bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Algal Bioenergy
Authors: Stanley Michele S , Day John G 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAlgae are the ‘engines’ that drive global biogeochemical cycles in the aquatic environment and are directly responsible for >50% of current planetary productivity and geologically for fossil fuel resources. However, their use as a source of biofuels is minimal. The search for new forms of biomass for the production of bioenergy is, and will increasingly be, influenced by the politics of food, water supplies and anthropogenic climate change. Algae that are capable of high levels of productivity and grow in marine ecosystems, or land‐based seawater systems, are one of the few realistic sources of future fuels that avoid compromising ecological sustainability and political stability. Technologies are being developed to cultivate and exploit macroalgae for biofuels, including bioethanol and biomethane, and it is envisaged that these will be a commercial reality in the near future. Microalgal systems present huge potential; however, faced with a range of technical constraints they will take much longer to develop into a commercial reality.Key Concepts:Third‐generation biofuels.Alternative energy supply through cultivation of algae.Biofuel production without compromising food or water resources.Microalgal cultivation to generate oils and biomass for biofuel production.Macroalgal production for biomass production.Conversion of algal biomass derived from microalgae and/or microalgae for the production of bioethanol and biomethane.
Molecular Genetics of Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes
Authors: Ohno Kinji , Ohkawara Bisei , Ito Mikako , Engel Andrew G 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCongenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are heterogeneous disorders caused by congenital defects of molecules expressed at the neuromuscular junctions. Clinical features include fatigable muscle weakness, amyotrophy and minor facial anomalies. Mutations have been identified in 18 genes encoding acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits (CHRNA1,CHRNB1,CHRNDandCHRNE); skeletal muscle sodium channel (SCN4A); signalling molecules driving AChR clustering and subserving maintenance and differentiation of the postsynaptic region (AGRN, LRP4, MUSKandDOK7); postsynaptic structural proteins (RAPSNandPLEC); synaptic β2 laminin, which promotes presynaptic differentiation, and synaptic collagen Q; presynaptic choline acetyltransferase and enzymes in subserving protein glycosylation (GFPT1,DPAGT1,ALG14, andALG2). The CMS are caused by recessive mutations except for the slow‐channel CMS. The recent development of the exome sequencing has speeded identification of causative mutations. Mutations in glycosylation genes were recently discovered, but the mechanisms by which they impair neuromuscular signal transmission have not been fully elucidated.Key Concepts:Congenital myasthenic syndromes are caused by germline mutations in molecules expressed at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).Muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is a pentameric ligand‐gated ion channel in the stoichiometry of α2βδϵ subunits.Missense mutations in AChR subunit genes can cause abnormally long and brief ion channel openings resulting in slow‐ and fast‐channel myasthenic syndromes, respectively.Primary endplate AChR deficiency can be due to low‐expressor or null mutations in the AChR ϵ subunit. The phenotype in case of biallelic low‐expressor or null mutations in the ϵ subunit is rescued by expression of the foetal γ subunit. Biallelic null mutations in non‐ϵ are embryonic lethal mutations.A second group of endplate AChR deficiency is caused by mutations in signalling molecules including agrin, LRP4, MuSK, Dok‐7, which drive AChR clustering.The third group of endplate AChR deficiency stems from mutations in the postsynaptic structural proteins of rapsyn or plectin.Mutations in enzymes subserving theN‐glycosylation pathway of GFPT1, DPAGT1, ALG14 and ALG2 cause limb‐girdle CMS with tubular aggregates.Endplate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) deficiency is caused by mutations in collagen Q (ColQ), which anchors AChE to the synaptic basal lamina.Protein‐anchoring therapy, in which ectopically expressed AChE/ColQ complex is specifically anchored to the neuromuscular junction using the proprietary binding motifs, markedly ameliorates myasthenic symptoms ofColq‐knockout mice.Mutations in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) cause defective resynthesis of ACh at the nerve terminal and a CMS associated with frequent episodic apnoea.
Molecular Genetics of Oral Cancer
Authors: Sand Lars 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common epithelial malignancy in the oral cavity and constitutes more than 90% of oral malignancies. OSCC is a complex malignancy where environmental factors, viral infections and genetic alterations most likely interact, and thus give rise to the malignant condition. Epidemiological investigations have shown that heavy tobacco smoking, high alcohol consumption and human papilloma virus infection are the major risk factors for OSCC development. These factors interact with specific genes important for normal cellular development and genetic alterations may finally lead to a malignant phenotype. Genetic mutations accumulated over time are needed for an oral cancer to develop and several molecular genetic changes have been associated with the development of OSCC. The most important genetic alterations associated with the condition are tumour suppressor genes, oncogenes, epigenetic changes, genomic instability, mitochondrial mutations, microRNAs and loss of heterozygosity.

Key Concepts:

Oral cancer is caused by extrinsic and/or intrinsic factors.

Loss of heterozygosity is an important event in oral carcinogenesis.

Mutated
p53
is a common event in OSCC.

Telomere length is maintained in some OSCC.

mtDNA is involved in OSCC.

Epigenetic changes seem to be an early event in oral carcinogenesis.

miRNA may be aberrant in OSCC.
Molecular Genetics of Argininosuccinic Aciduria
Authors: Trevisson Eva , Doimo Mara , Salviati Leonardo 
Published: May 2014

AbstractArgininosuccinic aciduria is an autosomal recessive disorder of the urea cycle caused by mutations in argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Two main clinical phenotypes are reported: an acute neonatal form characterised by severe hyperammonaemia and coma, and a subacute, late‐onset form which may present with relatively milder neurological symptoms.More than 120ASLmutations have been reported so far: the majority are missense, but virtually all types of point mutations are found. Large rearrangements are rare and standard genomicdeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)analysis has a high diagnostic yield.Genotype–phenotype correlations have been difficult to establish as standard biochemical techniques are not sufficiently sensitive to measure residual activity, and other factors such as intragenic complementation, overexpression of nonfunctionalASLtranscripts and environmental factors may modulate the phenotype.Clinical manifestations result from the block in the urea cycle and also from impairment of nitric oxide biosynthesis, and the therapy is aimed at restoring these two functions.Key Concepts:Argininosuccinic aciduria is caused by deficiency of argininosuccinate lyase (ASL).ASL is a component of the urea cycle and is essential for detoxification of ammonia, and for the synthesis of arginine and nitric oxide (NO).Two clinical forms of argininosuccinic aciduria exist: an acute, potentially lethal, neonatal onset disease and a milder, late‐onset form.More than 120 ASL mutations have been described but the exact genotype/phenotype correlations are still not completely clear.Other factors (genetic and environmental) may influence the clinical phenotype.Treatment is based on protein restriction, arginine, nitrogen scavengers and NO donors.
Unexpected Positive Events Do Not Result in Flashbulb Memories
Authors: Kraha Amanda , Talarico Jennifer M. , Boals Adriel 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThe study of flashbulb memories has typically been confined to negative events such as the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Previous studies that investigated the role of affect on memory formation have produced conflicting results, making it difficult to ascertain the properties of positive flashbulb memories. In the current study, we employ previously established methods to investigate flashbulb memory formation for the assassination of Osama bin Laden. This resonated as a highly positive event for many Americans evidenced by the thousands of people flooding the streets of Washington, D.C., and New York City to celebrate. Results confirm the fading of memory details over time and further suggest that positive events do not result in the heightened vividness and confidence seen in negatively valenced flashbulb memories. We argue that these findings are additional evidence against a special memory mechanism in flashbulb memory formation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermoplastic composites of polyamide‐12 reinforced by cellulose nanofibers with cationic surface modification
Authors: Semba Takeshi , Ito Akihiro , Kitagawa Kazuo , Nakatani Takeshi , Yano Hiroyuki , Sato Akihiro 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTCellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have many useful properties, including high strength and low thermal expansion, and are also environmentally friendly, readily renewable, safe, and biodegradable. The focus of this study was the development of lightweight thermoplastic polymer composites with good mechanical properties based on the incorporation of CNFs that have undergone surface pretreatment with a cationic reagent. The polyamide (PA12) was mixed with surface‐treated CNFs using a twin screw extruder and the resulting pellets were injection molded. The Izod impact strength without notch of CNF‐based composites exceeded that of composites incorporating organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT), a representative nanocomposite material. When the Izod impact test without notch, the impact hammer was stopped by the specimen with incorporation of surface treated CNF. Furthermore, the bending modulus and strength were equal to or greater than that of OMMT composites. The heat distortion temperature was improved as 33°C from neat PA12, and moreover improved as 29°C from OMMT composites. Cationic pretreatment of the CNF surfaces was found to increase the dispersion of the fibers and also to greatly improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40920.
Framing of Decisions: Effect on Active and Passive Risk Avoidance
Authors: Huber Oswald , Huber Odilo W. , Bär Arlette S. 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTDecision makers intending to avoid risk in a decision situation can choose a less risky alternative (passive risk avoidance) or intervene actively in an alternative applying a risk‐defusing action (active risk avoidance). In Experiment 1 (64 participants), we compared active and passive risk defusing in two framing conditions. In the negative frame, in the uncertain alternative, a change to the worse was possible; in the positive frame, a change to an improvement was possible. Each participant decided in both framing conditions. As expected, active risk avoidance behavior for preventing a negative outcome (i.e., in the negative frame) was more likely than for promoting a positive one (i.e., in the positive frame). If decision makers did not or could not actively defuse the risk, they chose in correspondence to the classical pattern: risk avoidance in the positive frame and risk seeking in the negative one. We replicated the latter result in a second experiment (32 participants). The classical framing pattern in passive risk avoidance in both experiments is remarkable, because participants were not presented or did not search for exact probabilities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flow‐injection chemiluminescence method to detect a β2 adrenergic agonist
Authors: Zhang Guangbin , Tang Yuhai , Shang Jian , Wang Zhongcheng , Yu Hua , Du Wei , Fu Qiang 
Published: May 2014

AbstractA new method for the detection of β2 adrenergic agonists was developed based on the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of β2 adrenergic agonist with potassium ferricyanide–luminol CL. The effect of β2 adrenergic agonists including isoprenaline hydrochloride, salbutamol sulfate, terbutaline sulfate and ractopamine on the CL intensity of potassium ferricyanide–luminol was discovered. Detection of the β2 adrenergic agonist was carried out in a flow system. Using uniform design experimentation, the influence factors of CL were optimized. The optimal experimental conditions were 1 mmol/L of potassium ferricyanide, 10 µmol/L of luminol, 1.2 mmol/L of sodium hydroxide, a flow speed of 2.6 mL/min and a distance of 1.2 cm from ‘Y2’ to the flow cell. The linear ranges and limit of detection were 10–100 and 5 ng/mL for isoprenaline hydrochloride, 20–100 and 5 ng/mL for salbutamol sulfate, 8–200 and 1 ng/mL for terbutaline sulfate, 20–100 and 4 ng/mL for ractopamine, respectively. The proposed method allowed 200 injections/h with excellent repeatability and precision. It was successfully applied to the determination of three β2 adrenergic agonists in commercial pharmaceutical formulations with recoveries in the range of 96.8–98.5%. The possible CL reaction mechanism of potassium ferricyanide–luminol–β2 adrenergic agonist was discussed from the UV/vis spectra. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous inhibition of key growth pathways in melanoma cells and tumor regression by a designed bidentate constrained helical peptide
Authors: Dhar Amlanjyoti , Mallick Shampa , Ghosh Piya , Maiti Atanu , Ahmed Israr , Bhattacharya Seemana , Mandal Tapashi , Manna Asit , Roy Koushik , Singh Sandeep , Nayak Dipak Kumar , Wilder Paul T. , Markowitz Joseph , Weber David , Ghosh Mrinal K. , Chattopadhyay Samit , Guha Rajdeep , Konar Aditya , Bandyopadhyay Santu , Roy Siddhartha 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTProtein–protein interactions are part of a large number of signaling networks and potential targets for drug development. However, discovering molecules that can specifically inhibit such interactions is a major challenge. S100B, a calcium‐regulated protein, plays a crucial role in the proliferation of melanoma cells through protein–protein interactions. In this article, we report the design and development of a bidentate conformationally constrained peptide against dimeric S100B based on a natural tight‐binding peptide, TRTK‐12. The helical conformation of the peptide was constrained by the substitution of α‐amino isobutyric acid—an amino acid having high helical propensity—in positions which do not interact with S100B. A branched bidentate version of the peptide was bound to S100B tightly with a dissociation constant of 8 nM. When conjugated to a cell‐penetrating peptide, it caused growth inhibition and rapid apoptosis in melanoma cells. The molecule exerts antiproliferative action through simultaneous inhibition of key growth pathways, including reactivation of wild‐type p53 and inhibition of Akt and STAT3 phosphorylation. The apoptosis induced by the bidentate constrained helix is caused by direct migration of p53 to mitochondria. At moderate intravenous dose, the peptide completely inhibits melanoma growth in a mouse model without any significant observable toxicity. The specificity was shown by lack of ability of a double mutant peptide to cause tumor regression at the same dose level. The methodology described here for direct protein–protein interaction inhibition may be effective for rapid development of inhibitors against relatively weak protein–protein interactions for de novo drug development. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 102: 344–358, 2014.
Constraint‐based modeling of heterologous pathways: Application and experimental demonstration for overproduction of fatty acids in Escherichia coli
Authors: Ip Kuhn , Donoghue Neil , Kim Min Kyung , Lun Desmond S. 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTConstraint‐based modeling has been shown, in many instances, to be useful for metabolic engineering by allowing the prediction of the metabolic phenotype resulting from genetic manipulations. But the basic premise of constraint‐based modeling—that of applying constraints to preclude certain behaviors—only makes sense for certain genetic manipulations (such as knockouts and knockdowns). In particular, when genes (such as those associated with a heterologous pathway) are introduced under artificial control, it is unclear how to predict the correct behavior. In this paper, we introduce a modeling method that we call proportional flux forcing (PFF) to model artificially induced enzymatic genes. The model modifications introduced by PFF can be transformed into a set of simple mass balance constraints, which allows computational methods for strain optimization based on flux balance analysis (FBA) to be utilized. We applied PFF to the metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli (E. coli) for free fatty acid (FFA) production—a metabolic engineering problem that has attracted significant attention because FFAs are a precursor to liquid transportation fuels such as biodiesel and biogasoline. We show that PFF used in conjunction with FBA‐based computational strain optimization methods can yield non‐obvious genetic manipulation strategies that significantly increase FFA production in E. coli. The two mutant strains constructed and successfully tested in this work had peak fatty acid (FA) yields of 0.050 g FA/g carbon source (17.4% theoretical yield) and 0.035 g FA/g carbon source (12.3% theoretical yield) when they were grown using a mixed carbon source of glucose and casamino acids in a ratio of 2‐to‐1. These yields represent increases of 5.4‐ and 3.8‐fold, respectively, over the baseline strain. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 2056–2066. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genetic, psychosocial, and demographic factors associated with social disinhibition in Mexican‐origin youth
Authors: Archer Natalie P. , Wilkinson Anna V. , Ranjit Nalini , Wang Jian , Zhao Hua , Swann Alan C. , Shete Sanjay 
Published: May 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe genetic heritability for sensation‐seeking tendencies ranges from 40 to 60%. Sensation‐seeking behaviors typically manifest during adolescence and are associated with alcohol and cigarette experimentation in adolescents. Social disinhibition is an aspect of sensation‐seeking that is closely tied to cigarette and alcohol experimentation.MethodsWe examined the contribution of candidate genes to social disinhibition among 1132 Mexican origin youth in Houston, Texas, adjusting for established demographic and psychosocial risk factors. Saliva samples were obtained at baseline in 2005–06, and social disinhibition and other psychosocial data were obtained in 2008–09. Participants were genotyped for 672 functional and tagging SNPs potentially related to sensation‐seeking, risk‐taking, smoking, and alcohol use.ResultsSix SNPs were significantly associated with social disinhibition scores, after controlling for false discovery and adjusting for population stratification and relevant demographic/psychosocial characteristics. Minor alleles for three of the SNPs (rs1998220 on OPRM1; rs9534511 on HTR2A; and rs4938056 on HTR3B) were associated with increased risk of social disinhibition, while minor alleles for the other three SNPs (rs1003921 on KCNC1; rs16116 downstream of NPY; and rs16870286 on LINC00518) exhibited a protective effect. Age, linguistic acculturation, thrill and adventure‐seeking, and drug and alcohol‐seeking were all significantly positively associated with increased risk of social disinhibition in a multivariable model (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThese results add to our knowledge of genetic risk factors for social disinhibition. Additional research is needed to verify whether these SNPs are associated with social disinhibition among youth of different ethnicities and nationalities, and to elucidate whether and how these SNPs functionally contribute to social disinhibition.
Hierarchical mesh deformation with shape preservation
Authors: Zhao Yong , Dong Junyu , Pan Bin , Xiao Chunxia 
Published: May 2014

ABSTRACTIt is very difficult to deform flexible objects in computer animation. This paper presents a novel approach to address this problem. A detail‐sensitive and deformation‐sensitive simplification is first conducted on the original mesh. The simplified mesh is then deformed, and this deformation is transferred to the original mesh to produce an initial result. Because of the discontinuity between some vertices, an as‐rigid‐as‐possible optimization is employed to prevent the shape distortion and control the surface stiffness. Various experimental data demonstrate that our algorithm is intuitive, efficient, and effective in deforming large meshes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diet and proinflammatory cytokine levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Arthur Anna E. , Peterson Karen E. , Shen Jincheng , Djuric Zora , Taylor Jeremy M. G. , Hebert James R. , Duffy Sonia A. , Peterson Lisa A. , Bellile Emily L. , Whitfield Joel R. , Chepeha Douglas B. , Schipper Matthew J. , Wolf Gregory T. , Rozek Laura S. 
Published: May 2014

BACKGROUNDProinflammatory cytokine levels may be associated with cancer stage, recurrence, and survival. The objective of this study was to determine whether cytokine levels were associated with dietary patterns and fat‐soluble micronutrients in patients with previously untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).METHODSThis was a cross‐sectional study of 160 patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC who completed pretreatment food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and health surveys. Dietary patterns were derived from FFQs using principal component analysis. Pretreatment serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), and interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and serum carotenoid and tocopherol levels were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models examined associations between cytokines and quartiles of reported and serum dietary variables.RESULTSThree dietary patterns emerged: whole foods, Western, and convenience foods. In multivariable analyses, higher whole foods pattern scores were significantly associated with lower levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ (P ≤ .001, P = .008, and P = .03, respectively). Significant inverse associations were reported between IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ levels and quartiles of total reported carotenoid intake (P = .006, P = .04, and P = .04, respectively). There was an inverse association between IFN‐γ levels and serum α‐tocopherol levels (P = .03).CONCLUSIONSConsuming a pretreatment diet rich in vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry, and whole grains may be associated with lower proinflammatory cytokine levels in patients with HNSCC. Cancer 2014;120:2704–2712. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Crosstalk cancelling voltage‐mode driver for multi‐Gbps parallel DRAM interface
Authors: Kim Younghoon , Yoo Changsik 
Published: May 2014

SummaryFor multi‐Gb/s/pin parallel dynamic random access memory (DRAM) interface, a crosstalk cancelling voltage‐mode driver is proposed. The voltage‐mode driver is composed of a main driver and sub‐drivers where the cancellation signal is generated by the sub‐drivers. The outputs of the main driver and sub‐drivers are combined by a capacitive coupling so the direct current (DC) output swing is not affected by the crosstalk cancellation and the sub‐drivers may not consume DC power. The proposed crosstalk cancelling voltage‐mode driver implemented in a 0.11‐µm complementary metal‐oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology improves the horizontal eye openings by 22.6 ps at 4‐Gbps/pin. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.