bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recruitment, Retention, and Blinding in Clinical Trials
Authors: Page Stephen J. , Persch Andrew C. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The recruitment and retention of participants and the blinding of participants, health care providers, and data collectors present challenges for clinical trial investigators. This article reviews challenges and alternative strategies associated with these three important clinical trial activities. Common recruiting pitfalls, including low sample size, unfriendly study designs, suboptimal testing locations, and untimely recruitment are discussed together with strategies for overcoming these barriers. The use of active controls, technology-supported visit reminders, and up-front scheduling is recommended to prevent attrition and maximize retention of participants. Blinding is conceptualized as the process of concealing research design elements from key players in the research process. Strategies for blinding participants, health care providers, and data collectors are suggested.
The Use of a Sequential Extraction Procedure for Heavy Metal Analysis of House Dusts by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Authors: Altundag Huseyin , Dundar Mustafa Sahin , Dogancı Secil , Celik Muhammed , Tuzen Mustafa 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
In general, dust is considered as house or street dust. Indoor dust, as a contamination source, has been studied for many years. In this work, the original Community Bureau of Reference of the European Commission (BCR) three-stage sequential extraction procedure was applied to the fractionation of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn in 20 house dust samples from five different areas of Sakarya, Turkey. Acetic acid, hydroxylammonium chloride, and hydrogen peroxide plus ammonium acetate were used for the first, second, and third steps of the BCR method, respectively. The extracts were analyzed for the studied heavy metals using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Validation of the results was performed by using a standard reference material (BCR 701 Sediment) to certify the experimental results obtained and to evaluate the reliability of the method used. The elemental loadings typically increased in magnitude according to the area order: İzmit Caddesi&gt;Ankara Caddesi&gt;Erenler&gt;Karaman&gt;Korucuk. The results were in agreement with values reported in the literature.
Potentiometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Aluminium Utilizing Polyvinyl Chloride Membrane and Coated Platinum Sensors Based on E-N′-(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) benzohydrazide
Authors: Tajik Somayeh , Taher Mohammad Ali , Sheikhshoaie Iran 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
This paper describes the construction and performance characteristics of novel polyvinyl chloride membrane (PME) and coated platinum (CPtE) aluminium (Al) ion selective electrodes based on E-N′-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene) benzohydrazide. The electrodes exhibited linear responses with near Nernstian slopes of 19.9 ± 0.3 (PME) and 20.1 ± 0.4 (CPtE) mV/decade of activity within the Al3+ ion concentration range of 3.0 × 10–7 to 1.0 × 10–2 M for the PME and 1.0 × 10–7 –1.0 × 10–2 M for the CPtE. These sensors were applicable in a pH range of 3.0 to 7.0. The LODs of the PME and CPtE were 1.7 × 10–7 and 5.6 × 10–8 M, respectively. They had a response time of less than 10 s and could be used practically for a period of at least 2 months without measurable divergence in results. The isothermal temperature coefficient of the PME was 1.12 × 10–3 V/°C, and it can tolerate partially nonaqueous media up to 25%. The electrodes showed excellent selectivity towards Al3+ ions in the presence of a wide range of alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metals ions. They were successfully applied for the direct determination of Al3+ ions in tap water, aqueduct water, mineral water, and Al–Mg syrup and as indicator electrodes in potentiometric titration of Al ions with EDTA.
Bioprocess and Fermentation Monitoring
Authors: Pohlscheidt Michael , Charaniya Salim , Bork Christopher , Jenzsch Marco , Noetzel Tim L. , Luebbert Andreas 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The monitoring and control of biotech processes in different phases of the product lifecycle from early development to commercial production is key for accelerated development and stringent process controls. Effective methods of monitoring are required to develop, optimize, and maintain processes at a maximum efficiency and desired product quality. In the last decade more and more research has been devoted to developing specifically designed sensors, sampling strategies and integrated data management systems to allow better and more detailed process monitoring. Especially with the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) framework published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004 the measurement, monitoring, modeling and control of biotech processes has become more important. This article will describe general operational aspects of sensors, sampling technologies and methods of process monitoring, advanced applications like soft sensors and metabolic controls including integrated data management and analysis. Practical examples and case studies are used to illustrate the potential of soft sensors, models and advanced sensors.
Nickel(II)‐Magnesium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of 1,1‐Dibromo‐1‐alkenes with Diphenylphosphine Oxide: One‐Pot Synthesis of (E)‐1‐Alkenylphosphine Oxides or Bisphosphine Oxides
Authors: Liu Liu , Wang Yulei , Zeng Zhiping , Xu Pengxiang , Gao Yuxing , Yin Yingwu , Zhao Yufen 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA novel nickel(II)‐magnesium‐mediated cross‐coupling of diphenylphosphine oxide with a variety of 1,1‐dibromo‐1‐alkenes has been developed, which provides a powerful and general methodology for the stereoselective synthesis of various (E)‐1‐alkenylphosphine oxides or bisphosphine oxides, with operational simplicity of the procedure, good to high yields and broad substrate applicability. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction might involve a Hirao reduction, cross‐coupling and Michael addition.
Optically Active 2,3‐Allenoates via Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of Enantioenriched Propargylic Mesylates
Authors: Wang Yuli , Ma Shengming 
Published: February 2013

AbstractUnder mild conditions, optically active 2,3‐allenoates were synthesized from enantioenriched propargylic mesylates with moderate to excellent yields and high efficiency of chirality transfer by using palladium(0) bis(dibenzylideneacetone) (3 mol%) with (S)‐(−)‐5,5′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole [(S)‐SEGPHOS] (3 mol%) as the catalyst and diammonium hydrogen phosphate (1.1 equiv .) as the base.
Aldehyde‐Catalyzed Transition Metal‐Free Dehydrative β‐Alkylation of Methyl Carbinols with Alcohols
Authors: Xu Qing , Chen Jianhui , Liu Quan 
Published: February 2013

AbstractDifferent to the borrowing hydrogen strategy in which alcohols were activated by transition metal‐catalyzed anaerobic dehydrogenation, the direct addition of aldehydes was found to be an effective but simpler way of alcohol activation that can lead to efficient and green aldehyde‐catalyzed transition metal‐free dehydrative C‐alkylation of methyl carbinols with alcohols. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via in situ formation of ketones by Oppenauer oxidation of the methyl carbinols by external aldehydes, aldol condensation, and Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV)‐type reduction of α,β‐unsatutated ketones by substrate alcohols, affording the useful long chain alcohols and generating aldehydes and ketones as the by‐products that will be recovered in the next condensation to finish the catalytic cycle.
Monodispersed and Stable Nano Copper(0) from Copper‐ Aluminium Hydrotalcite: Importance in CC Couplings of Deactivated Aryl Chlorides
Authors: Arundhathi Racha , Damodara Dandu , Mohan Kakita Veera , Kantam Mannepalli Lakshmi , Likhar Pravin R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractA simple one‐step approach for the preparation of highly monodispersed nano copper(0) stabilized on alumina [Cu(0)/Al2O3] by thermal reduction of copper‐aluminium hydrotalcite (Cu‐Al HT) under a hydrogen atmosphere is described. The transformation of Cu‐Al HT to Cu(0)/Al2O3 occurrs via dehydroxylation of divalent and trivalent metal hydroxides and decarboxylation of carbonate anions present in the interlayers of hydrotalcite, as confirmed by XPS, XANES, XRD and TEM analysis. Cu(0)/Al2O3 nano composites were used as an efficient catalyst in the CC coupling of deactivated aryl chlorides. The high efficiency and reusability exhibited by Cu(0)/Al2O3 outline its potential as an alternative over traditional noble metal‐based catalysts in CC coupling reactions.
Nanomechanics controls neuronal precursors adhesion and differentiation
Authors: Migliorini Elisa , Ban Jelena , Grenci Gianluca , Andolfi Laura , Pozzato Alessandro , Tormen Massimo , Torre Vincent , Lazzarino Marco 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe ability to control the differentiation of stem cells into specific neuronal types has a tremendous potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In vitro neuronal differentiation can be guided by the interplay of biochemical and biophysical cues. Different strategies to increase the differentiation yield have been proposed, focusing everything on substrate topography, or, alternatively on substrate stiffness. Both strategies demonstrated an improvement of the cellular response. However it was often impossible to separate the topographical and the mechanical contributions. Here we investigate the role of the mechanical properties of nanostructured substrates, aiming at understanding the ultimate parameters which govern the stem cell differentiation. To this purpose a set of different substrates with controlled stiffness and with or without nanopatterning are used for stem cell differentiation. Our results show that the neuronal differentiation yield depends mainly on the substrate mechanical properties while the geometry plays a minor role. In particular nanostructured and flat polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with comparable stiffness show the same neuronal yield. The improvement in the differentiation yield obtained through surface nanopatterning in the submicrometer scale could be explained as a consequence of a substrate softening effect. Finally we investigate by single cell force spectroscopy the neuronal precursor adhesion on the substrate immediately after seeding, as a possible critical step governing the neuronal differentiation efficiency. We observed that neuronal precursor adhesion depends on substrate stiffness but not on surface structure, and in particular it is higher on softer substrates. Our results suggest that cell–substrate adhesion forces and mechanical response are the key parameters to be considered for substrate design in neuronal regenerative medicine. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2301–2310. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cooverexpression of alanine aminotransferase 1 in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing taurine transporter further stimulates metabolism and enhances product yield
Authors: Tabuchi Hisahiro , Sugiyama Tomoya 
Published: February 2013

AbstractInnovation in monoclonal antibody (mAb) production continues to be driven by cell engineering strategies to increase yield and improve product quality. In a previous study, to investigate the effectiveness of transporter overexpression strategies, we prepared a taurine transporter‐overexpressing host cell line (DXB11/TAUT) that produced a higher proportion of high‐mAb‐titer strains than did the parent host cell line. In the current study, we selected a single DXB11/TAUT/mAb1 strain that remained viable for longer (up to 1 month) under common fed‐batch culture conditions, and the improvement in viability could be attributed to its improved metabolic properties. It was also more productive (up to >100 pg/cell/day) and yielded more mAb1 (up to 8.1 g/L/31 days) than the parent cell line, and the mAb1 it produced was of comparable quality. These results suggested that this host cell engineering strategy has unique potential for the improvement of mAb‐producing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells; for example, it may be appropriate for high cell density perfusion culture. TAUT‐overexpressing cell lines rapidly accumulated the byproduct alanine, and our challenge in the present study was to apply a strategy for modulating cell metabolism to utilize this byproduct to achieve a high mAb yield in a shorter culture period. To accomplish this, we genetically modified the DXB11/TAUT/mAb1 strain to cooverexpress alanine aminotransferase 1 (ALT1). The resulting DXB11/TAUT/mAb1/ALT1 cooverexpressing strain gave a higher mAb yield in a shorter culture period (5.9 g/L/14 days). It is usually difficult to drive the overexpression of two functional genes while balancing competing goals. However, forced cooverexpression of TAUT and ALT1 in our DXB11/TAUT/mAb1/ALT1 strain resulted in a higher proliferation than the DXB11/TAUT/mAb1 strain, with an ideal balance between cell viability and productivity. Therefore, we have demonstrated a strategy capable of achieving an optimum balance among the goals of cell viability, productivity, and proliferative capacity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2208–2215. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electron Transfer between Hydrogen‐Bonded Pyridylphenols and a Photoexcited Rhenium(I) Complex
Authors: Herzog William , Bronner Catherine , Löffler Susanne , He Bice , Kratzert Daniel , Stalke Dietmar , Hauser Andreas , Wenger Oliver S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractTwo pyridylphenols with intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the phenol and pyridine units have been synthesized, characterized crystallographically, and investigated by cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Reductive quenching of the triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge‐transfer excited state of the [Re(CO)3(phen)(py)]+ complex (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, py=pyridine) by the two pyridylphenols and two reference phenol molecules is investigated by steady‐state and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy, as well as by transient absorption spectroscopy. Stern–Volmer analysis of the luminescence quenching data provides rate constants for the bimolecular excited‐state quenching reactions. H/D kinetic isotope effects for the pyridylphenols are on the order of 2.0, and the bimolecular quenching reactions are up to 100 times faster with the pyridylphenols than with the reference phenols. This observation is attributed to the markedly less positive oxidation potentials of the pyridylphenols with respect to the reference phenols (≈0.5 V), which in turn is caused by proton coupling of the phenol oxidation process. Transient absorption spectroscopy provides unambiguous evidence for the photogeneration of phenoxyl radicals, that is, the overall photoreaction is clearly a proton‐coupled electron‐transfer process.
Prediction of multivariate chaotic time series via radial basis function neural network
Authors: Chen Diyi , Han Wenting 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIn this article, a new multivariate radial basis functions neural network model is proposed to predict the complex chaotic time series. To realize the reconstruction of phase space, we apply the mutual information method and false nearest‐neighbor method to obtain the crucial parameters time delay and embedding dimension, respectively, and then expand into the multivariate situation. We also proposed two the objective evaluations, mean absolute error and prediction mean square error, to evaluate the prediction accuracy. To illustrate the prediction model, we use two coupled Rossler systems as examples to do simultaneously single‐step prediction and multistep prediction, and find that the evaluation performances and prediction accuracy can achieve an excellent magnitude. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2013.
Bilirubin Oxidase‐Based Nanobiocathode Working in Serum‐Mimic Buffer for Implantable Biofuel Cell
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Sánchez Cristina , Pita Marcos , Toscano Miguel D. , De Lacey Antonio L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractLow‐density graphite electrodes have been covalently modified with gold nanoparticles and used as scaffold for the oriented immobilization of Myrothecium verrucaria bilirubin oxidase. The developed nanobioelectrodes have been tested as a biocathode in a human‐serum surrogate buffer that mimics physiological conditions. The nanostructured bioelectrode offered a −140 µA cm−2 current density under serum‐mimic conditions at 0.2 V, and was operational during at least 6 days.
Unprecedented upper‐air dropsonde observations over Antarctica from the 2010 Concordiasi Experiment: Validation of satellite‐retrieved temperature profiles
Authors: Wang Junhong , Hock Terry , Cohn Stephen A. , Martin Charlie , Potts Nick , Reale Tony , Sun Bomin , Tilley Frank 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe 2010 Concordiasi field experiment took place over Antarctica from September to December 2010. During Concordiasi, for the first time, 13 National Center for Atmospheric Research Driftsonde systems were launched from McMurdo station, ascended to the stratosphere, and then drifted with the winds. The Driftsonde provides a unique platform to release dropsondes that measure the atmosphere from the lower stratosphere to the surface in otherwise difficult to reach parts of the globe. A total of 639 soundings were obtained and provided unprecedented high quality profiles over Antarctica. The sounding temperature profiles are compared with matched profiles from ten satellite products. All satellite products except The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) are consistent colder than the sounding data, with larger discrepancies over the Antarctic continent than the coast and ocean. The COSMIC data are in agreement with the sounding data and display no degradation over the continent.
Broadband array observations of the 300 km seismic discontinuity
Authors: Schmerr Nicholas C. , Kelly Byron M. , Thorne Michael S. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIntermittent seismic discontinuities near 250–300 km depth beneath South America and the Pacific basin are detected with high‐resolution seismic array methods that use SS and PP precursors recorded at the High Lava Plains Seismic Experiment and the EarthScope Transportable Array. The transformation of coesite to stishovite in an eclogite‐rich mantle composition produces a seismic discontinuity near 300 km depth; lateral changes in basalt fraction of the upper mantle will thus produce an intermittent seismic discontinuity. The sensitivity of the precursors to intermittent seismic structure is addressed using an axisymmetric finite difference model of wave propagation in the mantle. These numerical experiments find that the precursors are sensitive to structures ≥500 km in lateral extent and that the observations of this discontinuity are plausibly tied to lateral variations in basaltic composition of the upper mantle related to dynamics, such as plumes and subduction.
Distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils and the underlying unsaturated subsurface at an abandoned petrochemical site, North China
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Guangcai , Sugiura Norio , Utsumi Motoo , Zhang Zhenya , Yang Yingnan 
Published: February 2013

AbstractContamination characteristics of petroleum hydrocarbons in soils and the underlying unsaturated subsurface were analysed by investigating and sampling at different depth of five boreholes named SH1 through SH5 at a typical petrochemical site, North China. Topsoil volatile organic gas measurement revealed that SH‐3 was the center of one pollution plume. Soil samples analysis showed that aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons were major pollutants. Their maximum concentration was found at 6.5 and 14.6 m of SH‐2, 13 m of SH‐5, and 18.5 m of SH‐3. These pollutants are mostly accumulated on the interface between two different lithological layers, especially between the sand and silt clay layers. Denitrifying and iron reducing were main biogeochemical processes in this site. Under the influence of groundwater level fluctuation, free NAPLs passed through the boundary and dissolved into the lower groundwater. Knowledge of these associations between contaminant distributions and affecting factors could have implications for soil and groundwater pollution prevention and control. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modulation of calcineurin activity in mouse brain by chronic oral administration of cyclosporine A
Authors: Liu Haipeng , Tu Linghui , Wang Qianru , Sun Yue , Ma Yipeng , Cen Juren , Wei Qun , Luo Jing 
Published: February 2013

AbstractSummaryCalcineurin (CN) is an important phosphatase that mediates many physiological and pathological processes. The regulators of calcineurin (RCAN1) and Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are two endogenous modulators of CN activity. Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a well‐known exogenous inhibitor of CN and used as an immunosuppressive drug after transplantation and for the treatment of immune diseases. The degree of CN inhibition by CsA varies among each tissue. The brain accumulates low levels of CsA due to the blood–brain barrier after oral administration. In our study, we investigated RCAN1 and SOD1 expression in long‐term CsA‐treated mouse brain. Using Western blot, we found that chronic CsA treatment had caused significant up‐regulation of RCAN1‐1L and RCAN1‐4 protein isoforms after 25 days in mouse brain. At the same time, chronic CsA treatment also resulted in decreased expression of SOD1. We simultaneously found more dramatic CN inhibition in mouse brain. It was suspected that the significant reduction of CN activity in vivo resulted partially from up‐regulated RCAN1 and down‐regulated SOD1 expression. In contrast, CsA treatment in SY5Y cells affected SOD1 expression and CN activity significantly, but had no obvious effects on RCAN1‐1 mRNA expression. The changes of RCAN1, SOD1, and CN activity may be part of maladaptive responses, resulting in neuropathological conditions. These data might partially explain CsA neurotoxicity despite the low concentration of CsA in brain. © 2013 IUBMB Life 65(5):445–453, 2013.
Comparison between transperineal ultrasound and digital detection of levator ani trauma. Can we improve the odds?
Authors: Kruger Jennifer A. , Dietz Hans Peter , Budgett Stephanie C. , Dumoulin Chantale L. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAimsTo investigate the predictive ability of four digital assessment parameters to detect levator ani (LA) muscle defects (avulsion injury) and compare these to transperineal tomographic ultrasound images.MethodsThis was an observational study imbedded in a larger quasi‐experimental cohort study for women with urinary incontinence. Seventy‐two women, ≥60 years who had attended or were going to attend physiotherapy for treatment of urinary incontinence, were included in the study. Inclusion criteria from the parent study were symptoms of stress, urge or both types of urinary incontinence. The predictive ability of the following digital parameters: direct palpation of a discontinuity of the LA muscle from insertion on the pubic ramus; palpation of the distance between the muscle insertion sites; palpation of LA strength; palpation of LA tone, were analyzed against findings from tomographic transperineal ultrasound images. Correlation between methods was measured using Cohen's kappa for each of the individual parameters.ResultsSeventeen women (24%) presented with a complete or partial avulsion of the puborectalis muscle as diagnosed with tomographic ultrasound imaging. Nine women (13%) had complete avulsions, one of which was bilateral. The predictive ability of the digital assessment parameters varied from poor (k = 0.187, 95% CI [0.02–0.36]) to moderate (k = 0.569, 95% CI [0.31–0.83]). The new parameter of ‘width between insertion sites’ performed best.ConclusionsAdding the parameter of “width between insertion sites” appears to enhance our ability to detect avulsion of the levator ani (LA) muscle by digital examination however it does not distinguish between unilateral or bilateral avulsion. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:307–311, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.