bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tigroid background in fine‐needle aspiration cytology of clear cell sarcoma
Authors: Rau Aarathi R. , Kini Hema , Verghese Rebecca
Published: April 2006

Clear‐Cell Sarcoma (CCS) is a rare malignant soft tissue tumor of young adults that often metastasizes to the lymph nodes. The fine needle aspirate cytology (FNAC) findings of CCS have been described previously and it is included in the cytological category of polygonal soft tissue tumors. We describe the cytology of a case of CCS, with emphasis on the so called “tigroid background.” Though this tigroid background is a nonspecific feature and has been described in various other tumors, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been described in CCS. This feature may be useful in the recognition of CCS. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:355–357. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of thymic basaloid carcinoma: Case studies and review of the literature
Authors: Posligua Lorena , Ylagan Lourdes
Published: April 2006

We report the features in fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thymic basaloid carcinomas. This is a rare neoplasm, of which there are only three documented in our hospital files. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) report on basaloid carcinoma of the thymus. This is a tumor in which the FNA diagnosis is difficult and the differential diagnosis is broad. We describe the cytologic features encountered in the three cases, and immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings so as to raise awareness of this entity in the differential diagnosis of thymic neoplasms on FNABs.

The cases studied included three male patients, aged 73, 65, and 50, who presented with anterior mediastinal masses, with no primary tumor elsewhere. FNAB was performed on two cases, followed by thymectomy. One case, additionally, had metastasis to a cervical lymph node, and the other two were associated with thymic cysts. The diagnoses on all three cases were thymic basaloid carcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:358–366. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A pilot project on the potential contribution of palm‐mat geotextiles to soil conservation
Authors: Davies Kathleen , Fullen Michael A. , Booth Colin A.
Published: April 2006

Geotextiles constructed from Borassus aethiopum (black rhun palm) leaves are currently being investigated for their effectiveness in decreasing water erosion. The study aims to develop sustainable methods of soil conservation where the material meets selected criteria (readily available, simple and cost‐effective to manufacture, provides immediate erosion control and possibly increases soil fertility and organic matter content). Grid mats were manufactured in a cottage workshop in The Gambia, West Africa. They are currently under investigation at the Hilton Experimental Site in Shropshire, UK. Eight runoff plots (10 × 1 m on a 15° slope) are being used, with duplicate treatments: (i) bare soil; (ii) grassed; (iii) bare soil with 1 m palm‐mat buffer zones at the lower end of the plots; and (iv) completely covered with palm‐mats. Results from one year of field study (2002–03) indicate sediment yield is 36·8 per cent from replicated covered plots and 35·9 per cent from the replicated buffer zone plots, compared to the control bare plots. Sediment yield equated to 0·45 t ha−1 from bare soil, 0·09 t ha−1 from grassed plots and 0·17 t ha−1 from both the covered and buffer zone plots. The results suggest palm‐mat application as protective buffer strips is highly effective in temperate climates. Future work is intended to follow this pilot study and develop well‐researched guidelines for practical field applications in other global regions, namely Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Essential oil composition of Tanacetum sorbifolium (Boiss.) Grierson from Turkey
Authors: Özer Hakan , Kılıç Hamdullah , Güllüce Medine , Şahin Fikrettin
Published: April 2006

The oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Tanacetum sorbifolium (Boiss.) Grierson from Turkey was analysed by GC‐MS. Twenty‐nine components were characterized, representing 91.0% of the total components detected. The major constituents were identified as camphor (54.3%), pinocarvone (5.1%), chrysanthenone (4.7%), bornyl acetate (3.9%) and camphene (3.4%). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical composition of the essential oil of five Iranian Nepeta species (N. crispa, N. mahanensis, N. ispahanica, N. eremophila and N. rivularis)
Authors: Sefidkon F. , Jamzad Z. , Mirza M.
Published: April 2006

Essential oils from aerial parts of Nepeta crispa Willd., Nepeta mahanensis Jamzad & Simmonds, Nepeta ispahanica Boiss., Nepeta eremophila Hausskn. & Bornm. and Nepeta rivularis Bornm. were obtained by hydro‐distillation. The oils were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography, using flame ionization and mass spectrometric detection. Twenty‐eight components were identified in the oil of Nepeta crispa with 1,8‐cineole (62.8%), 4aα‐7α‐7aα‐nepetalactone (10.3%) and 4aβ‐7α‐7aβ‐nepetalactone (9.2%) as main constituents. Eighteen compounds were identified in the oil of Nepeta mahanensis with nepetalactone (37.6%), 1,8‐cineole (27.2%) and germacrene D (6.5%) as the main components. Twenty‐seven compounds were characterized in the oil of Nepeta ispahanica with 1,8‐cineole (71.7%) as the main constituent. Twenty‐six compounds were characterized in the oil of Nepeta eremophila with 4aβ‐7α‐7aβ‐nepetalactone (73.3%) and 1,8‐cineole (13.1%) as the main constituents. Twenty‐two components were identified in the oil of Nepeta rivularis with 1,8‐cineole (38.5%), sabinene (14.8%), β‐pinene (10.7%) and γ‐terpinene (5.1%) as the main constituents. The results showed that, although the nepetalactone isomers are the main components of the essential oils of N. mahanensis and N. eremophila, the oil of N. crispa consists of about 20% nepetalactone and the oils of other species have different compositions. 1,8‐Cineole was present in all oils at percentages of 13.1% (the lowest amount in N. eremophila) to 71.7% (the highest amount in N. ispahanica). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The essential oil composition of Eupatorium cannabinum L. from Iran
Authors: Morteza‐Semnani Katayoun , Akbarzadeh Mohammad , Moshiri Kamran
Published: April 2006

The composition of the essential oil obtained from the dried aerial parts of Eupatorium cannabinum L. (Compositae) was analyzed by GC and GC‐MS. Forty‐seven components were identified in this oil. The major constituents of the essential oil were α‐terpinene (17.8%), germacrene D (9.1%) and thymol methyl ether (5.2%). The essential oil of the aerial parts of E. cannabinum is rich in sesquiterpenoids. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical constituents of the essential oils of three wood‐rotting fungi
Authors: Ziegenbein Fernando Campos , Hanssen Hans‐Peter , König Wilfried A.
Published: April 2006

Volatiles from the wood‐rotting fungi Schizophyllum commune, Datronia mollis and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus were obtained by hydrodistillation and investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In total, 20 compounds could be identified for the first time as volatile constituents of fungi. Major components were 1‐hepten‐3‐one, 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 2‐pentyl furan. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamics of essential oil biosynthesis in relation to inflorescence and glandular ontogeny in Salvia sclarea
Authors: Lattoo Surrinder K. , Dhar Rekha Sapru , Dhar Autar K. , Sharma Parduman R. , Agarwal Shri G.
Published: April 2006

Changes in the essential oil concentration, composition and glandular morphology of Salvia sclarea L. were studied at different stages of inflorescence maturity. The chemical composition of oil was determined by GC–MS, NMR and the peak enrichment technique. The oil yield at bud stage on a fresh basis was minimum (0.08%), peaked at full bloom stage (0.18%) and was followed by sharp decline on maturation (0.07%). The main components of the oil were linalool (36.6–41.9%) and linalyl acetate (13.2–19.2%). The maximum percentage composition of various constituents was coincident with full bloom stage. β‐Humulene (6.4–8.9%), α‐cadinene (t–1.5%), β‐caryophyllene (t–1.4%), β‐caryophyllene oxide (0.4–1.4%) and sclareol (0.3–1.8%) present in the oil showed gradual increase in percentage over the different stages of maturity, with no significant turnover losses at maturation stage. Turnover of essential oil (61.1% loss) and monoterpenes (23.6% loss) occurred late in development at full maturity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to follow the changes in the oil secretory glands over different temporal phases of maturation. The decline in oil concentration and monoterpene constituents compared very well with the observed deterioration and lyses of secretory glandular system. An abrupt fall in oil concentration apparently appears due to differential evaporation of the more volatile constituents, rather than as a dynamic balance between biosynthetic and catabolic processes.
A unique device for controlled electrospinning
Authors: Mitchell S.B. , Sanders J.E.
Published: April 2006

The purpose of this research was to develop a system for controlled electrospinning of fibro‐porous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications and to use this system to assess mesh architecture sensitivity to manufacturing parameters. The intent was to achieve scaffolds with well‐controlled fiber diameters and inter‐fiber spacing. To accomplish these objectives, a custom, closed‐loop controlled, electrospinning system was built. The system was unique in that it had a collection surface that was independent of the electrodes. The system allowed independent manipulation and analysis of a number of manufacturing parameters: distance between the electrodes, distance from the nozzle to the collection surface, applied voltage, temperature of the melt, collection surface dielectric strength, and collection surface area. Morphological analysis of fabricated meshes showed that all test parameters significantly affected fiber diameter and inter‐fiber spacing. Further, contrary to what is generally accepted in the electrospinning literature, voltage and temperature (inversely related to viscosity) were not the most significant parameters. Features of the collection surface, including dielectric strength and surface area, were more significant. This dominance is, in part, a reflection of the unique electrospinning system used. The collection surface, which was not connected to either of the electrodes, substantially altered the electric field between the electrodes. Using the developed controlled electrospinning system, thermoplastic polyurethane meshes with fiber diameters ranging from 5 to 18 μm with variability less than 1.8% were made; inter‐fiber spacing ranged from 4 to 90 μm with variability less than 20.2%. The system has potential use in biomedical applications where meshes with controlled fiber diameter and inter‐fiber spacing are of interest. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
A novel ultra high molecular weight polyethylene–hyaluronan microcomposite for use in total joint replacements. I. Synthesis and physical/chemical characterization
Authors: Zhang Min , King Richard , Hanes Mark , James Susan P.
Published: April 2006

A novel microcomposite between ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and hyaluronan (HA) was developed to create a hydrophilic and lubricious UHMWPE surface for total joint replacement and other biomedical load‐bearing applications. Preforms with interconnected micropores were used as the UHMWPE starting material to form a microcomposite with HA, rather than starting with fully dense, bulk UHMWPE. HA was silylated first to increase its hydrophobicity and compatibility with UHMWPE. The silylated groups were removed through hydrolysis prior to final compression molding. A uniform and enzymatic degradation resistant HA film layer was produced on the microcomposite surface, which quickly hydrated in water, forming a lubricious surface film that was fully wetted by water drops during contact angle measurements. Presence of HA film on the composite surface was also demonstrated through X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and Toluidine Blue O dye assay. The mechanical and tribological properties evaluation of the novel microcomposites are presented in Part II. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Interactions of B16F10 melanoma cells aggregated on a cellulose substrate
Authors: Hindié M. , Vayssade M. , Dufresne M. , Quéant S. , Warocquier‐Clérout R. , Legeay G. , Vigneron P. , Olivier V. , Duval J.‐L. , Nagel M.‐D.
Published: April 2006

There is evidence that the shape of cells and their contact with a matrix direct the growth and the differentiation of both normal and cancer cells. Cells in 3D culture resemble the in vivo situation more closely than do those in conventional 2D cultures. We have studied the interactions and functions of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells, which spread and grow well on tissue culture polystyrene (tPS), when they were made to aggregate on cellulose‐coated Petri dishes (CEL). This aggregation of melanoma cells on CEL was Ca2+ dependent and mediated by N‐cadherins. The levels of N‐cadherin and β‐catenin transcripts in cells cultured on CEL and tPS were similar, but those on CEL contained less β‐catenin protein. Immunoprecipitation and immunostaining showed that both N‐cadherins and β‐catenins were present at the membranes of cells on CEL. Cells proliferated significantly more slowly after 48 h on CEL and the cellulose coating caused most of them to arrest in G1. We also compared the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity of cells on CEL and controls grown on tPS. Melanogenesis was induced in cells aggregated on CEL. A cellulose substrate thus appears to be an outstanding tool for studying cell–cell interactions and cell functions in 3D cultures. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The polarizable continuum model (PCM) interfaced with the fragment molecular orbital method (FMO)
Authors: Fedorov Dmitri G. , Kitaura Kazuo , Li Hui , Jensen Jan H. , Gordon Mark S.
Published: April 2006

The polarizable continuum model (PCM) for the description of solvent effects is combined with the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method at several levels of theory, using a many‐body expansion of the electron density and the corresponding electrostatic potential, thereby determining solute (FMO)–solvent (PCM) interactions. The resulting method, denoted FMO/PCM, is applied to a set of model systems, including α‐helices and β‐strands of alanine consisting of 10, 20, and 40 residues and their mutants to charged arginine and glutamate residues. The FMO/PCM error in reproducing the PCM solvation energy for a full system is found to be below 1 kcal/mol in all cases if a two‐body expansion of the electron density is used in the PCM potential calculation and two residues are assigned to each fragment. The scaling of the FMO/PCM method is demonstrated to be nearly linear at all levels for polyalanine systems. A study of the relative stabilities of α‐helices and β‐strands is performed, and the magnitude of the contributing factors is determined. The method is applied to three proteins consisting of 20, 129, and 245 residues, and the solvation energy and computational efficiency are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 976–985, 2006
Royal crown‐shaped electride Li3‐N3‐Be containing two superatoms: New knowledge on aromaticity
Authors: Li Zhi‐Ru , Wang Fang‐Fang , Wu Di , Li Ying , Chen Wei , Sun Xiao‐Ying , Gu Feng Long , Aoki Yuriko
Published: April 2006

The structure and aromaticity of a royal crown‐shaped molecule Li3‐N3‐Be are studied at the CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVDZ level. This molecule is a charge‐separated system and can be denoted as Li32+N33−Be+. It is found that the Li32+ring exhibits aromaticity mainly because the Li32+ring can share the π‐electron with the N3−3ring. The 4n+2 electron counter rule can be satisfied for the Li32+subunit if the shared π valence electron of N33−subunit is also taken into account. This new knowledge on aromaticity of a ring from the interactions between subunits is revealed first time in this paper. Li3‐N3‐Be can be also regarded as a molecule containing two superatoms (Li3and N3), which may be named as a “superomolecule.” Li3‐N3‐Be is a new metal–nonmetal–metal type sandwich complex. The N33−trianion in the middle repulses the electron clouds of the two metal subunits (mainly to the Li3superatom) to generate an excess electron, and thus Li3‐N3‐Be is also an electride. This phenomenon of the repulsion results in: (a) the HOMO energy level increased, (b) the electron cloud in HOMO distended, (c) the area of the negative NICS value extended, and (d) the VIE value lowered. So the superomolecule Li3‐N3‐Be is not only a new metal–nonmetal–metal type sandwich complex but also a new type electride, which comes from the interaction between the alkali superatom (Li3) and the nonmetal superatom (N3). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 986–993, 2006
Selection and combination of machine learning classifiers for prediction of linear B‐cell epitopes on proteins
Authors: Söllner Johannes
Published: April 2006

Recently, new machine learning classifiers for the prediction of linear B‐cell epitopes were presented. Here we show the application of Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC) convex hulls to select optimal classifiers as well as possibilities to improve the post test probability (PTP) to meet real world requirements such as high throughput epitope screening of whole proteomes. The major finding is that ROC convex hulls present an easy to use way to rank classifiers based on their prediction conservativity as well as to select candidates for ensemble classifiers when validating against the antigenicity profile of 10 HIV‐1 proteins. We also show that linear models are at least equally efficient to model the available data when compared to multi‐layer feed‐forward neural networks. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of coverage density and structure of chemically bonded silica stationary phases on the separation of compounds with various properties
Authors: Buszewski Bogusław , Krupczyńska Katarzyna , Rychlicki Gerhard , Łobiński Ryszard
Published: April 2006

The chemical character, geometry, and architecture of chemically formed surface layers determine interactions between stationary phase, analyte, and mobile phase, and therefore the retention mechanisms (partitioning, adsorption, ion exchange, steric exclusion) of separated analytes. These interactions also depend on the structure and chemical character of the solutes and the composition of the mobile phase. High‐molecular‐weight fullerenes (C60 and C70) and water‐soluble selenium‐containing peptides (833 and 2607 Da) were used for the evaluation of laboratory‐prepared octadecyl stationary phases with high and low coverage density before and after end‐capping. The aim of this work was to study differences in surface coverage density and homogeneity and conformational changes of chemically bonded moieties and the influence of these parameters on the separation of mixtures of selenopeptides and fullerenes with significantly different molecular masses. A topographical model of the chemically modified stationary surface is presented.
Nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations for Baouendi–Grushin operators
Authors: Kombe Ismail
Published: April 2006

In this paper, we shall investigate the nonexistence of positive solutions for the following nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations:

equation image

and

equation image

Here, Ω is a Carnot–Carathéodory metric ball in RN and V ∈ L 1loc(Ω). The critical exponents m * and p * are found, and the nonexistence results are proved for m * ≤ m < 1 and p * ≤ p < 2. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On the metrical properties of the configuration space
Authors: Kondratiev Yu. G. , Kutoviy O. V.
Published: April 2006

We study some topological and metrical properties of configuration spaces. In particular, we introduce a family of metrics on the configuration space Γ, which makes it a Polish space. Compact functions on Γ are also considered. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Detection of DNA‐bound advanced glycation end‐products by immunoaffinity chromatography coupled to HPLC‐diode array detection
Authors: Schneider Marc , Georgescu Adriana , Bidmon Clemens , Tutsch Martin , Fleischmann Erwin H. , Popov Doina , Pischetsrieder Monika
Published: April 2006

Sugars and sugar degradation products are formed during food processing, but also endogenously in vivo. In vitro, nucleosides and DNA react readily with these carbonyl compounds during the formation of the two diastereomers of N2‐carboxyethyl‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (CEdGA,B), leading to a loss of DNA integrity. Only little is known about DNA glycation in vivo and about the influence of nutrition on CEdG formation. In this study, we developed a sensitive method to analyze DNA glycation by HPLC. For this purpose, immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) using a polyclonal antibody against N2‐carboxyethylguanine (CEguanine) was coupled to HPLC‐DAD. In some samples, peak identity was confirmed by LC‐MS/MS. The recovery of CEguanine from the IAC columns was 52.5% ± 3.6 (n = 4). Thus, it was possible for the first time to detect CEdGA,B, N2‐carboxyethylguanosine (CEGA,B), and CEguanine in 11 human urine samples. However, due to imprecision of IAC, valid quantification of the adducts could not be achieved. Furthermore, CEdG was also detected in the DNA of cultured human smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and bovine aorta endothelium cells (BAECs). In BAECs, CEdGA,B were found by HPLC‐DAD and LC‐MS/MS after immunoaffinity purification, whereas in SMCs DNA‐advanced glycation end‐products were only detected with the more sensitive LC‐MS/MS method.
Quantitative analysis of allele imbalance supports atypical ductal hyperplasia lesions as direct breast cancer precursors
Authors: Larson PS , de las Morenas A , Cerda SR , Bennett SR , Cupples LA , Rosenberg CL
Published: April 2006

It remains unclear whether hyperplastic breast lesions, especially with atypia, are cancer precursors or markers of increased cancer risk. Quantified comparisons of genomic alterations in coexisting lesions could address this question. Therefore, we examined allele imbalance (AI), also known as loss of heterozygosity (LOH), at 20 microsatellite markers on nine chromosome arms, in DNA from 106 samples microdissected from 17 randomly selected cancer‐containing breast specimens: 13 simple (DH) and 45 atypical ductal hyperplastic (ADH) lesions, 30 in situ (DCIS) and 18 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC). Data were analysed using regression models and generalized estimating equations. We found that AI increased as histology became more aberrant and varied with histology across the chromosome arms (p <0.0001). ADH had more AIs on 1q (p = 0.03) and 16q (p = 0.02) and fewer AIs on 17p (p = 0.06) and 17q (p <0.0001) than on other arms. In cancers, AIs remained high on 1q and 16q, and became frequent on 17p and 17q. Concordance between AIs in ADHs and cancers exceeded the 50% expected if the lesions were separate clones in 16/20 (80%) ADHs (p = 0.05), from 9/11 (82%) cases (p = 0.03), and involved 41/51 (80%) evaluable markers (p = 0.05). The occurrence of any AI in ADH predicted greater AI (p = 0.009) and possibly lower grade (p = 0.05) in coexisting cancers. Nevertheless, ADHs were not genetically identical to cancers or to each other. We found AIs discordant between ADHs and cancers (always on 1q and 16q), AIs unique to ADH (usually on 11q) and some genetic heterogeneity among coexisting ADHs. We conclude that ADH lesions are genetically advanced, with frequent alterations on 1q and 16q, and are often direct cancer precursors. Their global genetic characteristics predict features of cancers in the same breast. Nevertheless, the genetic heterogeneity detected suggests that hyperplasias and cancers may arise on a field at generalized increased cancer risk. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Body composition and bone mass in survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Muszynska‐Roslan Katarzyna , Konstantynowicz Jerzy , Krawczuk‐Rybak Maryna , Protas Piotr
Published: April 2006

Background

The number of survivors of childhood cancer has increased. Several studies in children and adults have shown relationships between lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), and bone mineral content (BMC). The objective of the study was to examine the association between body composition and bone mass in young survivors of childhood cancer.

Methods

Sixty‐eight postpubertal participants (31 females and 37 males) aged between 15.5 and 27 years who were at least 5 years after completion of treatment for leukemia (n = 30), lymphoma (n = 28), or solid tumors (n = 10) were studied. Anthropometry was performed and dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess BMC in the total body (T) and lumbar spine (S), FM, and LM.

Results

There were no observed differences in age or time for cessation of treatment. Body mass index (BMI) was a strong determinant of bone mass in both sexes. TBMC correlated positively with LM (males r = 0.9 and females r = 0.76; P < 0.0001, respectively) and with FM (r = 0.54; P < 0.01 in males and r = 0.8; P < 0.00001 in females). SBMC correlated with LM in both sexes (in males r = 0.77 and in females r = 0.64; P < 0.0001, respectively) but only in females, SBMC also correlated positively with FM (r = 44 P = 0.03). There were no differences between patients who received radiation and those who did not.

Conclusions

The associations between bone mass and body composition differ by sex and skeletal site, however, they are similar in survivors of childhood cancer and compared to healthy individuals during growth. Further prospective research is needed in cancer survivors to determine the long‐term effect of anti‐cancer therapy on body composition and bone mass. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:200–204. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization and electrical properties of polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization
Authors: Wu Tzong‐Ming , Lin Shih‐Hsiang
Published: April 2006

This study describes the preparation of polypyrrole (PPy)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. Various ratios of MWNTs, which served as hard templates, were first dispersed in aqueous solutions with the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to form micelle/MWNT templates and overcome the difficulty of MWNTs dispersing into insoluble solutions of pyrrole monomer, and PPy was then synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization on the surface of the templates. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the fabricated composites. Structural analysis using FESEM and HRTEM showed that the PPy/MWNT composites were core (MWNT)–shell (PPy) tubular structures. Raman and FTIR spectra of the composites were almost identical to those of PPy, supporting the idea that MWNTs served as the core in the formation of a coaxial nanostructure for the composites. The conductivities of these PPy/MWNT composites were about 150% higher than those of PPy without MWNTs. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1413–1418, 2006
Electrospinning process using field‐controllable electrodes
Authors: Kim Geun Hyung
Published: April 2006

For the production of uniaxially oriented nanofibers and a three‐dimensional, biodegradable scaffold consisting of nanosized fibers, an electrospinning process was modified with a cylindrical auxiliary electrode that was connected to a spinning nozzle to stabilize the initially spun solution and a parallel‐plate electrode as a collector generating an alternating‐current electric field for collecting spun jets. With the complex electric field in the electrospinning process, biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanofibers were stacked on a thin, dielectric substrate covering the electrode according to a predetermined design. The degree of orientation of spun nanofibers to the field direction of a target electrode was highly dependent on the applied frequency and field strength of the target electrode. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1426–1433, 2006
Synthesis and herbicidal activity of novel α,α,α‐trifluoro‐m‐tolyl pyridazinone derivatives
Authors: Xu Han , Zou Xiao‐Mao , Zhu You‐Quan , Liu Bin , Tao Han‐Lin , Hu Xu‐Hong , Song Hai‐Bin , Hu Fang‐Zhong , Wang Yong , Yang Hua‐Zheng
Published: April 2006

A series of novel α,α,α‐trifluoro‐m‐tolyl pyridazinone derivatives was synthesised. Herbicidal activities of the two intermediate compounds and 15 pyridazinone derivatives were evaluated through barnyardgrass and rape cup tests and Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleiden tests. Selected compounds were also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Bleaching activities were observed at 10 µg ml−1 and some compounds exhibited herbicidal activities at a rate of 300 g ha−1. The relationship between crystal structures and herbicidal activities is discussed through a comparison of two compounds (5a and 5f). Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
Application of a Receptor Pruning Methodology to the Enoyl‐ACP Reductase from Escherichia coli (FabI)
Authors: Pasqualoto Kerly F. M. , Ferreira Márcia M. C.
Published: April 2006

Receptor pruning is an approach for achieving reasonable conformational ensemble profile in terms of time and computational resources. The purpose of this study is to reduce the size of a model structure of enoyl‐acp reductase (ENR) from E. coli, FabI, to allow ligand‐receptor molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to be computationally economical yet still provide meaningful binding thermodynamic data. Three reduced‐size models of FabI were created by pruning away all residues greater than 12, 10 and 8 Å radius. The largest ligand was docked in the active site to define the largest required receptor model. Energy minimization and MD simulations were carried out using the MOLSIM 3.2 program. The lowest energy structure for each of receptor models from MD calculation was compared by root mean square (RMS) fit to the equivalent portion of the crystal structure of FabI. A scale‐down 12 Å receptor model of the enzyme FabI maintains the structural integrity of the composite parent crystal structure. The perspectives include the structure‐based design of new antituberculosis agents regarding the similarity in the active site of two ENRs, FabI and InhA (M. tuberculosis).
Zum 75. Jahrgang von STAHLBAU
Authors: Kurrer Karl‐Eugen
Published: April 2006

Am 6. April 1928 erschien das erste Heft dieser Zeitschrift als monatliche Beilage der Zeitschrift “Die Bautechnik”. Nach Einstellung der 1910 begründeten, über zwei Jahrzehnte existierenden Zeitschrift “Der Eisenbau” verfügte der Stahlbau wieder über eine deutschsprachige Zeitschrift. Die Zeitschrift “Der Stahlbau” führte nicht nur die Publikationskultur von “Der Eisenbau” fort, sondern setzte auch neue Maßstäbe. So formulierten Verlag und Schriftleitung im Geleitwort des ersten Heftes folgende Aufgaben: “Die Zeitschrift ‘Der Stahlbau’ will vorbildliche Stahlbauten aller Art in Wort und Bild darstellen. Sie will die Eigenart und Güte der Bauweise aufzeigen. Sie will aufklärend bei den Bauherren und Baumeistern wirken. Sie will Wissenschaft und Kunst des Stahlbaues fördern, nicht zuletzt auch die wirtschaftlichen Zusammenhänge, soweit sie für die vorgenannten Aufgaben von Bedeutung sind, behandeln”. Dieser Aufgabenstellung ist der Verlag Ernst & Sohn und die Zeitschrift STAHLBAU nach wie vor verpflichtet. Gleichwohl zeigte die Geschichte und zeigt die gegenwärtige Lage im Stahlbau, daß sich die Zeitschrift STAHLBAU stets neuartigen Herausforderungen stellte und stellt, welche im folgenden exemplarisch aus dem 1. bis 24., dem 25. bis 49., dem 50. bis 74. und dem 75. Jahrgang von STAHLBAU skizziert werden. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Eleganz in Stahl – Erweiterung der Wiener Stadthalle
Authors: Jerabek Helmut , Raunicher Albert P.
Published: April 2006

Die Wiener Stadthalle, von Architekt Roland Rainer 1955 bis 1958 errichtet und bis 1994 erweitert, verfügt über eine zentrale große Veranstaltungshalle für bis zu 16000 Personen und über vier weitere Hallen unterschiedlicher Größe und Funktionen sowie über ein Hallenbad. Nunmehr wurde das Ensemble mit der “Halle F”, einer Veranstaltungshalle für ca. 2000 Personen, komplettiert. Der architektonische Entwurf harmoniert in der Formensprache mit den bestehenden Gebäuden und ergänzt diese ideal. Über einem Untergeschoß aus Stahlbeton erhebt sich eine leichte Stahlkonstruktion mit weit gespannten und auskragenden Vollwandträgern sowie räumlichen Fachwerken, Hängekonstruktionen und oft sehr feingliedrigen Tragelementen aus Vollmaterial. Beengte Platzverhältnisse bedeuteten für Planung und Montage eine zusätzliche Herausforderung. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Die ersten geschweißten Stahlbrücken in Deutschland – Über die wechselvollen Anfänge der Schweißtechnik
Authors: Voormann Friedmar , Pfeifer Matthias , Trautz Martin
Published: April 2006

Vor rund 80 Jahren begann man damit, die Schweißtechnik – namentlich die Lichtbogenschweißung – zunächst bei der Reparatur und Ertüchtigung, dann auch beim Neubau von Brücken einzusetzen. Nach anfänglicher Skepsis der Baubehörden und damit verbundener Zurückhaltung vieler Bauschaffender gegenüber der neuen, im Maschinenbau bereits in den Jahren vor dem 1. Weltkrieg eingeführten Verbindungstechnik, nahm die Schweißtechnik im Stahlbau Anfang der 30er Jahre eine geradezu stürmische Entwicklung. Diese Euphorie wurde nur wenige Jahre später durch mehrere spektakuläre Schadensfälle an Brücken aus hochwertigem Baustahl der Güte St52 gedämpft. Nachdem durch umfangreiche wissenschaftliche Versuche die Schadensursachen geklärt werden konnten, etablierte sich das Schweißen spätestens in den 1960er Jahren endgültig als wichtigste Fügetechnik im Stahlbrückenbau. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Neue Untersuchungen zum Ermüdungsverhalten von Kopfbolzendübeln
Authors: Hanswille Gerhard , Porsch Markus , Üstündag Cenk
Published: April 2006

Die Ermittlung der Tragfähigkeit und der Lebensdauer von Kopfbolzendübeln in hochzyklisch belasteten Verbundtragwerken erfolgt in den derzeitigen nationalen und europäischen Regelwerken mit getrennten Nachweisen in den Grenzzuständen der Tragfähigkeit, der Ermüdung und der Gebrauchstauglichkeit. Ein möglicher Einfluß aus der Vorschädigung infolge der Ermüdungsbeanspruchung wird beim Nachweis des Grenzzustandes der Tragfähigkeit unter γ‐fachen Einwirkungen nicht berücksichtigt. Es wird über neue Forschungsergebnisse und umfangreiche experimentelle Untersuchungen berichtet, die bei einer hochzyklischen Belastung den Einfluß des Rißwachstums durch den Dübelfuß und die lokale Schädigung des Betons vor dem Dübel auf die Tragfähigkeit berücksichtigen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen neue Berechnungsmodelle zur Vorhersage der Lebensdauer und der statischen Resttragfähigkeit ermüdungsbeanspruchter Kopfbolzendübel sowie die Entwicklung einer verbesserten Schadensakkumulationshypothese. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Moving from “youth leadership development” to “youth in governance”: Learning leadership by doing leadership
Authors: MacNeil Carole A. , McClean Jennifer
Published: April 2006

“Leadership is not the filling of a pail; it is about the igniting of a fire.”—W. B. Yeats
Plant form based on the pipe model theory II. Quantitative analysis of ramification in morphology
Authors: Chiba Yukihiro
Published: April 2006

Ramification in tree structure was investigated by the main axis cutting method, which differs from the ordinary stratified clipping method. An axis running from the arbitrary terminal leader of the shoot to the stem base was termed the “main axis”. Cutting the main axis into pieces of constant length gives the “segment layer”, which consists of segments of the main axis and all branches and leaves diverging from the respective segments. There was a linear relationship between the weight of a main axis segment (in the range where leaves exist) of constant length and that of all the parts above the segment. Since plant form is determined by branches diverging regularly from the mother branch or stem, this linear relationship is considered to support the concept of the pipe model theory. It is also suggested that the proportionality constant of the linear relationship may specify the branching structure or ramifications of plant form.
A vegetation‐ecological approach to the classification and evaluation of potential natural vegetation of the Fagetea crenatae region in Tohoku (northern Honshu), Japan
Authors: Ohno Keiichi
Published: April 2006

A new vegetation‐ecological approach is proposed for classification and evaluation of vegetation zones by means of phytosociological landscape analysis, based on the potential natural vegetation. The study area is the “Fagetea crenatae region” of the cool‐temperate zone of Tohoku (northern Honshu) and the northern parts of Kanto. The area was divided into 953 geographic quadrats on a base map at a scale of 1 ∶ 500000. Based on climax complexes of vegetation in each quadrat, 55 community sub‐groups were distinguished as basic units of community complex and vegetation landscapes. The community sub‐groups were then grouped into 17 larger community groups by the phytosociological table method. As a result, three phytogeographic vegetation zones (Japan Sea side, inland areas and Pacific side) were classified. For each of these community sub‐groups, five geographical and climatic variables (average altitude, mean annual temperature, Kira's warmth index, annual precipitation and mean annual maximum snow depth) were averaged, and the community sub‐groups in the same community group, which resembled each other ecologically, were assembled into 28 clusters. The clusters were combined into 11 ecological groups by means of Pearson's similarity ratio of geographical and climatic characteristics. By comparing these ecological groups as a vegetation complex, four phytogeographic vegetation zones (Japan Sea side, inland areas, Pacific side and northern Honshu) corresponding to each potential natural vegetation region with distinct environmental characteristics, were newly classified.
Litterfall in a secondary forest with special reference to the relationships between leaf‐fall rate, basal area and relative growth rate on a species basis
Authors: Sumida Akihiro
Published: April 2006

Total basal area (BA), mean relative growth rate of individual basal area (RGRbam), annual leaf‐fall rate (L), and number of trees (N) on a species basis were measured in a secondary forest mixed with evergreen and deciduous trees in the warm‐temperate zone of Japan. Every species had a characteristic tree size and composed the tree and the shrub layers. The layer for each species, and the tree size of the species were represented by the species mean basal area per tree (BA/N or bam). A power form equation was obtained for the relation between the species mean leaf‐fall rate per tree (L/N or lm) and bam. RGRbam was correlated with leaf‐fall rate per unit basal area (L/BA) rather than with bam. This suggested that RGRbam is associated less with mean tree size (bam) and dominance as total basal area (BA), and more with annual leaf production per unit basal area, provided that L is equal to the annual leaf production per species. Rhus succedanea, the most dominant species in the forest plot, was typical in that it showed lower values of RGRbam and L/BA than other tree species. This would suggest a decline of R. succedanea in a secondary forest.
Co‐occurrence of the cirolanid isopod Eurydice nipponica Bruce & Jones and the ghost shrimp Callianasa japonica Ortmann on an intertidal sand flat
Authors: Tamaki Akio , Suzukawa Kenji
Published: April 2006

On a moderately protected intertidal sand flat in west Kyushu, Japan, most of the population of the cirolanid isopod Eurydice nipponica Bruce & Jones (89%–100%) was found in the zones occupied by the thalassinidean ghost shrimp Callianassa japonica Ortmann in July, August and December 1980. C. japonica later extensively expanded its habitat, and in July 1984, when almost the whole sand flat had been densely populated by C. japonica, the range of the distribution of E. nipponica was the same as that of C. japonica with a density about 10 times greater than in July 1980. The occurrence of E. nipponica has previously been recorded from several exposed sandy beaches as well as their adjacent subtidal areas of well oxygenated sands along the coast of Kyushu, but not on more protected shores like the present sand flat. It is suggested that C. japonica, through its bioturbating activities, produces sediment characteristics approximating those of the exposed sandy beaches which are the preferred habitat of E. nipponica. It is supposed that E. nipponica is a facultative commensal of C. japonica. In a field experiment to exclude C. japonica and to detect its positive influence on E. nipponica, the densities of E. nipponica were found to be lower in the experimental plots than in the intact plots. Statistically, however, the difference was only weakly significant, and the possible reasons for this are discussed.
Diagnosis and management of trimethylaminuria (FMO3 deficiency) in children
Authors: Chalmers R. A. , Bain M. D. , Michelakakis H. , Zschocke J. , Iles R. A.
Published: April 2006

Persistent trimethylaminuria in children is caused by autosomal recessively inherited impairment of hepatic trimethylamine (TMA) oxidation due to deficiency of flavin monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) secondary to mutations in the FMO3 gene. Trimethylaminuria or ‘fish odour syndrome’ is due to excessive excretion into body fluids and breath of TMA derived from the enterobacterial metabolism of dietary precursors. The disorder is present from birth but becomes apparent as foods containing high amounts of choline or of trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) from marine (sea or saltwater) fish are introduced into the diet. In our experience, trimethylaminuria (FMO3 deficiency) in children is rare. We have compared the dynamics and diagnostic efficacy of choline loading with marine fish meals in six children with trimethylaminuria. Loading with a marine fish meal provides a simple and acceptable method for confirmation of diagnosis of suspected trimethylaminuria in children, with the effects being cleared more quickly than with a choline load test. However, oral loading with choline bitartrate allows estimation of residual oxidative capacity in vivo and is a useful adjunct to molecular studies. Patients homozygous for the ‘common’ P153L mutation in the FMO3 gene showed virtual complete lack of residual TMA N‐oxidative capacity, consistent with a nonfunctional or absent FMO3 enzyme, whereas a patient with the M82T mutation showed some residual oxidative capacity. A patient compound heterozygous for two novel mutations, G193E and R483T, showed considerable residual N‐oxidative capacity. A further patient, heterozygous for two novel sequence variations in the FMO3 gene, consistently showed malodour and elevated urinary TMA/TMAO ratios under basal conditions but a negative response to both choline and marine fish meal loading. Comparison of the effects of administration of antibiotics (metronidazole, amoxicillin, neomycin) on gut bacterial production of trimethylamine from choline showed they all reduced TMA production to a limited extent, with neomycin being most effective. ‘Best‐practice’ diagnostic and treatment guidelines are summarized.
Environmental changes and the Migration Period in northern Germany as reflected in the sediments of Lake Dudinghausen
Authors: Dreßler Mirko , Selig Uwe , Dörfler Walter , Adler Sven , Schubert Hendrik , Hübener Thomas
Published: April 2006

Paleolimnological techniques were used to identify environmental changes in and around Lake Dudinghausen (northern Germany) over the past 4800 yr. Diatom-inferred total phosphorus (DI-TP) changes identify four phases of high nutrient levels (2600–2200 BC, 1050–700 BC, 500 BC–AD 100 and AD 1850–1970). During these high DI-TP phases, fossil pollen, sediment geochemistry and archaeological records indicate human activities in the lake catchment. Although the same paleo-indicators suggest increased human settlement and agriculture activity during the late Slavonic Age, the Medieval Time and the Modern Time (AD 1000–1850), DI-TP levels were low during this period. In the sediments, iron and total phosphorus were high from ∼AD 100 to 1850, likely due to increased inflow of iron-rich groundwater into the lake. Increased iron input would have lead to a simultaneous binding and precipitation of phosphate in the upper sediment and overlying water column. As a result, anthropogenic impact on Lake Dudinghausen was masked by these phosphorus-controlling processes from AD 1000 to 1850 and was not evident by means of DI-TP. In accordance with fossil pollen, sediment geochemistry and limited archaeological records, DI-TP levels were low from AD 100–1000. Groundwater levels likely rose during this period as the climate gradually changed toward colder and/or moister conditions. Such climate change likely led to reduced settlement activities and forest regeneration in the catchment area. Our results are concordant with similar studies from central Europe which indicate rapid decreasing settlement activities from AD 100 to 1000.
Full-glacial paleosols in perennially frozen loess sequences, Klondike goldfields, Yukon Territory, Canada
Authors: Sanborn Paul T. , Smith C.A. Scott , Froese Duane G. , Zazula Grant D. , Westgate John A.
Published: April 2006

Perennially frozen loess deposits in the Klondike goldfields include paleosols formed in full-glacial environments, correlated by Alaskan distal tephra with Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 2 and 4. Patterns of organic and inorganic carbon and clay distribution, microstructures, and profile morphologies indicate that soil formation occurred in a base-rich environment in which organic matter accreted predominantly as root detritus. At sites approximately 20 km apart, the expression of cryoturbation and ice wedge development decreases in strength upward in loess–paleosol sequences correlated with MIS 4, suggesting increasing aridity. Configurations of cryoturbation features and ice-wedge thaw unconformities, the presence of numerous ground squirrel burrows, and an absence of peat accumulation suggest that these substrates were predominantly well-drained, with active layers of equal or greater thickness than in modern soils on similar sites in the west-central Yukon. Some characteristics of these paleosols are similar to those of modern steppe and tundra soils, consistent with plant macrofossil evidence for local ecological diversity during full-glacial conditions in eastern Beringia.
God's problem of multiple choice
Authors: STRICKLAND LLOYD
Published: April 2006

A question that has been largely overlooked by philosophers of religion is how God would be able to effect a rational choice between two worlds of unsurpassable goodness. To answer this question, I draw a parallel with the paradigm cases of indifferent choice, including Buridan's ass, and argue that such cases can be satisfactorily resolved provided that the protagonists employ what Otto Neurath calls an ‘auxiliary motive’. I supply rational grounds for the employment of such a motive, and then argue against the views of Leibniz and Nicholas Rescher to show that this solution would also work for God.
Universalism for open theists
Authors: KNIGHT GORDON
Published: April 2006

In this paper I argue that the denial of middle knowledge and emphasis on human freedom characteristic of open theism makes the traditional concept of hell even more morally problematic than it would otherwise be. But these same features of open theism present serious difficulties for the view that all will necessarily be saved. I conclude by arguing that the most promising approach for open theists is to adopt a version of contingent, as opposed to necessary, universalism.