bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Skeletal variation among early Holocene North American humans: Implications for origins and diversity in the Americas
Authors: Auerbach Benjamin M. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe movement of humans into the Americas remains a major topic of debate among scientific disciplines. Central to this discussion is ascertaining the timing and migratory routes of the earliest colonizers, in addition to understanding their ancestry. Molecular studies have recently argued that the colonizing population was isolated from other Asian populations for an extended period before proceeding to colonize the Americas. This research has suggested that Beringia was the location of this “incubation,” though archaeological and skeletal data have not yet supported this hypothesis. This study employs the remains of the five most complete North American male early Holocene skeletons to examine patterns of human morphology at the earliest observable time period. Stature, body mass, body breadth, and limb proportions are examined in the context of male skeletal samples representing the range of morphological variation in North America in the last two millennia of the Holocene. These are also compared with a global sample. Results indicate that early Holocene males have variable postcranial morphologies, but all share the common trait of wide bodies. This trait, which is retained in more recent indigenous North American groups, is associated with adaptations to cold climates. Peoples from the Americas exhibit wider bodies than other populations sampled globally. This pattern suggests the common ancestral population of all of these indigenous American groups had reduced morphological variation in this trait. Furthermore, this provides support for a single, possibly high latitude location for the genetic isolation of ancestors of the human colonizers of the Americas. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Vertebral morphology influences the development of Schmorl's nodes in the lower thoracic vertebrae
Authors: Plomp Kimberly A. , Roberts Charlotte A. , Viðarsdóttir Una Strand 
Published: October 2012

AbstractSchmorl's nodes are the result of herniations of the nucleus pulposus into the adjacent vertebral body and are commonly identified in both clinical and archaeological contexts. The current study aims to identify aspects of vertebral shape that correlate with Schmorl's nodes. Two‐dimensional statistical shape analysis was performed on digital images of the lower thoracic spine (T10–T12) of adult skeletons from the late medieval skeletal assemblages from Fishergate House, York, St. Mary Graces and East Smithfield Black Death cemeteries, London, and postmedieval Chelsea Old Church, London. Schmorl's nodes were scored on the basis of their location, depth, and size. Results indicate that there is a correlation between the shape of the posterior margin of the vertebral body and pedicles and the presence of Schmorl's nodes in the lower thoracic spine. The size of the vertebral body in males was also found to correlate with the lesions. Vertebral shape differences associated with the macroscopic characteristics of Schmorl's nodes, indicating severity of the lesion, were also analyzed. The shape of the pedicles and the posterior margin of the vertebral body, along with a larger vertebral body size in males, have a strong association with both the presence and severity of Schmorl's nodes. This suggests that shape and/or size of these vertebral components are predisposing to, or resulting in, vertically directed disc herniation. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Brief communication: Could Kadanuumuu (KSD‐VP‐1/1) and Lucy (AL 288‐1) have walked together comfortably?
Authors: Kramer Patricia Ann 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe estimated lower limb length (0.761–0.793 m) of the partial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis from Woranso‐Mille (KSD‐VP‐1/1) is outside the previously known range for Australopithecus and within the range of modern humans. The lower limb length of KSD‐VP‐1/1 is particularly intriguing when juxtaposed against the lower limb length estimate of the other partial skeleton of A. afarensis, AL 288‐1 (0.525 m). A sample of 36 children (age, >7 years, trochanteric height = 0.56–0.765 m) and 16 adults (trochanteric height = 0.77–1.00 m) walked at their self‐selected slow, preferred, and fast walking velocities, while their oxygen consumption was monitored. Lower limb length and velocity were correlated with slow (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.44), preferred (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.55), and fast (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.69) walking velocity. The relationship between optimal velocity and lower limb length was also determined and lower limb length explained 47% of the variability in optimal velocity. The velocity profile for KSD‐VP‐1/1 (slow = 0.73–0.75 m/s, preferred = 1.08–1.11 m/s, and fast = 1.48–1.54 m/s) is 36–44% higher than that of AL 288‐1 (slow = 0.53 m/s, preferred = 0.78 m/s, and fast = 1.07 m/s). The optimal velocity for AL 288‐1 is 1.04 m/s, whereas that for KSD‐VP‐1/1 is 1.29–1.33 m/s. This degree of lower limb length dimorphism suggests that members of a group would have had to compromise their preferences to walk together or to split into subgroups to walk at their optimal velocity. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Steady state modeling and simulation of an industrial combustor‐style fluidized catalytic cracking regenerator
Authors: Li Guotao , Sui Hong , Xu Changchun , Li Xingang 
Published: October 2012

ABSTRACTThis study was to develop a detailed steady state model for an industrial combustor‐style fluidized catalytic cracking regenerator consisting of high efficiency combustor and second stage regenerator. A rigorous model was developed for the combustor to predict profiles of important variables such as gas volume fraction, gas/cluster velocity, temperature, pressure, and gas/solid composition. The model for the second stage regenerator was also integrated so that the steady state behaviors of the reactor consisting of two distinct regions (dense bed region and free board region) could be accounted for. The model was programmed using FORTRAN language into five types of custom unit models of AspenPlusTM software. The custom unit models were then solved together on AspenPlusTM user interface level. The plant data of the industrial unit operated by SINOPEC were used to validate the proposed model. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel gastric release PEG‐enclatherated polymethacrylate‐based memblet system
Authors: Cooppan Shivaan , Choonara Yahya E. , du Toit Lisa C. , Kumar Pradeep , Ndesendo Valence M.K. , Pillay Viness 
Published: October 2012

AbstractA novel polymethacrylate‐based membranous system referred to as a “memblet” was developed for potential application in controlled gastric drug delivery. A polymethacrylate‐based latex, Eudragit® E100, was enclatherated with a 60% w/v and a 30% w/v solution of polyethylene glycol 4000 to form hydrogel formulations A and B, respectively. The hydrogels were subsequently compressed into memblets that were characterized for thermal, rheological, morphological, mechano‐chemical properties, and in vitro gastric drug release analysis. Molecular mechanics (MM) simulations were performed to corroborate the experimental findings. Critical yield values of 15.39 and 5.239 Pa were obtained for hydrogel A and B, respectively. The viscoelastic region was found to be <10.67 and 2.542 Pa for hydrogels A and B, respectively. The storage modulus was greater than the loss modulus for hydrogel A while the inverse was true for hydrogel B. Thermal, mechanical, and surface morphology evaluation revealed that the converse was true for the dried membrane structure with hydrogel B having superior characterization profiles than hydrogel A. Notably, the lower PEG concentration (30% w/v) displayed better characterization profiles than a higher concentration (60% w/v). Through MM simulations, desirable agreement between the theoretical and experimental results was achieved over the given concentration range of PEG. Based on the gastric drug release analysis, memblets formulated with hydrogel B displayed superior control of drug release. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Succinylation of three different lignins by reactive extrusion
Authors: Bridson James H. , van de Pas Daniel J. , Fernyhough Alan 
Published: October 2012

AbstractSuccinate esters of three lignin materials were prepared by reactive extrusion. Reactive extrusion was developed as a facile route to chemically modify lignin with the benefits of being a scalable, solvent‐free, and economic process. Kraft lignin and crude and purified enzyme saccharification lignins were reactively extruded with varying amounts of succinic anhydride. The resulting products were characterized chemically and thermally. Succinylation occurred preferentially at the aliphatic hydroxyl groups of kraft lignin, with phenolic substitution occurring at higher amounts of succinic anhydride addition. The degree of substitution was dependent on the relative amounts of succinic anhydride and lignin substrate. Thermal stability of the products decreased with increasing levels of substitution, primarily due to the loss of succinate groups on heating. The degree of substitution influenced the glass transition temperature, which reflected the melt flow and solubility of the products. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Human Prostate DU145 Carcinoma Cells Implanted in Nude Mice Remove the Peritoneal Mesothelium to Invade and Grow as Carcinomas
Authors: Gilloteaux Jacques , Jamison James M. , Neal D. , Arnold David , Taper Henryk S. , Summers Jack L 
Published: October 2012

AbstractImplanted human, androgen‐independent prostatic carcinoma cells (DU145) into athymic (NCr nu/nu) mice produce diverse tumors on the peritoneal surfaces of many organs. Light and ultrastructural observations show that the mesothelial covering these surfaces are typically microvilli‐coated, squamous cells or secretory cuboidal cells. The peritoneal regions colonized by tumors lack mesothelial cells and are covered by actively replicating carcinoma cells that grow as poorly differentiated cell clusters made of cell aggregates to somewhat compact spheroids covered with pleiomorphic microvilli and containing an undifferentiated vascular supply. These xenografts clusters invade the diaphragm and develop into tumors with both a basal solid aspect and an upper region of cribriform morphology. Furthermore, each tumor contains two cell types: (1) a poorly differentiated clear cell type, which grows into intraperitoneal tumors and (2) a large, basophilic cell type, which invades the peritoneal stroma of organs, including of the diaphragm. Anat Rec, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Facile Assembly of Graphene on Anion Exchange Resin Microspheres for Electrochemical Sensing and Biosensing
Authors: Sheng Shijun , Liu Shuang , Zhang Luyan , Chen Gang 
Published: October 2012

AbstractGraphene sheets were assembled on anion exchange resin (AER) microspheres based on the electrostatic interactions between graphene oxide and AER and subsequent chemical reduction. The prepared graphene‐coated AER microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. They were then embedded in the bores of pipette tips to fabricate disposable electrodes for electrochemical sensing. The workability and performance of the novel electrodes were examined by analyzing the electrochemical behavior of the electrodes for the sensing of ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, acetaminophen, aniline, and glucose by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The advantages of the electrodes include ease of fabrication, low cost, pronounced electrocatalytic activity, and rapid response. Thus, they hold great promise for a wide range of applications.
Eliminating tyrosine sequence variants in CHO cell lines producing recombinant monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Feeney Lauren , Carvalhal Veronica , Yu X. Christopher , Chan Betty , Michels David A. , Wang Yajun Jennifer , Shen Amy , Ressl Jan , Dusel Brendon , Laird Michael W. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAmino acid sequence variants are defined as unintended amino acid sequence changes that contribute to product variation with potential impact to product safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy. Therefore, it is important to understand the propensity for sequence variant (SV) formation during the production of recombinant proteins for therapeutic use. During the development of clinical therapeutic products, several monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) produced from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells exhibited SVs at low levels (≤3%) in multiple locations throughout the mAbs. In these examples, the cell culture process depleted tyrosine, and the tyrosine residues in the recombinant mAbs were replaced with phenylalanine or histidine. In this work, it is demonstrated that tyrosine supplementation eliminated the tyrosine SVs, while early tyrosine starvation significantly increased the SV level in all mAbs tested. Additionally, it was determined that phenylalanine is the amino acid preferentially misincorporated in the absence of tyrosine over histidine, with no other amino acid misincorporated in the absence of tyrosine, phenylalanine, and histidine. The data support that the tyrosine SVs are due to mistranslation and not DNA mutation, most likely due to tRNATyr mischarging due to the structural similarities between tyrosine and phenylalanine. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1087–1097. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functionalized Soft Nanoporous Materials through Supramolecular Assembly of End‐Functionalized Polymer Blends
Authors: Song Giyoung , Cho Suk Man , Jung Hee Joon , Kim Richard Hahnkee , Bae Insung , Ahn Hyungju , Ryu Du Yeol , Huh June , Park Cheolmin 
Published: October 2012

AbstractSupramolecular assembly through complementary interaction between molecular subgroups belonging to phase‐separating polymer species offers a great opportunity, not only for constructing nanoscale soft templates reminiscent of conventional block copolymer morphologies, but also for tailoring surface properties by facile removal of one of the structure components by cleaving complementary interactions. Herein we report the fabrication of a novel, organic, nanoporous film through supramolecular assembly of two complementarily, end‐interacting, mono‐end‐functionalized polymers under solvent annealing. The film of end‐functionalized polymer blends under solvent annealing yielded phase‐separated nanodomains that resemble nanoscopically ordered structures of block copolymers, but that are more advantageous due to easily cleavable and exchangeable links between the phase‐separated domains. The removal of one of the components of the precursor structure formed from the end‐functionalized polymers through cleavage of complementary interactions allowed us to fabricate mono‐ or multilayered nanoporous structures in which the chemically useful end‐functionalities of the remnant polymers are rich on the surface of the pores. The resultant, organic, nanoporous films with tailored surface functionality offer a useful platform for various chemical and biological applications.
Receptor‐Based Virtual Screening and Biological Characterization of Human Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease (Ape1) Inhibitors
Authors: Ruiz Federico M. , Francis Sandrea M. , Tintoré Maria , Ferreira Rubén , Gil‐Redondo Rubén , Morreale Antonio , Ortiz Ángel R. , Eritja Ramon , Fàbrega Carmen 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe endonucleolytic activity of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (AP endo, Ape1) is a major factor in maintaining the integrity of the genome. Conversely, as an undesired effect, Ape1 overexpression has been linked to resistance to radio‐ and chemotherapeutic treatments in several human tumors. Inhibition of Ape1 using siRNA or the expression of a dominant negative form of the protein has been shown to sensitize cells to DNA‐damaging agents, including various chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, inhibition of the enzymatic activity of Ape1 might result in a potent antitumor therapy. A number of small molecules have been described as Ape1 inhibitors; however, those compounds are in the early stages of development. Herein we report the identification of new compounds as potential Ape1 inhibitors through a docking‐based virtual screening technique. Some of the compounds identified have in vitro activities in the low‐to‐medium micromolar range. Interaction of these compounds with the Ape1 protein was observed by mass spectrometry. These molecules also potentiate the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent methyl methanesulfonate in fibrosarcoma cells. This study demonstrates the power of docking and virtual screening techniques as initial steps in the design of new drugs, and opens the door to the development of a new generation of Ape1 inhibitors.
Influence of Group 10 Metals on the Growth and Subsequent Coulomb Explosion of Small Silicon Clusters under Strong Light Pulses
Authors: Ross Matt W. , Castleman A. W. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractGrowth and ionization patterns of small silicon clusters are studied using ultrafast pulses centered at 624 nm by varying the metal electron source for cluster formation using group 10 transition metals. The silicon‐cluster size was observed to change as the electron source was varied from Pd<Pt<Ni. The smaller silicon‐cluster growth in the palladium system is attributed to the higher work function of palladium metal, producing less collisions of the laser‐induced plasma with the silane. This shows that changing the metal electron source while holding the laser intensity constant affects the degree of dehydrogenation of SiH4 due to the number of collisions in the cluster source. The saturation intensities of each atomic charge state of silicon, resulting from Coulomb explosion of pure silicon clusters, formed with each metal are measured and compared to those calculated by using semi‐classical tunneling theory assuming sequential ionization. The ion signal of silicon atomic charge states produced when using palladium as electron source for cluster formation shows a greater degree of ionization enhancement than that observed for the nickel and platinum systems. This is reflected by the smaller‐size clusters formed in the palladium system. Based on a plot of the ion signal as a function of laser intensity compared to the simulated ion signal from tunneling theory, the ionization enhancement of silicon high‐charge states is found to increase by varying the electron source from Ni<Pt<Pd.
Matrix Isolation‐Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of 3‐Butyn‐2‐ol and its Binary Aggregates
Authors: Merten Christian , Xu Yunjie 
Published: October 2012

AbstractVibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy has a unique specificity to chirality and is highly sensitive to the conformational equilibria of chiral molecules. On the other hand, the matrix‐isolation (MI) technique allows substantial control over sample compositions, such as the sample(s)/matrix ratio and the ratio among different samples, and yields spectra with very narrow bandwidths. We combined VCD spectroscopy with the MI technique to record MI‐VCD and MI‐vibrational absorption spectra of 3‐butyn‐2‐ol at different MI temperatures, which allowed us to investigate the conformational distributions of its monomeric and binary species. Good mirror‐imaged MI‐VCD spectra of opposite enantiomers were achieved. The related conformational searches were performed for the monomer and the binary aggregate and their vibrational absorption and VCD spectra were simulated. The well‐resolved experimental MI‐VCD bands provide the essential mean to assign the associated vibrational absorption spectral features correctly to a particular conformation in case of closely spaced bands. By varying the matrix temperature, we show that one can follow the self‐aggregation process of 3‐butyn‐2‐ol and confidently correlate the MI‐VCD spectral features with those obtained for a 0.1 M CCl4 solution and as a neat liquid at room temperature. Comparison of the aforementioned experimental VCD spectra shows conclusively that there is a substantial contribution from the 3‐butyn‐2‐ol aggregate even at 0.1 M concentration. This spectroscopic combination will be powerful for studying self‐aggregation of chiral molecules, and chirality transfer from a chiral molecule to an interacting achiral molecule and in electron donor–acceptor chiral complexes.
Tailor‐Made Anion‐Exchange Membranes for Salinity Gradient Power Generation Using Reverse Electrodialysis
Authors: Guler Enver , Zhang Yali , Saakes Michel , Nijmeijer Kitty 
Published: October 2012

AbstractReverse electrodialysis (RED) or blue energy is a non‐polluting, sustainable technology for generating power from the mixing of solutions with different salinity, that is, seawater and river water. A concentrated salt solution (e.g., seawater) and a diluted salt solution (e.g., river water) are brought into contact through an alternating series of polymeric anion‐exchange membranes (AEMs) and cation‐exchange membranes (CEMs), which are either selective for anions or cations. Currently available ion‐exchange membranes are not optimized for RED, whereas successful RED operation notably depends on the used ion‐exchange membranes. We designed such ion‐exchange membranes and for the first time we show the performance of tailor‐made membranes in RED. More specifically, we focus on the development of AEMs because these are much more complex to prepare. Herein we propose a safe and more environmentally friendly method and use halogenated polyethers, such as polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) as the starting material. A tertiary diamine (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, DABCO) was used to introduce the ion‐exchange groups by amination and for simultaneous cross‐linking of the polymer membrane. Area resistances of the series of membranes ranged from 0.82 to 2.05 Ω cm2 and permselectivities from 87 to 90 %. For the first time we showed that tailor‐made ion‐exchange membranes can be applied in RED. Depending on the properties and especially membrane thickness, application of these membranes in RED resulted in a high power density of 1.27 W m−2, which exceeds the power output obtained with the commercially available AMX membranes. This shows the potential of the design of ion‐exchange membranes for a viable blue energy process.
Epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in epicardium is independent of snail1
Authors: Casanova Jesús C. , Travisano Stanislao , de la Pompa José Luis 
Published: October 2012

AbstractThe epicardium is the outer epithelial covering the heart. This tissue undergoes an epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) to generate mesenchymal epicardial‐derived cells (EPDCs) that populate the extracellular matrix of the subepicardium and contribute to the development of the coronary vessels and cardiac interstitial cells. Although epicardial EMT plays a crucial role in heart development, the molecular regulation of this process is incompletely understood. Here we examined the possible role of the EMT regulator Snail1 in this process. Snail1 is expressed in the epicardium and EPDCs during mouse cardiac development. To determine the function of Snail1 in epicardial EMT, we deleted Snail1 in the epicardium using Wt1‐ and Tbx18‐Cre drivers. Unexpectedly, epicardial‐specific Snail1 mutants are viable and fertile and do not display any obvious morphological or functional cardiac abnormalities. Molecular analysis of these mice reveals that epicardial EMT occurs normally, and epicardial derivatives are established in these mutants. We conclude that Snail1 is not required for the initiation and progression of embryonic epicardial EMT. genesis 51:32–40,
2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.