bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THF: An Efficient Electron Donor in Continuous Flow Radical Cyclization Photocatalyzed by Graphitic Carbon Nitride
Authors: Woźnica Magdalena , Chaoui Nicolas , Taabache Soraya , Blechert Siegfried 
Published: September 2014

AbstractMesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg‐C3N4) was found to be an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for the metal‐free radical cyclization of 2‐bromo‐1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds. Reactions leading to functionalized cyclopentanes proceed under mild conditions and can be conducted in a continuous flow photoreactor. Compared to the batch reaction, the use of a continuous flow reactor resulted in a significant reduction in reaction time (complete conversion of 0.04 mmol of substrate in a batch was achieved after 4 h, whereas in a flow reactor the same amount of substrate was fully converted into a product within 40 min). Mechanistic studies of the reaction showed that THF plays not only the role of solvent, but is also a crucial hydrogen and electron donor.
A new tool for the quantitative analysis of dendritic filopodial motility
Authors: Tárnok Krisztián , Gulyás Márton , Bencsik Norbert , Ferenc Katalin , Pfizenmaier Klaus , Hausser Angelika , Schlett Katalin 
Published: September 2014

AbstractDendritic filopodia are tiny and highly motile protrusions formed along the dendrites of neurons. During the search for future presynaptic partners, their shape and size change dynamically, with a direct impact on the formation, stabilization and maintenance of synaptic connections both in vivo and in vitro. In order to reveal molecular players regulating synapse formation, quantitative analysis of dendritic filopodia motility is needed. Defining the length or the tips of these protrusions manually, however, is time consuming, limiting the extent of studies as well as their statistical power. Additionally, area detection based on defining a single intensity threshold can lead to significant errors throughout the image series, as these small structures often have low contrast in fluorescent images. To overcome these problems, the open access Dendritic Filopodia Motility Analyzer, a semi‐automated ImageJ/Fiji plugin was created. Our method calculates the displacement of the centre of mass (CoM) within a selected region based on the weighted intensity values of structure forming pixels, selected by upper and lower intensity thresholds. Using synthetic and real biological samples, we prove that the displacement of the weighted CoM reliably characterizes the motility of dendritic protrusions. Additionally, guidelines to define optimal parameters of live cell recordings from dendritic protrusions are provided. © 2014 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Patterns of postprandial hyperglycemia after basal insulin therapy: individual and regional differences
Authors: Shaefer Charles , Reid Timothy , DiGenio Andres , Vlajnic Aleksandra , Zhou Rong , Ameer Barbara , Riddle Matthew 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundTreatment of postprandial hyperglycemia could be needed when basal insulin added to oral therapy does not maintain glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) targets in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Knowing individual and regional patterns of postprandial hyperglycemia in this setting might improve therapeutic decisions.MethodsPatient‐level self‐monitored blood glucose data were pooled from six studies of insulin glargine for patients with HbA1C ≥ 7.0% after 24 weeks. Percentages of participants with highest daily postprandial blood glucose and greatest postprandial increments after each of the three daily meals were calculated and compared between four geographical regions; USA, Canada, Germany, and other European countries.ResultsFor 494 participants (mean age 60.1 years, diabetes duration 9.6 years, and BMI 29.8 kg/m2), mean endpoint HbA1C was 7.8%. On insulin glargine treatment, highest postprandial blood glucose most often occurred post‐dinner (44% of participants) and greatest postprandial increments post‐breakfast (46% of participants) in all regions. Participants with greatest postprandial increments post‐breakfast were older and experienced less HbA1C improvement with insulin glargine than those with greatest postprandial increments after other meals. Post‐breakfast and post‐dinner postprandial blood glucose was higher in the USA and Canada versus Germany, and in the USA versus Other European countries (all p < 0.05). Postprandial increments after dinner were greater in the USA versus all other regions.ConclusionsGenerally, highest postprandial blood glucose follows dinner and greatest postprandial increments follow breakfast. Variations in patient characteristics and eating patterns might underlie differences both within and between regions. Awareness of regional differences and evaluation of an individual's typical eating pattern might facilitate appropriate prandial therapy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of diabetes on hospitalization for ischemic stroke and related in‐hospital mortality: a study in Tuscany, Italy, over years 2004–2011
Authors: Policardo Laura , Seghieri Giuseppe , Anichini Roberto , De Bellis Alessandra , Franconi Flavia , Francesconi Paolo , Del Prato Stefano , Mannucci Edoardo 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundIncidence of ischemic stroke and associated in‐hospital mortality is decreasing in Western populations, while the prevalence of diabetes, a well‐known risk factor for ischemic stroke, is progressively rising. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of diabetes on ischemic stroke hospitalization and in‐hospital mortality after ischemic stroke.MethodsDischarges with diagnosis of ischemic stroke were identified in a database containing all hospitalizations of resident population of Tuscany, Italy, over years 2004–2011. Cases with diabetes were identified through specific drug prescriptions, official certifications or previous hospital diagnosis. Rates of annual ischemic stroke incidence and related in‐hospital mortality were separately calculated for gender and age class, in subjects with and without diabetes.ResultsSixty‐five thousand one hundred sixty‐five hospital discharges with ischemic stroke diagnosis were identified. Diabetes was associated with increased risk of stroke odds ratio(95% confidence interval):1.31(1.28–1.34) in men and 1.24(1.21–1.37) in women. Diabetic women, compared with men, had a higher in‐hospital mortality risk after ischemic stroke (odds ratio:1.32; 1.06–1.64), whereas in non‐diabetic subjects, there was no difference between genders. Incidence of ischemic stroke has declined in non‐diabetic subjects, except for women aged ≤70 years; a similar reduction was observed for in‐hospital mortality. Among diabetic patients, conversely, annual incidence of ischemic stroke rose by 3% in the elderly people (>70 years), and annual mortality trend remained unchanged.ConclusionsIn the last decade, the incidence of ischemic stroke and of related in‐hospital mortality declined in persons without diabetes, while increasing among diabetic patients of advanced age. Women with diabetes, compared with men, had a higher in‐hospital mortality risk. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk genes and autoantibodies in Egyptian children with type 1 diabetes – low frequency of autoantibodies in carriers of the HLA‐DRB1*04:05‐DQA1*03‐DQB1*02 risk haplotype
Authors: El‐Amir Mostafa I. , El‐Feky Mohamed Ali , Laine Antti‐Pekka , Härkönen Taina , El‐Badawy Omnia , Eltayeb Azza A. , El‐Melegy Tarek Taha , Kiviniemi Minna , Knip Mikael , Ilonen Jorma 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe study aimed to define the frequencies of type 1 diabetes‐associated gene polymorphisms and their associations with various diabetes‐associated autoantibodies in Egyptian children.MethodsOne hundred and one children with type 1 diabetes and 160 healthy controls from the same region were studied for HLA‐DQB1, HLA‐DQA1, and HLA‐DRB1 (DR4 subtypes) alleles; for INS and protein tyrosine phosphatase, non‐receptor type 22 gene polymorphisms (rs689 and rs2476601); and for diabetes‐associated autoantibodies.ResultsMost children with diabetes (77.2%) were positive for the HLA‐(DR3)‐DQA1*05‐DQB1*02 (DR3‐DQ2) haplotype compared with 26.2% of the controls (OR = 9.5; p < 0.001). HLA‐DRB1*04:02‐DQA1*03‐DQB1*03:02 (DR4‐DQ8) (26.7%, OR = 3.3; p < 0.001), DRB1*04:05‐DQA1*03‐DQB1*02 (DR4‐DQ2) (23.8%, OR 5.2; p < 0.001), and DRB1*04:05‐DQA1*03‐DQB1*03:02 (DR4‐DQ8) (8.9%, OR = 7.7; p = 0.007) were also significantly increased. HLA‐(DR15)‐DQB1*06:01, (DR13)‐DQB1*06:03, and DRB1*04:03‐DQA1*03‐DQB1*03:02 were the most protective haplotypes with OR values from 0.04 to 0.06. Patients positive for DR3‐DQ2 but negative for DR4 haplotypes had a high frequency of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (78%; p < 0.001 versus other genotypes), but only 26.6% of those with DR3‐DQ2/DR4‐DQ2 tested positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (p = 0.006 versus other genotypes). Subjects with the DR4‐DQ8 haplotype without DR3‐DQ2 or DR4‐DQ2 were more often positive for islet antigen‐2 and zinc transporter 8 antibodies (55.5%, p = 0.007 and 55.5%, p = 0.01 respectively). The AA genotype of the INS gene was more common in patients than in controls (75.2 versus 59.5%, OR = 2.07; p = 0.018).ConclusionsBesides a strong HLA‐DR3‐DQ2 association, a relatively high frequency of the DR4‐DQ2 haplotype characterized the diabetic population. The low frequency of autoantibodies in children with HLA‐DR4‐DQ2 may indicate specific pathogenetic pathways associated with this haplotype. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of action potentials in determining neuron‐type‐specific responses to nitric oxide
Authors: Estes Stephen , Zhong Lei Ray , Artinian Liana , Tornieri Karine , Rehder Vincent 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTThe electrical activity in developing and mature neurons determines the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), which in turn is translated into biochemical activities through various signaling cascades. Electrical activity is under control of neuromodulators, which can alter neuronal responses to incoming signals and increase the fidelity of neuronal communication. Conversely, the effects of neuromodulators can depend on the ongoing electrical activity within target neurons; however, these activity‐dependent effects of neuromodulators are less well understood. Here, we present evidence that the neuronal firing frequency and intrinsic properties of the action potential (AP) waveform set the [Ca2+]i in growth cones and determine how neurons respond to the neuromodulator nitric oxide (NO). We used two well‐characterized neurons from the freshwater snail Helisoma trivolvis that show different growth cone morphological responses to NO: B5 neurons elongate filopodia, while those of B19 neurons do not. Combining whole‐cell patch clamp recordings with simultaneous calcium imaging, we show that the duration of an AP contributes to neuron‐specific differences in [Ca2+]i, with shorter APs in B19 neurons yielding lower growth cone [Ca2+]i. Through the partial inhibition of voltage‐gated K+ channels, we increased the B19 AP duration resulting in a significant increase in [Ca2+]i that was then sufficient to cause filopodial elongation following NO treatment. Our results demonstrate a neuron‐type specific correlation between AP shape, [Ca2+]i, and growth cone motility, providing an explanation to how growth cone responses to guidance cues depend on intrinsic electrical properties and helping explain the diverse effects of NO across neuronal populations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 435–451, 2015
The design and function of birds' nests
Authors: Mainwaring Mark C. , Hartley Ian R. , Lambrechts Marcel M. , Deeming D. Charles 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAll birds construct nests in which to lay eggs and/or raise offspring. Traditionally, it was thought that natural selection and the requirement to minimize the risk of predation determined the design of completed nests. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that sexual selection also influences nest design. This is an important development as while species such as bowerbirds build structures that are extended phenotypic signals whose sole purpose is to attract a mate, nests contain eggs and/or offspring, thereby suggesting a direct trade‐off between the conflicting requirements of natural and sexual selection. Nest design also varies adaptively in order to both minimize the detrimental effects of parasites and to create a suitable microclimate for parents and developing offspring in relation to predictable variation in environmental conditions. Our understanding of the design and function of birds' nests has increased considerably in recent years, and the evidence suggests that nests have four nonmutually exclusive functions. Consequently, we conclude that the design of birds' nests is far more sophisticated than previously realized and that nests are multifunctional structures that have important fitness consequences for the builder/s.
Benefits and costs of ecological restoration: Rapid assessment of changing ecosystem service values at a U.K. wetland
Authors: Peh Kelvin S.‐H. , Balmford Andrew , Field Rob H. , Lamb Anthony , Birch Jennifer C. , Bradbury Richard B. , Brown Claire , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Lester Martin , Morrison Ross , Sedgwick Isabel , Soans Chris , Stattersfield Alison J. , Stroh Peter A. , Swetnam Ruth D. , Thomas David H. L. , Walpole Matt , Warrington Stuart , Hughes Francine M. R. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractRestoration of degraded land is recognized by the international community as an important way of enhancing both biodiversity and ecosystem services, but more information is needed about its costs and benefits. In Cambridgeshire, U.K., a long‐term initiative to convert drained, intensively farmed arable land to a wetland habitat mosaic is driven by a desire both to prevent biodiversity loss from the nationally important Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve (Wicken Fen NNR) and to increase the provision of ecosystem services. We evaluated the changes in ecosystem service delivery resulting from this land conversion, using a new Toolkit for Ecosystem Service Site‐based Assessment (TESSA) to estimate biophysical and monetary values of ecosystem services provided by the restored wetland mosaic compared with the former arable land. Overall results suggest that restoration is associated with a net gain to society as a whole of $199 ha−1y−1, for a one‐off investment in restoration of $2320 ha−1. Restoration has led to an estimated loss of arable production of $2040 ha−1y−1, but estimated gains of $671 ha−1y−1 in nature‐based recreation, $120 ha−1y−1 from grazing, $48 ha−1y−1 from flood protection, and a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worth an estimated $72 ha−1y−1. Management costs have also declined by an estimated $1325 ha−1y−1. Despite uncertainties associated with all measured values and the conservative assumptions used, we conclude that there was a substantial gain to society as a whole from this land‐use conversion. The beneficiaries also changed from local arable farmers under arable production to graziers, countryside users from towns and villages, and the global community, under restoration. We emphasize that the values reported here are not necessarily transferable to other sites.
Rapid evolutionary adaptation to elevated salt concentrations in pathogenic freshwater bacteria Serratia marcescens
Authors: Ketola Tarmo , Hiltunen Teppo 
Published: September 2014

AbstractRapid evolutionary adaptions to new and previously detrimental environmental conditions can increase the risk of invasion by novel pathogens. We tested this hypothesis with a 133‐day‐long evolutionary experiment studying the evolution of the pathogenic Serratia marcescens bacterium at salinity niche boundary and in fluctuating conditions. We found that S. marcescens evolved at harsh (80 g/L) and extreme (100 g/L) salt conditions had clearly improved salt tolerance than those evolved in the other three treatments (ancestral conditions, nonsaline conditions, and fluctuating salt conditions). Evolutionary theories suggest that fastest evolutionary changes could be observed in intermediate selection pressures. Therefore, we originally hypothesized that extreme conditions, such as our 100 g/L salinity treatment, could lead to slower adaptation due to low population sizes. However, no evolutionary differences were observed between populations evolved in harsh and extreme conditions. This suggests that in the study presented here, low population sizes did not prevent evolution in the long run. On the whole, the adaptive potential observed here could be important for the transition of pathogenic S. marcescens bacteria from human‐impacted freshwater environments, such as wastewater treatment plants, to marine habitats, where they are known to infect and kill corals (e.g., through white pox disease).
Acid Treatment of Layered Double Hydroxides Containing Carbonate
Authors: Hibino Toshiyuki 
Published: September 2014

AbstractCarbonate‐containing Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with two different crystallinities were treated with acidic solutions that contain Cl–. Upon treatment with an acetate buffer/NaCl aqueous solution, low‐crystallinity LDH consumed more protons for dissolution of the metal hydroxide layers than did high‐crystallinity LDH, and it showed a lower extent of exchange of interlayer anions for Cl– than high‐crystallinity LDH. Varying washing procedures also resulted in differences in the characteristics of the washed products, such as the presence of Al(OH)3 and the extent of exchange for Cl–. When chloride‐containing LDHs were dispersed in water, Mg hydroxide species in the LDHs were found to be dissolved to some extent even in water, and Cl– ions in the LDHs were replaced with OH– ions that were formed by the dissolution.
Metallic Few‐Layer Flowerlike VS2 Nanosheets as Field Emitters
Authors: Rout Chandra Sekhar , Khare Ruchita , Kashid Ranjit V. , Joag Dilip S. , More Mahendra A. , Lanzillo Nicholas A. , Washington Morris , Nayak Saroj K. , Late Dattatray J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe report first‐principles DFT calculations of the single‐layer VS2 work function, the experimental synthesis of flower‐like few‐layer‐thick VS2 nanosheets by a simple one‐step hydrothermal method, and the investigation of their field emission properties. The turn‐on field required to draw emission current densities of 1 and 10 μA/cm2 were 4 and 5.01 V/μm, respectively. The observed turn‐on field values are attributed to the high field enhancement factor (ca. 2500), which is due to presence of sharp protrusions in the VS2 nanosheets. Furthermore, the field‐emission current stability of the VS2 emitter shows stable behavior over a period of 12 h. Further, DFT calculations show that the work function (f) of the single‐layer VS2 emitter is 6.01 eV.
Selective C–H Bond Activation of 1,2‐Dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane by the Donor‐Stabilized Silylene Bis[N,N′‐diisopropyl­benzamidinato(–)]silicon(II)
Authors: Junold Konstantin , Baus Johannes A. , Burschka Christian , Finze Maik , Tacke Reinhold 
Published: September 2014

AbstractReaction of donor‐stabilized silylene 1 (which is three‐coordinate in the solid state and four‐coordinate in solution) with 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane affords neutral six‐coordinate silicon(IV) complex 2 with a carboranyl ligand through selective Ccluster–H bond activation. Compound 2 undergoes selective Si–C bond cleavage with acetonitrile to form neutral six‐coordinate silicon(IV) complex 3 with a cyanomethyl ligand and 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by crystal structure analyses and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in the solid state and in solution. In addition, compound 2 was studied by DFT calculations.
A Glycal Approach to the Synthesis of Steviamine Analogues
Authors: Santhanam Venkatesan , Ramesh Namakkal G. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe synthesis of two new stereoisomers of steviamine, namely 1,8a‐di‐epi‐(+)‐steviamine and 2,3‐di‐epi‐(–)‐steviamine, is reported, starting from tri‐O‐benzyl‐D‐glucal. The key step in the synthesis was a modified Julia olefination of a 2‐formyl‐polyhydroxy‐pyrrolidine with a sulfone derived from ethyl acetoacetate. Glycosidase‐inhibition studies revealed that 2,3‐di‐epi‐(–)‐steviamine is a selective inhibitor of α‐galactosidase.
Synthesis of 2‐Alkylideneisochromans by Cyclocarbonylative Sonogashira Reactions
Authors: Aronica Laura Antonella , Giannotti Luca , Giuntini Stefano , Caporusso Anna Maria 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn this study we used a tandem carbonylative Sonogashira reaction/cyclisation process to construct alkylidene‐functionalized isochromans in high yields with complete stereoselectivity (only Z isomers were formed). The reaction was performed in the absence of a CuI co‐catalyst with a small amount of PdCl2(PPh3)2 (0.2–0.5 mol‐%), and aryl iodides bearing both electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing substituents were successfully employed.
First Microwave‐Assisted Catalytic Wittig Reaction
Authors: Werner Thomas , Hoffmann Marcel , Deshmukh Sunetra 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe introduce a novel catalytic Wittig reaction based on an inexpensive and readily available phosphane oxide as a precatalyst. The performance of the reaction under microwave irradiation led to significantly improved yields and reaction rates relative to those obtained under conventional heating. Moreover, herein we enclose the first example of the asymmetric catalytic Wittig reaction based on a chiral phosphane as the catalyst.
β2integrins (CD11/18) are essential for the chemosensory adhesion and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on bacterial cellulose
Authors: Kim Gun‐Dong , Lee Seung Eun , Yang Hana , Park Hye Rim , Son Gun Woo , Park Cheung‐Seog , Park Yong Seek 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBacterial cellulose (BC) has been studied widely for applications in biomedical materials such as prosthetic artificial blood vessels owing to its unique characteristics, which include nontoxicity and nonimmunogenicity as compared with synthetic biopolymers such as expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE). However, to date, studies on the relative effect of leukocytes on BC as a prosthetic vascular graft are insufficient. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) play a pivotal role in early‐phase immune response to bacterial or periprosthetic infection. PMN recruitment at sites of infection or inflammation mediated by various integrins such as β2integrin family (CD11/CD18 family). Therefore, we discuss our investigations into the mechanisms by which β2integrins‐mediated chemosensory adhesion and migration of PMN on the vascular graft surface, BC. Our results show that CD11b/CD18 components mainly mediate PMN adherence on BC. CD11b/CD18 displays weak coordination with the other two α subunits (CD11a and CD11c). Furthermore, it was found that the β subunit (CD18) plays a critical role in both the adhesion and migration ofN‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP)‐stimulated PMN on BC. The activity of CD18 contrasts with that of the individual α subunits. Among these, only CD11b displayed inhibition of PMN migration on BC surfaces. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1809–1817, 2015.