bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Efficacy of Stage-Matched and Standard Public Health Materials for Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace: The Physical Activity Workplace Study (PAWS)
Authors: Plotnikoff Ronald C. , Brunet Stephanie , Courneya Kerry S. , Spence John C. , Birkett Nicholas J. , Marcus Bess , Whiteley Jessica 
Published: November 2011

Purpose. To compare the effects of stage-matched and standard print materials for physical activity (PA) change. Design. Participants were randomized into (1) a stage-matched intervention group (n = 165), (2) a standard intervention group (n = 176), or (3) a no-contact control group (n = 166). The stage-matched and standard intervention groups both received materials at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Assessments of all three groups were conducted at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Setting. Canadian worksites. Subjects. Employees (N = 507). Interventions. Five motivationally targeted booklets were developed for the stage-matched group. The standard group received Canada's Physical Activity Guide and handbook. Measures. The main dependent variable was PA, expressed as metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes and measured using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Demographic characteristics and stages of change for PA were also assessed. Results. At 12 months mean weekly MET minutes for combined moderate and vigorous activity increased from baseline by 223, 67, and 78 for the stage-matched, standard, and control groups, respectively; however, differences were not significant (p > .05). Women in the stage-matched group over the 12-month period significantly increased their activity by 327 weekly MET minutes whereas the standard and control groups declined their activity (F = 3.01, p < .05). Conclusion. PA stage-matched materials delivered in the workplace are efficacious for women but not men. Future interventions should explore the use of these intervention materials in conjunction with multilevel strategies, and particular attention should be paid to possible gender differences.
The effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injection on retinal blood flow velocity in patients with choroidal neovascularization
Authors: Barak Adiel , Burgansky-Eliash Zvia , Barash Hila , Nelson Darin A. , Grinvald Amiram , Loewenstein Anat 
Published: November 2011

Purpose To study the short-term effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) on retinal blood flow velocity and compare them to clinical outcomes assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and tests of visual acuity. Methods The Retinal Function Imager (RFI) was used noninvasively and quantitatively to measure retinal blood flow velocity. Eight patients receiving intravitreal injection of Avastin for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were included in this study. All were imaged by the RFI preinjection and 1 and 7 days postinjection. Visual acuity (VA) and OCT were recorded preinjection and 1 month postinjection. Comparisons were performed using paired Student t test and correlation using Spearman rank test. Results A good correlation was found between the 1-month change in VA and OCT measurements and the short-term change induced in blood flow velocity. Arterial and venous velocity changes 1 day after the injection correlated with the VA change (p<0.05). The 1-day arterial velocity changes correlated with total macular volume (p=0.02) and venous velocity changes correlated to central macular thickness (p=0.04). Conclusions The RFI provides a noninvasive technique to assess early hemodynamic responses to intravitreal injection of Avastin. These early changes may prove important for better understanding of the mechanism underlying this treatment and serve as a quantitative marker for treatment optimization.
Ex Vivo Models for Training in Endourology: Construction of the Model and Simulation of Training Procedures
Authors: Celia Antonio , Zeccolini Guglielmo 
Published: November 2011

Background Training in endourology by ex vivo models is an effective tool for unskilled urologists to get qualification. Urologists have different kinds of training models at urological conferences, but, in order to get skilled, they need models available at their own department. Methods The article describes how to build an ex vivo porcine model to train on the main endourological procedures. Results Questionnaires filled by the trainers attending the courses at our department, over the last three years, have proved the high degree of satisfaction about this kind of training system. Conclusions Validation studies about these models still lack. The growing interest about them re-quires randomized controlled validation studies in the future, including large numbers of participants.
Novel Approach for Alternating Current (AC)‐Driven Organic Light‐Emitting Devices
Authors: Perumal Ajay , Fröbel Markus , Gorantla Sandeep , Gemming Thomas , Lüssem Björn , Eckert Jürgen , Leo Karl 
Published: November 2011

AbstractA novel approach for alternating current (AC)‐driven organic light‐emitting devices is reported, which uses the concept of molecular doping in organic semiconductors. Doped organic charge‐transport layers are used to generate charge carriers within the device, hence eliminating the need for injecting charge carriers from external electrodes. Bright luminance of up to 1000 cd m−2 is observed when the device is driven with an AC bias. The luminance observed is attributed to charge‐carrier generation and recombination, leading to the formation of excitons within the device, without injection of charge carriers through external electrodes. A mechanism for internal charge‐carrier generation and the device operation is proposed.
Organocatalytic Asymmetric α‐Amination of Unprotected 3‐Aryl and 3‐Aliphatic Substituted Oxindoles using Di‐tert‐butyl Azodicarboxylate
Authors: Zhou Feng , Ding Miao , Liu Yun‐Lin , Wang Cui‐Hong , Ji Cong‐Bin , Zhang Yi‐Yu , Zhou Jian 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe bifunctional quinine‐derived thiourea catalyst 14 was found to catalyze the direct amination of unprotected 3‐aryl and aliphatic substituted oxindoles with di‐tert‐butyl azodicarboxylate (DBAD) to construct a tetrasubstituted stereogenic carbon center at the C‐3 position of oxindoles in good to excellent yield and enantioselectivity.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Chromanones via a Tryptophan‐ Derived Bifunctional Thiourea‐Catalyzed Oxa‐Michael–Michael Cascade Reaction
Authors: Wang Haifei , Luo Jie , Han Xiao , Lu Yixin 
Published: November 2011

AbstractTryptophan‐derived tertiary amine‐thiourea catalysts were shown to promote a cascade oxa‐Michael–Michael reaction between ethylene β‐keto esters and nitroolefins, resulting in the formation of 3,3‐disubstituted 4‐chromanones bearing a quaternary center in high diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. The chromanone products can be readily converted to biologically important fused and spiro tricyclic chromans.
Potential of Different Enzyme Immobilization Strategies to Improve Enzyme Performance
Authors: Garcia‐Galan Cristina , Berenguer‐Murcia Ángel , Fernandez‐Lafuente Roberto , Rodrigues Rafael C. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractEnzyme biocatalysis plays a very relevant role in the development of many chemical industries, e.g., energy, food or fine chemistry. To achieve this goal, enzyme immobilization is a usual pre‐requisite as a solution to get reusable biocatalysts and thus decrease the price of this relatively expensive compound. However, a proper immobilization technique may permit far more than to get a reusable enzyme; it may be used to improve enzyme performance by improving some enzyme limitations: enzyme purity, stability (including the possibility of enzyme reactivation), activity, specificity, selectivity, or inhibitions. Among the diverse immobilization techniques, the use of pre‐existing supports to immobilize enzymes (via covalent or physical coupling) and the immobilization without supports [enzyme crosslinked aggregates (CLEAs) or crystals (CLECs)] are the most used or promising ones. This paper intends to give the advantages and disadvantages of the different existing immobilization strategies to solve the different aforementioned enzyme limitations. Moreover, the use of nanoparticles as immobilization supports is achieving an increasing importance, as the nanoparticles versatility increases and becomes more accessible to the researchers. We will also discuss here some of the advantages and drawbacks of these non porous supports compared to conventional porous supports. Although there are no universal optimal solutions for all cases, we will try to give some advice to select the optimal strategy for each particular enzyme and process, considering the enzyme properties, nature of the process and of the substrate. In some occasions the selection will be compulsory, for example due to the nature of the substrate. In other cases the optimal biocatalyst may depend on the company requirements (e.g., volumetric activity, enzyme stability, etc).
Microdeletion of Xq28 involving the AFF2 (FMR2) gene in two unrelated males with developmental delay
Authors: Sahoo Trilochan , Theisen Aaron , Marble Michael , Tervo Raymond , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Torchia Beth S. , Shaffer Lisa G. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractFragile X E (FRAXE) is an X‐linked form of intellectual disability characterized by mild to moderate cognitive impairment, speech delay, hyperactivity, and autistic behavior. The folate‐sensitive fragile site FRAXE is located in Xq28 approximately 600 kb distal to the fragile X syndrome fragile site (FRAXA) and harbors an unstable GCC (CCG) triplet repeat adjacent to a CpG island in the 5′ untranslated region of the AFF2 (FMR2) gene. The disorder results from amplification and methylation of the GCC repeat and resultant silencing of AFF2. Although chromosome abnormalities that disrupt AFF2 have been reported in two individuals with mild‐moderate intellectual disability, microdeletions of Xq28 that delete only AFF2 have not been described as a potential cause of FRAXE‐intellectual disability. We performed clinical and molecular characterization of two males with 240 and 499 kb deletions, respectively, at Xq28, both of which encompassed only one gene, AFF2. The 240 kb deletion in Patient 1 was intragenic and lead to the loss of 5′ exons 2–4 of AFF2; the 499 kb deletion in Patient 2 removed the 5′ exons 1–2 of AFF2 including approximately 350 kb upstream of the gene. Both individuals had developmental and speech delay, and one had mild dysmorphism. We predict disruption of AFF2 in these two patients is likely the cause of their overlapping phenotypes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A contribution to attribution of recent global warming by out‐of‐sample Granger causality analysis
Authors: Attanasio Alessandro , Pasini Antonello , Triacca Umberto 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe topic of attribution of recent global warming is usually faced by studies performed through global climate models (GCMs). Even simpler econometric models have been applied to this problem, but they led to contrasting results. In this article, we show that a genuine predictive approach of Granger analysis leads to overcome problems shown by these models and to obtain a clear signal of linear Granger causality from greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the global temperature of the second half of the 20th century. In contrast, Granger causality is not evident using time series of natural forcing. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Biosynthetic concepts for the production of β‐lactam antibiotics in Penicillium chrysogenum
Authors: Weber Stefan S. , Bovenberg Roel A. L. , Driessen Arnold J. M. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIndustrial production of β‐lactam antibiotics by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum is based on successive classical strain improvement cycles. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the results of this classical strain improvement process, and discusses avenues to improve β‐lactam biosynthesis and to exploit P. chrysogenum as an industrial host for the production of other antibiotics and peptide products. Genomic and transcriptional analysis of strain lineages has led to the identification of several important alterations in high‐yielding strains, including the amplification of the penicillin biosynthetic gene cluster, elevated transcription of genes involved in biosynthesis of penicillin and amino acid precursors, and genes encoding microbody proliferation factors. In recent years, successful metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches have resulted in the redirection of the penicillin pathway towards the production of cephalosporins. This sets a new direction in industrial antibiotics productions towards more sustainable methods for the fermentative production of unnatural antibiotics and related compounds.
Biosynthesis of lactate‐containing polyesters by metabolically engineered bacteria
Authors: Park Si Jae , Lee Sang Yup , Kim Tae Wan , Jung Yu Kyung , Yang Taek Ho 
Published: November 2011

AbstractDue to increasing concerns about environmental problems, climate change and limited fossil resources, bio‐based production of chemicals and polymers is gaining attention as one of the solutions to these problems. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters that can be produced by microbial fermentation. PHAs are synthesized using monomer precursors provided from diverse metabolic pathways and are accumulated as distinct granules inside the cells. On the other hand, most so‐called bio‐based polymers including polybutylene succinate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid (PLA) are synthesized by a chemical process using monomers produced by fermentation. PLA, an attractive biomass‐derived plastic, is currently synthesized by heavy metal‐catalyzed ring opening polymerization of L‐lactide that is made from fermentation‐derived L‐lactic acid. Recently, a complete biological process for the production of PLA and PLA copolymers from renewable resources has been developed by direct fermentation of recombinant bacteria employing PHA biosynthetic pathways coupled with a novel metabolic pathway. This could be accomplished by establishing a pathway for generating lactyl‐CoA and engineering PHA synthase to accept lactyl‐CoA as a substrate combined with systems metabolic engineering. In this article, we review recent advances in the production of lactate‐containing homo‐ and co‐polyesters. Challenges remaining to efficiently produce PLA and its copolymers and strategies to overcome these challenges through metabolic engineering combined with enzyme engineering are discussed.
Quantum Chemical Description of Absorption Properties and Excited‐State Processes in Photosynthetic Systems
Authors: König Carolin , Neugebauer Johannes 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe theoretical description of the initial steps in photosynthesis has gained increasing importance over the past few years. This is caused by more and more structural data becoming available for light‐harvesting complexes and reaction centers which form the basis for atomistic calculations and by the progress made in the development of first‐principles methods for excited electronic states of large molecules. In this Review, we discuss the advantages and pitfalls of theoretical methods applicable to photosynthetic pigments. Besides methodological aspects of excited‐state electronic‐structure methods, studies on chlorophyll‐type and carotenoid‐like molecules are discussed. We also address the concepts of exciton coupling and excitation‐energy transfer (EET) and compare the different theoretical methods for the calculation of EET coupling constants. Applications to photosynthetic light‐harvesting complexes and reaction centers based on such models are also analyzed.
Transition from Anodic Titania Nanotubes to Nanowires: Arising from Nanotube Growth to Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Sun Lidong , Zhang Sam , Wang Xiu , Sun Xiao Wei , Ong Duen Yang , Wang Xiaoyan , Zhao Dongliang 
Published: November 2011

AbstractAnodic formation of titania nanowires has been interpreted using a bamboo‐splitting model; however, a number of phenomena are difficult to explain with this model. Herein, transition from nanotubes to nanowires is investigated by varying the anodizing conditions. The results indicate that the transition requires a large number of hydrogen ions to reduce the passivated area of tube walls, and therefore can be observed only in an intermediate chemical dissolution environment. Accordingly, a model in terms of stretching and splitting is proposed to interpret the transition process. The model provides a basis to suppress the nanowires with surface treatments before anodization and to clear the nanowires with an ultrasonication process after anodization. The nanotube–nanowire transition also arises when the tubes are directly used in dye‐sensitized solar cells. Treatment with titanium tetrachloride solution for about 10 h is found to be effective in suppressing the nanowires, and thus improving the photovoltaic properties of the solar cells.
Novel Covalent Bond in Proteins: Calculations on Model Systems Question the Bond Stability
Authors: Ončák Milan , Berka Karel , Slavíček Petr 
Published: November 2011

AbstractWe have investigated the sulfilimine covalent link between methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys), recently identified in collagen IV (R. Vanacore, A.‐J. L. Ham, M. Voehler, C. R. Sanders, T. P. Conrads, T. D. Veenstra, K. B. Sharpless, P. E. Dawson, B. G. Hudson, Science 2009, 325, 1230), and have explored its stability with respect to both the redox processes and UV radiation by means of advanced computational methods. We have concluded that the bond should be present in a protonated state, (NH=S)+. The bond is characterized by a relatively high standard reduction potential, that is, the bond should not be stable in a typical cell environment; if the sulfilimine bond exists (as suggested by the experiment) then the bond has to be supported by the protein environment. The sulfilimine bond then destabilizes the protein structure with respect to the alternative tertiary structure. We discuss conditions under which the bond could be formed as well as other possible structural arrangements consistent with the Met–Lys stoichiometry; some of the alternative bond motifs are more thermodynamically stable than the sulfilimine bond. We suggest that the character of the Met–Lys contact could be approached via NEXAFS spectroscopy. Finally, we show that the protonation brings photostability to the sulfilimine bond.
An mnr2b/hlxb9lb enhancer trap line that labels spinal and abducens motor neurons in zebrafish
Authors: Asakawa Kazuhide , Higashijima Shin‐ichi , Kawakami Koichi 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackground: The developing nervous system consists of a variety of cell types. Animal models that allow the visualization of specific classes of neurons are crucial for the study of neuronal networks. Results: We performed an enhancer trap screening in zebrafish and generated a collection of transgenic lines that expressed GFP in a spatially and temporally restricted manner. Among the fish generated, we identified an insertion of the enhancer trap construct in the vicinity of the mnr2b/hlxb9lb gene encoding the mnx class of homeodomain transcription factor. The insertion gave rise to GFP expression predominantly in spinal motor neurons and abducens motor neurons. During embryogenesis, GFP expression was also detected in endodermal and mesodermal tissues, where mnr2b is known to be expressed. Conclusion: These results show that the enhancer trap construct recapitulated the expression pattern of the mnr2b gene and this transgenic line should be useful for the visualization of the spinal and abducens motor neurons in the developing nervous system. Developmental Dynamics 241:327–332, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lyn deficiency affects B‐cell maturation as well as survival
Authors: Shahaf Gitit , Gross Andrew J. , Sternberg‐Simon Michal , Kaplan Deborah , DeFranco Anthony L. , Mehr Ramit 
Published: November 2011

AbstractLyn, an Src‐family protein tyrosine kinase expressed in B lymphocytes, contributes to initiation of BCR signaling and is also responsible for feedback inhibition of BCR signaling. Lyn‐deficient mice have a decreased number of follicular B cells and also spontaneously develop a lupus‐like autoimmunity. We used flow cytometric analysis, BrdU labeling and our mathematical models of B‐cell population dynamics, to analyze how Lyn deficiency impacts B‐cell maturation and survival. We found that Lyn‐deficient transitional 1 (T1) cells develop normally, but T2 cells develop primarily from the T1 subset in the spleen and fail to also develop directly from BM immature B cells. Lyn‐deficient T2 cells either mature to the follicular B‐cell type at a close to normal rate, or die in this compartment rather than access the T3 anergic subset. The ∼40% of WT follicular cells that were short‐lived exited primarily by joining the T3 anergic subset, whereas the ∼15% Lyn−/− follicular cells that were not long lived had a high death rate and died in this compartment rather than entering the T3 subset. We hypothesize that exaggerated BCR signaling resulting from weak interactions with self‐antigens is largely responsible for these alterations in Lyn‐deficient B cells.
Two phases of replacement replenish the olfactory ensheathing cell population after injury in postnatal mice
Authors: Chehrehasa Fatemeh , Ekberg Jenny A. K. , Lineburg Katie , Amaya Daniel , Mackay‐Sim Alan , St. John James A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractOlfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) support the regeneration of olfactory sensory neurons throughout life, however, it remains unclear how OECs respond to a major injury. We have examined the proliferation and migration of OECs following unilateral bulbectomy in postnatal mice. S100ß‐DsRed and OMP‐ZsGreen transgenic mice were used to visualize OECs and olfactory neurons, respectively, and we used the thymidine analogue ethynyl deoxyuridine (EdU) to identify cells that were proliferating at the time of administration. Following unilateral bulbectomy, there was an initial phase of OEC proliferation throughout the olfactory pathway with a peak of proliferation occurring 2 to 7 days after the injury. A second phase of proliferation also occurred in which precursors localized within the olfactory mucosa divided to replenish the OEC population. We then tracked the positions of OECs that had proliferated and found that there was a progressive increase in OECs in the cavity for at least 12 to 16 days after injury which could not be accounted for solely by local proliferation of OECs within the cavity. These results suggest that OECs migrated from the peripheral olfactory nerve to populate the mass of cells that filled cavity left by bulbectomy. Our results demonstrate that following injury to the olfactory nervous system, the OEC population is replenished by migration of cells that arise from both local proliferation of OECs throughout the olfactory nerve pathway as well as from precursor cells in the olfactory mucosa. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.