http://www.mdpi.com/ Latest open access articles published at http://www.mdpi.com/ http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/2/2/56 After launching the journal Education (Basel) we became aware that this title has been used by another publisher as a printed journal. Since only seven papers have been published so far, we decided to change the journal title to Education Sciences and move the seven published papers to Education Sciences. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. http://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/2/2/56 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Education Sciences 2012-05-16 2 2 Editorial 56 56 2227-7102 Education to Education Sciences 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/educsci2020056 Shu-Kun Lin http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5882 1,2,3-Triazoles have been extensively studied as compounds possessing important biological activities. In this work, we describe the synthesis of ten 2-(1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)propan-2-ols via copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAc or click chemistry). Next the in vitro antifungal activity of these ten compounds was evaluated using the microdilution broth method against 42 isolates of four different Candida species. Among all tested compounds, the halogen substituted triazole 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-(1,2,3)triazol-4-yl]propan-2-ol, revealed the best antifungal profile, showing that further modifications could be done in the structure to obtain a better drug candidate in the future. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5882 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5882 5892 1420-3049 Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives and in Vitro Antifungal Evaluation on Candida Strains 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055882 Reginaldo G. Lima-Neto Nery N. M. Cavalcante Rajendra M. Srivastava Francisco J. B. Mendonça Junior Almir G. Wanderley Rejane P. Neves Janaína V. dos Anjos http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1887 Soil erosion has been recognized as one of the major threats to our environment and water quality worldwide, especially in China. To mitigate nonpoint source water quality problems caused by soil erosion, best management practices (BMPs) and/or conservation programs have been adopted. Watershed models, such as the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollutant Loading model (AnnAGNPS), have been developed to aid in the evaluation of watershed response to watershed management practices. The model has been applied worldwide and proven to be a very effective tool in identifying the critical areas which had serious erosion, and in aiding in decision-making processes for adopting BMPs and/or conservation programs so that cost/benefit can be maximized and non-point source pollution control can be achieved in the most efficient way. The main goal of this study was to assess the characteristics of soil erosion, sediment and sediment delivery of a watershed so that effective conservation measures can be implemented. To achieve the overall objective of this study, all necessary data for the 4,184 km2 Daning River watershed in the Three-Gorge region of the Yangtze River of China were assembled. The model was calibrated using observed monthly runoff from 1998 to 1999 (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency of 0.94 and R2 of 0.94) and validated using the observed monthly runoff from 2003 to 2005 (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency of 0.93 and R2 of 0.93). Additionally, the model was validated using annual average sediment of 2000–2002 (relative error of −0.34) and 2003–2004 (relative error of 0.18) at Wuxi station. Post validation simulation showed that approximately 48% of the watershed was under the soil loss tolerance released by the Ministry of Water Resources of China (500 t·km−2·y−1). However, 8% of the watershed had soil erosion of exceeding 5,000 t·km−2·y−1. Sloping areas and low coverage areas are the main source of soil loss in the watershed. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1887 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2012-05-16 9 5 Article 1887 1907 1660-4601 Assessment of Runoff and Sediment Yields Using the AnnAGNPS Model in a Three-Gorge Watershed of China 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijerph9051887 Lizhong Hua Xiubin He Yongping Yuan Hongwei Nan http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1874 Heavy metal pollution in soil is becoming a widely concerning environmental problem in China. The aim of this study is to integrate multiple sources of data, namely total Cu and Pb contents, digital elevation model (DEM) data, remote sensing image and interpreted land-use data, for mapping the spatial distribution of total Cu and Pb contamination in top soil along the Le’an River and its branches. Combined with geographical analyses and watershed delineation, the source and transportation route of pollutants are identified. Regions at high risk of Cu or Pb pollution are suggested. Results reveal that topography is the major factor that controls the spatial distribution of Cu and Pb. Watershed delineation shows evidence that the streamflow resulting from rainfall is the major carrier of metal pollutants. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1874 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2012-05-16 9 5 Article 1874 1886 1660-4601 Mapping of Cu and Pb Contaminations in Soil Using Combined Geochemistry, Topography, and Remote Sensing: A Case Study in the Le’an River Floodplain, China 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijerph9051874 Yiyun Chen Yaolin Liu Yanfang Liu Aiwen Lin Xuesong Kong Dianfeng Liu Xiran Li Yang Zhang Yin Gao Dun Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6508 An infrared hot-electron transistor (IHET) 5 × 8 array with a common base configuration that allows two-terminal readout integration was investigated and fabricated for the first time. The IHET structure provides a maximum factor of six in improvement in the photocurrent to dark current ratio compared to the basic quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP), and hence it improved the array S/N ratio by the same factor. The study also showed for the first time that there is no electrical cross-talk among individual detectors, even though they share the same emitter and base contacts. Thus, the IHET structure is compatible with existing electronic readout circuits for photoconductors in producing sensitive focal plane arrays. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6508 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-16 12 5 Article 6508 6519 1424-8220 Structure and Process of Infrared Hot Electron Transistor Arrays 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/s120506508 Richard Fu http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6497 Micromechanic resonators provide a small-volume and potentially high-throughput method to determine rheological properties of fluids. Here we explore the accuracy in measuring mass density and viscosity of ethanol-water and glycerol-water model solutions, using a simple and easily implemented model to deduce the hydrodynamic effects on resonating cantilevers of various length-to-width aspect ratios. We next show that these measurements can be extended to determine the alcohol percentage of both model solutions and commercial beverages such as beer, wine and liquor. This demonstrates how micromechanical resonators can be used for quality control of every-day drinks. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6497 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-16 12 5 Article 6497 6507 1424-8220 Using Micromechanical Resonators to Measure Rheological Properties and Alcohol Content of Model Solutions and Commercial Beverages 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/s120506497 Rosemary Paxman Jake Stinson Anna Dejardin Rachel A. McKendry Bart W. Hoogenboom http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6463 The extensions of the environment with the integration of sensing systems in any space, in conjunction with ubiquitous computing are enabling the so-called Smart Space Sensor Networks. This new generation of networks are offering full connectivity with any object, through the Internet of Things (IoT) and/or the Web, i.e., the Web of Things. These connectivity capabilities are making it feasible to sense the behaviours of people at home and act accordingly. These sensing systems must be integrated within typical elements found at home such as furniture. For that reason, this work considers furniture as an interesting element for the transparent location of sensors. Furniture is a ubiquitous object, i.e., it can be found everywhere at home or the office, and it can integrate and hide the sensors of a network. This work addresses the lack of an exhaustive study of the effect of furniture on signal losses. In addition an easy-to-use tool for estimating the robustness of the communication channel among the sensor nodes and gateways is proposed. Specifically, the losses in a sensor network signal due to the materials found within the communication link are evaluated. Then, this work proposes a software tool that gathers the obtained results and is capable of evaluating the impact of a given set of materials on the communications. This tool also provides a mechanism to optimize the sensor network deployments during the definition of smart spaces. Specifically, it provides information such as: maximum distances between sensor nodes, most suitable type of furniture to integrate sensors, or battery life of sensor nodes. This tool has been validated empirically in the lab, and it is currently being used by several enterprise partners of the Technological Centre of Furniture and Wood in the southeast of Spain. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6463 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-16 12 5 Article 6463 6496 1424-8220 Evaluation of the Impact of Furniture on Communications Performance for Ubiquitous Deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks in Smart Homes 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/s120506463 Andrés L. Bleda Antonio J. Jara Rafael Maestre Guadalupe Santa Antonio F. Gómez Skarmeta http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1425 Owing to the shallowness of waters, vast areas, and spatial complexity, reefscape mapping requires Digital Depth Models (DDM) at a fine scale but over large areas. Outperforming waterborne surveys limited by shallow water depths and costly airborne campaigns, recently launched satellite sensors, endowed with high spectral and very high spatial capabilities, can adequately address the raised issues. Doubling the number of spectral bands, the innovative eight band WorldView-2 (WV2) imagery is very susceptible to enhance the DDM retrieved from the traditional four band QuickBird-2 (QB2). Based on an efficiently recognized algorithm (ratio transform), resolving for the clear water bathymetry, we compared DDM derived from simulated QB2 with WV2 spectral combinations using acoustic ground-truthing in Moorea (French Polynesia). Three outcomes emerged from this study. Increasing spatial resolution from 2 to 0.5 m led to reduced agreement between modeled and in situ water depths. The analytical atmospheric correction (FLAASH) provided poorer results than those derived without atmospheric correction and empirical dark object correction. The purple, green, yellow and NIR3 (WV2 1st-3rd-4th-8th bands) spectral combination, processed with the atmospheric correction at the 2 m resolution, furnished the most robust consistency with ground-truthing (30 m (r = 0.65)), gaining 10 m of penetration relative to other spaceborne-derived bathymetric retrievals. The integration of the WV2-boosted bathymetry estimation into radiative transfer model holds great promise to frequently monitor the reefscape features at the colony-scale level. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1425 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Remote Sensing 2012-05-16 4 5 Article 1425 1447 2072-4292 Towards Deeper Measurements of Tropical Reefscape Structure Using the WorldView-2 Spaceborne Sensor 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/rs4051425 Antoine Collin James L. Hench http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/3/2/291 The entire publicly available set of 37 genome sequences from the bacterial order Chlamydiales has been subjected to comparative analysis in order to reveal the salient features of this pangenome and its evolutionary history. Over 2,000 protein families are detected across multiple species, with a distribution consistent to other studied pangenomes. Of these, there are 180 protein families with multiple members, 312 families with exactly 37 members corresponding to core genes, 428 families with peripheral genes with varying taxonomic distribution and finally 1,125 smaller families. The fact that, even for smaller genomes of Chlamydiales, core genes represent over a quarter of the average protein complement, signifies a certain degree of structural stability, given the wide range of phylogenetic relationships within the group. In addition, the propagation of a corpus of manually curated annotations within the discovered core families reveals key functional properties, reflecting a coherent repertoire of cellular capabilities for Chlamydiales. We further investigate over 2,000 genes without homologs in the pangenome and discover two new protein sequence domains. Our results, supported by the genome-based phylogeny for this group, are fully consistent with previous analyses and current knowledge, and point to future research directions towards a better understanding of the structural and functional properties of Chlamydiales. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/3/2/291 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Genes 2012-05-16 3 2 Article 291 319 2073-4425 The Chlamydiales Pangenome Revisited: Structural Stability and Functional Coherence 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/genes3020291 Fotis E. Psomopoulos Victoria I. Siarkou Nikolas Papanikolaou Ioannis Iliopoulos Athanasios S. Tsaftaris Vasilis J. Promponas Christos A. Ouzounis http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5972 The aim of the study was to demonstrate the influence of target gene and amplification product length on the performance of fetal gender determination systems using maternal plasma. A total of 40 pairs of plasma DNA samples from pregnant women and genomic DNA samples from maternal blood, amniotic fluid and paternal blood were isolated for gender determination by amplification of the amelogenin gene and 17 Y-chromosome STR loci, using three different commercial kits. The gender of the fetuses was confirmed by cytogenetic analysis or phenotype at birth. Both the AmpFℓSTR-Identifiler amplification kit and the Mini-STR Amplification kit for amelogenin gene detection were reliable in determining fetal gender (92.0% and 96.0%, respectively), but false negatives were present in both systems. AmpFℓSTR-Yfiler was found to be fully reliable as it amplified Y-STR in all cases of pregnancies with male fetuses and thus was 100% correct in determining fetal gender. The results demonstrated that multiple fluorescent PCR for 17 Y-STR loci was more reliable than AMELY gene testing in fetal sex determination with maternal plasma. We also found that the shorter amplification products could improve the performance of fetal gender determination systems. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5972 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5972 5981 1422-0067 Multiplex PCR for 17 Y-Chromosome Specific Short Tandem Repeats (STR) to Enhance the Reliability of Fetal Sex Determination in Maternal Plasma 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055972 Yuan Rong Jiajia Gao Xinqiang Jiang Fang Zheng http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5952 This current work was to investigate the biological effects of acidic cosmetic water (ACW) on various biological assays. ACW was isolated from seawater and demonstrated several bio-functions at various concentration ranges. ACW showed a satisfactory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, which reduced 90% of bacterial growth after a 5-second exposure. We used cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to test the properties of ACW in inflammatory cytokine release, and it did not induce inflammatory cytokine release from un-stimulated, normal PBMCs. However, ACW was able to inhibit bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine TNF-α released from PBMCs, showing an anti-inflammation potential. Furthermore, ACW did not stimulate the rat basophilic leukemia cell (RBL-2H3) related allergy response on de-granulation. Our data presented ACW with a strong anti-oxidative ability in a superoxide anion radical scavenging assay. In mass spectrometry information, magnesium and zinc ions demonstrated bio-functional detections for anti-inflammation as well as other metal ions such as potassium and calcium were observed. ACW also had minor tyrosinase and melanin decreasing activities in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn-MP) without apparent cytotoxicity. In addition, the cell proliferation assay illustrated anti-growth and anti-migration effects of ACW on human skin melanoma cells (A375.S2) indicating that it exerted the anti-cancer potential against skin cancer. The results obtained from biological assays showed that ACW possessed multiple bioactivities, including anti-microorganism, anti-inflammation, allergy-free, antioxidant, anti-melanin and anticancer properties. To our knowledge, this was the first report presenting these bioactivities on ACW. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5952 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5952 5971 1422-0067 Biological Properties of Acidic Cosmetic Water from Seawater 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055952 Wei-Ting Liao Tsi-Shu Huang Chien-Chih Chiu Jian-Liang Pan Shih-Shin Liang Bing-Hung Chen Shi-Hui Chen Po-Len Liu Hui-Chun Wang Zhi-Hong Wen Hui-Min Wang Shu-Wen Hsiao http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5933 Transcription factors of the APETALA 2/Ethylene Response Factor (AP2/ERF)-family have been implicated in diverse processes during development, stress acclimation and retrograde signaling. Fifty-three leaf-expressed AP2/ERFs were screened for their transcriptional response to abscisic acid (ABA), 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), methylviologen (MV), sucrose and high or low light, respectively, and revealed high reactivity to these effectors. Six of them (AP2-2, ARF14, CEJ1, ERF8, ERF11, RAP2.5) were selected for combinatorial response analysis to ABA, DCMU and high light. Additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects demonstrated that these transcription factors are components of multiple signaling pathways. AP2-2 (At1g79700) was subjected to an in depth study. AP2-2 transcripts were high under conditions linked to limited carbohydrate availability and stress and down-regulated in extended light phase, high light or in the presence of sugar. ap2-2 knock out plants had unchanged metabolite profiles and transcript levels of co-expressed genes in extended darkness. However, ap2-2 revealed more efficient germination and faster early growth under high sugar, osmotic or salinity stress, but the difference was abolished in the absence of sugar or during subsequent growth. It is suggested that AP2-2 is involved in mediating starvation-related and hormonal signals. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5933 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5933 5951 1422-0067 Combinatorial Signal Integration by APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor (ERF)-Transcription Factors and the Involvement of AP2-2 in Starvation Response 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055933 Marc Oliver Vogel Deborah Gomez-Perez Nina Probst Karl-Josef Dietz http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5917 The diversity and secondary metabolite potential of culturable actinomycetes associated with eight different marine sponges collected from the South China Sea and the Yellow sea were investigated. A total of 327 strains were isolated and 108 representative isolates were selected for phylogenetic analysis. Ten families and 13 genera of Actinomycetales were detected, among which five genera represent first records isolated from marine sponges. Oligotrophic medium M5 (water agar) proved to be efficient for selective isolation, and “Micromonospora–Streptomyces” was proposed as the major distribution group of sponge-associated actinomycetes from the China Seas. Ten isolates are likely to represent novel species. Sponge Hymeniacidon perleve was found to contain the highest genus diversity (seven genera) of actinomycetes. Housekeeping gene phylogenetic analyses of the isolates indicated one ubiquitous Micromonospora species, one unique Streptomyces species and one unique Verrucosispora phylogroup. Of the isolates, 27.5% displayed antimicrobial activity, and 91% contained polyketide synthase and/or nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes, indicating that these isolates had a high potential to produce secondary metabolites. The isolates from sponge Axinella sp. contained the highest presence of both antimicrobial activity and NRPS genes, while those from isolation medium DNBA showed the highest presence of antimicrobial activity and PKS I genes. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5917 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5917 5932 1422-0067 Diversity and Biosynthetic Potential of Culturable Actinomycetes Associated with Marine Sponges in the China Seas 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055917 Lijun Xi Jisheng Ruan Ying Huang http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5899 The intercalation of cetirizine into two types of layered double hydroxides, Zn/Al and Mg/Al, has been investigated by the ion exchange method to form CTZAN and CTMAN nanocomposites, respectively. The basal spacing of the nanocomposites were expanded to 31.9 Å for CTZAN and 31.2 Å for CTMAN, suggesting that cetirizine anion was intercalated into Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and arranged in a tilted bilayer fashion. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study supported the formation of both the nanocomposites, and the intercalated cetirizine is thermally more stable than its counterpart in free state. The loading of cetirizine in the nanocomposite was estimated to be about 57.2% for CTZAN and 60.7% CTMAN. The cetirizine release from the nanocomposites show sustained release manner and the release rate of cetirizine from CTZAN and CTMAN nanocomposites at pH 7.4 is remarkably lower than that at pH 4.8, presumably due to the different release mechanism. The inhibition of histamine release from RBL2H3 cells by the free cetirizine is higher than the intercalated cetirizine both in CTZAN and CTMAN nanocomposites. The viability in human Chang liver cells at 1000 μg/mL for CTZAN and CTMAN nanocomposites are 74.5 and 91.9%, respectively. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5899 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5899 5916 1422-0067 In Vitro Inhibition of Histamine Release Behavior of Cetirizine Intercalated into Zn/Al- and Mg/Al-Layered Double Hydroxides 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055899 Samer Hasan Hussein-Al-Ali Mothanna Al-Qubaisi Mohd Zobir Hussein Maznah Ismail Zulkarnain Zainal Muhammad Nazrul Hakim http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5878 In this work, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) a fully biodegradable thermoplastic polymer matrix was melt blended with three different epoxidized palm oil (EPO). The aim of this research was to enhance the flexibility, mechanical and thermal properties of PLA. The blends were prepared at various EPO contents of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wt% and characterized. The SEM analysis evidenced successful modification on the neat PLA brittle morphology. Tensile tests indicate that the addition of 1 wt% EPO is sufficient to improve the strength and flexibility compared to neat PLA. Additionally, the flexural and impact properties were also enhanced. Further, DSC analysis showed that the addition of EPO results in a decrease in Tg, which implies an increase in the PLA chain mobility. In the presence of 1 wt% EPO, TGA results revealed significant increase in the thermal stability by 27%. Among the three EPOs used, EPO(3) showed the best mechanical and thermal properties compared to the other EPO’s, with an optimum loading of 1 wt%. Conclusively, EPO showed a promising outcome to overcome the brittleness and improve the overall properties of neat PLA, thus can be considered as a potential plasticizer. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5878 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5878 5898 1422-0067 A Comparative Study on the Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Characterization of Poly(lactic acid)/Epoxidized Palm Oil Blend 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055878 V. S. Giita Silverajah Nor Azowa Ibrahim Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus Hazimah Abu Hassan Chieng Buong Woei http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5866 p16Ink4a is a tumor suppressor and a marker for cellular senescence. Previous studies have shown that p16Ink4a plays an important role in the response to DNA damage signals caused by telomere dysfunction. In this study, we crossed Wrn−/− and p16Ink4a−/− mice to knock out the p16Ink4a function in a Wrn null background. Growth curves showed that loss of p16Ink4a could rescue the growth barriers that are observed in Wrn−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). By challenging the MEFs with the global genotoxin doxorubicin, we showed that loss of p16Ink4a did not dramatically affect the global DNA damage response of Wrn−/− MEFs induced by doxorubicin. However, in response to telomere dysfunction initiated by the telomere damaging protein TRF2∆B∆M, loss of p16Ink4a could partially overcome the DNA damage response by disabling p16Ink4a up-regulation and reducing the accumulation of γ-H2AX that is observed in Wrn−/− MEFs. Furthermore, in response to TRF2∆B∆M overexpression, Wrn−/− MEFs senesced within several passages. In contrast, p16Ink4a−/− and p16Ink4a−/−Wrn−/− MEFs could continuously grow and lose expression of the exogenous TRF2∆B∆M in their late passages. In summary, our data suggest that in the context of telomere dysfunction, loss of p16Ink4a function could prevent cells from senescence. These results shed light on the anti-aging strategy through regulation of p16Ink4a expression. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5866 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-16 13 5 Article 5866 5877 1422-0067 Loss of p16Ink4a Function Rescues Cellular Senescence Induced by Telomere Dysfunction 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055866 Xiufeng Zhang Xiaoming Wu Wenru Tang Ying Luo http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/857 Feasibility of usage of surface plasmons in a new design of an integrated optical isolator has been studied. In the case of surface plasmons propagating at a boundary between a transition metal and a double-layer dielectric, there is a significant difference of optical loss for surface plasmons propagating in opposite directions. Utilizing this structure, it is feasible to fabricate a competitive plasmonic isolator, which benefits from a broad wavelength operational bandwidth and a good technological compatibility for integration into the Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC). The linear dispersion relation was derived for plasmons propagating in a multilayer magneto-optical slab. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/857 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2012-05-16 5 5 Article 857 871 1996-1944 Optical Isolator Utilizing Surface Plasmons 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/ma5050857 Vadym Zayets Hidekazu Saito Koji Ando Shinji Yuasa http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1490 Based on the physical phenomena of optical effects produced by the partial discharge (PD) and on the characteristics of fluorescent fiber sensing of weak fluorescent signals, a PD measurement system using a fluorescent fiber sensor was designed. The main parameters of the sensing system were calculated, an experimental testing platform for PD simulation in the lab was established, and PD signals were then detected through ultra-high frequency (UHF) and optical methods under a needle-plate discharge model. PD optical pulses in transformer oil contained signal-peak and multi-peak pulse waveforms. Compared with UHF detection results, the number of PD pulses and the elapsed PD pulse phase time revealed a good corresponding relationship. However, PD signal amplitudes presented the opposite, thus indicating that PD UHF signals reflected pulse amplitude value, whereas PD optical signals reflected pulse energy magnitude. The n-u-φ three-dimensional distributions indicated that most of the PD signals concentrated in the nearby industrial frequency voltage peak value. Overall, the proposed fluorescent fiber sensing system design can be used successfully in transformer PD signal detection. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1490 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-16 5 5 Article 1490 1502 1996-1073 A Transformer Partial Discharge Measurement System Based on Fluorescent Fiber 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/en5051490 Ju Tang Jiabin Zhou Xiaoxing Zhang Fan Liu http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/3/2/492 Insects, like all invertebrates, express robust innate, but not adaptive, immune reactions to infection and invasion. Insect immunity is usually resolved into three major components. The integument serves as a physical barrier to infections. Within the hemocoel, the circulating hemocytes are the temporal first line of defense, responsible for clearing the majority of infecting bacterial cells from circulation. Specific cellular defenses include phagocytosis, microaggregation of hemocytes with adhering bacteria, nodulation and encapsulation. Infections also stimulate the humoral component of immunity, which involves the induced expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides and activation of prophenoloxidase. These peptides appear in the hemolymph of challenged insects 6–12 hours after the challenge. Prostaglandins and other eicosanoids are crucial mediators of innate immune responses. Eicosanoid biosynthesis is stimulated by infection in insects. Inhibition of eicosanoid biosynthesis lethally renders experimental insects unable to clear bacterial infection from hemolymph. Eicosanoids mediate specific cell actions, including phagocytosis, microaggregation, nodulation, hemocyte migration, hemocyte spreading and the release of prophenoloxidase from oenocytoids. Some invaders have evolved mechanisms to suppress insect immunity; a few of them suppress immunity by targeting the first step in the eicosanoid biosynthesis pathways, the enzyme phospholipase A2. We proposed research designed to cripple insect immunity as a technology to improve biological control of insects. We used dsRNA to silence insect genes encoding phospholipase A2, and thereby inhibited the nodulation reaction to infection. The purpose of this article is to place our view of applying dsRNA technologies into the context of eicosanoid actions in insect immunity. The long-term significance of research in this area lies in developing new pest management technologies to contribute to food security in a world with a rapidly growing human population. http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/3/2/492 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Insects 2012-05-16 3 2 Review 492 510 2075-4450 Eicosanoids: Exploiting Insect Immunity to Improve Biological Control Programs 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/insects3020492 David Stanley Eric Haas Jon Miller http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/3/2/230 Three large-scale, experimental, dispersed residual tree sites established in coastal British Columbia, Canada were measured for planted Douglas-fir tree growth and survival five to six years after planting. The dispersed trees were predominantly large diameter (60 cm+) Douglas-fir left with a range of 0% to 30% of the original forest stand basal area (0 m2 ha−1 to 14 m2 ha−1). Two sites had 0%, 5% and 15% retention, while one site had 0%, 5%, 10% and 30% retention. The trees were measured in sector plots established to randomly sample the range of microsites in each treatment. There was no detectable difference (p < 0.05) between height and basal diameter growth or mortality rates between the retention treatments over the measurement period, except for a reduction of basal diameter growth at the 30% retention level. Thus a statistically significant impact on growth was demonstrated for the 30% retention compared to the 0% retention level. We expected intermediate growth rates between the 0% and the other lower retention levels but were unable to demonstrate this due to the low statistical power of the test (10 observations) and high site variability for these very young trees. http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/3/2/230 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Forests 2012-05-16 3 2 Article 230 243 1999-4907 Effects of Low Levels of Dispersed Retention on the Growth and Survival of Young, Planted Douglas-Fir 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/f3020230 Nicholas J. Smith William J. Beese http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/5/958 The presence of dark energy in the Universe challenges the Einstein’s theory of gravity at cosmic scales. It motivates the inclusion of rotational degrees of freedom in the Einstein–Cartan gravity, representing the minimal and the most natural extension of the General Relativity. One can, consequently, expect the violation of the cosmic isotropy by the rotating Universe. We study chirality of the vorticity of the Universe within the Einstein–Cartan cosmology. The role of the spin of fermion species during the evolution of the Universe is studied by averaged spin densities and Einstein–Cartan equations. It is shown that spin density of the light Majorana neutrinos acts as a seed for vorticity at early stages of the evolution of the Universe. Its chirality can be evaluated in the vicinity of the spacelike infinity. It turns out that vorticity of the Universe has right-handed chirality. http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/5/958 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Entropy 2012-05-16 14 5 Article 958 965 1099-4300 On Chirality of the Vorticity of the Universe 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/e14050958 Davor Palle http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/3/2/492 In the last seven years, optoelectronic tweezers using optically-induced dielectrophoretic (ODEP) force have been explored experimentally with much success in manipulating micro/nano objects. However, not much has been done in terms of in-depth understanding of the ODEP-based manipulation process or optimizing the input physical parameters to maximize ODEP force. We present our work on analyzing two significant influencing factors in generating ODEP force on a-Si:H based ODEP chips: (1) the waveforms of the AC electric potential across the fluidic medium in an ODEP chip based microfluidic platform; and (2) optical spectrum of the light image projected onto the ODEP chip. Theoretical and simulation results indicate that when square waves are used as the AC electric potential instead of sine waves, ODEP force can double. Moreover, numerical results show that ODEP force increases with increasing optical frequency of the projected light on an ODEP chip following the Fermi-Dirac function, validating that the optically-induced dielectrophoresis force depends strongly on the electron-hole carrier generation phenomena in optoelectronic materials. Qualitative experimental results that validate the numerical results are also presented in this paper. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/3/2/492 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Micromachines 2012-05-16 3 2 Article 492 508 2072-666X Optical Spectrum and Electric Field Waveform Dependent Optically-Induced Dielectrophoretic (ODEP) Micro-Manipulation 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/mi3020492 Wenfeng Liang Shue Wang Zaili Dong Gwo-Bin Lee Wen J. Li http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/3/2/480 Flexible structures are the main components in many precision measuring and research systems. They provide miniaturization, repeatability, minimal damping, low measuring forces, and very high resolution. This article focuses on the modeling, development, and comparison of three typical flexible micro- nano-structures: flexible helicoids, atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers, and concave notch hinges. Our theory yields results which allow us to increase the accuracy and functionality of these structures in new fields of application such as the modeling of helicoidal DNA molecules’ mechanics, the definition of instantaneous center of rotation in concave flexure notch hinges, and the estimation of the increase of spring constants and resolution at higher mode vibration in AFM cantilevers with an additional concentrated and end extended mass. We developed the original kinetostatic, reverse conformal mapping of approximating contours, and non-linear thermomechanical fluctuation methods for calculation, comparison, and research of the micromechanical structures. These methods simplify complicated solutions in micro elasticity but provide them with necessary accuracy. All our calculation results in this article and in all corresponding referenced author’s publications are in a good agreement with experimental and finite element modeling data within 10% or less. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/3/2/480 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Micromachines 2012-05-16 3 2 Article 480 491 2072-666X Flexible Helicoids, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Cantilevers in High Mode Vibration, and Concave Notch Hinges in Precision Measurements and Research 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/mi3020480 Yakov Tseytlin http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5870 Two series of novel 2-substituted-4-amino-6-halogenquinolines 8a–l and 13a–h were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against H-460, HT-29, HepG2 and SGC-7901 cancer cell lines in vitro. The pharmacological results indicated that most compounds with 2-arylvinyl substituents exhibited good to excellent antiproliferative activity. Among them, compound 8e was a considered promising lead for further structural modifications with IC50 values of 0.03 μM, 0.55 μM, 0.33 μM and 1.24 μM, which was 2.5- to 186-fold more active than gefitinib and compound 1. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5870 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5870 5881 1420-3049 Design, Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Novel 2-Substituted-4-amino-6-halogenquinolines 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055870 Nan Jiang Xin Zhai Ting Li Difa Liu Tingting Zhang Bin Wang Ping Gong http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5854 The fruit extracts of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) are traditionally used as weight-loss products and as appetite supressants. An important fruit component is p-synephrine, which is structurally similar to the adrenergic agents. Weight-loss and adrenergic actions are always related to metabolic changes and this work was designed to investigate a possible action of the C. aurantium extract on liver metabolism. The isolated perfused rat liver was used to measure catabolic and anabolic pathways, including oxygen uptake and perfusion pressure. The C. aurantium extract and p-synephrine increased glycogenolysis, glycolysis, oxygen uptake and perfusion pressure. These changes were partly sensitive to a- and b-adrenergic antagonists. p-Synephrine (200 mM) produced an increase in glucose output that was only 15% smaller than the increment caused by the extract containing 196 mM p-synephrine. At low concentrations the C. aurantium extract tended to increase gluconeogenesis, but at high concentrations it was inhibitory, opposite to what happened with p-synephrine. The action of the C. aurantium extract on liver metabolism is similar to the well known actions of adrenergic agents and can be partly attributed to its content in p-synephrine. Many of these actions are catabolic and compatible with the weight-loss effects usually attributed to C. aurantium. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5854 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5854 5869 1420-3049 Effects of Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange) Fruit Extracts and p-Synephrine on Metabolic Fluxes in the Rat Liver 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055854 Jéssica Sereno Peixoto Jurandir Fernando Comar Caroline Tessaro Moreira Andréia Assunção Soares Andrea Luiza de Oliveira Adelar Bracht Rosane Marina Peralta http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5836 A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed for the qualitative determination of saponins in different parts of P. notoginseng, including rhizome, root, fibre root, seed, stem, leaf and flower. The samples were extracted using PLE. The analysis was achieved on a Zorbax SB-C18 column with gradient elution of acetonitrile and 8 mM aqueous ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The mass spectrometer was operated in the negative ion mode using the electrospray ionization, and a collision induced dissociation (CID) experiment was also carried out to aid the identification of compounds. Forty one saponins were identified in different parts of P. notoginseng according to the fragmentation patterns and literature reports, among them, 21 saponins were confirmed by comparing the retention time and ESI-MS data with those of standard compounds. The results showed that the chemical characteristics were obviously diverse in different parts of P. notoginseng, which is helpful for pharmacological evaluation and quality control of P. notoginseng. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5836 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5836 5853 1420-3049 Chemical Investigation of Saponins in Different Parts of Panax notoginseng by Pressurized Liquid Extraction and Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055836 Jian-Bo Wan Qing-Wen Zhang Si-Jia Hong Peng Li Shao-Ping Li Yi-Tao Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5816 Photosensitized electron-transfer processes of fullerenes hybridized with electron donating or other electron accepting molecules have been surveyed in this review on the basis of the recent results reported mainly from our laboratories. Fullerenes act as photo-sensitizing electron acceptors with respect to a wide variety of electron donors; in addition, fullerenes in the ground state also act as good electron acceptors in the presence of light-absorbing electron donors such as porphyrins. With single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), the photoexcited fullerenes act as electron acceptor. In the case of triple fullerene/porphyrin/SWCNT architectures, the photoexcited porphyrins act as electron donors toward the fullerene and SWCNT. These mechanisms are rationalized with the molecular orbital considerations performed for these huge supramolecules. For the confirmation of the electron transfer processes, transient absorption methods have been used, in addition to time-resolved fluorescence spectral measurements. The kinetic data obtained in solution are found to be quite useful to predict the efficiencies of photovoltaic cells. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5816 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Review 5816 5835 1420-3049 Recent Advances in Photoinduced Electron Transfer Processes of Fullerene-Based Molecular Assemblies and Nanocomposites 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055816 Osamu Ito Francis D’Souza http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5803 Expression analysis of crop plants has improved our knowledge about the veiled underlying mechanisms for salt tolerance. In order to observe the time course effects of salinity stress on gene expression for enzymes regulating proline metabolism, we comparatively analyzed the expression of specific genes for proline metabolism in root and shoot tissues of salt-tolerant (cv. Dunkled) and salt-sensitive (cv. Cyclone) canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); following the NaCl treatment for various durations. Both lines showed an increase in ∆1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase1 (P5CS1) gene expression after induction of salt stress with enhanced expression in the root tissue of the tolerant line, while maximum expression was noted in the shoot tissues of the sensitive line. We observed a much reduced proline dehydrogenase (PDH) expression in both the root and shoot tissues of both canola lines, with more marked reduction of PDH expression in the shoot tissues than that in the root ones. To confirm the increase in P5CS1 gene expression, total proline content was also measured in the root and shoot tissues of both the canola lines. The root tissues of canola sensitive line showed a gradually increasing proline concentration pattern with regular increase in salinity treatment, while an increase in proline concentration in the tolerant line was noted at 24 h post salinity treatment after a sudden decrease at 6 h and 12 h of salt treatment. A gradually increasing concentration of free proline content was found in shoot tissues of the tolerant canola line though a remarkable increase in proline concentration was noted in the sensitive canola line at 24 h post salinity treatment, indicating the initiation of proline biosynthesis process in that tissue of sensitive canola. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5803 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5803 5815 1420-3049 A Study of Proline Metabolism in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Seedlings under Salt Stress 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055803 Mubshara Saadia Amer Jamil Nudrat Aisha Akram Muhammad Ashraf http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5795 Ptaquiloside (Pta) is a potent carcinogen present in bracken fern and in soil matrices, that can potentially leach to the aquatic environment. More recently its presence in the milk of different farm animals has been reported. Pterosin B (Ptb) and bromopterosin (BrPt) represent the most convenient analogues in the detection of ptaquiloside by mass spectrometry. Pterosin sesquiterpenes are also involved in many patented biomedical protocols. In this work we introduce a new and convenient approach to the synthesis in three steps and more than 80% yield of d4-pterosin B (d4-Ptb) and d4-bromopterosin (d4-BrPt), useful as internal standards in the quantification of ptaquiloside. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5795 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5795 5802 1420-3049 A New Facile Synthesis of D4-Pterosin B and D4-Bromopterosin, Deuterated Analogues of Ptaquiloside 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055795 Mohamed Attya Monica Nardi Antonio Tagarelli Giovanni Sindona http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5780 The antiproliferative properties and cell death mechanism induced by the extract of the fruits of Luffa echinata Roxb. (LER) were investigated. The methanolic extract of LER inhibited the proliferation of human colon cancer cells (HT-29) in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manners and caused a significant increase in the population of apoptotic cells. In addition, obvious shrinkage and destruction of the monolayer were observed in LER-treated cells, but not in untreated cells. Analysis of the cell cycle after treatment of HT-29 cells with various concentrations indicated that LER extracts inhibited the cellular proliferation of HT-29 cells via G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle. The Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level determination revealed that LER extracts induced apoptotic cell death via ROS generation. In addition, LER treatment led to a rapid drop in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as a decrease in fluorescence. The transcripts of several apoptosis-related genes were investigated by RT-PCR analysis. The caspase-3 transcripts of HT-29 cells significantly accumulated and the level of Bcl-XL mRNA was decreased after treatment with LER extract. Furthermore, the ratio of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis genes (Bax and Bcl-2) was sharply increased from 1.6 to 54.1. These experiments suggest that LER has anticancer properties via inducing the apoptosis in colon cancer cells, which provided the impetus for further studies on the therapeutic potential of LER against human colon carcinoma. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5780 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-16 17 5 Article 5780 5794 1420-3049 Luffa echinata Roxb. Induces Human Colon Cancer Cell (HT-29) Death by Triggering the Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055780 Li-Hua Shang Chun-Mei Li Zhao-Yang Yang De-Hai Che Jing-Yan Cao Yan Yu http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/5/945 This paper presents a novel framework for the complexity analysis of rainfall, runoff, and runoff coefficient (RC) time series using multiscale entropy (MSE). The MSE analysis of RC time series was used to investigate changes in the complexity of rainfall-runoff processes due to human activities. Firstly, a coarse graining process was applied to a time series. The sample entropy was then computed for each coarse-grained time series, and plotted as a function of the scale factor. The proposed method was tested in a case study of daily rainfall and runoff data for the upstream Wu–Tu watershed. Results show that the entropy measures of rainfall time series are higher than those of runoff time series at all scale factors. The entropy measures of the RC time series are between the entropy measures of the rainfall and runoff time series at various scale factors. Results also show that the entropy values of rainfall, runoff, and RC time series increase as scale factors increase. The changes in the complexity of RC time series indicate the changes of rainfall-runoff relations due to human activities and provide a reference for the selection of rainfall-runoff models that are capable of dealing with great complexity and take into account of obvious self-similarity can be suggested to the modeling of rainfall-runoff processes. Moreover, the robustness of the MSE results were tested to confirm that MSE analysis is consistent and the same results when removing 25% data, making this approach suitable for the complexity analysis of rainfall, runoff, and RC time series. http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/14/5/945 Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Entropy 2012-05-16 14 5 Article 945 957 1099-4300 Applying Multiscale Entropy to the Complexity Analysis of Rainfall-Runoff Relationships 2012-05-16 doi: 10.3390/e14050945 Chien-Ming Chou http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4336/3/2/97 The Type Indeterminacy model is a theoretical framework that uses some elements of quantum formalism to model the constructive preference perspective suggested by Kahneman and Tversky. In a dynamic decision context, type indeterminacy induces a game with multiple selves associated with a state transition process. We define a Markov perfect equilibrium among the selves with individual identity (preferences) as the state variable. The approach allows to characterize generic personality types and derive some comparative static results. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4336/3/2/97 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Games 2012-05-15 3 2 Article 97 118 2073-4336 Quantum Type Indeterminacy in Dynamic Decision-Making: Self-Control through Identity Management 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/g3020097 Ariane Lambert-Mogiliansky Jerome Busemeyer http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6447 The long stator track for high speed maglev trains has a tooth-slot structure. The sensor obtains precise relative position information for the traction system by detecting the long stator tooth-slot structure based on nondestructive detection technology. The magnetic field modeling of the sensor is a typical three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic problem with complex boundary conditions, and is studied semi-analytically in this paper. A second-order vector potential (SOVP) is introduced to simplify the vector field problem to a scalar field one, the solution of which can be expressed in terms of series expansions according to Multipole Theory (MT) and the New Equivalent Source (NES) method. The coefficients of the expansions are determined by the least squares method based on the boundary conditions. Then, the solution is compared to the simulation result through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The comparison results show that the semi-analytical solution agrees approximately with the numerical solution. Finally, based on electromagnetic modeling, a difference coil structure is designed to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of the sensor. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6447 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-15 12 5 Article 6447 6462 1424-8220 Electromagnetic Field Analysis and Modeling of a Relative Position Detection Sensor for High Speed Maglev Trains 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/s120506447 Song Xue Ning He Zhiqiang Long http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/5/833 Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a subset of T cells that are responsible for maintaining peripheral immune tolerance and homeostasis. The hallmark of Tregs is the expression of the forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) transcription factor. Natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) are a distinct population of T cells that express CD4 and FoxP3. nTregs develop in the thymus and function in maintaining peripheral immune tolerance. Other CD4+, CD4-CD8-, and CD8+CD28- T cells can be induced to acquire regulatory function by antigenic stimulation, depending on the cytokine milieu. Inducible (or adaptive) Tregs frequently express high levels of the interleukin 2 receptor (CD25). Atypical Tregs express FoxP3 and CD4 but have no surface expression of CD25. Type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) produce IL-10, while T helper 3 cells (Th3) produce TGF-β. The function of inducible Tregs is presumably to maintain immune homeostasis, especially in the context of chronic inflammation or infection. Induction of Tregs in coronaviral infections protects against the more severe forms of the disease attributable to the host response. However, arteriviruses have exploited these T cell subsets as a means to dampen the immune response allowing for viral persistence. Treg induction or activation in the pathogenesis of disease has been described in both porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, lactate dehydrogenase elevating virus, and mouse hepatitis virus. This review discusses the development and biology of regulatory T cells in the context of arteriviral and coronaviral infection. http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/5/833 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Viruses 2012-05-15 4 5 Review 833 846 1999-4915 Regulatory T Cells in Arterivirus and Coronavirus Infections: Do They Protect Against Disease or Enhance it? 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/v4050833 Thomas E. Cecere S. Michelle Todd Tanya LeRoith http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5851 The results of room-temperature fluorescence lifetime measurements are reported for the excitation of J aggregates (Js) of pseudoisocyanine chloride (PIC-Cl) prepared in potassium polyvinyl sulfate (PVS) polymer thin films, their aqueous solutions, and NaCl aqueous solutions. Variations of the microscopic morphologies of the aggregates were investigated. The results show that fluorescence decay features correlated to the morphology change. The observed fluorescence lifetime and quantum efficiency of PIC J aggregates (PIC-Js) in a NaCl aqueous solution were 310 ps and 28%, respectively. The lifetime of the fibril-shaped macroaggregates prepared in PVS thin films was below the instrumental time resolution of 5 ps, and the efficiency decreased to below 3%. The results indicate that PIC-Js prepared with PVS polymers have an increased nonradiative contribution to the excitation deactivation process. In particular, macro-Js with isolated fibril-shaped structures revealed nonradiative pathway(s) that are closely associated to the specific packaging morphology of the constituent meso-Js. The possibility of a destructive effect on the formation of cavity-polaritons is also discussed. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5851 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5851 5865 1422-0067 Room-Temperature Fluorescence Lifetime of Pseudoisocyanine (PIC) J Excitons with Various Aggregate Morphologies in Relation to Microcavity Polariton Formation 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055851 Yuki Obara Keita Saitoh Masaru Oda Toshiro Tani http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5844 Oncomelania hupensis is the unique intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, which plays a key role during the transmission of schistosomiasis. It is mainly found in the Yangtze River valley and mountains or hills in southwest China. In this paper, we described 15 new microsatellite makers in O. hupensis. Polymorphism of each locus was assessed in 80 individuals from four wild populations (n = 20 per population). The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 29, with an average of 15.8. The observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosities varied from 0.397 to 0.851 and from 0.696 to 0.948, respectively. These microsatellite markers will be useful for population genetic studies and genome mapping in O. hupensis. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5844 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5844 5850 1422-0067 Isolation and Characterization of 15 New Microsatellite Markers in Oncomelania hupensis, the Snail Intermediate Host of Schistosoma japonicum in Mainland China 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055844 Li Zhang Shizhu Li Qiang Wang Yingjun Qian Qin Liu Pin Yang Xiaonong Zhou http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5832 CYP83A1 and CYP83B1 are two key synthesis genes in the glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway. CYP83A1 mainly metabolizes the aliphatic oximes to form aliphatic glucosinolate and CYP83B1 mostly catalyzes aromatic oximes to synthesis corresponding substrates for aromatic and indolic glucosinolates. In this study, two CYP83A1 genes named BcCYP83A1-1 (JQ289997), BcCYP83A1-2 (JQ289996) respectively and one CYP83B1 (BcCYP83B1, HM347235) gene were cloned from the leaves of pak choi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis var. communis (N. Tsen & S.H. Lee) Hanelt) “Hangzhou You Dong Er” cultivar. Their ORFs were 1506, 1509 and 1500 bp in length, encoding 501, 502 and 499 amino acids, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequences of CYP83A1-1, CYP83A1-2 and CYP83B1 shared high sequence identity of 87.65, 86.48 and 95.59% to the corresponding ones in Arabidopsis, and 98.80, 98.61 and 98.80% to the corresponding ones in Brassica pekinensis (Chinese cabbage), respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that both CYP83A1 and CYP83B1 expressed in roots, leaves and petioles of pak choi, while the transcript abundances of CYP83A1 were higher in leaves than in petioles and roots, whereas CYP83B1 showed higher abundances in roots. The expression levels of glucosinolate biosynthetic genes were consistent with the glucosinolate profile accumulation in shoots of seven cultivars and three organs. The isolation and characterization of the glucosinolate synthesis genes in pak choi would promote the way for further development of agronomic traits via genetic engineering. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5832 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5832 5843 1422-0067 Isolation and Expression of Glucosinolate Synthesis Genes CYP83A1 and CYP83B1 in Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis var. communis (N. Tsen & S.H. Lee) Hanelt) 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055832 Biao Zhu Zhizhou Wang Jing Yang Zhujun Zhu Huasen Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5818 Pokemon is an important proto-oncogene that plays a critical role in cellular oncogenic transformation and tumorigenesis. Anoikis, which is regulated by Bim-mediated apoptosis, is critical to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. We investigated the role of Pokemon in anoikis, and our results show that Pokemon renders liver cells resistant to anoikis via suppression of Bim transcription. We knocked-down Pokemon in human hepatoma cells QGY7703 with small interfering RNAs (siRNA). Knockdown of Pokemon alone did not significantly affect the growth and survival of QGY7703 cells but notably enhanced their sensitivity to apoptotic stress due to the presence of chemical agents or cell detachment, thereby inducing anoikis, as evidenced by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assays. In contrast, ectopic expression of Pokemon in HL7702 cells led to resistance to anoikis. Dual-luciferase reporter and ChIP assays illustrated that Pokemon suppressed Bim transcription via direct binding to its promoter. Our results suggest that Pokemon prevents anoikis through the suppression of Bim expression, which facilitates tumor cell invasion and metastasis. This Pokemon-Bim pathway may be an effective target for therapeutic intervention for cancer. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5818 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5818 5831 1422-0067 Pokemon Silencing Leads to Bim-Mediated Anoikis of Human Hepatoma Cell QGY7703 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055818 Kun Liu Feng Liu Nannan Zhang Shiying Liu Yuyang Jiang http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5801 Polysaccharides were extracted from eight kinds of Chinese mushrooms using three solvents and were evaluated for their total carbohydrate, polyphenolic and protein contents, and antioxidant and anti-proliferation activities. The results suggested that all the polysaccharides had significant antioxidant capacities (EC50 ranged from 1.70 ± 0.42 to 65.98 ± 1.74 μM TE/g crude polysaccharide inhibition of ABTS+, EC50 ranged from 5.06 ± 0.12 to 127.38 ± 1.58 mg VCE/g CP scavenging of OH· and EC50 ranged from 0.70 ± 0.04 to 33.54 ± 0.49 mg VCE/g CP inhibition of lipid peroxidation) (TE: trolox equivalent; VCE: VC equivalent; CP: crude polysaccharide). The acid extracts of Russula vinosa Lindblad had the highest ABTS+ scavenging activity. Aqueous extracts of Dictyophora indusiata and Hohenbuehelia serotina possessed, respectively, the highest OH· scavenging capacity and ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Mushroom extracts also inhibited proliferation of HeLa and HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the mushroom polysaccharides might be potential antioxidant resources. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5801 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5801 5817 1422-0067 In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Proliferation Activities of Polysaccharides from Various Extracts of Different Mushrooms 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055801 Xiaoyu Li Zhenyu Wang Lu Wang Elfalleh Walid Hua Zhang http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5789 The NMR chemical shift, i.e., the π-electron density of the double bond, of acrylates and methacrylates is related to the reactivity of their monomers. We investigated quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) between the base-catalyzed hydrolysis rate constants (k1) or the rate constant with glutathione (GSH) (log kGSH) for acrylates and methacrylates and the 13C NMR chemical shifts of their α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups (δCα and δCβ) or heat of formation (Hf) calculated by the semi-empirical MO method. Reported data for the independent variables were employed. A significant linear relationship between k1 and δCβ, but not δCα, was obtained for methacrylates (r2 = 0.93), but not for acrylates. Also, a significant relationship between k1 and Hf was obtained for both acrylates and methacrylates (r2 = 0.89). By contrast, log kGSH for acrylates and methacrylates was linearly related to their δCβ (r2 = 0.99), but not to Hf. These findings indicate that the 13C NMR chemical shifts and calculated Hf values for acrylates and methacrylates could be valuable for estimating the hydrolysis rate constants and GSH reactivity of these compounds. Also, these data for monomers may be an important tool for examining mechanisms of reactivity. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5789 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5789 5800 1422-0067 Relationships Between Base-Catalyzed Hydrolysis Rates or Glutathione Reactivity for Acrylates and Methacrylates and Their NMR Spectra or Heat of Formation 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055789 Seiichiro Fujisawa Yoshinori Kadoma http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5768 Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play various stress-protective roles in plants. In this study, three HSP genes were isolated from a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library of Ginkgo biloba leaves treated with cold stress. Based on the molecular weight, the three genes were designated GbHSP16.8, GbHSP17 and GbHSP70. The full length of the three genes were predicted to encode three polypeptide chains containing 149 amino acids (Aa), 152 Aa, and 657 Aa, and their corresponding molecular weights were predicted as follows: 16.67 kDa, 17.39 kDa, and 71.81 kDa respectively. The three genes exhibited distinctive expression patterns in different organs or development stages. GbHSP16.8 and GbHSP70 showed high expression levels in leaves and a low level in gynoecia, GbHSP17 showed a higher transcription in stamens and lower level in fruit. This result indicates that GbHSP16.8 and GbHSP70 may play important roles in Ginkgo leaf development and photosynthesis, and GbHSP17 may play a positive role in pollen maturation. All three GbHSPs were up-regulated under cold stress, whereas extreme heat stress only caused up-regulation of GbHSP70, UV-B treatment resulted in up-regulation of GbHSP16.8 and GbHSP17, wounding treatment resulted in up-regulation of GbHSP16.8 and GbHSP70, and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment caused up-regulation of GbHSP70 primarily. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5768 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-15 13 5 Article 5768 5788 1422-0067 Expression of Selected Ginkgo biloba Heat Shock Protein Genes After Cold Treatment Could Be Induced by Other Abiotic Stress 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055768 Fuliang Cao Hua Cheng Shuiyuan Cheng Linling Li Feng Xu Wanwen Yu Honghui Yuan http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1470 This study reviews test results for a biomass-fired hot water boiler with a nominal boiler thermal power of 120 kW. In the experiments, prismatic wheat straw bales were used as biomass. The impact of the quantity (220, 290, 360 and 430 m3 h−1) of inlet air fed to the boiler firebox was continuously monitored. This was to examine the influence of the quantity of inlet air and recirculation (0, 16.5 and 33%) of combustion products on the boiler thermal power and boiler energy efficiency. Thus, the following mathematical models and formulas were presented: correlation between boiler thermal power and bale residence time; bale mass loss during the combustion process; correlation between boiler energy efficiency and bale residence time. Mathematical models were obtained by using experimental data and by applying nonlinear regression analysis. Adjustment evaluation of mathematical models with experimental data was performed based on the determination coefficient, t-test and F-test. Increase the amount of air throughout the firebox produced boiler thermal power increase and bale residence time decrease. It was shown that combustion products recirculation of 16.5% partly improved boiler characteristics, while the recirculation of 33% did not, comparing with the case without recirculation. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1470 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 1470 1489 1996-1073 Efficiency of Small Scale Manually Fed Boilers —Mathematical Models 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/en5051470 Nebojsa Dedovic Sasa Igic Todor Janic Snezana Matic-Kekic Ondrej Ponjican Milan Tomic Lazar Savin http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1455 Battery peak power capability estimations play an important theoretical role for the proper use of the battery in electric vehicles. To address the failures in relaxation effects and real-time ability performance, neglecting the battery’s design limits and other issues of the traditional peak power capability calculation methods, a new approach based on the dynamic electrochemical-polarization (EP) battery model, taking into consideration constraints of current, voltage, state of charge (SoC) and power is proposed. A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) system is built for validating the online model-based peak power capability estimation approach of batteries used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and a HIL test based on the Federal Urban Driving Schedules (FUDS) is used to verify and evaluate its real-time computation performance, reliability and robustness. The results show the proposed approach gives a more accurate estimate compared with the hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) method, avoiding over-charging or over-discharging and providing a powerful guarantee for the optimization of HEVs power systems. Furthermore, the HIL test provides valuable data and critical guidance to evaluate the accuracy of the developed battery algorithms. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1455 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 1455 1469 1996-1073 Online Estimation of Peak Power Capability of Li-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles by a Hardware-in-Loop Approach 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/en5051455 Rui Xiong Hongwen He Fengchun Sun Kai Zhao http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1433 A numerical study has been conducted to understand the mutual effect among nearby needles in a multi-needle electrode dielectric barrier discharge. In the present paper, a fluid-hydrodynamic model is adopted. In this model, the mutual effect among nearby needles in a multi-needle configuration of an atmospheric air dielectric barrier discharge are investigated using a fluid-hydrodynamic model including the continuity equations for electrons and positive and negative ions coupled with Poisson’s equation. The electric fields at the streamer head of the middle needle (MN) and the side needles (SNs) in a three-needle model decreased under the influence of the mutual effects of nearby needles compared with that in the single-needle model. In addition, from the same comparison, the average propagation velocities of the streamers from MN and SNs, the electron average energy profile of MN and SNs (including those in the streamer channel, at the streamer head, and in the unbridged gap), and the electron densities at the streamer head of the MN and SNs also decreased. The results obtained in the current paper agreed well with the experimental and simulation results in the literature. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1433 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 1433 1454 1996-1073 Numerical Modelling of Mutual Effect among Nearby Needles in a Multi-Needle Configuration of an Atmospheric Air Dielectric Barrier Discharge 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/en5051433 Xiaojing Wang Chenguo Yao Caixin Sun Qing Yang Xiaoxing Zhang http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/4/2/1183 Controlled radical polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole (NVK) via microwave-assisted reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is described. As chain transfer agent, 1,3,5-benzyl tri (diethyldithiocarbamate), was used. The chain transfer agent, containing a 1.3.5-trisubstituted benzene ring as core and three dithiocarbamate functionalities attached through an intermediate for fragmenting covalent bonds, led to poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) with star architecture. Polymerizations were carried out in 1,4-dioxane as solvent, at 70 °C, and studied for different polymerization times and monomer/CTA/initiator ratios. The SEC molecular weight curves exhibit a trimodal distribution, assigned to the linear and star-star coupling polymers, accompanying the real star polymer (as main product). http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/4/2/1183 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Polymers 2012-05-15 4 2 Article 1183 1194 2073-4360 Synthesis of Star Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) by Microwave-Assisted Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization (RAFT) 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/polym4021183 Mircea Grigoras Oana-Iuliana Negru http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/4/2/488 While the Internet increasingly permeates everyday life of individuals around the world, it becomes crucial to prevent unauthorized collection and abuse of personalized information. Internet anonymization software such as Tor is an important instrument to protect online privacy. However, due to the performance overhead caused by Tor, many Internet users refrain from using it. This causes a negative impact on the overall privacy provided by Tor, since it depends on the size of the user community and availability of shared resources. Detailed measurements about the performance of Tor are crucial for solving this issue. This paper presents comparative experiments on Tor latency and throughput for surfing to 500 popular websites from several locations around the world during the period of 28 days. Furthermore, we compare these measurements to critical latency thresholds gathered from web usability research, including our own user studies. Our results indicate that without massive future optimizations of Tor performance, it is unlikely that a larger part of Internet users would adopt it for everyday usage. This leads to fewer resources available to the Tor community than theoretically possible, and increases the exposure of privacy-concerned individuals. Furthermore, this could lead to an adoption barrier of similar privacy-enhancing technologies for a Future Internet. http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/4/2/488 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Future Internet 2012-05-15 4 2 Article 488 513 1999-5903 Distributed Performance Measurement and Usability Assessment of the Tor Anonymization Network 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/fi4020488 Sebastian Müller Franziska Brecht Benjamin Fabian Steffen Kunz Dominik Kunze http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/5/5/481 The viability of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, after its passage through simulated gastric and pancreatic juices, was evaluated as function of its pre-growth in a medium containing the known prebiotics pectin or inulin, and was compared to glucose used as control. The presence of pectin or inulin did not markedly affect the growth (10.07 log10 colony forming units/mL and 10.28 log10 colony forming units/mL for pectin and inulin respectively versus 10.42 log10 colony forming units/mL obtained for glucose). Pectin and inulin, in contrast to glucose, induced cell stress resistance against gastrointestinal juices (D log101.5 and 2.4 colony forming units/mL respectively, versus D log10 4.0 for glucose). The data were corroborated by the analysis of the protein pattern following stress treatments which, in the case of microbial cells grown with glucose, revealed a more marked protein degradation after the double passage through simulated gastric and intestinal juices. Inulin stimulated the production of the relevant healthy bio-molecule butyrate, which amount was 30% higher respect of growth in the presence of glucose. Inulin and pectin improved cell DPPH scavenging activity, and an impressive hydrophobicity (35.28% and 34.81%, respectively) was observed with respect to the microbial growth in presence of glucose (3.39%). http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/5/5/481 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Pharmaceuticals 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 481 492 1424-8247 Biochemical Traits, Survival and Biological Properties of the Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum Grown in the Presence of Prebiotic Inulin and Pectin as Energy Source 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/ph5050481 Filomena Nazzaro Florinda Fratianni Pierangelo Orlando Raffaele Coppola http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/1/1/39 Antibody-based immunotoxins comprise an important group in targeted cancer therapeutics. These chimeric proteins are a form of biological guided missiles that combine a targeting moiety with a potent effector molecule. The targeting moiety is mostly a monoclonal antibody (MAb) or a recombinant antibody-based fragment that confers target specificity to the immunotoxin. The effector domain is a potent protein toxin of bacterial or plant origin, which, following binding to the target cells, undergoes internalization and causes cell death. Over time and following research progression, immunotoxins become better fitted to their purpose, losing immunogenic fragments and non-specific targeting moieties. Many immunotoxins have gone through clinical evaluation. Some of these have been shown to be active and work is progressing with them in the form of further clinical trials. Others, mostly developed in the previous century, failed to generate a response in patients, or even caused undesired side effects. This article reviews the antibody and protein-toxin based immunotoxins that were clinically evaluated up to the present day. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/1/1/39 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Antibodies 2012-05-15 1 1 Review 39 69 2073-4468 Antibody-Based Immunotoxins for the Treatment of Cancer 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/antib1010039 Nurit Becker Itai Benhar http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/2/2/79 Brass-matrix composites reinforced with 40 and 60 vol.% of Ni59Zr20Ti16Si2Sn3 glassy particles were produced by powder metallurgy. The crystallization behavior and the temperature dependence of the viscosity of the glass reinforcement were studied in detail to select the proper sintering parameters in order to avoid crystallization of the glassy phase during consolidation. The brass-glass powder mixtures were prepared through manual blending as well as by ball milling to analyze the effect of the matrix ligament size on the mechanical properties of the composites. The powder mixtures were then consolidated into highly-dense bulk specimens at temperatures within the supercooled liquid region by hot pressing followed by hot extrusion. The preparation of the powder mixtures has a strong influence on the mechanical behavior of the composites. The strength increases from 500 MPa for pure brass to 740 and 925 MPa for the blended composites with 40 and 60vol.% of glass reinforcement, while the strength increases to 1,240 and 1,640 MPa for the corresponding composites produced by ball milling. Modeling of the mechanical properties indicates that this behavior is related to the reduced matrix ligament size characterizing the milled composites. http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/2/2/79 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Metals 2012-05-15 2 2 Article 79 94 2075-4701 Production and Characterization of Brass-matrix Composites Reinforced with Ni59Zr20Ti16Si2Sn3 Glassy Particles 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/met2020079 Jin Young Kim Sergio Scudino Uta Kühn Bum Sung Kim Min Ha Lee Jürgen Eckert http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/3/2/361 The synthesis of a novel functional biomaterial for wound healing treatment was carried out by adopting a free-radical grafting procedure in aqueous media. With this aim, ciprofloxacin (CFX) was covalently incorporated into collagen (T1C) chains employing an ascorbic acid/hydrogen peroxide redox pair as biocompatible initiator system. The covalent insertion of CFX in the polymeric chains was confirmed by FT-IR and UV analyses, while an antibacterial assay demonstrated the activity of the synthesized conjugate against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, microorganisms that commonly infect wounds. A catechin blended conjugate was also tested in order to evaluate the ability to influence fibroblast cell growth. The observed antibacterial activity and stimulation of fibroblast growth support the applicability of CFX-T1C conjugate in wound treatment encouraging the healing process. http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/3/2/361 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2012-05-15 3 2 Article 361 371 2079-4983 Ciprofloxacin-Collagen Conjugate in the Wound Healing Treatment 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/jfb3020361 Francesco Puoci Cristiana Piangiolino Francesco Givigliano Ortensia Ilaria Parisi Roberta Cassano Sonia Trombino Manuela Curcio Francesca Iemma Giuseppe Cirillo Umile Gianfranco Spizzirri Donatella Restuccia Rita Muzzalupo Nevio Picci http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1413 Optimal load distribution (OLD) among generator units of a hydropower plant is a vital task for hydropower generation scheduling and management. Traditional optimization methods for solving this problem focus on finding a single optimal solution. However, many practical constraints on hydropower plant operation are very difficult, if not impossible, to be modeled, and the optimal solution found by those models might be of limited practical uses. This motivates us to find multiple optimal solutions to the OLD problem, which can provide more flexible choices for decision-making. Based on a special dynamic programming model, we use a modified shortest path algorithm to produce multiple solutions to the problem. It is shown that multiple optimal solutions exist for the case study of China’s Geheyan hydropower plant, and they are valuable for assessing the stability of generator units, showing the potential of reducing occurrence times of units across vibration areas. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1413 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 1413 1432 1996-1073 Finding Multiple Optimal Solutions to Optimal Load Distribution Problem in Hydropower Plant 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/en5051413 Pan Liu Tri-Dung Nguyen Ximing Cai Xinhao Jiang http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1398 This paper proposes a novel optimal current given (OCG) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control strategy based on the theory of power feedback and hill climb searching (HCS) for a permanent magnet direct drive wind energy conversion system (WECS). The presented strategy not only has the advantages of not needing the wind speed and wind turbine characteristics of the traditional HCS method, but it also improves the stability and accuracy of MPPT by estimating the exact loss torque. The OCG MPPT control strategy is first carried out by simulation, then an experimental platform based on the dSPACE1103 controller is built and a 5.5 kW permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is tested. Furthermore, the proposed method is compared experimentally with the traditional optimum tip speed ratio (TSR) MPPT control. The experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed OCG MPPT strategy and demonstrate its better performance than the traditional TSR MPPT control. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1398 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-15 5 5 Article 1398 1412 1996-1073 A Novel Maximum Power Point Tracking Control for Permanent Magnet Direct Drive Wind Energy Conversion Systems 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/en5051398 Ying Zhu Ming Cheng Wei Hua Wei Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6434 Temperature changes have a strong effect on Hemispherical Resonator Gyro (HRG) output; therefore, it is of vital importance to observe their influence and then make necessary compensations. In this paper, a temperature compensation model for HRG based on the natural frequency of the resonator is established and then temperature drift compensations are accomplished. To begin with, a math model of the relationship between the temperature and the natural frequency of HRG is set up. Then, the math model is written into a Taylor expansion expression and the expansion coefficients are calibrated through temperature experiments. The experimental results show that the frequency changes correspond to temperature changes and each temperature only corresponds to one natural frequency, so the output of HRG can be compensated through the natural frequency of the resonator instead of the temperature itself. As a result, compensations are made for the output drift of HRG based on natural frequency through a stepwise linear regression method. The compensation results show that temperature-frequency method is valid and suitable for the gyroscope drift compensation, which would ensure HRG’s application in a larger temperature range in the future. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6434 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-15 12 5 Article 6434 6446 1424-8220 Temperature Drift Compensation for Hemispherical Resonator Gyro Based on Natural Frequency 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/s120506434 Xu Wang Wenqi Wu Zhen Fang Bing Luo Yun Li Qingan Jiang http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6415 A road sign recognition system based on adaptive image pre-processing models using two fuzzy inference schemes has been proposed. The first fuzzy inference scheme is to check the changes of the light illumination and rich red color of a frame image by the checking areas. The other is to check the variance of vehicle’s speed and angle of steering wheel to select an adaptive size and position of the detection area. The Adaboost classifier was employed to detect the road sign candidates from an image and the support vector machine technique was employed to recognize the content of the road sign candidates. The prohibitory and warning road traffic signs are the processing targets in this research. The detection rate in the detection phase is 97.42%. In the recognition phase, the recognition rate is 93.04%. The total accuracy rate of the system is 92.47%. For video sequences, the best accuracy rate is 90.54%, and the average accuracy rate is 80.17%. The average computing time is 51.86 milliseconds per frame. The proposed system can not only overcome low illumination and rich red color around the road sign problems but also offer high detection rates and high computing performance. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6415 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-15 12 5 Article 6415 6433 1424-8220 Road Sign Recognition with Fuzzy Adaptive Pre-Processing Models 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/s120506415 Chien-Chuan Lin Ming-Shi Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5770 The reaction of tellurium tetrachloride with acetylene proceeds in a stereospecific anti-addition manner to afford the novel products E-2-chlorovinyltellurium trichloride and E,E-bis(2-chlorovinyl)tellurium dichloride. Reaction conditions for the selective preparation of each of these products were found. The latter was obtained in 90% yield in CHCl3 under a pressure of acetylene of 10–15 atm, whereas the former product was formed in up to 72% yield in CCl4 under a pressure of acetylene of 1–3 atm. Synthesis of the previously unknown E,E-bis(2-chlorovinyl) telluride, E,E-bis(2-chlorovinyl) ditelluride, E-2-chlorovinyl 1,2,2-trichloroethyl telluride and E,E-bis(2-chlorovinyl)-tellurium dibromide is described. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5770 Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-15 17 5 Communication 5770 5779 1420-3049 Synthesis of Novel E-2-Chlorovinyltellurium Compounds Based on the Stereospecific Anti-addition of Tellurium Tetrachloride to Acetylene 2012-05-15 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055770 Maria V. Musalova Vladimir A. Potapov Svetlana V. Amosova http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/3/2/441 Building on his long career as a distinguished historian of early modern Europe, John Miles Headley has recently turned his gaze to the influence of Europe in the larger world. In The Europeanization of the World, Headley makes an insistent case for the uniqueness of European values—particularly human rights and democracy—and argues that these values are Europe’s most precious gifts to the larger world. Without seeking to diminish the remarkable intellectual and cultural achievements of European peoples, this presentation will suggest a more nuanced view of relations between Europe and the larger world. Human rights and democracy mean different things to different peoples in different contexts at different times, and there have in fact been numerous expressions of both in societies beyond Europe. Furthermore, European theorists of human rights and democracy drew influence from societies beyond Europe. To the extent that the Europeanization of the world is a persuasive idea, it is possible only because of a prior globalization of Europe. http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/3/2/441 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Religions 2012-05-14 3 2 Article 441 454 2077-1444 Europeanization of the World or Globalization of Europe? 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/rel3020441 Jerry Bentley http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/2/2/446 We report the preparation, crystallization and solid state characterization of a cyclohexanemethylamine substituted spirobiphenalenyl radical; in the solid state the compound is iso-structural with its dehydro-analog (benzylamine-substitued compound), and the molecules packed in a one-dimensional fashion that we refer to as a π-step stack. Neighboring molecules in the stack interact via the overlap of one pair of active (spin bearing) carbon atoms per phenalenyl unit. The magnetic susceptibility measurement indicates that in the solid state the radical remains paramagnetic and the fraction of Curie spins is 0.75 per molecule. We use the analytical form of the Bonner-Fisher model for the S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain of isotropically interacting spins with intrachain spin coupling constant J = 6.3 cm−1, to fit the experimentally observed paramagnetism [χp (T)] in the temperature range 4–330 K. The measured room temperature conductivity (σRT = 2.4 × 10–3 S/cm) is comparable with that of the iso-structural benzyl radical, even though the calculated band dispersions are smaller than that of the unsaturated analog. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/2/2/446 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Crystals 2012-05-14 2 2 Article 446 465 2073-4352 Synthesis, Structure and Solid State Properties of Cyclohexanemethylamine Substituted Phenalenyl Based Molecular Conductor 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/cryst2020446 Pradip Bag Mikhail E. Itkis Sushanta K. Pal Elena Bekyarova Bruno Donnadieu Robert C. Haddon http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1411 A method of counting the number of coniferous trees by species within forest compartments was developed by combining an individual tree crown delineation technique with a treetop detection technique, using high spatial resolution optical sensor data. When this method was verified against field data from the Shinshu University Campus Forest composed of various cover types, the accuracy for the total number of trees per stand was higher than 84%. This shows improvements over the individual tree crown delineation technique alone which had accuracies lower than 62%, or the treetop detection technique alone which had accuracies lower than 78%. However, the accuracy of the number of trees classified by species was less than 84%. The total number of trees by species per stand was improved with exclusion of the understory species and ranged from 45.2% to 93.8% for Chamaecyparis obtusa and C. pisifera and from 37.9% to 98.1% for broad-leaved trees because many of these were understory species. The better overall results are attributable primarily to the overestimation of Pinus densiflora, Larix kaempferi and broad-leaved trees compensating for the underestimation of C. obtusa and C. pisifera. Practical forest management can be enhanced by registering the output resulting from this technology in a forest geographical information system database. This approach is mostly useful for conifer plantations containing medium to old age trees, which have a higher timber value. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1411 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Remote Sensing 2012-05-14 4 5 Article 1411 1424 2072-4292 Improving the Precision of Tree Counting by Combining Tree Detection with Crown Delineation and Classification on Homogeneity Guided Smoothed High Resolution (50 cm) Multispectral Airborne Digital Data 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/rs4051411 Masato Katoh François A. Gougeon http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5757 Flavonoids are claimed to protect against cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer and ageing, possibly by preventing initial DNA damage. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of crude extract, ethyl acetate fraction and flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutin) isolated from the leaves from Scutia buxifolia against chromosome damage induced by H2O2 in human lymphocytes by analyzing cellular growth rate, cell viability, mitotic index and chromosomal instability. We found a differential response among the compounds tested, with the ethyl acetate fraction being more effective than the crude extract, a difference perhaps related to the presence of the antioxidants identified and quantified by HPLC/DAD. In general, quercetin, isoquercitrin and rutin recovered the mitotic index and chromosomal instability more than quercitrin after treatment with hydrogen peroxide. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5757 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-14 17 5 Article 5757 5769 1420-3049 Protective Effects of Extracts and Flavonoids Isolated from Scutia buxifolia Reissek against Chromosome Damage in Human Lymphocytes Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055757 Aline Augusti Boligon Michele Rorato Sagrillo Luiz Filipe Machado Olmiro de Souza Filho Michel Mansur Machado Ivana Beatrice Manica da Cruz Margareth Linde Athayde http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/4/2/252 Several drug delivery systems have been proposed to overcome physiological barriers, improving ocular bioavailability. Systemic routes are seldom used due to the blood-ocular barrier. Novel drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology techniques have been developed to overcome ocular physiological barriers. This non-systematic review suggests the utilization of a transitory blood-ocular breakdown to allow the access of drugs by nanotechnology drug delivery systems via the systemic route. We discuss the possible ways to cause the breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier: acute inflammation caused by intraocular surgery, induced ocular hypotony, and the use of inflammatory mediators. The suitability of use of the systemic route and its toxic effects are also discussed in this article. http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/4/2/252 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Pharmaceutics 2012-05-14 4 2 Other 252 275 1999-4923 Breakdown of the Blood-Ocular Barrier as a Strategy for the Systemic Use of Nanosystems 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics4020252 Marcelo L. Occhiutto Fatima R. Freitas Raul C. Maranhao Vital P. Costa http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5745 Different parts of four edible medicinal plants (Casearia capitellata, Baccaurea motleyana, Phyllanthus pulcher and Strobilanthus crispus), indigenous to Malaysia, were extracted in different solvents, sequentially. The obtained 28 extracts were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer properties, using the MTS assay, on four human cancer cell lines: colon (HT-29), breast (MCF-7), prostate (DU-145) and lung (H460) cancers. The best anticancer activity was observed for the ethyl acetate (EA) extract of Casearia capitellata leaves on MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 2.0 μg/mL and its methanolic (MeOH) extract showed an outstanding activity against lung cancer cell lines. Dichloromethane (DCM) extract of Phyllanthus pulcher aerial parts showed the highest anticancer activity against DU-145 cell lines, while significant activity was exhibited by DCM extract of Phyllanthus pulcher roots on colon cancer cell lines with IC50 value of 8.1 μg/mL. Total phenolic content (TPC) ranged over 1–40 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g. For all the samples, highest yields of phenolics were obtained for MeOH extracts. Among all the extracts analyzed, the MeOH extracts of Strobilanthus crispus leaves exhibited the highest TPC than other samples (p < 0.05). This study shows that the nature of phenol determines its anticaner activity and not the number of phenols present. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5745 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-14 17 5 Article 5745 5756 1420-3049 Anticancer Properties and Phenolic Contents of Sequentially Prepared Extracts from Different Parts of Selected Medicinal Plants Indigenous to Malaysia 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055745 Maznah Ismail Gururaj Bagalkotkar Shahid Iqbal Hadiza Altine Adamu http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5733 The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of selected biopolymers on the rheological properties of surimi. In our paper, we highlight the functional properties and rheological aspects of some starch mixtures used in surimi. However, the influence of some other ingredients, such as cryoprotectants, mannans, and hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), on the rheological properties of surimi is also described. The outcome reveals that storage modulus increased with the addition of higher levels of starch. Moreover, the increasing starch level increased the breaking force, deformation, and gel strength of surimi as a result of the absorption of water by starch granules in the mixture to make the surimi more rigid. On the other hand, the addition of cryoprotectants, mannans, and HPMC improved the rheological properties of surimi. The data obtained in this paper could be beneficial particularly to the scientists who deal with food processing field. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5733 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-14 17 5 Review 5733 5744 1420-3049 Effect of Some Biopolymers on the Rheological Behavior of Surimi Gel 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055733 Md. Zaidul Islam Sarker M. Abd Elgadir Sahena Ferdosh Md. Jahurul Haque Akanda Mohd Yazid Abdul Manap Takahiro Noda http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/5/995 In Bangladesh, black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon; Fabricius, 1798) aquaculture has come to be one of the most important sectors in both the rural and national economies. Likewise, organic shrimp aquaculture has emerged as an alternative farming enterprise for farmers especially in the southwestern districts of Bangladesh. The present study aims to show key performance characteristics of organic shrimp farmers and farming in a prototypical shrimp farming area in Bangladesh. Data was collected in 2009 from organic shrimp farmers in the Kaligonj and Shyamnagar sub-districts through questionnaire interviews, transect walks and focus group discussions. The mean productivity of organic shrimp farming in the area is 320 kg ha−1 yr−1 (ranging from 120 to 711 kg ha−1year−1). Organic farmers are more likely to have a higher monthly income and less aquaculture experience. Moreover, suitable landholdings and classified labor distribution have been found to play an important role in the development of organic shrimp aquaculture. The most common assets of organic shrimp aquaculture are high yield, low production cost, available post larvae and high market prices. Small business farmers are likely to earn more income benefits from organic shrimp aquaculture than their larger-scale counterparts. Finally, the paper suggests that more research is needed to stimulate the success of organic shrimp aquaculture. http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/5/995 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sustainability 2012-05-14 4 5 Article 995 1012 2071-1050 Key Performance Characteristics of Organic Shrimp Aquaculture in Southwest Bangladesh 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/su4050995 Brojo Gopal Paul Christian Reinhard Vogl http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/5/364 Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin commonly present in cereals, grapes, coffee, spices, and cocoa. Even though the main objective of the food and feed chain processors and distributors is to avoid the extended contamination of plant-derived foods and animal feeds with mycotoxins, until now, complete OTA removal from foods and feedstuffs is not feasible. Prevention through pre-harvest management is the best method for controlling mycotoxin contamination. However, in the case that the contamination occurs after this stage, the hazards associated with OTA must be managed through post-harvest strategies. Due to the increasing number of fungal strains resistant to chemical fungicides and the impact of these pesticides on the environment and human health, maximum levels of chemical residues have been regulated in many products. Alternative methods are necessary to substitute or complement treatments with fungicides to control fungi under field or storage conditions. Yeasts are considered one of the most potent biocontrol agents due to their biology and non-toxic properties. Epiphytic yeasts are the major component of the microbial community on the surface of grape berries and they are evolutionarily adapted to this ecological niche. Nowadays, several yeast species included in different genera are considered as potential biocontrol agents to control both, growth of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus species and OTA accumulation. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/5/364 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Toxins 2012-05-14 4 5 Review 364 372 2072-6651 Control of Ochratoxin A Production in Grapes 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/toxins4050364 María Lorena Ponsone María Laura Chiotta Juan Manuel Palazzini Mariana Combina Sofía Chulze http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1392 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are an exciting new remote sensing tool capable of acquiring high resolution spatial data. Remote sensing with UAVs has the potential to provide imagery at an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. The small footprint of UAV imagery, however, makes it necessary to develop automated techniques to geometrically rectify and mosaic the imagery such that larger areas can be monitored. In this paper, we present a technique for geometric correction and mosaicking of UAV photography using feature matching and Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetric techniques. Images are processed to create three dimensional point clouds, initially in an arbitrary model space. The point clouds are transformed into a real-world coordinate system using either a direct georeferencing technique that uses estimated camera positions or via a Ground Control Point (GCP) technique that uses automatically identified GCPs within the point cloud. The point cloud is then used to generate a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) required for rectification of the images. Subsequent georeferenced images are then joined together to form a mosaic of the study area. The absolute spatial accuracy of the direct technique was found to be 65–120 cm whilst the GCP technique achieves an accuracy of approximately 10–15 cm. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1392 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Remote Sensing 2012-05-14 4 5 Article 1392 1410 2072-4292 An Automated Technique for Generating Georectified Mosaics from Ultra-High Resolution Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery, Based on Structure from Motion (SfM) Point Clouds 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/rs4051392 Darren Turner Arko Lucieer Christopher Watson http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5724 The synthesis of a new 2,2'-bipyridyl functionalized oligovinylenephenylene (OVP-5) containing a methyl protected thiol using Heck coupling and the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and is described. A key step involving a diisopropylcarbodiimide promoted dehydration of a stable b-hydroxyphosphonate intermediate was identified. The structure of precursor E-(4-(4-bromostyryl)phenyl)(methyl)sulfane (1) was determined using X-ray crystallography. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5724 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-14 17 5 Article 5724 5732 1420-3049 Synthesis of a 2,2'-Bipyridyl Functionalized Oligovinylene-Phenylene Using Heck and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons Reactions and X-ray Crystal Structure of E-(4-(4-Bromostyryl)phenyl)(methyl)sulfane 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055724 Orsolya Karácsony Jeffrey R. Deschamps Scott A. Trammell Rafaela Nita D. Andrew Knight http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5713 Newly synthesized coumarins 4-((5-mercapto-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-methoxy)-2H-chromen-2-one and 4-((5-(phenylamino)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-methoxy)-2H-chromen-2-one were tested against selected types of fungi and showed significant activities. DFT calculations of the synthesized coumarins were performed using molecular structures with optimized geometries. Molecular orbital calculations provide a detailed description of the orbitals, including spatial characteristics, nodal patterns, and the contributions of individual atoms. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5713 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-14 17 5 Article 5713 5723 1420-3049 Antifungal Activities of New Coumarins 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055713 Ahmed A. Al-Amiery Abdul Amir Hassan Kadhum Abu Bakar Mohamad http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/2/2/256 Post-translational modifications of proteins are essential for cell function. Covalent modification by SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) plays a role in multiple cell processes, including transcriptional regulation, DNA damage repair, protein localization and trafficking. Factors affecting protein localization and trafficking are particularly crucial in neurons because of their polarization, morphological complexity and functional specialization. SUMOylation has emerged as a major mediator of intranuclear and nucleo-cytoplasmic translocations of proteins involved in critical pathways such as circadian rhythm, apoptosis and protein degradation. In addition, SUMO-regulated re-localization of extranuclear proteins is required to sustain neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. Thus, SUMOylation is a key arbiter of neuronal viability and function. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in our understanding of regulation of neuronal protein localization and translocation by SUMO and highlight exciting areas of ongoing research. http://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/2/2/256 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Biomolecules 2012-05-14 2 2 Review 256 268 2218-273X Regulation of Neuronal Protein Trafficking and Translocation by SUMOylation 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/biom2020256 Anja Berndt Kevin A. Wilkinson Jeremy M. Henley http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6404 A T-shaped fiber-optic phantom-dosimeter system was developed using square scintillating optical fibers, a lens system, and a CMOS image camera. Images of scintillating light were used to simultaneously measure the transverse and longitudinal distributions of absorbed dose of a 6 MV photon beam with field sizes of 1 × 1 and 3 × 3 cm2. Each optical fiber has a very small sensitive volume and the sensitive material is water equivalent. This allows the measurements of cross-beam profile as well as the percentage depth dose of small field sizes. In the case of transverse dose distribution, the measured beam profiles were gradually become uneven and the beam edge had a gentle slope with increasing depth of the PMMA phantom. In addition, the maximum dose values of longitudinal dose distribution for 6 MV photon beam with field sizes of 1 × 1 and 3 × 3 cm2 were found to be at a depth of approximately 15 mm and the percentage depth dose of both field sizes were nearly in agreement at the skin dose level. Based on the results of this study, it is anticipated that an all-in-one phantom-dosimeter can be developed to accurately measure beam profiles and dose distribution in a small irradiation fields prior to carrying out stereotactic radiosurgery. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6404 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-14 12 5 Article 6404 6414 1424-8220 Integral T-Shaped Phantom-Dosimeter System to Measure Transverse and Longitudinal Dose Distributions Simultaneously for Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dosimetry 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/s120506404 Wook Jae Yoo Jinsoo Moon Kyoung Won Jang Ki-Tek Han Sang Hun Shin Dayeong Jeon Jang-Yeon Park Byung Gi Park Bongsoo Lee http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6395 This paper presents recent development on magnetostrictive linear position sensors (MLPS). A new compensation coil structure improves the EMI suppression and accuracy considerably. Furthermore, experimental results indicate that the new structure can improve the accuracy to ±0.13 mm nearly double the ±0.2 mm obtained with traditional structures. As another design continuation after the differential waveguide structure, this new structure is a practical and reliable implementation technique for the commercialization of MLPS. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6395 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-14 12 5 Announcement 6395 6403 1424-8220 Design of Compensation Coils for EMI Suppression in Magnetostrictive Linear Position Sensors 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/s120506395 Yongjie Zhang Weiwen Liu Jinfeng Yang Chunfeng Lv Hui Zhao http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6380 Effective communication among first responders during response to natural and human-made large-scale catastrophes has increased tremendously during the last decade. However, most efforts to achieve a higher degree of effectiveness in communication lack synergy between the environment and the technology involved to support first responders operations. This article presents a natural and intuitive interface to support Stigmergy; or communication through the environment, based on intuitively marking and retrieving information from the environment with a pointer. A prototype of the system was built and tested in the field, however the pointing activity revealed challenges regarding accuracy due to limitations of the sensors used. The results obtained from these field tests were the basis for this research effort and will have the potential to enable communication through the environment for first responders operating in highly dynamical and inhospitable disaster relief environments. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6380 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-14 12 5 Article 6380 6394 1424-8220 Enabling Communication in Emergency Response Environments 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/s120506380 Roberto G. Aldunate Klaus Nicholas Schmidt Oriel Herrera http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6369 A novel nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs pressure sensor is proposed in this paper, with four p-MOSFETs with nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction as source and drain. The four p-MOSFETs are designed and fabricated on a square silicon membrane by CMOS process and MEMS technology where channel resistances of the four nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs form a Wheatstone bridge. When the additional pressure is P, the nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs pressure sensor can measure this additional pressure P. The experimental results show that when the supply voltage is 3 V, length-width (L:W) ratio is 2:1, and the silicon membrane thickness is 75 μm, the full scale output voltage of the pressure sensor is 15.50 mV at room temperature, and pressure sensitivity is 0.097 mV/kPa. When the supply voltage and L:W ratio are the same as the above, and the silicon membrane thickness is 45 μm, the full scale output voltage is 43.05 mV, and pressure sensitivity is 2.153 mV/kPa. Therefore, the sensor has higher sensitivity and good temperature characteristics compared to the traditional piezoresistive pressure sensor. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6369 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-14 12 5 Article 6369 6379 1424-8220 Fabrication and Characteristics of an nc-Si/c-Si Heterojunction MOSFETs Pressure Sensor 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/s120506369 Xiaofeng Zhao Dianzhong Wen Gang Li http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/4/2/1170 Condensation polymerization of 5-aminoisophthalic acid methyl ester 1 bearing a N-tri(ethylene glycol) methyl ester (TEG) chain as an AB2 monomer was conducted and the properties of the resulting hyperbranched polyamides (HBPA) were investigated. When the polymerization of 1 was carried out with N-methyl core initiator 2b at various feed ratios of 1 to 2b ([1]0/[2b]0) in the presence of LiHMDS and LiCl at −10 °C, the Mn values of the obtained HBPA increased in proportion to the [1]0/[2b]0 ratio from 7 to 46 (Mn = 3810–18600), retaining a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.11–1.19). The HBPA was soluble in water, and a 0.25 wt.−% aqueous solution of the HBPA exhibited a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The cloud point was 21–23 °C, which is about 30 °C lower than that of the corresponding poly(m-benzamide) with the N-TEG unit. http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/4/2/1170 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Polymers 2012-05-14 4 2 Article 1170 1182 2073-4360 Synthesis of Well-Defined, Water-Soluble Hyperbranched Polyamides by Chain-Growth Condensation Polymerization of AB2 Monomer 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/polym4021170 Yoshihiro Ohta Yusuke Kamijyo Akihiro Yokoyama Tsutomu Yokozawa http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/3/2/424 In an essay titled ‘The Exiled Tongue’ (2002), Nobel Prize winner Imre Kertész develops a genealogy of Holocaust and émigré writing, in which the German language plays an important, albeit contradictory, role. While the German language signified intellectual independence and freedom of self-definition (against one’s roots) for Kertész before the Holocaust, he notes (based on his engagement with fellow writer Jean Améry) that writing in German created severe difficulties in the post-war era. Using the examples of Hilde Spiel and Friedrich Torberg, this article explores this notion and asks how the loss of language experienced by Holocaust survivors impacted on these two Austrian-Jewish writers. The article argues that, while the works of Spiel and Torberg are haunted by the Shoah, the two writers do not write in the post-Auschwitz language that Kertész delineates in his essays, but are instead shaped by the exile experience of both writers. At the same time though, Kertész’ concept seems to be haunted by exile, as his reception of Jean Améry’s works, which form the basis of his linguistic genealogies, shows an inability to integrate the experience of exile. http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/3/2/424 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Religions 2012-05-14 3 2 Article 424 440 2077-1444 Haunted Encounters: Exile and Holocaust Literature in German and Austrian Post-war Culture 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/rel3020424 Birgit Lang http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/2/2/205 The detection of myoglobin (Myo), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) plays a vital role in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Here we present single site-specific polyaniline (PANI) nanowire biosensors that can detect cardiac biomarkers such as Myo, cTnI, CK-MB, and BNP with ultra-high sensitivity and good specificity. Using single PANI nanowire-based biosensors integrated with microfluidic channels, very low concentrations of Myo (100 pg/mL), cTnI (250 fg/mL), CK-MB (150 fg/mL), and BNP (50 fg/mL) were detected. The single PANI nanowire-based biosensors displayed linear sensing profiles for concentrations ranging from hundreds (fg/mL) to tens (ng/mL). In addition, devices showed a fast (few minutes) response satisfying respective reference conditions for Myo, cTnI, CK-MB, and BNP diagnosis of heart failure and for determining the stage of the disease. This single PANI nanowire-based biosensor demonstrated superior biosensing reliability with the feasibility of label free detection and improved processing cost efficiency due to good biocompatibility of PANI to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Therefore, this development of single PANI nanowire-based biosensors can be applied to other biosensors for cancer or other diseases. http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/2/2/205 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Biosensors 2012-05-14 2 2 Article 205 220 2079-6374 Detection of Cardiac Biomarkers Using Single Polyaniline Nanowire-Based Conductometric Biosensors 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/bios2020205 Innam Lee Xiliang Luo Jiyong Huang Xinyan Tracy Cui Minhee Yun http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/2/2/189 In view of the role ascribed to the peroxidatic activity of degradation products of cytochrome c (cyt c) in the processes of apoptosis, we investigate the catalytic potential of heme and of the cyt c derived heme peptide MP-11 to catalyse the cathodic reduction of hydrogen peroxide and to oxidize aromatic compounds. In order to check whether cyt c has an enzymatic activity in the native state where the protein matrix should suppress the inherent peroxidatic activity of its heme prosthetic group, we applied a biocompatible immobilization matrix and very low concentrations of the co-substrate H2O2. The biocatalysts were entrapped on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode in a biocompatible chitosan layer which contained gold nanoparticles. The electrochemical signal for the peroxide reduction is generated by the redox conversion of the heme group, whilst a reaction product of the substrate oxidation is cathodically reduced in the substrate indication. The catalytic efficiency of microperoxidase-11 is sufficient for sensors indicating HRP substrates, e.g., p-aminophenol, paracetamol and catechol, but also the hydroxylation of aniline and dehalogenation of 4-fluoroaniline. The lower limit of detection for p-aminophenol is comparable to previously published papers with different enzyme systems. The peroxidatic activity of cyt c immobilized in the chitosan layer for catechol was found to be below 1 per mill and for p-aminophenol about 3% as compared with that of heme or MP-11. http://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/2/2/189 Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Biosensors 2012-05-14 2 2 Article 189 204 2079-6374 Peroxide-Dependent Analyte Conversion by the Heme Prosthetic Group, the Heme Peptide “Microperoxidase-11” and Cytochrome c on Chitosan Capped Gold Nanoparticles Modified Electrodes 2012-05-14 doi: 10.3390/bios2020189 Aysu Yarman Bettina Neumann Maria Bosserdt Nenad Gajovic-Eichelmann Frieder W. Scheller http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/3/2/219 In this paper I discuss the question: what comes first, physics or information? The two have had a long-standing, symbiotic relationship for almost a hundred years out of which we have learnt a great deal. Information theory has enriched our interpretations of quantum physics, and, at the same time, offered us deep insights into general relativity through the study of black hole thermodynamics. Whatever the outcome of this debate, I argue that physicists will be able to benefit from continuing to explore connections between the two. http://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/3/2/219 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Information 2012-05-11 3 2 Article 219 223 2078-2489 Information and Physics 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/info3020219 Vlatko Vedral http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1384 This work is aimed at calculating the energy content of the residues from olive oil production. Olive pulp, olive husk and sludge (a mixture of olive pulp and husk) have been analyzed separately. Olive Mill Effluents (OME) are normally a problem for olive mill farms, yet they may be used as feedstock for biomass-fuelled power plants. Nonetheless, OMEs are characterized by a relatively high humidity content and are produced only during the olive season. Thus, OME need a stabilization process to be employed as a solid biofuel throughout the year. The analyses conducted attempt an evaluation of the energy consumption of a three-stage stabilization process: drying, milling and pelletising. The net electrical energy available from OME is then calculated as a difference between gross energy available and energy consumed for stabilization. The gross available electrical energy was calculated based on direct energy conversion of the stabilized feedstock on a small scale direct combustion and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine. Results show that OME are suitable for energy production. Approximately 4500 kJ/kg of net electrical energy may be obtained out of olive sludge or olive pulp, while olive husk shows a potential gross energy of 3400 kJ/kg. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1384 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-11 5 5 Article 1384 1397 1996-1073 Evaluation of Net Energy Obtainable from Combustion of Stabilised Olive Mill By-Products 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/en5051384 Antonio Messineo Roberto Volpe Francesco Asdrubali http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1371 The objective of this study was to investigate the cooling performance characteristics of an electrical air conditioning system using R744 as an alternative of R-134a for a fuel cell electric vehicle. In order to analyze the cooling performance characteristics of the air conditioning system using R744 for a fuel cell electric vehicle, an electrical air conditioning system using R744 was developed and tested under various operating conditions according to both inlet air conditions of the gas cooler and evaporator and compressor speed. The cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) forcooling of the tested air conditioning system were up to 6.4 kW and 2.5, respectively. In addition, the electrical air conditioning system with R744 using an inverter driven compressor showed better performance than the conventional air conditioning system with R-134a under the same operating conditions. The observed cooling performance of the developed electrical air conditioning system was found to be sufficient for cooling loads under various real driving conditions for a fuel cell electric vehicle. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/5/5/1371 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Energies 2012-05-11 5 5 Article 1371 1383 1996-1073 Characteristic Evaluation on the Cooling Performance of an Electrical Air Conditioning System Using R744 for a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/en5051371 Moo-Yeon Lee Ho-Seong Lee Hong-Phil Won http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5751 Streptozotocin (STZ) is an antibiotic often used in the treatment of different types of cancers. It is also highly cytotoxic to the pancreatic beta-cells and therefore is commonly used to induce experimental type 1 diabetes in rodents. Resistance towards STZ-induced cytotoxicity in cancer cells has also been reported. Our previous studies have reported organ-specific toxicity and metabolic alterations in STZ-induced diabetic rats. STZ induces oxidative stress and metabolic complications. The precise molecular mechanism of STZ-induced toxicity in different tissues and carcinomas is, however, unclear. We have, therefore, investigated the mechanism of cytotoxicity of STZ in HepG2 hepatoma cells in culture. Cells were treated with different doses of STZ for various time intervals and the cytotoxicity was studied by observing the alterations in oxidative stress, mitochondrial redox and metabolic functions. STZ induced ROS and RNS formation and oxidative stress as measured by an increase in the lipid peroxidation as well as alterations in the GSH-dependent antioxidant metabolism. The mitochondria appear to be a highly sensitive target for STZ toxicity. The mitochondrial membrane potential and enzyme activities were altered in STZ treated cells resulting in the inhibition of ATP synthesis. ROS-sensitive mitochondrial aconitase activity was markedly inhibited suggesting increased oxidative stress in STZ-induced mitochondrial toxicity. These results suggest that STZ-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells is mediated, at least in part, by the increase in ROS/RNS production, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our study may be significant for better understanding the mechanisms of STZ action in chemotherapy and drug induced toxicity. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5751 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Article 5751 5767 1422-0067 Streptozotocin-Induced Cytotoxicity, Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055751 Haider Raza Annie John http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/3/2/349 In this study, a porous oxide layer was formed on the surface of 316L stainless steel (SS) by combining Ti magnetron sputtering and plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) with the    aim to produce a polymer-free drug carrier for drug eluting stent (DES) applications. The oxidation was performed galvanostatically in Na3PO4 electrolyte. The surface porosity, average pore size and roughness varied with PEO treatment duration, and under optimum conditions, the surface showed a porosity of 7.43%, an average pore size of 0.44 µm and a roughness (Ra) of 0.34 µm. The EDS analyses revealed that the porous layer consisted of Ti, O and P. The cross-sectional morphology evidenced a double-layer structure, with a porous titania surface and an un-oxidized dense Ti film towards the interface with 316L SS. After the PEO treatment, wettability and surface free energy increased significantly. The results of the present study confirm the feasibility of forming a porous TiO2 layer on stainless steel by combining sputtering technology and PEO. Further, the resultant porous oxide layer has the potential to be used as a drug carrier for DES, thus avoiding the complications associated with the polymer based carriers. http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/3/2/349 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2012-05-11 3 2 Article 349 360 2079-4983 Characterization of Porous TiO2 Surfaces Formed on 316L Stainless Steel by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation for Stent Applications 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/jfb3020349 Zhiguang Huan Lidy E. Fratila-Apachitei Iulian Apachitei Jurek Duszczyk http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/2/2/216 Lithium-air (Li-air) batteries have a much higher theoretical energy density than conventional lithium batteries and other metal air batteries, so they are being developed for applications that require long life. Water vapor from air must be prevented from corroding the lithium (Li) metal negative electrode during discharge under ambient conditions, i.e., in humid air. One method of protecting the Li metal from corrosion is to use an oxygen selective membrane (OSM) that allows oxygen into the cell while stopping or slowing the ingress of water vapor. The desired properties and some potential materials for OSMs for Li-air batteries are discussed and the literature is reviewed. http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/2/2/216 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Membranes 2012-05-11 2 2 Review 216 227 2077-0375 Oxygen Selective Membranes for Li-Air (O2) Batteries 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/membranes2020216 Owen Crowther Mark Salomon http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/851 A diamond-structured photonic crystal (PC) with graded air spheres radii was fabricated successfully by stereolithography (SL) and gel-casting process. The graded radii in photonic crystal were formed by uniting different radii in photonic crystals with a uniform radius together along the Г‑Х direction. The stop band was observed between 26.1 GHz and 34.3 GHz by reflection and transmission measurements in the direction. The result agreed well with the simulation attained by the Finite Integration Technique (FIT). The stop band width was 8.2 GHz and the resulting gap/midgap ratio was 27.2%, which became respectively 141.4% and 161.9% of the perfect PC. The results indicate that the stop band width of the diamond-structured PC can be expanded by graded air spheres radii along the Г‑Х direction, which is beneficial to develop a multi bandpass filter. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/851 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2012-05-11 5 5 Communication 851 856 1996-1944 Diamond-Structured Photonic Crystals with Graded Air Spheres Radii 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ma5050851 Qingxuan Liang Dichen Li Haoxue Han http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5690 Benzo[c]phenanthridine (BCP) derivatives were identified as topoisomerase I (TOP-I) targeting agents with pronounced antitumor activity. In this study, hologram-QSAR, 2D-QSAR and 3D-QSAR models were developed for BCPs on topoisomerase I inbibitory activity and cytotoxicity against seven tumor cell lines including RPMI8402, CPT-K5, P388, CPT45, KB3-1, KBV-1and KBH5.0. The hologram, 2D, and 3D-QSAR models were obtained with the square of correlation coefficient R2 = 0.58 − 0.77, the square of the crossvalidation coefficient q2 = 0.41 − 0.60 as well as the external set’s square of predictive correlation coefficient r2 = 0.51 − 0.80. Moreover, the assessment method based on reliability test with confidence level of 95% was used to validate the predictive power of QSAR models and to prevent over-fitting phenomenon of classical QSAR models. Our QSAR model could be applied to design new analogues of BCPs with higher antitumor and topoisomerase I inhibitory activity. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5690 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-11 17 5 Article 5690 5712 1420-3049 QSAR Modeling on Benzo[c]phenanthridine Analogues as Topoisomerase I Inhibitors and Anti-cancer Agents 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055690 Khac-Minh Thai Quang-Huynh Bui Thanh-Dao Tran Thi-Ngoc-Phuong Huynh http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1369 This paper outlines the methods and results for monitoring forest change and resulting carbon emissions for the 1990–2000 and 200–2005 periods carried out over tropical Central and South America. To produce our forest change estimates we used a systematic sample of medium resolution satellite data processed to forest change maps covering 1230 sites of 20 km by 20 km, each located at the degree confluence. Biomass data were spatially associated to each individual sample site so that annual carbon emissions could be estimated. For our study area we estimate that forest cover in the study area had fallen from 763 Mha (s.e. 10 Mha) in 1990 to 715 Mha (s.e. 10 Mha) in 2005. During the same period other wooded land (i.e., non-forest woody vegetation) had fallen from 191 Mha (s.e. 5.5 Mha) to 184 Mha (s.e. 5.5 Mha). This equates to an annual gross loss of 3.74 Mha∙y−1 of forests (0.50% annually) between 1990 and 2000, rising to 4.40 Mha∙y−1 in the early 2000s (0.61% annually), with Brazil accounting for 69% of the total losses. The annual carbon emissions from the combined loss of forests and other wooded land were calculated to be 482 MtC∙y−1 (s.e. 29 MtC∙y−1) for the 1990s, and 583 MtC∙y−1 (s.e. 48 MtC∙y−1) for the 2000 to 2005 period. Our maximum estimate of sinks from forest regrowth in tropical South America is 92 MtC∙y−1. These estimates of gross emissions correspond well with the national estimates reported by Brazil, however, they are less than half of those reported in a recent study based on the FAO country statistics, highlighting the need for continued research in this area. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/4/5/1369 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Remote Sensing 2012-05-11 4 5 Article 1369 1391 2072-4292 Forest Cover Changes in Tropical South and Central America from 1990 to 2005 and Related Carbon Emissions and Removals 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/rs4051369 Hugh D. Eva Frédéric Achard René Beuchle Evaristo de Miranda Silvia Carboni Roman Seliger Michael Vollmar Wilson A. Holler Osvaldo T. Oshiro Victor Barrena Arroyo Javier Gallego http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6347 Digital surface models (DSMs) are widely used in forest science to model the forest canopy. Stereo pairs of very high resolution satellite and digital aerial images are relatively new and their absolute accuracy for DSM generation is largely unknown. For an assessment of these input data two DSMs based on a WorldView-2 stereo pair and a ADS80 DSM were generated with photogrammetric instruments. Rational polynomial coefficients (RPCs) are defining the orientation of the WorldView-2 satellite images, which can be enhanced with ground control points (GCPs). Thus two WorldView-2 DSMs were distinguished: a WorldView-2 RPCs-only DSM and a WorldView-2 GCP-enhanced RPCs DSM. The accuracy of the three DSMs was estimated with GPS measurements, manual stereo-measurements, and airborne laser scanning data (ALS). With GCP-enhanced RPCs the WorldView-2 image orientation could be optimised to a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.56 m in planimetry and 0.32 m in height. This improvement in orientation allowed for a vertical median error of −0.24 m for the WorldView-2 GCP-enhanced RPCs DSM in flat terrain. Overall, the DSM based on ADS80 images showed the highest accuracy of the three models with a median error of 0.08 m over bare ground. As the accuracy of a DSM varies with land cover three classes were distinguished: herb and grass, forests, and artificial areas. The study suggested the ADS80 DSM to best model actual surface height in all three land cover classes, with median errors < 1.1 m. The WorldView-2 GCP-enhanced RPCs model achieved good accuracy, too, with median errors of −0.43 m for the herb and grass vegetation and −0.26 m for artificial areas. Forested areas emerged as the most difficult land cover type for height modelling; still, with median errors of −1.85 m for the WorldView-2 GCP-enhanced RPCs model and −1.12 m for the ADS80 model, the input data sets evaluated here are quite promising for forest canopy modelling. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6347 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-11 12 5 Article 6347 6368 1424-8220 Accuracy Assessment of Digital Surface Models Based on WorldView-2 and ADS80 Stereo Remote Sensing Data 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/s120506347 Martina L. Hobi Christian Ginzler http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1859 In recent decades, high ambient ozone concentrations have become one of the major regional air quality issues in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), as key precursors of ozone, were found to be the limiting factor in photochemical ozone formation for large areas in the PRD. For source apportioning of NMHCs as well as ozone pollution control strategies, it is necessary to obtain typical seasonal and diurnal patterns of NMHCs with a large pool of field data. To date, few studies have focused on seasonal and diurnal variations of NMHCs in urban areas of Guangzhou. This study explored the seasonal variations of most hydrocarbons concentrations with autumn maximum and spring minimum in Guangzhou. The diurnal variations of most anthropogenic NMHCs typically showed two-peak pattern with one at 8:00 in the morning and another at 20:00 in the evening, both corresponding to traffic rush hours in Guangzhou, whereas isoprene displayed a different bimodal diurnal curve. Propene, ethene, m, p-xylene and toluene were the four largest contributors to ozone formation in Guangzhou, based on the evaluation of individual NMHCs’ photochemical reactivity. Therefore, an effective strategy for controlling ozone pollution may be achieved by the reduction of vehicle emissions in Guangzhou. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1859 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2012-05-11 9 5 Article 1859 1873 1660-4601 Seasonal and Diurnal Variations of Atmospheric Non-Methane Hydrocarbons in Guangzhou, China 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijerph9051859 Longfeng Li Xinming Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1846 Scientific certainty regarding environmental toxin-related etiologies of breast cancer, particularly among women with genetic polymorphisms in estrogen metabolizing enzymes, is lacking. Fungicides have been recognized for their carcinogenic potential, yet there is a paucity of epidemiological studies examining the health risks of these agents. The association between agricultural fungicide exposure and breast cancer risk was examined in a secondary analysis of a province-wide breast cancer case-control study in Prince Edward Island (PEI) Canada. Specific objectives were: (1) to derive and examine the level of association between estimated fungicide exposures, and breast cancer risk among women in PEI; and (2) to assess the potential for gene-environment interactions between fungicide exposure and a CYP1A1 polymorphism in cases versus controls. After 1:3 matching of 207 cases to 621 controls by age, family history of breast cancer and menopausal status, fungicide exposure was not significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.46–1.17). Moreover, no statistically significant interactions between fungicide exposure and CYP1A1*2A were observed. Gene-environment interactions were identified. Though interpretations of findings are challenged by uncertainty of exposure assignment and small sample sizes, this study does provide grounds for further research. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/5/1846 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2012-05-11 9 5 Communication 1846 1858 1660-4601 Breast Cancer Risk, Fungicide Exposure and CYP1A1*2A Gene-Environment Interactions in a Province-Wide Case Control Study in Prince Edward Island, Canada 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijerph9051846 Jillian Ashley-Martin John VanLeeuwen Alastair Cribb Pantelis Andreou Judith Read Guernsey http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6331 With the rapid development of modern physics, atomic gyroscopes have been demonstrated in recent years. There are two types of atomic gyroscope. The Atomic Interferometer Gyroscope (AIG), which utilizes the atomic interferometer to sense rotation, is an ultra-high precision gyroscope; and the Atomic Spin Gyroscope (ASG), which utilizes atomic spin to sense rotation, features high precision, compact size and the possibility to make a chip-scale one. Recent developments in the atomic gyroscope field have created new ways to obtain high precision gyroscopes which were previously unavailable with mechanical or optical gyroscopes, but there are still lots of problems that need to be overcome to meet the requirements of inertial navigation systems. This paper reviews the basic principles of AIG and ASG, introduces the recent progress in this area, focusing on discussing their technical difficulties for inertial navigation applications, and suggests methods for developing high performance atomic gyroscopes in the near future. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6331 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-11 12 5 Review 6331 6346 1424-8220 Advances in Atomic Gyroscopes: A View from Inertial Navigation Applications 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/s120506331 JianCheng Fang Jie Qin http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6307 Current “Internet of Things” concepts point to a future where connected objects gather meaningful information about their environment and share it with other objects and people. In particular, objects embedding Human Machine Interaction (HMI), such as mobile devices and, increasingly, connected vehicles, home appliances, urban interactive infrastructures, etc., may not only be conceived as sources of sensor information, but, through interaction with their users, they can also produce highly valuable context-aware human-generated observations. We believe that the great promise offered by combining and sharing all of the different sources of information available can be realized through the integration of HMI and Semantic Sensor Web technologies. This paper presents a technological framework that harmonizes two of the most influential HMI and Sensor Web initiatives: the W3C’s Multimodal Architecture and Interfaces (MMI) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) with its semantic extension, respectively. Although the proposed framework is general enough to be applied in a variety of connected objects integrating HMI, a particular development is presented for a connected car scenario where drivers’ observations about the traffic or their environment are shared across the Semantic Sensor Web. For implementation and evaluation purposes an on-board OSGi (Open Services Gateway Initiative) architecture was built, integrating several available HMI, Sensor Web and Semantic Web technologies. A technical performance test and a conceptual validation of the scenario with potential users are reported, with results suggesting the approach is sound. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6307 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-11 12 5 Article 6307 6330 1424-8220 Sharing Human-Generated Observations by Integrating HMI and the Semantic Sensor Web 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/s120506307 Álvaro Sigüenza David Díaz-Pardo Jesús Bernat Vasile Vancea José Luis Blanco David Conejero Luis Hernández Gómez http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6282 The mainstream of research in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is devoted to developing intelligent systems for processing the data collected through artificial sensing. Besides, there are other elements that must be considered to foster the adoption of AAL solutions in real environments. In this paper we focus on the problem of designing interfaces among caregivers and AAL systems. We present an alert management tool that supports carers in their task of validating alarms raised by the system. It generates text-based explanations—obtained through an argumentation process—of the causes leading to alarm activation along with graphical sensor information and 3D models, thus offering complementary types of information. Moreover, a guideline to use the tool when validating alerts is also provided. Finally, the functionality of the proposed tool is demonstrated through two real cases of alert. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6282 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-11 12 5 Article 6282 6306 1424-8220 An Approach for Representing Sensor Data to Validate Alerts in Ambient Assisted Living 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/s120506282 Andrés Muñoz Emilio Serrano Ana Villa Mercedes Valdés Juan A. Botía http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6269 We have developed a wireless biosensor system to continuously monitor L-lactic acid concentrations in fish. The blood L-lactic acid level of fish is a barometer of stress. The biosensor comprised Pt-Ir wire (φ0.178 mm) as the working electrode and Ag/AgCl paste as the reference electrode. Lactate oxidase was immobilized on the working electrode using glutaraldehyde. The sensor calibration was linear and good correlated with L-lactic acid levels (R = 0.9959) in the range of 0.04 to 6.0 mg·dL−1. We used the eyeball interstitial sclera fluid (EISF) as the site of sensor implantation. The blood L-lactic acid levels correlated closely with the EISF L-lactic acid levels in the range of 3 to 13 mg·dL−1 (R = 0.8173, n = 26). Wireless monitoring of L-lactic acid was performed using the sensor system in free-swimming fish in an aquarium. The sensor response was stable for over 60 h. Thus, our biosensor provided a rapid and convenient method for real-time monitoring of L-lactic acid levels in fish. http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/5/6269 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Sensors 2012-05-11 12 5 Article 6269 6281 1424-8220 Wireless Biosensor System for Real-Time L-Lactic Acid Monitoring in Fish 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/s120506269 Kyoko Hibi Kengo Hatanaka Mai Takase Huifeng Ren Hideaki Endo http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5740 In the present study, we examined the gastroprotective effect of selenium against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. The gastric mucosal lesions were produced by oral administration with various concentrations of ethanol for three days, and 80% ethanol treatment was determined to be the optimal condition for induction of gastric damage. To identify the protective effect of selenium on ethanol-induced gastric damage, various doses of selenium were given as pretreatment for three days, and then gastric damage was induced by 80% ethanol treatment. Selenium showed a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in a dose dependent manner. Specifically, 100 μg/kg selenium showed the highest level of gastroprotection. In addition, selenium markedly attenuated ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosa and increased activities of radical scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in a dose-dependent manner. Histological data showed that 100 μg/kg selenium distinctly reduced the depth and severity of the ethanol induced gastric lesion. These results clearly demonstrate that selenium inhibits the formation of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions through prevention of lipid peroxidation and activation of enzymatic radical scavenging. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5740 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Article 5740 5750 1422-0067 Gastroprotective Effect of Selenium on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damage in Rats 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055740 Jeong-Hwan Kim Shin-Hyung Park Soo-Wan Nam Yung-Hyun Choi http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5729 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of mortality worldwide, and dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for CVD. Ginseng has been widely used in the clinic to treat CVD. Ginsenoside Rg3, one of the major active components of ginseng, has been reported to exhibit antiobesity, antidiabetic, and cardioprotective effects. However, the effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on hepatic lipid metabolism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether ginsenoside Rg3 would regulate hepatic lipid metabolism with AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in HepG2 cells. Ginsenoside Rg3 significantly reduced hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg3 inhibited expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). Ginsenoside Rg3 increased activity of AMPK, a major regulator of energy metabolism. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 reduces hepatic lipid accumulation with inhibition of SREBP-2 and HMGCR expression and stimulation of AMPK activity in HepG2 cells. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg3 may be beneficial as a food ingredient to lower the risk of CVD by regulating dyslipidemia. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5729 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Article 5729 5739 1422-0067 Ginsenoside Rg3 Reduces Lipid Accumulation with AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Activation in HepG2 Cells 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055729 Seohyun Lee Mak-Soon Lee Chong-Tai Kim In-Hwan Kim Yangha Kim http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5715 In this study, two DNA vaccines, which express the membrane (M) protein of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) (pEGFP-M) and co-express both M and swine IL-18 (pEGFP-IL18-M), were constructed and their abilities to induce humoral and cellular responses in piglets were comparatively evaluated. Experimental results showed that both recombinant DNA vaccines could not elicit neutralizing antibodies in the immunized piglets. However, both DNA vaccines elicited Th1-biased cellular immune responses. Notably, pigs immunized with the plasmid pEGFP-IL18-M developed significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 production response and stronger specific T-lymphocyte proliferation response than the pigs inoculated with the plasmids pEGFP-M and pEGFP-IL18 (P < 0.05). These results illustrated that co-expression of M and IL-18 proteins could significantly improve the potency of DNA vaccination on the activation of vaccine-induced virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses in pigs, which may be used as a strategy to develop a new generation of vaccines against highly pathogenic PRRSV. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5715 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Article 5715 5728 1422-0067 Immune Responses in Pigs Induced by Recombinant DNA Vaccine Co-Expressing Swine IL-18 and Membrane Protein of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055715 Xiaodong Zhang Xiaoli Wang Lianzhi Mu Zhuang Ding http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5706 CdTe film was deposited using the electrophoretic deposition technique onto an ITO glass at various bath temperatures. Four batch film compositions were used by mixing 1 to 4 wt% concentration of CdTe powder with 10 mL of a solution of methanol and toluene. X-ray Diffraction analysis showed that the films exhibited polycrystalline nature of zinc-blende structure with the (111) orientation as the most prominent peak. From the Atomic Force Microscopy, the thickness and surface roughness of the CdTe film increased with the increase of CdTe concentration. The optical energy band gap of film decreased with the increase of CdTe concentration, and with the increase of isothermal bath temperature. The film thickness increased with respect to the increase of CdTe concentration and bath temperature, and following, the numerical expression for the film thickness with respect to these two variables has been established. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5706 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Article 5706 5714 1422-0067 Characterization of CdTe Films Deposited at Various Bath Temperatures and Concentrations Using Electrophoretic Deposition 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055706 Mohd Norizam Md Daud Azmi Zakaria Atefeh Jafari Mohd Sabri Mohd Ghazali Wan Rafizah Wan Abdullah Zulkarnain Zainal http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5700 Gymnogobius isaza is a freshwater goby endemic to Lake Biwa, Japan. They experienced a drastic demographic bottleneck in the 1950s and 1980s and slightly recovered thereafter, but the population size is still very small. To reveal dynamics of genetic diversity of G. isaza, we developed nine microsatellite markers based on the sequence data of a related goby Chaenogobius annularis. Nine SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) markers were successfully amplified for raw and formalin-fixed fish samples. The number of alleles and expected heterozygosities ranged from one to 10 and from 0.06 to 0.84, respectively, for the current samples, while one to 12 and 0.09 to 0.83 for historical samples. The markers described here will be useful for investigating the genetic diversity and gene flow and for conservation of G. isaza. http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/5/5700 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2012-05-11 13 5 Short Note 5700 5705 1422-0067 Development of Nine Markers and Characterization of the Microsatellite Loci in the Endangered Gymnogobius isaza (Gobiidae) 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ijms13055700 Kiwako S. Araki Takefumi Nakazawa Atsushi Kawakita Hiroshi Kudoh Noboru Okuda http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/818 Transparent conducting oxide (TCO) materials are implemented into a wide variety of commercial devices because they possess a unique combination of high optical transparency and high electrical conductivity. Created during the processing of the TCOs, defects within the atomic-scale structure are responsible for their desirable optical and electrical properties. Therefore, studying the defect structure is essential to a better understanding of the behavior of transparent conductors. X-ray and neutron scattering techniques are powerful tools to investigate the atomic lattice structural defects in these materials. This review paper presents some of the current developments in the study of structural defects in n-type TCOs using x-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron diffraction, extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), pair distribution functions (PDFs), and x-ray fluorescence (XRF). http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/5/5/818 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2012-05-11 5 5 Review 818 850 1996-1944 Investigating the Defect Structures in Transparent Conducting Oxides Using X-ray and Neutron Scattering Techniques 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/ma5050818 Gabriela B. González http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5675 The reactions between several derivatives of 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-yn-1-ol and different ruthenium starting materials [i.e., RuCl2(PPh3)3 and RuCl2(p-cymene)(L), where L is tricyclohexylphosphine di-t-butylmethylphosphine, dicyclohexylphenylphosphine, triisobutylphosphine, triisopropylphosphine, or tri-n-propylphosphine] are described. Several of these reactions allow for the easy, in-situ and atom-economic preparation of olefin metathesis catalysts. Organic precursor 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-prop-2-yn-1-ol led to the formation of active ruthenium indenylidene-ether complexes, while 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-yn-1-ol and 1-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-prop-2-yn-1-ol did not. It was also found that a bulky and strong σ-donor phosphine ligand was required to impart good catalytic activity to the new ruthenium complexes. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/5/5675 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2012-05-11 17 5 Article 5675 5689 1420-3049 Development of a Method for the Preparation of Ruthenium Indenylidene-Ether Olefin Metathesis Catalysts 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/molecules17055675 Leonel R. Jimenez Daniel R. Tolentino Benjamin J. Gallon Yann Schrodi http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4893/5/2/289 Cloud computing is an emerging technology where IT resources are virtualized to users as a set of a unified computing resources on a pay per use basis. The resources are dynamically chosen to satisfy a user Service Level Agreement and a required level of performance. Divisible load applications occur in many scientific and engineering applications and can easily be mapped to a Cloud using a master-worker pattern. However, those applications pose challenges to obtain the required performance. We model divisible load applications tasks processing on a set of cloud resources. We derive a novel model and formulas for computing the blocking probability in the system. The formulas are useful to analyze and predict the behavior of a divisible load application on a chosen set of resources to satisfy a Service Level Agreement before the implementation phase, thus saving time and platform energy. They are also useful as a dynamic feedback to a cloud scheduler for optimal scheduling. We evaluate the model in a set of illustrative scenarios. http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4893/5/2/289 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 CEST Algorithms 2012-05-11 5 2 Article 289 303 1999-4893 Modeling and Performance Analysis to Predict the Behavior of a Divisible Load Application in a Cloud Computing Environment 2012-05-11 doi: 10.3390/a5020289 Leila Ismail Liren Zhang