bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Southeast Asian origins of five Hill Tribe populations and correlation of genetic to linguistic relationships inferred with genome‐wide SNP data
Authors: Listman J.B. , Malison R.T. , Sanichwankul K. , Ittiwut C. , Mutirangura A. , Gelernter J.
Published: October 2010

In Thailand, the term Hill Tribe is used to describe populations whose members traditionally practice slash and burn agriculture and reside in the mountains. These tribes are thought to have migrated throughout Asia for up to 5,000 years, including migrations through Southern China and/or Southeast Asia. There have been continuous migrations southward from China into Thailand for approximately the past thousand years and the present geographic range of any given tribe straddles multiple political borders. As none of these populations have autochthonous scripts, written histories have until recently, been externally produced. Northern Asian, Tibetan, and Siberian origins of Hill Tribes have been proposed. All purport endogamy and have nonmutually intelligible languages. To test hypotheses regarding the geographic origins of these populations, relatedness and migrations among them and neighboring populations, and whether their genetic relationships correspond with their linguistic relationships, we analyzed 2,445 genome‐wide SNP markers in 118 individuals from five Thai Hill Tribe populations (Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, and Lisu), 90 individuals from majority Thai populations, and 826 individuals from Asian and Oceanean HGDP and HapMap populations using a Bayesian clustering method. Considering these results within the context of results ofrecent large‐scale studies of Asian geographic genetic variation allows us to infer a shared Southeast Asian origin of these five Hill Tribe populations as well ancestry components that distinguish among them seen in successive levels of clustering. In addition, the inferred level of shared ancestry among the Hill Tribes corresponds well to relationships among their languages. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Behavioral thermoregulation in a gregarious lemur, Eulemur collaris: Effects of climatic and dietary‐related factors
Authors: Donati Giuseppe , Ricci Eva , Baldi Nicoletta , Morelli Valentina , Borgognini‐Tarli Silvana M.
Published: October 2010

Primates deal with fluctuations of the thermal environment by both physiological and behavioral mechanisms of thermoregulation. In this article we focus on nonhibernating lemurs, which are hypometabolic and have to cope with a seasonal environment. Behavioral thermoregulation has received little attention compared with specific physiological adaptations to seasonality, i.e., hibernation and torpor, which characterize a number of lemurs. We investigated the role of seasonality and dietary‐related factors in determining frequencies of resting, social and postural thermoregulation, and microhabitat selection in collared lemurs, Eulemur collaris. We observed two groups of collared lemurs over a 14‐month period in the littoral forest of Sainte Luce, Southern Madagascar. Frequencies of total resting and time spent in huddling, prone, and curled postures were collected via 5‐min instantaneous sampling. Microhabitat selection was evaluated as the proportion of time spent in the upper canopy as compared with other layers. Climatic variables were recorded by automatic data loggers, while dietary variables were derived from phenological data and nutritional analyses of the ingested food items. We weighted the combined effects of climatic and dietary variables on the different types of behavioral thermoregulation by means of canonical correlation analysis. The model with the strongest canonical correlation included a first root representing mainly feeding time, day length, and ambient temperature and a second root representing diet quality and height of feeding trees. The output indicated that collared lemurs adapt to thermal and dietary‐related metabolic stress by adjusting resting time, social, and postural thermoregulation. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
U‐Shaped Conformation of Alkyl Chains Bound to a Synthetic Receptor Cucurbit[8]uril
Authors: Ko Young Ho , Kim Youngkook , Kim Hyunuk , Kim Kimoon
Published: October 2010

The behavior of a series of alkanes bound to the molecular host cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) has been systematically studied by 2D 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). CB[8] and alkyltrimethylammonium (CmTA+, (CH3)3N+CmH2m+1, m=6–16) form 1:1 host–guest complexes with a high binding constant (K≈106 m−1). The shortest hexyl chain of C6TA+ can be fully encapsulated in an extended conformation inside the CB[8] cavity, which is driven by both enthalpy and entropy. However, for the longer aliphatic chains, C8–C16, the long alkyl tails take a U‐shaped conformation inside the cavity, and their complexation is dominantly or almost exclusively enthalpy‐driven, owing to the increased van der Waals contact between the folded aliphatic chain and the inner wall of the host cavity. As the chain length increases from C8 to C16, the ammonium head group of the guests moves away from the portal of CB[8] while the long aliphatic tails maintain the U‐shaped conformation inside the cavity. The complexation of CmTA+ with CB[8] follows the enthalpy–entropy compensation rule commonly observed in molecular recognition systems. For example, among the guest molecules, C12TA+ shows the highest enthalpic gain (most favorable), owing to the large van der Waals contact between the guest and the host cavity, and at the same time the most unfavorable entropic contribution, owing to the severe conformational restriction of the U‐shaped alkyl chain inside the host. The enthalpy–entropy compensation plot for the complexation suggests large conformational changes of the long alkyl chains and extensive dehydration associated with the inclusion complex formation.
HIV protease inhibitors: garlic supplements and first‐pass intestinal metabolism impact on the therapeutic efficacy
Authors: Berginc Katja , Trdan Tina , Trontelj Jurij , Kristl Albin
Published: October 2010

Background/Aims. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of first‐pass intestinal metabolism to therapeutic efficacy of antiretrovirals and to ascertain interaction mechanisms between garlic supplements (aged garlic extract) and HIV‐protease inhibitors.

Methods. In vitro permeability through rat jejunum, Caco‐2 cell monolayers was determined and CYP3A4 metabolism studies were performed.

Results. Saquinavir and darunavir efflux from enterocytes into gastrointestinal lumen significantly increased in the presence of aged garlic extract, whereas their CYP3A4 metabolism was inhibited. In the case of saquinavir a significant increase of its efflux was observed also in the presence of lower ritonavir doses. Because both drugs bound to different binding sites on P‐glycoprotein and/or multidrug resistance associated protein 2 than garlic phytochemicals or ritonavir, lower amounts of antiretrovirals were absorbed.

Conclusions. The fractions of tested anti‐HIV drugs absorbed could decrease significantly during self‐medication with garlic supplements or ritonavir dose adjustments. Due to distinct saquinavir and darunavir preferences for binding sites on efflux transporters, the presence of other compounds (garlic phytochemicals, ritonavir), capable of influencing intestinal transporter–enzyme interplay, might lead to pharmacokinetic interactions observed in clinical studies and case reports with anti‐HIV drugs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The phage‐host arms race: Shaping the evolution of microbes
Authors: Stern Adi , Sorek Rotem
Published: October 2010

Bacteria, the most abundant organisms on the planet, are outnumbered by a factor of 10 to 1 by phages that infect them. Faced with the rapid evolution and turnover of phage particles, bacteria have evolved various mechanisms to evade phage infection and killing, leading to an evolutionary arms race. The extensive co‐evolution of both phage and host has resulted in considerable diversity on the part of both bacterial and phage defensive and offensive strategies. Here, we discuss the unique and common features of phage resistance mechanisms and their role in global biodiversity. The commonalities between defense mechanisms suggest avenues for the discovery of novel forms of these mechanisms based on their evolutionary traits.
Removal of Organic Pollutants from Wastewater Using Wood Fly Ash as a Low‐Cost Sorbent
Authors: Laohaprapanon Sawanya , Marques Marcia , Hogland William
Published: October 2010

In this study, untreated and treated wood fly ash (WA) was used as a low‐cost sorbent in batch sorption tests to investigate the removal of organic pollutants from a real wastewater generated by cleaning/washing of machinery in a wood‐laminate floor industry in Sweden. The experiments focused on the effect of the WA dosage and particle size on the removal efficiency for organic compounds. With a WA dosage of 160 g L−1 and a particle size less than 1 mm, the reductions of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biologic oxygen demand, and total organic carbon were 37 ± 0.4, 24 ± 0.4, and 30 ± 0.3%, respectively. Pre‐treatment of WA with hot water improved the COD removal efficiency by absorption from 37 ± 0.4 to 42 ± 1.6% when the same dosage (160 g L−1) was applied. Sorption isotherm and sorption kinetics for COD using untreated WA can be explained by Freundlich isotherm and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models. Intra‐particle diffusion model indicates that pore diffusion is not the rate‐limiting step for COD removal. Based on the experimental data, WA could be used as an alternative low‐cost sorption media/filter for removal of organic compounds from real industrial wastewater.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of the First Podophyllotoxin Analogues as Potential Vascular‐Disrupting Agents
Authors: Labruère Raphaël , Gautier Benoît , Testud Marlène , Seguin Johanne , Lenoir Christine , Desbène‐Finck Stéphanie , Helissey Philippe , Garbay Christiane , Chabot Guy G. , Vidal Michel , Giorgi‐Renault Sylviane
Published: October 2010

We designed and synthesized two novel series of azapodophyllotoxin analogues as potential antivascular agents. A linker was inserted between the trimethoxyphenyl ring E and the tetracyclic ABCD moiety of the 4‐aza‐1,2‐didehydropodophyllotoxins. In the first series, the linker enables free rotation between the two moieties; in the second series, conformational restriction of the E nucleus was considered. We have identified several new compounds with inhibitory activity toward tubulin polymerization similar to that of CA‐4 and colchicine, while displaying low cytotoxic activity against normal and/or cancer cells. An aminologue and a methylenic analogue were shown to disrupt endothelial cell cords on Matrigel at subtoxic concentrations, and an original assay of drug washout allowed us to demonstrate the rapid reversibility of this effect. These two new analogues are promising leads for the development of vascular‐disrupting agents in the podophyllotoxin series.
Development of Specific “Drug‐Like Property” Rules for Carboxylate‐Containing Oral Drug Candidates
Authors: Böcker Alexander , Bonneau Pierre R. , Hucke Oliver , Jakalian Araz , Edwards Paul J.
Published: October 2010

The carboxylate moiety is an important pharmacophore in the medicinal chemist's arsenal and is sometimes an irreplaceable functionality in drug–target interactions. Thus, practical guidance on its use in the most optimized manner would be a welcome addition to rational drug design. Key physicochemical and ADMET‐PK properties from a dataset of drugs containing a carboxylate (COOH) moiety were assembled and compared with those of a broader, general drug dataset. Our main objective was to identify features specific to COOH‐containing oral drugs that could be converted into simple rules delineating the boundaries within which prospective COOH‐containing chemical series and COOH‐containing drug candidates would be reasonably expected to possess properties suitable for oral administration. These specific “drug‐like” property rules include molecular weight, the number of rotatable bonds, the number of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, predictions of lipophilic character (calculated log P and log D values), topological polar surface area (TPSA), and the pKa value of the carboxylate moiety. Similar to the various sets of criteria that have emerged over the past decade and which have significantly reshaped the way medicinal chemists think about preferred drug chemical space, we propose these specific COOH “drug‐like” property rules as a guide for the design of superior COOH‐containing drug candidates and as a tool to better manage the liabilities generally associated with the presence of a COOH moiety.
Second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myelogenous leukemia
Authors: Tefferi Ayalew
Published: October 2010

Imatinib should continue to be the front‐line therapy for patients who have newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia accompanied by close monitoring. Patients should switch to a second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor at the earliest sign of resistance or suboptimal response to imatinib.
Paramagnetic Relaxation Enhancements in Acetate and Its Fluorine Derivatives Interacting with Gd3+: Complex Formation, Structure, and Transmetallation
Authors: Bonnet Célia S. , Fries Pascal H.
Published: October 2010

The relative spatial distribution and motion with respect to Gd3+ of the 1H and 19F nuclei in the acetate ion and its fluorine derivatives are studied in D2O solutions through the paramagnetic relaxation rate enhancements (PREs) of these nuclei. We derive general theoretical expressions of the longitudinal PRE in terms of the analytical concentrations of metal and ligands, formation constants of the complexes, metal–nucleus distances, and coordination lifetimes of the ligands. The observed formation constants of the 1 metal: 1 ligand complexes markedly decrease with increasing number of fluorine atoms, the electronegativity of which reduces the negative partial charge of the coordinating COO− group. The coordination lifetimes are very short at the scale of the relaxation times of the protons of metal bound acetate, that is, shorter than about 10 μs. The average distance of the acetate protons from Gd3+ is in fair agreement with independent crystallographic determination. The release of free Gd3+ from the very stable Gddtpa (dtpa=diethylene‐triaminepentaacetate) complex caused by the competition of Zn2+ for dtpa, is evidenced by an increase of the PREs with Zn2+ concentration. The observed PRE increase is consistent with the known equilibrium constants governing the speciation involving Gd3+, Zn2+, and dtpa. The present case study illustrates a method which easily yields experimental tunable properties suitable to test the ongoing theories of lanthanide Ln3+ complexation in solution.
Platelet‐Blood Vessel Interactions
Authors: Ross Russell , Schwartz Stephen M.
Published: October 2010

The sections in this article are:

Morphological Models of Capillary Endothelium

Transport Across Endothelium

Cell Turnover

Endothelial Cell Culture

Endothelial Function

Endothelial Injury

Platelets

Morphology and Content

Platelet Function

Platelet‐Derived Growth Factor

Endothelium‐Smooth Muscle Interactions

Platelet‐Endothelial Cell Interactions
Interactions Between Respiration and Circulation
Authors: De Burgh Daly M.
Published: October 2010

The sections in this article are:

Spontaneous Respiratory Variations in the Cardiovascular System

Arterial Blood Pressure

Heart Rate

Cardiac Output

Systemic Vascular Resistance

Pulmonary Hemodynamics

Central Nervous Control of Respiration and the Cardiovascular System

Receptors and Afferent Pathways

Cell Bodies and Efferent Pathways

Central Control of Sympathetic Efferent Activity

Descending Pathways to Spinal Sympathetic Outflow

Central and Local Peripheral Circulatory Control by Blood Gases

Central Effects

Peripheral Effects

Some Reflex Neural Control Mechanisms

Arterial Baroreceptors

Peripheral Arterial Chemoreceptors

Upper Airway Receptors

Facial Receptors

Cardiopulmonary Receptors

Overall Involvement of Cardiopulmonary Receptors

Reflex Cardiovascular Effects of Lung Inflation

Cardiac Responses

Changes in Systemic Vascular Resistance

Coronary Circulation

Nature of Pulmonary Receptors

Mechanisms of Respiratory Modulation

Pulmonary Vagal Reflex

Central Respiratory Neuronal Activity

Hypocapnia

Phasic Respiratory Modulation of Reflex Responses

Respiration

Heart Rate

Respiratory Modulation of Specific Inputs to Nervous System

Modulation by Hyperventilation

Modulation by Reflex Hypoventilation and Apnea

Interactions Between Carotid Baroreceptors and Chemoreceptors

Respiratory Modulation of Vagal and Sympathetic Efferent Fiber Activity

Activity in Cardiac Vagal Efferent Fibers

Activity in Sympathetic Efferent Nerves

Mechanisms of Central Integration

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

Mechanisms

Some Examples of Respiratory‐Circulatory Integrative Control

Effects of Deep Breath

Valsalva Maneuver

Acute Hypoxia

Hypocapnia

Hypercapnia

Asphyxia and Breath Holding

Breath‐Hold Diving

Effects of Changes in the Cardiovascular System on Respiration

Respiration, Metabolism, and Cardiac Output

Hemorrhagic Hypotension

Medical Implications of Respiratory‐Cardiovascular Interactions

Diving Response

Protective Effects of Defense Mechanisms

Exaggerated Defense Responses

Restoration of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Cytomorphology of intraparenchymal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in frontal lobe: Report of a case
Authors: Vij Mukul , Krishnani Narendra , Agrawal Vinita , Jaiswal Sushila , Kumari Niraj , Jaiswal Awadesh Kumar , Behari Sanjay
Published: October 2010

lntracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcomas (MC) and especially those that originate in brain parenchyma, are rare. A diagnosis of MC can be challenging to make on squash cytology. We describe cytomoprhology of solid cystic extraskeletal intraparenchymal MC in a 22‐year‐old male. The tumor was located in left frontal lobe. Cytology results demonstrated oval‐to‐spindled cells with high nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratios. Cells showed perivascular arrangement. Small foci of basophilic extracellular matrix with scattered malignant chondroid component were also seen. Histologic examination of lesion demonstrated biphasic tumor, with prominent small cell population and focal atypical cartilage. Whole body survey of the patient was performed and no other extracrainal lesion was identified in the patient. The patient developed recurrence within 2 months. To the best of authors' knowledge this is the first case report describing cytomorphology of intraparenchymal MC. We discuss the differential diagnosis in light of relevant literature. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Cre‐reporter transgenic mouse expressing the far‐red fluorescent protein Katushka
Authors: Diéguez‐Hurtado Rodrigo , Martín Javier , Martínez‐Corral Inés , Martínez María Dolores , Megías Diego , Olmeda David , Ortega Sagrario
Published: October 2010

Cre/loxP‐dependent expression of fluorescent proteins represents a powerful biological tool for cell lineage, fate‐mapping, and genetic analysis. Live tissue imaging has significantly improved with the development of far‐red fluorescent proteins, with optimized spectral characteristics for in vivo applications. Here, we report the generation of the first transgenic mouse line expressing the far‐red fluorescent protein Katushka, driven by the hybrid CAG promoter upon Cre‐mediated recombination. After germ line or tissue‐specific Cre‐driven reporter activation, Katushka expression is strong and ubiquitous, without toxic effects, allowing fluorescence detection in fresh and fixed samples from all tissues examined. Moreover, fluorescence can be detected by in vivo noninvasive whole‐body imaging when Katuhska is expressed exclusively in a specific cell population deep within the animal body such as pancreatic beta cells. Thus, this reporter model enables early, widespread, and sensitive in vivo detection of Cre activity and should provide a versatile tool for a wide spectrum of fluorescence and live‐imaging applications. genesis, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Health‐service use in women with binge eating disorders
Authors: Dickerson John F. , DeBar Lynn , Perrin Nancy A. , Lynch Frances , Wilson G.Terence , Rosselli Francine , Kraemer Helena C. , Striegel‐Moore Ruth H.
Published: October 2010

Objective:

To compare health‐care utilization between participants who met DSM‐IV criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) and those engaged in recurrent binge eating (RBE) and to evaluate whether objective binge eating (OBE) days, a key measurement for diagnosing BED, predicted health‐care costs.

Method:

We obtained utilization and cost data from electronic medical records to augment patient reported data for 100 adult female members of a large health maintenance organization who were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial to treat binge eating.

Results:

Total costs did not differ between the BED and RBE groups (β = −0.117, z = −0.48, p = .629), nor did the number of OBE days predict total costs (β = −0.017, z = −1.01, p = .313).

Discussion:

Findings suggest that the medical impairment, as assessed through health care costs, caused by BED may not be greater than impairment caused by RBE. The current threshold number of two OBE days/week as a criterion for BED may need to be reconsidered. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011
Changes of orexin A plasma levels in girls with anorexia nervosa during eight weeks of realimentation
Authors: Bronsky Jiri , Nedvidkova Jara , Krasnicanova Hana , Vesela Marie , Schmidtova Jana , Koutek Jiri , Kellermayer Richard , Chada Martin , Kabelka Zdenek , Hrdlicka Michal , Nevoral Jiri , Prusa Richard
Published: October 2010

Objective:

Orexin A (OXA) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide involved in regulation of food intake and nutritional status. There are multiple disturbances of neuropeptide signaling described in girls with anorexia nervosa (AN), but OXA levels have not been addressed in this population to date. Therefore, we analyzed OXA levels of AN girls in this study.

Method:

OXA (radioimmunoassay/RIA/method), leptin, insulinlike growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), and insulinlike growth factor‐1 binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3) levels were measured before and after 8 weeks of realimentation in 36 girls with AN and in 14 healthy controls (control group: CG).

Results:

Average weight increased significantly in AN during the study (p< .0001), while plasma levels of OXA decreased (before realimentation: 56.2 ± 2.4 pg/ml; after realimentation: 47.5 ± 1.4 pg/ml;p= .0025). OXA levels before realimentation differed from levels in the CG (47.15 ± 2.6 pg/ml,p= .034), but not afterward. We did not find any correlation between OXA and age, height, weight, BMI; or IGF‐1, IGFBP‐3, and leptin levels.

Discussion:

OXA levels in untreated AN patients differ significantly from healthy subjects and decrease during realimentation. These findings indicate that OXA may be involved in the nutritional regulation of malnourished children and adolescents. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011
Evaluation of contribution for voltage control ancillary services based on social surplus
Authors: Ueki Yuji , Hara Ryoichi , Kita Hiroyuki , Hasegawa Jun
Published: October 2010

Reactive power supply plays an important role in active power supply with adequate system voltages. Various pricing mechanisms for reactive power supply have been developed and some of them have been adopted in some power systems, but they are in a trial stage. The authors also focus on development of a pricing method for reactive power ancillary services. This problem involves two technical issues: rational estimation of the cost associated with reactive power supply, and fair and transparent allocation of the estimated cost among the market participants. This paper proposes methods for evaluating the contribution of generators and demands. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 174(2): 36–45, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21016
Kinetic Studies on the Reactions of Different Bifunctional Platinum(II) Complexes with Selected Nucleophiles
Authors: Bogojeski Jovana , Bugarčić Živadin D. , Puchta Ralph , van Eldik Rudi
Published: October 2010

Substitution reactions of the complexes cis‐[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], [Pt(SMC)Cl2]–, [Pt(en)Cl2], and [Pt(dach)Cl2], where SMC = S‐methyl‐L‐cysteine, en = ethylenediamine and dach = 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane, with selected biologically important ligands, viz. guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate (5′‐GMP), L‐histidine and 1,2,4‐triazole, were studied. All reactions were studied in aqueous 25 mM Hepes buffer in the presence of 5 mM NaCl at pH = 7.2 under pseudo‐first‐order conditions as a function of concentration at 310 K by using UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Two consecutive reaction steps, which both depend on the nucleophile concentration, were observed in all cases. The second‐order rate constants for both reaction steps indicate a decrease in the order [Pt(SMC)Cl2]– > cis‐[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] > [Pt(en)Cl2] > [Pt(dach)Cl2]. DFT calculations (B3LYP/LANL2DZp) showed that the Pt–N7(Guo) adduct is more stable than the Pt–S(thioether) adduct for the studied complexes cis‐[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], [Pt(SMC)Cl2]–, and [Pt(en)Cl2]. The calculations collectively support the experimentally observed substitution of thioethers bound to PtII complexes by N7(5′‐GMP). Finally, this result could be the first to clearly show how much the Pt–N7(Gua) adduct is more stable than the Pt–S(thioether).
Bulky Picolyl Substituted NHC Ligands and Their Pd0 Complexes
Authors: Warsink Stefan , van Aubel Carien M. S. , Weigand Jan J. , Liu Shiuh‐Tzung , Elsevier Cornelis J.
Published: October 2010

Heterobidentate N‐heterocyclic carbene‐picolyl ligands with various substitution patterns and their palladium(0) complexes have been synthesized in excellent yields via their corresponding silver(I) complexes. These complexes are among the first examples where substitution next to the coordinating nitrogen is evaluated systematically. The complexes have been studied by NMR and X‐ray diffraction, confirming their bidentate nature. The complexes are active precatalysts in the transfer semihydrogenation of alkynes to Z‐alkenes, with activity and selectivity depending on the picolyl substituent to a high degree. Selectivities as high as 92 % were observed.
Multivariate fatty acid and fatty alcohol profile of mullet bottarga
Authors: Scano Paola , Rosa Antonella , Mereu Simone , Piras Cristina , Atzeri Angela , Dessi M. Assunta
Published: October 2010

Mullet bottarga is a food delicacy obtained by salting and drying the intact roes of mullet (Mugil spp.). The fatty acid and fatty alcohol compositions of different samples of bottarga were studied by means of gas chromatography (GC) and multivariate analysis (MVA). High percentages of beneficial n‐3 PUFA, among which docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n‐3, 11.9%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (20:5n‐3, 8.6%), were detected. Differences in the concentrations of unsaturated FA and FAL were observed among samples, while saturated components showed little variations. On the other hand, the total contents of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated components were similar. The principal component analysis loadings bi‐plot showed that n‐6 PUFA concentrations were inversely correlated to those of n‐3 PUFA, except for DHA that showed no correlations. Correlations between FAL concentrations were also observed. Furthermore, integrating our GC data with those from the literature on mullet and tuna bottarga, the MVA showed that both bottarga typologies exhibit a similar trend in the FA distribution and that 16:0 and 16:1n‐7 FA are the variables with the highest discriminant power. In this work, we demonstrated the usefulness of the application of MVA to GC data to extract meaningful information otherwise hidden in the amount of data.
Quality characteristics of olive leaf‐olive oil preparations
Authors: Nenadis Nikolaos , Moutafidou Avgi , Gerasopoulos Dimitrios , Tsimidou Maria Z.
Published: October 2010

Olive leaf‐olive oil preparations were obtained by vigorous mixing at various levels of addition (5, 10, 15%w/w) of new or mature leaves. After removal of the plant material via centrifugation, quality and sensory characteristics of the preparations were determined. Oxidative stability (120°C, 20 L/h) and DPPH radical scavenging were increased ∼2–7 fold depending on the level of leaves used due to enrichment with polar phenols, mainly oleuropein, anda‐tocopherol. The extraction process affected the chlorophyll content and organoleptic traits as indicated by acceptability and preference tests (n = 50). Forty‐four % of the panelists identified a strong pungency in preparations with 15% w/w new leaves. Fifty‐four % of them identified a bitter taste in those with 15% w/w mature leaves, which was attributed to high levels of oleuropein (∼200 mg/kg oil). Olive leaf‐olive oil preparations had interesting properties regarding antioxidants present that can attract the interest of a functional product market.

Practical applications:The wider use of olive oil and derived products is highly desirable. In this sense, the current study presents data that support introduction to the market of a new specialty olive oil based solely on olive tree products (olive oil and leaves). Thus, in addition to olive oil and olive paste, a new product, that is an olive oil enriched with olive leaf antioxidants, especially oleuropein produced via a “green” technique (mechanical means instead of extraction with organic solvent) can be made available for consumers.
Effects of polyglycerol esters of fatty acids and ethylene‐vinyl acetate co‐polymer on crystallization behavior of biodiesel
Authors: Hamada Hiroyuki , Kato Hiroyuki , Ito Naoto , Takase Yoshihiko , Nanbu Hironobu , Mishima Shoko , Sakaki Hiromu , Sato Kiyotaka
Published: October 2010

Biodiesel fuels (BDF) have many problems in the cold due to their crystallization properties. In particular, precipitation of large crystals of high‐melting fractions in BDF at low temperatures remarkably changes cold flow property of BDF and, thereby, it increases the values of cold filter plugging point. In this study, we evaluated polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (PGE) and ethylene‐vinyl acetate co‐polymer (EVA) as chemical additives to improve the cold flow property of palm oil‐based FAME (PFME). The results of solid fat content measurement indicate that the simultaneous addition of PGE and EVA showed synergistic effects on suppression of crystallization of PFME, however such effect was not observed when EVA was used alone. DSC thermograms indicated that the PGE additives not only decreased the crystallization temperature but also kinetically suppressed the crystal growth. Polarized light microscopy showed that the simultaneous addition of PGE and EVA led to the formation of considerably small and fine‐dispersed crystals of PFME. These results indicate that combined effects of PGE and EVA caused the formation of fine‐dispersed PFME crystals, which could improve the viscous properties of palm oil‐based BDF at relatively cold temperatures.
Antioxidant activity of sesame, rice bran and bene hull oils and their unsaponifiable matters
Authors: Farhoosh Reza , Tavassoli‐Kafrani Mohammad Hossein , Sharif Ali
Published: October 2010

Chemical composition of sesame (SEO), rice bran (RBO) and bene hull (BHO) oils was determined. During oven test, peroxide value on day 8 (PV8, meq/kg) and carbonyl value on day 6 (CV6, µmol/g) were considered as measures of resistance to the formation of primary and secondary oxidation products, respectively. The SEO and BHO showed statistically the same PV8 (381.4 and 359.8, respectively) and CV6 (25.2 and 25.8, respectively), and their stabilizing effect was significantly better than that of the RBO (455.5 and 32.7, respectively). The unsaponifiable matters (USM) fraction of the BHO (443.7 and 26.8, respectively) had an antioxidative effect higher than those of the SEO (478.0 and 38.6, respectively) and RBO (482.4 and 37.4, respectively). There was a good correlation (R2 = 0.972) between the PV8 and CV6 throughout oxidation period. On the basis of the oxidative stability index (OSI, h) of Rancimat test, the best carry‐through properties belonged to the SEO (6.92 h), followed by the RBO (6.12 h) and BHO (5.0 h), and also a similar order was observed for the USM fractions (5.89, 5.28 and 4.50 h, respectively). There was no correlation between the results of Rancimat and oven tests, showing that the powerful antioxidative agents under oven test conditions were lack of appropriate carry‐through properties. The highest significant reducing power (mmol/L) belonged to the SEO (258.1), followed by the RBO (218.7) and BHO (152.4), whereas the USM fraction of the SEO indicated the least significant quantity among the USM fractions (89.3 vs. 216.6 and 158.0 for the RBO and BHO, respectively).
A Cascade Annulation Based Convergent Approach to Racemic Tetrodotoxin
Authors: Cagide‐Fagín Fernando , Alonso Ricardo
Published: October 2010

The synthetic power of the recently developed cascade annulations of β‐(hetero)aryl‐α‐nitro‐α,β‐enals with the pyrrolidine‐derived enamine of 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐5‐one is demonstrated by the first convergent route to (±)‐tetrodotoxin.
Hospital competition and inpatient services efficiency in Taiwan: a longitudinal study
Authors: Chu Chiao‐Lee , Chiang Tung‐liang , Chang Ray‐E
Published: October 2010

There is no consistent evidence of the relationship between market competition and hospital efficiency. Some studies indicated that more competition led to a faster patient turnover rate, higher hospital costs, and lower hospital efficiency. Since the 1980s some studies found market competition could increase the efficiency of inpatient services. However, there were few studies testing the market competition during a hospital's earlier stages on its efficiency during later stages, or the dynamic of efficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of early‐stage market competition on later‐stage hospital efficiency in Taiwan, and we determine the efficiency change using longitudinal study design. The data for the analysis came from the annual national hospital survey of 1996 and 2001 provided by the Department of Health. There were 102 teaching hospital be analysed. The results show that no evidence supports the proposition that higher market competition would improve the efficiency of hospitals in delivering inpatient services in Taiwan. Importantly, neither was the inefficiency score nor the Malmquist productivity index of inpatient services associated with the level of hospital market competition, regardless of the adjustment for hospital characteristics. However, the results may be related with the hospital increasing beds investment behavior. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glucose and caffeine effects on sustained attention: an exploratory fMRI study.
Authors: Serra‐Grabulosa Josep M , Adan Ana , Falcón Carles , Bargalló Núria
Published: October 2010

Objective

Caffeine and glucose can have beneficial effects on cognitive performance. However, neural basis of these effects remain unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of caffeine and glucose on sustained attention, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods

Forty young right‐handed, healthy, low caffeine‐consuming subjects participated in the study. In a double‐blind, randomised design, subjects received one of the following beverages: vehicle (water, 150 ml); vehicle plus 75 g of glucose; vehicle plus 75 mg of caffeine; vehicle plus 75 g of glucose and 75 mg of caffeine. Participants underwent two scanning fMRI sessions (before and 30 min after of the administration of the beverage). A continuous performance test was used to assess sustained attention.

Results

Participants who received combined caffeine and glucose had similar performance to the others but had a decrease in activation in the bilateral parietal and left prefrontal cortex.

Conclusions

Since these areas have been related to the sustained attention and working memory processes, results would suggest that combined caffeine and glucose could increase the efficiency of the attentional system. However, more studies using larger samples and different levels of caffeine and glucose are necessary to better understand the combined effects of both substances. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent Advances in Boron Nitride Nanotubes and Nanosheets
Authors: Golberg Dmitri , Bando Yoshio , Huang Yang , Xu Zhi , Wei Xianlong , Bourgeois Laure , Wang Ming‐Sheng , Zeng Haibo , Lin Jing , Zhi Chunyi
Published: October 2010

Herein the recent experiments performed by the authors on fabricated multi‐walled BN nanotubes and monoatomic BN graphene‐like nanosheets are reviewed. The results are presented in several sections, namely: (i) method for high‐yield synthesis of thin, defect‐free BN nanotubes of only a few‐layers, with external diameters below 10 nm; (ii) verification of BN nanotube piezoelectrical behavior and its electrically‐induced thermal decomposition under combined resistive heating and electrical charging in a transmission electron microscope; (iii) the first direct measurements of the true tensile strength and Young’s modulus of BN nanotubes, using newly developed nanotensile tests inside an electron microscope; the measured values were found to be ∼30 GPa and ∼900 GPa, respectively; and (iv) diverse kinetic processes taking place within the prepared monoatomic BN sheets (so‐called “white graphenes”) affiliated with intensive knock‐on B and N atom displacements under high energy electron beam irradiation in an aberration‐corrected medium‐voltage high‐resolution transmission electron microscope.
In vivo performance of titanium implants functionalized with eicosapentaenoic acid and UV irradiation
Authors: Petzold Christiane , Rubert Marina , Lyngstadaas S. Petter , Ellingsen Jan Eirik , Monjo Marta
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to design implant surfaces that attach less to bone but at the same time improve osseous healing for use as temporary bone fracture plates. The strategy was to combine the nonadhesive properties of smooth titanium (Ti) surfaces with the differentiative and anti‐inflammatory properties of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Machined Ti implant surfaces coated with a layer of EPA, with or without UV irradiation, were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their in vivo performance was evaluated in New Zealand White rabbits. The performance of the functionalised implants was analyzed after 10 weeks of healing by mechanical pull‐out testing, molecular biology, and histological and microcomputed tomography analysis. The results indicate that surface functionalization with UV light can reduce bone attachment and volumetric bone mineral density in the peri‐implant bone tissue. The presence of EPA on the surfaces enhanced this effect further. Gene expression of bone formation markers showed a trend toward higher mRNA levels in all EPA treated groups. The histological analyses demonstrated lower inflammation in the UV‐irradiated group and immature bone formation in all the groups. In conclusion, surface functionalization of Ti implants with UV light and EPA could be a biocompatible coating for reduced bone bonding ability of Ti while promoting bone formation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2010.
Survival of porcine mesenchymal stem cells over the alginate recovered cellular method
Authors: Cohen Jonah , Zaleski Katherine L. , Nourissat Geoffroy , Julien Terrill P. , Randolph Mark A. , Yaremchuk Michael J.
Published: October 2010

Although previous studies have established alginate as a three‐dimensional scaffold for chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), little is known about the cytotoxic effects of the polymerizing and chelating reagents used in the alginate recovered cellular method. Swine MSCs (sMSC) were suspended in the polymerizing agent, CaCl2, and viability was assessed using a trypan blue exclusion assay at intervals over 2 h. MSCs were also suspended in two different chelating agents, 55 mM sodium citrate and 50 mM EDTA, and viability was calculated. Finally, sMSCs and human MSCs were encapsulated and cultured in vitro. The sMSC were collected at day 4 and the cells were recovered by chelation. Encapsulated hMSCs were cultured with TGFβ3 and IGF‐1 and assayed by qRT‐PCR for collagen types I and II and sox9 with encapsulated human dermal fibroblasts and chondrocytes as controls recovered on days 0, 7, and 14. Only 53% of sMSCs were viable after 10 min in CaCl2, the standard polymerization period, whereas 94% of encapsulated sMSCs in polymerized alginate were alive at 15 days. After 20 min in chelating agents, sodium citrate and EDTA, only 46% and 17% of the cells, were viable, respectively. The alginate recovered sMSCs yielded 12% survival. Human MSCs upregulated cartilage‐specific collagen type II over the 14‐day culture. Collagen I remained unchanged in the hMSCs. Alginate is a suitable agent for chondrodifferentiation of MSCs and can be dissolved by chelation, but the agents involved in hydrogel polymerization and cell recovery should be altered to improve MSC survival. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2010.
Lentiviral vector‐mediated knockdown of the neuroglycan 2 proteoglycan or expression of neurotrophin‐3 promotes neurite outgrowth in a cell culture model of the glial scar
Authors: Donnelly Eleanor M. , Strappe Padraig M. , McGinley Lisa M. , Madigan Nicolas N. , Geurts Elizabeth , Rooney Gemma E. , Windebank Anthony J. , Fraher John , Dockery Peter , O'Brien Timothy , McMahon Siobhan S
Published: October 2010

Background

Following spinal cord injury, a highly inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration develops. One of the main sources of this inhibition is the glial scar that is formed after injury by reactive astrocytes. The inhibitory environment is mainly a result of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Neuroglycan 2 (NG2), one of the main inhibitory CSPGs, is up‐regulated following spinal cord injury.

Methods

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed to target NG2 and this short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was cloned into a lentiviral vector (LV). The neurotrophic factor neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3) promotes the growth and survival of developing neurites and has also been shown to aid regeneration. NT‐3 was also cloned into a LV. In vitro assessment of these vectors using a coculture system of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurones and Neu7 astrocytes was carried out. The Neu7 cell line is a rat astrocyte cell line that overexpresses NG2, thereby mimicking the inhibitory environment following spinal cord injury.

Results and Discussion

These experiments show that both the knockdown of NG2 via shRNA and over‐expression of NT‐3 can significantly increase neurite growth, although a combination of both vectors did not confer any additional benefit over the vectors used individually. These LVs show promising potential for growth and survival of neurites in injured central nervous system tissue (CNS). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A customizable plan for effective claims management
Authors: Irving Anne , Prager Adrienne , Standley Carolyn
Published: October 2010

Claims administration is central to healthcare risk management. This article examines several key aspects of claims management and provides useful information for both new and experienced claims professionals. It offers tools and examples for inexperienced risk managers to master effective claims management practices and outlines suggestions that seasoned risk managers can use to update or validate their own processes. These claims management practices serve to protect the organization's assets and can be customized to meet each organization's needs.
Measuring and managing the economic impact of disruptive behaviors in the hospital
Authors: Rosenstein Alan H.
Published: October 2010

Disruptive behaviors have been shown to have a significant negative impact on staff relationships, team collaboration, communication flow, and patient outcomes of care. They can be a major factor in contributing to the occurrence of adverse events that compromise quality care and patient safety and can put the patient and organization at increased risk. Whereas organizations generally are not reticent to make system enhancements designed to improve patient safety, they are more reluctant to address human factor issues such as disruptive behaviors for a variety of reasons. This article presents a 10‐step process for addressing both the economic and quality impact of disruptive behaviors in an attempt to stimulate a call to action.
Mandatory pre‐suit mediation: Local malpractice reform benefiting patients and healthcare providers
Authors: Jenkins Randall C. , Warren Lindsay A. , Gravenstein Nikolaus
Published: October 2010

The Florida Patient Safety and Pre‐Suit Mediation Program (FLPSMP) was implemented as a pilot program to provide patients of healthcare providers and facilities associated with the University of Florida Health Science Center with timely and fair compensation when injured and to combat rising healthcare legal liability expenses. Prior to filing a formal lawsuit, participants of the FLPSMP join in a confidential and nonbinding pre‐suit mediation conducted by a neutral third‐party mediator. The process fosters confidential and candid communication between doctors and patients, saving thousands of dollars in legal expenses for both patients and providers.
Knockout of ADAMTS5 does not eliminate cartilage aggrecanase activity but abrogates joint fibrosis and promotes cartilage aggrecan deposition in murine osteoarthritis models
Authors: Li Jun , Anemaet Wendy , Diaz Michael A. , Buchanan Samuel , Tortorella Micky , Malfait Anne Marie , Mikecz Katalin , Sandy John D. , Plaas Anna
Published: October 2010

To investigate the role of ADAMTS5 in murine osteoarthritis (OA), resulting from destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM model) or from TGFb1 injection and enforced uphill treadmill running (TTR model). Wild‐type (WT) and ADAMTS5−/− mice were subjected to either DMM or TTR and joints were evaluated for meniscal damage, cartilage changes, and fibrotic ingrowths from the joint margins. Cartilage lesions were quantified on an 8‐point scoring system. Cartilage chondroitin sulfate (CS) content was evaluated by SafraninO staining and by quantitative electrophoresis (FACE). The abundance of aggrecan, versican, and specific aggrecanase‐generated products was determined by Western analysis. Joint changes were similar for WT mice taken through either the DMM or the TTR model. ADAMTS5 ablation essentially eliminated cartilage erosion and fibrous overgrowth in both models. In the TTR model, ADAMTS5 ablation did not eliminate aggrecanase activity from the articular cartilage but blocked fibrosis and resulted in the accumulation of aggrecan in the articular cartilage. The cartilage protection provided by ADAMTS5 ablation in the mouse does not result from prevention of aggrecanase activity per se, but it appears to be due to a blockade of joint tissue fibrosis and a concomitant increase in cartilage aggrecan content. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:516–522, 2011