC data sets. All data are consistent with a simple three‐state thermal unfolding mechanism for hNBD1 ± F508del: N(±MgATP) ⇄ IT(±MgATP) → AT → (AT)n. The equilibrium unfolding to intermediate, IT, is followed by the rate‐determining, irreversible formation of a partially folded, aggregation‐prone, monomeric state, AT, for which aggregation to (AT)n and further unfolding occur with no detectable heat change. Fitted parameters indicate that F508del thermodynamically destabilizes the native state, N, and accelerates the formation of AT.
MicroRaman studies of implantation‐induced amorphization of Si and subsequent regrowth under high‐pressure and high‐temperature treatment
Authors: Azhniuk Yu. M. , Schäfer P. , Gomonnai A. V. , Misiuk A. , Prujszczyk M. , Zahn D. R. T.
Published: August 2010

Self‐implanted silicon, exposed to thermal processing at high pressures, is studied by microRaman scattering. Implantation‐induced amorphization as well as high‐temperature and high‐pressure treatment‐induced solid‐phase epitaxial regrowth of the amorphized layer are observed. Based on Raman‐based strain profiles, the existence of layers with tensile and compressive strain at the depths within the projected range of the implanted ions is revealed. A retarding effect of high pressure on the epitaxial recrystallization process is confirmed.
Regulation of adhesion molecules expression in TNF‐α‐stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cells by tanshinone IIA: involvement of NF‐κB and ROS generation
Authors: Tang Chao , Xue Hong‐li , Bai Chang‐lin , Fu Rong
Published: August 2010

Pro‐inflammatory cytokine‐mediated expression of cell surface adhesion molecules plays a key role in endothelial cell injury, leading to vascular inflammation and the development of many cerebrovascular diseases. Thus, antiinflammatory agents targeting these adhesion molecules may represent potential drugs for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. The present study explored the effects of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), an active ingredient present in the Salvia miltiorrhiza root, on the expression of cellular adhesion molecules in TNF‐α‐stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs). Treatment with Tan IIA was found to suppress the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), resulting in inhibition of TNF‐α‐induced adhesion of neutrophils to BMVECs in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, Tan IIA significantly inhibited TNF‐α‐induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was accompanied by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Treatment with Tan IIA also inhibited nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) activation. Together, these results suggest that Tan IIA regulates TNF‐α‐induced expression of VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 through inhibition of NF‐κB activation and ROS generation in BMVECs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatio‐temporal habitat dynamics in a changing Danube River landscape 1812—2006
Authors: Hohensinner S. , Jungwirth M. , Muhar S. , Schmutz S.
Published: August 2010

Modern, holistic concepts dealing with river/floodplain ecology recognize the key role of hydromorphological turnover processes for the development of distinct habitat patterns. Such patterns, in turn, are a vital basis for the extraordinary biodiversity of riverine systems. Natural braided/anabranched river systems in particular are characterised by high turnover rates; in the mid‐term, however, they are thought to stay in dynamic equilibrium (shifting‐mosaic steady‐state) as long as the physical framework conditions remain unchanged. This study analyses both the historical composition and the spatio‐temporal development of riverine habitats associated with an anabranched section of the Austrian Danube River. A habitat age model was used to analyse the age structure of the different habitat types. The results for the period 1812–1821 prior to channelization indicate that terrestrialization and habitat ageing were almost balanced with habitat regeneration and rejuvenation. Even though intensive morphological changes occurred, the Danube here largely persisted in dynamic equilibrium. The first channelization measures between 1821 and 1838, when 21% of the main channel banks were embanked, slightly promoted habitat regeneration. From 1859 onwards (80% embanked) until 1925, the natural habitat life time cycle was disrupted and the regenerating processes almost ceased. Altogether, human interferences led to a river landscape in a morphologically static state governed by significant terrestrialization (habitat succession) and habitat ageing. Without natural disturbances or, alternatively, targeted habitat management strategies, such an ecosystem soon lacks morphologically young habitats and adequate site conditions for a river/floodplain type‐specific biocoenosis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of globalization and technology change on water emissions embodied in imports and exports
Authors: van Rossum Maarten , Baas Kees
Published: August 2010

This paper shows that the use of a few developed applications of the environmental accounts can provide a useful basis to understand and analyse several strategies to reduce emissions to water. This paper presents figures for emissions to water embodied in imports and exports attributed to different European and non‐European countries. Also the effects of volume growth, composition change and technology change are quantified for the different trade flows at country level. The applications illustrate the advantages of using integrated data on emissions to water and economic variables for the years 1996 and 2007 in the Netherlands. Copyright © 2010 Statistics Netherlands. Journal Compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Does formal system dynamics training improve people's understanding of accumulation?
Authors: Sterman John D.
Published: August 2010

Research shows widespread misunderstanding of stocks and flows, even among highly educated adults. People fail to grasp that any stock rises (falls) when the inflow exceeds (is less than) the outflow. Rather, people often use the correlation heuristic, concluding that a system's output is positively correlated with its inputs. Although many argue that system dynamics training will help, evidence is scant. This paper reports an experiment with MIT graduate students to assess the impact of an introductory system dynamics course on intuitive understanding of accumulation. Results show large, statistically significant improvements in overall performance and a reduction in the prevalence of the correlation heuristic. Modest exposure to stocks and flows improves understanding of accumulation, at least among these highly educated adults. However, a minority still show evidence of correlational reasoning. The discussion considers additional experiments to deepen our knowledge of the training required to develop people's intuitive understanding of accumulation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calculations of electron inelastic mean free paths. IX. Data for 41 elemental solids over the 50 eV to 30 keV range
Authors: Tanuma, S. , Powell C. J. , Penn D. R.
Published: August 2010

We have calculated inelastic mean free paths (IMFPs) for 41 elemental solids (Li, Be, graphite, diamond, glassy C, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ge, Y, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, Cs, Gd, Tb, Dy, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and Bi) for electron energies from 50 eV to 30 keV. The IMFPs were calculated from experimental optical data using the full Penn algorithm for energies up to 300 eV and the simpler single‐pole approximation for higher energies. The calculated IMFPs could be fitted to a modified form of the Bethe equation for inelastic scattering of electrons in matter for energies from 50 eV to 30 keV. The average root‐mean‐square (RMS) deviation in these fits was 0.48%. The new IMFPs were also compared with IMFPs from the predictive TPP‐2M equation; in these comparisons, the average RMS deviation was 12.3% for energies between 50 eV and 30 keV. This RMS deviation is almost the same as that found previously in a similar comparison for the 50 eV–2 keV range. Relatively large RMS deviations were found for diamond, graphite and cesium. If these three elements were excluded in the comparison, the average RMS deviation was 9.2% between 50 eV and 30 keV. We found satisfactory agreement of our calculated IMFPs with IMFPs from recent calculations and from elastic‐peak electron‐spectroscopy experiments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating novel agent effects in multiple‐treatments meta‐regression
Authors: Salanti Georgia , Dias Sofia , Welton Nicky J. , Ades A. E. , Golfinopoulos Vassilis , Kyrgiou Maria , Mauri Davide , Ioannidis John P. A.
Published: August 2010

Multiple‐treatments meta‐analyses are increasingly used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of several competing regimens. In some fields which evolve with the continuous introduction of new agents over time, it is possible that in trials comparing older with newer regimens the effectiveness of the latter is exaggerated. Optimism bias, conflicts of interest and other forces may be responsible for this exaggeration, but its magnitude and impact, if any, needs to be formally assessed in each case. Whereas such novelty bias is not identifiable in a pair‐wise meta‐analysis, it is possible to explore it in a network of trials involving several treatments. To evaluate the hypothesis of novel agent effects and adjust for them, we developed a multiple‐treatments meta‐regression model fitted within a Bayesian framework. When there are several multiple‐treatments meta‐analyses for diverse conditions within the same field/specialty with similar agents involved, one may consider either different novel agent effects in each meta‐analysis or may consider the effects to be exchangeable across the different conditions and outcomes. As an application, we evaluate the impact of modelling and adjusting for novel agent effects for chemotherapy and other non‐hormonal systemic treatments for three malignancies. We present the results and the impact of different model assumptions to the relative ranking of the various regimens in each network. We established that multiple‐treatments meta‐regression is a good method for examining whether novel agent effects are present and estimation of their magnitude in the three worked examples suggests an exaggeration of the hazard ratio by 6 per cent (2–11 per cent). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strategic change and termination of interfirm partnerships
Authors: Cui Anna Shaojie , Calantone Roger J. , Griffith David A.
Published: August 2010

An evolutionary perspective of the resource‐based view is adopted to understand how changes in a partner firm's overall strategy may influence the firm's interfirm partnerships over time. We contend that changes in a partner firm's overall resource deployment strategy and partnering strategy influence the value and uniqueness of partnership resources. These changes alter the competitive advantage associated with partnership resources, affecting the propensity of partnership termination. An event history analysis is employed with 150 joint ventures over the period 1990 to 2001 to examine partnership termination within a longitudinal dataset. With initial partnership conditions controlled for, the results indicate significant influences of various changes in partner firm overall resource deployment strategy and partnering strategy on the propensity of termination. Further, competitor imitative activities are found to increase the propensity of termination as they reduce the uniqueness of partnership resources. This study provides support for an evolutionary perspective of resource value and competitive advantage that incorporates strategic change over time. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement and quantification are not the same: ISO 15939 and ISO 9126
Authors: Abran Alain , Desharnais Jean‐Marc , Cuadrado‐Gallego Juan Jose
Published: August 2010

Measurement based on the international standards for measurement (i.e., metrology) is not the same as judgmental‐based quantification of implicit relationships across a mix of entities and attributes without due consideration of admissible mathematical operations on numbers of different scale types. This paper presents first the Measurement Information Model in ISO 15939 and clarifies next what in it refers to the classical metrology field, and what refers to the quantitative analysis of relationships. The paper concludes with two examples of the designs of a measure for ISO 9126, one focusing on a single attribute and the second attempting to quantify a set of relationships across a number of entities and attributes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Process and product innovation needs integrated engineering collaboration skills
Authors: Riel Andreas , Draghici Anca , Draghici George , Grajewski Damian , Messnarz Richard
Published: August 2010

Collaboration skills have become an incontestable necessity for professionals in engineering teams. Engineering teams are becoming more and more interdisciplinary and distributed, products and the environments they are created, used and recycled in are increasingly complex. Design engineers, system architects as well as requirements engineers and managers have to be able to understand the product and its whole lifecycle in order to be able to respect the constraints and requirements that are imposed on the product by different actors. Many of these skills have to be developed and improved in the course of a professional career rather than in initial education. This paper gives insight into the development of one component of a consistent qualification and certification scheme, which is in its entirety particularly targeted at Integrated Design Engineers in various industrial sectors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving software testing process: feature prioritization to make winners of success‐critical stakeholders
Authors: Li Qi , Yang Ye , Li Mingshu , Wang Qing , Boehm Barry W. , Hu Chenyong
Published: August 2010

For a successful software project, acceptable quality must be achieved within an acceptable cost, demonstrating business value to customers and satisfactorily meeting delivery timeliness. Testing serves as the most widely used approaches to determine that the intended functionalities are performed correctly and achieve the desired level of services; however, it is also a labor‐intensive and expensive process during the whole software life cycle. Most current testing processes are often technique‐centered, rather than organized to maximize business value. In this article, we extend and elaborate the ‘4+1’ theoretical lenses of Value‐based Software Engineering (VBSE) framework in the software testing process; propose a multi‐objective feature prioritization strategy for testing planning and controlling, which aligns the internal testing process with value objectives coming from customers and markets. Our case study in a real‐life business project shows that this method allows reasoning about the software testing process in different dimensions: it helps to manage the testing process effectively and efficiently, provides information for continuous internal software process improvement, and increases customer satisfaction, which makes winners of all success‐critical stakeholders (SCSs) in the software testing process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vitamin C Promotes Widespread Yet Specific DNA Demethylation of the Epigenome in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Chung Tung-Liang , Brena Romulo M. , Kolle Gabriel , Grimmond Sean M. , Berman Benjamin P. , Laird Peter W. , Pera Martin F. , Wolvetang Ernst Jurgen
Published: August 2010

Vitamin C (ascorbate) is a widely used medium supplement in embryonic stem cell culture. Here, we show that ascorbate causes widespread, consistent, and remarkably specific DNA demethylation of 1,847 genes in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), including important stem cell genes, with a clear bias toward demethylation at CpG island boundaries. We show that a subset of these DNA demethylated genes displays concomitant gene expression changes and that the position of the demethylated CpGs relative to the transcription start site is correlated to such changes. We further show that the ascorbate-demethylated gene set not only overlaps with gene sets that have bivalent marks, but also with the gene sets that are demethylated during differentiation of hESCs and during reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced pluritotent stem cells (iPSCs). Our data thus identify a novel link between ascorbate-mediated signaling and specific epigenetic changes in hESCs that might impact on pluripotency and reprogramming pathways.
Effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long‐term neonatal neurologic prognosis
Authors: Kamoshita Emi , Amano Kan , Kanai Yuji , Mochizuki Junko , Ikeda Yasuhiro , Kikuchi Shinzo , Tani Akihiro , Shoda Takashi , Okutomi Toshiyuki , Nowatari Masahiko , Unno Nobuya
Published: August 2010

Objective

To examine the effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long‐term neonatal neurologic prognosis.

Method

A retrospective observational case‐series performed with patients who had sudden‐onset and sustained (< 100 beats per minute) fetal bradycardia during labor. Fetal heart rate was monitored closely until cesarean delivery. The effect of the interval between the onset of bradycardia and delivery on neonatal neurologic prognosis was examined.

Results

Among 2267 deliveries in 2002–2003 at Kitasato University Hospital, 19 pregnancies met the inclusion criteria. Episodes of fetal bradycardia were due to umbilical cord prolapse (n = 5), placental abruption (n = 4), uterine rupture (n = 3), maternal respiratory failure (n = 1), and other causes (n = 6). Mean onset of fetal bradycardia to delivery interval (BDI) was 20.5 ± 8.9 minutes. Mean decision‐to‐cesarean delivery interval was 11.4 ± 3.9 minutes. BDI was negatively correlated with umbilical arterial pH at delivery. There were 3 postnatal deaths. Neurologic assessment at the age of 2 years revealed that 15 of 16 children were neurologically normal. When the BDI was less than 25 minutes, all term pregnancies led to normal neonatal neurologic development.

Conclusion

In the event of sustained intrapartum fetal bradycardia, delivery by emergency cesarean within 25 minutes improved long‐term neonatal neurologic outcome.
Reduction of Carry over in Liquid-Handling Systems with a Decontamination Step Integrated in the Washing Procedure
Authors: Iten Miriam , Weibel Roland , König Iwo , Beckbissinger Rainer , Benthien Thomas , Hälg Werner , Ingenhoven Nikolaus , Lehnert Angela , Oeltjen Lars , Zaborosch Christiane
Published: August 2010

Robotic liquid-handling systems can be equipped with disposable pipetting tips or fixed reusable pipetting tips. The use of disposable tips is perceived as the best option to avoid carry over (CO) of analyte from sample to sample. We recently developed standardized CO test procedures that allow precise and reproducible quantification of CO for fixed reusable tips. We used these test procedures to reduce CO of the analytes fluorescein, IgG, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) to minimal levels. Variations of washing intensity, using water as a washing solution, did not lower CO below acceptable target levels. These target levels would preclude a false-positive detection of IgG and HBsAg in human serum when a negative sample is measured subsequent to a sample with a high analyte concentration. We therefore integrated a decontamination step into the washing procedure. Screening of 12 decontamination solutions showed that sodium hypochlorite solution was very efficient in reducing CO. Optimization led to a final washing routine in which tips are exposed for 0.2 s to 0.17 M NaOCI and subsequently rinsed with 2 mL of water to remove any remaining decontaminant solution. The washing procedure only takes 15 s and is thus suitable for high-throughput applications. The procedure was able to lower CO of IgG and HBsAg in human sera below relevant levels. The decontamination step with hypochlorite can easily be integrated into different liquid-handling systems and is likely to be effective against CO of most proteins and peptides.
Late second–early first millennium BC abrupt climate changes in coastal Syria and their possible significance for the history of the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Kaniewski D. , Paulissen E. , Van Campo E. , Weiss H. , Otto T. , Bretschneider J. , Van Lerberghe K.
Published: August 2010

The alluvial deposits near Gibala-Tell Tweini provide a unique record of environmental history and food availability estimates covering the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. The refined pollen-derived climatic proxy suggests that drier climatic conditions occurred in the Mediterranean belt of Syria from the late 13th/early 12th centuries BC to the 9th century BC. This period corresponds with the time frame of the Late Bronze Age collapse and the subsequent Dark Age. The abrupt climate change at the end of the Late Bronze Age caused region-wide crop failures, leading towards socio-economic crises and unsustainability, forcing regional habitat-tracking. Archaeological data show that the first conflagration of Gibala occurred simultaneously with the destruction of the capital city Ugarit currently dated between 1194 and 1175 BC. Gibala redeveloped shortly after this destruction, with large-scale urbanization visible in two main architectural phases during the Early Iron Age I. The later Iron Age I city was destroyed during a second conflagration, which is radiocarbon-dated at circa 2950 cal yr BP. The data from Gibala-Tell Tweini provide evidence in support of the drought hypothesis as a triggering factor behind the Late Bronze Age collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean.
ZiF-Predict: A Web Tool for Predicting DNA-Binding Specificity in C2H2 Zinc Finger Proteins
Authors: Molparia Bhuvan , Goyal Kanav , Sarkar Anita , Kumar Sonu , Sundar Durai
Published: August 2010

Engineering zinc finger protein motifs for specific DNA targets in genomes is critical in the field of genome engineering. We have developed a computational method for predicting recognition helices for C2H2 zinc fingers that bind to specific target DNA sites. This prediction is based on artificial neural network using an exhaustive dataset of zinc finger proteins and their target DNA triplets. Users can select the option for two or three zinc fingers to be predicted either in a modular or synergistic fashion for the input DNA sequence. This method would be valuable for researchers interested in designing specific zinc finger transcription factors and zinc finger nucleases for several biological and biomedical applications. The web tool ZiF-Predict is available online at http://web.iitd.ac.in/~sundar/zifpredict/.
PsRNA: A Computing Engine for the Comparative Identification of Putative Small RNA Locations within Intergenic Regions
Authors: Sridhar Jayavel , Sowmiya Govindaraj , Sekar Kanagaraj , Rafi Ziauddin Ahamed
Published: August 2010

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are non-coding transcripts exerting their functions in the cells directly. Identification of sRNAs is a difficult task due to the lack of clear sequence and structural biases. Most sRNAs are identified within genus specific intergenic regions in related genomes. However, several of these regions remain un-annotated due to lack of sequence homology and/or potent statistical identification tools. A computational engine has been built to search within the intergenic regions to identify and roughly annotate new putative sRNA regions in Enterobacteriaceae genomes. It utilizes experimentally known sRNA data and their flanking genes/KEGG Orthology (KO) numbers as templates to identify similar sRNA regions in related query genomes. The search engine not only has the capability to locate putative intergenic regions for specific sRNAs, but also has the potency to locate conserved, shuffled or deleted gene clusters in query genomes. Because it uses the KO terms for locating functionally important regions such as sRNAs, any further KO number assignment to additional genes will increase the sensitivity. The PsRNA server is used for the identification of putative sRNA regions through the information retrieved from the sRNA of interest. The computing engine is available online at http://bioserver1.physics.iisc.ernet.in/psrna/ and http://bicmku.in:8081/psrna/.
Independence algebras, basis algebras and semigroups of quotients
Authors: Gould Victoria
Published: August 2010

We show that ifAis a stable basis algebra satisfying thedistributivity condition, thenBis a reduct of an independence algebraAhaving the same rank. If this rank is finite, then the endomorphism monoid ofBis a left order in the endomorphism monoid ofA.
Gorenstein model structures and generalized derived categories
Authors: Gillespie James , Hovey Mark
Published: August 2010

In a paper from 2002, Hovey introduced the Gorenstein projective and Gorenstein injective model structures on R-Mod, the category of R-modules, where R is any Gorenstein ring. These two model structures are Quillen equivalent and in fact there is a third equivalent structure we introduce: the Gorenstein flat model structure. The homotopy category with respect to each of these is called the stable module category of R. If such a ring R has finite global dimension, the graded ring R[x]/(x2) is Gorenstein and the three associated Gorenstein model structures on R[x]/(x2)-Mod, the category of graded R[x]/(x2)-modules, are nothing more than the usual projective, injective and flat model structures on Ch(R), the category of chain complexes of R-modules. Although these correspondences only recover these model structures on Ch(R) when R has finite global dimension, we can set R = ℤ and use general techniques from model category theory to lift the projective model structure from Ch(ℤ) to Ch(R) for an arbitrary ring R. This shows that homological algebra is a special case of Gorenstein homological algebra. Moreover, this method of constructing and lifting model structures carries through when ℤ[x]/(x2) is replaced by many other graded Gorenstein rings (or Hopf algebras, which lead to monoidal model structures). This gives us a natural way to generalize both chain complexes over a ring R and the derived category of R and we give some examples of such generalizations.
Behavior of the floating potential in an electronegative sheath as a function of electronegativity and negative ion temperature
Authors: SHARIFIAN M. , SHOKRI B.
Published: August 2010

Through a simple one-dimensional collisionless plasma sheath model, behavior of the floating potential in an electronegative plasma sheath is studied. Specially, the floating potential behavior as a function of the plasma electronegativity for various negative ion temperatures has been studied. It has been observed that negative ion temperature strongly affects the variation of floating potential.
Antisecretory factor as a potential health-promoting molecule in man and animals
Authors: Ulgheri Caterina , Paganini Beatrice , Rossi Filippo
Published: August 2010

Antisecretory factor (AF) is a protein secreted in plasma and other tissue fluids in mammals with proven antisecretory and anti-inflammatory activity; its immunohistological distribution suggests a role in the immune system. The expression level and the distribution of AF protein are altered during an immunological response. Exposure to bacterial toxins induces secretion of AF in plasma, probably reflecting a natural defence mechanism to agents causing diarrhoea, thereby contributing to a favourable clinical outcome and disease termination. An increase of AF levels in plasma by dietary means, such as specially processed cereals (SPC), has been demonstrated in human subjects and animals. Administration of SPC to patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis and Ménière's disease relieved symptoms and improved quality of life. A recent study showed the positive effect of SPC diet supplementation on prevention of the effects of exposure to low levels of blast overpressure in rats, reducing the extent of intracranial pressure increase and cognitive function impairment. AF-rich egg yolk powder improved health status in children suffering acute and chronic diarrhoea, reducing the frequency and increasing the consistency of stools. This kind of functional food could be used for prophylaxis in populations exposed to a high risk of morbidity and mortality caused by diarrhoea and as a complementary therapy in patients affected by chronic intestinal inflammatory disease to improve well-being. In pig husbandry AF-inducing diets, owing to their antisecretory activity and anti-inflammatory action, are a suitable option as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters to counteract post-weaning diarrhoea.
Measurement of Oxygen Diffusivity and Permeability in Polymers Using Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Chowdhury Sanchari , Bhethanabotla Venkat R. , Sen Rajan
Published: August 2010

A simple fluorescence microscopy technique is developed and presented to investigate heterogeneities in emission intensity and quenching responses of luminescence sensors and to measure diffusion and permeation coefficients of oxygen in polymers. Most luminescence oxygen sensors do not follow linearity of the Stern-Volmer (SV) equation due to heterogeneity of luminophore in the polymer matrix. To circumvent this limitation, inverted fluorescence microscopy is utilized in this work to investigate the SV response of the sensors at the micron scale. It was found that intensity is higher in regions where the luminophore is aggregated, but the response is poorer to oxygen concentration. In contrast, the nearly homogeneous regions exhibit linearity with high SV constants. In these diffusion experiments, oxygen concentration was measured by luminescence changes in regions with high SV constants and good linearity. Two diffusion experiments were performed—termed film-on-sensor and accumulation-in-volume techniques. A new Fick's law based quasi-steady-state diffusion model was developed and combined with the SV equation to obtain effective permeation coefficients for the accumulation-in-volume technique. Using these experimental techniques, oxygen diffusion properties in free-standing Teflon polymer films, cast silicon elastomers, and cast polydimethylsiloxane films containing different weight percentages of zeolite were determined with good precision.
Interannual variability of ozone in the winter lower stratosphere and the relationship to lamina and irreversible transport
Authors: Olsen Mark A. , Douglass Anne R. , Schoeberl Mark R. , Rodriquez Jose M. , Yoshida Yasuko
Published: August 2010

We use the high‐resolution dynamic limb sounder (HIRDLS) high‐vertical resolution ozone profiles in the northern hemisphere lower stratosphere to examine the meridional transport out of the tropics. We focus on February 2005–2007 when there are differences in the dynamical background in the lower stratosphere due to the states of the quasi‐biennial oscillation and polar vortex. HIRDLS data reveal a large number of low ozone laminae that have the characteristics of tropical air at midlatitudes. More laminae are observed in February in 2006 than in 2005 or 2007. Because laminae can form, move out of the tropics, and return to the tropics without mixing into the midlatitude ozone field, the number of laminae is not directly related to the net transport. We use equivalent latitude coordinates to discriminate between reversible and irreversible laminar transport. The equivalent latitude analysis shows greater irreversible transport between the tropics and lower midlatitudes in both 2005 and 2007 compared to 2006 despite the higher number of laminae observed in 2006. Our conclusion that there was more irreversible transport of tropical air into the lower midlatitudes in 2005 and 2007 is supported by equivalent length analysis of mixing using microwave limb sounder N2O measurements. This study shows that reversibility must be considered in order to infer the importance of lamination to net transport.