bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
46 years of environmental records from the Nevado Illimani glacier group, Bolivia, using digital photogrammetry
Authors: Ribeiro Rafael da Rocha , Ramirez Edson , Simões Jefferson Cardia , Machaca Abraham 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis study determines variations in ice extent of Nevado Illimani, Bolivia (16°38' S, 67°44' W), from 1963 to 2009. The results are compared with net accumulation rate variations obtained from a local ice core. We then propose an interpretation of the recent environmental history (last 46 years) of the region based on a study of remotely sensed and ice-core data. From 1963 to 2009, Nevado Illimani lost a total ice area of 9.49 ±1.09 km2, a 35% reduction. Area variations generally followed variations in net accumulation rates during this period. Despite the current glacier area reduction trend, the Nevado Illimani glaciers will not completely disappear in the next few decades.
Kamb Ice Stream flow history and surge potential
Authors: Engelhardt Hermann , Kamb Barclay 
Published: April 2013

AbstractA basal zone, tens of meters thick, of debris-laden ice was observed in Kamb Ice Stream, West Antarctica, using a video camera lowered into boreholes made by hot-water drilling. The debris content varies, sometimes abruptly, forming a sequence of layers that reflect the complex history of fast ice flow and bed interaction. In most parts, the concentration of debris is low, a few percent by weight, with particles, often mud clots, dispersed in a matrix of clear ice. The nature of the debris distribution can be interpreted in terms of specific time intervals in the history of fast motion of Kamb Ice Stream including processes leading up to the termination of its streaming behavior and possible reactivation.
Potential and Requirements of IT for Ambient Assisted Living Technologies
Authors: Rochon J. , Ganzinger M. , Knaup P. , Spitalewsky K. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryObjectives: Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) technologies are developed to enable elderly to live independently and safely. Innovative information technology (IT) can interconnect personal devices and offer suitable user interfaces. Often dedicated solutions are developed for particular projects. The aim of our research was to identify major IT challenges for AAL to enable generic and sustainable solutions.Methods: Delphi Survey. An online questionnaire was sent to 1800 members of the German Innovation Partnership AAL. The first round was qualitative to collect statements. Statements were reduced to items by qualitative content analysis. Items were assessed in the following two rounds by a 5-point Likert-scale. Quantitative analyses for second and third round: descriptive statistics, factor analysis and ANOVA.Results: Respondents: 81 in first, 173 in second and 70 in third round. All items got a rather high assessment. Medical issues were rated as having a very high potential. Items related to user-friendliness were regarded as most important requirements. Common requirements to all AAL-solutions are reliability, robustness, availability, data security, data privacy, legal issues, ethical requirements, easy configuration. The complete list of requirements can be used as framework for customizing future AAL projects.Conclusions: A wide variety of IT issues have been assessed important for AAL. The extensive list of requirements makes obvious that it is not efficient to develop dedicated solutions for individual projects but to provide generic methods and reusable components. Experiences and results from medical informatics research can be used to advance AAL solutions (e.g. eHealth and knowledge-based approaches).
A Probabilistic Method for Computing Quantitative Risk Indexes from Medical Injuries Compensation Claims
Authors: Dalle Carbonare S. , Folli F. , Patrini E. , Giudici P. , Bellazzi R. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryBackground: The increasing demand of health care services and the complexity of health care delivery require Health Care Organizations (HCOs) to approach clinical risk management through proper methods and tools. An important aspect of risk management is to exploit the analysis of medical injuries compensation claims in order to reduce adverse events and, at the same time, to optimize the costs of health insurance policies.Objectives: This work provides a probabilistic method to estimate the risk level of a HCO by computing quantitative risk indexes from medical injury compensation claims.Methods: Our method is based on the estimate of a loss probability distribution from compensation claims data through para -metric and non-parametric modeling and Monte Carlo simulations. The loss distribution can be estimated both on the whole dataset and, thanks to the application of a Bayesian hierarchical model, on stratified data. The approach allows to quantitatively assessing the risk structure of the HCO by analyzing the loss distribution and deriving its expected value and percentiles.Results: We applied the proposed method to 206 cases of injuries with compensation requests collected from 1999 to the first se -mester of 2007 by the HCO of Lodi, in the Northern part of Italy. We computed the risk indexes taking into account the different clinical departments and the different hospitals involved.Conclusions: The approach proved to be useful to understand the HCO risk structure in terms of frequency, severity, expected and unexpected loss related to adverse events.
Development of National Com -petency-based Learning Objectives “Medical Informatics” for Undergraduate Medical Education
Authors: Röhrig R. , Stausberg J. , Dugas M. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryObjectives: The aim of this project is to develop a catalogue of competency-based learning objectives „Medical Informatics“ for undergraduate medical education (abbreviated NKLM-MI in German).Methods: The development followed a multi-level annotation and consensus process. For each learning objective a reason why a physician needs this competence was required. In addition, each objective was categorized according to the competence context (A = covered by medical informatics, B = core subject of medical informatics, C = optional subject of medical informatics), the competence level (1 = referenced knowl -edge, 2 = applied knowledge, 3 = routine knowledge) and a CanMEDS competence role (medical expert, communicator, collabo -rator, manager, health advocate, professional, scholar).Results: Overall 42 objectives in seven areas (medical documentation and information processing, medical classifications and terminologies, information systems in healthcare, health telematics and telemedicine, data protection and security, access to medical knowl edge and medical signal-/image processing) were identified, defined and consented.Conclusion: With the NKLM-MI the compe -tences in the field of medical informatics vital to a first year resident physician are identi -fied, defined and operationalized. These competencies are consistent with the recommendations of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA). The NKLM-MI will be submitted to the National Compe -tence-Based Learning Objectives for Undergraduate Medical Education. The next step is implementation of these objectives by the faculties.
Lysine 313 of T-box Is Crucial for Modulation of Protein Stability, DNA Binding, and Threonine Phosphorylation of T-bet
Authors: Jang Eun Jung , Park Hye Ryeon , Hong Jeong-Ho , Hwang Eun Sook 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
A T-box–containing protein expressed in T cells (T-bet) is a key transcription factor involved in the regulation of Th cell differentiation. Although T-bet–deficient CD4+ T cells fail to produce IFN-γ and typically differentiate into Th2 cells in vitro, ectopic overexpression of T-bet elevates IFN-γ and suppresses production of IL-2 and Th2 cytokines through different mechanisms. Despite the importance of the T-bet protein level, the regulatory mechanisms that control T-bet protein stability are largely unknown. In this study, we found that T-bet underwent proteasomal degradation via ubiquitination at Lys-313. Despite its robust accumulation following lysine mutation, T-betK313R failed to increase IFN-γ production because of diminished DNA binding activity, as demonstrated in the crystal structure of T-bet–DNA complex. Strikingly, T-betK313R entirely lost the ability to suppress IL-2 production and Th2 cell development; this was due to loss of its interaction with NFAT1. We further identified that the T-betK313R reduced the phosphorylation of T-bet at Thr-302, and that threonine phosphorylation was essential for T-bet interaction with NFAT1 and suppression of NFAT1 activity. Retroviral transduction of T-betT302A into T-bet–deficient cells restored IFN-γ levels compared with those induced by wild-type T-bet, but this mutant failed to inhibit IL-2 and Th2 cytokine production. Collectively, these data show that Lys-313 in the T-box domain is essential for controlling T-bet protein stability via ubiquitin-dependent degradation, T-bet binding to the IFN-γ promoter, and for the interaction with and suppression of NFAT1. Thus, multiple posttranslational modifications of T-bet are involved in fine-tuning cytokine production during Th cell development.
Rational Engineering of a Minimized Immune Inhibitor with Unique Triple-Targeting Properties
Authors: Schmidt Christoph Q. , Bai Hongjun , Lin Zhuoer , Risitano Antonio M. , Barlow Paul N. , Ricklin Daniel , Lambris John D. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Inadequate control of the complement system is the underlying or aggravating factor in many human diseases. Whereas treatment options that specifically target the alternative pathway (AP) of complement activation are considered highly desirable, no such option is available in the clinic. In this study, we present a successful example of protein engineering, guided by structural insight on the complement regulator factor H (FH), yielding a novel complement-targeted therapeutic (mini-FH) with clinical potential. Despite a 70% reduction in size, mini-FH retained and in some respects exceeded the regulatory activity and cell surface–recognition properties of its parent protein FH, including the recently described recognition of sites of oxidative stress. Importantly, the chosen design extended the functional spectrum of the inhibitor, as mini-FH showed increased binding to the surface-bound opsonins iC3b and C3dg when compared with FH. Thus, mini-FH is equipped with a unique and clinically valuable triple-targeting profile toward diseased host cells, through its binding to sites of ongoing complement activation, markers of oxidative damage, and host surface-specific polyanions. When assessed in a clinically relevant AP-mediated disease model of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, mini-FH largely outperformed FH and indicated advantages over clinically evaluated AP inhibitors. Thus, the rational engineering of a streamlined FH construct not only provided insight into the function of a key complement regulator, but also yielded a novel inhibitor that combines a triple-targeting approach with high AP-specific inhibitory activity (IC50 ∼ 40 nM), which may pave the way toward new options for the treatment of complement-mediated diseases.
Fracture Strength of Photovoltaic Silicon Wafers Evaluated Using a Controlled Flaw Method
Authors: Shi Meirong , Youssef Khaled , Rozgonyi George A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPropagation of pre‐existing micro cracks and their associated residual contact stresses, generated from the wafer sawing process, is the leading cause for photovoltaic (PV) silicon wafer/cell breakage during handling and processing. In the current work, the impact of a single micro crack on the fracture strength of PV silicon wafer is investigated based on a controlled flaw method. Radial/median cracks with controllable scales are introduced through microindentation at the center of a PV silicon sample to simulate micro cracks resulting from wafer sawing, handling, or thermal processing. Results indicate that the fracture strength of PV silicon wafer decreases linearly with the increasing of the microindentation load (radial crack scale). In addition, it is found that the impurity carbon plays an important role in the contact cracking‐fracture process. The fracture strength increased ≈21% when the substitutional carbon concentration is increased from 1.2 × 1018 to 6.4 × 1018 cm−3.
Self‐Delivery Multifunctional Anti‐HIV Hydrogels for Sustained Release
Authors: Li Jiayang , Li Xinming , Kuang Yi , Gao Yuan , Du Xuewen , Shi Junfeng , Xu Bing 
Published: April 2013

AbstractNone of the clinical trials of anti‐HIV gels based on conventional polymers or lipid emulsions has been successful, suggesting the need of new molecular design of the anti‐HIV gels. This paper reports the conversion of anti‐HIV prodrugs into self‐delivery supramolecular hydrogels. By covalently conjugating reverse transcriptase inhibitors to a versatile self‐assembly motif, the hydrogelators that self‐assemble to form supramolecular nanofibers as the matrices of hydrogels in a weak acidic condition are obtained. Upon the treatment of prostate acid phosphatase (PAP), the hydrogels exhibit drastically enhanced elasticity. The hydrogelators are biocompatible and able to release the inhibitors under physiological condition. The use of the self‐assembly motif as a self‐delivery agent containing non‐steroid anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) renders this hydrogel to be both anti‐inflammatory and anti‐HIV. This work illustrates an unprecedented approach for designing multifunctional supramolecular hydrogels that may serve as potential anti‐HIV hydrogels for sustained drug release.
Novel high porosity mesoporous silica using new mixed two‐block copolymers as a template
Authors: Semsarzadeh Mohammad Ali , Fardi Milad , Khalilian Hamed , Amiri Sahar 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTMixed block copolymers have been used as a template in the synthesis of new mesoporous silica particles, prepared from sol–gel method. The prominent effect of the block copolymers have been used to provide a new template that controls the surface area and porosity of the particles. Tetraethyl orthosilicate as silica source and two block copolymers, poly(propylene oxide)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(propylene oxide) and poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(propylene oxide)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronics) as a surfactant, were used in water/n‐octane co‐solvent with citric acid catalyst to prepare new nanostructures of mesoporous silica (SPB1 and SPB1,2). The displacement of ethanol with cyclohexanol as a co‐surfactant drastically changed the surface properties of the new mesoporous silica particles (SPB1,2). The surface area, porosity, morphology, and microstructure of particles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy), and transmission electron microscopy. The prepared particles have been specifically characterized for specific use and applications as supporting catalysts for the polymerization of vinyl acetate, drugs delivery, and in the membranes manufacturing based on polyurethanes. © 2013 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adhesion of grafted polypropylene plates with enzymatically modified chitosan solutions and analysis of failed surfaces by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Yamada Kazunori , Naohara Yuki 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTIn this study, hydrophilic monomers were photografted onto the PP plates at different monomer concentrations and temperatures, and grafted PP plates were bonded with enzymatically modified chitosan solutions. Their adhesive strength properties were discussed in relation to the grafting conditions and hydrophilic properties such as wettability and water‐absorptivity. In addition, the location of failure was investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of failed surfaces. Wettability of the grafted PP plates except for the PP grafted with acrylic acid (PP‐g‐PAA) plates remained constant above the grafted amounts at which the PP surfaces were fully covered with grafted polymer chains. On the other hand, wettability of the PP‐g‐PAA plates passed through the maximum value and then gradually decreased with the grafted amount probably because of the aggregation of grafted PAA chains. Water‐absorptivity of the grafted layers formed at lower monomer concentrations or temperatures sharply increased at lower grafted amounts. The adhesive strength increased with an increase in the grafted amount and substrate breaking was observed for PP‐g‐PAA plates because enzymatically modified chitosan solutions were successfully penetrated in the grafted layers and quinone derivatives reacted with carboxy groups of grafted PAA chains. Failure occurred in the layers composed of grafted PAA chains and components containing in enzymatically modified chitosan solutions and the location was shifted to the inside of grafted layer, as the grafted amount increased. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1369‐1376, 2013
Adaptive Integrated Guidance and Control Based on Backstepping and Input‐to‐State Stability
Authors: Yan Han , Wang Xinghu , Yu Bingfeng , Ji Haibo 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis paper presents an approach of integrated guidance and control (IGC) design for interception of maneuvering targets (evaders). An IGC model with uncertainties in the pitch plane is formulated, and, by adopting a backstepping scheme, an adaptive nonlinear IGC approach is developed. Theoretical analysis shows that the design approach makes the line‐of‐sight (LOS) rate be input‐to‐state stable (ISS) with respect to target maneuvers and missile model uncertainties, and the stability of the missile dynamics can be guaranteed as well. The numerical simulation confirms the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.
Coexpression of luxA and luxB genes of Vibrio fischeri in NIH3T3 mammalian cells and evaluation of its bioluminescence activities
Authors: Tehrani Golnaz Asaadi , Mirzaahmadi Sina , Bandehpour Mojgan , Kazemi Bahram 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTExpression of bacterial luciferase enzyme (lux) in eukaryotic cells would provide a new bioreporter system for in vivo imaging and diagnostics technology. In spite of this, until now only a few efforts have been made to express bacterial luciferase enzyme in eukaryotic cells. We attempted to synthesize an expression construct of luxA and luxB genes from Vibrio fischeri. The luxA and luxB genes were cloned into the MCS of pTZ57R via the 5' kpnI, BamHI and BamHI, EcoRI restriction sites to generate pTZ57R/luxA and pTZ57R/luxB respectively, then newly synthesized constructs were cleaved with the same enzymes and respectively cloned into the pcDNA3.1+(Hyg) and pcDNA3.1+(Neo) expression vectors to create pcDNA3.1+(Hyg)/luxA and pcDNA3.1+(neo)/luxB. Recombinant constructs were cotransfected to the NIH3T3 cell line. Gene expression was confirmed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting; in addition, bioluminescence characteristics of transfected NIH3T3 cell lines were evaluated by decanal supplement. In conclusion, in the current research, separate vector systems were constructed, which are composed of bacterial luciferase genes (luxA and luxB) that accordingly have not already been reported. These results hold promise toward the potential development of an autonomous light‐generating lux reporter system in eukaryotic cells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microfluidic culture models to study the hydrodynamics of tumor progression and therapeutic response
Authors: Buchanan Cara , Rylander Marissa Nichole 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe integration of tissue engineering strategies with microfluidic technologies has enabled the design of in vitro microfluidic culture models that better adapt to morphological changes in tissue structure and function over time. These biomimetic microfluidic scaffolds accurately mimic native 3D microenvironments, as well as permit precise and simultaneous control of chemical gradients, hydrodynamic stresses, and cellular niches within the system. The recent application of microfluidic in vitro culture models to cancer research offers enormous potential to aid in the development of improved therapeutic strategies by supporting the investigation of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis under physiologically relevant flow conditions. The intrinsic material properties and fluid mechanics of microfluidic culture models enable high‐throughput anti‐cancer drug screening, permit well‐defined and controllable input parameters to monitor tumor cell response to various hydrodynamic conditions or treatment modalities, as well as provide a platform for elucidating fundamental mechanisms of tumor physiology. This review highlights recent developments and future applications of microfluidic culture models to study tumor progression and therapeutic targeting under conditions of hydrodynamic stress relevant to the complex tumor microenvironment. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2063–2072. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Validated UPLC‐MS/MS method for determination of moclobemide in human brain cell supernatant and its application to bidirectional transport study
Authors: Li‐Bo Dai , Miao Yan , Huan‐De Li , Ping‐Fei Fang , Feng Wang , Yang Deng 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTA simple and sensitive analytical method based on ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) has been developed for determination of moclobemide in human brain cell monolayer as an in vitro model of blood–brain barrier. Brucine was employed as the internal standard. Moclobemide and internal standard were extracted from cell supernatant by ethyl acetate after alkalinizing with sodium hydroxide. The UPLC separation was performed on an Acquity UPLCTM BEH C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm, Waters, USA) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol–water (29.5:70.5, v/v); the water in the mobile phase contained 0.05% ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid. Detection of the analytes was achieved using positive ion electrospray via multiple reaction monitoring mode. The mass transitions were m/z 269.16 → 182.01 for moclobemide and m/z 395.24 → 324.15 for brucine. The extraction recovery was 83.0–83.4% and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 1.0 ng/mL for moclobemide. The method was validated from LLOQ to 1980 ng/mL with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.999. Intra‐ and inter‐day accuracies of the method at three concentrations ranged from 89.1 to 100.9% for moclobemide with precision of 1.1–9.6%. This validated method was successfully applied to bidirectional transport study of moclobemide blood–brain barrier permeability. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.