bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Überarbeitetes Glossar zu Begriffen der Pharmazeutik
Authors: Langguth Peter , Seydel Joachim
Published: March 2011

Dieses Glossar behandelt pharmazeutische Begriffe und wendet sich an Praktiker auf dem Gebiet der Pharmazeutik. Im deutschen Sprachraum wurde – im Unterschied zum englischen und amerikanischen – die Sinnhaftigkeit des Begriffs “Pharmazeutik” schon vor längerer Zeit diskutiert (“Grundfragen der Galenik”: R. Hüttenrauch, Dtsch. Apoth. Ztg. 1988, 128, 951–961; “Etikett und Inhalt einer Wissenschaft”: R. Hüttenrauch, Acta Pharm. Technol. 1985, 31, 195–196). Während seine Verwendung sicherlich nicht falsch ist, ist seine Verbreitung in deutschen Schriften exotisch. Hingegen ist die Bedeutung der Pharmazeutik als Disziplin der pharmazeutischen Wissenschaften, die sich mit den unterschiedlichen Verfahren auf dem Weg eines Arzneistoffs hin zu einer durch den Patienten oder das medizinische Personal applizierbaren Darreichungsform befasst, klar gegeben. Am besten könnte man den abstrakten Begriff der Pharmazeutik durch den gebräuchlicheren Term “Pharmazeutische Technologie und Biopharmazie” umschreiben. Die in diesem Glossar enthaltenen Definitionen beziehen sich auf verschiedene Elemente der Pharmazeutik, nämlich 1) die physikalisch‐chemische Charakterisierung pharmazeutischer Zubereitungen und ihrer wirksamen Inhaltsstoffe, 2) in der Praxis der Pharmazeutik angewendete Grundoperationen, 3) Begriffe mit Bezug zu den verschiedenen Arzneiformen, 4) Begriffe im Zusammenhang mit unterschiedlichen Applikationsarten und ‐wegen, 5) Begriffe aus den Bereichen Pharmakokinetik und Biopharmazie sowie Begriffe, die keinem dieser Aspekte zugeordnet werden können. Das Gebiet der Pharmazeutik selbst ist interdisziplinär und wird von Pharmazeuten und anderen Naturwissenschaftlern, z. B. Chemikern und Biowissenschaftlern bearbeitet, die von einem Glossar mit eindeutigen Begriffsdefinitionen profitieren können. Die in der Pharmazeutik verwendeten Begriffe werden durch vorhandene Glossare nur selten abgedeckt, und wenn es der Fall ist, sind die gegebenen Definitionen für das Gebiet der Pharmazeutik oft unpassend, was neue oder modifizierte Definitionen erforderlich macht. In diesem Text kursiv gesetzte Begriffe sind auch als Stichwörter zu finden.
Roberto Pallavicini: About a great scientist
Authors: Pasquini L.
Published: March 2011

I describe some aspects of the research work of Roberto Pallavicini, which I believe are of value for all (young) scientists (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
An excerpt of X‐shooter operations at Paranal
Authors: Martayan C. , Alvarez A. , Bristow P. , Castillo R. , Dekker H. , D'Odorico S. , Mainieri V. , Mason E. , Modigliani A. , Moehler S. , Moller P. , Patat F. , Pena E. , Reinero C. , Vernet J. , Vinther J. , Vuckovic M. , all the engineers who work a lot on X‐shooter
Published: March 2011

We report on the current performances and measurements done with X‐shooter during its first year of operations at Paranal. We present the current instrumental problems, recent and future improvements, and give advice for the observations (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Studying the formation of massive stars with VLT/X‐shooter
Authors: Kaper L. , Ellerbroek L.E. , Ochsendorf B.B. , Caballero Pouroutidou R.N.
Published: March 2011

The birth process and (early) evolution of massive stars is still poorly understood. Massive stars are rare, their birthplaces are hidden from view and their formation timescale is short. So far, our physical knowledge of these young massive stars has been derived from near‐IR imaging and spectroscopy, revealing populations of young OB‐type stars, some still surrounded by a (remnant?) accretion disk, others apparently “normal” main sequence stars powering H II regions. The most important spectral features of OB‐type stars are, however, located in the UV and optical range. With VLT/X‐shooter it is possible to extend the spectral coverage of these young massive stars into the optical range, to better determine their photospheric properties, to study the onset of the stellar wind, and to characterize the physical structure of the circumstellar disk (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Studying the SN‐GRB connection with X‐shooter: The GRB 100316D / SN 2010bh case
Authors: Bufano F. , Benetti S. , Sollerman J. , Pian E. , Cupani G.
Published: March 2011

During the last ten years, observations of long‐duration gamma‐ray bursts brought to the conclusion that at least a fraction of them is associated with bright supernovae of type Ib/c. In this talk, after a short review on the previously observed GRB‐SN connection cases, we present the recent case of GRB 100316/SN 2010bh. In particular, during the observational campaign of SN 2010bh, a pivotal role was played by VLT/X‐shooter, sampling with unique high quality data the spectral energy distribution of the early evolution phases from the UV to the K band (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Supernovae interacting with a circumstellar medium: New observations with X‐shooter
Authors: Pastorello A. , Benetti S. , Bufano F. , Kankare E. , Mattila S. , Turatto M. , Cupani G.
Published: March 2011

In this article we present new data of a sample of core‐collapse supernovae showing unequivocal evidences of interaction between their ejecta and pre‐existing circumstellar matter (CSM). This CSM was produced by the progenitor star through major mass loss episodes during the final stages of its life. The study of the properties of the SN ejecta and the circumstellar environment are crucial to unveil the nature of the progenitors producing interacting supernovae. In this context, the instrumental combination Very Large Telescope (VLT) plus X‐shooter provides spectra covering simultaneously the optical and near‐infrared domains, and with adequate resolution to constrain the main properties of the supernova and its environment, including its chemical composition, the ejection velocity and the distribution of the emitting gas (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Metallicities of high redshift GRB hosts: The case of GRB 100219A
Authors: Thöne C.C. , Fynbo J. , Goldoni P. , de Ugarte Postigo A. , Covino S. , Campana S. , the X‐shooter GRB collaboration
Published: March 2011

GRB 100219A at z = 4.667 has been the highest redshift gamma‐ray burst observed with the X‐shooter spectrograph up to now. The spectrum covering the range from 5000 to 24000 Å and a large number of absorption lines allows to make a detailed study of the interstellar medium in a high redshift galaxy. The ISM in the low ionisation state and the kinematics of the absorption line components reveal a complex velocity field. The metallicity measured from different absorption lines is around 0.1 solar. Other GRB hosts at redshift beyond ∼3 have similar metallicities albeit with a large scatter in the metallicity distribution. X‐shooter will allow us to determine metallicities of a larger number of GRB hosts beyond redshift 5, to probe the early chemical enrichment of the Universe and to study its evolution from redshift 2 to beyond 10 (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Observing GRB host galaxies with the integral field unit of X‐shooter
Authors: Flores H. , Goldoni P. , Royer F. , Piranomonte S. , Vergani S.D. , Onori F. , Palazzi E. , Covino S. , Randich S. , Hammer F. , Pian E. , Savaglio S. , Tagliaferri G.
Published: March 2011

Using the integral field unit of X‐shooter at VLT, we have recovered the first velocity fields of GRB host galaxies at redshift <0.6. This facility is able to recover not only the velocity fields from almost all emission lines thanks to an unrivaled wavelength coverage, but also to recover maps of physical properties. We present the preliminary analysis of X‐shooter/IFU observations dedicated to the study of GRB host galaxies undertaken in the frame of the Italian‐French GTO program. Our goal is to understand the physical processes at the origin of the GRB by analyzing in detail the spatial distributions of the kinematics, metallicities, extinction, star‐formation, and how they are inter‐related (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
GRB 021004 host galaxy and environment with X‐shooter
Authors: Vergani S.D. , Piranomonte S. , Petitjean P. , Flores H. , Goldoni P. , Rodrigues M. , Hammer F. , Covino S.
Published: March 2011

We report preliminary results of the observation of the GRB 021004 host galaxy and field obtained with the new VLT/X‐shooter spectrograph. Thanks to the X‐shooter wide spectral range we could detect many emission lines associated to the GRB host at z = 2.33102. Moreover we identify [O III] λλ 4959, 5007 Äemission lines at z = 2.33184 associated with a close‐by galaxy possibly interacting with the GRB host. We do not detect any counterpart of the foreground absorbers found in the afterglow spectra of GRB 021004 (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Using X‐shooter to measure the extinction in long GRB host galaxies from emission lines
Authors: Wiersema K.
Published: March 2011

The spectra of the host galaxies of gamma‐ray bursts at low redshift generally show strong hydrogen lines of the Balmer, Paschen and Brackett series, in addition to strong nebular metal lines. In special cases the hosts can be resolved in separate star forming regions, and spatially resolved spectroscopy can be obtained. Generally, the three strongest Balmer lines are used to derive the reddening experienced by the emission lines of the host gas, assuming a Milky Way extinction curve, case B recombination and a fixed electron temperature. We demonstrate how the wide wavelength range of X‐shooter, in combination with a rigorous calibration strategy, can be used to fit explicitly for RV, Te, and AV simultaneously using a large number of H and He I recombination lines, explicitly corrected for stellar atmosphere absorption. This increases our understanding of extinction and absorption in starforming regions in GRB hosts. We use two GRB hosts as examples of the methods, outlining the advantages of using X‐shooter over other instruments (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Studying the diverse nature of faint galaxies in nearby clusters of the WINGS sample
Authors: Bettoni D. , Kjærgaard P. , Milvang‐Jensen B. , D'Onofrio M. , Moretti A. , Poggianti B.M. , Fasano G. , Moles M.
Published: March 2011

We present the first results of our X‐shooter observations for a sample of dwarf (–17 < MB < –15) galaxies in nearby (0.04 < z < 0.07) galaxy clusters. This luminosity range is fundamental to trace the evolution of higher‐z star‐forming cluster galaxies down to the present day, and to explore the galaxy scaling relations of early‐type galaxies over a broad mass range. Thanks to high resolution and availability of several lines we can derive the velocity dispersion of the galaxies in this range of luminosities and we begin the construction of the fundamental plane of faint early‐type galaxies (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Optical‐NIR spectra of quasars close to reionization (z ∼ 6)
Authors: D'Odorico V. , Cupani G. , Cristiani S. , Maiolino R. , Molaro P. , Nonino M. , Cimatti A. , di Serego Alighieri S. , Fiore F. , Fontana A. , Gallerani S. , Giallongo E. , Mannucci F. , Marconi A. , Pentericci L. , Viel M. , Vladilo G.
Published: March 2011

X‐shooter, with its characteristics of resolution, spectral coverage and efficiency, provides a unique opportunity to obtain spectra of the highest‐redshift quasars (z ∼ 6) that will allow us to carry out successful investigations on key cosmological issues, from the details of the re‐ionization process, to the evolution of the first galaxies and AGNs. In this paper, we present the spectra of three z ∼ 6 quasars: one obtained during the commissioning of X‐shooter and two in the context of our ongoing GTO programme. Combining this sample with data in the literature, we update the value of the C IV cosmic mass density in the range 4.5 ≤ z ≤ 5, confirming the constant trend with redshift between 2.5 and 5 (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
X‐shooter observations of QSO pairs
Authors: Cupani G. , D'Odorico V. , Cristiani S. , Viel M. , Vanzella E.
Published: March 2011

Observations of quasar pairs represent a powerful tool in the study of the intergalactic medium, providing in particular information on the quasar radiative feedback not only along the line of sight, but also in the transverse direction. In this paper, we present the spectra of the four quasar pairs we observed so far with X‐shooter, and we discuss two individual spectra affected by the presence of a close quasar in the foreground (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Immunoprecipitation combined with microchip capillary gel electrophoresis: Detection and quantification of β‐galactosidase from crude E. coli cell lysate
Authors: Herwig Ela , Marchetti‐Deschmann Martina , Wenz Christian , Rüfer Andreas , Allmaier Günter
Published: March 2011

A sensitive and selective analytical method for the determination and quantification of endogenous β‐galactosidase in crude E. coli cell lysates by immunoprecipitation combined with automated microchip capillary gel electrophoresis (IP‐MCGE) with laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed. Total cell lysates were derivatized minimally with a fluorescence dye, incubated with anti‐β‐galactosidase antibodies, and the antigen/antibody complex was precipitated with protein G‐coated magnetic beads. After capturing the complex, it was eluted from the beads under denaturing conditions and loaded directly onto a multisample microchip for analysis. The effects of antibody selection and the importance of preclearing steps were studied in detail. For quantification, an external calibration through spiking pure β‐galactosidase into E. coli lysate was performed. Recovery rates of immunoprecipitation after spiking experiments and the amount of unknown endogenous β‐galactosidase in E. coli lysates were determined. As proof of principle, E. coli cultures grown on nutrition media with several glucose/lactose ratios were analyzed. Differences in the expression level of β‐galactosidase could be detected and measured with the developed method. Detected amounts of β‐galactosidase in different culture media correlated with the β‐galactosidase activities in these cultures.
Recent Advances in the Development of Dopamine D3Receptor Antagonists: a Medicinal Chemistry Perspective
Authors: Micheli Fabrizio
Published: March 2011

Dopamine (DA) D3receptor antagonism might play a significant role in different therapeutic areas. A high number of preclinical studies on DA D3receptor antagonists have shown efficacy in animal models of Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and drug dependence. This Review covers the activities of medicinal chemists in this field over the last ten years towards the identification of truly selective compounds. Both primary and patent literature is reviewed here. Since the original discoveries, a clear trend towards the optimization of the developability properties of the new scaffold has clearly emerged with time, from both academic and industrial researchers. Examples of advanced leads from academia and industry are described. The latest potential therapeutic applications are reported too.
Synthesis of TiO2 nanorings and nanorods on TCO substrate by potentiostatic anodization of titanium powder
Authors: Li M. , Liu Y. , Wang H. , Ye Qihong , Shen H.
Published: March 2011

Various TiO2 nanostructures, such as nanorings, nanorods were synthesized via potentiostatic anodization of titanium powder under different conditions. The morphology of the obtained TiO2 nanostructures can be easily tuned by varying applied voltage. The crystal structure, compositional information and morphological structures were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM). XRD and XPS analysis confirmed the anodization products were TiO2. A possible formation mechanism was suggested on the basis of the shape evolution of TiO2 nanostructures observed by FESEM. The results revealed that the applied voltage played an important role in the formation of various nanostructures. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Stability of ruthenium nanoparticles synthesized by solvothermal method
Authors: Nandanwar S. U. , Chakraborty M. , Mukhopadhyay S. , Shenoy K. T.
Published: March 2011

One of the major obstacles to the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanocatalyst is the stability of particles. In the present study, polymer stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were synthesized by solvothermal method using solutions of ruthenium chloride in ethylene glycol in presence of poly(N ‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone) (PVP) as a stabilizing agent. Stability of nanoparticles was studied by varying different parameters e.g. PVP/RuCl3 molar raio, RuCl3 concentration, reaction temperature and time and expressed in terms of particle size and size distribution. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis revealed the presence of metallic clusters with a uniform size of about 20‐65 nm. Dispersion destabilisation of colloidal nanoparticles was detected by Turbiscan. Polymer stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles were dispersed on γ‐alumina to prepare uniformly disperse Ru/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst by mechanical strirring and sonication. Inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), X‐Ray powder diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the supported catalyst. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Circuit and system design for an 860–960 MHz RFID reader front‐ends with Tx leakage suppression in 0.18 − µm CMOS technology
Authors: Javidan Javad , Atarodi S. Mojtaba , Luong Howard C.
Published: March 2011

This paper presents an RF Front‐END for an 860–960thinspaceMHz passive RFID Reader. The direct conversion receiver architecture with the feedback structure in the RF front‐end circuit is used to give good immunity against the large transmitter leakage and to suppress leakage. The system design considerations for receiver on NF and IIP3 have been discussed in detail. The RF Front‐END contains a power amplifier (PA) in transmit chain and receive front‐end with low‐noise amplifier, up/down mixer, LP filter and variable‐gain amplifier. In the transmitter, a differential PA with a new power combiner is designed and fabricated in a 0.18‐µm technology. The chip area is 2.65 mm × 1.35 mm including the bonding pads. The PA delivers an output power of 29 dBm and a power‐added efficiency of 24% with a power gain of 20 dB, including the losses of the bond‐wires. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Definition of leukocyte subsets in primate central nervous system by polychromatic flow cytometry
Authors: Bischoff Tanja , Stahl‐Hennig Christiane , Mätz‐Rensing Kerstin , Koutsilieri Eleni , Sopper Sieghart
Published: March 2011

Haematopoietic immune cell populations play an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurological disorders. To better understand the function of resident mononuclear phagocytes and migrating leukocytes in the central nervous system (CNS), the definition of these populations in healthy individuals is crucial. Therefore, the composition of CNS‐associated leukocytes, isolated from macaque brain tissue, was assessed using multicolor flow cytometry. We established a combination of antibodies directed against nine different antigens that enabled a precise classification of all major immune cell populations in a single tube. Macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), B and T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells were differentiated in CNS and peripheral blood. Additionally, microglia cells were detected in the brain. Using this antibody combination also allowed the discrimination of functionally different subsets among the distinct immunocyte populations, for example, CD8 positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes. About 95% of the leukocytes in the brain are microglia cells. Two additional myeloid cell populations, CD14 positive macrophages and CD11c‐positive DCs, were also identified. In contrast to blood, where macrophages are more abundant, DCs outnumbered macrophages in the brain. Among lymphocytes, proportions of CD20 positive B lymphocytes were decreased, and T lymphocytes as well as NK cells were increased in brain compared to blood. Significant changes were also detected for macrophage and T‐cell subpopulations. The nonexclusive expression of certain surface makers on different cell populations demanded a simultaneous classification of all intrathecal immune cells. Knowing their exact composition offers new insights on interaction and regulation in inflammatory processes and will be instrumental to monitor alterations in the course of neurological diseases. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
On the quantification of intracellular proteins in multifluorescence‐labeled rat brain slices using slide‐based cytometry
Authors: Reinert Anja , Mittag Anja , Reinert Tilo , Tárnok Attila , Arendt Thomas , Morawski Markus
Published: March 2011

In several brain regions, a subpopulation of neurons exists being characterized by the expression of a peculiar form of extracellular matrix, a so‐called perineuronal net (PNN). We have previously shown that the PNN can bind large amounts of iron due to its polyanionic charge. Because free iron can generate reactive oxygen species thus being potentially toxic, the PNN may have a protective function by “scavenging” this free iron. Because of this ability, we have hypothesized that PNN‐related neurons have an altered iron‐specific metabolism.

Thus, to compare the intracellular concentrations of iron containing proteins, specifically, the iron storage protein ferritin H between neurons with and without a PNN, we have used slide‐based cytometry with image‐based threshold‐boundary cell detection on brain sections. In tissue sections, the integrity of the extracellular matrix, especially the characteristic PNNs, is preserved, which is necessary for the identification of the two neuronal subpopulations. A multilabeling approach was chosen to select neurons (neuronal marker NeuN), to classify the neurons according to their subtype (matrix marker Wisteria floribunda agglutinin), and to quantify the protein concentration (protein marker).

Using this novel method, we were able to detect a relative difference in protein concentration as low as 12% between the two subpopulations of neurons in the neuronal population of the rat parietal cortex. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Multi‐objective optimization strategy based on desirability functions used for electrophoratic separation and quantification of rosiglitazone and glimepiride in plasma and formulations
Authors: Hefnawy Mohamed M. , Sultan Maha A. , Al‐Johar Haya I. , Kassem Mohamed G. , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y.
Published: March 2011

Multiple response simultaneous optimization employing Derringer's desirability function was used for the development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the simultaneous determination of rosiglitazone (RSG) and glimepiride (GLM) in plasma and formulations. Twenty experiments, taking the two resolutions, the analysis time, and the capillary current as the responses with three important factors—buffer morality, volte and column temperature—were used to design mathematical models. The experimental responses were fitted into a second order polynomial and the six responses were simultaneously optimized to predict the optimum conditions for the effective separation of the studied compounds. The separation was carried out by using capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with a silica capillary column and diode array detector at 210 nm. The optimum assay conditions were 52 mmol l−1 phosphate buffer, pH 7, and voltage of 22 kV at 29 °C. The method showed good agreement between the experimental data and predictive value throughout the studied parameter space. The assay limit of detection was 0.02 µgml−1 and the effective working range at relative standard deviation (RSD) of ≤ 5% was 0.05–16 µgml−1 (r = 0.999) for both drugs. Analytical recoveries of the studied drugs from spiked plasma were 97.2–101.9 ± 0.31–3.0%. The precision of the assay was satisfactory; RSD was 1.07 and 1.14 for intra‐ and inter‐assay precision, respectively. The proposed method has a great value in routine analysis of RSG and GLM for its therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bioactivation antioxidant and transglycating properties of N‐acetylcarnosine autoinduction prodrug of a dipeptide L‐carnosine in mucoadhesive drug delivery eye‐drop formulation: powerful eye health application technique and therapeutic platform
Authors: Babizhayev Mark A.
Published: March 2011

A considerable interest in N‐acetylcarnosine ocular drug design for eye health is based on clinical strategies to improve ocular drug delivery through metabolic enzymatic activation. Human biology aspects of ocular N‐acetylcarnosine deacetylation during its pass through the cornea to the aqueous humor and dipeptide hydrolyzing enzymes are characterized. Novel approaches to ocular drug delivery increasing intraocular bioavailability of N‐acetylcarnosine biologically activated metabolite carnosine become an integral development ensuring prolonged retention of the medication in the mucoadhesive precorneal area and facilitating transcorneal penetration of the natural dipeptide with the corneal promoters.

A comprehensive list of techniques for peptide drug design, synthesis, purification, and biological analyses was considered: liquid chromatography (LC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry. The antioxidant activity of therapeutics‐targeted molecules was studied in aqueous solution and in a lipid membrane environment. A deglycation therapeutic system was developed involving removal, by transglycation of sugar or aldehyde moieties from Schiff bases by histidyl‐hydrazide compounds or aldehyde scavenger L‐carnosine. Clinical studies included ophthalmoscopy, visual acuity (VA), halometer disability glare tests, slit‐image, and retro‐illumination photography.

N‐acetylcarnosine 1% lubricant eye drops are considered as an auto‐induction prodrug and natural ocular redox state balance therapies with implications in prevention and treatment of serious eye diseases that involve pathways of continuous oxidative damage to ocular tissues(cataracts, primary open‐angle glaucoma, age‐related macular degeneration) and sight‐threatening glycosylation processes (diabetic retinopathy and consequent visual impairment) important for public health. The results of the study document that the therapeutic benefit in clinical trials is associated with the bioactivation universal antioxidant and transglycating properties of N‐acetylcarnosine acting as the ophthalmic prodrug of L‐carnosine, and depends on the nature of the specific drug delivery lubricant eye‐drop formulation applied as the topical solution.

The research highlights findings in N‐acetylcarnosine prodrug activation, transport mechanisms, drug‐to‐drug interactions, and formulations in order to unlock the optimization of complicated ocular pharmacology of N‐acetylcarnosine. Patented N‐acetylcarnosine lubricant eye‐drop formula was marketed as numerous human biological brands reaching important distribution networks on over 550 000 bottles sold.

Nature Does Nothing Uselessly.

‐Aristotle

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tim‐1 stimulation of dendritic cells regulates the balance between effector and regulatory T cells
Authors: Xiao Sheng , Zhu Bing , Jin Hulin , Zhu Chen , Umetsu Dale T. , DeKruyff Rosemarie H. , Kuchroo Vijay K.
Published: March 2011

We show that the T‐cell immunoglobalin mucin, Tim‐1, initially reported to be expressed on CD4+ T cells, is constitutively expressed on dendritic cells (DCs) and that its expression further increases after DC maturation. Tim‐1 signaling into DCs upregulates costimulatory molecule expression and proinflammatory cytokine production, thereby promoting effector T‐cell responses, while inhibiting Foxp3+ Treg responses. By contrast, Tim‐1 signaling in T cells only regulates Th2 responses. Using a high‐avidity/agonistic anti‐Tim‐1 antibody as a co‐adjuvant enhances the immunogenic function of DCs, decreases the suppressive function of Tregs, and substantially increases proinflammatory Th17 responses in vivo. The treatment with high‐ but not low‐avidity anti‐Tim‐1 not only worsens experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in susceptible mice but also breaks tolerance and induces EAE in a genetically resistant strain of mice. These findings indicate that Tim‐1 has an important role in regulating DC function and thus shifts the balance between effector and regulatory T cells towards an enhanced immune response. By understanding the mechanisms by which Tim‐1 regulates DC and T‐cell responses, we may clarify the potential utility of Tim‐1 as a target of therapy against autoimmunity, cancer, and infectious diseases.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure‐Phase Copper Silicate Na2Cu2Si4O11·2H2O with Ammonia as Complexing Agent
Authors: Jiang Qizhou , Shi Qi , Xu Hong , Li Jinping , Dong Jinxiang
Published: March 2011

Pure‐phase copper silicate, Na2Cu2Si4O11·2H2O (AV‐23), was synthesized hydrothermally by starting with a molar ratio of CuO:3.2SiO2:3.02Na2O:4.57NH3:146H2O. To avoid the formation of polycrystalline CuO, aqueous ammonia was used as complexing agent. The inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy ICP‐AES, XRD, and SEM measurements of the precursors indicated that the sequence in which the starting materials are added can effectively adjust the competition between precipitation and complexation, and consequently the alkali balance in the solution, as copper is present in the form of both Cu(OH)2 and [Cu(NH3)4]2+. This adjustment optimizes the distribution of the precursor, which influences the morphology of Cu(OH)2. The kinetics of the crystallization is thus affected in such a way that prevents the formation of impure phases.
Influence of Tip Size on Single Yeast Cell Imaging Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
Authors: Nagamine Kuniaki , Takahashi Yasufumi , Ino Kosuke , Shiku Hitoshi , Matsue Tomokazu
Published: March 2011

The influence of the tip reaction on the substrate generation/tip collection mode SECM imaging of a single yeast cell was investigated by using various sizes of probe electrodes in µm–nm scales because the tip reaction would disturb the concentration profile of intracellular enzyme reactant formed around the cell. GC mode measurements of a single yeast cell were performed using a dual mediator system with lipophilic menadione and hydrophilic ferricyanide. We found downscaling of the tip size enabled quantitative SECM imaging of a single cell in GC mode without disturbing the concentration profile of the mediator formed around the cell by the tip reaction.
Optimization of a permeation‐based microfluidic direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC)
Authors: Erickson Evan M. , Mitrovski Svetlana M. , Gewirth Andrew A. , Nuzzo Ralph G.
Published: March 2011

A design for a passive, air‐breathing microfluidic fuel cell utilizing formic acid (FA) as a fuel is described and its performance characterized. The fuel cell integrates high surface area platinum (cathode) and palladium–platinum (anode) alloy electrodes within a PDMS microfluidic network that keeps them fully immersed in a liquid electrolyte. The polymer network that comprises the device also serves as a self‐supporting membrane through which FA and oxygen are supplied to the alloy anode and cathode, respectively, by passive permeation from external sources. The cell is based on a planar form‐factor and in its operation exploits FA concentration gradients that form across the PDMS membrane. These latter gradients allow the device to operate stably, producing a nearly constant limiting power density of ∼0.2 mW/cm2, without driven laminar flow of fluids or the incorporation of an in‐channel separator between the anodic and the cathodic compartments. The power output of this elementary device in air is subject to electrolyte mass transport impacts, which can be reduced for a given design rule by decreasing the internal ohmic resistance of the cell. The results suggest that operational stability can be improved by decreasing the kinetic losses imposed on the cathode side of the cell due to FA crossover and modalities for doing so, such as by increasing the efficiency of fuel capture at the anode.
Chip gel electrophoresis as a tool for study of matrix metalloproteinase 9 interaction with metallothionein
Authors: Zitka Ondrej , Krizkova Sona , Huska Dalibor , Adam Vojtech , Hubalek Jaromir , Eckschlager Tomas , Kizek Rene
Published: March 2011

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play numerous roles in physiological and pathological processes including cancer. Interactions of MMPs with other zinc‐binding proteins are of great interest mainly from the point of view of the participation of these proteins in carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to utilize chip gel electrophoresis for investigation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (gelatinase B, MMP‐9) interactions with collagen. The interaction was observed and the effect of temperature was tested. We further focused on the study of activation of MMP‐9 by the presence of zinc‐binding proteins called metallothioneins (MT). We confirmed the basic presumption of the activation of MMP‐9 by the presence of MT similar to the temperature effect. Moreover, we chose the method of differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction to verify our results. It can be concluded that the activity of MMP‐9 was higher in the presence of MT in comparison with the experimental collagen(type I)‐MMP‐9 mixture in vitro.
Controls on slope‐to‐channel fine sediment connectivity in a largely ice‐free valley, Hoophorn Stream, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Authors: Beel Casey R. , Orwin John F. , Holland Peter G.
Published: March 2011

There has been little work to date into the controls on slope‐to‐channel fine sediment connectivity in alpine environments largely ice‐free for most of the Holocene. Characterization of these controls can be expected to result in better understanding of how landscapes “relax” from such perturbations as climate shock. We monitored fine sediment mobilization on a slope segment hydrologically connected to a stream in the largely ice‐free 8·3 km2 Hoophorn Valley, New Zealand. Gerlach traps were installed in ephemeral slope channels to trap surficial material mobilized during rainfall events. Channel sediment flux was measured using turbidimeters above and below the connected slope, and hysteresis patterns in discharge‐suspended sediment concentrations were used to determine sediment sources. Over the 96 day measurement period, sediment mobilization from the slope segment was limited to rainfall events, with increasingly larger particles trapped as event magnitude increased. Less than 1% of the mass of particles collected during these events was fine sediment. During this period, 714 t of suspended sediment was transported through the lower gauging station, 60% of it during rainfall events. Channel sediment transfer patterns during these events were dominated by clockwise hysteresis, interpreted as remobilization of nearby in‐channel sources, further suggesting limited input of fine sediment from slopes in the lower valley. Strong counterclockwise hysteresis, representing input of fine sediment from slope segments, was restricted to the largest storm event (JD2 2009) when surfaces in the upper basin were activated. The results indicate that the slopes of the lower Hoophorn catchment are no longer functioning as sources of fine sediment, but rather as sources of coarse material, with flux rates controlled by the intensity and duration of rainfall events. Although speculative, these findings suggest a shift to a coarse sediment dominated slope‐to‐channel transfer system as the influence of pre‐Holocene glacial erosion declines. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diode laser‐based photoacoustic spectroscopy detection of acetylene gas and its quantitative analysis
Authors: Chen Weigen , Liu Bingjie , Zhou Hengyi , Wang Youyuan , Wang Caisheng
Published: March 2011

Acetylene in oil is an important characteristic gas which reflects early discharge faults of transformer and other oil‐immersed electrical equipment. Laser‐based photoacoustic spectroscopy techniques of high sensitivity and good selectivity can be well applied to detect trace gases. A portable and tunable experimental setup with a distributed feedback diode laser has been developed in this paper. The photoacoustic cell property parameters, the relationships between the photoacoustic signals and the laser power and the acetylene gas concentrations were analysed experimentally. By means of diode laser wavelength modulation, the high‐resolution acetylene photoacoustic spectrum near 1.5 µm in the first overtone band near infrared was investigated. A novel method of photoacoustic quantitative analysis was proposed on the basis of least square regression. The theoretical and experimental results show the feasibility of on‐line monitoring of acetylene and designing a tunable photoacoustic spectrometer with high sensitivity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A 16 000‐year record of vegetational change in south‐western Alaska as inferred from plant macrofossils and pollen
Authors: Kaltenrieder Petra , Tinner Willy , Lee Byoungyoon , Hu Feng Sheng
Published: March 2011

Pollen and macrofossil analyses of a sediment core from Beaver Pond (60° 37′ 14″ N, 154° 19′ W, 579 m a.s.l.) reveal a record of regional and local postglacial vegetation change in south‐western Alaska. The chronology is based on five AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) 14C ages obtained from terrestrial plant macrofossils. Pollen and macrofossil records suggest that open herb and shrub tundra with e.g. Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Artemisia, Vaccinium and Salix prevailed on the landscape before ca. 14 000 cal a BP. The shift from herb‐ to shrub‐dominated tundra (Salix, subsequent Betula expansion) possibly reflects climatic warming at the beginning of the Bølling period at ca. 14 700–14 500 and around 13 500 cal a BP. Vegetation (Betula shrub tundra) remained relatively stable until the early Holocene. Macrofossil influx estimates provide evidence for greater biomass in Betula shrub tundra during the early postglacial period than today. Charcoal accumulation rates suggest tundra fire activity was probably greater from ca. 12 500 to 10 500 cal a BP, similar to results from elsewhere in Alaska. The pollen and macrofossil records of Beaver Pond suggest the prevalence of low shrub tundra (shrub Betula, Betula nana, Vaccinium, Ledum palustre, Ericaceae) and tall shrub tundra (Alnus viridis ssp. crispa, Salix) between 10 000 and 4000 cal a BP. This Holocene vegetation type is comparable with that of the modern treeless wet and moist tundra in south‐western Alaska. The expansion of Picea glauca occurred ∼4000 cal a BP, much later than that of A. viridis (ssp. crispa), whereas in central and eastern Alaska Picea glauca expanded prior to or coincident with Alnus (viridis). At sites located only 200–400 km north‐east of Beaver Pond (Farewell and Wien lakes), Picea glauca and Betula forests expanded 8000–6000 cal a BP. Unfavourable climatic conditions and soil properties may have inhibited the expansion and establishment of Picea across south‐west Alaska during the mid and late Holocene. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cosmogenic nuclide constraints on glacial chronology in the source area of the Urumqi River, Tian Shan, China
Authors: Li Yingkui , Liu Gengnian , Kong Ping , Harbor Jon , Chen Yixin , Caffee Marc
Published: March 2011

Cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure dating of boulders and erratics provides new constraints for a glacial chronology in the source area of the Urumqi River, Tian Shan, China. 10Be exposure ages of 15.0 ± 1.3–17.1 ± 1.5 ka from the Upper Wangfeng (UWF) moraines agree well with their previous relative age assignments to marine isotope stage (MIS) 2, but are younger than published AMS 14C and electron spin resonance (ESR) ages (from 22.8 ± 0.6 to 37.4 ka). This difference may result from variations in techniques, or could reflect the impact of surface erosion and sediment/snow cover on surface exposure dating. 10Be ages from the Lower Wangfeng (LWF) moraines (18.7 ± 1.8 and 16.2 ± 1.5 ka) are indistinguishable from the UWF exposure ages, but are significantly younger than previously reported thermoluminescence (TL) and ESR ages (37.7 ± 2.6–184.7 ± 18 ka). Either these two groups were formed during the same period (MIS 2) and there are problems with TL and ESR ages, or the moraines were of very different ages and the similar exposure ages result from different degrees of degradation. Erratics on rock steps and a drumlin along >8 km of the main glacial valley above the UWF have internally consistent and slightly decreasing 10Be exposure ages indicating glacier retreat >2.5 m a−1 after MIS 2 and before middle or late Holocene glacier re‐advances. This retreat rate is similar to rates observed from modern glaciers. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Millennial‐scale fire and vegetation history from a mesic hardwood forest of southeastern Wisconsin, USA
Authors: Long Colin J. , Power Mitchell J. , Mcdonald Breanne
Published: March 2011

High‐resolution charcoal analysis of lake sediment cores was used to reconstruct the fire history from two sites in a mesic hardwood forest of south‐eastern Wisconsin located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Pollen data from the region indicate that the sites, which lie within 5 km of each other, have had a consistent presence of mesic hardwood forest for the last 6500 years. A pollen record from one of the sites confirmed the regional vegetation history and the charcoal analysis indicated that fire frequency at each site was temporally linked to regional drought. Periods of high fire occurrence occurred in connection with a region‐wide drought 4200 years ago and, over the last 2000 years, shorter‐scale regional droughts were centred at 1800, 1650, 1100, 1000, 800, 700 and 600 cal a BP. The fire histories indicate that the last 1000 years have had lower fire frequencies than the previous 6500 years and suggest that the mesic hardwood forests may be resilient to increases in fire that may result from future climate change. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School‐based intervention programs for PTSD symptoms: A review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rolfsnes Erika S. , Idsoe Thormod
Published: March 2011

This is a review and meta‐analysis of school‐based intervention programs targeted at reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nineteen studies conducted in 9 different countries satisfied the inclusionary criteria. The studies dealt with various kinds of type I and type II trauma exposure. Sixteen studies used cognitive–behavioral therapy methods; the others used play/art, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and mind‐body techniques. The overall effect size for the 19 studies was d = 0.68 (SD = 0.41), indicating a medium‐large effect in relation to reducing symptoms of PTSD. The authors' findings suggest that intervention provided within the school setting can be effective in helping children and adolescents following traumatic events.
Factor structure and concurrent validity of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Short Form among veterans from the Iraq War
Authors: Kaler Matthew E. , Erbes Christopher R. , Tedeschi Richard G. , Arbisi Paul A. , Polusny Melissa A.
Published: March 2011

The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory is a frequently used self‐report measure of posttraumatic growth. It was adapted recently to a short form with preliminary evidence in support of its psychometric properties. The current survey study replicates evidence for the short form's factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and concurrent validity among a sample of 327 National Guard soldiers deployed in support of military operations in Iraq, a population distinct from the original scale‐development sample of undergraduates. Findings provide evidence for satisfactory reliability, replicable factor structure (i.e., the same 5‐factor structure as the original measure), and support for concurrent validity (i.e., relations with theoretically related constructs). Further research should address validity of the scale among more ethnically and racially heterogeneous samples.
Low‐Density Nanocellular Foams Produced by High‐Pressure Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Reglero Ruiz Jose Antonio , Dumon Michel , Pinto Javier , Rodriguez‐Pérez Miguel Angel
Published: March 2011

A new type of nanocellular polymeric material based on PMMA and a MAM triblock copolymer is presented. The production avoids the use of physical additives and leads to completely homogeneous nanostructured polymers with a large number of CO2 nucleation sites. The foamed materials show average cell sizes <200 nm and relative foam densities of 0.4, presenting a homogeneous cell structure. A physical effect not measured before in nanocellular materials is demonstrated, which leads to an increase of the glass transition temperature due to the confining effect of PMMA chains in the cell walls of the nanocellular foam. The effects of changing saturation pressure and MAM content in the cellular structure are described, together with three‐point bending Young's modulus measured using DMA.

magnified image
Modeling Film Drainage and Coalescence of Drops in a Viscous Fluid
Authors: Janssen Pieter J. A. , Anderson Patrick D.
Published: March 2011

A proper description of coalescence of viscous drops is challenging from an experimental, numerical, and theoretical point of view. Although the problem seems easy at first sight, consensus in the literature has still not been reached on how to predict a realistic coalescence rate given flow type, capillary number and viscosity ratio. Despite advances in algorithms and computational power, and the emergence of fully‐closed analytical results, a match between theory, experiment and simulation for drainage rates only appears in a severely limited number of cases. In this paper, several recent developments are reviewed, and a summary is made of several challenges that still lay ahead.

magnified image
Synergism Effect of Montmorillonite and Cellulose Whiskers on the Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Natural Rubber Composites
Authors: Bendahou Abdelkader , Kaddami Hamid , Espuche Eliane , Gouanvé Fabrice , Dufresne Alain
Published: March 2011

A series of nanocomposite films based on natural rubber (NR), Na+‐montmorillonite (MMT), and cellulose whiskers (W) was prepared, keeping a total filler content equal to 5 wt.‐%. In the binary NR/MMT system, small stacks of intercalated montmorillonites were homogeneously dispersed within the polymer matrix whereas they were clearly lying in the vicinity of cellulose whiskers in the ternary NR/MMT/W blends. The effects of MMT and W on mechanical and gas barrier properties of the nanocomposite films were investigated. A significant increase of the rubbery modulus was obtained upon filler addition. The reinforcing effect was particularly important for the nanocomposite film reinforced with 1 wt.‐% MMT and 4 wt.‐% W. The improvement of the gas barrier properties observed upon filler addition was explained by a tortuosity effect. The calculated tortuosity values indicated that the simultaneous use of MMT and W could greatly slow down the gas diffusion rate in NR. Formation of MMT‐W subassembly should be responsible for this synergism effect.

magnified image