bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interleukin‐1 and tumor necrosis factor α blockade treatment of experimental polymyositis in mice
Authors: Sugihara Takahiko , Okiyama Naoko , Watanabe Naoto , Miyasaka Nobuyuki , Kohsaka Hitoshi 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectiveHistologic studies of the muscles suggest that cytokines are involved in inflammatory myopathy. The therapeutic effects of cytokine blockade are controversial, with anecdotal reports of clinical efficacy. The aim of this study was to discern the significance of interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) as therapeutic targets in polymyositis (PM) by studying their involvement and the effects of their blockade in C protein–induced myositis (CIM), a murine model of PM.MethodsC57BL/6 mice were immunized with recombinant skeletal C protein fragments to induce CIM. The expression of IL‐1 and TNFα in the muscles of mice with CIM was detected using immunohistochemical and real‐time polymerase chain reaction analyses. After the onset of myositis, the mice with CIM were treated with recombinant IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra), anti–IL‐1R monoclonal antibody, recombinant TNF receptor (p75)–fusion protein (TNFR‐Fc), or anti‐TNFα monoclonal antibody. The muscles were examined histologically for the severity of myositis.ResultsIL‐1α– and TNFα‐positive macrophages were observed in the muscle tissue of mice with CIM as early as 7 days after immunization. IL‐1α, IL‐1β, and TNFα expression in the muscles increased as the severity of myositis peaked, at both the messenger RNA and protein levels. Continuous subcutaneous delivery of IL‐1Ra resulted in suppression of established CIM. Intermittent delivery (1‐day intervals) of anti–IL‐1R monoclonal antibody suppressed myositis, while intermittent delivery of IL‐1Ra did not suppress myositis. Treatment with anti‐TNFα monoclonal antibody and with TNFR‐Fc also reduced the severity of CIM.ConclusionIL‐1 and TNF blockade ameliorated CIM after disease onset and should potentially be a new strategy for the treatment of inflammatory myopathy. As IL‐1 blockade, treatment with anti–IL‐1R monoclonal antibody appeared more feasible than the other approaches.
Improved L‐lysine production with Corynebacterium glutamicum and systemic insight into citrate synthase flux and activity
Authors: van Ooyen Jan , Noack Stephan , Bott Michael , Reth Alexander , Eggeling Lothar 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWe here developed a series of Corynebacterium glutamicum strains with gradual decreased specific citrate synthase (CS) activity and quantified in a multifaceted approach the consequences of residual activity on the transcriptome, metabolome, and fluxome level as well as on L‐lysine formation and growth. We achieved an intended gradual L‐lysine yield increase and recognized and overcame further new limitations in the L‐lysine biosynthesis pathway to result in a strain with the highest yield reported so far when assayed under comparable conditions. As a non‐intended outcome, a detailed flux analysis revealed an almost constant flux through CS at 10% remaining CS activity, whereas the metabolome data revealed an increase in the oxaloacetate and acetyl‐CoA concentrations. Hence reduced CS activity is apparently efficiently buffered by increased concentrations of CS substrates, implying a certain robustness of the central metabolism in response of the imposed gene expressions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:2070–2081. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Female Juvenile Delinquency, Motherhood, and the Intergenerational Transmission of Aggression and Antisocial Behavior
Authors: Tzoumakis Stacy , Lussier Patrick , Corrado Raymond 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTThe current study explored the intergenerational transmission of aggression and antisocial behavior by examining mothers' juvenile delinquency, their pregnancies, and its impact on their children's aggressive behavior. The sample consisted of the first 181 biological mothers recruited as part of the Vancouver Longitudinal Study on the Psychosocial Development of Children (British Columbia, Canada). Results indicated that mothers who were juvenile delinquents were more likely to experience social adversity, to use substances during pregnancy and to offend in adulthood. Furthermore, mothers who reported juvenile delinquency had children who were more physically aggressive and had an earlier onset of physical aggression. This pattern of association held when controlling for sociodemographics, social adversities, prenatal substance exposure, and criminal involvement in adulthood. The study findings highlighted the importance of understanding the role and impact of female delinquency and motherhood on the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Xylose isomerase improves growth and ethanol production rates from biomass sugars for both Saccharomyces pastorianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Miller Kristen P. , Gowtham Yogender Kumar , Henson J. Michael , Harcum Sarah W. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe demand for biofuel ethanol made from clean, renewable nonfood sources is growing. Cellulosic biomass, such as switch grass (Panicum virgatum L.), is an alternative feedstock for ethanol production; however, cellulosic feedstock hydrolysates contain high levels of xylose, which needs to be converted to ethanol to meet economic feasibility. In this study, the effects of xylose isomerase on cell growth and ethanol production from biomass sugars representative of switch grass were investigated using low cell density cultures. The lager yeast species Saccharomyces pastorianus was grown with immobilized xylose isomerase in the fermentation step to determine the impact of the glucose and xylose concentrations on the ethanol production rates. Ethanol production rates were improved due to xylose isomerase; however, the positive effect was not due solely to the conversion of xylose to xylulose. Xylose isomerase also has glucose isomerase activity, so to better understand the impact of the xylose isomerase on S. pastorianus, growth and ethanol production were examined in cultures provided fructose as the sole carbon. It was observed that growth and ethanol production rates were higher for the fructose cultures with xylose isomerase even in the absence of xylose. To determine whether the positive effects of xylose isomerase extended to other yeast species, a side‐by‐side comparison of S. pastorianus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was conducted. These comparisons demonstrated that the xylose isomerase increased ethanol productivity for both the yeast species by increasing the glucose consumption rate. These results suggest that xylose isomerase can contribute to improved ethanol productivity, even without significant xylose conversion. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
Discrete Bubble Model for Prediction of Bubble Behavior in 3D Fluidized Beds
Authors: Movahedirad S. , Ghafari M. , Dehkordi A. M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA discrete bubble model has been developed taking into account multiple bubble‐bubble interactions and a delayed coalescence method. The obtained simulation results were compared with experimental data reported in literature. The simulation results predicted by the developed model indicate clearly that the multiple interactions of bubbles lead to more reasonable results than those predicted by a binary interaction model. In addition, two types of interaction models were applied and predicted results were compared. The frequency of gas bubbles passing through the bed cross section versus bed height follows the same trend as the experimental data.
Synthesis of BZSM‐5 Membranes Using Nano‐Zeolitic Seeds: Characterization and Separation Performance
Authors: Saboor F. H. , Ashrafizadeh S. N. , Kazemian H. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractNanoseeds of BZSM‐5 zeolite with a narrow particle size distribution of 100–200 nm were successfully prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions. Thin and oriented BZSM‐5 membranes of 3–4 μm, prepared at low temperature, were manufactured and examined for the separation of 5 wt‐% ethanol/water mixtures. Separation factor and flux were 13.93 and 1.11 kg m–2h–1, respectively. The temperature of synthesis showed a remarkable influence on the morphology, crystal orientation and separation performance of the membranes. The thinner a,b‐oriented membrane showed a higher separation performance than the thicker h0h‐oriented one.
Improvement of the Uniformity of Radial Solids Concentration Profiles in Circulating Fluidized‐Bed Risers
Authors: Peng B. , Zhang C. , Zhu J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn order to enhance the uniformity of the radial solids distribution and thereby the performance of industrial circulating fluidized‐bed (CFB) risers, an approach by using the air jet from the riser circumference is proposed. The Eulerian‐Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with the kinetic theory of granular flow is adopted to simulate the gas‐solids two‐phase flow in a CFB riser with fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) particles. The numerical results indicate that by employing the circumferential air jet approach under appropriate jet velocities, the maximum solids concentration in the near‐wall region can be greatly reduced, the entrance region can be shortened, and the uniformity of the flow structure can be significantly improved.
Trickle flow liquid–solid mass transfer and wetting efficiency in small diameter columns
Authors: Joubert Rita , Nicol Willie 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA novel method to simultaneously measure liquid solid mass transfer and external wetting efficiency was employed at column to particle ratios of 10, 6 and 3. Two prewetting procedures representing the upper (Kan) and lower (Levec) hysteresis branches were used. For a multipoint distributor on a Kan prewetted bed wetting efficiency and the specific mass transfer coefficient were almost unaffected by column diameter. The multipoint distributor on a Levec prewetted bed exhibited a decrease in specific mass transfer with decreasing column diameter. Point source experiments resulted in significantly lower wetting and mass transfer measurements with an increasing trend with respect to decreasing column diameter. The results indicate that with proper distribution and prewetting, the effect of column diameter on averaged wetting and liquid–solid mass transfer is almost negligible, a powerful result considering the importance of these parameters on reaction experiments. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Cofilin is required for organization of sarcomeric actin filaments in chicken skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Miyauchi‐Nomura Saeko , Obinata Takashi , Sato Naruki 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCofilin is an actin regulatory protein that plays a critical role in actin filament dynamics in a variety of cells. We have previously demonstrated that excess cofilin in skeletal muscle cells leads to disruption of actin filaments, followed by actin‐cofilin rod formation in the cytoplasm. In this study, to further clarify the role of cofilin in actin assembly during myofibrillogenesis, cofilin expression was suppressed in cultured chicken skeletal muscle cells. First, we confirmed that turnover of cofilin in myotubes was much higher than that of actin, and that the cofilin level could be decreased drastically within 2 days when cofilin de novo synthesis was suppressed. Next, cofilin expression in individual myotubes was suppressed by introducing antisense morpholino oligonucleotides into the cells by microinjection. Cofilin depletion at the early phase of myofibrillogenesis caused abnormal actin aggregates in myotubes and impaired actin organization into cross‐striated myofibril structures. However, when cofilin expression was suppressed in developed myotubes, actin localization in striated myofibrils was scarcely affected. These results indicate that cofilin plays a critical role in the regulation of actin assembly at the early process of myofibrillogenesis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Optimizing network performance and carbon offset through opportunistic reclustering
Authors: Habib Sami J. , Marimuthu Paulvanna N. 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYWe have viewed an enterprise information network as a flexible topology, where each node seeks the opportunity to join a cluster having high association with its nodes to reduce the external bandwidth and thereby producing less carbon. The opportunistic clustering is modeled as an optimization problem and we utilized heuristics such as genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing (SA) to search for the best opportunistic topology. We have proposed redesign operations such as move and swap nodes to change the existing topology into an opportunistic topology. Also, we defined an opportunistic factor ranging from +1 to –1 to measure the gain in bandwidth and the amount of reduction in carbon emissions. Our simulation results demonstrate positive opportunistic factor in individual clusters from 0.4 to 0.7 in move operation, thereby showing a total bandwidth gain of 21% and 19% within GA and SA, respectively. In the swap operation, the opportunistic factor reached a maximum of 0.3, thereby showing a bandwidth gain of 9.7% and 5.1% within GA and SA, respectively. It is also observed that the optimization within GA outperforms SA in offsetting carbon emission with a maximum of 22%. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atomic Layer Deposition‐Modified Ordered Mesoporous Silica Membranes
Authors: Cassidy David E. , DeSisto William J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMesoporous silica membranes, prepared by surfactant‐templating with a pore diameter of ∼4 nm on an alumina support, are modified by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of aluminum oxide. ALD of aluminum oxide is achieved using trimethyl aluminum (TMA) and water as reactants. Membranes modified up to 50 ALD reaction cycles are characterized periodically during progressive reaction cycles to provide details of the pore modification process. A decrease in light gas permeance, pore size distribution shift to lower pore sizes, and a decrease in porosity provide evidence for pore‐size reduction through ALD. Further analysis of the data indicates that the ALD reaction favors larger pores and defects, and becomes less efficient as the pore size decreases.
Modeling Fluid Flow in the Gas Diffusion Layers in PEMFC Using the Multiple Relaxation‐time Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Gao Y. , Zhang X. X. , Rama P. , Liu Y. , Chen R. , Ostadi H. , Jiang K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are key components in proton exchange membrane fuel cells and understanding fluid flow through them plays a significant role in improving fuel cell performance. In this paper we used a combination of multiple‐relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method and imaging technology to simulate fluid flow through the void space in a carbon paper GDL. The micro‐structures of the GDL were obtained by digitizing 3D images acquired by X‐ray computed micro‐tomography at a resolution of 1.76 μm, and fluid flow through the structures was simulated by applying pressure gradient in both through‐plane and in‐plane directions, respectively. The simulated velocity field at micron scale was then used to estimate the anisotropic permeability of the GDL. To test the method, we simulated fluid flow in a column packed with glass beads and the estimated permeability was found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements. The simulated results for the GDL revealed that the increase of permeability with porosity was well fitted by the model of Tomadakis–Sotirchos [48] without fitting parameters. The permeability calculated using fluids with different viscosities indicated that the multiple‐relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method provides robust solutions, giving a viscosity‐independent permeability. This is a significant improvement over the commonly used single‐time relaxation lattice Boltzmann model which was found to give rise to a unrealistic viscosity‐dependent permeability because of its inaccuracy in solving the fluid–solid boundaries.
Experimental Investigation of Air Relative Humidity (RH) Cycling Tests on MEA/Cell Aging in PEMFC Part I: Study of High RH Cycling Test With air RH at 62%/100%
Authors: Huang B. T. , Chatillon Y. , Bonnet C. , Lapicque F. , Leclerc S. , Hinaje M. , Raël S. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe effect of high air relative humidity (RH) cycling (RHC 62%/100%) on the degradation mechanisms of a single (5 × 5 cm2) proton exchange membrane fuel cells was investigated. The cell performance was compared to a cell operated at constant humidification (RHC = 62%). Runs were conducted over approximately 1,500 h at 0.3 A cm–2. The overall loss in cell performance for the high RH cycling test was 12 μV h–1 whereas it was at 3 μV h–1 under constant humidification. Impedance spectroscopy reveals that the ohmic and charge transfer resistances were little modified in both runs. H2 crossover measurement indicated that both high RH cycling and constant RH test did not promote serious effect on gas permeability. The electroactive surface loss for anode and cathode during high air RH cycling was more significant than at constant RH operation. The water uptake determined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) after high RH cycling was reduced by 12% in comparison with a fresh MEA. Transmission electron microscopy showed bubbles and pinholes formation in the membrane, catalyst particles agglomeration (also observed by X‐ray diffraction), catalyst particles migration in the membrane and thickness reduction of the catalytic layers. Scanning electron microscopy was conducted to observe the changes in morphology of gas diffusion layers after the runs.
Evaluation of the Performance of Platinum Nanoparticle–Titanium Oxide Nanotubes as a New Refreshable Electrode for Formic Acid Electro‐oxidation
Authors: Hosseini M. G. , Momeni M. M. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPlatinum nanoparticles (Pt‐NP) are deposited on the surface of titanium oxide nanotubes (TN) by microemulsion method. Highly ordered TN on a pure titanium substrate are successfully fabricated by anodizing of titanium. The morphology and surface analysis of Pt‐NP/TN electrodes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, respectively. The electro‐oxidation of formic acid on Pt‐NP/TN electrodes in acidic medium was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods. The results showed that the oxidation peak currents on the Pt‐NP/TN electrode for formic acid oxidation are several times larger than a smooth platinum electrode and confirmed the better electro‐catalytic activity and stability of these new electrodes. The photocatalytic properties of titanium oxide make the Pt‐NP/TN electrode reusable after a short UV treatment, and the electro‐oxidation current density of Pt‐NP/TN electrode after UV‐cleaning can be re‐established. So Pt‐NP/TN electrode has a good application potential to fuel cells.
Assessing the potential of reservoir outflow management to reduce sedimentation using continuous turbidity monitoring and reservoir modelling
Authors: Lee Casey , Foster Guy 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn‐stream sensors are increasingly deployed as part of ambient water quality‐monitoring networks. Temporally dense data from these networks can be used to better understand the transport of constituents through streams, lakes or reservoirs. Data from existing, continuously recording in‐stream flow and water quality monitoring stations were coupled with the two‐dimensional hydrodynamic CE‐QUAL‐W2 model to assess the potential of altered reservoir outflow management to reduce sediment trapping in John Redmond Reservoir, located in east‐central Kansas. Monitoring stations upstream and downstream from the reservoir were used to estimate 5.6 million metric tons of sediment transported to John Redmond Reservoir from 2007 through 2010, 88% of which was trapped within the reservoir. The two‐dimensional model was used to estimate the residence time of 55 equal‐volume releases from the reservoir; sediment trapping for these releases varied from 48% to 97%. Smaller trapping efficiencies were observed when the reservoir was maintained near the normal operating capacity (relative to higher flood pool levels) and when average residence times were relatively short. An idealized, alternative outflow management scenario was constructed, which minimized reservoir elevations and the length of time water was in the reservoir, while continuing to meet downstream flood control end points identified in the reservoir water control manual. The alternative scenario is projected to reduce sediment trapping in the reservoir by approximately 3%, preventing approximately 45 000 metric tons of sediment from being deposited within the reservoir annually. This article presents an approach to quantify the potential of reservoir management using existing in‐stream data; actual management decisions need to consider the effects on other reservoir benefits, such as downstream flood control and aquatic life. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Etiology of preschool behavior problems: Contributions of temperament attributes in early childhood
Authors: Gartstein Maria A. , Putnam Samuel P. , Rothbart Mary K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe present study was conducted to examine the contributions of early appearing temperament attributes to toddler and preschool‐age behavior problems. High levels of negative emotionality and low levels of effortful control were linked to both externalizing and internalizing difficulties. All fine‐grained dimensions of negative affect were concurrently associated with internalizing problems whereas relations between components of negative affect and externalizing were observed only for frustration, sadness, and low falling reactivity. Higher surgency was associated with increased risk for externalizing behaviors whereas low surgency increased the likelihood of internalizing problems. Trait‐by‐trait moderation occurred, such that negative emotionality was most closely related to behavior problems when orienting/regulatory capacity or effortful control was low or when infant surgency was high. Results of this study have implications for theory linking temperament and psychopathology, and clinical applications utilizing temperament assessment to prevent behavior problems.
INTEGRATED METAHEURISTIC OPTIMIZATION OF 130–30 INVESTMENT‐STRATEGY‐BASED LONG–SHORT PORTFOLIOS
Authors: Vijayalakshmi Pai G.A. , Michel Thierry 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYA 130–30 strategy is an attractive and viable equity investment strategy for building long–short portfolios and notionally expected to enhance investment exposure and market protection. However, the amalgamation of the strategy in the portfolio optimization problem model poses complex constraints which render the problem model difficult for solving using traditional methods, thus justifying the application of metaheuristic solutions.We discuss a metaheuristic and integrated optimization of long–short portfolios, when the 130–30‐strategy‐based constraint, besides other investor preferential constraints, is incorporated in the problem's formulation. In the absence of reported work and for reasons of performance comparison and analysis, two metaheuristic strategies have been proposed in order to solve the problem: (i) evolution strategy with hall of fame and (ii) differential evolution (rand/1/bin) with hall of fame. The experimental studies were undertaken on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE200) and Tokyo Stock Exchange (Nikkei 225) data sets and specifically for the period March 1999–March 2009, which included both upturns and downturns in the global markets. The efficiencies of the portfolios obtained by the two metaheuristic methods were analysed using an efficiency improvement possibility function, a portfolio productivity indicator which is a variation of Luenberger's shortage functions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.