bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Continuous measurement of nitrate concentration in a highly event‐responsive agricultural catchment in south‐west of France: is the gain of information useful?
Authors: Ferrant S. , Laplanche C. , Durbe G. , Probst A. , Dugast P. , Durand P. , Sanchez‐Perez J. M. , Probst J. L. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA nitrate sensor has been set up to measure every 10 min the nitrate signal in a stream draining a small agricultural catchment dominated by fertilized crops during a 2‐year study period (2006–2008) in the south‐west of France. An in situ sampling protocol using automatic sampler to monitor flood events have been used to assume a point‐to‐point calibration of the sensor values. The nitrate concentration exhibits nonsystematic concentration and dilution effects during flood events. We demonstrate that the calibrated nitrate sensor signal gathered from the outlet is considered to be a continuous signal using the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem. The objectives of this study are to quantify the errors generated by a typical infrequent sampling protocol and to design appropriate sampling strategy according to the sampling objectives. Nitrate concentration signal and flow data are numerically sampled to simulate common sampling frequencies. The total fluxes calculated from the simulated samples are compared with the reference value computed on the continuous signal. Uncertainties are increasing as sampling intervals increase; the method that is not using continuous discharge to compute nitrate fluxes bring larger uncertainty. The dispersion and bias computed for each sampling interval are used to evaluate the uncertainty during each hydrological period. High underestimation is made during flood periods when high‐concentration period is overlooked. On the contrary, high sampling frequencies (from 3 h to 1 day) lead to a systematic overestimation (bias around 3%): highest concentrations are overweighted by the interpolation of the concentration in such case. The in situ sampling protocol generates less than 1% of load estimation error and sample highest concentration peaks. We consider useful such newly emerging field technologies to assess short‐term variations of water quality parameters, to minimize the number of samples to be analysed and to assess the quality state of the stream at any time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Possible involvement of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in eating disorders
Authors: Nakazato Michiko , Hashimoto Kenji , Shimizu Eiji , Niitsu Tomihisa , Iyo Masaomi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractEating disorders (EDs) manifest as abnormal patterns of eating behavior and weight regulation driven by low self‐esteem due to weight preoccupation and perceptions toward body weight and shape. Two major groups of such disorders are anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The etiology of EDs is complex and evidence indicates that both biological/genetic and psychosocial factors are involved. Several lines of evidence indicate that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in regulating eating behaviors and cognitive impairments in the EDs. BDNF is involved in neuronal proliferation, differentiation, and survival during development. BDNF and its tyrosine kinase receptor (TrkB) are expressed in hypothalamic nuclei associated with eating behaviors. A series of studies using BDNF knockout mice and the human BDNF gene indicate an association of BDNF and EDs with predisposition and vulnerability. In the previous studies, serum BDNF levels in subjects with EDs are reduced significantly compared with healthy controls, hence, we proposed that levels of serum BDNF would be a useful diagnostic indicator for EDs. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2012
Contribution of genetic variants to pain susceptibility inParkinson disease
Authors: Greenbaum L. , Tegeder I. , Barhum Y. , Melamed E. , Roditi Y. , Djaldetti R. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundPain is a one of the most disturbing non‐motor symptoms ofParkinson disease (PD). The susceptibility to pain varies substantially among patients withPD. The aim of this study was to assess a potential association of genetic variants toPD‐related pain.MethodsWe analysed 20 candidateSNPsfrom 12 genes previously reported to be associated with various pain phenotypes in a homogeneous group of 229IsraeliJewishPDpatients, with and without pain (n = 165 and 64, respectively).ResultsThe statistical analysis accounted for the potential influence of demographic and clinical factors. The non‐synonymousrs6746030 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of theSCN9Agene, which alters the coding sequence of the sodium channelNav1.7 (arginine to tryptophan), was nominally associated withPD‐related pain susceptibility (p = 0.037), as well as with central and musculoskeletal pain subtypes independently. The synonymous rs324419SNPof theFAAHgene which encodes fatty acid amide hydrolase, a cannabinoid metabolizing enzyme, was associated withPD‐related pain (p = 0.006) and specifically with the musculoskeletal subtype. TheFAAHhaplotype ofrs324419 andrs2295633SNPs, which was previously associated with the variability in pain response in humans, was also associated withPD‐related pain (p = 0.012) and specifically withPD‐related musculoskeletal pain.ConclusionsVariants within in theSCN9AandFAAHgenes were associated with the risk of pain inPDpatients. These findings may contribute to our understanding of pain mechanisms ofPDand to direct future therapies.
Concordance of qualitative bone scintigraphy results with presence of clinical complex regional pain syndrome 1: Meta‐analysis of test accuracy studies
Authors: Ringer R. , Wertli M. , Bachmann L.M. , Buck F.M. , Brunner F. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundTo date, no attempt has been made to investigate the agreement between qualitative bone scintigraphy (BS) and the presence of complex regional pain syndrome 1 (CRPS 1) and the agreement between a negative BS in the absence of CRPS 1.AimsTo summarize the existing evidence quantifying the concordance of qualitative BS in the presence or absence of clinical CRPS 1.Data SourcesWe searched Medline, Embase, Dare and the Cochrane Library and screened bibliographies of all included studies.Study Eligibility CriteriaWe selected diagnostic studies investigating the association between qualitative BS results and the clinical diagnosis of CRPS 1. The minimum requirement for inclusion was enough information to fill the two‐by‐two tables.ResultsTwelve studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. The pooled mean sensitivity of 12 two‐by‐two tables was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.68–0.97) and specificity was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.47–0.85). The pooled mean sensitivity for the subgroup with clearly defined diagnostic criteria (seven two‐by‐two tables) was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.44–0.95) and specificity was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.40–0.91).ConclusionsBased on this study, clinicians must be advised that a positive BS is not necessarily concordant with presence of absence or CRPS 1. Given the moderate level of concordance between a positive BS in the absence of clinical CRPS 1, discordant results potentially impede the diagnosis of CRPS 1.
PRACTICES AND PROBLEMS IN RESIDENCE HALL PLANNING
Authors: CRANE WILLIAM J. 
Published: April 2012

The construction of residence halls should be planned to suit the population, land usage, and financial structure of the college or university. One step in planning for additional residence halls is to assess current practice on similar campuses. Because there are a great many ways in which one institution can vary from another, this step will supply only general information to the planners. Adaptations must be made to fit the local situation.In an attempt to assess current practices relating to housing for men in moderate‐sized public institutions, questionnaires were sent to 43 colleges and universities of about 2,000 to 8,000 students. Of this group, 39 institutions responded. The operation of residence halls was assessed as to capacity, the reasons for the capacity limits, location, recreation areas, parking areas, food services, types of rooms, lounge areas, equipment, and facilities. The report will be made in terms of percentages of total numbers or actual figures when the percentages are small.
Pupil Opinions of High School Guidance Programs
Authors: GIBSON ROBERT L. 
Published: April 2012

The current controversies over educational practices, past and present, European and American, have produced many heated debates and discussions. While many of the issues brought up have not been resolved, there appear to be two important, consistently stated, and agreed upon beliefs which were significant in developing this study: (1) the desirability of a careful examination and evaluation of all phases of our public school program, and (2) the need for trained guidance counselors and organized guidance programs in the public secondary schools.These would seem to suggest further that the study of current guidance programs would be in order and a number and variety of these have been and are continuing to be undertaken at the local, state, and national levels. However, these studies and evaluations have, for the most part, been undertaken from the adult, staff, guidance specialist, and occasionally parent, viewpoint. This survey represents an attempt to study this phase of the school program from the viewpoint of the group most directly affected—the students, with the belief that an understanding of pupil information about, attitudes toward, and utilization of their school guidance programs would be significant to guidance counselors in secondary school programs and, also, could present implications for counselor trainers directing college training programs in counselor preparation.
A Summer Program Combining Freshman Orientation, Counseling, and Counselor Preparation
Authors: SEYMOUR JOHN C. , GUTHRIE FAIN A. 
Published: April 2012

In recent years the University of Alabama has been faced with the problem of providing adequate counseling and orientation for an ever‐increasing number of new students. Also, increased enrollment in courses taught in the Department of Counseling and Guidance has created a need for expansion of offerings in this area and has required the broadening of practicum experiences.During the summer of 1959 the University carried out a pilot program in counseling and orientation of new students which promised to satisfy increasing needs in both the areas of service and professional counselor education. The program, which consisted basically of a series of intensive, three‐day sessions of orientation, testing, and counseling of prospective freshmen, was expanded in the summer of 1960 and 1961. The results thus far suggest that this type of program provides an excellent opportunity for contributing to the preparation of counselors and a sound orientation for new students.
In vivo antigenotoxic activity of watercress juice (Nasturtium officinale) against induced DNA damage
Authors: Casanova Natalia A. , Ariagno Julia I. , López Nigro Marcela M. , Mendeluk Gabriela R. , Gette María de los A. , Petenatti Elisa , Palaoro Luis A. , Carballo Marta A. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe present study was carried out to investigate the genotoxicity as well as possible protective activity against damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) of the aqueous juice of watercress (Nasturtium officinale, W.T. Aiton) in vivo. Male and female Swiss mice 7–8 weeks old (N = 48) were treated by gavage with 1 g kg−1 body weight and 0.5 g kg−1 body weight of watercress juice during 15 consecutive days. Genotoxicity and its possible protective effect were tested by the comet assay in peripheral blood cells and the micronucleus test in bone marrow. In addition, biopsies of the bladder, epididymis and testicles of mice were performed to extend the experimental design. Watercress juice per se did not induce genetic damage according to the comet assay and micronucleus study, exhibiting a protective activity against CP (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The comparative analysis of bladder histological changes obtained in the watercress plus CP group against those treated with CP alone suggests a probable protective effect. Further studies are needed in order to establish the protective role of watercress juice against DNA damage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design of donors with broad absorption regions and suitable frontier molecular orbitals to match typical acceptors via substitution on oligo(thienylenevinylene) toward solar cells
Authors: Tang Shanshan , Zhang Jingping 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA series of oligo(thienylenevinylene) derivatives with or without thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene analogs as cores and three types substituent has been investigated at the PBE0/6‐31G(d) and the TD‐PBE0/6‐31+G(d,p) levels to design materials with high performance such as suitable frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energies to match those of [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and its derivatives, broad absorption spectra, higher and balance transfer property, and better stability. The results reveal that fused cores have slight effects on photophysical properties of investigated derivatives. The electron‐withdrawing or push–pull substituents result in red shifts of absorption spectra and better stabilities for investigated derivatives. The calculated reorganization energies of designed derivatives suggest them to be good potential ambipolar transport materials under the proper operating conditions. The promising donors for PCBM, bisPCBM, PC70BM, and indene‐C60 bisadduct (ICBA) as acceptors are recommended theoretically for solar cells based on the proper match for FMOs between donors and acceptors. Moreover, we have also predicted the mobility of designed molecule with better performance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HolT Hunter: Software for identifying and characterizing low‐strain DNA holliday triangles
Authors: Sherman William B. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSynthetic DNA nanostructures are most commonly held together via Holliday junctions. These junctions allow for a wide variety of different angles between the double helices they connect. Nevertheless, only constructs with a very limited selection of angles have been built, to date, because of the computational complexity of identifying structures that fit together with low strain at odd angles. I have developed an algorithm that finds over 95% of the possible solutions by breaking the problem down into two portions. First, there is a problem of how smooth rods can form triangles by lying across one another. This problem is easily handled by numerical computation. Second, there is the question of how distorted DNA double helices would need to be to fit onto the rod structure. This strain is calculated directly. The algorithm has been implemented in a Mathematica 8 notebook called Holliday Triangle Hunter. A large database of solutions has been identified. Additional interface software is available to facilitate drawing and viewing models. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The statistical significance of selected sense–antisense peptide interactions
Authors: Illingworth Christopher J. R. , Chintipalli Sree V. , Serapian Stefano A. , Miller Andrew D. , Veverka Vaclav , Carr Mark D. , Reynolds Christopher A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSense and antisense peptides, encoded by sense and corresponding antisense DNA strands, are capable of specific interactions that could be a driving force to mediate protein–protein or protein–peptide binding associations. The complementary residue hypothesis suggests that these interactions are founded upon the sum of pairwise interactions between amino acids encoded by corresponding sense and antisense codons. Despite many successful experimental results obtained with the hypothesis, however, the physicochemical basis for these interactions is poorly understood. We examined the potential of the hypothesis for general identification of protein–protein interaction sites, and the possible role of the hypothesis in determining folding in a broad set of protein structures. In addition, we performed a structural study to investigate the binding of a complementary peptide to IL‐1F2. Our results suggest that complementary residue pairs are no more frequent or conserved than average in protein–protein interfaces, and are statistically under‐represented amongst contacting residue pairs in folded protein structures. Although our structural results matched experimental observations of binding between the peptide and IL‐1F2, complementary residue interactions do not appear to be dominant in the bound structure. Overall, our data do not allow us to conclude that the complementary residue hypothesis accounts for specific sense–antisense peptide interactions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Attenuation of PTEN perturbs genomic stability via activation of Akt and down‐regulation of Rad51 in human embryonic kidney cells
Authors: Mukherjee Ananda , Karmakar Parimal 
Published: April 2012

AbstractTo address the involvement of PTEN/Akt signaling in DNA repair and genomic stability, we developed a shRNA‐mediated PTEN knockdown cell line from HEK293T cells and evaluated its response to etoposide by analyzing γH2AX and Rad51 foci formation, cell cycle analysis, and chromosome damage. HEK PTEN knockdown cells were impaired in DNA repair associated with loss of G2/M checkpoint and reduced Rad51 foci formation. Furthermore, inhibition of Akt did not restore etoposide‐induced G2/M arrest in PTEN knockdown cells, suggesting that loss of G2/M checkpoint in PTEN knockdown cells is Akt‐independent. On the other hand, these cells become sensitive to etoposide when Akt was inhibited. Thus, loss of G2/M checkpoint and reduction of Rad51‐mediated homologous recombination is responsible for the genomic instability of PTEN knockdown cells where activated Akt additionally contribute to strong survival signal. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermal, mechanical, and rheological characterization of polypropylene/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites
Authors: Lonkar Sunil P. , Therias Sandrine , Leroux Fabrice , Gardette Jean‐Luc , Singh Raj Pal 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPolypropylene (PP)/organomodified layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites were prepared in order to examine the influence of LDH content on thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties. The nanostructure examinations by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the exfoliated/intercalated dispersion of LDH. Incorporation of the LDH resulted in a noteworthy improvement in the thermal stability of PP. It was shown that the addition of LDH contributed to the reinforcement effect by increasing the elastic modulus. The mechanical performance, as evaluated by stress–strain curves, reveal that PP/LDH hybrid materials showed significant contribution toward increment in elastic modulus, tensile strength but at the expense of impact strength. The rheological response showed a strong influence of LDH particles on the flow behavior of the PP/LDH melt which resulted in enhancement of storage, loss of moduli, and complex viscosity of nanocomposites. Therefore, the nanocomposites have higher moduli but better processibility compared with pure PP. Overall, the results indicated that the LDH particles in nanometer size might act as potential reinforcing agent for polypropylene. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 52:2006–2014, 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Global optimization of solar thermophotovoltaic systems
Authors: Datas A. , Algora C. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we present a theoretical model based on the detailed balance theory of solar thermophotovoltaic systems comprising multijunction photovoltaic cells, a sunlight concentrator and spectrally selective surfaces. The full system has been defined by means of 2n + 8 variables (being n the number of sub‐cells of the multijunction cell). These variables are as follows: the sunlight concentration factor, the absorber cut‐off energy, the emitter‐to‐absorber area ratio, the emitter cut‐off energy, the band‐gap energy(ies) and voltage(s) of the sub‐cells, the reflectivity of the cells' back‐side reflector, the emitter‐to‐cell and cell‐to‐cell view factors and the emitter‐to‐cell area ratio. We have used this model for carrying out a multi‐variable system optimization by means of a multidimensional direct‐search algorithm. This analysis allows to find the set of system variables whose combined effects results in the maximum overall system efficiency. From this analysis, we have seen that multijunction cells are excellent candidates to enhance the system efficiency and the electrical power density. Particularly, multijunction cells report great benefits for systems with a notable presence of optical losses, which are unavoidable in practical systems. Also, we have seen that the use of spectrally selective absorbers, rather than black‐body absorbers, allows to achieve higher system efficiencies for both lower concentration and lower emitter‐to‐absorber area ratio. Finally, we have seen that sun‐to‐electricity conversion efficiencies above 30% and electrical power densities above 50 W/cm2 are achievable for this kind of systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth and spectral properties of Er3+/Yb3+ and Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+‐doped NaGd(MoO4)2 crystals
Authors: Zhao Yunxia , Huang Yisheng , Lin Zhoubin , Zhang Lizhen , Wang Guofu 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper reports on the growth and spectroscopic properties of Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 and Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 crystals. Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 and Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 crystals were grown by the Czochralski method. The investigated polarized spectroscopic properties of both crystals revealed that when the Ce3+ ion was introduced into Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 crystal, it could enhance the 1.5 µm fluorescence intensity and decrease the fluorescence lifetime of Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 crystal. To sum up the spectral properties of Ce3+/Er3+/Yb3+:NaGd(MoO4)2 crystal, it may be regarded as a potential 1.5 µm Er3+ laser crystal material.
Auxetic warp knit textile structures
Authors: Alderson Kim , Alderson Andrew , Anand Subhash , Simkins Virginia , Nazare Shonali , Ravirala Naveen 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe design, manufacturing and characterization of warp knit textile structures with enhanced drapeability and energy absorption is reported in this paper. Four textile structures were produced, all based on a triangular or double arrowhead structure, which is known to lead to a negative Poisson's ratio ν. Mechanical testing has confirmed that textile structures can be produced which are auxetic at ± 45° to the warp direction, with ν of up to −0.22 ± 0.03.
Excitonic nonlinearities in single‐wall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Nguyen D. T. , Voisin C. , Roussignol Ph. , Roquelet C. , Lauret J. S. , Cassabois G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractExcitons are composite bosons that allow a fair description of the optical properties in solid state systems. The quantum confinement in nanostructures enhances the excitonic effects and impacts the exciton–exciton interactions, which tailor the performances of classical and quantum optoelectronic devices, such as lasers or single‐photon emitters. The excitonic nonlinearities exhibit significant differences between organic and inorganic compounds. Tightly bound Frenkel excitons in molecular crystals are for instance affected by an efficient exciton–exciton annihilation (EEA). This Auger process also governs the population relaxation dynamics in carbon nanotubes that share many physical properties with organic materials. Here, we show that this similarity breaks down for the excitonic decoherence in carbon nanotubes. Original nonlinear spectral‐hole burning experiments bring evidence of pure dephasing induced by exciton–exciton scattering (EES) in the k‐space. This mechanism controls the exciton collision‐induced broadening, as for Wannier excitons in inorganic semiconductors. We demonstrate that this singular behavior originates from the intrinsic one‐dimensionality of excitons in carbon nanotubes, which display unique hybrid features of organic and inorganic systems.