bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of diverse natural variants of CYP102A1 found within a species of Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Kang Ji-Yeon , Kim So-Young , Kim Dooil , Kim Dong-Hyun , Shin Sun-Mi , Park Sun-Ha , Kim Keon-Hee , Jung Heung-Chae , Pan Jae-Gu , Joung Young Hee , Chi Youn-Tae , Chae Ho Zoon , Ahn Taeho , Yun Chul-Ho 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
An extreme diversity of substrates and catalytic reactions of cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes is considered to be the consequence of evolutionary adaptation driven by different metabolic or environmental demands. Here we report the presence of numerous natural variants of P450 BM3 (CYP102A1) within a species of Bacillus megaterium. Extensive amino acid substitutions (up to 5% of the total 1049 amino acid residues) were identified from the variants. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that this P450 gene evolve more rapidly than the rRNA gene locus. It was found that key catalytic residues in the substrate channel and active site are retained. Although there were no apparent variations in hydroxylation activity towards myristic acid (C14) and palmitic acid (C16), the hydroxylation rates of lauric acid (C12) by the variants varied in the range of >25-fold. Interestingly, catalytic activities of the variants are promiscuous towards non-natural substrates including human P450 substrates. It can be suggested that CYP102A1 variants can acquire new catalytic activities through site-specific mutations distal to the active site.
Alliinase from Ensifer adhaerens and Its Use for Generation of Fungicidal Activity
Authors: Yutani Masahiro , Taniguchi Hiroko , Borjihan Hasibagan , Ogita Akira , Fujita Ken-ichi , Tanaka Toshio 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
A bacterium Ensifer adhaerens FERM P-19486 with the ability of alliinase production was isolated from a soil sample. The enzyme was purified for characterization of its general properties and evaluation of its application in on-site production of allicin-dependent fungicidal activity. The bacterial alliinase was purified 300-fold from a cell-free extract, giving rise to a homogenous protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The bacterial alliinase (96 kDa) consisted of two identical subunits (48 kDa), and was most active at 60°C and at pH 8.0. The enzyme stoichiometrically converted (-)-alliin ((-)-S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide) to form allicin, pyruvic acid, and ammonia more selectively than (+)-alliin, a naturally occurring substrate for plant alliinase ever known. The C-S lyase activity was also detected with this bacterial enzyme when S-alkyl-L-cysteine was used as a substrate, though such a lyase activity is absolutely absent in alliinase of plant origin. The enzyme generated a fungicidal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a time- and a dose-dependent fashion using alliin as a stable precursor. Alliinase of Ensifer adhaerens FERM P-19486 is the enzyme with a novel type of substrate specificity, and thus considered to be beneficial when used in combination with garlic enzyme with respect to absolute conversion of (±)-alliin to allicin.
Extremes of weight centile are associated with increased risk of mortality in pediatric intensive care
Authors: Numa Andrew , McAweeney John , Williams Gary , Awad John , Ravindranathan Hari 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Although numerous studies have linked extremes of weight with poor outcome in adult intensive care patients, the effect of weight on intensive care outcome has not previously been reported in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between admission weight centile and risk-adjusted mortality in pediatric intensive care patients.

Methods
Data were collected on 6337 consecutively admitted patients over an 8.5 year period in a 15 bed pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) located in a university-affiliated tertiary referral children's hospital. A weight centile variable was entered into a multivariate logistic regression model that included all other pediatric index of mortality (PIM-2) variables, in order to determine whether weight centile was an independent risk factor for mortality.

Results
Weight centile was associated with mortality in both univariate and multivariate analysis, with the lowest mortality being associated with weights on the 75th centile and increasing symmetrically around this nadir. A transformed weight centile variable (absolute value of weight centile-75) was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 1.02, P = 0.000) when entered into a multivariate logistic regression model that included the PIM-2 variables.

Conclusions
In this single-center cohort, weight centile was an independent risk factor for mortality in the ICU, with mortality increasing for patients at either end of the weight spectrum. These observations suggest that the accuracy of mortality prediction algorithms may be improved by inclusion of weight centile in the models. A prospective multicenter study should be undertaken to confirm our findings.
Obstetric opinions regarding the method of delivery in women that have had surgery for retinal detachment
Authors: Papamichael Esther , Aylward George William , Regan Lesley 
Published: April 2011

Objectives We sought to determine international obstetric opinions regarding the influence of a history of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment on the management of labour and to review the evidence base. Design A questionnaire containing closed questions, with pre-coded response opinions, was designed to obtain a cross-section of the obstetric opinions. Setting Questionnaires were distributed at the 20th European Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Lisbon, Portugal. Participants One hundred questionnaires were distributed among obstetricians attending the congress and 74 agreed to participate. Main outcome measures Participants were asked to state their preferred method of delivery in such patients and the reasons for their recommendation. Furthermore, we questioned whether there was any difference in opinions depending on generation. Results The majority of respondents (76%) would recommend assisted delivery (either Caesarean section or instrumental delivery), whereas the remaining 24% would advise normal delivery. Generation is not a factor influencing this decision. The majority (58%) based their decision to alter the management of labour on their personal opinion of standard of care. Conclusion The literature shows that there is little evidence to support the belief that previous retinal surgery increases the risk of re-detachment of the retina during spontaneous vaginal delivery. This short survey shows that the majority of an international sample of obstetricians questioned does not share this viewpoint. Therefore, unnecessary interventions may be occurring in otherwise fit women with a history of retinal detachment.
Renal function parameters during early and late recovery periods following an all-out 21-km run in trained adolescent runners
Authors: Tian Ye , Tong Tom K. , Lippi Giuseppe , Huang Chuanye , Shi Qingde , Nie Jinlei 
Published: April 2011

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the changes in biomarkers of renal function and the corresponding estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 10 male adolescent (16.2±0.6 years) trained runners during early and late recovery periods after an all-out 21-km run.

Methods: Venous blood samples were taken immediately before, and at 2-h, 4-h, and 24-h following the 21-km run. Samples were analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct), and serum urea (U), creatinine (Cr), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). U/Cr ratio, eGFR, and plasma volume change (%ΔPV) were calculated based on the associated measured variables.

Results: At 2-h and 4-h, there were increases (26%–146%) in U, Cr, U/Cr, CK, and LDH, and decreases (8%–13%) in Hb and Hct, as compared with the corresponding pre-exercise values. The calculated %ΔPV increased by 17% while the eGFR decreased 20% from the corresponding pre-exercise value, respectively. At 24-h, the changes of the blood variables and renal function parameters observed at early recovery period were sustained.

Conclusions: Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that mild decline in renal function occurred during the early recovery period following the 21-km run. The decline in renal function did not return to normal during the later recovery period.
Purification of Eucalyptus globulus water prehydrolyzates using the HiTAC process (high-temperature adsorption on activated charcoal)
Authors: Gütsch Jenny Sabrina , Sixta Herbert 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe implementation of biorefinery concepts into existing pulp and paper mills is a key step for a sustainable utilization of the natural resource wood. Water prehydrolysis of wood is an interesting process for the recovery of xylo-oligosaccharides and derivatives thereof, while at the same time cellulose is preserved to a large extent for subsequent dissolving pulp production. The recovery of value-added products out of autohydrolyzates is frequently hindered by extensive lignin precipitation, especially at high temperatures. In this study, a new high-temperature adsorption process (HiTAC process) was developed, where lignin is removed directly after the autohydrolysis, which enables further processing of the autohydrolyzates. The suitability of activated charcoals as a selective adsorbent for lignin under process-relevant conditions (150 and 170°C) has not been considered up to now, because former experiments showed decreasing efficiency of charcoal adsorption of lignin with increasing temperature in the range 20–80°C. In contrast to these results, we demonstrated that the adsorption of lignin at 170°C directly after autohydrolysis is even more efficient than after cooling the hydrolyzate to room temperature. The formation of lignin precipitation and incrustations can thus be efficiently prevented by the HiTAC process. The carbohydrates in the autohydrolysis liquor remain unaffected over a wide charcoal concentration range and can be further processed to yield valuable products.
Detecting Major Genetic Loci Controlling Phenotypic Variability in Experimental Crosses
Authors: Rönnegård Lars , Valdar William 
Published: April 2011

AbstractTraditional methods for detecting genes that affect complex diseases in humans or animal models, milk production in livestock, or other traits of interest, have asked whether variation in genotype produces a change in that trait’s average value. But focusing on differences in the mean ignores differences in variability about that mean. The robustness, or uniformity, of an individual’s character is not only of great practical importance in medical genetics and food production but is also of scientific and evolutionary interest (e.g., blood pressure in animal models of heart disease, litter size in pigs, flowering time in plants). We describe a method for detecting major genes controlling the phenotypic variance, referring to these as vQTL. Our method uses a double generalized linear model with linear predictors based on probabilities of line origin. We evaluate our method on simulated F2 and collaborative cross data, and on a real F2 intercross, demonstrating its accuracy and robustness to the presence of ordinary mean-controlling QTL. We also illustrate the connection between vQTL and QTL involved in epistasis, explaining how these concepts overlap. Our method can be applied to a wide range of commonly used experimental crosses and may be extended to genetic association more generally.
Molecular Chaperone Hsp104 Can Promote Yeast Prion Generation
Authors: Kryndushkin Dmitry S , Engel Abbi , Edskes Herman , Wickner Reed B 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
[URE3] is an amyloid-based prion of Ure2p, a regulator of nitrogen catabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Ure2p of the human pathogen Candida albicans can also be a prion in S. cerevisiae. We find that overproduction of the disaggregating chaperone, Hsp104, increases the frequency of de novo [URE3] prion formation by the Ure2p of S. cerevisiae and that of C. albicans. This stimulation is strongly dependent on the presence of the [PIN+] prion, known from previous work to enhance [URE3] prion generation. Our data suggest that transient Hsp104 overproduction enhances prion generation through persistent effects on Rnq1 amyloid, as well as during overproduction by disassembly of amorphous Ure2 aggregates (generated during Ure2p overproduction), driving the aggregation toward the amyloid pathway. Overproduction of other major cytosolic chaperones of the Hsp70 and Hsp40 families (Ssa1p, Sse1p, and Ydj1p) inhibit prion formation, whereas another yeast Hsp40, Sis1p, modulates the effects of Hsp104p on both prion induction and prion curing in a prion-specific manner. The same factor may both enhance de novo prion generation and destabilize existing prion variants, suggesting that prion variants may be selected by changes in the chaperone network.
Increasing Power of Genome-Wide Association Studies by Collecting Additional Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Authors: Kostem Emrah , Lozano Jose A , Eskin Eleazar 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been effectively identifying the genomic regions associated with a disease trait. In a typical GWAS, an informative subset of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), called tag SNPs, is genotyped in case/control individuals. Once the tag SNP statistics are computed, the genomic regions that are in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the most significantly associated tag SNPs are believed to contain the causal polymorphisms. However, such LD regions are often large and contain many additional polymorphisms. Following up all the SNPs included in these regions is costly and infeasible for biological validation. In this article we address how to characterize these regions cost effectively with the goal of providing investigators a clear direction for biological validation. We introduce a follow-up study approach for identifying all untyped associated SNPs by selecting additional SNPs, called follow-up SNPs, from the associated regions and genotyping them in the original case/control individuals. We introduce a novel SNP selection method with the goal of maximizing the number of associated SNPs among the chosen follow-up SNPs. We show how the observed statistics of the original tag SNPs and human genetic variation reference data such as the HapMap Project can be utilized to identify the follow-up SNPs. We use simulated and real association studies based on the HapMap data and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium to demonstrate that our method shows superior performance to the correlation- and distance-based traditional follow-up SNP selection approaches. Our method is publicly available at http://genetics.cs.ucla.edu/followupSNPs.
Smart Systems for Enhanced Integrity of Existing and Future Structures
Authors: Boller Christian 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTAgeing is a general problem also applicable in engineering. Many of our engineering struc-tures are seemingly built ageless. Others were built with higher safety factors to cope with the lack of engineering knowledge at the time, where enhanced knowledge nowadays allows these structures to be used longer than initially anticipated. Consequently new design principles may allow future structures to be further built lighter weight. Much of this enhancement can result from the implementation of smart systems technologies into design. This paper will give a few examples based on integrated sensing as well as actuation principles into structures.
Magnetostriction and Crystallographic Texture in Rolled and Annealed Fe-Ga Based Alloys
Authors: Na Suok-Min , Flatau Alison B. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTResults that demonstrate the selective development of {100}<001> preferred texture in polycrystalline Fe81.3Ga18.7 plus B (0.5∼1.0 at.%) and S (∼0.05 at.%) alloys using a conventional rolling and annealing processes are presented in this work. We found that boron improved ductility by enhancing grain boundary cohesion during rolling and sulfur played an important role in controlling the surface energy and formation of the selective growth of {100} grains during annealing. The as-rolled (Fe81.3Ga18.7)+0.5 at.%B+0.005 at.%S sheet had some {100}<011> and near {111}<011> texture corresponding to α-fiber texture parallel to the rolling direction. The near {100}<001> sheet texture was formed in sheet that was annealed at 1200°C for 2h (198 ppm), while the texture of sheet annealed at 1100°C for 4h (165 ppm) was closer to {110}<001>. The maximum observed magnetostriction of 220 ppm was obtained as a result of a double annealed, first at 1000°C for 6h and then at 1200°C for 1h, with the resultant texture closer to the ideal {100}<001> than the less desirable {100}<011>.
A novel fabrication technique by composite material processing: Integrated metal-insulator-semiconductor fibers and fiber devices
Authors: Bayindir Mehmet , Abouraddy Ayman F. , Shapira Ofer , Viens Jeff , Joannopoulos John D. , Fink Yoel 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTFabrication of functional devices in fibers by thermal drawing requires a material identification scheme and challenging composite material processing. A macroscopic preform rod containing metallic, semiconducting and insulating constituents in a variety of geometries and close contact leads to kilometer-long novel optoelectronic, and thermal mesoscopic fiber devices. The preform-to-fiber approach yields spectrally tunable photodetectors and integrated self-monitoring fibers.
Applications of Smart Materials in the Developement of High Performance Biosensors
Authors: Cheng Z.-Y. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTHigh performance biosensors are urgently needed from medical diagnosis, to food safety/security, to the war on bio-terrorist. The smart materials play an important role in the development of high performance sensor platform. Biosensors based on microcantilevers have very high sensitivity. The microcantilevers made of different materials, such silicon, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive materials, are discussed and compared in this paper. The magnetostrictive-based microcantilevers exhibit the best performance among all microcantilevers. A new sensor platform – magnetostrictive particles (MSPs) – is reported. The advantages of MSPs over microcantilevers are experimentally demonstrated. The MSPs are wireless/remote sensors, which makes it is possible to employ the MSP-based biosensors in different environments/media. The fabrication of MSPs in micro to nano-scale is reported. Compared with the microcantilevers, MSPs exhibit a better mass sensitivity and a higher Q value, which make the MSPs a much higher overall sensitivity.
Electrical Properties Of Electrospun Poly (Ethylene Oxide) - Polypyrrole Composite Fibers
Authors: Sundaray Bibekananda , Subramanian V. , Natarajan T. Srinivasan 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTElectrospinning is a simple method of obtaining polymer fibers with nanometer diameter. The increase in the ratio of surface area to volume in the case of such fibers, make them attractive in applications such as sensors, etc. It is difficult to electrospin Polypyrrole (PPy) directly to form fibers. Hence electrospinning is attempted with a composite formed with PPy and any other insulating polymer such as Polyethylene oxide (PEO), Polystyrene (PS), etc. The concentration of PPy can be varied to improve the electrical or sensing properties of the resulting composite. In the present report, the PEO-PPy composite fibers with different weight percentages (10% to 50% w/w) are prepared by electrospinning process. The fibers obtained are characterized using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). I-V Characteristics are studied for single and multiple aligned fibers obtained on gold electrodes. The variation of electrical conductivity with different concentration of PPy is discussed.
Highly Thermal Stable Lambda-Shaped Main-Chain Nonlinear Optical Polyimide
Authors: Tsai Hsieh-Chih , Kuo Wen-Jang , Hsiue Ging-Ho 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTIn poled electro-optical (E-O) polymer systems, the relaxation of oriented chromophores is maintained by either introducing the guest chromophores into host polymers with high glass transition temperatures, or by confining the chromophores in polymer networks. Various highly stable NLO polymers have been prepared by grafting NLO-active chromophores onto aromatic polyimide backbones. The pendent chromophores of side chain polyimides can be stabilized at low temperature because they have rigid rod-like structures. However, the orientation decays quickly at elevated temperatures because the local free volumes that surround the chromophores increase. Taking advantage of the multifunctional characteristics of carbazole along with rational molecular design, a new NLO-active lambda-shape main-chain polyimide that comprises the two-dimensional carbazole chromophore was synthesized. This polyimide exhibits high thermal and temporal stability. it can endure as high as 240 °C in a transient time and maintain large SH signal at 100 °C for a long time. The high-glass transition polyimide as a matrix and embedding the two-dimensional chromophore into the polymer backbone are the major reasons that effectively restrict randomization of the oriented dipole.
Localization of 5f electrons and phase transitions in americium
Authors: Pénicaud Michel 
Published: April 2011

AbstractDensity-functional electronic calculations have been used to investigate the high-pressure behavior of americium.The phase transitions calculated agree with the recent sequence obtained experimentally under pressure: double hexagonal close packed → face centered cubic → face centered orthorhombic, primitive orthorhombic. In the first three phases the 5f electrons are found localized, only in the fourth phase (Am IV) the 5f electrons are found delocalized. The localization of the 5f electrons is modelled by an anti-ferromagnetic configuration which has a lower energy than the ferromagnetic ones. In this study the complex crystal structures have been fully relaxed.
Optical Absorption, Stability and Structure of NpO2+Complexes with Dicarboxylic Acids
Authors: Tian Guoxin , Rao Linfeng 
Published: April 2011

AbstractComplexation of NpO2+with oxalic acid (OX), 2,2'-oxydiacetic acid (ODA), 2,2'-iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and 2,2'-thiodiacetic acid (TDA), has been studied using spectrophotometry in 1 M NaClO4. Both the position and the intensity of the absorption band of NpO2+at 980 nm are affected by the formation of NpO2+/dicarboxylate complexes, providing useful information on the complexation strength, the coordination mode and the structure of the complexes.
Development of Variable Temperature Scanning Microwave Microscope for High Throughput Materials Characterization
Authors: Okazaki Noriaki , Okazaki Sohei , Takahashi Ryota , Murakami Makoto , Ahmet Parhat , Kakiuchi Nobuyuki , Furusho Hitoshi , Nishino Taito , Furubayashi Yutaka , Fukumura Tomoteru , Matsumoto Yuji , Kawasaki Masashi , Chikyow Toyohiro , Koinuma Hideomi , Hasegawa Tetsuya 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe developed a variable-temperature scanning microwave microscope (VT-SμM) that can perform high-throughput materials characterization in the temperature range between 4K and room temperature. As a sensor probe we used a high-Q coaxial cavity resonator, which was mounted on the low-temperature stage to allow variable-temperature measurements. We carried out systematic studies on the thermal degradation of the conducting polymers using the combinatorial libraries of polyaniline and polythiophene thin films, which showed rapid decrease of conductivity above 300C and 250C, respectively. The low-temperature performance of the VT-SμM was demonstrated by the measurement of composition-spread Nd1-xSrxMnO3 thin film, for which we succeeded in detecting the clear metal-insulator transition at 100K. We also propose a simple and easy method for the quantitative analysis of conductive thin films, by using the standard composition-spread thin films of Ti1-xNbxO2.