bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selective and Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for L‐Methionine at Physiological pH Using Functionalized Triazole Polymer Film Modified Electrode
Authors: Revin S. Brillians , John S. Abraham 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis communication describes the determination of an essential amino acid, L‐methionine (L‐Met) in the presence of important interferents, ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at physiological pH using a glassy carbon electrode modified with an electropolymerized film of 3‐amino‐5‐mercapto‐1,2,4‐triazole (p‐AMTa). The bare glassy carbon electrode fails to show a voltammetric signal for L‐Met in the presence of AA and UA at pH 7.2. However, the p‐AMTa electrode separates the voltammetric signals of AA, UA and L‐Met with pronounced oxidation currents. The amperometric current of L‐Met was increased linearly from 1.0×10−7 to 1×10−4 M and the detection limit was found to be 4.12×10−10 M (S/N=3).
Acute effects of road salts and associated cyanide compounds on the early life stages of the unionid mussel Villosa iris
Authors: Pandolfo Tamara J. , Cope W. Gregory , Young George B. , Jones Jess W. , Hua Dan , Lingenfelser Susan F. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The toxicity of cyanide to the early life stages of freshwater mussels (order Unionida) has remained unexplored. Cyanide is known to be acutely toxic to other aquatic organisms. Cyanide-containing compounds, such as sodium ferrocyanide and ferric ferrocyanide, are commonly added to road deicing salts as anticaking agents. The purpose of the present study was to assess the acute toxicity of three cyanide compounds (sodium cyanide, sodium ferrocyanide, and ferric ferrocyanide), two road salts containing cyanide anticaking agents (Morton and Cargill brands), a brine deicing solution (Liquidow brand), and a reference salt (sodium chloride) on glochidia (larvae) and juveniles of the freshwater mussel Villosa iris. Sodium ferrocyanide and ferric ferrocyanide were not acutely toxic to glochidia and juvenile mussels at concentrations up to 1,000 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively. Lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) for these two chemicals ranged from 10 to &gt;1,000 mg/L. Sodium cyanide was acutely toxic to juvenile mussels, with a 96-h median effective concentration (EC50) of 1.10 mg/L, although glochidia tolerated concentrations up to 10 mg/L. The EC50s for sodium chloride, Liquidow brine, Morton road salt, and Cargill road salt were not significantly different for tests within the same life stage and test duration (range, 1.66–4.92 g/L). These results indicate that cyanide-containing anticaking agents do not exacerbate the toxicity of road salts, but that the use of road salts and brine solutions for deicing or dust control on roads may warrant further investigation. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1801–1806. © 2012 SETAC
Neuron–astrocyte signaling network in spinal cord dorsal horn mediates painful neuropathy of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Dauch Jacqueline R. , Yanik Brandon M. , Hsieh Wilson , Oh Sang Su , Cheng Hsinlin T. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractActivation of the neuronal–glial network in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) mediates various chronic painful conditions. We studied spinal neuronal–astrocyte signaling interactions involved in the maintenance of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) in type 2 diabetes. We used the db/db mouse, an animal model for PDN of type 2 diabetes, which develops mechanical allodynia from 6 to 12 wk of age. In this study, enhanced substance P expression was detected in the presynaptic sensory fibers innervating lamina I–III in the lumbar SCDH (LSCDH) of the db/db mouse at 10 wk of age. This phenomenon is associated with enhanced spinal ERK1/2 phosphorylation in projection sensory neurons and regional astrocyte activation. In addition, peak phosphorylation of the NR1 subunit of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR), along with upregulation of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and iNOS) expression were detected in diabetic mice. Expression of nNOS and iNOS was detected in both interneurons and astrocytes in lamina I–III of the LSCDH. Treatment with MK801, an NMDAR inhibitor, inhibited mechanical allodynia, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and nNOS and iNOS upregulation in diabetic mice. MK801 also reduced astrocytosis and glial acidic fibrillary protein upregulation in db/db mice. In addition, N(G)‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), a nonspecific NOS inhibitor, had similar effects on NMDAR signaling and NOS expression. These results suggest that nitric oxide from surrounding interneurons and astrocytes interacts with NMDAR‐dependent signaling in the projection neurons of the SCDH during the maintenance of PDN. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of Three‐Dimensional Korean Male Anthropometric Data with Modeling Data Generated by Digital Human Models
Authors: Hong Seungwoo , Jung Eui S. , Park Sungjoon 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this study was first to extract the anthropometric data of typical Korean male adults, based on the three‐dimensional anthropometric data measured through the Size Korea project. The data were then analyzed to identify the differences in the anthropometric characteristics between typical Koreans and 3D Korean mannequinmannequins generated by digital human models. Revision equations were then suggested to improve the inaccuracy of digital human models. Typical Korean adults subject to the 3D body scan data were selected by factor analysis with respect to the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles. Comparisons of anthropometric differences included the differences of the height and length variables in the vertical direction and the breadth, depth, and circumference variables in the horizontal direction. These comparisons demonstrated the differences in the anthropometric characteristics between typical Koreans and Korean mannequins based on differences in body shape and proportions between Korean and Western populations. Typical Koreans have shorter legs and longer torso than those of such mannequins generated from their own modeling algorithms, and the body shape of Koreans is more of an inverted triangular shape compared to the models. Although 3D digital human models are required to be modified to appropriately reflect the Asian body shape, modification of the modeling algoritms is not available to the public. The revision equations that convert the Korean modeling data of RAMSIS and Human in CATIA into typical Korean anthropometric data were instead suggested by regression analysis. It is expected that the proposed revision equations will help the designer evaluate design alternatives and improve the suitability of ergonomic evaluation for Korean customers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Service systems design: An intentional agent perspective
Authors: Lessard Lysanne , Yu Eric 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis article proposes to conceptualize service system entities as intentional agents in order to account for the high‐level interests and expected benefits that drive their interactions. Such a conceptualization offers a useful ground for the design of service systems through agent‐oriented modeling, in particular i* (short for distributed intentionality). i* could provide an improved support to the design of service system interactions by focusing on why actors engage in service relationships and how they evaluate the value of a service engagement. Such an approach goes beyond current process‐based design approaches that support the design of service activities but that are unable to link them to actors' perception of value. We develop our argumentation from the results of a multiple‐case study of knowledge‐intensive business services (KIBS), in particular academic research and development service engagements. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of spatial variability and seasonality in soil moisture on drainage thresholds and fluxes in a conceptual hydrological model
Authors: McMillan H.K. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis paper uses soil moisture data from 17 recording sensors within the 50 km2 Mahurangi catchment in New Zealand to determine how measured variability in soil moisture affects simulations of drainage in a typical lumped conceptual model. The data show that variability smoothes the simulated field capacity threshold such that a proportion of the catchment contributes to drainage even when mean soil moisture content is well below field capacity. Spatial variability in soil moisture controls by extension the catchment drainage behaviour: the resulting smoothed shape of the catchment‐scale drainage function is demonstrated and is also determined theoretically under simplifying assumptions. The smoothing effect increases the total simulated discharge by 130%. The analysis explains previous findings that different drainage equations are required at point scale versus catchment scale in the Mahurangi. The spatial variability and hence the emergent drainage behaviour are found to vary with season, suggesting that time‐varying parameters would be warranted to simulate drainage. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Moisture characteristics and their point pedotransfer functions for coarse‐textured tropical soils differing in structural degradation status
Authors: Obalum Sunday E. , Obi Martin E. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe effect of soil structure on hydraulic pedotransfer functions (PTFs) in tropical soils with similar mineralogy and texture has not been well documented. Structurally contrasting soils from representative locations in southeastern Nigeria were analyzed for moisture retention at 0, 6, 10, 33, 100, 300 and 1500 kPa among other properties. They were grouped by depth (topsoils or subsoils) and also by their structural degradation status into low‐ and high‐stability soils, corresponding to organic matter (OM):[silt + clay] of <7.5 and >7.5%, respectively. Soil depth and structural stability influenced the soil moisture characteristic curves. The data were fitted to three tropical point PTFs, but none of them proved appropriate for predicting moisture retention in the soils. We therefore derived new ones using multiple linear stepwise regressions before and after the dataset grouping and compared their performances by means of cross‐validation. Moisture retention in the soils (sand content, 73.2–93.8%) could not be calibrated from texture and OM concentration alone, until when bulk density, total porosity and microporosity were included among the regressors. Microporosity's role was particularly outstanding at all matric potentials but the 1500 kPa. The ensuing PTFs represent a good fit for the soil moisture retention data. The two grouping strategies resulted in lower SE of the estimates in some cases, but this did not enhance the performances of the concerned PTFs. At the 1500 kPa, however, the PTF incorporating all datasets performed better than separate PTFs for topsoils/subsoils but worse than the one for high‐stability soils. Information on soil structure can therefore benefit PTF derivation for kaolinite‐dominated, coarse‐textured tropical soils at all the matric potentials considered. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Seasonal variability of the complementary relationship in the Asian monsoon region
Authors: Yang Hanbo , Yang Dawen , Lei Zhidong 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe complementary relationship (CR) between potential evaporation (LEp) and actual evaporation (LE) is widely used to explain the evaporation paradox and to estimate LE, in which wet environment evaporation (LEw) is usually calculated using the Priestley–Taylor equation. However, in many studies on the CR, it has been found that the Priestley–Taylor parameter α is not a constant. Through seasonal variation of α for estimating LEw in the CR, this paper analyses its seasonal variability. Based on flux observation data at two flux experiment sites (Kogma in Thailand and Weishan in China) in the Asian monsoon region, seasonal variability of the CR is detected, i.e. the α value is larger in winter than in summer. This seasonal variability might be caused by seasonal variability in the transport of water vapor and sensible heat between oceans and continent. The monsoon increases air humidity and lowers air temperature in summer, which leads to a decrease in α; it increases atmospheric air temperature and vapor content in winter, increasing α. Nevertheless, during May–September, α has a range of 1.06–1.16 at the Kogma site and 1.00–1.36 at the Weishan site, which is approximate to the typical range 1.1–1.4. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of disorder in IκB–NFκB interaction
Authors: Dyson H. Jane , Komives Elizabeth A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe paradigmatic transcription factors of the NFκB family provide an increasingly complex view of the mechanism of signal‐mediated transcriptional activation. Although the primary event, phosphorylation and subsequent ubiquitin‐dependent degradation of IκBα, the inhibitor of the canonical NFκB (p50/p65), is reasonably well understood, the means whereby the activation is turned off by postinduction repression are less well understood. Recent work highlighted in this review suggests that the inhibitor IκBα participates in the “stripping” of NFκB from the DNA, and that this process relies heavily on the disordered and weakly ordered segments of IκBα. Kinetic and equilibrium measurements in vitro as well as genetic screens in vivo convincingly demonstrate not only that IκBα greatly increases the dissociation rate of NFκB from DNA but also that further control of the process is mediated by the extremely short half‐life of free IκBα, doubtless a result of the overall weakly folded nature of the free protein. These studies illustrate the versatility of protein systems that use not only well‐structured proteins and protein complexes but also the full range of available weakly structured and disordered states to maximize functional efficiency and metabolic control. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 2012
Nanophase bone substitute in vivo response to subcutaneous implantation
Authors: Baskin Jonathan Z. , Vasanji Amit , McMasters James , Soenjaya Yohannes , Barbu Anca M. , Eppell Steven J. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA collagen‐apatite composite designed as a load‐bearing bone substitute implant is used to characterize the relationship between implant morphology and in vivo behavior. This nanophase bone substitute (NBS) is studied morphologically using a nondestructive imaging technique and biologically using the rodent subcutaneous model. Porosity and pore interconnectivity are correlated with histological outcomes showing cellular invasion occurs with average pore sizes below 100 μm. Crosslinking with D‐ribose is shown to affect cellular infiltration in a dose‐response manner. These data suggest that collagen‐apatite bone substitutes can support cellular infiltration with pore size significantly smaller than 100 μm, an encouraging result regarding development of the NBS into a platform of biomaterials with enhanced mechanical properties. The data also indicate that increasing crosslinking density decreases cellular infiltration of NBS. Thus, modulating mechanical properties of the material by altering crosslink density is likely to produce decreased biological response within the material. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2462–2473, 2012.
Assessing iPSC reprogramming methods for their suitability in translational medicine
Authors: Rao Mahendra S. , Malik Nasir 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe discovery of the ability to induce somatic cells to a pluripotent state through the overexpression of specific transcription factors has the potential to transform the ways in which pharmaceutical agents and cellular transplantation therapies are developed. Proper utilization of the technology to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires that researchers select the appropriate reprogramming method for generating iPSCs so that the resulting iPSCs can be transitioned towards clinical applications effectively. This article reviews all of the currently available reprogramming techniques with a focus on critiquing them on the basis of their utility in translational medicine. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3061‐3068, 2012. Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Fully ab initio protein‐ligand interaction energies with dispersion corrected density functional theory
Authors: Antony Jens , Grimme Stefan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDispersion corrected density functional theory (DFT‐D3) is used for fully ab initio protein‐ligand (PL) interaction energy calculation via molecular fractionation with conjugated caps (MFCC) and applied to PL complexes from the PDB comprising 3680, 1798, and 1060 atoms. Molecular fragments with n amino acids instead of one in the original MFCC approach are considered, thereby allowing for estimating the three‐body and higher many‐body terms. n > 1 is recommended both in terms of accuracy and efficiency of MFCC. For neutral protein side‐chains, the computed PL interaction energy is visibly independent of the fragment length n. The MFCC fractionation error is determined by comparison to a full‐system calculation for the 1060 atoms containing PL complex. For charged amino acid side‐chains, the variation of the MFCC result with n is increased. For these systems, using a continuum solvation model with a dielectricity constant typical for protein environments (ϵ = 4) reduces both the variation with n and improves the stability of the DFT calculations considerably. The PL interaction energies for two typical complexes obtained ab initio for the first time are found to be rather large (−30 and −54 kcal/mol). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Postnatal outcome of prenatally diagnosed severe fetal renal pelvic dilatation
Authors: Kumar Sailesh , Walia Shikha , Ikpeme Obori , Zhang Eko , Paramasivam Gowrishankar , Agarwal Sanjiv , Murphy Karl , Deal Jane , Lakasing Lorin 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveWe correlated the prenatal severity with the postnatal outcome of prenatally detected renal pelvic dilatation (RPD).MethodsCases of prenatally detected RPD referred between January 2002 and December 2008 were included. Severe RPD was defined as an anterior–posterior diameter of 15 mm, mild and moderate dilatation was defined as 6 to <10 mm and 10 to <15 mm, respectively. Postnatal diagnosis, the need for surgery and the correlation with the prenatal severity was ascertained.ResultsOf the 762 patients with RPD, 492 (64.5%) were mild, 167 (21.9%) were moderate, and 103 (13.5%) were severe. The male:female ratio for the severe cohort was 5:1. Of the sever cases, 68% had progressive dilatation. Of the mild/moderate cases, 5% progressed to severe dilatation. PUJ obstruction was confirmed in 48 cases (60.8%), severe VUR in 11 cases (14%), VUJ obstruction in 5 cases (6%), PUV in 2 cases (2.5%), and a nonidentifiable cause in 13 cases (16.5%). Ten of the 48 (20.8%) babies with PUJ obstruction required surgery within the first year of life.ConclusionAn obstructive cause is usually present in severe cases, which are more likely to require surgery if there is PUJ obstruction. A high male:female ratio was present in this group. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved diagnostic accuracy by using secondary ultrasound markers in the first‐trimester screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 and Turner syndrome
Authors: Karadzov‐Orlic Natasa , Egic Amira , Milovanovic Zagorka , Marinkovic Maja , Damnjanovic‐Pazin Barbara , Lukic Relja , Joksic Ivana , Curkovic Aleksandar , Mikovic Zeljko 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a combination of parameters at first‐trimester screening for fetal aneuploidies, including ultrasound assessment of the nasal bone (NB), blood flow in the ductus venosus (DV) and flow across the tricuspid valve.MethodsScreening for aneuploidy was carried out in 4172 singleton pregnancies between January 2006 and December 2010. Diagnostic accuracy of combined screening [inclusive of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness and maternal serum free beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A] and of secondary ultrasound markers [NB, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and Doppler studies of the DV] obtained at the same visit was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsThe individual areas under the ROC curves of NT, NB, DV or TR ranged between 0.7 and 0.8, representing acceptable discrimination. The area under the ROC curve of combined first‐trimester screening was 0.87, whereas the addition of secondary ultrasound markers increased the area under the curve to 0.92, which represents excellent discrimination. At a risk cutoff of 1 : 275, the detection rate for aneuploidy increased from 87% to 92% (z statistic = 1.78, P = 0.076), and the false positive rate decreased from 5.3% to 4.8%.ConclusionThe addition of secondary ultrasound markers (NB, DV and TR) to combined first‐trimester screening showed a tendency toward improved accuracy of the screening. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of circulating fetal cell markers by microarray analysis
Authors: Brinch Marie , Hatt Lotte , Singh Ripudaman , Møller Kristine , Sommer Steffen , Uldbjerg Niels , Christensen Britta , Kølvraa Steen 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveDifferent fetal cell types have been found in the maternal blood during pregnancy in the past, but fetal cells are scarce, and the proportions of the different cell types are unclear. The objective of the present study was to identify specific fetal cell markers from fetal cells found in the maternal blood circulation at the end of the first trimester.MethodTwenty‐three fetal cells were isolated from maternal blood by removing the red blood cells by lysis or combining this with removal of large proportions of maternal white blood cells by magnetic‐activated cell sorting. Fetal cells identified by XY fluorescence in situ hybridization and confirmed by reverse‐color fluorescence in situ hybridization were shot off microscope slides by laser capture microdissection. The expression pattern of a subset of expressed genes was compared between fetal cells and maternal blood cells using stem cell microarray analysis.ResultsTwenty‐eight genes were identified as fetal cell marker candidates.ConclusionOf the 28 fetal marker candidate genes, five coded for proteins, which are located on the outer surface of the cell membrane and not expressed in blood. The protein product of these five genes, MMP14, MCAM, KCNQ4, CLDN6, and F3, may be used as markers for fetal cell enrichment. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Basic aspects of the temperature coefficients of concentrator solar cell performance parameters
Authors: Braun Avi , Katz Eugene A. , Gordon Jeffrey M. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThe basis for the temperature dependence of the principal performance parameters of single and multi‐junction concentrator solar cells is examined, focusing on the impact of bandgap and irradiance. The analysis of cells in the radiative limit establishes fundamental bounds. A quasi‐empirical model yields predictions consistent with available data. A simple method for estimating the temperature coefficients of key performance parameters is identified. The degree to which the efficiency penalty associated with cell heating can be mitigated by high irradiance is also evaluated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.