bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zinc Sulfide Nanostructure Arrays: ZnS Nanostructure Arrays: A Developing Material Star (Adv. Mater. 5/2011)
Authors: Fang Xiaosheng , Wu Limin , Hu Linfeng 
Published: January 2011

AbstractSemiconductor nanostructure arrays are of great scientific and technical interest because of the strong non‐linear and electro‐optic effects that occur due to carrier confinement in three dimensions. The use of such nanostructure arrays with tailored geometry, array density, and length‐diameter‐ratio as building blocks are expected to play a crucial role in future nanoscale devices. With the unique properties of a direct wide‐bandgap semiconductor, such as the presence of polar surfaces, excellent transport properties, good thermal stability, and high electronic mobility, ZnS nanostructure arrays has been a developing material star. The research on ZnS nanostructure arrays has seen remarkable progress over the last five years due to the unique properties and important potential applications of nanostructure arrays, which are summarized here. Firstly, a survey of various methods to the synthesis of ZnS nanostructure arrays will be introduced. Next recent efforts on exploiting the unique properties and applications of ZnS nanostructure arrays are discussed. Potential future directions of this research field are also highlighted.
Health impact of pneumoconiosis in Mongolia: Estimation of losses in life expectancy and quality adjusted life expectancy
Authors: Oyunbileg Shagdarsuren , Wang Jung‐Der , Sumberzul Nyamjav , Chang Yu‐Yin , Erdenchimeg Erdenebayar 
Published: January 2011

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the life expectancy (LE), quality‐adjusted life expectancy (QALE), and their losses, in patients with pneumoconiosis in Mongolia.Methods and MaterialsAll patients (n = 432) diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis during 1986–2006 were recruited from the registry of the National Research Center of Occupational Diseases, which was linked to the National Mortality Registry of Mongolia to obtain the survival function. We simulated age and gender matched referents group based on the life table in 2000. The survival ratio between patients and referents was used to extrapolate and calculate the LE. The average expected years of life loss (EYLL) of pneumoconiosis were calculated as the mean survival difference between patients and referents. We adopted utility values for workers with pneumoconiosis and multiplied them with the survival function to estimate the QALE, which was then used to calculate the loss of QALE.ResultsThe life expectancy and EYLL of a patient with pneumoconiosis were 18.1 and 9.5 years respectively. QALE and loss of QALE were 15.1 and 12.5 QALYs (quality‐adjusted life years), respectively, indicating a health gap of 45%.ConclusionThe health inequality suffered by miners in Mongolia must be addressed through prevention, including exposure monitoring and control, early diagnosis and case management and rehabilitation of pneumoconiosis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:285–292, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic determinants in hepatitis C virus–associated mixed cryoglobulinemia: Role of polymorphic variants of BAFF promoter and Fcγ receptors
Authors: Gragnani Laura , Piluso Alessia , Giannini Carlo , Caini Patrizio , Fognani Elisa , Monti Monica , Petrarca Antonio , Ranieri Jessica , Razzolini Giulia , Froio Valentina , Laffi Giacomo , Zignego Anna Linda 
Published: January 2011

AbstractObjectiveMixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is a hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related immune complex disorder. Only some HCV‐infected patients develop MC, which suggests that the genetic background of the host plays a key role. This study was undertaken to evaluate the contribution of host genetic factors in the pathogenesis of HCV‐associated MC (HCV‐MC) by analyzing allelic variants of low‐affinity Fcγ receptor (FcγR) genes and BAFF promoter.MethodsFcγR polymorphisms (FCGR2A 131 R/H, FCGR2B 232 I/T, FCGR3A 176 V/F, and FCGR3B NA1/NA2) and BAFF promoter polymorphism −871 C/T were analyzed in 102 patients with HCV‐MC and 108 patients with HCV without MC, using polymerase chain reaction–based techniques.ResultsA higher prevalence of −871 T/T homozygosity (31% versus 16%; P = 0.001) and a greater frequency of T alleles of the BAFF promoter (80% versus 57%; P = 0.004) were found in the HCV‐MC group than in the HCV group. A significant increase in serum BAFF concentration was significantly associated with the higher frequency of the T allele in HCV‐MC (mean ± SD 4.12 ± 1.29 versus 2.09 ± 0.81 ng/ml; P < 0.0005). The distribution of the FcγR genotypes was not significantly different. In the 21 HCV‐MC patients treated with rituximab, the response was strictly related to F allele homozygosity (significantly reduced in 5 of 5 patients with the FCGR3A F/F genotype versus 4 of 16 with V/V or V/F; P < 0.0005).ConclusionThese results indicate the importance of host genetic background in the development of HCV‐MC, suggesting that mechanisms enhancing Ig production and B cell survival may play a relevant role. Genetic FcγR variants seem to be crucial to the effectiveness of rituximab therapy.
CoPE: Enabling collaborative privacy management in online social networks
Authors: Squicciarini Anna C. , Xu Heng , Zhang Xiaolong (Luke) 
Published: January 2011

AbstractOnline Social Networks (OSNs) facilitate the creation and maintenance of interpersonal online relationships. Unfortunately, the availability of personal data on social networks may unwittingly expose users to numerous privacy risks. As a result, establishing effective methods to control personal data and maintain privacy within these OSNs have become increasingly important. This research extends the current access control mechanisms employed by OSNs to protect private information shared among users of OSNs. The proposed approach presents a system of collaborative content management that relies on an extended notion of a “content stakeholder.” A tool, Collaborative Privacy Management (CoPE), is implemented as an application within a popular social‐networking site, facebook.com, to ensure the protection of shared images generated by users. We present a user study of our CoPE tool through a survey‐based study (n=80). The results demonstrate that regardless of whether Facebook users are worried about their privacy, they like the idea of collaborative privacy management and believe that a tool such as CoPE would be useful to manage their personal information shared within a social network.
Developing metrics to characterize Flickr groups
Authors: Cox Andrew , Clough Paul , Siersdorfer Stefan 
Published: January 2011

AbstractFlickr, the large‐scale online photo sharing website, is often viewed as one of the ‘classic’ examples of Web2.0 applications through which researchers are able to observe the social behavior of online communities. One of the main features of Flickr is groups. These provide a means to organize, share and discuss photos of potential interest to group members. This paper explores the scale of group creation on Flickr and proposes a new set of metrics for characterizing groups on Flickr looking at aspects of membership, communication activity, and communication structure. Data collected from a sample of 1,000 groups was used to confirm the metrics and provide new insights into group formation in Flickr, such as the nature of larger and smaller groups. The contributions of the article are as follows: a set of metrics for characterizing online groups that extend existing schemes; an approach for sampling Flickr to estimate the number of groups; new insights into Flickr groups based on results from analyzing 1,000 randomly selected groups; and reflections on our experiences with using publicly accessible, automatically collected data to characterize the types of groups on Flickr.
Probing phenylalanine environments in oligomeric structures with pentafluorophenylalanine and cyclohexylalanine
Authors: Nomura Takao , Kamada Rui , Ito Issaku , Sakamoto Koichi , Chuman Yoshiro , Ishimori Koichiro , Shimohigashi Yasuyuki , Sakaguchi Kazuyasu 
Published: January 2011

AbstractStabilization of protein structures and protein–protein interactions are critical in the engineering of industrially useful enzymes and in the design of pharmaceutically valuable ligands. Hydrophobic interactions involving phenylalanine residues play crucial roles in protein stability and protein–protein/peptide interactions. To establish an effective method to explore the hydrophobic environments of phenylalanine residues, we present a strategy that uses pentafluorophenylalanine (F5Phe) and cyclohexylalanine (Cha). In this study, substitution of F5Phe or Cha for three Phe residues at positions 328, 338, and 341 in the tetramerization domain of the tumor suppressor protein p53 was performed. These residues are located at the interfaces of p53–p53 interactions and are important in the stabilization of the tetrameric structure. The stability of the p53 tetrameric structure did not change significantly when F5Phe‐containing peptides at positions Phe328 or Phe338 were used. In contrast, the substitution of Cha for Phe341 in the hydrophobic core enhanced the stability of the tetrameric structure with a Tm value of ∼100°C. Phe328 and Phe338 interact with each other through π‐interactions, whereas Phe341 is buried in the surrounding alkyl side‐chains of the hydrophobic core of the p53 tetramerization domain. Furthermore, high pressure‐assisted denaturation analysis indicated improvement in the occupancy of the hydrophobic core. Considerable stabilization of the p53 tetramer was achieved by filling the identified cavity in the hydrophobic core of the p53 tetramer. The results indicate the status of the Phe residues, indicating that the “pair substitution” of Cha and F5Phe is highly suitable for probing the environments of Phe residues. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 95: 410–419, 2011
Recurrence-free survival more than 10 years after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors:   Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan, Eguchi S , Kanematsu T , Arii S , Omata M , Kudo M , Sakamoto M , Takayasu K , Makuuchi M , Matsuyama Y , Monden M 
Published: January 2011

Abstract

Background
High recurrence rates after liver resection with curative intent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain a problem. The characterization of long-term survivors without recurrence after liver resection may help improve the therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Methods
A nationwide Japanese database was used to analyse 20 811 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection with curative intent.

Results
The 10-year recurrence-free survival rate after liver resection for HCC with curative intent was 22·4 per cent. Some 281 patients were recurrence-free after more than 10 years. The HCCs measured less than 5 cm in 83·2 per cent, a single lesion was present in 91·7 per cent, and a simple nodular macroscopic appearance was found in 73·3 per cent of these patients; histologically, most HCCs showed no vascular invasion or intrahepatic metastases. Multivariable analysis revealed tumour differentiation as the strongest predictor of death from recurrent HCC within 5 years.

Conclusion
Long-term recurrence-free survival is possible after liver resection for HCC, particularly in patients with a single lesion measuring less than 5 cm with a simple nodular appearance and low tumour marker levels.
From trace evidence to bioinformatics: Putting bryophytes into molecular biology education
Authors: Fuselier Linda , Bougary Azhar , Malott Michelle 
Published: January 2011

AbstractStudents benefit most from their science education when they participate fully in the process of science in the context of real‐world problems. We describe a student‐directed open‐inquiry lab experience that has no predetermined outcomes and requires students to engage in all components of scientific inquiry from posing a question through evaluating and reporting results. Over 5 weeks, students learn how bryophytes are used in forensics and become proficient in important molecular biology lab skills including DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and genotyping. For this portion of the experience, there is no specialized equipment necessary outside of gel electrophoresis supplies and a thermocycler. In an optional extension of the experience, students sequence a plastid intron and use introductory bioinformatics skills to identify species related to their forensics case. Students who participated in the lab experience performed well on content‐based assessment, and student attitudes toward the experience were positive and indicative of engaged learning. The lab experience is easily modified for higher or lower level courses and can be used in secondary education. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 38–46, 2011
Bridging the educational research‐teaching practice gap: Curriculum development, Part 1: Components of the curriculum and influences on the process of curriculum design
Authors: Anderson Trevor R. , Rogan John M. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractThis article summarizes the major components of curriculum design: vision, operationalization of the vision, design, and evaluation. It stresses that the relationship between these components is dynamic, and that the process of curriculum design does not proceed via a linear application of these components. The article then summarizes some of the major influences on curriculum design: policy, local context, societal expectations, research trends, and technology. Then, it provides examples of how these influences affect the design of a curriculum and ends with a comprehensive set of questions that instructors could use to guide their curriculum development process. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 68–76, 2011
Exploring separable components of institutional confidence
Authors: Hamm Joseph A. , PytlikZillig Lisa M. , Tomkins Alan J. , Herian Mitchel N. , Bornstein Brian H. , Neeley Elizabeth M. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractDespite its contemporary and theoretical importance in numerous social scientific disciplines, institutional confidence research is limited by a lack of consensus regarding the distinctions and relationships among related constructs (e.g., trust, confidence, legitimacy, distrust, etc.). This study examined four confidence‐related constructs that have been used in studies of trust/confidence in the courts: dispositional trust, trust in institutions, obligation to obey the law, and cynicism. First, the separability of the four constructs was examined by exploratory factor analyses. Relationships among the constructs were also assessed. Next, multiple regression analyses were used to explore each construct's independent contribution to confidence in the courts. Finally, a second study replicated the first study and also examined the stability of the institutional confidence constructs over time. Results supported the hypothesized separability of, and correlations among, the four confidence‐related constructs. The extent to which the constructs independently explained the observed variance in confidence in the courts differed as a function of the specific operationalization of confidence in the courts and the individual predictor measures. Implications for measuring institutional confidence and future research directions are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison and critical analysis of robotized technology for monoclonal antibody high‐throughput production
Authors: Chiarella Pieranna , Leuener Melanie , Fasci Christian , de Marco Ario , Santini Maria Paola , Fazio Vito M. , Sawyer Alan M. 
Published: January 2011

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated how to transform the conventional method of hybridoma production and screening into a fast, high‐throughput technology. Nevertheless, there were still open questions related to automated procedures and immunization protocols that we address now by comparing the hybridoma production work‐flow in automated and manually executed processes. In addition, since the animals' antibody responses to single or multiple antigen challenge affect monoclonal antibody throughput, different immunization and fusion strategies were tested. Specifically, the results obtained with multiplexing (multiple target antigens injected into a single animal) and single antigen immunization followed by splenocyte pooling immediately before fusion were compared with conventional methods. The results presented here demonstrate that the optimal protocol consists of automated somatic‐cell fusion and hybridoma dilution followed by manual plating of hybridoma cells. Additionally, more specific and productive hybridoma clones were obtained with multiplexed immunization in a single animal with respect to the splenocyte pooling from single antigen immunized animals. However, in terms of overall antibody yield, the conventional method consisting of single immunization for each single animal assured ten times more specific hybridoma cell lines than the strategy based on the multiple antigen immunization followed by separate fusion step. In conclusion, the most productive approach for recovering a large number of suitable antibodies relies on single antigen immunization followed by automated fusion and dilution steps and manual plating. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
The effect of early prenatal hypercapnia on the vascular network in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken embryo
Authors: Verhoelst Eva , Ketelaere Bart De , Decuypere Eddy , Baerdemaeker Josse De 
Published: January 2011

AbstractOver the last decade, the poultry sector has sought to develop novel ways to monitor chicken embryonic growth, health, and quality to control and optimize egg incubation conditions, particularly the concentration of dissolved gasses (O2, CO2). One of the parameters, which may change under different gas concentrations, is the angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), the organ for gas exchange of the chicken embryo. In this study, a newly developed methodology was used to quantify the angiogenesis in the CAM under normal and early hypercapnic conditions (i.e., increased CO2 concentrations). Two experiments were conducted in which the same CO2 profile was applied. The development of the vascular system was monitored from embryonic day (ED) 10 until ED 14 in Experiment 1, and until ED 16 in Experiment 2. This development was characterized by two different parameters—the vascular fraction (VF) as a measure for the density of the vascular network and the fractal dimension (FD) as a measure for the degree of branching of the vascular network. Moreover, in Experiment 2, embryo weights were compared between both groups. The proposed methodology showed that differences in the development of the vascular system could be observed across groups but also as function of the ED. Both VF and FD and the embryo weights were shown to be higher in the hypercapnia group compared to the control group. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
Starch self‐processing in transgenic sweet potato roots expressing a hyperthermophilic α‐amylase
Authors: Santa‐Maria Monica C. , Yencho Craig G. , Haigler Candace H. , Thompson William F. , Kelly Robert M. , Sosinski Bryon 
Published: January 2011

AbstractSweet potato is a major crop in the southeastern United States, which requires few inputs and grows well on marginal land. It accumulates large quantities of starch in the storage roots and has been shown to give comparable or superior ethanol yields to corn per cultivated acre in the southeast. Starch conversion to fermentable sugars (i.e., for ethanol production) is carried out at high temperatures and requires the action of thermostable and thermoactive amylolytic enzymes. These enzymes are added to the starch mixture impacting overall process economics. To address this shortcoming, the gene encoding a hyperthermophilic α‐amylase from Thermotoga maritima was cloned and expressed in transgenic sweet potato, generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation, to create a plant with the ability to self‐process starch. No significant enzyme activity could be detected below 40°C, but starch in the transgenic sweet potato storage roots was readily hydrolyzed at 80°C. The transgene did not affect normal storage root formation. The results presented here demonstrate that engineering plants with hyperthermophilic glycoside hydrolases can facilitate cost effective starch conversion to fermentable sugars. Furthermore, the use of sweet potato as an alternative near‐term energy crop should be considered. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
Microalgae as sources of high added‐value compounds—a brief review of recent work
Authors: Guedes A. Catarina , Amaro Helena M. , Malcata F. Xavier 
Published: January 2011

AbstractMicroalgae have found commercial applications as natural sources of valuable macromolecules, including carotenoids, long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and phycocolloids. As photoautotrophs, their simple growth requirements make them attractive for bioprocesses aimed at producing high added‐value compounds that are in large demand by the pharmaceutical market. A few compounds synthesized by microalgae have indeed proven to possess anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumoral features; astaxanthin, a known antioxidant produced byHaematococcus pluvialis, is an illustrative example with important anti‐inflammatory and antitumoral roles. From a chemical standpoint, several such compounds are polysaccharides or long chain fatty acids, where the latter can be either saturated or unsaturated. Additionally, their chemical structures are often atypical, whereas their concentrations can exceed those found in many other natural sources. The productivity and biochemical composition of microalgae depend strongly on the mode of cultivation, medium composition, and nutrient profile. Consequently, numerous efforts aimed at elucidating the practical impacts of the aforementioned parameters have been developed. This review accordingly covers the knowledge produced in the last two decades on the uses of microalgae to obtain physiologically active compounds, and on the optimization of the underlying production and purification processes. It also identifies major gaps and opportunities in this field that should be addressed or exploited in the near future. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011